Peregrina651

I forgot that you were boarding in Tilbury, not Greenwich.

Okay, I get that but they can't they find a less poisonous catch-phrase for what they are trying to accomplish. Less marketing jargon and more straight talk. They started VO with straight talk; what happened?

I knew I would forget something. But then again, they do offer complimentary self-serve laundry...

Personally, I don't like the term "all inclusive." To me, it is one of those empty marketing fads that mean whatever the entity using it wants it to mean. The term has been rendered meaningless. As I perceive the term, all-inclusive means that once the vacation is priced and deposit is made, there are no extra fees or charges to be incurred for anything -- all beverages and all food are included at all times, all shore excursions offered are included, wi-fi is included, spa and spa services are included, gratuities are included, all on-board activities are included. Anything less than that is not "all inclusive." By my definition, Viking is not and has not ever been "all inclusive" no matter what the marketing department says and I wish they would stop using the term, no matter how they qualify it. If I want to know what a company is about, I walk right past the marketing and start looking at the contracts and the details. As was said above caveat emptor-- buyer beware. They started using a number of years ago but not as a headline. I wish they would stop using it at all; it does nothing but tarnish their reputation. Sadly.

Do you remember the name of the pub?

The 2024 BIE season is almost underway. There is a LIVE thread for the APRIL 19 sailing on Viking Venus -- with Churchill extension. Semi-LIVE from Venus British Isles Explorer 4/19 with Churchill Pre-extension For schedule for Churchill extension, see post #4: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/3003197-semi-live-from-venus-british-isles-explorer-419-with-churchill-pre-extension/?do=findComment&comment=67244414

Strange. E-mail Viking and ask why there is only the included tour on the day you are going to be there. tellus@vikingcruises.com

Bon voyage!! So glad you are doing this. I'll be hanging on every word! Please report on the shuttle buses for each port, even if it is just a photo of each day's schedule. I'm sure I will have more logistical questions as we get closer to our departure. Thank you.

Other informative threads. I knew when I started a list of threads 2 years ago that it would come in handy eventually: Flam railway excursion availability 8 Tips for the Bergen to Oslo Train Trip The Scenic Flåm Railway Things I wished I had packed for Norway

And it was amazing! Much easier walking, too!

Interesting approach but will the airport let you do that? Because of terrorism, many airports don't accept bags that far in advance and they don't have lockers or baggage holding areas before security.

Figure 3 hours minimum from airplane to ship. It is about an hour from Tilbury station to Cutty Sark Station in Greenwich, not including the 20 minute walk to the station and time to buy the train ticket. [Google Maps is good for quick estimates but the Citymapper or Tfl apps will get you better directions for travel] . So, call it 1.5 hours to Greenwich. NOTE: there are multiple stops for Tilbury on your way home. The station you want is TILBURY TOWN. If you miss it, get off at the next station and grab a cab to the ship. At least you don't have a back on board time and can stay until the sights close for the day. Use timeanddate.com for sunset time, if traveling home in daylight is preferred.

First, thank you for the heads up. Second, please share with Viking directly everything you have shared with us here. TellUs@vikingcruises.com. Tell them everything just as you have shared here. They can't fix what they don't know is broken. While I agree that 2 night extensions tend to be a waste, no matter where you are in the world, yours seemed to be particularly poorly organized and poorly thought out. Your arrival at the airport was certainly not up to Viking's standards. The normal protocol is not to punish those who have arrived on time. What normally would have happened was that the bus would have left for the hotel on time. Then, either you would have been asked to take a cab to the hotel (for which you would have been reimbursed once you boarded the ship) or a car would have been arranged to take you to the hotel. The transfer to the ship was also a disaster. Why on earth were were you not taken to the ship in time for lunch?? Failing that, it could very easily have been a full day tour with a lunch stop. It has been done elsewhere, why not here?

When do you land in London? Embarkation day or earlier? When does the ship depart Tilbury? Same day or next day? In other words, do you have enough time to accomplish the trip?

Me, too, but this was an entirely different experience from other glacier experiences I've had. I know you have made your decision for this trip; my comments were for other readers who might have the impression that these are new ports for Viking.