Last Thursday’s  post about the first five days of my Rhine River Getaway, brought news from many of my fellow passengers and I was so glad to hear from them.  To me travel has always been about meeting people, making fresh discoveries together, learning, absorbing…

Learn to Cook Like Viking Ocean Cruises’ Chef While on Board Jan 6, 2017 | 4:54 pm By Monte Mathews Staff Writer Viking Ocean Cruises’ hands-on cooking classes beat the competition, hands down. A Hands-on Approach is key to Viking Ocean’s Cooking Classes. Photo by…

On Viking Ocean Cruises, Mamsen’s Deli Serves Mum’s Recipes on Mum’s China Dec 9, 2016 | 4:49 pm By Monte Mathews Staff Writer For Viking CEO Torstein Hagen, perfection is in the details Torstein Hagen, chairman and CEO of Viking River Cruises, with 61 vessels…

Cuisine on the World’s No. 1 Cruise Line By Monte Mathews Staff Writer Chef Anthony Mauboussin, Culinary Director of Viking Cruises, has a lot on his plate, including 42 new dishes this year alone. Chef Anthony Mauboussin in Viking Star’s Demo Kitchen The cruise world…

Rise and Shine! It’s At Sea Day on Viking Sea’s Maiden Voyage Viking at Sea          On Viking Star there was only one.  On the Maiden Voyage of Viking Sea, there would be three of them but for us, just one.  Sea Days. These port-less…

Chef Anthony Mauboussin in action aboard the Viking Sea. By Land and by Sea: Viking’s New ‘Kitchen Table’ Culinary Arts Program By Monte Mathews Staff Writer We set the scene for Viking Cruise’s new ‘Kitchen Table’ chef experience Since last year’s launch of its first…

         I was thrilled to be invited to participate in the Maiden Voyage of Viking Sea, sister ship to Viking Star, Viking Cruises ocean-going liners that have set a new standard in affordable luxury since their inception last year.   I was even more delighted when…

Viking River Cruises Take to the Oceans   It’s hard to tell which is larger: the ship, the amount of dining options, or the value. Last May, I took Viking Tor from Budapest to Nurnberg For the past five years, Viking River Cruises has consistently…

David, 500 year old hunk          Initially, I’d signed up for a tour that took its participants into the countryside where we’d tour a winery and make ‘afternoon snacks’ called ‘marende’.  Now I lived in Italy and have gone there several times afterwards and I…

First glimpse of The World’s Best New Cruise Ship of 2015          Day 4 dawned rainy and the roof top breakfast room at the Hotel Cram was filled with unhappy tourists.   I could not have cared less.  Because from the rooftop, I could see the…

HOME/TRAVEL On the Danube River with Viking River Cruises On this cruise, your next meal is right around the bend in the river 5 July 24, 2015 | 05:26 PM  By Monte Mathews, Special Contributor    Monte Mathews This cruise is one of the best ways to…

Above: Viking River Cruises Longship Tor docked in Passau Germany I admit it.  I cannot say enough good things about my recent “Romantic Danube” cruise aboard Viking River Cruises’ Longship “Tor”. I consider myself to be well-travelled. I’ve had the good fortune to visit 6 continents, many…

It may look Medieval but 90{4e4771bbe073b579fdd8e596ee487f65145483febbc8ba0a80525f62b26cad86} of Nuremberg was bombed out of existence in World War II.This copy was built to replace it.           As much as you know this day is coming, there’s a certain melancholy that sets in when you realize this wonderful…

The Royal Palace on the Buda side of Budapest Despite having not slept since Wednesday, the city of Budapest beckoned and won over the comforts of the Tor, one of 29 Viking River longships that ply the Danube in both directions.  I finally arrived in…