eal7 Posted August 17, 2018 #1 Share Posted August 17, 2018 This is most likely a stupid question, but I will ask anyway! We will (hopefully) be cruising the Rhine river in Sept and I noted a few posts on here stating that cabin balconies can't always be used when moored as you may be right next to another ship & have no privacy or view. But is that true when you are sailing as well? People are posting about being 'rafted' to another ship? or not being able to sit on them at all. Just wondering what to expect. Cheers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cole Posted August 17, 2018 #2 Share Posted August 17, 2018 This is most likely a stupid question, but I will ask anyway! We will (hopefully) be cruising the Rhine river in Sept and I noted a few posts on here stating that cabin balconies can't always be used when moored as you may be right next to another ship & have no privacy or view. But is that true when you are sailing as well? People are posting about being 'rafted' to another ship? or not being able to sit on them at all. Just wondering what to expect. Cheers! No question is stupid! Rafting only happens (occasionally) when you are moored. When you are sailing you have a great view from your balcony. You will want to be on top of the ship though when you sail through the Rhine Gorge to get picturesque views of the castles. This is a great cruise! Cole Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Got2Cruise Posted August 17, 2018 #3 Share Posted August 17, 2018 I was sitting on my balcony of our Ama ship and snapped this pic of a Viking ship with no balconies, only sliding doors. This was a rare occurrence. It was on the Danube near Melk which gets very crowded because everyone stops there. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare gnome12 Posted August 17, 2018 #4 Share Posted August 17, 2018 I assume the reason you saw no balconies is that Viking ships have these French balconies on one side of the ship, and real balconies on the other side. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Got2Cruise Posted August 17, 2018 #5 Share Posted August 17, 2018 I assume the reason you saw no balconies is that Viking ships have these French balconies on one side of the ship, and real balconies on the other side. Never knew this. On Ama they’re dispersed and Avalon has no balconies. Interesting. I wonder why Viking does it this way and are the balconies ever rafted? Hmmmm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hallasm Posted August 17, 2018 #6 Share Posted August 17, 2018 Look carefully at the deck plans and the layout of the cabin and balcony - Some balconies tend to be very small and they might also take space from the cabin. Does vary from ship to ship. I do find cabin with 'French Balcony' with sliding windows better. Also as said by Cole - the view is much better from the top of the ship - the castles might also be at the other side. Here is an example of cabin with French balcony. bQQlSvq0ETE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare gnome12 Posted August 17, 2018 #7 Share Posted August 17, 2018 Never knew this. On Ama they’re dispersed and Avalon has no balconies. Interesting. I wonder why Viking does it this way and are the balconies ever rafted? Hmmmm Because they only have so much width. If you have balconies on both sides the cabins must be narrower. If there is only one balcony there is a bit more width available for living space. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Peregrina651 Posted August 17, 2018 #8 Share Posted August 17, 2018 Never knew this. On Ama they’re dispersed and Avalon has no balconies. Interesting. I wonder why Viking does it this way and are the balconies ever rafted? Hmmmm When rafted, there is always the possibility that you have ships on both sides of you plus the ships don't get to choose where they moor, so yes, the balcony side of the ship has the same problem. Viking Longships are designed with the center corridor off-center, so that the cabin's with balcony don't lose living space to the balcony. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark_T Posted August 17, 2018 #9 Share Posted August 17, 2018 ..But is that true when you are sailing as well? People are posting about being 'rafted' to another ship? or not being able to sit on them at all. Just wondering what to expect. Cheers! The other thing to check is how often you will be cruising in daylight on your selected itinerary... On a lot of cruises the pattern is usually to move the ship at night, so you return from the daily excursions, have dinner and by the time you've finished it is often dark. There are exceptions of course where the itinerary has 'scenic cruising', but on those occasions to tend to want to be on the upper decks so you can see both sides of the river... ... Also consider the fact that you are rarely able to 'sit on the balcony' anyway as the majority of the time they are closer to a large opening window into your cabin rather than an ocean style veranda... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eal7 Posted August 17, 2018 Author #10 Share Posted August 17, 2018 No question is stupid! Rafting only happens (occasionally) when you are moored. When you are sailing you have a great view from your balcony. You will want to be on top of the ship though when you sail through the Rhine Gorge to get picturesque views of the castles. This is a great cruise!Cole thank you for that! I knew what mooring was but everytime I googled rafting it just showed white water rafting. Will will go topside certain times, but being introverts we need our own space as well. I am looking forward to the cruise, really hoping it goes to near enough to plan. 😀 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eal7 Posted August 17, 2018 Author #11 Share Posted August 17, 2018 I was sitting on my balcony of our Ama ship and snapped this pic of a Viking ship with no balconies, only sliding doors. This was a rare occurrence. It was on the Danube near Melk which gets very crowded because everyone stops there. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Holy Cow! That is close! i guess it would be a bit weird if someone was on the other side. lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philw1776 Posted August 17, 2018 #12 Share Posted August 17, 2018 It IS close when rafted. Fortunately, Viking has prohibited their past custom of boarding, raiding and pillaging non_Viking ships. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpringBreakMom Posted August 17, 2018 #13 Share Posted August 17, 2018 It IS close when rafted. Fortunately, Viking has prohibited their past custom of boarding, raiding and pillaging non_Viking ships. :') Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eal7 Posted August 17, 2018 Author #14 Share Posted August 17, 2018 It IS close when rafted. Fortunately, Viking has prohibited their past custom of boarding, raiding and pillaging non_Viking ships. :')IDK..i was under the impression it was just "frowned upon". 😁 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Got2Cruise Posted August 17, 2018 #15 Share Posted August 17, 2018 Holy Cow! That is close! i guess it would be a bit weird if someone was on the other side. lol. You can definitely see inside the cabins unless the room darkening shades are drawn lol Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Peregrina651 Posted August 18, 2018 #16 Share Posted August 18, 2018 It IS close when rafted. Fortunately, Viking has prohibited their past custom of boarding, raiding and pillaging non_Viking ships. Damn! That was my favorite cruise activity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Peregrina651 Posted August 18, 2018 #17 Share Posted August 18, 2018 You can definitely see inside the cabins unless the room darkening shades are drawn lol Sent from my iPhone using Forums In other words, make sure your shades are drawn before you step out of the bathroom buck naked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Host Jazzbeau Posted August 18, 2018 #18 Share Posted August 18, 2018 In other words, make sure your shades are drawn before you step out of the bathroom buck naked. Kinda late to remember this when I'm already trapped in the bathroom with the shades open ;p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G.M.T. Posted August 18, 2018 #19 Share Posted August 18, 2018 It IS close when rafted. Fortunately, Viking has prohibited their past custom of boarding, raiding and pillaging non_Viking ships. Please do not worry, Viking may have stopped boarding, raiding and pillaging, but we local "Huns" still carry on the tradition. If anyone would like to participate in our "excursions", we sometimes have places available, ranging from 1/2 day tour of Rain Dance or 3 rounds with dear MiL, to our premium overnight All Inclusive where you get keep all your pillaged items. For the pillaged items, shippingcan be arranged at extra cost (DHL, or if you want it broken via UPS). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jklc123 Posted August 19, 2018 #20 Share Posted August 19, 2018 We've actually had a couple pleasant conversations from our balcony while rafted next to other ships with balconies. We'll watch out for the Vikings in future, however! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaliJohn Posted August 19, 2018 #21 Share Posted August 19, 2018 Drying clothes was the primary use of the balcony on our cruise earlier this month... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Host Jazzbeau Posted August 19, 2018 #22 Share Posted August 19, 2018 (edited) We've actually had a couple pleasant conversations from our balcony while rafted next to other ships with balconies. We'll watch out for the Vikings in future, however! What's in your wallet? I'll just put it in my wallet then ;p Edited September 1, 2018 by Host Jazzbeau Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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