While my travels have taken me all over the world, I realized that I have not been on a European land tour since 2015 when Steve and I went on an Adventure by Disney tour from Prague to Salzburg to Vienna. Yes, the world cruise in 2019 ended in Southhampton and the 2023 Viking Scandinavian cruise had me in European cities, I’m rusty on traveling by air and land in Europe. Or am I just rusty older?!!?

This upcoming trip is actually two cruises back to back with a short stay in Amsterdam. Friends have been asking where exactly am I going? This first blog entry for this adventure will be an overview; actually a refresher for me too. I booked these cruises in March 2024!

Orlando to Heathrow today with a limo picking us up at the airport and taking us to Cunard’s cruise terminal in Southhampton where we will board the Queen Anne. I have not been on this ship which launched two years ago.

The itinerary includes two days at see and stops at the following ports: Getxo, Spain (near Bilbao and where we will experience the Cantabrian Coast), La Caruna, Spain (where we will experience the Total Solar Eclipse and Santiago de Compostela), Gijon, Spain (where we will visit Oviedo), and Cherbourg, France (where we will tour Mont Saint Michel).

We disembark in Southhampton and then will take a van to Amsterdam going through the Chunnel. Our hotel stay is at the Sofitel Legend The Grand Amsterdam which is a historical site. Love that! Thanks, Michelle Andersen Admiral Travel for finding this one for us.

After two days, we board the Viking Rolf for a Rhine River cruise. Many of you have told me that you have done this cruise and loved it. We are hoping for enough water on the river to not have to disembark onto buses as I have heard happens on occasion.

This will be my (and my son and sister’s) first cruise on a Viking River ship. While living in Germany for two years in the early 1970’s, I had the experience of visiting many of the towns included in this cruise itinerary. It will be interesting to see 50 years later! Although I should mention that Steve and I visited the Rhine River area in 2007 – bet things have changed since then as well (except for the castles LOL).

The port of calls are: Amsterdam, Kinderdijk, Cologne, Koblenz, Speer, Strasbourg, Breisach, and Basel. From Basel, we will fly back to the USA. The old way of seeing Europe, 4 countries in 8 days – Netherlands, Germany, France, Switzerland (almost Austria).

Excited for this adventure to begin – sitting in the Lounge in Terminal C at Orlando. Very crowded but room at the bar with an awesome bartender – Danielle – she is hustling with this crazy place LOL✈️