Viking Christmas Market cruise, ship decor question

[celoplyr]

I was watching a video on the Viking Christmas market cruises, and I saw a ton of greenery decorating the ship.  My family and I are highly allergic to live Christmas trees, etc.  Viking claims that it's synthetic, but can anyone confirm that? I'd hate to get on the ship and then be sick for 2 weeks.

[mlamb1234]

We did a Xmas cruise with Viking last November and all the trees, and there were quite a few, we’re artificial. The ship was beautifully decorated as were all the markets and towns we visited.

[celoplyr]

they look so REAL on the video. Did you love the trip? Would you recommend it? We are on the fence- it would be our first river cruise.

 

Thanks for answering the question!

[frenchhorn]

There will be a lot of live greenery at the Christmas markets, so perhaps you should avoid a market cruise.  We love them, but an allergy could create a huge problem.

 

[Canal archive]

Don’t forget you will be outside which will mitigate just a little, have you tried just one non-drowsy anti-histamine tablet. It worked wonders for some on our recent wander around Giverney.

[mlamb1234]

We throughly enjoyed the cruise and the Christmas spirit was everywhere. We spent two days in Basel pre cruise and two days in Amsterdam post cruise and very glad we did. Weather (late November) was cool/chilly but only added to the enjoyment especially with living in Florida.

[celoplyr]

1 hour ago, Canal archive said:

Don’t forget you will be outside which will mitigate just a little, have you tried just one non-drowsy anti-histamine tablet. It worked wonders for some on our recent wander around Giverney.

Outside is usually fine, but my mom thought that my Dad hated Christmas for years until they figured it out.  He was flat on his back, sick for weeks.  I'm not much better.  I get allergic in the outside and sneeze (masks may also help) but inside would just kill us.

[Canal archive]

Poor you my sincere sympathies allergies of any kind are a really not helpful especially when you don’t know initially what is causing the problem.

[Second seating]

If you are doing a pre or post stay, some hotels have fresh trees in their lobbies like this one in Rothenburg ob Tauber. This small hotel had trees on every floor. A lot of fresh greens in the markets!

 

Second seating

[Poconolady]

The ships can not use real greenery because of fire hazards. ( also, the cleaning up of fallen needles would be a continual headache)

[iticlaudia]

Most of the greenery in the markets and hotels in Europe are real.  Maybe get a RX for it before you go.