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Grand European Tour
- From $4,499
- 12 Guided Tours
- 4 Countries
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For current fares, please call a viking expert: 1-800-304-9616 or request a quote today., spring sale.
*All prices are per person based on double occupancy and reflect our Special Cruise Fare. Strikeout fares reflect our Standard Cruise Fare.
*All prices are per person based on double occupancy and reflect our Special Cruise Fare.
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Air fare offer applies to select gateways; air fare offer may vary across gateways and itineraries; call for details.
Atlanta, Boston, Miami, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Washington D.C. Many additional gateways available, air fares may vary; call for details.
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Viking Inclusive Value
More features, services and excursions included.
One complimentary shore excursion in every port of call
Free Wi-Fi (connection speed may vary)
Beer, wine & soft drinks with onboard lunch & dinner
24-hour specialty coffees, teas & bottled water
Port taxes & fees
Ground transfers with Viking Air purchase
Visits to UNESCO Sites
Enrichment lectures & Destination Performances
Your Stateroom Includes:
River-view stateroom
Bottled water replenished daily
110/220 volt outlets
Queen-size Viking Explorer Bed (optional twin-bed configuration) with luxury linens & pillows
Private bathroom with shower, heated floor & anti-fog mirror
Premium Freyja® toiletries
Plush robes & slippers (upon request)
40" or 42" flat-screen Sony® TV with infotainment system featuring Movies On Demand, plus CNBC, CNN, FOX & more
Telephone, safe, refrigerator
Individual climate control
*All amenities on board Viking Longships; amenities vary on other ships.
Booking Terms & Conditions >
Booking Terms & Conditions
2024-2026 RIVER CRUISE AND AIR FARES: Offer applies to bookings made from April 1-30, 2024. Terms & conditions for select promotions may vary. $25 deposit is applicable to all River itineraries. Special fares plus up to FREE International airfare valid on select departures of Grand European Tour , Lyon Provence & the Rhineland , European Sojourn and Capitals of Eastern Europe . Airfares may vary on other gateways & departures. Airfare does not have to be purchased to get cruise\cruisetour offer. All prices are in US dollars and for US residents only. Additional restrictions may apply. 2024 : Pay in full by May 31, 2024 or at time of booking if within 120 days of departure. 2025 : Pay in full by July 31, 2024. 2026 : Pay in full by February 15, 2025. Offers expires April 30, 2024.
$25 DEPOSIT: For itineraries 35 days or less, a $25 deposit applies to September 2024 & onward departures; for itineraries greater than 35 days, a $25 deposit applies to November 2024 & onward departures; World Cruise products excluded; call for details."
AIR UPGRADE: Upgrade to Premium Economy air from $799 per person or Business Class air from $3,499 per person based on select gateways and dates. Additional airline-imposed baggage charges may apply; for more information visit Airline Luggage Restrictions . Air prices are per person based on cruise/cruisetour check-in date and include transfers plus all government taxes/fees of approximately $160 and air fuel surcharges. Air seats are limited; airfares are subject to change and are not guaranteed until full payment of air is received. For more information about customized air services and US gateways, visit the Viking Air Plus page.
GENERAL RESTRICTIONS: Cruise fares listed are cruise only in US dollars, per person, based on double occupancy and for US residents only. Cruise ship fuel surcharge may apply. All fares and offers are for new bookings made April 1—April 30, 2024, are subject to availability; may not combinable with other offers except Viking Explorer Society Credit and Viking Referral Rewards. Special cruise fares are based upon published full cruise fares; cruise fares do not include prepaid charges, optional facilities and service fees, and personal charges, as defined in the terms and conditions of the Passenger Ticket Contract which may be viewed elsewhere on this website. Full cruise fares may not have resulted in actual sales in all stateroom categories and may not have been in effect during the last 90 days. Promotional fares may remain in effect after the expiration date. Air promotion applies to economy, roundtrip flights only from select Viking River Cruises US gateways and includes airport-to-ship or hotel transfers, air taxes and air fuel surcharges. Viking reserves the right to correct errors or omissions and to change any and all fares, fees and surcharges at any time. For up-to-date prices, please call Viking or your Travel Agent. The cruise ship fuel surcharge is additional revenue to Viking Cruises, as are any additional charges relating to currency fluctuation other than for fully paid cruise fares and full fares, which fluctuations are beyond our control. All fares include cruise taxes, port taxes and fees. Additional terms and conditions may apply. Complete terms and conditions may be found in the Passenger Ticket Contract .
AIR OFFER RESTRICTIONS: Offer expires April 30, 2024. Note: U.S. flights depart one day prior to check-in date. Paid Business or Premium Economy Class may require travel in economy on flights within North America or Europe. Premium economy is limited to specific airlines and we may not be able to accommodate based on aircraft type and availability. Roundtrip airport transfers are included when air is purchased with a cruise or cruisetour package; if air is not purchased from Viking, transfers may be purchased separately. All transfers must be in conjunction with a Viking-purchased cruise, cruisetour, land extension or extra hotel nights. Air prices are per person based on cruise/cruisetour check-in date and include transfers plus all government taxes/fees of approximately $160 and air fuel surcharges. Air seats are limited; airfares are subject to change and are not guaranteed until full payment of air is received.
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Grand European Tour
15 Days | 12 Guided Tours | 4 Countries
Budapest to Amsterdam
Cruise from $3,199
FREE International Airfare
Offer ends Apr 30, 2023
Call 1-800-464-3595 for details
Ask for Offer " AT23 "
Arrive in Amsterdam, then transfer to your ship.* After boarding, the afternoon is yours to relax or explore the city on your own. If your arrival schedule permits, you may wish to visit the Rijksmuseum, or the Van Gogh Museum next door.
This morning we sail to Kinderdijk, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, for a tour of this ingenious network of windmills and other flood management devices. Learn why the windmills were built and see how they work, and enter a working windmill for a tour of its mechanisms and living quarters. Return on board for lunch and an enjoyable afternoon of Dutch diversions: sample handcrafted Dutch cheeses and jenever , a distilled juniper liquor, and take in a culturally enriching presentation on the Dutch Golden Age. We cruise through the night.
You have a morning tour of Cologne, including a visit to the Dom, Germany’s largest cathedral and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After your tour, spend the rest of the day and evening exploring Cologne on your own: There are Roman ruins, interesting neighborhoods and wonderful museums like the Fragrance Museum and the Chocolate Museum. As always, your Program Director can help you plan your free time. Or, join an optional excursion on which you ascend to the Dom’s roof, enjoying up-close views of the cathedral’s architecture and bird’s-eye vistas of Cologne. Lunch and dinner are served on board; we depart at midnight.
Cruise past hilltop castles along the Rhine, stopping in Koblenz to visit Marksburg Castle, the only Rhine fortress never destroyed. After your tour, continue cruising this stunning stretch of the Rhine, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Be sure to keep an eye out for the Lorelei Rock, which marks the river’s narrowest point and is named after the legendary Rhine maiden who lured sailors to their demise. Lunch and dinner are served on board your ship.
The morning is spent sailing along the beautiful Main River as it winds its way through the Spessart region, home of the actual Snow White. During our sail, be sure to take advantage of the opportunity to learn about the region’s glassblowing traditions during a live demonstration. After lunch, we stop in Miltenberg, known for its half-timbered houses and Germany’s oldest inn. Join our walking tour that concludes with free time for you to explore. We sail through the night.
After breakfast, tour Würzburg’s Bishops’ Residenz, one of Germany’s largest and most ornate baroque palaces and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Or, instead, join an optional full-day journey along Germany’s picturesque “Romantic Road” to Rothenburg, with its turreted city wall and impressive Gothic and baroque architecture. Upon returning to Würzburg, enjoy a tour of the Bishops’ Residenz before rejoining your ship for dinner.
Sail through the morning; after lunch we visit Bamberg, with its medieval city center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Your walking tour includes a visit to the magnificent 11th-century cathedral, reworked in late Romanesque style in the 13th century, and the picturesque city hall built on a tiny island in the middle of a river. Take some free time to enjoy Bamberg and perhaps try some of the town’s distinctive smoke-flavored beer before returning on board.
After breakfast, disembark in Nuremberg and visit the ruins of Zeppelin Field, the Nazi parade grounds of the 1930s; then see the Palace of Justice, site of the infamous Nuremberg Trials. Alternately, you may take an optional World War II tour that includes the illuminating Documentation Center Museum. After lunch, spend free time exploring Nuremberg’s Old Town. Or, join an optional tour to discover the secret network of underground bunkers where priceless art was hidden in wartime. We depart just before dinner.
Arrive in Regensburg midday. After lunch, tour this wonderfully preserved medieval city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, including structures dating back to Roman times. Discover many 13th- and 14th-century patrician houses and see the splendid St. Peter’s Cathedral. During free time, visit the Alte Würstküche (Old Sausage Kitchen), Germany’s oldest restaurant. Alternately, you may choose to disembark this morning and drive with your guide to Munich for an optional full-day tour of this cultural and historic city, rejoining your ship in time to enjoy dinner on board before our evening departure.
Arrive this morning in Passau, at the confluence of the Inn, Ilz and Danube Rivers. Your guided walk along the town’s narrow streets takes you through Old Town and past traditional patrician houses. Admire the New Bishop’s Residence and visit the impressive baroque St. Stephen’s Cathedral with its ornate interior. Inside, you are treated to a special concert played on the 17,000-pipe organ, considered Europe’s largest church organ.† Enjoy lunch on board your ship, and return to the city for further exploration on your own before departing. Alternately, set out this morning with your guide to enjoy a full-day optional tour of picturesque Salzburg, the birthplace of Mozart and setting of The Sound of Music . We cruise through the night.
After breakfast, visit the abbey at Melk, a 900-year-old Benedictine monastery featuring Austria’s finest Italian baroque architecture. Rejoin your ship; cruise through the spectacular Wachau Valley this afternoon. Before dinner, you have time to explore the time-honored town of Krems and see the Steiner Tor, the last remaining city gate, or take an optional excursion to a local winery to sample some local vintages from this famous wine-producing region.
Today we tour the Austrian capital of Vienna. Ride along the Ringstrasse, which replaced the city walls in the mid-19th century. See some of the city’s baroque architecture, including the world-famous Opera House, St. Stephen’s Cathedral and Hofburg Palace. Return to your ship for lunch. The rest of the day is yours to further explore. As always, your Program Director can help you plan your free time. Alternately, you may choose to join an optional excursion to see the famed Lipizzaner Stallions; or, express your creativity and create a lasting keepsake at an optional art workshop inspired by the work of Gustav Klimt. After dinner, relax or enjoy an optional classical concert.
Enjoy a day at leisure in Vienna. Perhaps see an unrivaled collection of Old Masters at the Museum of Fine Arts, or visit the Albertina. Maybe ride the Riesenrad, the world’s oldest Ferris wheel. Alternately, you may join an optional tour to Schönbrunn Palace, the “Versailles of Vienna,” or enjoy a Viennese waltz lesson as well as visiting the palace during a full-day optional excursion. A cup of coffee or tea and a slice of exquisite Sachertorte are a must for any afternoon in Vienna. Later, rejoin your ship and sail for Budapest.
The Danube River divides Hungary’s capital city into the once separate towns of Buda and Pest. Explore both sides, starting with Pest’s National Opera House and historic Heroes’ Square. In Buda, walk along Castle Hill to Fishermen’s Bastion and Matthias Church. Enjoy lunch on board your ship, with the rest of the day to explore on your own. Alternately, choose one of our optional excursions designed to allow you to delve deeper into the history, culture and cuisine of this fascinating city. Return to your ship for a traditional Hungarian dinner.
After breakfast, disembark and proceed to the airport for your return flight.* Or, extend your journey with 3 nights in Prague, Czech Republic, where you tour Old Town landmarks and Prague Castle.
Air Pricing
Prices are per person for featured departures.
Airfare offers valid on all N. American gateways except Alaska, Hawaii, San Juan and Mexico City.
Boston, Chicago, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Washington D.C. Many additional gateways available, air fares may vary; call for details.
Offer AT23:
Offer valid on bookings made from Apr 13 to Apr 30, 2023. Cruise from $3,199 per person based on select Nov 2023 departures of Grand European Tour in category F; subject to availability, other categories may be higher. Call for details. Prices are in US dollars and for US residents only. Air does not have to be purchased to get cruise/tour offer. All fares reflect cruise taxes, port taxes and fees. Apr 30, 2023; pay in full at time of booking. Offer expires Apr 30, 2023.
FREE international airfare based on Jul-Nov 2023 departures of Grand European Tour. Call for details. Air prices are per person based on cruise or cruise tour check-in date and include transfers. Air seats are limited; airfares are subject to change until full payment of air is received. Airfares vary on other gateways and departures. Air offers not valid on Alaska, Hawaii, San Juan and Mexico City; call for details. Ask for Offer AT23. Offer expires Apr 30, 2023.
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Maddy's Avenue
By: Maddy Cornelius · Last Updated: October 11, 2023
Viking River Cruises Grand European Tour: In Review
It’s been a few weeks since we disembarked from our Viking River Cruise in Amsterdam. And even today, it’s difficult to put into words how incredible our entire experience was on our Grand European Tour .
Over 15 magical days, we sailed along the Danube, Main, and Rhine rivers. We explored four countries, stopping in fairy tale towns , brilliant imperial cities, and quaint countryside villages along the way. We drank copious amounts of German beer, indulged in Viking’s culinary masterpieces, laughed with the other guests on board, and savored the stunning river views as we sailed.
As you can already tell, we loved our time aboard our Viking ship. However, in this post, we’ll give a full review of our Grand European Tour with Viking River Cruises so you know exactly what to expect.
Continue reading for our opinions of the cruise, from our ship and stateroom, to our itinerary and the food on board!
For two weeks, we called the Viking Embla home.
Throughout the ship, there were many different areas we could relax in and enjoy the views as we sailed.
Our Viking Longship featured a spacious and bright reception area , where the crew offered refreshing drinks each time we returned from an excursion.
Next to the reception area was the beautiful restaurant which featured floor-to-ceiling windows. Each night, we enjoyed spectacular valley views and sunsets over incredible cuisine, wine, and cheese platters.
Upstairs, a library featured comfortable seating, board games, travel books, Viking’s daily news printouts, and guest computers.
Also upstairs, the Observation Lounge served as the ship’s main gathering area. Each night, after dinner, we’d have drinks at the bar, meanwhile other guests danced to live music. Other events, like cultural demonstrations, late-night snacks, and night sailing were held here. And of course, it wasn’t called the Observation Lounge for nothing; like the restaurant, floor-to-ceiling windows allowed guests to enjoy the river views at all times.
Off of the Observation Lounge lied both the covered-outdoor Aquavit Buffet and the uncovered-outdoor Aquavit Terrace . In these areas, we enjoyed casual meals and snacks, soaked up the sunshine and fresh air, and simply relaxed.
On top of the longship, on the Sun Deck , mini-golf, tables and chairs, and lounge chairs allowed for more relaxation, yet there was also room to walk and run to get our exercise in.
Our Stateroom
When it comes to cruise ship staterooms, ours had it all!
We booked Viking’s Veranda Stateroom (B) which included everything necessary for both a comfortable and luxurious European river cruise.
Our favorite feature was, of course, our veranda. When we woke up each morning, we stepped out onto the veranda, only to be greeted by a gentle breeze, soaring mountains covered in vineyards, and beautiful medieval villages. What a way to start each day!
The stateroom itself, however, was brilliantly engineered and very well-acquainted. While our room was small (only 205 square feet), we had enough room to store all of our things, feel comfortable, and have enough space to move around.
Our stateroom featured a spacious closet to hang all of our clothes, and to keep our shoes, and backpacks/purses out of the way. Next to the closet was a dresser with six drawers for more clothing. There was also enough space under our bed to fit both of our large suitcases! Our private bathroom, though small, also had tons of storage for all of our toiletries.
Really, Viking’s design of both our stateroom and bathroom were quite impressive.
Additionally, our stateroom included:
- A bottle of champagne upon arrival
- Fresh fruit platters replenished daily
- Premium bath products
- Bathrobes and slippers
- Telephone, refrigerator, safe, hair dryer & bottled water replenished daily
- Hotel-style beds
- Individual climate control
- American and European electrical sockets
- Sony 40-inch flat-panel TV with premium entertainment package including BBC News, CNBC, CNN, National Geographic, TNT Series, Sky Sports, and videos on demand
The Food and Drinks
We couldn’t believe how delicious and thoughtful every meal aboard our Viking ship was. And as you all know, food is very important to us.
Between serving regional dishes based on our whereabouts, local wine pairings, and top-quality ingredients, each meal aboard our beloved Viking Embla left us full and happy.
The lunch and dinner menus aboard a Viking River Cruise don’t feature your typical cruise cuisine, either. Oh, no! It’s all gourmet, plated beautifully, and absolutely delicious.
For lunch each day, we had choices between a few appetizers, main courses, and desserts from the menu. There were also buffet options both at the Aquavit Buffet and the restaurant.
For dinner each night, we also indulged in appetizers, main courses, desserts, and cheese plates, from the dinner menu.
Multiple times throughout the cruise, when we’d disembark to explore a new city, we’d see crew members stocking the ship with fresh produce and meats for all of our meals. That’s one way that we knew the food aboard our Viking ship was top quality. But how else did we know? Well, we ate it for two weeks straight, didn’t we? And we didn’t have one bad meal; not even close!
To give you a better idea, here’s one of the mouth-watering dinner menus we indulged in during our cruise:
Roasted Mushroom Velouté
crisp bacon, mushroom chips, truffle sabayon
Salmon Tartar
baby greens, honey mustard dip
Crisp Tandoori Chicken & Parmesan Foam
tomato salad
cassis sorbet with sparking wine
Beef Wellington Napoleon Style
sautéed vegetables, pommes duchesse & Cognac sauce
Sautéed Prawns & Saffron Beurre Blanc
potato soufflé, sautéed fennel
Crisp Dark Valrhona Chocolate Tart
mango salad
The following cheese plate is accompanied by
Ginger Honey
Walnut Cheese
Isn’t that menu just fantastic ? And trust us, the food didn’t disappoint either! The care and thoughtfulness put into each menu was reflected in each plate’s rich flavors and stunning presentation.
For us, the food and wine aboard the Viking Embla was the highlight of the cruise — other than the destinations we explored, of course.
The On-Board Entertainment
Even after long days of exploring different cities and towns throughout Europe, we wanted to experience everything we possibly could during our cruise. Given that destinations are so close together on the Grand European Tour, we never had to kill more than a few hours aboard the ship (other than for meals and to sleep); however, while on the cruise, we wished there were a few more activities to occupy our sailing time.
Entertainment options other than the nightly live music and dancing, or the occasional cultural talk would have been a nice touch. Though for us, the on-board entertainment wasn’t a deal breaker. Not even close!
Firstly, we would have loved a gym on board. With all of the scrumptious food and drinks we consumed during our two-week cruise, staying fit was important. However, our ship’s Sun Deck did have plenty of space to walk, jog, and even do calisthenics. A pool or spa also would have been lovely, though with such a small cruise ship, this wish-list item probably wasn’t possible to include.
Also, as travel bloggers, we need our WiFi. As we cruised, the WiFi was spotty, making it, at times, difficult to get work done. But of course, this should be expected aboard any cruise ship; that’s just the way it goes!
With all that said, there is still one key fact to remember: river cruises are meant for relaxing!
While we sailed, I enjoyed curling up with a nice book, soaking in the incredible views, hitting the bar with the guests we’d met, and watching movies in bed. That’s what a vacation is all about anyway, right?
The Service/Staff
The service we experienced aboard the Viking Embla gets 5 stars.
Even when we think really hard, we can’t find anything bad to say about the customer service we experienced on board.
The crew’s main goal was always to make sure that everyone on board was having a great time, and that everyone was happy. It truly seemed that if guests weren’t completely satisfied, then neither were the crew members. They did everything in their power to make sure we were all comfortable, content, and had everything we could ever want.
Every day, our cruise director, Sonja, made sure everyone booked the right excursions according to their interests, answered any questions we had about the cruise, and accommodated each and every guest’s requests.
The m aître d’, Gabor, and all of the restaurant servers went out of their way to please us, too. For example, during dinner one night, we told our server how much we liked the wine, and to our surprise, he came back with a new bottle for us to take home! Also, as you read above, we loved the food aboard the ship. Some nights, all of the appetizers and main courses sounded so delicious that we wanted them all, and for the Viking Embla crew, that was no problem. If we wanted it, we could have it. Each staff member ensured they fulfilled our every request, always with a warm smile!
Some of the servers even went the extra mile by memorizing what we did and didn’t like. For example, each morning, when I sat down at our table for breakfast, a steaming kettle of fruity green tea would promptly arrive, regardless of whether I asked for it or not; the crew just knew that I loved that particular tea. The Viking Embla’s amazing omelet man also remembered exactly which ingredients I liked in my omelets. These might seem like small gestures, but when you remember that there were at least 120 other guests on board, it’s actually quite impressive!
In addition, our stateroom, and the entire ship, were always perfectly tidy. Aboard our Viking cruise, you’d never find a table of empty plates or crumbs, never any water droplets on the restroom floors, never any wine glass unpolished. The whole ship was spotless.
Viking’s attention to detail in every aspect of the cruise is something we’ve never seen before. The service we experienced is truly something that Viking River Cruises should be proud of!
The Itinerary
And now for the best part, the Grand European Tour itinerary!
With world-famous cities like Amsterdam, Budapest and Vienna, and tiny, widely-unknown towns like Melk, Bamberg, and Wertheim, each place we visited on our cruise was completely different from the next. On this cruise, we visited towns we’d never even heard of, and places we would never have dreamed we’d visit, if it weren’t for Viking River Cruises.
The timing of our itinerary was also planned out perfectly. On most cruises, you always feel rushed. On the Viking River Cruises Grand European Tour, this wasn’t the case. In the big cities, Budapest and Vienna, we had two days! And in the small towns and villages, we had enough time to thoroughly explore the quiet cobblestone alleys, shop for unique souvenirs, and visit the must-see sites.
The Grand European itinerary allowed us to see quaint towns and stunning big cities, countless centuries-old castles, famous museums, ornate cathedrals, bright-colored architecture, and so much more! Truly, it was the European trip of a lifetime!
The Stops (Budapest to Amsterdam)
We decided to begin our cruise in Budapest, and disembark in Amsterdam. However, note that you can also book the opposite route, starting in Amsterdam!
Of the 13 ports we stopped at, not one of them fell short. When I think back to this cruise now, it seems too magical to actually be real.
At each stop, Viking offers guided tours, which are always included in the cruise’s price. Our tour guides were always very knowledgeable, entertaining, and were open to answering all of our questions.
However, we often added on optional excursions, which made our experience all the more memorable. For example, in Budapest we booked an excursion to the Széchenyi Thermal Baths, and in Vienna we attended a brilliant opera performance — both of which were necessary to experience the best of each city. And to really make the most of our cruise, we also took a few day trips, swapping Passau for Salzburg, and Würzburg for Rothenburg ob der Tauber.
For those interested in eating and drinking, history, architecture, and art, the Viking River Cruises Grand European Tour is the perfect choice.
Finally, here are photos from each of our 13 stops! We hope you enjoy them as much as we enjoyed taking them!
Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Viking River Cruises Grand European Tour
Would we recommend the Viking River Cruises Grand European Tour to our closest friends? Yes.
Would we book another cruise with Viking River Cruises? Yes, yes, yes. 1,000 times, yes.
What else is there to say? We loved every second of our time with Viking River Cruises on the Grand European Tour and we know you will, too!
What to Pack
Keep in mind that the season of your visit will help determine what you need to pack. Winter gets VERY cold!
Of course, summer is warmer, and you can dress as you would in this part of Europe. But as expected the winter is very cold. Always bring a beautiful coat in winter!
Here are a few top tips of what to wear:
- Wool coat: During the colder months a beautiful wool coat is essential for style and practicality. You will fit in with the locals with this one . For the deeper parts of winter a down jacket is needed as an extra layer.
- Comfortable boots : As expected, you’ll walk a lot, so opt for a comfortable but stylish boot that you’ve worn in. You can’t go wrong with a smart Chelsea boot, like these . In the winter pair with good socks to keep extra warm.
- Hat , scarf and gloves : For the winter you absolutely need these to keep warm
- Floaty dress : In the summer opt for a long floaty dress so you stay cool, and bring a light scarf so you are always prepared to enter religious sites and cover your shoulders.
- Camera : There are too many beautiful things to see, you’ll want to take plenty of photos.
- Sunscreen : Nothing spoils your trip (and your photos!) more than sunburn. Remember to prepare with a good, natural sunscreen , even in the winter the sun is strong here so stay protected.
- Reusable water bottle : Remember to keep hydrated during your adventures; it can’t all be wine and coffee all the time! Bring a reusable water bottle so you can keep topped up.
- Tote bag : For those souvenirs and treasures found on your travels
- Travel insurance : As with any trip, you should ALWAYS purchase travel insurance in case anything goes wrong. I’ve had my fair share of travel mishaps!
- HOTEL : I use this website for scoring amazing deals on accommodation worldwide.
- HOSTELWORLD : If you’re traveling on a budget, this is the best website to score cheap hostel deals.
- VACATION RENTAL : I use this site for finding the perfect vacation rental for an unforgettable getaway.
- TRAVEL INSURANCE : Never go on a trip without travel insurance! It isn’t worth the risk if something goes wrong.
- GUIDED TOURS & EXCURSIONS : Many of the tours I recommend are hosted with Viator, which also works with local tour operators. Search them all here .
- CHEAP FLIGHTS : Get great deals on flights using my favorite flight fare aggregator .
- TRAVEL GEAR : A collection of all of my must-have travel gear are all listed here . Most important to remember is comfortable shoes and a scarf to use when visiting religious sites or if it gets a little cold.
- CAR RENTAL : If you need to rent a car book car rental in advance here for the best deals.
Are you thinking about booking the Viking River Cruises Grand European Tour? Have you sailed with Viking River Cruises before? What’s your take? Let us know in the comments, and feel free to ask questions, too!
Maddy’s Avenue experienced the Viking River Cruises Grand European Tour as guests of Viking River Cruises, but as always, all opinions are our own.
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About Maddy Cornelius
Hey! I'm the cook, world explorer, chief wordsmith, and photographer behind Maddy's Avenue. A California native, I've lived in many countries around the globe, but I'm currently traveling through Latin America. Slowly. Running two businesses. Livin' the "digital nomad" life. I’m here to learn, grow, and explore this planet - ever in search of big flavors and epic adventures. My goal? To inspire you to live a bold life: to discover yourself and the world around you at greater depths – one forkful, or one plane ticket, at a time. Thanks for being here!
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September 19, 2016 at 5:41 pm
This looks like an AMAZING time! You got to visit so many places that are still on the must-see list for us. A river cruise would be the perfect way to see all of these in quick succession. :D The Viking cruises look so, so nice–I’ve heard so many great things about them.
September 19, 2016 at 8:27 pm
It was so incredible — everything about it! We hope to embark on another one very soon! :)
September 19, 2016 at 10:46 pm
We also were on the Grand Tour cruise with Viking, loved loved loved it Can not wait to go again??????????
September 20, 2016 at 9:19 am
Glad to hear you had a lovely time as well. We hope to do another river cruise with Viking, but possibly in Asia next time. Those itineraries look great.
September 20, 2016 at 1:09 pm
We found Uniworld of much higher quality,and all inclusive,including all top quality Wine and speciality drinks. Also tips
September 20, 2016 at 1:36 pm
Hi, Dianne! We are unsure what you mean by, “Also tips.” But anyway, thanks for your input! We have never sailed with Uniworld, but we loved everything about Viking and will continue to cruise with them. Thank you for your comment!
September 20, 2016 at 3:56 pm
Wow you guys! This is quite the post. This cruise sounds so amazing. I didn’t even know anything like this existed! I am definitely saving this post for future reference to read through more carefully. Would love to do something like this! Your photos from your trip are just absolutely stunning, and the ship sounds amazing. Welcome home!!
-Emily http://www.coatandcoffee.com
September 20, 2016 at 4:30 pm
Yes… It is quite the long post ;) So glad we could introduce you to this kind of travel. There’s no way you wouldn’t enjoy it. We loved it and plan to do another Viking cruise in the next few months hopefully.
September 20, 2016 at 4:14 pm
I’ve always wanted to go on a cruise like this! Just curious- did y’all feel like the youngest ones there, or were there other people your age?
September 20, 2016 at 4:28 pm
Hey Olya! Yes, we were definitely the youngest people on the ship. There were a few others in their 20s and 30s, but the majority were probably 45-70.
April 26, 2017 at 4:02 pm
This review sounds fantastic….are you all compensated at all by Viking River Cruises?
April 26, 2017 at 4:25 pm
Well, that’s because this cruise is absolutely fantastic. We loved every moment of it and would do it over again and again. However, yes, Viking River Cruises did invite us aboard to share our experiences and our opinions with our readers. This is our 100% honest review and we wouldn’t recommend it to our readers if we didn’t truly love this cruise!
April 26, 2017 at 10:24 pm
Thoroughly enjoyed this review. I cruised with my mom on Viking’s Portraits of S France last year. 1st time with VRC. It was wonderful! The crew/staff were amazing – professional, conscientious, and quite helpful. My husband and I are looking forward to our Grand European cruise in 2018 with friends. Great to read about your experiences on this itinerary. Thank you.
May 1, 2017 at 4:11 pm
Hi Kimberly! We’re so glad you enjoyed our review and love to hear that you’ve also had a great experience with Viking. We LOVE them and hope to sail again with Viking. We hope you enjoy your Grand European Tour as much as we did — but we are sure you will!
May 23, 2017 at 9:45 am
We booked this cruise for April 2018, starting with 2 days in Amsterdam. Always wanted to go on a Viking River Cruise.
May 23, 2017 at 3:11 pm
That is great to hear! You are going to have the time of your life. Enjoy!
February 14, 2018 at 12:14 pm
Great pictures and looks like you all had a nice trip. We too will be taking this trip this summer 2018., however I would have found your review to be more honest and helpful if Viking had NOT comped this trip. You are obligated to give a glowing review. When you actually pay for something you tend to be more critical. I realize that your future free travel demands that you give amazing reviews, however after reading this I won’t be signing up for future e-mails
February 15, 2018 at 3:22 am
Hi Drew, Thanks for your comment! Actually our future of “free” travel does not depend on us giving amazing reviews… Our future as bloggers depends on us giving honest reviews, information, tips, and stories that will help out our readers. Our readers and our credibility are most important to us, and for those reasons, we are extra critical. It just so happens that we loved everything about this cruise (apart from the fact that there could’ve been more to do while on the ship – and this is noted in our review) because Viking is an all-around fantastic cruise operator; that is the only reason for the “glowing review.” We bet that after you go on the trip, you will feel the same way!! Have a great cruise! :)
March 30, 2018 at 8:15 am
How was the weather? Seems like you went in August? We’re planning to take this cruise fall 2018, but if it wasn’t too unbearably hot, or unbearably rainy (which it doesn’t appear to have been, based on your photos), we might bump it up to late summer.
April 7, 2018 at 12:26 am
We were there in July and the weather was absolutely perfect. Hot, but not too hot. These places have pretty mild climates. :)
We also had rain some days.
January 31, 2019 at 5:06 pm
Thank you for your thoughtful and insightful review of your trip. As someone who formerly solo traveled and made all of his own travel arrangements, I am in the new situation of having a spouse with physical limitations AND having a budget that allows others to do much of the accommodation and service arrangements. Though I will miss sleeping in jugendherberge and matrazenlagers as I did when I wondered through Germany and Switzerland several summers in the 80’s and 90’s, I am looking forward to entrusting accommodation, tours and food to professionals. Your review has helped me settle on Viking for this purpose. My upcoming Rhine travels will be far different from my first journeys from Amsterdam to Koln (Cologne) and along the Rhine as a passenger on one of the river transit boats.
January 15, 2024 at 5:09 am
Hi! Your review was very helpful. Just curious if you did the Viking organized tours or explored on your own. We will be doing the Grand European Cruise this coming fall and aren’t typical organized tour types of travelers but will be cruising with our parents. Would love your input on organized vs own?
January 15, 2024 at 2:43 pm
Hi Amy, I am typically a DIY kind of traveler too, but on this cruise, I went on a lot of the complimentary/included guided tours where I was particularly interested in the history. You can always start with the group and then veer off on your own once you’ve heard enough. That’s what I’d typically do – and I just loved that there was the option. As far as the optional (extra cost) organized tours, I chose to go on the ones that I was particularly interested in or that really enhanced the experience of the place (i.e. I went on the day trips to Rothenburg ob der Tauber and Salzburg, and went on the tours to the opera in Vienna and the Szechenyi Baths in Budapest… They were all great.). That said, everything was included in the media agreement I made with Viking. But if I had been paying out-of-pocket, I probably would have still done those tours!
January 15, 2024 at 2:44 pm
I also did a waltz lesson in Vienna which I absolutely would not do again…. I cringe when I think about me trying to waltz hahahaha
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