viking rhine river cruise 2023 reviews

Sunday 27th of November 2016

You should check out Viking Cruises when you're ready to try a river cruise. They really do a nice job with all the details and the overall experience.

Mariah Grimwood

Tuesday 11th of October 2016

Wow, your trip looked amazing! I agree with everyone here about not being a super cruise-y person because I put a high value on my independence, but I went on a narrow boat trip in England when I was younger and really loved it, so I'm definitely interested in going on another river cruise in the future. I came across this tour site a while back that lets you compare different river cruise companies and trips and it's super cool- ever since I have been toying with the idea of booking a cruise and I think you guys just sold me on it haha!

Vicky and Buddy

Monday 10th of October 2016

This cruise looks amazing and I think you picked a good one (I lived in Germany for 3 years and loved it). I'd be freaking out about the internet too, but I'd just go eat some of that yummy food to take my mind off of it lol!

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VIKING CRUISE REVIEWS

Help In Planning Your First Or Next Viking Cruise

River Cruise: Viking IDI

Ocean Cruise : Viking Star

Viking Idi Cruise Ship Review - Viking River Cruises

By Raye & Marty Trencher

Cruise Traveler Magazine

Cruise Traveler Magazine is a cruise travel blog and online magazine offering an unbiased cruise guide, latest cruise news, cruise reviews, tips, feature cruise articles, and need to know information about cruising.

Featuring community member contributed content. Cruise Reviews. Cruise Ship Ratings and Cruise Line Rankings. Editorially independent of travel providers or cruise lines.

Rhine Getaway

We went exploring castles, cities and cathedrals.

Our Cruise Review of the Viking IDI river cruise ship and Rhine River Cruise.

Viking River Cruises, Rhine Getaway experience highlights the legendary Rhine in just 8 days. In Germany, we sailed past castles commanding the riverbanks, and toured both Marksburg Castle and the ruins of Heidelberg Castle. We toured Cologne, the jewel of the Rhine, with its awe-inspiring Dom, and witnessed the lush landscape of the Black Forest region. We had time to explore Amsterdam and Holland’s famous windmills and waterworks, and encountered multicultural Strasbourg in France. Read our review below.

Embarkation: Amsterdam   

Day 1 Amsterdam

We arrived around 8:30am, fresh off our overnight flight from the US. Viking representatives were at the reception hall, after we had cleared customs and immigration.  They had our names on a manifest and quickly loaded our luggage on carts. Off we went to the waiting motorcoach for transfer to our ship,  the Viking Idi. When we arrived, the ship was serving breakfast to the disembarking passengers who sailed up from Basil. The Restaurant Manager invited all arriving guests to join the others for breakfast. After breakfast, you have several choices. You can tour downtown Amsterdam on your own, as the ship is within walking distance of many sites. You can relax in the public rooms until your stateroom is ready, or take a complimentary guided walking tour later in the day. Staterooms normally are not ready for occupancy until 3pm., but we were able to use our stateroom by late morning.  Later we chose to join the others on the guided walking tour of Amsterdam. With its tranquil waterways and gabled homes, Amsterdam is a delight to explore on foot.

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Our guided walking tour of Amsterdam  was our first-time use of Viking's Quiet Vox audio system. Two Quiet Vox audio receivers with lanyards and their charges are in each stateroom aboard Viking River Cruises' Viking Idi. Ear bud's are in the plastic bag.

The Quiet Vox audio system is used on nearly all shore excursions offered by the cruise line.  They're easy to use. A single ear bud to use on your left or right ear, is plugged into the receiver, and you just hang the whole thing over your neck and you're good to go. The devices are small, so you can slip them into a pocket, and just have the single ear bud visible.  You can hear your guide loud and clear via the Quiet Vox headsets, and you have the freedom to move around while on tour. No need to be right on top of the guide to hear the commentary.

___________________________ Built on a confluence of concentric canals, Amsterdam remains the City of Canals, on nearly every street you'll find old and new - side by side. With just around 831,000 inhabitants, 179 nationalities, and with almost everything a short 10-minute bike ride away.

Its Museum District houses works by Rembrandt and Vermeer. World-renowned paintings from the Dutch Golden Age are displayed at the national museum the Rijksmuseum. You can also tour the Van Gogh Museum and modern art at the Stedelijk. Cycling is key to the city’s character, and there are 400km of cycle paths. Famous Amsterdam residents included Anne Frank the diarist, the artists Rembrandt van Rijn and Vincent van Gogh and the philosopher Baruch Spinoza. You can tour the Anne Frank House, a historic house and biographical museum dedicated to Jewish wartime diarist Anne Frank. The building is located on a canal called the Prinsengracht, close to the Westerkerk, in central Amsterdam. You can walk there from your ship. However, you should plan on purchasing tickets at  (  Adults € 9.50  ) well in advance of your trip, as it is one of the most visited places in Amsterdam and getting tickets on the day your arrive, in height of the season, are almost impossible.

Amsterdam, when compared with other major European cities, is uniquely defined by its houses. With 7,000 registered monuments, most of which began as the residences and warehouses of humble merchants, set on 160 man-made canals and traversed by 1,500 or so bridges, Amsterdam has the largest historical inner city in Europe. Its famous circle of waterways, the Grachtengordel, is a 17th-century urban expansion plan for the rich and a lasting testament to the city's Golden Age, the 17th century.

After our walking tour, We took a short nap to recover from jet lag,  then met in the lounge for a glass of wine and  the ship's Program Director Chris Schmitz ( like the cruise director on ocean going ships )  gave us a review of the next day’s events before dinner.

( Chris with Raye in Strasburg )

There are about 180 people on board the  Viking Idi , so that all passengers can be served in one dining room at the same time. The smallest tables accommodate 6. Other 8 or 10. Romantic tables for 2 are not available. So, dining is a real social event. You can sit wherever you want, as there are no reserved seats. After a couple of days, we formed a little group of 8 new friends and dined together throughout the remainder of the cruise.  Viking Cruises includes beer, wine and soft drinks with meals at no charge. If you are a heavy drinker, you can purchase  for  € 150.00 a week , ( $210.00 US ) all on-board drinks, including specialty wines ordered with dinner and drinks ordered in the lounge before and after dinner. You can review the  Europe Bar Menu . Water, tea and coffee are included with meals, and many ships have a 24-hour coffee station. Complimentary bottled water is supplied daily in your stateroom.

Dress is casual and comfortable, both on board and ashore. Because the weather can be unpredictable, it is best to bring layers. It is recommended that you have a sweater or light jacket for spring and summer, and a heavier jacket for chillier months. Rain can happen at any time, so a collapsible umbrella is a “must.”  There are no “formal nights” on board, but there was the Captain’s Welcome Dinner and on the last night, the Farewell Dinner.  On some itineraries, you may attend a concert, ballet performance or other dressier event. For these evenings, you might like to bring “dressy casual” wear.

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River cruising involves a fair amount of " walking" shore excursions and in the old towns of Europe, most of these walks are along cobbled streets and cobbled steps. If you are unable to traverse these streets, you will not be able to take the shore excursions. You will definitely want sturdy, comfortable walking shoes that grip the ground.  If you use a walker, scooter, cane, or wheelchair, read about  Mobility Issues and River Cruising .

Day 2 Kinderdijk  

We had left Amsterdam during the night and we arrived in Kinderdijk in the morning, and docked right next to 19 windmills built in 1740's. We choose to catch the complementary walking tour and were able to hear the history and workings of the windmills.

The windmills at Kinderdijk were built to move water out of flooded areas to keep farm and home sites high and dry, as the land is below sea level. Today, modern massive turbines, get the job done. The site illustrates all the typical features associated with this technology – dykes, reservoirs, pumping stations, administrative buildings and a series of beautifully preserved windmills. Some of the windmills are still in service, and are home to the caretakers and their families.  You can visit a windmill, tour the outside and inside to see how the mechanism's work and the living arrangements inside the windmill. Not a lot of living space. There's a small gift shop, museum and workshop as well.

If you want to experience Kinderdijk in a more active way? Rent a bicycle, as the city is criss-crossed by multiple bike paths. Bikes can be rented at the souvenir store on top of the dike. Cost about € 3.5.

To learn more about Kinderdijk, a UNESCO World Heritage Site visit:  http:/ / whc.unesco.org/en/list/818

__________________________ Day 3 Cologne

Continuing along the Rhine this morning; we arrived in Cologne.

Köln (Cologne in English) is the largest city on the Rhine (the fourth largest in Germany) and one of the most interesting. The city is vibrant and bustling, with a lightness and cheerfulness that's typical of the Rhineland. At its heart is tradition, manifested in the abundance of bars and brew houses serving the local Kölsch beer and old Rhine cuisine. These are a host of elegant shops, sophisticated restaurants, and a contemporary-art scene.

Köln has been a dominant power in the Rhineland since Roman times, and it remains a major commercial, intellectual, and ecclesiastical center. The city's ecclesiastical heritage is one of its most striking features; it has a full dozen Romanesque churches and one of the world's largest and finest Gothic cathedrals. In the Middle Ages it was a member of the powerful Hanseatic League, occupying a position of greater importance in European commerce than either London or Paris.

Köln was a thriving modern city until World War II, when bombings destroyed 90% of it. Only the cathedral remained relatively unscathed. But like many other German cities it was rebuilt during the "Economic Miracle" of the 1950s, thus Köln is a mixture of old and new.

On our guided walking tour, we strolled through Old Town past St. Martin’s Church, and spend some time inside Cologne’s Dom, a remarkable Gothic cathedral with its stunning Gothic architecture and exquisite stained glass windows. Construction on the cathedral started in 1248 and was completed in 1880.

We had time to explore the taverns, cafés and shops on our own. Our  Program Director Chris and Viking Concierge, Michael were very helpful in planning our free time.

To learn more about Cologne visit  http://www.planetware.com/tourist-attractions-/cologne-d-nw-col.htm

Day 4 Koblenz & Rüdesheim We sailed along the most beautiful part of the Rhine River, where century’s old hilltop castles are just about around every turn of the river, and our Program Director Chris provided commentary about the history and current status of each one.  Along the way we marveled at the steep hills along the river banks dotted with vineyards.   We docked in Koblenz and then headed out by tour bus to Marksburg Castle in the village of Braubach, one of the many castles we had seen on our morning sail. On the Rhine's right bank,  set up high on a hill above the town of Braubach is Marksburg Castle. Built in 1117, is the only Rhine fortress that has never been destroyed, allowing you to witness its original labyrinth of rooms. The castle has been lived in for over 700 years.

( Marksburg Castle, along the Rhine River )

Beginning with the construction in the 12th century, the castle grew into its present shape throughout succeeding centuries. In the Middle Ages, the strengthening of the castle's defenses became essential and urgent by improvements made to firearms. Huge outworks date from this time, as does the conversion of a gateway in the outer wall to a strong bastion. It is mainly due to these extra defense works that the castle was never seriously attacked. In more peaceful times, it was used mainly as a state prison. This impressive castle, home of the German Castles Association set up to preserve such ancient monuments, presents a host of fascinating artifacts that brings the Middle Ages to life.  You will have to ascend a long winding walkway up to the castle and almost all of the interior grounds are covered in uneven cobblestones and steep walkways. The castles entry is well fortified with multiple archways, high stone walls and cannons pointing towards the river. This “castle”  was not a home for royalty. More like a "fortress" it was built to protect the residents of Braubach.  As other castles along the Rhine, it was a source of revenue by collecting tolls from traffic on the river.

Along the hour long guided tour of the castle, you'll view a huge kitchen, with a hearth displaying antique cooking tools, bedrooms with the shortest canopy bed we've ever seen. The guide told us that the inhabitants were superstitious. They would not lie on their back in the Middle Ages, so  they slept sitting up. How uncomfortable that would be.  We toured the great room where they gathered for lavish feasts. The armory with a great display of the changes in armor over centuries, a wine cellar, a blacksmith shop and a room filled with torture devices. Either actual artifacts and reproductions take you back in time.  The castle is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Learn more about  Marksburg Castle

Day 5 - Heidelberg & Speyer

We cruised through the morning , enjoyed breakfast with six new found friends and the viewed the passing scenery. We arrived in Mannheim and disembarked for a tour of Heidelberg to see Germany’s oldest university, founded in 1386.

( Heidelberg, Germany )

Then, visited the beautiful sandstone ruins of imposing  Heidelberg Castle  and took in the scenery of the Neckar River Valley and the city’s many red rooftops from this hilltop post. We continued with a walking tour through Old Town to Heidelberg’s renowned gates.

( Viking River Cruises Local Guides and Professional Drivers )  

Nestled up in the hills, some 300 feet above the city of Heidelberg stands the breath-taking Heidelberg Castle. The castle is a combination of several buildings surrounding an inner courtyard, put together over time with no concern for continuity. Each building highlights a different period of German architecture. The castle has a history almost as old as the city itself. The first parts of the castle were constructed around 1300, but it wasn’t before Prince Elector Ruprecht III (1398 – 1410) that the castle was used as a regal residence. Until it was destroyed by lightning in 1764 leaving it permanently uninhabitable, the castle was the residence for most of the Prince Electors. In 1800, Count Charles de Graimberg began the difficult task of conserving the castle ruins. Up until this time, the citizens of Heidelberg had used the castle stones to build new houses. We saw the Heidelberg Tun, or the “World’s Largest Wine Barrel”. It was built in 1751 by Prince Elector Karl Theodor to house the wine paid as taxes by the wine growers of the Palatine. It stands seven meters high, is eight and a half meters wide, holds 220,000 liters (58,124 gallons) of wine, and has a dance floor built on top of it. The court jester who guarded the cask during the reign of Prince Elector Carl Philip, a Tyrolean dwarf nick-named Perkeo, was supposedly known for his ability to drink large quantities of wine. Legend has it that he died when he mistakenly drank a glass of water. Just as breath-taking as the castle is from the city, so too is the city from the castle. From either the Great Terrace or the gardens, one has an amazing view of Heidelberg, the Neckar River, and the Neckar valley far into the Rhine plain. On a clear day, Mannheim is even visible on the horizon. _________________________ Day 6 Strasbourg

We docked this morning in Kehl, Germany boarded buses and disembarked early for a guided walking tour of Strasbourg

Just across the bridge from where we were docked.  Along the way, we say the home of the European Parliament and toured the interior of the city’s famed Notre-Dame Cathedral. This Gothic cathedral is famous for its enormous astronomical clock, built in the Renaissance period and mechanism dating back to 1842 is a masterpiece in itself, a monumental organ has a remarkable cabinet decorated with automated figures and incredibly tall spires reaching high in to the sky. Learn more about Notre-Dame Cathedral   "A prodigy of the gigantesque and the delicate," as Victor Hugo claimed. Strasbourg Cathedral (1015-1439) is an absolute masterpiece of Gothic art. The 142 m high spire looks incredibly lightweight and made the Cathedral the highest edifice in all Christianity until the 19th century. Three high-spots make the visit unforgettable. Outside, the facade is the greatest "book" of images the Middle Ages has to offer. Hundreds of sculptures stand out from the wall accentuating the effects of shadow and light. The 12th- to 14th-century stained-glass windows and the rose window are impressive.   Our local tour guide took us through "The Petite France Quarter". This is the most picturesque district of old Strasbourg. Fishermen, millers and tanners once lived and worked in this part of town where the streets have been built level with the waterways. The magnificent half-timbered houses date from the 16th and 17th centuries. Walking the narrow lanes, canals and locks, The Petite France Quarter is where artisans plied their trades in the Middle Ages. The half-timbered houses, sprouting veritable thickets of scarlet geraniums in summer, and the riverside parks attract the masses, but the area has Alsatian charm.

( Marty & Raye Trencher, Petite France Quarter, Strasburg, France )    

Our local Strasburg born guide provided a personal recount of his family’s life under Prussian, French, German, and then back to French rule. Upon return to the boat we had lunch and returned via a shuttle service provided free of charge by Viking,  to Strasburg for some Christmas shopping. The town was already decked out for the holidays, and the "Christmas Markets" were being built in the town square to open a few days past Thanksgiving. Downtown stores were already decorated and the spirit of the holidays was abound.   Dinner this evening was a real unexpected treat. As most passengers were from America, the Chef prepared a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. Turkey and all the trimmings! Alternate entrees were also available. _________________________________   Day 7 Breisach

Today’s tour was to the Black Forest. The Black Forest, a mountainous region in southwest Germany, bordering France, is known for its dense evergreen forests and picturesque villages, which inspired some of the Brothers Grimm fairy tales. It's also renowned for the cuckoo clocks produced in the region since the 1700s. Black Forest ham originated from this region, and so, by name and reputation at least, did the Black Forest gâteau. It is also known as "Black Forest Cherry Cake" or "Black Forest Cake" and is made with chocolate cake, cream, sour cherries and Kirsch. Learn more about the Black Forest   Our motorcoach took to the back roads through several picturesque small villages while our local guide described the life and history of people living in the area.  Many parts of the Black Forest are isolated and thinly populated. People took to making cuckoo clocks during harsh winters.  Deep into the forest, we took a break and stopped at a shopping complex that had a cuckoo clock building demonstration, a glass blowing demonstration, and a Black Forest Cake making demonstration. We had some coffee and a slice of the traditional Black Forest Cake.   Taste so good!

                                                                                                ( Black Forest Cake Demonstration )  

We returned to the ship for lunch,  and then took the optional tour to visit the World War II Colmar Pocket Memorial, and tribute to  Audie Murphy ,  the most decorated American combat soldier of WW II,  he received the Medal of Honor after single-handedly holding off an entire company of German soldiers on the outskirts of Holtzwihr, France at the Colmar Pocket in January 1945, then leading a successful counterattack while wounded. By the end of the war, Murphy had received two Bronze Stars, the Distinguished Service Cross, two Silver Stars, three Purple Hearts and the Legion of Merit–making him the most decorated American soldier during World War II.

( Audie Murphy Memorial )

Others on the ship chose to visit the Alsatian town of Colmar, France. Just across the Rhine River from Breisach, Germany.  Rising above vineyards and the Rhine, Breisach is where the Black Forest spills into Alsace. Wandering about Colmar's old streets in the medieval section of the city is the best way to explore it. There is a variety of shops of different sorts. The Alsatian cuisine is also omnipresent (in restaurants as well as specialist stores). Take a boat trip on the canal from Little Venice.

On our last night onboard, the chef prepared a multi-course menu for our Farewell Dinner, that was absolutely superb (as were all the meals!). We said our goodbyes to our 6 newfound friends from California, Washington State and Utah, because we would be leaving the ship at 4:00 am in order to catch a very early flight home. Viking was well prepared for early departures. Buses were along the quay and the crew's luggage handling was spot on. When we arrived at Euro Airport Basel-Mulhouse=Freiburg, the international airport in France that is 3.5 km northwest of Basel in Switzerland, Viking had a guide to help us navigate the airport for a flawless check-in.

We arrived home with a lifetime of great memories, stories and photos to share with you and our family.

About the Ship : Viking IDI

Viking’s Longships®  ( over 45 identical ships, including the Viking IDi ) were designed by Scandinavian naval architects Yran & Storbraaten who have also designed for Silversea, the Yachts of Seabourn, Disney and Regent Seven Seas. The ships are sophisticated and elegant, with furnishings crafted from fine wood and wools, cottons, cashmeres and linens in a neutral palette. Because of an exclusive patented design, the Viking Longships offer river cruising’s first-ever true Suite: two full-size rooms, complete with a full-size veranda and French balcony. Viking offers elegantly appointed all-outside staterooms featuring European linens and duvets. Viking Longships have a selection of staterooms from Explorer Suites to staterooms with a veranda or French balcony complete with a floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door.   Viking Longships integrate a patented corridor design and cutting-edge technology with comfortable amenities that reflect guest preferences and current travel trends. These features include a revolutionary all-weather indoor/outdoor Aquavit Terrace that reinvents the onboard lounge experience by bringing the panoramic outdoor river scenery indoors with retractable floor-to-ceiling glass doors and allows guests to enjoy the views and dine al fresco. Accommodating 190 passengers in 95 staterooms, Viking Longships have a patented layout that allows for two Explorer Suites – the largest river cruise suites in Europe – as well as seven two-room Veranda Suites with a full-size veranda in the living room and a French balcony in the bedroom; 39 Veranda Staterooms with full-size verandas; and 22 French Balcony Staterooms. Additionally, all Longships have sustainability upgrades, such as onboard solar panels and organic herb gardens, and energy-efficient hybrid engines that also reduce vibrations for a remarkably smooth ride.   Onboard amenities include a restaurant, bar, lounge, library, sun deck, onboard boutique and laundry service. Viking features non-smoking interiors on all ships.   When you travel with Viking, there are no surprises or hidden fees. The price you pay covers just about everything—port charges, Wi-Fi, meals, lectures, activities and shore excursions—as well as hotel accommodations on their cruise tour itineraries. So all you have to do is relax and enjoy a great journey that is also a great value: •At least one included excursion per port •All onboard meals created by our Swiss-trained chefs featuring fresh ingredients and regional specialties, served in a variety of settings including al fresco dining •Complimentary wine, beer and soft drinks with our onboard dinner and lunch service; bottled water and complimentary cappuccino, coffee and tea at a 24-hour hot beverage bar

SHIP FEATURES

Aquavit Terrace

Atrium Light and airy, the ship's soaring atrium-style lobby rivals those of the finest hotels.

Accommodations

Longship staterooms offer hotel-style beds in either single or double configuration and all have a private bathroom. 40" flat-screen stateroom TVs offer CNN and other English-language programming, as well as region-specific movies and documentaries. In Europe, programming includes CNBC, ESPN, FOX, National Geographic and more. Every stateroom comes with a view on Viking's Longships, as there are no interior cabins.  You have a choice of Oceanview, French Balcony, Verandah and Suite accommodations.  Cabin lighting, includes built-in dimmers, bedside controls and mirrored vanities  There are four American (110 volt)  outlets, two bedside and two at the desk, and two European (220 volt) outlets in addition to one European outlet for charging the QuietVox headsets.  Every cabin is equipped with a safe, a small refrigerator and a handheld hair dryer. Bath products are L'Occitane. Complimentary Wi-Fi is available in your stateroom, as well as throughout the ship. On our Rhine river cruise, it was working most of the time, at reasonable speed.

( Our French Balcony stateroom )

Veranda Stateroom Boasting sweeping river views, the Veranda Staterooms are comfortable and airy, with hotel-style beds, a private bathroom, roomy closets and storage space, and amenities like flat-panel TVs and premium bath products.

Explorer Suite Exceptional accommodations aboard the newest, most deluxe river cruise fleet include our spacious Explorer Suites - featuring separate sleeping and sitting quarters, a wraparound veranda with 270° views, a French balcony and modern amenities.

Ship Features 95 comfortable outside staterooms (2 Explorer Suites, 7 Veranda Suites, 39 Veranda Staterooms, 22 French Balcony Staterooms, 25 Standard Staterooms) All suites feature two rooms with a veranda off the living room and a French balcony in the bedroom Sun deck with 360-degree views and shaded sitting area; organic herb garden and solar panels; putting green, and walking track Aquavit Terrace with a revolutionary indoor/outdoor viewing area at the bow of the ship and grills for al fresco dining The Lounge and bar with floor-to-ceiling glass doors Restaurant with floor-to-ceiling windows for panoramic views Library corner and onboard boutique Elevator from Middle to Upper Deck only; no elevator access for categories F and E Free shipwide wireless Internet service Laundry service Ecologically friendly hybrid engines producing less vibrations for a smoother ride  

See the 360° Longship Tour

River cruises attract passengers 60 and older, but on our cruise there were a number guests in their mid-forties. Even a  70+ honeymoon couple from Utah, that booked the Explorer Suite and joined our dinner table each night.

You'll find most staterooms slightly smaller than ocean-going vessels, ranging from 135 square feet to 205 square feet.

The chefs created a variety of tasty offerings for us, with freshly prepared seasonal local vegetables, European specialties adapted to satisfy the tastes of guests and homemade soups are prepared daily. For breakfast, you can choose from  a selection of pastries, cereals, breakfast meats, egg dishes, fresh fruit and selected cheeses. At lunch, we could select from the soup and sandwich bar, or a choice of entrées and dessert. And for dinner, we were treated to a five-course menu with regional specialties. You may also select from a red or white regional wine, or beer ( complimentary ) to perfectly complement your meal.

Meals are served in a single, open-seating at set times. Breakfast is choice of a buffet, or ordering from a menu.  The buffet area in the center of the room includes a choice of cereal,  oatmeal with toppings, lox, yogurt, cheeses and meats. You toast your own bread, including bagels. There's also an omelet station, or you can order from the menu; pancakes, French toast or eggs cooked to your taste. Lunch includes a soup pasta station and salad bar. Again, you also have a choice of ordering from a menu with a featured sandwich,  or entree.

Dinner features a full multi-course menu with hot or cold appetizers and three entrees, featuring a fish, meat or vegetarian choice that changes daily. The sweet desserts, are incredible. Available every day choices include grilled salmon, charbroiled New York-cut steak and Caesar salad.

Always available, are two coffee and tea stations that have self-service machines, where you can have a regular coffee, as well as lattes and cappuccinos, with mini-pastries offered in the morning and cookies in the afternoon.

Tips to the crew are not included in your cruise fare.  At the end of the cruise, you'll get two envelopes in your stateroom. One for the Program Director, and the other to be shared with the general crew.  You can tip in cash or by credit card. (Euros are the onboard currency, but dollars are also accepted for gratuities.)

We found the service onboard to be beyond the ordinary. Many of the crew that we often encountered, remembered our names and greeted us accordingly every day. A great "personal touch " not found on large ocean-going cruise ships. The recommended amount on Viking's Europe cruises is € 12 per passenger, per day, for the the crew and € 2 per passenger per day for the Program Director.  Our Program Director, Chris did a great job and deserved extra recognition.

Hands-on demonstrations, cooking classes, traditional dance performances, and local tastings. These in-depth experiences are included as an essential part of discovering more about the places through which we cruised, and each activity is planned specifically to illuminate each itinerary. The ship offered a series of onboard multimedia talks to shed light on the history and culture of the places we visited. Topics included the Dutch Masters or French impressionists, castles along the Rhine Valley, the formation of the European Union, the life and works of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the wine and cuisine of southern France, and key words and phrases in the local language wherever we were traveling. These presentations provide a context for our own observations, enhancing our travel experience.

An onboard daily newsletter,  Viking Daily , featuring information about daily activities, shore excursions and tour departure times is delivered to your stateroom every evening.

Entertainment

River Cruises don't offer elaborate production shows, don't have a casino. There's no big promenade shopping mall, no midnight buffet, nor any waterslides, ice skating rinks or rock climbing walls. River Cruises do transport you " back in time" to visit the people, places and events, where Europe's rich history comes alive in hundred's of historic sites, classical cities and towns.

Located on the upper atrium level is a spacious, large windowed lounge.  This room is the social hub of the ship. Everyone gathers there each evening, for cocktails prior to dinner. There's a modern bar and a small dance floor.  The ship's Program Director reviews next day's program prior to dinner.

Entertainment onboard is limited. The lounge features a baby grand piano, where a pianist plays both classical and modern tunes during cocktail hour. Regional performers occasionally come onboard to provide additional entertainment. 

As as an example, in Cologne, musicians from Cologne's Academy of Music and Dance and WDR Symphony Orchestra presented an ensemble of German, European and international classics.

Concierge Services

Want to reserve a table at local restaurant?  Arrange for a private guide?  Just like a hotel concierge, the Viking Concierge holds regular desk hours and can handle these and other requests.

The company has grown to a fleet of 60 river vessels (in 2015) offering scenic cruising along the rivers of Europe, Russia, Egypt, China, and Southeast Asia. Viking has been honored multiple times in  Travel + Leisure ’s “World’s Best” Awards and  Condé Nast Traveler ’s “Gold List” as well as recognized by the editors of Cruise Critic as “Best River Cruise Line,” with the entire Viking Longships® fleet being named “Best New River Ships” in the website’s Editors’ Picks Awards. The travel trade has ranked Viking as the “Best River Cruise Line” by  Travel Weekly , Recommend  and  Travel Agent  magazines, “Best Cruise Line for Luxury River Cruises” at the  Luxury Travel Advisor Awards of Excellence and as “Best Overall Cruise Line for River Cruising,” “Best New River Cruise Ship” for the sixth consecutive year.

Final Comments

River water levels dictate what happens for your cruise. If the river water level is too low or too high, your river cruise may be delayed, ships changed, or overland adjustments made. Europe experienced much less rain  this summer, than in past years and as result all the river cruise companies have had to make alternate arrangements, like changing ships half way during your itinerary. The real measure of how well a cruise line performs is when something out of the ordinary happens. On our trip we did need the change ships, from the Viking IDi  to the Viking Kvasir. The transition was carried out in an efficient manner with only minor interruption to our itinerary.

We've traveled all around the world on over 40 ocean cruises,  but this was our first river cruise and we were pleasantly surprised. The crew and staff really worked hard and were a step or two above most ocean-going ship crews. The food was excellent, on par with luxury cruise ships. The sightseeing tours were well managed, and the local guides were well versed on local history and culture.

We had an excellent experience and are looking forward to another cruise with Viking in the near future.

P.S. We flew to Amsterdam on the day of the Paris terrorist attacks. Needless to say, it was part of the conversation, almost daily on the ship. On our tours at the ports-of-call we felt very safe and on our cruise we only experienced traffic delays at the boarder check points between Germany and France.

Raye & Marty Trencher

Darren trencher.

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Viking Grand European Tour 15-Day River Cruise Review

I was more than ready for this Viking Grand European Tour 15-day river cruise from Budapest to Amsterdam. Lee Oliver, our Viking Lif river ship Program Director, greeted us at the gangway with a warm “Welcome Aboard!” 

Those two words were like music to my ears. Maybe not Bartok or Liszt but music nonetheless.

Budapest , Hungary, on the beautiful and sometimes-blue Danube , has so much to experience.

A mid-afternoon boarding gave guests plenty of time before dinner to explore this spirited yet somewhat austere city, either on their own or with a Viking tour excursion.

Viking River Grand European River Cruise Review

In This Post...

In the course of two-weeks, we would cruise on three rivers; the Danube, Main and Rhine rivers. Along the way, Viking Lif  had 12 scheduled cruise ports to visit before docking in Amsterdam. A couple of port tour excursions offered day trips to other nearby ancient towns, and I highly recommend those options. Here’s our itinerary.

Grand European Tour Itinerary

• Day 1:    Budapest, Hungary
• Day 2:    Budapest and Bratislava, Slovakia
• Day 3:    Vienna, Austria
• Day 4:    Melk, Austria
• Day 5:    Linz, Austria and Passau, Germany
• Day 6:    Regensburg, Germany
• Day 7:    Nuremberg, Germany
• Day 8:    Bamberg, Germany
• Day 9:    Wurzburg, Germany and Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany
• Day 10:  Wertheim, Germany
• Day 11:  Koblenz, Germany
• Day 12:  Cologne, Germany
• Day 13:  Kinderdijk, The Netherlands
• Day 14:  Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Getting to Budapest by Train

As a solo traveler and someone who doesn’t fly, it was a challenge to figure out how to get to Budapest. After one night in Munich, Germany, it was an eight hour train ride to Budapest.

In First Class on trains in Europe, you’ll find many English-speaking passengers from North America. It was easy to strike up conversations with fellow travelers and the eight hours quickly passed.

With the help of Viking reservations, I pre-reserved a driver to meet me at Budapest’s historic Keleti station.

Within 30 minutes of pulling into the station and getting into the taxi, I was on board Viking Lif , met our program director and settled into my cozy cabin. Our Viking Grand European Tour was about to begin.

RELATED:   How to Take the Train to Budapest for a River Cruise

Day 1:  Viking Lif Embarkation

By the time I arrived at the ship in the late afternoon, other passengers had already unpacked and were mingling about the vessel. They had enough time for a short city tour and were enjoying cocktails in the lounge. 

I had about an hour to get acquainted with my cabin and Viking Lif river ship before the first pre-dinner meeting.

At 6:30pm, it was time to head to the lounge, meet the other guests and attend the informative yet brief review of our river cruise itinerary. Though the meeting was necessary and very informative, I really looked forward to tonight’s dinner. 

All I ate on the eight-hour train ride from Munich to Budapest was a bowl of Hungarian Goulash. No complaints…the goulash was very good and of course, very appropriate!

READ NEXT:  Getting to Budapest for Viking Grand European Tour Embarkation

It was a balmy autumn night that beckoned tourists and locals alike to stroll along the banks of the Danube late into the evening. I was tired but excited to finally have a chance to walk across Budapest’s historic Chain Bridge. 

Camera in hand, I must have crossed the Danube four or six times, snapping photos of the warm yellow bridge lights, couples strolling arm in arm, and the magnificently illuminated state buildings that line the riverfront.

Finally, it was time to call it a night. Tomorrow, our Grand European Tour river cruise would begin with a full day of sightseeing before we even got underway.

READ MORE:  In-Depth Review of Embarkation Day in Budapest

Day 2:  Touring and Tasting Budapest

If being chatty at breakfast isn’t your thing, there’s the option for a very relaxing breakfast buffet at Aquavit Terrace every morning. It’s also a good way to plan your morning time if you have a 9:00am or even earlier tour departure. This was usually how my day started; quiet, comfortable, and a cappuccino in hand.

By 8:15am on our second day in Budapest, passengers heard the first warning announcement for our city tour departure.

Know Your Tour Departure Time

Here’s how it’s done on river cruises. You know your tour departure time, say 9 A.M. At 8:45 A.M. over the PA system, you’re given a 15-minute heads-up for the tour to leave. 

Then you hear a 5-minute warning for your motor coach departure. The tour departure time that’s posted is not when you should walk out of your stateroom. It’s actually when the bus departs. I’ve had to run to catch the bus on more than one occasion.

Today’s complimentary morning tour was your basic European city overview; historic places, medieval churches, political hotspots of yore. In the scope of four hours, we would either drive by, stop to view or exit the motor coach to stretch and take photos. 

Highlights of Our Budapest Tours

Morning tour of budapest.

Our motor coach drove across the Chain Bridge to Buda side of the Danube. This is the hilly side of the city where many of the most beautiful building are located.

Views from the Buda side of the river…

Fishermen’s Bastion, built between 1895 and 1902, the beautiful towers and covered terrace weren’t built to defend the territory but to provide unparalleled views of the city. We had ample time to wander along the terrace and up to the Neo-Romanesque designed towers. This is the prime photo op location for sweeping vistas of Budapest.

Back aboard Viking Lif in time for lunch. As there would be on every day of the cruise, you can choose from two lunch venues; The Restaurant with table service and a buffet or in Aquavit for a café lunch, buffet-style. Most days, I chose Aquavit Lounge.

Afternoon Tour on the Pest Side

Budapest jewish and hungarian history.

I signed up for the optional 2:00PM Dohány Street Synagogue and Hungarian Jewish Museum tour. The motor coach let us off just a short walk to the synagogue. Part of the intrigue was seeing the small shops, bars and cafés in what was once the Jewish Quarter, or Ghetto.

Built in the Moorish Revival style between 1854-1859, it is the largest synagogue in Europe. In addition to the main synagogue (Great Synagogue), inside you’ll find the Hungarian Jewish Museum, the Graveyard and the Memorial.

The Weeping Willow memorial is in the courtyard behind the synagogue. On its leaves are inscribed the names of 30,000 Holocaust victims. The father of actor Tony Curtis, Emanuel Schwartz, funded the weeping willow memorial. 

The courtyard was named Raoul Wallenberg, the Swedish diplomat who managed to save thousands of Jews from going to concentration camps.

Stopping for a Slice of Budapest’s Finest

After a stop at a small shop for a Hungarian pastry called, “Flódni”, we boarded the bus to head back to the ship. We returned just in time for Cocktail Hour.

Tonight was the official “Welcome Aboard” toast by Captain Marcin and Hotel Manager Eve. One sparkling wine down and just before dinner, we had our next day’s briefing. Next port going north on the Danube would be Bratislava, Slovakia.

READ MORE:  Top 10 Things to See in Budapest

Day 3:  Bratislava, Slovakia and Funny Little Men

I woke up to see that we were underway, gently cruising along the Danube towards our next port, Bratislava , Slovakia.

Following breakfast and before we’d arrive, a mandatory safety drill was held. Warm autumn weather quickly drew everyone to the top deck and the drill took all of 15-20 minutes.

Afterwards, many of us stayed and either walked laps or settled into a lounge chair. With a mid-afternoon arrival into Bratislava, the day would be relaxing and informative. 

Program Director Lee led an enrichment talk about Vienna coffeehouses (where to go and what to eat) and a background about Austrian-born composer Wolfgang Mozart.

Locals have a great sense of humor as can be sensed when you try to find all the bronze statues. When I was in Bratislava, I counted eight almost human-size funny little men bronze statues. How many will you find?

Day 4:  Vienna, Austria

This wasn’t my first visit to this medieval city. From the beautifully baroque Schönbrunn Palace to a peek at the Spanish Lipizzaner Horses, Vienna has something surprising or magnificent around every corner.

I decided to pass on the complimentary morning motor coach tour of the city and get some writing done. One thing to note about Vienna, river cruise ship dockage is usually too far to walk to the city center. It is walkable but most people opt for a bus into the city and some will then walk back to the river ship.

Too good to pass up, I signed up for the Chef’s Tour to the Farmer’s Market (Naschtmarkt). A bit of walking, two subway trains and we were smack in the middle of a working-class neighborhood and a several-blocks-long farmer’s Market.

After a couple of hours, we were back on the subway, walked two blocks through Mexikoplatz and past St. Francis of Assisi Church and we were back on Viking Lif …in time for cocktails, of course. But not much time to spare. 

Not-to-Miss Evening in Vienna

I had signed up for the optional ($) Viking excursion tour to a concert hall for a Mozart and Strauss concert. Every river cruise line offers this but I had never done it. There would be an early dinner on board and then leave on the motor coaches before 7pm for the concert hall.

The concert hall was beautifully Baroque. We were all packed in on folding chairs like sardines in a tin though not as smelly. The performances were excellent with most of the music and singing were familiar classical pieces. 

If you have a chance to book a shore excursion that includes a concert in Vienna, I highly recommend it.

Afterwards, everyone was really quiet on the motor coach back to the ship. It had been a busy, long day from one end of the city to another.

When we arrived back to the ship, we were greeted with a special Viking Grand European bedtime treat: goulash soup in Aquavit Restaurant. The gorgeous bowl of soup and a fresh-baked crunchy roll accompanied me back to my cabin. Within an hour, I was asleep. One more port in Austria tomorrow.

Day 5:  Melk, Austria

All that glitters is mostly gold.

Melk is a curiously monastic community with the resplendent gold Melk Abbey high on a hill overlooking the Danube. Cobblestone street wind through town, leading to the Abbey’s grand entrance. Monks from the Abbey stroll through town and work in the Abbey as they have for more than 900 years.

Plan to spend about an hour inside the Abbey. You can walk up to the entrance or take a motor coach to the top of the hill.

The baroque interior is dazzling, the library has over 80,000 medieval manuscripts and several hidden doors. Leave time to step outside for a sweeping view of the city and Danube below. 

It’s a pleasant stroll over a little bridge back to the river ship, or take the motor coach again. The town is lovely with cafés and small boutique shops.

With a “Be back on board” at 3:45pm, we were welcomed with an Austrian apple strudel-making demonstration. Then the habitual cocktail hour, daily port briefing and the slow walk into the dining room. Another satisfying multi-course dinner and off to bed.

Every night on the river cruise there’s entertainment in the lounge. So far, we’ve had the onboard musician at the keyboard and dancing, Slovakian folk dancing show and the goulash event. With days so busy, evening entertainment has been kept to a minimum. I think Viking knows that we’d be exhausted.

READ NEXT:  Viking Adds New Pre- and Post-River Cruise Options

Day 6:  Passau, Engine Issues and a Slight Detour

Surprise! We were informed last night that Viking Lif was having engine trouble and we’d not make it to dock in Passau. Instead, Viking Lif would tie up in Linz. So at 8:15am, (it was a really early wake-up!) passengers boarded Viking’s motor coach for a full-day nine-hour tour.

Sadly, one man had to see a doctor in the nearest town so he and his wife had to stay in Linz. I was working under deadline to file a story, so a 9-hour day in motion put me into panic. 

Viking’s Program Director, Lee, made similar arrangements for me so that I could spend the day writing instead of touring. I was so incredibly happy when I found out I would have a hotel room for the day in Linz and would get a full day’s writing done.

Even the light drizzle didn’t stop anyone from walking in the city center. After my friend’s doctor appointment, the three of us met for lunch and a walk through town. Linz is one of the most non-touristic larger cities I’ve visited in Europe. It’s very charming. And I’ll bet it’s even lovelier during the holiday/Christmas market season.

At 5:00PM, a white minivan arrived and the three of us were off to meet Viking Lif , fully repaired at the shipyard in Linz. All the other passengers were on their way back from Passau. And we all arrived in time for cocktail hour, daily briefing and another very nice dinner in the dining room.

Onward to Straubing, Germany! Almost halfway through our Viking Grand European Tour. Tempus Fugit.

Day 7:  Regensburg, Bavaria – Germany

This was one of those years in central Europe when the rain seems to never stop. Germany and France had seen flooding at the end of summer and rivers were swollen and overflowing their banks. 

As we made our way up the Danube, I started to watch the water’s edge. I knew from past river cruises, if I saw tree trunks submerged and debris quickly flowing past us, it meant trouble.

With high water, river ships cannot fit under the dozens of ancient bridges. Locks get stuck. But Viking Lif made its way to Straubing and by 2:00pm, we boarded the motor coach for the short ride to beautiful medieval Regensburg.

I was so glad Regensburg was included on this Viking Grand European Tour. It’s among my favorite places in Europe. This is the oldest city on the Danube and dates back to the year 179.

While the Dom St. Peter Gothic Cathedral is one of the grandest in all Bavaria and worth a visit, I always head to the Alte Würstküche, meaning, “Old Sausage Kitchen”, it’s the oldest restaurant in Germany.

The restaurant is usually packed with tourists throughout the summer but this rainy October day, I had no problem getting my own indoor table. Once you’ve finished your beer and extras, take a walk across the Old Stone Bridge. Built between 1135 and 1146, it was the bridge used by the knights on the second and third Crusades to the Holy Land.

Danube Begins to Look a Little Ominous

What I saw from Regensburg Old Bridge didn’t look too good. I’d been on enough floods on the rivers in Europe to recognize the inevitable.

The Danube was rushing past us downstream heading towards the Black Sea, its terminus. Trees were submerged. The water was creeping up to the lower levels of the medieval buildings.

While we were in Regensburg, Viking Lif sailed from Straubing to Regensburg to meet us. This was a chance for passengers who simply yearned for a quiet day onboard to just cruise.

Back onboard with time to freshen up before the daily briefing. But tonight, the meeting took a sudden twist. The Program Director proceeded with an (un)expected announcement.

To paraphrase, Lee said, “Pack your bags, we’re changing river ships in the morning”. It was a very busy evening for everyone. 

We would disembark with our carry-on luggage the next morning at 8:30 AM in Deggendorf, then board a bus to meet sister ship, Viking Skadi, in Nuremberg. Our Viking Grand European Tour was about to take a twist.

Day 8:  Changing Ships and a Detour

A visit to an extraordinarily bizarre monument.

With our luggage taken off the ship and loaded onto buses, we only had to bring along our carry-on bags. 

I had been through this river ship shuffle three times in the last few years so I knew what to expect. River cruisers seem to roll with the punches. There’s nothing you can do when there’s a flood or a drought except board a bus and change ships.

Viking had a really good plan on the way to Nuremberg. Driving through Bavaria en route to Nuremberg, we stopped at Walhalla, Germany’s monument to its native Germanic language politicians, scientists, artists and other distinguished people over the centuries. 

Perched on a hilltop overlooking the Danube river, Walhalla looms on the horizon bearing a striking resemblance to the Parthenon in Greece.

By 11 AM we were back on the bus leaving Walhalla, heading to our next ship. 

How River Cruise Ships Deal With Floods

To explain how this ship shuffle works, our original river ship, Viking Lif, couldn’t go any further upriver – the water was too high to let Viking Lif go under the next bridge. Viking Skad i, on its way south from Amsterdam, couldn’t get past Nuremberg for the same reason. 

Thus, each ship would swap passengers and bus everyone to the other ship. Then the ships do a U-turn and continue on the route of the original river ship. Everyone would end up at their scheduled port. Viking had this ship exchange experience down to a science.

We had reached the half-way point of our Grand European Tour. Where did that first week go?

READ MORE ABOUT:  What exactly happened on this ship-shuffle day

I divided my Viking Grand European Tour river cruise into two parts. 

This is part one; Budapest to Nuremberg. Click the link below to continue onto our  second week; Nuremberg to Amsterdam.

CONTINUE READING : WEEK 2 ABOARD VIKING SKADI – NUREMBERG TO AMSTERDAM

Thank you for reading the first half of my Viking Grand European Tour. Spoiler alert:  Seven more days of cruising, castles, culture and cuisine.

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Hi Gary, Thank you for your comment and for reading my article. I think I did this cruise in 2018. The last two years were a wash for sure. Nothing has changed with the itinerary, unless it is a last minute decision. Viking still advertises for their Grand European Tour so I think my article is very reliable to help readers decide to try this amazing trip. Viking did a great job, especially when you consider the unexpected ship change. Thank you again for taking the time to write. I hope you have the opportunity to try this cruise.

Hi Ruth, Thank you for writing and taking the time to read my post. As you saw, this river cruise was with Viking and it was wonderful. I also recommend AmaWaterways, Avalon and Uniworld for these longer cruises – they also carry fewer passengers.

While a suite isn’t necessary, it does give you more space. But similar to ocean cruising, in my opinion, as long as I can open a door for fresh air, a balcony or french balcony on a river cruise is fine…and less expensive. Whichever line you choose, have a wonderful river cruise. Thanks again for your comment.

When did you take this cruise? It looks like a great cruise.

This is the River cruise I’ve been wanting to do..I’m just undecided which company to go with. This seems very busy to get everything in. I also wanted a suite room but maybe that’s not necessary. Your article is very informative especially about the changing of boats due to water issues..I’ve always wondered how that would work.

Hi Terry, Thank you, too, for reading my article and your comment. Much appreciated!

Most interesting thank you

Comments are closed.

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Viking Skadi Rhine River Review From Reader Lisa D. From USA

Nov 20, 2023 | 0

Viking Skadi Rhine River Review.

Lisa Dechirico from USA.

Cruise Line

190-pax Skadi .

Destination

Rhine River.

# of Nights

Departure port, date of cruise.

(5=excellent, 4=very good, 3=good, 2=poor, 1=terrible)

-Overall Experience Rating: 3

-Food Rating: 2

-Service/Crew Rating: 2

-Cabin Rating: 1

-Itinerary Rating: 4

Viking Skadi Cruise Review by Lisa D. * Photo: Lisa D

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Viking Skadi Review of Rhine River Cruise

River cruise blues

I don’t think I’ve ever read a bad review about Viking river cruises or even had a conversation with someone who had taken one that had nothing but great things to say. No wait there was one guy from our condo building who said there was no food other than a few cookies in between meals. Those are the kind of people I should be listening to. The kind of people who really tell you the truth. The kind of people that don’t want to make it out like everything is great even when it isn’t. The kind of people who are looking for great but admit when they don’t get it. The kind of people that don’t care what people think when they complain or find fault with things. Someone once shared this statement or sentiment.

‘Was everything good sir? Versus ‘Was anything good sir? Precisely the point. The likelihood of ‘everything’ being great is not great.

Here’s why:

Taking the redeye makes your first day very difficult unless you do a pre-cruise excursion. We intended on a post extension so we didn’t do that. So if you didn’t sleep on the plane as 95% of the passengers don’t then you’re starting your first day sleep deprived. Because you’re going on a cruise ship you won’t even get your cabin until late afternoon so there’s no chance to even take a nap. Not terrible but not ideal.

After doing a half a day in Amsterdam including the Anne Frank house. This was a highlight of the trip for me. When I was young I saw the movie The Diary of Anne Frank starring Millie Perkins that was made in the 1950s.

I’ve seen the movie many times. I’ve always wanted to see the annex where they lived those terrible years before they went to concentration camps all but Mr. Frank. They were actually living in apartments above Mr. Frank’s office where he owned a company called Opetka.

So we had to climb stairs a few times. It was very quiet and solemn as people walked through and read some plaques on the wall. It was all sparse but the idea was to just experience the annex. At one point there was a small line and there was a foreign couple kissing each other loudly. Not only kissing on the lips laughing whispering and touching each other and it was all very awkward. Reminding me of the Seinfeld episode and the line ‘you were making out during Schindler’s list!’ Really!

They couldn’t have waited an hour to get to the street to make out.

I’m digressing…

After the museum tour we headed to the cruise ship terminal. So unlike the cruise ship terminals for ocean cruising. It was raining and as our taxi driver opened the door we saw the Viking ship Skadi a few dozen feet away.

I think it was around 230. It was very chaotic and there were suitcases everywhere. There were a few guys in red Viking jackets at the entrance dealing with luggage. Someone kept yelling at us ‘throw your luggage over there’ but I didn’t feel comfortable thinking it was going to wind up leaving the terminal versus going on the ship. Sure enough I saw it being thrown on a cart and I grabbed it. We were not greeted by anyone and we had to walk up to the desk which was also chaotic. Not a good start!

There is no official lobby on these ships as they are very small. There is a guest service desk but it’s very small and not like the ones on ocean cruises where you go for all issues. The girl working the desk spoke little English and didn’t understand what we wanted. I was trying to figure out if the cabin was ready. We were desperate for a nap before dinner. She called someone else. It was at least an hour before we got to speak to someone who eventually said we can go to the cabin.

We had a French balcony cabin and the room was 135 ft.². It was the smallest cabin I’ve ever been in.

We sailed on at least 25 cruise ships. This was small! There was literally no place to put our suitcases and I don’t like putting them under the bed. It’s annoying to pull them out and there was no place to put them. The luggage is dirty, the wheels are dirty and I didn’t want them on the bed. On top of that having such a small cabin means there’s no place to go. You really couldn’t spend any amount of time in this cabin.

It also became more apparent as the week passed that there is are few places to go on this cruise ship but the lounge area. The dining room is only open for breakfast and dinner. Even then they’re not open for long. So this one large room is where we were any time there was free time. Unfortunately there was a lot more free time than we expected.

Speaking with other friends who’d been on river cruises they spent a lot of time on the top deck. That may have been a better option but our weather was not great. In fact it rained almost every day. I think we got to spend a few hours on the open air top deck cruising the Rhine one afternoon. It wasn’t warm of course and it was still drizzling. We were all cold.

One of the biggest surprises was the lack of food. There were a few days we were back on the ship by early afternoon. They have coffee, tea some soft drinks and some cookies out all the time. But that’s it. We thought there would be a bar menu with snacks to order. We were willing to pay for a cheese plate or some appetizers. But there was nothing. There wasn’t even anything you could buy at the ‘gift shop’.

The gift shop in actuality is the few shelves across from the ‘so called’ guest services desk in the “lobby. I kid you not I don’t think it was 10 feet wide. I had forgotten one of our toothbrushes and asked if I could buy one and a crew member said they don’t have them on board.

Nothing. No sundries. No snacks. No medicine.

However they did have a dozen little stuffed dogs for sale. At least I think that’s what it was — a dog. I don’t know if it is the Viking mascot but it was annoying to see so many stuffed animals on display when I couldn’t buy a Twix bar or get an aspirin.

Speaking of food. There wasn’t much. Dinner was seven every night. You got what you got and there wasn’t much to choose from. You also got the feeling they wanted you out of there before 9 o’clock. ‘More than a feeling’ as the ‘Boston’ song goes. They were cleaning up pretty early.

Viking Skadi dining scene * Photo: By Lisa D

So there wasn’t much lingering and chatting over coffee. Back up to the lounge area which was getting old. In fact it looked old. You could see the frayed cushions on the sofas. The wood that needed tending to. It was dated and neglected.

We had been on a Cunard cruise to Canada six months before this. It was wonderful! They had people on board giving talks. These talks occurred almost every day for several hours. This was missing on the Viking river cruise. Some entertainment or activity. There were one or two talks but they weren’t nearly as good and fun and informative as the ones we experienced on the Queen Mary 2 .

Considering how little there is to do when you’re back on board they should’ve offered some kind of alternative for entertainment in the day. How about having interesting talks about the destinations and the history of some of these destinations.

Lastly the locks. Many people asked me if I hadn’t read about them. I didn’t! I never thought about it. I figured that was the reason you went on the Panama Canal cruise  — to see the locks. I don’t recall anyone saying they were going to Germany to see locks.

When you are on an ocean cruise ship the captain always gives the passengers an update the night or day before for what’s ahead.

A weather update, entertainment update, anything of significance you might want to know for the day ahead. We got nothing on the Viking Skadi.

In fact I think if I bumped into the captain on the way to the dining room I wouldn’t have known who he was.

So on the first day of the locks I heard this loud grinding noise around 1 o’clock in the morning. At first I was thinking they were gassing up. They’ll do that on overnight trains sometimes in the middle of the night.

But it went on and on and on. I finally went over to the French door slider and opened it. Less than 12 inches from my face was a black cinderblock wall. When I looked up I couldn’t see the top. I was terrified. I shook my husband to get up. He said ‘oh that must be locks’. I am claustrophobic and the room was already so tiny. All I could think of was there was no way out if something went wrong. Of course there were no instructions either from any of the senior staff on the ship. All in all there were twelve locks from Amsterdam to Basel Switzerland. I was up almost every night . Some nights for hours. It is very, very loud!

I was thinking of the people that heard the iceberg cutting through the steel hull of the Titanic.

We did a Med cruise with NCL a few years before. It was great. It wasn’t the best cruise ship but it didn’t matter because we were out very late almost every night.

It’s difficult to compare but we experienced four different countries on that trip also. It was so much better of an experience overall.

I wish the Viking River cruise was great but it was just barely good and that was only because of the people we met in the different countries that wanted to share their stories.

I want to do the Danube river cruise some day. It looks like that won’t be on Viking.

How many small-ship cruises under 300 pax have you been on?

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Ted & Heidi are long-time travel writers with a penchant for small ship cruising. Between them they've traveled all over the world aboard hundreds and hundreds of small cruise ships of all kinds, from river boats to expedition vessels and sailing ships.

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Viking River Cruises

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Viking river cruises reviews & ratings, viking river cruise capitals of eastern europe.

Most of the people on this 17-day river cruise was quite elderly and infirm. Therefore the complimentary excursions were painfully slow walking. Local guides mostl...

Good and no so goog

Recently returned from a Viking Rhine trip on 10/14. The good: Rhine water levels were good, no issues. Service on the vessel was A+, excluding one attendant with...

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Tourico Vacations -Rhine River Cruise

Rhine Getaway Itinerary: We sailed from Basel, Switzerland up north on the Rhine River and ended at Amsterdam in the Netherlands. Viking also offers the same route i...

Took our first trip on a Viking River Cruise on the Danube and had a great time. Viking's included and optional tours were wonderful and having their own tour buses ...

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This was our first Viking cruise, and hopefully not our last. Wonderful staff and seamless organization. . . .The excursions were well planned and informative, and t...

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Editoral Review of Viking River Cruises

Founded in 1997 as a line offering Russian river cruises to Europeans, Viking expanded to the North American market in 2000. 

What Makes Them Stand Out?

Since 2007, Viking River Cruises has zoomed from carrying one-fifth to one-half of all passengers in the fast-growing European river cruise market. Not only is Viking the world’s largest river cruise line with some 66 ships now in service around the globe, but the line is operating at near full capacity in Europe, with many itineraries sold out months in advance.

Who Travels With Them?

They cater primarily to “culturally curious” English-speaking Americans, Canadians, British, Australians, and New Zealanders aged 55-plus. (Think sophisticated viewers of PBS’ “Downton Abbey,” which its helps to sponsor.)

Where Do They Operate?

Besides European rivers such as the Rhine, Danube, Moselle, Seine, Duoro, and the waterways of Russia between Moscow and St. Petersburg, Viking now cruises three rivers in Southeast Asia -- the Yangtze, Mekong, and Irrawaddy -- and along the Nile in Egypt.

Why Travel With Them?

While they may not rank as the most luxurious river ships, many of Viking’s vessels are sleek, innovative, and freshly minted: the line has added 18 new ships in 2014 alone. Overall, Viking has established a reputation for offering an incredible value - high-quality service, food, and guided shore excursions at competitive prices, all adding up to strong repeat customer loyalty rates.

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Inspiring destinations, thoughtfully designed itineraries, immersive cultural explorations, state-of-the-art ships, fine cuisine, excellent service and remarkable value. All created with personal attention to every detail.

We call this the Viking Experience. It’s the way your bartender has your drink prepared at just the right moment. The gentle guidance from your tai chi master during your lesson in China. Or the handwritten directions from your concierge to the oldest coffeehouse in Vienna. Every aspect of your time with Viking, from expertly prepared meals to carefully created enrichment programs and beautifully appointed ships, is planned to bring you closer to experiencing the most from your destination.

With more itineraries in more destinations worldwide, we offer behind-the-scenes insights and opportunities that set us apart from other travel companies.

While we deliver the expected and iconic, such as visits to museums and landmarks, we also go beyond. On every itinerary, you can experience local life through such excursions as home-hosted visits or trips to local markets. We also offer the opportunity to see the working world of bakers and artisans, and the option for our guests to experience priviledged access to museums, private collections and after-hours events that we thoughtfully curate.

DISCOVER YOUR DESTINATION

Our daily shore excursions include must-see highlights and delightful surprises. These expertly guided tours bring you closer to the art, architecture, history and people of the land.

GAIN GREATER INSIGHT

Watch a local German glassblower or learn about French Impressionism. Our Culture Curriculum, an enriching onboard program, infuses every cruise and brings history to life.

CAPTURE THE CULTURE

Accompany us on a shopping trip to the local market. Walk through the door of a centuries-old cathedral or visit a contemporary art museum. Meet local fine food and wine purveyors. Our tastings and demonstrations expand your mind and satisfy your senses.

EXPLORE ASHORE

Have you yearned to visit the vaults of the famed Hermitage Museum? Attend a classical concert in Vienna? Enjoy a Tang Dynasty dinner show in Xian? Your Program Director can organize a variety of optional tours.

PERSONALIZE

An appointment at the best spa in Prague or dinner at one of Lyon’s Michelin-star restaurants? Our onboard Viking Concierge is there to assist you with special requests.

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6 Fabulous Shore Excursions On A Viking Rhine River Cruise

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A Rhine River Cruise is on the bucket list for many. Who has seen a commercial showcasing the castles along the Rhine as guests sail by on-board a river cruise?

TravelAwaits writer Peggy Cleveland and Senior Vice President Missy Glassmaker were hosted on Viking’s new Longship, the Viking Egdir , on the 8-day Rhine Getaway itinerary. This cruise took them to four countries — Switzerland , France , Germany , and the Netherlands — and included six guided tours. 

This cruise is heavy on castles and cathedrals as you cruise along the Rhine River. It is a rich landscape renowned for vineyards producing white wines, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the culinary traditions of the Alsace region — with its influences from both Germany and France — as well as the windmills and cheeses of the Netherlands.

One of the benefits of a Viking River Cruise is that a shore excursion is included in each port. We were both pleasantly surprised at the quality of these trips. Peggy is one who tends to explore on her own because, frankly, most tours she’s taken in the past have been pretty boring. The included Viking excursions typically took place in the morning and lasted about 3 hours. 

The guides were awesome! All were well-vetted and so knowledgeable about the destination. You will either be on a walking tour or a bus tour for which Viking uses their own buses. In your room, you will find a QuietVox audio receiver to wear around your neck with an earpiece. It allows you to hear the guide while the group can spread out a bit, which is nice for social distancing and if you want to linger and look at something a bit more as the group moves ahead.

Pro Tips: Tours start as early as 8:30 a.m. so get a good night’s sleep. Also be sure to wear good walking shoes. Peggy wore Keen’s Women’s Targhee II Waterproof Hiking Shoes . A hiking shoe gives you a great tread and support without the bulk of a boot. The terrain on this trip was very uneven with cobblestones and old pavement as well as some trails. Also note if you have mobility issues. Even tours rated “easy” have a walk from the ship to the bus which can be a challenge for some. Work with the ship’s program director or guest services for options.

Here are some of the fabulous excursions Peggy enjoyed on her Viking Rhine River Cruise.

1. The Black Forest

Breisach, germany.

I thought this was a great excursion and it was included. After our ship docked along the shore in Breisach, it was a short walk to the Viking buses where we met our guide, Walter Hirsch. The trip took us on a scenic drive through the fabled Black Forest, past three quaint villages and rolling hills covered in vineyards. We stopped at the Hofgut Sternen Hotel situated at a more than 700-year-old crossroads in the heart of the Black Forest. The location has a long history of hospitality towards travelers. 

My first stop was at the restaurant to enjoy a slice of Black Forest cake before visiting the shops and looking at the amazing assortment of cuckoo clocks. I ended up having enough time to take a hike into the forest and walk along a rushing stream before heading back to the bus.

2. Flavors Of Alsace

Strasbourg, france.

This is the best tour I have ever taken and, with my travel history, that is saying a lot. This was the most expensive of the optional excursions I took at over $200, but I felt it was well worth it. This tour is rated “demanding” as total walking or standing time may exceed 3 hours. 

The tour took us through Grande-Île, UNESCO World Heritage Site in Strasbourg, France. This charming historic district is filled with darling small shops, restaurants, and food merchants. It seemed like every type of food had its own small shop. We went to a bakery for eclairs, a shop for cheese, and even one for gingerbread. 

Our guide Steve is certified by the French Government and had to pass both a written and oral test. This certification is required to give tours of French monuments and museums. Steve was so personable and knowledgeable about the culinary traditions of the Alsace region. This made all the difference when spending 7 hours with someone. 

In addition to stops for food sampling, the tour included a stop at a Winstube where we enjoyed a wine tasting of Alsace wines and nibbled on local cheese and charcuterie. We also learned about and ate Flamkuchen, a local Alsace specialty. Similar to a pizza with a thin crust, we tried a savory one with onion and bacon lardons, and a sweet one with apples then flambeed with calvados liquor. Very impressive. 

We also toured the Strasbourg Cathedral, timing it perfectly to watch the astronomical clock in action, before heading back to the ship.

3. Kinderdijk Windmills & Dutch Cheese Making

Kinderdijk, the netherlands.

I am a big foodie, so any excursion that involves a farm-to-table experience is one I will always sign up for. The ship made a brief stop in Gorinchem, the Netherlands, for guests leaving on this excursion. Alas, we just walked from the ship along the historic city walls to our bus because this was such a darling small town and so picturesque that I wished we had time to explore it. 

The bus took us to a farm in Streefkerk to see the Booij kaasmakers (cheese makers) and learn how raw milk cheeses are made. The Booij family has made cheese for over 350 years and the craftsmanship and experience shows in their superior cheeses. After tasting the cheese, I think our whole group purchased some to bring home; it was that good.

We then boarded the buses and headed to the Kinderdijk Windmills to take a tour and link back up with the ship. A nice surprise was greeted by our program director, who took all our cheese for us so we didn’t have to carry it around while exploring the windmills. I enjoyed my afternoon in this bucolic setting. The historic windmills provided a perfect backdrop to the canals with a variety of waterfowl swimming about.

Here are some of the fabulous excursions Missy enjoyed on our Viking Rhine River Cruise.

4. Medieval Village Of Colmar

This was the first taste of the adorable villages you dream about when planning a Rhine River Cruise. We took a bus to the village and then were on our way. It was the end of the Easter break in Europe and several Easter Markets, think Christmas Markets but with a spring feel, were still set up — a real treat! 

Colmar is just so picturesque. It’s like being dropped into a storybook. Our guide excellently engaged us with stories from centuries of history, unique architecture, and other small details I would have been sure to miss had I been exploring on my own. The stroll was lovely and at an easy pace. The only problem was, you want to stop and linger at the cafes and shops! 

That’s where the QuietVox audio receiver Peggy mentioned above really pays off. It’s in every room on a Viking River Cruise and allows you to linger at the store windows to take a look, but still listen in as the group moves ahead. We did have about 45 minutes to explore at the end of the tour. This was plenty of time to pick up a few goodies.

5. Cologne By Bicycle

Viking offered an included walking tour of Cologne during our stop. Many on board took part and really enjoyed it. However, if you like a smaller group setting, want to work off a few calories from all the delicious food, and of course, enjoy riding a bike, this is the perfect tour for you. 

We met our lovely guide just off the ship and we were off. We biked across the Rhine River with several stops along the way to hear about the history and take pictures, including outside of the cathedral and the store where eau de cologne was invented. Our guide, a trained opera singer, even shared her talents with us at one stop. While that can’t be guaranteed on every Cologne bicycle tour, it was magical. The tour also included a stop to relax and grab a coffee or tea, which was included. Then, we made our way along the Rhine for several miles before heading back to the ship.

This tour allowed our group to see a lot of the city in less time, and with just six of us taking part, created great opportunities for getting to know one another, even while biking along the Rhine. We became fast friends and it made the entire experience so much more enjoyable. 

I hadn’t ridden a bike for years before joining this tour and while riding through a major city was daunting, and I felt a bit rusty at the beginning, it was a great experience and the guide was very patient. Finally, the team behind the guide is prepared should any issues arise. We had one member of our party blow a tire and they met us within minutes.

Another Option: Cologne’s Beer Culture & Dinner

This excursion was a ton of fun. We learned a little and laughed a lot! If you like beer and want to try authentic German fare, which was delicious, this is a great experience. The only problem was that it had to end, but guests on the ship were dancing the night away when we returned and you only need to know one thing: there was a conga line which always signals a great time.

Pro Tip: I ended up wearing my comfortable, exercise-type clothes much more than I thought I would on this trip. There’s no need to overpack, but just don’t forget to pack a few things you would normally wear when out for a good walk or bike ride.

6. Kinderdijk Windmills By Bicycle

Viking really puts you in the middle of the action on this stop. The windmills are basically across the road from the ship just begging you to come visit. Viking offered a walking, barge, and bicycle tour of the windmills. After having such a great time on the Cologne bicycle tour, I decided to join this one as well. 

What made this unique was being able to really see the windmills from various perspectives, as well as riding along the village that adjoins them, which wasn’t accessible on the walking or barge tours. I will say, our guide was just okay. He wasn’t very engaging, nice enough, but the competition was stiff with the many other fabulous guides we experienced throughout the week.

What We Both Loved

Finally, I agree with Peggy that the Flavors of Alsace was amazing and would highly recommend it. We had an excellent guide and a really great group of people from the ship on the tour, which made it even more enjoyable. We even had time to ride the double-decker carousel — a first! I also loved the included Black Forest excursion. The drive up was a bit windy, in case tight turns on a bus can make you woozy.

Other Excursions Guests Enjoyed

I made a point of chatting with the guests, learning which excursions they were going to experience and following up to see what they thought. A few that stood out were: the Black Forest E-bike tour, Mercedes-Benz Factory visit, Wine tasting and Dinner at Eberbach Monastery, and Moselle Wine Tasting.

Castles Of The Middle Rhine

While not an excursion, seeing 21 castles in just a few hours is what draws guests to this cruise. The sailing through the Middle Rhine is an unforgettable experience. The crew shares details of each castle over the ship’s intercom while you are able to just excitedly watch each go by. I feel the top deck is the best place for this, but it can really be enjoyed from anywhere, which is pretty special. 

Pro Tip: After booking your Viking Cruise, make sure to read 5 Important Things To Do To Prepare For Your Viking Cruise . There are detailed tips on how to research shore excursions and when to book.

Missy Glassmaker is an Emmy-nominated producer and writer. She spent most of her career in broadcast television news, working in Providence, Rhode Island; Knoxville, Tennessee; and St. Louis, Missouri. Missy enjoys cooking, entertaining, and of course, traveling. Her favorite travel companions are her twin sons, who are always ready to explore.

She currently lives in the Pacific Northwest. Her work can be found in Northwest Travel & Life Magazine , 253 Lifestyle Magazine , and other regional publications. She is the author of 100 Things to Do in Tacoma Before You Die , Reedy Press, and a member of the North American Travel Journalists Association (NATJA). The name of her travel blog came about from her friends constantly asking her, "Peggy, Where Should I Go?"

AmaWaterways vs. Viking: Which of these popular river cruise lines is right for you?

Among the cruise lines navigating the rivers of Europe, Southeast Asia and Egypt are two of the best-known names in the industry: AmaWaterways and Viking .

Each brand is distinguished by its hallmark attractions, such as AmaWaterways' selection of always-complimentary excursions and Viking's consistently sleek Scandinavian-inspired interior design. But is there really that much difference between these major river cruise brands that it matters which one you choose?

The answer is yes. Some of the variations may even surprise you, so read on for a head-to-head comparison of AmaWaterways versus Viking.

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AmaWaterways vs. Viking: Meet the river cruise lines

River cruise lines AmaWaterways and Viking launched within five years of each other. Both are helmed by well-known cruise and travel industry executives and feature fleets of modern river ships. Yet each takes its own unique approach to itineraries, tours and onboard ambience.

AmaWaterways was founded in 2002 by Vienna-born Rudi Schreiner, Germany native Kristin Karst and the late Jimmy Murphy, who was Irish. The line has a fleet of 26 ships, with three new vessels launching in 2024 and 2025.

The brand's hallmark is offering multiple excursions, typically three or four per port, included in the cruise fare. These are usually a city walking tour, perhaps with a wine or culinary focus, or a bus tour to nearby sights. One "Gentle" group is dedicated to guests who need a little extra time getting around, and each port almost always includes a more challenging hike or bike ride for fitness-focused guests. AmaWaterways ships also carry bicycles on board, which are available for independent exploration.

The company is known for custom-designed ships with destination-inspired contemporary decor. Its public spaces feel like those you'd find in a locally owned boutique hotel. A key design innovation by AmaWaterways was the introduction of the "twin balcony," which consists of a French balcony and a full-size step-out balcony. This adds exceptional views and a sense of spaciousness to the cabins that feature them.

The Viking story started a few years before AmaWaterways. Launched in 1997 by Norwegian-born cruise veteran Torstein Hagen and several partners, Viking River Cruises was designed to be destination-focused and culturally immersive. Viking currently has 69 river ships, with two more scheduled to launch in 2024 and 2025.

Related: The 5 best destinations you can visit on a Viking cruise ship

Viking's river cruise fares include one complimentary shore excursion in each port, typically a panoramic bus tour or guided walking tour. Guests may also choose from among a range of other extra-fee tour options, most with a cultural or culinary bent but some a bit more active.

The company grew its river cruise business by attracting mature travelers seeking a convenient way to explore multiple cities and countries in Europe. However, its brand recognition and growth greatly accelerated with the introduction of its first Viking Longship in 2012 and a successful marketing campaign around the launch of the Longships (including sponsorship of "Downton Abbey" on PBS Masterpiece).

Today, Viking's 55 virtually identical Longships, named for Nordic gods and goddesses (from Viking Agir to Viking Vili), represent a certain standard of European river cruising, and all feature light and airy Scandinavian design.

Unlike AmaWaterways, which remains strictly a river cruise company, Viking has expanded into ocean cruising. In 2015, the company introduced the 930-passenger Viking Star and now operates a fleet of nine identical ocean ships. In 2022, it added a pair of 378-guest, Polar-6-Class expedition ships. That means Viking fans can vacation around the world without leaving the brand.

The ships in AmaWaterways and Viking's river cruise fleets range from intimate (28 guests) to grand (386 guests), with the size differences most notable on rivers such as the Nile, Mekong and Mississippi.

AmaWaterways' 29 ships aren't entirely uniform, even the 20 in its popular European fleet. Those ships are either 360 or 443 feet in length and carry 140 to 196 passengers and 45 to 70 crew members, respectively. The majority (15 ships) carry between 152 and 162 passengers and 51 crew, while four smaller vessels accommodate either 140 or 144 passengers and 45 crew.

The outlier is 196-guest AmaMagna, which is the line's flagship vessel on the Danube. At 443 feet long and 72 feet wide, it is almost double the width of the average river ship without significantly increasing the passenger count. This has created an abundance of space that AmaWaterways has used to enhance the cruise experience. Cabins and suites are larger than on its other ships at 205 to 710 square feet versus 160 to 350 square feet. AmaMagna also offers passengers a choice of four dining venues rather than two, as well as five onboard bars, unique for a river ship.

On Portugal's Douro River, AmaWaterways has two ships, AmaDouro and AmaVida. Each accommodates 102 passengers and 38 crew. A third vessel, AmaSintra, will launch in early 2025.

In Egypt, AmaWaterways currently operates AmaDahlia, which carries 72 passengers and 62 crew. When a second ship, AmaLilia, launches in 2024, it will accommodate 82 passengers and 65 crew.

On the Mekong River in Southeast Asia, AmaDara is the cruise line's sole vessel. This ship, featuring French colonial decor and beautifully carved wood furniture, accommodates 124 passengers and 52 crew.

AmaWaterways also operates one vessel on the Chobe River in Botswana, and like AmaMagna , it's an outlier — but for the opposite reason. At just 150 feet in length, Zambezi Queen was designed in 2019 specifically for wildlife viewing and accommodates just 28 passengers and 22 crew.

In 2024, AmaWaterways will add South America to its portfolio when it begins cruising the Magdalena River in Colombia. AmaMagdalena will carry 60 passengers and 30 crew.

Related: Best river cruise lines around the world

As for Viking, the company's fleet of 55 identical Longships is ubiquitous along Central Europe's major rivers. At 443 feet in length, each accommodates 190 passengers and 53 crew members.

On Portugal's Douro River, Viking operates four smaller ships. They carry 106 passengers and 33 crew members. On the Elbe River in Germany, the cruise line has two ships, Viking Astrild and Viking Beyla, each carrying 98 passengers and 33 crew.

On the Seine River in France, Viking's four identical ships, all built in 2020, accommodate 168 passengers and 46 crew.

Viking's fleet on the Nile River in Egypt currently numbers four ships, with two more in the pipeline. The two newest — Viking Osiris and Viking Aton — were launched in 2022 and 2023, respectively. Each accommodates 82 passengers and 48 crew members. The similarly sized Viking Hathor and Viking Sobek are set to join them in 2024 and 2025. Two smaller ships, Viking Ra (2017) and MS Antares (2007), carry just 52 and 62 passengers, respectively, with crew staffs of 55 and 75.

In Asia, Viking operates just one ship. Viking Saigon, which debuted in 2022 and accommodates 80 passengers.

Viking's largest river ship is actually cruising stateside. Viking Mississippi, which debuted in 2022 and is 450 feet in length, accommodates 386 guests and 147 crew.

If you do the math, you'll see that while both AmaWaterways and Viking's main European river ships are 443 feet in length, Viking's ships carry 30 additional guests. That means Viking ships will be a tad more crowded and cabins slightly smaller (135 to 205 square feet versus 160 to 235 square feet) to accommodate. (However, suites on Viking vessels are generally a bit roomier.)

AmaWaterways also has a slightly better crew-to-guest ratio on its core European river fleet: 51 crew members for 156-162 guests versus Viking's 53 crew members for 190 guests. Both cruise lines offer excellent service, however, and any discrepancy will most likely be felt when a Viking ship is sailing at capacity, and the ship's sole dining room is full at mealtimes.

Who is on board AmaWaterways and Viking?

Several factors play a role in the passenger mix aboard these competing river cruise lines. For one, Viking's ships are adults only (passengers must be at least 18), while AmaWaterways welcomes multigenerational families. That's not to say that you'll find kids running amok on the latter's ships, but you might share your river cruise with parents and teens or grandparents and younger children during summer and spring break.

The most obvious difference to the casual observer, however, will be the age and fitness level of each line's core clientele.

Viking is highly popular with Americans — especially older Americans age 65 and above who like the cruise line's consistency and emphasis on easy sightseeing by bus. More active passengers might find themselves frustrated by the pace of guided walking tours, but they can always book excursions coded as "moderate" or "demanding" rather than "easy" to lessen the odds of being slowed by fellow passengers who aren't as speedy.

AmaWaterways is also popular with U.S. travelers but attracts a slightly more international demographic that's also perhaps a bit younger — and fitter. Why? Not only does the cruise line offer active hiking or biking excursions in most ports, but its ships also have a Wellness Host on board leading morning and afternoon yoga, meditation and fitness classes. Guests who book AmaMagna can even play pickleball on a full-size court.

AmaWaterways also partners with bike touring company Backroads to host groups of cyclists on board, typically 30 to 40 at a time, for lengthier and more challenging bike rides than on its normal itineraries.

Wine lovers are another core group for AmaWaterways, which in 2024 will host more than 70 wine-themed cruises highlighting different wineries (mostly U.S.-based but also some European wineries on Rhone itineraries) that have been invited to bring their wine club members on board for tastings, lectures and special excursions. Some groups buy out the entire ship, but the average is 70 to 80 passengers, or about half the ship's capacity. That means you could be sailing with a large group that's keenly focused on wine.

Cabins and suites

Because 19 of AmaWaterways' core European ships fall into two size categories, accommodating 144 to 162 passengers, cabin and suite design is consistent across most of the fleet. Each of the generously sized rooms features a flat-screen TV and a bathroom with a roomy shower.

Fixed window cabins on the lowest deck are 160 square feet, French balcony cabins are 155 to 170 square feet, twin balcony cabins (with both a French balcony and step-out veranda) are 210 to 235 square feet, and suites are 300 to 350 square feet. The company's two Douro River ships, AmaDouro and AmaVida, feature similarly sized cabins and suites.

While the general theme uniting the accommodations across AmaWaterways' European fleet is contemporary design with destination-inspired touches, suite decor is unique from ship to ship. In general, cabin decor has become lighter and brighter with each new (or newly refurbished) ship, with interesting textures and patterns replacing more traditional fabrics.

In 2017, AmaWaterways also launched the first river ship (AmaKristina) with connecting rooms, designed for multigenerational families or groups of friends traveling together. Six additional ships (AmaLea, AmaMagna, AmaMora, AmaLucia, AmaSiena and AmaDahlia) now also have this feature.

Related: Best river cruises in Europe

Viking Longships are each a carbon copy of the others, so passengers know exactly what they are getting when they book. Cabins are more compact than those on AmaWaterways' ships but have an airy ambience featuring light woods, neutral fabrics and a well-designed bathroom with a heated floor.

Standard cabins are 150 square feet and have a small window just above the water line. French Balcony cabins are a snug 135 square feet, but feature wall-to-wall sliding glass doors. Veranda cabins are 205 square feet, while veranda suites are 275 square feet. The two Explorer Suites are 445 square feet, including a 270-degree wrap-around veranda.

For slightly larger accommodations, river cruisers should look to AmaMagna, as its double-width design allows for roomier accommodations. Its two top balcony categories offer a generous 474 and 710 square feet of space, similar to the square footage of suites on many ocean ships.

Dining options on AmaWaterways vs. Viking

There's no question that you will eat well on a river cruise. Both AmaWaterways and Viking have culinary programs designed to appeal to a wide variety of food preferences, including vegetarian. You can expect to enjoy classic preparations as well as destination-focused dining highlighting regional cuisines.

AmaWaterways, which is the only river cruise line that's a member of the prestigious culinary organization La Chaine des Rotisseurs, offers a la carte dining from menus that change daily for both lunch and dinner, as well as full-service breakfast from menus rather than a buffet. Options range from eggs Benedict or omelets to smoked trout or avocado toast.

Guests who prefer a lighter, more informal breakfast or lunch can skip the Main Restaurant and opt to enjoy a small selection of options served in a central buffet in the Lounge.

Sit-down lunch menus in the Main Restaurant feature a selection of appetizers served family-style and main course options that include at least one local preparation, such as goulash in Budapest or wiener schnitzel in Vienna. Dinner menus are more extensive and include three or four appetizers/soups and three or four mains (with well-conceived meat or fish options and delicious vegetarian dishes). There are two hard-to-resist dessert choices, along with seasonal fruits and a selection of cheeses.

All AmaWaterways ships also feature the Chef's Table, an intimate space (it seats 28) located at the back of the ship and offering panoramic views. Passengers can reserve a shared table here to enjoy a beautifully prepared multicourse meal at no additional cost.

In addition, AmaMagna offers two more restaurant options: Jimmy's for casual, family-style dining and Al Fresco for vegetable-forward menu options served in an outdoor setting.

AmaWaterways serves an excellent selection of complimentary wines (most from local vineyards along your river cruise route) and beers with both lunch and dinner, as well as a selection of complimentary mixed drinks, wines and beers during the nightly predinner Sip & Sail cocktail hour. Sparkling wine is also available during breakfast.

Viking's dining experience is also designed to offer plenty of options. At breakfast and lunch in the Main Restaurant, passengers can select items from the buffet — which typically includes freshly made pastries, cheeses, smoked salmon, oatmeal, fruit and eggs — and/or order off of the day's menu (buttermilk pancakes, eggs Benedict and more).

Lunch is similar, with buffet selections available as well as a menu with daily selections (soup, salad and two main options) plus always-available dishes (such as salad Nicoise and burgers). The lunch menu does not always have a locally inspired dish, but Viking guests can enjoy their midday meal while surveying local surroundings by opting to dine alfresco on the Aquavit Terrace. This aft space is popular on days when the weather is good and offers much of the same menu as the Main Restaurant.

It's at dinner that Viking's chefs inject more local flavors into the menu, with a suggested three-course Regional Specialties Tasting Menu (chicken paprikash as the main in Hungary, for instance). These offerings are complemented by a daily selection of two starters, two mains (always with a vegetarian selection) and one dessert. In addition, guests can choose from a Classics menu with always-available favorites.

Viking also serves unlimited complimentary wine and beer with both lunch and dinner, but the selection is a bit limited. Passengers wanting more options can purchase a Silver Spirits drinks package to enjoy a wider choice, including the sommelier's selection of wines, which are often excellent local varietals. The package also includes cocktails and other beverages, which can be enjoyed at any time.

Viking does not host a complimentary evening cocktail hour, but on certain days it does offer free wine tastings on the Aquavit Terrace.

What's on board

Most of the real estate aboard river cruise ships is taken up by guest accommodations, the main restaurant and the lounge, leaving little room for any fancy attractions beyond a small gift shop.

But AmaWaterways has managed to add a perk: a heated pool or hot tub on the Sun Deck of most of its ships. However, passengers who require an elevator can only access the two main decks, not the Sun Deck or the lowest deck.

In addition to their cache of bicycles, AmaWaterways ships also offer a wellness program, led by an onboard Wellness Host. Classes on the Sun Deck or in the Lounge consist of morning yoga, meditation or core strengthening and afternoon stretching or active walks. Every ship also has a small fitness center and a massage room. AmaMagna also has a full-size pickleball court.

Entertainment-wise, guests can expect nightly music by a piano player/DJ as well as guest performances by locals that range from folkloric song and dance to contemporary music.

Shipwide Wi-Fi is complimentary, but there is no internet center.

Viking's Longships don't feature pools or any wellness/fitness activities beyond a walking track and small putting green, but they do have a library with a good selection of books and an internet corner with laptops guests can use (shipwide Wi-Fi is free as well) and a small gift shop.

Related: Booking your first river cruise? Here's what you need to know.

The Sun Deck features a shaded sitting area, as well as solar panels and an herb garden that allows chefs anytime access to fresh ingredients. Elevators on Viking ships also offer access to the middle decks but not the Sun Deck.

Viking's entertainment is similar to most river cruise lineups and features a musician or DJ as well as local performers with a folkloric, classical or contemporary style.

AmaWaterways and Viking itineraries

River cruise itineraries, especially in Europe, don't vary that much from line to line. The cruise season is mainly from late March to mid-December. Certain rivers are more popular — namely the Danube, Rhine and Rhone — and most cruise lines, including AmaWaterways and Viking, visit the same key ports.

AmaWaterways offers 33 different itineraries in Europe on the Danube, Rhine, Rhone, Seine, Garonne and Dordogne, Douro, Main and Moselle rivers, as well as the waterways of Belgium and Holland. Cruises last five to 14 nights.

As of 2024, the company is offering February and March sailings aboard AmaMagna ("Magna on the Danube") on the Danube and AmaLucia ("Captivating Rhine") on the Rhine. Yes, the weather will be a bit nippy, but there will be fewer crowds, and the cruise fares will be hundreds of dollars lower than in warmer months.

The river cruise line does not only sail in Europe. In Egypt, the company features one Nile River cruise itinerary, "Secrets of Egypt & the Nile." It includes a three-night hotel stay in Cairo and a seven-night cruise.

It also offers two seven-night itineraries on the Mekong River in Vietnam and Cambodia.

AmaWaterway's seven itinerary options in Africa all combine a three- or four-night cruise on the Chobe River in Botswana with land stays in South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe or Tanzania for a total of 10 to 17 nights.

In late 2024, AmaWaterways will become the first upscale river cruise company to sail the Magdalena River in Colombia. Its two new seven-night itineraries include the "Magic of Colombia" itinerary from Barranquilla to Cartagena and the "Wonders of Colombia" cruise from Cartagena to Barranquilla.

Related: River cruise packing list: What to pack when traveling by riverboat

Viking offers 29 different itineraries in Europe on the Danube, Rhine, Rhone, Seine, Garonne & Dordogne, Douro and Elbe rivers, as well as the waterways of Belgium and Holland. While most sailings, lasting seven to 16 nights, are from early March to mid-December, Viking has added a 10-night "Treasures of the Rhine" itinerary between Amsterdam and Basel for 2024, with dates in January and February.

Viking also offers river cruises beyond Europe. In Egypt, Viking offers one itinerary, the 10-night "Pharaohs & Pyramids," featuring four nights in Cairo and a seven-night Nile cruise. Its itinerary through Vietnam and Cambodia is the 14-night "Magnificent Mekong" from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, which includes an eight-day river cruise and hotel stays in Hanoi, Siem Reap and Ho Chi Minh City.

Finally, the new Viking Mississippi cruises five itineraries in America's Heartland. These range from seven-night roundtrips from New Orleans to 21-night journeys that cover the mighty Mississippi's entire 2,350-mile length from New Orleans to St. Paul, Minnesota.

Bottom line

While both AmaWaterways and Viking do have a lot in common — similar itineraries and pricing, excellent cuisine and a generally casual dress code — their differences will matter to certain travelers, especially those who prioritize active wellness or multiple included tour options ... or perhaps even both.

Choose AmaWaterways if you want a slightly more inclusive cruise fare, a good selection of regional wines and a passenger mix that's a bit younger and more international. Choose Viking if you appreciate airy, modern design and enjoy traditional guided tours focused on history, culture and cuisine.

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The 3 types of Viking cruise ships, explained

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Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information.

Viking is unusual among major cruise lines in that it operates both ocean ships and river ships. Despite this, it has one of the easiest-to-understand fleets.

The vast majority of Viking’s river ships — at last count, there were 80 — feature the same design. If you’ve seen one of them, you’ve seen them all.

Ditto for the line’s ocean ships. Nine of Viking’s 11 ocean ships are nearly identical. The two exceptions are the recently unveiled Viking ocean vessels specifically designed for expedition cruising — a type of cruising that involves traveling to remote, hard-to-reach places on hardy vessels that carry their own landing craft.

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As a result, the bulk of Viking’s vessels falls into one of just three groups; all the ships in each group sport nearly identical designs.

An introduction to Viking cruise ships

Viking has expanded enormously in recent years with the addition of dozens of new river and ocean ships.

Founded in 1997 with four river vessels, the company operated just 29 ships as recently as 2012. Now, there are more than 90 ships in its fleet.

The vast majority of these ships are river ships — the company’s sole focus for its first 18 years in business. The company dominates the market for river cruises aimed at North Americans, accounting for about 50% of all such trips.

Starting in 2015, Viking began rolling out ocean cruise ships, too.

In early 2023, as noted above, Viking had 80 river ships in its fleet — almost all of which have the same basic design. The exceptions are a few vessels that Viking operates on rivers in Egypt and Asia (more on these ships below). The line also recently began offering cruises on the Mississippi River and its tributaries using a new type of vessel.

Related: The ultimate guide to Viking ships and itineraries

Viking’s ocean ships fall into two distinct groups: a series of 930-passenger traditional ocean ships that began debuting in 2015, and a series of 378-passenger expedition ships that began debuting in 2022.

Unlike most cruise lines, Viking doesn’t use the term “classes” to define different sets of ships in its fleet. Instead, it refers to its series of traditional ocean ships as the “Viking ocean ships” and its series of expedition ships as the “Viking expedition ships.” We’ve followed the same breakdown of the line’s ocean and river fleet below.

Viking ocean ships

Ships: Viking Saturn (2023), Viking Neptune (2022), Viking Mars (2022), Viking Venus (2021), Viking Jupiter (2019), Viking Orion (2018), Zhao Shang Yi Dun (2017), Viking Sky (2017), Viking Sea (2016) and Viking Star (2015).

Size: 47,800 tons.

For years, Viking only operated river ships, and some cruisers still think of the brand primarily as a river cruise company. However, since 2015, Viking has been rapidly rolling out a series of upscale ocean vessels; these new additions are increasingly dominating the world of higher-end ocean cruising.

As of June 2023, Viking has nine ships sailing the world’s oceans, each with a capacity for 930 passengers. That gives Viking 8,370 berths in the upscale ocean cruise market — more than competitors Oceania Cruises and Azamara combined.

The series is far from finished. Six more of the vessels are on order from Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri for delivery between 2024 and 2028, and the company also has options with Fincantieri for four more of the ships to debut in 2029 and 2030. Assuming they are all built, Viking’s ocean division will soon be bigger than Oceania, Azamara, Seabourn and Silversea Cruises  combined.

The first thing to know about the ships in this series is that they all are pretty much identical. When sailing on any one of them, you will be hard-pressed to tell what is different.

They’re also quite upscale. While Viking doesn’t market itself as a luxury line, some still consider it so. The vessels are full of luxury touches, from sumptuous bedding in cabins to heated floors in cabin bathrooms.

Related: The complete guide to Viking cabins and suites

Each of the ships in this series has a stylish, Scandinavian-influenced design that is a Viking trademark, and the cabins are large by cruise ship standards. Even the smallest cabins on each of the vessels have 270 square feet of space — a generous amount. Many cabins are significantly bigger than that, with 14 two-room suites on each of the vessels ranging in size from 757 to 1,448 square feet. Many of these bigger suites offer sweeping views from wrap-around private balconies.

Each of the ships’ interior spaces is built around an elegant, three-deck-high atrium filled with comfortable seating areas that have a living room-like feel. Each also has a bar and guest relations desk. At the top of the ships, you’ll find two-deck-high, glass-walled lounges that offer stunning views over the bow. Other interior spaces include a fitness center and a stylish spa with a thermal suite area that is open to all passengers at no extra charge (something that is not common on cruise vessels).

Multiple restaurants on board each of the vessels include Italian eatery Manfredi’s (named after former Silversea owner Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio, a friend of Viking founder Torstein Hagen) and The Chef’s Table. The latter features rotating themed menus.

The centerpiece of the top deck of each of the ships is the main pool area, which features a glass magrodome that can close during inclement weather. The main pool area on each of the ships sits next to a lovely, glass-topped lounge with comfortable seating called the Wintergarden, which is home to afternoon tea. A den of serenity, it’s one of our favorite places on these vessels.

A secondary pool area with an infinity pool is at the back of each of the ships.

While all of the ships in this series are essentially identical, you will find small differences on a few of them. Most notably, two of the vessels in the series — Viking Orion and Viking Jupiter — have a small planetarium built into the top level of the two-level lounge at their fronts (known as the Explorers’ Lounge). Some of the later ships in the series have slightly larger fitness centers and slightly smaller hair salons.

Note that in addition to the nine Viking ocean ships officially in the Viking fleet, a 10th ship from the same series, Zhao Shang Yi Dun, caters exclusively to the China market as part of a joint venture between Viking and a Chinese company. When it debuted in 2017, the ship originally catered to the North American market and was called Viking Sun.

Viking river ships

Ships: Viking Fjorgyn (2022), Viking Kari (2022), Viking Radgrid (2022), Viking Skaga (2022) and more than 60 other Longships built since 2012, as well as additional river vessels.

Size: 4,000 to 5,000 tons.

River ships originally put Viking on the map, and they’re still at the core of the brand.

As noted above, the line has 80 river ships in its fleet. The vast majority of them have the same basic design and are known as Longships — a reference to the historic vessels used by Vikings in the Middle Ages.

Unveiled in 2012 and designed specifically to fit into the locks used across many of Europe’s rivers, the Longships broke new ground in river ship design in multiple ways.

For starters, they have a configuration that includes some of the largest suites ever for river ships in Europe. They also have a significant number of cabins with balconies — which is made possible by an innovative cabin area layout that offsets main corridors. (In other words, the corridors don’t run down the middle of the ship, creating a wider side with space for balconies and a narrower side with cabins turned sideways to also create room for verandas.)

Related: The ultimate guide to Viking’s cruise loyalty program

Other innovations include a squared-off bow that allows for eight more cabins than similarly sized ships operated by competitors. Also, quieter engines allow for more cabins at the rear. An enormous amount of groundbreaking engineering went into redesigning the bow areas of the ships, in particular, to enable extra cabins while still leaving room for needed machinery.

As a result of such innovations, the Viking Longships can carry more passengers than similarly sized ships operated by competitors. This has allowed Viking to offer lower prices than other river cruise lines and still bring in a similar amount of revenue per ship — a fact that has contributed greatly to the company’s rapid growth.

Like many river ships, each of the Viking Longships has one main restaurant where most passengers eat their meals as well as one main interior lounge with a bar. There’s also a secondary, casual dining area at the front of each vessel with indoor and outdoor seating. (The outdoor portion, called the Aquavit Terrace, also serves as a forward-facing outdoor lounge during off hours.) Unlike many river ships, the vessels have no spas or fitness centers.

As is typical for river ships, the top of every Viking Longship is covered with an expansive lounge area. There’s also a walking track and an herb garden — the latter used by the kitchen staff to grow herbs used during the preparation of onboard meals.

Most Viking Longships are 443 feet long — the perfect length to fit into the locks on many of Europe’s rivers. Viking also built slightly smaller versions of the Longships, measuring 361 feet or 410 feet in length, specifically to sail on rivers where lock sizes or other navigational factors require smaller vessels. The 410-foot-long versions of the vessels, for instance, were specifically built to sail into the heart of Paris on the Seine River.

Related: Fast-growing Viking unveils four new ships for the Seine

While the Longships come in several different lengths, they are essentially identical in their offerings and decor. The only notable difference is that the smaller versions of the ships have fewer cabins and thus hold fewer people. The 443-foot-long versions of the ship are designed for 190 passengers, for example, whereas the 410-foot-long versions of the vessels hold 168 passengers (since they have 11 fewer cabins).

While most Viking river ships are Longships, there are a few exceptions in the Viking river fleet. Viking operates several smaller, purpose-built vessels on the Nile River in Egypt. It also has several older river vessels that predate the Longships and traditionally have operated on rivers in Russia and Ukraine. (For now, river cruise itineraries in both countries are on hold due to the war in Ukraine.)

Viking also recently began sailings on the Mississippi River with a new ship specifically designed for the river and its tributaries.

As of May 2023, Viking had another 14 river ships either under construction or on order via provisional contracts.

Related: First look at Viking’s stylish new Nile River ship

Viking expedition ships

Ships: Viking Polaris (2022) and Viking Octantis (2022).

Size: 30,150 tons.

Designed to hold just 378 passengers, the Viking expedition ships are specifically designed to take travelers to the most off-the-beaten-path parts of the world, including Antarctica and the Arctic.

As of now, Viking operates just two ships in the series, Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris, both of which debuted in 2022 . No more are currently on order.

As is typical for expedition ships, these are tough vessels with reinforced bows that let them bump through ice in polar regions; the ships also have extra tanks for fuel and food.

Each of these vessels has its own landing craft on board to bring people ashore in remote locations, as well as kayaks and even submarines for exploring. (The latter is the hot new thing for expedition ships — upscale cruise brands Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours and Seabourn have been adding submarines to expedition ships , too.)

Like other expedition ships, both Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris are designed to operate with a large and seasoned “expedition team” that includes biologists, botanists, geologists, glaciologists and ornithologists who lecture regularly.

Related: The 5 best destinations you can visit on a Viking ship

Each of the vessels has several new and unusual features, too. Most notable is The Hangar: an enclosed marina that allows passengers to transfer to a 12-seat excursion craft while still in the protected interior of the ship. It’s a first for an expedition cruise ship.

In another first for a polar expedition cruise vessel, every cabin has floor-to-ceiling glass walls that slide partially open from the top to create a balcony-like feel.

Both Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris are designed to be upscale. Like all Viking’s vessels, they boast elegant Scandinavian designs. The restaurants on both vessels include a version of Viking’s signature Italian spot, Manfredi’s and the Scandinavian-inspired Mamsen’s outlet.

Another feature of both ships that will be familiar to regular Viking customers is a top-of-the-ship, glass-walled Explorers’ Lounge offering stunning views of passing scenery.

In case you’re curious, Viking Octantis is named after Sigma Octantis, the current “south star” that hovers over the South Pole (also known as Polaris Australis). Polaris is named after the current “north star” that hovers over the North Pole. The names are a nod to the polar regions where these expedition ships will likely spend much of their time.

Bottom line

Viking operates more cruise vessels than any other major cruise company catering to North Americans. This is in part because it’s involved in both the ocean cruise and river cruise businesses. Despite its large size, its fleet of vessels is relatively easy to understand. The vast majority of both its ocean ships and river ships are almost identical in their designs.

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• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• 15 ways cruisers waste money
• 12 best cruises for people who never want to grow up
• What to pack for your first cruise

SPONSORED:  With states reopening, enjoying a meal from a restaurant no longer just means curbside pickup.

And when you do spend on dining, you should use a credit card that will maximize your rewards and potentially even score special discounts. Thanks to temporary card bonuses and changes due to coronavirus, you may even be able to score a meal at your favorite restaurant for free. 

These are the best credit cards for dining out, taking out, and ordering in to maximize every meal purchase.

Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

• Expeditions
• Complimentary Brochures
• Amsterdam to Basel
• Basel to Amsterdam

Christmas on the Rhine

• From $2,799
• 8 Guided Tours
• 4 Countries
• Dates & Pricing
• 2024 2025 2026
• Amsterdam to Basel Basel to Amsterdam

Christmas on the Rhine Map

‘Tis the season to be joyful

Immerse yourself in the spirit of Christmas as you journey through storybook villages. Sample tasty yuletide treats and regional delicacies as you browse colorful stalls for handcrafted ornaments and unique gifts. Admire the twinkling lights of Cologne and revel in the merry atmosphere of the Rhine Valley, as storefront displays, wine cellars and markets embrace the holiday season. This 8-day voyage is a joyful celebration of festive cheer.

SPRING SALE

Viking Inclusive Value

All you need included, with no surprises or hidden fees

To learn more about each port of call and our included as well as optional excursions, click on the individual days below.

Itinerary and shore excursions are subject to change and may vary by departure.

More features, services and excursions included

One complimentary shore excursion in every port of call

Free Wi-Fi (connection speed may vary)

Beer, wine & soft drinks with onboard lunch & dinner

24-hour specialty coffees, teas  & bottled water

Port taxes & fees

Ground transfers with Viking Air purchase

Visits to UNESCO Sites

Enrichment lectures & Destination Performances

Your Stateroom Includes:

River-view stateroom

Bottled water replenished daily

110/220 volt outlets

Queen-size Viking Explorer Bed (optional twin-bed configuration) with luxury linens & pillows

Private bathroom with shower, heated floor & anti-fog mirror

Premium Freyja® toiletries

Plush robes & slippers (upon request)

40" or 42" flat-screen Sony® TV with infotainment system featuring Movies On Demand, plus CNBC, CNN, FOX & more

Telephone, safe, refrigerator

Individual climate control

*All amenities on board Viking Longships; amenities vary on other ships.

Pre & Post Cruise Extensions

More days means more to discover, with extension packages you can add before or after your Viking cruise or cruisetour. Enjoy additional days to explore your embarkation or disembarkation city, or see a new destination altogether with a choice of exciting cities. Pre & Post Cruise Extensions vary by itinerary and are subject to change.

Pre: Belgium at Christmas

From $999 | 3 Nights

Pre: Amsterdam

From $699 | 2 Nights

Pre: Amsterdam Premium

From $1,199 | 2 Nights

Post: Basel at Christmas

From $599 | 2 Nights

Post: Lucerne at Christmas

From $899 | 2 Nights

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