TGBoss

This has been very useful infomation. Will be arriving in HK mid February for a cruise. I was planning on getting the Octopus card at the airport and using it for transport, including taking the airport express to our hotel. Did I read correctly that must pay cash in HK dollars for the initial Octopus card? 

Does anyone know if SS still offers a shuttle from the Hiep phuoc dock to Ho Chi Minh? I haven't found any reference to it on our upcoming cruise!

I'm on the Hong Kong to Singapore trip in late February on the Spirit. From what I've been able to find out, we are docking in Hiep Phuoc, which is about 45 mins away from Ho Chi Minh.

thank you all - this is exactly the kind of information I need!!

They have a briefing every night before dinner. they mentioned signing up for the kayaking at these briefings, when it was being offered the next day. Have fun - it was one of our best travel experiences ever!

I can't answer to the kayaking - it wasn't offered everyday and you did have to sign up for it - there were limited spots.

Snorkeling was offered most days. a few times it was snorkeling from the beach, and others it was from the zodiacs.

we have already booked a hotel for 1 night in Bangkok, so that we won't waste all our time going back and forth!

We are sailing on the Silver Spirit in February. I am having a hard time finding out exactly where the Spirit will dock in Ho Chi Minh City. All of the details listed just show Ho Chi Minh City, but on other stops they show a different docking location for the port we are visiting. For example, our documents state we will be docking in Laem Chabang for Bangkok.

I asked our travel agent and all she could get was Ho Chi Minh City. Anyone know exactly? trying to set up a private excursion. thanks!

we've had good luck with many of the included tours. we usually try to book a morning one, then go off on our own and tour and eat lunch off the ship. 

We were in Copenhagen last month, and had dinner at Karla, a small restaurant close to Tivoli. Reasonable prices, very good food. You might want to get a reservation as it is quite small.

We just got back and stayed at the Hilton. It's right across the river and within walking distance of the old town. great location. Don't know about the rates, as we used points.

We took a Basel to Amsterdam cruise a couple of years ago in late late October. We had wonderful weather - cool during the day - but not what I'd consider unbearably "cold". Just dressed in layers, and did have a hat and gloves. Loved traveling during this time - the trees and vineyards were beautiful fall colors and the crowds were much sparser.

gogo65 - Feb 2020. it surprised me that it was assigned so early!

We booked a Vista GTY (no choice)  and paid the deposit last month. Final payment is due end of this month. Just checked and have been assigned a cabin - just a regular Vista suite. Maybe will still get lucky with the upgrade fairy!!

After contacting tellus@vikingcruises, I got a phone call within a few hours. They are sending out a new packet, so success!

Just wonder why this worked and the 3 phone calls didn't?! But not complaining. Thanks Peregrina!

Thanks for that reminder - i just sent them an email. We'll see!!

we came from the train station, not the airport. so we took bus #30. there is a bus stop right across the street from the hotel, stop "Spalentor"

This is the one complaint/problem I've had with Viking. We are about to take our 2nd Viking ocean cruise, after 3 river cruises with them. We recently moved, so I updated my address on the website on my guest information form. They sent it to the old address and the post office did not forward it. we don't know where it is - and Viking won't send it to our new address even though it was their error. They admit it was their error, and after several phone calls, am just very frustrated. they said just to print off our electronic documents, which we will. but I just don't understand why they can't resend it to us!!

I've taken 3 Viking river cruises and brought my straightener with me each time. Not only did it not seem to be a problem, the cabin stewards always stored it properly when I left it out. I had never seen that note in the FAQs, so didn't know it might be an issue. So, they knew I had one and didn't seem to have an issue with it!

Another vote for the Hotel Spalentor - really enjoyed our stay there!

We're considering a 2020 SS cruise from Hong Kong, with the free economy air promotion. Was wondering what experiences people have had with SIlversea air. Specifically, how bad are the "free flight" options? Don't know if it is worth it to me if I have to make 4 stops, when we have a non-stop option from Dallas!

We took this cruise almost 2 years ago and just loved it!

 My recollection about bus trips:

Athens (we did the reverse trip) - we did not take the included tour having been in Athens several times before. We took the optional Cape Sounio excursion, which we really enjoyed. Did have to take a bus there.

Santorini - We took a bus to Oia for walking tour and had free time. then bus went back to Thira, where we had plenty of free time to explore and eat out on our own.

Katakilon - did not take the included tour here. I know they did have to bus to Olympia.

Corfu - we took the included tour, which was a walking tour through the old town. We then explored for several hours on our own.

Kotor - walking tour - you just walk right off the boat into the old town. One of my favorite included tours. Then had all late morning and afternoon to explore on our own.

Dubrovnik - you don't dock right at the old town. so must take a bus to the walled town. Plenty of time after the tour to explore on your own. Shuttle buses run to take you back.

Zadar - we took the Krka National Park optional excursion - this did include a bus ride and a boat ride to get to the park. Free time in the park then back. We docked right in old town of Zadar so easy to walk around the town on your own.

Koper - also docks right at the town. Included tour was a walking tour. We did the walking tour then caught a public bus to Piran and toured it on our own. Plenty of free time at this stop.

hope this helps - it's a great cruise and you'll have a wonderful time!

Clay - I wish you good luck if you try to use the points and dollars. My husband was Platinum plus status, and we weren't able to use points and dollars - no seats available. Only way we've ever gotten business for overseas travel was to book it using business class points. 

We did not have any luck upgrading on AA when we used Viking air. Not Viking's fault, just American's policy.

We naively thought that since we'd be giving AA miles and money, we'd be upgraded the day we requested. But AA grants those only if they don't sell all the business seats. So in our case, we were out of luck. Hope you have better luck!

We did both. I really enjoyed Sintra. We did it on our own - very easy because the local train runs from Lisbon to Sintra. Belem was nice, too, but doesn't need a full day (imo). And it was very easy to do because it's also on the local train and much closer - it's basically a suburb of Lisbon.