viking river cruise amsterdam to basel reviews

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!

Enjoying this post? Follow me on social media to stay up to date!

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!

Share This Post With Fellow Travelers!

This post was published on July 23, 2022

Recent Posts

• A Virgin Voyages Cruise Review: Riviera Maya (Miami To Cozumel And Bimini)
• Virgin Voyages Food Review: Restaurants, Bars, And More Aboard The Scarlet Lady
• The Weekend Getaway Guide To Charlotte, NC: A City Fit For A Queen
• Where To Eat In Guadalajara: My Top Restaurant And Bar Recommendations
• 2023 End-Of-Year Summary & Sneak Peek 2024

The Caffeinated Man Behind The Blog

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!

Where I Am Now 📍

• North America
• South America
• United States
• Latin America
• Solo Travel
• Weekend Trips
• Food Guides
• Coffee Guides
• Tour Reviews
• Guest Posts
• Travel Thoughts
• 360 City Guides
• Chicago 360
• Rio de Janeiro 360
• São Paulo 360

Where I’ve Been

Upcoming Trips

• Oregon Coast (Jul)
• Washington, D.C. (Jul)
• Seattle, WA (Aug)
• Philippines (Jan 2025)
• Indonesia (Feb 2025)
• Australia & NZ Cruise (Feb 2025)

Click To Follow!

• Opens in a new tab

Support the Blog!

Subscribe via email.

• Entries feed
• Comments feed
• WordPress.org

You Might Also Like

Guest Post: Stockholm – The City Of “Swede” Dreams

How To Visit Ilha Fiscal, Rio de Janeiro’s Fairytale Castle

Is Amsterdam Worth Visiting? 10 Reasons For And Against

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

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Notify me of follow-up comments by email.

Notify me of new posts by email.

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.

ADVERTISEMENT

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

Follow me @Sher She Goes on

Youtube | Tiktok | Instagram

You may also enjoy:

The best carry-on luggage (2023): lightweight, stylish & compact, bay of kotor, lombard street, giudecca, venice, 211 comments.

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

• Pingback: Life in NYC: May 2017 » Sher She Goes

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!

• Pingback: Paris Sightseeing - Seine River Cruise | Voyager
• Pingback: Review: Is the Lenovo Yoga Book Right For You? » Sher She Goes
• Pingback: Where to Stay in Copenhagen: Ibsens Hotel Review » Sher She Goes
• Pingback: Is Colmar the Most Beautiful Small Town in France? » Sher She Goes
• Pingback: Dutch Windmills, Cheese & Tulips: 5 Day Trips from Amsterdam You Can’t Miss » Sher She Goes
• Pingback: An Afternoon in Basel, Switzerland’s Most Underrated City! » Sher She Goes

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 :)

• Pingback: Here’s Your Ultimate Packing List for Europe » Sher She Goes

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

• Pingback: How to See the Best of Heidelberg Germany in 1 Day » Sher She Goes

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

• Pingback: Top Shore Excursions on Viking's Rhine River Cruise - Travel Past 50

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!

• Pingback: Sugar, Spice and Everything Ice: What to Pack for Iceland » Sher She Goes

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.

• Pingback: A 5 Day Puerto Rico Itinerary for the Perfect Vacation
• Pingback: 25 Picturesque Photos of German Castles on the Rhine River
• Pingback: Ibsens Hotel Review: Is This the Best Hotel in Copenhagen?

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.

• Pingback: Paris Sightseeing - Seine River Cruise by Voyager
• Pingback: Viking Star Review: What's it like on the world's best new cruise ship? | Sand In My Suitcase

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.

• Pingback: The 12 Best Travel Shoes for Women (Don't Sacrifice Comfort or Style!)

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.

• Pingback: 2017 Year in Review

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

• Pingback: What are Viking Cruises REALLY like? I WILL TELL YOU!

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!

• Pingback: Viking's Rhine River Cruise Top Shore Excursions - Travel Past 50

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.

• Pingback: Sailing on the River Seine from Paris to Normandy

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.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Get new posts delivered right to your inbox! Sign up

What It’s Really Like on a Viking River Cruise

Want to know if a Viking River Cruise is right for you? I’m spilling all the details, including what they don’t tell you in the brochure, so you can make an informed decision. I’ll take you from Amsterdam to Basel, Switzerland along the Rhine River with lots of stops at charming old towns and villages in between. This Viking River cruise Rhine review is chock full of information that is helpful in planning your own Rhine getaway cruise.

I took 8 million photos so it’s impossible to share them all in one post. I’ll break up this trip into two posts so stay tuned for part two next weekend.

When Viking invited me to set sail with them, I immediately packed my bags! Who wouldn’t want to sail to all the charming little European towns that dot the riverside? We traveled in October and I highly recommend Europe during this time of the year because not only do you get to experience the beautiful foliage and cooler temps, but it’s much less crowded and it’s cheaper too!

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. Plus there are only 90 staterooms which means it’s easy to get to know the crew and passengers. I love that you only have to unpack once instead of changing hotels every couple of days.

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).

Booking was a breeze and a few weeks before we set sail, a package arrived in the mail with our personalized itineraries, red leather Viking luggage tags and more.

Airfare Tip: Viking can book your airfare and while I thought I could get a better deal by handling my own flights, I was wrong! I saved so much money by booking through Viking and I was able to have complete control over which flights I chose. So be sure to do your research. We flew into the Amsterdam airport.

We decided to add three nights in Amsterdam before the cruise and we’re so glad we did! With 165 canals, I can see why this is called “The Venice of the North.” Don’t let the stories of sex shops and pot scare you away because Amsterdam is so much more than that! I’ll share more about our time here in a separate post. Fun Fact: Amsterdam has more bikes than people!

Hotel Tip: If you are adding on time before and/or after your cruise, Viking offers lots of hotel packages you can choose as add ons to your trip. We saved money by booking our own hotels in Amsterdam and Basel because we didn’t feel we needed the extras that Viking offered including city tours and shuttle service to and from the ship.

Day 1 – Board Ship in Amsterdam

We celebrated our 24th wedding anniversary this day (October 13) and what a way to celebrate! We were greeted with a bottle of champagne and that night, after dinner, we were surprised to find a special “Happy Anniversary” dessert waiting for us in our room!

A buffet lunch was perfect for people who were arriving at different times of the day not to mention a late afternoon cheese and wine tasting, then dinner before we set sail that night. Can you say food coma?

Our veranda stateroom was small but well laid out and I used the desk as my vanity (I loved the huge, well lit mirror) which made getting ready a breeze. The veranda made the room seem larger and I loved being able to pop outside to check the weather or just relax with a glass of wine. The bathroom was tiny but adequate (I loved the heated floors) but don’t expect to be able to bend over to shave your legs in the shower!

I’ll let you in on a little insider secret … when the boats dock, they often tie up to each other which means sometimes, you’ll have another boat parked smack dab against your window as you can see form the photo above. This is common on river cruises no matter which company you choose but it’s definitely something I want you to know before you go.

It’s all about the common spaces and the lobby, with its glass roof, was such a welcoming place to come back to after a day spent exploring.

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! I loved the fresh herb garden too.

Day 2 – Kinderjidk

We woke up to this peaceful view from our veranda. After breakfast, we only had to take a short walk to our destination (led by our guide of course).

Tip: There is an intercom in every stateroom so you can hear early morning wake up calls and announcements of when and where to meet for excursions. If you plan on sleeping in, be sure to turn off the intercom!

You may be wondering is it worth getting a balcony on a river cruise and I can definitely say it was amazing! However, if it’s not in your budget, the French balcony cabins with their floor to ceiling doors that can be opened to catch the breeze are wonderful too.

Today’s shore excursion takes us to Kinderdijk which is a UNESCO World Heritage site with 19 enormous windmills. This is an included tour so it costs no extra money! It is such a spectacular sight to behold and straight out of a fairytale. Our local guide took us into a working windmill where families still live today.

This post contains affiliate links which means if you purchase something, I will make a small commission.

My rain coat was the perfect layering piece for the unpredictable weather and I recommend a cross body bag (I love this water resistant bag ).

The best part about returning to the ship was being surprised with a different daily treat in our stateroom.

The afternoon was spent on board taking in the scenery as we cruised along the Rhine.

Day 3 – Cologne Germany

It’s all about the food and the breakfasts on the ship were fabulous! We loved the made to order omelettes. Breakfasts were casual buffets while lunches and dinners were more formal sit down meals. I loved the casual dress code because after a long day of exploring, it was nice not to have to worry about getting all dolled up for meals.

We boarded a bus for a short ride to Cologne where our tour guide gave us a quick lay of the land then left us on our own to explore. The Cologne Cathedral (another UNESCO World Heritage sight) is HUGE and it was pretty impossible to get a decent photo!

Did you know Cologne is where the original Eau de Cologne was invented! I had to find the Farina Fragrance Museum and pick up some of the iconic red packages for friends and family (and of course one for me).

When in Cologne, you must drink Kölsch beer in an original “Brauhaus” (a traditional German pub where the beer is brewed). The waiters will continue to refill your glass unless you put your coaster on top to signal that you’re done!  By law, this refreshingly light brew can only be produced in Cologne so don’t miss it!

When we had our fill of Cologne, we enjoyed strolling across the Love Locks Bridge to get back to the ship.

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.

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.

There are lots of optional night tours too like the popular Cologne’s Beer Culture Dinner but we enjoyed touring the beer halls on our own so we were happy to eat dinner on the ship.

Tip: House wine is served at lunch and dinner but if you prefer a nicer bottle of wine and cocktails, I recommend buying the Silver Spirits package so you can get unlimited drinks any time of the day or night!

Day 4 – Koblenz Germany

We chose to tour Marksburg Castle (there are many tour options to choose from every day) which is one of the few remaining castles on the Rhine that has remained intact. We took a short bus drive up a winding road to the top of a hill and were met with this spectacular view! There are optional tours this day including a walking tour of Koblenz so you’ll have to decide which one works best for you.

Middle Rhine Castle Corridor

When we were done exploring the castle, we went back to the ship to enjoy the most scenic sailing day of the trip!

This stretch of the Rhine is filled with castles perched high in the hills. Most have been turned into luxury hotels! There are tons of castles on both sides of the river.

We sailed past this spectacular 430 foot Lorelei Rock where legend has it that the beautiful maiden Lorelei sunk the ships of distracted sailors.

A little wind and rain didn’t dampen our spirits! The upper deck of the ship has a clear overhang making it perfect for being able to take in the sights while staying dry. Viking handed out a map of the castles and Sara, our Program Director, gave commentary over the loud speaker. If you want to see the castles up close and personal, pack a pair of binoculars.

Tip: Pack layers! We traveled in October and some days called for heavy coats while other days, a long sleeve shirt was all that was needed. Also, pack a small travel umbrella (Viking provides bright red umbrellas but you’ll stand out like a tourist if you use one)!

Rudesheim Germany

What a day! After being wowed by the castles, we docked in Rudesheim around 5 pm just in time for dinner. The only problem was, not many restaurants were open so we spent our time wandering around this charming little town of vine covered, story book buildings.

I was a little bit disappointed and didn’t think there was much to do here (lots of touristy t-shirt shops) so we eventually took the scenic walk along the river back to our ship where it was time to dine!

Wein is a universal language!

I’ll be back soon with part two of our Viking River Cruise where I’ll share more amazing sites including my favorite city that we visited! I’ll share who we hung out with and an unbelievable blast from the past that we ran into on the ship!

P.S. I posted more in my Instagram Stories here including some great videos!

Read Part 2 of My Rhine River Cruise Here

Have you ever been on a Viking River Cruise ? Are you thinking of going on one? Feel free to ask questions or leave your reviews and tips in the comments.

My friend Diane wrote a great post about her Viking Cruise along the Seine from Paris to Normandy and you can read it here !

See More of Kelly’s Travels Here

Share this Post!

36 Comments

Wow, sounds amazing. I can’t wait to read part 2. Happy Anniversary!

I can’t wait to share Melissa! Rooting through 8 million photos right now!

We took this fabulous Viking cruise a couple of years ago, so reading this post brought back so many memories! The canals and charm of Amsterdam (even the red light zone : ), the castles along the Rhine and the spectacular windmills were just a few of the many enchanting sights we viewed from the balcony of the ship. Having sailed on both ocean liners and river cruise ships, I have to say that river cruises have so much more to offer in terms of comfort, size and individual services. Highly recommend! Happy Anniversary and can’t wait to hear how you enjoyed Strasbourg!

Amsterdam is incredible and I definitely want to go back! The best part about a river cruise is no sea sickness!

Oh, wow! I loved this! I get mail from Viking and wondered what one of their cruises would be like. I feel like all cruise ships have small rooms and bathrooms so that won’t deter me. The sites look amazing! Thank you for sharing! I am looking forward to Part 2!

Small bathrooms aren’t the end of the world I was just happy to have such a great counter space in the bedroom. Very well thought out!

We were on the Viking Villi during that same time! Our trip was Amsterdam to Budapest and then we racked on days in Amsterdam and Prague. Beautiful sights on the river and cities. Loved Cologne, Kolsch beer, Cathedral and the Lock bridge, and also bought cologne!

How funny! Maybe we sailed by each other Linda!

First, Congratulations on 24 yrs of marriage! Second, can’t wait to hear more about your trip, it looks amazing. The trip has lots of beautiful sites to see. Looks like I’ll have to add this journey to my list.

So many places to see, so little time Tammara!

What a beautiful trip! We haven’t gone a cruise before, and have even been reluctant. Thank you for sharing the beauty saw and tips on how to set up everything.

I’ve only been on a big ocean cruise over 25 years ago and didn’t love it but this is so different! Smaller ships that go right to the little towns!

Happy Anniversary!! This was very informative Kelly. Awesome job! I love the windmills and the pics of you and your husband. May I ask about all the purses hanging up??

Ok I’m so dumb and embarrased. I just googled it and saw that they are locks, not purses. On my phone it looks like purses. 😢😔

Don’t be embarrassed Lisa! Now that I look, they do look like a bunch of purses!

Viking is wonderful! We did the Amsterdam, Windmills and Tulips one in March-April. It was fabulous! So beautiful. We have been on the Seine Paris to Normandy. Highly, highly recommend that trip. We have booked and scheduled our next one, the Mediterranean Odyssey. Barcelona, Venice, all and everything in between! We always book the bigger Veranda’s. Sitting area separate from the bedroom/bathroom. Highly recommend! Did I say I love Viking cruises?!?! Glad you had that wonderful time. You need to treat yourselves to another! Thanks for sharing your trip!

Wow Melanie sounds like you are a river cruise fanatic! We met so many people on the cruise who had taken others in the past and I think that shows how great they really are to have people keep coming back for more! Enjoy the Med! I’ve been to Venice and it’s fabulous but very crowded!

Thanks for all this information, yes i have thought about it and wondered what they were like so i am writing down all these tips. You guys are such a cute couple no wonder your girls are so pretty.

Thanks so much Marlene! Our girls definitely hit the looks jackpot and they’re funny and smart to boot!

We took the same cruise in May of 2013. Love revisiting & reminiscing. Thank you.

How nice! I enjoyed writing the post and remembering all the fun we had (and it’s only been 3 months)!

Thank you for your comment. We are taking this cruise this May for our 50th anniversary. First time on a cruise. Are there any hints that would help. It does not sound like there were any negatives that we need to be concerned about. Ellie

We did this journey on our own years ago, visiting Marksburg Castle which was amazing. The stories told by our German speaking tour guide was incredible (we don’t speak German so we eavesdropped on a girl who was translating for her friend). I timed our trip to do the Rhine in Flames. To this day, my family still says it was the most incredible fireworks display we’ve ever seen. Hundreds of boats, decorated with Christmas lights, even though it was July, line up and we all set sail up the Rhine. From each of those castles fireworks began going off and it was a sight to see! We stayed in Rudesheim and when I woke up early in the morning and opened the shutters, I did feel like I was in a fairy tale. I have blonde hair & as I was gazing over the rooftops I heard clicking & chattering in maybe Japanese(?) below. Apparently my blonde hair made me look like a typical German Frau and they were pushing each other out of the way to take my picture!! I’ve always wanted to do a cruise, avoid the terror I always feel driving on the autobahn so I’m looking forward to the rest of your post.

I love that you will appear in all of those tourists photo albums Darlene! The fireworks sound spectacular!

Hi, Kelly. We did this same cruise 2 years ago at Christmas (seeing those famous Christmas markets has been on my bucket list for a while and I wasn’t disappointed). So glad to hear you had a favorable experience. Coming from Miami, I thought I knew cruising. But Viking takes it up a notch. Also, while I’m not an ocean cruise fan, river cruising is a whole ‘nother thing. Travel is about your destination – the terrain, people, customs, etc. These Viking cruises allow you to appreciate and enjoy that. Can’t wait to read the second post. Bet I know your favorite city already! Oh, and happy anniversary!

I went on one ocean cruise 25 years ago and wasn’t a fan! I know Viking does some though – maybe I’ll have to try one of theirs! The Christmas markets sound amazing and I’d love to go back for them.

I enjoyed reading this Kelly – I did an AmaWaterways cruise in Dec ’18 – basically the same route you took, but started in Basel – I THOROUGHLY enjoyed it! I’m doing another cruise in May of this year – this time up the Danube (with Ama) – looking at your pic’s of the ship, ours was pretty comparable – that was really ‘different’ the way the boats dock next to each other!

How fun Leanne! At one stop, we were tied to an Ama ship and had to walk across it to get to land! The Danube sounds fabulous and I hope you enjoy your trip!

• Pingback: Perfect Paris Itinerary 6 Days
• Pingback: Viking Cruise Rhine River Review Part 2 - Kelly Elko

What a wonderful experience! Your photos are so beautiful and it’s nice to see what the ship looked like…It really is a good size and your stateroom looked comfortable too! Those huge Caribbean type cruise ships never appealed to me but this is definitely something I would like. Much more intimate with constantly changing scenery! Great tips, Kelly! Shelley

I went on one ocean cruise over 25 years ago and I wasn’t a huge fan! The small ship really appealed to me Shelley!

Fun Kelly! That’s the same cruise Mark and I took last May & we loved it. We are going on another Viking River Cruise in September to France & we are excited. It was fun to see your pics of all the places we went.

How exciting Rhoda! Are you taking the Paris to Normandy trip along the Seine? If so, don’t miss Diane’s post!

Kelly, you did a wonderful job with descriptions and photos of your excursions. My sister and I are taking the Rhine Getaway trip in July of 2023. Since the descriptions of the excursions on the Viking site are not very detailed it difficult to decide which ones to take. We are trying to decide between the Medieval Colmar and the WWII Colmar excursions. I have heard positive and negative reviews of the Medieval trip. Also it looks like the food tour in Alsace is a lot more extensive than the description of it. It looks like you see more places along the way than I had imagined. Thank you for any input you might have.

You can always call Viking for a more detailed description of the tours Elaine! The Alsace was a highlight of our trip for sure. So many great little shops and food we would never have tried on our own. Enjoy your trip with your sister!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Don't subscribe All Replies to my comments Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. You can also subscribe without commenting.

Privacy Overview

Trending : Las Vegas Off the Strip

This article contains affiliate links. We may receive compensation if you make a purchase at no additional cost to you.

Viking Rhine River Cruise: Amsterdam to Basel

Cruising the Rhine River with Viking River Cruises is a popular option for exploring Europe in style. See what we thought about our scenic 12-day Viking Rhine River Cruise from Amsterdam to Basel.

In the grand scheme of things, people can be separated into two categories – cruise people and everyone else. We always placed ourselves in the latter category.

We eschewed cruises as being nice for people who prefer more structure on their vacations and prefer the safety of guided trips with strict itineraries. We prefer immersive experiences that bring us into the heart of a country’s culture.

That being said, we were thrilled when we received an unexpected offer from Viking River Cruise. Needless to say, it was an offer that we couldn’t refuse. This was our chance to try a certain ease of travel and to see what it’s like to experience a trip with guides and planned meals.

Pro Tip Don’t cruise without travel insurance !

As part of Viking’s generous offer, we were able to select a European riverboat cruise that appealed to us. After pouring over the many options for cruises in Europe outlined on the Viking website and studying the photos and videos, we ended up selecting the Rhineland Discovery cruise.

This 12-day Amsterdam to Basel river cruise starts with two city destinations (Bruges and Amsterdam ) before cruising up the Rhine with stops in Rhine River cities like Kinderdijk, Cologne, Koblenz, Rüdesheim, Heidelberg, Strasbourg , Breisach and finally Basel .

Sure, Viking is reputed to have some of the world’s best river cruises and the Viking Rhine river cruise sounds wonderful. But what did we really think? We share our thoughts in the following Viking River Cruise review.

What We Loved about Our Viking Rhine River Cruise

Let’s be real. It’s hard to not enjoy a luxury cruise on the Viking Eir, a longboat with 95 staterooms and four decks. Food is plentiful and cooked to order, and the German beer onboard is some of the best in the world. Coffee flows all day long on a Viking river cruise ship, and the crew’s main mission is to make everybody happy.

Visiting Five Countries without Lugging Our Bags

As independent travelers, we lug around our bags – a lot. As a result, we sometimes suffer from tired backs and sore feet.

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.

As an extra bonus, we loved unpacking our bags and feeling ‘at home’ during the length of the Viking Rhine River cruise. Since we use packing cubes when we travel, it only took us a few minutes to settle into the room and start enjoying the cruise.

Room with a View and Amenities

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.

True confession – we didn’t use the balcony much once we discovered that the best view in our room was from the bed. It turns out that there’s not much better in life than lying in bed and watching the Rhine current stream gently next to the trees and hills of Western Europe.

Awesome Crew

We consider ourselves to be low maintenance travelers who don’t need a lot of assistance, but that doesn’t mean that we don’t appreciate excellent service. And that’s exactly what we got from the international crew while cruising the Rhine with Viking.

Empty beer stein? Not for long. Fresh fruit in our cabin? You betcha.

This crew was highly attentive without being intrusive, and it was our pleasure to tip them at the end of the cruise.

Food on our Viking Rhine River Cruise was varied and plentiful.

We appreciated the fancy, multi-course dinners and the big, hearty lunches served in the dining room, though we mostly opted for the simpler, more casual meals available on the Aquavit Terrace. However, we liked breakfast best of all.

The range of breakfast foods ran the gamut from healthy fruit and yogurt to more decadent options. Passing on the menu items, we stuck to the breakfast buffet where we enjoyed cheeses, meats and other regional delicacies.

The one and only thing missing was Nutella, but not for long. The attentive staff was kind enough to share their private Nutella stash with us once they realized we were true fans of the chocolate hazelnut spread.

Fun Excursions

Viking offers many excursions on its Rhineland Discovery cruise, many of which are at no additional cost for participants. The free Viking tours are good – mostly slow-paced walking/bus tours with lots of information and minimal pressure.

However, the optional excursions are the ones that truly wowed us with their passionate guides and small group format. These tours really offer travelers an intimate chance to experience many of the cultural delights that Europe has to offer.

It may seem like a hardship to spend the extra cash after already plunking down a bunch of dough for the cruise itself, but these are sincere, honest excursions that will detour you from the more touristic itineraries. These were our three favorite excursions:

Cologne’s Beer Culture Dinner Tour

As we learned over dinner at a brauhaus that dates back to 1858, Cologne locals never eat while drinking. They only drink while eating.

Living like locals was not a problem for us during this excursion where we drank an endless number of small glasses of chilled Kölsch beer at no less than four different family-owned pubs each oozing with Köln culture. We even learned how to toast like a local during this fun pub crawl.

We now like to clink the bottom of our glasses and say ‘Prost!’ even though we’re no longer in Cologne. In addition to drinking beer, we also enjoyed soaking up Cologne’s history through this walking tour of the town’s narrow, lively, rebuilt North German streets.

Taste of the Best of Alsace

We were pleased to get our first taste of Strasbourg during this full-day excursion which served as an introduction for our future stay in the fairytale Alsatian city in France.

The informative tour guide from Food and City Tours Strasbourg introduced us to a variety of local fare starting with kugelhopf and continuing with chocolate, cheese, baguettes, wine, flamenkuche and finally pain d’epices , a local pastry similar to what Americans call gingerbread.

Highlight of this excursion? For us, it was the picnic-style lunch at Oenosphère where we sampled excellent local wines from nearby vineyards along with an assortment of amazing French cheeses and charcuterie.

Black Forest Hike and Farm Visit

We pinched ourselves as we ate tasty German food and drank local beer with a view of the Black Forest. Was this real life or a dream?

Viking’s local tour guide took us on a winding journey where we visited old and new farms, hiked up forest trails and drank schnapps in addition to enjoying lunch with a view at a local eating hall. We saw so much that we felt like we were on a Black Forest road trip , if only for the day.

This excursion took us away from the standard cuckoo clock shops and allowed us to see the magnificent, lush, green Schwarzwald hills along with a glimpse into the day-to-day struggles of old German culture. We also enjoyed visiting a modern German farm complete with its on-site schnapps distillery not to mention adorable goats and cows.

The Rhine Itself

We mainly chose the Rhineland Discovery cruise for the opportunity to cruise the Rhine and see Rhine River castles sprinkled along its verdant shore. Despite some cloudy and rainy weather, the view did not disappoint.

Seriously, the castles just kept coming as we lounged on the wide-open sundeck of our longship.

We toasted and drank hearty, dark Kostrizer beers as we sailed along the Middle Rhine River streaming by the famous Lorelei rock and oh-so-many castles. We were so inspired by the fabulous views and tasty beers that we plan to return and spend one week in the Rhine Valley so that we can explore the area more fully.

What We Didn’t Love So Much

Feeling rushed.

As full-time travelers and influencers, we usually travel slowly with a week or even a month in each location. Though it was great to hit five countries in twelve days, it wasn’t so great to have to leave each one so quickly.

Sometimes, when traveling in Europe, we just like to slow down, plant ourselves at an outdoor cafe and soak in the atmosphere. Some people like this quicker style of travel, but it’s not our preferred approach.

Spotty Internet

As internet junkies, it was a bit stressful to have spotty internet during our Viking Rhine getaway. Though out of the ship’s control and likely common on river cruises on the Rhine, the internet (or lack thereof) was a bit of a bummer.

Final Thoughts on Our Viking Rhine River Cruise

Clearly, we loved a lot more about the Rhine cruise than we didn’t love. Does this mean that we’ve crossed over to being cruise people? Well, we wouldn’t go that far, but we’re very open to taking another cruise to help us with that transition.

Hungry for More Cruises?

Get a discounted quote for travel insurance to protect your trip from things like injuries, theft and cancelations. We never travel without protection!

Disclosures

Article Updates We update our articles regularly. Some updates are major while others are minor link changes and spelling corrections. Let us know if you see anything that needs to be updated in this article. Sponsorship We thank Viking River Cruises for hosting us on the Rhineland Discovery cruise to facilitate this article.

Saveur Magazine’s BEST TRAVEL BLOG award winners Daryl and Mindi Hirsch share their culinary travel experiences and recipes on their website 2foodtrippers. Since launching the site in 2012, they've traveled to over 40 countries in their quest to bring readers a unique taste of the world.

27 Comments

We’re of the latter type, like you guys. Living in a “cruise-ship town” in Alaska pretty much turned us off from cruises, and those of the former type that you mentioned. I’ve been on a few cruises when i was a young lad, but the fond memories I have can mostly be chalked up to the freedom I had to get away from my parents on the ship. With all of that being said, you’ve almost got me sold on this trip…that charcuterie plate alone…and the beer…

In many ways we enjoyed the services offered by Viking. It was nice that we didn’t have to think about moving our bags from town to town. However, once off the ship we were consumed by the urge to explore, on our own, once again!

I just ran across your review and hope you can enlighten me on one subject. How much time does the Longship actually “cruise” down the river during the daylight to allow relaxing balcony (or from the bed) viewing. I am having a hard time finding an independent comment about this. Typically, ocean cruises travel at night from port to port and we would really like to experience the countryside. Would love to get your input. Thanks.

Whether the longship cruises down the river in daylight depends on the itinerary. One of the highlights of our Viking cruise was when the boat traveled down the most scenic part of the “Romantic Rhine” in the daylight. If you’re truly looking to experience the countryside, we recommend paying for one of the optional excursions that features a full day tour of areas like the Black Forest.

How did you get an invite to take a cruise. I’d like one, too, please.

Wow this certainly looks like a journey of tastes. That food looks incredible. I agree with what you say about speed, sometimes going from independent travel to tours can be very full on.

We like to absorb a city before making travel decisions. At least we were given a small sampling of the cities so we can return for a second look.

We’ve never taken a cruise but lately have been toying with the idea of taking one. We also love slowness travel and rarely go to more than one country at a time when we travel but Viking makes it sound very tempting. Love that the staff was attentive without being intrusive and also like the sound of the excursions. Most of all, it’s great to know that the food was good.

We think you have to look at a Viking cruise as a separate entity from a more independent trip. For us, it was certainly the most relaxing way to cover a lot of destinations in a short period of time.

I’m not in the cruising crowd but find the idea of a river cruise to be quite appealing. The excursions and the food look like you got a great taste of the Rhine.

Daryl: I remember cruising the Middle Rhine many years ago on a day cruise. It was nice not to have to hop a train at the end of the trip and cruise for a few more days.

I’ve been on a couple of European river cruises and can highly recommend travelling in this way. Never been on a Viking Cruise though. You’ve got me thinking…this one could fit into our European trip next year.

It would be a fine way to sample that mode of travel. Watching the water roll by our room placed us in an easy state of mind.

I totally understand when you say there are cruise people and then there is everyone else. Although I’ve never actually been on one and I know you shouldn’t knock things until you’ve tried them, I do feel like the style of travelling is not really my cup of tea. I do have to say that the excursions you went on do sound really interesting and it seems like you had the chance to experience local culture a little bit.

The Black Forest excursion definitely allowed us to experience some places that weren’t even in the guidebooks. We still love independent travel, but the Viking ship was a relaxing and different experience.

My wife and I have had so many discussion lately, after having been to places like Venice, Dubrovnik, and Kotor, Montenegro. Cruise-ship culture is strange, and I’m not sure it’s for me. The lone exception are the river boat cruises like Viking, which are small, intimate, and typically dock right in the middle of a city. The thought of going to a port, waiting in line to get onto a coach to be bussed to a city, then rush around, only to line up for a bus back to your boat, does not sound like fun to me. The time saved by docking in the heart of a city is vital.

Wow – that picture of the Black Forest is stunning! My parents are taking a Rhine river cruise in April and although it has a couple different destinations, they’ll be hitting a few of these. Will send on this post to them!

I’d love to do a Rhine cruise. There is no question that I would fit into the ‘cruise’ category in total happiness, especially with the slower pace of a river cruise – though I can see why you wish you could linger longer. I did a canal barge cruise in France for the first time this year and it was fabulous. I got to see France from a totally different angle. Sounds dreamy to me.

Wow! Beautiful shots. 2 things. 1: I noticed the fig. Before a recent trip to Cyprus I’d not have noticed it. But our neighbor grew them all over the grounds – perfect weather – so we had fresh figs every freaking day LOL. 2: The Black Forest shot? Epic! And my mom grew up there, until she was 5. She always showed us pictures of Haslach. I need to visit her village and hope to do so soon. Thanks for the awesome share guys 🙂

This is a great, informative post. I’ve only ever taken one cruise, The Disney cruise. Of course it was the best lol. I would love to take another cruise soon. This one looks great ?

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

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

We’ve often wondered about taking a river cruise. Like you, we sometimes like to be able to stay put a little longer, relax, sightsee and take in the vibe of a town or city. However, I think it would be a nice treat to do one day , relaxing on board watching the beautiful views go by, Another one for my “to do” list.

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

We are going on this cruise April 8th 2022. Thanks for all the insightful tips and useful information.

Hello! My mother and I are venturing on the 7 day Rhine River cruise with Viking beginning June 2nd. Were you Covid tested daily? By the way, we’re signed up to take park in the Cologne beer experience. Can’t wait!

COVID rules continue to change. It’s best to check with Viking for the latest and greatest news. Stay safe and have fun!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Get our free guide to eating like a local when you travel.

Deals of the Week   Captivating Costa Rica   Up to 50% OFF

Rhine Getaway Amsterdam to Basel

• River Cruise
• Partially Guided

Traveled in September 2022

Places You’ll See

• Introduction
• Day 1 Amsterdam, The Netherlands
• Day 2 Kinderdijk, The Netherlands
• Day 3 Cologne, Germany
• Day 4 Koblenz, Germany
• Day 5 Heidelberg, Germany
• Day 6 Strasbourg, France
• Day 7 Breisach, Germany
• Day 8 Basel, Switzerland

Want to read it later?

Download this tour’s PDF brochure and start tour planning offline

What's Included

• Accommodation
• Additional Services

Customer Photos

Operated by Viking Cruises

With an operational office in Basel, Switzerland, Viking provides destination-focused itineraries...

Your Peace of Mind Options

Cancellation policy.

A transparent overview of applicable fees.

Viking Cruises Ship

Customer Reviews

• Overall Rating Excellent 5.0
• Itinerary Excellent 5.0
• Guide Excellent 5.0
• Transport Excellent 5.0
• Accommodation Excellent 5.0
• Food Excellent 5.0
• Tour Operator Viking Cruises 4.3

Dates & Availability

Pay-by-instalments

Take advantage of our 0% interest instalment plan on selected departures. Learn More

• Upcoming departures
• September 2024
• October 2024
• November 2024
• August 2025
• September 2025
• October 2025
• November 2025
• August 2026
• September 2026
• October 2026
• November 2026
• Sunday 15 Sep, 2024 Sunday 22 Sep, 2024 English Based on VERANDA (B) Viking Hlin Not available in your region
• Sunday 27 Oct, 2024 Sunday 3 Nov, 2024 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Hlin Not available in your region
• Tuesday 29 Oct, 2024 Tuesday 5 Nov, 2024 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Freya Not available in your region
• Wednesday 30 Oct, 2024 Wednesday 6 Nov, 2024 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Sigrun Not available in your region
• Thursday 31 Oct, 2024 Thursday 7 Nov, 2024 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Mani Not available in your region
• Friday 1 Nov, 2024 Friday 8 Nov, 2024 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Mani Not available in your region
• Monday 4 Nov, 2024 Monday 11 Nov, 2024 English Based on STANDARD (E) Viking Rolf Not available in your region
• Tuesday 5 Nov, 2024 Tuesday 12 Nov, 2024 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Sigyn Not available in your region
• Wednesday 6 Nov, 2024 Wednesday 13 Nov, 2024 English Based on STANDARD (E) Viking Einar Not available in your region
• Wednesday 13 Nov, 2024 Wednesday 20 Nov, 2024 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Sigrun Not available in your region
• Thursday 14 Nov, 2024 Thursday 21 Nov, 2024 English Based on VERANDA (B) Viking Mani Not available in your region
• Friday 15 Nov, 2024 Friday 22 Nov, 2024 English Based on VERANDA (B) Viking Mani Not available in your region
• Saturday 16 Nov, 2024 Saturday 23 Nov, 2024 English Based on STANDARD (E) Viking Alruna Not available in your region
• Sunday 17 Nov, 2024 Sunday 24 Nov, 2024 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Kara Not available in your region
• Monday 18 Nov, 2024 Monday 25 Nov, 2024 English Based on STANDARD (E) Viking Rolf Not available in your region
• Tuesday 19 Nov, 2024 Tuesday 26 Nov, 2024 English Based on VERANDA (B) Viking Sigyn , Viking Gefjon Not available in your region
• Wednesday 20 Nov, 2024 Wednesday 27 Nov, 2024 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Einar Not available in your region
• Thursday 21 Nov, 2024 Thursday 28 Nov, 2024 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Eir Not available in your region
• Friday 22 Nov, 2024 Friday 29 Nov, 2024 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Eir Not available in your region
• Saturday 23 Nov, 2024 Saturday 30 Nov, 2024 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Tialfi , Viking Bragi Not available in your region
• Sunday 24 Nov, 2024 Sunday 1 Dec, 2024 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Magni , Viking Hlin Not available in your region
• Monday 25 Nov, 2024 Monday 2 Dec, 2024 English Based on VERANDA (B) Viking Idun Not available in your region
• Saturday 15 Mar, 2025 Saturday 22 Mar, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Tialfi Not available in your region
• Tuesday 18 Mar, 2025 Tuesday 25 Mar, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Rolf Not available in your region
• Wednesday 19 Mar, 2025 Wednesday 26 Mar, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Modi Not available in your region
• Thursday 20 Mar, 2025 Thursday 27 Mar, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (E) Viking Eir Not available in your region
• Friday 21 Mar, 2025 Friday 28 Mar, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Mani Not available in your region
• Saturday 22 Mar, 2025 Saturday 29 Mar, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (E) Viking Alruna Not available in your region
• Sunday 23 Mar, 2025 Sunday 30 Mar, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Kara , Viking Skirnir Not available in your region
• Tuesday 25 Mar, 2025 Tuesday 1 Apr, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Sigyn Not available in your region
• Wednesday 26 Mar, 2025 Wednesday 2 Apr, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Vidar Not available in your region
• Thursday 27 Mar, 2025 Thursday 3 Apr, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Mani Not available in your region
• Friday 28 Mar, 2025 Friday 4 Apr, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Vili , Viking Eir Not available in your region
• Saturday 29 Mar, 2025 Saturday 5 Apr, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (E) Viking Tialfi Not available in your region
• Sunday 30 Mar, 2025 Sunday 6 Apr, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (E) Viking Hlin Not available in your region
• Tuesday 1 Apr, 2025 Tuesday 8 Apr, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Rolf Not available in your region
• Wednesday 2 Apr, 2025 Wednesday 9 Apr, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Modi Not available in your region
• Thursday 3 Apr, 2025 Thursday 10 Apr, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Eir Not available in your region
• Friday 4 Apr, 2025 Friday 11 Apr, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Mani Not available in your region
• Saturday 5 Apr, 2025 Saturday 12 Apr, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Alruna Not available in your region
• Sunday 6 Apr, 2025 Sunday 13 Apr, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Kara , Viking Skirnir Not available in your region
• Tuesday 8 Apr, 2025 Tuesday 15 Apr, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Sigyn Not available in your region
• Thursday 10 Apr, 2025 Thursday 17 Apr, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Mani Not available in your region
• Friday 11 Apr, 2025 Friday 18 Apr, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Eir Not available in your region
• Saturday 12 Apr, 2025 Saturday 19 Apr, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Tialfi Not available in your region
• Sunday 13 Apr, 2025 Sunday 20 Apr, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Hlin Not available in your region
• Tuesday 15 Apr, 2025 Tuesday 22 Apr, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (E) Viking Rolf Not available in your region
• Wednesday 16 Apr, 2025 Wednesday 23 Apr, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Modi Not available in your region
• Thursday 17 Apr, 2025 Thursday 24 Apr, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Eir Not available in your region
• Friday 18 Apr, 2025 Friday 25 Apr, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Mani Not available in your region
• Saturday 19 Apr, 2025 Saturday 26 Apr, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Alruna Not available in your region
• Sunday 20 Apr, 2025 Sunday 27 Apr, 2025 English Based on FRENCH BALCONY (C) Viking Kara Not available in your region
• Tuesday 22 Apr, 2025 Tuesday 29 Apr, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Sigyn Not available in your region
• Thursday 24 Apr, 2025 Thursday 1 May, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Mani Not available in your region
• Friday 25 Apr, 2025 Friday 2 May, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Eir Not available in your region
• Saturday 26 Apr, 2025 Saturday 3 May, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Tialfi Not available in your region
• Sunday 27 Apr, 2025 Sunday 4 May, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Hlin Not available in your region
• Wednesday 30 Apr, 2025 Wednesday 7 May, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (E) Viking Sigrun Not available in your region
• Thursday 1 May, 2025 Thursday 8 May, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Eir Not available in your region
• Friday 2 May, 2025 Friday 9 May, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Mani Not available in your region
• Saturday 3 May, 2025 Saturday 10 May, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Alruna Not available in your region
• Sunday 4 May, 2025 Sunday 11 May, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Kara Not available in your region
• Tuesday 6 May, 2025 Tuesday 13 May, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (E) Viking Sigyn Not available in your region
• Wednesday 7 May, 2025 Wednesday 14 May, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (E) Viking Einar Not available in your region
• Thursday 8 May, 2025 Thursday 15 May, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Mani Not available in your region
• Friday 9 May, 2025 Friday 16 May, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Eir Not available in your region
• Saturday 10 May, 2025 Saturday 17 May, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Tialfi Not available in your region
• Sunday 11 May, 2025 Sunday 18 May, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Hlin Not available in your region
• Tuesday 13 May, 2025 Tuesday 20 May, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Rolf Not available in your region
• Wednesday 14 May, 2025 Wednesday 21 May, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Sigrun Not available in your region
• Thursday 15 May, 2025 Thursday 22 May, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Eir Not available in your region
• Friday 16 May, 2025 Friday 23 May, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Mani Not available in your region
• Saturday 17 May, 2025 Saturday 24 May, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Alruna Not available in your region
• Sunday 18 May, 2025 Sunday 25 May, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Kara Not available in your region
• Monday 19 May, 2025 Monday 26 May, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Herja Not available in your region
• Tuesday 20 May, 2025 Tuesday 27 May, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Sigyn Not available in your region
• Wednesday 21 May, 2025 Wednesday 28 May, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Einar Not available in your region
• Thursday 22 May, 2025 Thursday 29 May, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Mani Not available in your region
• Friday 23 May, 2025 Friday 30 May, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Eir Not available in your region
• Saturday 24 May, 2025 Saturday 31 May, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Tialfi Not available in your region
• Sunday 25 May, 2025 Sunday 1 Jun, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Hlin Not available in your region
• Monday 26 May, 2025 Monday 2 Jun, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Hild Not available in your region
• Tuesday 27 May, 2025 Tuesday 3 Jun, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Rolf Not available in your region
• Wednesday 28 May, 2025 Wednesday 4 Jun, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Sigrun Not available in your region
• Thursday 29 May, 2025 Thursday 5 Jun, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Eir Not available in your region
• Friday 30 May, 2025 Friday 6 Jun, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Mani Not available in your region
• Saturday 31 May, 2025 Saturday 7 Jun, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Alruna Not available in your region
• Sunday 1 Jun, 2025 Sunday 8 Jun, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Kara Not available in your region
• Tuesday 3 Jun, 2025 Tuesday 10 Jun, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Sigyn Not available in your region
• Wednesday 4 Jun, 2025 Wednesday 11 Jun, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Einar Not available in your region
• Thursday 5 Jun, 2025 Thursday 12 Jun, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Mani Not available in your region
• Friday 6 Jun, 2025 Friday 13 Jun, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Eir Not available in your region
• Saturday 7 Jun, 2025 Saturday 14 Jun, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Tialfi Not available in your region
• Sunday 8 Jun, 2025 Sunday 15 Jun, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Hlin Not available in your region
• Tuesday 10 Jun, 2025 Tuesday 17 Jun, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Rolf Not available in your region
• Wednesday 11 Jun, 2025 Wednesday 18 Jun, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Sigrun Not available in your region
• Thursday 12 Jun, 2025 Thursday 19 Jun, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Eir Not available in your region
• Friday 13 Jun, 2025 Friday 20 Jun, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Mani Not available in your region
• Saturday 14 Jun, 2025 Saturday 21 Jun, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Alruna Not available in your region
• Sunday 15 Jun, 2025 Sunday 22 Jun, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Kara Not available in your region
• Tuesday 17 Jun, 2025 Tuesday 24 Jun, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Sigyn Not available in your region
• Wednesday 18 Jun, 2025 Wednesday 25 Jun, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Einar Not available in your region
• Thursday 19 Jun, 2025 Thursday 26 Jun, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Mani Not available in your region
• Friday 20 Jun, 2025 Friday 27 Jun, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Eir Not available in your region
• Saturday 21 Jun, 2025 Saturday 28 Jun, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Tialfi Not available in your region
• Tuesday 24 Jun, 2025 Tuesday 1 Jul, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Rolf Not available in your region
• Wednesday 25 Jun, 2025 Wednesday 2 Jul, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Sigrun Not available in your region
• Thursday 26 Jun, 2025 Thursday 3 Jul, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Eir Not available in your region
• Friday 27 Jun, 2025 Friday 4 Jul, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Mani Not available in your region
• Saturday 28 Jun, 2025 Saturday 5 Jul, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Alruna Not available in your region
• Sunday 29 Jun, 2025 Sunday 6 Jul, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Kara Not available in your region
• Tuesday 1 Jul, 2025 Tuesday 8 Jul, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Sigyn Not available in your region
• Wednesday 2 Jul, 2025 Wednesday 9 Jul, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Einar Not available in your region
• Thursday 3 Jul, 2025 Thursday 10 Jul, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Mani Not available in your region
• Friday 4 Jul, 2025 Friday 11 Jul, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Eir Not available in your region
• Saturday 5 Jul, 2025 Saturday 12 Jul, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Tialfi Not available in your region
• Sunday 6 Jul, 2025 Sunday 13 Jul, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Hlin Not available in your region
• Tuesday 8 Jul, 2025 Tuesday 15 Jul, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Rolf Not available in your region
• Wednesday 9 Jul, 2025 Wednesday 16 Jul, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Sigrun Not available in your region
• Thursday 10 Jul, 2025 Thursday 17 Jul, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Eir Not available in your region
• Friday 11 Jul, 2025 Friday 18 Jul, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Mani Not available in your region
• Saturday 12 Jul, 2025 Saturday 19 Jul, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Alruna Not available in your region
• Sunday 13 Jul, 2025 Sunday 20 Jul, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Kara Not available in your region
• Tuesday 15 Jul, 2025 Tuesday 22 Jul, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Sigyn Not available in your region
• Wednesday 16 Jul, 2025 Wednesday 23 Jul, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Einar Not available in your region
• Thursday 17 Jul, 2025 Thursday 24 Jul, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Mani Not available in your region
• Friday 18 Jul, 2025 Friday 25 Jul, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Eir Not available in your region
• Saturday 19 Jul, 2025 Saturday 26 Jul, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Tialfi Not available in your region
• Sunday 20 Jul, 2025 Sunday 27 Jul, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Hlin Not available in your region
• Tuesday 22 Jul, 2025 Tuesday 29 Jul, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Rolf Not available in your region
• Wednesday 23 Jul, 2025 Wednesday 30 Jul, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Sigrun Not available in your region
• Thursday 24 Jul, 2025 Thursday 31 Jul, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Eir Not available in your region
• Friday 25 Jul, 2025 Friday 1 Aug, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Mani Not available in your region
• Saturday 26 Jul, 2025 Saturday 2 Aug, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Alruna Not available in your region
• Sunday 27 Jul, 2025 Sunday 3 Aug, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Kara Not available in your region
• Tuesday 29 Jul, 2025 Tuesday 5 Aug, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Sigyn Not available in your region
• Wednesday 30 Jul, 2025 Wednesday 6 Aug, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Einar Not available in your region
• Thursday 31 Jul, 2025 Thursday 7 Aug, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Mani Not available in your region
• Friday 1 Aug, 2025 Friday 8 Aug, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Eir Not available in your region
• Saturday 2 Aug, 2025 Saturday 9 Aug, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Tialfi Not available in your region
• Sunday 3 Aug, 2025 Sunday 10 Aug, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Hlin Not available in your region
• Tuesday 5 Aug, 2025 Tuesday 12 Aug, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Rolf Not available in your region
• Wednesday 6 Aug, 2025 Wednesday 13 Aug, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Sigrun Not available in your region
• Thursday 7 Aug, 2025 Thursday 14 Aug, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Eir Not available in your region
• Friday 8 Aug, 2025 Friday 15 Aug, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Mani Not available in your region
• Saturday 9 Aug, 2025 Saturday 16 Aug, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Alruna Not available in your region
• Sunday 10 Aug, 2025 Sunday 17 Aug, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Kara Not available in your region
• Tuesday 12 Aug, 2025 Tuesday 19 Aug, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Sigyn Not available in your region
• Wednesday 13 Aug, 2025 Wednesday 20 Aug, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Einar Not available in your region
• Thursday 14 Aug, 2025 Thursday 21 Aug, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Mani Not available in your region
• Friday 15 Aug, 2025 Friday 22 Aug, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Eir Not available in your region
• Saturday 16 Aug, 2025 Saturday 23 Aug, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Tialfi Not available in your region
• Sunday 17 Aug, 2025 Sunday 24 Aug, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Hlin Not available in your region
• Tuesday 19 Aug, 2025 Tuesday 26 Aug, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Rolf Not available in your region
• Wednesday 20 Aug, 2025 Wednesday 27 Aug, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Sigrun Not available in your region
• Thursday 21 Aug, 2025 Thursday 28 Aug, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Eir Not available in your region
• Friday 22 Aug, 2025 Friday 29 Aug, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Mani Not available in your region
• Saturday 23 Aug, 2025 Saturday 30 Aug, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Alruna Not available in your region
• Sunday 24 Aug, 2025 Sunday 31 Aug, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Kara Not available in your region
• Tuesday 26 Aug, 2025 Tuesday 2 Sep, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Sigyn Not available in your region
• Wednesday 27 Aug, 2025 Wednesday 3 Sep, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Einar Not available in your region
• Thursday 28 Aug, 2025 Thursday 4 Sep, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Mani Not available in your region
• Friday 29 Aug, 2025 Friday 5 Sep, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Eir Not available in your region
• Saturday 30 Aug, 2025 Saturday 6 Sep, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Tialfi Not available in your region
• Sunday 31 Aug, 2025 Sunday 7 Sep, 2025 English Based on EXPLORER SUITE (ES) Viking Hlin Not available in your region
• Tuesday 2 Sep, 2025 Tuesday 9 Sep, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Rolf Not available in your region
• Wednesday 3 Sep, 2025 Wednesday 10 Sep, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Sigrun Not available in your region
• Thursday 4 Sep, 2025 Thursday 11 Sep, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Eir Not available in your region
• Friday 5 Sep, 2025 Friday 12 Sep, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Mani Not available in your region
• Saturday 6 Sep, 2025 Saturday 13 Sep, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Alruna Not available in your region
• Sunday 7 Sep, 2025 Sunday 14 Sep, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Kara Not available in your region
• Tuesday 9 Sep, 2025 Tuesday 16 Sep, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Sigyn Not available in your region
• Wednesday 10 Sep, 2025 Wednesday 17 Sep, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Einar Not available in your region
• Thursday 11 Sep, 2025 Thursday 18 Sep, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Mani Not available in your region
• Friday 12 Sep, 2025 Friday 19 Sep, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Eir Not available in your region
• Saturday 13 Sep, 2025 Saturday 20 Sep, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Tialfi Not available in your region
• Sunday 14 Sep, 2025 Sunday 21 Sep, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Hlin Not available in your region
• Tuesday 16 Sep, 2025 Tuesday 23 Sep, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Rolf Not available in your region
• Wednesday 17 Sep, 2025 Wednesday 24 Sep, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Sigrun Not available in your region
• Thursday 18 Sep, 2025 Thursday 25 Sep, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Eir Not available in your region
• Friday 19 Sep, 2025 Friday 26 Sep, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Mani Not available in your region
• Saturday 20 Sep, 2025 Saturday 27 Sep, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Alruna Not available in your region
• Sunday 21 Sep, 2025 Sunday 28 Sep, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Kara Not available in your region
• Tuesday 23 Sep, 2025 Tuesday 30 Sep, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Sigyn Not available in your region
• Wednesday 24 Sep, 2025 Wednesday 1 Oct, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Einar Not available in your region
• Thursday 25 Sep, 2025 Thursday 2 Oct, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Mani Not available in your region
• Friday 26 Sep, 2025 Friday 3 Oct, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Eir Not available in your region
• Saturday 27 Sep, 2025 Saturday 4 Oct, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Tialfi Not available in your region
• Sunday 28 Sep, 2025 Sunday 5 Oct, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Hlin Not available in your region
• Tuesday 30 Sep, 2025 Tuesday 7 Oct, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Rolf Not available in your region
• Wednesday 1 Oct, 2025 Wednesday 8 Oct, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Sigrun Not available in your region
• Thursday 2 Oct, 2025 Thursday 9 Oct, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Eir Not available in your region
• Friday 3 Oct, 2025 Friday 10 Oct, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Mani Not available in your region
• Saturday 4 Oct, 2025 Saturday 11 Oct, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Alruna Not available in your region
• Sunday 5 Oct, 2025 Sunday 12 Oct, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Kara Not available in your region
• Tuesday 7 Oct, 2025 Tuesday 14 Oct, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Sigyn Not available in your region
• Wednesday 8 Oct, 2025 Wednesday 15 Oct, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Einar Not available in your region
• Thursday 9 Oct, 2025 Thursday 16 Oct, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Mani Not available in your region
• Friday 10 Oct, 2025 Friday 17 Oct, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Eir Not available in your region
• Saturday 11 Oct, 2025 Saturday 18 Oct, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Tialfi Not available in your region
• Sunday 12 Oct, 2025 Sunday 19 Oct, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Hlin Not available in your region
• Tuesday 14 Oct, 2025 Tuesday 21 Oct, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Rolf Not available in your region
• Wednesday 15 Oct, 2025 Wednesday 22 Oct, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Sigrun Not available in your region
• Thursday 16 Oct, 2025 Thursday 23 Oct, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Eir Not available in your region
• Friday 17 Oct, 2025 Friday 24 Oct, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Mani Not available in your region
• Saturday 18 Oct, 2025 Saturday 25 Oct, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Alruna Not available in your region
• Sunday 19 Oct, 2025 Sunday 26 Oct, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Kara Not available in your region
• Tuesday 21 Oct, 2025 Tuesday 28 Oct, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (E) Viking Sigyn Not available in your region
• Wednesday 22 Oct, 2025 Wednesday 29 Oct, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Einar Not available in your region
• Thursday 23 Oct, 2025 Thursday 30 Oct, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Mani Not available in your region
• Friday 24 Oct, 2025 Friday 31 Oct, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Eir Not available in your region
• Saturday 25 Oct, 2025 Saturday 1 Nov, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Tialfi Not available in your region
• Sunday 26 Oct, 2025 Sunday 2 Nov, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Hlin Not available in your region
• Tuesday 28 Oct, 2025 Tuesday 4 Nov, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Rolf Not available in your region
• Wednesday 29 Oct, 2025 Wednesday 5 Nov, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Sigrun Not available in your region
• Thursday 30 Oct, 2025 Thursday 6 Nov, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Eir Not available in your region
• Friday 31 Oct, 2025 Friday 7 Nov, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Mani Not available in your region
• Saturday 1 Nov, 2025 Saturday 8 Nov, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Alruna Not available in your region
• Sunday 2 Nov, 2025 Sunday 9 Nov, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Kara Not available in your region
• Tuesday 4 Nov, 2025 Tuesday 11 Nov, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Sigyn Not available in your region
• Wednesday 5 Nov, 2025 Wednesday 12 Nov, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (E) Viking Einar Not available in your region
• Thursday 6 Nov, 2025 Thursday 13 Nov, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Mani Not available in your region
• Friday 7 Nov, 2025 Friday 14 Nov, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Eir Not available in your region
• Saturday 8 Nov, 2025 Saturday 15 Nov, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Tialfi Not available in your region
• Sunday 9 Nov, 2025 Sunday 16 Nov, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Hlin Not available in your region
• Tuesday 11 Nov, 2025 Tuesday 18 Nov, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Rolf Not available in your region
• Wednesday 12 Nov, 2025 Wednesday 19 Nov, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Sigrun Not available in your region
• Thursday 13 Nov, 2025 Thursday 20 Nov, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Eir Not available in your region
• Friday 14 Nov, 2025 Friday 21 Nov, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Mani Not available in your region
• Saturday 15 Nov, 2025 Saturday 22 Nov, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Alruna Not available in your region
• Tuesday 18 Nov, 2025 Tuesday 25 Nov, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (E) Viking Sigyn , Viking Gefjon Not available in your region
• Wednesday 19 Nov, 2025 Wednesday 26 Nov, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (E) Viking Einar Not available in your region
• Thursday 20 Nov, 2025 Thursday 27 Nov, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (E) Viking Vali , Viking Mani Not available in your region
• Friday 21 Nov, 2025 Friday 28 Nov, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Eir Not available in your region
• Saturday 22 Nov, 2025 Saturday 29 Nov, 2025 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Tialfi , Viking Bragi Not available in your region
• Tuesday 25 Nov, 2025 Tuesday 2 Dec, 2025 English Based on VERANDA (B) Viking Rolf Not available in your region
• Tuesday 17 Mar, 2026 Tuesday 24 Mar, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Rolf Not available in your region
• Thursday 19 Mar, 2026 Thursday 26 Mar, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Eir Not available in your region
• Sunday 22 Mar, 2026 Sunday 29 Mar, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Kara Not available in your region
• Tuesday 24 Mar, 2026 Tuesday 31 Mar, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Sigyn Not available in your region
• Thursday 26 Mar, 2026 Thursday 2 Apr, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Mani Not available in your region
• Sunday 29 Mar, 2026 Sunday 5 Apr, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Hlin Not available in your region
• Tuesday 31 Mar, 2026 Tuesday 7 Apr, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Rolf Not available in your region
• Thursday 2 Apr, 2026 Thursday 9 Apr, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Eir Not available in your region
• Sunday 5 Apr, 2026 Sunday 12 Apr, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Kara Not available in your region
• Tuesday 7 Apr, 2026 Tuesday 14 Apr, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Sigyn Not available in your region
• Thursday 9 Apr, 2026 Thursday 16 Apr, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Mani Not available in your region
• Sunday 12 Apr, 2026 Sunday 19 Apr, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Hlin Not available in your region
• Tuesday 14 Apr, 2026 Tuesday 21 Apr, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Rolf Not available in your region
• Thursday 16 Apr, 2026 Thursday 23 Apr, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Eir Not available in your region
• Sunday 19 Apr, 2026 Sunday 26 Apr, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Kara Not available in your region
• Tuesday 21 Apr, 2026 Tuesday 28 Apr, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Sigyn Not available in your region
• Thursday 23 Apr, 2026 Thursday 30 Apr, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Mani Not available in your region
• Sunday 26 Apr, 2026 Sunday 3 May, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Hlin Not available in your region
• Tuesday 28 Apr, 2026 Tuesday 5 May, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Rolf Not available in your region
• Wednesday 29 Apr, 2026 Wednesday 6 May, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Sigrun Not available in your region
• Thursday 30 Apr, 2026 Thursday 7 May, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Eir Not available in your region
• Sunday 3 May, 2026 Sunday 10 May, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Kara Not available in your region
• Tuesday 5 May, 2026 Tuesday 12 May, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Sigyn Not available in your region
• Wednesday 6 May, 2026 Wednesday 13 May, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Einar Not available in your region
• Thursday 7 May, 2026 Thursday 14 May, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Mani Not available in your region
• Sunday 10 May, 2026 Sunday 17 May, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Hlin Not available in your region
• Tuesday 12 May, 2026 Tuesday 19 May, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Rolf Not available in your region
• Wednesday 13 May, 2026 Wednesday 20 May, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Sigrun Not available in your region
• Thursday 14 May, 2026 Thursday 21 May, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Eir Not available in your region
• Sunday 17 May, 2026 Sunday 24 May, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Kara Not available in your region
• Tuesday 19 May, 2026 Tuesday 26 May, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Sigyn Not available in your region
• Wednesday 20 May, 2026 Wednesday 27 May, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Einar Not available in your region
• Thursday 21 May, 2026 Thursday 28 May, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Mani Not available in your region
• Sunday 24 May, 2026 Sunday 31 May, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Hlin Not available in your region
• Tuesday 26 May, 2026 Tuesday 2 Jun, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Rolf Not available in your region
• Wednesday 27 May, 2026 Wednesday 3 Jun, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Sigrun Not available in your region
• Thursday 28 May, 2026 Thursday 4 Jun, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Eir Not available in your region
• Sunday 31 May, 2026 Sunday 7 Jun, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Kara Not available in your region
• Tuesday 2 Jun, 2026 Tuesday 9 Jun, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Sigyn Not available in your region
• Wednesday 3 Jun, 2026 Wednesday 10 Jun, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Einar Not available in your region
• Thursday 4 Jun, 2026 Thursday 11 Jun, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Mani Not available in your region
• Sunday 7 Jun, 2026 Sunday 14 Jun, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Hlin Not available in your region
• Monday 8 Jun, 2026 Monday 15 Jun, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Hild Not available in your region
• Tuesday 9 Jun, 2026 Tuesday 16 Jun, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Rolf Not available in your region
• Wednesday 10 Jun, 2026 Wednesday 17 Jun, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Sigrun Not available in your region
• Thursday 11 Jun, 2026 Thursday 18 Jun, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Eir Not available in your region
• Sunday 14 Jun, 2026 Sunday 21 Jun, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Kara Not available in your region
• Monday 15 Jun, 2026 Monday 22 Jun, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Herja Not available in your region
• Tuesday 16 Jun, 2026 Tuesday 23 Jun, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Sigyn Not available in your region
• Wednesday 17 Jun, 2026 Wednesday 24 Jun, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Einar Not available in your region
• Thursday 18 Jun, 2026 Thursday 25 Jun, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Mani Not available in your region
• Sunday 21 Jun, 2026 Sunday 28 Jun, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Hlin Not available in your region
• Tuesday 23 Jun, 2026 Tuesday 30 Jun, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Rolf Not available in your region
• Wednesday 24 Jun, 2026 Wednesday 1 Jul, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Sigrun Not available in your region
• Thursday 25 Jun, 2026 Thursday 2 Jul, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Eir Not available in your region
• Sunday 28 Jun, 2026 Sunday 5 Jul, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Kara Not available in your region
• Tuesday 30 Jun, 2026 Tuesday 7 Jul, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Sigyn Not available in your region
• Wednesday 1 Jul, 2026 Wednesday 8 Jul, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Einar Not available in your region
• Thursday 2 Jul, 2026 Thursday 9 Jul, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Mani Not available in your region
• Sunday 5 Jul, 2026 Sunday 12 Jul, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Hlin Not available in your region
• Tuesday 7 Jul, 2026 Tuesday 14 Jul, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Rolf Not available in your region
• Wednesday 8 Jul, 2026 Wednesday 15 Jul, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Sigrun Not available in your region
• Thursday 9 Jul, 2026 Thursday 16 Jul, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Eir Not available in your region
• Sunday 12 Jul, 2026 Sunday 19 Jul, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Kara Not available in your region
• Tuesday 14 Jul, 2026 Tuesday 21 Jul, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Sigyn Not available in your region
• Wednesday 15 Jul, 2026 Wednesday 22 Jul, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Einar Not available in your region
• Thursday 16 Jul, 2026 Thursday 23 Jul, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Mani Not available in your region
• Sunday 19 Jul, 2026 Sunday 26 Jul, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Hlin Not available in your region
• Tuesday 21 Jul, 2026 Tuesday 28 Jul, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Rolf Not available in your region
• Wednesday 22 Jul, 2026 Wednesday 29 Jul, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Sigrun Not available in your region
• Thursday 23 Jul, 2026 Thursday 30 Jul, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Eir Not available in your region
• Sunday 26 Jul, 2026 Sunday 2 Aug, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Kara Not available in your region
• Tuesday 28 Jul, 2026 Tuesday 4 Aug, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Sigyn Not available in your region
• Wednesday 29 Jul, 2026 Wednesday 5 Aug, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Einar Not available in your region
• Thursday 30 Jul, 2026 Thursday 6 Aug, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Mani Not available in your region
• Sunday 2 Aug, 2026 Sunday 9 Aug, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Hlin Not available in your region
• Tuesday 4 Aug, 2026 Tuesday 11 Aug, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Rolf Not available in your region
• Wednesday 5 Aug, 2026 Wednesday 12 Aug, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Sigrun Not available in your region
• Thursday 6 Aug, 2026 Thursday 13 Aug, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Eir Not available in your region
• Sunday 9 Aug, 2026 Sunday 16 Aug, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Kara Not available in your region
• Tuesday 11 Aug, 2026 Tuesday 18 Aug, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Sigyn Not available in your region
• Wednesday 12 Aug, 2026 Wednesday 19 Aug, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Einar Not available in your region
• Thursday 13 Aug, 2026 Thursday 20 Aug, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Mani Not available in your region
• Sunday 16 Aug, 2026 Sunday 23 Aug, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Hlin Not available in your region
• Tuesday 18 Aug, 2026 Tuesday 25 Aug, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Rolf Not available in your region
• Wednesday 19 Aug, 2026 Wednesday 26 Aug, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Sigrun Not available in your region
• Thursday 20 Aug, 2026 Thursday 27 Aug, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Eir Not available in your region
• Sunday 23 Aug, 2026 Sunday 30 Aug, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Kara Not available in your region
• Tuesday 25 Aug, 2026 Tuesday 1 Sep, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Sigyn Not available in your region
• Wednesday 26 Aug, 2026 Wednesday 2 Sep, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Einar Not available in your region
• Thursday 27 Aug, 2026 Thursday 3 Sep, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Mani Not available in your region
• Sunday 30 Aug, 2026 Sunday 6 Sep, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Hlin Not available in your region
• Tuesday 1 Sep, 2026 Tuesday 8 Sep, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Rolf Not available in your region
• Wednesday 2 Sep, 2026 Wednesday 9 Sep, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Sigrun Not available in your region
• Thursday 3 Sep, 2026 Thursday 10 Sep, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Eir Not available in your region
• Sunday 6 Sep, 2026 Sunday 13 Sep, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Kara Not available in your region
• Tuesday 8 Sep, 2026 Tuesday 15 Sep, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Sigyn Not available in your region
• Wednesday 9 Sep, 2026 Wednesday 16 Sep, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Einar Not available in your region
• Thursday 10 Sep, 2026 Thursday 17 Sep, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Mani Not available in your region
• Sunday 13 Sep, 2026 Sunday 20 Sep, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Hlin Not available in your region
• Tuesday 15 Sep, 2026 Tuesday 22 Sep, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Rolf Not available in your region
• Wednesday 16 Sep, 2026 Wednesday 23 Sep, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Sigrun Not available in your region
• Thursday 17 Sep, 2026 Thursday 24 Sep, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Eir Not available in your region
• Sunday 20 Sep, 2026 Sunday 27 Sep, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Kara Not available in your region
• Tuesday 22 Sep, 2026 Tuesday 29 Sep, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Sigyn Not available in your region
• Wednesday 23 Sep, 2026 Wednesday 30 Sep, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Einar Not available in your region
• Thursday 24 Sep, 2026 Thursday 1 Oct, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Mani Not available in your region
• Sunday 27 Sep, 2026 Sunday 4 Oct, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Hlin Not available in your region
• Tuesday 29 Sep, 2026 Tuesday 6 Oct, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Rolf Not available in your region
• Wednesday 30 Sep, 2026 Wednesday 7 Oct, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Sigrun Not available in your region
• Thursday 1 Oct, 2026 Thursday 8 Oct, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Eir Not available in your region
• Sunday 4 Oct, 2026 Sunday 11 Oct, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Kara Not available in your region
• Tuesday 6 Oct, 2026 Tuesday 13 Oct, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Sigyn Not available in your region
• Wednesday 7 Oct, 2026 Wednesday 14 Oct, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Einar Not available in your region
• Thursday 8 Oct, 2026 Thursday 15 Oct, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Mani Not available in your region
• Sunday 11 Oct, 2026 Sunday 18 Oct, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Hlin Not available in your region
• Tuesday 13 Oct, 2026 Tuesday 20 Oct, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Rolf Not available in your region
• Wednesday 14 Oct, 2026 Wednesday 21 Oct, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Sigrun Not available in your region
• Thursday 15 Oct, 2026 Thursday 22 Oct, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Eir Not available in your region
• Sunday 18 Oct, 2026 Sunday 25 Oct, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Kara Not available in your region
• Tuesday 20 Oct, 2026 Tuesday 27 Oct, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Sigyn Not available in your region
• Wednesday 21 Oct, 2026 Wednesday 28 Oct, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Einar Not available in your region
• Thursday 22 Oct, 2026 Thursday 29 Oct, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Mani Not available in your region
• Sunday 25 Oct, 2026 Sunday 1 Nov, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Hlin Not available in your region
• Tuesday 27 Oct, 2026 Tuesday 3 Nov, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Rolf Not available in your region
• Wednesday 28 Oct, 2026 Wednesday 4 Nov, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Sigrun Not available in your region
• Thursday 29 Oct, 2026 Thursday 5 Nov, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Eir Not available in your region
• Sunday 1 Nov, 2026 Sunday 8 Nov, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Kara Not available in your region
• Tuesday 3 Nov, 2026 Tuesday 10 Nov, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Sigyn Not available in your region
• Wednesday 4 Nov, 2026 Wednesday 11 Nov, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Einar Not available in your region
• Thursday 5 Nov, 2026 Thursday 12 Nov, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Mani Not available in your region
• Sunday 8 Nov, 2026 Sunday 15 Nov, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Hlin Not available in your region
• Tuesday 10 Nov, 2026 Tuesday 17 Nov, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Rolf Not available in your region
• Wednesday 11 Nov, 2026 Wednesday 18 Nov, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Sigrun Not available in your region
• Thursday 12 Nov, 2026 Thursday 19 Nov, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Eir Not available in your region
• Sunday 15 Nov, 2026 Sunday 22 Nov, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Kara Not available in your region
• Tuesday 17 Nov, 2026 Tuesday 24 Nov, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Sigyn Not available in your region
• Wednesday 18 Nov, 2026 Wednesday 25 Nov, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (F) Viking Einar Not available in your region
• Thursday 19 Nov, 2026 Thursday 26 Nov, 2026 English Based on STANDARD (E) Viking Mani Not available in your region
• 374 Other Unavailable Departures

Frequently Asked Questions

We are there for you! If you have any questions about this tour, then please don't hesitate to contact us 24/7 and we will get back to you latest within 2 hours!

Got a question about this tour?

Reach out to our travel experts.

Good to Know

• Currencies € Euro France, Germany and Netherlands Fr. Swiss Franc Switzerland

As a traveller from USA, Canada, England, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa you will need an adaptor for types C, E, F, J.

• These are only indications, so please visit your doctor before you travel to be 100% sure.
• Tick-borne encephalitis - Recommended for Germany and Switzerland. Ideally 6 months before travel.
• Unfortunately we cannot offer you a visa application service. Whether you need a visa or not depends on your nationality and where you wish to travel. Assuming your home country does not have a visa agreement with the country you're planning to visit, you will need to apply for a visa in advance of your scheduled departure.
• Here is an indication for which countries you might need a visa. Please contact the local embassy for help applying for visas to these places.
• For any tour departing before 2nd November 2024 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after 2nd November 2024, a minimum payment of €0 is required to confirm your booking with Viking Cruises. The final payment will be automatically charged to your credit card on the designated due date. The final payment of the remaining balance is required at least 125 days prior to the departure date of your tour. TourRadar never charges you a booking fee and will charge you in the stated currency.
• The following cards are accepted for "Viking Cruises" tours: Visa, Maestro, Mastercard, American Express or PayPal. TourRadar does NOT charge you an extra fee for using any of these payment methods.
• TourRadar is an authorised Agent of Viking Cruises. Please familiarise yourself with the Viking Cruises payment, cancellation and refund conditions .
• Insurance Unless otherwise mentioned, TourRadar does not provide travel insurance. We do however recommend purchasing it through our tried and trusted partner, World Travel Nomads .
• Accessibility Some tours are not suitable for mobility-restricted traveller, however, some operators may be able to accommodate special requests. For any enquiries, you can contact our customer support team , who are ready and waiting to help you.
• Western Europe Tours
• Kimberley Tours
• Malaysia 3 week tours
• Viva Africa Tours tours
• NZ Adventure 17 Day
• Guide of the Year 2024
• Camino Frances: Route Planner, Itinerary and …

Similar Tours

Keep Exploring Europe

• Hiking in Europe in July
• Hiking in Europe in August
• 10 Best River Cruise Companies (with Reviews)
• 10 Best Luxury River Cruises & Lines 2022
• From Amsterdam to Basel
• Operators in Europe
• Rhine Getaway Amsterdam to Basel Tours in Western Europe
• Rhine Tours
• Europe Tours
• Netherlands tours
• Germany tours
• France tours
• Switzerland tours

• Expeditions
• Complimentary Brochures

Find A Cruise

• 0 --> 0 }"> type to begin your search', visible: !setSelectedCruiseType().length > 0"> CRUISE TYPE   CRUISE TYPE 11, 'dropup': breakpoint() > 767 && dropupAvailable() }, selectPicker:setSelectedCruiseType, optionsText:'display', optionsValue:'value', selectPickerOptions: { optionsArray: cruiseType, isPortal: isPortal() }" aria-hidden="true" style="display: none"> CRUISE TYPE * cruise type is a required field
• 0 ) || ( !isPortal() && !widgetIsReady ) )"> 0 }"> REGION   REGION 0) || !isPortal() --> 11, 'dropup': breakpoint() > 767 && dropupAvailable(), 'disabled': isPortal() && !setSelectedCruiseType().length > 0 }, selectPicker:setSelectedRegion, optionsText:'display', optionsValue:'value', optionsCaption: regionCaption(), selectPickerOptions: { optionsArray: regions, isPortal: isPortal() }" aria-label="Find a cruise - Select cruise region" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-98" style="display: none">  
• 0 ) || ( !isPortal() && !widgetIsReady ) )"> 0 }"> DEPARTURE DATE   DEPARTURE DATE 0) || !isPortal() --> 11, 'dropup': breakpoint() > 767 && dropupAvailable(), 'disabled': isPortal() && !setSelectedCruiseType().length > 0 }, selectPicker:setSelectedYearMonth, optionsText: 'display', optionsValue:'value', optionsCaption: yearMonthCaption(), selectPickerOptions: { optionsArray: yearsMonths }" aria-label="Find a cruise - Select departure date" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-98" style="display: none">  
• DURATION   DURATION 11, 'dropup': breakpoint() > 767 && dropupAvailable() },selectPicker:setSelectedDuration, optionsText:'display', optionsValue:'value', optionsCaption: durationCaption(), selectPickerOptions: { optionsArray: durations }" aria-label="Find a cruise - Select cruise duration" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-98" style="display: none">  

Explore Our Current Offers

First Time River Cruise Guide

Sign up to receive updates from Viking

Stay current with special offers, news and destination-focused content.

Company Information

• Order a Brochure
• Special Offers
• Travel Advisors
• Media Center
• Investor Relations
• Health & Safety Program
• Privacy Policy
• Cookie Policy
• Manage Cookies

Viking River Cruises

• Mississippi

Viking Ocean Cruises

• Scandinavia
• British Isles & Ireland
• North America
• Caribbean & Central America
• South America
• Mediterranean
• Quiet Season Mediterranean
• Australia & New Zealand
• World Cruises
• Grand Journeys

Viking Expeditions

• Great Lakes
• Longitudinal World Cruises

10 hot river cruises to book this year

There are classic river itineraries — the Danube, the Rhine, the Rhone and the Nile — that anyone who appreciates the ease and camaraderie of river cruising can book with most of the top cruise lines. But those aren't your only options.

The most exciting river cruises to book this year are the new offerings that go off the beaten path, explore an unsung river or combine a standard seven-night sailing with a novel land tour.

For cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

Here are 10 new itineraries for 2024 and 2025 that are taking river cruising beyond the familiar, including several on recently launched or soon-to-debut river ships.

AmaWaterways' 7-night Wonders of Colombia and Magic of Colombia

Love South America but have already cruised the Amazon? Consider AmaWaterways ' newest ship, AmaMagdalena. Debuting in January 2025, the 60-passenger ship will sail two alternating seven-night itineraries year-round on Colombia's Magdalena River, traveling from Cartagena to Barranquilla and vice versa.

With the Wonders of Colombia itinerary , you'll board AmaMagdalena in coastal Cartagena, a popular Caribbean port on Panama Canal transits that you can now also enjoy on a river cruise. Arrive a day early or book a two-night precruise add-on to see sights such as the historic Walled City, San Felipe de Barajas Castle and the Gold Museum.

Following a sunset sail away, immerse yourself in the sights, sounds and tastes of Colombia via a local music experience in Palenque, the first "free town" in the Americas after a 1713 decree from the Spanish crown freed residents from slavery. You can also check out 19th-century Calamar on a paola (a two-person bicycle taxi) and the jazz music and local handicrafts available in Santa Barbara de Pinto and Mompox.

El Banco and Magangue round out the list of port calls before the cruise ends with a tour of the floating village of Nueva Venecia and an evening Carnival celebration in the seaside port of Barranquilla.

Choose the Magic of Colombia itinerary , from Barranquilla to Cartagena, and you'll visit the same ports, just in a different order. Rather than end your cruise with the Carnival celebration, you'll experience it on your first day. You can also book several precruise and postcruise land tours, including three nights precruise in Medellin, three nights postcruise in Panama or both.

AmaMagdalena will be joined in June 2025 by 64-passenger AmaMelodia. Both vessels will offer spacious (237- to 516-square-foot) staterooms and suites, as well as a heated pool on the sun deck and two dining options: the main restaurant, serving Latin American cuisine and Western favorites, and an intimate alfresco dining experience.

Related: Best river cruise lines around the world

American Cruise Lines' 15-night National Parks & Legendary Rivers

American Cruise Lines ' itineraries on the Columbia and Snake rivers in Oregon and Washington already attract travelers who appreciate the stunning landscapes of the Pacific Northwest, but now the cruise line has a 15-night National Parks & Legendary Rivers itinerary that takes scenic appreciation to another level.

The trip combines an eight-night cruise on the Columbia and Snake rivers with a seven-night land tour to three national parks: Glacier, Yellowstone and Grand Teton. The itinerary visits five states and begins or ends in either Portland, Oregon, or Jackson, Wyoming, depending on whether you do the land or cruise portion first.

What will you see on this cruise? If you start in Portland, you'll overnight before boarding one of the company's modern, 180-passenger river ships: American Jazz, American Harmony or American Song. Your first day will be spent enjoying scenic cruising along the Columbia River, with Mount Hood and Mount St. Helens as a backdrop, as you head to Astoria, Oregon. The historic seaside city is known for its beautiful Victorian houses and red trolleys.

Geology enthusiasts and anyone who remembers the devastating May 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens will be fascinated by the port call in Kalama, Washington, where you can take an included guided excursion to the National Volcanic Monument. The following day will be spent cruising the Columbia River Gorge before you arrive in Stevenson, Washington, where a visit to 620-foot Multnomah Falls is a highlight. The final two days feature views of the dramatic landscapes of the Snake River in eastern Washington as you call on Richland before disembarking in Clarkston.

The guided national parks tour begins with a drive to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, for a lake cruise followed by an overnight in Kalispell, Montana. Once in Glacier National Park, you'll navigate Going-to-the-Sun Road and dine at the historic Lake McDonald Lodge.

The tour continues on to Yellowstone National Park, where your adventure guides will offer insight as you explore Mammoth Hot Springs, Norris Geyser Basin, Tower Fall and Old Faithful, among other highlights. A visit to Grand Teton National Park and its Jackson Lake Lodge follows, with your final day spent admiring the park's incredible mountain vistas and abundant wildlife.

Related: The best US river cruises

American Cruise Lines' 50-night The Great United States

If 15 nights aren't enough to satisfy your wanderlust, American Cruise Lines offers a 50-night version of The Great United States program for 2025.

The 2025 sailing encompasses three cruises. It takes the 15-night National Parks & Legendary Rivers itinerary described above and adds a 21-night Mississippi River cruise from New Orleans to St. Paul, Minnesota, aboard 180-passenger American Serenade, which will call on 21 ports in six states. Along the Mississippi, you'll have a chance to visit Civil War battlefields in Vicksburg, Mississippi; Mark Twain's boyhood home in Hannibal, Missouri; and the landmark Gateway Arch in St. Louis. You can also enjoy legendary blues music on Beale Street in Memphis.

That segment will be followed by a 14-night, 14-port cruise along the coast of New England on 125-passenger American Pioneer (debuting in 2025). The ship will sail round-trip from Boston and visit scenic coastal ports in Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Massachusetts, including the quintessential New England islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket.

Tour options will include visits to the Maine Botanical Garden in Boothbay Harbor and Acadia National Park in Bar Harbor, an SUV adventure along the dunes of Provincetown on Cape Cod and a tour of the gilded mansions of Newport in Rhode Island.

In total, you'll check off 15 states from your must-visit list during this river cruise. That's an impressive number of destinations to visit in a single trip.

Avalon Waterways' 7-night Vida Portugal: Vineyards & Villages Along the Douro

Portugal's Douro River Valley is beloved by oenophiles. Over the past few decades, it has also attracted river cruisers seeking a relaxing itinerary punctuated by sleepy small towns and the daily enjoyment of local food and wine.

In March 2024, Avalon Waterways added the Douro River to its offerings when it debuted 102-passenger Avalon Alegria sailing an itinerary called Vida Portugal: Vineyards & Villages Along the Douro . The seven-night cruise is round trip from Porto, where there's time at the start and end of your cruise to explore this colorful city's historic port-wine cellars, churches and bridges (including the Ponte de Dona Maria Pia, designed in 1877 by Gustave Eiffel).

Noteworthy stops range from an afternoon call on Porto Antigo, with included excursions to monasteries and churches in Braga and Guimaraes, to a call at Peso de Regua, where sightseeing and wine tasting go hand in hand. You'll even have an opportunity to add an optional excursion from Pinhao to the elaborate 18th-century Baroque palace Casa de Mateus (of rose wine fame).

Save time for the onboard activities, too. After a full-day excursion from Barca d'Alva to Salamanca, Spain — a city known for its mix of Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque architectural styles — you can learn how to paint azulejos (Portugal's famous blue-hued handmade tiles) or enjoy a pastry-making demonstration on the ship the next morning.

Related: The best river cruises in Europe

CroisiEurope's 7-night A Cruise Through Four Exquisite European Valleys

Germany is known for its scenic river valleys, and a new itinerary from French river cruise line CroisiEurope doesn't skimp on beautiful vistas. Called A Cruise Through Four Exquisite European Valleys , the seven-night, round-trip sailing departs from Strasbourg, France, and visits the Rhine, Neckar, Moselle and Saar river valleys.

The ship for this itinerary, 81-passenger Elbe Princesse II, is one of CroisiEurope's three paddle river boats. It normally navigates the Elbe River between Berlin and Prague. However, from July to October 2025, the ship will be cruising the Rhine and its tributaries.

This river cruise kicks off on the Saar River, famous for the Great Bend at Mettlach (the river equivalent of a hairpin turn), and overnights in the town of Saarburg, Germany. After a morning scenic cruise onto the Moselle River, you'll visit Trier, Germany, known for its ancient Roman structures and its photogenic medieval buildings, before continuing on to Cochem, Germany, where you can enjoy an afternoon visit to the hilltop Reichsburg Castle.

Larger cities like Koblenz, Germany, located at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers and home to Ehrenbreitstein Fortress, are also on the itinerary. The trip features a stop in wine-centric Rudesheim, Germany, as well, so you can sample some vino and enjoy a ride on a scenic train while in the Rhine Valley.

The final day calls on a trio of German ports on the Neckar River. In the morning, you'll visit Mannheim and disembark for a coach transfer to Heidelberg, home to pink-hued Heidelberg Castle, historic churches and atmospheric beer halls. You'll then reboard Elbe Princesse II in Heidelberg and sail to Eberbach, a medieval city with an abundance of half-timbered homes and ancient fountains. The ship will overnight as you enjoy a final gala dinner before disembarking in Strasbourg the next morning.

Riverside Luxury Cruises' 11-night Danube and Main River Discovery

With the March 2024 debut of 110-passenger Riverside Debussy, Europe-based newcomer Riverside Luxury Cruises has added more than a half-dozen new three- to 21-night itineraries, with options on the Rhine, Main, Moselle and Danube rivers. In October 2024, the ship will sail an 11-night Danube and Main River Discovery itinerary from Budapest to Frankfurt that combines the highlights of two rivers and visits four countries: Hungary, Slovakia, Austria and Germany.

You'll embark Riverside Debussy in Hungary's capital before cruising past the illuminated Hungarian Parliament Building on your way to Bratislava. The capital of Slovakia is home to a hilltop castle, a walkable pedestrian zone and pubs serving local beer.

The next day, discover the history and artistry of Vienna with visits to its Hapsburg-era palaces, 16th-century St. Stephen's Cathedral and numerous museums. Charming Durnstein, Austria, is known for its medieval castle and a riverfront abbey with a pretty blue-and-white spire, while the golden-hued abbey in nearby Melk, Austria, celebrates the flavor of apricots in preserves and liquors.

As you reach Passau, Germany, which sits on the confluence of three rivers, you'll enter Bavaria and discover a walkable city with a domed 17th-century Baroque cathedral. The next day on the Main River (a Rhine tributary), you'll tour Regensburg, Germany, including its UNESCO World Heritage-listed city center, before spending two days exploring Nuremberg, Germany, which has a notably complex history.

Rounding out the cruise are calls on Bamberg, Wurzburg and Wertheim, Germany, with bustling Frankfurt — where historic remnants of the Middle Ages meet modern skyscrapers — serving as the departure port.

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

Scenic's 66-night Scenic Cruising Through Europe

If you have two months to spare, a fascination with history, a love of fine wines and a generous budget, you can explore the rivers of Europe in one epic trip with Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours. The new 66-night Scenic Cruising Through Europe journey — available on two dates in 2025 ( May 4-July 9 and Aug. 16-Oct. 21 ) — explores more than a half dozen major rivers and waterways and calls on almost 60 ports in 13 countries.

The first part of the journey begins in Bucharest, Romania, with an overnight in a luxury hotel before you set sail on one of Scenic's 163-guest Space-Ships from Giurgiu. You'll cruise the Danube, Main and Rhine rivers all the way to Belgium and the Netherlands, then backtrack along the Rhine to Basel, Switzerland, taking some time to explore towns along the Moselle River.

This portion of the trip will take 36 days, and you'll explore ports in Bulgaria, Serbia, Croatia, Hungary, Austria, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and Switzerland. You'll spend two days each in Budapest, Vienna and Amsterdam, and scenic highlights include Austria's Wachau Valley and Germany's Rhine River Gorge, with its many hilltop castles.

After a flight from Zurich to Paris, you'll start the next leg of your trip when you board 124-passenger Scenic Gem for a 10-night cruise on the Seine River. Visit historic Rouen and Honfleur or take excursions to Claude Monet's home and gardens at Giverny and the WWII beaches at Normandy.

Next, you'll fly from Paris to Bordeaux and board 149-passenger Scenic Diamond for a 10-night journey along the Garonne and Dordogne rivers in the heart of France's Bordeaux wine region.

On day 57, you'll fly from Bordeaux to Porto, Portugal, to board 96-passenger Scenic Azure on the Douro River for the final 10-night leg of your trip. You'll explore the legendary port cellars of Porto, taste wine amid the terraced vineyards of the Douro Valley and venture into Spain for a day trip to Salamanca. Your river cruise — and this epic 66-night journey — concludes back in Porto with an overnight, allowing you more time to experience this exceptional city.

Tauck's 13-night Romantic Capitals: Prague to Paris

Tauck's newest river offering in Europe for 2025 is its 13-night Romantic Capitals: Prague to Paris itinerary. This multiriver and land journey is available from April to October on Tauck ships Joy and Savor.

You'll start your journey with two nights at the Fairmont Golden Prague Hotel and enjoy ample time to take in sights such as Prague Castle and the Charles Bridge. You'll then transfer to Regensburg, Germany, for a nine-day cruise to Trier along the Main, Rhine, Moselle and upper Danube rivers, as well as the Main-Danube Canal.

Ports and cities visited on excursions include Frankfurt, Koblenz, Nuremberg, Bamberg, Wurzburg, Wertheim and Boppard, Germany. Exclusive experiences available to Tauck guests range from a private reception and dinner at Schlosshotel Kronberg near Frankfurt to a visit to the legendary Nurburgring racetrack near Koblenz.

You'll continue your trip on land with a quick stop in Luxembourg for a walking tour of its capital city. Afterward, you'll board a train to Paris, where your journey will conclude with a two-night stay at L'Hotel du Collectionneur.

Uniworld's 13-night Cruise & Rail: Paris to Istanbul

Uniworld Boutique River Cruises has added a new 13-night Cruise & Rail: Paris to Istanbul itinerary to its 2025 journeys. The two-week cruise offers you the chance to experience these two legendary cities, visit landmarks along the Seine River and then travel by luxury sleeper train for five nights from Paris through six additional countries to Istanbul. A 14-night reverse itinerary from Istanbul to Paris is also available.

If you begin your journey in Paris, you'll board Uniworld's 128-passenger Joie de Vivre for a seven-night Seine River cruise. Highlights include visits to Claude Monet's home and gardens at Giverny and Normandy's medieval capital, Rouen, known for its 11th-century cathedral and Joan of Arc history. A second stop in Rouen gives you a choice of excursions to the beaches of Normandy. This portion of the trip concludes with a stop at Versailles and an overnight in Paris.

You'll then transfer to Gare de Lyon and board the Golden Eagle Danube Express. First stop: the vineyards of Champagne for a tasting. The next day, the majestic scenery of the Austrian Alps are a daytime highlight, while dinner and a private classical concert in Vienna are on the evening agenda. After a morning exploring the city, you'll be back on board as your train heads to Postojna, Slovenia, where you'll enjoy a nighttime tour of the intricate Postojna Caves.

A visit to the Serbian capital of Belgrade rewards you with a traditional feast, while the next day's stop in Sofia, capital of Bulgaria, offers architectural and archeological gems in a city dating back 7,000 years. Upon disembarking in Istanbul, you'll spend a night at the luxurious Four Seasons Sultanahmet and have time to explore nearby sights, which include the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace.

Viking's 10-night Rhine & Main Explorer from Nuremberg to Basel

Viking 's newest itinerary for 2025 is the 10-night Rhine & Main Explorer , which cruises from Nuremberg to Basel (or vice versa) from May to November and visits cities in Germany, France and Switzerland. It's a new mix of ports for Viking, including some lesser-known historic towns in Germany's Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria regions.

You'll board one of the cruise line's 190-passenger Viking Longships in Nuremberg, where an overnight offers time to learn about the city's medieval structures and past as a staging ground for Nazi rallies. More medieval architecture awaits in Bamberg, famous for its river-spanning Altes Rathaus (Town Hall) and its rauchbier (smoked beer). If wine is your preferred spirit, you're in luck, as Wurzburg, a city in Germany's Franken wine region, is also on the itinerary.

As you continue your cruise, you'll see the vibrant half-timbered houses and sample the hearty Bavarian cuisine (think: bratwurst and pork knuckle) of Marktheidenfeld, Germany. A visit to bustling Frankfurt, which provides a stark contrast between historic and modern Germany, is also in order after an afternoon spent sailing past the Main River's castle-topped hillsides.

France's Alsace region gets its turn when you call on Strasbourg, known for its beautifully preserved Old Town encircled by the Ill River. The itinerary also includes a stop across the Rhine in Breisach, Germany, the gateway to the Black Forest and a town full of vineyards. You'll end your journey with a full day of exploring charming guild house-lined Marktplatz, history-rich streets and more than 40 museums in Basel.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• Top ways cruisers waste money
• The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

8 best river cruises in Europe, from the Douro to the Danube

E urope is a continent built on its rivers, with many having played a vital role in the formation and development of its most important cities . From the Thames to the Tiber , they are an ever-flowing reminder of the continent’s long and varied history.

The opportunity to sail along these rivers, among the world’s most beautiful and peaceful waterways, is a temptation that’s easily given in to. Of course, a river cruise is about more than just spending time floating on the water (although that option is available, should you wish). It’s about the towns, cities and landmarks along the way.

These trips will take you on a relaxing and slow-paced journey to vineyards and valleys, tours and excursions, returning each night to your own floating hotel. Each day offers quick stops to discover some of the continent’s most important cultures at your own pace.

The Independent has rounded up eight of the best Europe river cruise packages, from epic continental crossing and to the finest Christmas markets to explore.

Capitals of Eastern Europe, Viking River Cruises

Viking River Cruises’ Capitals of Eastern Europe itinerary is a 16-night trip covering the main cities on the Danube. It sets sail from Vienna, the elegant and sophisticated Austrian capital, and it finishes in Constanta, Romania, before a quick final journey overland to Bucharest to end your trip with a two-night stay.

Read more on Europe travel :

• The underrated European holiday destination with fabulous forests and brilliant beer
• Beat the heat: The ‘cool’ European destinations to visit in summer 2024
• The lesser-known Croatia destinations you may not have considered

On the way you’ll visit a host of towns in Hungary, Serbia and even Bulgaria, but on this trip the bigger cities are the main attraction. Vienna is followed by Bratislava – where Baroque palaces meet a typically Eastern European Old Town – and then Budapest . The Hungarian capital is a highlight: from festooned “ruin bars” and thermal baths to a spectacular neo-Gothic parliament building, the city has a wide variety of architecture, activities and things to do.

How to book

The tour lasts for 17 days, starting from £5,445pp. This price includes return flights, one excursion in each port of call and all meals. vikingrivercruises.co.uk

North Rhine & The Netherlands, TUI

Alongside the Danube, the Rhine is one of Europe’s main cruise rivers. Many operators have several Rhine packages; TUI’s offering covers a stellar range of cities for a very affordable price. Its ships have two dining options (a bistro and a more formal restaurant) with al fresco seating, as well as a wellness and activity area on the top deck. No excursions are included, but this does give you free rein to choose whatever activities you like.

The first two days are spent in Amsterdam , where you’ll have ample time to wander its canals and green spaces, such as the Vondelpark, or visit attractions such as the Anne Frank Museum, Van Gogh Museum and Rijksmuseum.

Days three and four bring you to Rotterdam and Dusseldorf. You can enjoy the port area in the Netherlands ’ second city or simply marvel at its dramatically different modern architecture, while Dusseldorf provides a variety of museums and concerts alongside a lively Old Town. On days five to seven, you’ll visit four picturesque riverside cities and towns: Bonn, Koblenz, Boppard and Oberwesel. There are waterfront bars and restaurants galore, and each has its own slice of history (think of a Beethoven museum in Bonn and a memorial to the ruler who united Germany in Koblenz).

From £1,639pp for this seven-night trip, including three meals per day (you can add coffee, alcohol and other drinks on an all-inclusive basis for an extra £20 per night) and return flights. tui.co.uk

The Douro, Riviera Travel

A trip along the northern Douro River can offer views to rival even the most idyllic of Algarve beaches. This trip starts in Porto , where bars and restaurants line the banks in the Ribeira (Riverside) district, but it is worth climbing the various hills to see other areas and sites, such as the cathedral and Dom Luis I Bridge.

After setting off along the Douro, your first two stops are Pinhao – a picturesque wine town, famous for being at the heart of the Port-producing region of the country – and Castelo Rodrigo, a 12th-century walled village located in the highlands. Day four will see you visit Salamanca, the Spanish sandstone city famous for its cathedrals and university.

The next two days are spent in Peso da Régua and Lamego – two small hillside towns – before returning to Porto on day seven. The cruise ends here, but the holiday doesn’t; this package also contains a three-night stay in Lisbon . After travelling to the capital by coach, you’ll visit the nearby towns of Coimbra (day eight) and Sintra (day 10), while you’ll have a day in the capital sandwiched in between; while in Lisbon, take in the city’s unique Manueline and Pombaline architecture while wandering through its grand squares, and visit Sao Jorge castle or the city’s famous Time Out Market.

This 11-day cruise is priced from £1,599pp, including all meals on board, excursions, airport transfers and coach travel where necessary.  rivieratravel.co.uk

Idyllic Rhône, Scenic Cruises

Scenic Cruises’ luxury Rhone sailing takes you through some of the best sections of southern France , starting in Lyon . The regional capital has 2,000 years of history, so it’s blessed with a Roman amphitheatre right through to a Renaissance Old Town. Your first trip will take you north along the Saone River to Macon, a famous wine region in Burgundy.

The next two towns, Vienne and Viviers, offer spectacular views of the Rhone before you arrive in Avignon. You can enjoy a private concert at the Palais des Papes – once a Papal residence – as well as a cooking class onboard, but a visit to the city itself is worth it to wander its narrow streets and charming squares, starting with the Place de l’Horloge. Your final day takes you to Arles, at the mouth of the Rhone – from here, you can travel home, stay in the city or carry on towards Marseille .

Prices start at £2,999pp for the eight-day cruise. The package includes 20 meals, the premium concert experience, cooking lessons and 19 shore activities, ranging from walking tours to wine tastings. scenic.co.uk

Holland & Belgium, Avalon Waterways

Avalon’s eight-day cruise of the Low Countries is an excellent way to experience some of the region’s best cities in a relaxing way. It starts and ends in Amsterdam , where you’ll have a number of nights to wander its scenic network of canals lined with beautiful 17th-century buildings.

When you move on to Belgium, you’ll visit Ghent , Brussels and Antwerp on consecutive days. More tranquil canals await you in Ghent, and those who enjoy being by the water can continue this in Antwerp’s waterfront area. Brussels has more than its fair share of landmarks and museums (all centred around Grand Place, the main square and Unesco Heritage Site), but the Royal Museum of Fine Arts (Antwerp) and St Bavo’s Cathedral (Ghent) are definitely places to visit during the other stops. Day six will take you to Rotterdam before you head back to the Dutch capital.

From £2,453pp. Meals and some activities are included; there are additional excursions in each destination that can be purchased. avalonwaterways.co.uk

Danube Delights, Emerald Cruises

This trip from Emerald Cruises takes you along the famous river to Regensburg. It starts with two nights in Budapest , with a traditional Hungarian folklore show and tour of Buda Hill on offer, along with any solo sightseeing you’d like to do. Days three and four take you to Bratislava and Vienna, where you can enjoy cycling tours and hikes.

Krems and Durnstein are the last two stops in Austria before you head to Passau, the German “City of Three Rivers”. At the confluence of the Danube, Inn and Ilz rivers, the city is home to an impressive cathedral and Old Town. After disembarking at Regensburg, you make your way to Munich , where a good plan is to spend time exploring the Bavarian capital before you fly home.

From £1,849pp for this eight-day cruise, which includes five guided tours, 20 meals and complimentary wine, beer and soft drinks served with lunch and dinner on board. emeraldcruises.co.uk

Christmas Markets on the Rhine, Ama Waterways

There’s something quite special about experiencing Christmas celebrations on a river cruise through Europe. On this AmaWaterways voyage, you sail the Rhine, boarding in Amsterdam and with a first stop in Cologne. The Gothic cathedral provides the backdrop for one of the country’s best Christmas markets, where you’ll find dozens of stalls selling festive items, many of them handmade. Other markets include the more elaborate Heinzels Wintermärchen in the Old Town and the Markt der Engel (a more rustic affair in the city’s Neumarkt square). For those who want to mix in a bit of sightseeing, the Museum Ludwig and Roman-Germanic Museum can give you a taste of arts and history.

Next on the itinerary, you’ll visit the German towns of Heidelberg and Speyer, where more markets await, before arriving in Strasbourg, France. Here you’ll find an eclectic mix of French and German culture, a warm festive spirit and plenty of opportunities to wander the markets that are spread throughout the town. Wander further afield and you’ll find Petite France, a pretty district known for cobblestone streets and canals. Holidaymakers return to Germany for the penultimate stop in Breisach, before disembarking in Basel (though you can always stay in Switzerland for a taste of Swiss Christmas markets).

From £3.149, including meals and some activities; flights and airport transfer not included. amawaterways.co.uk

European Sojourn, Viking River Cruises

This ultimate itinerary bisects Europe to take passengers from Amsterdam to Bucharest, via sections of the Rhine, Main and Danube among other European rivers. Along the way, passengers will visit some of Europe’s principal cities – think Budapest, Amsterdam and Vienna – smaller (but just as beautiful) riverside settlements such as Passau and Bamberg, and lesser-known towns including Vidin and Kolocsa.

Hidden gems range from Melk, an Austrian town in the underrated   Wachau Valley wine-making region, Osijek, the fourth-largest city in Croatia, and Kinderdijk, a Dutch village famous for its set of 19 windmills. With 23 days, eight countries, 20 towns and cities, and at least 10 Unesco World Heritage Sites, there’ll be plenty to see as you traverse the length of central Europe.

From £8,045pp, including flights, 19 guided tours, all meals, transfers and amenities. vikingrivercruises.co.uk

Read more: Best hotels in Europe 2024: Where to stay for a city, beach or retreat break

The Independent is the world’s most free-thinking news brand, providing global news, commentary and analysis for the independently-minded. We have grown a huge, global readership of independently minded individuals, who value our trusted voice and commitment to positive change. Our mission, making change happen, has never been as important as it is today.

• Expeditions
• Complimentary Brochures

Asia Cruises

Experience Asia’s waterways with Viking, perhaps sailing the scenic Mekong River or admiring Tokyo’s dazzling skyline situated between Mt. Fuji and the Pacific coast. From Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh City and Hong Kong to Bangkok, intriguing cultures and unforgettable beauty await.

NEW! China Discovery

• Request a Quote

NEW! Classic China & the Coast

NEW! Wonders of China

NEW! Best of China

Komodo & the Australian Coast

Bangkok, Bali & Beyond

Southeast Asia & Hong Kong

Far Eastern Horizons

North Pacific Passage

Passage to India

Across the Bay of Bengal

Voyage of Marco Polo

Southeast Asia Horizons

Southeast Asia

South Pacific Sojourn

Australia, New Zealand & Indonesia

Far East & Alaska

Australia, Asia & Alaska

Grand Pacific Explorer

NEW! Australia, Asia & the Mediterranean

NEW! Viking World Cruise

NEW! Viking World Journeys

NEW! Viking World Voyage I

NEW! Viking World Voyage II

NEW! Classic China Discovery

NEW! Best of China & Tibet

NEW! Wonders of China & Tibet

NEW! Singapore, Bali & Beyond

Highlights of asia cruises.

Viking reveals the best of the Far East and Southeast Asia, painting a canvas with brushstrokes of lush jungle, fishing villages and modern cities. Experience India’s temples, Jakarta’s street cuisine and ports such as Tokyo and Shanghai. Here are a few highlights you will enjoy:

• Hanoi’s Old Quarter by electric car
• Shanghai’s blend of colonial & futuristic architecture
• Traditional Vietnamese farming methods
• Glamorous Taj Mahal Palace hotel
• Singapore’s plentiful green parks
• Siem Reap’s spectacular temple of Angkor Wat
• Flavorful cuisine in Thailand’s capital, Bangkok
• Tranquility of the Edo period at Hiroshima Castle
• French colonial flavor of Hanoi & Ho Chi Minh City
• The Mekong Delta, Vietnam’s breadbasket

Sign up to receive updates from Viking

Stay current with special offers, news and destination-focused content.

Company Information

• Order a Brochure
• Special Offers
• Sweepstakes
• Travel Advisors
• Media Center
• Investor Relations
• Health & Safety Program
• Privacy Policy
• Cookie Policy
• Manage Cookies

Viking River Cruises

• Mississippi

Viking Ocean Cruises

• Scandinavia
• British Isles & Ireland
• North America
• Caribbean & Central America
• South America
• Mediterranean
• Quiet Season Mediterranean
• Australia & New Zealand
• World Cruises
• Grand Journeys

Viking Expeditions

• Great Lakes
• Longitudinal World Cruises

• River Cruising

Viking River Cruise -Basel to Amsterdam

By Bus Rider Hater , June 22, 2013 in River Cruising

Recommended Posts

Bus Rider Hater

Our Viking cruise was to have initiated in Basel, Switzerland Saturday June 1. We flew in early to be able to see Lucerne, Switzerland. The locals in Lucerne said the Rhine was higher than they had seen in twenty years and it was still raining. This probably should have been a tip off for us that maybe there was a problem. My view is Viking should have given us the choice of canceling the river cruise at this point. Yes it probably would have been a mess to arrange flights back home but we should have been given a choice. Instead we were bused to our ship on Saturday which was now docked in Briesach, Germany. The Rhine River was so flooded that the boat couldn't make it up the river to Basel. Apparently there was an issue of navigation safety due to river flooding and low bridge clearance. Briesach was to have been the first stop on the cruise. The ship remained docked there from Saturday(6/1) through Wednesday(6/5). Each night, the ship's officers indicated that we were not able to sail due to river conditions. During these four days we were bused to the various stops that were supposed to have happened had the boat sailed. One of the excursions was an extremely long and uncomfortable bus trip. I mean from Briesach to Heidelberg and then back to the boat was a long miserable day.

During the four days we were in Briesach, the ship was parallel parked next to another ship so the view from our veranda (at additional cost) is into the stateroom of the adjacent ship. The ship was moved at the end and the view was actually quite nice in spite of the river being at flood stage.

On Wednesday, we were bused to Cologne to another ship. This boat is docked in an heavily industrial area with a very steep rope lined gangplank. Difficult to maneuver for us old guys but no one fell in. The normal docking downtown was of course precluded by the flood stage of the river. Finally on Friday(6/7) we were bused to Amsterdam for an over night hotel stay and flights in the morning.. The whole trip consisted of an evacuation from one end to the other. It's not a river cruise when the boat never leaves the dock. The trip was totally disrupted by the flood conditions that precluded the ship from ever leaving port. We were basically evacuated from the beginning to the end.

We felt that we didn't get anything resembling what we paid for. We requested a full refund for the cruise including airfare from Viking. We received a response from Viking acknowledging there were disruptions to the trip. However what they offered was 75% of the cruise cost applicable to a future Viking River Cruise. In my view, this is totally inadequate.

Happy Cruising by Bus Ride Hater

Link to comment

Share on other sites.

Viking Cruises

Dear Bus Ride Hater,

We recently posted this information on a few other threads, so we do apologize if you’ve already seen it, but just in case you haven’t we’ll share it with you here, too. We’d like to offer some input to some of the points made in your post, but most importantly, we’d like to ask that you contact us – even if you have already done so previously. We very much hope to hear from you soon at [email protected] .

Timing and Making Assessments

Our Swiss nautical and operational teams rely on an extensive, established network of local authorities and port operators—along with decades of experience with past high and low water situations—to make assessments on navigability of all rivers on which we sail. Weather, soil conditions and water levels are routinely monitored and evaluated. This is particularly crucial under circumstances where a few hours or a few centimeters of difference can have an enormous impact on a ship’s sailing schedule.

Cancellations

Where conditions precluded us from being able to provide a modified itinerary that we believed would be worthwhile—we canceled those particular cruises.

Modified Itineraries

If we believed that we would be able to continue operating an itinerary with some modifications, we did. Each of these modified sailings was considered individually. As you mention, partial compensation in the form of a voucher was provided. In most cases we contacted guests ahead of departure to let them know the ways in which we anticipated their itinerary would proceed based on current conditions. In some cases, such as yours, the rapidly changing navigational conditions prompted additional modifications to the itinerary and as a result we have re-evaluated the compensation provided for these.

Departures in the First Week of June

We understand that when you arrived in Basel you were taken by surprise at the condition of the river; we were taken by surprise, too. Our Switzerland-based teams worked diligently and in good faith trying to make arrangements as needed and keep their guests informed. We hear your frustration over instances where a crew could not provide answers on contingency plans that were beyond the next day, and we apologize for this, to both you and our crew, as it was surely frustrating for both parties. With conditions changing quickly, we did the best we could to provide each crew with complete information as it became available. Again, a few hours or a few centimeters of difference can have an enormous impact on a ship’s sailing schedule.

Compensation for Impacted Sailings

We have extended compensation in the form of a credit voucher of 75% of the cruise fare paid for your impacted 2013 sailings. Sailings such as yours were provided alternative travel arrangements, dining, lodging, and excursions to destinations on the original itinerary (where possible) and substituted places of interest. However, based on sentiments expressed here and elsewhere online, as well as with our Customer Relations department, it is clear that some of those affected guests are unsatisfied with our attempts to make amends for a difficult and challenging situation. So, please do contact us directly if you would like to discuss your experience. Our Customer Relations team is starting to return to normal levels of incoming calls and emails after a few weeks of very high volume, and they would be happy to continue the conversation with any of our guests. We can be reached at [email protected] and will be pleased to put guests in touch with a member of our Customer Relations team.

The safety of our guests and crew is always our top priority; in every deliberation we had it was our primary focus. We are happy and grateful to report that no Viking guests were injured as a result of the flooding.

Updated Information

We understand that this may be of little reassurance to you, but for guests on upcoming sailings, we continue to update our website: http://www.vrc.com/weatherupdate. We began providing updates on June 3rd when the situation became apparent—including email updates to all affected guests and their travel agents—and we will continue to provide updates until sailing on the affected rivers no longer requires modifications that are known ahead of departure. Please note current modifications are no longer a result of water levels, but of the recently announced extended closure of the Altenwörth Lock in Austria.

Even if you have already done so previously we ask that you contact us directly at [email protected] . We are re-doubling our efforts to address concerns with guests who may feel that they have not been adequately heard. We understand that there are members in this community who remain disappointed and we hope that each of you will contact us again so we may discuss your particular situation.

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

• Welcome to Cruise Critic
• ANNOUNCEMENT: Set Sail on Sun Princess®
• Hurricane Zone 2024
• Cruise Insurance Q&A w/ Steve Dasseos of Tripinsurancestore.com June 2024
• New Cruisers
• Cruise Lines “A – O”
• Cruise Lines “P – Z”
• Cruise Critic News & Features
• Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
• Special Interest Cruising
• Cruise Discussion Topics
• UK Cruising
• Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
• Canadian Cruisers
• North American Homeports
• Ports of Call
• Cruise Conversations

Announcements

• New to Cruise Critic? Join our Community!

Write Your Own Amazing Review !

Click this gorgeous photo by member SUPERstar777 to share your review!

Features & News

LauraS · Started Thursday at 08:52 PM

LauraS · Started Thursday at 07:30 PM

LauraS · Started Tuesday at 05:03 PM

LauraS · Started Tuesday at 03:34 PM

LauraS · Started Tuesday at 03:22 PM

• Existing user? Sign in OR Create an Account
• Find Your Roll Call
• Meet & Mingle
• Community Help Center
• All Activity
• Member Photo Albums
• Meet & Mingle Photos
• Favorite Cruise Memories
• Cruise Food Photos
• Cruise Ship Photos
• Ports of Call Photos
• Towel Animal Photos
• Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos
• Write a Review
• Live Cruise Reports
• Member Cruise Reviews
• Create New...