CCWineLover

Thanks, MikeyB . . . Wondering if there is a short list of cruises this applies to. I just tried several different ones for 2023 and 2024 and got invalid promo code on Price & Build. Did the Promo say which specific cruises were included?

For $25 pp, likely a viable financial decision if you do not wish Viator type excursions. I think you'll find the same situation post-COVID is happening with all cruise lines. As Peregrina had stated earlier, there just haven't been enough tour operators and guides to meet the demands of the cruise lines. That being said, we've been on 12 Viking cruises, including 8 post-COVID, and have NEVER ever heard of someone not getting an included tour - anywhere. Cruise Critic, FB, Friends, you name it. This is a first. Not saying he was wrong, but wow - certainly sounds like there was a misunderstanding or miscommunication somewhere between your friend and Viking. Probably best to move on for you however and try one of those other lines.

We also did Viking Business Air $4500 last Apr/May. SAS SFO-Copenhagen-Bergen outbound, and back from Basel to LHR to SFO on British Air. Similar experience. Everything on-time. Booked, Ticketed, Paid, Seats done at 4 months. Also no changes. Hearing about so many many issues people have. . . One thing I do note is many issues seem to come from those who take connection feeder flights to a major USA Hub. Those flights seem to be changed or cancelled a lot, which then affects the whole trip, both coming and going. We don't mind driving the 180 miles up to SFO to eliminate that issue!

Yes to all, and you can see menus and book down at floor one restaurant reservations desk. Also often at the port side entrance to World Cafe (limited hours). You can see menus on the video screens all around the ship too.

2 of our top favs also!

See my post #2 in this thread regarding the 21 menus. We had the #1 menu. Was sub-par, especially bad Fish & Chips. The dessert was the one good thing however. Not disappointed as we are up for trying anything at least once. As someone said, going to Chef's Table is always a fun experience and adventure, without heavy expectations. That's the great part about it.

Sorry Longterm - that you took my comment seriously. Was meant to be tongue in cheek. Hope you can smile now.

Wow! Congratulations. You may indeed hold the record!! Outstanding achievement. I think you might have tried them all, particularly if you were on a World Cruise. Curious as to what your favorite few were... (Note: we also love CT and also thought the British Menu wasn't that great).

What is that old saying, FlyerTalker, . . . There is no free lunch (or free air is really not "free"). Sadly, this marketing ploy has set way to many unrealistic expectations in a huge number of Viking passengers (mostly newbies who haven't experienced the no free lunch thing). It does irk me a bit about this marketing aspect, since I do believe customers should be educated in some way as to what free air actually means. You and others have certainly done your share of helping us all get educated!

Been asked before - but the answer is No. Viking does not set the Chef's Table menus except once per month, and even then it can change depending upon supplies they get, etc. You will know when you get onboard. In fact, it is one of the first stops we make - to see what the various menus are on which days. Typically they rotate menus about every 3 days (although could be 2) - and the menu choices vary depending upon ship itinerary. There was a great discussion on all the CT menus a bit ago. I think they came up with about 21 unique ones. Found it . . .

What happens if your EWR flight is cancelled last minute (like air traffic strike or other issues). If you miss the Barcelona boarding, what next? Worth $100? I debate this back and forth. No right answer. So many air issues these days.

We get it because the Credit Cards we have reimburse us the $100 fee so it is essentially a no-brainer, even if we take a single trip. It does take some effort to get and go through the appointment process especially if you don't live in a big city.

I was thinking the exact same thing! If this was on FB, we would call it "Click Bait" 🙂

Like you, I have a lot of wishes about this itinerary. However, as you said, the search for perfection will leave you sitting on the couch IMHO. Thankfully there is something for everyone in cruising opportunities since the range of opinions and desires spans the spectrum of passengers 🙂 As for cruise beginning and ending ports - we always now go in on our own usually 2 to 7 days ahead of time, and try to stay afterwards as well. Half the fun is exploring the beginning and ending ports and you don't have to do it with Viking. Plus it is sort of an insurance, given all the airlines issues! We are just thankful that we have the time to do so - a few years ago, while working, we'd have had to keep cutting it close.

Linda - we'll be sure to give you the scoop after/while we go in early December. 🙂 let's both wish for good health in the almost 2 years to go!!!

Oh my I do!!!!

Room service is the best! Fresh orange juice first thing in the morning, in your robe, without having to get dressed and out into the masses at the World Cafe!

Thanks, Lorna! I'm not surprised that Vigur Island is the most popular. It sold out and we didn't make the cut. We did make Skalane Center and the Westmans boats. Hoping we stop there.

Thanks again for your wonderful information! We are doing this trip in Feb/Mar 2024. Paying attention to all these details! I've already learned that Chioggia is a nice place to visit!

You bet! Booked it on Monday when a friend told us about it. Rooms are going fast our agent said. Dec 1 we booked. Nice too to have a roundtrip from Barcelona. Someone's already done the Roll Calls for the Nov 16 and Dec 1 cruises.

millybess - I honestly cannot remember. Probably since the dining reservations booking ahead are not that important to us. We always book when we first get onboard and know the CT menus, etc. We've always gotten what we want and with so many cancellations as the cruises continue, never had an issue. Now excursions are another story - so that one was important to us!

I've had the same experience several times. Thus, I am not worried. Like restaurant reservations, people reserve way more than they can do, and as the cruise goes on they realize that, and cancellations start coming.

spoke with Viking this afternoon. They were helpless. I finally got them to agree that this situation exists and that this is probably not a good thing. They promised to send my feedback back to the IT people and headquarters operations. Yeah, right...

Peregrina - as a somewhat veteran Viking Cruiser, I certainly thought that was the case. However, the OP seemed to indicate (it was not totally clear) that he was not able to do so. But he could have been merely complaining that he couldn't book just those extra days. I was trying to understand exactly what he meant. We've done B2B cruises before and have always been able to book the 2nd and 3rd legs at the time the first leg allowed, which to us was a great advantage given our commitment $ wise to booking multiple cruises. We had also never seen excursions available for the turnaround days until you were on board.

I totally understand your frustration, but sadly this has been the situation for Viking as far as I know. Meaning, that on turnover ports where there is an "extra" day for those who are continuing on, they don't put excursions out on those "extra" days until you are on board. It's what in our experience as always been the case. Viking has been doing these 4-some legs for some time (Barcenlona-Rome-Venice-Athens-Istanbul and back). My question to you, which I cannot tell from your post is: - When your excursions opened up for the first leg from Istanbul, were you able to also book excursions for the other legs as well: Athens to Venice, Venice to Rome, and Rome to Barcelona legs? (just not the 3 "extra" days). If so, then that is a huge benefit over passengers who get on in Athens, Venice, and Rome. - Or do you have to keep going back every week or so to book those other legs excursions?