This post is sponsored by Viking Cruise Lines. All joy, excitement, pictures and posts to follow when I return are all my own!
I’m a little off schedule this week, so no Feature Friday today. I wanted to share a bit about our upcoming cruise with you all.
We are so excited to be embarking on a dream trip for us! A Viking River cruise, the Rhine Getaway. I think this will be the perfect time of the year to go to Europe, early spring and the weather should be really nice. It’s been almost 30 years since I’ve been to Europe and Mark has never been, so I’m excited to get to experience this with my sweetheart!
We leave Saturday afternoon, where we will land in Paris and then take a short flight to Basel, Switzerland, where we embark on our longship, Kara on Sunday. From there we meander down (or maybe up) the Rhine river stopping along the way with several shore excursions and lots of sight seeing.
Here’s a screenshot of our itinerary if you want to follow along. From Basel, Switzerland ending in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
All Photos courtesy of Viking River Cruise Library
I’ve been to Zurich, Switzerland once before, but again it’s been almost 30 years since I went to Italy and went on trips to France and Switzerland from there. Hard to believe that, but it has been. The rest of our itinerary will be brand new territory for me and I’m SO excited for this trip. Mark has never been out of the country, so he is a bit nervous with the state of the world these days. I have assured him we will be fine. It’s an adventure of a lifetime for us. I’m so thankful to get this sponsorship from Viking River Cruises since this is something that was on my bucket list.
We will be on the longship, Kara, which will look very much like the above picture.
On board, the ship looks very different from ocean liner cruise ships I’ve been on before, but I look forward to exploring every bit of it in person. This of course is the dining area.
I’m just imagining having breakfast outside every morning. What a treat that will be. It’s going to be a bit colder than I thought. I was remembering when I went to Italy almost 30 years ago that the temps there were similar to our weather here in Atlanta, but these European countries we will be traveling to are further north, so the temps haven’t warmed up quite as much as South.
It’s only going to be in the 50’s and 60’s during the day, with rain expected, so we will dress accordingly and be prepared with rain jackets and umbrellas for our day excursions.
The longship looks so delightful and I can’t wait to be there and experience it all. This is the herb garden.
A lounge area on the Viking longship. It looks like a wonderful place to relax and enjoy the scenery that will be outdoors at every moment.
The Library
Katz Castle and the Middle Rhine RIver Valley with a Viking Longship in view.
This looks amazing! Pinch me now!
I know that Mark and I are going to feel so pampered on this trip and enjoy it to the fullest. What a wonderful opportunity we have been given.
Viking Longship Idun on the Main River in front of Johannisburg Palace, Aschaffenburg, Germany
I have only been on large ocean cruise liners before, so this will be an entirely different experience I’m sure.
Our Veranda stateroom will be similar to this one. Look at that balcony right outside. I know where I’ll be spending a lot of time sight seeing at all the gorgeous scenery going by sipping coffee every morning!
I simply cannot wait to experience the sights, sounds, smells, and food of the Viking River Cruise. I’ll be taking so many pics and sharing them with all of you when I return. I know I’ll have plenty to share and you know I’ll be sharing it all! Be thinking about us next week!
We have a house sitter, so that’s why I don’t mind saying when we will be gone. We have someone staying here to take care of the house and Miss Hollie. It’s a long flight over and back, but I know it will be worth every single moment to get there and experience this adventure of a lifetime!
I’ve got a couple of family posts that I’ll share next week while I’m gone, but I’m on vacation and will not be taking my laptop. I’ll have my phone and will take a zillion pics, but I’m officially taking the week off and won’t be worrying about the blog until I get back. I’ll schedule those family posts on New Orleans and Easter while I’m gone, since I wanted to share them anyway. I’ll have plenty to share when I get back and then will be jumping right into that show house patio space I shared with you last week!
Enjoy. I did this cruise with Viking several years ago. The sights around each river bend are incredible.
Oh my! I am so jealous! Enjoy! I cannot wait to see pics. I have seen the ads for these cruises and think it sounds like a dream vacation!
This looks like a great adventure! It is on my bucket list. We have never been to Europe. Can’t wait to see your revues and pictures when you get back. Have a great trip!
Wow! Have a most wonderful time. That’s on our bucket list too.
I am taking a Viking Danube River Cruise in early June! I’ll look forward to your posts to learn more about the experience. I have a 3 day pre-cruise in Prague, then depart from Germany, Austria, Slovak and Hungary. I am pretty excited too!
HI, Linda, I bet you are! I will be sharing every bit of our trip when I return, my phone is going to get a workout taking pics. Enjoy your’s too!
Just got back from the same cruise on Kara, but we started our adventure in Amsterdam April 7. It was our first river cruise versus the many ocean cruises we have taken. I cannot say enough about our Viking experience, the staff, guest, food, and tours. The weather was beautiful, although a bit chilly, but what a wonderful experience. My time know is spent going through the multitude of pictures and memories to share with everyone. Bon voyage.
Hi, Shaen, that is so great to hear! I’ve had to change my wardrobe packing plans based on the weather. I thought it might be a little warmer, but it’s going to be in the 50’s and 60’s with some rain, so layering it is. I want to be comfortable to enjoy all the sight seeing we will be a part of. Can’t wait!
Have a wonderful time. Can’t wait to hear about it!
Rhoda, you are going to be pampered like never before! And the food is delicious! Because the ship is so small, you will get to know all the passengers. Everyone has dinner at the same time and we met the most charming people…especially the British ladies! The tour guides are wonderful, and the personal listening devices you were means you never miss a word. I am so excited for you and Mark!
Thank you, Roxanne, I’m beyond thrilled about this trip. Thanks for chiming in on your experience and what we are in for. Can’t wait!
Enjoy! One of my bucket list trips – waiting for my kids to finish college and then we will plan a trip! Can’t wait to see/hear all about it from you. Safe travels.
I hope y’all have a wonderful trip! Can’t wait to hear all about it!
You will have a great time. Viking is a great way to go. We previously travelled with them and were scheduled to leave on April 30 for a cruise on the Elbe but had to cancel. So, I will cruise vicariously with you as you share your adventure.
Hi, Kathy, so good to know, thanks for sharing!
We’ve been on 3 Viking Cruises, one was to China. Love them. Much better than cruises with too many people. We’ve also met many people that we’ve enjoyed & stay in touch with. Have a wonderful trip!
Hey, Sally, good to know! I’ve heard nothing but great things about Viking. Definitely a bucket list item for sure!
Have fun! This trip is on my vacations to do list!
WOWOWOW… this is amazing !!! I love their commercials !!! and have often wondered about this type of cruise !!! Can’t wait to see your pics !!! Hope you enjoy every single minute !!!!!
Thank you, Terri, it’s a dream come true!
Make sure to be outside or near a window between Rüdesheim and Cologne, many castles overlook the riverbanks.
In Cologne, make sure to visit the Dom (Cologne Cathedral)
Hi, Brian, that’s on our itinerary to visit the cathedral in Cologne. Can’t wait!
I can’t wait to hear what you think about the Viking River Cruise in comparison to the big Ocean cruises!
Thanks, Dana, me too! I’ve been on 3 ocean cruises and I’m sure this will be totally different.
Hi Rhoda. I am a long time follower of yours and love your blog. I am so excited for you and Mark to take this trip! It’s been on my bucket list for a long time. We are planning to go next year for my 50th bday. I can’t wait for you to get back and post all of your pics! Take lots of pics of the castles please 😂. Have a fantastic trip! I am only a few miles down the street from you btw.
HI, Sharman, thank you for sharing! We are so excited, it feels like an unreal experience for sure. I’ll be taking a LOT of pics and we have castle touring on the agenda too.
Have a great time : ) Looks beautiful and so peaceful : ) Cant’ wait to see all the pics.
Have a wonderful time! Will enjoy the details when you get back.
What a wonderful opportunity. You will travel one of the most scenic part of the Rhine, from Koblenz to Strasbourg . More than 30 castles in this approx. 40K stretch each with their own story. The photo you show of the Johannesburg Palace in Aschaffenburg is 15minutes from my grandmother’s home where I spent every summer as a child.
I know you will be treated as VIP on Viking but it is so fun to have a glass of champagne in the palace “bar”. A lovely stroll near the castle are the grounds of the pompejanum built by King Ludwig I.
If you take a bus to Darmstadter Strasse park Schonbusch, another playground of the wealthy, it will land you right across the street from my Oma’s modest home built by my grandfather and dad. Enjoy!
Hi, Teresa, wow you sound like an expert and what a very neat experience to have grown up going here. I can’t imagine that in my family heritage. Thank you for the well wishes and suggestions. It’s going to be a whirlwind trying to see and do so much every day.