We will be taking the Viking River Cruise from Basel to Amsterdam in June 2025. Viking reports they will send embarkation dock location 2 weeks before sail date. I'd like to reserve a hotel in the area prior to that. Anyone have experience with where the dock might be? Suggestions for hotels? Would staying in Rheinefelden a mistake?

Thanks for your help!

Look at your cruise on the Viking site, you will see five cruise extensions prior to leaving Basel. One of them is cheaper than the other four if that’s what you are looking for. Going with Viking is the best choice IMO as they will take care of everything, including your luggage. We are doing Amsterdam to Basel in June and will be doing a pre extension in Amsterdam and a post extension in Lucerne.

You can book the same hotels Viking uses for about half the price you’ll pay Viking for the ssme room. If the convenience of having viking take your luggage from the hotel to the ship is worth it then booking an extension thru viking nakes sense. If you are able to figure out a train and/or taxi and handle your luggage then you have options.

Viking boats normally dock on the east side of the river alonf Uferstrasse

Viking also docks on the West babk of the Rhine - they have 2 ships docked there as we speak so it may be a coin toss. Either way, pick a hotel where you want to as it’ll be only a short taxi ride.

If you have time in Basel consider afternoon tea at Le Tres Rois.
(We stayed at Motel One, centrally located; I'd consider it and then taxi to the port.)