We'd been wanting to do a river cruise in Europe and as a travel agent I relied on expert advice from other agents plus clients I had been sending. Everyone recommended Viking over other brands. It was high time we went. I organized a group and 26 of us from the Pacific Northwest and cruised the Danube from Budapest to Nuremberg. The embarkation was simply walk-on and show them your passport then to your room just down the hall. We entering our well-appointed, compact french balcony were we'd spend seven nights.

The first Budapest night we cruised the city at night and it was fabulous. Overnighting there was easy with a tour the next day. I wished for more time in Budapest. The ship was so easy to get around and we appreciated the light Scandinavian decor. The staff was excellent and George, the cruise director, was amongst the best. He was everywhere doing everything. It looked exhausting.

The food was outstanding and we appreciated the flavors, combination of items, using fresh herbs from the top deck garden and the portions were not overwhelming like on other cruise lines. The desserts actually tasted as good as they looked which isn't always the case. Having complimentary local wines and beers is a plus. Of course, the included excursions in each port is a real plus and each guide except one in Vienna was exceptional. This trip was a 10 and I can't wait to book the next one. We purchased a few extra excursions that were reasonably priced and worth every penny.