Danube Cruise

This was a Viking river cruise that took us from Bucharest to Budapest and they did a great job!!!  See more details about each country under the “Country” heading in  “EASTERN EUROPE”:  Hungary, Romania, Croatia, Bulgaria, Serbia and Slovakia!!!

DSCN5143

We traveled through Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Croatia and ended in Hungary above and below.  You can see our ship

DSCN4164

We started our adventure in Bucharest, Romania and visited many sites there like: the Palace of the Parlament below

image004Dracula’s Castel below

2281055_1163004452

peles castle, transylvania, romania

and Peles Castle above set in the Carpanthian mountains.  So we left Romania on our new home for about 10 days and that was the Viking boat.

_1045103

Our rooms and private bathroom (for a ship) were large, well kept and outperformed our expectations

_1044844

The staff  below was tremeondous: friendly, professional, service oriented and meticulous in their actions

DSCN3583

DSCN3408

You see them planning the evenings activities above.   The welcoming party hosted by the friendly and very competent Captain was a great treat!! The Captain met us all personally and welcomed us aboard.  What a great guy!!!

_1045025

Yes we drank way way too much especially during the welcoming reception below.  Champaign for everyone!!!!

DSCN3251

DSCN3612

Enjoying the wine for certain and hors D’oeuvres.  Wine flowed like mana from Heaven

DSCN3253

Dinner was always scrumptious.  The menu was well diversified taking into consideration the guests personal tastes and noted allergies.  The service was professional in the presentation, delivery and timelines and the taste of the fine cuisine exceeded our expectations – I wondered how they could prepare such elegant meals but they did!!!

DSCN3980

The cuisine exceeded our expectations above.  Along the way we stopped in some incredible towns, mueseums and sites like the Belogradshick fortress below and traveled though the Iron gates below. It was a delight cruising on the Danube river.

Belogradchik-Fortress-Bulgaria
_1044884

Along the way we saw old fortresses along the banks of the river and small towns and their citizens working in small boats on the river.  We also saw international shipping plowing the rivers with their mighty cargo up, it was a great learning experience

DSCN3595

Meanwhile on board the ship we were having way to much fun with cocktail hour ( or should I say hours),  Yes way to much fun!!!  And Drinks were always a part of dinner. After dinner there was spectacular entertainment. Local professional dance troupes and musicians came on board and delighted us to a spectacular performances. The ladies are very cute – that is nice!!!

DSCN3584

 

DSCN3977

DSCN3395

 

DSCN3768

DSCN3519

DSCN3512

We were having way to much fun that carried through into the wee hours Way to much fun = yea.  Tony was an accomplished piano playerDSCN3388

Before retiring to bed we were treated to some amazing sunsets below

DSCN3628

DSCN4155

During the days we sailed,  we enjoyed a fun relaxing day on deck under the warm sun, did some exercise on the walking track or did pull ups and pushups on the deck – have to keep in shape

_1045047

DSCN3572

We ended in Budapest and saw and visited the Parliament building, the castle and other great building

DSCN4170Parlament above and the Castle below = wow

Buda-Castle-Photo5

DSCN5143

It was a great time THANK YOU VIKING. Every guest and staff member we met (now our friend) was wonderful and here are some shots of them

DSCN3621

_1045026

_1045052

DSCN3747

DSCN3269

_1044715

DSCN3633

DSCN3082

DSCN3612

DSCN3571

DSCN3583

DSCN3604

DSCN3574

DSCN3573

DSCN3581

DSCN3591

DSCN3581

DSCN3492 DSCN4025 DSCN3849