Five Reasons to Book a Viking River Cruise

Five reasons to book a Viking Cruise

Black Forest!

1. Service

First, a little backstory — we booked the Treasures of the Rhine cruise that departed from Amsterdam on January 4, 2025. Our itinerary included Amsterdam, Cologne, Heidelberg, Strasbourg and Basel.

Our trip started off rocky as our connecting flight was cancelled not once but twice, which resulted in us being in the air when the cruise departed Amsterdam. The representatives at Viking Air were helpful and arranged for transportation from the airport to the next port in the Netherlands. Once we finally arrived, we were greeted warmly by the Viking crew as well as the other passengers as we were sort of celebrities for our late arrival.

We enjoyed our first evening in the lounge and our first dinner. Viking didn't disappoint. The culinary experience was first-class. The service in the lounge and the restaurant was friendly and attentive. The bar staff really made the trip memorable — they made great drinks as well as contributed to a wonderfully fun atmosphere. Every crew member we encountered was simply amazing. Viking service is first-class!

Amazing crew!

2. Itineraries

We enjoyed every stop on our cruise! The included tours were a definite plus. We also heard the optional paid excursions were fantastic. We learned a lot about the history and culture and had a bunch of fun doing it. Our cruise included stops in four countries, and we only had to unpack once. Viking itineraries are first-class!

Strasbourg!

3. Small ship

We were excited to cruise on the Viking longship. Even more excited with having fewer than 200 guests on the ship. We love cruises but we don't like how big cruise ships have gotten with amenities I don't want or need. The size of the ship was a benefit and even more so that we really got to know our fellow passengers on the tours, at the lounge and in the dining room. The adults-only aspect is also a huge plus. The Viking ships are first-class!

Delightful food!

4. Food

The chef and his culinary team did a wonderful job with the menus! There were items available every day and also regional specialties and special dishes daily. Something as humble as soup was delightful with every lunch and dinner. My favorite course by far! The special German night complete with a festive presentation allowed us to try local dishes. One of the highlights of the cruise was participating in the cooking demonstration with the chef. Viking food is first-class!

Chef demonstration!

5. Value

We always thought that a Viking River Cruise was a daydream. But if you find the right special, it can be a tremendous value. Our 10-night cruise included international airfare from Sacramento, round-trip airport transfers, the Silver Spirits drink package, a shore excursion in every port, bottled water and WiFi. It cost us less than a lot of other past vacations, including Disneyland. Don't get me wrong, I love Disneyland and anything Disney. However, it was extremely special to see castles on the scenic cruise and from the deck of our ship instead of in a sea of people on Main Street. The Viking value is first-class!

I recommend booking a Viking Cruise and experiencing the first-class service, first-class itineraries, first-class ships, first-class dining and first-class value.

Stop daydreaming and book a Viking Cruise!

For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our cruises page.