CDNPolar

I also think that as a solo traveller, you must be the one stepping forward and starting conversation, keeping conversation going etc. If you are too introverted, then they may just speak among themselves. I think key here is to ask the host for tables where people are ASKING to sit with others.

We found Hurtigruten dinner menu options limited against other cruise lines. The menu at night only had a couple of choices where other cruise lines typically have the daily specials and the always available options. Definitely contact Hurtigruten before - long before - sailing. We did find that the breakfast and lunch buffets were very extensive, but we were not looking at themm in relation to food restrictions.

We have been very pleased with BA business class regardless of the aircraft. To us it is not just the seat but the service. We find BA Flight Attendants in Business Class to be a step above many other airlines in their efficiency, and friendliness. We choose BA business class where possible for these reasons.

There are 360 tours here of the Douro ships here https://www.vikingrivercruisescanada.com/ships/360-ship-tours.html https://www.vikingrivercruisescanada.com/content/douro/start.html?secure=true. Specifically the Duoro ships.

We were on this cruise. Basically the cabins are the same size (give or take) as the traditional long ships, the ships are just shorter to fit the locks. If you go to the booking page there is an artist rendering of all the cabins... Not sure if this is the right cabin for your booking or not.

No. If you are on Viking Ocean, you have the options in all the restaurants of asking for a table for two and sit by yourself or ask for a table for 6 or 8 and see who is seated with you. Just talk to the host if you want new table companions each night. Many people want to meet new folks.

Asking what cruise because I just returned from Treasures of the Rhine which is Amsterdam to Basel, but this has different ports than Rhine Getaway.

The Viking Spa is one of our favourite things on the Viking ship. There is a large co-ed section that has a huge thermal spa, a smaller hot tub, a steam room, a snow grotto, and ice water pails. In each separate male/female change room, there is a sauna and a cold plunge pool. The change rooms are well appointed, your key card locks and unlocks your locker, they supply all the towels and robes and sandals, and there is a spinner in the counter that you can put your bathing suit in and it spins is close to dry.

This all changed a long time ago now. You can only do the USA interview if you have completed the Canadian interview first, and to do the USA interview at an airport, it can only be done if you are flying to a US destination. You cannot walk into the airport do the interview and leave. You must have an air ticket. Otherwise, you can do like I did. Book your Canadian interview at a site like Fort Erie, then driver across the border to do the US interview and then come back to Canada.

I did mine as a combo - Canada / USA - in Fort Erie at the land crossing. To my knowledge, you must have a flight booked to or transiting through the USA and once you pass US Customs, the interview area is found there.

PV is a great city. Restaurants, bars, shops, and lots of goings on. You can walk the old town, and shop or eat or drink. PV is a very engaging city in Mexico.

To my knowledge there is no seating preference based on cabin type. Just ask at the desk to be seated where you want to go - if there is a table open there should be no reason why you cannot sit where you want. We typically find a serving team and location that we like and ask them to hold that for us every night and most of the time we get what we ask for.

I have had my Nexus for over 10 years and on the last renewal, I had to go through the Canada interview, the US interview, and do the fingerprints again. If you are called for interview, then you will have to do that.

We never book a less than 2 or 2.5 hour layover now for many reasons... We just did a 5 hour layover in Amsterdam and it was not at all a problem - we actually enjoyed it. Mind you we spent probably an hour of that just meandering to our gate. It is winter now and you don't know where your inbound aircraft is coming from for your first flight out. Same with the second flight. But the first question is, what is the on-time performance of the first flight you are taking? If that flight is delayed in leaving and your second flight is on time, then you are out of luck. One hour layovers are for gamblers in my opinion.

What is the name of your cruise? What dates? Are you doing Basel to Amsterdam? (Basel is in Switzerland) Must have done a typo... There are other Rhine cruises, so it will be important for us to know which one, and when.

We call Viking to make our bookings. We have the deck plans on our screen and ask for what is available and make a decision from that. We have only ever booked online twice, the first time a cabin number and location that we were good with was available, and just recently we booked only 2 weeks out so we ended up in a GTY or Guaranteed Cabin and we got the cabin number about 5 days out. On this one we had no choice but to take what we were given. Call Viking and talk with them.

Much is going to depend on where you are cruising too and the expected weather. Noting that now "expected" weather is never the case. Where are you cruising and when? We just returned last night from a Rhine river cruise from Amsterdam to Basel, and it was 50F each day and rain, rain, rain. This is not necessarily typical weather for these areas. To pack properly you must look at where you are going, what the expected weather is and then pack for expected and unexpected. For us we were in rain most every day. Our shoes were wet, and we were always damp.

I would also add that 11am embarkation / cabin time is not for everyone. The lower category cabins are not guaranteed until 2pm or 3pm. We have never experienced a line with Viking.

Welcome to Cruise Critic! I think that for solo travellers the main thing regardless of the ship or itinerary, unless you want to be an introvert, is to be at the dining room at opening and ask to be seated at a table for 6 and then you will get one or two other couples seated with you. Just don't ask for the table for two. Use the excursions to meet people too. You are experiencing the same things so it is quite normal to make comments to others and start up conversation.

My point was only that SHE thought she was saving money against the posted fares of Viking but since she added on all the extras she was on par in pricing. I did not say that you cannot do it cheaper at all. Of course you can.

That is disappointing because generally with that email address we get a call from an agent in about two to three days. I would haul up the previous sent item and resend with a request for a response. They may be figuring out how to respond too.

With respect, your research did not show that bad weather typically happens at this time of year - but it happened. There is always risk with river cruising any time of the year. I think you will find that the cruise line will never guarantee a flawless sailing. And regarding the balcony, even if you docked each night where you were supposed to you could have a ship beside you on a river cruise.

Then write tellus@vikingcruises.com and tell them. Many people on my current cruise thing that me small challenges were under Viking’s control but they were not.

You have no idea how lucky we feel and are! We flew in expecting busses and hotels could be part of this and we have sailed all the way through.

We are somewhat seasoned Viking cruisers with 10 Viking cruises now and we are currently on the Rhine River from Amsterdam to Basel. We are surprised at how many first time cruisers there are with us on this ship! Just about every other person we have talked to are first time cruisers - and over Christmas and in cold weather. Just because you are first timers does not mean that others are more knowledgable or seasoned. We are also meeting lots of cruisers that did not know this or that or the other thing....