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Couple from Garland High class of '65 regales with latest voyages abroad

By dallasnews Administrator

10:48 AM on Dec 18, 2015 CST

Christmas guests of Steve and Sally Rhodes of the Garland High School class of 1965 will get to flip through hundreds of photos from the couple’s last river trip to England and Scotland, plus a backlog of other vacations.

The Rhodes are seasoned travelers. They have visited 39 countries, and planned river cruises later to Russia and Portugal.

In their late 60s, they continue looking ahead, especially since they experienced their first organized trip last year. After Garland High, they headed to California for their education and remained there working in the cradle of computers until retirement a few years ago brought them back to Garland. Steve was lassoed right away to replace Jay Jones as president of the GHS Alumni Association and editor of the Owl News. Steve had begun an online newsletter for 1965 graduates 20 years ago.

Before their first river cruise last year, they had planned 34 of their own trips abroad successfully, Steve wrote.

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“It was a bit hard to leave the boat at 8:30 a.m., but we adjusted,” he said.

They enjoyed the boat on the Viking Grand European Amsterdam-to-Budapest run. There were 150 passengers, which allowed them to meet and visit the wonderfully diverse group — from the New Jersey FBI detective in his 50s to a Jewish woman from Poland, who escaped the Nazis with her family and settled in Canada.

The leisurely voyage allowed plenty of time for a lot of good conversation, he said.

The breakfasts of great brown bread and wonderful cheeses were a favorite. Lunches were salads and fresh pastas, but the chef tried to be experimental at dinner and often turned familiar fare around.

July was a fine time to travel, with temperature in the 70s in Holland and Germany. Austria and Hungary reached the 80s, which was a big contrast to the October trip to France when the 30-degree days called for down jackets and sometimes thermal underwear. On that first trip, the clear days provided perfect opportunities for photography.

Sally fell and hurt her leg on the day before they boarded for Amsterdam. They boarded the ship the next day, and Sally’s leg had swelled. Viking sent a staff member with them to a nearby hospital, which eased the language difference.

When sailing into Budapest, though, they encountered a special sight. All the city and bridge lights were on that night, which provided another bright memory. The guides were good and they enjoyed the ship employees, when games were introduced.

Their all-time favorite Viking river cruise was the Imperial Jewels of China tour in May. On every river trip, they met travelers who became friends.

In ranking their choices, the couple listed the people as the best, followed by a good director named Iowa. Then came the Tang Dynasty Show, Great Wall, Three Gorges, Terracotta Warriors, Ming tombs, Winter/Summer Palaces, Forbidden City and The Bund at night.

The October Viking trip to France was good overall.

They extended their Viking to Pullman Paris Tour Eiffel, but don’t recommend it until Viking changes its hotel. This Portrait of Southern France ended favorably, however.

The Audubon Lake Ray Hubbard Christmas bird count meeting is 6:30 a.m. Sunday at Home Depot, 2201 Lakeview Parkway, Rowlett.

After the count, the birders will meet between 5:30-6 p.m. at Siciliano’s A Taste of Italy, 2210 W. Buckingham Road. in Garland to tally results.

Those interested in participating should contact Peter Assmann at 214-986-7048.

dallasnews Administrator

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The Alaska and Inside Passage Cruise with Viking

As a working photographer and a lover of active cruises, taking the Viking Alaska and the Inside Passage cruise in early June 2022 was a perfect opportunity to see the dramatic sights and scenes of this remote state. Over this, and the following articles, I’ll review the cruise from Seward to Vancouver and illustrate them with my favorite photos of the trip. I’m aiming these stories both at readers who love Alaska and those who are thinking of taking this cruise and want to know what to expect! Of course, if you have already taken the cruise, you might like the fond memories that these images might prompt!

Incidentally, we cruised with Viking for several years before I realized I was missing out on a discount. You can read more about that discount here .

June 2022 – an unseasonably warm start to the Alaska cruise

The weather had been unseasonably warm in Alaska but there was still snow on the mountains and we were generally lucky (I think) with the weather throughout the cruise. The ship was the Viking Orion, and while this isn’t really a review of this particular Viking cruise, we have been on cruises with them many times now, and I have nothing but praise for the quality of the ships, the experience on and off the boat, the food and the general peaceful and friendly conditions you find everywhere on board. Probably more expensive than other cruises but almost everything is included in the price and there is no “nickel and diming” that is common with other companies. This article is a summary of the cruise and links to all the separate stories I have written to describe and illustrate the voyage. I’ve enjoyed going through my images (and my memories) to put these stories together. I hope you will enjoy reading them, and, if you do, please comment and let me know what you think. You can also add your email to join my contact list and get updated whenever I add new posts to the site. I’m a professional photographer and so my best images are available as prints .

The cruise started in Seward although we had booked air using Viking and so we were taken by coach from Anchorage to Seward. If you are traveling with your own arrangements, the train from Anchorage pulls into Seward right by the ship, and so that seems to be a very easy way to get to the docks. The first day was registration and getting on board the ship and so our first real outing was the Resurrection Bay Wildlife cruise, which can be found via this link .

Day 3 was marked by the arrival in Valdez, which enjoys a breathtaking setting at the head of the fjord in Prince William Sound. We decided to take the Highlights of Valdez tour, which included the old town, the salmon hatchery and then a drive through Keystone Canyon to the Thompson Pass and Richardson Glacier . As a result, we didn’t get to walk around the town itself, although we could probably have fitted it in. The Norwegian pancakes were calling instead! I wrote a separate story about the waterfalls in Keystone Canyon which can be found here .

Hubbard Glacier

Leaving Valdez, we traveled through the night to end up, the following morning at the Hubbard Glacier. There was a real cold wind that came down off the ice and across the bay and, to be honest, it was cloudy and wet as we arrived. The clouds cleared at little, and we were able to see the full majesty of the glacier. Believe it or not, this is more than six miles wide where it meets the ocean and rises to 400 feet or so. The ship stayed around 2 hours in the bay, slowly rotating so that everyone could see the glacier and surrounding mountains before we cruised away for our next stop. The full story of the visit to the Hubbard Glacier can be found here .

That evening actually turned out to be one of the highlights of the trip! Firstly, we managed to get a window table in the Chef’s Table restaurant and watched the mountains glide by as the sun slowly set, and then we were treated to a magnificent sunset seen from the balcony of our cabin. A perfect end to the day that you can read about here .

By Monday morning, we had reached the small town of Skagway set in its glacial valley. Skagway was built to support the gold rush that created so much wealth (and destroyed so many lives) in the 1890s as it was one of main ways that miners aiming to try their luck in the Klondike started their journey in Alaska. The narrow-gauge railway was built in 1898 to get people over White Pass and it is now a key sightseeing opportunity in Skagway. However, it was raining when we arrived and so we chose to stroll around the town instead, checking out the historic buildings that still remain. Friends who went on the train ride were pretty impressed though, so perhaps this was a mistake! My story about Skagway can be found at this link .

Icy Strait Point and Hoonah

The reason the sail to Skagway takes so long is that it is way up a fjord and after visiting it, you basically reverse direction and sail back to the ocean to get to Icy Strait Point. So the Tuesday was spent in Icy Strait Point and Hoonah. For some reason, we were able to dock early in the morning and get off the ship, but then the ship went out into the bay and anchored as much larger cruise ships took our place at the dock! But arriving early meant that we could visit the various sights before the crowds descended from the other boats. We did take the shuttle to the small town of Hoonah, thinking it would be some sort of nice Tlinkit community, but it really has very little (OK, make that nothing) to make the journey worthwhile. Some people were walking there to save the cost of the shuttle bus, which must have been disappointing when they arrived. But Icy Strait Point now has two cable car/gondolas as well as a very fast zip line from the top of the mountain to the waterfront. I’ve written two stories about this day – one about the historic pier and salmon canning building , now a museum and shop and one about the cable car gondola ride up the mountain .

We pressed through the crowds leaving the Celebrity Eclipse to get back to the dock and caught the tender boats back to the Orion, thankful for two things – we had a free all-day pass to use the gondolas, and we had a small and friendly ship to go back to!

You will have seen the spectacular sunset that we had after leaving the Hubbard Glacier, and on the evening of the sail from Icy Strait Point (in a very similar part of the coastline), we had another. Not as spectacular, and we were also further from the coast, but who is complaining!

The next day was an early arrival in Sitka with its extinct volcano. Sitka is a lovely little town and after a presentation of a historic play/dance by the local community, we walked around the historic town – the site of the original Russian community in Alaska and also the site of the handover of Alaska to the USA following its purchase. There is the National Historical Park here with a collection of many totem poles carved by the local Tlinkit people installed in the forest as well as a Raptor rescue center, both of which are an easy walk from the town. Both well worth a visit and you can see my recollections of the place in this story about Sitka .

After Sitka, we sort of reversed direction again and made our way back up the fjords to Juneau, the capital of Alaska. Again, not a large place – nothing in Alaska is – but very interesting. We took the included tour to Mendenhall Glacier and Brotherhood Bridge although as the weather steadily improved as the day went on, I did regret not booking the Photo tour of the glacier and the whale watching. But it was all booked up when I made that decision. You can read my full story of a packed day in Juneau, from the glacier to the mountain top via the Gondola . All in all, a great day in Juneau!

By now, we were used to relatively cloudy conditions in the early morning with brighter sunny days later on, but our next visit to Ketchikan proved this wrong. We arrived on a very damp day with heavy rain. Luckily, we had packed our rain clothing and so we were able to trudge through the rain to the Potlatch Park and their demonstrations and stories of the Tlinkit people and their totem pole carvings. Interesting, indeed. Then we walked around the town, eventually finding the famous Creek Street houses and shops (and brothel). We thought this might have been on the coast, but it is actually just a little inland along the fast-running creek. I’ve written a story here about using digital painting techniques to bring some life and warmth back into the rather drab scene on Creek Street in the rain.

Ketchikan is rightly famous for being among the wettest places in Alaska and it lived up to that reputation for us. But still, an interesting place!

We were then at sea sailing in the Inside Passage towards Vancouver, and I was a little disappointed. The scenery was nice, but it was all a bit “the same” without as much drama as we had seen before. I do have some photos, but few of them are what I am proud of. The one below is of Campbell River, in Canada looking towards Vancouver Island:

After an overnight sail, we were in Vancouver early the next morning and on our way home. A very long day, but one filled with memories of where we had been. I hope you feel that you have learned something about this area via these articles and you can find all my Alaska prints here in my gallery . Please leave me a comment if you have!

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This post has 11 comments.

Alessandra Chaves

Sounds like a very nice trip through interesting places. The golden hour photos are particularly lovely. Skagway Would pass for a town on the west coast Sierra Nevada. The floating sea otter is adorable!

Thanks Alessandra – it was interesting and I’m enjoying reliving it and the photos. Yes, those sea otters were really cute – I bought a 100-400 lens just 3 days before travel and I’m certainly glad I bought and took it. Those otters were at full zoom. But as a result, I have some pretty high-resolution images of them. And thanks for commenting!

I am really enjoying your series on Alaska. Sun on the horizon is stunning and seeing those otters must have been a joy for you

Thanks Annie – it has been a pleasure writing it as well. Almost got to the end now and I will put links in each article so that you can read them in order I think.

A trip of a lifetime. You’ve been doing an excellent job of describing your adventures and supporting your words expertly with some outstanding imagery. Really been enjoying this series.

Thanks! It has been interesting for me as well, revisiting what I thought about these places, and I hope it will prove to be an entertaining and useful series of articles for people thinking of going on an Alaskan cruise in the future. I must get it finished!

Dan Hamilton

Guess what? My wife and I were on that exact cruise! We may have seen byou onboard. We had taken the pre excursion Fairbanks to Seward and stayed in Vancouver two extra days. Excellent article and I took the same sunset picture and use it on my PC. Only took two thousand shots on the trip! Do you remember the hostess Natalia? I gave her a few hundred pictures on a flash drive.

Hi Dan – that’s great! I came away with 2000 images as well, some of which I used for these articles. We only took the cruise, deciding that the extra days were more chance to test positive for the virus! I don’t think I recall Natalia – was that in the restaurant? Steve

Malcolm Jones

Hi Steve, Been really enjoying your pics and cruise stories. Just puts me even more in the mood for our trip next year. Got your site saved to my favourites now. Like Dan, am also doing the Fairbanks to Seward pre extension. Like you, I may have to purchase another lens before I go just for that trip to get just a little closer to what I’m taking.

Great! I hope you enjoy it – I’m planning to write about more cruises as you can see. You could subscribe to get an email when I create a new post!

Janet Bates

Great information! We have booked this cruise for May 2025. Can you offer some insight on the cost of the not-included excursions? I’m having a hard time finding any information on pricing for them. Also, can you do the included excursion and an add-on excursion … if both are shorter in time? Thanks!

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The Most Popular Tour Operator Comparisons by Travelers

September 21, 2021

Tour Companies for Seniors 

European Tour Companies

Tour Companies for Young Adults

River Cruise Companies

Small Ship & Expedition Cruise Companies

The Best Tour Companies Compared

With so many tour companies out there, it can be hard to determine which one is the best for the type of trip you want to embark on. From luxury safari outfitters to budget adventure companies, there’s something for every type of traveler- but not every operator stacks up the same.

Besides reviews, there are few other factors to keep in mind when comparing reputable travel brands: their price points, the type of trips they organize (like small groups, private, cycling etc.), the regions they operate in, who they cater to, and what they’re known for. 

We’ve made it super easy for travelers to compare individual travel brands- from the big tour operators like Intrepid Travel and Contiki, all the way down to smaller regional brands. Here are the most popular tour operator comparisons that travelers make when planning for their next adventure:

Top Tour Companies for Seniors Compared:

• Road Scholar vs Smithsonian Journeys
• Go Ahead Tours vs Trafalgar
• Tauck vs Odysseys Unlimited
• Trafalgar vs Globus
• Tauck vs Senior Discovery Tours
• Collette vs Trafalgar
• Tauck vs Alexander + Roberts
• Abercrombie & Kent vs Tauck
• Trafalgar vs Tauck
• Tauck vs AHI Travel

Top European Tour Companies Compared:

• Trafalgar vs CostSaver
• Road Scholar vs Rick Steves  
• Rick Steves vs Insight Vacations
• Trafalgar vs Brendan Vacations
• Rick Steves vs Tauck
• Road Scholar vs Fjord Travel Norway
• Rick Steves vs Azores
• Trafalgar vs Cosmos
• Trafalgar vs SITA World Tours
• REI Adventures vs Fjord Travel Norway

Top Tour Companies for Young Adults Compared:

• Contiki vs EF College Break (EF Ultimate Break)
• Go Ahead Tours vs EF College Break (EF Ultimate Break)
• Contiki vs Intro Travel
• Backroads vs EF Gap Year
• Intrepid Travel vs G Adventures
• G Adventures vs Contiki
• Topdeck vs Contiki
• Intrepid Travel vs Contiki
• EF College Break (EF Ultimate Break) vs G Adventures
• Topdeck vs Intrepid Travel

Top River Cruise Companies Compared:

• Viking River Cruises vs AMA Waterways
• Viking River Cruises vs Tauck
• AMA Waterways vs Uniworld
• Tauck vs AMA Waterways
• Tauck vs Uniworld
• Uniworld vs Viking River Cruises
• Tauck vs Crystal Cruises
• Tauck vs Insight Vacations
• Crystal Cruises vs Uniworld
• Viking River Cruises vs Avalon Waterways

Top Small Ship & Expedition Cruise Companies Compared:

• Lindblad Expeditions vs Un-Cruise Adventures
• Lindblad Expeditions vs Quark Expeditions
• Quark Expeditions vs Hurtigruten
• Quark Expeditions vs Silversea
• Quark Expeditions vs National Geographic Expeditions
• Lindblad Expeditions vs National Geographic Expeditions
• Lindblad Expeditions vs Silversea
• Hurtigruten vs Silversea
• Silversea vs Crystal Cruises
• Lindblad Expeditions vs Hurtigruten

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6 Fabulous Shore Excursions On A Viking Rhine River Cruise

• Cruises and Sailing
• River Cruises
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A Rhine River Cruise is on the bucket list for many. Who has seen a commercial showcasing the castles along the Rhine as guests sail by on-board a river cruise?

TravelAwaits writer Peggy Cleveland and Senior Vice President Missy Glassmaker were hosted on Viking’s new Longship, the Viking Egdir , on the 8-day Rhine Getaway itinerary. This cruise took them to four countries — Switzerland , France , Germany , and the Netherlands — and included six guided tours. 

This cruise is heavy on castles and cathedrals as you cruise along the Rhine River. It is a rich landscape renowned for vineyards producing white wines, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the culinary traditions of the Alsace region — with its influences from both Germany and France — as well as the windmills and cheeses of the Netherlands.

One of the benefits of a Viking River Cruise is that a shore excursion is included in each port. We were both pleasantly surprised at the quality of these trips. Peggy is one who tends to explore on her own because, frankly, most tours she’s taken in the past have been pretty boring. The included Viking excursions typically took place in the morning and lasted about 3 hours. 

The guides were awesome! All were well-vetted and so knowledgeable about the destination. You will either be on a walking tour or a bus tour for which Viking uses their own buses. In your room, you will find a QuietVox audio receiver to wear around your neck with an earpiece. It allows you to hear the guide while the group can spread out a bit, which is nice for social distancing and if you want to linger and look at something a bit more as the group moves ahead.

Pro Tips: Tours start as early as 8:30 a.m. so get a good night’s sleep. Also be sure to wear good walking shoes. Peggy wore Keen’s Women’s Targhee II Waterproof Hiking Shoes . A hiking shoe gives you a great tread and support without the bulk of a boot. The terrain on this trip was very uneven with cobblestones and old pavement as well as some trails. Also note if you have mobility issues. Even tours rated “easy” have a walk from the ship to the bus which can be a challenge for some. Work with the ship’s program director or guest services for options.

Here are some of the fabulous excursions Peggy enjoyed on her Viking Rhine River Cruise.

1. The Black Forest

Breisach, germany.

I thought this was a great excursion and it was included. After our ship docked along the shore in Breisach, it was a short walk to the Viking buses where we met our guide, Walter Hirsch. The trip took us on a scenic drive through the fabled Black Forest, past three quaint villages and rolling hills covered in vineyards. We stopped at the Hofgut Sternen Hotel situated at a more than 700-year-old crossroads in the heart of the Black Forest. The location has a long history of hospitality towards travelers. 

My first stop was at the restaurant to enjoy a slice of Black Forest cake before visiting the shops and looking at the amazing assortment of cuckoo clocks. I ended up having enough time to take a hike into the forest and walk along a rushing stream before heading back to the bus.

2. Flavors Of Alsace

Strasbourg, france.

This is the best tour I have ever taken and, with my travel history, that is saying a lot. This was the most expensive of the optional excursions I took at over $200, but I felt it was well worth it. This tour is rated “demanding” as total walking or standing time may exceed 3 hours. 

The tour took us through Grande-Île, UNESCO World Heritage Site in Strasbourg, France. This charming historic district is filled with darling small shops, restaurants, and food merchants. It seemed like every type of food had its own small shop. We went to a bakery for eclairs, a shop for cheese, and even one for gingerbread. 

Our guide Steve is certified by the French Government and had to pass both a written and oral test. This certification is required to give tours of French monuments and museums. Steve was so personable and knowledgeable about the culinary traditions of the Alsace region. This made all the difference when spending 7 hours with someone. 

In addition to stops for food sampling, the tour included a stop at a Winstube where we enjoyed a wine tasting of Alsace wines and nibbled on local cheese and charcuterie. We also learned about and ate Flamkuchen, a local Alsace specialty. Similar to a pizza with a thin crust, we tried a savory one with onion and bacon lardons, and a sweet one with apples then flambeed with calvados liquor. Very impressive. 

We also toured the Strasbourg Cathedral, timing it perfectly to watch the astronomical clock in action, before heading back to the ship.

3. Kinderdijk Windmills & Dutch Cheese Making

Kinderdijk, the netherlands.

I am a big foodie, so any excursion that involves a farm-to-table experience is one I will always sign up for. The ship made a brief stop in Gorinchem, the Netherlands, for guests leaving on this excursion. Alas, we just walked from the ship along the historic city walls to our bus because this was such a darling small town and so picturesque that I wished we had time to explore it. 

The bus took us to a farm in Streefkerk to see the Booij kaasmakers (cheese makers) and learn how raw milk cheeses are made. The Booij family has made cheese for over 350 years and the craftsmanship and experience shows in their superior cheeses. After tasting the cheese, I think our whole group purchased some to bring home; it was that good.

We then boarded the buses and headed to the Kinderdijk Windmills to take a tour and link back up with the ship. A nice surprise was greeted by our program director, who took all our cheese for us so we didn’t have to carry it around while exploring the windmills. I enjoyed my afternoon in this bucolic setting. The historic windmills provided a perfect backdrop to the canals with a variety of waterfowl swimming about.

Here are some of the fabulous excursions Missy enjoyed on our Viking Rhine River Cruise.

4. Medieval Village Of Colmar

This was the first taste of the adorable villages you dream about when planning a Rhine River Cruise. We took a bus to the village and then were on our way. It was the end of the Easter break in Europe and several Easter Markets, think Christmas Markets but with a spring feel, were still set up — a real treat! 

Colmar is just so picturesque. It’s like being dropped into a storybook. Our guide excellently engaged us with stories from centuries of history, unique architecture, and other small details I would have been sure to miss had I been exploring on my own. The stroll was lovely and at an easy pace. The only problem was, you want to stop and linger at the cafes and shops! 

That’s where the QuietVox audio receiver Peggy mentioned above really pays off. It’s in every room on a Viking River Cruise and allows you to linger at the store windows to take a look, but still listen in as the group moves ahead. We did have about 45 minutes to explore at the end of the tour. This was plenty of time to pick up a few goodies.

5. Cologne By Bicycle

Viking offered an included walking tour of Cologne during our stop. Many on board took part and really enjoyed it. However, if you like a smaller group setting, want to work off a few calories from all the delicious food, and of course, enjoy riding a bike, this is the perfect tour for you. 

We met our lovely guide just off the ship and we were off. We biked across the Rhine River with several stops along the way to hear about the history and take pictures, including outside of the cathedral and the store where eau de cologne was invented. Our guide, a trained opera singer, even shared her talents with us at one stop. While that can’t be guaranteed on every Cologne bicycle tour, it was magical. The tour also included a stop to relax and grab a coffee or tea, which was included. Then, we made our way along the Rhine for several miles before heading back to the ship.

This tour allowed our group to see a lot of the city in less time, and with just six of us taking part, created great opportunities for getting to know one another, even while biking along the Rhine. We became fast friends and it made the entire experience so much more enjoyable. 

I hadn’t ridden a bike for years before joining this tour and while riding through a major city was daunting, and I felt a bit rusty at the beginning, it was a great experience and the guide was very patient. Finally, the team behind the guide is prepared should any issues arise. We had one member of our party blow a tire and they met us within minutes.

Another Option: Cologne’s Beer Culture & Dinner

This excursion was a ton of fun. We learned a little and laughed a lot! If you like beer and want to try authentic German fare, which was delicious, this is a great experience. The only problem was that it had to end, but guests on the ship were dancing the night away when we returned and you only need to know one thing: there was a conga line which always signals a great time.

Pro Tip: I ended up wearing my comfortable, exercise-type clothes much more than I thought I would on this trip. There’s no need to overpack, but just don’t forget to pack a few things you would normally wear when out for a good walk or bike ride.

6. Kinderdijk Windmills By Bicycle

Viking really puts you in the middle of the action on this stop. The windmills are basically across the road from the ship just begging you to come visit. Viking offered a walking, barge, and bicycle tour of the windmills. After having such a great time on the Cologne bicycle tour, I decided to join this one as well. 

What made this unique was being able to really see the windmills from various perspectives, as well as riding along the village that adjoins them, which wasn’t accessible on the walking or barge tours. I will say, our guide was just okay. He wasn’t very engaging, nice enough, but the competition was stiff with the many other fabulous guides we experienced throughout the week.

What We Both Loved

Finally, I agree with Peggy that the Flavors of Alsace was amazing and would highly recommend it. We had an excellent guide and a really great group of people from the ship on the tour, which made it even more enjoyable. We even had time to ride the double-decker carousel — a first! I also loved the included Black Forest excursion. The drive up was a bit windy, in case tight turns on a bus can make you woozy.

Other Excursions Guests Enjoyed

I made a point of chatting with the guests, learning which excursions they were going to experience and following up to see what they thought. A few that stood out were: the Black Forest E-bike tour, Mercedes-Benz Factory visit, Wine tasting and Dinner at Eberbach Monastery, and Moselle Wine Tasting.

Castles Of The Middle Rhine

While not an excursion, seeing 21 castles in just a few hours is what draws guests to this cruise. The sailing through the Middle Rhine is an unforgettable experience. The crew shares details of each castle over the ship’s intercom while you are able to just excitedly watch each go by. I feel the top deck is the best place for this, but it can really be enjoyed from anywhere, which is pretty special. 

Pro Tip: After booking your Viking Cruise, make sure to read 5 Important Things To Do To Prepare For Your Viking Cruise . There are detailed tips on how to research shore excursions and when to book.

Missy Glassmaker is an Emmy-nominated producer and writer. She spent most of her career in broadcast television news, working in Providence, Rhode Island; Knoxville, Tennessee; and St. Louis, Missouri. Missy enjoys cooking, entertaining, and of course, traveling. Her favorite travel companions are her twin sons, who are always ready to explore.

She currently lives in the Pacific Northwest. Her work can be found in Northwest Travel & Life Magazine , 253 Lifestyle Magazine , and other regional publications. She is the author of 100 Things to Do in Tacoma Before You Die , Reedy Press, and a member of the North American Travel Journalists Association (NATJA). The name of her travel blog came about from her friends constantly asking her, "Peggy, Where Should I Go?"

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Paris to Switzerland

By cruiserjanet , March 18, 2017 in River Cruising

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cruiserjanet

We have never been on a river cruise and are doing some long range planning. Has anyone been on the Paris to Switzerland cruise? If so, your thoughts please. We are only looking at this cruise.

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Host Jazzbeau

It would help to get focused replies if you specify which river cruise line, ship, and date.

notamermaid

I agree that some more details of what you are looking at could be helpful. In the meantime I would like to give you a little bit of info. This is a more unusual itinerary and not taken that much by cruisers, at least not that much talked about on CC. It certainly is an alternative to the standard Basel to Amsterdam route. It takes in the lovely Moselle and takes you through the famous castle stretch on the Rhine into the Upper Rhine valley and to Strasbourg as the highlight in that region. In my opinion. One word of warning: depending on the company the travel from Paris to the Moselle is a long day on a coach. If you are happy with not seeing Amsterdam and Cologne this is a nice route with any reputable company.

Sorry, it's Paris to the Swiss Alps on Viking. I don't have date yet since it's a long ways off. Please see the link I've included.

http://www.vikingrivercruises.com/cruise-destinations/europe/paris-swiss-alps/2017-paris-zurich/index.html#noscroll

Looks like a nice itinerary.

There must be long bus rides because there is no river connecting the two. Paris by bus to the Moselle? Then by ship up the river Rhine to Basel? Then a train or bus ride to Lucerne?

From the map, both Paris to the ship in Trier and Basel to Zurich are by bus. Paris to Trier is a very long way.

I noticed that the cruise ends with a bus ride from Basel to Zuerich, a city which is still far from the Alps. In good weather you can see them. Lucerne would be the city in the Alps.

It only goes to the Alps if you take the post-cruise extension.

FuelScience

I think that this is a nice itinerary. I've done the Viking Paris to Luxembourg bus ride several years ago on the "Cities of Light cruise. It took about 4 hours and included a 30-minute rest stop. On our trip we left Paris a little after breakfast, had lunch on our own in Luxembourg, saw the American cemetery and boarded the ship in Trier in the late afternoon. The bus ride was OK. Just bring something to read and go with the flow.

Hello FuelScience,

I would also find the bus ride o.k. seeing that the modern coaches have partly reclining seats, and sometimes there is a TV screen, the coaches are air-conditioned and the rest stop is a legal requirement. No problem. One just needs to be aware that it is long day that one is not sightseeing or on a ship. Apart from the visit to Luxembourg city centre and the American cemetery. I usually read, listen to music or have a nap on these bus rides.

I do not recall the scenery being of much interest. A bit more than four hours mainly on motorways, the nicest stretch will be the section with the vineyards between Luxembourg and Trier, although the Moselle valley near Metz is also o.k.

I like this itinerary for the fact that is offers a variation to the standard Marksburg in that it includes a trip up onto the Lorelei rock. It also stops in Mainz rather than Rüdesheim which I find superior. Just my opinion as I am not a fan of the jovial / merry Rüdesheim. Worms is also a great stop and new to Viking I believe.

Thank you for your replies. This will be an anniversary cruise for not only myself and my DH but my BFF and her DH are going to be joining us also. My DH and I have never been to Europe before and this cruise looks like it covers 4 countries so I'm guessing we will be in for some amazing experiences. Our plan is to fly into London a few days before and go to Paris to meet with everyone. This is a few years off but, since we have never taken a river cruise before, we are doing our research so we can be informed and also have something to look forward to besides our other ocean cruises.

• 4 weeks later...

dcruiser100

We just returned from Viking Paris to Swiss Alps on Longboat HILD. Fantastic itinerary, you will enjoy. We extended 2 more days in Paris. The bus ride to boat was not bad as there were several sightseeing and rest stops (Luxumborg, Amer. Cemetery) to break up the time. Seats are big, comfortable; bus is quiet. Scenery along the highway is beautiful countryside - like looking at postcard pictures for 3 hours. As for cruise, we strongly recommend 3 optional excursions: (Paris - Montmontre Hill & Versailles Palace, and Basel - Highlights of the Alps). Daytime temps late March, early April were 60d-65d. Enjoy.

This is good to know. Thank you so much.

We are flying from the US. Is it better to fly in to Zurich and take the Zurich to Paris route or fly into Paris and do the Paris to Zurich route.

That's a hard call. There are subtle differences in taking one direction or the other--things like whether you'll be in a town during the morning or the afternoon or how much free time you might have somewhere, but those are hard to assess from the descriptions on the web sites.

Also, have you looked at the AMA itinerary at the link below? I think that AMA may be the only other line that offers this route. There are some differences. AMA is advertised as Luxembourg to Basel, but they offer 3-day extensions in both Paris and Zurich. I think that if you do the extensions, you travel from Paris to Luxembourg on the TGV train (about 2 hours) rather than the bus.

https://www.amawaterways.com/destination/europe-river-cruises/2018/rhine-moselle-splendors

Depending on your planned activities you may want to look at typical weather patterns for the time you will be at each city - 10 days might make a difference (although climate today is so unpredictable). Also air fares and flight choices for certain days would be a factor to consider. However, to be less cerebral, we liked doing Paris first, since we were pumped up about the adventure to come and, with the adrenaline flowing, we were eager to take on all that this great city had to offer. By day 12, with so many wonderful tours and pictures, we were ready to start winding down and prep for the trip home. Zurich was a good place to start that transition. I vote Paris to Zurich.

Departing from Paris is very time consuming and a real hassle. Arriving in Paris is relatively easy. That said, I don't know how Zurich compares. I would gamble and travel Paris to Zurich

Our plan is to spend a few days in London so I think we will do it beforehand and take the tube to Paris to meet our group. We have never been to Europe before.

• 1 month later...

We were on this Viking Cruise from Mar 23 to April 5 this year (2017). Couldn't have been more pleased. It was one of the best vacations we have taken. We did a 2-day extension in Paris which we strongly recommend if 1st time. Don't be put off by the negative comments on bus from Paris to Viking Ship at Trier, DE. The trip includes rest stops and city tour of Luxembourg and WWII American Cemetery, both of which are fantastic. All during the bus ride, the Viking Guide is commenting on beautiful scenery of French and Luxembourg countryside. The bus is roomy with large windows - you will be in Trier before you know it.

Same for the trip to Swiss Alps. Don't pass up on this extra Excursion. So many of our fellow passengers did not book this OPTIONAL trip and were so disappointed that Viking could not take additional guests. We have been to all major US and Canada Ski areas, but the views of the Alps during this bus and train trip were as good or better. If you choose this trip - you will regret passing on this Excursion.

Great Cruise - from starting gun to finish line.

lackcreativity

I am relatively new to cruising, having taken only one river and one ocean cruise, both with Viking. I am a big fan, as both our trips were wonderful, and I recommend them highly. However, I have seen enough comments by more experienced cruisers to suggest that you make sure you do your research to understand the differences between ocean and river cruises. If you are accustomed to sailing on the large cruise ships with thousands of other passengers and lots of entertainment options (rock climbing walls, casinos, pools, etc.), this will be very different.

I am certainly not trying to discourage you, as I said we absolutely loved :hearteyes: our river cruise, and expect that you will as well !

steverhodes

We have been on 5 river and 1 ocean cruise, all on Viking, which we love. We will be going on the Paris To the Swiss Alps cruise on July 29 this year. We know several people whose first Viking trip was this one. They loved it and have since booked other Viking voyages.

We were on this Viking Cruise from Mar 23 to April 5 this year (2017). Couldn't have been more pleased. It was one of the best vacations we have taken. We did a 2-day extension in Paris which we strongly recommend if 1st time. Don't be put off by the negative comments on bus from Paris to Viking Ship at Trier, DE. The trip includes rest stops and city tour of Luxembourg and WWII American Cemetery, both of which are fantastic. All during the bus ride, the Viking Guide is commenting on beautiful scenery of French and Luxembourg countryside. The bus is roomy with large windows - you will be in Trier before you know it.   Same for the trip to Swiss Alps. Don't pass up on this extra Excursion. So many of our fellow passengers did not book this OPTIONAL trip and were so disappointed that Viking could not take additional guests. We have been to all major US and Canada Ski areas, but the views of the Alps during this bus and train trip were as good or better. If you choose this trip - you will regret passing on this Excursion.   Great Cruise - from starting gun to finish line.

Did you take the Glacier Express offered by Viking in Zurich?

• 3 weeks later...

Silverlakergirl

My husband and I are also going on this cruise on July 29th. This will be our 4th Viking River cruise. I have been looking around to see reviews of the extension to Zermatt and Geneva, and was pleasantly surprised to see your post. Hope to see you on board.

That's great. We are Steve and Sally Rhodes.

Photography is my passion. You can see pictures of our previous trips here:

http://www.RhodesVacations.com

Here is our picture in Lisbon from our trip last year to Portugal on Viking. Looking forward to meeting you two!

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River Cruise

We are missing our visits to Europe and are considering a return. It just seems that we are going to have to find a way to resume the things we love safely. Either that or spend all our time at home. Since we have traveled by bus, train and cruise ship in Europe, but have never taken a river cruise. Does anyone have suggestions or advice in choosing a company that offers European river cruises? We have been looking at a cruise on the Rhine in northern Europe. Thoughts? Both about company and if it could be done safely in regards to Covid.

We have been on river cruises with AMAWaterways and Viking and AMAWaterways was far superior to Viking.

We went on a Viking cruise back in 2015 to check out river cruising. While it was fine, we felt like we were always having to tip the guides, bus drivers, etc. That got really old very quickly. What we found out most was that we don’t like having our time so thoroughly planned out for us, river cruising wasn’t for us, and we could have seen the same places independently for less.

We had cousins booked on Viking and AMAWaterways coincidentally the same week. The couples on AMA had their cruise cancelled two weeks prior because the water levels were too low. With a choice of a credit or refund. After hearing this, the other couple called Viking inquiring about the water levels and were told all was fine. They went. Their cruise ended up being a bus tour, but they slept on the ship each night. This made for some extremely long bus rides and days. They were not happy. Choice wisely.

I would have thought that for this year, private touring would be less of a Covid risk than a cruise.

I took a cruise up the Danube some years ago with a company called Leuftner Cruises and enjoyed it. But, as noted above, it's a very structured and limited way to "see" Europe. Water levels can definitely be a problem, especially in late summer. If you go this route, I suggest you look for a ship that will have passengers of multiple nationalities so you can meet people besides Americans. I may be wrong, but my impression is that Viking markets so heavily to the US that you're unlikely to encounter non-American passengers.

We have been on two Viking cruises and were very pleased with both. High and low water can be a problem and is dependent more on the time of year. High water, spring run off, can be a bigger problem in Spring and early summer and low water is late fall to early winter. And it varies somewhat by river basin. As part of the Viking package there is a half day (2 to 3 hours) walking at each port stop. We found the guides to be excellent and the tours interesting. After the tour you have at least another half day (and sometimes more) to wonder around the city. Cannot compare to other lines since we have only been on Viking. The ships because of size tend to be more intimate than ocean cruise ships. You will share a table at meals and we have meet some very interesting people. The tipping of guides, etc., is not different than ocean cruises or other guided trips. We probably will wait till 23 to book anything.

Some of the best operators include Tauck (pricing all-inclusive), Scenic, Uniworld, AMAWaterways, Avalon, and Viking. I've been on Tauck and enjoyed the trip - especially their "once-in-a-lifetime travel experiences." The first four are my preferred lines. Tauck may appear to be higher priced, but I suggest you look closer at what's included in each river cruise. Certainly, COVID has played havoc with the River Cruise Industry, especially for departures from Amsterdam!

Thoughts about river cruise companies- there is a you tube vlogger named Gary Benbridge who posts videos on a channel called Tips for Cruisers. He has a whole series of videos on river cruising that is very good. He describes river cruising in general as well as pros and cons of the various lines.

As to the safety regarding COVID, I have the same concerns as with all the other forms of touring that involve large groups living in close proximity. I plan to avoid this and concentrate on independent travel.

We like Scenic USA which is an Australian company with offices in the US. We have done 2 trips with them and were very happy. We have an Antarctica cruise scheduled with them for later this year.

We have done 2 Viking River cruises. Danube Waltz and Cities of Lights. The latter cruise just this past Oct. We loved them both and recommend. We are aware river levels can be problematic. Fortunately not an issue for ours. We have friends that also cruise with Viking. Have had no problems or complaints. Food, service, itinerary, excursions, comfort, educational lectures, covid caution all appreciated. We like the Scandinavian design and simplicity…nothing ornate or artsy. We leave that to scenic views and lovely architecture of villages and cities. It’s a wonderful intimate way to tour Europe.

AmaWaterways is the leader in river cruising. Not only that, the cuisine is superior compared to other river cruises. Ama boats are half the size of Vikings meaning you’ll encounter fewer people. You get what you pay for on Ama.

We took a river cruise with Emerald. It is the "little sister" of Scenic cruises. Same company, but a little less extravagant. Still all inclusive including tips. The weather was rainy and windy (end of April), so the cruise director had a lot of plan Bs that worked out beautifully. It reminds me of RS tours that have to adjust to changes in itinerary. It was very nicely done. The cost was close to 50% less than Scenic who by the way, provide you with your own personal butler. Really...who needs someone unpacking your undies? I'd be nervous on a big ship during Covid, but wouldn't be as concerned on an Emerald river boat. A lot of the tours were walking ones in the towns and cities on the Rhine. Not a lot of bus travel.

We have done four river cruises and love them. They are a bit more expensive than doing a trip on your own, but the convenience of staying in a floating hotel is wonderful. Our cruises were in Russia, China, The Rhone-Saone in SE France and the Douro in N. Portugal.

There are many good river cruise companies. It is best to compare before you pick a cruise line. There is a significant difference in price for virtually the same cruise.

Find out that is included in your cruise, usually most tours are included as well as beverages with meals.

Viking is an excellent cruise line, but don't stop there, compare with others. AMA Waterways is excellent, but usually more expensive than Viking. We did the SE France cruise with AMA. Emerald, Scenic, Avalon, Croisi, Tauck, Uniworld and Crystal are others. I have heard great things about most of these, expecially Uniworld and Tauck. https://www.tourradar.com/gi/river-cruise-companies

Gate 1 is likely to beat all the above on price. i know more than one person that loves Gate 1. Check it out before you make a decision.

Do a side-by-side comparison of the costs between the different lines. And closely review the included and optional excursions they are offering.

We did Viking on the Rhine, and had no complaints. But its true, its not the immersive European experience you've had before.

My post from a few hours ago seems to have disappeared. I'll try again but be more succinct.

My experience was a few years ago on Grand Circle. Here are the things I'd recommend looking into when choosing a river cruise:

• Time in each port. Visited each port for about a half day. This wasn't enough time to see much else in town.
• Life aboard ship. There were some educational lectures, but not much else. Depending on your point of view, this made for a relaxing or boring trip.
• Post tour hotel. Nice by American standards but was located outside the city. I took public transportation into town, much to the concern of the tour director as it seemed everyone else was content to remain at the hotel for the rest of the afternoon and evening.

As for COVID, you're only as safe as you and your fellow passengers want to be. It is a team effort. The ship I was on had a small dining room and no outside dining area. With COVID, I'd be concerned being around people not wearing masks (as they would have taken them off to eat).

Youtube is full of videos about river cruising. Even our friend Rick has addressed it in some episodes. Hunker down and watch as many as you can take.

I don't think it's the best idea with COVID surging about since the boats are still relatively small with lots of shared space, but again it's a personal choice.

One thing my wife discovered is that often the boats have to tie up to each other and there are noise issues, and sometimes you have to pass through one boat to get to yours. Which could make for some hurt feelings if the other boat is nicer :)

We have enjoyed river cruises with Viking while traveling with extended family groups. One big positive (in my mind) is that they currently conduct daily Covid tests for all passengers and crew, and have procedures in place in case of positive test results. With any cruise company, check the fine print and ask questions. Changing Covid restrictions may eliminate the option to explore independently at the last minute-as may changing water levels, etc.

Thanks to all who have taken the time to offer their experiences and advice. You have given me some thoughtful insight and it is much appreciated! As suggested, I will compare the different cruise lines and hopefully that will make it possible to make an educated decision. I was glad to hear the some of the cruse lines do daily Covid testing to address any concerns early on.

Add me as a Gate1 fan. We did a lovely cruise from Budapest along the Danube which ended in Prague.( transfered by bus) Took optional additional days in Budapest. Everything was lovely, well run and enjoyable, Price was right but never felt as if anything was cheap or stingy. Meals were lovely. Guides were excellent and helpful. We had a Vikings cruise dock next to us - we were still very happy with our choice even after seeing that ship. Gate1 only includes alcohol during meals(wine and beer) but that was not an issue for us. Our Rhine cruise with them was cancelled due yo Covid/

I suggest you look at Ralph Grizzle's website, https://www.rivercruiseadvisor.com/ . He's unbiased and a good source of information about how to choose the best cruise line. We have taken cruises with AmaWaterways, Uniworld and Scenic and enjoyed them all. We prefer all-inclusive but that is why you need to explore the options, so you can get a sense of what appeals most to you.

I hope this is helpful.

This topic has been automatically closed due to a period of inactivity.

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In 2024 we are building our AFRICA menu and visiting to film Cape Town and other ports

Cape Town, South Africa

This garden of wine and golf has features that include Robbin Island and Table Mountain but we start with the penguins.

Freddie Mercury house in Zanzibar

Freddie Mercury was born in Zanzibar. It is a strictly religious country so is not as proud of him as you might expect.

Tema Accra cruise port

Tema Accra is a popular port receiving over 1500 vessels a year. It is popular with cruise ships.

Abidjan, the Ivory Coast

Abidjan is an economic centre with modern landmarks like La Pyramide, and St. Paul’s Cathedral which has a

About Us  

Doris Visits is just a little hobby, and a way of helping people research ports and ships. It is our way of giving back as we are on the ships between 6 and 12 times a year as Guest Lecturers. The site is also supported by other guest lecturers.

Why Doris?  It was a character Jean played in a TV show and we started the port guides as a little spin-off. It took over. I mean, rode into town and said this is it.

Who is Jean ?  Jean is a West End and Broadway actress who now has her own one woman show called Royal Mistresses, which she performs at guilds and on ships. Hence, she cruises – a bit. She now presents TV and is known by many cruisers for her Doris Visits port guides.

Who is Stuart?   Featured in a clip in the 2024 Oscars – in the tribute to movie stuntmen – he was the Queen Alien in Aliens. Now, he points the iPhone at Jean when they go and explore ashore. He finished in movies as a director, and now writes cruise thrillers.

The grandchildren who sometimes travel and from their son Luke Aikman. He was the young Colin Firth in Fever Pitch and appeared in Freight. He is now a producer and business entrepreneur. Their daughter helped with the plot of the first four novels and is now writing with comedian Joe Wilkinson.  Laura Aikman is known for being the girlfriend in the Christmas Gavin and Stacey, and Dyan Cannon in Archie. Some grew up with her Saturday show, Mysti.

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Filmed guides of the world’s amazing cruise ports

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DorisVisits.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn fees by showing Amazon products.  We joined to publish and sell our cruise novels. Please see Cruise Ship Heist. *Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates.  Doris Visits also participates in other affiliate programs, normally cruise or book related, and we sometimes get a commission through purchases made using our the links we use you may assume links to third parties have these connections. You do not pay extra for ANY affiliate link you click, but that affiliate if they do pay us some money, is helping to pay for our server, widgets, apps and other tools we use to make this site work. To date we have never been a profit making site and the income from books supplements the cruise activity, help and advice we give. If in doubt, assume there may be a marketing link when you go through to a third party site. If you click links we use on other sites, used to drect you to cruise help, sites like Facebook, you should know that they replace our link with their own and that becomes the dominant link meaning they get paid the commission. The only site we can control is DorisVisits.com