hawkeye65

In case, you thought cruise companies don't pay attention, check out Vikings response to my post Special Event.

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Yes, of course , I was writing sarcastically.. What my cruise docs say was in the original post, but that was a blind alley. I was hoping someone had stumbled on a link to enter a special event b/c the myvikingjourney.com link direction was no help at all.

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It's an anniversary. Our 50th to be exact. We took a cruise to Bermuda for our 45th but didn't expect any big celebration so didn't mention it to anyone. But half a century seems like a Big Deal. I think it's worth a cupcake or something. But at this rate it'll be our little secret.

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We got our cruise docs today. (Yaay!) In the front info there's mention of special dates and what to do. Log on to myvikingjourney.com. OK. Did that. Can't find any place to report special events.

Not the first time this kind of thing has happened. Our first ocean cruise, my birthday. TA informed them. I noted it on pax form. No reaction whatsoever. Two days later someone else at our table had a b/day. Big deal. Special cake. Singing waiters. She was kind of embarrassed b/c she knew I'd gotten zip.

So is this just me? No one cares about my special events. Everybody else goes to myvikingjourney.com and reports a special event, but nobody cares about me so they mask that section when I sign in? My self-esteem is taking a hit.

Do I need to call Viking or is it really hiding on myvikingjourney.com?

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Thanks. Just the info I hoped for.

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Thanks.

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We're doing a pre-cruise in Amsterdam. I'm guessing all pre-cruise pax will be staying at the same hotel. Will the Viking rep make any effort into introducing similarly positioned pax, or will we be orphans until we board the ship?

This question is based on a driving tour in Nova Scotia we took yrs ago. We took an overnight "cruise" then drove a prepaid, set route staying in specific hotels. It wasn't until the end that we and seven other couples figured out we were all on the same tour. As another woman said, it would have been nice to have known each other from the start. We could have shared the experience.

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Oops! Rhine Main Danube.

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I'm back with another dumb newbie question. We can check the average June temperatures for our route. Will it be cooler on the river?

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I often have empty hands at the pre-dinner port talk. Sometimes I get a cup of herbal tea. Lots of people will have cocktails, but it is not a frat party where everyone is encouraging you to get drunk. There will be waitresses coming around asking if you want a drink, but a simple "no thank you" works - no pressure, no dirty looks. This is not like a regular bar where you are expected to buy or move on. Tipping is at the end of the cruise and not usually by the drink, so the staff incentive is to have you happy rather than push drinks. No worries.

Good to hear.

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If the ship is anywhere near Germany or Austria, they will/should have sparkling fruit juice = apple, rhubarb, red or black currant juice mixed with sparkling mineral water.

I like this idea. In the U.S. it's called a fruit spritzer. I'll ask.

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And now my previous post got its bump. Please forgive the duplication.

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I posted this question way down below where it's never going to be seen. Forgive the duplication if it does get bumped up.

I have a question about pre-dinner time in the lounge. I don't have much of a head for alcohol. If I have a pre-dinner drink and the wine flows freely in the dining room, it's not likely to end well for me. I can't be the only one with this problem. To complicate matters, I don't like sodas. What else is there for Happy Hour? Will I be the only one with empty hands? Please advise.

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I'm the OP and I'm back with a related question. I don't have much of a head for alcohol. A pre-dinner drink in the lounge then free-flowing wine in the dining room will not end well for me. I can't be the only one who won't be having a pre-dinner alcoholic drink. If you're not drinking booze, is there something else everyone else is having? To complicate matters, I don't like sodas. Will I be the only one with empty hands? Any advice?

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I decided to order the dress. They said 10 to 12 business days; it arrived in 2! That's where the good news ends. Based on some of the comment here, I ordered the MP. It was way too big. I grabbed about 6 in out of the bodice to make it fit. Even the shoulders were too big. With that much extra fabric, I have doubts the SP would fit. Oh, well, gotta kiss a bunch of frogs etc. It's going back.

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Just found this thread, and noticed that goldenrod's next cruise is on Princess. We've been spoiled on both Crystal and Regent, but last month took the Star Princess out of our hometown of Los Angeles for a fun 10 day cruise to Mexico.

 

It was our first time on Princess. We had a blast...loved the ports, the entertainment, the excursions, but, alas, the food was almost inedible. We couldn't eat any fish because it was almost all uniformly overdone, greasy, tasteless and had a completely unappetizing and weird, hard to describe texture. For us, the MDR offered subpar cafeteria food, so we ate upstairs in the buffet every night. It was only mildly better. The specialty restaurants were all nice.

 

So, goldenrod, if you're expecting some kind of gastronomical fantasy on your next cruise, you might want to readjust your expectations.

 

 

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This post is so right. We were on Princess NE/Canada cruise several yrs ago.. I'll never get dh on another Princess cruise. The food is only part of the reason, but it was terrible. At lunch one day in the MDR, I ordered a salad with "field greens" as did another woman at the table. The "field greens" were iceberg lettuce!

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This thread has been very interesting. Such a wide range of opinions. We are doing the Viking Amsterdam to Budapest cruise in June (also for our 50th wedding anniversary) and am looking forward to it greatly. Personally, I am going for the touring experience. The food and wine doesn't really matter that much to me as long as it is edible. I guess the secret is to be informed before you go and choose the line that is most compatible with your interests. I expect to have a wonderful time and will report back when we return. I am pleased to see that Viking Guest Relations is following these boards and attempting to address Goldenrod's concerns.

I have to ask, which ship, which date? We're also doing a A to Budapest cruise, Jn 4 (with a pre-cruise in Amsterdam and post in Prague) on Magni for our 50th.

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I'm petite so sometimes (like most times) have difficulty finding things that aren't overlong. I'm trying to find clothes that will pack wrinkle-resistant. I found a few items on the Travel Smith website that look possible. I found mixed reviews of Travel Smith clothing on an old forum. Can I get some recent opinions please? They're not cheap. Are fabrics as advertised? Does sizing run true or on the small or large size? In particular, I'm looking at a midlength dress. I think I need something that isn't super casual for an evening concert. Mostly I'll be looking at L L Bean, but that dress on TS keeps calling to me. Thanks for any advice.

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We're going on a European river cruise in June. I thought I might get a pair of zipper pants. You know the type: zip off the bottoms, and they become shorts. My husband said, "They're too American." Now I'm proud of being American, but in these less secure times, I don't want to stick out too badly. Is he right? Should I forego this style?

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Autocorrect strikes again. Of course I meant where no wear the LBD comes in handy.

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This is wear the LBD (little black dress) comes in handy. No, it's not super formal, but it's never out of place. I found a pair of formal shoes with a 1 in heel (gotten so many compliments on them!) and fancied up the jewelry and never felt under-dressed. I'm also petite, and the choice of dressier clothing is so limited. The LBD is my solution.

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We'll be on a Viking Grand European cruise in June. We've been on a number of ocean cruises, but this will be our first river cruise so we lack a lot of river cruising basic knowledge. I've been following this forum for a few weeks and read the FAQS on the Viking website and still am unsure of the evening routine. This is what I THINK happens. Please confirm or correct.

Prior to dinner we meet in a lounge and the cruise director tells us what happens the next day. Afterwards we go into the dining room for dinner. How long does dinner normally last? I'm sure the socializing over dinner extends the eat-and-run time. If we get a glass of wine in the lounge just prior to dinner is that considered part of the wine with dinner or goes on our tab? After dinner is there any other activity? Entertainment or socializing or does everyone head back to their cabins for a good night's sleep?

As I said, really really basic info that any veterans would already know.

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We did an Odysseys Unlimited tour in 2008 which included a Yangtze River cruise. We had looked at Viking but went with OU for a variety of reasons including hotel accommodations. We were one of several tour groups on the boat including Viking! I'm not sure of the cruise company but think it's Victoria. You might want to check other tour possibilities if you're going to be on a Chinese boat anyway. BTW, the cruise director on our boat was Campbell who was Chinese in spite of his Scottish name. He was fantastic. His English was superb in spite of never having left China. He even punned in English, and his lectures on Chinese literature and culture were excellect. All tour groups attended the same programs on board.

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If you are referring to the "Pre-paid Onboard Gratuities" that is part of Viking's Choice 3 Offer, my understanding is that Viking will pre-paid for us gratuities for the Program Director and Onboard staff (guidelines: €2 and €12 per guest, per day, respectively). We are still responsible for gratuities to the Local Guides and Coach Drivers at the recommended €2 and €1 per guest, per day, respectively.

Yes, that is what we got. Thanks for the info.

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We have prepaid gratuities. What gratuities are NOT included in that.

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