Kristelle

I have no problem with anyone using a space if it is not being used for anything else - so, ships having a large room for gatherings, pre booked on first in first served type basis - and then it being used for religious services, meetings about anything, reunions etc  - and, if it is open to anyone, it being advertised on daily planner.

that doesnt affect anyone else.

Somebody upthread mentioned prayer rooms - these are common in Australia in large public spaces now - football stadiums, airports, hospitals  etc - and they are multi use, not designated for any one religion.

No issue with that either.

narrowing further...

WA?

Ok, lets start narrowing it down.

Are they brolgas?

Is it in Australia?

if CDNPolar is quoting from ocean cruise FAQ's that would explain differences like No jeans (still seems odd to me but would explain it)  - has been stated many times that river cruises are a more casual vibe than ocean cruises.

35 minutes ago, CDNPolar said:

We dress how we dress, which is more elegant casual, because it make US feel better and we feel the evening is more of an event when we dress up a bit.

 

No problem with that. if you feel better dressing up a bit  (or a lot) do so

But by same token if other people feel better dressing more casually they can do so.

I haven't got my Scenic brochure and FAQ's any more (and yes,  I realise title of thread is Viking river cruises but discussion evolved into Europe river cruises in general ) - but jeans were permitted - and indeed many people wore them.

Many people wore shorts at dinner too - aprox 1/4 of men on any given dinner  night

seems rather odd of Viking to not permit jeans to me since they are commonly worn to restaruants and indeed almost everywhere  on land

Many people wore shorts at dinner too - aprox 1/4 of men on any given dinner  night. Neat almost knee length sort  - as yo u would find in restaraunts at dinner in summer too

I wouldn't do it. I go to places where it is warm or at most coolish.

But depends how you are with cold weather. 

What  is acceptable is up to the companies- Viking, Scenic etc - and if their dress code states casual dress code, then casual dress code is acceptable.

Some people seem very bothered by what others wear. 

'deteriorated' is subjective.

Certainly people dress more casually - to me this is a good thing.

But  I guess if other people dressing casually is a deal breaker for you, don't go on a river cruise.

yes it is Martindale Hall in Mintaro, which is a small town in the Clare Valley.

Built in 1879, open to to the public now, fascinating example of country mansion of wealthy pastoralists of the time.

Was also used as the setting for the film Picnic at Hanging Rock.

your turn @MicCanberra

Yes.

Having taken a lot  of photos in my own state, my contribution to this thread is probably going to be disproportionately slanted to SA.

Grundarfjörður?

Reykholar?

so the answer is somewhere in Iceland?

who suggested South Pacific?? 😊

Is there a prize for the wrong-est answer?? 🤣

3 hours ago, ellasabe said:

Getting from the boat to street level: I understand the concept of rafting and crossing deck to deck. From the walkway/pavement where the boat is docked, to street level, one would have to climb an embankment. I've heard that the stairs are really, really, steep, almost like loft stairs, or a ladder - a no-go for anyone over 50 (maybe 60). On the other hand, I've heard that many places have ramps and very shallow stairs, easy to climb, which is a great thing because many of the pax on the river cruises are 80, even 90. So, what is the truth?

 

Elevators on board:  Already verified that Viking boats don't have elevators that run through all decks. However, some of the smaller boats like the MS Monarch Queen (Gate 1 Travel) appear to have lifts from lowest to uppermost deck on their deck plans. Can anyone verify? 

 

Boats travel at night and impossible to see Christmas markets at night:  We want to do the festival/Christmas markets, but we've been told that lines are let loose at 5 or 6 pm and no time to enjoy the Christmas markets and their beauty at night. How true is this?

 

Going through the locks make sleeping impossible:  So noisy! Constant grinding of machinery all night! Worst travel idea ever!  How can this be, as so many folks enjoy repeat river cruises?

 

Water levels are too low/high/windy and you'll be bused to a new hotel every night:  If this is the case, are you, the passenger, hauling your suitcase and toiletries bag to the coach (bus) waiting nearby, 2x a day, per port? Isn't it a hassle, and no better than a land tour?

 

1. stairs from boat were not really steep, it was more like a ramp and it had rails on the sides. Lots of people over 50 on our trip - many over 70.

2. pretty sure Scenic elevator does not go to top deck and the stairs to the top deck are quite steep.

the stairs from one floor to another are not and  there is an elevator (I never used it)

3. cant speak for Christmas markets. but yes boats sometimes travel at night - we had no issue with locks or engines at night. and I am not a heavy sleeper and we did not have a 'prime position' cabin

4. there is always the possibility of hotel over nights and ship swaps - I doubt it would be every night though. this did not happen to us at all in 14 days, luck of the draw weather wise.

One night was bumpy because river level was low and bottom of boat scraping on river bed. that only happened one night out of 14.

Scenic trip we went on was majority Australians with some people from UK, Canada, USA and a couple from the Phillipines.

Not sure if that is every Scenic trip or just those marketed most in Australia - and particularly Amsterdam to Budapest (or reverse) which is the most popular river cruise for Australians and several companies here offer and market that itinerary.

No it was to a thread on thrifted clothing in Fashions and Beauty section

Probably was user error on my part then.

OK I'll get the ball rolling. Quaint European looking church but setting doesn't look Europe-ish.

Somewhere i n South Pacific?

Not surprising, since the name Yarra is based on an Aboriginal word

5 hours ago, Daisi said:

There are several differences between the lines, and we'll probably stay with ones that aren't "all inclusive" unless there is something really special.

So here is example of something one poster  does not want (all inclusive) whereas for me I like all inclusive trips and that was one of the reasons  I went with Scenic

From Australia, APT ( which  I think markets as AMA elsewhere) offerred very similar itinerary and very similar costs, also as all inclusive - what won in the end was simply the Scenic dates suited better for us.

was very happy with my trip.

  I would go with Scenic again - but unlikely to be doing another Europe river cruise in foreseeable future.

Not because I didnt like it - I certainly did - but it is long way from Australia, costly and other travel plans first.

My next overseas trip will be Scenic cruise/land o n the Mekong, Cambodia /Vietnam

9 hours ago, Rebel54 said:

Did you look into Scenic?  If they offer all day room service, you should be able to eat earlier.

As mentioned by myself upthread - I did have an experience with this on Scenic - and yes they provide room service - but they couldn't provide dinner until dinners were ready - ie room service but no earlier than everyone else in the dining room

You could possibly get sandwiches or suchlike any time - I didnt ever try that - but would seem a shame to miss all the nice meals to do that every evening.

Is it the Arches of Constantine in Rome? 

Are we not allowed to link to other threads??

anyway thread I mentioned in post above is in Cruise Fashion and Beauty.

Either you collect the tray or it is delivered to your room - depending on whether the cruise line does room service.

But as you say,  if it is still at same time as everyone else this doesn't really address OP's issue.

How are you going to leave them behind?

There was some discussion o n this thread about that:

I highly doubt cruises would offer a discount for guests who do this - as it is dubious whether this is something they want you to do.