Required or necessary? There's a feeling of bringing the outdoors inside and create a peaceful, relaxed atmosphere. The last thing we need is one more depository of critical personal records than can be compromised by the bad guys. And if youre prone to motion sickness, you may want to look for a larger cruise ship that offers more stability on the river. Most of my travel is roughing it: whether literally, out in the woods; or organizing busy budget trips for my family; or traveling solo, in which I'm solely responsible for my safety, transportation, accommodations, food, water and activities.. I've never been on a trip where people took . I'd love everything having to do with vacations to be positive, and I appreciate and value a lot of what Viking is about and offers. The main disadvantage is the inflexibility of a cruise; the fact that you have to operate on a set schedule that dictates when you visit a . Judith Newton, Contributor. Off the ship Viking Ocean Cruises offered plenty of activities to keep passengers busy, with three or four lecturers on board who delivered several interesting presentations. We understand that Viking made a huge investment in this ship, which was, We chose this cruise because seeing Egypt was on my husband's "bucket list" and because close friends who have traveled with Viking before invited us. You can explore the rivers of Europe, Russia, China, and Southeast Asia, as well as the coasts of Scandinavia and the Mediterranean. (Oh my, I promised my viewpoint, didn't I.). There's a choice of seven restaurants and eateries compared to the two on riverboats. Trending toward 4000, 5000 and 6000 passenger ships. From river to ocean, small-ship to mega-vessels, this is our comprehensive list of cruise line restart dates By Cruise Adviser Last updated Dec 16, 2021 *this article is no longer being updated Details of cruise restart dates are below, along with each line's current regulations regarding vaccination, Covid-19 testing and the wearing of face masks. For more information on when you can book, visit Viking'swebsite. This is Viking's online guest portal where clients complete their Guest Information Form, reserve shore excursions, and purchase the optional Silver Spirit Premium Beverage Package. The Good, the Bad, and What You Want to Know to Decide if a Viking Cruise is for You: "The choice of restaurants onboard was a new experience compared to the river cruises. Manage Settings The longships specifically accommodate 190 guests. 19) One complimentary excursion per port is offered along with optional ($) excursions. We found the entertainment slightly better on Viking because they have many interesting lectures-O has some but they are not as good most of the time. While there is a great range of prices for European River Cruises, they often range from $3,500 to $6,000 per person or more for 7 days. Arrival in Budapest. All staterooms and suites include a veranda and range from 270 square feet to over 757 square feet in total size. Visit the CDC website for up-to-date COVID-19 cruise guidance. We did take advantage of both the pre-cruise extension to Ha Long Bay and the post-cruise extension to Bangkok. Pro - Most cruise ships doing short cruises are mid-sized ships, which offer a nice mix of venues, activities, and public spaces. All of the ships are beautiful, comfortable, and elegant. Yes, I had a full-sized suitcase clocking in just under 50 pounds, plus a large carry-on, and I was able to stash both underneath my bed. Another familiar knock against cruising from those who haven't done it is that the food is of the rubber chicken variety. The sun soon burned the soft filter off of the Italian-designed pastel buildings to reveal brilliant blue skies, cobblestones and charming passageways at the confluence of three rivers. Of course, there are also some drawbacks to Viking River Cruises. Smaller cruises are perfect for people who love to learn new things at their leisure. Instead, after we found our way back to the city center we returned to Sluka for coffee and a sacher torte, then headed back to the boat for dinner. They are listed on the pre-departure pdf, which can be linked to on My Viking Journey. Cruisers' Choice Awards! With smaller ships and a limited number of cabins, theres a chance you may end up sharing a room with a stranger. After a short visit, we again boarded the buses to meet up with the boat, which had already set sail for Visegrad shortly after we left. Viking Ocean Cruises started in 2015. 10) There is no limit on the amount of wine, beer, spirits, and soft drinks you may bring onto the ship at embarkation or in a port. Cabins with lower and more central position are more stable. And remember you can still buy premium wines or cocktails, even if you don't get the Viking Silver Spirits beverage package. I think your main cabin choice with Viking is window vs. veranda. Our included excursion took us to the Ringstrasse, the broad boulevard through the city center where we disembarked and walked with our guide through the historic area of Vienna, soaking up his stories of history, buildings and people along the way. . VeriFly was very straightforward- we have digital Covid passes in the U.K. and uploaded an existing photo from files for each of us. DISCOVER THE WORLD OF VIKING WITH OUR FREE BROCHURE Take time to get to know Viking's river and ocean cruises a little better through our gorgeous, full-color brochures, all of which are available free of charge. Has anyone cruised on both Azamara and . Plus, Viking River Cruises offers a variety of onboard experiences, from lectures and cooking demonstrations to cultural excursions and onboard entertainment. Plus, with a smaller ship, you can get closer to your destination. Cruising can trample towns with sightseers who leave almost no money (since they eat, sleep, and buy their tours on board). To a person, the people with whom I spoke said that every experience theyve had was exceptional. We appreciate you sharing your experience, Rtraveller, such feedback allows us to better understand how to deliver the five-star experience for which we strive. Probably one of the biggest pros of European river cruising is the enormous amount of choice. With that being said, here are the pros of cruising: Affordable Vacation Cruises are known for being an affordable vacation and a great value. Canceling closer to the cruise departure date will incur varying fees that are a percentage of the cruise fare. The Silver Spirits Package allows you to choose from an impressive range of premium wines. You will be able to leave a comment after signing in, By It was reported and after about 3 days the stink had subsided. I dont have experience with other river cruise providers, but I can say that my first experience with Viking made me a fan of the mode of travel. I brought an Apple Europe adapter for my laptop, and I brought the European hair dryer that I purchased in Milan several years ago, because the last time I traveled overseas with my American hair dryer, it conked out. Posted January 23. ", Viking normally requires final payment 12 months in advance of sailings. Id peg the average at 70 on our Viking River Cruise, but thats not to say that there arent any much younger people. Content Manager. An included excursion to Vienna. A bit of perspective: Ive never been on a cruise of any kind. We appreciate you sharing your experience, Susan, as such feedback allows us to better understand how to deliver the five-star experience for which we strive. The ship was forced by local police to conduct a passport check a sometimes occurrence so we left about 20 minutes after our scheduled 9:15 a.m. departure. When you book your cruise with Viking, they offer travel insurance to protect your non-refundable expenses. The website for the palace says the tour is 50 to 60 minutes, but allow at least two hours. June 5, 2010. The pace is pretty intense; on a seven-day cruise, you'll visit a new port each day, and longer itineraries have few sea days. Here are some of the things we consider when selecting shore excursions. I dont usually travel with a sim card or any other means of accessing wifi or cell service, and I thought that the ship would mean better connectivity than I usually enjoy. Uncovering why natural gas is dangerous and how to stay safe! Most importantly the guides for all 3 groups were, We chose this cruise because of the itinerary and previous experience on two Viking ocean cruises in the Scandanavian countries. Each longship has its own herb garden for chefs to pick from. Another great pro of Viking River Cruises is that they are incredibly affordable. It's a no-brainer vacation, which is either a good thing or a bad thing, depending on the level of adventure and challenge you want from. Wait until it gets to be about a month before your cruise or Viking sends you an email to do it. What you don't see is housekeeping rooms, crew only elevators, laundry rooms, and more. Viking offers excursions that immerse you in the local cultures. With less than four hours sleep the night before, I slept off some of my jet lag and did some writing before catching the tail end of a presentation on Viennese coffeehouse culture in the lounge, followed by the chefs Champagne reception, dinner in the restaurant, and drinks and live music in the lounge. Started August 27, 2021, By There were many, many university students, children, dogs and babies in the Old Town area; it made my heart so happy. Toxic Environment View of Toulon from Viking Star (Photo: Cruise Critic), The Deluxe Veranda Cabin on Viking Star (Photo: Cruise Critic). While there are roughly 35 monks still living and working there and in the surrounding community, one of the primary sources of revenue for upkeep, aside from leasing the surrounding lands, is tourism. Started June 21, 2021, By The cost of the package which can be purchased in advance is $19.95 per guest, per day. Read here:https://docs.vikingcruises.com/pdf/14-PreCruiseRequirement-All-US_CAN_UK_AU_NZ.pdf. It is very obvious that on an ocean cruise ship, you'll find thousands of guests. Retirement Living Team. Each night, theyll prep you for the following days destination with a port talk, explaining times, procedures and sights to see in the next city. Theres also detailed information in the Viking Daily, a printed document that arrives in your room during dinner each night. I imagine it's at least part of how their aggressive shipbuilding is paid for. Save time, avoid mistakes and get your best value using our knowledge. After a warmup in a coffee shop, we ventured back out into the UNESCO World Heritage old town We saw weddings in the square and German-made Christmas ornaments by the truckload and indulged in some retail therapy, as it was our final day. Plane travel can be frustrating, wonderful, exhausting, and thrilling. Silver Spirits covers any drinks (excluding champagne) up to $ USD15.00 per drink. Get inside the travel stories that move us. The line's ocean ships can be found in nearly every ocean and sea around the world, from North America to Europe and Asia. Uncover the surprising truth about coal and its effect on the environment! (It typically costs 0.50 euros to 1 euro to use a public restroom, known as a toilette or WC/water closest.). Why is natural gas soaring? We finished our day with an add-on excursion to an orchestral concert of Mozart and Strauss, including dancers and opera singers. Our tour included Emilie and Oskar Schindlers home in Regensburg. Go ahead and laugh.). Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos, https://docs.vikingcruises.com/pdf/14-PreCruiseRequirement-All-US_CAN_UK_AU_NZ.pdf, Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features, Policy regarding COVID related Discussions. For many visitors, the main drawback of a Nile cruise is not the influx of vessels, nor the crowding at the sites (the latter is unavoidable whether you visit them as part of a cruise or not). Excellent working experience with the team and superiors. At the same time, it was very nice to have included transportation, and our wait in Munich wasnt onerous. I should have had less booze. The pros and cons of a cruise are very personal. Viking River Cruises also offers an array of onboard amenities, such as spacious staterooms, gourmet dining options, and a selection of fine wines. You can sit with whom you want and when you want during dining times. It had two twin beds, a full bathroom, a small closet, three drawers, a mini fridge and a TV. Thankfully, New Orleans only has a few cons for cruise passengers, some of which are unique to just the Port of New Orleans. The deck plans usually only show areas of concern to the cruise passengers. You'll receive your travel documents about two weeks prior to your scheduled departure date. -- rphillips22. Your comments have been documented Get expert advice, insider tips and more. First-timers will love the luxurious yet practical feel onboard. Service wins top remarks, followed by the food and the boats, as well as the excursions. Even though our departure from Munich (about 1.5 hours away) wasnt until 1:30, Viking wanted our luggage in the hall at 5:30 a.m. and us on the bus at 6 a.m. with others who were leaving around the same time. I need to start playing the lottery. We learned that people destroyed Jewish cemeteries and saw the gravestones used as trophy architecture. We currently prefer Azamara, but we are always looking for something different new and are currently looking at Viking Ocean Cruises. Our program director narrated the sights and identified the small towns along the way while we basked in the warm October sun and sipped Viennese coffee. Food is subjective, but the consensus is that Viking's food is very good. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. Viking blamed the client, which is possible. In addition to a visit and wine tasting, you can stay on the grounds, which are rich with views and gardens. I think one of the biggest pros of Princess Cruises is their size and the range of opportunities they give you, both in terms of size of cruise ship but also destinations. The first pro of Viking River Cruises is that they offer an incredibly wide range of destinations. The ship is relatively new. Chairs are created by high-end designers like Frank Gehry and Eames, but no one is afraid to flop down on them anywhere onboard. -- Emilion. (Sorry, Mom!). We also stumbled upon the centuries-old abbey and a bit of a creepy saint altar within before walking back to the boat. Theyre curious and informed and gentle and friendly. Tip: Chef's Table changes their menu every 2-3 days, depending on the length of the sailing. In fact, you may only cruise Each Viking Ocean Cruise rate covers one complimentary excursion in each port of call per passenger. From wine tasting in France to a gondola ride in Venice, you can really immerse yourself in the culture and beauty of your destination. Viking also seamlessly incorporates the itinerary into its onboard enrichment programming, with lectures focusing on topics like history, culture, politics and architecture. Edited By: Matt Lazar. It was clean and modern. Viking is a perfect choice for first-time cruisers. While both ocean and river have local lecturers and programs, the riverboats are heavier on demonstrations and activities. Our second stop was Inner City Parish Church; from there our guide led us on a walking tour through the retail corridor and gave us time to wander the Central Market Hall, where they sell everything from embroidered table runners to made-in-China plastic to spectacular meats and meals. PROS AND CONS OF COMPLETING VERIFLY WITH. And remarkably, in that period, we have grown to become the #2 booking agents for Viking Cruises in the world. Our booking number was 4310667. Theres even an Aldi in the basement. If you are planning to pay off your credit card once your next statement arrives and you have purchased third-party trip insurance such as Travel Insured, it's a win-win option for saving some money. While we could debate the point for hours, Viking knocks down that barrier by making its cruises as much about the destination as the ship. 9) Beer, wine, and soft drinks are included with shipboard lunches and dinners. Viking River Cruises also offers a variety . Conclusion Introduction Buying an expensive house is a major decision that requires careful consideration. USD is the currency used for all purchases . In the words of a first-time cruiser: "There was something for everyone on the ship, and with 900 people onboard it never felt even that large." 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