Planning Your Trip>Europe

What To Bring

Dress aboard and ashore is casual, and we suggest you dress comfortably. Bring sturdy walking shoes for sightseeing excursions. Dinner attire is “evening casual”: open-neck shirts, slacks, dresses and sport outfits. Captain’s Welcome and Farewell Nights are dressy, but not formal. During the winter months, we recommend bringing a warm coat, gloves, water-resistant footwear and an umbrella. Here is a short list of items you might want to consider bringing with you:
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Dressier shoes
• Collapsible umbrella/lightweight rain gear
• Lightweight jacket/warm sweater/sweatshirt
• Sunglasses, sun hat or visor
• Toiletries (including medical remedies)
• Warm coat, gloves and water-resistant footwear (as needed for cooler months)

Pack in Your Carry-On Baggage

We suggest you bring copies of your key travel documents (passport information page, airline tickets, credit card numbers and insurance information) and carry them separately in case you lose your originals. Remember to check with your airline for carry-on restrictions. You might also want to consider packing the following items:
• All needed medications, including prescriptions, in their original, labeled containers
• Eyeglasses, contacts, contact lens solution
• Important papers and travel documents
• Camera gear, film, extra memory cards (digital cameras), extra batteries
• Valuables

Optional Items

Here is a list of optional items we recommend you consider bringing with you as well:
• Electric converter/adapter for North American appliances (220V) (recommended)
• Travel alarm clock, travel flashlight, binoculars, anti-bacterial wipes and/or hand sanitizer
• Small calculator for foreign exchange calculations
• Travel journal/notepad and/or reading material
• Small, basic sewing kit/extra buttons; pack scissors in checked bags
• Address list or pre-addressed labels for sending postcards

Notes: Most hotels and Reception onboard have hair dryers available for guest use. Also, laundry service (no dry cleaning) is available onboard for a fee.

Customs

Many countries have laws against the purchase/export of certain items, including antiquities, cultural property and certain animal products. Additionally, U.S. laws prohibit the import of certain items. You can review restrictions as well as current duty free limits by clicking this link.

Currency & Exchange Rates

Most members of the European Union use the euro as their currency, except for Hungary, which uses the forint, the UK, which uses the British pound, and Slovakia, which uses the Slovak koruna. Current exchage rates are available in the financial sections of newspapers and at: xe.com or CNN Money.

Purchasing Items & Currency Exchange

Many locations will accept travelers checks or credit cards. For incidentals and small vendors, you may be able to use the U.S. dollar in small denominations, but we recommend getting some local currency.

ATMs

ATMs that dispense local currency are widely available and conveniently located in large European cities, but are limited in smaller towns. Should you wish to use ATM machines, confirm with your bank prior to departure that your ATM/credit card and PIN number will work abroad.

Changing Cash or Travelers Checks

You can exchange cash or travelers checks at hotels, banks and exchange bureaus as well as small amounts of currency onboard your ship for most local currencies for a fee.

Credit Cards

Euro card, MasterCard, Visa and American Express cards are accepted in all countries in major shops, restaurants and hotels as well as to settle your shipboard account.

Currency Onboard Ship & Your Onboard Account

The onboard currency is the euro. All onboard purchases are billed with a guest check and added to your personal shipboard account. At the end of your trip, you may pay in cash (U.S. dollars or euros), or by credit card (your bill will be converted at the current exchange rate). Unfortunately, travelers checks cannot be used for payment of your shipboard account. Please review your shipboard bill upon checkout so that we can more easily assist with any questions you may have.

Value Added Tax (VAT)

Many countries have a national “sales” tax (called VAT) that is levied on most goods and services. In some cases and with the proper documentation from the point of purchase, it is possible to have a portion of this tax refunded to you on items taken out of a country in unused condition. Depending upon flight schedules and timing, it may be possible to receive a refund by applying at the airport kiosk before departure.

Beverages

Hot coffee and tea are complimentary throughout your voyage. Soft drinks, bottled water and alcoholic beverages are available for an additional charge. You may bring local wine aboard.

Clothing Suggestions

Dress aboard and ashore is casual; we suggest you dress comfortably and bring sturdy walking shoes for sightseeing excursions. Dinner attire is “evening casual,” and the Captain’s Dinner is dressy, but not formal.

Cuisine & Dining Room Service

All meals aboard are European-style food adjusted for North American tastes. Meals are open seating during set meal times—no table reservations are accepted. Room service is not available.

Electricity

On most ships, onboard electricity is 220v. Bring an adapter or converter to use personal electric items.

Internet

For 2008 Sailings: For your convenience, all of our ships offer wireless internet access for a fee, based on the amount of time used. Guests may use their own laptop or a computer will be made available. Note that the internet connection functions via cellular service or satellite, and there may be times when reception is not possible and/or when the connection is extremely slow. For this reason, we recommend only checking and sending email, as surfing the Web or downloading large files may be difficult.

For 2009 Sailings: Starting in 2009 we will be offering complimentary internet service.

Medical Services

While there is no doctor onboard, close proximity to land guarantees medical services can be rapidly obtained.

Onboard Language

The onboard language is English. Your Program Director, key staff and tour guides all speak English.

Onboard Shop

Each ship has an onboard shop area offering film, Viking River Cruises logo items, souvenirs and select toiletries.

Safes

Please keep all jewelry and valuables in your stateroom safe.

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted indoors on any ship.

Telephone Service

Each stateroom has its own telephone, and charges will be placed on your shipboard account. The phones function via satellite and there may be times when reception is not possible.

Televisions

Each stateroom has a color television. Depending upon satellite transmission, most ships receive six TV channels with some U.S. or English programming.

Viking News & Onboard Activities

The onboard daily newsletter, Viking News, features information about daily activities, shore excursions and tour departure times.

Now is a great time to start learning more about the places you’ll be visiting. Even a few background details can go a long way towards maximizing your enjoyment of your destinations. We have put together some lists of suggested reading and movies that relate to your itinerary. Just click on your cruise below:

Cities of Light

Danube Explorer

Danube Holiday Delight

Eastern European Odyssey

Elegant Elbe

Paris & the Heart of Normandy

Portraits of Southern France

Rhine Getaway

Romantic Danube

Treasures of the Rhine

Tulips & Windmills

Weather

For your convenience we have included a chart that shows the average temperatures in the major cities in Europe that we visit. You can view this by clicking here. For the latest live weather reports, you can visit either weather.com or CNN Weather.

General Physical Fitness

Our tours and cruises are not physically demanding; however, because of the nature of many of the sites you will be visiting, this tour may not be appropriate for guests with certain medical conditions and physical restrictions. Walking tours are often on uneven ground or cobblestones and may include stairs and steep inclines. If you have concerns or questions, please discuss the nature of your itinerary with your Viking River Cruises Travel Consultant.

Tipping

Tips are not included in your cruise price, but are your way of showing satisfaction for good service. You may tip onboard staff in cash or charge your tips to your credit card at the end of the cruise. For local guides, we recommend tipping at the end of each tour in cash. We suggest a gratuity of $10-$12 U.S. per guest, per day which is distributed among the ship’s staff, including your Program Director. Additional tipping is at the guest’s discretion. You can use these guidelines for other service providers:

• Airport Porters – $1 U.S. per bag
• Hotel Porters – $1 U.S. per person, on check in and check out
• Local Guides – $1-$2 U.S. per person, per day
• Drivers – $.50-$1 U.S. per person, per day
• Hotel Room Attendants – $1 U.S. per person, per day
• Restaurant Wait Staff – Restaurants often add a service charge to bills, but an additional tip of 5%-10% is customary
• Viking River Cruises Guide/Hospitality Desk (during land or extension programs) – $3-$5 U.S. per person, per day of service

Emergency Contact Information

If there is an emergency and you must be contacted while traveling, your family/friends should attempt to reach you directly by contacting the ship or hotel. The ship’s phone and fax systems operate on mobile reception and may not get good reception throughout the trip. If unsuccessful, your family/friends can call the Viking River Cruises toll free number (1-877-668-4546) during our normal business hours. (Monday-Friday 5:30 a.m.-7:00 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday 7:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. All times are Pacific Time).

European Phone Numbers

If you are phoning home from Europe, use the following codes:
U.S. country code: 001
Canada country code: 001