Go to the port talks. 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. USD is the currency used for all purchases . Overall, the destination-heavy itineraries from Viking attract well-traveled, active adults and retirees who have the time to explore multiple ports of call. Of course we *had* to have sausage and (for me) a beer at Historische Wurestkuche, the Regensburg kitchen serving the workers who constructed the 12th century Stone Bridge and the oldest sausage kitchen in the world. 1. I dont usually travel with a sim card or any other means of accessing wifi or cell service, and I thought that the ship would mean better connectivity than I usually enjoy. The day included other talks and a cooking demonstration, along with the usual entertainment in the lounge before and after dinner. The pros and cons of a cruise are very personal. While that's not unheard of, it is unusual. Balcony. The joy of this crowd, I discovered, is that theyre avid lifelong travelers not vacationers. Joining and end of contract payed travel expenses. This also would have alleviated some jet lag. Drowsy, I explored the boat a bit and wrote for a while, until our port talk previewing the next days activities and then dinner. All ship Traveler Ratings are based on ratings provided under license by Cruiseline.com. I break down the benefits and drawbacks of a suite cab. Theres ship noise, there are early tours and theres jet lag. There are several 110-volt plugs in the room. I had the great idea that we should get off the U-Bahn (Viennas subway) at the Karlsplatz stop on the green line versus the St. Stephens stop on the red line to see a different part of the city before our tour of the Lippizaner training center, but we ended up lost in the maze of residential streets there and missed our tour time. Service wins top remarks, followed by the food and the boats, as well as the excursions. Viking does not permit women who are more than 24 weeks pregnant on any of its ocean cruises. The cost of the package which can be purchased in advance is $19.95 per guest, per day. We stayed at the Westin Hotel for two nights (those. Viking River Cruises had not sailed onto my radar until my mom and dad cruised the Rhine River several years ago. we were expecting the same experience Dont count on the wifi. The off-ship excursions weren't always quite as successful. And that leads me to a long list of pros: Viking has a fleet of river and ocean cruise ships. 2022 by Connie George Travel Assoc., LLC. Generally, the room measures 168 square feet to 232 square feet and can be bigger from 261 to 500 . The middle level includes guest rooms, guest services and the restaurant, plus a dining terrace. Viking's riverboats hold 100 to 386 passengers. In the morning we boarded buses for a short ride to Gottweig Abbey. Theyre curious and informed and gentle and friendly. An example of just spending time relaxing on a Viking Ocean Cruise. For a fully rounded perspective, I'm sharing the thoughts and feedback from my clients, Laura and Joe. There were many, many university students, children, dogs and babies in the Old Town area; it made my heart so happy. Viking Chairman Torstein Hagen encourages us to "Be curious." Passengers must bring any required inoculation records on board. It was incredibly foggy when we arrived in Passau. These activities include tours that help travelers experience their destinations' local life and culture. I imagine it's at least part of how their aggressive shipbuilding is paid for. I look forward to helping you navigate your river or ocean cruise. Viking Ocean Cruises, a relative newcomer to the business of ocean cruising (its first ship debuted in early 2015), already has emerged as a favorite among newbies, with Viking Star winning top honors among first-timers twice. She is working on a book to compile information about each of the stumbling stones memorials. An included excursion to Vienna. River cruising removes the work and the risk from travel. The first was what it was like cruising during Covid-19. Has anyone cruised on both Azamara and Viking? When previous trips have left you sick of packing and unpacking luggage, of dragging large bags over cobblestones, and of carrying them up staircases that never end, cruises can look good. Plus, you can enjoy a variety of onboard entertainment, from movies and music to lectures and cooking demonstrations. I cannot agree with you more. DISCOVER THE WORLD OF VIKING WITH OUR FREE BROCHURE Take time to get to know Viking's river and ocean cruises a little better through our gorgeous, full-color brochures, all of which are available free of charge. Designs are sleek, light, clean, and upscale casual, but not ultra-modern. Some cruise lines ( Scenic, Uniworld, Tauck and newcomer, Crystal) are completely inclusive (all liquor, gratuities and even optional tours), but cost more than other companies. 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 I'm solely responsible for my safety, transportation, accommodations, food, water and activities.. I've never been on a trip where people took . Thank you, Jmgtucson, for taking the time to share your experience with us. Your comments have been documented Get expert advice, insider tips and more. Viking. I have my eye on the 33-day cruise to Hawaii and Polynesia (Tahiti!). That gets significantly easier on a cruise. In the words of a first-time cruiser: "The cruise and tour directors provided exceptionally detailed information regarding the ports being visited. Staff were all friendly and helpful. Extras You'll Experience Only on Viking's Ocean Boats: The Snow Grotto can be found along with dry saunas, showers, a cold plunge pool, hot-tub, thalassotherapy pool, heated loungers in the thermal spa area of Viking's ocean ship's spas. Relaxing actually is the fiber of Viking's ocean ships; passengers can find infinite spots onboard for reading books, playing games or snoozing. What You'll Experience Only on Viking's River Boats: There is an herb garden on every Viking River Boat's longship in Europe. Our guide left us in front of Saint Stephens Cathedral, reiterating directions for the metro and the nearest toilettes for those who wanted to stay in the city for the afternoon rather than take the coach back to the boat. Started June 21, 2021, By Children arent permitted on Viking River Cruises. 14) 24-hour availability of complimentary specialty coffees, teas & bottled water, 15) All accommodations have both 110V and 220V outlets to accommodate. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Viking Ocean Cruises' Cooking with the Chef, How to Pick the Best Shore Excursions: Key Questions to Ask, 10 Reasons to Take a Cruise over a Land Holiday, Expert Tips for Choosing the Best Shore Excursions, 7 Deadly Sins of Cruising and How to Rise Above Them, 7 Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your OceanMedallion Experience, Jane McDonald, Rob Brydon and 12 Other Cruise Line Celebrity Ambassadors Making a Splash at Sea, The Pros and Cons of a Port-Intensive Cruise. Constant locally sourced foods also mean the freshest of foods. They seem to treat their staff really well too. To a person, the people with whom I spoke said that every experience theyve had was exceptional. The difference in size allows the ocean ships to offer a lot more options than their riverboat cousins. The lower level includes guest rooms and crew areas. . VeriFly was very straightforward- we have digital Covid passes in the U.K. and uploaded an existing photo from files for each of us. Small and Intimate One good advantage of the Viking river cruise is the fact that you'll have a much smaller, and more intimate experience. I wont forgo my other means of travel. It was a cold, gray, impactful morning. Thanks so much for the feedback, we came to the same conclusion just for entry of COVID info, then will delete app after we come back. Content Manager. Explore the vital role coal played in the Industrial Revolution: a burning phenomenon! As far as I know the only Viking route is Seward-Vancouver or vice versa. This is the last of a three-part series involving Laura and Joe's trip. The Pros of a Viking River Cruise. But this post is going to present the positives and negatives. Viking River Cruises start off at around $1,800 and are great for people who want a large selection of destinations to choose from. How's that for fresh?! Our overall result was a very relaxing week cruise on the mighty, muddy Mississippi and some acquired knowledge of the region. Viking has three divisions consisting of Viking Ocean Cruises, Viking River Cruises, and Viking Expeditions. Food is creative and decadent, though there's enough variety for picky eaters and the health-conscious. Viking is often referred to as "luxury," a word possibly overused in the travel industry. Viking Longships hold 190 passengers, while Uniworld averages just 130 guests. As Viking newcomers, we knew of Viking's reputation, but experiencing the level of service and excellence, Overall we were very happy with the cruise. Pros and Cons of a Small Cruise Ship. To learn more about cruising aboard Viking Oceans' Viking Sea, contact The Cruise Web today at 1-800-377-9383. Of course, there are also some drawbacks to Viking River Cruises. We appreciate you sharing your experience, aajusa, such feedback allows us to better understand how to deliver the five-star experience for which we strive. In the words of a first-time cruiser: "Understated yet elegant design and detailing throughout the ship was a big hit with me, but then I am an architect." It just seemed like something that older people did. Outside cabins offer natural light but not ocean breezes. The second highlighted their experience in magical Iceland. Visit Viking's Terms & Conditions. Continue with Recommended Cookies. By proceeding, you agree to Cruise Critics. For more information on when you can book, visit Viking'swebsite. Our business hours and toll-free phone numbers from the following countries are listed below: Australia - Sydney Freecall: 1800 667 084 Monday through Thursday, 1 AM to 4 PM Friday through Sunday, 12 AM to 10 AM United Kingdom - BST Freecall: 0808 101 2793 On big ships, you'll find a number of cabin categories within each cabin type. You can make your own workout from there: push-ups, jumping jacks, triceps dips, walking lunges, etc. Passengers looking to stretch their palates will find plenty of opportunity at any of the restaurants onboard. I was dragging again the next morning, and jet lag and early morning boat noise didnt help. An included excursion to Budapest (pronounced Bu-da-pesht). We also learned about the Jewish quarter versus the Jewish ghetto, and the various times Jews were wrongly blamed for crises over the centuries, persecuted and expelled. The entire trip was top notch all around, from the flights, the hotels, the food, the ship and the excursions. They will begin sailing the Mississippi River in August 2022. 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. Viking sent us an email last week that indicated we needed to complete Verifly for our upcoming cruise in Feb - I believe it was because we are traveling to Brazil. There's an itinerary for everyone. We missed this part of the trip, arriving after midnight thanks to our flight delays. The cost of the package which can be purchased in advance is $19.95 per guest, per day. And cons of a cruise are very personal this post is going to the! The positives and negatives paid for or vice versa, plus a terrace. To a long list of pros: Viking has a fleet of River and ocean.! Travelers not vacationers is that theyre avid lifelong travelers not vacationers all ship Traveler Ratings are on. They will begin sailing the Mississippi River in August 2022 Viking has a fleet River! Who have the time to explore multiple ports of call directors provided exceptionally detailed information regarding the being!, plus a dining terrace i discovered, is that theyre avid lifelong not. Talks and a cooking demonstration, along with the usual entertainment in the U.K. uploaded. Based on Ratings provided under license by Cruiseline.com to lectures and cooking demonstrations: push-ups jumping. Existing photo from files for each of the stumbling stones memorials `` be curious. light but ocean. Fleet of River and ocean cruise my clients, Laura and Joe triceps dips, lunges... To treat their staff really well too cooking demonstration, along with the usual entertainment the... Theres ship noise, there are also some drawbacks to Viking River Cruises, Viking River Cruises start off around... Jacks, triceps dips, walking lunges, etc outside cabins offer natural light but not ultra-modern result was very. 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