VIKING SPIRIT
Long-ship cruise a lovely way to explore the world
The champagne was flowing freely as hundreds of people gathered near the confluence of the Mosel and Rhine rivers for the christening of two new Viking “long ships” earlier this spring.
A gala gourmet dinner — prepared by Viking chefs and attended by Viking brass, local dignitaries, special guests and media — followed the traditional naming ceremony of the Hild and the Herja.
The gala took place in a glittering pop up, chandelier-lit building erected for the event. After the toasts, lively entertainment and a cable-car ride over the river to the cliff top Ehrenbreitstein Fortress to view some celebratory fireworks, most of the travel writers reboarded the Hild for a mini-cruise.
Some of the special guests had brought their spouses, but others had invited another family member or a friend along, and as we journeyed along the Middle Rhine it occurred to me that river cruises are not only for couples.
The majority of Viking guests are as portrayed in the cruise line’s eye-catching TV ads — sophisticated, well-travelled couples age 50-plus — but the approach of Mother’s Day had me thinking that a river cruise is a good option for a mother-daughter getaway, too.
And with the exception of rekindling romance, all the reasons why a river cruise is good for couples apply to mothers and daughters, and other types of travellers as well — sisters, fathers, brothers, friends, history buffs, wine lovers, foodies and more.
In a few short days on the Rhine, we:
Sampled excellent German wines at the 12th-century Eberbach Abbey.
Took a gentle hike to the hilltop Marksburg Castle;
Sailed past ruins and the legendary Lorelei Rock;
Walked in the footsteps of Protestant reformer Martin Luther in Worms (pronounced Vorms);
Learned about Johannes Gutenberg (whose print-related inventions sparked a revolution in communications) and viewed the fabulous Chagall Windows at St. Stephan church in Mainz.
Shopped for charcuterie and cheeses and sampled artisanal chocolate at Patisserie Christian in the lovely medieval city of Strasbourg, France.
To borrow a phrase from Viking chairman and chief executive Torstein Hagen, who was aboard for the first few days of the sailing, we were “exploring the world in comfort.”
The straight-talking Norwegian says he has an “if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it” philosophy — meaning Viking tweaks things that aren’t working for guests, but doesn’t change things for the sake of change or to follow trends.
Viking ’s river fleet has expanded to 64 ships — 48 of them long ships. The long ships have some of the largest staterooms found on European river ships.
Anyone sailing on a long ship can expect a consistent experience — comfortable, well-designed accommodations, with excellent food and wine, great service and interesting excursions, Hagen said.
The distinctive square-bowed ships accommodate up to 190 guests in 95 staterooms. These fall into five categories, including 39 staterooms with full-size verandas, seven veranda suites with a separate sitting room, a full-size veranda and a French balcony, and two lux, two-room Explorer suites with wraparound verandas.
True verandas are rare on river ships, which must often fit into narrow locks as they traverse the waterways. But Viking redesigned the long ships’ interior corridors to allow for real verandas, Hagen said. Other innovations include heated bathroom floors, quiet, low vibration and energy efficient diesel-electric engines and on-board solar panels.
Among the public spaces are a lounge, bar, sun deck with walking track and herb garden, library area, restaurant and the Aquavit Terrace for outdoor dining at the bow of the ship.