Table Of Content
Like you, we sometimes like to be able to stay put a little longer, relax, sightsee and take in the vibe of a town or city. 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. 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. Food is plentiful and cooked to order, and the German beer onboard is some of the best in the world.
Should You Book Airfare Through Viking?
There are optional tours this day including a walking tour of Koblenz so you’ll have to decide which one works best for you. There are lots of optional night tours too like the popular Cologne’s Beer Culture Dinner but we enjoyed touring the beer halls on our own so we were happy to eat dinner on the ship. Cruise Critic is not a booking agent and does not charge any service fees to users of our site.
Post: Alpine Backdrops of Lake Lucerne
This sprawling botanic garden is filled with every varietal of tulips you could imagine among many other lovely flowers and things to do. Rudesheim am Rhein is the picture of a quaint German town, filled with charming wine garden restaurants and plenty of souvenir shops peddling adorable Christmas treasures. Learn more about Rudesheim am Rhein, Germany before your cruise.
Discover Rhine Getaway
We booked a walking tour with a local guide (independent of Viking), and I’m really glad we did. River cruises are highly dependent on local water levels, and abnormally low water can negatively impact your trip by forcing the boat to re-route. When it comes to Rhine River cruise tips the single most important item is a comfortable pair of shoes as you will be walking -- a lot. Leave behind any formalwear as river cruises are much more casual than ocean cruises and there is no formal dress code. A Rhine River cruise is a wonderful way to experience Europe and a top choice for a first time river cruise.
Highlights of Rhine River Cruises
Read more about what to expect when visiting Germany’s Black Forest with Viking River Cruises. You'll also visit Breisach, the gateway to the fabled Black Forest region which is particularly magical in wintertime. Buy an authentic cuckoo clock to take home as a souvenir and treat yourself to a slice of the region's namesake gateau made with rich chocolate and dark cherries.
The included Viking tour served as a brief introduction to the riverfront and Kölner Dom, the city’s massive iconic cathedral. For your best first time river cruise experience, don't be tempted to miss the daily pre-dinner port talk about the next day's port of call and activities. They also provide the opportunity for you to ask any questions. On cruises booked in some countries, such as the U.K., flights are included in the fare.
Day 2: Germany’s Black Forest & Colmar, France
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. Explore Germany’s fabled Black Forest region and admire verdant hills amid stunning scenery. Stroll the pedestrian-only Drosselgasse; sample local wines at a quaint restaurant.
What’s more, Viking offered specialties from each region we were passing through. I loved the fact that I got to try Swiss, German, French, and Dutch food all onboard! They also have a permanent menu that includes classics like Caesar salad, steak, and burgers, but I ordered most of my meals from their rotating menu. I assume that most people flew out of Amsterdam within a day or two of ending the cruise. However, we stayed for five extra days in Amsterdam and met up with a few more family members there! I had mixed feelings about this bustling Dutch metropolis, which I’ve written about in a separate blog post.
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]
Don't Carry Too Much Cash on Your Viking Rhine River Cruise
Some notable landmarks include the Dom zu Speyer (Speyer Cathedral) and the Altpörtel (Old Gate) directly west of there. The two are connected by the short Maximilianstraße, which serves as the main street in the historic district. This tiny neighborhood is split up by canals that are lined with gorgeous half-timbered homes (the iconic style of German architecture with wood beams on the exterior).
Cruise through the morning as you enjoy breakfast and the passing scenery. Arrive in Mannheim and disembark for a tour of Heidelberg to see Germany’s oldest university, founded in 1386. Then, visit the beautiful sandstone ruins of imposing Heidelberg Castle and take in the scenery of the Neckar River Valley and the city’s many red rooftops from this hilltop post. Continue with a walking tour through Old Town to Heidelberg’s renowned gates. To learn more about each port of call and our included as well as optional excursions, click on the individual days below. After being wowed by the castles, we docked in Rudesheim around 5 pm just in time for dinner.
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. Now that you’ve seen the itinerary for the Rhine Getaway, the second half of this post will include some information about the actual cruising experience on Viking.
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. 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.
Located in the Alsace Lorraine region, the town is part of France but throughout much of history, changed hands between Germany and France. Even in summertime the weather on the Rhine can be changeable and you will be spending more time outside than you do on an ocean cruise. Bring plenty of layers, including a waterproof jacket, sweater and something warm to sit outside in the evening, along with a hat. 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.
In all honesty, the Rhine (which turns into the Waal) is less scenic in the Netherlands than it is in Germany. I thought the main sanctuary of the cathedral was stunning, but I actually didn’t really like climbing the church tower. The views from the top were fine but not as stunning as some of the other panoramic views I saw on this cruise (e.g. in Breisach or Strasbourg). More importantly, the climb is essentially one long spiral staircase – with visitors going both directions on it! Frankly, being on a spiral staircase for that long with only the occasional narrow gothic window was disorienting and dizzying.
No comments:
Post a Comment