Walk, walk, walk....

[Woofbite]

Nice of Viking to offer free excursions in ports but do they all have to be walking tours?  Some of us are past the point where we can hike a couple of miles a day or stand for an hour or so, (usually in the hot sun), listening to a tour guide.  They are far from the only one.  Most companies seem to only focus on walks and very few of those offer anywhere for someone to sit and watch the passing scene while waiting for groups to return from touring another palace, cathedral, castle, medieval town etc.   There's more to travel than buildings and narrow streets.

 

[C-sea]

maybe a portable seat/walking cane (all in one) would be helpful,  you would always have a seat at your disposal when others are walking around allowing you to participate in a gentle excursion

Edited August 1, 2021 by C-sea

[Squawkman]

9 minutes ago, Woofbite said:

Nice of Viking to offer free excursions in ports but do they all have to be walking tours?  Some of us are past the point where we can hike a couple of miles a day or stand for an hour or so, (usually in the hot sun), listening to a tour guide.  They are far from the only one.  Most companies seem to only focus on walks and very few of those offer anywhere for someone to sit and watch the passing scene while waiting for groups to return from touring another palace, cathedral, castle, medieval town etc.   There's more to travel than buildings and narrow streets.

 

In all my experience with Viking included excursions, the majority included bus transportation - just read the entire descriptions. Never hiked a couple of miles. And there was usually the option to sit out the walking portion. 

[LindaS272]

2 hours ago, Squawkman said:

In all my experience with Viking included excursions, the majority included bus transportation - just read the entire descriptions. Never hiked a couple of miles. And there was usually the option to sit out the walking portion. 

We’ve been on several just walking tours with Viking—though none that were strenuous. Our Malta/Adriatic cruise, however, has several included just walking tours and current cruisers have warned of extreme temps with no shade.

[TayanaLorna]

LOL I have never seen anyone complain abouf walking. Usually the complaints are about the panoramic bus tours with only a couple stops.  That said, each cruise is different.  We went on the Midnight Sun ocean cruise and, with the exception of the walking tour in Greenwich, England, all the included tours were panoramic bus tours with stops for photos and short walks.  We loved them because we got a great overview of the town and surrounding area and still had time to do our own thing.  Our South America cruise was a mix of panoramic bus tours and getting dropped off to walk.  I have not been on a River cruise but it sounds like many of their includeds are walking because there is no way to see the small narrow street towns and plazas without walking.  

[Crockett&Darla]

Viking will sometimes offer a "light", or less strenuous version of the walking tour of the day. With that said, I can't tell you how to learn about that beforehand. 

[C-sea]

14 minutes ago, Crockett&Darla said:

Viking will sometimes offer a "light", or less strenuous version of the walking tour of the day. With that said, I can't tell you how to learn about that beforehand. 

On the Viking River Cruise we took, many days they did offer two versions of tolerance

[Hawaiian Eye]

I thought of taking one of those collapsible seats to use while standing in line for a museum but they're pretty heavy and I don't think I want to lug one around all day.

 

 

[IWantToLiveOverTheSea]

In one of the Icelandic ports, Viking is offering a choice of two included tours - one walking and one mostly by coach.  But that's not the norm.

[rudychance]

21 hours ago, Crockett&Darla said:

Viking will sometimes offer a "light", or less strenuous version of the walking tour of the day. With that said, I can't tell you how to learn about that beforehand. 

Yes, Viking walking tours are awesome for the majority of cruisers.   If  you're not blessed with good feet, and can't keep up - the slower pace or a panoramic tour works well.  

[Woofbite]

32 minutes ago, rudychance said:

Yes, Viking walking tours are awesome for the majority of cruisers.   If  you're not blessed with good feet, and can't keep up - the slower pace or a panoramic tour works well.  

Booked those.  There just aren't many offered.  Searching for other operators or will hire taxis.

 

[knoxclone]

Thus far (5 and counting) all the Viking included tours I have taken have offered a gentle walkers version.  It might be a slower pace walking, a separate route to eliminate steps or steep inclines, or reboarding the bus to transport you to another location, while the majority or the group walks to that location and . You just need to ask.

[duquephart]

We had an "included" walking tour once docked in Amsterdam on a river cruise. Offered given we were doing an extension in the city. We walked. And we walked. And we walked some more. Highlights were and old folks home and a park that had nothing to recommend it. Oh ----- and a "tea" shop. Clearly intended only to keep you occupied until check-in time at your hotel.

[deec]

I love WALKING tours!!!

[Woofbite]

11 minutes ago, deec said:

I love WALKING tours!!!

As did many of us until decrepitude arrived.  (Falling off a roof didn't help).