We have been asked by friends to take a Viking river cruise from Paris to Zurich. This sounded good at first but now I'm having second thoughts. The trip would be in October of '26. A majority of the trip is through Germany. Daytime temperatures in Germany in October are 53 to 58 degrees. Not cold but would require coats most of the time.

The boats don't sound too exciting. Also, I don't like being 'herded' around, which I think most of the trip consists of. Sounds like a lot of churches and castles.

If you have taken one of these cruises, please let me know what you thought of Paris (I've heard mixed feelings about that), and what you thought of the trip in general. Would you do a European river cruise again?

Thanks for any input.

My wife and I have taken six European river cruises to-date, all but one in the September-October timeframe. We prefer cooler weather. We have enjoyed them all. I assume this is the one you are considering:

IMO, I consider Viking to be the mass-market river cruise line as they have a LOT of boats all over Europe. But...that doesn't mean they are bad (like Carnival). A lot of folks like Viking and that's okay.

It's a nice itinerary. Yes, there are a lot of churches and cathedrals and if you are into their architecture and structural engineering, they're absolutely amazing. You don't have to stay with a group. For example, in Strasbourg, you'll probably be bussed to the city center for a tour. Skip the tour and go explore on your own. Just know where & when to meet to catch the bus back to the boat. Another - we bussed to Stuttgart for a day tour. In the morning, we toured the old city and had an option to visit the Porsche museum in the afternoon. Instead, we opted to stay in town for Stuttgart's Oktoberfest. It was great and so was the beer.

It appears you'll visit the Luxembourg American Cemetery. Very, very sobering. General Patton is buried there. Beautiful, peaceful place.

I don't know if you've been on an ocean cruise, but river cruising is much different. First, no 'motion of the ocean'. Second, no gazing at endless miles of nothing but water - there is always something to see on a river cruise. No sailing with 1,000s of your newest 'best' friends. I liked cruising the Moselle River, with a railroad and vineyards on the north bank and little towns springing up here and there. It's a slow, winding river. If they have bikes on board, maybe take some time to ride up and down the river while you are docked. Going thru the river locks is pretty cool, too. You'll see a lot of campers along the rivers.

If you have free time in Paris, go see the Musée de l'Armée. We have walked all over Paris. Be careful of pickpockets and scammers at the Eiffel Tower. Did you know Paris has their own copy of the Statue of Liberty? It's in the middle of the Seine River SW of the Eiffel Tower. We went to Versailles once - never again. Just waaaaay too many people crammed into that place. It was not fun. Watch for pickpockets.

Do some research - look up each city to see if there are any special events the day you'll be there -or- things may be closed due to it being Sunday or Monday. Funny point - things are different over there. On one cruise we stopped in Rouen (magnificent cathedral). A group of our fellow passengers had lunch at a local restaurant; one guy ordered a 'New York' pizza - what could possibly be wrong with that (menu in French)? It was a pizza with ketchup for sauce topped with French fries.

So, bus from Paris to Reims, then to Trier. Board the boat and disembark in Basel (the Rhine is not considered navigable much beyond Basel), then bus to Zurich. You won't see much in the way of the Alps, you are too far north. We once started a cruise boarding in Basel but flying into Zurich first. Train to Basel. I kept looking for the Alps, but they were way off to the south. If you do get the chance to visit the Alps, they are amazing. Driving through Switzerland is gorgeous.

Manage your expectations and you'll be fine. Enjoy the regional food, wine and beer.

Give this cruise a try, especially with your friends.

Feel free to email me if you'd like with any specific questions.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: 229DAK,

Yes, that is the one.

My parents have been on Viking several times around the world. They’ve always enjoyed their time and spoken highly of the staff, the boats and the experiences.

Keep in mind that these river boats are not like the ocean going ships.

My parents went on this trip and had a great time. Mom loved it because you get to travel and see new sights every day but you only have to pack and unpack your suitcase one time for the week. I would go on this trip.

Think of a river cruise as a nice hotel with organized tours during the day. Nothing like an ocean cruise. You won't spend much time on the boat aside from sleeping and 2 meals. There may be a few daylight hours of moving along to watch scenery, but the distances between most stops is pretty short and will be accomplished at night.

Food will be pretty good, the cabins will be nice. We've not done Viking so idk where they fall on the spectrum of luxury.

Each day there will usually be several excursions to choose from. You'll either get on a bus or walk to something. There will be a tour guide giving interesting historical, cultural, or architectural information.

It is a nicer way to tour than riding a bus from town to town and staying in a different hotel every night. Also, the perspective from the river is much nicer and more interesting than from a highway.

You may want to check on the rivers these go on as I have heard many European rivers are really low right now. Like historically low or almost dry.

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Originally posted by PASig:
You may want to check on the rivers these go on as I have heard many European rivers are really low right now. Like historically low or almost dry.

This is always a risk. But since Viking has so many boats on the river, they can move you if the situation requires. What's low today maybe high in the fall.

We took one through in 2019 through the wine country of France. It was an excellent experience.

We have done four Viking River Cruises, two in Europe, always had a great time. Yes, it'll be cooler in October, but you won't have to deal with so many annoying...tourists.

We had low water on one, we switched boats and got the exact same cabin, Viking handled it very well.

If you do not have passports apply now. They're good for ten years.

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There may be a few daylight hours of moving along to watch scenery, but the distances between most stops is pretty short and will be accomplished at night.

I enjoyed going up front on our boat after dinner on clear nights to star-watch. The second night I did this, the captain turned off the lights on deck as I was the only one there; made for better viewing.

Summer 2025, my wife and I did a Viking European river cruise (Amsterdam to Budapest) and I’d give it a solid 8.5/10 overall. It’s a very well-executed product, but it helps to know exactly what it is—and what it isn’t.

Viking’s biggest strength is logistics and ease. You unpack once, your bags magically move with you, and you wake up every morning docked in the center of a historic city. Zero stress, zero transfers, and a very civilized way to cover a lot of ground across multiple countries.

That said, we learned pretty quickly that the included Viking tours were slower than our pace. They’re well done and informative, but optimized for a broad audience. We ended up skipping most of them and using ChatGPT to plan our own walking routes around the things we actually wanted to see. That was a game-changer for us and made the trip far more enjoyable. The only Viking excursions we consistently did were the paid ones that offered very specific experiences or special access you simply can’t replicate solo.

The ship itself is understated but comfortable. Cabins were surprisingly spacious by European standards, and the balcony was absolutely delightful and we used it a lot. Common spaces never felt chaotic, and the crew was polished and professional.

Food was solidly good, especially the regional menus tied to where you’re docked, but nothing spectacular and that was fine. We skipped the drink package entirely and didn’t miss it; there was no strong value for us as we do not drink a lot.

Demographically, it definitely skews older, but in a “well-traveled, cultured” way rather than a cruise-ship stereotype. Our cruise was roughly 35% Aussies and then a smattering of other folks. Evenings are fun and the guests do get surprisingly boisterous, but it is not really a party trip at all.

One important thing to understand: this is a trip centered on history, art, architecture, and cities. If you’re looking for dramatic nature, adventure activities, or physical intensity, that’s not what this specific cruise aimed for. It excels at cultural depth and efficiency.

Bottom line: we’d absolutely do Viking again—but not the same route, just because we’ve already seen it. If you value comfort, logistics, and immersive cultural stops, and you’re willing to customize parts of the experience instead of blindly following the tour flag, it’s a very strong way to travel Europe.

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Our cruise was roughly 35% Aussies and then a smattering of other folks.

We've had Aussies on our river cruises. Mostly married women w/o their husbands (who don't like to cruise). They're a riot!

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Originally posted by 229DAK:

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Our cruise was roughly 35% Aussies and then a smattering of other folks.

We've had Aussies on our river cruises. Mostly married women w/o their husbands (who don't like to cruise). They're a riot!

Yeah, they were definitely the rowdier of the passengers! LOL!

funny you should bring up this topic - I'm planning on doing two cruises - the Rhine and the Danube back to back on the same trip - if I'm already in Europe, why not

I'm interested in the art and architecture myself

In Fall 2024 my wife, my BIL, his wife and I took a Viking river cruise from Amsterdam to Basil on the Rhine. It was very good.

A bit of background, in the late 1990's my wife was a one of 8 top performers in her company. The prize was a cruise in the Gulf of America. The cruise boat was small to medium and, while it didn't suck too bad, it sucked a bit. I swore off cruises.

Until the river cruise. My wife very much wanted to go so, we went. We stayed 5 days in Amsterdam on our own. It was most excellent, Amsterdam is a great city we walked miles and enjoyed the sights. It was a short trip to pickup the boat (Uber).
The river boats are narrow. 1 main hall, rooms on both sides. Our room was small but efficient and very clean, we didn't spend much time there.
We traveled at mostly at night. The boat is diesel/electric so the noise level is low.
The upper deck was open and the temps were 50's/60's all four of us are outdoor people so that wasn't a problem.
The dining was very good. Breakfast had table service and a buffet, lunch and dinner has two options. Beverages are included except upper shelf items. We typically enjoyed that table wine. Service was excellent, the entire crew was top notch.
There is a daily briefing, it wasn't bad but a touch too rah rah for me.
Off ship trips were well run. The guide hands out earpieces that allowed us to hear within a 50 foot range. There was always time to wander on our own in the towns.
There was a stretch of the Rhine with many castles, we sat on the spacious upper deck on a sunny day, drinking local wine and snacks we picked up along the way, a very pleasant day.
Viking has logistics down to a science, our arrangements were good and the details on luggage handling well communicated and excellent.
There was a different vibe on the river trip. Food was not a focus, the food was very good but is wasn't the raison d'etre.
The other passengers were pleasant and we enjoyed a number of meals in pleasant conversation with folks from across North America.
The only disappointment was my own preconceptions. For some stops, the boat docks at places that require land transport to the town. That was unexpected but not a problem. About 1/2 the stops were within walking distance of the nearby towns.
edited to add one thing. Our boat was docked and about to get underway. We were on the upper deck near the pilot station while the First Mate was running the show. He noticed us and started explaining each step. He effortlessly and expertly drove the boat away from shore and into the channel. It was most impressive. The entire crew demonstrated that level of expertise and graciousness.
I would do it again.

Understand, too, that docking space can be at a minimum in some places. You may go to bed with a nice view of the river and wake up looking at the curtains of someone else's stateroom. In that case, just keep your curtains closed as things will change soon. Sometimes you walk through another boat to get to the dock. Besides, it gives you a chance to check out other river boats.

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We stayed 5 days in Amsterdam on our own. It was most excellent, Amsterdam is a great city we walked miles and enjoyed the sights.

We ended a cruise in Amsterdam, twice. Both times we had a walking tour of the downtown area (the previous day was a museum visit and canal boat ride). After lunch on the second time, my wife asked me if I remembered where the red-light district was as we only saw it from afar. So we went. She commented to me that the ladies certainly weren't Playboy material.

SPWAMike's comments are spot-on. Yes, certain places the river cruise lines visit require a bus drive, like Heidelberg, Stuttgart, Strasbourg, Baden-Baden & Trier's old section. Don't miss the Reims gothic cathedral, Speyer's Romanesque cathedral and Strasbourg's Rayonnant style gothic cathedral (and don't miss the astronomical clock here, either). All are magnificent.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: 229DAK,

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Originally posted by wbw:
We have been asked by friends to take a Viking river cruise from Paris to Zurich...

I strongly suggest you get to your starting point at least one day early. That gives you time to adjust for flight delays and/or lost bags, plus you can relax and reduce jet lag before the cruise begins.

Viking offers two days in Paris on your own before your cruise and three options for after: Zermatt & Geneva, Milan, or Alpine Backdrops of Lake Lucerne. The hotels you'll stay in for the add-ons will have concierge service to recommend food and sightseeing if Viking does not offer tours.

https://www.vikingrivercruises.../index.html#noscroll

I know, you'll be ready to go home as soon as the cruise ends, but when will you return to Europe?

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I strongly suggest you get to your starting point at least a day early.

^^^^^^ THIS!!!

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I know, you'll be ready to go home as soon as the cruise ends, but when will you return to Europe?

Get your money's worth out of that plane fare.