European, Asian, Mississippi & Nile Cruises Viking®

best viking river cruise

Scenic operates custom-made vessels and a variety of cabins types. Standard suites are sparse, small (just 160 square feet) and lack balconies. A good mid-tier option is the Royal Balcony suite, which comes with a great view and perks like daily fruit skewers, canapes, and petit fours. All upgraded suites come with butler service, nightly turndown, and a laundry concierge.

Dining on Viking River Ships Centers on a Main Dining Room, Casual Meals in Aquavit

17 Best Viking Cruises Food Options I Enjoyed On Board - TravelAwaits

17 Best Viking Cruises Food Options I Enjoyed On Board.

Posted: Fri, 08 Mar 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Viking's longships dock in the heart of each city, so sights and excursions are on your doorstep (sometimes that literally means the Eiffel Tower in Paris). The line's high-end offerings and free shore excursions also help make Viking river itineraries some of the most popular in Europe. Likewise, the optional tours -- with a clue in the name -- are there for anyone who has a special interest, such as wine tasting, or is looking for an extra level of immersion.

Grand European Tour • Free Airfare*

The trips include voyages focused specifically on the Western Mediterranean or Eastern Mediterranean and some that include stops across both areas. In Northern Europe, Viking ships mostly sail out of Bergen, Amsterdam, Stockholm, Copenhagen and London as well as Reykjavik. Viking's Scandinavia and Northern Europe trips range widely in length from just seven nights to a whopping 28 nights. The company also operates river trips on the Nile in Egypt and the Mekong in Southeast Asia, and it just began river trips on the Mississippi River. If you're sure you know what sort of cabin you want, on which ship, on which itinerary — and about a dozen other things — you can head over to Viking.com and book directly. Note that the credits mentioned above cannot always be combined with promotions the line offers.

Don't Feel You Have to Do Everything on Your Viking Rhine River Cruise

Last year, the line began cruising to Antarctica with its first expedition ship — a type of vessel built specifically for travel to remote, hard-to-reach places. Viking fares do include port taxes and fees, which can add up to hundreds of dollars per sailing. Most other lines do not include port taxes and fees in their base fares and add them later in the booking process.

Night New Orleans & Southern Charms

Whichever side of the menu you order from, the meals for the entire table are served at the same time. For a more casual option, the Aquavit Terrace on the upper deck has light buffet breakfasts, lunches and dinners. It's a particularly charming place to eat when the weather is nice and the glass walls come down, opening the entire area up to al fresco dining. Tables here are smaller, so if you're traveling with a friend or partner, you don't have to sit at a table with strangers. You can also come and go a bit more freely here, during serving hours. It's a nice choice if you've had a long day touring and only need a small nosh.

best viking river cruise

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. The ships are designed for this — to have travelers walk through the common spaces. And our experience was that we were usually parked next to other Viking ships, so we walked through familiar spaces. We learned this the hard way one day, and we realized that we actually prefer exploring the little towns that we dock at more. Our preferred day at a town where we were docked included a morning walking tour (an included excursion) to get the lay of the land. In the afternoon, we followed up on some of the suggestions the local guide from the morning had regarding how to spend the remainder of the day.

Aqua Expeditions

The 8 Best European River Cruises 2024 - Forbes

The 8 Best European River Cruises 2024.

Posted: Fri, 19 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

If you decide to stay onboard you will have a full-service experience in terms of food and drink and the chance to relax with a book or take a nap. Also, don’t forget to enjoy scenic sailing moments along the iconic Middle Rhine to enjoy the historic castles and hillside vineyards. There are a fair amount of UNESCO World Heritage Sites on the itineraries, which are almost always awe-inspiring. Guests are served complimentary soft drinks, beer, or wine during lunch and dinner. There is an extra charge for the Silver Spirits package for guests who want to enjoy premium wines and beer, cocktails, and champagnes.

Night Danube Christmas DelightsDetails

Even in summertime the weather on the Rhine can be changeable and you will be spending more time outside than you do on an ocean cruise. Bring plenty of layers, including a waterproof jacket, sweater and something warm to sit outside in the evening, along with a hat. Adventures by Disney is the best option for families since they curate their onboard and onshore activities with kids and teens in mind. Uniworld is also a good choice with an array of added perks for kids of all ages.

Spacious Lounges, Sun Decks and the Aquavit Terrace Anchor the Layout of Viking River Cruise Ships

Is a balcony something you can't live without when staying in a cabin on a cruise ship? The line's ocean ships can be found in nearly every ocean and sea around the world, from North America to Europe and Asia. Viking also recently began sailings on the Mississippi River with a new ship specifically designed for the river and its tributaries. Cruises generally last eight days, and Viking begins and ends their Bordeaux cruises in the elegant UNESCO-listed port of Bordeaux.

Typical 10-day cruises start and finish in the Atlantic-facing city of Porto, where famous port wine warehouses line the waterfront. Learning the secrets of port production is a highlight on Viking Douro cruises, as are the lush green landscapes that stretch all the way to the Spanish border. From there, the line offers a scenic motorcoach tour to honey-colored Salamanca, Spain's oldest university town (try to spot the tiny frog hidden in the university's facade). For the ultimate itinerary, check out Viking River Cruises' Grand European Tour. This 15-day cruise travels through the heart of Europe between Amsterdam and Budapest.

There are also Christmas market sailings that include tree-trimming, caroling, and a Christmas dinner feast. In addition to traditional ships, there are also sleek black U by Uniworld boats, which offer a modern take on river cruising with a younger demographic in mind. They often feature DJs, silent discos, mixology classes, yoga, and rooftop camping (tents are supplied). These cruises offer 25% off the fare for travelers 4 to 17 years old when traveling with an adult (suites excluded). A river cruise is kind of like a floating hotel, except you'll visit a variety of places but only have to unpack once. In addition to food and drink — with carefully curated cuisine reflective of the areas being visited — many river cruises include land excursions, which is a huge advantage that adds tremendous value.

Plus, in many cases, we’re going to bring you complimentary VIP amenities through our affiliation with Virtuoso®, the world’s leading international luxury travel agency network, that you won’t get on your own. Did you know that you won’t pay a penny more for your Viking River cruise when you book with us? As you can see, the number of suites is quite limited, so if you prefer a larger suite, early booking is highly recommended.

Bring or exchange small amounts of local currency to tip local guides and bus drivers. Viking also offers Antarctica sailings that combine a visit to the White Continent with stops in the Falkland Islands, Uruguay and Brazil. Notably, the ship features an entire deck of sprawling suites that rival anything else found on the Nile for luxury and comfort. Each comes with two full-size rooms — a large living room with a residential feel and an adjacent bedroom with a walk-in closet and bathroom. Each suite also has an outdoor balcony with seating for two — something you don't always see on Nile ships. Here are the five best Viking cruise destinations where the line can truly offer you a memorable vacation.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

12 Modern Kitchen Ideas for Every Design Style

Look Inside Suzanne Rheinsteins Georgian-Style House in Los Angeles

Mexican Riviera Cruises: Cruises to Baja Mexico