This review covers 7 days on the vantage river splendor from budapest to regensburg on the first part of our danube,main, rhine cruise. We did not complete the scheduled 14 day cruise we joined on june 7 , 2019 due to an accident in the lock at riegensburg germany .we were not informed by vantage about an altered itinerary until 4 days into this cruise although the accident occurred 2 days before we boarded. .
THE DANUBE-MAIN -RHINE CRUISE CROSSES THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE AND USE 66 LOCKS TO ADJUST THE RIVER LEVELS FROM BUDAPEST TO COLOGNE .SHIPS CAN NOT GET FROM THE DANUBE TO THE MAIN RIVER WITHOUT THE 60 MILE LONG DANUBE -AIN CANAL FINISHED IN 1992
Flying into budapest , vantage made a poor arrival experience on the included transfers. we sat in the airport for 90 minutes waiting for a last couple 's late rrival. we missed the port oreintation and captain's welcome sitting in the airport.fianlly a van took us to the river splendor with no access as the ship had removed access across another ship . we stood on the dock with the luggage waiting for crew to fix access to the ship up two levels on another ship to the sundeck and across and down to the river splendor. the other ship doid not allow us to cross through their lobby to our ship. Not so nice welcome.
WE liked this cabin as it was very well designed. WE had two armchairs at the six foot wide floor to ceiling French balcony window. The counter and desk along the long wall of the cabin was useable while allowing easy transit past the two separate twin beds. Stroage was ample with suitcases under the beds. Two closets with hanger space and lots of drawers and shleves for our casual clothes. Bathroom ample with turnaround space and grab bars in the shower with glass door and good drainage No ventilation in the BR but we always bring a deodorant spray for odor control.
The river boat had an unscheduled 90 minute stop at Krems which put the boat at the smaller Stein. We walked about this town with few shops open One of the three churches was open for visits. The locals stated the real town of Krems was about 1 mile or two from where the boat anchored. WE enkoyed the smaller town but wondered what Kews was really about??
The walking tour of REgensburg emphasized it ancient history. The people of the town saved the stain glass of the cathedral form the wars. St Peter is seen in the cathedral allegely 110 times. WE looked and saw him with keys and a rock and other symbols. The old town is charming Our boat stopped outside the town as the end of our cruise with the River spendor ended here. WE stayed overnight for those eahger to go backinto town. We found two ventures into town in the morning and afternoon enough to see the best of the tow. it is a university town with charm and easy shopping. Nice old churches.