150 square foot stateroom with picture window (no outdoor space), 135 square foot stateroom with French balcony (sliding glass door with no outdoor space), located on the Upper Deck and Middle Deck, 205 square foot room with full-size private veranda, 275 square foot suite with full-size private veranda, mini-bar with wine, beer, and soft drinks that are replenished daily, complimentary laundry & shoe shine services. Viking The general experience on all Viking river cruise ships is the same, no matter what ship youre on. How exciting! Scheduled for Grand European in September 2023. I hope you have a wonderful cruise and that things work out for your planned day trips! You never know what youll learn or who youll meet! Some other Viking guests enjoyed their visits to the thermal baths, but we opted to do our own thing with the parliament tour and walks to areas recommended by our local tour guide (from the walking tour). Staterooms are guaranteed to be ready at 3:00 pm. That saved precious counter space. My husband and I like to have about 100-200 Euros on us before leaving home. 12.5 laps = 1 mile. on your bed. Also, dinner is served on the Aquavit Terrace; service begins 15 minutes after dinner service starts in the restaurant. Hi Karen, A few things could happen when river levels are too low for cruise ships. Youll receive an excursion card with a number and a letter. Also, the ability to book optional excursions varies by the level of the stateroom. Low river levels today might be just fine for cruising in a few days. This happens when bridges are too low to safely pass under with guests on the sun deck. Ever consider a Viking European river cruise? Enjoy! I have been on 1 Viking River cruise and 3 (soon to be 4-I hope!) We are thinking we would might rather be wandering through the town and trying local cuisine. Really, just looking for your opinion on longer trips off-ship. Another consideration, of course, is how often you might order specialty drinks from the bar: at lunch, throughout the day, before and/or after dinner? If you dont live in the U.S., Im sure other governments have similar programs for travelers. Any comments on safety in cities? In addition, there are quite a few optional excursions available at an extra cost. We have quite a bit of Viking on board credits and wanted to purchase optional shore excursions with that credit. There is no self-service laundry. I think it would be a tight schedule if the ship is docked for just a day. Is that possible? (Viking offers complimentary house wine and beer at lunch and dinner.) Once enrolled, you enter the dates of your travel and your destinations. Im glad you found the article helpful, Thomas! The bar is on one end of the lounge; theres wait service in the Lounge during lunch and in the late afternoon and evening. Very relaxing! We love most of the optional excursions versus the included excursions but about how much do the optional ones cost? Sound like you have a great cruise coming up! One thing we learned is that although some excursions will guide you through a large city, if it is inland a bit, you may be spending a significant amount of time traveling from the ship to the city and comparatively modest amounts of time actually in the city itself. The letter indicates which excursion group youre on. Have a wonderful cruise, Thomas! Viking Mississippi in the safe the day before you check out. Im glad you found the article helpful, Tamara. Hi Catherine, Im glad the article was helpful. Once onboard, verify the time youll be in port and then fine-tune your tour or dinner plans. excursion card with a number and a letter. Its also where youll find freshly baked goodies throughout the day. I hope you two have a fabulous time on your cruise! Before leaving a dock, there may be announcements asking for guests in certain rooms to let the staff know they are on the ship. Please hare your opinion with me. Using ATMs machines? Hi Kathleen, For individual tours and dinner reservations, Id let the provider (tour company, restaurant) know what day youll be coming into port. Hi Linda, youre facing a big decision: to go with Silver Spirits or not! had some shirts done same day return no complaints Ocean Cruises. More information on menu choices is below under Meals. Did you bring euros or use credit card? On our trip, we met interesting people; visited fascinating places; sampled new foods, wines, and beer; and appreciated the convenience and gracious hospitality offered by Viking. Stairs connect all the decks plus theres an elevator to service the upper and middle decks. In addition, some people research other (non-Viking) tour options in advance of their cruise and book a personal or small-group tour to suit their specific interests on their own. The friends we cruise with have used it and say it is good and turnaround is quick. When you return to your room, you will notice the dinner menus for that evening. We also took along some thank you cards and put in some extra cash to give to those we felt went above and beyond during our cruise. After the excursions, we all met at a restaurant in Nuremberg for lunch, had a little free time, and then were bussed to the new ship in the late afternoon. An easy way to begin a conversation is to ask where people are from, about their past travel experiences, and what excursions interest them the most. Once you book a Viking river cruise, take the next steps to ensure an amazing experience. Thanks again! This article highlights the European river cruises aboard the Viking Longboats. Its best to check availability online or ask Viking for the cities youll be visiting. who made the move with us. Have a wonderful cruise! complimentary Silver Spirits beverage package, private arrival and departure transfer (from and to the airport). I will miss the free on board laundromat from ocean cruising though! I understand drinks are provided with meals but I enjoy a few drinks before dinner. You said you enjoy a few drinks before dinner, and if you add in some premium wine at dinner, the total you spend each day might add up pretty quickly. The crew actually collapses the awnings, chairs, and tables and the ships bridge recedes into the ship all to reduce the ships height. Good luck! Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection; Viking River Cruises such as spa and hair salon services, golf, excursions, laundry service or babysitting, were, and And the small umbrellas! As for keeping the itinerary full, its hard not to when you have so many great places to explore, but I agree that scheduling downtime is important, too. Travelers who purchase the Silver Spirits beverage package (price varies depending on the length of your cruise) can get whatever alcoholic beverage they want during lunch, dinner, and whenever else the bar is staffed (afternoons and evenings) at no additional charge. Paying upfront might offer peace of mind if you like knowing that its already paid for and you dont have to think about an upcoming beverage bill. Does everyone get back on the bus when the excursion is over or is that the time you make plans for individual sightseeing? We do the red eye and get into Amsterdam early morning. Your comments are really appreciated. There were a few days when we arrived at our port later than planned and had much less time to explore the city. We found the car rentals and made reservations, but we cant find any daily schedule of when the ship docks and departs at each port. Everything was as you said food, service, boat, amenities, all topnotch. That way, Viking could clean the staterooms and ready the ship for the passengers boarding later that day for the next cruise. All guests left the ship for excursions (the times of the excursions were modified that day so they would all be timed for the same number of hours). It easily holds passports and other travel documents along with jewelry and money. Prior to dinner, the chef usually introduces the options including his/her recommendations. River Cruise Basics: Laundry Onboard For example, once the crew knows that everyone is accounted for after excursions, the ship is sailing within minutes of the anticipated departure (as noted in the Viking Daily). Go to the guest service desk and inquire about the excursions you want and if theyre fully booked, ask to be placed on a waitlist. Haha, I got a kick out of being tempted with just one little pastry! Viking ships are specially designed to navigate the worlds great rivers and provide convenient daily access to a plethora of destinations and experiences. This is Vikings way of accounting for guests. A few guests scheduled independent sightseeing tours, and it seemed to work out well for them. On our cruise, some guests had to put their luggage outside their staterooms as early as 2:45 am and leave the ship at 3:30 am to go to the airport. Thanks. Once youve booked a Viking cruise, take the next steps, Once you book a Viking river cruise, take the next steps to ensure an amazing experience, Best Sights to See on Vikings Grand European Tour, Viking Antarctica Cruise: The Complete Guide for Adventurers, Viking Cruises: Best Action Steps After Booking a Cruise, Best Sights to See on the Viking Grand European Tour River Cruise, The Best Apps and Websites for Savvy Travelers, Viking Cruises: Best Action Steps After Booking Your Cruise. Also can you remember if those two cities is where the boat docked. In spite of some tweaks, this article will definitely prepare you for your Viking river cruise. They also are known for providing little touches that many guests appreciate. However, the information in this article is from our, The staterooms and bathrooms are efficiently designed to maximize usable space. I like the idea of a smaller group so that is a plus. Also located off the main corridor are a couple of, Naturally, safety is a primary concern of travelers and the crew. All Viking river cruise ship staterooms have: river views. Since it will be November, and Im also afraid of open heights weve opted for the French balcony room. Have a great cruise! That gives my husband and me plenty of money for tipping the local guides and bus drivers as well as Viking staff before we leave. Good luck! I hope you have a wonderful time! We are experienced travelers on land but this will be a new experience. Otherwise, we had a brand new crew. There is a fee for this service. Do you know if the outdoor areas on the sun deck can be enclosed for added warmth on these cooler weather trips? I am going on a Christmas Market cruise with Viking in 2024. Viking ships all sport calming Scandinavian decor and are designed efficiently. Better be aboard, cuz they wont wait! Good Job!! This should allow you to finalize your plans to disembark and go meet your friends. If we were sailing during the day, the program director narrated scenic highlights along the river as we continued our journey. Going from A to B with two extra days in Amsterdam and Budapest. If you are doing a post-cruise stay, I found the prices on Viking to be less than the prices using the hotel laundry, so if you need something cleaned, I would suggest using the laundry services on the ship. I am very intrigued by the Salzberg excursion but see that it is a 2 plus hour bus ride each way. I am sure i will have more later but your thread is wonderful. You can sign up for excursions from your account on MyVikingJourney.com prior to your trip. There was a broken lock near Regensburg, about halfway between the two big cities. As you know, Viking offers an included excursion in each port. Thank you! Having to look for the shoe on the last day will remind you to open the safe so you dont forget your valuables. Laundry Services or Facilities: Which River Cruise Companies My husband and I will be sailing with Viking on a Rhine River cruise (Netherlands to Lucerne) this month and our very first river cruise (during a pandemic). I bet youre planning your next cruise already. Hi Ricardo, It sounds like you have a great trip ahead! WebYou also can do your laundry for free in the ship's self-service laundry rooms (detergent is even provided for you). When you return to the ship, you scan it again. NOTE: This article was completely updated in January 2023 from the original article, written in 2019. You make an excellent point, Julia. That way, if they reach a low point in the river, they can have passengers disembark, go on bussed excursions, and afterwards be taken to the sister ship that completes the journey. The crew communicates with each other quite well. Herding 169 tourists onto separate buses all going separate places at separate timeswow, thats a job! Price lists are available on the Viking website in the FAQ. If you have dietary restrictions, let Viking know when you book. Some people book two cruises back-to-back to extend their vacation. They did not offer dry cleaning. There was a, . Were planning a Viking river cruise May 2022. Your email address will not be published. The Aquavit Terrace is one advantage Viking has over its competition. The ships are very clean. Concerning safety, you can sign up for STEP (Smart Traveler Enrollment Program), a free program run by the U.S. Department of State. Many of the guests are retired, but there were quite a few still working or recently retired. Theres a mix of traveling overnight (almost all of the time) and during the morning/afternoon/evening (some of the time). Walking could be on unpaved or uneven surfaces and may involve many steps or steep inclines. We were docked next to other ships several times on our 15-day cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest. This is one way the crew can account for all guests. Check your cruise itinerary as it will tell you the expected times your ship will be docked at each stop. The number indicates which ship youre on. Just found your sitelots of great info! In addition to cocktails, there were some very nice premium wine options aboard Viking, and we had fun trying ones that were new to us. On both boats we used the laundry The Complete Guide to a Viking River Cruise - Travel with Lolly just finished the Grand European tour a week ago (Budapest-Amsterdam). I was curious about what time you have to be back on the ship at night. There they may board another ship. What a great experience she has ahead of her! Sounds like youve got a great anniversary trip planned, Gary! I agree with a previous comment about this being the most informative, most inclusive article Ive seen as well. Also, you can get Euros from bank ATMs after you land; there are probably some ATMS near your cruise embarkation site.
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