2014 is going to be a huge year for Viking River Cruises. The fleet will continue to grow at an incredible rate as a whole new 14 ships will be launched, and the company will continue revealing information on the new ocean cruise line that will begin sailing in 2015 when the Viking Star takes to the seas.
But just because all of this new stuff is happening, we shouldn’t forget that Viking River Cruises already offers a wealth of fantastic voyages for 2014. Here we’ve highlighted some of the best destinations you can enjoy on a 2014 Viking River Cruise.
Austria and Hungary
A river cruise down the Danube takes you right to the centre of Europe, giving you the chance to see and explore some of the most beautiful towns and cities on the Continent. We’ve got tons of itineraries available for cruises down the Danube in 2014, but a popular route might begin with a sightseeing tour of Budapest – Hungary’s magnificent capital city, with a night life as vivid and varied as its day-trip attractions. See Melk Abbey during your time in Austria’s spectacular Wachau Valley, a golden hilltop monastery filled with soaring baroque architecture – or spend some time in calm, picturesque Linz.
The main attraction on a Danube cruise has to be Vienna – a sprawling city and a capital of culture. Step ashore and you could tour the ridiculously impressive St Stephen’s Cathedral, the indescribably ornate Opera House, or even just unwind in one of the city’s countless coffee houses – ranging from modest, modern and bohemian gathering places to unashamedly ornate establishments. Take your pick of the kaffeehausen and cap off your time in the city of music with a rich slice of sacher torte – and a cup of coffee that smells like how Sunday morning feels.
Germany and France
The Rhine has been a major route through Europe for thousands of years, so a cruise down its central stretch can give history lovers a concentrated dose. Lining its banks are cities like Koblenz and Cologne, destinations with more military heritage than you could rattle a sabre at – but also bustling modern centres, home to unforgettable arts and music festivals, and mesmerising Christmas markets. The hills that surround the Rhine are crowned with towering medieval fortresses straight out of the movies – and small towns filled with timber-frame homes and taverns, where you’d half expect to meet a character from Grimms’ fairy tales.
The River Moselle makes for a more modest route than the Rhine, but offers no shortage of spectacular sightseeing. This river bridges the boundaries between Germany and France, physically and culturally. The Moselle winds through noticeably flatter terrain, and much of the surrounding countryside is home to rolling vineyards and beautiful, historic towns that produce some of Europe’s best white wines. If you prefer your reds, you could ask our cruise concierge team about our 2014 river cruises through France – we’ve got some fantastic deals on cruises to Bordeaux, Cognac and Pauillac; the perfect place for wine lovers to sample some local vintages on an all-inclusive trip ashore.
Netherlands and Belgium
There are few things more rewarding than discovering your new favourite place in the world, and you don’t necessarily need to travel the Earth to find it. River cruises to the Netherlands are some of the most accessible ways to see Europe if you’re sailing from the UK – revealing a culture which combines the perfect amount of the new and the familiar.
A trip around the Netherlands wouldn’t be complete without a look at the famous tulip fields, but there’s so much more to discover too – like towns and villages built on land mechanically reclaimed from the sea (hence the iconic windmills), and colourful ports packed with folk heritage, that gave rise to colossal ocean trade networks in centuries past. Take a shore adventure around Amsterdam, a welcoming modern city with a long history and a fantastic choice of shops, cafes and markets; discover the wartime history of Arnhem, now a peaceful, beautiful city; or the stunning spires, turrets and public spaces of Ghent in Belgium.
Main image courtesy of A. India. First article image courtesy of A. Bossi.
