The friends we cruise with have used it and say it is good and turnaround is quick. Becki We saw you comment about change for guides and such and credit cards with no foreign charges. One thing to keep in mind is that things can change from day to day, week to week and that includes river levels. (OK, the wifi in the rooms REALLY sucksbut if thats your #1 problem, you arent doing badly). As for keeping the itinerary full, its hard not to when you have so many great places to explore, but I agree that scheduling downtime is important, too. Thank you for your informative article! On all river cruises, guests are offered one complimentary shore excursion at every destination. Since we booked through our travel agent, Viking sent her the final travel documents, and she checked them before passing them on to us. Essentially, each ship then turned around and went back to the city from which it originated. Stairs connect all the decks plus theres an elevator to service the upper and middle decks. Viking River Cruises laundry - River Cruising - Cruise Critic (If you are booked in one of the suites, youll have access to your stateroom at 12:00.) This means that your ship could be the first, second, or third ship docked. We haven't used Viking's laundry service so can't comment on that but in the FAQ they do have the price list so at least you'll have an idea of wha Was our first Viking cruise, so we used your article as a guide. We are scheduled to take the Viking Danube cruise in early June 2022. Thanks for any thoughts! Some river cruise companies do have those facilities, but Viking Longships dont have those. Without a doubt, we give Viking chefs top marks for the presentation and flavor of the food they serve. We were never disappointed with our meal selections. All Viking river cruise ship staterooms have: river views. Hi Karen, A few things could happen when river levels are too low for cruise ships. If you send your clothes away to be professionally cleaned, the fees range from $1 for small items to be washed and pressed up to $20 or more for a three-piece suit to be dry cleaned. Thank you for making me less anxious! The number indicates which ship youre on. Prior to dinner, the chef usually introduces the options including his/her recommendations. Have a wonderful cruise! Not everyone needs to go on excursions. So for 200 dollars, we got a 400 value good for tickets, flights, an excursion, or even the beverage package. Im with you on how much fun it is to plan trips. I've used the laundry service on three river cruises and three ocean cruises and have never had any issues. The price list is located in each stateroom. Prepaid gratuities came to 18 Euros per guest per day. Have a great cruise! This happens when bridges are too low to safely pass under with guests on the sun deck. The maitre-d I am convinced is in league with the devil, as she tempted diners again and again with just try this ONE little pastry. Its best to check availability online or ask Viking for the cities youll be visiting. Laundry services are wash and iron, or just iron. Also, for individualized tours try Tours by Locals (weve had EXCELLENT tours in many, many cities including Europe, India, Malaysia, Thailand), or AirBnBs tours. 11 AM Embarkation 11 AM priority stateroom access Sound like you have a great cruise coming up! Do you know if the outdoor areas on the sun deck can be enclosed for added warmth on these cooler weather trips? During lunch, prior to and after dinner, theres usually live music in the Lounge. Very informative. Hi Kathy, Great question! Knowing you can do your laundry onboard allows you to Theres a section of the Aquavit Terrace at the very front of the ship thats open to the weather, but theres also an area (just behind it) that can be enclosed with sliding glass doors, so the area can be enjoyed when the weather isnt cooperating. (Im trying to save you room in your luggage!) Viking offers complimentary wine, beer, and soft drinks during lunch and dinner. We haven't used Viking's laundry service so can't comment on that but in the FAQ they do have the price list so at least you'll have an idea of what to expect. River Cruise Advisor | Avid Cruiser | About | Terms & Full Disclosure | Privacy | Contact | Subscribe. Youll receive an excursion card with a number and a letter. Announcing Our 2023 Cruisers' Choice Award Winners! We thoroughly enjoyed our Viking river cruise from Prague to Paris last summer. When you return to your room, you will notice the dinner menus for that evening. Laundry on Viking - River Cruising - Cruise Critic Community There are large windows on the port and starboard sides so views are available while cruising the river at mealtime. Everyone should read this as every question seems to be answered well and clearly! 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. WOW, what a complete piece of well written and informative information we have come across. There are large windows on the port and starboard sides so views are available while cruising the river at mealtime. Indeed, very VERY helpfulespecially for first time river cruisers. It wasnt a deal breaker, but something you should be aware of. Doing so will help you remember months and years later where all your amazing pictures are from! It sounds like you are all set. Viking collected the luggage (with different colored tags for the three different floors of the ship) and trucked it to where the Modi, our new ship, was docked. We loved our trip and would recommend it to others. Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos. Question please, how fast, how good, how expensive? Thank you for your article and your help! There are also bright red full-size Viking umbrellas to take along on excursions if its raining. I understand drinks are provided with meals but I enjoy a few drinks before dinner. We found the car rentals and made reservations, but we cant find any daily schedule of when the ship docks and departs at each port. and special treats made nice surprises. 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 Viking Grand European Tour from Amsterdam to Budapest was such a great experience one well never forget. I hope you have a wonderful cruise and that things work out for your planned day trips! We kept our itinerary full, which might have been an error trust me, you want to take a breather every few days! Three meals are included each day at the following times: Soda, beer, and house wine are available at lunch and dinner at no charge. You will be able to leave a comment after signing in, Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. The crew communicates with each other quite well. And about general seating at meals in the dining room, theres a choice of large and small tables and theres no assigned seating, so if youre one of the early ones at meal time, youll have a great chance of finding a setting that suits you best. One great thing about Viking is that many times their ships dock right in the towns, so its easy to get off and be on your way to make your own discoveries. private bathrooms that are separate from the living space. Another option, if the river levels are too low overall, would be for passengers to be bussed from destination to destination, staying in hotels, throughout the cruise. 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. I wonder if you have any thoughts on us meeting up with friends from Stuttgart. Scheduled for Grand European in September 2023. This should allow you to finalize your plans to disembark and go meet your friends. 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. Only 190 guests. Thanks for the great details! Good luck with your planning, and have a great cruise! Once enrolled, you enter the dates of your travel and your destinations. See. 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. Great post. Since it will be winter with colder temps, I am wondering about the indoor lounging space/common areas on the longboats. In some destinations,laundry can be sent out for cleaning fee while the boat is docked. Thank you! There is an extra charge for the Silver Spirits package for guests who want to enjoy premium wines and beer, cocktails, and champagnes. Herding 169 tourists onto separate buses all going separate places at separate timeswow, thats a job! Is room service available or will my husband have the opportunity to fetch my coffee? Weve chosen a mix of the included tours and the custom days, avoided any places to which weve already travelled and have added in the extensions to both ends, hoping to see friends in Amsterdam. TIP: Take a picture of The Viking Daily each evening before heading to bed. Viking is very efficient with their timing. When the cruise ends, you settle your account in cash (U.S. dollars or Euros) or by credit card. Per Viking: There are no formal nights in the evening; recommended evening dress is elegant casual. For ladies, this may include a dress, skirt or slacks with a sweater or blouse; and for gentlemen, trousers and a collared shirt. GREAT INFO. Complimentary self-service Guest Laundry, including washing machines, detergent, fabric softener, dryers, irons and ironing boards are provided on Deck 1 on Crystal Bach, Crystal Mahler, Crystal Debussy and Crystal Ravel. On average, how much time did you spend on the boat sailing from each port? Have a wonderful cruise, Thomas! Also, what shore excursions do you recommend while in Budapest? Plus you can expect some special cooking and craft demonstrations, wine tastings, and presentations about a destinations special features. Good luck! Enjoy your cruise! Viking ships all sport calming Scandinavian decor and are designed efficiently. WebYou also can do your laundry for free in the ship's self-service laundry rooms (detergent is even provided for you). Viking spent days tracking it in the luggage chaos of last summer.