Hubby and I are thinking of taking a river boat cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest in Sept. (timing is firm because of when we will be in Europe). Any advice re: cruise line (Ama, Avalon, Viking?). Have never done a river cruise - would appreciate any info!

We did two river cruises with Grand Circle Tours - I think they are the "low end" but we were fine with them. Walking tours and such included at most stops. The food was not too impressive but edible, usually with a choice of entrees. I think the other lines will be quite a bit more but perhaps worth it to you

Friends of mine have taken Avalon and had good times with them. I have not personally done this.

I have done this same cruise but with Uniworld.

I have been to Amsterdam and Budapest several times.

What are your Ports of Call between Amsterdam and Budapest.?

One thing to be aware of before you book any cruise line is that if the river level is low (due to a long hot summer (I wish!) or high, due to a long wet summer, then parts of your "cruise" may well be by bus, regardless of how much you pay for the trip. If you are happy to accept that possibility I think you need to decide on your budget and your desired ports of call and decide on the line from that. You may have to act quickly - these things get booked up pretty fast I believe.

I would avoid Viking as their ships have problems is water level is low. We had a good experience on AMAWaterways in Asia. That is a long, really a double, river cruise. We did Nuremberg to Budapest and it was long enough. Go to Fodor's Cruise Forum for more help.

I agree that itinerary is long - there are many with about 1 week on the water and then land stays at the end - we did Budapest to Prague, 3 nights in Budapest and I think another 3 in Prague; 7 nights on the river.

There is also some of information on Cruise Critic - there is a river cruise section. I would think there would be some posts there comparing the different brands.

If Viking had problems with low water they all had problems with low water.

>>I would avoid Viking as their ships have problems is water level is low. <<

That doesn't make sense -- if river levels are low they will be low for every cruise line.

oops -- didn't see hetismij2's post

In terms of price and level of product, the three lines I have experienced on cruises within France(2) The Netherlands and Belgium(1) I would rate as follows:
Tauck
Uniworld
Avalon
All three had excellent food. Tauck had the best customer care in terms of many personal touches and excellent tours but the least attractive cabins. Avalon was the lowest in terms of customer service with average cabins. Uniworld had the most luxuriusly appointed ship with lovely cabins and they did a fine job of making sure all travelers were well cared for as did Tauck.

Luckily for me there were no low or high water issues on the one early April or two mid October journeys I went on.

This mode of travel is what fits me to a "T" and what I enjoy so much now that I am a lady of senior years traveling solo. I usually do p a few days in front and/or back on my own then meet up with the ship, depending on country and my stamina!

Please update with a TR to let us know how you fared.

With this company, you may get a discount.

www.pavlustravel.com Tauck, 5% and many others 10%.

We used Tauck for out 50th in 2010 and got the 5% off.

The front page layout is different as they used to show the discounts up front, but worth investigating.

Viking's new ships' designs have problems with the low water levels. Other river boat companies have do not have the same design ships and thus fewer problems.

<<That doesn't make sense -- if river levels are low they will be low for every cruise line.>>

Not true, it depends on the design of the ship. I'm more familiar with the issues on Asian river cruises, but I know that many of the European companies that have started sailing in Asia have had trouble with water levels, while the cruise lines that have been operating in Asia for some time have ships built with a very shallow draft so they can get to more places. I expect that the ships that ply European Rivers likewise have different drafts.

Have several friends who have used Scenic and APT and have all enjoyed their cruise. I think these may have an Australian background and Avalon may have an American background, they are the three we hear of most here in Oz.

Thank you all so much for your helpful info - I can see we have much thinking to do with our plans!

Percy, I guess I need to look at the different brochures to see what ports of call are offered. This is all so new to me! Thanks for that clue.

There have been lots of reports on here of several different cruise lines having issues w/ low (and high) water levels . . . Not just Viking.

I've done just a little research on European River cruises, and some lines mention that their boats are shallow draft. If it was a cruise I wanted to take, I'd look for that.

We have done this same cruise on Uniworld and loved it. We also did another cruise on Avalon this summer and liked them also but felt Uniworld was nicer.