By: Megan Guinnup, a Marvelous Mouse Travels agent
Excursions on Viking River Cruises are a bit different from most Ocean Cruises. From the way you meet up with your guide to the cost and everything in-between, let's dive deeper into those differences.
While you're at dinner and your stateroom host is taking care of the evening turndown in your stateroom, he or she will leave a copy of the next day's Viking Daily and tickets for your excursions on your bed. The Viking Daily contains the next day's schedule, weather report, information on the destination, and interesting facts. The ticket has the date of your excursion, your name, and the time/place you need to meet your guide. You'll need to bring your ticket to each excursion - some guides collect them and others don't, but you should be prepared either way.
Disembarking from a River Cruise is far easier than an Ocean Cruise. There's no waiting to clear customs upon docking, you walk straight off the gangway into the town or city. A few times a coach bus took us to the start of the tour, but most of the time we met our guide as soon as we walked off the ship and began our tour almost immediately. Be sure to pack comfortable shoes - many of the towns still have cobblestone sidewalks and roads!
On Viking River Cruises, there is one included excursion at each town or city you visit along the way. This is typically a guided walking tour of the town, which can include visiting historical sites, learning about the significance of that town and its buildings/churches throughout history, and sometimes, going inside a few buildings or churches. The guides that Viking uses for these excursions are local experts in the area you are visiting and all speak English!
These are additional excursions you can choose to attend, but do have a cost associated with them. The cost varies, based on what you'll be doing on the excursion. For example, a wine tasting is going to cost more than a tour of a palace. Viking has a variety of optional excursions you can choose from, but they don't overwhelm you with choices. Each day of the Rhine Getaway sailing I was on, there were two to four optional excursions to choose from.
If you choose to forgo any optional excursions, you're free to hang out on the ship or explore the town on your own! The customer service desk provides you with maps of the area as well as a card that has your ship name, phone number, and dock location (in case you get lost). No matter how good you are with directions or how great your map app is on your phone, definitely take a card - you never know when you'll need it!
Excursions on a Viking River Cruise are a memorable experience and give you a great orientation of the town or city you're visiting. In my opinion, the included excursions are a must-do for everyone! If an option excursion that is offered is something you're interested in, go for it - you won't regret it. Otherwise, explore the town you're docked in on your own - there is so much to do and see!
Please reach out to Megan, an agent with Marvelous Mouse Travels to plan your next vacation or you may contact Marvelous Mouse Travels.
