Page 41 - zcyj (1)
P. 41
Our home base, Viking Kara, is one of 64 longships built by Left: Strasbourg was a favorite for its unfailingly lovely
the U.S.-based company specifically to cruise Europe’s many homes lining canals framed by trees. Its historic city cen-
rivers. While today there are several river cruising operators, ter, the Grande Ile (Grand Island), was named a World
Viking River Cruises continues to garner the most accolades. Heritage site by UNESCO in 1988, the first time such an
For five consecutive years — 2011-2015 — Viking has earned honor was placed on an entire city center. Top right:
“Best River Cruise Line” and “Best New River Ships” and “Best Cruising down the regal Rhine, we passed by more cas-
River Cruise Itineraries” from the international team of Cruise tles than we could count. Terraces like these, our cruise
Critic editors. “In an expanding river market, Viking continues director told us, date from Roman times when grape
to reign,” says Cruise Critic. Travel + Leisure also awarded Vi- vines were often planted. Above: Weeping willows drap-
king the highest score of all river and ocean cruise lines in that ing over Strasbourg’s canals.
Wine Dine & Travel 2016 41
