River, Ocean, & Expedition Cruises Around the World
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To my knowledge there are no accessible cabins/suites on the Viking Longships. Of the 4 decks only the “middle” and “upper”decks are connected with a small lift. The “main” (lowest) and “sun” (highest/outdoor) decks are not connected by the lift. The Dining room, Lounge, Aquavit terrace, guest services and all boarding / disembarking are located on the middle and upper decks. I do not believe they accept passengers who require the use of wheelchairs, scooters or rollators/walkers.
Veranda Suites
Every cabin comes with a view on Viking's Longships; there isn't a single interior cabin to be found onboard. Design-wise, Viking's cabins are relatively upscale, with soothing, Scandinavian-influenced decor and lots of luxury touches like heated floors in bathrooms. Soothing, minimalist colors — think creams, grays and lighter blues — are the order of the day. If you enjoyed this article, sign up for our monthly newsletter to keep abreast of our best travel tips, on-location reviews, exclusive travel offers, group travel events, and much more.
Suites With Verandas, American Queen Steamboat's American Queen
But even if you can find a cabin that works, keep in mind that river cruise excursions often require a lot of walking over cobblestoned streets. Some lines require passengers with mobility issues to bring a companion with them. Some guests preferred to stay in the Lounge and simply relax, read a book, or enjoy the view beyond the big plate glass window or take in the views from the sun deck. For more details on the areas designed for guest comfort, read the illustrated guide to the Viking River Cruise ship’s common areas. Each cabin comes with climate control, a refrigerator, telephone, a really good hand-held, plug-in hair dryer, ice bucket and bottle of non-branded still water that is replenished daily.
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Sometimes the river water levels may be too low in spots (due to the lack of sufficient rain during summer) or there is another issue (like a broken lock) necessitating the change. Sometimes there’s a lot of river cruise ship traffic in popular cities. This was true in Passau, a city of over 50,000, and especially in heavyweights like Vienna and Budapest.
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An impressive 39 cabins on Middle and Upper Decks have real balconies, a wonderful and highly touted addition that allows you to take in the views gliding past in virtual privacy. Though the balconies, which Viking calls verandahs, are not as wide as you'll find on oceangoing ships, there is still room on each for two straight-backed mesh outdoor chairs and a tiny wooden table. Longship balconies add square footage to typically compact river cabins (205 square feet each), a notable bonus when most river ship staterooms offer, at best, the sliding glass door openings termed "French balconies." Notably, some river cruise lines have tinkered with this setup. Avalon Waterways has designed its cabins so the beds face the windows, particularly nice for scenic cruising.
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Since there really aren't any sea days, sitting by the window/verandah watching the world go by doesn't happen. We spent our sailing afternoon on the Rhine (after Kinderdijk, heading upstream) in the lounge where we could actually see the world go by--if there was something interesting on the other side of the ship, we could see it. The smaller French balcony rooms are on one side, and the larger balcony rooms are on the other.
Panorama Suites, Avalon Waterways
Viking river cruise ship layouts center on the glass-enclosed Aquavit Terrace. Part dining area, part sunny hangout, the Aquavit Terrace sits at the front of the ship and provides a perfect vantage point for scenic sailing. Complimentary Wi-Fi is available throughout the ship, including in cabins. On our fairly standard Rhine river cruise, it was reliable, if not blazingly fast. Fresh fruit and bottled water are also complimentary and provided in all cabins daily. There are ice buckets in each cabin, but you must fill them yourself from an ice machine located in the hallway on each deck.
Mississippi
A very nice touch is the heated floor (which can be regulated or turned off). In addition to the area around the basin, there is storage space beneath, plus two glass shelves set to one side of the sink. The shower runs the length of the bathroom, which means there is plenty of space wall to wall, but some passengers might find it narrow.
But the stars of the ships are the two Explorer Suites, both located on the upper deck at the back of the ship. These cabins come in at 445 square feet -- some of the largest on the rivers -- and not only have a separate bedroom and living areas, but a wraparound balcony. Having a step-out balcony on a European river ship is not a given. Viking has designed its Longships so there are 39 cabins with full step-out balconies, where you can sit with your coffee in the morning and enjoy watching the river. Another 22 cabins have the more traditional French balconies, where you can open the doors for fresh air, but can't actually go outside.
We've been on one, and although going on a cruise next week we just booked a heavily discounted American departure for July. We enjoy the "white noise" of the water splashing against the hull when we are moving. And, we really like - and use - the wide window sill, as we can hand wash some items - and lay them out to dry there. Follow our social media and blog for the latest cruise and travel news, including our best vacation deals.
If exploring the central U.S. — Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois and Missouri — without driving is appealing, consider the 15-night Grand Ohio River Cruise offered by American Cruise Lines. You'll enjoy regionally inspired dining and eclectic landmarks along the Ohio and Mississippi rivers as you sail. If you've never visited New Orleans, or it's been a while, take a Mississippi River cruise that sails round-trip from the Big Easy. They offer time before or after the cruise to enjoy the city's food, music and iconic architecture — plus the ease of a round-trip flight booking. Viking's seven-night New Orleans & Southern Charms itinerary focuses solely on ports in Louisiana and Mississippi, with an emphasis on historic architecture, Cajun culture and Civil War landmarks. Cabins on river vessels tend to be slightly smaller than their ocean counterparts because the ships themselves are much smaller.
American Cruise Lines offers this itinerary on four ships from April to October 2024, 2025 and 2026. Three of the ships — American Melody, American Symphony and American Serenade — are 180-passenger modern river ships launched in 2021, 2022 and 2023, respectively. The fourth, American Splendor, is a 180-passenger paddlewheeler that debuted in 2016.
With daily included shore tours, and the option to book some additional for-fee tours, you can expect the very best excursions on Viking Rhine River cruise. As previously mentioned, river cruises are much more active than ocean voyages especially as there are no days at sea. Rather than feel overscheduled or tired, it is far better to study the itinerary in advance and decide what really interests you. Just because a walking tour is included it doesn't mean you have to take it. We have done four river cruises since 2011.We always buy the cheapest cabin available.
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