drmarg

Paid in full 7/31/16 for a sailing in September of 2017 with "bargain" airfare. And then we are in last category to book for optional excursions. Unless business drops off these policies are likely to continue.

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For the September 9 Homelands cruise the ship is docking in Rostock

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Have just booked an excursion to Berlin with TJ Travel for a very reasonable price. They get great reviews on Trip Advisor and even though the description of the Berlin excursion says it starts from Warnemunde I have been assured that starting from Rostock will not be a problem. They have been very helpful and responsive to deal with. Even though I am not excited about long bus rides Berlin is worth seeing IMO

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After extensive research it appears there are no available options to see Berlin other than with Viking's excursions. So puzzling that the other companies who do Berlin excursions, including Alla are not doing one for the Star 9 September cruise. Wonder if it has to do with the Star docking in Rostock rather than Warnemunde where it seems many of the other cruise lines dock. Yet I understand the two ports are relatively close together? I've been to Berlin but my traveling companion hasn't and would like her to be able to see it. We'll just have to see if we are able to book the optional when our turn comes.

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Does anyone know of a reputable company that offers excursions to Berlin from the Rostock port? Alla the company doing the St. Petersburg excursion has a Berlin excursion but is not offering it for the Viking Homelands cruise departing Sept. 9. Any information or experience would be appreciated.

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Wow - what great information about cruise lines I didn't know about. Thank you all. If at all possible I'd like to go back to the river cruise size of ship, 200 or fewer passengers. I am familiar with Grand Circle having taken their Dalmatian coast trip in 2013 (and had a great experience).

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I am looking for a small ship cruise that will include both Spain and Portugal or alternatively separate cruises to these countries that could be booked back to back. Would appreciate any recommendations. Traveling in 2018.

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I did Budapest to Passau with Uniworld in 2011 and loved it. We also visited Vienna and Bratislava. Sailing out of Budapest at night with all of the buildings illuminated was magical. As the year goes on there are bound to be "deals" where the single supplement might be waived (if you can be flexible in your schedule). Agree with CPT trips that it is worth checking out Grand Circle. Didn't do a Christmas Markets cruise with them but did the Dalmatian coast in June of 2013 and had a marvelous time.

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Thanks jiminyC_fan for the update. Are you doing any of the Viking optionals and if so, how easy or difficult was it to get the ones you wanted? Have decided will just have to roll with this lottery and as others have commented, have a plan B if we're unable to get our preferred optionals.

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Others with more experience may weigh in but ocean optionals appear to be considerably more expensive than the optionals on the river cruises.

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Thanks so much for all the helpful information. Alla gets great reviews and the price for two days is really great. We will book with them. Have to say after 2 prior Viking river cruises where booking for the optional excursions was easy I am approaching this ocean trip with quite a lot of anxiety. Will just have to chill and hope things work out with the Viking optional we want to do.

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At the risk of being redundant, could prior cruisers on the Viking Homelands trip please share their experiences with success or lack of success in securing the optional Canal Cruise and the Church of our Savior on Spilled Blood. And if you didn't go with a Viking excursion please share what company you used and whether you had to get your own visa. Thanks in advance

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