Last summer, I embarked on a fabulous Rhine River cruise. Castles, cathedrals, 'bourgs and 'bergs, this was an adventure of a life time.
Embark on a Rhine River Cruise and explore historic, romantic, and awe-inspiring countries like Switzerland, Germany, France, and the Nether
Planning a Viking River Cruise is a dream vacation! These Viking River Cruise tips will prepare you for your Viking River Cruise!
Have you always dreamed of taking a European river cruise? I'm sharing my Viking Cruise Rhine River Travel Tips including favorite tours, excursions and things to do so that you have a once in a
Take the best Rhine River Cruise, Germany. See Rhine River castles and villages. A comrpehensive list of what to see. Includes a Rhine River cruise map.
When I went on my first river cruise I was a complete newbie. While I have done a lot of ocean cruising, I knew nothing about river cruising and searched to find the best packing lists so that I wouldn't forget anything. So if you are in this same position and are afraid of forgetting something- don't worry! This list below will help remind you of 5 things not to forget in your planning! 1. Local Currency One of the most important things that you can do to prepare and bring on your trip is some of the local currency where you will be going. You can do this ahead of time at your bank or at a local vendor which will result in less fees than if you use a money exchange booth in an airport. While some people would prefer to use their credit cards - which is great, you will still need to have money for tips or for small shops that don't take credit cards so make sure to prepare for this ahead of time. (Also if you are going on a river cruise around the holiday season and plan to visit the European markets, like in Colmar, you will need to have local currency for this!) Looking for a cute wallet to travel with to hold all of your different cards and some local currency? THIS ONE and I love because it contains a space for your passport also! When my wallet starts falling apart that is the one that I will be getting! 2. Passport Holder/Wallet You will need to have your passport with you and I would definitely recommend carrying it with you at all times while you are on excursions. I use my wallet which is an older Neiman Marcus Travel & Passport Wallet that is no longer available, but is very similar to THIS ONE and I love it! When my wallet starts falling apart that is the one that I will be getting! There are so many different adorable passport holders that are available today but a couple of my favorites that are cheaper are THIS ONE (which has more than 17,500 amazing reviews and comes in TONS of different colors!!) The best thing is that many of the colors are less than $10 and currently are on sale! 3. OTC Medications While it is true that you can purchase all different over the counter medication when you are off the ship- it can be more pricey and also be difficult to find depending on where you are traveling. Sometimes on river cruises there is not a doctor but there is a basic first aid kit available. You will want to think ahead and bring some of your own items. Prone to seasickness when you travel? Definitely check out my post 4 Ways to Prevent Motion Sickness when Traveling by clicking HERE! Even though river cruising is an excellent choice for those who are prone to seasickness, there were still some people who said the movement on our cruise was difficult to them. A lot of people use Dramamine (or the patch) for motion sickness on a cruise which is a wonderful option, but ginger can be a great natural resource to help with nausea. You can read more about ginger and its health benefits by clicking HERE. I have mentioned this in several posts but I swear by THIS ginger here. It is organic and for less than $11 you can save yourself a whole lot of sickness! 4. Comfortable Shoes/Sandals I shared this in my post, 13 Must Pack Items for Your Caribbean Cruise, but it is a definite thing to remember. Pack comfortable shoes and sandals!! You definitely want to look cute and have fun, but you don't want your cruise ruined by blisters either so take the time to pick out cute and comfy sandals. On a river cruise you do TONS of walking and you will want to make sure your shoes are comfortable! 5. A Watch I was surprised to hear this suggestion from those who had cruised a lot but honestly, have now seen the value in having a watch. One of the best parts of a cruise is having the chance to take a break from the "real world" and simply enjoy the moment. But if you are wanting to make sure that you are ready to meet for excursions, meal times, etc. and want to put away the phone, you will want to know the time. I LOVE my fitbit versa and totally recommend it! You can find it HERE! What about y'all? Any items that you wish that you had brought on your first European river cruise that you would recommend to a first-time cruiser? Check out more cruise tips by clicking on the links below: 10 Valentines Day Gift Ideas for the Cruise Lover 6 Tips for Planning the Perfect Cruise 3 Important Documents to Bring on Every Cruise Viking River Cruises: Answers to Your Most Frequently Asked Questions River Cruising vs. Ocean Cruising: 23 Key Differences to Know 5 Things People Forget to Bring on Their First European River Cruise 7 Things to Take With You While In Port 10 Things People Forget to Bring on Their First Cruise 10 Things to Do Before You Leave on Your Caribbean Cruise 5 Must Pack Items for Your Disney Cruise to the Bahamas 16 Unexpected Things to Bring on Every Cruise Top 13 Must Pack Items for a Caribbean Cruise 10 Must Pack Items for a New England & Canada Cruise Curious to find out more about our trip that we took with Viking Cruises? Click on the posts below: Viking River Cruise (2017-2018): // Viking River Cruises: Answers to Your Most FAQ's // // Viking Eir Ship Review // Viking Eir Stateroom 203 Review // Viking Eir Food and Dining Review // // Best Rhine River Books to Purchase for Your Trip from Travel To Culture to History // // The Cologne Cathedral (Exterior) // // A Walk Through Cologne Square // A Walk Through Historic Cologne // // Cruising the Middle Rhine (Part One) // Cruising the Middle Rhine River (Part Two) // // A Brief History of Old Town Colmar // Saint Martin's Collegiate Church (Place de la Cathedrale)// // 7 Things You Must See When You Visit Old Town Colmar in the Winter // // A Brief History of Beautiful Strasbourg // A Walk through Historic Strasbourg //Place Saint Thomas // // Strasbourg Cathedral (Cathedrale Notre Dame of Strasbourg) // Heidelberg Castle // // A Walk Through Old Town Heidelberg // Hofgut Sternen in the Black Forest // // A Walk through Historic Downtown Basel // Basel Cathedral (Basel Munster) //
Considering booking a Viking Rhine River Cruise? This review will give you the scoop on all of the ports and excursions along the Rhine River in Europe.
Take the best Rhine River Cruise, Germany. See Rhine River castles and villages. A comrpehensive list of what to see. Includes a Rhine River cruise map.
A complete guide to the best castles on the Rhine and Moselle Rivers (including how to visit them by train, car and river cruise).
A Viking Rhine River cruise from Basel, Switzerland to Amsterdam. The ship and cruise itself combined perfectly with top shore excursions.
Things to see and do In Cologne - ultimate sightseeing guide for first time visitors
Embark on a Rhine River Cruise and explore historic, romantic, and awe-inspiring countries like Switzerland, Germany, France, and the Nether
Eat, drink, see, and sail.
There’s so much to see and do on a Rhine River cruise, as I was able to experience recently with the award-winning cruise line AmaWaterways.
Just as each ocean cruise line creates a unique experience, here are my 10 reasons why I like AmaWaterways river cruises.
Each one better than the next.
River cruises are a great choice for a European honeymoon or a romantic getaway. Medieval ruins, hillside farms, and dramatic cathedrals make for a scene
Viking river cruise amenities are designed to pamper passengers with the ultimate in creature comforts. Here are Backroad Planet's Top 11 amenities!
Embark on a Rhine River Cruise and explore historic, romantic, and awe-inspiring countries like Switzerland, Germany, France, and the Nether
Wondering what to wear on a European river cruise? Use this printable packing list for a river cruise with a free downloadable PDF.
A full guide to what to wear on a European river cruise, including a sample river cruise packing list for Europe in all seasons.
Eat, drink, see, and sail.
After two long years of pandemic restrictions, Europe is fully open again! I’m lucky to have an extended family of fellow travel enthusiasts, and we’ve all been looking forward to a reunion vacation in Western Europe for a while now! A Viking River cruise seemed like the perfect offering for a group of eight people...
After you have booked your Viking River Cruise you gain access to My Viking Journey, an online portal that allows you to see all the logistics of your trip, as well as organize any add-ons you might wish. One of the things you might add on are the optional excursions offered on each stop of your cruise. The optional excursions cost extra, so we only chose a couple for our trip, the first of which was a trip to the medieval village of Colmar, France. We boarded the coach shortly after lunch and drove across the Rhine River into France, then about 30 minutes into the countryside before arriving at Colmar. Our tour guide kept the majority of the passengers entertained with facts and jokes about the area (this was something that I had to get used to...I am much more of a ride in silence and enjoy the views kinda girl!). We did learn that Colmar has been in the middle of a long game of tug-of-war between Germany and France, and had been considered a part of each country on and off for years. Once off the bus, mom and dad joined the tour group that rode a little scenic train around town, and Bryn and I followed the walking tour into the town's historic center before bidding our group au revoir and heading off on our own to explore. One thing that's special about Colmar is that it is one of very few French towns that was not destroyed during WW2. It's windy cobblestone streets are lined with colorful half-timbered houses, many of which seem higgledy-piggledy and crooked, giving it a very Diagon Alley-esque feel (that's a Harry Potter reference incase your were born yesterday!). There are also canals that run through Colmar, and one of the most popular postcard views is of an area called Little Venice. One of my favorite things about the European towns with canals running through them were the flowers on all of the bridges. They are all so colorful and happy and it's easy to get a little snap happy with your camera! After our walk-about, we met up with mom and dad in the main square, and Bryn and I helped dad out with breaking one of his large euro bills by indulging in the first of many ice cream cones of the trip. There is just something SO GOOD about the ice cream they sell from little carts in this part of Europe. I discovered it on my first trip to Europe when I was in high school, and have looked forward to it on every trip since! Sadly, all good things must come to an end, and it was time to board the bus for the drive back to the ship to get cleaned up for dinner. Our excursion to Colmar was easily one of my favorite parts of this trip, and I cannot recommend a visit enough! If you happen to be going on the Viking Rhine Getaway cruise - definitely make sure you include this excursion!
If you've been wondering if a Rhine River Cruise is right for you, here’s the opinion of one this baby boomer, including cruise details.
All you must know about the most luxurious river cruises in Europe. See Europe from a different perspective, sail in comfort, and complete luxury. Get the best!
A Rhine River Cruise is one of the most popular ways to explore the beauty and history of the Rhine. Best things to see and what to know when planning
Eat, drink, see, and sail.
I sailed on the Rhine River Getaway from Basel to Amsterdam. Here's my Viking River Cruise review covering the itinerary, on-board experience & more!
Helpful things to know your first time on a river cruise, whether in the United States, Europe, South America or Asia. Includes tips and info that will help you prepare for your vacation! #rivercruise
All you need to know about Rhine River cruise planning, including Rhine River cruise lines, Rhine River itineraries, Rhine River cruise tips and the best time to go on a Rhine River cruise
Viking recently announced its newest river voyage, Treasures of the Rhine, sailing the Middle Rhine and debuting in December 2023.
A Rhine River cruise between Switzerland and the Netherlands is one of the most enchanting ways to explore a large section of Western Europe. The cities and towns along the Rhine are all so quaint, with rich histories shaped by the river. You can tell...
All you need to know about Rhine River cruise planning, including Rhine River cruise lines, Rhine River itineraries, Rhine River cruise tips and the best time to go on a Rhine River cruise
A Europe river cruise is an incredible experience but there are a few things to know before you go. Here are my top ten Europe river cruise tips and advice.
The Viking Rhine Getaway cruise explores the medieval towns, castles, and cathedrals of the Rhine River. On this travel itinerary journey past European villages, vineyards, and turreted fortresses.
Your guide to all the best castles, cruises and cities on the Rhine in Germany. Are you on the hunt for a memorable and unique travel experience? Look no further than the Rhine River Valley
All you need to know about Rhine River cruise planning, including Rhine River cruise lines, Rhine River itineraries, Rhine River cruise tips and the best time to go on a Rhine River cruise
