CCWineLover

We've always been able to get reservations we want once on board, particularly for the 2nd half of a cruise. Even after a couple days, people start to cancel reservations (they began with the FOMO mentality - fear of missing out), as they realize it may not be what they wanted. However, it is our experience in 10 Ocean Cruises that EVERY cruise has a completely different makeup and personality, including what is popular and what is not. We've had an equal number of cruises where the hot place to go was Chef's Table, and we've had ones where Manfredi's was difficult. Our last cruise (a few weeks ago), those 2 were about even, but The Restaurant was overflowing, and passengers were lining up (like for a Florida buffet!) twenty minutes ahead of time down the 2nd floor waiting to get in at 6 PM. We went once only and at 7:30 and literally every table in that big restaurant seemed full! Won't do that again, since, as expected, the staff couldn't handle that crowd, and the service was way too slow and quite frankly poor. (Not hot meals, some people served and others not at a table, and more). But we sort of expected that.

We just got off the Midnight Sun from London to Bergen. We were on the starboard side (6093). Personally I don't think it makes much difference on this or any cruises - because when you are sailing you are often quite a ways from land. Also, for us, when you leave port and come into a port on approach, it is often so much better to be out on deck or up in the explorers lounge to view things. Our favorite places were the 8th deck - fore and aft, as you can quickly walk from one side to the other. This was especially worthwhile during the Fjord passages. FYI - 4010 is port side, and 5009 is starboard. We've been in both before and they are fine. Couple other points: the ships mostly dock on the starboard side. Sometimes this is good as you can look out and see when the gangway is down and when people are exiting. Laundry rooms are on the port side, so if on port side, less walking back and forth.

No special dress code at all. Look at my Viking journey or the web site for what they say regarding suggestions. we’ve done the holiday cruise, and people did wear red at Christmas. Certainly though no dress up for NYE. We did see one man with a jacket and dress shirt but no ties ever. you should also post on your cruises roll call.

Hard to do. If people aren’t there on Cruise Critic, they aren’t there. sometimes occasionally there will be a bigger group. Luck of the draw.

Hi icruisetoo. Are you on Venus now? We are. I see you are in Santa Barbara. We are just up the 101 from you in Paso Robles wine country. Kent and Pam 6093

Yes where were you in London? Big City and we don’t need to set future travelers expectations poorly. We just did Uber from Kensington to Greenwich -4 of us- on an XL- for 38 pounds. Best deal. Had been going around 45-50 each time we looked. Nice driver. Took over an hour to get there at 10:30.

Check in building is the building just east of Nandos and Cutt Sark. You won’t miss it as there are many Viking people swarming around the area. We arrived at 10:40 am and they took our luggage. The check in room did not open until 11, but there was a nice park where visitors info toilets, and coffee place is. Not sure how early you could drop bags. Probably not until Viking personnel arrive and set up. note the ramp to the ferry platform can vary in steepness depending where the tide is (24-27 feet). We were at max low tide so had a very steep decline. But later it was flat. hint: don’t overthink this boarding process. It’s not that difficult.

Room where we were checked in at Greenwich. Quite nice. No more tent!

Just got on board Venus a few hours ago. 2022 update. There is no tent anymore. Viking uses the large building east of Cutty Sark and Nandos restaurant. Nice easy checking indoors at 11. Water coffee and small eats available. Ushered down to river boat pier/Palo toon to take Uber Thames Clipper to the ship. view from 7th deck looking down at river boat and Greenwich landing.

Was at the river boat pier near Cutty Sark just an hour ago. Venus was anchored. Can confirm the tenders appear to be the Thames Clipper Uber Boats. Venus is anchored maybe a couple hundred yards up river. Also it’s just a ramp up and down to the boat floating platform. Not a bad walk. Big line of passengers waiting to get back though, for their final evening! No tent up yet, likely not til tomorrow. Lots of lollipops gathering their crews for afternoon and evening excursions.

OK Andy and Jim, our resident Cruise Credit afficianados on good pubs! I just booked us (for 4) for tomorrow (Thursday the 14th) evening for Riverside table. Looking forward to it. Hope to share some pics! We board the Venus on the 15th. Kent

does look interesting. We may have to try it. There are 4 of us and we'll only go if we can eat outside. It has been a bit sad to miss all the indoor activities in London (museums, pubs, etc.) as we are trying to be careful and certainly people in London are done with COVID. However, we've filled our time in London with so many outdoor activities (doing about 10-15K steps a day) - spent the day Tuesday at wonderful Kew Gardens. If we do make it Thursday night, I'll post some things.

Thank you Janet! We may just take a taxi or Uber from our Doubletree Kensington tomorrow to Greenwich. They seem to be plentiful here. Definitely want to see Cutty Sark for sure. We like to come in early to cruises so we can get time adjusted. I see you are in Iowa. My relatives (cousins) live in Iowa - Southeast (Fairfield/Cedar Rapids) and we visit every year, and try to make the famous State Fair if we can.

Great, Janet! We are in London and will move to Greenwich this Thursday, getting there early. How did you get there? The River Cruises? Did you take the DLR from Cutty Sark to Doubletree? How did you get to the ship from the hotel? Uber? Taxi? DLR ? What time did you try to board? We hope to visit Cutty Sark, the Observatory, and the Museum on Thursday afternoon. Did you find a fun place to have dinner in Greenwich?

Thank you! will let everyone know, as we board this Friday morning the 15th. Are staying at Greenwich Doubletree. We’ve been in London since Saturday and it’s 90 degrees hot!

Best of luck, Ella! We leave Friday for LHR and arrive Saturday. Greenwich on the 15th. We're going to pack light. Safe travels.

Thanks, Jim, Andy, and others for the great suggestions and pictures! This gives us a really good idea of where the ship will be. We board on July 15 in Greenwich (Midnight Sun Cruise). Plan to "straddle" the Meridian like Andy's picture! Staying in London first for several days and then staying the night before at the Greenwich Doubletree. Shouldn't be too hard to find the Cutty Sark! I will also try to take some pics of the location.

Thank you all for your wonderful suggestions. We will be arriving in Heathrow this Saturday the 9th and will have a Plan A, B, and C at ready - to get to our Hotel in Kensington. We make our way to Greenwich later for the Midnight Sun sailing on the 15th. Will let you all know. Last word is tube strikes on Thursday and Saturday nights, but it is fluid. Heard the Heathrow express to Paddington isn't affected by tube strikes, so that might be Plan A.

This is what is known as a mistake on my part! I never noticed that I had simply skipped 4055 in keying the room numbers. Thank you for catching my error! Obviously 4055 is in there between 4057 and 4053. So sorry! This was actually the Viking Sky, and taken in port in Stockholm (where one could stand on the "cliff" opposite the ship and get a great view looking north).

I took a picture of the starboard side on a past Viking Cruise and edited in the room numbers - mostly so I had an idea of what rooms to book in the future. Hope this helps. We have chosen to stay mostly on the 5th floor.

And Jim - didn't one time you have an issue on Deck 4 with lifeboat "banging" ? I recall some others on different itineraries mentioning that, although I think when brought to attention the crew fixed those issues.

So sorry to hear you are both positive and not feeling well. What a disappointment. Please stay safe and healthy. It sounds like there may be others onboard as well in the same predicament. We are boarding the Venus July 15 in Greenwich - so crossing our fingers. Let us all know how things go. 🙂

It must vary from cruise to cruise. I've had a thermometer in the Star Theatre the last couple times and it was 67 and 68 degrees! Too cold for us. As I had stated earlier - some run cold and some run hot. Thankfully for you, it's easier for us cold ones to add clothes than for you hot ones to take things off 🙂 🙂

Absolutely Linda! Having lived in Seattle so many years, we got used to spectacularly fantastic Dungeness crab! I could almost live on that. Along with Salmon. Was just back in Seattle to see friends (it was cold and drizzly!) and had a lot of salmon and crab. Yum. Yum! It must be nearing dinner time 🙂

Ella - I’ve not done it but remember peopl discussing it. perhaps do a forum search on Viking forums and see. That research approach has worked for me in the past to answer a variety of questions.