We saw the combination river and ocean cruise in the Viking catalog. The river cruise was from Basel Switzerland to Amsterdam and the connecting ocean cruise was from Amsterdam to the fjords of Norway. One of the many things that made the river cruise so special was the cruise director Elisabeth. She is very friendly and personable. Her port lectures were informative and fun. Every evening she had a different program to keep us entertained. The food was great as well as the service. The crew made you feel like you were part of the family. The excursions were well thought out and very interesting. The ship was spotless and very attractive. All of the crew members were great. I would travel on Viking again in a minute. Viking is far superior to the other cruise lines that I have used. The ocean cruise was also great. The ship was beautiful. I really like sailing on a smaller ship rather than the giant ones that you have to stand in line for everything. Read Less

We had received a booklet about the Viking River Cruises from my wife's mother, who got them in the mail, because she had been on a Viking Ocean Cruise to the Nordic countries. We were looking for a River Cruise that could end up in Amsterdam, where we have a friend that lives there. The Rhine River Cruise from Basel to Amsterdam fit our plan perfectly! The Veranda Suite that we got ( Rm. 308) was roomy and beautiful. The full balcony off of the living room was like having our own private piece of Heaven! Being greeted in the morning by groups of beautiful, white Swans was really a treat! The bathroom was surprisingly spacious, and the heated floor in the shower let us know that we were traveling in First Class accomadations! The restaurant was gorgeous, and the food was amazing...especially because of the special menus offered each evening, featuring the local cuisine of each of the places that we visited, day by day. The menu recommendations by Frank, our Hotel Manager, were outstanding! Our experiences on the land excursions were excellent also, and we took one day to explore Cologne by ourselves, opting out of the group excursion, and taking a private Rickshaw tour of the city, away from the crowded places, and getting lots of historical and cultural info from our guide, Victor. We highly recommend the Rickshaw expericence!. Our favorite night, was the special dinner excursion, Dine in Rudesheim am Rhein!! The Food, the Fun, and the People, all made it an evening to remember forever! We felt that we were treated like Royalty the entire trip...and we will certainly be doing another Viking River Cruise in the future! Thank You Viking!! Read Less

We cruised from Basel, Switzerland, to Amsterdam. We decided to go in December so that we could experience the many Christmas markets along the Rhine River. They were amazing. The cruise was better than I ever imagined! The food was better than gourmet. I get horribly motion sick, but did not have any issues on this boat. The boat was clean, the staff were ever professional and our cruise director, Sebastian, always went above and beyond. He was funny, too! The tour guides were all local to the port we were in. They were really knowledgable and great story tellers. Our best tour guide was on the Colmar World War II memorial tour. The included excursions were great and we chose to go on several optional tours. I am already planning my next Viking River Cruise. I would highly recommend going on this cruise. Even if you have limited mobility, they had tour groups that were for people who needed a slower pace. They made sure that everybody on the cruise had an enjoyable experience. Read Less

My wife and I did this cruise because we wanted to experience a different type of cruise experience. We usually cruise on sailing ships (e.g. Windjammer Barefoot Cruises, Star Clippers, Windstar) and we generally like smaller ships. We were worried about the water levels and if we would have to change ships midway - fortunately, we were able to stay on the ship through the whole cruise. The ship itself is beautiful, with great rooms. We enjoyed having a balcony where we can watch the swans when at port and also the locks when changing to different parts ofthe Rhine. The food was excellent, as were the wine choices. We generally stuck to the house wines and id not get a drink package, because we are not big drinkers. We met friendly people while on board. Had many pleasant conversations. The view while on the river were spectacular. My wife was able to get many beautiful photos. We enjoyed the off shore excursions, especially the dinner at the monastery. However, we weren't too thrilled about braving the storm to check out the windmills. In fact, my wife would not walk to the windmill, due to the large amount of rain falling. Unfortunately, she had an upper respiratory infection, that worsened. Overall, a fun trip. Read Less

We absolutely loved our Viking Cruise. This was our first river cruise and and we were told many times that river cruising is different than ocean cruising. It is indeed but it was a wonderful, relaxing experience. We cruised the Rhine River from Basel to Amsterdam. We were so impressed with every city we visited and the excursions that were included with the cruise, were quality tours that were lead by interesting tour guides. And Christmas time was such a wonderful time to explore Europe with all the Christmas markets. It was magical. Viking’s attention to detail in every facet of our cruise was impressive, from heated bathroom floors, to water provided on our tours and treats awaiting us as we got back to the boat. We also chose to extend our travel on both sides of the cruise through Viking. Once again, we were not disappointed. We stayed in beautiful hotels in Lucerne Switzerland and Amsterdam. And Viking took care of getting us to where we needed to go every time. I did not have to think about anything - they handled it all. Viking has made a life long customer of me! I can’t wait to book my next Viking Cruise! Read Less

This was the second German December Christmas Markets cruise on Viking with a girlfriend. We had a great time again! We were on the Rhine River and were lucky enough to be able to stick to our itinerary since it had started to rain enough so that we didn't have to change ships mid cruise. The food on the Alruna was some of the best I have ever had on any ship! The cabins were clean and spacious enough for us and all of our treasures we bought at the Christmas markets. The staff was superlative! Everyone was extremely professional and friendly and knowledgeable of the area. We had a great time and look forward to another Viking trip. We loved the itinerary which started in Switzerland and ended in Amsterdam. Each town had a Christmas market and they were each different due to the locale. Strasbourg was the best! Overall excellent experience! Read Less

This trip was with 8 of our closest friends and THAT made it very special to us. We generally travel alone, but this time we took along friends. We all spent 2 extra days in our arrival city, Basel, Switzerland. Most of us took a side trip to the Swiss Alps which were covered in snow and the sights were fantastic. I highly recommend you ask your Viking rep about this trip to Lucerne if you have the time.Our embarkation and debarkation went very well. No complaints about that part and they took care of all the luggage from the hotel to the ship, and since most of us also extended for 2 more days at our ending city - Amsterdam - all our luggage was taken from the ship to that hotel as well. Very nice. The ship is very nice. Smaller than the regular cruise liners, but that makes it special. I believe there were only about 190 folks on our ship. We got the balcony cabin even though it was December, but that extra room was nice. Some of the did not get this room type and said their room was much smaller. As for the dining, fantastic. The food is very good and lots of it. Breakfast was either buffet or order from the menu. Dinners were multi-course and always several options to choose from. Wine or soda if you didn't drink wine was always included with all meals. Many of the lunches we were out on an excursion or in town enjoying the local cuisine and visiting the Christmas Market. My only complaint about the dining was that they didn't do reservations. There were two large groups on the ship, but only one table setup that would hold 10 folks. There was some "territory" issues the first couple days, but in the end, our group did get the larger table. I can't say that I was a fan of the entertainment on board the ship in the evenings. Usually it was a gentleman playing piano and singing. We did not usually stay to listen to him. Dinners were late - started at 7PM, and with our larger group lasted a while, so usually we just went back to our cabin after dinner. I can say that the included excursions for each port city were very nice. They were mostly walking tours so if you have difficulty walking, some of them may have been a little hard to do. What I really liked was that they were all early in the morning and were usually done by the time the markets opened, so we had plenty of time to walk through them. This gave my husband the opportunity to hear the history and me the time to spend in the markets, nice! We did do a couple extra excursions at an extra cost and they were also very nice. The service on board was also very good. The room stewards had the rooms cleaned up most days before you got back from breakfast and turned down by the time you were done with dinner. The waiters were exceptional and stayed with one area, so by the time the cruise was done, we all knew each other quite well. Our weather was not the best - very rainy. However, due to this rain, our cruise was the first one this year that was able to sail all the way up the Rhine River and NOT have to switch boats as we thought we might have at the start of the trip. THAT was VERY nice!! Of course after we made it through the lower part of the river, would have been nice to have a couple sunny days. We made out though. The only bad thing about the rain was the day we were at Kinderdijk. This was were the windmills were, but it was raining so bad and very windy that most of our group opt'd not to venture out and those that did came back early. Only one couple in our group was brave enough to stay the whole time and they were completely soaked by the time they returned to the ship. Would I go again? I would defiantly do a Viking cruise again if I were to take another river cruise. We have done the Danube (different cruise vendor) and now the Rhine, so if I decide to do another area that Viking cruises to, definitely. The break on the airfare was nice too. Most of us upgraded to Economy Plus which helped with the long flight from the states to Switzerland. Read Less

Cruise from Amsterdam to Basil. Chose this trip primarily for the Christmas Markets which were fabulous! Each one slightly different and unique but lots of fun and did most of my Christmas shopping. Love the souvenir mugs from each market. Best excursion was the Colmar WWII - guide was amazing and I learned so much about the area and the war. Other local guides were also very knowledgeable and made history come alive as well as providing information on each area visited. Food was totally incredible. Liked both the restaurant and the more informal atmosphere of eating in the lounge with smaller group of friends. For a person who is really not one for desserts, I had some of all of them --- luscious. Staff were all attentive and helped to make the experience great overall. Even though we had to switch ships due to low water levels, all was handled professionally. Already booked my next Viking Cruise for this fall! Read Less

For several years my wife and I have been discussing going on a Christmas market river cruise. Finally, in celebration of my 60th birthday, she booked us a 7 day get away cruise with Viking along the famous Rhine River. Unfortunately we were one week to early for Amsterdam's Christmas markets so we made it up exploring the city. Since our trip began in Amsterdam we booked an extra day to get over jet lag and enjoy the city. We had purchased tickets in advance online to visit the Ann Frank house. Amsterdam was decorated nicely for Christmas and enjoyed a pleasant night time walking tour of the city with all the sparkling lights. Made time to visit the Van Gogh museum and down the street get a photo in front of the red and white "Iamsterdam" sign.  We really enjoyed the hospitality of the dutch people. Our first stop was a cold and foggy morning excursion to Kinderdijk where we enjoyed numerous photo opportunities and even got to tour the inside of a working windmill and later in the day enjoyed touring a cheese factory. I learned that cows on the dairy cheese farms are treated pretty good since there health and emotions can influence the quality of the cheese. Since they raise very happy cows, I think we ended up buying 10 lbs of cheese. We absolutely enjoyed Cologne, and the beautiful cathedral. Inside the Cologne cathedral is the Shrine of the Three Kings  It was amazing to see the city all decorated in celebration for Christmas. Cologne had six individual Christmas markets and we made a point to visit every single one off them. One even had a ice skating ring in the middle of it. Every market had a different theme with individual gluehwien cups to match. The historical part of the city is beautifully decorated at Christmas to the point we felt like we were walking in a Christmas novel. I purchased a really cool Christmas tree hat that had blinking lights that mysteriously didn't make the journey back to the US. The out door Christmas beer gardens were so festive and alive with laughter. We enjoyed this city so much we contemplated missing the boat and staying the rest of the week just to enjoy the atmosphere however we gave into our desire to visit and experience other towns. I had seen dozens of pictures of Marksburg Castle, but was surprised by the actual size. Its a big castle, so we enjoyed the tour. The views of the Rhine river from this castle along with the colorful fall leaves was absolutely beautiful. We enjoyed viewing all the small villages as we cruised along the Rhine and only had one day of light misty rain during our entire trip. Our decision to visit Heidelberg and its Christmas markets was a good one. This beautiful city along the Rhine is one you don't want to miss. We dined at one of the local restaurants for lunch and purchased lots of goodies for friends and family to share back home. The make a lot of fancy liquors in this town.  I ate so much good German food that I think the bus busted a shock when I stepped onto it.  Strasbourg, France was gorgeous with every shops exterior decorated for Christmas. The Strasbourg Cathedral was another Gothic architectural beauty that reminded me of the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. I was surrounded by hundreds of Christmas booths selling everything from treats to ornaments. The Place Kieber Central Square with the huge Christmas tree fully decorated was amazing at night. The Christmas cookies in this town are addicting, so don't think for a minute your going to eat just one. Best cookies ever, even better than grandma's. We purchased more gifts to stuff into the luggage to the point I was wandering how we were going to ever get it to the airport. Colmar, Germany was another pleasant treat. This small German town reminded me of a Christmas story picture book I had as a child. The town was architecturally beautiful with all the decorations designed to fill your heart with Christmas spirit. My wife managed to buy more gifts to the point I am certain we are going to have to purchase another ticket for an extra bag for the flight home.Basel, Switzerland was the end of our Christmas market journey and decided to stay an extra day to enjoy the markets. They had three wonderful markets, each with their individual themes but were much more crowded especially at night. We really enjoyed the sausage, pretzels and beer. One of the markets even had several warming stations where you could sit and drink more gluehwien. Basel, was a little more expensive than the other markets so I was glad my wife had purchased more of our presents in France and Germany. Every market was different. If you see something you like in one market, don't assume the next one you see will be selling the same thing. If you see something you like, go on and purchase it, don't wait till the next market. So if you want one of those green lighted Christmas tree hats, you better purchase it in Cologne. I had heard reports about the Rhine being low but Viking managed the detours in a acceptable fashion. We were unable to visit one town due to changing boats, however the bus ride to the second boat was beautiful. Seeing the countryside along the Rhine is well worth a bus ride. The staff on both ships were absolutely wonderful. Our rooms were so comfortable and pleasant we had difficulty leaving them every morning to participate in the excursions. We never had a bad meal and everyone one the boat was extremely pleasant. Viking runs a smooth and efficient cruise line, so all you have to do is sit back and enjoy the journey. In summary, we really enjoyed our trip even though we headed back to the U.S. with an extra piece of luggage full of Christmas goodies (however that bag of extra cookies didn't make it). Along the journey experiencing all the beautiful and magical towns decorated for Christmas I managed to find my Christmas spirit, and that made making this journey well worth the trip. We look forward to many more Christmas Market Cruises in the future. Read Less

We have never been on a river cruise or Germany before.We were concerned about the low waters in the Rhine but they managed the detours in a very acceptable fashion. Highlights: Meeting people from all over and interacting with them. Made friends with a couple from Australia whom we hope to visit some day. Lutz the cruise director was outstanding. He managed a crowd of well traveled customers flawlessly. Evelyn the hotel manager could not have been better. Enthusiastic, bubbly and always there to help. Food was excellent. Hate to say that I gained 8 pounds! .We have been on many ocean cruises but without question this is the best cruise we ever sailed on. The included excursions were well planned and informative. Don't hesitate if you want a river cruise. Viking knows how to do them. Although we had to bus around low water the transfer to a sister ship was not a major issue. Read Less

We chose Viking to celebrate our 25th anniversary. Three weeks before our sail date they emailed us that the Rhein was low and we may have to swap boats. We started on the Tialfi and I explained to the Matre D that it was an anniversary trip and could he do something special (we did this based on the guidance of the tour director Lutz) because of the boat swap it almost didn’t happen and I had to ask twice more to make sure we foot a little special treatment at dinner. They kept telling us there was a chance we wouldn’t have to swap, but we did. We ended up swapping to the Alruna.Then we found out they have been swapping for weeks. It felt like we spent more time packing, unpacking, riding buses and sitting in industrial ports than we did actually enjoying a cruise in the river. We showed up on a Monday in Cologne and all of the museums were closed. We showed up in Strasbourg on All Saints day and everything was closed. The Black Forest trip was a bus ride with a stop at a glorified rest area, then back to the ship. We arrived in Basel in just enough time to get in a bus back to the airport to leave. Everyone on the ship said their goal was to surpass our expectations and Lutz and crew tried. The food was average on the boat. The veranda stateroom was a waste because there was rarely any scenery. We had a wonderful time exploring Kinderdjyk, Koblenz, Cologne and Strasbourg. But we could have had that experience for a fraction of the cost. Read Less

Had to try it for our selves after hearing good things. All our expectations an wants were met. Cruise very professional an accommodations very nice for size of ship. Food was prepared to your liking and a wide variety. The size of the excursions was the most attractive to me . Very personable an very timely. The ports were of great interest an the guides were very knowledgeable. The little things that Viking did set them apart from other cruises we have been on. Always felt welcome an appreciated. The staff are very well trained. When you are spoken to by name it feels a little special . The severs in the dining area were always around making sure we had what we wanted prepared to our liking. We felt like if you had a bad meal it it was our fault. The chef would prepare your meal like you wanted it. My wife is vegan an the catered to her food choices. Read Less

The staff was incredible. All very personable, friendly, knowledgeable and remembered our names. Always greeted with an Hello! Wi fi was terrible so we went to Starbucks in some of the towns if we really needed to use our wi fi. The tours were great as were the extra excursions. Ship was just big enough to get to know other passengers. Very clean and always had coffee, tea and cookies 24/7. The meals were tasty, beautiful presentation. The was a part of menu that was the same for cruise in addition specialties of the region per day and always a buffet. One could eat as much as they wanted for all menus. We purchased the extra drink package but if both people in cabin don't drink it is not worth it. Entertainment was fun..especially the Trivia nights. There is a refrigerator in cabin and a fresh liter bottle of water every day. They also have bottled water when you depart for tour and a special treat on return. We cannot wait to go on another Viking River cruise! Read Less

We had heard that Viking treats everyone with first class service so we decided to give it a go. We we had heard is exactly what we got and then some. The is a Viking representative at your finger tips from the time you land until they walk you to the check-in at the airport upon your trip home. The ship itself was wonderful with tours of the galley and wheel house available. The upper deck was a great view as we cruised the Rhine The food was first class with more than enough to eat. Each nights entertainment was very good with something a little different each night. The ports and shore excursions were first rate with guides from the area. You could do as much as you wanted at each port or as little as you wanted. We have already booked our next cruise with viking for 2020. This time we will be doing an ocean cruise. Read Less

We chose the cruise from rating others had given. We had not done a cruise before and wanted to go with a quality organization. The veranda suite was lovely, lots of space and kept very clean. The food was varied and excellent flavours. We have vacationed overseas before and in comparison these meals were 5 star. We really enjoyed the variety of excursions offered. We chose a number of the extra ones and they were very enjoyable and worth the extra dollars. The guides on all the excursions were well spoken in English and always had entertaining stories about the places we visited. We appreciated that the difficulty level of each activity was well expressed, allowing us to make good choices. The schedule of every event was well handled as was transportation at each location. The crew were very nice, always checking if there were any problems or concerns. We would definitely do another Viking Cruise. Read Less

My husband and I flew in to Amsterdam the day before our cruise for a few reasons. Most importantly so that we would not risk travel issues causing us to miss the boat and to overcome jet lag. We were glad we had the time to explore the city of Amsterdam and see the sights, including the Anne Frank House. Not having Viking transfer us to the ship caused some difficulties. It was a little challenging to find our ship once we were at the pier. Alrhough we knew the pier (one of three possible in Amsterdam) our ship was docked at, it was still not terribly easy to find our ship. It was hidden, snugged up against another Viking ship which made it invisible from the road. We finally found it, and once we did, our vacation began! Viking has customer service DOWN! From the moment we came aboard, we were pampered and made to feel like we were the most important couple on the ship. Every staff member aboard provided cheery, seemingly effortless service. The ship was spotless, and well designed with plenty of options for inside or outside seating. We frequently enjoyed the outdoor seating in the Aquavit Terrace during meals as we were blessed with spectacular weather during our cruise. The food was incredible. Fresh, lots of variety, and beautifully presented. The menus reflected the area we were cruising through and the wine and beer which were included at no extra charge during lunch and dinner were not “”house” varieties, but were also chosen to reflect the region we were in. The included shore excursions were well organized and the tour guides were impressive... very knowledgeable and interesting. I think we lucked out and always got the best ones ... we compared notes one day with other people on the ship and ours was the only one to offer samples to smell of the different fragrances available in the city of Cologne. Speaking of fellow travelers, we were surprised at how easy it was to make friends on board the ship. We are definitely not the outgoing types and yet we met three other couples on the cruise who we not only ate with most meals but also hung out with during our free time off the ship. When we booked this cruise, we worried that we might be amongst the very elderly but that was not so at all. Most people were in their 50’s to 70’s and shore excursions were organized so that anyone needing a more “leisurely “ tour had the option of joining a group geared for them. I think our 30-something daughter and son in law would have enjoyed this cruise as well. I think the only thing the younger crowd might want would be more club-like entertainment in the evenings. We went on this cruise with a “one and done” mind set but after experiencing what Viking offers, we are definitely going to be planning another one in the next year or two! Read Less

We chose the cruise as a celebration of our 51st anniversary. It was like a delayed honeymoon. Our ship was not the original one we were supposed to sail on because the Rhine River was low. The possibility of having to change ships was expected as we cruised toward Amsterdam. Fortunately, rain arrived and we stayed on our original ship. The crew and staff made us feel as if we were the only passengers aboard. No question or request was ignored. Each were handled much faster than we anticipated - in ways we did not anticipate. My husband got sick the first day out of port, and the staff anticipated every one of our needs. I had not eaten, so went to see if it was too late to get something from the dining room. The waiter, realizing that my worry about my husband was causing me to be indecisive, shared the menu with me, and made recommendations. When I told him I would be happy to take it back to the room, he told me, "No. Go back. I've got you taken care of. I'll bring your food and pick up your tray when you are through. Just call the main desk and they'll let me know." He was true to his word and took the time to "set the table" for me before he left. This was just a small example of the service we had from the staff. However, not just us, but others on board. The last day aboard ship, one of the men on our ship was struggling to make it to our transportation to see the windmills. When we got to the windmill, he was struggling with breathing, so my husband asked our tour guide to see if someone from the ship could meet us with a wheelchair when we returned. He did and when we arrived back to board our ship, the tour director was there waiting for a member of the staff who was running along shore with a wheelchair. When the man was seated, the staff member assured him it was nothing for him to take him back to the ship. I could go on about the food, the excursions, and activities being the best, but those things are expected. However, the individual care for each passenger created a secure atmosphere I did not expect to find. We'll definitely be going again....and definitely on Viking! Read Less

The Rhine Getaway was our second Viking Cruise. We chose this cruise because we like the small ship, only unpacking once, getting off every day with a different excursion, the quality of the excursions (the guides were mostly excellent - all very knowledgeable), the quality of the food and service (the waiters remembered us by name and what we liked to drink), the ability to make friends easily (and we did!). We loved all of the stops and the excursions with the exception of the Black Forest optional excursion. This was a very long bus ride and the destination was a tourist trap where they were selling cookoo clocks and glass products. I suggest eliminating this excursion. Other than that, we were 100% pleased with the excursions! I was very pleased that the pianist also played dance music at night (but not every night). There was an evening or two where a group of us wanted to dance, and he would only play slow piano music - not sure why. I can't say enough about the staff. They were all fabulous and really cared about making our experience wonderful! we would definitely cruise with Viking again! Read Less

My husband and I chose the Rhine River cruise to emerse ourselves in learning and experiencing the local cultures. Viking shore excursions were an awesome opportunity to achieve this goal. The ship activity director was from Germany and able to suggest excellent local spots to dine and relax and have coffee or enjoy a locally brewed beer. The onboard activities and entertainment were very enjoyable and the adult only atmosphere was greatly appreciated. The Viking staff were A+; from the point of embarkation to disembarkation. Traveling overseas has never been as smooth as this experience.The staff was so attentive to our needs; they gave great attention to every detail. The cleanliness of the ship was top notch. The chef and his staff prepared delicious local fare and offered wonderful demonstrations. In addition, the waitstaff were knowledgeable of local wines and beer. This was our first Viking cruise and it is definitely not our last. Read Less

We chose this cruise because we wanted to travel on a river cruise and see the Rhine River and the castles and cities of the Rhine. The fact that it also cruised through Switzerland and France was a definite plus. Also the fact that tours, wine and beer were included convinced us to travel with Viking. Embarkation and disembarkation went off without a hitch. The ship was phenomenal, the cabin terrific, the staff amazing and the food and wine beyond belief. Arrival date was our 44th wedding anniversary and my husband's birthday also took place during our cruise. The staff serenaded us both times and brought a cake and champagne. It was great and so much fun. At every port there was an included tour and often an optional tour. The tours went off without a hitch although sometimes certain tour guides "talked too much." But perhaps that was just their enthusiasm for their city or their topic. Upon return to the ship we were always greeted with a juice drink and cold towels with which to refresh as well as smiling and happy crew members. It is clear that the crew on the Alruna are a "family" and truly enjoy their job. They smile, they are enthusiastic, they are helpful, they are amazing. Particularly the Program Director, Sebastion and the Hotel Manager, Evelyn have a handle on every single detail. I was amazed at their efficiency and their stamina. They were like the "Eveready Bunny" - they never stopped. Our table staff Yolana and Arlan, and the Maitre d' Alfred were such fun and so great to talk to at each meal. After one day they knew your name, your likes and dislikes and were always ready to be at your service. I cannot say enough good comments about our trip on the Alruna. Read Less

Our first cruise ever and we chose Viking because of the wonderful things we heard from friends. The brochures and website were very informative as wel. We were not dissapointed. We felt so pampered and well taken care of. Everything, and I do mean everything went well! We celebrated our 40th anniversary and enjoyed all the ammenities that were offered with such great presentation and enjoyment by those who staffed the ship. We made new friends! The meals were superb! It was truly pleasurable. The staff on our wonderful ship were top notch. Our cruise director Evelyn took great care and communicated with me on a package I had left on a bus which was mailed back to my home. I felt she went above and beyond. Each guest was very important to her and to all the staff. We enjoyed being on the Rhine and not having to move every other night. There we were for the enjoyment of all the cruise had to offer. We look forward to traveling again with Viking in 2020 when we enjoy the Passion Play cruise. Read Less

I chose this cruise because of the Viking reputation. It was our first Viking river cruise and second river cruise overall. We liked the ease of embarkation/disembarkation and the included excursions for every port. We booked this cruise late and got one of the last rooms and it was on the bottom deck right underneath the gang plank, so we never had a view. The service was exceptional and the food was very good. The ship entertainment was ok, nothing spectacular. My favorite part of the cruise was the Rudesheim dinner excursion and the cruise up the middle rhine gorge, seeing castle after marvelous castle, while sipping delicious German Rose Sect. Every port was wonderful and we bookended our trip with 3 days in Zurich/Lucerne and 3 days in Bruges and Amsterdam. I want to live in Bruges one day! Amsterdam was pretty filthy and too crowded. All in all, a delightful vacation and we will definitely be sailing with Viking again. Read Less

Second trip with Viking on the Rhine River. This time in July 2018. Love the cities on this itinerary. Stayed an extra day pre-cruise in Basel (to allow for potential airplane, luggage type issues). Ship was beautiful. Crew was excellent. Food was scrumptious. We were in cabin 105- cabin was spotless. Did twin beds (traveling with son). Plenty of storage between 3 drawers and closet area. Plenty of hangars. Mini fridge. Stool at desk space area. 110 plugs by bedside and along counter - so no need to unpack the adapter. Hairdryer was fine. Freya shampoo, conditioner, body wash and lotion. Bathrooms are tight, but plenty of shelving for storage. Breakfast is mostly buffet style(which I am not a fan of) omelette station was crowded. They do offer a cook to order limited menu at breakfast - but service is harried on certain days when everyone is leaving at the same time. Lunch service was buffet and/or menu service. Much better since not so rushed. Dinner service menu only. Beer wine sodas are free with meals. There is an Aquavit Terrace area that has a small number of tables and is more casual for all meals. Think continental breakfast, light lunch buffet, or light(limited dinner service). Great service at all venues - you won't be unhappy with service (or food )either place. Cookies and muffins available alll day at coffee/tea/water stations. Crew was very helpful - son was sick a portion of trip and they found crackers and special items as requested. Made recommendations on where to seek doctors, and where to find local markets to purchase crackers and gingerale. Had an issue with the air conditioning one night- part was broken- crew was very willing to address issue and double check our room unit - at all hours. Proiblem addressed and fixed. Crew all over ship works hard and is friendly and helpful. Makes for a pleasant trip. It was super hot our week - I would recommend discussions with crew if you are worried about distances to walk for tours and what options may be available. Sometimes a taxi or bicycle cab type transfer would be better for those with walking issues (especially in the heat). Some walking (and great distances) is just part of the trip/itinerary/city - so having an in depth discussion to manage expectations would be very beneficial for some. That way everyone can enjoy the port. Viking does a nice job with little things like treats when returning to the ship after a tour. Excursions are good -- some times the guides are not the best - Viking wants to know when you aren't happy- they want to address those areas- so speak up and see how great they are about making things wonderful for your trip. Highly recommend the Rhine river - we have done the summer and winter on the Rhine- think I will stick with the cooler/colder months on this trip. Read Less

My husband and I did the Rhine cruise on the Alruna for our honeymoon and it was the most amazing experience! It was our first river cruise, and Viking really set the standard high, we had such a phenomenal experience. Viking the made the entire experience very easy, and we had no trouble with embarkation or switching to the ocean cruise ship in Amsterdam for the second half of our journey. I cannot speak highly enough of the entire crew on-board the Alruna. I have many severe food allergies, which always make traveling very difficult, and our Maitre D and chef made this the best traveling experience I have ever had. Every meal was unique, thoughtfully put-together, and made with such care. It was wonderful to be able to enjoy the excursions without worrying about what my next meal would be, as the chef, Maitre D and dining crew all knew me and had every meal planned, whether we were dining on the ship or away for afternoon excursions (yes, they even planned lunches for me to pack and bring onshore). The chef managed to incorporate local ingredients and flavors into every meal for me, despite my restrictions, and he went above and beyond in finding ways to make sure my culinary experience was just as wonderful and diverse as the main meals being served. The ship was beautiful, and we loved the intimacy of the crew and other passengers. The activities and excursions that we did were all amazing (both the included ones and the ones we paid extra to participate in). The days that involved us being on the river were just as amazing as onshore - there were numerous activities on deck of the ship, the views were beautiful, and we loved learning about the castles we passed and the locks we went through. While the activities and sight-seeing were incredible, the crew on the Alruna really made the trip exquisite and set it apart from all other trips we have done before. My husband and I will only sail with Viking in the future, we see no reason to look elsewhere when they provided the most wonderful honeymoon we could have asked for. Read Less

The timing was perfect for celebrating our anniversary, and we had never visited any of the sites along the way, including Amsterdam - so the Rhine Getaway was our choice! Viking made everything so painless - unheard of for international travel these days! We were met at the airport, where our luggage was whisked away and we were escorted to the ship. Since we arrived early, our stateroom wasn't ready yet, but we were encouraged to visit the dining room to have some lunch in the meantime. Our lovely lunch, with friendly people, was indicative of every meal while on the ship! Our cabin was perfect - small, but plenty big for our needs - after all, who wants to "hang out" in the cabin when there's a ship to explore and new friends to make?! We had a wonderful guided one-hour tour of Amsterdam that first afternoon - unexpected, but so appreciated! It, too, was typical of every tour on our trip - every tour guide was friendly and super-well-informed! We returned in time for a little power nap before the cocktail hour in the lounge. Joe and Adrien, the bartenders, were such fun that we ended up sitting at the bar, enjoying their banter, and listening to the talented pianist every evening before heading to a fabulous meal. Dinners were leisurely and enjoyable - no assigned seatings, like on bigger ships - on Viking you see a table with a few empty seats and lots of friendly faces, and voila! - new friends! The service is fantastic, the food outstanding, and the wine both delicious and plentiful! After dinner offered time back in the lounge, or up on the deck, enjoying the views and conversation. A couple of evenings offered other entertainment, but after a wonderful day of sightseeing we rarely felt the need for more! Shore excursions were well planned, interesting, and fun! Again, every tour guide was local, and offered information about the area that books never could! Cologne was my least favorite shore excursion, as it is a modern city - completely rebuilt after WWII. That takes nothing away from our guide, who was both informative and entertaining! Heidelberg and Strasbourg were my personal favorite ports, although our docking spot in Strasbourg was very far from the city, and required busses in both directions, and pick-up in a different spot from drop-off. Overall, our trip was fantastic, and the staff was wonderful - both Program Director and Hotel Manager were friendly, well-organized and accessible, and everyone else, from the housekeeping staff (who cleaned our cabin in record time, while we were at breakfast each morning) to Judy, who made amazing omelettes to order each day, to the wait staff, who brought us champagne and cake on our anniversary, were exemplary! Disembarkation, too, was painless, with no glitches to complicate an otherwise perfect trip. At the airport, our Viking representative got us right to the check-in counter without a wait, nor the need to lug our luggage! The only negative was that we were going home, instead of on another day of adventure! We would go on another Viking cruise in a heartbeat - and are conflicted as to which should be our next! Read Less