grand royal tours reviews

Grand Royal Tours Reviews

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Reviews 4.3.

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Thank you for the fun times and…

Thank you for the fun times and incredible memories. I will cherish them forever.It was wonderful visiting with you. Each moment was such a joy and I'm looking forward to the next time we see each other.Thanks for an amazing trip❤️I enjoyed it☺️Thanks Grandroyaltravel❤️❤️

Date of experience : August 12, 2022

Reply from GrandRoyal Travel

Thank you very much for your feedback, we really appreciate it.

I'm extremely satisfied with my…

I'm extremely satisfied with my experience at Grand Royal Travel. They have amazing staffs and patiently attended to me while answering all my questions to my understanding. They did their very best to make sure my requirements for my trip are met. They are that good.

Looking for a place to visit for your…

Looking for a place to visit for your next summer vacation? Grand Royal Travel is on point to guide you through your vacation including flights, lodging and renting a car. Atop-notch for trip advice!!!

Grand Royal travel..it’s a…trusted company

Grand Royal travel..it’s a trusted,reliable and a convenient company which I was told about until I encountered it on the day I patronize them…I was so hilarious when I had my first trip through Grand Royal travel.😌

I like the fact that I could use my…

I like the fact that I could use my discount codes and incentives to secure an apartment in Maldives without paying any money. The staffs are also friendly.

Date of experience : August 13, 2022

Honestly I’m impressed I got to know…

Honestly I’m impressed I got to know about Grand royal through a friend then I thought to give it a try and the outcome was amazing the service was top notch and I really love it 💯

I like the fact that I can call them…

I like the fact that I can call them even at mid night and they are always ready to pick up and assist customers.

Mr. Pullen explains things to your understanding

Mr. Pullen was very helpful. He does his best to make sure that if any questions are been asked, he explains to your understanding.

Grand Royal Travel is sincerely the…

Grand Royal Travel is sincerely the best company I have ever patronized and the most trusted company I would ever recommend. Their employees are a team of certified professionals rendering world class servicing, whether you approach them by email, a phone call or a walk-in their office, they have a reputation for speed and reliability and their credibility cannot be overemphasized. Thank you Grand Royal Travel for absolutely taking care of my entire travel needs.

I have to say one of the most amazing…

I have to say one of the most amazing travel agency’s in the world , warm customer reception, amazing rates and discounts and great value for your money …I still wonder what you are waiting for go ahead and book your vacation with them today …you won’t regret it.

Reliability and Accuracy

Well I honestly have to say Grand-Royal is indeed “reliable and accurate” to their services. Numerous of times I’ve had disappointing and unstable issues when booking appointments for my trip on other traveling companies, I came along with Grand-Royal and they literally assured me on the accuracy of their service which indeed were true and amazing. I appreciate their services and I think Grand-Royal is something every Traveller would want to experience and appoint with.

Everything was so each to make and…

Everything was so each to make and confirm. I had a nice stay, no problem at all. I really recommend 👍🏻

Wow,I really appreciate my experience…

Wow,I really appreciate my experience with Mr Pullen,he was accommodating and also respond very fast to my questions 😊😊

Great and patient staffs

Great and patient staffs. A very reputable and reliable organization

I am extremely dissatisfied with the…

I am extremely dissatisfied with the room offered to us at the Grand royale Hyde Park. There were two on offer, I chose the larger of the two, but the size simply is not adequate. There is barely room to walk, the staff were rude and unhelpful. The supervisor Marcel did not help at all and offered us no alternatives. I feel a big disparity between what was advertised and what was sold to us. There is barely any space to even walk in the room and bathroom resembles that of one you would find on an aeroplane. I would like some action and resolution to this.

Date of experience : March 12, 2022

Thank you very much for your feedback, we are really sorry about your experience. We promise to improve in our services

Mr.Pullen was extremely helpful

Mr.Pullen was extremely helpful ! Any questions we had were answered very quickly via email or phone call. Not my first time using travel online and definitely NOT my last.

Date of experience : February 08, 2022

Grand Royal Tours Salem

Thursday open from 10:00 AM to 07:00 PM

Grand Royal Tours Salem is a travel agency and tour operator located in Salem, Tamil Nadu. The average rating of this place is 4.80 out of 5 stars based on 234 reviews. The street address of this place is 220, Thammannan Rd, near Four Roads, Arisipalayam, Salem, Tamil Nadu 636009, India. It is about 2.76 kilometers away from the Ammapet railway station.

Manikandan Sivakumar 20 months ago I went for my honeymoon to kashmir via GRT. From flight tickets, boarding pass, food in flights, commuting cars, hotels, 3 times food for a day and minimum rides, Grand Royal tours had taken great care of it. They even arranged food outside in a decent hotel for my lunch during travel. Their itinerary Covers optimum must visit places in kashmir like Gondola, beetab valley, thajiwas glacier and many more, which we liked. Boat house Victoria and shikara ride arranged by them in dal Lake was amazing. They are courteous and responsive. Driver Rohail had taken great care of us and took us to good shopping spots. They could have shared little more details reg the rides in each places where I have to spend additional money like local car to zero point, snow bike there and many such rides around kashmir. Because in kashmir we can't go in the vehicles arranged by them to many places and have to avail local rides.Little expensive but worth it.

Raj Kumar 13 months ago RAJKUMAR.... As a regular traveller, I have been travelling across Globe since the year 2005.... with a travel partner....due to undefinable reasons explored GR tours and travels through reference and FB....I decided to try out with them to Kashmir.... I interacted with Mr. Jaikumar, madam Sughanya and Sugandhi through the phone and watsup.... their interaction made me feel at home....I never saw nor met them but felt like my family members....Undertook the tour on 15th February to 20th.... Kashmir, Pahalgam and Gulmarg with the Tour Manager Mr. Venkatesh....a personification of patience, friendliness and a great companionship.....The tour has been a lifetime memorable experience for me....Great accommodation, amazing south Indian Thali and Breakfast....at all places....A special mention about the South Indian Rasam!!!! Thanks to Venkatesh, the tour leader.... Great memories, experience and co travellers all from Tamil Nadu speaking the language known to one and all....A big family of friends and acquaintances....All places were covered, leisurely and completely without any grievances from any one of us.... Six days passed away in like six minutes!!!! The best part of the Travel is that on return from Srinagar to Delhi -Chennai we had issues with boarding at Srinagar as the boarding flight from Delhi to Chennai had just 35 minutes of duration....Vistara refused to issue boarding passes to our group at Srinagar due to paucity of sufficient time....we all that we will be stranded in Srinagar.....But authorities of GR tours and travels used all their might to arrange for our hassle free travel even after the gates were closed at Srinagar!!!! Arranged an overnight fight to Chennai for all which is still a dream come true to all of us ..... Unbelievable but happened!!!! GR Tour and travels are organisers with commitment and dedication..... trust worthy, reliable and who keep up to their commitment at any cost.....our return travel is still a mystery to all of Us.... All my remaining travel shall and be with GRT undoubtedly....A travel partner least bothered about the tour money but yet committed to their clients at all cost....I strongly recommend all the travelling populace to travel with GRT to experience the warmth of travel !!!!! Prof . Peravalli Viswanatha Rajkumar.... Hyderabad....

Udayakumaran Sundararajan 12 months ago Had fun and frolic during our recent Dubai & Abudhabi trip arranged through GRT. Tour manager Sathish is awesome and his personalized attention is appreciable. GRT has demonstrated professionalism in all sort of arrangements. Hotel accommodation is good and arranged variety of food in different restaurants.We had great time at UAE and this is certainly a memorable one for my family. Thanks Grand Royal Tours.

N.B. The timetable is based on our last updated data on January 25, 2024 .

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Grand Circle Island with Haleiwa Town... - Royal Star Hawaii Deluxe Tours

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Grand Circle Island with Haleiwa Town Tour

Well, as luck would have it, we had Kalani as our driver our second time around. We were more than excited, as he is awesome- very knowledgeable, friendly, and great sense of humor! The tour had beautiful views and photo stops. Amazing lunch and shave ice in Haleiwa. Overall a great tour!

Kalani was a wonderful tour guide, very funny and answered all the questions asked! Highly recommend!

Kalani was great! He was engaging, informative, funny, and shared great stories and traditions about Hawaii!

Kalani was the best and funniest driver for our island tour and explained the history of the islands and the names throughly and awesomely with a hint of humor to go along with it! Best experience ever !! Would do this again!!

We had such a great time! Lola was so much fun and had a lot of interesting history about the island to share! She is a skilled driver and her positive attitude made the trip a breeze. She made great dining recommendations and we had a blast :)

Kalani is awesome!! Friendly and super knowledgeable!! Highly recommend this tour with kalani as driver!!!

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Grand Royal Tours Pvt Ltd

Member Since 2016

Coimbatore , Tamil Nadu , India

Destination : IN MY ZA EG KE TH JP AU NZ MM PE CA FI ID US FR PT ES BR AR IT BE AT HR DK IE NO RU SI SE CH TR IL JO CN KR BT LK KH SG VN AE UK

Contact Agent Plan A Trip Text Me Call Us - 08069247359 (Ext : 167)

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Packages of Grand Royal Tours Pvt Ltd

Alaska Cruise Tour

Price on request Budget | Private Tour Package

Destination Covered : Chennai, Vancouver , Alaska ..more

South America Tour

Destination Covered : Chennai, Lima , Buenos Aires, Iguassu Falls ..more

Antartica Voyage Tour

Destination Covered : Chennai, Buenos Aires

Japan & South Korea Tour

Destination Covered : Chennai, Seoul , Tokyo, Hiroshima, Osaka ..more

Turkeya Tour

Destination Covered : Cappadocia, Konya , Kusadasi ..more

Israel, Jordan, Egypt Tour

Destination Covered : Chennai, Jerusalem , Bethlehem, Cairo, Amman ..more

You Visit : Area

South Africa Tour

Destination Covered : Chennai, Mumbai , Nairobi, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Western Cape ..more

You Visit : Table Mountain

Grand Europe Tour

Destination Covered : Chennai, London , York, Brussels, Paris, Zurich, Innsbruck, Pisa, Rome ..more

New Zealand & Australia Tour

Destination Covered : Auckland, Rotorua , Queenstown, Melbourne, Sydney ..more

Delight Europe Tour

Destination Covered : Chennai, Zurich , Brussels, Paris ..more

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7 Things I Loved, Plus 4 Things I Didn’t During Princess’s Alaska Cruisetour

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On my first morning after embarking on the Royal Princess Hamilton Cruise ship on a sea and land cruise from Vancouver through the Inside Passage of Alaska and up to Fairbanks, I sat on my portside balcony and watched the gray seas as the pale morning sun rose.

A sudden movement caught my eye, and the head of a humpback whale rose directly out of the water, suspended for a brief moment before it disappeared under the sea.

“Did I just see that?” I muttered sleepily to myself. As if to answer me, the telltale poof of water shot out of the sea, followed by the dark, subtle hump of the whale as he followed alongside our massive 1,083-foot long ship .

Instantly, I ran inside to wake my travel buddy, but by the time he got to the balcony, the whale was long gone. However, that whale sighting was a premonition of extraordinary adventures to come on the Princess Cruises’ 12-17 day Connoisseur Alaska Cruisetour .

From luscious food choices and all-day entertainment to excursions and off-shore adventures through Alaska’s small coastal communities, the Alaska Cruisetour was probably one of the most fun trips I had taken all year. While I had my first cruise in January on a small excursion ship, I was invited and hosted by Princess Cruises to experience my first “big” cruise ship. For some reason, I had poo-pooed the idea of the big “floating city” cruise ships in the past, but the 12 days of sailing and traveling with Princess changed my mind.

I get it now. I get why people dream of cruises and just how easy it is to relax and just enjoy when you are being pampered, cared for, and catered to by a cruise ship company. Coming from the eyes of a brand-new cruiser (this won’t be my last cruise, I guarantee you), here are the seven things I loved — plus the four things I didn’t — during the Princess Alaska Cruisetour.

7 Things I Loved

1. medallion magnificant and the staff.

The Royal Princess is a Princess MedallionClass™ ship with a capacity of 3,560 guests. The MedallionClass ships use touchless technologies in the form of a small, quarter-sized customizable Medallion and an app to enhance and personalize individual experiences and health protocols. 

This thing is so cool. I had my Medallion customized with an astrological symbol and ordered the rubber wristband. While wearing it, the Medallion automatically unlocks and locks my stateroom door as I enter it, allows staff to find me anywhere on the ship to deliver my daily Bloody Mary, allows for touch-free boarding and purchases, let me find my travel companion on the ship, and more. 

“So let’s say you’re out tanning by the pool and you want to get some extra sunscreen, you can go on the app on your phone and order sunscreen which will be purchased through the app and delivered to you where you are anywhere on the ship,” said Briana Latner, public relations and marketing for Princess Cruises. “We’ve also introduced ‘Dine My Way,’ which helps you make reservations in the main dining rooms and the specialty dining, helps get rid of wait times and helps you with your special preferences.”

Another feature of the Princess Medallion is the Ocean Compass, which allows you to locate and message your travel companions. Whomever you are traveling with is automatically named as travel companions in the app, but you can remove each other if you choose to.

“Sometimes there are kids who are teenagers. They can go off on their own, but you want to make sure you know where they are and they’re safe,” Latner said. “Many people who are traveling with parents or the elderly who may get disoriented find it’s been really helpful  to be able to find each other too.”

Travel blogger Erin Cohen said the Medallion created a level of ease on her trip that shocked her.

“It makes you eat too much,” she laughed. “Everything comes to you at the snap of a finger or the touch of a button. The Medallion makes life almost too easy, but it’s great.”

Combined with the Princess Medallion, the staff on the boat is top-notch. Our stateroom was cleaned twice a day at least (the Medallion lets staff know when you are out of your room so they don’t disturb you), the bartenders all know your name and preferred drink, and every crewmember greets you with a cheerful hello.

Using the app and the Medallion was super convenient when it came to purchases, ordering, getting around, and more.

Pro Tip: Download the app before you embark on the cruise to upload safety and health documents, pre-book activities and dining, and get used to all the features. It’s a lot to learn. You can order the Medallion ahead of time and either have it sent to you prior to the cruise or you can pick it up upon embarkation.

Fun Fact: The Pacific Princess was the star ship in the 1977 television series called The Love Boat . That series also made the concept of a sea-going vacation popular with millions of people and has been widely credited with fueling the dramatic expansion of the cruise industry.

2. By Land And By Sea

The Royal Princess Alaska Cruisetours are a combo land and sea experience. In addition to a 7-day Voyage of the Glaciers Alaska cruise that includes two glacier-viewing experiences and stops in the small Alaskan communities of Juneau, Ketchikan, Skagway, and Whittier (Anchorage), you’ll also explore Alaska’s interior with a guided land exploration tour.

Once you’ve disembarked from the ship, you can spend 3 or more nights on land at the various Princess Wilderness Lodges , including the Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge, the Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge, the Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge, and the Fairbanks Princess Wilderness Lodge.

These lodges are situated riverside near the legendary Denali National Park and Preserve, on the stunningly beautiful Kenai Peninsula, and in Fairbanks. Each lodge offers its own unique personality.

You will also travel by rail in a private Princess Cruises scenic railroad car and by tour bus to the various locations.

We were on the Connoisseur Alaska Cruisetour , which offers the highest level of service with a dedicated tour director, the 7-day Voyages of the Glaciers cruise, 5-10 nights on land, travel on the Princess Alaska rail service, stays at Kenai Fjords National Park and Denali National Park , a Tundra Wilderness Tour into Denali National Park (We saw three grizzly bears!), sightseeing opportunities, and most meals included.

What I loved about this option was the ability to see not only the glaciers and wonders of coastal Alaska along the Inside Passage, but a chance to explore the famed national parks of Alaska’s rugged and beautiful interior. It truly was the best of both worlds.

“You see pictures but to see it in person is just like, it’s hard to believe this is even real. The whole time I was in Alaska, I just kept saying it was like a movie set,” said Cohen.

3. All The Choices (And Unlimited Drinks)

So maybe you are craving a pepperoni pizza while you lounge in one of the many hot tubs on the 16th-floor deck. Maybe one night, all you dream of is a big juicy steak with a Maine lobster tail. Maybe you want a lot of choices from the all-day buffet.

On the Royal Princess, the more than a dozen dining choices come in many different flavors, ranging from high-end steakhouse to Italian cuisine to sushi. Like many cruise ships, the Royal Princess has a buffet that features Asian, Indian, American, and Latino cuisine, as well as breakfast items, fresh fruit, a pastry bar, and more. On the fifth floor in the central Vista, a small deli is open 24/7 for the late night/early morning crowd.

The ship also has numerous bars, and because we were given the unlimited drinks option, we put those to good use. From the poolside bars to the cozy Wheelhouse Bar with its live music, you’ll not have to worry about finding the perfect cocktail or Alaska beer to sip on. 

Although I dined at the fancy Crown Grill and Sabatini’s, the buffet was our go-to option most days due to the sheer variety of foods to choose from. Be warned, though: It’s easy to let your eyes be bigger than your stomach, and you can end up eating more than you planned because the food is just so tasty.

4. Lots Of Viewing Areas

The Alaska Cruisetour I was on started from Vancouver and sailed through Alaska’s Inside Passage through some of the most beautiful scenery I’d ever seen. With glaciers, waterfalls, misty mountains, and otters and whales frolicking in the waves, it would be a crime not to take it all in.

I loved all the decks and viewing areas on the Royal Princess. From our own private balcony to picture windows throughout the ship to expansive decks, the views just kept coming.

Pro Tip: Bring binoculars! I really regretted not bringing the pair I own. Trust me, you won’t regret taking them when the whales and otters make their appearance.

5. Performances And Special Programs

You’ll never get bored on this Cruisetour. Starting as early as 6 a.m. every day, the Royal Princess has events, special programs, classes, naturalist talks, and fun activities. From morning stretching on the deck to art auctions and contests to game shows and line dancing classes, this ship doesn’t stop!

In addition to the hourly activities, excursions, and options during the day, The Royal Princess presents big musical shows, comedians, naturalist talks, and more in its expansive Princess Theatre. The smaller bars and venues feature live musicians and fun, silly game shows while the main Vista area of the fifth floor holds concerts and dance parties. The ship even has a disco, a hopping casino with slots and table games, a very large fitness area on the 17th deck, poolside movies, a pickleball court, a Discovery Camp for kids, and more.

Every day, a daily newsletter listing all the activities on the ship is delivered to your room, so it’s easy to find and choose what performances or classes you’d like to take part in. If you are bored at all on this ship, that’s on you! Seriously, you’ll have a hard time picking which fun activity to do.

6. Being Pampered

After days of hiking, exploring Alaska’s small communities, whale watching, dancing all night, and maybe having one too many cocktails, it’s nice to be pampered. The Royal Princess’ onboard Lotus Spa brings you to a place of peace and Zen with services like traditional massage, acupuncture, facials like the La Therapie HydraLift facial, couples massage, and Aroma Stone Therapy Massage.

After relaxing, cruisers can head to The Enclave , a getaway of thermal suites and a hydro-therapy pool with a cascading rain shower and therapeutic air jets. Sweat out your worries at a Turkish-style steam bath, steam rooms, and dry saunas for purification and detoxification, then doze off on the heated stone beds or relaxing water beds.

Another pampering experience is Royal Princess’ The Sanctuary , an adult-only retreat on the top deck with private cabanas, food and drink, and al fresco massages. The “Serenity Stewards” are quietly efficient in delivering everything you need, from fresh mimosas to towels.

7. All The Excursions

With 12 days of adventure, it would be impossible for me to list all the land and sea excursions available through the Royal Princess Cruisetour. Thankfully, you’ll be able to find all the options through the Medallion app and with the onboard concierges.

For my excursions, I went out on a crab boat in Ketchikan to learn about crab harvesting and to stuff myself silly on Dungeness crab, roared up winding mountain trails on a UTV, spotted whales, climbed glaciers, kayaked pristine mountain glacial lakes, toured and spotted wildlife on a Tundra Wilderness Tour in Denali National Park and so much more.

The excursions range from the sedate and relaxing to the wild and extreme, so there’s a little bit of everything for anyone. You can see the list of available excursions here .

4 Things I Didn’t Love

1. prices of excursions.

Alaska is expensive. There’s no getting around that fact. Being able to enjoy the Alaska landscape on a guided excursion is going to cost you. Some of the most expensive excursions include flights on small planes and helicopters, but they tend to be the most popular as well, like the Denali Flightseeing tours and helicopter tours of surrounding glaciers.

You aren’t required to purchase excursions, however. If you’d rather explore the different ports on your own, you can do that too.

2. Not Enough Time In Each Port Or Land Lodge

When you are cruising, you have a schedule to keep. You might fall in love with tiny little Skagway, but you only have a day in port. You may want to spend more time at the Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge with its cozy rooms and fireplaces, but you only have one night.

The fact that you do not have control over how long you can stay in any one place is certainly not Princess’ fault, but it is a bummer and a fact of life when cruising.

3. No Coffee In The Room

One of my biggest pet peeves in life is not having coffee available in my room when traveling. Yes, ordering coffee to the room was easy and the staff at Princess were on top of my caffeine addiction, but it would have been nice to have one of those little coffee makers tucked away so I could make my own coffee.

One great thing about the Royal Princess is the ability to order coffee and breakfast the night before. Each day, you can fill out a form listing what items you’d like to order and what time they should be delivered, so that’s convenient.

4. Staffing Problems At The Lodges

Like so many other destinations, Alaska has a worker shortage. That desperate need for seasonal and long-term employees has led to some staffing issues at some of the lodges. While the Royal Princess ship boasts 1,346 crew members from more than 30 different countries, some of the lodges had problems filling spots, which led to slowdowns, some maintenance issues, and longer wait times.

My best advice is to stay patient with the destinations and with the staff that is working. Everyone is doing the best they can with less.

All in all, my first “big cruise” experience was stellar and has made me a believer! Hopefully, this won’t be my last cruise, and if you yearn for an easy, well-organized way to experience Alaska, the Royal Princess Alaska Cruisetour is the way to go.

For more on cruises and sailing , explore these articles:

• My 7 Favorite Meals On Viking’s New Expedition Ship
• 6 Fabulous Perks Of Cruising Alaska In The Fall
• 9 Tips For Cruising The Mediterranean With Costa

Heide Brandes is an award-winning journalist and travel writer based in Oklahoma. She loves outdoor adventures, exploring different cultures, and finding off-the-wall, bizarre, and wondrous experiences to enjoy. Heide writes for numerous national and international publications and is an award-winning member of the Society for Professional Journalists, North American Travel Journalists Association, and Society of American Travel Writers. Besides traveling and writing, Heide is also a professional Bellydancer, a medieval re-enactor, and a quirky chick who lives in Oklahoma City.

Maddy's Avenue

By: Maddy Cornelius · Last Updated: October 11, 2023

Viking River Cruises Grand European Tour: In Review

It’s been a few weeks since we disembarked from our Viking River Cruise in Amsterdam. And even today, it’s difficult to put into words how incredible our entire experience was on our  Grand European Tour .

Over 15 magical days, we sailed along the Danube, Main, and Rhine rivers. We explored four countries, stopping in fairy tale towns , brilliant imperial cities, and quaint countryside villages along the way. We drank copious amounts of German beer, indulged in Viking’s culinary masterpieces, laughed with the other guests on board, and savored the stunning river views as we sailed.

As you can already tell, we loved our time aboard our Viking ship. However, in this post, we’ll give a full review of our Grand European Tour with Viking River Cruises so you know exactly what to expect.

Continue reading for our opinions of the cruise, from our ship and stateroom, to our itinerary and the food on board!

For two weeks, we called the Viking Embla home.

Throughout the ship, there were many different areas we could relax in and enjoy the views as we sailed.

Our Viking Longship featured a spacious and bright reception area , where the crew offered refreshing drinks each time we returned from an excursion.

Next to the reception area was the beautiful restaurant which featured floor-to-ceiling windows. Each night, we enjoyed spectacular valley views and sunsets over incredible cuisine, wine, and cheese platters.

Upstairs, a library featured comfortable seating, board games, travel books, Viking’s daily news printouts, and guest computers.

Also upstairs, the Observation Lounge served as the ship’s main gathering area. Each night, after dinner, we’d have drinks at the bar, meanwhile other guests danced to live music. Other events, like cultural demonstrations, late-night snacks, and night sailing were held here. And of course, it wasn’t called the Observation Lounge for nothing; like the restaurant, floor-to-ceiling windows allowed guests to enjoy the river views at all times.

Off of the Observation Lounge lied both the covered-outdoor Aquavit Buffet and the uncovered-outdoor Aquavit Terrace . In these areas, we enjoyed casual meals and snacks, soaked up the sunshine and fresh air, and simply relaxed.

On top of the longship, on the Sun Deck , mini-golf, tables and chairs, and lounge chairs allowed for more relaxation, yet there was also room to walk and run to get our exercise in.

Our Stateroom

When it comes to cruise ship staterooms, ours had it all!

We booked Viking’s Veranda Stateroom (B) which included everything necessary for both a comfortable and luxurious European river cruise.

Our favorite feature was, of course, our veranda. When we woke up each morning, we stepped out onto the veranda, only to be greeted by a gentle breeze, soaring mountains covered in vineyards, and beautiful medieval villages. What a way to start each day!

The stateroom itself, however, was brilliantly engineered and very well-acquainted. While our room was small (only 205 square feet), we had enough room to store all of our things, feel comfortable, and have enough space to move around.

Our stateroom featured a spacious closet to hang all of our clothes, and to keep our shoes, and backpacks/purses out of the way. Next to the closet was a dresser with six drawers for more clothing. There was also enough space under our bed to fit both of our large suitcases! Our private bathroom, though small, also had tons of storage for all of our toiletries.

Really, Viking’s design of both our stateroom and bathroom were quite impressive.

Additionally, our stateroom included:

• A bottle of champagne upon arrival
• Fresh fruit platters replenished daily
• Premium bath products
• Bathrobes and slippers
• Telephone, refrigerator, safe, hair dryer & bottled water replenished daily
• Hotel-style beds
• Individual climate control
• American and European electrical sockets
• Sony 40-inch flat-panel TV with premium entertainment package including BBC News, CNBC, CNN, National Geographic, TNT Series, Sky Sports, and videos on demand

The Food and Drinks

We couldn’t believe how delicious and thoughtful every meal aboard our Viking ship was. And as you all know, food is very important to us.

Between serving regional dishes based on our whereabouts, local wine pairings, and top-quality ingredients, each meal aboard our beloved Viking Embla left us full and happy.

The lunch and dinner menus aboard a Viking River Cruise don’t feature your typical cruise cuisine, either. Oh, no! It’s all gourmet, plated beautifully, and absolutely delicious.

For lunch each day, we had choices between a few appetizers, main courses, and desserts from the menu. There were also buffet options both at the Aquavit Buffet and the restaurant.

For dinner each night, we also indulged in appetizers, main courses, desserts, and cheese plates, from the dinner menu.

Multiple times throughout the cruise, when we’d disembark to explore a new city, we’d see crew members stocking the ship with fresh produce and meats for all of our meals. That’s one way that we knew the food aboard our Viking ship was top quality. But how else did we know? Well, we ate it for two weeks straight, didn’t we? And we didn’t have one bad meal; not even close!

To give you a better idea, here’s one of the mouth-watering dinner menus we indulged in during our cruise:

Roasted Mushroom Velouté

crisp bacon, mushroom chips, truffle sabayon

Salmon Tartar

baby greens, honey mustard dip

Crisp Tandoori Chicken & Parmesan Foam

tomato salad

cassis sorbet with sparking wine

Beef Wellington Napoleon Style

sautéed vegetables, pommes duchesse & Cognac sauce

Sautéed Prawns & Saffron Beurre Blanc

potato soufflé, sautéed fennel

Crisp Dark Valrhona Chocolate Tart

mango salad

The following cheese plate is accompanied by 

Ginger Honey

Walnut Cheese

Isn’t that menu just fantastic ? And trust us, the food didn’t disappoint either! The care and thoughtfulness put into each menu was reflected in each plate’s rich flavors and stunning presentation.

For us, the food and wine aboard the Viking Embla was the highlight of the cruise — other than the destinations we explored, of course.

The On-Board Entertainment

Even after long days of exploring different cities and towns throughout Europe, we wanted to experience everything we possibly could during our cruise.  Given that destinations are so close together on the Grand European Tour, we never had to kill more than a few hours aboard the ship (other than for meals and to sleep); however, while on the cruise, we wished there were a few more activities to occupy our sailing time.

Entertainment options other than the nightly live music and dancing, or the occasional cultural talk would have been a nice touch. Though for us, the on-board entertainment wasn’t a deal breaker. Not even close!

Firstly, we would have loved a gym on board. With all of the scrumptious food and drinks we consumed during our two-week cruise, staying fit was important. However, our ship’s Sun Deck did have plenty of space to walk, jog, and even do calisthenics. A pool or spa also would have been lovely, though with such a small cruise ship, this wish-list item probably wasn’t possible to include.

Also, as travel bloggers, we need our WiFi. As we cruised, the WiFi was spotty, making it, at times, difficult to get work done. But of course, this should be expected aboard any cruise ship; that’s just the way it goes!

With all that said, there is still one key fact to remember: river cruises are meant for relaxing! 

While we sailed, I enjoyed curling up with a nice book, soaking in the incredible views, hitting the bar with the guests we’d met, and watching movies in bed. That’s what a vacation is all about anyway, right?

The Service/Staff

The service we experienced aboard the Viking Embla gets 5 stars.

Even when we think really hard, we can’t find anything bad to say about the customer service we experienced on board.

The crew’s main goal was always to make sure that everyone on board was having a great time, and that everyone was happy. It truly seemed that if guests weren’t completely satisfied, then neither were the crew members. They did everything in their power to make sure we were all comfortable, content, and had everything we could ever want.

Every day, our cruise director, Sonja, made sure everyone booked the right excursions according to their interests, answered any questions we had about the cruise, and accommodated each and every guest’s requests.

The m aître d’, Gabor, and all of the restaurant servers went out of their way to please us, too. For example, during dinner one night, we told our server how much we liked the wine, and to our surprise, he came back with a new bottle for us to take home! Also, as you read above, we loved the food aboard the ship. Some nights, all of the appetizers and main courses sounded so delicious that we wanted them all, and for the Viking Embla crew, that was no problem. If we wanted it, we could have it. Each staff member ensured they fulfilled our every request, always with a warm smile!

Some of the servers even went the extra mile by memorizing what we did and didn’t like. For example, each morning, when I sat down at our table for breakfast, a steaming kettle of fruity green tea would promptly arrive, regardless of whether I asked for it or not; the crew just knew that I loved that particular tea. The Viking Embla’s amazing omelet man also remembered exactly which ingredients I liked in my omelets. These might seem like small gestures, but when you remember that there were at least 120 other guests on board, it’s actually quite impressive!

In addition, our stateroom, and the entire ship, were always perfectly tidy. Aboard our Viking cruise, you’d never find a table of empty plates or crumbs, never any water droplets on the restroom floors, never any wine glass unpolished. The whole ship was spotless.

Viking’s attention to detail in every aspect of the cruise is something we’ve never seen before. The service we experienced is truly something that Viking River Cruises should be proud of!

The Itinerary

And now for the best part, the Grand European Tour itinerary!

With world-famous cities like Amsterdam, Budapest and Vienna, and tiny, widely-unknown towns like Melk, Bamberg, and Wertheim, each place we visited on our cruise was completely different from the next. On this cruise, we visited towns we’d never even heard of, and places we would never have dreamed we’d visit, if it weren’t for Viking River Cruises.

The timing of our itinerary was also planned out perfectly. On most cruises, you always feel rushed. On the Viking River Cruises Grand European Tour, this wasn’t the case. In the big cities, Budapest and Vienna, we had two days! And in the small towns and villages, we had enough time to thoroughly explore the quiet cobblestone alleys, shop for unique souvenirs, and visit the must-see sites.

The Grand European itinerary allowed us to see quaint towns and stunning big cities, countless centuries-old castles, famous museums, ornate cathedrals, bright-colored architecture, and so much more! Truly, it was the European trip of a lifetime!

The Stops (Budapest to Amsterdam)

We decided to begin our cruise in Budapest, and disembark in Amsterdam. However, note that you can also book the opposite route, starting in Amsterdam!

Of the 13 ports we stopped at, not one of them fell short. When I think back to this cruise now, it seems too magical to actually be real.

At each stop, Viking offers guided tours, which are always included in the cruise’s price. Our tour guides were always very knowledgeable, entertaining, and were open to answering all of our questions.

However, we often added on optional excursions, which made our experience all the more memorable. For example, in Budapest we booked an excursion to the Széchenyi Thermal Baths, and in Vienna we attended a brilliant opera performance — both of which were necessary to experience the best of each city. And to really make the most of our cruise, we also took a few day trips, swapping Passau for Salzburg, and Würzburg for Rothenburg ob der Tauber.

For those interested in eating and drinking, history, architecture, and art, the Viking River Cruises Grand European Tour is the perfect choice.

Finally, here are photos from each of our 13 stops! We hope you enjoy them as much as we enjoyed taking them!

Rothenburg ob der Tauber

Viking River Cruises Grand European Tour

Would we recommend the Viking River Cruises Grand European Tour to our closest friends? Yes.

Would we book another cruise with Viking River Cruises? Yes, yes, yes. 1,000 times, yes.

What else is there to say? We loved every second of our time with Viking River Cruises on the Grand European Tour and we know you will, too!

What to Pack

Keep in mind that the season of your visit will help determine what you need to pack. Winter gets VERY cold!

Of course, summer is warmer, and you can dress as you would in this part of Europe. But as expected the winter is very cold. Always bring a beautiful coat in winter!

Here are a few top tips of what to wear:

• Wool coat: During the colder months a beautiful wool coat is essential for style and practicality. You will fit in with the locals with this one . For the deeper parts of winter a down jacket is needed as an extra layer.
• Comfortable boots : As expected, you’ll walk a lot, so opt for a comfortable but stylish boot that you’ve worn in. You can’t go wrong with a smart Chelsea boot, like these . In the winter pair with good socks to keep extra warm.
• Hat , scarf and gloves : For the winter you absolutely need these to keep warm
• Floaty dress : In the summer opt for a long floaty dress so you stay cool, and bring a light scarf so you are always prepared to enter religious sites and cover your shoulders.
• Camera : There are too many beautiful things to see, you’ll want to take plenty of photos.
• Sunscreen : Nothing spoils your trip (and your photos!) more than sunburn. Remember to prepare with a good, natural sunscreen , even in the winter the sun is strong here so stay protected.
• Reusable water bottle : Remember to keep hydrated during your adventures; it can’t all be wine and coffee all the time! Bring a reusable water bottle so you can keep topped up.
• Tote bag : For those souvenirs and treasures found on your travels
• Travel insurance : As with any trip, you should ALWAYS purchase travel insurance in case anything goes wrong. I’ve had my fair share of travel mishaps! 
• HOTEL : I use this website for scoring amazing deals on accommodation worldwide.
• HOSTELWORLD : If you’re traveling on a budget, this is the best website to score cheap hostel deals.
• VACATION RENTAL : I use this site for finding the perfect vacation rental for an unforgettable getaway. 
• TRAVEL INSURANCE : Never go on a trip without travel insurance! It isn’t worth the risk if something goes wrong.
• GUIDED TOURS & EXCURSIONS : Many of the tours I recommend are hosted with Viator, which also works with local tour operators. Search them all here .
• CHEAP FLIGHTS : Get great deals on flights using my favorite flight fare aggregator .
• TRAVEL GEAR : A collection of all of my must-have travel gear are all listed here . Most important to remember is comfortable shoes and a scarf to use when visiting religious sites or if it gets a little cold.
• CAR RENTAL : If you need to rent a car book car rental in advance here for the best deals.

Are you thinking about booking the Viking River Cruises Grand European Tour? Have you sailed with Viking River Cruises before? What’s your take? Let us know in the comments, and feel free to ask questions, too!

Maddy’s Avenue experienced the Viking River Cruises Grand European Tour as guests of Viking River Cruises, but as always, all opinions are our own.

Join the adventure.

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About Maddy Cornelius

Hey! I'm the cook, world explorer, chief wordsmith, and photographer behind Maddy's Avenue. A California native, I've lived in many countries around the globe, but I'm currently traveling through Latin America. Slowly. Running two businesses. Livin' the "digital nomad" life. I’m here to learn, grow, and explore this planet - ever in search of big flavors and epic adventures. My goal? To inspire you to live a bold life: to discover yourself and the world around you at greater depths – one forkful, or one plane ticket, at a time. Thanks for being here!

You’ll Also Love

September 19, 2016 at 5:41 pm

This looks like an AMAZING time! You got to visit so many places that are still on the must-see list for us. A river cruise would be the perfect way to see all of these in quick succession. :D The Viking cruises look so, so nice–I’ve heard so many great things about them.

September 19, 2016 at 8:27 pm

It was so incredible — everything about it! We hope to embark on another one very soon! :)

September 19, 2016 at 10:46 pm

We also were on the Grand Tour cruise with Viking, loved loved loved it Can not wait to go again??????????

September 20, 2016 at 9:19 am

Glad to hear you had a lovely time as well. We hope to do another river cruise with Viking, but possibly in Asia next time. Those itineraries look great.

September 20, 2016 at 1:09 pm

We found Uniworld of much higher quality,and all inclusive,including all top quality Wine and speciality drinks. Also tips

September 20, 2016 at 1:36 pm

Hi, Dianne! We are unsure what you mean by, “Also tips.” But anyway, thanks for your input! We have never sailed with Uniworld, but we loved everything about Viking and will continue to cruise with them. Thank you for your comment!

September 20, 2016 at 3:56 pm

Wow you guys! This is quite the post. This cruise sounds so amazing. I didn’t even know anything like this existed! I am definitely saving this post for future reference to read through more carefully. Would love to do something like this! Your photos from your trip are just absolutely stunning, and the ship sounds amazing. Welcome home!!

-Emily http://www.coatandcoffee.com

September 20, 2016 at 4:30 pm

Yes… It is quite the long post ;) So glad we could introduce you to this kind of travel. There’s no way you wouldn’t enjoy it. We loved it and plan to do another Viking cruise in the next few months hopefully.

September 20, 2016 at 4:14 pm

I’ve always wanted to go on a cruise like this! Just curious- did y’all feel like the youngest ones there, or were there other people your age?

September 20, 2016 at 4:28 pm

Hey Olya! Yes, we were definitely the youngest people on the ship. There were a few others in their 20s and 30s, but the majority were probably 45-70.

April 26, 2017 at 4:02 pm

This review sounds fantastic….are you all compensated at all by Viking River Cruises?

April 26, 2017 at 4:25 pm

Well, that’s because this cruise is absolutely fantastic. We loved every moment of it and would do it over again and again. However, yes, Viking River Cruises did invite us aboard to share our experiences and our opinions with our readers. This is our 100% honest review and we wouldn’t recommend it to our readers if we didn’t truly love this cruise!

April 26, 2017 at 10:24 pm

Thoroughly enjoyed this review. I cruised with my mom on Viking’s Portraits of S France last year. 1st time with VRC. It was wonderful! The crew/staff were amazing – professional, conscientious, and quite helpful. My husband and I are looking forward to our Grand European cruise in 2018 with friends. Great to read about your experiences on this itinerary. Thank you.

May 1, 2017 at 4:11 pm

Hi Kimberly! We’re so glad you enjoyed our review and love to hear that you’ve also had a great experience with Viking. We LOVE them and hope to sail again with Viking. We hope you enjoy your Grand European Tour as much as we did — but we are sure you will!

May 23, 2017 at 9:45 am

We booked this cruise for April 2018, starting with 2 days in Amsterdam. Always wanted to go on a Viking River Cruise.

May 23, 2017 at 3:11 pm

That is great to hear! You are going to have the time of your life. Enjoy!

February 14, 2018 at 12:14 pm

Great pictures and looks like you all had a nice trip. We too will be taking this trip this summer 2018., however I would have found your review to be more honest and helpful if Viking had NOT comped this trip. You are obligated to give a glowing review. When you actually pay for something you tend to be more critical. I realize that your future free travel demands that you give amazing reviews, however after reading this I won’t be signing up for future e-mails

February 15, 2018 at 3:22 am

Hi Drew, Thanks for your comment! Actually our future of “free” travel does not depend on us giving amazing reviews… Our future as bloggers depends on us giving honest reviews, information, tips, and stories that will help out our readers. Our readers and our credibility are most important to us, and for those reasons, we are extra critical. It just so happens that we loved everything about this cruise (apart from the fact that there could’ve been more to do while on the ship – and this is noted in our review) because Viking is an all-around fantastic cruise operator; that is the only reason for the “glowing review.” We bet that after you go on the trip, you will feel the same way!! Have a great cruise! :)

March 30, 2018 at 8:15 am

How was the weather? Seems like you went in August? We’re planning to take this cruise fall 2018, but if it wasn’t too unbearably hot, or unbearably rainy (which it doesn’t appear to have been, based on your photos), we might bump it up to late summer.

April 7, 2018 at 12:26 am

We were there in July and the weather was absolutely perfect. Hot, but not too hot. These places have pretty mild climates. :)

We also had rain some days.

January 31, 2019 at 5:06 pm

Thank you for your thoughtful and insightful review of your trip. As someone who formerly solo traveled and made all of his own travel arrangements, I am in the new situation of having a spouse with physical limitations AND having a budget that allows others to do much of the accommodation and service arrangements. Though I will miss sleeping in jugendherberge and matrazenlagers as I did when I wondered through Germany and Switzerland several summers in the 80’s and 90’s, I am looking forward to entrusting accommodation, tours and food to professionals. Your review has helped me settle on Viking for this purpose. My upcoming Rhine travels will be far different from my first journeys from Amsterdam to Koln (Cologne) and along the Rhine as a passenger on one of the river transit boats.

January 15, 2024 at 5:09 am

Hi! Your review was very helpful. Just curious if you did the Viking organized tours or explored on your own. We will be doing the Grand European Cruise this coming fall and aren’t typical organized tour types of travelers but will be cruising with our parents. Would love your input on organized vs own?

January 15, 2024 at 2:43 pm

Hi Amy, I am typically a DIY kind of traveler too, but on this cruise, I went on a lot of the complimentary/included guided tours where I was particularly interested in the history. You can always start with the group and then veer off on your own once you’ve heard enough. That’s what I’d typically do – and I just loved that there was the option. As far as the optional (extra cost) organized tours, I chose to go on the ones that I was particularly interested in or that really enhanced the experience of the place (i.e. I went on the day trips to Rothenburg ob der Tauber and Salzburg, and went on the tours to the opera in Vienna and the Szechenyi Baths in Budapest… They were all great.). That said, everything was included in the media agreement I made with Viking. But if I had been paying out-of-pocket, I probably would have still done those tours!

January 15, 2024 at 2:44 pm

I also did a waltz lesson in Vienna which I absolutely would not do again…. I cringe when I think about me trying to waltz hahahaha

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