Celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary, we selected our 2nd Viking River Cruise for the Grand European Cruise. Started off on the wrong foot as we had selected a pre-excursion visit to Prague but missed flight to JFK due to weather. Arrived a day late, but Viking rep was right on sight to meet us and provide transportation to Prague Hotel. Local rep provided us with "make-up" tours and we had a great time in the Czech Republic. Then bussed to Budapest to pick up River Cruise ship. Great welcome on board and meet many new friends. Water levels in all rivers were very low and we ended up having to land portage 2 times to shift to 3 different long ships. A major logistic problem for Viking and the cruise director to transfer 185 people and their baggage to new Viking ships on the other side of low water. Several other river cruise lines were having to cancel their schedules and ship passengers home as they didn't have additional ships available. Viking has a substantial fleet and they were able to provide passage all the way to final destination even with problems presented by low water levels and we didn't miss any of our optional shore excursions. Cabin service was outstanding and the dining staff on all 3 Long Ships was first class. Excursions were one of the reasons we choose Viking and they were the best. We had a very memorable anniversary, one we will never forget, made even more so by the adversity that this River Cruise faced and overcame. As a footnote to this experience, after returning home, Viking notified us that in order to compensate us for the inconvenience experienced during this Cruise, they were going to apply a 50% credit of the price of this cruise to our next booking! Will we be traveling with them again? Absolutely, it is just a question of which Cruise to book!!

.