Are Viking river cruises the way to see Europe? What we learned over two trips

BASEL, Switzerland — We’ve all seen the Viking commercials urging us to take one of those wonderful-looking voyages on the rivers of Europe.

But what are they like? How much do they cost? And are they really a good way to tour Europe?

I’d never been on a cruise, big or small, when my wife and I signed up at the suggestion of a brother for our first Viking sail two years ago. We’ve now taken two river cruises, choosing Viking’s most popular voyages for first-timers.

First came the Rhine River in 2023, with stops in Switzerland, France, Germany and the Netherlands. Then, this past summer, we traveled the Danube River, visiting Hungary, Austria and Germany.

What I’ve learned on those two eight-day voyages may be helpful to others, especially for those new to cruising like we were.

First