COVER STORY
en route to Vienna. While traversing the scenic Wachau region of the Danube, bratwurst, Wiener schnitzel, potato salad and steins of beer were served accompanied by an accordion player. Both ships served wine with dinner while speciality coffees and snacks were available throughout the day. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, all priced in Euros, were fairly expensive, though, but passengers were allowed to bring wine aboard with no corkage charge. After dinner, guests gathered in the Observation Lounges for drinks accompanied by nightly piano music. Nightlife is notably more low-key than cruise ships. The big advantage of riverboats, though, is they
dock directly in the town or close by, allowing passengers walking access to all the sights. Both lines included daily excursions in the fare, plus several optional tours for a fee.
F
or the most part, the guides were extremely knowledgeable and had an excellent com- mand of English. Passengers were given portable listening devices that enabled them to listen to the narrative of the guide even when they were some distance away.
After disembarking Legend in Budapest, I flew to Basle to meet Uniworld’s newest ship. Launched in March, she offers 7-night cruises on the Rhine between Amsterdam and Basle, including visits to Cologne, Koblenz, Rudesheim, Breisach and Speyer in Germany and Strasbourg and Colmar in France. Entering the lobby, I was dazzled by the elegant
French décor. A spectacular blue sapphire, 10ft Baccarat chandelier, which originally hung in New York’s Tavern on the Green, loomed above the two-story atrium. The lounge and restaurant designs were inspired
by the Palace of Versailles; the finest European marble adorned the walls and floors; and a 19th century Venetian glass mirror rested above the reception desk. Arranged throughout the ship is a collection of carefully selected original art from personal collections. I had never seen a riverboat with such elegant décor and furnishings. The cabin, on the lowest passenger deck, was elegantly furnished, but had small windows, a small
VIKING LEGEND FACTFILE Crew: 45
Entered service: June 2009 Length: 443ft Beam: 37.5ft Passengers: 189
Passenger decks: 4 Staterooms: 2 at 340sq ft; 82 at 170sq ft; 4 at 134sq ft
ITINERARIES: Various 8 and 11-day cruises on the Danube from Nuremburg, Budapest or Passau.
MORE INFO: In the UK, call 0800 319 6660 or visit
www.vikingrivercruises.co.uk; in the US, 1800 304 9616 or
www.vikingrivercruises.com.
marble bathroom, limited drawer and closet space and was difficult to move around.
Staterooms located on the middle level were a bit larger and had floor-to-ceiling windows, the top half of which could be opened. On the top level, staterooms and suites were considerably larger and had separate alcoves with sitting areas and similar windows. With the top portion of the window opened, it gave the impression of a protected private balcony, which also could be enclosed in cooler weather. Guests occupying the eight 294sq ft suites and one 391sq ft Royal Suite enjoyed additional perks, including butler service. The accommodations on the top deck were easily the most desirable. Included in all were English Savoir
24 WORLD OF CRUISING I Autumn 2011
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