viking cruises explorer suite

Viking cruise cabins and suites: A guide to everything you want to know

Is a balcony something you can't live without when staying in a cabin on a cruise ship? If so, Viking could be your line.

Viking is one of the only cruise brands in the world that offers a balcony with every cabin on every ocean ship it operates — even the least expensive, smallest cabins. That's something that even the most upscale of Viking's ocean cruise rivals — including Oceania Cruises , Azamara , Seabourn , Silversea Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises — can't say.

Viking's ocean ships also offer a large number of suites, many of which are quite spacious. If you're looking for a room that is big and open on an ocean cruise (and are willing to pay extra for it), Viking has plenty of options.

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Viking also offers many balcony cabins and suites on its river ships — something that isn't always the case in the river cruise business, where space on vessels is at a premium. However, unlike its ocean ships, Viking's river ships aren't all-balcony-cabin vessels. Some can have as many as 25 cabins per ship that are below the waterline and have windows high in the walls.

Still, even on Viking's river ships, most cabins are balcony cabins.

A Viking cabin primer

Cruising regulars know that most cruise ships offer cabins in four broad categories: windowless "inside" cabins, ocean-view cabins, balcony cabins and suites.

As noted above, though, you'll only find the latter two types of cabins on Viking ocean ships. Viking currently operates nine traditional ocean ships aimed at the English-speaking market and two oceangoing expedition ships. Every single passenger room on all 11 of the vessels is either a balcony cabin or a suite with a balcony. As previously mentioned, that's highly unusual in the cruise business.

Viking is also known for a relatively simple-to-understand array of subcategories of rooms within its balcony-cabin and suite categories. Unlike some cruise brands such as Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line, which offer as many as 36 different sub-types of cabins, Viking's ocean ships offer just six.

The bottom line is that you'll be much less flummoxed when trying to choose the perfect cabin for you on a Viking ocean ship than when trying to choose a cabin on most other vessels.

Related: The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

When it comes to size, even the smallest cabins on Viking's ocean ships are large by cruise ship standards at 270 square feet, and the largest suites measure nearly 1,500 square feet.

Design-wise, Viking cabins and suites across all categories are modern and elegant in an understated sort of way, with Scandinavian-influenced furnishings and decor that tie to the Norwegian heritage of the company's founder.

You'll find beds topped with crisp, white duvets and Scandinavian throws, comfortable contemporary sofas and chairs in neutral tones, and light wood desks and side tables that combine to offer a residential feel in bedroom areas. Soothing, minimalist colors — think creams, grays and lighter blues — are the order of the day.

Bathrooms in Viking cabins are serene, modernist escapes with luxurious travertine marble-lined walls; Scandinavian-influenced, wood-veneered vanities; shiny white sinks; and chrome fixtures.

Viking is an upscale line — some might even call it a luxury line, though Viking doesn't market itself that way — and Viking cabins and suites have a lot of thoughtful and elegant touches, from sumptuous bedding that envelops you to heated floors in bathrooms. The rooms aren't overly flashy, though.

Instead, they are eminently functional, with storage in all the right places, lots of outlets for charging your devices and lighting right where you need it. We love the reading lights built into the fabric headboards of beds, which come in addition to the lamps on bedside tables. You won't have trouble seeing the pages of the Viking Daily activity newsletter while lying in a Viking cabin bed.

Related: The best destinations you can visit on a Viking cruise

Other little touches in Viking cabins that show the line's attention to functionality include the large and clear lettering on the Freyja toiletries that you'll find in every Viking cabin bathroom. The toiletries were specifically designed with bigger and clearer lettering than is common for toiletries so that the line's older customers (Viking's core market is in the 55- to the 75-year-old range) would have no trouble differentiating the body wash from the shampoo.

In a similar nod to functionality and ease of use, Viking had the remote controls for cabin televisions specially designed so they would only have a few buttons.

Balcony cabins on Viking cruise ships

Viking keeps it simple with the array of balcony cabins on its ocean ships. The line's nine traditional ocean vessels aimed at the English-speaking market each have 418 balcony cabins that can be broken down into three categories:

• 42 Veranda Staterooms (10% of the total).
• 272 Deluxe Veranda Staterooms (65% of the total).
• 104 Penthouse Veranda Staterooms (25% of the total).

The first two categories, Veranda Staterooms and Deluxe Veranda Staterooms, are the same size at 270 square feet (a figure that includes balcony space). They basically look the same. However, the Deluxe Veranda Staterooms, which cost more, have better locations on the ships and come with more amenities and services. These extra amenities and services include:

• Earlier access to shore excursion reservations (67 days in advance of sailing versus 60 days).
• Priority access to spa treatment bookings (60 days in advance).
• One guaranteed priority reservation at every alternative restaurant on board, which can be made 60 days in advance of sailing.
• Binoculars in the room.
• Coffee machines with premium coffee and tea selections in the room.
• A traditional, super-soft Norwegian Marius-weave blanket for use in the room.

Passengers staying in Deluxe Veranda Staterooms can also access their rooms one hour earlier on embarkation day than those staying in Veranda Staterooms.

Both of the first two categories of balcony cabins come with minibars stocked with complimentary soft drinks, water and snacks. In the case of Deluxe Veranda Staterooms, staff replenishes these minibars once per day.

Penthouse Veranda Staterooms offer more space than the latter two categories, at 338 square feet, plus additional amenities and services, including:

• Priority shore excursion reservations that can be made 77 days in advance of sailing.
• Two guaranteed priority reservations at each alternative restaurant on board, which can be made 70 days in advance.
• Priority spa treatment bookings that can be made 70 days in advance.
• Minibars that include complimentary alcoholic beverages as well as soft drinks, water and snacks (replenished once daily).
• Complimentary clothes pressing and shoeshine services.
• A welcome bottle of Champagne.
• Earlier access to cabins on embarkation day.

Viking's two expedition ships, Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris, also have three categories of balcony cabins with a similar array of amenities and services. Named Nordic Balcony, Deluxe Nordic Balcony and Nordic Penthouse, the cabins of these three categories are slightly smaller than the cabins of the three balcony cabin categories on the traditional Viking ocean ships at 215, 215 and 269 square feet, respectively. They also have a different type of balcony that makes them feel more spacious than their square footage suggests.

Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris have what some in the cruise industry call an "infinite veranda" — a balcony-like space created by a window wall that opens from the top down. Viking calls them Nordic balconies.

Related: How to get a free or cheap cruise ship cabin upgrade

The majority of Viking river ships, known as Viking Longships, have 61 balcony cabins broken down into two categories: 205-square-foot Veranda Staterooms and 135-square-foot French Balcony Staterooms.

The latter has doors that open onto simple balustrades and not full balconies that you can step onto. This feature is known as a French balcony or Juliet balcony (a nod to the balcony of this type made famous in Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet"). Technically, these French balconies are balconies, even if they're not quite as satisfying as a balcony with space to lounge.

Including the French balcony cabins, nearly 75% of the cabins on Viking's Longships have balconies.

Viking also offers smaller versions of its Longships that have fewer balcony cabins, as well as a few different types of river ships with varying numbers of balcony cabins.

Suites on Viking cruise ships

The suite choices on Viking ships also are relatively easy to understand. On Viking's traditional ocean ships, there are 47 suites broken down into three categories:

• 32 Penthouse Junior Suites.
• 14 Explorer Suites.
• One Owner's Suite.

The Penthouse Junior Suites measure 405 square feet, including their balcony space, and come with such extra amenities and services as:

• Priority shore excursion reservations that can be made 87 days in advance of sailing.
• Three guaranteed priority reservations at each alternative restaurant, which can be booked 80 days in advance.
• Priority spa treatment bookings that can be made 80 days in advance.
• Minibars with complimentary alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, water and snacks.
• Complimentary laundry, dry cleaning, pressing and shoeshine services.

In addition to a bed area, Penthouse Junior Suites have a large sitting area with a sofa, coffee table and chairs, and a separate television. The bathrooms are large, too.

Life starts really getting good in the 14 Explorer Suites on Viking's traditional ocean ships. They range in size from 757 to 1,163 square feet, including balcony space, and bring even more enhanced amenities and services.

Related: The ultimate guide to Viking ships and itineraries

Each of the Explorer Suites is a two-room complex with a well-appointed living and dining area complete with a table that seats four people. Very large master bathrooms feature a double-sink vanity, a spacious glass-enclosed shower and a bathtub (something you won't find in any of the lesser cabin categories on the vessels).

The Owner's Suites, of which there is just one on each traditional Viking ocean vessel, are truly sprawling and impressive complexes that measure 1,448 square feet. They are true owner's suites in that they are used by Viking founder and chairman Torstein Hagen when he sails on the ships, and they feature some of his personal mementos, including family pictures.

Related: 7 reasons you should splurge on a suite for your next cruise

Each of the Owner's Suites has a separate bedroom, living room, dining area that seats six people and master bathroom that includes a sauna with a glass wall facing the ocean.

In addition, each of the complexes has a boardroom with a long table that seats 12 people for meetings and catered dinner parties. There's an adjacent pantry that can be used by staff serving room service or catering hosted events. Among other personal touches related to Hagen, the company founder, are book, wine and music collections that he curated for the rooms.

Viking's two oceangoing expedition ships, Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris, also have three categories of suites:

• Nordic Junior Suites (322 square feet).
• Explorer Suites (548 square feet).
• Owner's Suites (1,238 square feet).

The typical Viking river ship has nine suites broken down into two categories — 275-square-foot Veranda Suites and 445-square-foot Explorers Suites.

Bottom line

Viking operates ships with a very easy-to-understand array of cabins, unlike some of its competitors.

Every passenger room on its ocean ships is a balcony cabin or a suite, something that is unusual in the cruise world, and these cabins break down into just a few subcategories. This makes the process of booking a room on a Viking vessel relatively simple compared to booking a room on many other ships.

Design-wise, Viking's cabins are relatively upscale, with soothing, Scandinavian-influenced decor and lots of luxury touches like heated floors in bathrooms.

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• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
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• What to pack for a cruise

Explorer Suite (ES)

• Stateroom size: 548 sq ft (includes Nordic balcony)
• Ocean-view two-room suite, 80% larger than junior suites, with private Nordic Balcony and private veranda
• Well-appointed living area & dining area that seats 4
• Additional storage and seating features
• Private access to Explorer Suites Garden
• 11 AM Embarkation
• 11 AM priority stateroom access
• Expedition activity reservations 67 days prior to departure
• 3 priority reservations at each alternative restaurant 90 days prior to departure
• Priority spa treatment bookings 90 days prior to departure
• King-size Viking Explorer Bed (optional twin-bed configuration) with luxury linens & pillows
• Free Wi-Fi (connection speed may vary)
• 55" OLED flat-screen TV featuring MSNBC, FOX News, National Geographic and more
• Additional 42" flat-screen interactive LCD TVs in living area
• 110/220 volt outlets & USB ports
• Large private bathroom with spacious glass-enclosed shower, bathtub, double-sink vanity, heated floor, anti-fog mirror & hair dryer
• Premium Freyja® toiletries
• Plush robes & slippers
• Direct-dial satellite phone & cell service
• Security safe
• Individual climate control
• Purified water refilled daily
• Welcome bottle of champagne
• Mini-bar with alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, water & snacks (replenished once daily)
• Traditional Norwegian Marius-weave blanket
• Personal coffee machine with premium coffee & tea selections
• Stateroom steward & twice-daily housekeeping
• 24-hour room service, including service from any restaurant during open hours
• Complimentary laundry, pressing & shoe shine services
• Silver Spirits beverage package included
• Floor-to-ceiling drying closet
• Spacious drawers & closet with wooden hangers
• Under-bed suitcase storage space
• Keepsake Viking expedition jacket (on polar itineraries)
• All Viking excursion gear needed for any relevant excursions
• View the Explorer Suite (ES) in our 360° Tour

The Roaming Boomers

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 ”

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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. 🙂

Pingback: Experiencing a Viking River Cruises Veranda Suite | The Roaming Boomers

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. 😀

Pingback: Flash Sale: Viking River Cruise Grand European Tour | The Roaming Boomers

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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Enjoying an Explorer Suite on Viking Star

A Voyage on an Explorer Suite on Viking makes for a memorable milestone celebration.

Having been empty nesters for some years, we decided it was finally time to make a change. So with a mix of nostalgia and anticipation, we spent the good part of a year decluttering and preparing our home of 23 years for sale.

Simultaneously, we purchased a smaller, soon-to-be-built townhouse in a nearby town and unexpectedly discovered along the way that the timing of the sale and purchase wouldn’t quite dovetail as planned.

Months of heavy lifting (literally and figuratively) – followed by three weeks of unanticipated temporary moves from a hotel to a friend’s house to a hotel – exacted a far greater physical and emotional toll than we could have ever imagined. Foreign travel was, of course, put on hiatus.

So we couldn’t wait for our long-awaited September cruise on Viking Star, a vacation that coincided with my birthday. All our cruise documents, including our cabin assignment, were delivered to our old home well in advance of the moving frenzy.

Viking Star is one of the line’s ten ocean-going sister vessels. Viking Star was the first in the series; Viking Saturn is the newest.

A “suite” surprise

Our voyage began in Bergen, Norway , where the cruise line whisked us from the airport to the port with our bags pre-tagged for delivery to Cabin 4041, a penthouse stateroom on Viking Star.

Check-in under a tent on the pier was moving quickly and efficiently. Brilliant sunshine and blue skies in Bergen, where it typically rains some 231 days a year,  were a very good omen!

When it was our turn to check in, we received our identification cards and were told our luggage would meet us in Cabin 3000. What?

We had never been subject to a last-minute cabin change so we suspected there had been some mix-up and worried when we would be reunited with our bags.

We showed the person at the check-in desk our luggage tags with the correct cabin number, 4041, and wondered whether we would have to dig into our cruise documents to prove our point. We almost began to argue.

Before she – or we – could discern what happened, another officious-looking woman from the cruise line approached us from behind to tell us there had indeed been a change. She would be accompanying us to our newly assigned stateroom on the third deck.

As we boarded the gangway, the crew all greeted me with whispers: “Happy Birthday.” I had almost forgotten our travel day was on my birthday.

Checking into an Explorer Suite on the Viking Star  

Our jaws dropped when our host used the key card to open the cabin door. We’ve been on many beautiful ships but never were upgraded to a suite. Inside, a bottle of champagne was chilling on ice. Beside it was a note welcoming us to an Explorer Suite on Viking Star, again wishing me a “Happy Birthday.”

We were both stunned at our good fortune!

We spent 15 wonderful days in our Explorer Suite on the Viking Star, traveling to seven different countries. I’m convinced that if you can afford it, a splurge like this is the perfect way to celebrate any milestone birthday or anniversary in an extraordinary way.

There are 14 Explorer Suites on the Viking Star, all of them located on the corners of the ship (on decks 3, 4, 5, 6), both at the fore and aft.

Explorer Suite 3000 is located at the front with a huge balcony that offers incredible views of sea and land, and plenty of space to enjoy them.

The WOW Factor on an Explorer Suite

Our accommodations were so comfortable that, if allowed to remain on board, we would have circumnavigated the globe—perhaps, twice.

Here are some of the reasons we were wowed:

Sprawling space 

Most cruise ship cabins offer “just enough space,” generally about 200 square feet – give or take a few. (Relatively large cabins are closer to 300 square feet.)

Our Explorer Suite measured about 757 square feet (with the balcony included) and had an L-shaped living/dining room (with a couch, two club chairs, and a desk area) and a separate bedroom and bath.

We felt like we were wrapped in windows with sweeping views on two sides.

The bathroom (described further below) was a suite in itself with a cavernous, well-lit walk-in closet that could fit a whole wardrobe. with a dressing table at the end (a perfect place to blow your hair with three-sided mirrors that allow you to see the back of your head).

An eye-level safe was conveniently placed on one side of the closet, offering easy access.

Indoor-outdoor living

The balcony was roomy enough for a lounge chair, a table, and four chairs; it had a privacy panel on one side and a windbreak panel on the other, offering protection from the wind. It was perfect for reading or using the Viking Star binoculars to scope out the next port.

At times, we felt like we were on our own private yacht.

Our sybaritic bathroom

Light and airy with double sinks and plenty of drawers and shelves for our toiletries, Explorer Suite bathrooms also feature a spa-like separate shower room with a bath.

Once you step on the heated floor and grab a warm bath towel from the heated towel rack, you immediately wonder if there is a way to have these luxuries at home.

An oversized one-way window (with a vanity shade) beside the bathtub looks out over the bow of the ship—but the view has some competition. The mirrored wall also has a TV built into it.

State-of-the-art technology

We’ve sailed on many river ships and ocean-going vessels and found that the Internet connection in this suite was the most stable one we have ever experienced at sea.

In addition to the bath, our room had two additional flat-screen TVs, one in the bedroom and another in the living area. There were ample outlets throughout the stateroom (220V and 110V) and USB ports.

Top-notch service and amenities  

Other perks of the suite: Explorer Suite guests are offered: 11 AM priority access to their suites; priority reservations at the spa, on excursions, and for specialty restaurants; a complimentary minibar with alcoholic beverages, soft drinks and snacks that are replenished daily; plush robes and slippers; and free laundry, dry cleaning, and shoe-shining service.

The only minor disappointment was that Explorer Suites on the Viking Star don’t offer conventional butler service—which we’ve experienced on other luxury lines.

Generally, butlers make reservations for guests at spas, restaurants, excursions, etc. In addition, they offer the continuity of one person who can troubleshoot any problem.

However, we were blessed with two excellent cabin stewards, Elsnore and Augustino, who were always helpful and did a great job of orienting us to “suite life.”

Bottom line  

Cruising the seas in an Explorer Suite on the Viking Star is a perfect way to mark any milestone! Thank you to the staff and crew of Viking who arranged this unforgettable birthday journey for me. What a way to celebrate!

But I fear that we have been totally spoiled…

What’s appealing to the over-50 traveler?

• I’ve written previously about how the Viking Star (like its other ocean-going sister ships,  Sky , Sea and soon to come, Spirit) has carved out a unique niche for the over-50 traveler . These small ships, holding about 900 passengers each, have been explicitly designed to meet the needs and sensibilities of mature travelers.
• When it comes to celebrating milestone birthdays and anniversaries, people over 50 tend to prefer “experiences” over “things.” Many of our fellow passengers were marking life passages on the Viking Star. The luxury of cruising in an Explorer Suite certainly ups the ante for the frequent cruiser.

• The configurations of the fore and aft Explorer Suite cabins differ because of their respective positions on the ship, thus posing some tradeoffs: The ones at the fore offer more interior living space; those at the aft offer a larger wraparound balcony.
• Because of wind and safety issues, the suite does not offer direct access to the bow of the ship.
• Although smaller in size, Penthouse Junior Suites offer many of the same perks and amenities as the larger, more costly Explorer Suite.
• Cruise lines generally go out of their way to make a fuss over special events and milestones. (Although I hadn’t peeped a word about my birthday, someone at Viking must have looked at my passport). Don’t forget to alert the ship if you would like to have a milestone event acknowledged in some way (usually with a cake). Cabin upgrades like ours are rare events!
• Viking Ocean Cruises
• View a 360-degree tour of a typical Explorer Suite on the Viking Star

Disclosure:

The author’s cruise was sponsored by Viking Cruises but any opinions expressed in this post are her own.

A previous version of this article appeared on GettingOnTravel.

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• River Cruising

Beware of the Explorer suite on Viking

By Drl75 , April 21, 2019 in River Cruising

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Just back from the Rhine River Cruise on Viking.  We traveled in the Explorer suite on the Viking Baldur.  My husband and I couldn’t sleep because of the extremely loud noise coming from the engine and the constant vibrating of the room.  The room shook so bad, it could make some people sick.  The noise came from the engines.  The most expensive room on the ship is over the engines !!!!  I will never go on a Viking ship again!

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Which ship?

1 minute ago, VistaRio said: Which ship?

11 hours ago, Drl75 said: We traveled in the Explorer suite on the Viking Baldur. 

Answered in the post....

Sorry to hear about your experience. I am sure this was a big disappointment especially at the price of the suite.

I believe that the noise issue in the explorer suites differs from ship to ship. We booked the Viking Emerald's explorer suite in 2017 (China) and experienced no engine noise whatsoever as our suite was on the 3rd deck situated over the bridge. It is a good idea to determine the location of the engine and location of the suite before booking as I, too, have heard of problems with engine noise on some of the ships. 

2 hours ago, dogs4fun said:   I believe that the noise issue in the explorer suites differs from ship to ship. 

Yes, this is true.  However, I believe it is a common problem on the Viking “longships”, which dominate the popular Viking Europe cruises.

Several years ago, when the longship design had just been rolled out by VR, we had drinks in an Explorer Suite with acquaintances from the cruise and the people who had booked the suite were very vocal about the noise from the engines directly below the suite.  So it’s been an issue for quite a while.

23 hours ago, Hoyaheel said:     Answered in the post....

Not sure how I missed that.   😜

Viking Cruises

Dear @Drl75

Welcome home! We sincerely regret to hear that your sleep was interrupted by engine noise, and are interested in discussing your experience in further detail. If you haven’t already connected with us, please email [email protected] with your booking number so that we can arrange personalized contact. 

We hope to hear from you soon, Drl75, and wish you a lovely day.

Kind regards, Viking Cruises  

On 4/20/2019 at 7:12 PM, Drl75 said: Just back from the Rhine River Cruise on Viking.  We traveled in the Explorer suite on the Viking Baldur.  My husband and I couldn’t sleep because of the extremely loud noise coming from the engine and the constant vibrating of the room.  The room shook so bad, it could make some people sick.  The noise came from the engines.  The most expensive room on the ship is over the engines !!!!  I will never go on a Viking ship again!

2 hours ago, Viking Cruises said: Dear @Drl75   Welcome home! We sincerely regret to hear that your sleep was interrupted by engine noise, and are interested in discussing your experience in further detail. If you haven’t already connected with us, please email [email protected] with your booking number so that we can arrange personalized contact.    We hope to hear from you soon, Drl75, and wish you a lovely day.   Kind regards, Viking Cruises

Some of us would like to know if this is a known issue with this specific Suite on all of the Long Ships?

beanpittsburgh

I can't afford the Explorer Suite anyways so not a problem for me.  Sorry for your experience though.

16 hours ago, Coral said: Some of us would like to know if this is a known issue with this specific Suite on all of the Long Ships?

Well, from the posts I have read describing the noise, I will never book the suite on a long ship - at the price of the suite, I simply would not risk it.

17 hours ago, Coral said: Some of us would like to know if this is a known issue with this specific Suite on all of the Long Ships?

The Viking website has deck plans of their boats, so those who have already booked - or about to book - can see where each individual room is.

The long ships I have been on all have the Explorer Suites (2 of them) at the rear of the boat. This is in order, I assume, to give a large balcony at the stern (the only space available), that also wraps round the side. Looking at the plan one can see the two suites are separated by the ships funnel and as it's at the stern it should be no surprise it's above the engine room.

I suppose the amount being above the engines affects people is how noisy the negines on a particular  boat are, how hard they have to work - I guess going upriver against the flow they must work harder than going down river, when the boat is cruising and whether guests are in their suite when cruising. Oh, and their hearing. My SO can't hear low level noise so she wouldn't be affected.

If Viking care to upgrade us to an Explorer Suite on our June trip I will be very happy to give a full report here 😍

1 hour ago, dogs4fun said: Well, from the posts I have read describing the noise, I will never book the suite on a long ship - at the price of the suite, I simply would not risk it.

And yet when OP started a thread about Explorer Suites nearly a year ago, the only response from anyone who'd actually cruised in one didn't mention noise at all. There are plenty of other posts from people who didn't suffer (or at least report) any noise issues in the suites. Peoples' sensitivity to noise or other night-time distractions, and how they grumble about it or not, vary a great deal so I certainly wouldn't write off the Explorer Suites as an option if I could stretch my budget that far. From my experience on Viking River I'd be very surprised if the designers had had a brain-fade when they got to the most expensive accommodation.

I'm with Pontac on this one - I'm just about to make final payment on my July trip and would be very happy if the upgrade fairy were to move me a couple of doors aft from where I'm booked...

Host Jazzbeau

28 minutes ago, kentchris said: And yet when OP started a thread about Explorer Suites nearly a year ago, the only response from anyone who'd actually cruised in one didn't mention noise at all. There are plenty of other posts from people who didn't suffer (or at least report) any noise issues in the suites. Peoples' sensitivity to noise or other night-time distractions, and how they grumble about it or not, vary a great deal so I certainly wouldn't write off the Explorer Suites as an option if I could stretch my budget that far. From my experience on Viking River I'd be very surprised if the designers had had a brain-fade when they got to the most expensive accommodation.   I'm with Pontac on this one - I'm just about to make final payment on my July trip and would be very happy if the upgrade fairy were to move me a couple of doors aft from where I'm booked...

I find that ship designers generally take the Tom Sawyer approach:  put the most expensive cabins in the least desirable spots and convince people to pay extra for the privilege!  Note that the noisy areas underneath pool areas are almost always expensive suites.  So this wasn't a 'brain-fade' but standard industry practice.

3 hours ago, dogs4fun said: Well, from the posts I have read describing the noise, I will never book the suite on a long ship - at the price of the suite, I simply would not risk it.

Nor would I. I just wanted Viking to answer.

5 hours ago, pontac said:     The Viking website has deck plans of their boats, so those who have already booked - or about to book - can see where each individual room is.   The long ships I have been on all have the Explorer Suites (2 of them) at the rear of the boat. This is in order, I assume, to give a large balcony at the stern (the only space available), that also wraps round the side. Looking at the plan one can see the two suites are separated by the ships funnel and as it's at the stern it should be no surprise it's above the engine room.   I suppose the amount being above the engines affects people is how noisy the negines on a particular  boat are, how hard they have to work - I guess going upriver against the flow they must work harder than going down river, when the boat is cruising and whether guests are in their suite when cruising. Oh, and their hearing. My SO can't hear low level noise so she wouldn't be affected.   If Viking care to upgrade us to an Explorer Suite on our June trip I will be very happy to give a full report here 😍

I can assure you that I am not over sensitive to noise.  What we experienced was extreme, loud and disturbing.  I’ve been on over 30 ocean cruises and this is the first time I’ve written any type of review on any ship or cruise line.  It may be isolated to only some of their ships, but I find it unconscionable that noise of that level should exist on any ship of any cabin level.  My reason for posting my experience was to alert any other travelers of something I wish I had known.  I suppose if you’re upgraded for free to a suite with brutal noise and vibrations, then you likely may not feel as strongly as someone that paid top dollar for the luxury of a suite.  Nevertheless, I hope that at least I have made someone aware that the Explorer suite may not be worth the price.

19 hours ago, Drl75 said: I can assure you that I am not over sensitive to noise.  What we experienced was extreme, loud and disturbing.  I’ve been on over 30 ocean cruises and this is the first time I’ve written any type of review on any ship or cruise line.  It may be isolated to only some of their ships, but I find it unconscionable that noise of that level should exist on any ship of any cabin level.  My reason for posting my experience was to alert any other travelers of something I wish I had known.  I suppose if you’re upgraded for free to a suite with brutal noise and vibrations, then you likely may not feel as strongly as someone that paid top dollar for the luxury of a suite.  Nevertheless, I hope that at least I have made someone aware that the Explorer suite may not be worth the price.

Thank you for posting this.  Sorry about your experience.  I am glad you are warning people.

We have been reading so much about this terrible noise issue in the ES on the Longships.  I just want to publicly state that I will be willing to suffer through it on my next Longship cruise, which is already booked.  If Viking needs to fill these undesirable rooms, I will reluctantly accept an upgrade from my Veranda A.

On 4/23/2019 at 5:16 PM, Host Jazzbeau said:  So this wasn't a 'brain-fade' but standard industry practice.

That really doesn't add up: if there's a generic problem with Viking's Longship Explorer Suites then every mention by past pax on this forum ought to include a mention of the 'brutal noise and vibrations' that OP complains about. Only a few report any issues at all, so do you think the ones who don't say anything are too embarrassed to admit they paid top price for an inferior experience? 

@kentchris , that is precisely the question I have been trying to answer.

2 hours ago, kentchris said: That really doesn't add up: if there's a generic problem with Viking's Longship Explorer Suites then every mention by past pax on this forum ought to include a mention of the 'brutal noise and vibrations' that OP complains about. Only a few report any issues at all, so do you think the ones who don't say anything are too embarrassed to admit they paid top price for an inferior experience? 

The earlier post that these suites are positioned where they are in order to get the wrap-around balconies is another good theory.  But I have noticed that whenever I study ship deck plans, the high rent suites so often tend to be placed in what I consider the less desirable locations.  So that's another theory.  Is either right?  Or both?  For that you'd need to have been a fly on the wall when they were designing the first longship.  

Why haven't we heard about this before?–how many posts on this forum have been from passengers in an Explorer Suite?  But if you look in the Viking River catalog, there is only one deck plan for ALL the long ships, which implies that they are all the same.  The two Explorer Suites (located on the Upper Deck) are the only passenger cabins at the extreme rear of the ship.  They are several decks above the engines, but the spaces below them on the Middle Deck and the Main Deck are blank boxes.  I have no idea what's there (crew cabins, storage?).  

Normally I would expect that two full decks of buffer would protect the Explorer Suites from the noise, but engine noise travels through structure as well as air.  Based on my experience sailing and sussing out deck plans and with these reports, I would avoid the Explorer Suites.  

Good points.

Regards the "walking tracks" :   I don't think they are generally used as such, and I certainly have no concerns with that aspect.  Most passengers on these ships get their daily fill and more without the need to walk around in "ovals" while on the boat.  Having only stayed on level 3 ... I never heard noise from above.

Since there are so many longships, and they all have their Explorer Suites at the rear, I wonder whether the engine on the OPs ship was not working well, thus was running much more noisily than usual.

That said, my own noise issue happened on Uniworld, where I was on the lowest deck at the bow. I found that the bow thrusters that help maneuver into locks were very noisy, and woke me up on a number of occasions. I have never heard anyone else complain about that noise either.

FuelScience

I'll just add a couple of words. I'm hesitant to post since I've never sailed in Viking's Explorer Suite, but it may be worthwhile for me to mention our recent experience on the Royal Emerald, the former Scenic Emerald. The ship was leased by Teeming for our cruise. We splurged and got one of the two Panorama Suites. These rooms are on the top level on the back of the ship like Viking's Explorer Suites. 

Due to previous complaints, the ship owner completely refurbished the suites to deal with the vibration and noise issues. We didn't think the refurb was successful, and we were moved to a suite mid-ship so that we didn't have to deal with the noise.

We used the dB Meter app on my wife's iPhone to measure the noise level. In our Panorama Suite the noise level averaged about 67dB while underway, ranging from 65 dB to 72 dB. In the Royal Suite mid-ship, the noise level measured about 40dB. We also measured the noise level with the engines off, and it was 35 dB. 

The noise level was worse on some nights than others. The captain said that water depth was a significant factor in noise level due to sound and vibrations bouncing off the river bottom. If that's true, it might explain why some people noticed the vibrations more than others. 

notamermaid

FuelScience,

I was thinking of your recent report on the noise level on the Royal Emerald and was wondering if it is indeed a kind of "natural occurence" at the aft of the ship when the engine is there, i.e. something that is not easily rectified. On my cruise I was in the "middle of everything" but even I noticed a noise that sounded like someone showering. It lasted for hours and while it did not disturb me, I wanted to know what is was, just in case it needed seeing to. I was reassured it was caused by how the ship sails over what ground, i.e. sand, gravel or stone and how close it is to the hull. So, indeed, noise can differ from ship to ship and where it sails. How hard the engine has to work will also play a part, of course.

Phillygirl3

From the time we booked our cruise in an Explorer Suite, I had trepidations regarding the one or two posts that I read regarding noise levels.  We decided that we would take a chance in that some people may be more sensitive to noise than others.  In fact we have slept using a white noise machine for many years.  Well the Explorer Suite was noisy--it was fine while we were cruising more slowly during the day but since most of our cruising occurred at night, we had quite a bit of engine noise and some vibration, particularly going through the numerous locks--you could hear the thrusters (engine?) adjusting to the progress of getting to, through and out of the locks.  I actually think we went through four or more locks in one night.  Our best nights were when the ship docked overnight and then you could still hear the whatever noise was needed to keep the ship powered.

At least this was a continuous, softer type of noise like a white noise.    When the cruise ended, my husband and I asked each other if we thought the benefits that came with the suite outweighed the noise factor and we agreed it did.  We had a private car pick us up and take us to the airport which meant not having to wait for others to board a bus and identify luggage.  We also were able to order breakfast in our room and we did not have to pay for any drinks in the lounge or anywhere else.  Our room was lovely and we had 3 bottles of wine in our cabin and champagne upon arrival.  It was great having floor to ceiling windows in the living room area which allowed us to see both sides of the river as it was a little too cold to sit out on the sundeck.  We had a separate bedroom which also had a large flat screen tv in addition to the one in the living room.  We had different fruit arrangements in our room each day and our cabin steward (butler) left us a sweet treat each day.

I met people on the ship who did complain about the cramped conditions in the other suites but we have sailed with Viking before in one of those suites (verandah) and while we found it small, we felt that it was quite sufficient for our needs.  So, all I can say is that if noise of any type is problematic for you, then you may not want to book an Explorer Suite.  

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