CDNPolar

We pass a crisp USD $10 (folded) for first time and then for some we will pass a second $10 later in the cruise if they have been especially attentive. Most get the second $10.

We have in the past received OBC from Viking also due to a complaint and we were told by tellus that it could only be spent on the ship, and for any cost we incur onboard. I think that you are fine. Just ensure to spend it all.

Let me ask you a couple of questions: 1) Is this OBC or SBC? 2) Is this from your TA or from Viking? Not to confuse what I have said before, but OBC can be used in advance to buy things like shore excursions or SSBP or gratuities, but you can also use this on the ship if you don't buy any of these things in advance. SBC "typically" cannot be used in advance, but only used on the ship. Regardless, any of these credits can be used for anything onboard including bar bills, spa treatments, in the shop onboard, etc. Typically however if you don't use an OBC for something onboard, you lose it unless your TA issues refundable credits.

Our experience was similar - both of us in the same house, married. One approved online and card mailed within weeks. ME - long delay, interview required on both sides of the border. I have extensive global travel for work and personal - exceptionally more than my husband - and I was shocked that with my travel history I was made to go to interview. Perhaps it is the extensive travel that brought me into question? Go figure.

Is this a new service? Did you book an appointment? How does this work? We will be renewing mid next year and have not done so for almost 10 years so the process is a distant memory for us now.

I have done two separate insurance claims now and both were 100% online and the simplest claims ever. I anticipated lots of push back and challenge, but I filled out forms and submitted the reports they requested and got a cheque. This was with Arch in the USA and Blue Cross in Canada.

Because you booked through a Travel Agency and are Canadian (this may be different in the USA) you will NOT see the OBC in MyVikingJourney (MVJ) unless you book optional excursions, pay gratuities in advance, or purchase the Silver Spirits package. You will see the OBC on your invoice from Viking which the TA should provide to you. Our TA applies the OBC to our booking on first call with Viking and then the invoice that comes shows the below. Ours shows up on page 2 of the Viking Invoice and there is a box for each person: NOTE: This shows on the invoice as SBC or Ship Board Credit, but that includes OBC. SBC and OBC have different rules for use. Typically OBC will be used online if you book optional excursions, buy the Silver Spirits package, or pay Gratuities in advance. YOU can book optional excursions on your own without the TA and they require immediate payment. If you have OBC then that credit will be applied to your checkout on MVJ. Typically SBC is different and is applied on the ship for purchases when on board. Ask what is the difference if you have SBC and OBC or one or the other and how they can be used. These are general statements from OUR experience. Hope this helps.

This may spark some controversial conversation, BUT, we often tip cash to a few people on the Viking Ocean ships and one of them is the Wine Steward. We don't tip day one, but we generally ask to sit in the same area of the restaurant and so we have the same server team night after night. On day two or three we will palm pass a tip and it is amazing how much more SOMETIMES comes available. Even when you are on the included wines, if they come with a white that is a Chardonnay (and I typically don't drink or like Chardonnay) and I ask if there is another choice for white, then they bring an option. In our experience the included wines are not always just what they bring to the table. As @FetaCheese suggested, talk with the Sommelier and often there are options. We have also talked with the Food and Beverage Manager (Uniformed Officer) and had different luck, such as FetaCheese suggested that there is a wine or wines in stock that are too low in stock to have on the list. If you don't ask you won't get.

They only walk around with the red and white included wines. You can always have the included Prosecco but you have to ask for it.

Everyone has such a great option available to them now with the $25 deposit in North American bookings. You can book a second cruise in the future and get the 180 day payment terms on your existing booking. We always keep at least one future Viking booking out there as much as two years out to ensure that we get the 180 days payment terms. Having that booking is not a firm commitment, you can move the 50 bucks to any other cruise before final payment, or lose 50 bucks max.

A couple of years ago we were denied the 6 months payment terms by 2 different agents at Viking. It took several calls to get it. It happened again on the next booking that we made. Maybe not fists, but it was not done easily. I put most of these things down to poor Viking training of their agents.

Where the ship is sailing is also what dictates the wine list. Not every port in every country may have California Cabs or other wines available. Viking don't ship the wines globally to every ship. A wine that is on the list when you board, may well run out during your cruise and if the wine is not available from suppliers in the ports you are stopping in they cannot source it, then it won't be replaced. It is kind of take it as it comes in my opinion.

You already have a cruise in the future so you already qualify for 6 month payment terms.

We always have more than one future Viking cruise booked and most of the time we have to "fight" to get the 6 month payment. Sometimes they put us on hold several times before they begrudgingly agree. This last booking, I was amazed as the 6 month payment was applied immediately without asking. I think that the agent was more experienced.

Totally get it... As much as we love the countries, cities, and towns, (and the churches and ruins to some extent) we also love on both River and Ocean unpacking once and after that unpacking having the room cleaned and the meals made.... I get you though.

We cruise a lot and travel a lot. We renew our passports for 10 years to avoid issues like this. Our passports expire early 2026. We have already mapped out on the calendar between trips when we will renew our passports so that we don't run into issues. This is just part of travel planning for us. We have experience through friends where boarding was denied.

We did Viking Empires of the Med and it stopped in Dubrovnik and Zadar. We loved both these ports but they were only day stops and not overnight.

Good question, but as @pontac suggests, we started with Viking, really enjoyed the experience, and have stuck with them. We have so far, only experienced Uniworld, and that was for The Nile. Long story as to why, but in the end, it was not a good Uniworld experience because the ship was old, a bit dirty, smelly, and very dark. We had heard so many wonderful things about Uniworld, but also now recognize that ships on the Nile are not a good reflection of the cruise line in other regions. We personally don't think that there are a lot of differences, and we are starting to think that we may look in the future at other cruise lines, and this will be to try the cheaper ones. Yes, we love the ship experience but on a River Cruise it is about the countries, cities, and the excursions. We don't believe that any cruise line really offers many excursions that are unique to them - but we may be wrong.

We do both depending on the deal of the airfare from the Cruise line. Our last river cruise the air was free so it was a no brainer. We always price both options. We sail mostly Viking and we also like to go in a day early. From a Viking perspective, if we are going in a day early and want some control over our flights we have to pay for their Air Plus, and a Deviation Fee. This ends up being $250 per person. Then if we are in a day early we also have to pay for our transfer from the airport to a hotel and then from the hotel to the ship. That can be $100 total. This brings the total extra to $600 bucks. Unless the air is free through the cruise line, often adding the extra cost of $600.00 makes booking air on our own cheaper. Again - we do both. There are advantages and disadvantages.

When a river cruise, water levels, and weather all line up they are outstandingly beautiful. I just wish that everyone knew the potential risks before booking. I have not yet had to change ships or bus around because of this, but I am prepared in mind to do so if necessary and will look at it as part to the excitement of the whole experience if it were to happen. We half expected it late December when we were sailing on Treasures of the Rhine. Each day we were waiting for the announcement and thankfully it did not come...but it could have as many cruises were impacted on a week or two before us.

Just a quiet warning about the voucher offer. Be careful before accepting the voucher for 110% as these are very tempting because it is essentially free money, but Viking want to keep your money with them. The voucher restrictions are tight and unless the voucher rules have changed, the voucher must be used in its entirety on your next cruise. You cannot divide it between two cruises of lessor cost. Additionally - again, unless the rules have changed - once applied to your next booking you cannot move that again, or you will lose the value. If all goes to plan, the voucher is a great offer, but if there are any glitches in your next booking you may not be pleased with your options. Also, you may not be able to insure a trip for cancellation when you are paying with a voucher - some insurance policies don't allow coverage for vouchers. If I were in your shoes now, having some previous experience with vouchers that was less than optimum, I would take the cash refund. Other Vikings, please correct me here if I am wrong on these rules or statements.

I hear you on the less developed countries and we have talked about the potential need to take our ATM cards.

There are many options for storing injectables for travel that are TSA approved. The best options are all available on Amazon. READ THE REVIEWS on all the products. There are some that require the refreezing of an ice pack in the tube and there are even some that are USB charged like little coolers. I personally have a "Breezy Pack" and it has worked well for me. I store my injectables outside the fridge for up to 2 months but don't need that long typically on a trip. The one thing that I am concerned with is that I will never leave my meds in a carryon case and leave that with the luggage going to the cruise ship. You don't know if that luggage is going to be sitting in a hot truck or out in the sunshine beside the ship and for how long. I put my "Breezy Pack" in my shoulder bag and keep that with me until I am on the ship. I can control where and how that bag is exposed to the sun. One thing that I find interesting is that everyone has different ideas and information on how long a certain medication can be kept at room temperature. Many statements on here contradict what my Pharmacist has told me and what is on the Pharmaceutical manufacturer's website. Typically for more common meds like insulin (Tresiba), and Ozempic, they can be out of refrigeration for almost two months. From the Tresiba site: How should Tresiba® FlexTouch® and 10-mL vial be stored? Not in use (unopened) If unopened, Tresiba® should be stored in a refrigerator (36°F to 46°F [2°C to 8°C]) until expiration date. It can also be stored at up to 86°F for 56 days.1 In use (opened) After first use, Tresiba® can be stored at room temperature (up to 86°F [30°C]) or in the refrigerator (36°F to 46°F [2°C to 8°C]) without the needle attached for a maximum of 8 weeks (56 days).1 From the Ozempic site:

Yeah, I don't think that there is a wait list. We have asked before and been told no. When you are on board talk to the Viking sales rep and be honest with what you are trying to do. This is their thing - they should know if anyone does. The other thing is to keep checking back - every day or every few days - on the bookings you are interested in. People drop off at anytime from these bookings.

Sorry that you have found the list to be less than you expected. We have always been pleased with the expanded list of wines.