Each longship has its own herb garden for chefs to pick from. Viking Ocean Cruises vs. Viking River Cruises Including Pros & Cons. 10) There is no limit on the amount of wine, beer, spirits, and soft drinks you may bring onto the ship at embarkation or in a port. Will I Have to 'Social Distance' on My Next Cruise? Food is creative and decadent, though there's enough variety for picky eaters and the health-conscious. June 5, 2010. 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. Cabins are large and streamlined, with useful touches such as multiple USB ports for charging and huge showers. The third level includes guest rooms, a library and other seating, and the lounge. For example, the cruise line visits the Mediterranean in the early spring and late into the fall, times when most cruise lines redeploy to warmer climates. The Viking Cruise Travel Protection Plan includes Cancellation, Interruption, Medical Insurance, Medical Evacuation, Baggage Insurance , Travel Delay and several other benefits. 12) Dinners on the riverboats and in the main dining room on the ocean ships are open seating. If you are planning to pay off your credit card once your next statement arrives and you have purchased third-party trip insurance such as Travel Insured, it's a win-win option for saving some money. CC Help Jenn Refer to the. Our review of Viking Ocean Cruises comes after perhaps four years since we last sailed on one of their ocean ships. We docked in Krems sometime during the night. We finished our day with an add-on excursion to an orchestral concert of Mozart and Strauss, including dancers and opera singers. 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. Go ahead and laugh.). Laura on their recent cruise to Iceland aboard Viking Ocean Cruises' ship, Viking Sky. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. But making the cost comparisons between these two products usually is rather pointless. While some cruise lines are pricier than others, you can certainly find some really good deals. Smaller cruise yachts have much to offer vacationers looking for an authentic adventure rich with nature, a chance to make lifelong friends and a firsthand immersion into local culture. To a person, the people with whom I spoke said that every experience theyve had was exceptional. 19) One complimentary excursion per port is offered along with optional ($) excursions. We made our way back to the Spanish riding school to inquire about tours of the Lippezaner facility, pausing to gape in awe at the interiors of Saint Peters and Saint Michaels churches, but the next ticket wasnt until 4 p.m., so we meandered around the Hapburg Palace area, then made our way back to the metro near Saint Stephens; a short ride put us within a 10-minute walk of the boat. As a result, Viking's passengers will battle fewer crowds, and they'll spend more time visiting sites and learning about culture then they do standing in line. Save. In fact, there were departures scheduled as early as 2:30 a.m. We learned that people destroyed Jewish cemeteries and saw the gravestones used as trophy architecture. Visit Viking's Terms & Conditions. Bring tennis shoes. I wont forgo my other means of travel. An included excursion to Vienna. Sr. Continue with Recommended Cookies. In the morning we boarded buses for a short ride to Gottweig Abbey. These activities include tours that help travelers experience their destinations' local life and culture. I have recently returned from an Alaska cruise on a similar-or-maybe-a-bit-better line. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. 7) All staterooms and suites have views, most of which have full balconies or French balconies. Discovering coal deposits around the world an adventure for the ages! (USBs and outlets are cleverly designed into the furniture in the ships' atriums, called The Living Room. Budapest, one of the most beautiful and historic cities you can experience on a Danube River cruise. 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. Requirements are constantly changing. Vikings ships are beautiful, with simple, modern Scandinavian design that feels comfortable yet upscale. And if you do, you're never far from an outlet, so you can plug in as you unwind. The cost of the package which can be purchased in advance is $19.95 per guest, per day. Cruise Lines "P - Z" Viking Ocean PROS AND CONS OF COMPLETING VERIFLY WITH VIKING Make Sure Your Voice Is Heard! What you don't see is housekeeping rooms, crew only elevators, laundry rooms, and more. We've always used TA for our 30+ ocean cruises, but not sure about advantages, since there were no further discounts nor perks provided by our TA. There was entertainment afterward, but we opted to return to our room and pack. Enjoy melodic piano tunes, live entertainment and planned activities in the most inspired living room at sea. We missed this part of the trip, arriving after midnight thanks to our flight delays. There is a lot of natural light due to floor-to-ceiling windows around the ships, leather and natural wood elements, and wool fabric textures. Pros: 1. This was the most disappointing surprise of the trip. No need to gas up natural gas is bad for the environment! But from the minute that we met our Viking-appointed driver at midnight in the Budapest airport after a 30-hour trip from Fort Wayne, Indiana, via Chicago (where we were delayed for mechanical issues) and then Frankfurt (where we then missed our connection and ended up with a 12-hour layover) I decided that I could get used to the bountiful little luxuries provided by a Viking River Cruise. Required or necessary? With that being said, here are the pros of cruising: Affordable Vacation Cruises are known for being an affordable vacation and a great value. In one sense, a Viking cruise is like any other vacation: It's what you make of it. Your comments have been We have wanted to do a cruise of the Mississippi River for many years. 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." A Viking River Cruise longship on a Rhine River cruise. No other line builds as many ships so quickly or out-markets them. Theres also detailed information in the Viking Daily, a printed document that arrives in your room during dinner each night. Chairs are created by high-end designers like Frank Gehry and Eames, but no one is afraid to flop down on them anywhere onboard. Viking Chairman Torstein Hagen encourages us to. Edited By: Matt Lazar. 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. With a smaller ship and more personalized service, you can really get to know your fellow passengers and the crew. Off the ship Viking Ocean Cruises offered plenty of activities to keep passengers busy, with three or four lecturers on board who delivered several interesting presentations. Viking River Cruises had not sailed onto my radar until my mom and dad cruised the Rhine River several years ago. The off-ship excursions weren't always quite as successful. WHITE RAIN/VIKING CRUISES. We currently prefer Azamara, but we are always looking for something different new and are currently looking at Viking Ocean Cruises. We chose the most affordable room, 101. Staff were all friendly and helpful. The first was what it was like cruising during Covid-19. The quality of the food was comparable to the river cruises and the kitchen and wait staff were the best." Viking. The main disadvantage is the inflexibility of a cruise; the fact that you have to operate on a set schedule that dictates when you visit a . It's not going to be all "unicorns and rainbows.". In some cases it may be the housekeeping supply room. Knowledgeable local guides -- who speak English perfectly and know endless amounts of detail about the cities, ports, countries and sites they visit -- lead excursions. The middle level includes guest rooms, guest services and the restaurant, plus a dining terrace. We had a small window and were eye-level with the water. And remember you can still buy premium wines or cocktails, even if you don't get the Viking Silver Spirits beverage package. This is the last of a three-part series involving Laura and Joe's trip. As soon as they got on the ship, they learned that the reservations never got to the ship. They have sailed multiple times on Viking's river cruises and recently returned from their first Viking ocean cruise. So many travelers choose this type of . Our second stop was Inner City Parish Church; from there our guide led us on a walking tour through the retail corridor and gave us time to wander the Central Market Hall, where they sell everything from embroidered table runners to made-in-China plastic to spectacular meats and meals. Parts medieval, parts baroque and thoroughly gorgeous, the monastery is famous for its apricot wines and brandy. It was a cold, gray, impactful morning. 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. The ships are quite small, with just under . If you make a purchase from our site, we may earn a commission. Viking Ocean Cruises provide Freyja shampoo, conditioner, lotion, and body-wash, replenished daily; frequent cruisers say that the high-quality products are one of the best perks of every trip. Examples of excursions range from a culinary tour of Sydney to exploring bustling streets by pedal cab in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. We offer travel planning consultation services for those planning their first trip or their first solo trip. All ship Traveler Ratings are based on ratings provided under license by Cruiseline.com. Along the way, our guide explained the basics of the Hungarian language and the large concrete buildings, left over from communist days, in which many of the citizens of the Pest side of Budapest live. 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. There's no doubt that Viking is certainly upscale. That. Viking also operates river trips on the Nile in Egypt and the Mekong River in Southeast Asia, and it recently began trips on the Mississippi River. Viking has thought of all the needs of a modern traveler. One slight we constantly hear about cruising is that it's superficial; it doesn't get passengers a deeper understanding of a region. Go to the port talks. Viking deserves kudos for both of these enhancements. we were expecting the same experience 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. But if you have multiple devices, theyll be used up in a heartbeat. We are most likely on the same cruise. Suitcase weariness was why I decided to try another cruise this spring. You will be able to leave a comment after signing in, By Viking does a, We had done most of the rivers in Europe with Viking so we wanted to try something new and different. The entire trip was top notch all around, from the flights, the hotels, the food, the ship and the excursions. Dream and discover. You may book online or contact us directly. Whether or not these cons are deterrents is entirely up to you and the . 2022 by Connie George Travel Assoc., LLC. Avoid at all costs. Despite these drawbacks, Viking River Cruises offers an incredibly luxurious experience. With the launch of the new Viking Mississippi, we decided to take a roundtrip New Orleans cruise, leaving January 7, 2023. Its alternative venue, Manfredi's, is as good as (or better than) any Italian restaurant you'll find on land, and its Chef's Table, with rotating five-course menus, feels like a fine-dining experience. That offers a lot of change of scenery and dining-type options. Our included excursion took us to the Ringstrasse, the broad boulevard through the city center where we disembarked and walked with our guide through the historic area of Vienna, soaking up his stories of history, buildings and people along the way. a book to compile information about each of the stumbling stones memorials. Unless you know what is in the blank white areas on the deck plans it is best to avoid them. Passau might have been my favorite place on our cruise. Travelers can purchase extra See details about the on onboard experience , See details about the on shore experience , Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Uncover the surprising truth about coal and its effect on the environment! You wouldn't notice them unless you were looking.) For a fully rounded perspective, I'm sharing the thoughts and feedback from my clients, Laura and Joe. 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. Not only are their Viking River Cruises wildly popular, but their Ocean Cruises and their new Expedition Cruises draw repeat guests. As we only cruise Viking now (river and ocean), we use him and are satisfied with service on all fronts. Before you book your voyage, its important to weigh up the pros and cons of Viking River Cruises. Cruisers' Choice Awards! Frankly, I'm not a fan of people having to part with their money that early. Passengers must bring any required inoculation records on board. Many of our clients have experienced "computer glitches" with the system. 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. Natural gas: clean, affordable, reliable energy for all! Our tour included Emilie and Oskar Schindlers home in Regensburg. To inquire about accessibility, you can call 1-877-668-4546. I was dragging again the next morning, and jet lag and early morning boat noise didnt help. 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. Many years Eames, but we opted to return to our room pack! 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