River Cruise - Romantic Danube - Viking Njord Part 6

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Gill W
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River Cruise - Romantic Danube - Viking Njord Part 6

#1

Post by Gill W »

Day 7

I'm writing this on the last evening of our cruise, after a very busy day.

An early start, as we wanted to be out on deck for the sail into Budapest at
8am, which was fantastic, and a lovely sunny morning too.

Then we went on our included excursion, which was a panoramic drive round the
city, with a couple of stops for walking. Then back to the ship for the 4th of
July lunch. After lunch we went on an optional excursion, to see a Hungarian
Equestrian Show. Although the show was ok, in retrospect I wish we'd stayed in
town and just walked around. We are berthed right in the heart of the city, so
it would have been so easy.

Disembarkation arrangements are very straightforward. We have been given coloured
tags for our appropriate departure slot. Everyone has vacate their cabin by
9am. For our flight, our cases also have to be put out by 9am. They are taken
away ready to load on to the airport transfer coach. We then wait in the public
area until 11.15am, for our coach. The luggage waits for us outside the coach,
we confirm which cases are ours, and they are loaded into the coach. Then off
to the airport for our 2.10pm flight. We are lucky with our timing - some of
the American's leave the ship at 3.30am.

We have been given a preliminary bill, and will get the final bill overnight.
Our credit card is is not pre-registered, we simply need to pay the bill by card
or cash by 9am tomorrow morning.

Regarding tipping - it's all quite straightforward.

You can either put the money in an envelope and put the envelope in the drop
box. Or you can add whatever you want to pay to the bill.

There's none of this removing auto-gratuities, or taking envelopes down to the
last dinner.

It just seems very simple.

However, the suggested gratuities are quite steep. It's recommended that the
tip for the staff (shared amongst all staff) is EUR12 per person, per night.
Also the recommended tip for the Programme Director is EUR2 per person per
night. Therefore, for a couple on a seven night cruise, this works out at about
EUR200, considerably more than P&O. We've gone with the recommended amount,
using the envelopes in the drop box, as we have received excellent service. But
it is quite a lot of money.

As I type this last note, it is 10 o'clock in the evening, I'm sitting on my
bed, looking out the window at the illuminated chain bridge in the heart of
Budapest. I'm having one of those 'that's why I cruise' moments. It doesn't
get much better than this.




To follow - final thoughts - when I get them typed up!
Gill

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Meg 50
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Re: River Cruise - Romantic Danube - Viking Njord Part 6

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Post by Meg 50 »

thank you so much for posting your reports - the Danube is next but one on our bucket list - prob 2016
Meg
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Dennis The Menace
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Re: River Cruise - Romantic Danube - Viking Njord Part 6

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Post by Dennis The Menace »

Cheers Gill, a real insight.

I don't have a bucket list (I'm way, way younger than Meg :silent: ) but when I do, it will be on there :)

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Meg 50
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Re: River Cruise - Romantic Danube - Viking Njord Part 6

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Post by Meg 50 »

Dennis The Menace wrote:
Cheers Gill, a real insight.

I don't have a bucket list (I'm way, way younger than Meg :silent: ) but when I do, it will be on there :)
watch it, young Menace, or 'throw the bucket at Menace' will be catapulted to the top of the list
Meg
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Kenmo1
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Re: River Cruise - Romantic Danube - Viking Njord Part 6

#5

Post by Kenmo1 »

'I'm having one of those that's why I cruise moments. It doesn't get much better than this.' - how wonderful to be able to sum up a holiday like that.

Maureen

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Dancing Queen
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Re: River Cruise - Romantic Danube - Viking Njord Part 6

#6

Post by Dancing Queen »

Lovely review Gill it sounds as if you had a wonderful time.
Jo

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GillD46
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Re: River Cruise - Romantic Danube - Viking Njord Part 6

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Post by GillD46 »

It's been very interesting reading, Gill. Probably not for us - too excursion and port intensive, but I have enjoyed reading all about it. And it does sound more relaxed.

Is it something you'd do again?
Gill

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johnds
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Re: River Cruise - Romantic Danube - Viking Njord Part 6

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Post by johnds »

Gill W wrote:
However, the suggested gratuities are quite steep. It's recommended that the
tip for the staff (shared amongst all staff) is EUR12 per person, per night.
Also the recommended tip for the Programme Director is EUR2 per person per
night. Therefore, for a couple on a seven night cruise, this works out at about
EUR200, considerably more than P&O. We've gone with the recommended amount,
using the envelopes in the drop box, as we have received excellent service. But
it is quite a lot of money.
We did a 14 day river cruise with Viking last year. Thr Programme Director was very good but I declined to tip the "suggested amount"
You may think this mean but 14 days at "2 Euros = 28 Euros so with say 200 passengers the "suggested amount" comes to 5,600 Euros ( About £5000 then).
This is just excessive for two weeks work. How many get paid that let alone given it as a tip.
John

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Meg 50
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Re: River Cruise - Romantic Danube - Viking Njord Part 6

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Post by Meg 50 »

GillD46 wrote:
It's been very interesting reading, Gill. Probably not for us - too excursion and port intensive, but I have enjoyed reading all about it. And it does sound more relaxed.

Is it something you'd do again?
you can get river cruises where the excursions aren't included in the basic fare
Meg
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Gill W
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Re: River Cruise - Romantic Danube - Viking Njord Part 6

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Post by Gill W »

Meg 50 wrote:
thank you so much for posting your reports - the Danube is next but one on our bucket list - prob 2016
We did Nuremberg to Budapest, but Viking also have Passau to Budapest, which includes a day trip to Salzburg and a stop at Bratislava. There's also Budapest to Bucharest, so there's lots of choice.
GillD46 wrote:
It's been very interesting reading, Gill. Probably not for us - too excursion and port intensive, but I have enjoyed reading all about it. And it does sound more relaxed.

Is it something you'd do again?
Would I do it again? Yes, next week if possible!
johnds wrote:
Gill W wrote:
However, the suggested gratuities are quite steep. It's recommended that the
tip for the staff (shared amongst all staff) is EUR12 per person, per night.
Also the recommended tip for the Programme Director is EUR2 per person per
night. Therefore, for a couple on a seven night cruise, this works out at about
EUR200, considerably more than P&O. We've gone with the recommended amount,
using the envelopes in the drop box, as we have received excellent service. But
it is quite a lot of money.
We did a 14 day river cruise with Viking last year. Thr Programme Director was very good but I declined to tip the "suggested amount"
You may think this mean but 14 days at "2 Euros = 28 Euros so with say 200 passengers the "suggested amount" comes to 5,600 Euros ( About £5000 then).
This is just excessive for two weeks work. How many get paid that let alone given it as a tip.
I did the maths as well, and it is eye popping.

The Programme Director was on the go from early morning to late at night, and did the job of Cruise Director and Excursions Manager. I ended up looking at the smaller picture, was he worth EUR2 per day to me? I decided he was, so that's why I tipped accordingly.
Gill

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Meg 50
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Re: River Cruise - Romantic Danube - Viking Njord Part 6

#11

Post by Meg 50 »

we're looking at this one if it's available then:http://www.lueftner-cruises.com/en/crui ... _cache=1#1
Meg
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Gill W
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Re: River Cruise - Romantic Danube - Viking Njord Part 6

#12

Post by Gill W »

That looks like a lovely itinerary. Some people did Prague on a pre-cruise stay, and spoke very highly of the city.

I saw a few Amadeus ships along the river and thought they looked very nice.

By the way, that website looks very like the P&O site, I was a bit confused at first :lol:
Gill


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Re: River Cruise - Romantic Danube - Viking Njord Part 6

#13

Post by Jacknian »

Thanks for the very interesting report Gill. It does sound quite different to the P&O cruises that we've done and makes me think that maybe we should try something new !

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