Questions For River Cruisers

[Tos]

Hello Informed River Cruisers.

I am planning my first trip to Europe to take a Viking River Cruise.  I have traveled all my working life (all in the US, Mexico and Caribbean).  I've been on 25+ cruises (Caribbean and Alaska) but never to Europe.  Just a few questions.  Is it a good idea to get to Amsterdam a day or two before the cruise, or is it safe to arrive on the day of departure?  We are doing our own flights on Delta (non-stop from Orlando) so is it a good idea to arrange transfers to the port with Viking or just do our own?  What is the biggest mistake(s) first time River Cruisers make?  Is September a good time to do a River Cruise (Antwerp to Amsterdam or vice-versa?  Thanks for whatever help you can offer.

[Host Kat]

16 minutes ago, Tos said:

Hello Informed River Cruisers.

I am planning my first trip to Europe to take a Viking River Cruise.  I have traveled all my working life (all in the US, Mexico and Caribbean).  I've been on 25+ cruises (Caribbean and Alaska) but never to Europe.  Just a few questions.  Is it a good idea to get to Amsterdam a day or two before the cruise, or is it safe to arrive on the day of departure?  We are doing our own flights on Delta (non-stop from Orlando) so is it a good idea to arrange transfers to the port with Viking or just do our own?  What is the biggest mistake(s) first time River Cruisers make?  Is September a good time to do a River Cruise (Antwerp to Amsterdam or vice-versa?  Thanks for whatever help you can offer.

 

Howdy @Tos 

 

Your post has been split out from the Roll Call thread where originally posted and moved to the River Cruising forum where it will be on topic. Browse through the thread titles here on this forum and l👀k for titles of interest. You will probably find your fellow Cruise Critic members have already posted questions and received answers that will be of interest to you.

 

I suggest you use the Follow feature on this thread or any other thread where you are interested in the new replies. Then you will not have to go l👀king to see if there are new replies because they will all be l👀king for you as notifications!  If you need more info on how to do it, please click the following: How to: Follow Topics & Forums (Subscribed Threads/Forums Info)

 

And don't forget, after your cruise be sure to submit your review for publication by Cruise Critic. Many cruisers will benefit from your experience!  See How To: Submit a Member Review.

 

Hope this will be helpful and glad to have you aboard Cruise Critic! 

 

Happy sails,

 

Host Kat 

[Host Jazzbeau]

Both times I took a river cruise from Amsterdam we flew in the day of.  But only because we couldn't fly the day before for personal reasons, and we felt somewhat safe because the river ship was docked right at Centraal Station and was staying there overnight.  In general, and more so as we age, I would never fly in the day of a cruise – even if all goes according to plan we still need at least one full day to overcome jet lag.

 

IF your ship is docked near Centraal Station, there is no need to take a ship transfer:  there is a train direct from Schiphol Airport to Centraal Station and the docks are an easy walk (or you can take a taxi).  BUT sometimes river ships get sent to a location far from Centraal Station [and my impression is that this happens to Viking more often than other lines], in which case their transfer would be a blessing.

 

But wait!  "Antwerp to Amsterdam or vice-versa" – is your cruise starting in Antwerp?  In that case, (a) I don't have any experience to base advice on, but (b) I personally would take a ship transfer because it definitely isn't going to be as easy as Schiphol to Centraal Station.

[pete_coach]

Personally, if you have never been to Europe, I would get to Amsterdam several days ahead of the cruise.  To get over any jet lag and to be a tourist in a very great city.

I would also stay an extra few days at the end of the cruise in Antwerp for a look around and a few day trips.

What to avoid? Well, river cruises give you options every day, Do not try and do too much. They can be long and tiring days and that takes away from the enjoyment.

September  is a great time as it is not during prime tourist season and the weather is still very good.

[notamermaid]

10 hours ago, Tos said:

Is September a good time to do a River Cruise (Antwerp to Amsterdam or vice-versa?

Certainly a nice time. Mild, with cooling nights, but often still warm days. This is the itinerary, isn't it? https://www.vikingrivercruises.com/cruise-destinations/europe/holland-and-belgium/2022-antwerp-amsterdam/index.html

 

Lots of culture there, a nice mix of rivers and canals. It is the unusual itinerary by Viking that just hops over into Germany to see Wesel. It still is within the focus of the Lowlands as Wesel is on the Lower Rhine. I would be interested in taking this cruise if it was not on Viking, just because I do not like Viking, a personal choice.

 

Not sure if I have understood this correctly: you have not chosen the direction yet? Either way, as the ship will be docked overnight in the ports you should have no problems if you arrive on the first day as per your booked itinerary. But I must say that Bruges/Ghent extension looks appealing...

 

20 minutes ago, pete_coach said:

Do not try and do too much. They can be long and tiring days and that takes away from the enjoyment.

Yup, having never been to Europe you will have lots of very new images to process at the end of the day. And be prepared for a lot of walking. Good shoes are essential.

 

Have fun planning.

 

notamermaid

 

 

 

[Tos]

10 hours ago, Host Kat said:

 

Howdy @Tos 

 

Your post has been split out from the Roll Call thread where originally posted and moved to the River Cruising forum where it will be on topic. Browse through the thread titles here on this forum and l👀k for titles of interest. You will probably find your fellow Cruise Critic members have already posted questions and received answers that will be of interest to you.

 

I suggest you use the Follow feature on this thread or any other thread where you are interested in the new replies. Then you will not have to go l👀king to see if there are new replies because they will all be l👀king for you as notifications!  If you need more info on how to do it, please click the following: How to: Follow Topics & Forums (Subscribed Threads/Forums Info)

 

And don't forget, after your cruise be sure to submit your review for publication by Cruise Critic. Many cruisers will benefit from your experience!  See How To: Submit a Member Review.

 

Hope this will be helpful and glad to have you aboard Cruise Critic! 

 

Happy sails,

 

Host Kat 

Thank you!

[Tos]

10 hours ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

Both times I took a river cruise from Amsterdam we flew in the day of.  But only because we couldn't fly the day before for personal reasons, and we felt somewhat safe because the river ship was docked right at Centraal Station and was staying there overnight.  In general, and more so as we age, I would never fly in the day of a cruise – even if all goes according to plan we still need at least one full day to overcome jet lag.

 

IF your ship is docked near Centraal Station, there is no need to take a ship transfer:  there is a train direct from Schiphol Airport to Centraal Station and the docks are an easy walk (or you can take a taxi).  BUT sometimes river ships get sent to a location far from Centraal Station [and my impression is that this happens to Viking more often than other lines], in which case their transfer would be a blessing.

 

But wait!  "Antwerp to Amsterdam or vice-versa" – is your cruise starting in Antwerp?  In that case, (a) I don't have any experience to base advice on, but (b) I personally would take a ship transfer because it definitely isn't going to be as easy as Schiphol to Centraal Station.

Thanks for the great advice

[Host Jazzbeau]

I see that there is a Thalys direct train that connects AMS Schiphol Airport to Antwerp in 55 minutes.  Much more convenient than I expected, but you would still have to figure out the transfers from train station to ship.

[gnome12]

1 hour ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

I see that there is a Thalys direct train that connects AMS Schiphol Airport to Antwerp in 55 minutes.  Much more convenient than I expected, but you would still have to figure out the transfers from train station to ship.

Take a cab. Just make sure that you know exactly where you are going. When I did this, I had been in touch with the ship, and they neglected to tell me that they were docked behind a multi-level parking structure. My cab drove back and forth a few times, before we finally got them to tell us that.

[Roz]

What is the biggest mistake(s) first time River Cruisers make?  Thinking a river cruise is going to be like an ocean cruise.  Do your research.

 

I think September is a great month to cruise in Europe.  Students are back in school and ports are less crowded.  

 

By not spending a day or two in Amsterdam pre-cruise you're missing a great city.

[mhb1757]

On 5/19/2022 at 10:12 PM, Tos said:

Hello Informed River Cruisers.

I am planning my first trip to Europe to take a Viking River Cruise.  I have traveled all my working life (all in the US, Mexico and Caribbean).  I've been on 25+ cruises (Caribbean and Alaska) but never to Europe.  Just a few questions.  Is it a good idea to get to Amsterdam a day or two before the cruise, or is it safe to arrive on the day of departure?  We are doing our own flights on Delta (non-stop from Orlando) so is it a good idea to arrange transfers to the port with Viking or just do our own?  What is the biggest mistake(s) first time River Cruisers make?  Is September a good time to do a River Cruise (Antwerp to Amsterdam or vice-versa?  Thanks for whatever help you can offer.

Since you are flying from Orlando (big airport with lots of flight options to Amsterdam) you are likely fine arriving day of your cruise. But as others have said you might be glad to have a day or 2 to rejuvenate and see more sites. That’s up to you. We much prefer staying outside Amsterdam (Haarlem, Delft and Leiden are all beautiful historic towns out of the bustling, dirty Amsterdam). Trains in the Netherlands are frequent, inexpensive, clean and easy to use. You can be at Amsterdam Centraal in 30 minutes or less from any of those towns. 
while you can easily take a train from the airport to Centraal I’d probably be inclined to do a cab or an Uber or a car service from the airport because I’m not wild about hauling my luggage onto and off a train, across a 6 or 8 lane highway to the river outside the station (while dodging hundreds of homicidal cyclists) and then a few more blocks to the ship. If you are flying in the day you board your cruise the simplest way to get there is just use Viking transfers. Not the cheapest, but certainly easy. They will be standing there with a sign as you exit the customs area into the arrivals hall and they’ll take your luggage and escort you to the van or bus and deliver you to the ship. 
 

if you fly in a day or 2 early, unless you get a thrill from dragging your luggage around get an Uber. 😂

[Roz]

Homicidal cyclists....that sums it up nicely. 🤣🤣🤣

[TMLAalum]

@Roz

Nashville=3rd coast?

I thought I lived on the 3rd coast! The US has 4 coasts, not including Nashville: Atlantic, Pacific, Gulf and Great Lakes!

I suspect there is a story behind your location!

[Roz]

@TMLAalum, Nashville is the 3rd coast for the entertainment business, the other 2 being NYC and LA.

[Second seating]

It is very easy to exit the back of Central Station and drag your luggage to the ship (as long as the ship is docked there).  I do not think we had to cross a street, sidewalks all the way and very few "Homicidal cyclists".

Second seating

[pontac]

I agree with @Second seating but boats moor where told to by the harbour master, and also at places that suit their routes. first two times Viking moored very close to Centraal Station but third time, last month, they didn't  and I don't know where it was. Certainly nowhere close to the Centraal.

[Second seating]

We were able to check our ships (Uniworld) docking info before we left our hotel in Leiden.

 

[pontac]

7 minutes ago, Second seating said:

We were able to check our ships (Uniworld) docking info before we left our hotel in Leiden.

 

 

I was agreeing with your comment in brackets. It's essential to know where the boat is docked when you are making your own way to the boat

[TMLAalum]

5 hours ago, Roz said:

@TMLAalum, Nashville is the 3rd coast for the entertainment business, the other 2 being NYC and LA.

Ah ha! 

The north coast has some music fame too! Birthplace of the term Rock and Roll and a Hall of Fame to honor the genre!