Our first VRC was Romantic Danube. Great suggestions about food, We have sailed on Viking before and we enjoyed it. A talented pianist provided music daily. The 410-foot-long versions of the vessels, for instance, were specifically built to be able to sail into the heart of Paris on the Seine River. During the day, there is no specific dress code, and people dress casually. The entertainment is not what we have experienced on prior cruises. However, if youre fitness-obsessed, Viking river ships may not be the best choice for your river trip. "The Middle Rhine is one of our most popular destinationswith constantly changing views of hilltop castles, historic towns and terraced vineyards along the steep valley sides, During mealtimes, sodas, wine, and beer are included. This will help me decide whether or not to buy the Silver Spirits drinks package. Dubbed Flavors of . We had high expectations since we had a great experience last time, and we were not disappointed. Vikings ocean ships also offer a large number of suites, many of which are quite spacious. While Viking doesnt market itself as a luxury line, some would call it that. In the past, it has come across as though Viking may be a bit "sub-standard" when choosing regional wines but I am pleasantly surprised by the fact that Nahe and Ahr wines are on the list (both are left-bank tributaries of the Rhine). Twelve days of having someone cook . Click on the Silver Spirts 'Learn More' tab-. 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.. Viking operates international itineraries where a passport is required. Start with these stories: The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. Shout outs to Chris, Dali, Darwin, Darrin and Jules especially as we had a lot of interaction with them. Where do you usually go to buy the regional wines? Viking currently operates 10 ocean ships, eight of which are nearly identical. Theyre also people who can afford a relatively high-end vacation experience. The staff on our Viking riverboat were amazing. Very informative post, especially for those who are planning on going on a Viking River Cruise. You think you know your husband until you see him belting out Edelweiss as a trio of Austrian musicians in lederhosen play the accordion and sing during an Austrian-themed dinner on an eight-day Viking Danube Waltz river cruise. Can someone who is currently on a Viking River Cruise (April 2022) please post pictures of the current wine lists and bar prices. The five wines with an asterisk beside the bottle prices are not included in the Silver Spirits package. Although Air France nearly really messed us up we were booked with them direct from Bristol and back. As always, opinions and reviews are 100% mine and unbiased. News Viking Takes Delivery of Viking Saturn John Shallo - April 28, 2023 0 Viking has announced it has taken delivery of the company's newest ocean ship, the Viking Saturn. I am still in contact with a few travelers from my previous Viking River cruises, too. To Viking, that means a dress, skirt or slacks with a sweater or blouse for women, and trousers and a collared shirt for men. If you are unhappy with the service you receive, you can adjust this amount before disembarking at the Explorers Desk. Calculate your expected shipboard adult beverage consumption. Within a day or two, the dining room staff will know your every desire and almost greet you at the table with your favorite beverage. NorskyGal, April 4, 2022 in River Cruising. Viking Cruises Viking Cruises Discusssion Threads 79 Messages 304 P When is your next Viking cruise? I dont think theres anything they couldve done differently in order to make the cruise more enjoyable. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Related: The 5 best destinations you can visit on a Viking ship. However, it does offer a few basic perks for past guests. At 47,800 tons, these ocean ships are less than a fourth the size of the giant megaships being built by the likes of Royal Caribbean and MSC Cruises, in keeping with Vikings focus on intimate, upscale voyages. I don't know how I missed that given that I've looked on that site enough times. This 12-day Amsterdam to Basel river cruise starts with two city destinations (Bruges and Amsterdam) before cruising up the Rhine with stops in Rhine River cities like Kinderdijk, Cologne, Koblenz, Rdesheim, Heidelberg, Strasbourg, Breisach and finally Basel. . Winner of Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards 2022, Cond Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards 2021, and Cond Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards 2022. Without informing anyone including Scenic they decided to stop their direct flight returning to Bristol and re- routed us to Birmingham, well it did begin with a B. Luckily both Scenic and myself realised before it was to late to do anything about it. In addition to a room on board and all meals, the fares include beer, wine and soft drinks with lunch and dinner; specialty coffees, teas and bottled water around the clock; shipboard Wi-Fi; and (perhaps most notably) a shore excursion in every port. Viking ships also dont cater to the party crowd. There's a fridge in the cabin, ice machines in corridors, and you can ask for glasses at the bar if you don't want to use the in-room water glasses. A good travel agent will quiz you about your particular interests, travel style and preferences, and steer you to the perfect cruise line, ship, itinerary and cabin for you. In keeping with Vikings focus on cultural immersion, lecturers often have expertise related to the places youll be visiting on your sailing. The food was delicious and varied every night. I too would love the German buffet theme dinner, how nice it would be to have a good traditional German food as you are slowly passing by the beautiful landscape. Related: How to book a cruise with points and miles. Get expert advice, insider tips and more. Among the lines voyages, youll find everything from eight-day cruises in the Mediterranean to 138-day around-the-world voyages. On the left there is a Sample Menu you can click on, that brings you to a menu w/ costs for the bar. In general, its an educated crowd, with many passengers coming from professional backgrounds or a life of running their own businesses. Viking isnt one of them. Theres also the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, which offers 2 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on travel (and 3 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on dining). The process was very easy! This cruise, our 10th with Viking, the Silver Spirits package was included in the offer so I'll be trying the wine list -- but the sample menu on the website doesn't excite me. Cobblestone is so beautiful, but they take a toll on your feet so best to wear comfy shoes for sure! The line also doesnt charge a corkage fee. Viking has a particularly large footprint when it comes to European river itineraries, with a wide range of sailings on nearly every European river of any note. Its all about exploring the world and doing so in comfort. Dining Viking has more than 250 awards to its name, including being the first cruise line to ever be named both the #1 Ocean Line and the #1 River Line in a single year in Travel + Leisure's 2022 "World . Viking offers various Rhine River cruise itineraries, and the one we booked was called the " Rhine Getaway .". The wines included in the package were German - a Chardonnay (known as Weissburgunder in German) and a red blend - based I think on Dornfelder. As of November 2022, Viking River Cruises Vaccine Requirements: Viking requires that all guests be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 at least 14 days prior to travel. Ditto for the lines river vessels. We went on this cruise (May 2023), with a group of friends (12 people). Cond Nast Traveler's 2022 and 2021 Readers' Choice Awards, and recently we've been named Best River Line for the second consecutive year in the 2023 Cruise Critic's Cruisers' Choice Awards. Or from Alsace. Viking will offer year-round river cruises with the launch of winter cruise itineraries later this year. The extension in Paris was also fun. It was Sunday in Breisach, Can someone who is currently on a Viking River Cruise (April 2022) please post pictures of the current wine lists, At last - this is the wine list from Viking Rhine Getaway 23-20 April. Here's my Viking River Cruise Danube Waltz review. We went on this cruise (May 2023), with a group of friends (12 people). Yes, from Basel to Amsterdam. The food, service, bar (top notch liquor) & excursions were amazing. Carl was our director and was my savior when i was in a small town and felt ill - my husband and i were going to take a taxi back to ship and Carl came out of nowhere and took care of EVERYTHING! The Explorers Lounge also is home to Mamsens, the food counter serving tastes of Norway mentioned above. We were a family group of 7. Viking does not allow children under the age of 18 on its vessels and thus has no childrens programs on any of its vessels. Although the weather was not cooperative. There are plenty of other choices of movies and TV shows to watch, too. By proceeding, you agree to Cruise Critics, Viking Rhine Cruise on the Rolf - Great Experience, European Waterways River Cruises Cruise Reviews, Emerald River Cruises River Cruises Cruise Reviews, International Expeditions River Cruises Cruise Reviews, American Cruise Lines River Cruises Cruise Reviews. Many of the activities on board Vikings ocean ships revolve around cultural enrichment, to use a phrase often used by Viking executives. I appreciate it. The 10 Top River Cruise Lines Not one for the high seas? The floor-to-ceiling glass doors and windows make it a perfect way to enjoy the scenery without braving the elements should the weather be unfavorable. This was our 2nd Viking river cruise, the first being in France. Rivers. And the prices for the bottles seem a little high. Having an included tour daily as well as additional choices allowed us to explore the cities in depth.The food was delicious, served promptly by a staff always happy to, We have sailed on Viking before and we enjoyed it. I am about to go on a Rhine Getaway so I'll try to get a photo for you. Owned & operated fleet, with the best docking locations in Europe and across the globe. The currency used on Viking ships is U.S. dollars. Each night before dinner, the cruise director will tell you what awaits you for the next day. On any given day, you might find an expert on one of the destinations youre visiting lecturing in the theater, or a classical musician performing in the central atrium, known as The Living Room. The line offers included-in-the-fare tours in every port, allowing every passenger on board to get a guided experience during stops without having to pay extra. The entire main pool area is covered with a glass magrodome that can be opened on short notice on warm and sunny days or closed if the ship encounters inclement weather. All of the lines vessels have standard North American-style, 110-volt outlets in rooms as well as European-style, 220-volt outlets and USB ports in cabins. All aspects of the cruise were excellent. If its a sea day in a warm-weather destination, and youre bound for the top deck, a short-sleeve shirt and shorts are just fine. Viking's New 2024-2025 World Cruise Itineraries January 18, 2023 Viking Neptune Named In Los Angeles The toiletries were specifically designed with bigger and clearer lettering than is common for toiletries on cruise ships and at hotels so that the lines older customers would have no trouble differentiating the body wash from the body lotion and shampoo. The boat was unable to dock in Regensburg due to high waters. The views from the Reichtag's cupola are spectacular and worth the wait to get, We had heard so many good things about Viking so we decided to give them a try, and we were so happy that we did. A few sample menu items were Smoked Trout, French Onion Soup, Tomato and Buffalo Mozzarella for starters, and Norwegian Salmon and Lump Crab Gratin Chateaubriand for main courses. Sure, Viking is reputed to have some of the world's best river cruises and the . I don't miid exploring a river cruise myself. 1.1 1. The 10-day Treasures of the Rhine itinerary will explore the Middle Rhine region against . A walking track allows for some onboard exercise. The River Cruise far exceeded expectations. Everything was excellent. Buy it from me at 100ThingsWV@gmail.com. If you are lucky enough to go on this cruise, go for it. The, Viking has a wonderful reputation. But you will be better off buying those right in Alsace for quality usually On the Vidar started Wednesday and have arrived in Passau. Powered by Invision Community. Other interior spaces that are part of the ocean ships include a stylish spa with a thermal suite area that is open to all passengers at no extra charge (something that is not common on cruise vessels) and a fitness center. The cruise director would be the person to ask in such a case. Get expert advice, insider tips and more. Viking could be your line. Nice. What kind of shops sell wine in germany, Austria and Budapest? He was also in Madrid, where, We heard great things about Viking and were excited to take the 7 Night Romantic Danube cruise. The Viking staff will bring your luggage to your hotel or stateroom, where you can unpack and store your suitcases until the trip ends. Evenings have an official dress code, but its not too formal. By All of Vikings oceangoing ships, which are much bigger than its river ships, have at least four and usually more outlets serving food of some sort. AmaWaterways Uncorks New 2024 Itinerary For Wine Enthusiasts. Vikings river ships, by contrast, typically offer just two eateries: a main restaurant where passengers eat most of their meals and a smaller, casual buffet with indoor and outdoor seating. Explore the world along its rivers instead. That's great for the bar prices! They were concerned with the guests comfort. 8,475 reviews Filters Cruise Line Ship Destination Show more filters 1 - 10 of 8,475 Viking Cruise Reviews Grand European Tour Review for a Europe - River Cruise Cruise on Viking Gymir. My first Viking river cruises took place September 2022. During those tours, we wear the devotedQuietVoxaudio receiver with an earpiece to hear what the guide says as we follow along. Theyre often people who have spent years focused on work and building up savings for retirement, and theyre finally ready to start enjoying the fruits of their labor by spending some of the savings on travel to places theyve long put off visiting. The choices of pre and post extensions were great . 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