Viking Rhine - good and not so good
 

Recently returned from a Viking Rhine trip on 10/14.

The good:

Rhine water levels were good, no issues. Service on the vessel was A+, excluding one attendant with “attitude” at the front desk. Entertainment was low key but acceptable. Viking succeeds in creating a laid back atmosphere. Viking is like a clock - they run on time. Cabin was nice and shower was exceptional. Most (not all) tours were informative, guides ranged from good to excellent. Tour buses were top shelf with experienced drivers.

The not so good:

All 6 in our group were disappointed with the food (not service but food) all week excluding breakfast. All felt the food offerings got “old” real fast. Food appeared to be prepared in advance and then reheated. Plenty of TV movies, tv and internet reception poor all week.

Most concerning

Viking, customs, and airline never asked to see our proof of vaccination. While Viking did a excellent job in keeping the boat itself clean and sanitized we had an issue on one of the bus tours. A unmasked woman sitting directly behind my wife was sweating & coughing non-stop. Not a occasional sneeze or cough, it was obvious this woman was ill. At the first stop multiple riders relocated to seats as far away from this individual as possible. Regrettably, Viking said/did noting.

Viking claims they are not the Covid police and if we felt compromised we should have put on a mask. Absolutely ridiculous that Viking felt we should have masked but took action to pull this woman aside, require her to mask with a suggestion to see a physician. Again - we’re not talking about normal coughing and sneezing- this woman was visibly ill. Viking was willing to put 30 travelers at risk rather then ask a visibly ill woman to mask up. It’s Vikings boat, tour, bus but they say and do nothing.

Of course 2 of 6 in our group contracted Covid.

Viking had a obligation to do everything within their control to protect us as best possible. In this instance they didn’t even try.

Not trying to trash Viking, just being truthful.

Viking’s lack of concern for it’s passengers’ health is shocking!
We are not Viking fans after some poor quality river cruises but this situation was terrible. . I assume this incident with a sick passenger mingling with others has been reported to Viking’s headquarters.

Thanks for your comments! We are booked on aViking Rhine cruise for next summer. Will bring masks and be more aware of the contagion issues. Are there excursions you would recommend and those to avoid? We are interested in history, culture and in good physical shape.

I just checked and in Germany FFP2 masks are still required on all public transport. However a cruise ship isn't public so it is presumably at the discretion of the company and I suppose ultimately the Captain. And whilst they owe a duty of care to all their passengers, suing them for allowing a visibly ill passenger to circulate and infect others would not be easy as I'm sure they know.

Their attitude seems very different to that experienced by another fodorite on a recent Rick Steves' trip, where they had to test every day, with a requirement that anyone who tested positive would immediately leave the tour. The flip side to this is that if you have complied with all the tour's covid requirements, if you have to leave the tour you will get a partial refund for the part you miss. Not sure how you do this on a river cruise however, though being required to quarantine in your cabin would be an obvious option.

Other cruise companies are available!

BetsyG, have you canceled your Viking reservations and booked with another river cruise company?