Friday 21st November 2008
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No complaints but also no wow!! |
| Reviewed By: Williams, St Albans on 26th Jun 2008 |
| Cruise Line: Viking River Cruises |
Times cruised before: 1-2 |
| Cruise Ship: Viking Helvetia |
Sailed:
June,
2008 |
| Destination: Rhine |
Age: 56-65 |
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We went on our second river cruise, this time with Viking cruises down the Rhine, having previously been with Orient Express down the Rhone. There was really no comparison as the former had 200 passengers and the latter 8 and its own chef but was hugely more expensive.
So what of Viking cruises - well we were impressed by the standard of their service, by the quality of the food and by the overall value for money, particularly as shore excursions were included. Equally the entertainment provided by the one man musician was very acceptable and supplemented by local German and French singers at two of the river stops. So we should have come back feeling extremely positive but although it is hard to be critical the overall trip lacked any wow factor that many of the ocean cruises we have been on did possess and which certainly the Orient Express trip had in plenty. So what was the difference - was it simply that the places we visited were less spectacular or that the trips to them were more limited or was it that the boat was inevitably a lot smaller and less of a thrill? I suppose all of these things were factors, although both Amsterdam and Cologne were excellent locations to visit. The standard of the trips were typical tourist fare but were a bit contrived and restricted eg a visit to a music museum in Rudesheim,an unknown church and a cuckoo clock shop in the Black Forest.
So my bottom line was that I feel almost guilty in not being more enthusiastic, as there were no major problems or complaints but truth be told,one was was left feeling underwhelmed but not quite able to put ones finger on why. Perhaps I will enjoy it more if I go when I am 70 rather than 60!!
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