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About Viking

Our history.

Viking was founded in 1997 with the vision that travel could be more destination focused and culturally immersive. The company expanded into the American market in 2000, establishing a sales and marketing office in Los Angeles, California. Since then, Viking has grown to a fleet of more than 90 vessels, offering river, ocean and expedition voyages on all seven continents. Viking provides destination-focused itineraries for curious travelers, with each journey including a shore excursion in every port and an onboard and onshore enrichment program that provides deep immersion in the destination through performances of music and art, cooking demonstrations, informative port talks and carefully selected guest lecturers.

With more than 450 awards to its name, Viking is a leader in the industry and was rated #1 for Rivers, #1 for Oceans (for ships sized 500 to 2,500 berths) and #1 for Expeditions by Condé Nast Traveler in the 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards. This is the first time a travel company has been voted #1 in all three categories simultaneously.

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Viking was founded in 1997 with the vision that travel could be more destination focused and culturally immersive.

The company expanded into the American market in 2000, establishing a sales and marketing office in Los Angeles, California. Since then, Viking has grown to a fleet of more than 90 vessels, offering river, ocean and expedition voyages on all seven continents. Viking provides destination-focused itineraries for curious travelers, with each journey including a shore excursion in every port and an onboard and onshore enrichment program that provides deep immersion in the destination through performances of music and art, cooking demonstrations, informative port talks and carefully selected guest lecturers.

With more than 450 awards to its name, Viking is a leader in the industry and was rated #1 for Rivers, #1 for Oceans (for ships sized 500 to 2,500 berths) and #1 for Expeditions by Condé Nast Traveler in the 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards. This is the first time a travel company has been voted #1 in all three categories simultaneously.

Europe River Ships and Itineraries

Sailing Europe’s storied rivers, the award-winning fleet of identical Viking Longships® offer a variety of stateroom categories and true two-room suites with full-size verandas. Onboard amenities include a restaurant, bar and lounge, library and expansive sun deck. The ships feature al fresco dining on the revolutionary indoor/outdoor Aquavit Terrace, elegant Scandinavian design and environmentally considerate features, such as solar panels, an onboard organic herb garden and energy-efficient hybrid engines for a remarkably smooth ride.

Europe river voyages range from 8 to 23 days, with itineraries featuring Europe’s Rhine, Main, Danube, Seine, Rhône, Douro, Moselle, Elbe, Dordogne, Garonne and Gironde Rivers.

Viking also offers voyages on Egypt’s Nile River and Southeast Asia’s Mekong River.

Mississippi River Ship and Itineraries

Viking launched destination-focused travel experiences on the Mississippi River in 2022, with sailings ranging from 8 to 15 days between New Orleans, Louisiana and St. Paul, Minnesota.

Viking’s arrival brings modern river voyages to the Mississippi and represents a major commitment to tourism and economic development in many communities along the river. Currently scheduled ports of call on Viking’s new Mississippi River itineraries comprise seven U.S. states: Louisiana (Baton Rouge, Darrow, New Orleans and St. Francisville); Mississippi (Natchez and Vicksburg); Tennessee (Memphis); Missouri (Hannibal, St. Louis); Iowa (Burlington, Dubuque and Quad Cities); Wisconsin (La Crosse); and Minnesota (Red Wing, St. Paul).

The Viking Mississippi hosts 386 guests and features some of the largest staterooms across the cruise industry, where each guest has a sweeping view of the river and landscape beyond.

Ocean Ships and Itineraries

In 2015, Viking introduced its first ocean ship with the naming of the 930-guest all-veranda Viking Star . One year later, Viking launched its second ocean ship, the Viking Sea , which was joined by sister ship the Viking Sky in 2017, the Viking Orion in 2018, the Viking Jupiter in 2019 and the Viking Venus in 2021. Identical sister ships the Viking Mars and the Viking Neptune joined the fleet in 2022; the Viking Saturn joined in 2023.

The company’s award-winning ships are engineered at a size that allows direct access into most ports, so guests can easily and efficiently embark and disembark—allowing for more time in port. Viking’s ocean fleet features modern Scandinavian design with elegant touches, intimate spaces and attention to detail. Each ship boasts a private veranda in every stateroom, a choice of restaurants offering a variety of fine dining options, the most al fresco dining at sea, an infinity pool, a Nordic-inspired spa, the two-deck Explorers’ Lounge with panoramic views, thoughtfully curated book collections throughout the ship and more.

Ocean itineraries are designed to maximize the amount of time travelers spend in their destination. These enriching itineraries include base and combination voyages around the world—with particular focus in Scandinavia and Northern Europe, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, Australia and New Zealand, Asia, Alaska, North and South America and Africa.

Viking’s ocean ships have been designed to be environmentally considerate, with energy-efficient hull, propeller and rudder arrangements and engines with heat recovery systems. This allows ships to reach the best Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI)* in its class, exceeding the current International Maritime Organization (IMO) requirements by approximately 205 percent and will exceed the 2025 EEDI requirements by almost 20 percent. Additionally, Viking ships are the first newbuilds in the world with a closed-loop exhaust cleaning system designed so that pollutants can be removed and disposed of safely.

Expedition Ships and Itineraries

In 2022, Viking launched expedition voyages with the arrival, the 378-guest Polar Class Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris . Both ships sail expedition voyages in Antarctica, the Arctic and North America’s Great Lakes.

Designed by the same experienced nautical architects and engineers that designed Viking’s Longships and ocean ships, the ships are optimally sized and built for expeditions, at an ideal size for safety, comfort and onboard amenities in remote destinations. An integrated bow creates a longer waterline for the ships; state-of-the-art fin stabilizers allow the ships to glide over the waves for the calmest possible journey; ice-strengthened Polar Class hulls provide the safest way to explore; and U-tank stabilizers significantly decrease rolling by up to 50 percent when the ships are stationary. The ships feature the company’s signature Scandinavian design, with public areas that are favorites on Viking’s ocean ships, as well as new spaces created specifically for expeditions.

Viking has also created the world’s leading scientific enrichment environment in an expedition setting. Exclusive partnerships with the Scott Polar Research Institute at Cambridge University and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)—as well as other prestigious scientific institutions—match leading researchers and educators with each expedition.

Viking’s new expedition vessels have set a new standard for responsible travel, with an energy-efficient design that exceeds the current EEDI* requirements by nearly 38 percent—more than any other expedition ship. In addition to an integrated bow, engines with heat recovery systems and Azipod® Electric Propulsion, the Viking Octantis and the Viking Polaris have received one of the industry’s first SILENT-E notations—the highest-level certification for quiet ship propulsion, minimizing underwater noise pollution.

* Since January 1, 2013, the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) was made mandatory for new ships, requiring a minimum energy efficiency level per capacity mile. This was the first legally binding climate change treaty to be adopted since the Kyoto Protocol.

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The Complete Guide to a Viking River Cruise

Ever consider a Viking European river cruise? River cruises are very popular choices for people who like traveling to new places in the comfort of a floating hotel. That is, you sleep and eat on the ship and are transported to your destinations along a river. It’s certainly a relaxing way to travel. Plus, Viking offers several excursions each day that the ship is in port. My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our Viking River cruise, which transported us comfortably to some amazing European destinations.

This article highlights the European river cruises aboard the Viking Longboats. The sizes of the ships are designed specifically for the rivers they ply (e.g., they need to navigate the sometimes narrow waterways and any locks along the way). Viking ships all sport calming Scandinavian decor and are designed efficiently.  The general experience on all Viking River cruise ships is the same, no matter what ship you’re on. However, the information in this article is from our Grand European Tour cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest aboard the Skirnir and Modi (more on the two ships later).  Once you’ve booked a Viking cruise, take the next steps , like creating an online account with Viking, to ensure a wonderful adventure .

NOTE: This article was completely updated in January 2023 from the original article, written in 2019 . Some procedures and protocols on cruise ships have changed to address public health concerns since the global COVID-19 pandemic. Check with your Viking agent or travel agent (or your MyVikingJourney online portal if you’re already booked on a cruise) to learn the latest protocols aboard the ship, and in the countries you’ll be visiting. Despite some tweaks, this article will prepare you for your Viking River cruise. Enjoy!

What to Expect on a Viking River Cruise

Viking is an industry leader for a variety of reasons, including their choices of fascinating destinations, varied excursion options, attention to detail in designing the private and shared spaces, and a welcoming and hard-working staff.

Viking River Cruise Destinations

You’ll find Viking River cruises throughout Europe, Egypt, and Southeast Asia . There are so many choices of destinations and lengths of the trip. Some people book two cruises back-to-back to extend their vacation. Also, Viking offers options to add a few days in the first or last destination before and after a cruise.

What You’ll Find on Viking

On all river cruises, guests are offered one complimentary shore excursion at every destination . In addition, quite a few “optional” excursions are available at an extra cost. The excursions provide guests with an array of experiences, including peeks into how locals live, how and where they work, and some “privileged access” options just for Viking guests.

Onboard you’ll have port talks to prepare you for each new day along with musical entertainment in the lounge. Plus, you can expect some special cooking and craft demonstrations, wine tastings, and presentations about a destination’s unique features .

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.

What You Won’t Find on Viking

There are several things you won’t find on a Viking River cruise, and they are often some of the prime reasons so many people choose Viking .

• No inside staterooms.
• No kids. All guests are 18 years old or more.
• No smoking.
• No casinos.
• No formal nights.
• No charge for Wi-Fi.

Viking River Cruise Ships

Viking Longboats have four decks:

• The Sun Deck has tables and chairs for guests to enjoy the views plus a walking track.
• The Upper Deck has the library, bar, lounge, Aquavit Terrace, coffee and tea station, and internet cafe, along with both of the Explorer Suites, all of the Veranda Suites, and some of the Veranda and French Balcony staterooms.
• The Middle Deck has Guest Services, the restaurant, the Viking shop, and some of the Veranda and French Balcony staterooms. 
• The Lower Deck has the Standard Staterooms.

Stairs connect all the decks; an elevator service the upper and middle decks.

Viking River Cruise Staterooms

All Viking River cruise ship staterooms have:

• river views.
• king-size beds that can be split to make two twin beds.
• private bathrooms that are separate from the living space.
• housekeeping twice a day.
• a telephone, safe, and refrigerator.
• a closet with wooden hangers.
• luggage storage under the beds.
• free Wi-Fi (though connection speeds vary depending upon location).
• a flat-screen TV with infotainment options.
• 110/220-volt outlets and USB ports.

Stateroom Options

The different types of staterooms range in size, available outdoor space, the time for guaranteed stateroom access, and amenities. Also, the ability to book optional excursions varies by the stateroom level . For example, the guests in the Explorer Suites can book optional excursions before guests in the Veranda Suites. This practice continues through all the classes of staterooms, with the standard staterooms getting the last optional booking options. Having said this, there are often opportunities to book optional excursions once you board the ship. This is because some guests may have canceled their planned optional excursions prior to the cruise, so it’s a good practice to check on this and any other concerns once you’re on board. 

• 150 square foot stateroom with picture window (no outdoor space)
• located on the Main Deck (lowest deck)
• 3:00 pm guaranteed stateroom access
• 135 square foot stateroom with French balcony (sliding glass door with no outdoor space)
• located on the Upper Deck and Middle Deck
• 205 square foot room with full-size private veranda
• 275 square foot suite with full-size private veranda
• located on the Upper Deck 
• 12:00 pm guaranteed stateroom access
• mini-bar with wine, beer, and soft drinks that are replenished daily
• complimentary fruit plate daily
• complimentary laundry & shoe shine services
• expansive 445 square foot living space (separate living room and bedroom) with wraparound balcony at the stern of the ship plus a French balcony in the bedroom. 
• complimentary in-room breakfast service
• complimentary Silver Spirits beverage package
• private arrival and departure transfer (from and to the airport)

Stateroom Amenities

The staterooms and bathrooms are efficiently designed to maximize usable space , and there are many things to appreciate in the staterooms.

• A safe with an electronic keypad is provided in each room. You set the code, so it’s a cinch to remember. It easily holds passports and other travel documents, along with jewelry and money. One tip we learned is to put a shoe (just one!) in the safe the day before you check out. Having to look for the shoe on the last day will remind you to open the safe so you don’t forget your valuables.
• Staterooms have 110V and 220V electrical outlets , so you can plug in whichever fits your needs. We took a universal travel adaptor with 4 USB plugs and 4 outlets and used just one outlet for all of our electronics (smartphones, cameras, tablets , and Apple Watch). That saved precious counter space.
• There’s a full-size   hair dryer with a German Schuko 2-pin plug that matches the 2-prong outlet in the bathroom.
• Sturdy wooden hangers are in your closet upon arrival; if you need more, just ask, and they will be delivered promptly.
• A complete supply of Freyja toiletries , including shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and body lotion along with a shower cap and vanity set, awaits you in the bathroom. These supplies are replenished as needed.
• The bathroom has a laundry line in the shower that is handy for hanging hand-washed garments.
• Laundry can be sent out to be done. It is usually returned within 24 hours. You can choose to have your garments washed and ironed or ironed only. For an idea of the costs for cleaning and ironing, pants are 6 Euros, a blouse is 5 Euros, and a polo shirt is 3.5 Euros (at the time of publication). Guests in an Explorer Suite or Veranda Suite receive complimentary laundry services.
• There’s a mini-fridge in the staterooms. Whatever you consume will be replenished when the staff cleans your room.
• A large glass bottle of water i n your guest room (along with glasses) will be replenished as needed. (You will also be offered bottled water as you leave for each excursion.)
• There are two listening devices on lanyards along with an earpiece (for your left ear) for each device inside your room. Keep these devices in the chargers when not in use, so they are fully charged for excursions.
• All rooms have a color TV with live channels, complimentary movies, and Viking programming . We used the TV for weather updates and a map that always shows the ship’s location; this was very handy as we navigated the rivers in between ports of call. 
• Housekeeping will visit your room in the morning to clean it.
• Housekeeping will revisit your room while you’re at dinner. You’ll notice the Viking Daily on your bed when you return to your room later that evening. This publication outlines the schedule for the next day, with all included and optional excursions as well as suggestions on where to visit and eat during your free time the next day.
• There’s room under the bed to store suitcases after unpacking.

Viking River Cruise Common Areas

In addition to your stateroom, there are several key public areas on the longships including an expansive, relaxing lounge and bar, the Aquavit Terrace at the ship’s bow for al fresco dining and soaking in river views, a dining room, a coffee/tea station, a small library, and an area with two desktop computers for guest use. For more details on the areas designed for guest comfort, read the illustrated guide to the Viking River Cruise ship’s common areas .

Embarkation

Staterooms are guaranteed to be ready at 3:00 pm. (If you are booked in one of the suites, you’ll have access to your stateroom at 12:00.) If you arrive before your guaranteed time of 3:00 pm, you can spend time in the Lounge or leave your luggage on the ship and begin to explore the city on your own. A light buffet is available in the Lounge around midday, so you’ll be able to recharge a bit before the cruise begins — a nice treat if you just got off a long flight.

The Viking Onboard Experience

Naturally, safety is a primary concern of travelers and the crew. There was a mandatory safety drill on our first full day of the river cruise. Life vests were under the beds, but prior to the drill, they were placed on our beds while we were at lunch. Just before the drill, we were all asked to return to our staterooms and don our life vests. After that, we went to an assigned group on the upper deck (groups are determined by what floor the staterooms are on), and we had to give our stateroom number to the staff at the assigned location (for roll call). Once everyone was accounted for, we were able to leave, return our life vests to our stateroom, and resume what we were doing.

Each time you leave the ship, you scan your room key . When you return to the ship, you scan it again . This is one way the crew can account for all guests. Before leaving a dock, there may be announcements asking for guests in certain rooms to let the staff know they are on the ship. (It’s not uncommon for someone to forget to scan their card when returning to the ship.)

Attire on a river cruise is casual. During the day on excursions, travelers dress very comfortably as they leave the ship to explore a destination. However, most guests sport a smart casual look for dinner. Leave your dressier clothes at home; no formal nights are on a Viking River cruise. 

Meals on a Viking River Cruise

Three meals are included each day at the following times:

• Breakfast: 7:00-9:00 am
• Lunch: 12:00-2:00 pm 
• Dinner: 7:00 pm

Soda, beer, and house wine are available at lunch and dinner at no charge.

Travelers who purchase the Silver Spirits beverage package (price varies depending on the length of your cruise) can get whatever alcoholic beverage they want during lunch, dinner, and whenever else the bar is staffed (afternoons and evenings) at no additional charge. The Silver Spirits package is complimentary for guests in an Explorer Suite.

If you have dietary restrictions, let Viking know when you book. You should also alert the Maitre d’ once on board.

The river cruises have open seating, so that means you aren’t assigned any table mates. Each time you enter the dining room, you find a table that you want to sit at. We enjoyed sitting with different people; it gave us a chance to learn about their travel experiences and lives a bit. You never know what you’ll learn or who you’ll meet!

Although lunch is available in the dining room, we favored the Aquavit Terrace (at the front of the ship) for our midday meal. It’s relaxed and has an abundant food buffet with soup, a variety of salads, meats, warm sandwiches (like paninis and Cuban sandwiches), fruit, and dessert. There’s always iced tea — often with different flavors every day. Servers take your drink orders (sodas, beer, wine) and freshen up your glass when it is empty. Just inside is the Lounge where we ate one rainy lunchtime. The Aquavit Terrace is one advantage Viking has over its competition. This is a great venue for enjoying the passing landscape on travel days and relaxed dining every day.

Prior to dinner, the chef usually introduces the options including his/her recommendations. On our cruise, this was done in the Lounge just after the evening port talk by the program director. Dinner begins at 7:00 pm in the dining room. If you choose to eat on the Aquavit Terrace, dinner begins at 7:15 pm with all of the same options as in the dining room.

Menu Options

On one side of the menu are the “classics” or options that are always available. W hen we cruised, the “classics” included Caesar salad as a starter; steak, salmon, and chicken as entrees, and Creme Brûlée, a selection of cheeses, a fruit plate, and ice cream for dessert.

On the other side of the menu are “regional specialties” or options that are focused on our destinations. Examples were creamy potato soup, Wiener Schnitzel, and Sacher cake when in Vienna; while in Budapest, the menu featured Hungarian Farmer Salad, Fogas Karpathy (perch and shrimp in white wine sauce), and Zserbo (a layered walnut and chocolate cake).

Without a doubt, we give Viking chefs top marks for the presentation and flavor of the food they serve. We always enjoyed the variety of food from the local areas we were visiting. After all, we travel to experience new places, new food, and new people, so we like to eat local specialties whenever possible. We were never disappointed with our meal selections. Whichever side of the menu you order from, the meals for the entire table are served at the same time.

Guests & Socializing

Cruising is a social experience as you chat with fellow passengers on excursions, at the social hour before dinner in the Lounge, and at meals.  An easy way to begin a conversation is to ask where people are from, about their past travel experiences, and what excursions interest them the most. We’ve found there are a lot of commonalities as well as interesting folks to meet. 

River cruises are designed for the mature traveler as Viking guests must be 18 years old. Many of the guests are retired, but there were quite a few still working or recently retired. 

Exercising on a River Cruise

There is no fitness center or spa on Viking River cruise ships; the space that could be a fitness center is instead put to use in the common areas and staterooms. (European river cruise ships are limited in size due to the rivers they cruise on, so they have the same overall dimensions. Some companies may take space from common areas to put into spas and fitness centers; others, like Viking, use all that available space for staterooms and common areas.)

To burn off some of the calories ingested by the delicious food onboard, I walked in the morning around the sun deck track. 12.5 laps = 1 mile. Viking asks that guests not walk on the sun deck from 10:00 pm to 7:00 am as a courtesy to those whose cabins are just below the sun deck. Getting my heart rate up while enjoying beautiful scenery passing by while the ship made its way down a river was a win-win.

My husband prefers to jog each morning, and he was able to when we were docked in the early morning before excursions began. Other times, we were still sailing, so he could not. A good idea if you’re a runner is to check with the reception desk to map out when there will be time in the morning to leave the ship for a jog or run before excursions begin.

Excursions on a Viking River Cruise

You can sign up for excursions from your account on MyVikingJourney.com prior to your trip. Sometimes optional excursions sell out, although there are usually some available once you’re on the ship. Please note that Viking requires at least 48 hours’ cancellation notice if you are on the ship and decide not to go on an optional excursion. 

There are three activity levels for excursions :

• Easy means the walking will be on mostly smooth (not cobbled) surfaces, there are few steps, and the tours will be 1.5 hours or less.
• Moderate means the walking could be a little more strenuous or have more stairs or inclines. The total time on these outings could be 1.5 to 3 hours.
• Demanding means extensive walking, hiking, or biking. Walking could be on unpaved or uneven surfaces and may involve many steps or steep inclines. The total time on these outings could be longer than 3 hours.

Prior to Excursions

About 15 minutes before each excursion, there is an announcement to remind guests that it is almost time to leave and to remember the listening devices. These devices are attached to lanyards with earpieces. 

You’ll receive an excursion card with a number and a letter. The number indicates which ship you’re on. (This is handy because you might encounter tour groups from other Viking ships that are docked in the same city at the same time.) The letter indicates which excursion group you’re on. Since there are often different excursions leaving simultaneously , this is an efficient way to find which tour guide to meet as you disembark the ship. The buses and tour guides for your group are each marked: the bus has a placard with the same number and letter to let you know you need to board that bus; the tour guide has a red and white sign on a paddle to indicate that group, as well.

Leaving the Ship

As you leave the ship, you’ll scan your room key to indicate your departure and rescan it upon returning . This is Viking’s way of accounting for guests.

As you leave the ship, you are handed a bottle of water.  To conserve resources, you could easily fill a reusable water bottle from home with water in the rooms. There are also bright red full-size Viking umbrellas to take along on excursions if it’s raining. I learned that I probably should have packed a small collapsable umbrella to stuff in my backpack; that way, I won’t be carrying the big Viking umbrella around after the rain has stopped while we’re still sightseeing.

A Few Important Excursion Notes

It’s important to note that when the ship docks somewhere in the morning and you go on an excursion, you sometimes will be brought back to the ship in a different location — like another city further down the river. This taught me to take pictures when I first see a scenic sight just in case I wouldn’t have the opportunity again.

There is precise timing to docking and excursions. For example, we arrived in Cologne at 9:30 am and our walking tour began at 10:00 am. Viking is very efficient with their timing. Likewise, when the ship is ready to leave, it leaves — as long as all the guests are accounted for. 

Not everyone needs to go on excursions. Some guests preferred to stay in the Lounge and simply relax, read a book, or enjoy the view beyond the big plate glass window or take in the views from the sun deck.

Big City Lesson

One thing we learned is that although some excursions will guide you through a large city, if it is inland a bit, you may be spending a significant amount of time traveling from the ship to the city — and comparatively modest amounts of time actually in the city itself. 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. That worked well as we enjoyed some nice non-touristy lunches and other walks and tours on our own.

Viking Communication

We found the onboard communication to be excellent . This includes the Viking Daily which provides information for each new day and the evening updates by the program director in the Lounge before dinner. There are also daily announcements with information on docking and reminders about impending excursion departures. 

TIP: Take a picture of The Viking Daily each evening before heading to bed. Then it’ll be the first photo on your camera roll before the next day’s activities. Doing so will help you remember months and years later where all your amazing pictures are from!

The crew communicates with each other quite well. For example, once the crew knows that everyone is accounted for after excursions, the ship is sailing within minutes of the anticipated departure (as noted in the Viking Daily ). 

Viking Staff

The Viking onboard staff — from the captain, hotel manager, and program director to the housekeeping and wait staff — were all positive, upbeat folks: smiling, accommodating, and helpful. Also, the onboard staff and the local guides speak English well.

Little Touches by Viking

Viking has perfected hospitality on many levels. Their crew is well-trained and genuinely appears to want to make you happy. There are lots of smiles and offers of help. They also are known for providing little touches that many guests appreciate. Here are some examples from our cruise:

• Viking is happy to celebrate your birthdays and anniversaries while onboard. Many people were serenaded during dinner, and special treats made pleasant surprises. We celebrated a big anniversary on our cruise and were delighted with champagne and a special dessert awaiting us in our room after dinner one night.
• Every once in a while, you may be treated to a little “extra” like a refreshing drink served on the sun deck while sailing one day.
• I borrowed some books from the ship’s library and left them on a table in our room. When I returned, I noticed two Viking bookmarks resting on top of the books. Likewise, a few days later, I had just started reading a different book and placed it on my night table on top of my Kindle. When I returned to the room, I noticed another bookmark was placed on top of it. 

Tipping is the universal way to thank someone for providing excellent service — and you will find excellent service on Viking. You can choose to pre-pay gratuities which we did. Prepaid gratuities came to 18 Euros per guest per day. Viking adds a discretionary service charge (15 Euros per guest per day when we traveled) to your shipboard account if you choose not to prepay the gratuity . The tips cover all onboard staff. We also took along some thank you cards and added some extra cash to give to those we felt went above and beyond during our cruise.

The recommended tipping (for each guest) on excursions is 2 Euros for local guides and 1 Euro for bus drivers.  Needless to say, it’s handy to have small change for tipping.

Onboard Account

Viking keeps track of your expenses during the cruise, including bar items, laundry, phone calls, and purchases from the Viking shop (logo wear and souvenirs). When the cruise ends, you settle your account in cash (U.S. dollars or Euros) or by credit card.

Parallel Parked Ships

Sometimes there’s a lot of river cruise ship traffic in popular cities. This was true in Passau, a city of over 50,000, and especially in heavyweights like Vienna and Budapest. When this happens, the cruise ship parks parallel to another cruise ship. This means that your ship could be the first, second, or third ship docked. 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.

Having to dock the ship next to another cruise ship also means that the view from your stateroom could be blocked and your cabin could be a bit dark.  We were docked next to other ships several times on our 15-day cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest. It’s not a deal breaker for us, but it’s something every river cruise guest should be forewarned about. 

Transferring Ships

There are times when river cruise ships have to have guests disembark a ship and then board a sister ship. Sometimes the river water levels may be too low in spots (due to the lack of sufficient rain during summer) or there is another issue (like a broken lock) necessitating the change.

When We Had to Switch Ships

Here’s our story. We were sailing from Amsterdam to Budapest. There was a broken lock near Regensburg, about halfway between the two big cities. Viking had a sister ship sailing the same journey in the opposite direction — from Budapest to Amsterdam — so we switched ships. We got off our ship, the Skirnir, in Nuremberg (one of our scheduled ports) before the damaged lock. The guests on the other ship, the Modi, got off the ship at Regensburg, on the other side of the damaged lock. Essentially, each ship then turned around and went back to the city from which it originated. Suffice it to say that Viking has this all figured out and has contingency plans firmly in place.

Impact on Guests

What it meant for guests was a minor inconvenience. We had to have our luggage packed and placed outside our stateroom door by 7:00 am on the day of the switch. Viking collected the luggage (with different colored tags for the three different floors of the ship) and trucked it to where the Modi, our new ship, was docked. All guests left the ship for excursions (the times of the excursions were modified that day so they would all be timed for the same number of hours). After the excursions, we all met at a restaurant in Nuremberg for lunch, had a little free time, and then were bussed to the new ship in the late afternoon. As we arrived at the ship, we were warmly greeted, and we went to our rooms (which were intentionally left unlocked). Our luggage awaited us, and our new room keys were on the dresser.

Since they are sister ships, they are the same, so the only thing that changed was the crew. The one exception was the program director, who made the move with us. Otherwise, we had a brand new crew. We had grown to like the crew on the Skirnir, but we quickly came to like the new ones as well.

Disembarkation

Viking has guest departures timed to match their future travel plans. Viking assigns different colored luggage tags to guests depending on what their next travel destination is (a post-excursion through Viking, a trip independent of Viking, or a flight home). The tags have the time the luggage must be outside the staterooms as well as the time that guests are expected to depart the ship. (Viking asks that luggage not be placed outside the staterooms when going to bed the previous night due to safety concerns — should there be an emergency, having bags in the narrow corridors would pose a safety risk.) 

On our cruise, some guests had to put their luggage outside their staterooms as early as 2:45 am and leave the ship at 3:30 am to go to the airport. Regardless of their next destinations, all guests had to place their luggage outside their rooms no later than 9:00 am. After that point, guests still on board could use the common areas (Lounge or sun deck) until their transfer to the airport or other destination. That way, Viking could clean the staterooms and ready the ship for the passengers boarding later that day for the next cruise.

Planning Your Viking River Cruise

Once you book a Viking River cruise, take the next steps to ensure an amazing experience . One of those steps is to create an online account with Viking. There you’ll find a countdown to departure, background on each port of call, the entire list of excursions available (some are complimentary; others cost extra) that you can book online, a calendar showing your itinerary for each day, and other helpful information about the cruise. For a complete list of action steps

You will receive your final travel documents and Viking luggage tags within three weeks of your trip. Included is a packet of information specific to your ship (including phone numbers on the ship plus embarkation location information) and an itinerary.

Booking Options

Some travelers prefer to book through Viking itself. We opted to book through our travel agent with whom we could meet face-to-face, ask questions, and learn from her knowledge of cruising and different cruise companies. Plus, some travel agents provide onboard credit to cruising clients. Since we booked through our travel agent, Viking sent her the final travel documents, and she checked them before passing them on to us.

Disclaimer: My husband and I paid for our Viking River cruise ourselves. We did not receive any compensation or discounts from Viking or any other organization. I merely want to share our experience on a river cruise with my readers. 

Related Articles

Viking related articles.

• Viking Ocean Cruises: The Ultimate Guide
• Viking Ocean Cruise Excursions: What You Need to Know
• Viking Cruises: Best Action Steps to Take After Booking a Cruise
• Viking River Cruises: The Complete Guide
• Best Sights to See on a Viking Grand European Tour Cruise
• Viking Antarctica Cruise: A Complete Guide for Adventurers

General Travel Planning Articles

• Best Apps and Websites for Savvy Travelers
• Travel Lightly: Top Ten Tips for Your Next Trip

Travel Planning Timeline

• Expert Tips for Traveling to Europe for More Fun, Less Stress
• How to Use Google Translate While Traveling

Final Thoughts

We thoroughly enjoyed our Viking River cruise. O n our trip, we met interesting people; visited fascinating places; sampled new foods, wines, and beer; and appreciated Viking’s convenience and gracious hospitality . We can’t say enough about how well-run and maintained the ships are. Although we have some other trips planned (that we organize ourselves, as we often do), we are contemplating which Viking cruise — river or ocean — we will be booking next. 

The Viking Grand European Tour from Amsterdam to Budapest was a great experience that we’ll never forget.

To ensure you remember all the great experiences on your cruise, take lots of pictures and create a photo book of your journey when you return home. You’ll be glad you did!

If you have taken a Viking River cruise and want to share your experiences, please do so in the comment area below. 🙂

More Popular Reads

Best Sights to See on the Viking Grand European Tour River Cruise

Viking Cruises: Best Action Steps After Booking Your Cruise

Viking Antarctica Cruises: A Complete Guide for Adventurers

108 thoughts on “the complete guide to a viking river cruise”.

Thank you so much for the wonderful information in this guide! We are leaving in 6 days for the Grand European Adventure from Amsterdam to Budapest. This is our first cruise ever, and you have answered many questions we still had. We appreciate you sharing your time and adventures with us, and I signed up for your “Travel With Lolly” newsletter too! Thanks again!

I’m hoping you’re having a fabulous cruise! That’s a great itinerary.

Things that I learned while stationed in Germany and traveling around the local economy. You need some small change for this. – Public toilets have attendants who maintain them and who expect a gratuity (.20-.50 Euros) for use. This may have increased since my last visit. – Damen = Women, not “The Men” – Herren = Men, not “Her”

Thanks, Rich!

Some cruises include excursions. How expensive are the excursions? Where do you find the choices? Thanks!

Hi Leslie, Viking cruises include an excursion at each destination; these are usually general bus or walking tours of a city. In addition, they offer optional excursions that are more targeted to specific interests like concerts, museums, hiking or biking, and farm or winery tours. The anticipated optional excursions are listed on the Viking website for each cruise. They are also listed on MyVikingJourney.com, a site you can access after you book a Viking cruise, along with prices. Prices vary and usually run from $60-$200.

Thanks for this information. I’ve been on a Viking ocean cruise but am going on my first river cruise in June. I found that it’s easy to book shore excursions on one’s own (through “Tours by Locals”, AirBnB, and other venues) and many cost far less than what Viking charges. For example, going to Monet’s house and gardens in Giverny will cost 4 of us about 1/3 of what Viking is charging. Going to a chocolate making session at Lindt will cost $90 per person — about twice that going w/Viking. I know they have staff to pay, and overhead to finance, and many people will want the easier route of booking a Viking excursion. But for those who have the time to explore options online, and are willing to read through reviews to ascertain the good and bad of each offered tour, I highly recommend a little independent booking.

Thanks for sharing, Carol!

Thank you so much for this super-detailed information. :). I have a couple of follow up questions. I read a number of the comments, but time right now is a premium, so I apologize in advance if I am rehashing any prior q’s.

We are leaving on our Rhine cruise next week and are super excited! 1. Is there much sailing during daylight hours? I fear that all the great sailing will be while we are sleeping. The point of a cruise, for me, is a good bit of time enjoying the water. 2. My husband and I are seasoned travelers. Would you encourage or discourage any bookings at locations through outside vendors? I recall the part of your article that indicates the ship may change position during excursions. I would hate to book an outside excursion and come back to find the ship has gone on to another location. For instance, we would like to take a side morning trip to Heidelberg during the stop at Speyer, but we don’t want to do the 9 hour tour available through Viking. We were thinking we may get a ride to Heidelberg and tour the castle on our own. Viking doesn’t really say anything about outside tours.

Thanks again!

Hi Karen, There may be some sailing during the day, depending on the distance between two ports, but most of it is in the evening and at nighttime. You’ll probably be enjoying some views while sailing during late afternoon and early evening. To get more information about the times the ship is expected to be in port, use the Live Chat feature on the My Viking Journey online site to ask about it. When you know when the ship is in port, you can figure out when it will most likely be sailing and if you have enough time for an outside tour. I’ve found the Live Chat staff to be very helpful; hopefully, you will, too! Have a wonderful cruise!

This is a very informative post and the details are very helpful. We will be doing the river cruise at the end of July (Budapest to Amsterdam) and opted for a post cruise excursion that offers 1-day tour and the next day on our own. With this 1 limited free day, can you please recommend a thing or two to do or visit in Amsterdam? We’re thinking of Anne Frank museum, is it worth it? My husband is a classical music junky and wanted to tour or watch something in Concertgebau. I will appreciate your recommendations.

Hi Joel, Spending time in Amsterdam offers so many options! It comes down to what you like to do. I think the Anne Frank House is worth a visit, as are the musuems. The only issue is getting tickets for a visit just a few weeks away. Perhaps going on TripAdvisor will give you ideas for things you’d enjoy doing. They may have recommendations for special interest tours or other experiences that speak to you!

Hi Lolly – oh my goodness! This is the BEST information. Thank you so much for your thoroughness! We are taking our first river cruise in November 2024 (Rhine Getaway on the Gersemi) and we cannot wait, but we are also grateful that we have so much time to research and prepare. A river cruise has been on my list for quite some time. Thank you again!

I’m glad the article helped you prepare for your upcoming river cruise. I hope you have a wonderful time on the ship, exploring new places, and meeting new people. 🙂

Lolly, No questions, I just wanted to thank you for having such an informative post. You answered all the questions we had after going through the Viking pages. Thanks for what you do.

Thanks for the kind words, Keith! I’m glad you found the article helpful.

When using a visa credit card, will the charge be in dollars or Euros?

Hi Glenn, When using credit cards in Europe, it’s usually best to avoid converting the amount into dollars (because there’s usually a fee for doing so). So accept the transaction amount “without conversion,” as you want to use the local currency option.

Although we’ve done probably 25 or so cruises on the big ships this is our first river cruise. We’ll be on the Grand European from Amsterdam to Budapest in July and we’re beginning to get really excited. Of course, that also means that we were starting to come up with all sorts of questions about the ship & excursions. Happily, your article has answered many of our questions!! I do have one question though – can we get additional Euros through the service desk on the ship or should we make sure we have plenty before we board? Thanks so much!

Hi Jan, I’m glad you found the article helpful! About Euros, Viking’s guest services desk will break Euros into smaller denominations, but they don’t handle currency exchanges. If you’re starting with some Euros, you should be able to easily obtain more from ATMs in Amsterdam (and other ports); the guest services desk should be able to tell you where to find one near the ship. Keep in mind that many shops and restaurants accept credit cards (VISA and MasterCard primarily), so you’ll probably use your Euros mostly for small incidentals and for tipping tour guides and bus drivers when on excursions. Accepting the local conversion rate (not into dollars) is usually advantageous when withdrawing from an ATM. For more tips for traveling to Europe, read Expert Tips for Traveling to Europe for More Fun, Less Stress . Have a wonderful cruise!

How much time (approx) did you have in each port?

Great question, Jessica! Unfortunately, there’s no easy answer. You can ask Viking or your travel agent for specifics for the cruise that interests you. As an example, on my upcoming Viking cruise in the Mediterranean, we arrive in port in the mornings by 8:00 or 9:00 am. Our departure times vary quite a bit from 4:00 pm to 11:00 pm.

What a great article! We leave on our trip tomorrow, Antwerp to Amsterdam for ten days. We have never cruised before. This was so helpful. Thank you for sharing.

Thanks for your kind words. Have a marvelous time!

Thank you for this very informative article. Looking at the Viking Daily it appears that included tours are in the morning and optional ones are in the afternoon. Is it then possible to do one of each per day?

Hi Barb, Excursion options vary and are often driven by local tour operators and their schedules. There weren’t separate morning and afternoon excursions for an upcoming ocean cruise my husband and I are taking, and that’ll work out just fine. Most days, my husband and I will go on an excursion in the morning and then explore a town independently in the afternoon (and evening, if still in port) — perhaps having a leisurely lunch in a scenic spot, visiting a museum, or going for a hike nearby. I suggest asking about ideas for independent activity once you’re aboard the ship. The Viking Daily gives some general ideas, and I’m sure the Viking staff can help you find things (e.g., museums, restaurants, shops) that specifically interest you. Oftentimes, it’s exploring on our own that makes traveling so enjoyable. Hopefully, it will be the same for you, too. Have a wonderful cruise!

Great article. Thank you for taking the time to post this. One question: in checking in for your flight at the end of the cruise, did you have any issues doing this on board the ship? We might want to change airline seats, which we cannot do before our cruise.

Hi Ron, I’ve not experienced any issues connecting online while on the ship. If you do, I’d suggest going to Guest Services for help. Have a wonderful cruise!

Thanks for your article it was very informative. My husband and I are booked on the Grand European cruise with an extension in Prague at the end of June. We are traveling with 8 other people. Would there be any issue with booking an independent excursion for the days we will be in Prague or in the ports that we will be in overnight? Viking is only offering us a morning excursion the second day in Prague so we are looking to do some exploring on our own.

Hi Anne, booking an independent excursion shouldn’t be a problem. Quite a few cruisers actually do that. Just make sure you are aware of the times the ship will leave the port so you don’t miss its departure. Have a wonderful cruise!

Great post. Very informative. One question though – How can we tell how much bus travel time is involved in each excursion? We are doing the Grand European Tours B-A with extensions in Prague and Amsterdam, and have booked a full schedule. We are doing the Salzburg Highlights but just read it’s a 2 hour bus ride each way. We don’t even know if it is The Sound of Music “heavy”, and that is kindof why we are doing it. There are other excursions that day that we could do. Thank you for your article and your help!

Hi Kathy, Great question! I suggest signing on to My Viking Journey and using the “Live Chat” feature to get your answer. After logging on to My Viking Journey, go to the “Shore Excursions” section and initiate a conversation with a Viking Cruise rep. You should see a red “Live Chat” box along the margin of the screen. You’ll be able to find out about the length of bus trips to/from excursions and other related information. Have a fabulous cruise!

We have quite a bit of Viking on board credits and wanted to purchase optional shore excursions with that credit. But it looks like pre purchasing using on board credit isn’t possible. What are the chances of excursions still being available when we are on board? We are on the Aug Rhine cruise and our 1st river cruise.

Hi Pat, There’s a good chance that some optional excursions will be available once you board the ship — even if they’re listed on MyVikingJourney as being sold out. That’s because some people end up canceling their reservations for optional excursions. Go to the guest service desk and inquire about the excursions you want and if they’re fully booked, ask to be placed on a waitlist. Wishing you good luck and a fantastic cruise!

I am going on a Christmas Market cruise with Viking in 2024. Since it will be winter with colder temps, I am wondering about the indoor lounging space/common areas on the longboats. Is there plenty of space for passengers indoors in the common areas, if the outdoors are too cold or rainy? Do you know if the outdoor areas on the sun deck can be enclosed for added warmth on these cooler weather trips? Thanks for any thoughts!

Hi Jaime, Viking’s European longship has a spacious lounge, the Aquavit Terrace (some of which can be enclosed in bad weather), and seating in the atrium area — all good choices for relaxing inside while not in your stateroom. The sun deck does not have enclosed spaces. Enjoy your cruise!

Does anyone wear jeans at dinner?

Hi Carolyn,

Per Viking: “There are no ‘formal nights’ in the evening; recommended evening dress is ‘elegant casual.’ For ladies, this may include a dress, skirt or slacks with a sweater or blouse; and for gentlemen, trousers and a collared shirt. A tie and jacket are optional.”

However, some guests do wear nice jeans (not torn or ripped) in the evening. It’s relatively easy to dress up a pair of jeans a bit, so the overall look is “elegant casual.” Enjoy your cruise!

GREAT INFO. Scheduled for Grand European in September 2023. Wondering how much american cash we should bring and do we need to get euros prior to arrival (if so how much). You mention that from 5:15-7 there will be drinks & live music or a port talk. If you want wine at that time is there a charge?

What is the availability of restroom facilities in these small towns? Do they charge for use?

Hi Victoria, I’m so glad you found the article helpful! Deciding on cash is a personal choice, of course. My husband and I like to have about 100-200 Euros on us before leaving home. Plus, we always have some dollars with us, too. If you want to obtain Euros before departure, check with your bank or AAA office to see if they can help you. Also, you can get Euros from bank ATMs after you land; there are probably some ATMS near your cruise embarkation site. We’ve never had a problem finding an ATM in Europe, and Viking can surely help direct you to one. Remember to notify your bank of your travel dates and destinations before leaving home! (Another idea is to get Euros at one of the airport currency exchange kiosks, but the exchange rates will probably not be favorable.)

Viking offers complimentary wine, beer, and soft drinks during lunch and dinner. At other times, like when gathered in the lounge before dinner, you’ll charge your wine, beer, or cocktails to your stateroom.

Public restrooms are available in European towns, and many charge a nominal fee (.50-1 Euro). Your best bet is to ask about availability, location, and cost at Guest Services once onboard. Have a wonderful cruise in September!

Thank you for great information and insights! We took our first Viking River cruise in 2018 (Rhine – Amsterdam to Basel) and leave in a month for the Danube (Budapest to Regensburg) with the pre and post cruise stays. You answered my questions about docking locations (though understand they are subject to change) and the Hungarian currency. Hope you have been able to enjoy more Viking cruises since your original one.

We are also thinking of taking an old smart phone and purchasing a SIM card that works in Europe for language translation, directions, and apps to enhance our experience. Our US-based cell phone service does not work outside of the US. Do you have any experience about this?

No, Tamara, I don’t have direct experience replacing SIM cards. My husband and I use a major U.S. cellphone carrier that functions well in Europe. When we travel to Europe, we notify our carrier before departure. It’s been a seamless process for us, and it functions well although we do incur additional international charges.

I’m glad you found the article helpful, Tamara. Our next Viking cruise is coming up soon, and I can’t wait. Enjoy your journey!

Lolly, We are going to cruise Viking July on European sojourn with pre post extensions Bucharest and Amsterdam. This will be first river cruise for us. We are in a veranda A stateroom and doing business class flights as a bucket wish. We are experienced travelers on land but this will be a new experience. My first question is, without using the laundry service on board , do you have suggestions on washing items in your cabin? Is there a retractable clothes line in the shower to accommodate hanging clothes. ? You know is it a venus and mars question. Haha. I am sure i will have more later but your thread is wonderful. Any comments on safety in cities? Using ATMs machines? Thank you for your time. Rosetta

It sounds like you have a wonderful journey coming up this summer, Rosetta! Concerning laundry, yes, there is a retractable clothesline in the shower. I’ve hand washed some things in the sink and hung them up to dry on the line, and it worked fine. My husband and I sent out a few clothes to the Viking laundry, which also worked out well. Concerning safety, you can sign up for STEP (Smart Traveler Enrollment Program), a free program run by the U.S. Department of State. Once enrolled, you enter the dates of your travel and your destinations. They will text you with any security issues you should be aware of while you’re away. (When we were in Europe a few years ago, we received texts of some demonstrations in town and were given their locations and advised to stay away. We weren’t near them then, but it was nice to be notified of them.) If you don’t live in the U.S., I’m sure other governments have similar programs for travelers. And about ATMs, we’ve used them in Europe without any problems. Just make sure you notify your bank before traveling, so they don’t flag your ATM transaction in another country as suspicious! Have fun!

I didn’t read through all the comments, so I hope I’m not being repetitive. We thoroughly enjoyed our Viking river cruise from Prague to Paris last summer. I will add one note that we experienced. River traffic varies and the time to pass through the locks can change based on the number of ships, weather, etc. There were a few days when we arrived at our port later than planned and had much less time to explore the city. It wasn’t a deal breaker, but something you should be aware of. We also like to explore on our own, so there were times when we just joined a tour for a while and then told the guide we were going to branch out on our own. We always made sure we were back to the ship on time! We loved our trip and would recommend it to others.

You make an excellent point, Julia. As much as Viking tries to stick to its anticipated docking times, some things – like other ships waiting in line to go through locks, weather issues, and river levels – are beyond its control. It’s just the nature of this type of travel. And I think remembering that delays can arise on any type of travel (e.g., flights, cruises, trains) helps us all manage our expectations. So glad that you had a great cruise!

As mentioned throughout the comments, thank you so much for such insightful and helpful information! My husband and I are doing the Grand Tour B —> A in early October 2023. I am very intrigued by the Salzberg excursion but see that it is a 2 plus hour bus ride each way. Do you have any experience with that destination? Would an excursion like that feel to rushed to enjoy, or do you know if Salzberg is a “not to be missed” kind of place? Really, just looking for your opinion on longer trips off-ship. Thank you!

Hi Robin, you pose a great question, but it isn’t easy to answer! My husband and I had planned to go on the Salzburg excursion, but when we learned we would be spending so much time on the bus to travel there and back (for a total of 9.5 hours), we decided to spend our time in Passau instead. We didn’t regret our decision. We took the walking tour of Passau, enjoyed a leisurely lunch in town, went on a hike, and strolled around town afterward. We liked exploring on our own after getting the lay of the land from the morning tour guide. Having said that, I know that Salzburg is lovely and many people enjoy that excursion. Frankly, I don’t think you can go wrong either way, but they’re two very different experiences. Enjoy your cruise! It’s a great one!

Do you have to go on the planned excursion or can you go off and explore on your own?

Hi Daisy, you have the choice of going on the included or an optional excursion — or exploring on your own. Once you’re on the ship, you’ll learn the times that the ship will be docked in a city, so you can plan your day. For a walking tour (directly from the ship), some passengers go on the tour to learn about the destination and then spend the rest of the day shopping, enjoying a meal, or just wandering around. In addition, some people research other (non-Viking) tour options in advance of their cruise and book a personal or small-group tour to suit their specific interests on their own. Have fun whatever you decide to do!

Just found your site–lots of great info! We’re doing the Rhine Getaway, Amsterdam to Basel in early Oct, but haven’t actually booked yet! We love most of the optional excursions versus the included excursions but about how much do the optional ones cost? Are they like $20 per person or more like $200? For instance, how much is the “Top of Cologne” in Cologne Germany and is it worth it? I like the idea of a smaller group so that is a plus. Thank you!!

Hi Stephanie, Thanks for your kind words. As you know, Viking offers an included excursion in each port. These are typically large-group bus or walking tours of a city that provide a nice overview of a place. The optional excursions have smaller groups and are more focused on cultural, recreational, and even culinary experiences. That’s where you might find biking or hiking options, or as you mentioned, the “Top of Cologne” optional tour. My husband and I took the “Top of Cologne” excursion, and it was one of the best. It was led by an art historian who took us up to the very top of the cathedral (above the ceiling) where the craftspeople worked. Before we descended, we were able to step outside and soak in panoramic views of the city. That was just one of the optional tours we enjoyed and still talk about. There are costs associated with the optional tours and they vary, and I suppose that correlates with the costs Viking incurs. You’ll see all your options on the online My Viking Journey portal when the tours open up prior to your trip. I’ve not taken a Viking optional tour that I didn’t like, but I will say that there are passengers who also book tours independent of Viking due to a keen interest in something and the personal or small-group experience that is available with independent tour guides. Good luck with your planning, and have a great cruise!

So glad I discovered your very informative account of the Viking River Cruise! One question I have is how you handled local currency in Hungary as they do not use the euro. We have extended our cruise to allow two extra days in Budapest, thus giving us four days there. I’m sure we will need some “pocket money” for small purchases. Also, what shore excursions do you recommend while in Budapest?

Hi Pat, I’m so glad you found my article helpful! Regarding local currency in Hungary, you can head to an ATM once you’re there to get the amount of local cash you want. As for shore excursions, my husband and I enjoyed the walking tour (through Viking) that included the funicular up to Castle Hill. Also, we had booked an English-speaking tour of the Hungarian Parliament which ended up being fascinating; if you plan to do this, make sure to make reservations online ahead of your visit. We walked from where the ship was docked to the Parliament building for the tour and enjoyed a stroll back to the ship along the river. On our walk, we passed the Shoes Along the Danube (very moving) and other interesting sights. Some other Viking guests enjoyed their visits to the thermal baths, but we opted to “do our own thing” with the parliament tour and walks to areas recommended by our local tour guide (from the walking tour).

Doing the Grand European Trip for our 50th in May of 2023. Going from A to B with two extra days in Amsterdam and Budapest. 1. We do the red eye and get into Amsterdam early morning. After clearing customs and immigration and getting our luggage, how do we find Viking to take us to our hotel or how does Viking find us? 2. Check-in time for the hotel is 3:00 PM. Does Viking get us into our room early or do we have to check our luggage with the hotel and wait until 3:00 PM? 3. On leaving Amsterdam, check-out time from the hotel is Noon but embarkation is not till 3:00 PM. What does Viking do with our luggage once we check out of the hotel? I don’t want to waste any precious time in Amsterdam because this may be the last time we see it. Thanks.

Sounds like you’ve got a great anniversary trip planned, Gary! A few weeks prior to your departure, Viking will send stickers for you to wear at the airport when you land, so they can identify you as a Viking guest. (You’ll also receive Viking tags for your luggage.) As for the specifics about checking in to hotels and then embarkation timing, I’d suggest you contact Viking directly (or your travel agent if you used one to book the trip). That way, you’ll learn exactly how things will work with getting to and from that specific hotel. I hope you have a wonderful 50th celebration on the Grand European Tour!

Great article. Serious question…..how to get coffee in the morning without getting dressed??? Is room service available or will my husband have the opportunity to ‘fetch’ my coffee?

Hi Catherine, I’m glad the article was helpful. About coffee, there is a coffee and tea station on Viking’s river cruise ships that’s open 24/7 in the main common space. That makes it handy for your husband to fetch your morning cup! It’s also where you’ll find freshly baked goodies throughout the day.🙂 I hope you two have a fabulous time on your cruise!

Hi Lolly, thank you for the great article and this really prepared us for our trip next week. I have a quick question that I wouldn’t seem to find the answer online: We are thinking about renting a car at Koblenz and go to Nurburgring for a few hours and also at Speyer to go to Stuttgart for the day. Is that possible? We found the car rentals and made reservations, but we can’t find any daily schedule of when the ship docks and departs at each port. Just wondering if there is a regular daily schedule and of course we understand the change caused by water level, weather, etc. Thanks again!

Hi Danny, I’m not sure which cruise you’re referring to, but you asked an excellent question about renting a car to make day trips while on the cruise. I think it would be a tight schedule if the ship is docked for just a day. You’d need to factor in picking up and dropping off the rental cars and then driving to and from your planned destinations. 

I’d suggest you talk with the staff once you are aboard to learn of their planned docking times and see what they recommend. That way, you’ll have current information and be able to talk to people “in the know” to see if your plans will work. Even with that information, as you mentioned, dockings could be delayed to traffic on the river or there could be delays going through locks.

I’m sorry I can’t give you a more definitive answer, but so much depends on conditions at the time you board and what the staff recommends. I hope you have a wonderful cruise and that things work out for your planned day trips!

Re renting a car to go to a specific place Viking tours don’t include: Is Uber possible in the cities Viking goes to? I’d much rather take an Uber than rent a car!!! Also, for individualized tours – try Tours by Locals (we’ve had EXCELLENT tours in many, many cities including Europe, India, Malaysia, Thailand…), or AirBnB’s tours.

Hi Carol, Although ride-share companies, like Uber, are in many cities worldwide, they’re not everywhere, so it depends on what cities you’re considering. Some areas also have other popular ride-share companies like Bolt in Europe. It’s best to check availability online — or ask Viking — for the cities you’ll be visiting. As for Tours by Locals, I’ve used them, as well, and was pleased.

We are going on the Grand European tour in October 2022. How can we arrange individual tours or make dinner reservations if we dont know the times or the port arrangements? Do we just work with Viking program director on the day of or the day before?

Hi Kathleen, For individual tours and dinner reservations, I’d let the provider (tour company, restaurant) know what day you’ll be coming into port. They may be familiar enough with Viking’s schedule to easily accommodate you. Once onboard, verify the time you’ll be in port and then fine-tune your tour or dinner plans. Have a great cruise!

We are taking the Grand European cruise, B-A, in late September 2022. The water levels are extremely low right now. Any thoughts on how this might play out for us?

Hi Karen, A few things could happen when river levels are too low for cruise ships. Passengers could disembark and be bussed on an excursion and then afterwards, be bussed to a different location on the river where the water levels are higher. There they may board another ship. For example, sometimes two sister ships sail on the same one-way voyage starting at the same time – just at opposite ends of the itinerary. That way, if they reach a low point in the river, they can have passengers disembark, go on bussed excursions, and afterwards be taken to the sister ship that completes the journey. To accomplish this, passengers pack up the night before the transfer, and while out on excursions, their luggage is transferred to the other ship. When passengers get to the sister ship, their luggage is in their new cabins (which are usually the same cabins they had on the original ship).

Another option, if the river levels are too low overall, would be for passengers to be bussed from destination to destination, staying in hotels, throughout the cruise.

Incidentally, we had to change ships midway through a river cruise because of a broken lock on the river, and Viking handled it professionally and without too much inconvenience.

One thing to keep in mind is that things can change from day to day, week to week – and that includes river levels. Low river levels today might be just fine for cruising in a few days.

I guess the bottom line is to remember that disruptions can happen whenever we travel, so plan to get the most out of each experience and cherish the time that you get to explore new places and meet new people. I hope you have a wonderful time!

Lolly – just finished the Grand European tour a week ago (Budapest-Amsterdam). Was our first Viking cruise, so we used your article as a guide. We could not have chosen any better than the Skirnir and Viking. Everything was as you said – food, service, boat, amenities, all topnotch. (OK, the wifi in the rooms REALLY sucks…but if that’s your #1 problem, you aren’t doing badly). The hotel manager was great – and the program director was a literal Energizer Bunny. Herding 169 tourists onto separate buses all going separate places at separate times…wow, that’s a job! The maitre-d I am convinced is in league with the devil, as she tempted diners again and again with “just try this ONE little pastry”. Our stateroom steward kept the room immaculate. We kept our itinerary full, which might have been an error – trust me, you want to take a breather every few days! Viking then allowed us to purchase a no-expiry date voucher towards another cruise – an amount they matched. So for 200 dollars, we got a 400 value – good for tickets, flights, an excursion, or even the beverage package. We will definitely be using it in the years to come.

Oh, I’m so glad you had a wonderful cruise with amazing service! Haha, I got a kick out of being tempted with just one little pastry! Great service – sounds like Viking! As for keeping the itinerary full, it’s hard not to when you have so many great places to explore, but I agree that scheduling downtime is important, too. I bet you’re planning your next cruise already. I’m looking forward to ours next year!

I was curious about what time you have to be back on the ship at night. We are thinking we would might rather be wandering through the town and trying local cuisine.

Hi Karen, you will have the freedom to wander on your own in the evenings in some locations. Check your cruise itinerary as it will tell you the expected times your ship will be docked at each stop. Once onboard, you’ll be given more specific times, so you’ll be able to fine-tune your plans. Enjoy!

They will let you know on board. They say they will be staying til X o’clock and then leaving. Better be aboard, cuz they won’t wait!

Hi. I wonder if you have any thoughts on us meeting up with friends from Stuttgart. We would either meet in Bamburg or Wurzburg. Is this allowed? Also can you remember if those two cities is where the boat docked. Just thinking of the best options for meeting friends for a short visit. Thank you

Hi Theo, you shouldn’t have any problems meeting up with your friends in either Bamburg or Wurzburg while on the cruise. I’d suggest you reference your online itinerary on Viking’s site before departure to get a rough idea of when you’ll be docked in each city. Follow up with a conversation with the Viking staff when you’re onboard to learn the expected times and exact location of the ship while docked. This should allow you to finalize your plans to disembark and go meet your friends. Enjoy!

WOW, what a complete piece of well written and informative information we have come across. Thanks!! We are heading out on our first river cruise, the Kara from Basel to Amsterdam in late September this year. Trying to guess the weather so we can narrow down what to pack. We’re celebrating our 50th! One of many questions we have is how much currency (and what kind) to bring with us. We saw you comment about change for guides and such and credit cards with no foreign charges. But, what else would we spend money on? We’re planning on a dinner in a town, tour of some beer gardens and lunch in Heidelberg, and just walking around. Your comments are really appreciated.

Congrats on your 50th! Sound like you have a great cruise coming up! As for how much money to bring along, I usually start out with about $300 worth of local currency. That gives my husband and me plenty of money for tipping the local guides and bus drivers as well as Viking staff before we leave. Also, having cash is great for souvenirs, incidentals, snacks, or a quick lunch while exploring a city. By the way, Viking does build in a set amount of gratuities for ship staff (or you can arrange for this on your account before sailing), but you may also want to give a personal cash tip to staff members who are particularly helpful. If you think you might do that, you may want to take along a few blank thank you cards to enclose your extra tips, so you can explain why you valued their service so much. I know other travelers who just get cash out of ATMs while traveling (and I’ve done that, too, of course), but I just like beginning the trip with some local cash. Good luck! Have fun!

Most the times we always take the NCL cruise, but this is the first time on Viking Cruise River The Grand European Tour from Budapest to Amsterdam (for our 22nd anniversary).I’m so glad I found a lot of information from the article that’s very helpful for us for excursions, maybe transferring ships, parallel parked ships and other information. The best description and information about Viking River Cruise, thank you for taking the time to write this information, we’re very appreciate.

Thanks for your kind words, Triana. I hope you have a fabulous anniversary cruise!

Thank you for your informative article! We leave Saturday for Prague followed by the Budapest to Amsterdam Viking river cruise. We have booked all the included excursions, but have held off booking the optional ones as we love to do our own thing when in port, and perhaps covering more “ground” than the optional excursions. Can you tell me which docking/ports might be too far from the cities/towns? Thank you!

Hi Deb, you’re just a few days away from your journey. How exciting! One great thing about Viking is that many times their ships dock right in the towns, so it’s easy to get off and be on your way to make your own discoveries. Of all the stops on the Grand European Tour, these are the cities in which our ship had prime docking spots (making it very easy to go out and explore on our own): Budapest, Vienna, Melk, Passau, Regensburg, Wurzburg, Cologne, and Amsterdam. Keep in mind, though, that things are not 100% the same from cruise to cruise due, in part, to other ship traffic at the time. The best thing to do is to talk with a Viking staff member as soon as you board to find out details for your specific cruise. Good luck! I hope you have a wonderful time!

Thank you for all the information. We are planning to take the Grand European Tour in July of 2023. We are trying to determine if the additional cost for a veranda stateroom is worth the extra expense compared to the french balcony. On average, how much time did you spend on the boat sailing from each port? Do you travel overnight for most of the time or is there day travel as well?

Hi Tanya, Sounds like you have a great cruise coming up! About the stateroom, that really comes down to personal preference. Having the veranda offers you another personal space plus a nice perch (with chairs) from which to view the passing scenery during the time that the ship is sailing in daylight hours. (For my husband and me, having the personal outdoor space was high on our list. We enjoyed relaxing there and enjoying the sights and sounds of being on the ship. We actually enjoyed sitting outside in the dark before bed, too, cruising by small towns.) There’s a mix of traveling overnight (almost all of the time) and during the morning/afternoon/evening (some of the time). If you decide on the stateroom with a french balcony, you will still be able to enjoy some time outside in the common areas while the ship is sailing. I hope you have a wonderful time!

We are scheduled to take the Viking Danube cruise in early June 2022. We chose a French Balcony room. My question is about size of our luggage (or size limitation due room size). I have seem videos of rooms but cannot perceive where we can place our 2 luggages + backpacks and not having to hop over them inside our room. Please hare your opinion with me.

Hi Ricardo, It sounds like you have a great trip ahead! You can store your luggage under the bed(s). Once unpacked, you can put your backpacks in your empty luggage and slide it all under the bed(s) and not think about them until it’s time to leave. Have a great cruise!

First timer on river cruise. Does everyone get back on the bus when the excursion is over or is that the time you make plans for individual sightseeing? Did you use local guides? Did you bring euros or use credit card? Thanks

Hi David, it sounds like you’re gearing up for a great adventure! We went on the Viking excursions (with local guides) and did not book any local guides directly. A few guests scheduled independent sightseeing tours, and it seemed to work out well for them. By the way, the excursions included in the trip are typically large group experiences, while the optional excursions (available at an extra cost) are usually much smaller groups as they are more focused on specific areas of interest. We received great overviews of a place with the large group tours, but what we remember most were the unique experiences that came from the optional experiences. As for money, we used a credit card (with no foreign transaction fees) and Euros (very handy for tipping tour guides and purchasing small incidentals). Have a wonderful cruise!

Thank you for the excellent summary of each important category. It is very helpful to reduce wandering around looking like a tourist while trying to figure out the procedures. 🙂 Any further suggestions about picking up the excursion cards each morning? How early are they available to avoid the rush? Did you see anyone carry on and off luggage? We travel light with one roll aboard and one backpack. Any idea if the Terrace will be open for meals in the chill of November? Is there a restaurant seating option for introverts? 🙂 Thanks again.

I’m glad you found the article helpful, Thomas! Now to your questions. I’d suggest you ask about picking up excursion cards and other details like that once you’re on the ship, as some procedures like this may vary a bit. We travel light, as well, but the ship will take care of delivering your luggage to your room; we just kept our small carry ons (the ones that fit under the airplane seats) with us. The Aquavit Terrace is a great place to have a meal. There’s a section of the Aquavit Terrace at the very front of the ship that’s open to the weather, but there’s also an area (just behind it) that can be enclosed with sliding glass doors, so the area can be enjoyed when the weather isn’t cooperating. And about general seating at meals in the dining room, there’s a choice of large and small tables and there’s no assigned seating, so if you’re one of the early ones at meal time, you’ll have a great chance of finding a setting that suits you best. Have a wonderful cruise, Thomas!

Booked an Amsterdam to Budapest trip in September ’23….our first river cruise (for our 20th). Besides being helpful, your thorough details helped me to envision and imagine, which is my favorite part of planning! The daily planner for Vienna was the best….one of the stranger transitions from Ocean to River cruising is not having your port times right there on the schedule. Thanks for the great details!

I’m so glad you found the article helpful, Rich! I’m with you on how much fun it is to plan trips. Have a wonderful cruise next year!

Thank you for taking the time to write this informative piece. We thoroughly enjoyed a Viking Ocean cruise in 2019 and have been eager to try river cruising. We’ll do the Grand European from B to A in October this year. Your descriptions of the change of ship due to the broken lock and of docking side by side with other ships were reassuring. I will miss the free on board laundromat from ocean cruising though! Your advice about avoiding the far inland tours is wise, I think. We are not interested in spending a lot of time on buses. All the best.

I’m glad you found the article helpful. You mentioned laundry, and although there’s no laundromat on Viking’s European river cruise ships, there is a laundry service that you can use. (Depending on the category of your stateroom, the laundry service may be complimentary.) We sent some clothing to be laundered, and we were happy with that choice. Enjoy your cruise this fall!

Thanks for the great information. We are on a Viking rive4 cruise from Budapest to Amsterdam in April 2023.

What are your thoughts on the Silver Spirits package? I understand drinks are provided with meals but I enjoy a few drinks before dinner.

Good question, John, but it’s not an easy one to answer!

Here are a few things to think about when considering Viking’s Silver Spirits package.

As you probably know, Viking offers nice quality wine, beer, and soft drinks free of charge at lunch and dinner. The Silver Spirits package offers unlimited drinks including cocktails, premium wine, and beer. The Silver Spirits option is offered at a fixed price per guest and spans the entire length of the trip. You either choose it for your cruise, or you don’t – no daily option. (The price of the package varies, but it comes to about $20 or so a day per person.) If sharing a stateroom, both guests must pay for the package.

Paying upfront might offer peace of mind if you like knowing that it’s already paid for and you don’t have to think about an upcoming beverage bill. So it comes down to how much – and what kind of beverages – you’re likely to consume each day. You said you enjoy a few drinks before dinner, and if you add in some premium wine at dinner, the total you spend each day might add up pretty quickly. If you’re interested in figuring out the details, you may want to ask Viking for a bar menu with pricing before making up your mind.

With all that said, my husband and I did opt for the Silver Spirits package. In addition to cocktails, there were some very nice premium wine options aboard Viking, and we had fun trying ones that were new to us. We’ve had no regrets. 🙂

I hope you thoroughly enjoy your Viking cruise next year! Cheers!

Hi, Considering the Silver Spirits package. What are the charges for individual cocktails, apertifs or premium beers/wines by glass? Thanks

Hi Linda, you’re facing a big decision: to go with Silver Spirits or not! As you probably know, the package includes unlimited beverages when the bars are open. That includes any drinks up to $15 like cocktails, aperitifs, and premium wines by the glass. Without the Silver Spirits package, I’d plan on $6-10 for most cocktails, aperitifs, or premium wine by the glass. (Viking offers complimentary house wine and beer at lunch and dinner.) Another consideration, of course, is how often you might order specialty drinks from the bar: at lunch, throughout the day, before and/or after dinner? Some folks elect to get the Silver Spirits package because they enjoy trying new cocktails and/or premium wines while on vacation. Others get the package because they like having their drinks all inclusive without having to think about a bar tab. Hope this info helps you a bit! Have a wonderful cruise!

I agree with a previous comment about this being the most informative, most inclusive article I’ve seen as well. Indeed, very VERY helpful…especially for first time river cruisers. Thank you for your thoughtfulness. Good Job!!

I’m so glad you found the article helpful, Ronnie! Thank you!

I have been on 1 Viking River cruise and 3 (soon to be 4-I hope!) Ocean Cruises. My sister is taking her first river cruise in March and I found this site while trying to find info for her. This is by far THE BEST description and information on Viking River Cruises that I have ever read! Everyone should read this as every question seems to be answered well and clearly!

Thanks so much for the kind words, Laura! It makes me happy when I can help others get more comfortable with and enjoy their travels. Hope your sister finds her Viking river cruise everything she hopes it to be. What a great experience she has ahead of her! 🙂

Interesting information! We’re planning a Viking river cruise May 2022. Trying to navigate changing pandemic restrictions is a challenge I’d rather not have to deal with, but we’ll give it a try.

Thanks, Tom! We do indeed have new travel hiccups and challenges these days. I hope things go smoothly for you and that you have a wonderful time!

My husband and I will be sailing with Viking on a Rhine River cruise (Netherlands to Lucerne) this month and our very first river cruise (during a pandemic). Aside from the new safety protocols Viking has put in place your “Complete Guide to a Viking River cruise” was thoroughly informative, enjoyed the photos and took many notes while reading. Thank you for making me less anxious!

Happy traveling, Lolly!

Oh, I’m so happy you’re able to enjoy traveling safely during the pandemic. Yes, there have been changes to address public health safety, but I’m betting they won’t interfere with your overall enjoyment. And I’m so glad I was able to help you prepare for your cruise. Have fun! Bon voyage!

Thank you! We depart in 9 days on the Grand European tour, and this is the best account I have seen… we’ve done a dozen ocean cruises on several lines, but never a river cruise. My husband had been to a number of these cities on business and wanted me to visit them too, and this makes it sound easy. I liked the posted copy of the daily ‘news’ and we had already decided from our ocean experiences to take the drinks package. We’ve chosen a mix of the included tours and the custom days, avoided any places to which we’ve already travelled and have added in the ‘extensions’ to both ends, hoping to see friends in Amsterdam. Especially your tips on dinner were helpful — I will pack his blazer. And the small umbrellas! Since it will be November, and I’m also afraid of open heights we’ve opted for the French balcony room. The rooms do seem smaller than ocean cruiser rooms: did you stay in your cabin a lot? Thank you so much for this detailed account. Much better idea of what we’re ‘sailing’ into now!

Hi Cynthia, I bet you’re so excited about your upcoming trip! It sounds like you are all set. I just have one clarification about dressing for dinner mentioned in the article you read. Many folks do tend to change from the clothes they wore for daily excursions to something a little dressier for dinner, but I wouldn’t call dinner attire dressy. It would be more like “smart casual” (so no worn jeans and flip-flops, for example). Your husband doesn’t need to pack a blazer if he wouldn’t normally wear one for dinner. (I’m trying to save you room in your luggage!) People are relaxed aboard Viking river cruises (no dressy occasions), and that’s one thing people tend to enjoy about the experience. Have a wonderful time!

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How to choose the right stateroom on a viking river cruise.

Posted by David Porter on Monday, June 23, 2014 · 201 Comments  

Once folks have decided to enjoy a fabulous river cruise destination with Viking River Cruises, the first decision is to determine which particular stateroom to book, as this will affect the price of your sailing and the amount of room that you will have in your stateroom.

We’ve had the pleasure of sailing with Viking Cruises, and if you’re looking for a little insider information, we can help.  But for now, let’s peek at the stateroom offerings available.

New Updated Companion Article : Best Way to Book an Ocean or River Cruise .

How to Pick the Right Stateroom on Your Viking River Cruise Longship

The Viking River Cruises Longships all have 95 outside staterooms that fall into the following categories:

• 2 Explorer Suites
• 7 Veranda Suites
• 39 Veranda Staterooms
• 22 French Balcony  Staterooms
• 25 Standard Staterooms

As you can see, the number of suites is quite limited, so if you prefer a larger suite, early booking is highly recommended.

Highlights of the Viking River Cruises Stateroom Categories

Note: click all photos for larger views.

Explorer Suite Features

There are two (2) Explorer Suites on each of the Viking River Cruises Longships. Each with the following features:

• Hotel-style beds 79 inches x 63 inches (with optional twin-bed configuration)
• Private wraparound veranda off the spacious living room offers 270-degree views
• Floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors, known as a French balcony, in the bedroom
• Large bathroom with double sinks, shower, heated mirror & floor, premium bath products

• Bathrobe and slippers available upon request
• Individual climate control
• Space under bed for storing suitcases
• Roomy wardrobe with wooden hangers
• Voltage: 220V and 110V in stateroom
• Sony 40-inch flat-panel TV with premium entertainment package including: BBC News, CNBC, CNN, National Geographic, TNT Series, Sky Sports, videos on demand and “View From the Bridge”

Veranda Suite Features

There are seven (7) Veranda Suites on each of the Viking River Cruises Longships.  Each have the following features:

• Full-size veranda off the spacious living room
• Large private bathroom with shower and premium bath products

Veranda Stateroom Features

There are 39 Veranda Staterooms on each of the Viking River Cruises Longships.  The Veranda Staterooms  come in two different price points (A & B) depending on their position on the ship.  The Veranda Staterooms (A) enjoy a better position (upper deck) on the ship and therefore have a slightly higher rate per person than the Veranda Staterooms (B) on the middle deck.  Nonetheless, each of them enjoy the following features:

• Floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors open to a full-size veranda
• Private bathroom with shower and premium bath products
• Telephone, refrigerator, safe, hair dryer & bottled water replenished daily

 French Balcony Staterooms

There are 22 French Balcony Staterooms on each of the Viking River Cruises Longships.  The French Balcony Staterooms come in two different price points (C & D) depending on their position on the ship.  The French Balcony Staterooms (C) enjoy a better position (upper deck) and therefore have a slightly higher rate per person than the (D) category rooms.  However, there are also only 5 of these particular French Balcony Staterooms available.  Therefore, they tend to sell out quickly.  The remainder of the French Balcony Staterooms reside on the middle deck.  All French Balcony Staterooms enjoy the following features:

• Floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors open to create a French balcony

Standard Staterooms

There are 25 Standard Staterooms on each of the Viking River Cruises Longships.  The Standard Staterooms come in two different price points (E & F) depending on their position on the ship.  The Standard Staterooms (E) enjoy a better position on the ship and therefore have a slightly higher rate per person than the (F) category rooms.  All Standard Staterooms enjoy the following features:

• Half-height picture window

To help you better understand the position differences of the various staterooms on the Viking River Cruises Longship, take a peek at the diagram below:

How to get the Most Bang for Your Buck on a Viking River Cruise

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.

And further, as I think we’ve demonstrated, we have insider knowledge that you simply don’t have.

So here’s the $64,000 question:  if you’re not paying Viking River Cruises a penny more for the trip, and we bring you complimentary VIP amenities that you can’t get on your own, and you get our valuable insider knowledge, why would you ever book your own cruise again?

Good question, right?

To book your Viking River Cruises river cruise with us, or to get more information about a Viking River Cruise, call us at (480) 550-1235, OR, use our convenient online information request by clicking the red button below.

Category: Blog , Travel News & Tips · Tags: European River Cruises , Luxury River Cruise , Travel News , Travel Services , Viking River Cruises

201 Comments on “ How to choose the Right Stateroom on a Viking River Cruise ”

Pingback: Viking River Cruises: Our First Impressions | The Roaming Boomers

What is the size of each room in feet? I can find it no place.

Hi Gary, I’ll check w/ our Viking contacts to see if they have that information available. Stay tuned…

Hi Gary, I just got this from Viking on the room sizes:

Cat. AA= 275 sq. ft. (13ft 3in x 20ft 4in) Cat. A-B = 205 sq. Ft. (19ft 10in x 10ft 2in) Cat. C-D= 135 sq.ft. (13ft 3in x 10ft 2in) Cat. E-F = 150 sq. ft. (14ft 7in x 10ft 2 in)

Does the standard (either “E”or “F”) have beds to sleep two in different beds?\ What is the difference between E & F rooms?

What is the best value?

Hi Mary, all of the staterooms have the ability to have one bed or two singles. The only difference between the E and F rooms is the proximity to the engine. F staterooms are closer to the rear of the ship and therefore more apt to experience a little more vibration from the engine. Value? Well, value is subjective. We prefer the Veranda staterooms or above for the additional space, and I prefer to have fresh air available in my stateroom. So, the lower price of the E and F staterooms are not a value to us. If value to you means the lowest price, then the F staterooms are generally always the lowest price. Did that answer your questions?

To be clear, are you stating that all the beds can be turned into twins or just some of the cabins.

How do I assure I get a cabin that has two twin beds instead of a single large bed?

Hi Chuck, the beds in these staterooms are actually twin beds that they put together to make a queen-sized bed. So, yes, twin beds can be assured. Just make certain to request it at booking. And of course, if we can help with your booking, we’d be honored. 🙂

Just got back from Viking longship cruise. The French veranda room was to small. We sailed with Avalon and the same choice in room was much larger.

The French Balcony staterooms on Viking (at 135 sq. ft.) are definitely towards the small side. To be fair, however, Avalon has predominantly larger French Balcony type rooms on their ships which would more directly compare to Viking’s Veranda Staterooms which are 201 sq. ft.

I’m sorry you felt squished in the French Balcony on Viking. When you’re ready for your next river cruise, give us a holler and we can help you pick just the right-sized stateroom on any of the major river cruise lines. 🙂

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What does “water level” mean? From a cutaway view does it mean that the window is above water and my feet are effectively below water.

Hi Shirley,

I think your description is fairly accurate. While the amount of space above the water will vary from ship to ship, you are essentially looking at the water from a ducks point of view. If I had to guess, I would say that your window view might be 5-10 feet above the water at the most. 🙂

What is the difference between Veranda A and Veranda B Rooms? Is A worth the difference in price?

Hi Alan, Viking’s A deck will give you the highest stateroom vantage points from the ship, and is also more convenient to the lounge and Aquavit Terrace. The B deck contains the dining room which is only open during scheduled meal times. So, while you’re sailing, you’ll likely find yourself climbing the stairway up to the A deck to enjoy the “always open” sections of the ship. Other than that, there really isn’t any difference. Is it worth it? Well, that a matter of personal preference. You’re likely to spend very little time in your stateroom, so some folks will prefer to take the B deck savings and use that money for other things. On the other hand, some folks want the best and will pay up for the A deck.

Any stateroom that can accommodate 3 people? We have an odd number traveler situation.

Al, at the moment, Viking has staterooms designed for two people, and three people to a stateroom is a no no. Folks traveling w/ three people on Viking will generally get one of the spacious rooms where three can congregate, and the third person will take one of the lesser expensive/smaller staterooms on the lower deck to sleep each night.

Having said that, the industry is starting to change as more than baby boomer couples want to enjoy the experience. I’m certain that going forward, we’ll start to see more family oriented staterooms available across the industry.

In fact, some of the other river cruise lines has started to pave the way in this direction. Hope this helps, and if you have further questions, please feel free to call our office at (480) 550-1235. 😀

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Greetings, David. What staterooms would you recommend avoiding? What stateroom class (between veranda and french balcony) do you recommend?

Hi Charlie,

First of all, know that unlike an ocean cruise, you’re likely to spend very little time in a river cruise stateroom. Secondly, other than cruising through scenic areas, most of the cruising is done at night. Third, when your ship is moored at harbor, it is very likely going to be moored to another ship. So, your view at harbor just might be staring into the stateroom of another ship.

Therefore, in my humble opinion, space in the stateroom and budget become the greatest deciding factors. The Veranda staterooms are just over 200 sq. ft. and the French Balcony staterooms are 135 sq. ft. I prefer the size of the Veranda staterooms. However, we’ve also noticed that will some of the last-minute offers that Viking has been offering, there can be quite a price difference between the two.

In terms of avoiding, try to get a stateroom towards the middle of the ship. Staterooms in the very front will get some noise from the common areas, and the very back of the ship is more prone to vibrations from the motor. However, neither of these situations would prevent me from traveling on Viking.

To see some of the most recent offers Viking has, come visit the homepage of our website and poke around a bit: http://www.theroamingboomers.com

Hello, my wife and I are very interested in cruising on a Viking Long boat down the Danube, possibly in 2017. I receive email specials for $1,000 off per couple on a Category F. Your deck layout references Standard E or F. Is that the same? Also, the ES units look to be the most desirable however you also state that being in the stern of the boat you can feel the engine vibrations. Would this be less desirable then? Thank you

The $1,000 off per couple is available on new bookings placed by the end of the month and is available on Category D and above. Plus, we’re also seeing fairly substantial discounts for folks who can book their own air. I know this is all very confusing, so we’d welcome a call to help you sort it out. There’s no additional cost to you if you choose to book through our travel agency, and we’ve even got some additional shipboard credits to give you on top of what Viking might be offering from day to day. You can reach our office at (480) 550-1235. Thanks! 😀

My Viking agent said Veranda A was larger than B. I guess that was not the truth.

Veranda A and Veranda B are the exact same stateroom. The only difference is their position on the ship. Veranda A is on deck 3, Veranda B is on Deck 2. I know this can all be confusing. Please feel free to give us a call and we’ll help sort this out for you. Plus, we currently have additional perks to give you beyond what you’ll get if you try and book this yourself. It doesn’t cost you any more to have us help you, and we’ll take all the stress out of the process for you. 😀 Call us at (480) 550-1235 during normal business hours.

What are the ages of the longship on the Danube? I saw an older ship on the Elbe that I wouldn’t want to be on. Also can you hear runners on the sundeck track if you are in the A level staterooms. I wouldn’t want to wake up to that!

The Elbe is a somewhat unique river and the standard longships can’t sail on it. So, some of the Viking ships on the Elbe are older. However, they just built some newer modified longships designed just for the Elbe.

In regards to the Viking ships sailing on the Danube, most of them are fairly new longships. Viking has a lot of sailings on the Danube, so if you’re concerned, we would just look for the newest longship available.

Lastly, when we last sailed with Viking, we were on the third deck and we could faintly here a runner one morning. However, as most of the passengers are boomers and older, there isn’t a lot of running going on. If you’re concerned, we should book you on deck two.

How much of the extra 70 sq.ft. In the veranda stateroom (vs French balcony) is outside?

Is Viking’s “no risk” guarantee likely to go away after September 30th, as stated? I worry about low water, as we experienced this on the Elbe.

Hello again Charlie,

Viking’s lips are always sealed from month to month on their promotions. Even our back-channel contacts have no idea what might be offered from month to month. If you’re concerned about losing the risk-free benefit, I’d have us get you booked before the end of the month. PLUS, we’ve got some extra perks for you on top of what Viking is offering with a direct booking. You can reach our travel agency at (480) 550-1235. Thanks! 🙂

Are the French Balcony (D) rooms in the rear noisy?

Hi John, I wouldn’t call them noisy. The engine is pretty quiet. The closer you are to the engine, the more potential vibration you’ll feel in your stateroom from the engine. It’s more a vibration thing than a noise thing. While not a major determent, we do place our clients toward the middle/front of these ships.

BTW, if you haven’t booked yet, we’ve got a nice $100 on-board credit for you for reaching out and asking a question on our website. And this is on top of Viking’s best offers. Just ask for #VikingFun when you call our office.

Do you have info on the Viking Mekong River cruises?

I would like to book a Danube cruise and add on that includes Prague and Budapest. I also would like to go when the weather is warm. What would you suggest?

I’ll send you an email. Stay tuned….

What is the height of the ceiling in the explorer suite? My husband is 6’7″ and want to make sure there are high ceilings.

I’ll check with our back channel contacts on that one. Stay tuned… 🙂

The ceiling is 6 feet 10 inches. Beds are 6 feet 6 inches long. As long as he doesn’t jump up and down, he should be fine. But a tight fit. 😀 If we can help you with booking, please call us at (480) 550-1235. Thanks!

So I can book through you and still get free air, also the add-ons both pre-post Grand European Tour? In other words you can give me everything Viking offers and more? Thanks!

Yes. We bring you Viking’s best offers, our expertise from personal experience, and quite often additional perks on top of Viking’s best offers. Please feel free to call our travel agency at (480) 550-1235. 🙂

Which months are best for the Rhine Getaway?

Well, best is a matter of opinion, I suppose. Most popular are May & September, and hence, also the most expensive. If you look in October, light jacket weather, prices are generally at their lowest. For me, I like light jacket weather and no crowds, so we tend to sail in the shoulder seasons. For example, we’re sailing the Rhine ourselves this year in April. We’ll bring a jacket and the summer tourists will all still be home safely tucked into their beds. 🙂

You might also peek at this article we wrote a few years ago: https://www.theroamingboomers.com/best-time-of-year-for-a-european-river-cruise/

Hello, I have a booking # from Viking. The booking has several discounts on it. The Viking travel agent said if I want to pursue further discounts with a travel agency the booking number would need to stay the same to keep the same Viking discounts.

So, when you talk about additional discounts – can you provide them using the same booking # from Viking?

Hi JaymeSue,

Yes. We can add our perks to your booking if done within 60 days of your booking with Viking. Call us at (480) 550-1235 to move forward.

We’re interested in taking a trip in 2018. We’re not sure of the optimal itinerary. We’re interested in cost effective ways of seeing Budapest, Prague, Vienna, and Auschwitz. I’ve looked at R Crusoe and Son private tours Imperial Cities of Eastern Europe, and Viking River Cruises’ Romantic Danube, but neither of these include Auschwitz. Do you have recommendations? We are 67 and 58 respectively. We tend towards luxury travel and fairly exclusively do private tours. We’ve traveled extensively in Ireland and Italy where there are no language barriers. We want a tour where we don’t have to do work. I.e., we don’t want to drive, we don’t want to navigate train stations on our own. We’re great with airports. Any advice you have is appreciated. Oh, and we only do business class air internationally.

Hi Kathryn,

All of the river cruise lines are going to offer Budapest, Vienna, and Prague. However, I’ve not seen anything that would include Auschwitz. That would need to be accomplished with a pre/post trip that we could help you arrange. I’ll reach out to you with a separate email. Thanks for stopping by with your inquiry. 😀

We are booked on the Alta, departing Budapest on Aug. 20th to Nuremberg with stops in Vienna, Krems, Passau, Regensburg. What we haven’t been able to figure out is what time does the ship depart from each port and then re-port the next morning. I know we sail at night, but does the ship depart at Midnight or later? What time do we need to make sure we’re back?

These times are not published as these times can be somewhat fluid. Certainly, they have internal departure and arrival times, but there are many factors that might affect these times, like river traffic, traffic at the canals, water levels, weather, and more.

When you’re aboard ship, there will be nightly update meetings that will keep you abreast of each day’s departure and arrival times. Have fun! 🙂

What is the maximum width, depth for a travel rollerbag to fit under the Viking Longship bed?

I’ve not seen these dimensions published by Viking anywhere. However, I can tell you that when we travel overseas, we both travel with the largest suitcases allowed by the airlines, which the luggage companies understand very clearly, and they both easily fit under the bed along with our carry-on luggage. So, I don’t imagine you’re going to have any issue fitting your luggage under the beds.

Does that help? 🙂

Since you are not in your stateroom all that much and the sailing is at night what is the disadvantage of the Standard room?

With river cruises, I’ve come to the opinion that space is the primary factor when determining which stateroom is best. Certainly, budget is an important factor for many, but I don’t personally care for a stateroom that is 150 sq. ft. And having stayed in staterooms that are both 150 and those that are north of 200 sq. ft., if the cost for the larger is reasonable, I’m going for the larger. Secondly, I also prefer to be able to get some fresh air in my cabin. But, that’s just me.

If you don’t mind 150 sq. ft, and you are fine with a picture window that doesn’t open, then the lower staterooms are just fine. You can save a little money and perhaps apply those dollars to something else, like maybe upgrading your airline seats to premium economy seating.

First off I found this site and comments helpful My husband and I are looking to book a Viking Cruise and are researching the Cities of Light tour with an extra day in Paris. Our biggest issue/problem is trying to figure out when to go and the best time to book. The promotions seem to be geared towards the other tours. Suggestions?

Thank you for the kind words about our website. We appreciate it.

It’s true, Viking does tend to highlight the journeys that appeal to the widest audience. However, the Cities of Light journey is a fabulous one, and the $295/person air (if booked by the end of March) is a very nice perk as well. Please give us a call and we can discuss your questions about when to make this journey. Plus, we’ve got some nice perks for you on top of Viking’s best offers. You can reach us at (480) 550-1235. Thanks!

We just booked a cruise for 2018. We were given room 222. Is the view blocked at all? ( We noticed we are right be the “stairs”. Thanks

You’ll be fine. None of the staterooms have blocked views. 😀

We have ben in 222 on the Odin! No problem at all with proximity to stairs, and no blocked view.

We’re considering a Rhine/Danube cruise in 2018. I have two questions. What scenic sights on those two rivers are cruised through during the day? Approximately, how many hours of scenic cruising is this? Also, is the balcony in the Veranda rooms part of the 205 sf, or is it in addition to the 205 sf?

Karen, there isn’t really a simple answer to your question as there are many variables. For example, on the Rhine, if you’re sailing upstream, you’re going to spend more time sailing than if you sail downstream.

When we sailed the Danube, we had a half-day sailing in the Wachau Valley, and roughly the same amount of time viewing the castles in the Middle Rhine. I suppose if you have further questions, we should probably take this question offline to the phone. Update: the 205 includes the balcony: 178 interior, 27 exterior balcony, 205 total.

Do any of the rooms have two beds?

Kevin, you have the choice of one single bed or two twin beds.

We have booked a Veranda Suite. Is there a door between the living room and bedroom or is it an open entry?

We enjoyed a Veranda Suite on one of our sailings. In our stateroom, it was an open entry, but there were thick drapes to pull to shield light from the living space from going into the bedroom. I’m an early riser, so Carol appreciated this feature.

We sailed Budapest to Amsterdam September 2018 on the Viking Bragi and Skadi (had to swap ships in the middle of the trip due to low water levels) and there was a sliding (pocket) door between the two rooms that you could close completely. It was perfect for a two week trip, as I get up 1-2 hours before my husband, and he couldn’t hear a sound when I closed the door. We were also grateful for our own veranda, because the sun deck is routinely closed on three days of that trip – during the Main-Danube canal portion – due to low bridges – regardless of water level, something NOTmentioned in the brochure. So no 360 degree view for 3 days – you could sit in the glassed-in bow (frustrating for photographers), the indoor lounge, the little verandas off the main deck, or your own veranda. Also, the suites are on the port side, and for 24 hours of the Budapest stay we had a gorgeous view of Buda Castle including a night view all lit up – so there are definitely times you can enjoy your own veranda.

Wow. Great information. Thanks for stopping by and sharing! 🙂

We are very interested in the Grand European Tour this summer or fall. Is there an advantage going from Amsterdam to Budapest or vice versa? Also, we heard the upper outdoor deck is often shut down to go under bridges. Since we really enjoy sitting outside, is there a different itinerary where we could spend more time outside? Thanks.

I’ll give you a call to discuss. Stay tuned….

We are considering going the Romantic Danube in 2018. Which weeks/months are best in June and July?

I’m not sure what you mean by “best”. While the weather is impossible to predict, I can’t see a profound weather reason to travel one versus the other. Having said that, you might want to do a Google search for festivals that might be happening during those months. For example, Budapest has a Summer Festival which features open air concerts. Maby there’s a fun festival in Vienna that would be really exciting for you.

My husband and I are considering a river cruise through Germany in 2018. My only concern is I do get motion sickness, mostly from rocking, not necessarily because waters are rough. I am told that you can’t feel the boat move, but these are from people who don’t experience motion sickness. Any information on this would be appreciated.

We’ve been on four European river cruises and I can confirm that you will not feel any motion from the waters. I am prone to sea sickness as well, and your friends are right, you can’t feel the boat moving at all. In fact, the only way you’re likely to know that the boat is moving is to look out the window. Hope that helps, and if we can help you with your booking, we’d be honored. 😀

I am considering a Russian river cruise with Viking. The 360 degree virtual tour of staterooms (not suites) makes the entrance to the bathroom and shower appear to be narrow (15-18″ best guess). Do you have info on width of entrances to shower stall and bathrooms? Having just returned from a tour of Italy and having two hotel rooms with shower entrances too small for me to enter, I’m now cautious about this issue. Do any of their ships sailing in Russia have handicap accessible bathrooms?

Hmmm. I’m not certain of the answer to your question. Let me reach out to my Viking contacts and see if I can get an answer for you. Stay tuned…

Marty, I just received this answer from our Viking contacts: “the door width to get into the bathroom is 58 cm, and the step is 16 cm to get into the bathroom. We have shower curtains and not glass doors like on the longships. Hope that helps. The shower itself is also pie piece shaped, i.e. rounded towards the front and then going into a point towards the back. Hope that helps.

If you need help booking a Viking Russian river cruise, we’d be honored to help. 😀 Just drop us a call at (480) 550-1235. Thanks!

I’ve booked a river cruise and my room is at rear of ship near staff staircase. I’m wondering about noise, and? about diesel fumes when I’m on my balcony.

In our experience, we’ve found the rear staircases to be seldom used, so I wouldn’t be too concerned. On one of our Viking sailings, we watched the city lights of Budapest drift away from the beautiful Explorer Suite on the very back of the ship. And, with the engines directly below us, I don’t recall any fumes. Hope that helps. Have fun! 🙂

I paid my deposit and supposedly am sailing “2 for 1”, but looked at the most recent brochure and see the price is $100 cheaper! Did I mess up signing up too early?

Hi again Linda,

Boy, if I were you, I’d use a travel advisor to help you with your next cruise instead of booking online. It sounds like you have a lot of questions creating second thoughts and doubts in your mind. I’m not sure I can speak to your pricing concerns. If you’re unhappy or concerned, you should call the person that you booked your cruise with. Hope that helps, and have a great day! 😀

Hi…we have booked a veranda suite for a Paris to Arles itinerary this fall. I thought I read somewhere that laundry service is complimentary with the veranda suite, but I cannot find that reference anymore. Can you please tell me? We are visiting Paris for 3 days at the beginning of our trip and I am trying to figure out how many changes of clothing I need to pack. Laundry service would sure be a plus. Thanks!

First off, if you booked your Viking River Cruise directly with Viking within the last 60-days, we should talk because we have some nice perks that we can add to your booking.

Secondly, yes, laundry services are included with the Veranda Suite, and you can find that spelled out here: https://www.vikingrivercruises.com/ships/longships/viking-kadlin.html?agenturlid=roamingboomers

Scroll down to the Interactive Deck Plan and then click on the Veranda Suite link to view all of the amenities for your Veranda Suite. 😀

Great news about the laundry service 🙂 Alas, we booked our cruise LAST year, so I assume we are not entitled to the extra perks you alluded to??? Thanks so much for your quick reply!

Yes, we have perks for everyone that books with us, but we can also share those perks with folks who booked directly with Viking within the last 60-days. As you booked more than 60-days ago, we’re prohibited from sharing. Sorry. 🙁 But next time, book with us. 🙂

We just booked a cruise through Viking and have A- Veranda State Room 301. Can you tell me whether this is one of the best rooms to avoid the fumes, noise and vibrations that you have mentioned?

You will be fine. You’re high and away from the vibrations. Have fun!

Hi, do any of the Viking river ships now have cabins that can accommodate 3? I know this question has been asked before but I wonder if it’s difference now with the new ships. How about connectin cabins? Thanks.

Nope. The answer is still no. For that, you’d want to look at AmaWaterways. Go here: http://www.amawaterways.com/agent/RoamingBoomers

Our first time cruising Vikimg and very last minute. I’ve talked with Viking about Eastern State cruise from Montreal to NY (13 days) departing Oct 17th.

Viking is researching an additional discount. Available room is DV2. Exactly where is this?

Give us a call and we can help you through our back-channel Viking connections. Plus, we’ve got extra perks for you on top of Viking’s best offers. Our office number is 480-550-1235 and we’re open 9-5 PST. Thanks!

As gratuities are not included I would like to be given a guide as to how much should be given per person per day. Also what currencies are acceptable are acceptable for tips?

Hi R Whitfield, tipping on Viking will vary depending on what region in the world you are visiting and local currency is best. If you’re traveling in Europe, plan to make your tips in Euros.

Here are the tipping guidelines from Viking’s website:

From the Hotel Manager to receptionists, from restaurant servers to housekeeping, Viking’s onboard staff are 100% dedicated to serving our guests. Tips are not included in your cruise price, but are a voluntary way of showing satisfaction for good service. You may tip onboard staff in cash if you like, or you may charge your tips to your credit card at the end of the cruise (everywhere except Egypt, Southeast Asia and Portugal). These gratuities are distributed among the ship’s staff. The Tour Escorts or Program Directors that travel with you do not share in the onboard staff gratuities. It is customary to tip them separately in cash.

The following guidelines are based on typical amounts; they vary by region so please read the section for the region to which you will be traveling. Please note that local city guides and coach drivers are not included in the onboard gratuities; any tipping should be done in cash on the day of the tour as you are not likely to see them again.

Europe In Europe, we recommend that you tip in euros. Guidelines: Program Director – €2 per guest, per day Onboard staff – €12 per guest, per day Local city guides – €2 per guest, per day Coach drivers – €1 per guest, per day

Russia In Russia, we recommend that you tip in U.S. dollars. Guidelines: Onboard staff – $15 per guest, per day Tour Escort – $10 per guest, per day Local city guides – $2 per guest, per day Coach drivers – $1 per guest, per day

China In China, we recommend that you tip in U.S. dollars. Guidelines: Onboard staff – $15 per guest, per day Tour Escort – $10 per guest, per day Local city guides – $2 per guest, per day Coach drivers – $1 per guest, per day

Southeast Asia In the Mekong region and in Myanmar, we recommend that you tip in U.S. dollars. Guidelines: Onboard staff – $15 per guest, per day Tour Escort – $10 per guest, per day Local city guides – $2 per guest, per day Coach drivers – $1 per guest, per day

Egypt In Egypt, we recommend that you tip in U.S. dollars. Guidelines: Onboard staff – $15 per guest, per day Tour Escort/Egyptologist – $10 per guest, per day Local city guides – $2 per guest, per day Coach drivers – $1 per guest, per day

We have given a deposit for Viking France’s Finest Cruise in May 2018 and have the Explorer Suite on hold. I see that the Veranda Suites also has a separate bedroom, which is a must have for us. Do you think it worth the added expense or should we consider the Veranda Suite. What advantage do we have in Explorer, other that more room/wrap around veranda? I don’t want to feel closed in, what do past Viking cruisers say about Veranda Suites? Do they wish they had more room?

Hi T. Burkard,

Please feel free to give us a call and we can discuss in more detail. We have personally stayed in the Veranda Suite and have spent time with friends who booked the Explorer Suite. So, we have a lot of insight to share. Plus, we have some additional perks for you on top of Viking’s best offers. You can reach our office at (480) 550-1235.

Glad I have seen this site as you look to be very experienced regarding river cruises. I am wanting to book a river cruise next year and fancy The Danube for 8 or 10 days. Viking seems good and I don’t want to spend more than £5000.00. It! You have any ideas, this is our first cruise. Regards Gareth

Thanks for stopping by. As you appear to be from the UK, I’d recommend that you go here: https://www.vikingcruises.co.uk/ . As we’re in the U.S., everything will be different and designed for U.S. passengers. Sorry I couldn’t be more helpful. 🙁

How does Vikings 2 for 1 deal work that ends August 31? Looking to book two state rooms for Amsterdam to Basel River cruise for 2018. Does the 2 for 1 only apply to certain dates/rooms? Also, once you reserve do you just put a non refundable down payment?

Hi Charles,

The “2-for-1” is available every month. So, I wouldn’t let that alone be a driver for your decision. However, having said that, Viking does potentially change their offers on a month-to-month basis. So, if Viking is having a particularly easy time selling their river cruises, which seems to be the case right now, then they have no real motivation to offer you a better offer in September then they are offering you right now in August. So, as the river cruise industry is very hot right now, you’re always best to book sooner than later.

With Viking, the deposit is $500/person with the final balance due no later than 90-days from departure. Although, with things as busy as they are, Viking has been moving that final payment date up. Once your deposit is made, then it is subject to a $100/person cancellation fee if you cancel 121 days or more prior to the time of departure. After 120 days, and with your full payment to Viking, then you will be subject to a sliding scale penalty up to 100% of the full fare once you hit the 30-day window. We always recommend travel insurance to protect your investment should you need to cancel.

Charles, please feel free to give me a call, and we can discuss this further. You can reach us at (480) 550-1235 (9-5 PST). Thanks!

We are considering a trip on the Rhine from Amsterdam to Basel in September 2018. I know on ocean cruises you can often call and if the price goes DOWN you can rework your agreement and you’ll get the lower price . You might have to give up credits or whatever the previous ‘bonus’ was. Does it work like that on river cruises, too? Or once your credits are locked and price , there’s no changing it? Example … I got an extra 250 per person in onboard credit from RCCL during a Black Friday flash sale. They just added it on to our pre existing plan. Thanks !

Every river cruise company is going to respond to your question in a slightly different way. However, the first thing to consider is that a river cruise with perhaps 150 people onboard is marketed completely differently than an ocean liner with 5,000 people aboard. Further, river cruises are crazy popular right now and we’re not seeing any discounting going on as the river cruise companies are having no problem selling their staterooms. For example, 2018 sales are WAY ahead of normal booking patterns. This implies that stateroom pricing is likely to increase after your booking rather than decrease. So, in this environment, our advice is to book as early as practical. Space is indeed limited on the river and the demand has never been stronger.

Hi – we are a family of 4 from NZ – doing our own air and in Europe for 14 weeks. Looking to do Amsterdam to Bucharest (23 days approx) OR Budapest to Bucharest. (11 days approx). Probably leaning toward the shorter tour with having kids (14 and 8) on board. What is best deal/ room configuration (we’d want to be close or adjoining) /family cruise (if not the ones I’ve suggested above) happy for all advice. Thanks Juliet

PS – this will be mid August roughly 2018

Here is this from Viking’s Terms and Conditions:

Children/Minors Due to the nature of our cruise and travel itineraries, the Carrier does not maintain facilities or services for children aboard cruise vessels or otherwise during the trip. On all cruises and cruise journeys, minors under the age of 18 must be accompanied and share a stateroom with a parent, legal guardian or other responsible adult over the age of 21. We reserve the right to limit the number of minors under the age of 18 years on board and on land excursions booked through us.

Also, Viking does NOT have connecting rooms. So, if you desire to sail with Viking, you would need two rooms, they could be adjoining, and there must be an adult with each child in a stateroom.

Having said that, AmaWaterways has designed ships for Disney family travelers and they have a more relaxed policy with minors and they also have connecting rooms. Go here: http://www.amawaterways.com/agent/RoamingBoomers

Please take a peek and let’s connect further with your questions. Thanks! 🙂

PS – I just got a note from our Viking rep and he says that the minimum age for Viking River is 12 and the minimum age for Viking Ocean is 18.

In the process of booking Danube cruise with Viking but the rep was very slow to respond and in the interval all Veranda A rooms sold out. Can get a French balcony but am VERY concerned about small size and the fact that it’s near the back of the ship. Have not traveled Avalon and the dates/stops aren’t as optimal but we can get larger room in better location AND select our flight on Delta now rather than wait for Viking later and possibly have to pay more to fly Delta. Have not traveled with Avalon. Your advice?

I’m sorry to hear of your frustrations. You have a lot of questions, and those questions are going to create more questions. Plus, you don’t know what you don’t know if you haven’t taken a river cruise yet. The Viking reps are nice folks, but at the end of the day, their job is to sell you a booking. They don’t have the time to focus on creating an amazing experience. When you book with an experienced travel agency (that’s us), we’ll help you focus on the experience, and as we’re one of the top five booking agents with Viking in the world, we have back channels to get things done quickly and efficiently. Plus, the price for the booking will be the same price as trying to do this yourself. Also, there is confusion with Viking Air; you can book now. AND, if you decide to look at Avalon, we’re very capable of helping you understand the differences between the two. Please feel free to call us at (480) 550-1235.

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You can offer perks if we booked directly with Viking? I just booked a cruise for my parents. Booked the French Balcony, but hoping i didn’t make a mistake by not going with the Veranda. Is it really worth the extra $?

If you booked directly with Viking in the last 60-days, then yes. We can offer our perks.

Regarding the French Balcony vs. the Veranda. The French Balcony is only 135 sq. ft. While it is popular because of its price-point, I don’t personally care to travel in such a small space. So, for me, I’d be paying up for the Veranda. If you have questions, please feel free to call us at (480) 550-1235.

Good morning, we have a group of 5 couples looking into River Cruising with Viking – we are all in our 50’s and 60’s. None of us have ever done this type of trip before. We are open to locations for travel; would you have a few trips that you would recommend for first-time river cruisers? Travel time would not be before Fall 2018 and then anytime after. I would be most interested in the 12 day trip range but would consider both slightly shorter and/or a longer day trips. Based on all the questions and replies on your website, I would be very interested in talking to you to assist in planning the trip. Also, do you recommend Viking as the best line for us to start on? Is there another river cruise line that you would recommend? Let’s start with these questions and go from there. Thank you.

Thanks for stopping by and inquiring about river cruising. As you are first-time river cruisers, you might want to consider what Viking calls the Grand European Tour. It is a 15-day experience which takes in the Rhine and Danube and sails from Amsterdam all the way to Budapest.

Here is a link to the Grand European Tour: https://www.vikingrivercruises.com/cruise-destinations/europe/grand-european-tour/2018-amsterdam-budapest/index.html?agenturlid=roamingboomers

I see you have many questions, so I will pop you an email and we can take this conversation offline. Thanks! 🙂

Booked the Explorer Suite 340 for Oct 2018 Romantic Danube on Viking Gullveig with Prague pre-cruise. I’ve read at least one review that indicated noise and vibration from the engine room below were at an unacceptable level. What is your experience or what have you heard on this matter? The Viking rep said he has not heard this is much of an issue. Any insight is sincerely appreciated.

Todd, if you’re going downstream (Nuremberg to Budapest) you should be fine. If the other direction (upstream fighting a ten mph current), then expect quite a bit of vibration as that stateroom is at the back of the ship over the engine.

When they say 2 for 1 pricing, is the published price per person or cabin?

Thanks for stopping by. All cruise lines (ocean and river) publish their rates/person. 🙂

Is it a good idea to try booking your OWN flight or leave it to Viking? That being said, of the following, which airport would be best to fly from (Pittsburgh, Charlotte, or Baltimore) if we were doing the Paris Normandy cruise?

Also which airport will we be flying into?

Where could we fly from to get a non-stop flight? Is it cost prohibitive?

I would recommend that you use a good travel advisor (hint, hint) and let them take care of the air booking for you. If you simply leave it to Viking’s computers to book your flights, you may well wind up disappointed in your routing, seating, and more. Viking’s air is often unbeatable from a price perspective, but we have a 3-hour/day staff member who does nothing but book Viking air for this very reason. It would be very difficult for me to answer your airport questions without looking at the actual air schedules. Again, another reason to use a good travel advisor. 🙂 The price is the same using a good travel advisor and then you won’t have any of these worries. 🙂

Thanks. Unfortunately, our friend confirmed our booking for us this morning, so I guess we are stuck with letting Viking do their thing on the flights. ?

No. Actually, you can transfer your booking to a trusted travel advisor if your booking was made within the last 60-days. Everything stays the same on the booking, only now, you’ve got a travel advisor leading you through the woods. 🙂

The article mentions you will list rooms to avoid. I cannot find this information listed. Please let me know where to find it.

Hi Diane, if you’re particular cruise is headed upstream during heavy flows, you’ll want to avoid the staterooms toward the back of the ship, particularly in the lower staterooms on deck #1. I wouldn’t make a huge deal out of this, but this will alleviate some vibration in your bed at night as the ship’s motor fights a strong current.

If Viking’s current deal includes free airfare is it still possible to book the whole thing with you? Also wondering if you can fly early and stay later on your own w/o doing the pre or post vacation packages. We are interested in bumming around on our own both before and after.

Any offer that you can book directly with Viking, you can also get the exact same offer booking through us. Nothing changes. So, yes, you can book the whole trip with us and get the exact same offers as if you had booked directly with Viking. When you book with us, you’ll get our expert advice and we’ll watch over your booking for you. Also, if you want to come early or stay late, Viking’s airline offers do allow that. However, you’ll have a $100/person deviation fee to Viking to come early and the same to stay late. Further, we can recommend hotels for you as well. Give us a call at 480-550-1235, we’d be honored to help. 🙂

I see that Viking is offering free air for many of their European cruises, as long as it is booked by 10/31. We are interested in the Paris-Swiss Alps cruise in March, 2020. Do we need to decide whether we will extend our trip by flying in early to Paris, by 10/31, or will we have more time to make that decision once we book our cruise?

The key is to get your booking in by the end of the month and you can make the airline decisions at a later date as we can’t even book the airline tickets until you are within 330 days from taking your trip anyway.

And, if you book your Viking River Cruise through our company, we have a special shipboard credit for you on top of Viking’s best offers. Give us a call at 480-550-1235, we’d be honored to help. 🙂

Viking is offering a credit card with Ship bucks? What types of things other then alcohol would one be purchasing with these ?

You can also use shipboard credits towards optional shore excursions.

Would you recommend upgrading from a Veranda (AA) suite to an Explorer suite – trip is at the end of September and heading westbound from Budapest – I gather going upstream – how much engine noise for light sleepers? As well what other types of perks are you able to offer if I have booked within the 60 days you mention in your responses previously? Air travel will be using miles so arriving earlier and leaving later – do you know if insurance through Viking can cover the extra time period?

Hi Christine,

While I love Viking’s Explorer Suite, I wouldn’t consider it for an upstream sailing. The suite is right over the engine and if you wind up fighting a strong current, it will rattle your brains out at night. It not so much the engine noise, and the vibrations from the engine at high revs fighting the current. We had friends with us on one trip and they didn’t get any sleep at night because of everything rattling in their room at night. So, in my mind, only book the Explorer Suite downstream. Please feel free to give me a call and I’d be happy to discuss what perks we might be able to add to your booking. Also, Viking’s travel insurance will not cover air travel outside of their booking. So, if you want to cover your airline and/or extra days outside of your Viking booking, you’d want to cover that with a separate policy. If you used a credit card to book your cruise, you might find that your credit card’s travel insurance will cover these extra days. Please feel free to call me at 480-550-1235. Thanks!

Would like to book a trip with another couple and wounding if there is a suite with common area and two bedrooms?

We are booked on Grand European River cruise (14 days) Amsterdam to Budapest in September. We have a guarantee cabin category Main Deck. Viking says that the only cabins they have left are suites. We did our last Viking river cruise earlier this year in the spring and have just booked a Viking ocean cruise for February 2020. The Viking rep we talked to said we might get upgraded. Do you know how this works? Why would they sell us a guarantee in a category that doesn’t exist?

Thanks David. I look forward to hearing more from you.

Hi Susan, here’s what I received from Viking:

On select sailings, Viking may offer what is called a “Guaranty cabin”. This is a guaranty that they will be assigned a cabin number in a category no lower than the category they booked.

Guaranty cabins are a way to manage the occupancy on the ship for normal cancellations which occurs on all sailings.

Things to know:

• A cabin may be assigned at any time up to embarkation, so they may not receive an assignment until they board the ship. If one is assigned “pre-departure” they will receive an updated invoice with cabin #.

• If you book a DV2 GTY, the guest will receive a DV2 at the minimum. They may receive a higher category, but this is not a “sure thing”.

• Once the cabin is assigned, if they do not like the location or type and want to cancel, penalties will apply.

• Printed and E-Docs will likely be sent with the category booked and cabin as GTY (no cabin assigned). Cabin assignment can happen when they board.

Hope that helps.

Yes, thanks very much for this David.

Does Viking include the verandas in the size of the stateroom? In other words, does the published square footage include the veranda, or not?Thanks!

Hi David, This is way early, but we’d like to get a jump on planning. My wife and I would like to book an explorer suite on a Viking cruise from Bucharest to Amsterdam in 2022. Can you help us make this happen? Would a trip from Amsterdam to Bucharest be better? Why one or the other? How about timing? We want first class airfare –can you help with that? That is, can you find a flight from Atlanta that’s a little less prohibitively expensive? Lots of questions that are premature, but that may let us start a good relationship. Thanks, Boyd Eaton

On a Viking river cruise, can a shipboard credit received as a perk be applied toward tips?

Hi Bill, Viking does allow folks to use shipboard credits to be used towards the onboard gratuities. 🙂

We are leaving in three days on the european adventure, and got a notice that the river is low and there is a possibility we may need to port, bus and change ships. If we do this, do we pack up our rooms and haul our stuff on the buss and then the new ship?

Likely going to do the Prague to Paris river cruise in October. When traveling in this direction is there a better side of the ship to have our room?

I’m not one of those who would have you worry about what side of the ship to be on. You’re going to spend very little time in your stateroom and when you’re sailing through scenic areas, you’re likely to be on the top deck getting 360º views. If you’re sailing upstream, better to worry about getting a more forward stateroom than about what side of the ship to be on. Hope that helps. Have fun! 🙂

My husband and I are very interested in the Grand European Tour from Amsterdam to Budapest and are looking at late September or early October 2021. I found an old brochure from Viking offering 2 for 1 cruise but haven’t seen that is a while. Will they offer this again do you think? I found your site when trying to decide if we wanted a veranda or French balcony and have found it very interesting and informative. This will be our retirement gift to ourselves! Thank you for any insights.

I just sent you an email. Give me a call and let’s discuss. Viking is currently offering free roundtrip coach airfare on that sailing and they have quit using the 2 for 1 language in their advertising. 🙂 You can reach me at 480-550-1235.

Looking at our first rivers cruise with Viking in July and would like to go from Amsterdam to Budapest. I believe this is going downstream….correct? Also, what’s the difference in size between the Veranda B and the French Balcony C? I think it’s 6 ft, but is this 6 feet the outside Veranda? What is the definition of a French Balcony? A window that opens….?

Hi Nancy, Viking’s Grand European Tour will have you going upstream and downstream. If you start in Amsterdam, you will sail upstream until you hit the continental divide and then downstream on the Danube. The Veranda B is 205 sq. ft including the veranda. The stateroom is 178 sq. ft. not counting the veranda. The French Balcony stateroom is 135 sq. ft and features a large sliding glass door that gives you access to fresh air and a roughly waist-high barrier behind the sliding glass door to keep you from jumping overboard. 🙂

Hello, Does Viking River Cruises have options for single travelers and if so what is the difference in the cost . Thank You Nancy Reynolds

Viking’s single-supplement on river cruises is 100% as they have no problem selling out their ships from year to year. HOWEVER, we recommend that if solo travelers can wait for last-minute Viking offers, then they can generally grab a greatly reduced fare and free air. For example, Viking has a current offer at $2,699/person and free air on their Châteaux, Rivers & Wine river cruise. When you double this fare for the solo traveler, it makes a $5,400 trip to Europe w/ free air. That is a great value in anyone’s book. Please feel free to call me at 480 550 1235 and I’ll be able to discuss other similar offers. 🙂

I just sent you an email sharing where Viking has some current offers for $1,999/person and $399 roundtrip air. Double the $1,999 to $3,998 + $399 air and you have a fabulous river cruise on the Danube (select dates). Call me. There’s more.

Love these helpful hints. Doing a Rhine River Cruise with Viking in September of 2022. Quick question – noticed the French Balcony C rooms are all at the back of the ship. Will they have more noise/vibration than the French Balcony D rooms? Thanks!

The French Balcony C staterooms have the potential for more vibration in your stateroom as they are at the back of this ship. This will also be more pronounced if you are sailing upstream against the current. We shy away from the French Balcony C staterooms for our clients and seek to get them upfront, away from the motor in the French Balcony D staterooms.

We booked a trip for June 2022 on Viking (Switzerland to Amsterdam). We booked a Veranda (A) room 301 — it is next to the library — will that going to be a problem (with noise from the common areas)? Also, since we just booked today (July 8), is it still possible to get the “perks” you are offering — can you shoot me an email listing the perks to switch to you? Are there disadvantages if we switch away from a direct reservation with Viking?

Hi Rebecca,

You’ve got mail. 🙂

I have an interesting complexity to my hope for getting on the Grand European Tour this month. Can you assist please? Also wondered if the single supplement will be able to be applied for this trip? Vicki

Can we talk via phone on my interesting story and hopes?

Sure. Please feel free to call.

I have a trip booked for August of 2023. I was told I can prepay tips for about $130 to avoid the hassle of carrying cash everywhere. I am assuming that covers onboard tips only, leaving drivers and tour guides to be tipped directly. Is this common and will the onboard staff be aware? It will feel awkward to make requests of staff and not directly tip them. I don’t often take all-inclusive trips.

Thanks! Ramsey

If you prepay your gratuities, then these monies will get split between the staff. Further, feel free to give additional tips in-person to those who really provided stand-out service. Once you leave the ship, then gratuities will be up to your discretion for drivers and guides.

My apologies. I also meant to ask if you could comment on the usefulness of the Trip Mate insurance. It is about $620 per person. I booked with the Risk Free Guarantee, so as far as cancelation it seems redundant to have insurance. However, they list so may things that can go wrong DURING the trip it does feel important to have it. Although I have excellent medical insurance, I would imagine the out of network costs is care would be more than the Trip Mate covers. So, again, it seems like a good idea to have it.

Do you always buy travel insurance for your trips? At a cost of over $10K for this trip, its seems unwise not to have it.

We never travel overseas without travel insurance. Regarding TripMate, the value of this policy versus others available in the marketplace will be your age. Viking’s TripMate insurance does not have age ratings, so if you’re north of 65, the insurance will likely be less expensive. If you are under 65, then you will likely find better prices elsewhere.

I understand Viking requires a $500 deposit and the balance 90 days prior to departure. Could I make a larger deposit and/or additional payments for the trip prior to the final payment? This of course would reduce the final balance due.

Viking’s deposit is $500/person with the final payment due a year prior to sailing unless you have an already booked but not sailed cruise on the books. Then, the final payment is six months prior to sailing. If you want to send additional funds beyond what is required, that is fine.

I am looking to book the Grand European Tour December 16. Standard (F). We want to add a couple of days to the beginning of the trip in Amsterdam area and 5 days at the end of the trip to do some independent travel (Krakow and Warsaw Poland). I want to take advantage of the free air offer. I was told by Viking I could edit my arrival flight and departure date and location for an extra fee? We will be celebrating our 10 year wedding anniversary, my husbands 40th birthday and Christmas and New Years on this trip. Is this something you could help us with?

This will be in 2023

Yes. Absolutely. Feel free to give us a call at 480-550-1235 M-F.

Looking to book a Viking Danube Cruise in May of 2022. We are in a 3 traveler situation. Is there any update on staterooms for 3 people?

Hi Christopher, Viking doesn’t allow three people in a stateroom. The staterooms are just too small for three people.

Hello! Would love your assistance booking a trip on the Danube in March!

Please feel free to call us at 480-550-1235.

Hello, looking to go to Mediterranean sept 30 on the 8 day Venice, Adriatic, Greece trip. Adding in the pre trip for 3 days in Tuscany. Can you quote? jenette smalley

I’m in the stages of planning a river cruise in possibly May 23’ , thinking Paris to Zurich. I’ll be traveling with my 27 year old granddaughter. Are there normally travelers her age or will she be with boomers like me for 12 days.

Our price will be the same as you will get booking directly with Viking. And if everyone takes truth serum, the same will be true everywhere. Give this a read: https://www.theroamingboomers.com/best-way-to-book-an-ocean-or-river-cruise/

The ship will likely be full of baby boomers, and your granddaughter will likely be the only 20-year-old aboard the ship. Nonetheless, this is a fabulous way for her to spend some time with you and get to view all of the sites between Paris and Zurich.

If I choose to let Viking book my Romantic Danube (Regensburg to Budapest) flights. Which airport will I arrive, Munich, Regensburg, Nuremberg…? Does Viking tend to have multiple layovers to your destination when they book your flight? We will be traveling from MInneapolis to Regensburg then Budapest to MInneapolis. Is the upgrade to Premium economy flight seat equal to a Delta Comfort+ seat? Thank you!

Airline routes are challenging to address here. The routes will vary depending on availability. If you’ve already booked, I would talk to your agent.

HI, How was the noise from the stairwell when you were in room 222?

I am taking my first cruise ever in 2023 and will be taking the Viking Rhine River cruise from Amsterdam to Basel. My question is do you have a preference as to which side of the ship is better? Port or Starboard?

Thank you, Kelly

With a river cruise, you will generally spend very little time on a balcony looking at the shoreline, as most of the sailing is done at night. And when you do sail through the scenic Rhine Gorge, you will be on the top deck to get 360º views. Therefore, we don’t find it necessary on a river cruise to worry about whether you’re on the port or starboard side of the ship. I hope that helps.

Good to know. Thank you so much for the quick reply.

I’ll soon be in a Veranda Room 317 on Kari – can you please tell me the depths and measurement of space under beds? What if my two suitcases are too large? Thanks!

I don’t know the measurements under the bed. However, the beds are designed in such a way as to provide you with storage space under the beds for your suitcases. Should you have too many bags, or a suitcase that is too large, your room attendant has a storage place outside of your stateroom. We’ve never had a problem getting our suitcases under the bed during our travels.

Thank you :)- I called just now so fyi – the height under bed is 15” clearance for suitcases.

Hello, My wife and are booked for the Viking Amsterdam to Budapest river cruise for May 13-27, 2023. Our cabin is 338 situated near the rear of the ship (French balcony C). As I am sometimes a victim of motion and vibration sickness. I’m concerned with the engine vibrations. Should I be concerned ?

Motion on a river cruise is practically nonexistent. On your cruise, you will go upstream on the Rhine and downstream on the Danube. Therefore, you may get some vibration in your bed at night while sailing upstream on the Rhine. I can’t imagine that this vibration might be anything more than a nuisance if you are a light sleeper. If you’re concerned, call your booking agent and be on the lookout for a French Balcony D more forward in the ship away from the motor.

I have long wanted to take a river cruise in Europe, particularly to see castles. From reading your site, it appears the sailing is mostly done at night. I have already been to many of the port cities so is a cruise really what I want? Which cruise provides most daytime visibility Also, when booking, can you ask for certain veranda staterooms, ie, not in the back?

Perhaps it would be best for you to call our office. Answering your question about “is a cruise really what I want” is difficult here. And yes, we can book a specific stateroom. Our office number is 480-550-1235.

Noise and vibration in the Explorer Suites. I am a very light sleeper and also, very inclined to motion sickness! I’ve been on a Viking Ocean cruise and used the patch. The noise and vibrations were not a problem on the ocean cruise. Was wondering about them for Seine River cruise. Viking Ragrid is the ship.

We shy away from booking the Explorer Suites on Viking’s River Cruise ships. They are right over the engine and will produce quite a bit of vibration when/if you’re sailing upstream and fighting a strong current. We prefer the Veranda Suites. The Explorer Suites on the back of the ship are beautiful, but we’ve received too many complaints about vibration. The Veranda Suites are on deck three and midship. You won’t have any motion sickness issues on a river cruise. Very smooth, they are. Call us to make a booking. 480-550-1235.

I saw you mentioned ‘Perks’ many times. Can you say what they are ??

Promotional perks will vary by the cruise, the date, and the marketplace’s appetite to increase business. So there is no one answer. However, we commonly have at least $200 in shipboard credits to add to many of Viking’s river, ocean, and expedition sailings. Thanks for stopping by.

I am located in Canada. Do you take bookings outside of US?

Hi Barb, We do. Please feel free to give us a call.

My mother and I would like to take the Viking Paris River Cruise to Normandy etc. We’d like to have separate rooms. Do they do that? Thanks.

Yes, you can both have your own stateroom. However, from a financial standpoint, you would run into a single supplement charge that would bring the cost of each stateroom to the cost for two people. In other words, If Viking is charging $3,000/person for a stateroom, then a solo traveler will pay $6,000 for that stateroom. This happens because Viking knows they can sell all of their staterooms to two paying people. If you don’t mind paying $6,000, in my example, to each have your own stateroom, then yes.

In a previous post a passenger stated that they had booked a trip on Viking (Switzerland to Amsterdam) in a Veranda (A) room 301, next to the library. They had asked whether or not that cabin is going to be a problem with noise from the common areas.I am also curious, do you mind answering that question for me. Also, would there be any disadvantages to having a cabin next to the library as far as balcony view restrictions? Thank you

As a rule, we avoid booking that first room off of the lobby for fear of lobby noise. However, these are not party boats, so if that was all that was left, I wouldn’t shy away.

Thank you for getting back to me. Do you mind also answering my question about any balcony view restrictions or issues. Thanks much

View restrictions aren’t really a thing on riverboat cruises. So being next to the library would be the same as any of the other staterooms.

Do Viking riverboats offer any option for three family members traveling together to share a room-for a Dec. 2023 Christmas Markets cruise?

Hi Deborah,

Viking allows a maximum of two people/stateroom. So, three people in a stateroom is not allow. Sorry.

This will be our first river cruise and we are really looking forward to it. We will be on the Viking river ship Alsvin in an A Veranda Stateroom in the back of the ship. We will be cruising with an other couple. I just noticed that the room next to us is now available. Is there an advantage to having adjoining rooms on this ship? Can the balconies be combined? Do seasoned travelers feel this might be too close given all the time we will be spending with our friends on this curated trip?

David, We are first time travelers to Europe and believe a river cruise to suit our needs; We are north of 65, still able to get around pretty well and want direction though maintain a degree of independence in exploring the ports of call. We are English speaking only. Wanted to have the ‘best’ arrangement possible though uncertain regarding the initial step(s) in planning; ie 1) best river (and direction), 2) #days (7 vs 14?), time of year (Sept>Dec 2024), 3) cabin (Veranda suite? and relative location on what specific Viking ship), 4) what options on ship are worth the $$, 5) what is the most reasonable way to fly trans-Atlantic without being worn out on landing, 6) what type of Traveler/Cruise insurance is best or worth it? In other words from your extensive experience what would your dream cruise with Viking be like?

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