Amsterdam
If you’re not familiar with river cruising, it’s a great way to see the heart of Europe in an up-close and personal way. Development of the continent followed the path of great rivers like the Danube and the Rhine. So you’ll sail through some of the most historic cities and towns. But you’ll only have to unpack when you board. Every other morning, you’ll arrive some place new without having experienced any of the hassles of travel.
River cruise ships often dock in the heart of town, so you can simply step off to explore the local culture. And overnight stays lets you go ashore in the evening for a glass of wine or some music. On most European River cruises, shore excursions are included. And this year, many of the most popular lines are including wine with lunch and dinner.
The ride is smooth, so passengers prone to seasickness will have no worries. And it’s easy to explore on your own, if you prefer.
With 17 ships, Viking River Cruises is the largest river cruise line, and they’ve won the best river cruise line award from virtually every travel industry group and publication. The pride of their fleet, Viking Legend, is an innovative ship that’s one of the top-rated in Europe.
Dining aboard Viking Legend.
Dining on river cruises isn’t the lavish affair that it is on ocean cruises. So you shouldn’t expect the variety and abundance that you’ll find on a 2,500-passenger ship.
Given that, you’ll likely find the food on Viking Legend delicious and beautifully presented.
At breakfast time, there’s an impressive buffet in the dining room with scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, cold cuts, cheeses, cereals, and pastries. Eggs and pancakes are cooked to order. And early risers can enjoy continental breakfast in the Observation Lounge on the top deck.
A buffet lunch is laid out in the dining room and sandwiches, salads, soups, and pastas are also available in the lounge.
Dinner is served each night in the dining room without assigned tables. The dinner time is announced in the daily bulletin and varies according to the day’s schedule. Passengers may dine with whomever they choose, but tables for two aren’t usually an option. Most of the chefs are European so the entrees usually reflect the local cuisine. There aren’t a lot of choices, but grilled steak and chicken are always available if the other selections aren’t to your liking.
Accommodations aboard Viking Legend.
Purpose-built for river cruising, Viking Legend has windows everywhere, so you’re almost never deprived of the views. Staterooms are located on three decks. Those on the lowest deck have windows that are above the waterline. Cabins on the two upper decks have French balconies, which are basically sliding glass doors that open. You can’t step out, but you can lean out for photos or open the doors when you want some fresh air.
The cabins are larger than those on most other boats, and they’re attractively decorated in a modern, Scandinavian style with light woods and neutral colored fabrics. Each stateroom has a safe, a mini fridge, and a flat-panel TV with satellite channels. WiFi is available throughout the ship free of charge.
The suites, which are the biggest on any river cruise ship, have a separate living room and a double balcony. Guests in suites can order room service.
Facilities aboard Viking Legend.
Danube River castle
Unlike ocean liners with ice rinks, rock-climbing walls, and water parks, river boats are pretty low key. The biggest attraction is the scenery, which is always front and center. Viking Legend has a sundeck that runs the entire length of the ship – 443 feet. It’s a great place to watch the landscape change and there are both sunny and shady spots available.
Most activity takes place ashore, and passengers receive headphones and a pocketsize audio player so everyone can hear the excellent local guides’ commentary during shore excursions.
Travelers who care about the environment will appreciate Legend’s innovative diesel/electric propulsion system which reduces emissions and fuel consumption, while producing less vibration.
Read more about European river cruising at http://tripplanningguide.com/european-river-cruises-may-be-the-most-hassle-free-way-ever-to-see-europe.
Amsterdam Image Flickr: joiseyshowaa
Danube River castle Imag Flickr: BlackHawkTraffic