viking optional excursions

[cruise9duo]

We are considering the Cities of Light cruise for next year. If anyone has been on this particular trip I would appreciate your comments. I am also interested to know, if possible, what optional excursions Viking offers for this trip. If anyone has done a pre-trip extension in Paris how helpful are the Viking people in advising/arranging activities? Any input would be greatly appreciated.

[suz1607]

We are going on "Cities of Light" July 26th and doing the Oxford extension. I will be happy to answer any questions when we return. According to the info. in our docs there are 3 optional excursions. As of now, we plan on doing one of them. My current best advice is book as soon as possible in order to get the cheapest air available. We did not use Vantage air but booked business class for $2000 each when Delta had a sale to London. We are traveling to Krakow, Poland for 3 days prior to meeting up with the Vantage tour in Prague thus booked Brit Air London to Prague 1 way and round trip Prague to Krakow on Lot. We are both WWII history "buffs" thus the trip to Krakow. I am concerned over the location of the hotel in Paris. It looks like it will require underground or taxi to get anywhere. We usually stay in a more central location. You may want to look at location and availability of other hotels and do Paris on your own by using tours sold on-line. I frequently do this when traveling and have found that, although I do not save money often, I do have an experience that we enjoy more because we can plan it to fit our interests.

[pflorio994]

cruise9duo, we are doing the cruise portion only (vineyards & vistas) this November.

 

My past experience with Viking is that there is always several Viking reps in the hotel that can answer any questions and help you with activities. In Prague and Budapest, they even offered a restaurant with a show (free transfer to restaurant) was included. The rep in the hotel last year on Romantic Danube was actually our cruise director on the cruise.

 

The research that I have been doing for the cruise shows that they offer an optional tasting of local wine vintages in Bernkastel; an optional wine tasting experience in Rudesheim; an optional trip to Rothenburg which drives along the "Romantic Road"; or an option of taking an excursion to Heidelberg.

 

I do not have any info on Paris as I was there many years ago and looking at a cruise in 2014 which includes Paris.

[Bill'sBride]

We will be doing Cities of Light at the end of October. So far I am booked for the excursion to do the concert/lunch at the palace in Prague. We also plan to do the excursion to Rothenburg. I will post back to you when we return with an review of them. Happy Planning!

[OnWeGo]

We are booked on this same cruise in June 2014. When will we receive information about the optional tours and costs?

 

 

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[pflorio994]

We are booked on this same cruise in June 2014. When will we receive information about the optional tours and costs?

 

They will be included in your package from Viking which you should receive approx. 4 weeks before your trip.

[cruise9duo]

My TA received info from Viking on 4 optional excursions on the Cities of Light cruise. Only one had a price listed, but not sure if the others are actually "included."

 

1) Bernkastel-Kues Tour and Wine Tasting. 2-1/2 escorted tour with walking tour of Bernkastel, winery tour and tasting. No price listed.

 

2) Rothenburg ob der Tauber. 5-1/2 escorted tour. Includes transportation, lunch at local restaurant (Zur Glocke), walking tour of Rothernburg. Again no price listed.

 

3) Rudesheim Wine Tasting. 2-hour escorted tour. Includes transportaton (mini-train), walk on Drosselgasse, guided tour of the wine cellar and wine tasting. No price listed.

 

4) Lobkowicz Palace in Prague. 4-hour escorted tour. Includes transportation, audio guided tour, lunch in family's original living quarters, private concert in the baroque music room, champage on the viewing terrace. This has a price listed of $129.

 

Hopes this helps other people. If anyone else gets updated or different info, please share.

[Bob++]

I am reading my itinerary for our Prague to Paris Viking trip in August:

 

I see an optional wine tasting tour in Wurzburg to Rothenburg and the Rezidenz Palace at 64 Euros and one from from Mainz to Rudesheim at 24 Euros.

 

Unless I missed it, those are the only optional tours, all the rest are included.