River Cruise Frequently Asked Questions

What is the tipping and gratuities policy?

From the Hotel Manager to receptionists, from restaurant servers to housekeeping, Viking’s onboard staff are 100% dedicated to serving our guests. Tips are not included in your cruise price, but are a voluntary way of showing satisfaction for good service. You may tip onboard staff in cash if you like, or you may charge your tips to your credit card at the end of the cruise (everywhere except Egypt, Southeast Asia and Portugal). These gratuities are distributed among the ship’s staff. The Tour Escorts or Program Directors that travel with you do not share in the onboard staff gratuities. It is customary to tip them separately in cash.

The following guidelines are based on typical amounts; they vary by region so please read the section for the region to which you will be traveling. Please note that local city guides and coach drivers are not included in the onboard gratuities; any tipping should be done in cash on the day of the tour as you are not likely to see them again.

Europe
In Europe, we recommend that you tip in euros. Guidelines:
Program Director – €2 per guest, per day
Onboard staff – €12 per guest, per day
Local city guides – €2 per guest, per day
Coach drivers – €1 per guest, per day

Russia
In Russia, we recommend that you tip in U.S. dollars. Guidelines:
Onboard staff – $15 per guest, per day
Tour Escort – $10 per guest, per day
Local city guides – $2 per guest, per day
Coach drivers – $1 per guest, per day

China
In China, we recommend that you tip in U.S. dollars. Guidelines:
Onboard staff – $15 per guest, per day
Tour Escort – $10 per guest, per day
Local city guides – $2 per guest, per day
Coach drivers – $1 per guest, per day

Southeast Asia
In the Mekong region and in Myanmar, we recommend that you tip in U.S. dollars. Guidelines:
Onboard staff – $15 per guest, per day
Tour Escort – $10 per guest, per day
Local city guides – $2 per guest, per day
Coach drivers – $1 per guest, per day

Egypt
In Egypt, we recommend that you tip in U.S. dollars. Guidelines:
Onboard staff – $15 per guest, per day
Tour Escort/Egyptologist – $10 per guest, per day
Local city guides – $2 per guest, per day
Coach drivers – $1 per guest, per day

Is there Internet access aboard the ship? Are there computers, or should I bring my laptop?

All Viking ships offer complimentary Wi-Fi or Internet access; this varies depending on your ship and the region you visit. You may use your personal device or one of the ship’s computers in our Internet Café area. Our connections rely on a cellular or satellite terminal—the best possible solution for river cruising. Due to the nature of data bandwidth and latency, as well as potential interruptions in satellite signals based on terrain and weather, you may experience slower online connections than you are accustomed to at home.

What is the electrical voltage in the stateroom? What kind of converters will I need for my computer/curling iron/camera battery charger?

If you are traveling on a Viking Longship, you will find both 110V and 220V electrical outlets in your stateroom. The 110V electrical outlets (North American style) are located above the desk and on each side of the bed. Other European ships have 220V electricity, and have the German Schuko safety plug, which has two pins. In China the ships have a 3-pin blade safety plug; an adapter with just the two slanted blades will also work. In Southeast Asia the ships use a 2-pin Euro plug. Some of these plugs are grounded and some are not. Each stateroom will have one or two 115V razor plugs available, generally in the bathroom.

What are the amenities available?

Your ship has hair dryers for guest use, as do most hotels. Your stateroom amenities include shower gel, shampoo, lotion, shower cap and vanity kit.

Do you have any packing tips?

What to bring
We suggest bringing comfortable, casual clothing. Ties and jackets are not required; there are no formal nights although some guests choose dressier clothing for the Captain’s Dinner. Consider dressing respectfully when visiting places of worship and other religious sites where you may be denied entry if wearing clothing considered to be inappropriate or too revealing. Your Tour Escort can assist you with any questions. Also, please consider baggage weight restrictions on the intra-China flights when packing. 

Here is a short list of items you might want to bring 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. 

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 or extra memory cards, extra batteries 
- Valuables 

Optional items
Here is a list of optional items to consider bringing with you:
- Electric converter/adapter for North American appliances (220V) 
- 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 

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

Can you accommodate my dietary needs?

We can in most cases. Every meal has vegetarian options on the menu, and our chefs are able to prepare low-salt or gluten-free cuisine. Guests requiring special diets such as diabetic or low-cholesterol meals must alert Viking Cruises one month prior to departure and inform the Maître d’ when on board. The chefs will make every effort to accommodate these requests.

Are the ships nonsmoking? Are there smoking areas?

All Viking ship interiors, staterooms and verandas are nonsmoking; this policy also applies to e-cigarettes. Each ship has an outdoor smoking area, generally on the Sun Deck.

Will there be a safe in my room?

Yes. All staterooms include a complimentary safe for you to store any valuables.

Is there a “dress code” on the ship?

Dress during the day is casual including shorts (if the season is warm), trousers or jeans and comfortable shoes for walking tours. There are no “formal nights” and recommended evening dress is “elegant casual” such as a dress, skirt or slacks with a sweater or blouse for ladies; for gentlemen, trousers and a collared shirt. Ties and jackets are optional. We suggest you pack comfortable walking shoes, dressier shoes, a collapsible umbrella/lightweight rain gear; items you can layer like lightweight jackets/sweaters; sunglasses, a sun hat/visor, sunscreen; and toiletries including a travel-sized hand sanitizer. Depending on the season and destination, you may also want to add a warm coat, gloves and water-resistant footwear.

Cancellation Policy
For any cruise/land booking, whether under deposit, partially paid in full and air-inclusive packages paid in full, the following travel agent or guest-requested situations are considered cancellations and penalties will apply as noted below: changes to departure date; substitutions of itinerary; substitutions of another person for original booked guest(s); or changing to a promotional fare. All cancellations must be in writing. For all air-inclusive packages cancelled after issuance of an airline ticket, the air portion of the refund, if any, will be processed only after the return of airline ticket to Viking. The following cancellation charges will be assessed for all written cancellations received prior to departure up to the scheduled time of departure.

Cancellation received ?Following charges will apply: (Broken out by days before departure) 121 days or more is $100 per person (+$100 to Best Single Travel)?120-90 days is 15% of full fare ?89-60 days is 35% of full fare ?59-30 days is 50% of full fare ?29-0 days is 100% of full fare. Full Fare is defined as the full cost of any cruise, land or air component purchased from Viking.

Revisions/Changes
Once a cruise/land booking has a deposit or air is paid in full, all changes are subject to a $35 changes. See prior section under Cancellation Policy for additional details on situations which are classified as cancellations rather than changes.