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As Viking Tialfi appeared to be the only passenger ship on this stretch of the Rhine (apart from its sister ship traveling in the opposite direction), there was none of the juggling for docking spots. This sailing was fully-booked with mainly Americans (accounting for 84 percent) and the remainder made up of Britons, Canadians and Australians, ranging in age from 18 to 80 years. The cruise director gave a presentation about the Netherlands and Dutch traditions on one evening, while resident musician Sal kept the night-time tempo tapping. Admittedly, I was somewhat skeptical at the thought of sailing through the gloomy rain and chill of a European winter rather than jetting off somewhere sunnier and revelling in warmer temperatures. 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. River ships are cashless and any onboard spending, including gratuities if they are not covered as part of your fare, will be added to your final account to be settled by credit card.
Day 7: Cruise through the Dutch Countryside; Stop in Kinderdijk 🇳🇱
That puts the best Rhine River cruise within reach for any type of traveler. However, the differences between each can make or break your Rhine River cruise experience. Take a look at our guide to find out how they differ and decide on the best Rhine river cruise for you.
Post: Basel at Christmas
The cities on our sailing were always going to offer enough points of interest, but each place had been specifically included in the itinerary because they stayed open as usual in the New Year. Sail through southern Germany and explore neighboring regions in Switzerland and France. Visit Basel, considered the Swiss capital of culture with its charming old town steeped in tradition. Sample flavors of the Alsace region, explore Frankfurt, one of Europe’s high-powered business hubs, and visit lesser-known historic towns in Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria. Turreted castles and a fascinating history exude a rich tapestry of medieval charm.
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In the evening, kids gather together to have their own supervised meal -- teens have their own gathering -- while parents unwind on their own. That's followed by a movie night or activity that goes until bedtime. It's all a great mix of together time as a family, paired with opportunities for parents to reconnect -- the extra Disney-level service is just a bonus. Admire Vienna’s architecture and discover the city’s classical music heritage. The ease of exploring away from the usual crowds added its own special feel to this sailing that definitely made it more memorable.
Rhine & Viking Shores & Fjords
Viking's eight-day Christmas on the Rhine cruise between Amsterdam and Basel includes time in Cologne which has seven Christmas markets. A giant twinkling Christmas tree forms the centrepiece of the most famous one held in front of the city’s landmark cathedral. 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. This fantastic three-in-one Viking vacation combines the highlights of the Rhine with hotel stays to discover the best of Paris, sparkling Reims in the heart of the Champagne region and scenic Switzerland. You can choose to start or end the 12-day Paris to the Swiss Alps itinerary with two days in the French capital or the largest Swiss city of Zurich, nestling on a shimmering lake.
Viking Hild Itineraries: 2024 & 2025 Schedule (with Prices) on Cruise Critic - Cruise Critic
Viking Hild Itineraries: 2024 & 2025 Schedule (with Prices) on Cruise Critic.
Posted: Thu, 18 Apr 2024 22:48:49 GMT [source]
Rich with history, Heidelberg is home to Germany’s oldest university, the ruins of a romantic Renaissance castle, and the world’s largest wine barrel. Learn about these sites and more things to do in Heidelberg, Germany today. Take a stroll along the pathway by Main River or explore the historic old town. 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.
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. Air fare offer applies to select gateways; air fare offer may vary across gateways and itineraries; call for details. 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.
I walked all over the Altstadt (Old Town), which is right next to the Viking River Cruises Dock. 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. 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.
Don't Miss the Opportunity to Try Local Food and Drink on Your Viking Rhine River Cruise
I never did any of the Optional Excursions, so I can’t say if they were better or worse than the included tours. 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.
Vineyard-flanked slopes and historic cities make this 8-day journey irresistible. 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 Rhine is Germany's largest wine producing area and Viking shore excursions provide plenty of opportunities for tastings in between sailing through glorious landscapes. This river cruise gives you all the highlights of the legendary Rhine in just 8 days.
Your program director will highlight many points of interest, including the legendary 443-foot Lorelei Rock where a siren is said to have lured passing sailors to their doom with her haunting songs. Explore this time-honored city, from its Mainz Cathedral to the Gutenberg Museum of printing. Enjoy charming Bergen, a historic city full of colorful architecture and a lively atmosphere. Admire the scenery and sail along the network of Holland’s waterways. Stroll the pedestrian-only Drosselgasse; sample local wines at a quaint restaurant.
Our cruise started amid downpours and dark skies in Amsterdam, but it didn't matter because the city's vibrant buzz and picturesque Christmas lights quickly lifted my spirits. Also consider adding a pre- or post-cruise extension to your sailing to make the most of your time in Europe. If you are flying in from North America a pre-cruise stay will also help you get over any jet lag and board the riverboat in the best possible shape for the vacation ahead. Enjoy scenic cruising through the Rhine Gorge, a UNESCO Site, passing iconic Lorelei Rock. Stroll through quaint Mainz and see an original Gutenberg Bible in the Gutenberg Museum. Visit Speyer and its landmark cathedral, the burial place of eight emperors.
Cologne is the largest city this cruise stops in, so there wasn’t enough time to explore all that I wanted to. The included Viking tour served as a brief introduction to the riverfront and Kölner Dom, the city’s massive iconic cathedral. If you enjoy city breaks then Viking's 12-day Cities of Light sailing is the cruise for you. Wherever you are, Viking ships dock in the heart of each city so the sights are on your doorstep. Spanning the best of Europe, Viking's 15-day Grand European Tour covers all of the highlights on the Rhine and more. On this culture-rich itinerary you will travel through four contrasting countries -- the Netherlands, Germany, Austria and Hungary -- and, like all Viking river cruises, only have to pack and unpack once.
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