Please note that the opinions expressed in this article are entirely our own, and we have not been compensated in any way for these opinions.
A number of years ago, we were thinking about a vacation in Europe. Since we had not been to Europe previously and were not sure what to expect, we thought it would be easier just to take a guided tour for our first trip. We also knew that we wanted to visit Germany, but other than that, we were unsure of how to start the planning process. We considered a number of land-based tours, but frankly we were not thrilled with the idea of being bused around and moving from hotel to hotel every night.
During that same time, we were watching a lot of Masterpiece on PBS and kept seeing the ads for Viking River Cruises. So, we looked into the possibilities and found an itinerary that we thought would provide ‘a taste’ of European travel. Next, we contacted Viking and booked our first cruise, the 8-day Rhine River Cruise from Amsterdam to Basel, Switzerland. It turns out that this cruise is one of Viking’s most popular itineraries. So, we thought our readers may be interested in a detailed review of this cruise, along with the trip extensions in Amsterdam and Lucerne that were also offered through Viking. We hope this post will provide a good understanding of a typical itinerary, along with what you can expect during a Viking river cruise.
Before discussing the specific itinerary of the Rhine River cruise, we thought we would first take a look at the Viking Cruise company and some general information regarding what to expect from any of their river cruises.
Viking Cruises
Founded in 1997, Viking Cruises has grown to be the world’s leading river cruise line and has expanded to include an ocean fleet that now sails around the world. In January 2022, Viking will launch new expedition voyages, sailing to Antarctica, the Arctic and North America’s Great Lakes. Also in 2022, Viking will expand its destination-focused travel experiences with the launch of Mississippi River cruises. You can see all of their cruise options on their site here.
− Why You Should Give Viking a Try – One of the reasons we love Viking, and there are many, is that so much is included, with very few additional charges. For one price you will have a beautiful stateroom, all your meals, a free excursion in every port, unlimited wine and beer with lunch and dinner and free WiFi. You will only pay for drinks outside of lunch/dinner, gratuities and any optional excursions that you elect to take. Need some additional incentive to consider a Viking cruise? Take a look at one of our recent articles, Viking River Cruise – 10 Reasons to Go.
− Preparing for Your River Cruise – To ensure you get the most from your river cruise experience, we recommend a number of things that you can do to enhance your trip, and it all starts from the time that you book your trip.
For example, Viking offers the option of booking your flight directly through Viking. Typically, their pricing is very competitive and they even offer free air on some cruises. For a small additional fee, you can even work with Viking to select your specific flights, including options for stopping over in other destination cities on the way to and from your cruise. You can also enhance your trip by taking advantage of pre and post extensions, allowing you to spend additional time before or after your cruise in some spectacular destinations.
You can find more information about booking tips in one of our previous articles, Tips for Booking a Viking Cruise.
− Life on Board Viking’s River Ships
The Viking river ships have no more than 195 passengers and never feel crowded. There are several areas to relax, take in the sights and have a libation. But there are a few things you will not find on a Viking river ship. First, everyone must be 18 or over, so there are no children. Second, there is no casino, theatre or exercise gym (although there is a walking track on the top deck). You can think of the ship as a luxury hotel that takes you from destination to destination.
• Dining – The main dining area is simply called The Restaurant and is the main dining venue. The other option is the Aquavit Terrace for al fresco dining. On a nice day there is nothing better than sailing down the river while having your morning coffee or one of your meals in this lovely spot. Take note that there is no room service on the river ships (with the exception of breakfast in the Explorer Suite), so don’t plan on meal delivery to your room.
TIP: Although reservations were not needed in the past for the main dining venue, The Restaurant, new protocols arising from the pandemic may require dinner reservations in advance.
• Lounge – The lounge is the main gathering place in the late afternoon as guests relax with their favorite beverage, after a fun-filled day of sightseeing. Each evening before dinner, the cruise director discusses any pertinent announcements and the next day’s itinerary, while the chef previews the evening’s dinner options. By the way, we found the drink prices in the lounge to be very reasonably priced, much less than your typical luxury hotel!
After dinner the lounge is the place to go for the evening’s entertainment, which could be a cultural experience, live music or even a trivia game.
• Sun Deck – Our favorite spot to relax, the Sun Deck is the perfect place to view the towns, vineyards and castles along the river. With deck chairs that are both under cover or out in the sun, you can find your favorite spot to relax. The Sun Deck also has a walking track, putting green and herb garden.
We know that first time cruisers may have many more questions about what to expect during the cruise itself. You can find some additional information in another article, Viking Cruises Frequently Asked Questions.
Another frequently asked question is what to wear during your cruise. In our article, What to Wear on a European River Cruise we will walk you through what to pack.
The Rhine Getaway – Ports of Call
Now that we have discussed some of the general information, let’s get started with the Rhine River cruise itinerary, along with the pre and post extensions that we added on to our cruise. As mentioned earlier, we selected the Rhine Getaway since it included stops in many of the cities in Germany that we were interested in visiting. In addition, we wanted to spend a couple of extra days prior to the cruise in Amsterdam, as well as a post-cruise stay in Lucerne and the Swiss Alps.
Our trip was during early October. The weather along the way was pleasantly cool, although it was a bit cloudy for most of the trip. With the exception of our journey into the high elevations of the Alps, we found that a light jacket or raincoat was all that we needed.
TIP: Weather can always be unpredictable, so it’s always best to bring along layers so that you can easily adjust to changes in the weather during the day.
– Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Our flight arrived in Amsterdam in the afternoon and we checked in to our hotel, the Radisson Blu Hotel, in the City Center. This hotel turned out to be a fantastic and convenient spot, since it was within walking distance of most everything. We had time on our first afternoon and evening to do some exploring, including the Koninklijk Paleis which is located next to the National Monument. We also explored the canal rings, which provided some beautiful photo opportunities. We ended our first day with dinner at Bier Fabriek, which was only a 3-minute walk from the hotel. Bier Fabriek has a fun atmosphere with a good selection of beers on draft, but they are best known for their roast chicken. It was delicious!
Our second day started with an included walking tour through many of the small neighborhoods surrounding our hotel. Our local guide was very friendly, accommodating and very knowledgeable. After our tour and a quick bite to eat, we boarded a canal boat for a trip through the canals of Amsterdam. We recommend taking one of these tours, because the view from the water offers an interesting perspective of the city that you will not experience on land. That afternoon we spent time strolling through the streets and shops, before dinner at Bussia. This fabulous restaurant is located on one of the outer rings, not far from the Ann Frank House. Their menu includes some wonderful Italian dishes and our meal of hearty lasagna and delicate ravioli turned out to be one our favorites of the entire trip.
On our last day in Amsterdam, we checked out of the hotel in the morning, but since our transfer to the ship was not scheduled until lunchtime, we had the morning to continue our exploration of the City Center. We had time for a cup of coffee and a pastry at De Drei Graefjes, one of Amsterdam’s many wonderful cafés. After that we headed back to our hotel for the bus that transferred us to the ship. Unfortunately, we didn’t get a chance to visit any of the many museums in Amsterdam on this trip. In retrospect we wish that we had made time to visit at least a couple of them. So, if you have the time to check out places like Van Gogh Museum, Rijksmuseum, or the Rembrandt House, be sure to do so. Overall, Amsterdam is a beautiful city with so much to do, we recommend spending some extra time there.
TIP: Most folks have heard of Amsterdam’s Red Light District. Curiosity got the best of us and we did walk through the area during the late afternoon. The district is certainly an interesting place to see, but it may not be for everybody. If you do go, keep in mind that it is a very busy place in the evening, with a lot of people who have been ‘indulging’ in alcohol or whatever (hey, its Amsterdam), so just stay aware of your surroundings.
Arriving at the ship, the Eir, which was to be our home for the next 8 days, we were greeted with a welcome drink and our stateroom prepared. We spent time unpacking, exploring the ship and then relaxing in the lounge before dinner. Our first dinner onboard was excellent and we began our sailing up the Rhine later that evening.
– Kinderdijk, The Netherlands
After sailing throughout the night, we arrived in Kinderdijk early the next morning. There, we were immediately greeted with an amazing view of windmills in the distance. Windmills have been used in this region since the 15th century for pumping water and preventing the flooding that frequently occurred, due to the fact that much of the country is actually below sea level.
An included tour explored the area, as well as both the outside and inside of one of the magnificent, still-functioning windmills. Amazingly, families still live in some of the windmills and they are required to keep them in working order. So, if you are lucky enough to be visiting while some of these windmills are actually turning, you will be treated to an amazing sight! The lattice-like blades are deceivingly large and the wind produced by the turning of the blades is incredible.
After visiting the windmills, we also had a chance to see the Archimedes Screws. The Archimedes Screw is ancient technology that has been used for centuries to pump water. A modern version of this technology is located at Kinderdijk, and is the primary method used today to control the region’s water levels.
After the tour we boarded the ship for lunch as we continued sailing up the river. That night, Viking held a welcome reception and dinner, where we had a chance to talk with the Captain, Program Director and other staff, as well as meet many of our travelling companions.
– Cologne, Germany
The next morning, we docked in Cologne and after breakfast headed out for our included walking tour. With another very knowledgeable guide, we explored several areas of Cologne’s Old Town and concluded our tour with a visit to the iconic Cologne Cathedral. Since our ship was docked so close to the city center, it was very convenient to explore on our own after the tour concluded.
We first visited the Roman-Germanic Museum, which is located just outside the front of the cathedral. The ancient Roman antiquities and artifacts, including ornate jewelry and mosaics, are very impressive. If you have the time, this museum is worth a visit.
When we left the museum, and rather than return to the ship for lunch, we decided to try some good German food and local beer. Just across the square from the cathedral, we found the Brauhaus FRÜH am Dom. This restaurant was such a fun place and just walking through the Brauhaus is entertaining. The ‘Bockwurst mit Pommes frites oder Kartoffelsalat’ (pork sausage with french fries or potato salad), along with the local Kolsch beer made for the perfect lunch. Kolsch beer is the specialty of the region and it is served in small glasses. Servers continually come by with a new beer to replace your finished one. So be aware, whenever your glass is empty, you will get another. To let the server know you have had enough, just place your coaster over the top of the glass.
After recovering from lunch, we spent the rest of the afternoon walking around the Old Town, including a walk across the Hohenzollern Bridge to see the famous Love Locks. If you are not familiar with Love Locks, they are padlocks attached to the bridges and gates in public areas. The locks are attached by sweethearts and the keys are thrown into the river to symbolize their eternal and unbreakable bond. You will find Love Locks throughout Europe, but the tradition is relatively new in Cologne, starting in 2008. However, there are now hundreds of thousands of locks attached to the Hohenzollern Bridge and it’s quite an amazing sight!
– Koblenz & Rüdesheim, Germany
This day was one of the most beautiful on the Rhine and packed with things to do and see. The ship docked in Koblenz near the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers. A statue of Kaiser Wilhelm I is located at the confluence of the two rivers, and is a great photo spot as cruise ships navigate this section constantly.
Marksburg Castle – We began the day by disembarking after breakfast and taking a bus to Marksburg Castle for the included tour. The Medieval castle sits on top of a hill overlooking the town of Braubach. From this vantage point, the views are spectacular and you will have clear views of the Rhine River far below. We were able to see our ship, the Eir, as it sailed up the river to meet us in Braubach.
Marksburg Castle is one of the most well-preserved castles on the Rhine. Built in the 13th century, the castle was primarily intended as a fortress, rather than a royal residence. The tour inside of the castle includes visits to the wine cellar, kitchen, bedchambers, dining hall and even a chapel. Furnishings inside are from various periods during the castle’s history.
Be aware that throughout the tour, there are narrow walkways, some inclines and a lot of cobblestones and uneven surfaces. We noticed a number of older folks who were taking their time, but were able to complete the tour. If you do have any concerns, talk to the Program Director for some additional guidance.
TIP: This included tour also had a group for people that thought they might have some issues navigating the steep walk up to the castle. Viking designated an EZ group for passengers who preferred to be dropped off directly in front of the castle. So if you think you might need it, check to see if this option is offered .
Ehrenbreitstein Fortress – A visit to the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress is an optional tour that was available in lieu of the trip to Marksburg Castle. Although we did not tour the fortress on this trip, we did visit it on a subsequent trip through this part of Germany. The fortress is located high above the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers, and the tour begins with an amazing ride up to the fortress on the Koblenz cable car.
The fortress is the second largest preserved fortress in Europe. Its origins date back to the year 1000, but most of its present form was built in the early 1800’s. A tour is provided by a guide dressed in period costume. We found the tour to be informative and surprisingly entertaining. If you are unsure about touring Marksburg Castle due to the more difficult nature of the tour, you should definitely consider visiting Ehrenbreitstein Fortress instead. Overall, it is much easier than the Marksburg Castle tour.
Scenic Cruising – When we rejoined the ship in late morning in Braubach, we sailed through one of the most scenic areas of the Rhine. It was quite a nice day and most folks headed up to the Sun Deck for 360-degree views, as the Program Director described the towns, castles and vineyards along the way. This section of the Rhine has an amazing number of castles, some restored and others are just ruins.
While most castles sit atop high perches above the river, the Pfalz Fortress is actually on a rock in the river. We photographed the fortress on two different occasions, and they capture the difference in water levels. One picture shows the fortress in October, when the river was unusually low, and the second shows it in June, when the river was much higher.
We also sailed pass the Lorelei Rock, which is a 400-foot formation above the river. There are several myths surrounding the Lorelei rock, including one about the water siren, Lorelei. According to the myth, the beautiful Lorelei, sits on the cliff above the Rhine, combing her golden hair, while distracting shipmen with her beauty and song, causing them to meet their death on the rocks of the river. We recommend being on the Sun Deck at this point of the cruise, if possible. The river takes a relatively sharp turn at this point, and the longship makes some impressive maneuvers around the rocks, while avoiding oncoming boat traffic!
Rüdesheim – In the late afternoon the ships docked in the charming town of Rüdesheim. There was an optional tour to enjoy a typical German dinner and folkloric entertainment, but we opted to just walk the town and have dinner there on our own. Although the town can be a little ‘touristy’, it is truly the quintessential German village and is very picturesque.
– Heidelberg and Speyer, Germany
After cruising the Rhine in the morning for some scenic views, the ship stopped briefly to disembark for the included tour to the beautiful city of Heidelberg. The first stop was Heidelberg Castle, which is perched on a hill about 300 feet over the city. Unlike Marksburg Castle, this sprawling castle is mainly in ruins. However, some areas of the castle and its grounds are still used for special events and performances. The castle’s size and the views of the surrounding Neckar Valley make this a perfect spot for photographs. Our guide provided a lot of interesting information about the castle and its role throughout history.
After the castle tour, it was just a short bus ride to the center of the city and a walking tour of Old Heidelberg. The city is home to Germany’s oldest and most prestigious university, Heidelberg University. The tour includes a walk throughout parts of the university grounds, as well as the old town where you will see the wonderful Baroque architecture and some interesting shops and cafes. The old town is quite picturesque and be sure not to miss Spengel’s Zum Roten Ochsen (the Red Ox Inn). The inn was built in 1703, and has been owned by the Spengel family for nearly 200 years. It is now home to a traditional German pub. It is famous for its visitors from all over the world, including Americans Mark Twain, John Wayne and Marilyn Monroe.
After leaving Heidelberg, we rejoined the ship which had sailed on to Speyer as we were touring. While there is no guided tour of Speyer, we did have some free time to explore the city before reboarding the ship and setting sail later that evening. Speyer is actually one of Germany’s oldest cities, having been founded by the Romans. Dominating the sight-lines of the city, is the Kaiserdom zu Speyer (Speyer Cathedral). It is well within walking distance from where the ships are docked and it provides an amazing example of Romanesque art. In fact, it was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1981. There is a fee to enter the church and self-guided tours in English are available.
– Strasbourg, France
The next morning after breakfast, the embarked on a walking tour of Strasbourg’s city center and Strasbourg Cathedral. One of the highlights inside the church is its astronomical clock. This amazing timepiece provides the official time, solar time, the day of the week, the month, the year, the sign of the zodiac, the phase of the moon and the position of several planets. The remainder of the city center is very beautiful and small cafes and canals are found around every corner. We stopped in one of the local patisseries for a croissant and coffee, while people-watching and taking in the ambiance of this lovely French city.
After the walking tour, there was plenty of time to see the sights independently, since the ship did not leave until later in the evening. A Viking shuttle was available to transport passengers to and from the city center.
Instead of spending the afternoon on our own in Strasbourg, we chose an optional excursion to the Alsace countryside. Since we were visiting in October, the vineyards were not open, so our excursion included a trip to the small town of Obernai. While we were disappointed that we were unable to see the actual vineyards, we enjoyed our visit to this small village. After the tour of Obernai, we did stop at an old winery for a brief tour of the winery, their wine cellar and a wine tasting.
– Breisach, Germany
The included tour at this stop was a tour of the Black Forest, with a stop at a cuckoo clock maker. We had heard mixed reviews about this excursion and that it was a rather long bus ride, so we opted out of that trip.
Instead, we selected an alternate included tour to Freiburg im Breisgau, which is only a short trip from Breisach. We were very happy with our visit to Freiburg. Not only is it a beautiful small town, but there did not seem to be many tourists there.
The town square is centered around the Freiburg Minster, the cathedral of Freiburg im Breisgau. The cathedral’s nearly 440-foot tower survived the bombings of World War II, and is the only Gothic church tower in Germany built in the Middle Ages.
In the square outside the cathedral was a wonderful farmers market, with all sorts of beautiful flowers and local foods. It seemed like mostly local people were shopping there. Despite our limited German-speaking abilities, all the vendors were very friendly and welcoming. They offered us samples of both sausages and new wine.
New wine is a wine that is still fermenting and its alcohol content is only around 4 to 8 percent. The result is a light and fruity wine that tastes more like juice. It was really quite delicious and we even purchased a bottle. But you have to handle new wine carefully. Since it is still fermenting, the bottle must be kept upright, otherwise the pressure from additional fermentation could cause the bottle to explode!
After lunch on the ship, there were a few optional tours available, so we selected the Colmar World War II excursion. We weren’t sure what to expect, but with an incredibly knowledgeable tour guide, this was one of the top excursions of the entire trip. After visiting a World War II museum, we traveled around Colmar to gain an understanding of all of the battles that took place, ending at the Audie Murphy Memorial. This tour was amazing and we highly recommend it, even if you think you are not that interested in World War II history.
TIP: We have mentioned Optional Tours several times and the ones we picked were all very good. If you are interested in one of these tours, try to reserve your spot as early as you can. Some of the more popular tours can fill up quickly.
– Basel, Switzerland
Throughout the river cruise, the ship passes through several locks. Frankly, we did not even notice them, since most are traversed at night. However, just before arriving in Basel, the ship passed through one during daylight hours. If you have never been through a lock, they are really fascinating to watch, so we recommend getting up early and watching from the Sun deck.
In the morning, we docked in Basel and passengers immediately started disembarking for either their journey home or to their post-cruise extensions. We would have loved to explore Basel, but unfortunately there are no tours offered. Instead, we boarded a bus for Lucerne.
– Lucerne, Switzerland and Mount Titlis
Lucerne – The scenic bus ride to Lucerne was just over an hour and we started a short tour of the area as soon as we arrived. I had read several stories about the Lions of Lucerne and was hoping we would have an opportunity to see the monument. To my surprise, it was our very first stop when we got to Lucerne! The Lion Monument is a rock relief that commemorates the Swiss Guards who were massacred in 1792 during the French Revolution, when revolutionaries stormed the Tuileries Palace in Paris. Both inspiring and sad, the sculpture in the rocks is an amazing site.
Next, we took a walking tour of the Old Town, the highlight of which was the iconic Chapel Bridge, a 670-foot bridge that spans the Reuss river. The bridge and its tower are the city’s most famous landmark. We walked around portions of the lakeshore and found the views of the lake with the Alps in the background to be absolutely breathtaking. After touring, we checked in to our hotel, the Radisson Blu on the banks of Lake Lucerne.
Mount Titlis – The next day we selected an optional tour to Mount Titlis, located just outside the village of Engelberg in the Alps. On the way, we stopped at a cheese factory where we were treated to a cheese making demonstration and tasting.
The summit of Mount Titlis is 10,623 feet high. A 3-stage cable car system takes you to the top, requiring you to change lifts at two stations along the way. The final stage of the journey is on the Titlis Rotair, which is the world’s first rotating gondola. The gondola slowly rotates 360 degrees throughout the 5-minute trip to the snow-covered summit.
Once on top and after a brief orientation from the guide, we set off to explore a few of the unique features of the mountain. Our first stop was the Glacier Cave. This cave is a 150-meter walkway that descends ten meters below the surface of the glacier. It is a little spooky as you walk through the cave and after exiting you make your way to the Titlis Cliff Walk.
The Cliff Walk is actually a suspension bridge connecting two rocky outcroppings at the mountain’s summit. The bridge is the highest suspension bridge in Europe and at just one meter wide and over 100 meters long, it can be a little intimidating. However, the views are tremendous and you will get the best view of Monte Rosa, the highest peak in Switzerland.
We finished off our visit to Mount Titlis with a delicious lunch at the Panorama Restaurant where we were seated next to a large window overlooking the Alps with a view toward Italy.
If you have the opportunity to visit the Swiss Alps, and specifically Mount Titlis, definitely do it! You will not be disappointed. Be sure to bring some cold weather gear though. Even on a warm day below, its winter at the top!
The next morning, we departed our hotel and were bussed to Zurich for our long flight home. We really enjoyed this trip and we think you will too!
We hope you found our review of the Viking Rhine Getaway helpful and informative. And we hope you join us in the future as we explore some other Viking Cruises.
Safe travels!
We will be making this trip next Spring (2022) and both enjoyed your article.
Thank you –
Thank you. It is such a great trip, you will love it.
In 2016, we booked the Rhine Getaway Viking cruise. It was out first Viking river cruise and has always remained our favorite. We have sailed on Europe’s rivers with Viking every year since then except for the 2020 Windmills and Tulips and again in 2021, both cruises canceled because of the pandemic. Anyway, we are booked on Paris and the Beaches of Normandy and once again the Rhine Getaway because we liked it so much. This time, we have booked many optional cruises – one of those being the Colmar excursion so was very glad to hear you applaud it. Enjoyed your article. Many thanks!
Thank you for the comments. We have done several river cruises and have several more river/ocean cruises booked. Just hope the pandemic will cooperate and we can go. Safe Travels!
Thanks for your comments. There is one I would like to add. I noticed that an American Flag is in the middle of the flags of the various German States in Koblenz in the Kaiser Wilhem Plaza that contains his statue. Later I asked the ship’s concierge about it and he explained that it was placed there after 911 to demonstrate solidarity with the US. Why have I never heard about this? He also asked me to join him at 4 AM the next morning when we sailed by the famous Remagen Bridge, and he gave me a tremendous history lesson as we sailed. It was important to me because I lost an uncle there during WWII. As Nancy said earlier, it was such a good cruise that we’re booked on it again this year!
Thank you for the comment and information. We have been through there twice and had never heard that information.
What a wonderful description of your lovely river cruise. Will definitely research taking this cruise when covid allows
Thank you for your comment. I believe that next summer should be a good time to go. But be sure to book early, they tend to fill fast, especially with such pent up demand.
Always excited to read the interesting information on the blog!
Thank you for sharing your experience. We are taking this cruise with our family of 10 March 21-28, 2022. So looking forward to this trip and with your reviews booked optional tours now that you shared some details and your experience. Best to you
Thank you for the comment. Visiting the small towns along the Rhine was incredible. I am sure you all will have a fantastic time! Safe Travels!
We just returned from Grand European River Cruise (Amsterdam to Budapest) and absolutely loved it. Yes, dressy casual is the way to go, with emphasis on comfortable shoes!…..lots of cobblestones. Our ship was Gefjon and traveled with only 125 passengers but we all had a wonderful time.
Thanks for the comment. We have done the GE also and had a great time. If you haven’t done the Passage to Eastern Europe (Bucharest to Budapest), it is also wonderful, and we have a blog article on that one as well