Rusty Scupper

Another question: When you buy the card on the AARP site, is the payee HAL or AARP on the credit card statement? This could affect insurance coverage for me.

OK. Good to go. Thanks.

Perfect. Thanks.

So, I can buy gift cards and use them to make final payment? Let's say I had $4,000 in cards toward a $4,333 final: Could I just send my travel agent the card numbers when payment is due, plus the rest? I'm assuming AARP sends physical cards. Thanks.

U.S. is official currency onboard, so no problem for crew to exchange them. Use them often onboard for servers.

We've redeemed our Holland Visa Card points toward onboard credits for our upcoming cruise. Barclaycard sent HAL the transaction details a month ago, but the credits don't show up yet--although credits from other sources do. Does anyone know what the process normally is? Should we be seeing them now?

We've redeemed our Holland Visa Card points to get onboard credits for our upcoming cruise. Barclaycard sent HAL the transaction a month ago, but the credits don't show up yet--although credits from other sources do. Does anyone know what the process normally is?

We did it on our own with Mop Top Tours, which was excellent for serious Beatles fans. Stevie T. picked us up at the ship.

Overall, loved the river cruises, not so much the ocean, but would do it again. Ocean rundown: Dining service very professional, but friendlier and warmer on river and other cruise lines. Entertainment better than river, and found it more enjoyable (just an opinion) than on cruise lines with bigger productions. Space better than river and blows away most cruise lines -- so much public area and a full promenade. Food's been excellent on river, but Ocean is sumptuous, beats other lines. Lectures better, but held at dinner time on our cruise. The free spa area is a thermal wonderland. Included daily tour works better on river; you can get stuck with a midday departure that kills doing anything else in port. Too many tender ports -- even in large cities --on our cruise Incredible amount of reading material, but sea days are an endangered species on Viking. Free wifi much better than on river. Front desk efficiency on questions and requests didn't wow me--but could just be that cruise. So, the luxury of the ship could get me on Viking Ocean again after weighing other options. I'Il book my next river cruse without much thinking.

This is what we experienced out of San Diego in January.

Chase Sapphire insures trip expense, no medical expense, up to $10,000 per person, but would reimburse a trip cancelation or interruption for medical reasons. . All travel payments should go on only that card. We had a medical emergency and evacuation. Four insurers were involved. Three paid immediately with minimal documentation. Chase required several pages of documentation, kept asking for more and took two months to pay. It is an option, but be prepared to dot your i's and cross your t's. Chase, however, did quickly provide a bilingual medical doctor to consult by phone with the local physicians, who spoke very limited English, and advise us on the best course of action, which was invaluable.

On our recent Viking cruise, missed two ports, substituted one. Did not get the impression Viking tried as hard to find alternatives as other lines, especially since the decisions to skip were made very early. But that was only one cruise without any deep explanation. Unlike other lines, Viking did not refund port charge or make a peace offering, like a special event or freebie for missed call--not that I need one, but compared to what usually happens. (Actually, I'd enjoy more sea days on Viking.)

Excellent review. My thoughts after a recent Mars cruise: Vessel, food tops of any cruise (except Chef's Table). Ship cast shows better than any other, but range of entertainment, indeed, less. Overall service good, but not as friendly or competent as on river cruises. Included excursion model works great on river, not same ease or quality on ocean. Viking app: C-.

Can anyone help with information on the Belfast call? Does the included Historic Belfast City tour give you the option of leaving the bus to stay in the city instead of returning to the port? If so, where in the city would it be? Also, where does the ship dock -- is it near anything? Thanks

Check out coverage directly from insurance companies and compare. You would get a cash refund on those policies. Our credit card provides trip cancellation--although not for any reason-- so we only purchase medical. By my understanding, high blood pressure would not negate coverage for heart attack. If you were diabetic and had to be hospitalized, then you could be nailed on the pre-existing condition exclusion. But don't go by that. Call the insurance provider and get a sure answer regarding any specific condition.