There are a couple of rivers which are cannot take the full-sized Longship, like the Douro in Portugal, and these have a slightly smaller version. The Viking concierges are wonderful! We will be sailing on the Viking Star for the Jan. 18 Southern Med Itinerary. Backroad Planet will use the information you provide on this form to be in touch with you and to provide email newsletters, updates, and marketing. Flowers, fruit, and other treats are random perks and unique to each cruise. Our October cruise is Frances Finest, which is a 2-part cruise, Paris and the Heart of Normandy being the first half. Most Viking Longships are 443 feet long, the perfect length to fit into the locks on many of Europe's rivers. Hi my husband and I also did the Grand European Tour in August 2014 and agree with every word which the writer has eloquently written. land based fishing adelaide. This governed their length, which ranged from around fifty feet for fishing and trading longships up to one hundred and forty feet for the largest warships. Does Viking River Cruises Have Laundry Service. My travel philosophy is, Were here now, meaning to take advantage of every minute while at a destination. I never got a straight answer, but I am positive that Vikingemployees haveto pass intense personality assessments before they arehired. Congratulations on your 60th anniversary. We had an ExplorerSociety cocktail party, then a special Canada Day gathering, a4th of Julycelebration, aTaste of Austria dinner (where the crew pulled out all the stops), and several other events. Hi Jeff! They have a long history in Scandinavia and were used as early as the fourth century BC. Find out more on this short tour. There are trade-offs because you cannot do everything, but either way you will love it all! If cruising in the warmer months dont get caught without sun protection. We have cruised that basic route three or four times, but we have always either done the included or optional tours. Because Viking river cruises are more intimate with only 190 passengers, you will make lots of friends who will welcome you to join them on excursions and during cocktail hours. Thank you for recommending Viking River cruises when we met on Fathom, Ive enjoyed reading your articles and cant wait to try one! Search for 'Self Serve Laundry aboard Viking Ocean Ships' and there are lots of hints and tips. . The fees for European river cruises range in price from $1 per item to $6 per item. We are beyond excited as this is our first trip to Europe! The best bag for a shore excursion is one that is not too bulky, comfortable to wear, practical and has goodanti-theft features. Cheers! . There were suds visible and the clothes can out clean. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask! If the self-serve laundry facilities get overused it sounds like ship service might be the way to go. Some of the people I met on Viking cruises remain my friends to this day. Hope this helps, and I know you will have a wonderful time! Our wait staff were the people we got to know best because they were at our beck and call during breakfast, lunch, dinner, and every special event. Walking around Europe on the cobblestones can be perilous at times, especially in the wet. In your case it may not matter because Viking is an adults-only cruise line. Most river cruises are between 7 to 15 days. If you have. If you are cruising in the shoulder seasons or taking a winter river cruise such as a Christmas market river cruise, you may want to prepare for cold and wet weather. Call Viking at. Sorry to hear you had this experience, Magdalena. You can highlight this with one or two pastels or brighter accent colours depending on your style. You can find our top-rated womens travel jackets here and mens travel jackets with hidden pockets here. So glad to help with the tips. Think about your mix and match. All we have is an informative post about the ship and itineraries. Im not going to tell him of what you wrote, this way he can be pleasantly surprised. You may wish to choose one additional dressier outfit or elegant top to dress up one of your mix and match combinations. We took this cruise to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary and Viking kindly allowed us to have a symbolic vow renewal onboard attended by two couples whom we met on the cruise and the simple ceremony was conducted by the Captain in the Wheelhouse along with a beautiful cake, flowers, champagne and photographs all at the expense of Viking. Laundry and pressing services areavailable on Avalon Waterways for a fee. The next level down is probably where one of the most important, and popular, parts of the ship is: the dining room. You will need to plan for how long you are away taking into consideration clothing, medications and toiletries. If you want to find out more about Viking River Cruises or river cruising in Europe, watch my other Tips for Travellers videos: http://www.youtube.com/tipsfortravellers. Some cruise lines, like Viking River Cruises, permit portable steamers; check with your cruise line to be sure. You may not be able to get a replacement should you forget one. Its also a place where people will come out if youre going through locks. Thanks for sharing your lovely story, Pauline! We are traveling with friends and have decided to take the tours into town in the morning and, if the boat will be in port for the day, stay in town to sightsee following the tour and just take a taxi back to the ship. Suddenly, waiters would appear with complimentary cocktails, savorymorsels, shots of local spirits, hors doeuvres, or various other tastings. Pack some long-sleeved sweaters or cardigans as well as short and long-sleeved tops and shirts. Started October 12, 2018, Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Hi Sylvia! Hi Sue! I know you will love the Grand European experience. You want to be comfortable and dont want to fall victim to pickpockets. Always keep comfort in mind when choosing clothing for a cruise. April 26, 2019, My Viking River Cruises Longships Review and Ship Tour. Thanks for the advice. They have a Scandinavian look and feel. We were guests of Viking Cruises, but the pleasure of shipboard amenities was all ours. You will be doing aconsiderable amount of walking and even some easy to moderate hikes on some excursions. Did you ship laundry out to be cleaned or brought enough clothes for the two weeks? For sure the laundrette facilitates lots of camaraderie as we collectively either discuss the cryptic meaning of said symbols or pass on whatever knowledge each of us have gained to the next newbie on the scene. Feel free to use this info to assist others that read your great comments section and might have the same questions. In case you didnt see them already, be sure to check out our 24 Viking River Cruise Insider Tips and Viking Christmas River Cruises: A Rhine Getaway Travelogue for more information and tons of photos. Thanks for stopping by, and glad to know you found the Viking amenities post helpful. On some daily excursions, you will board the tour bus in one port and return to ship at another port. Required fields are marked *. Your information soothed some of our fears, since my husband has very high expectations. When youre sailing through beautiful They are free to use and soap is also provided for guests. However, if you are on the Viking mailing list you will get notifications of sales, 2-for-1 offers, and free air promotions at later dates. From the moment we boarded our longship, the Viking Mimir, to the time we said ourgoodbyes, Viking Cruises never wavered in giving usthe ultimate royal treatment. We will update you in our journey. the Danube and Paris to Prague and we loved them! Thanks! Viking must believe that adagebecause they major in minors so well. Expect prices between $2.00 - $8.00 USD per item. There is a laundry service onboard the Viking river cruises. You can change your mind at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in the footer of any email you receive from us, or by contacting us at, Explore the World with Viking Expeditions: An Insiders Guide, The Viking Great Lakes Explorer: An Expedition Travelogue, Viking Christmas River Cruises: A Rhine Getaway Travelogue, 4 New Viking Mississippi River Cruise Routes Announced, Portugal in Panorama: A Viking River of Gold Annotated Photo Gallery, European Panoramas: A Viking Grand European Annotated Photo Gallery, Viking Ocean Cruises: A Guide for Planning a Voyage of a Lifetime, Viking Ocean Cruises to Norway & the UK: An Into the Midnight Sun Travelogue, 18 Reasons to Cruise the Mediterranean on the Viking Star, The Viking Sun Embarks on the Inaugural World Cruise. Personal Quote . Tour our stylish ships, designed with understated elegance and comfort in mind. It is a great open space and it is open seated at all times. Loud, obnoxious settingsmake me want to head for the hills. Exactly CORRECT! Either way the clothes came out clean, not sure why there might be a difference. Sign up to receive updates from Viking Stay current with special offers, news and destination-focused content. See you soon! They can become cumbersome when on the move. Since I wrote this piece, I have also done the Viking Basel to Amsterdam Rhine Getaway. So glad I found your site. The top deck is the Sun deck, and is a big wide-open space across the Sometimes I wore crew neck T-shirts, too. staterooms, French balcony staterooms and standard cabins. Spacious staterooms, indoor and outdoor dining venues and panoramic views enrich your travel experience. Contact us: email; Search Help & FAQs. We are staying for a while in Rome and Malta before the cruise and in Barcelona after. If you are taking a fly-cruise package and your luggage is lost by the airline, it could take time for your luggage to be found and may even have to be delivered to the ship at the next port of call. . Our award-winning Viking Longships showcase innovative engineering, streamlined Scandinavian design and understated elegance. There are suites, verandah Also, choose shoes with a good grip. No worries thkugh--the steam in the shower in our cabin has been more than adequate in getting wrinkles to fall out of clothing. I lived in Germany for 5 years, and just returned from a River cruise two weeks ago,. Sometimes these treats appeared in our stateroom in the form of chocolates or flowers. We are heading on the same Viking Cruise tomorrow, although we go from Budapest to Amsterdam. Both the washer and dryer work well. A hard suitcase is ok; just make sure it is not so big you have trouble sliding it under the bed as there is limited space inside the cabin. Viking river cruise amenities are designed to pamper passengers with the ultimate in creature comforts. . I have been on three Viking cruises since then. Flushable, individually wrapped wipes for travel. Viking has a beautiful premium range of products designed exclusively for them by Freyja. I looked at it for a second and saw that there was a hole cut in the top and a hose that went from the bucket to the soap dispensers. If you use a straightener or curler, you will need to bring this. I was wondering if you or your readers had any insights into which is a better location or if one is as good at the other. I have found that the car rental is about 20% less expensive at the train station than at the airport through Sixt. Greetings, love all topics about Viking River Cruises. Hi Phyllis, and thanks for your question! We have cruised the Danube between Nuremburg and Budapest, and you will love it. This cruise packing list is for a seven to ten-day cruise. . Any suggestions you might have regarding this trip would be appreciated. Tauck offers a paid laundry service on all of its ships. Weve heard a lot of fabulous reviews about the Viking experience and decided this to be our choice. These dont have floor-to-ceiling windows because part of these cabins is underneath the water level. Other times they brush you off with you have booked with a travel agent, he handles your enquiries. This happened to me in Australia, when ringing Viking just to ask what drinks are covered by the Silver Spirits package. Hi Howard, At each port, you will have numerous shore activities and excursions to choose from including lots of free walking tours. Anyone who knows me well knows that I am most definitely NOT a party animal. Hi Albert, and thanks for your kind words. The lounge is where you have the bar. Can you recommend optional excursions that are the best in your experience for this trip? Did laundry at 2am.. all included. Shhh . Viking river cruises donot featurehighly-energizedstage productions typical ofocean cruise lines. Such services are complimentary for passengers . document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. We love to be prepared ahead of time! Search for 'Self Serve Laundry aboard Viking Ocean Ships' and there are lots of hints and tips. Lets talk about some of the things that you will not find onboard a Viking Longship. Another good reason to always carry a lightweight travel scarf. You may need to ask a couple times, but they will show up and worth not having to pack them. A selection of fine pastries appeared at the station during the morning hours, replaced with addictive cookies in the afternoon, but by the evening hours,when we really wanteda late-night snack, they were all put away. We did have a lot of laundry, however, when we got home. Depending on your stateroom category, laundry services, including pressing, may be complimentary. Related: Avoid lost luggage issues. Hi Howard! Its open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Congratulations on your 45th anniversary, and please let us know how everything goes! . Your account is clearly in line with the many ways I have observed Viking Cruises go overboard to accommodate their passengers every need. (^_^), You will love the the Christmas Markets, Claudie, and of course you will love Viking River Cruises. Here is the text regarding onboard dress from the Viking FAQ page: Dress during the day is casual including shorts (if the season is warm), trousers or jeans and comfortable shoes for walking tours. On Viking 's oceangoing ships, there are self-service launderettes including irons and ironing boards, along with send-out laundry services and dry cleaning. Emerald Cruises offers onboard laundry services and charges a fee per piece of laundry. Our longships offer guests unprecedented levels of comfort, including full verandas and more. Too many people forget about sun protection when sightseeing around cities and local attractions. A travel umbrella works equally as well as a sun parasol. If you want a lightweight in-between bag for day excursions or even for days onboard youll be pleased to know fanny packs are back in fashion. Bon voyage! I am not familiar with taxis in Basel because I used Vikings transfer service while there. Anatomie Skyler Travel Pant (use code GET15OFF for 15% off your order). Free Cruise Planning 1.800.377.9383 QUICK. Glad your trip was such a wonderful memorable experience! What kind of luggage is best for a cruise? You will enjoy Monets garden and the Normandy beaches. True to the ethos of destination-focused cruising, you will have plenty of time ashore exploring independently or on one of the many included and optional shore excursions. The AIS position was reported 2 minutes ago. Ranging from 45 to 75 feet (14 to 23 metres) in length, clinker-built (with overlapped planks), and carrying a single square sail, the longship was exceptionally sturdy in heavy seas. Disclosure Policy | Privacy Policy | Web Stories, 20142023 Vagrants Of The World Travel | Unauthorised use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blogs author and/or owner is strictly prohibited | Trellis Framework by Mediavine. We learned on our recent Grand European Tourthat a Viking river cruise is everything you dream it will be and so much more. Have any advice for me? It means so much to know my tips have helped someone about to embark on a Viking European river cruise. In case you havent seen it already, be sure to read our Rhine Getaway Travelogue. So glad you have found our Viking articles and comments of value. Enjoy your cruise, and bon voyage! One point though. Dandelion Travel Adapter with 2 USB Ports, Power strip with 3 AC Outlets, 2 USB Ports, The Smallest and Lightest High-Speed Power Bank. You advice would be appreciated. Other onboard facilities include a lounge bar with a dance floor, sun deck, laundry service, library with two computers and free Wi-Fi. Hi there- this post is wonderfulthank you!! With this in mind, weve put together this Viking River Cruise packing list, loaded with helpful cruise packing tips to help you get ready for yourriver cruise or even your first Viking Ocean Cruise. Except for a few evening experiences such as the ballet, an evening at theorchestra or opera, most evenings will be spent dining on board. Hi Ann! I will keep up with your blog and let you and your readers know how things went. Related: Take a Look on Board Viking Ocean Cruises, Best Cruise Purse for Evening Excursions and Onboard, the Best Anti Theft Handbags and Purses for Travel, best and most stylish fanny packs for travel here, A Complete Guide to the Best Anti-theft Travel Gear, mens travel jackets with hidden pockets here, Buying Guide to the Best Pickpocket Proof Clothing for Travel. And leaving for same tomorrow morning!!! If you prefer a daypack for travel, then the best backpack for a cruise is something that has hidden pockets, secure zips, sits firmly on your back and can be comfortably worn to the front in crowded situations. Super easy. Howard, I was wondering if you or any of your readers have insight into the availability of Taxis at the Cruise docks in Basel, Switzerland. We will be doing the Rhine River Cruise. Viking longships were long, slender boats that the Vikings used to travel on the seas. Thanks in Advance A brightly coloured scarf, shawl or jacket will give you additional options for each combination and can be used to dress up any outfit. After showering and shampooing, oftentwice a daywithFreyja Collection products, I am a true fan. It is very informative and well-written in a casual way. But nice, comfortable slide sandals are perfect for on board. Thanks for prompting me to do an update! Thank you! Spacious staterooms, indoor and outdoor dining venues and panoramic views enrich your travel experience. The frontpage of eachViking Daily featuresa detailed schedule of the nextdays activities, whilethe remaining three pages provide history and background of daily destinations, cultural mini-lessons,local fast facts, and additional things to see and do while in port. They have a Scandinavian look and feel. You may like to take a second pair of day shoes for around the ship that can transition to evening and one pair of dressier shoes for evening excursions. Viking . Lots of helpful information in this forum. They had been there all along doing their sweepingand dusting and polishing and sanitizing while passengers slept until our ship sparkled like new. I do know that you will be cruising on the Viking Sky, which is a sister ship to the Viking Star. At the front of the lounge, right on the bow of the ship, is whats known as Aquavit. But it did not stop there. Thankfully today, you can find some very stylish, practical and more importantly, lightweight walking shoes on the market. Great information. There is a fee for this service. Layering is the best way to combat changeable conditions when travelling even from morning to night or when transiting in airports. . Learn how your comment data is processed. Started June 21, 2021, By its all true, they are wonderful. My mother and I are also going on the Rhine Getaway on May 10th as a mother-daughter trip after the passing of her mother (my grandmother). Viking is also a travel agency, and we have found great airfares booking directly. 1-2 Long sleeved sweaters depending on the season. Top Questions; (Not every cruise company will have this so you should check in advance if cruising with a different company). Youre about to discover everything you need to know about a Viking Longship if youre planning on going on a European river cruise, including what it has and a few surprising things that it doesnt have. These 7 Things Throw Norwegian Fjords Cruisers Every Time! Awesome, Joe! Started August 27, 2021, By Special tips? You have an onboard pianist too, and they play at lunchtime, afternoon tea and before and after dinner.