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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. We also enjoyed visiting a modern German farm complete with its on-site schnapps distillery not to mention adorable goats and cows.
Rhine & Moselle Discovery
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.
Rhine River Cruise Prices: 5 Steps for Finding a Good Deal - Cruise Critic
Rhine River Cruise Prices: 5 Steps for Finding a Good Deal.
Posted: Tue, 29 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
What We Didn’t Love So Much
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. 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.
Grand European Tour
Admire Cologne’s famous cathedral, and tour Ehrenbreitstein Fortress. In Kinderdijk and Amsterdam, explore Holland’s famous windmills and waterworks. Then, sail the North Sea to the seaside village of Skagen, Denmark. Set off for Norway’s dramatic fjord landscapes, journeying from vibrant Oslo and history-rich Kristiansand to cosmopolitan Stavanger and spectacularly scenic Flåm.
Viking River Cruises
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. 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.
We chose to do 2 optionals and on the other days, relaxed on board or went into town to explore on our own! There’s generally an opportunity to sight see in the morning and afternoon, with one included tour and one optional tour. 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. Every street looks perfectly preserved and it’s quite colorful.
Viking's Privileged Access River Experiences - Cruise Critic
Viking's Privileged Access River Experiences.
Posted: Wed, 27 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Savor the culinary traditions of Alsace and explore Amsterdam, Basel and Cologne. The winter season is an ideal time to visit, with fewer travelers and easier access to landmarks. Tour highlights of the legendary Rhine River and discover Scandinavian wonders by sea. See the charming canals of Strasbourg’s Petite France, admire Cologne’s famous cathedral and explore Holland’s iconic windmills. Sail the North Sea, visit Denmark and witness Norway’s dramatic fjord landscapes and scenic cities.
Kinderdijk Windmills in Holland (with Viking Cruises)
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. 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.
Day 3 – Cologne Germany
See what we thought about our scenic 12-day Viking Rhine River Cruise from Amsterdam to Basel. 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 Netherlands is a small country, and Kinderdijk is only about 95 kilometers (59 miles) away from Amsterdam.
We wandered mostly on our own, ducking into gelato shops and chocolate stores while enjoying the colorful, medieval feel. Excursions will take you to Trier, with its Roman history, and Germany's oldest university town of Heidelberg with its imposing red sandstone castle. In Bamberg you can try the curious smoked beer and other stops include Nuremberg which, despite almost being destroyed in the war, has three miles of medieval walls. Spend free time in the pedestrian-only Drosselgasse and sample a glass of locally produced wine at one of the restaurants or wine bars.
That being said, we were thrilled when we received an unexpected offer from Viking River Cruise. 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. 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.
The interiors were really unique and the guided tour was excellent. 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. By afternoon, we reached Koblenz, a city set at the mouth of two rivers. 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.
This river cruise gives you all the highlights of the legendary Rhine in just 8 days. Take a scenic excursion through the area’s renowned mountain landscape, rolling meadows and dense forests. Once there, visit a local workshop and see a cuckoo clock-making demonstration. Return to Breisach or choose an optional excursion to the quaint Alsatian town of Colmar. Proceed along the Rhine, disembarking to tour the 700-year-old Marksburg Castle and its museum. Enjoy an onboard lunch as you marvel at this scenic passage, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where castles overlook the river from their hilltop posts.
We saw so much that we felt like we were on a Black Forest road trip, if only for the day. Sure, Viking is reputed to have some of the world’s best river cruises and the Viking Rhine river cruise sounds wonderful. We share our thoughts in the following Viking River Cruise review.
In other words, we eat and drink everything at all price points. Check out our comprehensive food travel guides loaded with real-life photos and insightful pro tips. While you're here, why not try one of our easy recipes filled with eclectic ingredients? 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. 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.
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