CCWineLover

This is likely one of the hottest topics that people discuss on Viking forums. Lots of opinions. pluses, minuses, and more. Suggest you do a search and read tons of material out there. That being said, our personal experience is: -Sometimes Viking Air (and Air+, and Deviations) are good and sometimes they aren't. There doesn't seem to be a pattern. All depends of what you personal wants and needs are. -During COVID it was good because Viking would take care of things (like if you got COVID). -It might be OK to use if you don't plan to upgrade -If you do plan to upgrade, there might be fewer seats available when you get closer to ticketing Some like Viking to take care of everything for them, even if extra cost. We personally like to keep control of things, and don't mind the extra effort, and probably about 60% of the time, the reduced cost. But this is a subject that will provoke as many different opinions as discussing politics! We are actually doing NYV-Reykjavik June 2023 and doing our own air from San Francisco. It was incredibly cheaper and we wanted Saga class on Icelandair. We don't mind doing it ourselves as we are going to NY many days ahead of time and spending 3 days in Iceland afterwards. Doing our own airport transfers is something we've been used to for many years, but we've traveled a lot, and are decently fit and travel savy. So it all depends on how you personally feel and your prior experiences.

Joe - yes indeed. You nailed it.

Those who have not seen this thread should follow/take a look. Some interesting observations/comments on the whole reservation thing.

Very much agree.

First Come First served. On our recent cruise, it seemed people were coming in early to Wintergarden and getting their seats well ahead of time. However, the tea service has become so popular, that Viking has now spread the overflow to the Explorer's Lounge. We were at the lounge once during Tea time and pretty much all the seating from the Fireplace to the Front on the starboard side were filled with tea and sandwiches people. And yes, Viking staff would serve there too. So not to worry! I personally always wondered how people had any room for dinner that night!

SempreMare: 1. For the cruises post-COVID until the perhaps last summer, Tea was 3-5, and Viking stated that was to spread things out more. Since then it has reverted to pre-COVID time - always 4:00 - 5:00. 3. Trivia seems to vary from cruise to cruise that we have taken post COVID, possibly depending on the popularity. We have seen it at 12:15 in the Star Theatre (for big crowds) and in afternoon. We have seen it in Explorer's Lounge in afternoon, at 5:15, and also at 8:15. I'm not sure they have standard times and let the ship CD and itinerary dictate.

We think alike. I went to Manhattan on business often before I retired. Always used Dial 7. They are gret. And we also always use Flybussen in Bergen. Also inexpensive and efficient. Many of the comments refer to tight schedules and iffyness in making flights. We have made it a habit, and are fortunate to be able to do so, as we don't have to hurry home immediately after a cruise, to get to places several days ahead and not leave for several days on the return. For example, we wouldn't go to New York and straight to a cruise ship - why not enjoy the city a bit and take the stress off? And I can't see how people would take a cruise ship to Athens and yet not spend anytime there (perhaps they've already been there?). Or even Reykjavik ... There is so much to see and enjoy in the world, for us, the goal is to also reduce the stress that often comes with traveling in these pent-up demand post-COVID times. We are indeed lucky to be able to do so.

Excellent point. I would cancel out all Viking Air and do it myself. I certainly wouldn't do Viking Air just to get the transfers. That can easily be done yourself as well. We are doing this same cruise (New York-Reykjavik) this coming June 2023 and have 2 one ways from SFO to New York and KEF to SFO. Very reasonable pricing. I would start "checking" prices about 9-11 months out. We got our flights from KEF in November and to New York in January.

Well stated! I can say this has happened to us as well. I totally agree with you. Having no reservations reduces stress ahead of time as well. Look at all those posters who are so stressed and unhappy about reservations issues!!

Another way of saying . . . There's no free lunch!

We did Mahogany Bay. So glad we did. For us, we were at this small pier, since 1 or 2 really large cruise ships got ahead of us into the other pier a ways away from us. The beach is close and you can walk to it, but you'll have to pay to go in. Don't know how much. Also a skyway. There is a nice little nature trail you can take. On the other side of the entryway is a whole series of shops (for tourists), where you could wander around. I didn't notice that long a bus ride difference. It was just so nice not to have hordes of people around.

Enjoy the canal! You should be out watching! I agree with you re: meals. Of all our 12 Viking cruises, this was likely the most "average". A nice "B" - nothing spectacular. (The others were A- to A+). This time was a greater variation between very good to not so good. Inconsistent. But the Canal tops it all!!

And no credit given if we don't use the spa, or if we don't go to a specialty restaurant, or don't drink the free booze at lunch and dinner. I personally think that's fine - it starts to get a bit ridiculous. If Viking did that, they'd be just like the others and have to do a lower price and have everything a la carte. We prefer the one price and if we don't use some thing, so be it.

You're right down the road from us (well, a little bit)! Final payment due date usually depends on if you have another cruise already on the books. If so, you can often negotiate to get the payment date extended to anywhere from 6 to 9 months out. We have several on the books and have taken several cruises thus far, so our negotiation cred was probably pretty good. Yes, I asked, or rather had our Travel Agent do the negotiation. It is never certain but this time we did get 6 months out. If you go, I've created a couple Roll Calls for the Rome to Venice and from Venice to Athens, so drop by.

We did the Christmas/New Year's sailing. Thoroughly enjoyed the cruise! I do suggest, as we did, that you just make sure to set your expectations properly for being on shore and also excursions. We've been to the Caribbean many times so that was pretty easy for us. This is Not Europe, and things are different here in these countries. Have a little patience, go with the flow, don't expect too much. Things happen! We noticed those of us who approached it this way had a great time and those that were perfectionists and kept comparing this to Europe were very disappointed. Which do you want to be? That said, we had an outstanding excursion in the Cave Tubing in Belize! What an amazing adventure. Can't be immobile though. We also enjoyed our Jamaica snorkeling excursion. Lots of fun and the water was great.

Yes! I remember being disappointed that the only room service choices for an omelette were with cheese or without. Then someone told me they wrote in - please add the following to my omelette and listed a number of ingredients like mushrooms, tomatoes, sausage, etc etc. So I tired it and voila - they did it! I also have to remember to think outside the box, so to speak !

Likewise! Thank you Linda. We are paying attention as we'll be there in March 2024 on Viking Saturn. If those who do Olympia this year can let us all know how it goes that would be most appreciated!

I can verify that it worked for me - good deal - for the Feb 2024 Italy, Adriatic, & Greece Itinerary, as we booked today. $25 deposit and no final payment until summer. Our TA said she's been absolutely swamped since yesterday - super high demand. I guess Viking's promos are working. The 2024 dates were particularly popular as Viking usually doesn't give the promos a year or more ahead of time.

We've done that exact thing - book 1 way KLM and 1 way BA from SFO. Works just fine. In the old days 1 way tickets were often way more than half the roundtrip. Nowadays I've found it is nearly always exactly 1/2 of the round trip fare. That also gives you flexibility to pick different airlines each way.

Best advice - contact Viking directly and ask how the situation would be handled. And/or email to tellus@vikingcruises.com Regardless of what Cruise Critic says, you'll have to deal with someone (or your TA's will) at some point to find out.

Lorna - well stated. Couldn't agree more. It always pays to check both options (Viking Air and on your own). We've seen it greatly favor one or the other many times. One additional consideration if it is important to you: If you book on your own, you can get ticketed and then immediately get your seats and/or have opportunity to upgrade direct with airlines (miles, added $). This can be helpful if your flights are a long ways away. With Viking Air, you'd have to wait, potentially until good options are gone, until they ticket you (seems to vary between 60 and 75 days). You may think you are guaranteed to have the seats that show on your reservation via Viking Air, but not so until it is ticketed. By that time good seats and/or upgrade options may be gone. Not only that, you may have paid and booked for Prem Economy or Biz class with Viking Air, and by the time it is ticketed, the airlines have downgraded you (probably because they got higher paying regular customers to pay $$). So you really aren't even guaranteed your PE or Biz class section with Viking Air. If seats and upgrades are not important to you, then it's probably a moot point.

I don't think the Nov 2023 Barcelona to Buenos Aires cruise is viable for the WMD23 code however. If you price and build, it says invalid code for this itinerary.

We have left the ship at Bergen dock several times and walked. Once to the Bergen Bors, which is a little closer than Hotel 13, in May. The other time to Hotel Rosenkrantz, which was closer, in July. If you are dragging luggage, it will be a decent walk for you - but if it is a nice morning, it is actually a pretty walk. Only you can determine if you are up to it! (or if you have too much luggage to shlep!) There were NO shuttle buses at the pier/dock. There were plenty of taxi's so that wouldn't be a problem for you.

Passport required if you are a U.S. citizen. Don't know about other citizenships.

On our recent Viking Star cruise, they ran out of the usual coffee paper cups and instead just had the very tiny small water/juice paper cups that were not viable for hot liquids. So used the ceramic cups. Only issue is that they are sometimes cold, so have to put hot water in them first, then coffee or whatever hot liquid, and then transfer to the insulated cups. It becomes a process.