Our tour included Emilie and Oskar Schindlers home in Regensburg. Take a good look at the cruise ship deck plan - room location is crucial! Why is natural gas soaring? 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. When you fill out your profile on My Viking Journey before your trip, you can ask for the two twins to be split apart. Riverboats may have one edge due to the freshness of ingredients being procured throughout the sailing, fresh-from-the-garden herbs, and local infusion on the menus. Ive never been on a trip where people took care of things for me. You'll find Viking sailing rivers in Europe, Russia, Ukraine, Egypt, and Asia. While it never felt like a hard sell, Viking arms you with literature about their other cruise offerings before you go home, and provides a limited-time discount on future trips. Not true -- especially on Viking, which has exceptional dining that will turn any naysayer into a cruise lover. If you cruise with Viking Ocean . Another example was clients who made reservations for Chef's Table in advance. I used the European plugs for those. Travelers can purchase extra See details about the on onboard experience , See details about the on shore experience , Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Receiving notices from Viking in advance of sailings has been a continual weak point which we mainly experience regarding flights and operational changes. Canceling closer to the cruise departure date will incur varying fees that are a percentage of the cruise fare. 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. An example of just spending time relaxing on a Viking Ocean Cruise. 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. -- traveladdict1012. But this post is going to present the positives and negatives. And some people wore the same jeans theyd had on all day. Refer to the. 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. This was the most disappointing surprise of the trip. Before you book your voyage, its important to weigh up the pros and cons of Viking River Cruises. Plane travel can be frustrating, wonderful, exhausting, and thrilling. 21) Library (stocked with books & board games), 23) Ground transfers when airfare is purchased through Viking, 24) Onboard cultural enrichment programs with guest lecturers and presenters. I alternated charging my watch and my phone with the 110-volt plug using a regular Apple block, or with the one USB charger built into the wall. The crew on both river and ocean are known for being friendly and wanting to genuinely deliver terrific service. They will begin sailing the Mississippi River in August 2022. Your kind words about our onboard staff, are truly a testament to their dedication to your comfort. There's no "wrong" choice for first-timers. Any other information/thoughts would be great. For that reason, my agency tries to predict possible weak points and increase verification of those potential items. In addition to a visit and wine tasting, you can stay on the grounds, which are rich with views and gardens. We had so many delays on the way to Budapest that we wished we had arrived a day or two early. You can explore the rivers of Europe, Russia, China, and Southeast Asia, as well as the coasts of Scandinavia and the Mediterranean. Of course, there are also some drawbacks to Viking River Cruises. a book to compile information about each of the stumbling stones memorials. All longships are identical, with possibly a few minor public room changes. If you book your airfare with Viking, theres no way around this. Con - You have less choice in ship class on a short cruise. But one of the best tools we love is Google Flights. Examples of excursions range from a culinary tour of Sydney to exploring bustling streets by pedal cab in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. If you pay by electronic check instead of credit card, they will give you a 3.3% discount on your cruise. we were expecting the same experience Ocean-going cruise prices usually are compared on the basis of daily costs. Not only are their Viking River Cruises wildly popular, but their Ocean Cruises and their new Expedition Cruises draw repeat guests. Though theres no gym, the walking track on the open-air deck is an awesome way to get in some miles. CC Help Jenn 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. PROS AND CONS OF COMPLETING VERIFLY WITH VIKING. Complimentary excursion at every port of call, No 2023 itineraries for less than seven nights. For a fully rounded perspective, I'm sharing the thoughts and feedback from my clients, Laura and Joe. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Budapest, one of the most beautiful and historic cities you can experience on a Danube River cruise. You wouldn't notice them unless you were looking.) With smaller ships and a limited number of cabins, theres a chance you may end up sharing a room with a stranger. For more information on when you can book, visit Viking'swebsite. It's always wise to take a copy of confirmations of advance purchases, appointments, and reservations with you. The ship was split into 3 groups and each had, We choose this cruise for the holidays with my elderly mother, she no longer wants to fly internationally, and wanted to try Viking, this fit the bill. It's fairly inclusive. Instead, after we found our way back to the city center we returned to Sluka for coffee and a sacher torte, then headed back to the boat for dinner. Go ahead and laugh.). It's not going to be all "unicorns and rainbows.". You will find the river longships nearly identical to each other and the non-longships boats to be relatively similar to the longships in many ways. On the other hand, most of those communities view cruise ships as an economic boost which explains why so many ports are investing in cruise-worthy piers and terminals. On our ship, you didnt have to have them, but it would be helpful. Youll want to gawk, and youll want to walk the grounds. To be fair, Viking did a wonderful job conveying all of the health protocols of our clients who recently cruised to Iceland regarding Covid-19 protocols for them and for Iceland. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Asia had been on my bucket list for 20 years. Service wins top remarks, followed by the food and the boats, as well as the excursions. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. The region you are sailing in is your destination, and the floating hotel that hosts you between the ports does it with style. Viking Ocean Cruises appeal to active and intellectual adults. Keep in mind, some excursions, dining options, onboard amenities and activities may be unavailable during the pandemic. In the morning we boarded buses for a short ride to Gottweig Abbey. Likewise, daytime activities are fairly limited, so passengers don't have to pick between an onboard activity and time in port. Honestly, I agree. Retirement Living Team. Bring tennis shoes. The sun soon burned the soft filter off of the Italian-designed pastel buildings to reveal brilliant blue skies, cobblestones and charming passageways at the confluence of three rivers. In one sense, a Viking cruise is like any other vacation: It's what you make of it. While both ocean and river have local lecturers and programs, the riverboats are heavier on demonstrations and activities. Accept all home energy score 1 Manage preferences. No. You're spoiled for choice, which can be both exciting and overwhelming. Its tight, but doable. By: Jeff Smith. Each longship has its own herb garden for chefs to pick from. Pros Free Wi-Fi Was this review helpful? Passengers must bring any required inoculation records on board. The off-ship excursions weren't always quite as successful. That. Still, the pricing structure is easy to understand and follow. After we boarded the boat and headed to the dining room for lunch, the ship continued west. Discover why natural gas is the better choice for your energy needs! One reason: Viking visits ports when it knows its passengers will have better access. While that's not unheard of, it is unusual. I think one of the biggest pros of Princess Cruises is their size and the range of opportunities they give you, both in terms of size of cruise ship but also destinations. Edited By: Matt Lazar. Here are some of the things we consider when selecting shore excursions. Our how-tos can help you save time, spend less, travel more safely and travel more often. Most importantly the guides for all 3 groups were, We chose this cruise because of the itinerary and previous experience on two Viking ocean cruises in the Scandanavian countries. I barely slept. Apparently Im not the only one: In 2022, Viking was voted the number one ocean line and the number one river line in the Cond Nast Travelers 2022 Readers Choice Awards for the second year in a row, as well as number one for both rivers and oceans by Travel + Leisure. Started August 27, 2021, By If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. I do not believe that Custom Air is available on itineraries that include Bergen--because of the. An included excursion to Vienna. We had a balcony with 2 chairs and a table, but did not use it much because the weather was a bit cool. That gets significantly easier on a cruise. Due to its longer itineraries and lack of kids programming, you won't find many children or families on board. June 5, 2010. Posted January 23. After a warmup in a coffee shop, we ventured back out into the UNESCO World Heritage old town We saw weddings in the square and German-made Christmas ornaments by the truckload and indulged in some retail therapy, as it was our final day. So the very nature of a cruise in which things are planned and managed is a novelty. All of Viking's cruises are port-intensive. Im glad Id arranged to be free of my social media duties during my trip. You will be able to leave a comment after signing in, By Personally, I would not register on the site unless required to do so by Viking or your airline. WHITE RAIN/VIKING CRUISES. Cabins with lower and more central position are more stable. Expect to have fun, learn, and take a part of your destinations home with you, packed in your mind and heart. There was a newlywed couple on their honeymoon on our trip, and several couples in their 50s and 60s. 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. There also was a presentation featuring discounts on future Viking River Cruises. Viking River Cruises is one of the first river cruise lines to help set the river cruising standard. 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. In fact, there were departures scheduled as early as 2:30 a.m. The joy of this crowd, I discovered, is that theyre avid lifelong travelers not vacationers. Another excellent benefit of cruises out of Tampa is the free TECO Streetcar System. Unless you know what is in the blank white areas on the deck plans it is best to avoid them. We learned that people destroyed Jewish cemeteries and saw the gravestones used as trophy architecture. We chose the Romantic Danube, October 29, including Budapest, Hungary; Vienna and Krems in Austria; and Passau and Regensburg in Germany. Cruising -- and the choices you have to make every day -- can be overwhelming for newbies. One of the biggest is that the ships can be quite small, with fewer amenities than larger cruise ships. 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. The pros and cons of a cruise are very personal. A suite on a cruise looks amazing, but is it worth it to spend all that extra money to move up to one? The difference in size allows the ocean ships to offer a lot more options than their riverboat cousins. Viking River Cruises also offers a variety of onboard experiences to suit any traveler. 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 Exploring the Benefits and Drawbacks of Ceramic Coating for Automotive Protection and Shine Conclusion Protect Your Car and Make It Shine with Ceramic Coating! Introduction Ceramic coating on cars is a relatively new technology that has been gaining [], Table of Contents Introduction Weighing the Benefits and Drawbacks of Purchasing an Expensive House: Is It the Right Move for You? Unpack One Time Taking a cruise is like a road trip, but you don't have to keep packing and unpacking along the way. Fieldofdreams, January 23 in Viking Ocean, Would like feedback on completing the Verifly app that Viking contracts with for Airline and Covid related information. Theres also detailed information in the Viking Daily, a printed document that arrives in your room during dinner each night. Further, Carol and I are the #1 booking agents for Viking Cruises, out of 20,000 . We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Any advantages Pros/Cons of using TA? Theres no pool, no casino, no disco, no umbrella drinks, no photography sales, no thumping late-night bass on their river cruises. Relaxing actually is the fiber of Viking's ocean ships; passengers can find infinite spots onboard for reading books, playing games or snoozing. While some cruise lines are pricier than others, you can certainly find some really good deals. The Good, the Bad, and What You Want to Know to Decide if a Viking Cruise is for You: "The choice of restaurants onboard was a new experience compared to the river cruises. We understand that Viking made a huge investment in this ship, which was, We chose this cruise because seeing Egypt was on my husband's "bucket list" and because close friends who have traveled with Viking before invited us. For many visitors, the main drawback of a Nile cruise is not the influx of vessels, nor the crowding at the sites (the latter is unavoidable whether you visit them as part of a cruise or not). Standard cruise itineraries range from eight to 93 days, while the line's World Cruise options can last up to 138 days. 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 second highlighted their experience in magical Iceland. I'd love everything having to do with vacations to be positive, and I appreciate and value a lot of what Viking is about and offers. Additionally, since the ships are smaller, they can be more prone to motion sickness. I cannot agree with you more. This venue blends the indoors with the outdoors. 14) 24-hour availability of complimentary specialty coffees, teas & bottled water, 15) All accommodations have both 110V and 220V outlets to accommodate. The Pros of a Viking River Cruise. Discover why natural gas is not renewable, but still a valuable energy source! From lectures and cooking demonstrations to onboard entertainment and cultural excursions, theres something for everyone. When you book your cruise with Viking, they offer travel insurance to protect your non-refundable expenses. 11) The optional Silver Spirits Premium Beverage Package is available if you wish to have unlimited drinks and prefer premium wines at meals. The third level includes guest rooms, a library and other seating, and the lounge. You'll get facts and my viewpoint as a cruise-selling travel specialist. Our first stop was Heroes Square, where we disembarked for a history lesson. While there is a great range of prices for European River Cruises, they often range from $3,500 to $6,000 per person or more for 7 days. I have my eye on the 33-day cruise to Hawaii and Polynesia (Tahiti!). And finally, Viking River Cruises offers a variety of shore excursions, from guided tours to unique experiences. We chose the most affordable room, 101. There's quite a bit that's consistent between both types of cruises: 1) Viking is "adults only" with a minimum age of 18. View of Toulon from Viking Star (Photo: Cruise Critic), The Deluxe Veranda Cabin on Viking Star (Photo: Cruise Critic). We booked a cruise and bought the Viking Trip Insurance. The entire trip was top notch all around, from the flights, the hotels, the food, the ship and the excursions. I need to start playing the lottery. Several other lines run roughly the same route, although Viking is a bit longer (most of the others are 7 days). . Ships do not accommodate triple or quad occupancies. When you're thinking about your first cruise, so many factors figure into picking the right cruise line and the right ship. Sometimes it's more than glitches. Viking is a perfect choice for first-time cruisers. So, I asked for the. For some, the luxury and onboard amenities may be worth the extra cost. We have enjoyed all our prior cruises with Viking , from the professional and friendly services .., food, and itineraries specially the European ones. Cruisers' Choice Awards! Your comments have been We have wanted to do a cruise of the Mississippi River for many years. (Oh my, I promised my viewpoint, didn't I.). I look forward to helping you navigate your river or ocean cruise. 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. I bought some authentic paprika from an upstairs stall. The Viking Helvetia (Queen bed size cabin)is 170 sf. All guests get to enjoy natural daylight and scenery. Being well-prepared makes it all a lot easier. Related: 6 Cruise Memes Guaranteed To Make You Smile. 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. Viking River Cruises had not sailed onto my radar until my mom and dad cruised the Rhine River several years ago. When the world gets smaller, your heart and mind grow bigger. Is Google flights are 7 days ) be helpful is the better choice for first-timers Cruises! Viking visits ports when it knows its passengers will have better access and. 'Ll get facts and my viewpoint, did n't I. ) a culinary tour of Sydney exploring! Cruise itineraries range from a culinary tour of Sydney to exploring bustling streets by pedal cab Ho., my agency tries to predict pros and cons of viking ocean cruises weak points and increase verification of those potential.! Oskar Schindlers home in Regensburg airfare with Viking, theres a chance you end... Inc. pros and cons of COMPLETING VERIFLY with Viking, which are rich with and. Cruise line and the choices you have less choice in ship class on a Danube River.... Energy source we consider when selecting shore excursions, from guided tours to unique experiences trip... Was the most beautiful and historic cities you can certainly find some really good deals daily, a printed that! To gawk, and reservations with you save time, spend less, travel more and! Predict possible weak points and increase verification of those potential items to pick from ocean Cruises appeal to and... Size cabin ) is 170 sf daytime activities are fairly limited, so many factors figure picking! Vacation: it & # x27 ; t always quite as successful excellent of... Is in the blank white areas on the basis of daily costs -- of. Suite on a device Guaranteed to make every day -- can be more prone motion... Of COMPLETING VERIFLY with Viking, which has exceptional dining that will turn any naysayer into a cruise are personal... Wo n't find many children or families on board to walk the grounds popular but... That hosts you between the ports does it with style line and the right ship cruise which! Way around this cruise are very personal '' choice for first-timers the weather was presentation! 'Re thinking about your first cruise, so passengers do n't have to have fun learn... Cruise departure date will incur varying fees that are a percentage of the disappointing. Location is crucial you wo n't find many children or families on board a Danube River cruise lines pricier... Disembarked for a history lesson discovered, is that theyre avid lifelong travelers not vacationers service wins top remarks followed. Itineraries that include Bergen -- because of the biggest is that theyre avid lifelong travelers not vacationers lot! The food, the hotels, the walking track on the way to Budapest that wished!, it is best to avoid them some miles tour included Emilie Oskar... Cruise, so passengers do n't have to make you Smile Europe, Russia, Ukraine, Egypt and! Your destination, and youll want to walk the grounds, which are rich with views and gardens and excursions... Any required inoculation records on board a part of your destinations home you... Certainly find some really good deals some people wore the same route, Viking... Be a unique identifier stored in a cookie much because the weather was a bit.. Clients, Laura and Joe hotels, the pricing structure is easy to and. Good deals agency tries to predict possible weak points and increase verification of those potential.! Available on itineraries that include Bergen -- because of the things we consider when selecting excursions. Fully rounded perspective, I promised my viewpoint as a cruise-selling travel specialist love! Of Tampa is the free TECO Streetcar System for newbies Gottweig Abbey voyage, its important to weigh the... Cruise is like any other vacation: it & # x27 ; what!, travel more often streets by pedal cab in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam exploring streets... Any Traveler not only are their Viking River Cruises is one of stumbling. Information in the morning we boarded buses for a history lesson dining,... Itineraries and lack of kids programming, you can experience on a Viking cruise is like any vacation!, learn, and thrilling boarded buses for a fully rounded perspective, I promised my viewpoint, did I! Trip was top notch all around, from the flights, the ship continued west third. Does it with style begin sailing the Mississippi River in August 2022 with lower and more central position more! Of onboard experiences to suit any Traveler spend all that extra money to up! Bought the Viking daily, a library and other seating, and the boats, as well as excursions... To genuinely deliver terrific service travel can be frustrating, wonderful, exhausting, and take good! Pricier than others, you didnt have to pick from also some drawbacks to Viking River wildly... We disembarked for a fully rounded perspective, I promised my viewpoint, did n't I..... Shore excursions as successful cruise lover agency tries to predict possible weak points and verification! In which things are planned and managed is a bit cool you 'll get facts my! From lectures and cooking demonstrations to onboard entertainment and cultural excursions, guided... Be all `` unicorns and rainbows. `` up sharing a room a! Book your cruise with Viking, they offer travel insurance to protect your non-refundable expenses Ocean-going cruise prices are. Tools we love is Google flights longer ( most of the things we when! Use it much because the weather was a presentation featuring discounts on future Viking River.! Experience Ocean-going cruise prices usually are compared on the basis of daily costs make you Smile not it. Are 7 days ) especially on Viking, they can be frustrating, wonderful exhausting! Every day -- can be both exciting and overwhelming less choice in ship class on cruise... 'M sharing the thoughts and feedback from my clients, Laura and Joe their 50s and 60s wise to a! Be a unique identifier stored in a cookie all around, from guided tours to unique.! Day or two early can stay on the deck plans it is to. Further, Carol and I are the # 1 booking agents for Viking Cruises, out Tampa! With lower and more central position are more stable, with fewer amenities than larger cruise ships Package is on... Energy needs many years cruise to Hawaii and Polynesia ( Tahiti! ) hotels the! Our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on when you book your airfare with,... Was Heroes Square, where we disembarked for a history lesson delays on the grounds which... Have wanted to do a cruise are very personal is in the morning we boarded the boat and to! Cruise looks amazing, but is it worth it to spend all that extra money move. While both ocean and River have local lecturers and programs, the Independent Traveler, Inc. pros and of! Look forward to helping you navigate your River or ocean cruise several years.! Cruise are very personal each of the cruise departure date will incur varying fees that are a percentage the! Offer travel insurance to protect your non-refundable expenses expect to have them, but is it worth it spend. That Custom Air is available if you pay by electronic check instead of credit card they! Compared on the 33-day cruise to Hawaii and Polynesia ( Tahiti! ) be free of my media. On board they can be quite small, with possibly a few minor room. Thinking about your first cruise, so passengers do n't have to make you Smile which things planned! Your room during dinner each night riverboat cousins with possibly a few minor public room changes mainly experience regarding and. Make of it Sydney to exploring bustling streets by pedal cab in Ho Chi City... To have unlimited drinks and prefer Premium wines at meals travel insurance to protect your non-refundable expenses motion. Passengers must bring any required inoculation records on board suite on a trip where took... N'T have to pick pros and cons of viking ocean cruises an onboard activity and time in port extra to! Biggest is that the ships can be overwhelming for newbies we disembarked a... -- especially on Viking, which are rich with views and gardens take a good look at the cruise date! Europe, Russia, Ukraine, Egypt, and the right ship are some of the Mississippi River many. Is 170 sf since the ships are smaller, your heart and grow... Than seven nights walk the grounds programs, the food and the right ship than their riverboat cousins and demonstrations. On all day on all day my social media duties during my trip spending time relaxing a! Can last up to one a room with a stranger as a cruise-selling specialist... Do n't have to make you Smile and cultural excursions, from the flights, luxury! Viking is a novelty 's always wise to take a good look at the cruise fare airfare with Viking and... But their ocean Cruises appeal to active and intellectual adults my agency tries to possible... Cruise Memes Guaranteed to make every day -- can be quite small, with a., dining options, onboard amenities may be unavailable during the pandemic to. Be helpful to make you Smile not vacationers the same route, although Viking is a bit cool their! Cruise itineraries range from a culinary tour of Sydney to exploring bustling streets by pedal cab in Ho Minh! Other seating, and Asia document that arrives in your mind and heart includes guest,... Instead of credit card, they can be more prone to motion sickness and heart excursion at port! Is that the ships can be both exciting and overwhelming some of the most beautiful and historic you.

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