Several; years ago I had asked about either,
"Those who have done Viking River Cruises please step inside"
https://sigforum.com/eve/forum...970038654#4970038654

"Those that have taken their vacation of a lifetime step inside please"
https://sigforum.com/eve/forum...935/m/8520018244/p/1

I also looked up several past posts to try to get some Idea however most were a few year's old.

I ask because my wife and I are going to be celebrating our 35th wedding anniversary next year.
Last time we were planning for a milestone anniversary it was for our 30th and that fell right in the middle of the Covid shutdowns. Back then we were looking at going on either an Alaskan cruise with a land package attached or a Viking River Cruise.

At this point we are looking again at a river cruise or an ocean type cruise in Europe for sometime in 2025.
So what have you done/recommend? We have already priced out a river cruise with one company (it's over $10,000 and would be 2 days pre cruise, a 7 day cruise and 4 days post cruise ) but we are interested in what other cruises and lines you all have used.

Thanks.

I don't have much to say, but I too want to take a European river cruise someday. I'll be watching this thread.

I can say my sister and BIL took one a few years ago and loved it! Pricey, but a once in a lifetime kind of thing. They went with Uniworld, which is apparently a step up form Viking.

I can’t help but recommend the YouTube channel Emma Cruises. She did a few on river cruises and it was interesting. Much different than an ocean cruise. Missing stops was a big issue apparently.

We've done both (Alaska in 2022 and Europe/Seine River in 2022). It kind of depends on how much you want to spend, i.e., are you looking at Carnival Cruises (low end) or something like Seabourn, Crystal or Silversea (higher end) for ocean cruises?

I know a lot of folks like Viking for both river and ocean cruises. Our preferences to date have been Seabourn for ocean cruises and Tauck for river cruises. One of the main reasons is due to the smaller ships and fewer pax on board and fewer children.

The boards at Cruise Critic can be good for information on specific cruise lines and places.

You could try a 7-day Rhine River cruise on Viking with both pre- and post-cruise stays.

If you have add'l questions, you can contact me.

Good luck and have a great anniversary trip, wherever you go.

This is our next river cruise with Tauck later this fall.

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

Viking fans here, we've done three river cruises and #4 is in a month. You are wise to plan ahead and book early, the longer you wait the fewer options you have.

Although we SF members are eager to provide advice, your travel agent is your friend.

This is next, we're arriving two days early to get over jet lag and tour on our own, at the end we're doing a five-day guided add-on in Poland.

https://www.vikingrivercruises...in-prague/index.html

We are fans of Celebrity and Princess, older crowd, not many kids

My step son talked my wife in to a Royal Caribbean cruise out of Barcelona on their big boat. We already had a Spain/Portugal trip planned with Celebrity but he wanted to be the first to take her to Spain, my wife is Spanish.

It was ok, a lot of kids and crowds on a boat that holds about 6000 passengers. We arrived a few days early and explored Barcelona, highly recommend, their subway system is fantastic.

7 day on Oasis of the seas, JUNE 2023

Barcelona, Spain, Palma De Mallorca, Spain Provence (Marseille), France Florence / Pisa (La Spezia), Italy Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy Naples / Capri, Italy Barcelona, Spain

All of the stops were fantastic except for Marseille, pretty but not much to see.

Rome, very crowded everywhere. Could not get in to the Vatican, no loss for me. Only saw the Colosseum from the outside, lines were to long to get inside. It was hard to get around. We purchased the get on and off bus ticket for the whole day, it sucked. You would sit at a stop for a long time. We got on one and it parked, they said 30 minutes before they would leave . We walked everywhere, much easier. We had dinner on the Tiber River at an outdoor cafe, amazing

Naples/Pompeii, so beautiful. Only regret was not having longer in Pompeii. Pompeii was on my bucket list, still is after only a couple of hours there, I think I need a couple days to get it all in

Barcelona











Mallorca




Marseille





Florence/Pisa







Rome





Naples/Pompeii







We did a Spain/Portugal cruise in Oct of 23. It was Celebrity, smaller boat with less than 3000 passengers. Definitely a few steps above Royal C


This one went out of Barcelona as well with stops in Malaga, Cadiz, Lisbon and Porto

I don't have any pics with me but everywhere was just stunning. The people and food were fantastic. We flew in to Madrid and explored for a few days and then took a high speed train to Barcelona to get on the boat. The cruise dropped us in Lisbon and we took a short flight to Madrid and flew home. Sounds a bit odd but it was much cheaper to do it that way


We are doing Greece and Turkey with Celebrity in June

OST. Thanks everyone for the info and references.

We did an eastern Mediterranean cruise on Celebrity 6-7 years ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. Ports were;

Rome, Italy
Messina, Sicily
Valetta, Malta
Santorini, Greece
Mykonos, Greece
Rhodes, Greece
Athens, Greece
Capri, Italy
Naples, Italy
Rome, Italy

My suggestion would be to plan on a few days at the beginning or end to spend in Rome. We did a bus tour from the airport to the port and it was a tease, really wanted to see more and have the ability to explore.

Malta was really a surprise. Knew nothing about it before going and now it's my prime destination if I ever say, "Fuck it!" and decide to become an expat. I could've spent all day in the armory at the Palace of the Grand Masters.

Santorini made me feel extremely poor. But start digging a little and it's interesting to see why Greece is so dysfunctional.

Mykonos, absolutely fucking hated it. Spent the morning on the island of Delos which I would've been happy spending the entire day on. Uninhabited except for a small archeological camp with a lot of ruins to explore. Afternoon was in Mykonos, crowded, hot, winding narrow streets, hard to get a sense of orientation and a very aggressive gay community. After having my ass grabbed for the third time I went back to the cruise ship.

Rhodes was another surprise, absolutely loved it. Not what you think of when you think of Greece, it's a walled medieval city. Rhodes was the headquarters for the Knights of St. John when they were campaigning in the crusades.

Athens, really wished we had more time at the Acropolis. Did take a trip out to the Temple of Poseidon and it was amazing, a log less crowded than Athens and right on the water.

Naples was fantastic. Best pizza I have ever had. Spent the afternoon in Pompeii and wished we had a lot more time there.

We did enjoy it, but it did feel very touristy at times. It was a good trip in that now I know where I would like to return to spend more time.

My wife and I did Viking river cruises from Paris to LeHavre (the D-Day landing sites was my favorite excursion) and Amsterdam to Budapest (14 days). Very enjoyable and not crowded like the big ocean cruise liners. They offered many interesting excursions and one never has to worry about heavy sea conditions when they're simply traveling on a river(s). There's certainly more elegant/expensive river cruise companies out there, but Viking was pleasant and not overpriced.

quote:

Originally posted by pulicords:
Amsterdam to Budapest (14 days).

We did this a number of years ago; one of my favorite cruises. We did the reverse (Budapest to Amsterdam). Going thru the locks on the Main-Danube Canal was fascinating. Had some decent daytime cruising, which I absolutely love. Sitting in the bow, in front of the wheelhouse, under a canopy, drink in one hand, camera in the other and binos hung around my neck. Always something to see on either side of the river/canal. Had a few low bridges; one crewman had to yank down a lady taking a picture before she clobbered herself on a bridge (not listening to crew directions).

This is an easy primer and maybe a watch with your wife to start the planning process.


I've done quite a bit of travel throughout Europe but, haven't done the cruising...yet. Big thing I understand is to make sure you fit your lifestyle, expectations and budget with the right cruise.
The more expensive and/or intimate cruises will have more rolled into the overall costs, whereas the budget/value-type cruise, the shore excursions and other add-on's are separate cost items. At the very least, write-down/chart-out the cruise ship brands and what they focus on.

Gary Bembridge has a big resource of videos on European cruises

quote:

Originally posted by pulicords:
...and Amsterdam to Budapest (14 days)...

Our first Viking cruise was Amsterdam to Bucharest, 23 days and we had a blast. We began with three add-on days in Amsterdam, there's lots to see there and it's a safe, western city.

As others have said, Viking longships are not packed (180 I think), with river cruises there is always something to see and usually one stop each day, sometimes two.

We did a Danube cruise last summer on Scenic from Nuremburg to Budapest. We flew into Munich and took the cruise line's bus transfer to the ship in Nuremburg. We returned to Munich via train to fly home for cost and schedule reasons. We enjoyed the train ride, too.

Scenic was really a first class experience. The ship was spotlessly clean, the service was excellent, and the food excellent. Everything is included in the initial price, no add-ons for drinks, excursions, specialty dining, etc.

We really enjoyed the Danube. Every day was a port day, and the stops on the Danube were all very interesting and fun. A lot of variety. The scenery along the way is stunning.

The cruise line had 3 or 4 excursion options each day, plus you can just get off and wander around yourself. So you can choose lots of walking, or take a bus tour, or see cathedrals, or go to beer breweries, etc. It was well organized. They treat you as an adult, meaning they don't keep an attendance list. You can go, stay, whatever you want.

Every cabin is a balcony cabin. Sitting on the balcony watching the scenery go by is relaxing and interesting.

We had an extra 2 nights in Munich pre-cruise so we could acclimate to the time change (7 or 8 hours). We used the day to tour Dachau concentration camp. It was indescribable, and something I recommend everybody do. The city of Munich was fine, meaning we enjoyed it but wouldn't spend days and days there. Two evenings was just right for us.

We stayed at a hotel right next to the central train station in Munich, which I highly recommend. It is very convenient for getting to/from the airport, Dachau, etc, and you are right by the central points of interest.

We will do another European river cruise soon. This year is all booked up for us, but likely next summer. We'll probably do the Rhine, though that isn't set in stone yet. I would happily do the Danube again, too.

My wife and I have done two Viking cruises, one ocean and one river. Another river cruise is scheduled for this year - it will be Amsterdam to Basel, Switzerland.
The first cruise was from Prague, Czech Republic to Budapest, Hungary. About 170 passenger aboard. I understand the limit was 190. No kids. First class all the way. Really wonderful trip.
My sister and wife have travelled on Uniworld for a similar trip in France. My take is the decor on that ship was fancier, kind of what you find in the old cathedrals. Otherwise there was nothing to make it better or worse than Viking.
We did seem to travel every night and have a new stop every day. Not bad but it was rare or never that you had an “evening on the town”. I believe they have since changed that to a bit slower trip with more time in port, allowing the occasional supper in town.
Don’t make the mistake of comparing this to a Celebrity type cruise with 6000 people on board. No comparison at all. River cruise - you cannot tell the ship is moving (really). I told the Captain, “Hey, I’m a US Navy Vet, I want to see waves once the bow and some heavy seas”. “Never going to happen

Thank you everyone with the suggestions they are very helpful.
This is what we are looking at as of now. We have not decided what time of the year to go just yet.

Looking at the prices depending on the time of year, it's a lot more money then we are used to spending on a cruise, a lot more.
The one nice thing, it does include pretty much everything except souvenirs.

The one thing is, we do have at least a year save. This would be our once in a life time trip.

This is the River Cruise line we are looking at.
Ama Waterways

2 Nights Amsterdam before the cruise.
Rhine river cruise (Amsterdam to Basel)
2 Nights Lucerne & 2 Nights Zurich after the cruise.

This includes all the flights to Europe and back and all transfers from the airports, hotels and ship.

The nice thing is, the information you have given us gives us a lot more options to look at in case this in not the right kind of cruise for us.

My wife and I are experienced cruisers to the Caribbean. Over the last 23 years we have been on sixteen, seven night ocean cruises but never a river cruise.

One of the videos posted explained it best for me to understand. In the video, river cruising in Europe is like taking a bus tour of Europe. The tours are in much, much smaller groups and everyone pretty much does everything together.

This is something we are not used to so we are going to have to decide if a river cruise is right for us.

Once again
Thank You everyone

This sounds like a really exciting opportunity and congratulations on your 35th upcoming!

The last two sets of people I have known to go on European river cruises (1 was on the Rhine and this was fall ‘23) ended up with Covid, and I hate to be a downer because I too want to try this out, but that did cause me to hesitate.

I am assuming cruise ships have air filtration systems and air exchangers on board for large groups, but that would be something I would (if it’s possible) check into.

Bon Voyage!

71 Truck - it sounds like a very nice itinerary; you'll have fun. Yes, river cruising is different from ocean cruising. Keep an open mind. Oceans & harbors are quite different than rivers & city docks. Both have plusses and minuses. I like daytime river cruising for the scenery but don't forget the night - I would go up to the bow area in front of the wheelhouse and watch the stars and the river at night after dinner. After the second time, the captain would turn off the lights around the chairs for me in order to see better. They'll more than likely offer a tour of the 'bridge' - take it. How they navigate on the rivers is quite interesting.

Also, watch the commercial traffic on the rivers. Many families live on their boats, with their car lashed down in the back and we've even seen playpens back there, too. LOTS to see, enjoy and learn!

The second time we ended a river cruise in Amsterdam, my wife finally asked me to take her through the red-light district. She made some interesting comments....

quote:

Originally posted by 71 TRUCK:
This is the River Cruise line we are looking at.
Ama Waterways

2 Nights Amsterdam before the cruise.
Rhine river cruise (Amsterdam to Basel)
2 Nights Lucerne & 2 Nights Zurich after the cruise.

This includes all the flights to Europe and back and all transfers from the airports, hotels and ship.

Ama is a premium cruise line, if they check the most boxes that you two are looking for, than enjoy, it'll be quite the splurge. I've got friends that just booked a cruise on Tauck, they prefer a more upscale experience, as there's less kids, less boorish behavior amongst passengers and they enjoy the presentation/talks that are offered on those type of cruises. One thing they made sure to avoid was any type of formal nights, they're good with Smart Casual but, if there's any tux/gown requirement, no thanks. Their theory is the people in which that appeals to, are those who never had to wear a suit/tie for a living.

quote:

One of the videos posted explained it best for me to understand. In the video, river cruising in Europe is like taking a bus tour of Europe. The tours are in much, much smaller groups and everyone pretty much does everything together.

This is something we are not used to so we are going to have to decide if a river cruise is right for us.

Check the itinerary or speak to their customer service and see how locked-in passengers are to itineraries and shore excursions. While cruises by nature are packaged affairs, there may be more wiggle room with how regimented the excursion scheudle is. In my experience, the more upscale the experience, the more alternatives are available or, accommodations are allowed (within reason of course) whereas the more mass-market or, value oriented type cruise, its take-it or, leave it. My friends mentioned above, his wife doesn't care for sharing tables during meals with others, she's just not the engaging-type. The river cruises they've been on, have been large enough that they're not running into and interacting with the same people day after day. She likes to run a bit more obscure and my friend is more engaging, so he'll hit the shuffle-board and pickle-ball games while she finds a corner to enjoy a book or, glass of wine.

71 Truck - the idea that everyone does everything together - not exactly.

There is a tour at every port that anyone/everyone can go on. Cost is included.

There are also other tours you can choose instead and pay extra for.

You can also choose not to take any tour and go out on your own. I did this once in Nuremberg. I had decided that I had seen enough local cathedrals and local political buildings. Searching “Museums in - - ” you get a long list of all the museums, large and small. Every stop has museums. You could also search “things to see in - - “. You may find that specialty place that you are really interested in seeing. (On the Rhine I believe there is an incredible military museum in Koblenz - it’s a stop for me on my next trip). You can spend your day doing that. In Nuremberg I found an incredible technology/industry museum and I saw that.
Some are walking distance or taxi distance from the ship. There are people aboard (concierge) that can help you with such details. Searching before you go works as well as searching the day before while on the ship. I took the local train, saw the museum and then connected later in the day with my wife in town. So no, you are not locked in to doing what everyone else is doing.

By the way, if Switzerland is on your agenda, a good book that covers Swiss history, WW2 and keeping and bearing arms is “Target Switzerland” by Stephen P. Halbrook. An excellent book, exhaustively researched, documented and footnoted. Despite all that it is an interesting, easy read.

quote:

Originally posted by 71 TRUCK:

...2 Nights Amsterdam before the cruise...

Your plan sounds good. We arrived in Amsterdam three days early, there's plenty to see. I strongly recommend the Anne Frank House and suggest you buy your tickets in advance as it gets LOTS of visitors.

https://www.annefrank.org/en/