Reenactment of the Viking landing at L'Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland, Canada, 2000. Within Suites there are two types of Suites. Thanks for your kind words, Lona! These talentedprofessionals were responsible for making the magic happen for all of us, and they did. Your account is clearly in line with the many ways I have observed Viking Cruises go overboard to accommodate their passengers every need. If you prefer a sling bag, weve got the best selection of Sling Backpacks for men & women here. We are taking one in Nov/Dec timeframe for the Christmas Markets and your articles are helping me preparing for them. April 26, 2019, My Viking River Cruises Longships Review and Ship Tour. par . Howard is an avid roadtripper, cruiser, and rail-rider. Table of Contents 1 Viking River Cruise Amenities 2 Red Carpet Treatment 3 Flowers and Fruit Layering is the best way to combat changeable conditions when travelling even from morning to night or when transiting in airports. Please note that clothes cannot be dry cleaned on board. Hello Howard, we are preparing for our first Viking Cruise-The Rhine Getaway from Basel to Amsterdam. Hope this helps! Laundry and pressing services areavailable on Avalon Waterways for a fee. My mother and I are also going on the Rhine Getaway on May 10th as a mother-daughter trip after the passing of her mother (my grandmother). Depending on your stateroom category, laundry services, including pressing, may be complimentary. We did the Grand European, as well, and it was our favorite because you get to visit so many countries along the Rhine, Main, and Danube. I will never forget his greeting of, Happy American Day! on the morning of July 4. Lets go!! They are also good if visiting dusty areas for covering your face. Learn how your comment data is processed. One of the less desirable aspects of travel is having to use public conveniences, something you will often do on a river cruise. Started August 27, 2021, By While this is undoubtedly true, many equate this with the need to dress up during the cruise. For breakfast it has the early riser breakfast and has a lighter breakfast. Thank you! As we ambledup the gangplank, several staff members were waiting to welcome uswith warm smiles and the announcementthat dinner was being served. Expect prices between $2.00 - $8.00 USD per item. So much so, some days will barely allow time to change before dinner. Telling me to select a program and only give me some icon that merely hints at what it means - if you only had the magic decoder ring along with what other controls (water temp etc) are enabled or disabled based on your program selection - would be most appreciated. They have a Scandinavian look and feel. do viking longships have laundry facilities? - anticapieve.com This post highlights some of the many ways Viking River Cruises go above and beyond to provide their passengers the best in comfort and convenience. my only wish is that the tiny beds were at least the true twin size, not more narrow, hard to sleep. We did not send out laundry, although it was available. The Design of Viking Longships. Just before you come into the lounge is the 24-hour tea and coffee making facilities. There is also a small shop on board should you require something urgently. You definitely need a good pair of walking shoes (sneakers) for excursions. Bring lingerie bags for small items. We were guests of Viking Cruises, but the pleasure of shipboard amenities was all ours. (^_^), You will love the the Christmas Markets, Claudie, and of course you will love Viking River Cruises. He tends to overplan, always cramming too many activities and destinations in a single itinerary. Because we could not live without those ambrosialoatmeal raisin and chocolate macadamia delicacies, it didnt take us long to find a solution. In-room irons are a huge no-no for the fire hazard they present. Viking has a beautiful premium range of products designed exclusively for them by Freyja. Appreciate the responses. These have balconies which you can sit out on, slightly smaller cabin than the Verandah Suites. Howard, always enjoy reading your writings bc you make your readers feel like we are on the journey right along with you. On a river cruise, you will be launching straight into tours and excursions; there would be nothing worse than trying to squeeze swollen feet into shoes for a walking tour. Winter jacket Lightweight packable puffy down jacket for travel. I appreciate the packing, photos, meals and everything else tips! One thing we love about Viking River Cruise vessels is the ample storage in the cabins. By design Viking River Cruisespamper their passengers in every possible way. Always keep comfort in mind when choosing clothing for a cruise. Bring your headphones I find the earpieces issued with the audio devices for tours very uncomfortable and difficult to attach to my ear. To answer your questions (and I am all about simplicity when packing): Viking is a luxury cruise line, but very casual. Bon voyage! Suddenly, waiters would appear with complimentary cocktails, savorymorsels, shots of local spirits, hors doeuvres, or various other tastings. maybe I too will be one of the lucky ones who has flowers and fruit waiting for me when I arrive. do viking longships have laundry facilities? Since then, we have done 7 other Viking cruises and have 2 more booked for this year. Great information. You might want to try the print feature in the left toolbar so your hand does not get tired! Suites on Viking cruise ships. We will update you in our journey. Thanks so much, Nancy! Stateroom Amenities Viking River Cruise Common Areas The Lounge and Bar The Sun Deck The Aquavit Terrace The Dining Room The Library Internet Cafe Coffee Station The Viking Onboard Experience Embarkation Meals on a Viking River Cruise Lunch Dinner Guests & Socializing Exercising on a River Cruise Excursions on a Viking River Cruise River Cruise Basics: Laundry Onboard Hello Sylvia Wilkinswe have signed up for the same cruise, departing next July. Looking for practical and stylish travel wear? Glad to help, Cheryl! Hi Howard! Started June 21, 2021, By Plan Your Hanoi Itinerary. Forsake Phil Chukka Mens Casual Leather Mid-Top, Johnston & Murphy Woven Slip-on Sneaker Shoe. Washers, dryers, soap, ironing boards. Hi, Laura! My question relates to the dress requirements on board. Kadlin's onboard facilities include a lounge bar with a dance floor, sun deck, laundry service, library with two computers and free Wi-Fi. Polo shirts are fine. Think about your mix and match. Should we book our excursions (paid and offered) now? Tell us all about it? Also, on this level you have a small library and a small computer area where you have a couple of computers, for people that have not brought their own laptops or tablets. Specialty coffees like cappuccino, tea and bottled water are free 24 hours. Or, pack a separate anti-theft clutch that wont take up much room in your bag. The laundry order sheet is in the drawer with the hair dryer. You should start a blog about all your incredible travels. Each identical sister ship carries only 930 guests and is engineered at a scale that allows direct access into most ports. All river cruises offer complimentary umbrellas on board as just one of the. I pressed the button on the dispenser after I started the load and heard the soap dispense. Indeed, the Viking Age, from A.D. 800-1100, was the age of the sleek, speedy longship. Thanks again! Swollen feet from flying is bad at the best of times. Viking River Cruise Packing List with Cruise Packing Tips The Grand European Tour has been on our bucket list for years. They are much more comfortable to wear for long periods and produce better sound. My travel life spans more than three decades and that includes more than 95 cruises. So, if there are any medical issues or needs, they can connect you with a local clinic hospital or a medical practitioner. Hope this helps a little! Foldable and Packable Sun Hats for Travel, Foldable & Packable Fedora Panama Straw Hat. The price list is located in each stateroom. Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos, Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features, Policy regarding COVID related Discussions. Here are Backroad Planets Top 11 amenities! Spacious staterooms, indoor and outdoor dining venues and panoramic views enrich your travel experience. Have a wonderful time on your cruise, and keep us posted! We're doing a 15 day river cruise Amsterdam to - River Rhine Avalon Waterways You will love it! You may like to take a second pair of day shoes for around the ship that can transition to evening and one pair of dressier shoes for evening excursions. its all true, they are wonderful. You will need to plan for how long you are away taking into consideration clothing, medications and toiletries. Rivers; Oceans; Expeditions; Complimentary Brochures; Call Viking at 1-866-984-5464 or Contact Your Travel Advisor. I am so happy that you will be doing the Rhine Getaway. Hi Sandy! Viking also offers smaller versions of its Longships that have fewer balcony cabins, as well as a few different types of river ships with varying numbers of balcony cabins. Expect prices between $2.00 $8.00 USD per item. What services and conveniences do you think are essential to river cruise travel? I cant believe I stumbled upon this blog. We leave for our first VRC, the Grand European in April 23 with pre in Amsterdam and post to Prague. They are not expensive and can be a lifesaver when you really need that bit of extra battery. A scarf or shawl is great for layering in minor changes in weather and a must if cruising in the winter months. Hi Sue! What did you think of the pre and post trip excursions? Emerald Cruises offers onboard laundry services and charges a fee per piece of laundry. Hi Howard, You advice would be appreciated. We are first time cruisers and chose a river cruise because it tempted us more than one of those huge floating cities. Think practical anti-theft crossbody purses that cant be overfilled (for comfort), dont stand out yet still look good. Our question is about how close we will be to towns where we can sightsee on our own in the afternoon or evening. We envy you, and please give us an update of your trip when you return. Our Amsterdam search for the docking location of the Viking Mimir was nothing less thana wild goose chase, butour releasefrom the cab ride felt like a homecoming of prodigal sons. Especially when considering some mens shoes. Shhh . Cheers! While this is an open invitation to pickpockets, it is also how people often lose phones, wallets and other personal items when travelling. Did laundry at 2am.. all included. Glad we could help. Viking River Cruises are EVERYTHING you dream they will be and so much more. . By In is an eagle a primary consumer February 21, 2022 no comments From the moment we boarded our longship, the Viking Mimir, to the time we said ourgoodbyes, Viking Cruises never wavered in giving usthe ultimate royal treatment. On Viking's traditional ocean ships, there are 47 suites broken . Packing for day and evening will mean a lot more luggagedress shoesect. This is very important because they are the same: the same look, the same feel, the same layout. All Itineraries Current Position Specifications of Viking Rinda How to get a cabin upgrade on a cruise: 9 ways that work for me. Complimentary self-service Guest Laundry, including washing machines, detergent, fabric softener, dryers, irons and ironing boards are provided on Deck 1 on Crystal Bach, Crystal Mahler, Crystal Debussy and Crystal Ravel. Have any advice for me? FREE. Whether it be road trips across America, fly-drives to international destinations, or cruises on the mighty waters, I invite you to use Backroad Planets destination stories, travel guides, and planning resources to design your own adventures. great. During the Viking Age, longships were used by the Vikings for several purposes like trade and commerce, exploration, and wars. We are especially wondering about shore excursions choices you or fellow travelers may have enjoyed. Thanks for all this useful info. Amenities and Services; Viking Health & Safety Program; My Viking Journey; Can't find the answer you're looking for? It will also be a great introduction to river cruising before you get hooked like us! As you pass through the rivers of Europe youre often going to go through a series of locks, and youre find if you go through one of these big locks in day time, people will head up out onto the deck to enjoy and watch at the marvel of these phenomenal locks. yay!!!! You want to be comfortable and dont want to fall victim to pickpockets. Even in the shoulder seasons the sun can be very harmful so always be prepared with at least the basics. Thank you for the cruise tips, since I am a photography hobbyist, I noticed your tips for bringing long lens and taking pictures as soon as possible, in case the ship moves during a tour. Theres the Explorer Suite at the rear of the ship, and these have a separate lounge, separate bedroom and bathroom. Just an example of Vikings ongoing TLC. Im not going to tell him of what you wrote, this way he can be pleasantly surprised. dont tell anyone I jumped shipwith a set of shampoo, soap, and body wash! My favorite part of returning to the ship after daily activities was the literal helping hand of Attila, the hotel manager, assuring that we ladies were escorted safely back on board!!!! We just got home from ours, and we would love to go again! Walking around Europe on the cobblestones can be perilous at times, especially in the wet. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Viking already runs a number of river cruises throughout Europe on 190-guest longships, including sailing on the Rhine, Main, and Danube rivers. Start with a predominantly neutral colour scheme -black, white, beige, tan and grey. In Europe, many people choose to take a river cruise in the shoulder seasons of spring and autumn which can mean changeable conditions. Our stateroom steward leftfresh fruit daily. Without this crucial advance in ship technology, the Vikings would never have become a dominant force in . Viking River Cruises Spa and Fitness - The Cruise Web Shoes take up the most room in our luggage and can sometimes add the most weight. A selection of fine teas and a variety of coffees were available 24 hours a day, . Scarf/stole either lightweight for summer or woollen for winter. Let me assure you that it will be everything you have dreamed it will be and so much more. We will be going on our first Viking River Cruise next July. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Do Viking Ocean ships have laundry facilities or services? If you are travelling as a couple, we recommend taking one large suitcase or bag between you for a cruise and one carry on bag each. We were guests of Viking Cruises, but the pleasure of shipboard amenities was all ours. So comfortable, casual wear will make up the majority of your wardrobe. How much is laundry service for those of us who would rather not do our own? Actually, the Viking Homelands cruise is an ocean cruise, not a river cruise. You have just whet my appetite even more for one of these cruises. Thanks for prompting me to do an update! The Karvi class longship were the smallest of the Viking longships in overall size and would have been used in battle for small raiding parties. Sinks are usually large enough to hand-wash items and most shower stalls include a retractable clothesline. Always do a final check of all your devices, cameras and electronic equipment to make sure you have all the right cords, batteries and chargers. Viking staff members were always at their postsas our tour groups left the ship each day. . A river cruise schedule can be quite busy. Longer trips do cause issues with laundry and shipboard services can be pricey. Axle is Howards occasional road trip buddy. From a blogger on another site, I was given the information that the Viking onboard concierge will assist us with arranging a taxi and even provide us with a time to be ready to disembark. Recommendations? You will be able to leave a comment after signing in, By Wine, beer and soft drinks are included with lunch and with dinner. Oceans. Elbe River Cruise Ships - Viking Beyla, Viking Astrild Depending on the type of excursion, you may want to pack specific clothing such as comfortable, versatile hiking/walking shoesfor optional easy hikes. Our stateroom steward Jonathan with his ever-cheerfulsmile and gentle spirit brightened the entire upper deck. We took this cruise to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary and Viking kindly allowed us to have a symbolic vow renewal onboard attended by two couples whom we met on the cruise and the simple ceremony was conducted by the Captain in the Wheelhouse along with a beautiful cake, flowers, champagne and photographs all at the expense of Viking. Lets talk about some of the things that you will not find onboard a Viking Longship. Just wondering if Viking does this? At each port, you will have numerous shore activities and excursions to choose from including lots of free walking tours. We have cruised the Danube between Nuremburg and Budapest, and you will love it. CC Help Jenn First of all, whats important to note is that the Viking Longship is the ship that they have right across their fleet, and pretty much every single river that you go on in Europe will be on one of these Viking Longship. Flushable, individually wrapped wipes for travel. The ever-present cruise pianistprovided relaxing background music, as well as accompaniment for singing and dancing in the evening. For optional excursions, I did the cheese factory tour in Kinderdijk because I had been there twice before. Viking cruise cabins and suites: A guide to everything you want to know A brightly coloured scarf, shawl or jacket will give you additional options for each combination and can be used to dress up any outfit. Personal Quote Spending eight days slowly exploring France is a great way to become immersed in French history, culture, and scenic beauty. :D, Do your laundry early in the morning, not many people out. I hope your upcoming Viking journey will bring you and your mother peace and comfort after you loss. Sylvia. We too are on the Star on deck 3 and our machines are different. Each has 2 washers & dryers with 2 half size fold down ironing boards with irons. We are also planning this exact trip in 2018! . . Please keep us updated about your journey, and bon voyage! Viking | History, Exploration, Facts, & Maps | Britannica It should not be a word of mouth deal, I.e., counting on somebody who knows the score to share that knowledge with the newbies on the scene. Thank You for all the great insights on traveling with Viking! For handwashed garments, there is a clothesline in the shower. There are suites, verandah All are the same size, layout and design. As I recalleven though I dont use themrobes and slippers have always been in my stateroom closet. See our top five best womens travel pants that are stylish, comfortable and versatile perfect for river cruising. Do people dress for dinner more formally than when touring? Please tell us all about your travels when you return! Top Questions; At the front of the lounge, right on the bow of the ship, is whats known as Aquavit. My husband and I did Paris and the Heart of Normandy as our first Viking cruise in 2013. You have a choice of four different types of accommodation on a Longship. ft. Hotel-style beds 79 inches x 63 inches (with optional twin-bed configuration) Full-size veranda off the spacious living room Floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors, known as a French balcony, in the bedroom Too often we see people in tour groups sightseeing with their bag or daypack hanging loosely from one shoulder with zips or drawer string closures gaping wide open. . Travelon Anti-theft Signature Slim Backpack, Pacsafe Anti-Theft Backpack with Detachable Pocket, Read Our Complete Guide to Buying an Anti-Theft Backpack. Also, for optional excursions, which excursion that you would recommend or point to a site that allows us to research for a more informed decision. You will find an example 7-10 day packing list at the end of the article to use as a starting point for your packing. Some cruise lines provide robes and slippers for guests. Viking Aton; Viking Osiris; Viking Ra; MS Antares; Viking Mississippi Ships. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask! The best luggage for a river cruise is sturdy, easy to manoeuvre through airports and easy to stow under the bed once you have unpacked on board. Hi Sandy! There are a couple of rivers which are cannot take the full-sized Longship, like the Douro in Portugal, and these have a slightly smaller version. Loved the pictures as well as the descriptions of daily life on the Viking vessel. For sure the laundrette facilitates lots of camaraderie as we collectively either discuss the cryptic meaning of said symbols or pass on whatever knowledge each of us have gained to the next newbie on the scene. Both long and short-sleeved. Perhaps the newer ships have larger beds? If sailing on Viking ocean cruises, there are numerous guest laundries available to use free of charge on each deck. Its a really popular place to eat especially if the weathers great. You have questions - we have answers. Viking Ship Designs - Bright Hub Engineering Who knows . However, even with all the great packing hacks we mention here, the secret to packing for a cruise is still to pack light. See end of article for more details. . Most river cruises are between 7 to 15 days. Viking Ocean Cruises boasts a fleet of new, all-veranda, state-of-the-art ocean ships. Three machine per laundry room. When do you feel is the best time to book? The only difference between your trip and mine is that mine was a December Christmas Markets cruise. There were suds visible and the clothes can out clean. Easier to keep track of things. Trying to decide if we should do it on our own or stick with Viking! Twist a couple of dials, select second rinse, press start. . Also, choose shoes with a good grip. The Complete Guide to a Viking River Cruise - Travel with Lolly Comfortable trousers or jeans are best, or if the weather calls for it, shorts or skirts are also appropriate. Price lists are available in each stateroom. The next level down is probably where one of the most important, and popular, parts of the ship is: the dining room. There is a fee for this service. (Not every cruise company will have this so you should check in advance if cruising with a different company). do viking longships have laundry facilities? Menu. Anatomie Skyler Travel Pant (use code GET15OFF for 15% off your order). Were going on the Rhine Getaway this summer. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. A quality, fast charging bank is great for travel days, essential for full-day shore excursions, especially for anyone who uses their phone as their primary camera. Laundry Services or Facilities: Which River Cruise Companies Include The last time I did laundry, I did so on deck 5, I didnt hear the sound of soap dispensing as I had before and the setup on the wall seemed to suggest that I should push the button on the dispensers, which I did. I have found that the car rental is about 20% less expensive at the train station than at the airport through Sixt. Disclaimer Vagrants of the World Travel are participants in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. And not to hammer home the point, but Viking cruises are truly luxurious. travelmum, January 3, 2018 in Viking Ocean. Its also where all of your briefings take place like the port briefings. Travel tips and destination guides by experienced travellers from all over the world. Viking Cruise Line Secrets No One Tells You - TravelAwaits