David G.
A Very Disappointing Viking Danube…
A Very Disappointing Viking Danube Experience After an Itinerary Change I recently traveled on a Viking Danube itinerary that was significantly changed shortly before departure because of low water levels on the river. I fully understand that Viking cannot control the level of the Danube. My disappointment concerns the travel experience that was provided after the itinerary had to be changed and the limited options we were given beforehand. After learning about the changes, we asked whether we could cancel or reschedule because the revised trip was substantially different from the river cruise we had booked. We were not permitted to do so, and we therefore continued with the trip. The first two days were particularly disappointing. We spent approximately seven to eight hours a day traveling by bus, in some cases for relatively brief visits. On one day, for example, our itinerary included about seven hours on a bus, a 30-minute stop and a roughly one-hour winery visit. The bus we traveled on that day had neither Wi-Fi nor power outlets for charging phones. This was very different from the river-cruise experience I had expected when booking the trip. I was also disappointed with the meals provided during these excursions. On one occasion, I found the food so poor that I was unable to eat much of the meal. After approximately thirteen hours of traveling and touring on our first day, we finally boarded the ship and had dinner at close to 10 p.m. Another significant problem for me was the lack of predictability. During this portion of the trip, we generally learned only late in the day what the arrangements would be for the following day. That made it difficult to relax or plan and added considerably to my frustration. Once we were finally able to sail, the experience improved. The ship itself and the time spent cruising were much closer to what I had originally expected. Unfortunately, that improvement did not change my overall disappointment with how the major itinerary disruption was handled. Again, I do not blame Viking for low water levels on the Danube. River conditions are beyond the company's control. My concern is that the substitute experience involved long days of bus transportation, short visits, meals I found disappointing, and considerable uncertainty about the daily schedule. Had I known before booking that this would constitute such a significant portion of my trip, I would not have chosen this itinerary. For travelers considering a Viking river cruise, particularly during periods when water levels may affect navigation, I would recommend asking specifically what alternatives will be provided if the ship cannot follow the scheduled itinerary and what cancellation or rescheduling options will be available. Based on my personal experience on this trip, I would not choose this itinerary again.