Preparing for a River Cruise
Published Thursday, April 3rd 2025 - Updated Thursday, April 3rd 2025Hello Viking River cruisers!
We developed the following checklist over the prior 3 cruises. I hope it’s helpful!
30 days out:
- [ ] Review and critique itinerary timelines
- [ ] Assure sufficient time between flight connections (minimum 3 hours outbound, 2 hours homebound)
- [ ] Passport and travel documents in order
- [ ] Review and familiarize journey’s itinerary (pack a hard copy of the final e-document)
- [ ] Advise your credit card and bank that you will be traveling out of the country.
- [ ] Arrangements made for picking up mail/packages.
- [ ] Confirm that we have the correct power converter/adapter for destinations
- [ ] Multi-outlet surge suppressor (for hotel use only).
- [ ] Power cords for cellphones and other devices.
- [ ] Eyeglass repair kit, rigid tube for possible purchase of posters/artwork.
- [ ] Water-tight bags for liquid purchases, e.g., olive oils/wine.
- [ ] Home Porch light and other security lights on/activated.
- [ ] Emergency phone numbers under favorites.
- [ ] Pulse Oximeter, Wrist BP
- [ ] Orthotic inserts.
- [ ] Activate AirTags
Packing/leaving home
- [ ] On cruise, rely on doing laundry onboard once.
- [ ] Pack one set of clothing in a small carry-on AND a second set of clothing in the under-seat personal bag (backpack). This is a precaution against lost luggage.
- [ ] Do not bring a pocketknife. Leave all pocketknives at home. My Dad lost his small 3-inch pocket knife from his WWII journeys because he brought it in his carry-on.
- [ ] Small multi-tool in checked luggage.
- [ ] Lock doors at home.
- [ ] Shutdown/turn off home computers.
- [ ] Unplug computers, televisions, etc., to reduce the possibility of power spike damage.
- [ ] IF luggage does not make it to our destination, be sure to advise the airline and GET AN INCIDENCE NUMBER. Advise Viking host as to the situation. Hopefully, they can wait to transport you to the ship or make alternate arrangements.
Medications, packed in personal carry-on (local European pharmacies will not sell you certain antihistamines if you have blood pressure or other health issues)
- [ ] Prescriptions, Melatonin, Benadryl, Probiotic, Fiber, MultiVite
- [ ] Eye Drops
- [ ] Robitussin
- [ ] Printed list of meds
- [ ] Tylenol
- [ ] Imodium
- [ ] Omeprazole
- [ ] Arthritis cream
- [ ] Band-aids, self-adhesive bandage wrap
- [ ] Gauze pads
- [ ] Neospirin
1) 30 to 14 DAYS before your cruise, by mail you receive luggage tags, one per guest.
Also included are 2 embarkation tags per guest that go on your luggage AFTER baggage claim so Viking knows where your luggage should go, like stateroom 301. If you have Viking transfers, you get a red sticker for your shirt so the reps can find you.
2) 10 DAYS before the Viking part of your cruise, via email, you will receive your final documents. This is a summary of all your bookings, ship info, port excursion options, etc. ALSO, your ability to make changes in My Viking Journey will stop. MVJ is still active, you just can't make changes.
3) 2 days before the Viking part of your journey, by email,l you will receive the Viking emergency number for use ONLY while on your journey.
4) 1 day before the Viking part of your journey, My Viking Journey will shut down. Don't worry about it! You've got your final docs!
5) Once on board (or before), download the Viking Voyager app, which is your online contact with all things about your cruise. This ONLY works during the cruise, and I think, only on board the ship. It also includes Viking Daily information that previous cruisers know is quite valuable.
Let's go discover the world!
#vikingRiver #RiverCruise #WhattoBring #EuropeRiverCruise
