Amsterdam to Basel with impeccable, personalized service, Viking River Cruises’ Longships are floating luxury hotels offering all the amenities and service of a five-star resort. Our seven-day itinerary traversed four countries from Amsterdam to Basel and featured the cities of Kinderdijk, Cologne, Koblenz, Rudesheim, Heidelberg, Speyer, Strasbourg, and Breisach.
If you decide to extend your stay, the Doubletree by Hilton is perfectly situated close to the Amsterdam Centraal train and tram station. From here, you can explore the Museum Quarter, Anne Frank House, shopping areas, restaurants, and pubs as well as 100 kilometers of interconnected canals.
Our Veranda Stateroom was surprisingly spacious (205 sq. ft.), bright, and modern with two beds, floor to ceiling sliding glass doors opening to a veranda, and many amenities.
We were greeted by two staff members, who already knew our names, at the pre-sailing lunch on Aquavit Terrace. This is one of the great things about Viking—the service! The Vidar has a maximum capacity of 190 passengers, which evokes an intimate river cruising experience. The international crew really goes out of their way to make you feel at home, doing their best to satisfy any request.
The Vidar also has a library, internet computers, coffee and tea stations, and an onboard concierge service. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served in the ship’s restaurant although you can opt for a bar-style menu in the Aquavit Terrace.
Guests can choose from a daily selection of entrees or pick something off the always available menu.
Some of the sights you will see on this cruise including the windmills at Kinderdijk, the Dom Cathedral in Cologne, Marksburg Castle outside of Koblenz, Heidelberg Castle, and Notre Dame in Strasbourg, France, and The Black Forest by coach from Breisach.
~ Ron Stern, Travel Photojournilist, visit www.globalgumshoe.com for more about Ron. FTC Disclosure: This was a sponsored visit, however, all opinions herein are the authors.