This is our second Viking River Cruise -- Amsterdam to Basel on the Rhine River. Our mid-April weather was perfect -- in the 70's during the day and no rain. The food was wonderful, the crew was terrific (knew our names on the first day!) and the excursions were perect The narration by our Program Director, Diana, was great while we were cruising down the Rhine looking at all the castles -- yup, just like the advertisements! We enjoyed all of the "included" excursions and chose one optional -- Medieval Colmar and it was well worth it. Colmar is a delightful cobblestoned village -- right out of fairy tale books. We chose to ride on the "little white train" to get to the main square and it was the perfect way to travel through this village. If you're deciding on an option, try this one! We were busy everyday yet had time to relax and enjoy the scenery on the upper deck. Read Less

Was on our bucket list and was so impressed with all aspects of the cruise, staff, food, service and the excursions. One the nice things about the Viking River Cruise was that it had only 190 passengers so that you got to meet a lot of new people and it made it more friendly. Everyday brought a new adventure and the crew members always had smiles on their faces. They bent over backwards to be helpful and accommodating. The food was outstanding. Always nicely prepared. Wide selection of fare. One night, we even had the opportunity to visit the kitchen and select and serve ourselves. Beer and wine is always available for lunch and dinner and they are very generous and eager to keep your glasses full. I would recommend taking a few extra excursions that are offered. One night, we did dined in Rudesheim. Everybody had a great time dancing, singing to a German band's music and playing drinking games. Also, the extra tour to Colmar, France was moving and educational about our brave soldiers that drove the Germans back across the Rhine during World War ll. Again, it was so impressive that my wife and I have scheduled a trip on the Danube for 2020. If you ever get chance to go on one of these cruises, please take advantage, you will have many pleasant and wonderful memories for the rest of your life Alan Read Less

This was our first river trip and it was recommended to us by AAA. The air travel was on time and the tourist seating was comfortable and adequate. Our arrival time in Basel did not allow extra time to spend time in Basel, and we were excited to explore the ship and our cabin. Arrival on the ship was gracious, friendly and efficient, and we would learn that this is the way of the Viking Vidar. All the crew were there to make our journey most pleasant. The ship was pristine, exterior, public spaces and the cabin. Dining was outstanding, and we were pleased to have the option to eat with our new friends in the bar/terrace area occasionally. Both areas were outstanding, and we did have a great time with our noisy friends! Our rather "portly" Chef assured us "never trust a skinny chef", and he and his staff did a great job. There were enough activities on board to pick the rare "slack" times, led by the outstanding Program Director, and he was with us on our various shore excursions to insure we were in the right place at the right time. Included shore excursions were very good, and we were also pleased with some of the optional excursions we took as well. The Captain (young, handsome dude) was always gracious and ready to answer any question, the Hotel Manager was outstanding and the Front Desk staff were always very pleasant and helpful. Can't say enough good about our experiences on the Viking Vidar. We extended an extra two days in Amsterdam and enjoyed it thoroughly. Now we are trying to decide which one to do for next year, and are looking forward to it. Read Less

We were first time river cruisers. Decided to book for 35th Anniversary celebration. Booked in January for August 30th Cruise. We had a fantastic time on the Vidar! Everything ran on time, flights booked thru Viking and transfers. Bus drivers very courteous and friendly. Crew and staff were awesome. Michael, hotel manager, Chris the program director, Executive Chef Karl were very friendly and accessible! Food was 5 Star everyday! Excursions with very knowledgeable guides who were very proud of their community! Loved the more intimate experience vs an ocean cruise we had in past! ( was not with Viking) Met several other passengers and actually met a couple who live about 20 min from us in NKY! Enjoyed talking with bar/wait staff and learning more about them. Had bonus free concert by German Armed Forces Band in Koblenz! Don’t know that I would change a thing about this cruise. Will definitely book again! Highly recommend Viking! Read Less

The Rhine Getaway cruise was absolutely wonderful. One of the reasons we love RIver Cruises is because we get to see parts of countries in ways we might never, just flying into a city. Cruising the Rhine and seeing all the castles was very exciting. From our Pub Crawl in Colonge, our visit to wineries and walks in the Vinyards in France, the quaint and beautiful village of Colmar to our Mt.Pilatus climb in Lucerne Switzerland, everything was amazing! This cruise provided a wonderful mixure of smaller European towns and larger, beautiful cities. The staff on the ship were amazing and the food was spectacular. Carl our chef was quite entertainting as he would describe the evenings choices for dinner. And, despite the low water levels, we had an amazing Captain who managed to navigate our boat through all different water levels and we were able to stay on the same boat for our entire cruise. We would highly recommend this cruise to anyone. Read Less

Excellent food, fascinating tours, and the river views always worth watching. Tour director made everything better. Highly recommend this river cruise. Might do it again. Always try to have the chef's specials. They are outstanding. Didn't arrive in time to explore our departure city, Amsterdam. Wish we did. The windmills were a highlight of the trip. Take the boat to the windmills because you see much more. The Cologne pub crawl tour was also a highlight. Had a great local tour guide. Really enjoyed the beer. If you need an elevator don't book a cabin in the lower level. Be sure to be on deck when the riverboat is going through a lock and take advantage of the riverboat captain's tour of the wheelhouse. Don't miss the evening talks about the next day's destinations. Wish we had more time to explore Strasbourg and the Alsace region. Plan to take another Viking river cruise. Read Less

We were looking for a cruise that would cater towards adults, provide an opportunity for cultural immersion, and not nickel and dime us every time we wanted to do something. Our Viking cruise met all of our objectives and then some. The staff was amazing and, by the end of the week, we were sad to say goodbye to them. We made new friends on the ship, enjoyed unbelievable cuisine (Chef Karl was a definite highlight of the trip!) and saw ports and cities we would have never traveled to on our own. We are already planning to take another Viking voyage. The only negative was in the notification of where our ship would be docked for embarkation. We explore Amsterdam on our own prior to our Cruise and, intentionally, selected a hotel near to the three locations we were told the ship would be. We were planning on walking with our luggage to the dock and were expecting to receive some type of notification via email of its location. That never happened. It would be really helpful if Viking set up a group text that could be used for notifications such as these. Not everyone would use them as they may not be utilizing international mobile service but, for those that are, the ability to receive important messages via text (changes to itinerary, timing, ports, etc.) would be invaluable. Read Less

EVRYTHING was handled with precision and detail. From the time we were greeted to the airport until the time we returned home. Our cabin was impeccably clean, comfortable and always had anything we needed or for that matter wanted. The boat was luxurious to say the very least and the atmosphere was superb. The utmost care was taken for our comfort and safety both on board the ship and when on excursions. The excursion buses were beautiful and the drivers were amazing and very friendly. Now about the dining..far superior than I expected. I take my dining very seriously as an event almost and am critical of my food, but the food and service not only met but exceeded my expectations. Our chef Karl was knowledgeable, loved his profession and was funny. He took time from his busy schedule when I asked about the technique he used for preparation of certain dishes to talk with me about it and you could tell he loved food and pleasing his customers. Every meal he came to each table and made sure everything was ok. I thoroughly enjoyed the small aspect of the ship and LOVED the open dining concept. We ( my wife and myself) met very many interesting people. Being retired I enjoyed the fact that there were no young children running around. I love kids and my grandkids but not on a cruise of this nature. This is an active cruise, IF you choose. Our cruise director was awesome and I appreciated the afternoon meeting to summarize the day, explain what was happening tomorrow , what the chef was preparing for our dinner and that evenings entertainment. One evening a classic violinist and pianist played for us and it was just one of the highlights of the trip. Our extended stay in Amsterdam at the end was phenomenal. I wish we had stayed there longer. We loved this cruise line so much that we are very seriously considering booking the islands of the south pacific cruise which is 32 days long. I would highly recommend Viking to anyone, you will not be disappointed. Being a USAF veteran and having seen most of the world in a different way, you will not be disappointed, in any way, shape or form with the Viking. It very simply is Phenomenal!! Read Less

Over a thousand years ago, the Vikings sailed their long ships throughout Western Europe. They braved the seas and glided over the river systems, conquering wherever they went. Today, you see a bigger, sleeker and much friendlier version taking over the cruising world. In 2011, we saw our first of many Viking River Cruise commercials on PBS. Okay, PBS doesn’t do commercials (haha), but their short, but memorable “sponsorship segments” on MASTERPIECE and Downton Abbey were nevertheless a feast for the senses. Who could resist them? Remember the aerial view of a majestic cathedral overlooking a scenic river valley with a Viking Cruise Ship passing by? The “segment” continues with happy boomers enjoying a museum, tasting local wines and strolling the cobblestone streets of a 15th century village. But my favorite was when they showed a beautiful and young looking 60-something couple, relaxing in the comforts of the ship’s deck while the scenery moves slowly by. From a marketing perspective, it was a match made in Valhalla. The audience for Downton Abbey was a dream demographic for Viking. Their Senior VP of Marketing, Richard Marnell said it best: “It is our view that successful partners should enjoy growth together, and that is certainly the case for our partnership with MASTERPIECE. Together, we engage with audiences of people who strongly believe in enriching their lives through the arts, culture, history and exploration.” That audience included my wife Teresa and I. We finally got our chance to go on a Viking River Cruise. Being the owner of a marketing firm, I’ve seen a lot of great branding over the last 27 years, but this business brand soon became my all-time favorite. Here’s why… Last October I was watching a recorded episode of Downton Abbey and saw the Viking “segment” again. I went online and called them. The man on the phone was like talking to an old friend. He asked me great questions and listened to my ramblings. He told me about an eight-day cruise and showed me special deals like he was my cousin, giving me a family-special. I was impressed. He said he’d send me more detailed information and gave me his direct number. Three days later I received a Viking River Cruise booklet in the mail. It was beautifully branded, just like their PBS “segments,” and featured an expanded lineup of cruises. So, like any red-blooded American man, I placed the booklet in my private library, otherwise known as my bathroom. From there I took my time to enjoy this masterful work of design and copywriting, actually reading the entire thing. Teresa and I had talked about going on a Viking River Cruise, but wondered if we could afford it. Christmas was coming up and I wanted to get her something special. I called my Viking contact and he found us an eight-day cruise down the Rhine River, starting in Switzerland and going through France, Germany and ending in Amsterdam. I got it for half price and also got a big discount on the airfare. When Teresa got the gift and details, she was blown away. Over the next seven months before our trip, Viking sent us many touches, including our own webpage preparing us for the trip. They provided our personal itinerary, luggage tags, alternative shore excursions and even a checklist of things before we left. Everything was easily explained. When it was time for the trip, we were prepared and excited. Once we landed in Switzerland, a Viking representative met us at the airport and took us directly to the ship. From that moment on, we were treated like royalty. The Viking staff was expertly trained to deliver first class service. After being welcomed onboard and unpacked, we met other guests in the lounge—all adults and no young children. The staff welcomed us and introduced themselves. By the end of the trip, we were on a first name basis, including our host, maid, servers, bartenders, guest service team, music director, chef, and even the captain. There was something planned around the clock. You could attend or not. They even left us a two-page sheet every night under our door that outlined the next day’s adventures and activities. The ship itself was a piece or art. It was beautifully designed for sightseeing and relaxation. The entire place was spotless and sparkling clean. From the guest rooms to the lounges, dining areas, to the spacious decks, every inch of the ship was elegantly appointed. One of my favorites was the espresso bar next to the library that made anything you wanted, in less than a minute! Since my wife can’t start her day without coffee, I brought her one every morning before breakfast. The Viking dining experience was like eating at a five star restaurant. Even the head chef came out before every dinner and explained the menu, which always included a delicious local dish from the region we would explore. Lunches and breakfasts were over the top with selections and service. Evenings had local entertainment and there was always live music. We were pampered and we loved it. And even though we took only a couple excursions out with the guests, we met some great people and a few that will probably become friends well beyond the cruise. We explored the cities, museums, shops and sites like any tourist, but never had to deal with the details of getting there, or not knowing what to do in a foreign country. Everything was so well planned, and everyone on board spoke English, so you could enjoy everything without worrying about anything. Ultimately, that was what Viking did so seamlessly. It was the best vacation experience ever! I can see why Viking is now the world leader in both River Cruises and Ocean Cruises. They do everything from A to Z with first-class care and service. They make sure the customer experience is delightful. And now that we’ve been back for a week, we have received an email everyday offering us special deals on upcoming cruises. At first I thought that was way too much and their marketing was too aggressive. My wife asked if I was interested in another cruise—down the road, of course. She had been looking at the latest brochure we just received in the mail! How dare they send something so soon, like we could even afford to do something like that again! Then I found myself reading the entire piece again, and checking other cruises online… -T Robert Taylor “The strength of brand loyalty begins with how your product makes people feel.” – Jay Samit Read Less

Our cruise was so much more than we expected! The ship, the food, the crew, and the tours were amazing! We loved the ship from top to bottom! Attention was paid to every detail from the warm welcome to the coffee bar to the beautiful restaurant and lounge! Our cabin was stocked with every amenity we could think of and the bed was so comfortable and the view was spectacular!! I think my favorite thing each day was the informal gathering in the lounge before dinner! We learned about what we would we see the next day and THEN the chef would come out and describe our dinner options! (I think I gained weight just listening to him talk!) Every night we dined on local flavors but there were always familiar options like baked chicken and steak! Something for everyone! And the desserts!! WOW! Every day we had local guides show us their cities. They were so proud of their heritage and history and were so informative! This made a huge difference in our experience! We are having so much fun exploring Viking's website trying to decide which cruise we want to do next! Read Less