Viking Spirit Grand European River Cruise

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Map and Overview of Viking Spirit Grand European River Cruise Itinerary

Map of Grand European River Cruise Itinerary

Map of Viking Spirit Grand European River Cruise Itinerary

Map Courtesy of Viking River Cruises

River cruise ships have been carrying passengers the 3500 km across Europe from Amsterdam on the North Sea to Romania and Bulgaria on the Black Sea since 1992, when the 171 km Main-Danube Canal was completed. Looking at the map, you can see what a marvelous journey it is! Rivers have played a major role in the history of Europe, and most of the villages and cities along the rivers have existed for hundreds of years. The culture, history, and architecture of the settlements, combined with the spectacular natural beauty of the vineyards, farms, and rolling hills along the river, make this a wonderful cruise vacation option for travelers.

In October, my mother and I covered over half of this grand European river voyage, sailing from Budapest to Amsterdam on the Danube, Main, and Rhine Rivers and through the Main-Danube Canal. We cruised for 14 days on the delightful river vessel the Viking Spirit, visiting four major European capitals (Budapest, Bratislava, Vienna, and Amsterdam) and 11 towns and villages along the rivers. We also passed through 68 locks as the Viking Spirit crossed the continental divide of Europe. The cruise covered 1856 km.

This cruise journal has been divided into two parts. Part 1 covers the cruise upstream on the Danube from Budapest to the Main-Danube Canal at Nuremberg, and part 2 covers the cruise down the Main and Rhine Rivers to Amsterdam.

Click here to learn more about the Viking Spirit river vessel.

We embarked on the Viking Spirit in Budapest.

Viking Spirit European River Cruise Journal - Budapest to Nuremberg

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Map and Overview of Viking Spirit Grand European River Cruise Itinerary