All you need to know about taking a European river cruise on the Danube

River cruises guarantee a leisurely-paced vacation, providing awe-inspiring views and allowing ample time to explore exciting riverside destinations, as well as rest and relaxation.

European river cruises are becoming increasingly popular - those on the Danube especially so. From its source in Germany's Black Forest, the river flows southeast for 1,750 miles before entering the Black Sea in Ukraine.

Courtesy of Viking River Cruises, my wife and I enjoyed a blissful eight-day voyage.

Our holiday began in Nuremberg, Germany, and ended in Budapest, Hungary. We travelled through three countries during the journey, taking in Nuremberg, Regensburg and Passau, in Germany; Melk and Vienna, in Austria; and finally Budapest.

Our flights were with British Airways and organised by the Viking flight centre, whose staff were extremely helpful. Our flights took a matter of minutes to book and we were consulted on our nearest airport and most convenient options.

On board, I found myself humming Johann Strauss' The Blue Danube the moment I set out on the cruise. Although I noticed the water is more muddy than blue, when the sky is clear and the water is still, the river takes on a photogenic, silvery-blue appearance.

I travelled on Viking Hlin - which is just six months old. It showcases innovative engineering, streamlined design and understated elegance, affording the most comfortable river cruise experience. An extremely warm welcome is provided by every member of staff, and the first class service continues throughout the whole cruise.

There are exceptional accommodations aboard the newest and most deluxe ship of the Viking fleet, comprising 95 comfortable outside staterooms (two Explorer Suites, seven Veranda Suites, 39 Veranda Staterooms, 22 French Balcony Staterooms and 25 Standard Staterooms). We were privileged to stay in a Veranda stateroom on the main deck near reception. The room was very well soundproofed (in fact throughout the ship the engine noise was hardly audible).

At the top of the ship is a sun deck, which gives a 360 degree view and boasts a shaded sitting area, organic herb garden and solar panels, putting green and anti-slip walking track. As the boat also passes under some low bridges the wheelhouse on the sun deck has to be lowered.

Along the Danube I counted some 26 locks. At some points there were just six inches spare on either side, requiring the captain to carefully navigate through these wonderful feats of engineering (which were only completed in 1992). Some of the other locks are large enough to contain two ships at one time.

One of the focal points of any cruise is the food and beverage. The staff provided attentive service, fine wines and delicious regional cuisine.

There was a main dining room where breakfast, lunch and dinner were served. At the bow of the ship there was an Aquavit Terrace, which served as a more casual dining area. It provided lighter meals and was a great place to dine alfresco while taking in the sights.

Breakfast was taken buffet style, with continental, English and American dishes. Lunch was usually salad from the buffet and hot food served from the kitchen. Dinner was one sitting and usually consisted of five courses served by the waiters.

On one of the evenings there was an Austrian theme, allowing guests to choose and collect their meal from the galley while being entertained by Austrian musicians.

Every mealtime dishes and service changed according to the country that we were cruising through. Any special dietary requirements were accommodated by the chefs and their team.

In each of the six wonderful places that we visited we were given a tour by a local guide, generally lasting for between two and four hours. We were collected at the riverside by a luxurious coach and driven around the towns to enjoy the many interesting and historic places.

We also enjoyed a guided walking tour using quiet box radios, giving excellent clarity of sound. We were typically given about an hour of free time to explore the area ourselves before returning to the ship.

Our six tours were included but there are other optional tours such as a visit to the opera in Vienna, to a palace or even a trip to the BMW factory.

Viking Cruises will have a stand at Bluewater from December 23 to January 22 to guide shoppers through its river and ocean cruises. The stand will be in Lower Guildhall, between House of Fraser and John Lewis.

Visitors will have the chance to win one of two cruises in 2015. The two cruises available in the competition are the Grand European river cruise sailing through the very heart of Europe and one of the company’s new ocean routes – Viking Homelands – through the shimmering Nordic fjords.