CCWineLover

Yes, Clay, I was also going to ask - how did you get the bridge tour? Just ask at Guest Services? Did they let you take pics or did you "sneak" them?

I don't remember ever getting emails from Viking on excursions that I book. I keep track of it myself. Eventually, they all appear in the final edocs that get sent out. However, you can always look online on MVJ on your calendar to see the excursions that you booked, as they appear there (although it isn't as convenient).

Lew - which ports (without a turnaround) do not allow multiple included excursions? We are traveling there in 2024 similar itinerary. Can you give us some examples so we know what to plan for?

Yes, I remember the 2 thumbs explanation - barely, and that was just a month ago.! And also, yes, Iceland definitely is calling. I yearn to return! Next year we will.

Likewise. Not only have we transferred our 3rd party policy (not Viking's) to a new trip, but onc time the new trip was much cheaper and the premium was cheaper, so we got a slight refund. Note: Not all insurers do this, so that may be part of the confusion. You need to check. It was Steve Dassios at The Trip Insurance Store who helped us out.

I think you need the card keys to get into your room. So in reality you need them all the time.

We had the exact same experience with vouchers and auto apply on a rebook. Couldn't get around it and yes, they admitted they want to get vouchers done with and off the books.

Thank you so much for sharing the info. I totally relate. My wife has really bad hearing issues, even with hearing aides, to the point of painful with loud noises and she is also quite self-concsious about it and we also try to find private tables. As I said, our MDR experiences have been quite loud and unpleasant. But we will try your advice and perhaps it will work. You do have a point - to get there early. I saw someone's post who is on Venus now that people were now lining up at MDR at 5:15 for dinner (!!) my goodness. I also agree that the MDR seating is one of our least favorite things. But thankfully there are other options for us as well! (WC, CT, Manfredi's on the window)

Clay - glad to see the old fisherman is still there! He was a kick!

Totally agree. Manfredi's and CT and World Cafe are great for more privacy and you can ask for more private tables at Manfredi's and CT and of course you pick your own at WC.

We've used Tours by Locals in Spain, Portugal, and Italy (Rome). We've also used Barcelona Day Tours (Spain Day Tours) and Italy Day Tours. Small groups. I've also used in large cities, the various "free" walking tours (tip what you want) - in London, Rome, Barcelona, Lisbon, Oslo, Santiago, Buenos Aires. I just google "Free Walking Tours XXXX" and take a close look at them. Have had a lot of success with them (good guides). Only negative is sometimes the groups get large (like 40). I tend to avoid Viator only because they are a consolidator and broker and I prefer to go directly to the source.

Too good! And, by the way, I am seeing that this formerly rare species is making a comeback after COVID, and actually thriving, multiplying fast, and no doubt feeding well at the World Cafe 🙂

OK. Sounds great! We'll be there in late February. Any experiences then from our travelers on places to spend that middle night in Venice? Thanks!

Thanks, Dave! Will have to check these two out in September then. How to you get them? request them? go at 5:45? Are they twosomes by themselves? or foursomes?

Couldn't have stated it better! Our least favorite thing as well. That along with the slow service and super loud noisy rooms (DW is hard of hearing) makes for an unpleasant dinner - thus we tend to avoid MDR.

or try out "Tours by Locals"

Thank you Clay! The recent panomax - I recognize Isafjdour!

We did that tour a few weeks ago to Vigur Island. It was fantastic! We had no rain but it was very windy and very cold!!! (dressed for winter - with wind chill it was like in the high 30's). Iceland weather is famous for changing rapidly!

Clay - thanks for all the nice pictures! Obviously you aren't having any wifi issues (so far) like we did on Saturn a few weeks (where it was basically worthless from 6:30 AM to 9 PM). Any luck on the web cam fix? Wonder who would listen to you? Tell them hundreds of your ardent followers want to see it fixed!

🙂 except free air fare from LA means nothing to some of us. With they'd ditch the free air fares and cut the cruise price down even more.

So Clay - time for you to give it a try - order off MDR, and Manfredi's and report what they do to you 🙂

Jim - I agree. I was just on Saturn and my non-ruler guess was 18 inches. But Clay - more importantly, how was dinner in MDR? What time did you arrive? How long did dinner take? What did you and Mike have? Anything good? Wasn't that impressed on Saturn a few weeks ago. Not a "C" but maybe a "B-"

Thanks, Dave. Will catch up with via email on the details of this when you get back to Washington.

Clay - so fantastic that you are able to sit outside at the Aquavit Terrace deck to have lunch and/or snacks as you arrive today!! One of our favorite places to eat, but on our Iceland cruise, there weren't many days you could do that. You are all indeed blessed by this sunshine!

We absolutely loved Laurence on the guitar. To our opinion he is easily the best guitar person we've had in many cruises. Not overbearing, nor loud, nor falsetto, nor dissonance like we've seen from others. Please enjoy him to the fullest!!