Overview
For years we heard a lot of good things about taking a river cruise in Europe. After sampling the river cruise experience for a few days in Egypt on the Nile in 2023, we decided to take the plunge and go all in with Viking’s 23-day Cross Europe cruise called European Sojourn (their longest river cruise). Go big or go home as the saying goes! So, we even front-ended and back-ended this cruise starting with a 4-day road trip up to Transylvania before the cruise and ending our travels with an 8-day road trip in Belgium and the Netherlands after the cruise.
The Viking “European Sojourn” cruise is really a combination of two cruises they regularly do. The Bucharest to Budapest cruise is combined with the Budapest to Amsterdam cruise.
This post provides a summary of the trip and at the end of the post are links to more detailed posts of each of the countries visited.
In all, this trip spanned 35 days.
What this trip covered
- 9 countries: Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Croatia, Hungary, Austria, Germany, The Netherlands and Belgium
- A number of road trips into the countryside including:
- Transylvania and Brașov Romania
- Belogradchik Rocks and Fortress Bulgaria
- Veliko Tarnovo Romania
- Iron Gates National Park Serbia
- Croatia Countryside
- Salzburg Austria
- Regensburg Germany
- Franconia Germany
- Rothenburg ob der Tauber Germany
- Bruges Belgium
- Ghent Belgium
- Zaanse Schans, Marken & Volendam Netherlands
- Extensive cruising of Danube, Rhine and Main Rivers
- Docking and Port Calls at the following cities and towns:
- Bucharest Romania
- Ruse Bulgaria
- Vidin Bulgaria
- Golubac Serbia
- Belgrade Serbia
- Osijek Croatia
- Vukovar Croatia
- Kalocsa Hungary
- Budapest Hungary
- Vienna Austria
- Melk Austria
- Passua Germany
- Regensburg Germany
- Nuremburg Germany
- Bamberg Germany
- Wurzburg Germany
- Wertheim Germany
- Koblenz Germany
- Cologne Germany
- Kinderdijk Netherlands
- Amsterdam Netherlands
Romania and The Viking Pre-Cruise Excursion Experience
A full write up of the Romania portion of the trip can be found here: A Romanian Adventure
Our First Day
We flew from Washington DC to Amsterdam before catching our connecting flight to Bucharest. It’s a long day and we have shifted 7 hours, but we have learned from experience if we start getting up early and going to bed early about a week before a trip like this, we can hit the road running and not feel a great deal of jet lag. After picking up our luggage and proceeding out the exit, we spot the driver Viking sent for us and 3 other couples. It’s not long before we are off to our destination for the night, the JW Marriott Grand Hotel in Bucharest.
Check-in at the hotel is a breeze as Viking has their own desk and we are promptly handed a packet with details about our pre-excursion and the keys to our room.
After dumping off our luggage we are ready to go exploring. It’s early afternoon and having done some research before leaving home we know the Old Town section of Bucharest is an easy 30-minute walk from the hotel. We double check with the hotel to make sure it’s safe to walk, that we are going in the right direction, and we are off.
Old Town Bucharest
We walk around in the Old Town area of Bucharest for about a hour but we’ve had a long day and are hungry. There are plenty of restaurant/cafe options and it’s not long before we settle in for a great meal before heading back to the hotel for a decent night’s sleep so we can begin our Transylvania journey tomorrow.
North to Transylvania
We are only going to touch on the major highlights in this post and have a series of more detailed posts describing each stop on the pre-cruise portion of the trip and each port call we made during the cruise. Our pre-cruise trip consists of road trip up to the town of Brașov where we tour Peleș Castle. This castle was home to the German Rulers who controlled this region starting on the mid 1800’s until the after the world wars. We stay in Brașov for 2 nights and use it as a anchor to tour up to the medieval town of Sighișoara which has a nice set of preserved fortifications and buildings. We really liked Brașov with this beautiful town square full of cafes. On our return journey we pay a visit to Bran castle which was the inspiration for “Dracula’s” castle. We also enjoy a stopover in a gypsy village where we watch a local blacksmith work and tour one of King Charles’ countryside homes.
Bucharest
After returning to Bucharest from Transylvania we spend another night at the JW Marriott. Before embarking on the cruise ship we spend most of the next day touring Bucharest and the surrounding area. This includs visiting some of the major monuments in the city, a walking tour of the Old Town district and a visit to the outdoor museum of antique buildings gathered from all over Romania.
Boarding the Longship Lofn
Although literature for this cruise says it starts in Bucharest the dock on the Danube is actually about 90-minutes south. It is a wonderful scenic ride through the Romania countryside where the boat is docked at the little town of Giurgiu. Our check in process is fast and within just a few minutes we are in our cabin and unpacked.
Our Viking Lofn River Cruise Experience
Before we get into a high-level overview of what we did on the cruise, we will start with what it’s like to do a Viking river cruise.
We had taken a ocean cruise well over 20 years ago on a budget/family friendly cruise line and swore we would never do it again. We disliked among other things the crowd, casinos and kids running around everywhere. Our river cruise on the Nile in 2023 (here is the link to that trip: Egypt) had been on a 190-passenger ship and we figured we might give a longer trip a try on a similar size vessel.
Here are some of the reasons we picked Viking:
- Small size (there is a maximum of about 190 passengers – we had 178)
- It is mostly all inclusive, so you don’t feel like your nickeled and dimed every time you turn around.
- No inside staterooms.
- No kids. All guests are 18 years old or more.
- No smoking.
- No casinos.
- No formal nights. In fact, attire on the cruise is casual at all times.
- No charge for Wi-Fi (although we found the speed and reliability to be spotty at best)
- Guests are served complimentary soft drinks, beer, or wine during lunch and dinner. You can buy the Silver Spirits package to enjoy premium wines and beer, cocktails, and champagnes and covers drinking outside of mealtime. Personally, we found this unnecessary as the bar prices for beer and wine were very reasonable and, in the end, we ended up with a very small bar bill.
- Guests are offered one complimentary shore excursion at every destination. There are other optional tours which are offered at an additional price – and we did take a number of them.
- Unlike other cruise lines, Viking allows you to bring your own alcohol on board. This was great as we went on several winery and brewery tours and were able to bring back beverages we liked and then enjoy them on the sun deck or in the lounge.
The ship is composed of 4 decks:
- The Sun Deck (top) has tables and chairs for guests to enjoy the views plus a walking track, an herb garden the chef maintains & uses, a small putting green and a shuffleboard area.
- The Upper Deck has the library, bar, lounge, Aquavit Terrace, coffee and tea station, and internet cafe, along with both of the Explorer Suites, all of the Veranda Suites, and some of the Veranda and French Balcony staterooms.
- The Middle Deck has Guest Services, the restaurant, the Viking shop, and some of the Veranda and French Balcony staterooms.
- The Lower Deck has the Standard Staterooms (nicknamed “swan rooms” since the small window is at water level and you often see swans swimming past your window).
Stairs connect all of the decks but there is also a small elevator if needed.
Our Room
When we booked, we choose a Veranda Stateroom (one of 39) which is configured as follows:
- 205 square foot room with full-size private veranda (square footage includes veranda)
- located on the Upper Deck and Middle Deck – we chose the Upper Deck
- 3:00 pm guaranteed stateroom access
We would occasionally open the door and stand outside as we were cruising, but for the most part this balcony wasn’t much use to us. When we wanted to watch the world go by while cruising, we would always go up top to the Sun Deck for a more panoramic view. At about 1/2 of the ports, cruise ships are docked two to three deep, so when docked, you are likely looking at the room of the ship next to you.
During our trip we meet couples who booked the French Balcony Stateroom (22 available, no balcony, but the same large window that does open). We also met a couple who had booked the Standard Stateroom (25 available) which only has a small picture window and no outdoor space. We got to see their rooms. We met 2 couples who opted for 1 of the 7 Veranda Suites that are 275sf and have a separate living room (we got to peek in). We didn’t knowingly meet someone staying in 1 of the 445sf Explorer Suites. Knowing what we know now, we could have saved a bunch of money with just getting a basic Standard Room and had been just as happy. Other than sleeping we rarely spent time in the room.
All rooms contain the following.
- A safe with an electronic keyboard
- 100v (USA) and 220v (Europe) plugs
- A hair dryer
- A supply of Freyja toiletries, including shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and body lotion, along with a shower cap and vanity set
- Heated bathroom floor
- A laundry line in the shower, handy for hanging hand-washed garments. We are pretty travel savvy and always travel with underwear and socks that dry quickly. For even faster drying, we learned since the floor in the bathroom is heated you could turn the heat up and close the door.
- A TV in the room with a small selection of shows and movies. There is no way to hook up to Chromecast for any content you bring with you. BUT – we didn’t go on the cruise to watch shows or movies, so what they offered was fine.
- Internet is spotty. We found when we had phone service, it was better to just tether our laptop to the phone and use the phone’s connection.
- Twice daily housekeeping
- Small refrigerator. This was great for keeping cold the beer and wine we bought while touring.
- A built in desk area and two desk chairs
- Large water bottle
Common Areas
Lounge and Bar
Every evening at 6:45p there is a port talk detailing our next port of call and the excursions for the next day. This is followed by the chef going over the regional specialties for the night.
Aquavit Terrace
This open-air area at the front of the ship has about a dozen tables and a wind break. We end up having lunch out here a number of times over the course of the trip. There are also a few tables just inside this area – indoors when weather doesn’t cooperate. This area is quieter and more intimate than the main dining room, but service is slightly slower although very acceptable.
Dining room
Three meals are included each day at the following times although this did vary depending on the port.
- Breakfast: 7:00-9:00 am
- Lunch: 12:00-2:00 pm
- Dinner: 7:00-9:00 pm
Seating is not assigned which means we get to enjoy sitting with a wide variety of people over the course of more than 3 weeks and we make a number of new friends. Round tables seat 6 and a few oblong tables seat 8 people. Some people always sit at the same table (so their waiter gets to know their likes/dislikes).
- Breakfast includes a made-to-order omelet or egg station with lots of breads, meats, cheeses, fruits and spreads. There is also a breakfast menu (never changes) you can order from.
- Lunch is 3 courses (starter, main dish, dessert) and offers 3 choices that change every day. There is always one non-meat item, one fish item and one meat item. If you don’t like the choices, they always offer a hotdog, hamburger or something else we never needed to order (so we can’t remember).
- Dinner is very much the same “style” as lunch with 3 courses, but also includes a local/regional choice. And if you don’t like the rotating choices, they always offer a Caesar salad as a starter, a rib-eye steak, salmon, and roasted chicken as main dish, and Creme Brulé, a selection of cheeses, a fruit plate, and ice cream for dessert. In general, we find the food on the cruise to be quite good Our one issue is they rarely offer anything spicy.
Coffee Station
The coffee stations are open 24 hours a day and have a small selection of pastries or cookies for a snack. It also offers fancy coffees such as lattes and cappuccinos, but there’s usually a line. True brewed plain coffee is available at 6:00 am on the Aquavit Terrace and this is where we get our coffee in the morning.
Library
There is a small library with a selection of books.
Computer Station
The computer station is located across from the library. We have our own travel laptop and never use this even though we do see some guests use it on occasion.
Sun Deck
There is a forward seating area with tables in front of the ship’s wheelhouse and a covered seating area at the rear. The rear also has a small putting green, a shuffleboard court and a walking track where 12 laps equaled a mile. They have blankets in case you want to use one to keep warm. We spend quite a bit of time on the sun deck over the course of the trip as it affords the best views, and it is great walking while we are cruising.
One thing to be aware of however, is the sun deck on this cruise is not always open. There are a number of the bridges across the river that are pretty low and the boats have to lower the wheelhouse and even take the top railings down in order to squeeze under. There is one stretch where this was closed for 4 straight days. We saw the ship clear a bridge with everything down by inches on this trip!
Other tidbits
- The majority of passengers were from the USA. We had several couples from Australia and some from Canada, New Zealand and England. We hear this is common. We met a lot of wonderful people we continue to stay in touch with.
- We were one of the few couples going on our first Viking River or Ocean cruise (maybe 10% of the passengers). People who sail on Viking LOVE Viking. One couple we met had done this same journey in the reverse direction just six months prior, choosing different excursions on this pass. I think the most was 22 cruises already completed. One couple already had 6 more lined up over the next 18 months.
- The majority of people were “of retirement age” (of course there are always exceptions).
- Almost every day, Viking offers something on the ship while cruising. It might be an afternoon lecture about the culture or history of the area, cooking demonstrations, local dancers or singers and after dinner games such as “Majority Rules”, “Battle of the Sexes” or “Top Answer”.
- English is a common language spoken in the areas we were in. Many European countries require children to learn three languages as part of their schooling. Most students choose English as their second language. Getting around and interacting with people on shore was never a problem even when we were in places where the people didn’t speak English. You just worked it out using google translate (if needed), hand gestures or just a few basic words.
- Some of the Eastern European countries, while in the European Union, still haven’t adopted the Euro currency. In those countries, we always used credit cards (never needed local currency (outside of Euros); the one exception to this took Euros even though it wasn’t their official currency. Before you shop or dine, always ask if they take credit cards!
- Viking gives you about a 10% discount if you book another cruise before your current cruise ends. There is a mere $25 per person non-refundable deposit (that might change). Worst case, you are out $50.
- We chose to have Viking handle our air travel too. We were able to pay a small fee to change the date of our flight home since we did our own post-trip excursion. Having talked with multiple people, we are likely NOT to choose this in the future. And if we don’t, for something like $60 per person, they will still transport you from the ship to the airport/hotel the day the cruise starts or ends. $120 for 2 people sounds expensive, but since airports can be 30-90 miles from the port – and then they track your flights (won’t miss the ship), it would likely be worth it.
- Shortly after booking, we transferred our booked cruise to a Viking certified travel agent. He gave us an additional $500 ship-board credit. And he handled working with Viking to change our return flight. Viking honestly doesn’t care and doesn’t treat you any differently.
- Viking has a “gratuity package” automatically added to your bill that will be split across all staff on the ship. This includes the people you don’t see, such as dishwashers, engine room staff and people laundering towels & sheets. If your cabin steward, bartender or waiter gives you extra service, you can hand them additional tip money at the end of the cruise (most people do – because those folks really work to make you feel special). You are also strongly encouraged to tip your tour guides since they are NOT part of Viking, but are local guides. The general rule was $5 per person for any tour under four hours and $10 per person for any tour longer than 4 hours. They also recommend tipping the tour bus drivers $2 per person. All this extra tipping is paid in cash. ATMs will give you large bills but guest services will break them into smaller bills. Tips are in Euros.
Bulgaria
A full write up of the Bulgarian portion of the trip can be found here: A Bulgarian Adventure
Ruse Bulgaria
The next day we are docked in Ruse Bulgaria and after breakfast we are off on a road trip taking us up to Veliko Tarnova Bulgaria. Along the way we stop at the Kaloyanova Fortress, a very nice event venue where we sample some of the local brady and have a quick snack. We then proceed a short distance to the mountain town of Arbanasi where we tour the restored Konstantsalieva Merchants house from the 1600’s., sample local rose brady and purchase some rose oil. Afterward we head to a local restaurant where we enjoy local entertainment while having a great regional lunch.
After leaving here we head down to Veliko Tarnova which used to be capital of the second Bulgarian Empire. We stop to view the Tsarevets Fortress and then head to the Samovodska Charshiaea area which is full of craft vendors and shops. We end up at a wine store where we taste a number of Bulgarian wines which were very good! We buy a few bottles to take back on the ship with us.
When the tour is over, we head back toward Svishtov, Bulgaria as the ship has sailed on while we were out touring.
Vidin Bulgaria
The next day involves a bus excursion to the Belogradchik Rocks and Fortress. This includes a guided tour of Vidin’s city highlights. The Belogradchik Fortress tour was a standout experience with its location up in the Balkans and sweeping panoramic views. After lunch back onboard the ship, we take advantage of the ship’s central location to explore Baba Vida fortress, the Danube boardwalk and Vidin’s downtown area on foot. We found a nice little cafe and enjoy a drink and watch the world go by before reboarding the ship.
Serbia
A full write up of the Serbian portion of the trip can be found here: A Serbian Adventure
Golubac Serbia
Today we got up early to watch the ship pass through the first of what will be 66 locks on our way to Amsterdam. We then pass through a narrow stretch of the Danube called the Iron Gates before docking at Donji Milanova Serbia where we take a shuttle up to the Serbian “Iron Gates” National Park. Here we hike up to a great viewpoint for a sweeping view of the Danube. After the hike we stop at Kapetan Mišin Breg and are treated to some refreshments and enjoy the elevated views of the Danube before continuing our road trip along the Danube to Golubac Fortress. Note that after letting us off at Donji Milanova, the ship continued sailing until it docks at Golubac. Once we arrive at the Golubac Fortress we have a few hours to tour it. This involves scaling steep, uneven steps to the top of its towers and then wandering through the museum. It’s sunset before we reboard the ship and it departs for another night of sailing while we sleep.
Belgrade Serbia
We wake up and find we are docked in Belgrade and after breakfast we embark early in the morning on a panoramic tour of Belgrade, Serbia. The tour begins at the historic Kalemegdan Fortress, overlooking the Sava River. We were then given time to explore the lively “pedestrian only” area of downtown, featuring impressive building architecture, shops, and cafes. Next we visit the large and gilded Church of St. Sava which is still under construction but very impressive. we take advantage of a second tour in the afternoon, a private small group tour of the Nikola Tesla Museum. We end our afternoon by returning to the downtown area and find a great little cafe for dinner. We return to the ship after dark before the ship again sets sail for night cruising.
Croatia
A full write up of the Croatian portion of the trip can be found here: A Croatian Adventure
Llok Croatia
After sunrise in early morning, we pull in and dock at the small town of Llok, where we begin our day long tour of this part of Croatia. From the dock we see our first stop, llok Castle which houses a museum dedicated to the history of the region. After touring the museum, we head to the nearby Ilok Winery which has a long and storied history, with its origins dating back to the 15th century. The winery’s old cellars, built in 1450, are among the oldest in Europe and have been meticulously preserved. We tour the cellars and settle in for wine tasting. We purchase a few more bottles of wine to bring onboard and enjoy along the cruise. We then continue our road trip through the rolling countryside of villages and vineyards to the town of Vukovar.
Vukovar Croatia
During the war with Serbia in the early 1990’s the city endured a brutal siege resulting in significant destruction and loss of life. There are memorials throughout the town of this war including murals and the Vukovar Water Tower, which was heavily damaged during the war. It has been preserved as a symbol of the city’s resilience.
Osijek Croatia
In Osijek we visit the Osijek citadel and Rising of the Holy Cross Church. The Osijek citadel was constructed to serve as a military, administrative, and commercial center and played a crucial role in the defense of the Habsburg Empire’s southeastern borders against the Ottoman Empire. While much of the fortifications were removed in the 1920s to allow for the development of Osijek, the core remains intact and is home to churches, museums, schools, and various public buildings. Before reboarding the ship we have the opportunity to experience a local person’s home. Viking split us into groups of 10 that spend time in one of eight homes – so each experience was different. For us, we enjoy home-made brandy and wine, juices, tea and 2 types of home-made desserts. We ask questions about life in this town. We return to the ship now docked in Vukovar about an hour before sunset and enjoy sailing on the sun deck as the ship moves out to start the Hungarian portion of our adventure.
Hungary
A full write up of the Hungary portion of the trip can be found here: A Hungarian Adventure
Kalocsa Hungary
We spend most of the morning up on the sun deck watching the villages and farmlands in this part of Hungary go by. We dock in early afternoon in the town of Kolosca. From the dock we head inland for a Hungarian horsemanship show at the Bakodpuzta Equestrian Center. After the show we head over to Saint Joseph’s Church where we are treated to a concert using its massive 4600-tube organ. Next to the church we got a glimpse of the very large Bishop’s residence. With the sun starting to go down we are back on board the ship and head to the sun deck to wrap up another great day.
Budapest Hungary
Next morning we are docked next the Chain Bridge in the heart of Budapest where we will spend two full days exploring a large variety of sights. This includes the Castle District perched up high over the Danube, Heroe’s Square, The Great Market Hall, City Park, Vajdahunyad Castle, Vaci Street (cafes and shops), Buda Castle (the Royal Palace), the Hungarian Parliament and many others. Our ship is docked where it makes it very convenient for us to come and go as we please. We really enjoy this stop on the trip, and we even took advantage of the Hop-On/Hop-Off bus to expand our exploration. It’s night when we set sail towards our next destination, Vienna Austria.
Austria
A full write up of the Austrian portion of the trip can be found here: An Austrian Adventure
Vienna Austria
We are only in Vienna for a day but we make the most of it with a tour into the heart of the city to see and explore a lot of its grand civic buildings, monuments and the downtown. In the afternoon we head to the Schönbrunn Palace for a tour of the interior and to scope out its vast gardens on a horse-drawn carriage. The Palace features stunning Baroque architecture, with 1,441 rooms showcasing the opulence and grandeur of the Habsburg dynasty. The interiors are adorned with exquisite frescoes, ornate chandeliers, and luxurious furnishings. The Palace is surrounded by vast gardens that include beautifully manicured lawns, fountains, and statues. Late in the evening we set sail for our next destination, Melk.
Melk Austria
The next morning, we wake up and find we are sailing through the beautiful Wachau Valley region of Austria which is famous for its terraced vineyards, rolling hills, and charming villages. In the early afternoon we arrive at our shore excursion for the day, which is Melk Abbey, a Benedictine abbey above the town of Melk, located on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Danube River. At sunset we set sail and continue onwards towards Passau Germany.
Salzburg Austria
The next day we awake to find we are docked in Passau Germany, but we’ve opted to skip Passau and do an all day long tour to Salzburg Austria. Salzburg is the place where much of the movie The Sound of Music was filmed and where many of its landmarks were used as a background in the movie. The road trip to Salzburg takes us through beautiful farms and villages and it’s very scenic. Our tour includes a lunch complete with a short show featuring many songs from the movie. At sunset we set sail and continue onwards towards Regensburg Germany.
Germany
A full write up of the German portion of the trip can be found here: A German Adventure
Regensburg Germany
Regensburg is known for its well-preserved medieval architecture and rich history, making it a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The town was once a Roman Frontier town and there are traces of its fortifications and buildings that have been incorporated into some of the buildings. The Stone Bridge, built in the 12th century, is a remarkable feat of medieval engineering and spans the Danube River and offers beautiful views of the city. Regensburg’s Old Town is a maze of narrow streets, historic buildings, churches, and charming squares. We spend most of the day wandering around the old town, visiting the Bavarian History Museum and enjoy a great place for lunch before we catch the shuttle back to the ship in the evening.
Nuremberg Germany
Our day in Nuremberg focuses on the old town area of the city, but we do get to see ruins of the Nazi rally grounds where hundreds of thousands gathered to hear Hitler gives speeches. Nuremberg’s Old Town, or Altstadt, is a blend of medieval charm and modern vibrancy and this historic area is a treasure trove of architectural wonders, cultural landmarks, and picturesque streets. These include the Imperial Palace, picturesque streets, Market Square, the city walls and towers and the Saint Lawrence Church, We spend a full day exploring this area.
Bamberg Germany
The next day we dock in Bamberg early in the morning and begin a road trip to explore some of the sights in this area including the Schloss Palace, the Wallfahrtskirche Church, a 600-year-old brewery and surrounding Franconian countryside, Late in the afternoon, near the town of Zeil, we catch back up with the ship and enjoy a great evening of sailing past farms and small towns.
Würzburg Germany
We wake the next morning docked in Würzburg. We take a road trip to the medieval town of Rothenburg, one of only four towns in Germany that still has completely intact city walls. Before our departure there is time to walk around and explore some of Würzburg. When we return from our Rothenburg excursion, we get a quick tour of the beautiful Würzburg Residence. The Würzburg Residence, a stunning Baroque palace, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is renowned for its grand staircase, the largest fresco in the world, and it’s beautifully landscaped gardens. We also get to see the Old Main Bridge with its statues of saints and views of the town.
Rothenburg Germany
Rothenburg is a picturesque medieval town located in the Franconia region of Bavaria, Germany. Rothenburg is magical, looking as if it fell out of a fairy-tale. It is known for its well-preserved old town and the city walls, which are still intact and encircle the old town. We walk along the ramparts and enjoy panoramic views of the town and surrounding countryside. We really enjoyed this side trip (one of our favorites) and highly recommend it to anyone traveling to this area.
Wertheim Germany
After a night of cruising, we dock in Wertheim for a partial day of exploring this picturesque town in southwestern Germany, known for its rich history and medieval architecture. Wertheim’s history dates back to the 7th and 8th centuries, with its first settlement on the right bank of the Main River. The town developed around Wertheim Castle, built by the noble family of the Reginbodons in the early 12th century. Hiking up to Wertheim Castle, the ruins offered great views of the surrounding area and town. It isn’t as large as Rothenburg (which we visited the day before), but it is definitely worth a few hours to visit. Later in the afternoon after our visit here ends, we enjoy the rest of the afternoon sailing and watching the great scenery go by.
Koblenz Germany
We spend much of the day cruising through the most beautiful stretch of the Rhine River where there seemed to be a castle at every bend in the river. We pass by 28 castles over the course of about 3 hours. The ship pulls into shore mid-afternoon and we tour of Marksburg Castle before before we catch up to the ship in Koblenz for the evening.
Cologne Germany
The next stop on our cruise is Cologne where we spend the entire day walking and exploring the downtown area. We are docked close to town and take advantage of the Hop-On/Hop-Off bus to get a much wider pass of the city. The massive Cologne Cathedral was a visual treat and we have a lot of fun tasting some of the Kolsch beers this city is famous for.
The Netherlands
A full write up of the Netherlands portion of the trip can be found here: A Netherlands Adventure
Kinderdijk Netherlands
We spend our last full day on the Viking Lofn sailing towards Amsterdam with a stopover at the Kinderdijk World Heritage site, renowned for its iconic windmills. They were constructed starting in 1740 to pump water into reservoirs to prevented flooding and maintain the land’s usability. After visiting this site we have a couple of hours of sailing while the sun sets, and the cruise part of our trip comes to a end.
Amsterdam
Kinderdijk was the last portion of the Viking Cruise and the next morning we are docked in Amsterdam. Here we begin our adventures in Belgium.
Belgium
A full write up of the Belgium portion of the trip can be found here: A Belgium Adventure.
Brussels Belgium
It is time to transition from the Viking River Cruise to our self-designed 8-day post-excursion in Belgium and The Netherlands. We are met at the dock in Amsterdam by our driver who has already picked up 2 of our children and one of their friends. He drives the 5 of us down to Belgium where we spend the next 3 days exploring Brussels, Bruges and Ghent before returning to Amsterdam for a grand finale. After 3 hours, we arrive in Brussels, check into our hotel and start exploring. Around 3pm we meet up with our tour guide for a wonderful private 5.5 hour Belgium Beer and Chocolate Tour. We sample delectable chocolate from a number of world-famous chocolate chefs and sample local Belgium beers in several really old, eclectic taverns. What a great way to start the last leg of our trip!
Bruges Belgium
The next day we take the train to Bruges (1 hour) which is sometimes called the “Venice of the North”. We meet our private guide for a 2-hour walking tour. Bruges’ history dates back to the early middle agers and is a UNESCO world Heritage Site. It’s full of canals and historic buildings. After our tour we split up, occasionally re-connecting and spend the entire day walking its streets and hitting little cafes when we are hungry. In the late afternoon we hop on one of the canal boat tours and see a lot of the town from the water. We all meet up for dinner and stay to experience this delightful town after the sun went down.
Ghent Belgium
The next day, we take the train again (30 minutes) and head out to the medieval town of Ghent another UNESCO World Heritage site filled with canals and historic buildings. After our 2-hour tour we spend the entire day exploring this town with a visit to the Ghent Castle as well as doing another canal boat tour. Our tour guide told us about an unusual bar where they serve beer in such unusual glasses, they take one of your shoes as collateral to make sure you don’t leave with one of their glasses. Again, we didn’t get back to Brussels until late that night.
The Netherlands
A full write up of the Netherlands portion of the trip can be found here: A Netherlands Adventure
Amsterdam Netherlands
After 3 full days in Belgium, we head back to Amsterdam for the next 4 days which is absolutely a blast to visit and a grand way to end this European adventure.
We visit many of the museums including the Anne Frank House, the Rijksmuseum, The Museum of the Dutch Resistance, The Nautical Museum and the Museum of the Canals. We tour the red-light district to see this world-famous area and pay a visit to the Heineken Beer Brewery. The tram system in Amsterdam is easy to navigate and takes us to a variety of places when we don’t want to walk much. We use a private driver one day to take the 5 of us on an all-day road tip out of Amsterdam to the North Sea towns of Zaanse Schans, Markem and Volendam. We take a night-time canal boat ride on our last evening of the adventure. There is so much to see and do in this area!
Summary
This was just an incredible trip, and we are so glad we spent the time to research and put it all together in 3 parts with a Transylvania road trip at the beginning, a 23-day river cruise across the breadth of Europe and finishing with a road trip to Belgium and the Netherlands at the end.
We also got to experience 3 types of travel on this trip;
- A pre cruise excursion put together by Viking
- A 23-day Viking River cruise
- An 8-day post cruise rip to Belgium and the Netherlands we arrange ourselves.
Please take a look at the more detailed postings on each of the 9 countries we visited (below):
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