viking river cruise inclusions

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What Is Included In A Viking River Cruise

Published: December 13, 2023

Modified: December 28, 2023

by Amy Ackley

• Travel Guide

Introduction

Welcome aboard a Viking River Cruise, where luxury and adventure seamlessly blend to offer an unforgettable travel experience. As you embark on a journey along the world’s most iconic rivers, you’ll discover a world of unparalleled beauty, culture, and history. Whether you’re exploring the majestic Rhine in Europe, the mysterious Nile in Egypt, or the fascinating Mekong in Southeast Asia, a Viking River Cruise is the perfect way to immerse yourself in the wonders of each destination.

With its fleet of state-of-the-art river vessels, Viking River Cruises has established itself as a leader in river cruising. Their ships are designed to provide unmatched comfort and convenience, allowing guests to relax and enjoy their surroundings while seamlessly gliding along the waterways. From the moment you step on board, you’ll be greeted with impeccable service and attention to detail that sets Viking apart.

Each Viking River Cruise offers a carefully curated itinerary, taking you to the most remarkable destinations along the river. Whether you’re interested in exploring historical landmarks, savoring local cuisine, or immersing yourself in vibrant cultures, there is a Viking River Cruise that caters to your interests and desires.

But what exactly is included in a Viking River Cruise? Let’s delve into the details of what you can expect on your unforgettable journey.

Destinations

A Viking River Cruise offers a diverse range of destinations to satisfy every traveler’s wanderlust. Whether you’re dreaming of exploring the charming river towns of Europe or embarking on an exotic adventure in Southeast Asia, Viking has you covered. Here are some of the remarkable destinations you can experience:

• Europe: Experience the beauty of the Danube, Rhine, Seine, and more as you visit enchanting cities such as Budapest, Vienna, Amsterdam, and Paris. Marvel at architectural wonders, explore historical sites, and immerse yourself in local cultures.
• China: Journey along China’s iconic Yangtze River, visiting destinations like Beijing, Shanghai, and the awe-inspiring Three Gorges. Discover the ancient wonders of the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, and the Terracotta Warriors.
• Egypt: Cruise the legendary Nile River and explore the treasures of ancient Egypt. Visit the majestic temples of Luxor and Karnak, marvel at the Pyramids of Giza, and sail through the serene landscapes of the Nile Delta.
• Russia: Embark on a cultural odyssey along the Volga River, immersing yourself in the rich history and art of cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg. Explore fascinating museums, admire stunning palaces, and witness the breathtaking beauty of the Russian countryside.
• Southeast Asia: Experience the vibrant cultures and stunning landscapes of Vietnam and Cambodia as you cruise along the Mekong River. Visit bustling markets, discover ancient temples, and connect with the local communities.

With such an extensive range of destinations, Viking River Cruises allows you to create memories that will last a lifetime. Whichever destination you choose, you can rest assured that a world of exploration awaits you.

Ports of Call

One of the highlights of a Viking River Cruise is the opportunity to explore a variety of captivating ports along the way. These ports of call offer a fascinating glimpse into the local culture, history, and traditions of each destination. Here are some examples of the ports you may visit on your Viking River Cruise:

• Amsterdam, Netherlands: Explore the charming canals and historic neighborhoods of this vibrant city known for its picturesque beauty and world-class museums.
• Budapest, Hungary: Discover the architectural wonders of this stunning city, including the Gothic Revival Parliament building and the majestic Buda Castle.
• Luxor, Egypt: Immerse yourself in the wonders of ancient Egypt as you visit the magnificent temples of Luxor, Karnak, and the Valley of the Kings.
• St. Petersburg, Russia: Marvel at the opulent palaces, grand cathedrals, and world-renowned museums in this cultural hub, including the Hermitage Museum and the Peterhof Palace.
• Hanoi, Vietnam: Experience the hustle and bustle of the Vietnamese capital, with its bustling markets, ancient temples, and fascinating mix of French and Vietnamese colonial architecture.

Each port of call offers a unique blend of history, culture, and local experiences. Whether you’re strolling through the charming streets of a European city or immersing yourself in the traditions of an Asian village, you’ll have the opportunity to create lasting memories at each stop along your journey.

When you arrive at each port, you’ll have the freedom to explore on your own or join one of the many optional shore excursions offered by Viking River Cruises. These carefully crafted excursions provide an in-depth insight into the local culture and offer a range of activities suited to all interests and fitness levels.

From guided city tours to culinary adventures, you can choose how to make the most of your time in each port. Whether you prefer to delve into history, sample local cuisine, or simply soak up the atmosphere, Viking ensures that each port of call is a memorable experience.

Onboard Accommodations

Your comfort and relaxation are of utmost importance on a Viking River Cruise, and this is reflected in the luxurious onboard accommodations. Viking’s river vessels are designed to provide a haven of tranquility and elegance, ensuring that you have a restful retreat to return to after your daily adventures.

The staterooms and suites on Viking River Cruises are thoughtfully designed to maximize space and comfort. Each room is elegantly furnished and features amenities such as plush bedding, a private bathroom, and ample storage space. Whether you choose a standard stateroom or opt for a more spacious suite, you can expect nothing short of a comfortable and inviting environment.

Perhaps one of the standout features of Viking’s accommodations is the floor-to-ceiling windows or French balconies found in most staterooms. These panoramic views allow you to soak in the majestic landscapes and ever-changing scenery as you cruise along the river. Whether it’s the stunning castles of the Rhine or the vibrant rice paddies of Southeast Asia, you’ll have a front-row seat to the beauty of each destination.

In addition to the exquisite staterooms, Viking River Cruises also offers a range of amenities to enhance your onboard experience. Most vessels feature a spacious sun deck where you can enjoy breathtaking views, a lounge area for socializing and relaxation, and a well-equipped fitness center for those who wish to stay active during their journey.

Wi-Fi is available throughout the ship, allowing you to stay connected with loved ones at home and share your travel experiences. On select ships, you’ll also find a library, boutique shop, and even a spa where you can indulge in rejuvenating treatments.

With attentive and friendly staff on hand to cater to your needs, you can truly unwind and enjoy the comforts of your home away from home. Whether you choose to retreat to your stateroom for some privacy or mingle with fellow travelers in the common areas, Viking ensures that your onboard accommodations provide the perfect sanctuary during your river cruise adventure.

Dining Options

When it comes to dining on a Viking River Cruise, expect nothing less than a culinary journey that delights the senses. From delectable cuisine to impeccable service, Viking takes pride in providing an exceptional dining experience throughout your voyage.

The main dining venue on board is the elegant and spacious restaurant, where you can enjoy a variety of world-class dishes prepared by highly skilled chefs. The menus showcase a blend of international flavors and regional specialties, with an emphasis on using fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Whether you have dietary restrictions or preferences, Viking’s culinary team is dedicated to accommodating your needs and ensuring a satisfying dining experience.

Start your day with a sumptuous buffet breakfast featuring an array of hot and cold options, including freshly baked pastries, artisanal bread, fruits, cereals, and made-to-order omelets. For lunch, indulge in a selection of appetizers, soups, salads, and main courses that showcase the flavors of the region you’re exploring. In the evenings, sit down to an exquisite multi-course dinner that reflects the culinary traditions of the destination, paired with fine wines and attentive service.

In addition to the main restaurant, some Viking River Cruise ships offer alternative dining options to further enhance your culinary experience. These may include a specialty restaurant that offers a more intimate setting and a unique menu, or a casual dining venue where you can enjoy lighter fare or al fresco dining on the sun deck.

Another dining highlight on Viking River Cruises is the opportunity to experience local flavors during themed meals and onboard cooking demonstrations. From a traditional German beer tasting on the Rhine to a Vietnamese cooking class on the Mekong, these culinary events allow you to immerse yourself in the culture and cuisine of the destinations you visit.

Whether you’re indulging in gourmet creations in the restaurant, savoring local delicacies at a themed meal, or enjoying a casual meal on the deck, dining on a Viking River Cruise promises to be a memorable experience. With meticulous attention to detail, exceptional service, and a focus on culinary excellence, Viking ensures that each meal is a true gastronomic delight.

Onboard Activities

While the destinations are the highlight of a Viking River Cruise, there are plenty of activities to enjoy while onboard. From enrichment programs to leisurely pastimes, Viking ensures that there is something to suit every interest and preference during your journey.

One of the most popular onboard activities is attending informative and engaging lectures and presentations. Expert speakers, often including historians, naturalists, and local experts, provide insights into the history, culture, and attractions of the destinations you’re visiting. Learn about the architectural wonders of Europe, the ancient civilizations along the Nile, or the unique traditions of Southeast Asia.

If you’re interested in expanding your knowledge of local cuisine, participate in demonstrations and tastings conducted by the onboard culinary team. Discover the flavors and ingredients that make each region’s cuisine special and learn how to prepare traditional dishes.

For those seeking relaxation, take advantage of the ship’s amenities, such as the library or the sun deck. Curl up with a good book, soak up the sun, or simply enjoy the panoramic views as you peacefully glide along the river. Some ships also offer wellness activities like yoga or Pilates classes to rejuvenate your mind and body.

In the evenings, indulge in entertainment options that showcase the local culture and talent. Enjoy live music performances, dance shows, or traditional folk performances, providing a glimpse into the artistic heritage of the regions you’re exploring.

Viking River Cruises also organizes themed events and celebrations, depending on the season and itinerary. From festive Christmas markets along the Rhine to traditional Lunar New Year festivities in Asia, you’ll have the opportunity to participate in special events that add a touch of local flavor to your journey.

And of course, there’s plenty of time for socializing and connecting with your fellow travelers. Whether you choose to join in a game of cards or simply engage in casual conversations over a drink, the onboard atmosphere encourages camaraderie and a sense of community.

With a variety of activities designed to educate, entertain, and relax, Viking River Cruises ensures that your time onboard is just as enriching and enjoyable as your time exploring the destinations.

Shore Excursions

One of the most exciting aspects of a Viking River Cruise is the opportunity to embark on immersive and enriching shore excursions. These expertly crafted excursions allow you to delve deeper into the culture, history, and natural beauty of each destination you visit.

Whether you’re exploring a medieval castle along the Rhine, wandering through ancient temples in Cambodia, or indulging in a wine tasting in the vineyards of France, Viking River Cruises offers a wide selection of shore excursions to cater to every interest and preference.

Upon arrival at each port of call, you’ll have the choice to participate in guided tours led by knowledgeable local guides. These tours provide valuable insights into the landmarks, attractions, and hidden gems of the region. You’ll learn about the historical significance of each site, hear intriguing stories, and have the opportunity to ask questions and engage with the local culture.

Viking River Cruises also offers a range of optional excursions that allow you to personalize your experience even further. These may include activities such as bicycle tours, culinary experiences, or exclusive visits to iconic landmarks. Whether you’re exploring a bustling city or a charming countryside, these optional excursions provide unique perspectives and unforgettable moments.

For those seeking a more active adventure, Viking offers an array of active excursions designed to get your adrenaline pumping. From hiking through scenic landscapes to kayaking along a tranquil river, these excursions allow you to embrace the outdoors and experience nature up close.

One of the key benefits of a shore excursion with Viking River Cruises is the peace of mind that comes with comprehensive planning and organization. Their team of experts carefully curates and coordinates the excursions to ensure a seamless and enjoyable experience for all guests. Transportation, guides, and logistics are professionally managed so that you can focus on immersing yourself in the unique wonders of each destination.

Whether you choose to wander through historical sites, immerse yourself in local traditions, or simply soak in the natural beauty, Viking River Cruises offers a range of shore excursions that will enrich your understanding and appreciation of the regions you’re exploring.

Entertainment and Enrichment

On a Viking River Cruise, the entertainment and enrichment options are just as captivating as the destinations themselves. Prepare to be immersed in a world of cultural experiences, artistic performances, and educational opportunities that will leave you enriched and entertained throughout your journey.

Each evening onboard, you can look forward to a variety of entertainment options that showcase the local culture and talent. Enjoy live music performances featuring local musicians, showcasing traditional melodies or contemporary sounds depending on the region you’re exploring. From classical performances in Europe to traditional dance shows in Southeast Asia, these captivating performances will transport you into the heart and soul of the destination.

In addition to live entertainment, Viking River Cruises offers enrichment programs designed to deepen your understanding and appreciation of the regions you visit. Onboard experts, including historians, naturalists, and local guides, provide insightful lectures and presentations that shed light on the history, art, and culture of each destination. Learn about the fascinating stories behind the landmarks you’ll encounter, gain a deeper understanding of the local traditions, and discover the hidden gems that make each region special.

Expand your culinary knowledge through cooking demonstrations and tastings led by the onboard culinary team. Learn about the local ingredients, techniques, and flavors that define the cuisine of each destination. Take home new recipes and cooking tips to impress your friends and family with your newfound culinary skills.

For those seeking a more hands-on experience, Viking River Cruises often offers interactive workshops and demonstrations. Get a firsthand experience of traditional crafts, art forms, or cultural practices through activities such as painting classes, wine tastings, or language lessons. These interactive experiences provide a unique opportunity to engage with the local culture and create lasting memories.

Lastly, take advantage of the various social spaces throughout the ship to connect with fellow travelers. Engage in lively conversations over drinks in the lounge, challenge friends to a friendly game of cards, or simply enjoy the company of like-minded individuals who share your passion for travel and exploration.

The combination of captivating entertainment, insightful enrichment programs, and opportunities for socializing ensures that your time onboard a Viking River Cruise is not only enjoyable but also enriching. Immerse yourself in the vibrant culture, history, and arts of the destinations you visit, and return home with a wealth of knowledge and unforgettable experiences.

Viking River Cruise Experience

Embarking on a Viking River Cruise is embarking on a journey unlike any other. From the moment you step on board until the last port of call, the experience is carefully curated to ensure that every aspect of your trip exceeds expectations.

One of the hallmarks of a Viking River Cruise is the exceptional level of service provided by the dedicated crew members. From the warm welcome upon arrival to the attentive care throughout your journey, the staff is committed to making your experience as comfortable and enjoyable as possible. Whether you need assistance with luggage, have questions about the itinerary, or require special accommodations, the staff is there to cater to your needs with genuine hospitality.

The spacious and elegantly designed ships offer a luxurious yet intimate atmosphere, providing a home away from home during your river cruise adventure. With a focus on comfort and convenience, the well-appointed staterooms and suites, comfortable common areas, and stylish dining venues create a setting that promotes relaxation and a sense of serenity as you navigate the rivers.

The carefully crafted itineraries take you to some of the most remarkable destinations, offering a balance of guided tours and free time to explore at your leisure. Viking River Cruises provides a wealth of knowledge about each destination, ensuring that you have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the culture, history, and local traditions of the regions you visit. From iconic landmarks to hidden gems, each port of call presents a new opportunity for discovery and connection with the local culture.

The culinary experience onboard Viking River Cruises is a highlight in itself. From delicious meals prepared by skilled chefs to themed events and cooking demonstrations, every dining experience is a celebration of flavors and culinary traditions. Indulge in delectable dishes inspired by the regions you visit, paired with carefully selected wines that complement the flavors and enhance the dining experience.

In addition to the exceptional service and enriching experiences, Viking River Cruises also places a strong emphasis on sustainability and responsible travel. The ships are designed with energy-efficient technologies, and the company works with local communities to minimize the impact on the environment, promote cultural preservation, and support local economies. This commitment to sustainability ensures that your journey not only provides a memorable experience but also contributes positively to the destinations you visit.

Overall, the Viking River Cruise experience is an exceptional blend of luxury, exploration, and cultural immersion. Whether you’re admiring breathtaking landscapes, discovering historical treasures, or simply relaxing onboard, every moment of your journey with Viking is designed to create memories that will last a lifetime.

A Viking River Cruise offers an extraordinary travel experience that combines luxury, adventure, and cultural immersion. From the stunning destinations along the world’s most iconic rivers to the meticulously curated itineraries and exceptional onboard amenities, every aspect of a Viking River Cruise is designed to provide an unforgettable journey.

Whether you’re exploring the historical towns of Europe, cruising along the mystical Nile, or immersing yourself in the vibrant cultures of Southeast Asia, Viking River Cruises takes you on a captivating voyage filled with remarkable experiences.

From the moment you step aboard, you’ll be greeted with warm hospitality and outstanding service. The spacious and elegant accommodations provide a comfortable retreat, with panoramic views that allow you to luxuriate in the beauty of the surrounding landscapes. The dining options are nothing short of exceptional, with delectable cuisine and curated wine pairings that celebrate the flavors of each destination.

Throughout your journey, you’ll have the opportunity to participate in immersive shore excursions led by knowledgeable local guides. Explore historical landmarks, savor local delicacies, and immerse yourself in the vibrant cultures of the regions you visit. This unmatched cultural immersion allows you to develop a deeper understanding and appreciation for the destinations and their unique heritage.

The enrichment programs, entertainment offerings, and social spaces onboard further contribute to the enriching experience. Engage in informative lectures, interactive workshops, and captivating performances that showcase the art, history, and traditions of the destinations. Connect with fellow travelers and create lasting memories through shared experiences and conversations.

As you journey along the rivers of the world, Viking River Cruises also prioritizes sustainability and responsible travel. They strive to minimize environmental impact and support local communities, ensuring that your travels contribute positively to the preservation of these precious destinations.

In conclusion, a Viking River Cruise is a truly extraordinary way to explore the world’s rivers. With their attention to detail, impeccable service, and commitment to creating memorable experiences, Viking River Cruises allows you to immerse yourself in the wonders of each destination, creating cherished memories that will last a lifetime.

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The Complete Guide to a Viking River Cruise

Ever consider a Viking European river cruise? River cruises are very popular choices for people who like traveling to new places in the comfort of a floating hotel. That is, you sleep and eat on the ship and are transported to your destinations along a river. It’s certainly a relaxing way to travel. Plus, Viking offers several excursions each day that the ship is in port. My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our Viking River cruise, which transported us comfortably to some amazing European destinations.

This article highlights the European river cruises aboard the Viking Longboats. The sizes of the ships are designed specifically for the rivers they ply (e.g., they need to navigate the sometimes narrow waterways and any locks along the way). Viking ships all sport calming Scandinavian decor and are designed efficiently.  The general experience on all Viking River cruise ships is the same, no matter what ship you’re on. However, the information in this article is from our Grand European Tour cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest aboard the Skirnir and Modi (more on the two ships later).  Once you’ve booked a Viking cruise, take the next steps , like creating an online account with Viking, to ensure a wonderful adventure .

NOTE: This article was completely updated in January 2023 from the original article, written in 2019 . Some procedures and protocols on cruise ships have changed to address public health concerns since the global COVID-19 pandemic. Check with your Viking agent or travel agent (or your MyVikingJourney online portal if you’re already booked on a cruise) to learn the latest protocols aboard the ship, and in the countries you’ll be visiting. Despite some tweaks, this article will prepare you for your Viking River cruise. Enjoy!

What to Expect on a Viking River Cruise

Viking is an industry leader for a variety of reasons, including their choices of fascinating destinations, varied excursion options, attention to detail in designing the private and shared spaces, and a welcoming and hard-working staff.

Viking River Cruise Destinations

You’ll find Viking River cruises throughout Europe, Egypt, and Southeast Asia . There are so many choices of destinations and lengths of the trip. Some people book two cruises back-to-back to extend their vacation. Also, Viking offers options to add a few days in the first or last destination before and after a cruise.

What You’ll Find on Viking

On all river cruises, guests are offered one complimentary shore excursion at every destination . In addition, quite a few “optional” excursions are available at an extra cost. The excursions provide guests with an array of experiences, including peeks into how locals live, how and where they work, and some “privileged access” options just for Viking guests.

Onboard you’ll have port talks to prepare you for each new day along with musical entertainment in the lounge. Plus, you can expect some special cooking and craft demonstrations, wine tastings, and presentations about a destination’s unique features .

Guests are served complimentary soft drinks, beer, or wine during lunch and dinner. There is an extra charge for the Silver Spirits package for guests who want to enjoy premium wines and beer, cocktails, and champagnes.

What You Won’t Find on Viking

There are several things you won’t find on a Viking River cruise, and they are often some of the prime reasons so many people choose Viking .

• No inside staterooms.
• No kids. All guests are 18 years old or more.
• No smoking.
• No casinos.
• No formal nights.
• No charge for Wi-Fi.

Viking River Cruise Ships

Viking Longboats have four decks:

• The Sun Deck has tables and chairs for guests to enjoy the views plus a walking track.
• The Upper Deck has the library, bar, lounge, Aquavit Terrace, coffee and tea station, and internet cafe, along with both of the Explorer Suites, all of the Veranda Suites, and some of the Veranda and French Balcony staterooms.
• The Middle Deck has Guest Services, the restaurant, the Viking shop, and some of the Veranda and French Balcony staterooms. 
• The Lower Deck has the Standard Staterooms.

Stairs connect all the decks; an elevator service the upper and middle decks.

Viking River Cruise Staterooms

All Viking River cruise ship staterooms have:

• river views.
• king-size beds that can be split to make two twin beds.
• private bathrooms that are separate from the living space.
• housekeeping twice a day.
• a telephone, safe, and refrigerator.
• a closet with wooden hangers.
• luggage storage under the beds.
• free Wi-Fi (though connection speeds vary depending upon location).
• a flat-screen TV with infotainment options.
• 110/220-volt outlets and USB ports.

Stateroom Options

The different types of staterooms range in size, available outdoor space, the time for guaranteed stateroom access, and amenities. Also, the ability to book optional excursions varies by the stateroom level . For example, the guests in the Explorer Suites can book optional excursions before guests in the Veranda Suites. This practice continues through all the classes of staterooms, with the standard staterooms getting the last optional booking options. Having said this, there are often opportunities to book optional excursions once you board the ship. This is because some guests may have canceled their planned optional excursions prior to the cruise, so it’s a good practice to check on this and any other concerns once you’re on board. 

• 150 square foot stateroom with picture window (no outdoor space)
• located on the Main Deck (lowest deck)
• 3:00 pm guaranteed stateroom access
• 135 square foot stateroom with French balcony (sliding glass door with no outdoor space)
• located on the Upper Deck and Middle Deck
• 205 square foot room with full-size private veranda
• 275 square foot suite with full-size private veranda
• located on the Upper Deck 
• 12:00 pm guaranteed stateroom access
• mini-bar with wine, beer, and soft drinks that are replenished daily
• complimentary fruit plate daily
• complimentary laundry & shoe shine services
• expansive 445 square foot living space (separate living room and bedroom) with wraparound balcony at the stern of the ship plus a French balcony in the bedroom. 
• complimentary in-room breakfast service
• complimentary Silver Spirits beverage package
• private arrival and departure transfer (from and to the airport)

Stateroom Amenities

The staterooms and bathrooms are efficiently designed to maximize usable space , and there are many things to appreciate in the staterooms.

• A safe with an electronic keypad is provided in each room. You set the code, so it’s a cinch to remember. It easily holds passports and other travel documents, along with jewelry and money. One tip we learned is to put a shoe (just one!) in the safe the day before you check out. Having to look for the shoe on the last day will remind you to open the safe so you don’t forget your valuables.
• Staterooms have 110V and 220V electrical outlets , so you can plug in whichever fits your needs. We took a universal travel adaptor with 4 USB plugs and 4 outlets and used just one outlet for all of our electronics (smartphones, cameras, tablets , and Apple Watch). That saved precious counter space.
• There’s a full-size   hair dryer with a German Schuko 2-pin plug that matches the 2-prong outlet in the bathroom.
• Sturdy wooden hangers are in your closet upon arrival; if you need more, just ask, and they will be delivered promptly.
• A complete supply of Freyja toiletries , including shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and body lotion along with a shower cap and vanity set, awaits you in the bathroom. These supplies are replenished as needed.
• The bathroom has a laundry line in the shower that is handy for hanging hand-washed garments.
• Laundry can be sent out to be done. It is usually returned within 24 hours. You can choose to have your garments washed and ironed or ironed only. For an idea of the costs for cleaning and ironing, pants are 6 Euros, a blouse is 5 Euros, and a polo shirt is 3.5 Euros (at the time of publication). Guests in an Explorer Suite or Veranda Suite receive complimentary laundry services.
• There’s a mini-fridge in the staterooms. Whatever you consume will be replenished when the staff cleans your room.
• A large glass bottle of water i n your guest room (along with glasses) will be replenished as needed. (You will also be offered bottled water as you leave for each excursion.)
• There are two listening devices on lanyards along with an earpiece (for your left ear) for each device inside your room. Keep these devices in the chargers when not in use, so they are fully charged for excursions.
• All rooms have a color TV with live channels, complimentary movies, and Viking programming . We used the TV for weather updates and a map that always shows the ship’s location; this was very handy as we navigated the rivers in between ports of call. 
• Housekeeping will visit your room in the morning to clean it.
• Housekeeping will revisit your room while you’re at dinner. You’ll notice the Viking Daily on your bed when you return to your room later that evening. This publication outlines the schedule for the next day, with all included and optional excursions as well as suggestions on where to visit and eat during your free time the next day.
• There’s room under the bed to store suitcases after unpacking.

Viking River Cruise Common Areas

In addition to your stateroom, there are several key public areas on the longships including an expansive, relaxing lounge and bar, the Aquavit Terrace at the ship’s bow for al fresco dining and soaking in river views, a dining room, a coffee/tea station, a small library, and an area with two desktop computers for guest use. For more details on the areas designed for guest comfort, read the illustrated guide to the Viking River Cruise ship’s common areas .

Embarkation

Staterooms are guaranteed to be ready at 3:00 pm. (If you are booked in one of the suites, you’ll have access to your stateroom at 12:00.) If you arrive before your guaranteed time of 3:00 pm, you can spend time in the Lounge or leave your luggage on the ship and begin to explore the city on your own. A light buffet is available in the Lounge around midday, so you’ll be able to recharge a bit before the cruise begins — a nice treat if you just got off a long flight.

The Viking Onboard Experience

Naturally, safety is a primary concern of travelers and the crew. There was a mandatory safety drill on our first full day of the river cruise. Life vests were under the beds, but prior to the drill, they were placed on our beds while we were at lunch. Just before the drill, we were all asked to return to our staterooms and don our life vests. After that, we went to an assigned group on the upper deck (groups are determined by what floor the staterooms are on), and we had to give our stateroom number to the staff at the assigned location (for roll call). Once everyone was accounted for, we were able to leave, return our life vests to our stateroom, and resume what we were doing.

Each time you leave the ship, you scan your room key . When you return to the ship, you scan it again . This is one way the crew can account for all guests. Before leaving a dock, there may be announcements asking for guests in certain rooms to let the staff know they are on the ship. (It’s not uncommon for someone to forget to scan their card when returning to the ship.)

Attire on a river cruise is casual. During the day on excursions, travelers dress very comfortably as they leave the ship to explore a destination. However, most guests sport a smart casual look for dinner. Leave your dressier clothes at home; no formal nights are on a Viking River cruise. 

Meals on a Viking River Cruise

Three meals are included each day at the following times:

• Breakfast: 7:00-9:00 am
• Lunch: 12:00-2:00 pm 
• Dinner: 7:00 pm

Soda, beer, and house wine are available at lunch and dinner at no charge.

Travelers who purchase the Silver Spirits beverage package (price varies depending on the length of your cruise) can get whatever alcoholic beverage they want during lunch, dinner, and whenever else the bar is staffed (afternoons and evenings) at no additional charge. The Silver Spirits package is complimentary for guests in an Explorer Suite.

If you have dietary restrictions, let Viking know when you book. You should also alert the Maitre d’ once on board.

The river cruises have open seating, so that means you aren’t assigned any table mates. Each time you enter the dining room, you find a table that you want to sit at. We enjoyed sitting with different people; it gave us a chance to learn about their travel experiences and lives a bit. You never know what you’ll learn or who you’ll meet!

Although lunch is available in the dining room, we favored the Aquavit Terrace (at the front of the ship) for our midday meal. It’s relaxed and has an abundant food buffet with soup, a variety of salads, meats, warm sandwiches (like paninis and Cuban sandwiches), fruit, and dessert. There’s always iced tea — often with different flavors every day. Servers take your drink orders (sodas, beer, wine) and freshen up your glass when it is empty. Just inside is the Lounge where we ate one rainy lunchtime. The Aquavit Terrace is one advantage Viking has over its competition. This is a great venue for enjoying the passing landscape on travel days and relaxed dining every day.

Prior to dinner, the chef usually introduces the options including his/her recommendations. On our cruise, this was done in the Lounge just after the evening port talk by the program director. Dinner begins at 7:00 pm in the dining room. If you choose to eat on the Aquavit Terrace, dinner begins at 7:15 pm with all of the same options as in the dining room.

Menu Options

On one side of the menu are the “classics” or options that are always available. W hen we cruised, the “classics” included Caesar salad as a starter; steak, salmon, and chicken as entrees, and Creme Brûlée, a selection of cheeses, a fruit plate, and ice cream for dessert.

On the other side of the menu are “regional specialties” or options that are focused on our destinations. Examples were creamy potato soup, Wiener Schnitzel, and Sacher cake when in Vienna; while in Budapest, the menu featured Hungarian Farmer Salad, Fogas Karpathy (perch and shrimp in white wine sauce), and Zserbo (a layered walnut and chocolate cake).

Without a doubt, we give Viking chefs top marks for the presentation and flavor of the food they serve. We always enjoyed the variety of food from the local areas we were visiting. After all, we travel to experience new places, new food, and new people, so we like to eat local specialties whenever possible. We were never disappointed with our meal selections. Whichever side of the menu you order from, the meals for the entire table are served at the same time.

Guests & Socializing

Cruising is a social experience as you chat with fellow passengers on excursions, at the social hour before dinner in the Lounge, and at meals.  An easy way to begin a conversation is to ask where people are from, about their past travel experiences, and what excursions interest them the most. We’ve found there are a lot of commonalities as well as interesting folks to meet. 

River cruises are designed for the mature traveler as Viking guests must be 18 years old. Many of the guests are retired, but there were quite a few still working or recently retired. 

Exercising on a River Cruise

There is no fitness center or spa on Viking River cruise ships; the space that could be a fitness center is instead put to use in the common areas and staterooms. (European river cruise ships are limited in size due to the rivers they cruise on, so they have the same overall dimensions. Some companies may take space from common areas to put into spas and fitness centers; others, like Viking, use all that available space for staterooms and common areas.)

To burn off some of the calories ingested by the delicious food onboard, I walked in the morning around the sun deck track. 12.5 laps = 1 mile. Viking asks that guests not walk on the sun deck from 10:00 pm to 7:00 am as a courtesy to those whose cabins are just below the sun deck. Getting my heart rate up while enjoying beautiful scenery passing by while the ship made its way down a river was a win-win.

My husband prefers to jog each morning, and he was able to when we were docked in the early morning before excursions began. Other times, we were still sailing, so he could not. A good idea if you’re a runner is to check with the reception desk to map out when there will be time in the morning to leave the ship for a jog or run before excursions begin.

Excursions on a Viking River Cruise

You can sign up for excursions from your account on MyVikingJourney.com prior to your trip. Sometimes optional excursions sell out, although there are usually some available once you’re on the ship. Please note that Viking requires at least 48 hours’ cancellation notice if you are on the ship and decide not to go on an optional excursion. 

There are three activity levels for excursions :

• Easy means the walking will be on mostly smooth (not cobbled) surfaces, there are few steps, and the tours will be 1.5 hours or less.
• Moderate means the walking could be a little more strenuous or have more stairs or inclines. The total time on these outings could be 1.5 to 3 hours.
• Demanding means extensive walking, hiking, or biking. Walking could be on unpaved or uneven surfaces and may involve many steps or steep inclines. The total time on these outings could be longer than 3 hours.

Prior to Excursions

About 15 minutes before each excursion, there is an announcement to remind guests that it is almost time to leave and to remember the listening devices. These devices are attached to lanyards with earpieces. 

You’ll receive an excursion card with a number and a letter. The number indicates which ship you’re on. (This is handy because you might encounter tour groups from other Viking ships that are docked in the same city at the same time.) The letter indicates which excursion group you’re on. Since there are often different excursions leaving simultaneously , this is an efficient way to find which tour guide to meet as you disembark the ship. The buses and tour guides for your group are each marked: the bus has a placard with the same number and letter to let you know you need to board that bus; the tour guide has a red and white sign on a paddle to indicate that group, as well.

Leaving the Ship

As you leave the ship, you’ll scan your room key to indicate your departure and rescan it upon returning . This is Viking’s way of accounting for guests.

As you leave the ship, you are handed a bottle of water.  To conserve resources, you could easily fill a reusable water bottle from home with water in the rooms. There are also bright red full-size Viking umbrellas to take along on excursions if it’s raining. I learned that I probably should have packed a small collapsable umbrella to stuff in my backpack; that way, I won’t be carrying the big Viking umbrella around after the rain has stopped while we’re still sightseeing.

A Few Important Excursion Notes

It’s important to note that when the ship docks somewhere in the morning and you go on an excursion, you sometimes will be brought back to the ship in a different location — like another city further down the river. This taught me to take pictures when I first see a scenic sight just in case I wouldn’t have the opportunity again.

There is precise timing to docking and excursions. For example, we arrived in Cologne at 9:30 am and our walking tour began at 10:00 am. Viking is very efficient with their timing. Likewise, when the ship is ready to leave, it leaves — as long as all the guests are accounted for. 

Not everyone needs to go on excursions. Some guests preferred to stay in the Lounge and simply relax, read a book, or enjoy the view beyond the big plate glass window or take in the views from the sun deck.

Big City Lesson

One thing we learned is that although some excursions will guide you through a large city, if it is inland a bit, you may be spending a significant amount of time traveling from the ship to the city — and comparatively modest amounts of time actually in the city itself. We learned this the hard way one day, and we realized that we actually prefer exploring the little towns that we dock at more. Our preferred day at a town where we were docked included a morning walking tour (an included excursion) to get the lay of the land. In the afternoon, we followed up on some of the suggestions the local guide from the morning had regarding how to spend the remainder of the day. That worked well as we enjoyed some nice non-touristy lunches and other walks and tours on our own.

Viking Communication

We found the onboard communication to be excellent . This includes the Viking Daily which provides information for each new day and the evening updates by the program director in the Lounge before dinner. There are also daily announcements with information on docking and reminders about impending excursion departures. 

TIP: Take a picture of The Viking Daily each evening before heading to bed. Then it’ll be the first photo on your camera roll before the next day’s activities. Doing so will help you remember months and years later where all your amazing pictures are from!

The crew communicates with each other quite well. For example, once the crew knows that everyone is accounted for after excursions, the ship is sailing within minutes of the anticipated departure (as noted in the Viking Daily ). 

Viking Staff

The Viking onboard staff — from the captain, hotel manager, and program director to the housekeeping and wait staff — were all positive, upbeat folks: smiling, accommodating, and helpful. Also, the onboard staff and the local guides speak English well.

Little Touches by Viking

Viking has perfected hospitality on many levels. Their crew is well-trained and genuinely appears to want to make you happy. There are lots of smiles and offers of help. They also are known for providing little touches that many guests appreciate. Here are some examples from our cruise:

• Viking is happy to celebrate your birthdays and anniversaries while onboard. Many people were serenaded during dinner, and special treats made pleasant surprises. We celebrated a big anniversary on our cruise and were delighted with champagne and a special dessert awaiting us in our room after dinner one night.
• Every once in a while, you may be treated to a little “extra” like a refreshing drink served on the sun deck while sailing one day.
• I borrowed some books from the ship’s library and left them on a table in our room. When I returned, I noticed two Viking bookmarks resting on top of the books. Likewise, a few days later, I had just started reading a different book and placed it on my night table on top of my Kindle. When I returned to the room, I noticed another bookmark was placed on top of it. 

Tipping is the universal way to thank someone for providing excellent service — and you will find excellent service on Viking. You can choose to pre-pay gratuities which we did. Prepaid gratuities came to 18 Euros per guest per day. Viking adds a discretionary service charge (15 Euros per guest per day when we traveled) to your shipboard account if you choose not to prepay the gratuity . The tips cover all onboard staff. We also took along some thank you cards and added some extra cash to give to those we felt went above and beyond during our cruise.

The recommended tipping (for each guest) on excursions is 2 Euros for local guides and 1 Euro for bus drivers.  Needless to say, it’s handy to have small change for tipping.

Onboard Account

Viking keeps track of your expenses during the cruise, including bar items, laundry, phone calls, and purchases from the Viking shop (logo wear and souvenirs). When the cruise ends, you settle your account in cash (U.S. dollars or Euros) or by credit card.

Parallel Parked Ships

Sometimes there’s a lot of river cruise ship traffic in popular cities. This was true in Passau, a city of over 50,000, and especially in heavyweights like Vienna and Budapest. When this happens, the cruise ship parks parallel to another cruise ship. This means that your ship could be the first, second, or third ship docked. Furthermore, this means that you may have to walk through another ship to get to shore or people are walking through your ship to get to and from theirs. The ships are designed for this — to have travelers walk through the common spaces. And our experience was that we were usually parked next to other Viking ships, so we walked through familiar spaces.

Having to dock the ship next to another cruise ship also means that the view from your stateroom could be blocked and your cabin could be a bit dark.  We were docked next to other ships several times on our 15-day cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest. It’s not a deal breaker for us, but it’s something every river cruise guest should be forewarned about. 

Transferring Ships

There are times when river cruise ships have to have guests disembark a ship and then board a sister ship. Sometimes the river water levels may be too low in spots (due to the lack of sufficient rain during summer) or there is another issue (like a broken lock) necessitating the change.

When We Had to Switch Ships

Here’s our story. We were sailing from Amsterdam to Budapest. There was a broken lock near Regensburg, about halfway between the two big cities. Viking had a sister ship sailing the same journey in the opposite direction — from Budapest to Amsterdam — so we switched ships. We got off our ship, the Skirnir, in Nuremberg (one of our scheduled ports) before the damaged lock. The guests on the other ship, the Modi, got off the ship at Regensburg, on the other side of the damaged lock. Essentially, each ship then turned around and went back to the city from which it originated. Suffice it to say that Viking has this all figured out and has contingency plans firmly in place.

Impact on Guests

What it meant for guests was a minor inconvenience. We had to have our luggage packed and placed outside our stateroom door by 7:00 am on the day of the switch. Viking collected the luggage (with different colored tags for the three different floors of the ship) and trucked it to where the Modi, our new ship, was docked. All guests left the ship for excursions (the times of the excursions were modified that day so they would all be timed for the same number of hours). After the excursions, we all met at a restaurant in Nuremberg for lunch, had a little free time, and then were bussed to the new ship in the late afternoon. As we arrived at the ship, we were warmly greeted, and we went to our rooms (which were intentionally left unlocked). Our luggage awaited us, and our new room keys were on the dresser.

Since they are sister ships, they are the same, so the only thing that changed was the crew. The one exception was the program director, who made the move with us. Otherwise, we had a brand new crew. We had grown to like the crew on the Skirnir, but we quickly came to like the new ones as well.

Disembarkation

Viking has guest departures timed to match their future travel plans. Viking assigns different colored luggage tags to guests depending on what their next travel destination is (a post-excursion through Viking, a trip independent of Viking, or a flight home). The tags have the time the luggage must be outside the staterooms as well as the time that guests are expected to depart the ship. (Viking asks that luggage not be placed outside the staterooms when going to bed the previous night due to safety concerns — should there be an emergency, having bags in the narrow corridors would pose a safety risk.) 

On our cruise, some guests had to put their luggage outside their staterooms as early as 2:45 am and leave the ship at 3:30 am to go to the airport. Regardless of their next destinations, all guests had to place their luggage outside their rooms no later than 9:00 am. After that point, guests still on board could use the common areas (Lounge or sun deck) until their transfer to the airport or other destination. That way, Viking could clean the staterooms and ready the ship for the passengers boarding later that day for the next cruise.

Planning Your Viking River Cruise

Once you book a Viking River cruise, take the next steps to ensure an amazing experience . One of those steps is to create an online account with Viking. There you’ll find a countdown to departure, background on each port of call, the entire list of excursions available (some are complimentary; others cost extra) that you can book online, a calendar showing your itinerary for each day, and other helpful information about the cruise. For a complete list of action steps

You will receive your final travel documents and Viking luggage tags within three weeks of your trip. Included is a packet of information specific to your ship (including phone numbers on the ship plus embarkation location information) and an itinerary.

Booking Options

Some travelers prefer to book through Viking itself. We opted to book through our travel agent with whom we could meet face-to-face, ask questions, and learn from her knowledge of cruising and different cruise companies. Plus, some travel agents provide onboard credit to cruising clients. Since we booked through our travel agent, Viking sent her the final travel documents, and she checked them before passing them on to us.

Disclaimer: My husband and I paid for our Viking River cruise ourselves. We did not receive any compensation or discounts from Viking or any other organization. I merely want to share our experience on a river cruise with my readers. 

Related Articles

Viking related articles.

• Viking Ocean Cruises: The Ultimate Guide
• Viking Ocean Cruise Excursions: What You Need to Know
• Viking Cruises: Best Action Steps to Take After Booking a Cruise
• Viking River Cruises: The Complete Guide
• Best Sights to See on a Viking Grand European Tour Cruise
• Viking Antarctica Cruise: A Complete Guide for Adventurers

General Travel Planning Articles

• Best Apps and Websites for Savvy Travelers
• Travel Lightly: Top Ten Tips for Your Next Trip

Travel Planning Timeline

• Expert Tips for Traveling to Europe for More Fun, Less Stress
• How to Use Google Translate While Traveling

Final Thoughts

We thoroughly enjoyed our Viking River cruise. O n our trip, we met interesting people; visited fascinating places; sampled new foods, wines, and beer; and appreciated Viking’s convenience and gracious hospitality . We can’t say enough about how well-run and maintained the ships are. Although we have some other trips planned (that we organize ourselves, as we often do), we are contemplating which Viking cruise — river or ocean — we will be booking next. 

The Viking Grand European Tour from Amsterdam to Budapest was a great experience that we’ll never forget.

To ensure you remember all the great experiences on your cruise, take lots of pictures and create a photo book of your journey when you return home. You’ll be glad you did!

If you have taken a Viking River cruise and want to share your experiences, please do so in the comment area below. 🙂

More Popular Reads

Best Sights to See on the Viking Grand European Tour River Cruise

Viking Cruises: Best Action Steps After Booking Your Cruise

Viking Antarctica Cruises: A Complete Guide for Adventurers

108 thoughts on “the complete guide to a viking river cruise”.

Thank you so much for the wonderful information in this guide! We are leaving in 6 days for the Grand European Adventure from Amsterdam to Budapest. This is our first cruise ever, and you have answered many questions we still had. We appreciate you sharing your time and adventures with us, and I signed up for your “Travel With Lolly” newsletter too! Thanks again!

I’m hoping you’re having a fabulous cruise! That’s a great itinerary.

Things that I learned while stationed in Germany and traveling around the local economy. You need some small change for this. – Public toilets have attendants who maintain them and who expect a gratuity (.20-.50 Euros) for use. This may have increased since my last visit. – Damen = Women, not “The Men” – Herren = Men, not “Her”

Thanks, Rich!

Some cruises include excursions. How expensive are the excursions? Where do you find the choices? Thanks!

Hi Leslie, Viking cruises include an excursion at each destination; these are usually general bus or walking tours of a city. In addition, they offer optional excursions that are more targeted to specific interests like concerts, museums, hiking or biking, and farm or winery tours. The anticipated optional excursions are listed on the Viking website for each cruise. They are also listed on MyVikingJourney.com, a site you can access after you book a Viking cruise, along with prices. Prices vary and usually run from $60-$200.

Thanks for this information. I’ve been on a Viking ocean cruise but am going on my first river cruise in June. I found that it’s easy to book shore excursions on one’s own (through “Tours by Locals”, AirBnB, and other venues) and many cost far less than what Viking charges. For example, going to Monet’s house and gardens in Giverny will cost 4 of us about 1/3 of what Viking is charging. Going to a chocolate making session at Lindt will cost $90 per person — about twice that going w/Viking. I know they have staff to pay, and overhead to finance, and many people will want the easier route of booking a Viking excursion. But for those who have the time to explore options online, and are willing to read through reviews to ascertain the good and bad of each offered tour, I highly recommend a little independent booking.

Thanks for sharing, Carol!

Thank you so much for this super-detailed information. :). I have a couple of follow up questions. I read a number of the comments, but time right now is a premium, so I apologize in advance if I am rehashing any prior q’s.

We are leaving on our Rhine cruise next week and are super excited! 1. Is there much sailing during daylight hours? I fear that all the great sailing will be while we are sleeping. The point of a cruise, for me, is a good bit of time enjoying the water. 2. My husband and I are seasoned travelers. Would you encourage or discourage any bookings at locations through outside vendors? I recall the part of your article that indicates the ship may change position during excursions. I would hate to book an outside excursion and come back to find the ship has gone on to another location. For instance, we would like to take a side morning trip to Heidelberg during the stop at Speyer, but we don’t want to do the 9 hour tour available through Viking. We were thinking we may get a ride to Heidelberg and tour the castle on our own. Viking doesn’t really say anything about outside tours.

Thanks again!

Hi Karen, There may be some sailing during the day, depending on the distance between two ports, but most of it is in the evening and at nighttime. You’ll probably be enjoying some views while sailing during late afternoon and early evening. To get more information about the times the ship is expected to be in port, use the Live Chat feature on the My Viking Journey online site to ask about it. When you know when the ship is in port, you can figure out when it will most likely be sailing and if you have enough time for an outside tour. I’ve found the Live Chat staff to be very helpful; hopefully, you will, too! Have a wonderful cruise!

This is a very informative post and the details are very helpful. We will be doing the river cruise at the end of July (Budapest to Amsterdam) and opted for a post cruise excursion that offers 1-day tour and the next day on our own. With this 1 limited free day, can you please recommend a thing or two to do or visit in Amsterdam? We’re thinking of Anne Frank museum, is it worth it? My husband is a classical music junky and wanted to tour or watch something in Concertgebau. I will appreciate your recommendations.

Hi Joel, Spending time in Amsterdam offers so many options! It comes down to what you like to do. I think the Anne Frank House is worth a visit, as are the musuems. The only issue is getting tickets for a visit just a few weeks away. Perhaps going on TripAdvisor will give you ideas for things you’d enjoy doing. They may have recommendations for special interest tours or other experiences that speak to you!

Hi Lolly – oh my goodness! This is the BEST information. Thank you so much for your thoroughness! We are taking our first river cruise in November 2024 (Rhine Getaway on the Gersemi) and we cannot wait, but we are also grateful that we have so much time to research and prepare. A river cruise has been on my list for quite some time. Thank you again!

I’m glad the article helped you prepare for your upcoming river cruise. I hope you have a wonderful time on the ship, exploring new places, and meeting new people. 🙂

Lolly, No questions, I just wanted to thank you for having such an informative post. You answered all the questions we had after going through the Viking pages. Thanks for what you do.

Thanks for the kind words, Keith! I’m glad you found the article helpful.

When using a visa credit card, will the charge be in dollars or Euros?

Hi Glenn, When using credit cards in Europe, it’s usually best to avoid converting the amount into dollars (because there’s usually a fee for doing so). So accept the transaction amount “without conversion,” as you want to use the local currency option.

Although we’ve done probably 25 or so cruises on the big ships this is our first river cruise. We’ll be on the Grand European from Amsterdam to Budapest in July and we’re beginning to get really excited. Of course, that also means that we were starting to come up with all sorts of questions about the ship & excursions. Happily, your article has answered many of our questions!! I do have one question though – can we get additional Euros through the service desk on the ship or should we make sure we have plenty before we board? Thanks so much!

Hi Jan, I’m glad you found the article helpful! About Euros, Viking’s guest services desk will break Euros into smaller denominations, but they don’t handle currency exchanges. If you’re starting with some Euros, you should be able to easily obtain more from ATMs in Amsterdam (and other ports); the guest services desk should be able to tell you where to find one near the ship. Keep in mind that many shops and restaurants accept credit cards (VISA and MasterCard primarily), so you’ll probably use your Euros mostly for small incidentals and for tipping tour guides and bus drivers when on excursions. Accepting the local conversion rate (not into dollars) is usually advantageous when withdrawing from an ATM. For more tips for traveling to Europe, read Expert Tips for Traveling to Europe for More Fun, Less Stress . Have a wonderful cruise!

How much time (approx) did you have in each port?

Great question, Jessica! Unfortunately, there’s no easy answer. You can ask Viking or your travel agent for specifics for the cruise that interests you. As an example, on my upcoming Viking cruise in the Mediterranean, we arrive in port in the mornings by 8:00 or 9:00 am. Our departure times vary quite a bit from 4:00 pm to 11:00 pm.

What a great article! We leave on our trip tomorrow, Antwerp to Amsterdam for ten days. We have never cruised before. This was so helpful. Thank you for sharing.

Thanks for your kind words. Have a marvelous time!

Thank you for this very informative article. Looking at the Viking Daily it appears that included tours are in the morning and optional ones are in the afternoon. Is it then possible to do one of each per day?

Hi Barb, Excursion options vary and are often driven by local tour operators and their schedules. There weren’t separate morning and afternoon excursions for an upcoming ocean cruise my husband and I are taking, and that’ll work out just fine. Most days, my husband and I will go on an excursion in the morning and then explore a town independently in the afternoon (and evening, if still in port) — perhaps having a leisurely lunch in a scenic spot, visiting a museum, or going for a hike nearby. I suggest asking about ideas for independent activity once you’re aboard the ship. The Viking Daily gives some general ideas, and I’m sure the Viking staff can help you find things (e.g., museums, restaurants, shops) that specifically interest you. Oftentimes, it’s exploring on our own that makes traveling so enjoyable. Hopefully, it will be the same for you, too. Have a wonderful cruise!

Great article. Thank you for taking the time to post this. One question: in checking in for your flight at the end of the cruise, did you have any issues doing this on board the ship? We might want to change airline seats, which we cannot do before our cruise.

Hi Ron, I’ve not experienced any issues connecting online while on the ship. If you do, I’d suggest going to Guest Services for help. Have a wonderful cruise!

Thanks for your article it was very informative. My husband and I are booked on the Grand European cruise with an extension in Prague at the end of June. We are traveling with 8 other people. Would there be any issue with booking an independent excursion for the days we will be in Prague or in the ports that we will be in overnight? Viking is only offering us a morning excursion the second day in Prague so we are looking to do some exploring on our own.

Hi Anne, booking an independent excursion shouldn’t be a problem. Quite a few cruisers actually do that. Just make sure you are aware of the times the ship will leave the port so you don’t miss its departure. Have a wonderful cruise!

Great post. Very informative. One question though – How can we tell how much bus travel time is involved in each excursion? We are doing the Grand European Tours B-A with extensions in Prague and Amsterdam, and have booked a full schedule. We are doing the Salzburg Highlights but just read it’s a 2 hour bus ride each way. We don’t even know if it is The Sound of Music “heavy”, and that is kindof why we are doing it. There are other excursions that day that we could do. Thank you for your article and your help!

Hi Kathy, Great question! I suggest signing on to My Viking Journey and using the “Live Chat” feature to get your answer. After logging on to My Viking Journey, go to the “Shore Excursions” section and initiate a conversation with a Viking Cruise rep. You should see a red “Live Chat” box along the margin of the screen. You’ll be able to find out about the length of bus trips to/from excursions and other related information. Have a fabulous cruise!

We have quite a bit of Viking on board credits and wanted to purchase optional shore excursions with that credit. But it looks like pre purchasing using on board credit isn’t possible. What are the chances of excursions still being available when we are on board? We are on the Aug Rhine cruise and our 1st river cruise.

Hi Pat, There’s a good chance that some optional excursions will be available once you board the ship — even if they’re listed on MyVikingJourney as being sold out. That’s because some people end up canceling their reservations for optional excursions. Go to the guest service desk and inquire about the excursions you want and if they’re fully booked, ask to be placed on a waitlist. Wishing you good luck and a fantastic cruise!

I am going on a Christmas Market cruise with Viking in 2024. Since it will be winter with colder temps, I am wondering about the indoor lounging space/common areas on the longboats. Is there plenty of space for passengers indoors in the common areas, if the outdoors are too cold or rainy? Do you know if the outdoor areas on the sun deck can be enclosed for added warmth on these cooler weather trips? Thanks for any thoughts!

Hi Jaime, Viking’s European longship has a spacious lounge, the Aquavit Terrace (some of which can be enclosed in bad weather), and seating in the atrium area — all good choices for relaxing inside while not in your stateroom. The sun deck does not have enclosed spaces. Enjoy your cruise!

Does anyone wear jeans at dinner?

Hi Carolyn,

Per Viking: “There are no ‘formal nights’ in the evening; recommended evening dress is ‘elegant casual.’ For ladies, this may include a dress, skirt or slacks with a sweater or blouse; and for gentlemen, trousers and a collared shirt. A tie and jacket are optional.”

However, some guests do wear nice jeans (not torn or ripped) in the evening. It’s relatively easy to dress up a pair of jeans a bit, so the overall look is “elegant casual.” Enjoy your cruise!

GREAT INFO. Scheduled for Grand European in September 2023. Wondering how much american cash we should bring and do we need to get euros prior to arrival (if so how much). You mention that from 5:15-7 there will be drinks & live music or a port talk. If you want wine at that time is there a charge?

What is the availability of restroom facilities in these small towns? Do they charge for use?

Hi Victoria, I’m so glad you found the article helpful! Deciding on cash is a personal choice, of course. My husband and I like to have about 100-200 Euros on us before leaving home. Plus, we always have some dollars with us, too. If you want to obtain Euros before departure, check with your bank or AAA office to see if they can help you. Also, you can get Euros from bank ATMs after you land; there are probably some ATMS near your cruise embarkation site. We’ve never had a problem finding an ATM in Europe, and Viking can surely help direct you to one. Remember to notify your bank of your travel dates and destinations before leaving home! (Another idea is to get Euros at one of the airport currency exchange kiosks, but the exchange rates will probably not be favorable.)

Viking offers complimentary wine, beer, and soft drinks during lunch and dinner. At other times, like when gathered in the lounge before dinner, you’ll charge your wine, beer, or cocktails to your stateroom.

Public restrooms are available in European towns, and many charge a nominal fee (.50-1 Euro). Your best bet is to ask about availability, location, and cost at Guest Services once onboard. Have a wonderful cruise in September!

Thank you for great information and insights! We took our first Viking River cruise in 2018 (Rhine – Amsterdam to Basel) and leave in a month for the Danube (Budapest to Regensburg) with the pre and post cruise stays. You answered my questions about docking locations (though understand they are subject to change) and the Hungarian currency. Hope you have been able to enjoy more Viking cruises since your original one.

We are also thinking of taking an old smart phone and purchasing a SIM card that works in Europe for language translation, directions, and apps to enhance our experience. Our US-based cell phone service does not work outside of the US. Do you have any experience about this?

No, Tamara, I don’t have direct experience replacing SIM cards. My husband and I use a major U.S. cellphone carrier that functions well in Europe. When we travel to Europe, we notify our carrier before departure. It’s been a seamless process for us, and it functions well although we do incur additional international charges.

I’m glad you found the article helpful, Tamara. Our next Viking cruise is coming up soon, and I can’t wait. Enjoy your journey!

Lolly, We are going to cruise Viking July on European sojourn with pre post extensions Bucharest and Amsterdam. This will be first river cruise for us. We are in a veranda A stateroom and doing business class flights as a bucket wish. We are experienced travelers on land but this will be a new experience. My first question is, without using the laundry service on board , do you have suggestions on washing items in your cabin? Is there a retractable clothes line in the shower to accommodate hanging clothes. ? You know is it a venus and mars question. Haha. I am sure i will have more later but your thread is wonderful. Any comments on safety in cities? Using ATMs machines? Thank you for your time. Rosetta

It sounds like you have a wonderful journey coming up this summer, Rosetta! Concerning laundry, yes, there is a retractable clothesline in the shower. I’ve hand washed some things in the sink and hung them up to dry on the line, and it worked fine. My husband and I sent out a few clothes to the Viking laundry, which also worked out well. Concerning safety, you can sign up for STEP (Smart Traveler Enrollment Program), a free program run by the U.S. Department of State. Once enrolled, you enter the dates of your travel and your destinations. They will text you with any security issues you should be aware of while you’re away. (When we were in Europe a few years ago, we received texts of some demonstrations in town and were given their locations and advised to stay away. We weren’t near them then, but it was nice to be notified of them.) If you don’t live in the U.S., I’m sure other governments have similar programs for travelers. And about ATMs, we’ve used them in Europe without any problems. Just make sure you notify your bank before traveling, so they don’t flag your ATM transaction in another country as suspicious! Have fun!

I didn’t read through all the comments, so I hope I’m not being repetitive. We thoroughly enjoyed our Viking river cruise from Prague to Paris last summer. I will add one note that we experienced. River traffic varies and the time to pass through the locks can change based on the number of ships, weather, etc. There were a few days when we arrived at our port later than planned and had much less time to explore the city. It wasn’t a deal breaker, but something you should be aware of. We also like to explore on our own, so there were times when we just joined a tour for a while and then told the guide we were going to branch out on our own. We always made sure we were back to the ship on time! We loved our trip and would recommend it to others.

You make an excellent point, Julia. As much as Viking tries to stick to its anticipated docking times, some things – like other ships waiting in line to go through locks, weather issues, and river levels – are beyond its control. It’s just the nature of this type of travel. And I think remembering that delays can arise on any type of travel (e.g., flights, cruises, trains) helps us all manage our expectations. So glad that you had a great cruise!

As mentioned throughout the comments, thank you so much for such insightful and helpful information! My husband and I are doing the Grand Tour B —> A in early October 2023. I am very intrigued by the Salzberg excursion but see that it is a 2 plus hour bus ride each way. Do you have any experience with that destination? Would an excursion like that feel to rushed to enjoy, or do you know if Salzberg is a “not to be missed” kind of place? Really, just looking for your opinion on longer trips off-ship. Thank you!

Hi Robin, you pose a great question, but it isn’t easy to answer! My husband and I had planned to go on the Salzburg excursion, but when we learned we would be spending so much time on the bus to travel there and back (for a total of 9.5 hours), we decided to spend our time in Passau instead. We didn’t regret our decision. We took the walking tour of Passau, enjoyed a leisurely lunch in town, went on a hike, and strolled around town afterward. We liked exploring on our own after getting the lay of the land from the morning tour guide. Having said that, I know that Salzburg is lovely and many people enjoy that excursion. Frankly, I don’t think you can go wrong either way, but they’re two very different experiences. Enjoy your cruise! It’s a great one!

Do you have to go on the planned excursion or can you go off and explore on your own?

Hi Daisy, you have the choice of going on the included or an optional excursion — or exploring on your own. Once you’re on the ship, you’ll learn the times that the ship will be docked in a city, so you can plan your day. For a walking tour (directly from the ship), some passengers go on the tour to learn about the destination and then spend the rest of the day shopping, enjoying a meal, or just wandering around. In addition, some people research other (non-Viking) tour options in advance of their cruise and book a personal or small-group tour to suit their specific interests on their own. Have fun whatever you decide to do!

Just found your site–lots of great info! We’re doing the Rhine Getaway, Amsterdam to Basel in early Oct, but haven’t actually booked yet! We love most of the optional excursions versus the included excursions but about how much do the optional ones cost? Are they like $20 per person or more like $200? For instance, how much is the “Top of Cologne” in Cologne Germany and is it worth it? I like the idea of a smaller group so that is a plus. Thank you!!

Hi Stephanie, Thanks for your kind words. As you know, Viking offers an included excursion in each port. These are typically large-group bus or walking tours of a city that provide a nice overview of a place. The optional excursions have smaller groups and are more focused on cultural, recreational, and even culinary experiences. That’s where you might find biking or hiking options, or as you mentioned, the “Top of Cologne” optional tour. My husband and I took the “Top of Cologne” excursion, and it was one of the best. It was led by an art historian who took us up to the very top of the cathedral (above the ceiling) where the craftspeople worked. Before we descended, we were able to step outside and soak in panoramic views of the city. That was just one of the optional tours we enjoyed and still talk about. There are costs associated with the optional tours and they vary, and I suppose that correlates with the costs Viking incurs. You’ll see all your options on the online My Viking Journey portal when the tours open up prior to your trip. I’ve not taken a Viking optional tour that I didn’t like, but I will say that there are passengers who also book tours independent of Viking due to a keen interest in something and the personal or small-group experience that is available with independent tour guides. Good luck with your planning, and have a great cruise!

So glad I discovered your very informative account of the Viking River Cruise! One question I have is how you handled local currency in Hungary as they do not use the euro. We have extended our cruise to allow two extra days in Budapest, thus giving us four days there. I’m sure we will need some “pocket money” for small purchases. Also, what shore excursions do you recommend while in Budapest?

Hi Pat, I’m so glad you found my article helpful! Regarding local currency in Hungary, you can head to an ATM once you’re there to get the amount of local cash you want. As for shore excursions, my husband and I enjoyed the walking tour (through Viking) that included the funicular up to Castle Hill. Also, we had booked an English-speaking tour of the Hungarian Parliament which ended up being fascinating; if you plan to do this, make sure to make reservations online ahead of your visit. We walked from where the ship was docked to the Parliament building for the tour and enjoyed a stroll back to the ship along the river. On our walk, we passed the Shoes Along the Danube (very moving) and other interesting sights. Some other Viking guests enjoyed their visits to the thermal baths, but we opted to “do our own thing” with the parliament tour and walks to areas recommended by our local tour guide (from the walking tour).

Doing the Grand European Trip for our 50th in May of 2023. Going from A to B with two extra days in Amsterdam and Budapest. 1. We do the red eye and get into Amsterdam early morning. After clearing customs and immigration and getting our luggage, how do we find Viking to take us to our hotel or how does Viking find us? 2. Check-in time for the hotel is 3:00 PM. Does Viking get us into our room early or do we have to check our luggage with the hotel and wait until 3:00 PM? 3. On leaving Amsterdam, check-out time from the hotel is Noon but embarkation is not till 3:00 PM. What does Viking do with our luggage once we check out of the hotel? I don’t want to waste any precious time in Amsterdam because this may be the last time we see it. Thanks.

Sounds like you’ve got a great anniversary trip planned, Gary! A few weeks prior to your departure, Viking will send stickers for you to wear at the airport when you land, so they can identify you as a Viking guest. (You’ll also receive Viking tags for your luggage.) As for the specifics about checking in to hotels and then embarkation timing, I’d suggest you contact Viking directly (or your travel agent if you used one to book the trip). That way, you’ll learn exactly how things will work with getting to and from that specific hotel. I hope you have a wonderful 50th celebration on the Grand European Tour!

Great article. Serious question…..how to get coffee in the morning without getting dressed??? Is room service available or will my husband have the opportunity to ‘fetch’ my coffee?

Hi Catherine, I’m glad the article was helpful. About coffee, there is a coffee and tea station on Viking’s river cruise ships that’s open 24/7 in the main common space. That makes it handy for your husband to fetch your morning cup! It’s also where you’ll find freshly baked goodies throughout the day.🙂 I hope you two have a fabulous time on your cruise!

Hi Lolly, thank you for the great article and this really prepared us for our trip next week. I have a quick question that I wouldn’t seem to find the answer online: We are thinking about renting a car at Koblenz and go to Nurburgring for a few hours and also at Speyer to go to Stuttgart for the day. Is that possible? We found the car rentals and made reservations, but we can’t find any daily schedule of when the ship docks and departs at each port. Just wondering if there is a regular daily schedule and of course we understand the change caused by water level, weather, etc. Thanks again!

Hi Danny, I’m not sure which cruise you’re referring to, but you asked an excellent question about renting a car to make day trips while on the cruise. I think it would be a tight schedule if the ship is docked for just a day. You’d need to factor in picking up and dropping off the rental cars and then driving to and from your planned destinations. 

I’d suggest you talk with the staff once you are aboard to learn of their planned docking times and see what they recommend. That way, you’ll have current information and be able to talk to people “in the know” to see if your plans will work. Even with that information, as you mentioned, dockings could be delayed to traffic on the river or there could be delays going through locks.

I’m sorry I can’t give you a more definitive answer, but so much depends on conditions at the time you board and what the staff recommends. I hope you have a wonderful cruise and that things work out for your planned day trips!

Re renting a car to go to a specific place Viking tours don’t include: Is Uber possible in the cities Viking goes to? I’d much rather take an Uber than rent a car!!! Also, for individualized tours – try Tours by Locals (we’ve had EXCELLENT tours in many, many cities including Europe, India, Malaysia, Thailand…), or AirBnB’s tours.

Hi Carol, Although ride-share companies, like Uber, are in many cities worldwide, they’re not everywhere, so it depends on what cities you’re considering. Some areas also have other popular ride-share companies like Bolt in Europe. It’s best to check availability online — or ask Viking — for the cities you’ll be visiting. As for Tours by Locals, I’ve used them, as well, and was pleased.

We are going on the Grand European tour in October 2022. How can we arrange individual tours or make dinner reservations if we dont know the times or the port arrangements? Do we just work with Viking program director on the day of or the day before?

Hi Kathleen, For individual tours and dinner reservations, I’d let the provider (tour company, restaurant) know what day you’ll be coming into port. They may be familiar enough with Viking’s schedule to easily accommodate you. Once onboard, verify the time you’ll be in port and then fine-tune your tour or dinner plans. Have a great cruise!

We are taking the Grand European cruise, B-A, in late September 2022. The water levels are extremely low right now. Any thoughts on how this might play out for us?

Hi Karen, A few things could happen when river levels are too low for cruise ships. Passengers could disembark and be bussed on an excursion and then afterwards, be bussed to a different location on the river where the water levels are higher. There they may board another ship. For example, sometimes two sister ships sail on the same one-way voyage starting at the same time – just at opposite ends of the itinerary. That way, if they reach a low point in the river, they can have passengers disembark, go on bussed excursions, and afterwards be taken to the sister ship that completes the journey. To accomplish this, passengers pack up the night before the transfer, and while out on excursions, their luggage is transferred to the other ship. When passengers get to the sister ship, their luggage is in their new cabins (which are usually the same cabins they had on the original ship).

Another option, if the river levels are too low overall, would be for passengers to be bussed from destination to destination, staying in hotels, throughout the cruise.

Incidentally, we had to change ships midway through a river cruise because of a broken lock on the river, and Viking handled it professionally and without too much inconvenience.

One thing to keep in mind is that things can change from day to day, week to week – and that includes river levels. Low river levels today might be just fine for cruising in a few days.

I guess the bottom line is to remember that disruptions can happen whenever we travel, so plan to get the most out of each experience and cherish the time that you get to explore new places and meet new people. I hope you have a wonderful time!

Lolly – just finished the Grand European tour a week ago (Budapest-Amsterdam). Was our first Viking cruise, so we used your article as a guide. We could not have chosen any better than the Skirnir and Viking. Everything was as you said – food, service, boat, amenities, all topnotch. (OK, the wifi in the rooms REALLY sucks…but if that’s your #1 problem, you aren’t doing badly). The hotel manager was great – and the program director was a literal Energizer Bunny. Herding 169 tourists onto separate buses all going separate places at separate times…wow, that’s a job! The maitre-d I am convinced is in league with the devil, as she tempted diners again and again with “just try this ONE little pastry”. Our stateroom steward kept the room immaculate. We kept our itinerary full, which might have been an error – trust me, you want to take a breather every few days! Viking then allowed us to purchase a no-expiry date voucher towards another cruise – an amount they matched. So for 200 dollars, we got a 400 value – good for tickets, flights, an excursion, or even the beverage package. We will definitely be using it in the years to come.

Oh, I’m so glad you had a wonderful cruise with amazing service! Haha, I got a kick out of being tempted with just one little pastry! Great service – sounds like Viking! As for keeping the itinerary full, it’s hard not to when you have so many great places to explore, but I agree that scheduling downtime is important, too. I bet you’re planning your next cruise already. I’m looking forward to ours next year!

I was curious about what time you have to be back on the ship at night. We are thinking we would might rather be wandering through the town and trying local cuisine.

Hi Karen, you will have the freedom to wander on your own in the evenings in some locations. Check your cruise itinerary as it will tell you the expected times your ship will be docked at each stop. Once onboard, you’ll be given more specific times, so you’ll be able to fine-tune your plans. Enjoy!

They will let you know on board. They say they will be staying til X o’clock and then leaving. Better be aboard, cuz they won’t wait!

Hi. I wonder if you have any thoughts on us meeting up with friends from Stuttgart. We would either meet in Bamburg or Wurzburg. Is this allowed? Also can you remember if those two cities is where the boat docked. Just thinking of the best options for meeting friends for a short visit. Thank you

Hi Theo, you shouldn’t have any problems meeting up with your friends in either Bamburg or Wurzburg while on the cruise. I’d suggest you reference your online itinerary on Viking’s site before departure to get a rough idea of when you’ll be docked in each city. Follow up with a conversation with the Viking staff when you’re onboard to learn the expected times and exact location of the ship while docked. This should allow you to finalize your plans to disembark and go meet your friends. Enjoy!

WOW, what a complete piece of well written and informative information we have come across. Thanks!! We are heading out on our first river cruise, the Kara from Basel to Amsterdam in late September this year. Trying to guess the weather so we can narrow down what to pack. We’re celebrating our 50th! One of many questions we have is how much currency (and what kind) to bring with us. We saw you comment about change for guides and such and credit cards with no foreign charges. But, what else would we spend money on? We’re planning on a dinner in a town, tour of some beer gardens and lunch in Heidelberg, and just walking around. Your comments are really appreciated.

Congrats on your 50th! Sound like you have a great cruise coming up! As for how much money to bring along, I usually start out with about $300 worth of local currency. That gives my husband and me plenty of money for tipping the local guides and bus drivers as well as Viking staff before we leave. Also, having cash is great for souvenirs, incidentals, snacks, or a quick lunch while exploring a city. By the way, Viking does build in a set amount of gratuities for ship staff (or you can arrange for this on your account before sailing), but you may also want to give a personal cash tip to staff members who are particularly helpful. If you think you might do that, you may want to take along a few blank thank you cards to enclose your extra tips, so you can explain why you valued their service so much. I know other travelers who just get cash out of ATMs while traveling (and I’ve done that, too, of course), but I just like beginning the trip with some local cash. Good luck! Have fun!

Most the times we always take the NCL cruise, but this is the first time on Viking Cruise River The Grand European Tour from Budapest to Amsterdam (for our 22nd anniversary).I’m so glad I found a lot of information from the article that’s very helpful for us for excursions, maybe transferring ships, parallel parked ships and other information. The best description and information about Viking River Cruise, thank you for taking the time to write this information, we’re very appreciate.

Thanks for your kind words, Triana. I hope you have a fabulous anniversary cruise!

Thank you for your informative article! We leave Saturday for Prague followed by the Budapest to Amsterdam Viking river cruise. We have booked all the included excursions, but have held off booking the optional ones as we love to do our own thing when in port, and perhaps covering more “ground” than the optional excursions. Can you tell me which docking/ports might be too far from the cities/towns? Thank you!

Hi Deb, you’re just a few days away from your journey. How exciting! One great thing about Viking is that many times their ships dock right in the towns, so it’s easy to get off and be on your way to make your own discoveries. Of all the stops on the Grand European Tour, these are the cities in which our ship had prime docking spots (making it very easy to go out and explore on our own): Budapest, Vienna, Melk, Passau, Regensburg, Wurzburg, Cologne, and Amsterdam. Keep in mind, though, that things are not 100% the same from cruise to cruise due, in part, to other ship traffic at the time. The best thing to do is to talk with a Viking staff member as soon as you board to find out details for your specific cruise. Good luck! I hope you have a wonderful time!

Thank you for all the information. We are planning to take the Grand European Tour in July of 2023. We are trying to determine if the additional cost for a veranda stateroom is worth the extra expense compared to the french balcony. On average, how much time did you spend on the boat sailing from each port? Do you travel overnight for most of the time or is there day travel as well?

Hi Tanya, Sounds like you have a great cruise coming up! About the stateroom, that really comes down to personal preference. Having the veranda offers you another personal space plus a nice perch (with chairs) from which to view the passing scenery during the time that the ship is sailing in daylight hours. (For my husband and me, having the personal outdoor space was high on our list. We enjoyed relaxing there and enjoying the sights and sounds of being on the ship. We actually enjoyed sitting outside in the dark before bed, too, cruising by small towns.) There’s a mix of traveling overnight (almost all of the time) and during the morning/afternoon/evening (some of the time). If you decide on the stateroom with a french balcony, you will still be able to enjoy some time outside in the common areas while the ship is sailing. I hope you have a wonderful time!

We are scheduled to take the Viking Danube cruise in early June 2022. We chose a French Balcony room. My question is about size of our luggage (or size limitation due room size). I have seem videos of rooms but cannot perceive where we can place our 2 luggages + backpacks and not having to hop over them inside our room. Please hare your opinion with me.

Hi Ricardo, It sounds like you have a great trip ahead! You can store your luggage under the bed(s). Once unpacked, you can put your backpacks in your empty luggage and slide it all under the bed(s) and not think about them until it’s time to leave. Have a great cruise!

First timer on river cruise. Does everyone get back on the bus when the excursion is over or is that the time you make plans for individual sightseeing? Did you use local guides? Did you bring euros or use credit card? Thanks

Hi David, it sounds like you’re gearing up for a great adventure! We went on the Viking excursions (with local guides) and did not book any local guides directly. A few guests scheduled independent sightseeing tours, and it seemed to work out well for them. By the way, the excursions included in the trip are typically large group experiences, while the optional excursions (available at an extra cost) are usually much smaller groups as they are more focused on specific areas of interest. We received great overviews of a place with the large group tours, but what we remember most were the unique experiences that came from the optional experiences. As for money, we used a credit card (with no foreign transaction fees) and Euros (very handy for tipping tour guides and purchasing small incidentals). Have a wonderful cruise!

Thank you for the excellent summary of each important category. It is very helpful to reduce wandering around looking like a tourist while trying to figure out the procedures. 🙂 Any further suggestions about picking up the excursion cards each morning? How early are they available to avoid the rush? Did you see anyone carry on and off luggage? We travel light with one roll aboard and one backpack. Any idea if the Terrace will be open for meals in the chill of November? Is there a restaurant seating option for introverts? 🙂 Thanks again.

I’m glad you found the article helpful, Thomas! Now to your questions. I’d suggest you ask about picking up excursion cards and other details like that once you’re on the ship, as some procedures like this may vary a bit. We travel light, as well, but the ship will take care of delivering your luggage to your room; we just kept our small carry ons (the ones that fit under the airplane seats) with us. The Aquavit Terrace is a great place to have a meal. There’s a section of the Aquavit Terrace at the very front of the ship that’s open to the weather, but there’s also an area (just behind it) that can be enclosed with sliding glass doors, so the area can be enjoyed when the weather isn’t cooperating. And about general seating at meals in the dining room, there’s a choice of large and small tables and there’s no assigned seating, so if you’re one of the early ones at meal time, you’ll have a great chance of finding a setting that suits you best. Have a wonderful cruise, Thomas!

Booked an Amsterdam to Budapest trip in September ’23….our first river cruise (for our 20th). Besides being helpful, your thorough details helped me to envision and imagine, which is my favorite part of planning! The daily planner for Vienna was the best….one of the stranger transitions from Ocean to River cruising is not having your port times right there on the schedule. Thanks for the great details!

I’m so glad you found the article helpful, Rich! I’m with you on how much fun it is to plan trips. Have a wonderful cruise next year!

Thank you for taking the time to write this informative piece. We thoroughly enjoyed a Viking Ocean cruise in 2019 and have been eager to try river cruising. We’ll do the Grand European from B to A in October this year. Your descriptions of the change of ship due to the broken lock and of docking side by side with other ships were reassuring. I will miss the free on board laundromat from ocean cruising though! Your advice about avoiding the far inland tours is wise, I think. We are not interested in spending a lot of time on buses. All the best.

I’m glad you found the article helpful. You mentioned laundry, and although there’s no laundromat on Viking’s European river cruise ships, there is a laundry service that you can use. (Depending on the category of your stateroom, the laundry service may be complimentary.) We sent some clothing to be laundered, and we were happy with that choice. Enjoy your cruise this fall!

Thanks for the great information. We are on a Viking rive4 cruise from Budapest to Amsterdam in April 2023.

What are your thoughts on the Silver Spirits package? I understand drinks are provided with meals but I enjoy a few drinks before dinner.

Good question, John, but it’s not an easy one to answer!

Here are a few things to think about when considering Viking’s Silver Spirits package.

As you probably know, Viking offers nice quality wine, beer, and soft drinks free of charge at lunch and dinner. The Silver Spirits package offers unlimited drinks including cocktails, premium wine, and beer. The Silver Spirits option is offered at a fixed price per guest and spans the entire length of the trip. You either choose it for your cruise, or you don’t – no daily option. (The price of the package varies, but it comes to about $20 or so a day per person.) If sharing a stateroom, both guests must pay for the package.

Paying upfront might offer peace of mind if you like knowing that it’s already paid for and you don’t have to think about an upcoming beverage bill. So it comes down to how much – and what kind of beverages – you’re likely to consume each day. You said you enjoy a few drinks before dinner, and if you add in some premium wine at dinner, the total you spend each day might add up pretty quickly. If you’re interested in figuring out the details, you may want to ask Viking for a bar menu with pricing before making up your mind.

With all that said, my husband and I did opt for the Silver Spirits package. In addition to cocktails, there were some very nice premium wine options aboard Viking, and we had fun trying ones that were new to us. We’ve had no regrets. 🙂

I hope you thoroughly enjoy your Viking cruise next year! Cheers!

Hi, Considering the Silver Spirits package. What are the charges for individual cocktails, apertifs or premium beers/wines by glass? Thanks

Hi Linda, you’re facing a big decision: to go with Silver Spirits or not! As you probably know, the package includes unlimited beverages when the bars are open. That includes any drinks up to $15 like cocktails, aperitifs, and premium wines by the glass. Without the Silver Spirits package, I’d plan on $6-10 for most cocktails, aperitifs, or premium wine by the glass. (Viking offers complimentary house wine and beer at lunch and dinner.) Another consideration, of course, is how often you might order specialty drinks from the bar: at lunch, throughout the day, before and/or after dinner? Some folks elect to get the Silver Spirits package because they enjoy trying new cocktails and/or premium wines while on vacation. Others get the package because they like having their drinks all inclusive without having to think about a bar tab. Hope this info helps you a bit! Have a wonderful cruise!

I agree with a previous comment about this being the most informative, most inclusive article I’ve seen as well. Indeed, very VERY helpful…especially for first time river cruisers. Thank you for your thoughtfulness. Good Job!!

I’m so glad you found the article helpful, Ronnie! Thank you!

I have been on 1 Viking River cruise and 3 (soon to be 4-I hope!) Ocean Cruises. My sister is taking her first river cruise in March and I found this site while trying to find info for her. This is by far THE BEST description and information on Viking River Cruises that I have ever read! Everyone should read this as every question seems to be answered well and clearly!

Thanks so much for the kind words, Laura! It makes me happy when I can help others get more comfortable with and enjoy their travels. Hope your sister finds her Viking river cruise everything she hopes it to be. What a great experience she has ahead of her! 🙂

Interesting information! We’re planning a Viking river cruise May 2022. Trying to navigate changing pandemic restrictions is a challenge I’d rather not have to deal with, but we’ll give it a try.

Thanks, Tom! We do indeed have new travel hiccups and challenges these days. I hope things go smoothly for you and that you have a wonderful time!

My husband and I will be sailing with Viking on a Rhine River cruise (Netherlands to Lucerne) this month and our very first river cruise (during a pandemic). Aside from the new safety protocols Viking has put in place your “Complete Guide to a Viking River cruise” was thoroughly informative, enjoyed the photos and took many notes while reading. Thank you for making me less anxious!

Happy traveling, Lolly!

Oh, I’m so happy you’re able to enjoy traveling safely during the pandemic. Yes, there have been changes to address public health safety, but I’m betting they won’t interfere with your overall enjoyment. And I’m so glad I was able to help you prepare for your cruise. Have fun! Bon voyage!

Thank you! We depart in 9 days on the Grand European tour, and this is the best account I have seen… we’ve done a dozen ocean cruises on several lines, but never a river cruise. My husband had been to a number of these cities on business and wanted me to visit them too, and this makes it sound easy. I liked the posted copy of the daily ‘news’ and we had already decided from our ocean experiences to take the drinks package. We’ve chosen a mix of the included tours and the custom days, avoided any places to which we’ve already travelled and have added in the ‘extensions’ to both ends, hoping to see friends in Amsterdam. Especially your tips on dinner were helpful — I will pack his blazer. And the small umbrellas! Since it will be November, and I’m also afraid of open heights we’ve opted for the French balcony room. The rooms do seem smaller than ocean cruiser rooms: did you stay in your cabin a lot? Thank you so much for this detailed account. Much better idea of what we’re ‘sailing’ into now!

Hi Cynthia, I bet you’re so excited about your upcoming trip! It sounds like you are all set. I just have one clarification about dressing for dinner mentioned in the article you read. Many folks do tend to change from the clothes they wore for daily excursions to something a little dressier for dinner, but I wouldn’t call dinner attire dressy. It would be more like “smart casual” (so no worn jeans and flip-flops, for example). Your husband doesn’t need to pack a blazer if he wouldn’t normally wear one for dinner. (I’m trying to save you room in your luggage!) People are relaxed aboard Viking river cruises (no dressy occasions), and that’s one thing people tend to enjoy about the experience. Have a wonderful time!

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Whichexcursions are included on Viking River Cruise?

By Sun Lover , September 4, 2019 in River Cruising

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I'm looking into possibly booking a Viking River Cruise in Europe.  On the itinerary when I pull up the individual days, each day has an excursion that has "Included" in the upper left-hand corner and then it also lists other excursions and also some say "Privileged Access," which I don't know what that means.  Are all the excursion choices included without extra cost?  When I click on the ones that do not say "Included" on them, there is no price listed.

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Peregrina651

Only the ones marked included are included in your cruise fare.

Everything else is a paid excursion. Prices are not given on the website; they will be given on the guest interface known as MyVikingJourney (MVJ) when shorex booking opens for your cruise. Access to MVJ is available only when you have an open booking with Viking and is where you go to learn more about your itinerary, book your excursions (including the included ones), pre-pay your gratuities if you wish, etc.

Privileged Access means that they have arranged some sort of special access either out of hours or to some place that is not normally open to visitors.

Also note that not every excursion shown on the individual day will be offered on every sailing. The "port" pages are generic and are used for all itineraries that call at that port. The final selection of shorex for your sailing will be available on MVJ when booking opens.

Thanks so much.  Your information is very helpful.  I've only been on ocean cruises and know absolutely nothing about river cruises so any advice I can get is much appreciated.

LeRenardrouge

Our experience on Viking River cruises is that their included excursions are very good and make good use of the time.  The optional excursions are usually to give an added cultural experience such as a concert, special winery tour and tasting, or special interest foodie excursion, in addition to the included excursion.  In general, their prices for optionals are reasonable.  The offered excursions tend to be offered on all the cruises versus what can happen on the ocean cruises.  Occasionally because a particular excursion might fall on a Sunday or holiday on a sailing, it could mean it may not be available on a specific sailing.  

I think the included excursions on their Ocean cruises are not as good but it does depend somewhat on the location.  If you are in port for say the whole day, if the included excursion is only a couple of hours, we normally opt for an optional that is most of the day or find an optional which can be done in addition to the included.  

Thanks for the information.  Have you had good experiences on the Viking River cruises?  They seem to be highly recommended but I'm wondering how they compare to the others.

sharkster77

@Sun Lover  my advice is to read these boards and soak in as much as you can.  I got interested in river cruises 3yrs ago, but life kept me from booking until last year.  I sail in 3 weeks, and I feel that these threads gave me a PhD education in river cruising!

You will learn quickly that ocean and river cruises have just about NOTHING in common:  ~170 passengers (not thousands), one dining venue, everyone dines at once, casual dress for dinner, no casino, probably no pool or exercise room, nobody trying to sell you something every 10 minutes, no annoying photographers, no climbing walls, very low key evening entertainment, etc.  We were drawn to river cruising because I think ocean cruising would annoy the hell out of me.

We booked with Viking, but read the other boards as well--there are several other cruise lines that are very good.  Viking had what we wanted for the Rhine, for example, but I would NEVER book Viking for the Seine--they aren't allowed to dock in Paris proper--passengers have to be bussed in to the city center (~1 hr due to traffic).  Without these boards I would NEVER know this.

13 minutes ago, sharkster77 said: casual dress for dinner, no casino, probably no pool or exercise room, nobody trying to sell you something every 10 minutes, no annoying photographers, no climbing walls, very low key evening entertainment, etc

You have described Viking Ocean. IMHO, Viking has done a wonderful job of translating its river experience into a comparable ocean experience -- no casinos, no children, no photographers, no nickel and dime-ing, no flaming desserts or frou-frou umbrella drinks, port intensive, casual, no butlers, no white gloves. Your ship is not your destination; it is just your floating hotel taking you from one interesting port to the next. 

27 minutes ago, sharkster77 said: but I would NEVER book Viking for the Seine--they aren't allowed to dock in Paris proper--passengers have to be bussed in to the city center (~1 hr due to traffic).  Without these boards I would NEVER know this.

This is no longer true. Starting in 2020, Viking will have cruises that will be docking in Central Paris. By the end of the season, 3 of 5 ships that Viking will operate on the Seine will dock in central Paris.The new ships are shorter to conform with the port authority regulations. Cruises docking in central Paris will also be more expensive than those docking in Le Pecq.

From the Viking website:

Note: The Paris port authority assigned Viking Kadlin and Viking Rinda a docking location in Le Pecq, a western suburb of Paris. To help maximize your time in the city center, we are offering complimentary shuttles for Viking guests throughout your stay. Viking Kari , Viking Radgrid and Viking Skaga will dock at Port de Grenelle in central Paris.

Are most of the Viking ships about the same as far as the onboard amenities, food, accommodations, etc?

3 hours ago, Sun Lover said: Are most of the Viking ships about the same as far as the onboard amenities, food, accommodations, etc?

The longships are identical, which makes the ship swaps in the case of low water manageable--one gets the exact same cabin as before, the lounge, dining room, etc are all in the same locations, same minimalist Scandinavian décor, etc.

On the Douro and in Russia, China, and SE Asia, the ships are very different.  On the Rhine, Danube, Moselle, Seine, they are identical (except for the new "smaller" longships Peregrina mentions above.

@Peregrina651  (greetings to a fellow Bostonian, BTW!),  I agree that Viking's adaptation of their river cruise model to the ocean is intriguing.  I was drawn to river cruising because of the aforementioned things on ocean liners that I would find annoying.  But Viking has me interested in ocean cruising!  The itinerary that circles the British Isles is on my radar.

I had heard about Viking's smaller longships being built for the Seine, but the increase in price for that privilege would lead me to price-shop other lines more closely to be sure the surcharge doesn't make other lines a better value.

12 hours ago, Sun Lover said: Have you had good experiences on the Viking River cruises?  They seem to be highly recommended but I'm wondering how they compare to the others.

Hi Sun Lover, we've been on two Viking rivers cruises now, the Danube Waltz (Budapest to Passau on the Legend) last summer and the Cities of Light cruisetour (Prague to Paris on the longship Alsvin) this summer.  We enjoyed our Danube Waltz cruise so much that we immediately booked another Viking river cruise when we got home; just got back from Cities of Light and had a great time again!  I should note that, on both cruises, were were fortunate not to experience water level issues or other problems (broken locks, mechanical breakdowns) that can turn a cruise into a bus tour.  

We haven't tried any other river cruise lines to compare, and there may be other lines that fit your needs and expectations better than Viking would.  I would suggest that you read through the "stickies" on this forum comparing the different lines.  Also, google "river cruise line comparisons" to get a feel for what the different lines offer; for example, here is an article I found helpful:  https://www.rivercruiseadvisor.com/river-cruise-reviews/europe-river-cruise-reviews/europe-river-cruise-reviews-cruise-operator/ . From my research,  Viking is not the most luxurious or all-inclusive (or expensive) river cruise line but, for the price we paid which included air, we have been very happy with what Viking offers. Also, o n both our cruises, there have been many "repeat Viking customers," some who have sailed with Viking multiple times and are happy with the product.   I would say that Viking compares with a top-brand Marriott or Hilton hotel that gets 4+ stars - comfortable, great service, very good to excellent food and excursions at a "reasonable" price.  However, it's not going to be the Ritz Carlton of cruise lines.  For example, if you want a truly gourmet meal experience every night or all-inclusive luxury, you may want to look into other lines.    Have fun planning!   

3rdCoastFan

I'd like to echo the suggestion to review the comparison stickies in this forum. Viking has a great PR team and I had no idea there were so many options for river cruises until I started to read posts here in advance of my Viking cruise last spring. I don't regret sailing on Viking in the least - the price was right given what we were looking for and with the air fare deal we secured. 

As far as optional excursions, prices varied on my Rhine cruise last April. Dinners in a particular town were around $100/person. Daytime tours may have been $50-75/person. An all-day excursion - like the Alsatian food/wine in Strasbourg - was close to $200/person. Once you select a line and specific cruise, you may want to read through 'roll call' threads from past years to get more feedback on specific excursions. You can sign up ahead of time - or wait until you're on the boat. You may find that some are sold out if you wait that long, though. The 'included' excursions never sell out (at least on Viking cruises). 

The included excursions were generally good on my Rhine cruise. At times, the boat would make a brief stop early in the morning so that everyone could board buses. We would then ride to the port town and do our tour while our boat continued to sail. Other times, and I'm thinking of Strasbourg, in particular, you get a lengthy bus ride before getting dropped off outside the city center. Strasbourg does not permit buses to enter the city center so that's not anything Viking can control - but, point being, if you're expecting every port stop to be smack dab in the middle of a town, you should re-calibrate your expectations. 

As far as Viking ships, there are two "prestige" class ships on the Danube - the Viking Legend and Viking Prestige. I'm sure these are fine but if you pick a cruise on the Danube, I would prioritize a cruise on one of the Longships. 

2 hours ago, 3rdCoastFan said: As far as Viking ships, there are two "prestige" class ships on the Danube - the Viking Legend and Viking Prestige. I'm sure these are fine but if you pick a cruise on the Danube, I would prioritize a cruise on one of the Longships. 

We've sailed both, the Legend and the Longship Alsvin, so I can provide a head-to-head comparison of our experience:

Pros of Legend compared to Longship: it's priced a little cheaper than the Longships for a given itinerary; French balcony staterooms are larger than on a Longship (170 versus 135 sq ft); service was outstanding (we sat at the same table every night for dinner because our waiters were so attentive, efficient and friendly - they became our new "best friends" 😃  by the end of the cruise!); food was a little better on the Legend compared to the Alsvin, although the food quality on both was overall very good to excellent.  

Cons of the Legend: older ship that seemed a little worn in places (e.g., carpets, upholstery) and I've heard reports of mechanical or AC breakdowns that can affect the quality of the cruise; decor definitely not as attractive as on a Longship; the Legend and Prestige ships do not offer balcony cabins (only French Balconies) and do not have the Aquavit Terrace (which we really enjoyed on the Alsvin Longship!).

Everything else seemed about equal in terms of the quality of the excursions and tour guides, Program Director, cabin stewards, etc. 

What do you mean by "stickies?"  I'm not sure where to look to compare the different river cruise lines.  Viking is having an anniversary sale until the end of Sept.  Does anyone know if their sales prices for that are really good?  If they are, I'd like to try to book something by the end of the month.  Also, for a first time river cruise, we were thinking of booking the 8 day Rhine trip in late August/early Sept. of 2020.  Do you think that's a good choice for our first river cruise?  Thanks.

@Sun Lover m if you're not sure if river cruising will be your cup of tea, then the Rhine is an excellent choice.  Shorter cruise, has good mixture of ports and scenic cruising.  If you LOVE the experience, then there are longer cruises available for the future.

RE: the "stickies":  at the top of the river cruising forum there are a bunch of threads with a padlock next to them--these are the introductory threads or stickies, as they are locked in at the top of the page.

Thank you!  I'll definitely check into that.

Hi Sun Lover, the only way to know whether a "sale price" is truly good is to compare with the other cruise line prices offering the same itinerary, along with all the amenities (air, gratuities, etc.).  For example, Viking sometimes offers a "2 for 1 sale" but not sure if that is really much of a savings.  I find it helpful to price out the different cruise line prices and try to compare "apples to apples" as much as possible. 

38 minutes ago, Moonlion said: Viking sometimes offers a "2 for 1 sale"

That used to be the standard way that they listed their prices (in other words, not really a sale price but just window dressing to make their standard pricing sound better) but as of a few months ago they have abandoned that practice.

We took the 14-day Rhine/Main/Danube cruise (Grand European?) in 2017. We were very impressed by the quality of the guides of the included excursions. Mostly graduate students and university professors. Way above our expectations.

Anecdote: we had a university professor for our Cologne tour. (Outstanding. If we could, we would have packed him up and taken him with us for the rest of the cruise.)  We were walking around the cathedral. When were rounding the back to the far side, I said, "Oh, they have falling buttresses!" The prof looked at me with that proud teacher expression, and said, "Yes, they do!" I guess I got my gold star for the day.  😊

Just now, hawkeye65 said: falling

Oh, I hate autocorrect. That's "flying buttresses" not "falling buttresses."

17 minutes ago, hawkeye65 said: Oh, I hate autocorrect. That's "flying buttresses" not "falling buttresses."

Drives me crazy!!

BUT, it seems you caught the mistake quickly and could have gone back and just edited the post. There is an edit function (it sits beside the QUOTE button on a desktop; don't know where it hides on a mobile device) and a 20 minutes window to fix any mistakes.

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Viking River Cruise: 15 Things to Know Before You Go

By Helene Sula

The moon shone brightly on the smooth Rhône River as we sailed silently, passing dimly lit chateaus and castles. I took a seven-day Viking River Cruise through France’s Provence and Lyon region and was not only enthralled with the scenery but adored the ship itself. 

If you're considering a Viking Cruise or want to know what it's like to sail on a river, this post will guide you through everything you need to know before you go.

I boarded the Viking Buri on a windy spring day in Avignon, France. Upon arrival, waiters greeted me with a lemongrass scented towel and a glass of ice water. After briefly looking at our passports, the Maître d' himself ushered our luggage into a cozy stateroom and explained the features of the room.

Was this really a cruise? Yes. And it only gets better from here.

Viking Cruises offers excursions on the sea and river. I was delighted to spend seven days along the Rhône River on the Provence and Lyon itinerary .

Viking features a number (over 60 in fact!) of river cruises on their fleet. I've outlined what you can expect on a river excursion.

15 things to know before you take a Viking River Cruise

It’s stress-free..

When I set sail on Viking I was immediately met with many questions, the most frequent, why take a cruise? To me, taking a cruise is probably the most relaxing vacation.

Travel planning usually takes a lot of time: where to stay, eat, sleep, and most importantly, what to see. But when taking a cruise much of this (and more) is done for you. With a Viking cruise, you know they've taken care of everything. You can sit back and enjoy the scenery around you. No need to stress. When I really want to relax I choose Viking.

See my first time cruising with Viking, here:

Stress-Free Travel with Viking Ocean Cruises

Very few “extra” costs

I hate being nickel and dimed. When paying for a vacation, I want to know all of my costs up front. This is one thing I love about Viking. Once you pay for your cruise, you’re pretty much all set. Included is a tour every day, all of your meals, and unlimited beer and wine at lunch and dinner. If you want an alcoholic drink at any other time, you can purchase the reasonably-priced “Silver Spirits” package which includes unlimited top-shelf liquor, specialty beer, and wine — available whenever you want.

Once you book your cruise, you’ll receive extensive details about your journey and options for booking tours. Of course, you can stick to the included tours. We spent more to take a few optional tours. For example, we took a truffle, cheese, and wine tasting tour outside of Lyon — one of my favorite experiences on the trip. We also purchased an additional trip to a Les Baux to see “Carrieres de Lumières” — an incredible display of Van Gogh’s artwork on an old stone quarry wall. Set to music, it felt like walking through a real life “Fantasia” and as if I was part of the artist's masterpieces. I think these tours were all well worth the additional cost. 

At the bottom of this post I share my exact trip itinerary.

It’s surprisingly casual

I was a bit worried that I wouldn’t have enough formal wear for dinner at night, as is required on some cruises, but not to worry. Viking River cruises are somewhat casual.  I loved that I could wear jeans or a dress at dinner. I would suggest packing a nice pair of flats, blouse, and jeans or pants, to wear for dinner (no shorts or t-shirts). You don’t have to wear a long black dress every night. I did also pack a few dresses, leggings, and I ended up buying a Viking fleece on board. I wasn’t anticipating how chilly France would be in May! I always pack my tennis shoes and a few lightweight sweaters. 

You won’t spend tons of time in the room, but opt for a balcony

The itineraries with Viking sometimes mean you might visit one or two places in a day. That means you’ll have lots to see and do. But, when you are cruising, it’s absolutely wonderful to see the sights from the comfort of your room’s balcony. We spotted stately chateaus, vineyards clutching the sides of cliffs, and hilltop towns nestled beside fortresses. You can enjoy a cup of coffee or tea as you watch the world sail by. It’s a not-to-miss experience!

For me, one advantage of a river cruise is the luxury of having all your belongings in one place. I travel a lot and am often hauling my stuff from place to place. With a cruise, I can easily visit multiple places across the country, or even countries, and have the convenience of putting everything in one spot and knowing all my meals, transfers, and sleeping is in one convenient and comfy spot.

Bring Your Cruise Documents

This might sound like a no-brainer, but the two things you shouldn't forget are your passport and your cruise documents. The documents outline all the details you need to know about your trip and also include things like handy luggage tags.

You'll also find important information such as currency, language, and flight details if you booked with Viking.

Something to note is that Viking provides transfers to and from the airport, so you won't need to worry about getting to and from. Since I was exploring France a bit before my cruise, I found my own way to the ship. But they provided transfers from the ship to the airport when I was departing.

Leave your converters at home

Another great feature of a Viking River cruise is the ship's electrical outlets. Is that a crazy thing to say?! Yes. But having to pack additional converters or keeping your fingers crossed that your curling iron won't blow up is a nice feature. On the Viking ships you'll find American plugs (as well as European), making it easy to plug in your electronics.

Basically, Viking thinks of everything — just one reason I love this company.

Tell the staff about your special occasions

Michael and I were celebrating our 8th (!) wedding anniversary aboard the ship. I casually let the ship staff know about it. To our delight, on the night of our anniversary, the waitstaff surprised us with a delicious cake, candles, then serenaded us to “It's Now or Never.” It was such a memorable moment!

Viking goes out of its way to make you feel special, especially if you're celebrating an important event. So feel free to let them know.

The ship has WiFi, but it's limited

Yes, they advertise WiFi on board the Viking ships, but it's not going to be lightning fast Internet like you're used to at home. Just something to keep in mind. The Internet is good enough to check your emails or social media, but not quite strong enough to upload a video. This is not the case on ocean cruises, but I did find this on the river.

It's all about the destination

Yes, the cruise ship is incredible. But get off the boat! When you dock ashore, Viking includes an activity each and every day. This makes Viking different from other ships. They want you to get off the ship and find out more about the places you're visiting.

If you want additional help you can also use the onboard concierge to plan additional experiences or things to do. I highly recommend using these services to find unique options, food, and things that interest you.

Seven days isn't enough? No worries! Viking offers trip extensions so you can see even more of the cities and learn more about the history.

The food alone is worth the cost of the trip

All the Swiss-trained chefs prepare the food fresh every day. Viking menus emphasize specialty dishes from the region where you’re cruising. All the delicious food on Viking is included and starts with a breakfast buffet and a choice to order off-the-menu. You can also grab pastries in the Aquavit terrace.

Lunch is served in two locations: the dining room for a more formal order off-the-menu, or pasta and salad from the buffet. The Aquavit terrace grill serves burgers, hot dogs, and more. Dinner is served in the dining room or Aquavit and you’ll order off-the-menu.

You’re encouraged to order a starter, main dish, and dessert. Don’t worry if you can’t choose. They’ll bring you both! I particularly enjoyed the savory soups such as mushroom truffle and French onion. There’s also a coffee and water station with soft, fresh baked cookies. They're dangerous — I couldn’t pass by without grabbing one. The exceptional food on Viking is worth the cost of the cruise alone. 

Almost everyone on the ship has sailed with Viking before

The first night of our arrival we received welcome drinks and listened to music in the Aquavit lounge. The staff went over important information before introducing themselves. Then the guests were asked if they had sailed with Viking before. Nearly every hand shot up! A true testament to the Viking experience. 

There's a reason why Viking consistently receives awards as the best cruise company out there.

The cruise is great for adults of any age

Viking doesn’t allow children on board. You must be at least 18 to book a cruise. Most of the time you’ll find a bit of an older crowd. But that’s not to say younger cruisers will feel out of place. There are activities to appeal to all ages. 

River cruising differs greatly from ocean cruising

Having sailed with Viking on both ocean and river, I can tell you the experience is not the same. Ocean cruises feature a much larger ship, a wider variety of restaurants and entertainment, and a bigger crew. The Viking River cruises are more intimate. You usually dock overnight at many of the ports, leaving you the option to explore in the evening if you choose. 

Leave time to explore your ship

The Viking Longship is an absolute masterpiece of Scandinavian design. Clean lines and beautiful, modern decor are featured throughout the vessel.

We sailed on the Viking Buri — well equipped with everything you could need and more. A glamours marble entryway leads to a lovely staircase toward a library, beautiful dining room, sun deck, bar, lounge, as well as many tucked away corners where guests can relax. 

The staff are world class

One day I mentioned that I preferred Diet Coke over coffee in the morning. Every morning after that, the waiter or waitress brought me a Diet Coke with a fresh glass of ice, I never had to ask again. They specialize in that personal touch, even making a point to remember names!

Intent on making the trip the best ever, the staff are fun, personable, and helpful. They not only cook, clean, organize, and serve, but they also entertain. One reason I and others keep coming back to Viking is because of the incredible staff. One important note: you tip additionally per day, per person. I recommend to also tip any staff you feel went above and beyond. For us, it was the Maître d, bartender, and piano player.

Here’s a look at our exact 7-day Viking Buri Provence and Lyon Excursion:

Day 1 – arrival and avignon.

We arrived in Avignon and headed to the ship where a light lunch was provided. Our luggage was whisked right into the room and we had time to explore the boat and meet our fellow passengers on the ship.

Day 2 Arles

At Arles, known as the place where Van Gogh cut off his ear, we did a walking tour, saw the incredible Roman ruins, and walked the lovely sun-drenched cobblestone streets. Here we also went to Les Baux to see the “Carrieres de Lumières” exhibit in the quarry.

Day 3 Avignon

Heading back to Avignon, we walked through the city walls and explored the Pope's Palace- one of the most important historical sites in France. Now, it's used for a theater festival each year. We also went to the market and sampled oysters and candied fruits.

Day 4 Viviers

Lavender is extremely prevalent in Provence. On a tour of a lavender museum, we learned the many uses of this beautiful flower. Driving through small towns near the area I spotted house after house with blue shutters — a signature color in Provence.

Day 5 Tournon

After exploring the small town of Tournon, we hopped on a steam train! Yes, this was an included tour — incredible. We passed beautiful churches, bridges, and a gorge. Afterward, we took a walking tour of Vienne with its lovely church and Roman temple.

This, my second time to Lyon, reminded me of what makes this city so special — the incredible church, the views all around the city, the intricate and historical murals that explain its history. Because we were docked in Lyon that night, we could stroll the streets and take in the well-lit city after dark.

Day 7 Lyon and Excursion

Today we left Lyon on a bus tour that started with learning and tasting wine in the Beaujolais region. After wine, we had a feast of truffle flavored delights followed by a truffle hunt with an adorable dog. We finished off the day learning about goat cheese making, and we brought home salted caramel sauce.

Day 8 Departure from Lyon

On our final day, we packed up our stuff, had a delicious breakfast, and Viking assisted us straight to the Lyon airport. I was so sad to go, but know I'll be booking another Viking cruise soon!

How to choose a Viking cruise:

First and foremost think about the length of time. You can opt to spend seven days cruising the river or opt for two weeks cruising in the ocean.

Are you adventurous? Do you prefer seeing the sights like castles and walking cobblestone streets? Consider what you like to do or what's on your bucket-list and let the cruise fit your options.

If you're still feeling stuck, just remember, you can't really go wrong. Viking prides itself on going to astonishing and enriching destinations. I find Viking to be really exceptional. We left feeling they made every possible effort to make our trip special. And it was. 

MEET THE AUTHOR

Helene Sula

I believe that one trip can change your life. It did for me. I'm a self proclaimed home body that quit her job, moved abroad, and more often than not, lives out of a carry-on bag. If I'm not traveling, I'm most likely re-reading Harry Potter or watching "Midnight in Paris" while snuggling my dogs. I'm a digital marketing expert who turned my love of travel into a full-time career. And I help others do it too.

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Excursions on Viking River Cruises - Are They Different?

By:   Megan Guinnup , a Marvelous Mouse Travels agent

Excursions on Viking River Cruises are a bit different from most Ocean Cruises. From the way you meet up with your guide to the cost and everything in-between, let's dive deeper into those differences. 

Ticket and Information

While you're at dinner and your stateroom host is taking care of the evening turndown in your stateroom, he or she will leave a copy of the next day's Viking Daily and tickets for your excursions on your bed. The Viking Daily contains the next day's schedule, weather report, information on the destination, and interesting facts. The ticket has the date of your excursion, your name, and the time/place you need to meet your guide. You'll need to bring your ticket to each excursion - some guides collect them and others don't, but you should be prepared either way. 

Meeting your Guide

Disembarking from a River Cruise is far easier than an Ocean Cruise. There's no waiting to clear customs upon docking, you walk straight off the gangway into the town or city. A few times a coach bus took us to the start of the tour, but most of the time we met our guide as soon as we walked off the ship and began our tour almost immediately. Be sure to pack comfortable shoes - many of the towns still have cobblestone sidewalks and roads! 

What is the Cost?

On Viking River Cruises, there is one included excursion at each town or city you visit along the way. This is typically a guided walking tour of the town, which can include visiting historical sites, learning about the significance of that town and its buildings/churches throughout history, and sometimes, going inside a few buildings or churches. The guides that Viking uses for these excursions are local experts in the area you are visiting and all speak English! 

What are Optional Excursions on Viking River Cruises ?

These are additional excursions you can choose to attend, but do have a cost associated with them. The cost varies, based on what you'll be doing on the excursion. For example, a wine tasting is going to cost more than a tour of a palace. Viking has a variety of optional excursions you can choose from, but they don't overwhelm you with choices. Each day of the Rhine Getaway sailing I was on, there were two to four optional excursions to choose from.

What if I don't want to pay for an excursion?

If you choose to forgo any optional excursions, you're free to hang out on the ship or explore the town on your own! The customer service desk provides you with maps of the area as well as a card that has your ship name, phone number, and dock location (in case you get lost). No matter how good you are with directions or how great your map app is on your phone, definitely take a card - you never know when you'll need it! 

Excursions on a Viking River Cruise are a memorable experience and give you a great orientation of the town or city you're visiting. In my opinion, the included excursions are a must-do for everyone! If an option excursion that is offered is something you're interested in, go for it - you won't regret it. Otherwise, explore the town you're docked in on your own - there is so much to do and see! 

Please reach out to  Megan , an agent with Marvelous Mouse Travels to plan your next vacation or you may contact  Marvelous Mouse Travels.

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Home » Cruise » Viking Cruises » We Just Returned From Our First Viking River Cruise And Here’s What It Was Really Like

We Just Returned From Our First Viking River Cruise And Here’s What It Was Really Like

We just returned from a Viking Seine River cruise and share what it is like to be onboard a Viking longship sailing through Northern France.

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Boarding a river ship that only holds 168 guests was a bit different for us given we usually sail on the world’s largest cruise ships. But, to explore Paris and the banks of Northern France, we decided to step outside of our comfort zone and put our trust in the crew of Viking Radgrid. This vessel is one of four Viking longships specifically designed to cruise the Seine River.

While we have sailed with Viking on the brand’s ocean and expedition ships, this was our first river cruise. Now, we are back from our Paris & the Heart of Normandy itinerary and want to share what it was really like in our Viking Seine River cruise review.

Viking Seine River Cruise Review

Exploring the world in comfort.

When cruising with Viking, regardless of whether it is an ocean, expedition, or river ship, there are many similarities. From modern Scandinavian design and warm hospitality to a level of inclusion not found on contemporary brands, Viking guests feel right at home. This level of consistency helped ease us into our first river cruise experience.

It also helps that Viking guests are taken care of from the moment they arrive at the airport. With Viking’s all-inclusive offering, flights booked with the cruise line include free transfers from the airport to the ship.

While we usually fly in a day before any cruise, this Paris & the Heart of Normandy itinerary includes an extra day at the embarkation point. Thus, there is no need for a pre-cruise hotel unless you want to extend your stay.

Luckily, we had a direct, overnight flight from Boston to Paris. Arriving around 9:30 AM, we were quickly greeted by a Viking representative in a bright red coat and were on a bus heading to the ship within 30 minutes of getting our luggage. Unfortunately, Viking can’t help the traffic though, as it was nearly a 2 hour drive from Charles de Gaulle airport to our docking location in Paris.

However, upon arrival at the ship, embarkation was a breeze. We were checked in, escorted to our stateroom with our luggage, and ready to get our adventure started.

Viking Inclusions

If you are new to cruising with Viking, you should know what’s included in your cruise fare and what’s not. Included on all Viking river cruises are:

• Beer and wine at lunch and dinner
• One daily excursion
• Specialty coffee, tea, soda, and bottled water

Unfortunately, there is no room service on Viking river cruises. There is also no pool, fitness center, spa, or casino. Further, beyond beer and wine at meals, all other alcoholic beverages will cost extra. Viking does offer the Silver Spirits drink package, which is very reasonably priced at $25 per person, per day.

One of the staples on any cruise is dining and Viking river cruises are no different. On Viking Radgrid, there are two main dining areas, The Restaurant and the Aquavit Terrace.

The Restaurant on Deck 2 is a formal restaurant that resembles a typical main dining room. With panoramic windows lining both sides of the venue, there are constant scenic views. The Restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner with a variety of options and local specialties. Though, you’ll need to make friends as there are mostly large tables and no tables just for two.

The Restaurant usually opens for breakfast around 7 AM and is a hybrid dining experience. It includes a small buffet of breakfast items like scrambled eggs, bacon, and breakfast potatoes. Guests can also order off a menu with made-to-order items like pancakes and French toast.

Lunch is served promptly from noon to about 2 PM each day, which means all cruisers need to dine during these hours if they want lunch. The lunch menu consists of always available options like the signature salad and a hamburger. There are also a few rotational selections that vary daily like short ribs and an energy bowl.

Each evening, dinner followed that night’s port talk, usually starting at 7 PM. Again, cruisers can opt for always available selections or regional specialties with Chef Recommendations that included dishes like brie pane, poulet aux morilles, mille-feuille, and boeuf a la bourguignonne. One evening, Viking also features a signature regional buffet, which was the Taste of Normandy on our sailing.

While the menus are smaller than main dining rooms on most ocean ships, the quality and presentation were top notch.

The second dining offering is the Aquavit Terrace up on Deck 3. Offering tables for 2 and 4 and al fresco dining, this venue serves the same menu as The Restaurant for lunch and dinner. The only difference is the more casual setup and ambiance.

Unfortunately, the patio was closed for most of the cruise, given the mostly unfavorable weather conditions. So, each night, it became a competition to nab the handful of tables available inside the Aquavit Terrace.

In addition, cookies (continental items in the morning) and 24-hour specialty coffees and teas are available at two self-serve stations on Deck 3. Along with the selection of espresso beverages, they also offer syrups and skim milk. Thus, we had all the essential ingredients for Heidi’s twice-daily nonfat caramel latte.

What we did miss though were more casual, grab-and-go options. While the Aquavit Terrace did have continental breakfast selections, it did not offer the same setup for lunch or dinner. We would have liked the ability to grab a sandwich, a personal pizza, or salad to bring back to our room on some occasions, especially because there’s no room service. Thus, after a long day in port, the only option is a sit-down meal.

Onboard Amenities and Activities

In contrast to the larger ocean ships on which we typically sail, Viking Radgrid only has four decks and hence few public areas. Deck 2 is home to a small Guest Services desk and a small shop with Viking logo items and children’s books by Viking’s EVP Karine Hagen.

Deck 3 features a small library with books and games, an “internet cafe” with two computers, and the Lounge. The Lounge is the main bar and entertainment space on the ship.

Deck 4 is a full length sundeck with plenty of seating to enjoy the outdoors as the weather allows. It also features a small herb garden, a walking track, and the smoking area. One mile will take nearly 16 laps around the track.

Further, anyone interested can sign up at guest services for a visit to the wheelhouse. Unlike the bridge of a ship, this top-deck wheelhouse is hydraulic and lowers automatically when encountering low bridges.

Of note, there is one small elevator for those with mobility issues as well.

Nighttime Entertainment

With each new day consisting of at least one new port of call, there was little downtime during our Viking Seine River cruise. As one of the benefits of river cruising, guests get to explore off the beaten path destinations and quaint towns that can’t be accessed by larger cruise ships. There’s also more time in port, sometimes even two different ports in one day, and plenty of scenic cruising in between stops.

Subsequently, the Viking Daily’s list of onboard activities is more sparse when compared to ocean cruising. One morning, a local artist did come on board to offer a lecture on impressionism.

Then, once most cruisers are back on board in the evenings, there is usually some kind of activity taking place in the Lounge. Following dinner, we enjoyed live local musicians or a cultural activity, like opera singers and a string trio.

Additionally, the program director, Mia, hosted a port talk around 6:30 PM each day. This included an introduction to the next day’s ports, tour options, and any procedural information that we needed to know. During our sailing, Mia also hosted a French lesson and a game show that was a lot of fun. Having more game shows and group activities like this throughout the week would have been nice.  

Besides being a great host, Mia did an outstanding job coordinating the excursions. She always had a smile, was talkative, and was present throughout the ship at all hours of the day. Given that she was essentially the entire activities staff, she managed her many duties well.

We stayed in stateroom 219, a veranda (B) stateroom on Deck 2. All the cabins on the starboard side of this deck are balcony cabins, while those on the portside are French balcony cabins. Deck 1 consists of standard staterooms, which feature river views from a half-height picture window. Deck 3 consists of additional veranda and French balcony staterooms, along with a few suites.

While cruise ship cabins are small in general, this 205-square-foot cabin felt even cozier than the typical balcony staterooms found on ocean ships.

Immediately upon entering the room, the bathroom was on the aft wall. The tiled shower had just enough room, thanks to the double-sided glass doors. With two storage shelves and upgraded features like premium bath products and heated floors, the bathroom was comfortable and functional for the week.

Across from the bathroom is the closet. It featured deep shelves with the safe on one side and a clothes bar with hangers on the other side. The forward wall has a long table/desk, four drawers which we used for additional clothing storage, and a mini fridge. Here, you’ll also find carafes of water that are refilled daily and the Quietvox devices which are utilized on most shore excursions.

Further, the cruise line allows guests to bring local products back on the ship, like food or alcoholic beverages, that are able to be consumed during the voyage. So, this is a nice perk.

The queen-sized Viking Explorer bed is on the aft wall facing forward, across from the desk. Each side of the bed has a 110 V outlet, European outlet, and 2 USBs. There was also a nightstand on one side and a small table on the other along with one lone chair.

This seating area was a bit tight, but the nook became my workstation for the week. The table was large enough to house my computer and charge various devices.  

Getting from the door, past the bed, to the balcony is a tight squeeze. But, considering only 35 cabins on the ship have a veranda, we are not complaining. We appreciated having the balcony with two chairs and a table to enjoy the scenic cruising.

Viking Seine River Cruise Review – The Itinerary

Our Paris & the Heart of Normandy 8-day itinerary consisted of seven ports of call. Along with Paris and the Beaches of Normandy, the stops ranged from quaint villages to bustling cities. Each port along the way offered an opportunity to experience something new.

With 6 included tours, and two optional excursions, there wasn’t dull moment, as we wanted to make the most of our first visit to this region.

Springtime in Paris

We embarked Viking Radgrid in Paris where the ship remained through the following day. Given the rainy weather and jet lag, we did not get out to explore much during our first day in the city. So, we packed in as much as possible on the second day of our cruise.

The weather was slightly better on Day 2. It was cloudy, with a few periods of sun, but it was still rather chilly. In the morning, we set off on Viking’s included Panoramic Paris shore excursion.

This mix of a bus tour and walking tour hit several of the city’s highlights. It included a city center stop for a selfie in front of the Eiffel Tower, a ride down the Champs-Élysées, and two circles around the Arc de Triomphe for photos. We did get off the bus for a short while near Notre Dame and the Latin quarter. The 3.5-hour tour was a good overview as we had never been to Paris. But, given the 2024 Olympics, many areas were under construction.

Back to the ship for a quick lunch, we headed out on one of the optional tours to the Palace of Versailles in the afternoon. This 4-hour tour included a transfer to the 17th-century palace. Now a museum, we had a standard tour that took several large groups through two wings of the massive building.

Our tour guide did a great job weaving through the crowds. She never stopped her narration of the history as we dodged other tourists. Unfortunately, we had limited time to explore the gardens independently afterwards as we got caught in a rainstorm.

We Had the Chateau to Ourselves

On Day 3, we awoke in the quaint village of La Roche-Guyon.

For the morning, we strolled the picturesque streets of this small community situated right along the banks of the Seine River. Various historic buildings exist throughout the village, but the 12th-century Château de La Roche-Guyon is the most iconic.

We opted for a self-guided tour with the Viking discount, which costs $7.50 per visitor. We spent about 90 minutes exploring this partially restored castle using the audio guide and overview map. If you can handle the 250 steps, a walk up to the castle’s bell tower is worth it for the panoramic views of the village.

With the ship departing for Vernon at 2 PM, we opted for one of the included tours to the town of Auvers-sur-Oise. This little known locale is the final home of the impressionist painter Vincent Van Gough. This tour included stops in the town associated with the 70 days the painter spent here before the tragic end of his life, including the famous church he painted.

Again, our tour guide was excellent. She provided a wealth of history and backstory about the town, the region, and this iconic artist. We also had some free time to pop into a local bakery for fresh pastries.

Of note, this tour was a substitute for the Monet Gardens given we were too early in the season.

Roaming the Streets of Rouen

Grey skies loomed overhead as our longship sailed along the Seine, approaching our most northern stop, Rouen, on Day 4. With small towns, factories, and pastures dotting the coastline, we had a lazy morning of work.

After lunch, we headed ashore for the 1:45 PM walking tour of the city. For about 90 minutes, our guide weaved in and out of a few blocks showcasing the 16th-century architecture. From the half-timbered buildings intertwined with modern-day shops and cafes, Roen was much different than any of the places we visited on this trip.

While not walking far, we did hit the highlights. Among the photo-ops were the Church of Saint Maclou, the Palace of Justice, the Church of St. Joan of Arc, the Town Clock and Belfry, and the Notre Dame Cathedral.

The tour ended at the Old Market Place, giving us free time to explore independently. While the museums in town are free, we opted for macarons and Starbucks coffee. That’s French enough, right?

Remembering The Past

Along with the embarkation city of Paris, the other highlight of this itinerary is a full-day excursion to the landing beaches of Normandy.  

On Day 5, we set off from Roen (where we were docked overnight) on this 11-hour tour. The briefing the night before set the emotional stage for the tour and reliving the historic events of June 6, 1944.

The day-long excursion included an approximately 2.5-hour drive to Caen. One of the major holdouts after the landing, this city is home to a thoughtfully laid-out and curated museum. Our stop included approximately two hours here with a partially guided tour. We then had some free time to explore the exhibits on our own.

From here, we made a short lunch stop before heading to the American National Cemetery, about 45 minutes away. We had about 90 minutes at the cemetery, which included a brief ceremony at the memorial and time to roam the grounds where over 9,400 American soldiers are buried.

The final stop was at Omaha Beach. The 30 minutes here let guests walk along the beach and reflect on the D-day landing. Back on the bus, it was close to three hours back to the ship.

A Sunny Day in Les Andelys

When we pulled into the charming village of Les Andelys on Day 6, it was quite grey. The early morning fog made us concerned it would be another gloomy day. Yet, by late morning, the skies cleared, and it was a bright and sunny midday—at least for now.

With our tour scheduled for 2 PM, we had free time to see some of the sights on our own. Thus, we took a quick stroll and made sure to grab some photos and videos of the ship before meeting our tour shoreside.

We spent the next two hours strolling the streets of this picturesque village with our energetic and enthusiastic tour guide. The most impressive site is the 12th-century Chateau Gaillard, built by Richard the Lion Heart. Technically, you can get better shots of the remains from the riverbank, but making the trek to the top is worth it. We were able to get amazing pictures of the town and the ship from here.

Along the way, we also learned about the town’s history and the chateau’s construction. Of note, it is a rather steep ascent. So, do keep your physical fitness levels in mind.

When we finished the tour, we took our guide’s advice to grab some sweets and a French baguette from a local pâtisserie. Thankfully, we just made it inside when the skies opened and there was some of the worst hail we’ve ever seen!

A Change of Plans

Ahead of the cruise, we received a warning that the ship might be unable to dock in Paris due to river water levels. While we could board the ship a short walk from the Eiffel Tower a week ago, that would not be the case for departing Viking Radgrid.

During the disembarkation day talk, the captain announced that the ship would be docking in Le Pecq for the last two days due to high river levels. This did not dramatically change our plans; although, it did mean that we wouldn’t get to walk around Paris at all.

For the last day of this cruise, we had two tours scheduled. The first was the included tour of Napoleon’s Chateau de Malmaison. 

After a short drive to the Chateau, we had about two hours to tour the early 19th-century seat of Napoleon’s government. While not as impressive as some other French castles we visited during this cruise, it was relatively empty which was a nice reprieve. This gave the Viking groups plenty of time and space to enjoy this hidden gem.  

Back on the ship by 12:30 PM, it was a mad dash to lunch before our next 1:30 PM tour. This optional excursion included a guided tour of the Louvre and a brassiere dinner. However, I don’t think we were ready for what a busy museum full of tour groups and priceless works of art really looked like.

To see all the Louvre offers would take two months of daily visits. So, we only got to see the highlights while dodging the crowds. But, from the original fortress foundations to Greek and Italian sculptures to the French crown jewels, the roughly 2.5 hours touched on some of the more noteworthy pieces.

Of course, no trip to this museum is complete without seeing the Mona Lisa or the Venus de Milo. While we did have to battle the crowds, we were able to snap a selfie with the slightly smiling lady.

After some free time to browse the gift shops, we went to a local brassiere for an “authentic” French dinner. Although, the Caprese salad and broiled lamb chop were not precisely what we envisioned. But, the massive profiterole for dessert was a perfect ending to our seven days in France.

Our Viking Seine River Cruise Review Recap

Over 7 days, we traveled back in time through several centuries. We explored historic chateaus, sampled French cuisine, and marveled at the heroism of Allied troops at the very beaches they stormed 80 years ago.

The 55 crew members of Viking Radgrid ensured we were well-fed and well-taken care of along the way. Those who have sailed on smaller cruise ships will feel right at home with the friendliness and quaint surroundings of this longship. With upscale dining, cozy accommodations, and twice-daily service, Viking wraps cruisers in comfort and handles every little detail of the trip.

The onboard atmosphere is casual and relaxed, and Viking Radgrid felt like a floating home away from home.

We must admit as mega-ship cruisers, we were worried that there wouldn’t be enough to do on such a small ship. Yet, that was never the case. In fact, we were often so tired from a day full of exploration ashore that we had to actively keep ourselves awake to enjoy the nighttime entertainment. A round of espresso martinis also helped.

On most of our trips, the ships themselves are the destination. While on a river cruise, the itinerary is the focus. With Viking Radgrid blending into the background, we were able to absorb the scenery, culture, and history. We can’t think of a better way to explore this region than by a river cruise ship.

Ocean cruises and river cruises are two very different options to “sea the world, one port at a time”. But if you enjoy the comforts of a cruise ship and want to explore new destinations, we encourage you too to step outside of your comfort zone and try a river cruise.

Viking offers various sailings throughout Europe, Asia, and even on the Mississippi and Nile rivers. So, we suspect you will find a region of the world worth exploring on your first river cruise.

Are you planning a Viking river cruise? Have you sailed the Seine River yet? Drop us an anchor below with your latest river cruise reviews.

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DB & The Princess

Welcome Aboard! We are Don and Heidi, the husband and wife travel team behind EatSleepCruise.com. We took our first cruise vacation together 13 years ago and have been hooked ever since. Follow along as we share our travel tips, cruise reviews, information on ports of call, and the latest cruise news to help you plan the ultimate cruise vacation. Are you ready to embark on your journey to “sea the world, one port at a time”?

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Traveling with Sweeney

Inspiration and information for the best in luxury, cultural, and active travel, viking cruise shore excursions: should you take them, river and ocean cruise shore excursions — included and optional, should you take shore excursions on a viking cruise.

Of course! During our three river cruises and one ocean cruise (so far), we’ve taken every opportunity to see the sights and have special cultural experiences when at port. The guided tours in each destination provided a good overview of key highlights in each city while still providing free time for our own sightseeing. On each cruise, Viking offered tours that are included in the cruise fare as well as many optional tours at an additional cost.  Some passengers may like to just stay on the ship to relax and partake in onboard lectures and activities, but since Viking cruises are very destination-oriented , there is much to be discovered at each port.

At Heidelberg Castle on a panoramic tour

Included excursions

Each of the included tours that we’ve taken has given us a great introduction to a place. On panoramic coach tours or in-town walking tours, our guides have provided insights on history, background, current events, and local culture. Panoramic tours will allow some time at landmarks and at vista points for photo opportunities. Most often, we’ve also had time to explore on your own before getting back on the coach to return to the ship.

We found the local Viking guides (on included and optional tours) to be fun, knowledgeable, and proud of their cities and/or regions. They are locals who know the destination and have insider perspectives that they can share. In our experiences, they’ve also had engaging personalities and senses of humor. Viking Cruises does a great job of running a smooth process and transporting everyone on their comfortable coaches to tour locations or on scenic drives.

Portuguese guides on Viking shore excursion

Optional excursions

Although taking only included tours can still make for a fulfilling cruise (in my opinion), you should consider optional cruises and make decisions about whether and which to take any based on your interests and budget. The groups are often smaller and the excursions typically focus on more in-depth experiences, including under-the-radar attractions, historical perspectives, and cultural immersion. Privileged access to sites is often provided, too. Some examples of the recreational, cultural, and culinary experiences include bike tours, small boat tours, hikes, wine tasting, cooking classes, concerts, and dance performances.

Ready for a walking tour of Cologne, Germany

Excursion tips:

• After your cruise is booked, Viking’s “My Viking Journey” website will help you plan your agenda and you can always contact Viking service representatives by phone or online chat for assistance and advice.
• To get excursion inspiration, follow #MyVikingStory on Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest to see photos and read what current cruisers are sharing as they take excursions. (Of course, don’t forget to check out more cruise-related articles on Traveling with Sweeney , too.)
• Duration of tours listed on the itinerary show the time the tour group leaves the ship to the time returned to the ship. This is helpful to know as you decide upon multiple tours per day.
• On the river cruises, if your excursion occurs during the planned lunch or dinner times, a meal will part of the tour. With so many options for open dining on the ocean cruise, we were able to fit in meals and snacks before, after, or in between excursions.
• The QuietVox audio devices supplied by Viking in the staterooms are very good for being able to follow along with your tour guides on your excursions. Don’t forget to charge them at night and bring them along for the tours.

Our favorite optional excursions

On one of Viking’s comfortable coaches

I’ve compiled below a few photos and excerpts from previous posts (with links for more information) about some of the optional excursions we particularly enjoyed. I hope they’ll give you some inspiration about selections you might consider on these or similar cruises. Specific tours  may change by cruise season, so there may be different options on the current cruise itineraries.

Romantic Danube Cruise

Heurigen evening in vienna.

Heurigen Evening in Vienna, Austria

An optional Viking excursion in Vienna, the “ Heurigen Evening” provided a high-spirited authentic Viennese gemütlichkeit  experience. A shuttle from the ship took our small group of five couples and our guides to the city’s 19th district where numerous vineyards are located with their wine taverns called Heurigen . The  Heuriger became part of Austrian culture in the 18th century when Emperor Joseph II proclaimed that anyone who made their own wine could sell it to the public in their establishments. — Good Cheer and High Spirits in Vienna

Rhine Getaway Cruise

Medieval village of colmar.

Picturesque medieval buildings of Colmar

We’re so glad that we took an optional excursion into Colmar, France. Such a charming city center with colorful old buildings like these. There’s much World War II history to explore here, too. — A Rhine River Cruise Getaway

Alsatian Wine Tasting

Alsace wine country

During our Viking River  Rhine Getaway cruise , we got a chance to experience some of the flavors and characteristics on both sides of the Rhine. A favorite activity for me was an Alsatian wine tasting excursion. It was our first visit to this area of France, and we were enthralled — even a little surprised — and even overcast weather did not darken the day or our enthusiasm. — Wine on the Rhine: A Taste of Alsace

Portugal’s River of Gold

Sailing along Northern Portugal’s Douro River was our very first river cruise experience and we were quickly convinced that this was a wonderful travel option.

Wine cellars and estates

Douro wine country of Portugal

The sweet grapes used to make authentic port wine, Portugal’s most famous export, are only grown in the Douro Valley. There are many styles of port, several of which we sampled at wine estates throughout the Douro region and on board the Hemming. — Cruising Portugal’s River of Gold: Our Favorite Things

Medieval Guimaraes

The city of Guimarães in Northern Portugal was the country’s first capital and the birthplace of Portuguese national identity. The city center of Guimarães was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001 and there are many monuments and museums attesting to this history. But Guimarães also has a contemporary side with a thriving modern culture and economy. — Medieval Guimarães: Portugal’s First Capital

Viking Homelands  (ocean cruise)

View of Viking Jupiter and Stockholm skyline on a panoramic tour

There were many choices of special experiences available during our cruise on the Baltic in Stockholm, Helsinki, Tallinn, Gdansk, and St. Petersburg. With two days to spend exploring St. Petersburg we decided to take advantage of several optional excursions in this amazing Russian city. Each of the optional excursions mentioned below (and other St. Petersburg activities) are described further in our article, Two Days in St. Petersburg: Russia’s Venice of the North.

St. Petersburg by Metro and on Foot

Avtovo Metro station

I’d heard about the  St. Petersburg Metro System  and looked forward to going on the “St. Petersburg by Metro and on Foot” excursion. We rode the Metro from Avtovo Station (considered by many to be one of the most beautiful stations in the world) to Nevksy Prospekt Station with transfers in between.

Russia’s Native Songs and Dances

Performance of Russia’s Native Songs and Dances

St. Petersburg is a cultural capital and renowned for its famous musicians, dancers, and writers.  The heritage of traditional folk music and dances is key to the culture and passed down through the generations. We enjoyed “Russia in Fairytales” performed at Youth House on Vasilyevsky Island (the performance venue varies) during the “Russia’s Native Songs and Dances” shore excursion.

St. Petersburg Canals, St. Isaac’s & Church of Our Saviour on Spilled Blood

Boats on a canal in St . Petersburg, Russia

St. Petersburg is nicknamed the “Venice of the North” for its rivers (the Fontanka, Moyka, and Neva), canals, and decorative bridges crossing them. In the summer, visitors can actually float on Venetian-style gondolas on the city’s canals. Our canal and river cruise excursion also included a visit to two stunning churches — the Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood and St. Isaac’s Cathedral.

Pre- and post-cruise extensions

If you can extend your trip, either before or after the cruise, Viking has organized options. Thus far, our schedules haven’t allowed us to do that, but we always wish that we could. We’ve talked to many fellow passengers who expressed satisfaction in the extensions they had experienced.

Do you enjoy shore excursions when you cruise? Have a few favorites to share?

For more information about our Viking shore excursions: Mediterranean Odyssey cruise shore excursions

Disclosure: Viking Cruises has sponsored our wonderful cruise experiences, but our opinions and perspectives are totally our own — as always.

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13 thoughts on “ Viking Cruise Shore Excursions: Should You Take Them? ”

Wow! All of these tours sound wonderful! I’ve never sailed with Viking, but it sounds like they are experts at this. I’m hoping to do a Russia cruise with them in the next year or so. Can’t wait!

Thank you for your informative article! We are getting ready to go on the romantic Danube Cruise in October I found this information useful. And all of my searches though I have not been able to find out if when you are on a panoramic cruise in a particular town, are you able to get off the bus at any point and just go on your own and then join the boat later at the dock? Or are you required to stay with the tour for the entire time and then if you want to explore the city further, you would have to leave from the boat after the panoramic tour arrives back at the boat? Trying to save time by remaining in the city instead of having to go back to the boat with the tour and then retrace the steps to go back into the city. Thanks in advance.

Glad you found the article useful. I’ll try to answer your question based on my experiences. On the river cruises, the ship is often docked right in the heart of the cities where it may be possible to walk into/out of town (like we did in Passau and Regensburg) or in some cases where there may be shuttle buses throughout the day to return to the ship. There have been some instances (such as our time on the Romantic Danube cruise) in Vienna) where we took the included coach tour into the city center had a walking tour, and then we had a few hours to spend at the Christmas markets and have lunch before catching one of the shuttles to stay in the city center. Some people went back, some stayed in town. I think it’s a good idea to stay with the group for the whole tour and then your guide will be able to point out where to meet the shuttle (if there is one)or how to walk back to the ship, later. The Viking Daily (the program left in your stateroom each day) will have more info about what will be happening the following day (including info about shuttles). Check with Guest Service when on board to get the official information. Sorry I can’t be more precise, but it all depends on location, itinerary, back on board times, etc. Have a fantastic trip! Let us know about your experience.

I will be taking the Romantic Danube cruise from Regenburg to Budapest in October 2023 and I wanted to see in more detail the free excursions in Vienna and Budapest on where they stop and let you take pictures so I can then plan seeing the rest of the cities on my own and do not want to duplicate sights that we have just seen on the Viking tours. On the Viking sight they do not give you much detail.

Hi Bill — thanks for your comment. I’m sure you’ll love the Romantic Danube cruise. Our cruise was several years ago and specific excursion information may have changed. To the best of my recollection, in Budapest we did not have stops on the Pest side of the Danube on the included tour. We were docked right in the city, so that evening we were able to go out on our own to explore more. (I don’t know if that will be the same situation for you.) The included tour did stop on the Buda side and we had time to walk around the Castle District visiting St. Mathias church, Fisherman’s Bastion, etc. In Vienna, the included panoramic tour and walking tour, we walked around the city center by St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Hofburg Palace, etc. It was December and the Christmas markets were open and we were able to spend time on our own for a few hours for lunch and visiting the markets before meeting a shuttle to take us back to the ship. Once again, I don’t know if your itinerary will have that kind of time on your own built in or not.

Have you checked with Viking customer service to see if they can give you more information? I hope this has helped. Check back and let us know about your trip!

Catherine – Thank you for this information. I have been searching for information about the included excursions that Viking Ocean provides on its Athens to Rome Mediterranean cruises on their Saturn ship. We have booked a cruise for March 2023 and this is our first time with Viking. If you have any insights as to what the included excursions are for the ports of call on this cruise, please share them (Athens, Ephesus, Crete, Sicily, Naples, Rome). Thank you. Rob

Thanks for your comment, Roberta. I’m assuming that you are on the Journey to Antiquities cruise. Here’s a link to the itinerary on the Viking website. If you click on each day’s itinerary, you’ll see “included” tours as well as optional excursions. Have a great cruise!

https://www.vikingcruises.com/oceans/cruise-destinations/western-mediterranean/journey-to-antiquities/index.html?return=true

Hello Catherine, I found your insights validating and helpful. My spouse and I are booked on the Viking Iconic Mediterranean Rome to Barcelona this summer. Honestly, I am disappointed in the included “overview excursions” and the optional excursions at such a cost. In particular Florence, Monaco and Barcelona. In both Rome and Florence, we are not booked in a city harbor as there are none. It appears that we will have to pay additional fees to arrange our own daytrip to sightsee IF we do not join the short free excursion or pay lots of money for a shore excursion. Had I known that we were not able to “hop to shore,” I probably would have chosen a river cruise. Any insight? Really feeling disappointed because Florence, Monaco and Barcelona are big destinations.

Thanks for your comment, Kris. I hope I can address your concern. I don’t know if you’ve visited any of these destinations before. Especially for first time visitors, the included tours are great introductions. But if you can budget for any optional excursions, you’ll find more immersive experiences. My thoughts about the places you mentioned (remember, these are totally my own options based on my experiences): Monaco (docked where you can “hop to shore” — the included walking tour of Monaco City is very nice and you can spend the afternoon on your own in Monte Carlo (easily reached from the dock – I just published an article about this https://www.travelingwithsweeney.com/what-to-do-shore-excursion-in-monaco/ . Although we’d previously been tno Barcelona it was many years ago and we were pleased to see the sights again and do some walking around Sagrada Familia, etc. The Florence day might be a good one to consider an optional excursion. We’d visited Florence before, so did the “Cooking in a Tuscan Castle” tour — loved it! You also might want to consider Lucca on your own — it’s closer to the port than Florence and it is a wonderful town — one of my favorites in Italy.

My prediction is that you are going to enjoy this trip no matter what excursions you choose. What we’ve found is that the introductions we get to some destinations are great for letting us know places to visit again sometime. I hope this has been helpful. Let us know about your experience!

Hi Catherine We came across your great site while researching for our Viking cruise in October/Nov (Fort Lauderdale to LA via Panama Canal). My wife and I are looking at the excursion options in preparation for when bookings open. I personally am keen to visit the Panama Canal – one of the optional excursions – before transiting but my wife prefers one of the other optional excursions. Are we allowed to book individually on different excursions or do you have to book ‘as one couple’ ? (ie for excursions, can you become ‘single passengers’) Hoping you can clarify from your experience. thank you.

Hi Marc — Thanks for your kind words! Lt Lauderdale – LA should be a great cruise! I’d like to do that sometime. In my experience, the excursions (optional and included) are reserved by individual passenger, not by stateroom, so you and your wife can make your own selections. I would assume that excursions for your cruise options will be handled the same way. Be sure to book as soon as you can for the optional excursions as the popular ones can go fast! But don’t be dismayed if one is’t available, there are sometimes cancellations so keep checking back. Hope this helps. Have a great trip!

How many people generally on on any given Viking river cruise excursion? (15, 30 or more?) Thank you! Becky

In my experience that really varies. The included excursions can be 30 or more on a coach, optional excursions usually much smaller. I thinkt that our Corfu cooking and Tuscany cooking excursions were about 15 — something like that. You may find that the included excursions have more than one coach departing the ship at roughly the same time and you may arrive at sites roughly the same time. But it is easy to stay with your particular group and hear (via QuietVox) and follow your guide.

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TravelAwaits

Our mission is to serve the 50+ traveler who's ready to cross a few items off their bucket list.

6 Fabulous Shore Excursions On A Viking Rhine River Cruise

• Cruises and Sailing
• River Cruises
• Types of Travel
• Viking Cruises

A Rhine River Cruise is on the bucket list for many. Who has seen a commercial showcasing the castles along the Rhine as guests sail by on-board a river cruise?

TravelAwaits writer Peggy Cleveland and Senior Vice President Missy Glassmaker were hosted on Viking’s new Longship, the Viking Egdir , on the 8-day Rhine Getaway itinerary. This cruise took them to four countries — Switzerland , France , Germany , and the Netherlands — and included six guided tours. 

This cruise is heavy on castles and cathedrals as you cruise along the Rhine River. It is a rich landscape renowned for vineyards producing white wines, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the culinary traditions of the Alsace region — with its influences from both Germany and France — as well as the windmills and cheeses of the Netherlands.

One of the benefits of a Viking River Cruise is that a shore excursion is included in each port. We were both pleasantly surprised at the quality of these trips. Peggy is one who tends to explore on her own because, frankly, most tours she’s taken in the past have been pretty boring. The included Viking excursions typically took place in the morning and lasted about 3 hours. 

The guides were awesome! All were well-vetted and so knowledgeable about the destination. You will either be on a walking tour or a bus tour for which Viking uses their own buses. In your room, you will find a QuietVox audio receiver to wear around your neck with an earpiece. It allows you to hear the guide while the group can spread out a bit, which is nice for social distancing and if you want to linger and look at something a bit more as the group moves ahead.

Pro Tips: Tours start as early as 8:30 a.m. so get a good night’s sleep. Also be sure to wear good walking shoes. Peggy wore Keen’s Women’s Targhee II Waterproof Hiking Shoes . A hiking shoe gives you a great tread and support without the bulk of a boot. The terrain on this trip was very uneven with cobblestones and old pavement as well as some trails. Also note if you have mobility issues. Even tours rated “easy” have a walk from the ship to the bus which can be a challenge for some. Work with the ship’s program director or guest services for options.

Here are some of the fabulous excursions Peggy enjoyed on her Viking Rhine River Cruise.

1. The Black Forest

Breisach, germany.

I thought this was a great excursion and it was included. After our ship docked along the shore in Breisach, it was a short walk to the Viking buses where we met our guide, Walter Hirsch. The trip took us on a scenic drive through the fabled Black Forest, past three quaint villages and rolling hills covered in vineyards. We stopped at the Hofgut Sternen Hotel situated at a more than 700-year-old crossroads in the heart of the Black Forest. The location has a long history of hospitality towards travelers. 

My first stop was at the restaurant to enjoy a slice of Black Forest cake before visiting the shops and looking at the amazing assortment of cuckoo clocks. I ended up having enough time to take a hike into the forest and walk along a rushing stream before heading back to the bus.

2. Flavors Of Alsace

Strasbourg, france.

This is the best tour I have ever taken and, with my travel history, that is saying a lot. This was the most expensive of the optional excursions I took at over $200, but I felt it was well worth it. This tour is rated “demanding” as total walking or standing time may exceed 3 hours. 

The tour took us through Grande-Île, UNESCO World Heritage Site in Strasbourg, France. This charming historic district is filled with darling small shops, restaurants, and food merchants. It seemed like every type of food had its own small shop. We went to a bakery for eclairs, a shop for cheese, and even one for gingerbread. 

Our guide Steve is certified by the French Government and had to pass both a written and oral test. This certification is required to give tours of French monuments and museums. Steve was so personable and knowledgeable about the culinary traditions of the Alsace region. This made all the difference when spending 7 hours with someone. 

In addition to stops for food sampling, the tour included a stop at a Winstube where we enjoyed a wine tasting of Alsace wines and nibbled on local cheese and charcuterie. We also learned about and ate Flamkuchen, a local Alsace specialty. Similar to a pizza with a thin crust, we tried a savory one with onion and bacon lardons, and a sweet one with apples then flambeed with calvados liquor. Very impressive. 

We also toured the Strasbourg Cathedral, timing it perfectly to watch the astronomical clock in action, before heading back to the ship.

3. Kinderdijk Windmills & Dutch Cheese Making

Kinderdijk, the netherlands.

I am a big foodie, so any excursion that involves a farm-to-table experience is one I will always sign up for. The ship made a brief stop in Gorinchem, the Netherlands, for guests leaving on this excursion. Alas, we just walked from the ship along the historic city walls to our bus because this was such a darling small town and so picturesque that I wished we had time to explore it. 

The bus took us to a farm in Streefkerk to see the Booij kaasmakers (cheese makers) and learn how raw milk cheeses are made. The Booij family has made cheese for over 350 years and the craftsmanship and experience shows in their superior cheeses. After tasting the cheese, I think our whole group purchased some to bring home; it was that good.

We then boarded the buses and headed to the Kinderdijk Windmills to take a tour and link back up with the ship. A nice surprise was greeted by our program director, who took all our cheese for us so we didn’t have to carry it around while exploring the windmills. I enjoyed my afternoon in this bucolic setting. The historic windmills provided a perfect backdrop to the canals with a variety of waterfowl swimming about.

Here are some of the fabulous excursions Missy enjoyed on our Viking Rhine River Cruise.

4. Medieval Village Of Colmar

This was the first taste of the adorable villages you dream about when planning a Rhine River Cruise. We took a bus to the village and then were on our way. It was the end of the Easter break in Europe and several Easter Markets, think Christmas Markets but with a spring feel, were still set up — a real treat! 

Colmar is just so picturesque. It’s like being dropped into a storybook. Our guide excellently engaged us with stories from centuries of history, unique architecture, and other small details I would have been sure to miss had I been exploring on my own. The stroll was lovely and at an easy pace. The only problem was, you want to stop and linger at the cafes and shops! 

That’s where the QuietVox audio receiver Peggy mentioned above really pays off. It’s in every room on a Viking River Cruise and allows you to linger at the store windows to take a look, but still listen in as the group moves ahead. We did have about 45 minutes to explore at the end of the tour. This was plenty of time to pick up a few goodies.

5. Cologne By Bicycle

Viking offered an included walking tour of Cologne during our stop. Many on board took part and really enjoyed it. However, if you like a smaller group setting, want to work off a few calories from all the delicious food, and of course, enjoy riding a bike, this is the perfect tour for you. 

We met our lovely guide just off the ship and we were off. We biked across the Rhine River with several stops along the way to hear about the history and take pictures, including outside of the cathedral and the store where eau de cologne was invented. Our guide, a trained opera singer, even shared her talents with us at one stop. While that can’t be guaranteed on every Cologne bicycle tour, it was magical. The tour also included a stop to relax and grab a coffee or tea, which was included. Then, we made our way along the Rhine for several miles before heading back to the ship.

This tour allowed our group to see a lot of the city in less time, and with just six of us taking part, created great opportunities for getting to know one another, even while biking along the Rhine. We became fast friends and it made the entire experience so much more enjoyable. 

I hadn’t ridden a bike for years before joining this tour and while riding through a major city was daunting, and I felt a bit rusty at the beginning, it was a great experience and the guide was very patient. Finally, the team behind the guide is prepared should any issues arise. We had one member of our party blow a tire and they met us within minutes.

Another Option: Cologne’s Beer Culture & Dinner

This excursion was a ton of fun. We learned a little and laughed a lot! If you like beer and want to try authentic German fare, which was delicious, this is a great experience. The only problem was that it had to end, but guests on the ship were dancing the night away when we returned and you only need to know one thing: there was a conga line which always signals a great time.

Pro Tip: I ended up wearing my comfortable, exercise-type clothes much more than I thought I would on this trip. There’s no need to overpack, but just don’t forget to pack a few things you would normally wear when out for a good walk or bike ride.

6. Kinderdijk Windmills By Bicycle

Viking really puts you in the middle of the action on this stop. The windmills are basically across the road from the ship just begging you to come visit. Viking offered a walking, barge, and bicycle tour of the windmills. After having such a great time on the Cologne bicycle tour, I decided to join this one as well. 

What made this unique was being able to really see the windmills from various perspectives, as well as riding along the village that adjoins them, which wasn’t accessible on the walking or barge tours. I will say, our guide was just okay. He wasn’t very engaging, nice enough, but the competition was stiff with the many other fabulous guides we experienced throughout the week.

What We Both Loved

Finally, I agree with Peggy that the Flavors of Alsace was amazing and would highly recommend it. We had an excellent guide and a really great group of people from the ship on the tour, which made it even more enjoyable. We even had time to ride the double-decker carousel — a first! I also loved the included Black Forest excursion. The drive up was a bit windy, in case tight turns on a bus can make you woozy.

Other Excursions Guests Enjoyed

I made a point of chatting with the guests, learning which excursions they were going to experience and following up to see what they thought. A few that stood out were: the Black Forest E-bike tour, Mercedes-Benz Factory visit, Wine tasting and Dinner at Eberbach Monastery, and Moselle Wine Tasting.

Castles Of The Middle Rhine

While not an excursion, seeing 21 castles in just a few hours is what draws guests to this cruise. The sailing through the Middle Rhine is an unforgettable experience. The crew shares details of each castle over the ship’s intercom while you are able to just excitedly watch each go by. I feel the top deck is the best place for this, but it can really be enjoyed from anywhere, which is pretty special. 

Pro Tip: After booking your Viking Cruise, make sure to read 5 Important Things To Do To Prepare For Your Viking Cruise . There are detailed tips on how to research shore excursions and when to book.

Missy Glassmaker is an Emmy-nominated producer and writer. She spent most of her career in broadcast television news, working in Providence, Rhode Island; Knoxville, Tennessee; and St. Louis, Missouri. Missy enjoys cooking, entertaining, and of course, traveling. Her favorite travel companions are her twin sons, who are always ready to explore.

She currently lives in the Pacific Northwest. Her work can be found in Northwest Travel & Life Magazine , 253 Lifestyle Magazine , and other regional publications. She is the author of 100 Things to Do in Tacoma Before You Die , Reedy Press, and a member of the North American Travel Journalists Association (NATJA). The name of her travel blog came about from her friends constantly asking her, "Peggy, Where Should I Go?"

The 7 Best Mississippi River Cruises for 2024

T he more than 2,300-mile Mississippi River invites travelers to discover its multifaceted heritage, with a vast range of deeply rooted culture, music and history. A cruise is a fantastic way to discover many of the riverfront cities on a single trip, from the comfort of your modern riverboat or traditional paddle-wheeler.

The following Mississippi River cruise itineraries can help you choose from cruises of various lengths and options for the Lower and Upper Mississippi. Note that all fares are listed as double occupancy (based on two people per cabin), and that they might not reflect taxes, port fees or gratuities. The itinerary availability listed is also subject to change.

American Cruise Lines

American Cruise Lines operates small ships accommodating between 90 and 180 passengers that are built, flagged and crewed in the U.S. – and it's the only company in the world operating a 100% U.S.-flagged fleet of riverboats and cruise ships. ACL's itineraries traverse waterways across 35 states, with 11 itineraries dedicated to the Mississippi River. Cruisers can choose to sail on modern riverboats with a sleek interior design or while away their time aboard classic paddle-wheelers reminiscent of days gone by.

ACL offers variety as well as versatility: This line boasts both the longest and shortest sailings on this list with cruises ranging from eight to 60 days in length, including The Great United States. This inaugural 60-day voyage spans four major rivers and 20 states, making it the longest U.S. river cruise in history.

Complimentary hotel and transportation packages are available from every departure city before your cruise. You can book certain premium packages for added perks, such as two nights spent next door to Graceland in Memphis – with VIP tickets and a city tour included in the price.

Music Cities Cruise

Length: Eight days

Price: Starts at $3,610 per person

Spend a week getting lost in the sounds of the Memphis blues, rock 'n' roll and country music legends on the seven-night Music Cities Cruise. A hotel stay the night before your sailing is included, but embarking in Memphis means you also have the chance to splurge on a two-night pre-cruise package near Elvis' former home Graceland .

Ports of call include Paducah, Kentucky; Dover, Tennessee; and Clarksville, Tennessee, with an overnight in Nashville and an included excursion to a show at the Grand Ole Opry. Two scenic sailing days feature picturesque views of America's Heartland along the Mississippi, Ohio and Cumberland rivers as well as Lake Barkley.

2024 dates: In 2024, there are two available itineraries in September and November.

Grand Heartland Cruise: St. Paul to New Orleans

Length: 15 days

Price: Starts at $9,455 per person

This 15-day voyage allows you to explore America's rich history in towns along the Upper and Lower Mississippi River. The immersive voyage covers six states and 12 cities including St. Paul, Minnesota ; Dubuque, Iowa; St. Louis, Missouri ; Memphis, Tennessee; Natchez, Mississippi; Baton Rouge, Louisiana ; and more.

Take a step back in time while visiting Mark Twain's boyhood home in Hannibal, exploring stately historic estates in Natchez and Civil War sites in Vicksburg. At the end of a busy day ashore, you'll have plenty to chat about with fellow passengers during the evening cocktail hour.

2024 dates: American Heritage – ACL's traditional paddle-wheeler – and three modern riverboats set off on this journey from August to October in 2024.

Complete Mississippi River Cruise: New Orleans to St. Paul

Length: 22 days

Price: Starts at $14,935 per person

If you want to see the entire Mississippi in one shot, check out this multiweek sailing that begins in New Orleans and ends in St. Paul, Minnesota. Along the way, you'll sail 1,393 miles, visit 10 states and experience a staggering 20 ports of call as you tour Louisiana and then head northbound to Minnesota.

In the South, walk the battlefields of the Civil War and sample delicious Southern barbecue before listening to the rhythms of jazz, the blues and rock 'n' roll. Then, explore the small and larger cities along the upper parts of the river. Remember to take time to gaze out at the picturesque scenery and the rolling farmlands of America's Midwest before disembarking in St. Paul.

2024 dates: Three of ACL's modern riverboats sail this itinerary in May, June and August in 2024.

The Great United States

Length: 60 days

Price: Starts at $51,000

This two-month long journey – the longest domestic itinerary ever created – will check all the boxes for U.S. history and Civil War buffs, music and nature lovers, culinary enthusiasts, and beer and distilled spirits aficionados alike as the ship traverses America's iconic waterways through 20 states and 50 ports of call.

This epic journey showcases the natural beauty and living history of the U.S. from sea to shining sea. The sailing embarks in Portland, Oregon , on the Pacific Coast before traveling east to the Atlantic shore along four major rivers that highlight some of the country's most stunning coastlines. Upon arrival in New York Harbor, guests will have an unforgettable view of one of the most iconic landmarks in the U.S.: the Statue of Liberty .

Passengers can follow in the footsteps of Lewis and Clark along the Snake and Columbia rivers; cruise along Ol' Man River in search of Mark Twain and Elvis; see the vibrant colors of fall during peak season on the Hudson River; and take in the coastal breezes (and fresh seafood) along New England's rocky coastline.

This curated adventure also includes two flights: Jackson, Wyoming , to New Orleans as well as St. Paul to Portland, Maine , plus a land package through Glacier , Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks. All-inclusive pricing covers the pre-cruise hotel stay, all flights and hotels between cruise segments, an ACL jacket and gear pack, daily excursions, all meals and beverages, gratuities and port charges, entertainment, and Wi-Fi.

2024 dates: The inaugural cruise sets sail on August 16, 2024.

Raw HTML : Tips on Trips and Expert Picks

Viking River Cruises

Viking is no stranger to sailing Europe's rivers; the brand is synonymous with river cruising worldwide aboard its dozens of ships. However, Viking River Cruises is a newcomer to U.S. rivers, with its purpose-built ship: the 386-passenger Viking Mississippi. Looking to carve out its own niche in the American river cruising category, Viking claims it has the region's "first truly modern cruise ship" with its distinct Scandinavian design and expansive top sun deck with an infinity plunge pool.

Viking's mostly all-inclusive fares include a complimentary excursion in each port, destination lectures and performances, beer and wine at meals, free Wi-Fi, specialty coffees and teas, and more. The line offers five itineraries ranging in length from eight to 22 days along the Mighty Mississippi. Pre- and post-cruise extensions can be added to all voyages for an additional expense.

New Orleans & Southern Charms: Round-trip from New Orleans

Price: Starts at $3,999 per person

If you don't know which Viking Mississippi itinerary to choose, start here. A round-trip voyage from New Orleans is convenient for booking flights and offers an excellent opportunity to extend your stay in NOLA. Six guided tours are included across eight days, from the historic estates of Natchez to Vicksburg National Military Park. A stop in St. Francisville gives you the chance to marvel at some of the 140-plus buildings it has on the National Register of Historic Places.

If you extend your stay in New Orleans, plan to sample the local Creole cuisine and take in some of the city's nightly jazz entertainment. In the morning, grab a beignet and a steaming cup of chicory coffee au lait at the original Café du Monde in the French Market.

2024 dates: This itinerary is available on select dates in February, November and December.

Heart of the Delta: New Orleans to Memphis

Length: Nine days

Price: Starts at $4,299 per person

Similar to its round-trip New Orleans Southern Charms itinerary, the Heart of the Delta cruise begins in New Orleans and calls on the same five ports, before sailing through the Lower Mississippi and disembarking in Memphis. Enjoy scenic views of the serpentine river route – perhaps with expert commentary or a local cooking demonstration – and then take time to explore the birthplace of the Memphis blues, which is also a center of civil rights history.

2024 dates: In 2024, this cruise is available in February, March, April, May, June and November.

America's Great River: St. Paul to New Orleans

Price: Starts at $12,999 per person

This Viking voyage sails from St. Paul to New Orleans on a two-week trip that calls on 13 ports with one day of scenic sailing. This itinerary combines the best of Viking's other Mississippi sailings for an all-encompassing Midwestern and Southern experience with 12 guided tours.

Included in the fare is a tour of Graceland; a stroll through small-town Burlington, Iowa, to see Snake Alley, deemed the most crooked street in the world; and a visit to the National Eagle Center of Red Wing, among others. For an additional fee, hop on an airboat ride through the Atchafalaya Swamp in Baton Rouge or tour the Anheuser-Busch Brewery of St. Louis.

2024 dates: Viking has availability for this itinerary in July, September and October.

Want to cruise the Mississippi River? See the top cruises on GoToSea , a service of U.S. News.

FAQ Module : Travel - Top Mississippi River Cruises FAQs

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Gwen Pratesi has been an avid cruiser since her early 20s. She has sailed on nearly every type of cruise ship built, including the newest megaships, paddle-wheelers on America's waterways, and an 18-stateroom river ship on the Mekong River in Vietnam and Cambodia. Most recently, she traveled on a small luxury expedition vessel in Antarctica and crossed the notorious Drake Passage twice. She covers the travel and culinary industries, specializing in cruises, for major publications including U.S. News & World Report.

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• The Top River Cruise Lines
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