Laundry Facility Included in Fare: On the Queen of the Mississippi, there are wash and dryer units are available. The price list is located in each stateroom. With over 50 riverboats, there are many cruises ships, dates, and itineraries to consider. Once everyone was accounted for, we were able to leave, return our life vests to our stateroom, and resume what we were doing. Sometimes theres a lot of river cruise ship traffic in popular cities. When passengers get to the sister ship, their luggage is in their new cabins (which are usually the same cabins they had on the original ship). A tie and jacket are optional.. We loved our trip and would recommend it to others. She dies from sadness after her lover Helgi is slain by her brother Dagr, and is later reborn as a Valkyrie herself. Thanks for the great details! Hi Ricardo, It sounds like you have a great trip ahead! I hope you have a wonderful 50th celebration on the Grand European Tour! 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. 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. I've used the laundry service on three river cruises and three ocean cruises and have never had any issues. (Another idea is to get Euros at one of the airport currency exchange kiosks, but the exchange rates will probably not be favorable.). We travel light, as well, but the ship will take care of delivering your luggage to your room; we just kept our small carry ons (the ones that fit under the airplane seats) with us. 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. The Aquavit Terrace is a great place to have a meal. I was curious about what time you have to be back on the ship at night. Hi Karen, A few things could happen when river levels are too low for cruise ships. Its relatively easy to dress up a pair of jeans a bit, so the overall look is elegant casual. Enjoy your cruise! 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. Heres our story. No, Tamara, I dont have direct experience replacing SIM cards. We found the car rentals and made reservations, but we cant find any daily schedule of when the ship docks and departs at each port. 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. We learned this the hard way one day, and we realized that we actually prefer exploring the little towns that we dock at more. There is precise timing to docking and excursions. Thats where you might find biking or hiking options, or as you mentioned, the Top of Cologne optional tour. Theres an elevator onboard so its easy to travel from floor to floor if you dont want to use the stairs. Viking had a sister ship sailing the same journey in the opposite direction from Budapest to Amsterdam so we switched ships. What it meant for guests was a minor inconvenience. My husband and I sent out a few clothes to the Viking laundry, which also worked out well. Booked an Amsterdam to Budapest trip in September 23.our first river cruise (for our 20th). 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. I didnt read through all the comments, so I hope Im not being repetitive. pontac, June 28, 2016 in River Cruising. Better be aboard, cuz they wont wait! Im sure we will need some pocket money for small purchases. Even with that information, as you mentioned,dockings could be delayed to traffic on the river or there could be delays going through locks. on your bed. At other times, like when gathered in the lounge before dinner, youll charge your wine, beer, or cocktails to your stateroom. In addition, there are quite a few optional excursions available at an extra cost. That is, you sleep and eat on the ship and are transported to your destinations along a river. (If you are booked in one of the suites, youll have access to your stateroom at 12:00.) 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. There are costs associated with the optional tours and they vary, and I suppose that correlates with the costs Viking incurs. Sounds like youve got a great anniversary trip planned, Gary! This taught me to take pictures when I first see a scenic sight just in case I wouldnt have the opportunity again. WebReviews. There is an extra charge for the Silver Spirits package for guests who want to enjoy premium wines and beer, cocktails, and champagnes. Have fun! Viking has perfected hospitality on many levels. I bet youre planning your next cruise already. Is there any laundry facility available on the Viking Mars? Theres always iced tea often with different flavors every day. 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. Any further suggestions about picking up the excursion cards each morning? Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos. Disclaimer: My husband and I paid forour Viking river cruise ourselves. Good luck! Laundry Services or Facilities: Which River Cruise Companies There they may board another ship. Is this allowed? 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? Some travelers prefer to book through Viking itself. One thing to keep in mind is that things can change from day to day, week to week and that includes river levels. I hope you thoroughly enjoy your Viking cruise next year! 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 I know other travelers who just get cash out of ATMs while traveling (and Ive done that, too, of course), but I just like beginning the trip with some local cash. 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. She was able to shop the Viking clothes closet, stocked with items left by previous passengers. I hope you have a wonderful time! One tip we learned is to put a shoe (just one!) That was just one of the optional tours we enjoyed and still talk about. And Im so glad I was able to help you prepare for your cruise. The friends we cruise with have used it and say it is good and turnaround is quick. Becki Enjoy your cruise! The coffee station is always available, although the baked goods tend to be gobbled up in the late afternoon. By (Depending on the category of your stateroom, the laundry service may be complimentary.) I will add one note that we experienced. We were never disappointed with our meal selections. My husband and I had planned to go on the Salzburg excursion, but when we learned we would be spending so much time on the bus to travel there and back (for a total of 9.5 hours), we decided to spend our time in Passau instead. 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. See. We are on a Viking rive4 cruise from Budapest to Amsterdam in April 2023. Have a fabulous cruise! 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. Its a great one! Just thinking of the best options for meeting friends for a short visit. A few guests scheduled independent sightseeing tours, and it seemed to work out well for them. Three meals are included each day at the following times: Soda, beer, and house wine are available at lunch and dinner at no charge. (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.). Any idea if the Terrace will be open for meals in the chill of November? As you know, Viking offers an included excursion in each port. Also, for individualized tours try Tours by Locals (weve had EXCELLENT tours in many, many cities including Europe, India, Malaysia, Thailand), or AirBnBs tours. 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. Viking has guest departures timed to match their future travel plans. 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 general experience on all Viking river cruise ships is the same, no matter what ship youre on. (Its not uncommon for someone to forget to scan their card when returning to the ship.). Laundry charges will be billed to your shipboard account. Price lists are available on the Viking website in the FAQ. Especially your tips on dinner were helpful I will pack his blazer. Hi Pat, Im so glad you found my article helpful! This was true in Passau, a city of over 50,000, and especially in heavyweights like Vienna and Budapest. Great article. This is because some guests may have canceled their planned optional excursions prior to the cruise; so its a good practice to check on this and any other concerns once youre on board. Did you see anyone carry on and off luggage? Also, dinner is served on the Aquavit Terrace; service begins 15 minutes after dinner service starts in the restaurant. 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. 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). This is by far THE BEST description and information on Viking River Cruises that I have ever read! We are experienced travelers on land but this will be a new experience. You can choose to pre-pay gratuities which we did. Concerning laundry, yes, there is a retractable clothesline in the shower. I agree with a previous comment about this being the most informative, most inclusive article Ive seen as well. Viking River Cruises (OK, the wifi in the rooms REALLY sucksbut if thats your #1 problem, you arent doing badly). One question I have is how you handled local currency in Hungary as they do not use the euro. Thank you for your article and your help! You must be at least 18 to book a cruise. Others get the package because they like having their drinks all inclusive without having to think about a bar tab. After all, we travel to experience new places, new food, and new people, so we like to eat local specialties whenever possible. Plenty of covered space protects guests from the harsh summer sun. This means that your ship could be the first, second, or third ship docked. Everything was as you said food, service, boat, amenities, all topnotch. In the morning we would stuff the bag with dirty clothes, fill out the form and leave for the cabin attendant. Viking then allowed us to purchase a no-expiry date voucher towards another cruise an amount they matched. Have fun! 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. Your husband doesnt need to pack a blazer if he wouldnt normally wear one for dinner. It would be more like smart casual (so no worn jeans and flip-flops, for example). The good thing is there are always tomorrows treats to look forward to! The number indicates which ship youre on. Frankly, I dont think you can go wrong either way, but theyre two very different experiences. To burn off some of the calories ingested by the delicious food onboard, I walked in the morning around the sun deck track. Only 190 guests. Hope you have been able to enjoy more Viking cruises since your original one. Viking River Cruise Indeed, very VERY helpfulespecially for first time river cruisers. There are no laundry services or facilities offered onboard any of CroisiEuropes ships. Deciding on cash is a personal choice, of course. Hi Cynthia, I bet youre so excited about your upcoming trip! WebFree Wi-Fi (connection speed may vary) Laundry service. 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. My husband prefers to jog each morning, and he was able to when we were docked in the early morning before excursions began. Some procedures and protocols on cruise ships have changed to address public health concerns since the global COVID-19 pandemic. Trying to navigate changing pandemic restrictions is a challenge Id rather not have to deal with, but well give it a try. WebThere's a reason why Viking consistently receives awards as the best cruise company out there. You mention that from 5:15-7 there will be drinks & live music or a port talk. That way, Viking could clean the staterooms and ready the ship for the passengers boarding later that day for the next cruise. Im so glad you found the article helpful, Ronnie! If you have dietary restrictions, let Viking know when you book. 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.). Powered by Invision Community. . Hi Danny, Im not sure which cruise youre referring to, but you asked an excellent question about renting a car to make day trips while on the cruise. There is no self-service laundry. Your comments are really appreciated. Thank you for your thoughtfulness. Now to your questions. Dinner begins at 7:00 pm in the dining room. The Silver Spirits package is complimentary for guests in an Explorer Suite. That way, if they reach a low point in the river, they can have passengers disembark, go on bussed excursions, and afterwards be taken to the sister ship that completes the journey. Suffice it to say that Viking has this all figured out and has contingency plans firmly in place.
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