✨ Sailing Through Europe: My Viking Rhine River Cruise Experience
🇳🇱 Amsterdam
In August 2023, I went on my very first European river cruise — the Rhine Getaway with Viking. We started in Amsterdam, checking into the DoubleTree by Hilton Amsterdam Centraal Station straight off the plane. It’s connected to the train station, which sounds perfect until you realize “connected” still means hauling luggage through crowds. If you’re fit (or stubborn like me), it’s fine. Otherwise, I’d splurge on a private transfer to save your energy (and your dignity).
💡 If you book Viking’s Air or Air Plus program or one of their pre- or post-cruise extensions, your airport and hotel transfers are included — meaning you can truly go from flight to ship without lifting a finger (or a suitcase).
The hotel itself was great — clean, modern, and right in the heart of downtown next to the Viking docks. The location was unbeatable, and even better, my in-laws’ room was ready early. We spent two nights in Amsterdam doing all the best touristy things: canal cruising, café-hopping, eating, drinking, repeat.
If I could change one thing, I’d do the cruise in reverse. The Rhine flows south to north, so sailing against the current gave us slightly shorter port times. For example, on our Cologne day, we had to disembark in Zons and bus in while the ship caught up — not a deal-breaker, but something to note if you’re planning your own trip.
Once on board the Viking Eir, check-in was so smooth it almost felt effortless.
Pro tip: Ask right away if there are any stateroom upgrades available — I’ve had clients move up to suites for pennies on the dollar!
A couple of mojitos overlooking the Rhine later, we were off. Dinner that night (and every night) was a three-course dream — I always opted for the local cuisine and never had a bad meal the entire week.
🇳🇱 Kinderdijk & 🇩🇪 Cologne
The next morning, we woke up in Kinderdijk, home of the iconic Dutch windmills. Viking docks right in town, which I loved — no buses, no transfers. As a boat person, I was geeking out as we cruised through the Dutch countryside, even passing Feadship, the legendary yacht builder.
Then came Cologne, where I expected a cathedral and got THE Cathedral — one of only two major buildings to survive WWII bombings (the other, appropriately, a brewery). We toured, drank Kölsch beer, and even went back out after dinner — that’s the beauty of a river cruise: you’re docked in the heart of town all day and often into the evening!
🇩🇪 Marksburg Castle & Rüdesheim
The next day brought us to Koblenz, one of the most charming towns along the Rhine. One of my favorite excursions of the entire cruise was the Marksburg Castle tour — the only castle on the Middle Rhine that’s never been destroyed. I highly recommend it. After the tour, we enjoyed a scenic lunch onboard while cruising toward Rüdesheim.
Later, we rode the Rüdesheim cable car over the vineyards — which I can’t recommend enough. I actually wish Viking would partner with them to make it easier to arrange, but we did it on our own and it was fabulous.
🇩🇪 Speyer & 🇫🇷 Strasbourg
Next came Speyer, which ended up being my in-laws’ favorite stop. The town was spotless, full of history, and — of course — overflowing with beer and pretzels. Martin Luther’s followers even issued the “Protestation of Speyer” here in 1529 — the event that gave Protestantism its name.
Then we reached Strasbourg, where I chose the Alsace wine tasting excursion. The wine itself was excellent, but the drive was long and the tour just average. Having been to many vineyards worldwide, I would’ve preferred more time wandering Strasbourg’s storybook streets and canals.
🇩🇪 Breisach & The Black Forest
Our last full day on board was Breisach, a small but charming town near the Black Forest. We joined the included excursion, tried authentic Black Forest cake, and admired the scenery. I tried to buy a cuckoo clock, but Brad vetoed me — still a sore subject.
🇨🇭 Basel to Zurich, Lucerne & Mount Titlis
We disembarked in Basel and immediately took the train to Zurich, where we wrapped up the trip with a few more adventures. We checked into the Marriott Zurich, which had a decent location about a 10–15-minute walk to the lake and downtown. The hotel felt a little dated and wasn’t on the water, but it was perfectly fine — and in notoriously pricey Zurich, it was a good compromise.
The next day, we took a day trip to Mount Titlis and Lucerne, which was breathtaking — literally, since we were high in the Alps. It was especially meaningful for my father-in-law, who’s from the mountains of North Carolina and had always wanted to see the Alps from the top. That said, if you plan to do Titlis, be ready for some walking and uneven terrain. I had just recovered from a broken ankle and ended up sitting down on the ground and sliding down an icy hill on my butt — not my proudest moment, but hey, it worked.
Doing Zurich and Lucerne on our own was an adventure, but it didn’t really save us money compared to Viking’s post-cruise extension. Once you add up hotel rooms, train tickets, taxis, and tours, it was probably about the same (maybe even more expensive!). Lesson learned — and I wasn’t even a travel advisor yet!
🌟 Final Thoughts
I went into the trip not knowing what to expect from a river cruise, but it turned out to be peaceful, cultural, and surprisingly social. Viking makes everything seamless — from excursions to dining — so you can actually relax and just be in Europe.
Would I tweak a few things next time? Absolutely. I’d sail the other direction, linger longer in Strasbourg, and still ask for an upgrade at check-in — because some habits are worth keeping.
✨ Thinking About a River Cruise?
If you’ve ever wondered whether a river cruise might be right for you, it probably is — especially if you love culture, food, and the ease of unpacking once.
Let’s plan one together! I’ll help you choose the right itinerary, cabin, and add-ons so your first (or next!) river cruise is even smoother than mine.