Viking Cora | Ep83

What is it really like to take your first river cruise with Viking?  In this conversation, host Dr. Krystal Sodaitis welcomes Kat, a passionate cruiser and host of Your Travel Bestie, to talk about her voyage on the Viking Kara along the Rhine from Amsterdam to Basel, Switzerland. Kat describes the welcoming atmosphere of a smaller ship (just 174 passengers), the crew’s impressive ability to learn guests’ names almost immediately, and the convenience of docking right in the heart of towns. She discusses the Juliet balcony stateroom she preferred, the high-quality Viking toiletries, and the excellent regional food that changed daily to match the destinations. Listeners will also hear about the realities of side-by-side docking, large included excursions, a memorable scenic cruise past dozens of castles, the surprisingly tight fit through the river locks, and why Kat believes true luxury is defined by how you are treated. She wraps up by sharing her dream of an Australia and New Zealand cruise and her upcoming Virgin Voyages itineraries. Episode Highlights: Kat’s first river cruise on Viking Kara from Amsterdam to Basel Why the smaller ship size (174 guests) and better crew ratio create a more personal experience Exceptional crew service: they learn names quickly and go above and beyond Preference for the Juliet balcony over a full balcony Strong regional cuisine (Beef Wellington, German specialties) and locally sourced ingredients The magic of scenic daytime cruising past Rhine castles with live commentary Navigating river locks and side-by-side docking with other Viking ships Kat’s definition of luxury: how you are treated by the crew Dream cruise: Australia and New Zealand Upcoming trips on Virgin Voyages (ABC islands and Athens-to-Athens with overnight in Cairo) Introduction to Kat’s podcast, Your Travel Bestie Kat About The Guest Kat is a passionate cruiser who calls herself your travel bestie. Host of the Your Travel Bestie podcast, she covers all types of travel and often features guests whose businesses connect to exploration and healing. A first-time river cruiser, she recently sailed Viking’s Rhine itinerary and has upcoming Virgin Voyages trips planned. Podcast: Your Travel Bestie Kat Podcast. About the Host: Dr. Krystal Sodaitis is a pediatrician, executive, and life coach for neurodiverse physicians—and the passionate host behind Luxury Cruising. She brings expert insight and honest excitement to every interview, helping curious travelers elevate their adventures at sea. 📍 Website: luxurycruising.net 📧 Email: [email protected] 🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/krystalsodaitis 📝 Looking for the perfect luxury cruise: Take our quiz 👥 Want to be a guest? Fill out this form to connect.  Looking for the perfect spa experience: Spa table Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.