By Sondra L. Shapiro
It was early morning as our Viking longship, Alruna, docked in the little town of Breisach, Germany. Day seven of our eight-day Rhine getaway was sunny and promised to be comfortably warm. The air was clean with sweet floral scents that tickled our nostrils. It was the perfect day for a 26-mile e-bike ride through the Black Forest.
Our guide, Cannon, a U.S. transplant and avid biker, greeted our nine-member group in the ship's lobby. It had been 15 years since I sat on a bike, so I was apprehensive about my abilities. He led us to a parking lot where we met his co-guide, chose our bikes, and got an e-bike lesson and safety pointers. The guides exuded confidence, so I immediately relaxed.
After a few practice spins around the lot we hit the road, pedaling through small villages, rolling hills, and asparagus and strawberry farms. Though our optional excursion was challenging, Cannon and his assistant kept our group together with one of them riding in the front and the other bringing up the rear. They made frequent stops to accommodate the less adept bikers or to give us the opportunity to take in the area's bucolic majesty.
Our first stop was nestled off a woodland trail that revealed a pristine, non-industrial area of the Rhine. We could hear a symphony of birdsongs, the rippling sounds made by swans gliding across the river and the clucking of mating bullfrogs.
The e-bikes came in handy as the motor offered just the push to keep us going to our destination, a 400-year-old farm run by the same family for generations. Our reward for the strenuous ride — homemade schnapps and bread served up in the family's original home.
At day's end we were gratefully whisked back to our ship via comfortable motor coach. As we dragged ourselves to our cabin we detoured to the ship's self-serve hot beverage station for a cappuccino and well-earned homemade cookies.
This excursion typifies the river-cruise experience: attention-grabbing and often invigorating outings that immerse travelers in history, culture and meetups with a country's residents — all with safety in mind.
We had begun our trip in Amsterdam and ended in Basel, Switzerland, with stops in Kinderdijk, Cologne, Koblenz and Rudesheim, all in Germany, and Strasbourg, France. Our itinerary included one free excursion in each port and extra-price optional activities — most catering to a wide range of energy and skill levels. Some were walking tours, others were by motor coach. There also was ample opportunity for independent exploration.
We splurged by adding the two-night Lucerne, Switzerland, land extension, attracted by the hassle-free experience. Extensions are typically offered both pre- and post-cruise.
River cruising attracts travelers headed to a new destination for the first time, nervous about visiting non-English speaking areas, insecure about getting around an unfamiliar area, or people like us — seasoned explorers who want a break from having to do all the thinking and planning on our own.
The cruise line took care of the logistics (flights, hotel and often airport transportation). If there were glitches, they were quickly fixed. When I was concerned the time between a connecting flight back to the states was cutting it too close, a rep told us to go and enjoy the day and she would look into it. While we were out, I received an email that she rebooked a direct flight without an extra charge.
Life onboard satisfied our desire to get up close to daily life along the Rhine. From outside decks we watched people walking dogs, picnicking or camping, families ambling along the river's edge, young boys fishing, lovers sharing a kiss or two.
The smaller size of our longship, with its 95 cabins, meant convenient docking in small towns or cities like Basel and Amsterdam.
My husband and I got in the rhythm of taking the included tour to get a lay of the land from the very knowledgeable local guides; then we'd grab a map of the area from reception or our tour guide and venture out on our own. We couldn't resist wandering through the medieval towns with their enchanting cobblestone streets, cathedrals, eateries and museums.
One afternoon we drifted along the Upper Rhine with its castles, terraced vineyards, medieval ruins and fairytale villages. With her melodious British accent our program director, Elizabeth, lulled us as she pointed out the various sites to the backdrop of classical music she chose for the occasion — "Clair de Lune," "On the Banks of Green Willow," "The Lark Ascending."
When we disembarked in Basel we were escorted to a comfortable motor coach for the picturesque ride to Lucerne. The only effort was the body contortions required to get the best camera angle as the Swiss Alps came into view.
Since we arrived too early for check-in at the hillside Art Deco Hotel Montana Luzern, with its views of the lake and snow-capped mountains, a concierge from the ship took us on a two-hour walking tour of Lucerne and introduced us to the transportation system. She was on hand at a desk in the lobby daily to recommend places to dine and give directions to museums, restaurants and sites of interest. The extension offered well-designed optional tours to introduce visitors to Swiss culture, food and its famous Alps.
WHEN YOU GO
The cruise line we selected was Viking. For more information: www.vikingcruises.com.
Sondra L. Shapiro is the founder and publisher of TheFiftyPlusLife.com, an online news publication for baby boomers and Gen Xers. To read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.
A group from a cruise ship on the Rhine River pedals through small villages, rolling hills and farms during a 26-mile e-bike trip in Germany's Black Forest. Photo courtesy of TheFiftyPluslLife.com.
View Comments