Viking Ingvar – Waterways of the Tsars –July 5 to 17, 2014

[Dreamer 75]

Thanks for letting me know just how great your experiences were. I've always thought, if you want your trip to be just like in the U. S., stay home. I'm out to experience different cultures, peoples...and to love being alive!:)

[RHexplorer]

Hi Dreamer75,

The staterooms were comfortable. Our room (426) did not not have a pole in the middle of the room but I know many of the other staterooms (30% or more) did have one. The bathrooms on any cruise ship or river boat is small. The bed was firm and everything was in excellent condition. No stains, chips or broken anything.

 

Food is subjective. I deliberately ordered the items on the menu that were identified as local dishes. It was good, but not "wow". I did not starve and despite all the walking that we did, I still gained 3 pounds on this trip. We live just north of Toronto, one of the most ethnically diverse cities in North America. We are already spoiled by the wide variety of food already available to us.

 

Excursions were great. Both the included ones and the optional ones.

 

We would rate both of the Viking rivers cruises higher than our ocean cruises (Norwegian, Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Princess and Celebrity). We will still go on ocean cruises but feel that the level of service and quality of the cruise has become "watered-down" as the industry expands. To us, river cruising was like ocean cruising twenty years ago, better service and quality of product.

[RHexplorer]

Hi Dreamer75,

Some examples of the Russian food we tried was the cabbage roll, various soups (including borscht), kvass, pelmeni and others whose names I have forgotten.

 

Since we have been back at home, we went to the local Russian supermarket and picked up a bottle of kvass and a package of pelmeni's. Pelmeni's are similar to perogies but filled with meat instead. They are closer to a Japaness goyza, Italian tortellini or Chinese xiao long bao.

[Dreamer 75]

Thanks again for the information regarding the food on the ship. I usually travel with my two grand-daughters on Disney ships and land travel. I've never done a river cruise although, I see Viking on Masterpiece Theater every Sunday. This will be a new adventure for me and my friend of many years. Looking forward to it.

[Wilella]

Hello,

Just wanted to thank you for your amazing review of the Viking Waterways fo the Tsars trip. We are booked to go Sept 14/14 on the Truvor. Your review helped us to be able to get the advanced booking for the Kremlin Armoury tour which we knew nothing about until reading your post - thanks so much -would have hated to miss the Faberge eggs!

A quick question, on previous Viking River cruises, the cabins were equipped with 110 voltage outlets but we were wondering, do we need a plug adaptor? The info they sent with the tickets suggests getting a plug adaptor but we've never had to do this before.

Thanks again

[Dreamer 75]

Yes, you will need an adapter for charging your devices. Have a wonderful trip. Save your spending money for the island of Mandrogi. They have wonderful gifts that anyone would love to receive or for yourself to enjoy.

[Wilella]

Thanks for the info. Which ship were you on? on what cabin?? We have traveled with Viking before and always enjoy the trips.

[Dreamer 75]

We were on the Ingvar ship cabin 302, which was great because of the veranda and it was close to the restaurant - no climbing stairs.

 

The weather was sunny and mild in Moscow but the further north we went the colder it became. It rained a couple of times in St. Petersburg so take an umbrella. The day we went to the Peterhof Palace it became sunny and beautiful!

[Wilella]

Dreamer 75 - thanks for all your information. One last question....did you go on the Moscow evening Canal cruise? I know RHExplorer took the trip but thought it was just OK and was wondering if went and your thoughts.

[Dreamer 75]

Yes, we went on the Moscow Night Cruise, and I thought it was worth the money. They also offer one in St. Petersburg, but it would not be in the dark. If you're going to do one, pick Moscow.

[LSE Traveler]

Anyone take this tour in late August/early September? I am wondering when would be the best weather window?

 

 

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[tobique33040]

We took the cruise beginning 9/4. Obviously weather varies from year to year and we were expecting colder weather. But we had warm, sunny weather with practically no rain. It was perfect. That being said, if you check out the average temperatures for late summer, and bring a warm jacket just in case, you should be fine. We absolutely loved the cruise! St. Petersburg is amazing.