Guest Reviews

We chose this itinerary because of the focus on castles and wine. We were not disappointed. Food was excellent. Wine was even better.

Never seen so much purple. The lavender fields were everywhere. The ship's crew could not have been better. It was such a magical time to be in this part of France.

Our first river cruise, but not our last. Such a nice way to travel with all the things taken care of for you.

We picked the Rhine Getaway over the Danube because the 8-day length felt just right, and one of us had already been to a few Danube cities. Going from Basel to Amsterdam was a great call, and the Lucerne add-on at the beginning was totally worth it—Mt. Pilatus, the lake cruise, and that cable car ride were all awesome. The Explorer Suite worked out really well for two friends traveling together—plenty of room to spread out, unpack, and even enjoy the castle views from our balcony without heading to the top deck. We loved the Black Forest hike, beer tour in Cologne, and the e-bike ride in Kinderdijk, and we’re already thinking about our next Viking cruise.

We did the full cruise from Bucharest to Nuremberg with a Prague extension, and while the first half felt more relaxed, the section from Budapest onward seemed a bit rushed. That said, the service, excursions, and entertainment were still excellent—we especially loved the private concert near Vienna and the charming town of Spitz, thanks to an outstanding local guide. We wish we had more time in Vienna and Nuremberg, as both visits felt too short to fully appreciate the cities. Prague was a great way to end the trip, though more clarity on tipping local guides and better labeling of dietary options onboard would’ve made things smoother.

Scenic cruising and culture were around every bend. From castles to cathedrals, each day felt like stepping into another chapter of history.

We had a wonderful introduction to river cruising with Ama, beginning in Budapest with a memorable night sail past the city’s glowing skyline. Our stateroom was spacious and comfortable, and we especially appreciated the inclusion of bicycles for active shore excursions—our favorite was cycling in Belgrade. While the food was excellent and service friendly, the dining room noise made conversation difficult, and the wine service felt understaffed. The post-cruise journey to Transylvania by train and visits to Bran and Peles Castles were definite highlights, made even better by an outstanding guide.

Our Viking river cruise had a rocky start due to poor directions from a phone rep, causing confusion and extra walking upon arrival in Amsterdam—but once aboard, the experience greatly improved. We loved our French balcony stateroom for the natural light and views, and found the room impressively well designed with excellent storage, hot water, and soundproofing. The food was varied and high-quality, with excellent service, flexible dining options, and thoughtful local touches; the Silver Spirits drink package wasn't necessary thanks to the quality of included wines and reasonable bar prices. While we appreciated the clean ship, friendly staff, and strong excursion program, we were disappointed by the lack of a gym, unreliable Wi-Fi, and occasional safety concerns with access to the top deck during low bridge passages, which Viking could manage more proactively.

While the excursions and guides aboard the S.S. Antoinette were well done—especially the memorable Secret Garden and evening castle tours—I felt rushed at each site and wished for more time. Meals were delicious, but service was slow and understaffed, making simple requests like coffee or tea frustrating. My stateroom (422) had a persistent musty odor, visible water damage, and felt in need of a deep clean, while the top deck was uninviting due to soaked carpeting and covered chairs left for guests to manage themselves. Compared to our previous cruises, Uniworld fell short on service, cleanliness, and enrichment opportunities, and I’m uncertain if we’d choose them again.