This publication outlines the schedule for the next day, with all included and optional excursions as well as suggestions on where to visit and eat during your free time the next day. Oh not to bring adapters! Other European ships have 220V electricity, and have the German Schuko safety plug, which has two pins. Travelers who purchase the Silver Spirits beverage package (price varies depending on the length of your cruise) can get whatever alcoholic beverage they want during lunch, dinner, and whenever else the bar is staffed (afternoons and evenings) at no additional charge. Also can you remember if those two cities is where the boat docked. 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. Surge protectors are a fire hazard aboard ships, as they are incompatible with the ship's wiring. You will be able to leave a comment after signing in, By And the small umbrellas! 110/220 volt outlets & USB ports. You set the code, so its a cinch to remember. For a complete list of action steps. (Youll also receive Viking tags for your luggage.) However, the information in this article is from our Grand European Tour cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest aboard the Skirnir and Modi (more on the two ships later). The Silver Spirits option is offered at a fixed price per guest and spans the entire length of the trip. On our walk, we passed the Shoes Along the Danube (very moving) and other interesting sights. Are they like $20 per person or more like $200? Thanks, Tom! Its a nice place to relax on warm days and enjoy a lunch buffet while taking in the views. Regarding local currency in Hungary, you can head to an ATM once youre there to get the amount of local cash you want. https://www.moretimetotravel.com/cruise-hacks-8-tips-to-help-you-pack-for-a-river-cruise/, Have you been on the Midnight Sun cruise any thoughts on the type of clothing to bring I leave in a few days and still struggling with what clothes to take thanks . We're on the the Kara in a few weeks and just went through this research. . I wasnt sure whether or not to bring my usual cruise lanyard and hole punch? They will let you know on board. It is very helpful to reduce wandering around looking like a tourist while trying to figure out the procedures. With all that said, my husband and I did opt for the Silver Spirits package. But having to pack additional converters or keeping your fingers crossed . You never know what youll learn or who youll meet! Super post, Irene. (Depending on the category of your stateroom, the laundry service may be complimentary.) (OK, the wifi in the rooms REALLY sucksbut if thats your #1 problem, you arent doing badly). What it meant for guests was a minor inconvenience. Staterooms are guaranteed to be ready at 3:00 pm. Since there are often different excursions leaving simultaneously. We would charge the cameras/batteries in the evenings after returning from touring, and charge our Nooks during the day while we were out touring. Thank you for your quick reply. Please hare your opinion with me. Free Wi-Fi (connection speed may vary) 55" OLED flat-screen TV featuring MSNBC, FOX News, National Geographic and more. 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. Whether you plan to be swimming onboard or taking an excursion that brings you to a beach, you wont need to bring beach towels from home. Some procedures and protocols on cruise ships have changed to address public health concerns since the global COVID-19 pandemic. My husband and I each have a Nook and our own cameras. They may be familiar enough with Vikings schedule to easily accommodate you. Ocean Cruises. Hope your sister finds her Viking river cruise everything she hopes it to be. The Quietvox listening devices charger is plugged into a 220 outlet on the counter across from the bed. That worked well as we enjoyed some nice non-touristy lunches and other walks and tours on our own. The hairdryer is not in the bathroom, but in the bedroom, in a drawer under the counter where the outlets are. Thank you! Im hoping that other women will be wearing slacks with a nice blouse for our Viking Ocean cruise to the Caribbean. That makes it handy for your husband to fetch your morning cup! On Carnival's web site, you can see that they specifically note the following. Our next Viking cruise is coming up soon, and I cant wait. It is a quick way to catch up on national and international news as well as to get financial market and sports updates. Thank you Irene for this information! There are also daily announcements with information on docking and reminders about impending excursion departures. Viking then allowed us to purchase a no-expiry date voucher towards another cruise an amount they matched. Aurum Cables 10-Feet 3 Outlet Extension Cord - two pack. Weve got to get you back into cruising, Janice! The staterooms and bathrooms are efficiently designed to maximize usable space, and there are many things to appreciate in the staterooms. Included is a packet of information specific to your ship (including phone numbers on the ship plus embarkation location information) and an itinerary. This is the place to find a variety of coffee and tea plus baked goods to accompany your beverage. . I like the idea of a smaller group so that is a plus. I had mental pictures of all my photos of me enjoying Europe but my hair looking like it did in junior high. There are large windows on the port and starboard sides so views are available while cruising the river at mealtime. As mentioned throughout the comments, thank you so much for such insightful and helpful information! universal travel adapter. Since it will be November, and Im also afraid of open heights weve opted for the French balcony room. means extensive walking, hiking, or biking. Would an excursion like that feel to rushed to enjoy, or do you know if Salzberg is a not to be missed kind of place? We always made sure we were back to the ship on time! When passengers get to the sister ship, their luggage is in their new cabins (which are usually the same cabins they had on the original ship). We didnt regret our decision. The 220V outlets are German Schuko 2-pin safety plugs. WOW, what a complete piece of well written and informative information we have come across. 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. Thank you for making me less anxious! COVID Travel Packing List: 6 Essentials For Any Trip. crewsgirl, November 9, 2014 in River Cruising. I am sure i will have more later but your thread is wonderful. As you probably know, Viking offers nice quality wine, beer, and soft drinks free of charge at lunch and dinner. We werent near them then, but it was nice to be notified of them.) Follow up with a conversation with the Viking staff when youre onboard to learn the expected times and exact location of the ship while docked. I dont want to waste any precious time in Amsterdam because this may be the last time we see it. You can choose to pre-pay gratuities which we did. Most the times we always take the NCL cruise, but this is the first time on Viking Cruise River The Grand European Tour from Budapest to Amsterdam (for our 22nd anniversary).Im so glad I found a lot of information from the article thats very helpful for us for excursions, maybe transferring ships, parallel parked ships and other information. Thank you for your informative article! 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. This is because some guests may have canceled their planned optional excursions prior to the cruise; so its a good practice to check on this and any other concerns once youre on board. Is that a crazy thing to say?! No need for a converter. Just inside is the Lounge where we ate one rainy lunchtime. Otherwise, we had a brand new crew. Thanks for the reminders. Do women really wear pants and a blouse for dinner? How can we arrange individual tours or make dinner reservations if we dont know the times or the port arrangements? I love this charger. rent to own house in quezon city 5k monthly. When you return to the ship, you scan it again. In addition to cocktails, there were some very nice premium wine options aboard Viking, and we had fun trying ones that were new to us. Haha, I got a kick out of being tempted with just one little pastry! Cramming too much in your suitcase increases the odds of incurring additional airline fees for oversized or overweight checked bags. Leave the soap, body lotion, shower gel and shower cap at home as well. We received great overviews of a place with the large group tours, but what we remember most were the unique experiences that came from the optional experiences. In the theatre it can be arctic. 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. which provides information for each new day and the evening updates by the program director in the Lounge before. us, and our new room keys were on the dresser. One thing I think I discovered was that the iPad pulls a heavy load to recharge and might not do well plugged into the power strip while other stuff is also charging. Its important to note that when the ship docks somewhere in the morning and you go on an excursion, you sometimes will be brought back to the ship in a different location like another city further down the river. Trying to guess the weather so we can narrow down what to pack. The optional excursions have smaller groups and are more focused on cultural, recreational, and even culinary experiences. (Its not uncommon for someone to forget to scan their card when returning to the ship.). Thanks for your kind words, Triana. Accommodating just 82 guests, she offers the ultimate in comfort. All cruise ships owned by Norwegian Cruise Line have a minimum of 1 US and 1 European plug sockets in each cabin. Viking says they are NOT allowed, but no one will confiscate. You should also alert the Maitre d once on board. I laughed out loud at the comments from Shelly and Mary. We have one of those and love it, because you only need to find one free plug and you're home safe. Also located off the main corridor are a couple of, Naturally, safety is a primary concern of travelers and the crew. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. I'm sure you won't need to plug everything in at the same time, and I'm also sure that if you leave some of those devices at home you'll have a better time on your cruise. This practice continues through all the classes of staterooms with the standard staterooms getting the last optional booking options. viking cruise ship electrical outlets. Designed and crafted to safely navigate the Lower Mekong River in Viking style, Saigon will carry a maximum of 80 passengers between My Tho and Kampong Cham as part of the . Required fields are marked *. Definitely needed that in the humidity. #4. During lunch, prior to and after dinner, theres usually live music in the Lounge. Any comments on safety in cities? Your comments are really appreciated. (Im trying to save you room in your luggage!) On our cruise, this was done in the Lounge just after the evening port talk by the program director. We were never disappointed with our meal selections. We are planning to do 12 days in a carry-on bag only, so no way could I do it without downloading all the info. Some travelers prefer to book through Viking itself. and special treats made nice surprises. My husband had been to a number of these cities on business and wanted me to visit them too, and this makes it sound easy. Each time you leave the ship, you scan your room key. And our experience was that we were usually parked next to other Viking ships, so we walked through familiar spaces. We thoroughly enjoyed our Viking river cruise. First timer on river cruise. most electronics or travel stores. We depart in 9 days on the Grand European tour, and this is the best account I have seen weve done a dozen ocean cruises on several lines, but never a river cruise. Not everyone needs to go on excursions. I agree with a previous comment about this being the most informative, most inclusive article Ive seen as well. I hope you have a wonderful cruise and that things work out for your planned day trips! Irene. Power strips increasingly also have USB sockets. Of course, there is a downside to extreme minimalism or sloppy packing. Every once in a while, you may be treated to a little extra like a refreshing drink served on the sun deck while sailing one day. However, if such devices are determined to pose a hazard, they will be removed and returned the last day of the cruise . 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). We do the red eye and get into Amsterdam early morning. Sometimes theres a lot of river cruise ship traffic in popular cities. Poweradd 3-Outlet Power Strip 5-foot Heavy Duty Extension Cord with 3 USB Charging Ports. 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. The tips cover all onboard staff. It wasnt a deal breaker, but something you should be aware of. I have to say though that almost nobody dressed up for dinnerI saw one or two men in sport coats. Ive left it out on the counter and the stewards never said anything either. Thanks for the great details! Prior to dinner, the chef usually introduces the options including his/her recommendations. #2. We're with you. Furthermore, this means that you may have to walk through another ship to get to shore or people are walking through your ship to get to and from theirs. Posted February 21, 2009. Check your cruise itinerary as it will tell you the expected times your ship will be docked at each stop. Royal Princess desk with power sockets. Our luggage awaited us, and our new room keys were on the dresser. Thanks. Radgrid's name translates into "truce of counsel," suggesting her great power in determining . Without a doubt, we give Viking chefs top marks for the presentation and flavor of the food they serve. Were celebrating our 50th!