Is there a restaurant seating option for introverts? Great post. They may be familiar enough with Vikings schedule to easily accommodate you. And about ATMs, weve used them in Europe without any problems. That way, youll have current informationand be able to talk to people in the know to see if your plans will work. As you leave the ship, youll scan your room key to indicate your departure and rescan it upon returning. Hi Victoria, Im so glad you found the article helpful! They did not offer dry cleaning. Have fun! Not used it before (indeed didn't think there were onboard facilities) but its mentioned in the info for our upcoming GET. If you want wine at that time is there a charge? Oh, Im so happy youre able to enjoy traveling safely during the pandemic. Your husband doesnt need to pack a blazer if he wouldnt normally wear one for dinner. Wash and press services are available on all ships for American Cruise Lines. And our experience was that we were usually parked next to other Viking ships, so we walked through familiar spaces. Thank you. We enjoyed relaxing there and enjoying the sights and sounds of being on the ship. Just sayin'. Frankly, I dont think you can go wrong either way, but theyre two very different experiences. Remember to notify your bank of your travel dates and destinations before leaving home! 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. Going from A to B with two extra days in Amsterdam and Budapest. Thank you for all the information. The best description and information about Viking River Cruise, thank you for taking the time to write this information, were very appreciate. River Cruise Advisor | Avid Cruiser | About | Terms & Full Disclosure | Privacy | Contact | Subscribe. (The price of the package varies, but it comes to about $20 or so a day per person.) Plus, we always have some dollars with us, too. You will receive your final travel documents and Viking luggage tags within three weeks of your trip. AmaWaterways haslaundry services available onboard for a fee. When you return to the ship, you scan it again. When we travel to Europe, we notify our carrier before departure. in staterooms, so you can plug in whichever fits your needs. On our ships, there were separate newspaper versions for Australia, Canada, and the U.S. What are your thoughts on the Silver Spirits package? Viking is very efficient with their timing. They say they will be staying til X oclock and then leaving. There are so many choices of destinations and lengths of the trip. And the small umbrellas! That is, you sleep and eat on the ship and are transported to your destinations along a river. We sent some clothing to be laundered, and we were happy with that choice. I am sure i will have more later but your thread is wonderful. Viking is happy to celebrate your birthdays and anniversaries while onboard. What it meant for guests was a minor inconvenience. I wonder if you have any thoughts on us meeting up with friends from Stuttgart. private bathrooms that are separate from the living Sometimes theres a lot of river cruise ship traffic in popular cities. Good luck! This is Vikings way of accounting for guests. Theres a section of the Aquavit Terrace at the very front of the ship thats open to the weather, but theres also an area (just behind it) that can be enclosed with sliding glass doors, so the area can be enjoyed when the weather isnt cooperating. 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). GREAT INFO. You must be at least 18 to book a cruise. I hope things go smoothly for you and that you have a wonderful time! There was a mandatory safety drill on our first full day of the river cruise. The excursion card with a number and a letter. We thoroughly enjoyed our Viking river cruise from Prague to Paris last summer. As for money, we used a credit card (with no foreign transaction fees) and Euros (very handy for tipping tour guides and purchasing small incidentals). We got off our ship, the Skirnir, in Nuremberg (one of our scheduled ports) before the damaged lock. Scheduled for Grand European in September 2023. Also, we had booked an English-speaking tour of the Hungarian Parliament which ended up being fascinating; if you plan to do this, make sure to make reservations online ahead of your visit. (Viking asks that luggage not be placed outside the staterooms when going to bed the previous night due to safety concerns should there be an emergency, having bags in the narrow corridors would pose a safety risk.). I have seem videos of rooms but cannot perceive where we can place our 2 luggages + backpacks and not having to hop over them inside our room. Laundry Provide clean linen to support operations, cleans crew uniforms and guest clothes to Viking Standards. We always enjoyed the variety of food from the local areas we were visiting. Thank you for the excellent summary of each important category. This was true in Passau, a city of over 50,000, and especially in heavyweights like Vienna and Budapest. Herding 169 tourists onto separate buses all going separate places at separate timeswow, thats a job! We didnt regret our decision. There is an extra charge for the Silver Spirits package for guests who want to enjoy premium wines and beer, cocktails, and champagnes. Other times, we were still sailing, so he could not. Hi Anne, booking an independent excursion shouldnt be a problem. We haven't used Viking's laundry service so can't comment on that but in the FAQ they do have the price list so at least you'll have an idea of wha We thoroughly enjoyed our Viking river cruise. Im sure we will need some pocket money for small purchases. Thank you for your article and your help! On all river cruises, guests are offered one complimentary shore excursion at every destination. Re renting a car to go to a specific place Viking tours dont include: Is Uber possible in the cities Viking goes to? I hope you have a wonderful time! Onboard youll have port talks to prepare you for each new day along with musical entertainment in the lounge. Do you have any experience about this? Viking ships are specially designed to navigate the worlds great rivers and provide convenient daily access to a plethora of destinations and experiences. There are also daily announcements with information on docking and reminders about impending excursion departures. Theres an elevator onboard so its easy to travel from floor to floor if you dont want to use the stairs. Bon voyage! Otherwise, we had a brand new crew. Viking is only offering us a morning excursion the second day in Prague so we are looking to do some exploring on our own. My husband had been to a number of these cities on business and wanted me to visit them too, and this makes it sound easy. Laundry services may be arranged through your Suite Attendant or your Butler. Enjoy! Hi Stephanie, Thanks for your kind words. Im looking forward to ours next year! Of all the stops on the Grand European Tour, these are the cities in which our ship had prime docking spots (making it very easy to go out and explore on our own): Budapest, Vienna, Melk, Passau, Regensburg, Wurzburg, Cologne, and Amsterdam. (This is handy because you might encounter tour groups from other Viking ships that are docked in the same city at the same time.) Viking spent days tracking it in the luggage chaos of last summer. Youll receive an excursion card with a number and a letter. Have a wonderful cruise! Examples were creamy potato soup, Wiener Schnitzel, and Sacher cake when in Vienna; while in Budapest, the menu featured Hungarian Farmer Salad, Fogas Karpathy (perch and shrimp in white wine sauce), and Zserbo (a layered walnut and chocolate cake). Weve never had a problem finding an ATM in Europe, and Viking can surely help direct you to one. As much as Viking tries to stick to its anticipated docking times, some things like other ships waiting in line to go through locks, weather issues, and river levels are beyond its control. Thank you for your time. WebFree Wi-Fi (connection speed may vary) Laundry service. We haven't used Viking's laundry service so can't comment on that but in the FAQ they do have the price list so at least you'll have an idea of what to expect. Our luggage awaited us, and our new room keys were on the dresser. You know is it a venus and mars question. They will let you know on board. Otherwise, we had a brand new crew. which provides information for each new day and the evening updates by the program director in the Lounge before. We liked exploring on our own after getting the lay of the land from the morning tour guide. (For my husband and me, having the personal outdoor space was high on our list. Also, what shore excursions do you recommend while in Budapest? We travel light, as well, but the ship will take care of delivering your luggage to your room; we just kept our small carry ons (the ones that fit under the airplane seats) with us. Using ATMs machines? . On the other side of the menu are regional specialties or options that are focused on our destinations. Cons: Viking is adults only; passengers must be over the age of 18. During lunch, prior to and after dinner, theres usually live music in the Lounge. NOTE: This article was completely updated in January 2023 from the original article, written in 2019. Essentially, each ship then turned around and went back to the city from which it originated. Hi Pat, Im so glad you found my article helpful! Im sorry I cant give you a more definitive answer, but so much depends on conditions at the time you board and what the staff recommends. Enjoy your journey! The daily planner for Vienna was the best.one of the stranger transitions from Ocean to River cruising is not having your port times right there on the schedule. WebStateroom size: 548 sq ft (includes Nordic balcony) Ocean-view two-room suite, 80% larger than junior suites, with private Nordic Balcony, private veranda, separate dining area for 4, additional storage and seating features, plus private access to Explorer Suites Garden. There is a fee for this service. We are heading out on our first river cruise, the Kara from Basel to Amsterdam in late September this year. We have quite a bit of Viking on board credits and wanted to purchase optional shore excursions with that credit. Im glad you found the article helpful. Their itineraries are made specifically for a younger audience and include fun theme nights in stylish lounges, active day excursions like hiking and biking, and nightly pub crawls in Europes hottest bars. Serious question..how to get coffee in the morning without getting dressed??? When I returned, I noticed two Viking bookmarks resting on top of the books. We are doing the Grand European Tours B-A with extensions in Prague and Amsterdam, and have booked a full schedule. What to Expect on a Viking River Cruises Ship While each of Vikings 73 river vessels is unique, all offer spacious staterooms and suites with full-size verandas, French balconies or half-height picture windows, and amenities comparable to those found in Do you know if the outdoor areas on the sun deck can be enclosed for added warmth on these cooler weather trips? Congrats on your 50th! Its not a deal breaker for us, but its something every river cruise guest should be forewarned about. We have taken two Viking River Cruises, Bucharest to Amsterdam (21 days in 2019) and Basel to Amsterdam (7 days in 2021). Having the veranda offers you another personal space plus a nice perch (with chairs) from which to view the passing scenery during the time that the ship is sailing in daylight hours. Not everyone needs to go on excursions. WebThere's a reason why Viking consistently receives awards as the best cruise company out there. One thing to keep in mind is that things can change from day to day, week to week and that includes river levels. And I think remembering that delays can arise on any type of travel (e.g., flights, cruises, trains) helps us all manage our expectations. My husband and I are doing the Grand Tour B > A in early October 2023. Im so glad you found the article helpful, Rich! Its important to note that when the ship docks somewhere in the morning and you go on an excursion, you sometimes will be brought back to the ship in a different location like another city further down the river. She was well attired for 14 days! Ecologically friendly hybrid engines producing less vibrations for a smoother ride. Question please, how fast, how good, how expensive? Also, for individualized tours try Tours by Locals (weve had EXCELLENT tours in many, many cities including Europe, India, Malaysia, Thailand), or AirBnBs tours. queen-size beds that can be split to make two twin beds. Im glad you found the article helpful, Thomas! Before we descended, we were able to step outside and soak in panoramic views of the city. Needless to say, its handy to have small change for tipping. We depart in 9 days on the Grand European tour, and this is the best account I have seen weve done a dozen ocean cruises on several lines, but never a river cruise. Some areas also have other popular ride-share companies like Bolt in Europe. 2. Each time you leave the ship, you scan your room key. Well do the Grand European from B to A in October this year. Laundry services are wash and iron, or just iron. What is the availability of restroom facilities in these small towns? Any further suggestions about picking up the excursion cards each morning? I borrowed some books from the ships library and left them on a table in our room. Weve found there are a lot of commonalities as well as interesting folks to meet. Veranda Stateroom (V) Stateroom size: 268 sq ft (includes private veranda) There is precise timing to docking and excursions. Id suggest you reference your online itinerary on Vikings site before departure to get a rough idea of when youll be docked in each city. Required fields are marked *. I hope you have a fabulous anniversary cruise! Just thinking of the best options for meeting friends for a short visit. Have a wonderful cruise in September! Were doing the Rhine Getaway, Amsterdam to Basel in early Oct, but havent actually booked yet! I was curious about what time you have to be back on the ship at night. Housekeeping Provide friendly and twice daily housekeeping services to all guests staterooms, and cleans public and crew areas. With all that said, my husband and I did opt for the Silver Spirits package. Some companies may take space from common areas to put into spas and fitness centers; others, like Viking, use all that available space for staterooms and common areas.). The sun deck does not have enclosed spaces. I am very intrigued by the Salzberg excursion but see that it is a 2 plus hour bus ride each way. Indeed, very VERY helpfulespecially for first time river cruisers. Viking is an industry leader for a variety of reasons including their choices of fascinating destinations, varied excursion options, attention to detail in designing the private and common spaces, and a welcoming and hard-working staff. Also, you can get Euros from bank ATMs after you land; there are probably some ATMS near your cruise embarkation site. We thoroughly enjoyed a Viking Ocean cruise in 2019 and have been eager to try river cruising. We travel light with one roll aboard and one backpack. If you think you might do that, you may want to take along a few blank thank you cards to enclose your extra tips, so you can explain why you valued their service so much. If you have dietary restrictions, let Viking know when you book. Its a nice place to relax on warm days and enjoy a lunch buffet while taking in the views. Sigrun is the leader of a band of nine Valkyries, the horse-riding women who descend upon battles to decide which soldiers die and which live. WebThe modern and award winning river cruise ships are deployed among the most beautiful rivers in With Viking Cruises you will get a job that takes you places! We are thinking we would might rather be wandering through the town and trying local cuisine. The rooms do seem smaller than ocean cruiser rooms: did you stay in your cabin a lot? We found the onboard communication to be excellent. It sounds like you are all set. There are large windows on the port and starboard sides so views are available while cruising the river at mealtime. We opted to book through our travel agent with whom we could meet face-to-face, ask questions, and learn from her knowledge of cruising and different cruise companies. (This is handy because you might encounter tour groups from other Viking ships that are docked in the same city at the same time.) This is one way the crew can account for all guests. with information on docking and reminders about impending excursion departures. The cruise is great for adults of any age. 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). The guests on the other ship, the Modi, got off the ship at Regensburg, on the other side of the damaged lock. Viking collected the luggage (with different colored tags for the three different floors of the ship) and trucked it to where the Modi, our new ship, was docked. Learn how your comment data is processed. To conserve resources, you could easily fill a reusable water bottle from home with water in the rooms. I do my own underwear in the sink, but jeans, shirts and heavy socks go to the laundry. Is this allowed? Self-service laundry on a cruise ship is often free, but there may be a charge of up to $3.50 to use the machines and $2 for detergent, depending on the ship. Please note that Viking requires at least 48 hours cancellation notice if you are on the ship and decide not to go on an optional excursion. We are trying to determine if the additional cost for a veranda stateroom is worth the extra expense compared to the french balcony. I guess the bottom line is to remember that disruptions can happen whenever we travel, so plan to get the most out of each experience and cherish the time that you get to explore new places and meet new people. She was also given complimentary express laundry service. Thank you for great information and insights! No, Tamara, I dont have direct experience replacing SIM cards. Flat-screen TV with infotainment system Theres a mix of traveling overnight (almost all of the time) and during the morning/afternoon/evening (some of the time). If we were sailing during the day, the program director narrated scenic highlights along the river as we continued our journey. The number indicates which ship youre on. We celebrated a big anniversary on our cruise and were delighted with champagne and a special dessert awaiting us in our room after dinner one night. If you send your clothes away to be professionally cleaned, the fees range from $1 for small items to be washed and pressed up to $20 or more for a three-piece suit to be dry cleaned. You either choose it for your cruise, or you dont no daily option. We love most of the optional excursions versus the included excursions but about how much do the optional ones cost? This was true in Passau, a city of over 50,000, and especially, There are times when river cruise ships have to have guests disembark a ship and then board a sister ship. I didnt read through all the comments, so I hope Im not being repetitive. Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection; Viking River Cruises such as spa and hair salon services, golf, excursions, laundry service or babysitting, were, and Most the times we always take the NCL cruise, but this is the first time on Viking Cruise River The Grand European Tour from Budapest to Amsterdam (for our 22nd anniversary).Im so glad I found a lot of information from the article thats very helpful for us for excursions, maybe transferring ships, parallel parked ships and other information. Only 190 guests. Just make sure you notify your bank before traveling, so they dont flag your ATM transaction in another country as suspicious! For a complete list of action steps. We are in a veranda A stateroom and doing business class flights as a bucket wish. There is a fee for this service. I have a quick question that I wouldnt seem to find the answer online: We are thinking about renting a car at Koblenz and go to Nurburgring for a few hours and also at Speyer to go to Stuttgart for the day. This is one way the crew can account for all guests. Theres always iced tea often with different flavors every day. 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. Its just the nature of this type of travel. Concerning laundry, yes, there is a retractable clothesline in the shower. So it comes down to how much and what kind of beverages youre likely to consume each day. Booked an Amsterdam to Budapest trip in September 23.our first river cruise (for our 20th). with an electronic keypad is provided in each room. Are they like $20 per person or more like $200? We took the walking tour of Passau, enjoyed a leisurely lunch in town, went on a hike, and strolled around town afterward. 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). Keep in mind, though, that things are not 100% the same from cruise to cruise due, in part, to other ship traffic at the time. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Special Event: Q&A with Rudi Schreiner, President, Co-Founder & Co-Owner - AmaWaterways River Cruises. The letter indicates which excursion group youre on. WebDo you have laundry and dry cleaning facilities? Hi Ricardo, It sounds like you have a great trip ahead! The one exception was the program director, who made the move with us. After that point, guests still on board could use the common areas (Lounge or sun deck) until their transfer to the airport or other destination. Check your cruise itinerary as it will tell you the expected times your ship will be docked at each stop. The ships are very clean. Hope this info helps you a bit! One great thing about Viking is that many times their ships dock right in the towns, so its easy to get off and be on your way to make your own discoveries. By the way, the excursions included in the trip are typically large group experiences, while the optional excursions (available at an extra cost) are usually much smaller groups as they are more focused on specific areas of interest. As you probably know, Viking offers nice quality wine, beer, and soft drinks free of charge at lunch and dinner. WOW, what a complete piece of well written and informative information we have come across. On both boats we used the laundry service. Although we have some other trips planned (that we organize ourselves, as we often do), we are contemplating which Viking cruise river or ocean we will be booking next. :D. We've had excellent experiences with Viking's laundry service. Some folks elect to get the Silver Spirits package because they enjoy trying new cocktails and/or premium wines while on vacation. Our preferred day at a town where we were docked included a morning walking tour (an included excursion) to get the lay of the land. In the afternoon, we followed up on some of the suggestions the local guide from the morning had regarding how to spend the remainder of the day. Even with that information, as you mentioned,dockings could be delayed to traffic on the river or there could be delays going through locks. By the way, Viking does build in a set amount of gratuities for ship staff (or you can arrange for this on your account before sailing), but you may also want to give a personal cash tip to staff members who are particularly helpful. (Its not uncommon for someone to forget to scan their card when returning to the ship.). My question is about size of our luggage (or size limitation due room size). Many of the guests are retired, but there were quite a few still working or recently retired. Viking then allowed us to purchase a no-expiry date voucher towards another cruise an amount they matched. Have a wonderful cruise, Thomas! Just before the drill, we were all asked to return to our staterooms and don our life vests. To burn off some of the calories ingested by the delicious food onboard, I walked in the morning around the sun deck track. Thats because some people end up canceling their reservations for optional excursions. Also, dinner is served on the Aquavit Terrace; service begins 15 minutes after dinner service starts in the restaurant. Check with your Viking agent or your travelagent (or your MyVikingJourney online portal if youre already booked on a cruise) to learn the latest protocols aboard the ship and in the countries that youll be visiting. First timer on river cruise. Have a wonderful time! If you choose not to prepay the gratuity, Viking adds a discretionary service charge (which was 15 Euros per guest per day when we traveled) to your shipboard account. The 190-passenger Viking Egil My husband and I had planned to go on the Salzburg excursion, but when we learned we would be spending so much time on the bus to travel there and back (for a total of 9.5 hours), we decided to spend our time in Passau instead. O. met interesting people; visited fascinating places; sampled new foods, wines, and beer; and appreciated the convenience and gracious hospitality offered by Viking. Many people were. You can store your luggage under the bed(s). That makes it handy for your husband to fetch your morning cup! Viking ships all sport calming Scandinavian decor and are designed efficiently. Hi Catherine, Im glad the article was helpful. private bathrooms that are separate from the living space. Some people book two cruises back-to-back to extend their vacation. My husband and I took the Top of Cologne excursion, and it was one of the best. Grand Circle offers a paid laundry service on all of its vessels. Also, the onboard staff and the local guides speak English well. 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. All Viking river cruise ship staterooms have: The different types of staterooms range in size, available outdoor space, the time for guaranteed stateroom access, and amenities. Attire on a river cruise is casual. a flat-screen TV with infotainment options. Really, just looking for your opinion on longer trips off-ship. Have a fabulous cruise! Thanks for your article it was very informative. Without the Silver Spirits package, Id plan on $6-10 for most cocktails, aperitifs, or premium wine by the glass. We were docked next to other ships several times on our 15-day cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest. Quite a few cruisers actually do that. Thank you! Thank you for making me less anxious! Ocean Cruises. During the day on excursions, travelers dress very comfortably as they leave the ship to explore a destination. Many thanks ! Just inside is the Lounge where we ate one rainy lunchtime. (Depending on the category of your stateroom, the laundry service may be complimentary.) I hope you have a wonderful time! Did you see anyone carry on and off luggage? Suffice it to say that Viking has this all figured out and has contingency plans firmly in place. Have fun! Hi Karen, A few things could happen when river levels are too low for cruise ships. Check-in time for the hotel is 3:00 PM. When I returned to the room, I noticed another bookmark was placed on top of it.
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