Viking River Cruises had not sailed onto my radar until my mom and dad cruised the Rhine River several years ago. It just seemed like something that older people did. Go ahead and laugh. But from the minute that we met our Viking-appointed driver β at midnight in the Budapest airport after a hour trip from Fort Wayne, Indiana, via Chicago where we were delayed for mechanical issues and then Frankfurt where we then missed our connection and ended up with a hour layover β I decided that I could get used to the bountiful little luxuries provided by a Viking River Cruise.
So the very nature of a cruise in which things are planned and managed is a novelty. And that leads me to a long list of pros:. Viking has a fleet of river and ocean cruise ships. Ours was the Viking Jarl , built in It holds as many as guests. There are three levels on the ship, plus an open-air deck on top. The lower level includes guest rooms and crew areas.
The middle level includes guest rooms, guest services and the restaurant, plus a dining terrace. The third level includes guest rooms, a library and other seating, and the lounge. The top level is an open-air deck with a walking track, herb garden, solar panels, shuffleboard and a golf putting area. We chose the most affordable room, It had two twin beds, a full bathroom, a small closet, three drawers, a mini fridge and a TV. We had a small window and were eye-level with the water.
Other rooms offer more space, or balconies, or other combinations of luxuries and perks. Arrival in Budapest. If you arrive as scheduled, then you can embark at 3 p. We missed this part of the trip, arriving after midnight thanks to our flight delays.
An included excursion to Budapest pronounced Bu-da-pesht. Along the way, our guide explained the basics of the Hungarian language and the large concrete buildings, a holdover from communist days, in which many of the citizens of the Pest side of Budapest live. Our first stop was Heroes Square, where we disembarked for a history lesson. We then boarded the buses for a driving tour of the Buda side of the city, enjoying views of the Danube, its many bridges and the Parliament Building.
