A River of Memories: Our Journey with Viking

First impressions

We arrived in Amsterdam a day ahead of our cruise departure, giving ourselves a chance to settle in and meet up with another couple joining us on the journey. That extra night turned out to be a wonderful decision—not just for easing the jet lag, but also because Amsterdam itself is absolutely captivating. All four of us had opted out of the Viking Air package, preferring the freedom to explore on our own before and after the cruise.

The following morning, we set off from our hotel on foot toward the cruise dock. I’ll be honest—we briefly considered hailing a taxi and should have called one. Although the dock was only about a mile away, navigating cobblestone sidewalks with a suitcase and backpack each wasn’t exactly effortless. We ran into a few hiccups locating the ship, and my husband had to double back to retrieve his forgotten phone. But once we stepped aboard the Alruna, everything changed. Our luggage was promptly taken care of, and we were warmly escorted to our staterooms.

Cruising the Middle Rhine

The ship: Elegant & roomy

The Alruna is a stunning longship, cleverly designed to feel more spacious than its modest size suggests. With a capacity of just 184 passengers, the ship offers an intimate, adults-only experience, accommodating two guests per cabin for a relaxed and refined atmosphere.

Viking primarily appeals to a mature audience, with most travelers falling into the middle to upper age range. While we anticipated being among the youngest onboard, we were pleasantly surprised to encounter several multigenerational family groups, bringing a lively mix of ages and personalities to the voyage.

Dining options aboard the Alruna include a main restaurant and a charming al fresco area located just behind the lounge. Our group favored the main dining room for breakfast and dinner, while the outdoor space became our go-to spot for lunch—especially on days when we weren’t out exploring the picturesque towns along the Rhine River.

Enjoying the sundeck

Staterooms: Just right

We chose to upgrade to traditional balcony staterooms on the Alruna, and it turned out to be one of the best decisions of our trip. While the first deck offers cabins with small water-level windows, the second deck—where we stayed—features full balconies on the port side and French balconies on the starboard. The third deck houses more spacious accommodations, but since we spent little time in our room, we felt no need to go beyond our cozy balcony setup.

Looking back, our stateroom was the perfect fit. Many afternoons were spent sipping wine on the balcony, soaking in the serene views as the Rhine River gently carried us along. The experience was made even more memorable by the wonderful neighbors we met next door, who quickly became cherished friends by the end of the cruise.

View from our balcony

Pro tip: Watch for early booking bonuses

As part of our early booking bonus, our package included complimentary gratuities and the Silver Spirits beverage package. While Viking already offers complimentary beer and wine with meals in the dining rooms, the drink package gave us the freedom to indulge in an extra cocktail or glass of wine while relaxing and taking in the scenic views—whether from the lounge, the deck, or our private balcony.

Rhine River, up close

For travelers seeking a rich itinerary and ample time to immerse themselves in the charm of Europe, Viking is an exceptional choice. Their Rhine River cruise offers a thoughtfully paced journey with generous opportunities to explore each destination. One of the most unforgettable moments of the voyage was the serene afternoon spent gliding past 42 castles nestled along the Middle Rhine—a truly magical stretch of the river.

Our journey began in vibrant Amsterdam and included stops in Kinderdijk (famous for its iconic windmills), Cologne, Koblenz, Rüdesheim, Speyer, Strasbourg, and Breisach, before concluding in the picturesque city of Basel, Switzerland. Each port offered its own unique allure, but together they created a travel experience that was nothing short of extraordinary.

We enjoyed a mix of Viking’s included and optional excursions, along with two private tours that added a personalized touch to our adventure. Viking’s excursions were impressively organized and made the most of our time ashore. For our private outings, we hired a driver to take us deep into Heidelberg, where we explored its storied castle, and another to guide us through the enchanting Colmar region of France. Both experiences exceeded our expectations, offering intimate glimpses into the culture and history of these remarkable places.

View from our dock

Kinderdijk

One of 42 castles on the Middle Rhine

Service & atmosphere

One of the most memorable aspects of our cruise was the exceptional crew. From the moment we stepped aboard to the bittersweet farewell, the atmosphere was nothing short of five-star. Every detail was handled with care and warmth—our cabin stewardess quickly noticed our preference for ice water after excursions and made sure we always returned to two chilled buckets of ice and generously filled water containers.

The culinary experience far exceeded our expectations. Each day brought a fresh menu featuring regional specialties and flavors, alongside a selection of reliable favorites. And for our group of four, dessert was the undisputed star—every evening ended on a sweet, indulgent note that we still talk about.

Night cruising on the sundeck

Quick tips

• Book your cruise early: Take advantage of the early booking bonus and the best stateroom selection (and the specialty cruises sell out fast)

• Reserve your excursions early: We were part of a group of just 12 guests on our ship that were able to tour the top of Cologne Cathedral (a truly amazing tour provided by Viking).

• Don’t be afraid to venture out on your own: We booked private tours in Heidelberg and Colmar that were our group's favorite days.

Highly recommend the "Top of Cologne" tour

Final thoughts

This was our first Viking River Cruise, but it certainly won’t be our last. We’ve already booked the Danube River Cruise for next fall and are eagerly anticipating a Viking Ocean Cruise around Iceland next summer. Remember the wonderful neighbors we met onboard? They’ll be joining us on the Danube journey—along with another couple we connected with during this trip. That’s the magic of Viking: the ships are intimate enough to foster genuine friendships, yet spacious enough to offer top-tier dining and nightly entertainment. One voyage in, and we’re officially hooked!