Sailing along the Rhine River is like stepping into a storybook filled with medieval castles, vineyard-covered hills, and charming old-world towns. Viking’s 8-day Rhine River cruise takes you through the heart of Europe, winding from Switzerland to the Netherlands, with stops in France and Germany along the way. Whether you’re drawn to the half-timbered houses of Strasbourg, the imposing fortresses of the Middle Rhine, or the vibrancy of Amsterdam, each day offers a new chapter of history and breathtaking scenery.
Whether you’re considering the itinerary or you’ve already booked it and you’re getting excited for what’s to come, we have detailed the full 8-day cruise below. This includes each of the planned ports, a breakdown of the different shore excursion options at each stop, the food and drink selection, rooms, and various trip extension options.
The Viking Vibe
First and foremost, with so many different cruise lines and tour groups, you might wonder, how is Viking unique? Is it what you’re looking for? From a bird’s eye view, Viking Cruises is a small-ship, luxury cruise line, known for its destination-focused travel experiences. With meticulously planned (and customizable) itineraries, guests can explore historic cities, scenic landscapes, and lesser-known cities and towns, while enjoying regionally inspired cuisine and curated excursions. The Scandinavian-inspired ships emphasize understated luxury, featuring spacious rooms, inviting public spaces, and an ambiance that fosters relaxation and discovery. It doesn’t go so far as to be gaudy, and you won’t find any ‘formal nights’ here.
For better or for worse, Viking only welcomes sailors over the age of 18 years old, so this isn’t a family-friendly cruise line. It does however contribute to a more tranquil and sophisticated atmosphere (generally speaking… adults can certainly get rowdy too). While this does tend to be a spendier cruise, it’s pretty all-inclusive once you arrive, so on-board food, drink, and entertainment are included.
The Cruise Life
So often on a European vacation, there’s the pull to see different places, without dealing with the annoying hassle of un-packing and re-packing your things every day. Having never partook in a cruise-vacation before, one of the ‘perks’ we loved most was being able to see so many different places without the tediousness of packing. It was also rather lovely to sleep during travel time. The boat more or less cruised while we were sleeping, so the days were used economically for walking, hiking, and biking around!
Again, this was our first cruise— we’re typically more independent vacationers, BUT there’s a lot to be said for *just* how smoothly things run on a Viking ship. It’s so relaxing to have all the small details, down to your bags, handled without needing to think twice about it.
Can’t Control Mother Nature
Despite everything running smoothly from a Viking organization and customer service perspective, you can’t control mother nature!! The water level in the Rhine River was too high for the boat to make it under a bridge, so on our fourth day, we did have to pack our bags, load up in a bus, and drive about three hours to where another (identical) boat was waiting for us. Honestly, this process was about as smooth as they could possibly make it; however, it’s worth noting– sometimes things don’t go exactly according to plan!
The Room
We booked the Veranda Suite and really enjoyed it. Cruise ship rooms can sometimes get a reputation for feeling small, but we were rather pleased with the size and space in our room. Our summer 2024 expedition was actually a very delayed re-scheduling from a canceled 2020 trip. We originally booked the Explorer Suite in 2020; however, it was unavailable by the time we were able to make the 2024 commitment. Here’s the thing though— friends we were vacationing with managed to snag one of the explorer suites, and while it was certainly nice…. in my opinion, the Veranda Suite is spacious enough and the difference in cost is better spent on a pre-trip excursion!
The Ship
Outside of the room, the ship has 4 levels. The lowest level of the boat is exclusively guest rooms, with all of the shared spaces on the top three levels. We felt the communal-space-to-guests-onboard ratio was good. It never felt cramped or overwhelming. Seeing the boat from a bird’s eye view helps make sense of the different “locations” on the boat as they’re referenced below.
If you’ve already booked your Viking cruise, the name of your boat will be in the information packet you receive prior to your trip. You can find a list of boats here to see when yours was built as well as a little history behind the name.
Food & Wine
Whenever food and drink are all inclusive, the question becomes…. but was it good??? We don’t drink much but we love a good meal! Food truly was excellent the whole time we were on board. We didn’t have a single bad meal! The portions were perhaps a bit more European than the typical American plate, but there was no restriction on how much any person was allowed to eat. The only downside? Meals are only served at the outlined meal times— outside of that, you’re out of luck. This really is not a huge issue, but if you get peckish on occasion, perhaps bring an extra snack or two.
Besides the occasional glass of sangria, I don’t drink much, so I am not an expert on the selection of drinks provided. A good friend of ours cruised with us, and she’s the opposite— arguably a little bit of a wine snob. She had upgraded to the premium wine selection and felt it was a bit limited, but ultimately found a couple favorites aboard.
Nine Cities in Eight Days
Tackling nine cities in eight days certainly makes for a full itinerary! From Switzerland, up through France and Germany, alllll the way up to the Netherlands, it’s a cultural cornucopia. Think historic cities, medieval towns, towering cathedrals, renowned wine country, and storybook castles. The boat traveling while you’re sleeping really aids in the economy of time—you can actually spend the whole day exploring when transit occurs through the night!
The boat’s journey along the Rhine River is outlined below in purple, with the nine ports noted along the way. We will dive into each stop below!
‘Twas the Night(s) Before
Viking offers a handful of different pre-trip extensions, providing the opportunity to experience even more, before embarking on the cruise journey. The Lake Como (3 nights) and Italian Lakes (3 nights) options provide a glimpse into northern Italy, where you can soak in the serene beauty of alpine waters, explore charming lakeside villages, and sample some Italian cuisine.
For those drawn to the Swiss Alps, the Lucerne (2 nights) and the Alpine Backdrops of Lake Lucerne (3 nights) extensions offer breathtaking scenery, with opportunities to wander the medieval old town, cruise on Lake Lucerne, and take in some majestic peaks. For an even more immersive alpine experience, the Swiss Alps & Scenic Train (4 nights) extension combines stunning mountain landscapes with an iconic train journey through Switzerland’s picturesque countryside.
We tacked on the Basel (2 night) extension option, and enjoyed wandering around the city, taking in the cultural hub, with historic art and architecture. It was especially fun to see Dreiländereck of Basel— a point where Switzerland, France, Germany meet. Regardless if you take advantage of an add-on extension, or if you just arrive a day or so early, it’s always nice to have a moment to acclimate to the time change…. the extra sights, sounds, and scenes are always a highlight too! We’d never visited Switzerland before, so it was lovely to take in the historic charm.
Day One — Basel, Switzerland
Exploration
The earliest you can get on the boat is 12pm, so, depending on your flight’s arrival (or your jet-lack) there is time to do some sightseeing. Even better, it’s wise to plan on arriving a day or two early. Our flights into Basel went smoothly, but we always like to have a bit of a buffer, just in case!
Simply wandering around a new city is always fun. If time allows, check out the Marktplatz, as this the center of town. The Barfüsser Church and Basel Historical Museum are lovely to explore as well, but truly, our favorite thing we did was walking around the city on a guided tour. As you might expect for a city that’s an intersection point for three different countries (be sure to check out the Dreiländereck), Basel is a melting pot of architecture styles, with contemporary, Romanesque, and neo-baroque influence.
If you miss out on morning adventures, your window of opportunity isn’t closed yet… there are two afternoon options for a leisurely, guided tour around Basel. Due to time limitations, it’s not the most robust exploration of Basel, but it’s certainly nice to have someone filling you in on the context and history or a given area— especially one as charismatic as Basel.
Departure
The first evening was mostly spent eating dinner and familiarizing ourselves with the boat. The boat has four different “floors”, but three different levels with communal spaces, so it’s nice to take some time to orient yourself. Even at night, the sun deck is fun to go sit out on!
Day Two: Breisach, Germany
Day two of the cruise, but the first day of exploring Germany! Breisach is charming in and of itself, but it’s also a gateway to the enchanting Black Forest. For any early risers, breakfast is available starting at 6am. You’ll want some food in your belly, because your excursion into the Black Forest commences at 8:30am sharp! This excursion is certainly not mandatory, but it is included in the cost of the cruise. There are additional excursion add-ons if you’re looking to up the ante, but exploring independently is also an option as well.
The Black Forest
Admittedly, they’re very touristy-looking, but everyone on the ship is provided an audio receiver and earpieces. These are important to bring along on practically every excursion as this is how the guides lead a given tour. It’s the easiest way to ensure everyone can hear, without any obnoxious shouting.
The Black Forest hiking escapades take up most of the morning, but time flies because the forest is lush and beautiful to walk through. Even with other guests around, it’s rather peaceful to wander around the dense fir forest and enjoy this little slice of nature. It’s not all forest trekking— this excursion also includes a couple stops in the local village, including a cuckoo clock demonstration and watching a glassblower at work.
Afternoon adventures
All too soon, it’s time to eat some lunch back on the boat. Don’t get too comfortable though– there’s more exploring to do. The afternoon is more of a flexible open time, for independent exploration. The St. Stephen’s Cathedral is beautiful and there’s also some outstanding local wine to sample from the nearby Alsace— an area known for its white wines. My husband, Kendell is a bit of a World War II buff, so we opted into the ‘Colmar Pocket in World War II: Museum & Memorial’ excursion. Definitely recommend it if you enjoy museums and world war history!
The day winds down nicely, with a happy hour ambiance of drinks and live music starting at 5pm. Everyone should be back to the boat by 6:15pm, and the boat casts off at 6:45pm. Dinner is at 7pm, and is followed by some fun trivia and live music. Even just sitting out on the terrace, watching the various historic villages float by, as the sun sets, is a rather lovely end to the day.
Day Three: Strasbourg, France
Third day, third country! As you are enjoying breakfast, the boat will dock in Kehl, France. From there, it’s an easy 15 min drive to Strasbourg, which is the city on the docket for exploration today. The included excursion again departs at 8:30am, but there are other tour options if you’re interested in seeing or doing something different.
Out on the Town
Walking around a new city is always fun— especially a place as steeped in historic culture as Strasbourg. It’s made even better when you have a knowledgeable tour guide on hand to actually explain the significance of different buildings and areas, such as the former Tanners’ District or the Strasbourg Cathedral.
The morning tour lasts around 4 hours, and you can neither head back to the boat to eat lunch there, so stick around for lunch in the city. If you stay in Strasbourg, Viking has shuttle buses running from 2:00-6:00pm, so it’s pretty easy to head back whenever you’re tuckered out.
Overall, Strasbourg feels like a town in a Disney movie brought to life. Think timeless cobblestone streets and lovely wooden houses, with picturesque canals interwoven throughout. There’s even a unique double-decker merry-go-round! We definitely recommend taking advantage of the extra time to explore. Climbing the ~330 steps to the top of the cathedral was soooo worth it for a beautiful view at the top. Makes getting a scoop of gelato afterwards taste even more refreshing!
Back to the Boat
Once you get back to the boat, there’s still more fun to be had! Flammkuchen is a German/French flatbread pizza. While Alsace is known for its white wines, this specialty pizza comes from there as well. If you have any interest in making your own, there’s an early evening demonstration on the boat. This leads right into the evening’s hour of pre-dinner drinks and live music.
The boat casts off at 7pm, just in time for dinner. Every itinerary has the potential for unique meals, but our third night was a hearty German meal. There’s so many rich opportunities when visiting new places but man, trying local dishes is perhaps the best way to experience a region.
Day Four: Speyer & Rüdesheim, Germany
Just like in life, sometimes things on vacation don’t go according to plan. The itinerary for day 4 is supposed to be centered around a robust day in Speyer; however, unfortunately for us, high water high water levels along the Rhine River prevented our boat from being able to pass under bridges as necessary.
We actually had to pack our bags and switch to another vessel. Our new ship was about three hours away, so they transported us via bus. While this was a little inconvenient, they made the process as seamless as possible. Really makes you appreciate all the other days when we just got to travel while we were sleeping!
Since the change of boats affected the schedule a bit, we pivoted and split off from the group for a bit. We were able to snag a taxi and go explore the Natzweiler Struthof Concentration Camp, in the Vosges Mountains. Even decades after the Holocaust, the concentration camp still had a rather somber air. Definitely not a lighthearted day trip, but it was something that felt meaningful. We reunited with the group and spent the night in Mainz, a little town on the outskirts of Frankfurt.
The Original Plan
While we didn’t get to visit either city, they both seemed like there was a high potential for an engaging day. Speyer is home to Speyer Cathedral— a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As we understand it, the church and city played a role in the Christian reformation and creation of the Protestant branch of Christianity.
Rüdesheim was even more disappointing to miss out on. This unique town is rich in character. It’s the crown jewel of the Rheingau wine region— culminating along the Drosselgasse, a cobblestone alleyway lined with bars and taverns, serving local vintages. Rüdesheim is also home to one of the oldest castles along the Rhine as well as a musical museum brimming with self-playing instruments!
Alas, if you end up visiting, you’ll have to let us know what you think!
Day Five: Scenic Sailing— Middle Rhine & Koblenz, Germany
While so many of the previous days have been filled with exploration during the day, followed by traveling at nights, the itinerary is flip-flopped today! The ‘Middle Rhine’ is actually a UNESCO World Heritage site, so traveling through this area at night would be a crime! The surrounding hills are home to rolling vineyards and towering castles. After the hectic day prior, it was rather relaxing to have a day sightseeing from the boat.
Interestingly, many of the castles have become boutique hotels. We decided if we were to ever come back independently, that would be an awesome place to stay! The Lorelei Rock is another eye-catching sight, towering high along the riverbank.
As a note, this was a chilly day for us, so even if you are cruising in the summer months (we were here at the end of June), it’s not a bad idea to pack a jacket!!
We made it to Koblenz by evening; however, due to the late sunset of summer, we were able to wander around for a bit before bed. Typically Viking has a couple different excursion options in Koblenz, but since our itinerary was tweaked slightly, there was no formal tour of Koblenz.
Even without a guided tour… does one ever really tire of walking along cobblestone streets, wondering what life was once like in the ancient market square, or admiring the character of old, wood-beamed houses??
Day Six: Cologne, Germany
Better make sure you get a good night’s rest, because today is an action-packed day! The Cologne walking tour departs at 9:15am, and it’s just the tip of the iceberg.
The tour winds around the city, with the most memorable sight being the Cologne Cathedral— another UNESCO World Heritage site. Climbing to the top is no small feat but the views are gorgeous. The city has such a rich, historic ambiance, with old Roman cobblestone streets, and the two-hour morning tour flies by.
Lunch is served on the boat, but we just stayed in town and grabbed a bite at Peter’s Brauhaus before then heading out for an afternoon adventure. The afternoon is an open time for independent exploration but there’s also a few additional tour options, for anyone so inclined. We signed up for the bike tour and ended up riding over 20 kilometers, along the Rheinauhafen waterfront. Such an awesome way to maximize time, when you only had one day in Cologne.
We finished out the day by putting a love lock on the Hohenzollern Bridge. Such a full and wonderful day!
The full schedule for the day, with the timing of different excursions, is detailed below.
Day Seven: Kinderdijk, The Netherlands
It’s amazing how fast time flies when you’re having fun! The morning of day seven is spent cruising along the Rhine, with a couple dedicated disembarkation meetings to help ensure things go smoothly upon departure on day eight. The breakfast spread is tasty as always— hard to beat starting the day with an omelet in hand, as the Rhine riverside cruises along.
The boat docks in Gorinchem briefly before continuing onto Kinderdijk. There’s four excursions offered in this region, but only one commences in Gorinchem. The ‘Kinderdijk Windmills & Dutch Cheese Making’ group gets to depart the ship while everyone else floats down to Kinderdijk.
We were part of the crew that opted into the Kinderdijk Windmills & Dutch Cheese Making excursion, and not even unexpected precipitation could ruin our day! Despite the rain, we had a nice time wandering around the city, taking it in and learning about the regional culture— for example, Kinderdijk is home to the largest concentration of windmills in The Netherlands.
Who doesn’t jump at the opportunity to sample some fancy cheese?? We went to an amazing local cheesemaking facility: Kaasboerderij Kuiper. They made all types of artisanal Gouda! Not only was the cheese tasty, but the cows were nice as well. Especially friendly with my husband, Kendell— he kept getting licks! We finished the day, visiting one final old windmill, before returning back to the boat.
A slower and more logistical start to the morning followed by a rather action-packed afternoon. The itinerary for the last full day on the boat is detailed below.
Day Eight: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Wake up in Amsterdam! The final day of the cruise is less about cruising and more about getting some breakfast and getting off the boat. Everyone is expected to be out of their rooms by 8am— no sleeping in on the last day!!
In the same way Viking offers pre-cruise extensions, there’s a couple post-cruise extension options as well. Upon arrival, there’s not an “included” excursion for Amsterdam, unless you opt into one of the extensions. If you want to stay in Amsterdam independently for a day or two, there’s certainly more exploring to do! If you’re looking for a little direction, here’s a bunch of our favorite places to go and things to do in Amsterdam.
Amsterdam Post-Cruise Extension
The extension in Amsterdam includes two nights hotel, two breakfasts, and included guided walking tour of Amsterdam, the opportunity to add on a few additional experiences, and your transfer to the airport. We did sign up for this as well as the additional Evening Canal Cruise.
The day we arrived in Amsterdam felt rather full with the group walking tour, our independent wandering, and a canal boat ride to end the day. As such, we spent entirely toooo much of our final day lounging around and resting, but after the full pace of the previous days, it was nice to slow down.
Our biggest regret is not getting tickets to the Anne Frank House as they have to be bought weeks and weeks in advance (you can buy them here). There’s certainly loads of other things to see and do, but this is one that requires a bit of advanced planning as tickets become available 6 weeks in advance and will sell out quickly in the busier months!!
Antwerp Post- Cruise Extension
The Antwerp extension package is very similar! All interested parties will make the ~2 hour trek to Antwerp and once there, a two nights hotel stay, two breakfasts, a guided walking tour of Antwerp, the opportunity to add on a few additional excursions/experiences, and a transfer back to the airport are included here as well. As we stayed in Amsterdam, we did not take advantage of this extension, but it could be a great option for anyone that’s already visited Amsterdam in the past!
Overall the tour was a fabulous experience. Customer service and attention to detail goes a long way, and Viking did a great job in both regards. The cruise path itself along the Rhine River was beautiful and afforded the opportunity to explore more off-the-beaten-path locations, loaded with historic charm. Food was delicious, and we really enjoyed out room! Any negatives were minor and relatively circumstantial (ex. water level too high to pass under bridge).
Not a bad thing at all but just something to be aware of: the cruise is adult only, but we generally found it was catered to a bit more of a middle-aged and older crowd. Logically this makes sense when you consider the price point of the cruise and the age group that the included transfers, guided tours, etc. most appeals to. This was an awesome couples trip, but would likely not be how we’d spend a trip budget for a vacation with our five adult daughters (age 19-30).
All in all a truly beautiful trip and an amazing way to explore this pocket of Europe. Happy travels!
