Thank you. Great video. I am 63 years old and NEVER BEEN on a cruise. I am thinking of a river cruise for my 65 birthday. Your video was amazing and full of great tips.
Thank you for your kind comments. Yes, I DO highly recommend you going on a cruise. A 65th birthday is a special milestone, so treat yourself! You've waited a long time for it, find that perfect cruise! You deserve it. That being said, hopefully in two years the world will be safe from Covid and cruising won't be as risky as it is now. Enjoy!!
I just returned from my 1st cruise ever for my 40th bday. I would 1,000,000% (is that even a real number? lol) recommend Viking! Even during pandemic times, I felt so safe on the ship. We were all tested every day. While it's true there are a bazillion cruises to chose from (most of them costing less than Viking ), I do not regret that 15k one bit! (My hubby & I did the 15 day British Isles Ocean cruise on a Deluxe Veranda (as an introvert I knew I'd spend a chunk of time in the cabin, + I love watching the water). This price included international airfare from the states to the UK & back, one included excursion in each port, & a million other things. The food was AMAZING (even the buffet!). The service was phenomenal! The cabins & amenities were great! The heated bathroom floors, OMG will I ever NOT need this now? ha ha *spoiled now* And it seemed all the staff truly enjoyed working for Viking, & that makes such a difference! I loved the live piano &/or violin music in the lobby, & the acoustic guitar/singer Zeus. There was live music for 8+ hrs every day, it was so great to just sit back & ponder/decompress with my hot chocolate. Save up & do the cruise the right way, you won't regret it!! (Also recommend channels Emma Cruises & Tips for Travelers, both super helpful for prep & what to expect.) Would love to hear what you decide. :) Best of luck!
Tip for men. There are restrooms in middle of boat. Grab a paper and use them to give your spouse some alone time in the room. Tip: You don't HAVE to be at every meal. Grab a bagel or muffin to go at breakfast and eat it for lunch. Walk on top deck while rest of ship is eating. Use aquivet area for lunch. more airy and bright. Safe Travels. ; )
I loved your video. We did the Rhine Getaway in 2017. We also had a “duck” room and were perfectly happy with it. We flew to Amsterdam 2 days before the cruise and enjoyed Amsterdam very much. I can imagine your frustration in having to miss that city while you were there. We are going on our first Viking Ocean cruise next month- the Adriatic, Greece, Croatia and Venice.
Thanks for your honesty about the water level rooms and taking your meals on board instead of eating locally as you admittedly paid for them. Simple and succinct presentation. All the bells and whistles typically evident in posters tend to distract from the important insight you offer.
Thank you for your comments!! Other than wishing we had experienced the local food more, we would do the same all over again!! The food on the cruise was fabulous, by the way, and if interested, I made a video of it!! th-cam.com/video/L0yGzKOlQ64/w-d-xo.html
Just a quick note- if you are off ship during any meal on a Viking cruise you are credited for that meal. At the end of your trip these become credits which can then be applied to gratuities or to purchase items from the gift shop. Any remaining can be applied to future cruises. On the last trip my partner and I took we had enough credit to pay gratuities, purchase several unique gifts and still more for next time!
We did the Grand European in October 2019. Your insights are spot on! We got in a day early and finding our transport was a chore. On our trip, we barely used our balcony. Most of our time was spent on the top deck for a better view. A really good point about the laundry. By the end of 2 weeks, we had to buy some clean clothes in one city; it was cheaper than having the ship clean some. Even your words on naps was absolutely correct. Everyone would be wise to watch this! Viking treats their passengers right; and with your insights, anyone will have a great trip..
If you buy an over the door hook, especially those with a couple of holes, then it’s very easy to hand wash your clothes every night while you’re having a shower, and hanging on a hanger on this loop thing and your clothes will be 99% dry the next day. I’ve been travelling for months at a time for over 15 years now. Rarely if ever have I used a laundry. Even when we are away and there is laundry facilities for guests. I’m just so used to hand washing and using either a hand line for my special over the door hook. I do not need a laundry at all
@@happytraveller2122 Woohoo!! thank you Happytraveller for your suggestions!! I don't think I would ever use the ship's laundry either. As for the laundry service on river cruises, I have read passengers getting their whites washed with their jeans, all in hot water, and their clothes were never the same again. Wishing you more great adventures in the future.
only went on one Viking cruise (Elbe) and absolutely loved it! Crew were always fabulous, food was great rooms were comfortable. Would do it again in a minute!
Thanks for your comment! Is your name really Coral, by the way? I came very close to choosing Coral for my name when I became a naturalized citizen in the U.S. My Chinese name means coral, and I thought that would be a cool name!! But I digress...yes, once we feel safe from COVID and its variants we will be back on Viking too!! Hope your next cruise will be safe and just as fun as before!
My cruise was the Elbe too. I was with my mother-in-law and she was in a wheelchair. It was hard to push her on the cobblestone roads and walkways. I did not get to see as much as the rest of the in-laws, but it was still awesome. I want to take the same cruise again, it’s been at least 12 years since. Problem is, I am now on my own and it can be more expensive for one person. Loved the cruise.
Hi, we are doing the Viking Grand European Tour July 2022, starting in Amsterdam, ending in Budapest. We are getting a 2 day extension in Amsterdam. We have taken ocean cruises before but this is our first river cruises. Thank you for your insights and tips. You put my mind at ease!
Hope you have an AWESOME time!! Here is a link to my beginning of my blog posts describing every single day of our cruise with maps and FOOD, in case you might be interested! All the best! shineyvisions.com/viking-grand-european-tour-river-cruise/
@@markcloutier1677 Dear Mark, I went back to my blog posts and found that many links were broken. I have now fixed every one of them and I invite you to please go back and view my blog posts. They will provide you excellent information and insights for you upcoming trip. shineyvisions.com/viking-grand-european-tour-river-cruise/ Bon Voyage!!
We just returned from the Amsterdam to Budapest Grand European Tour (Oct., 2022). I told my wife about the 3 clothes idea, but she was reluctant, so I relented and took six sets of clothes. I ended up washing clothes in the sink every night, so three sets would have worked. The pre trip information said there would be at least one electrical outlet per room, so I took a four outlet extension cord. Turned out, there were four outlets in our Duck view room. I took 40 Euros for tips and 40 $1 bills. I would suggest 60 Euros. The food was EXCELLENT! I thought I had gained 15 pounds, but with all the walking I only gained 5. We did opt for the pre tour extension in Amsterdam which is a must, in my opinion. The only criticism I had was that it would have helped if they had provided over the neck name tags like Road Scholar does. It was awkward to have been introduced to so many people, then not being able to remember their names the next time we sat at a meal together.
Great idea about the name tags! I too have trouble remembering names and it DOES get awkward after you have chatted with someone for two weeks and you still can't recall their names!! So glad to hear that you had a wonderful time! Question: any issues with Covid?
@@shineyvisions6955 if there were any issues with Covid, we were not aware of any. However, it seemed as though at least half of the passengers had the sniffles
Great summary and tips. I do disagree somewhat on room recommendations. While the duck rooms are more economical, this is for good reason. I much prefer the other rooms to allow better views and they are much quieter at night when traveling thru the many river locks. If you can afford it, I think the other room types will provide a better experience.
We just returned from our second Viking cruise. This time we had a lower room and did not notice any problems. We did the Rhine river cruise, starting in Amsterdam and ending in Basel with the Lake Lucerne add on. We arrived 4 days early and stayed at a BNB near Amsterdam. I wish we had done something similar in Basel, since the prices from Viking are very expensive, and we got to meet some local people and explore the city on our own for a fraction of the cost.
@@woodwaker1 Great to hear that you had another successful Viking Cruise and so glad that the lower room worked well for you. I agree that those add on stays seem to be very costly. Glad you got to meet some locals to explore the city with. That's the best way to tour a city, from a local's perspective!! Wishing you many more great travels ahead!!
@@shineyvisions6955 Thanks for the comment. This will be my last trip for quite a while, at least out of the US. Foreign flights and airports are just too crazy now.
Not sure why she made the comment about limited storage. My husband and I do NOT pack light and we found there was ample storage in our veranda stateroom. And, please note, the "duck view" cabins had the same amount of storage.
I have done 3 Asian river cruises, not with Viking, and agree with these eat in local markets carry lots of water, the local currency I have found a must to carry. I always take and extra couple of days at both ends of the cruise great way to do street food tours and see and meat locals, recommend learning a few words of the local language, hello thank-you, good by and locals will welcome you. Best advice enjoy and laugh even at your self...
"Laugh even at yourself" I love that!! It's great advice. You sound very well traveled, how fortunate! Thank you for watching my video, and may you have more safe travels to come!!
Very good vlog. Thank you! We're on the Viking Getaway cruise in May, 2022 and your 10 insights are very valuable. The 'money' issue is a top consideration for us as we're on a B2B cruise on Celebrity (19 days) prior to the Viking cruise, travelling through the Norwegian Fjords, Scandinavia & Russia, out of Southampton. However, prior to the Viking cruise, we are spending 3 days in Amsterdam so your #10 point is perfect.
Wow, Kathy, it sounds like great travel adventures await you in 2022!! I am excited for you. May it be everything you imagined it will be! Thank you for your kind words about my video and I am so glad you found it helpful. I would love to hear about YOUR adventures!
We are looking forward to our first cruise with Viking. We’re on the Grand European also, but starting in Amsterdam. By the way, we are also booked on deck one but we jokingly call it the aquarium level.
You will have a wonderful time!! Thank you for watching my video and your comment!! Here is a sampling of the food on our cruise, if you are interested!! th-cam.com/video/L0yGzKOlQ64/w-d-xo.html
For currency exchange, your best choice is to hit a local ATM (or cash machine as they are usually called in Europe). You will get the best exchange rate, much better than a bank in the U.S.
Take care if you take fruit off ships as in many countries that is a breach of quarantine rules and subject to heavy fines. I would suggest sticking to commercially packaged foodstuffs if you take anything ashore.
Leaving in a month on Emerald 15 day European river cruise...Budapest to Amsterdam. We were inn Amsterdam in April of this year and it was amazing. Hope you have gotten there since this video was made. I'm enjoying your Grand Tour videos!
Wow!! I hope the water levels are sufficient and that you stay healthy during your cruise! So glad you are enjoying the videos, thank you!! We have yet to return to Europe but have plans to see the Christmas Markets in December!!
Thanks for your feedback, John! Honestly, after our 15 day cruise, though we loved it, we were pretty tired and overloaded with info too. It's hard find that perfect balance.
LOL!! We felt we didn't miss a thing in a room without a balcony! To view the sites like the Rhine River Valley, there is the top level where there is ample seating. Plus you get to visit with your fellow guests. I hope your next cruise, when its safe to travel again, will be as enjoyable and amazing as ours was!
Thanks for your insights. Very helpful. I was wondering about the money exchange and also if I don’t book an extra excursion now, can I book when I’m there. I’m going on the Rhine River Christmas market tour this December.
Thank you so much for watching my video!! Though we brought a lot of European money with us, we found that we could actually exchange money at the ship's front desk for reasonable rates! And as for booking excursions, though they tell you that they fill up fast and to book ahead of time, they did not turn last minute people away. Only once during our cruise did a tour fill up. But the next day they announced a second tour, so everyone was accommodated!! Happy cruising!! A Christmas Market tour, WOW!!
Scotty, thanks so much for your comment and I hope that you soon will be able to get back out in the world and experience its wonders again! All the best!
We are seeing a travel agent tomorrow to book a Rhine cruise. We are already convinced to book a duck view room as we don't intend to just sit alone in our room...also the stories of seeing into the rooms of neighboring boats when docked don't sound appealing to us.
Have a great trip!! I 've never heard of anyone regretting they got a "duck view" room. One morning, we even woke up to the sound of a duck pecking on our window, lol!!
@@shineyvisions6955 We saw the travel agent and she wasn't thrilled that we were booking the "cheap cabin", but she had to agree with us that our reasons were good. When she took that cruise herself, she had the french balcony and had to remember to shut the curtains.
Hi there. I was searching for info on the Viking river cruises and your video popped up. Your tips are very helpful. I know you made this video quite a bit ago but, I was wondering what brand is your husbands water bottle carrier. I really like that one. TIA! I really appreciate your tips. We are leaving in two weeks for the Rhine Getaway. Our first one! Can’t wait! 😊
So excited for your upcoming cruise! I hope all goes well, you have a great time, and that everyone stays safe and healthy!! That nifty carrier is made by Orca Tacticals and was ordered by Amazon, and he still uses it all the time. Thank you for watching the video!!
This was wonderful! I am looking to book Viking for the first time. I am widowed so will be traveling alone and your information was so valuable. As you mentioned it, I’m looking at a water level room due to the expense. So low travelers pay almost double for a higher level room which is very unappealing to me from the perspective of cost. I too, would want to spend a few days Amsterdam At the end of my trip. Thanks again and keep your wonderful videos coming. Packing light will probably be my most difficult mission!
Dear Carla, I am so glad that you are not deterred to travel as a single person. You will be well taken care of and will have a blast. People on the cruise were SO friendly and easy to talk with. Best wishes on all your future travels and thank you for your kind words about my videos!!
Was there a lot of people speaking french onboard? my wife speaks only french so it's not easy mixing up with people on the ship. I may have to go with Croisi-europe. french river cruises
I don't recall knowing any passengers speaking French, unfortunately. I also speak French, and that would have been fun to converse with them! I hope you find the perfect cruise that your wife will enjoy too.
Hi, Charles, thanks for your comment! Our lower room was quiet, not noisy at all. The only time we were awakened at night was once when the ship bumped hard against the side of a lock. Some of the locks are pretty tight. But there was nothing else of note. I hope your next cruise will be wonderful!
My wife and I took the first cruise (July 2012) on the Viking Prestige from Amsterdam to Budapest. We also got the add on package for the extended stay in Amsterdam. Kind of a bummer. The concierge never showed up at the hotel until the departure day. That meant that we didn't get the free canal cruise, but we paid for one anyway. Maybe it was because it was the maiden voyage, but several things were disjointed like no concierge and after three days several employees were transferred to another ship. We did not have any place to dock in Miltenberg so we had long ramps rigged up to get us off and back on the ship. All of the showers backed up the first day! Unfortunately the river levels were high for most of the trip so the top sun deck was closed for 9 days of the cruise. Note: don't even think about booking this cruise of you are handicapped; long, long ramps, lots of rough streets and lots of walking. On the plus side, we had beautiful scenery every day and meant so many interesting folks. We've kept in touch with a couple from Calgary, Canada and another couple from Melbourne, Australia
Wow, I am so sorry that you missed your canal cruise, and all the other mishaps on your trip. Did you convey your concerns with Viking? Being first time cruisers ourselves, I have wondered how responsive Viking is to mishaps like these. I was amazed at the lady on our cruise who used the scooter and how she was able to use it almost everywhere, across cobblestones, inside UNESCO buildings! So glad you at least had good weather. The friendships you form on these cruises are so special. When you feel safe to cruise again, I hope that your next trip will be perfect!
Do we buy a specific phone to work in Europe ? Any reasonable place to stay pre ship and one day after disembarking that you would recommend? Thank you
We used our cellphones and paid AT+T for an international plan. I posted large Grand European Cruise texts everyday from the ship. As for places to stay, it was our first trip to Europe and I am sorry but we don't have any recommendations. Have you ever checked out Rick Steve's website about European travel? He has great tips as well as places to stay.
We went in late August. Very hot, but we loved it!! You might want to check out my blog postings about each port of call so you will know what to expect: shineyvisions.com/viking-grand-european-tour-river-cruise Have a great time, stay safe and healthy, and thank you for watching my video!
If you booked your flights with VIKING there should always be one of their representatives; usually holding a VIKING sign, waiting for you after you have picked up your luggage and gone through immigration/customs and gone into the public area of the airport terminal. You should never have to wander around the airport looking for a VIKING "kiosk".
There wasn't anyone Viking representative upon our arrival, and it was stressful trying to figure out where to wait at the Budapest Airport. We figured the most logical place would be at the empty Viking Kiosk that we stumbled upon. Sure enough, others had the same idea and eventually more people just as confused as we were gathered around that empty kiosk. Finally to our great relief a representative arrived and directed us to an awaiting bus!!
Helpful tips, thanks. So I take it you would recommend a post cruise package? What about the pre-cruise package? I was reading about them on their website and the pre-cruise sounds like it would be a good idea to help with getting used to the new time zone. According to their website, they are not that pricey and a Viking rep helps with everything.
Penelope, great question! We didn't find the time-zone difference a struggle at all, we came from the midwest U.S. But others I noticed on the cruise ship did, and in the beginning, several passengers missed tours and stayed onboard to sleep. My feeling is that if you have taken the trouble to get out there, take advantage of opportunities to see as much as you can! You will also be fresher in the beginning. We got so saturated with information towards the end, but kept pushing on!
Hi Penelope, We have traveled on 5 Viking River Cruises so far. I suggest the Pre Cruise instead of Post Cruise. The cruises run back and forth on the river. So pick the cruise that has the Beginning City as the one you prefer to visit over the End City. If your fights get canceled (which is happening with much frequency as of late) you will miss the whole cruise. But if you go for a Pre Cruise stay, you have 3 days to get there and not miss the boat. Also, book your own hotel. As much as we love Viking, the Pre & Post cruise prices are RIDICULOUS. When you add it up the costs, you will be pay close to $600 a night for a room you could book yourself for $150. But make sure to add in a transportation (taxi/Uber/Lyft/train/bus) from the airport to your hotel and to the boat.
By the way... We leave next Friday 11/12/2021 for a our 6th river cruise. 3 day pre stay on the Riviera in Nice France before traveling to Avignon on the Rhone River through Provence and end in Lyon!
AND WE ALWAY BOOK THE DUCK ROOMS!!! They are the same size as the other rooms. You can use the window sill to store items (this comes in handy ALOT!!!) Only one did we get an upgrade to a Balcony room. Total waste. If you are on your balcony looking out, you are missing the other side of the river. If you are on the Rhine River, you will miss half of the castles on the other side. Go upstairs for any and all viewings.
@@davidandrews5255 thanks for all the tips. I think I would book the pre-Cruise package and not the post cruise. I’m most interested in the Romantic Danube which starts in Budapest and I believe ends in Germany. I’d have to do the balcony room though!! It is what I’m accustomed to with ocean cruises. I do have one concern though… if you look at their recent reviews on Trip Advisor, they are really negative. But… I think a lot of the comments are regarding things that Viking can’t help and all cruise lines are experiencing the same issues.
Imo river cruises, even Viking , suck. Cramped quarters, rafting up against multiple other barges each night, one time to eat meals and on and on. We learned the hard way so it’s back to ocean cruising for us and Viking is usually our choice but there are others that offer a more luxurious experience. To each his own. Oh yes almost forgot When the water level is low on some rivers you will be asked to pack up and move to another barge. Just thought you might like to know
Sorry you feel that way, but glad you find ocean cruises enjoyable! We haven't yet experienced that! And concerning the water level issue, I was well aware of that and it DID concern me. Please check out my blog below about that! shineyvisions.com/a-drought-concern-will-it-impact-this-cruise/
Oh, ok, you got me there, lol! But might I add that the folks we met from Tasmania prided themselves in being different and set apart from the mainland.
Hello, Peter! Excellent question that weighs on all future cruisers, I am sure!! All Viking Cruises have been suspended until May 31 of 2021. I am sure in the next few months there will be very specific rules laid out prior to their first sailing for everyone's safety sake. Thank you for watching my video!!
Sorry about your negative experience with Avalon. After saving up for a cruise and ending up with a bad time is disheartening. Hopefully all your cruises will be great from now on!
We have sailed on Avalon four times and have booked our fifth one. They have been perfect, every time. The crews are wonderful and really take great care of you. The cabins are much larger than Viking’s. And Viking crams 190 passengers on the same size ship that Avalon maxes out at only 160. Avalon includes tours of Amsterdam, too. Daniella sounds like a travel agent who specializes in Viking.
How could you not know about the airport pickup. 🤷♀️. It’s usually in the paperwork...or an agent should go through this. Or you ask the question. Tasmania IS Australia. Always stay a couple of days at either end of your holiday.
We were told that we would be picked up at the airport, but not given details, and as first time Viking Cruisers in a foreign country, that concerned us. There was no one to ask, as the Viking Kiosk was unattended, and no one else seemed to know. The friends we made on the cruise from Tasmania felt like they were a bit separate and different than the people on the main island, but yes, the Island of Tasmania is a state of Australia.
I have never been on a Cunard cruise, glad you enjoy them! Yes, that big bed well filled our room on our Viking Cruise, but it never seemed to bother us, probably because we were so excited about all that we were experiencing. May you have more wonderful cruises in the future, in large staterooms! And thank you so much for watching my video!
@@shineyvisions6955 Cunard is so much more and so classy compared to the rest of them. Old world charm with the guests all nice ,polite and very British although I'm not. The many gala nights ,formal gowns and tuxedo. Just superb,doing two more Cunard in 2022, Queen Mary, 15 nights from Florida ,FT Lauderdale and Queen Victoria in October,Canary Islands. Take care enjoy Richard
@@sylviekins Exactly. River and ocean cruises are so different that you shouldn't compare them to one another. Whether you're looking at an ocean or river cruise, I would give Viking a shot. They do both rivers and ocean very well. For ocean cruising, my choice would be Viking over Cunard.
Will Viking be cancelling it's cruises to Russia, given Russia's unprovoked war on Ukraine and it's people, and the immeasurable suffering it has caused? Other cruise lines already have; why hasn't Viking??? I am looking forward to a Romantic Danube cruise in September, but cannot support a company that enriches this murderous regime. Please do the right thing and cancel all cruises to Russia. I will be watching for developments; please don't force me to cancel my cruise. I would encourage all other Viking customers to let Viking know if you share similar views as my own. To all Ukrainians; we support you!
VIKING has stopped doing river cruises to Russia or Ukraine. It has expanded its Eastern European itineraries with a new river cruise from VIENNA to BUCHAREST(17 days), in addition to the one from AMSTERDAM TO BUCHAREST (23days).
Thank you. Great video. I am 63 years old and NEVER BEEN on a cruise. I am thinking of a river cruise for my 65 birthday. Your video was amazing and full of great tips.
Thank you for your kind comments. Yes, I DO highly recommend you going on a cruise. A 65th birthday is a special milestone, so treat yourself! You've waited a long time for it, find that perfect cruise! You deserve it. That being said, hopefully in two years the world will be safe from Covid and cruising won't be as risky as it is now. Enjoy!!
I just returned from my 1st cruise ever for my 40th bday. I would 1,000,000% (is that even a real number? lol) recommend Viking! Even during pandemic times, I felt so safe on the ship. We were all tested every day.
While it's true there are a bazillion cruises to chose from (most of them costing less than Viking ), I do not regret that 15k one bit! (My hubby & I did the 15 day British Isles Ocean cruise on a Deluxe Veranda (as an introvert I knew I'd spend a chunk of time in the cabin, + I love watching the water). This price included international airfare from the states to the UK & back, one included excursion in each port, & a million other things.
The food was AMAZING (even the buffet!). The service was phenomenal! The cabins & amenities were great! The heated bathroom floors, OMG will I ever NOT need this now? ha ha *spoiled now* And it seemed all the staff truly enjoyed working for Viking, & that makes such a difference! I loved the live piano &/or violin music in the lobby, & the acoustic guitar/singer Zeus. There was live music for 8+ hrs every day, it was so great to just sit back & ponder/decompress with my hot chocolate.
Save up & do the cruise the right way, you won't regret it!! (Also recommend channels Emma Cruises & Tips for Travelers, both super helpful for prep & what to expect.) Would love to hear what you decide. :) Best of luck!
Tip for men. There are restrooms in middle of boat. Grab a paper and use them to give your spouse some alone time in the room. Tip: You don't HAVE to be at every meal. Grab a bagel or muffin to go at breakfast and eat it for lunch. Walk on top deck while rest of ship is eating. Use aquivet area for lunch. more airy and bright. Safe Travels. ; )
There is nothing like the private outdoors space of a balcony for introverts. Worth the extra cost.
Whatever one feels most comfortable with, absolutely!
Yes!
Excellent vlog. We have booked a houseboat x 3 nights before our Viking river cruise from Amsterdam to allow sufficient time to explore the city 👍
We did the Duck or Swan room earlier this August. It was comfortable and just right. Go for it. The Viking Rhine cruise was amazing!
I loved your video. We did the Rhine Getaway in 2017. We also had a “duck” room and were perfectly happy with it. We flew to Amsterdam 2 days before the cruise and enjoyed Amsterdam very much. I can imagine your frustration in having to miss that city while you were there.
We are going on our first Viking Ocean cruise next month- the Adriatic, Greece, Croatia and Venice.
Thank you Shiney, the best and very informative, very accurate, advice from you, I am planning to go on Viking river cruise in 2023 or 24, thank you.
Thank you for your kind words and may your future cruising experiences be amazing!!
Thanks for your honesty about the water level rooms and taking your meals on board instead of eating locally as you admittedly paid for them. Simple and succinct presentation. All the bells and whistles typically evident in posters tend to distract from the important insight you offer.
Thank you for your comments!! Other than wishing we had experienced the local food more, we would do the same all over again!! The food on the cruise was fabulous, by the way, and if interested, I made a video of it!!
th-cam.com/video/L0yGzKOlQ64/w-d-xo.html
Just a quick note- if you are off ship during any meal on a Viking cruise you are credited for that meal. At the end of your trip these become credits which can then be applied to gratuities or to purchase items from the gift shop. Any remaining can be applied to future cruises. On the last trip my partner and I took we had enough credit to pay gratuities, purchase several unique gifts and still more for next time!
We did the Grand European in October 2019. Your insights are spot on! We got in a day early and finding our transport was a chore. On our trip, we barely used our balcony. Most of our time was spent on the top deck for a better view. A really good point about the laundry. By the end of 2 weeks, we had to buy some clean clothes in one city; it was cheaper than having the ship clean some. Even your words on naps was absolutely correct. Everyone would be wise to watch this! Viking treats their passengers right; and with your insights, anyone will have a great trip..
Thank you so much for your comments! How encouraging! I agree, Viking was SO impressive! Hopefully we will all be able to safely cruise soon!
If you buy an over the door hook, especially those with a couple of holes, then it’s very easy to hand wash your clothes every night while you’re having a shower, and hanging on a hanger on this loop thing and your clothes will be 99% dry the next day. I’ve been travelling for months at a time for over 15 years now. Rarely if ever have I used a laundry. Even when we are away and there is laundry facilities for guests. I’m just so used to hand washing and using either a hand line for my special over the door hook. I do not need a laundry at all
@@happytraveller2122 Woohoo!! thank you Happytraveller for your suggestions!! I don't think I would ever use the ship's laundry either. As for the laundry service on river cruises, I have read passengers getting their whites washed with their jeans, all in hot water, and their clothes were never the same again. Wishing you more great adventures in the future.
This is a very interesting well compiled 10 video tips.
Thank you for your kind words, and appreciate you watching! May all your future travels be wonderful!!
only went on one Viking cruise (Elbe) and absolutely loved it! Crew were always fabulous, food was great rooms were comfortable. Would do it again in a minute!
Thanks for your comment! Is your name really Coral, by the way? I came very close to choosing Coral for my name when I became a naturalized citizen in the U.S. My Chinese name means coral, and I thought that would be a cool name!! But I digress...yes, once we feel safe from COVID and its variants we will be back on Viking too!! Hope your next cruise will be safe and just as fun as before!
My cruise was the Elbe too. I was with my mother-in-law and she was in a wheelchair. It was hard to push her on the cobblestone roads and walkways. I did not get to see as much as the rest of the in-laws, but it was still awesome. I want to take the same cruise again, it’s been at least 12 years since. Problem is, I am now on my own and it can be more expensive for one person. Loved the cruise.
Al, I really liked the shorter boat as opposed to the long boats.
What a nice recording. Thanks for sharing. Just back from our own river cruise.
Thank you for your kind words. I hope you had a fabulous time on your cruise!
Thanks for compiling these 10 useful tips and for your river cruise port-of-call postings!
You are welcome, Bob! Hope to hear back from you someday with highlights of YOUR cruise!!
Good tips as I thinking of going especially tips of an add on to your last port before home.
Hi, we are doing the Viking Grand European Tour July 2022, starting in Amsterdam, ending in Budapest. We are getting a 2 day extension in Amsterdam. We have taken ocean cruises before but this is our first river cruises. Thank you for your insights and tips. You put my mind at ease!
Thank you for your comments, and SO HAPPY FOR YOU that you will be doing this cruise VERY SOON!! May you have a safe and healthy trip!!
Thanks for an informative and succint video!
Thank you for watching and wishing you great travel adventures!!
Thanks for the video!
We're taking the Viking Grand European Tour July 1-15, 2023.
Hope you have an AWESOME time!! Here is a link to my beginning of my blog posts describing every single day of our cruise with maps and FOOD, in case you might be interested! All the best! shineyvisions.com/viking-grand-european-tour-river-cruise/
@@shineyvisions6955 Thank you but I only found the photos for your first day, not for the rest of the days?
@@markcloutier1677 Dear Mark, I went back to my blog posts and found that many links were broken. I have now fixed every one of them and I invite you to please go back and view my blog posts. They will provide you excellent information and insights for you upcoming trip.
shineyvisions.com/viking-grand-european-tour-river-cruise/
Bon Voyage!!
We just returned from the Amsterdam to Budapest Grand European Tour (Oct., 2022). I told my wife about the 3 clothes idea, but she was reluctant, so I relented and took six sets of clothes. I ended up washing clothes in the sink every night, so three sets would have worked. The pre trip information said there would be at least one electrical outlet per room, so I took a four outlet extension cord. Turned out, there were four outlets in our Duck view room. I took 40 Euros for tips and 40 $1 bills. I would suggest 60 Euros. The food was EXCELLENT! I thought I had gained 15 pounds, but with all the walking I only gained 5. We did opt for the pre tour extension in Amsterdam which is a must, in my opinion. The only criticism I had was that it would have helped if they had provided over the neck name tags like Road Scholar does. It was awkward to have been introduced to so many people, then not being able to remember their names the next time we sat at a meal together.
Great idea about the name tags! I too have trouble remembering names and it DOES get awkward after you have chatted with someone for two weeks and you still can't recall their names!! So glad to hear that you had a wonderful time! Question: any issues with Covid?
@@shineyvisions6955 if there were any issues with Covid, we were not aware of any. However, it seemed as though at least half of the passengers had the sniffles
@@jrichardshort Thanks, Richard!! Wishing you wonderful and safe future travels!!
Great summary and tips. I do disagree somewhat on room recommendations. While the duck rooms are more economical, this is for good reason. I much prefer the other rooms to allow better views and they are much quieter at night when traveling thru the many river locks. If you can afford it, I think the other room types will provide a better experience.
Thanks for your comments!! Though were very happy with our duck view room, I think if people can afford better, then they should enjoy it!
We just returned from our second Viking cruise. This time we had a lower room and did not notice any problems. We did the Rhine river cruise, starting in Amsterdam and ending in Basel with the Lake Lucerne add on. We arrived 4 days early and stayed at a BNB near Amsterdam. I wish we had done something similar in Basel, since the prices from Viking are very expensive, and we got to meet some local people and explore the city on our own for a fraction of the cost.
@@woodwaker1 Great to hear that you had another successful Viking Cruise and so glad that the lower room worked well for you. I agree that those add on stays seem to be very costly. Glad you got to meet some locals to explore the city with. That's the best way to tour a city, from a local's perspective!! Wishing you many more great travels ahead!!
@@shineyvisions6955 Thanks for the comment. This will be my last trip for quite a while, at least out of the US. Foreign flights and airports are just too crazy now.
Not sure why she made the comment about limited storage. My husband and I do NOT pack light and we found there was ample storage in our veranda stateroom. And, please note, the "duck view" cabins had the same amount of storage.
Lol, though my husband packed efficiently, I did not, and space was a bit challenging! Next time, things will be different! Safe Travels!
I have done 3 Asian river cruises, not with Viking, and agree with these eat in local markets carry lots of water, the local currency I have found a must to carry.
I always take and extra couple of days at both ends of the cruise great way to do street food tours and see and meat locals, recommend learning a few words of the local language, hello thank-you, good by and locals will welcome you.
Best advice enjoy and laugh even at your self...
"Laugh even at yourself" I love that!! It's great advice. You sound very well traveled, how fortunate! Thank you for watching my video, and may you have more safe travels to come!!
@@shineyvisions6955 Not as much as I want these days, have done a number of trips through Asia, lo..ve the food and people
Very good vlog. Thank you! We're on the Viking Getaway cruise in May, 2022 and your 10 insights are very valuable. The 'money' issue is a top consideration for us as we're on a B2B cruise on Celebrity (19 days) prior to the Viking cruise, travelling through the Norwegian Fjords, Scandinavia & Russia, out of Southampton. However, prior to the Viking cruise, we are spending 3 days in Amsterdam so your #10 point is perfect.
Wow, Kathy, it sounds like great travel adventures await you in 2022!! I am excited for you. May it be everything you imagined it will be! Thank you for your kind words about my video and I am so glad you found it helpful. I would love to hear about YOUR adventures!
We are looking forward to our first cruise with Viking. We’re on the Grand European also, but starting in Amsterdam.
By the way, we are also booked on deck one but we jokingly call it the aquarium level.
I am excited for you! You will have a great time as you learn and experience so much!!
Bruce, are you one of the two Bruces who were on the most recent cruise from Amsterdam? Richard and Dianne Short
I'll take my first river cruise in July. Your video was especially helpful. You shared insights I've not heard on other river cruise videos. Thanks!
You will have a wonderful time!! Thank you for watching my video and your comment!! Here is a sampling of the food on our cruise, if you are interested!!
th-cam.com/video/L0yGzKOlQ64/w-d-xo.html
For currency exchange, your best choice is to hit a local ATM (or cash machine as they are usually called in Europe). You will get the best exchange rate, much better than a bank in the U.S.
Thanks for the tips!
Take care if you take fruit off ships as in many countries that is a breach of quarantine rules and subject to heavy fines. I would suggest sticking to commercially packaged foodstuffs if you take anything ashore.
That room is so claustrophobic - I couldn't do it.
Haha!! You DID have to be careful when navigating around the bed! But we were fine with that, and thoroughly enjoyed our cruise!
Very interesting! Thanks so much!
Allie, thanks so much for commenting! May you be able to safely cruise again very soon!
Some cruise lines ( like Uniworld) have small laundries in their RC
That would be helpful, for sure!!
@@shineyvisions6955 it’s brilliant..
Thank you so much! I appreciate your tips :)
Thank you for your comments and for watching my video!! May you have wonderful and safe travels in the future!!
Leaving in a month on Emerald 15 day European river cruise...Budapest to Amsterdam. We were inn Amsterdam in April of this year and it was amazing. Hope you have gotten there since this video was made. I'm enjoying your Grand Tour videos!
Wow!! I hope the water levels are sufficient and that you stay healthy during your cruise! So glad you are enjoying the videos, thank you!! We have yet to return to Europe but have plans to see the Christmas Markets in December!!
@@shineyvisions6955 great river cruise! Water levels up and all went well! Loved it!
Did the 3 day Amsterdam. Well worth it. 3 days is almost too long!
Thanks for your feedback, John! Honestly, after our 15 day cruise, though we loved it, we were pretty tired and overloaded with info too. It's hard find that perfect balance.
What a wonderful video. You convinced me to book a duck view room!
LOL!! We felt we didn't miss a thing in a room without a balcony! To view the sites like the Rhine River Valley, there is the top level where there is ample seating. Plus you get to visit with your fellow guests. I hope your next cruise, when its safe to travel again, will be as enjoyable and amazing as ours was!
Thanks for your insights. Very helpful. I was wondering about the money exchange and also if I don’t book an extra excursion now, can I book when I’m there. I’m going on the Rhine River Christmas market tour this December.
Thank you so much for watching my video!! Though we brought a lot of European money with us, we found that we could actually exchange money at the ship's front desk for reasonable rates! And as for booking excursions, though they tell you that they fill up fast and to book ahead of time, they did not turn last minute people away. Only once during our cruise did a tour fill up. But the next day they announced a second tour, so everyone was accommodated!! Happy cruising!! A Christmas Market tour, WOW!!
They were very useful suggestions, thank you.
Thank you, Julie for your kind words. Hopefully we will all feel safe enough to cruise again very soon!
It looks like you had lots of fun!
Scotty, thanks so much for your comment and I hope that you soon will be able to get back out in the world and experience its wonders again! All the best!
Thank you so much! Very helpful 🌻
You are so welcome!! Wishing you wonderful future travels!!
Thanks for sharing your tips!
You are very welcome, thank you for viewing my video and safe travels!
Thank you!!
We are seeing a travel agent tomorrow to book a Rhine cruise. We are already convinced to book a duck view room as we don't intend to just sit alone in our room...also the stories of seeing into the rooms of neighboring boats when docked don't sound appealing to us.
Have a great trip!! I 've never heard of anyone regretting they got a "duck view" room. One morning, we even woke up to the sound of a duck pecking on our window, lol!!
@@shineyvisions6955 We saw the travel agent and she wasn't thrilled that we were booking the "cheap cabin", but she had to agree with us that our reasons were good. When she took that cruise herself, she had the french balcony and had to remember to shut the curtains.
@@bun04y take the money you saved on the room buy some great food at the markets!
Very helpful information! Thank you!
Thank you! I have been watching the news about the terrible flooding in Europe. Quaint, historic towns being destroyed...
Hi there. I was searching for info on the Viking river cruises and your video popped up. Your tips are very helpful. I know you made this video quite a bit ago but, I was wondering what brand is your husbands water bottle carrier. I really like that one. TIA! I really appreciate your tips. We are leaving in two weeks for the Rhine Getaway. Our first one! Can’t wait! 😊
So excited for your upcoming cruise! I hope all goes well, you have a great time, and that everyone stays safe and healthy!!
That nifty carrier is made by Orca Tacticals and was ordered by Amazon, and he still uses it all the time. Thank you for watching the video!!
@@shineyvisions6955 Thanks so much for the well wishes and for the info on the travel carrier. In my cart now! :)
This was wonderful! I am looking to book Viking for the first time. I am widowed so will be traveling alone and your information was so valuable. As you mentioned it, I’m looking at a water level room due to the expense. So low travelers pay almost double for a higher level room which is very unappealing to me from the perspective of cost. I too, would want to spend a few days Amsterdam At the end of my trip. Thanks again and keep your wonderful videos coming. Packing light will probably be my most difficult mission!
Dear Carla, I am so glad that you are not deterred to travel as a single person. You will be well taken care of and will have a blast. People on the cruise were SO friendly and easy to talk with. Best wishes on all your future travels and thank you for your kind words about my videos!!
Was there a lot of people speaking french onboard? my wife speaks only french so it's not easy mixing up with people on the ship. I may have to go with Croisi-europe. french river cruises
I don't recall knowing any passengers speaking French, unfortunately. I also speak French, and that would have been fun to converse with them! I hope you find the perfect cruise that your wife will enjoy too.
Viking staff speak most common languages. However, Viking markets mainly to North Americans, British Isles, and Australia/NZ..
I was to.d not to bet a duck view room. Because of all the noise generated when the ship goes thru locks at night.
Hi, Charles, thanks for your comment! Our lower room was quiet, not noisy at all. The only time we were awakened at night was once when the ship bumped hard against the side of a lock. Some of the locks are pretty tight. But there was nothing else of note. I hope your next cruise will be wonderful!
My wife and I took the first cruise (July 2012) on the Viking Prestige from Amsterdam to Budapest. We also got the add on package for the extended stay in Amsterdam. Kind of a bummer. The concierge never showed up at the hotel until the departure day. That meant that we didn't get the free canal cruise, but we paid for one anyway. Maybe it was because it was the maiden voyage, but several things were disjointed like no concierge and after three days several employees were transferred to another ship. We did not have any place to dock in Miltenberg so we had long ramps rigged up to get us off and back on the ship. All of the showers backed up the first day! Unfortunately the river levels were high for most of the trip so the top sun deck was closed for 9 days of the cruise. Note: don't even think about booking this cruise of you are handicapped; long, long ramps, lots of rough streets and lots of walking. On the plus side, we had beautiful scenery every day and meant so many interesting folks. We've kept in touch with a couple from Calgary, Canada and another couple from Melbourne, Australia
Wow, I am so sorry that you missed your canal cruise, and all the other mishaps on your trip. Did you convey your concerns with Viking? Being first time cruisers ourselves, I have wondered how responsive Viking is to mishaps like these. I was amazed at the lady on our cruise who used the scooter and how she was able to use it almost everywhere, across cobblestones, inside UNESCO buildings! So glad you at least had good weather. The friendships you form on these cruises are so special. When you feel safe to cruise again, I hope that your next trip will be perfect!
Same her, same ship in 2011. EXCELLENT. Ready to try another.
Tasmania is in Australia 😄
Do we buy a specific phone to work in Europe ? Any reasonable place to stay pre ship and one day after disembarking that you would recommend? Thank you
We used our cellphones and paid AT+T for an international plan. I posted large Grand European Cruise texts everyday from the ship. As for places to stay, it was our first trip to Europe and I am sorry but we don't have any recommendations. Have you ever checked out Rick Steve's website about European travel? He has great tips as well as places to stay.
Question. What month was your tour. We’re going in July.
We went in late August. Very hot, but we loved it!!
You might want to check out my blog postings about each port of call so you will know what to expect: shineyvisions.com/viking-grand-european-tour-river-cruise
Have a great time, stay safe and healthy, and thank you for watching my video!
@@shineyvisions6955 thanks so much
Us too!
If you booked your flights with VIKING there should always be one of their representatives; usually holding a VIKING sign, waiting for you after you have picked up your luggage and gone through immigration/customs and gone into the public area of the airport terminal. You should never have to wander around the airport looking for a VIKING "kiosk".
There wasn't anyone Viking representative upon our arrival, and it was stressful trying to figure out where to wait at the Budapest Airport. We figured the most logical place would be at the empty Viking Kiosk that we stumbled upon. Sure enough, others had the same idea and eventually more people just as confused as we were gathered around that empty kiosk. Finally to our great relief a representative arrived and directed us to an awaiting bus!!
@@shineyvisions6955 Sorry this happened to you and your fellow cruisers!
Helpful tips, thanks. So I take it you would recommend a post cruise package? What about the pre-cruise package? I was reading about them on their website and the pre-cruise sounds like it would be a good idea to help with getting used to the new time zone. According to their website, they are not that pricey and a Viking rep helps with everything.
Penelope, great question! We didn't find the time-zone difference a struggle at all, we came from the midwest U.S. But others I noticed on the cruise ship did, and in the beginning, several passengers missed tours and stayed onboard to sleep. My feeling is that if you have taken the trouble to get out there, take advantage of opportunities to see as much as you can! You will also be fresher in the beginning. We got so saturated with information towards the end, but kept pushing on!
Hi Penelope, We have traveled on 5 Viking River Cruises so far. I suggest the Pre Cruise instead of Post Cruise. The cruises run back and forth on the river. So pick the cruise that has the Beginning City as the one you prefer to visit over the End City. If your fights get canceled (which is happening with much frequency as of late) you will miss the whole cruise. But if you go for a Pre Cruise stay, you have 3 days to get there and not miss the boat. Also, book your own hotel. As much as we love Viking, the Pre & Post cruise prices are RIDICULOUS. When you add it up the costs, you will be pay close to $600 a night for a room you could book yourself for $150. But make sure to add in a transportation (taxi/Uber/Lyft/train/bus) from the airport to your hotel and to the boat.
By the way... We leave next Friday 11/12/2021 for a our 6th river cruise. 3 day pre stay on the Riviera in Nice France before traveling to Avignon on the Rhone River through Provence and end in Lyon!
AND WE ALWAY BOOK THE DUCK ROOMS!!! They are the same size as the other rooms. You can use the window sill to store items (this comes in handy ALOT!!!) Only one did we get an upgrade to a Balcony room. Total waste. If you are on your balcony looking out, you are missing the other side of the river. If you are on the Rhine River, you will miss half of the castles on the other side. Go upstairs for any and all viewings.
@@davidandrews5255 thanks for all the tips. I think I would book the pre-Cruise package and not the post cruise. I’m most interested in the Romantic Danube which starts in Budapest and I believe ends in Germany. I’d have to do the balcony room though!! It is what I’m accustomed to with ocean cruises. I do have one concern though… if you look at their recent reviews on Trip Advisor, they are really negative. But… I think a lot of the comments are regarding things that Viking can’t help and all cruise lines are experiencing the same issues.
Imo river cruises, even Viking , suck. Cramped quarters, rafting up against multiple other barges each night, one time to eat meals and on and on.
We learned the hard way so it’s back to ocean cruising for us and Viking is usually our choice but there are others that offer a more luxurious experience. To each his own.
Oh yes almost forgot
When the water level is low on some rivers you will be asked to pack up and move to another barge. Just thought you might like to know
Sorry you feel that way, but glad you find ocean cruises enjoyable! We haven't yet experienced that! And concerning the water level issue, I was well aware of that and it DID concern me. Please check out my blog below about that!
shineyvisions.com/a-drought-concern-will-it-impact-this-cruise/
Tasmania AND Australia? :)
Oh, ok, you got me there, lol! But might I add that the folks we met from Tasmania prided themselves in being different and set apart from the mainland.
May I ask what the current COVID-19 restrictions are on and off ship? Thank you.
Hello, Peter! Excellent question that weighs on all future cruisers, I am sure!! All Viking Cruises have been suspended until May 31 of 2021. I am sure in the next few months there will be very specific rules laid out prior to their first sailing for everyone's safety sake. Thank you for watching my video!!
I don’t know if you booked but you must be vaccinated and they test you daily, using saliva.
@@aliyiapatterson-brooks5646 Thank you for sharing, but I will remain unvaccinated.
Triple AAA members are able to buy foreign currency at their local offices
Oh, good info to know!
Vking is the best, they care off everything and special for they crew, not like Avalon, they don't care for nobody, Vking the best!!!
Sorry about your negative experience with Avalon. After saving up for a cruise and ending up with a bad time is disheartening. Hopefully all your cruises will be great from now on!
We have sailed on Avalon four times and have booked our fifth one. They have been perfect, every time. The crews are wonderful and really take great care of you. The cabins are much larger than Viking’s. And Viking crams 190 passengers on the same size ship that Avalon maxes out at only 160.
Avalon includes tours of Amsterdam, too.
Daniella sounds like a travel agent who specializes in Viking.
How could you not know about the airport pickup. 🤷♀️. It’s usually in the paperwork...or an agent should go through this. Or you ask the question.
Tasmania IS Australia.
Always stay a couple of days at either end of your holiday.
We were told that we would be picked up at the airport, but not given details, and as first time Viking Cruisers in a foreign country, that concerned us. There was no one to ask, as the Viking Kiosk was unattended, and no one else seemed to know.
The friends we made on the cruise from Tasmania felt like they were a bit separate and different than the people on the main island, but yes, the Island of Tasmania is a state of Australia.
#2 is not true. There's a lot of travel during daylight hours.
On our Grand European Cruise, most traveling was done at night. We would usually wake up the next day and be docked at our next city!
7:13. What is this??? Huge crowds on a bus? I would never be part of this.
Yeah, we went during a pretty busy time. The crowds were manageable, but I can relate to your desire to avoid it, especially during Covid times!
Just too restricted for my taste. We need room like on a midsize cruise ship. Nothing compares to a Cunard cruise, nothing.
I have never been on a Cunard cruise, glad you enjoy them! Yes, that big bed well filled our room on our Viking Cruise, but it never seemed to bother us, probably because we were so excited about all that we were experiencing. May you have more wonderful cruises in the future, in large staterooms! And thank you so much for watching my video!
@@shineyvisions6955 Cunard is so much more and so classy compared to the rest of them. Old world charm with the guests all nice ,polite and very British although I'm not. The many gala nights ,formal gowns and tuxedo. Just superb,doing two more Cunard in 2022, Queen Mary, 15 nights from Florida ,FT Lauderdale and Queen Victoria in October,Canary Islands.
Take care enjoy Richard
@@lorraineperron4840 do they do river cruises? If not it is probably comparing apples with pears, to compare a river and an ocean cruise.
@@sylviekins Exactly. River and ocean cruises are so different that you shouldn't compare them to one another.
Whether you're looking at an ocean or river cruise, I would give Viking a shot. They do both rivers and ocean very well. For ocean cruising, my choice would be Viking over Cunard.
Will Viking be cancelling it's cruises to Russia, given Russia's unprovoked war on Ukraine and it's people, and the immeasurable suffering it has caused? Other cruise lines already have; why hasn't Viking??? I am looking forward to a Romantic Danube cruise in September, but cannot support a company that enriches this murderous regime. Please do the right thing and cancel all cruises to Russia. I will be watching for developments; please don't force me to cancel my cruise. I would encourage all other Viking customers to let Viking know if you share similar views as my own. To all Ukrainians; we support you!
Our hearts and prayers go out to the people of Ukraine.
VIKING has stopped doing river cruises to Russia or Ukraine. It has expanded its Eastern European itineraries with a new river cruise from VIENNA to BUCHAREST(17 days), in addition to the one from AMSTERDAM TO BUCHAREST (23days).