SantaFe1

I feel compelled to step in here and ask for everyone to remember what happened. A woman died! Through a freak accident, occurring because another freak accident caused a zodiac boat to throw people in the air and cause an injury serious enough to convince the captain that the ship needed to return to Ushuaia. We had something similar happen on our World cruise. The captain used his best judgement in a situation that had no good options. My heart goes out to all on that ship! Can we please stop bickering and respect the dead, injured, passengers, and crew who endured this terrible tragedy.

Yes, the extension includes the transfer, regardless of whether you use Viking air. For example the description of our pre cruise extension in Athens coming up says: ALL THIS IS INCLUDED: 2 hotel nights in Athens 2 meals: 2 breakfasts Services of a Viking Host All transfers

Thank you for all the photos. We will be there in February and this gives us a good feel for the place, although we will be doing Aptera and Chania.

I love this song. But I believe it’s “gales”… The legend lives on from the Chippewa on downOf the big lake they called Gitche GumeeThe lake, it is said, never gives up her deadWhen the skies of November turn gloomyWith a load of iron ore twenty-six thousand tons moreThan the Edmund Fitzgerald weighed emptyThat good ship and true was a bone to be chewedWhen the gales of November came early But I digress, sorry.

I have done both the 2019 WC, which had segments, and last Dec. the first segment of the 21-22 WC, FLL to LA. You don’t know who is who unless you ask. On the WC the only thing we really noticed was that we kept losing members of our trivia team!

Florence is Livorno. And we aren’t docking in Monte Carlo but Villefranc-sur-mer. But, the world is our oyster!! We will enjoy.

I just really have to second this. If you cruise a lot, a long time, or often, you just have to expect changes. We did the WC in 2019, before Covid. We missed many, many ports. Not the least of which was Easter Island, a bucket list destination, but the tender pier was flooded. Our dear Captain spent the day circumnavigating the island so we could see the statues and the ponies, from the sea side. But, they say if you MUST see Easter Island, fly there! Those who go by ship go by the times and tides. If you can’t stomach the changes, then go another way. And, I know, I’ll get a lot of flak for saying this. Just one woman’s opinion, I guess.

Thank you. Even on the WC we never had to go on and book a couple of excursions and then check out and then go back. I remember just getting up at 1 am and booking excursions for 4 1/2 months without a problem, in about 30 minutes. And then restaurants, we got ten in each, and again no problem. But that was 2019.. I do hope you get your anniversary dinner at Manfredis. Our pick too!

Yes, thanks for reminding me of the time change! We will be in Barcelona in a nice hotel that should have good wifi. Booking for an Alaska cruise for a big anniversary. So want to get good excursions!

Thank you. May I ask what cabin category you have? we have almost the same problem with a second cruise shore ex opening while abroad, but we will be in a hotel. I expect it will be fine.

I’m curious…did your shore excursions open at the stated day and time? Or were they open early, too? And were they mostly available, or were many already sold out?

6009 has the slider, which we prefer, and faces forward. That’s my favorite combination. However, on the world cruise we had 6013, which faces forward, but has the door and has the door and window combo. We were fine with that for 4 1/2 months!

Our captain did the same on the 2019 WC.

We LOVE six forward! Our next three cruises we are in 6007, 6008, and our absolute favorite, 6009.

I just went to the site and couldn’t got on right now, either. But I was on yesterday, pricing private tours vs. group tours. I’m sure they will be back up shortly.

I do believe they are. I had two things booked with them in 2020 that we had to cancel. They were easy to work with, everything was refunded, including the skip he line Sagrada Familia ticket, which they bought for us as a third party. I haven’t yet booked for March, but plan to do so.

Ours has been moved to the Athens Marriott. Not the greatest location, but seems a nice enough hotel. from MVJ: Athens Marriott Located on bustling Syngrou Avenue, the Athens Marriott is within walking distance to many cultural attractions. Guests can relax in comfortable accommodations featuring well-appointed amenities, then savor a taste of the Mediterranean at the Made in Athens restaurant, before enjoying sweeping views of the city and cocktails at the e&o rooftop bar.

Remember, you are most likely to hear from people who have had things go wrong. People don’t usually write in about their air when everything goes fine. We have used VA+ several times and have never had an issue. In fact they have bent over backwards when blizzards impacted our flights. We are booked again in February, and so far all is well. Just a six minute flight change by the airline. Would have happened with or without VA.

Yes, we are flying back from Barcelona on Lufthansa in business class. And our seats are “typical” European business class seats—a regular economy row of three seats with the middle seat vacant. Fortunately, we are only flying to Frankfurt on that flight, then changing to a nice United Polaris business class seat for the long haul.

Oh, of all people, I can’t tell you how much I hate to hear you say this!!!

If it were me, I would get off the ship at 8, have Barcelona Day Tours take us and our luggage on a four hour, half day tour, and then take us and our luggage to the airport. You can always have lunch at the airport. But what fun to have someone chauffeur you around Barcelona for four hours! And not have to worry about luggage or a taxi. And they are quite reasonable, in my opinion. In any case, good luck and have fun! We’ve missed Barcelona three times in three years. Fingers crossed for March!

We had much the same dilemma. We needed to find a way to spend half a day after disembarking around 9 and checking into our hotel around 2. And we will also have luggage with us. We decided on Barcelona Day Tours. They will pick you up at the ship, give you a tour of the city of your own design, and then drop you off at the airport or your hotel later in the day. This can be a private or group tour. https://barcelonadaytours.com/our-day-tours/

“Ha! I knew I’d find a use one day for this crash-test dummy … “ LOL. In California, years ago, people used to put the dummies in the passenger seat so they could use the carpool lane to get through all the L.A. traffic. Then, there were so many doing that, or something similar, that the carpool lane was no help! I think there is a moral to this story somewhere here…

I know I am going to regret getting into this fray, but this is exactly my definition of a chair hog.

I’m not a huge fan of Viator either. And I’ve never used them for shore ex, just when we were on our own. On our upcoming cruise finishing in Barcelona, where we will stay over a few days on our own, we will do one half day trip with Tours by Locals, and one with Barcelona Day Tours, who will pick you up at the ship, stow your luggage while you do a tour, then drop you at your hotel when it is time to check in. Perhaps check them out in addition to Viator.