I posted earlier today, but that has gone missing.

The 2 types of cruises are so different it is hard to compare. We highly recommend Viking's Romantic Danube Crusie starting in Budapest and ending in Nurnberg. You can also do the same cruise from Nurnberg to Budapest.

Mornings are almost always a tour with a wonderful local guide. (Viking hires their own guides instead of using an agency). Your tour group is small, and they schedule tours so you arrive at crowded venues ahead of the crowds.

Most afternoons allow you to spend time in the port town doing your own thing. The exceptions would be when you are underway. The scenery as you cruise is stunning.

We have done 3 European river cruise with Viking and loved them all. 1. Tulips and Windmills (Holland and Belgium). 2. The Romantic Danube (Germany and Austria). 3. Portraits of Southern France (Starts in Burgundy; ends in Provence).

You will mostly certainly get a more intimate view of the country on a river cruise because they are so much smaller that a megaship. What you will not have is a casino, production shows, etc.

My trip reports for each cruise are in the TTOL archives.

I'd be happy to answer any questions you have.

Sue