deec

so Kent what will you bring aboard in tokyo?....we will probably need a change after the crossing from Alaska...but we will have SSP because I really have fun with the different cocktails!!

IMO Really need for WC!  do you know if they Star and Sea received them as well?

Reduced passengers on a ship it great ( our covid experiences)  so nice to eat at Manfredi's or Chef table any time we wanted and to always have a window seat in the main dining room!

Clay, did Viking put drawers in the closets of V/DV rooms for the WC? 

We are doing this cruise in the Fall.  I am wondering if the the last hotel stay of the cruise ( Paris)  will be the same hotel that Viking will use for its post extension in Paris?  We will definitly spend two more days in Paris and trying to decide if it easier to stay with the Viking post extension ( even though it will cost more) so that we won't loose time in Paris moving hotels.

I really wish Viking would serve in the WC!

we found the food on Octantis the best Viking food we have had on any Viking Ocean or River!

Any educated guesses about when the SSP incentive might be offered on all cruises ?  Trying to get the best deal to go Alaska and Far East...current $1000 and double past passenger may be almost as good!  It is a 37 day trip so SSP is $$$ and we do like to have that!

Viking's new offerings in China will certainly test the "land tour" option.  I know Viking Rivers offered a similar product ( we were booked and then Covid descended) on the Yangtze River that included pandas, terra cotta warriors and Tibet as part of the tour BUT I am skeptical about how Viking will coordinate  moving 900 passengers from an Ocean ship  through multiple airports and hotels? 

we did 4x4's on both Cape Verde islands we visited and they were good choices from what others said.  This was during a TA 2 years ago.

We did 3 River Cruises during the fall and I was exhausted from trying to smile and nod for that many meals!  viking Rivers I think should try and set up some 2 person tables or we may find ourselves looking for another River Experience if we are not cruising with friends. 

On 3/24/2024 at 12:02 PM, CCWineLover said:

Yes indeed!  Always enjoy the chance to talk about wine and sip a little 🙂

 

Interesting note - on our recent Saturn Mediterranean cruise, we had a Cruise Consultant who gave a completely new approach to the traditional Cruise Presentations they often do in the Star Theatre.  His name is Hamed Esfihanian.  He titled and presented several of them oriented to cruises suited to wine tasting !!  Really enjoyed them.  We also had several one/one discussions later on during the cruise on wine and travel experiences.  Very engaging man if you ever run into him on Viking.

so based on your discussions with Hamed what new cruises did you book or are thinking about? 

Did anyone do the pre-extension Gin, Gardens and Grand Homes?  Looking for general information about how much free time, what should we do with it and restaurant suggestions.

On 3/26/2024 at 10:53 PM, SantaFe1 said:

 

 

I think many who travel with Viking are long past thinking of cruises as vacations, although they may have a budget.  Once retired, we just travel, hopefully not at peak times.  Do we have a budget, sure, but in retirement, we have determined what is most important to us.  It is traveling. We have 8 VO cruises under our belts, with three more and a river trip coming up.  Viking must be doing something right.  

SantaFe,  I am sure I have asked you already but can't remember your answer...When are you doing British Isle? 

We leave for the a British Isle Cruise ( May 1) and the Pre-extension late April.  If any of you has done the pre- extesnsion would you please share the day to day itinerary so that I can do some planning for any free time and meals.  Viking was unable to provide anything other than the basic description.  What time did you get to the ship?

We are taking the train and Oslo post but are extending an extra 2 days in Oslo. Anyone have great suggestions for day trip away and who did you use?  A fjord cruise?  It looks like we will only have one  Viking tour.  Although we visited previously we will revisit e sculpture garden and opera house ( maybe a back of the house tour this time).  Probably will pass on Munch Musuem ( not a huge fan) and have visited the amazing library.  Did you find a great botanical garden?

We took a WC and would eagerly take another if $$ were not an object.  It had no segments other than the first few week to LA from Ft. Lauderdale. If booking again I would certainly try and be on one that did not have segments because we really enjoyed the camaraderie and feeling of community that happened after 121 (140) days.  However, if there was a segement of a WC that we really wanted to do I would not hesitate to book it.  IMO the WC had superior  entertainment, special dinners, better wines and  an incredibly engaging crew that we have not experienced on many subsequent Viking Ocean Cruises.

We would like to hire a guide/driver for the day in Edinburgh.  I appreciate the info on doing it ourselves but with a group we want a guide

Our group of 10 is looking for a guide/driver to  tour Britiana and the Castle and tour of old town area if time permits.  May 11 thought we had it figured out but the company has not responded in over a week.  Suggestions? we will be using New Haven harbor and it seems to be a tender port.

We will be boarding a Viking ship in Greenwich and want to get to the Tower of London for the “ceremony of the keys”. It looks like there is an easy stop called Tower of London    Has any walked from that dock?  Was this easy to do or should we just take a a cab?

I remember that hot day !   If I ever get back will do the snorkel that folks  enjoyed and they got to see the dragons without the hike in the suffocating heat.  I think we had two people collapse!

Anyone done the island nature walk from the Shetlands?   How demanding is the hike?

The noise from the anchor is your alarm clock if any of your ports are tendering.

You will hear the theater but it does not run late.  Some practices can also be heard during the day.  Never heard the cinema movies.  As I remember the balcony was the same as other v staterooms.  Pretty bouncy when we crossed Bay of Biscay. 

1 minute ago, OneSixtyToOne said:

I believe it's tempered glass, not plastic.

perfect photo...worth 1000 words!

there is a wooden railing on top of the glass

Jim,

I wonder why it feels more crowded.  Do you think the awe and splendor has worn off for you?  Hope Viking's revised itinerary is an exciting one. Have fun....

More than a "liitle" particular but the information has always been great!  It was an awesome trip.. we also really enjoyed the Iguasu Falls if that is an option for you.