Viking Gefjon Cruise Review by daveispar: 15 Day Grand European Tour

Sail Date: July 2015

Destination: Europe - River Cruise

Embarkation: Amsterdam

We just got back from an amazing River Cruise through Europe with Viking that was almost perfect.

The ship was only 3 months old and looked it, nice and shiny. The crew could not have treated us any better ! They were great ! My Wife and I aren't very fussy when it comes to food, it was good, but, I can see where a "Foodie" type person might complain. The breakfast buffet was great and the lunches were fine either in the Main Dining Room or the Aquavit Terrace. The dinners in the Dining Room were fine, but, just not special. The portions were small, fine for us, but, if you're big eater you'll need a double order. The complimentary Wine for Lunch & Dinner were great, no complaints at all. Those people that have complained about the Wine don't seem to realize that the Wine is coming from a completely different area than you're probably not use to. You may not like it, but, it's not because it's "bad" you're just not familiar with the taste from More the Wine from this are a.

Our Balcony Room was great. A little small, but, it was well organized and once we emptied our luggage everything fit. The shower was plenty big enough for us and overall the bathroom was perfect. Our balcony was a little small, but, again, perfect for us. Our Room Steward was great. We were hardly in our room, but, the TV had several choices and the WiFi worked ok most of the time.

We have travelled a lot in the past and have done the Moscow to St Petersberg River Cruise in the past, but, we had never been to anywhere we went on this Cruise.

We're in our 60s, but, we're pretty active. We saw and did everything we could. We went on every excusion offered by Viking and as many optional excursions as we could fit in. When we we'ren't on a Tour and were cruising down the different Rivers we were on top of the ship or in the front of the ship in the Aquavit Lounge. We literally did not want to miss a thing ! Even at night there were things to see along the way. We h ated to go to bed at night afraid we would miss some amazing views.

If you couldn't walk into town, the Buses that took you on our excursions were all 1st class and all of them had restrooms. If you wanted to see the sights and learn about what you were seeing the opportunity was there. With one exception all of the guides on the excursions were very knowledgeable. Some of the optional excursions Costs were a little high, but, worth it. The Mozart - Strauss Concert in Vienna was great ! Not what I would normally listen to, but, it wasn't just a concert, it was a very entertaining show !

We had a problem in the middle of the Cruise. The River was too low for us to continue after Nuremberg. So before we left on our Tour we packed our luggage and after the Tour we were bussed to Passau where our luggage was waiting in the same room in another new Viking Ship the Ve. We just switched Ships with the people on the Ve that couldn't go upstream because of the low water. It was f lawless.

Now for a couple of minor problems. Our optional Tour in Cologne for 44 Euros was advertised at 4 hours to the Augustusburg Palace(which was great) and then the Falkenlust Hunting Lodge and their baroque gardens. The Hunting Lodge and gardens were closed. The Guide said, "Oh, the Lodge wasn't that great afterall" ! we were back in 3 hours. When I talked to Carl West the Cruise Director, he wasn't very sympathetic, "oh, ok, that's good to know for the future". But, didn't offer me anything other than sympathy. I organized a group of 9, we spent close to $75,000. At the end of the Cruise when I asked for a cab to the Castle Hilton($10 Euros) I think that would have been nice compensation, but, no that was against Viking's rules. But, yet earlier Carl had screwed up our Bus back from Regensburg to Passau and had to get a cab for 2 for a 4 hour trip ! I think that cost considerably more than $10 Euros.

The other thing that is quite a concern. There is virtually no s ecurity on board. We were alble to come and go as we pleased. We really only had a room key. In Passau there was an older Viking Ship docked not far from us. We walked right on and walked around taking pictures with not one Viking person asking us for anything.

Then, the last night we were in Budapest, our friend's daughter had a room to herself and at 11 o'clock she was asleep when a couple burst into her room and started yelling at her, "what are you doing in our room, get out, get out" ! We were docked next to another Viking Ship and we were on the inside, but, the Captain took our ship for a little evening tour to see the lights of Budapest and when we came back we parked on the outside. When the couple came back, they thought their ship were still on the outside and went to my friend's daughter's room, which they thought was their room and their key didn't work so they went to the Desk and the Desk personnel gave them a new key without checking any identification ! In thi s day and age I can't believe Security is so lax !

Anyway, other than that a Great Cruise ! Less

Published 08/07/15

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Source: Viking Gefjon Cruise Review by daveispar: 15 Day Grand European Tour