This is one way the crew can account for all guests. I liked the hair and cleansing products on the ship, but the hotel had one cleanser for hair and body only. Spacious suites, locally-inspired gourmet cuisine and features like SeaSpa . 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. The dining room has a variety of tables that can seat 6, 8, or 10 people. Our luggage awaited us, and our new room keys were on the dresser. For example, we arrived in Cologne at 9:30 am and our walking tour began at 10:00 am. Their crew is well-trained and genuinely appears to want to make you happy. We thoroughly enjoyed our Viking river cruise. Also, we had booked an English-speaking tour of the Hungarian Parliament which ended up being fascinating; if you plan to do this, make sure to make reservations online ahead of your visit. Naturally, safety is a primary concern of travelers and the crew. Is that a crazy thing to say?! We loved our trip and would recommend it to others. Were celebrating our 50th! Powered by Invision Community. 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. The Norwegian Bliss, Breakaway, Encore, Epic, Escape, Getaway, Joy and Spirit have additional US sockets available. Its something to worry about losing, and fanciful costume jewelry is just as much fun! I may just opt for a European surge protector 10 Amps with usb ports like this and this comes in just under 15 oz, but still not as compact as the Belkin: My strategy ended up just using an adapter for the iPad http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004SY5O5K/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 and the power strip http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0018MEBNG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 for everything else. Uniworld Boutique River Cruises: 220V power is most common; some ships also have 110V outlets. So if your staying only on board you don't need a plug adapter. If you arrive before your guaranteed time of 3:00 pm, you can spend time in the Lounge or leave your luggage on the ship and begin to explore the city on your own. 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. After the excursions, we all met at a restaurant in Nuremberg for lunch, had a little free time, and then. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Once onboard, it can be difficult to easily stow an overpacked bag under your bed. You will find both 110V and 220V electrical outlets in your stateroom. Im glad you found the article helpful, Tamara. Everyone should read this as every question seems to be answered well and clearly! For a complete list of action steps. Hi David, it sounds like youre gearing up for a great adventure! Its just the nature of this type of travel. More information on menu choices is below under Meals. when we traveled) to your shipboard account. Viking Saigon Review. 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. In addition, there are quite a few optional excursions available at an extra cost. The hotel manager was great and the program director was a literal Energizer Bunny. (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.). We are not interested in spending a lot of time on buses. Its a great one! Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Disclaimer: My husband and I paid forour Viking river cruise ourselves. Yes. Its not a deal breaker for us, but its something every river cruise guest should be forewarned about. When you return to your room, you will notice the dinner menus for that evening. We took the walking tour of Passau, enjoyed a leisurely lunch in town, went on a hike, and strolled around town afterward. Have a wonderful cruise, Thomas! My husband and I will be sailing with Viking on a Rhine River cruise (Netherlands to Lucerne) this month and our very first river cruise (during a pandemic). I hope things go smoothly for you and that you have a wonderful time! Passengers could disembark and be bussed on an excursion and then afterwards, be bussed to a different location on the river where the water levels are higher. On the other side of the menu are regional specialties or options that are focused on our destinations. Its also where youll find freshly baked goodies throughout the day. I hope you two have a fabulous time on your cruise! in your closet upon arrival; if you need more, just ask, and they will be delivered promptly. (Depending on the category of your stateroom, the laundry service may be complimentary.) Jeans are discouraged in the main dining room but if you want to eat and dress in jeans, you can get almost the same foods in the World Cafe, where there is no dress code. Required fields are marked *. We liked exploring on our own after getting the lay of the land from the morning tour guide. I had a wonderful trip with Viking Cruises' Sun cruise ship, there was good food and with a balcony cabin I enjoyed the view of the sea, good speed Wi-Fi and enjoyed all the Viking offers on board and shore excursions included. Servers take your drink orders (sodas, beer, wine) and freshen up your glass when it is empty. And I think remembering that delays can arise on any type of travel (e.g., flights, cruises, trains) helps us all manage our expectations. 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. Plenty of covered space protects guests from the harsh summer sun. Thanks. Irene. Having to look for the shoe on the last day will remind you to open the safe so you dont forget your valuables. Thank you for making me less anxious! Is there a "dress code" on the ship? I wasnt sure whether or not to bring my usual cruise lanyard and hole punch? We had to have our luggage packed and placed outside our stateroom door by 7:00 am on the day of the switch. The Quietvox listening devices charger is plugged into a 220 outlet on the counter across from the bed. But, what else would we spend money on? Once onboard, verify the time youll be in port and then fine-tune your tour or dinner plans. Bedside outlets on Viking Star (Credit: Jerome Levine). When you return to the ship, you scan it again. No need to bring any foodstuffs because youll never be hungry. Fayetteville, GA, USA. The longships have both American 110v and Euro 220v service and outlets. 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. Needless to say, its handy to have small change for tipping. most electronics or travel stores. 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. They will text you with any security issues you should be aware of while youre away. The river cruises have open seating, so that means you arent assigned any table mates. Our US-based cell phone service does not work outside of the US. Thanks. Are there tea making facilities in room. Otherwise, we had a brand new crew. There are costs associated with the optional tours and they vary, and I suppose that correlates with the costs Viking incurs. 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. On our cruise, this was done in the Lounge just after the evening port talk by the program director. Hi Lolly, thank you for the great article and this really prepared us for our trip next week. Cheers! It will be helpful to others. As you leave the ship, you are handed a bottle of water. We always enjoyed the variety of food from the local areas we were visiting. (Its not uncommon for someone to forget to scan their card when returning to the ship.). Braun Hair Dryer on Viking Star (Photo credit: Jerome Levine). Although there is ample storage space onboard Viking Ocean Cruises, bringing too much stuff only makes it harder to sift through your belongings to find what you want. I wonder if you have any thoughts on us meeting up with friends from Stuttgart. Hope this info helps you a bit! Youll find some additional cruising tips in our previous article on MoreTimeToTravel: Viking Luggage Tag (Credit: Jerome Levine), Viking Ocean Cruises Carves Out A Special Niche for Over-50 Travelers, Best Travel Accessories for Men: 28 Great Gifts for Travelers. 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. Unless you are wed to a particular product, there is no need to bring shampoo or conditioner onboard with you. This is Vikings way of accounting for guests. How exciting! It sounds like you are all set. The Aquavit Terrace is one advantage Viking has over its competition. and one US 110V socket on each side of the bed; there are no UK 3 pin sockets. Theres a mix of traveling overnight (almost all of the time) and during the morning/afternoon/evening (some of the time). When it comes to size, even the smallest cabins on Viking's ocean ships are large by cruise ship standards at 270 square feet, and the largest suites measure nearly 1,500 square feet. Everything was as you said food, service, boat, amenities, all topnotch. We were on the Idun (Longship). Good luck! We often take a few with us on tours for snacks on the bus. Have a wonderful cruise next year! One great thing about Viking is that many times their ships dock right in the towns, so its easy to get off and be on your way to make your own discoveries. So glad I discovered your very informative account of the Viking River Cruise! Regardless of their next destinations, all guests had to place their luggage outside their rooms no later than 9:00 am. Yes, there have been changes to address public health safety, but Im betting they wont interfere with your overall enjoyment. The tips cover all onboard staff. Electrical outlets in Viking Ocean staterooms run on either 110V and 220V so when packing for a Viking Ocean Cruise, there is no need to bring other adapterseven though youll be visiting different countries. June 12, 2022 . Sometimes optional excursions sell out, although there are usually some available once youre on the ship. with an electronic keypad is provided in each room. Do you have any experience with that destination? There was a broken lock near Regensburg, about halfway between the two big cities. How does Viking Ocean cruises treat solo travellers. Good luck with your planning, and have a great cruise! 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. You know is it a venus and mars question. The best description and information about Viking River Cruise, thank you for taking the time to write this information, were very appreciate. Whew! Thanks all. We saw you comment about change for guides and such and credit cards with no foreign charges. My husband and I took the Top of Cologne excursion, and it was one of the best. We enjoyed relaxing there and enjoying the sights and sounds of being on the ship. 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? This article highlights the European river cruises aboard the Viking Longboats. Theres always iced tea often with different flavors every day. Each time you enter the dining room, you find a table that you want to sit at. What are the charges for individual cocktails, apertifs or premium beers/wines by glass? Answer (1 of 4): Most cruise ships sailing for lines that predominantly serve the US market (regardless of the itinerary) have North American-style 3 prong plugs (Type B) in their cabins; typically placed on the vanity/desk located next to the TV. As for how much money to bring along, I usually start out with about $300 worth of local currency. Enjoy! I was delighted to spend seven days along the Rhne River on the Provence and Lyon itinerary. 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. All longships include both 110V and 220V electrical outlets, as well as hair dryers. Alternatives include USB charging stations, multi-socket outlets, or outlet adapters which don't contain a surge protector. Yep, I really like that grounded adapter in your link and the small strip is handy for packing & very lightweight, but the Belkin offers surge protection & 2.1 Amps. In spite of some tweaks, this article will definitely prepare you for your Viking river cruise. My husband and I use a major U.S. cellphone carrier that functions well in Europe. Thanks. If you are traveling on a Viking Longship, you will find both 110V and 220V electrical outlets in your stateroom. We are experienced travelers on land but this will be a new experience. You will receive your final travel documents and Viking luggage tags within three weeks of your trip. O. met interesting people; visited fascinating places; sampled new foods, wines, and beer; and appreciated the convenience and gracious hospitality offered by Viking. Enjoy your cruise! Yes, I believe there is one. One thing I think I discovered was that the iPad pulls a heavy load to recharge and might not do well plugged into the power strip while other stuff is also charging. (This is handy because you might encounter tour groups from other Viking ships that are docked in the same city at the same time.) I like a foam pillow so I asked for one on my Bermuda cruise with Viking. After that point, guests still on board could use the common areas (Lounge or sun deck) until their transfer to the airport or other destination. We have extended our cruise to allow two extra days in Budapest, thus giving us four days there.