Our First Time Traveling
Our first time traveling and it was fabulous! Cheryl Wilson is absolutely amazing at planning vacations. Cheryl helped me with every step of the way where I didnt have to worry about a thing. Our trip to Jamaica was completely worry free and it was exactly what I was looking for. I cant wait to plan my next trip where I will definitely be contacting her! Thank you so much Cheryl! You are amazing!!
Viking River Cruises Complaints
No matter how impeccable the services you provide, theres still a good chance that some people will be angry with you. The same is the case with Viking ships. When doing the viking river cruises ship reviews.
Complaint 1
Bait and switch tactics with their Risk Free Guarantee program resulting in unfair business practices: Viking changed their risk free guarantee, but agents were not up front about the change from the ability to cancel up to 24 hours before sail and that you lose ability for your monies refunded if you cancel..Vouchers only valid for 2021 & 2022, not 24 months. *See email to Exec Team no response & Vouchers.
Desired Outcome
Complimentary Drinks With Lunch And Dinner
Below are a list of those cruise lines who offer complimentary drinks with lunch an/or dinner:
Award winning for the best river cruise fleet in Europe you cant go wrong on an AmaWaterways river cruise! Although drinks are not unlimited throughout the cruise – wine, beer and soft drinks are free flowing throughout lunch and dinner every day! And of course, there are tea and coffee facilities available at all times. Any drinks that you purchase throughout your cruise will be added to your onboard account and charged to your debit or credit card at the end of your cruise. Like most river cruise operators, AmaWaterways include all of your meals, daily shore excursions, port charges, Wi-Fi and more in your cruise fare.
APT provide excellent value for money and although drinks are not free-flowing throughout the cruise, regional wines, local beers and soft drinks are complimentary with lunch and dinner on board! Any drinks that you purchase throughout your cruise will be added to your onboard account and charged to your debit or credit card at the end of your cruise. And as you’d expect, all of your meals, daily shore excursions, port charges and more is included in your cruise fare.
Which is the best river cruise line? Find out what we think here!
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Inclusions Are Subject To Change
AmaWaterways *Beer, wine and soft drinks included with lunch and dinner sparkling wine with breakfast. Complimentary shore excursions included in every port, along with complimentary Limited Edition Tours some optional tours require a fee.
American Cruise Lines*Breakfast room service and daily evening cocktail hour are not included on all ships or itineraries. Featured shore excursions are complimentary along with Limited Edition Tours some optional tours require a fee. Premium and Signature shore tours require a additional fee.
Avalon Waterways *Beer and wine included with lunch and dinner sparkling wine with breakfast. Coffee, tea and non-alcoholic beverages complimentary 24/7. In addition to the main dining room, Avalon offers small group reservations to Panorama Bistro . When weather permits, grilled lunches are available on the Sky Deck. Meals can also served in the Club Lounge and Panorama Lounge. Some optional tours require a fee. Airport transfers included when purchasing air from Avalon.Avalons beds face wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors.
Crystal River Cruises*All of Crystals new-builds will feature Panoramic Balcony Windows. Crystal Mozart features balconies in about half of its staterooms. Internet services 60 minutes per person, per day.
Uniworld River Cruises*Laundry is included for past guests on Uniworld
AmaWaterways River Cruises
American Cruise LInes
Avalon Waterways River Cruises
CroisiEurope
You Can Avoid Overpaying For Drinks
Courtesy of Viking Cruises
If youre planning on drinking regularly no judgments here, were talking about a vacation there are a couple of ways to keep your budget in check.
The most obvious: Pay for the Silver Spirits beverage package, which offers unlimited beers, cocktails, premium wines, juices, espresso drinks, and mineral water for the entire cruise. Prices vary depending on the length of the cruise, but for around $19.95 per night per guest, youll never have to worry about what youre spending.
Is that worth it? If youre planning on drinking several glasses of wine per night , its certainly a decent purchase. If that doesnt sound like a great value , theres another option.
You can also buy local wine and bring it onboard, a Viking Cruises representative tells TravelAwaits via email. Each stateroom on Viking Longships and Vikings ocean ships have a refrigerator, and a corkscrew is also available onboard.
As with all other aspects of your cruise, the trick is to plan ahead. Make a list of planned expenditures, then do the math to see whether you can justify the Silver Spirits package. If not, you can always grab a few bottles of the good stuff during a shore excursion.
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Whats The Name Of The Viking River Cruise
Viking River Cruises Review. Recently, Viking River Cruises invited me to sail up the Rhine River and explore Switzerland, Germany, France and The Netherlands on their classic Rhine Getaway river cruise. The entire trip was calm and relaxing and I felt like it struck the perfect balance of sightseeing and leisure!
Which River Cruise Lines Are The Least Inclusive
River cruise lines with European owners, such as CroisiEurope and A-Rosa, tend to be the most a la carte. However, these lines have tailored their offerings, making them more inclusive for North Americans while keeping pricing a la carte for Europeans. For example, they’ll include shore excursions and waiter served dinners for Americans and Canadians, while these remain pay-as-you-go for Europeans. A-Rosa does include all alcoholic drinks and gratuities — measures that appeal to its primarily European passengers.
Read on for a look at what major river cruise lines include in their fares.
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Viking Shores & Fjords
Immerse yourself in a rich heritage steeped in Nordic tradition. Admire the tranquil old fishing village of Skagen, Denmarks northernmost town. Visit cosmopolitan Oslo, Norways historic capital. Browse the fish market and fortress of Kristiansand, stroll among Stavangers remarkably preserved wooden buildings and marvel at the magnificent fjord setting of tiny Flåm. Join us on this richly rewarding journey into Scandinavias most scenic and fascinating corners.
- Cruise from: Amsterdam to Bergen
- Waterways: North Sea
- Countries visited: The Netherlands, Denmark, Norway
- Cost per person: from $3,299
Read More Of Our Cruising Posts
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Monday 12th of August 2019
Thanks for doing all the math :-).
For us, we didnt need the drinks package . But we understand that some people might prefer the freedom to have a cocktail when they want without worrying about the cost, so they might want the package. Always good to have options!
K and R
Thursday 1st of August 2019
I found your post very helpful. We like our booze and we dont intend on locking ourselves in a room just to save a few bucks. The package sounds like the right choice to me.Thank you
Bob Hughes
Wednesday 23rd of October 2019
Did the Rhine. Bought the package. After the first day they knew we had the package and never asked for our room number. In fact they knew what each of us drank and offered special drinks to try. Left the ship with no bill and others had hundreds of dollars of drinksRemember, you will meet people and most in the lounge where if they drink so will you.
Thursday 1st of August 2019
Its nice to hear our post is helpful thank you. And thanks for taking the time to comment :-).
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American Queen Steamboat Company
Typical starting price: $2,199 for 7 nights
Where they sail: Mississippi, Ohio/Tennessee/Cumberland, Columbia/Snake Rivers
Duration: 7 to 15 nights
Specialty Cruises: Music festivals, music of the ’50s and ’60s, bourbon, Cajun/Creole, wine, Kentucky Derby
Amenities : Wi-Fi, bicycles for shore, library, fitness center, smoothie and juice bar, pool, sun deck, spa, fitness, hiking sticks
Inclusions:All meals, unlimited beverages , in-room dining, one-night pre-cruise hotel stay, hop on hop off buses onshore, ground transfers, Wi-Fi, daily entertainment
Pro: You’ll save money as you won’t have to pay to fly overseas.
Cons: Excursions cost extra, starting at around $79. The least expensive cabins are interior and have no windows.
As the name implies, the American Queen Steamboat Company uses old-school-style riverboats for their journey. These state-of-the-art, authentic paddle wheelers can accommodate from 150 to 400 guests, depending on the ship.
Choose from a wide variety of accommodations from well-appointed suites to small no-frills single staterooms that are a mere 80 square feet. Some sailings have Loft Suites, which are two stories with floor-to-ceiling windows and have two full bathrooms, a dining area, a lounge with a Queen sofa-bed, a balcony, and an upstairs bedroom.
Notable Excursions :
COVID-19 vaccinations are required for all guests and crew. COVID-19 procedures are available here.
Adventures By Disney River Cruise
Typical starting price: $4,599 for 7 days
Where they sail: Danube, Rhine, Seine
Duration: 8 days
Specialty cruises: Danube Christmas markets, Oktoberfest, Rhine food and wine, Seine National Geographic photography
Amenities : High-speed Wi-Fi, gym, sun-deck, walking track, bikes for shore use, pool or whirlpool, fitness classes, salon, massage
Inclusions: All meals, unlimited beverages , daily excursions, all gratuities onboard and at restaurants, daily cocktail hour, select meals off the ship during excursions, onboard entertainment
Pros: Adventures by Disney guides add a wonderful touch to each journey with storytelling, educational information, and goes above and beyond to ensure every guest has a great time.
Cons: The ships aren’t “Imagineered.” In other words, if you are used to the added magic that occurs on a Disney Cruise Line, you won’t find that here.
Adventures by Disney, the guided, family vacation arm of the Walt Disney Company, offers unique journeys sprinkled with signature Disney magic. Each day, you’ll receive an enamel pin reflecting the day’s adventure such as Mickey dressed as Mozart or Donald cooking goulash.
The Adventures by Disney river cruises are designed for families, and their itineraries, both onboard and onshore, have something for every age group. Kids love the Junior Adventurer dinners or Disney movie nights, and there is also a Just Teens program with dinners and separate tour groups at various destinations.
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Ocean Cruise Ship Itineraries
Vikings basic ocean cruises range from 8 to 15 days, with destinations to Scandinavia and the Baltic the western and eastern Mediterranean the British Isles and North America and the Caribbean, as well as combination cruises of those itineraries available ranging from 22 to 50 days. A new ship, the Viking Sun, will spend her maiden season sailing the companys first-ever world cruise, spanning 141 days and visiting five continents and 35 countries, starting in January 2018. Also in 2018, a fifth ship, the Viking Spirit, is slated to visit the Middle East, Australia, Asia and Alaska.
Have you ever sailed on a Viking Cruise? Tell us about your experience in the comments.
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Viking River Cruises Food Review
Generally, on cruises, the area of most weakness is in the quality of the food. I can honestly say that the food was the best Ive ever had on a cruise. It wasnt anything out of this world but it was very tasty with good presentation and most importantly, variety.
I also noticed the chef was also on hand to accommodate any of the passengers dietary requirements. So when it comes to the Viking river cruise food reviews, I certainly give them good remarks.
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Tauck Vs Viking River Cruises
Beyond advertising budgets, the lines offer vastly different experiences. Viking provides a shore excursion daily, along with beer and wine at meals, in a casual environment, while Tauck is all-inclusive, with a fair number of luxurious extras. Read on for our look at Tauck vs. Viking river cruises and some ideas of why you should pick one over the other.
On A River Cruise Get Off The Boat
Courtesy of Viking Cruises
Given the luxurious nature of the Viking vessels, its easy to understand why a traveler would want to stay on the boat. Thats fine if youre on an ocean cruise, but for river cruises, make sure youre taking advantage of the local culture.
Sailing down rivers puts you in the heart of many of the cities you visit, our source tells us. During each port of call, guests can explore the destinations with a short walk from their ships dock. Plus, the ships sail smoothly down Europes waterways, meaning, no waves for those who get seasick.
This is where a carefully planned travel itinerary can really elevate your trip. Of course, if you miss a stop, you can still enjoy the cities: Vikings Culture Curriculum program provides onboard performances and lectures from artists, musicians, and historians, along with authentic culinary demonstrations.
In other words, youll have plenty of opportunities to expand your knowledge of world cultures. Just make sure to make an effort!
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Can You Get Seasick On River Cruises
Will I get seasick on a river cruise? Your chances are much smaller of getting motion sickness on river cruises, because theres less motion. On the rivers, youre not dealing with ocean waves and currents. But for most rivers in the US and Europe, the motion felt on the boats is significantly reduced.
Viking Ocean Cruises Destinations
Viking Ocean Cruises offer voyages in many of the worlds best destinations, including the Mediterranean, Baltic, Latin America and the Caribbean. From the transatlantic crossings that trace the Middle Ages trade routes to exotic journeys in India and Asia, every itinerary is planned to perfection, offering an intimate insight into each destinations food, culture, people and customs.
Promising an experience beyond that offered by other lines, Viking takes their guests into the cultural heart of the places they visit and provides a complimentary shore excursion in every port of call. These immersive opportunities, coupled with frequent overnight stays and Vikings permission to dock in prime berths that are inaccessible to larger liners, enables guests to get more out of their time ashore.
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Tea And Coffee Are Included On Viking Cruises
Tea and Coffee are free all the time, everywhere! Im not much of a coffee drinker but Ive been told by my friends that I was sailing with that the coffee was really good. There is also a coffee machine in the stateroom and it comes with little coffee pods. On some cruise lines, you have to buy those pods!
In the buffet, there are take away cups which you can use to make a cup of tea/coffee in. I love being able to wander off with my tea so this was appreciated! My cup of tea seen below in the winter garden.
Dishing With Julia Child
Starting in 1963, Julia Child and The French Chef series taught a nation how to cook well, eat well and drink well. Now, todays chefs share insightful, funny and personal comments in appreciation of the first lady of cooking. Viking is proud to be a supporter of PBS and its delightful new program, Dishing with Julia Child. Bon appétit!For details and airtimes, visit
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Viking River Cruise Guide
Viking Cruises are a household name when it comes to luxury river cruising, with over 20 years of awards and recognition under their belt. Viking’s large fleet of over 70 ships and counting sail to a large variety of itineraries in Europe, Russia, Egypt, China and more. Onboard youll be treated to an all-inclusive experience, with complimentary Wi-Fi access, coffees, teas, as well as complimentary wine, beer and soft drinks served with gourmet meals by Swiss-trained chefs. Enjoy guided shore excursions and in-depth tours, or sightsee on your own, with plenty of time allocated for independent activities. Vikings innovative ships offer a variety of larger-than-average suites and intricate Scandinavian design made with guest comfort in mind.
What Are The Best River Cruises For Families With Kids
Adventures by Disney is the best option for families since they curate their onboard and onshore activities with kids and teens in mind. Uniworld is also a good choice with an array of added perks for kids of all ages.
Otherwise, most welcome children but don’t offer extra programming for them, and Viking doesn’t allow children at all.
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Not All Inclusive: Teeming River Cruises
Teeming prides itself on being an affordable cruise line that doesnt charge passengers for all the extras they may not want. Multiple packages are available for extra costs. A 14 day cruise from Cologne to Vienna starts at $2,301.
Most services are already included. However, there are some optional services or amenities on board for an extra charge. These include shore excursions , meals & drinks purchased while on shore.
Drinks on board are charged as you go, on an à la carte basis. The standard drink menu on the MS Botticelli offers a variety of reasonably priced drinks. For example, wine by the glass, whiskey, gin, & vodka are $6.90 each. A premium drinks package is $25 per day, or $375 for the total cruise.
An average shore excursion costs $150 per excursion. The total cost of 14 excursions would be $2,100.
The total combined cost of the cruise with the drinks and excursions, plus taxes would be $4,976. Flights are not included.