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Cities of Light

Overview
Highlights (Bullets)
- Explore Bamberg a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Visit Würzburg
- Enjoy tour to fascinating red sandstone ruins of Heidelberg Castle
- Experience cruising towards Cochem is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Discover Luxembourg
Short Description
See great cities & landscapes
Sail Europe’s most iconic rivers: the Main, lined with quaint villages; the castle-studded Rhine; and the Moselle with its steep vineyards. Explore Prague’s Lobkowicz Palace on a Privileged Access tour designed just for us by Prince William. Survey the Rhine from 900-year-old Marksburg Castle. Taste legendary Moselle Rieslings. Savor Czech, German and French cuisine. With bookends in Prague and Paris, this 12-day journey celebrates Europe’s most luminous ports.
Attractions & Cities Visited
Arc de Triomphe Heidelberg Heidelberg Castle Luxembourg Paris Prague TrierItinerary
Day 1: Prague, Czech Republic
Welcome to Prague, capital of the Czech Republic. Transfer from the airport to your hotel.* After checking in for a 2-night stay, enjoy free time to explore this celebrated city, or join our “welcome walk” to stretch your legs and get oriented.
Day 2: Prague, Czech Republic
Meals: Breakfast
This morning, tour the “City of a Hundred Spires.” A guided walk takes you through Old Town to the famed Charles Bridge. Then, travel to Hradčany for a guided tour inside Prague Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure; you can see the Town Hall’s intricate 15th-century astronomical clock, spend some time in historic Wenceslas Square or discover the city’s Jewish heritage in the Josefov Quarter.
Day 3: Nuremberg, Germany
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Travel to the Bavarian city of Nuremberg and join a tour that takes you to the ruins of Zeppelin Field, the Nazi parade grounds of the 1930s, and the Palace of Justice, the venerable vestige of the Nuremberg Trials. You’ll have a brief stop at the courthouse before returning to Old Town, enclosed within ancient city walls. Complete your day with a walk from the imperial castle grounds, past the Albrecht Dürer House to the Main Market Square, with its elaborate Gothic fountain. Continue to Bamberg to embark your ship.
Day 4: Bamberg, Germany
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Today enjoy a walking tour of Bamberg’s beautifully preserved Old Town area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, then take time to explore or perhaps sample the town’s famous locally brewed smoky beer, rauchbier. Enjoy lunch aboard your ship before we depart this afternoon and begin cruising along the scenic Main River, which winds its way west through the Franconia region of Germany.
Day 5: Würzburg, Germany
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Disembark in Würzburg, a Franconian wine town, and tour the Bishops’ Residenz, a beautiful baroque palace with numerous paintings and frescoes. After lunch aboard, enjoy some free time in Würzburg, or join an optional journey to the walled medieval village of Rothenburg. After returning to your ship, you’ll dine and cruise through the night.
Day 6: Heidelberg, Germany
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
We sail through the early morning, arriving in Wertheim after breakfast. Disembark for a full-day excursion to Heidelberg, an ancient city that is home to Germany’s oldest university founded in 1386. Tour the imposing red sandstone ruins of Heidelberg Castle, built in the 12th century but twice destroyed by lightning and then later rebuilt. A guided walk through Heidelberg’s Old Town and marketplace is included, as is lunch in a local restaurant. Return to your ship at dinnertime; we sail through the night.
Day 7: Mainz, Germany
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Arrive in Mainz during breakfast, then disembark and join a guided tour of a city that boasts over 2,000 years of history. Walk along the postcard-picture streets of Old Town and stop at the Gutenberg Museum. Founded in 1900, 500 years after the birth of Johannes Gutenberg, the museum covers the history of the printed word and displays many illuminating books and fascinating printing technologies, including a replica of Gutenberg’s workshop. Return to your ship for lunch and scenic afternoon cruising along the Rhine. Arrive in Rüdesheim midafternoon. You have time at leisure to enjoy the restaurants, bars and shops that line Rüdesheim’s Drosselgasse, or you may choose to join an optional wine-tasting experience. Dine aboard and remain docked overnight.
Day 8: Cochem, Germany
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Cruise this morning through the most beautiful stretch of the Rhine. With castles perched on both sides, this area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After lunch aboard your ship, you’ll arrive in the quaint Moselle town of Cochem. Stretch your legs with a walking tour of the city and visit the imposing Reichsburg Castle. Return to your ship before dinnertime; we sail through the night.
Day 9: Trier, Germany
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
After breakfast, an optional guided walk through the 700-year-old town of Bernkastel is available, replete with narrow cobbled streets lined with half-timbered houses. Return to your ship for lunch and enjoy lovely unspoiled scenery as we cruise along the Moselle River toward Trier. We arrive this afternoon for a tour of Germany’s oldest city. See the wonderfully preserved Roman Porta Nigra, Trier Cathedral and the Church of Our Lady. Dine aboard your ship. We remain docked here tonight so you may wish to take an evening stroll in town.
Day 10: Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
Meals: Breakfast
Disembark in Trier this morning, then travel to Luxembourg where, at the American Cemetery, you can pay homage to the thousands of soldiers who lost their lives during the World War II Battle of the Bulge. See the city of Luxembourg on a guided tour, then stop for lunch before continuing on to Paris. When you arrive in Paris, the romantic capital of France, check in to the Le Méridien Étoile (or similar) for a 2-night stay. Your evening is free to explore and dine on your own.
Day 11: Paris, France
Meals: Breakfast
Today’s tour begins with a drive along the Champs-Élysées, past the Arc de Triomphe to the world-famous Louvre. The remainder of the day is yours to experience more of this timeless city: visit a museum, explore Montmartre or take a moonlit cruise along the Seine River. The banks of the Seine, with their graceful bridges and unrivaled city views, are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Day 12: Paris, France
Meals: Breakfast
After breakfast, check out of your hotel and proceed to the airport for your return flight.* Or, extend your trip with 2 additional nights in romantic Paris.
Availability
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40 Viking River Cruises Travel Reviews & Ratings
Cities of Light
Company Reviews
Good and no so goog
The good:
Rhine water levels were good, no issues. Service on the vessel was A+, excluding one attendant with “attitude” at the front desk. Entertainment was low key but acceptable. Viking succeeds in creating a laid back atmosphere. Viking is like a clock - they run on time. Cabin was nice and shower was exceptional. Most (not all) tours were informative, guides ranged from good to excellent. Tour buses were top shelf with experienced drivers.
The not so good:
All 6 in our group were disappointed with the food (not service but food) all week excluding breakfast. All felt the food offerings got “old” real fast. Food appeared to be prepared in advance and then reheated. Plenty of TV movies, tv and internet reception poor all week.
Most concerning
Viking, customs, and airline never asked to see our proof of vaccination. While Viking did a excellent job in keeping the boat itself clean and sanitized we had an issue on one of the bus tours. A unmasked woman sitting directly behind my wife was sweating & coughing non-stop. Not a occasional sneeze or cough, it was obvious this woman was ill. At the first stop multiple riders relocated to seats as far away from this individual as possible. Regrettably, Viking said/did noting.
Viking claims they are not the Covid police and if we felt compromised we should have put on a mask. Absolutely ridiculous that Viking felt we should have masked but took action to pull this woman aside, require her to mask with a suggestion to see a physician. Again - we’re not talking about normal coughing and sneezing- this woman was visibly ill. Viking was willing to put 30 travelers at risk rather then ask a visibly ill woman to mask up. It’s Vikings boat, tour, bus but they say and do nothing.
Of course 2 of 6 in our group contracted Covid.
Viking had a obligation to do everything within their control to protect us as best possible. In this instance they didn’t even try.
Not trying to trash Viking, just being truthful.
Tourico Vacations -Rhine River Cruise
We sailed from Basel, Switzerland up north on the Rhine River and ended at Amsterdam in the Netherlands. Viking also offers the same route in reverse, from Amsterdam to Basel so you can pick either. For a couple stops on the journey, boats running in opposite cities are docked together.
We had a wonderful time and especially loved how organized the entire Viking journey was, from pre-departure to on-board, everything was seamless. Also unlike many other cruises or guided tours, almost everything was included, which made it feel like a truly relaxing vacation.
Here’s a snapshot of our 7-day itinerary and what we got up to each day!
Day 1: Arrive in Basel, Switzerland
We arrived in the small, quaint town of Basel after our international flight. This was the general arrival / travel date so we expected to just check in and relax but discovered that Viking organized a guided walking tour of the town. That was a nice surprise!
There’s also the option to arrive a couple days early and/or stay a couple days late. If you are thinking of this, here’s a quick guide to the best hotels in Basel to help with accommodation.
Basel is an underrated tourist attraction and the third largest city in Switzerland. The town has a gorgeous Medieval center and plenty of world-class art museums. There’s a reason Art Basel is held here!
We checked out the Romanesque cathedral, took endless pictures of the colorful medieval buildings and headed back to our ship to relax and meet everyone for cocktails and dinner. A great first day!
Read more: An Afternoon in Basel, Switzerland’s Most Underrated City!
Day 2: Germany’s Black Forest & Colmar, France
On our second day, we sailed northward to dock at Breisach, Germany. In the morning, we learned how to make cuckoo-clocks, put together Black Forest cake and walked a bit throughout the Black Forest.
The wooded mountain range is the site of many local legends and populated all over with black fir trees. If you like hiking, the mountains are wonderful!
In the afternoon, we signed up for an optional tour to Colmar. Located in the Alsace Lorraine region, the town is part of France but throughout much of history, changed hands between Germany and France. You’ll find lots of German and French spoken as a result!
I highly recommend visiting this quaint medieval town. Every street looks perfectly preserved and it’s quite colorful. We wandered mostly on our own, ducking into gelato shops and chocolate stores while enjoying the colorful, medieval feel.
Read more: The Most Picturesque Alsatian Town of Colmar
Day 3: Strasbourg, France
If you skip the optional to Colmar, no worries! Strasbourg is its larger cousin and also located in Alsace, France.
We had a wonderful guide for this day who guided us throughout the small canals, pointing out colorful streets and letting us know about Strasbourg’s tangled history in the hands of Germany and France.
Strasbourg occupies a strategic position on the Rhine River and is the ninth largest city in France. It’s home to many European councils and organizations, like the European Court of Human Rights (a building built like a ship) and the Council of Europe.
For the most part, we stuck to the Old Medieval Town but drove through the modern section. Highly recommend a visit to the Cathedral!
Read more: 24 Hours in Strasbourg (coming soon)
Day 4: Heidelberg, Germany
Heidelberg is a university town with a energetic, small town feel. In the morning, we visited Heidelberg Castle, which perhaps should be called a ruined fortress, as much of it was destroyed by lightening, fires and war.
The ruins and castle are built high above the city and the observation terrace is well worth a look! Meanwhile, the city was almost entirely spared from bomb attacks during World War II and it’s narrow streets and baroque charm remain largely intact.
We explored Heidelberg’s Old Town (Altstadt) by walking along the main shopping street Hauptstrasse. This is actually the longest shopping street in Europe! For the most part, I spotted large chain stores & restaurants.
I actually recommend skipping this street to explore the quaint alleyways and backstreets instead. Much more picturesque!
Read more: The Best of Heidelberg Germany in 1 Day
Day 5: Rhine River Castles & Koblenz, Germany
By day 5, we had reached the middle Rhine and spent our morning above deck watching the gorgeous small German towns and castles along both sides of the Rhine River. Our Viking program director gave a guided tour along the way, pointing out castles left and right.
Many of them are situated high above local towns and we saw lots of German camper vans parked at the base. I recommend bringing a pair of binoculars for this part, as some of the castles can be set a bit farther away and the detail through a zoom is incredible.
By afternoon, we reached Koblenz, a city set at the mouth of two rivers. We explored Marksburg Castle and wandered a bit on our own after. This was another ruined fortress high above the river. Interesting history, but wear good shoes! The entire castle is unpaved, rocky and entirely uneven.
A couple others from the cruise did the optional dinner excursion on this day and raved about it.
Read more: A Photo Diary of Pretty Rhine Castles
Day 6: Cologne, Germany
During the Holy Roman Empire, Cologne was the largest medieval town in Europe. Naturally, it’s Gothic cathedral is the hallmark draw! The nice thing about this stop is the ship can dock right into town, so you can join the tour or explore on your own.
We explored the Kölner Dom’s interior and were suitably awed. If you want a great view, Viking offers an optional tour that takes you all the way to the very top! I had already been to Cologne on a previous trip so instead, we opted for a palace excursion.
We visited Augustusburg Castle, one of two gorgeous UNESCO World Heritage site classified as Bruhl Palaces. The castle was once home to the prince-archbishops of Cologne and is decked out in gold, marble and all-around extravagance.
I particularly liked the massive entryway staircase which was gilded and made my mouth drop open when we turned the corner. Highly recommend this day trip if you love castles half as much as I do!
The interiors were really unique and the guided tour was excellent. After the main palace, we did a quick tour of the hunting lodge as well, which was just as stunning.
Read more: Exploring Cologne (coming soon)
Day 7: Kinderdijk, The Netherlands
Kinderdijk is home to the Netherlands’ famous windmills. I’ll admit I didn’t know too much about the country outside of Amsterdam and our guide was quite helpful to explain the history of the nation and the purpose of its many windmills. Much of the Netherlands would sink, were it not for windmills to pump away water.
We even got to tour inside the home of a windmill keeper (see photos of a windmill interior here!). What I didn’t realize was that windmill caretakers actually lived inside them with their families!
I thought the interiors were particularly interesting and our guide mentioned that some Dutch families managed to fit 13 children inside.
They’re quite small so I noticed lots of hooks for hanging, curved bunk-bed type rooms and lots of stair ladders. The Dutch windmill keepers also had a number of really unique boats which I took too many pictures of!
Fun fact: Kinderdijk is in the region of Holland in the nation of The Netherlands where the people speak Dutch.
Read more: Visiting A Dutch Windmill Home (and other day trips from Amsterdam!)
The Rhine Getaway Cruise
One thing I liked about sailing with Viking is how leisurely the day to day pace is. There’s generally an opportunity to sight see in the morning and afternoon, with one included tour and one optional tour.
We chose to do 2 optionals and on the other days, relaxed on board or went into town to explore on our own! It was a well-balanced pace and I truly felt “on vacation”.
Here’s a recap of our daily itinerary with Viking:
Day 1 Arrive in Basel, Switzerland
Day 2 Morning: Sail to the Black Forest
Afternoon: Explore Colmar, France
Day 3 Explore Strasbourg, France
Day 4 Morning: Explore Heidelberg’s Castle and Old Town.
Evening: Stop in Rudesheim
Day 5 Morning: See German castles along the Rhine River
Afternoon: Visit Koblenz, Germany
Day 6 Morning: Visit Cologne, Germany
Afternoon: Day trip to Bruhl Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Day 7 See dutch windmills at Kinderdijk. Arrive in Amsterdam in late evening.
Watch video: Tourico Vacations Viking River Cruise
Great time
WONDERFUL STAFF & SEAMLESS ORGANIZATION
What a memorable trip!
wonderful memories on this trip
Once on the boat we had a large group 18 people of all different ages and the staff took very good care of us. The waiters in the dining room took care of our family as if it was their own and paid close attention to our needs. If we suggested or asked for something it was there for us the next day. Of all the tour guides we had there were only 2 that weren’t that good. All the others were extremely knowledgeable and answered any questions we had. The only thing I would suggest to do different is cut out the 3 hrs we have in Slovakia and either add time to Vienna or Budapest. Those 2 cities are beautiful and it was hard to squeeze everything in. All in all my family had a great time and made wonderful memories on this trip.
Details
Ship Name
Viking Longship Odin, Viking Longship Idun
Ship Stats
Viking Longship Odin / Viking Longship Idun
- 95 comfortable outside staterooms (2 Explorer Suites, 7 Veranda Suites, 39 Veranda Staterooms, 22 French Balcony Staterooms, 25 Standard Staterooms)
- All suites feature two rooms with a veranda off the living room and a French balcony in the bedroom
- Sun deck with 360-degree views and shaded sitting area; organic herb garden and solar panels; putting green, and walking track
- Aquavit Terrace with a revolutionary indoor/outdoor viewing area at the bow of the ship and grills for al fresco dining
- The Lounge and bar with floor-to-ceiling glass doors
- Restaurant with floor-to-ceiling windows for panoramic views
- Library corner and onboard boutique
- Elevator from Middle to Upper Deck only; no elevator access for categories F and E
- Free shipwide wireless Internet service
- Laundry service
- Ecologically friendly hybrid engines producing less vibrations for a smoother ride
- 40" flat-panel Sony TV with infotainment system featuring movies on demand plus CNBC, CNN, National Geographic and more
Ship Description
Viking Longship Odin / Viking Longship Idun
Sailing our most popular itineraries, our award-winning Viking Longships® showcase innovative engineering, streamlined design and understated elegance for the most comfortable river cruise experience available.
Deck & Cabin Plans
Viking Longship Odin / Viking Longship Idun
All Deck & Cabin Plans (affiliate link) Trip Photos (affiliate link)Flight & Transport Inclusions
All internal ground transport
Group Size
Standard Group - 25 + people
Cancellation policy
For any cruise/land booking, whether under deposit, partially paid, or paid in full and air-inclusive packages paid in full, the following travel agent or guest-requested situations are considered cancellations and penalties will apply as noted below: changes to departure date; substitutions of itinerary; substitution of another person for original booked guest(s); or changing to a promotional fare. All cancellations must be in writing. For all air-inclusive packages cancelled after issuance of an airline ticket, the air portion of the refund, if any, will be processed only after the return of airline ticket to Viking. The following cancellation charges will be assessed for all written cancellations received prior to departure up to the scheduled time of departure.
Cancellation received | Following charges will apply: (Broken out by days before departure) 121 days or more is $100 per person | 120-90 days is 15% of full fare | 89-60 days is 35% of full fare | 59-30 days is 50% of full fare | 29-0 days is 100% of full fare.
Full Fare is defined as the full cost of any cruise, land or air component purchased from Viking.
Trip ID#:
CitLigVik
Meals Included
7 Breakfasts, 5 Lunches and 7 Dinners
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