Viking has thought of all the needs of a modern traveler. 8) Both ocean and river ships have Scandinavian design features. We appreciate you sharing your experience, Susan, as such feedback allows us to better understand how to deliver the five-star experience for which we strive. They adapt quickly to resolving any problems and also "fixing" lost or erroneous details that had been planned pre-sailing. Another excellent benefit of cruises out of Tampa is the free TECO Streetcar System. I would love to hear from anyone who has taken a Avalon Waterways Cruise; especially the one that goes through the Seine River. Viking's riverboats hold 100 to 386 passengers. Plus, Viking River Cruises offers a variety of onboard experiences, from lectures and cooking demonstrations to cultural excursions and onboard entertainment. One reason: Viking visits ports when it knows its passengers will have better access. Related: 6 Cruise Memes Guaranteed To Make You Smile. For that price, we had transfers to and from the airport; daily walking tours of each new city; all of our meals plus snacks; beer and wine at meals; and travel support. So, I asked for the. Viking and Royal Caribbean are on different levels. It was a pain but about all I did was upload pictures of our Covid cards, including the last booster. All you have to do is book the vacation and then just get on the ship and enjoy the ride. Although we strive to provide the most current information, bars, restaurants and attractions mentioned may close at any time, operate with a limited menu or reduced hours, or have takeout options only. In fact, it reminded me that I wanted to delete my account and I have now done so and uninstalled the app. Since Verifly cant really verify anything, since it has no access to government or private medical records, it is nothing more than a creative service developed by an entrepreneur to make big bucks. So if you have a tendency to get seasick, a Viking River Cruise may not be the best choice for you. Cabins are large and streamlined, with useful touches such as multiple USB ports for charging and huge showers. River cruising removes the work and the risk from travel. We chose the most affordable room, 101. Viking River Cruises start off at around $1,800 and are great for people who want a large selection of destinations to choose from. Ask questions! 1. An example of just spending time relaxing on a Viking Ocean Cruise. Sr. Smaller Sizes: You can expect to mingle with about 200 passengers on a river cruise, while ocean cruises can accommodate thousands. You got this! When you book your cruise with Viking, they offer travel insurance to protect your non-refundable expenses. But this was a bit of luxury that Id love to do again. Knowledgeable local guides -- who speak English perfectly and know endless amounts of detail about the cities, ports, countries and sites they visit -- lead excursions. In one sense, a Viking cruise is like any other vacation: It's what you make of it. Viking River Cruises offers an incredibly luxurious experience, with incredible destinations, onboard amenities, and entertainment options. Unless you know what is in the blank white areas on the deck plans it is best to avoid them. Lets find out! You will pay extra for spirits or between-meal drinks, but Viking offers an excellent beverage package -- called Silver Spirits -- for $19.95 per person per day, which covers drinks up to $15 each. The cruise line's nine identical 930-passenger ships include attractive perks, such as shipwide complimentary Wi-Fi and verandas for all cabins. Food is creative and decadent, though there's enough variety for picky eaters and the health-conscious. Thankfully our client took their restaurant confirmation with them and the ship staff happily "made it happen. Continue with Recommended Cookies. Find out here! Alternately can this information just be provided when boarding the ship? Go ahead and laugh.). I think your main cabin choice with Viking is window vs. veranda. And I dont get paid a dime to say that. The buffet restaurant on this deck generates noises from moving tables and chairs and tableware. Now, with eight ships, they sail North and South Americas, including the Panama Canal and the Caribbean, Northern Europe, the Mediterranean, Asia, and the Pacific. On our ship, you didnt have to have them, but it would be helpful. The European Coal and Steel Community: Unity Through Strength! While some cruise lines are pricier than others, you can certainly find some really good deals. Chef's Table (dinner with wine pairings, reservations required), Wintergarden (afternoon tea, finger sandwiches & pastries), The Kitchen Table (unique interactive culinary experience from shopping through preparation and dining). They are listed on the pre-departure pdf, which can be linked to on My Viking Journey. Our program director narrated the sights and identified the small towns along the way while we basked in the warm October sun and sipped Viennese coffee. With no need to wait in line or fight crowds, you can immerse yourself in the beauty of the rivers and explore your destination at your own pace. Lets explore the pros and cons of Viking River Cruises to help you make an informed decision about your next voyage. Food is subjective, but the consensus is that Viking's food is very good. There are three levels on the ship, plus an open-air deck on top. Viking has three divisions consisting of Viking Ocean Cruises, Viking River Cruises, and Viking Expeditions. Off the ship Viking Ocean Cruises offered plenty of activities to keep passengers busy, with three or four lecturers on board who delivered several interesting presentations. Viking is often referred to as "luxury," a word possibly overused in the travel industry. Regional guest performers provide entertainment, typically musical or dance, indicative of the area's culture in which the ship's sailing. Thank you. It runs around downtown Tampa daily from 7 am (8.30 am on weekends) until 11 pm (or 2 am Friday and Saturday . (I know Im 50. Likewise, all cabins are big by cruise standards, and they all include balconies. Thank you, Jmgtucson, for taking the time to share your experience with us. Planning a trip can be overwhelming; especially a trip with several stops. The deck plans usually only show areas of concern to the cruise passengers. I look forward to helping you navigate your river or ocean cruise. To a person, the people with whom I spoke said that every experience theyve had was exceptional. The last thing we need is one more depository of critical personal records than can be compromised by the bad guys. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. The package price is less than half of what most lines charge. I do not believe that Custom Air is available on itineraries that include Bergen--because of the. (USBs and outlets are cleverly designed into the furniture in the ships' atriums, called The Living Room. Viking also seamlessly incorporates the itinerary into its onboard enrichment programming, with lectures focusing on topics like history, culture, politics and architecture. Thank you to all for your input, we are going to call Viking and see if it preferred or mandatory. We are most likely on the same cruise. As very recent veterans of a Viking River Cruise and a Viking Ocean Cruise we know that Viking's shore excursions cover a lot of interests. We did take advantage of both the pre-cruise extension to Ha Long Bay and the post-cruise extension to Bangkok. With less than four hours sleep the night before, I slept off some of my jet lag and did some writing before catching the tail end of a presentation on Viennese coffeehouse culture in the lounge, followed by the chefs Champagne reception, dinner in the restaurant, and drinks and live music in the lounge. The first was what it was like cruising during Covid-19. If you have any medical needs associated with a disability, you must inform Viking at the time of booking. It's not going to be all "unicorns and rainbows.". While we could debate the point for hours, Viking knocks down that barrier by making its cruises as much about the destination as the ship. Constant locally sourced foods also mean the freshest of foods. Canceling closer to the cruise departure date will incur varying fees that are a percentage of the cruise fare. Probably one of the biggest pros of European river cruising is the enormous amount of choice. Coal slag could kill your grass or give it a boost! Since 2015, Viking Ocean Cruises has earned acclaim for its inclusive luxury ships and engaging, destination-focused itineraries. Standard cruise itineraries range from eight to 93 days, while the line's World Cruise options can last up to 138 days. 10) There is no limit on the amount of wine, beer, spirits, and soft drinks you may bring onto the ship at embarkation or in a port. You'll find Viking sailing rivers in Europe, Russia, Ukraine, Egypt, and Asia. We are in our late 60's, but are adventuresome and in good physical condition. Drawbacks. Whether or not these cons are deterrents is entirely up to you and the . Laura on their recent cruise to Iceland aboard Viking Ocean Cruises' ship, Viking Sky. This makes budgeting much easier for a first-time cruiser, who pays one fee that covers the cruise fare; beer, wine and soda at every meal; at least one shore excursion in every port; meals in the main dining restaurant as well as specialty venues; use of the thermal spa facilities; Wi-Fi; self-service laundry; and entertainment, items for which many cruise lines charge additional fees. Service wins top remarks, followed by the food and the boats, as well as the excursions. Ours was the Viking Jarl, built in 2013. 16) All cabins have heated bathroom floors, anti-fog mirrors, 40-42" flatscreen TVs with Movies On Demand, mini-refrigerators, security safe, hairdryer, and premium toiletries. Ive never been on a trip where people took care of things for me. At the moment, they have 17 ships but have many more coming - in the next couple of years they are going to have over 20 ships. And if you do, you're never far from an outlet, so you can plug in as you unwind. The ships are quite small, with just under . - Lynette Travelling the world by cruise ship is SO much easier than travelling by any other means of transport. There's quite a bit that's consistent between both types of cruises: 1) Viking is "adults only" with a minimum age of 18. With 930 passengers, Viking's ships are on the smaller side for ocean ships which are large enough for more activities, food, and entertainment options, but intimate enough for guests to know each other and small enough to get into ports not available to mega-ships. Cruise Lines "P - Z" Viking Ocean PROS AND CONS OF COMPLETING VERIFLY WITH VIKING Make Sure Your Voice Is Heard! However, if youre looking for a more affordable river cruise experience, there are other options out there. The difference in size allows the ocean ships to offer a lot more options than their riverboat cousins. We are in our late 60's, but are adventuresome and in good physical condition. You can make your own workout from there: push-ups, jumping jacks, triceps dips, walking lunges, etc. 11) The optional Silver Spirits Premium Beverage Package is available if you wish to have unlimited drinks and prefer premium wines at meals. There was entertainment afterward, but we opted to return to our room and pack. That. How will a carbon monoxide detector help keep you safe? The off-ship excursions weren't always quite as successful. There's a huge choice of rivers - you can cruise on pretty much all of the major rivers within continental Europe: the Rhine, the Rhone, the Danube, the Loire, the Seine, the Elbe, the Douro the list goes on and on. While prices start at around $100 per day, you can easily end up spending a lot more if you add on excursions and special onboard experiences. We learned that people destroyed Jewish cemeteries and saw the gravestones used as trophy architecture. Booking windows open based on which cabin category you choose. That included our airfare, thanks to a special promotion that comes along fairly regularly. A bit of perspective: I've never been on a cruise of any kind. We reboarded the buses for a driving tour of the Buda side of the city, enjoying views of the Danube, its many bridges and the Parliament Building. We made our reservations in the depths of the pandemic - a hopeful and optimistic gesture toward the future. Viking makes cruising easy, by giving passengers choice where it counts -- food and drinks, excursions and spa treatments -- and eliminating it where it doesn't. For that reason, my agency tries to predict possible weak points and increase verification of those potential items. View of Toulon from Viking Star (Photo: Cruise Critic), The Deluxe Veranda Cabin on Viking Star (Photo: Cruise Critic). Id peg the average at 70 on our Viking River Cruise, but thats not to say that there arent any much younger people. Viking River Cruises began in 1997. Staff were all friendly and helpful. WHITE RAIN/VIKING CRUISES. We also stumbled upon the centuries-old abbey and a bit of a creepy saint altar within before walking back to the boat. Most of my travel is roughing it: whether literally, out in the woods; or organizing busy budget trips for my family; or traveling solo, in which Im solely responsible for my safety, transportation, accommodations, food, water and activities. You must have a passport valid for at least six months after your cruise ends, as well as any necessary visas in order to board. I barely slept. VeriFly was very straightforward- we have digital Covid passes in the U.K. and uploaded an existing photo from files for each of us. For more information on when you can book, visit Viking'swebsite. While both ocean and river have local lecturers and programs, the riverboats are heavier on demonstrations and activities. Mom and I sat with several wildly different groups of people, only similar in their charming conversation skills and warmth. 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Looking for a more affordable River cruise experience, there are three levels on the plans!