Viking Sun Rhine Getaway review August 2014

[mimmy52]

Thanks, MinotLight. I had so much fun on this cruise, I'd love to do another. I'm sure you'll love the Danube Waltz.

[mimmy52]

The Viking Daily was placed in my room while I was at dinner. It showed everything happening for Monday.

 

But first, breakfast. A few snaps of the breakfast buffet. Every day were meats, cheeses, smoked salmon, cereal, fruit. In the warming pans, scrambled eggs, sausages, grilled tomatoes, potatoes. And sparkling wine if you so wished. There was also a menu if you wanted an omelet or waffle or pancakes.

 

This is for the warm cereals.

 

 

 

[mimmy52]

Although the Daily weather report called for a chance of rain, it never did. By 8:30 everyone had their boarding pass (so the crew knows when you're off the boat) and group number (which guide you'll have on which bus). Most mornings there was a leisurely group that didn't do as much walking, but that wasn't needed today.

 

From reading cruisecritic, I expected a long bus ride to the Black Forest. Maybe that's why I didn't find it as long. It was interesting driving through the small villages. We stopped in one small village to see the church of St. Peter and to use the WC.

 

St. Peter with his golden keys.

 

 

 

Across from the church, a cat keeps his eye on us.

[mimmy52]

A lot of what you see of the Black Forest, you see from the bus, so set yourself to enjoy it that way. Although this strange shrub was making faces at us.

 

I think we arrived at the tourist village about 10:15-10:30. There was a cuckoo clock making demonstration and at 11:00 a Black Forest cake making demo. I elected instead to take the hike into the Black Forest.

 

This is Mike who will lead the hike. All the guides today dressed in what they called traditional Black Forest clothing.

 

This village must be older than it seems. A claim to fame is that Marie Antoinette stopped here on her way to be married.

 

And did someone here admire Disneyworld? Those look like hidden Mickeys.

[mimmy52]

I think about 15 or 20 of us opted for the hike. The hike begins.

 

 

This pond really did look black. If it's some kind of algae, I don't want to know.

 

There were several of these small bridges.

 

 

I felt as though I really did get to see the Black Forest.

[mimmy52]

I was told there wasn't a cake making demo after all and that the only tasting consisted of a large slice of cake handed around and everyone took a taste of it. But since I wasn't there, I don't know.

 

We were leaving at 11:30, but we got to wait until the clock performed its dance. This picture while I waited for 11:30 turned out the best.

 

 

Here's the guide I had in her traditional garb. She said the hat with the red pompoms signified she was single and looking.

 

We took a different route back and were at the ship at 12:30. We were welcomed back by the crew.

[CupKayke]

You are doing a fabulous job with this review. It is a pleasure to read. Just want to tell you. :)

[MinotLight]

Great update. Those shrubs are cute. Love the hidden Mickeys (huge Disney fan-usually go 3 times a year but will take a year off to do my cruise next April). Looks like you made a great choice to do the walk through the forest.

[mimmy52]

Thanks for letting me know, Cupkayke. I read so many reports before I went in anticipation of our trip and wish now I'd told the poster.

 

MinotLight, I think the Black Forest means different things to different people. I know some in our group were really looking forward to the cuckoo clocks. There was an interesting looking glass shop too, but I didn't have time to check it out. The woman in front of me on the bus back to the ship said she'd spent most of her time looking at glass and wished she had even more time.

[crewsgirl]

Mimmy52 thanks so much for taking such time to share your trip with us. I am loving your pictures and advice. We will be on this trip next July, so I am living vicariously through you now! Please continue! :D

[mimmy52]

Thanks, Crewsgirl. I hope you have as much fun, or even more, than I did.

[mimmy52]

Immediately upon our return from the Black Forest at 12:30, our safety drill was announced. That took a quick 15 minutes, then it was time for lunch. There is a buffet containing a number of specialty salads plus lettuces and toppings to make your own. There are also two appetizers to choose from (on the buffet) and today they were antipasti and liver pate. Cruisinskier had all the menus in his report, and I noticed they were always the same as ours, not by which day of the cruise it was but by the port in which we were docked. The there is a choice of four you can order from the servers, one a soup and three more substantial such as a meat dish or pasta. At lunch, there were always two desserts to choose from. Today I had a Black Forest ice cream coupe. I did take some pictures of my food, but the first couple of days it was usually half eaten (or more) before I thought of it. Wine was also available at lunch, or beer, or other beverages.

 

Three optional tours had been offered: WWII, WWI, or Colmar city tour. I chose none of the above and walked into Breisach on my own. The ship was docked right at the foot of the city.

 

Be sure to pick up a city map in the reception area before venturing out. I can't remember our program director mentioning them, but she probably did and I forgot. They were always available at a table where you could help yourself. There were usually other items of interest there too.

 

I didn't have a map and wanted to visit the cathedral. No problem. St. Stephanmunster dominates the city. All you have to do keep it ahead of you as you're walking. It is not difficult to keep it in sight.

 

Looking back the way I'd come.

 

 

The Hagenbachturm

 

Still going up.

[mimmy52]

I could look down on the ship. It's there almost hidden behind trees.

 

 

Almost there.

 

I have arrived.

[mimmy52]

The sculpture that marks the 50th anniversary of the reunification of Europe. That's what I remember of it anyway.

 

 

The carved wooden altar

 

A silver casket containing bones of saints.

[mimmy52]

Outside on one of the walls, pock marks from a bombardment.

 

I took a different path down.

 

It looked as if the church was resting on the flower box.

 

Interesting trim on a house

[mimmy52]

The town had a lot of cute shops. I could have spent a long time there. Also a lot of places to stop for a drink or ice cream or a snack and sit outside in the warm sun.

 

 

Back on the ship, at 6:30 there was a welcome from Captain Thoralf Rossler and Hotel Manager Uta Ricket. Free champagne. In case you're wondering what I look like, here is my favorite picture of me taken on the trip, despite the weird reflection in my glasses.

 

We were given some kind of appetizers/amuse bouche (I'm not sure what to call them), presented on a large spoon-type utensil as shown in the photo. Once again I had eaten it before I took a picture. I don't remember what it is. I remember it was delicious.

[mimmy52]

In the evenings, we were presented with an amuse bouche while wine was poured. I did remember to take a picture of my appetizer, potato crusted mascarpone cheese.

 

And the vegetarian entrée that evening--zucchini baked with goat cheese and sundried tomatoes.

 

With a little dark and white chocolate mousse for dessert.

 

A couple who sat next to me at dinner turned out to be from St. Louis also, and we don't live all that far from one another.

 

The three entertainers were delightful. Black Forest music, the drinking song from The Student Prince (we who knew it joined in), then a switch to Edith Piaf, a tap dance, a little audience participation. A lot of fun, but my photos turned out either too dark or too blurred and sometimes both.

[DrivesLikeMario]

I cannot wait for the next day's entries! Thank you so much for taking the time to post the pictures and information.

 

It appears that you went alone on the cruise (was it your sister that had to cancel?). I travel alone sometimes too. Did you feel safe venturing off into Breisach on your own? What about the other areas like Lucerne?

[banditoo]

Great to see a picture of you Mimmy! Always nice to put a face to the story. Now I now who I am virtually traveling alongside with!:D Looking forward to waking up to the next day of traveling!;)

[MaggieMe]

Well, we had that Black Forest cake and it was wonderful.. But that hike looked great. Good pictures

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

[MinotLight]

What a beautiful town. Love all your photos!

 

Small world meeting others at dinner from St Louis. My Sister-in-law lives in St Louis.

[mimmy52]

MaggieMe, I wish I'd had a taste of the Black Forest Cake, but I think I enjoyed the hike more than I would have the cake.

 

MinotLight, just don't tell me your sister-in-law lives in the Creve Coeur area or I will think life is way too coincidental.

[mimmy52]

A couple of things I forgot to mention. We were told that half the passengers were from America and half from Great Britain with a sprinkling of Canadians. And the wifi worked great as long as we were docked and as long as we weren't on the top deck.

 

Our Viking Daily for August 19.

 

I woke up during the night because lights outside were so bright they shone through the curtains. A few minutes later, it was totally dark. I got up and pushed aside the curtains and saw a wall. We were going through a lock. Later that day I heard one of the women had stayed up until 4 am because she was so interested in locks.

 

When I got up in the morning, we were docked in Kehl and this was my view of Strasbourg.

 

And not long after

[mimmy52]

We first had a bus tour through the modern part of the city. I was sitting on the right side of the bus and most of the buildings pointed out were on the left. I did get a photo of the European Parliament, although not a good one.

 

 

And Strasbourg has storks! I loved seeing the storks nesting on rooftops and chimneys. The storks were also on the left side of the bus, so no stork photos.

 

We were dropped off in the section called Petit France.

 

Two of the towers that used to guard the city

[mimmy52]

Strasbourg is famous for its half-timbered buildings. Among the oldest are those that used to belong to the tanners.

 

We came across a bridge that revolves when a boat passes through on the canal, and it was just moving back into position.

 

 

Maybe the change didn't show up well in still photos.

 

I loved seeing the strange carvings on buildings.