SantaFe1

They consider gel polish removal a separate service and charge $20 for it. Although I have never had only polish removal, I’m sure they would be happy to do it for a price.

Back in June we got a notice from Viking that due to ”pier construction” we would skip Hilo and spend another day in Honolulu. We almost canceled, but just decided we needed to get away. But we have spent a lot of time on Oahu, and I don’t particularly like Honolulu. But we have recently had excursions added, and I’m sure we can find something to do for two days.

Have a lovely trip. We are on the Feb. 14 sailing of Hawaiian sojourn. We are missing Hilo and having two days in Honolulu. Not my preference and Maui doesn’t have much to offer. But getting out of town in February is a priority!

I’m am so glad for you, and just generally, so glad to hear this!!!

Before you call your TA pick 2-3 acceptable flights, and number them according to your preference. Also pick the seats you want for all of the flights. Don’t just let you TA pick. When we get Air plus, I try to get my flights and seats set up as soon as they are open, usually about 300 days from the date of the return flight. Most are wide open then. And if Viking says they don’t have your preferred flights, check back. For our Med cruise in February, Viking told us we couldn’t have our preferred flight, and then about three weeks later, it was available to us. I was also told I couldn’t choose seats for our KLM flight from Bergen, but a few weeks later, the seat map popped up and I snagged two good seats. For some reason, we seem to have better luck with Viking Air than others here.

Got them right off, no extra charge besides the business fare originally quoted (which was about $2000 pp less than what we got through Viking). im sorry this is wrong and I tried to edit it, but too late. Viking quoted us business class fares for significantly less than I could get them myself. So we gave them our preferred flights and there was no added cost. This isn't always true, but mostly for us.

I don’t really think it’s because of business class, but because we paid $150 pp to be able to chose our flights and seats. Our TA called and arranged our choices a few months ago. Got them right off, no extra charge besides the business fare originally quoted (which was about $2000 pp less than what we got through Viking). The other thing I think is that because we have to fly out of ABQ, which is an airport that doesn’t fly that many places, there are only so many flights Viking can put us on. And, I have to laugh, because there are so few, we have taken the same international leg several times with Viking, notably the Frankfurt to Denver flight on United, and the Amsterdam to SLC flight on Delta (or in reverse). We did both of these this year and will do AMS to SLC again coming home from BIE.

We used Air Plus so we could chose our own flights and the seats we wanted. These are in business class on all flights. We have had the same flights and seats for several months, and I actually changed our KLM seats to move us out of row 1 about a month ago. Now, all that being said, these flights have been chosen and seats selected, and nothing has changed in months. But the flights are NOT yet ticketed. We had our TA ask to have them ticketed and Viking said they would ticket them after final payment, which for us is Nov. 9. I am well aware that nothing is solid until ticketed, and even after that, the flights could be changed by the airline, I guess we are lucky, though. We have never had problems using Viking Air Plus.

Agree with both Jim and Andy. Embarkation not until 11 at the earliest for our Feb. cruise out of L.A. You will be much more comfortable just staying in your hotel until you have to check out of your room. And DV isn’t promised the room will be ready until 2 pm. Here’s what Viking says.

We were May, 2018. Maybe we were on the same cruise! Can’t remember the exact dates, but the end of May, beginning of June. We had lovely, weather. I loved that cruise and going to St. Petersburg.

We did this on our Viking Homelands trip in 2018. We took the train to Oslo and spent a wonderful few days there. This time, however, we need to get right home.

I had Air Plus and picked the flights myself. We have to have two stops. And with this sequence of flights, we get home at 5:15 pm, which is nice, because we have another hour drive from the airport. And, I wouldn’t balk at a four hour layover in Frankfurt. It can be crazy! And I can’t imagine anyone canceling a cruise because of an early flight—even if we so have to gather at 3 am to set off to the airport with a Viking transfer.

It’s a very small airport, and very limited flights. When we did Homelands in 2018 we flew home from Oslo where we had a greater selection of flights. Bergen is just a regional Airport, I would call it. But not that bad.

We have Viking Air Plus back from Bergen next May. Business class, flying to Amsterdam and then to US. Our flight from Bergen leaves at 6:05 am, but oh well, at least we get home at a decent time, 5:15 pm.

Well, I have Air Plus for our Douro River cruise in Nov 2024. So I guess if you already have it, it remains, but if you want to order it now, they don’t have it anymore. I also have it for our BIE cruise next May, with flights chosen, seats assigned etc. they confirmed that with me just last week. To be ticketed next month. But I guess for our April 2025 cruise we are on our own!

I wholeheartedly agree, having lived in L.A. for 45 years. Century city is not where you want to be. There isn’t really anything there, and you would have to take a cab or Uber anywhere you wanted to go. I have never figured out why Viking chose Century City. I myself would book a hotel in Santa Monica, which is what we are doing when we go through LA on our Hawaii cruise next Feb.

Yes.

Another vote for Barcelona Day Tours!

Yes, thanks, Linda.

That’s why we canceled. Booked BIE instead.

One thing you learn if you cruise a lot, or especially on a WC, is that if there is somewhere you absolutely must get to, nothing else will do, then don’t cruise there. Easter Island comes to mind for us. It was a bucket list destination for us, but the tender pier flooded and we couldn’t go. The Captain circumnavigated the island, and we had a great day. So be flexible. As Andy, Heidi13, says “the itinerary is only confirmed when you disembark.” If you must go to Melbourne, fly there!

We loved the Serendip on our WC, and the Geelong Port was interesting, very memorable,

We also have expensive Lexi poles. And we pack them in checked luggage. I think that’s the way to go. I thought about buying some cheap ones for travel, but we both like our poles.

You two are hilarious! You always make me laugh. And that’s a good thing.

You can do both! Book with the gentleman you liked at Viking, and then transfer to your TA within, I think, 60 days, and get whatever perks they can get you. We usually get between $300-$500 pp OBC depending on the length of the cruise. And our TA often also has a few “coupons” for $200 pp that her large firm gets that she can apply. It is win-win. And, once I have transferred, I still have never had Viking say they won’t talk to me. But our TA is just so good, and gets so much done for us, I rarely bother.