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If you’re looking for the best Rhine River cruise in Europe, look no further. After setting sail three times with Viking River Cruises, I’m completely sold that they’ve got a special formula to sailing in Europe.

The Best Rhine River Cruise in Europe

High attention to detail, their Rhine River Cruises are incredibly well done. Each itinerary is carefully selected, highlighting many of the gems on the Rhine River. I set sail on their “Rhine Getaway” which started in Amsterdam and made its way to Basel. I returned home with an admiration for river cruising in Europe and a new found love for this style of travel.

The Best Rhine River Cruise in Europe


Why Viking River Cruises?

First off, I want to share a bit of why I love Viking River Cruises. It’s elevated but not over the top. This is my favorite part — you are in a well-organized cruise yet they don’t go overboard with it. It’s the right amount of hands on and it means you get to enjoy what you’re seeing and still feel in control. I think that was my biggest misperception of river cruises.

It’s boutique and intimate. With a small amount of cabins, it starts to feel like a family, in a good way. Usually around 190 guests onboard, it means it’s not overcrowded and you’ll get to know most by the end of the trip.

The food is actually good. Who would have thought the cruising food could be as good as it is on Viking River Cruises? I’ve been impressed each time with just how great the food is. This post goes more into why to take a Viking River Cruise.

The Best Rhine River Cruise in Europe


What to expect onboard a Viking River Cruises?

Expect a good balance of down time, time to explore, and meals. The schedule is well thought out and it gives you ample time to explore and enjoy a vacation. Onboard, the boat is very modern and clean — I love the choice of bright materials and a ton of windows for natural light.

This post goes more into what you can expect on a Viking River Cruise.

The Best Rhine River Cruise in Europe


Where do Rhine River Cruises stop?

It entirely depends on which itinerary you choose! Most will begin in the north and go through to Basel. A lot of the stops of the Rhine River Cruise are in Germany as well and often start in Amsterdam like mine. Here are 6 adorable towns I saw on my Rhine River Cruise.

The Best Rhine River Cruise in Europe


Here’s some sample itineraries of Viking Rhine River Cruises:


What to wear on a Rhine River Cruise?

I always suggest packing a range of clothing for time exploring to meals. The best part of Viking River is you’ll see a range of dress for meals. No blue jeans at meals, but nice black jeans and a blouse to a dress goes. During the day, good walking shoes, a jacket pending the season, and casual clothing is perfect. This post goes more into what to pack for a Viking River Cruise.

The Best Rhine River Cruise in Europe


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The Best Rhine River Cruise in Europe

PS — Are You Booking a Trip Soon? Use My Booking Checklist!

These are the sites I use most to book my own trips. Using the links below is a great way to support Bon Traveler’s travel journalism at no extra cost to you. If you need help organizing your itinerary, get my free travel itinerary template here.

1. Book Your Flights

Use Skyscanner to find the best flights. It searches 100s of airlines and websites across the globe to ensure you’re not missing out on any route options or deals.

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Use Booking.com for hotels and guest houses. They have the biggest inventory and consistently offer the best rates.

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Use Viator or Get Your Guide to find the best tours and experiences. They are my favorite tour search engines. I always check both as their inventory varies depending on the destination.

4. Book Your Car

Use Discover Cars or Rentalcars.com to find the best car rental deals. I recommend comparing rental agency reviews on Google to ensure you are booking with the best company in that destination, as the reviews are often more accurate than the car rental search engines.

5. Don’t Forget Airport Lounge Access

Get a Priority Pass membership to gain access to 1,400+ VIP lounges and airport experiences worldwide. The Priority Pass app is the first thing I check when I have a layover. I’ve been a member for over a decade, and having a comfortable place to relax before and between flights makes air travel so much more enjoyable.

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Xx,
Jessica

3 Comments

  1. I so agree with you on taking a Viking Cruise. I call it the civilized way to cruise. We did the Rhine in July. The weather was perfect, our ship and crew were outstanding and always had our needs in mind. This was our 2nd but won’t be our last.

  2. My husband and I were on the mid-August Rheine Viking cruise this year and we loved every minute and detail! We had to swap ships due to critically low water levels in one section of the river, but because of Viking’s efficiency and commitment to excellence, the swap was seamless.

    • Jessica Wright Reply

      Ah so happy to hear you had a wonderful trip! I had to swap ships on one of mine too but it was absolutely seamless!

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