I’m excited to share Viking River Cruises Castles and River Views. These are photos I captured while cruising down the Rhine and Moselle Rivers in Germany on a Viking River Cruise.
This is the Viking River Cruises Swiss Alps to Paris itinerary. We boarded the boat in Basel, Switzerland. I’ve already written about our time in Zurich, I’ve shared a tour of our Viking River Cruise boat (the Viking Hild) and I’ve shared our day in Strasbourg too.
Cruise Itinerary:
- Days 1 to 3: Zurich, Switzerland
- Day 3: Basel, Switzerland
- Day 4: Strasbourg, France
- Day 5: Speyer, Germany
- Day 6: Mainz, Germany
- Day 7: Koblenz, Germany and cruising along the Rhine
- Day 8: Cochem, Germany
- Day 9: Bernkastel, Germany
- Days 9/10: Trier, Germany and Luxembourg
- Days 10 to 12: Paris, France
This post covers mostly covers views from the river on day 7. There is a particular stretch on the Rhine where there are a ton of castles. But I included photos from the river on other parts of the cruise too.
We were given a map to follow along and spot the castles while cruising down the river. I knew we were going to see a few castles, but I had no idea how many!
The castles are all up on the hillsides. After all, you need to remember that they were fortresses back in the day, so being up high they had the advantage of a better lookout situation. Some of the castles are quite rustic looking.
And some of the castles have been renovated and turned into hotels.
Our castle-viewing day was a bit drizzly and dreary. The top of the boat is best for viewing the sights along the river, as long as you have someone to keep you warm!
There are so many castles along the river that I’m sure the Germans have to decide which castles they want to try and maintain. Some castles are more like old ruins with walls standing but not fully enclosed.
I love that this one was built into the rock on the hillside.
My friend Sandy was on the trip with me. She’s my great travel partner!
Here’s one where there is just a little bit of the castle remaining! Isn’t this place gorgeous?
If you look closely, you can spot a little HOTEl sign just below the castle.
I love this one- so pretty set up above these colorful homes!
This is not a castle but a beautiful spot edging the river. I’m assuming it must be a hotel.
This one could be a church, though I don’t see any crosses so I’m not certain of that.
Sailing down the river during the day is probably my favorite thing to do on a Viking River Cruise. It’s so relaxing, and I just love to watch the countryside as we’re sailing by. It’s absolutely breathtaking in many areas.
Another pretty town!
And there are lots of homes with vineyards surrounding them.
A good way to warm up on a drizzly river cruise day is to ask the bartender to make you Baileys and Coffee! Hope you enjoyed my views from the river on this cruise! More to come in the next few weeks– I still need to share about our stops in Germany and Paris.
For more about this Viking River Cruise itinerary, visit VikingRiverCruises.com.
did you ever write more about this trip I am doing it Paris to Zurich in October
Unfortunately, I did not. I was writing about the trip in 2020, when everything shut down… so it did not seem appropriate to keep writing about the cruise. The whole trip was fun though!
Beautiful pictures, did you use a telephoto lens to capture these gorgeous pictures? Going on this cruise this June.
I believe I just used my iPhone for these!
We have just booked this trip and have signed up for the excursions that you took also. I would love to know if you have finished the rest of your article. Your insights and pictures are making the trip seem very real. Thank you!
Hi Michelle,
So fun! I never finished writing it up because all of the craziness of 2020 and cruise ships happened right at the end of my writing about it. Maybe I’ll get to it one of these days. Have fun!!
We are going on this river cruise in 2022. Will you be posting more about your trip, i.e., the Germany stops and Paris, as you mentioned? Also, is the “Taste the Best of Alsace” food tour a separate booking from another company, or was it part of the cruise? I do not see it currently as part of the cruise. If separate, did you book the shorter one or the longer one, as described in “Strasbourgh Food Tours?” Also, if separate, did they come to get you from the ship or did you have to find them on your own? Much thanks!!!
Hi Mary,
I was in the middle of writing about this cruise when the shut-down hit and cruises immediately became a very unpopular choice for travel. I will probably add the end of my trip here when cruising resumes and things are safe again. Taste of Alsace was one of the choices for tours in Strasbourg (from the ship). I believe they took care of coming to get us. It was fun- you could always book it on your own (if they are still in business).
I was wondering the same as you’ve inspired us to do this cruise as our first river cruise with another couple! Great posts, pics and advise. Looking forward to the end of the trip post. Thank you!
What a beautiful trip. So enjoyed all the buildings. You are lucky to able to travel. I would like to take a river cruise sometime, but maybe too expensive. Keep sharing your travels.
Thank you!
Lovely trip! The building that you thought might be a church but didn’t have a cross has a cross right in the front on top of the red brick portion. The highest spire doesn’t have one which may have thrown you off.
Thank you!