Viking cruises lets you discover Europe
I just spent 12 days with Viking River Cruises, sailing down the Moselle and Rhine rivers on the line’s newest cruise tour itinerary: a stunning voyage to four countries that showcases some of the best hidden gems of Europe. Starting in the gorgeous city of Paris, this 12-day “Paris to the Swiss Alps” voyage includes a twonight hotel stay before embarking the brand-new Viking Hild in Trier, Germany. The latest of Viking’s 190-guest Viking Longships, Viking Hild boasts the same bright, airy Scandinavian design as her predecessors, including spacious staterooms with either French or full step-out balconies and little niceties like an on-board herb garden, a wonderfully-stocked library, and heated bathroom floors and anti-fog mirrors. As she makes her way down the Rhine, Viking Hild calls on some of the best European ports of call that you’ve never heard of. Take, for instance, the storybook town of Bernkastel, Germany, where Viking Hild spends an evening. You can go for a stroll among its classic, timbered houses, or sample some of the region’s legendary wines — and even bring some back to the ship (Viking doesn’t charge corkage).
Then, there’s Mainz, Germany — home to the Gutenberg Museum, one of the oldest museums dedicated to printing in the world. The town square where the Museum is located was meticulously reconstructed after over 80 per cent of the city was destroyed during Second World War.
The opposite of that is Speyer, Germany. Nestled along the Rhine, Speyer was barely touched during the war years, and still retains its historical ambience in a way that few others can claim. To stroll down the streets flanked by its imposing cathedral, the Kaiserdom, is to step back in time.
Other ports of call on this journey include Trier and Cochem, Germany; Strasbourg, France, and Basel, Switzerland. The itinerary concludes, conveniently, with a two-night hotel stay in Zurich, with included walking tours of the city and a short cruise on picturesque Lake Zurich. To me, though, the most memorable part of this trip were the hours we spent scenic cruising the Moselle and the Rhine, alive with the sights and sounds of springtime. This river cruise may be 12 days in length, but I left Europe feeling like I’d seen a month’s worth of sights in that time. It’s great value — and an even better holiday.
Visit fromthedeckchair.com for our full day-by-day report from Viking Hild!