But it looks like pre purchasing using on board credit isnt possible. That way, youll have current informationand be able to talk to people in the know to see if your plans will work. when we traveled) to your shipboard account. They are also one of the most affordable river cruise options. Heres our story. Youll be able to find out about the length of bus trips to/from excursions and other related information. (The price of the package varies, but it comes to about $20 or so a day per person.) We liked exploring on our own after getting the lay of the land from the morning tour guide. Any further suggestions about picking up the excursion cards each morning? Needless to say, its handy to have small change for tipping. 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. Enjoy your cruise this fall! We received great overviews of a place with the large group tours, but what we remember most were the unique experiences that came from the optional experiences. Doing the Grand European Trip for our 50th in May of 2023. Have fun whatever you decide to do! I understand drinks are provided with meals but I enjoy a few drinks before dinner. Im looking forward to ours next year! Also, dinner is served on the Aquavit Terrace; service begins 15 minutes after dinner service starts in the restaurant. Hi Stephanie, Thanks for your kind words. Also can you remember if those two cities is where the boat docked. Thanks again! (This is handy because you might encounter tour groups from other Viking ships that are docked in the same city at the same time.) If you dont live in the U.S., Im sure other governments have similar programs for travelers. (Depending on the category of your stateroom, the laundry service may be complimentary.) Enjoy your journey! We were very happy with laundry service on Viking and prices were reasonable. Pieces were back in a few hours. Have a great cruise! Laundry is folded and returned on the same day if you have it ready in the morning. However, most guests sport a smart casual look for dinner. Having said this, there are often opportunities to book optional excursions once you board the ship. Weve never had a problem finding an ATM in Europe, and Viking can surely help direct you to one. However, the information in this article is from our, The staterooms and bathrooms are efficiently designed to maximize usable space. To ensure you remember all the great experiences on your cruise, take lots of pictures and. Leave your dressier clothes at home; there are no formal nights on a Viking river cruise. 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. Ever consider a Viking European river cruise? The Aquavit Terrace is one advantage Viking has over its competition. The guests on the other ship, the Modi, got off the ship at Regensburg, on the other side of the damaged lock. Oh, Im so glad you had a wonderful cruise with amazing service! Hi Robin, you pose a great question, but it isnt easy to answer! Also, what shore excursions do you recommend while in Budapest? Good question, John, but its not an easy one to answer! Would an excursion like that feel to rushed to enjoy, or do you know if Salzberg is a not to be missed kind of place? My husband and I took the Top of Cologne excursion, and it was one of the best. Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection; Viking River Cruises such as spa and hair salon services, golf, excursions, laundry service or babysitting, were, and In-room irons are a huge no-no for the fire hazard they present. These are typically large-group bus or walking tours of a city that provide a nice overview of a place. We do indeed have new travel hiccups and challenges these days. This means that your ship could be the first, second, or third ship docked. Hi Karen, A few things could happen when river levels are too low for cruise ships. The dining room has a variety of tables that can seat 6, 8, or 10 people. Trying to guess the weather so we can narrow down what to pack. The one exception was the program director, who made the move with us. 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. Laundry charges will be billed to your shipboard account. It is very helpful to reduce wandering around looking like a tourist while trying to figure out the procedures. Now to your questions. Youll find Viking river cruises all through Europe as well as in Egypt and Southeast Asia. WebSigrun - A Valkyrie. 1. 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. WebDo you have laundry and dry cleaning facilities? The total time on these outings could be 1.5 to 3 hours. Pieces were back in a few hours. By We cant say enough about how well-run and maintained the ships are. Staterooms are guaranteed to be ready at 3:00 pm. Laundry services are wash and iron, or just iron. We took a universal travel adaptor with 4 USB plugs and 4 outlets and used just one outlet for all of our electronics (smartphones, camera, tablet, and Apple Watch). Its not a deal breaker for us, but its something every river cruise guest should be forewarned about. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. In Asia these services range from $2 per item to $5 per item; however, the list of what can be laundered or pressed is more limited on river cruises in Asia. 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. You should also alert the Maitre d once on board. The buses and tour guides for your group are each marked: the bus has a placard with the same number and letter to let you know you need to board that bus; the tour guide has a red and white sign on a paddle to indicate that group, as well. Theres also no guest laundry on board, and this is also true of other When you return to your room, you will notice the dinner menus for that evening. Viking spent days tracking it in the luggage chaos of last summer. This should allow you to finalize your plans to disembark and go meet your friends. Is there a retractable clothes line in the shower to accommodate hanging clothes. Do they charge for use? 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? Hi Lolly, thank you for the great article and this really prepared us for our trip next week. Im so glad you found the article helpful, Rich! The optional excursions have smaller groups and are more focused on cultural, recreational, and even culinary experiences. I wonder if you have any thoughts on us meeting up with friends from Stuttgart. Many people were. We thoroughly enjoyed a Viking Ocean cruise in 2019 and have been eager to try river cruising. Interesting information! In some destinations,laundry can be sent out for cleaning fee while the boat is docked. My husband prefers to jog each morning, and he was able to when we were docked in the early morning before excursions began. Since there are often different excursions leaving simultaneously, this is an efficient way to find which tour guide to meet as you disembark the ship. Can you tell me which docking/ports might be too far from the cities/towns? has a variety of tables that can seat 6, 8, or 10 people. There are large windows on the port and starboard sides so views are available while cruising the river at mealtime. If you request hangers, things like shirts and jeans come back on hangers instead of folded. Some river cruise companies do have those facilities, but Viking Longships dont have those. a flat-screen TV with infotainment options. We actually enjoyed sitting outside in the dark before bed, too, cruising by small towns.) You will receive your final travel documents and Viking luggage tags within three weeks of your trip. When I returned to the room, I noticed another bookmark was placed on top of it. Hi Theo, you shouldnt have any problems meeting up with your friends in either Bamburg or Wurzburg while on the cruise. The ships are designed for this to have travelers walk through the common spaces. As we arrived at the ship, we were warmly greeted, and we went to our rooms (which were intentionally left unlocked). Otherwise, we had a brand new crew. Its been a seamless process for us, and it functions well although we do incur additional international charges. 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. Having to dock the ship next to another cruise ship also means that the view from your stateroom could be blocked and your cabin could be a bit dark. I borrowed some books from the ships library and left them on a table in our room. That is, you sleep and eat on the ship and are transported to your destinations along a river. Our stateroom steward kept the room immaculate. Passengers could disembark and be bussed on an excursion and then afterwards, be bussed to a different location on the river where the water levels are higher. We always enjoyed the variety of food from the local areas we were visiting. (When we were in Europe a few years ago, we received texts of some demonstrations in town and were given their locations and advised to stay away. 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). Also, the onboard staff and the local guides speak English well. Others get the package because they like having their drinks all inclusive without having to think about a bar tab. private bathrooms that are separate from the living There is no fitness center or spa on Viking river cruise ships; the space that could be a fitness center is instead put to use in the common areas and staterooms. The excursions provide guests with an array of experiences including peeks into how locals live, how and where they work, and also some privileged access options just for Viking guests. Just thinking of the best options for meeting friends for a short visit. The best thing to do is to talk with a Viking staff member as soon as you board to find out details for your specific cruise. We are doing the Grand European Tours B-A with extensions in Prague and Amsterdam, and have booked a full schedule. Hi Kathleen, For individual tours and dinner reservations, Id let the provider (tour company, restaurant) know what day youll be coming into port. There are no laundry services or facilities offered onboard any of CroisiEuropes ships. We had grown to like the crew on the Skirnir, but we quickly came to like the new ones as well. That worked well as we enjoyed some nice non-touristy lunches and other walks and tours on our own. On both boats we used the laundry service. Included is a packet of information specific to your ship (including phone numbers on the ship plus embarkation location information) and an itinerary. When passengers get to the sister ship, their luggage is in their new cabins (which are usually the same cabins they had on the original ship). Im glad you found the article helpful, Thomas! Pros: Viking is, by far, the largest river cruise company. Some people book two cruises back-to-back to extend their vacation. Good luck with your planning, and have a great cruise! The sun deck does not have enclosed spaces. 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. Many of the guests are retired, but there were quite a few still working or recently retired. I liked the posted copy of the daily news and we had already decided from our ocean experiences to take the drinks package. 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). With over 50 riverboats, there are many cruises ships, dates, and itineraries to consider. Oh, Im so happy youre able to enjoy traveling safely during the pandemic. Is this allowed? It wasnt a deal breaker, but something you should be aware of. This is one way the crew can account for all guests. Are they like $20 per person or more like $200? This taught me to take pictures when I first see a scenic sight just in case I wouldnt have the opportunity again. However, short answer: There is a free laundry room (4 washers/4 dryers) on every VIking Ocean ship roughly midships on Port Side of decks 3, 4, 5, 6. Have a wonderful cruise next year! Onboard youll have port talks to prepare you for each new day along with musical entertainment in the lounge. We are traveling with 8 other people. 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. Your email address will not be published. Having said that, I know that Salzburg is lovely and many people enjoy that excursion. If you arrive before your guaranteed time of 3:00 pm, you can spend time in the Lounge or leave your luggage on the ship and begin to explore the city on your own. Thank you for your article and your help! Follow up with a conversation with the Viking staff when youre onboard to learn the expected times and exact location of the ship while docked. Hi Jaime, Vikings European longship has a spacious lounge, the Aquavit Terrace (some of which can be enclosed in bad weather), and seating in the atrium area all good choices for relaxing inside while not in your stateroom. Check-in time for the hotel is 3:00 PM. The number indicates which ship youre on. Hi Pat, Im so glad you found my article helpful! 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. We had grown to like the crew on the Skirnir, but we quickly came to like the new ones as well. Serious question..how to get coffee in the morning without getting dressed??? When we cruised, the classics included Caesar salad as a starter; steak, salmon, and chicken as entrees, and Creme Brle, a selection of cheeses, a fruit plate, and ice cream for dessert. There are also bright red full-size Viking umbrellas to take along on excursions if its raining. Indeed, very VERY helpfulespecially for first time river cruisers. (Its not uncommon for someone to forget to scan their card when returning to the ship.). WebReviews. If we were sailing during the day, the program director narrated scenic highlights along the river as we continued our journey. complimentary Silver Spirits beverage package, private arrival and departure transfer (from and to the airport). Our next Viking cruise is coming up soon, and I cant wait. If you choose to eat on the Aquavit Terrace, dinner begins at 7:15 pm with all of the same options as in the dining room. 12.5 laps = 1 mile. We got off our ship, the Skirnir, in Nuremberg (one of our scheduled ports) before the damaged lock. After that, we went to an assigned group on the upper deck (groups are determined by what floor the staterooms are on), and we had to give our stateroom number to the staff at the assigned location (for roll call). I am going on a Christmas Market cruise with Viking in 2024. in staterooms, so you can plug in whichever fits your needs. For example, the guests in the Explorer Suites can book optional excursions before guests in the Veranda Suites. Sinks are usually large enough to hand-wash items and Just make sure you are aware of the times the ship will leave the port so you dont miss its departure. There are also daily announcements with information on docking and reminders about impending excursion departures. Youll see all your options on the online My Viking Journey portal when the tours open up prior to your trip. My husband and I like to have about 100-200 Euros on us before leaving home. We werent near them then, but it was nice to be notified of them.) Im so glad you found the article helpful, Ronnie! My husband and I use a major U.S. cellphone carrier that functions well in Europe. You can sign up for excursions from your account on MyVikingJourney.com prior to your trip. on your bed. Thank you for your informative article! This is the place to find a variety of coffee and tea plus baked goods to accompany your beverage. 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. Viking is very efficient with their timing. Viking does offer access to desktop computers in Russia and laptops in Europe. Weve had no regrets. To ensure you remember all the great experiences on your cruise, take lots of pictures and create a photo book of your journey when you return home. Before we descended, we were able to step outside and soak in panoramic views of the city. We took our first Viking River cruise in 2018 (Rhine Amsterdam to Basel) and leave in a month for the Danube (Budapest to Regensburg) with the pre and post cruise stays. 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. 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. As you leave the ship, youll scan your room key to indicate your departure and rescan it upon returning. The cruise is great for adults of any age. You make an excellent point, Julia. Ive hand washed some things in the sink and hung them up to dry on the line, and it worked fine. Its a great one! Viking ships all sport calming Scandinavian decor and are designed efficiently. Is that possible? I will miss the free on board laundromat from ocean cruising though! 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). Theres always iced tea often with different flavors every day. We are doing the Salzburg Highlights but just read its a 2 hour bus ride each way. This is because some guests may have canceled their planned optional excursions prior to the cruise; so its a good practice to check on this and any other concerns once youre on board. (European river cruise ships are limited in size due to the rivers they cruise on, so they have the same overall dimensions. http://www.vikingrivercruises.com/frequently-asked-questions.html#LIFEABOARD-FAQ-LIST/55787. Its relaxed and has an abundant food buffet with soup, a variety of salads, meats, warm sandwiches (like paninis and Cuban sandwiches), fruit, and dessert. Once unpacked, you can put your backpacks in your empty luggage and slide it all under the bed(s) and not think about them until its time to leave. Without the Silver Spirits package, Id plan on $6-10 for most cocktails, aperitifs, or premium wine by the glass. Viking keeps track of your expenses during the cruise, including bar items, laundry, phone calls, and purchases from the Viking shop (logo wear and souvenirs). in your closet upon arrival; if you need more, just ask, and they will be delivered promptly. My sister is taking her first river cruise in March and I found this site while trying to find info for her. Hi Ricardo, It sounds like you have a great trip ahead! 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. Learn how your comment data is processed. Hope you have been able to enjoy more Viking cruises since your original one. Aside from the new safety protocols Viking has put in place your Complete Guide to a Viking River cruise was thoroughly informative, enjoyed the photos and took many notes while reading. Lolly, We are going to cruise Viking July on European sojourn with pre post extensions Bucharest and Amsterdam. I think it would be a tight schedule if the ship is docked for just a day. There are costs associated with the optional tours and they vary, and I suppose that correlates with the costs Viking incurs. Were doing the Rhine Getaway, Amsterdam to Basel in early Oct, but havent actually booked yet! What are your thoughts on the Silver Spirits package? 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. There is precise timing to docking and excursions. We enjoyed relaxing there and enjoying the sights and sounds of being on the ship. Were celebrating our 50th! Europe Laundry List; China Laundry List; Russia Laundry List; Vietnam Laundry List Hi Cynthia, I bet youre so excited about your upcoming trip! AmaWaterways haslaundry services available onboard for a fee. What a great experience she has ahead of her! Hi Tanya, Sounds like you have a great cruise coming up! Do you have to go on the planned excursion or can you go off and explore on your own? Their crew is well-trained and genuinely appears to want to make you happy. See. The sizes of the ships are designed specifically for the rivers they ply (e.g., they need to navigate the sometimes narrow waterways and any locks along the way). Especially your tips on dinner were helpful I will pack his blazer. Hi Victoria, Im so glad you found the article helpful! Wondering how much american cash we should bring and do we need to get euros prior to arrival (if so how much). 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. They also are known for providing little touches that many guests appreciate. We loved our trip and would recommend it to others. who made the move with us. 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. Thank you for all the information. I hope you have a wonderful cruise and that things work out for your planned day trips! Its also where youll find freshly baked goodies throughout the day. I hope you two have a fabulous time on your cruise! There is an extra charge for the Silver Spirits package for guests who want to enjoy premium wines and beer, cocktails, and champagnes. The recommended tipping (for each guest) on excursions is 2 Euros for local guides and 1 Euro for bus drivers. We had no problems or complaints. I hope you have a wonderful 50th celebration on the Grand European Tour! On the other side of the menu are regional specialties or options that are focused on our destinations. Do you know if the outdoor areas on the sun deck can be enclosed for added warmth on these cooler weather trips? Flat-screen TV with infotainment system Enjoy your cruise! Since it will be winter with colder temps, I am wondering about the indoor lounging space/common areas on the longboats. Is there a restaurant seating option for introverts? Once you book a Viking river cruise, take the next steps to ensure an amazing experience. Everything was as you said food, service, boat, amenities, all topnotch. But, what else would we spend money on? Have a wonderful cruise! Is there any laundry facility available on the Viking Mars? Thank you! On our ships, there were separate newspaper versions for Australia, Canada, and the U.S. We were very happy with laundry service on Viking and prices were reasonable. Good luck! To accomplish this, passengers pack up the night before the transfer, and while out on excursions, their luggage is transferred to the other ship. queen-size beds that can be split to make two twin beds. In my experience, the laundry service on Viking has been excellent. Great article. Without a doubt, we give Viking chefs top marks for the presentation and flavor of the food they serve. The friends we cruise with have used it and say it is good and turnaround is quick. Becki I dont want to waste any precious time in Amsterdam because this may be the last time we see it. Laundry is folded and returned on the same day if you have it ready in the morning. I hope things go smoothly for you and that you have a wonderful time! Hi David, it sounds like youre gearing up for a great adventure! Thanks!! On our walk, we passed the Shoes Along the Danube (very moving) and other interesting sights. 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. Scheduled for Grand European in September 2023. Great post. Im sure we will need some pocket money for small purchases. Regarding local currency in Hungary, you can head to an ATM once youre there to get the amount of local cash you want. You mention that from 5:15-7 there will be drinks & live music or a port talk.
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