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. This means that your ship could be the first, second, or third ship docked. On each of the two ships we were on, there was a duo in the evening that included a vocalist and a pianist. Viking Bragi - Viking River Cruises That way, youll have current informationand be able to talk to people in the know to see if your plans will work. Good luck! Any idea if the Terrace will be open for meals in the chill of November? Check your cruise itinerary as it will tell you the expected times your ship will be docked at each stop. We got off our ship, the Skirnir, in Nuremberg (one of our scheduled ports) before the damaged lock. That includes any drinks up to $15 like cocktails, aperitifs, and premium wines by the glass. The friends we cruise with have used it and say it is good and turnaround is quick. Becki 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. 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. pontac, June 28, 2016 in River Cruising. My question is about size of our luggage (or size limitation due room size). 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. Dinner begins at 7:00 pm in the dining room. I hope you have a wonderful cruise and that things work out for your planned day trips! Prior to dinner, the chef usually introduces the options including his/her recommendations. Laundry Services or Facilities: Which River Cruise Companies And Im so glad I was able to help you prepare for your cruise. We will definitely be using it in the years to come. Re renting a car to go to a specific place Viking tours dont include: Is Uber possible in the cities Viking goes to? Now to your questions. Hi Stephanie, Thanks for your kind words. Since it will be November, and Im also afraid of open heights weve opted for the French balcony room. Although lunch is available in the dining room, we favored the Aquavit Terrace (at the front of the ship) for our midday meal. 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. Remember to notify your bank of your travel dates and destinations before leaving home! Sometimes optional excursions sell out, although there are usually some available once youre on the ship. Enjoy your cruise! I merely want to share our experience on a river cruise with my readers. We took the walking tour of Passau, enjoyed a leisurely lunch in town, went on a hike, and strolled around town afterward. 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. . Have a wonderful time! 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. Laundry on Viking - River Cruising - Cruise Critic Community We have taken two Viking River Cruises, Bucharest to Amsterdam (21 days in 2019) and Basel to Amsterdam (7 days in 2021). Your email address will not be published. However, the information in this article is from our, The staterooms and bathrooms are efficiently designed to maximize usable space. For example, we arrived in Cologne at 9:30 am and our walking tour began at 10:00 am. I think it would be a tight schedule if the ship is docked for just a day. (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.). Laundry is folded and returned on the same day if you have it ready in the morning. If you have dietary restrictions, let Viking know when you book. 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. The crew communicates with each other quite well. Emerald Cruises offers onboard laundry services and charges a fee per piece of laundry. (This is handy because you might encounter tour groups from other Viking ships that are docked in the same city at the same time.) Is the ship nonsmoking? Some river cruise companies do have those facilities, but Viking Longships dont have those. They say they will be staying til X oclock and then leaving. Otherwise, we had a brand new crew. The Silver Spirits package offers unlimited drinks including cocktails, premium wine, and beer. Hope you have been able to enjoy more Viking cruises since your original one. Does everyone get back on the bus when the excursion is over or is that the time you make plans for individual sightseeing? River cruises are designed for the mature traveler as Viking guests must be 18 years old. Weve chosen a mix of the included tours and the custom days, avoided any places to which weve already travelled and have added in the extensions to both ends, hoping to see friends in Amsterdam. Have a wonderful cruise! The tips cover all onboard staff. We are in a veranda A stateroom and doing business class flights as a bucket wish. 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. There are times when river cruise ships have to have guests disembark a ship and then board a sister ship. Viking has perfected hospitality on many levels. WebThere's a reason why Viking consistently receives awards as the best cruise company out there. Getting my heart rate up while enjoying beautiful scenery passing by while the ship made its way down a river was a win-win. Just sayin'. Wishing you good luck and a fantastic cruise! How will payments on board be handled? For a walking tour (directly from the ship), some passengers go on the tour to learn about the destination and then spend the rest of the day shopping, enjoying a meal, or just wandering around. It sounds like you have a wonderful journey coming up this summer, Rosetta! Each time you leave the ship, you scan your room key. (If you are booked in one of the suites, youll have access to your stateroom at 12:00.) In-room irons are a huge no-no for the fire hazard they present. 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. Our next Viking cruise is coming up soon, and I cant wait. 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. What is the availability of restroom facilities in these small towns? Prepaid gratuities came to 18 Euros per guest per day. Did you use local guides? As you leave the ship, youll scan your room key to indicate your departure and rescan it upon returning. So glad that you had a great cruise! This is Vikings way of accounting for guests. Is the ship nonsmoking? We leave Saturday for Prague followed by the Budapest to Amsterdam Viking river cruise. excursion card with a number and a letter. 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 are taking the Grand European cruise, B-A, in late September 2022. Ever consider a Viking European 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.) Viking Heres our story. The fees for European river cruises range in price from $1 per item to $6 per item. Laundry on Cruise Ships: The Ultimate Guide As for Tours by Locals, Ive used them, as well, and was pleased. What Kind of Laundry Service is Offered on a River Cruise? Do you travel overnight for most of the time or is there day travel as well? Do you know if the outdoor areas on the sun deck can be enclosed for added warmth on these cooler weather trips? a flat-screen TV with infotainment options. However, most guests sport a smart casual look for dinner. Some areas also have other popular ride-share companies like Bolt in Europe. Have a wonderful cruise! 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. Trying to navigate changing pandemic restrictions is a challenge Id rather not have to deal with, but well give it a try. This should allow you to finalize your plans to disembark and go meet your friends. Just inside is the Lounge where we ate one rainy lunchtime. The crew actually collapses the awnings, chairs, and tables and the ships bridge recedes into the ship all to reduce the ships height. Have a great cruise! Im glad you found the article helpful, Thomas! Thanks for the great details! . Theres an elevator onboard so its easy to travel from floor to floor if you dont want to use the stairs. 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. As you know, Viking offers an included excursion in each port. Members of VantagesPresidents Club (achieved after three Vantage Vacations trips not necessarily river cruises) also receive a 20 laundry credit. I suggest signing on to My Viking Journey and using the Live Chat feature to get your answer. River traffic varies and the time to pass through the locks can change based on the number of ships, weather, etc. First timer on river cruise. There are lots of smiles and offers of help. How can we arrange individual tours or make dinner reservations if we dont know the times or the port arrangements? The cruise is great for adults of any age. Crew: 53. 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. 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. It wasnt a deal breaker, but something you should be aware of. The Viking Grand European Tour from Amsterdam to Budapest was such a great experience one well never forget. Onboard youll have port talks to prepare you for each new day along with musical entertainment in the lounge. 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 services may be arranged through your Suite Attendant or your Butler. Herding 169 tourists onto separate buses all going separate places at separate timeswow, thats a job! We saw you comment about change for guides and such and credit cards with no foreign charges. Some guests preferred to stay in the Lounge and simply relax, read a book, or enjoy the view beyond the big plate glass window or take in the views from the sun deck. That way, Viking could clean the staterooms and ready the ship for the passengers boarding later that day for the next cruise. Also located off the main corridor are a couple of desktop computers that are always available for guest use. Before we descended, we were able to step outside and soak in panoramic views of the city. Viking river cruise Servers take your drink orders (sodas, beer, wine) and freshen up your glass when it is empty. (Im trying to save you room in your luggage!) The hotel manager was great and the program director was a literal Energizer Bunny. WiFi: Which River Cruise Companies Include It This was true in Passau, a city of over 50,000, and especially in heavyweights like Vienna and Budapest. They are also one of the most affordable river cruise options. Have fun! My husband and I like to have about 100-200 Euros on us before leaving home. If sharing a stateroom, both guests must pay for the package. We could not have chosen any better than the Skirnir and Viking. Have a wonderful cruise next year! 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. I am sure i will have more later but your thread is wonderful. Learn how your comment data is processed. That saved precious counter space. It would be more like smart casual (so no worn jeans and flip-flops, for example). This is a great venue for enjoying the passing landscape on travel days and relaxed dining every day. Viking does offer access to desktop computers in Russia and laptops in Europe. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Housekeeping Provide friendly and twice daily housekeeping services to all guests staterooms, and cleans public and crew areas. Viking assigns different colored luggage tags to guests depending on what their next travel destination is (a post-excursion through Viking, a trip independent of Viking, or a flight home). To ensure you remember all the great experiences on your cruise, take lots of pictures and. U River Cruises by Uniworld offers week-long cruises for young adults along Europes riverways. Thanks again! WebLaundry is completely free on Viking Ocean cruises, including soap, wash, and dr Viking Ocean Ships Ultimate Dining Guide 2022 - Relevant to ALL Viking Ocean Ships Visit With Plus, Viking offers several excursions each day that the ship is in port. Frankly, I dont think you can go wrong either way, but theyre two very different experiences. Since they are sister ships, they are the same, so the only thing that changed was the crew. means the walking will be on mostly smooth (not cobbled) surfaces, there are few steps, and the tours will be 1.5 hours or less. Hi Ricardo, It sounds like you have a great trip ahead! When I returned, I noticed two Viking bookmarks resting on top of the books. 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. Viking River Cruises 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. Im so glad you found the article helpful, Rich! 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. Price lists are available in each stateroom. During lunch and dinner, guests are served complimentary soft drinks, beer, or wine. WebFrom Veranda Staterooms to the abundance of extra perks and amenities in our spacious Explorer Suites, there is no finer way to travel. 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. Interesting information! You know is it a venus and mars question. 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. The Viking onboard staff from the captain, hotel manager, and program director to the housekeeping and wait staff were all positive, upbeat folks: smiling, accommodating, and helpful. As we arrived at the ship, we were warmly greeted, and we went to our rooms (which were intentionally left unlocked). Also, Viking offers options to add a few days in the first or last destination before and after a cruise. We have taken two Viking River Cruises, Bucharest to Amsterdam (21 days in 2019) and Basel to Amsterdam (7 days in 2021). Especially your tips on dinner were helpful I will pack his blazer. Sounds like youve got a great anniversary trip planned, Gary! How early are they available to avoid the rush? Viking River Cruises laundry - River Cruising - Cruise Critic Is there a fee associated with the alternative restaurants? On our ships, there were separate newspaper versions for Australia, Canada, and the U.S. 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). 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). That makes it handy for your husband to fetch your morning cup! with an electronic keypad is provided in each room. Ever consider a Viking European river cruise? With over 50 riverboats, there are many cruises ships, dates, and itineraries to consider. Thank you!! Laundry services are wash and iron, or just iron. Youll find Viking river cruises all through Europe as well as in Egypt and Southeast Asia. This is the place to find a variety of coffee and tea plus baked goods to accompany your beverage. Only 190 guests. Can you tell me which docking/ports might be too far from the cities/towns? As you probably know, the package includes unlimited beverages when the bars are open. Have a great cruise! They also are known for providing little touches that many guests appreciate. 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. Laundry Provide clean linen to support operations, cleans crew uniforms and guest clothes to Viking Standards. No kids. Have a wonderful cruise, Thomas! If you have taken a Viking river cruise and want to share your experiences, please do so in the comment area below. I wonder if you have any thoughts on us meeting up with friends from Stuttgart.

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