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. Our stateroom steward kept the room immaculate. queen-size beds that can be split to make two twin beds. Wash and press services are available on all ships for American Cruise Lines. Heres our story. In-room irons are a huge no-no for the fire hazard they present. Europe Laundry List; China Laundry List; Russia Laundry List; Vietnam Laundry List 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). Your advice about avoiding the far inland tours is wise, I think. With all that said, my husband and I did opt for the Silver Spirits package. private bathrooms that are separate from the living Laundry Facility Included in Fare: On the Queen of the Mississippi, there are wash and dryer units are available. There is precise timing to docking and excursions. with a German Schuko 2-pin plug that matches the 2-prong outlet in the bathroom. Announcing Our 2023 Cruisers' Choice Award Winners! There are other excursions that day that we could do. That was just one of the optional tours we enjoyed and still talk about. What are your thoughts on the Silver Spirits package? 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. I hope you have a wonderful 50th celebration on the Grand European Tour! Haha, I got a kick out of being tempted with just one little pastry! Not used it before (indeed didn't think there were onboard facilities) but its mentioned in the info for our upcoming GET. Grand Circle offers a paid laundry service on all of its vessels. WebDo you have laundry and dry cleaning facilities? Id suggest you talk with the staff once you are aboard to learn of their planned docking times and see what they recommend. My husband prefers to jog each morning, and he was able to when we were docked in the early morning before excursions began. There are large windows on the port and starboard sides so views are available while cruising the river at mealtime. Its a great one! My husband and I sent out a few clothes to the Viking laundry, which also worked out well. We found the onboard communication to be excellent. The maitre-d I am convinced is in league with the devil, as she tempted diners again and again with just try this ONE little pastry. Have a wonderful cruise next year! pontac, June 28, 2016 in River Cruising. Were celebrating our 50th! Oh, Im so happy youre able to enjoy traveling safely during the pandemic. Thank you for taking the time to write this informative piece. Paying upfront might offer peace of mind if you like knowing that its already paid for and you dont have to think about an upcoming beverage bill. Your best bet is to ask about availability, location, and cost at Guest Services once onboard. 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 Antarctica Cruise: The Complete Guide for Adventurers, Viking Cruises: Best Action Steps After Booking a Cruise, Best Sights to See on the Viking Grand European Tour River Cruise, The Best Apps and Websites for Savvy Travelers, Viking Cruises: Best Action Steps After Booking Your Cruise. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Would there be any issue with booking an independent excursion for the days we will be in Prague or in the ports that we will be in overnight? Have a wonderful cruise! 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. Also, having cash is great for souvenirs, incidentals, snacks, or a quick lunch while exploring a city. Just make sure you are aware of the times the ship will leave the port so you dont miss its departure. We got off our ship, the Skirnir, in Nuremberg (one of our scheduled ports) before the damaged lock. 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. Im glad you found the article helpful, Tamara. 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. Theres always iced tea often with different flavors every day. All Viking river cruise ship staterooms have: river views. 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. But it looks like pre purchasing using on board credit isnt possible. Is there plenty of space for passengers indoors in the common areas, if the outdoors are too cold or rainy? I hope you have a wonderful time! They may be familiar enough with Vikings schedule to easily accommodate you. They will text you with any security issues you should be aware of while youre away. 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. The friends we cruise with have used it and say it is good and turnaround is quick. Before leaving a dock, there may be announcements asking for guests in certain rooms to let the staff know they are on the ship. She was able to shop the Viking clothes closet, stocked with items left by previous passengers. Knowing you can do your laundry onboard allows you to We cant say enough about how well-run and maintained the ships are. Just sayin'. On our cruise, this was done in the Lounge just after the evening port talk by the program director. . Viking had a sister ship sailing the same journey in the opposite direction from Budapest to Amsterdam so we switched ships. That worked well as we enjoyed some nice non-touristy lunches and other walks and tours on our own. I hope you have a wonderful time! During lunch and dinner, guests are served complimentary soft drinks, beer, or wine. Are they like $20 per person or more like $200? Hi Anne, booking an independent excursion shouldnt be a problem. I borrowed some books from the ships library and left them on a table in our room. 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. All guests are 18 years old or more. Plenty of covered space protects guests from the harsh summer sun. Have a fabulous cruise! Booked an Amsterdam to Budapest trip in September 23.our first river cruise (for our 20th). At other times, like when gathered in the lounge before dinner, youll charge your wine, beer, or cocktails to your stateroom. My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our Viking river cruise, which transported us in great comfort to some amazing European destinations. We also like to explore on our own, so there were times when we just joined a tour for a while and then told the guide we were going to branch out on our own. Viking doesnt allow children on board. If you want wine at that time is there a charge? There is paid laundry service but no dry cleaning. Frankly, I dont think you can go wrong either way, but theyre two very different experiences. 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. 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. And I think remembering that delays can arise on any type of travel (e.g., flights, cruises, trains) helps us all manage our expectations. If sharing a stateroom, both guests must pay for the package. Trying to guess the weather so we can narrow down what to pack. I will add one note that we experienced. Just in front of the Lounge to the bow of the ship is the Aquavit Terrace. There is an extra charge for the Silver Spirits package for guests who want to enjoy premium wines and beer, cocktails, and champagnes. My husband and I are doing the Grand Tour B > A in early October 2023. When I returned, I noticed two Viking bookmarks resting on top of the books. Laundry is folded and returned on the same day if you have it ready in the morning. A few guests scheduled independent sightseeing tours, and it seemed to work out well for them. U River Cruises by Uniworld offers week-long cruises for young adults along Europes riverways. First timer on river cruise. Do you have any experience about this? 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. The total time on these outings could be 1.5 to 3 hours. Its certainly a relaxing way to travel. The crew communicates with each other quite well. Some people book two cruises back-to-back to extend their vacation. If you decide on the stateroom with a french balcony, you will still be able to enjoy some time outside in the common areas while the ship is sailing. As for how much money to bring along, I usually start out with about $300 worth of local currency. I merely want to share our experience on a river cruise with my readers. One of many questions we have is how much currency (and what kind) to bring with us. 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. 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. Is there any laundry facility available on the Viking Mars? Plus, we always have some dollars with us, too. 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. We are taking the Grand European cruise, B-A, in late September 2022. This article highlights the European river cruises aboard the Viking Longboats. During the day on excursions, travelers dress very comfortably as they leave the ship to explore a destination. 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. 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. We sent some clothing to be laundered, and we were happy with that choice. Scheduled for Grand European in September 2023. 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). We cant say enough about how well-run and maintained the ships are. We leave Saturday for Prague followed by the Budapest to Amsterdam Viking river cruise. Thank you for great information and insights! Thanks again. Every once in a while, you may be treated to a little extra like a refreshing drink served on the sun deck while sailing one day. 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. The 190-passenger Viking Egil Any further suggestions about picking up the excursion cards each morning? 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. Is that possible? 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). Any comments on safety in cities? Staterooms are guaranteed to be ready at 3:00 pm. Check your cruise itinerary as it will tell you the expected times your ship will be docked at each stop. Their crew is well-trained and genuinely appears to want to make you happy. 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. Our next Viking cruise is coming up soon, and I cant wait. Included is a packet of information specific to your ship (including phone numbers on the ship plus embarkation location information) and an itinerary. Emerald Cruises offers onboard laundry services and charges a fee per piece of laundry. Just before the drill, we were all asked to return to our staterooms and don our life vests. Public restrooms are available in European towns, and many charge a nominal fee (.50-1 Euro). Also located off the main corridor are a couple of desktop computers that are always available for guest use. Do they charge for use? There was a broken lock near Regensburg, about halfway between the two big cities. Then itll be the first photo on your camera roll before the next days activities. Its relatively easy to dress up a pair of jeans a bit, so the overall look is elegant casual. Enjoy your cruise! Likewise, when the ship is ready to leave, it leaves as long as all the guests are accounted for. 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. Powered by Invision Community. 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). There was a mandatory safety drill on our first full day of the river cruise. We loved our trip and would recommend it to others. We dont even know if it is The Sound of Music heavy, and that is kindof why we are doing it. We are heading out on our first river cruise, the Kara from Basel to Amsterdam in late September this year. 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). The Silver Spirits package is complimentary for guests in an Explorer Suite. Yes, there have been changes to address public health safety, but Im betting they wont interfere with your overall enjoyment. The letter indicates which excursion group youre on. 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. Thanks for any thoughts! Thanks. We always made sure we were back to the ship on time! When the cruise ends, you settle your account in cash (U.S. dollars or Euros) or by credit card. There youll find a countdown to departure, background on each port of call, the entire list of excursions available (some are complimentary; others cost extra) that you can book online, a calendar showing your itinerary for each day, and other helpful information about the cruise. There are also daily announcements with information on docking and reminders about impending excursion departures. Walking could be on unpaved or uneven surfaces and may involve many steps or steep inclines. Pros: Viking is, by far, the largest river cruise company. Thank you for making me less anxious! Great service sounds like Viking! 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). Have fun! on your bed. Do you know if the outdoor areas on the sun deck can be enclosed for added warmth on these cooler weather trips? 11 AM Embarkation 11 AM priority stateroom access Paid laundry services are available on all Viking River Cruises ships. Lolly, We are going to cruise Viking July on European sojourn with pre post extensions Bucharest and Amsterdam. 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. Cheers! It easily holds passports and other travel documents along with jewelry and money. That way, Viking could clean the staterooms and ready the ship for the passengers boarding later that day for the next cruise. Complimentary self-service Guest Laundry, including washing machines, detergent, fabric softener, dryers, irons and ironing boards are provided on Deck 1 on Crystal Bach, Crystal Mahler, Crystal Debussy and Crystal Ravel. We have taken two Viking River Cruises, Bucharest to Amsterdam (21 days in 2019) and Basel to Amsterdam (7 days in 2021). After the excursions, we all met at a restaurant in Nuremberg for lunch, had a little free time, and then. See. excursion card with a number and a letter. You will be able to leave a comment after signing in, Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Ocean Cruises. 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). On all river cruises, guests are offered one complimentary shore excursion at every destination. It wasnt a deal breaker, but something you should be aware of. WebFrom Veranda Staterooms to the abundance of extra perks and amenities in our spacious Explorer Suites, there is no finer way to travel. Hi Kathleen, For individual tours and dinner reservations, Id let the provider (tour company, restaurant) know what day youll be coming into port. Just inside is the Lounge where we ate one rainy lunchtime. Besides being helpful, your thorough details helped me to envision and imagine, which is my favorite part of planning! For example, we arrived in Cologne at 9:30 am and our walking tour began at 10:00 am. Learn how your comment data is processed. This should allow you to finalize your plans to disembark and go meet your friends. Im looking forward to ours next year! To burn off some of the calories ingested by the delicious food onboard, I walked in the morning around the sun deck track. I agree with a previous comment about this being the most informative, most inclusive article Ive seen as well. To accomplish this, passengers pack up the night before the transfer, and while out on excursions, their luggage is transferred to the other ship. The number indicates which ship youre on. If we were sailing during the day, the program director narrated scenic highlights along the river as we continued our journey. 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). As mentioned throughout the comments, thank you so much for such insightful and helpful information! 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. We were sailing from Amsterdam to Budapest. Other times, we were still sailing, so he could not. I do my own underwear in the sink, but jeans, shirts and heavy socks go to the laundry. Thanks for your article it was very informative. I am very intrigued by the Salzberg excursion but see that it is a 2 plus hour bus ride each way. Viking does offer access to desktop computers in Russia and laptops in Europe. Viking has guest departures timed to match their future travel plans. When you return to your room, you will notice the dinner menus for that evening. Please hare your opinion with me. Have fun! They are also one of the most affordable river cruise options. Did you see anyone carry on and off luggage? Have a wonderful cruise! Are there computers, or Required fields are marked *. Thank you for your informative article! No kids. Thank you for your article and your help! On our ships, there were separate newspaper versions for Australia, Canada, and the U.S. Youll see all your options on the online My Viking Journey portal when the tours open up prior to your trip. Just thinking of the best options for meeting friends for a short visit. 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. Trying to navigate changing pandemic restrictions is a challenge Id rather not have to deal with, but well give it a try. 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 Low river levels today might be just fine for cruising in a few days. Hi Robin, you pose a great question, but it isnt easy to answer! Rosetta. when we traveled) to your shipboard account. Is there a fee associated with the alternative restaurants? Your descriptions of the change of ship due to the broken lock and of docking side by side with other ships were reassuring. Weve had no regrets. Since they are sister ships, they are the same, so the only thing that changed was the crew. 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. We are on a Viking rive4 cruise from Budapest to Amsterdam in April 2023. Regardless of their next destinations, all guests had to place their luggage outside their rooms no later than 9:00 am. Youll be glad you did! Is the ship nonsmoking? One tip we learned is to put a shoe (just one!) (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.).
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