Kyu Kyu Hla Biography, Articles V

Sounds like youve got a great anniversary trip planned, Gary! So, we really didn't have an issue with too many devices/not enough outlets. Viking Cruises offers excursions on the sea and river. Thank you!! You make an excellent point, Julia. Uniworld Boutique River Cruises: 220V power is most common; some ships also have 110V outlets. Once youre on the ship, youll learn the times that the ship will be docked in a city, so you can plan your day. Hi. I had a wonderful trip with Viking Cruises' Sun cruise ship, there was good food and with a balcony cabin I enjoyed the view of the sea, good speed Wi-Fi and enjoyed all the Viking offers on board and shore excursions included. Dinner begins at 7:00 pm in the dining room. Another great feature of a Viking River cruise is the ship's electrical outlets. I hope you have a wonderful cruise and that things work out for your planned day trips! We were never disappointed with our meal selections. Rosetta. Viking has perfected hospitality on many levels. 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. Sound like you have a great cruise coming up! I will miss the free on board laundromat from ocean cruising though! Its not a deal breaker for us, but its something every river cruise guest should be forewarned about. I love this charger. Having to look for the shoe on the last day will remind you to open the safe so you dont forget your valuables. I know other travelers who just get cash out of ATMs while traveling (and Ive done that, too, of course), but I just like beginning the trip with some local cash. Viking has thought of that, too. Here are some examples from our cruise: Tipping is the universal way to thank someone for providing excellent service and you will find excellent service on Viking. Are there tea making facilities in room. By the way, the excursions included in the trip are typically large group experiences, while the optional excursions (available at an extra cost) are usually much smaller groups as they are more focused on specific areas of interest. For instance, how much is the Top of Cologne in Cologne Germany and is it worth it? We loved our trip and would recommend it to others. Just in front of the Lounge to the bow of the ship is the Aquavit Terrace. Having to dock the ship next to another cruise ship also means that the view from your stateroom could be blocked and your cabin could be a bit dark. There is precise timing to docking and excursions. Definitely needed that in the humidity. During lunch and dinner, guests are served complimentary soft drinks, beer, or wine. Many power strips have an integral surge protector. The river cruises have open seating, so that means you arent assigned any table mates. Many folks do tend to change from the clothes they wore for daily excursions to something a little dressier for dinner, but I wouldnt call dinner attire dressy. Required fields are marked *. JOOMFEEN Universal Travel Adapter. It would be more like smart casual (so no worn jeans and flip-flops, for example). How does Viking Ocean cruises treat solo travellers. Ive taken mine on multiple Viking river and OCEAN cruises and have never had a problem. I am sure i will have more later but your thread is wonderful. After the excursions, we all met at a restaurant in Nuremberg for lunch, had a little free time, and then were bussed to the new ship in the late afternoon. Theres always iced tea often with different flavors every day. On our trip, we met interesting people; visited fascinating places; sampled new foods, wines, and beer; and appreciated the convenience and gracious hospitality offered by Viking. So if your staying only on board you don't need a plug adapter. Some people book two cruises back-to-back to extend their vacation. 9 Plug Adapters for P&O Cruise Ships. I know the hair dryer is in the bathroom, so that is not an issue. Hope this helps. While I do agree that it is great to get away from the necessary daily evils of devices, I am wondering if you carry papers, maps, & books for all that stuff? Started October 12, 2018, Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. (located by the entry door) to power the cabin's electrical outlets and lights. Viking has guest departures timed to match their future travel plans. Check your cruise itinerary as it will tell you the expected times your ship will be docked at each stop. The crew communicates with each other quite well. Power strips increasingly also have USB sockets. Is that a crazy thing to say?! The only exception to the no-adapter rule below: Make sure you bring European-style adapters for the plugs, and that the hair tools can run on 220V current (for use near the makeup table in your cabin). Very relaxing! Your advice about avoiding the far inland tours is wise, I think. On one side of the menu are the classics or options that are always available. Now to your questions. (This is handy because you might encounter tour groups from other Viking ships that are docked in the same city at the same time.) Im so glad you found the article helpful, Ronnie! Youll be glad you did! To ensure you remember all the great experiences on your cruise, take lots of pictures and. Ive hand washed some things in the sink and hung them up to dry on the line, and it worked fine. Included is a packet of information specific to your ship (including phone numbers on the ship plus embarkation location information) and an itinerary. Viking is an industry leader for a variety of reasons including their choices of fascinating destinations, varied excursion options, attention to detail in designing the private and common spaces, and a welcoming and hard-working staff. 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. I hope you have a wonderful time! I find the quart-size bags to be the most versatile. We have booked all the included excursions, but have held off booking the optional ones as we love to do our own thing when in port, and perhaps covering more ground than the optional excursions. Hi Theo, you shouldnt have any problems meeting up with your friends in either Bamburg or Wurzburg while on the cruise. Hi Deb, youre just a few days away from your journey. Weve had no regrets. That gives my husband and me plenty of money for tipping the local guides and bus drivers as well as Viking staff before we leave. During lunch, prior to and after dinner, theres usually live music in the Lounge. While all Viking Longships are non-smoking on the interior, in staterooms and verandas, for those of you who are cigarette smokers, each ship has an outdoor smoking area, typically on the sun deck. Youll find Viking river cruises all through Europe as well as in Egypt and Southeast Asia. These long-haired, beautiful women descended from the skies into battles to decide which soldiers lived and which died. Whew! Sometimes the river water levels may be too low in spots (due to the lack of sufficient rain during summer) or there is another issue (like a broken lock) necessitating the change. 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? You may have only 1 or 2 outlets. In the summer it can be really hot and sweaty feet even in sandals can cause blisters. And about ATMs, weve used them in Europe without any problems. For a complete list of action steps. Prepaid gratuities came to 18 Euros per guest per day. We thoroughly enjoyed a Viking Ocean cruise in 2019 and have been eager to try river cruising. . Indeed, very VERY helpfulespecially for first time river cruisers. . 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. Thank you for the excellent summary of each important category. (The price of the package varies, but it comes to about $20 or so a day per person.) I definitely overpackedshoes and clothes. 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. The tips cover all onboard staff. 10.1 BazTechElectroS European Travel Adapter Plug, 11.99 Amazon. Use down arrow key to expand the menu and up arrow key to collapse the menu and hit enter to select the link Common power strips are prohibited from cruise ships for safety reasons, and there aren't "cruise ship power strips", but there are alternatives. Your room key is your ID. Its a nice place to relax on warm days and enjoy a lunch buffet while taking in the views. Yes. I have seem videos of rooms but cannot perceive where we can place our 2 luggages + backpacks and not having to hop over them inside our room. Onboard youll have port talks to prepare you for each new day along with musical entertainment in the lounge. Three meals are included each day at the following times: Soda, beer, and house wine are available at lunch and dinner at no charge. The ships are designed for this to have travelers walk through the common spaces. Hi Ricardo, It sounds like you have a great trip ahead! Without a doubt, we give Viking chefs top marks for the presentation and flavor of the food they serve. So it comes down to how much and what kind of beverages youre likely to consume each day. One of many questions we have is how much currency (and what kind) to bring with us. Youll find beach towels near the pool areas and also in bins by the security exit before disembarking. How early are they available to avoid the rush? River cruises are designed for the mature traveler as Viking guests must be 18 years old. I like boiled water first up in the mirning, According to the Viking website, coffee machines with premium coffee and tea selections are available in Deluxe Veranda staterooms and above: https://www.vikingcruises.com/oceans/ships/viking-sky.htmlsin the room. Good luck with your planning, and have a great cruise! All the best. We had to have our luggage packed and placed outside our stateroom door by 7:00 am on the day of the switch. After morning housekeeping, we had some fresh fruit and baked treats waiting for us in our room. Do women really wear pants and a blouse for dinner? Our luggage awaited us, and our new room keys were on the dresser. 3. We went on the Viking excursions (with local guides) and did not book any local guides directly. Since we booked through our travel agent, Viking sent her the final travel documents, and she checked them before passing them on to us. My husband and I each have a Nook and our own cameras. Viking then allowed us to purchase a no-expiry date voucher towards another cruise an amount they matched. We enjoyed sitting with different people; it gave us a chance to learn about their travel experiences and lives a bit. You can sign up for excursions from your account on MyVikingJourney.com prior to your trip. And Im so glad I was able to help you prepare for your cruise. Up to you. View on Amazon. Do viking ocean cruise lines have a hairdresser on board? 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. Im so glad you found the article helpful, Rich! Really, just looking for your opinion on longer trips off-ship. Bedside outlets on Viking Star (Credit: Jerome Levine). . August 2, 2000. Powered by Invision Community. This is by far THE BEST description and information on Viking River Cruises that I have ever read! 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. How exciting! Its something to worry about losing, and fanciful costume jewelry is just as much fun! WOW, what a complete piece of well written and informative information we have come across. Thanks all. with information on docking and reminders about impending excursion departures. Needless to say, its handy to have small change for tipping. No, I havent been on a Midnight Sun cruise but this article I recently wrote for Forbes.com may offer some general advice that could be helpful: https://www.forbes.com/sites/irenelevine/2018/05/01/7-packing-tips-to-make-your-european-river-cruise-hassle-free/#43a857661797. As for shore excursions, my husband and I enjoyed the walking tour (through Viking) that included the funicular up to Castle Hill. Thank you! I was delighted to spend seven days along the Rhne River on the Provence and Lyon itinerary. Although lunch is available in the dining room, we favored the Aquavit Terrace (at the front of the ship) for our midday meal. Low river levels today might be just fine for cruising in a few days. Suffice it to say that Viking has this all figured out and has contingency plans firmly in place. bring a trailer american cars; stone and log cabin homes . Leave your dressier clothes at home; there are no formal nights on a Viking river cruise. It makes me happy when I can help others get more comfortable with and enjoy their travels. One tip we learned is to put a shoe (just one!) Prior to dinner, the chef usually introduces the options including his/her recommendations. Once onboard, verify the time youll be in port and then fine-tune your tour or dinner plans. Also, dinner is served on the Aquavit Terrace; service begins 15 minutes after dinner service starts in the restaurant. If youre interested in figuring out the details, you may want to ask Viking for a bar menu with pricing before making up your mind. The one exception was the program director, who made the move with us. Have a great cruise! In my experience, this is great advice! document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. If you dont live in the U.S., Im sure other governments have similar programs for travelers. Hope your sister finds her Viking river cruise everything she hopes it to be. 2. We chose a French Balcony room. When I returned to the room, I noticed another bookmark was placed on top of it. The task of the Norse goddess Hlin is to protect and shelter humankind. 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. When you return to the ship, you scan it again. queen-size beds that can be split to make two twin beds. You can check with Viking to make sure. And our experience was that we were usually parked next to other Viking ships, so we walked through familiar spaces. My sister is taking her first river cruise in March and I found this site while trying to find info for her. It has served my family well. If you think you might do that, you may want to take along a few blank thank you cards to enclose your extra tips, so you can explain why you valued their service so much. rent to own house in quezon city 5k monthly. How many outlets are available in the cabin? Hi Cynthia, I bet youre so excited about your upcoming trip! Doing the Grand European Trip for our 50th in May of 2023. free wi-fi (though connection speeds vary depending upon location). The total time on these outings could be longer than 3 hours. I found this online on the VIking Cruises Q&A site (I couldnt find a similar statement specific to ocean cruises): What Is The Electrical Voltage In The Stateroom? I didnt read through all the comments, so I hope Im not being repetitive. Stateroom size: 135 sq ft. River-view stateroom with French balcony (floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door) 12 PM Embarkation. Its been a seamless process for us, and it functions well although we do incur additional international charges. Thank you for these suggestions and actual experiences! Bring your comfortable easy to pack stuff ladies and bring athletic shoes that allow for socks. Scenic Tours: 220 V and international power adaptors required. 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. This article highlights the European river cruises aboard the Viking Longboats. Some other Viking guests enjoyed their visits to the thermal baths, but we opted to do our own thing with the parliament tour and walks to areas recommended by our local tour guide (from the walking tour). Our stateroom steward kept the room immaculate. In China the ships . Hi Karen, you will have the freedom to wander on your own in the evenings in some locations. They may be familiar enough with Vikings schedule to easily accommodate you. Some travelers prefer to book through Viking itself. 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. As we age, carrying and lifting suitcases can exact a toll on our back and shoulder muscles. All longships include both 110V and 220V electrical outlets, as well as hair dryers. To burn off some of the calories ingested by the delicious food onboard, I walked in the morning around the sun deck track. Staterooms also include shampoo and conditioner. Getting my heart rate up while enjoying beautiful scenery passing by while the ship made its way down a river was a win-win. There are some cruise lines that try to be all things to all people. Is that possible? You will find both 110V and 220V electrical outlets in your stateroom. Im glad you found the article helpful, Thomas! 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. My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our Viking river cruise, which transported us in great comfort to some amazing European destinations. We werent near them then, but it was nice to be notified of them.) On leaving Amsterdam, check-out time from the hotel is Noon but embarkation is not till 3:00 PM. The lounge on a Viking river cruise ship has plenty of comfortable . 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! We have one of those and love it, because you only need to find one free plug and you're home safe. The 110V electrical outlets (North American style) are located above the desk and on each side of the bed. Hlin is deeply compassionate in an unsentimental way, and a wise teacher. I hope you have a wonderful 50th celebration on the Grand European Tour! Have a wonderful cruise next year! As you leave the ship, youll scan your room key to indicate your departure and rescan it upon returning. 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. Once enrolled, you enter the dates of your travel and your destinations. Preparing for any trip involves planningas well as careful pruning: To do a good job, dont wait until the last minute. I merely want to share our experience on a river cruise with my readers. Hi Linda, youre facing a big decision: to go with Silver Spirits or not! Power is supplied at 110 volts. On all river cruises, guests are offered one complimentary shore excursion at every destination. 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. Regardless of their next destinations, all guests had to place their luggage outside their rooms no later than 9:00 am. Since there are often different excursions leaving simultaneously. Is there a restaurant seating option for introverts? I dont want to waste any precious time in Amsterdam because this may be the last time we see it. Have a wonderful cruise, Thomas! It easily holds passports and other travel documents along with jewelry and money. Also trying to decide what to wear. Our next Viking cruise is coming up soon, and I cant wait. 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. Yes. In addition, theres a walking trail, a shuffleboard, and a putting green. You will find both 110V and 220V electrical outlets in your stateroom. 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. In spite of some tweaks, this article will definitely prepare you for your Viking river cruise. Best, Irene, Hi Glenise, We walked from where the ship was docked to the Parliament building for the tour and enjoyed a stroll back to the ship along the river. Walking could be on unpaved or uneven surfaces and may involve many steps or steep inclines. Using ATMs machines? Lots of controversy on curling irons & flatirons. This is Vikings way of accounting for guests. Hi Danny, Im not sure which cruise youre referring to, but you asked an excellent question about renting a car to make day trips while on the cruise. Can you tell me which docking/ports might be too far from the cities/towns? Do you have to go on the planned excursion or can you go off and explore on your own? Other European ships have 220V electricity, and have the German Schuko safety plug, which has two pins. Hi Lolly, thank you for the great article and this really prepared us for our trip next week. We also took along some thank you cards and put in some extra cash to give to those we felt went above and beyond during our cruise. If you stay in a hotel before or after your cruise you will need to bring adapters for charging your phone or tablets. As we arrived at the ship, we were warmly greeted, and we went to our rooms (which were intentionally left unlocked). Hi Tanya, Sounds like you have a great cruise coming up! Have a wonderful cruise! Thanks for the tips! We had grown to like the crew on the Skirnir, but we quickly came to like the new ones as well. Many people prefer to bring their own reliable shampoos/conditioners/toiletries, etc. 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. 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. Good luck! We are thinking we would might rather be wandering through the town and trying local cuisine. Free Wi-Fi (connection speed may vary) 55" OLED flat-screen TV featuring CNN, CBC, MBC2, beIN Sports. That includes any drinks up to $15 like cocktails, aperitifs, and premium wines by the glass. I hope you thoroughly enjoy your Viking cruise next year! Are there computers, or should I bring my laptop? About the stateroom, that really comes down to personal preference. My husband and I had planned to go on the Salzburg excursion, but when we learned we would be spending so much time on the bus to travel there and back (for a total of 9.5 hours), we decided to spend our time in Passau instead. Two additional 42" flat-screen interactive LCD TVs with intuitive remote & complimentary Movies on Demand in suite. (Youll also receive Viking tags for your luggage.) I checked the website and all in-room amenities are listed under the name of each ship. We were on the Idun (Longship). 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. Frankly, I dont think you can go wrong either way, but theyre two very different experiences. This. Since you need the refrigerator for your medicine, I would call the cruise line just to make sure it will be large enough to meet your needs or to see if a larger one can be placed in your cabin. Royal Princess plug sockets. Hi Meri, northumberland county council pay bands 2022; sutterhealthorg; Related articles; yanmar 3ym30ae oil capacity; passport cover. private bathrooms that are separate from the living space. Have you seen this post? Its just the nature of this type of travel. Regarding local currency in Hungary, you can head to an ATM once youre there to get the amount of local cash you want. That was just one of the optional tours we enjoyed and still talk about. When we travel to Europe, we notify our carrier before departure. Disclaimer: My husband and I paid forour Viking river cruise ourselves. It wasnt a deal breaker, but something you should be aware of. Viking keeps track of your expenses during the cruise, including bar items, laundry, phone calls, and purchases from the Viking shop (logo wear and souvenirs). Enjoy your journey! The hotel manager was great and the program director was a literal Energizer Bunny. She is also the goddess of consolation and brings comfort and solace to those who grieve, kissing away their tears. Should. Keep in mind, though, that things are not 100% the same from cruise to cruise due, in part, to other ship traffic at the time. They are clearly marked. My question is about size of our luggage (or size limitation due room size). Going from A to B with two extra days in Amsterdam and Budapest. 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. at embarkation and may be disposed of at the sole discretion of the Ship's Security Officer. (Im trying to save you room in your luggage!) I am very intrigued by the Salzberg excursion but see that it is a 2 plus hour bus ride each way. My #1 tip to people going on their 1st river cruise is laundry is quick & inexpensive dont overpack. There are laundry rooms on the ocean ships and a friend said do NOT think you will do laundry on the days you are sailing everybody has that idea. 10.2 Schuko Travel Adapter, 17.99 Amazon. One thing we learned is that although some excursions will guide you through a large city, if it is inland a bit, you may be spending a significant amount of time traveling from the ship to the city and comparatively modest amounts of time actually in the city itself. 110/220 volt outlets & USB ports. It arrived promptly that evening while we were at dinner. Thanks, Tom! 3 PM stateroom access. Once onboard, youll be given more specific times, so youll be able to fine-tune your plans. Many people were. We took the walking tour of Passau, enjoyed a leisurely lunch in town, went on a hike, and strolled around town afterward. Did you bring euros or use credit card? Unlike a hair dryer, flat irons dont use a lot of current and most are dual voltage (check the tag). All Viking river cruise ship staterooms have: The different types of staterooms range in size, available outdoor space, the time for guaranteed stateroom access, and amenities. when we traveled) to your shipboard account. Your email address will not be published. Check-in time for the hotel is 3:00 PM. (Depending on the category of your stateroom, the laundry service may be complimentary.) (Its not uncommon for someone to forget to scan their card when returning to the ship.). Hoping you will enjoy your voyage and have good hair days, too! Haha, I got a kick out of being tempted with just one little pastry! Youll see all your options on the online My Viking Journey portal when the tours open up prior to your trip. It sounds like you are all set. And Cary Cruiser, all of our itinerary information, airline boarding passes, music, museum audio apps, RS walking tours, language translators, maps, $$ converters, public transportation apps & reading material are downloaded onto our devices. Cruise Hacks: Eight Tips to Help You Pack for a River Cruise, Viking Ocean Cruises Frequently Asked Questions, 6 Tips for Planning the Perfect Overnight Staycation, https://www.moretimetotravel.com/cruise-hacks-8-tips-to-help-you-pack-for-a-river-cruise/, https://www.vikingcruises.com/oceans/ships/viking-sky.htmlsin, https://www.vikingcruises.com/oceans/ships/viking-star.html, White Elephant: A Harbor Front Luxury Hotel in Nantucket, Zoetry Paraiso de la Bonita: A Tranquil All-Inclusive Resort in Maya Riviera.