viking tour pack review

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Viking Tour pack one year review

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Looks a nice bit of kit did the chrome rack come with it or did you install that also A lot cheaper than HD  

Hey, you haven't shared any link to this bag, please share the link, it is looking like a very interesting bag, and am thinking to add this to my Sportster.  

I just ordered a Swing arm bag from Viking for my Deuce. Viking < link.  

You haven't shared the link to the bag, is this the link to the bag that you mentioned " Viking Dark Age Plain Leather Motorcycle Tool Bag "?  

Just got a chance to view this. Good looking piece of kit for the bike. I do like the Amber-Whiskey color…. Gonna tell my buddy about the tour pack, he’s looking to maybe add something like this to his 16 SGS.  

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Looking for aftermarket tour pak

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I was a bit surprised to see very little info here on aftermarket tour paks. I realize I spent a chunk of money on my 2011 Street Glide, but I'm not feeling like paying a grand for a Harley tour pak AND another few hundred dollars to paint it and wait for it. Now, I've seen a few options on the web, so I'd like to know if anyone here has experience with them or maybe knows another thread that may have discussed this recently. I would prefer a chopped tour pack for a more sleek look on the Street Glide, but I have a feeling I'd find myself one day wishing the trunk were taller. I'd mainly use it to throw my backpack in for work, pick up stuff from the store, and other such tasks. The saddlebags are great and all, but a trunk would help so much more, especially when my backpack is extra thick with whatever crap I've thrown in it, which becomes a problem when trying to stuff it in a saddlebag. Fairing Plus/Fmoto carries a King Tour Pak for $499 that's color matched (denim black) to my bike and supposedly they're in stock. I watched a YouTube video on this trunk and it looks pretty good. It's not one of those cheapo looking ones you find on Amazon or eBay, hence the appeal. A $500 trunk that works well is reasonable to me. J&P Cycles has a razor tour pak (Hogworkz), but I don't see them in denim black, plus they're just too small; I don't think my backpack would fit in it, at least not with the stuff I carry. I've seen a few in person, and they look a little weird to me, too. J&P also has a chopped tour pak, but, again, only in vivid black. I don't want mismatched stuff or pay hundreds more for paint, AND have to wait. I've done painting myself in the past with good results, but I really don't feel like doing it myself either. There was another manufacturer that I found, but I can't recall the name right now. The downside to them is three weeks wait on paint. I'll search later and see if I can't find that website again. Thanks in advance for the input. I appreciate it.  

You can fine information on tour paks if you go to the Street Glide Forums. or wait a while here to see if anybody can help you.  

Look into Reckless Motors.  

I am running an aftermarket chopped tourpak off of ebay the tourpak and hardware is made very well.. if you do go the ebay route stay FAR AWAY FROM sellers USAMOTORPARTSFACTORY and BUY4QTY often what you purchase on ebay is 2nds their items are so bad they don't even qualify as seconds more like 5ths  

Thanks for the info. I'm just leery about eBay and Amazon trunks. I bought one of those $50 trunks for my Honda, which actually held together fine until the day I decided to mount the luggage rack that came with it. The rack's legs are flat on the bottom where as the trunk lid is curved slightly. I noticed this and didn't tighten it too much. I put on blue loc-tite and only screwed it down until the rubber feet looked like they were sealed all around. The damn thing cracked on all four legs a day later, so I sent the trunk back. Later I spent $200 on a Harley knock-off. I securely mounted it to my Honda luggage rack and it looked pretty good, just a little more flimsy than I expected. 30 miles down the road and both reflectors fell off. 20 more miles and the back rest was trying to remove itself. The plastic was brittle and breaking. 20 more miles to get home from school and the back rest was sitting behind me and I'm surprised it didn't fall off on the way. I sent that POS back too. I just don't need the hassle, so I figure shooting for a $500 trunk may get me a manufacturer that doesn't make junk. Do you have a recommendation for the eBay seller? I'll look and be sure not to look at the sellers you listed.  

I forgot to mention Advan Black makes good looking tour paks also. They have a three week wait on paint, but they look really nice. The 2014 and newer paks are a good $140 more than the pre 2014, but then you add another $85 for denim and you're up over $700. Oi. I really like the newer trunk, but not for the added price. The 97-13 model trunk is $509 plus only $20 for the denim/matte paint. Still three weeks wait on paint. I may need to contact Fmoto and ask if their claim of 6 trunks on hand means they're actually on hand or they need painting.  

I cant recommend a seller because there are so many different ones out there now but I have a 2016 and bought the 14 up style, ABS plastic and very well made.. a lot of issues people run in to with aftermarket is their mounting, they don't realize that factory tourpacks have a load spreading plate in the bottom of the box that the 4 mounting points go through and I have seen a few where the bolts have pulled right through the bottom of the pack or where they have broken between the bolt holes.. the addition of the plate spreads the load out over a wider area but it is an expensive proposition and I don't even know if advan black comes with it.. these plates are $60+ for aftermarket or up to $130 for genuine Harley.. being a cheap SOB I bought a municipal quality aluminum 12x18 no parking sign for $2 local on ebay and made my own base plate.. came out great... I would post some photos BUT photobucket is really acting up today  

smitty901 said: After market tour packs are a cheap option. But that is what you get cheap. Amazed at how often people put the cheap stuff on then expect to get the same price as the real tour pack when they sell. After market are worthless when you sell or trade. Click to expand...

After market tour packs are a cheap option. But that is what you get cheap. Amazed at how often people put the cheap stuff on then expect to get the same price as the real tour pack when they sell. After market are worthless when you sell or trade.  

Was that back in '97? :hystria:  

Thanks for the picture. I'll have to look again when I get home since the work computer just shows me a black box with an X in it. I believe I know which trunk you're talking about. I had one on my Honda that worked fine until I bolted the luggage rack to it and it cracked the lid, so I returned it. Otherwise, it seemed to hold up fine and kept my stuff inside dry in the rain. Well, I did it. I pulled the trigger on a tour pak. I found an eBay listing for a matte/denim black king tour pak by Fairing Plus that was one of those "or best offer" auctions. They were asking $499 and I shot an offer over for $400 free shipping, and they accepted the offer in less than 10 minutes. $400 ain't bad at all for a color matched (close enough) trunk that, from what I gather, is good quality. Also, it comes with a luggage rack (may or may not use) AND the base plate. It should be here within the next 10 days, so I'll go to the Harley dealer and get the four-point docking hardware in preparation for its arrival. I have a flat black aftermarket trunk mounting rack on the way from Amazon ($60 I think), so that should mount up to the Harley hardware fine. It got some good reviews. I'll post up pictures after I get it installed. I wanted a chopped tour pak, but after much soul searching, if I need to slap the trunk on, then I'm going to want maximum carrying capacity. I don't expect this to be on all the time, but we'll see what happens. I may like it enough to leave it permanently, in which case I'll wire up some LEDs and maybe a cigarette lighter plug for power to charge stuff. Thanks for the help everyone. Much appreciated.  

Very nice. Thanks for sharing. I appreciate it. When my tour pak comes in I think I may go grab some automotive carpet and spray adhesive to help reinforced the box as well as make it look nicer. I may put a Harley luggage rack on it also since it helps solidify things and makes for a good handle to open and close the lid. I wonder if the Rushmore style tether will work on my tour pak also. I'll have to look into this. I picked up the black docking hardware from my local dealership today. I read too many iffy reviews of the cheap copy docking hardware available on Amazon and eBay, so I decided to go with the real stuff. The black tour pak rack is still in the box at the house, so tonight after I get off of work I may stay up and put the stuff together and see if the rack mates up well to the docking hardware. Also, while at the dealer, I grabbed a pack of the locking rack clips for the tour pak rack. I'll save one of the locks for a sissy bar or luggage rack for whenever I'm not using the tour pak.  

The black aftermarket tour pack mounting rack came in and didn't fit right at all. Not surprising really. It seems these things are hit or miss, so I took a chance. I boxed the thing up and it's going back tomorrow. I have another black rack on the way from a different supplier that's also a different design, a solid rack rather than three pieces you bolt together. Fingers crossed it'll fit. If not, then I'll have to break down and get the pricy rack from J&P. The tour pack is on its way, so it should be here next week. Hopefully the new rack fits right and I can mount this thing without delay. I've been looking at tour pack organizer-type items. Something to hold smaller items so they're not tossed around the trunk. I think I will run a detachable line to the trunk for charging my devices.  

There's a reason that the oem one is more expensive......it's better and it fits the first time....good luck.  

I'm perfectly aware of this. As I wait for the tour pack to get here, I thought it was worth the effort to save myself close to $200 if possible. That's money that can go elsewhere. Some report good results with these knock-off racks, and some don't. As I said, if this second knock-off doesn't fit right, then it's going back and I'm ordering one from J&P since Harley doesn't make a black rack. If ALL else fails, I can buy the Harley rack at the dealer and have it powder coated. I honestly have nothing here to lose and everything to gain either way. Nothing wrong with trying to save yourself a little cash.  

bought my docking hardware and tourpak mount off of ebay and was perfect fit with quality chrome plating.. I try to deal with the following sellers " ninjamoto2015 " " kymoto2012 " and " americanclassicmotors " they seem to sell quality parts as compared to others on ebay in particular USAMOTORPARTSFACTORY and BUY4QTY... that sell CRAP.. very poor quality items  

Thanks for that information. The new rack is coming from XFMT via Amazon. I hope it fits. It's supposed to arrive about the same time as the tour pack.  

Attachments

looks good, looks like it blends right in with your bike. Is that a stock seat for the SG?  

1HD1C said: looks good, does it have cable or retractable tether? if tether I would try to fit the 14 up style I was actually able to run both so it has some redundancy, seen too many of the cable/steel cabled tethers break and ruing the tourpak you can kind of see in this photo how I have them Click to expand...

Slingshot383 said: Looks good, the backrest with wings looks a little out of place without the speaker pods below it to fill the gap. Click to expand...

Looks good, the backrest with wings looks a little out of place without the speaker pods below it to fill the gap.  

The problem with buying crap off e-bay is the proliferation of chinese bootleg stuff, You name it, they've 3D scanned it and are producing/importing it everywhere u look. EVERYTHING....is available these days. Saddlebags (stretched and otherwise), saddlebag hardware, tour paks, billet stuff, LED headlights. Some of it looks identical, which leads me to believe they are buying OEM stuff and 3D scanning it. I got some chinese 13 down saddlebag hinges as part of a parts deal and they were junk. When i needed '14 up saddlebag parts, i got them thru Surdyke.com and got a better deal (better price, no local tax and free shipping) and they were OEM H-D stuff and MADE IN THE USA....molded right into it. Also got a painted to match chopped tour pak and the mount. It all fit right and does exactly as it is supposed to, the plastic parts made in the US. The thing is, i realize it's more coin, but in clear conscience, i can't support the blatant stealing of intellectual property and bootlegging parts. You wonder why HD charges so much? Maybe it's because of this problem. HD does all the R & D and packages it and markets it, only to get it ripped off and sold for 30 to 40 cents on the dollar. OK, i can hear it now, HD has copied products. Yes, i've seen similar concepts done by HD. I've also seen them buy or license a lot of stuff too. Tim  

You saved $1500, not counting paint? Who is charging that much for a tour pak? You spent nothing? On 3 luggage racks, return shipping, 2 tour paks, and docking hardware? I'm guessing you spent as much for a SG as you would have for a EG with a trunk to start with. Experimenting is cool. Making your own setup is cool. I would never judge someone for making a bike work for their needs. But, I have to question your "savings".  

;5434466 said: You saved $1500, not counting paint? Who is charging that much for a tour pak? You spent nothing? On 3 luggage racks, return shipping, 2 tour paks, and docking hardware? I'm guessing you spent as much for a SG as you would have for a EG with a trunk to start with. Experimenting is cool. Making your own setup is cool. I would never judge someone for making a bike work for their needs. But, I have to question your "savings". Click to expand...

Like I said, I'm glad it worked out for you and it is none of my business what you or anybody else does with your time/money. Not sure why it seems every perceived opposing viewpoint must turn into a pissing match, but I guess that is the new America. I've bought plenty of aftermarket parts. Some were better than OEM, some just cheaper. I know HD is very proud of their name on items, and most of them, they don't even make. My only point was simply that of all the times I have tried to "save money" on something, more often than not it isn't as much savings as I like to convince myself it was, if I consider the extra time I spent going that route. Maybe I just place too much value on my time. I do understand the satisfaction involved with "bucking the system" and creating your own solution to an issue. Kudos to you for doing so. It shows initiative and thought, in your particular case. Enjoy your new trunk. I bet it will stay on the bike more than you think.  

don't count your chickens with the Harley stuff, friend of mine bought an aftermarket backrest off of ebay unfortunately they sent him the wrong one and I knew as soon as I looked at it that it was for older model and he has a 2016 like mine and told him contact them and file not as described they will eat return shipping and get your money back.... long story longer he had ride planned with his latest love 2 days later and said F it I will go buy the backrest from Harley and use the pad that came with the aftermarket rest.. so we ride to Harley and he gets a GENUINE HD ( probably made in china also ) and it wont fit on the right side shock mount as its hitting the top of the shock plate itself, bring out parts counter person to show him this genuine Harley part DOESNT FIT.. he proceeds to tell us if I call Harley they are just going to have me tell you flip the shock over.. WHAT!!!!!!!!!! you could clearly see that that the right side was mismade, i measured it using a stick and it was probably 1/16" too much on that side, they didn't have anymore in stock so he took it anyway and dremeled off the excess on this so called GENUINE HARLEY PART so it would fit  

Had the same experience with a friend of mine. So much for original HD (his bike a 2016 Road Glide). Dealer also told us to flip the rightside shock.  

1HD1C said: the moco wants $849.95 for chopped tourpak WITHOUT backrest pad or lock + $139.95 for the luggage rack + $229.95 for the similar wrap around backrest pad so in my case it would have been $1219.85 + 6% sales tax $73.19 for a total of $1293.14 so i paid 1/3 of what the genuine article cost and when compared to one at the dealership on another bike i can see no real difference in quality Click to expand...

Wow, a genuine rack that didn't fit, huh? I'll say I'm actually surprised, but errors do happen. Your trunk looks great, and you got a great deal. I too don't like the rack that came with my trunk. Honestly, I don't really plan to strap stuff to it anyway, but if I get a rack I'll get a Harley one because I knew Harley can coat their parts properly (the included rack has poorly done chrome). As for the back rest and passenger seat, I don't care to mess with it right now. My wife hasn't ridden with me in years, so her comfort is not on my list of priorities. I'll put money elsewhere like a set of unrestricted head pipes, fuel controller, etc. I was thinking yesterday about pulling the back rest off and modifying it rather than buy a chopped one. I can make a chopped back rest. Cut the plastic backing, cut out unwanted foam, pull the pleather tight again, and staple it back down. Probably two hours of work. If I get enough time this weekend, I may just do this. The trunks at the dealer for the 2014 and newer bikes are marked at $1899. Maybe that include color match, I don't know. Even still, I saved a lot of money, money I can put elsewhere. The trunk I got is thick plastic, it has good hinges and latches (locks are okay), the tether works well (doesn't kink or wind up pinched somewhere, the mounting plate is relatively thick and sturdy, and the paint is a darn close match. I doubt someone could tell it's not painted perfectly to match. I'm happy with my purchase and that's all that matters. I wanted a chopped tour pak, but I couldn't find one in matte black that I could get my hands on before next month, too late for my trip to DC. Besides, for what I use the trunk for on a daily basis, the full size will work beautifully. The chopped trunk won't hold my helmet, which I'm tired of toting around every time I go somewhere, or locking it to my handlebar with a gun lock.  

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Viking Cruise – Viking Extension Package versus Plan Your Own

• Post author: James
• Post published: October 5, 2022
• Post category: Viking / Tips

Viking Cruise Lines has become a major player in not just river cruises, but ocean cruises as well.  Viking has continued to expand their footprint by adding both river and ocean ships each year, and has been voted both the Best Ocean Cruise Line and Best River Cruise Line by Condé Nast Traveler in the publication’s 2021 Readers’ Choice Awards.

We have traveled with Viking on several ocean and river cruises and have several scheduled for the future.  We love the smaller ships and service that Viking provides, as well as the excellent itineraries they offer.

Like many cruise lines, Viking also offers ‘extensions’ to their cruise itineraries that provide the opportunity to visit some additional destinations both before and after the cruise. There are many reasons to extend your vacation, but when you do decide to extend, you will need to decide whether to book the extension with Viking, or to create your own extension.

In this article we will explore the reasons you might choose either a Viking extension or one of your own creation.  Which one is better?  Well, there is not an absolute answer to this question, because it depends on a number of factors that we will explore in this post.

TIP:  If you have booked your air through Viking, you can still schedule your own extension.  If your extension is in the beginning or ending city of your cruise, Viking refers to it as a ‘Deviation’.  If you plan on going to a different city, it is a called a ‘Stopover’. These options are discussed in our article on Tips for Booking a Viking Cruise . 

Extensions – Why Extend Your Cruise?

We always try to extend our trip on both sides of our cruise.  Here are just a few reasons you may want to consider extensions too.

• Don’t Miss the Boat – If you are flying in the day your cruise starts, a flight interruption or delay could mean that your ship will leave without you.   This potential issue is one of the main reasons we always fly in early.  If you have chosen a pre-cruise extension and arrive late, you may miss a day of the extension, bit at least you will make it onto the ship.  So, in order to reduce stress, we recommend arriving early and taking advantage of some extra time in your chosen destination.

• Time Change Acclimation – Most travelers will be flying internationally for their cruise and will have at least one connection. That likely means flying overnight, followed by a very long day the next day.  You might be awake for 24 to 36 hours.  By arriving before the cruise begins, you will have the ability to take it easy for a day or two, allowing you to acclimate to the new time zone and renew your energy before starting the cruise.

• Make the Most of that Long, Expensive Plane Trip – Not only are international flights usually lengthy, but you may have noticed that airfare has become more expensive since travel has resumed in earnest.   So, why not make the most of your trip by extending your vacation?  The incremental cost of staying a few more days is fairly low compared to the overall cost of your trip.  Plus, you will have the opportunity to spend time in a new destination or perhaps even an old favorite.

Book with Viking

Hopefully, we have convinced you that extending your vacation is a great idea.  So now let’s discuss under what circumstances you may want to plan your cruise extension with Viking.

• It is Easier – It is certainly easier to book your entire trip with Viking and this may be the best reason to do so.  Many people take comfort in the fact that if there is an issue anytime during the trip, Viking will handle it.  This approach can be especially helpful for reducing the stress for first time international travelers, first-time cruisers, or anyone who wants to make their travel planning as easy and streamlined as possible.

• Transfers Included – When traveling to an unfamiliar destination some folks may be uncertain about the best ways to move from point to point. It may be getting themselves (and their luggage) from the airport to the ship, or maybe to and from the hotel.  When you book an extension with Viking, all of your transfers are included, even if you did not book your flights with Viking.

In addition, it may be a relief to know that Viking will take care of not only transporting you, but will also take care of handling your luggage between hotels, the ship and the airport!

TIP: At the time of booking, be sure to check the hotel location and ensure that you like it.   There were times when our hotel was located some distance away from the main sites.  In these cases we had to arrange our own transportation or in some cases, Viking arranged a shuttle.  Also, be aware that the hotel may change at some point before your trip.  So keep any eye out for a potential change.

• Excursions – In some cases, Viking will offer an included or even optional excursions during the extension.  The Viking hosts will take care of coordinating these as well, handling all of the logistics and making your vacation pretty much stress free!

• Likely to Cost More – Booking an extension through Viking comes at a premium and it is quite possible that you could create your own extension for less.  However, you should consider everything that is included with your extension and you may find that it is well worth the extra money.  We will discuss more about cost later.

Book Your Own

While some people love the idea of Viking taking care of everything, other travelers may prefer more flexibility.  So now let’s look at the benefits of booking your own extension.

• Choose Your Hotel – When you extend with Viking, they select your hotel and accommodations. Sometimes the designated hotel can even change several times before your trip.  On our last cruise, our assigned hotel in Rome changed three times before the cruise, and while the hotel we ended up at was nice, we were not as pleased with its actual location in the city.  Booking your own extension allows you total control over the location of your hotel, as well as the room and amenities that work for you.  Perhaps there is a certain location within the city where you want to be located so you can walk to many of the sites you want to see.  Or maybe you want to leverage your status with a particular hotel chain.  Booking you own extension allows you to do all of that.

TIP:  If you are booking your own extensions, no transfers will be included.  You will be responsible for the transfers to the hotel, airports and ship.  Be sure you know where the ship will be docked what mode of transportation you will take and verify the ship location.

Evaluating the Cost and Benefit

Whether you choose to book an extension with Viking, create your own extension, or even develop a hybrid of the two, evaluating the cost/benefit of the options is very important.  We have used all three of these options and want to provide some examples from one of our previous trips that may help you understand what to look for when evaluating extensions.

Excursion Example One:  Rome

ALL THIS IS INCLUDED:

• 2 hotel nights in Rome (as shown or similar)
• 2 meals: 2 breakfasts
• Services of a Viking Host
• All transfers

Excursion Example Two:  Ultimate Italy – Tuscany

ALL THIS IS INCLUDED IN YOUR FULLY ESCORTED PROGRAM:

• 3 nights in a Tuscan villa
• 9 meals: 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches & 3 dinners
• 3 guided tours: Walking tours of Florence, Siena & San Gimignano
• Fully escorted by your Viking Tour Director

Every Viking extension will always include the hotel, transfers, breakfast and a Viking Host at the hotel.  Taking a look at the two examples above, notice that those are the only things included for the Rome extension.  There are no excursions or other meals included.  Guests are ‘on their own’ for everything else.

In the second example, the Ultimate Italy – Tuscany extension, notice that this extension includes transfers, accommodations, all meals, 3 guided tours (which kept us busy all day, every day) and is fully escorted by a Viking Tour Director. 

We chose both of these excursions as additions to our Mediterranean cruise last fall, and have some thoughts that we think can be applied when considering extensions in the future. So, let’s take another look at those two examples from above.

All in all, we were not that pleased with the location of our hotel in the Rome extension.  When we first selected the extension, the designated hotel was located much closer to the prime tourist areas.  However, prior to the cruise, the designated hotel was changed and that hotel turned out to be pretty far from the tourists sites and there were no restaurants or cafes nearby.  This extension offered no excursions, just the basic inclusions of hotel, breakfast, transfers and the Viking Host.  Based on the cost of this extension, we feel we could have booked our own hotel, transfers and breakfast for about 50% to 60% of the price Viking charged.  So, if we had it to do over again, we would have just elected to create our own extension, rather than purchasing the Viking extension.

Clearly, these two extensions are completely different in terms of what is offered, but of course the price is different too. Be sure to carefully read exactly what is included in any extension so that you understand the value you are receiving before you decide to book.

TIP: If you would like more information on the Ultimate Tuscany extension, or other extensions we have made to previous Viking Cruises, check out the Europe and Viking Tabs. TIP:   You many want to consider a hybrid solution by combining a Viking extension with even more days on your own.  We did exactly that for both the Tuscany and Rome extensions, arriving in Tuscany a few days prior to the start of the extension and by staying a few days after the Rome extension.    

Regardless of whether you chose a Viking Extension or plan your own, we are big believers in extending your vacation on both ends of your cruise. So, we hope this information helps you choose an extension that fits your needs and desires. 

Finally, when do we pick Viking versus our own?  Is it always one or the other?  We first look at the extension we are considering to see what Viking is offering and specifically what is included.  If Viking is only offering the basics, with no excursions, then we take a look at the price and then determine if it makes more financial sense to create our own.  However, if the extension includes a lot of extras such as excursions, meals, etc. then we are likely to book with Viking.

Thank you for reading our article and safe travels!

This Post Has 22 Comments

Great tips. thanks for your insights.

Good tips. I’ve been currently wrestling with this very issue in next year’s Ancient Adriatic Treasures sailing which ends in Venice. I’ve booked the 3 night Lake Como extension which includes some dinners and tours but most importantly the transfer from the now changeable docking Venetian location. I know I can book Lake Como for less but that transfer seems very valuable to me for ease alone. I plan to extend on my own to Milan afterwards so it will be a hybrid situation. So still on the fence on what I’ll do.

We absolutely loved the excursion to Lake Maggiore after we docked outside Venice. Highly recommended!

Did you stop along way from Venice to Lake Maggiore? Did you do any of the group dinners ? If so can you elaborate on those? Of all the add-ons I feel most likely not to take advantage of these as some of our best Italian meals have been in tiny family owned places.

One of our cruises started in Venice, and we did the Florence and Tuscany pre-extension. It included some great group dinners. Check the extension if you are interested in the details. We also arrived in Flornce 2 days before the extension to explore some on our own. We found great places for delicious meals.

James, My husband and I are finally returning to Viking Ocean cruise, since spring of 2019, and had become quite comfortable with use of Viator pre- post or even during the an Ocean cruise. I have been trying to research if that is a possibility in Italy this April, 2023. We are on the Italian Sojourn Cruise going from Rome to Venice, after the Tuscany pre-extension mentioned in the above article. I am attempting to find information on Cruise Critic, but without success. Any information or advice you have would be greatly appreciated. Understand of course, that Italy (and Viking) ultimately will decide what measures need to occur to keep us safe and healthy. (strong belief in the value of being fully vaccinated) Thanks,

The Ultimate Tuscany extension is offered by Viking on that cruise. I highly recommend it and Viking will take care of your transfers. We have also done many Viator tours and they offer some excellent tours of the Tuscany region.

We did the Mediterranean & Italian Sojourn (Barcelona to Venice) in June and did the 2 day Viking pre-cruise in Barcelona and 2 day post-cruise in Venice. We will always do a pre-cruise, just to make sure we don’t miss the ship and to get acclimated. We then had a day on our own before a 3 day pre-cruise at Lake Como before our 7 days on the Rhine from Basel to Amsterdam with a 2 night extension in Amsterdam. We rented a car to get from Venice to Lake Como and did our overnight in Sirmione on Lake Garda. Everything went well and we’re glad we booked the extensions with Viking because of the lack of hassles. Even though we were on our own, a Viking host went with us from our hotel in Venice to the Airport and escorted us to the Avis counter; that was unexpected and alleviated the stress of figuring out how we were going to do that. Our only regret was that we should have chosen a 3 day gap between the cruises to have allowed more time at Lake Garda, or even a couple of more days to spend in Milan.

Can you explain a little further in the hybrid extensions. We are interested in doing that in Rome. Trying to decide if we should do the Viking Rome and add on a few extra days. Our cruise is Barcelona to Rome. We were thinking of going to Madrid and then taking train to Barcelona where we would Viking extension. Not sure which would be the easiest/cost effective way. Any advice would be appreciated thanks

First, we always look at the itinerary of the Viking extension. If it is only the hotel, breakfast and a short transfer to/from airport, then doing your own will save you money. If it is an all inclusive extension, then we will go for it since that would be hard to do on your own. Second, let’s look at your specific case. Usually in Rome, all they offer is the basics, no tour. So I would extend the stay in Rome on your own. I am assuming you are using Viking Air, if so, then you can make Madrid your stopover city and Viking will handle the flights, even getting you from Madrid to Barcelona. Stopovers and Deviations can be a real advantage. And once you pay the charge (about $100 -$150 per person), it is good for both ends of your trip. So it would cover the stopover on the front end and the Rome extra days on the back end.

We really appreciated your ideas and agree with you. We took the Romantic Danube Viking cruise last October and enjoy it very much. We did our own extension “deviation” on the front end and we’re so glad we did. We got a lovely hotel that was about 300 feet from where we boarded our ship 3 days later. We also did the Viking extension to Prague at the end and other than getting a wonderful 5 hour included tour one day, we believe we could have done it all for much less and had a hotel closer to city center.

Thank you for your headsup about the “stopover “. We will definitely try that next time.

Thank you for the comment and we are happy you found it useful. We always evaluate each extension to see what is included to decide if we do our own or use Viking. We do the same for the excursions. Safe travels!

What if the pre-cruise extension reflects ‘sold out’. Are there wait lists? I’d love to do their extension for all the reasons you listed. I want to get acclimated (specifically for time) prior to the cruise.

While there is no wait list that I know of, continue to monitor as some ties people will cancel.

no wait list available

We are doing the Viking Alaska cruise. We were told we could extend our trip on our own after the cruise and still use Viking air planning. Turns out, Viking will fly us home ONLY from Vancouver, and just asking that the flights be one week later cost an extra $100 each.

Viking has a list of approved deviation/stopover cities, so it has to be on the list that Viking can provide. And yes, a deviation or stopover is an added cost. You can always cancel Viking Air and book your own.

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Thank you for your insight! Typically, with a Viking pre-trip extension, approximately what time would we be transferred from hotel to cruise ship? I am asking as we want as much time on “transfer” day to be able to sightsee.

On the night before you check out you will put the luggage tags with your stateroom number on your luggage and set them outside your hotel room. Viking will then deliver the luggage to the stateroom the next day. In the morning, after breakfast, you will usually transfer to the ship around 11 AM. Once you check in to the ship, you are free to leave. Staterooms are available depending on stateroom level, but usually by 1 PM. So you should have the afternoon to explore, but be sure you know the ‘back on board time’.

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Viking Grand European Tour: The Ultimate Guide

If you are planning to book your Viking Grand European Tour 15 day cruise, look no further. This comprehensive guide will give you all the information to have the best cruise possible.

One of the best features of this fifteen day itinerary is that you get both a Danube River Cruise and a Rhine River Cruise, all in one. Viking offers a plethora of European itineraries to choose from, but I am biased and will say this one was fantastic.

There are so many wonderful stops along the rivers and so much history and beauty to see in each port. What is even better is that each day brings something new.

Passau, Germany

As a seasoned ocean cruiser, I did not know what to expect on a river cruise, but I am so glad I got to go on one. There are not many similarities between ocean and river cruises but they all have their special qualities.

I think what I found to be one of the best incentives of the smaller river cruise was that you never got lost among the people. All the staff know who you are, they know what you like and don’t like, if you have allergies, etc. The staff is superior on Viking and they are going to make sure you have the best trip you could ask for.

Cruising The Danube

Viking Grand European Tour: Know Before You Go

Würzburg’s Bishops’ Residenz

• deciding on an itinerary – for the Viking Grand European Tour 15 day cruise, we opted to go Budapest to Amsterdam but you can go Amsterdam to Budapest as well. We chose this route specifically because of a desire to have more time in Budapest to explore the city more in depth
• choosing a room – I can’t stress enough that having a balcony room is the best way to go. You spend a lot of time on the rivers and you can easily sit on your balcony and watch all the cute towns, castles, and so forth pass you by. Grab a wine and watch the sun go down or a coffee and watch it rise
• tables are shared during dining and this is an excellent way to meet new people and make new friends on board. You do not have to sit in the same spot everyday and are free to dine around. We sat in every section available to try all the servers during our Viking Grand European Tour
• there is a coffee, tea and water bar that usually has baked goods like cookies or muffins available
• in Budapest – Hungarian goulash
• in Vienna – sachertorte, schnitzel and strudel
• in Germany – pretzels, sausage, beer, and sauerkraut
• in The Netherlands – stroopwafle
• after you book log in to “ MyVikingJourney ” – set up your account so that you can access your itinerary, book excursions, find documents and make sure everything is done prior to boarding, see the ports, add enhancements for your trip, and much more
• booking excursions – it is said that excursions fill up before departure, and I did notice that some were full months before. You can book them right in your MyVikingJourney account online, including the free ones, and you will be set to go
• cruise information – Viking will send out luggage tags and a book with all your cruise info in it well before the cruise starts. In the book you will find everything you need to know about the ship, port guide with tours, and questions you may have, etc
• since we came into Budapest early, we had to get to the river on our own. In the booklet that Viking sends out before your cruise, it shows where the boat should be. It is in one of three spots on the Danube close to each other. There is a number and email address you can contact if need be
• embarkation – getting to the dock was easy and when we arrived we walked onto the ship with our luggage where one of the staff took it to our room. We checked in and made it to our room within minutes. Since there are no scheduled tours the day of, we went back out into Budapest to explore on our own
• dress code – casual. Most of your time is out in ports exploring and you want to be comfortable, especially on cobblestone and uneven terrain in older buildings. For dinner you are free to get dressed up but it is not the rule
• Because I needed to be able to work while I was away, I brought my WiFi hotspot to use while I was out in ports and it worked perfectly.
• currency – how much to bring and where to exchange: there is not an ATM on board, and thus you should bring cash with you. I brought $400 Euros and that was plenty. I was able to use my Visa in many of the ports as well for shopping or extra dining
• additionally, we tipped our housekeeper and servers for going above and beyond
• I did not extend my trip in Amsterdam because I was short on time, but I have also been to the city before. If you get a chance to see the Amsterdam tulips , I highly recommend it. The W Hotel in Amsterdam is also a wonderful luxury property with easy walking access to attractions.
• purchase insurance – travel insurance is a necessity to protect you and your trip as you never know what could happen
• example: we had arranged to go directly to the airport. Our luggage was due outside our door at 8:30am and our ride was there at 9:30 am. We were take to the airport in Amsterdam and Viking staff on the ground helped with our bags and checking in for our flights.
• elevator – there is an elevator on board. The only floor it does not go to is the very top deck
• 110/220 volt outlets & USB ports in each room – you do not have to pack converters if you do not want to. I packed a power bar because I have so many items that need to be charged and wanted to make sure we had plenty of outlets available
• things that are not on board – medical services, a store for toiletries, medications, room service, spa
• laundry – this service is available on board and priced very nicely! We did not pack for cold weather and it was cold and rainy a lot of our trip, so we needed to have our warmer wear washed a few times. It was always back same day or within 24 hours
• shop on board – there is a small shop in the reception area that sells items like jackets, fleeces, postcards, napkin holders, books, etc
• postcards – you can buy stamps from the front desk AND they will mail out your postcards for you
• first floor is all rooms
• second floor is rooms, reception, the store, and the restaurant
• third floor is rooms, the lounge, library, coffee and tea stations, Aquavit Terrace
• fourth floor is the rooftop and you will find a walking track, shuffleboard, putting green, herb garden, and smoking area
• when the rooftop closes for a portion of the trip, they bring smoking to the third floor on the balcony
• viking daily – each night your housekeeper will leave  Viking Daily in your room that includes all the information you will need to know for the next day. You will find information on the port, what time each tour departs, places of interest in case you opt not to take tours, if there are buses provided by Viking into the city center, meal times (a few times it was different), weather, arrival and departure, if there is evening entertainment, a daily nautical term, “on this day” in history section, and so much more
• daily printed newspaper headlines from a variety of countries
• complimentary water and umbrellas during tours
• motion sickness – i rarely felt the boat move unless we were in locks, but even then, it was not anything like an ocean cruise. It would be a small movement or so and then we would carry on. I barely felt the ship move at all when we were cruising down the river
• language – all staff and tour guides spoke in English
• quietvox for tours – in your stateroom there is a quietvox for each passenger to take on tours. It comes with a left earphone only (bring headphones if you have trouble hearing on your left side) and when you meet with your tour guide they will activate it so that you can hear them on your tours

Viking Grand European Tour: Life on Board

This was one of the most asked questions I received from my viewers. To be honest, you spend about 50% of your time in ports exploring and the other 50% on board eating meals, sleeping, showering, and utilizing free time.

I purposely booked my tours on top of each other to maximize my time in ports. If there were days where i could do a morning and afternoon or even an evening excursion too, I almost always did it. By doing this, I cut some of my time on board down in favor of seeing more of the cities.

However, life on board is just as you would expect. Lots of eating, hanging out with fellow passengers, playing games, watching sunrise and sunsets, relaxing with a cocktail, reading books, watching TV, walking laps on the rooftop – you could really do anything.

I would highly recommend taking it easy on board and enjoying your down time. Its a very nice experience to go out into ports each day and learn about the places you visit and then have a wonderful place to come home to with cooked meals and friendly faces. A lot of people talked about their day and the excursions they went on or self exploration.

Everyone on board was very friendly, staff included. It becomes more of a friend atmosphere because the group is so small and you are together for fifteen days.

Staterooms:

The Viking Baldur offers 95 staterooms over five categories to include: 2 Explorer Suites, 7 Veranda Suites, 39 Veranda Staterooms, 22 French Balcony Staterooms, and 25 Standard Staterooms.

Veranda Stateroom

During our time on board our Viking Grand European Tour, we stayed in a Veranda Stateroom, room 221. Here is what was included in our room:

• size was about 205 square feet
• full size veranda offering river views and floor to ceiling glass doors
• king size bed or option for two twins
• reading lights for each side of the bed
• 2 nightstands with drawers
• vanity area with mirror and outlets
• additional sitting chair in room
• 40″ TV programmed with a location map, movies and TV shows
• 110/220 volt outlets & USB ports
• telephone, safe, refrigerator, hair dryer & individual climate control
• private bathroom with heated flooring, glass shower and anti-fog mirror
• premium Freyja® toiletrie
• spacious wardrobe and drawers
• twice daily housekeeping
• water replaced daily
• robes and slippers available upon request

We found our room to be of good size for this adventure through Europe. We opted for the two twin beds and slept pretty well each night. When we arrived, we unpacked our suitcases and they fit easily under our beds as to not take up any of the space in the room. The closet and drawer space was plentiful for our needs and we even had room to spare.

Welcome Gift From Viking

The bathroom was a nice size for a cruise room. Our housekeeper cleaned it twice a day, leaving us fresh towels and toiletries when needed.

Everyone on board our cruise was watching “Downton Abbey.” Viking was kind enough to put the entire series on the TV for everyone to binge watch during their trip. I could overhear conversations about the show throughout the cruise and everyone seemed to love it.

We had the BEST housekeeper! He brought us snacks when we requested them and he was just the sweetest.

Viking Grand European Tour: Dining on Board

Dinner Table

One thing that I really loved about the dining on board this Viking cruise was the consistency in dining times, knowing what to expect and the always changing regional menus.

Available 24/7 are two coffee and tea stations outside of the lounge. You can help yourself to a variety of teas, coffee drinks, flat and sparkling water, and there was usually pastries, cookies or something of that nature in the baskets to snack on. Often, the pastry chef would make baked goods that were local to the region. I remember when we were in Kinderdijk stroopwafles were made and they were the absolute best!

Breakfast was essentially the same everyday. From 6-11 continental breakfast was available on the Aquavit Terrace and a buffet and sit down hot breakfast was available in the dining room from 7-10am. The breakfast menu never changed and included items like french toast, eggs Benedict, pancakes, etc. The buffet always had an omelette and egg station, hot meats, breads and pastries, yogurts, fresh fruits, and so much more.

French Toast

Lunch went from about 1230-2pm each day on board and was a buffet style plus a menu. You could mix and match items from the buffet and the menu.

On the buffet you would find build your own salad items, a new pasta station everyday, fresh fruits, side items and salads, etc. The menu was different each day (with the exception of the cheeseburger and hot dog always being available) and always had items like soup, sandwiches, burgers, etc.

Additionally, you could get dessert everyday at lunch and it was new everyday. Lunch was actually my favorite meal on this Viking Grand European Tour. I loved how creative chef was with the soups and pastas!

Salad Bar Toppings

Dinner started at 7pm almost every single night and went until about 9pm. Everyone pretty much came between 7-730.

At 715 there would be a few tables available in the Aquavit Terrace for dining that had the same menu as the restaurant. Dinner was a sit down meal where one side of the menu never changed and offered items like salmon, chicken and steak. The other side of the menu had a daily regional offering (for wherever we were) and other chef selections.

Stroopwaffle Dessert

Plum Dessert

Aquavit Terrace

There was one night on board where there was a dinner buffet of German and Austrian food and the entire dining room was set up so fun. Some of the staff was dressed in traditional clothing, tables were set up with pretzels and charcuterie. beer was being passed, and everything was so perfect. Don’t miss this fun event on board.

Things to note about dining:

• there is no dress code
• tables are shared in 6+ seating arrangements
• you do not have to sit at the same table for every meal
• meal times are fixed and you can find them each day on the Viking Daily
• beer, wine and soft drinks are included in your lunch and dinner. Additionally, if you find a local wine in port that you love, you can bring it with you to a meal and there is no corkage fee
• bread and butter is on the table for lunch and dinner each day. Chef mixes it up so you get to try a variety of breads and rolls

Wines at Lunch and Dinner

One thing I don’t want to leave out is how fantastic the servers are. We made a point to sit in every server groups section just to get to know the staff a little bit. By the end of the cruise everyone knew us by name and our preferences for beverages and food at each meal. The staff does a really great job at getting to know you and what you like/don’t like – which is pretty impressive since they turn the boat over twice a month.

On one of the last nights on the ship the chef let everyone take a quick tour of the kitchen so they could see how all the magic happens behind the scenes. I highly recommend stepping in briefly just so you get a feel for it.

Downtime on the Viking Grand European Tour:

While each day brings a great new adventure on this Viking Grand European Tour, you will have downtime each day to relax and get ready for the next day. I would say to approach this trip with excitement for exploration but also appreciation for the slow relaxation. Some days in ports you could be on a tour for just 2 hours and leave, which gives you a lot of time back on board.

One of the many highlights of the Viking Baldur was the rooftop deck. There was a walking deck, shuffleboard, putting green, herb garden, and plenty of seats both covered and uncovered to watch the world go by on the river. I would strongly argue the sunrise and sunset views were the best and should not be missed.

Additional items on board:

• board games
• computer center
• seating areas to hang out
• lounge with a bar
• TV pre-loaded with movies and TV shows
• occasional nightly entertainment (music, glass blowing, etc)

Seating Area

I would highly recommend bringing a book or two to give yourself something to do when you are not out exploring. There is a small library but they may not have what you want. Personally, I brought books and card games. I even got some other guests to play cards with us when we were sailing.

During the downtime on board when you are sailing to your next port, you will go through many locks. A lot of them are overnight but you will see some during the day too.

Viking Grand European Tour: Itinerary

On this 15 day Viking Grand European Tour, there are 12 ports of call that the Viking Baldur stops in and offers excursions. On the last day of the itinerary, you can go home, or stay in the city the boat docks in. With this itinerary you are essentially getting two cruises in one as you experience both a Danube River Cruise and a Rhine River Cruise. Viking does offer more than one ship that does this itinerary and it goes both ways. For our itinerary we went Budapest to Amsterdam, but it is also offered Amsterdam to Budapest as well. Below is the itinerary we were on:

• Day 1: Embark in Budapest, Hungary – boarding and overnight
• Day 2: Budapest, Hungary
• Day 3: Vienna, Austria – arrive in the evening
• Day 4: Vienna, Austria – full day in port
• Day 5: Scenic cruising Wachau Valley AND Melk, Austria
• Day 6: Passau, Germany
• Day 7: Regensburg, Germany
• Day 8: Main-Danube Canal AND Nuremburg, Germany
• Day 9: Bamberg, Germany
• Day 10: Wurzburg, Germany
• Day 11: Wertheim, Germany AND Scenic Cruising: Main River, Spessart
• Day 12: Middle Rhine Scenic Cruising AND Koblenz, Germany
• Day 13: Cologne, Germany
• Day 14: Scenic cruising Waal and Merwede AND Kinderdijk, The Netherlands
• Day 15: Disembark in Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Each day when the ship docks in a new city, before you get off the ship there are things you should get at the front desk:

• your personal badge – which lets the staff know you are not on the ship. You turn this back in when you get back. This is how they know who they are missing.
• a card that gives you a letter and a number (example: 20H) this lets you know what tour you are on. A lot of days there are many tour guides and buses and this helps you to stay with your guide and on the right boat.
• maps are often available of the cities at port with highlights that include: popular attractions, post offices, restrooms, taxi, etc.
• bottled water is available before you leave each day before your tour.
• umbrellas are available each day before your tour.

Danube River Cruise: Ports of Call

Viking Baldur in Port

Many great stops were were on this Danube River cruise portion of the trip. Below are the stops and tours that were available. Please note that some of these may be seasonal and excursion offers may change. I am just putting them out there to give you an idea of what to expect.

You will spend the first 2 days in Budapest . On the first day you will be allowed to check in on the ship at 3:00pm local time. There are no excursions offered on the first day but you are free to roam the city as you wish. I recommend booking tickets in advance to see the Hungarian Parliament inside and visiting the most beautiful cafe: New York Palace Cafe.

Parliament at night

Since the boat does not leave on the first night and does leave the second day during the day, for to hours in the evening the boat will leave dock and cruise past Parliament so that you can see it all lit up from the Danube. I found this to be a wonderful first night on the boat.

Hungarian Parliament

On the second day in Budapest it is a full day, so you will see options for morning, afternoon and night. You can book tours during all three slots, just make sure there is no overlap. Here are the tours offered:

• Panoramic Budapest (Included tour) – this is a bus and walking tour of the city
• Hungarian Horseman – on this tour you will travel to horse country and experience a farm and horsemanship

Dohány Street Synagogue & Jewish Budapest – exploration of Budapest’s Jewish History 

Budapest Thermal Bath – this is a must do while in Budapest. The city is famous for its baths. *We did this tour and I HIGHLY recommend it. This is a great way to really relax before the trip gets full ahead.

• Grand Market: Taste of Hungary – this tour is an exploration of Budapest’s Grand Market Hall

Budapest Castle Hill City Hike – on this tour you will visit Castle Hill, walk across Chain Bridge, ride the funicular, Royal Palace, Matthias Church, the Fishermen’s Bastion, and finish at Grand Market Hall

Life Behind the Iron Curtain – take a ride in a Trabant and explore the communist past of the city 

Thermal Bath Excursion

Schönbrunn Palace

You will arrive in Vienna in the late afternoon and stay about a day and a half in the city exploring. I highly recommend a Vienna City tour of sorts – whether you book all or some excursions through Viking, this city should not be missed.

Day one of Vienna excursions:

Mozart & Strauss Concert – visit the Vienna Residence Orchestra for a special concert 

Day two of Vienna excursions:

Panoramic Vienna (included tour) – this tour of the city is included with your cruise and you will learn about the Hapsburg dynasty, marvel at the gorgeous architecture and see the Hofburg Palace, Gothic St. Stephen’s Cathedral, and the Vienna State Opera concert hall.

• Schönbrunn Palace – On this tour, visit the magnificent home of the Hapsburg Dynasty, built to rival the sprawling Château de Versailles in France.
• Imperial Vienna – learn the Waltz, have a glamorous lunch and stroll the grounds at Schönbrunn Palace

Heurigen Dinner – enjoy a Heurigen Dinner and experience this years wine at a local vineyard 

Behind the Scenes at the Lipizzaner Stallions – visit this Spanish riding school and see world-famous Lipizzaner stallions!

• Frolic to the country side for the Salzburg Sound of Music tour .

**Seasonally there are some great Austrian Christmas markets !

Melk is a shorter destination visit with only two tours offered on this Viking Grand European tour.

Melk Abbey (included tour) – you will see this masterpiece of Baroque time soaring above the Danube. Spend your excursion exploring this landmark. 

The Abbeys of Göttweig & Melk – explore both Abbey’s on this tour. This includes Melk Abbey and Göttweig.

Melk Abbey Ceiling

Melk Abbey Library

Melk Abbey Staircase

Passau is the first of the beautiful cities in Germany you will explore on this Viking Grand European Tour and is one of Bavaria’s oldest cities. Passau Germany is bursting with color and exploration.

• Passau Walking Tour and Organ Concert (included tour) – you will meet your guide for a walk through Passau and your tour ends at St. Stephens Cathedral where you will see an organ concert with Europe’s largest pipe organ.
• Salzburg Highlights – if you are interested in the movie “The Sound of Music” then this tour is for you!
• Hike The Passau Hills -this is an exploration of the city of three rivers by foot – it is a demanding activity
• Bavarian Cruise & Baroque Town of Sharding – you will visit sharding by bus for a walking tour and then board a boat for a cruise on the Inn River with pretzels, cheese and beer. Please note you need to cross a small suspension bridge to get to the boat and there is an unpaved path and stairs to get aboard the boat. We assisted many guests and others were willing to help as well. **Our boat was running late due to locks so our tour guide took us up to the top of the Fortress for the most magnificent views of Passau.
• Bavaria by Bike – this is a demanding 2.5 hour bike tour
• Passau Flightseeing – soar above Passau in a private chartered plane and see the city and rivers below

Regensburg is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the best preserved medieval towns in Europe.

• Regensburg Walking Tour (included) – this is a 1.5 hour walking tour that will show you the Old Stone Bridge, a stroll through the city and learn about the history. **We abandoned the tour about half way through because we saw cuckoo clocks in a window and decided to go shopping.
• Munich Highlights – this 8.5 hour tour takes you to the Bavarian Capital
• Sausage Making Class – this 4 hour class will teach you to make weisswurst!

Nuremburg was one of my favorite stops on the Viking Grand European Tour but also holds a lot of dark history around WWII.

• Nuremburg Through History (included tour) – this 4.5 hour tour is both driving and walking. You will see where Nazi rallies were held and the Nuremburg trials. Then you will visit the old city that is still enclosed by its walls (of which you can walk up to)
• Surviving the War: Art in Nuremburg – this easy 3 hour tour showcases the underground chambers were art was stored during the war. Additionally you will go to the old town for more exploration.
• Nuremburg and World War Two – some of the places you will visit on this tour include: Zeppelin Field, Congress Hall and Courtroom 600 where the Nuremburg Trials took place.
• Gingerbread Making Class – learn to make this delicious treat that the locals have been making since the 14th century!

Bamberg was one of the most colorful towns we visited on the Viking Grand European Tour. We took the included walking tour and eventually just walked about 5 miles on our own exploring the city and grabbing sausages for lunch.

• Bamberg Walking Tour – this 4.5 tour of the city is a moderate activity with a lot of walking. The medieval city center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and full of shopping, restaurants and charm. You will have free time to explore on your own.

Dining in Bamberg

Rothenburg ob der Tauber

This was my favorite port on the Viking Grand European Tour and we opted to take the day tour to Rothenburg ob der Tauber. I cannot recommend this tour enough!! The town is just stunning.

• Wurzburg Residenz and Walk (included tour) – this is an included tour of the former residence of the Wurzburg prince-bishop. **Please note, no cameras are allowed in side.
• Rothenbur ob der Tauber – toted as “Germany’s most beloved town” this day trip does not disappoint! This is an 8.5 hour tour that includes lunch, a walking tour and plenty of free time for shopping and self exploration
• Hike the Wurzburg Hills – this demanding activity leads you to Marienberg Fortress and gives impressive views over the city

Schloss Mespelbrunn – Modern Aristocracy Tour

Wertheim is such a charming city to explore.

• Wertheim Walking Tour (included tour) – this 1 hour tour is a great introduction to this charming city
• Modern Aristocracy – fairy-tale castles and 21st century royalty. This 8 hour tour gives you privileged access to two German castles, a visit to Miltenburg and the most delicious lunch in Germany! We did this tour on the Viking Grand European Tour and loved it.
• Wertheim Castle Hike – this demanding activity is a hike to the top to Wertheim Castle that offers sweeping views of the city below.
• Wertheim by Bicycle – this 16 mile bike journey takes you through Tauber Valley from Wertheim to Freudenberg

Rhine River Cruise: Ports of Call

Koblenz 

We actually did not take a tour in Koblenz, but instead took the cable car that was right outside the boat up to the Fortress. Riding the cable car up you can see “Germany’s Corner” where two rivers converge. You can see the Rhine River and the Moselle River. Then we walked the city for about an hour and had a small meal in town.

• Marksburg Castle (Included Tour) – this is the ONLY castle on the Rhine Valley that was never destroyed! Note that this is a demanding activity as the bus will only take you so far and then you need to walk up the rest
• Ehrenbreitstein Fortress – the fortress you can see set up high on the hill across from the boat. On this three hour tour you’ll be able to explore the fortress and see incredible views of the city
• Moselle Wine Tasting – on this tour you will explore small villages and see where some of the best Rieslings in the world come from

Cologne 

Cologne is the very last stop in Germany on this Viking Grand European Tour and it felt least like all the other cities we had been to. I was starting to get used to all the cobblestone and medieval architecture with Christmas shopping galore. But alas, Cologne is a fine city!

If you opt not to take any tours, you can go to the city in your own or the boat had buses taking people in to the old city a few times throughout the afternoon for self exploration and shopping. Additionally the boat was docked in a great spot by the bridge and many just walked across.

You could also get a taxi very easily to or from the boat.

• Cologne Walking Tour (Included Tour) – this tour lasts two hours and has a heavy focus on the Gothic cathedral
• note – you can do both the included tour and this tour as they do not overlap
• Top Of Cologne – this is a tour I WISH we had time for. You will go to the top of the Cathedral and you can see the city and Rhine River from above
• Cologne’s Beer Culture Dinner – you will visit three brew houses and enjoy Kolsch from them all

Kinderdijk 

Molly and Millie

The last and final stop on this Viking Grand European Tour, Kinderdijk, The Netherlands. The city is known for its 19 windmills that are from the 18th century, some of which are still lived in.

This is a very short stop and you do not have to take a tour here if you do not want to. The boat docks directly across from the path where the windmills are. There are a couple souvenir shops on the grounds if you are looking for postcards, trinkets, stroopwafles, etc.

• Kinderdijk Windmills (Included Tour) – this walking tour located directly across from where the boat docks, last two hours and explores this UNESCO site
• Kinderdijk Windmills and Dutch Cheese Making – on this tour you will visit the windmills and a farm to see how cheese is made
• Kinderdijk Windmills by Bicycle – this is the same as the walking tour except you will be on a bike
• Kinderdijk by Vintage Barge – hop on board a 125 year old restored cargo vessel and see the windmills from the water. This tour also stops at the oldest windmill on site and you get a tour of the grounds and to go inside

Viking Grand European Tour: Packing Tips

While the rooms are comfortable and offer generous storage space, I would highly suggest not over packing. Pack just enough or for 3/4’s of your trip and plan to have laundry done on board. We brought two big suitcases, a carry on suitcase, and two bags. All of our luggage fit under the bed.

Currently I am traveling with Bespoke luggage from Globe-Trotter . I love the design elements of the Trolley Case and found it easy to pack, carry-on, the style is very luxurious and the suitcase is sturdy. Since the suitcase is hard side, I put all my electronics and all the breakable items I bought on the trip inside to get home. This worked out really well because I was nervous about breaking the glass items, but I knew they would be safe in there.

Here are my top packing tips:

• it rained nearly everyday, so bring a rain coat and layers to be safe. We did not expect this, but weather happens. If you end up underprepared like we were, no worries, there is a small store on board with some clothing items and laundry service is very affordable and quick on the return (within 24 hours)
• pack all your electronics, medication and a change of clothes in your carry-on in case there is luggage delay for some reason. You will want to have easy access to things you need should your luggage not arrive on time.
• but also pack 1-2 other pairs of shoes in case something goes wrong with the ones you are wearing and/or like variety
• bring a camera to capture all the wonderful memories you are going to make. Believe me when I say, what you are going to see on this trip is magnificent!
• bring a first aid kit and any medications you take or may need as there is not any available on board. I brought band-aids, Tylenol, Motrin, antibiotic cream, etc
• binoculars for looking at high perched castles along the rivers and birds
• bring a book or something to entertain yourself at night or on longer days cruising

Souvenirs to Buy on Your Viking Grand European Tour:

Before I left on this trip I did not plan to buy anything but that quickly changed. When I arrived in Germany I KNEW I had to have a cuckoo clock… and so started the shopping ..

• cuckoo clock in Germany
• ornaments from Kathe Wohlfahrt (found in some of the Germany ports)
• stroopwaffles in Kinderdijk
• hummel in Germany

I really enjoyed my Viking Grand European Tour and so did my best friend. I think taking a trip like this is the best way to see multiple cities without having the hassle of having to pack, repack, get new hotels, and drive everyday somewhere new.

The overall goal of a cruise is to introduce you to many places and let you decide where you would like to spend more time. For me, I fell in love with Budapest, Vienna, Rothenburg ob de Tauber, Regensburg, Bamberg, Miltenberg, and Nuremburg. I would absolutely LOVE to come during the holidays and to explore their Christmas markets and see more of the stuff I didn’t get to on this trip. Everyone says the Christmas markets are magical.

Because the ship has less than 200 guests on board, you get to know everyone in some way because the Viking Grand European Tour is 15 days long. Whether its by dining with them, being on tours with them or just in passing on the boat. I think this is a fantastic way to get to know people with like minded interests and to make long lasting friendships.

If you are on the fence about booking a Viking River Cruise, I think you should book it. I say try everything once, twice if you like it. I know this will not be my last Viking Cruise.

Wertheim, Germany

Pins for Pinterest:

Disclosure: I was a guest of Viking River Cruises, as always, opinions are entirely my own. 

The rooms look awesome and the meals look even better. Fabulous. If you cruise you may as well do it right. Viking definitely does it right. Fabulous post!

Planning on this trip in 2020. Appreciate your post on this trip….helped confirm that this is the one we need to do! Thanks!

Thanks for reading! You are going to have a good time.

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Linda On The Run

Travel, Lifestyle, And Fitness For Those Over 60

• Destinations

Viking Grand European Tour Review: River Cruise Highlights

May 19, 2019 //  by  Linda Malys Yore //   30 Comments

Considering taking the Viking Grand European Tour? 

Have you ever been on a river cruise? Are you thinking of taking a European river cruise and looking for first-hand information from someone who already has?

Well, look no further because I sailed the spectacular 15   day Viking Grand European Tour river cruise   and it was definitely the trip-of-a-lifetime.

From the moment we began working with the Viking liaison in the comfort of our homes until boarding our international flight home in Budapest, Viking made every step of the way, every decision as easy as possible for us.

Here I will share with you just how simple and effortless it was to book and plan for a Viking river cruise,  and how decadent and simply delightful the cruise was!

Experience Europe like a local by staying at an Airbnb. Get a $55 Airbnb coupon  by using  my code  when you book!

Viking Grand European Tour, Highlights 

Amsterdam, holland to nuremberg, germany, the planning stage.

My sister Robyne accompanied me on the Viking Grand European Tour river cruise.

As soon as we selected our cruise, we were immediately assigned a Viking consultant who handled everything for us.

We were notified of her name, email, and phone number by an email, and from that point on we used Cathy as our “go-to” person with any and all questions we had. AND WE HAD A LOT!

Read about  the second week of the cruise here Viking  Grand European Tour, Highlights Part 2 

We were directed to create an account at MyVikingJourney.com .

It would turn out to be a personalized account created by us to keep track of our trip. We could always see the specific tours, excursions, and decisions we had made for our trip.

Fifteen days was a long trip and there were many decisions to consider.

At MyVikingJourney.com everything was accessible online at one convenient location.

There was a question and answer section that had tons of information right at our fingertips to access that saved us a lot of time and angst.

We were sailing on the Viking Baldur . Baldur is the Norse God of Light and Joy.

If you need packing tips, read my How To Pack Lightly for tips.

First off, after we decided on our cruise and dates, we needed flights to Europe.

Our Viking representative Cathy, took care of that. We simply gave her the dates we chose to fly and which airport we preferred to fly out of and Viking took care of the rest, and our flights were VERY reasonable.

Be sure to check with your travel agent or Viking directly about packages which include airfare, or discounted airfare. Amenities like this may change frequently.

If you plan to arrive early read these 18 things to know before traveling to Amsterdam.

Next decisions were about selecting excursions while on the river cruise.

At every city along the Viking Grand European Tour, included tours are offered free of charge.

On our customized Viking website, there were detailed explanations about each tour, along with what time of day it was taking place, how long it would be, and the exercise intensity.

I signed us up for all the included tours. On the website, most day’s explanations included videos of the areas we were scheduled to visit.

They really helped a lot in the planning process and to heighten the anticipation.

Read Next: 20 Viking River Cruise Tips To Help You Plan Your Trip

Viking made everything as easy as possible right from the start!

Next, we carefully read about the optional tours being offered.

Usually, they did not conflict with the included tours but were in addition to them.

There was an additional cost for them , some nominal and some a bit more.

You may receive a shipboard credit as a bonus from your travel agent or the company, and going on the optional tours is a fabulous treat to yourself because they are truly spectacular.

We also had to decide if we wanted to purchase the Silver Spirits Beverage Package for our Viking Grand European Tour.

House wines, beer, and soda were complimentary during lunch and dinner, beginning at the daily 5:30 pm cocktail hour, but if we wanted cocktails or premium wines or a drink at any other time, we considered the beverage package.

At first, we decided no, but at the very last minute, we changed our minds.

We were literally on the runway in Atlanta flying directly to Amsterdam to begin our odyssey and all it took was a quick email to Cathy our Viking representative.

It was in place upon our arrival on the Viking Baldur on Sunday afternoon in Amsterdam. Now that was service!

If you are taking a long haul flight to get to Europe, read my tips here.

Day 1: Viking Grand European Tour, Amsterdam

Because of the 6 hour time difference, we decided to fly to Amsterdam, Holland a day early to explore the city and catch up on our rest.

It was our responsibility to get ourselves to the embarkation dock location.

I received an email from Viking 48 hours before we left the USA, notifying us of the specific cruise dock location for our Viking Grand European Tour, where the Viking Baldur would be located.

Read about What to do in Amsterdam in one day for my tips.

Amsterdam was our first European city to explore during our Viking Grand European Tour. 

Read Next: The Ultimate 2 Days In Amsterdam Itinerary

Read Next: 7 Best Things To Do In Passau Germany

From our hotel in Amsterdam, it was a quick walk to the metro station and a very quick ride to Central Station, where we very easily located the cruise docks.

Viking Cruise Lines had a large canopy in its signature red color, which was very visible and easy to spot.

The officers of the ship were all under the canopy to warmly greet us new passengers, and to direct us to our ship, the Baldur .

We checked in about noon. We had placed the specific Viking luggage tags we received while still at home on our luggage in the morning.  They had our names and room numbers on them, for our bags to be delivered to our stateroom.

Then we headed to our cabin to see where we would be living for the next 15 days on our Viking Grand European Tour. We couldn’t wait to see it.

We had plenty of room in our stateroom on our Viking Grand European tour.

And we were not disappointed. We had a verandah room with a walk-out-onto balcony (which we ended up using a lot during the cruise!)

There were two chairs and a table for our convenience outside on our balcony.

We used the balcony in our stateroom every day to enjoy the scenery that we passed by. 

The room itself was very spacious. My sister and I wondered how we were going to tolerate each other for 15 days in a very tiny space.

No worries- there was ample space for each of us, with plenty to spare. We could walk around our beds, and there was storage space galore.

The drawers were huge, and the closet fit as many clothes as we wanted to hang. We each had 9 hangers and hung multiple items on each, and everything easily fit into the closet for us.

More hangers could be obtained simply by asking the staff. There was a safe located in the closet and shelving which we eventually utilized for more storage.

The closet had ample space to accommodate just about anything you would bring for your Viking Grand European Tour. We utilized the stateroom safe the entire duration of our trip.

We were very pleased to have a small refrigerator in our room. We used it every single day for storing water and fruit. And candy, and snacks!

Thank you, Viking for the refrigerator. We used it every day!

The bathroom a modest size but very elegant and with amazing storage. Definitely enough for two women for two weeks!

There was a nightlight that turned on automatically when all the lights were off, and that was a comfort to me. No fumbling or stumbling to get to the bathroom during the night.

Our floor tiles were heated, and there was a retractable clothesline in the beautiful walk-in shower. It ended up being a lifesaver as we washed our lingerie often during the Viking Grand European Tour.

Plenty of storage in the bathroom during our Viking Grand European Tour.

There was a large flat-screen television with enough selections that we did not feel like we were out of touch with the current events.

The choices were: live TV (an ample selection of news outlets), a whole slew of movies , and all 6 seasons of Downton Abbey!

There was a mandatory safety video that had to be watched first before the television was “unlocked.” There were also features where we could track the position of the Baldur.

Look at all that storage! Our QuietVox hearing devices are in their charger on the far right.

Next, we headed to lunch!

A buffet luncheon was served on the Aquavit  Terrace every day during our Viking Grand European Tour.

It was just what we needed on our first afternoon! We met some of the crew, met the Maitre d’, introduced ourselves and informed him I was a vegan, and Robyne was gluten-free.

Salads, sandwiches, soup, and desserts were served and were all delicious. 

After lunch, and a quick stop to our cabin where we discovered all of our luggage had been delivered, we headed off into Amsterdam for more sight-seeing.

Lunch was spectacular in the Aquavit Terrace! This was our hangout every afternoon for lunch during our Viking Grand European Tour.

If we had chosen, we could have taken 1 of 2 Viking guided welcome walks  excursions through Amsterdam, or attend a wine and cheese tasting party on board during the afternoon.

Later that afternoon, we embarked once again to our home away from home for the next 15 days on our Viking Grand European Tour and unpacked.

We had lots of space for everything and stored all of our luggage under our beds.

There was space enough to store the huge suitcases under our beds which left the room looking spacious and orderly and welcoming.

My large checked suitcase easily fit under my bed and was out of the way the entire trip. 

There was an official Welcome Briefing where we were introduced to the officers of the Baldur. And we were given a brief explanation of life on board for the next 2 weeks.

Here I am with the officers of the Viking Baldur during our Viking Grand European Tour.

Every evening, we could choose to have dinner in two different locations: in the main dining room, or in the more casual and much smaller Aquavit Terrace.

Both locations offered the same menu, it was simply a matter of how we felt, which place we chose to dine at.

The first evening we chose to eat in the main dining room. It was festive and fun and we sat at a table for 6 that began lifelong friendships.

After dinner, we headed up to the lounge for music and dancing.

It was a long day for most of us, but the duo playing music was lively and there was a great group of our fellow passengers having a good time. And we were no different.

This was the perfect way to end our first day of our Viking Grand European Tour! The Viking Baldur departed Amsterdam at 11:30 PM and we were on our way officially!

Day 2: Viking Grand European Tour, Kinderjdijk, Holland

Every morning there was a variety of ways and places to have breakfast.

First, there were two coffee stations where you could make your own choice of coffees where pastries and muffins were available.

You could choose a continental breakfast on the Aquavit Terrace, or a warm buffet breakfast with a wide selection of made-to-order options cooked right there for you in the dining room.

Made to order hot meals were available every morning in the Viking Baldur’s dining room.

There were two coffee stations. Coffee, tea, pastries, muffins, and water were always available during the entirety of the Viking Grand European Tour.

Our program director extraordinaire, Tessa, would come on to the overhead loudspeaker every morning greeting us a “Good Morning” in the native language of whichever country we were in.

She would remind us of the day and date and the city we were docked in. And recite briefly the excursions for the day.

On Day 2, we selected the Viking  included shore excursion: Kinderjdijk Windmills.

It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Much of Holland is below sea level and Holland has a grim history of flooding with her citizens losing their lives, their homes, and their livelihoods.

So with a unique network of windmills and water management techniques, Holland is now able to successfully deal with the seasonal rising waters and prevent future disasters.

We were surprised to learn that the Amsterdam International Airport is 20 feet below sea level!

The Viking Baldur docked at Kinderdijk, Holland

To manage a group of 186+ passengers efficiently, Viking divided us into groups of about 25 or so, and each group had their own local guide narrating.

Each guide carried a “lollipop” a round disc in Viking red on a handle the guide held up for us to see. The Viking Baldur was ship #20, so guides escorting us carried “lollipops” with Viking 20 and either A, B, C, etc for the exact group we were assigned to.

In order to hear the guide, we used QuietVox audio receivers (with headphones). We brought them with us on mostly every tour. In order to activate them, we had to touch the tip of the receiver to the lollipop for each tour.

The windmills and the history and the story of Kinderdijk were immensely interesting.

We were given a short and humorous history by our guide, Kaas, and walked past flood control devices. We walked through the Holland grasslands past several windmills.

And finally, we were brought to a windmill where further information was given to explain in detail the windmill and how it worked and were even permitted to tour the inside of the windmill.

It was very interesting, but what a hard life it must have been back in those days.

This is the windmill we were able to tour inside when our Viking Grand European trip visited Kinderdijk, Holland.

When our tour was complete, we were all back on board from Kinderdijk by 10:30 AM and we set sail for Cologne, Germany shortly thereafter.

The rest of the day was spent aboard discovering what the Baldur had to offer and getting to know our fellow passengers.

At 2:00 PM we had the mandatory muster drill. We located our life jackets under our beds, donned them, and met at our specific designated location on the top deck.

Later that afternoon, we had the option to tour the wheelhouse and meet the captain, which Robyne and I definitely took advantage of.

The instrumentation was amazing and we learned so much about the waterways and all the barges and boats that passed us on either side and from either direction.

Every evening our program director, Tessa,  would meet us all in the lounge at 6:45 PM, right before dinner, for her port talk .

She would give an overview of the next day’s excursions and answer specific questions from passengers. This became a nightly social event and a lively gathering among the passengers.

Robyne and I toasting during cocktail hour during our Viking Grand European tour. 

This evening we were officially welcomed aboard with champagne toasts (or mimosas!) by Captain Marcin and the hotel manager Marcello.

Such a warm welcoming and bonding experience. Dinner and dancing rounded out the rest of the day for us.

On our way from Amsterdam to Budapest, the Viking Baldur was going to pass through 68 “locks.”

Locks raise or lower boats connecting waters of different levels through countries that are not level.

The  Rhine, Main, and Danube Rivers pass through countrysides of distinct and different elevations and locks were a necessity for boat traffic.

The rivers of Europe are used today as superhighways, transporting and delivering goods throughout Europe.

I was surprised at the traffic on the European rivers and the size of the boats/barges we sailed past. The locks were indeed an unusual experience.

Here you can see by the watermarks on the walls how much we were lowered to match the water level on the other side. The gate was opening for us to continue.

Day 3:  Cologne, Germany

Upon leaving the Baldur guests stopped at the Reception Desk to pick up several things: a red plastic card which identified which group we were assigned to for the specific tour we were heading out for.

Ours was always “20” because that was the Baldur’s number.

Whether we were heading out for a walking tour or being transported via coach, we looked for the corresponding number either on the guide’s lollipop or on the dashboard of the bus. 

Also we picked up a card with our name on it, that had to be returned as soon as we stepped back on board the ship.

This is how the staff kept track of who still was not on board.  And a card with the specific docking location of the ship, in case we chose to linger longer in town or had a language barrier issue with a local or simply could not find our way back.

It also had the program director’s phone number on it, and could simply be handed to any local and they would be able to direct us back to the ship. 

We never left the Viking Baldur during our Viking Grand European Tour without taking our ship’s local address card.

In Cologne, we chose the Viking included Cologne Walking Tour.

We were transferred to Old Town Cologne via motorcoach and dropped off one block from the main square, which was in front of Cologne Cathedral, the Cathedral of St. Peter.

After we met with our guide and activated our listening devices to his lollipop, we began with him narrating a brief history of Cologne, and then we entered Cologne Cathedral.

It was certainly a tourist attraction and very crowded.  But the beauty of the church shone through and we were able to make our way to view the relics of the Three Wise Men of the Bible.

The Gothic-inspired Cologne Cathedral in Old Town Cologne, Germany

We then took a walking tour of Old Town Cologne and learned more about its history from our guide.

He also pointed out the best beer gardens and shops to look for quality souvenirs.

Some of our friends elected to stay and explore Cologne after our tour was over, but we decided to head back to the ship via the coach.

After lunch on the Aquavit Terrace, we had a few minutes to freshen up, before we left for an optional Viking tour of the UNESCO designated Bruhl Palaces.

To delve deeper into local culture and treasures, Viking offers exceptional  optional tours, which come with a price tag because they are specially arranged tours.

Before my Viking Grand European Tour, I was not especially knowledgeable in European architecture.

But that quickly changed with the tours Viking provided and the locations we visited. The Bruhl Palaces were a prime example, and my first, of the Rococo style, very ornate and playful.

The palace was commissioned by the Archbishop Clemens August in the 1700s. The grand staircase defies an explanation, so beautiful it was.

Each room was more ornate, more beautiful using the Rococo architecture. Unfortunately, no picture taking was allowed, and several security cameras monitored each room and hallway.

The spectacular Bruhl Palace and lavash gardens outside Cologne.  This UNESCO World Heritage site, an optional tour during our Viking Grand European tour is well worth taking.

The adjacent hunting lodge was equally impressive with its lavish Rococo style but on a smaller scale.

Each room was more stunning than the one before it. And finally, the gardens and park did not disappoint. They were exquisite and unbelievably manicured.

Flowers were still blooming and the trees stood at attention and in beautiful symmetry surrounding the gardens.

The smaller but no less impressive Bruhl hunting lodge displaying the lighter Rococo style .

The decision to visit the Bruhl Unesco Palaces, and to peer into the unbelievable life of a prince-archbishop was a great one for us. I would highly recommend this optional tour to anyone taking the Viking Grand European Tour.

While onboard, Viking offered quality enrichment opportunities for us.

This day there was a local who spoke about modern Germany in the Baldur lounge.

After dinner, local musicians entertained us with a classical music journey by famous composers.

While not all the opportunities would interest all guests at all times, I can say with certainty, all presentations were with experts in their fields, who were engaging, interesting and charming.

We tried to attend as many as we could.

Good evening from the Viking Baldur’s grand staircase at the end of Day 3 of our Viking Grand European Tour.

Day 4: Koblenz, Germany

Viking does a spectacular job offering daily excursions for all physical abilities.

Every day, whenever possible, there was a “gentle” walking excursion for those who had difficulty ambulating or were in a wheelchair, or simply didn’t feel up doing a longer walking tour.

Today’s included shore excursion on our Viking Grand European Tour was described as strenuous . On tap, was climbing up to Marksburg Castle, a 700-year hilltop castle with simply the most fantastic views!

We boarded our Viking motorcoach to Marksburg Castle at 9:40 AM. 

Upon arrival, we began the trek uphill to the castle. It was steep enough, with many uneven cobblestones to negotiate.

While I highly recommend this Viking excursion, during your Viking Grand European Tour, please wear sturdy closed-toe shoes for support, and you will be more than fine.

The history of the fortress-castle was amazing.

Our guide took us through many rooms with interesting explanations and stories about the people who lived there in the past.

The torture chamber with its instruments of death definitely was one of the more interesting ones. 

Marksburg was never intended to be a palace but was built to protect the town of Braubach below it. During its history, it also became a prison and housed infirmed soldiers.

The Marksburg Castle Fortress 

After the guided tour we had time to ooh and ahh at the views from around the top.

The Middle Rhine below us was spectacular. Here we were able to see first-hand what a summer of record high temperatures and lack of rain did to the depth of the river.

Sandbars were evident in several places.

The beautiful and very scenic Middle Rhine River from Marksburg Castle during our Viking Grand European tour.

The walk back down the side of the 550-foot high mountain was all paved and much easier to do. Again, I highly recommend sturdy shoes to help with stability and balance.

We arrived via our Viking motorcoach to the Viking Baldur in Braubach just in time for lunch.

Here we are having a lovely lunch out in the brilliant sunshine while cruising the Middle Rhine on our Viking Grand European Tour after visiting Marksburg Castle. Wouldn’t you like to do this too!?

Our afternoon would be spent sailing through the scenic (just like you see in travel magazines!) Middle Rhine River, also referred to the Romantic Rhine. 

We passed bucolic countrysides full of hillsides covered in vineyards, what a remarkable sight!

Then there were all the castles, like out of a fairytale. To help us understand it all, Tessa narrated for several hours as we sailed the afternoon away.

So inspiring, so unique, so unbelievable is this scenic region, it has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

We made use of the walking track  on the top deck during our Viking Grand European Tour, especially this afternoon during such scenic cruising.

We were so grateful that Viking provided a walking track for guests. We met some of the nicest fellow-travelers out on the walking track!

The majestic Romantic Rhine portion of our Viking Grand European Tour. Can”t you imagine sailing there?!!

There were other options that afternoon for our entertainment and enrichment.

Robyne enjoyed the live demonstration on how to make Rudesheim Coffee: coffee, brandy, sugar, whipped cream, and dark chocolate.

Can you even imagine such deliciousness?? Of course, she had a cup!

In the late afternoon, there was German teatime: tea and a variety of German pastries. Oh gosh!

We were certainly being spoiled. And we were never bored-all the options presented to us for our enjoyment by the Viking staff took care of that.

There were several games in the lounge after dinner during the course of our Viking Grand European Tour that were immediate bonding experiences for the guests.

Run by Tessa, our program director, we got to know her better and she got to know us better as well.

This night it was a movie trivia game. It was so much fun, and everyone laughed a lot .

Unbelievably, we were on the winning team, the “Movie Mavericks!” The prize was a bottle of wine, which we immediately opened and toasted to our success!

Here we are the Movie Mavericks toasting to our success! Such a fun experience.

Day 5: Viking Grand European Tour, Miltenberg, Germany

We sailed all morning through the lovely German countryside, so we used this opportunity to sleep in!

Mid-morning Tessa hosted a presentation in the lounge all about Germany and even taught guests a few German words.

After lunch, the Baldur docked in Freudenberg a short while, to drop off guests taking the Miltenberg Walking tour, which we did.

We were now sailing on the Main River in Germany and were in Germany’s wine-producing regions, specifically Franconia.

I did not realize Germans drank fine wines. Don’t all Germans drink lots of beer from huge steins? (That’s in Bavaria, a different region of Germany!)

The Viking Baldur docked at Freudenberg to transport us to Miltenberg for our tour. Very convenient!

Miltenberg was a charming German village, just the kind I envisioned. It was so unique with its half-timbered houses and quaint cobblestone streets.

One of the highlights of the town square was the Zum Riesen Inn, Germany’s oldest inn, opened in 1411.

After our wonderful guided tour, we had time to walk around the town square on our own, until we had to meet our program director Tessa to head back to our coaches and back to the ship.

I appreciated the free time to explore cities on our own during our Viking Grand European Tour.

We were able to head back for a missed picture opportunity, or go into an interesting shop for a special souvenir.

Miltenberg, Germany historical half-timbered houses in medieval Old Town. Just like out of a storybook. 

The lovely Main River flowing through picturesque Miltenberg, Germany

When back on the Baldur , we attended cocktail hour in the lounge, followed by Tessa’s port talk, dinner. And closed off another fantastic day dancing to the music of Alessio and Sara in the lounge.

As I mentioned, there’s never a dull moment during a Viking Grand European Tour!

Viking Cruise Lines has consistently earned culinary awards for its outstanding food. As a vegan, I never once worried about what I would eat. This is my entree after a very busy day in Miltenberg. Epic deliciousness.

Day 6: Wurzburg, Germany

Our included tour today, Wurzburg Residenz and Walking Tour began at 9 AM.

The motorcoach ride was only 10 minutes into town. We toured the historic city center and learned all about the Franconian wine vineyards located around Wurzburg.

Also, the city was very heavily damaged during World War II.  My first lesson on the ornate baroque architecture was during our tour of the Bishops’ Residenz palace. 

The opulence of the palace was striking. Because this is one of Germany’s largest and most ornate palaces, it has been given the designation of a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The Bishop’s Residence in Wurzburg on our Viking Grand European Tour is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The opulence was unparalleled. No picture taking was permitted and I was sad, because there was so much to see, to process.

The grand staircase was magnificent, and the ceiling fresco in the grand main hall, representing 4 continents was unbelievable. The rooms, each more stunning than the ones before or after it, were breathtaking.

The unbelievable thing is, during WWII, the curators of the palace, instinctively knew there was imminent danger of Wurzburg’s bombing, and dismantled and stored as much of the precious chandeliers, tapestries, paintings, and furniture as they could.

After the bombings, which did strike the palace, there was a renovation and all the beautiful artifacts were restored to their original locations for generations to come to enjoy.

The very charming city center of Wurzburg Germany

After our coach ride back to the Baldur , we had the afternoon free to do as we pleased.

We chose not to go on any additional optional tours of the area, including the Marienberg Fortress. So after lunch, Robyne and I decided to head back into Wurzburg.

It was a pleasant walk, and we shopped the afternoon away. We appreciated the free time and the opportunity to explore on our own.

The Baldur had docked just steps away from Wurzburg’s iconic Old Main Bridge with the Marienberg Fortress looming over it. 

The Baldur was docked on the Main River, just outside of the Wurzburg city center.

I used the late afternoon hours to get in a quick 4-mile run.  My route, suggested by Eddie, at the Baldur reception desk, was along the Main River, through tree-lined streets and shaded parks.

It was epic. That’s the way to run!  I appreciated the encouragement and suggestion from Eddie because I was running by myself in a foreign country and did not know the area.

He recommended the best route for me. I was reassured and had no worries for my safety.

Cocktail hour was a highlight and a daily ritual for both of us.

We were getting to know our fellow passengers better as we visited with them every evening in the lounge to discuss how our days went.

Robyne and I decided to purchase the optional Silver Spirits Beverage Package , which included cocktails,  mixed drinks, and premium beers and wines. 

The Baldur bar staff provided us with unparalleled service. They made and served us our drinks perfectly as we preferred them, and always offered us those calorie-laden cocktail nuts we so craved right before dinner!

During our Viking Grand European Tour, we were reminded of the low water levels of the rivers we were traveling on.

We could SEE how low the waters were. From high atop our perch when touring Marksburg Castle we could see the sandbars in the Middle Rhine River.

This evening during the port talk, Tessa informed us the water level was too low for the Baldur to pass any further along past Nuremberg. That was sad, for several reasons.

First off, no one wanted to pack up everything and move to another ship. Secondly, and more importantly, we came to know and love our staff, and we did not want to leave them .

Tessa would accompany us, but the staff would all stay with the Baldur.

Here I am with Tessa, our program director, in the Viking Baldur lounge during our Viking Grand European Tour .

Tessa spent time explaining that Viking had an identical longboat, the Magni , which was traveling in the opposite direction and would not be able to pass through the same area.

So, we would simply switch ships. No excursions (save one) would be impacted.

After a myriad of questions that Tessa patiently answered, we all understood that the low water levels due to higher than normal temperatures, along with lower than normal rainfall were responsible for our situation.

Everyone accepted the transfer graciously. We would be transferring ships in two days.

Dinner in the dining room after a busy day on our Viking Grand European Tour cruise!

After dinner, Tessa conducted another game in the lounge called Majority Rules.

We were on another team with different passengers we got to know a little better, laughed a whole lot, and our team came in 3rd place.

Another simply wonderful day full of epic events during our Viking Grand European Tour of a lifetime!

Good evening from the grand entry of the Viking Baldur

Day 7: Viking Grand River Tour, Bamberg, Germany

We were sailing this morning, and Robyne and I took advantage of this and slept in.

After breakfast, Robyne began packing. I headed to the lounge for a live demonstration of glassblowing.

By now, I had come to realize that every enrichment presentation by Viking on our Grand European Tour river cruise was an expert in their field .

They were all of the highest caliber, who were highly engaging, that captured and kept our attention. Karl Ittig, the world-renowned glassblower Viking presented that morning was no exception.

That morning, by sheer good fortune, I was the one from the audience randomly selected to participate in the glass blowing demonstration.

I assisted with making a colorful Christmas ornament, which turned out lovely. I even got to keep it as a souvenir! What an amazing surprise.

Assisting with the glassblowing presentation on the Viking Baldur

Karl Ittig brought a large quantity of blown glass of all shapes, sizes, and colors for us to purchase if we wanted.

It was all so fabulous and of course, there was something that pleased just about every guest there. What a great way to spend the morning.

After lunch, we were ready for our included shore excursion: Bamberg Walking Tour.

We grabbed our cards from the reception desk, boarded our motorcoach. Soon we were off into Bamberg’s old town where we met our guide.

The charming panorama of Bamber’s Old Town.

Bamberg was one of the few German cities not destroyed by bombing during WWII. Hitler held the Bamberg Conference there in an attempt to foster unity within the young Nazi party.

Bamberg has a very large Old Town, and it was just as I thought medieval Germany would have looked like! Bamberg was awarded the honor of being a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1993.

Bamberg is to be preserved for her “outstanding universal value,” a site that belongs to all the peoples of the world.

Bamberg is built on 7 hills each topped by a beautiful church. In every direction, you see beautiful steeples.

We toured the Bamberg Cathedral which exposed us to Romanesque architecture. It was massive and very inspiring. The unique city hall was built on a tiny piece of land in the middle of 2 rivers.

Very charming and interesting. Bamberg is known for its distinctive Rauchbier or smoky beer. Many in our group sampled it, but I’m no beer drinker so I passed.

Bamberg’s Old Town Hall has a very clever and historical history.

All too soon, we boarded our motorcoach for the ride back to the Baldur. Some villages we visited during our Viking Grand European Tour were not directly adjacent to where we docked the boat.

Then we needed to be transported. In those cases, Viking provided a local guide to narrate for us the sights we passed along the way.

When we arrived at our destination, another local guide on the ground met us for the city tour. We were never unattended as there was always something interesting to see or question to ask.

Once back on the  Baldu r, everyone was very interested in the specific instructions we would receive from Tessa at the evening port talk, about tomorrow’s transfer to the Viking Magni.

Our luggage was to be left outside our door by 8:00 AM. the next morning. (Not too early!) We would travel by motorcoach as scheduled to Nuremberg, our next scheduled stop.

Viking had scheduled lunch for us in an authentic German Inn. After lunch, we would travel by motorcoach to the Magni, waiting for us in Passau, Germany. 

All guests were saddened to be leaving their beloved Baldur and her staff. However, we all understood the low water levels were an act of God and not in Viking’s control. How could we be angry?

After dinner, we went to the lounge to dance and bid a farewell to the Baldur staff. They treated us so kindly.

Every single one of them went above and beyond to ensure we had a great experience during our Viking Grand European Tour. They felt like family!

There was always a party in the lounge. This evening we were celebrating Morgan’s birthday, and saying goodbye to the Baldur staff.

Day 8:   Nuremberg, Germany

Our packed bags were left outside our stateroom door before 8:00 AM. The included excursion which we selected was Nuremberg through History.

The Viking coaches arrived and we began boarding at 8:30 AM. (There was an optional tour also available that delved into Nuremberg and World War II.)

The rooftops of Nuremberg make a stunning impression.

It was our first cold, rainy, dreary day and that began with a narrated coach ride through Nuremberg as we headed to the “old town” inside the city walls.

We stopped at Zeppelin Field where Hitler held the infamous Nazi rallies. And the Palace of Justice, where the post-war Nuremberg Trials were held. It was heartbreaking and inspiring at the same time.

When we reached medieval Altstadt (Old Town), we headed up to the Imperial Palace, one of Europe’s greatest fortresses. Sweeping views of Nuremberg were there before us.

Along the way, our local guide explained about the Imperial Palace- not built for royalty but for protection. The cobblestone streets added to the charm.

At the Imperial Palace in Nuremberg. So convenient that umbrellas were provided for us during our Viking Grand European River Tour.

Nuremberg’s Market Square with the impressive Church of Our Lady. 

When the guided tour was concluded we were at the city center. There was a herb market going on in the square.

We had free time to wander about the square but being it was a Sunday, shops were closed due to German law.

There was still much to see and the square was filled with stalls of vendors selling all sorts of wonderful and unique items.

Here I am spinning the brass ring at the Beautiful Fountain in the market square in Nuremberg

We were to meet Tessa at noon at the Beautiful Fountain, aptly named, because it was simply an amazing tribute to Gothic architecture, right out in the square.

The fountain was formed in the shape of a church spire and had 40 colorful figures adorning it. There were 2 brass rings embedded in the fence opposite one another.

Legend has it, spinning the gold ring three times will bring good fortune. Yes, of course, we spun!

For me, the highlight of the morning, wandering the Nuremberg Market Square and spinning the gold rings, was at noon when the bells of the Cathedral of the Church of Our Lady rang loudly. 

That is when her glockenspiel high above began to move. The Mannleinlaufen or mechanical clock was activated at midday by the bells.

A drummer and trumpeters process around the Holy Roman Emperor figure as well as other figures. It was definitely a memorable moment during our Viking Grand European Tour.

The glockenspiel of the Cathedral of Our Lady in Nuremberg.

We then headed to a lovely and authentic German restaurant for lunch.  A delicious vegan meal was made especially for me. 

It was delicious, especially the German potato salad which was made with vinegar instead of mayonnaise.

After lunch, we headed to our Viking motor coaches and the 3-hour drive which would take us to our new ship, the Viking Magni. Each coach had its own local guide to accompany it and narrate the sights along the way.

Halfway through, we stopped for a bathroom break and to stretch our legs at a gas station that sold soft drinks and snacks. Soon enough we were back on the road again.

Before we knew it we reached Passau, Germany, and our new ship to continue our Viking Grand European Tour.

The staff of the Viking Magni was waiting with welcome arms for us, and we felt very much reassured when we met them.

There was enough time to visit our new stateroom (same room number,) and see that all of our luggage had arrived before us.

After freshening up, we headed up to the lounge for cocktail hour and Tessa’a port talk. When she was finished, we were officially welcomed to the ship by the officers with a champagne toast!

Here we were being welcomed by the Viking Magni staff to our new ship to continue our Viking Grand European Tour

After dinner, we headed to the lounge for a nightcap and to check out the new duo who would be playing music for us during the second week of our Viking Grand European Tour.

Read next: Viking River Cruise’s Grand European Tour Highlights, Part 2.

Packing List For Your Viking River Cruise

I have listed most of my go-to items that I personally bring when I travel. I hope this list helps you to have a more organized and more relaxing experience.

A  concealed travel pouch  may be one of the most important items you bring to Europe.

This  unisex RFID blocking concealed travel pouch is  lightweight and comes in several colors. It has lots of organization to give you peace of mind.

If you have a pouch already that does not come with the RFID protection, these  RFID  sleeves  would be a solution.

This configuration comes with enough passport and credit card sleeves that the entire family would be protected. They are slim too, so they will easily fit into your pouch or wallet. 

I was never a fan of  packing cubes  until I tried them out! Now  I am sold .

  These Bagail packing cubes   are  the exact ones I use whenever I travel . I cannot believe how much more organized I am now! And I never leave without them anymore.

Don’t forget to bring along a  universal power adapter  on your 2 days in Prague. This  worldwide power plug   is a great example and will charge your phone at the end of your busy days.

And this  world traveler adapter kit  can charge several devices at the same time. This is what you will need when there are several people traveling in your group, or if you bring several electronic devices on your trip that require charging at the same time.

If you are planning on taking a lot of pictures with your phone (like we did!) you will definitely want to consider an  external charging battery .

This  Anker high-speed phone charging battery  is  the exact one I carry with me on all of my trips.

It can be used on a variety of phones, not just an iPhone like I have. And wow is it fast! I like that it holds its charging capabilities for several uses so I do not have to worry about it while out and about.

My daughter gifted me with this  FugeTek selfie stick and tripod  for my birthday. It is made of lightweight aluminum and is Bluetooth enabled.

It connects with my phone easily and it is actually very simple to take group photos or selfies with the remote control. I think it would be a great item to add to your Paris packing list.

Hydration is so important. You want to remain hydrated to support your immune system which in turn will be stronger to fight off any germs you will encounter during your travels. 

You will want to bring your own  refillable water bottle  with you.

I never leave home on a trip without my   Bobble filtration bottle .  the 18.5-ounce size is perfect for travel and it fits nicely in the pocket of a backpack or your purse.

Also when filled with water, it is not too heavy to carry. And the charcoal filter ensures fresh clean water whenever you fill the Bobble. You can find  filter replacements here. 

Perhaps you are traveling a long distance and packing space is a premium. Then this  set of collapsible silicone foldable water bottles  would work well for you. Would not take up much space in your suitcase at all. 

You will want a  backpack or daypack  with you to store snacks, your water bottle, phone, extra clothes, etc. while you are exploring Paris.

This  foldable water-resistant backpack   would be great. It is very affordable and is available in many color options for you to choose from. The fact that it folds down into a zippered pouch will make it easy to pack.

Perhaps you need a more substantial backpack for your international travel. This  antitheft backpack   has a charging port, is water-resistant and can comfortably carry up to a 15.6″ laptop.

You will be walking more than usual during your Viking European river cruise. A sturdy and comfortable walking shoes  are a must-have,  especially because there are a lot of cobblestoned streets.

These  waterproof all-season shoes   are extremely affordable and yet fashionable.  Mostly everyone is familiar with the Skechers brand, and these  Air Run high fashion sneakers  come in a lot of colors to match your outfits and are still affordable.

If you are visiting Europe in warmer weather, maybe you want a pair of sandals  to wear to dinner or to the local cafe, I highly recommend these  Vionics adjustable strap orthotic sandals.

I have several pairs of Vionics that I bring with me *everywhere* I travel. They are very comfortable. 

Bring a lightweight scarf or shawl . Scarves and shawls are very popular in Europe. Both men and women wear scarves, both decoratively and as a layering piece to keep warm.

This  cotton unisex lightweight  scarf is versatile and can be worn in any season. And here’s another option to consider:

this  lightweight sunscreen shawl scarf  would do double duty to protect you from the Czech sun should you spend 2 days in Prague in the warmer seasons as well as being a fashion accessory layering piece.

We all need to  protect our eyes  from the sun’s harmful UVA/UVB rays. These  unisex polarized sunglasses   come in a lot of lens colors and frame designs and are extremely affordable too.

If you are fond of the  aviator-style of sunglasses  these polarized aviators may interest you. 

If you are in need of new luggage to travel to France, this  expandable soft side spinner luggage  is affordable and comes in lots of colors.

If you like hard-sided better, then you may favor this  hard-sided luggage set  better. Both sets come with TSA locks and 8 wheels per piece.

Have you ever been on a Viking river cruise? Which one and please share some highlights of your trip in the comments section below.

Are you dreaming of taking a European river cruise and have some questions? Please ask away in the comments section below.

Please note: I was provided with a complimentary Viking Grand European Tour cruise for myself and a guest, and a stipend, as an opportunity through Viking Cruises for the purpose of this honest review. All opinions are my own.

Linda On the Run  is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com

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Reader Interactions

October 24, 2018 at 2:20 pm

This is awsome. Great job. Your descriptions and photos inspire me to sign up and go enjoy. Thank you.

October 24, 2018 at 2:49 pm

Thank you, Christine. I can def tell you if you went on a Viking cruise, you won’t be disappointed. Check them out. First class all the way.

October 24, 2018 at 3:49 pm

I love your details. Looks like a fabulous trip with your sweet sister. I wouldn’t be able to keep up with you gals. I am putting this trip on my bucket list.

October 24, 2018 at 7:42 pm

Oh Elane! You guys would be out there right next to us! What we really did appreciate tho was how we were able to schedule our days, to be as busy or free as we wanted. The ship was so lovely we didn’t mind spending rest time aboard it. Hope you check it out someday!

October 24, 2018 at 9:07 pm

Sissy, your very articulate writing coupled with your fabulous pictures are a true account of our experiences! A once in a lifetime “first” for us! Reading your blog brought back such fond memories! Thank you for that….. And for the wonderful and awesome trip we had! Viking definitely knocked it out of the park!!! We made friends from all over the world! Many will be friends for the rest of our lives! Thank you for the time of a lifetime Linny!!!!

October 24, 2018 at 10:10 pm

Robyne – yes it was the trip of a lifetime. And I’m very glad we experienced it together.

October 24, 2018 at 9:53 pm

Linda this was such an interesting review! This would be a fabulous cruise to do someday. Do you think the crowd is mostly age 50+?

October 24, 2018 at 10:14 pm

Michelle. Yes. 50s and 60s. Most very active. And lots of 70s. We loved all ages. Everyone had an interesting story to tell.

October 27, 2018 at 9:19 pm

Been wondering about a Viking River Cruise. Photos are great. Helpful to know that the excursions are free of charge. Not been true on many cruises.

October 28, 2018 at 8:36 pm

Sue, Viking offered a free excursion everyday on our cruise. It was def nice as ALL were fantastic.

October 28, 2018 at 3:11 am

Sounds really cool! I’ve nrver been on an actual cruise but I love Germany so stopping at all these awesome german towns sounds like a perfect week!

October 28, 2018 at 8:38 pm

Sarah, I’d never been to Germany before, so visiting so many different cities was absolutely fantastic. River cruising is the way to go!

October 29, 2018 at 1:53 am

I haven’t actually been with Viking however I have done 3 river cruises with APT and next year will be going with Senic…I love river cruising

October 29, 2018 at 8:18 am

Me too Bree. I love you can unpack once and that’s it. No lugging suitcases in and out of car/bus to hotel after hotel. Have fun on your next river cruise!

October 29, 2018 at 5:13 am

Not been on a Viking Cruise but we did a cycle cruise with our teens, cycling along the banks of the Danube during the day which whetted our appetite for more.

October 29, 2018 at 8:21 am

There were tons of cyclists in Europe that we saw. Matter of fact, there were cycling paths the entire time from Amsterdam to Budapest. I bet you had a blast doing that trip with your kids.

October 30, 2018 at 11:09 am

LInda!! What a great job! And I so want to go on a Viking Cruise now. I’ve already emailed your story to my best friend, Marg and she would love to go with me. Marg and I both lived in Heidelberg, Germany, (our fathers were stationed there in the 60’s) so it was so exciting to relive some of the places that we had visited as young teenagers. I’ve been “drinking” in all of your comments and pictures (while at work when I can sit at the computer and take my time in between working/taking calls). I’ve truly enjoyed it, LInda and I’m looking forward to Part 2?? Love ya! Gina

October 30, 2018 at 10:49 pm

Awww thank you Gina. I know you and Marg would have a great time on a river cruise!

March 31, 2019 at 1:13 pm

My daughter and I are going on this VRC this summer. Your comments and photos were so helpful. Do you know if I can use my own Bluetooth headphones with the QuietVox? Appreciate your response.

March 31, 2019 at 8:32 pm

Oh I am so excited for you. If you have not been spoiled by Viking yet, get ready for the time of your life. Not sure about using your own Bluetooth headphones. The headphones used were nothing special and not associated or necessarily compatible w/QuietVox, but I’d say maybe. Best thing to do is ask once you arrive on board. Guess what? I’m jelly!

April 1, 2019 at 10:45 am

Thank you for your prompt reply. I think I’ll check next with my VCR rep. Happy travels!

April 1, 2019 at 11:59 am

No problem at all.

July 21, 2019 at 11:21 pm

Hey Linda! Hubby and I are booked for a Viking cruise, Basel to Amsterdam in November 2019. I was wondering when your cruise was? What part of the year? Looks like you and your sis had a great time!!

July 21, 2019 at 11:52 pm

Hi Tiffany. Our cruise was in mid-September. November sounds like a perfect time to explore Europe w/Viking. I am jealous!!!!

November 4, 2019 at 2:28 am

Hi Linda, My husband and I are going in June of 2020. Can’t wait. Thank you for all the helpful information and a guide to the whole trip. It looks wonderful.

November 8, 2019 at 6:14 pm

Your trip will be here before you know it! I am happy I am able to help you with your trip preparations. Viking Cruises is such an epic company, you are in great hands. Have a fabulous time!

March 26, 2020 at 8:58 am

Hi! Nice to read this whole blog as it has some quality information which is very beneficial for people like me. I hope you will post more such as that, By the way, Thanks for sharing such a great experience with us.

September 27, 2020 at 8:58 pm

Hello Linda. My husband & I are planning to go on either the Danube (8-day) or the Grand Euro (15-day) as you & your sister did in Fall of 2021. Great detail for me and wonderful planning tips. Thank you. May I ask you a few questions? Did you ever feel the Grand Euro was too long? Did you enjoy the first week or the second week best (cities/ports)? I see you actually chose a balcony room. We would probably have to stay with the less expensive standard room with only a window. Do you think that would diminish the experience on the boat. I’ve read that much of the time in your room is only sleeping… Thanks so much for your time & hopeful response. Lola

[…] Read first: Viking Grand European Tour Highlights, (Part 1) Amsterdam, Holland to Nuremberg,  Germany […]

[…] Read also: All about my experiences the first week of the Viking Grand European Tour   […]

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A Viking Rhine River Cruise Review: Basel To Amsterdam

Published July 23, 2022

After two long years of pandemic restrictions, Europe is fully open again! I’m lucky to have an extended family of fellow travel enthusiasts, and we’ve all been looking forward to a reunion vacation in Western Europe for a while now! A Viking River cruise seemed like the perfect offering for a group of eight people spanning three generations . This post is a review of my time on the Viking Hermod as it sailed down the Rhine.

Viking offers various Rhine River cruise itineraries, and the one we booked was called the “ Rhine Getaway .” As of summer 2022, this cruise is eight days long and spans four countries: Switzerland, Germany, France, and the Netherlands . We traveled from Basel to Amsterdam, but it can be booked in the opposite direction as well.

This post is a review of this particular Rhine River cruise. But on a side note, this was also my first time cruising ! If you’re interested in learning about what it was like to experience Viking River Cruises as a first-time cruise passenger, check out my separate post [coming soon]!

Impressions of the Rhine River

The viking cruise ship, food and drink, shore excursions, amenities onboard.

• Entertainment and Activities  

Final Thoughts

Day trip itinerary.

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 learn more, read on! To skip down to the second half of this post (a review of the ship and its amenities), click here .

Day 1: Boarding in Basel 🇨🇭

This cruise began in  Basel , a quaint little town in Switzerland right on the border of both Germany and France. If you can spend a day or two in Basel before your cruise, I highly recommend it. We booked a walking tour with a local guide (independent of Viking), and I’m really glad we did.

Viking allowed us to board the Hermod in the early afternoon, which gave us plenty of time to get acquainted with the layout of the ship. Our first dinner was served, and finally we were off in the early evening. We passed through our first of many  river locks  on this night, which is one of the most noteworthy aspects of a Rhine River cruise.

If you’re wondering how we made it to Basel, we flew from Chicago into Zürich and then booked a private car transfer. Zürich Airport is the nearest major international airport to Basel, and the drive is about an hour. There are also frequent trains that run between Switzerland’s largest city and its gateway to the Rhine.

Day 2: Breisach 🇩🇪

The Hermod pulled into its first port of call very early in the morning, which meant we had a full day to explore  Breisach , a small village in Germany. I actually decided to skip the included tour (a bus trip to the Black Forest) in the morning and walk across the French border to the village of  Neuf-Brisach . I did this completely on my own; it wasn’t a part of the Viking itinerary at all.

Neuf-Brisach is a sleepy little French town that is surrounded on all sides by a visually stunning series of fortified walls . These walls were designed by French architect  Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban  to help protect border outposts from invasion. You can’t make out the geometry of the walled city from the ground level, but you can explore the city streets and get some sense of their architecture.

In the afternoon, I went back to Breisach and explored its most famous landmark: the  Breisacher Münster St. Stephan , a beautiful brown church that towers over the rest of the town.

The interior of the Breisacher Münster is interesting, but my favorite part of this cathedral is its view from the top of the hill overlooking the village.

Apart from the church, Breisach feels pretty touristy. If you have extra time and want to walk around the town, feel free to. But if you don’t have time or want to rest on the ship instead, you probably won’t miss out on too much.

Day 3: Strasbourg 🇫🇷

Strasbourg is a fascinating city that’s much larger than Breisach. 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. They are clustered in an outlying district of the city.

Instead, we explored Strasbourg’s historic center, based mostly on Grande Île. Here you’ll find the famous Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Strasbourg , a staggering gothic cathedral that was actually the tallest building in the world from 1647 to 1874!

The other area I really liked in Strasbourg was  Petite-France . 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). We walked through here on our guided tour, and I came back afterwards to enjoy the views for a bit longer.

Strasbourg was probably my favorite day trip on our cruise, so I’ve written a separate blog post about the city. Check it out using the image link below!

Day 4: Speyer and Rüdesheim am Rhein 🇩🇪

This was my least favorite day of the cruise, mainly because we only had a few hours in both Speyer and Rüdesheim . I feel like we did get to see slightly more of the former than the latter, but both stops were rushed.

Speyer is a small city  on the western bank of the Rhine . 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.

Viking offered a short included tour, then we had about an hour or so to explore on our own. There are some other interesting churches a little further inland, or you could check out the many side alleys that branch off of the Maximilianstraße.

Speyer seemed like an interesting town. I would’ve enjoyed spending more time there. However, as I mentioned above, this is only a half-day stop. Before lunch, we met in the Domplatz and boarded buses that brought us back to the ship. We sailed for a couple hours before making our second stop of the day in…

Rüdesheim am Rhein

At this point in the cruise, the Rhine starts to become much more scenic. Beautiful villages and vineyards can be seen in all directions.  Rüdesheim  is a touristy town known for its wineries and historic center, called the Drosselgasse . Viking doesn’t offer an included tour here, so I explored on my own. However, since we docked in the late afternoon, time felt even more limited here than in Speyer.

I took a short walk through the Drosselgasse, but I was much more intrigued by all the hilly vineyards overlooking the town. There’s even a chairlift that goes up, hinting that the views up there would be good! I walked up the Oberstraße, which turns into the Germaniastraße. Finally, I turned left onto  this paved trail . The panoramic views were indeed incredible!

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Day 5: Cruise through the Rhine Gorge; Stop in Koblenz 🇩🇪

As you leave Rüdesheim, the Rhine River goes from picturesque to spectacular. This day of voyaging through the Rhine Valley is the centerpiece of the entire trip . The surrounding landscape becomes more dramatic. I loved seeing the patchwork of vineyards on the steep mountainsides, but the coolest part of the day is seeing all the castles.

There are so many of them! 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.

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. I walked all over the Altstadt (Old Town), which is right next to the Viking River Cruises Dock.

The other main activity in Koblenz is taking the cable car to the other side of the river. Here you’ll find  Festung Ehrenbreitstein , a sprawling nineteenth century fortress that overlooks the town. Visiting the fortress was interesting, but there didn’t seem to be much signage in English, so I don’t feel like I learned a lot about its history while I was there.

One other noteworthy attraction on the southern edge of the Altstadt is  Kurfürstliches Schloss Koblenz . This ornate white palace is surrounded by impeccably maintained gardens that seem to serve as a public square for the city.

Day 6: Cologne (Köln) 🇩🇪

Cologne is the largest city this cruise stops in, so there wasn’t enough time to explore all that I wanted to. With that said, we at least had a full day docked here. The included Viking tour served as a brief introduction to the riverfront and Kölner Dom , the city’s massive iconic cathedral. After that, we had the rest of the day to explore on our own.

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! It felt kind of dangerous. Frankly, being on a spiral staircase for that long with only the occasional narrow gothic window was disorienting and dizzying. If you want to climb a church tower, I suggest going up to the top of the Notre-Dame in Strasbourg instead.

After visiting the cathedral, I walked across the Hohenzollernbrücke , which is one of the most notable “love lock” bridges in Europe. 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.

The last thing I did in Cologne was visit the Museum Ludwig . It was hosting a fascinating temporary exhibit featuring the works of  Isamu Noguchi . I’m not the biggest museum enthusiast, but the Ludwig ended up being very captivating.

Day 7: Cruise through the Dutch Countryside; Stop in Kinderdijk 🇳🇱

In all honesty, the Rhine (which turns into the Waal) is less scenic in the Netherlands than it is in Germany. You’re no longer surrounded by hills, vineyards, and castles. Instead, the riverbanks are flat and sandy here.

Our final shore excursion ended up being a really fascinating one: a guided tour of  Kinderdijk , a ‎UNESCO World Heritage Site on the outskirts of Rotterdam famous for its windmills. Our tour guide did an excellent job of introducing us to the history and purpose of mills in the Netherlands.

The landscape here is so pretty, and one of the highlights of this visit was being able to see the inside of a mill. All in all, a short visit to Kinderdijk was a great way to wrap up our final full day on the Viking Hermod.

Day 8: Disembark in Amsterdam 🇳🇱

The Netherlands is a small country, and Kinderdijk is only about 95 kilometers (59 miles) away from Amsterdam. As such, the Hermod was already passing through Utrecht by bedtime. We docked at Amsterdam very early in the morning on our final day.

There were no day tours of Amsterdam organized by Viking on Day 8, but we were allowed to stay on the boat until the late afternoon (with lunch included). However, we did have to vacate our staterooms by 8:00 a.m. so that the cleaning crew could start preparing for the next cruise.

After checking out, guests are free to go on their way. 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.

Cruise Review

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.

If you’re considering booking this cruise for yourself, you might be wondering: what is the Rhine River actually like between Basel and Amsterdam? Well, in my opinion it seemed to have three distinct sections. From Basel until Speyer (Day 1 to Day 4), the Rhine feels very industrial . It’s lined by factories, and to be honest, the river is not amazing here (although the cities along it are). Luckily, the boat sailed at night through the Upper Rhine, so it’s not like we really missed out on much.

From Speyer to Cologne (Day 4 to Day 6), the Rhine River is incredibly scenic . Viking did a great job of scheduling so that passengers could enjoy the view from the boat during the day on this portion of the trip. The vineyards, villages, and castles of the Middle Rhine are undoubtedly the river’s most unique offerings.

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 most noteworthy thing about this cruise ship is its capacity: only about 200 passengers . There are four levels, and each room has a window. The ship has one single dining room that can accommodate all passengers at one time, an indoor lounge, a terrace, plus an open-air deck on top that runs the length of the ship.

The meals on our Viking Cruise were consistently amazing ! I really looked forward to coming back on board after each excursion or tour to enjoy whatever was being served that day.

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.

The Viking breakfast buffet is also excellent! The omelette station is absolutely worth waiting in line for, plus it moves along fairly quickly.

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.

Should you get the drink package?

You’ll have to make this decision for yourself, but beer and wine are included with each meal even if you don’t purchase the unlimited drink package. I did the math, and you’d basically have to drink two additional cocktails each day (outside of lunch and dinner) to make the package worthwhile. I enjoy drinking to be sure, but I would typically have wine with my meals and limit myself to one cocktail per day. My total bar tab came out to be about 90 euro for the entire trip.

Like the food, all of the alcoholic drinks on this cruise were expertly crafted. Everything tasted great, and they were never watered down or too strong. They even made a great White Russian, which is one of my favorite cocktails!

At every port of call, Viking offered one included (free) tour. These tended to be walking tours that lasted about two hours and introduced guests to the various cities. In general, I’d say these tours were pretty good. However, if you’d rather explore one of the stops on your own (or even stay on the ship), you are more than welcome to skip any of the tours.

You can also pre-book one of many “Optional Excursions,” which are tours that you’ll have to pay extra for. I never did any of the Optional Excursions, so I can’t say if they were better or worse than the included tours.

The Viking Hermod was not a massive vessel. As such, it didn’t have all of the amenities that some other cruise ships might. There was no pool, casino, food court, gym, bowling alley, nightclub, etc. Part of this is because Viking’s clientele seems to skew older : my cousin, my brother, and I (in our twenties or late teens) were the youngest passengers on board. Viking River Cruises does not allow minors, so there are no amenities specifically aimed at kids.

Despite this, the Viking Hermod had a beautifully designed interior. The atrium and dining room were both warm and inviting spaces. The lounge and front terraces were comfortable places to sit, relax, or sip a drink. The ship’s common spaces never felt cramped, even when all the passengers were gathered together (e.g. during dinnertime).

I also found the stateroom to be comfortably sized. There is lots of space to store your luggage, and I found that the bathroom and shower weren’t too small.

Entertainment and Activities

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.

Longtime readers of my blog will know that I don’t shy away from giving my honest opinion when it comes to travel. If an attraction is overrated, I will tell you that. If a tour is underwhelming, I will tell you that. 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.

Was the cruise perfect? No. I really would’ve preferred a little more time in fewer stops. 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.

If you’re looking for an upscale travel experience in Western Europe, consider Viking’s Rhine Getaway. I had never been to Switzerland, Germany, France, or the Netherlands before this trip. Now, I can’t wait to go back and explore all four of those countries in greater depth! It’s safe to say this cruise inspired even more wanderlust in me. By that metric, I’d say it was a resounding success!

Have you ever been on a Viking River Cruise before? Are you about to embark on one? Leave a comment below and let me know! I’m curious if other travelers loved this cruise as much as I do!

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This post was published on July 23, 2022

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Hi, I’m Kevin ! I’m a coffee addict from Seattle, and I love to travel. Caffeinated Excursions is a record of my trips. Since I started blogging in January 2018, I’ve lived in Mexico, Vietnam, and Brazil. I moved to Chicago in 2021 and love exploring this amazing city. Thanks for checking out my blog!

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This post has 23 comments.

We have not yet done a river cruise. And the Viking River Cruise from Basel to Amsterdam sounds like a great itinerary. So many lovely stops along the way. I would love to see all the castles and palaces along this route. The Viking ship looks like a great way to travel on the rivers.

We are leaving September 7 for the Amsterdam to Lucerne cruise and staying over in Lucerne 2 days. You have described everything perfectly so I know what to expect. Just praying they get rain between now and then.

Peggy did you get rain? Did you have to disembark for a day and go on a sister ship?

A Glowing review of Viking River Cruising. However you were fortunate to travel on a longship from destination to destination, we just completed are first Viking River Cruise and we had quite the opposite experience and picture you describe so charmingly above. Having arrived back a week ago from the Grand European Tour, Budapest to Amsterdam we were exhausted and could have done with another holiday. It would be to long for me to go into all the details, I could fill a book, but now looking back Viking should really have given us an update on the current River conditions. Basically they didn’t, and there lies the problem, yes we knew about the possibility of low and high water but had no idea how bad it was before we arrived, only to be told by a fellow passenger when we boarded ship of the current situation, having to maybe change boats half through our tour. Well we were prepared for that we could handle it and enjoy ourselves what unfolded was problem on problem on problem. Pack unpack pack unpack get the picture, inordinate bus journeys on a longship leisurely cruise, you’d be lucky. hotel stays in Vienna Köln & Amsterdam, Viking docking areas that were waste or industrial sites and nowhere near a village never mind town or city. We changed boats 4 times and even never left on the one we boarded in the first place, most of the excuses were obvious low water etc etc, but then when you have just got off a coach because you couldn’t travel down the Danube or Rhine because of ‘Low Water’ but then you hear from another Viking tour group that you just crossed paths with that they travelled down on that same stretch of water with no problem or we’re about to travel down the stretch water that you just spent 2 hours on a coach because we were told we couldn’t, makes you think what’s go on and who’s telling the truth? Don’t get me wrong the-programme director and staff on the first week were great and worked tirelessly, the 2nd half not so much, funny that! Anyway I could go on on, but there doesn’t seem no point, we were promised that Viking would contact on our return, still waiting a week on, but having trawled the internet and Viking Customer websites I won’t hold my breath in getting anywhere with that approach if what I hear is all true! I always thought Viking was a leading light in River Cruising, shows you how wrong you can be.

Hi Mike, Thanks for your honesty. We are due to board Viking’s Rhine River Cruise on 9/9, two years after canceling twice because of the pandemic. However, with all the news of the drought and low water levels in Europe, we have sadly decided to cancel once again. We will rebook in the late spring when the River is at a higher level. .Speaking with Viking, they made it sound like it was probably only a bus ride between two ports and that there hasn’t been a problem so far. However, your post has given a more honest picture of what actually happened, validating our decision to cancel. Thanks again for your post.

Just did the Rhine on the Viking Mani mid April with my mom. It was my 1st cruise and first time « across the pond » Did you get to see the parrots in Cologne? It was an amazing sight to see them flying over the longboat to roost for the night. I made some Rudensheim coffee during one of the exhibits on the boat. I had the adventure of my dreams on this cruise. The pre-excursions on Lake Lucerne were amazing. The Pearls of Switzerland excursion was worth the extra money but be prepared for a 13 hour tour. The Alps we’re breathtaking and I got to make CHEESE (and bring some back to the states?

I’ve always wondered about Viking cruises! I see their ads all the time. The only cruise I’ve done is on the Nile River; big cruise ships don’t appeal to me, but I don’t mind the much smaller river boats and more frequent shore excursions. This really sounds like a lovely way to see a lot of Europe!

Think twice about cruising now. We just returned from the Rhine Get Away Cruise. We had to do a “ship swap” due to low river levels which meant packing up and getting out of our cabin at 8am the next morning. We also spent 5-6 hours on a coach bus to get to our next destination. The scenic castle tour advertised was not possible. Viking offered a $50 on board credit for our inconvenience. In addition, both my husband and I left the ship sick and tested positive for COVID. I’m disappointed that Viking never checked to make sure passengers were vaccinated. There were many people that were coughing and appeared to be sick on this cruise.

What trip did you take? We are planning on Basel to Amsterdam next July and wonder if that is the same as you. I am getting mixed information about the river level and the experiences. Any insight you could share would be appreciated. Thank you

Viking, please address the concerns re the low tide. My cruise is Nov 13. Physically, I cannot do Bus Tours ior do extra packing and unpacking That is not what I signed up for. So if Viking plans on transferring passengers and traveling on busses….then they need to cancel the trip. I need and want a nice, peaceful, laid back River Cruise The President of Viking says he treasures HONESTY. Let’s put that to work.

Did you get a response from Viking?

Good afternoon, We have plans on going on Viking in July 2023 from Basel To Amsterdam. I appreciate the honesty of some of these reviews. The river level is of great concern to my husband and me. And with weather conditions and forecasts being what they are, my fear is this issue will get worse over time not better. One huge attraction to a river cruise is the lovely scenery during the time on board as well as only unpacking one time in 8 days. I will be contacting Viking to ask about their issues this year and just how much disruption there has been to date. Also noting, I have read some other issues regarding the Rhine River. One issue appears to be the huge increase in traffic on the river. The container ships appear to be taking less tonnage, therefore, increasing the number of ships on the river. I appreciate the commentary and will be looking for more answers before we pay the balance of our scheduled trip for 2023.

We are right on target to go July 2023. I hooe you got answers from Viking. We are very concerned about the water levels too! Thank you!

Yes, that is the same cruise we were on. We did a “ship swap” due to low river levels. It was an inconvenience for sure packing up and getting out of the room by 8am. We spent quite a bit of time (I believe 6 hours or so) on a coach bus getting to our next destination. We also made a stop at and docked for the night at a port that was very industrial and unattractive. Viking did the best they could under the circumstances. We missed the scenic cruising through the castle gorge because of this ship swap. Keep an eye of river levels before paying for this cruise. I’ve heard that some cruises had to do this “ship swap” twice!

Just returned from the Romantic Danube Cruise – Budapest to Regensberg 8/28/22 with the Prague extension and a non-Viking extension in Amsterdam for my 60th birthday.

It was an AMAZING experience!!!

Our ship, ATLA, also experienced low water levels so could not dock at Regensburg and we had to take a bus to get to Regensburg. Thankfully we were able to get there because that was my favorite city of the entire tour!!!

Viking is amazing and I loved every minute of it and cannot wait to go back for another cruise! They go all out – I felt supported and pampered with little to no stress! Everything is done for you – from the excursions to the food to the entertainment to having your room cleaned every time you turn around! All of the Danube cities are picturesque, clean and stunningly beautiful! And I found the pace great!

The only thing I saw as a drawback, and agree with the Caffeinated, there was not enough time given in several cities for shopping and exploring. I paid for the extension to go to Salzburg to see the Sound of Music sites. Our guide was terrible! The guides on these excursions are so important and will make or break an excursion. We were rushed through and I even had to ask to go see the steps and fountain in the movie where the kids are running through the palace grounds!!

I second the recommendation to Viking to allow a lot more time in some cities such as Vienna Regensburg, Passau, Salzburg etc. I also recommend a specifically focused Sound of Music tour for all of us old people who loved that movie!

Despite some rushing and low water levels I would go back in a heartbeat!!!

Thank you for the feedback. I do appreciate the information. For the cost of the trip, I am starting to rethink it for sure. My feelings about climate change and seeing any dramatic changes for the good by next year are not too optimistic. We may tour Europe via another mode of transportation.

We have not addressed Viking directly as yet. My feeling is that they will most likely give the glowing reviews and how next year will be fine. I would much rather read information from guests and their experiences.

Hi, enjoyed your review. We are booked with 7 other couples for a Viking Rhine Getaway in April, Basel to Amsterdam. Very excited and love reading the reviews and seeing the photos. It will be all of our first river cruise. Some of us are starting a week earlier for time in Italy & Switzerland, part of us are also staying longer in Amsterdam afterward. Out excursions we’re just posted & we signed up for most of the included ones. But we are trying to figure a way to get to Heidelberg instead of Speyer & Rudesheim. We don’t want to do the ship’s excursion to Heidelberg.

We are going on this exact Viking cruise in June and we really love your insights into this trip. It has been very helpful and we appreciate your honest evaluation! We can’t wait!

Great information and review! We (14 of us) are going on the same cruise in April/May. We just finalized our plans and excursions over the weekend. It should be amazing!

Thank you for providing detailed descriptions and insight. Very helpful in planning the itinerary for our B-A cruise this fall.

Pingback: A Comprehensive Review of Viking River Cruises - Tech Innovator Hub

So sounds like a cruise in mid April would work, just wondering about the weather in mid April. When is high water season. Are there other river cruises? I ‘ll keep researching other sites and blogs. Thanks this was a great read… Norm

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I Traveled on Viking Cruises, the “World’s Best Cruise Line”: My Unfiltered Experience

I would have laughed in your face if you had told me that I’d be writing a Viking Cruises review a few years ago. Self-declared as “not a cruise person,” the idea of getting on any cruise—much less a luxury cruise line like Viking —was so far off my radar that it might as well have been in a different galaxy, save for maybe sailing to Antarctica when I had the funds.

Yet, the opportunity to sail on the world’s best ocean cruise line, as named by Condé Nast Traveler, Cruise Critic, Travel + Leisure, Town & Country, and USA Today, amongst many others, presented itself, thanks to an extremely generous gift from my boyfriend’s parents.

So there we were, a couple of 24-year-olds booking a cruise that would have an average passenger age of 72. And guess what? Despite our considerable age difference, we met so many wonderful fellow passengers, even if there were a few naysayers (let’s say one hater for every two friendly passengers).

We spent months perusing Viking Ocean Cruises and Viking River Cruises itineraries, none of which are under eight days long; we finally picked the Amazon & Caribbean Adventure aboard the gorgeous Viking Sea, a 12-day itinerary stopping at a few Caribbean islands, before sailing nearly the entirety of the Amazon River.

The itinerary seemed like a once-in-a-lifetime trip that frankly, made much more sense to do on a boat than by foot.

After planning and prepping for months (including two pricey, mandatory Yellow Fever vaccines and one-way tickets from Manaus, Brazil), we were informed a week before embarking that our Amazon cruise wouldn’t sail the Amazon at all. Instead, it would sail the Caribbean Islands for 12 days on an itinerary similar to Viking’s West Indies Explorer.

We were given no option to cancel. So, on Thanksgiving week, we packed our bags to leave for San Juan, Puerto Rico, where the ship would depart, and scrambled to cancel expensive flights from Manaus to rebook one-way flights from San Juan during the holiday season.

Would this be a phenomenal, spontaneous adventure or a corporate cruise blunder?

Viking Cruises Rating: Is it a Good Cruise Line?

Overall, I rate Viking Cruises a 7.5 out of 10. My rating isn’t just limited to my onboard experience with Viking, which is easily an 8.5 or 9 out of 10 but includes communication with Viking’s corporate customer service before embarking and the itineraries Viking offers, which really brought down my rating.

Factoring into my rating were stateroom quality and cleanliness, included amenities, available dining, offered shore excursions, entertainment, the on-board staff, corporate customer service, Viking Cruises itineraries, value, and my overall experience while sailing with Viking Cruises.

• Staterooms: 9/10
• Amenities: 10/10
• Restaurants and bars: 7/10
• Shore excursions: 7/10
• Entertainment: 6/10
• Onboard staff: 10/10
• Customer service: 2/10
• Available itineraries: 7/10
• Value: 9/10
• Overall experience: 8/10

Viking Cruises Review: Pros

As a cruise curmudgeon, I was fully prepared to have a very short list of pros for Viking Cruises . Yet, when I stepped on board, my frosty opinion of cruising thawed with the warm Caribbean winds.

I indulged—relaxing in the idyllic Explorer’s Lounge for every sail-away, taking every opportunity to dress up in my chicest resortwear, and marveling at panoramic views from the ship’s wraparound decks and infinity pool.

Here’s what I loved about Viking Cruises:

• Amazing staff—the absolute best part of the cruise
• No kids under 18 allowed
• No pricing surprises
• Included WiFi
• No interior staterooms
• Every cabin has a balcony
• Daily afternoon tea
• Reasonable pricing for premium spirits, cocktails, and wine
• Small ship sizes
• Nearly 1:1 passenger-to-staff ratio
• Beautiful ship design—not tacky or cheesy
• Use of the spa is included
• Self-serve laundry is free
• No limit to outside alcohol brought on board and no corkage fee

Viking Cruises Review: Cons

If this Viking Cruises review is going to be honest, I have to point out the clear and obvious flaws with the cruise line that brought down my rating of it.

Even though I had an amazing time—and I really did—several glaring issues took away from the experience (the fact that we ended up in the Caribbean for two weeks instead of the Amazon being one of them).

After our major itinerary change, we were shocked when our itinerary changed again at the port in San Juan, removing our only sea day and port of call.

We thought that would be where the itinerary chaos stopped until a couple of our ports ended up being shipping ports instead of cruise ports, where our boat was surrounded by cargo and passengers had to be shuttled to and from town.

Aside from those one-offs, these Viking Cruises cons are worth considering before you book:

• Small ship sizes mean a lot of rocking, easy to get motion sickness
• Very few vegetarian dining options, basically no vegan dining options
• Poor communication about itinerary changes
• Inadequate compensation for major itinerary changes with no option to cancel or change
• Housekeeping doesn’t live up to the rest of the staff
• Onboard entertainment leaves something to be desired
• Disengaged, pretentious cruise director
• Paid shore excursion options often lacked excitement
• WiFi could be laggy, cutting out a few times during the trip

What’s Included on Viking Cruises?

What’s earned Viking Cruises its praises is founder and CEO Torstein Hagen’s philosophy that truly all-inclusive, luxury cruising means no nickel-and-diming.

No paying exorbitant WiFi fees, no additional fees for the spa, and no paying for specialty restaurants, the list goes on. With that in mind, we knew this trip would be like any other.

Included on every Viking cruise are:

• Complimentary shore excursion at every port
• Free WiFi onboard
• House wine, beer, and soft drinks at lunch and dinner
• Coffee, tea, and bottled water at all times
• Corkage fees for outside alcohol brought on board
• Access to the spa (treatments are paid)
• Destination lectures and theater performances
• Port taxes and fees
• Self-service laundry, including detergent
• All onboard restaurants, including specialty restaurants
• Freyja toiletries in-room

Viking Cruises Staterooms

One of the most attractive aspects of sailing with Viking Cruises is that there are no interior staterooms on any ship. Every cabin has large windows and a balcony, along with a well-sized bathroom, adding to the luxury experience.

Stateroom design is thoughtful, from the brilliant dressing table—complete with mirror lighting—to the universal outlets and ample storage for toiletries in the bathroom.

The only aspect of our stateroom that didn’t hit the mark was housekeeping. We were originally impressed with our room attendant, who was at our cabin within minutes of us reaching our stateroom to offer extra hangers (massive bonus points). Still, generally, our room wasn’t kept to the standard I’d expect from Viking or a similar luxury hotel.

It was cleaned and the bed was remade in the morning and at turndown, but extras I’ve come to expect at top-tier hotels didn’t exist, like tidying products on the counters, and moving strewn clothing and footwear.

I think our experience may have been an outlier—friends we made onboard received far better housekeeping.

Viking Cruises Staterooms to Avoid

Knowing which cabins to avoid on many cruise lines is crucial for ensuring comfortable accommodations. Not on Viking.

I can’t say there are any Viking Ocean Cruises cabins to avoid, just some slightly better than others, such as those on higher floors or the starboard side versus the port side, depending on where you’re docking. The lack of a casino and major entertainment venues onboard keeps Viking ships quiet.

Are the Upgraded Viking Cruises Cabins Worth It?

We originally booked the cheapest cabin type, the veranda stateroom. When we checked in, we received an upgrade to a room of the same size on a higher floor when our itinerary changed, and 300 passengers dropped out of the sailing.

Are the nicer Viking Cruises cabins worth it?

In my opinion, no. While it was nice to be on a higher floor, so much thought has gone into a top-notch room experience for Viking passengers that the upgrade didn’t make a noticeable improvement to our experience.

Viking Cruises Dress Code

Viking Cruises has specific dress codes for its ships, but they don’t demand ballgowns and black-tie.

Hagen, firmly against the idea that vacation should require stuffy, formal clothing, ensured that Viking Cruises do not have formal nights or theme nights that demand a separate wardrobe.

Given Viking Cruises’ older, wealthy clientele, I was panicked about what to wear on a Viking Ocean cruise before embarking. Would my crop tops and bikinis be okay? As it happens, my fears were totally unwarranted—several staff members even complimented my Caribbean cruise outfits , secretly quelling my nerves.

Viking Cruises Dress Code During the Day

In the morning, casual clothing is allowed everywhere onboard Viking Cruises. Shorts, t-shirts, sundresses—it’s all permitted, including at the main sit-down restaurant.

Athletic clothing and swimwear are not allowed anywhere on the ship except on the pool deck and at the gym. I thought this would be difficult to follow, however because the pool deck includes the World Cafe (the Viking Ocean Cruises buffet restaurant) along with Aquavit (the pool bar), this was very easy to follow.

Viking Cruises Dress Code at Night

At night, the dress code shifts slightly and becomes slightly more elevated. Men must wear slacks and a collared shirt. Polos are okay, but T-shirts are not. Women are allowed to wear dresses, skirts, or slacks but cannot wear shorts.

True to its ethos of a comfortable cruise experience, Viking has considered guests who don’t wish to dress up after the sun sets. Casual clothing is permitted at the World Cafe at all times.

Viking Cruises Staff and Service

Viking Cruises is luxury but hardly snooty or pretentious. Its quiet, subtle approach to luxury feels more like settling into a close friend’s home than something flashy.

Staff seals the approach with an ultra-personal approach to service and an amazingly warm, welcoming demeanor. Even staff we only interacted with once or twice would remember our names, preferences, or stateroom number—it was extremely impressive.

We absolutely loved it.

So many people contributed to making our trip special. They were the very best part of the cruise and absolutely the reason I loved it so much.

So thank you to John, who works ship security and built a friendship with us after teasing me about a lost passenger card on day one; Grace, the restaurant hostess whose memory never failed to surprise us; Rodge, an exceptional bar waiter; Erin, the assistant cruise director who went out of her way to make us feel welcome as the clear outliers (young people) on board; and John, the guitarist engaging in meaningful conversations with us.

Thank you to Amelia, the vivacious sommelier who went out of her way to make the best cocktail I had on the ship; Seema, our favorite waitress who never failed to delight us with jokes and recommendations; Mirza, the best bartender on the ship with ample beer knowledge to share with my boyfriend; and of course the beloved Suta, who was the very, very best part of our day, every day.

I cannot sing praises about the Viking Cruises staff enough. They are reason alone to pick this cruise line over all the others. If there’s one thing to take away from this Viking Cruise review, it’s that. There were so many nights that we would have rather been down in the crew bar than in the passenger area because they were that much fun to be around.

The only staff member we didn’t love was the cruise director—he rarely engaged with guests and was often only spotted socializing with ship executives. It rubbed us the wrong way, especially because the ship’s assistant cruise director and hotel management team executives were so phenomenal.

The fabulous staff’s attention to detail and camaraderie made it extra difficult to say goodbye to the Viking Sea after 12 days onboard.

Viking Cruises Itineraries

Viking Cruises sails several regions through Viking River and Ocean Cruises . Currently, the cruise line has 42 Viking River itineraries, and 94 Viking Ocean itineraries, sailing to over 200 destinations.

From low-key European river sailings to adventurous Antarctic expeditions, itineraries offer something for every type of traveler.

That said, actually choosing an itinerary proved more difficult than expected. Itineraries, for the most part, are very well-planned, but some (especially in Europe) missed the mark a little, skipping out on major destinations in some countries or staying too long in others. It didn’t help that Viking itineraries are long. I really wish they’d add some trips that are four to seven days instead of eight.

However, we generally loved the options available and were very excited about the prospect of sailing the Amazon. 

Talking to other passengers aboard our ship who were avid Viking cruisers, rivers are really where Viking shines brightest. It’s strongly recommended to stay away from itineraries that involve a lot of on-land movement with buses as they aren’t quite the same.

Moving forward, I’d consider booking a river cruise or an Antarctic cruise with Viking, but will probably stay away from anything considered more adventurous due to how our itinerary change was handled, like the Egypt sailing.

When you finally decide on your itinerary, book it well in advance. As Viking only operates small luxury cruise ships, sailings sell out quickly.

Viking Cruises Shore Excursions

I quickly learned that shore excursions can really add up—especially in the Caribbean. We weren’t planning on booking many excursions for our Amazon itinerary as there’s tons to explore independently there, more sea days in the itinerary, and lots of reasonably priced activities from third party tour operators.

The Caribbean was a different story. We learned the hard way that booking shore excursions through your cruise line or through an independent operator can really change your experience, even if they are extra expensive in the Caribbean.

Not given enough time to book through independent operators due to the itinerary change, we bit the bullet and booked several excursions through Viking.

How to Book Viking Cruises Excursions

Book your excursions quickly. Excursions can be booked ahead of embarkment via the My Viking portal, and are available to different cabin classes at different times. Those in the most premium cabin classes get the earliest access.

If you change your mind about excursions and want to book onboard, it’s not a problem. Guest services are available at all hours for last-minute excursion bookings. Tickets will be delivered to your cabin by housekeeping the night before if you book on the ship.

Viking Cruises Complimentary Shore Excursions

Viking acknowledges how important excursions are when cruising by offering every passenger a complimentary shore excursion at each port of call, regardless of cabin type.

Before you get too excited, know this isn’t an invitation to book whatever activity the cruise line offers. Viking determines the free excursion at each port, which is typically a walking or driving tour of the port of call. It’s not the most thrilling way to spend your day, but it can save you some money, especially if you’re at a port you’re not as excited about.

Premium Viking Ocean Cruises Shore Excursions

Other excursions offered are a little more exciting and very pricey. We found many of the excursions offered by Viking at a fraction of the price from Shore Excursions Group , which often sub-contracts the same local providers as major cruise companies.

Overall, offered excursions from Viking weren’t the most adventurous, compared to cruise lines that cater to a younger clientele. They were slower in pace and typically didn’t offer too much physical activity.

We booked several excursions through Viking—catamaran sailing and a walking tour in Saint Lucia, catamaran sailing and snorkeling in Grenada, and a tour of Foursquare rum distillery and a craft brewery in Barbados. We also tried booking an excursion in Dominica after our original plans to go waterfall rappelling fell through; however, it was canceled last minute due to bad weather.

Our excursion in Saint Lucia was phenomenal, save for rain and choppy waters, which were out of Viking’s control. Our Grenada tour wasn’t exactly as described, and in Barbados, we were rushed through Foursquare and spent far too long at a mediocre craft brewery.

We weren’t impressed with how Viking handled the snafu in Dominica. After our original choice was sold out, the cruise line refused to add a second tour despite having a waiting list of over 20 people for it, and we weren’t told that the excursion we booked was canceled until we came down to the disembarkment deck to leave.

Instead, we took the shuttle over to the cruise terminal and grabbed the first taxi driver we saw to take us to Titou Gorge . Our taxi tour was fun, but it was frustrating that we didn’t get off the ship until well past 1 pm, having our time in Dominica cut short for Viking’s failure to communicate.

I wish I could give a better review of Viking Ocean Cruises shore excursions, but I honestly think passengers should book independently to save money and assure quality.

Viking Ocean Cruises Restaurants and Bars

We took full advantage of Viking’s generous approach to dining by trying every single restaurant on the Viking Sea. There are 12 different Viking Ocean Cruises restaurants and bars on board, including the cooking school: The Restaurant, World Cafe, Explorer’s Lounge, Mamsen’s, Manfredi’s, The Chef’s Table, Torshavn, the Library, Aquavit Terrace, the Pool Bar, the Wintergarden, and the Kitchen.

The Restaurant is the main dining establishment on Viking Ocean cruises. This is a sit-down restaurant with outstanding service. The restaurant takes two approaches to its menu, splitting it into a selection of classic plates that never change and a daily rotating destination menu created based on your port of call that day. The vegetarian menu rotates daily and is displayed on the destination menu.

The World Cafe, Viking’s casual buffet restaurant, was our go-to for breakfast and lunch and has surprisingly decent pizza. We tried breakfast at The Restaurant, but found it to be the same quality as the World Cafe. The Restaurant is not open for lunch and always had better quality at dinner.

Explorer’s Lounge was by far my favorite spot on the ship. Located at the helm, the bar’s panoramic views were breathtaking, and the seating was oh-so-comfortable, like your well-lived living room. In the morning, the Explorer’s Lounge operates Mamsen’s, which serves Nordic breakfast favorites inspired by Hagen’s mother’s recipes (definitely get the waffle with all the fixings).

The Wintergarden was also among the best Viking Ocean restaurants for me. It only opens for afternoon tea from 1 pm to 4 pm and is a tranquil spot, especially when the strings duo is playing.

Overall, the food on the ship was far better than expected, but vegetarian options left something to be desired. Plates often felt recycled and relied heavily on creamy risotto or pasta. Manfredi’s, the Italian restaurant, had the best food for vegetarians on the ship—it certainly was not The Restaurant.

Aside from adding vegetarian options, Viking could really improve the timing and quantity of food offered throughout the day. Set dining times often left periods without great food options, and the in-room dining menu was very brief. Late-night nibbles weren’t found except for small charcuterie plates at the Explorer’s Lounge.

Is the Viking Silver Spirits Beverage Package Worth It?

For many, the Viking Silver Spirits premium beverage package may not be worth it. Cocktails and premium beer and wine by the glass are very well-priced, with most cocktails around $10.

The Silver Spirits package is $25 per person per day. Both members of your cabin have to add the package—you cannot purchase it individually.

Originally, we weren’t going to add the Silver Spirits package to our trip, but we decided to after we were offered onboard ship credit as compensation for our itinerary change.

I’m glad we did. Though I think we definitely would’ve drank less without it, it was nice to be able to try all of the different wines and cocktails Viking Ocean Cruises offers without needing to think about price. There are so many different wines available on the ship.

Most of the fellow passengers we encountered on the cruise did have the package even if the value didn’t make total sense for them, simply for the ease of not needing to think on vacation.

Viking Ocean Cruises Amenities

Stepping into the LivNordic Spa on Viking Ocean cruises, you’ll understand why the cruise line is a top choice for travelers.

All Viking Ocean cruises include spa access. The LivNordic Spa, as the name suggests, is based on Nordic wellness principles and includes a full thermal suite consisting of a snow grotto, several saunas, a steam room, cold plunge, hot plunge, and hydrotherapy pool in addition to private treatment rooms. Outside the spa is a small salon for hair, nail, and facial treatments.

The spa is a lovely place to unwind after a long day of sightseeing, but it isn’t huge, so it gets busy quickly. You’re best experiencing it during the day at a port you’re not too interested in. The same guidance goes for the pools, which crowd up on sea days and in the late afternoon.

Speaking of the pools, Viking Ocean ships are the only cruise ships to have infinity pools at sea. They’re plunge pools and surprisingly deep when the boat is docked (levels lower when the ship is sailing). We went for a dip in the infinity pool on the Viking Sea both in port and while sailing and loved taking in the view while swimming. Pool bar wait staff coming around with dipped ice cream cones was the cherry on top.

Other notable amenities included are the WiFi, the sports deck, and the fitness center. The gym is small but gets the job done and has everything you could need for a full-body workout. I loved that Viking put water bottles in each machine, so I didn’t even need to remember to bring one down.

Viking Cruises’ WiFi worked well—when it worked. A few times during the trip, it cut out or became extremely slow, but that’s to be expected when you rely on satellite internet in the middle of the ocean.

What frequent cruisers might notice is that shopping is less robust than on major lines (fine by me!) and that there are no casinos on any Viking cruise ships.

Viking Cruises Entertainment

If you asked even the most loyal Viking passengers what the cruise line’s biggest downfall is, they’d likely say the entertainment.

Then again, you didn’t really choose Viking for entertainment, did you? That’s why cruise lines like Royal Caribbean Cruises , Disney Cruise Line , and Norwegian Cruise Line exist, right?

My trip with Viking Ocean Cruises had the Viking Vocalists, a quartet of musical theater majors performing medleys; John, a solo guitarist; Irina and Nani, a string duo; Lidia, a solo pianist; and the Viking Band aboard as musical performers.

The theater hosted the Viking Vocalists, several destination lectures, a few movie showings, and performances from the assistant cruise director and the cruise director. During the cruise, Viking brought guest performers aboard a couple of times, like a solo guitarist.

The rest of the musical performers could be seen performing in the ship’s bars and common spaces. Classical performers typically were in the Atrium and Wintergarden. The Viking Band played Torshavn, the ship’s club, while the solo guitarist played the Explorer’s Lounge and Torshavn.

We saw the Viking Vocalists a few times, and thought they were kind of just okay. Some members were really talented, others were less so. The choice of music generally wasn’t thrilling or was poorly executed.

By skipping a performance in the theater, we didn’t feel like we were missing out on anything, and we enjoyed visiting with other passengers and staff in the evenings more. Then again, we’re the type of people who found the puzzles in the Atrium and trivia night in the Explorer’s Lounge more exciting prospects.

My favorite performers on the ship were the classical strings duo, who played beautiful pieces, and John, the solo guitarist whose choice of song always matched the location (I still can’t get over him playing “Ring of Fire” in the Explorer’s Lounge as we sailed past a large wildfire in Antigua).

There seemed to be a hierarchy among performers and staff on the ship, and I didn’t like it. Staff in management and the Viking Vocalists (considered the most premium performers) were mostly white Europeans. In contrast, lounge performers and those in service jobs tended to be almost entirely from South and Southeast Asian countries.

Though I’m sure there’s a reason for this, I have to wonder—is there not a pathway for employees from these countries, who make up the bulk majority of Viking Ocean’s workforce, to advance to these more favorable jobs?

Viking Ocean Cruises vs. Viking River Cruises

Is sailing with Viking Ocean Cruises better than Viking River Cruises ?

Viking Ocean Cruises is best for travelers who want to sail destinations like the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Iceland, and China with the Viking service and amenities they’ve come to know and love on a small ocean cruise ship. These cruises are not for those who get seasickness easily.

Viking River Cruises is the better option for all cruisers, generally. Those boats are even smaller than the Viking Ocean, but they don’t tend to rock as much and usually run smoother. It’s easy to stick to an itinerary despite bad weather when passengers can just hop off board and be bussed down the river.

Viking River Cruises is best known for its European itineraries, though it also offers cruises on rivers like the Mississippi and Nile.

What to Know Before Booking a Viking Ocean Cruise

Kids under 18 are not allowed onboard.

People under 18 are not allowed on Viking Cruises. That’s right—during your cruise, there will be absolutely no kids running around or screaming babies making a fuss.

It’s inconvenient for those who want to bring young grandchildren or their kids, but for us, it was one of the best aspects of sailing with Viking. I genuinely can’t imagine sailing on a massive cruise ship filled with families anymore—Viking’s child-free, small luxury cruise ships have ruined me.

If you’re looking for an adult-only cruise line with a younger demographic, try Virgin Voyages .

Viking Cruises Does Not Have Casinos on Its Ships

Put the poker chips away—there is no gambling on Viking Cruises. Puzzles and chess in the Atrium and a round of trivia at the Explorer’s Lounge are the only games to be played aboard.

I really enjoyed not having a casino aboard. It kept the atmosphere of the ship more refined, and I felt like our fellow passengers were cruising because they really loved to travel by sea, not because they wanted to hide out at the casino for the duration of the voyage.

Bring Motion Sickness Pills

Expect a lot of rocking when sailing on small ocean cruise ships like the Viking Ocean fleet. Some nights were better than others—we might feel a constant, slow sway—while others were extremely choppy. My legs would shake rapidly when seated from the motion, and hangers in our closet would hit against the doors.

The boat’s speed definitely affected its movement (as speed increased, so would the sway). We visited the Caribbean when there were strong winds, also contributing to the strong rocking.

Bring Dramamine or motion sickness patches, and lots of them. Even the most confident cruisers have experienced motion sickness on Viking—some staff members said they also do occasionally!

You Will Need Passport Validity of at Least 6 Months

Get your paperwork in order before you embark. Your passport must be valid for at least six months from the final date of your sailing.

Depending on your itinerary, Viking may also require proof of visas or certain vaccines.

For our Amazon River cruise, getting a Yellow Fever vaccine was mandatory and had to be administered more than 10 days before we departed Puerto Rico. All passengers had to have a yellow book to prove they were vaccinated.

Pack All the Essentials in Advance

The stores on Viking Cruises are expensive. We were sticker-shocked when we saw that a small bottle of sunscreen at the general store onboard was $30 after running out. Ports of call had cheaper prices, but depending on the port, may not have quality goods.

Stock up by buying things like sunscreen , aloe vera gel , bug spray , band-aids , sunglasses , and the like at home before you go. We ran past a Walmart and a CVS in San Juan before embarking in addition to picking up a few things from Amazon , which helped us a lot.

Viking Cruises Review: The Bottom Line

As much as I hate to admit that my boyfriend was right, he was. Despite everything that went wrong with our cruise, I loved sailing with Viking, even if I didn’t exactly love the destinations we visited.

It really comes down to the staff and service. They made Viking so exceptional. I would absolutely sail with Viking Cruises again—just probably not to the Amazon. We met a couple onboard who had their first Amazon cruise with Viking canceled, only to have it canceled again!

So maybe, just maybe, I’m a little bit of a cruise person now. A small luxury cruise ship, a very expensive cruise person (still probably not a contemporary—or budget—cruise person).

Though planning my own trips will always be my favorite way to travel, Viking Cruises gave me two weeks of relaxation and rejuvenation that I usually don’t slow down enough for.

Thank you so much again to my boyfriend’s wonderful grandparents, for giving us an incredibly memorable, generous experience.

Viking Cruises Review: FAQ

The average age on a Viking cruise is typically in the 70s. On my cruise, the average age was 72 out of over 600 passengers.

Viking cruises are geared towards an older, affluent crowd, who make up the majority of passengers. However, travelers of all ages still sail with Viking. On my ship, two other passengers in their young 20s were sailing with their grandparents.

Passengers under 40 might find that Viking cruises operate at a slower pace than others. Entertainment and excursions are more low-key and low-impact than cruise lines geared toward younger people. I sailed with Viking Cruises at 24 and still made friends with many fellow passengers, even if they were several decades older. We loved making friends with the staff and exploring on our own as passengers with Viking who were under 40 years old.

Viking Ocean cruises typically have 900 passengers. Viking River cruise ships are smaller, usually only sailing with 190 passengers at most.

Eva Phan is the founder of Eva Darling, a travel and style website aiming to empower women to see the world solo while sharing on-trend, luxury feminine style inspiration. Featured in publications including Forbes, Thrillist, and Yahoo News, Eva has combined her education from Parsons School of Design with her incurable case of the travel bug to create a global destination that encourages others to romanticize their everyday.

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Fantastic info and very thorough! We love Viking because of the size, ages, amenities, food and wait staff!

After traveling on a Viking ship, I can understand how it sweeps awards! Will definitely be considering Viking for future cruises

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Viking Voyage Tour Pack Luggage Rack for Harley Touring Chrome

• Materials: 100% Stainless Steel
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• Weight Capacity: 10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 20.5" X 15" (L X W)
• Mounting Hardware included

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Made from 100% stainless steel, this Viking Harley Davidson Touring luggage rack is designed specifically to go with Tour-Pak lids. The rack is built using copper as a base coat, followed by nickel and chrome which is then hand polished to create a long-lasting, rustproof, and waterproof coating. Lightweight steel tubing with high-quality welded joints for longer excursions which is sturdy and built tough for the wear of the road. The Harley Touring tour pak rack has a total weight capacity of 10 lbs and comes with the all necessary mounting hardware. To compliment your riding style, this rack is also available in matte black.

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Chrome Voyage Luggage Rack

This Voyage 100% stainless steel Harley Touring luggage rack is designed specifically for Tour-Pak lids. It is rustproof, waterproof, and built tough with lightweight steel tubing and high-quality welded joints. The rack has a total weight capacity of 10 lbs and comes with all the necessary mounting hardware. It is also available in matte black.

100% Stainless Steel

20.5" X 15" (L X W)

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Something is rattling around inside the tubing. Most likely pieces of drilled material but should have been cleaned out before welding.