First time cruise heaven

For someone who claims to be open to new experiences and always ready to meet new people, I was strangely prejudiced against cruises.

My reasons – with utterly zero research backing this up – included concern about too much organisation, that all the passengers onboard would be refined elderly types, and having to dress up for dinner every night would quickly lose its appeal.

However, various friends and relatives had tried cruises, often with similar reservations to mine, and all of them, even the most independent spirits, returned converted and raving about their experience.

When the opportunity to cruise up the Danube arose and I casually suggested it to my sister, she was so excited at the thought – the possibility of a concert in Vienna was enough to tempt her – it would have been churlish for me to refuse.

We flew from Edinburgh to Budapest and the transfer was so slick that organisation suddenly became a good thing, and the welcome onboard the Viking Embla started with a delicious lunch while all our luggage was delivered to our stateroom.

After unpacking and enjoying a stroll around the sundeck it was time for the welcome briefing, drinks and dinner. Dress was smart casual, with no formality whatsoever, so that was another worry crossed off the list.

Our first optional excursion, 'Budapest by Night', was in the perfect setting of a warm, clear evening, with twinkling lights along the Danube and beautifully lit landmarks such as Gellért Hill, Heroes’ Square, Andrássy Avenue and the stunning Parliament Building.

Our guide was well informed, funny and dry and we finished off in a bar with a glass of sparkling wine, meeting an engaging crowd of fellow guests who quickly dubbed me and my sister ‘the Scottish girls’, which we were happy to be known as for the rest of the trip.

Throughout the week the included excursions all stood out – not just for giving us the chance to see some truly breathtaking castles, impressive churches and towns steeped in history, but also for the superb guides, probably best described as art historians.

The invaluable 'Viking Daily' information sheet was delivered to every room with all the information needed on excursions, useful ratings on how challenging different walks were, details on the country’s profile, interesting facts and figures and surprising snippets of information.

At every stop the reception desk provided maps and business cards with the ship’s location, highlighting times to be back on board on casting off days.

Viking voyages include complimentary excursions, but of course you can skip these, do your own thing or try a mix of both.

You can also book and pay for extras, so we decided to add 'Budapest’s Thermal Baths', 'Göttweig Abbey with Apricot Dumpling Demonstration' and 'Wachau Valley by Bicycle' to our itinerary, as well as the 'Mozart & Strauss Concert in Vienna'.

The concert lived up to my sister’s every expectation, and I was equally enchanted with its wonderful singers and exquisite ballet dancers.

Onboard we enjoyed live music – The Sound of Music of course – as well as sailing commentary, talks, cookery demonstrations
and quizzes.

The music quiz in particular was an extremely lively affair, and made me realise my preconceived ideas about refined older people enjoying a prim and proper time on a cruise was a figment of my overactive imagination.

While the average age onboard was probably 55+, some family groups had younger adults in their 20s and 30s, and all were put to shame by one 70+ gentleman’s energetic dancing.

The friendly staff, gorgeous food featuring both local and classical dishes, choice of beer, wine and soft drinks with lunch and dinner and the constantly flowing free coffee and cake made us feel totally spoiled.

Many of the guests were Viking regulars, including a spritely 90-year-old lady who invited us all to her birthday party in Dakota.

Her zest for life left me with a thought: do the young at heart go on cruises, or do the cruises keep them young? Either way, I’m a total convert.