Knowing you can do your laundry onboard allows you to Ever consider a Viking European river cruise? 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. Thanks for your kind words, Triana. River Cruises In addition, theres a walking trail, a shuffleboard, and a putting green. Laundry is folded and returned on the same day if you have it ready in the morning. Laundry services are wash and iron, or just iron. WiFi: Which River Cruise Companies Include It 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. Theres a mix of traveling overnight (almost all of the time) and during the morning/afternoon/evening (some of the time). I merely want to share our experience on a river cruise with my readers. WebDo you have laundry and dry cleaning facilities? Was our first Viking cruise, so we used your article as a guide. Some river cruise companies do have those facilities, but Viking Longships dont have those. Were planning on a dinner in a town, tour of some beer gardens and lunch in Heidelberg, and just walking around. We always made sure we were back to the ship on time! This should allow you to finalize your plans to disembark and go meet your friends. We were very happy with laundry service on Viking and prices were reasonable. You will be able to leave a comment after signing in, Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. We saw you comment about change for guides and such and credit cards with no foreign charges. Our stateroom steward kept the room immaculate. When the cruise ends, you settle your account in cash (U.S. dollars or Euros) or by credit card. We werent near them then, but it was nice to be notified of them.) We had to have our luggage packed and placed outside our stateroom door by 7:00 am on the day of the switch. How will payments on board be handled? Included is a packet of information specific to your ship (including phone numbers on the ship plus embarkation location information) and an itinerary. Since they are sister ships, they are the same, so the only thing that changed was the crew. Can you tell me which docking/ports might be too far from the cities/towns? Just wondering if there is a regular daily schedule and of course we understand the change caused by water level, weather, etc. Hi Linda, youre facing a big decision: to go with Silver Spirits or not! You can choose to pre-pay gratuities which we did. Cons: Viking is adults only; passengers must be over the age of 18. Do you travel overnight for most of the time or is there day travel as well? Theres an elevator onboard so its easy to travel from floor to floor if you dont want to use the stairs. Self Service Laundry Room On Viking Ocean Cruise Ship Orion Laundry on Viking - River Cruising - Cruise Critic Community ? 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. Id much rather take an Uber than rent a car!!! Ever consider a Viking European river cruise? I will add one note that we experienced. (Youll also receive Viking tags for your luggage.) Thank you for all the information. Some procedures and protocols on cruise ships have changed to address public health concerns since the global COVID-19 pandemic. The ships' specialty dining venues, Manfredi's (Italian) and The Chef's Table also are included in your cruise fare, and you just need to make a reservation to pick a time to dine in either of these places during your cruise. Another option, if the river levels are too low overall, would be for passengers to be bussed from destination to destination, staying in hotels, throughout the cruise. WebUse down arrow key to expand the menu and up arrow key to collapse the menu and hit enter to select the link Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos. I suggest signing on to My Viking Journey and using the Live Chat feature to get your answer. We thoroughly enjoyed our Viking river cruise. Laundry Remember to notify your bank of your travel dates and destinations before leaving home! You can store your luggage under the bed(s). Very informative. Viking River Cruises All Viking ships in Europe, Russia and Ukraine feature free WiFi. 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. Getting my heart rate up while enjoying beautiful scenery passing by while the ship made its way down a river was a win-win. Thanks. If you want wine at that time is there a charge? During lunch and dinner, guests are served complimentary soft drinks, beer, or wine. The Viking Grand European Tour from Amsterdam to Budapest was such a great experience one well never forget. There are also daily announcements with information on docking and reminders about impending excursion departures. River Cruise Advisor | Avid Cruiser | About | Terms & Full Disclosure | Privacy | Contact | Subscribe. In spite of some tweaks, this article will definitely prepare you for your Viking river cruise. 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. private bathrooms that are separate from the living There is a light buffet available in the Lounge around midday, so youll be able to recharge a bit before the cruise begins a nice treat if you just got off a long flight. Hi Robin, you pose a great question, but it isnt easy to answer! Im so glad you found the article helpful, Rich! Veranda Stateroom (V) Stateroom size: 268 sq ft (includes private veranda) WebViking River Cruises boasts the most extensive fleet of river cruises vessels, and we are proud to offer you the best ships in each region where we travel. We kept our itinerary full, which might have been an error trust me, you want to take a breather every few days! Sometimes the river water levels may be too low in spots (due to the lack of sufficient rain during summer) or there is another issue (like a broken lock) necessitating the change. Enjoy your cruise this fall! Another consideration, of course, is how often you might order specialty drinks from the bar: at lunch, throughout the day, before and/or after dinner? We liked exploring on our own after getting the lay of the land from the morning tour guide. Its just the nature of this type of travel. O. met interesting people; visited fascinating places; sampled new foods, wines, and beer; and appreciated the convenience and gracious hospitality offered by Viking. This taught me to take pictures when I first see a scenic sight just in case I wouldnt have the opportunity again. I understand drinks are provided with meals but I enjoy a few drinks before dinner. Its not a deal breaker for us, but its something every river cruise guest should be forewarned about. Likewise, when the ship is ready to leave, it leaves as long as all the guests are accounted for. Besides being helpful, your thorough details helped me to envision and imagine, which is my favorite part of planning! Once unpacked, you can put your backpacks in your empty luggage and slide it all under the bed(s) and not think about them until its time to leave. It sounds like you have a wonderful journey coming up this summer, Rosetta! We are going on the Grand European tour in October 2022. Thanks. Hi Carol, Although ride-share companies, like Uber, are in many cities worldwide, theyre not everywhere, so it depends on what cities youre considering. We are experienced travelers on land but this will be a new experience. This is one way the crew can account for all guests. I am very intrigued by the Salzberg excursion but see that it is a 2 plus hour bus ride each way. My husband had been to a number of these cities on business and wanted me to visit them too, and this makes it sound easy. Furthermore, this means that you may have to walk through another ship to get to shore or people are walking through your ship to get to and from theirs. Not used it before (indeed didn't think there were onboard facilities) but its mentioned in the info for our upcoming GET. 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 are doing the Grand European Tours B-A with extensions in Prague and Amsterdam, and have booked a full schedule. We are on a Viking rive4 cruise from Budapest to Amsterdam in April 2023. All Viking river cruise ship staterooms have: river views. Cheers! River cruises are very popular choices for people who like the idea of traveling to new places in the comfort of a floating hotel. Without a doubt, we give Viking chefs top marks for the presentation and flavor of the food they serve. Thanks!! Hi Cynthia, I bet youre so excited about your upcoming trip! Especially your tips on dinner were helpful I will pack his blazer. Check-in time for the hotel is 3:00 PM. GREAT INFO. I just have one clarification about dressing for dinner mentioned in the article you read. River traffic varies and the time to pass through the locks can change based on the number of ships, weather, etc. A tie and jacket are optional.. Thanks for the great information. Housekeeping Provide friendly and twice daily housekeeping services to all guests staterooms, and cleans public and crew areas. River Cruise Basics: Laundry Onboard There are times when river cruise ships have to have guests disembark a ship and then board a sister ship. Plus you can expect some special cooking and craft demonstrations, wine tastings, and presentations about a destinations special features. If you want to obtain Euros before departure, check with your bank or AAA office to see if they can help you. had some shirts done same day return no complaints. She was able to shop the Viking clothes closet, stocked with items left by previous passengers. Naturally, safety is a primary concern of travelers and the crew. Frequently Asked Questions | Viking River Cruises I hope you have a wonderful time! Your husband doesnt need to pack a blazer if he wouldnt normally wear one for dinner. Have a great cruise! It sounds like you are all set. Laundry Facility Included in Fare: On the Queen of the Mississippi, there are wash and dryer units are available. Good luck! Onboard youll have port talks to prepare you for each new day along with musical entertainment in the lounge. My husband and I took the Top of Cologne excursion, and it was one of the best. Viking offers complimentary wine, beer, and soft drinks during lunch and dinner. Are they like $20 per person or more like $200? The water levels are extremely low right now. (This is handy because you might encounter tour groups from other Viking ships that are docked in the same city at the same time.) We thoroughly enjoyed a Viking Ocean cruise in 2019 and have been eager to try river cruising. All guests are 18 years old or more. 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. Weve had no regrets. My husband and I are booked on the Grand European cruise with an extension in Prague at the end of June. Others get the package because they like having their drinks all inclusive without having to think about a bar tab. There are costs associated with the optional tours and they vary, and I suppose that correlates with the costs Viking incurs. Did some underwear, jeans and a golf shirt. All came back same day. No complaints. Pieces were back in a few hours. Have fun! When this happens, the cruise ship parks parallel to another cruise ship. WebCrew members typically work a 6-weeks-on, 2-weeks-off rotation, with up to 13 weeks off annually. 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. 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. So for 200 dollars, we got a 400 value good for tickets, flights, an excursion, or even the beverage package. A few guests scheduled independent sightseeing tours, and it seemed to work out well for them. After the excursions, we all met at a restaurant in Nuremberg for lunch, had a little free time, and then were bussed to the new ship in the late afternoon. in staterooms, so you can plug in whichever fits your needs. Just make sure you notify your bank before traveling, so they dont flag your ATM transaction in another country as suspicious! Have a great cruise! Go to the guest service desk and inquire about the excursions you want and if theyre fully booked, ask to be placed on a waitlist. (The price of the package varies, but it comes to about $20 or so a day per person.) The hotel manager was great and the program director was a literal Energizer Bunny. Laundry is folded and returned on the same day if you have it ready in the morning. The river cruises have open seating, so that means you arent assigned any table mates. When you return to the ship, you scan it again. We didnt regret our decision. Thanks for your article it was very informative. 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). Booked an Amsterdam to Budapest trip in September 23.our first river cruise (for our 20th). Thank you! Here are a few things to think about when considering Vikings Silver Spirits package. Once everyone was accounted for, we were able to leave, return our life vests to our stateroom, and resume what we were doing. My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our Viking river cruise, which transported us in great comfort to some amazing European destinations. (Its not uncommon for someone to forget to scan their card when returning to the ship.). How exciting! Prepaid gratuities came to 18 Euros per guest per day. As mentioned throughout the comments, thank you so much for such insightful and helpful information! You said you enjoy a few drinks before dinner, and if you add in some premium wine at dinner, the total you spend each day might add up pretty quickly. Good question, John, but its not an easy one to answer! Hi Tanya, Sounds like you have a great cruise coming up! We had grown to like the crew on the Skirnir, but we quickly came to like the new ones as well. :D. We've had excellent experiences with Viking's laundry service. Just make sure you are aware of the times the ship will leave the port so you dont miss its departure. 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 are also bright red full-size Viking umbrellas to take along on excursions if its raining. Is there any laundry facility available on the Viking Mars? By the way, the excursions included in the trip are typically large group experiences, while the optional excursions (available at an extra cost) are usually much smaller groups as they are more focused on specific areas of interest. Thank you! Some folks elect to get the Silver Spirits package because they enjoy trying new cocktails and/or premium wines while on vacation. Hi David, it sounds like youre gearing up for a great adventure! Viking spent days tracking it in the luggage chaos of last summer. We are planning to take the Grand European Tour in July of 2023. More information on menu choices is below under Meals. We thoroughly enjoyed our Viking river cruise from Prague to Paris last summer. Servers take your drink orders (sodas, beer, wine) and freshen up your glass when it is empty. 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. This was true in Passau, a city of over 50,000, and especially, There are times when river cruise ships have to have guests disembark a ship and then board a sister ship. Its relatively easy to dress up a pair of jeans a bit, so the overall look is elegant casual. Enjoy your cruise! You make an excellent point, Julia. In my experience, the laundry service on Viking has been excellent. Do you know if the outdoor areas on the sun deck can be enclosed for added warmth on these cooler weather trips? My husband and I are doing the Grand Tour B > A in early October 2023. Most of the time youll find a bit of an older crowd. Your email address will not be published. Each time you leave the ship, you scan your room key. Viking has perfected hospitality on many levels. Is there plenty of space for passengers indoors in the common areas, if the outdoors are too cold or rainy? Scheduled for Grand European in September 2023. Essentially, each ship then turned around and went back to the city from which it originated. Whichever side of the menu you order from, the meals for the entire table are served at the same time. Hi Stephanie, Thanks for your kind words. As you probably know, the package includes unlimited beverages when the bars are open. We went on the Viking excursions (with local guides) and did not book any local guides directly. Pros: Viking is, by far, the largest river cruise company. They also are known for providing little touches that many guests appreciate. By About the stateroom, that really comes down to personal preference. The number indicates which ship youre on. Trying to guess the weather so we can narrow down what to pack. Do they charge for use? When we travel to Europe, we notify our carrier before departure. 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. Im glad you found the article helpful, Thomas! We sent some clothing to be laundered, and we were happy with that choice. The 190-passenger Viking Egil To ensure you remember all the great experiences on your cruise, take lots of pictures and. You either choose it for your cruise, or you dont no daily option. Viking is happy to celebrate your birthdays and anniversaries while onboard. Deciding on cash is a personal choice, of course. WebSigrun - A Valkyrie. You will receive your final travel documents and Viking luggage tags within three weeks of your trip. Indeed, very VERY helpfulespecially for first time river cruisers. Otherwise, we had a brand new crew. They will text you with any security issues you should be aware of while youre away. http://www.vikingrivercruises.com/frequently-asked-questions.html#LIFEABOARD-FAQ-LIST/55787, Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features. This is by far THE BEST description and information on Viking River Cruises that I have ever read! Viking River Cruise Since we booked through our travel agent, Viking sent her the final travel documents, and she checked them before passing them on to us. 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. Hi Kathy, Great question! Viking Sigrun The friends we cruise with have used it and say it is good and turnaround is quick. One thing to keep in mind is that things can change from day to day, week to week and that includes river levels. The friends we cruise with have used it and say it is good and turnaround is quick. Becki Once you book a Viking river cruise, take the next steps to ensure an amazing experience. There was a mandatory safety drill on our first full day of the river cruise. There is an extra charge for the Silver Spirits package for guests who want to enjoy premium wines and beer, cocktails, and champagnes. Regardless of their next destinations, all guests had to place their luggage outside their rooms no later than 9:00 am. Lolly just finished the Grand European tour a week ago (Budapest-Amsterdam). Viking has perfected hospitality on many levels. 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. We have taken two Viking River Cruises, Bucharest to Amsterdam (21 days in 2019) and Basel to Amsterdam (7 days in 2021). Just inside is the Lounge where we ate one rainy lunchtime. 150 square foot stateroom with picture window (no outdoor space), 135 square foot stateroom with French balcony (sliding glass door with no outdoor space), located on the Upper Deck and Middle Deck, 205 square foot room with full-size private veranda, 275 square foot suite with full-size private veranda, mini-bar with wine, beer, and soft drinks that are replenished daily, complimentary laundry & shoe shine services. As you leave the ship, you are handed a bottle of water. Thats because some people end up canceling their reservations for optional excursions. Im sure we will need some pocket money for small purchases. As for Tours by Locals, Ive used them, as well, and was pleased. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Very relaxing! We are heading out on our first river cruise, the Kara from Basel to Amsterdam in late September this year. With a higher proportion of full balcony cabins than most river cruise lines, Viking Egil is one of the many ships in the Viking "Longship" fleet. My first question is, without using the laundry service on board , do you have suggestions on washing items in your cabin? with information on docking and reminders about impending excursion departures. Just sayin'. I do my own underwear in the sink, but jeans, shirts and heavy socks go to the laundry. Laundry Services or Facilities: Which River Cruise Companies However, some guests do wear nice jeans (not torn or ripped) in the evening. You know is it a venus and mars question. For a complete list of action steps. in the safe the day before you check out. Frankly, I dont think you can go wrong either way, but theyre two very different experiences. Hi Theo, you shouldnt have any problems meeting up with your friends in either Bamburg or Wurzburg while on the cruise. There was a, . Life vests were under the beds, but prior to the drill, they were placed on our beds while we were at lunch. (Its not uncommon for someone to forget to scan their card when returning to the ship.). The ships are designed for this to have travelers walk through the common spaces. Is there a fee associated with the alternative restaurants? Many of the guests are retired, but there were quite a few still working or recently retired. And about general seating at meals in the dining room, theres a choice of large and small tables and theres no assigned seating, so if youre one of the early ones at meal time, youll have a great chance of finding a setting that suits you best. We got off our ship, the Skirnir, in Nuremberg (one of our scheduled ports) before the damaged lock. 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). Incidentally, we had to change ships midway through a river cruise because of a broken lock on the river, and Viking handled it professionally and without too much inconvenience. Hi Karen, you will have the freedom to wander on your own in the evenings in some locations. Once youve booked a Viking cruise, take the next steps, like creating an online account with Viking, to ensure a wonderful adventure. will visit your room in the morning to clean it. Having the veranda offers you another personal space plus a nice perch (with chairs) from which to view the passing scenery during the time that the ship is sailing in daylight hours. Also, Viking offers options to add a few days in the first or last destination before and after a cruise. 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. Once onboard, verify the time youll be in port and then fine-tune your tour or dinner plans. 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). That worked well as we enjoyed some nice non-touristy lunches and other walks and tours on our own. 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. Thank you for taking the time to write this informative piece. Our preferred day at a town where we were docked included a morning walking tour (an included excursion) to get the lay of the land. Weve found there are a lot of commonalities as well as interesting folks to meet. Hi Deb, youre just a few days away from your journey. Going from A to B with two extra days in Amsterdam and Budapest. I liked the posted copy of the daily news and we had already decided from our ocean experiences to take the drinks package. 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. Before leaving a dock, there may be announcements asking for guests in certain rooms to let the staff know they are on the ship. There is a fee for this service. I hope you have a wonderful time!
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