My hair is very unruly and I am mortified at the thought of no heat styling tools! Prepaid gratuities came to 18 Euros per guest per day. There they may board another ship. As for how much money to bring along, I usually start out with about $300 worth of local currency. Tauck: 220v power is used onboard. This is by far THE BEST description and information on Viking River Cruises that I have ever read! means extensive walking, hiking, or biking. We travel light with one roll aboard and one backpack. Can you please provide the docking location? 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. Thank you for making me less anxious! crewsgirl, November 9, 2014 in River Cruising. A few years ago, we were on a shoulder season cruise in the Mediterranean. During lunch and dinner, guests are served complimentary soft drinks, beer, or wine. Does Viking get us into our room early or do we have to check our luggage with the hotel and wait until 3:00 PM? The 220V outlets are German Schuko 2-pin safety plugs. As you leave the ship, you are handed a bottle of water. Your email address will not be published. The Silver Spirits option is offered at a fixed price per guest and spans the entire length of the trip. You can store your luggage under the bed(s). There are large windows on the port and starboard sides so views are available while cruising the river at mealtime. Guests with pre- or post-cruise hotel packages may want to bring converters and/or adapters for their hotel stay. 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). There are three activity levels for excursions: About 15 minutes before each excursion, there is an announcement to remind guests that it is almost time to leave and to remember the listening devices. 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. (This is handy because you might encounter tour groups from other Viking ships that are docked in the same city at the same time.) When you return to your room, you will notice the dinner menus for that evening. 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? We are also thinking of taking an old smart phone and purchasing a SIM card that works in Europe for language translation, directions, and apps to enhance our experience. Staterooms will have one or two 115V . 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. Can you tell me which docking/ports might be too far from the cities/towns? Tech can make travel a whole lot easier. 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. Thank you! Viking is an industry leader for a variety of reasons including their choices of fascinating destinations, varied excursion options, attention to detail in designing the private and common spaces, and a welcoming and hard-working staff. One of those steps is to create an online account with Viking. They may be familiar enough with Vikings schedule to easily accommodate you. My husband and I took the Top of Cologne excursion, and it was one of the best. 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. Ive not taken a Viking optional tour that I didnt like, but I will say that there are passengers who also book tours independent of Viking due to a keen interest in something and the personal or small-group experience that is available with independent tour guides. Im looking forward to ours next year! We saw you comment about change for guides and such and credit cards with no foreign charges. 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. It sounds like you have a wonderful journey coming up this summer, Rosetta! Hope you have been able to enjoy more Viking cruises since your original one. You can sign up for excursions from your account on MyVikingJourney.com prior to your trip. As for shore excursions, my husband and I enjoyed the walking tour (through Viking) that included the funicular up to Castle Hill. Do you have to go on the planned excursion or can you go off and explore on your own? Hope this helps. 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. Is this allowed? Heavy bags are tricky to manage, too. 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. 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. The hairdryer is not in the bathroom, but in the bedroom, in a drawer under the counter where the outlets are. Will the ship have a adapter for me for the bathroom or is there a 110v plug in there? You mentioned laundry, and although theres no laundromat on Vikings European river cruise ships, there is a laundry service that you can use. The recommended tipping (for each guest) on excursions is 2 Euros for local guides and 1 Euro for bus drivers. Once enrolled, you enter the dates of your travel and your destinations. Everyone should read this as every question seems to be answered well and clearly! A few guests scheduled independent sightseeing tours, and it seemed to work out well for them. Stateroom size: 135 sq ft. River-view stateroom with French balcony (floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door) 12 PM Embarkation. There are times when river cruise ships have to have guests disembark a ship and then board a sister ship. Priority spa treatment bookings 70 days prior to departure. This is the place to find a variety of coffee and tea plus baked goods to accompany your beverage. Staterooms are guaranteed to be ready at 3:00 pm. If you stay in a hotel before or after your cruise you will need to bring adapters for charging your phone or tablets. a flat-screen TV with infotainment options. We didnt regret our decision. Have you seen this post? The Quietvox listening devices charger is plugged into a 220 outlet on the counter across from the bed. Please hare your opinion with me. Since it will be November, and Im also afraid of open heights weve opted for the French balcony room. The Quietvox listening devices charger is plugged into a 220 outlet on the counter across from the bed. Sometimes optional excursions sell out, although there are usually some available once youre on the ship. Are there tea making facilities in room. The total cost varies according to the length of the ocean cruise. This means that your ship could be the first, second, or third ship docked. Radgrid - A Valkyrie. Irene. Thanks. Let's look into your options, and briefly cover why power strips aren't allowed. Just returned from a Viking Longship and there was 3-110 outlets and one in the bathroom for a shaver. Oh, Im so happy youre able to enjoy traveling safely during the pandemic. The hotel manager was great and the program director was a literal Energizer Bunny. As we arrived at the ship, we were warmly greeted, and we went to our rooms (which were intentionally left unlocked). All outlets are European style (2 pin) with . You never know what youll learn or who youll meet! This should allow you to finalize your plans to disembark and go meet your friends. So it comes down to how much and what kind of beverages youre likely to consume each day. Good Job!! . I will also ask for a lighter bed cover. Hi Catherine, Im glad the article was helpful. We enjoyed sitting with different people; it gave us a chance to learn about their travel experiences and lives a bit. Im so glad you found the article helpful, Rich! I'm sure you won't need to plug everything in at the same time, and I'm also sure that if you leave some of those devices at home you'll have a better time on your cruise. Leave your dressier clothes at home; there are no formal nights on a Viking river cruise. On each of the two ships we were on, there was a duo in the evening that included a vocalist and a pianist. We are heading out on our first river cruise, the Kara from Basel to Amsterdam in late September this year. Enjoy! I hope you have a wonderful time! private bathrooms that are separate from the living space. I am very intrigued by the Salzberg excursion but see that it is a 2 plus hour bus ride each way. 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). Im glad you found the article helpful. Even the sharpest dressed had their athletic shoes or keen sandals on during the day. Id suggest you talk with the staff once you are aboard to learn of their planned docking times and see what they recommend. One of many questions we have is how much currency (and what kind) to bring with us. This will be first river cruise for us. That is, you sleep and eat on the ship and are transported to your destinations along a river. We were on the Idun (Longship). most electronics or travel stores. Of course as soon as I stepped outside it was all over! 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. Sometimes theres a lot of river cruise ship traffic in popular cities. #4. 110/220 volt outlets & USB ports. Well do the Grand European from B to A in October this year. Its something to worry about losing, and fanciful costume jewelry is just as much fun! 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. Since there are often different excursions leaving simultaneously. Power is supplied at 110 volts. Thank you for taking the time to write this informative piece. Aside from three meals a day, snacks are always accessible whether you miss a meal, wake up late, or simply have a craving between meal hours. your journey, you'll want the . It was impossible to find one to my liking in the department store in Marseillealthough I tried. Best, Irene, Hi Glenise, There are large windows on the port and starboard sides so views are available while cruising the river at mealtime. Maybe we will run into each other. (OK, the wifi in the rooms REALLY sucksbut if thats your #1 problem, you arent doing badly). The bar is on one end of the lounge; theres wait service in the Lounge during lunch and in the late afternoon and evening. Thanks for the tips! Have a great cruise! My husband prefers to jog each morning, and he was able to when we were docked in the early morning before excursions began. Have a great cruise! 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. We went on the Viking excursions (with local guides) and did not book any local guides directly. This article highlights the European river cruises aboard the Viking Longboats. . The optional excursions have smaller groups and are more focused on cultural, recreational, and even culinary experiences. Good luck with your planning, and have a great cruise! Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Our luggage awaited us, and our new room keys were on the dresser. 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. Since they are sister ships, they are the same, so the only thing that changed was the crew. I hope things go smoothly for you and that you have a wonderful time! In the theatre it can be arctic. Some of these plugs are grounded and some are not. Thanks for the reminders. Youll find beach towels near the pool areas and also in bins by the security exit before disembarking. You make an excellent point, Julia. I checked the website and all in-room amenities are listed under the name of each ship. (European river cruise ships are limited in size due to the rivers they cruise on, so they have the same overall dimensions. And Im so glad I was able to help you prepare for your cruise. We thoroughly enjoyed our Viking river cruise. Some folks elect to get the Silver Spirits package because they enjoy trying new cocktails and/or premium wines while on vacation. The crew actually collapses the awnings, chairs, and tables and the ships bridge recedes into the ship all to reduce the ships height. The Norwegian Bliss, Breakaway, Encore, Epic, Escape, Getaway, Joy and Spirit have additional US sockets available. Weve got to get you back into cruising, Janice! Hi Daisy, you have the choice of going on the included or an optional excursion or exploring on your own. 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. 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. bring a trailer american cars; stone and log cabin homes . and one US 110V socket on each side of the bed; there are no UK 3 pin sockets. During lunch, prior to and after dinner, theres usually live music in the Lounge. This publication outlines the schedule for the next day, with all included and optional excursions as well as suggestions on where to visit and eat during your free time the next day. 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? Thanks. 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.

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