SantaFe1

We were there in March, 2023.  We found it to be a charming town.

59 minutes ago, swong13 said:

Which excursions allow one to walk amongst the stones?  I do not want to be seated in a bus as it drives past.  We are doing the British Isles Explorer cruise next year.  Thanks.

We also did this on BIE cruise.  There are two excursions that will get you to the stones, the included tour, where we spent about 45 minutes amidst the stone, and the Orkney’s Stone Age excursion.  I think I would opt for the longer, more intensive Stone Age tour if I had it to do over again.  

You know, I was first there in 1973, on a year abroad in London.  At that point there were no barriers.  You could walk right up to the stones.  I’ve been there several times since, last in 2019 at the end of the WC and there were so many barriers.  I just can’t image what people are thinking.  And, like Dave and Linda, we have been to many, many stone circles in Britain.  You either like them or you don’t!  

22 minutes ago, Clay Clayton said:

 

Luckily the orange power is supposed to wash off when it rains (according to the vandals). 

I certainly hope so.  I saw a very early story, saying it was paint.  

1 hour ago, SJD117 said:

As to the archaeological sites you visited (the Standing Stones of Stenness and the Ring of Brodgar), we visited them, too. They’re UNESCO heritage sites and well worth that designation. Now, we’re both archaelogy buffs, so we have a soft spot for neolithic history. But the time spent in both locations was time well spent for us — and we say that having been to Stonehenge, Avebury, Callanish, and other standing stone sites in the U.K.

Completely agree.  We were there last month.  We didn’t have the best weather, but still the walk out to the ring of Brodgar was well worth it to us (but like you, we are archeology buffs).  They are not Stonehenge, but their situation is more dramatic.  And, did you hear about the two men spraying orange paint on the Stonehenge stones today.?  Just awful.  Anyway, a few pics from the Ring:

19 minutes ago, JM0115 said:

I agree 100%. On our World Cruise we literally ate over 400 meals in the World Cafe! I think we ate in The Restaurant only 4 or 5 times over the 150 days! We were in the minority though.

Exactly the same with us on our WC.  Every time we take a VO cruise we go to the restaurant once, just to give it another chance.  And every single time we have such a disappointing experience that we never go back,  but we do enjoying trying each new menu at Chefs table, and we always eat at Manfredis once or twice.  

We, and many other Viking passengers, stayed at the Crowne Plaza in San Pedro, near the cruise terminal.  They have a shuttle that takes you over to the terminal, every 30 minutes.  Lots of restaurants around.  Not luxurious, but just fine for a night.

Yes, on the River cruises we had this too.  The excursions open before the PIF.  But most of the River excursions are included, so no problem.  I waited to book the optional excursions until we made PIF.  

1 hour ago, Ready to Sail! said:

I think I read that the  3 drawers in the closet on the newer ships  had been added  to the Sea and Star. Is this correct?  Any reason to avoid these 2 older ships?  I have also read that the WC options (meaning stations) are better on the newer ships?  Any opinions?  We've only been on the Star and that was pre drawers.  We have Jupiter and Mars coming up but looking at Sea for Panama Canal.  We have done the Canal in 2003 on Princess and want to repeat on smaller ship. Thanks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/

In my opinion, Star is looking it’s age. We were on in Dec-Jan 2021-22 and then again in Feb. 2024.  Two years ago we had a cabin with a ripped pleather couch.  This year, I don’t know, everything just looked tired.  I wouldn’t necessarily avoid it, but our cruise on the much newer Neptune a month ago was much nicer.  Can’t speak to the drawers, since we always book PV which has drawers in the closet.

27 minutes ago, deec said:

Some details but Viking IMO could better serve its future passengers if their descriptions were more like those presented in the port talks.  How much time on the bus?  Are there bathrooms available, will there be shopping opportunities?  How difficult is the walking,  even with Included tours there are some passengers who SHOULD not attempt with walkers or wheelchairs!    Also Viking could do a better job describing the port (I know docking assignments might change but for the most part Viking could give more specific guidelines.  Is the port walking distance to the city or village, will there be a shuttles,  how far is the walk to the excursion bus, how far is the ship from town? Will the port be in an industrial area?   Armed with this information I think folks could more easily plan.  I know much of this information can be teased out with Google maps etc But when Viking has it available to them why do passengers have to be researchers too?

Yes, yes, yes!  Agree with all of this. Except for brand new cruises, they have done the excursions before and the excursions manager has all this info.  It should be written into the descriptions so we know sooner that the day before, when the excursion can’t be cancelled!

52 minutes ago, CincyAL said:

These cabins are pricy.  Cabins (6072-95)are all  below the World Cafe.   Anyone comment from their experience on noise issues.  Thanks.  

We stayed in 6095 on Star when all we could get was a PV guarantee room.  We hated it!  The noise wasn’t really a problem, some chair scraping for about ten minutes in the morning when getting set up, maybe 6:30ish, but that was all.  But we hated the overhang!  It impeded views and photos.  And the room is far away from a set of elevators and stairs.  We always opt for 6 forward, and this room was just the antithesis of that.  

23 hours ago, Heidi13 said:

 

The Uber Black was about US $110 from LAX to the San Pedro Hotel, a couple of days before we boarded the Viking Sun.

 

Didn't get a quote from the limo, since they mentioned 2 hr wait.

The Limo was $160. We booked 3-4 days ahead.  Uber Black might be a better option.  Will look into that before our next cruise in April. 

I was surprised too, but Same on our cruise—the captain didn’t close off anything, not even the outside venues, although most people just stayed in their cabins.  The dining venues were often empty as people had room service or just didn’t feel like eating.  I took this photo of our position in a big set of pacific storms back in February. 

2 hours ago, Heidi13 said:

We tried the limo desk, but they were a couple of hours wait, so we booked an Uber Black. Picked us up curbside at arrivals within 10 mins. For regular Uber & taxis you must get the shuttle bus to the LAXIT area.

Yes, I had heard that Uber Black, like a limo, could pick up from the second level, the departure level.  I have no idea the difference in price between Uber Black and the limo. 

Well, we ship our big suitcases by Luggage Forward, so we don’t have anything but hand luggage, but they were very helpful with that.  I’m sure they would take care of everything.  They were so accommodating.  But next time I will tell them just to meet me on the second floor, since we have no need to go down to the baggage claim.  

Blacklane quoted us a set price, and when we figured out what a taxi would cost on the meter without traffic it was just $60 more.  With traffic, it might have been the same.  They have two guys to do the service.  One meets you with a sign at the luggage carousel and then takes you upstairs to the second level where the limo is waiting.  It was just perfectly coordinated.  We are originally from LA, and we always took a taxi to and from the airport from home.  I just can’t imagine having to go through all the rigamarol now. 

26 minutes ago, Sunflower & The Scientist said:

I know this has been discussed somewhere, but I've searched and can't find the info. What is the best way to get from LAX to San Pedro port. We don't want to do a bus. Is the best way a taxi, and has anyone done that. 

Thanks...

Problem with a taxi at LAX is that they can no longer pick you up. Curbside.  You have to walk or take a shuttle to the LAXit parking lot just outside the airport and then get in line for a taxi or wait for your Uber.   I just hate this.  Last time, and we will do this again next April, we used Blacklane limo service.  Limos can pick you up on the second level.  We had absolutely perfect service, and as Jim said, about 45 minutes unless it’s rush hour,  

1 hour ago, FetaCheese said:

Cabin was deck 5 midships, so I suspect those on higher decks fore and aft felt more motion.

We were on 6 forward, our preferred cabin.  

We did this is February 2024.  Those terrible storms that ravaged California that month were out there for us.  It was very rough both going and coming.  Not much fun, although we don’t get seasick. And not a lot of bang for your buck with only four days in Hawaii, and Ensenada really not a nice port.  If we go to Hawaii again, we will fly and DIY.  

We took masks but foolishly didn’t wear them.  But then again, my understanding is that they protect others from a sick you, rather than the other way around.  But still, we could have done better.  On the airplanes we have our own pod, or suite with a door closing us off, and use the lounge for long layovers, so we can distance.  But this last cruise was the worst for sick people coughing all over us since Panama Canal in 2021, where there were twenty cases of Covid and we had to miss ports.  

2 hours ago, jmfdr said:

I think we picked it up on the ship.  On one if our excursions we sat by-two folks coughing and sneezing loudly and constantly.  That is when I really wished we had masks with us.

We also started feeling poorly at the end of the trip.  Our day in Bergen, we broke off from the walking tour and just went at our own pace.  Then came back to the ship, packed, got up at two the next morning, left the ship at 3:30, were in transit for 24 1/2 hours, up for 30.  We went to three markets the next day, then, on Saturday, my husband, who has asthma, started coughing badly.  Used inhalers, tested for Covid, negative, but he is only now feeling a bit better.  People on this cruise should have taken a clue from Andrea who stayed in her cabin for two days, and stayed in when they were sick.  We were coughed upon all day every day on busses.  I remember missing a day in St. Petersburg years ago because I was coughing so badly. I just didn’t want to subject others to me ( this was pre-Covid, too).   Where are people’s manners?  Or just common sense???

I’m really sorry to hear this.  We love Oslo.  I can’t believe you couldn’t find something else to do that Sunday.  There are so many museums. And was Carmen not good? I love that opera.   But I do know that at the end of a trip, we are sometimes just tired.  Do plan to go back!

2 hours ago, SantaFe1 said:

we heard singing as late as 2 am and as early as 5 am. 

I meant dinging.  Geez, if we heard singing I would have been pounding on Guest Service’s door, lol.  

36 minutes ago, CDNPolar said:

Our first cruise in 2025 is for our 10th wedding anniversary.  We are not telling Viking or our TA because we dread this kind of thing happening.

Then I must tell you this story.  We often travel over our anniversary

( in fact it’s tomorrow, and we are just back).  A few years ago, on our anniversary on the ship, we exchanged cards in the morning and I set them up on the desk.  That evening, when we got back from dinner, there was a special cake and champagne for us.  I guess our room steward reported it. So you never know.  But that was nice. 

1 minute ago, LindaS272 said:

I know this doesn’t erase the lousy situation—but worth writing to TellUs and get a.) an apology or at least an explanation for not giving you a choice, and b.) a nice OBC for your next cruise. Just a thought.

You are right, I should and will do that.  In addition to not liking the room, we lost that wonderful feeling you get upon embarkation where you go to your cabin, drop off hand luggage, and go to a wonderful lunch on the Aquavit terrace.  We spent time arguing at the guest services desk, and by the time we were finished, I wasn’t even hungry!