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This page: Amsterdam canal lined with narrow brick town houses Opposite: Aquavit Terrace at sunrise 60 VIKING.COM EXPLORE MORE

TRAVEL I WAS LOOKING UP AT THE INKY BLACK NIGHT SKY, ILLUMINATED BY A THOUSAND TWINKLING STARS, AS WE SAILED INTO THE BEAUTIFUL AND HISTORIC CITY OF BUDAPEST To get to the very heart of some of Europe’s most beautiful and historic cities, there is perhaps no better way to travel than by river, as I discovered with great pleasure on my glorious Grand European Tour voyage with Viking. Just the name GÖTTWEIG ABBEY Göttweig Abbey is a treasure overlooking the Wachau Valley from a hill covered by vineyards and forests. The abbey was founded in 1083—although the current baroque building was constructed after a fire in the early 18th century. If you visit the abbey today, you will experience high baroque in all its splendor. of the cruise was enough to stir my romantic sensibilities, conjuring up images of bygone days when wealthy young men embarked on a two-year Grand Tour of Europe in search of great enlightenment, education and inspiration. I, too, was hoping for all those things from my 15-day adventure exploring the cities, towns and diverse landscapes that line the banks of the Rhine, Main and Danube Rivers. And I was not disappointed. In fact, by the end of my journey, I had gained so much more, including new friends and more luggage. River cruising really is a different way of seeing the world. Every day brings new scenery and exciting destinations, from ancient rural towns to thriving cosmopolitan cities, to vineyard-covered hills and mountainous forests watched over by fairy-tale castle ruins. River cruise ships are so much smaller than ocean liners, but this means they can transport you right into the very center of the city and moor up, putting all the sights and attractions within walking distance of your floating hotel. When you are docked somewhere overnight, it makes it really easy to spend more time getting to know a place on your own—and the staff on board was great with directions and tips, so I was never afraid of getting lost or missing out on a wonderful opportunity that might come my way. The Viking Longship might have been smaller compared to her oceangoing cousins, but she was actually surprisingly spacious once you stepped on board. The lovely Sun Deck was a great place to sit and soak up the scenery with a glass of something chilled; the comfortable and airy Viking Lounge was where it all happened before and after dinner; and as for my stateroom . . . well, it was more like a hotel room. Arriving in Amsterdam, the thought of a whole 15 days stretching ahead of me seemed like a deliciously long time, and I wanted to be sure to do justice to the rich history and culture of The Netherlands, Germany, Austria and Hungary. There is something about being on the river, about gliding silently through the countryside, EXPLORE MORE VIKING.COM 61