Just booked my Viking river boat trip for July!

No -- but we are crossing our fingers for mid-September in England and France. . And then late Nov followed by Jan and Feb. One of those dates and trips have to work. We keep booking them and they keep cancelling our trips. All we do is to try. Even considered a Viking cruise in conjunction with the Sep trip.

I’m sorry I don’t have encouraging words, and can’t believe Viking took your money Susan. We had a Crystal Ocean cruise booked for the end of August and we just canceled it because we could see the writing on the wall. Right now, they have canceled cruises through June.

Believe me, no one wants to get back to cruises and travel more than me. But, like tours, I think cruising won’t be happening much till next year.

Though everything to Alaska is cancelled due to Canada's port policy, I think there will be some cruises in other parts of the world open to those with proof of having been vaccinated. Royal Caribbean is starting up Israel to Greece and Cyprus, but everyone onboard over age 16 must be vaccinated.
Unfortunately, the company president hasn't committed to requiring vaccination for all itineraries, however.

They say they will be starting to cruise in June, but of course that is just a dream. So, we'll see. It is fun to "think" it may happen. Adds a thrill to my life for a few weeks until they cancel it..ha ha!

We take a Tauck Xmas Market River Cruise every other year in Dec and we just canceled our scheduled one for 2021 and postponed it until Dec 2022. IF your trip goes, there will be so many rules and regulations, that it wouldn't be worth it for US. But we all have to make that decision for ourselves. We just don't want to have to fly in a mask and wear a mask all over Europe. Plus, we LOVE the huge buffet breakfast and sipping coffee along the streets and NO WAY will that happen this year. I can't imagine your trip will go since the EU (esp Germany, Italy, Austria hasn't begun vaccinations), but a lot can change in the next couple of months. I just don't think they will open up to 10s of 1000 of people in the next 4 months with MOST people NOT vaccinated. I'm a nurse and got vaccinated in December.

River Cruises are one of our favorite ways to see Europe = we've been on a lot of them and we always stay for 2-3 weeks.

Just know that us being vaccinated isn't the issue - it's requires others across the GLOBE being vaccinated - esp in regards to international travel. You can still get and transmit COVID - that is the issue.

I do think by late Fall, things will be slowly opening. But, I don't think going over as soon as the borders open will be fun as there will be so many restrictions in place. When we contacted our post cruise hotels in Austria and Germany to cancel this Dec 2021 and postpone to Dec 2022 - even they said we made the right decision. Please keep us posted. We were crushed when we realized that we won't be going this year, but it is a lot of money to spend to have lots of restrictions in place and things not fully opened. We hate to have to wait another almost 2 years, but we do think by 2022, life will be closer to normal. We are so lucky here that the vaccines are rolling out relatively quickly - I so wish it were the same for the whole world.

I understand the excitement of having a travel plan to look forward to. I am still holding a ten day rental in Italy for September but thinking I should cancel it. As long as you don’t get your hopes too high, I do hope it works out for you. Why did you chose Viking for a River cruise? They were our least favorite of the River cruises we have taken.

Susan and Monte; "what the heck, it is fully refundable" is a great attitude! Which cruise are you going on? Maybe we will cross paths!

You know, I almost think it would be worth the "travel rush" to book a (fully refundable) trip, regardless of what the odds are. Odds greater than zero are still better than no chance at all. And it's always fun to dream!

Just booked my Viking river boat trip for July!
What the heck! It is fully refundable

Wish I could come up with some 'encouraging words', but it looks like you have given Viking an interest free loan. ( Yes, I was a Business major)

It's kind of fun...like playing the Lottery! You can dream of possibilities!

So, my 95 year old dad took a Viking Cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest after my mom passed about 8 years ago. He enjoyed it so much he'd like to go again but is too old, so he is sending me and my sister :-) We have gone back and forth about when to go, wait until he passes, or try to go sooner. He would really love to live it vicariously through us, so we figured we should just go for it. My sister works for the school district so we are limited with dates. So, if not this year then we get a voucher or can get our money back. We discussed how it may not be perfect if we could go, of course wearing face masks etc, plus other restrictions. I also have health problems so who know my future, and dad would love to hear all about it now. So...why not??

I'm not really a cruising person, but I'll take it to make my dad happy :-) ha ha!!

Susan and Monte, I'm an optimist and that gets me raked over the coals around here. I was just born that way and it's served me well in life.

As long as you can get a voucher and reboot for 2022 you should be fine. I'm betting you will be on that cruise in July 2021.

At this point it is just a deposit, which we will get back. But, I'll keep hoping :-) If we pay in full we can get the choice of a voucher at 125% of what we paid or cash back.

Thanks Big Mike!

Susan and Monte, if you hadnt noticed, I love Budapest ........... a lot. So if thats where you are going and you want some ideas, feel free to PM me. I was hoping thats where you were going. If Hungary is open in July, I will be there too.

Happy Trails!!!!

Is Viking providing extra encouragement about any special procedures that will enact for cruises this summer ... reduced number of passengers, changes in meals, distancing, mask policy, extra cleaning, whatever? Are there shore excursions with revised plans from in the past? Are they making suggestions right now that all customers should be considering for preparing for the cruise, or expectations they have and will enforce?

Hope your trip goes well. I’m sure you and your Faf will have a lot of stories to compare, after you come home.

As long as you’re happy, don’t let the naysayers on here who seem to think that what they should do is spread doom and gloom, bother you. You’ve said very clearly that you understand this is just a chance not a guarantee. It’s your money and I don’t know why people on here seem to think they get to tell you how to spend it. Sure you may have given Viking an interest free loan. After all you’re losing that .5% interest your bank is paying? That’s financial ruin? LOL

Thanks James! We won't have any extra time there, unless I can talk my sister into staying. We will go early and visit our ancestral home in Munster Germany, at least that is the plan.

I'll PM for ideas if it looks like we are going. Maybe we can go off on our own the last day and see some good sites, but longer in Budapest would be awesome.

I have a refundable hotel reservation in Warsaw in September. I'm like you -- doubly vaccinated and hopeful for travel in September but won't be crushed if it doesn't happen.

Hi Cyn,

Yes, I did ask about what might be different now with Covid but I didn't spend too much time discussing it. They said they plan daily saliva swab testing of all people on board, meals at varying times, no buffet all will be served, I think fewer people on transportation for excursions. It is possible they will change the itinerary. We can cancel for any reason up to 24 hours prior to departure and if we don't like changes made to the itinerary then we will cancel. But, honestly there are not any must sees on this trip for me. We'd be happy with anything. I figured if they think it ok then we'll just find out when we get there.

If it does go it might be super nice with fewer people traveling :-) and I wear a mask here so I can wear a mask there.

Susan and Monte, I suspect Viking will also be happy with anything - any opportunity to resume voyages, even if the boat’s not filled to capacity, and they’re up to their armpits in saliva swabs. And they need to ensure successful trips, so their trips can continue.

Buffets were the first thing to employ sneeze guards, decades ago ... I guess shared serving utensils are the concern. This could work, sort of like traveling off-season!

My husband was scheduled to do some tours for Vantage river cruises this summer, including Sept. and last week, they all were canceled. The Oct. cruises are still on.

Sounds like a wonderful trip, and I hope you get to make it!

Would your dad like to send me too? ;-)

If you do get to go, please come back to the forum and give us a trip report on what it was like.

Oh Jo, that isn't what I want to hear....but I guess the truth hurts! Well...we'll see. I'll still live in my dream until it is cancelled. I'm so sick of isolation so I'm feeling happy to think of Europe!

Susan, best of luck that this year or next you'll get your cruise. We love river cruises - 4 taken and one scheduled for 2022.

I hear you and am board...hopefully...Susan and Monte! Still holding hope for mid Oct cruise out Venice on small ship cruises line. It’s like a light at the end we need and hope to see...but covid does teach us realism and maybe more patience!? Every time I think it’s time to cancel I feel a surge of “not yet”? Crazy? Maybe? If cruises do happen this fall maybe less people on board like you said? We are vaccinated and are healthy late 60’s. Not been risk takers at all through covid. Hence isolation has been getting tough as many of us feel! But many are much worse off and we are thankful!! Let’s keep posting any updates!

Susan, I have my fingers crossed for you. You deserve something to look forward to, and since there’s no penalty to cancel there’s no harm in it. Has Monte has cancelled or postponed the trip he was planning to take?

We got our first vaccine shot last Sunday, but we decided that even if we are fully vaccinated the trip we were hoping to do in late November/December was probably not a realistic possibility. Germany and France are way behind in their vaccine distribution. We pushed it back to March/April 2022 and hope it can happen then. We have another trip planned for Fall 2022 and I’m very hopeful that it can happen.

On a bright note, more people in the travel group are getting their vaccines. I hope we can go back in in person meetings in the next few months, although being outdoors will be the key. It will be nice to see your faces!

Hi Susan, I’m hoping for the best for you, I don’t think it’s un-realistic, but as you said... “we’ll see.” It is fun to look forward to it and your attitude is perfect. Ryan and friends have a trip to Europe planned for June... we’ll see if that works out.

Carol - I agree with you.

Hi Andrea,

No, Monte has not cancelled his trip for Sept 1. He will need to cancel by august to prevent paying fees. So, I will bet he will wait until then to see the current situation.

Sorry you had to postpone your trip! What are you doing fall 2022?

It would be wonderful for our travel club to meet in person again! We miss you guys!

I have hopes for mine and my mothers trip this year. Rebooked our 2020 trip for Nov/Dec 2021, only our to and from Europe flights so far. Trip will include holiday/Christmas Markets in Amsterdam, Munich (surrounding towns), Strasbourg & Paris. Will look into booking hotels, apartments, & other flights about 6 months out and the train 4 months out. Refunds & vouchers will be looked at again, incase we need to change it to 2022.
Good Luck.

Just realized I wrote I am board...when intended to say...”on board”. Freudian I guess, for yes...also am “bored”! Every day brings a tad more hope for those of us optimists!?

I also have no flights or land lodgings booked. Only a refundable deposit till June 1st for payment. Time will tell. We loved that same Viking Cruise and itinerary! Wonderful! Best travel wishes for you all!

Thanks everyone! I like the encouragement! At least my dream will last awhile longer!

There’s no harm in dreaming, but seeing what is happening in Europe with the botched vaccination programme, I fear that a July cruise is nothing but a dream. I hope I am wrong, but seeing the advice of the U.K. government (we are much further ahead than the EU in the vaccination programme) and the emergence of new virus strains, I can’t envisage cruising happening.

What if someone onboard tests positive? Presumably everybody would have to quarantine onboard for 2 weeks, as happened this time last year. Even with a vaccination (which doesn’t make you completely immune and you can still spread the virus), you are likely to need negative tests when flying into Europe and 72 hours before you return home. This is a costly process and if you test positive, presumably you would have to quarantine and reschedule your flights home.

Susan, what is life without dreams!!!

Susan- Good luck, sounds like a decent reason for wanting to get on a cruise sooner rather than later. I'm sure your dad would really enjoy hearing about your adventures.

I booked airfare for November to Portugal with points. Just being able to play on google maps, plotting out a route, trying to stay south of the worst of the rainy season...that really felt good and improved my mood. So I completely understand your excitement.

Viking may not do everything right, but we had a great time when we did the Amsterdam to Budapest cruise in 2014. Sharing it with two of our daughters was the cherry on top. 2 cruises with Vantage since then, neither perfect, but still a great time. I do hope you and your sister have a blast.

Have you been to Germany before to visit the homeland? Your dad will really enjoy those pictures.

bdokeefe,

My dad wants us to go on Viking because that is what he did. But, which line did you prefer Vantage or Viking? And, there are others too but I haven't looked into any.

I've been to Germany many times but recently found out through meeting a second cousin from 23&me that my great ( if forget how many great) grandfathers farm house is in an outdoor museum in Munster Germany! I also have the name of the town he grew up in as well as my great grandmother and the town she is from. The church they were married in still exists, too! So, it is definitely on the list for me and my sis.

I like Vantage as they tend to have longer cruises, on the Rhine/Mosel their cruise is 14 nights, and spends more time on the Mosel than others. Their Tulip Cruise was 9 nights, not the standard 7 nights.

Vantages rooms, they have a less steep jump in price to go from the lowest level (aquarium class, fixed windows) to the next deck, which has French Balconies (sliding glass door really). I think Vantage has 176 passengers on it's newer ships, and Viking has 192 ish. Not a huge difference. Viking also has an odd thing where their French Balconies cabins are smaller than the true balconies, due to the hallway being offset and not centered. So you can pay more for a French Balcony and actually be in a smaller cabin then in aquarium.

Programs are very similar, as are food and beverage service. Both have the second dining area, which is huge to us. The main dining room just gets too noisy for me, and meals can drag on. Both the Aqauvit Lounge and Captains Club are the best spot on the ship, esp Viking...those rocking chairs at the bow are great.

Having said all that, I might lean towards Viking, just as they have more ships, and they might be able to adjust to new pandemic requirements easier. As long as you get on the boat, you'll have a good time with either.

No matter who you pick, things can go wrong, and you roll with the punches or are miserable.

We were supposed to be on a Vantage Tulip Cruise on 2020, boarding 27 March. Got a good price, then was able to use some low water credits from a 2018 sailing where we wound up in a hotel in Basel for 5 nights as the boat couldn't get further south than Koblenz. That cruise of course didn't sail, and we rolled it over to a November 2022 Danube cruise.

Again, best of luck.

Crossing fingers for you as well, Susan! As this wouldn't be your first rodeo in Europe, and that you have a firm, upbeat handle on what you're getting into (COVID containment limitations if the cruise isn't cancelled) you seem like an excellent candidate to give it a go. Dream on, little dreamer, dream on!

Inquiring minds want to know, where does the cruise go? Well, I want to know anyway! Has Monte had his vaccine yet? We will be fully vaccinated with a 10ish day period after the second one by April 1. If we are all vaccinated let’s get together safely after that and talk about all of our travel plans. It’s been far too long since we’ve seen you guys.

Hi Andrea,

Our plan is/was to fly into Frankfurt, visit friends for a night, then rent a car and drive to Munster and the area of our ancestors. We will (notice my future tense, ha, ha!) spend 2 more nights in Munster.. Then fly from Munster to Amsterdam. We will stay one night in Amsterdam, catch the boat and take to cruise to Budapest. From there we both fly back to CA and my sister will visit with my dad for a week before heading back to her house in VA.

I found out that you can take a "stop over" for up to a month in another gateway city going or coming home. Viking gives you free airfare (but with their high prices you are really paying for it anyway) So, I was trying to talk my sis into going to Paris, or Switzerland, but she isn't really much of a traveler, and is limited on time, so I was unsuccessful! Maybe if we don't go I can work on her for a year!

Monte has yet to get his vaccine but hopefully soon!

I don’t know how long you will be in Budapest, but you might want to consider spending extra time there. I found a nice apartment in a good area (James E approved) for €65/night when we were going to spend a week there last September. I can share the information if you’re interested. I hope Monte can get his vaccine soon. Did you see on Facebook how we got ours?

Thanks Andrea! I'd love the info on the place and yes, we'll have to try to get Monte signed up for his covid vaccine with the wait list! He was thinking about VA also. Let's talk :-)

I like the name "Monte." Not many people with that name any more. Reminds me of Monty Hall. It's more original than "Mike" or "Frank" for example. How about "Greg"? That's sort of a manly name, although not as much as a co-worker, "Bronson." Now that's a good name for, say, an Army Ranger.