We had previously taken 3 European river cruises with Vantage Travel, a much smaller cruise line, and loved the experience. Our friends suggested that they would rather have a boat with verandas so that they could enjoy time in their room even when they weren't up to taking the excursions, so we agreed to go with them on this Viking "Rhine Getaway" cruise. We started with a 3-day pre-cruise extension to Lake Como which was delightful, and the Viking Program Manager accompanied us all the way from Italy to where the Herja was docked in Basel, Switzerland. The stateroom was smaller than what we had become accustomed to on prior cruises, but with good storage options, we soon stowed all of our belongings and acquainted ourselves with the ship. The Herja is just a few years old, and is maintained in perfect condition. Crew members are always polishing, cleaning, vacuuming, tidying up and keeping everything ship shape. We met Renee, our cruise director, at a Welcome Aboard event that evening, and were ready for cruising. He was very professional and knowledgeable and funny too. When we went on the very first excursion to the Black Forest the next morning, we marveled at the efficiency of the Viking organization. We were assigned to one of the 4 Viking buses that awaited us just outside the boat and were whisked away to our first excursion right on time. The guide was knowledgeable and entertaining, and the excursion proceeded with the efficiency of a German clock. This experience continued throughout the tour. Buses and guides were always waiting when we arrived in the port, and the guides gave us clear instructions as to when and where to meet at the end of the tour. There were a few opportunities to wander into some of the towns on our own, and we enjoyed touring in a less structured way and sitting down at a cafe for a local beer. All of the ports and excursions were interesting and worthwhile, but my favorite part of the tour was the morning that we spent cruising the Rhine Gorge with Renee narrating the history of the castles we saw along the way. Meals were interesting and varied, with local dishes featured based on the port we were in. Breakfast was always a buffet, with an omelette station. Lunch had some buffet choices and some plated meals, and dinners offered a choice of 2 or 3 salads/appetizers and 3 entrees. Steak, chicken and salmon are always available if you don't like what's on the menu. Service from every crew member we met throughout our cruise was friendly and exemplary. The weather was perfect for our entire cruise, and no alterations had to be made to the itinerary due to river conditions, which can sometimes happen later in the summer when the river is low. It's best to do these tours in spring for best weather and river conditions. The others who have given low ratings to this ship and itinerary traveled in late summer when the river was low. All cruise lines have a Plan B for when the river cooperates and you may not get to experience the ports that were advertised. Read Less

We recently returned from our Viking trip down the Rhine River disappointed and exhausted. The trip was chaotic and disjointed due to River levels on the Rhine. Instead of advising us of the extent of the disruption to be expected so we could cancel Viking emailed us several days before departure that we may have changed ships due to low. Water levels but accommodations would be made for our comfort. What was left out of the message was that we would be spending countless hours on busses instead of the river, we would miss several cities on our itinerary and the experience would make us sick. My husband arrived home with pneumonia and a distinct distaste for any more Viking trips. I arrived home thinking thankfully this trip is over. Not a memorable experience for the thousands of dollars we spent and the expectations we had for this trip. Read Less

My wife and I enjoyed our first river cruise -- a 7 night "Rhine Getaway" cruise from Amsterdam to Basel 08/21/2018 to 08/28/2018 on the Viking Herja. We paid $5,636 including airfare. There were 188 other passengers on the cruise. Despite drought conditions and low water levels on the Rhine river (necessitating unplanned delays and a missed port), the Captain and crew did a wonderful job of addressing challenges and keeping us on track. We loved touring the windmills, castles and cathedrals, and the included shore excursions were fun and informative. The Captain was very skilled and experienced, and we enjoyed his wheelhouse tour. Meals were wonderful, service was excellent, and we met many new friends on board. The 24-hour coffee machines made great coffee drinks, and the snacks were plentiful. The sun deck was spacious and comfortable, although we longed for a bit more shaded area refuge. We were a bit disappointed that, due to unforeseen itinerary changes, we were unable to see all the ports and castles anticipated. For example, we were delayed for more than 6 hours by the Rhine River Traffic Control authorities in Germany until higher water levels from upstream rains reached our position, resulting in passing many castles in the middle of the night. However, our ship was one of the few that made it through the entire journey without transfer to an alternate vessel. Our only minor complaint was in the airfare routing (too many segments)… we'll likely handle that ourselves next time. Overall, a very enjoyable vacation... highly recommended. Read Less