viking river cruise shore excursion reviews

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Traveling with Sweeney

Inspiration and information for the best in luxury, cultural, and active travel, viking cruise shore excursions: should you take them, river and ocean cruise shore excursions — included and optional, should you take shore excursions on a viking cruise.

Of course! During our three river cruises and one ocean cruise (so far), we’ve taken every opportunity to see the sights and have special cultural experiences when at port. The guided tours in each destination provided a good overview of key highlights in each city while still providing free time for our own sightseeing. On each cruise, Viking offered tours that are included in the cruise fare as well as many optional tours at an additional cost.  Some passengers may like to just stay on the ship to relax and partake in onboard lectures and activities, but since Viking cruises are very destination-oriented , there is much to be discovered at each port.

At Heidelberg Castle on a panoramic tour

Included excursions

Each of the included tours that we’ve taken has given us a great introduction to a place. On panoramic coach tours or in-town walking tours, our guides have provided insights on history, background, current events, and local culture. Panoramic tours will allow some time at landmarks and at vista points for photo opportunities. Most often, we’ve also had time to explore on your own before getting back on the coach to return to the ship.

We found the local Viking guides (on included and optional tours) to be fun, knowledgeable, and proud of their cities and/or regions. They are locals who know the destination and have insider perspectives that they can share. In our experiences, they’ve also had engaging personalities and senses of humor. Viking Cruises does a great job of running a smooth process and transporting everyone on their comfortable coaches to tour locations or on scenic drives.

Portuguese guides on Viking shore excursion

Optional excursions

Although taking only included tours can still make for a fulfilling cruise (in my opinion), you should consider optional cruises and make decisions about whether and which to take any based on your interests and budget. The groups are often smaller and the excursions typically focus on more in-depth experiences, including under-the-radar attractions, historical perspectives, and cultural immersion. Privileged access to sites is often provided, too. Some examples of the recreational, cultural, and culinary experiences include bike tours, small boat tours, hikes, wine tasting, cooking classes, concerts, and dance performances.

Ready for a walking tour of Cologne, Germany

Excursion tips:

• After your cruise is booked, Viking’s “My Viking Journey” website will help you plan your agenda and you can always contact Viking service representatives by phone or online chat for assistance and advice.
• To get excursion inspiration, follow #MyVikingStory on Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest to see photos and read what current cruisers are sharing as they take excursions. (Of course, don’t forget to check out more cruise-related articles on Traveling with Sweeney , too.)
• Duration of tours listed on the itinerary show the time the tour group leaves the ship to the time returned to the ship. This is helpful to know as you decide upon multiple tours per day.
• On the river cruises, if your excursion occurs during the planned lunch or dinner times, a meal will part of the tour. With so many options for open dining on the ocean cruise, we were able to fit in meals and snacks before, after, or in between excursions.
• The QuietVox audio devices supplied by Viking in the staterooms are very good for being able to follow along with your tour guides on your excursions. Don’t forget to charge them at night and bring them along for the tours.

Our favorite optional excursions

On one of Viking’s comfortable coaches

I’ve compiled below a few photos and excerpts from previous posts (with links for more information) about some of the optional excursions we particularly enjoyed. I hope they’ll give you some inspiration about selections you might consider on these or similar cruises. Specific tours  may change by cruise season, so there may be different options on the current cruise itineraries.

Romantic Danube Cruise

Heurigen evening in vienna.

Heurigen Evening in Vienna, Austria

An optional Viking excursion in Vienna, the “ Heurigen Evening” provided a high-spirited authentic Viennese gemütlichkeit  experience. A shuttle from the ship took our small group of five couples and our guides to the city’s 19th district where numerous vineyards are located with their wine taverns called Heurigen . The  Heuriger became part of Austrian culture in the 18th century when Emperor Joseph II proclaimed that anyone who made their own wine could sell it to the public in their establishments. — Good Cheer and High Spirits in Vienna

Rhine Getaway Cruise

Medieval village of colmar.

Picturesque medieval buildings of Colmar

We’re so glad that we took an optional excursion into Colmar, France. Such a charming city center with colorful old buildings like these. There’s much World War II history to explore here, too. — A Rhine River Cruise Getaway

Alsatian Wine Tasting

Alsace wine country

During our Viking River  Rhine Getaway cruise , we got a chance to experience some of the flavors and characteristics on both sides of the Rhine. A favorite activity for me was an Alsatian wine tasting excursion. It was our first visit to this area of France, and we were enthralled — even a little surprised — and even overcast weather did not darken the day or our enthusiasm. — Wine on the Rhine: A Taste of Alsace

Portugal’s River of Gold

Sailing along Northern Portugal’s Douro River was our very first river cruise experience and we were quickly convinced that this was a wonderful travel option.

Wine cellars and estates

Douro wine country of Portugal

The sweet grapes used to make authentic port wine, Portugal’s most famous export, are only grown in the Douro Valley. There are many styles of port, several of which we sampled at wine estates throughout the Douro region and on board the Hemming. — Cruising Portugal’s River of Gold: Our Favorite Things

Medieval Guimaraes

The city of Guimarães in Northern Portugal was the country’s first capital and the birthplace of Portuguese national identity. The city center of Guimarães was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001 and there are many monuments and museums attesting to this history. But Guimarães also has a contemporary side with a thriving modern culture and economy. — Medieval Guimarães: Portugal’s First Capital

Viking Homelands  (ocean cruise)

View of Viking Jupiter and Stockholm skyline on a panoramic tour

There were many choices of special experiences available during our cruise on the Baltic in Stockholm, Helsinki, Tallinn, Gdansk, and St. Petersburg. With two days to spend exploring St. Petersburg we decided to take advantage of several optional excursions in this amazing Russian city. Each of the optional excursions mentioned below (and other St. Petersburg activities) are described further in our article, Two Days in St. Petersburg: Russia’s Venice of the North.

St. Petersburg by Metro and on Foot

Avtovo Metro station

I’d heard about the  St. Petersburg Metro System  and looked forward to going on the “St. Petersburg by Metro and on Foot” excursion. We rode the Metro from Avtovo Station (considered by many to be one of the most beautiful stations in the world) to Nevksy Prospekt Station with transfers in between.

Russia’s Native Songs and Dances

Performance of Russia’s Native Songs and Dances

St. Petersburg is a cultural capital and renowned for its famous musicians, dancers, and writers.  The heritage of traditional folk music and dances is key to the culture and passed down through the generations. We enjoyed “Russia in Fairytales” performed at Youth House on Vasilyevsky Island (the performance venue varies) during the “Russia’s Native Songs and Dances” shore excursion.

St. Petersburg Canals, St. Isaac’s & Church of Our Saviour on Spilled Blood

Boats on a canal in St . Petersburg, Russia

St. Petersburg is nicknamed the “Venice of the North” for its rivers (the Fontanka, Moyka, and Neva), canals, and decorative bridges crossing them. In the summer, visitors can actually float on Venetian-style gondolas on the city’s canals. Our canal and river cruise excursion also included a visit to two stunning churches — the Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood and St. Isaac’s Cathedral.

Pre- and post-cruise extensions

If you can extend your trip, either before or after the cruise, Viking has organized options. Thus far, our schedules haven’t allowed us to do that, but we always wish that we could. We’ve talked to many fellow passengers who expressed satisfaction in the extensions they had experienced.

Do you enjoy shore excursions when you cruise? Have a few favorites to share?

For more information about our Viking shore excursions: Mediterranean Odyssey cruise shore excursions

Disclosure: Viking Cruises has sponsored our wonderful cruise experiences, but our opinions and perspectives are totally our own — as always.

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13 thoughts on “ Viking Cruise Shore Excursions: Should You Take Them? ”

Wow! All of these tours sound wonderful! I’ve never sailed with Viking, but it sounds like they are experts at this. I’m hoping to do a Russia cruise with them in the next year or so. Can’t wait!

Thank you for your informative article! We are getting ready to go on the romantic Danube Cruise in October I found this information useful. And all of my searches though I have not been able to find out if when you are on a panoramic cruise in a particular town, are you able to get off the bus at any point and just go on your own and then join the boat later at the dock? Or are you required to stay with the tour for the entire time and then if you want to explore the city further, you would have to leave from the boat after the panoramic tour arrives back at the boat? Trying to save time by remaining in the city instead of having to go back to the boat with the tour and then retrace the steps to go back into the city. Thanks in advance.

Glad you found the article useful. I’ll try to answer your question based on my experiences. On the river cruises, the ship is often docked right in the heart of the cities where it may be possible to walk into/out of town (like we did in Passau and Regensburg) or in some cases where there may be shuttle buses throughout the day to return to the ship. There have been some instances (such as our time on the Romantic Danube cruise) in Vienna) where we took the included coach tour into the city center had a walking tour, and then we had a few hours to spend at the Christmas markets and have lunch before catching one of the shuttles to stay in the city center. Some people went back, some stayed in town. I think it’s a good idea to stay with the group for the whole tour and then your guide will be able to point out where to meet the shuttle (if there is one)or how to walk back to the ship, later. The Viking Daily (the program left in your stateroom each day) will have more info about what will be happening the following day (including info about shuttles). Check with Guest Service when on board to get the official information. Sorry I can’t be more precise, but it all depends on location, itinerary, back on board times, etc. Have a fantastic trip! Let us know about your experience.

I will be taking the Romantic Danube cruise from Regenburg to Budapest in October 2023 and I wanted to see in more detail the free excursions in Vienna and Budapest on where they stop and let you take pictures so I can then plan seeing the rest of the cities on my own and do not want to duplicate sights that we have just seen on the Viking tours. On the Viking sight they do not give you much detail.

Hi Bill — thanks for your comment. I’m sure you’ll love the Romantic Danube cruise. Our cruise was several years ago and specific excursion information may have changed. To the best of my recollection, in Budapest we did not have stops on the Pest side of the Danube on the included tour. We were docked right in the city, so that evening we were able to go out on our own to explore more. (I don’t know if that will be the same situation for you.) The included tour did stop on the Buda side and we had time to walk around the Castle District visiting St. Mathias church, Fisherman’s Bastion, etc. In Vienna, the included panoramic tour and walking tour, we walked around the city center by St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Hofburg Palace, etc. It was December and the Christmas markets were open and we were able to spend time on our own for a few hours for lunch and visiting the markets before meeting a shuttle to take us back to the ship. Once again, I don’t know if your itinerary will have that kind of time on your own built in or not.

Have you checked with Viking customer service to see if they can give you more information? I hope this has helped. Check back and let us know about your trip!

Catherine – Thank you for this information. I have been searching for information about the included excursions that Viking Ocean provides on its Athens to Rome Mediterranean cruises on their Saturn ship. We have booked a cruise for March 2023 and this is our first time with Viking. If you have any insights as to what the included excursions are for the ports of call on this cruise, please share them (Athens, Ephesus, Crete, Sicily, Naples, Rome). Thank you. Rob

Thanks for your comment, Roberta. I’m assuming that you are on the Journey to Antiquities cruise. Here’s a link to the itinerary on the Viking website. If you click on each day’s itinerary, you’ll see “included” tours as well as optional excursions. Have a great cruise!

https://www.vikingcruises.com/oceans/cruise-destinations/western-mediterranean/journey-to-antiquities/index.html?return=true

Hello Catherine, I found your insights validating and helpful. My spouse and I are booked on the Viking Iconic Mediterranean Rome to Barcelona this summer. Honestly, I am disappointed in the included “overview excursions” and the optional excursions at such a cost. In particular Florence, Monaco and Barcelona. In both Rome and Florence, we are not booked in a city harbor as there are none. It appears that we will have to pay additional fees to arrange our own daytrip to sightsee IF we do not join the short free excursion or pay lots of money for a shore excursion. Had I known that we were not able to “hop to shore,” I probably would have chosen a river cruise. Any insight? Really feeling disappointed because Florence, Monaco and Barcelona are big destinations.

Thanks for your comment, Kris. I hope I can address your concern. I don’t know if you’ve visited any of these destinations before. Especially for first time visitors, the included tours are great introductions. But if you can budget for any optional excursions, you’ll find more immersive experiences. My thoughts about the places you mentioned (remember, these are totally my own options based on my experiences): Monaco (docked where you can “hop to shore” — the included walking tour of Monaco City is very nice and you can spend the afternoon on your own in Monte Carlo (easily reached from the dock – I just published an article about this https://www.travelingwithsweeney.com/what-to-do-shore-excursion-in-monaco/ . Although we’d previously been tno Barcelona it was many years ago and we were pleased to see the sights again and do some walking around Sagrada Familia, etc. The Florence day might be a good one to consider an optional excursion. We’d visited Florence before, so did the “Cooking in a Tuscan Castle” tour — loved it! You also might want to consider Lucca on your own — it’s closer to the port than Florence and it is a wonderful town — one of my favorites in Italy.

My prediction is that you are going to enjoy this trip no matter what excursions you choose. What we’ve found is that the introductions we get to some destinations are great for letting us know places to visit again sometime. I hope this has been helpful. Let us know about your experience!

Hi Catherine We came across your great site while researching for our Viking cruise in October/Nov (Fort Lauderdale to LA via Panama Canal). My wife and I are looking at the excursion options in preparation for when bookings open. I personally am keen to visit the Panama Canal – one of the optional excursions – before transiting but my wife prefers one of the other optional excursions. Are we allowed to book individually on different excursions or do you have to book ‘as one couple’ ? (ie for excursions, can you become ‘single passengers’) Hoping you can clarify from your experience. thank you.

Hi Marc — Thanks for your kind words! Lt Lauderdale – LA should be a great cruise! I’d like to do that sometime. In my experience, the excursions (optional and included) are reserved by individual passenger, not by stateroom, so you and your wife can make your own selections. I would assume that excursions for your cruise options will be handled the same way. Be sure to book as soon as you can for the optional excursions as the popular ones can go fast! But don’t be dismayed if one is’t available, there are sometimes cancellations so keep checking back. Hope this helps. Have a great trip!

How many people generally on on any given Viking river cruise excursion? (15, 30 or more?) Thank you! Becky

In my experience that really varies. The included excursions can be 30 or more on a coach, optional excursions usually much smaller. I thinkt that our Corfu cooking and Tuscany cooking excursions were about 15 — something like that. You may find that the included excursions have more than one coach departing the ship at roughly the same time and you may arrive at sites roughly the same time. But it is easy to stay with your particular group and hear (via QuietVox) and follow your guide.

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Excursions, worthwhile or not, on Viking’s Grand European T - Cruises Forum

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5 replies to this topic

We did the route with another line so not sure what Viking offers

Some towns you can just DIY

I would look at the town & see what interests you then decide if Viking offers a tour

Melk be sure to go to the Abbey

Cologne the church & wander the town lots to see there

Be sure to go a few days early to Amsterdam great place to wander

We did not go to Prague but we spent a few day in Budapest on our own ..

I thought excursions were included on Viking cruises?

Maybe that's only on river cruises?

So, you really need to read all the excursion descriptions and see what interests YOU. Most of the included trips are half day walking tours. I never do cooking demonstrations or food-type trips--we prefer most tours with a historical angle.

We took a Viking Danube cruise , the lower half of your cruise , but my favorite tours were Vienna (panoramic bus and walking tour in the AM, Schonbrunn Palace in the PM for a fee), and Budapest (AM bus and walking tour). We spent the afternoon on our own in Budapest, shopping in the market and visiting a lovely cafe.

If you have not been to Rothenburg ob der Tauber, I highly recommend it--that town is one of our favorites! Munich is also a famous place to visit, but a day might be too short. I might also splurge and go to Salzburg. If you pay to take an all day tour and lunch is included, Viking does use unique restaurants.

All of our guides were terrific--very knowledgeable and friendly.

Be aware that sometimes tours can get booked up quickly months in advance once they are announced online.

I am sure you will have a wonderful time!

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Excursions on Viking River Cruises - Are They Different?

By:   Megan Guinnup , a Marvelous Mouse Travels agent

Excursions on Viking River Cruises are a bit different from most Ocean Cruises. From the way you meet up with your guide to the cost and everything in-between, let's dive deeper into those differences. 

Ticket and Information

While you're at dinner and your stateroom host is taking care of the evening turndown in your stateroom, he or she will leave a copy of the next day's Viking Daily and tickets for your excursions on your bed. The Viking Daily contains the next day's schedule, weather report, information on the destination, and interesting facts. The ticket has the date of your excursion, your name, and the time/place you need to meet your guide. You'll need to bring your ticket to each excursion - some guides collect them and others don't, but you should be prepared either way. 

Meeting your Guide

Disembarking from a River Cruise is far easier than an Ocean Cruise. There's no waiting to clear customs upon docking, you walk straight off the gangway into the town or city. A few times a coach bus took us to the start of the tour, but most of the time we met our guide as soon as we walked off the ship and began our tour almost immediately. Be sure to pack comfortable shoes - many of the towns still have cobblestone sidewalks and roads! 

What is the Cost?

On Viking River Cruises, there is one included excursion at each town or city you visit along the way. This is typically a guided walking tour of the town, which can include visiting historical sites, learning about the significance of that town and its buildings/churches throughout history, and sometimes, going inside a few buildings or churches. The guides that Viking uses for these excursions are local experts in the area you are visiting and all speak English! 

What are Optional Excursions on Viking River Cruises ?

These are additional excursions you can choose to attend, but do have a cost associated with them. The cost varies, based on what you'll be doing on the excursion. For example, a wine tasting is going to cost more than a tour of a palace. Viking has a variety of optional excursions you can choose from, but they don't overwhelm you with choices. Each day of the Rhine Getaway sailing I was on, there were two to four optional excursions to choose from.

What if I don't want to pay for an excursion?

If you choose to forgo any optional excursions, you're free to hang out on the ship or explore the town on your own! The customer service desk provides you with maps of the area as well as a card that has your ship name, phone number, and dock location (in case you get lost). No matter how good you are with directions or how great your map app is on your phone, definitely take a card - you never know when you'll need it! 

Excursions on a Viking River Cruise are a memorable experience and give you a great orientation of the town or city you're visiting. In my opinion, the included excursions are a must-do for everyone! If an option excursion that is offered is something you're interested in, go for it - you won't regret it. Otherwise, explore the town you're docked in on your own - there is so much to do and see! 

Please reach out to  Megan , an agent with Marvelous Mouse Travels to plan your next vacation or you may contact  Marvelous Mouse Travels.

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Review: What It’s REALLY Like Aboard Viking River Cruises

Viking River Cruises Review

Recently, I sailed on my first Viking River Cruise up the Rhine River to explore Switzerland , Germany , France and The Netherlands on their classic ‘Rhine Getaway’ river cruise.

The entire trip was calm and relaxing and I felt like it struck the perfect balance of sightseeing and leisure!

I’ve taken several European river cruises cruises with family before and immediately knew my mom would love the smaller atmosphere, quaint towns and relaxing vibe, so I brought her along for the trip!

I know river cruising is not for everyone so if you’re curious about Viking specifically or more generally wondering what there is to see and do along the Rhine River, I thought I’d recap our trip to show you the highlights.

I would recommend this trip if you enjoy small colorful towns, World War II history and good food.

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Keep reading below for a complete review of what cruising with Viking is like!

Or quickly jump to:

• Rhine River Itinerary
• River Cruises vs Ocean Cruises
• Best European River Cruises
• Pre-Trip Experience
• Should You Book Flights Through Viking
• On Board Experience
• Viking Ship
• Included Tours

Rhine Getaway Itinerary

We started in Basel, Switzerland (up north on the Rhine River) and ended at Amsterdam in The Netherlands.

Viking also offers the same route in reverse , from Amsterdam to Basel so you can pick either option. For a couple stops on the journey, boats running in opposite cities are docked together.

We had a wonderful time and especially loved how organized the entire Viking journey was, from pre-departure to on-board, everything was seamless.

Also unlike many other cruises or guided tours, almost everything was included , which made it feel like a truly relaxing vacation.

Here’s a snapshot of our 7-day itinerary and what we got up to each day!

Day 1: Arrive in Basel, Switzerland

We arrived in the small, quaint town of Basel after our international flight.

This was the general arrival / travel date so we expected to just check in and relax but discovered that Viking organized a guided walking tour of the town. That was a nice surprise!

There’s also the option to arrive a couple days early and/or stay a couple days late. If you are thinking of this, here’s a quick guide to the best hotels in Basel  to help with accommodation.

Basel is an underrated tourist attraction and the third largest city in Switzerland. The town has a gorgeous Medieval center and plenty of world-class art museums.

There’s a reason Art Basel is held here!

We checked out the Romanesque cathedral, took endless pictures of the colorful medieval buildings and headed back to our ship to relax and meet everyone for cocktails and dinner. A great first day!

Day 2: Germany’s Black Forest & Colmar, France

On our second day, we sailed northward to dock at Breisach, Germany .

In the morning, we learned how to make cuckoo-clocks, put together Black Forest cake and walked a bit throughout the Black Forest.

The wooded mountain range is the site of many local legends and populated all over with black fir trees. If you like hiking, the mountains are wonderful!

In the afternoon, we signed up for an optional tour to Colmar .

Located in the Alsace Lorraine region, the town is part of France but throughout much of history, changed hands between Germany and France.

You’ll find lots of German and French spoken as a result!

I highly recommend visiting this quaint medieval town. Every street looks perfectly preserved and it’s quite colorful. We wandered mostly on our own, ducking into gelato shops and chocolate stores while enjoying the colorful, medieval feel.

Day 3: Strasbourg, France

If you skip the optional to Colmar, no worries!

Strasbourg is its larger cousin and also located in Alsace, France .

We had a wonderful guide for this day who guided us throughout the small canals, pointing out colorful streets and letting us know about Strasbourg’s tangled history in the hands of Germany and France.

Strasbourg occupies a strategic position on the Rhine River and is the ninth largest city in France.

It’s home to many European councils and organizations, like the European Court of Human Rights (a building built like a ship) and the Council of Europe.

For the most part, we stuck to the Old Medieval Town but drove through the modern section. Highly recommend a visit to the Cathedral!

Day 4: Heidelberg, Germany

Heidelberg is a university town with a energetic, small town feel.

In the morning, we visited Heidelberg Castle, which perhaps should be called a ruined fortress, as much of it was destroyed by lightening, fires and war.

The ruins and castle are built high above the city and the observation terrace is well worth a look!

Meanwhile, the city was almost entirely spared from bomb attacks during World War II and it’s narrow streets and baroque charm remain largely intact.

We explored Heidelberg’s Old Town (Altstadt) by walking along the main shopping street Hauptstrasse. This is actually the longest shopping street in Europe!

For the most part, I spotted large chain stores & restaurants.

I actually recommend skipping this street to explore the quaint alleyways and backstreets instead. Much more picturesque!

Day 5: Rhine River Castles & Koblenz, Germany

By day 5, we had reached the middle Rhine!

We spent our morning above deck watching the gorgeous small German towns and castles along both sides of the Rhine River. Our Viking program director gave a guided audio tour along the way, pointing out castles left and right.

Many of them are situated high above local towns and we saw lots of German camper vans parked at the base.

I recommend bringing a pair of binoculars for this part, as some of the castles can be set a bit farther away and the detail through a zoom is incredible.

By afternoon, we reached Koblenz, a city set at the mouth of two rivers.

We explored Marksburg Castle and wandered a bit on our own after. This was another ruined fortress high above the river.

Interesting history, but definitely wear good shoes ! The entire castle is unpaved, rocky and entirely uneven.

Note – a couple others from the cruise did the optional dinner excursion on this day and raved about it.

Day 6: Cologne, Germany

During the Holy Roman Empire, Cologne was the largest medieval town in Europe. Naturally, it’s Gothic cathedral is the hallmark draw!

The nice thing about this stop is the ship can dock right into town, so you can join the tour or explore on your own.

We explored the Kölner Dom’s interior and were suitably awed.

If you want a great view, Viking offers an optional tour that takes you all the way to the very top! I had already been to Cologne on a previous trip so instead, we opted for a palace excursion.

I *love* an over the top, beautifully decorated mansion and have a whole series dedicated to them here .

We visited Augustusburg Castle, one of two gorgeous UNESCO World Heritage site classified as Bruhl Palaces.

The castle was once home to the prince-archbishops of Cologne and is decked out in gold, marble and all-around extravagance. I particularly liked the massive entryway staircase which was gilded and made my mouth drop open when we turned the corner.

Highly recommend this day trip if you love castles half as much as I do!

The interiors were really unique and the guided tour was excellent.

After the main palace, we did a quick tour of the hunting lodge as well, which was just as stunning. This is one stop I definitely wished we had more time in!

Day 7: Kinderdijk, The Netherlands

Kinderdijk is home to the Netherlands’ famous windmills .

I’ll admit I didn’t know too much about the country outside of Amsterdam and our guide was quite helpful to explain the history of the nation and the purpose of its many windmills. 

Much of the Netherlands would sink, were it not for windmills to pump away water.

We even got to tour inside the home of a windmill keeper (see photos of a windmill  interior here!). What I didn’t realize was that windmill caretakers actually lived inside them with their families!

I thought the interiors were particularly interesting and our guide mentioned that some Dutch families managed to fit 13 children inside.

They’re quite small so I noticed lots of hooks for hanging, curved bunk-bed type rooms and lots of stair ladders. The Dutch windmill keepers also had a number of really unique boats which I took too many pictures of!

Fun fact: Kinderdijk is in the region of Holland in the nation of The Netherlands where the people speak Dutch .

The Rhine Getaway Cruise

One thing I liked about sailing with Viking is how leisurely the day to day pace is.

There’s generally an opportunity to sight see in the morning and afternoon, with one included tour and one optional tour.

We chose to do 2 optionals and on the other days, relaxed on board or went into town to explore on our own! It was a well-balanced pace and I truly felt “on vacation”.

Here’s a recap of our daily itinerary with Viking:

How River Cruises Differ vs. Ocean Cruises

Many of our stops were small European villages and medium sized cities, so we felt like we were able to see all the top sights without missing anything.

The best part? enjoying the comfort of a luxurious ship without worrying about transportation from town to town and only unpacking once .

Small Ships

I think most of us are familiar with large ocean liners that sail to the Caribbean.

River cruises offer a very different experience – they’re much smaller ships, typically seating only 150-200 passengers.

The Viking Hlin ship that I was on had about 150 passengers and approximately 60 crew members, for reference.

No Seasickness

In general rivers are much calmer than the open seas and you won’t have to worry about rough seasickness.

We did a fun tour of the wheelhouse and learned from the Captain that Viking ships utilize four propellers instead of a traditional rudder.

Because of this, they have the flexibility to turn each propeller a full 360 degrees for precision and smooth sailing so you shouldn’t experience any seasickness on board.

More About the Sights, Not On Board Entertainment

River cruising is a much more intimate experience, with unreserved seating at meal times so you get to mix and mingle with almost everyone on board by the end (if you want!).

There’s less on-board entertainment (no nightclubs or casinos on board) but each evening people congregated in the lounge by the bar and Viking had an on-board pianist. 

A couple nights during the week, Viking hosted either singers, dancers or local activities.

My favorite was the glass blowing demonstration by a glass master from Germany! He was quite an artist and had different glassblowing techniques than what I saw when I went to Venice .

Easier Disembarkation

T he number one reason why I like river cruises so much is because you get to see many small towns and sights in a leisurely fashion.

Depending on your journey, you stop in a new town every day or so and can get on and off the ship easily and on your own pace, without queuing for hours!

When I went on my cruise to Cuba , we received a group number each evening for the next day’s stop. That was a medium sized ship (roughly 500-1,000 passengers) and disembarking into town took about 2 hours, so depending on which group you were in.

I’m pretty impatient and hated the long lines. Everyone still has to be back on board at the same time, so for certain port stops, you would get much less time in town if you were part of the last disembarkation group.

Which is the Best European River Cruise?

I wouldn’t say there’s a “best” European cruise per se, but there are a couple main rivers in Europe that offer river cruise experiences. The most popular are the Rhine River, the Elba and the Danube.

• The Rhine River runs from the Swiss Alps through the Franco-German border and empties into the North Sea up in the Netherlands. This is the route we took.
• The Elba River   is a major Central European river and predominantly flows through Germany and the Czech Republic. A small bit flows through Austria and Poland.
• The Danube River is quite long, flowing through 10 countries through Central and Eastern Europe. It starts in Germany and flows along the borders of Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova and Ukraine before emptying into the Black Sea. I did this route years ago with family and loved it because I felt like I saw so much of Eastern Europe in one go. Lots of quaint, small towns perfect for a quick afternoon visit!

Viking Cruises Review

Our Rhine Getaway hit a couple towns throughout Switzerland, France, Germany and the Netherlands in one convenient week.

Plus it had the added bonus of only unpacking once!

You can see the route we took in the Rhine River cruise map below.

Flights & Our Pre-Trip Experience

Once you book your Viking river cruise, the fun part is checking out the daily itinerary and browsing the optional excursions!

I was really impressed with Viking’s interactive website called My Viking Journey .

They have a handy map to show the journey along the Rhine River and make it easy to see what your options are each day. If you happen to pick an optional that conflicts with an included tour or a different optional tour, the website lets you know immediately.

Should You Book Airfare Through Viking?

Viking also offers airfare. 

We set a  fare alert and browsed for flights on our own, and after comparing it to the Viking customer service rep, found that they were able to get us a better deal. I was pretty amazed actually!

So I recommend booking airfare through Viking (after doing a price comparison on your own, of course).  It seems the company has relationships with partner airlines and is able to typically find flights cheaper than you can do on your own.

Another advantage to booking airfare through Viking is they also include round trip transfers.

We found this really handy after long travel days. For the arrival, our bus picked us up at the airport in Basel and left straightaway, which we really appreciated!

(Sometimes group tours will wait for the entire 50 passenger bus to fill up, which means you can get off a long trans-Atlantic flight and sit around for 90 minutes waiting for additional flights to land.)

On our departure, we had a very early flight so they arranged a cab direct to the airport – everything is totally taken care of!

Our On-board Experience on Viking’s Hlin Ship

We sailed aboard the Viking Hlin.

All of Viking’s fleet are individually named after different Nordic Gods and Goddesses and while many of the river cruise ships are similar or even identical, the small touches and art are unique.

Each ship has a giant painting of the Nordic god at the top of the main staircase, dedicated to the deity it’s named after.

Having sailed on a couple other river cruises, I loved how distinctively luxurious the Viking ship and rooms were.

Veranda Room Tour

Our Veranda stateroom was spacious, bright and airy with minimalist Nordic furniture and a cozy balcony. 

The ships are well designed to really maximize space and cabins feature a giant closet and tons of drawers to put away your clothes, should you wish to fully unpack.

Most river cruises are quite cozy and I typically keep my clothes in packing cubes … this was the first time I’ve fully unpacked!

There’s also a flat screen TV to listen to the daily on-boarding speech (if you don’t want to leave the comfort of your room) or to check the weather, watch TV, etc.

Our cabin had plenty of outlets, both European and American, so I could easily keep all my electronics charged.

On Board Amenities

My favorite part of our floor was the coffee & espresso bar to grab pastries and java any time of day. I helped myself to endless madeleines and double dark chocolate muffins.

Oh! I almost forgot to mention – Viking includes wifi on-board  free of charge. 

I thought that was such a nice touch given that I’m addicted to my phone. Internet service is a slower than usual, as it’s satellite service on the river and therefore inherently slower.

If you’ve cruised before you’ll appreciate this luxury! All other cruise lines charge exorbitant internet fees and still have slow service.

The Viking Ship

Our room was kept immaculately clean and always stocked with fresh fruit and water, thanks to a diligent cleaning staff. I’m a bit of a germaphobe and really felt at home on board.

The entire ship is airy and light-filled and despite it being a small river ship, it feels more spacious and open than some large cruise ships.

Above on the sun deck, they even have a small herb garden to season meals freshly.

In contrast, I once stayed on a ship where you had to step up into the bathroom and when the door was open, half the cabin space was used up – naturally, half the time I forgot the step existed and face planted.

Viking cabins have a pocket door so that the cabins feel spacious with glass door showers and fully openable doors that tightly seal, so water doesn’t get everywhere.

I did a cabin tour on my Instagram stories during the trip ( @shershegoes ) and got tons of messages that people were surprised how spacious and luxurious the cabins were!

Viking also clearly pays attention to the small details .

They design everything with care:

• heated bathroom floors
• angling the hallways to maximize cabin space
• large-flip cap toiletries that don’t leave you struggling to open them (vs screw offs)
• high quality European fixtures
• leather staircase railings

…just some small details I noticed, but I could go on endlessly!

It’s really clear on-board that Viking don’t skimp out on customer service and they all added up to make a seamless vacation.

Meals & Dining

All three meals are included on-board.

You have the choice to take meals either in the formal dining room or upstairs in the more casual Aquavit restaurant. We have nothing but great things to say about the meals!

Outdoor or Indoor Options

If you like to socialize and want a formal 3-course menu dinner, try the formal dining room on the main floor. 

If you want more relaxed, casual food with perhaps a table for just 2, the Aquavit upstairs is a great alternative. We had lunch a couple times there and it’s quite nice to see the river views and sit outside.

Local Cuisine

Viking also makes a effort to include local cuisine.

One night we had an Austrian / German night, with local specialties like sauerkraut, sausages, pretzels, schnitzel and plenty of German beer. 

It was a themed night, where the dining room transformed into checkered tablecloths, the staff put on their lederhosen and mini kegs were emptied!

Wine Included

Wines are included during dinner times, which I personally haven’t seen on any other cruise!

There’s also the option to purchase a Silver Spirits drink package if you wish to indulge in wine, beer and/or soft drinks before or after dinner.

Viking’s Included Walking Tours

Each day, there’s an included guided walking tour.

All the local guides were quite knowledgeable and Viking provides headsets so you can clearly hear. There’s even a designated group for those who wish to tour at a slower pace.

What I really liked was that there’s no pressure to stay with the tour. You’re free to start with the tour and slip away if you find a restaurant you like or somewhere you want to linger (although it’s nice to let the guide know so they don’t wait for you).

They really encourage you to make the most of your trip.

And that’s it! Are you headed on a river cruise?

Let me know if you have any questions about our Rhine Getaway with Viking River Cruises in the comments below.

European River Cruise – Trip Planning Checklist

We opted to extend our stay in Europe after the cruise. Viking offers both pre and post extensions, which are a fun way to see more of Europe and combine the best of both worlds (guided group tours with individual trips).

For our flights, we took advantage of Viking’s flight booking service. We set fare alerts and browsed for flights on our own, and after comparing it to the Viking customer service rep, found that they were able to get us a better deal.

Be sure to get travel insurance   for your river cruise. River cruises are highly dependent on local water levels, and abnormally low water can negatively impact your trip by forcing the boat to re-route.

In recent years, the Elba river has occasionally suffered from extreme low water levels – perhaps due to global warming? In any case, don’t end up disappointed – travel insurance will help when you need it most. Get a  quote for your trip here .

Cruising Articles

Cruising on the Seine River from Paris to Normandy

Lobsters & Lighthouses: Sailing on a Maine Windjammer

Europe Travel Articles

1 Day in Basel:  Switzerland’s Most Underrated City!

Colmar, France: Is this Beauty in the Beast Town Real?

Everything to See & Do in Heidelberg, Germany

German Castles: A Photo Diary of Castles on the Rhine River

Fun Day Trips from Amsterdam: Visiting A Dutch Windmill Home

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Those photos are just perfect! They made me want to travel Europe more. Thanks for sharing such an informative post! :)

This looks so amazing. Your pictures are absolutely stunning. Such a great informative post.

Thanks Lynzy!

I have never been on a river cruise abroad. I am not sure that the tour that we did on the Ohio river would count as a cruise lol! I would like to visit here. All of your photos make me really want to plan a trip.

Wow, amazing indeed! I have to add this to my bucket list of places to visit! Your pictures are Stunning!!

The itinerary for this trip is near perfect. I think I’d enjoy every single thing planned. I especially like what’s scheduled on the third day.

Strasbourg is definitely a highlight! Supposedly the university is fantastic and has affordable tuition, i might just apply!

These photos make me want to head out on a cruise right now. I love the exotic feel of the settings in these photos and the breathtaking views. Someday I will get it together enough to visit.

Hey Melissa, glad you like the itinerary/photos! Hope you get to experience it soon :)

I was sooooooo excited to read your article! I have wanted to go on a Viking River Cruise for awhile now. Thanks so much for the helpful information.

It was my first Viking River Cruise and I totally loved it (as you can tell from the post) Let me know if you have any questions and I hope you sail with them soon!

Oh that looks amazing and your photography is beautiful. I would really love to do one of these holidays but with 6 children i worry about all the water! lol

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This sounds much better than I expected! Some family members have been trying to get me to do one of these. Thanks for sharing!

This was an excellent review! I’ve always wondered about Viking River Cruises and have strayed away from them because I just had never heard much about them. I love cruising on the big ships though, so I’m sure I would love a river cruise as well!

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Hey! Thank you so much for the detailed information about your cruise. I am actually headed on this cruise in a week and I’m very excited.

Ah you’ll love it!! Have fun :)

Im obsessed with this blog! My fiancé and I are taking our honeymoon early and heading on the Rhine Getaway in 2 weeks. Is there and particular must dos in the other places where you don’t have the more thorough blog posts? Also do you have any more pictures of the verandah room, as that is the room type we will be in, and of the ship itself? What was the weather like? Are there specific things we should be packing as far as clothes or anything else?

Hi Alyssa, ooh have fun! Hm I think Viking’s included tours do a great job of showing you the main highlights in each town, while giving you some free time to explore or have lunch in town if you wish.

I did the optional tour to Augustusberg palace which I really enjoyed, its on the Cologne day. Just a gorgeous, unique palace and hunting lodge. There’s also an optional to see the top of Cologne’s cathedral which other people on the ship liked. And then one night there’s a fancy dinner in a palace – I didn’t sign up for it but almost regretted it bc it got rave reviews from those who did! I think its the same night as the German dinner night on board so whatever you pick you’ll have a fabulous dinner. Definitely recommend the Colmar optional, which I have the post about. If you havent been to Amsterdam before you might want to stay longer after.

We went in early May and it rained a bit and was pretty cold. Viking has huge umbrellas, which was a nice touch bc I forgot to bring mine. Other than that nothing specific to pack – its pretty casual. It’s summer now so I’m sure the weather will be much better for you!

You’ll love the rooms! I was so impressed with how comfortable they were given that its a river cruise and the ship is small. My pictures of our room didn’t come out so nice because my stuff was sprawled everywhere ha.. but we had a veranda room as well! Loved the balcony. All the bathrooms have heated floors which I loved and now want to install in my bathroom. I snuck a peek at the suites which have a separate living room area and look really really nice. I’ve also never seen a more diligent cleaning staff!!

We sailed on the Hlin ship, which I think they said was 8 years old, but looked almost brand new to me. Viking takes amazing care of their river ships! I chatted to the staff one day and they spend the winter season breaking everything down, cleaning and doing engineering things to keep it in great shape.

Oh! Do the roundhouse mini tour where you get to see the caption’s… office thing on the roof. He tells you how the ship steers and has some fun facts about the mechanics. I always find that kind of stuff interesting (how things work, how they became ships captain etc). If I remember correctly its something you can sign up for on one of the slow days when we’re cruising. Only if you’re interested, its not an official tour or anything!

Oh and bring binoculars if you have them! It’ll come in handy the morning where we saw the german forts on the Rhine. I brought a gigantic zoom lens to take those photos, the castles are high up on hills while the ship sails in the middle of the Rhine. Feel tree to shoot me any more questions and I’ll do my best to answer :)

Can’t say enough great things about Viking and I’m already dreaming about doing another with them!

Thanks! Any chance you have a list or something of the times you were in and out of each port? I’d love to know how long we get to stay each place

No. You can try checking the viking journey site for more info. It was generally around a 1 hr tour and maybe an 30min – hour of free time

But like the whole day how early could you get off the ship and how late could you start in port before you had to be back on? I can’t find that information anywhere.

It depends on when the ship gets into town and if it’s departing for a different town that evening or docking overnight.

Do you remember which ports you were docked at overnight?

Don’t remember off the top of my head but check your My Viking Journey portal! Lots of helpful info there :)

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We did the Viking Paris to Normandy cruise in September of 2016. It was wonderful. We’re booking the Rhine Getaway today for September of next year. Thanks so much for all the helpful information!!

Did you fly nonstop to Basel or make a connection? I’ve bookmarked this page as I will be doing the same cruise next summer. :)

Hey Tiffany – I had a connection in Europe. I do recommend checking out flight pricing with Viking – they surprised me with cheaper airfare than I could find on my own and they also took care of the transfers. You can just ask them what the flight price will be before committing and do a little comparison check with google flights. Enjoy your trip, its a fab river cruise experience :)

Loved your post. I’m thinking of going next April. I have two questions: what are the temperatures like and is there a fitness or exercise room on board? It sound silly, but with all that eating I’ll want to do something to keep the weight off.

Hi Bonnie – I went in mid May and it was still chilly..anywhere from 40-60 degrees. This year I remember being surprised, because we had a very late spring season so it’s hard to say what 2018 will be like! It rained a couple times in the first 2 days of the trip, and I forgot to pack my umbrella, but luckily Viking has some HUGE umbrellas on board for guests to borrow. I know for me personally, even though it can be colder I prefer traveling to Europe in April/May before the crowds hit.

River cruise ships are small so there’s usually no room on board for a dedicated fitness room. That said on the roof of the ship, they have a track loop so some runners used that to their advantage. I think it was 13 laps on the roof deck equaled 1 mile and I only remember that because my mom kept up with her daily mile runs ha. On Viking’s ocean cruises, those ships are bigger and I believe Viking has both a fitness room and a pool on ocean routes.

All of the included daily tours are walking tours, so you do walk some of it off although I agree with you – it’s hard to restrict yourself on vacation and there can be some longer bus rides where you just sit and sit! Have a fabulous trip and let me know if you have any other questions

Hi, My name is Sunny Fletcher, I really enjoyed your write up and it was super inspiring! My boyfriend and I loved this particular itinerary but did not see it on the viking site when we searched for this particular 7 day cruise. Do you have any other cruise lines you could suggest? Also what is the predominate age group on these cruises. We are in our 40’s would we feel out of place? Thanks for your help.

Sunny Fletcher

Hi Sunny! So glad you liked it. I would say you would be more in place than I was on the trip ha! Im in my 20s and went with my mom. The crowd has a good mix of age groups, predominantly 40+ to retirees and I would say Viking is a more active program than other river cruises. I do a lot of tours with my family so I guess I’m maybe more used to being the odd one out, but I don’t mind as long as the itinerary is good!

Here is the cruise we took, it’s called their Rhine Getaway route. I heard that they also offer the same route during the holiday season, when Christmas markets are open so you might like that idea too.

https://www.vikingrivercruises.com/cruise-destinations/europe/rhine-getaway/2017-amsterdam-basel/index.html

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Enjoyed your piece on the Viking Rhine Getaway. We’re likely going to book it for May 2018. With both artificial hips, spine issues, etc., I don’t walk so well, or far, anymore. My wife is fine, can walk forever. With my cane I can do probably a mile before a rest. I’m wondering about the shore excursions, many of which are “walking tours”. Will I be able to do them? If not, what are the options? Many thanks, Jerry

Hi Jerry! I think you would love the cruise and will try to provide my perspective.

All the included excursions are walking tours but some cities involve a bus to get to the town first while other cities viking can dock right in town so the actual walking part is not necessarily that strenuous. Cities like Colmar and Basel have compact Old Towns so the walking is quite short, but Marksburg Castle was very uneven inside (lots of cobblestone old steps) that I even found that shaky.

Regardless i would say that Viking is very accommodating.

There was a man on our tour who was blind and used a cane and he did all of the walking tours. Sometimes the guide gave him a hand. For some towns, Viking offered bicycle tuk tuks or cabs to drive passengers right to the town center. I felt the tours were quite leisurely paced and if at any time you don’t want to continue, you can leave the group to explore at your own pace or do your own thing altogether.

Many thanks for your reassuring reply. Most likely I’ll be fine. I wonder if Uber is available along the Rhine River route?

A couple more questions. I’m trying to do a little research on flights in and out. We’ll probably book through Viking, but I’d like to see what the options are regarding connections, etc. Do you remember what the required times were to get aboard the ship, and to leave at the end? Should we plan to arrive a day before departure?

Hm not sure about Uber. Lots of European countries ban it so I wouldn’t count on it, but there are regular cabs and the bike tuk tuks. Plus viking’s bus coaches.

You can arrive early or stay later but I flew in the day of departure. If I remember right, the boat sets sail in early evening so arriving the day of in the morning is fine. If you want to explore more of town, then I would stay extra.

We did the Basel > Amsterdam route. Basel is very small and I felt like we saw enough on the day of. If you arrive in the AM, Viking is nice and provides a complimentary informal walking tour of the old town! Lots of people extended their stay in Amsterdam since you don’f actually see that city during the itinerary.

I don’t remember the exact time you should leave, because we flew to Copenhagen on a very early flight. I think maybe they ask you to leave by early afternoon? So they have time to clean the boat before the next sailing route. Hope that helps!

Sadly Viking no longer provides this walking tour of Basel on the day of arrival. I checked with them A few days ago prior to our departure today and Viking said that the walking tour was no longer available. Very disappointed!

aw that sucks. i guess a lot has changed with covid. you’ll still have a great time i hope!

Hi,I have taken two Viking trips, the Danube Waltz two years ago and the Balzel to Amsterdam last year, I can’t say enough about how wonderful the trips themselves were, however, the air fair provided was another story. I understand it is offered free, BUT, when you are stuck in the last row in the plane, get told this is the only food option that is left and sorry there is NO WATER AVAILABLE, it made for a very long ride home from France with a man in front of us who had definitely not showered in a while.

Hey Dolores – sorry to hear you had a bad flight! To be honest I hate the entire flying experience and never have a great flight! I don’t think Viking has anything to do with the airline (ours wasn’t free) and we had a couple options for flight options/ seats etc

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Nice read. Quick question what is Vikings policy to bringing your own alcohol drinks on board. It sounds like it would be nice to sit on the room balcony with a bottle of wine.

Hi Ron – sorry for the delayed response, I think I missed seeing this! Yes, you can definitely sit on your room balcony and enjoy your own bottle of wine. Just so you know, all wine is included during meal times as well. I’m not a huge drinker but spent lots of mornings enjoying my coffee on the balcony.. it was so relaxing! :)

HELLO, we are taking the Rhine River cruise in late Oct. I know no one can accurately forecast the weather,wondering what kind of jacket/coat should I pack. Also, will the christmas markets be open?

Hi Lynda, I would think it’d be pretty cold. Usually October in central Europe is ~50s during the day and as low as ~40s around night time. I would probably pack jeans/long pants, light sweaters and either a wool coat like this http://bit.ly/2vz4X6w or if you’re wearing layers, a windbreaker like this one: http://bit.ly/2wz0plj .

Unfortunately the Christmas markets don’t open until late November but I would think October would be a beautiful time to see fall folliage along the river? Autumn is my favorite season so I’m sure it will be even more magical in Europe. Have a great trip!

Thanks for the great review. I’m taking this trip in April 2018 but in reverse. This answered many of my questions. Thanks for all the great details. I can’t wait.

Lots of helpful info there! Someone just told me that she had been on 3 river cruises — I think all Viking — and that you had to leave the ship around 7:30 a.m. if you wanted to join the walking tour. I’ve never heard anyone else mention such an early start. Did you experience this on your trip?

Hm.. I think I got up by 7:30am but I don’t think we left the ship quite that early. I want to stay it was about ~7:30am breakfast, leave by 8:30-9am. There are generally 2 time slots for tours per day, one in the morning and one after lunch – you can do both or just do one. Usually everyone does the morning one and if you book an optional tour, that would be your afternoon option.

FTo be honest, every land group tour that I’ve been on and when I travel personally, I get up very early to see as much as possible so I felt like Viking was nice and a “slower pace”. One lady at dinner mentioned she thought the times were early for her, so I guess it depends on your personal travel style!

Once you book a tour, Viking has a section of their website called “my viking journey” where you can see the optional tours offered and it makes it very easy to see the tour times so that you don’t double book yourself. Hope that helps!

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If the intinerary shows a tour for morning or morning and afternoon does that mean they leave after the tour or do they stay till evening so you can mull around?

Hi Margie – it depends! If the ship is staying in town and not sailing onward, you can stay out on your own after the tour, have lunch in town instead of on the ship, wander etc. For example, I think in Strasbourg some of us did this. Also in Cologne we docked overnight so you could hang out all night until the early AM if you wanted!

If you decide you’ve seen enough when the tour ends, then you can take advantage of the included shuttle bus to take you back to the ship.

Sometimes, the ship sails onward or if it’s an optional tour it might be a town far away from the dock, so it’s expected that you’ll go with the group. For example, the Colmar optional tour which I took takes you to Colmar (which is not close to the dock) so you wouldn’t want to linger. Hope that helps!

I love the idea of a river tour, especially the unpacking bit. ;) How was the social situation on board? Were the other guests mostly much older? I think that’s what’s holding me back on trying it myself. I don’t want to be the only 30-something on a ship full of seniors. :\

Hi Melissa! Ha yes the unpacking part and luxurious room were too good to pass up. Hm.. it’s definitely an older crowd, most people in their late 40s – 50s if I had to guess their ages. Some retirees as well. But, I do lots of group tours with my family and I would say its more of the “active” older / retired crowd vs those who just like to be shuttled from place to place.

There were some 30 something couples on board and at dinner you can either eat solo or mingle, so it just depends on what you prefer. If you prefer a really social atmosphere, European hostels are the best bet or I’ve had friends who went solo and joined something like a G Adventures tour for the social atmosphere.

Would you be going solo?

Because cabins are usually meant for 2 people, river cruises in general tend to charge a single supplement fee (I think Viking does, but I’m not certain).

Sher, My husband and I are traveling next June on Viking River Cruise Paris to Swiss Alps. I was wondering if you would suggest we bring binoculars and a camera with a zoom lens to see and get good pics from the river itself. Also wondering if you know how flexible they are regarding problems clients have with food issues? I was glad to hear that if the pace of the tour was too fast or slow that you could break away from the group, however are cabs fairly easy to find if you find yourself needing to return to the boat? Do you suggest a particular app for your phone to translate? Also wondering about carrying cash or credit cards for excursions, should we have both or did you find one better than the other? Thanks I know that’s a lot of questions!

Hi Colleen,

Ooh Paris! Sounds like a good itinerary.

1) I’m a bit of a photo fanatic so I was very glad I brought my zoom lens. I think my mom would have appreciated binoculars, especially since she has poor vision. You can definitely see the castles from the naked eye on the boat, but if you want to see detail binoculars are helpful. Did you check out my German castles post? All those photos were shot with a 70-200mm lens (mostly at the 200mm mark) so as an example, you won’t see the individual castle windows or small town churches like in those photos without a zoom or binoculars. I mentioned it in the post because I didn’t bring binoculars on a safari trip to Africa and while I could see the animals just fine, a kind man lent me his for a day and it was such a better view! ha. So just personal preference.

2. Hm, I don’t personally have any dietary restrictions so I’m not sure. For dinner, there are always several options to choose from, including a vegetarian one. I *think* they have options for gluten free but I’m not 100% sure – you can try using the chat bot on the viking website or calling a customer service rep to make sure.

The waiters and all the staff are exceptionally friendly / helpful and can make menu substitutions if you don’t like anything or are allergic. I remember they had ipads during dinner service to jot notes & things. They also have excellent memories! If you wanted two appetizers or ahem, two desserts (like I sometimes did), they’re very generous with that, it’s not an issue. Or if you wanted appetizers instead of mains, that sort of thing is easy for them to accommodate.

3. I think cabs would be easy to find. I didn’t do the exact route you’re mentioning so some cities would be different, but in general I find that the stops were small European towns so it’s easy to wander and find your way back to the main square. Even Paris is not so big a city :)

Usually at the front desk, they will have maps of the city so ask for one of those before you disembark and if you want to explore on your own, then you can use the map. Also a tip is to download the offline Google Maps for each city you’ll be visiting. I always do that before I travel! I’m a big walker so with the offline map downloaded, you can navigate yourself back to the main square or the dock. And of course if you get cell service using something like Know Roaming (which I’ve reviewed on my blog briefly here ) then you can get cell service too for emergencies.

Viking uses these headphone systems which are pretty good and they split the passengers into smaller groups, so if you see yourself wanting to explore more of the city just let the guide know you’re leaving the group and you can find out about local cabs or meeting points, etc. Every evening, they leave a pamphlet in your cabin so you can get a sense of what you’ll be visiting the next day.

4. I use google translate on my phone for translation but I think you do need cell service for it to work. In general everyone in Europe speaks excellent English :)

5. I rarely bring cash to be honest, I bring a couple credit cards which carry no foreign fees and I bring my debit card for the atm / emergencies. I’m also not a shopper / I don’t buy souvenirs anymore but if you like to shop, cash is helpful for small things like street fairs, flea markets, christmas market stalls, food stalls. Do you have Chase bank? You can call ahead and ask your local branch, mine in NYC can exchange euros same day, so if you want to bring like 100 – 200 euro just to be safe, you can try that. I’m sure other banks do it too.

For the optional tours, I would recommend booking those in advance. Some of the popular ones fill up. If you login to the “My Viking Journey” website it will show you, day by day, which tours are available and also will warn you if you’re booking overlapping tours or things that conflict. I found it quite handy! So since you book those ahead, you book them all on credit card.

In general I prefer credit cards because I get points and I find carrying cash /dealing with change a pain. But that’s just me!

Hope that helps – feel free to reach out if you have more questions.

I enjoyed your account of the river cruise and I’m curious as to how dressy or casual folks were. Do you have a packing list for this trip?

Thanks, Penny

Hi Penny! Glad you liked the article.

People were pretty casual (pants, jeans, cold weather jackets etc) but I also went in May when the weather was still pretty chilly. For dinner time, I believe they ask for closed toe shoes and no shorts, but there isn’t a requirement for jackets so it’s no where near formal.

I haven’t written a packing guide yet but have gotten a couple requests so I’ll add that to my list of posts to write!

What did you do at night?

We either went back into town, had drinks in the lounge or stayed in to watch Downton Abbey (LOL).

It’s generally pretty quiet at night since it’s a small ship vs. huge ocean liners.

We also loved our river cruise! We left from Amsterdam in August and finished in Budapest with the optional trip to Prague. One word of caution, while the glassblower’s demonstration was awesome, he has yet to send us any of the items we ordered and paid for. He said it would be 3 weeks…it is now about 5 months. After multiple emails to him (unanswered) and emails and phone calls to Viking we are giving up and disputing the charges on our card. I’ve seen other complaints on trip forums about him. I’m disappointed Viking still brings him on board!

Hi Nancy – glad to hear you liked the cruise as well! Wow, I had no idea about the glassblower. I’m wondering if it’s the same glassblower since the one on our trip didn’t have large items to ship, he brought lots of little items (candle holders, ornaments, figurines, vases, etc) that you purchased right there, they packaged up for you and then you took it with you right away.

I got one of the glass ornaments and hung it on my tree this past Christmas!

I’m so shocked to hear the glassblower you had didn’t ship promptly. Have you reached out to Viking customer service to file a claim and let them know? That’s very disappointing and you should dispute the charge if it’s been 5+ months and no package. Credit card companies are usually great about resolving that in your favor.

The glassblower was Karl Ittig. His business is Glas Haus Wertheim. We bought some shot glases from him on the ship and brought them home with us. The problem is with what we ordered. We ordered 2 ornaments that were to have names etched in them along with the year. We also ordered a set of his Jagermeister shot glasses for our son with his monogram etched on them. Our friends also ordered his salad dressing bottles. They also have received nothing. We have contacted Viking several times. They said they’d look into it but nothing happened. The last time they were the ones to say to dispute the claim. It’s disappointing that Viking does not seem to care that much. It makes us wonder if they get some kind of a kickback from the glassblower.

I just google searched his name and photos of him came up. He’s not the same glassblower who was on my river cruise (Viking has so many ships I’m sure they have many, many glassblowers that they partner with).

Viking probably does get a kickback. Pretty much every travel company or tour builds in visits to local businesses and in return they get a % of commissions, just like a shoe salesman at any dept store. If you ever go on a Chinese tour – man, those take the cake for how many shopping visits they can pack in, all because they get a commission! Same with hotel concierges – they usually recommend restaurants they get a kickback from. such is life!

It’s really unfortunate that you haven’t received the items and that he essentially stole your money. If you paid via credit card, you should definitely get your money back. In my experience, American credit card companies (is yours american?) have fantastic customer service and you can file a dispute online very easily.

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My husband and I are taking this river cruise next year for our 20th anniversary and I can’t wait. I really enjoyed reading your take on it and seeing all the pictures. Can you tell me where the above picture was taken with the yellow/cream colored building with all of the decorations and red hearts? It looks like a fun place to visit. Thank you, Michelle

Hi Michelle – have fun! It’s a great cruise. The yellow building with the hearts is in Colmar, France – possibly one of the cutest towns I’ve ever been to :)

We’re considering this same cruise (from Basel to Amsterdam). Curious to know, are there better views on one side of the ship than the other? We were thinking of getting a french balcony versus the veranda. Which did you have?

Hi Dawn! We didn’t feel like there were better views on one side or the other. Hm, I can’t remember the name of our room but we had a small narrow balcony with 2 chairs and a side table where we could drink coffee outside. It was nice to get fresh air and we sat on it once or twice during sailings. We also peeked into some suites and those looked HUGE!

I think the standard rooms are fine, since you don’t spend all that much inside.

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Hi! My mom and I are thinking going on the same Vikings tour as you and your mom, but we are doing the reverse route. :) It’s nice to see that some other young people go as well! My question for you is that my mom will be 74 by the time we take this cruise. She can’t walk very long distances without needing to sit and rest for a couple of minutes. Bad knees and back. It seems like your excursions had a lot of walking involved. Do you think, in your experience, she will have issues with the walking tours that are provided by Viking?

Thank you! Sarah

Hi Sarah – sounds fun! I think she could do it. There’s 1 walking tour per day in each city / stop. The walking tours are about 1 hour, give or take, but if you get tired or want to leave, there’s no problem with ditching the tour to go stop at a cafe or go shopping. The tours are optional too, so if you and your mom would prefer you can always just leave the ship on your own and come back when you wish, instead of doing the tour. It depends on the stop (sometimes the boat isn’t docked in the center of town so it’d be difficult in those instances, it just depends on the river / boat area).

From the top of my head – the Black Forest is very doable, Colmar is a very small town so we booked the optional tour but explored on our own, the windmills are within walking distance from the boat and you can go at your own pace. Cologne we docked right in town. I wouldn’t recommend Marksburg castle because it’s very old and entirely uneven cobblestones.

The Viking staff can help you arrange a taxi or bike peddler if you want to go into town in more comfort or come back early. Overall I felt like the cruise was very relaxing. Hope that helps!

Hi Sarah – One thing I forgot to mention in my comment. Each day for the included walking tours, there is a designated group for those who want to explore at a slower pace. I didn’t join those groups so I’m not sure exactly how they work but thought that group could be great for your mom!

Considering this same cruise in 2019. Is there a bar on the ship to have a drink after dinner? Does Viking allow you to bring your own liquor on board?

Hi Diana – yes there is a nice bar and big lounge area. If you buy your own bottle of wine or spirits in the town, you can definitely bring it on board. I saw people drinking on their balcony. I’m not sure if you can bring your own liquor to the bar area though.

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Loved the article. We just booked a Danube cruise so I’m excited and this is really helpful information. I can’t wait. It all sounds wonderful.

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Sher, Great Blog, thanks. You photos are sensational. How did you compensate for the movement of the boat? Were you using a tripod? What’s your preferred camera? (We leave in 2 weeks! so excited.)

Hi Kathy – thanks so much for the kind words! Do you mean the photos of the German castles? For the most part, I shot these photos on the day excursions into each town, so we were on foot and exploring. I do have a tripod ( this one ) but the boat moves slowly enough when it sails that you can still get handheld shots. All my gear is listed on my FAQ page here :)

Thank you! Very helpful??

Thank you so much for your detailed comments from your Viking Riverboat Cruise on the Rhine. My husband and I are taking the same trip in June 2018 and were extremely impressed by your suggestions. It was wonderful reading about someone else’s experiences and recommendations. Your photography is oustanding. We are looking forward to our trip even more thanks to you!

Thanks so much for the kind words Patricia! Have a great time on your trip :)

Hi thanks for all the info in your blog….sounds like we have signed up for the right cruise.

We are taking the Rhine Getaway in July as a 70th birthday celebration for my husband. We are landing in Basel a couple days early and planned to take a train for a day trip to Lucerne (about an hour ride). Wondering if you have any thoughts about things to see/do in Lucerne?

We also extended a couple days in Amsterdam…any specific must sees (we were thinking of the hop on and off bus or canal boat give us flavor of city and an easy way to get around), and know we want to see the Ice Bar.

Thanks again for all you info!!!

Wow sounds like a great birthday celebration! Lucerne is very pretty, we just took it easy and walked around.

I have a post on day trips from Amsterdam here . The city itself is very popular, a bit crowded, so try to go early for things like the Anne Frank Museum. Try a canal cruise too! Since you have more time, I really liked visiting the Hague and Bruges. The Hague has some stunning buildings like the International Court of Justice while Bruges is more small town / medieval, very picturesque. Have a great trip!

Quite a thorough review. Many of our questions were answered. We’ve not been to Germany before so we are curious and deciding between this river cruise or a land tour. It does sound like this would be a great first-time visit to upper Europe (We have been to Rome, Athens & Crete). I really would like to see the Alps too. We’d like to also see Lucerne(Cogwheel Train, Gondola) and Munich.

Hello, Thank-You for ALL the tips on River Cruising. My 89-year-old mother and myself are planning a 2019 Paris and the heart of Normandy in Early April. any recommendations or comments on that trip?

Great summary of the trip. We’re going on the Rhine cruise in November and can’t wait. Leaving from Miami to Basel. We’ve been in many cruises in large ships but this one will be a treat. Decided to go business class with Lufthansa and that will also be a treat. Thanks!

Hi John – glad you liked my recap! Ooh, business class on Lufthansa will be such a treat. Have a great time – I think you will like the more intimate atmosphere on a river cruise!

Planning a 25th Anniversary trip for my wife in 2020.

Really enjoyed reading about your experiences. Not sure yet what trip we want to take, but you make a great argument for the trip you described in this Rhine Getaway river cruise.

Thanks for the detail.

Sounds like an amazing anniversary trip! Have a great time Marty

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Hello Sher,

Most important we do everything right on this trip in Sept Getaway Rhine. Long story, but neither myself or my companion has had a vacation in over 13 years — and I feel as if I’m planning in a vacuum. My companion is in his late eighties but wants to see the Rhine — I’m in my late seventies and just want to see something again. Would it be wise for us to just walk around the small villages rather than do the excursions? Some of them seem to take so long. My companion wants to see the war memorial in Colmar which we’ve signed up for and we have also reserved tickets to Van gogh exhibit. Am tempted to skip Heidelberg and Marksburg castle because of demanding climbs. All so confusing. Also, very important. we’ve been told many people wear jeans to dinner. True? Will appreciate your feedback — we must enjoy this trip. Thank you, Sandra

Hi Sandra – it’s up to you! Most of the guided tours take place in the morning (you’ll get a schedule the night before in your room), so you can decide what you’d like to do each day. I would suggest trying out 1 or 2 of the included free walking tours since you can always leave the group to go back to the ship or explore on your own if you no longer want to participate. Viking is very flexible and their tour guides are OK if you decide to leave mid-tour. Just let them know so they don’t include you in the headcount.

Yes, I would definitely suggest you skip Marksburg. The castle is in ruins and the footpaths are cobblestone – very uneven, very challenging for unsteady walkers. Heidelberg Castle is on a hill, but it’s much flatter and easier to walk, so it’s up to you.

You can wear whatever you want to dinner, Viking is pretty casual! Jeans are fine. Hope that helps!

Hi – great article, comprehensive & thoughtful! Wondering what time of year you went on the Viking river cruise?

Hi Kathy – I went in spring, at the beginning of the season!

Thank you for all the great information. We will be doing the same trip the first week of November and it’s so nice to hear we made a great decision!

Hi there! We’re on our final day of the Romantic Danube Viking River cruise. I agree with everything you’ve stated. Great ship, staff, food, and itinerary. Water levels are a huge deal, though. We’re presently completing a 3 hour bus transfer from Vienna to Budapest – missing one of the most scenic parts of the cruise. We are making our 2nd ship swap for the final night / our 3rd ship.

We received an email from Viking one week prior to departure telling us about the issue between Passau & Krems. Tuesday night our program director informed us of the additional issues past Vienna. We cruised the scenic Wachau valley after dark.

So we missed 2 of the 3 primary cruising segments. Spent 6-7 hours on buses – very nice buses- but buses.

We realize Viking can not control water levels, but their communication was late & misleading. They’ve been doing this for months – maybe years, yet acted like it was out of the ordinary. Passenger morale was affected. I’m not sure if they’ll offer vouchers. Some passengers were very upset.

Nothing about this on their website – apart from the fine print – but cruisers are blogging actively about this issue.

Great review, though.

-Scott S. from Boise

Hi Scott – Wow, yikes! So sorry to hear that your cruise had an issue. I hadn’t known about the water levels issue as our cruise was on the Rhine River, and to my knowledge, the Rhine River hasn’t had any critically low water levels. I’m not an expert by any means though.

I sympathize with you since it’s a terrible situation all around. Viking cant control the water, but naturally you didn’t have the full experience. It’s good that Viking had a back up plan so you could still at least experience the cities on the itinerary.

Has customer service gotten back to you about vouchers or anything else they can offer?

Also, just curious – when they emailed you a week before departure, were you able to cancel the cruise and opt for a later date?

We river cruised on emerald last year,sounds very comparable to Viking. They did include wine or beer with lunch and the 5 course dinner. You mentioned wine with dinner. Does Viking also include included wine and beer with lunch? . Viking is maybe more catered to Americans (ie: flight prices transatlantic). We are trying to find the best river cruise from Amsterdam to Basel,Switzerland, and this trip you took sounds wonderful. I do recommend you try out Emerald,they are fantastic. What would be comparable to a cabin with a “balcony” ? Ie: a window that rolls all the way down? These answers will possibly help us to decide. Thanks so much. Maria

Hi Maria – I hadn’t heard of Emerald before, thanks for bringing them to my attention! I just looked them up and they seem to have very similar luxury river cruises. It seems like they are an Australian company?

You’re right that Viking has a big American market. I believe the owner / company ethos is Scandinavian but they seem to focus on the American market as there were lots of American travelers on our journey.

I’m not sure what you mean by “what would be comparable to a cabin with a balcony”. Are you asking about accommodation on Viking? All the rooms are quite nice, the more expensive rooms get you more a bigger floorplan, higher floor and potentially a small outdoor balcony. For us, we had a small outdoor area – not too big, just enough to fit a small table and chairs and have a glass of wine or morning coffee. Hope that helps!

Or do you mean what are the rooms like without a balcony? If you go to Viking’s website here and scroll down, they have a floorplan of the Europe river ships and each room. There’s also pictures of the standard / french balcony and veranda rooms. Hope that helps!

Hi Sher – My wife and I will be going on our first cruise ever in September 2019 on the Amsterdam to Basel run, with an extra few days in Basel. I had booked a couple months ago and splurged on the two room Veranda suite. We’re very much looking forward to the trip but was curious if our suite is worth the cost. Will we find that we spend very little time there anyway? Thanks for your great website.

Hi Doug – ooh fancy! We haven’t personally stayed in the suites before, but we’ve gotten a peak into the rooms and they look super spacious and very nice.

We definitely spend a lot more time in our rooms on river cruises vs. ocean cruises, as there’s not as much on board entertainment. Also if the weather is great, it’s very nice to sit on the balcony with a glass of wine during sailings and typically September is beautiful in Europe!

I was thinking of cruising the rhine w/viking, is November OK to do this??? Thx

Hi Karen – Hm.. November might be a bit cold. I think May to October might be more comfortable weather wise!

I enjoyed this blog so much, we were thinking of doing a cruise, but now you have convinced me. Excellent writing, informative , and your photos are wonderful. One question, my husband enjoys a good cigar and drink, is there a designated smoking section with a view or just an area for smoking? Thank you again for such a great blog. PS just started following you on Instagram!!

Is their drinks package worth the price?

Hi Peter – it depends on how much you like to drink ;) Viking includes house wine with lunch and dinner. If you want other drinks, or perhaps cocktails after dinner, then I would say it’s worth getting. If you are fine with wine during meals, then don’t bother!

One of the best written river cruise reviews I’ve ever read. Sher, you have a great style in presenting activities as well as the cruise experience.

Wondering how well the cruise would be for me as I am oxygen 24 hrs….Also is there much climbing involved?

Hi Cliff – The ship has an elevator on board that you can use. For the excursions, there wasn’t any climbing but the tour of Marksburg Castle had VERY uneven paths (broken stones) so I’d probably recommend skipping that.

Hi great information, was wondering when do you think is the best time of month to do this cruise? I was thinking March or October, any thoughts?

Hi Suzanne – the European river cruise season starts in May. Usually the clean the ships in the winter and do maintenance, upkeep etc, so I don’t think March sailings for the Rhine river are available. I could be wrong! I also think it would be too cold in March to enjoy.

October would be nice! I haven’t done any fall sailings but I think it would be much less crowded and perhaps the leaves would change. Plus there’s Oktoberfest in Germany in October!

Hi, Sher We are doing our first Viking cruise in October 2019. Amsterdam to Basel. We are arriving from Philadelphia. We do not have the pre or post add on days, but do want to see the Anne Frank house in Amsterdam. Do you think we will have time? Also, I was interested in the added excursion to the top of one of the cathedrals and was under the impression there was an elevator, however, also saw where you had to climb over 300 steps! I have found your website to be very informative.

Hi Donna, thanks! Hm.. I’m not sure if you have time for the Anne Frank house. On the last day of the cruise, you’re expected to leave the ship quite early (I believe before noon), but if your flight is that evening, you may have time.

Make sure to book your tickets online before your trip, you can do that on their official website. It’s one of the THE most popular attractions in Amsterdam so expect really long lines. Or, you can take a walking tour that covers the history of Ann Frank, these are pretty popular.

Regarding the cathedral.. I assume you mean the Cologne one? It’s been a long time since I went to the top (I went before the Viking trip) so I don’t quite remember. I believe there is no lift, as it’s a very historic, old church. But you can double check with Viking before booking their excursion!

Have a great trip :)

Great info thanks

We are planning our trip on Viking River Cruises from Amsterdam to Basil in mid May, and I”m trying to figure out what and how much to pack. I see that the weather is quite changeable, rainy, cool to moderate. Are there laundry services on board the ship (Viking Einar) or facilities for guest to go their own laundry?

Hi Deborah, Yes if I remember correctly there’s laundry service on board.

Sher – my sister’s and some girlfriends of ours are planning our 1st ever international trip for our 50th bdays (gulp, can’t believe we will be 50!). As most of us have never been overseas and an international trip is a “once in a lifetime” opportunity for us, we need a trip that is easy to navigate for newbies and gets us the most bang for our buck (see all we can). I have several questions for you: Did Viking pay for you to take this trip? Do you think the Rhine Getaway would be a good choice for this group based on my description above? Is there any “night life” for the evenings (we don’t want to be in large touristy areas but do want to experience as much as possible)? We don’t want to go during peak season or the worst weather time. Would April be a good time to go? Many of us either have German and/or Irish heritage so we were wanting to fly to Ireland at the end of the cruise. Is that possible? I’m sure I will have a ton more questions so please let me know how best to communicate with you. Thank you so much for your post. It was very helpful.

Hi Tracie – ooh sounds like a fun birthday milestone! To answer your questions:

No – Viking did not pay me to take the trip (but that would be the dream). I did receive the Rhine cruise complimentary, along with several other journalists, in exchange for taking photos and showcasing the cruise on my Instagram account. I ended up loving the trip so much that I decided to write a more in-depth review on my website. They had no control or input in what I wrote – the article is entirely my own opinions.

Should you take the Rhine Getaway for your group trip? I think it depends. If you are looking to celebrate with a bang, then no Viking probably isn’t the trip. At least, not their river cruises. The river cruise ships are intimate (maybe 100+ passengers) and there isn’t much in the way of entertainment at night. No casino, no pool, no shows, dancing etc. There is a pianist on board, a roomy lounge and a great bar, but that’s about it.

The ocean cruises (which I have not been on) are much larger ships with entertainment on board.

You can go out at night off the ship if the boat is docked. It depends on the city though. Some cities have their docks right in the town center, like Cologne, so you could stay out all night until the ship leaves the next morning. Other cities, like Paris, the docks are about 30-45 min driving outside Paris proper, so it’s less convenient. Viking will organize shuttles for you to go into a nearby town, but if you wanted to go out at night into Paris, you would have to take your own taxi. For places like Rome, forget it – its like a 2 hour drive. It just depends on the city’s port logistics.

If you are ok with a more cultural, relaxing trip then Viking would be good. And then you can fly to Ireland after and party :) Dublin is a great city for that, and all over Ireland, the pubs are fantastic, the people are so friendly, it’s a great country to have a good time in!

The river cruise season kicks off in mid May, so April is a bit too early. Try late May or early June, or maybe mid September – mid October, to avoid crowds + have great weather.

Hope that helps

My husband and I are going on the Rhine Getaway this summer. I have 2 questions: 1) Strasbourg – should we take the optional Strasbourg from the Top? Or stick to the included Strasbourg Highlights? 2) Heidelberg – we are doing the 6 hr included tour in the morning. We thought it would be fun to do the Dine in City Rudesheim that evening for $158 total. Is that worth it???

Many thanks! Have enjoyed and learned so much reading your review and insights.

Hi Elizabeth,

Hm, I stuck to the included Strasbourg tour and thought it was a good half day tour. We had free time after to explore the city. If you like a good view, maybe the optional is good? I don’t think there is an elevator for the cathedral though – its stairs. Up to you!

For your second question, I just double checked the Viking website because I can’t remember the specifics. They list the Rudesheim am Rhein optional on the Koblenz Day, not the Heidelberg day. That’s the add-on dinner you’re referring to right?

But under the Heidelberg day, I wrote we went to Rudesheim that night on our own so I think you are right about it being the Heidelberg day. If I remember correctly, the boat docks in Rudesheim, so you can go into town on your own and choose a restaurant if you want. I don’t think the optional is necessary.

If you are interested because you want a good local dinner, we heard rave reviews from the people on board who did the Schloss Johannisberg castle dinner + wine tasting, the next night in Koblenz.

If you do choose that, just to let you know, the fun ‘local dinner’ night that Viking does is on the same evening. So whatever you chose, it will be a memorable dinner!

On board they decorate it like a mini Oktoberfest, with music and local cuisine, beer, pretzels, schnitzel etc. It was loads of fun, but only half the people were on board (other half chose between the optional dinners and they came back very happy too).

Hope that helps – have a great trip!

We just booked this cruise for April 2020. What a wonderful blog. Thank you so much. I will be checking back and taking notes!!

We have booked the cruise from Basel to Amsterdam for late September, our 50th anniversary. We did Avignon to Lyons last year on Viking and loved it! Your descriptions of life on ship are spot on. We are seniors and I have a knee problem (May have surgery soon, took the insurance) and found the “leisure” walking groups doable. Did not ascend the Popes’ Palace but admired from below. Question: Recommendations for hotels in Amsterdam? Fantastic blog. Thank you.

We are going on the Rhine Getaway (our first river cruise) very shortly–love your review! My question: should we get “the local money” euro or do most of the shops take American credit cards? Thanks.

Hi Linda, ooh fun! Have a great trip! Hm, for the most part the cruise is “all inclusive” so you would only need cash for souvenirs and any meals you wanted to take on your own. Most restaurants and stores will take American credit cards with chips but to be safe, you can take some euro out. Ask your bank if they will change for you? Ours offers it without fees.

We have been on Viking a few times. You really did them well with your descriptions. They are a great company and we feel they really treat you well.I would love to do a cruise like you did and write about everything. I have suggested it to them and haven’t heard back. I would love to rate their ocean ships, especially northern Norway.

We are going on Paris to the Swiss Alps in September for 12 days then followed by 4 days of post trips to Zermatt and Geneva. Since this is going to be my first trip, would you suggest to bring a medium size luggage – around 26” and personal bag, or carry-on luggage and personal bag are enough?

Hi Dina – ah, hard to say. If I can, I usually bring personal bag + carry on. But for 2 week trips sometimes I need a checked suitcase. I will say the nice thing about cruises is you can unpack once, so there’s less worry about hauling a case to and from!

Such a great blog!! Thank you so much for all the information! My husband is looking at the same itinerary for Nov 2020 as a 15th wedding anniversary trip; even the extra days in Amsterdam. I was unsure, never taken a river cruise, but I am very excited now! I am just unsure about mid-November weather. I don’t mind cool temps; how much of a difference weather wise do you think going in October would be? Thanks again!

Hi Amy! I would typically recommend October over mid November. The weather is a little better and sometimes in Europe things will close for the season by mid October. Double check opening times for any attractions you want to visit, and also see if fall foliage will take place in October or November! I think fall colors would be amazing for a river cruise!

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We are going on the same cruise on this same ship in early August. I can’t wait! Love the blog and your information! Your blog was more of an “any person’s view.” Some other blogs don’t give as much information or are clearly biased as a travel expert, and difficult to relate to.

Are soft drinks available all day? Are they included in the price? I understand beer and wine is included with dinner. If not, are there stores in town where you can soft drinks to keep in your room?

Are you able to go on and off the ship as often as you like? What do you need to carry with you in town, ie passport? I was really hoping to go for a couple of early morning jogs along the river.

Ah, thanks so much for the kind words :)

Soft drinks are available during lunch and dinner times and included. There’s a coffee machine that makes espresso, latte, etc drinks that’s available any time of day.

You can go on and off the ship anytime it’s docked (but some parts of the day, you may be sailing). Typically when the ship pulls into a town, there will be a morning or afternoon excursion – usually 1 is a free guided walking tour and 1 is an paid optional tour. You can do one, both, or none and explore on your own!

I usually leave my passport in the safe – I don’t carry it into town. I usually would just bring a wallet and day bag. Hm, I’m not sure if early morning jogs are possible, since it depends when the ship arrives but usually there is an overnight in a location and you could definitely do a morning jog then!

We are taking this cruise in September of 2020 but from Amsterdam to Basel. Although too early to get our flight information, we are NOT going two days early. If our flight gets in early enough we would like to try to see one of the museums. Does the transport from the airport take you directly to the ship even if hours before the 3 pm check in time? And, would we be able to leave our suitcase on the ship and go to the museum? And finally, would the Viking staff be able to help us get the admission ticket to the Rijksmuseum? Seeing “The Night Watch” by Rembrandt is on his bucket list. Thanks in advance!

We’re doing the Rhine as well, but Amsterdam to Basel. If our flight gets in early enough we’d love to see the Rijksmuseum, my hubby wants to see Rembrandt’s “Night Watch”. Would the Viking staff be able to help us with getting admission tickets when we arrive at the ship? Will we be able to leave our suitcase on the ship even if our room us not ready? Thanks in advance.

Hi Marylee,

Yes, if you choose to take Viking’s transport they will take you directly to the ship. Both times we’ve sailed with Viking our flights have been redeyes, so we arrived in the morning on the first day. We checked in (Viking stores your luggage) and rooms aren’t ready (until 12pm I think) but you can relax in the common areas and Viking will set up lunch.

We did started in Basel, and Viking also organized a nice extra walking tour for any passengers who arrived early the first day. I’m not sure if the same applies if you start in Amsterdam. Basel is a very small city, and the ship docks pretty much in the center of the old town, so if the docking situation is similar in Amsterdam, I would think they would offer the same (but again, I’m not sure)

Amsterdam is extremely popular with tourists, so you should see what the museum ticket policy is. Is the Night Watch a big attraction? Sometimes you can buy tickets online in advance, especially for really popular sights that hoards of people want to see.

I’m not sure if Viking can get you tickets when you arrive.. I would imagine it would be a little difficult the day of since the staff is typically busy with cleaning the ship, check outs and new arrivals, but you can ask their customer support to see? On Viking’s website they have a chat function where you can speak to customer service. Or it might be straight forward to just take a cab from the ship to the museum and buy tickets directly.

Hope that helps! Enjoy the trip :)

Hello! I really enjoyed reading this and such lovely photos … can’t wait for our river cruise to begin next weekend. We are booked on the the Eir Longboat cruising from Amsterdam to Basel and then two days in Lucerne. We have prebooked every included excursion (don’t want to miss anything!!) My question is: can you remember the time in the morning that the excursions start? Being retired, we are quite used to our lazy mornings and worried that the excursion departure times will be a bit early for us. Thank you!

Hi Patsy! Hm.. each excursion is different, but generally the programmed activities would start each day around 8am (if I remember right). So we’d get up around 7 to get ready and have breakfast. Every day was different, depending on if the ship docks right in town or if there’s driving.. but in general I’d say 7:30am-9am start times.

I usually am a night owl, but on trips I think it’s a little easier to get up early since I’m excited and with the time difference. I’m sure you guys will have a great time!

what about at night? when does the ship shut down for the night?

Not sure what you mean by shut down. You can hang out in the lounge until past midnight I think.

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Thanks for your very helpful, “real person” information & the responses you provide to all the questions ! I will be sailing the same route later this year, and have a delicate question. What is the restroom situation on the tour buses or in the various towns ? I have a sensitive stomach and never know when something may disagree with me. I will likely skip breakfasts before the included (typically morning) free tours… but can’t skip all meals ! Do ALL the tour buses have an emergency restroom on them ? Are some of the castle tours soooo long that it is impossible to use a restroom before the end of the tour ? Is it easy to find a public restroom (even in a small coffee shop and then buy something from them in return) along the walking tours or during afternoon free time ? I am very glad to see you can slip away from a tour if needed. That piece of information is priceless ! (Did anyone do that & then were they able to find their group again in a little while ?)

Hi Liz – yes the coaches all have bathrooms on board. Depending on the itinerary you pick, the driving times differ. For the Rhine cruise, most of the drives were pretty short.

We’ve also done the Paris to Normandy cruise and the day you visit Normandy is a very long day with long (2 hr) drives. Italy is similar – very long drives. It basically boils down to the distance between the port and the town.

Yes, plenty of coffee shops to pop into!

If you leave the group tour (we did a couple times), it’s pretty difficult to find them again, since the group is constantly on the move. We tried once and couldn’t rejoin the group.

Your review of the Rhine River Cruise is most helpful! We have our first cruise booked November 8th, 2019 Basel to Amsterdam…it looks like it might be cold…I hope it’s early enough in November that it wont be…:( Question…is it worth the extended 2 day in Amsterdam? Thank you!

Hi Linda, so glad it’s helpful! We didn’t book the 2 day extension, as we had visited Amsterdam before. I think if you haven’t been, it might be nice for convenience but Amsterdam is also a very easy city to see on your own.

We are going on this cruise in September 2019. We want to meet a friend in either Heidelberg or Koblenz. What time is the afternoon “on-board” for passengers, and what time in the morning can passengers generally leave the ship? Viking can’t give us even a range of times for either. Any insight is appreciated.

I don’t know offhand and I think it probably varies on each trip – depending on which route you are doing (starting in Basel vs starting in Amsterdam), the water levels, how fast you go through the locks, traffic with other ships, etc.

You can try asking the crew when you go on board. Typically they lay out a program the night before for the following day, with more specific schedule times.

Great article and pictures! We are going on the Zurich to Paris 12 day Viking Cruise on March 28th, 2020. We were assured by the Viking agent that April weather will be in the 60’s. Sounds like it will be colder than that. I spoke to two friends that went on a similar Viking cruise on the Rhine. One did not like it, the other loved it. The person that didn’t like it said the food was so so, and you were only treated well at meals if you tip. We were thinking of paying gratuities in advance. What do you think?

Hi Patrice – ooh Zurich to Paris sounds like a nice itinerary! Hm, I do think April will be quite chilly. Weather is hard to predict but I definitely find that winter seems to get longer every year. I think it’s hard to get truly nice, all day sunny weather in Europe until early June. It will most likely be jacket, sweater + scarf weather in April and even May. The upside is much less crowds :)

I’ve been on several Viking cruises now. The first I thought the food was fantastic, the second time it was only good. Maybe I have gotten more picky (ha) but I think the food quality is definitely solid (maybe it wont blow you away, but hopefully you wont feel disappointed!).

I find it a little odd that your friend mentioned that about tipping to get good service. The one thing I think Viking does an excellent job of compared to other companies, is having extremely friendly service. the dining staff especially are very very nice. If you sit in the same area frequently, some of the really attentive staff even start remembering your drink / meal preferences. I never felt any pressure to tip individually, ahead of or during the trip.

It’s up to you, but I would suggest paying gratuity at the end. I know some companies now offer that you can pay in advance of a trip, but I don’t really know that the money gets to the staff on your itinerary that way. How do they keep track of it all? And do they really divvy it out to everyone on board? Also I think it’s nice to tip at the end, so you can have discretion if you want to tip an individual staff member separately, or what have you. Sometimes certain people on board go out of their way to make your trip memorable.

If you get to the airport early and take a tour with viking do they take care of your luggage before you can board the ship?

hm in our experience you can generally board the day your cruise starts. the bus will take you from the airport to the ship and then they’ll store your luggage for you until the rooms are ready. usually they put out lunch too, and sometimes a bonus walking tour if the ship is docked near the city (depends on which itinerary you’re taking). and sometimes, if you’re lucky, rooms are ready early!

My daughter and I are getting ready to do this same itinerary. My second VRC, her first. We are both so excited to be traveling together. Thanks for the great pictures and information.

Is it really a bummer to be in the economy rooms? The river cruise we are looking at is the Rhine from Amsterdam to Basel and looking at going with friends who booked way before us. Most of the rooms are booked and only economy ones left. Just wondering if this will really be a downer?

Hi Gail! What time of year are you looking to visit?

I think it depends how much you value hotel rooms / rooms in general. Obviously the more expensive cabins are nicer, but if you like to socialize and plan to hang out in the bar and common areas, then the room is really just a place to sleep. The beds, showers, closets etc are the same across all the rooms.

The more expensive rooms are on a higher floor, have a larger square footage and have better views (larger windows, some with balconies, etc). I think honestly it is a nice to have, but the thing you remember most about a vacation is the destination and the memories, not the rooms :)

Oh and I asked what time of year, because we took a winter cruise and did not use the balcony at all, whereas in the summer the extra outdoor space was very nice and a great way to enjoy the sailing portions. So in colder or rainy months, having a balcony or extra large window is probably not very important, vs in late spring/summer.

I would like to do a river cruise. What is a cruise that has tours inside for castles and palaces? I would like to see beautiful interiors. If I do the Rhine getaway should I take post cruise to Amsterdam for any inside tours of castles or palaces and cathedrals also? Cathedrals on the Rhine getaway inside tours? Are tours expensive foe what I want to see?

The Rhine Getaway itinerary I reviewed in this article does include some cathedrals and castle ruins.

But, most of the castles on the Rhine river are ruins or old medieval castles, they’re not so much “Disney” like castles. For that, I believe you would need to rent a car and do a road trip as they’re not on the water.

You could do the Viking Rhine cruise above, and then do a post cruise trip to Copenhagen. Some of the most beautiful castles I’ve ever seen are in Copenhagen – I wrote about them in this post .

We booked our flights through Viking and then explored Copenhagen on our own, which was pretty easy as it’s a very modern city.

Just curious what your trip cost. We’re looking at $5,000-$6,000 per person in late October, including airfare from MN (about $600 per person), for this itinerary. Does that sound right?

Hi Shelley, Cost depends on so many factors (time of year, cabin, add on tours, flight pricing, etc), but Viking has a dates + pricing chart on their website that you can use to compare.

Thank you very much for sharing your experiences. I enjoyed reading your reviews and it is very helpful. I’m planning the trip in early November 2020 for my 30th anniversary. I have a few questions. Will it be a place inside the ship to sit and enjoy the view when sailing through the UNESC part of the Rhine when it is too cold outside? How much the optional excursion will be raftly around? 2020 will be marked Beethoven’s 250th birthday. I really like to go to Bonn. Is it possible that I can go our own when ship dock in Cologne?

Hi Tracy, sounds like a great birthday trip!

The best viewing point is on the roof deck, but there is also a smaller room with floor to ceiling windows, the Aquavit casual dining room, where you can enjoy the view indoors.

Each of the optionals has their own price, but they should be listed on Viking’s website. Hm, I’m not sure if you will have time to see Bonn when in Cologne. You can ask the Tour Director when you are onboard to see if there is enough time.

How comfortable are the beds .

What did you do on your amsterdam 2 day extension tour and do you know where I can find more specific info on the Viking extended tour

Hi JoAnne, we’ve been to Amsterdam on a previous trip so we didn’t opt for the 2 day extension tour with our Viking cruise. But, you can find more information about the optional extensions on Viking’s website!

We booked the Rhine Getaway for May 2020. I really appreciate your comments & suggestions. We are excited to go especially after reading this article.

Thanks, Janet

ooh have fun! May is a great time to visit :)

Love this blog. Found it today. Never been on a river cruise. I’m about to book the Basel to Amsterdam for my 60th b’day with my wife in Sept. So is the best way to book the cruise on line directly with Viking ? Any advantages going through a travel agent ? Tks Pierre

We are doing the Rhine Getaway in August 2020. Have enjoyed reading many of your reviews/suggestions. I know the currency is euros, do local vendors accept credit cards? What amount of currency do you recommend for an 8 day cruise? Most likely will do meals on the ship when possible. Thank you.

Yes most places in Europe take credit card. Just make sure you have a credit card with a chip on it, and that you let your bank company know you’ll be traveling abroad.

If you plan to eat most meals on the ship, I don’t really think you need much else, except for how much you want to spend on souvenirs.

Just found your blog and am loving reading all about this cruise! We’re taking this exact one for our honeymoon in April and it’s getting me even more excited!

I stumbled onto this blog while doing research for our up and coming River cruise. It sounds like almost the same cruise with one small stop difference (you stopped in Heidelberg and we’re stopping in Steyer. This article really helped solidify what I had already heard about Viking. I’ve been on several cruises on those big ships and cannot wait to do this river cruise. Thanks for the info.

How did you obtain your tour guide for Strausburg, was it through Viking or an independent source?

Hi Virginia, Viking provides all the tour guides. Strasbourg is part of the itinerary so the tour + guide were included with the cruise.

There are also extra tours available at an additional charge for some of the stops. For example, we paid for the Colmar day tour and on that optional tour, Viking also provided the tour guide (and transportation). Hope that helps

I also want to know about the comfort of the beds!

Hi Vicki, I thought the beds were comfy for a ship! To be honest I can fall asleep anywhere so I’m probably not the best person to ask..

Thanks so much for this post! My fiancé and I are scheduled to go on the first Viking Rhine Getaway on Aug 1 after COVID! I’m in my 20s and he’s in his 30/, so I’m assuming we will be some of the younger ones on board.. my biggest question is about attire. I pretty much live in athleisure so I’m worried we are going to be too informal compared to the rest of the crowd. What kinds of things do people wear during the day tours and dinners on board?

Ooh I’m jealous of your trip!

I would say you can wear whatever you want. There’s no dress code and Viking is pretty casual. Some people do dress up for dinner (just a nice top and jeans/pants) but it’s not required by any means. For the excursions, they’re usually walking tours so most people wear comfy clothes (good walking shoes, comfy pants, t-shirt and jacket if it’s colder).

We’ve all had about 18 months of lounging at home in sweats, so I don’t think anyone will look twice at wearing athleisure :)

Have a great time!

We depart on 9/15/21 and are so excited our rescheduled 2020 trip is happening this year! We’re doing the Lake Como extension before our cruise and staying in Amsterdam for two days on our own after the cruise. Any suggestions of things we must see or do?

Oooh that’s amazing! Yes I have a lot of posts on Lake Como and Northern Italy (under the Destinations menu tab, or you can type in the search box)

Hello. I noticed that the cruise includes 3 meals/day. My concern would be what if you’re out sightseeing and you want to experience the local cuisine by eating lunch or dinner in the town? Do you get a choice of not eating every meal on board the ship? I would want to eat at the different restaurants. Do you just pay for all the meals and if you want to skip some on the ship, you just eat the cost?

Yup, you an definitely skip the ship meals and eat at local spots if you’d like!

Sher, Thank you for sharing this very detailed and encouraging insight into the Viking Rhine River tour. Our 4 children gave us a Viking Rhine River tour for our 50th wedding anniversary (Oct. 16th) because during our 2nd year of marriage we lived in Erlangen, Germany for the year. We are in the planning phase of our trip. We hope to go in the May timeframe. Your post has given us great encouragement.

We have several questions and would appreciate your unbiased input: 1. My wife is diabetic (Type 2) and takes medicine that makes her have to use the bathroom about every 2 hours. Is that going to be a problem while touring, hanging around town, or riding on the bus? 2. We are 74 and 75 respectively, and while we are in fairly good health, long, rushed , arduous walking would not be fun or even physically welcome. Is that a problem? 3. We have heard from friends who have taken ocean cruises that sometime the evening entertainment is very risque. This would not be appealing to us, so we were wondering if that is what we might experience? 4. Since the world is not fully over COVID, what are the chances that that is going to have us in masks the whole time, or worse yet end up quarantined somewhere?

Thank you for any insights you can provide especially since you traveled with you Mom.

Hud and Susan

Hi Hud and Susan, that’s so sweet of your kids! I think you’ll really enjoy the river cruise. It’s very relaxing and you can do as much or as little as you want :) I also really loved the Rhine itinerary and the whole river cruising experience.

For the Rhine River itinerary, I don’t recall that we had any significantly long (2+ hour) bus rides. Most of the bus rides were 30 minutes to an hour and there is a bathroom on the bus for emergencies. You can check with Viking’s customer service about the bus times (just to be sure), as I’m sure it can vary slightly from year to year and on weather conditions. Basically if the ship can dock in a port that’s near town, the transportation time is very short. In some countries though, like Italy, the cruise terminals are located quite far from the city, so if you picked one of the Italy itineraries you might be subjected to long bus rides. But for the Rhine itinerary it’s not like that at all, and sometimes the ship can dock right in town and you walk off the boat and are in the city center! overall I *think* it would be ok in terms of your wife’s medicine. There are multiple bathrooms on board Viking, and in town there is always a cafe where you can get a cup of coffee and use the facilities.

There is typically a guided tour every day (usually in the morning) and Viking always has a slower paced group option. So you can join that group for the walking tour and it will be a more leisurely pace and route. Even for the regular groups, my mom didn’t find the pace to be rushed or strenuous, but pretty relaxing.

No, if anything there isn’t that much entertainment on the river cruise at night. Most people go to the lounge to socialize or get a drink, or relax in their room on the balcony.

Hm, I don’t know about the mask situation. You can probably ask Viking’s customer service for their policy on board. And you can check the country government health websites for each city on the itinerary. I would hope things would be even better in spring of next year, but you really never know!

Hope this helps x Sher

Were you aware that if you book two cruises back to back on Viking, butterfly cruises, that they won’t honor the promotions on either cruise? I booked two cruises that had free air promotions. Even though Viking was saving money by paying for one airfare instead of two, they would not agree to honor the promotions. Their solution was for me to cancel the second cruise. Strange that they would penalize me for giving them more business.

hm that is really strange! i’ve never tried back to back cruises, but good to know

Thank you for this wonderful article. I am wondering if it makes sense to save $$ and get a lower priced cabin without a balcony of any sort.

Sher, Thanks so much for this valuable information. It is much appreciated! We’ll be on the Rhine Getaway cruise this coming August. Do you know which stops where the ship docks you are able to walk off the ship right into a town or very close to it? Also, is there a way to find out how long the drive by bus is for each excursion? I read reviews on another site that particularly complained about the drive to the Black Forest and that there really wasn’t a lot of time to look around once there. It sounds like out of a 4 hour excursion, almost 3 hours are traveling by bus. Thanks for your help.

Hi Shelley, glad it was helpful! I remember Koblenz we docked right in town so you could walk off the ship and be in the middle of the historic area. That stop was overnight so you could explore all night if you wanted to!

Most of the other stops, the ship will be close to town but docked for only a couple hours. So it’s about enough time to do the tour + have some free time then time to leave.

I don’t remember any long bus rides other than Colmar, but it wasn’t bad.. maybe an hour. It could change by year though! I think Viking and all the cruise ships may change docks from season to season, as routes depend on water levels, weather conditions + town permits.

Hi, very interesting blog. We are from Canada and meeting up with friends from UK and have booked a Rhine cruise in September. I’ve been trying to find where Viking docks in Basel, can you help? Thanks in advance.

Hi Sue, I don’t know the exact name of the dock (and it may change from year to year) so best to ask Viking’s customer service!

Love your blog, Sher! Did you do the full-day Taste of Alsace tour in Strasbourg? I have signed up for it on my upcoming Rhine River tour despite its “Difficult” rating. While i can walk pretty well for longish distances (up to 2 miles at a time), I have trouble with steep inclines and with steps unless there is a rail to hold onto and I am hoping the rating is simply because it involves a full day of walking from place to place, rather than because of a lot of stairs and steep terrain, etc. Any insights you can give??? — Jackie, age 71

Ah, I didn’t do that tour sorry! Maybe viking’s customer service team can give you a more detailed breakdown of the tour.. I remember also that the staff on board are very accommodating! In general, Strasbourg is a nice big flat city – it’s not one of those tiny historic towns with uneven cobblestones. i don’t remember much stairs or steep terrain.

I want to thank you so much for this information. We are going on the Rhine cruise next week (concerned about water levels) and since we booked I’ve come across some Viking haters. This is a bucket list trip for us, so your information is much appreciated. I was wondering how much flexibility there is to get on and of the ships while at port. Can you just come and go? Thank you! And please pray for rain or do a rain dance.

yes, while the ship is docked you can come and go easily! it’s one of the things i like most about small ship cruises vs the massive cruise liners

Great article! We leave today for our 1st river cruise with Viking! A bit worried about water levels on the Rhine river. Disappointed to learn that Viking no longer offers the walking tour on the day of arrival in Basel. Was really looking forward to that!

I have been trying to get a Rhine itinerary with a more accurate detail of the time arrive and depart in each port…. even approximately would help.

I think their sailing schedules may shift so that’s likely why they don’t have detailed times published. You can try asking customer service

The best traveling experience we have ever had. Our Rhine River cruise was something we will never forget. From arrival in Amsterdam to our return after two additional nights in Lucerne, we enjoyed every minute. We are already booked on one of their ocean cruises (Mediterranean) next year.

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A Viking Rhine River Cruise Review: Basel To Amsterdam

Published July 23, 2022

After two long years of pandemic restrictions, Europe is fully open again! I’m lucky to have an extended family of fellow travel enthusiasts, and we’ve all been looking forward to a reunion vacation in Western Europe for a while now! A Viking River cruise seemed like the perfect offering for a group of eight people spanning three generations . This post is a review of my time on the Viking Hermod as it sailed down the Rhine.

Viking offers various Rhine River cruise itineraries, and the one we booked was called the “ Rhine Getaway .” As of summer 2022, this cruise is eight days long and spans four countries: Switzerland, Germany, France, and the Netherlands . We traveled from Basel to Amsterdam, but it can be booked in the opposite direction as well.

This post is a review of this particular Rhine River cruise. But on a side note, this was also my first time cruising ! If you’re interested in learning about what it was like to experience Viking River Cruises as a first-time cruise passenger, check out my separate post [coming soon]!

Impressions of the Rhine River

The viking cruise ship, food and drink, shore excursions, amenities onboard.

• Entertainment and Activities  

Final Thoughts

Day trip itinerary.

The first half of this post is a review of the Rhine Getaway ports of call . I liked all of the cities we stopped in, but some were more impressive than others. To learn more, read on! To skip down to the second half of this post (a review of the ship and its amenities), click here .

Day 1: Boarding in Basel 🇨🇭

This cruise began in  Basel , a quaint little town in Switzerland right on the border of both Germany and France. If you can spend a day or two in Basel before your cruise, I highly recommend it. We booked a walking tour with a local guide (independent of Viking), and I’m really glad we did.

Viking allowed us to board the Hermod in the early afternoon, which gave us plenty of time to get acquainted with the layout of the ship. Our first dinner was served, and finally we were off in the early evening. We passed through our first of many  river locks  on this night, which is one of the most noteworthy aspects of a Rhine River cruise.

If you’re wondering how we made it to Basel, we flew from Chicago into Zürich and then booked a private car transfer. Zürich Airport is the nearest major international airport to Basel, and the drive is about an hour. There are also frequent trains that run between Switzerland’s largest city and its gateway to the Rhine.

Day 2: Breisach 🇩🇪

The Hermod pulled into its first port of call very early in the morning, which meant we had a full day to explore  Breisach , a small village in Germany. I actually decided to skip the included tour (a bus trip to the Black Forest) in the morning and walk across the French border to the village of  Neuf-Brisach . I did this completely on my own; it wasn’t a part of the Viking itinerary at all.

Neuf-Brisach is a sleepy little French town that is surrounded on all sides by a visually stunning series of fortified walls . These walls were designed by French architect  Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban  to help protect border outposts from invasion. You can’t make out the geometry of the walled city from the ground level, but you can explore the city streets and get some sense of their architecture.

In the afternoon, I went back to Breisach and explored its most famous landmark: the  Breisacher Münster St. Stephan , a beautiful brown church that towers over the rest of the town.

The interior of the Breisacher Münster is interesting, but my favorite part of this cathedral is its view from the top of the hill overlooking the village.

Apart from the church, Breisach feels pretty touristy. If you have extra time and want to walk around the town, feel free to. But if you don’t have time or want to rest on the ship instead, you probably won’t miss out on too much.

Day 3: Strasbourg 🇫🇷

Strasbourg is a fascinating city that’s much larger than Breisach. Due to its  location on the Rhine , Strasbourg has a unique mix of French and German cultural elements . It’s also home to a number of European Union institutions, although the Viking itinerary doesn’t include any tours to these government offices. They are clustered in an outlying district of the city.

Instead, we explored Strasbourg’s historic center, based mostly on Grande Île. Here you’ll find the famous Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Strasbourg , a staggering gothic cathedral that was actually the tallest building in the world from 1647 to 1874!

The other area I really liked in Strasbourg was  Petite-France . This tiny neighborhood is split up by canals that are lined with gorgeous half-timbered homes (the iconic style of German architecture with wood beams on the exterior). We walked through here on our guided tour, and I came back afterwards to enjoy the views for a bit longer.

Strasbourg was probably my favorite day trip on our cruise, so I’ve written a separate blog post about the city. Check it out using the image link below!

Day 4: Speyer and Rüdesheim am Rhein 🇩🇪

This was my least favorite day of the cruise, mainly because we only had a few hours in both Speyer and Rüdesheim . I feel like we did get to see slightly more of the former than the latter, but both stops were rushed.

Speyer is a small city  on the western bank of the Rhine . Some notable landmarks include the Dom zu Speyer (Speyer Cathedral) and the Altpörtel (Old Gate) directly west of there. The two are connected by the short Maximilianstraße, which serves as the main street in the historic district.

Viking offered a short included tour, then we had about an hour or so to explore on our own. There are some other interesting churches a little further inland, or you could check out the many side alleys that branch off of the Maximilianstraße.

Speyer seemed like an interesting town. I would’ve enjoyed spending more time there. However, as I mentioned above, this is only a half-day stop. Before lunch, we met in the Domplatz and boarded buses that brought us back to the ship. We sailed for a couple hours before making our second stop of the day in…

Rüdesheim am Rhein

At this point in the cruise, the Rhine starts to become much more scenic. Beautiful villages and vineyards can be seen in all directions.  Rüdesheim  is a touristy town known for its wineries and historic center, called the Drosselgasse . Viking doesn’t offer an included tour here, so I explored on my own. However, since we docked in the late afternoon, time felt even more limited here than in Speyer.

I took a short walk through the Drosselgasse, but I was much more intrigued by all the hilly vineyards overlooking the town. There’s even a chairlift that goes up, hinting that the views up there would be good! I walked up the Oberstraße, which turns into the Germaniastraße. Finally, I turned left onto  this paved trail . The panoramic views were indeed incredible!

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Day 5: Cruise through the Rhine Gorge; Stop in Koblenz 🇩🇪

As you leave Rüdesheim, the Rhine River goes from picturesque to spectacular. This day of voyaging through the Rhine Valley is the centerpiece of the entire trip . The surrounding landscape becomes more dramatic. I loved seeing the patchwork of vineyards on the steep mountainsides, but the coolest part of the day is seeing all the castles.

There are so many of them! You truly pass one castle every few minutes once you enter the Rhine Gorge. Our cruise Program Director also provided a running commentary on all of the things we were seeing as we sailed by. There’s something incredible about seeing these archaic stone structures from various angles as you move along the water.

Since we spent the first half of Day 5 cruising, the city of  Koblenz  was another half-day stop. However, our time here didn’t feel as rushed as the whirlwind tours on Day 4. Koblenz is a tourist hub that’s noticeably bigger than Speyer and Rüdesheim. I walked all over the Altstadt (Old Town), which is right next to the Viking River Cruises Dock.

The other main activity in Koblenz is taking the cable car to the other side of the river. Here you’ll find  Festung Ehrenbreitstein , a sprawling nineteenth century fortress that overlooks the town. Visiting the fortress was interesting, but there didn’t seem to be much signage in English, so I don’t feel like I learned a lot about its history while I was there.

One other noteworthy attraction on the southern edge of the Altstadt is  Kurfürstliches Schloss Koblenz . This ornate white palace is surrounded by impeccably maintained gardens that seem to serve as a public square for the city.

Day 6: Cologne (Köln) 🇩🇪

Cologne is the largest city this cruise stops in, so there wasn’t enough time to explore all that I wanted to. With that said, we at least had a full day docked here. The included Viking tour served as a brief introduction to the riverfront and Kölner Dom , the city’s massive iconic cathedral. After that, we had the rest of the day to explore on our own.

I thought the main sanctuary of the cathedral was stunning, but I actually didn’t really like climbing the church tower . The views from the top were fine but not as stunning as some of the other panoramic views I saw on this cruise (e.g. in Breisach or Strasbourg). More importantly, the climb is essentially one long spiral staircase – with visitors going both directions on it! It felt kind of dangerous. Frankly, being on a spiral staircase for that long with only the occasional narrow gothic window was disorienting and dizzying. If you want to climb a church tower, I suggest going up to the top of the Notre-Dame in Strasbourg instead.

After visiting the cathedral, I walked across the Hohenzollernbrücke , which is one of the most notable “love lock” bridges in Europe. Yes, I know this is a trend that’s swept almost the entire world, but the number of locks on the Hohenzollern Bridge is still a sight to behold.

The last thing I did in Cologne was visit the Museum Ludwig . It was hosting a fascinating temporary exhibit featuring the works of  Isamu Noguchi . I’m not the biggest museum enthusiast, but the Ludwig ended up being very captivating.

Day 7: Cruise through the Dutch Countryside; Stop in Kinderdijk 🇳🇱

In all honesty, the Rhine (which turns into the Waal) is less scenic in the Netherlands than it is in Germany. You’re no longer surrounded by hills, vineyards, and castles. Instead, the riverbanks are flat and sandy here.

Our final shore excursion ended up being a really fascinating one: a guided tour of  Kinderdijk , a ‎UNESCO World Heritage Site on the outskirts of Rotterdam famous for its windmills. Our tour guide did an excellent job of introducing us to the history and purpose of mills in the Netherlands.

The landscape here is so pretty, and one of the highlights of this visit was being able to see the inside of a mill. All in all, a short visit to Kinderdijk was a great way to wrap up our final full day on the Viking Hermod.

Day 8: Disembark in Amsterdam 🇳🇱

The Netherlands is a small country, and Kinderdijk is only about 95 kilometers (59 miles) away from Amsterdam. As such, the Hermod was already passing through Utrecht by bedtime. We docked at Amsterdam very early in the morning on our final day.

There were no day tours of Amsterdam organized by Viking on Day 8, but we were allowed to stay on the boat until the late afternoon (with lunch included). However, we did have to vacate our staterooms by 8:00 a.m. so that the cleaning crew could start preparing for the next cruise.

After checking out, guests are free to go on their way. I assume that most people flew out of Amsterdam within a day or two of ending the cruise. However, we stayed for five extra days in Amsterdam and met up with a few more family members there! I had mixed feelings about this bustling Dutch metropolis, which I’ve written about in a separate blog post.

Cruise Review

Now that you’ve seen the itinerary for the Rhine Getaway, the second half of this post will include some information about the actual cruising experience on Viking.

If you’re considering booking this cruise for yourself, you might be wondering: what is the Rhine River actually like between Basel and Amsterdam? Well, in my opinion it seemed to have three distinct sections. From Basel until Speyer (Day 1 to Day 4), the Rhine feels very industrial . It’s lined by factories, and to be honest, the river is not amazing here (although the cities along it are). Luckily, the boat sailed at night through the Upper Rhine, so it’s not like we really missed out on much.

From Speyer to Cologne (Day 4 to Day 6), the Rhine River is incredibly scenic . Viking did a great job of scheduling so that passengers could enjoy the view from the boat during the day on this portion of the trip. The vineyards, villages, and castles of the Middle Rhine are undoubtedly the river’s most unique offerings.

In the Netherlands, the Rhine (or Waal) has a rural vibe to it. We passed cows cooling off in the shallow riverbanks, a few small Dutch villages, and not much else until we approached Amsterdam. The Lower Rhine is not as industrial as the Upper Rhine, and it’s not as picturesque as the Middle Rhine.

The most noteworthy thing about this cruise ship is its capacity: only about 200 passengers . There are four levels, and each room has a window. The ship has one single dining room that can accommodate all passengers at one time, an indoor lounge, a terrace, plus an open-air deck on top that runs the length of the ship.

The meals on our Viking Cruise were consistently amazing ! I really looked forward to coming back on board after each excursion or tour to enjoy whatever was being served that day.

What’s more, Viking offered specialties from each region we were passing through. I loved the fact that I got to try Swiss, German, French, and Dutch food all onboard! They also have a permanent menu that includes classics like Caesar salad, steak, and burgers, but I ordered most of my meals from their rotating menu.

The Viking breakfast buffet is also excellent! The omelette station is absolutely worth waiting in line for, plus it moves along fairly quickly.

Of course, you could always eat at local restaurants while you’re exploring the cities along the Rhine. We did that once or twice, but the food on the ship was so delicious that I rarely wanted to pass it up.

Should you get the drink package?

You’ll have to make this decision for yourself, but beer and wine are included with each meal even if you don’t purchase the unlimited drink package. I did the math, and you’d basically have to drink two additional cocktails each day (outside of lunch and dinner) to make the package worthwhile. I enjoy drinking to be sure, but I would typically have wine with my meals and limit myself to one cocktail per day. My total bar tab came out to be about 90 euro for the entire trip.

Like the food, all of the alcoholic drinks on this cruise were expertly crafted. Everything tasted great, and they were never watered down or too strong. They even made a great White Russian, which is one of my favorite cocktails!

At every port of call, Viking offered one included (free) tour. These tended to be walking tours that lasted about two hours and introduced guests to the various cities. In general, I’d say these tours were pretty good. However, if you’d rather explore one of the stops on your own (or even stay on the ship), you are more than welcome to skip any of the tours.

You can also pre-book one of many “Optional Excursions,” which are tours that you’ll have to pay extra for. I never did any of the Optional Excursions, so I can’t say if they were better or worse than the included tours.

The Viking Hermod was not a massive vessel. As such, it didn’t have all of the amenities that some other cruise ships might. There was no pool, casino, food court, gym, bowling alley, nightclub, etc. Part of this is because Viking’s clientele seems to skew older : my cousin, my brother, and I (in our twenties or late teens) were the youngest passengers on board. Viking River Cruises does not allow minors, so there are no amenities specifically aimed at kids.

Despite this, the Viking Hermod had a beautifully designed interior. The atrium and dining room were both warm and inviting spaces. The lounge and front terraces were comfortable places to sit, relax, or sip a drink. The ship’s common spaces never felt cramped, even when all the passengers were gathered together (e.g. during dinnertime).

I also found the stateroom to be comfortably sized. There is lots of space to store your luggage, and I found that the bathroom and shower weren’t too small.

Entertainment and Activities

One thing I really loved about this cruise was that there were lots of fun optional activities onboard the ship in the afternoons and evenings. Our family group enjoyed game nights and musical performances, but you could also attend things like a glassblowing demonstration or a Q&A session with the captains of the ship.

Longtime readers of my blog will know that I don’t shy away from giving my honest opinion when it comes to travel. If an attraction is overrated, I will tell you that. If a tour is underwhelming, I will tell you that. With that in mind, I’m happy to report that this Viking River Cruise was an outstanding experience ! I’ll cherish the memory of going down the Rhine with my extended family for the rest of my life.

Was the cruise perfect? No. I really would’ve preferred a little more time in fewer stops. If I could offer one suggestion to Viking, I’d say either choose Speyer or Rüdesheim am Rhein, and spend the entire day there. However, cruising through the Rhine Gorge the next day made up for it. Sailing past all those castles was the highlight of this cruise.

If you’re looking for an upscale travel experience in Western Europe, consider Viking’s Rhine Getaway. I had never been to Switzerland, Germany, France, or the Netherlands before this trip. Now, I can’t wait to go back and explore all four of those countries in greater depth! It’s safe to say this cruise inspired even more wanderlust in me. By that metric, I’d say it was a resounding success!

Have you ever been on a Viking River Cruise before? Are you about to embark on one? Leave a comment below and let me know! I’m curious if other travelers loved this cruise as much as I do!

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This post was published on July 23, 2022

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Hi, I’m Kevin ! I’m a coffee addict from Seattle, and I love to travel. Caffeinated Excursions is a record of my trips. Since I started blogging in January 2018, I’ve lived in Mexico, Vietnam, and Brazil. I moved to Chicago in 2021 and love exploring this amazing city. Thanks for checking out my blog!

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This Post Has 23 Comments

We have not yet done a river cruise. And the Viking River Cruise from Basel to Amsterdam sounds like a great itinerary. So many lovely stops along the way. I would love to see all the castles and palaces along this route. The Viking ship looks like a great way to travel on the rivers.

We are leaving September 7 for the Amsterdam to Lucerne cruise and staying over in Lucerne 2 days. You have described everything perfectly so I know what to expect. Just praying they get rain between now and then.

Peggy did you get rain? Did you have to disembark for a day and go on a sister ship?

A Glowing review of Viking River Cruising. However you were fortunate to travel on a longship from destination to destination, we just completed are first Viking River Cruise and we had quite the opposite experience and picture you describe so charmingly above. Having arrived back a week ago from the Grand European Tour, Budapest to Amsterdam we were exhausted and could have done with another holiday. It would be to long for me to go into all the details, I could fill a book, but now looking back Viking should really have given us an update on the current River conditions. Basically they didn’t, and there lies the problem, yes we knew about the possibility of low and high water but had no idea how bad it was before we arrived, only to be told by a fellow passenger when we boarded ship of the current situation, having to maybe change boats half through our tour. Well we were prepared for that we could handle it and enjoy ourselves what unfolded was problem on problem on problem. Pack unpack pack unpack get the picture, inordinate bus journeys on a longship leisurely cruise, you’d be lucky. hotel stays in Vienna Köln & Amsterdam, Viking docking areas that were waste or industrial sites and nowhere near a village never mind town or city. We changed boats 4 times and even never left on the one we boarded in the first place, most of the excuses were obvious low water etc etc, but then when you have just got off a coach because you couldn’t travel down the Danube or Rhine because of ‘Low Water’ but then you hear from another Viking tour group that you just crossed paths with that they travelled down on that same stretch of water with no problem or we’re about to travel down the stretch water that you just spent 2 hours on a coach because we were told we couldn’t, makes you think what’s go on and who’s telling the truth? Don’t get me wrong the-programme director and staff on the first week were great and worked tirelessly, the 2nd half not so much, funny that! Anyway I could go on on, but there doesn’t seem no point, we were promised that Viking would contact on our return, still waiting a week on, but having trawled the internet and Viking Customer websites I won’t hold my breath in getting anywhere with that approach if what I hear is all true! I always thought Viking was a leading light in River Cruising, shows you how wrong you can be.

Hi Mike, Thanks for your honesty. We are due to board Viking’s Rhine River Cruise on 9/9, two years after canceling twice because of the pandemic. However, with all the news of the drought and low water levels in Europe, we have sadly decided to cancel once again. We will rebook in the late spring when the River is at a higher level. .Speaking with Viking, they made it sound like it was probably only a bus ride between two ports and that there hasn’t been a problem so far. However, your post has given a more honest picture of what actually happened, validating our decision to cancel. Thanks again for your post.

Just did the Rhine on the Viking Mani mid April with my mom. It was my 1st cruise and first time « across the pond » Did you get to see the parrots in Cologne? It was an amazing sight to see them flying over the longboat to roost for the night. I made some Rudensheim coffee during one of the exhibits on the boat. I had the adventure of my dreams on this cruise. The pre-excursions on Lake Lucerne were amazing. The Pearls of Switzerland excursion was worth the extra money but be prepared for a 13 hour tour. The Alps we’re breathtaking and I got to make CHEESE (and bring some back to the states?

I’ve always wondered about Viking cruises! I see their ads all the time. The only cruise I’ve done is on the Nile River; big cruise ships don’t appeal to me, but I don’t mind the much smaller river boats and more frequent shore excursions. This really sounds like a lovely way to see a lot of Europe!

Think twice about cruising now. We just returned from the Rhine Get Away Cruise. We had to do a “ship swap” due to low river levels which meant packing up and getting out of our cabin at 8am the next morning. We also spent 5-6 hours on a coach bus to get to our next destination. The scenic castle tour advertised was not possible. Viking offered a $50 on board credit for our inconvenience. In addition, both my husband and I left the ship sick and tested positive for COVID. I’m disappointed that Viking never checked to make sure passengers were vaccinated. There were many people that were coughing and appeared to be sick on this cruise.

What trip did you take? We are planning on Basel to Amsterdam next July and wonder if that is the same as you. I am getting mixed information about the river level and the experiences. Any insight you could share would be appreciated. Thank you

Viking, please address the concerns re the low tide. My cruise is Nov 13. Physically, I cannot do Bus Tours ior do extra packing and unpacking That is not what I signed up for. So if Viking plans on transferring passengers and traveling on busses….then they need to cancel the trip. I need and want a nice, peaceful, laid back River Cruise The President of Viking says he treasures HONESTY. Let’s put that to work.

Did you get a response from Viking?

Good afternoon, We have plans on going on Viking in July 2023 from Basel To Amsterdam. I appreciate the honesty of some of these reviews. The river level is of great concern to my husband and me. And with weather conditions and forecasts being what they are, my fear is this issue will get worse over time not better. One huge attraction to a river cruise is the lovely scenery during the time on board as well as only unpacking one time in 8 days. I will be contacting Viking to ask about their issues this year and just how much disruption there has been to date. Also noting, I have read some other issues regarding the Rhine River. One issue appears to be the huge increase in traffic on the river. The container ships appear to be taking less tonnage, therefore, increasing the number of ships on the river. I appreciate the commentary and will be looking for more answers before we pay the balance of our scheduled trip for 2023.

We are right on target to go July 2023. I hooe you got answers from Viking. We are very concerned about the water levels too! Thank you!

Yes, that is the same cruise we were on. We did a “ship swap” due to low river levels. It was an inconvenience for sure packing up and getting out of the room by 8am. We spent quite a bit of time (I believe 6 hours or so) on a coach bus getting to our next destination. We also made a stop at and docked for the night at a port that was very industrial and unattractive. Viking did the best they could under the circumstances. We missed the scenic cruising through the castle gorge because of this ship swap. Keep an eye of river levels before paying for this cruise. I’ve heard that some cruises had to do this “ship swap” twice!

Just returned from the Romantic Danube Cruise – Budapest to Regensberg 8/28/22 with the Prague extension and a non-Viking extension in Amsterdam for my 60th birthday.

It was an AMAZING experience!!!

Our ship, ATLA, also experienced low water levels so could not dock at Regensburg and we had to take a bus to get to Regensburg. Thankfully we were able to get there because that was my favorite city of the entire tour!!!

Viking is amazing and I loved every minute of it and cannot wait to go back for another cruise! They go all out – I felt supported and pampered with little to no stress! Everything is done for you – from the excursions to the food to the entertainment to having your room cleaned every time you turn around! All of the Danube cities are picturesque, clean and stunningly beautiful! And I found the pace great!

The only thing I saw as a drawback, and agree with the Caffeinated, there was not enough time given in several cities for shopping and exploring. I paid for the extension to go to Salzburg to see the Sound of Music sites. Our guide was terrible! The guides on these excursions are so important and will make or break an excursion. We were rushed through and I even had to ask to go see the steps and fountain in the movie where the kids are running through the palace grounds!!

I second the recommendation to Viking to allow a lot more time in some cities such as Vienna Regensburg, Passau, Salzburg etc. I also recommend a specifically focused Sound of Music tour for all of us old people who loved that movie!

Despite some rushing and low water levels I would go back in a heartbeat!!!

Thank you for the feedback. I do appreciate the information. For the cost of the trip, I am starting to rethink it for sure. My feelings about climate change and seeing any dramatic changes for the good by next year are not too optimistic. We may tour Europe via another mode of transportation.

We have not addressed Viking directly as yet. My feeling is that they will most likely give the glowing reviews and how next year will be fine. I would much rather read information from guests and their experiences.

Hi, enjoyed your review. We are booked with 7 other couples for a Viking Rhine Getaway in April, Basel to Amsterdam. Very excited and love reading the reviews and seeing the photos. It will be all of our first river cruise. Some of us are starting a week earlier for time in Italy & Switzerland, part of us are also staying longer in Amsterdam afterward. Out excursions we’re just posted & we signed up for most of the included ones. But we are trying to figure a way to get to Heidelberg instead of Speyer & Rudesheim. We don’t want to do the ship’s excursion to Heidelberg.

We are going on this exact Viking cruise in June and we really love your insights into this trip. It has been very helpful and we appreciate your honest evaluation! We can’t wait!

Great information and review! We (14 of us) are going on the same cruise in April/May. We just finalized our plans and excursions over the weekend. It should be amazing!

Thank you for providing detailed descriptions and insight. Very helpful in planning the itinerary for our B-A cruise this fall.

Pingback: A Comprehensive Review of Viking River Cruises - Tech Innovator Hub

So sounds like a cruise in mid April would work, just wondering about the weather in mid April. When is high water season. Are there other river cruises? I ‘ll keep researching other sites and blogs. Thanks this was a great read… Norm

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How To Make The Most Of Shore Excursions: Viking Cruises Danube Waltz

Latest update: December 2023. Coming soon, Danube River Christmas Markets, inside scoop. 

In October I joined Viking  Cruises on the Danube Waltz cruise. This was my second river cruise and I was blown away by the grand cities, small towns, and the inspiring shore excursions on this Viking Danube cruise.

Traveling with Viking Cruises is special, no question; their unique cultural immersion programs, shore excursions, elegantly designed cruise ships, and food and beverage program, are recognized by travel experts the world over.  

Photo courtesy of Viking Cruises

Optional shore excursions Danube Waltz 

Viking offers classic and iconic tours with local guides at every port–some are optional, and some are included. Every excursion is listed in your cruise documents and on the Viking website .  I take all of the included shore excursions because Viking only books guides who are experts on their chosen destination.

Optional tours are designed to give you further opportunities to dive deeper into the culture. In Budapest, you could visit the iconic Széchenyi Bathhouse for a slice of local life, or learn to make Hungarian pancakes and tour the Grand Market. There is an additional charge for optional tours. 

Széchenyi Thermal Baths Budapest, Photo by grassrootsgroundswell on flickr

What Makes The Danube Waltz Shore Excursions Special? 

One of the exclusive Viking excursions offered on the Danube Waltz itinerary was a visit to Gottweig Abbey with spectacular views over the Wachau Valley. Viking guests have the opportunity to tour the 900-year-old abbey, view a short film about life at the abbey, and admire the extensive art collection.

We also enjoyed a taste of sparkling apricot wine made by the Benedictine monks who live and work at the abbey . Viking is the only cruise line with access to Gottweig Abbey . This is one example of Viking’s privileged access tours. 

Göttweig Abbey, Benedictine monastery near Krems in Lower Austria, founded in 1083, a World Heritage Site., photo courtesy of Viking Cruises.

Cultural programs 

Participating in the cultural programs offered onboard is another way to enrich your experience– and some of my most memorable moments were on the ship. At least two of our seven nights included live music performed by expert guest musicians. One night we were entertained by a classical opera singer and another night the Bratislava Men’s Choir.

Before arriving in Vienna we enjoyed a musical evening that included our Program Director (a classical violinist) playing the violin for us, as well as learning about the classical music inheritance Vienna gave the world.  We also received the 411 on Vienna’s world-renowned coffee houses. 

Even though I’m a very independent traveler , I quickly grew to appreciate the scope of cultural knowledge and educational preparation that Viking offers; I could simply enjoy the immersion in the history and culture of each port.

A trip to Vienna must include a visit to Mozart!

 Make the most of Shore Excursions on the Danube

Important tip: your viking cruise documents.

Shortly after confirming your booking, you’ll receive your cruise documents in the mail. Everything you need to know about arrival, departure, currency, the cruise ship, the ports, food and beverage, tipping, baggage, and Viking’s commitment to you is within the pages of your cruise documents. Read it. It is for your convenience.

Online information 

You will find a wealth of information on the Viking River Cruises website, such as suggestions for films and mini-language lessons related to your itinerary. Everything is designed to enhance your trip. I read two historical books about Vienna from the suggested reading list. I have always found that having some historical context makes any experience more enjoyable and deepens my understanding.  The website also has extensive details about your Viking longship. 

Consider your interests and fitness level 

To make the most of the shore excursions offered, consider these two things:

Your interests and your level of fitness. For example, some tours involve steep walks or bicycling. If for some reason you are unable to walk up a steep hill or steps, don’t go on that tour. The level of difficulty is indicated in the description of the tour. If you don’t like dancing, then you shouldn’t take a waltz lesson in Vienna.

Our tour director jokingly referred to traveling with Viking as Bootcamp, but it’s somewhat true. Most tours begin early morning and leave by 8:00 am. If having free time on your own is more important to you, that’s ok, too… you’re under no obligation to take any tours.

Breakfast selections, Viking Hermod

There was fresh smoked salmon every morning, yum!

Preparation is key to a great day

You’ll want to get up early enough to have breakfast.  Most tours last one and a half or two hours unless it’s a destination like Gottweig Abbey or Cesky Krumlov, which are half-day trips. You won’t have a chance to eat again until the end of the tour. Of course, you can tuck something into your day bag if you need a snack before lunch.

Audio devices

Every room onboard the ship has a set of audio devices that you take with you on tours (one per person). They allow you to hear the tour guide even if you’re walking in the back of the group. Make sure your device(s) are charged and ready to go each morning.  I forgot mine once and yes, there was a spare, but don’t count on this.

The best practice is when you return to the ship and put it back on the charger so it’s ready for the next day unless you’re going out on another tour that requires it. 

The dock at Krems, Wachau Valley, Austria

Port talks, Viking’s 411

Before dinner each day there is a gathering in the lounge for a port talk with the Program Director . You’ll want to go to these. Aside from being informative, they’re fun. Have a drink, sit next to someone new, strike up a conversation, and make dinner plans. In addition, you’ll usually hear from the Chef about menu specialties for the evening. There is always a regional menu, as well as classical cuisine prepared with local ingredients. 

Get comfortable in the lounge where you’ll gather for daily Port Talks and evening cocktails and entertainment.

Each evening, you will find a Viking Daily newsletter in your room with information about the next port city, as well as some fun trivia about the region, food and culture, restaurant suggestions, and other tips. These are great for making note of things you want to be sure not to miss. The Viking Daily was often my evening reading material–I’m geeky that way. 

To recap: Sleep well, wake up early, eat breakfast, and have everything you need for the day ready to go. And make sure you don’t forget your earbuds and audio device. 

Rest well in your comfortable stateroom. photo courtesy of Viking.

Tip: Always carry the contact information for the boat with you, including the phone number– and make sure your cell phone is charged (carry a spare battery if needed.)  I was once separated from the group and my bag was on the bus. But, I had my cell phone in my pocket (because I was taking photos with it) and the card with the number for the boat. I was able to call the boat and explain what happened and where I was. 

Viking Danube Waltz: Ports & Excursions

 budapest to passau .

Now that all the details are out of the way, let’s check out the ports and shore excursions on Viking’s Danube Waltz cruise. In 2017, AFAR magazine’s Travelers’ Choice Awards named Viking the “Best Danube River Cruise Operator,” for its small ships, elegant staterooms, regional Austrian and Hungarian cuisine, and expert staff. Now that I’ve done this cruise I would offer my vote as well. I enjoyed my dance along the blue Danube–and my dance card was always full.

Viking Hermod docked near the Chain Bridge in Budapest, Hungary

I joined the Danube Waltz in Budapest– it was apparent right away why it is referred to as the Paris of the East– the lights along the river and bridges are very romantic. And because Viking is given first preference in Budapest, your ship will be docked within a short walk of the Széchenyi Chain Bridge , a suspension bridge connecting the two parts of the city. It is easily one of the most beautiful bridges crossing the Danube.

The Panoramic Budapest tour takes you by bus around Pest, then up Buda Castle Hill to visit Matthias Church (named for King Matthias) and the Fisherman’s Bastion. The views are spectacular, so be sure you have your camera or phone ready for action. 

Parliament building at night, Budapest

Budapest is intriguing because it is two cities divided by the river; on the west side is Buda and on the east side, Pest. Pest is a treasure of art nouveau and 19th-century architecture with a wonderful market, great restaurants, and shopping. More recent historical monuments, like Hero’s Square, can be seen on the Pest side.  Andrassy Avenue is the main street to know in this part of the city. It’s lined with gorgeous architecture, museums and galleries, and some good shops, too. 

Buda Castle Hill, the Parliament building, the iconic Chain Bridge, and the banks of the Danube have all received UNESCO World Heritage designation. 

Bratislava 

The capital of Slovakia, Bratislava is the only capital that borders two countries, Hungary and Austria.  In its heyday, Maria Theresa, Empress of Austria, spent quite a lot of time there, as it was part of the Hungarian Empire.  

The charming historic center is an inviting place to spend a day or two.  I would say Bratislava is emerging as one of the more interesting cities along the Danube. Despite being small for a capital city (population around 450,000), there is good shopping and fun pubs, and I spotted what looked like a nice wine bar. After your Bratislava Panoramic tour, shop for something special to take home. I brought home a music box with The Kiss, a painting by Gustav Klimt, on the cover.

Bratislava, Slovakia

The included excursion in Bratislava is either a walking tour or a drive/walk. The drive will take you up the hill to Bratislava Castle, the former home of the Hungarian crown jewels. Both tours include a walk through the charming old town along the Amber Road, once a trade route linking Northern and Southern Europe. You’ll also see St. Martins’ Cathedral, which was the coronation church for ten kings, and where Maria Theresa was crowned Queen of Hungary in 1741.

Nice shops for souvenir shops on the square in Bratislava, Slovakia.

Vienna excursions

Oh, Vienna! With so much beauty and culture to offer, how can anyone make a choice when it comes to excursions? In addition to the included city tour, six optional excursions are offered, from the Imperial Vienna tour to a classical music concert. I took the included tour, then spent the day walking the streets of Vienna before returning to the ship for the optional Heurigen evening excursion. For a great time filled with music, food, and wine I highly recommend it.

exterior St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Vienna

St Stephen’s Cathedral, Vienna by Charlie on flickr

The included tour, Panoramic Vienna , is a city tour that covers the highlights of the historic center, protected by UNESCO. This includes the exterior of the Hofburg Palace , a walk by the stables of the Lipizzaner Stallions, the Roman ruins that have been excavated just outside the palace, and the magnificent St Stephen’s Cathedral. A tour of the Schónbrunn Palace can be purchased as an optional excursion. 

Café Demel by a canvas of light on flickr

No matter what you do in Vienna, you’ll want to take some time for that most Viennese of traditions, coffee . Did you know that Viennese coffee culture is classified as an intangible cultural heritage and recognized by UNESCO? I managed to try three different places: Demel, Cafe Eiles, and Cafe Espresso.

What makes Demel special?

Everyone should try Demel, located in the historic center just outside of the Hofburg Palace. Demel served the royal palace and its inhabitants and is one of the oldest coffee houses in Vienna. I had hot chocolate because I knew I would have coffee later; my friends all ordered some sort of special Viennese coffee drink. Everything was served in classical style on a small silver tray with a shot of water on the side.

I quite like this tradition and wish it would make its way stateside. Demel is also known for its fantastic pastries and cakes. There’s a kitchen in the back where you can watch them making these sweet creations. 

Musicians at the Wolff Heuriger

Optional tour in Vienna

The Heurigen evening was a highlight of the trip for me . You’re probably wondering what a Heurigen is if you’ve never been to Austria. The Heurigen refers to a seasonal winery only open after harvest, when the winemaker will then sell the new wine. Heurige means from this year .  A Heurigen evening includes not only wine but lots of food too–something that is not traditional but has grown with the times and popularity with tourists.

As guests of Viking, we were treated to an evening at Heuriger Wolff, one of the oldest winemaking families in Vienna. You’ll see the sign above the entrance says 1609…that’s a long time! There was live traditional music, many toasts, and a feeling of gemutlichkeit, or good cheer, was present. One of the crew members who was along with us for the Heurigen evening said he never missed the opportunity to go. That’s a darn good recommendation. 

Fresh wine from the Wolff Heurige, Vienna

Krems and Gottweig Abbey 

Ah, Krems. I woke up and looked out my window to see church steeples piercing a heavy layer of fog.  We may have left the glamour of Vienna behind, but there was more Austrian treasure to discover. Krems and Stein, once two separate towns, are part of the Wachau Valley cultural landscape. Settlement in Krems dates back to the Neolithic era. It was once more important than Vienna for its wine and salt trade. Cobblestone streets and vineyard terraces are the hallmarks of this charming town.  Also, the tour to Gottweig Abbey departs from Krems.

Vineyards near Krems, Austria

Scenic Sailing through the Wachau Valley

 When the ship departs Krems, have your camera ready, because the rest of the day will be spent cruising the extraordinary Wachau Valley.

The Wachau Valley stretches from Krems to Melk and has been a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000. It is considered the prettiest part of the Danube River. The Wachau is mainly known for picturesque castle ruins, medieval towns, and terraced vineyards.

Grapes are grown in the Wachau Valley

The signature grape is Gruner Veltliner, a white wine grape that produces a wine that is acidic and aromatic, with notes of citrus and pepper. Another important grape from the Wachau is Riesling – usually dry and crisp, though there are late-harvest dessert wines too.

Foggy morning in Krems, Austria

Linz and Cesky Krumlov excursions

The next port is Linz, and two excursions are included: a guided tour of Linz, home of the Linzer torte, and a walking tour of the storybook town of Cesky Krumlov , another Unesco World Heritage Site located in the Czech Republic. 

The castle tower, Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic

Linz was heavily bombed during WWII, as it was an important industrial city. However, there are still some buildings of architectural and historical significance, such as the Mozarthaus, where the composer wrote the Linz Symphony.  You can choose to stay in the port and tour Linz or travel to Cesky Krumlov, a full-day tour. Or, choose a day free to do whatever you like! 

Cesky Krumlov Walking Tour

Transport to Cesky Krumlov is by bus, which allows one to gaze upon the pretty countryside. Our guide regaled us with history and stories of growing up in a communist country, as well as what life is like in the Czech Republic today. I learned a lot! 

Cesky Krumlov

Once in Cesky Krumlov, the tour includes the exterior of the upper and lower castle, the town hall, the pharmacy, and the monastery. The castle buildings, as well as most of the buildings in the center of the town, are covered in the most beautiful frescoes. I marveled at how well restored they are.

 After the tour, we had lunch at a traditional Czech restaurant specializing in regional food, in other words, peasant food for hard-working people. I had the most delicious cabbage soup there thanks to the recommendation of our tour guide. It was so good I’ve prepared it at home several times. 

My only regret was that there wasn’t enough time to visit the castle museums, climb the tower, float down the Vltava River, and eat lunch.  My tip for this trip: if possible, go in the offseason or spend the night . Cesky Krumlov has become very popular and is crawling with tourists, especially around the castle. Once you filter into the town, it’s less congested.  However, if that’s not an option, just go! It’s worth it.

Passau, Germany

Passau excursions

The final port on this cruise is Passau, Germany, a most charming slice of Bavaria, founded over 2000 years ago at the confluence of the Inn, Ilz, and Danube rivers. Overlooking the town and the river,  Veste Oberhaus is an old fort, built in 1219.  Aside from the stellar views in season, there is a beer garden.

 The Passau Walking Tour, the included shore excursion,  is a stroll through the city culminating in an organ concert at St. Stephen’s church. A baroque dream that will surely remind you of Rome and Bernini, St. Stephen’s is home to Europe’s largest pipe organ. It has more than 17,000 pipes. 

I loved Passau – it felt like I was in Italy with its winding cobblestone alleyways, Baroque facades, arches, and even businesses with Italian names.  If you didn’t look at the street signs you might not know where you were but then again, there was no graffiti and everything was very clean and organized.

An optional tour from Passau is the Neuschwanstein Castle tour. Neuschwanstein Castle was the inspiration for the Disney castle. Transportation to Neuschwanstein Castle is by helicopter. Other optional tours here include hiking the Passau hills, Bavaria by bike, and a visit to a Bavarian farm.

Alas, Passau was our port of disembarkation. Not only that, but it was time to say goodbye to Viking and new friends. If you would like to extend your stay Viking can arrange that for you. Many people extend their time to visit Prague, Munich, or return to Vienna. 

 A Viking cruise guarantees a cultural experience like no other. Now, armed with all this pre-cruise knowledge, you can make the most of every shore excursion on the Viking Danube Waltz . 

If you enjoyed this article, PIN IT! If you see an image you love, please message for copyright or usage information.

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30 comments.

Penny – My sister and I are going on the reverse Blue Danube cruise that you took. We are going in July and are looking at the optional excursions; however, a lot of the ones on the website are not available or being offered. Is there another company that has similar excursions?

Hi Steve, Are you saying that you don’t see the same excursions on the Viking Danube Waltz trip for summer time? I had a look and it all looks the same to me. There are other cruise lines sure. You can just google Danube river cruise and many options will pop up. I have not sailed with any others so I can’t honestly reocmmend them.

Correct. Some of the excursions we want to take are listed on the website but not offered for our cruise. In your experience, are these offered as we get closer to the cruise?

Your best bet is to contact Viking directly and ask them.

[…] a recent trip to Hungary, I visited Tasting Table Budapest. Prior to my visit, I had never tasted Hungarian wine but I knew […]

[…] sure to read my article, How To Make The Most Of Shore Excursion’s, Viking’s Danube Waltz for in depth information about what to expect and  as the title says, how to make the most of […]

nice blog thanks for sharing this.

Thanks Penny, very helpful – gets me psyched for my 2024 trip with friends. Will review itinerary since I know included tours have been modified since your trip.

Hi Brian, Are you going on the Danube Waltz itinerary? If so, the excursions are the same. I’m going on this trip again soon and there is no difference except that there will be Christmas markets.

What a great article! My husband and I are taking this river cruise at the end of May 2024. We decided to only do the included excursions but after reading about the Heurigen evening excursion, we’ve added that to our itinerary. Thanks for sharing your review!

You will love it! So fun!

Fantastic article – I’m sending to all my fellow travelers! One question though, the Cesky Krumlov excursion is now all day and there is a hefty cost, as it is no longer an ‘included’ excursion. Is there enough to do and see in Linz itself or do you strongly recommend going to Cesky Krumlov? Thanks!

Hi Jayne, How must does it cost to go to Cesky Krumlov now? I can’t really comment on Linz because I didn’t go there. However, I do remember the people who did go enjoyed it. If it’s not too expensive I’d probably opt for Cesky Krumlov but maybe Google Linz and see what you think.

What a wonderful and informative article. I am going to be on the Viking Danube cruise in April, 2023. Has anyone gone to Salzburg after docking in Linz? I would love to see Salzburg since we have an entire day in Linz. Has anyone taken the train to Salzburg ? I was wondering how far the train station is from where we dock.T hank you for any information anyone could share.

Hello Ann, I’m sorry I do not know the answer to that question. If you are taking a Viking Cruise I recommend you reach out to your trip planner for assistance. They can arrange everything for you. I am envious. This is a wonderful itinerary.

Appreciate the tips provided in your article, very informative

Thank you Milena. I appreciate the feedback. I’m be traveling with Viking again soon on the Douro River of Gold itinerary. Have you taken that one yet?

Hello! We have plans for this cruise Dec 2024 in reverse. Do you know how Viking makes accommodations for the hard of hearing? Like the onboard programs, headset connections to earbuds during excursions, or other ways? Thanks in advance

Renee, Great question! I do not but I will reach out immediately to follow up. Stay tuned. I know they have headsets but I don’t know if they have special headsets for hearing impaired.

Penny, I’m going on the Danube Waltz i at the end of March 2022. I really appreciated your comments and recommendations. Thanks so much for sharing. I’d like to take the Cesky Krumlov tour. Do you have time when you return to be able to explore Linz on your own?

Hi Kay, I recommend asking your Viking contact this question. I took the cruise in the fall of 2019 and there may be some changes now. At the time you could choose to go to Cesky Krumlov or to tour Linz, but not both. Again, I’d ask Viking. It’s a fabulous trip and I know you will love it.

Thanks Penny for the helpful information. We are planning to take the Viking European Cruise in 2022. Do you or friends have any more info. / or would like to share their experience of taking the helicopter ride and the tour to go visit Neuschwanstein Castle?

I did not take that tour and I’m not sure if anyone on the cruise I was on did. Sorry, I can’t be of more help about that but I’m sure you can find reviews on other sites.

Great information! Thank you so much; this will be a great help to us as we plan our excursions. We just signed up for the Danube Waltz cruise today and I’m so excited even though it’s months and months away!

You will love it! Glad to be of help.

[…] I rarely bring home anything more than photographs, but I purchased a small music box in Bratislava last year. I keep it by my bedside, so that I am reminded daily of the last European trip I took, a wonderful cruise on the Danube River. […]

When can I leave?

Now seems like it would be a good time! And, no crowds! you’ll have Vienna and Cesky Krumlov to yourself. Heavenly. But of course, it is a personal decision.

Awesome article! I’ve always wondered about these cruises and now I can’t wait to plan our very own! Thanks for the info!

I know you will love it!

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Linda On The Run

Travel, Lifestyle, And Fitness For Those Over 60

• Destinations

Viking Grand European Tour Review: River Cruise Highlights

May 19, 2019 //  by  Linda Malys Yore //   30 Comments

Considering taking the Viking Grand European Tour? 

Have you ever been on a river cruise? Are you thinking of taking a European river cruise and looking for first-hand information from someone who already has?

Well, look no further because I sailed the spectacular 15   day Viking Grand European Tour river cruise   and it was definitely the trip-of-a-lifetime.

From the moment we began working with the Viking liaison in the comfort of our homes until boarding our international flight home in Budapest, Viking made every step of the way, every decision as easy as possible for us.

Here I will share with you just how simple and effortless it was to book and plan for a Viking river cruise,  and how decadent and simply delightful the cruise was!

Experience Europe like a local by staying at an Airbnb. Get a $55 Airbnb coupon  by using  my code  when you book!

Viking Grand European Tour, Highlights 

Amsterdam, holland to nuremberg, germany, the planning stage.

My sister Robyne accompanied me on the Viking Grand European Tour river cruise.

As soon as we selected our cruise, we were immediately assigned a Viking consultant who handled everything for us.

We were notified of her name, email, and phone number by an email, and from that point on we used Cathy as our “go-to” person with any and all questions we had. AND WE HAD A LOT!

Read about  the second week of the cruise here Viking  Grand European Tour, Highlights Part 2 

We were directed to create an account at MyVikingJourney.com .

It would turn out to be a personalized account created by us to keep track of our trip. We could always see the specific tours, excursions, and decisions we had made for our trip.

Fifteen days was a long trip and there were many decisions to consider.

At MyVikingJourney.com everything was accessible online at one convenient location.

There was a question and answer section that had tons of information right at our fingertips to access that saved us a lot of time and angst.

We were sailing on the Viking Baldur . Baldur is the Norse God of Light and Joy.

If you need packing tips, read my How To Pack Lightly for tips.

First off, after we decided on our cruise and dates, we needed flights to Europe.

Our Viking representative Cathy, took care of that. We simply gave her the dates we chose to fly and which airport we preferred to fly out of and Viking took care of the rest, and our flights were VERY reasonable.

Be sure to check with your travel agent or Viking directly about packages which include airfare, or discounted airfare. Amenities like this may change frequently.

If you plan to arrive early read these 18 things to know before traveling to Amsterdam.

Next decisions were about selecting excursions while on the river cruise.

At every city along the Viking Grand European Tour, included tours are offered free of charge.

On our customized Viking website, there were detailed explanations about each tour, along with what time of day it was taking place, how long it would be, and the exercise intensity.

I signed us up for all the included tours. On the website, most day’s explanations included videos of the areas we were scheduled to visit.

They really helped a lot in the planning process and to heighten the anticipation.

Read Next: 20 Viking River Cruise Tips To Help You Plan Your Trip

Viking made everything as easy as possible right from the start!

Next, we carefully read about the optional tours being offered.

Usually, they did not conflict with the included tours but were in addition to them.

There was an additional cost for them , some nominal and some a bit more.

You may receive a shipboard credit as a bonus from your travel agent or the company, and going on the optional tours is a fabulous treat to yourself because they are truly spectacular.

We also had to decide if we wanted to purchase the Silver Spirits Beverage Package for our Viking Grand European Tour.

House wines, beer, and soda were complimentary during lunch and dinner, beginning at the daily 5:30 pm cocktail hour, but if we wanted cocktails or premium wines or a drink at any other time, we considered the beverage package.

At first, we decided no, but at the very last minute, we changed our minds.

We were literally on the runway in Atlanta flying directly to Amsterdam to begin our odyssey and all it took was a quick email to Cathy our Viking representative.

It was in place upon our arrival on the Viking Baldur on Sunday afternoon in Amsterdam. Now that was service!

If you are taking a long haul flight to get to Europe, read my tips here.

Day 1: Viking Grand European Tour, Amsterdam

Because of the 6 hour time difference, we decided to fly to Amsterdam, Holland a day early to explore the city and catch up on our rest.

It was our responsibility to get ourselves to the embarkation dock location.

I received an email from Viking 48 hours before we left the USA, notifying us of the specific cruise dock location for our Viking Grand European Tour, where the Viking Baldur would be located.

Read about What to do in Amsterdam in one day for my tips.

Amsterdam was our first European city to explore during our Viking Grand European Tour. 

Read Next: The Ultimate 2 Days In Amsterdam Itinerary

Read Next: 7 Best Things To Do In Passau Germany

From our hotel in Amsterdam, it was a quick walk to the metro station and a very quick ride to Central Station, where we very easily located the cruise docks.

Viking Cruise Lines had a large canopy in its signature red color, which was very visible and easy to spot.

The officers of the ship were all under the canopy to warmly greet us new passengers, and to direct us to our ship, the Baldur .

We checked in about noon. We had placed the specific Viking luggage tags we received while still at home on our luggage in the morning.  They had our names and room numbers on them, for our bags to be delivered to our stateroom.

Then we headed to our cabin to see where we would be living for the next 15 days on our Viking Grand European Tour. We couldn’t wait to see it.

We had plenty of room in our stateroom on our Viking Grand European tour.

And we were not disappointed. We had a verandah room with a walk-out-onto balcony (which we ended up using a lot during the cruise!)

There were two chairs and a table for our convenience outside on our balcony.

We used the balcony in our stateroom every day to enjoy the scenery that we passed by. 

The room itself was very spacious. My sister and I wondered how we were going to tolerate each other for 15 days in a very tiny space.

No worries- there was ample space for each of us, with plenty to spare. We could walk around our beds, and there was storage space galore.

The drawers were huge, and the closet fit as many clothes as we wanted to hang. We each had 9 hangers and hung multiple items on each, and everything easily fit into the closet for us.

More hangers could be obtained simply by asking the staff. There was a safe located in the closet and shelving which we eventually utilized for more storage.

The closet had ample space to accommodate just about anything you would bring for your Viking Grand European Tour. We utilized the stateroom safe the entire duration of our trip.

We were very pleased to have a small refrigerator in our room. We used it every single day for storing water and fruit. And candy, and snacks!

Thank you, Viking for the refrigerator. We used it every day!

The bathroom a modest size but very elegant and with amazing storage. Definitely enough for two women for two weeks!

There was a nightlight that turned on automatically when all the lights were off, and that was a comfort to me. No fumbling or stumbling to get to the bathroom during the night.

Our floor tiles were heated, and there was a retractable clothesline in the beautiful walk-in shower. It ended up being a lifesaver as we washed our lingerie often during the Viking Grand European Tour.

Plenty of storage in the bathroom during our Viking Grand European Tour.

There was a large flat-screen television with enough selections that we did not feel like we were out of touch with the current events.

The choices were: live TV (an ample selection of news outlets), a whole slew of movies , and all 6 seasons of Downton Abbey!

There was a mandatory safety video that had to be watched first before the television was “unlocked.” There were also features where we could track the position of the Baldur.

Look at all that storage! Our QuietVox hearing devices are in their charger on the far right.

Next, we headed to lunch!

A buffet luncheon was served on the Aquavit  Terrace every day during our Viking Grand European Tour.

It was just what we needed on our first afternoon! We met some of the crew, met the Maitre d’, introduced ourselves and informed him I was a vegan, and Robyne was gluten-free.

Salads, sandwiches, soup, and desserts were served and were all delicious. 

After lunch, and a quick stop to our cabin where we discovered all of our luggage had been delivered, we headed off into Amsterdam for more sight-seeing.

Lunch was spectacular in the Aquavit Terrace! This was our hangout every afternoon for lunch during our Viking Grand European Tour.

If we had chosen, we could have taken 1 of 2 Viking guided welcome walks  excursions through Amsterdam, or attend a wine and cheese tasting party on board during the afternoon.

Later that afternoon, we embarked once again to our home away from home for the next 15 days on our Viking Grand European Tour and unpacked.

We had lots of space for everything and stored all of our luggage under our beds.

There was space enough to store the huge suitcases under our beds which left the room looking spacious and orderly and welcoming.

My large checked suitcase easily fit under my bed and was out of the way the entire trip. 

There was an official Welcome Briefing where we were introduced to the officers of the Baldur. And we were given a brief explanation of life on board for the next 2 weeks.

Here I am with the officers of the Viking Baldur during our Viking Grand European Tour.

Every evening, we could choose to have dinner in two different locations: in the main dining room, or in the more casual and much smaller Aquavit Terrace.

Both locations offered the same menu, it was simply a matter of how we felt, which place we chose to dine at.

The first evening we chose to eat in the main dining room. It was festive and fun and we sat at a table for 6 that began lifelong friendships.

After dinner, we headed up to the lounge for music and dancing.

It was a long day for most of us, but the duo playing music was lively and there was a great group of our fellow passengers having a good time. And we were no different.

This was the perfect way to end our first day of our Viking Grand European Tour! The Viking Baldur departed Amsterdam at 11:30 PM and we were on our way officially!

Day 2: Viking Grand European Tour, Kinderjdijk, Holland

Every morning there was a variety of ways and places to have breakfast.

First, there were two coffee stations where you could make your own choice of coffees where pastries and muffins were available.

You could choose a continental breakfast on the Aquavit Terrace, or a warm buffet breakfast with a wide selection of made-to-order options cooked right there for you in the dining room.

Made to order hot meals were available every morning in the Viking Baldur’s dining room.

There were two coffee stations. Coffee, tea, pastries, muffins, and water were always available during the entirety of the Viking Grand European Tour.

Our program director extraordinaire, Tessa, would come on to the overhead loudspeaker every morning greeting us a “Good Morning” in the native language of whichever country we were in.

She would remind us of the day and date and the city we were docked in. And recite briefly the excursions for the day.

On Day 2, we selected the Viking  included shore excursion: Kinderjdijk Windmills.

It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Much of Holland is below sea level and Holland has a grim history of flooding with her citizens losing their lives, their homes, and their livelihoods.

So with a unique network of windmills and water management techniques, Holland is now able to successfully deal with the seasonal rising waters and prevent future disasters.

We were surprised to learn that the Amsterdam International Airport is 20 feet below sea level!

The Viking Baldur docked at Kinderdijk, Holland

To manage a group of 186+ passengers efficiently, Viking divided us into groups of about 25 or so, and each group had their own local guide narrating.

Each guide carried a “lollipop” a round disc in Viking red on a handle the guide held up for us to see. The Viking Baldur was ship #20, so guides escorting us carried “lollipops” with Viking 20 and either A, B, C, etc for the exact group we were assigned to.

In order to hear the guide, we used QuietVox audio receivers (with headphones). We brought them with us on mostly every tour. In order to activate them, we had to touch the tip of the receiver to the lollipop for each tour.

The windmills and the history and the story of Kinderdijk were immensely interesting.

We were given a short and humorous history by our guide, Kaas, and walked past flood control devices. We walked through the Holland grasslands past several windmills.

And finally, we were brought to a windmill where further information was given to explain in detail the windmill and how it worked and were even permitted to tour the inside of the windmill.

It was very interesting, but what a hard life it must have been back in those days.

This is the windmill we were able to tour inside when our Viking Grand European trip visited Kinderdijk, Holland.

When our tour was complete, we were all back on board from Kinderdijk by 10:30 AM and we set sail for Cologne, Germany shortly thereafter.

The rest of the day was spent aboard discovering what the Baldur had to offer and getting to know our fellow passengers.

At 2:00 PM we had the mandatory muster drill. We located our life jackets under our beds, donned them, and met at our specific designated location on the top deck.

Later that afternoon, we had the option to tour the wheelhouse and meet the captain, which Robyne and I definitely took advantage of.

The instrumentation was amazing and we learned so much about the waterways and all the barges and boats that passed us on either side and from either direction.

Every evening our program director, Tessa,  would meet us all in the lounge at 6:45 PM, right before dinner, for her port talk .

She would give an overview of the next day’s excursions and answer specific questions from passengers. This became a nightly social event and a lively gathering among the passengers.

Robyne and I toasting during cocktail hour during our Viking Grand European tour. 

This evening we were officially welcomed aboard with champagne toasts (or mimosas!) by Captain Marcin and the hotel manager Marcello.

Such a warm welcoming and bonding experience. Dinner and dancing rounded out the rest of the day for us.

On our way from Amsterdam to Budapest, the Viking Baldur was going to pass through 68 “locks.”

Locks raise or lower boats connecting waters of different levels through countries that are not level.

The  Rhine, Main, and Danube Rivers pass through countrysides of distinct and different elevations and locks were a necessity for boat traffic.

The rivers of Europe are used today as superhighways, transporting and delivering goods throughout Europe.

I was surprised at the traffic on the European rivers and the size of the boats/barges we sailed past. The locks were indeed an unusual experience.

Here you can see by the watermarks on the walls how much we were lowered to match the water level on the other side. The gate was opening for us to continue.

Day 3:  Cologne, Germany

Upon leaving the Baldur guests stopped at the Reception Desk to pick up several things: a red plastic card which identified which group we were assigned to for the specific tour we were heading out for.

Ours was always “20” because that was the Baldur’s number.

Whether we were heading out for a walking tour or being transported via coach, we looked for the corresponding number either on the guide’s lollipop or on the dashboard of the bus. 

Also we picked up a card with our name on it, that had to be returned as soon as we stepped back on board the ship.

This is how the staff kept track of who still was not on board.  And a card with the specific docking location of the ship, in case we chose to linger longer in town or had a language barrier issue with a local or simply could not find our way back.

It also had the program director’s phone number on it, and could simply be handed to any local and they would be able to direct us back to the ship. 

We never left the Viking Baldur during our Viking Grand European Tour without taking our ship’s local address card.

In Cologne, we chose the Viking included Cologne Walking Tour.

We were transferred to Old Town Cologne via motorcoach and dropped off one block from the main square, which was in front of Cologne Cathedral, the Cathedral of St. Peter.

After we met with our guide and activated our listening devices to his lollipop, we began with him narrating a brief history of Cologne, and then we entered Cologne Cathedral.

It was certainly a tourist attraction and very crowded.  But the beauty of the church shone through and we were able to make our way to view the relics of the Three Wise Men of the Bible.

The Gothic-inspired Cologne Cathedral in Old Town Cologne, Germany

We then took a walking tour of Old Town Cologne and learned more about its history from our guide.

He also pointed out the best beer gardens and shops to look for quality souvenirs.

Some of our friends elected to stay and explore Cologne after our tour was over, but we decided to head back to the ship via the coach.

After lunch on the Aquavit Terrace, we had a few minutes to freshen up, before we left for an optional Viking tour of the UNESCO designated Bruhl Palaces.

To delve deeper into local culture and treasures, Viking offers exceptional  optional tours, which come with a price tag because they are specially arranged tours.

Before my Viking Grand European Tour, I was not especially knowledgeable in European architecture.

But that quickly changed with the tours Viking provided and the locations we visited. The Bruhl Palaces were a prime example, and my first, of the Rococo style, very ornate and playful.

The palace was commissioned by the Archbishop Clemens August in the 1700s. The grand staircase defies an explanation, so beautiful it was.

Each room was more ornate, more beautiful using the Rococo architecture. Unfortunately, no picture taking was allowed, and several security cameras monitored each room and hallway.

The spectacular Bruhl Palace and lavash gardens outside Cologne.  This UNESCO World Heritage site, an optional tour during our Viking Grand European tour is well worth taking.

The adjacent hunting lodge was equally impressive with its lavish Rococo style but on a smaller scale.

Each room was more stunning than the one before it. And finally, the gardens and park did not disappoint. They were exquisite and unbelievably manicured.

Flowers were still blooming and the trees stood at attention and in beautiful symmetry surrounding the gardens.

The smaller but no less impressive Bruhl hunting lodge displaying the lighter Rococo style .

The decision to visit the Bruhl Unesco Palaces, and to peer into the unbelievable life of a prince-archbishop was a great one for us. I would highly recommend this optional tour to anyone taking the Viking Grand European Tour.

While onboard, Viking offered quality enrichment opportunities for us.

This day there was a local who spoke about modern Germany in the Baldur lounge.

After dinner, local musicians entertained us with a classical music journey by famous composers.

While not all the opportunities would interest all guests at all times, I can say with certainty, all presentations were with experts in their fields, who were engaging, interesting and charming.

We tried to attend as many as we could.

Good evening from the Viking Baldur’s grand staircase at the end of Day 3 of our Viking Grand European Tour.

Day 4: Koblenz, Germany

Viking does a spectacular job offering daily excursions for all physical abilities.

Every day, whenever possible, there was a “gentle” walking excursion for those who had difficulty ambulating or were in a wheelchair, or simply didn’t feel up doing a longer walking tour.

Today’s included shore excursion on our Viking Grand European Tour was described as strenuous . On tap, was climbing up to Marksburg Castle, a 700-year hilltop castle with simply the most fantastic views!

We boarded our Viking motorcoach to Marksburg Castle at 9:40 AM. 

Upon arrival, we began the trek uphill to the castle. It was steep enough, with many uneven cobblestones to negotiate.

While I highly recommend this Viking excursion, during your Viking Grand European Tour, please wear sturdy closed-toe shoes for support, and you will be more than fine.

The history of the fortress-castle was amazing.

Our guide took us through many rooms with interesting explanations and stories about the people who lived there in the past.

The torture chamber with its instruments of death definitely was one of the more interesting ones. 

Marksburg was never intended to be a palace but was built to protect the town of Braubach below it. During its history, it also became a prison and housed infirmed soldiers.

The Marksburg Castle Fortress 

After the guided tour we had time to ooh and ahh at the views from around the top.

The Middle Rhine below us was spectacular. Here we were able to see first-hand what a summer of record high temperatures and lack of rain did to the depth of the river.

Sandbars were evident in several places.

The beautiful and very scenic Middle Rhine River from Marksburg Castle during our Viking Grand European tour.

The walk back down the side of the 550-foot high mountain was all paved and much easier to do. Again, I highly recommend sturdy shoes to help with stability and balance.

We arrived via our Viking motorcoach to the Viking Baldur in Braubach just in time for lunch.

Here we are having a lovely lunch out in the brilliant sunshine while cruising the Middle Rhine on our Viking Grand European Tour after visiting Marksburg Castle. Wouldn’t you like to do this too!?

Our afternoon would be spent sailing through the scenic (just like you see in travel magazines!) Middle Rhine River, also referred to the Romantic Rhine. 

We passed bucolic countrysides full of hillsides covered in vineyards, what a remarkable sight!

Then there were all the castles, like out of a fairytale. To help us understand it all, Tessa narrated for several hours as we sailed the afternoon away.

So inspiring, so unique, so unbelievable is this scenic region, it has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

We made use of the walking track  on the top deck during our Viking Grand European Tour, especially this afternoon during such scenic cruising.

We were so grateful that Viking provided a walking track for guests. We met some of the nicest fellow-travelers out on the walking track!

The majestic Romantic Rhine portion of our Viking Grand European Tour. Can”t you imagine sailing there?!!

There were other options that afternoon for our entertainment and enrichment.

Robyne enjoyed the live demonstration on how to make Rudesheim Coffee: coffee, brandy, sugar, whipped cream, and dark chocolate.

Can you even imagine such deliciousness?? Of course, she had a cup!

In the late afternoon, there was German teatime: tea and a variety of German pastries. Oh gosh!

We were certainly being spoiled. And we were never bored-all the options presented to us for our enjoyment by the Viking staff took care of that.

There were several games in the lounge after dinner during the course of our Viking Grand European Tour that were immediate bonding experiences for the guests.

Run by Tessa, our program director, we got to know her better and she got to know us better as well.

This night it was a movie trivia game. It was so much fun, and everyone laughed a lot .

Unbelievably, we were on the winning team, the “Movie Mavericks!” The prize was a bottle of wine, which we immediately opened and toasted to our success!

Here we are the Movie Mavericks toasting to our success! Such a fun experience.

Day 5: Viking Grand European Tour, Miltenberg, Germany

We sailed all morning through the lovely German countryside, so we used this opportunity to sleep in!

Mid-morning Tessa hosted a presentation in the lounge all about Germany and even taught guests a few German words.

After lunch, the Baldur docked in Freudenberg a short while, to drop off guests taking the Miltenberg Walking tour, which we did.

We were now sailing on the Main River in Germany and were in Germany’s wine-producing regions, specifically Franconia.

I did not realize Germans drank fine wines. Don’t all Germans drink lots of beer from huge steins? (That’s in Bavaria, a different region of Germany!)

The Viking Baldur docked at Freudenberg to transport us to Miltenberg for our tour. Very convenient!

Miltenberg was a charming German village, just the kind I envisioned. It was so unique with its half-timbered houses and quaint cobblestone streets.

One of the highlights of the town square was the Zum Riesen Inn, Germany’s oldest inn, opened in 1411.

After our wonderful guided tour, we had time to walk around the town square on our own, until we had to meet our program director Tessa to head back to our coaches and back to the ship.

I appreciated the free time to explore cities on our own during our Viking Grand European Tour.

We were able to head back for a missed picture opportunity, or go into an interesting shop for a special souvenir.

Miltenberg, Germany historical half-timbered houses in medieval Old Town. Just like out of a storybook. 

The lovely Main River flowing through picturesque Miltenberg, Germany

When back on the Baldur , we attended cocktail hour in the lounge, followed by Tessa’s port talk, dinner. And closed off another fantastic day dancing to the music of Alessio and Sara in the lounge.

As I mentioned, there’s never a dull moment during a Viking Grand European Tour!

Viking Cruise Lines has consistently earned culinary awards for its outstanding food. As a vegan, I never once worried about what I would eat. This is my entree after a very busy day in Miltenberg. Epic deliciousness.

Day 6: Wurzburg, Germany

Our included tour today, Wurzburg Residenz and Walking Tour began at 9 AM.

The motorcoach ride was only 10 minutes into town. We toured the historic city center and learned all about the Franconian wine vineyards located around Wurzburg.

Also, the city was very heavily damaged during World War II.  My first lesson on the ornate baroque architecture was during our tour of the Bishops’ Residenz palace. 

The opulence of the palace was striking. Because this is one of Germany’s largest and most ornate palaces, it has been given the designation of a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The Bishop’s Residence in Wurzburg on our Viking Grand European Tour is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The opulence was unparalleled. No picture taking was permitted and I was sad, because there was so much to see, to process.

The grand staircase was magnificent, and the ceiling fresco in the grand main hall, representing 4 continents was unbelievable. The rooms, each more stunning than the ones before or after it, were breathtaking.

The unbelievable thing is, during WWII, the curators of the palace, instinctively knew there was imminent danger of Wurzburg’s bombing, and dismantled and stored as much of the precious chandeliers, tapestries, paintings, and furniture as they could.

After the bombings, which did strike the palace, there was a renovation and all the beautiful artifacts were restored to their original locations for generations to come to enjoy.

The very charming city center of Wurzburg Germany

After our coach ride back to the Baldur , we had the afternoon free to do as we pleased.

We chose not to go on any additional optional tours of the area, including the Marienberg Fortress. So after lunch, Robyne and I decided to head back into Wurzburg.

It was a pleasant walk, and we shopped the afternoon away. We appreciated the free time and the opportunity to explore on our own.

The Baldur had docked just steps away from Wurzburg’s iconic Old Main Bridge with the Marienberg Fortress looming over it. 

The Baldur was docked on the Main River, just outside of the Wurzburg city center.

I used the late afternoon hours to get in a quick 4-mile run.  My route, suggested by Eddie, at the Baldur reception desk, was along the Main River, through tree-lined streets and shaded parks.

It was epic. That’s the way to run!  I appreciated the encouragement and suggestion from Eddie because I was running by myself in a foreign country and did not know the area.

He recommended the best route for me. I was reassured and had no worries for my safety.

Cocktail hour was a highlight and a daily ritual for both of us.

We were getting to know our fellow passengers better as we visited with them every evening in the lounge to discuss how our days went.

Robyne and I decided to purchase the optional Silver Spirits Beverage Package , which included cocktails,  mixed drinks, and premium beers and wines. 

The Baldur bar staff provided us with unparalleled service. They made and served us our drinks perfectly as we preferred them, and always offered us those calorie-laden cocktail nuts we so craved right before dinner!

During our Viking Grand European Tour, we were reminded of the low water levels of the rivers we were traveling on.

We could SEE how low the waters were. From high atop our perch when touring Marksburg Castle we could see the sandbars in the Middle Rhine River.

This evening during the port talk, Tessa informed us the water level was too low for the Baldur to pass any further along past Nuremberg. That was sad, for several reasons.

First off, no one wanted to pack up everything and move to another ship. Secondly, and more importantly, we came to know and love our staff, and we did not want to leave them .

Tessa would accompany us, but the staff would all stay with the Baldur.

Here I am with Tessa, our program director, in the Viking Baldur lounge during our Viking Grand European Tour .

Tessa spent time explaining that Viking had an identical longboat, the Magni , which was traveling in the opposite direction and would not be able to pass through the same area.

So, we would simply switch ships. No excursions (save one) would be impacted.

After a myriad of questions that Tessa patiently answered, we all understood that the low water levels due to higher than normal temperatures, along with lower than normal rainfall were responsible for our situation.

Everyone accepted the transfer graciously. We would be transferring ships in two days.

Dinner in the dining room after a busy day on our Viking Grand European Tour cruise!

After dinner, Tessa conducted another game in the lounge called Majority Rules.

We were on another team with different passengers we got to know a little better, laughed a whole lot, and our team came in 3rd place.

Another simply wonderful day full of epic events during our Viking Grand European Tour of a lifetime!

Good evening from the grand entry of the Viking Baldur

Day 7: Viking Grand River Tour, Bamberg, Germany

We were sailing this morning, and Robyne and I took advantage of this and slept in.

After breakfast, Robyne began packing. I headed to the lounge for a live demonstration of glassblowing.

By now, I had come to realize that every enrichment presentation by Viking on our Grand European Tour river cruise was an expert in their field .

They were all of the highest caliber, who were highly engaging, that captured and kept our attention. Karl Ittig, the world-renowned glassblower Viking presented that morning was no exception.

That morning, by sheer good fortune, I was the one from the audience randomly selected to participate in the glass blowing demonstration.

I assisted with making a colorful Christmas ornament, which turned out lovely. I even got to keep it as a souvenir! What an amazing surprise.

Assisting with the glassblowing presentation on the Viking Baldur

Karl Ittig brought a large quantity of blown glass of all shapes, sizes, and colors for us to purchase if we wanted.

It was all so fabulous and of course, there was something that pleased just about every guest there. What a great way to spend the morning.

After lunch, we were ready for our included shore excursion: Bamberg Walking Tour.

We grabbed our cards from the reception desk, boarded our motorcoach. Soon we were off into Bamberg’s old town where we met our guide.

The charming panorama of Bamber’s Old Town.

Bamberg was one of the few German cities not destroyed by bombing during WWII. Hitler held the Bamberg Conference there in an attempt to foster unity within the young Nazi party.

Bamberg has a very large Old Town, and it was just as I thought medieval Germany would have looked like! Bamberg was awarded the honor of being a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1993.

Bamberg is to be preserved for her “outstanding universal value,” a site that belongs to all the peoples of the world.

Bamberg is built on 7 hills each topped by a beautiful church. In every direction, you see beautiful steeples.

We toured the Bamberg Cathedral which exposed us to Romanesque architecture. It was massive and very inspiring. The unique city hall was built on a tiny piece of land in the middle of 2 rivers.

Very charming and interesting. Bamberg is known for its distinctive Rauchbier or smoky beer. Many in our group sampled it, but I’m no beer drinker so I passed.

Bamberg’s Old Town Hall has a very clever and historical history.

All too soon, we boarded our motorcoach for the ride back to the Baldur. Some villages we visited during our Viking Grand European Tour were not directly adjacent to where we docked the boat.

Then we needed to be transported. In those cases, Viking provided a local guide to narrate for us the sights we passed along the way.

When we arrived at our destination, another local guide on the ground met us for the city tour. We were never unattended as there was always something interesting to see or question to ask.

Once back on the  Baldu r, everyone was very interested in the specific instructions we would receive from Tessa at the evening port talk, about tomorrow’s transfer to the Viking Magni.

Our luggage was to be left outside our door by 8:00 AM. the next morning. (Not too early!) We would travel by motorcoach as scheduled to Nuremberg, our next scheduled stop.

Viking had scheduled lunch for us in an authentic German Inn. After lunch, we would travel by motorcoach to the Magni, waiting for us in Passau, Germany. 

All guests were saddened to be leaving their beloved Baldur and her staff. However, we all understood the low water levels were an act of God and not in Viking’s control. How could we be angry?

After dinner, we went to the lounge to dance and bid a farewell to the Baldur staff. They treated us so kindly.

Every single one of them went above and beyond to ensure we had a great experience during our Viking Grand European Tour. They felt like family!

There was always a party in the lounge. This evening we were celebrating Morgan’s birthday, and saying goodbye to the Baldur staff.

Day 8:   Nuremberg, Germany

Our packed bags were left outside our stateroom door before 8:00 AM. The included excursion which we selected was Nuremberg through History.

The Viking coaches arrived and we began boarding at 8:30 AM. (There was an optional tour also available that delved into Nuremberg and World War II.)

The rooftops of Nuremberg make a stunning impression.

It was our first cold, rainy, dreary day and that began with a narrated coach ride through Nuremberg as we headed to the “old town” inside the city walls.

We stopped at Zeppelin Field where Hitler held the infamous Nazi rallies. And the Palace of Justice, where the post-war Nuremberg Trials were held. It was heartbreaking and inspiring at the same time.

When we reached medieval Altstadt (Old Town), we headed up to the Imperial Palace, one of Europe’s greatest fortresses. Sweeping views of Nuremberg were there before us.

Along the way, our local guide explained about the Imperial Palace- not built for royalty but for protection. The cobblestone streets added to the charm.

At the Imperial Palace in Nuremberg. So convenient that umbrellas were provided for us during our Viking Grand European River Tour.

Nuremberg’s Market Square with the impressive Church of Our Lady. 

When the guided tour was concluded we were at the city center. There was a herb market going on in the square.

We had free time to wander about the square but being it was a Sunday, shops were closed due to German law.

There was still much to see and the square was filled with stalls of vendors selling all sorts of wonderful and unique items.

Here I am spinning the brass ring at the Beautiful Fountain in the market square in Nuremberg

We were to meet Tessa at noon at the Beautiful Fountain, aptly named, because it was simply an amazing tribute to Gothic architecture, right out in the square.

The fountain was formed in the shape of a church spire and had 40 colorful figures adorning it. There were 2 brass rings embedded in the fence opposite one another.

Legend has it, spinning the gold ring three times will bring good fortune. Yes, of course, we spun!

For me, the highlight of the morning, wandering the Nuremberg Market Square and spinning the gold rings, was at noon when the bells of the Cathedral of the Church of Our Lady rang loudly. 

That is when her glockenspiel high above began to move. The Mannleinlaufen or mechanical clock was activated at midday by the bells.

A drummer and trumpeters process around the Holy Roman Emperor figure as well as other figures. It was definitely a memorable moment during our Viking Grand European Tour.

The glockenspiel of the Cathedral of Our Lady in Nuremberg.

We then headed to a lovely and authentic German restaurant for lunch.  A delicious vegan meal was made especially for me. 

It was delicious, especially the German potato salad which was made with vinegar instead of mayonnaise.

After lunch, we headed to our Viking motor coaches and the 3-hour drive which would take us to our new ship, the Viking Magni. Each coach had its own local guide to accompany it and narrate the sights along the way.

Halfway through, we stopped for a bathroom break and to stretch our legs at a gas station that sold soft drinks and snacks. Soon enough we were back on the road again.

Before we knew it we reached Passau, Germany, and our new ship to continue our Viking Grand European Tour.

The staff of the Viking Magni was waiting with welcome arms for us, and we felt very much reassured when we met them.

There was enough time to visit our new stateroom (same room number,) and see that all of our luggage had arrived before us.

After freshening up, we headed up to the lounge for cocktail hour and Tessa’a port talk. When she was finished, we were officially welcomed to the ship by the officers with a champagne toast!

Here we were being welcomed by the Viking Magni staff to our new ship to continue our Viking Grand European Tour

After dinner, we headed to the lounge for a nightcap and to check out the new duo who would be playing music for us during the second week of our Viking Grand European Tour.

Read next: Viking River Cruise’s Grand European Tour Highlights, Part 2.

Packing List For Your Viking River Cruise

I have listed most of my go-to items that I personally bring when I travel. I hope this list helps you to have a more organized and more relaxing experience.

A  concealed travel pouch  may be one of the most important items you bring to Europe.

This  unisex RFID blocking concealed travel pouch is  lightweight and comes in several colors. It has lots of organization to give you peace of mind.

If you have a pouch already that does not come with the RFID protection, these  RFID  sleeves  would be a solution.

This configuration comes with enough passport and credit card sleeves that the entire family would be protected. They are slim too, so they will easily fit into your pouch or wallet. 

I was never a fan of  packing cubes  until I tried them out! Now  I am sold .

  These Bagail packing cubes   are  the exact ones I use whenever I travel . I cannot believe how much more organized I am now! And I never leave without them anymore.

Don’t forget to bring along a  universal power adapter  on your 2 days in Prague. This  worldwide power plug   is a great example and will charge your phone at the end of your busy days.

And this  world traveler adapter kit  can charge several devices at the same time. This is what you will need when there are several people traveling in your group, or if you bring several electronic devices on your trip that require charging at the same time.

If you are planning on taking a lot of pictures with your phone (like we did!) you will definitely want to consider an  external charging battery .

This  Anker high-speed phone charging battery  is  the exact one I carry with me on all of my trips.

It can be used on a variety of phones, not just an iPhone like I have. And wow is it fast! I like that it holds its charging capabilities for several uses so I do not have to worry about it while out and about.

My daughter gifted me with this  FugeTek selfie stick and tripod  for my birthday. It is made of lightweight aluminum and is Bluetooth enabled.

It connects with my phone easily and it is actually very simple to take group photos or selfies with the remote control. I think it would be a great item to add to your Paris packing list.

Hydration is so important. You want to remain hydrated to support your immune system which in turn will be stronger to fight off any germs you will encounter during your travels. 

You will want to bring your own  refillable water bottle  with you.

I never leave home on a trip without my   Bobble filtration bottle .  the 18.5-ounce size is perfect for travel and it fits nicely in the pocket of a backpack or your purse.

Also when filled with water, it is not too heavy to carry. And the charcoal filter ensures fresh clean water whenever you fill the Bobble. You can find  filter replacements here. 

Perhaps you are traveling a long distance and packing space is a premium. Then this  set of collapsible silicone foldable water bottles  would work well for you. Would not take up much space in your suitcase at all. 

You will want a  backpack or daypack  with you to store snacks, your water bottle, phone, extra clothes, etc. while you are exploring Paris.

This  foldable water-resistant backpack   would be great. It is very affordable and is available in many color options for you to choose from. The fact that it folds down into a zippered pouch will make it easy to pack.

Perhaps you need a more substantial backpack for your international travel. This  antitheft backpack   has a charging port, is water-resistant and can comfortably carry up to a 15.6″ laptop.

You will be walking more than usual during your Viking European river cruise. A sturdy and comfortable walking shoes  are a must-have,  especially because there are a lot of cobblestoned streets.

These  waterproof all-season shoes   are extremely affordable and yet fashionable.  Mostly everyone is familiar with the Skechers brand, and these  Air Run high fashion sneakers  come in a lot of colors to match your outfits and are still affordable.

If you are visiting Europe in warmer weather, maybe you want a pair of sandals  to wear to dinner or to the local cafe, I highly recommend these  Vionics adjustable strap orthotic sandals.

I have several pairs of Vionics that I bring with me *everywhere* I travel. They are very comfortable. 

Bring a lightweight scarf or shawl . Scarves and shawls are very popular in Europe. Both men and women wear scarves, both decoratively and as a layering piece to keep warm.

This  cotton unisex lightweight  scarf is versatile and can be worn in any season. And here’s another option to consider:

this  lightweight sunscreen shawl scarf  would do double duty to protect you from the Czech sun should you spend 2 days in Prague in the warmer seasons as well as being a fashion accessory layering piece.

We all need to  protect our eyes  from the sun’s harmful UVA/UVB rays. These  unisex polarized sunglasses   come in a lot of lens colors and frame designs and are extremely affordable too.

If you are fond of the  aviator-style of sunglasses  these polarized aviators may interest you. 

If you are in need of new luggage to travel to France, this  expandable soft side spinner luggage  is affordable and comes in lots of colors.

If you like hard-sided better, then you may favor this  hard-sided luggage set  better. Both sets come with TSA locks and 8 wheels per piece.

Have you ever been on a Viking river cruise? Which one and please share some highlights of your trip in the comments section below.

Are you dreaming of taking a European river cruise and have some questions? Please ask away in the comments section below.

Please note: I was provided with a complimentary Viking Grand European Tour cruise for myself and a guest, and a stipend, as an opportunity through Viking Cruises for the purpose of this honest review. All opinions are my own.

Linda On the Run  is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com

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Reader Interactions

October 24, 2018 at 2:20 pm

This is awsome. Great job. Your descriptions and photos inspire me to sign up and go enjoy. Thank you.

October 24, 2018 at 2:49 pm

Thank you, Christine. I can def tell you if you went on a Viking cruise, you won’t be disappointed. Check them out. First class all the way.

October 24, 2018 at 3:49 pm

I love your details. Looks like a fabulous trip with your sweet sister. I wouldn’t be able to keep up with you gals. I am putting this trip on my bucket list.

October 24, 2018 at 7:42 pm

Oh Elane! You guys would be out there right next to us! What we really did appreciate tho was how we were able to schedule our days, to be as busy or free as we wanted. The ship was so lovely we didn’t mind spending rest time aboard it. Hope you check it out someday!

October 24, 2018 at 9:07 pm

Sissy, your very articulate writing coupled with your fabulous pictures are a true account of our experiences! A once in a lifetime “first” for us! Reading your blog brought back such fond memories! Thank you for that….. And for the wonderful and awesome trip we had! Viking definitely knocked it out of the park!!! We made friends from all over the world! Many will be friends for the rest of our lives! Thank you for the time of a lifetime Linny!!!!

October 24, 2018 at 10:10 pm

Robyne – yes it was the trip of a lifetime. And I’m very glad we experienced it together.

October 24, 2018 at 9:53 pm

Linda this was such an interesting review! This would be a fabulous cruise to do someday. Do you think the crowd is mostly age 50+?

October 24, 2018 at 10:14 pm

Michelle. Yes. 50s and 60s. Most very active. And lots of 70s. We loved all ages. Everyone had an interesting story to tell.

October 27, 2018 at 9:19 pm

Been wondering about a Viking River Cruise. Photos are great. Helpful to know that the excursions are free of charge. Not been true on many cruises.

October 28, 2018 at 8:36 pm

Sue, Viking offered a free excursion everyday on our cruise. It was def nice as ALL were fantastic.

October 28, 2018 at 3:11 am

Sounds really cool! I’ve nrver been on an actual cruise but I love Germany so stopping at all these awesome german towns sounds like a perfect week!

October 28, 2018 at 8:38 pm

Sarah, I’d never been to Germany before, so visiting so many different cities was absolutely fantastic. River cruising is the way to go!

October 29, 2018 at 1:53 am

I haven’t actually been with Viking however I have done 3 river cruises with APT and next year will be going with Senic…I love river cruising

October 29, 2018 at 8:18 am

Me too Bree. I love you can unpack once and that’s it. No lugging suitcases in and out of car/bus to hotel after hotel. Have fun on your next river cruise!

October 29, 2018 at 5:13 am

Not been on a Viking Cruise but we did a cycle cruise with our teens, cycling along the banks of the Danube during the day which whetted our appetite for more.

October 29, 2018 at 8:21 am

There were tons of cyclists in Europe that we saw. Matter of fact, there were cycling paths the entire time from Amsterdam to Budapest. I bet you had a blast doing that trip with your kids.

October 30, 2018 at 11:09 am

LInda!! What a great job! And I so want to go on a Viking Cruise now. I’ve already emailed your story to my best friend, Marg and she would love to go with me. Marg and I both lived in Heidelberg, Germany, (our fathers were stationed there in the 60’s) so it was so exciting to relive some of the places that we had visited as young teenagers. I’ve been “drinking” in all of your comments and pictures (while at work when I can sit at the computer and take my time in between working/taking calls). I’ve truly enjoyed it, LInda and I’m looking forward to Part 2?? Love ya! Gina

October 30, 2018 at 10:49 pm

Awww thank you Gina. I know you and Marg would have a great time on a river cruise!

March 31, 2019 at 1:13 pm

My daughter and I are going on this VRC this summer. Your comments and photos were so helpful. Do you know if I can use my own Bluetooth headphones with the QuietVox? Appreciate your response.

March 31, 2019 at 8:32 pm

Oh I am so excited for you. If you have not been spoiled by Viking yet, get ready for the time of your life. Not sure about using your own Bluetooth headphones. The headphones used were nothing special and not associated or necessarily compatible w/QuietVox, but I’d say maybe. Best thing to do is ask once you arrive on board. Guess what? I’m jelly!

April 1, 2019 at 10:45 am

Thank you for your prompt reply. I think I’ll check next with my VCR rep. Happy travels!

April 1, 2019 at 11:59 am

No problem at all.

July 21, 2019 at 11:21 pm

Hey Linda! Hubby and I are booked for a Viking cruise, Basel to Amsterdam in November 2019. I was wondering when your cruise was? What part of the year? Looks like you and your sis had a great time!!

July 21, 2019 at 11:52 pm

Hi Tiffany. Our cruise was in mid-September. November sounds like a perfect time to explore Europe w/Viking. I am jealous!!!!

November 4, 2019 at 2:28 am

Hi Linda, My husband and I are going in June of 2020. Can’t wait. Thank you for all the helpful information and a guide to the whole trip. It looks wonderful.

November 8, 2019 at 6:14 pm

Your trip will be here before you know it! I am happy I am able to help you with your trip preparations. Viking Cruises is such an epic company, you are in great hands. Have a fabulous time!

March 26, 2020 at 8:58 am

Hi! Nice to read this whole blog as it has some quality information which is very beneficial for people like me. I hope you will post more such as that, By the way, Thanks for sharing such a great experience with us.

September 27, 2020 at 8:58 pm

Hello Linda. My husband & I are planning to go on either the Danube (8-day) or the Grand Euro (15-day) as you & your sister did in Fall of 2021. Great detail for me and wonderful planning tips. Thank you. May I ask you a few questions? Did you ever feel the Grand Euro was too long? Did you enjoy the first week or the second week best (cities/ports)? I see you actually chose a balcony room. We would probably have to stay with the less expensive standard room with only a window. Do you think that would diminish the experience on the boat. I’ve read that much of the time in your room is only sleeping… Thanks so much for your time & hopeful response. Lola

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A Zürich, Switzerland Land Trip With Viking River Cruise

By: Author Melody Pittman

Posted on September 10, 2023

During our unforgettable Paris to the Swiss Alps cruise with Viking River Cruises, my husband (Eddie) and I found ourselves in the captivating city of Zürich, Switzerland. Although I had been to Switzerland before, Zürich was an unexplored gem. Viking River Cruises seamlessly transported us from the cruise ship to the hotel, and later to the airport, as part of their all-inclusive package.

Zürich bewitched us with its mesmerizing beauty and undeniable charm, despite being notoriously expensive. Over the course of our two-day stay, we eagerly immersed ourselves in the city’s delights, making the most of the complimentary walking tour and invigorating boat ride organized by Viking River Cruises. Allow me to share a glimpse of what awaits you on your visit to Zürich.

Read more about the 12 day river cruise here.

Zürich Scenery

Breathtaking scenery unfurls in every direction in Zürich. Whether it be the grandeur of the architectural masterpieces or the vibrant façades of historical buildings, the snow-capped Swiss Alps serving as a backdrop or the enchanting cobblestone streets that wound their way through the city, there is no shortage of picturesque moments that will prompt your camera to work overtime.

Zürich is an incredible city to explore on foot. Without even realizing it, we covered an impressive seven miles in a single day, diligently recorded by our trusty Fitbit. Such was the pleasure derived from our stroll that the concept of distance faded away, leaving us fully engrossed in the awe-inspiring ambiance that unfolded at every turn.

The Food in Zürich

Switzerland is renowned for its exquisite culinary offerings, with one of my personal favorites being cheese. Everywhere you go, you’ll encounter a plethora of exotic cheese choices. During my visit, indulging in authentic Swiss cheese fondue at the Swiss Chuchi Restaurant , nestled in the heart of the old town, was a must for me and my companion Eddie.

We opted for the traditional recipe, combining Vaudois cheese, white wine, cherry liquor, and garlic, resulting in a gastronomic delight that exceeded all expectations.

Another popular cheese delicacy in Zürich is raclette, which has recently gained popularity even in American eateries. While exploring the town, we noticed numerous raclette shops scattered around, its tantalizing aroma captivating our senses well before catching sight of it.

It’s worth noting that dining in Zürich can be quite costly. Simple meals often came with a hefty price tag of $24, and even a small bottled soda would cost between $4 and $7 at our hotel. Surprisingly, beer turned out to be more economical than both water and soda.

However, in the old town, we stumbled upon a gem called Blue Monkey —a delightful Thai restaurant boasting chic decor and offering a lunch buffet priced at $26 per person. I wholeheartedly recommend this establishment for an exquisite culinary experience.

Overall, Switzerland’s gastronomic offerings, particularly its cheese creations, exceeded all expectations, and I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of my culinary adventure in this beautiful country.

Parade Square

Eddie and I thoroughly enjoyed strolling through Paradeplatz (Parade Square) located in downtown Zürich. This upscale district is renowned for its exceptional shopping opportunities and the chance to observe people in action.

Parade Square places fashion and accessories at center stage, while home accents come in a close second.

If you happen to be staying outside the downtown area, fret not as getting there is incredibly convenient via the tram system. Coming from someone who seldom relies on public transportation, I can attest to its ease of use.

Tram stations provide instructions in English and accept credit cards. They are maintained well, operate efficiently, and offer a superb means of traversing Zürich. As you journey through the city, do observe the dignified architecture and stunning floral displays that grace its streets.

Lake Zürich

During our Viking River post-cruise excursion, we had the pleasure of embarking on a delightful boat ride around the picturesque Lake Zurich. The boat tour commences from Bürkliplatz and extends for approximately 90 minutes.

With both indoor and outdoor seating options, passengers are treated to breathtaking views of the serene lake and majestic, snow-capped mountains.

Our route led us to the charming medieval town of Rapperswil, featuring a captivating 12th-century castle gracefully perched on a hillside across the lake. If desired, passengers had the flexibility to disembark in Rapperswil and catch a later boat back into town.

Undoubtedly, the boat ride boasts exceptional scenery, allowing guests to relish the rejuvenating fresh air. Moreover, this memorable experience came at no cost for Viking River Cruise guests, ensuring that you seize the opportunity to partake in it.

Our Zürich Hotel

During our Viking River Cruise, we had the pleasure of being accommodated at the Sheraton Zürich Hotel , an elegant and sophisticated establishment situated in a cosmopolitan district. The rooms provide a comfortable sitting area, heavenly beds, an ergonomic desk and work area, a mini-fridge, and a refreshing shower, ensuring a pleasant stay.

To the delight of cruise ship guests, Viking offers a complimentary breakfast in a private space at the hotel, which proved to be a significant money-saving opportunity. Moreover, the Sheraton Hotel’s convenient location near the Toni-Areal tram station opens up a plethora of possibilities for exploring the city.

Zürich, Switzerland: One for the Books!

Zürich itself is known for its stunning scenery, making it a lovely city to visit. As part of Switzerland, a truly breathtaking country with an abundance of attractions, Zürich stands out as my favorite city thus far.

Read more from our Viking River Cruises:

Things to Know for your Viking Cruise

Remembering My Rhine River Cruise

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Friday 18th of October 2019

I love Viking cruises, I had the pleasure of doing one in Portugal. I worked in Switzerland for 3 years and I can tell you that it is a BEAUTIFUL country!

Melody Pittman

Saturday 19th of October 2019

Nice. I'd like to do the Portugal one, too. I visited there on a cruise many years ago and really loved the country. You've had such a fun life. ; )

We've spent quite a bit of time in Switzerland but only about a day in Zurich. You really bring it to life. There are so many things to see when we return. I miss raclette so would definitely seek it out!

It is popping up all over the states this year. In Zurich, we could smell it before we saw it. LOL Thanks for reading!

Michael Hodgson

Wednesday 16th of October 2019

Been to Zurich numerous times and love the city ... though as you noted it is VERY expensive!!! And the food scene is off the charts, just be sure it is budgeted for. Cheese and chocolate in fondues, spreads, and all sorts of creative variations are enough to drive a foodie nuts. Did you get a chance to make it over to Konstanz by chance and the Bodensee?

Thursday 17th of October 2019

I didn't. This was at the end of our 12 day trip and we were spent. ;) Thanks for the suggestions for next time.

I've only been to Geneva as it is close to my house in the French Alps. I'm a fan of cheese fondue. It's not the healthiest meal but it's very satisfying on a cold winter's day! And the charm of Swiss town is always an attraction!

Eric Gamble

Tuesday 15th of October 2019

Your Killing me with all that food Melody! Darcee & I are so excited to take our 1st ever Viking cruise for our honeymoon over New Years Eve up the Danube. Though we wont hit Zurich, we are so excited to see the rest. But with regards to you Zurich land day, what a food extravaganza! I personally would have swapped out that cheese fondue for a chocolate one but that is cause I have a problem...well I don't think it is a problem but essentially I am the cookie monster of chocolate. Love all the buildings around Zurich too. I have only been to Lucerne and that was a long time ago. But I definitely want to return and explore Zurich also.

Nice! What a way to ring in the new year! I know you will love it! The Danube is super fun. When you sail into Budapest at night, just lay your camera, phone, etc. aside and be fully present in the amazing views. It is so freaking incredible and I was nearly moved to tears. Can't wait to follow along! ;)

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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

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Updated on August 17, 2022 by Sherry Laskin

5 Important Things To Do To Prepare For Your Viking Cruise

A bucket-list trip is a perfect way to celebrate major milestones in your life. In my case, it is our 25th wedding anniversary and we have long wanted to take a Viking Ocean Cruise on the Mediterranean. We decided on the Mediterranean Odyssey , a 13-day cruise which visits six countries and includes 10 tours.

Once you book your cruise, there is still quite a bit of planning to do. As an experienced traveler, I am often amazed by how many people arrive on a trip with no clue how everything works because they didn’t read the materials provided prior to the trip. They are disappointed they can’t do a shore excursion or eat at a specialty onboard restaurant because they didn’t reserve it. As an obsessive reader, I delve deep into the options and small print so we won’t miss anything important. To get the most of your voyage, take advantage of all the tools Viking offers to help you get ready for your bucket-list trip. It really will enhance your experience. Here are five important things to do to prepare for your Viking cruise.

1. Review The Viking Website And Put Important Dates On Your Calendar

The first thing you should do is review the Viking Inclusive Value webpage . Read this over and become familiar with all the extras Viking offers as this will be important when you start booking shore excursions, restaurant reservations, and drink packages. For example Viking provides beer and wine with lunch and dinner at no additional charge. This can impact your decision as to whether you wish to purchase a beverage package. They also include a complimentary shore excursion in each port.

Set up your My Viking Journey account. You will need your booking number to register. Once registered, go to the guest information section and fill out the required forms. Also review the Passport and Visa Requirements. A key piece of information here is that your passport must be valid for six months past your travel dates. Good to know! The Visa section will let you know if there are any requirements. Lastly, review the calendar. Each day of your cruise is listed with options to book spa treatments, dining reservations, and shore excursions. Your cabin size will determine when you can book these options. Dates range from 60 to 107 days before your cruise. Note when you can begin booking and that it is very specific including the day and hour in your time zone. Make an appointment with yourself to book these options. Things fill up fast, and you don’t want to miss out.

2. Prepare For Cultural Immersion Opportunities

This is one of my favorite features that Viking offers. Viking Cruises are known as The Thinking Person’s Cruise , and you can see why with all the cultural resources they offer. Begin by going to the itinerary for your cruise on the website. In my case, it is Mediterranean Odyssey and I went to the section on Resources. The first section to check out is filmography, and you can choose by either country or itinerary. There is an extensive list of movies, documentaries, and television shows either filmed in or about your cruise destinations. What a great resource to begin learning about the different countries you will visit and what you might like to see! So many places I have put on my list to tour are based on movies, books, or artwork that I love. Another option is Viking TV , which has a variety of programming. There is a section that is destination-specific and worth checking out.

Viking actually has a Resident Historian Program. It is part of the onboard cultural enrichment program included with your cruise. The historian hosts lectures on the history and culture of the ports you will visit. The Chief Historian has curated an extensive list of books to enjoy prior to your cruise. I was blown away by the selection for the Mediterranean Odyssey itinerary which included everything from Shakespeare to books about the famous artwork travelers have the opportunity to see at port stops. There really is something for everyone.

I love to cook and I found a variety of recipes inspired by Viking Ocean Cruises from the extensive recipe collection on Viking’s website. I feel like food is such an important part of travel and can give you an insight into the local culture. There are quite a few recipes I look forward to trying. Preparing a themed dinner can be a fun way to build excitement for your upcoming cruise. I also love craft cocktails and this homemade limoncello recipe just says Italy to me.

3. Pick Your Shore Excursions

I have to admit I have been obsessing over which shore excursions to pick. To begin, go to your cruise’s itinerary page. Start at Day 1 and click Read More . There will be no shore excursions offered on the first or last day of each cruise. The page is worth visiting for an overview of the port city and some videos. Then work your way through each day and read all the offerings. Some key things to consider with each excursion is the intensity level, which can range from easy to demanding. Read the descriptions of the intensity levels to make sure it is an activity you want to participate in. Viking also assigns flags and icons which further describe the tour. I like that Viking provides excursions that cover a wide variety of fitness levels and interests.

As you look through each day, note what the included shore excursion is. Typically it is either an orientation walking or bus tour of the port of call. For some ports, this will be sufficient for me, especially in the smaller towns where I can walk to all the sites I want to visit. This is where your research in cultural immersion will pay off in helping to decide what you want to do. Viking also does a Kitchen Table excursion which takes place in two parts. In the morning you will travel by mini-coach with the executive chef to visit a local food market to pick out ingredients for an evening meal. In the late afternoon, you will join the culinary team and help to prepare a meal using the local ingredients you helped select earlier. This excursion is offered at multiple ports.

Now make a list and pick two or three selections (this gives you a backup if your first choice is booked) for each day so that you are prepared when sign-up day opens. If you are booked in a suite, you should be able to get all your choices. If you are booked in the different Veranda levels, registration for the majority of the cabins opens up either 60 or 67 days from your cruise. With your list ready you will save time by not having to decide on an excursion. As it gets closer to sign-up day, check to verify which excursions are offered as they are subject to change.

4. Get In Shape

I am very intrigued by some of the shore excursions that involve biking and kayaking. It’s been a while since I have been on a bike, so my training will involve some cycling to build up to the 10 miles I will need to ride. Once you have planned your activities, look at the physical requirements for each. If you’ve never kayaked, try an hour rental to see if you like it. Are there lots of hills or steps on a tour? Taking long walks is a good way to increase your fitness level. If you don’t have hills in your area, look for a stadium where you can walk up and down the stairs. I avoid gaining weight on a cruise by always taking the stairs and not the elevator when on the ship. Don’t underestimate how much walking you will be doing. Often there is a long walk from the pier to the start of your excursion. It has been my experience that I walk 14,000 or more steps when in port.

5. Two Weeks Is A Long Time; Pack Accordingly

When planning what to bring on your cruise, visit Life on Board for the dress code and tips on what to pack. Viking is all about the destination, and on my 13-day cruise, there is only one day at sea. Viking takes this into account with their dress code, which has no formal nights in the evening. Dress is “elegant casual” with no jeans, but the World Cafe is casual in the evening. Look at what shore excursions you are taking and plan accordingly.

Two weeks is a long time to pack for, but Viking offers self-service launderettes on Decks 3 to 6 which are free to use and even have complimentary detergent. Having the option to do some laundry can help lighten your packing list. Some stateroom categories include laundry services, and it is available for a fee through your steward if not included.

Another resource I like to use is reviews. I also read trip reports. Personal experiences give you insights that you won’t receive on the company website. Check out TravelAwaits contributor Judy Freeman’s advice on how to make the most of your Viking cruise . Stephanie Vermillion captures the spirit of Viking Cruises in her article “ 9 Reasons to Visit Norway by Cruise .”

By taking the extra time to plan, your trip will go smoother and you will know what to expect. Bon voyage!

This article originally appeared on TravelAwaits

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Details here .

Viking Vilhjalm Review: Festive Christmas Cruise on the Danube

Mimi Slawoff

Shortly after checking in at reception on the elegant Viking Viljhalm longship docked in Budapest, my daughter Christina and I were escorted to our stateroom. Our luggage arrived a few minutes later. Christina and I were excited to experience our first Viking river cruise as well as our first European Christmas markets.

The Viking Viljhalm sails along the Danube from Budapest, Hungary, to Passau, Germany, with port stops in Bratislava, Slovakia, and Vienna, Linz and Krems in Austria. For our Viking Danube Christmas Delights cruise, the Viljhalm was festively decorated for the holidays with garland, ornaments and a Christmas tree.

Since all fees are paid upfront (and we booked our shore excursions in advance), we enjoyed a relaxing and exciting week onboard Viking Viljhalm. The staff was friendly and the service was impeccable.

Viking’s all-inclusive fares cover one complimentary shore excursion, free beer, wine and soft drinks with onboard lunch and dinner, free wifi, port taxes and fees. Ground transfers are included with the purchase of Viking Air. Additional shore excursions, and pre- and post-cruise stays are available for purchase.

Read More: A Merry Viking River Cruise from Budapest

Viking Longships

The elegant Viking Viljhalm is among the river cruise company’s longships that sail in Europe. The 433-foot Viljhalm launched in 2016 and has the same design as the first longships that debuted in 2012. Reflecting Viking’s Norwegian heritage, these streamlined ships easily navigate the Danube and numerous locks – an exciting feature of a river cruise. The Viljhalm longship comfortably accommodates 190 guests and 53 crew members.

Like the other longships, the Viljhalm has four decks. The Main Deck (staterooms without balconies), Middle Deck (staterooms with balconies/verandas, restaurant, guest services and a shop), Upper Deck (staterooms with balconies, verandas, lounge, bar, Aquavit Terrace and library), and Sun Deck. There’s an elevator that travels from the Middle to Upper Deck.

The ship’s spacious public spaces and floor-to-ceiling windows and doors create a bright and airy environment for a scenic sailing experience. And a smooth and quiet sailing thanks to the ecologically friendly hybrid engines that produce less vibration.

Types of Staterooms

The Viljhalm’s 95 staterooms have private balconies and/or verandas and range in size from 135 square feet for a standard room to 445 square feet for an Explorer Suite.

We stayed in a Veranda Stateroom, which measures 205 square feet including the balcony with floor-to-ceiling windows. The beds in the staterooms feature plush king beds but can be configured for two twins, which is what we requested.

After we unpacked, utilizing ample dresser drawers and closets, we stowed our luggage under our beds to free up floor space. There was plenty of space for each of us to have our own side of the room to dress and primp for dinner.

Room amenities include a mini fridge, a flat-screen TV with an infotainment system featuring live TV channels, complimentary Movies on Demand and in-ship programming. Bottled water is replenished daily. While the bathroom was somewhat compact, it had premium bath amenities.

We enjoyed our balcony although our December sailing made it chilly to stay outside for long. However the floor-to-ceiling windows made it easy to watch the passing scenery from inside our room.

Read More: Corinthia Hotel Review: Luxury Stay Pre-Cruise in Budapest

Elegant Atrium

Located on the Main Deck, the spacious atrium has a reception desk, guest services and a small shop. It’s also where you check in and out for shore excursions.

Aquavit Terrace

Located at the bow, the indoor/outdoor Aquavit Terrace is a lovely space for a casual breakfast or lunch. Whether you sit indoors, which has floor-to-ceiling windows and doors, or outdoors on the terrace for al fresco dining, you’ll get great views of the passing scenery.

SheBuysTravel Tip: The Aquavit Terrace is one of the best places to watch the ship pass through locks.

Adjacent to the Aquavit Terrace is the Lounge, a spacious, inviting area with comfortable seating areas, a bar and a dance floor. During the day, people hang out reading a book or chatting with friends. It becomes more lively later in the evening when people gather for cocktails, port talks and after-dinner entertainment. Evening shows feature regional performers, sing-a-longs, trivia games, and music by Viljhalm’s onboard musician.

Main Restaurant

Meals are served in the main restaurant. Christina and I agreed the ship’s food was superb and exceeded our expectations. The menu features regional cuisine and chef specialties. For example, while in Austria, the chef’s tasting platter included pumpkin seed-crusted chicken thigh, braised beef, cheese-filled sausage, potato salad, dumplings, red cabbage and sauerkraut.

Throughout the week, there was a buffet and omelet station or you could order eggs, pancakes, French toast and other items from the menu. Lunch and dinner entrees included daily classic items (salads, cheeseburgers (including vegan), hot dogs, steak, etc) and regional dishes (goulash, soups, pasta, sausages, chicken paprikash, etc).

Complimentary beverages including beer and wine are served with meals. We upgraded to the Silver Spirits drink package ($25 per person, per day), which offers premium wine, champagne, cocktails and aperitifs.

On the ship’s Upper Deck, there’s a cozy library (with books and games) and two computers.

Although our Viking Veranda stateroom had a delightful private balcony, we often went up to the sun deck for spectacular 360-degree views. While cruising through Austria’s enchanting Wachau Valley, the ship’s program director pointed out castle ruins, vineyards, and charming towns.

The top deck has a walking track and lounge chairs.

Where does Viking Villhalm sail?

The ship sails from Budapest, Hungary to Passau, Germany, and from Passau to Budapest.

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• River Cruising

Viking Rhine Excursions: What Not To Miss?

By Cruiseoholic000 , September 19, 2017 in River Cruising

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Cruiseoholic000

I have booked my included excursions and am waiting for the other excursions to go “live”. We are sailing from Amsterdam to Basel on Viking Summer 2018.

I was wondering if anyone had any input on what are the not to miss excursions by Viking or other options. In addition the cost?

Is there something better? A private tour company or just walk off the boat to specific destination?

I thought I read somewhere that you can book a excursion online (pay for it) and when you get to the boat you can cancel it. Then re-book with your on board credit. Is this true?

Strasbourg, France

-Strasbourg Highlights - 4 hours/Included

-Alsatian Wine Tasting ( for us skip)

-Taste the best of Alsace (for us skip )

-Mercedes-Benz Factory (for us skip )

Heidelberg, Germany

-Panoramic Heidelberg Included - 6 hour/Included

Koblenz, Germany

-Marksburg Castle - 3 hours/included

-Moselle Wine Tasting (for us skip )

-Ehrenbreitstein Fortress 3 hours cost $?

-Dine in Rüdesheim am Rhein - (debating on this one, book on ship and use credit ?)

-Wine Tasting & Dinner at Eberbach Monastery (for us skip )

Cologne, Germany

-Cologne Walking Tour 2 hour/included

-Brühl UNESCO Palaces 3 hours/ cost (maybe? Book on ship)

-Top of Cologne (for us skip )

- Cologne’s Beer Culture & Dinner (for us skip )

Black Forest, Germany

- Looking into a private tour for Black Forest

- 2:00 – 5:45PM: Optional Excursion – Colmar City Tour ( I definitely would like to do this and would book before we leave. Anyone know the cost?

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Colmar tour is currently $49

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notamermaid

Just a couple of thoughts.

I think you might enjoy the Brühl excursion to the palaces if you like that sort of architecture. I do not think any other stop on your cruise offers a similar experience.

On Ehrenbreitstein fortress I do not know what Viking includes, perhaps a commentary and shuttle, but you can do this on your own if you take the cable car there and back. I recommend it for the views. Here is some info (needs updating): https://www.seilbahn-koblenz.de/homepage.html

In Rüdesheim I recommend the wine tasting and dinner at Eberbach monastery. You might not drink wine but I am sure the hosts will be accommodating to your wishes. The buildings are very interesting and the scenery lovely. A bit more sophisticated than Rüdesheim but for entertainment "the olde worlde kind" Rüdesheim is good. Kloster Eberbach: http://kloster-eberbach.de/en/monastery

Have fun planning.

Just a couple of thoughts.   On Ehrenbreitstein fortress I do not know what Viking includes, perhaps a commentary and shuttle, but you can do this on your own if you take the cable car there and back. I recommend it for the views   notamermaid

On past cruises, you could not do this on your own because the ship moves to Marksburg castle to pick up guests from the included excursion. We left the ship at appx 9:00 and were picked around noon below the castle by the ship. It's been awhile but I think the ship left at 9:30 from Koblenz.

OneSixtyToOne

I highly recommend the Brühl UNESCO Palaces. It was one of the highlights on our Grand European tour.

The Rococo architecture is incredible and the grand staircase is more impressive that the one at the Wurzburg Bishop's Residenze.

You also visit the falcon hunting "lodge" where they really roughed it.

The staircase there is covered in Delft tile.

• 2 weeks later...
• 1 month later...

So on a whim I took a look at my Viking Journey. Turns out the excursion are up (way earlier than I thought). Can you get a refund if you change your mind? How do you find out the time as I am looking into a private tour. I don't want to miss Colmar 69;p

If you prepay for excursion through Viking Journey it is not refundable. In general you can book when you are aboard the ship but some popular tours do fill up.

You will not be given specific times until the night before at the daily briefing. Due to a number of factors it is impossible to give precise times on river cruises. For example you may depart/arrive earlier or later based on river traffic. You travel through many locks and will queue up. If you miss your allotted time, you go to the back of the line. I've also been on board when we departed early because there was an opening in the lock traffic.

The best guesstimate for times are already posted. The tour will have a duration and will state if it is in the morning, afternoon, or all day.

On our cruise this past September I believe the only excursion that sold out before the trip was the Rudeshiem dinner. The only optional tour we did was Colmar, and would recommend it - a delightful town.

I just booked Colmar tour and was surprised I could use my on board ship credit online.

We took the Colmar village tour which was very enjoyable. Friends took the historic tour in Colmar and loved it. The dinner in Rudesheim was a fun night, good and plentiful food , entertainment also.

I have booked my included excursions and am waiting for the other excursions to go “live”. We are sailing from Amsterdam to Basel on Viking Summer 2018.       I was wondering if anyone had any input on what are the not to miss excursions by Viking or other options. In addition the cost?       Is there something better? A private tour company or just walk off the boat to specific destination?       I thought I read somewhere that you can book a excursion online (pay for it) and when you get to the boat you can cancel it. Then re-book with your on board credit. Is this true?       Strasbourg, France       -Strasbourg Highlights - 4 hours/Included   -Alsatian Wine Tasting ( for us skip)   -Taste the best of Alsace (for us skip )   -Mercedes-Benz Factory (for us skip )               Heidelberg, Germany   -Panoramic Heidelberg Included - 6 hour/Included               Koblenz, Germany   -Marksburg Castle - 3 hours/included   -Moselle Wine Tasting (for us skip )   -Ehrenbreitstein Fortress 3 hours cost $?   -Dine in Rüdesheim am Rhein - (debating on this one, book on ship and use credit ?)   -Wine Tasting & Dinner at Eberbach Monastery (for us skip )               Cologne, Germany   -Cologne Walking Tour 2 hour/included   -Brühl UNESCO Palaces 3 hours/ cost (maybe? Book on ship)   -Top of Cologne (for us skip )   - Cologne’s Beer Culture & Dinner (for us skip )       Black Forest, Germany       - Looking into a private tour for Black Forest   - 2:00 – 5:45PM: Optional Excursion – Colmar City Tour ( I definitely would like to do this and would book before we leave. Anyone know the cost?

We did this cruise at the end of August last year.

The included Strasbourg tour was very nice - beautiful city.

We did the Mercedes tour as well. DH enjoyed it. I wasn’t bored [emoji12]. If you’re a car buff, a Mercedes fan or just interested in the assembly line process, it was interesting. I was amazed at how clean everything was and how many women were working on the line. If you go, note that you can’t take ANYTHING in with you - not even a small purse. You have to leave your things on the bus or use one of their lockers.

Heidelberg was gorgeous. It was one of my favorite stops. I wished we had more time there.

We did Marksburg Castle - it’s worth the climb and traversing the rough stone entrance. The buses can’t park or turn around at the top so you have to walk up the last loop of the road. If you are not in the first tour group, you get a bit of a rest [emoji2]

On our cruise you had to choose Marksburg or Ehrenbreitstein. You couldn’t do both because the ship moved on from Koblenz and we were picked up closer to Marksburg at Braubach. People who did the fortress were bused to to Braubach. We are doing the Grand European Tour next fall and it includes a stop at Koblenz. We hope to do Ehrenbreitstein then. I looked through all of my trip paperwork and I can’t find the price - sorry.

We had lots of time in Cologne after the included walking tour. Unfortunately we were not docked close to the city center. It’s the luck of the draw. There was a shuttle bus that went back and forth.

We went to the Roman-Germanic museum which was very interesting. After that we went to Früh - brewer of the famous Kölsch beer for lunch and some beer, of course.

We were there late because many people did the beer and dinner optional excursion. They all said it was great fun.

We will be in Cologne again on our cruise next fall. We will skip the included tour. I might do the Top of Cologne (this was not offered on our cruise because we were there on Sunday). We will definitely go back to Früh and possibly do the beer and dinner tour.

We enjoyed the Black Forest tour. I didn’t find the bus ride overly long or boring but we had a great tour guide who kept us entertained. The huge clock is cool and we got to see it in action. We did the hike along the waterfall and it was lovely but steep [emoji15]. I had a piece of Black Forest cake. I just had to do it. It was yummy!

We did the Colmar village tour in the morning with the same guide. I absolutely loved it. It’s quaint and just lovely. I would recommend it highly. They brought us back to the ship with time for lunch before we set out for the Black Forest.

Our experience with these 2 stops is why it’s nearly impossible to plan tours on your own. When I first booked the tours on the MyViking site, the Black Forest tour and the Colmar village tour were at the same time, so I booked the WWII one so we would at least see a little of the town.

A few weeks later I get an email saying that my schedule had a conflict. I went into the site and the times had been changed and now the WWII tour was at the same time as the Black Forest trip. This was the only time I had difficulty dealing with Viking. I called to straighten this out and change the WWII tour to the village tour - which was now no longer a conflict with the Black Forest trip.

The guy I spoke with was kind of rude and he scolded me for picking 2 things in the same time slot - which I didn’t do and the system won’t allow. He would not accept my assertion that Viking changed the time. He did grudgingly cancel the WWII tour but he told me I had to add the village tour myself.

I hung up and wrote to the tellus email they always post here and they were fantastic. Contacted me right away, apologized and took care of the change for me.

Anyway after all that, when we got to Breisach where both of these tours leave from, they announced that the times of all the tours had changed once again because another Viking ship had arrived at the same time we did - a change in their schedule. We still got to do both tours but in the reverse order. So you never know.

I think I covered everything. If you have any other questions, just ask and have a wonderful time on your cruise!

Sent from my iPad using Forums

My Viking journey says Colmar is going to be in the afternoon. Do they change the tours from morning to afternoon often? I can't wait to see Colmar as it lookeds like a great stop but just found out I had ancestors from the area.

We did this cruise at the end of August last year.   The included Strasbourg tour was very nice - beautiful city. We did the Mercedes tour as well. DH enjoyed it. I wasn’t bored [emoji12]. If you’re a car buff, a Mercedes fan or just interested in the assembly line process, it was interesting. I was amazed at how clean everything was and how many women were working on the line. If you go, note that you can’t take ANYTHING in with you - not even a small purse. You have to leave your things on the bus or use one of their lockers.   Heidelberg was gorgeous. It was one of my favorite stops. I wished we had more time there.   We did Marksburg Castle - it’s worth the climb and traversing the rough stone entrance. The buses can’t park or turn around at the top so you have to walk up the last loop of the road. If you are not in the first tour group, you get a bit of a rest [emoji2]   On our cruise you had to choose Marksburg or Ehrenbreitstein. You couldn’t do both because the ship moved on from Koblenz and we were picked up closer to Marksburg at Braubach. People who did the fortress were bused to to Braubach. We are doing the Grand European Tour next fall and it includes a stop at Koblenz. We hope to do Ehrenbreitstein then. I looked through all of my trip paperwork and I can’t find the price - sorry.   We had lots of time in Cologne after the included walking tour. Unfortunately we were not docked close to the city center. It’s the luck of the draw. There was a shuttle bus that went back and forth.   We went to the Roman-Germanic museum which was very interesting. After that we went to Früh - brewer of the famous Kölsch beer for lunch and some beer, of course.   We were there late because many people did the beer and dinner optional excursion. They all said it was great fun.   We will be in Cologne again on our cruise next fall. We will skip the included tour. I might do the Top of Cologne (this was not offered on our cruise because we were there on Sunday). We will definitely go back to Früh and possibly do the beer and dinner tour.   We enjoyed the Black Forest tour. I didn’t find the bus ride overly long or boring but we had a great tour guide who kept us entertained. The huge clock is cool and we got to see it in action. We did the hike along the waterfall and it was lovely but steep [emoji15]. I had a piece of Black Forest cake. I just had to do it. It was yummy!   We did the Colmar village tour in the morning with the same guide. I absolutely loved it. It’s quaint and just lovely. I would recommend it highly. They brought us back to the ship with time for lunch before we set out for the Black Forest.   Our experience with these 2 stops is why it’s nearly impossible to plan tours on your own. When I first booked the tours on the MyViking site, the Black Forest tour and the Colmar village tour were at the same time, so I booked the WWII one so we would at least see a little of the town.   A few weeks later I get an email saying that my schedule had a conflict. I went into the site and the times had been changed and now the WWII tour was at the same time as the Black Forest trip. This was the only time I had difficulty dealing with Viking. I called to straighten this out and change the WWII tour to the village tour - which was now no longer a conflict with the Black Forest trip.   The guy I spoke with was kind of rude and he scolded me for picking 2 things in the same time slot - which I didn’t do and the system won’t allow. He would not accept my assertion that Viking changed the time. He did grudgingly cancel the WWII tour but he told me I had to add the village tour myself.   I hung up and wrote to the tellus email they always post here and they were fantastic. Contacted me right away, apologized and took care of the change for me.   Anyway after all that, when we got to Breisach where both of these tours leave from, they announced that the times of all the tours had changed once again because another Viking ship had arrived at the same time we did - a change in their schedule. We still got to do both tours but in the reverse order. So you never know.   I think I covered everything. If you have any other questions, just ask and have a wonderful time on your cruise!     Sent from my iPad using Forums

If the Rudeshiem dinner is sold out do you think it is possible to do something similar on our own? Walk off the ship shop and find a place to eat? Is this a safe area? Anyone know the docking area so I can take a look on google maps?

Another question.... How long after the tour of free time are you given in Colmar?

On the optional medieval Colmar we had at least an hour if not longer of free time Had time to wander, shop, and enjoy a beverage

This is the map of Rüdesheim: https://www.ruedesheim.de/fileadmin/RUE/www.ruedesheim.de/Inhalte/7_Service/7_6_Stadtplan/0311-14-R%C3%9CD_R%C3%BCdinfo_2015_Plan.pdf The docking areas of the large ships are numbers 7 to 1 I believe. You can relatively safely walk along the bank, you are bound not to be the only one, it is not far into town and there are plenty of restaurants.

Notamermaid thank so much for the map! I am thinking yes to skip the excursion andgo to town on our own in Rudesheim. Does anyone know what time the boat gets in and leaves? I am thinking maybe a cable car ride to Niederwalddenkmal (car closes at 1900?), shopping ( Drosselgasse) and dinner.

On the optional medieval Colmar we had at least an hour if not longer of free time Had time to wander, shop, and enjoy a beverage     Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Agree. Something over an hour.

We had plenty of time to tour the beautiful Little Venice section, tour inside the Cathedral and head back to the meeting point restaurant for a toilet break and a drink had we desired.

Highly recommend this tour.

@cruiseoholic000,

On our June Rhine Getaway A->B, the Rudesheim stop was from 5:30 PM to midnight.

As you have heard, Rudesheim is quite safe and has many, many restaurants. We were getting tired of German food by then, and had a very good Italian meal in Rudesheim. You will find plenty of choices.

• 4 months later...

I would be careful about this excursion: Brühl UNESCO Palaces

When we were on the Grand European in July 2016 we booked this side trip. Got the Palace and it was booked for a wedding or event at that time and we were allowed to see one room and then were quickly ushered out to spend the rest of the time at the hunting lodge. That was nice to see, but since the time was allotted to see both, we had way too much time standing around with nothing much to see. Since we'd paid to see the whole thing, it was pretty disappointing. We were told this happens fairly often. I'm not sure if there's any way for Viking to know in advance if you'll be able to see the whole things or not.

Going on the Rhine Getaway in July 2018 and won't pre-book any excursions. There were several impromptu excursions offered we would have liked to have done, but were pre-booked on other excursions so we would have lost our money if we'd changed courses. We did not see any excursion fill to capacity on the Grand European Tour. I'd recommend waiting to book everything on the ship.

barbierahrah

I have booked my included excursions and am waiting for the other excursions to go “live”. We are sailing from Amsterdam to Basel on Viking Summer 2018.   I was wondering if anyone had any input on what are the not to miss excursions by Viking or other options. In addition the cost?   Is there something better? A private tour company or just walk off the boat to specific destination?   I thought I read somewhere that you can book a excursion online (pay for it) and when you get to the boat you can cancel it. Then re-book with your on board credit. Is this true?     Strasbourg, France   -Strasbourg Highlights - 4 hours/Included -Alsatian Wine Tasting ( for us skip) -Taste the best of Alsace (for us skip ) -Mercedes-Benz Factory (for us skip )       Heidelberg, Germany -Panoramic Heidelberg Included - 6 hour/Included       Koblenz, Germany -Marksburg Castle - 3 hours/included -Moselle Wine Tasting (for us skip ) -Ehrenbreitstein Fortress 3 hours cost $? -Dine in Rüdesheim am Rhein - (debating on this one, book on ship and use credit ?) -Wine Tasting & Dinner at Eberbach Monastery (for us skip )       Cologne, Germany -Cologne Walking Tour 2 hour/included -Brühl UNESCO Palaces 3 hours/ cost (maybe? Book on ship) -Top of Cologne (for us skip ) - Cologne’s Beer Culture & Dinner (for us skip )   Black Forest, Germany   - Looking into a private tour for Black Forest - 2:00 – 5:45PM: Optional Excursion – Colmar City Tour ( I definitely would like to do this and would book before we leave. Anyone know the cost?

We just did the Viking Basel to Amsterdam in May and LOVED it! We really enjoyed the tour of Colmar. It is a darling town with beautiful buildings and little streets. Very colorful. The schedule may be different for you since you are going the other direction, but that morning we had our Black Forest excursion (included). It was a bit of a long bus ride (in the rain) to the location, and it seemed a bit rushed when we got there. We did the Black Forest walk, which was actually a rather steep, but short hike to a waterfall in slippery conditions. Pretty, but it was not exactly a "stroll". We went back to the boat for a quick lunch before taking the bus to Colmar. I think that tour was $69 PP, and it was the only optional tour we took all week. So many of the tours were wine tasting or something along those lines and we just were not interested in that for ourselves (we live in California and have tons of wineries within 30 minutes of our home). There was no Bruhl palace tour or BMW tour or Mercedes Benz tour offered on our trip -- I wonder why??? It seemed like all of the tours were still available to book once on board the boat, but perhaps May is not as crowded. Our boat only had 165 on board and not the capacity 195.

In Rudesheim we just walked off the boat and about 5-7 minutes to the sweet, safe little town. No shortage of restaurants if you choose to skip the optional dining tour, although people said it was very enjoyable. Viking gave us incorrect info, but we were able to take the gondola to the top of the hill to the Niederwold Monument. It would have been nice to get the correct times and go there directly and have more time, but it did work out after all. We enjoyed that ride and the nice weather and views, and then just wandered around town a bit (took way too many photos!). We hadn't been that hungry in town after gorging on gelato, so we just strolled back to the boat and the staff was nice enough to let us go in to dinner about 40 minutes late and still serve us just a smaller portion of the menu offerings. We were docked in Rudesheim overnite. BTW -- it seemed that most times the boat would dock in an area that had a park area just off the ship.

When we were in Strasbourg, we did the AM included walking tour and took the first bus back to the boat.(they offered 2 other later buses if you wanted to stay in town longer). No Mercedes Benz tour offered on our trip! There was a nice park & residential area off the dock area and after lunch we went out and walked there. There were shops, pretty homes and a lake, and at the end there was something called the White Fir tower (commemorated something or other) that is really tall. It's about 150' and you can climb it for free for a great view if you're energetic.

It rained the day we went to Marksburg Castle. It was a bit of a hike on a paved road to get up there, and it was a tad slippery initially once inside on an uneven section, and did have some narrow steps and walkways. A couple of people in our group actually fell down. But it was a nice tour and fun to see the castle, and the rainy weather sort of added to the mystique.

In Cologne we docked right in the city and could walk to everything and go to and from the ship whenever we wanted. It felt safe and was well lit at nite. We did the walking tour, and then since we had not booked the evening tour, we had lunch at a restaurant nearby the Cathedral. It happened to be some sort of holiday, so most of the museums were closed. But I had read about some Roman ruins under the area in front of the Cathedral, so we found those. Nothing much, but our own little discovery. I could never do the top of the Cathedral tour (afraid of heights), so we walked across the bridge with the locks all over it to a large skyscraper on the other side called Koln Triangle. For cheap (like 5 euros each?) you can take an ELEVATOR to the glass enclosed viewing area on the top for a nice view. Personally, I thought we had a bit too much time in Cologne and too little time in other spots. Maybe that is why Viking offers that Bruhl palace tour now. Since most people were doing an evening tour, we booked the Italian Dinner that nite on the boat in the Aquavit Terrace rather than eat in the dining room. You can only book it once on your trip, and it only seats maybe 16 each nite, and this was a good nite to grab a reservation. There is no extra charge for that, and it was a nice, quiet diversion for us.

I don't think I ran in to anyone who was doing any private excursions the entire trip, unless they were maybe meeting up with European relatives. It might be difficult to time correctly due to schedule changes, and really, a lot of the stops are just in small towns. If your included tour includes free time, Viking always gives you a local map, so it's easy enough to wander around on your own, which is part of the fun. If you're observant, there are often signs on the sides of the buildings or on the streets directing you to the things you want to see, so that helps you to not get lost.

If you have any other questions (or would like to take me along as your own person tour director!), let me know.

4Lakes Lady

We also did Basel to Amsterdam this spring on Viking. We did the Black Forest included tour in the morning and the optional Colmar WW2 tour in the afternoon. If you have any interest in WW2 history, this was excellent.

Our friends did the optional Top of Cologne Cathedral tour and said it was fascinating. We did all the included tours and for the most part, I would say they were very good. Marksburg Castle was a bit of a challenge but I brought along my collapsible cane and it was a good decision. Enjoy your cruise!

I Strasbourg, France   -Strasbourg Highlights - 4 hours/Included - Alsatian Wine Tasting ( for us skip) I would definitely do this one. It is a great tour of a small, family-owned vineyard and winery. You get a real up-close and personal tour by the owner and his family. It is a very nice small town to tour also. -Taste the best of Alsace (for us skip ) -Mercedes-Benz Factory (for us skip )             Heidelberg, Germany -Panoramic Heidelberg Included - 6 hour/Included       Koblenz, Germany -Marksburg Castle - 3 hours/included -Moselle Wine Tasting (for us skip ) -Ehrenbreitstein Fortress 3 hours cost $? -Dine in Rüdesheim am Rhein - (debating on this one, book on ship and use credit ?) -Wine Tasting & Dinner at Eberbach Monastery (for us skip )       Cologne, Germany -Cologne Walking Tour 2 hour/included -Brühl UNESCO Palaces 3 hours/ cost (maybe? Book on ship) -Top of Cologne (for us skip ) - Cologne’s Beer Culture & Dinner (for us skip ) If you like beer, you will love this one. Colgne is one of the nicest places we've ever visited and this tour, at night, really shows off the city.   Black Forest, Germany   - Looking into a private tour for Black Forest - 2:00 – 5:45PM: Optional Excursion – Colmar City Tour ( I definitely would like to do this and would book before we leave. Anyone know the cost?

We stopped in Cologne on our Budapest-Amsterdam cruise in May, 2018. We did the morning walking tour which ended at about noon in front of the cathedral. The tour does not take you inside the cathedral. There is an English language tour of the interior of the cathedral that costs 8 €. You can buy the tickets at the Domforum across the plaza from the cathedral http://www.domforum.de/english/open-guided-tours/. We had an excellent lunch at Hof 18 on Am Hof near the cathedral. Viking offered a shuttle back to the boat (we were docked near the Zoo). The tour takes about an hour (although it is advertised as 45 minutes).

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