TOUR DE FORCE

This page:

Guests on a Viking This page: Longship enjoy a Guests on a Viking closer view of the Longship enjoy a castles lining the Rhine River near the town of Kaub, in Germany closer view of the Rhine River near the town of Kaub, in Germany

Tour de FORCE Tour de FORCE Lisa Small discovers stunning a Lisa Small discovers stunning rchitecture, delicious cuisine and vibrant architecture, delicious cuisine and vibraculture on a Grand European Cruise nt culture on a Grand European Cruise

Toget to the very heart of some of Europe’s most beautiful and historic cities there is perhaps no better way to travel than by river, as I discovered with great pleasure on my glorious Grand European Cruise voyage with Viking. Just the name of the cruise was enough to stir my romantic sensibilities, conjuring up images of days gone by when wealthy young men embarked on a two-year Grand Tour of Europe in search of great enlightenment, education and inspiration.

I too was hoping for all those things from my 15-day adventure exploring the cities, towns and diverse landscapes that line the banks of the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers. And I wasn ’ t disappointed. In fact, by the end of my journey I had gained so much more, including new friends, more luggage and a few extra pounds. Isn ’t that the mark of a good trip?

Toget to the very heart of some of Europe’s most beautiful and historic cities there is perhaps no River cruising really is a different way of seeing the world. Every day River cruising really is a different way of seeing the world. Every day brings new scenery and exciting destinations, from ancient rural better way to travel than by river, as brings new scenery and exciting towns to thriving cosmopolitan I discovered with great pleasure on destinations, from ancient rural cities; vineyard-covered hills to my glorious Grand European Cruise towns to thriving cosmopolitan mountainous forests watched over voyage with Viking. Just the name cities; vineyard-covered hills to by crumbling fairy-tale castles. of the cruise was enough to stir my mountainous forests watched over River cruise ships are so much romantic sensibilities, conjuring by crumbling fairy-tale castles. smaller than ocean liners, but this up images of days gone by when River cruise ships are so much means they can transport you right wealthy young men embarked on smaller than ocean liners, but this into the very centre of the city and a two-year Grand Tour of Europe means they can transport you right moor up, putting all the sights in search of great enlightenment, into the very centre of the city and and attractions within walking education and inspiration. moor up, putting all the sights distance of your floating hotel.

I too was hoping for all those and attractions within walking When you’re docked somewhere things from my 15-day adventure distance of your floating hotel. overnight, it makes it really easy to exploring the cities, towns and When you’re docked somewhere spend more time getting to know a diverse landscapes that line the overnight, it makes it really easy to place on your own – and the staff banks of the Rhine, Main and spend more time getting to know a on board are great with directions, Danube rivers. And I wasn ’ t place on your own – and the staff so I was never afraid of getting disappointed. In fact, by the end of on board are great with directions, lost or missing out on a wonderful my journey I had gained so much more, including new friends, more so I was never afraid of getting lost or missing out on a wonderful opportunity that came my way. The Viking Longship might © ISTOCK luggage and a few extra pounds. Isn ’t that the mark of a good trip? opportunity that came my way. The Viking Longship might have been smaller compared to its ocean-going cousins, but it PHOTOS: have been smaller compared to its ocean-going cousins, but it SUMMER 2020 | VIKINGCRUISES.CO.UK 47

was actually surprisingly spacious once you stepped on board. The lovely Sun Deck was a great place to sit and soak up the scenery with a glass of something chilled, the comfortable and surprisingly airy lounge was where it all happened before and after dinner and as for my stateroom…well it was more like a hotel room. Arriving in Amsterdam, the thought of a whole 15 days stretching ahead of me seemed like a deliciously long time, though I wanted to be sure to do justice to the rich history and culture of The Netherlands, Germany, Austria and Hungary. There’s something about being on the river, about gliding silently through the countryside, that is truly relaxing and feels a million miles from home and work. Life happens at a much slower pace somehow, despite being able to take so much of Europe in. I don’t know how Viking does it, but it really does work. Our adventure started on the Rhine with a tour of the charming 17th-century streets and canals of old Amsterdam. I had visited was actually surprisingly spacious once you stepped on board. The lovely Sun Deck was a great place to sit and soak up the scenery with a glass of something chilled, the comfortable and surprisingly airy lounge was where it all happened before and after dinner and as for my stateroom…well it was more like a hotel room. Arriving in Amsterdam, the thought of a whole 15 days stretching ahead of me seemed like a deliciously long time, though I wanted to be sure to do justice to the rich history and culture of The Netherlands, Germany, Austria and Hungary. There’s something about being on the river, about gliding silently through the countryside, that is truly relaxing and feels a million miles from home and work. Life happens at a much slower pace somehow, despite being able to take so much of Europe in. I don’t know how Viking does it, but it really does work. Our adventure started on the Rhine with a tour of the charming 17th-century streets and canals of old Amsterdam. I had visited

BENEDICTINE TREASURES

Melk Abbey, perched on dramatic cliffs high BENEDICTINE TREASURES above the Danube, is perhaps the most graceful landmark of the Wachau Valley. The interior of the Abbey’s church is a kaleidoscope of red, orange and gold, and a highlight is the Imperial Staircase which leads off the impressive library. Melk Abbey, perched on dramatic cliffs high above the Danube, is perhaps the most graceful landmark of the Wachau Valley. The interior of the Abbey’s church is a kaleidoscope of red, orange and gold, and a highlight is the Imperial Staircase which leads off the impressive library.

From left to

right: Majestic houses reflect in From left to the canal waters right: Majestic in Amsterdam; houses reflect in watch the sunrise the canal waters over a spot of in Amsterdam; breakfast on the watch the sunrise Aquavit Terrace over a spot of breakfast on the Aquavit Terrace

It doesn’t matter how far you have travelled... nothing quite prepares you for the jaw-dropping It doesn’t matter how far you have travelled... natural beauty of the Middle Rhine nothing quite prepares you for the jaw-dropping natural beauty of the Middle Rhine

the city before, but this time there was something really special about being on the water and a real part of the whole city scene. Whilst in The Netherlands, we went to see the famous Kinderdijk windmills. It was a great opportunity to take some photographs and learn more about why these brilliant structures formed such an integral part of the Dutch landscape, which is criss-crossed with waterways. The Rhine continued its natural course into Germany and we went with it, spending the next eight fantastic days cruising through some of Europe’s most utterly breathtaking scenery, all while making the most of Viking’s the city before, but this time there was something really special about being on the water and a real part of the whole city scene. Whilst in The Netherlands, we went to see the famous Kinderdijk windmills. It was a great opportunity to take some photographs and learn more about why these brilliant structures formed such an integral part of the Dutch landscape, which is criss-crossed with waterways. The Rhine continued its natural course into Germany and we went with it, spending the next eight fantastic days cruising through some of Europe’s most utterly breathtaking scenery, all while making the most of Viking’s wonderful hospitality, excellent facilities and delicious food. It doesn’t matter how old you get, or how far you have travelled across the many countries of the world, nothing quite prepares you for the jaw-dropping natural beauty of the Middle Rhine. Dramatic cliffs, hilltop castles straight from the pages of Sleeping Beauty and quaint riverside towns boasting gabled houses and cobbled squares really do still exist in this magical land that time appears to have forgotten. It’s a place I, and my fellow travellers, will certainly not forget in a hurry. Sharing the experiences of each day with other guests on board wonderful hospitality, excellent facilities and delicious food. It doesn’t matter how old you get, or how far you have travelled across the many countries of the world, nothing quite prepares you for the jaw-dropping natural beauty of the Middle Rhine. Dramatic cliffs, hilltop castles straight from the pages of Sleeping Beauty and quaint riverside towns boasting gabled houses and cobbled squares really do still exist in this magical land that time appears to have forgotten. It’s a place I, and my fellow travellers, will certainly not forget in a hurry. Sharing the experiences of each day with other guests on board

was one of the lovely things about my cruise. I met some wonderful, was one of the lovely things about like-minded people and thanks my cruise. I met some wonderful, to the intimacy of our Viking like-minded people and thanks Longship, I had the opportunity to to the intimacy of our Viking enjoy their friendly and interesting Longship, I had the opportunity to company throughout the voyage. enjoy their friendly and interesting

There were no fixed seating plans company throughout the voyage. at dinner so we were free to share There were no fixed seating plans the fabulous food and conversation at dinner so we were free to share with different people on different the fabulous food and conversation nights, which kept the atmosphere with different people on different really informal and gave everyone nights, which kept the atmosphere the opportunity to meet and get really informal and gave everyone to know new people.the opportunity to meet and get

Other notable German to know new people. highlights for me were stopping Other notable German off for a beer in Germany’s oldest highlights for me were stopping inn – ‘The Inn of the Giant’ – in off for a beer in Germany’s oldest Miltenberg; seeing the magnificent inn – ‘The Inn of the Giant’ – in Miltenberg; seeing the magnificent

WINDMILLS OF KINDERDIJKWINDMILLS OF Much of this part of The KINDERDIJK Netherlands is actually below sea Much of this part of The level. As the original technological Netherlands is actually below sea marvels of historic Kinderdijk, these level. As the original technological 19 windmills have been designated marvels of historic Kinderdijk, these a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built in the mid-18th century, these structures stand like sentinels on a hushed landscape. PHOTOS: ISTOCK © 19 windmills have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built in the mid-18th century, these structures stand like sentinels on a hushed landscape.

ISTOCK PHOTOS: ©

I had a glass of wine in my hand, and was looking up at the inky black night sky, illuminated by a thousand stars, as we sailed into beautiful Budapest

Clockwise, from above:

The rooftops of beautiful Vienna; the Hungarian Parliament is a sight to behold on the Danube; dining with a view is one of the benefits of sailing with Viking frescoes in the Bishop’s Residenz in Würzburg; tucking into sausages and sauerkraut at the Old Sausage Kitchen in Regensburg and shopping for gingerbread and pink pepper chocolate in Passau.

Once on the Danube, we sailed into Austria where we encountered countless ‘camera-ready’ moments between Melk and Krems and a fabulous tour of the culturally rich and history-packed capital, Vienna.

The end of this most memorable of journeys was marked by a moment I will cherish forever... standing out on the top deck of our Longship, there was music playing gently in the background, I had a glass of wine in my hand, and was looking up at the inky black night sky, illuminated by a thousand twinkling stars, as we sailed into the beautiful and historic city of Budapest. It was a truly magical experience and an absolutely wonderful way to end our 15-day adventure cruising through Europe’s majestic and enthralling waterways.

A 15-day 2022 Grand European

Tour river cruise, sailing from 15-day Grand European Cruise Amsterdam to Budapest, starts from $3,995pp cruise only in from £2,895pp. $3,995pp cruise only.Veranda stateroom.