The water levels are extremely low right now. Hi Ricardo, It sounds like you have a great trip ahead! In addition, theres a walking trail, a shuffleboard, and a putting green. 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). 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. 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. As we arrived at the ship, we were warmly greeted, and we went to our rooms (which were intentionally left unlocked). AmaWaterways haslaundry services available onboard for a fee. You mention that from 5:15-7 there will be drinks & live music or a port talk. We thoroughly enjoyed our Viking river cruise. For example, the guests in the Explorer Suites can book optional excursions before guests in the Veranda Suites. had some shirts done same day return no complaints. Its been a seamless process for us, and it functions well although we do incur additional international charges. Most of the time youll find a bit of an older crowd. WebViking River Cruises boasts the most extensive fleet of river cruises vessels, and we are proud to offer you the best ships in each region where we travel. Laundry is folded and returned on the same day if you have it ready in the morning. Congrats on your 50th! 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. Before leaving a dock, there may be announcements asking for guests in certain rooms to let the staff know they are on the ship. Knowing you can do your laundry onboard allows you to Its best to check availability online or ask Viking for the cities youll be visiting. The friends we cruise with have used it and say it is good and turnaround is quick. She was able to shop the Viking clothes closet, stocked with items left by previous passengers. Thank you for your thoughtfulness. We noticed that the crew was cleaning the common areas early in the morning, as soon as we left for excursions, and in our rooms while guests were enjoying dinner. Others get the package because they like having their drinks all inclusive without having to think about a bar tab. WebFrom Veranda Staterooms to the abundance of extra perks and amenities in our spacious Explorer Suites, there is no finer way to travel.
Viking River Cruises Pieces were back in a few hours. We learned this the hard way one day, and we realized that we actually prefer exploring the little towns that we dock at more. 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. 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). Just inside is the Lounge where we ate one rainy lunchtime. One of many questions we have is how much currency (and what kind) to bring with us. The number indicates which ship youre on. Thank you so much for this detailed account. We loved our trip and would recommend it to others. 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. We cant say enough about how well-run and maintained the ships are. queen-size beds that can be split to make two twin beds. 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. Pros: Viking is, by far, the largest river cruise company. Doing the Grand European Trip for our 50th in May of 2023. Sounds like youve got a great anniversary trip planned, Gary! What is the availability of restroom facilities in these small towns? Thank you!! On our cruise, this was done in the Lounge just after the evening port talk by the program director. This means that your ship could be the first, second, or third ship docked. Cruising is a social experience as you chat with fellow passengers on excursions, at the social hour before dinner in the Lounge, and at meals. Do you have to go on the planned excursion or can you go off and explore on your own? She was well attired for 14 days! (For my husband and me, having the personal outdoor space was high on our list. The recommended tipping (for each guest) on excursions is 2 Euros for local guides and 1 Euro for bus drivers.
TIP: Take a picture of The Viking Daily each evening before heading to bed. Hope your sister finds her Viking river cruise everything she hopes it to be. Was our first Viking cruise, so we used your article as a guide. 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. which provides information for each new day and the evening updates by the program director in the Lounge before. A good idea if youre a runner is to check with the reception desk to map out when there will be time in the morning to leave the ship for a jog or run before excursions begin. Even with that information, as you mentioned,dockings could be delayed to traffic on the river or there could be delays going through locks. 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. We are taking the Grand European cruise, B-A, in late September 2022. 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. 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). Also, dinner is served on the Aquavit Terrace; service begins 15 minutes after dinner service starts in the restaurant. complimentary Silver Spirits beverage package, private arrival and departure transfer (from and to the airport). If youre interested in figuring out the details, you may want to ask Viking for a bar menu with pricing before making up your mind.
Viking River Cruise I suggest signing on to My Viking Journey and using the Live Chat feature to get your answer. 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. We are on the Aug Rhine cruise and our 1st river cruise. What it meant for guests was a minor inconvenience. on your bed. Laundry services may be arranged through your Suite Attendant or your Butler. My husband and I took the Top of Cologne excursion, and it was one of the best.
WiFi: Which River Cruise Companies Include It Im glad you found the article helpful. Attire on a river cruise is casual. 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. queen-size beds that can be split to make two twin beds. Have a great cruise! Youll receive an excursion card with a number and a letter. Thank you! All guests are 18 years old or more. Just don't forget to include everything you need cleaned, don't forget anything from your pre-cruise stay that you left in your suitcase under the bed in your cabin. We saw you comment about change for guides and such and credit cards with no foreign charges. WebFree Wi-Fi (connection speed may vary) Laundry service. 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. Haha. I have been on 1 Viking River cruise and 3 (soon to be 4-I hope!) Theres also no guest laundry on board, and this is also true of other 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. Heres our story. There they may board another ship. We thoroughly enjoyed a Viking Ocean cruise in 2019 and have been eager to try river cruising. Announcing Our 2023 Cruisers' Choice Award Winners! Good question, John, but its not an easy one to answer! Emerald Cruises offers onboard laundry services and charges a fee per piece of laundry. Have a wonderful cruise in September! Youll be glad you did! After all, we travel to experience new places, new food, and new people, so we like to eat local specialties whenever possible. 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. Viking does offer access to desktop computers in Russia and laptops in Europe. (The price of the package varies, but it comes to about $20 or so a day per person.) Have a wonderful cruise! My husband and I are doing the Grand Tour B > A in early October 2023. private bathrooms that are separate from the living space. In my experience, the laundry service on Viking has been excellent. Laundry is folded and returned on the same day if you have it ready in the morn Is that possible? As you probably know, the package includes unlimited beverages when the bars are open. Needless to say, its handy to have small change for tipping. Viking asks that guests not walk on the sun deck from 10:00 pm to 7:00 am as a courtesy to those whose cabins are just below the sun deck. Im so glad you found the article helpful, Rich! 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. Enjoy your journey! and special treats made nice surprises. The Silver Spirits option is offered at a fixed price per guest and spans the entire length of the trip. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions | Viking River Cruises The The best description and information about Viking River Cruise, thank you for taking the time to write this information, were very appreciate. Viking offers complimentary wine, beer, and soft drinks during lunch and dinner. Any thoughts on how this might play out for us? WebDo you have laundry and dry cleaning facilities? To conserve resources, you could easily fill a reusable water bottle from home with water in the rooms. We sent some clothing to be laundered, and we were happy with that choice. Other times, we were still sailing, so he could not. The ships are very clean. All the best. Thank you! The 190-passenger Viking Egil Have fun! 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. (Im trying to save you room in your luggage!) 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). Im with you on how much fun it is to plan trips. Onboard youll have port talks to prepare you for each new day along with musical entertainment in the lounge. I hope things go smoothly for you and that you have a wonderful time! There is an extra charge for the Silver Spirits package for guests who want to enjoy premium wines and beer, cocktails, and champagnes. 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. Many folks do tend to change from the clothes they wore for daily excursions to something a little dressier for dinner, but I wouldnt call dinner attire dressy. . And our experience was that we were usually parked next to other Viking ships, so we walked through familiar spaces. In addition to your stateroom, there are several key public areas on the longships: Theres ample comfortable seating here upholstered chairs and sofas with large windows to enjoy the views. No, Tamara, I dont have direct experience replacing SIM cards. We have booked all the included excursions, but have held off booking the optional ones as we love to do our own thing when in port, and perhaps covering more ground than the optional excursions. Thanks!! Hi Tanya, Sounds like you have a great cruise coming up! 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. We are in a veranda A stateroom and doing business class flights as a bucket wish. with a German Schuko 2-pin plug that matches the 2-prong outlet in the bathroom. We went on the Viking excursions (with local guides) and did not book any local guides directly. 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. 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. Naturally, safety is a primary concern of travelers and the crew. U River Cruises by Uniworld offers week-long cruises for young adults along Europes riverways. We liked exploring on our own after getting the lay of the land from the morning tour guide. We thoroughly enjoyed our Viking river cruise. (This is handy because you might encounter tour groups from other Viking ships that are docked in the same city at the same time.) Its certainly a relaxing way to travel. We always made sure we were back to the ship on time! If you dont live in the U.S., Im sure other governments have similar programs for travelers. A few weeks prior to your departure, Viking will send stickers for you to wear at the airport when you land, so they can identify you as a Viking guest. Hi Anne, booking an independent excursion shouldnt be a problem. I agree with a previous comment about this being the most informative, most inclusive article Ive seen as well. Laundry is folded and returned on the same day if you have it ready in the morning.
Laundry on Cruise Ships: The Ultimate Guide Im so glad you found the article helpful, Ronnie!
Viking Sigrun 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. Since we booked through our travel agent, Viking sent her the final travel documents, and she checked them before passing them on to us. People are relaxed aboard Viking river cruises (no dressy occasions), and thats one thing people tend to enjoy about the experience.
Viking How early are they available to avoid the rush? Each time you enter the dining room, you find a table that you want to sit at. 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. Wondering how much american cash we should bring and do we need to get euros prior to arrival (if so how much).