irenen

We are thinking of booking a Danube River Cruise for 2025. Trying to decide which Cruise Line to book with. Our TA has suggested Viking, Tauck and Uniworld. Does anyone have personal experience of any/all of them? I have no idea which we should book with. We have taken one previous cruise with Uniworld ( about 10 years ago) and done a few land tours with Tauck, and were very happy with both. Friends tell us Viking is also excellent. Any advice gratefully received.

RoamsAround

We've done 4 river cruises along the Rhine and Danube with Tauck, including their Grand European Cruise which went from Amsterdam to the Black Sea. All were excellent from the moment we landed till the day we departed for home. We've done 3 or 4 other land tours with Tauck with the same excellent experiences. Tauck has never disappointed us..

HappyTrvlr

We did not have a good experience with a Viking River Cruise and do not recommend this company.
It was on the Danube. We had done an earlier one with Viking in Russia years earlier which had been OK. We will not travel with Viking again.

Madam397

Have read several negative comments about Viking but have known people who have had good experiences. Have friends who really enjoyed Avalon Waterways.

I am also interested in a river cruise for 2025 but haven't decided on which European river or route yet.

HappyTrvlr

We had a a wonderful experience with an AMAWaterways River Cruise.

travelchat

Tauck full stop. My Magical Music Along the Danube River Cruise in October 2022 was absolutely magnificent. The five star hotels on each end were a soft start and finish to this incredibly rich adventure.

aliced

Suggest you look at Grand Circle Travel, (whose sister company is Overseas Adventure Travel or OAT). We were ready to book a Danube river cruise (Budapest-Prague) last Fall when in the latest issue of Travel & Leisure, Grand Circle came in second within 1-2% points after Tauck, ahead of Viking and Ama, Avalon, et al. Forgot about them, we took a tour of Italy with them 25 years ago at a fabulous price. We reserved our tour first with AMA, , 11-days, at $15K. We took the same cruise on GCT for $8200 and that's for both of us, with n/s air EWR-Vienna and included insurance. They don't use brokers, and own all of their own ships. Viking does not. Viking advertises more in print and on TV than all the others combined, and seems to be the reason people seem to pick it so much. Do your own research!!

Madam397

Thanks for the tip. I will look into company. as I have heard good and bad things about Viking and friends we respect enjoyed Avalon and other friends have used Tauck. I am thinking of spring 2025 but need to make decisions about the route. Haven't been to Amsterdam ever in the spring to see the tulips in bloom and last time we were there the Stedjilek was closed for renovation so the route that goes to Basel is of interest and we can add a few days in Switzerland. Fly into Amsterdam, fly home from Zurich.

janeharrison8852

Hi! What a lovely thing to have to look forward to! My partner and I went on a river cruise along the Danube this time last year for 7 days. (Planning another river cruise for 2026 - any recs welcome!) It was the perfect time of year to go. There was a great balance of relaxation and exploration - visiting cities we'd never seen such as Vienna and Bratislava. The weather was sublime and the views were absolutely stunning. We booked our holiday through Cruise118 and would highly recommend their service to anyone. We will definitely be booking our next cruise with them!

downtown

We did the Viking Rhine cruise sept 2024 and have booked for may 2025 Viking Danube Waltz. Knowing what to expect makes for a more pleasant experience

azuregirl62

HappyTrvlr-Can you please explain what the negatives were on your last Viking River Cruise, I remember reading a response from you concerning this trip a while back, all I remember is something about the water level being too high or too low but I’m sure there had to be something more.

HappyTrvlr

There were no problems with water levels that I recall. It was the way passengers were treated as if we were children!
We arrived in a major port and tried to leave the ship without being on an offered guided tour. They stopped us, and we argued and finally they let us go. Some staff members who observed what had happened basically said “ good for you!” We always have left river boats independently when in port.

azuregirl62

We are booked on a Viking River Cruise for June 2025, thanks for the heads up!

rncheryl

Definitely Tauck if the price fits your budget, We had booked a Danube tour prior to covid, and now it seems more expensive.

We have cruised on the Rhine with Avalon, and based on cost, have booked a Danube Dream on Avalon for next year, We were very satisfied with our Rhine cruise and had a very helpful company rep assist with reservations this time

My beef with Viking is the upfront payment, meaning you also have to pay your trip insurance at time trip is booked.

Slimmster

We're looking at the Viking Rhine cruise for late Sep/early Oct 2025 doing a coupe days early in A'dam, and then a few more in Basel. Any tips would be greatly appreciated?

azuregirl62

We are doing this cruise in June of 2025, pre extension in Amsterdam and a post extension in Lucerne. We’re doing Lucerne instead of Basel as it looks like there is much more to do/see.
What will be your deciding factor whether you choose to do it or not do it?