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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. Sure, Viking is reputed to have some of the world’s best river cruises and the Viking Rhine river cruise sounds wonderful.
Final Thoughts on Our Viking Rhine River Cruise
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. We saw so much that we felt like we were on a Black Forest road trip, if only for the day. Today’s shore excursion takes us to Kinderdijk which is a UNESCO World Heritage site with 19 enormous windmills. 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. Sail through southern Germany and explore neighboring regions in Switzerland and France.
Pre-Extension: Basel
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. 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. We sailed past this spectacular 430 foot Lorelei Rock where legend has it that the beautiful maiden Lorelei sunk the ships of distracted sailors.
Kinderdijk Windmills in Holland (with Viking Cruises)
Basel to Germany Viking Hervor Cruise Reviews (2023 UPDATED): Cruise Ratings on Cruise Critic - Cruise Critic
Basel to Germany Viking Hervor Cruise Reviews (2023 UPDATED): Cruise Ratings on Cruise Critic.
Posted: Wed, 17 Jan 2024 09:42:27 GMT [source]
The first half of this post is a review of the Rhine Getaway ports of call. I liked all of the cities we stopped in, but some were more impressive than others. To skip down to the second half of this post (a review of the ship and its amenities), click here. The Rhine is Germany's largest wine producing area and Viking shore excursions provide plenty of opportunities for tastings in between sailing through glorious landscapes.
If you want to see the castles up close and personal, pack a pair of binoculars. 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.
Germany’s Black Forest
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. I loved seeing the patchwork of vineyards on the steep mountainsides, but the coolest part of the day is seeing all the castles. Unfortunately, there are pickpockets in every big town and city. Minimize risks by only taking small amounts of Euros -- which you can easily obtain from ATMs on arrival if need be -- when you are out on shore excursions or walking around by yourself. Also consider adding a pre- or post-cruise extension to your sailing to make the most of your time in Europe.
Grand European Tour • Free Airfare*
Christmas markets are the highlight of Europe's winter calendar and Germany forms the heartland of the festive market scene. A Viking river cruise provides the perfect way to soak up history and culture combined with a wonderful yuletide atmosphere. The seasonal celebrations continue back onboard your beautifully decorated Viking Longship where menus showcase seasonal specialties. The cruise also takes in ports along the lesser-known Moselle, which joins the Rhine at Koblenz.
Explore Our River Ships
We did a fun tour of the wheelhouse and learned from the Captain that Viking ships utilize four propellers instead of a traditional rudder. Enjoying the comfort of a luxurious ship without worrying about transportation from town to town and only unpacking once. I’ll admit I didn’t know too much about the country outside of Amsterdam and our guide was quite helpful to explain the history of the nation and the purpose of its many windmills. Many of them are situated high above local towns and we saw lots of German camper vans parked at the base. 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. Located in the Alsace Lorraine region, the town is part of France but throughout much of history, changed hands between Germany and France.
Upcoming Viking River Cruises: 2024 Prices, Itineraries + Activities on Cruise Critic - Cruise Critic
Upcoming Viking River Cruises: 2024 Prices, Itineraries + Activities on Cruise Critic.
Posted: Mon, 23 Oct 2023 14:31:13 GMT [source]
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. You will only need money for small extras such as coffee, snacks or gifts and even these can be paid for with a credit card.
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. 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!). 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.
Well, we wouldn’t go that far, but we’re very open to taking another cruise to help us with that transition. 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. Seriously, the castles just kept coming as we lounged on the wide-open sundeck of our longship.
With daily included shore tours, and the option to book some additional for-fee tours, you can expect the very best excursions on Viking Rhine River cruise. As previously mentioned, river cruises are much more active than ocean voyages especially as there are no days at sea. Rather than feel overscheduled or tired, it is far better to study the itinerary in advance and decide what really interests you. Just because a walking tour is included it doesn't mean you have to take it. There are week-long sailings -- ideal for first-time visitors -- through longer itineraries which are ideal for seasoned Rhine cruisers looking to discover more.
Explore Holland’s famous windmills and waterworks, and encounter multicultural Strasbourg in France. 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’s hard to not enjoy a luxury cruise on the Viking Eir, a longboat with 95 staterooms and four decks.
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