Perhaps it was our
Scandinavian heritage that drew him to the Viking River Cruises name,
but when my husband, Roger, was looking for a way to celebrate my 50th
birthday, he came upon a trip including Austria,
Germany and the Netherlands
that seemed ideal. Travel was a perfect gift, and a cruise meant no
driving, carrying suitcases, or concerns with travel logistics.
Little did he know that this
journey would become one of our most cherished memories. “Country club casual”
was the norm for dinner. With no formal nights, packing was a snap. In
addition, nearly every shore excursion was included in the price of the trip.
All we had to do was to show up, sit back, and enjoy.
We cruised the Danube, Main Canal, and Rhine from Vienna
to Amsterdam on
the Viking
Europe. This cruise now also includes Budapest.
It was not until 1992 that a canal system of navigation locks was
completed and it became possible to travel by river all 2000 miles between the
North Sea and the Black Sea.
Viking Europe took us along a
picturesque portion of this route, stopping along the way to get a closer look
at awe-inspiring cathedrals, monasteries,
abbeys, palaces, and castles, as well as major cities, quaint villages, and
vineyards. | 
Benedictine Abbey, Melk |
Unlike ocean-going ships
sailing the coast, river ships venture through Europe’s
interior to places inaccessible to larger vessels. Our comfortable hotel, Viking Europe, moved with us, and we had
to unpack only once. Viking Europe,
accommodates around 150 passengers, and never felt crowded. There was a large open-air sundeck, and a lounge area serving many
functions: a place to gather for evening entertainment, meet with new friends,
or just relax and enjoy the views.
Mornings we had the option
of joining walking tours of areas where we were docked. To accommodate the
range of passengers, there were usually two walking groups, one for those
enjoying a brisk pace, another for those preferring leisurely strolls. Viking River
guides were well-informed and land tours were time well-spent.
Tours gave an opportunity for orientation to new ports, to
gain a historical perspective, and to enjoy local anecdotes. Afterwards, we
might continue on our own or go back to the ship for lunch and to plan our
afternoon’s activities. We were provided with maps, descriptions of the area,
and cell numbers to reach our cruise manager, Harry, if a problem arose. Viking
River Cruises left nothing to chance.
At the end of the day, we returned to the
ship for an open-seating dinner with opportunities to sample a varied
local cuisine or familiar standbys such as chicken or steak. This was also a
time to share the day’s insights and discoveries with new friends.
We looked forward each day
to simple pleasures like opening our stateroom curtains. Once we awakened to
see a mother duck watching carefully as her ducklings bobbed up and down just
outside our window. Another day, we saw — could it be? — an elephant flapping
his ears. The circus was in town! We were immersed in the real Europe.
 | By day, we could climb castle walls for breathtaking views, admire a
museum’s treasures, stroll village lanes, or enjoy sidewalk cafés. The choice
was ours. By night, we would return to our floating hotel to glide to our next
destination while we slept and dreamed of adventures awaiting us. |
River cruises are for
destination-oriented people wanting to combine captivating scenery with Europe’s history and culture. Onboard, there would be a
daytime lecture or demonstration, such as strudel-making, and there was nightly
entertainment, not of the Las-Vegas style of the mega-liners, but appropriate
to daily activities. It might be local talent, such as the minstrel playing his
unique collection of medieval musical instruments, or the Regensburger Spatzen
Quartett, or lively tunes by Otto, our resident musician. Anything more would
have been too much distraction from the wonders that were just outside our stateroom window.
Our voyage began in Vienna, where
Viking provided a city tour by bus, and then a walking tour of the historic
center of the city. | 
Library detail, Vienna |
Later, we toured the Baroque Schönnbrun
Palace, summer residence
of the Habsburgs. What a sense of history as we stood in the same Hall of
Mirrors as the six-year-old Mozart when he played for the Empress Maria Theresa
and is said to have met Marie Antoinette.
Benedictine Abbey, Melk | A Benedictine monastery, the
Wachau wine region, and little towns—so much to see! Viking River Cruises
provided specially-prepared booklets that described the landscape and its history,
noting distances corresponding to markers along the banks of the rivers. |
Passau |
Passau, well-located at the confluence of the Danube, Inn, and Ilz rivers, showcased its prosperity in a
cathedral housing the world’s largest cathedral organ and a sanctuary whose
beauty has set the standard by which I will measure all others. | 
Cathedral, Passau |
Nuremburg had its somber
moments at the Hitler’s rally grounds and stadium and the Justice Palace,
site of the Nuremburg War Crimes Tribunal. On a lighter note, we toured the
medieval fortress and heard the touching love story associated with the
beautiful Schoner Brunnen, a fountain showcasing the fine metalwork for which
Nuremburg is known.
 | Bamberg was an idyllic stop for a local Rauchbier, or smoked
beer. |
We continued along the Romantic
Road to the delightful and touristy Rothenburg, Germany’s best-preserved medieval walled city. |  |
 | Cruising along the Franconian wine country was a feast for the eyes, and
palate. The resplendent Würzburg’s
Residenz of the Archbishop rivaled any palace we had seen - awe through architecture
at its best. |
Little Rüdesheim with its
taverns and unique museum charmed us all. Each port seemed more special in its
own way that the last. Then we were on to the Rhine
to capture legendary castles and fortresses on film. |  |
 | The finale was nothing less
than Amsterdam. A morning city tour ended
with an introduction to Dutch masters paintings at the Rijksmuseum, and the
afternoon featured magnificent horticultural displays at the Floriade, held
just once a decade. After dinner, with Amsterdam’s bridges
illuminated, we reflected on our trip during a romantic canal cruise. How much
better could it get? | |
Those who have yet to
discover Europe's river cruises should
experience the romance at least once. Viking River
Cruises is the largest river cruise line in the world and has won our confidence and
that of friends to whom we have recommended these vacations. I can hardly
wait to cruise again. Come to think of it, Roger is approaching a special
birthday, too...
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material including photography appearing on these pages is copyrighted
and may be used only with written permission from Roger and Linda Fasteson.
