You either choose it for your cruise, or you dont no daily option. We thoroughly enjoyed our Viking river cruise. All the best. Your descriptions of the change of ship due to the broken lock and of docking side by side with other ships were reassuring. What are your thoughts on the Silver Spirits package? How many outlets are available in the cabin? 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. All guests are 18 years old or more. One thing to keep in mind is that things can change from day to day, week to week and that includes river levels. Hi Theo, you shouldnt have any problems meeting up with your friends in either Bamburg or Wurzburg while on the cruise. Try to think through where youll be, and what youll be doing, and make lists as reminders to guide your packing. Once onboard, youll be given more specific times, so youll be able to fine-tune your plans. Guests with pre- or post-cruise hotel packages may want to bring converters and/or adapters for their hotel stay. A few years ago, we were on a shoulder season cruise in the Mediterranean. NW Ohio. Thanks for responding, Robyn. The dining room has a variety of tables that can seat 6, 8, or 10 people. Thank you! You can store your luggage under the bed(s). with information on docking and reminders about impending excursion departures. 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. Posted February 21, 2009. Thanks!! Do viking ocean cruise lines have a hairdresser on board? We leave Saturday for Prague followed by the Budapest to Amsterdam Viking river cruise. This should allow you to finalize your plans to disembark and go meet your friends. Next time I will ask for the extra pillow to be removed. They say they will be staying til X oclock and then leaving. So glad I discovered your very informative account of the Viking River Cruise! Three meals are included each day at the following times: Soda, beer, and house wine are available at lunch and dinner at no charge. Viking assigns different colored luggage tags to guests depending on what their next travel destination is (a post-excursion through Viking, a trip independent of Viking, or a flight home). First timer on river cruise. I just took the Caribbean Amazon cruise and women were wearing slacks and blouses, as did I. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. As we arrived at the ship, we were warmly greeted, and we went to our rooms (which were intentionally left unlocked). Viking had a sister ship sailing the same journey in the opposite direction from Budapest to Amsterdam so we switched ships. Leave your dressier clothes at home; there are no formal nights on a Viking river cruise. Power is supplied at 110 volts. Viking Polaris - Viking Cruises The only outlet in the bathroom is appropriate for a shaver. I will add one note that we experienced. And theres an extensive Room Service menu available at no extra charge 24 hours a day. Many people were. 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. Did you see anyone carry on and off luggage? Hi Robin, you pose a great question, but it isnt easy to answer! The 110V electrical outlets (North American style) are located above the desk and on each side of the bed. Freyja Toiletries on Viking Ocean Cruises (Credit: Jerome Levine). Needless to say, its handy to have small change for tipping. Whew! Thank you so much for this detailed account. The crew communicates with each other quite well. The general experience on all Viking river cruise ships is the same, no matter what ship youre on. The maitre-d I am convinced is in league with the devil, as she tempted diners again and again with just try this ONE little pastry. However, the information in this article is from our, The staterooms and bathrooms are efficiently designed to maximize usable space. Leave the soap, body lotion, shower gel and shower cap at home as well. On Carnival's web site, you can see that they specifically note the following. . This particular power strip is suited to someone wanting both regular 110 power and the option to plug in USB ready items as well. and one US 110V socket on each side of the bed; there are no UK 3 pin sockets. No need to bring any foodstuffs because youll never be hungry. The river cruises have open seating, so that means you arent assigned any table mates. I guess my DH could sacrifice his camera & just use an iPad..:confused: rjscott, sounds like the cabin will be perfect for "getting ready" while the DH occupies the shower! Oh, Im so happy youre able to enjoy traveling safely during the pandemic. The bar is on one end of the lounge; theres wait service in the Lounge during lunch and in the late afternoon and evening. On our ships, there were separate newspaper versions for Australia, Canada, and the U.S. Cruise Lines Don't Allow Power Strips - Emma Cruises Have you seen this post? It is required each time you get off and on the ship. Dinner begins at 7:00 pm in the dining room. Let's look into your options, and briefly cover why power strips aren't allowed. We thoroughly enjoyed our Viking river cruise from Prague to Paris last summer. Will the ship have a adapter for me for the bathroom or is there a 110v plug in there? Whether you plan to be swimming onboard or taking an excursion that brings you to a beach, you wont need to bring beach towels from home. Every cabin type is listed as having. When this happens, the cruise ship parks parallel to another cruise ship. There was a, . Thank you for all the information. On our walk, we passed the Shoes Along the Danube (very moving) and other interesting sights. Sounds like youve got a great anniversary trip planned, Gary! Every once in a while, you may be treated to a little extra like a refreshing drink served on the sun deck while sailing one day. Thank you for your quick reply. 3. Also can you remember if those two cities is where the boat docked. . The crew actually collapses the awnings, chairs, and tables and the ships bridge recedes into the ship all to reduce the ships height. in your closet upon arrival; if you need more, just ask, and they will be delivered promptly. Cruise Lines "P - Z" Viking Ocean ; Electrical outlets Electrical outlets. One question I have is how you handled local currency in Hungary as they do not use the euro. No kids. That saved precious counter space. I like boiled water first up in the mirning, According to the Viking website, coffee machines with premium coffee and tea selections are available in Deluxe Veranda staterooms and above: https://www.vikingcruises.com/oceans/ships/viking-sky.htmlsin the room. 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. Theres a section of the Aquavit Terrace at the very front of the ship thats open to the weather, but theres also an area (just behind it) that can be enclosed with sliding glass doors, so the area can be enjoyed when the weather isnt cooperating. You will find both 110V and 220V electrical outlets in your stateroom. We sent some clothing to be laundered, and we were happy with that choice. excursion card with a number and a letter. 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). So, we really didn't have an issue with too many devices/not enough outlets. Thanks for your tip! As you leave the ship, you are handed a bottle of water. Viking Cruises begins sailings from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with the Viking Orion cruise ship on Caribbean and Central America itineraries. Are there computers, or should I bring my laptop? One thing we learned is that although some excursions will guide you through a large city, if it is inland a bit, you may be spending a significant amount of time traveling from the ship to the city and comparatively modest amounts of time actually in the city itself. Viking has perfected hospitality on many levels. I have to say though that almost nobody dressed up for dinnerI saw one or two men in sport coats. Also note: They come with large print labeling so those over 40 dont need to take their peepers into the shower. To accomplish this, passengers pack up the night before the transfer, and while out on excursions, their luggage is transferred to the other ship. As mentioned throughout the comments, thank you so much for such insightful and helpful information! Thank you! We had grown to like the crew on the Skirnir, but we quickly came to like the new ones as well. The Viking Grand European Tour from Amsterdam to Budapest was such a great experience one well never forget. Good luck! You answered my questions about docking locations (though understand they are subject to change) and the Hungarian currency. As for the specifics about checking in to hotels and then embarkation timing, Id suggest you contact Viking directly (or your travel agent if you used one to book the trip). However, the information in this article is from our Grand European Tour cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest aboard the Skirnir and Modi (more on the two ships later). More to come below but also read my list of essential Cruise Hacks, for both sea and ocean voyages: Cruise Hacks: Packing and Other Cruise Tips, Norwegian Waffle at Mamsens (Credit: Jerome Levine). And finally the umbrella. I am sure i will have more later but your thread is wonderful. In addition to cocktails, there were some very nice premium wine options aboard Viking, and we had fun trying ones that were new to us. Started August 27, 2021, By (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 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. Its a great one! means extensive walking, hiking, or biking. We had grown to like the crew on the Skirnir, but we quickly came to like the new ones as well. We are not interested in spending a lot of time on buses. We are thinking we would might rather be wandering through the town and trying local cuisine. Concerning safety, you can sign up for STEP (Smart Traveler Enrollment Program), a free program run by the U.S. Department of State. 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). 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. The lounge on a Viking river cruise ship has plenty of comfortable . Hi. To conserve resources, you could easily fill a reusable water bottle from home with water in the rooms. Since they are sister ships, they are the same, so the only thing that changed was the crew. How exciting! Question about electrical outlets in bathrooms . Thanks for sharing your tips and experiences! Have a wonderful trip! Attire on a river cruise is casual. Take a USB charging hub if you have multiple devices that require USB charging points. As you probably know, the package includes unlimited beverages when the bars are open. It sounds like you have a wonderful journey coming up this summer, Rosetta! We cant say enough about how well-run and maintained the ships are. The best thing to do is to talk with a Viking staff member as soon as you board to find out details for your specific cruise. River traffic varies and the time to pass through the locks can change based on the number of ships, weather, etc. In addition, some people research other (non-Viking) tour options in advance of their cruise and book a personal or small-group tour to suit their specific interests on their own. 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. Prior to dinner, the chef usually introduces the options including his/her recommendations. Once everyone was accounted for, we were able to leave, return our life vests to our stateroom, and resume what we were doing. Just make sure you notify your bank before traveling, so they dont flag your ATM transaction in another country as suspicious! Often, a crew member will place towels on your bed the night before if youve booked an excursion that might call for beach towels. 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. complimentary Silver Spirits beverage package, private arrival and departure transfer (from and to the airport). Youll receive an excursion card with a number and a letter. If you are traveling on a Viking Longship, you will find both 110V and 220V electrical outlets in your stateroom. Good luck with your planning, and have a great cruise! I could have kicked myself for leaving my swimsuit at home when the weather unexpectedly turned warm and sunny! Viking Baldur - Viking River Cruises The sun deck is a relaxing space with tables and chairs as well as chaise lounges. If we were sailing during the day, the program director narrated scenic highlights along the river as we continued our journey. We actually enjoyed sitting outside in the dark before bed, too, cruising by small towns.) Viking 1-866-984-5464. We were docked next to other ships several times on our 15-day cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest. A few guests scheduled independent sightseeing tours, and it seemed to work out well for them. Many people prefer to bring their own reliable shampoos/conditioners/toiletries, etc. 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 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. The letter indicates which excursion group youre on. Power Adapter Type - Viking Cruises - CruiseDirect.com I hope you have a wonderful time! It sounds like you are all set. Many power strips have an integral surge protector. Hope this is helpful and have a wonderful cruise! It easily holds passports and other travel documents along with jewelry and money. No, I havent been on a Midnight Sun cruise but this article I recently wrote for Forbes.com may offer some general advice that could be helpful: https://www.forbes.com/sites/irenelevine/2018/05/01/7-packing-tips-to-make-your-european-river-cruise-hassle-free/#43a857661797. As for keeping the itinerary full, its hard not to when you have so many great places to explore, but I agree that scheduling downtime is important, too. I suggest that you call Viking Cruises to make surebut if I recollect correctly, although there were ample 100V outlets, you may not be able to use any appliance in the bathroom except for an electric shaver. One of many questions we have is how much currency (and what kind) to bring with us. We enjoyed relaxing there and enjoying the sights and sounds of being on the ship. Hope that helps! Plenty of covered space protects guests from the harsh summer sun. bealls online outlet. It will be helpful to others. Is that a crazy thing to say?! Stairs connect all the decks plus theres an elevator to service the upper and middle decks. And the small umbrellas! Any further suggestions about picking up the excursion cards each morning? . Do we just work with Viking program director on the day of or the day before? Power strips, multi plug box outlets/adaptors and extension cords (without surge protectors) are allowed on board when used with proper caution. We have one of those and love it, because you only need to find one free plug and you're home safe. You will find both 110V and 220V electrical outlets in your stateroom. Weve had no regrets. Viking Radgrid - Viking River Cruises Some folks elect to get the Silver Spirits package because they enjoy trying new cocktails and/or premium wines while on vacation. 2. Please note that Viking requires at least 48 hours cancellation notice if you are on the ship and decide not to go on an optional excursion. 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. I had mental pictures of all my photos of me enjoying Europe but my hair looking like it did in junior high. Packing For A Viking Ocean Cruise: What NOT To Pack We do indeed have new travel hiccups and challenges these days. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Enjoy your journey! Thanks for the tips! Each time you leave the ship, you scan your room key. I hope you have a wonderful cruise and that things work out for your planned day trips! Accommodating just 82 guests, she offers the ultimate in comfort. 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. Definitely needed that in the humidity. To burn off some of the calories ingested by the delicious food onboard, I walked in the morning around the sun deck track. Just returned from a Viking Longship and there was 3-110 outlets and one in the bathroom for a shaver. This is Vikings way of accounting for guests. They will let you know on board. Powered by Invision Community. I bet youre planning your next cruise already. We are trying to determine if the additional cost for a veranda stateroom is worth the extra expense compared to the french balcony. Id be surprised if they couldnt tell you the answer; my experience is that they are great on the phone! Common power strips are prohibited from cruise ships for safety reasons, and there aren't "cruise ship power strips", but there are alternatives. Walking could be on unpaved or uneven surfaces and may involve many steps or steep inclines. Well do the Grand European from B to A in October this year. Besides being helpful, your thorough details helped me to envision and imagine, which is my favorite part of planning! But having to pack additional converters or keeping your fingers crossed that . I like the idea of a smaller group so that is a plus. Interesting information! That gives my husband and me plenty of money for tipping the local guides and bus drivers as well as Viking staff before we leave. The ships are very clean. We plan to go a few days early and then make our way to the ship. crewsgirl, November 9, 2014 in River Cruising. Much better idea of what were sailing into now! 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. River cruises are very popular choices for people who like the idea of traveling to new places in the comfort of a floating hotel. Mifaso 7-in-1 Desktop Power Strip. The one exception was the program director, who made the move with us. And our experience was that we were usually parked next to other Viking ships, so we walked through familiar spaces. We thoroughly enjoyed our Viking river cruise. Viking Cabins. electrical outlets - River Cruising - Cruise Critic It makes me happy when I can help others get more comfortable with and enjoy their travels. Dress during the day is . They are clearly marked. I dont want to waste any precious time in Amsterdam because this may be the last time we see it. Im glad you found the article helpful. On our cruise, this was done in the Lounge just after the evening port talk by the program director. When we travel to Europe, we notify our carrier before departure. 9 Plug Adapters for P&O Cruise Ships. We were sailing from Amsterdam to Budapest. who made the move with us. Since you need the refrigerator for your medicine, I would call the cruise line just to make sure it will be large enough to meet your needs or to see if a larger one can be placed in your cabin. Coffee machine, mini-bar (replenished daily with bottled water, soft drinks . Its a nice place to relax on warm days and enjoy a lunch buffet while taking in the views. Some travelers prefer to book through Viking itself. It has served my family well. Viking Cruises offers excursions on the sea and river. We were on the Idun (Longship). 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. That worked well as we enjoyed some nice non-touristy lunches and other walks and tours on our own. The Aquavit Terrace is one advantage Viking has over its competition. There they may board another ship. TIP: Take a picture of The Viking Daily each evening before heading to bed. There is precise timing to docking and excursions. 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. viking cruise ship electrical outlets. We were never disappointed with our meal selections. How early are they available to avoid the rush? Very relaxing! rent to own house in quezon city 5k monthly. Tauck: 220v power is used onboard. But having to pack additional converters or keeping your fingers crossed . The Norwegian Bliss, Breakaway, Encore, Epic, Escape, Getaway, Joy and Spirit have additional US sockets available. I loved the Braun Satin Hair model in my Viking Ocean stateroom so much that I would like to purchase a similar model for home use. Have fun whatever you decide to do! You got me on #1, 3 and 6! What it meant for guests was a minor inconvenience. It would be more like smart casual (so no worn jeans and flip-flops, for example). 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. Ive taken mine on multiple Viking river and OCEAN cruises and have never had a problem. Even with that information, as you mentioned,dockings could be delayed to traffic on the river or there could be delays going through locks. Bon voyage! Here are a few things to think about when considering Vikings Silver Spirits package. CC Help Jenn Have a great cruise! Viking is happy to celebrate your birthdays and anniversaries while onboard. 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. We would either meet in Bamburg or Wurzburg. Your email address will not be published. You make an excellent point, Julia. Were planning a Viking river cruise May 2022. Oh not to bring adapters! Hi Linda, youre facing a big decision: to go with Silver Spirits or not! 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. We chose a French Balcony room. There youll find a countdown to departure, background on each port of call, the entire list of excursions available (some are complimentary; others cost extra) that you can book online, a calendar showing your itinerary for each day, and other helpful information about the cruise. Using ATMs machines? Perhaps, youll leave your sunglasses or swimsuit at home, or will forget to bring a sweater for chilly evenings. 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. Plus, Viking offers several excursions each day that the ship is in port. We loved our trip and would recommend it to others. That makes it handy for your husband to fetch your morning cup! 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? There are also 2. Once youve booked a Viking cruise, take the next steps, like creating an online account with Viking, to ensure a wonderful adventure. We have booked all the included excursions, but have held off booking the optional ones as we love to do our own thing when in port, and perhaps covering more ground than the optional excursions. The ultimate guide to Viking cruise ships and itineraries - The Points Guy We would charge the cameras/batteries in the evenings after returning from touring, and charge our Nooks during the day while we were out touring. 110/220 volt outlets & USB ports. During lunch, prior to and after dinner, theres usually live music in the Lounge. The hybrid power vessel mixes intrepid exploration with outstanding luxury from bow to stern for a unique vacation experience no matter where you sail. Review of Viking Orion cruise ship cabins and suites, floor plans, photos, room sizes, types, categories, amenities. Hi Cynthia, I bet youre so excited about your upcoming trip! Ocean Cruises. Many cruise lines have banned bringing power strips on cruise ships due to the chance that the surge protector will overload the circuit and cause potential electrical damage or fires. 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. Is that a crazy thing to say?! The optional excursions have smaller groups and are more focused on cultural, recreational, and even culinary experiences. Thank you! Good Job!! Paying upfront might offer peace of mind if you like knowing that its already paid for and you dont have to think about an upcoming beverage bill. Sometimes theres a lot of river cruise ship traffic in popular cities. Thank you for your thoughtfulness. Do you travel overnight for most of the time or is there day travel as well? Congrats on your 50th! For example, we arrived in Cologne at 9:30 am and our walking tour began at 10:00 am. Check your cruise itinerary as it will tell you the expected times your ship will be docked at each stop. Essentially, each ship then turned around and went back to the city from which it originated. Have a great cruise! PROHIBITED ITEMS All firearms (working, nonfiring, replicas, imitations & air/pellet guns) .