viking river cruises bon voyage gifts

River Cruising

gift shop onboard Viking

By Cruisers909 , April 23, 2017 in River Cruising

Cruisers909

We are on a river cruise in two weeks and had a question about what exactly is offered in the onboard shop. We are trying to travel very light, and I know we can probably find things at each port but was just curious. Looking forward to our first Danube Waltz cruise.

Link to comment

Share on other sites.

the gift 'shop' is more of a 'shelf', with a small clothing rack (maybe 3 feet long .... probably less.)!

Some 'Viking logo' merchandise like shirts and jackets, a few trinkets, some tourist guide books. I picked up a nice 'route map' of our trip. I don't recall anything in the way of toiletries .. bag of gummie bears maybe .... no snacks and no duty free booze. but what we didn't pack, or wasn't already in the bath we were able to get in town even b4 we boarded (arrived a few days early to explore on our own)

Host Jazzbeau

If there is anything you are fussy about, don't rely on buying it when you arrive. I caught a bad cold in France and we were unable to find anything like the cold remedies we use in the US: no Zicam lozenges or zinc supplements of any kind; no OTC-strength decongestants [they sold me something that turned out to be for Cystic Fibrosis patients]. I was able to find Vitamin C lozenges and anesthetic throat lozenges, but it was a wake-up call to pack a supply of Zicam on all future trips.

good point, dw decided sunscreen was a top priority and it was harder to find then we expected and then $$

wrt your question .. we had to search for this in a town tho ... nothing on the ship/boat. Also note that unlike a typical "cruise ship" a river cruise does not have an onboard doctor or medical facility (because they are typically close to shore with emergency services ....). If you have a need they will typically make arrangements for you at the next stop ....

If there is anything you are fussy about, don't rely on buying it when you arrive. I caught a bad cold in France and we were unable to find anything like the cold remedies we use in the US: no Zicam lozenges or zinc supplements of any kind;

You can get zinc supplements in health food stores but you won't find them marketed as 'cold remedies' due mostly to different EU regulations and a lack of any real proof that they are indeed effective against colds :)

It is good advice though to pack specific brands that you know and trust as you generally won't find them outside the USA.

Are there any problems bring over the counter drugs into European countries... I need to bring Lactaid and DH would probably want to bring Pepcid just in case.

I agree with everyone. Bring what you might need from home. I always have enough zicam for both of us if we get colds. Decongestant, advil, allergy stuff, cough drops, antibiotic ointment etc. I just don't want to waste time looking for stuff in the towns. Would rather be shopping for souvenirs. I've never had a problem bringing in anything.

Thanks Mimi, hopefully if we have sealed packages we should be ok.

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in

Welcome to Cruise Critic
ANNOUNCEMENT: Set Sail Beyond the Ordinary with Oceania Cruises
ANNOUNCEMENT: The Widest View in the Whole Wide World
New Cruisers
Cruise Lines “A – O”
Cruise Lines “P – Z”
Cruise Critic News & Features
Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
Special Interest Cruising
Cruise Discussion Topics
UK Cruising
Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
Canadian Cruisers
North American Homeports
Ports of Call
Cruise Conversations

Announcements

New to Cruise Critic? Join our Community!

Write Your Own Amazing Review !

Click this gorgeous photo by member SUPERstar777 to share your review!

Features & News

LauraS · Started 4 hours ago

LauraS · Started Tuesday at 09:24 PM

LauraS · Started Monday at 09:50 PM

LauraS · Started Monday at 05:37 PM

LauraS · Started Monday at 04:09 PM

Existing user? Sign in OR Create an Account
Find Your Roll Call
Meet & Mingle
Community Help Center
All Activity
Member Photo Albums
Meet & Mingle Photos
Favorite Cruise Memories
Cruise Food Photos
Cruise Ship Photos
Ports of Call Photos
Towel Animal Photos
Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos
Write a Review
Live Cruise Reports
Member Cruise Reviews
Create New...

Expeditions
Complimentary Brochures
Cruise Itineraries
Destination Insights

Gifts Along the Danube

The Danube’s banks overflow with shopping opportunities. Join Karine at her favorite spots in Passau, Vienna and Budapest as she shares perfect gift ideas for yourself or your loved ones.

Sign up to receive updates from Viking

Stay current with special offers, news and destination-focused content.