Trip Planning | Rhine Valley History | Viking Longship Alruna | Map of the Cruise | Daily Photos |
Trip Planning |
Virginia unfortunately, fell on her front steps of her house and we weren't sure if she couldn't make the trip with me.
So we waited for Virginia's doctors to give her the go ahead and take the trip and she was told she could go!
Here we are drinking the local beverage, loved by almost all Germans!
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Commemorating Cruise Ships |
A Coin Commemorating the Laying of a Viking Ships Keel in 2013 and a Delftware Tile Commemorating the Holland American Line.
A Coin and Tile for Viking and Holland American Lines.......
Chuck's Travels over the Water Ways of the World |
Over the years I have been fortunately able to travel all over the world on long boats, canoes, river cruises and ocean cuises. Here are most of the bodies of water I have been on in various countries. A few are missing as I didn't take a photo on the actual water ways like the Thames in London!
Check out photos of Chuck as he traveled around the world on Rivers, Lakes and Oceans........
Virginia and Chuck's World Travels |
Here are the various places Virginia and I have traveled to since we met years ago at the senior center at the YMCA. We first went to Ireland in 2014 for two weeks and had such a great time we started to do more traveling world wide and around the local tourist attractions.
Check out Virginia and Chuck's photos from our previous and future trips........
History of the Rhine Region. |
Viking Longship Alruna Cruise Ship & Map of the Cruise Itinerary |
The daughter of Kjárr of Valland, Alruna (Ölrún in Old Norse), was one of three Valkyries spinning linen on the shore of Wolf Lake, when they were spotted by three brothers who lived nearby. Alruna and Egil, one of the brothers, lived together for seven winters, until Alruna flew off to battle, never to return.
Read More about the Ship, Itinerary and Special Features........
Viking Longship Alruna Cruise Ship Guest Statements |
One can review our costs for the Rhine River cruise and also see how much savings one can get when shopping around for special deals. You will notice that the cruise and airfare are drastically cut and the only thing that hasn't changed is the $349.00 for the Travel Protection Plan. Check it out!
Guest Statements and Overview of Savings on the Cruise........
Special Notice: Thank you for choosing Viking for your upcoming European voyage. This message is to advise you regarding low water levels on the Rhine River that will likely impact your itinerary.
As this summer has been unusually dry, many European rivers have reached historically low levels. While conditions had improved somewhat, water levels continue to fluctuate. Unlike ocean sailing, as little as an inch or two determines whether navigation is possible, and river levels have been changing quickly throughout the season. Our nautical team continues to monitor the river levels closely to determine if and how your cruise may be affected. At this time, we expect to enact what we call a mid-cruise "ship swap" part way through your itinerary to bypass the affected area. Because Viking operates identical ships traveling in opposite directions along the river, we are able to transfer you by motorcoach from your ship to an identical sister ship further along the river. There, you can resume your itinerary with minimal impact.
If water levels remain low, we may also need to dock in alternate locations where our regular docking locations are adversely affected by the conditions to ensure you are able to see the sights you came to see. While we strive to give you as much information regarding how your cruise may be impacted ahead of time, river conditions today may be very different than on the day you pass through the affected area. This means we cannot confirm exact details until closer to departure, or even possibly after. Rest assured, we have considerable experience in navigating situations like this and we are confident you will enjoy your journey with us, despite the low water conditions.
Should you have any questions regarding your cruise before your departure, please contact Customer Relations at customerrelations@vikingcruises.com or call 1-877-523-0579, Monday through Friday, 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM, and Saturday to Sunday, 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM, PDT. We look forward to welcoming you on board and wish you a wonderful journey. Sincerely, Viking
Personnal Travel Agent........
Days 1 to 3
We did a two day stay in Basel before boarding the Cruise Ship.
Day 04 - 2018.11.04
Explore the dense, lofty fir forests of Germany’s Schwarzwald, the fabled Black Forest. Meet your guide at your ship, then embark on a scenic coach excursion through a mythical land of cuckoo clocks, glassblowing and timeless fairy tales. You will begin with a drive into the woods, passing the wine-producing villages of Ihringen, Gottenheim and Bötzingen, each of them cradled among the soft, undulating hills and prolific vineyards of southwestern Germany. After a photo stop, continue to the beautiful Hofgut Sternen hotel, a loyal keeper of Black Forest traditions. During your visit, you may choose your immersion into Black Forest culture: take a forest stroll, attend a demonstration of cuckoo clocks or glassblowing, or learn to make the decadent Black Forest Cake for which this region is known. After, you will return to your ship via Freiburg, a major university and ecclesiastical center.
Day 05 - 2018.11.05
Get to know this delightful city steeped in equal parts French and German culture. Join your local guide for a drive through the German Imperial District and the European Quarter, home of many institutions of the European Union and the Council of Europe. Continue past remarkable Renaissance architecture, then proceed to the city center for a walking tour of the picturesque Petite France area, the former Tanners’ District surrounded by the small Ill River and crisscrossed by charming canals. Here, you will see the Old Customs House and charming covered bridges with their defensive towers. In Cathedral Square view the magnificently restored Strasbourg Cathedral, towering above merchant houses. One of the finest of Europe’s great Gothic cathedrals, it was once the world's tallest building from 1647 to 1874. You will have time to admire the great Gothic rosette window, beautiful red sandstone portal and the remarkable astronomical clock.
Day 06 - 2018.11.06
See the castle and old medieval town so steeped in romance that they stood at the center of the German Romantic movement. You will join your guide for a drive to Heidelberg, several miles up the Neckar River. The town sits on a narrow passage of the river at one end of the graceful Old Bridge. You will ascend to the majestic , which has long inspired writers as varied as Johann von Goethe and Mark Twain. Originally built during the early 13th century, it was the residence of the Palatinate monarchy through the 18th century. Descend into the Altstadt, or Old Town, for a walking tour toward the turreted Heidelberg University. Founded in 1386, it is Germany’s oldest. You can see the school’s tower in which unruly boys were incarcerated for misdeeds, and the Red Ox tavern in which they boasted to their mates about their imprisonment.
Day 07 - 2018.11.07
Visit the only castle in the Rhine Valley to have never been destroyed. You will drive with your guide to Braubach, where the incredible Marksburg Castle watches over the town as it has since the 13th century. Because this magnificent structure was built with strong fortifications, it was never besieged by enemies. Upon arrival on its lofty grounds, enjoy spectacular views of Braubach, the Rhine and the surrounding countryside from its 550-foot perch. You will tour the citadel, see the impressive kitchens in the Gothic Hall building and step into the ancient torture chamber to view some grisly instruments. The distinct butter-churn tower, so named because the upper reaches have a smaller diameter than the lower, is a beloved landmark of the town with its distinct profile. Today, Marksburg Castle is home to the German Castles Association, which works to preserve medieval fortifications such as Marksburg all over Germany.
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Flying from San Francisco to Basel Switzerland - Transfer to Ship.
First Port of Call - Breisach, Germany
Largest Cockoo Clock in the World
Making a Black Forest Cake
Medieval Village of Colmar
Second Port of Call - Strasbourg, France
Strasbourg - Council of Europe
VES Cocktail Party
Third Port of Call - Heidelberg Germany
Heidelberg
Fourth Port of Call - Koblenz Germany
Rhine Cruise & Castles