THE SHIP
When we first approached Viking Ingvar docked in St. Petersburg, the first component that struck us become how much large it become than different river boats on which we've got sailed. Unlike Viking River Cruises' European ships, which normally bring one hundred fifty visitors (new "longships" bring one hundred ninety), Viking Ingvar contains up to 206 guests. The deliver became absolutely refurbished in 2011 and they're now not kidding whilst they say "absolutely". The situation of the ship turned into considered one of our issues after reading some of the critiques. However, while we stepped aboard Viking Ingvar it looked like a contemporary ship! You would by no means recognise that this deliver become launched in 1989. The Scandinavian, modern interior with light coloured woods can also appear sterile to a few, but it oozes present day and newness.
Ships that sail in Russia should be constructed in Russia, so Viking River Cruises is relatively limited to the Russian-built ship's unique layout and floorplan. However, whilst this deliver became originally constructed at some stage in the Soviet Union era, it turned into designed to carry more than 424 visitors! Needless to say, the Soviets had been no longer huge on creature comforts. Here is what you will find on every deck:
Main Deck: 2 hundred-collection staterooms, Reception Desk, Library, small Internet Cafe with 2 laptops and printer, and a pleasant gift save.
Middle Deck: three hundred-collection staterooms, Neva Restaurant, Coffee station, public restrooms
Upper Deck: four hundred-collection staterooms, Panorama Bar
Sun Deck: Sky Bar, Sun Deck
All public areas, hallways and staterooms had been covered in the ship's current refurb, so everything looks new and sparkling. Stephan Busch, Hotel Manager, sees to it that the ship is stored spotlessly easy. There is one elevator onboard.
Internet get admission to is complimentary and available 24 hours a day thru the 2 laptops within the Internet Cafe at the Main Deck, or, through the use of the deliver's Wi-Fi together with your very own computer or Wi-Fi succesful device. Without question, the Internet carrier on Viking Ingvar was hands-down the quality I have skilled on any river cruise. What a nice wonder! I turned into capable of post my every day blog each day and keep up with e mail, no problem. Of direction, like all river cruise, there had been times while the service become dropped. Whenever a deliver is going via a lock, for instance; that is just a technical truth of river cruising. Also, whilst we had been far north on Lake Onega, provider changed into unavailable for a long duration. Other than that, I haven't any court cases. Not simplest became Internet available all through the ship, even in our stateroom, connection speeds were first rate. Good task!
Smoking is not accredited anywhere in the boat. Smoking is allowed in detailed regions at the outside decks.
With the recognition of river cruising, it is not unusual to have several ships dock at the identical pier aspect-by means of-side, tying up to every different, making it necessary to walk thru the foyer of 1 or more different ships to get to the shore. So, before you open your curtains, be aware that you is probably eye-to-eye with the occupants at the deliver that is tied up for your deliver! Viking Helgi was crusing the same itinerary we have been so it become common to ought to walk through her lobby. Since she appears genuinely equal to Viking Ingvar, you needed to pay attention to make certain you had been on the perfect deliver. At one place on our itinerary, I suppose we had to walk through at least 4 ships to get to the shore and there had been ships on the other aspect of us whose passengers had to walk via greater than 5 ships!
ACCOMMODATIONS
Our category AX Deluxe stateroom #415 is placed at the Upper Deck of Viking Ingvar. According to the Viking River Cruises literature, the stateroom has a hundred and sixty sq. Toes. I forgot to % my tape degree, so I will take their word for it. The stateroom does sense larger than preceding Viking River Cruises cabins. Like the rest of Viking Ingvar, the staterooms underwent entire recuperation in 2011, and it's far obvious. The cabin seems trendy. In truth, the photos on their website do no longer show the brand new mattress linens which include comfy European-style duvets.
Because of the deliver's structure, there may be a publish inside the center of our room. It turned into peculiar to look it in the beginning, but after a day, you do not even note it. There is a massive picture window at the back wall that looks out over a promenade deck. You can clearly open this window by means of twisting the manage at the pinnacle and sliding the window down. This become a incredible feature for taking snap shots from the stateroom. Just remember the fact that your window opens onto a public promenade! Also, there may be no screen at the window, so be cautious not to let any flying bugs in. In 2013, the ship may be undergoing greater renovations to transform that promenade into man or woman verandas for the staterooms.
The dual beds (mixed to form a queen-sized mattress in our case) are on one wall with end tables that are set up to the wall. Each quit desk is essentially a small desk top and a single shelf for garage. There are mild switches next to every mattress to govern the character studying mild and different cabin lighting. There is likewise a 220 outlet above each night time stand. The beds are company, however comfy and the brand new linens, duvets and pillows are very comfy. There is masses of room beneath the beds to keep empty luggage.
On the wall going through the beds is an extended desk/leisure/bar console. There is lots of tabletop area on your computer, cameras, or different private items. A bowl of fruit and complimentary bottled water can be discovered here as well. You will also find a cellphone and the Quiet Vox charging station placed here. A big reflect above the table lets in this area for use as a arrogance. There is a small stool under in which you may sit and put on make-up, or paintings in your pc. Ingvar's designers did an amazing job of inclusive of plenty of electrical retailers. There are 220 Euro-fashion stores on the table and a single one hundred ten US-style outlet. As long as you p.C. A few Euro-to-US prong adapters, you ought to be desirable to head! One aspect Rickee could have favored to have had was a magnifying makeup replicate at the table. There became plenty of room for it and even shops for the plug if it were a lighted magnifying reflect. That could be a super addition!
As for storage, there is a first rate-sized closet to keep your striking objects and sufficient space beneath for footwear. A big shelf above the hangers is some other space for storage of objects. The handiest drawer in the stateroom is the small drawer underneath the desk. Designers opted for cabinets in place of drawers. There are three open cabinets next to the mini-fridge. On both facet of the desk, there's a 3-shelf unit in the back of hinged doorways. The use of cabinets rather than drawers is maximum probable to preserve cabin noise to a minimum. If you have ever been awakened by way of the sound of slamming drawers, you will recognize using shelves. There are also 4 hooks at the back of the cabin door, perfect for placing jackets, caps, backpacks, and so forth. Because of the publish in our room, there's no different desk, but there is a chair.
The rest room is quite usual. There is a nice-sized shower stall with curtain. A small arrogance pinnacle and a 3-shelf mirrored medication cupboard offers masses of space for maximum non-public items. There is also a shelf below the sink/conceitedness. The sink is large and has a new, modern-day faucet. All lavatory furnishings look trendy and the whole lot worked flawlessly. And, Ingvar's engineers have figured out how to make a ship's toilet flush with out the sound of a jet engine at full velocity! The vacuum gadget is whisper quiet. Robes and slippers are to be had upon request. Nice L'Occitane amenities are provided inside the rest room and replenished as needed.
The 26" flat screen Sony television is hooked up excessive and can be without difficulty seen from the bed. There is also very good programming which include CNN International, BBC World, CNBC, a movie channel, a ship's channel and some overseas stations. Unfortunately, no Fox News or Sky News on this crusing. There is a small digital safe underneath the television for valuables. There is enough room among the cease of the mattress and the table, in order that if one person is seated at the desk the alternative individual can walk behind them (we had been in a few cabins in which you need to move slowly across the quit There is sufficient room between the cease of the mattress and the table, in order that if one person is seated at the table the other man or woman can stroll behind them (we had been in some cabins wherein you need to crawl across the quit of the mattress to get beyond a person seated at the table). The bed and bedding are cozy and we love the pillows and duvets. The cabin within reason quiet, in component due to using cabinets as opposed to drawers and cabin doors that near quietly without slamming shut. If human beings are standing the corridor speakme, you may listen them. Fortunately, every person on our floor changed into typically very thoughtful and we had no noise issues. The A/C gadget works VERY nicely and could freeze you out of the room in case you crank it up. There is a thermostat to alter temperature, however no on/off switch. The home tasks services have been as proper or higher than any cruise we've ever been on. Our stateroom attendant, Damira, saved our stateroom truely spotlessly clean. Rickee by chance walked in on Damira sooner or later and he or she became in the toilet on her fingers and knees scrubbing the ground! I observed her within the hallway one day in reality wiping down the door frames. She even wiped clean our stateroom window frequently so we always had a spot-unfastened view of the river. Damira did now not speak lots English, but she usually greeted us with a warm smile and did her process excellently. Oh, and by means of the manner, she additionally takes place to be an performed Classical Pianist!
The daily publication, Viking News, which Damira left on our mattress each evening, introduces the following day's locations, affords a bit historical past on a number of the locations we are able to visit, and offers tips, advice and helpful information. It additionally includes the time table for the next day's activities and meal times and notes the outlet instances for the bars and the gift keep.
As for average consolation, we would charge this stateroom a four out of 5 stars. Even with the pole, it is virtually one of the most cozy riverboat staterooms we have ever occupied, and the maximum relaxed Viking River Cruises stateroom we've got enjoyed up to now.
FOOD AND DINING
All complete-service dining aboard Viking Ingvar takes region inside the Neva Restaurant. The eating place is laid out with a huge forward dining place with tables for four, 6 and eight. Another eating "room" is located aft with greater tables for four and six. The eating rooms are linked by means of "hallways" on both facet of the ship with a row of tables for two. This is in which Rickee and I selected to sit every time we dined. We love tables for two and they may be rare on a river cruise ship. There are 8 two-top tables on Viking Ingvar (four on Port and four on Starboard).
An early-riser, buffet Continental breakfast service is obtainable in The Panorama Bar on the Upper Deck every morning at 6:00am. The Panorama Bar is a no longer-so-hidden treasure of a venue. This changed into my favored weblog spot every morning as I should enjoy my espresso and low-carb meals bar as I pecked away on my MacBook Pro. Sukamto or Nicki had been continually accessible to serve coffee or cope with every other wishes. Sukamto would even offer to easy out my French coffee press for me every morning when I became finished downing more than one cups of the dark master.
A full buffet-style breakfast is served every day in the Neva Restaurant, generally starting at 7am. Buffet strains are fashioned on both Port and Starboard sides of the Neva between the ahead and aft dining areas. It is virtually one of the best layouts we've seen for buffet carrier on a riverboat. However, at breakfast, be cautioned that there are one of a kind objects served on every facet. The Port aspect buffet line has the scrambled eggs, bacon, mushrooms, sausages, breads, fruit, cereal, and so forth. For a complete breakfast whilst the Starboard side best has bloodless cuts, cheeses, breads, pastries and an omelet station. Eggs made-to-order can be ordered from your waiter, who will even serve you juice or coffee. Generally, we located the breakfast to be excellent. One day my poached eggs were slightly undercooked, but apart from that, the entirety was spot on. The two sausages (beef and fowl) were a number of the first-class I have had.
Lunch service normally starts at 12 noon and is a hybrid buffet/made-to-order gadget. A variety of salads are offered every day buffet style along side a hot dish. There is likewise a pasta station where a distinct advent is offered every day. A lunch menu offers a desire of appetizer, soup, a choice to 2 main courses and two dessert picks. Menu objects can be ordered out of your waiter and are made to reserve. We discovered the salads to be superb each day. The menu objects various from just ok to excellent, relying on the day. There were some standout gadgets. Rickee stated the pasta with blue cheese sauce turned into the fine pasta dish she has ever eaten. That is high reward coming from her because she is nearly impossible to delight in terms of meals. Remember Mikey?
On most days, there's a day tea carrier served within the Panorama Bar with cookies, mild snacks, and of route, tea. There are, however, multiple days wherein an extravagant tea is served within the Neva Restaurant. One is the Traditional Russian Tea where the galley prepares a diffusion of Russian dumplings and Peroshky. Excellent!
Dinner is served from 7pm to 9pm within the Neva Restaurant. There are not any set table assignments, so you can sit down wherever and with whomever you wish. Most humans got here to dinner while the restaurant opened at 7pm, so it was normally crowded. If you need a particular table, you have to arrive after they open. We by no means had a trouble getting "our" desk (#10) for lunch or dinner. A usual dinner menu will offer a desire of 4 First Course items, one being a soup. Three Main Course selections typically encompass a meat, a fish and a vegetarian alternative. A variety of desserts are provided which include desserts, pies, fruit, ice cream, and sorbets. A cheese plate is likewise supplied every night with an expansion of 3 cheeses. The cheese plates, via the manner, had been very well organized and offered.
In addition to the day by day menu items, you usually have the choice of a Caesar Salad, Grilled Fillet of Salmon, Pan Roasted Chicken Breast or Charbroiled Steak with herb butter. On several evenings, I ordered the Charbroiled Steak which become a pleasing, thick reduce that become flavorful, however usually undercooked. I constantly order Medium, and it appeared to mechanically come out Rare to Medium Rare. I started ordering Medium Well and that appeared to do the trick. I regularly will attempt to eat a completely mild dinner and will have a Caesar Salad as my foremost route. When I did this, I acquired a bigger component than if ordered as a salad dish simplest. The Caesar Salad changed into remarkable: Fresh Romaine leaves perfectly dressed in a tart Caesar dressing and crowned with shaved parmesan cheese. Anchovies are commonly brought, but I always asked for them to be withheld, which they had been.
Viking River Cruises serves complimentary beer, wine and soft beverages with lunch and dinner. Marina could come through our table every day at lunch or dinner with a bottle of white and crimson. We typically skip wine with lunch, but enjoyed the crimson every night with dinner. She usually saved our glasses crammed. Premium wines are also to be had at an extra fee from the ship's wine listing. Another first-class perk of a Viking River Cruise is the ability to carry a bottle of your personal wine to enjoy at dinner sans corkage prices. So, if you discover a local wine in one of the towns you go to which you would really like to strive, you may!
The provider within the Neva Restaurant some distance handed our expectations. Our wait personnel trio of Tri, Tyo and Marina took superb care of us for the entire experience. Occasionally, Julia could additionally prevent with the aid of to fill a wine glass if Marina was busy someplace else. Julia, a fiery redhead was continually zipping by means of our desk whilst delivering meals or drink orders to her tables inside the foremost dining room. We nicknamed her "Flash". The wait time to place an order, or among courses, turned into minimal. If we arrived for dinner at 7pm, we may want to effortlessly be out of the dining room via 8pm. Every member of the provider group we encountered all through the thirteen days was pleasant, smiling, and tremendously fine.
Austrian Chef de Cuisine, Andre Frischmuth, oversees the coaching and delivery of all meals served onboard. We have observed an development in food first-class on every and every Viking River Cruises crusing over time, and the fashion seems to be continuing. While I might now not move to date as to mention the food rises to 5-celebrity reputation on Viking Ingvar, there had been lots extra hits than misses. And, the food and service have been the exceptional we've got experienced on any Viking River Cruises sailing to date. Rickee even used the word "BEST' to describe two dishes, the aforementioned pasta with blue cheese, and a Halibut dish served one evening at dinner. She stated it was the excellent piece of fish she has ever eaten. Getting a "BEST" out of Rickee is corresponding to a Michelin superstar!
ENTERTAINMENT
Entertainment on river cruises is quite a lot centered around the destination instead of onboard activities. Ocean cruise ships are much large, spend greater time "at sea" and feature theaters and lounges devoted to amusement. On Viking Ingvar, sunlight hours enjoyment takes the shape of exciting and enlightening lectures, typically carried out via one of the Russian tour publications. During our trip, we enjoyed a series of lectures on the history of Russia, all of which had been very well prepared and delivered. Tatyana even attempted to educate the visitors to speak a touch Russian. In the evenings, Eduardo Espinola entertains visitors in the Sky Bar at the piano and a small dance floor is available.
One night we loved a first-rate classical piano concert done by means of none other than our first-rate stateroom attendant, Damira Talipova! Another nighttime, we had a passenger "talent" show in which a couple of guests sang and a group of volunteer passengers accomplished a skit directed by using lead excursion manual, Valera. It become a fairy story, complete with rudimentary costumes, and frequently overacted by using every visitor! Rickee aptly served as "Curtain #1" and had a wonderful time participating inside the performance. Another amusing evening determined Mirja accomplishing a "Name That Tune" minutiae contest wherein every crew may want to earn more factors if someone from the crew went to the dance floor and danced to the song being performed by Eduardo!
On numerous evenings, we had been dealt with to nighttime excursions along with a overall performance of Swan Lake by using a ballet corps in St. Petersburg and a Russian folkloric live performance in Moscow. We also had the hazard to join non-obligatory for-a-fee midnight excursions inclusive of a Cossack Show in St. Petersburg and a"Moscow by Night" excursion which included a canal cruise.
EXCURSIONS
Viking River Cruises consists of maximum excursions in the cruise fare but additionally gives many extra tours that you may buy for an additional fee. On some days, covered "opportunity" excursions had been supplied and you may pick out to pass the cathedral go to and choose something else. These "opportunity" tours proved to be pretty popular. At instances, a "leisurely" organization become set up which saw all the equal things all and sundry else saw, just at a touch slower pace. Bottled water is always to be had and supplied to you as you go out the boat. During our Waterways of the Czars voyage, there were generally six motorcoaches, each manned via one of the Russian excursion publications, and visitors were supposed to travel at the equal bus for every excursion. At instances this become no longer possible, including when the manual assigned to your motorcoach become heading up an non-compulsory tour. This necessitated deciding on a unique bus/manual for that day. In a few locations, similarly to our Viking River Cruises' manual, we additionally had the offerings of a neighborhood manual who knew a specific vicinity pretty nicely. Just so you will realize, Viking suggests which you tip the nearby guiides and nearby coach drivers in cash on the day of the excursion as you are not possibly to look them again. The suggested amount is $2 per person for the guide and $1 in line with person for the driving force despite the fact that I once in a while concept this was backwards based totally on what the drivers had to accomplish, particularly in St. Petersburg and Moscow visitors! So, it is a superb idea to take plenty of one greenback payments alongside to your ride. The quantity for nearby publications is further to the $10 according to individual per day they endorse that you tip your Viking River Cruises' Russian excursion guide who can be with you the whole journey.
If you wanted to take off and explore on your own, maps and information about nearby points of interest had been to be had at the Front Desk. In both St. Petersburg and Moscow, a travel bus into the city become made to be had on our "unfastened" day for a price of 20 Euros in line with man or woman for the roundtrip experience. One of the Russian publications went with the shuttle and was to be had to reply questions or offer suggesitions on what to peer and how to get there.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education
Most all excursions made use of the Quiet Vox audio device that's brilliant for listening to your guide's records while not having to live near. With the crowds we skilled within the Hermitage, these Quiet Voxes were vital for us with the intention to hear our manual.
For a investigate what we did every day in the course of our Waterways of the Czars itinerary, check out our blog under:
TOUR ESCORTS
A unique feature of this Viking River Cruise was the group of Russian excursion escorts that were with us for the entire experience. There are six excursion publications, one for each motor train used for local excursions. Guests are cautioned to pick out one of the group numbers and stay with that group through the whole cruise. We selected educate/institution variety four considering that our stateroom turned into 415, clean to take into account. Our escort for the journey changed into Olga. Olga's English turned into hard to understand at first, however because the days went on, both her English got higher, or our capacity to recognize it were given better. Probably the latter. In any case, she did an fantastic process of explaining the whole thing and answering any questions we had. All of the excursion escorts were distinctly candid and inclined to express their own critiques approximately their usa, politics, or some other topic. It become refreshing and thrilling. We were capable of spend a little time with several of the alternative publications on diverse excursions and found all to be friendly and keen to proportion their information of their native usa.
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