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mort&fran

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About Me

  • Location
    chicago
  • Favorite Cruise Line(s)
    HAL - at the moment
  • Favorite Cruise Destination Or Port of Call
    thus far, have enjoyed them all

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Cool Cruiser (2/15)

  1. We’ve done both, twice, and enjoyed them both; but it’s been more than 15 years… That being said, RTH is worth a whole day, there was just so much beauty to see. I lost track of the number of times we stopped along the way. And seeing the sun rise from atop HNP was amazing (but freezing cold!)
  2. What are the suggested tips for cruise-tour guides and bus drivers?
  3. What are the usual tips to the cruise-tour guides and bus drivers?
  4. If I remember correctly, on our China cruise in 2019 we did not tip (but I do not recall why). In Europe (where everyone reportedly is paid a livable wage) it's generally been 2 or 3 euro to the local tour guide (5 to a really good guide), and 1 euro to the tour bus driver (or 2 if s/he did more than just drive). We have a cruise coming up in Greenland and Iceland, neither of which use the euro. Has anyone heard a suggested gratuity for tour guides and tour bus drivers might be there?
  5. It varies by port and cruise line, I suppose. I’m encountering the same for an O cruise we are taking next July. However, for a Viking river cruise a few years ago I successfully arranged for airport-to-ship transfer if we arrived at (Paris) airport at approximately the same time as the original flight Viking had arranged for us. We did, but we were not on the passenger list provided the airport rep so it took a while to get things resolved, which it ultimately was. (I no longer recall if Viking imposed a charge for this.)
  6. Perfection doesn’t exist. Quality to me is based on what a person or business does when an error or problem occurs, at least as much as whether or not one had occurred (although I obviously prefer no problem). Which is why we have been Viking fans, and we still are, although we had a recent incident when the service we received was not what we had come to expect. (If I remember correctly, it was the first instance that we dealt with someone at manager level because the person who was our initial contact could not handle the issue, which seems to parallel what happened to OP.)
  7. No; we did use the Viking-recommended company that one time. We have another Viking cruise in July and have gone back to TravelGuard. It's more expensive, but I don't recall ever having a significant problem with them.
  8. As others have said, you must read and comply with policy provisions, and keep every receipt. Because I did that we received full reimbursement (or they paid on our behalf) for every one of the claims we presented to TraveGuard. However, for the one loss we had reported to the insurance company Viking recommended, their reimbursement was less than what we had incurred and the only explanation they provided was that they had paid us the correct amount.
  9. Before Covid we had a number of travel insurance claims, all with TravelGuard. I (almost always) read everything, so I knew what would be required should a claim situation occur (like getting a receipt for everything and keeping every receipt). The big claim we had was for a heart attack. Long story; yes, I had to jump through hoops but I was prepared and the claims were reimbursed in full. [The doctor had to confirm to TravelGuard that I really had to have the surgery before I could travel home. TravelGuard offered to pay in advance for the surgery if the hospital would guarantee the cost, which the hospital couldn’t, so I paid and was reimbursed. TravelGuard did make the arrangements, and purchased the doctor-recommended business class tickets for my wife and me to fly to Buenos Aires for the surgery and to fly home.] I used TripMate/Generali for a Viking cruise in 2022. It was considerably cheaper than TravelGuard and the policy terms were comparable. I submitted claims in June; received partial payments in September and December. The claims totaled more than $2,000 and were covered, but we received a couple hundred dollars less than the loss we had incurred. So since December I have tried 5 times (and Viking tried once) to find out what I supposedly incorrectly read in their policy. The only answer I received was a letter that essentially stated that they had paid the correct amount. We’re taking another Viking cruise in July. I’ve gone back to travelGuard.
  10. It’s been some time since we last presented a claim to them, however my wife and I had only minimal issues with the claims we have presented to TravelGuard. But I try to read everything before I buy anything, so I knew what I would have to do. (The biggest issue we had was that after my heart attack in the southern Atlantic, TravelGuard had to speak with the local doctor after my wife and I were transported to Buenos Aires, to confirm that I really should not fly home before having the surgery (and recuperation) in BA. TravelGuard agreed to immediately pay for the surgery – if the hospital would guarantee what the final cost would be. The hospital obviously couldn’t so we had to charge it and TravelGuard reimbursed us.) TripMate (Generali) is another matter. We submitted a claim in June 2022; in September 2022 we received checks for less than what we had submitted, so I sent additional information. In November 2022 we received more money, but still less than the bills we had submitted. So five times between December 2022 and March 2023 I tried to get someone at TripMate to explain the shortfall. Thus far, all we have received is a letter that effectively tells us that they paid us the correct amount. (Viking also tried to get the information, but could not, so they gave us travel credits.)
  11. Viking rates this tour as "demanding". We’re in our late 70’s and generally mobile, but with some limitations. Has anyone heard how difficult people have found this tour to be?
  12. That was our experience, too; except we had no plans in mind. Just got the next taxi in line and were very happy with the tour we received
  13. It’s a long story. One caveat – I always read the terms/requirements and keep hard copies of all bills and receipts so I’m prepared when/if we have to file a claim. I/we never bought travel insurance until approx 10 years ago when my mother-in-law was quite ill and we thought we’d have to cut the cruise short. As it turned out she died before the cruise, but I had a heart attack off the coast of Argentina. I had purchased the insurance from TraveGuard. They covered - the cost of the medical treatment on the ship that saved my life; the week I had to stay in the IC “unit” at a clinic in a small town in southern Argentina (because all flights had been cancelled due to volcanic eruption in Chile); business-class air (per doctor’s order) for my wife and me to Buenos Aires; cardiac surgery plus 5 days recuperation in Buenos Aires (they had a long conversation with the doctor to confirm that I really could not travel back home); business-class air for my wife and me from Buenos Aires home; phone call costs. It was 10 years ago so I do not recall how long it took to get reimbursed, but I do not recall it’s being unreasonably long. Since then we had purchased travel insurance for all of our cruises from TravelGuard and have had a number of claims (never for the reason we had purchased the insurance). And the requirements imposed and times required to receive the reimbursements we felt were reasonable. In May this year we took a combination bus tour and Viking cruise. We have been happy with Viking, so this time I checked their travel insurance (TripMate). The coverage was comparable to TravelGuard’s, but the premium was significantly less (in part, at least, because TripMate did not factor in the cost of the bus tour). Well, we had a claim. I filed the claim forms on 6/3 and additional info 7/7. On 9/10 we received partial payment. I called TripMate 9/12 and learned that they require photos of the actual bills/charges; they do NOT accept credit card statements as proof; so I uploaded the hard copies on 9/12. (I had missed that. I do not recall TravelGuard’s having that requirement). Nothing since; their web site shows that payment has been “in process” since 10/11 (today is 10/29)…
  14. Does anyone happen to know if it's customary to leave a tip when ordering a cocktail or beer when you have purchased this package?
  15. That's also been my expeience. The one caveat is, like in the US, to check if the ATM has a service fee. Bank ATMs generally do not.
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