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