

Welcome to Basel, on the Rhine River in northwest Switzerland. Transfer from the airport to your ship.* After boarding, enjoy time on your own getting acquainted with the city. Dinner is served on board. (Dinner)
* Ground transfers are included with Viking Air purchase.Arrive in Breisach this morning, gateway to the Black Forest. Take a scenic excursion through the area's renowned mountain landscape, rolling meadows and dense forests. Once there, visit a local workshop to see a cuckoo clock-making demonstration, and learn how Black Forest Cake is made. Return to your ship for lunch. This afternoon, perhaps join an optional excursion to the quaint Alsatian town of Colmar to discover the storybook charm of its streets lined with medieval, Gothic and Renaissance buildings, and visit a fine arts museum. Alternately, choose an optional excursion that explores Colmar's World War II history. Dine on board this evening and cruise on through the night. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Disembark this morning for your guided tour of Strasbourg. See the European Parliament and tour the interior of the city's famed cathedral. Free time allows you to further explore this Alsatian city's blend of French and German cultures, resplendent churches, medieval covered bridges, verdant parks and handsome art nouveau and modernist architecture. Alternately, join our optional excursion into Alsatian wine country for an informative winery tour and tasting. Or, spend your full day exploring culinary Strasbourg on an optional excursion; as you explore the city and take in its sights, savor samples of the renowned Alsatian cuisine, from regional dessert specialties and meats to wine pairings with local foods. Return to your ship for dinner and departure. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
This morning, disembark for an included tour to visit the historic the historic town of Speyer and take in views of the imposing Speyer Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built in the 11th century on the site of a former basilica, the building's design influenced Romanesque architecture for centuries to come, and is the final resting place of eight German monarchs. Alternatively, after breakfast, you may choose to disembark for a full day tour of Heidelberg, the home of Germany's oldest university, founded in 1386. Visit the beautiful sandstone ruins of imposing Heidelberg Castle and admire the Neckar River Valley. Continue with a walking tour through Old Town to Heidelberg's renowned gates and after lunch, rejoin your ship in Rüdesheim. This evening, you can dine on board your ship or choose to experience one of our optional dinners on shore tonight. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
This morning, sail along the most scenic stretch of the Rhine, where turreted castles and fortresses overlook the river from their hilltop posts. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this part of the Middle Rhine Valley is so beautiful. Arrive in Koblenz this afternoon and disembark for a tour of 700-year-old Marksburg Castle. You may also join an optional excursion that offers a lively and informative tour of Ehrenbreitstein Fortress; or, choose to journey into Moselle wine country on an optional excursion, stopping for a tour and tasting at a local winery. Return to your ship for lunch. Later, enjoy some time in this charming town at the confluence of the Moselle and Rhine Rivers. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Begin your day with a morning tour of Cologne, Germany's fourth largest city. Stroll through Old Town past St. Martin's Church and see the Dom, Germany's largest cathedral and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Spend your free time enjoying Cologne's atmospheric waterfront, or perhaps join an optional excursion on which you ascend to the Dom's roof for up-close views of the cathedral's architecture and bird's-eye vistas of Cologne. Afterward, return on board for dinner. Alternately, you may set off on an optional excursion to explore Cologne's spirited beer culture, sampling Kölsch, a light, crisp beer brewed only in Cologne, and enjoying a brauhaus dinner. After, return to your ship for a late-evening departure. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
We sail along the Rhine during the morning hours. Admire scenic views and enjoy a morning of enjoyable Dutch diversions: sample Dutch cheeses and jenever, a distilled juniper liquor, and take in a culturally enriching presentation on the Dutch Golden Age. This afternoon, your ship arrives in Kinderdijk, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Disembark for an afternoon tour of this ingenious network of windmills and other flood management devices. You learn why the windmills were built and see how they work, plus you enter a working windmill for a tour of its mechanisms and living quarters. Board your ship for departure and dinner. Arrive in Amsterdam around midnight. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
After breakfast, disembark and proceed to the airport for your return flight.* Or, extend your journey with 2 additional nights in Amsterdam; take time to explore the city's neighborhoods, museums and exciting nightlife. (Breakfast)
* Ground transfers are included with Viking Air purchase.8 Days 6 Guided Tours / 4 Countries
Daily Shore Excursions: 6 included guided tours
Port Charges: Included on all itineraires
Although it was a little confusing between Affordable Tours and Viking websites, Rich made it easy to navigate and was always available to assist.
Excellent food and service provided by Viking
We've been on ocean cruises so had an idea of what to expect for accommodations, food, and service. The food quality, and accommodations on Viking were what we expected. The exceptional Viking customer service set a new benchmark for us. From meeting us at the arrival airport to accompanying us to the check in at our departing airport, the Viking employees were always available, friendly, very informative and made us feel like we were visiting with friends. The ship's daily communications were timely and clear. The tour guides were polite,.had excellent subject matter knowledge, and provided tips on how to make the most of our shopping money. Great friendly service with a smile in our stateroom, the restaurant and lounge. It was nice to have the captain at the ship entrance welcoming us aboard when we retutned from shore excursions!
Prior to booking we were not aware that the depth of the river could potentially force us off the boat. We were lucky that this did not happen to us but it should be discussed at time of booking.
Our only complaint with Viking is their inability to provide detail information regarding optional tours or pre and post-accommodation experiences.
Ms. Vivian Vo was extremely professional yet warm and fun to work with in every way. She went out of her way to help us many times and always made us feel like special friends getting first class attention.
The price was very affordable and that made the trip possible for me. This was my second Viking River Cruise and both were great. The boats are easy to get around. I would suggest the elevator go to the main deck. Not just the two upper decks. The crew on both ships are professional and courteous, but more than that, they are friendly and happy. They work very hard, but they will always stop to ask if everything is OK. What ever is asked of them, they will do with a smile.
This trip met all are expectations. We would take another river cruise.
I was under the impression there was elevator service throughout the boat. However, that service is only available between the 2nd and 3rd floor decks, leaving my wheelchair bound Mother dependent on crew muscle to physically lift her between the 1st and 2nd floors. They were Incredible and always available!!! Whether the concierge, waiter, head chef; they were there willing to assist! I was blown away!!!
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I Would like to see Viking offer more flexible dinner times right now everyone sits down at 7 o'clock and you're done eating by eight. I think it's too regimented, it almost felt like a sit down buffet .