Amsterdam to Budapest on a Viking Cruise

 With a hop to Detroit and a long flight to Amsterdam we arrived around 6 am Wednesday morning. I believe we were the first passengers to board the Viking Egdir at around 7:30 am. Many of the passengers that were finishing their trip from Budapest to Amsterdam were still on the ship so our room was not ready yet for us to unpack and take a nap. While we waited in the lounge, several kind people offered us the same advice -  “Don’t unpack everything!! Only unpack for each day as you will be transported to other ships down the way because the rivers are so low and the ships can not make it through some sections of the rivers. But you will have a wonderful trip if you ‘go with the flow’ as Viking will take good care of you.” We were aware of this situation prior to embarking and had tried to pack lighter. Anyway, the crew will move our luggage for us so we really didn’t have to worry so we can just relax and enjoy our excursions.

This is only 1/2 of the ship. The “gang plank” is up there on the far left. I will describe the room a little later but ours is one of the tiny windows at the water level.

Nice lounge areas for small groups along the outside edges and a few large group areas in the center of the ship. Since the lounge wraps around the bar areas, the tvs on the walls provide viewing of the speakers/ presenter/musician/ band/ entertainment. This was nice so you didn’t have to be crowded in the large group area. 

We finally were able to lie down and nap a little after lunch. The rooms are smaller than our last river cruise (using a different company) but this ship has been able to travel better in low water conditions I believe. The solid wall under the window is where the balcony would be (is) for the rooms above the water level. The second floor has full window floor to ceiling with a drop down half window I think and the third level has 2 chairs on the balcony. 

The Aquavit was a modified eating area that offered a similar buffet as the dining room offered and I believe you could order off the menu here as well. It was usually quieter and there is a choice to eat outside or inside. Fortunately, Viking has been able to provide a dining area that does not “raise the roof” on noise level in their general dining room.

Here, there is a computer area and a library/puzzle/game checkout corner on the 3rd floor. We also found apples are offered all day long - à nice healthy treat. The coffee station (hot chocolate for me) was open all the time and offered cookies all day as well. This is where I was able to try à stroopwaffle. I never did get the chance in Amsterdam. This one has a caramel filling but they make a Nutella filled one which would be my choice. 😁

The train station

This a music/concert hall where the walls and ceiling could be adjusted for the best acoustics.

Booking.com complex housing 4,000 people and offices and other businesses.

Graffiti under the train tracks where cars, bicycles, and people travel to the other side. 

Nemo - the science museum

À Japanese floating restaurant that was one of two in the world but the second building broke when they attempted to transport it.   

Then, an afternoon walk around the dock area was planned for us and we really needed the exercise after sitting 28 hours straight. We had been to Amsterdam twice before and had seen most all it had to offer but the dock/ train station area is one section we hadn’t explored yet. 

We procured tickets to see Anne Frank’s house for a 7:30 pm tour. This meant we had to take a taxi around 7 pm which the front desk arranged for us. They also put in a request for a light dinner for when we returned as we would miss dinner (dinner begins at 7pm).

Owning a car in Amsterdam is expensive. This is a parking garage and it is €85 per day ($98). 

Notice the blue tires. 🙄 Those bikes are rented and if anything goes wrong they will fix it. The electric bikes are easily stolen, especially if you left the battery attached, so many carry their batteries with them. Even bikes can get parking tickets. This one isn’t parked completely in the marked spot.