Viking: A "Grand" European Cruise

It had been our personal goal to do something really special for ourselves to celebrate our 25th anniversary. After talking to friends who had taken several Viking trips, we decided on a river cruise with Viking. We looked at both the Rhine and the Danube cruises with all of their unique ports and excursions. We wanted to do it all, so we decided to go for the longer trip — The 15-Day Grand European. And it was the right decision!

Vikings did not disappoint. Our original trip had been booked for 2023. Due to an overbooked cruise, we were offered some very generous perks to rebook for a different cruise, including some fabulous upgrades. So, we booked the Explorer Suite, and felt like we were truly treated like royalty the entire trip. Later, we found out that Viking treats all of their guests like royalty — we just enjoyed a few extra perks with our suite. Viking caters to an older crowd who generally travels for leisure and to take in the sights. At each port, excursions of various levels are offered, including one for those who need a slower pace or elevators instead of stairs.

We took the Amsterdam to Budapest route and began our cruise with two extra days in Amsterdam. Viking representatives greeted us at the airport bright and early Saturday morning and had our private car take us to the Hotel Okura Amsterdam. This lovely Japanese-owned hotel is in the heart of Amsterdam in the De Pijp area. It is very convenient to the tram stop for easy commutes into the city and museum areas. We did walk down a few blocks to the local market, where one can purchase almost anything. From luggage to fresh fish, fresh flowers, jewelry and even an umbrella in case you left yours at the hotel!

During our stay in Amsterdam, we visited the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum and the Anne Frank House. If you plan to visit the Anne Frank Museum, be sure to book your tickets six weeks (to the date) prior to your visit. Pay attention to their calendars as well. The ticket prices are reasonable but they are timed tickets so you will need to choose your time slot wisely. We also took a Canal Tour (there are quite a few available) as well as Viking’s Walking Tour of Amsterdam. There is an abundance of shopping, bakeries and coffee shops to explore during your stay — but be sure to grab some Stroopwaffles to take home. Enjoy walking around the beautiful canals and enjoying the architecture — watching out for the bicyclists!

• Day 2: Kinderdijk – Beautiful Dutch countryside and tours of working windmills. Don’t forget to pick up some authentic cheese from the Netherlands.

• Day 3: Cologne, Germany – Walking tours through Old Cologne and the iconic gothic Cathedral. City markets with wonderful pastries to enjoy.

• Day 4: Koblenz, Germany — Visit the iconic Marksburg Castle. This is marked as a challenging walk and does involve uneven cobblestones, stairs and tight spaces. View of the river from high atop the hill. Enjoy the scenic sailing down the Middle Rhine as the cruise director narrates the trip. Grab a seat on the upper deck to enjoy the picturesque views of castles, vineyards and valleys.

• Day 5: Scenic sailing along the main river and visit Miltenburg, Germany — These villages boast the iconic half-timbered houses, village shops and pastries.

• Day 6: Würzburg, Germany — Home of the Würzburg Castle, an extremely ornate castle built in 1744 as the home of the prince-bishop. The castle is filled with beautiful architectural details and ceiling frescos — the detail for the time-period is astonishing.

• Day 7: Bamberg, Germany – Beautiful medieval city with lots of history. Sit in a local café and enjoy the “smokey beer” which many say tastes like bacon.

• Day 8: Nuremburg, Germany — Take a bus tour through the historic city, former home of the Nazis — visit Zeppelin Field where Hitler addressed the crowds. This city is still surrounded by 14th-century stone walls and gates. Don’t forget to sample the authentic gingerbread here.

• Day 9: Regensburg, Germany — This village escaped major damage during WWII and is a very well-preserved medieval town. The 16-arch Old Stone Bridge still crosses the Danube and was constructed in the 12th century. Sample authentic Bratwurst here.

• Day 10: Passau, Germany — It is known as the “City of 3 Rivers” as the Ilz, Inn and Danube join here in this town. We elected for the optional Salzburg, Austria tour, which took us by bus through scenic countryside to the beautiful city which lies near the Swiss border. This city is the site where many scenes from “The Sound of Music” were filmed. Lots of shopping available. This tour was an additional cost — but well worth it.

• Day 11: Melk, Austria — The 900-year-old abbey sits high atop the hill and has 365 windows- one for every day of the year. The views from the hill are stunning. It remains an active monastery and school today. After leaving Melk, enjoy the beautiful scenic sailing through the Wachau Valley, most notable for its rolling hills and vineyards. We took the optional Wachau Valley Wine Tour, which was an exceptionally high-tech tour through the vineyards to the wine production process. Lots of wine-tasting available. This is an optional tour at an additional cost and is perfect for wine-lovers.

• Day 12: Vienna, Austria — Known as Europe’s “center of classical music” famous composers such as Mozart and Strauss have composed many of their finest pieces here. This city is an eclectic combination of the old and the new. After our walking tour of the city, we ventured out to the Hofburg palace and gardens for a tour. Tickets can be purchased on site, but are timed tickets. Walks around the expansive garden are free and you can take one all-day tour.

• Day 13: Vienna, Austria — We opted for the Bratislava trip, where we rode by bus from the country of Slovakia to its capital, Bratislava. It is known for its colorful Old Town and hilltop castle. While it added another country to check off the “bucket list,” I am not sure it was worth the additional cost to take the trip. Other options would have been to take additional tours inside Vienna for the day.

• Day 14: Budapest, Hungary — Bus and walking tour followed by on-your-own exploring of a beautiful city. Many of the city's shops and markets are closed on Sunday, as is the famous Parliament building, so plan accordingly. If you want to see many of these sights, plan to extend your stay a day or so.

• Day 15: We disembarked the ship and were given private transport to the airport. Here a Viking representative greeted us and directed us into the correct lines for boarding passes, baggage drops and security checks. They were there right up until we had to bid farewell as we passed through security. It was a relief to know they were ready to help us in any way we needed.

Post-excursion hotels: We did not extend our trip, but had some friends who stayed an extra couple of days. One couple stayed at the Four Seasons Hotel and it was truly top-notch. It is also recommended to visit Parliament at night for an amazing view.

Essentials to bring: For a July cruise, you will want to bring a couple of pairs of comfortable walking shoes, a light jacket, small umbrella and layers of clothing. Even in July, we had a few days of cooler weather where the jacket was nice. Viking provides large umbrellas when they expect rain, but it is handy to have one that will fit in your bag. Dress comfortably for your excursions and walks. Dinner attire is casual, but they request no shorts or tank tops. There are no formal dress events, but some excursions may have a bit dressier expectations.

Also bring along any over-the-counter medication you think you might need – cough drops, decongestants, sinus medications, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, band-aids, ointments, etc. There is no ship doctor, so you would have to arrange to purchase any of these items in port along the way. Sunscreen and a hat would be appropriate for summer visits.

We found many shops that accept American money, but we used our credit cards at most places as well. You can find many ATMs at banks inside the larger cities where you may withdraw cash in Euros without paying ATM fees or exchange fees. Be sure to pick up cash while you are in the larger cities if you plan to leave cash tips for any staff on board. Exercise caution if using a stand-alone ATM that isn’t inside a bank.

The ship: Viking River ships hold 190 passengers, so you will have an opportunity to make new friends as you dine and socialize in the lounge. Dinner is at seven most evenings, but you should plan to visit the lounge prior to dinner for the update on the next day’s activities and timelines. Plan to be seated with four or five others in the open-seating dining room. You will have a choice of house wines, soft drinks or tea with dinner. Optional cocktails and more exclusive wines are available at cost or you can purchase the Silver Spirits package in advance. This package will allow you access to more beverage options outside of your meals.

The ship offers a computer in the lobby for checking emails, etc. and a small library if you would like to have some reading materials. Room set-ups vary but most rooms will include twice-daily room servicing, complimentary toiletry items, fresh fruit and water daily. Robes and slippers are available upon request. Laundry service is available for additional costs. 4

Room preferences: For me, I would prefer the Veranda or Veranda Suite. We were fortunate to have been upgraded to the Explorer Suite. It was truly a beautiful and expansive room at the rear of the ship, allowing for 180-degree views during sailing. Individuals on a tighter budget will still enjoy the lower-level rooms with ocean-view windows. When one considers that the majority of the time, guests are on excursions, in the dining room or in a common space such as the lounge or deck, the lower level rooms are quite economical. French Balcony rooms allow for a view, but are slightly smaller and do not have a physical balcony where you can sit outside.

Entertainment and activities: Viking ships are exclusive to adults, 18 and older and have no casinos or theaters. The river longships have a lounge with bar service during the day. The upper deck is open during part of the river cruise, depending on river water levels. It is a great place to lounge, watch the scenic views down the river and relax with friends. The Aquavit Terrace is nice for lunch and dinner, but seating is limited and fills up early. During the evenings, music is available in the lounge, with a few activities during the cruise, such as trivia night or local entertainers.

Additional costs: Viking River cruises are designed to be an “all-inclusive” fare, and I truly believe they are. Guests are encouraged to pre-pay their gratuities, and if it is done prior to sailing, guests can pay in their own currency without any exchange fees. Guests may also leave cash tips for any server or employee on the ship, and the guest service desk offers envelopes at no cost. Of course, I would recommend bringing your own cards and envelopes if you would like to leave personal notes with your tip. The Silver Spirits package is an additional cost and is based on the number of days on the trip. Viking does require that both guests in the cabin purchase the package. If only one person expects to want additional soft drinks, cocktails or premium wines, it may be best to purchase ala-carte. Laundry service is available for additional costs.

Excursions: At least one excursion per port is included in the fare, while others may be purchased. Guests who only take part in the included excursions will have a wonderful trip. If you choose to book additional excursions, do so as soon as they become available, as many tend to sell out closer to sailing.

Also just to note – Viking River Cruises are not particularly “wheelchair friendly.” Guests who depend on a wheelchair may find navigating the ship and ports rather challenging.

Trip insurance: Viking does offer an insurance plan through a third-party vendor. It is my recommendation that guests consider purchasing insurance as protection for their vacation investment. Be mindful that if you plan to travel pre- or post-cruise, particularly on your own, you may want to shop other insurance carriers to protect your entire vacation. As a travel advisor, I am happy to obtain some quotes for my guests to give them coverage and pricing options.

River levels can fluctuate throughout the year, based on rainfall, etc. While our trip was uninterrupted, be aware that when the river becomes too high or too low, Viking will suspend the cruise portion of the trip and will bus guests from one port to the next. Viking will do everything within their control to make your trip memorable and accommodating. They are professionals with contingency plans in place. Guests should embrace this possibility with the knowledge that Viking will take excellent care of them. While traveling by bus, they will likely see sights that others may not see from the river.

If you are on the fence about taking two Viking river cruises (like the Rhine and the Danube) I really recommend booking the Grand European Cruise. It is the best value as opposed to taking two separate trips.

Let me know when you are ready for your "Grand European cruise!"

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