Rhine Cruise question: Leaving for a Viking Rhine River Cruise from Amsterdam to Basel next week. Was just wondering, given the Viking itinerary, do any Hogs who have made the same...

cameraf4 Loc: Delaware

Leaving for a Viking Rhine River Cruise from Amsterdam to Basel next week. Was just wondering, given the Viking itinerary, do any Hogs who have made the same trip have any tips of what you liked best or what I should be on the lookout for? Since "Chance favors the prepared mind," your tips/advice would be much appreciated.

Bobnewnan

I made part of that trip a few years back. There's lots to see close to the river banks so a shorter lens for that and for the castles which are far off, a long lens. Today I would just take my 16-300 and 10-20 and enjoy the trip.

lsimpkins Loc: SE Pennsylvania

Bobnewnan wrote:

I made part of that trip a few years back. There's lots to see close to the river banks so a shorter lens for that and for the castles which are far off, a long lens. Today I would just take my 16-300 and 10-20 and enjoy the trip.

Sounds like good advice. We did the Danube and my 17-50mm on APSc was my most used lens. On some of the city excursions I could have used something a little wider, but seldom had a need for longer.

cameraf4 Loc: Delaware

Bobnewnan wrote:

I made part of that trip a few years back. There's lots to see close to the river banks so a shorter lens for that and for the castles which are far off, a long lens. Today I would just take my 16-300 and 10-20 and enjoy the trip.

Thanks, Bob. I'm good on lenses. I cruised the Danube about a year ago and found that my 16-35mm and 28-200mm on my FX camera did the trick nicely. More wondering if, sailing south on the river, was one bank more "target-rich" than the other? Maybe what time of day were most castles seen? Things like that.

cascoly Loc: seattle

I did that cruise last November - the Rhine castles day is the most scenic, with castles on both sides - but your ship is narrow so easy to switch sides or stay near the bow. they time it so you enter that stretch after breakfast

my favorite stops were Cologne & Strasbourg, but plenty to see every day

cameraf4 Loc: Delaware

cascoly wrote:

I did that cruise last November - the Rhine castles day is the most scenic, with castles on both sides - but your ship is narrow so easy to switch sides or stay near the bow. they time it so you enter that stretch after breakfast

my favorite stops were Cologne & Strasbourg, but plenty to see every day

Thanks for the tip. Did we see any of your Rhine images?

lwerthe1mer Loc: Birmingham, Alabama

In Cologne, walk back to the ship in lieu of taking the bus. A very scenic walk along the river.

cameraf4 Loc: Delaware

lwerthe1mer wrote:

In Cologne, walk back to the ship in lieu of taking the bus. A very scenic walk along the river.

If my legs and hips can take it, I will. Thanks.

BrHawkeye

For castles, the stretch just south of Coblenz is the most target rich.

NikonZSeriesMike Loc: Naples, FL

I went on the Rhine and Moselle River Viking Cruises in September 2018. I took my Nikon D750 along with my Tamron 24-70 G2 and Tamron 70-200 G2. While cruising I used the 70-200 and a monopod exclusively. There are so many opportunities to take some excellent pictures. I used the 24-70 primarily as my walk-around lens.

I have a Nikon 200-500. I would have loved to have taken it, especially when cruising. However, I wanted to travel as light as possible. The 70-200 performed well.

Enjoy your trip. We’ve been on two Viking River cruises and both were excellent. We’re scheduled to go on a Viking Ocean cruise to the Scandinavian countries in 2020.

cameraf4 Loc: Delaware

NikonD750Mike wrote:

... We’re scheduled to go on a Viking Ocean cruise to the Scandinavian countries in 2020.

We often cruise with friends and that cruise is one we have been trying to work into our schedules. May I ask what time of year you are going?

mreisz

My wife and I did the Rhine in late April/May. The most memorable and amazing adventure for me was the 2 hour tour inside the cologne cathedral. The guide was a young woman who worked in the restoration department. This was an active tour, but don't let that stop you. Without going into everything, let me just say that we ended up at the top within almost touching distance of gargoyle's. The final view from the top of a spire down to the river and the town was amazing.

allan catt Loc: gillingham,kent,uk

Done 4 trips on the Rhine .you will enjoy every moment of it,lovely villages to visit,Rhudershiem is beautiful,along with Koblenz,Heidleburge and many others,do go into Cologne and visit the cathedral,on the way back to the ship call in at the 4/711 shop and pick up some perfume for the wife,it’s just off of the cathedral square. I just took my trusty Lumix P&S got good shots.

vineyardman Loc: Florida

While stationed in Germany back in the 70s I took a tour of the Rhine called the “burning of the Castle’s” or the “burning of the Rhine”—can’t remember which—-in an evening tour . The local people built large 🔥 behind the Castle ruins which lit the ruins up. It ended in a large—sorta lake —with the burning castle’s all around. Very impressive. Where we boarded I have no idea. At the lake we left the boat for buses back to our starting point. I think it was all arranged by the local American teachers group of Bamberg—also a great place to visit. Because of the religious importance of Bamberg during the war, it was never bombed.

johneccles Loc: Leyland UK

You should find this cruise very enjoyable, you will be against the river flow, this is the better option as the boat will be moving slower. It is very interesting when passing through towns although in between these the scenery can be rather boring. The best stretch is from Koblenz to Rudesheim which is 40 miles of fascinating and very beautiful scenery with many castles and pretty villages, so in this stretch be prepared to dash from one side of the boat to the other in order not to miss anything.
Personally, I wouldn't do this trip again but use the KD line which is similar to a river bus between Rudesheim and Koblenz, stops at every town and village and is very cheap, the real way to see the Rhine.