OnTheJourney

Well, except that if the trip starts on 9/23 it won't end till 10/9. You bring up a great point, and I wonder if - since this is the longest GL itinerary they've yet come up with - have they even been on the lakes into October? I don't really want to be part of an experiment. I see that this year they're doing the 15-day "Great Lakes Collection" starting on 9/26, so that's roughly the same timeframe. I really don't know what to do here - somehow hate to fight the midges in early May. I wouldn't be all that concerned about any of this yet if it weren't for having to at least book something by mid-Oct. to use the vouchers we got from the MS cruise. I'm not a great fan of rough seas. Luckily we got "Drake Lake" for the two times we crossed.

Yeah I hadn't thought of in terms of them using both ships down there. In looking at all the GL itineraries, there's really nothing past 9/26 or thereabouts. Thanks!

Deec and CurlerRob...thanks so much for these very helpful suggestions! I think that decides it. As much as that 3rd week in Sept. would not be my first choice for several reasons, I'll book it and then can always change it. Since it's not till '26, very possibly some more dates might open up. It's their newest itinerary for the GL so if they come up with a few October dates, I'll probably move it to a bit later than 9/23.

We're planning on booking for '26 also - thinking mostly the newer 17-day itinerary. I like the May 1 date, but am inquiring on the trip advisor travel forums as to whether or not that's too early. There's also a Sept. 23 date. I don't like any June or July dates since I don't travel during summers. I'm running out of time to decide since we have vouchers that have to be booked by mid-October. Has anyone done the Great Lakes either late April or early May? If so...any thoughts or recommendations? Most of what I got on the travel forum is to go for late September / early fall for the foliage.

I'd tend to agree - not so much leaving hungry but rather a feeling like I certainly could have eaten a bit more. Biggest disappointment was that alot of it came barely lukewarm. Of course, that's not unusual on a cruise ship or even alot of restaurants.

We did it twice. First time was pre-covid and there were some nice 'perks' like the really good iced tea that was put in the room every day, along with afternoon hors d'oeuvres. And, we really enjoyed the food in Blu. Second time was more recently and it was a big change. NO more iced tea. NO afternoon goodies, and we thought that while the food was good for the most part, it just didn't impress us as much. I only use the spa once or twice at most, and so without the other things that made it a bit special, not sure it's worth the extra money since basically the room is the same size as regular veranda. I'd really like to try suite class and see how we like that, but will probably wind up trying AQ again to see if it's about the same or improved (more like the first time - probably not though since we'll never go back to pre-covid times). All the lines cut back on certain things and I doubt they're coming back.

Exactly.

Absolutely zero interest in it.

Very much enjoying your pictures! Iceland has been on my list for a long time. With any luck might still get there.

Absolutely they did. Ticked me off actually. We eat early - around 5:00, or whenever they opened - can't remember anymore. So when we got there, the wine bottle was already at "their" table. A young couple came in and went to sit there, but were somewhat quietly told that the table is already reserved. I know they weren't happy. I suspect the older couple that did this tipped the wait staff real well for the privilege of reserving a table, but that's just pure speculation on my part. They were nice enough people, and we chatted with them several times - actually as soon as getting on the ship; however, I think they're also of the sort that feels a bit 'entitled', as it were. And perhaps a bit of a superior attitude. First conversation with them as part of the champagne welcome aboard, we got talking about various places we've each been to and then I said, "always more places to go to". Expected a simple acknowledgment but instead he goes, "well, we've pretty much been all over, and whatever places are left to visit probably aren't worth it". It left me totally flat and didn't engage in further conversation after that. I sort of felt like saying, "then why are you here?" Anyway, once we saw what was going on with all this table business, we never ate in the restaurant again and instead went up to the buffet the rest of the trip. I'm betting they 'reserved' that table every night after that. I had no desire to find out. Quite rude, I'd say. As you allude to, such a thing shouldn't have been allowed. First come, first served. Would have been one thing HAD they gotten there before everyone else, but no, they'd come waltzing in after the room was half-filled already and casually take their nice window seats and pop their wine. 😁

Airline schedules can surely get screwed up. Unfortunate part is that we're all at their mercy when it happens. Hope things go better for you very soon! Looking forward to cruising along with you....🙂 DW and I would have been on the inaugural sailing of the Venus for the planned "Chairman's cruise" back in '21, but then it got canceled due to covid. Later it was rescheduled on the Mars - so the "Sky Survivors" were the first to sail on that ship.

Gotta say, though, that when we went down to Antarctica we made great use of the balcony! It was nice to be out there (rather than on the VERY crowded outside deck areas) and then duck in and out of the room to get warm. Same for the Northern Lights cruise. We'll probably try one of these Great Lakes cruises (the new 17-day itinerary looks intriguing), but I'm fairly certain that, after doing the expedition ship, I doubt I'd trade my outside balcony for an Infinity / Nordic. Probably a once-and-done thing, since we really like Viking Ocean. Canada / NE cruises are great for using the balcony also. I just like being out there, feeling the breeze, on the lounge (or whatever) chair, with a book. Most of our cruising it out of Bayonne or Baltimore since we don't have to fly.

Wow! Sounds awesome. I believe I've heard this from someone else also. We have no problem with eating in WC! Actually, on our Mississippi cruise, after maybe a week or so in the dining room, we wound up eating upstairs at the buffet and really enjoyed it. For one thing, much better views on both sides of the ship. Restaurant started to feel a bit 'stuffy' especially with one particular couple plunking down a wine bottle an hour or so before dinner so as to always reserve the window seat. I and another couple were sort of put off by that, plus on some evenings the service was a bit slow if they were busy. Thanks for the info....

Interesting, how come? Have to stand up, rather than sit, to get any fresh air with the Nordic balcony, compared to sitting outside.

Once again, I'm seeing all tandem kayaking. No solo? On a different topic, how hard is it to reserve meals in the dining room? Compared to ocean, I'm not crazy about that idea either. That and the lack of balconies. The 'toys' don't bother me either way. I can kayak anytime I want at home, but hardly ever do. Unfortunately I buy a launch permit each year. Turns into a donation to PA Fish & Boat Commission. I realize I'm paying for Viking's exploration activities regardless of whether I make use them or not. No real big deal. My wife hardly ever drinks alcohol, and yet essentially pays for it.

Yeah..just like the old Star Trek episodes, where there were always a few actors (that you never saw before) and somehow just knew they were written into the script merely to 'buy it' at some point!

"Ideally" is the operant word! Nope...no thanks. I'll stick to doing it myself when usually there's noone else around in case I make an a$$ out of myself, like one of the first times when I fell in the drink while misjudging how close I was to the slippery boat ramp at the lake near my house. Of course, at the time there were a good many fishing boats out on the water that got a good chuckle I'm sure! After that I decided I'll never cast off or return using the ramp again. I find a secluded place along the shoreline. There's never anyone around there. Interesting - I think I've read about this issue before. I don't really care if I'd get to use their toys or not. Trying to find the best way to use voucher money without having to fly overseas for one thing. Plus, we're interested in trying the expedition ship. I have mixed feelings - one of which is not having regular balconies. Just the idea of the Great Lakes itineraries alone is reason enough to do it, especially playing with a good chunk of money that they gave us from our Mississippi trip.

Huh...not really liking the idea at all of that transfer from zodiac to kayak, but otherwise it makes sense to first get to somewhere that's more suitable for kayaking. Is it a direct transfer from one to the other, or do you get out of the zodiac into knee-deep water and then into the kayak? Somehow I'd think the zodiac takes people to a shore first and then starts out the kayaks from there (?) I've only ever done kayaking that way - would never want to do it starting off in deeper water than my height, or even less. I'd have to watch it on a video to see how it works. Thinking of probably doing one of the Great Lakes cruises. I know DW would have little interest in either one, so it'd probably just be me. Not really all that interested in climbing into a zodiac with a group of other people. Oh well...probably just stay on the ship during those 'life of an explorer' days. I'll check out some youtube videos though.

lol (I know it shouldn't elicit that reaction, but somehow was just a bit humorous the way you stated it!)

So you have to first get in a zodiac before a kayak? What about simply kayaking right from the ship? Isn't that done?

How does Viking handle the kayaking on those "life of an explorer" days? Some pictures I'm seeing are all tandem. Do they offer solo kayaking? Is there instruction provided first? Just curious. I wouldn't really need a crash course on it cause I've done it already with my inflatable.

Go. One of the most amazing places I've ever been. Ushuaia also. Would have loved to have had a bit more time there.

Where was that?

I wouldn't count on it.

lol.....