Table Of Content
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. We did a fun tour of the wheelhouse and learned from the Captain that Viking ships utilize four propellers instead of a traditional rudder. Note – a couple others from the cruise did the optional dinner excursion on this day and raved about it. Strasbourg occupies a strategic position on the Rhine River and is the ninth largest city in France.
Viking Rhine River Cruise: Best For First-Time Cruisers
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. Also consider adding a pre- or post-cruise extension to your sailing to make the most of your time in Europe.
Stateroom Pricing - Rhine & Viking Shores & Fjords (Basel-Bergen)
A Viking Rhine River Cruise in Winter - Cruise Critic
A Viking Rhine River Cruise in Winter.
Posted: Thu, 01 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
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. If you are going to pass on some of the shore tours and spend more time on the ship then a veranda cabin is a good choice.
Castles & cathedrals
Read more about what to expect when visiting Germany’s Black Forest with Viking River Cruises. Stroll along charming cobblestone streets and sample vintages from this wine-making region. Explore highlights of Germany’s oldest city, from Porta Nigra to the Liebfrauenkirche. See the Town Hall in this UNESCO-listed medieval city; sample its distinctive rauchbier.
Post-Extension: Oslo & Scenic Train
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. There’s generally an opportunity to sight see in the morning and afternoon, with one included tour and one optional tour.
Smaller markets along the way include Rudesheim, where you can stroll down the colorful Drosselgasse street and try the town's warming coffee laced with local brandy. There's no better way to enjoy cities than on a Viking river cruise where your comfortable Longship is your floating boutique hotel. Sailing from one destination to the next at a leisurely pace, instead of traffic-filled highways you will admire an ever-changing panorama of riverside scenery.
Day 2: Germany’s Black Forest & Colmar, France
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]
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. Longtime readers of my blog will know that I don’t shy away from giving my honest opinion when it comes to travel. 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. You can also pre-book one of many “Optional Excursions,” which are tours that you’ll have to pay extra for.
Viking Shores & Fjords
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. Enjoying the comfort of a luxurious ship without worrying about transportation from town to town and only unpacking once. 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 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. I would recommend this trip if you enjoy small colorful towns, World War II history and good food.
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. 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. We explored Marksburg Castle and wandered a bit on our own after.
Located in the Alsace Lorraine region, the town is part of France but throughout much of history, changed hands between Germany and France. 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. 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.
From here your epic Viking river cruise continues along the Main before joining the Danube and ending in the Hungarian capital of Budapest. 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're taking your first vacation on the Rhine take a look at Viking's selection of eight day sailings. They're a great introduction to the region and will leave you wanting to come back for more.
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. However, it is a shame not to try some food and drink ashore to get a real flavor of the destination. A lesser-known stop on the Rhine on this Viking river cruise is Speyer. A former Roman settlement, it's one of Germany's oldest towns and noted for is large Romanesque-style cathedral and rich Jewish heritage with a traditional bathhouse dating back to 1128.
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. One night we had an Austrian / German night, with local specialties like sauerkraut, sausages, pretzels, schnitzel and plenty of German beer. 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. 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.
No comments:
Post a Comment