Our Viking Danube River Cruise Experience
- Deb Pentek
- 5 days ago
- 11 min read
This Spring, I attended the 2025 American Society of Travel Advisors River Cruise Expo held in Vienna. Before the Expo started, my husband and I had a unique opportunity to sail on a four-day Viking River "Mini Cruise" along the Danube.
Let me take you through our experience from life on the ship, to the itinerary, the food, the daily excursions at each stop, and more. This is our first-hand honest review of what we liked, and didn't like, on our river cruise onboard Viking Rinda.
We had a few questions going in:
What would the age demographic be like?
Are there opportunities to connect with fellow passengers?
Would the ship feel crowded?
Would the daily excursions be interesting and fun?
Would we have enough time in each of the cities & sites we visit?
How is the food and beverage?
How did we like the staterooms and the ship amenities?
Would we sail Viking River Cruises again?
Just a heads up—this was mid-March, and an early start for the season. The crew was together for the first time this season, and we needed sweaters and jackets for the cold weather, but it was totally manageable. And to set the record straight, while the shortened itinerary was designed for Expo attendees, this was a solid example of what clients can expect when embarking on a standard Viking Danube River cruise experience.
Life on board Viking Rinda
As soon as we boarded the ship, the check-in process in the main foyer was a breeze. A quick passport review was all that was needed before a crew member escorted us to our stateroom (The crew handles all your luggage onboard). From the beginning, the crew was exceptional. We always felt welcomed, special, and taken care of. The crew is proud to work for Viking and it shows.
Our Viking Stateroom
We chose a Veranda A stateroom (205 sq. ft with a private veranda). This has a queen-size bed, a floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door to the outside veranda, a flat-screen TV and adequate counter and closet space. Our empty luggage fit conveniently under the bed. Space around the bed was a bit tight but manageable.
On the counter, we found our wireless audio device (called a VOX), which we need to bring for for the daily excursions, and should be re-charged each night. Also fresh water and glasses, a very nice welcome letter, and a schedule of activities. On our bed were printed tickets for our upcoming Vienna excursion (more on that below).
There is a full large closet, with plenty of shelving, hangers, a safe, shoe horn, laundry service pricing, and a hair dryer. There was plenty of room for our extra backpacks, shoes and coats.
The TV had several news channels (one English speaking) and some complimentary movies…but nothing special. The private bath came with a heated floor and anti-fog mirror (nice!), but we found the shower to be a quite snug. The shower door also didn't seal well (lots of people had this issue) and water would leak out. My husband struggled with this and I would caution taller or larger clients.
Overall, we found our stateroom to be clean, bright and comfortable, but a bit on the “plain” side.
Dining on Viking
The main meals are served in the restaurant on the middle deck at the front of the ship. Seating is open, so you may sit with fellow travelers at a larger table, or smaller tables for four. It's a great way to meet others on your journey. Beer and house wines are included at lunch and dinner, with premium wines available for an additional charge. The delightful staff did a great job of remembering our names and preferences right from the beginning!
Viking ships offer al fresco dining (lighter fare and a limited menu) in the front of the ship at the Aquavit Terrace. There are only about 10 tables, and its quieter and has better views. If the weather was better, folding glass doors to the outside would be open. People also used this area for general lounging when having a coffee or evening beverage.
Breakfast was a simple buffet-style and features a small range of hot and cold options catering to American preferences with a nod to local cuisine. It includes various meats, cheeses, cereals, fruits, and a made-to-order omelet station. I wished there were more options, and after the third day I was craving variety.
Lunch included options from a daily chef’s selection that would vary slightly during the cruise. Viking also offers an "Always Available" menu for those that want American classics. This is available every day and on-board all ships. They did an excellent job for those with gluten or other dietary needs.
The dinner service works the same way - Regional Specialties and Always Available menu items. Portions were not large, so we didn't feel overfed, even when choosing all the courses (and dessert).
Our cruise included a themed dinner event titled "Taste of Austria," which featured a regional tasting menu accompanied by traditional Austrian musicians. While it had a bit of a cheesy vibe, the musicians were talented and the food felt genuinely authentic. The Always Available menu was not offered during these special themed dinner events (but I imagine we could have asked).
My husband and I consider ourselves to be foodies, so perhaps our expectations were too high. But in our opinion, the food on this cruise was simple, plain and just ok…nothing creative or exceptional. The house wines were fair at best, and we highly recommend paying for the upgraded 'Silver Spirits' beverage package. The premium selections were much better and worth the extra cost...which we gladly paid.
Lounge Area on Viking
On the first night, don’t miss the "Captain’s Welcome" in the lounge! The Captain and crew introduce themselves and go over important safety information and procedures. It’s a great opportunity to meet the team that will be looking after you throughout the cruise. Plus, you’ll enjoy complimentary welcome champagne and hors d’oeuvres while getting to know some of your fellow passengers.
The Lounge is a great spot to relax - lots of large windows and comfortable indoor seating, a well-equipped bar and a 24-hour self-serve coffee/tea station nearby. It's easy to unwind whether you're curled up with a book and a coffee or just taking in the views. During the day or evening, passengers gathered here to get the details on upcoming excursions, lectures, cooking demos, and more.
Each evening after dinner, guests are entertained with live music. Nothing too lively - more of a mood-setter. Adult beverages at the bar are available at an additional cost - in our assessment, the pricing was reasonable and the quality was very good.
So, at this point you may be wondering… if I’m not eating, out on an excursion, or sitting in the bar, what’s there to do on the ship?
Well, the short answer is, find a spot in the lounge, on the sun deck or at the front of the ship and watch the world go by! Sometimes the ship sails during and after dinner, but there are times when it cruises during the day. I loved waking up early and going up on deck to see passing small towns. Although our daytime sail came with some clouds, it’s still a unique and wonderful way to see the landscape and beautiful towns you would not otherwise get to see!
This was our 'mini-cruise' itinerary:
Day 1 – Vienna, Austria
Day 2 – Krems, Austria
Day 3 – Linz/Salzburg, Austria
Day 4 – Return to Vienna, Austria
Viking daily excursions
Viking offers one daily shore excursion at each port included in the cruise price, with alternative excursions available for an additional fee. Usually the included excursion is a walking tour. For excursions needing transportation, this is provided by a luxury motor coach with approximately 20 travelers per guide. These buses were excellent and new. The steps are quite steep, so for guests that prefer to avoid stairs, I recommend boarding the front of the bus. Remember to bring your wireless earpiece/audio device to listen to your guide! Excursions can vary in length depending on the time scheduled in port. Sometimes we had time to self-explore after the tour and sometimes we needed to return to the ship and move to the next port.
Day 1 - Vienna - Panoramic Tour of Central Vienna
Today we had the pleasure of a very nice walking tour of Vienna, which started by taking a motor coach to the Old Town Area where our walk began. Our guide was excellent - extremely knowledgeable and proud of his city.
We visited the Museum Quarter, toured the Hofburg Palace grounds, including a stop at the stable area of the famous Lipizzaner Stallions (the horses are beautiful). We then made our way to Graben Street (great high-end boutiques) and ended at Stephansplatz – a vibrant square filled with cafés, restaurants, shops and home to the stunning St Stephen’s Cathedral.
We spent about 2 hours with our guide and then had 2 hours of free time to explore the heart of Vienna on our own before heading back to the ship. We had plenty of time on our own to wander and grab some coffee and a delicious dessert.
Although we’d been to Vienna before, we found this excursion to be very high quality, and an insightful overview of the city. For a full Vienna experience, I highly recommend clients arrive a few days prior to the cruise.
Day 2 - Krems - Mörwald Winery Tour & Tasting
Given Krems is a small village, it made sense that the excursion here is a winery tour and tasting! We enjoy wine, love learning about the process and the unique grape varietals the world has to offer. We were looking forward to an insightful foray into Austrian wine by visiting . Unfortunately, we found this excursion to be a bit of a disappointment.
Mörwald Erhard is an award winning Austrian winery making white, rose and red wines for Viking. They are a proud family-run company and a very popular excursion. While the wine was ok, we found the 2.5-hour experience very short on learning about the wine making process and Austrian grape varieties. It was more of an attempted comedy routine between the winery owner and our guide. We later learned that these two folks have been doing this “schtick” for years. In our opinion, what could have been an informative experience was (in our words) “dumbed down” for the excursion.
Day 3 - Linz/Salzburg - "The Sound of Music"
Although Linz has an attractive downtown area, the city serves as a port and gateway to Salzburg, about 2 hours away. Salzburg was the setting for the 1965 film “The Sound of Music” and is the theme for this day-long excursion. If you’ve seen the film, you will surely recognize the sites!
The first stop is the picturesque village of Mondsee, situated adjacent to a stunning mountain lake. While the town is quite charming with a few cute shops, the primary attraction is the renowned church where the wedding scene of Maria and Captain von Trapp was filmed. It’s quite pretty inside. After a quick 30 minutes, we were on to Salzburg. This was a unique stop that other river cruise lines don't visit, so if you are a huge Sound of Music fan, this was a win for Viking.
Once we arrived at Salzburg, our tour began with a quick visit to the Mirabell Garden where a number of Sound of Music scenes were filmed. We then walked to the Old Town area, which is a bustling combination of historic sites, high-end boutiques, restaurants and cafes. The old town is a “must-see!” We visited Mozart’s birthplace, the DomQuartier square (Archbishop’s Residence) and the Salzburg Cathedral. So many beautiful things to enjoy in this easy-to-stroll city!
Our tour also included a private lunch at St Peter’s Stiftskulinarium, the oldest restaurant in Europe dating back to 803 AD and well known for its fine Austrian cuisine. It was beautiful inside! But, we were disappointed that lunch was simply grilled chicken, polenta and vegetables. Lunch also included a live musical show featuring the songs from the Sound of Music. If you’re a fan of the film you will probably enjoy this. My husband (non-fan) found this a bit “cheesy”, so we skipped dessert and left early. It also took up valuable time that could be spent exploring more of Salzburg - it truly is a charming city.
Now that we were on our own, we made our way to the Fortress Hohensalzburg, a massive medieval fortress overlooking the city. You can walk up to it, but we recommend taking the funicular - it’s quick and only a few euros. The views are spectacular and this is also a “must-see!” Afterwards, we found the cemetery that inspired the film's famous "hiding from the Germans scene." We continued exploring the streets of the Old Town before re-joining our group for the bus ride back to the ship.
Our honest assessment of our Viking Danube River cruise experience
Age Demographic
Viking Cruises is known for catering to an older clientele, and they take pride in providing exceptional service for this demographic. We noticed that the staff and tour guides were especially attentive, speaking slowly and offering additional explanations for technology. While we appreciated their thoughtful approach, we didn’t always enjoy being treated this way. At times, we found the pace slow and were hoping for a more energetic, “go, go, go” experience.
Connecting with fellow passengers
The relaxed atmosphere of the ship makes it easy to strike up conversations, whether you’re at the bar, at a shared table at dinner, on an excursion, during an event in the lounge, on deck relaxing, or during evening entertainment. Even solo travelers had no trouble connecting with others. We could engage as much or as little as we desired.
Viking Ship
The Viking Rinda has capacity for 190 passengers and to our knowledge was full. However, while the ship was buzzing with activity, it usually did not feel crowded. The few exceptions were at the welcome event, cooking demonstration and education sessions. Even at dinner there were always a few empty seats. We were able to find quiet spaces as well as social ones. The crew was fantastic, and we really enjoyed how they greeted us with a huge smile, and provided friendly and excellent service every time. We were sad to say goodbye to several of them after just a short time together!
Quality of Viking excursions
The excursion to Vienna’s Old Town was excellent. However, in our opinion, the Austrian Winery visit and the Salzburg 'Dinner and a Show' were somewhat disappointing and not the most efficient use of our time. However, we still enjoyed ourselves even with these shortcomings. We were also pleased at having some free time in several ports to explore on our own.
Viking Food and Beverages
This was the biggest issue for us, and by day four, I was really looking forward to more variety and options. The food was simple plain, and just ok - nothing creative or exceptional. Viking does not vary their menu items nearly as much as other cruise lines do. The Premium wine selections were a much better choice for us, and worth the upcharge. Their cocktails were excellent and reasonably priced.
Viking Staterooms and Ship Amenities
Staterooms on Viking River Cruise ships are generally smaller compared to other cruise lines. While the room did feel a bit tight and the shower was a challenge, it was bright and well-maintained. The overall layout of the ship is very pleasant, with a spacious lounge, coffee area, and a small library. However, one downside is the lack of a common area at the aft (back) of the ship for all guests to enjoy. Only those staying in the most expensive suites have access to the aft views. After sailing with Avalon, AmaWaterways and Riverside, we really missed having access to an aft lounge or deck. Viking doesn't offer a massage or fitness room, nor do they provide bikes, meaning fewer options and amenities compared to some other cruise lines.
Would we sail Viking River Cruise again?
Yes! But only for a unique itinerary that another cruise line does not offer. While we had a lot of fun on Viking, there are other river cruise lines that better fit our style and preferences. In addition, I have to be willing to book at 12-24 months out (their ships sell out) and pay in full an entire year in advance. Other river cruise lines require full payment much closer to sail date, and we really enjoy those lines.
River cruising is a fun and unique way to travel, as a couple, with friends, and even solo. If river cruising might interest you, skip the Google searches and advice from social media strangers. Schedule a call with me to explore your perfect river cruise - tailored just for you.
Keep dreaming, keep exploring,
and keep making memories.
All my best,
Deb
Deb Pentek is the Owner and Travel Advisor behind Vacation Memories by Deb, LLC. She’s a member of ASTA (American Society of Travel Advisors) and CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association). Originally from the East Coast, she now lives in the Chicago area with her family. Travel has always been a big part of life for Deb, her husband, and their two adult children—they’ve made plenty of memories exploring together. Now that the kids are grown, Deb and her husband are checking off their never-ending bucket list, just the two of them. Her own travel experiences have taught her a lot, and she brings that knowledge to every trip she plans—helping clients travel with confidence and create vacation memories that last a lifetime.
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