TomSoBronx40thPct

We are currently on the Basel-Amsterdam Rhine Viking cruise until May 22 - our first ever cruise (other than three bizarre days on the Yangtze in 1988.) The beautiful views of the countryside and its ancient structures along the river - shown in Viking ads and PBS sponsorship promos - are yet to be experienced. We have only sailed the Rhine waters in the dead of night, with views of the locks - when metallic clunking noises happen to awaken you. No big deal. Though Viking prides itself on selling next-to-nothing in from its sparse gift shelves, their shore excursions have so far made up for this restraint, with quick journeys to theme-park/shop-‘til-you-drop locations via long, cramped bus-rides far from the dock. We’re averaging twice as much time in transit as time spent walking about the “cultural-points-of-interest.” With luck, our impressions will change but this is a very different from our usual land-based European experiences (traveling in “28-people-or-less/one-carryon-bag/quick&mobile” groups.)