viking grand european tour reviews (2022)

15-Day Viking Cruises Grand European Tour Itinerary

Out of all the river cruise itineraries in Europe, the ultimate is probably the Grand European Tour, which runs between Budapest and Amsterdam. Dan and I had fallen in love with river cruising during our Rhine River cruise , so when Viking River Cruises invited us to review their Grand European Tour, we couldn’t resist. Five countries in two weeks, without changing hotels? Share it all with our readers? Heck, yeah!

Cruise days are full, so I kept a daily river cruise journal along the way. Our 15-day cruise became a series of stories that will tell you what you can expect every day and what you can do in each cruise port. There are articles about every stop on our river cruise itinerary. You’ll find the links throughout this article.

What happens on a river cruise?

We’ve only been on two Viking river cruises so far, and the daily routine is generally similar. Every port of call begins with a guided tour of the city (included), after which you have leisure time to do whatever you fancy until the ship sails.

As for the lunchtime meal, some passengers return to eat on the ship. Others, including ourselves, prefer to stay in town and buy their own noontime meal. In our opinion, few things can match ordering local food in a local restaurant with local patrons. To us, it adds another layer to the experience of being in another culture.

At some stops, you may be able to join an additional tour. These special interest Viking excursions usually have a limited appeal, so they charge a nominal additional fee to cover the cost. It’s a creative way to keep the basic price low, yet still add extra value to passengers. (Note: For the 2015 season, prices ranged between 29 and 64 euros per person.)

One thing about this cruise itinerary: Be prepared for a lot of scenery, culture, UNESCO sites, history and food. If you enjoy things like this, you will really enjoy the river cruising experience.

Viking Grand European river cruise itinerary

To give you a sense of the river cruise route, here is a map of our ports of call.

Now, let’s get started on the Viking Grand European Tour itinerary! 😀

Days 1 and 2 – Budapest, Hungary

Day 1—welcome aboard.

The recommended check-in time for a Viking river cruise is 3 pm. Travel schedules being what they are, Viking provides a light buffet lunch for passengers who can’t help arriving early. You can read about the first day on a Viking cruise here.

The first Grand European Tour activity happens mid-afternoon. It’s an unofficial guided walk around the area to help battle jet lag, should you be arriving the day of the cruise. You’ll also have plenty of time to explore the area and pick up a few authentic souvenirs of Budapest.

Our Program Director promised that our first dinner on board would be special, and it was. They offered a traditional Hungarian menu, accompanied by local wines and beers. Many people don’t know that Hungary has 22 wine regions and produces a number of excellent vintages. Tokaj and Bulls Blood are probably the best-known wines, and Hungary’s Tokaj wine region is so phenomenal that it is a bona fide UNESCO site.

If Hungarian food isn’t your thing or you need to selective about what you eat, no worries. They can accommodate many special diets and every menu includes a few familiar options, like grilled salmon and steak.

ⓘ TIP: If you enjoy good wine, pick up some local vintages along the way to enjoy with dinner. Unlike some river cruise lines, Viking doesn’t charge a corkage fee.

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Day 2—Tour Budapest

Your first full day in Budapest begins with a morning tour. From Pest’s National Opera House and historic Heroes’ Square, we crossed over the Danube to the Buda side of the river. Oour tour took us along Castle Hill to Fishermen’s Bastion and Matthias Church. We also had some free time to explore before returning to the ship for lunch.

Your afternoon options are varied. Would you like to explore Budapest on your own or join an optional tour? Your choices are:

• Dohány Street Synagogue and Jewish Budapest (tour highlighting Budapest’s colorful Jewish past and present)
• Spa Experience (Budapest is famous for its therapeutic thermal waters and has the spas to prove it)
• Hungarian Horsemen: Lazar Equestrian Park (trip to see a horsemanship exhibition).

The second evening in Budapest began with a Welcome Reception. Consider it an official opportunity to chat with your Program Director and traveling companions.

The evening departure results in some phenomenal photographs. Evening cruising through Budapest on the Danube is spectacular. See our Budapest photos here.

Days 3 and 4 – Vienna, Austria

Viking has updated their itinerary since our cruise, dropping a day in Bratislava in favor of two days in Vienna. As much as we enjoyed Slovakia’s capital, we left Austria’s capital feeling as though we hadn’t seen enough. Props to Viking for listening to passenger feedback and adding more time for visiting Vienna.

The Historic Centre of Vienna is a UNESCO site and there is plenty to see. We did see some of the city’s baroque architecture on our morning tour. Our guide made sure we saw the world-famous Opera House, St. Stephan’s Cathedral and Hofburg Palace, among other things.

Many of our fellow passengers spent the afternoon exploring Vienna on their own. If you do that, make sure to set aside some time to relax in one of Vienna’s traditional coffee houses, just as the locals do.

We chose to take the optional afternoon tour to Schönbrunn Palace. It is called the “Versailles of Vienna” due to its massive size (1,441 rooms!), and it qualifies as a UNESCO site as well.

After dinner, we were treated to a classical concert (think Mozart and Strauss, not classic rock) performed by a Viennese orchestra. That’s another optional tour; no need to endure it if you’re not a fan.

Day 5 – Wachau Valley + Melk, Austria

Most cruising is done overnight, unless it’s through a picturesque area. This morning we enjoyed some scenic cruising through the Wachau Valley, heart of Austria’s wine country. The Wachau is a stretch of the Danube Valley between Melk and Krems, and is of such unsurpassed beauty and historic importance that it has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The crown jewel of Melk is its abbey, an incredibly ornate 900-year-old Benedictine monastery. It features Austria’s finest Italian baroque architecture. Melk Abbey also has wonderful frescoes, as well as a library that holds an extensive collection of medieval manuscripts.

Day 6 – Passau, Germany

Passau is a town that lies where the Inn, Ilz and Danube Rivers meet. Our guided walk along the town’s narrow streets took us through Old Town and past many traditional patrician houses. Lying at the confluence of three rivers, Passau often experiences flooding, and one of the sights is where previous floods have left their mark.

We also saw the New Bishop’s Residence and the impressive baroque St. Stephen’s Cathedral with its ornate interior. If you arrive at noon, you can be treated to a special noontime concert on Europe’s largest church organ (17,000 pipes).

Then, free time to explore Passau on our own.

Day 7 – Regensburg, Germany

Regensburg is a wonderfully preserved medieval city. It’s full of medieval architecture, dark and narrow lanes, and strong fortifications, and that’s what makes it a UNESCO site.

We had a chance to tour the town’s market, city hall and the splendid St. Peter’s Cathedral, discover many 13th- and 14th-century patrician houses, and see ancient Roman, Romanesque and Gothic buildings.

Day 8 – Nuremberg, Germany

Our morning was spent on board, cruising to Nuremberg, Germany. Our program director offered a morning talk about the European Union, but Dan and I skipped it. We sat on our private stateroom balcony, sipping coffee and watching the passing scenery.

The afternoon options included a walking tour of the Old Town area. Highlights were the Albrecht Dürer House and Main Market Square. We drove by Zeppelin Field (the Nazi parade grounds of the 1930s) and the Palace of Justice, site of the infamous Nuremberg Trials.

World War II buffs can take an optional tour of the Documentation Center instead.

Day 9 – Bamberg, Germany

We spent the morning cruising through the 106-mile long Main-Danube Canal and passing through some of its 16 locks. Charlemagne first thought of continuous river travel from the North Sea to the Black Sea in 793, but it took until 1992—a whopping 1200 years—to actually accomplish his dream.

Once arriving in port, we were taken on a walking tour of Bamberg’s medieval city center. Bamberg has a magnificent 11th-century cathedral. However, it’s best know for its picturesque city hall, built on a tiny island in the middle of a river.

When our guide released us to explore this UNESCO site on our own, a few of us asked for one final stop. Schlenkerla is a historic brewpub in Bamberg, Germany and is renowned for its smoked Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier.

Germany’s Franconia region may be known for its wine, but Bamberg is famous for its distinctive, smoke-flavored beer. Truth be told, I enjoy smoky flavors so much that visiting the brewery is my favorite memory of Bamberg.

Day 10 – Romantic Road excursion to Rothenburg + Würzburg, Germany

Most passengers spent the day in Wurzburg. but we joined Viking’s optional Romantic Road excursion to Rothenburg ob der Tauber. The motorcoach ride was scenic, but it was drizzling and hard to see through the wet windows.

Rothenburg is a medieval town with charming half-timbered houses, a turreted city wall and impressive Gothic and baroque architecture. It ranks among one of the most picturesque in all of Germany. If you have a camera, you should really consider taking this tour.

After a traditional German lunch in a Rothenburg restaurant, we returned to Würzburg. The town is best known for the Bishops’ Residenz. One of Germany’s largest and most ornate baroque palaces, the palace is also a UNESCO site.

It’s over-the-top elaborate, and hard to believe someone actually lived like this.

We had another delicious dinner on board. Viking had planned an evening glassblowing demonstration afterwards, but nope. The cruise director had to postpone it at the last minute because the glassblower missed the ship.

Day 11 – Wertheim, Germany

Wertheim is located at the confluence of the Main and Tauber Rivers. It’s a typical, small German town, with roots that date back to the 7th century. Wertheim is renowned for its glassblowing tradition.

Our walking tour included a visit to the historic marketplace and our guide pointed us to glassblowing studio that we could visit. Many passengers spent their free time in glass shops buying souvenirs. Dan and I preferred to leave the main drag and explore the old town’s 1100-year-old back streets. (You can see our photos here. )

Down time in the afternoon. Time to relax on the sun deck with other passengers and watch the scenic vineyards of Franconia sail by. Dinner included some of the area’s wines.

Tonight, we finally got our glassblowing demonstration. He was quite entertaining and kept us all laughing, especially when he drafted audience participants. The whole evening was super fun!

Day 12 – Upper Middle Rhine Valley + Mosel River + wine tasting + Koblenz

This morning was all about hilltop castles along a stunning stretch of the Rhine River. It’s so special that the Upper Middle Rhine Valley has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There were plenty of oohs and aahs on the Sun Deck as we passed the dozens of castles and vineyards along its banks.

This was our second time in the Rhine Gorge and we enjoyed it just as much. The views are incredible and the associated commentary is fascinating!

The ship stopped in Braubach for a tour of one-of-a-kind Marksburg Castle. This castle is in perfect shape; it’s the only Rhine fortress that has never been destroyed. Definitely a must-see.

As we had seen the castle on our previous Rhine River cruise, we opted to join a couple dozen other passengers for the optional Moselle wine tour. Our route took us along along the Mosel River, which offers a landscape of terraced vineyards punctuated here and there by typically German towns.

After stopping to stretch our legs at a very scenic overlook, we continued on to a Mosel winery. They took us into the inner sanctum of wine production and showed how they produced their wines. Then, of course, we sampled a few of their best.

Our ship docked in Koblenz until late evening. This is the picturesque town where the Moselle and Rhine converge. We ran into a group of crew members in town. They were enjoying a few hours off and invited us to join them.

Always inquisitive, we took the opportunity to ask about working for Viking. We figured they could speak frankly since we were off the ship, and we were right. Seems a few of them have worked for other river cruise lines or on ocean liners. Consensus: Viking has high standards, and they treat their employees better than the other companies did. Isn’t that wonderful?!

Day 13 – Cologne, Germany

Cologne is Germany’s fourth largest city. Our morning walking tour through Old Town passed St. Martin’s Church, the Renaissance city hall and the remnants of an ancient Jewish mikveh (a ritual bathhouse). Our tour ended at the Dom, Germany’s largest cathedral and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The rest of the day was free to enjoy Cologne. I made sure we went to the Chocolate Museum….

The Captain’s Farewell Reception was a blast – we had a “Taste of Germany” buffet dinner, complete with live oompah music. The crew dressed up in German costumes to give it an especially festive air.

And being that it was a buffet, the chef made sure to come over to help us figure out which dishes were on our diet. (We had mentioned it once, at the beginning of our cruise, and the entire staff never needed to be told again. They kept it in mind every time we ordered.)

After dinner, we joined the optional Prost! Tour so we could experience Brauhaus culture and drink Cologne’s famous Kölsch beer. We’d done it on our Rhine cruise and it was just as fun this time.

• Read more: One Day in Cologne

Day 14 – Kinderdijk, Netherlands

We sailed along the Rhine all morning. and Viking had plenty of activities to keep us entertained. We enjoyed sampling Dutch cheeses and jenever (a distilled juniper liquor), and trying our hand at sjoelen (Dutch table shuffleboard).

After lunch, we docked in Kinderdijk (UNESCO!) for an afternoon tour. This is a fascinating experience, both for the photo ops and the opportunity to learn about windmills first-hand. We had done this on our last cruise, and the best part was climbing into a working windmill to explore its mechanisms and living quarters.

If you’re claustrophobic, have mobility challenges, or have already visited a real Dutch windmill, there’s an alternate tour. Passengers who would prefer an alternative can join a tour to watch Dutch cheese making. Holland is famous for Edam, but the cheese farm we visited specializes in Gouda.

Of course, the best part was sampling the many varieties in their shop….

We enjoyed a final dinner on board and our last evening together as we cruised on to Amsterdam.

• Read more: See Dutch Windmills and Cheese Making in Kinderdijk

Day 15 – Amsterdam, Netherlands

Our cruise ship docked sometime after midnight. We left late and could have one last enjoyable breakfast, once again with local breads, cheeses and other specialties.

No Amsterdam tour is included on the itinerary (even though its canals are yet another UNESCO site), and I assume that’s because most people have planes to catch. If you wish, you are welcome to join the next round of passengers on the afternoon walkabout.

Or you can do what we did and spend more time in Amsterdam . There’s a lot to enjoy in the city: neighborhoods, restaurants, museums and exciting nightlife.

Even if you don’t do anything else, be sure to take a canal cruise! It’s ranked as the best things to do in Amsterdam for a reason. This tour is especially popular.

Where to stay in Amsterdam

We can recommend two hotels from personal experience:

• Renaissance Amsterdam Hotel — a short walk from Centraal Train Station.
• Bilderberg Garden Hotel — a bit further out and in a quieter location.

Both are quite nice and near a tram stop.

Note: As is common in the travel industry, Dan and Linda were provided with a complimentary cruise package for the purpose of review. While it has not influenced coverage, AWSI believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see the Disclosure page.

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Written by Linda

Linda is multilingual and has been to over 50 countries. Her insatiable love of travel, cuisine, and foreign languages inspired her to create As We Saw It, where she documents her trips, shares practical itineraries, and offers insider tips. She’s passionate about helping fellow travelers save time, money, and hassle, and loves to discover new places to explore.

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25 thoughts on “15-day viking cruises grand european tour itinerary”.

I like your philosophy of never wasting a day in life. Bamberg is certainly a top place to spend one. Nice post.

Thanks, Stuart. That cruise sure kept us busy – we didn’t waste a moment!

What is the best month to travel on the europe ?

We went in early June, but September would be nice as well, and daylight is still long enough. We prefer spring and fall, when school is in session and there are fewer tourist crowds.

It seems a nice tour and honestly, I would like to follow this itinerary. Thanks for sharing this post and on a very honest note, I got much information about the European cities and countries.

Glad it helped.

Thanks for the information, we are taking the Budapest to Amsterdam trip end of July on the Viking Modi. looks like Bratislava, Slovakia is no longer part of itinerary

Well dang, Larry & Maggie, you’re right! Instead, you get an extra day in Vienna. As much as we enjoyed our time in Slovakia, that seems like a fantastic trade-off. We were left longing for more with our single day in Vienna.

Come to think of it, we’ve seen day trips to Bratislava from Budapest online, and trains run regularly. Should be easy for one to fly in a couple of days early and see it as well.

Thanks for letting us know!

We are taking this cruise in June 2018 and reading your day to day journal is helpful in terms of what to expect each day. Thank you for sharing your adventure, it makes me even more excited about our trip.

You are more than welcome. We know you’ll have so much fun! (Do you mind if we admit to the tiniest bit of envy? We’d love to take that cruise again.)

I’ve seen comments about long bus rides at each port to get to the sites. Was that your experience on the Grand European Tour?

Well, yes and no. We docked in town at most of the Rhine and Danube stops. Those towns developed around the rivers, so naturally, ports are centrally located. Most of the trips that required bus rides were for towns on the Main Canal, because it was constructed recently and to preserve infrastructure and homes, they had to build it where space was still available.

The rides didn’t seem particularly long to us, though. Our guides gave us interesting orientations and we had wonderful scenery to enjoy on the way. (We napped and chatted on the way back.)

This itinerary looks pretty awesome. I had no idea the tours were quite so long and you get to see so many awesome places! I’d love to go on one of these cruises one day!

If you do go, you’ll be amazed. The staff is remarkable, the tours are excellent (and free), and the small passenger capacity makes it an intimate experience you will never forget.

You should go! River cruises are a fabulous experience. We can’t recommend them enough.

A Viking cruise is on our bucket list; thanks for the info. All the places look amazing. Now you have made me want to go even more.

I know what you mean. We want to take the Nile and Mekong cruises next.

Thank you so much for sharing your adventures. This has been very helpful because I will be cruising from Amsterdam to Budapest in April.

How did you pack all you needed in a carry-on and a back-pack? I would love to be able to do that.

Hi Bette, thanks for your question. Actually, I’ve been pondering writing a post about this.

In a nutshell, we always carry our valuables (camera and electronics) on board with us in our backpacks. The biggest keys to packing light are to:

• wear your clothes multiple days (just not in a row!)
• coordinate your clothes with a neutral color (I chose colorful tops and scarves, black sweater, skirt and slacks)
• hand wash your clothes when needed (we packed only 7 days’ worth of underwear)
• limit your shoes (I had walking sandals, sneakers and ballet flats, all black)
• bring travel size toiletries and leave the ones that hotels provide at home.

Enjoyed the information your post included. We are scheduled to take this cruise in July 2018 and you gave me a concise idea of what to expect each day. Also greatly appreciated your ideas on packing–this cruise will require different items than on a big ship in the Caribbean!

Thanks for the feedback! We’re so glad our post was so helpful. I hope our other posts for each destination were as useful and informative. 🙂

I am curious how you got permission to take pictures inside the Schönbrunn palace and the Milky Abbey. We were told it was absolutely not possible to take pictures while inside.

The only part of Melk Abbey that is off limits to photographers is the library. As for Schonbrunn, they forgot to tell our tour group that we couldn’t take photos until we had already taken shots of that one room. So we stopped.

I would love to do one of these river cruises and have been enjoying the posts taking note of how our small family of 3 would fare on such a cruise.

I think river cruises are best when children are old enough to appreciate sightseeing and history. Most little ones have far too much energy for a ship of that size and need more room to run and play.

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Viking Grand European Tour Review: River Cruise Highlights (Part 2)

October 29, 2018 //  by  Linda Malys Yore

Have you been river cruising before, and are looking into taking a Viking river cruise? Or have you done lots of ocean cruising and are now considering a Viking river cruise? Are you looking for first-hand knowledge from someone who has sailed with Viking? Look no more, because I sailed on Viking’s Grand European Tour 15 day river cruise and it was nothing short of spectacular. Here you will find my sister Robyne’s and my sailing experiences on week two of the Viking Grand European Tour river cruise.

Read first: Viking Grand European Tour Highlights, (Part 1) Amsterdam, Holland to Nuremberg,  Germany

Read Next: 20 Viking River Cruise Tips To Help You Plan Your Trip

Passau, Germany to Budapest, Hungary

Day 9: viking grand european tour, passau, germany (day 1).

Yesterday found the guests of the Viking Baldur transferring to our new ship the Viking Magni which was located in Passau, Germany.  Our ship was named after the Norse God Magni,  who is the God of strength, believed to be stronger than his father Thor. We traveled three hours via Viking motor coaches, bypassing the shallow waters of the Regensburg, Germany area.

So today we had a decision to make: take the scheduled included shore excursion of Regensburg, a 98-mile coach ride away, or explore our new city Passau. We were grateful Viking still offered the Regensburg option, or that we could remain and visit Passau. Because I had a sore throat, I decided to stay in Passau and walk the city. Robyne elected to take the coach ride and visit Regensburg. Either way, we had met so many friends, we each were comfortable with our decisions for the day.

Lovely paintings and pastel buildings lined the cobblestoned streets of Passau. 

Read Next: 7 Best Things  To Do In Passau Germany

Read Next: The Ultimate 2 Days In Amsterdam Itinerary

Guests also had the opportunity to take the optional excursion, (required additional fees) which was a full day excursion to Munich with the exciting opportunity to attend Octoberfest.

And for our enrichment, an additional included tour was added to visit the large open-air Bavarian Village, but the capacity was limited. I was interested in this but waited too long and missed my opportunity. Worked out for the best I believe because I used the afternoon to rest instead.

After breakfast, I headed out my friends Fran and Dan to tour Passau on foot. It was such a pretty city, and we had no particular plan but to see what crossed our paths. Passau is built at the confluence of three major European rivers and thus is exposed to major flooding.  We noticed everywhere we walked signs marking high water levels of past floods.

Remembrances of past floods are everywhere in Passau. 

The city center was very beautiful with the fabulous Baroque St. Stephen’s Cathedral. We shopped a bit and before we knew it, it was time for lunch. We all decided to head back to the Magni for a delicious lunch on board. Afterward, I rested in my stateroom all afternoon.

Bright and bold painting on the walls of Passau’s city hall.

Viking also arranged a shuttle bus to take guests to the city center and back throughout the day, beginning at 9:00 AM and concluding at 6:00 PM.

After all the tours had returned to the Magni, we met for the cocktail hour and Tessa’s port talk.

In the lounge during cocktail hour with our great friends Sheri, Kathi, Fran, and Dan. 

After dinner in the lounge for our entertainment, there was an operetta of sorts. A few local singer/musicians from Nuremberg and Regensburg highlighted some of the greatest and most recognizable music of famous European composers, including Mozart.

Local singers performing an operetta in the lounge after dinner.

Day 10: Viking Grand European Tour, Passau, Germany (Day 2)

This morning Robyne and I were doing the included shore excursion: Passau Walking Tour. We were to meet our guide at 9:00 AM, so we had a leisurely morning. The Magni was docked literally on the edge of Passau, not far from the city center at all.

Can’t you just imagine waking up to this unbelievable sight in Passau during your Viking Grand European Tour river cruise!?

Others were taking an optional tour to Salzburg (remember The Sound of Music??) and a fortunate few were taking the optional shore excursion to visit the Neuschwanstein Castle. It is the romantic castle perched high up on a hill in the Alps which inspired Walt Disney when he was designing Cinderella’s Castle.

We walked by the bishop’s garden as we entered St. Stephen’s Cathedral

We met our guide outside the ship and learned the history of Passau located where the Ilz, Danube and Inn Rivers join one another. No wonder Passau is called the City of Three Rivers!  The ornate Baroque inspired Old Town is situated on a spit of land between the Inn and the Danube Rivers.

The indescribably magnificent Baroque ceiling of St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Passau.

St Stephen’s Cathedral is one of the city’s most notable landmarks and boasts the largest pipe organ outside the USA. As part of our tour, we were fortunate enough to attend a concert to hear the unbelievable organ. The acoustics of the interior of the cathedral were fabulous.

The stunning St Stephen’s Cathedral was built in the opulent and elaborately ornate  Baroque style. Everywhere you looked your eye caught some magnificent statue or ornate painting. The cathedral is located at the highest point of the old town.

The gleaming silver pipes of St Stephen’s organ.

After the concert, we walked back to the ship for lunch. Because we had no organized plans for the afternoon, Robyne and I set out again to explore Passau. We wandered through the pastel-colored streets from the Danube through town to the Inn River. We decided to hike up the hill to do a personal pilgrimage at Mariahilf situated on top. It was a great physical and spiritual afternoon for us.

Equally impressive but on a much smaller scale, the high altar of Mariahilf, on our personal pilgrimage.

The Viking Magni set sail at 6:00 PM and we reluctantly said goodbye to Passau and to Germany because we were headed to Austria next.

After port talk and dinner,  Tessa hosted a presentation in the lounge about Vienna coffeehouses and the delicacies they would offer to tempt us, and also on Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The busy day concluded with dancing in the lounge for those who still had energy!

Good evening from the beautiful foyer of the Magni during our Viking Grand European Tour.

Day 11: Viking Grand European Tour, Melk, Austria

I personally was saddened to leave Passau because (although I loved all the cities we visited) Passau ranked very high on the top of my favorites list. That was until we arrived at Melk, Austria. Little did I realize the day in store for us!

It was 36* F when we woke up to this lovely view of the misty Danube in Melk, Austria. 

By this time in our Viking Grand European Tour, Robyne and I made great use of our stateroom refrigerator, stocking it with fruit, snacks, peanut butter and bread. We often had breakfast in our stateroom, which allowed us to leisurely lounge around longer before we started our busy days.

On the balcony of the iconic Melk Abbey above the city during our visit to Melk, Austria on our Viking Grand European Tour.

Scheduled this morning was a tour of the most famous abbey in Austria,  Melk Abbey. We were on our motorcoach by 9:35 AM and rode up the hill to the abbey. We met our guide at the entrance who immediately explained the history and architecture of Melk Abbey. Once we entered the abbey, there was no photography permitted. The surveillance cameras were everywhere and volunteers monitored visitors in each room.

The Grand Room of  Melk Abbey. NO photography after this. Strictly enforced!

Melk Abbey was originally a royal palace and our tour took us through rooms used in the past by royalty as their apartments, grand halls, and even a library. In the 1200s the palace was turned over to the monks who turned it into a fortification.

The church was simply the MOST BEAUTIFUL GORGEOUS church I have ever visited in my life. The kaleidoscope of colors, the stunning gold carved pulpit, and the jaw-dropping extravaganza of Baroque architecture defies description!

The 900-year-old abbey is still run by Benedictine monks today and there is a monastery school with 700 students as well.

After touring the gift shop and purchasing some souvenirs, we decided to walk back to the Magni with our friends Fran and Dan, through the very charming and lovely city of Melk. We did some shopping, and then some more shopping. And soon it was time to head back to the boat for lunch.

Shopping in the delightful Austrian village of Melk. One of us was very lucky, yes?!

The Magni was sailing at 1:30 PM through the Wachau Valley on our way to Krems. The Wachau Valley of Austria is considered the most scenic stretch of the Danube River. Eighteen miles of it are designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Here we are toasting Prost! during lunch in the Aquavit Terrace, before drinking the German herbal liqueur Jagermeister. We were informed of this approach to care for my cough/cold from the Viking bar staff. Thank you so much!

Tessa, our program director, began narrating as we sailed through this enchanting area at 1:45 PM. We passed steep hillsides where vineyards thrived and the grapes needed to be harvested by hand, countless charming towns and numerous castles and castle ruins.

Lovely Austrian countryside in the Wachau Valley on our Viking Grand European Tour.

In the lounge, later on in the afternoon, there was an apple strudel workshop, where guests were taught how to assemble an authentic Austrian apple strudel.  And Austrian tea time with delicious delicacies was also offered in the lounge after that.  There was hardly never a time when Viking did not offer some enriching event for us. We were free to attend, or not. It was really nice to have such options though to choose from during our Viking Grand European Tour.

At 4:00 PM The Viking Magni arrived in Krems, Austria, for the rest of the afternoon. We did not have the opportunity to explore Krems because Robyne and I elected to sign up for an optional tour: Wachau Valley Winery . Now I am not a wine drinker at all, but this specific tour intrigued me. How delicious must the wine be whose grapes are cultivated in the rich soils of this UNESCO designated World Heritage Site!

In the wine sampling room with the vintner and winery owner Erhard Morwald.

We were on our motorcoach by 4:15 PM and because our local tour guide, Trinka,  who accompanied us to the winery was so funny, we knew it was going to be a great afternoon. The ride to the winery was only 30 minutes or so, and before we realized it, we were there. As soon as we arrived we were greeted by the winery owner, Erhard Morwald.  He was very personable, spoke with limited English, but between our guide and him, we understood everything. Collectively they were so funny and the tour flew by.

Touring the winery and seeing all of the awards his vineyards have won and are still winning, was amazing. It was here we learned that the Morwald Vineyards produce over 350,000 bottles of red and white house wines for the Viking Cruise Lines each year, and have done so since the 1990s.

Showing Mr. Morwald our appreciation!

Next, the wine sampling! The wine sampling room was bright and spacious.  There were several servers who poured while the vintner explained each pour and how he favored them. We sampled three whites and three reds. Generous samplings, I might add. And then, the apricot Schnapps also made at the winery, appeared. Oh boy, we were having a good time! I can honestly say though, I am not a fan of Schnapps. The walnut bread served alongside the wines was a delicacy in itself.

Alas, the afternoon passed by too quickly and it was time to head back to the Magni. Well, that was, after we looked in the gift shop! Trinka, our guide, was pouring yet another delicacy, red wine liqueur. It was very delicious and I purchased a bottle to bring back home with me. I’m sorry to say I think I made a mistake by not buying more!

Here we are in the Morwald Winery gift shop sampling their red wine liqueur with our friends Charlie and Rose Marie.

You can only imagine what a fun bus ride we had heading through the Wachau Valley in Austria at dusk. The sky was alive with color.  We were late returning and missed the port call, but were right on time for dinner.

I can speak for Robyne and myself in saying the trip to the Morwald Winery in the Wachau Valley was our favorite optional excursion of all during our Viking Grand European Tour , and we both highly recommend it. Highly. You do not have to be a wine drinker to thoroughly enjoy this experience. I do not drink wine at all and I simply loved it!

The Magni dining room was very festive to celebrate our Taste of Austria!

To celebrate our arrival into Austria, the staff of the Magni held a special dinner for us: Taste of Austria.  It was an Austrian buffet, with local dishes, the staff all dressed in local Austrian costumes, and there was a father/son team of strolling musicians playing their accordions, serenading everyone. It was very festive and very much fun!

Our team in the Magni lounge, ready for the music trivia game.

To top off the evening of a very busy and very remarkable day, Tessa conducted another fun game in the lounge, a music quiz. Thank you, Viking for one of the most amazing days we have ever had on our Viking Grand European Tour!

Up and on their feet dancing during the music trivia game in the lounge to end another fantastic day on our Viking Grand European Tour river cruise. Bonus points if you guess what song they are dancing to!

The Viking Magni set sail at 9:55 PM heading to Vienna.

Day 12: Viking Grand European Tour, Vienna, Austria (Day 1)

Today in Vienna, our included excursion departed the Magni at 9:15 AM. We were docked several miles from the city center, so we rode the Viking motorcoaches into town. Our local guide pointed out all the different styles of gorgeous architecture as we rode along the Ringstrasse , the wide boulevard that encircles the inner city.

Our motorcoaches during the Viking Grand European Tour were always first-class, like this one ready to transport us to Vienna.

Vienna is the capital of Austria and displays a more elegant and romantic vibe. Also known as the City of Waltzes, Vienna is Europe’s center of classical music.

Ornate statues and fountains like this one abound in Vienna.

It was an hour-long ride to the city center, winding our way past palaces and public buildings so ornate they could have been palaces, as our guide pointed out the highlights. Finally, we reached the city center of Vienna. Talk about world-class shopping! Think of a store, Vienna has it.

Vienna City Center with a wealth of shopping to please every budget. And restaurants galore.

One of the most difficult things to decide was where to stop for coffee and Sachertorte. Coffee in Vienna is a cultural pastime and there are quaint Viennese coffee houses everywhere. Sachertorte is a rich decadent iced chocolate cake served with unsweetened whipped cream.

Opulent buildings such as these were around every corner on every street in Vienna!

With our guide narrating, we walked by the Spanish Riding School stables where we got a quick glance of the Lipizzaner stallions. They were beautiful animals. In the middle of the town square was the Gothic-inspired St. Stephan’s Cathedral. I was very disappointed that walking through the church was prohibited the day we visited and locals were stationed throughout the rear of the church explaining that.  The Gothic architecture on the walls and ceiling was certainly evident though.

Beautiful Gothic St. Stephan’s Cathedral in Vienna City Center. I was so disappointed we could not walk around more to admire it. 

After our guided coach and walking tour of Vienne concluded, we decided to walk back to the Magni, with our friends Fran and Dan. We used the GPS on Dan’s phone because Vienna was a huge city and we didn’t want to get lost. Turns out we were really only 2 miles from the ship.

A statue honoring Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria

After lunch, Robyne and I decided to head back into the city for some shopping. Our friends accompanied us and gave us a quick lesson on using the train. I’m quite overwhelmed when it comes to the subway or trains in other countries, but this time since we only had two stops to go each time, it was easy.

We shopped the day away and barely made it back to the boat for dinner! A good portion of the Viking Magni guests accompanying us on the Viking Grand European Tour were attending the optional excursion: Classical Concert. The music of Mozart and Strauss was to be played. We decided not to do this excursion, but 100% of everyone we spoke to upon their return simply gushed about how lovely it was in such an opulent setting. On behalf of all of them, I would recommend this optional tour on your Viking Grand European Tour river cruise.

Since those guests participating in the classical concert had a 5:30 PM early dinner seating, the Magni offered a late night snack for them of goulash at 10:30 PM upon their return.

Day 13: Viking Grand European Tour, Vienna, Austria (Day 2)

Our second day in Vienna began with the optional excursion we selected: Schonbrunn Palace . We boarded our Viking motorcoach at 9:30 AM for the ride to the palace. The local guide that accompanied us explained the sights along the way and about the Hapsburg family that used the palace as their summer vacation retreat. (Can you even imagine!?)

On a busy morning, we were eager to see the Hapsburg vacation palace.

Upon arrival we were surprised at the palace’s size – it was remarkably large! Matter of fact, it was built to rival the expansive Versailles Palace located outside Paris. Again, once inside we were not permitted to take pictures of the sheer opulence. It was indescribable. We toured room after room of sumptuous decadence and it was all beyond beautiful.

After the tour, we were encouraged to stroll through the expansive gardens. it was such a lovely sunny afternoon and we took advantage of it.

It was a beautiful day for a stroll through the Schonbrunn Palace Gardens.

We were back at the Viking Magni in time for a delicious lunch. We had our afternoon free until the Magni cast off at 4:00 PM so Robyne and I headed back out because we heard there was an Octoberfest celebration nearby.

Our destination was very easy for us to get to, no phone GPS needed, because we simply headed to the huge Ferris wheel in the distance, the Weiner Riesenrad. The Prater amusement park was less than 2 miles from where our ship was docked and very crowded on that Friday afternoon. It was not difficult to locate the Octoberfest celebrations once we arrived, we simply headed to the singing and laughing and music!

Robyne and I had so much fun at Octoberfest in Vienna during our Viking Grand European Tour.

All too fast 3:00 PM arrived and we headed back to the Magni.   An enrichment lecture entitled Austrian History was being presented onboard in the lounge by a professor from the local Austrian University.  What could have been a dry or uninspiring lecture actually turned out to be very interesting and entertaining.  As with all Viking presentations, this one was no different: the speaker had great command of the subject matter and presented it in an engaging manner. I would recommend when on your Viking Grand European Tour you attend this presentation.

Very interesting presentation in the Magni lounge on Austrian history. We made a point to attend as many of the enrichment activities as we could.

At 4:00 PM the Viking Magni set sail for Budapest, Hungary.

We spent many afternoons out on the top deck during our Viking Grand European Tour cruise, and it was a very popular way to meet other guests. Here we are as the Magni departed Vienna.

As much as we did not want to think about it, our Viking Grand European Tour river cruise of a lifetime was coming to an end. At her port talk this evening, not only did we learn about Budapest excursions, but Tessa began sharing the disembarkation process with us. It was an overview of what was involved, and the next evening, she would handle specifics.

Here our program director, Tessa, was instructing us on the disembarkation process .

Our busy evening ended with dinner and dancing to Oldies but Goodies in the lounge. And yes, they did take requests!

We met several of our neighbors when we were all out on our balconies during our Viking Grand European Tour as the Magni passed through the locks on the Danube. Here you can see from the wet walls all the way from the top to the bottom of this picture how far we were lowered before we could continue sailing.

Day 14: Viking Grand European Tour, Budapest, Hungary (Day 1)

Budapest, the capital of Hungary, is definitely a visually beautiful city, indeed. The Danube River cuts the city in half: the more cosmopolitan elegant Pest on one side and the more traditional Buda on the other.  The Viking Magni was docked right near the iconic Chain Bridge, a very convenient location for exploring.

This outstanding view was outside our stateroom balcony, looking up to Fishermen’s Bastion on the Buda side of the Danube River. 

We met our local guide at 9:00 AM for our included shore excursion: Panoramic Budapest. We boarded our Viking motorcoach right near the Magni and took a wonderful tour all through Budapest. We began in Buda, the hilly historical part of the city, with our guide narrating along the way.

Matthias Church in Fishermen’s Bastion in Budapest

Our coach brought us partially up Fishermen’s Hill where we were let off and walked up to Fishermen’s Bastion. It was a very crowded Saturday morning, but we still were able to immerse ourselves in the Hungarian history around us. The grand and mighty Matthias Church stood tall in the Bastion with an inspiring story all its own.  The panoramic vistas of the Danube and Pest from high up on Fishermen’s Bastion were unbelievable.

Turkish influences were apparent everywhere inside Matthias Church. Here is the grand high altar.

The opulent details of the past Turkish influence are visible everywhere in Matthias Church in Budapest.

Soon it was time to walk back down Fishermen’s Hill to our Viking motorcoach. We continued our motorcoach tour on to the modern Pesh side of the city. We saw Hero’s Square, and the National Opera House, a slab of the dreaded Berlin wall, and the Hungarian Parliament Building.

A very grim reminder indeed of the Berlin Wall.

The most moving, the most emotional monument we encountered, in my opinion, was Shoes on the Danube . Commemorating when the Hungarian Nazis killed Jewish Hungarian citizens on the banks of the Danube River, then threw their bodies into the river, it is now a very popular location. There are always candles and flowers placed in and around the brass shoes. Although they deeply regret what happened, the Hungarian citizens are not sweeping it away as it is part of their history.

A very haunting memorial: The Shoes on the Danube

We were back at the Viking Magni after a very wonderful and enlightening tour of Budapest for lunch.

As one of the final things we would be participating in on our Viking Grand European Tour river cruise, Robyne and I chose the optional excursion: Budapest thermal baths.  Relaxing in the rejuvenating waters of the Hungarian spas is a cultural tradition and has been a way of life for centuries.

Our motorcoach picked us up at 2:00 PM and we drove to the Szechenyi Baths and Swimming Pool on the Pest side. The Viking Magni provided robes and slippers for us, and of course, we wore our bathing suits. (I brought a pair of flip flops too.) We found out that the  Szechenyi Baths is one of the largest spa complexes in all of Europe. Many services were offered and I needed a map to get around.

The Szechenyi Baths and Swimming Pool outdoor pools in Budapest on our Viking Grand European Tour.  Yes, gets very crowded!

Wherever water was located, there was a sign informing us of the temperature of the waters. My favorites were the steam chambers. I liked the dry heat saunas too but steam is my thing! I was grateful these rooms were designated as quiet zones because the spa was very crowded and very loud on a busy Saturday afternoon and I appreciated the few moments of peaceful quiet.

Indoor pools. Outdoor pools. It was all quite overwhelming and wonderful at the same time. I  recommend this optional tour on the Viking Grand European Tour to get a first-hand look at Hungarian culture up close, but be warned, it can be very crowded, and you could be in waters with lots of peoples. And it can be loud!

All too soon our afternoon of soaking in the nourishing spas was over and we were headed back to the Magni, and our last evening of our Viking Grand European Tour.

The final farewell from Tessa, our program director all 15 days of the Viking Grand European Tour river cruise, and Magni Captain Mykola and Hotel Manager Peter.

Since no money changed hands on board the Viking Baldur and the Viking Magni during the course of our fifteen day Viking Grand European Tour, this was the evening to settle up our onboard account. The reception desk was staffed from 6:00 to 11:00 for this purpose.

The Captain’s Cocktail Party was festive with laughing, hugging, and tears. We had a final farewell toast celebrating our journey with Viking, all the new friendships that were formed and the memories-of-a-lifetime that were made.

The final farewell was given by Tessa, our program director for the entirety of the 15 day Viking Grand European Tour.  She was our organizer, our leader. She was always around whenever and wherever we needed her. If someone was having a problem or difficulty, she was always there. She made the trip! Thank you, Tessa, for an unbelievable and outstanding job as program director on our Viking Grand European Tour!

After our last dinner on the river cruise, we spent our final evening dancing in the lounge and saying goodbye to all of our friends. And then to packing for our trip back home….

Hungarian Parliament in all her splendor!

Day 15: Viking Grand European Tour, Budapest, Hungary (Day 2)

Viking had arranged Robyne’s and my transportation to the Budapest Airport as part of their services before we left home for the trip. The staff of the Magni had published departure information yesterday for all guests. My sister and I were instructed to leave our luggage outside of our stateroom door by 7:00 AM.

Since all passengers were leaving at all sorts of times throughout the night and early morning, breakfasts at the coffee stations and the Aquavit Terrace began at 2:30 AM. Breakfast in the main dining hall was from 6 – 9:00 AM. A new group of passengers would be arriving by 11:00 AM this morning and the staff needed to prepare the ship. All passengers from OUR Viking Grand  European Tour were required to be off the ship by 9:00 AM.

We went into the main dining hall for a warm breakfast and were ready to leave by the appointed 8:15 AM time. There was a full motorcoach of fellow passengers departing with us to the airport. All of our luggage had been transported from the ship to the coach and was lined up in numerical order, according to our room numbers, and we were responsible to verify each piece of luggage we brought with us was present. Then it was loaded up in the coach and we boarded. There was one final bittersweet farewell to Tessa, and we were off.

The airport was about 30 minutes away, and the passenger drop off where we pulled up was extremely busy. Robyne and my luggage was unloaded quickly, and instead of staying with the group and the Viking rep we decided to get a head start and go inside the terminal ourselves. Once inside it was an overwhelming madhouse with people and luggage everywhere, every which way. Realizing our mistake we rejoined the group and the Viking representative expertly directed us to the proper check-in location. Lesson learned!

After this, we were on our own and our Viking Grand European Tour river cruise had come to its official end.

Robyne and I gate side at the Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport giving the Hungarian herb liqueur Unicum a try. When on a Viking Grand European River Cruise, there’s always an adventure waiting to happen. 

Have you ever been on a Viking river cruise? What is your favorite memory? Please share with us in the comment section below. Do you have any questions regarding a Viking European river cruise? Please ask away in the comment section below.

Please note: I was provided a complimentary Viking Grand European Tour river cruise for myself and a guest, and a stipend, as an opportunity through Viking Cruises for the purpose of this honest review. All opinions are my own unless otherwise noted.

Reader Interactions

Terry Wright

December 3, 2018 at 5:20 pm

Looks amazing! What were the dates of your trip?

Linda Malys Yore

December 3, 2018 at 11:38 pm

The last two weeks of September

Denis Dunne

May 29, 2019 at 2:05 pm

My wife and I read your report in preparation for our GERC in 21 days. Thank you very much, we found it very interesting to read in preparation for our own trip. Excellent!

May 29, 2019 at 9:49 pm

I am so pleased I was able to make your preparations for your upcoming trip a little easier. I know you will have the BEST time.

Barbara Lezette

June 11, 2019 at 10:34 am

Your narrative said May 2019..when did you take this cruise? I am especially interested in river water levels. Taking this cruise in July.

June 11, 2019 at 1:35 pm

My cruise was in Sept, 2018, after an especially dry summer. What really impressed me thoroughly though, was HOW Viking dealt with the situation. It was disruptive for guests no doubt, but having a sister ship a few hours away (an a/c, WiFi equipped coach ride) so we were able to continue on our trip, was amazing.

June 11, 2019 at 10:36 am

When did you take this cruise..I’m particularly interested in water levels as will be taking it July 2019.

June 11, 2019 at 1:38 pm

In September 2018 after an especially dry summer. Viking handled the situation expertly.

November 15, 2019 at 10:49 am

Loved reading your fantastic review of the grand European river cruise. It was so informative. Eight of us are taking this cruise next October. Thank you so much.

November 19, 2019 at 8:27 am

You are very welcome. Going with a group will be so much fun.

Sharjah Park

March 26, 2020 at 9:11 am

Glad to see such a great post,As i was looking for the same one ,As i was on vacation.Thanks for sharing such a great post.

Cheryl Dore

March 10, 2022 at 1:49 pm

I enjoyed reading your adventures on the Viking Grand European river tour. I am going on the same tour this coming June. I lost my husband last June 2021 and I will be traveling solo. I am curious if you encountered any solo travelers. I’m excited, but a little nervous traveling by myself.

March 16, 2022 at 5:13 pm

Cheryl, I am so sorry to learn about the loss of your husband. I was with my sister on this particular sailing. However, I have cruised solo and it is a wonderful experience. And, with river cruising, the number of travelers onboard is smaller, allowing more opportunities to run into the same people, thus making friends. I wish you the best time ever!!!

April 9, 2022 at 6:34 pm

My husband and I like to explore independently and I read that you sometimes took the excursion coach into town, went on all or part of the tour, and then sometimes made your own way back to the ship. If we sign up for the included tours and then decide to go it on our own for all or part of the excursion, is Viking OK with that? I’m guessing that they are. I’m thinking that we might stick with the excursion if town is far from the dock or if there is an admission fee that comes with the excursion and when we want to skip something or just set off on our own, we will do that. Thanks for your excellent report here.

April 12, 2022 at 4:16 pm

To be totally sure, I would consult Viking before your journey. I found this cruise line VERY accommodating to travelers’ needs. You are free to take all or part of a tour. The staff is very eager and ready to give advice on alternate things to do, places to visit, how to get back to the ship, tips on local transportation, etc… Hope you have the cruise-of-a-lifetime with Viking!

April 12, 2022 at 4:20 pm

November 16, 2022 at 11:43 am

On the Viking included shore excursion in Vienna did they give you the option of not going back on the bus to the ship and where was the last stop?

In Budapest you were docked on the Buda side or the Pest side?

[…] Viking River Cruise’s Grand European Tour, Highlights Part 2  […]

[…] Read next: Week two of my Viking Grand European Tour […]

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• River Cruising

Excursions on Viking Grand European

By texbecca , September 21, 2022 in River Cruising

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My partner and I are going on our first river cruise May 2023. (Viking Grand European A-B). The window to sign up for excursions will open next month. I want to be prepared because I've heard some of the more popular excursions will sell out. Which excursions are the best? On various posts, I've read a couple of mentions recommending the Top of Cologne tour as well as a wine tour. Are there others that we should consider?

I have been on the GET and also several times along the Danube with other Viking cruises.

Of the optional ones (i.e. at an extra charge) listed on the 2023 GET itinerary I have been on

VIENNA -Historic Farmers’ Market Visit With Local Chef.

so-so I quite enjoyed it at the time but the market is not huge and I wouldn't go again. You could visit the market yourself, it's only a short ride on the Metro from where the boat is moored

VIENNA -Mozart & Strauss Concert

I didn't want to go to this and Mrs P paid and dragged me along unwillingly. I loved it, and we've been back twice and would go again next time we pass through Vienna.

MELK - Wachau Valley Winery

I'm a wine geek and book wine tastings. Last time we were in Wachau Viking had a visit to Morwald winery which was hosted by owner/winemaker Earhard Morwald. His wines used to be the red and white house wines for Viking - when it was smaller than it is today. The visit was great. 

But the blurb doesn't name the winery that is visited so it's anyones guess what the visit will be.

The most grown white - and what Austria is famous for - is Gruner Veltliner, a beautiful dry crisp white. The most grown black grape is the Bluer Zweigelt, often just known at Zweigelt, a light fruity red wine. Quality of Austrian wines is top notch.

19 hours ago, texbecca said: My partner and I are going on our first river cruise May 2023. (Viking Grand European A-B). The window to sign up for excursions will open next month. I want to be prepared because I've heard some of the more popular excursions will sell out. Which excursions are the best? On various posts, I've read a couple of mentions recommending the Top of Cologne tour as well as a wine tour. Are there others that we should consider?

We just did the GET Amsterdam to Budapest in August.  Unfortunately most of the optional tours we booked were cancelled, due to changes in our itinerary, caused by low water levels, and the need for the ship to keep moving along and pick us up in different locations.  I can comment on the optional tours that we did take.  We took the tour of Rothenburg, with the Bishops Residenz in the afternoon, which we found very enjoyable.  If you enjoy art, or art history, the Klimt workshop in Vienna is very good.  Belvedere Palace is beautiful.  A private guide meets you at Belvedere, gives you a tour, tells you about Klimt, including viewing his art works, then you decorate a mirror with gold leaf.  Unfortunately, neither of us are very artistically inclined, so our finished product was pretty amateurish, but we had fun trying.  We also took the trip/boat ride to Scharding Austria.  It turned out to be a very fun excursion, which I mostly attributed to our excellent tour guide, Eva.  Scharding is picturesque, we had an easy workshop, making seasoned salt, with a mortar/ pestle, and took a boat ride on a salt barge replica, where the beer flowed freely.  Apparently, the Life under Communism tour sells out the fastest in Budapest, along with the Lippizaner excursion in Vienna.  We got the last 2 tickets for Life under Communism, and they usually don't add slots, because you can drive a Soviet era Trabant, and only a limited # of cars are available.  Alas, this was one of our cancelled excursions, since our ship was not docked in Budapest, and we had to be bussed 90 minutes each way, so we didn't have enough time to do the tour.  Even though we didn't go on the Saltzburg tour, if you are a fan of The Sound of Music, those passengers who went, gave it good reviews. Same for the Winery Tour, which we didn't go to, but fellow passengers enjoyed it.  Hope this helps a little.

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