This was our third Viking River cruise(Danube followed by China in 2012) which we booked to travel the Rhine at Christmas Markets time.The ship,cabins,excursion buses,guides,all met our expectations when compared to our previous Viking cruises but the food service was much below the level we had come to expect. The lunch and dinner menus lacked variety,the soups mostly cream based seldom arrived at our table HOT, several waiters were slow to take our orders or follow up during dinner service.The breakfast buffet was excellent. It seems that adding a Viking ocean cruise fleet and rapid expansion of the river fleet since our 2012 China cruise has not been matched by a system to hire,train and coach staff that could maintain the food service quality Viking was justly proud of. The towns and cities visited were first time stops for us and the Christmas preparations made were very extensive and colorful.We would certainly recommend a Christmas markets tour of Germany and France Vancouver Island cruiser Read Less

This adventure was over the top. The staff was excellent in serving the guests. Every detail of the trip was superbly executed. I would do it again. The shore excursions were well plans and guided for specific group levels. Free time for shopping was giving usually at the end of each shore excursion. Meals on ship were great, service great, and the food was great. There was always a good variety to choose from at breakfast, lunch , and dinner. The evening meals were a bit more formal although dress wasn’t required. The whole cruise was a very relaxed atmosphere. This was my third trip to Europe it my first on a European river cruise. I would highly recommend to extend the trip either before, after the cruise or do both. By doing this you would add much more to your adventure. Again, I would definitely go again with Viking. And the Eir is one of their best by far. Read Less

We wanted to travel with a group from AAA of South Jersey and this trip was a perfect match. All of the arrangements were taken care of for us by AAA and Viking River Cruises. The Viking Eir is a beautiful ship that provided us with excellent food, very good nightly entertainment, excellent staff, and wonderful shore excursions. We were very impressed that the staff members were so friendly and versatile. It was so nice to actually see the captain greeting you during the cruise and many times after we were returning to the ship from a shore excursion. Sitting top side was a very relaxing way to enjoy all the scenery and socialize with our friends on the trip. Going through the locks was a very interesting and memorable experience. Disembarkation was extremely well organized even though we had to leave very early in the morning. Our luggage was at the bus and we were able to verify it was loaded for our trip to the airport. We were also impressed that a Viking representative did a roll call before the bus left to make sure everyone was on the bus. Read Less

The beauty and the history was the leading factor. I chose Viking because of the stellar reviews. The food was not as elegant as I expected. I probably was looking for more of richness of the French since we did sail on a river in France. The wines were all in good taste and I did enjoy trying a new one with dinner each evening. The on shore excursions were great. The towns visited were extremely welcoming, clean and full of history. I do think that there should be more on ship choices in the evening. The local entertainment was great, but more movie choices in the passenger rooms would have been good. Although it may not be entirely possible, internet service was spotty. It would seem that there would be better internet service even while sailing since it is in inland waters. Overall, I would choose Viking and sail with you all again. The staff could not have been nicer and more accommodating. The small personal "I wish" list is small and overall the experience was wonderful. Thank you Read Less

Rhine River experiences. Kept seeing the river ships sailing on PBS stations and wanted to see the sights in person. Every aspect of the trip was exactly what we wanted to experience. All the staff on the ship were excellent. We felt very well taken care of. Our friends who we were traveling with did not get a wheelchair because another person had fallen and needed the wheelchair. Therefore he could not enjoy some of the excursions. Some of the bus pickup areas were far away from the dock and I don’t know how some much older people could walk that far. The room was great, the food wonderful and the whole trip for us was awesome. Extra days at Amsterdam at Hotel Ocura was also the best! We had a private tour of a Lutheran church that my husband thoroughly enjoyed. Organ music playing was beautiful. Looking forward to our next cruise. Read Less

We have just returned from our first Viking River Cruise along the Rhine - Amsterdam to Basel and we were delighted with (almost!) everything. This trip was a departure from our usual European holidays - more costly but definitely worth it ! We were impressed with how well organised the Viking staff were and that includes everyone - the lovely lady who took care of our stateroom, the kitchen and restaurant staff, reception, program director, guides, drivers and all who helped to make our holiday a memorable one. Our lovely cabin with a veranda was a good size, comfortable and well equipped, as was the bathroom. We enjoyed all our meals and the service was excellent. Probably the highlights of the holiday were the daily included excursions. With the exception of one guide, all others were knowledgeable, professional and friendly and the drivers deserve a medal! The places we visited were so interesting - stunning scenery, historic architecture and very educational. We extended our stay once we reached Basel and spent two days in beautiful Lucerne. One of the only downsides was the 90 minute coach journey to the hotel in Lucerne when the guide spoke continually for the entire journey. He didn't stop to take a breath for the entire journey! With respect, his delivery was monotone and most of the information irrelevant - not the best thing to listen to first thing in the early morning. The other...More Read Less

This was my first river cruise and it was very enjoyable. The staff was fantastic and really went out of their way to make this a memorable experience. All aspects of the cruise went smoothly and there was someone to help at every step of the process from landing in Amsterdam until we left the hotel in Lucerne to return home. The excursions were well done, although I would have like a bit more detailed information when I was signing up for the excursion before we sailed. I might have chosen differently in a few instances. But overall, I thought the excursions were worthwhile and all our guides were excellent. The different activities onboard the ship were very enjoyable and also educational. Our program director, Boyan, was absolutely the best and I especially liked his stories and special music for the castle day part of the cruise. Everyone on the staff and crew was very friendly and it was nice to be able to talk to them and learn about their home countries. I highly recommend Viking as a cruise line and if you do the Rhine Getaway cruise, I highly recommend choosing the Eir. I will definitely do more cruises with Viking in the future. Read Less

This was our first cruise with Viking Many of our friends had recommended Viking, indicating that we would not be disappointed and their recommendations and descriptions were fulfilled in spades. We enjoyed the wonderful daily tours and tour guides The food on board was very good. We especially enjoyed the daily variety and willingness to customize the selection (e.g. appetizer as entree). The afternoon and evening piano entertainment was fabulous as the pianist consistently interacted with the audience. He kept us active and happy late into the evening We enjoyed the intimacy of the crew as they consistently addressed us by name and treated us with class, kindness, caring, consideration and professionalism. The trip coincided with our 48th wedding anniversary and the crew celebrated with us at dinner which was a very nice touch We had approximately 185 guests and 50 crew members so we never felt like any request was unattended The outside evening entertainment was wonderful and we enjoyed a glass blowing exhibition with the customers of a sister Viking ship. We visited the Black Forest after the exhibition and as indicated by the customers on the other ship who had been to the Black Forest, the exhibitor's prices on board were 50% of those charged at the shops in the Black Forest providing a good deal for the Viking guests. the ship was clean and neat and very inviting The customer service provided by the staff was simply spectacular We look forward to our next cruise with Viking Read Less

Although we had been on several ocean cruises with other lines, this was our first river cruise. It coincided with our 40th wedding anniversary and we wanted something special. We boarded the ship and immediately felt welcome. The crew was awesome. No need went unmet. Unlike the ocean cruises, we were part of a small group - 180+ passengers. By the end of the cruise, we'd gotten to meet almost everyone and formed special friendships with several. The Captain, at first, gave the impression of a gruff exterior but soon revealed a warm and friendly person. He invited us to visit the bridge to see how they navigated and welcomed the passengers to visit as long when things weren't too busy. The entire crew was very friendly - from the captain to the cooks and deck hands. Our cabin was kept fresh and stocked by a delightful young lady. Of particular note was the Cruise Director - Bujon (I'm sure I spelled that wrong). He went out of his way to insure everyone had a great time. His personality couldn't be better suited for the job. Always a ready smile. The dining experience was also delightful with special attention to dietary restrictions. The dining room staff was very friendly and pleasant to work with. The food never failed to please the palate. We couldn't have asked for a better 40th Anniversary celebration! Read Less

We chose this cruise as we only wanted to unpack once. We heard from numerous people that they take care of you & every detail of your trip. We had 181 guests & 41 crew members so we never felt crowded or rushed. There are many options, depending on what you would like to do. Daily included off-shore trips & numerous additional trips each day. Much detail given before each trip so you know where to be extra cautious & what places that you must see. Consideration for your style of touring, leisurely perusing or jam-packed itinerary with small groups, each with it's own tour guide. Not much time for shopping, but this made my husband very happy. On board, there are various cultural activities each day. Plenty of places to sit & enjoy the scenery as you sail. The food is fabulous & so much of it! Consideration given to everyone's special dietary needs. Snacks & beverages available 24/7. We had a veranda room with loads of space to store our belongings. All personnel treated us like family with the utmost consideration & assistance. They want you to be happy & have everything that you need. We were able to take care of the financial parts before we left so we didn't have to use our credit cards in Europe. We look forward to our next trip with Viking! Read Less

Taking a Viking cruise in Europe was always on our list of vacations we wanted to experience. The on-board service and shore excursions exceeded expectations! With less than 190 passengers, it made for an intimate and comfortable trip. The dining area was conducive to meeting a lot of different people and we made new friends with whom we have kept in touch. The staff was first rate. They made sure our food, drink and rooms were always top notch. The one minor downside was during our visit to Cologne. Due to limited dock space we had another Viking vessel tie up alongside of us. We had a balcony deck and were prevented from sitting out and admiring the Cologne Cathedral and city skyline. We knew ahead of time that this was a possibility, but it was still disappointing. The Top of Cologne excursion is a "must"! We will be taking future river cruises. Read Less

We decided on Viking because of their reputation, which they lived up to! The crew made every effort to make our cruise fantastic. From the moment that we stepped aboard we were treated like honored guests. If we needed anything, all we had to do was ask. Viking has embarking and disembarking down to a science. It was very organized and ran smoothly. Our room steward was amazing. She would come in every morning while we were at breakfast and tidy up the room. Every evening, while we were at dinner, she would return and turn down the bed. She kept our bathroom well stocked with toiletries and fresh towels as needed. The excursions were incredible! We loved hearing the history of whatever town we were in. Then after the tours, we had time to roam on our own. The best part of our cruise was "Making friends and Memories". We enjoyed it so much that we have now booked a Viking River Grand European cruise for May, 2020. Read Less

I’ve wanted to see the castles in Germany for most of my adult life. This was the perfect way to get in many of them. The cruise started in Amsterdam and finished in Basel Switzerland. We got in a day early to spend time in Amsterdam and visit the awesome museums. On the cruise we visited a Dutch farm and learned how they made cheese and of course saw the windmills! Cologne was beautiful, and we had a lot of fun learning about the local brews. Marksburg Castle was one of my favorites. SO old, and in such good shape! Then it was nice to just sit and hear about the castles as we cruised down to Heidelberg, which was another history lesson, but much more damaged. My favorite was Strasbourg. The history, the food! The wine! The Black Forest was lovely. I wish it had been less crowded in the shops there. The crowds came and went as other groups joined or left the area. Hubby and I had a French Balcony on the Third level. We are getting this level again for our next Viking cruise in April 2020. We liked being on the same level as the piano bar and open air seating. Even though I thought the room size was fine for a cruise, we really were only in there to sleep and cleanup. The bathroom is really nice with heated floors. Lovely supplies! For next April, I will take more advantage of the books they suggest to learn about the stops before I go, but I just retired and have more time now. I have to mention the staff. They could not do enough to make everyone on board happy. I’ve never seen such service. There is only one person on the piano except when they bring in local entertainment. But ours was great, he tried his best to keep a variety of people happy. The bar staff were inventive and attentive. There were various activities and through them we met some great people. We often ate off the boat, but when we ate on the boat, it was enjoyable and cooked to our requests. The silver wine package was well worth the price! Read Less

Viking are very efficient, I cannot fault their communication and organisation. They organised the flights and transfers as well. However, they wanted an extortionate amount for 2 days in Amsterdam before the cruise, so we organised it ourselves and so had to make our own way to the hotel. The ship was lovely, very clean, smooth lines, no chintz! The other passengers were probably 50% Americans, 25% British, 25% other and quite a wide age range from people in their 30s to 70s. I would say most of the people were 50 - 75. The service was excellent, but I think over the top. After cleaning the room in the morning, is there really any need for the maid to clean it again in the evening? This is one reason it is so expensive. I have stayed in top notch hotels where they close the curtains and turn down the bed and I think that is all that is needed. Alcoholic and soft drinks are included at both lunch at dinner and not just one, they keep topping up your glasses, so people like me who don't drink are actually subsidising those that do and they certainly take advantage of it! Some people opted for the drinks package which included certain drinks all day. However, both passengers in the state room have to take it, so it wasn't worth it for us. the service throughout the ship was excellent, with a good choice of food for breakfast and a limited choice for lunch with a good salad buffet and burgers if you did not fancy what was on offer. However, I was disappointed with the evening meals. There was always a regional menu of 3 courses, plus 2 choices of international dishes for each course and if you didn't like them, there was steak, burgers or chicken. However, I found it difficult to find something I liked every night and resorted to the steak and chips on several occasions. There was a German buffet one night, but as I am not keen on lots of sausages, cooked meat and pork I was not impressed, neither was the Jewish gentleman on our table! One night Thai soup was on the menu and I ordered that as it contained co-conut milk and as I am lactose intolerant did not expect to be served a very creamy soup containing milk! Also, the greatest disappointment for me was the tiny servings for dessert. The excursions were well organised with a leisurely option for those who had limited mobility, which we took advantage of as my husband had a bad knee. Little treats awaited us on our return to the ship which was nice and we all had electronic gizmos with earpieces so we could hear the guide, which were very easy to use. The excursions are mainly walking tours in the cities, concentrating on the history, architecture and cathedrals etc. The guides were very good except the fortress at Koblenz. The guide was an actor and it was supposed to be amusing, but it was not. The evening entertainment was mainly a pianist, but one evening there was a classical concert, another glass blowing demonstration on the adjoining ship, two quizzes which were great fun as they were not the usual format and a disco night. Ivan was in charge of this and he was excellent.We had been on ocean cruises but this was our first river cruise. We loved the fact there was less than 200 people on the boat, so you got to know people very quickly and we made some good friends. It was lovely to watch the scenery as you floated by and you won't get sea sick! Not far to walk to the cabin or the restaurant. However, there is not much to do when sailing except talk, drink, read, sunbathe, sleep or walk around the walking track. If we did another cruise, I probably would not take one that included drinks as this inflates the price if you don't drink very much. Read Less

My husband and I took the cruise down the Rhine. We had never been to Europe. I love castles! This cruise was for our 46th wedding anniversary! The ship was fantastic ,the entertainment was fabulous and my husband and I danced every night away with the new friends we met on the ship .We enjoyed our balcony so much! We thoroughly enjoyed all of the excursions that were included and marveled at the beautiful scenery on the excursions and while riding down the Rhine River . The staff was so great and made us feel so special the whole trip! They were very friendly, attentive, and went out of their way to attend to our every wish! On the night of our anniversary we had dinner with the captain and the staff sang to us it was awesome ! The staff also decorated our room with hearts champagne and chocolate it was a wonderful surprise ! We can’t wait to book our next cruise , Thank You Viking! Read Less

Having done a cruise down the Danube last year, so we were hooked. This time it was down the Rhine. Good food with good guides, we met some very interesting people and the scenery was amazing. Super cabin on the first deck with a French widow that opened all the way. Lots of interesting stops as we travelled towards Basel. The initial start in Amsterdam did not get off to a great start, there was nobody to greet us and we were left hanging about, even though we could see our Boat. We eventually made our way to the Boat, but our luggage was left in what I thought was an insecure area on the docks. We were shown to our cabin, it was only when we pointed out to senior staff on the Boat, that our luggage was still on the docks did somebody go and retrieve it. After that it was a super cruise. The part of the journey through all the Castles was amazing Read Less

We thoroughly enjoyed this cruise from Amsterdam to Basel. We were in a standard stateroom which was very comfortable and well-serviced every day. We didn't miss having a larger window or balcony, as it was March and not really warm enough to sit outside. Also, as river cruisers do sometimes moor side by side, the window of one cabin can look directly into the window of the next boat so a view isn't always available. We prefer to go up on deck and see the view all around us! The food was superb and the atmosphere very friendly. All the staff were extremely helpful and polite and couldn't do enough for us. We really enjoyed the included excursions and the highlight was our visit to the Black Forest-as we climbed higher through the mountains it began to snow and , by the time we reached the cuckoo clock centre, there was a blanket of snow. It looked just like a Christmas card! We have travelled with Viking before on a river and ocean cruise and have already booked two more ocean cruises! We would definitely go on a river cruise with Viking again. Read Less

Just one optional tour off the ship did not meet my expectations. The other optional tours were good. Although the walking tour to see the windmills was a cold and blustery day we went anyway. Guide was very pleasant and kept us in a good mood with the rain and wind whirling around us. The day we went thru the canyon on the Rhine it was cold but we crowded on the top to get pictures and have a 360 degree view. They brought us blankets and coffee with Baileys and piping hot. Was so thoughtful. They really take good care of you. Loved it when we came back on ship after walking or shopping tour and staff had mimosas or other small shot sized drinks. They kept us informed all the way. Our cruise was the first one since September that could travel the length of the scheduled tour because they had rain and water level had risen. That was so nice for crew and passengers. This was a great crew. Only thing besides the beer tout that was not good ,they did our airfare and we left late out of Basel and had to run in Frankfort to catch our overseas flight. Please allow more time. Thank you Read Less

So I am on the Rhine Getaway as I type. Left 11/23 from Amsterdam. Mixed feelings here. Some relative to Viking, some to the cruise itinerary itself. First be aware that you WILL change ships, probably through year end, regardless of what Viking says. They have been doing it for months, and will likely do it through year end. It wasn't too disruptive, though and they arranged a Rhine day tour to see yhe castles we would have missed. More bus time than normal, however. The experience is not quite what you see in the promotional videos. Germany is heavily industrialized. They don't show scenes of industrial plants, container terminals. etc. that dominate the landscape. Docked in an industrial port last night, lined up w another ship. Not their fault, but it ain't Tuscanny! Food was pretty good, although tonight was the Taste of Germany! The only night there was no alternative menu (just when we needed one). Just not into bratwurst, sourkraut, etc. This was an exception. Salzburg was definitely the highlight. Skipped the bus tour to Heidleburg and did 2 days in Salzburg. Much prefer France. Clientele was interesting. Not sure how some guests were able to afford this cruise, but they did bring along thier finest biker t shirts.Overall a pleasant group though. We have cruised extensively and this is our first river cruise. I think next time we'll rent a villa in Tuscanny for a week. Without dining excessively as you do on a cruise it should be no more expensive. Bon voyage! Read Less

We purposely chose the explorer suite for the comfort it offered plus the use of our deck, watching scenery along the the Rhine river valley. Both ships were as nice as our previous cruise down the Danube and the crews on the two boats were pleasant and professional. I think we were disproportionately punished though, by all the time we spent bussing from Cologne to Strasbourg without having stopped in Koblenz or Speyer. I served in the U.S.Army, stationed in Nuremberg and Frankfurt in 1970-1972. I was particularly looking forward to revisiting Heidelberg on my cruise. I knew there was more to the city than the castle. I think had we not had to bus all the way to Heidelberg from Strasbourg we might have had more time to spend in this old university town. By the time we reached Breisach am Rhein we had spent so much time on busses we passed on the Black Forest bus trip and spent the day in Breisach and enjoyed a few hours in the village and our deck. I must say the service, the crews, the accommodations were all excellent. I am inclined to question the necessity of not cancelling our trip. I’m not sure the sacrifices of lost time in the cities, time spent on the busses, and loss of utility of our cabin amenities were worth the sacrifices made by the passengers. Read Less

Our family has spent many happy time son the Rhein, while I was growing up there, we love Germany and the castles we knew we would see. This was our 2nd Viking Cruise and we were all (4 of us) very excited to go. My parents had chosen to include my sister and I on their travels with Viking for a 2nd time. We arrived in Amsterdam, and were picked up by Viking which was very nice and went very smooth. Boat was docked extremely close to everything, and we could walk right downtown and to the Chocolate Factory...YUM! It was truly pretty. The 2nd day we were off, and headed to Kinderdijk, my favorite stop of the entire trip, beside Basel. It was worth the bus ride. Beautiful!! Then we headed to Koln, which was a Sunday, unfortunately. Not a good day to be in Germany as a tourist, many things are closed. But the Cathedral and Museum were open. I dont remember Koblenz at all, thank goodness I've been there a ton of times. In Rudesheim we walked all around, and it truly is what one imagines, a Wine town would be like. Love it there. Strasbourg we had to take a bus to the city and had an extremely short amount of time. Several of our side trips that we paid for would have been better served staying by the boat and exploring there. The LAST stop was horrible, a tourist trap in the mountains...the glass blown owl arrived home in the USA and was PLASTIC! Basel is amazing and was also a wonderful stay over with the spectacular public transport system. We stayed in the Hotel near the Airport, we made the reservation ourselves and was totally the best way to go! Read Less

Traveled with my sister and her husband, Oct 5 - 12, Basel - Amsterdam. The ship was clean, food was fair to good, wine selections poor and included internet virtually unusable due to extremely low speeds (10+ minutes to load a page!). The included tours, were, for the most part, a waste of time. The Black Forest tour was a 1.5 hour bus ride to reach a small shopping center, missing Freiburg and other interesting sites. The Cologne city walking tour was a brief tour of the Cathedra, interesting, but brief and far short of seeing the city. The optional wine tasting tours were also disappointing, Fairly long bus rides to visit a single winery, tasting 3 varieties, and then having ample time to buy their offered products. Once again, a tour that I paid for, only to be shepherded to another shopping venue. The only tours I can recommend is the village of Colmar, the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress and the Bruhl Palace. The last full day of the cruise was spent at the "Kinderdijk windmills", while somewhat interesting, certainly not worth an entire day of the cruise. This day was wasted, as the cruise could have visited Rotterdam or the Hague, rather than sitting in the middle of nowhere for 12 hours. I've spent the same amount of money/day on Crystal and AMA with much better results. Don't waste your time on Viking River cruises. Read Less

Service and food was excellent. Staff was first rate, especially the cruise director. disappointed in how much time we spent on buses especially when we had to change boats.The set up in the dining room was conducive to meeting new people. Overall a very good experience; we are planning to do another Viking cruise next fall The excursions overall were very good but on the one excursion to the coo coo clock factory, we travelled for about 2 hours and were able so spend only about 30 minutes at the factory, hardly enough time. If that could change some how to allow us more time there it would be nice also, the amount of time on the buses during our change in boats was very long. I'm sure your contingency plans were in place, but overall we spent way too much time on the bus transferring to the new boat, and on other excursions (as above) had too little time to enjoy the scenery and sights. the food was delicious, and I liked that we could have anything on the menu, not restricted to one item. the beer and wine were very good; better than most "house" brands. Wait staff was among the best I've ever seen. Read Less

It was our first cruise and my third time to Europe, but first for my wife. The Rhine trip meant a lot to me because my ancestors came from the region centuries ago. Even with the challenge of low water on the Rhine, the Captain and crew made it all work. This ship was run by professionals and made it totally enjoyable. The Captain was always honest about the situation and how to deal with it - and very accessible. The Cruise Director was excellent and made every day fun and upbeat. The food was very good with multiple options at each meal. You felt like you and the other guests and crew were one big family and the interaction was really great. We did a pre-trip excursion to Lucerne and it was well worth it - particularly the side trip to the Stanserhorn. The ports of call were what we expected (quaint old towns) although being in Colmar and Strasbourg on the weekend made for large crowds. The local guides were very good and the personal microphones made communication easy in a crowd. Our day on the Rhine sailing by the castles was perfect weather and a real treat. Spending time in the Marksburg Castle was one of the trip highlights. Also enjoyed seeing the windmills in Kinderdijk - I took the bike ride and it was fun with the group and guide. It was probably the best vacation experience ever and we have already signed up for another cruise in 2020. Viking delivers on all their promises and made it a great experience. Read Less

This was my second River Cruise and my husband's first. We really enjoyed the whole experience. It is so nice to unpack one time and not have to worry again about it until time to disembark. The included tours are very informational and well planned. We love climbing the stairs to the tops of the cathedrals and overlooking the entire city! We met some wonderful people on the boat and they made our trip more enjoyable. We have maintained contact with some couples (husband and wife and a sister duo) with whom we would love to meet up with again! The service and food were both excellent. I love sampling foods from the region that we are visiting and the Chef made sure that we had plenty of varieties of regional dishes. The cabins are very clean and the beds very comfortable. We have already booked our next River Cruise for May 2019.. Can't wait! Read Less