I like the idea of Lucerne stay on the way from Basel to a Zurich return flight. The others are suggesting an Italy wine area idea, but not yet sure if feasible.
Decided to add financial info, in case it is helpful for other wondering about this. Yes, pricey. But as far as I can tell, it’s a pretty decent deal for Viking trip… a dream on our bucket list.
Cost detail: Not sure which discount code (mine from this thread or the various travel agent codes) yielded us the decent price. Our 7night trip in the lower cabins (waterlevel, tiny windows) will be about $3100 per person. This is for late Sept on Rhine, including flights (from Denver; free airfare deal was thru 3/31…. different deals through the year), silver spirit (drink package - covers extras beyond the basic lunch/dinner wine and beer), $100 shipboard credit, flexible flight arrangements ($100 fee covered by referral credit), the daily default tours.
Travel insurance through Alliance for the full trip would add about another $500/couple. We know there will also be extra cost for Viking tips and any special tours we might select…. have a list of options/prices to study. Also any upgrade from the included economy flights will cost more - I think $999 each for economy plus and lots more ($3500 each?) for business class. And pre-cruise (2nights in Amsterdam) will add more. Ditto for post-cruise TBD. It just makes sense to bundle travel adventure once investing the time and money to get to Europe.
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I found this when looking and thought I would pass it on since I know it was a question but not for the OP
From Viking FAQ on website;-
Guests who have a disability, physical or otherwise, must travel with an able-bodied companion who can assist them as the staff is not permitted to lift guests or push wheelchairs. Guests need to provide their own wheelchairs, except in an emergency. Wheelchairs must not exceed 22" in width. For details regarding bringing a wheelchair on board, guests must complete and return the Accessibility Form to Viking no later than 30 days prior to departure. Motorized scooters are not typically suitable for international cruises and cannot be accommodated. Not all river ships have an elevator to all floors, and in some docking locations, it may be necessary to double berth, which means crossing other ships to disembark. Contact a Viking Expert at 1-877-668-4546 (1-877-66VIKING) directly with additional questions and to obtain a copy of our Accessibility Form and policy statement.
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That info is helpful. I noted up the thread that ocean cruises are more accessible for someone who is mobility impaired and definitely for a motorized scooter. The ocean ships have much greater elevator capacity and wider hallways. They are also more likely to have some shore excursions that are designated as accessible.
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Thanks all of you for the accessibility responses. I guess I can be the “able-bodied” pusher, but really sounds like it may be harder than DH thinks it will be. He is still getting used to the limitations he has. Disappointing that a motorized scooter cannot be accommodated (but can see how that would be difficult if you have to cross over another boat).
Having been on a few ocean cruises, I’m thinking that could work well for a scooter. That may or may not be something you’d enjoy, but I’ll post this Cruise Critic link because it could help others.
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@Colorado_mom I’m glad you made a decision! I am sure it will be great.
I have only been on one European river cruise, Budapest to Prague (although the Rhine doesn’t go to Prague, you go the last bit by bus!) and we chose Ama Waterways, but we were generally doing the same itinerary as Viking and it seemed like all the Viking passengers were also having a great time.
@mom2and We had one member of our group who is less mobile and used a cane sometimes. That was fine for the most part. The walking up and down stairs to cross other ships docking together was OK for him although tiring. He did not do as many of the excursions as some of us did because all that walking on cobblestones is hard. Some of us did more walking up and down hills while he took the slow walker group some days, or he just stopped and had ice cream or did his own thing. The youngest couple in our multi generational group did the fewest excursions, they just did their own thing in a lot of ports and enjoyed that.
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You know it’s funny. Even on a long 17 or 18 day jaunt, we by-passed a lot. This was the Viking Grand European. Things we missed I realize were because we were sailing overnight. First, Frankfurt. Went right through it. Asleep. And more surprising we entered Slovakia and went right through Bratislava! I really sort of resent being deprived of a small stop in yet another country! We were well inside the border before the Danube itself becomes the border. 
Interesting feedback. That itinerary looked appealing too.
Next week we’ll go back to travel agent to plan more about our late Sept trip.
- Amsterdam 2 nights - hotel TBD
- Viking Amsterdam —> Basel, 7 nights
- post-cruise travel from Basel is TBD.
#3 - We actually don’t need to finalize details now. But we will need to set the departure date / airport. We are thinking of doing approx 5 more nights of touring, with Italian winery tours if possible.
#3 OptionA - One option revolves around Bernina train (1 night in St Moritz, train to Tuscany with 3 nights in Sienna, train to Milan - 1night before flying home). But so far it seems too pricey and too hectic.
If there are others doing similar dreaming, I could start a new thread.
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In fall of 2019 we did something very similar to your plan. We did 2 nights in Amsterdam pre-cruise, booking the Viking precruise package. Down the Rhine. But then we did 2 nights in Lucerne DIY. Very easy and MUCH cheaper than Viking’s post-cruise.
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Thank you! Lots of good information there.
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At this point we are thinking best plan for the group (2 couples) after our Amsterdam—>Basel week is to go to Florence for about 5 nights. Would probably fly but could do train (about 7 hours). At this point the only thing we need to do is pick return airport. Well also have confidence we’ll have the stamina and travel funds needed for Part2.
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For folks that are planning (or considering) a Viking cruise on the Rhine, I am learning lots from this Facebook group. The title made me smile, remembering similarly named college parent threads.
I thing river cruising on a smaller boat sounds appealing to me. I like the AMA having free bikes and everything included. Maybe something for the future.
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The one company I would stay away from is Vantage cruises, out of Boston. They are in severe financial straits at the moment, cancelling cruises and tours until at least the end of August, yet still accepting bookings and payments (immoral).
Otherwise, Viking, AMAWaterways, Avalon, Scenic, Grand Circle, you really can’t go wrong.
It’s pretty much whoever you did your first river cruise with, you are treated so well you go back with them—for us it was Viking, but any of the above give a first class experience.
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I’ve heard good things about AMA too. We picked Viking per friend’s preference, AAA agent expertise (methinks her biggest commission is with Viking.) And the fact that they send boats from Amsterdam and Basel ports daily, to enable swap of passengers and crew midweek if needed due to high or low river conditions. (Other lines might do the same, we just knew more about Viking due to info session.)
Question for those who have done the Viking Rhine Getaway (one of the most popular itineraries, especially for first timers)…did you have a favorite tour?
We are willing to splurge on a few of the optional/paid tours for our Sept AMS—>BAS trip, but sometimes that means skipping an Included/free tour due to time conflict. Decisions, Decisions - good problem to have 
Per initial research, here are possibilities I’m considering :
- THURS: Depart Amsterdam, after 2night self-planned stay
- FRI: Kinderdijk by Barge ($69, hubby suggests this instead of the Included windmill tour… though walking tour sounds nice too)
- SAT: Included Cologne Walking Tour
- SUN: Medieval Markburg Castle ($89, instead of Included tour of Historic Koblenz)
- MON: Included Speyer Walking Tour - excited about this because my mother saved a lot of info from parents’ 1970 trip there; her grandmother was born in that area
- TUES: Alsaltian Wine Tasting ($129 - this would be with friends that have a European vineyard visit on their bucket list; hubby has already signed up for Mercedes-Benz tour. We could all still do the morning Included tour Strasboug Highlights)
- WeD: Colmar Pocket in WWII ($119, many good reviews; we could still do the Included afternoon tour of The Black Forest)
- THURS: arrive in Basel
We enjoyed every optional excursion that we took. Didn’t regret anything. We may never be in that area again so we didn’t skimp on anything we wanted to see.
We really enjoyed the Mercedes Benz factory. Friends of ours are on this cruise right now, the tour wasn’t available for them.
Also enjoyed Marksburg Castle. Be warned that there is a steep hill to climb from the the parking lot and that it’s a demanding walk. If anyone in your party have any mobility problems, I would skip.
You would have the option to stay in Strasberg the afternoon you are there. It’s a beautiful place. We did the MB tour instead. I’m not a big wine drinker so I can’t comment on those. And not a big German wine fan either.
We opted for the Bruhl palace instead of doing something extra on the day we were in Kinderdijk.
We liked to be busy, but you may decide that you would like to walk around more. You can also decide once you are on board to add excursions if they have room. We added a few once we boarded.
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THANKS for the great info! I have concerns about tours filling up (though so far only one of the e-bike tours is full). May do some tentative booking soon.
I do agree that it can be good to take advantage of opportunities when in an area (especially since we skimped doing free/economy air and cheaper lower level cabin). Appreciate that feedback on steep hill climb - the other couple will want to avoid the Demanding tours.
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