Viking River Cruises - Russia River Cruise

 

Our expectations for the 13-day Waterways of the Czars voyage from St. Petersburg to Moscow were set in stone because of our prior experiences with Viking River Cruises. We did our homework before setting sail by perusing online reviews written by people who had previously taken the same cruise on the same ship. Our prior positive experience with Viking River Cruises was called into question by the conflicting evaluations.

SAID SHIP

The size of the viking woman costume stood out in comparison to other river vessels we have been on. The Viking Ingvar, in contrast to the European ships of Viking River Cruises, can accommodate up to 206 passengers. When they state that the ship underwent a complete refurbishment in 2011, they mean it. After perusing some of the reviews, we were concerned about the ship's condition. But when we boarded the Viking Ingvar, it was like stepping onto a completely different vessel. This ship's design and construction belie its 1989 debut. Although the interior's Nordic minimalism and use of light wood may put some people off, I find it to be very fresh and modern.

Viking River Cruises is somewhat constrained by the original design and floorplan of the Russian-built ship because ships that sail in Russia must be constructed in Russia. When this ship was built in the Soviet Union, however, it was intended to transport more than 424 passengers. The Soviets, needless to add, did not place a high value on the comforts of life. What you can expect to discover on each deck is as follows.

Staterooms in the 200-series, the front desk, the library, an Internet café with two computers and a printer, and a pleasant gift store can all be found on the ship's main deck.

On the middle deck, you'll find the ship's Neva restaurant, a coffee bar, and the ship's public bathrooms.

Suites in the 400 series, the Panorama Lounge, and the upper deck.

Sky Lounge, Outdoor Seating Area

The recent refurbishment of the ship included all public areas, corridors, and cabins, making the whole ship feel brand new. Hotel Manager Stephan Busch ensures that the vessel is always immaculate. Only one lift is available for use.

Use of the Internet Cafe's two laptops or the ship's Wi-Fi with your own laptop or Wi-Fi-capable device is free and accessible around the clock. The Internet service on the Viking Ingvar was, without a doubt, superior to that of any other river trip I've been on. Wow, that's a nice shock! I had no trouble keeping up with my daily blog posts or my inbox. Like any good river trip, there were lulls in the service. This is a technical fact of river cruising and occurs, for instance, whenever a ship passes through a lock. In addition, we experienced a long stretch of no service when we were very far north on Lake Onega. Apart from that, I have no criticisms at all. Our cabin, like the rest of the ship, had Internet access, and the speeds weren't bad. Well done!

No area inside the yacht is allowed for smoking. Only certain sections of the outdoor platforms are off-limits to smokers.

The increasing number of river cruise ships docking side by side and tying up to each other has made it common practice for passengers to have to pass through the lobby of one or more other ships to reach the land. So remember that the people on the ship next to yours may be able to see right into your cabin if you decide to raise the curtains! Since the Viking Helgi was on the same route, passing through her foyer was nothing out of the ordinary. She appears so much like Viking Ingvar that you really have to pay attention to tell which ship you're on. There was a point in our itinerary where we had to travel through four ships to reach the shore, and I'm pretty sure that ships on the other side of us had passengers who had to do the same for more than five ships!

ACCOMMODATIONS

Our cabin, number 415 on the Viking Ingvar's Upper Deck, is a category AX Deluxe. The cabin, as advertised by Viking River Cruises, is 160 square feet in size. ft. Since I neglected to bring my measuring ruler, I will have to rely on their description. The room is more spacious than those on prior Viking River Cruises. The staterooms, like the remainder of the Viking Ingvar, were given a thorough makeover in 2011. Newness characterizes the interior. The updated bed linens, which feature cozy European-style duvets, are not even visible in the images on their website.

The layout of the ship necessitates the placement of a post directly in the center of our sleeping area. At first glance, it was a bit strange, but after a day, you hardly even noticed it. A huge picture window spans the entire width of the rear wall, providing views of the exterior promenade. If you twist the lever at the top and slide the window down, you can open it. Take photos from the comfort of your stateroom with this handy addition. Keep in mind that the sidewalk is directly outside your window. Also, the window doesn't have a cover, so be wary of inviting any unwanted guests. In 2013, the ship will receive additional refurbishment to transform the promenade into private verandas for each cabin.

Our queen-sized bed is actually two twins pushed together, and they share a wall with wall-mounted nightstands. Every single one of those end tables is just a little bit of table space with a single rack underneath. Each bed has a light button to turn on and off a reading light and the rest of the cabin's lights. Each bedside table also features a 220v power socket. All of the bedding is brand new and luxurious, and the mattresses are firm but accommodating. Luggage can be easily stowed away under the bed.

There is a lengthy desk/entertainment/bar console along the wall opposite the beds. You can spread out your laptop, cameras, and other belongings across the spacious countertop. There's also some produce and free water bottles if you're hungry. In this area, you'll also find a phone and a charging device for your Quiet Vox. This space can also serve as a vanity thanks to the big mirror hanging above the desk. Put on your makeup or do some computer work on the tiny stool that fits underneath. Ingvar's team did a great job making sure there were plenty of plugs everywhere. At the desk, you'll find two 220-volt outlets and one 110-volt socket. If you remember to bring a few converters that convert European plugs to American ones, you should be fine. Rickee wishes she had a magnifying cosmetics mirror on her workstation. In the case that it was a magnifying mirror with lights, there was even a place to power it in. That's a fantastic improvement to make.

There is a large wardrobe for hanging garments and a small area under the bed for shoes. There's also a sizable ledge above the hooks if you need somewhere else to put your stuff. The only storage space in the room is a tiny desk compartment. Shelves were favored over cabinets by the designers. The mini-fridge is adjacent to three free-standing racks. There is a three-shelf unit with swinging doors on either side of the workstation. Shelves, rather than drawers, may reduce noise levels in the bedroom. You'll enjoy the convenience of shelves if you've ever been woken up by the noise of closing drawers. You can hang your coat, hat, backpack, etc. from the four hooks located on the cabin's rear door. Our room only has one table because of a stake in the middle of the room, but we do have an extra chair.

The restroom is fairly standard. A spacious bathroom enclosure complete with a curtain is provided. There's enough storage for all of your personal things, including a small vanity top and a three-shelf, mirrored medicine cabinet. The sink/vanity has an additional storage rack beneath it. The washbasin is roomy, and it sports a shiny new fixture. Everything in the restroom appears to be brand new and operates without a hitch. And now, thanks to Ingvar's engineering team, a ship's toilet can be flushed without the roar of a jet motor at top speed! The noise from the vacuum device is barely audible. You can borrow bathrobes and shoes if you like. Bathrooms are stocked with luxurious L'Occitane products and restocked as required.

There is a small electronic safe for valuables under the television, and the 26-inch flat-screen Sony television is mounted high enough that it can be seen from the bed. The cabin has excellent programming, including CNN International, BBC World, CNBC, a movie channel, and some foreign stations; however, there is no Fox News or Sky News on this sailing.

Each night, Damira would leave us a copy of the daily newsletter, Viking News, on our bed. In it, she would detail the itinerary for the following day, highlight some of the highlights of the places we would be visiting, and provide useful hints and advice.