Post cruise, Lucerne/Basel suggestions please

[Bear_mom]

we have a Viking Cruise from Amesterdam to Basel next summer and are arriving two nights early (Amsterdam) and leaving two nights later and are looking to do pre- and post- cruise activites on our own.

 

For those that have done them, which would/did you prefer Basel or Lucerne?

 

Hotel suggestions?

 

If Lucerne, how hard is it to get there from Basel and then to Zurich?

 

Is it really worth the additional money to be able to pick your flights on Viking?

 

Anything else?

[Cyber Kat]

we have a Viking Cruise from Amesterdam to Basel next summer and are arriving two nights early (Amsterdam) and leaving two nights later and are looking to do pre- and post- cruise activites on our own.

 

For those that have done them, which would/did you prefer Basel or Lucerne?

 

Hotel suggestions?

 

If Lucerne, how hard is it to get there from Basel and then to Zurich?

 

Is it really worth the additional money to be able to pick your flights on Viking?

 

Anything else?

 

 

 

We did Lucerne and loved it! We did the extension through Viking so while it was easy, it was more expensive. Switzerland is expensive no matter what you do. Switzerland is phenomenal all over, but from what I hear, Lucerne surpasses Basel

 

We did the Mt Pilatus Golden Round Trip on our own. It was fantastic

 

There are trains from Basel to Lucerne and the Lucerne train station in centrally located.

 

And the $50 for Viking Air Plus is so worth it! Pick your flights, avoid multiple stops, layovers, and strange routings

 

 

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[Sank and Frandy]

Hi, Swiss trains are easy. The lion of Lucerne is one of the most moving sculptures I have ever seen. Look at spending a good while just taking it in and contemplation. The "old" bridge is pretty neat, too.

[acwmom]

We did the opposite route, arriving in Zurich, then spending 2 nights in Lucerne, on our own. As previously mentioned, the Swiss trains are easy to navigate. We stayed at the Hotel des Balances, an easy walk from the train station, in a river view room with a balcony. We also went to the top of Mt. Pilatus. There were several on our cruise who chose the DIY route, and were in Lucerne at the same time we were (we found out, once onboard).

 

Robin

[cruisergrandma]

We did a pre-cruise in Lucerne (booked through Viking) and we LOVED it. We stayed at the Radisson Blu. It is a great hotel within walking distance of everything. Would love to spend more time in Lucerne. We paid extra to choose our own flights with Viking because we were 4 couples traveling together. We wanted to choose our arrival/departure times as well as all travel together. We feel it was worth it.

[ganski]

We did the Rhine cruise departing from Basel with Viking, we flew into Basel a day early, took the bus to the downtown area, checked into our hotel which was Hotel Euler, reasonable and very convenient. we had dinner in Basel and checked out the Christmas Markets. The next day we got up early and took the train to Lucerne, it was about an hour ride. We did our sightseeing, Christmas Market shopping, had lunch, took the train in the afternoon back to Basel, picked up our luggage at the hotel and took a cab to the Viking boat. The Hotel Euler is about 2 blocks to the train station and walking distance to the shopping area and Christmas market location. The bus stop from the airport was a block away from the hotel and a short ride too

[Cruisin Kay D]

Back in 2008 when our Rhine cruise ended in Basel, we took train to Interlaken & stayed 2 days -- very charming little city between 2 lakes & surrounded by Alps! Then we took train to Lucerne & stayed 1 or 2 nights. Then on to Zurich for an overnight before flying to US.

We had packed what we needed for those 4-5 days & nights in 1 smaller suitcase. The morning we disembarked we took the 2 other suitcase (of things we didn't need) to have train take it directly to Zurich airport. Then the night before flight we went to airport to retrieve the big suitcase, in order to put some more things in it & to ease our mind that the suitcase was truly in Zurich!! Worked GREAT!!!

[gone2c]

Back in 2008 when our Rhine cruise ended in Basel, we took train to Interlaken & stayed 2 days -- very charming little city between 2 lakes & surrounded by Alps! Then we took train to Lucerne & stayed 1 or 2 nights. Then on to Zurich for an overnight before flying to US.

We had packed what we needed for those 4-5 days & nights in 1 smaller suitcase. The morning we disembarked we took the 2 other suitcase (of things we didn't need) to have train take it directly to Zurich airport. Then the night before flight we went to airport to retrieve the big suitcase, in order to put some more things in it & to ease our mind that the suitcase was truly in Zurich!! Worked GREAT!!!

 

What a great idea!! How did you go about arranging with the train this transfer. Then how did you retrieve your suitcase in Zurich.