VACATION AND TRAVEL
Now, all that makes the Viking's Rhine cruises a great choice for first-time European river cruisers and returning visitors alike. Viking's Rhine sailings wind through Germany's largest wine-producing region. Expect shore excursions to include vineyard visits and tastings. Those glasses of wine go great with the glorious landscapes of the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, where legends swirl around towering Lorelei Rock and fantastical gorge-hugging castles with names like Pfalzgrafenstein and Sterrenberg.
Also, for the ultimate itinerary, check out Viking River Cruises Grand European Tour. This 15-day cruise travels through the heart of Europe between Amsterdam and Budapest in the Rhine, Main, and Danube Rivers and Dutch waterways.
This next one is Viking Seine River Cruise: Art and Romance on France's Most Famous River. Viking's European river cruise fleet includes four slightly smaller longships built to navigate France’s iconic Seine River with Paris being your starting point. Food, wine, and cultural treasures are among the many pleasures on Viking's Seine River cruises. The Seine runs through the heart of Paris and Viking has an exclusive central docking location just a short walk from the Eiffel Tower. As you leave the romantic City of Light, look out for a replica of the Statue of Liberty.
The Seine is one of the best Viking River Cruises for art lovers. This corner of France has inspired generations of artists -- perhaps none more so than Claude Monet. Visits to his beloved garden are part of Viking's Seine River cruise excursions, where you will see the Japanese bridge and water garden unchanged from when he painted them.
Now, manageable itineraries of only eight days are available, though the line does offer longer options. Viking includes excursions to the Normandy beaches, plus the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer. You will also get a dash of history in medieval Rouen and the quaint fishing village of Honfleur. Monet painted both.
This next one is Viking Bordeaux Region Cruise: A Treat for Food and Wine Lovers. Any trip to France is perfect for food and wine lovers in Bordeaux. Itineraries include the Garonne, Girande, and Dordogne Rivers, all of which wind their way through rolling hills home to more than 9,000 wineries. Those produce about 700 million bottles of wine a year, so expect sips of Saint-Emilion, Medoc and Sauternes on a Viking Bordeaux River cruise.
Anyway, cruises generally last eight days, and Viking begins and ends their Bordeaux cruises in the port of Bordeaux. You will also spend some time in Blaye, where cobbled streets lead to the 17th-century citadel dominating the charming centuries-old town.
Now, if wine is not your speed, Bordeaux is also a Cognac-producing region. You will have the chance to create a personal bottle of Cognac at the family-run Camus Distillery. And for a true direct-to-table dining experience, join a truffle hunt in Perigord or savor fresh oysters from the bay at Arcachon.
Now, this last cruise is Viking Douro