BY CHRIS MEYER(cmeyer@cruiseshipcenters.com (800) 745-4015)

Have you heard of river cruises – the best way to immerse yourself in Europe? Our first one was so great that we’re going back for more.
This time we’re combining a three-day sojourn on picturesque Lake Como, Italy with a 7-day cruise down the Rhine River from the Swiss Alps through the German countryside and on to Amsterdam, Holland. We were originally scheduled for May 2020 and canceled twice by Covid. Undeterred, we’re set for 2023. Everything about this itinerary is epic – the gorgeous scenery, the castles, the windmills, the beautiful Viking ship, the awesome  food, and our group of Joyful Travelers, who make everyone else on the ship jealous because they are having so much fun. Plus, everything is included and organized from the time you leave your home airport – round-trip flights, transfers, internet, meals, drinks, and daily shore excursions. So we can spend the entire time on vacation – mentally and physically.

One reason I am so excited is because my colleague Jane’s group so enjoyed this itinerary in 2018. You might think it is early to be thinking about a trip so far in the future, but two years of canceled cruises means 2023 already is filling, So it’s a good idea to claim the best value staterooms now, while they are available.

Here’s a look at the Itinerary.

May 12: Depart Los Angeles (or other US metro airport)

May13: Arrive in Milan, Italy, transfer to Lake Como hotel.  

May 14: Walking tour of Como including funicular ride for panoramic views.

May 15: Boat ride throughout the lake including an extended stop in Bellagio, the crown jewel.

Daily breakfast included in hotel nights. Once on the ship three meals a day plus wine or beer with lunch and dinner are included. 

May 16: Transfer across the Alps to Basel, Switzerland, and embark on Viking Hermod.

May 17: Breisach, Germany, gateway to the Black Forest and the Alsace wine region. Take a electric bike ride through the Black Forest or go wine tasting at local vineyards.

May 18: Strassbourg, France. Experience this blend of French and German cultures, resplendent churches, medieval covered bridges, verdant parks and handsome Art Nouveau and modernist architecture.

May 19: Heidelberg, Germany; Rudesheim, Germany. Tour Heidelberg, home of Germany’s oldest university, founded in 1386. Visit the beautiful sandstone ruins of imposing Heidelberg Castle and take in the scenery of the Neckar River Valley and the city’s many red rooftops from a hilltop post. Afterward, set on a walking tour through Old Town to Heidelberg’s renowned gates. Later, in Rüdesheim spend free time in the pedestrian-only Drosselgasse and sample a glass of locally produced wine at one of the restaurants or wine bars. Optional Medieval castle dinner. 

May 20: Middle Rhine Scenic Cruising; Koblenz, Germany. Sail along the most scenic stretch of the Rhine, where turreted castles and fortresses overlook the river from their hilltop posts. You will want to be on the top of the ship for 360-degree views. Arrive in Koblenz this afternoon and disembark for a tour of 700-year-old Marksburg Castle.

May 21: Cologne, Germany. Begin your day with a morning tour of Cologne, Germany’s fourth-largest city. Stroll through Old Town past St. Martin’s Church and visit the Dom, Germany’s largest cathedral and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Spend your free time enjoying Cologne’s atmospheric waterfront.

May 22: Scenic cruising; Kinderdijk, The Netherlands. We sail along the Rhine during the morning hours. Admire scenic views and enjoy a morning of enjoyable Dutch diversions: sample Dutch cheeses and jenever, a distilled juniper liquor, and take in a culturally enriching presentation on the Dutch Golden Age. In Kinderdijk, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, join an afternoon tour of this ingenious network of windmills and other flood management devices. You learn why the windmills were built and see how they work, plus you enter a working windmill for a tour of its mechanisms and living quarters. 

May 23: Disembark in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Check into a central Amsterdam hotel and then take an insightful walking tour of the city.

May 24: Amsterdam options include a canal cruise, a foodie tour, the Anne Frank House, and the Rijksmuseum.

May 25: Fly home

The Viking ship has various levels of staterooms at different price points. The entire trip including including round-trip economy flights from Los Angeles is about $6,000 per person double occupancy for a French Balcony stateroom.  You can save money with a lower deck river-view stateroom or gain more space with a full veranda stateroom or suite. There also are options for premium economy and business class air. Our Expedia pricing is $325 below Viking’s direct price. If you pay by electronic check rather than a credit card, you receive a 3.3% discount. We can determine your exact desires and provide a detailed quote.

Inclusions:

• All meals plus wine and beer with lunch and dinner on the cruise portion. Daily breakfast on the hotel portion.
• Daily shore excursions.
• Nightly entertainment.
• All transfers.
• Taxes
• Two Expedia Rewards points for every dollar spent.

Not included: Gratuities.

CONTACT US TODAY ABOUT THIS SPECTACULAR CRUISE – (800) 745-4015