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Enjoying the comfort of a luxurious ship without worrying about transportation from town to town and only unpacking once. 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. Many of them are situated high above local towns and we saw lots of German camper vans parked at the base. On our second day, we sailed northward to dock at Breisach, Germany.
Viking Adds Arctic Expeditions and Winter Rhine River Cruise - TravelAge West
Viking Adds Arctic Expeditions and Winter Rhine River Cruise.
Posted: Fri, 02 Jun 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Strasbourg, France
We sailed past this spectacular 430 foot Lorelei Rock where legend has it that the beautiful maiden Lorelei sunk the ships of distracted sailors. Our ship had a prime location with a spectacular view of the bridge and the cathedral! The ship has two dining areas and this is the more casual Aquavit lounge with seating inside and out on the front (or the bow) of the ship.
NEW! Rhine & Main Explorer
You need to be out on deck for the most picturesque stretch of the Rhine between Bingen and Koblenz. You can also enjoy the view from the Lounge with floor-to-ceiling windows perfect for watching the changing landscape. The 40-mile Upper Middle Rhine Valley is a UNESCO World Heritage site and the banks are lined with more than 40 hilltop fortresses and lush vineyards. Here are five of our favorite Viking Rhine River cruises to help you find the perfect itinerary. Sign up for special offers, plus get updates on Viking’s Best Cruise Deals.
Post-Extension: The Best of Norway & Scenic Train
We weren’t sure what to expect from the room even though we had looked at various YouTube videos for a sneak preview. Our room turned out to be downright spacious with a comfortable bed, a full range of movies available on-demand and wonderful bathroom products that got replenished on a daily basis. We were pleasantly surprised by the room’s private balcony with a table and chairs for two, which made it feel even more spacious. What a treat it was to not have to worry about luggage for twelve straight days! This may not seem like a big deal, but it was a game-changer for us. Cruising the Rhine River with Viking River Cruises is a popular option for exploring Europe in style.
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. 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. 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. I would recommend this trip if you enjoy small colorful towns, World War II history and good food.
Viking Announces Opening of 2026 European River Season - Luxury Travel Advisor
Viking Announces Opening of 2026 European River Season.
Posted: Thu, 21 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Discover Nordic wonders by sea, then tour highlights of the legendary Rhine River. From the seaside village of Skagen, Denmark, sail the North Sea to Amsterdam. Admire Cologne’s famous cathedral and tour Ehrenbreitstein Fortress. Experience France’s multicultural Strasbourg and Germany’s storied Black Forest before disembarking in cultured Basel. Discover the turreted fortresses, grand cathedrals, historic cities, medieval towns and stunning scenery of the Middle Rhine—a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Taste the region’s renowned white wines, the roots of its terraced vineyards reaching back to Roman times.
Pre & Post Cruise Extensions
Sail past hilltop castles along the Middle Rhine, a UNESCO Site, and look for Lorelei Rock. Stroll through Cologne’s Old Town and see the city’s famed Gothic cathedral, a UNESCO Site.
The seasonal celebrations continue back onboard your beautifully decorated Viking Longship where menus showcase seasonal specialties. A lesser-known stop on the Rhine on this Viking river cruise is Speyer. A former Roman settlement, it's one of Germany's oldest towns and noted for is large Romanesque-style cathedral and rich Jewish heritage with a traditional bathhouse dating back to 1128. The cruise also takes in ports along the lesser-known Moselle, which joins the Rhine at Koblenz.
This stretch of the Rhine is filled with castles perched high in the hills. We loved getting to know the friendly crew including Captain Wim, Sara our Program Director, and Mohamed (or Mo as everyone called him) the Hotel Manager. They mixed and mingled with the guests and one morning when we found the Captain sitting alone at breakfast in the main dining room, we joined him and had a great time chatting. The top sun deck was the perfect place to walk off all of the food we seemed to be eating at every waking moment but hey, isn’t that what vacations are all about! We sailed on the Hlin (pronounced “Lynn) on the 8 day Rhine River Cruise from Amsterdam to Basel, Switzerland (they do the same tour in the opposite direction too). For any cruises listed, Cruise Critic does not guarantee any specific rates or prices.
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. 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. Note – a couple others from the cruise did the optional dinner excursion on this day and raved about it. There’s also the option to arrive a couple days early and/or stay a couple days late.
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 skip down to the second half of this post (a review of the ship and its amenities), click here. In recent years, the Elba river has occasionally suffered from extreme low water levels – perhaps due to global warming?
Colleen loves sharing tips on hotels, cruises, spas, theme parks, and global lifestyle topics. When she is not traveling the world, she lives in Arizona with her husband and two kids. After looking back on the incredible memories made with Viking, I’m tempted to go book another river cruise right now! You can save money and get perks when you book with CruiseDirect.
If you enjoy city breaks then Viking's 12-day Cities of Light sailing is the cruise for you. Wherever you are, Viking ships dock in the heart of each city so the sights are on your doorstep. There's no better way to enjoy cities than on a Viking river cruise where your comfortable Longship is your floating boutique hotel. Sailing from one destination to the next at a leisurely pace, instead of traffic-filled highways you will admire an ever-changing panorama of riverside scenery. What I love about the Viking Longships is that they are just the right size to float down the river and get up close and personal to all of the little towns.
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