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We were lucky to sail during spring when the tulips are in full bloom at the renowned Keukenhof Gardens outside Amsterdam in Holland. This sprawling botanic garden is filled with every varietal of tulips you could imagine among many other lovely flowers and things to do. Strasbourg, France captured my heart and has left me daydreaming of moving to this beautiful French town with a German accent. Discover what’s so enchanting about Strasbourg, France before you go. Land of cuckoo clocks, fruit elixirs, and its namesake hams and cakes — the Black Forest seems like a place dreamed up by the Brothers Grimm for their fairy tales. Read more about what to expect when visiting Germany’s Black Forest with Viking River Cruises.
Viking Rhine River Cruise: A Sailing Full of Seasonal Cheer
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. 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.
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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.
Strasbourg, France
See the European Parliament and tour the interior of the city’s famed cathedral. Dine aboard and enjoy free time this evening in the amiable little city of Kehl. Experience the highlights of the legendary Rhine in just 8 days.
Day 6: Cologne, Germany
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 would recommend this trip if you enjoy small colorful towns, World War II history and good food. Join us on a richly rewarding 8-day journey to some of Scandinavia’s most scenic and historic ports.
Marksburg Castle in Braubach, Germany
Many of them are situated high above local towns and we saw lots of German camper vans parked at the base. 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. We had a wonderful time and especially loved how organized the entire Viking journey was, from pre-departure to on-board, everything was seamless. Viking also offers the same route in reverse, from Amsterdam to Basel so you can pick either option.
River Cruises Plan a River Cruise - Cruise Critic
River Cruises Plan a River Cruise.
Posted: Mon, 06 Nov 2023 21:36:09 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. Unfortunately, there are pickpockets in every big town and city.
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]
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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. This river cruise gives you all the highlights of the legendary Rhine in just 8 days.
Pre & Post Cruise Extensions
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. We chose to do 2 optionals and on the other days, relaxed on board or went into town to explore on our own!
Learn about these sites and more things to do in Heidelberg, Germany today. Stroll through Cologne’s Old Town and see the city’s famed Gothic cathedral, a UNESCO Site. 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.
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. You will sail along the Rhine to Marksburg, where the remarkable 13th century castle is the only one on the river never to have been damaged or destroyed. From here your epic Viking river cruise continues along the Main before joining the Danube and ending in the Hungarian capital of Budapest.
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. 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.
I’ll cherish the memory of going down the Rhine with my extended family for the rest of my life. 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.
In any case, don’t end up disappointed – travel insurance will help when you need it most. 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. 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. The 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. The cruise also takes in ports along the lesser-known Moselle, which joins the Rhine at Koblenz.
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