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Behind the Porthole: What to Expect on a Viking River Cruise.

You know those commercials during Downton Abbey? The ones that show a long ship sailing past hillside vineyards and castles, all while the lady with the British accent tells you to “explore the world in comfort”. Yep, we all know the commercials, but what is it actually like to embark on a Viking River Cruise? I am here to give you all the deets!

THE SHIP

The simple and bright décor of a Viking longship, along with the floor to ceiling windows make it the ultimate HGTV lovers dream. With only 95 staterooms per ship, Viking river cruises are smaller and cozier than your average cruise ship. Instead of getting lost in a maze of hallways or huffing and puffing your way up ten flights of stairs to the lido deck, you can roll out of bed and in a couple steps you can be anywhere on the ship. There are four decks on the ship: the main deck, middle deck, upper deck, and sun deck.

The Main Deck, or lower deck, is where you can find us mere peasants sleeping. Just kidding. But really you can find both E&F water-level staterooms.

The E&F staterooms may look small, but the design is so well thought out. The rooms are basically Ikea in a nutshell: well designed, functional, simple, and full of unique storage solutions. Each stateroom comes with a bed (or 2 twin beds if requested), a water level window, a flat screen TV, phone, fridge, safe, closet, both US and UK outlets, and a private bathroom with good water pressure, premium Freyja toiletries, and heated floors. They also leave fresh water everyday, which is nice when coming back after a long day in port.

The Middle Deck is where you’ll embark the ship. It is also where you’ll find the 24/7 reception desk, as well as the ever-important main dining room. (I mean what’s a cruise without stuffing your face)

The Upper Deck is where we spent majority of our time when on the ship. It boasts (or should I say roasts) the coffee station, the lounge, the aquavit terrace, the library, and more staterooms, including the 2 explorer suites.

Coffee, tea, hot cocoa, as well as still and sparkling water are available 24/7 at the coffee stations... but that's not all ,folks! In the afternoon they also have an assortment of bakery items. Yep, Viking thinks every detail through, and they know not only kindergarteners get those mid-afternoon munchies. My fav-- the double chocolate chip cookies! I am basically the cookie monster, so I personally snag a few to bring back to the room as well.

And if you're looking to spike your coffee or get your "it's 5'oclock somewhere" on, then walk through the automatic glass doors adjacent to the coffee station and you will enter the lounge.

The lounge is the perfect place to.. well.. lounge. I consider this one of the most important rooms on the ship because it is where the bar is located *cue angelic sounds*. The bartenders are the VIPs of the ship and someone I recommend getting to know. So grab a cocktail, relax, and admire the views from the floor to ceiling windows.

If you continue walking through the lounge you'll get to the Aquavit Terrace, a beautiful, bright, indoor/outdoor space used as an additional space to lounge, as well as an alternative to the main dining room. It is a great lunch option if you want to have a lighter meal and eat outside.

and when it is warmer, they'll open up the doors fully to the outside world!

The Sun Deck is the last level. In addition to a jogging track, herb garden, shuffleboard, and a small putting green, the sun deck also has plenty of lounge chairs for 360 degree scenic viewing.

THE FOOD

Let’s just say if you don’t feel as round as Violet Beauregarde looked when she ate Willy Wonka’s 3-course gum, then you are doing something wrong! All your onboard meals are included. (nom)

For all meals you have two choices: the already mentioned Aquavit Terrace or the main dining room.

Breakfast in the Aquavit is light with items like pastries, fruit, and yogurt, while the main dining is a premium buffet featuring made to order eggs, cereal, oatmeal, meats and cheeses, and pastries. Also in the main dining, you have the choice to order off of a limited menu with mouth-watering pancakes, French toast, eggs benedict, or an omelet. Cause ain’t nobody got time for cold pancakes.

For lunch, delicious sandwiches, fries, soups, kebabs, and salads are what you can look forward to.

Dinner. Ahh. My favorite meal of the day that makes squeezing into my skinny jeans a little bit harder, but definitely worth it. I’m talking a gourmet, beautifully plated, 3-course (or more) meal. You get around three of four choices of apps, main courses, and desserts. The best part, you can choose as many or as little as you want! There are new options every single night that incorporate local specialties, or if you are pickier, there are simple options that are available every night like the Caesar’s salad, chicken, salmon, and steak.

THE DRINKS

All you can drink wine, beer, and soda are included during mealtime on the ship (hubba hubba), and they aren’t chintzy with their pours! They are quite generous and keep it flowing. However, if you want to drink cocktails, take a shot, or drink in off-meal times, I would consider the “Silver Spirits Package” AKA a gift from God. The Silver Spirits Package (SSP) is the best deal in cruising in my humble opinion. It is unlimited drinks, alcoholic or non-alcoholic, any time of day, no exclusions for the week. And it is cheap in the world of cruising for the package too. Two other reasons I love the SSP are 1) You don’t have to worry about budgeting out what you are spending on drinks to avoid ending up with a hefty bill at the end of your trip. It is a one-time fee. 2.) You have a DD, I mean DC (designated captain), and you can happily drink as much as you want and stumble back to your room in peace. No uber fees.

Oh, and if you didn’t have enough booze already, (not to sound like an alcoholic or anything, but this is vacation after all) you can bring your own alcohol on the ship with or without the SSP (unlike ocean cruises) and they don’t even charge you a corkage fee!

THE STAFF

One thing that no one can argue about is how great the crew is. I mean they give you the red carpet treatment. Literally, there is a red carpet laid out to welcome you on the ship. But it doesn’t stop there. You walk onto a spotless ship, where crewmembers are constantly cleaning, smiling, and taking care of your every need—no task too grand. You’re not just another number to them, but rather they get to know you by name and remember the littlest details like what you like to drink or when your anniversary is. They'll blow you out of the water! (..no pun intended)

THE PEOPLE

When I tell someone I went on a river cruise the first comment they typically make is “aren’t those for old people?” Well, I am here to tell you that you don’t have to be an AARP member or have a cane to enjoy a river cruise! I won’t deny that you’ll be in good company if you’re older, but don’t discount the younger folks in their late 20s and 30s. It might be the unlimited alcohol, but I can safely say everyone on the cruise no matter the age was overly friendly and outgoing.

THE EXCURSIONS

Cooking class in France? Wine-tasting in Germany? Train ride in the scenic Swiss Alps?

These all sound like a dream, right? Well lucky for you, with Viking you get at least one included excursion each day in port. It all depends on the port, but you can expect anything from a guided walking tour hitting the highlights of a city, to a wine tasting at a beautiful vineyard.

I'm not going to lie, when I think of group guided tours I feel a little iffy. People all move at different paces, it's hard to hear the guide unless you're fighting your way right up to the front, and not to mention sometimes the guide seems "rehearsed" and a little stiff. However, all of these fears are put to rest when Viking is in the driver's seat.

Just like everything, the guided tours are well thought out. Tours are offered in small groups with local, knowledgeable guides and based off of different speeds-- gentle, normal, or active. To avoid the "herd" feeling that typically comes with tours, you'll get an audiovox headset in your cabin, which the guide will sync to theirs. This allows you to wander away from the guide to explore or take photos without missing their commentary.

Optional excursions are also offered at an additional fee. These are a bit more in depth than just the overview of the city. For example, I did a walk in Van Gogh's footsteps in Arles, France. We had a painting lesson, toured the city, visited the insane asylum where Van Gogh stayed, and even ate at a Michelin star restaurant!

THE ENTERTAINMENT

Entertainment comes in many forms aboard Viking. Anything from a local dancer or musician to the executive chef showing you how to cook a local specialty (and giving you a recipe card after). In the lounge a pianist plays during cocktail hour, as well as gets the dance floor going in the evening. Don't let the title "pianist" fool you, he doesn't just play the classic slow songs, he also takes requests including some Bruno Mars!

SO, WOULD I RECOMMEND A VIKING RIVER CRUISE??

Short answer: yes! Two of the main reasons I believe a Viking River Cruise is worth it is the convenience and the value.

River cruises are convenient because they are an easy way to explore new cities or countries without the logistical hassle... hello real vacation! There is no unpacking, repacking, then dragging your luggage from one place to the next. You unpack once, sail through the non-scenic parts of the river when your asleep, then wake up docked right smack in the middle of town. It's easy peasy lemon squeezey.

The value is another reason I think Viking is worth it. Yes, you're probably thinking I'm crazy at this point for calling a trip that is a couple thousand dollars a value, but it truly is. Not only is everything first class but it is all inclusive. No surprises or hidden fees. If you did a trip like this on your own you would have to pay for a hotel every night, every single meal, a taxi or plane trip from one place to the next, guided tours, and not to mention deal with the stress of planning it all. With Viking, and an excellent travel agent,everything is taken care of so you truly get the rest and relaxation a vacation is all about! With that being said, I have to shout out my travel agent, Mike Sullivan from Dream Vacations. It doesn't cost you anything extra to work with him, and he takes care of absolutely every detail for you, making the whole booking process hassle free. I use him for booking all my cruises, not just Viking. And sometimes you get extra perks on the ocean cruises like on board credit, or included drink package, when you book with him that you wouldn't get if you book yourself! There's a reason he has 5 stars on Google reviews.


His information:

Mike Sullivan

(706) 705- 1265


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