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Admire the mountains of Tibet, a sought-after destination for climbers from around the world. There are both 110V and 220V electrical outlets in your stateroom. All outlets are European style with a ground, except for two US 110V sockets above the desk and one US 110V socket on each side of the bed.
Highlights of the Viking Ocean Cruises Staterooms
Examine enormous stalagmites and stalactites, the world’s widest column found in a cave, and a natural amphitheatre used as a concert venue. Sailing roundtrip from Barcelona, this 16-day voyage in seven countries also calls at Seville, Casablanca, Valetta (overnight), Corsica, Rome, Marseilles, Tunis and Algiers, with three non-consecutive days at sea. If you're sure that Viking is your line, look for a travel agent who specializes in trips with the brand.
Scandinavia and Northern Europe
The line's high-end offerings and free shore excursions also help make Viking river itineraries some of the most popular in Europe. By building modern European river ships at scale, Viking has been credited with revitalizing river cruising due to their deck plans, cabins and dining spaces. Dip into chocolate-making at the lakeside Lindt headquarters in Kilchberg, Switzerland. Viking guests can participate in a hands-on workshop led by a master chocolatier at one of the world’s foremost producers, founded in 1845.
Viking cruise cabins and suites: A guide to everything you want to know
There's no extra charge for dining in the smaller restaurants, but reservations are required. Each passenger is only allowed to make one to three reservations per cruise at the eateries, depending on which category of cabin they have booked. What Viking ships don't offer is a lot of onboard amusements aimed at families and younger travelers. In fact, the line doesn't even allow children under the age of 18 on its ships. It's one of the only major cruise brands in the world with such a rule. Viking also offers Antarctica sailings that combine a visit to the White Continent with stops in the Falkland Islands, Uruguay and Brazil.
You'll also find musicians including pianists and guitar players performing at times in the Viking Living Room — a three-deck-high, atrium-like space at the center of the ship. Filled with comfortable seating areas and home to a bar, the Viking Living Room serves as a central meeting point for passengers throughout the day and night. It's also home to the ship's Explorers' Desk — the equivalent of a guest relations area on other ships. The number of restaurants and other dining options that you'll find on Viking ships will vary greatly depending on whether you are sailing on an ocean or a river ship. Viking's ocean ships have a major presence in Scandinavia and Northern Europe, which the line considers its home turf.
We love the reading lights built into the fabric headboards, which are in addition to the lamps on bedside tables. Bathrooms in Viking cabins are serene, modernist escapes with luxurious travertine-lined walls, Scandinavian-influenced wood-veneered vanities, shiny white sinks and chrome fixtures. Most Viking passengers are North Americans who are approaching retirement age or already retired. The company's core market is people who range in age from 55 to 75 years, although it does draw some passengers who are younger or older. If it's a floating celebration you're looking for in a vacation, this isn't the line for you. Viking's Scandinavia and Northern Europe trips range widely in length from just seven nights to a whopping 28 nights.
Why Do Most Viking Longships in Europe Look Exactly Alike?
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]
These staterooms are located on Deck 3 with the V1 staterooms towards the front and the V2 staterooms towards the rear. And even if you’re extremely particular about your shampoo, you don’t need to bring any onboard. 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.
Whether you prefer the action-packed ships of Royal Caribbean or MSC, or the smaller ships that can sail along narrower fjords, there will be a Norwegian fjords itinerary for you. Besides the gourmet cheese boards, spread of salads, and charcuterie, there were also glasses of wine and champagne. The staff blended well with their striped shirts, berets, and stylish threads that were so chic and “gay Paris.” This is one lively event.
River Ships
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. In the Mediterranean, the line's main hubs are Barcelona; Civitavecchia (the port for Rome) and Venice, Italy; Piraeus (the port for Athens), Greece; and Istanbul. Typical of the latter is the line's 14-night "Mediterranean Antiquities" routing, a one-way trip between Athens and Barcelona that stops in Greece, Turkey, Italy, Monaco, France and Spain. In Northern Europe, Viking ships mostly sail out of Bergen, Amsterdam, Stockholm, Copenhagen and London as well as Reykjavik. Some of Viking's most interesting itineraries are around Scandinavia and the Baltic Sea, with many beginning or ending in Norway — the homeland of the company's founder and chairman, Torstein Hagen.
Another 22 cabins have the more traditional French balconies, where you can open the doors for fresh air, but can't actually go outside. The balcony cabins are 205 square feet, while the French balcony cabins are significantly smaller at 135 square feet. The layout of Viking river cruise ships’ leverages modern Scandinavian design to create open and airy spaces, perfect for kicking back and watching the river float by.
We ordered from room service a few times, once for breakfast on our first sea day, and twice when our excursion got us back to the ship after the dining areas were closed. After a steamy excursion it was nice to put our feet up and enjoy a platter of cheese or a Caprese panini. But while onboard Guest Services came through with a level of hospitality we hadn’t found on other cruise lines. A big thank you to guest services for hosting an impromptu gathering of participants from Cruise Critic. We enjoyed drinks and appetizers in the 8th floor Explorers’ Lounge as we met offline for the first time.
Viking's recently unveiled Mississippi River ship offers self-service launderettes but no send-out laundry and pressing service. Unlike many lines, Viking allows you to bring your own wine, Champagne, beer and liquor onto ships at embarkation with no limits. Viking operates international itineraries where a passport is required.
This certification is required to give tours of French monuments and museums. Steve was so personable and knowledgeable about the culinary traditions of the Alsace region. My first stop was at the restaurant to enjoy a slice of Black Forest cake before visiting the shops and looking at the amazing assortment of cuckoo clocks. I ended up having enough time to take a hike into the forest and walk along a rushing stream before heading back to the bus. You will either be on a walking tour or a bus tour for which Viking uses their own buses.
Book selection is curated by London bookseller Heywood Hill to enrich and enhance your journey. However, if you’re looking to save money, think about whether you’ll actually spend much time in your suite. If you’re an active person (or if you’re planning to adopt a slightly more active lifestyle during a two- or three-week cruise), a less expensive stateroom could save you a tremendous amount of money. Viking estimates that their amenities are worth about $200, per guest, per day. To get that value, you’ll have to use as many of the onboard services as possible, but it beats constantly taking out your wallet for things like internet access and port fees. Explore one of the most stunning parts of the world aboard Into the Midnight Sun.
The ships have seven 275-square foot Veranda Suites, which are all located on the upper deck and have a separate sleeping and living area. These 25 rooms, coming in at 150 square feet, are often called "aquarium class" because the windows are at the same level of the river outside. While you don't get the benefit of fresh air, people often choose these cabins for their lower price point and the fact that you often don't spend all that much time in your room on a typical river cruise. Still, as is typical for cruise lines at the high end, Viking includes a lot in its base price. The latter is something relatively few lines roll into their base fares, and shore excursions can be expensive.
That's something that even the most upscale of Viking's ocean cruise rivals — including Oceania Cruises, Azamara, Seabourn, Silversea Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises — can't say. Based on existing orders and options, the line says it could have as many as 16 ocean ships by 2027. Two expedition ships joined the Viking family in 2021 and 2022 – allowing the company to add Antarctica and the Great Lakes to its plethora of destination offerings. Viking's Rhine sailings wind through Germany's largest wine-producing region. Expect shore excursions to include vineyard visits and tastings of the region's famous Rieslings. 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).
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