marlib1951

Speaking of cabin amenities, they always state that hair dryers can be used but not curling irons. Why? Is this still true?

Eric_W

marlib1951: Good question. I'm not sure. I think curling irons are considered to pose a greater fire-hazard risk. Most big cruise ships allow them, but they often want to inspect them first.

BTW: I'm jealous that you're doing the Prague extension. I would have loved to have added that to my trip!

HappyTrvlr

Eric_W..We had free beer and wine on AMA Waterways, cool drinks, wet towels on return to ship from excursions, food was excellent and, very importantly, reflected the region of the world we were traveling in. The only thing I didn't like was the constant requirement of tipping local guides and drivers.We didn't have two big excursions/historical sites on the same day as we did on Viking.

cobbie2

We took an Avalon Danube cruise beginning in Prague (bussed to Nuremburg) and ending in Budapest. We were the first Avalon cruise to go after the flooding ended. We loved Avalon. We had The same amenities HappyT had on AMA. We plan another river cruise in 215

Rubicund

Is the tipping setup the same on river cruises as it is on sea going cruises?

Eric_W

Rubicund:
Tipping policies vary from ship to ship, making it truly difficult to generalize. For the most part, with a number of exceptions, the big ocean cruises automatically add gratuities (in the $11-14 per person per day range) to your bill. And, for the most part, river cruise tips are discretionary with suggested amounts announced quite clearly. Viking's suggestions are 12 Euro per person per day for staff, 2 Euro per person per day for the Program Director, 2 Euro per person for local guides, and 1 Euro person for each bus driver.

passion4paris

Thanks for all the info Eric_W. We're taking the same cruise in December for the Christmas Markets. I have a question regarding currency for Hungary. Did you get money for Hungary at the airport or wait until you went sightseeing? Are there opportunities to get currency while you're on excursions? We're only there for a day and a half and I'm not even sure we'll need it - but there is the possibility of purchases at their Christmas Mkt, food bought off the ship and tipping. All other stops use the euro and what we don't use in one town we can use in the next. Hungary has me wondering.

Eric_W

passion4paris
I got about $25 worth of Hunarian forint in New York before I left. Hungary was our arrival destination, and I just wasn't sure what the ATM situation in Hungary would be like. Because there's usually someone to tip shortly after getting off the plane, I wanted to have some local currency and not walk around an unfamiliar airport looking for an ATM. ATMs on the Buda side of Budapest are readily available. On the Pest side, which is more residential, there weren't very many. Pretty sure there was one in the Hilton. I'm glad we had the forints ahead of time because the ship is docked right under the Chain Bridge, and I didn't notice any ATMs nearby. There is an Intercontinental within walking distance, so there's probably one there.

passion4paris

Thanks Eric! So helpful. I didn't even think of my airport of departure. Especially since we have to get there so early and we'll have a lot of time on our hands. The arrival airport is always so hectic and rushed.

So, when you arrived in Budapest, were you taken straight away to the ship? Or, did they take you to a hotel the first night and to the ship the next morning? We travel on the 7th and the cruise leaves on the 8th. I'm sure I'll get all this info in the docs when I receive them but I was just curious.

Eric_W

p4p: If you're not doing a pre-cruise extension, it's straight to the ship, about a 35-minute drive from the airport.

TerryLFred

Eric, where do I find your News Feature story that you refer to in this thread? We will be taking the Viking river cruise, Budapest to Nuremberg, and I would like to read as much information as I can beforehand.

HappyTrvlr

Eric, AMA waterways seemed to offer a higher quality in every area than Viking. We have been on two Viking river cruises and wouldn't chose them again. On our Russian River cruise, for example, they rushed us through Peterhof and the Hermktage, one right after the other.
There was nothing terribly wrong with Viking, but overall, a more pedestrian experience than AMA and from what I read, Uniworld.Friends recently did the Danube cruise on Viking and hated it due to all the bus rides which we did not experience.