How to Choose the Right Stateroom on a Viking River Cruise
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As I’ve only ever sailed with Scenic I’ve rarely experienced breasting up and then only for a short time as in one of the inside vessels was awaiting a late passenger so on our excursion return they were gone. Another time, lovely day relaxing on the balcony shared a glass of red with our neighbours we still keep in touch sparodicaly across the pond. You also need to realize that for almost all sailing on the river, it is done at night, so for the half day you will be sailing during the day, you can use the sun deck for a view. So how would you like to pay for a balcony, open your curtain and someone in their undies is looking at you from a foot away. The French Balcony staterooms are a lovely choice of stateroom.
What Amenities Do Standard River Cruise Cabins Have?
On our trip, we met interesting people; visited fascinating places; sampled new foods, wines, and beer; and appreciated Viking’s convenience and gracious hospitality. We can’t say enough about how well-run and maintained the ships are. Although we have some other trips planned (that we organize ourselves, as we often do), we are contemplating which Viking cruise — river or ocean — we will be booking next. For a more casual option, the Aquavit Terrace on the upper deck has light buffet breakfasts, lunches and dinners.
What's a French Balcony on a River Cruise Ship?
L'Occitane toiletries, once featured on all the Longships, have been replaced with the line's own-brand of Freyja products that were introduced when Viking launched its first ocean ship in 2015. Shampoo, conditioner, body wash and lotion come in refreshingly large and easy-to-read 80 millilitre (2.70 fluid ounce) containers that are also simple to open, and the products are very pleasant and not highly perfumed. There is also a bar of Freyja soap, shower cap, makeup remover pads and cotton buds. Coffee stations and some snacks are usually available during the day. Room service is limited -- it's breakfast only and only available to passengers in the Explorer Suites. In the case of the Viking River Cruises Longships, if you can, avoid staterooms 338, 339, 222, 216, and 122.
River Cruise Cabins Tend to Run Smaller Than Ocean Ones
They range from seven to 15 nights and visit destinations in 16 states; itineraries take you through the colonial-heritage-rich Northeast, America's agricultural heartland and the pioneer routes of the Pacific Northwest. There were only two days where we sailed during the day; when we sailed through the middle Rhine and when we sailed 300km from Cologne to Kinderdiik. During the rest of the cruise we were off the ship doing shore excursions during the day. But even its 300-square-foot Royal Suite doesn't have a separate living area.
If you are too far toward the back of the ship, you can usually hear engine noise (and maybe a little more vibrating). On several occasions there was another Viking ship tied up next to us, so the view was in the sister ship's stateroom anyway. In many of its cabins, Avalon has an expanded variation on French balconies called open air balconies. This means that the door slides the entire length of the room; again, you can't step outside though.
There was a large picture window but were rarely in our cabins during the daytime to look out of it. Sometimes (depending on the river ship) the lower level cabins (closest to the water) might not have full-length windows. Scenic offers butler service to passengers in every cabin, with set services according to the cabin category. These range from shoeshine, concierge service and restocking the mini-bar in Standard Suites, to packing and unpacking, arranging in-room cocktail drinks and even running a bath in the top suites.
This stateroom has a wonderful floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door that you can open to bring in a nice breeze. These staterooms are a nice middle ground between the standard stateroom and a veranda. American Cruise Line offers this itinerary on five ships from April to October 2024, 2025 and 2026. Three of the ships (American Song, American Jazz and American Harmony) are 180-passenger modern river ships launched from 2018 to 2020. American Pride is a 150-passenger paddlewheeler launched in 2012, and American West is a 110-passenger veteran paddlewheeler launched in 1995.
Suite
Stay current with special offers, news and destination-focused content. Off-ship experiences include sampling local beer and oysters in Astoria, Oregon; visiting Multnomah Falls or hiking Beacon Rock; and having a private vineyard visit and downtown wine walk in Walla Walla, Washington. Next, during a call at Kingston/Hyde Park, you can tour the Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site, home to the 32nd U.S. president's library and museum. You can also head to the Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site, featuring an American Beaux-Arts mansion completed in 1899. The United States Military Academy at West Point, founded in 1802, is also on the itinerary, as is Sleepy Hollow. The Sleepy Hollow legend comes to life during a tour of the local cemetery where author Washington Irving is buried.
For example, the guests in the Explorer Suites can book optional excursions before guests in the Veranda Suites. This practice continues through all the classes of staterooms, with the standard staterooms getting the last optional booking options. Having said this, there are often opportunities to book optional excursions once you board the ship. This is because some guests may have canceled their planned optional excursions prior to the cruise, so it’s a good practice to check on this and any other concerns once you’re on board. On Viking's Longship style of river vessels, Veranda Suites are true suites, with separate living and sleeping rooms.
It's a particularly charming place to eat when the weather is nice and the glass walls come down, opening the entire area up to al fresco dining. Tables here are smaller, so if you're traveling with a friend or partner, you don't have to sit at a table with strangers. You can also come and go a bit more freely here, during serving hours. It's a nice choice if you've had a long day touring and only need a small nosh. On Viking river cruises, wines are included at lunch and dinner and are poured liberally. This is one area where the line strives to provide regional offerings.
On some lines, you'll also find a mini-fridge and on most -- but not all -- bottled water is complimentary. On its Longships, Viking has a wide selection of balcony cabins, or Veranda Staterooms, where there's space for a table and chair. A-Rosa, Amadeus River Cruises and AmaWaterways are among the lines that also offer balcony cabins. If you adore staterooms with lots of personality, energy and verve, the just-like-a-palace style of decor in all of Uniworld's river cabins is sumptuous, lush and richly patterned. Antoinette suite with a silk-lined leopard, brown and green cabin, that we dubbed "the mint chocolate box room".
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The lifts on longships, and I would assume most river boats if equipped, have to have the lift mechanism on the bottom floor of the ship, as there is no room to house it on the top because of the low bridges in Europe. If you need the services of the lift, you will not be able to book a cabin on the main deck. These questions are probably some of the ones rumbling around in your head. Keep reading and hopefully, the following information will help you understand the difference between the suites and staterooms on Viking River Cruise ships. 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.
Plus, Viking offers several excursions each day that the ship is in port. My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our Viking River cruise, which transported us comfortably to some amazing European destinations. We love the suite design that appears on all of Ama's newer river vessels, Europe and beyond.
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. AmaWaterways is the first river cruise line to actually design a ship with groups and multi-generational travelers in mind. The two family-friendly ships, AmaStella and AmaViola, debuted in 2016.
We’ve had the pleasure of sailing with Viking Cruises, and if you’re looking for a little insider information, we can help. Sailings are available from late September to early November 2024, 2025 and 2026. Cruise the Hudson round-trip from New York City on American Cruise Lines' seven-night Hudson River Fall Foliage Cruise. You'll visit Catskill, home to the Hudson River School Art Trail and the Olana Historic Site, or explore more actively at the Hudson River Skywalk and Kaaterskill Falls. In Albany, founded in 1609, you can tour the newly renovated New York State Capitol building, built in the late 1800s; you can also visit the New York State Museum, which dates to 1836. On the Pacific end of your voyage, you'll visit Astoria, Oregon — the oldest American settlement west of the Rocky Mountains.
The opposite side has three large shelves and a laptop-size safe. There are two bedside cabinets that include a handy pullout shelf for books and other items. Viking's Longships were considered pioneers when they were built. By building modern European river ships at scale, Viking has been credited with revitalizing river cruising due to their deck plans, cabins and dining spaces. We have never used a balcony on a river cruise, but we always use balconies on ocean vessels, and we were completely pleased with our choice on the Tor. If you have used insides on ocean vessels, and are not light sleepers, you will have no issues at all with the aquarium cabins.
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