Viking Hlin Review

Quality has definitely gone down

Review for Europe River Cruise on Viking Hlin
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Crustybucket
10+ Cruises • Age 80s

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Sail Date: Oct 2016
Cabin: Deluxe Stateroom

We have sailed with Viking previously (Christmas Markets of the Danube) 3 years ago, and in fact, on the same ship. The ship hasn't changed, but the crew, and attitudes, has. This trip we opted for deck one (cabin 110) and the cabins are just fine....typical for a river cruise ship, with the usual space constraints. The crew was very good (Arturo, the Concierge) said we would remember him...a true statement. The rest of the crew and staff went out of their way to assist my wife when she had to return to the ship due to medical reasons. (The ship was to drop us off, immediately sail on, and remeet later.) All of that was good.

One problem was the itinerary...it just did not take full advantage of the Rhine River. Our stop in Kobletz is a prime example. We docked at the base of the cable car to the castle, just a few meters from the statue area at the conflux of the Rhine and Mozelle Rivers. Absolutely no time was allocated to be able to go into the town, or to explore the monuments. The group going on the included castle tour grabbed their bus and took off. Those remaining going to the alternate (extra cost) castle headed to the cable cars, hand went up on their tour. The ship, in the meantime, headed up river, to dock near where the first group would end up. After the second group finished their castle tour, we all boarded buses and went to where the ship was waiting. Food was not as good this trip, and there were some nights the "always available" menu was needed. Entertainment was very good, as brought aboard. However, why, in Germany, was there no "oom-pa-pa" band? Will we sail again with Viking? Yes. They do care, but they need to do some refresher courses.

Cabin Review

Deluxe Stateroom

Cabin E

Cabin 110 is located on the lower deck, almost midship. Since all cabins on that deck are the same, it becomes a choice of where on the ship you want to be. There is no need to head fore or aft, since there is no motion from waves. Cabin size is typical, and at (roughly) 160 square feet, is tight, yet Viking has managed to make it appear larger, and feel larger. There are plenty of both European and North American sockets.

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