Winner of Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards 2022, Cond Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards 2021, and Cond Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards 2022. (You could hang your bath towels for re-use or your robe, but not both. Viking seems to have been handling the situation well. Stroll among the stalls at Budapests Christmas market and immerse yourself in the cheerful atmosphere of Vienna as you shop for handmade decorations. Christmas Market River Cruises - Viking Cruises Did we maybe get old stock and the newer ones arent leather anymore? The line is sailing two holiday voyages. Jill, Hello Amanda, In the past couple of months, I've seen free airfare, 2-for-1 deals, early booking discounts, and more. The line will sailfrom New Orleans to Memphis on Dec. 11 withstops in St. Francisville, Louisiana, and Natchez, Mississippi, among others, and make a similar reverse journey on Dec. 18, according to its website. There are special Christmas menus and a cookies-and-milk corner, plus holiday classics shown on the poolside screen. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. By Immerse in the fairytale atmosphere of Viennas markets and shop for unique gifts. A little appetizer for Christmas. It's really quite incredible how they plan the itinerary and excursions so precisely. The sailings also will featurea holiday gala, treats like gingerbread, and a traditionalRveillon dinner from culinary ambassador Regina Charboneau. So when Viking River Cruises contacted me inviting me to check visit Christmas markets in Europe off my bucket list last year, I just about leapt at the chance. The itinerary had also changed from what it was when we booked and paid for it, but Viking included one sight we had wanted to see when we mentioned it. Photo Credit: Uwe Nicklas Lockdowns in Austria and Germany, more than 20 months into the Covid-19 pandemic, have. We should have thought of this ahead of time and just said no. We also received a complimentary upgrade.) We wanted, however, to use our Welcome Card for one more entranceat the German Spy Museum near the hotelso we went back on the bus. With a stunning 24-foot Christmas tree as its centerpiece, ships see the addition of garlands, poinsettias, and holiday-themed entertainment and activities. We had three options: Bus and walking, all bus, or all walking. The Sofitel Victoria in Warsaw was also well located and very nice; again, join their loyalty program and send them an email asking them to add it to your reservation with Viking. loriva, January 15 in River Cruising. Viking offered two optional toursFlavors of Berlin starting at 1400 hours (which likely dictated the short time at the Christmas market) and a Brewery Visit and Dinner at 1830 hours. Overall, we thought the post-extension was very well done and worth the price. I found the design very well-thought-out overall. Have fun and know youre doing good by participating in a special walk for polar bears on the ships deck in support of the World Wildlife Funds arctic program. No matter if youre interested in simply sipping eggnog by the pool or looking to attend an onboard Christmas mass, they deliver the reason for the season. We ended the tour with a stop at the Christmas Market. Interesting to walk up the ramp of the dome, read the history of the building, and then have a wonderful dinner overlooking the lights of Berlin. These are the cultured people I enjoy traveling with, and some of my cruisemates have become friends for life. Everything about river cruising appeals to me: the small ships, the port stops every single day, the fact that just about everything is included. Prague: Breakfast starting at 0630 in the Restaurant (with coffee from the fancy machine and pastries in the nook outside the Lounge starting as always at 0600 hoursthe Astrild does not have room service nor coffee makers in the cabins, so this is the early morning option), luggage call by 0715 hours, clear out of cabins by 0745, and on the bus in shifts between 0800 and 0830 hours (to allow unloading at the hotel as the parking space out front only fits one bus at a time.) How much free time you end up with in each port totally depends on what you decide to do. Available rooms on the Christmas on the Rhine cruise start at $2,299 and at $2,499 for Christmas on the Danube, per person based on double occupancy, though prices may vary depending on the dates. The Captain and Program Director hosted a Welcome Briefing at 1800 hours in the Lounge (you could also watch any presentations from there in your cabin on the TV) with dinner at 1900 hours. Each had strengths and areas for improvement. Thats great to hear that yo had a good experience rebooking your cruise, Tom! *, Could be different stock levels in the various places they warehouse their tags and mail their joining instructions. Travelers can now float permanently on a luxury residential cruise ship starting in 2024. The packet for our April 2023 cruise has arrived and we've got real leather luggage tags again! Viking:Viking's Christmas Market River Cruises take travelers to quaint towns and bustling cities throughout Europe. My mum learned a little bronx ditty from an American sailor during WW11 (she was a Wren stationed in Portsmouth) I can still recite, its about 33little birds. A few of us opted to follow the guide to get closer to the rocks and view. I see a lot of images of the Christmas Markets at night with the stalls lit and the lights twinkling does the boat stay late enough to enjoy that? Cruise lines are offering a range of celebrations and specialty voyages for travelers who want to book a last-minute getaway, whether you want tosoak up some sun during the cold winter months or do some shopping at Christmas markets. In each port there was usually an included bus/walking tour of the city with a local guide, and then some free time. Sample delicious traditional Knackersemmel, perhaps with a warming glhwein. While Im sure these markets a beautiful at any time of day, there is something very appealing to me about being able to visit after dark. Rivers, Oceans, & now Expeditions | Viking Cruises We found service excellent in maintaining the ship and looking after passengers. RELATED: 23 Photos That Will Make You Want to Go to a European Christmas Market Right Now. On the Rhine Getaway itinerary, we stopped somewhere at least once a day. For Thanksgiving, guests can watch the biggest football games from their outdoor movie screen. The only things not included are alcohol and soft drinks outside of meal times, and any optional tours you might want to sign up for. These are only indicative fares on the ship's lowest category staterooms. Celebrate the festive season on the high seas with these New Year's, Hanukkah, and Christmas cruises. (Join the loyalty program before you leave and then send them an email with your number to add to Vikings reservation with any special requestssuch as shower only. From $399 | 2 Nights, From $999 | 2 Nights, From $799 | 3 Nights, From $999 | 3 Nights, From $899 | 4 Nights, From $499 | 2 Nights, Use down arrow key to expand the menu and up arrow key to collapse the menu and hit enter to select the link, One complimentary shore excursion in every port of call, Beer, wine & soft drinks with onboard lunch & dinner, 24-hour specialty coffees, teas & bottled water, Ground transfers with Viking Air purchase, Enrichment lectures & Destination Performances, Voltage: 220V & 110V (US outlet), plus USB ports, Queen-size Viking Explorer Bed with optional twin-bed configuration, All Upper & Middle Deck staterooms have a full veranda or French balcony (a floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door), Private bathroom with shower; heated floor & anti-fog mirror; premium Freyja toiletries; robes & slippers (upon request), 40" or 42" flat-screen Sony TV with infotainment system featuring Movies On Demand, plus CNBC, CNN, FOX & more, Telephone, safe, refrigerator, hair dryer & individual climate control. Berlin: We booked and took the train on our own from Hamburg to Berlin--easy. You step onto the road, and, if you don't keep your feet, there's no telling where you might get swept off to." These specialty sailings bring cheer to the high seas with seasonal activities, festive dcor, and even more delicious treats than usual. Whether you need a break from holiday overkill or are contemplating a new family travel tradition, cruising for Christmas may be exactly what you need. This is all in addition to the lines plentiful year-round offerings. The Viking bus did not have Wi-Fi, however, but I had bought an eSIM data plan through Airalo that worked for Germany, the Czech Republic, and Poland. Ship: Viking Sea. And the answer is: a whole lot. Thank you for info, pics and videos:. All Viking Cruises Christmas and New Year cruise offers listed here are just itineraries and not cruise deals for sale. There's a free tour offered in just about every city, and on this itinerary they are often walking tours. Glide past fairytale-like castles commanding the riverbanks in the Wachau Valley or the Rhine Gorge, taking in the idyllic countryside. This is a lack I find frequently in hotels and on ships, so I actually pack a small, over-the-door hook.) River cruises are no longer reserved for a specific demographic as companies are tapping into the widespread appeal of visiting a range of destinations on one vacation. If we had the option, we would likely sail with any of the three again if the itinerary and pricing were right (and Scenic fixes their IT and pre-cruise service.). (Hint: there is an outlet section.) Stroll among the stalls at Budapest's Christmas market and immerse yourself in the cheerful atmosphere of Vienna as you shop for handmade decorations. Looking for packing suggestions for your river cruise? 2022 Sue Spargo Quilters Christmas Market River Cruise | Quilt Tours Quality Clientele. (There was also an optional 8-hour tour of the Elbe Valley.) Find your perfect cruise with Viking. See musical instruments . An evening stop in Rudesheim to visit its Christmas markets at night. Learn more about me here. Just about everything onboard is included: your room, the service of the incredible staff and crew, all your meals, and even wifi. In the morning, the local guide joined us for a panoramic tour of Warsaw interspersed with some walking portions and ending up in Old Town. Copyright 2022 Travel + Leisure Co. All Rights Reserved. You enjoyed your juice in morning without having to answer. We only had 20 minutes there and could have spent a lot more time, making our way back to the hotel on our own. Afterwards, though, you can have the concierge set up transport for you to get wherever you need to go in the disembarkation port. THAT is amazing, above-and-beyond service. Simple better. Pre-cruise Extension Hamburg: Viking offered a choice of two optional extensions prior to the cruisetourone with two days/nights in Hamburg and one with two days/nights in Berlin at the same hotel used by Viking for the two included nights in Berlin prior to boarding our ship. Go in-depth in Europe with a cruise on the brand-new Viking Oceans cruise line. TRAVEL + LEISURE is a registered trademark of Travel + Leisure Co., registered in the United States and other countries. The sophisticated British cruise line takes an elevated approach to the holidays. We had a couple of hours to visit the Sanssouci Palace in Potsdam (an audio tour, no live guide) and then a lunch stop (on own) and free time in Potsdam, including visiting the Christmas market along the pedestrian street. There were about a dozen 20-somethings traveling with a larger group from Pennsylvania, and we had a young couple honeymooning on the ship, too. Don't want to hang out in the lounge? It could have had more hanging space in the wardrobe and more hooks in the bathroom. We reboarded the ship at 1230 and had lunchalways a seated affair and you could eat in the Restaurant or up in the forward section of the Lounge--as the ship sailed away. Yes, we could have done it on our own but we learned so much from Mariusz and our local guides. Cruise rewards: Holland America Lineguests can earn credits through new Refer a Friend program, Dreaming of a Disney Christmas? The atmosphere in most European cities around Christmas is already so festive that Viking doesn't really have to do a whole lot to create a Christmas market cruise itinerary. With cruises to Europe, Mexico, and South America, Norwegian Cruise Line welcomes guests to take the guesswork out of the holidays this year. A day pass for unlimited travel for those 60-70 years of age is less than $3. Booking and Viking before cruise: We found booking with Viking easy and found the. We had booked dinner at the Biaa Ra next to the hotel, which turned out to be one of his recommended restaurants. Dreaming of a Disney Christmas? After touring it, we returned to the hotel and took a taxi to the Reichstag, where we had booked dinner at the Kafer Restaurant in the dome. Due to the snow and freezing rain the day before, it was a bit treacherousI was glad I had packed the spikes to attach to my shoes. Stroll the medieval, UNESCO-listed citys streets and enjoy sausages at the Alte Wurstkche. Then free time to visit the museuma little confusing and not always well signed--and shop for a souvenir. The shipboard dining will be "upgraded" with gingerbread cookies, fresh-made by the boat's executive chef. If there was a smiley for "shrugs shoulders in a Gallic manner" then it'd be here. December holidays are a magical time and Viking River Cruises along Europes largest rivers and inland waterways is the perfect way to experience thistraditional for the old continent magic.
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