Stunning Vienna , Austria - 10th August 2024

Hometown of the Brilliant and Famous.

We berthed the Viking Vilhjalm so that we could access the wonderful city of Vienna at 6.00am after a restful evening and a sense of excitement greeted us as we went to breakfast. for many on the river chip Vienna was to be a significant highlight. We have visited Vienna several times and always enjoy the culture, stunning architecture and the famous coffee houses.

In Vienna coffee is at once an art and a long embraced tradition that has changed little over the centuries, but has altered the face of one of Europe’s most loved cities. UNESCO included the Viennese coffeehouse culture on its list of Intangible Cultural Heritages, describing the culture and establishments as places “where time and space are consumed, but only coffee is found on the bill,” Of course the delicious soffee and the delectable pastries , from apfelstrudel to Linzer Torte are also central to the experience.

But there is much more as Vienna has a long tradition and history of being an important cultural centre and hoe of education to some of the leading artists, philosophers and musicians and composers and this emanates cfrom its period as the capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. As such the city holds an important place in the lives of mny of the worlds most beloved musicians, paiters, actors and thinkers.

The city was home to some of the most cherished classical composers and fostered the careers of Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and the works of Ludwig van Beethoven, Franz Schubert and the incomparable Johann Strauss. Importantly, at the end of the 19th Century Arnold Schoenberg served as the de facto leader of a group of artists that became known as the Second Viennese School of Composers.

The city also boasts many outstanding architectural examples of key buildings and Museums. It is a treasure trove of remarkable buildings and religious organisations from Cathedrals to Abbey etc.

It has also celebrated several Nobel prize winning scientists, artists, actors and philosophers.

We toured the city and thoroughly enjoyed the excursion titled “ Shore EXcursion- Panoramic Vienna” which eas a guided walking and coach tour through all of the key sites. This took for 9.15am - 12.30pm. Enjoyable and fascinating history.

Lunch was then served in the restaurant from 12.45pm and there was a buzz about the group.

The afternoon there was the optional excursions to the Lipizzans ( the beautiful grey horses). Although many were away at their summer holiday resting place. There was also a tour of Schonbrunn Palace, which we have seen previously.

Then some free time before changing an early dinner and then a bus ride into the city to an opera house for Mozart and Strauss Concert over the time of 7.30pm-10.15pm. simply a wonderful celebration of their glorious music. A concert which was almost continuous for 3 hours apart from a 15 minute interval. Then picked up at 10.30pm for the trip back to the ship.

Back by 10.55pm and then the option of supper or retire for the night. We chose the latter after a wonderful day and a special evening with wonderful uplifting music. The ship then departed Vienna after a stunning day at 11.59pm for Bratislave , Slovakia. To date this has been the highlight of the river cruise.