Viking Var Review
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I choose a Viking cruise because of the wonderful experiences my friends and clients have had sailing with Viking. My experience was a BIG DISAPPOINTMENT!
Friday 22April, 3P we boarded Viking Var in Budapest. Embarkation went smoothly.
Disappointment started when we found out the Var would leave Budapest at 9A the next day, Saturday. Other Viking ships docked with the Var were scheduled to departed 6P Saturday. Why did the Var have to departed at 9A? We had the choice of going on the included Budapest City Tour bus tour at 830A and then being BUSSED upriver 1 1/2hrs to meet the ship OR missing the city by staying onboard seeing the "iconic" Parliament Building as we departed Budapest. (The Parliament Building is featured in many of Viking Cruises ads.) As it turned out, that was one of the only times we had the opportunity to experience viewing the Danube's beautiful scenery. Sunday 23 April, Vienna. The morning included Vienna City tour very rushed, not enough free time to experience a "famed Viennese cafe" and have the famous sachertorte. Afternoon optional Schoenbrunn Palace, again hurry, hurry, no time to see the magnificent gardens. Evening optional Mozart & Strauss Musical Evening was excellent! Monday 24 April, Krems, Austria. The included Benedictine Abbey Tour was excellent! Tuesday 25April, we were to arrive in Passau, Germany, on the ship. (Guide books say be sure to be on deck to experience sailing into "City of Three Rivers".) Instead because of lock closures before Passau, we docked down river and had to be bused a 1hr to Passau. The plan was to be bused back to the ship but luckily the ship was able to meet us. The Included Passau Walking Tour was very good. No Organ Concert. The cruise documents say organ concerts not held Nov. to April, should say THROUGH April as on St.Stephen's Cathedral website. Tuesday was our last day cruising the Danube. Do to continuing lock issues our ship had to dock in Deggendorf, Germany about 80km before Regensburg. Wednesday, 27April, we were bused 1hr. to Regensburg and 1hr. back to ship. Afternoon optional Weltenburg Abbey & the Danube Narrows tour was excellent.
Cabin Review
Port Reviews
Regensburg
Included Viking city tour rushed, city guide excellent. Afternoon optional Weltenburg Abbey and Danube Narrows boat excursion very good. Again to rushed. Maybe if we were docked in Regensberg not 1hr bus trip to meet the ship downriver, would have had more time to enjoy the tour.
Nuremberg
Since we had to be buses from ship 2hrs to city, time was short to enjoy/experence Nuremberg. Included city tour guide did excellent job with time allowed.