On these cruises you will avoid the Walmart/casino crowd. Passengers are more cerebral, think College Professor types. Some even offer historical lectures. Very few young women in skimpy clothing. No rap music or mud wrestling.

Aw.. jeeze. I'm not going then.

I'm the OP. Update: Trip has been called off. Our friends had to cancel. Since most of the response was positive we will try to go in '27.

I been getting a ton of ads from Viking recently, started looking at their Christmas on the Rhine River Cruises for December of 2027.

Just thought it would be something totally different.

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:
.. Passengers are more cerebral, think College Professor types...

Not everyone. Yes, there are some college professors, but there are also solid conservatives like me (and most of SF). It's been my experience that conservatives rarely advertise themselves. But often they provide subtle clues we can pick up on.

Unless you're traveling with another couple, you're going to meet new people during meals and on excursions. I don't recommend bringing up politics unless 1) you're certain they're also conservative or 2) you enjoy "discussions" with libs. Some are fine to talk to, others are unbearable.

On one cruise we met some couples from NJ who I assumed were libs. One guy mentioned shooting (I think we were at a museum with a gun display) which led to more talk, turns out they were all raging conservatives!

^^^^^^^^^^
I have several friends that are College Professors and all are conservative. Two of them are into guns. We are talking Southern Universities so that makes a difference.

My sister and BIL took a river cruise, but I don't recall the particulars of which river(s). They went with Uniworld cruises, which are said to be a step up from Viking. They loved it and plan to go again. After hearing about it and seeing lots of photos, now it's something I'd like to do too.

I’m sorry to hear your trip was called off. We have friends who have done this and had a fabulous time.

Found this did not view thought might be helpful:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFgUN6IRN68

Wife and I have done two Viking River Cruises and one of their ocean cruises. All were excellent accommodations, service, food. Highly professional crew, very attentive to passenger needs.
We have done the Danube from Prague to Budapest. Another trip was the Rhine from Amsterdam to Basel, Switzerland.
The river ships carry about 190 passengers. They do not always fill up. “Crowded” is not a word that comes to mind.

The ocean cruises (we did a Scandinavian cruise) are on a much larger ship, but nothing near the size of the big “carnival” ships. The Viking ship carries around 900 passengers. This is a comfortable size for open ocean. While big, it doesn’t feel big. The entire ship is an easy walk. Several dining rooms, swimming pool, comfortable places to sit, read, watch the water.
Children are not allowed.

As far as doing another Viking trip, we are in a few weeks. London, Amsterdam and then up the coast of Norway into the Arctic Circle.

I got asked to go on a 10 day trip to Germany, in Sept. .
First it started out at $5,000.00 then it too $5,800, after
I asked a dozen questions.

Then I spoke with others that are going,
they have already gotten on the list and
Made down payments.

After hearing about their "packages",

I felt like Mr. Cut rate, creeping in
with the Dollar Store crowd.

So now my fee's and charges are up too
$6,900.00 . And then my out of pocket
expenses could be as high as another
$600.00.