Januari 2016
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Mendocino
Photo courtesy Visit Mendocino County
We recently attended the San Diego Travel & Adventure Show for some travel inspiration.  Since we work full-time, we’re always looking for fun new California weekend getaways to provide us with a little bit of vacation without having to take time off.  The travel show had an aisle-and-a-half of cities and counties from all over the state, providing us with lots of ideas.  Even though we have lived in California our entire lives, we are always amazed by the wealth of vacation opportunities this great state has to offer, many of which we still haven’t experienced.


Weekend Getaways in Southern California


City of Ventura


Ventura Pier
Photo Credit: Harold Litwiler, Poppy Big Oak Photography via Compfight cc
The City of Ventura is a classic and casual coastal California weekend getaway destination.  Ventura Harbor offers boutiques, shops, and restaurants with a view of the Pacific Ocean.  Travelers can hit the water for surfing, paddle-boarding, kayaking, or paddle-boating, or a more relaxing electric boat cruise of Ventura’s residential canals.  Downtown Ventura offers a more historic destination with the San Buenaventura Mission, City Hall, and other historic buildings, as well as shops and restaurants.  What is special about Ventura is that many of its shops and restaurants are locally owned, unique to Ventura, rather than part of nationwide chains.  Ventura also has wineries and brew houses, or you can get a taste of Ventura by joining the Ventura Sip & Savor Wine Tour.  The City of Ventura also has special events happening throughout the year, like the Ventura County Fair, the Tall Ships at Ventura Harbor, and more.

Channel Islands


Scorpion Cove on Santa Cruz Island
Photo by Doug Mangum courtesy 
Island Packers
Channel Islands National Park can be added on to a weekend getaway to Ventura, or it can be a weekend getaway all its own if you want to do some island camping.  The Channel Islands are known as the Galapagos Islands of North America because of the rich diversity of their plant and animal life.  The islands are very protected, so there are limits to the number of people allowed in the National Park on any given day.  A day trip with Island Packers to Anacapa Island, the closest of the five islands of the Channel Islands, consists of a boat ride from Ventura Harbor to Anacapa Island, a two-mile guided hike, and then five hours of shore time for exploring the 15 miles of trails on your own.  Another option is to book a kayaking adventure with Channel Islands Outfitters.  Island Packers provides the ferry to Santa Cruz Island, then Channel Islands Outfitters leads a kayaking tour through sea caves followed by a picnic lunch and then the opportunity to snorkel or hike.

Conejo Valley


Horseback Riding through Conejo Valley
Photo courtesy 
Conejo Valley Tourism
When I read that one of the exhibitors at the San Diego Travel & Adventure Show was going to be Conejo Valley, I thought, “What?  Where?  Who?”  You perhaps have heard of Thousand Oaks, a city in Ventura County between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara.  Not necessarily a place we’ve thought of as a travel destination.  However, after learning more about Conejo Valley at the show, we’re ready to pack our bags for this Southern California weekend getaway destination.  A weekend trip to Conejo Valley can include a horseback ride through Dos Vientos, a hike to Paradise Falls, a round of golf at Los Robles Golf Course, visits to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, Reyes Adobe Historical Site, Stagecoach Inn Museum, and Paramount Ranch, and enjoyment of wine, beer, and food at Conejo Valley’s wine tasting rooms, tap houses, and restaurants.

Related: Guide to a Conejo Valley Weekend Getaway

Twentynine Palms


Joshua Tree National Park Hall of Horrors California Weekend Getaways Ideas
Joshua Tree National Park Hall of Horrors
Photo courtesy Twentynine Palms Tourism Bureau
Twentynine Palms is the north entrance to Joshua Tree National Park.  2016 is the year to go as the National Parks are celebrating their 100th anniversary.  In addition to Joshua Tree National Park, another reason to choose Twentynine Palms for a California weekend getaway is the Sky’s the Limit Observatory and Nature Center, which hosts free star parties every Saturday night, except for nights with a full moon.  In town, you will also find murals and public art which have been on display since 1995.

Weekend Getaways in Central California


Buellton


Mendenhall's Museum of Gasoline Pumps & Petroliana
Photo courtesy 
Buellton Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau
Remember the movie Sideways?  Confession, I hated that movie.  But Buellton made its way onto people’s travel radar in part because of that movie.  It used to be that Buellton was just a popular road trip pit stop because of Pea Soup Andersens.  But Buellton is more than a pit stop.  It is a California weekend getaway destination on its own.  One thing Buellton has that we are dying to experience is glamping!  Flying Flags RV Resort & Campground has multiple categories of accommodations including airstreams, cottages, vintage trailers, and luxury tents.  A weekend in Buellton can include tasting wine from the Santa Rita Hills, farm-to-table dining, drinking craft beer, and even visiting a distillery.  Buellton is also known for its “hidden gems,” like the Mendenhall Museum with one of the largest petroliana collections (gas pumps, road signs, etc.) and a Hans Christian Andersen museum.  The Danish-inspired village of Solvang is nearby as well. 

Related: California Weekend Getaway: Buellton Beyond Pea Soup

Santa Maria Valley


Santa Maria Valley Vineyard California Weekend Getaways Ideas
Santa Maria Valley Vineyards
Santa Maria Valley is one of Central California’s best kept secret weekend getaways.  Santa Maria Valley is agriculture central with fields of greens and strawberries as far as the eye can see.  But a weekend trip to Santa Maria Valley can include a pretty diverse to do list including hiking along Oso Flaco Lake Trail, visiting the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center for movie history, wandering amongst airplanes at the Santa Maria Museum of Flight, tasting wine along the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail, and enjoying some famous Santa Maria barbecue.


Weekend Getaways in Eastern California


Bishop


Alabama Hills California Weekend Getaways Ideas
Alabama Hills
Photo Credit: Peter Rivera via Compfight cc
Bishop is the perfect home base for your Eastern Sierra adventures and a great destination for a road trip.  Their slogan is “Small Town with a Big Backyard.”  Part of the joy of a trip to Bishop is the drive there (or back if you started your trip after work on a Friday).  Bishop is reached by driving through Owens Valley, the high desert.  Bishop provides a treasure map, a map listing all the places to stop when traveling to or from Bishop.  Road trip sites include lava flows, mountain springs, and ancient archaeological sites.  Bishop offers fun for the whole family.  Mammoth is nearby for skiers, and they say to throw both your skis and golf clubs in the car, as Bishop is at a lower elevation and offers golf courses at the same time Mammoth offers snow-covered ski slopes.  Other outdoor activities to be enjoyed in and around Bishop include fishing and hiking through the Alabama Hills.  The Alabama Hills are also known as Hollywood’s backlot, as films both old (Gunga Din) and new (Iron Man) have been filmed there.  Bishop is a popular summer destination, as most travelers to the area head to the mountains in winter for skiing, but Bishop, because of its lower elevation, makes a great winter weekend getaway for those who aren’t necessarily snow bunnies.  There’s also free Wi-Fi in Bishop’s downtown corridor!

Related: The Best Restaurants for Local Food in Bishop California and Eastern California Astrophotography: Beautiful Bishop at Night

Mammoth Lakes and Mono County


Mono Lake Tufa Towers California Weekend Getaways Ideas
Mono Lake Tufa Towers at Sunset
Photo courtesy Mono County Tourism
Mammoth Lakes and the surrounding Mono County may not seem like a unique California weekend getaway. After all, Mammoth is one of California’s famous ski destinations.  However, not many people think about going to Mammoth for the summer, so Mammoth Lakes and Mono County are our pick for a unique summer California weekend getaway.  Mammoth is Mother Nature’s Adventureland.  There are numerous photogenic places only accessible in the summer like Devils Postpile National Monument, thousands of hexagonal basalt columns, Rainbow Falls, a waterfall over 100-feet high so named because of the rainbows caused by the waterfall’s mist, and the Mono Lake tufa towers, oddly-shaped towers jutting up from the lake created from fresh-water springs coming from the bottom of the lake and interacting with the lake’s salt water.  If you’re looking for an active outdoor weekend getaway in Mammoth Lakes and the surrounding Mono County, it is easy to find rentals, lessons, and guides.

Weekend Getaways in Northern California


Mendocino County


Skunk Train
Photo courtesy Skunk Train
Mendocino County is so special, it made it onto The Frommer’s’ Best Places to Go List for 2016.  Mendocino County has the tagline “Wine, Waves & Wilderness.”  Mendocino County offers miles and miles of hiking trails, beaches, hills, and lakes.  Some weekend getaway highlights include Fort Bragg’s Glass Beach, the Chandelier Drive-Thru Tree, and the Skunk Train, just to name a few.  The Skunk Train is a vintage railroad that stretches from Fort Bragg to Willits, though train journeys only go halfway from each end.  The Skunk Train travels through the California redwoods on vintage locomotives.  Train trips include the overnighter and the trip that is high on our wish list, the tree climber, which combines a ride on the Skunk Train and a climb into the Coastal Redwood canopy.  The Skunk Train got its name because the fuel smells really bad.  Mendocino County also has numerous wineries to enjoy.
 

Sacramento


Old Town Sacramento California Weekend Getaways Ideas
Old Sacramento
Photo courtesy Sacramento Convention & Visitors Bureau
When travelers think of visiting Northern California, usually the first city that comes to mind is San Francisco, many times followed by Napa or even Tahoe.  But California’s capital city is also worth a visit as its own California weekend getaway destination or as stop on a longer Northern California trip.  A decade ago Sacramento may not have been appealing as a travel destination, but the city has gone through a renaissance in the past six to seven years.  Much of California’s produce comes from the Sacramento Valley, so Sacramento has named itself “America’s Farm to Table Capital.”  Sacramento has also dipped into the craft beer scene with over 20 local breweries.  Old Sacramento is a destination as it has maintained its gold rush style, complete with wooden sidewalks.

Even if you don't have a lot of vacation time to spend on travel, these unique ideas for California weekend getaways will be sure to satisfy your wanderlust.

Glamping in Buellton California Weekend Getaways Ideas
You too could be glamping in Buellton, California!
Photo courtesy 
Buellton Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau
Thank you to the San Diego Travel & Adventure Show for providing us with press passes and the opportunity to learn about these California weekend getaway ideas.  Visit their website for upcoming shows in your area.

Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links.  If you book or purchase through them, we earn a small commission which helps support this website so we can bring you more travel stories and inspiration.


Travel the World: 10 unique California weekend getaway ideas for travelers who can't take a lot of time off.

Gothenburg Tram Things to Do in Gothenburg Sweden

Gothenburg (or Göteborg in Swedish) is the second-largest city in Sweden, home to Volvo, a busy port town by the sea, and a foodie destination.  Gothenburg is located on the west coast of Sweden, southwest of Stockholm.  Gothenburg’s points of interest are mostly centered in the city center, but travel by tram and bus outside the city center and you will find some pretty unusual off-the-beaten-path attractions too.  We’ve put together the following guide of 48 hours of things to do in Gothenburg to get the best out of this Swedish city in a short period of time.

Walk Gothenburg’s Main Boulevard


Avenyn at Night Things to Do in Gothenburg Sweden

Gothenburg’s main boulevard is Avenyn, though its formal name is Kungsportsavenyn.  Avenyn spans multiple blocks from Götaplatsen, Gothenburg’s public square, to Market Hall (Saluhallen).  Avenyn is filled with shops, cafes, restaurants and nightclubs.  We stayed in the middle of the action at Hotel Bellora, which has a terrace where you can view Avenyn from above.  (To learn more about Hotel Bellora, read our article about five awesome hotels in Sweden.)

Get an Overview of Gothenburg on a Sightseeing Bus


Sightseeing Bus Things to Do in Gothenburg Sweden

If you have a short time in Gothenburg, a great way to get a quick overview of the city is to board the Strömma bus on the main boulevard Avenyn outside Stora Teatern (free with the Gothenburg City Card).  Earphones are provided and the recorded commentary is available in English, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, German, French, and Spanish.  During the low season, when we visited, the tour is every Saturday at noon and takes 50 minutes with no stops.  During the high season the tour becomes hop-on-hop-off with a total of seven stops.

See Sweden’s Only Original Viking Vessel at the Gothenburg City Museum


Gothenburg City Museum Things to Do in Gothenburg Sweden

The story of Gothenburg from ancient times to present day is told at the Gothenburg City Museum (Göteborgs Stadsmuseum).  The museum’s collections range from photographs to furniture to clothing and more.  Its claim to fame is having the only Viking ship on display in Sweden.  The Äskekärr ship is 16 meters long and was found 30 kilometers from Gothenburg in the 1930s.  It was used as a trading vessel around 900 AD.  Admission to the Gothenburg City Museum is free with the Gothenburg City Card.

Marvel at Art at Gothenburg Museum of Art


Poseido Public Square Things to Do in Gothenburg Sweden

Since our time was short in Gothenburg, we almost skipped the Gothenburg Museum of Art (Göteborgs Konstmuseum), but after a few conversations it became apparent that just wouldn’t be acceptable.  The Gothenburg Museum of Art contains one of northern Europe’s finest art collections from the 15th century to present.  While there are works by famous artists like Rembrandt and Monet, the museum’s focus is Nordic art.  While many European museums have art collections that started as royal collections, Gothenburg’s art museum was created with donations from the people of Gothenburg.  Entrance to the museum is free with the Gothenburg City Card.

Gothenburg Museum of Art Things to Do in Gothenburg Sweden

The Gothenburg Museum of Art is along Götaplatsen, Gothenburg’s public square, which is dominated by a statue of the sea god Poseidon who stands holding a shell and a fish while overlooking Avenyn.  Also along the square are the Gothenburg Concert Hall and Gothenburg City Theatre.

Visit a Mill Town Surrounding Rapids and Waterfalls


Molndals Kvarnby Rapids Things to Do in Gothenburg Sweden

Here’s where this guide to Gothenburg goes a little off-the-beaten-path, and why the internet, with photos and travel blogs, is such a wonderful thing for travel research.  Mölndals Kvarnby barely gets a mention in our guidebook, but for us it was one of our favorite things to do in Gothenburg.  The only reason we found Mölndals Kvarnby was because I did some internet research to see if there was anything else to do near Gunnebo Slott (described below) and found this beautiful town built on top of a waterfall.

Molndals Kvarnby Things to Do in Gothenburg Sweden

Mölndals Kvarnby is a neighborhood of Mölndal in the southern outskirts of Gothenburg.  The buildings are built along and on top of fast moving rapids.  The strength of these rapids was harnessed to power mills hundreds of years ago.  These mills were used to create everything from textiles to paper to oil.

City Museum of Molndal Things to Do in Gothenburg Sweden

At the top of the neighborhood is the City Museum of Mölndal (Mölndals Stadsmuseum) which displays everyday items from the 20th century.  Enjoy lunch at the museum and grab a free map of the neighborhood (only available in Swedish during our visit).

Industrial Museum Things to Do in Gothenburg Sweden

Be sure to stop at the Industrial Museum (Industrimuséet) which houses an eclectic collection of industrial machines as well a replica of an old residence.

Tour a House Museum and Learn a Timeless Tragic Story


Gunnebo House and Gardens Exterior Things to Do in Gothenburg Sweden

Gunnebo House and Gardens (Gunnebo Slott) is an 18th century estate in Mölndal (reachable from Gothenburg’s city center via tram and then bus).  In 1778, John Hall, a merchant, hired the renowned Gothenburg architect Carl Wilhelm Carlberg to build him a summer estate south of the city.  Carlberg not only designed the building, but also the furnishings.  Each room had its own unique style all the way down to the chairs.  Carlberg was inspired by Italian design and the estate is a great example of neo-classical architecture.

Gunnebo House and Gardens Interior Things to Do in Gothenburg Sweden

John Hall died in 1802 and his son, John Hall Junior, inherited the estate and his father’s business.  John Hall Junior was an artist and not a businessman.  He was unable to maintain the business and went bankrupt in 1807.  Gunnebo fell into disrepair and John Hall Junior lived in poverty until he died homeless on the streets of Stockholm.  The house was auctioned off in 1832 and changed hands many times.  The city of Mölndal was able to purchase the estate in 1948 and restored it to its former glory based on architectural drawings.  Some of the original furnishings have been reclaimed while others have been recreated.

Gunnebo House and Gardens Interior Things to Do in Gothenburg Sweden

Today Gunnebo House and Gardens can be visited on a guided tour which is free with the Gothenburg City Card.  According to the website, tours are given in Swedish while non-Swedish speakers can follow along using provided guidebooks in English, German, French, Spanish, and Russian.  However, during our visit the guide provided the tour to our mixed group of Americans, Frenchmen, and Swedes in English. 

Swim in Seafood at the Church of Fish


Fishermen Statue Feskekorka Things to Do in Gothenburg Sweden

Gothenburg is a culinary city by the sea.  The cold waters of the North Sea cause the fish and shellfish to grow slower and also develop fuller flavors.  To fully enjoy the fruits of Sweden’s sea, visit Feskekôrka, which translates to fish church.  Feskekôrka is an indoor fish and shellfish market housed in a market hall that was built in 1874 in the shape of a church.  The seafood in this market is worthy of worship. 

Restaurang Kajutan Seafood Platter Feskekorka Things to Do in Gothenburg Sweden

While locals come here to buy fish for home, travelers need not despair.  The market has a couple of restaurants at which travelers can dine on the freshest Swedish seafood.  We dined at Restaurang Kajutan for lunch and ate a glorious sampler platter with two kinds of herring (including one made with lingonberries which I recommend for the non-herring lover), oysters, prawns, shrimp, crab, lobster, salmon, and more.

Dine at a Michelin-Starred Restaurant


Koka Michelin Restaurant Things to Do in Gothenburg Sweden

Seafood isn’t the only culinary delight to be found in the foodie city of Gothenburg.  Gothenburg chefs work with local, organic, seasonal ingredients like berries, mushrooms, and game in gourmet restaurants around the city.  Gothenburg has six Michelin-starred restaurants, two of which were added in 2015.  We dined at Gothenburg’s newest Michelin-starred restaurants, SK Mat & Människor and Koka.  The others are Thörnströms Kök, 28+, Bhoga, and Sjömagasinet.

Gothenburg Rental Bikes Things to Do in Gothenburg Sweden

Gothenburg Travel Tip: To get the most out of Gothenburg on a budget, grab a Gothenburg City Card at the airport, from a tourism office, or order online to receive free entrance into attractions, free travel on public transportation, and free parking.  Almost all of the things to do in Gothenburg listed above are covered by the card.  The Gothenburg City Card even covers things like rental bikes, available at over 50 stations around the city, and a guided boat ride through Gothenburg’s archipelago.  Gothenburg City Cards are offered in 24-, 48-, and 72-hour durations.

Gothenburg Things to Do in Gothenburg Sweden

Thank you to go:teborg&co and Hotel Bellora for hosting our time in Gothenburg and making this post possible.  As always, all opinions are my own.

Travel the World: Things to do in Gothenburg Sweden when you have 48 hours.

Review Viking River Cruises Ship in Wachau Valley

When we announced we were going to be taking our very first cruise, and that it would be with Viking River Cruises, we learned there are quite a few of you who are really interested in taking a river cruise with Viking River Cruises but haven’t pulled the trigger yet.  A lot of you had questions about the rooms, the excursions, the food, and if non-ocean cruisers would enjoy river cruising.  After our eight-day European river cruise with Viking River Cruises, during which we cruised along the blue Danube and visited European Christmas markets, we are ready to answer all your questions and provide our review of Viking River Cruises.


Spoiler alert, we loved our first European river cruise.  We have wanted to try one of Viking River Cruises’ European river cruises since we first started seeing their commercials years ago, and my dream river cruise has always been one that visits European Christmas markets, so it seemed a pretty sure thing we were going to love this cruise.  However, we have also been skeptical of cruising, as we like to see and do as much as possible and spending more time on a ship than on land doesn’t appeal to us.  So even though this cruise was one we had wanted to do for years, we were still a little nervous that it wouldn’t live up to all our hopes.  While we haven’t converted to full-time cruisers, based on our first experience I can pretty much guarantee we’ll be enjoying this style of travel again in the future.

Viking River Cruises’ History


Review Viking River Cruises Bar

Viking River Cruises has been around for a long time.  The company was founded by Torstein Hagen, a Norwegian businessman, in 1997.  He started with four Russian ships and provided Russian river cruises to Europeans.  Viking River Cruises continued to market to Europeans until 2000 when the company expanded and entered the American market.  One tour guide said it was because they found many of their European passengers weren’t fans of the all-inclusive thing while North Americans are big fans.  Viking River Cruises now offers river cruises through Europe, Russia, Egypt, and Asia, and most recently started offering European ocean cruises as well.

The Pre-Trip Package


Review Viking River Cruises Pre-Trip Package

Anticipation is part of the joy of travel.  Viking River Cruises feeds anticipation by sending a fun pre-trip package once you’ve booked your trip.  We received a box in the mail containing for each of us: an itinerary with answers to frequently asked questions, a book about the different destinations and the Danube, a red leather luggage tag, stickers to put on our person and our bags upon arrival, and a toiletry bag.

Getting to Your River Cruise


Review Viking River Cruises Longship Entrance

Viking River Cruises makes your trip even easier by taking care of booking your airfare if you choose.  I highly recommend taking advantage of this option as they will most likely find airfare far cheaper than what you would find on your own (for our trip we found airfare around $1,200 while they provided airfare of around $880).  Also, if you book your airfare through Viking River Cruises, they will provide roundtrip airport transfers so you don’t need to worry about figuring out how to get to the ship.  If you book your own airfare, you can purchase airport transfers separately. 

Viking River Cruises also offers pre- and post-cruise extensions.  We couldn’t take advantage of this (pesky limited vacation days), but for our cruise a pre-cruise extension was offered in Budapest and post-cruise extensions were offered in Nuremberg and Prague.

Related: What to Do in Budapest in One Day

Review Viking River Cruises Reception Desk

We were picked up from the airport, driven by bus to the ship, and checked-in.  We were immediately shown to our room (it’s amazing how fast the process was), introduced to the amenities, and given the schedule of tours offered for the day. Since we had half the day ahead of us, we immediately disembarked and started exploring the city on our own.

Viking River Cruises’ Ships


Review Viking River Cruises Longship Lobby

I really wasn’t sure what to expect of the Viking River Cruises ship.  It’s like a hotel on water, and yet feels cozy and intimate.  We sailed on Viking Longship Atla.  When boarding the ship, you usually enter on the middle deck, which has the lobby area.  Like any hotel, there is a reception desk which is manned at all times of the day.  This is where you check in, sign up for excursions, and pick up and drop off your boarding passes each day.  A wide staircase leads to the upper floor, and another staircase leads downstairs.  There is also an elevator.

Review Viking River Cruises Longship Lounge

Also, on the middle deck towards the bow is the restaurant.  Here is where you can enjoy a sit-down breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The walls are floor to ceiling windows so you can enjoy the view as it drifts by.  Upstairs, above the restaurant, is the bar and lounge.  Cocktails are served each evening before dinner.  On the same level at the very front of the ship is the Aquavit Terrace where you can enjoy lighter buffet meals and an outdoor table if the weather allows.

Review Viking River Cruises Longship Library

If you’re on the ship but don’t want to hang out in your room, you can visit the lounge or enjoy one of the small seating areas that are found around the ship.  There are small nooks where you can get water, sparkling water, coffee, tea, hot chocolate, pastries, and cookies any time of day.

Review Viking River Cruises Putting Area

At the top of the ship is a deck open to passengers unless the ship will be passing under low bridges.  On the top deck, you will find deck chairs, a putting area, shuffleboard, and a walking track.  This is a fun place to go when cruising through beautiful places like the Wachau Valley or moving through one of the many locks of the Danube.

Viking River Cruises’ Staterooms


Review Viking River Cruises Veranda Stateroom

The Viking Longships have 95 staterooms.  There are five types of staterooms.  The “cheap rooms” are on the main deck.  These 25 rooms are smaller and have windows high up on the wall.  French balcony staterooms are found on the middle deck and upper deck.  We stayed in one of the staterooms with a veranda, which are also on the middle deck and upper deck.  On the upper deck are suites with both a veranda and French balcony, and there are two Explorer Suites at the stern of the ship with wrap-around verandas.

Review Viking River Cruises Stateroom View

We were spoiled with a veranda stateroom on the upper deck.  Our stateroom had a king size bed with bedside tables on each side, a vanity with a bench, and a chair.  While the rooms are not large, they don’t feel cramped at all.  We loved having a balcony.  While the balcony is narrow, it has enough room for a small table and two chairs, and also enough room to set up a tripod for your camera.  We didn’t spend too much time on the balcony since it was very cold, but we still ran out on a number of occasions to take pictures, and most of those times we were in our pajamas.  Balconies are private, with each room’s balcony separated by opaque glass.

Review Viking River Cruises Stateroom Vanity

Our room had a large flat-screen television on the wall.  Not only could we watch regular television, we could also choose movies and television shows (Downton Abbey seemed to be a real favorite), listen to music, or watch the live bow cam or lounge cam.  Another thing I loved about our room was the plethora of outlets, both European and North American.  In this day and age of cell phones, cameras, e-readers, etc., multiple outlets are a necessity.  I counted three North American outlets, two European outlets, and one USB outlet.

Review Viking River Cruises Stateroom Balcony View

There is also a speaker system in each room from which the television sound comes through, but also the voice of the program director.  Announcements are made giving warnings of when excursions are about to start.  Also, on the morning we sailed through the Wachau Valley, our program director Cornelia’s commentary of all the castles, towns, and other sites we were passing was piped into our room so we knew what we were seeing without having to leave the comfort of our stateroom.

Review Viking River Cruises Stateroom BathroomThere is plenty of storage space including drawers, shelves, and closet space.  We each brought a rolling checked bag and a duffel bag and we were able to store our rolling bags in the closet and still hang our sweaters above and store our duffel bags on the closet shelves.  There were also enough drawers for us to both put away our clothes for the week-long trip.

The bathrooms are what really blew me away with their efficiency.  I was expecting small bathrooms, as I can’t imagine taking up a bunch of room on a small river cruise ship with large bathrooms.  The bathrooms are small, but they don’t feel too small.  For one thing, the floors are heated, which is so nice after coming back from a long day walking outside in the cold.  While the shower is small, it is easily manageable, and two glass doors open into the shower, which helps make the bathroom bigger when the shower isn’t in use.  I was surprised to also find that you can get your shower water pressure quite high and as hot as you want at any time of day.  The shower doors also seal very well, which means no leaking of water onto the bathroom floor, which is usually a problem in small bathrooms.  There are shelves under the sink so you can keep your toiletries in the bathroom without them getting in the way or getting wet from the sink; though there is also a vanity table in the room so the two of you don’t need to be in the bathroom at the same time.  The other miraculous feature of the Viking Longship bathrooms is that the mirrors never fog, no matter how hot your shower is or how long you stay in.  All rooms have a hairdryer, so no need to bring one from home.

Review Viking River Cruises Towel Animal

A few other nice touches included a fresh carafe of water in our room every day, fresh fruit in the room, and a towel animal one night.  

Wi-Fi is provided on the ship, and it's free, which isn't the case on ocean cruises.  However, the Wi-Fi is not the most reliable.  Sometimes it worked great, sometimes not so much.  In this day and age of being constantly connected, this can be a bit frustrating, but remember you are on a moving vessel with no cables connected to land, so it's actually pretty amazing to have Wi-Fi, and at no extra cost, and Viking is constantly working to improve the Wi-Fi connection for passengers.

The Food and Drink


Review Viking River Cruises Dessert

Three meals a day are served on the Viking River Cruises ships, plus there is a full bar, and snacks provided all day.  Viking will make sure you never go hungry.

Review Viking River Cruises Aquavit Terrace

The one meal we ate on board every day was breakfast.  We love staying at hotels that offer a free breakfast because we can easily, quickly, and cheaply eat in the morning and have plenty of energy for the busy day ahead.  We made sure to take advantage of the breakfast offered on board every day.  A light buffet breakfast of pastries, yogurt, fruit, etc. is offered every morning on the Aquavit Terrace.  It feels very European with small tables and a view.  For more variety and larger breakfasts, a sit-down breakfast is served in the restaurant.  You can either order from the menu, which includes items like eggs benedict and pancakes, or you can get an omelet from the omelet bar and other offerings from the buffet.

Review Viking River Cruises Food Appetizer

We only ate lunch once onboard as we were usually eating sausages and fried deliciousness at the Christmas markets.  Our one lunch onboard was good.  There was a buffet with hot pasta, salads, and small appetizer plates and items could be ordered off the menu as well.  We shared a grilled ham, cheese, and pickle sandwich with a side of curly fries.

Review Viking River Cruises Austrian German Dinner

We ate a few dinners on board.  Our absolute favorite dinner was the Austrian / German dinner with regional dishes like schnitzel and sausage and dumplings.  I loved that even though we were on the ship, we were getting to eat the same kind of food we would be eating if we were off the ship.

Review Viking River Cruises Food Grilled Fish

On most nights there is one dinner seating and three appetizers, three entrees, and three desserts from which to choose.  The choices were different each night and included items like chateaubriand, grilled fish, turkey, etc.  The food was very good.  However, we like to eat local food while traveling, so I personally wish at least one entrée a night was something local.  I think this would please people like us who want to eat local dishes as well as people who prefer more familiar foods at their meals.


Review Viking River Cruises Cheese Plate

Knowing that we might be pickier than the average traveler about this, we listened carefully to what other passengers were saying about the meals.  The consensus is that everyone loved the food.  We heard lots of passengers talking about the food not only during the meals, but also at other times during the day, and all those remarks were not just positive, they were glowing.

Review Viking River Cruises Longship Kitchen

We had a chance to visit the kitchen and talk to Chef Mihai Olteanu.  We learned that menus are standardized across the ships running the same route.  Fresh ingredients are picked up at least twice during a cruise.  This is why there are only a few different choices offered each night.  However, passengers with food limitations or allergies are taken care of well.  Just be sure to let Viking know ahead of time.

Review Viking River Cruises Food Chateaubriand

For those who did not wish to have a three-course meal every night for dinner or didn’t want to eat at the time of the set meal, a lighter buffet style meal was served in the Aquavit Lounge.  We never ate dinner there ourselves, but I did hear tell of hotdogs.

Viking River Cruises Review Sezer Crafting a Viking Cocktail

Our ship had a full bar in the lounge which was always manned by the jovial Sezer and Sorin.  Included in the cruise package is hot coffee and tea all day, complimentary bottles of water supplied in the stateroom every day, and hot tea, iced tea, coffee, house wines, house beers, and soft drinks served with meals.  Premium drinks are available for purchase, or passengers can take advantage of the Silver Spirits beverage package and enjoy fine regional wines, specialty beers, cocktails made with premium brands, and receive one bottle of Viking sparkling wine in their stateroom.

The Service


River Viking River Cruises Safety Briefing
Participating in a safety briefing deserves a daiquiri, as modeled by Mike of Mike's Bloggity Blog.
There are a lot of crew members for the approximately 200 passengers.  Service is quick, friendly, and always with a smile.  The steward who made up our room always said hello and goodbye to us.  The program director and her assistant were always available to answer questions.  The bartenders were friendly and funny, always bringing a smile to everyone’s face.  The chef came out and mingled with guests in the dining room to make sure everyone was enjoying themselves.  The omelet chef was always humming a song in the morning.  The only time we saw the staff be slightly less than their usual cheerful selves was on the final day because the poor things had to be up and ready to serve breakfast at 3:00 a.m. for passengers who had super early flights!  There was still humming coming from the omelet station, but it was a sleepy hum.

Review Viking River Cruises Longship in a Lock

You can tell Viking has been running these cruises for a very long time.  They have everything down to a science.  For the passengers, everything seems seamless, but I’m sure behind the scenes there are changes and corrections constantly being made to provide the perfect experience.  Prior to our trip, we learned that our planned ship, Viking Jarl, couldn’t make it back to Budapest in time because of low water, so our ship was changed to Viking Atla.  On the rare occasion a ship can’t continue because of water that is too low or too high, buses are used to move passengers along to the scheduled towns and there could be a mid-trip ship change.  Sometimes a long line at a lock can slow progress as well.  These occurrences are unavoidable, but the Viking River Cruises crew does their best to make sure this affects the passenger experience as little as possible.

Passenger Demographic


Review Viking River Cruises Restaurant View

We were asked about the demographic of the passengers.  As you probably expected, Viking River Cruises passengers are of the mature variety.  In fact, Viking River Cruises specifically promotes its European river cruises to the 55+ demographic.  However, all ages are welcome, though you probably don’t want to bring little kids.  If you think this means the ship is full of a bunch of geriatrics with walkers who only want to relax on a ship or sit in a bus, you are incorrect.  Viking’s cruises are tailored for active adults who are interested in learning about the destinations they are visiting.  Most tours involve walking, and many are completely walking.  European river cruises are also well-suited for multi-generational vacations.  On our cruise, there were some families traveling together which included adult children and their parents.  Most passengers are from the United States, but passengers also include people from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and England, with a few from other countries like Germany as well.

Viking River Cruises’ Excursions


Review Viking River Cruises Umbrella

Every day Viking River Cruises offers excursions at each port of call.  Passengers can choose to stay on the ship, join an excursion, or explore on their own.  Some days there are just a couple excursions offered, and other days there are multiple excursions offered.  Some excursions are walking tours, some involve time on a bus (but usually not too much time), and most also provide some free time to explore.  Some excursions offer unique activities like sailing down a beautiful river on a carved wooden barge or visiting a winery.  Many include guided tours of palaces, churches, and abbeys.  I was pleased to see that the guided tours are kept fairly small, with 30 people maximum but usually somewhere between 15 to 20 people, and sometimes even less. 

Viking provides whispers, or wireless audio guide systems, so you don’t have to be right on top of the guide to hear what they are saying.  I was a big fan of the whispers because it allowed us to wander around a church and take pictures and yet still hear what the guide had to say. 

Review Viking River Cruises Longship Atla

Some indication of the excursions provided are included in the pre-trip package you receive from Viking River Cruises.  Every night, usually during dinner, a booklet listing all available excursions for the next day is left in your stateroom.  The booklet also includes information about the town, the sites, and fun facts about things like local food or music.  Once you’ve decided what excursions you want to join, you let the front desk know so they can assign you to a group.  While there may be one walking tour offered in the morning, there may be four or five different local guides leading that same tour so groups are kept small.  Not everyone from the ship joins the same tour.  In the morning, you check in at the front desk and pick up your boarding pass and a card listing the group you will be joining.

Every night before dinner the program director provides a short presentation in the lounge.  The presentation gives information about the town being visited the next day and an overview of what each excursion covers.  The presentation isn’t mandatory and we usually skipped it.  I personally wish we had received a list of all excursions at the beginning of the trip, as I’m a planner, but that may have been overwhelming for some.  We did get a list at the beginning of a handful of excursions that cost extra as those needed to be booked at the beginning of the trip.

Make Your Cruise Your Own


Review Viking River Cruises Putting Area and Wachau Valley

The most important thing to remember is that Viking River Cruises encourages its passengers to make their cruise their own.  There are excursions offered every day, but that doesn’t mean you have to join them.  Three meals a day are served on the ship, but that doesn’t mean you have to eat them.  We joined some of the excursions when they sounded interesting, included something we couldn’t easily visit on our own, or allowed us to be off the ship and provided transportation back to the ship when it cruised to a different port during the excursion.  We also spent a lot of time exploring on our own rather than joining an excursion.  Every possible chance we had we ate our meal in town rather than on the ship. 

We Americans love to get our money’s worth, so it can be psychologically difficult to skip excursions and purchase food off-ship when excursions and meals are included in the price of the cruise.  However, if exploring on your own and eating local food are important to you, you’ll need to get over that if you want to truly enjoy your European river cruise.

The great thing about a river cruise with Viking is that if you want to just relax, you can do that.  If you want everything planned for you, it has been done.  If you want to research your destinations and explore on your own, you can do that too.

Thank you to Viking River Cruises for hosting our Romantic Danube cruise and making this post possible.  As always, all opinions are my own.

Do you have any questions about taking a river cruise that isn’t covered in our Viking River Cruises review?  Let us know in the comments and we’ll try to answer!

Travel the World's in-depth review of Viking River Cruises' Romantic Danube European river cruise.

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