Sailing the Rhine Getaway on Viking Alruna
(62 Reviews)
100% Recommended
Carol Horner
Virginia Beach, VA
Australia, New Zealand, S. Pacific & Japan Expert
By the time I was married, my husband and I decided to purchase our own agency, and we have dedicated our careers to helping people taking fantastic luxury vacations to incredible destinations across the globe. We have instilled a love of travel i...
By the time I was married, my husband and I decided to purchase our own agency, and we have dedicated our careers to helping people taking fantastic luxury vacations to incredible destinations across the globe. We have instilled a love of travel in our children as well, all of whom have studied and lived abroad, and also planned destination weddings. I am a specialist in the following destinations: Australia — I have traveled to this destination three different times, exploring both coasts of the continent. This is a destination that seems out-of-reach for many people, but I help my clients realize that it's not difficult at all to enjoy this trip of a lifetime. The South Pacific — I love to help my clients explore this diverse and beautiful region. I've taken many trips, but my favorite one was a trip to Tahiti with my husband. We stayed in over water bungalows, received breakfast via canoe delivery, and even incorporated a 7-day cruise around the Polynesian Islands into our itinerary. When you book with me, you know that you have an agent who will be by your side throughout the entire experience. I am known for my expert communication skills. I stay in touch with my clients from the first moment they contact me to begin planning until they return home from their vacation. I am extremely accessible. Recently, one of my clients contacted me to say that she left some jewelry at a hotel in Budapest and asked if I could help her retrieve it. I was able to contact the hotel and ask them to ship the jewelry back home, allowing my client to relax and enjoy the rest of her adventure. Life is too short. Take the trip. Buy the shoes. Drink the wine. And contact me to begin planning your next unforgettable trip!
Can Be Reached At
1-757-424-0400
Sailing The Rhine Getaway on Viking River Cruises’ Viking Alruna in May 2016 was a wonderful adventure. But before we departed on the cruise, exploring Basel Switzerland was our goal. Basel is the northern most city that river cruises venture on the Rhine River. The history of the area goes back 3000 years to the Roman Empire and Celtic settlements. As commerce grew on the river, the city grew with it. We decided to explore the historical city with the aid of a guide, and what a great adventure that offered. From the main streets to the ancient city walls from the dark ages, our guide pointed out life in this beautiful city not seen by a vistor. The walking tour was well worth the time. The following day we boarded the Viking Alruna made easy by the great crew and began life on a Viking Longship. By late afternoon we set sail on the Rhine heading North with our destination by week’s end of Amsterdam. The advantage of sailing North, which is down river, the current carries the ship faster thus arriving at the different ports of call faster. By morning we arrived in Breisach Germany. This was our gateway to the Black Forest and the stories surrounding this famous area. Traveling by motor coach, the country side and the stories about the history and way of life were very entertaining. The stopping point on the tour was a collecting of shops specializing in crafts of the Black Forrest including the famous cuckoo clock. After joining the league of cuckoo clock owners, we made our way back to the ship for a delightful lunch and prepared for our afternoon tour of Colmar WW 2 tour. Colmar was a battle area known for the “Colmar Pocket” that lasted for 3 months with U.S. & French Forces fighting to stop the Germany forces from taking over the area and controlling the Rhine River. During this period the story of Audie Murphy took place and a memorial created for his heroic one man stand against a 100 man German force. The evening was highlighted with a fine dinner and live French entertainment. Our next stop was the French city of Strasbourg. We decided to visit the medieval quarter of the city including the Cathedrale de Notre Dame. Yes there is more than one Notre Dame in France. It soars over Strasbourg’s Old Town at an impressive 426 feet. But the highlight in the church is the magnificent Astronomical Clock dating back to 1842. The afternoon was spend on an Alsatian wine tasting tour including a visit to the medieval town of Selestat. The Next day’s attraction was a visit to Heidelberg including the famous Castle. We had visited the area before, so decided to stay on board and enjoy the cruise to Rudesheim. The evening included the Chef’s Diner and a live Glassblowing demonstration. Exquisite works of art create before our eyes. Cruising the Middle Rhine is a full day experience full of beauty small river towns and castles, castles and castles. Castles and wines take center stage along the Middle Rhine, brimming with remarkable beauty, history and culture. On the steepest riverbanks, grapes are still harvested by hand, a tradition dating back 2000 years. Upon arrival to Koblenz, we got our chance to visit the famous Marksburg Castle. A short drive away, the castle sits well above the Rhine with a commanding view. The castle was fully loaded with history and way of life during medieval times including the torture chamber. We returned to Koblenz and took the opportunity to walk the narrow streets and enjoy life on the river. A taste of Germany was the theme for dinner that evening along with fun games lead by our program director Nick. Cologne Germany is such a beautiful city, modern but old at the same time. A walking tour was the plan for today including the many small plazas leading to the Dom or Cologne Cathedral. The church was experienced minor damage compared to the city during the bombings in WW 2. The Gothic cathedral was holding services that day was we could not view the interior of the church. In the afternoon we travelled to the Bruhl UNESCO Palaces. Starting with a beautiful hunting lodge fit for a king to the main Augustusburg palace, the workmanship was amazing. We walked the landscaped grounds and admired the grand staircase and extravagantly decorated rooms and chambers. The evening rapped up with two talented musicians performing after dinner. The Windmills of Kinderdijk was our stop on the river for today. The Netherlands is famous for its windmills, with none so captivating as those we explored at Kinderdijk, a village in the province of South Holland, about 15 kilometers east of Rotterdam. Since we were docked next to the mills, the guide walked us directly to the canals where the windmills stood. It was like stepping back in time to the mid- 1700s. We got to explore a working mill with décor set for family life when the mills were active. In Amsterdam we said goodbye to our new friends for a short stay in the Olde Town of Amsterdam.