Lucerne

[Happy Traveler0205]

Taking the Crystal Bach in August departing from Basel.  Want to do a couple of nights in Lucerne pre cruise.  Any thoughts on hotels and transportation from Zurich airport to Lucerne, and Lucerne to Basel? 

Thanks,

[sharkster77]

There is a train station in the Zurich airport with direct trains to Lucerne several times a day.  Similarly, there are several direct trains daily from Lucerne to Basel.  Once you know exactly where your ship is docked, I am sure a taxi could be obtained.

 

Friends tell us that Swiss trains are notoriously on time, and that all signage is in English as well as German.  Employees speak English as well.

 

We are planning to go in the opposite direction (Basel to Lucerne to Zurich) next October.

[Host Jazzbeau]

There are many recommended hotels in Lucerne, but if you are arriving and departing by train you might want to focus on those closer to the train station.  We stayed at the Radisson Blu which, while technically close to the station and with views of the lake, is enough out of the way that it does add a bit to your walking tours.  Check TripAdviser in map view and look at the reviews of the hotels to the left of the station.

[bubbulz]

Trains are very easy. We took the train from Basel to Lucerne and then from Lucerne to Zurich for our flight a few days later. We stayed at the Hotel Schweizerhof and it was outstanding. Perfect location, right on the lake and close to the station.

[SteveU]

We did the same a couple of years ago and stayed at the Hotel Waldstätterhof. It's about a two minute walk just around the corner from the train station - very comfortable and a nice restaurant. It was a little less expensive than the hotels  with a lake view. As others have said, trains are very easy and punctual in Switzerland. If I remember correctly, they run almost hourly to Basel. We stayed the night before our cruise departure in Basel, but there were plenty of taxis at the train station that could take you directly to the dock.

[acwmom]

Trains are super easy, and Lucerne is small enough that the walk isn't long from the train station to "old town"  We stayed, and ate, at Hotel des Balances, had a riverfront room with a balcony, view of Pilatus.......It was wonderful. We could see the train station from the balcony.

 

Robin

 

https://www.balances.ch/index.php?setLang=2

[bafinegan]

We booked the pre cruise extension thru Viking and got assigned the Hotel Montana.  Anyone ever stayed there?

(so friggin EXCITED!!!!)

 

baf

[cruisergrandma]

We booked our April pre-cruise Lucerne through Viking and it was wonderful. Every detail was covered and it was totally stress free. We stayed at the Radisson Blue. It is a great hotel and is walkable to most everything in town.

 

In December we went back to Lucerne on our own to visit the Christmas Markets. We booked our own private transportation from Zurich go Lucerne. Simply went online and researched airport transportation. We stayed at the Alstadt Hotel Krone Apartments. It is in the heart of old town. We could not have asked for a better location. The apartment was quite large and had a small kitchen which we enjoyed for breakfast each morning.

 

You will LOVE Lucerne!

[MareT]

We also stayed at the Radisson Blu.  Excellent hotel close to train station and walkable to Old Town.