r/rivercruises

Hello! I am booked on a mid-November sailing from Budapest to Vilshofen on AmaWaterways. I’ve been to Europe many times (including in the fall) and have been on a Rhine River cruise before, but for some reason SHOES are really flummoxing me on this packing list!!

I will bring a pair of supportive tennis shoes for the long walking days, and a pair of dressy sandals to be used for all dinners. Where I am stumped is - what if it rains?? I can’t decide if I should buy a pair of waterproof boots, bring a second pair of tennis shoes, or what I should do.

I’m leaning towards a pair of waterproof boots because there is nothing more rotten than getting stuck with wet shoes. How have others dealt with this on your fall cruises where there’s a higher possibility of rain??

Also open to recommendations for waterproof shoes, if you have some you love! They must be supportive and comfortable, I’ve dealt with plantar fasciitis in the past and would like to keep that in the past!

I’m seeing a lot of posts either regretting a decision to stick with a Rhine trip or deciding to cancel and take a future boat. Most of these seem to be with non-Viking companies which have already made their offers for mid-October trips. Meanwhile, Viking has only communicated generic info, claiming that they have more ports, boats, etc and are “better prepared for low water” than other lines. We don’t depart until the 22nd, and while I don’t expect better news on the water levels, I do expect Viking to make their offers soon.
So, for any experienced Viking travelers, what’s your take on their claims to be better suited for current sailing conditions? We’ve already decided that if there’s more than one bus detour - which there will almost certainly be - we’ll skip the trip and claim the refund.

My grandmother and I are planning on taking the Viking’s Grand European Cruise next year in July. She is an 81 year old woman - below average mobility. She can walk, just not for considerable distances. It has been her life long dream to do this cruise.

We will be travelling from Australia, so that will already be a considerable toll on her body.

Is this tour suitable for elderly travellers? I would be there to support her, but I would still want this trip to be worthwhile for her without requiring my support 24/7.

Any and all advice is welcome, thank you!!

Looking at the itinerary for this, can someone help me identify the closest metro stop to the embarkation point in Paris? I’m sending my wife and her best friend for their joint 60th birthday present and want to arrange a few days prior to the cruise.

We’re considering Viva Two’s westward bound Danube Christmas market cruise in 2027. We’re thinking there’s no need for a French balcony during the colder months and we would probably prefer the less expensive window cabin.

However, I don’t necessarily want to be looking at a riverside wall (window view) when we’re docked. Is there a better side (port or starboard) that would more commonly have the open river view?

Or is the lower deck window view not an issue in general? Also, is there a difference in temperature comfort in either cabin type (in December)?