Viking River Cruise Standard Cabin?
 

We are planning on taking a Viking River cruise this fall and the only cabin selection left are the standard cabins. These are the cabins that are at water level on the ship.
I am afraid that with no real outside view and such a small cabin space that it might not make for a pleasant stay.
Any feedback will be appreciated.

First of all, have not had the "standard" cabin on Viking, but our experiences on Viking and on another river cruise line had us questioning why we did NOT just book a "standard" water level cabin. I say this because the there are so few decks, compared to an ocean going vessel, so a "water level" cabin, a deck 2 or 3 on a cruise ship, is MUCH different than on a river cruise. We found we had very little interest in watching from, or staying in, our standard cabin on Viking. We much preferred to do our day time and even night time observing on one of the open decks, while when ocean cruising, do spend time on our own balcony. Consider these things and how they might, or might not, effect your decision: you will only be one, or two sets of stairs from one of the open decks, you will NOT be 8, 10, or 12 stories from a location for food, snacks, or drinks as you would be on deck 2 of a cruise ship. You will not be getting the type of wind you get at sea, so sitting "topside" day or even night, is nothing like being at sea. The vessel will be going very slowly most of the time, again, being "up and out" possible at any time. And, though we've been lucky to not have been caught in rain very often, should it occur, you do not have far to go "down" to your lower level cabin. Our conclusion; probably would NOT spend the money again for the cabins with the an entire wall of sliding glass, we much preferred to sit "atop" to watch the slowly passing sights and interesting architecture, cathedral steeples, etc. Just as an ocean voyage, check and double check to make sure you've not forgotten your binoculars, I think you will find you use them more than ever on a river cruise and regardless of what cabin you end up booking, I doubt you'll spend much time in it. I know they often say that about ocean cruising, but we do enjoy and spend time in our cabin on those, but river cruises, not nearly as much. Also, much smaller passenger count and you will find (I think), passengers recognizing most of the others passengers after only a couple days, and many, if not most, do not spend their days in their cabins (as a rule... I'm sure there are some who do). So, if you really are not looking for a "resort", to just go off and enjoy spending time in a luxurious room as the major part of the vacation, then I'd take what ever cabin is available ! Only YOU can decide if a standard room will spoil your vacation. If it will, book at least a year ahead, don't be regretful. Just enjoy, enjoy, enjoy !

Viking Payment due 21 months before departure
 

My wife and I along with a few other couples were going to book the Viking Grand European Tour for 2025 (15 days), but they wanted us to pay in full ($15,000+ per couple) 21 months ahead of departure. Nope, not happening.

Just came back from a Viking cruise…..UPGRADE TO A VERANDA BALCONY

At the prices Viking charge, I would be quite happy to bunk in the crews quarters for a 25% discount.

So you had a standard cabin at water level, and wanted to upgrade because you were disappointed?

Or did you start with a veranda balcony cabin, and were so happy with the size, view, location that you would only book that type of cabin?

Since you have firsthand knowledge could you give OP the good, bad and ugly on why never to get a standard water level cabin?

Standard Room
 

We had a standard room on Viking Amsterdam to Budapest cruise. Not a issue.
We spent very little time in the room. The open decks are where you want to be when cruising.

Although we weren't on a Viking river boat, we were on an Avalon river boat in a standard cabin. And since all of the Europe river boats are VERY similar, since they are all built to go through the locks and under the bridges, I think it is safe to assume our experience would be similar to yours on Viking. First, you typically travel at night, when you are sleeping, so watching the world go by isn't applicable. Second, during the day, you typically are either in the dining room for meals or on a tour through one of the cities, so you aren't in your cabin to look out at anything. Third, if you are on the Rhine river, during the day transit through the gorge you will want to be on the top deck looking at all the castles on BOTH sides of the river. And fourth, Our standard cabin was as big or bigger than some of the verandas since the cabin doesn't have to have space for the balcony and it is configured exactly like the other cabins above it. There is also a large window so it isn't like an "inside cabin". The one interesting thing was that when you are laying on the bed you can hear the sound of a propeller from other river boats passing by and it was very relaxing, much like sleeping on a train. So, if you asked us if we would book that same cabin type again, our answer would be Yes. We loved that trip.

Sire1 gives a good, logical explanation. We experienced the same thing on a Tauck cruise in a standard cabin. Our friends had a "balcony" cabin and complained about the noise from the rattling glass doors. River cruises are just not the same as ocean cruises. .

I agree with this. We had the standard cabin for the 2 week Grand European cruise a few years ago and spent little time in our room.

We did the standard cabin 4 years ago, and we are doing it again next week. It’s fine, more window would be better, but for the amount of time we spent in the room it was just no big deal.

My wife was 100% ok with it, I was a little less so. She found the sound of the water against the hull soothing, I really didn’t care for it. There was also a modest amount of mechanical noise, but I suspect that varies based on where you are on the deck os well as which level you are on.

We did the veranda room on our last trip. We are doing a standard cabin on our October trip because 1) that was the only class available and 2) like others we spent little time in the room except to rest or sleep. We preferred to sight see from the lounges or top deck.

I am a travel agent living in the villages and I have traveled on many river cruises in Europe. There are better river cruise ycompanies than Viking. Avalon, AMA and Uniworld. I steer my customers away from Viking due to the large upfront payment.
I also agree that eyou can get the lesser price cabin and do your viewing on deck.
There are many specials out there, free or discounted air, gratuities, and tours, Work with an agent that had been on the rivers of Europe.

We try to book on the Starboard side. The ship tends to keep to the right of the river, so you are closer to see whatever is on shore.

Viking cruises are the best. If you are going to spend a lot of time in your cabin, which I don't think you want to, then it might be an issue. Use your cabin for sleep and shower only and the rest of the time go up on the outer/upper decks for sight seeing, when the boat is moving, or go sight seeing when in port. Great cruise line!

We stayed in one of those cabins and it was just fine!
We would stay in one of these rooms again! There were several windows that let in a lot of light. On Viking you are not in your room
except to sleep! We were on a fairly new boat.

Agree that for most people, a standard cabin would work just fine. There are, however, some folks who just can't do it...my wife being one. She is claustrophobic, and being in a small enclosed room with no means of fresh air is very troubling for her. We have done dozens of ocean cruises, always in a balcony cabin. We are doing a Viking river cruise next year, and it will be in a veranda cabin. Her peace of mind and comfort are worth the extra expense.

Which ones do you recommend

Uniworld is my favorite! Food is much better than Viking, and includes drinks and gratuities.

We took a Viking River Cruise on the Danube River. A balcony cabin is a must! There is a small chance that sickness could spread on the cruise, and it's important to have access to fresh outside air from the balcony. The balcony also makes the cruise much more enjoyable. However, when multiple river boats are docked at the port, the boats are tied together, side to side, so you're balcony won't have a view during the times with the boats are tied together.

We took the west to east cruise on the Danube River. We were going to take the east to west Viking River Cruise, but changed out mind at the last minute to go with the west to east cruise. Both cruises started at the same date, going in the opposite directions on the Danube River. An accident happened with the east to west Viking River Cruise boat, which we didn't take. The east to west Viking River Cruise boat hit a smaller river boat on the Danube River. The smaller river boat sunk in seconds. Many people were killed on the smaller river boat. There weren't any fatalities on the Viking River Cruise boat. The cause for the accident was an intoxicated captain of the Viking River Cruise boat.

An accident where the river boat could sink and kill people is probably very rare. But the people killed on the smaller river boat were probably in the lower cost cabins at the water level, and could not escape. If they had balcony cabins, they might have had a better chance to survive.

Our trip was not impacted by the accident which killed many people, because by luck, we took a different Viking River Cruise. I also heard a story about a person being killed in a lower deck cabin on a Antarctica cruise by a rouge severe wave that broke through the window. I think it's worth the extra cost to have a balcony cabin which is higher on the River Boat or Cruise ship just in case there is a health outbreak problem or if there is some kind of accident. If all the better cabins are booked, there's always another cruise in the future. You might have to wait till next year for the next ideal cruise at the best time of the year to take the cruise.

Would you please send me your info so I have it for a future river cruise?

We live in the Village of Linden. Thinking about taking Riverboat Cruise in 2024. Wife and I would love to chat with you. Please let me know how we can contact you.

"...regardless of what cabin you end up booking, I doubt you'll spend much time in it
 

Exactly! Well said....

Do you wear a mask and life jacket all the time as well?
Just in case!:icon_wink:

Thought they only wanted payment a year ahead of time. Guess better to use your customer for working capital than a bank.

River cruise
 

I would be interested in speaking with you about a river cruise. Thanks!

I am interested in talking with you about a river cruise. Thanks, Chris

That is exactly what we found ! Much different on a river cruise, only did the lux category once, after that, definitely not worth it on a river vessel, only a couple stair ways up, and much preferred to spend our days on one of the open, and covered, decks.

Good point.

Originally Posted by MacScuba View Post
"We try to book on the Starboard side. The ship tends to keep to the right of the river, so you are closer to see whatever is on shore.

Good point."

From what I remember, the Rhine river isn't as wide as you might imagine. And I don't think the others are either. So, it isn't much of a difference and I doubt you will be in your cabin much for it to make or break your room selection. And if you are in one of the Standard cabins, you are near waterline, so again I don't think it matters much. Incidentally, we were woken up in our standard cabin one morning with noise at the window. When we looked out, there were a couple of swans right at our window pecking at the ship. We watched them for quite awhile until they moved off.