Preparing for the Viking Rhine Getaway entails more than just booking a cruise—it’s about crafting an experience that balances comfort, style, and practicality. Whether you’re cruising down the scenic Rhine River or exploring historic European towns, what you pack can significantly enhance your journey. Here, we breakdown essential tips to help you pack wisely, ensuring you’re prepared for every aspect of this unforgettable voyage.

Don’t Worry About “Looking American”

I’m not sure about you, but the first time I was given this advice was before I traveled to Tanzania. My first thought was how absurd it sounded. I still don’t think any amount of aversion to wearing tennis shoes or baseball caps would make a group of American tourists “blend in” with African locals. Everything from the way you speak, walk, or even lean can subconsciously clue others into the fact that you’re a tourist.

Most people that give this advice do it as a form of preemptive security, but pickpockets, scammers, and other ne’er-do-wells aren’t simply looking for Americans. They’re looking for easy targets. The real advice should be to not look lost, wander into bad areas, or be too trusting of random strangers. With some proper planning, you can be one of the millions of tourists who return home without incident, all while wearing whatever you want. Just think ahead and if you want wear your favorite tennis shoes or baseball cap, both will come in handy, especially with so much walking on those Viking cruise tours.

Keep Up With the Weather

Temperature, precipitation, and humidity can all impact what you want to wear. To get a picture of the general climate, Rick Steves’ advice is to pack as if you’re going to Boston for any trip north of the Alps. A couple weeks before your Viking cruise make sure to look up the specific weather of the ports to see what you’re working with, and make sure to continue monitoring the weather while you’re on the cruise. While we were there, it rained pretty often and we had a mixture of cooler and warmer temperatures throughout the week.

• Top tip – Make sure to bring a rain jacket just in case!

Find the Intersection of Comfort and Style

The Viking Rhine Getaway has an upscale atmosphere, and its encouraged to dress up a little for dinner. Besides, I’m sure you want to look good in your travel photos too! However, there is a lot of walking during the included excursions, and it may be more than a little tough to walk over the cobblestones in dress shoes. For me, a golf polo, nice Hawaiian shirt, or a light button-down offered good breathability but still gave a polished look befitting Viking’s ambiance.

• Top tip – Make sure to consider wrinkle-resistant fabrics that will still look fresh even after a day’s activities. This way, you’ll look good for dinner and photos without sacrificing comfort during the tours.

Pick Versatile Clothing Options.

This one is pretty straightforward, but in a scenario where packing space is limited, don’t bring stuff you’re not going to wear more than once. Think about what clothes go together and try to come up with as many outfits as you can from only a handful of clothes. Remember, you’ll want to save some space in your luggage for souvenirs!

Plan Ahead for Specific Activities

Whether you’re planning to swim in the Rhine in Basel, hike in the Black Forest, or even run laps on the ship, you may want specific items of clothing. The last thing you want is to decide to do any of those on your trip, but realize you forgot your swimsuit, hiking boots, or athletic wear. While I’m not suggesting you fill your suitcase with one-use items, you should think ahead and make sure you know exactly what to pack for your Viking cruise.

If you want to know more information about the Viking Rhine Getaway please see my previous article here.

Don’t forget, by subscribing below you’ll automatically receive access to my Complete Viking Rhine Getaway Guide & Itinerary!