CCWineLover

5 hours ago, CDNPolar said:

 

Viking tend to "stage" the guests in the Star Theatre before disembarking for excursion.  It is not a free-for-all rushing the gangway.

 

Viking do tend to corral everyone so there is not a massive mob of people rushing the gangway all at once, but when that number is called, everyone does move pretty quickly.

That had been our experience before, especially post-COVID.

However, just got off Saturn in the Mediterranean.  Don't know whether the ports lended themselves to this - but we never were staged in the Star Theatre on this cruise.  (Maybe 1 or two tours the whole cruise?).   Everyone met on the pier at the assigned times.  Perhaps because of good weather as well?   Was nice since you didn't have to walk all the way up to the Star Theatre, only to turn around and walk all the way back to the gangway 🙂   And you also didn't have to keep listening to the port/Excursion rebroadcast all the time in the Star Theatre.   It all seemed to work out just great.

When there was more than one "group" for a specific time (like the included tours), Viking staff also did something I hadn't seen in a bit - instead of filling up a group or bus and then moving to the next, they rotated through assigning groups so that each group had the roughly the same number.  That is also why they kindly asked people to check in with whomever else they wished to be with.  Again - it worked quite well!

Another thing - we had several no shows on some tours and there were people who had been told to go to the pier as standby's.  Then Viking called the standbys and they got on the tour.  So never give up on the included tour times if you want to try for a different one.

11 hours ago, carolinetodd said:

They have a lovely Norwegian IPA from Flåm called Ægir - no upcharge.

Yes indeed!  The Norwegian IPA is indeed good - and I'm an IPA lover from California.

On our last cruise (Just off the Saturn), I also had the Norweigian Amber and Porter, which were also nice (and included).  There were some additional beer items on the menu this time as well - I do remember a Stout (but didn't have it) and another one or two items.

As you can bring any beer wine or spirits or whatever onboard for no charge, I often pick up local beers in port and have them on the ship throughout the cruise.  (That way you are not tied to the lunch and dinner hours).  Do this with wine as well for same reason.

Have fun!

Also note that if you have credits it will default to use them unless you manually override to ACH or cr cd .

again for emphasis!  Choose an excursion and immediately go to your cart, pay for it and so on.  Rinse and repeat as often as necessary (option excursions).  Included ones get reserved on the spot - no cart)

3 hours ago, Cruising Domer said:

 

Here are the prices for those Viking excursions on an upcoming July 2024 cruise:

 

Vigur Island - $229pp

Golden Circle - $269pp

Norther Iceland's Natural Treasures - $299pp

Skalanes Nature & Heritage Center - $219pp

Wow!  Up significantly from our Iceland cruise last June!!  Inflation is high!!!

fyi we did all of these except did Golden Circle on Saga Tours.  Vigur, National Treasures, and Skalenes were all spectacular, especially the latter 2.

3 hours ago, Ready to Sail! said:

Yes, hanging out in an airport for 10-12 hours isn't an option for us. The time we were allowed to stay on,  the ship did not sail until the next day which is the case on this cruise so thought I would ask.  Actually spending that time in a meeting room or restaurant doesn't sound much better! 

When we finished in Buenos Aires, several people did a tour that then dropped them and luggage at airport for eve flights.  They booked via Viator.  I don’t know where you got the info that’s it not possible.  Check multiple sights even trip advisor, of even your travel agent.  It IS being done!  

9 minutes ago, Luckycruisers said:

We’re on the Star transatlantic starting March 18th. Are the Chef’s table menus available before or  when you board so we can decide which night to aim for? Thanks!

No you won’t know til you board on day 1.  Go check the menus when you board and pick ones you want.

With this, we may have to look at cancelling an existing booking and rebooking it!

So I keep wondering why people still do Tripmate.  There is so much info out there on Cruise Critic and other sites that could easily educate people on the pitfalls.  

Interesting enough,  this was highlighted in this morning’s Viking Daily (we are on Saturn in Venice (Chioggia).  Titled DRESS CODE REMINDER.  
There apparently have been a number of complaints on our last segment about Vikings lack of enforcement.  We shall see.  Some people don’t read and some don’t care.

7 hours ago, CDR2001 said:

Kc, I did not log in on two devices, but I had a major payment issue! I couldn’t get past the checkout screen, which displayed a message about payment pending, wait 5 minutes for screen to refresh. I waited, and waited, and nothing happened.  I tried another computer, iPad, phone, E check, two different credit cards, log in, log out, clear cache, changed browser etc…. Nothing worked. I called Viking, and the agent processed the Echeck payment for me. I should have called sooner as I lost some excursions in the 90 minute process. Viking said they’ve had a few other cases like this. The problem persists, and I have an IT ticket pending. I also emailed tellus, hoping someone will call me about this mess. Anyway, moral of the story is if payments don’t go through, call to book via a Viking agent right away! 

Sorry to hear.  What is and "IT Payment" ??

FYI - this happened to me recently, and I immediately used the chat.  The person on chat processed the payment and we were done in 1 minute, so didn't lose much time at all.

Interestingly enough, I had used one credit card that caused the issue.  The chat person suggest I give her a different card or use ACH checking.  I did that and it immediately went through.  She said sometimes certain credit cards have issues.  FYI. 

Future reference for everyone.

4 hours ago, duquephart said:

 

Hosts having dress code discretion might not be a good thing. Maybe more concerned about "tips" than policy?

Probably true.

3 hours ago, OneSixtyToOne said:

Kent,

I’m OT but curious to know who the lecturers are on your current cruise?

6 minutes ago, duquephart said:

"sloppy World Cafe style dressing"

?????????????????

🙂  OK OK DQ - perhaps "Sloppy" wasn't the best choice of words.  But this trip most are going very very very casual, as in pool resort style - which is just fine with me at World Cafe - just not in the 2 specialty restaurants.

Again - the main point was simply that Viking is very inconsistent in any enforcement of their dress codes.

11 minutes ago, strawbs1 said:

I've sailed Viking many times but this Saturday I leave for my first Atlantic crossing with them.  For those who've done that, is there any real difference in dress code between Viking's traditional cruises and their crossings?  I have seen that be the case on other lines--the crossings were significantly more dressy.  Thanks!

We did a TA last December.

To tell the truth, these days on Viking it seems to be whatever the passenger wants to try to get away with.  Sometimes and some ships they enforce dress code at the Specialty Restaurants and sometimes they don't.   On our current Rome to Athens cruise, the standards never seem to be enforce and we have seen quite a bit of sloppy World Cafe style dressing in Manfredi's and Chef's table.

Take your chances.

21 minutes ago, kag3120 said:

I can’t comment on 6029 or 6035 but 6027 definitely has the pilaster. In that room now on Orion. 

Thx!  I did a brief walk through hallways this morning while on Saturn and they were cleaning rooms.  It would appear that ALL the DV rooms have pilasters bump outs - at least those between the two sets of elevators.  Interesting.  Never really noticed it before.

On 1/22/2024 at 12:03 AM, florafun said:

I personally checked out the DV2's on deck 5 in the middle of the ship and most DO have the bump out (or pilaster). Below is the list of cabins WITH a pilaster:

5050     5051

5052     5053

5054     5055

5056     5057

5058     5059

5060     5061

5062     5063

5064     5065

5066     5067

5068     5069

5070     5071

5072     5073

5074     5075

5076     5077

5078     5079

5080     5081

 

I'm pretty sure that these four DV2 cabins on deck 5 in the middle of the ship DO NOT have the pilaster:

5046     5047

5048     5049

 

My list for deck 4 is not as extensive and comes from other cruiser's input. Here are the DV4/5 cabins WITH a pilaster:

4039     4041

4042

4058

4061

4069

4070     4072

4080     4081

4082     4083

4084     4085

4095

 

Deck 4 cabins WITHOUT the pilaster:

4003

4028     4029

4030

4037

4059

4089

4093

4096     4097

4098     4099

4103

4104

4110     4111

4118

4037

 

Please feel free to add to the list.

 

As I said in my original post, my husband's walker will not slide past the pilaster without folding it up whereas in the cabin without the pilaster he can push it right into the room which makes it a lot easier and safer.

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you for the list.  

Can anyone verify which rooms on the 6th floor have bumpouts?

Specifically 6029 and 6035 ??

I wonder if anyone has a complete list at all.

One of the things we found with a bumpout is that the sound insulation might not be so good as it is next to the back to back TV's.  Our neighbor's TV is so loud in our room we can't even sleep - never had that problem in a non-bumpout room.

2 hours ago, Peregrina651 said:

 

It is not really new, I had seen it a couple of times prior to the pandemic, but it is definitely a rare occurrence.

 

It would be nice if they started offering more than one choice in more ports.

Today we were just offered the opportunity to have TWO included tours in Venice. Not normal practice they said.  We arrive Tuesday and doing Venice/St Marks Square.  Then on turnaround day (Wed) they said we could do the included Chioggia walk tour if we wanted.  I sai I thought the rule was only 1 included.  Guest services said we are making an exception this time.  I could also have done the included Venice on your own.  

16 minutes ago, CDNPolar said:

We generally find that when you are two days in a port, the one day offers the included excursion and the second day only offers optional.

 

If both days offer included, then it is the same one.

 

We personally have never seen two different included excursions in any one port.  This is our experience after 10+ Viking cruises - I am not saying that there could or would never be two included options.

 

In the end, regardless, you are only entitled to book one included excursion in any one port.

We’ve seen many multiple included excursions in a port but only this past year.  It appears to be a new thing.  we have 16 Viking ocean cruises.

we’ve also seen multiple included tours on different days as well.  As an example.  In Venice (Chioggia) there are several different included tours offered on all 3 days we are there this week.  But we can only pick one.
 

1 hour ago, sharkster77 said:

Viking doesn't do anything to "hide" the gratuities from you---if you are an educated shopper, you learn about who includes tips and who does not quickly.  Land tour companies don't always include tips either.  Nobody puts a gun to your head or makes you walk the plank if you don't want to tip.

You quoted the wrong person.  I totally agree with what you've said.  Nobody forces people to go walk the plank as you say.  My point is - then why do people continue to complain about "having" to walk the plank.  Just give it up if it doesn't suit you and stop complaining.

Not only that, their system will not let you book 2 included tours in a port.

Agree with telling the driver, also add what baggage you have checked.  We just recently arrived in Rome and from landing to getting our bags was about 90 minutes.  Reason - so many flights arriving at same time and baggage took forever.

On 2/21/2024 at 12:08 PM, duquephart said:

Indeed. But at least you know what you're getting - or not getting. With Viking you pay the price and are later informed that there is more to pay ("gratuities").

So why do you keep involved with Viking?  Seriously?

6 hours ago, millybess said:

I will add that we are on one of the Orion segments so we do have a personal interest in an organized M&M.  It is now my understanding that in the end, on the Orion, Viking did publish the information for the informal gathering in the Viking Daily.  Also, DH and I aren't on the other site.

Many many people aren’t on that other site.

ive found that it’s best just to start collecting names cabins etc and organize it yourself if you want to have one.  Quite easy to do and work with Viking.  I think Viking doing the initiation was a one off for Orion.  Never seen it.

my organized M&M (5th one I’ve done) is next week.  Sometimes theCD is involved, sometimes the Guest Services.  I contact both about a week ahead of time, having already gathered the list of names, cabins, and count and sent as a pdf file.  Viking has always said how they so appreciate it!  They do the invites from the list.  They do not put it in the daily.  There are plenty of other parties open to all onboard.

I've organized 4 Meet & Mingles since COVID and have another upcoming.  The official Cruise Critic mingles were paused, but if a passenger takes the initiative (like I did) to organize, collect names and cabin numbers, and work with Viking, we can still have these get togethers.  Viking has been so helpful in keeping these great sessions going with passenger help.   They even every time sent personal invites to our cabins.  

I always nicely requested having the meetings in the Wintergarden so as not to interfere or disturb others (for example, if we did it in Explorer's Lounge).  Viking has always made that happen.  They even supplied drinks and apps.  Great show!

25 minutes ago, bkjewett said:

We will be in port from 8am-6pm.  Originally I was thinking of doing HOHO but after reading through all the suggestions I don't think we will do that.  I want to visit La Sagrada, Las Ramblas and the Gothic Quarter.  If you think we would have time to add in Park Guell we could but I'd be fine leaving that out so we aren't rushed.  I was thinking we would take a cab to La Sagrada first thing.  Then cab to Placa Cataunya and work our way down to the Gothic Quarter.  Does this sound reasonable?  Or anything I should change or make sure we don't miss?

Sounds good to me - we did a nearly identical itinerary in 2019 - make sure you get/book La Sagrada timed entry inside - well worth it.   Did Park Guell on another trip. (It was good enough to take up a decent amount of time and walking).