Rhine River Cruise with Family - May 2014

In the spring of 2014 our family spent eight days sailing down the Rhine River in Western Europe. My parents had generously gifted us with a Viking River Cruise with ports of call in The Netherlands, Germany and France, and a wonderful opportunity to spend time together and enjoy somewhere new.

While it was new to most of us, the cruise took us to region frequented many times by my parents when they lived in Germany decades prior while my Dad was serving in the Air Force.

The Viking Ship was smaller than a typical ocean cruise liner, but very luxurious. We each had a comfortable room with a balcony, with all meals and drinks included and access to the ship's numerous amenities. We explored the cities of Amsterdam, Kinderdijk, Cologne, Koblenz, Rudesheim, Speyer, Heidelberg, Strasbourg and Breisach before debarking in Basel.

One of the highlights of the cruise for me was sitting on the upper deck of the boat and slowly drifting down the river watching the castles, vineyards and small towns pass by on the land. We spotted castle after castle tucked high above in the hillside surrounded by lush, green, rows of grapes. I also loved the bold colors of the architecture in Strasbourg and Colmar, France. We drank our weight in wine that week and also shared memories that will last a lifetime.