Potentially 5* but let down badly by many issues
This cruise from Budapest to Cologne had the potential to be rated 5 STAR but the various issues that were experienced have made me feel that even 3 STAR is somewhat generous. It did not justify its price of nearly £4,500 per person.
The trip goes a long way in 2 weeks so time off the ship is very restricted mostly limited to 2 or 3 hours a day inc 1 hour guided tour. Guided tours were always excellent, led by competent local guides. Usually we had 45 minutes to 1 hr free time after tour before returning to ship to sail to the next place. We had full days in Budapest and Vienna with ½ day in each on our own after formal tour. On 2 days there was BOTH an am and pm tour. All other days the ship sailed for ½ the day with EITHER an am or pm excursion. The potentially available free time was very often badly curtailed as the ship was moored too far from the town, further than those of other cruise lines. Local guides told us that it is likely that moorings were not reserved long enough ahead. Moored at Nierstein for Mainz, we lost nearly 2 hours of free time because of this and in many stops we needed coaches to take us to the town. In Koblenz we had a 1.5 km walk to the start of the guided tour. These poor mooring locations seem to be a MAJOR admin failure by Riviera and considerably spoiled the cruise.
The ship and all its crew were excellent. Cabins, though compact, are well fitted with enough space to pass each other except in the bathroom. Clothes storage was good and a safe and small fridge were both there. There was room under the comfy king size bed to store two large suitcases. The “superior” drinks package, did not include a stocked mini-bar. Food was adequate but very basic and repetitive. It was not as good as we had had on a previous cruise to the Danube Delta on a sister ship except for the special Chef’s Dinner on our penultimate evening which was superb.
The Cruise Director, responsible for briefing clients on each day’s activities, was totally incompetent, lacked any communication skills and quite unable to cope effectively with the various relatively minor alterations that were needed, particularly because of water levels on the Main Canal. She attracted universal criticism.
The included Superior drinks package gave wine or beer with lunch and dinner, the cocktail of the day (2 or 3 if wanted) between 6pm and 7:30 and unlimited drinks from a restricted range, including port and basic spirits (also unlimited) during the evening. Red and white wines were mostly just OK but sometimes my wife and I found one or both undrinkable. Described as “local” they were definitely from a low budget range, except for those served at the chef’s dinner. Wines bought for cooking from Tesco at just over £4 a bottle are better! But bear in mind that at nearly all the stops there is no time at all to shop between returning from an excursion and the ship sailing. The cocktail of the day was also basic and repetitive. Coffee at table was extra but free from machine
Optional extra visits booked in advance with Riviera cost considerably more (in one case over 50%) than the admission price to the attraction despite Riviera providing no extra service other than the Cruise Director’s company to the Ticket Office where she bought the tickets!
Riviera’s Head office admin is abysmal. There were far too many inexcusable admin issues including, once the deposit was paid, their not replying to emails or phone enquiries within their time scales, or even not at all.
I made a strong complaint with a very full report to Riviera on all the above including both positive and negative aspects and they have apologised profusely and said that my comments have been noted and action will be taken. They did say that moorings are at discretion of the River Authorities and sometimes are changed with little notice – but clearly other operators were not experiencing the same remoteness as consistently.
