Six Reasons to Sail the Rhine River on Viking Cruise’s Kara
There are many good reasons to travel by river cruise to see some of Europe’s highlights. One of course is the ability to see several countries and cities while only having to unpack once. For many, that alone is worth the price of admission. Another great reason is that river ships are generally smaller than ocean vessels with a lower passenger maximum capacity. This allows the ship to dock both in cities and smaller villages and provides the ability to walk right off the ship and directly into charming towns permitting greater exploration both independently, or on organized group excursions. So if considering a European river cruise, Viking Cruises is a good option.
This particular fall itinerary on Viking Cruise’s Kara on the Rhine River commenced in Amsterdam and made port stops in Kinderdikj near Rotterdam, Holland, and Cologne, Koblenz, Rüdesheim, Speyer, and Breisach, Germany, Strasbourg, France, and ended in Basel, Switzerland.
If you’re on this itinerary and you only do one thing in Amsterdam prior to embarkation, Eating Europe has excellent food tours which are so much more than a typical food tour. Our guide Gerard, a former English teacher, had a plethora of interesting tidbits of Amsterdam history and the food tour aspect included marvelous Dutch apple pie, a cheese and charcuterie shop second-to-none, Indonesian chicken satay, sausage rolls, and Dutch mini-pancakes. This fantastic tour concluded with a beautiful canal ride with wine and gin tasting coupled with Bitterballen, a popular and delightful Dutch fried sphere encasing meat ragout served with mustard.
Here are six reasons to enjoy a week-long sojourn on Viking Cruise’s Kara along the Rhine River.
The Viking Kara
Built in 2014 and 443 feet in length, the ship holds 190 guests and an incredibly amiable international crew of 53. On this sailing guests were comprised mainly of Americans, Canadians, and Australians and ranged in age from 40 to 80, with a half-dozen multi-generational families cruising together.
Deck Two houses the gangway, Reception, the Restaurant, a small gift shop, and half of the staterooms.
Deck Three houses the balance of the staterooms, a stocked library with board games to borrow, an internet corner with two public computers, the Lounge where port lectures are held, and entertainment takes place. Also on Deck Three – and very dear to my heart – two coffee stations boasting good cappuccinos and macchiatos and house-made baked goods, as well as the bow-facing Aquavit Terrace. There are several additional comfortable public areas to enjoy a good book, a game of cards, or conversations with other passengers.
Deck Four has mini golf putting, shuffleboard, a walking path to get those steps in and loungers. This was a great place to lollygag while viewing castles along the Rhine.
Dining Options
Meals were served in the Restaurant and at Aquavit Terrace. I rarely eat breakfast so only made it there once during the week, but the spread was quite nice with fresh fruits, juices, yogurts, cereals, bakery items, pancakes, waffles, and made-to-order eggs and omelets.
Lunches and dinners were likewise served in both locations. Both meals had menus that included ‘always available’ items, and daily specialties including regional fare.
The always available items at dinner included Caesar salad, excellent Angus rib eye steak and fries, poached salmon, roasted chicken, and truly excellent ice creams. Specialty dinner items included Bitterballen and white bean soup while in Holland, classic German tafelspitz, braised lamb shoulder roast, and steamed cod while in Germany, and marvelous desserts including a lava cake topped with their delectable ice cream, and another day, a creamy chocolate mousse that would’ve made even Napoleon smile.
One evening the crew dressed in lederhosen and dirndls, the Restaurant was decorated for Octoberfest, and the chef prepared a host of additional German items including several types of sausages and bratwurst, sauerkrauts, and naturally, the all-important German pretzels with, bestow my heart, Dijon, honey, and seeded mustards, and local lagers.
Excursions for the Curious
At each port stop, Viking includes a half day excursion with the cruise fare. Without exception, local guides were knowledgeable, engaging, and informative. Reception provided city/village maps daily for those wishing to explore on one’s own or stay on in the city/village following the excursion.
There were also additional excursions available for a surcharge at each port including e-bike tours, beer crawls, and local, traditional restaurants.
Comfortable Public Spaces
Public spaces on the Kara are light, airy, and quite comfortable. This is important as staterooms are on the smaller side. Ours was a Veranda Stateroom and was 205 square feet. This was a very tight fit for two even though we both only brought carry-on luggage, and travel well together. The bathroom was likewise very compact, though the shower had excellent water pressure and Freya amenities. If possible, best to opt for a two-room suite.
There is some nice art onboard including one by Roy Lauritsen depicting the Valkyries swan maiden Kara of Norse mythology.
Hospitable Staff
Without a doubt, Viking has some of the best crew in the industry. Not only well-trained and efficient, but at every turn each crew member, from the wait staff to cabin stewards to reception to the bar staff went out of their way to ensure guests were well cared for, happy, and enjoyed themselves. All of which was undertaken with warmth and smiling hospitality.
Also remarkable was how quickly the crew learned all passenger names and made everyone feel right at home. Our British cruise host Andrew was simultaneously hilarious and extremely talented, while our Portuguese hotel director Mario, could efficiently manage any task to prompt resolution with a warm smile. Our steward kept our stateroom consistently spotless for the duration, and the housekeeping crew ensured the same for all public areas.
Entertainment
A talented onboard pianist hailing from Poland provided ambience during lunch, and after dinner entertainment. There was also live pop music and classical concerts from visiting international musicians at several ports, musical trivia contests emceed by the cruise host with impromptu dance explosions, and even a disco night where the pianist changed his hat to be the resident disc jockey.
Port lectures provided useful information whether joining a Viking organized excursion or heading out to explore on one’s own.
If looking to get a taste of the Rhine River’s highlights on a European river cruise with excellent staff, good food, and top local guides, you will enjoy Viking Cruise’s Kara. Happy travels!
Julie L. Kessler is a journalist, attorney, and the author of the award-winning memoir: “Fifty-Fifty, The Clarity of Hindsight.” Her work has appeared in major publications around the world, including The L.A. Times, The S.F. Examiner, The Asia Times, The Jerusalem Post, The Vancouver Courier, The Honolulu Star-Advertiser, and The Daily Journal, among many others. She can be reached at Julie@VagabondLawyer.com
