Sweden
After a long journey from Austin to Frankfurt, followed by a lengthy connection and another flight to Stockholm, we arrived exhausted. The Viking crew waiting for us at the airport was a welcome sight. With their help we were quickly on our way through the streets of Stockholm. We were glad when we finally reached the Hotel Reisen, where we could get some rest before beginning our adventures.
Hotel Reisen - Our Home in Stockholm
The hallway outside our room was dim, but the history made up for it. The bricks along the corridor date back to the 17th century and were laid by hand when the building first went up near Stockholm’s waterfront. Our room itself was small — like most hotel rooms in Europe — but perfectly fine for a couple of nights. And as you can see, it didn’t take us long to turn that tidy space into a lived‑in mess.
The view outside our window was interesting: cobbled streets and old buildings made us feel like we’d truly arrived in Europe. And if you leaned out just far enough, you could even catch a glimpse of the water.
Just Outside Our Hotel
Our stroll took us through parts of Gamla Stan, the historic Old Town near our hotel. We wandered down narrow cobblestone streets and marveled at the grandeur of the Royal Palace.
Private Tour of Stockholm
With a free day in Stockholm and only a basic sense of the city, we decided to book a private guide. As requested, he took us through several neighborhoods, including a stop at a local grocery store, before we continued on to Stockholm City Hall. Completed in 1923, its red‑brick façade and green spires stand out immediately, and the peaceful grounds along the waterfront made a beautiful start to our visit.
The Chamber, where Stockholm’s official business takes place, was beautiful, with a massive coffered ceiling shaped like an upside‑down Viking longboat. Standing beneath it, we could only imagine the craftsmanship and dedication required to create a room of this scale and detail. The building itself was completed in 1923 after more than a decade of work, and the Chamber remains one of its most striking spaces.
The Golden Hall, home to the Nobel Banquet Ball, was vast and truly lived up to its name. Its walls shimmered with mosaics telling stories from Sweden’s past, and the carved wooden beams above added warmth and depth. When we arrived, the hall was completely empty—just the two of us with our guide in a quiet, glowing space where Nobel laureates gather to dance.
Our guide showed us several interesting corners of Stockholm as we made our way through the city, including places we never would have noticed on our own. Our final stop was a photo op at the striking Riddarholmen Church, which dates back to the late 1200s and remains one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks. Tim was a wonderful guide, and we had a lovely afternoon exploring Stockholm together.
After the tour, we ventured out on our own and happened upon the changing of the guard at the Royal Palace. The setting was beautiful, with grand buildings rising on all sides and the late‑day sun settling over the courtyard. The space was huge—open, quiet, and almost still. We paused for a moment, taking it all in, while the palace guards marched across the stone with calm precision, heading toward what we assumed were their quarters. It was the perfect ending to a wonderful day.
The Cruise Begins
The next morning, we took one last stroll through the area around our hotel, lingering long enough to enjoy the quiet charm of Stockholm. A short transfer brought us to the Viking Saturn, where we had our first lunch on board and settled into our cabin. The rest of the afternoon was simply relaxing as we eased into the luxurious life onboard the Viking Saturn.
The next morning, we boarded a motor coach for a short ride to the Vasa Museum—home to Sweden’s remarkably preserved 17th‑century warship. For a vessel that spent more than 300 years underwater, the Vasa is astonishingly intact, including the hundreds of intricate carvings that cover nearly every part of the ship. She set sail in 1628 but tragically sank just minutes into her maiden voyage due to a design flaw. Raised in 1961, she now stands in the Vasa Museum, offering a striking look at 17th‑century craftsmanship and naval ambition.
A nice traditional Swedish lunch was followed by a walk along the winding paths of Djurgården Park to the dock where our canal boat was waiting. With rain threatening, we were glad to see it was covered. We were even more appreciative to be in a cozy cabin when the rain actually arrived. Raindrops on the windows prevented photographs, but the ride was scenic and very enjoyable.
It had been a full and satisfying day in Stockholm. By evening, the skies cleared, giving us a beautiful sunset to view from our balcony as we sailed toward Tallinn, Estonia.
