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None of its main competitors among river lines catering to North Americans, which include Avalon Waterways, Uniworld and AmaWaterways, have anywhere near that number of vessels. Whether you use a travel agent or not, make sure to maximize your credit card spending when paying for the cruise by using a credit card that offers extra points for travel purchases. This could be the Chase Sapphire Reserve, which offers 3 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on travel and dining (excluding the annual $300 travel credit). There's 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). If you're sure that Viking is your line, look for a travel agent who specializes in trips with the brand.
Are river cruise cabins small?
On all ships, smoking (including electronic cigarettes) is only allowed in designated outdoor areas. Unlike many lines, Viking allows you to bring your own wine, Champagne, beer and liquor onto ships at embarkation with no limits. Viking adds an automatic service gratuity (which it calls a "hotel and dining charge") of $17 per person per day to final bills, depending on your cabin category.
Best Sights to See on the Viking Grand European Tour River Cruise
Viking river cruise ship layouts center on the glass-enclosed Aquavit Terrace. Part dining area, part sunny hangout, the Aquavit Terrace sits at the front of the ship and provides a perfect vantage point for scenic sailing. Among ocean cruise destinations, Viking has a major presence in Scandinavia and Northern Europe, which it considers its home turf. (The company was founded by a Norwegian family.) However, you'll find Viking's nine traditional ocean ships everywhere from North America to Asia and Australia. There are 80 river ships in Viking's fleet — an astounding number.
Can solo travelers take a river cruise?
My husband prefers to jog each morning, and he was able to when we were docked in the early morning before excursions began. A good idea if you’re a runner is to check with the reception desk to map out when there will be time in the morning to leave the ship for a jog or run before excursions begin. The Silver Spirits package is complimentary for guests in an Explorer Suite. There are some exceptions to this in Viking's fleet, primarily on Portugal's Douro River, Germany's Elbe River and the Seine River in France. On those rivers, Viking uses smaller ships to navigate locks and have access to buzzing city centers, like Paris.
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises
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 Viking's focus on intimate, upscale voyages. Viking's Danube River cruises sail between the grand Hungarian capital Budapest, a city divided in half by the river itself, and Passau in Germany. You'll visit the postcard-perfect landscapes of the UNESCO-listed Wachau Valley as well as magnificent Vienna. There, you're likely to hear that famous Strauss waltz played at one of Viking's visits to an atmospheric music hall.
Is everything free on Viking River cruises?
We’ve had the pleasure of sailing with Viking Cruises, and if you’re looking for a little insider information, we can help. Uniworld stands out immediately for its impressively designed interiors; each ship is themed to the areas that ships sail through. BonVoyage in France, the Le Salon Champagne was inspired by Yves Saint Laurent's home, Villa Majorelle.
Excursions on a Viking River Cruise
Passengers on Viking River Cruises are generally English-speaking, well-traveled cruise veterans in the 55-plus bracket, although China and Southeast Asia attracts some younger travelers (think 40-plus). Stay current with special offers, news and destination-focused content. Coffee stations and some snacks are usually available during the day. Room service is limited -- it's breakfast only and only available to passengers in the Explorer Suites. Viking Octantis, notably, also operated Viking's first sailings around the Great Lakes this year. In 2023, both Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris will spend their summers in the Great Lakes.
On Viking Cruises, Luxury And Culture Go Overboard – And That's A Good Thing - Forbes
On Viking Cruises, Luxury And Culture Go Overboard – And That's A Good Thing.
Posted: Mon, 26 Jun 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
The entry-level cabin, the Petit Suite, is about 188 square feet is larger than most standard rooms, while the Deluxe Suite has French balconies, and opulent Explorer Suites boast large windows. All are butler-serviced river ships with a high, almost one-to-one staff-to-guest ratio. Solo travelers will appreciate that there are dedicated Solo Traveler Suites with no surcharge for a non-double occupancy booking, which is unheard of with cruising. River cruises are very popular choices for people who like traveling to new places in the comfort of a floating hotel. That is, you sleep and eat on the ship and are transported to your destinations along a river.
Antarctica
Find out what made this castle so intriguing in this story, Marksburg Castle with Viking River Cruises. Choosing a Viking River Cruise from their enticing selection of itineraries is like asking a child in a chocolate factory to pick just one sweet from an overwhelming array of tempting treats. After much deliberation, my husband and I selected the Rhine Getaway, an eight-day cruise on the Rhine River. Review my round-up of all the Viking River Rhine Cruise destinations below. To avoid unnecessary stress from flight delays or cancellations plan to arrive at least one day before your cruise departs.
A secondary pool area with an infinity pool is at the back of each of the ships. What they are is eminently functional, with storage in all the right places, lots of outlets for charging your devices and lighting right where you need it. We love the reading lights built into the fabric headboards, which are in addition to the lamps on bedside tables. You won't have trouble seeing the pages of the Viking Daily activity newsletter while lying in a Viking cabin bed. Bathrooms in Viking cabins are serene, modernist escapes with luxurious travertine-lined walls, Scandinavian-influenced wood-veneered vanities, shiny white sinks and chrome fixtures.
Many of the staterooms have balconies that offer panoramic views and fresh air. Their twin-balcony staterooms feature both a French balcony and an outside balcony. While the suites are about 350 square feet, the standard stateroom is about 170 square feet with fixed windows at the waterline.
Itineraries include the Garonne, Girande and Dordogne Rivers, all of which wind their way through rolling hills home to more than 9,000 wineries. Those produce about 700 million bottles of wine a year, so expect sips of Saint-Emilion, Medoc and Sauternes on a Viking Bordeaux river cruise. If you're looking for the best Viking River Cruises in Europe, you have a lot to consider. Viking's itineraries on Europe's most famous rivers -- like the Rhine, Danube and Seine -- are some of the best river cruise options in Europe for almost every kind of traveler. Odds are you will not get motion sickness on a river cruise since large waves or currents do not hit the ships. For example, European river cruises run from March through December.
All of that makes the Viking's Rhine cruises a great choice for first-time European river cruisers and returning visitors alike. Top-ranked Viking does all the major riverways of Europe, with ships also on the Nile and the Mekong, and, new in 2022, on the Mississippi. Readers praised the line's value proposition and shore experiences that go beyond the norm.
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