CDNPolar

Are you on the Fridtjof Nansen? Are the cabins smaller on 7 than 8? No, not really, you are in an XT cabin and the same cabin category on deck 8 is the same size. Deck 8 also has ME category that is bigger. We were in 829 which is an XTD category. We chose this cabin because first it is as close to mid ship for the Drake Passage as you can get, and if you look at the configuration of the cabin it is wide rather than deep. The balcony is 15 feet (or more) wide and you have the equivalent of 3+ sets of windows that the deep cabins only have one or two... This balcony and window set was perfect for viewing as we just had more space. If available to change, I would personally from our experience go with the XTD 721, 721, 728, or 730 - these are well back from the elevator lobby and we heard no noise from anything. Also the wide nature of the cabin was in our opinion far superior to the deep cabin.

Call Viking Air Plus and ask them for the number and then you have it.

We were on deck 8, BUT, I never once saw anyone in the wellness centre. Not once, and we did go past there regularly because we always took the stairs. The other thing is the Hurtigruten deck plans are mis-leading. Our cabin "looked" like it was part of the elevator lobby on the deck plan but in actuality it was so far away that it had no bearing on noise that could have come from the elevator or stairs lobby. I would suggest that you name the ship and the cabin number so we know exactly where you are and hopefully someone else has stayed in that cabin or beside. Also what Itinerary you are sailing? We did Antarctica on Fidtjof Nansen and I think that we were either in the Drake Passage when no one was about, or we were gazing at the beauty of Antarctica and no one was exercising. The other thing is the Hurtigruten forum is not high traffic... be patient for an answer.

Call the cruise line and ask them why they ask this....?

If you booked the flights through Viking Air, then Viking have an emergency number you can call 24 hours if you run into problems. I don't have it at my fingertips now but there is one. Call Viking Air yourself and ask them - they will guide you. The airline won't help you - I don't think - as if there are changes, Viking was the one that paid for the flights and they have to fix anything.

I personally believe that this is just "age old" standards that companies ask this for demographic statistics. On cruise lines, I don't particularly get it because most (high percentage) are couples that travel together and some would be families. Does it matter? No, not really. I have been after my company and some providers for many years now to at least add an "Other" category that someone could choose, but still nothing happens. I wrote Viking Cruise Lines last year after a cruise where every entertainment event and every Resident Historian lecture has countless "Ladies and Gentlemen" throughout the presentation. I asked that they consider that in today's world, they should not be so limiting in how they are addressing an audience and that this was not inclusive. I was not surprised in the fact that I did not get any response from that email. Not even a thank you we will consider it. I truly believe that this is a marketing statistic thing and no one has given it any thought at the cruise line. I understand why your friends would be upset by this but in my opinion (don't hate on me for this) Rome was not built in a day and we cannot expect that every organization will move with the times.

My Nexus expired over 2 years ago, but because I had applied for renewal well before my card expired, Nexus has honoured my card since and still continues to. We have come back to Canada several times in the last year under work and personal travel and each time I take the Nexus line at Canadian immigration. I also recently flew home through SFO and had to collect and recheck luggage before my flight to YYZ and took the Global Entry line (which was next to empty and the general line was 100 people) and I was sent right through no issue. So, Yes, you will still have your benefits even if your card expires as long as you have the process started.

Thank you - we will check out this company as it sounds amazing.

We have travelled extensively. Never to India before but to highly populated countries like Japan and China - many cities in both. We are good at navigating new cultures and food and fairly fearless in navigating train and transportation systems so we would not be afraid of going out on our own. The main thing about going with Viking is that we then don't have to manage anything... as on the cruise, we just leave it to them. I think that what I have not gotten yet from anyone is a clear good or not good on this extension from someone that has done it. We have a few options that we are looking at and tour companies that we would consider on our own, so we will just continue to assess as we have lots of time. Thank you however for your response.

This is just personal opinion.... If you are discreet and you are not roaming the streets sharing public displays of affection, then I would not be concerned. If on a cruise, and especially if you are participating in excursions that the cruise ship offers, then you are part of a group and "hidden in plain sight" so to speak. Even if you take private tours or wander on your own, if you are discreet then I would not be concerned. Not exactly the same thing, but my husband is Chinese and we have traveled extensively and continue to travel with a future cruise booked to Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and finally India. We don't personally feel any concern and mostly because we are also discreet. One thing at my age that I accept is that different parts of the world have different levels of acceptance for LGBT individuals, and I cannot change that in my visit to their country, BUT, I am not not going to travel there. I have also accepted that I can not, and will not force my being gay on anyone and so choose to be discreet and enjoy the world for what it is. I have a saying that I like to reference in my head and that is: Gay is what I am not who I am. To me that means that I don't have to scream anything to anyone, but just exist quietly and do my thing, and my thing is travel and see the world, experience diverse cultures, and food. That's all. I hope you follow through and have a wonderful time. Oh, and just as a note... when we first started to cruise, we chose Viking as our cruise line and all but one of our 9 cruises now have been on Viking. I had concerns at the beginning and spoke with Viking customer service about my concerns and they were very good at reassuring me that I should not have any concerns. Perhaps contact your cruise line?

We have booked "Across the Bay of Bengal" from Bangkok to Mumbai in March of 2025. I know - this is way out there in date now... This is I believe part of a Viking World Cruise? Has anyone done the 6 day post extension from Mumbai - India's Golden Triangle? Can you share your experience with this post extension? Good, bad, or otherwise? We are considering this vs. building our own post itinerary. Thoughts?

I used a Viking Agent. Still waiting on my reply from tellus@ and normally I get a call very quickly after but in this case, I asked for a WRITTEN answer only. I indicated that there are many opinions out there and each Viking Agent you speak to has a different opinion, and I wanted their answer in writing so I could hold them to the response.

Yes, I see that. I also have copies of ones that we have purchased and used. I am still waiting for Viking to answer me via email. We HAVE applied these vouchers in the past to cruises that were already booked but not fully paid - just a deposit made against the booking. These were bookings made in advance of purchasing the vouchers. Again - Viking information inconsistent depending on who you talk to - regardless of the language on the voucher.

Well, this is something that I am going to ask for an answer in writing (email) from Viking. We have three future cruises booked now and we were planning on buying 6 vouchers on our upcoming River Cruise to apply to each of our future bookings... if not allowed to attach then we won't bother. Odd because we have done exactly that in the past. Boils down to different information depending on who you talk to at Viking. I will write Viking and come back with the answer.

My card has not actively been "read" by the Nexus machines in the last 3-4 years. I try then just walk to the agent handling Nexus and say that it does not read and they hand me a manual yellow form. Quick and efficient and no worries. I don't even think about it anymore.

Just as a note, if you are referring to the ticket number that I posted in the picture above, I did not screen capture the entire ticket number for confidentiality. I am not going to post my full e-ticket number. Perhaps I should have stated that.... it was intended as a picture reference of what the OP should look for.

We have three future cruises booked now. We are going on a River Cruise in August and we are planning to purchase these on the River cruise. We were told that we could apply these once we get them to the booked, but not paid for cruises. We have done this in the past too. We purchased vouchers and then had them added to an existing booking that was not paid for. Not sure I understand Squawkman's answer above, because unless the policy has changed, they can be applied to an already booked cruise.

I think that you can ask for ticketing at 120 days out. You could try earlier, but they may not do it. I think that the ticketing timeline also aligns with the fact that Viking has penalties for cancelling at 120 days out? Not sure entirely on this one. But for sure, if your flights are ticketed and you cancel for any reason, even before the cruise penalties at 120 days, you would be responsible for the cost and cancelation of the air because once ticketed - it was purchased. My personal opinion on your question: Also, if the airline makes a significant change to the itinerary, could that result in more cost to us? This should not mean that you must incur cost with many airlines that we have traveled with because the airline if initiating a change after you have paid for the tickets they often allow you to make changes to suit you at no charge... BUT, we have not had this happen with a Viking Air booking. We had Business Class seats to Buenos Aires last year and we booked those about 300 days out. This was Delta and they made in total about 6 changes to our itinerary before flying and each time we were given the option to move flights or seats without charge. We did not have to as the changes were small in time of arrival and departure, and the one change of aircraft, we were still happy with the seats that they assigned on the new aircraft type. We have also had this happen with British Air and again, we were given the option to make changes at no charge. Long answer short, I think it is going to depend on the change. You are never guaranteed the seats you book even if you book them with the airline and you are ticketed. If they change the type of plane, they will move your seats, and depending on how closely you watch these changes, you may or may not end up with the seats that you prefer. Usually in Business however you are going to get the same or very similar seat. We watch closely once our tickets are issued and catch the changes as they happen.

Do it with the most time you can because IF one of you has to have an in-person interview - like I do - then you can only do it at a drive through US CAN border, or you must arrange an interview at the Canadian side and then do the US interview same day or after when flying into the USA. Because I could not organize my Canadian interview before my last flight to the USA, I have to go to Buffalo drive over border and do both there. You must have an appointment for the Canadian interview and then you drive over and just present to the USA side. Total pain in the backside. Don't assume that you won't have to do an interview. My husband and I renewed at the same time and he got automatic renewal and I was put on hold until an interview happens.

True, but note, once you do request tickets to be ticketed, then if you need to change anything, you will pay a change fee. (Not talking about seat selection and things that you can do on the airline website) Before ticketing, if you choose to go a day early or stay late, or change a flight, you can do so without a change fee as long as the change falls inside the contract fares.

Generally they ticket 45 to 75 days out from the departure. They used to always ticket 75 days out but when pandemic and airline delays and upset happened the ticketing window got shorter.

Go to MVJ Go into Manage My Air Expand here: If they have been ticketed then you will have an eticket number at the bottom of the Flight Details & Baggage Fees drop down...

One of the biggest problems now with Viking is that you get different information from each person you talk to. We have not done dozens of cruises with Viking but I think we are at 7 or 8 now and we have learned certain things and ask/insist on some of these things and we always get them in spite of the different information. It does not make sense to tell you not to go for Air Plus until you get your initial flights? That makes no sense to me. Air Plus is a service that Viking offers that you pay extra for. We have used Air Plus on every cruise and always been happy with the end result. We have also always added it at the booking stage and scoped out and added our flights at the 280-300 days out range. If Viking were to refuse me Air Plus then I would just book the air on my own - unless the deal was free air through Viking.

Yes - agree. Just never leave the insulin pen in heat like a car. I would leave it in the cabin on a cruise or in the safe in a hotel room... just out of sun and heat.

Viking offer you the opportunity to purchase vouchers while onboard a river cruise to be used on future river or ocean cruises. Typically I believe that the voucher is Pay $100 get double value or $200 voucher. My question is there a limit to the number of vouchers that you can purchase per person?