4 Countries in 15 Days: A Review of the Viking Grand European Tour
A European river cruise has been on my mom’s bucket list for years. Unfortunately for her, my dad doesn’t like to travel for long periods of time. So when she decided to finally book her dream vacation, the Viking Grand European Tour, she asked if I wanted to go. I usually travel solo. (This is a solo travel blog, after all.) But after visiting the Alps the previous summer and taking two semesters of German, it was hard to say no to 15 days in Europe.
Viking is supposed to be the best of the best. And my mom’s friends raved about their experience with Viking. However, river cruises were uncharted territory for us. And after being somewhat let down on my last group tour, I wanted to be prepared. So, I spent nearly 6 months researching and planning to make sure this trip was going to be as close to perfect as possible.
If you’re considering a future sailing or already booked your Viking Grand European Tour, you’ve come to right place! In this in-depth review, you’ll find (almost) everything you need to know about the Viking Grand European Tour.
Jump to:
Grand European Tour Itinerary
The Ship
The Stateroom
Dining on the Grand European Tour
Grand European Tour Cost
Grand European Tour Dress Code
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The views and opinions expressed in this article are based on my own experience. I was not compensated by Viking and did not receive anything in exchange for writing this review.
About the Viking Grand European Tour
The Viking Grand European Tour is a 15-day river cruise that stops at different towns along the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers. The Viking Grand European Tour also travels in two directions: Amsterdam to Budapest or Budapest to Amsterdam.
What’s the difference between the directions? Other than where the cruise starts, the itineraries have some small differences. For example, the A to B tour includes a stop in Miltenberg and Krems while B to A stops in Wertheim. The Vienna stop from A to B is nearly two full days while the B to A arrives is only one full day. Other than that, the “content” of the Viking Grand European Tour is relatively the same.
Many people on the online forums and Facebook groups ask if starting in Amsterdam is better than Budapest and vice versa. It mostly comes down to preference. We chose the A to B route because there were a lot more direct flights to Amsterdam from the US. Our tour also started near the end of tulip season and we wanted to experience that.
The Viking Grand European Tour: Amsterdam to Budapest Itinerary
This is the 2025 Viking Grand European Tour schedule, which includes dock locations and arrival times in each city.
As you can see, the ship will often drop you off at a different port and pick you up at another. If that’s the case you will usually take a bus from your arrival location to the excursion starting point.
This is also why you generally shouldn’t make your own plans with independent tour companies because you will either not have time or risk not getting back to the ship. The only exception to that would be at stops where you have a lot of time, like Vienna and Budapest.
If you are going from Budapest to Amsterdam on the Viking Grand European Tour, you can chat with them through My Viking Journey and they will email you the dock locations and arrival times, like I did.
The Longship
We sailed on the Viking Mimir. All of the longships on the Viking Grand European Tour are pretty much identical, so one isn’t necessarily better than the other.
Compared to ocean cruises, Viking river cruises are much smaller. The Viking Mimir can fit up to 190 guests and 53 crew members. (This was another thing my mom liked.)
The layout of the longship is pretty simple:
- Main Deck: 100 level staterooms (the cheapest rooms)
- Middle Deck: 200 level staterooms, guest services and the restaurant
- Upper Deck: 300 level staterooms, the library, the bar and lounge and the Aquavit Terrace
- Sun Deck: Walking track and seating
The longship also has an elevator, but it only goes between the Middle Deck and Upper Deck.
The Stateroom
We were in room 108, which was the middle of the ship. My mom chose our room and I think she did a good job. I saw some comments about people not being able to sleep because of the noise. Minus scraping the bottom of the Danube one night, I didn’t hear anything. So unless you’re really sensitive to noise, you can leave the earplugs at home.
Every room on a Viking longship has a view, including the swan rooms (100 number rooms). However, if you want to look out the window, you have to stand on the bed. And when you do, you’ll mostly see the top of the water.
Our room was on the port side, or left side of the ship when looking towards the front. In case you’re wondering which side of the Viking longship is better, it really does not matter.
When I wasn’t sleeping or getting ready, I made it a point to be out of the room as much as possible. If we weren’t on an excursion or eating, I spent most of my time in the lounge. The scenic sailing takes place during the day and the castles are on either side of the ship. Plus, most people sit on the top deck or at the front of the ship for that.
Another reason why it doesn’t matter: Many times when you’ll dock right next to another ship. (Be careful when opening your curtains in the morning unless you want to give your boat neighbor a peep show.)
The room itself was small, but it didn’t feel like we were on top of each other. If you aren’t a couple or don’t want to share a bed, there’s an option to separate them into two twin beds. You can make this request on MyVikingJourney.com.
One of the benefits of a river cruise is being able to unpack and not live out of your suitcase. Because of that, there’s plenty of storage options. We mostly used the shelves in the closet for our clothes. Any overflow we put in the drawers below the vanity area. We were also able to store our suitcases under the bed.
I did bring a couple of items to maximize our storage and to keep things off the floor:
The bathroom ceiling, the wall below the window and the wall on the other side of the shower are all magnetic. I used the magnetic wall hooks to hang the shower caddy in the shower and I hung our jackets and bags on the magnetic hooks in the room. I used the magnetic clips to post the Viking Daily each day.
Viking Daily Tip: Take a picture of it with your phone. This will not only help you remember when you need to be back on board, but also where you took your photos.
I used a clothes hanger to clip the over the door shoe organizer and hung it in the closet. However, I don’t really think I needed this.
One thing I really appreciated about the state room is they had 110V outlets, which meant I didn’t have to use a converter. (If you arrive early and are staying in a hotel, you will need one.) There was only one USB A port, and it was nowhere near the bed. I would suggest bringing a multiple charging block, like this one. It includes two USB C and two USB A ports.
The only negative thing I could say about the stateroom was the bathroom smell. Whenever we walked into the room after being gone for the day or even after dinner, we were hit with a strong sewage smell.
Dining on the Viking Grand European Tour
Curious about the kind of food served onboard a Viking river cruise? Or better yet, curious about the vegan food served onboard a Viking river cruise? So was I, and I’m happy to say they went out of their way to accommodate me. (If you have a dietary restriction like I do, you need to submit your preferences through My Viking Journey before you sail.)
There are two dining options on the Viking longships: the restaurant and the Aquavit Terrace.
The Restaurant
The restaurant, which is full service, is located on the middle deck. Unlike ocean cruises, which often assign seats for meals, you can sit wherever you want. (My mom really liked this about Viking.)
I made a declaration at the beginning of our trip that I was on vacation and I wanted to be waited on, so I ate lunch and dinner every day in the restaurant. Since I’m vegan, I let the maître d know on the first day. After that they left the menu at our door every morning with notations on what is vegan or what can be modified to make it vegan. I would then take the menu to the restaurant with our selections so they could “pre-order” it for us.
Each meal included a starter, a main and a dessert. Here are some examples of the vegan options I had during my trip.
Starters
Red Bell Pepper Soup
Mediterranean Tart (without feta cheese)
Forest Mushroom Salad
Vegan Consomme
Main Courses
Vegetarian Burger (plant-based patty, no cheese)
Baked Zucchini (with vegan cheese)
Taco Bowl (with vegan chili, no ranch dressing)
Tofu in Baked Eggplant Rolls (without cheese)
Thai Coconut Curry
Ramen Bowl
Greek Eggplant Moussaka Timbale
Desserts
Mango Sorbet
Vegan Chocolate Mousse
Coconut Cream with Passion Fruit Drizzle
A tip for anyone who has a food allergy or dietary restriction: try and sit in the same section with the same waiters. One day I sat in a different section. I pre-ordered the vegan burger, which I had before, but this time it came out with cheese on it. I had to send it back and I could tell they felt really bad. When they brought out the second one I could still see melted cheese around the edge. I’m not sure if they weren’t trained properly or weren’t familiar with the pre-ordering part, but we decided to stick with our usual table/section after that.
I also want to clarify that I completely understand that mistakes happen. But when you have a food allergy (I’m allergic to dairy) and you notice something on your food that shouldn’t be there, it puts you on high alert and immediately makes you not trust anything set in front of you. The last thing I wanted was to get sick.
Aquavit Terrace
Located on the upper deck, the Aquavit Terrace sits at the front of the ship and offers indoor seating (if the weather is nice) and outdoor seating. That makes it a hot commodity. The main difference between the Aquavit Terrace and the restaurant, other than the view, is the menu, which is more limited.
For example, in the morning there was a small buffet with bread and pastries, cold cuts and fruit. But there was also a menu where you could order eggs, pancakes, etc. (The breakfast buffet in the restaurant was much larger.)
I only ate breakfast here because I’m a fairly simple breakfast eater. (They can make vegan oatmeal with plant-based milks.) And even if we wanted to eat lunch or dinner at the Aquavit, I would have to camp out at least an hour before service to get a seat.
Overall, I thought the vegan options on the Viking Grand European Tour were good. Another vegan guest said they wanted more protein options, but that’s not something I really pay attention to.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Viking Grand European Tour
How Much Does the Viking Grand European Tour Cost?
Viking river cruises aren’t cheap. The least expensive rooms, known as “swan rooms” (or as I lovingly call it, “peasant class”), are located on the bottom level. There’s a small window, but you can’t really see much. Those rooms will set you back around $10,000 for double occupancy. (We booked our Viking Grand European Tour during one of their many promotions.)
What’s Included on the Viking Grand European Tour?
So what exactly does $10,000 get you on a Viking river cruise? Here’s everything included in your fare.
All Meals on the Ship
Your fare includes all meals while you’re on board. This includes breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as any specialty snacks, like late night goulash, or German tea time. You can read more about the food served on the Viking Grand European Tour here.
Some Drinks
Specialty teas, coffees, water and cookies are available 24/7 at the coffee stations on the upper deck. House wines, beers and soft drinks are complimentary at lunch and dinner. (I was able to get Diet Coke at breakfast service.)
I don’t drink, but my mom does and she thought the wine was fine. They’re also very generous with the pours. If you want cocktails or upgraded alcohol selections, you can either buy them a la carte and charge them to your room or purchase the Silver Spirits Package.
Free WiFi
While there is free WiFi available on the longship, it’s neither fast nor reliable. You have to remember you’re competing with over 190 guests and crew to use it. And when you go into one of the locks, it’s pretty much a dead zone. That being said, I was able to use the WiFi on my iPhone and laptop throughout the tour without issue.
Some Excursions
Each port of call on the Viking Grand European Tour includes one complimentary shore excursion, usually a walking tour or panoramic tour. You don’t have to sign-up for it because there will be plenty of room. And even though all included excursions are optional, you will automatically receive a ticket in your room the night before whether you plan to go or not.
What’s Not Included on the Viking Grand European Tour?
Despite the high price tag, there are some things not included in the Grand European Tour fair.
Pre and Post-Tour Extensions
Depending on where your Viking Grand European Tour starts, you can add a pre-cruise or post-cruise excursion in Amsterdam, Budapest or Prague. There are two types of pre and post-cruise excursions: standard and premium. They range between $700 and $2,000.
We opted to arrive early and do Amsterdam ourselves. And we tacked on an extra day in Budapest, but by then we were so ready to go home. (Our trip lasted 19 days, which is a long time.)
Starting or ending your Viking Grand European Tour in Amsterdam, but want to do it on your own? Check out my 3 Day Amsterdam Itinerary.
Optional Excursions
In addition to the one included tour, each port of call includes other excursions that you can book for an additional fee. You can read more about the optional excursions here.
Gratuities and Tips
Viking charges $20 per day, per person for gratuities, which is then added to your final bill that you pay on board. You have the option to prepay gratuities, but my mom didn’t want to do that.
If there are any crew members who went above and beyond — and many of them do, especially the wait staff — you can tip them more.
Airfare
Viking offers their own airfare booking program called Viking Air. It comes with additional perks, including roundtrip transfer to your ship or hotel. A lot of Viking guests swear by it, but because I am a control freak and I wanted to use points, I booked our own airfare.
Premium Alcohol
If you want unlimited drinks and/or more than house wines or beers, Viking offers a Silver Spirits Package. And it’s not cheap. The cost is $27 per night or nearly $400 for one person.
Laundry
Laundry is available on the ship, but it’s really expensive and priced per article of clothing. If you need to wash clothes, I would bring laundry detergent sheets and a gallon ziploc bag to create your own makeshift washer. (The sink isn’t very deep.) There’s a retractable clothes line in the shower to dry clothes. I’ve also read that many people use the heated floor in the bathroom to dry clothes too. If you’re really desperate and stinky, there’s a laundromat in Regensberg fairly close to where the ship docks.
What’s the Age Range of Viking River Cruise Guests?
The general demographic on the Viking Grand European Tour is married retirees. I was actually the youngest guest on my cruise and I wear the title with pride. (For reference, I was 38 at the time.)
A lot of guests kept asking what I thought about traveling with a bunch of old farts and honestly it was just as fun as traveling with people closer to my age.
FYI: Viking doesn’t allow guests under the age of 18.
What’s the Dress Code on Viking River Cruises?
The dress code for the Viking Grand European Tour is casual. There are no formal nights. That means you can wear jeans, shorts and t-shirts, even in the dining room. I wore a combination of sweaters, t-shirts and jeans while on the ship.
Need help figuring out what to pack? View my Viking Grand European Tour packing list for tips and ideas.
What’s the Deal with the Water Levels?
If you frequent any of the Viking Grand European Tour forums of Facebook groups, you’ll constantly see people asking about the water levels. When the water levels get too low or too high, you may have to switch ships. We almost experienced the former during our late April/early May cruise.
The night before we arrived in Passau, the water levels were incredibly low. I woke up at 2 a.m. to violent shaking and a sound so loud, I thought they were washing off the ship. (It made sense to my sleepy brain at the time.) Turns out, the sound was the ship scraping the bottom of the river! After that, our ship was fine.
A couple weeks later some ships had to switch. While inconvenient and kind of annoying to have to repack, guests on board said that Viking handled the transfer really well.
Is the Viking Grand European Tour Worth It?
After going on the Viking Grand European Tour, I can see why so many people rave about this European river cruise. My mom and I had the best time and we both think it was worth the money.
Wondering if the Viking Grand European Tour is for you? Here are some pros and cons to consider before booking your cruise.
Pros
- You’re in one place the entire time, which means you can unpack
- Less than 250 people on board
- Excellent service
- The pricing is fairly inclusive
- All of your meals are included
- You see a lot of places
- You receive a discount on your next cruise if you book on board
Cons
- It’s expensive
- The optional excursions are overpriced
- It’s either too much time in one location or not enough
- There isn’t a whole lot to do on board, so come prepared
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