Viking Cities of Light
In the summer of 2024, Kim and I were looking for "value" for future travel plans and discovered one of the few Viking trips we had not enjoyed was offering "FREE AIR" - so we jumped on the opportunity to book this 2026 Viking River cruise!
We're so excited to be joined
by our great friends Pam & Bob and Claudia & Gary
again on this adventure!
March 10-11 - Travel to Paris from Fort Lauderdale
Arrive and check in to your hotel. Long a hub of French culture and cuisine, Paris is one of the most romantic destinations in the world. Over the centuries, Parisian culture has been built on the wings of inspiration. Music, film, architecture, literature, dance and the visual arts all have their brilliant place in the museums, theaters, bookstores and remarkably preserved buildings of this magnificent city. At the center of it all is the Champs-Élysées. With its inviting riverside promenade, graceful bridges and splendid views of all things Parisian, from the Eiffel Tower to the Louvre Museum.
March 12 - Travel to Paris from Fort Lauderdale
One of the most pleasurable activities in Paris is whiling away the time in one of the city’s outdoor cafés. Whether you are sipping a café au lait or a kir royal, there is no better way to feel like a Parisian. The hub of social and culinary life, cafés have been part of the city’s fabric since the 1600s. During the 20th century, literary and artistic figures—such as Ernest Hemingway, Colette and Pablo Picasso—famously met over drinks to share their works and ideas. Today, thousands of cafés line the pavements and squares to connect with France’s culture and history.
Mark & Kim: French Balcony #204 / Bob & Pam: Veranda #205
March 13: Reims
After breakfast, check out of your hotel and begin your journey to your embarkation city. Reims lies in the heart of France’s renowned Champagne region. A testament to its rich history, which can be traced back to Gallo-Roman times, is its diverse collection of landmarks. Among its most iconic are the Abbey of Saint-Rémi, the final resting place of the archbishop who baptized Frankish king Clovis and initiated Reims’s long line of coronations; the Palace of Tau, an archiepiscopal residence constructed in the Middle Ages; and Reims Cathedral, where 25 kings of France were coronated. These three monuments were collectively inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991.
March 14: Trier
The historic heart of Trier, the bustling and colorful Hauptmarkt is the city’s main gathering place and a rich repository of architecture. Once the center of trade in medieval Trier, the square is anchored by an ornate fountain featuring St. Peter, the city’s patron saint. In addition, the unmistakable white- and mustard-colored tower of St. Gangolf Church rises above the square, resplendent with late Gothic and baroque elements. Perhaps the Hauptmarkt’s most distinctive building is the Steipe, named for its short pillars. Today, the pedestrian-only Hauptmarkt is a colorful canvas of baroque, Renaissance and classicist styles that mingle seamlessly with modern shops and cafés.
March 15: Cochem
Perched on a hilltop above the city and the Moselle, a 1,000-year-old imperial castle is the signature landmark of Cochem. Its mighty rectangular keep and many small towers strike a dramatic pose against a curtain of green hills. In Cochem’s lively Old Quarter, the market square boasts old timber-framed houses that overlook Martin’s Fountain and the bay-windowed baroque Town Hall. In this historic center, the 15th-century St. Martin’s Church and the Capuchin monastery, which now serves as an artistic and cultural center, are all beautifully preserved. Wine taverns along the river offer a “green wine,” a very young wine.
March 16: Koblenz
Koblenz is a traditional German city, founded more than 2,000 years ago. This former trading settlement rests on a massif of the Middle Rhine Highlands. Its cobblestone streets, wood-beamed houses adorned with flowers, ancient market square and medieval churches recall the fairy-tale Germany of old. At the “German Corner,” a massive equestrian statue of Prince William I observes the lovely riverside scene. The famed Teutonic Knights set up their first base here in 1216. The Romanesque Basilica of St. Castor, Koblenz’s oldest building, dates to 836.
March 16: Scenic Sailing of the Rhine
The Rhine River flows through one of Germany’s most scenic regions. As you sail its most picturesque stretch, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Middle Rhine, you will pass vineyard-blanketed hills whose steep slopes require vintners to pick grapes by hand, keeping a centuries-old tradition alive. Splendid castles line the banks, all of which have stories to share, and the Lorelei Rock presides at a dramatic curve in the river. This infamous river maiden mesmerized sailors with her song and lured them to their demise at her feet.
March 17: Heidelberg
Germany’s oldest university town, Heidelberg is situated in the Neckar Valley just east of the Rhine. Known as the cradle of the German Romantic movement, it also boasts beautiful baroque architecture. Heidelberg is most famous as the site of the imposing Heidelberg Castle. A magnificent red sandstone ruin perched 330 feet above the river, it was home to the Palatinate princes until it was partially destroyed by fire in the 17th century. It has been said that Heidelberg’s cityscape is so beautiful and so admired that American forces deliberately chose to avoid bombing it during World War II.
March 18: Wurzburg
Surrounded by Franconian vineyards, Würzburg was heavily damaged during World War II, but has since been completely restored. This prestigious university city is a jewel of baroque architecture. Its most pristine example of pomp and glory is the great Bishops’ Residenz palace, built in 1744 for the prince-bishop; his unwavering support of artists is evidenced by the sweeping staircase and magnificent ceiling frescoes by Tiepolo. Other landmarks include the medieval, statue-lined Old Main Bridge and Marienberg Fortress, originally a Celtic hill fort and later residence of the bishops. The city remains a major wine-making center, hosting Germany’s oldest and largest vineyard.
March 19: Sailing the Main River
Journey along one of Germany’s most important waterways today, passing landscapes that embody the country’s scenic beauty and storybook charm. You will sail by quaint riverside villages, undulating farm country and the sylvan forests of the Spessart woodlands. Along the way, you just may lose yourself in the dreamy canvases of half-timbered houses, historic castles and splendid palaces. This is the Germany once ruled by dukes and brought to magical life by the imagination of the Brothers Grimm, who grew up in the town of Hanau and wove fantastic tales from these banks.
March 20: Nuremburg
After breakfast, disembark your ship and transfer to your destination. The second-largest city in Bavaria, Nuremberg is filled with traditional half-timbered houses and Gothic churches with intricate spires. Although nearly destroyed during World War II, the remaining medieval city walls stretch some three miles and feature original gateways and 80 original watchtowers. Nuremberg is well known historically for its metal and toy craftsmanship. But it is infamous for its role in World War II, first as the site of Zeppelin Field’s Nazi rallies and later as the site of the war crimes trials at the Palace of Justice that captured the attention of a generation. Transfer to your hotel and settle into your room.
March 21-22: Prague
Few cities embody the past as authentically as Prague, the Czech Republic’s atmospheric capital on the Vltava River that clings to its history with unwavering passion. Prague’s medieval architecture is its most prominent, but the city is also a rich repository of Romanesque, baroque and art nouveau buildings that stir the imagination. The city’s graceful, pedestrian-only Charles Bridge served as the coronation route of the kings of Bohemia across the river to Hradčany Castle and its rich complex of royal buildings.
March 22-27: Post-Extension - Krakow/Warsaw
Day 1 - Kraków
Check out of your hotel in Prague and transfer to Kraków, where you will check in to your hotel and enjoy the evening at your leisure. Your Viking Tour Director is available to help you plan your time in Kraków so you can make the most of your visit.
Day 2 - Kraków
Discover Kraków’s well-preserved Old Town. Stroll through the vast 13th-century Main Square; at its center stands the enormous Renaissance Cloth Hall, where exotic imports once passed for trade. On Wawel Hill, visit Wawel Castle, the former residence of Poland’s kings and now a fascinating art museum. Spend the afternoon at your leisure. This evening, enjoy dinner on your own. (B)
Day 3 - Kraków
After breakfast, journey just outside the city to Auschwitz-Birkenau; these preserved concentration camps serve as a solemn reminder of the horrors of World War II. Back in Kraków, enjoy the afternoon on your own. Perhaps peruse the National Museum’s fine collection of paintings, sculptures and military artifacts, or see Wawel Cathedral, where royal coronations were held and national heroes are entombed. This evening, enjoy dinner accompanied by a lively klezmer folk music performance. (B, D)
Day 4 - Częstochowa & Warsaw
This morning, check out of your hotel and travel to Warsaw. En route, you will visit the city of Częstochowa. Here, stop at the Pauline monastery of Jasna Góra, home of the famous Black Madonna painting that draws millions of Catholic pilgrims from all over the world. In the Polish capital of Warsaw, check in to your hotel and enjoy time to explore the city on your own. Your Viking Tour Director is available to help you plan your time in Warsaw so you can make the most of your visit. (B)
Day 5 - Warsaw
This morning, take in the incredibly restored Old Town. Completely demolished during World War II, historians and architects have painstakingly rebuilt it to mirror its original beauty, using bricks and decorative elements salvaged from the rubble whenever possible. You have the afternoon free to continue exploring this compelling city on your own. (B)
Day 6 - Warsaw
After breakfast, check out of your hotel and proceed to the airport for your return flight. (B)
