Have a wonderful cruise, Thomas! We need twin beds; is this possible? Do you travel overnight for most of the time or is there day travel as well? You either choose it for your cruise, or you dont no daily option. Your husband doesnt need to pack a blazer if he wouldnt normally wear one for dinner. Take a USB charging hub if you have multiple devices that require USB charging points. Hope you have been able to enjoy more Viking cruises since your original one. Whichever side of the menu you order from, the meals for the entire table are served at the same time. Next time I will ask for the extra pillow to be removed. Were planning a Viking river cruise May 2022. 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. No, Tamara, I dont have direct experience replacing SIM cards. There are some cruise lines that try to be all things to all people. There is no fitness center or spa on Viking river cruise ships; the space that could be a fitness center is instead put to use in the common areas and staterooms. How many outlets are available in the cabin? These long-haired, beautiful women descended from the skies into battles to decide which soldiers lived and which died. Of course as soon as I stepped outside it was all over! Queen-size Viking Explorer Bed (optional twin-bed configuration) with luxury linens & pillows. Yes. By Before leaving a dock, there may be announcements asking for guests in certain rooms to let the staff know they are on the ship. Also, dinner is served on the Aquavit Terrace; service begins 15 minutes after dinner service starts in the restaurant. Have fun whatever you decide to do! Theres always iced tea often with different flavors every day. Also note: They come with large print labeling so those over 40 dont need to take their peepers into the shower. 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). The rooms do seem smaller than ocean cruiser rooms: did you stay in your cabin a lot? Sometimes optional excursions sell out, although there are usually some available once youre on the ship. That way, if they reach a low point in the river, they can have passengers disembark, go on bussed excursions, and afterwards be taken to the sister ship that completes the journey. Do viking ocean cruise lines have a hairdresser on board? Hope this is helpful and have a wonderful cruise! I just took the Caribbean Amazon cruise and women were wearing slacks and blouses, as did I. 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. Disclaimer: My husband and I paid forour Viking river cruise ourselves. Do women really wear pants and a blouse for dinner? I hope you have a wonderful time! Some people do prefer lanyards but its not necessary. Viking Saigon Review. Guess not. means the walking could be a little more strenuous or have more stairs or inclines. 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. By the way, Viking does build in a set amount of gratuities for ship staff (or you can arrange for this on your account before sailing), but you may also want to give a personal cash tip to staff members who are particularly helpful. Also located off the main corridor are a couple of, Naturally, safety is a primary concern of travelers and the crew. Whew! No kids. That way, youll have current informationand be able to talk to people in the know to see if your plans will work. Thanks. Irene. Another great feature of a Viking River cruise is the ship's electrical outlets. My hair is very unruly and I am mortified at the thought of no heat styling tools! Started August 27, 2021, By LinkedIn. I have been on 1 Viking River cruise and 3 (soon to be 4-I hope!) Thanks for the great information. I love this charger. 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. reddit i ghosted; african violet planter pot; get paystub from adp; Related articles; hottest cartoon character list female; kohler simplice. Thanks again. When we travel to Europe, we notify our carrier before departure. Have a wonderful trip! The one exception was the program director, who made the move with us. Viking is happy to celebrate your birthdays and anniversaries while onboard. Once everyone was accounted for, we were able to leave, return our life vests to our stateroom, and resume what we were doing. The tips cover all onboard staff. They may be familiar enough with Vikings schedule to easily accommodate you. This is Vikings way of accounting for guests. The Viking Grand European Tour from Amsterdam to Budapest was such a great experience one well never forget. What it meant for guests was a minor inconvenience. You never know what youll learn or who youll meet! If you decide on the stateroom with a french balcony, you will still be able to enjoy some time outside in the common areas while the ship is sailing. Follow the link below to discover further details about what life is like aboard a Viking Cruises ship. 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. Just inside is the Lounge where we ate one rainy lunchtime. Hi. 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. Also, Viking offers options to add a few days in the first or last destination before and after a cruise. About coffee, there is a coffee and tea station on Vikings river cruise ships thats open 24/7 in the main common space. Their crew is well-trained and genuinely appears to want to make you happy. Cruise Lines "P - Z" Viking Ocean ; Electrical outlets Electrical outlets. I liked the hair and cleansing products on the ship, but the hotel had one cleanser for hair and body only. How exciting! Hi Robin, you pose a great question, but it isnt easy to answer! We thoroughly enjoyed our Viking river cruise from Prague to Paris last summer. 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. anyone doing the Viking njord nov 22 Budapest to Nuremberg. Herding 169 tourists onto separate buses all going separate places at separate timeswow, thats a job! Royal Princess desk with power sockets. 18 days and counting:). We could not have chosen any better than the Skirnir and Viking. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Irene is a regular contributor to Forbes Travel/ Read her most recent stories by clicking the links. To burn off some of the calories ingested by the delicious food onboard, I walked in the morning around the sun deck track. Thanks. 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. We had to have our luggage packed and placed outside our stateroom door by 7:00 am on the day of the switch. 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. Concerning safety, you can sign up for STEP (Smart Traveler Enrollment Program), a free program run by the U.S. Department of State. Once youre on the ship, youll learn the times that the ship will be docked in a city, so you can plan your day. Hope that helps! As you know, Viking offers an included excursion in each port. Bring your comfortable easy to pack stuff ladies and bring athletic shoes that allow for socks. 9 Plug Adapters for P&O Cruise Ships. One of many questions we have is how much currency (and what kind) to bring with us. This is one way the crew can account for all guests. We always enjoyed the variety of food from the local areas we were visiting. 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! 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. Your room key is your ID. Everyone always asks whether they'll need an electrical converter on board Viking European river ships, OR whether there's enough space to plug-in all their . As standard in Viking Longships there are both USA type flat pin 110 sockets and European round holed 220V sockets, as well as USB sockets. In addition, there are quite a few optional excursions available at an extra cost. 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. I guess the bottom line is to remember that disruptions can happen whenever we travel, so plan to get the most out of each experience and cherish the time that you get to explore new places and meet new people. I had mental pictures of all my photos of me enjoying Europe but my hair looking like it did in junior high. 2. On each of the two ships we were on, there was a duo in the evening that included a vocalist and a pianist. 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? Good to know. Three meals are included each day at the following times: Soda, beer, and house wine are available at lunch and dinner at no charge. Besides being helpful, your thorough details helped me to envision and imagine, which is my favorite part of planning! . Although there is ample storage space onboard Viking Ocean Cruises, bringing too much stuff only makes it harder to sift through your belongings to find what you want. An easy way to begin a conversation is to ask where people are from, about their past travel experiences, and what excursions interest them the most. Accommodating just 82 guests, she offers the ultimate in comfort. Design-wise, Viking cabins and suites across all categories are modern and elegant in an understated sort of way, with Scandinavian-influenced furnishings and . Yes, there have been changes to address public health safety, but Im betting they wont interfere with your overall enjoyment. 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 has guest departures timed to match their future travel plans. In the summer it can be really hot and sweaty feet even in sandals can cause blisters. Use down arrow key to expand the menu and up arrow key to collapse the menu and hit enter to select the link Of all the stops on the Grand European Tour, these are the cities in which our ship had prime docking spots (making it very easy to go out and explore on our own): Budapest, Vienna, Melk, Passau, Regensburg, Wurzburg, Cologne, and Amsterdam. Youll find two large red umbrellas in your stateroom that you can use if the weather is inclement. 3. On the ship, you only need the ID, which you can tuck into a pocket. We will be traveling on the Viking Ksvair and I am thinking about the number of outlets available for charging devices and would love your input. I will miss the free on board laundromat from ocean cruising though! You mentioned laundry, and although theres no laundromat on Vikings European river cruise ships, there is a laundry service that you can use. We were sailing from Amsterdam to Budapest. All guests are 18 years old or more. Power strips increasingly also have USB 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). Here are a few things to think about when considering Vikings Silver Spirits package. Specifically built to navigate the Nile, she is a state-of-the-art vesseldesigned in the clean, elegant Scandinavian aesthetic for which Viking is known. Did you bring euros or use credit card? We did not receive any compensation or discounts fromViking or any otherorganization. Thank you for the excellent summary of each important category. Lots of controversy on curling irons & flatirons. 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. One tip we learned is to put a shoe (just one!) The 110V electrical outlets (North American style) are located above the desk and on each side of the bed. Can you please provide the docking location? Power strips, multi plug box outlets/adaptors and extension cords (without surge protectors) are allowed on board when used with proper caution. Other European ships have 220V electricity, and have the German Schuko safety plug, which has two pins. This will be first river cruise for us. Since we booked through our travel agent, Viking sent her the final travel documents, and she checked them before passing them on to us. The hairdryer is not in the bathroom, but in the bedroom, in a drawer under the counter where the outlets are. Each time you leave the ship, you scan your room key. After all, we travel to experience new places, new food, and new people, so we like to eat local specialties whenever possible. I like a foam pillow so I asked for one on my Bermuda cruise with Viking. Viking is very efficient with their timing. Life vests were under the beds, but prior to the drill, they were placed on our beds while we were at lunch. Another question- my husband is thinking about bringing jeans to wear to dinner, but I thought I read that jeans are frowned upon for dinner. And, yes, there is a nice vanity area where you can sit and do your hair and makeup, across from the bed. (This is handy because you might encounter tour groups from other Viking ships that are docked in the same city at the same time.) Viking Cruises offers excursions on the sea and river. Also, the onboard staff and the local guides speak English well. I just received my cruise documents and read through them and was quite upset when I read that I could not bring my hair straightener on board. 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). 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. Its a great one! Then itll be the first photo on your camera roll before the next days activities. 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? Posted February 21, 2009. June 12, 2022 . These are typically large-group bus or walking tours of a city that provide a nice overview of a place. Do you have to go on the planned excursion or can you go off and explore on your own? You said you enjoy a few drinks before dinner, and if you add in some premium wine at dinner, the total you spend each day might add up pretty quickly. 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. Freyja Toiletries on Viking Ocean Cruises (Credit: Jerome Levine). Posted November 9, 2014. Oh, Im so happy youre able to enjoy traveling safely during the pandemic. Once onboard, verify the time youll be in port and then fine-tune your tour or dinner plans. Jeans are discouraged in the main dining room but if you want to eat and dress in jeans, you can get almost the same foods in the World Cafe, where there is no dress code. It wasnt a deal breaker, but something you should be aware of. Is there a retractable clothes line in the shower to accommodate hanging clothes. A few guests scheduled independent sightseeing tours, and it seemed to work out well for them. What common spaces are there on the Viking Mississippi? Weve found there are a lot of commonalities as well as interesting folks to meet. Hi Daisy, you have the choice of going on the included or an optional excursion or exploring on your own. so they know what to expect when they use them. 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. On average, how much time did you spend on the boat sailing from each port? Perhaps, youll leave your sunglasses or swimsuit at home, or will forget to bring a sweater for chilly evenings. 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. Free Wi-Fi (connection speed may vary) CC Help Jenn Hi Meri, Tech can make travel a whole lot easier. What does Viking do with our luggage once we check out of the hotel? 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). Free Wi-Fi (connection speed may vary) 55" OLED flat-screen TV featuring CNN, CBC, MBC2, beIN Sports. How does Viking Ocean cruises treat solo travellers. The hybrid power vessel mixes intrepid exploration with outstanding luxury from bow to stern for a unique vacation experience no matter where you sail. Viking Ocean Cruises provides lovely Freyja shampoo and conditioner (designed exclusively for Viking) in nice, easy-to-handle sizes (rather than mini-bottles). . will visit your room in the morning to clean it. Cheers! Power is supplied at 110 volts. 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. There were a few days when we arrived at our port later than planned and had much less time to explore the city. NOTE: This article was completely updated in January 2023 from the original article, written in 2019. We cant say enough about how well-run and maintained the ships are. I liked the posted copy of the daily news and we had already decided from our ocean experiences to take the drinks package. I will add one note that we experienced. That includes any drinks up to $15 like cocktails, aperitifs, and premium wines by the glass. in staterooms, so you can plug in whichever fits your needs. us, and our new room keys were on the dresser. I borrowed some books from the ships library and left them on a table in our room. Having said that, I know that Salzburg is lovely and many people enjoy that excursion. King-size Viking Explorer Bed (optional twin-bed configuration) with luxury linens & pillows. Thanks again! Going from A to B with two extra days in Amsterdam and Budapest. Is that possible? Is there a "dress code" on the ship? Up to you. We will definitely be using it in the years to come. I think it would be a tight schedule if the ship is docked for just a day. Ive taken mine on multiple Viking river and OCEAN cruises and have never had a problem. Thank you Irene for this information! No need to bring any foodstuffs because youll never be hungry. Also can you remember if those two cities is where the boat docked. has a variety of tables that can seat 6, 8, or 10 people. Another great feature of a Viking River cruise is the ship's electrical outlets. So if you depend on them, bring your own. Umbrellas on the Viking Star (Photo credit: Jerome Levine), No need for bringing bulky beach towels or taking sand home. Lots of good options, just not sure how fast everything could charge if it needed to be all at the same time! Use down arrow key to expand the menu and up arrow key to collapse the menu and hit enter to select the link 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? As we age, carrying and lifting suitcases can exact a toll on our back and shoulder muscles. Designed and crafted to safely navigate the Lower Mekong River in Viking style, Saigon will carry a maximum of 80 passengers between My Tho and Kampong Cham as part of the . After that point, guests still on board could use the common areas (Lounge or sun deck) until their transfer to the airport or other destination. Before leaving a dock, there may be announcements asking for guests in certain rooms to let the staff know they are on the ship. When you return to your room, you will notice the dinner menus for that evening. As you probably know, Viking offers nice quality wine, beer, and soft drinks free of charge at lunch and dinner. Just returned from a Viking Longship and there was 3-110 outlets and one in the bathroom for a shaver. I really dont want to bring any shampoo but Im supposed to use phosphate free. As for shore excursions, my husband and I enjoyed the walking tour (through Viking) that included the funicular up to Castle Hill. Surge protectors are a fire hazard aboard ships, as they are incompatible with the ship's wiring. This is the place to find a variety of coffee and tea plus baked goods to accompany your beverage. 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. Once onboard, it can be difficult to easily stow an overpacked bag under your bed. Have a wonderful cruise next year! Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. My hair is unruly amplified. Good luck! Hoping you will enjoy your voyage and have good hair days, too! That way, youll learn exactly how things will work with getting to and from that specific hotel. Just before the drill, we were all asked to return to our staterooms and don our life vests. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Enjoy your journey! The staterooms and bathrooms are efficiently designed to maximize usable space, and there are many things to appreciate in the staterooms. Please hare your opinion with me. As mentioned throughout the comments, thank you so much for such insightful and helpful information! Plus, Viking offers several excursions each day that the ship is in port. You got me on #1, 3 and 6! Im sorry I cant give you a more definitive answer, but so much depends on conditions at the time you board and what the staff recommends. Viking has perfected hospitality on many levels. Congrats on your 50th! Braun Hair Dryer on Viking Star (Photo credit: Jerome Levine). I cant find any info on Fteyja that gives me that info. Powered by Invision Community. What is the electrical voltage in the staterooms? When you return to the ship, you scan it again. We had grown to like the crew on the Skirnir, but we quickly came to like the new ones as well. During lunch, prior to and after dinner, theres usually live music in the Lounge. 8 Ventura plug sockets. Enjoy! Beverage gratuities are included in the package. The letter indicates which excursion group youre on. Thank you for great information and insights! We do the red eye and get into Amsterdam early morning. The lounge on a Viking river cruise ship has plenty of comfortable . 10 Best Adapters for plug sockets on P&O Cruises. When passengers get to the sister ship, their luggage is in their new cabins (which are usually the same cabins they had on the original ship). I laughed out loud at the comments from Shelly and Mary. What are your thoughts on the Silver Spirits package? 11 Final Thoughts about Plug Sockets on P&O Cruises. WOW, what a complete piece of well written and informative information we have come across. Especially your tips on dinner were helpful I will pack his blazer. It easily holds passports and other travel documents along with jewelry and money. Is room service available or will my husband have the opportunity to fetch my coffee? To ensure you remember all the great experiences on your cruise, take lots of pictures and. Some procedures and protocols on cruise ships have changed to address public health concerns since the global COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, theres a walking trail, a shuffleboard, and a putting green. Guests with pre- or post-cruise hotel packages may want to bring converters and/or adapters for their hotel stay. I have been or 2 VRCs and leave for my 1st VOC in a week (Baltic Sea yay!) Thank you for your informative article! Your descriptions of the change of ship due to the broken lock and of docking side by side with other ships were reassuring.