Danube River Cruises to Vienna and Budapest

This was our first river cruise and we were unsure what to expect. Our apprehensions were immediately dispelled by Bart, our cruise director, who met us at the Athenee Hilton Hotel in Bucharest. Bart proved to be an excellent cruise director guiding us through 4 countries, two time zones and several very interesting destinations. The vessel (as the Austrian Captain liked to call it) was a new one for 2016 and was outstandingly well equipped. We thoroughly enjoyed the 'open seating plan' in the dining room together with a very high standard of cuisine and the flexibility the dining arrangements allowed. We joined in some of the included tours, all of which were well organised, highly informative and led by English speaking guides who were both knowledgeable about the sights we visited and enthusiastic about the countries they represented, taking time to explain some of the history and culture of the regions. All tours were in good class air-conditioned coaches and headsets provided. We visited Orthodox churches, Christian cathedrals, castles, forts, rock formations, caves, monasteries, mountain retreats and archeological sites. We tasted local spirits and foods and listened to an organ recital in a Hungarian cathedral. Onboard, we had lectures on Communism, demonstrations of iconography, folk dancing and a talk by an Bulgarian orthodox priest in addition to the nightly entertainment from the resident pianist and a show from the ships crew. There was also time for free exploration at the ports of call - a feature which the cruise director encouraged by providing us with detailed maps of the area and synopses of the places we might visit. Being used to this sort of travel in the past we much appreciated this aspect of the cruise. The highlight of this cruise was for us the passing through the grand locks and the cruise through the mighty Iron Gates gorge in Serbia. A truly wonderful experience. Disembarkation in Budapest to the Intercontinental hotel was smooth as were all transfers and VIP door to door service. On the vessel, on the tours and in the transfers all people spoke English. Most of our fellow travellers were US some Canadians and a few British. This holiday exceeded our expectations by miles. We must thank Blue Water for finding it for us and negotiating such a good deal. We would recommend Blue Water and particularly Avalon Waterways to any one who is looking for a stimulating and exciting travel experience. .......and that is from 70yr olds who have travelled a lot. Thank you again for bringing this tour to us.

The river boat was immaculate, well run, and luxurious. The food was excellent and the moving scenery beautiful. Lots of excursions and something new every day, great fun.

We were welcomed onboard AmaLyra by friendly faces at reception. After settling in to our spacious cabin, we made our way down to the Lounge for a Welcome Talk by the Captain before going down to the restaurant. For lunch and dinner there was a choice of meals, and some extra options incase you didn't want any of the main meals...steak and chips was often very popular amongst all the guests! Some of the dishes on the main menu included local delicacies. We spent our first evening on the sun deck, taking in the views of the Budapest Illuminations as we cruised along the River Danube. Each evening when we returned to our cabains, we found a schedule for the next day so we knew what the plan was. There were plenty of excursions available to suit all interests and fitness levels. Visiting the Christmas markets in each of the towns, particularly Vienna and Budapest made it a very special way to see in the festive season Would I recommend this cruises - I certainly would!

We didn't know what to expect, as we had never gone on a river cruise before, but we had a wonderful time on the Amacerto travelling from Vilshofen in Germany to Passau, Linz, Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest. The service, food and entertainment on board were excellent, the tour guides were well-informed and interesting, and we saw so many beautiful places while travelling in the most relaxing way possible. The ship even carried bicycles for those who wanted a bit of exercise, so we could enjoy cycling along the Danube at two of our stops. The highlight was the night cruise in Budapest when we could admire the breathtaking illuminations of the city. T he passengers were mainly Amercians (we were not sure why), and it was good to get the chance to meet different people, as we were seated at different tables each day.

Blue Danube Discovery, Budapest to Prague. We approached our cruise on the Avalon Tapestry with thoughts that it could not possibly be as good as our cruise last year with Uniworld. In fact, there was very little to choose between the two companies. We met with the same excellent standards of service from start to finish from Blue Water Holidays, Avalon and the Home/Airport transfer company. On board, we particularly liked the tireless, friendly and efficient service from all the staff (not just the front of house people, but everyone from crew to cleaners) The fresh living orchids in the cabin were a really nice touch, the cabins were comfortable and spotlessly clean, and the food was delicious, beautifully cooked, presented and served. We appreciated the inclusion of all gratuities in the price of the holiday - this saves potential soul searching and embarrassment at the end of the trip. The following points did not detract from the overall experience but are offered as suggestions for future improvement. 1. Not enough time in port to allow individual exploration. I would rather visit less places and have more time to explore them. 2. Free booze at lunchtime would have been nice! 3. The Hilton hotel in Prague is too big, too impersonal and too far out of the city centre. Check in was absolute chaos. The alternative hotel (Intercontinental) would have been much more convenient. All in all, this was a most enjoyable cruise, and we will have no hesitation in recommending it to others and repeating the experience next year.

We have just returned from a wonderful week spent on the Viking Legend, sailing from Nuremberg to Budapest. The whole cruise was 5 star in every respect. The boat was spotless, comfortable cabins, delightful and helpful crew, exceptionally well organised shore excursions with a choice of regular - longer- or shorter walks to accomodate those people more or less able. Excellent food and entertainment. This cuirse had all the small trimmings including shower gel, shampoo, conditioner, slippers, sewing kit, fridge in the cabin, welcome back on board drinks after each shore excursion. We were so spoilt. River cruising is the most relaxing way to holiday. We will definitely be booking another in the near future.

This was our first experience of cruising so we had high hopes but no experience. All the arrangements and flights worked perfectly and we thoughly enjoyed our 3 nights precruise in Prague. Though the Hilton seemed a bit out of town. Some of the experiences related by the guides about their experiences under the communist regime were horrifying when told on a personal basis. Day 3 we boarded Avalon Tapestry and were most impressed. Immaculately maintained, good size cabins and super comfy beds that you could lie on and watch the river view through the slidng glass doors. But this was not a restful holiday. Main Breakfast was served between 7-9 and many of the included trips had departed by 8.30. If you took all the options you would be shattered but all we went on were well worthwhile. Sometimes you just had to take a break and enjoy staying on the Tapestry, whose crew were friendly fun and did everything they could to ensure a great holiday. Highlights were the Cruise Director Dragan's tour of Vienna, a city he obviously loved, an add on after the Mozart and Strauss concert, AND his commentary on the Budapest skyline as we sailed into town in the early morning. Early Morning, Yes Dragan lived up to his name with his call to urge you not to be late for a trip sometimes a bit Hi De Hi but he worked really hard to make everything run smoothly and had a great sense of humour. We had a great time on a lovely boat. What an introduction to river cruising. Thank you.

An experience of a lifetime to visit Prague Vienna and Budapest by ship. Our cruise director Andrezj was informative, helpful, with a good sense of humour. All the staff were efficient and friendly . Looking forward to the next trip with Avalon

We had a holiday of a lifetime and all the arrangements worked perfectly. We did appreciate all the care and help we had received fromBlue Water Holidaysand the fact that Rebecca rang us before we left with information and help regarding any problems we might have with the BA strike. Our taxi was waiting when our flight arrived in Munich to take us to Nurembourg. The whole cruise was fantastic and we cannot praise the crew and the Cruise Director highly enough. All the tours were brilliant, very informative and well researched and extra little tours were included. The ship was great, the cabins were roomy, the food was excellent and all the staff were very friendly and nothing was too much trouble. Being retired 'hands on' hoteliers ourselves we are probably more critical than most but everything was of a very high standard.

The cruise started from Budapest with the APT ship, Amadolce. We were met at the airport and escorted to our ship which was like a five star hotel.Nothing was too much trouble for the staff whowere constantly friendly and professional in spite of apparently long hours. The tour director, Peter Whitehead, was fantastic and totally un-flappable. The itinerary was imaginative and the on-board entertainment very impressive with something for everyone.The food was out-standing with everything freshlyprepared.We would not hesitate to cruise with APT again. In fact, they are a very tough act to follow.

An extended cruise on the River Danube (not the one or two-day trips included in many tour packages) had been on my ‘wish list' for many years; very few of the larger tour operators offered such an option. Compelled to surf the net looking for my cruise, I chanced upon Blue Water Holidays and found a tour that met my criteria. Features included ‘home pick-up and drop' and airfares to and from London that made the Blue Water offer very competitive against that of the cruise operator. An e-mail inquiry brought a quick response and confirmation that the price was indeed all-inclusive and that the departure date most suitable for us was still available. I was able to persuade two cousins to join us (my wife and self) and proceeded with our bookings. Ms. Carolyn Wild was my contact at Blue Water who coordinated our bookings (one from Sri Lanka and the other from England). Being Sri Lankan my wife and I needed several visas and my requests to Carolyn for necessary documentation were promptly dealt with. The tour documents were sent to my cousin in Bristol who confirmed that all was in order. So we travelled to England towards the end of June hoping for a trouble-free holiday - and in fact that is what we got! (There was a hic-cup in that my cousin's tour documents had arrived when there was no one at home to accept them - but then this was a minor blip.) The ‘pick-up and drop' service was efficient with comfortable vehicles and competent drivers. So the hassle of travelling to and from Heathrow by coach was avoided. The cruise itself met my expectations in that we had clean, comfortable cabins (small, but we knew what to expect), good food and good service and the extra of free wine with dinner! In fact the food and beverage service was more than good. We found our fellow passengers to be congenial and we enjoyed joining in the shipboard activities. The included shore excursions covered the ‘compulsory' tourist sites, and in addition, we had time to explore on our own and visit some places of our choosing. A home-cooked lunch at the home of the young girl who was our guide in Osijek, Croatia, was a very pleasant ‘deviation' from the usual excursions. Ports of call on a river cruise may not include capital cities and/or other places usually on tour itineraries. On this cruise we passed through seven countries and visited four capitals (on the river) (Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest and Belgrade) and a fifth (Bucharest) after leaving our ship, as well as other places of interest such as the Black Sea resort of Varna, paprika country in Hungary, the excavations of a Roman garrison town in Viminacium, Serbia and Marshal Tito's mausoleum in Belgrade.

We had an great time on the 'Europe' cruise ship. The crew were excellent, helpful and friendly at all times. The food was very good too - a wide and varied menu, buffet breakfast and beautifully cooked and presented lunch and dinner. Lots of trips available to the places we visited, or you could spend time just wandering under your own steam. Two small criticisms - there was no coffee or tea in the cabins, which would have helped a caffeine addict such as me! We also passed through the Wachau Valley, perhaps the most picturesque part of the cruise in the early hours of the morning, which was a great shame, as most people missed seeing any of it! Overall however, we had a lovely time. The people at Blue Water holidays were really good too!

Excellent Cruise which was hard to fault, the ship Viking Ledgend was very clean and the staff would do anything you aked of them to make you comfortable, food onboard was very good with a good selection and wine, beer etc was free with the meals. There was a lot to see when off the ship but not a lot to do when onboard but after dinner at night it was nice to just sit down after a lot of walking during the day. If you do take this cruise you must not miss the Mozart Concert in Vienna, just fantastic. During this cruise you visit places which you would not otherwise choose for a holiday and you would be missing quite a lot.

This was a 70th birthday treat and was well worth the forward planning of a year. Booking was easy and travel arrangements to and from the UK were good; all we had to organise was insurance and parking at Heathrow. The Danube was very low, which meant we had to spend more time on coaches than normal, since the ship needed to make progress while we were on excursions. However, the city visits were very impressive:- Budapest, Vienna, Melk, Passau, Regensburg and Nuremburg. The price included these, so it felt like really good value. My favourite was Passau, where we moored right by the town and could walk on and off the ship as we liked. We went on only one extra tour, which was Weltenburg, Kelheim and the Danube Gorge trip - worth the supplement. Some of the guides sounded as if they were talking to small children, rather than to intelligent adults, but the great thing about the tours was the fact that we had receivers tuned in to our particular guide, so could hear every word even if we wandered off a bit from the group. The cabins were comfortable, the staff were wonderful, the food was great and the arrangements were efficient. The air-conditioning in the public rooms was a bit erratic but was fully controllable in the cabins. There was plenty of entertainment for those requiring it. I went to all the 7am morning Qi Gong sessions, which were at the front of the lounge and had a wonderful view of the river while doing gentle stretching and breathing exercises. My birthday was on the last full day and I commandeered a table for all the friends I'd made during the week. The waiters were wonderful and the chef brought a birthday cake complete with firework to complete the party. There were birthdays every day, not surprisingly, and cakes were produced automatically. This is certainly a holiday I would recommend, especially to retired people looking for a bit of culture. Excursions tended to start quite early and I, for one, was ready for bed quite early. Youngsters wanting a great nightlife and a lie-in should try something else!

Thank you for arranging our recent cruise. It was a great success. Your company offered me alternative dates to those I originally requested and we got a much better itinerary than the one I had originally seen. We started in Bucharest with a 2 night stay at the JW Marriott hotel. There were 2 optional day trips offered, of which we opted for Bran Castle. It turned out to be a gruelling 12 hour day of coach travel with a hasty tour round the castle of Vlad the Impaler. On the "up side" it enabled us to bond with our fellow travellers on the coach. The River Duchess lived up to our expectations. The food was very good and the cabins were comfortable. We opted for a Grade 1 cabin. We were disappointed that the windows did not slide open and we only had air conditioning instead of fresh air. We were particularly fortunate to have amazing weather in the 80's 90's, and only two hours rain in Budapest. Once on the ship the first two days were spent on whole day trips and we all hankered to actually cruise, but after these trips things settled down and we all enjoyed ourselves. This is why this itinerary was better than Vienna to Bucharest. That would have meant the last three days would have been spent touring and the relaxation of cruising would have been lost. The cruise was very good value for money. There were included trips on every day that we were not actually cruising. There was free bottled water on the coach on day trips and in the cabin all the time. Also there was wine at dinner every day included in the price. There were evening local entertainments on board on four occasions, the last of which in Bratislava was superb. We would most certainly recommend this cruise. It was informative, interesting and well organised. Even Terminal 5 worked well. despite all the adverse publicity since it opened!

We started at Vienna on the River Countess on a one-way trip to Nuremburg. We had a day to explore Vienna, visiting the Christmas Market and then a wonderful Viennese concert in the evening. Next day we set off to Durnstein, a riverside village where allegedly Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned. The Danube was very clear in the frosty weather, and superb scenery as we cruised the Wachau Valley. Stopping at Linz, the next day we had an all-day coach trip to Salzburg, home of Mozart, where the snow was deep and a large Christmas Market to visit. Returning to Passau, the next day we had a walking tour and marvelled at the Passau Cathedral and its superb ceilings. Into the Main-Danube Canal we went through its huge deep locks, stopping at Regensburg. There we could wander the town and sample at the ancient sausage stall. Our crew treated us to Christmas Carols and we celebrated Christmas moored at Nuremburg. Our guided visit included the Rally grounds, now used as a motor race circuit. Disembarking on Boxing Day we were able to explore Nuremburg's historic centre before catching the Underground to the airport.

Cruise was fine, food was excellent, the passengers were mostly French and old. Very good being able to visit the captain, he was very interesting and we learnt a lot about the boat and the Danube. Probably wouldn't do the trip again but would recommend it to elderly friends.

River Danube Cruise aboard MS France

From the moment of booking with Blue Water all was plain sailing.

We spent a most enjoyable time aboard the MS France cruising down the Danube. The staff were all fantasic, very helpfull and always cheerful, their English was impeccablealong with the other six languages they spoke. Well done to them. The food was excellent and plenty of it and the bottle of wine with meals was a added bonus.

Trips were well organized and all guides were good.

A trip I would certainly recommend.

Having not travelled with APT before and really not sure what to expect, a pleasant surprise awaited us. From the moment we boarded MS Amacello, nothing was too much trouble for the helpful and courteous staff. From the Captain who guided us safely through the Danube and Rhine under numerous lower and lower bridges and many locks, to the cabin steward who kept our cabin immaculate twice a day. Our cruise director Uwe was very knowledgeable, entertaining and actually cared about his passengers. The food was outstanding and wine always free flowing at dinner. Even though excursions were included, nobody felt impelled to go on all of the trips on offer. Instead, if you wished a quiet moment to read or sit with coffee this was also ok. Our holiday was over the Easter period. Staff made Easter Sunday very special with lots of Easter eggs on the breakfast, lunch and dinner tables, in our cabins and even on the reception desk. No matter what member of APT staff we came into contact with, they were always friendly, polite and courteous. Our ship MS Amacello was beautiful and clean in all areas. Our cabin was comfortable, with a spacious power shower. Toiletries were replened daily, if required. Many memories were taken away from this trip and I would recommend APT to anyone looking for a special holiday. Blue Water were our travel representatives who were also outstanding. The staff were always helpful and polite and eleviated fears, during the British Airways dispute. I would also recommend Blue Water to any traveller.

In the summer of 2018, my wife and I travelled on the MS Thomas Hardy from Budapest, up to Linz and back via Vienna. We were looking for a relaxing holiday with some interesting destinations, and it was perfect, an excellent holiday! The new ship was amazing and we felt very welcome from the first moment on board. The holiday was made more special because of the staff on the ship. All were friendly and greeted us with "good morning", "good afternoon" etc. Outstanding service from the Riviera Cruise personnel of Mike Cole and Hanna Cole, and the hotel manager, Alina, was always smiling and helpful, plus she seemed to be always on duty to ensure all the meals were delicions and with healthy options.

My cruise on the River Danube on the beautiful Emily Bronte was a total delight. It was a 5 star hotel experience on water. From the beautifully appointed cabin to the excellent food my holiday was a wonderful experience. Anne in the booking office was extremely helpful and even contacted me before my departure to ask and answer any questions I had. The crew are to be commended on the service provided not to mention their hilarious sketch given one evening. Also to be congratulated are the travel reps Stuart and Ezther who were a brilliant team keeping passengers completely informed and entertained. I can't praise this cruise highly enough and would recommend it to anyone.

Blue Water Holidays are the best mistake I ever made! I was trying to find information about Viking holidays and came across their phone number. I rang , thinking they were Viking and the rest is history! I explained what I was looking for and they took the problem out of my hands - they make the whole process so easy. You tell them what you want & hey presto, they find it. I have now booked two Viking river cruises with Blue Water. Naturally, the holidays are superb, but everything is made so easy - from the name of the booking agent to a final email before departure wishing us a lovely holiday! Nothing is too much for all the agents & should I have any queries, a quick telephone call sorts it out. If the answer is not to hand then they will find out & call back, and unlike most companies they actually DO call back! If you are looking for a holiday agent look no further, you will find no better.

We really enjoyed our cruise. The staff looked after us brilliantly from when we arrived to dropping us off at the airport at the end. The food was unending and delicious!! The tours were well run, and very enjoyable. Our cabin was very comfortable, and more spacious than we might have expected! Lovely to sit out on the balcony, watching the world drift past. There was a good mix of nationalities, mainly English speaking, and it was nice to mix and chat, both in the lounge and at dinner. Or you could just sit by yourselves at dinner, either. Staff were great at trying to sit groups together if necessary. Bluewater were great to get us out tickets sent out earlier then usual as we were going to fly to Europe before the start date of the cruise. And the Scenic backpacks are great!

We have just returned from our fifth Amadeus cruise. This time our journey was from Passau to Budapest and back along the Danube. A river we had never been on before and we found it to be very different from anything we have seen before. On embarkation the Hotel Director recognised us as Amadeus Cruiser Club Star members and welcomed us on board most enthusiastically. Every single member of the crew was professional, helpful and friendly. The food was first class and the restaurant service was excellent. Our cabin and all the public spaces were kept spotless. The cruise directors were very knowledgeable and organised all trips with great enthusiasm. The Amadeus Elegant certainly lived up to her name. The evening entertainment of a couple of quizzes and, in particular, the Hungarian Folklore Group together with the duo was very enjoyable. One highlight was the night time sail through Budapest to see the city all it up. Special thanks to the captain for making this possible. Unfortunately the ship suffered engine problems and we had to complete the trip from Vienna to Passau by coach. The coach was comfortable but I did feel we were left out on a limb a little and should have been accompanied by a member of the Amadeus staff. That said, it did not detract from a first class relaxing holiday. Thank you to all. Through your company [Blue Water Holidays] we had arranged car parking in Passau, and found this to be very well organised. Our car was collected from beside the ship and returned to us at Passau station, the cruise director having arranged the revised pick up location due to our transfer by coach. We're looking forward to our next Amadeus River Cruise, where or when I don't know.

My wife and I have recently returned from a seven day cruise on the River Danube, aboard a beautiful boat named AmaCerto. This was a special holiday for a special reason, which was to celebrate my wife Pauline's 75th birthday, so I was looking forward. Very much to celebrating the event in style. I am delighted to say that with Karen's help, the holiday came up to our highest expectations. Everything from our flight from Bristol to Munich, our welcome aboard the boat, the delightful crew and their unstinting service, day and night, made it a really superb holiday. Many thanks to you all at Blue Water Holidays!

We've just returned and we have to say we had the most wonderfull cruise. Very relaxing, and the arranged tours were enjoyable, and not rushed at all. The trips were well organized, and very interesting. The boat was superb, and all things were there, hair dryer, fridge/bar, also a safe to use in each cabin,also towels changed each morning and again in the evening, toiletries supplied in the bathroom. The captain and crew were very good, and food was exceptional,and plenty of it. Hopefully we will be looking for another cruise,as we enjoyed it so much.

Just a short review of our recent Danube cruise with Riviera Holidays on the M S Serenade 2. All the crew were brilliant and came together as a wonderful team, from the captain to the kitchen staff. Nothing was too much trouble for them and they were all approachable. Firstly all the arrangements that were made by yourselves on our behalf were first class and carried out in a professional manner, thank you. The cruise lived up to all expectations and was a wonderful experience. The boat was very nice and the cabins and lounges were to a high standard. All the meals were first class from the buffet breakfast to the waiter served evening meals. If I had one cautious comment to make to anyone thinking about making their first river cruise, it would be to decide which river they wanted to cruise on. We picked the Danube because of the places it called at, and they were superb. The excursions were well guided and very informative, especially the trips into Salsburg, Vienna and Budapest. But the Danube is not a very scenic river and people who have done other cruises, tell me that certain stretches of the Rhine are much more spectacular. Many thanks for a good holiday

We had a wonderful holiday, made special by the crew of Beetoven and the 15 nations on board, truely cosmopolitan. All the visits were organised with care and consideration, and very memorable. As always with each CroisiEurope Cruise the food was the highlight.

The food and the service on board were second to none. We were impressed by the way the staff coped with a couple of crises, a strike in Germany which meant they had to rearrange the schedule to cross into Austria before the locks closed, and an accident in a lock somewhere ahead of us which meant our boat could not leave Vienna. In each case they made excellent alternative arrangements so the programme was hardly affected.

MS Beethoven crew were excellent- efficient and polite in every department always willing to help. The purser was superb helping us chase our luggage for 5 days. The cabin facilities were very good and we recommend upper deck as have a panoramic windowthat opens. Although no choice offered at main meals the cuisine was very good and non meat/ vegetarians well catered for. Excursions were good but would of liked later starts some of the days .Recommend Croisieurope holidays and MS Beethoven to future customers CroisiEurope River Danube

Our Danube river cruise with Avalon went really well. Car collection was on time and efficient. The Inter-continental was completely up to the expected standard. Transfers were w ell managed , the ship was beautifully appointed and all was excellent. Food and service could not be faulted. the Hilton in Vienna did not come up to the same charm of service but was O K. Gusti, the tour guide was charming and most efficient and helpful. The holiday was most enjoyable, and I would be delighted to do another at some time in the future.

THIS IS NOT A CRUISE REVIEW BUT TO TELL EVERYONE HOW WELL I HAVE BEEN TREATED BY REBECCA AND HER SUPERVISOR AT BLUE WATER HOLIDAYS. WE HAD SOME PROBLEMS WITH MY BOOKING AND THE FINAL OUTCOME COULD NOT HAVE BEEN BETTER, THEY DEALT WITH IT SUPERBLY. I CAN TELL YOU THAT IF YOU THINK OF BOOKING A HOLIDAY WITH THEM YOU WILL GET 100% SERVICE AND A POSITIVE OUTCOME. THANKS TO YOU BOTH. STEVE

We are a professional couple who were looking for a holiday which was both relaxing and with also something to do. This cruise was just right with enchanting views and places visited. The onboard service and food was second to none and we will be certainly booking another cruise.

Avalon Tranquility is a delight to be aboard - (but so was the Artistry!) The crew work very hard indeed - including some pretty unsocial hours - but never once did we see an unhappy face. They were, without exception, a great pleasure to be with. Their ability - and willingness - to speak my language, and apparently to enjoy doing so, never ceased to amaze me. As on our earlier Avalon cruise, we found the food unnecessarily copious, but our recollection is that the standard this time was not as high as we enjoyed aboard Artistry in September 2007. This could be 'distance lends enchantment...' or it could be the difference between one chef and another. Having said that, however, I did from time to time wonder whether Avalon are finding things difficult just now. Unlike 2007, the ship was not full - about 80% occupancy, I think - which, with more or less fixed costs leaves quite a hole! As I know from many years in business, it is a classic problem - how do you maintain quality when your revenue is being squeezed? Personally, I just adore being on the water so for me there was no problem. I think it is very clear, however, that compared with, say, between Nuremberg and Budapest, the Danube between Oltenita and Budapest is really pretty monotonous. The Iron Gates are spectacular of course, but that section is unique. Will we do another River Cruise? Honestly, at nearly 82, I rather think this was probably my last. All I can say is, that if we do, Blue Waters and Avalon will be on the very top of our list! Thank you for giving us such enjoyment.

We took a 5 night cruise from Budapest to Passau on the Danube River with stops in Bratislava, Vienna and Melk! Unfortunately we were the ONLY native English speaking people on a boat of nearly 200 passengers counting the crew. All the tours were in French so we missed out on guides which are very important to us (mon dieu). Our cabin was like a prison cell in terms of size. After tripping over the non-storable luggage, you had to crawl over the pushed together single beds to retire. In the morning you had to hug yourself to take a shower in its claustrophobic confines. The engine noise at night with even more noise in the locks coupled with the bright lights shining through our curtains was simply awful (mon dieu). You would have to pay us to sleep abroad this vessel, MS La Boheme, again! Note: We asked our travel agent Blue Water Holidays in London specifically about the engine noise before booking this tour. We learned of the French only tours one week before our departure. (anything for a commission). We also foolishly "assumed" there would be wi-fi provided on board like some competitor lines??? For dining because we were solo English, the first night we were assigned to our "own" special needs table next to the door where all the servers went in and out (every table in the dining room was filled). We fine dine a lot. If we were shown this table at a restaurant, we would literally leave before dining in this location. Instead we had the privilege of 5 days or 15 meals at this table (mon dieu) The almost 100% Hungarian crew (assistant purser was Portuguese, excellent English) were fantastic, thank goodness. They did cater to our English needs by printing out loads of information about the various ports and individually explained to us in English everything that was announced in French about the boats activities and sponsored tours. The talent show put on by the crew was very entertaining. The food was very good although French style for every meal (we love French food). It would have been nice to have an option for different entrees. The complimentary? (did pay a mini fortune for the cruise) wine was also very good. Truth be known, we are obviously not cruise people (previous Nile in 1982 & Panama Canal in 1991, this is our last). The Purser laughed when we asked about a fitness area on the boat. There is way to much feeding that you pay for and you totally miss the real foreign culture in the Country as you rumble down the river enclosed in your prison cell. Mon Dieu, indeed!

It has always been an ambition to see the Iron Gates of the Danube, and Vienna and Istanbul are two of our favourite cities, so when I saw the Imperial Capitals of Europe cruise advertised, we decided this might be the one for us. It was a decision we will never regret, that led to a memory which will remain with us for the rest of our lives. The whole experience was fantastic, from the home pickup to being delivered back after the cruise. I cannot find enough superlatives to describe the boat, the crew, the accommodation (although understandably a little cramped), the food and the magnificent organisation, Above all we will always remember the friendly attitude and superb service provided by all the staff, even in difficult circumstances. As a Yorkshireman I have always had an ambivalent attitude to tipping, especially to being told exactly how much I should tip, but I had no difficulty in overcoming my natural aversion in view of the excellent service provided. When the boat's engine gave up the ghost towards the end of the cruise, we thought things would get worse, but this proved not to be the case. Thanks to some inspired organisation and planning, an alternative programme was implemented that did not detract from the overall experience and resulted in a stay at one of Europe's best hotels in Bucharest. (Thanks to Bart, our tour manager, for this and his efficient organisation throughout the trip). On top of all this, Uniworld offered us a generous credit of $500 each towards our next trip. We will find no difficulty in accepting their kind offer next year. Our thanks to everyone concerned in giving us such a memorable and enjoyable holiday.