My 89 year old Dad has always wanted to do a River Cruise and we started the preparation almost 2 years ago. After multiple cancellations due to covid and after much paperwork, tests, downloading of apps, and more tests, our trip was going to happen. My wife, sister, my Dad and me. We arrived in Paris three days prior to the cruise and took a train to Basel the day before the cruise. We had applied for the French Covid app and uploaded our CDC card and it was our go to app. That QR coded worked everywhere in Europe. Basel was having their 550 year old Autumn Market and it was great. The day has arrived, we are in a taxi on our way to the Viking Sigyn. I am comparing our experiences on huge mega ships and there is no comparison. Walk right on , checked our test papers from our PCR test in Paris, now that was an experience, and walked about 30 feet to our cabin. All in all took 15 minutes. Wow. Cabin was better than expected, well appointed for storage. They offered us a walking tour of the old town of Basel and we did it. This guide was not good, she could not figure out how to operate the Audiovox and did not slow down for anyone. Not a great start so we just took a taxi back to ship. Now for the cruise, we are spoiled now, it is so nice to be a 1 minute walk to the dining room and lounge, love it. Yes, no casinos, showrooms, swimming pools but a nice change of pace. Not all the Rhine is scenic and there are locks but this was so relaxing. 117 passengers and 50 crew members means the staff know you after a few days and this makes it more personal. From the "Sisters" at reception to the Program Director Ivan to the wait staff and more. We saw some passengers with the patch for motion sickness, now this was funny since the water is so calm its like you are not on the water.

The staff could not have been more helpful and kind, just awesome. Some were amazing, Mo, Ivan, Joseph, Kevin, Akus, Jon-Jon, the Sisters and our cabin steward was fantastic. I forgot her name but she was great. Drinks were good, food was good (sometimes great), lounge area nice for viewing or playing cards or just chatting with folks.

Highlights of the cruise was Koblenz, Cologne and Strasbourg for me but we loved exploring each place on our own. Read more