The best description and information about Viking River Cruise, thank you for taking the time to write this information, were very appreciate. We chose a French Balcony room. We had to have our luggage packed and placed outside our stateroom door by 7:00 am on the day of the switch. CC Help Jenn Do women really wear pants and a blouse for dinner? I thought formal/dressy was the norm on all cruise ships! Any idea if the Terrace will be open for meals in the chill of November? Getting my heart rate up while enjoying beautiful scenery passing by while the ship made its way down a river was a win-win. You answered my questions about docking locations (though understand they are subject to change) and the Hungarian currency. O. met interesting people; visited fascinating places; sampled new foods, wines, and beer; and appreciated the convenience and gracious hospitality offered by Viking. By Jjg34219, July 3, . Best, Irene, Hi Glenise, However, most guests sport a smart casual look for dinner. Atlas Ocean Voyages World Navigator Cruise Ship Review 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. I didnt read through all the comments, so I hope Im not being repetitive. 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. Each stateroom will have one or two 115V razor plugs available, generally in the bathroom. What a great experience she has ahead of her! 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. 3. Viking had a sister ship sailing the same journey in the opposite direction from Budapest to Amsterdam so we switched ships. Check your cruise itinerary as it will tell you the expected times your ship will be docked at each stop. 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. 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 sharing a stateroom, both guests must pay for the package. Thats where you might find biking or hiking options, or as you mentioned, the Top of Cologne optional tour. The optional excursions have smaller groups and are more focused on cultural, recreational, and even culinary experiences. We thoroughly enjoyed our Viking river cruise. When it comes to size, even the smallest cabins on Viking's ocean ships are large by cruise ship standards at 270 square feet, and the largest suites measure nearly 1,500 square feet. 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. And our experience was that we were usually parked next to other Viking ships, so we walked through familiar spaces. Much better idea of what were sailing into now! Have fun! The river cruises have open seating, so that means you arent assigned any table mates. Your husband doesnt need to pack a blazer if he wouldnt normally wear one for dinner. Irene, No pets or other animals are allowed on board the ship, other than service animals and certified therapy dogs as Viking may choose to permit at its sole discretion. For additional information, see the Viking FAQs. Viking Hlin Have a wonderful cruise next year! 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Thanks. We would either meet in Bamburg or Wurzburg. Servers take your drink orders (sodas, beer, wine) and freshen up your glass when it is empty. You will find both 110V and 220V electrical outlets in your stateroom. 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. During lunch, prior to and after dinner, theres usually live music in the Lounge. There they may board another ship. Even the sharpest dressed had their athletic shoes or keen sandals on during the day. I definitely overpackedshoes and clothes. Other times, we were still sailing, so he could not. There are some cruise lines that try to be all things to all people. They say they will be staying til X oclock and then leaving. 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? View on Amazon. 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. 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.). Hi Daisy, you have the choice of going on the included or an optional excursion or exploring on your own. Thanks for sharing your tips and experiences! (Viking offers complimentary house wine and beer at lunch and dinner.) Also located off the main corridor are a couple of desktop computers that are always available for guest use. when we traveled) to your shipboard account. Of course, there is a downside to extreme minimalism or sloppy packing. 3 PM stateroom access. That saved precious counter space. The Aquavit Terrace is a great place to have a meal. Just found your sitelots of great info! Braun Hair Dryer on Viking Star (Photo credit: Jerome Levine). Thanks, Tom! Another option, if the river levels are too low overall, would be for passengers to be bussed from destination to destination, staying in hotels, throughout the cruise. Scenic Tours: 220 V and international power adaptors required. so they know what to expect when they use them. Every ocean (or river ship) weve ever been on has had a hairdryer tucked in a drawer or closet (although you often have to search for them). Before leaving a dock, there may be announcements asking for guests in certain rooms to let the staff know they are on the ship. 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. All the best. 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. most electronics or travel stores. 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? In the theatre it can be arctic. This is a great venue for enjoying the passing landscape on travel days and relaxed dining every day. In each cabin, there are two 110V sockets above the desk and one on each side of the bed. Going from A to B with two extra days in Amsterdam and Budapest. Neither hotels nor cruise ships have caught up with the popularity of these hair tools. We loved our trip and would recommend it to others. It wasnt a deal breaker, but something you should be aware of. How does Viking Ocean cruises treat solo travellers. It was led by an art historian who took us up to the very top of the cathedral (above the ceiling) where the craftspeople worked. 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). Also, Viking offers options to add a few days in the first or last destination before and after a cruise. Super post, Irene. A black colored polo shirt (my husband likes the Ralph Lauren slimshirt) is always a great look for men. Were planning on a dinner in a town, tour of some beer gardens and lunch in Heidelberg, and just walking around. It would be more like smart casual (so no worn jeans and flip-flops, for example). 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. I have been or 2 VRCs and leave for my 1st VOC in a week (Baltic Sea yay!) My #1 tip to people going on their 1st river cruise is laundry is quick & inexpensive dont overpack. There are laundry rooms on the ocean ships and a friend said do NOT think you will do laundry on the days you are sailing everybody has that idea. Mamsens is a small Norwegian-style counter tucked in the beautiful Explorers Lounge on Deck 7, serving small plates with dishes like smoked salmon, steak tartare and shrimp salad, and Norwegian waffles. On the ship, you only need the ID, which you can tuck into a pocket. Owned and operated by Viking, Viking Osiris is a brand new vessel, the most upscale ship in Egypt, and the sister ship to Viking Aton. We have one of those and love it, because you only need to find one free plug and you're home safe. This is Vikings way of accounting for guests. During the day on excursions, travelers dress very comfortably as they leave the ship to explore a destination. I just took the Caribbean Amazon cruise and women were wearing slacks and blouses, as did I. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Sometimes the river water levels may be too low in spots (due to the lack of sufficient rain during summer), What it meant for guests was a minor inconvenience. Everything was as you said food, service, boat, amenities, all topnotch. your journey, you'll want the . My hair is very unruly and I am mortified at the thought of no heat styling tools! 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. Its just the nature of this type of travel. Sometimes the river water levels may be too low in spots (due to the lack of sufficient rain during summer) or there is another issue (like a broken lock) necessitating the change. First timer on river cruise. For a 14-night cruise, the cost is $279.30 USD p.p. I will be on the Viking Sky so joined anunofficial Viking FB group to ask if all was repaired after the incident ~ a month ago (it is!) Complete Cruise Ship Plug Socket Guide: Search by Ship Also note: They come with large print labeling so those over 40 dont need to take their peepers into the shower. Oh, Im so happy youre able to enjoy traveling safely during the pandemic. We learned this the hard way one day, and we realized that we actually prefer exploring the little towns that we dock at more. June 12, 2022 . 3. We are not interested in spending a lot of time on buses. I will bring an adapter since we will be in Amsterdam pre-cruise. The crew communicates with each other quite well. The recommended tipping (for each guest) on excursions is 2 Euros for local guides and 1 Euro for bus drivers. Hi Karen, A few things could happen when river levels are too low for cruise ships. 10 Best Adapters for plug sockets on P&O Cruises. Herding 169 tourists onto separate buses all going separate places at separate timeswow, thats a job! Here are a few things to think about when considering Vikings Silver Spirits package. with a German Schuko 2-pin plug that matches the 2-prong outlet in the bathroom. Power Adapter Type - Viking Cruises - CruiseDirect.com 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. Viking ships all sport calming Scandinavian decor and are designed efficiently. Regarding local currency in Hungary, you can head to an ATM once youre there to get the amount of local cash you want. Power Adapter Type - Viking Cruises. Others get the package because they like having their drinks all inclusive without having to think about a bar tab. Posted November 9, 2014. That way, Viking could clean the staterooms and ready the ship for the passengers boarding later that day for the next cruise. I liked the hair and cleansing products on the ship, but the hotel had one cleanser for hair and body only. River cruises are designed for the mature traveler as Viking guests must be 18 years old. Have a wonderful trip! Crewsgirl, no, you don't need an adapter on the ship, but if you have one with you, you can utilize the 220 outlets as well, if needed. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 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 Cruises: Best Action Steps After Booking a Cruise, How to Experience Local Culture When You Travel, How to Create Trip Photo Books to Make Your Travels Last a Lifetime. The 220V outlets are German Schuko 2-pin safety plugs. That way, youll have current informationand be able to talk to people in the know to see if your plans will work. Weve found there are a lot of commonalities as well as interesting folks to meet. However, the information in this article is from our Grand European Tour cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest aboard the Skirnir and Modi (more on the two ships later). My husband and I sent out a few clothes to the Viking laundry, which also worked out well. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Irene is a regular contributor to Forbes Travel/ Read her most recent stories by clicking the links. Youll find some additional cruising tips in our previous article on MoreTimeToTravel: Viking Luggage Tag (Credit: Jerome Levine), Viking Ocean Cruises Carves Out A Special Niche for Over-50 Travelers, Best Travel Accessories for Men: 28 Great Gifts for Travelers. Our luggage awaited us, and our new room keys were on the dresser. After clearing customs and immigration and getting our luggage, how do we find Viking to take us to our hotel or how does Viking find us? How many outlets are available in the cabin? Many of us cruise with quite a few battery-powered devices that we want to keep charged, but cruise ship cabins don't have as many outlets as we'd like. While I do agree that it is great to get away from the necessary daily evils of devices, I am wondering if you carry papers, maps, & books for all that stuff? Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos, http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004SY5O5K/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1, http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0018MEBNG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1, Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features, Policy regarding COVID related Discussions. Instead, the dress code is elegant casual, which can mean anything from a sundress in the Caribbeanto slacks and a blouse for women cruising in colder climates. Oh not to bring adapters! Shampoo and conditioner have to be packed extra carefully when youre flying because these liquids can easily leak onto your belongings and are subject to TSA 3-1-1 rules if you bring them in a carry-on. Since you need the refrigerator for your medicine, I would call the cruise line just to make sure it will be large enough to meet your needs or to see if a larger one can be placed in your cabin. Dress during the day is . For a complete list of action steps. 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.