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Viking Gersemi: Castles & cathedrals along the Rhine

What's included

Your base fare on Viking Gersemi includes Internet (Wi-Fi), included excursions, ground transfers, live evening entertainment, daily lectures, food and wine tastings, 24-hour coffee/tea and replenished daily bottled water. Lunch and dinner are served with complimentary beer, wine and soft drinks. Most passengers take the daily shore excursions  included in the cruise price, though you're free to book an independent tour. 

Chocolates from a candy shop in Strasbourg, France.
Don & Heidi Bucolo / Special to CruiseableChocolates from a candy shop in Strasbourg, France.

River cruising: It's about destination immersion

River cruising is about the destination probably more so than the ship. The ports of call shadow the onboard amenities; however, Viking helps guests learn about the local culture, history and highlights of the places that they visit. On Viking Gersemi you'll find locally sourced ingredients in meals at lunch and dinner as well as local entertainers sharing their music, dancing and stories.

Viking Gersemi includes daily tours as part of your cruise fare, which makes the hassle of figuring out logistics less challenging. Most tours are completed around lunch and then you are free to do what you choose until the ship leaves port. You'll be given a nightly briefing in the evening before dinner to get updates on the next day’s call to discuss the upcoming day’s activities, tours and logistics. Plan to attend the session to discover highlights of the upcoming town's history, art, food, music and architecture.

Dining

Viking Gersemi dining options include the main dining room and Aquavit Terrace with indoor and outdoor options at the ship's bow. Our travel writer Don Bucolo writes: "While the number of dining venues are more limited on a smaller ship, the menus feature locally sourced ingredients with chef specialties unique to the region. You'll also want to snag some of the line’s signature cookies and scones that are available at the onboard café. Dinner is a social matter. With no assigned seating, you're able to mix and mingle with other cruisers. This is a great time to meet new friends and to hear about their adventures of the day."

Entertainment & activities

River cruising is very mellow. You won't find any large production shows or comedy clubs. What you will enjoy is some light piano music played by the house musician and local entertainers who are brought onto the ship to sing, dance or tell stories from the local perspective. After dinner, cruise passengers can hang out in the lounge and have an after-dinner drink, or they can walk back into town if the ship is not leaving port until later in the evening.

You'll want to spend some time in the Observation Lounge, which features floor-to-ceiling glass doors for panoramic views. Activities and features on board include:

  • Sun Deck with 360-degree views & shaded sitting area; organic herb garden & solar panels; putting green & walking track
  • Viking Lounge & Bar with floor-to-ceiling glass doors
  • Library & onboard shop
  • Elevator from Middle to Upper Deck only; no elevator access for categories E & F
  • Free Wi-Fi (connection speed may vary)
  • Laundry service
  • 40-inch flat-screen TV with infotainment system featuring Movies On Demand, plus CNBC, CNN, National Geographic & more
Capture and share precious moments during your European travels aboard a Viking Longship.
Courtesy of Viking CruisesCapture and share precious moments during your European travels aboard a Viking Longship.

Cabins

Viking Gersemi sports the new Viking river cruise ship design that allows larger accommodations without the need to shrink public areas. The ship has 95 cabins in these categories:

  • Two Explorer Suites at 445 square feet featuring 270-degree scenery views and private wraparound balconies.
  • Seven Veranda Suites at 275 square feet with two separate rooms: a living room (with step-out balcony) and bedroom (with French balcony).
  • 39 river-view Veranda Staterooms at 205 square feet with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door opening to a full-size veranda.
  • 25 Standard Staterooms with non-opening windows in eight grades
  • 22 river-view French Balcony Staterooms with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door to create a French balcony

Fun facts

  • Viking Longships are 443 feet long and 39 feet wide because those are the maximum dimensions possible for river ships navigating the locks on some of Europe's waterways. If they were even two inches longer or wider, they wouldn't fit in some locks. 
  • Viking names its ships after Norse mythology. Gersemi is named for the Norse Goddess of Beauty. Her name translates into “treasure,” and gods and mortals alike envied her for her strength and serenity.

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For pricing, itinerary information and to reserve your spot on Viking Gersemi, contact a Cruiseable travel consultant by email or by calling 1-877-322-3773.

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Cruiseable team
The Cruiseable editorial team consists of award-winning travel writers, cruise bloggers and journalists.

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