It was hard to resist the lure of commercials showing a boat gliding down a river, majestic scenery as far as the eye could see. Or Wichita. Or Walla Walla. After a buffet lunch of soup and sandwiches, we went on a bus tour of Frankfurt. On the bus, our local guide spoke perfect English and peppered us with history and trivia โ as she would do at every stop on the cruise.
Frankfurt is a banking center with a lot of skyscrapers. We were allowed to explore on our own. For some, that meant scurrying to nearby historical sites. Others returned to the ship loaded down with shopping bags. Our square-foot veranda stateroom was compact but efficient. Floor-to-ceiling glass doors opened onto a small balcony. The bathroom was tiny, but the heated floor more than made up for it.
It was December, remember? The room had a refrigerator bottled water replenished daily , safe, TV and free Wi-Fi. On the top level were two desktop computers for passenger use and a self-service coffee bar with cappuccino, cocoa and tea. There was no assigned seating, and dress was casual. Each meal featured several courses and, of course, plenty of German wines. On Viking ships, wine, beer and soft drinks are complimentary at lunch and dinner.
The menu changes daily, but steak and chicken are always offered. At the end of the cruise, the chef offered a lavish German meal with roast pig, sausages, cabbage, potatoes, dumplings and other local specialties.
Our first stop along the Heart of Germany route was Heidelberg, where we toured in a driving rain โ thank goodness for umbrellas supplied by Viking the ruins of Heidelberg Castle. The castle overlooks the River Neckar and the views are stunning. With our guide we did a quick walking tour of Old Town Heidelberg, then we were on our own to explore at our own pace for a few hours.
