Viking Akun Review

Waterway of the Czars

Review for Russia River Cruise on Viking Akun
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RussianAlphabet
First Time Cruiser • Age 70s

Rating by category

Cabin
Value for Money
Embarkation
Dining
Public Rooms
Entertainment
Service

Additional details

Sail Date: Sep 2018
Cabin: Deluxe Outside Stateroom

We have travelled to 40 countries on our own - walking, renting vehicles, taking trains, using local airlines - visiting the major sites as well as exploring places tourists normally choose not to see. But, felt a river cruise from Moscow to Saint Petersburg best met our needs at this time. Partly because of the language barrier, partly because of the current world tensions, and partly because of security concerns. We learned the Russian alphabet and mastered a few key phrases (but English was spoken almost everywhere), international tensions were not an issue as the Russian Federation appears to use tourism as a major source of income, and Viking or local representatives were with us every day should some unforseen event occur (very helpful and conscientious) - no issues whatsoever.

Representatives from Viking met us after we exited Moscow immigration and customs. They had lists of who was arriving on what airline, by time, and flight number. Our baggage was placed on carts and we did not see them until we entered our room on the ship. A bus was waiting for us a took us directly to the boat. During that transition time, the Viking representative explained the arrival process at the ship as well as pointed out several local sites. Checking into our room on the Akun was easy and uncomplicated. Very smooth and organized process from airport to room.

Viking offered multiple included tours and additional paid tours options. Our days were full - often starting first thing and ending late at night. Consequently, we had not fully recovered from jet lag before beginning our scheduled tours. We highly recommend arriving one full day before your cruise to get acclimated. Several of our fellow trip goers, who have taken many river cruises, stated they always arrive a day or two early. Viking put them up at very nice hotels - even if they do not sign up for the extended before and after tour options (which we did not).

Cabin Review

Deluxe Outside Stateroom

Cabin DX

Excellent Room. Equal to Fairmont, Hilton, Marriott in quality even though smaller floor space and reduced size bathroom. A television plus, on those few times I was in my cabin, were the ship's camera displaying the bow of the ship and the river view in the direction we were heading, a GPS map tracking the ship's movements through the country, the ship's events programming and reminders of schedules and procedures, the ability to view on board lectures and entertainment from my room, and movies and international news and weather. Room was cleaned (vacuumed, dusted, bath scrubbed, towels replaced, trash emptied) daily. In room security safe and refrigerator. Individual controlled thermostat for heating and air conditioning.

3 Helpful Votes
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