. 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. Viking Ship Plug-ins and Charging - YouTube The lounge on a Viking river cruise ship has plenty of comfortable . Once youre on the ship, youll learn the times that the ship will be docked in a city, so you can plan your day. As for how much money to bring along, I usually start out with about $300 worth of local currency. The coffee station is always available, although the baked goods tend to be gobbled up in the late afternoon. 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). Also, the onboard staff and the local guides speak English well. There are lots of smiles and offers of help. Mifaso 7-in-1 Desktop Power Strip. We're staying at hotels also so bring ours. universal travel adapter. Our luggage awaited us, and our new room keys were on the dresser. 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. The number indicates which ship youre on. . Thank you! You will find both 110V and 220V electrical outlets in your stateroom. ? Once everyone was accounted for, we were able to leave, return our life vests to our stateroom, and resume what we were doing. 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. Thank you for these suggestions and actual experiences! Sometimes theres a lot of river cruise ship traffic in popular cities. The Silver Spirits package is complimentary for guests in an Explorer Suite. If you are traveling on a Viking Longship, you will find both 110V and 220V electrical outlets in your stateroom. 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. Thank you for taking the time to write this informative piece. During lunch and dinner, guests are served complimentary soft drinks, beer, or wine. That makes it handy for your husband to fetch your morning cup! Have a great cruise! Frankly, I dont think you can go wrong either way, but theyre two very different experiences. The room stewards are wonderful and treat you like royalty! Is that possible? Thanks again. Cheers! Hi Tanya, Sounds like you have a great cruise coming up! We cant say enough about how well-run and maintained the ships are. As you probably know, the package includes unlimited beverages when the bars are open. Here is our advice on 6 things you should definitely NOT take: There are no formal nights on Viking so theres no need for long dresses for women or dinner jackets for men (even neckties are discretionary). Check with your Viking agent or your travelagent (or your MyVikingJourney online portal if youre already booked on a cruise) to learn the latest protocols aboard the ship and in the countries that youll be visiting. We need twin beds; is this possible? Have a wonderful cruise, Thomas! The Viking onboard staff from the captain, hotel manager, and program director to the housekeeping and wait staff were all positive, upbeat folks: smiling, accommodating, and helpful. Prior to dinner, the chef usually introduces the options including his/her recommendations. on your bed. Free Wi-Fi (connection speed may vary) 55" OLED flat-screen TV featuring CNN, CBC, MBC2, beIN Sports. Thanks for sharing your tips and experiences! 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. and one US 110V socket on each side of the bed; there are no UK 3 pin sockets. As for money, we used a credit card (with no foreign transaction fees) and Euros (very handy for tipping tour guides and purchasing small incidentals). 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. Also, we had booked an English-speaking tour of the Hungarian Parliament which ended up being fascinating; if you plan to do this, make sure to make reservations online ahead of your visit. To ensure you remember all the great experiences on your cruise, take lots of pictures and. Other times, we were still sailing, so he could not. Hope this is helpful and have a wonderful cruise! If you choose not to prepay the gratuity, Viking adds a discretionary service charge (which was 15 Euros per guest per day when we traveled) to your shipboard account. 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). Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Plus, Viking offers several excursions each day that the ship is in port. There was a mandatory safety drill on our first full day of the river cruise. That is, you sleep and eat on the ship and are transported to your destinations along a river. Since it will be November, and Im also afraid of open heights weve opted for the French balcony room. As for shore excursions, my husband and I enjoyed the walking tour (through Viking) that included the funicular up to Castle Hill. 9 Best Travel Power Strips You'll Crave For 2022 Cruises most electronics or travel stores. at embarkation and may be disposed of at the sole discretion of the Ship's Security Officer. Thank you for your time. Frequently Asked Questions | Viking Ocean Cruises There are 110V and 220V electrical outlets in staterooms, so you can plug in whichever fits your needs. Viking River Cruise: 15 Things to Know Before You Go Once you book a Viking river cruise, take the next steps to ensure an amazing experience. I hope you have a fabulous anniversary cruise! We were on the Idun (Longship). Once onboard, youll be given more specific times, so youll be able to fine-tune your plans. That's where you'll need to use your hairstyling tools. You can store your luggage under the bed(s). It was impossible to find one to my liking in the department store in Marseillealthough I tried. 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. Viking Cruises offers excursions on the sea and river. Thank you for the excellent summary of each important category. I like a foam pillow so I asked for one on my Bermuda cruise with Viking. Glad the tips were helpful. Good to know, I thought maybe the ship would have a 110 & this would work on its own. Have fun whatever you decide to do! will visit your room in the morning to clean it. We chose a French Balcony room. So if your staying only on board you don't need a plug adapter. We are going on the Grand European tour in October 2022. (You never know where you might find a special type of chocolate:-). Even with that information, as you mentioned,dockings could be delayed to traffic on the river or there could be delays going through locks. Hi Deb, youre just a few days away from your journey. queen-size beds that can be split to make two twin beds. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 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). Yep, I really like that grounded adapter in your link and the small strip is handy for packing & very lightweight, but the Belkin offers surge protection & 2.1 Amps. This article highlights the European river cruises aboard the Viking Longboats. Guess not. Viking has perfected hospitality on many levels. I am thinking this will work as it swivels to accommodate the location of the plug and has 2 USB ports as well. The recommended tipping (for each guest) on excursions is 2 Euros for local guides and 1 Euro for bus drivers. My travel one is small but having not to bring one would be great. 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. Once youve booked a Viking cruise, take the next steps, like creating an online account with Viking, to ensure a wonderful adventure. We learned this the hard way one day, and we realized that we actually prefer exploring the little towns that we dock at more. Another great feature of a Viking River cruise is the ship's electrical outlets. Lots of good options, just not sure how fast everything could charge if it needed to be all at the same time! 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. In China the ships . Ive hand washed some things in the sink and hung them up to dry on the line, and it worked fine. 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. Hope you have been able to enjoy more Viking cruises since your original one. Do you have any experience with that destination? Other European ships have 220V electricity, and have the German Schuko safety plug, which has two pins. 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. Trying to guess the weather so we can narrow down what to pack. That saved precious counter space. . We found the onboard communication to be excellent. All guests are 18 years old or more. Started August 27, 2021, By Also, regarding a curling ironI had one and used it and had no problem. It sounds like you have a wonderful journey coming up this summer, Rosetta! 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. Suffice it to say that Viking has this all figured out and has contingency plans firmly in place. That way, youll learn exactly how things will work with getting to and from that specific hotel. Yes, there have been changes to address public health safety, but Im betting they wont interfere with your overall enjoyment. 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. Yes. Thanks. Im sure we will need some pocket money for small purchases. 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. 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. Viking, as do most cruise line ban the bringing onboard of extension cords and surge protectors. #4. So an adapter will be needed on the ship? There are also daily announcements with information on docking and reminders about impending excursion departures. I was really glad I had brought my own shampoo and conditioner. Onboard youll have port talks to prepare you for each new day along with musical entertainment in the lounge. 10.2 Schuko Travel Adapter, 17.99 Amazon. For example, our Nook and iPhone chargers automatically convert to the 220 voltage, but you would need an adapter plug to insert your charger plug into the 220 outlet. You can check with Viking to make sure. I hope you have a wonderful 50th celebration on the Grand European Tour! Their crew is well-trained and genuinely appears to want to make you happy. How To Get Off Viking Cruises Mailing List - CruiseInfoClub.com You can sign up for excursions from your account on MyVikingJourney.com prior to your trip. 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). In the theatre it can be arctic. The hairdryer is not in the bathroom, but in the bedroom, in a drawer under the counter where the outlets are. The link to this item can be found HERE. To accomplish this, passengers pack up the night before the transfer, and while out on excursions, their luggage is transferred to the other ship. The ultimate guide to Viking cruise ships and itineraries - The Points Guy Do viking ocean cruise lines have a hairdresser on board? Started June 21, 2021, By 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. Theres a mix of traveling overnight (almost all of the time) and during the morning/afternoon/evening (some of the time). This publication outlines the schedule for the next day, with all included and optional excursions as well as suggestions on where to visit and eat during your free time the next day. Viking Ocean Cruises provides lovely Freyja shampoo and conditioner (designed exclusively for Viking) in nice, easy-to-handle sizes (rather than mini-bottles). Is a Cruise Power Strip allowed by your Ship? [2022 Solved] During the day on excursions, travelers dress very comfortably as they leave the ship to explore a destination. Before we descended, we were able to step outside and soak in panoramic views of the city. My husband prefers to jog each morning, and he was able to when we were docked in the early morning before excursions began. We got off our ship, the Skirnir, in Nuremberg (one of our scheduled ports) before the damaged lock. Theres always iced tea often with different flavors every day. All the best. Power strips, multi plug box outlets/adaptors and extension cords (without surge protectors) are allowed on board when used with proper caution. Take a USB charging hub if you have multiple devices that require USB charging points. Youll find two large red umbrellas in your stateroom that you can use if the weather is inclement. Heres our story. If you are traveling on a Viking Longship, you will find both 110V and 220V electrical outlets in your stateroom. By You set the code, so its a cinch to remember. There are large windows on the port and starboard sides so views are available while cruising the river at mealtime. Hi Daisy, you have the choice of going on the included or an optional excursion or exploring on your own. For a 7-night cruise, the cost is $139.65 USD p.p. means the walking could be a little more strenuous or have more stairs or inclines. 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. The general experience on all Viking river cruise ships is the same, no matter what ship youre on. We saw you comment about change for guides and such and credit cards with no foreign charges. Have a wonderful trip! The good thing is there are always tomorrows treats to look forward to! We took the walking tour of Passau, enjoyed a leisurely lunch in town, went on a hike, and strolled around town afterward. NW Ohio. Frequently Asked Questions | Viking Ocean Cruises Definitely needed that in the humidity. Sometimes theres a lot of river cruise ship traffic in popular cities. For instance, how much is the Top of Cologne in Cologne Germany and is it worth it? Powered by Invision Community. Congrats on your 50th! You can choose to pre-pay gratuities which we did. We are trying to determine if the additional cost for a veranda stateroom is worth the extra expense compared to the french balcony. Low river levels today might be just fine for cruising in a few days. The hairdryer is not in the bathroom, but in the bedroom, in a drawer under the counter where the outlets are. Your comments are really appreciated. Im glad you found the article helpful. Are there computers, or should I bring my laptop? We also like to explore on our own, so there were times when we just joined a tour for a while and then told the guide we were going to branch out on our own. What is the electrical voltage in the staterooms? 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. This is one way the crew can account for all guests. . I would suggest that you call Viking. Many people were. JOOMFEEN Universal Travel Adapter. You got me on #1, 3 and 6! Some people book two cruises back-to-back to extend their vacation. I could have kicked myself for leaving my swimsuit at home when the weather unexpectedly turned warm and sunny! How does Viking Ocean cruises treat solo travellers. Enjoy! If you like tea, youll also appreciate the high tea service in the Wintergarden. Some folks elect to get the Silver Spirits package because they enjoy trying new cocktails and/or premium wines while on vacation. Just inside is the Lounge where we ate one rainy lunchtime. Did you use local guides? 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. What it meant for guests was a minor inconvenience. Thank you Irene for this information! What does Viking do with our luggage once we check out of the hotel? On the ship, you only need the ID, which you can tuck into a pocket. Ever consider a Viking European river cruise? I liked the posted copy of the daily news and we had already decided from our ocean experiences to take the drinks package. Only a few bucks anyway. Electric power outlets on Viking Tir - Cruise Critic Community When you return to your room, you will notice the dinner menus for that evening. so they know what to expect when they use them. I agree with a previous comment about this being the most informative, most inclusive article Ive seen as well. I laughed out loud at the comments from Shelly and Mary. Some other Viking guests enjoyed their visits to the thermal baths, but we opted to do our own thing with the parliament tour and walks to areas recommended by our local tour guide (from the walking tour). My first question is, without using the laundry service on board , do you have suggestions on washing items in your cabin? We plan to go a few days early and then make our way to the ship. If you stay in a hotel before or after your cruise you will need to bring adapters for charging your phone or tablets. Thanks to her guidance, we learn how to honor our dead, and integrate their love and . 1. To burn off some of the calories ingested by the delicious food onboard, I walked in the morning around the sun deck track. 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!) My recollection is that Viking Ocean Cruises have fluffy comforters and luxury down pillows. 8 Ventura plug sockets. The tags have the time the luggage must be outside the staterooms as well as the time that guests are expected to depart the ship. 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. Your room key is your ID. Its certainly a relaxing way to travel. 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. Some procedures and protocols on cruise ships have changed to address public health concerns since the global COVID-19 pandemic. has a variety of tables that can seat 6, 8, or 10 people. The Quietvox listening devices charger is plugged into a 220 outlet on the counter across from the bed. Regsrding snacks you forgot to mention that you do not need room service as each room comes with a bar fridge and that snacks like the delicious home baked cookies are readily available ftim the World Cafe. I definitely overpackedshoes and clothes. As we arrived at the ship, we were warmly greeted, and we went to our rooms (which were intentionally left unlocked). On our trip, we met interesting people; visited fascinating places; sampled new foods, wines, and beer; and appreciated the convenience and gracious hospitality offered by Viking. 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. 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. Hi Stephanie, Thanks for your kind words. We thoroughly enjoyed a Viking Ocean cruise in 2019 and have been eager to try river cruising. 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. 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. Indeed, very VERY helpfulespecially for first time river cruisers. Does everyone get back on the bus when the excursion is over or is that the time you make plans for individual sightseeing? O. met interesting people; visited fascinating places; sampled new foods, wines, and beer; and appreciated the convenience and gracious hospitality offered by Viking. The 110V electrical outlets (North American style) are located above the desk and on each side of the bed. Hi Catherine, Im glad the article was helpful. Included is a packet of information specific to your ship (including phone numbers on the ship plus embarkation location information) and an itinerary. Many people prefer to bring their own reliable shampoos/conditioners/toiletries, etc. Started October 12, 2018, Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Walking could be on unpaved or uneven surfaces and may involve many steps or steep inclines. Weve got to get you back into cruising, Janice! marked: the bus has a placard with the same number and letter to let you know you need to board that bus; the tour guide has a red and white sign on a paddle to indicate that group, as well. How many electrical outlets on Viking? - Cruise Critic Community Perhaps, youll leave your sunglasses or swimsuit at home, or will forget to bring a sweater for chilly evenings. In addition, there are quite a few optional excursions available at an extra cost. There was a, . Concerning safety, you can sign up for STEP (Smart Traveler Enrollment Program), a free program run by the U.S. Department of State. Have fun! My hair is unruly amplified. Your advice about avoiding the far inland tours is wise, I think. Im bring my hair styling tool and want to plug it in to 110v in the bathroom. This was true in Passau, a city of over 50,000, and especially in heavyweights like Vienna and Budapest. The ships are designed for this to have travelers walk through the common spaces. Hope that helps! Before leaving a dock, there may be announcements asking for guests in certain rooms to let the staff know they are on the ship. The only exception to the no-adapter rule below: Make sure you bring European-style adapters for the plugs, and that the hair tools can run on 220V current (for use near the makeup table in your cabin). Does Viking get us into our room early or do we have to check our luggage with the hotel and wait until 3:00 PM? Thanks all. Ocean Cruises. Thanks Francis M, I am re-thinking the amps on the power strip for that very reason, we will be in an apartment in Amsterdam for a few days precruise, so we definitely will need one. Viking ships all sport calming Scandinavian decor and are designed efficiently. (This is handy because you might encounter tour groups from other Viking ships that are docked in the same city at the same time.) The Silver Spirits option is offered at a fixed price per guest and spans the entire length of the trip. Most the times we always take the NCL cruise, but this is the first time on Viking Cruise River The Grand European Tour from Budapest to Amsterdam (for our 22nd anniversary).Im so glad I found a lot of information from the article thats very helpful for us for excursions, maybe transferring ships, parallel parked ships and other information. your journey, you'll want the . Viking Octantis - Viking Cruises free wi-fi (though connection speeds vary depending upon location). Viking is happy to celebrate your birthdays and anniversaries while onboard. What Kind Of Converters Will I Need For My Computer/Curling Iron/Camera Battery Charger? There outlets will most likely be 220V European style. Keep in mind that though it may be tropical outside it can get chilly in the a/c. Have a wonderful time! I checked the website and all in-room amenities are listed under the name of each ship. In our documents from Viking regarding our river cruise in France, it says curling irons and flat irons are prohibited. So glad I discovered your very informative account of the Viking River Cruise! Viking has thought of that, too. Can you tell me which docking/ports might be too far from the cities/towns? Getting my heart rate up while enjoying beautiful scenery passing by while the ship made its way down a river was a win-win. Leave the soap, body lotion, shower gel and shower cap at home as well. 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. I like the idea of a smaller group so that is a plus. Although lunch is available in the dining room, we favored the Aquavit Terrace (at the front of the ship) for our midday meal. We travel light, as well, but the ship will take care of delivering your luggage to your room; we just kept our small carry ons (the ones that fit under the airplane seats) with us.