In our documents from Viking regarding our river cruise in France, it says curling irons and flat irons are prohibited. Started October 12, 2018, Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Low river levels today might be just fine for cruising in a few days. They may be familiar enough with Vikings schedule to easily accommodate you. 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. universal travel adapter. We always enjoyed the variety of food from the local areas we were visiting. Only a few bucks anyway. Naturally, safety is a primary concern of travelers and the crew. Oh, Im so glad you had a wonderful cruise with amazing service! Overview. To conserve resources, you could easily fill a reusable water bottle from home with water in the rooms. Serious question..how to get coffee in the morning without getting dressed??? My husband and I took the Top of Cologne excursion, and it was one of the best. 11 Final Thoughts about Plug Sockets on P&O Cruises. 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). To ensure you remember all the great experiences on your cruise, take lots of pictures and. Ever consider a Viking European river cruise? 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. bealls online outlet. That was just one of the optional tours we enjoyed and still talk about. We enjoyed sitting with different people; it gave us a chance to learn about their travel experiences and lives a bit. It sounds like you are all set. This is a great venue for enjoying the passing landscape on travel days and relaxed dining every day. at embarkation and may be disposed of at the sole discretion of the Ship's Security Officer. Im bring my hair styling tool and want to plug it in to 110v in the bathroom. It will be helpful to others. Enjoy your journey! 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. Radgrid - A Valkyrie. 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. We are heading out on our first river cruise, the Kara from Basel to Amsterdam in late September this year. 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. You will find both 110V and 220V electrical outlets in your stateroom. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Then itll be the first photo on your camera roll before the next days activities. Did you bring euros or use credit card? Owned and operated by Viking, Viking Osiris is a brand new vessel, the most upscale ship in Egypt, and the sister ship to Viking Aton. (You never know where you might find a special type of chocolate:-). Viking has perfected hospitality on many levels. We thoroughly enjoyed a Viking Ocean cruise in 2019 and have been eager to try river cruising. I will be on the Viking Sky so joined anunofficial Viking FB group to ask if all was repaired after the incident ~ a month ago (it is!) We were sailing from Amsterdam to Budapest. Were planning on a dinner in a town, tour of some beer gardens and lunch in Heidelberg, and just walking around. Interesting information! They will let you know on board. Well do the Grand European from B to A in October this year. Were planning a Viking river cruise May 2022. 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. The cost for the Viking Silver drinks package is $19.95 USD per night per guest. Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos, http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004SY5O5K/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1, http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0018MEBNG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1, Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features, Policy regarding COVID related Discussions. 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. That saved precious counter space. 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). I liked the posted copy of the daily news and we had already decided from our ocean experiences to take the drinks package. Many power strips have an integral surge protector. Thank you so much for this detailed account. Some guests preferred to stay in the Lounge and simply relax, read a book, or enjoy the view beyond the big plate glass window or take in the views from the sun deck. 110/220 volt outlets & USB ports. (Im trying to save you room in your luggage!) fits standard outlets in more than 150 countries. No, Tamara, I dont have direct experience replacing SIM cards. I merely want to share our experience on a river cruise with my readers. Without a doubt, we give Viking chefs top marks for the presentation and flavor of the food they serve. I borrowed some books from the ships library and left them on a table in our room. We always made sure we were back to the ship on time! Theres a mix of traveling overnight (almost all of the time) and during the morning/afternoon/evening (some of the time). Would an excursion like that feel to rushed to enjoy, or do you know if Salzberg is a not to be missed kind of place? On leaving Amsterdam, check-out time from the hotel is Noon but embarkation is not till 3:00 PM. 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). The hotel manager was great and the program director was a literal Energizer Bunny. 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. Also, having cash is great for souvenirs, incidentals, snacks, or a quick lunch while exploring a city. Thanks!! I laughed out loud at the comments from Shelly and Mary. (Its not uncommon for someone to forget to scan their card when returning to the ship.). You may have only 1 or 2 outlets. Likewise, a few days later, I had just started reading a different book and placed it on my night table on top of my Kindle. For example, sometimes two sister ships sail on the same one-way voyage starting at the same time just at opposite ends of the itinerary. 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. I definitely overpackedshoes and clothes. 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 thoroughly enjoyed our Viking river cruise. . Crewsgirl, no, you don't need an adapter on the ship, but if you have one with you, you can utilize the 220 outlets as well, if needed. What are your thoughts on the Silver Spirits package? There was a broken lock near Regensburg, about halfway between the two big cities. I would suggest he bring one pair of khakis. in the safe the day before you check out. Regarding local currency in Hungary, you can head to an ATM once youre there to get the amount of local cash you want. . What is the electrical voltage in the staterooms? Located off the main corridor, the library has books you may borrow while aboard as well as abridged newspapers that are prepared for Viking guests daily. All longships include both 110V and 220V electrical outlets, as well as hair dryers. There are large windows on the port and starboard sides so views are available while cruising the river at mealtime. 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. Thank you for the excellent summary of each important category. 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. ? There are also bright red full-size Viking umbrellas to take along on excursions if its raining. We thoroughly enjoyed our Viking river cruise. This article highlights the European river cruises aboard the Viking Longboats. Its important to note that when the ship docks somewhere in the morning and you go on an excursion, you sometimes will be brought back to the ship in a different location like another city further down the river. As for shore excursions, my husband and I enjoyed the walking tour (through Viking) that included the funicular up to Castle Hill. My #1 tip to people going on their 1st river cruise is laundry is quick & inexpensive dont overpack. There are laundry rooms on the ocean ships and a friend said do NOT think you will do laundry on the days you are sailing everybody has that idea. My first question is, without using the laundry service on board , do you have suggestions on washing items in your cabin? I think it would be a tight schedule if the ship is docked for just a day. Dinner begins at 7:00 pm in the dining room. Its something to worry about losing, and fanciful costume jewelry is just as much fun! TIP: Take a picture of The Viking Daily each evening before heading to bed. As you leave the ship, you are handed a bottle of water. If you stay in a hotel before or after your cruise you will need to bring adapters for charging your phone or tablets. During lunch, prior to and after dinner, theres usually live music in the Lounge. One thing to keep in mind is that things can change from day to day, week to week and that includes river levels. Maybe we will run into each other. Thanks for the tips! Do viking ocean cruise lines have a hairdresser on board? Viking ships all sport calming Scandinavian decor and are designed efficiently. As you leave the ship, youll scan your room key to indicate your departure and rescan it upon returning. Really, just looking for your opinion on longer trips off-ship. The lounge on a Viking river cruise ship has plenty of comfortable . 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. (When we were in Europe a few years ago, we received texts of some demonstrations in town and were given their locations and advised to stay away. Also, dinner is served on the Aquavit Terrace; service begins 15 minutes after dinner service starts in the restaurant. The tips cover all onboard staff. Good to know, I thought maybe the ship would have a 110 & this would work on its own. We are on a Viking rive4 cruise from Budapest to Amsterdam in April 2023. And Cary Cruiser, all of our itinerary information, airline boarding passes, music, museum audio apps, RS walking tours, language translators, maps, $$ converters, public transportation apps & reading material are downloaded onto our devices. For a walking tour (directly from the ship), some passengers go on the tour to learn about the destination and then spend the rest of the day shopping, enjoying a meal, or just wandering around. Neither hotels nor cruise ships have caught up with the popularity of these hair tools. After all, we travel to experience new places, new food, and new people, so we like to eat local specialties whenever possible. Plus, some travel agents provide onboard credit to cruising clients. For anyone concerned about exactly what electrical outlets are present in a Veranda A stateroom on a Viking River Cruises Longship, this is how many there ar. For a 7-night cruise, the cost is $139.65 USD p.p. What are the charges for individual cocktails, apertifs or premium beers/wines by glass? The Silver Spirits option is offered at a fixed price per guest and spans the entire length of the trip. When you return to your room, you will notice the dinner menus for that evening. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. A few years ago, we were on a shoulder season cruise in the Mediterranean. There are times when river cruise ships have to have guests disembark a ship and then board a sister ship. Having to look for the shoe on the last day will remind you to open the safe so you dont forget your valuables. 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. 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. If you are traveling on a Viking Longship, you will find both 110V and 220V electrical outlets in your stateroom. Have a wonderful cruise next year! . Before leaving a dock, there may be announcements asking for guests in certain rooms to let the staff know they are on the ship. Alternatives include USB charging stations, multi-socket outlets, or outlet adapters which don't contain a surge protector. complimentary Silver Spirits beverage package, private arrival and departure transfer (from and to the airport). Of course, there is a downside to extreme minimalism or sloppy packing. Also trying to decide what to wear. I wasnt sure whether or not to bring my usual cruise lanyard and hole punch? The water levels are extremely low right now. Using ATMs machines? Thank you! I hope you have a wonderful time! In addition, theres a walking trail, a shuffleboard, and a putting green. 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. On our cruise, this was done in the Lounge just after the evening port talk by the program director. If we were sailing during the day, the program director narrated scenic highlights along the river as we continued our journey. 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. Just inside is the Lounge where we ate one rainy lunchtime. Tech can make travel a whole lot easier. We depart in 9 days on the Grand European tour, and this is the best account I have seen weve done a dozen ocean cruises on several lines, but never a river cruise. My husband and I are doing the Grand Tour B > A in early October 2023. 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. With all that said, my husband and I did opt for the Silver Spirits package. Have fun! Before leaving a dock, there may be announcements asking for guests in certain rooms to let the staff know they are on the ship. Hope this is helpful and have a wonderful cruise! I hope you have a wonderful time! Are they like $20 per person or more like $200? However, if such devices are determined to pose a hazard, they will be removed and returned the last day of the cruise . Lolly, We are going to cruise Viking July on European sojourn with pre post extensions Bucharest and Amsterdam. I agree with a previous comment about this being the most informative, most inclusive article Ive seen as well. Also, the ability to book optional excursions varies by the level of the stateroom. How exciting! River cruises are very popular choices for people who like the idea of traveling to new places in the comfort of a floating hotel. That is, you sleep and eat on the ship and are transported to your destinations along a river. Just in front of the Lounge to the bow of the ship is the Aquavit Terrace. The ships are designed for this to have travelers walk through the common spaces. Another great feature of a Viking River cruise is the ship's electrical outlets. This should allow you to finalize your plans to disembark and go meet your friends. so they know what to expect when they use them. 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). Id suggest you talk with the staff once you are aboard to learn of their planned docking times and see what they recommend. As you probably know, the package includes unlimited beverages when the bars are open. Power strips increasingly also have USB sockets. There was a mandatory safety drill on our first full day of the river cruise. Yes, I believe there is one. Thank you for taking the time to write this informative piece. The Norwegian Bliss, Breakaway, Encore, Epic, Escape, Getaway, Joy and Spirit have additional US sockets available. In my experience, this is great advice! Each stateroom will have one or two 115V razor plugs available, generally in the bathroom. Check-in time for the hotel is 3:00 PM. The number indicates which ship youre on. Some folks elect to get the Silver Spirits package because they enjoy trying new cocktails and/or premium wines while on vacation. 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 crew communicates with each other quite well. Oh, Im so happy youre able to enjoy traveling safely during the pandemic. 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. The Pool Grill serves up burgers, hotdogs, and salads throughout the afternoon. 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. 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). We plan to go a few days early and then make our way to the ship. This particular power strip is suited to someone wanting both regular 110 power and the option to plug in USB ready items as well. My hair is very unruly and I am mortified at the thought of no heat styling tools! Good luck! 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. Does everyone get back on the bus when the excursion is over or is that the time you make plans for individual sightseeing? Guess not. We also got a power strip with USB ports for all our stuff. Viking Cruises offers excursions on the sea and river. Posted January 31, 2020 (edited) If you go to the Viking website and look for Viking Tir it'll tell you what is in each cabin type. Hope this info helps you a bit! Hi Daisy, you have the choice of going on the included or an optional excursion or exploring on your own. Braun Hair Dryer on Viking Star (Photo credit: Jerome Levine). Were doing the Rhine Getaway, Amsterdam to Basel in early Oct, but havent actually booked yet! On average, how much time did you spend on the boat sailing from each port? Cramming too much in your suitcase increases the odds of incurring additional airline fees for oversized or overweight checked bags. The number indicates which ship youre on. Radgrid was one of the legendary horse-riding Valkyries, the handmaidens of Odin, the father of the gods. 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? Oh not to bring adapters! Life vests were under the beds, but prior to the drill, they were placed on our beds while we were at lunch. I hope you have a wonderful time! Just be sure to unplug when not in use. 12.5 laps = 1 mile. No need for a converter. Of course as soon as I stepped outside it was all over! We chose a French Balcony room. Trying to guess the weather so we can narrow down what to pack. Uniworld Boutique River Cruises: 220V power is most common; some ships also have 110V outlets. Much better idea of what were sailing into now! Some of these plugs are grounded and some are not. Just wondering if there is a regular daily schedule and of course we understand the change caused by water level, weather, etc. Especially your tips on dinner were helpful I will pack his blazer. Thanks, Jazzbeau. And finally the umbrella. Every cabin type is listed as having. Did you see anyone carry on and off luggage? The power strip supports worldwide voltage. There are several things you wont find on a Viking river cruise, and they are often some of the prime reasons so many people choose Viking. Sound like you have a great cruise coming up! Power Adapter Type - Holland America Line. us, and our new room keys were on the dresser. Please hare your opinion with me. When we cruised, 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. It makes me happy when I can help others get more comfortable with and enjoy their travels. 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. I was told specifically not to bring curling iron or flatiron (fire hazard). River cruises are designed for the mature traveler as Viking guests must be 18 years old. Many of the guests are retired, but there were quite a few still working or recently retired. Hope that helps! If you choose to eat on the Aquavit Terrace, dinner begins at 7:15 pm with all of the same options as in the dining room. Staterooms also include shampoo and conditioner. Tipping is the universal way to thank someone for providing excellent service and you will find excellent service on Viking. your journey, you'll want the . We have extended our cruise to allow two extra days in Budapest, thus giving us four days there.
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