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Or, you can do what we did and just explored Regensburg on our own after the shore excursion. I was able to buy a hat from the famous Hutkönig, which has been making hats since 1875 for European royalty, Johnny Depp in Alice in Wonderland, and Pope Benedict XVI. We were able to explore smaller streets and I even came across some Banksy graffiti - though I’ve never been able to verify if it’s truly his or some copycat. This is the other part that made this day my favorite on this itinerary.
Viking Cruises Travel Tips
At noon, you can take in a half-hour concert (or one-hour concert in the evenings) but be warned, the music is intense. Like an octopus mashing chords while a hummingbird plays some crazy runs intense. Viking Cruises Romantic Danube journey makes 6 stops from Nuremberg to Budapest. Viking does an excellent job keeping you busy and sharing the very best local sites and attractions. Each stop on a Danube Viking River Cruise includes complimentary excursions as well as additional ones at a cost.
Cross the Szechenyi Bridge in Budapest
Once you've roamed the winding cobblestone streets, take a seat at the Historic Sausage Kitchen of Regensburg. Yes, it serves excellent bratwurst layered with obligatory sauerkraut and mustard, but it also happens to be the oldest continuously open public restaurant in the world. It was built at the same time as the Stone Bridge, originally as construction office to feed workers. The building is painted in Canary yellow, with "Mozart's Geburtshaus" (Mozart's birthplace) emblazoned in gold on the front facade. Inside is a museum showcasing the elegant eight-room apartment that Mozart's family lived in until 1780. Sail along the scenic Danube and see stunning landscapes unfurl as you pass quaint towns.
TiP #6: You may feel you have to stick to everything on the itinerary, but you actually still have options.
A river cruise is different than other ways of touring Europe. It’s not a disjointed hop from sight to sight, but a watery continuum crafted by nature, where countries flow together, histories merge and every bend and twist leads to a new adventure. The restaurant is the gravitational core of the cruise ship. Viking Cruises are known for their cuisine and offer a good range of menu items.
Nuremberg, Germany
To learn more about each port of call and our included as well as optional excursions, click on the individual days below. Best of all, land programs offered by the cruise lines will be fully escorted by a cruise director who will look after your every need. While most river cruise lines pause cruising between January and mid-March, a few will sail during these months, giving them a year-round presence. Cruising during low season means fewer crowds and lower cruise fares, and you’ll see the cities and towns in a much different light. Regensburg is the oldest city on the Danube and is best known for its well-kept medieval city centre.
TIP #3: Don’t forget to let them know of special occasions you’re celebrating.
Her love for history, literature, architecture and food culminate to her passion for traveling and learning about different cultures. She advocates for accessible travel, and continues to explore with her husband and travel partner, Jesús, despite physical limitations. Follow their adventures on Instagram as @gettheregetlost and @coffeeandtherapy.
Temperatures could be in the 30s to 50s, and there will most likely be snow. With cooler and shorter days, you also may not be able to enjoy the top deck of the ship as much as you would like. Budapest is an incredibly easy city to navigate on foot and has an excellent transit system. Those looking to explore on their own be sure to check out my post on easily accessible Budapest highlights from the Viking River Cruise port. Budapest nickname is the “Pearl of the Danube,” and with good reason. As your ship pulls in you will see the iconic bridges, buildings, and castles.
Post: Budapest
Highlights include the abbey museum and the Imperial Staircase. This glowing retreat has an extraordinary ceiling fresco by Paul Troger from 1739 above the monumental imperial staircase -- it's one of the largest staircases of its kind in the world. Stroll the medieval, UNESCO-listed city’s streets and learn about Regensburg’s history. Coursing through Germany, Austria, Hungary and seven other countries all the way to the Black Sea, the Danube is the soul of Central Europe. Join us along these culture-rich banks, whose scenic vineyards, ancient monasteries and elegant cities have inspired travelers for centuries.
Cruise Critic's Ultimate Danube River Cruise Guide
I don’t know about you but when I see Karine Hagen (Viking’s SVP and the founder’s daughter) in the ads visiting locals and talking to monks, that’s sort of what I imagined for all the shore excursions. Well, not quite, so I would say this excursion is the only one and the closest to that image - privileged access with that extra experience you see on Viking ads. Combining the best parts of various Viking river cruises through Europe, each day brings ever-changing panoramas as you sail along the Dutch waterways, Rhine, Main and Danube. In Cologne you'll have the chance to sip the city's local beer in a cozy waterfront bar, close to where your longship docks.
After, enjoy lunch at one of Europe's oldest restaurants, Peter Stiftskulinarium, within the historic St. Peter's Abbey as part of a day-long tour of Salzburg with Viking. Founded in the 7th century, the abbey is home to St. Peter's cemetery and catacombs. You may recognize the abbey as one of the filming locations used in "The Sound of Music." Made popular in the late 18th century, the waltz swept across Europe from Vienna, reaching palatial ballrooms from Linz to London.
I told them that that much travel is too much for my husband with limited mobility. So they were able to find and rebook us flights with only 1 layover, for a total of about only 15 hours of travel. We met several couples we liked, and immediately assumed they’d be our next best forever friends. I assumed this because so many other Viking river cruises reviews I’ve read talk about the wonderful soulmates people connected with and how they ate all their meals together and are already planning reunions. The symmetrical building includes piercing spires and a central dome, with two parliament halls on either side.
Viking Gersemi Itineraries: 2024 & 2025 Schedule (with Prices) on Cruise Critic - Cruise Critic
Viking Gersemi Itineraries: 2024 & 2025 Schedule (with Prices) on Cruise Critic.
Posted: Sun, 21 Apr 2024 01:37:14 GMT [source]
One thing I like about Viking Cruises is that they use local guides, and so you’re getting someone with firsthand knowledge of the destination and culture. Mark and I mostly stayed with the included options, because they usually give you a big picture summary of a destination, (and, um, they’re free). There was barely a light on shore, and hulking dark hills passed in the night like a series of crouching giants. While Mark lingered over coffee in the restaurant (with his various new soulmates), I retreated to our room and sat by the balcony with the door open.
Passau is known as the “City of Three Rivers” as it is located where the Danube, Inn, and Ilz rivers meet. This has kept Passau historically significant for centuries as an important trading post and today, an excellent river cruise port town. The included walking tour of Passau is a great way to explore the many winding corridors and alleyways. With its river convergence, Passau sees its share of floods. The Göttweig Abbey is a 900-year old abbey ran by the Benedictine monks. It’s an abbey at the top of the hill and oh so magnificent views of the Wachau Valley.
Also of vital importance on the Upper Deck is the 24-hour tea and coffee station, there to fulfil your cappuccino and cookie needs at any time of day or night. While the ship’s nightly events are not ocean cruise-style entertainment like huge shows or a casino, they fit in with the theme of the Danube cruise itinerary. There was room to store my fat suitcase under the bed, and enough drawer space for the mountain of shoes, jackets, cashmere sweaters and toiletries I deemed necessary for an autumn Danube Viking river cruise in Europe.
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