travellovervic

our Programme Director Ivan is coming with us to the Sigyn, unfortunately hotel and restaurant staffs won't. V

Yes, that's where we are, nothing to see here! V

Update: the Hermod won't sail further beyond Cologne. We stop in a shipyard in an area called Hafen Niehl (according to Google map) and will stay overnight here. It is a 15 minutes drive to the Cathedral. Unfortunately, tomorrow we won't have any of the scenic sailing through the Middle Rhine. this is plan C, I guess, last two weeks they were able to transfer passengers to smaller boats for a scenic sailing. This week, it is no longer possible. all luggage out in the hallway to be picked up for transfer by 8 am. Breakfast will start before 7 am. We will leave the ship at 8:30 am. Bus to Koblenz for included tour, free time for lunch, with €25 credit for each pax. 1:30 departs Koblenz for scenic coach ride, stop at Loreley, admire it from shore, then coffee and cake break in Bingen. Change bus at 4:30 pm to drive to Strasbourg, arrive to Viking Sigyn for dinner at 7 pm. to continue onto Basel from there as scheduled. it's unfortunate that we miss the most relaxing and scenic part of the cruise. it will be a hectic day, stressful for some. All paid optional tours are cancelled for this part. It is what it is, Viking tries its best, it is not really a matter of doing things last minute, they are assessing what is possible out of very challenging conditions. A sailing we won't go, but bus tour and only one extra packing and unpacking. If you can handle it, don't cancel. but if this inconvenience bothers you, and missing the scenic Middle Rhine on the river is vital, then cancel. However, don't expect the water level to drastically improve for the next month or so. but then again, I'm not the expert on weather and these water levels. Good night. Vic

The latest from the Hermod: we didn't make it to Zons for 9:30 am. Programme director announced at the end of breakfast that dangerously low water levels slowed us down so much, all morning excursions are postponed to the afternoon. Important information session at 12 noon about all the changes to be made... Still going positively with the flow. Vic

It's interesting to know the details of ship swap from B to A. We're going the opposite direction, and will find out details tomorrow before dinner. Thanks MDPastor. We are getting off at Zons, at 9:30 am tomorrow and get bused to Cologne for our excursions. the ship will meet us there in Cologne around 12:30, but we can stay in town and get back to ship with shuttle bus service every hour from 2:30 to 5:30 pm. more update tomorrow. Vic

Yes, we sailed to kinderdijk this morning, and crossed the German border an hour ago, on our way to Koln / Cologne overnight.

It's raining in Amsterdam and Rotterdam area today. It's not too heavy, but hopefully helps a bit. We left Amsterdam last night on Viking Hermod. Vic

better?

Thank you for your update! Really appreciated it. We will go on the Hermod a week later: Aug 16 from A to B. At least we are mentally prepared - to have a good time, regardless!