Viking Cruises

66 | Viking Explorer Society News Spanning some 2,848km from the Black Forest to the Black Sea, the Danube is Europe's second-longest river. It is also one of the most international, passing through ten fascinating countries along the way—they are all interconnected, yet each one offers something a little bit different. It's no wonder this river has always been popular with Viking guests. So, I was excited to learn about the Capitals of Eastern Europe itinerary, a 17-day journey sailing from Vienna and Bucharest, through seven countries. This extended journey of discovery is ideal for curious travellers, offering guests more time to explore in each destination plus the ease of unpacking once on a Viking Longship. My sailing embarked in late October, a particularly atmospheric time of the year when leaves were just starting to take on their golden hue, but temperatures were still mild. Our elegant Viking Longship, the Viking Rinda, featured serene Scandinavian spaces and floor-to-ceiling windows that made the scenery look like artwork. It served as my comfortable, temporary home on the river. Embarkation day wasn't the ship's departure day on this journey. Instead, we first enjoyed a two-night stay in Vienna. The Austrian capital instantly captured my imagination. On the included excursion— Viking offers one in every port of call—we visited Vienna's historic center. Surrounded by wide, tree-lined boulevards, this part of the city was all grand palaces with ornate detailing. My favourites were the Vienna State Opera, with its Romanesque statues, and St. Stephen's Cathedral, with its roof of colourful glazed tiles. To understand why the capital of this comparatively small country is so stunning, you need to understand some of Austria's history. For almost 600 years, until 1918, Vienna had been the capital of three vast empires—the Holy Roman Empire, the Austrian Empire and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Naturally, wealth flowed in from all corners, helping Vienna flourish as a city of baroque palaces, classical music and fine art. For the first week of our sailing, we passed through many of the territories that were once under its rule. We sailed on to Bratislava, Slovakia's diminutive capital, known for a history that dates to the Neolithic period. It was once the capital of Hungary, and its hilltop castle was one of the main residences of Maria Theresa of Austria, who later became Queen of Hungary. Our next port of call was Budapest, Hungary's vibrant capital with the Danube River coursing through its centre. The included tour whisked us to the hilly Buda side, where we visited its historic castle district and took in panoramic city views. I spent the rest of my time exploring the flat Pest side. Often described as the "Paris of the East," Budapest offers countless opportunities for romantic strolling along its riverbank or admiring the impressive mansions housing foreign embassies on elegant Andrássy Avenue. Compared to Vienna, Budapest's architecture is much more eclectic and has a Hidden gems of EASTERN EUROPE On our longest Danube River journey, Qin Xie discovers a fascinating collection of cities woven together by the river and their shared history.

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