TayanaLorna

I always ask for additional hangers. One time they ran out of wooden ones and my steward asked if the wire ones were ok.

Yeah, that's what she was doing. They found her husband had to fold up his walker to get by the bump and were trying to find a DV that did not have one. Legit reason, no complaint. You know how we all love to get off track here.

I wonder if busloads of Viking transfers arrived at same time as you or they are no longer taking early flight arrivals to Harpa for checking in and getting cards.

Yes shorts and sun!!! Lucky you! Enjoy - I am.

Or give a nice OBC. There is no free air out of PR.

On the Sea last February, we ordered off the Restaurant menu through room service and they called back to say the restaurant manager said no and to order from the room service menu. I ordered the fried chicken. It was awful - the paper at the bottom of the basket was dripping with grease and the corn was a tiny wilted piece. The Caesar salad was no better with brown edged wilted romaine and teeth cracking hard croutons. Friends who were Covid quarantined ordered from Manfredi's menu and reported that they were "reprimanded" for doing so.

Ha, I always get the side of the bed closest to the bathroom. I think the only challenge we had with the bump out is getting a suitcase under the bed on that side.

I booked our Med cruise Rome to Venice to Athens in March but for Feb-March 2024. I started to watch the weather at that time for March through April this year. The temps were generally low of 40's at night and high 60's or 70's during the day. I figured it would be colder for us in February but sounds like perfect weather for busy days in April.

Yes IF the ship docks in Barcelona. Many cruise ships are docking an hour away in Tarragona even though the itinerary says Barcelona.

Each of our cruises had an evening movie. One cruise showed the Super Bowl.

Vaccines are currently required and have been since Viking resumed cruises during Covid. As far as I know there are no exceptions. The policy does not change until later this Fall.

Yes July and August can get really hot in Europe. Even in 2018 when we went on the Midnight Sun cruise in July we had 75 F in Gerainger, Norway and 90's in Greenwich, UK while Europe was having a worse heat wave. In 2021 we had T-shirt weather in 3 of our Iceland stops while Europe was hotter. We decided to do our next cruise of 3 weeks in the Med Spain to Greece in February-March so we can walk all day as well as have smaller crowds. Can always put on a hat and scarf if its cold but even stripping down to naked doesn't give relief from heat.

We have done private excursions on several of our Viking cruises. And yes the Viking Daily has often announced that Viking excursions have priority for the early tenders. However, each time we have gone to Guest Services, informed them of our private plans and gotten on an early tender. They told us to come to the Atrium at a specific time and find the Cruise Director. Each time we did so, the CD already knew about us and had our names. In each case, Viking loaded the Viking excursion people and then added us. There has been as many as 20 private excursion people added. What we found is that those people who are not on a Viking excursion or a private one but merely want to go ashore to wander on their own get last priority. Even when we have been those people, we have been able to get ashore by 9 am. So don't worry. Let Guest Services know a couple days in advance and also let them know when you arrive in the Atrium so they can notify the Cruise Director.

Looking forward to your adventures. Safe travels.

I had never seen this blog. Thanks.

This is true. Thank you. I may "sit" on this for awhile, watch fares and perhaps change return to have another overnight in Madrid. Love that city.

Thanks everyone for your comments and help. We did book our tickets round trip SJU-MAD on Iberia with an overnight in Madrid and a 1 way early morning Iberia flight to Rome. At the end of our trip we have a 1 way from ATH-MAD on Aegean with a 3 hr 35 min layover in Madrid before our Iberia return to SJU. Will trust we have enough time to collect bags and change terminals with the 2 hr 45 min connection time and hope there are no flight time changes or major delays. At least it is on our way home. We saved well over $700 per person doing it this way. Our fare class includes seat assignments and checked bags and the Iberia flights are changeable with no fee.

Six of us did a small group tour to Tierra del Fuego National Park. Did 4 hikes in different areas. Saw the old train but did not ride it. Went to the end of the world post office. One hike ended at the terminus of the Panamerican highway. Had a snack break picnic of coffee or mate with homemade dulce de leche cake made by guides wife. Was spectacular excursion. Used AlmaCalma.

I don't know if someone has a list with this info. We have seen a list for fore and aft bed orientations and which PV's have sliders vs doors but not for the bump outs. First time we had the bump out was 4039. It wasn't a big deal for us as we are thin people. I could see it would be an annoying issue for a walker. We have also been in 4030 and 4111 which do not have it. Next cruise is 3046 and looks like we have it. I would think Viking could tell you.

Glad to hear the airport has greatly improved.

I did not purchase the one way ATH to MAD on Aegean connecting to the Iberia MAD to SJU. It indicated self transfer and was $1,121.00. I figured if I had to self transfer on that connection, why not just do a round trip SJU to MAD and then 2 separate tickets one way to Rome and then back from Athens. I discovered that an Iberia round trip SJU-MAD costs the same as a one way ticket on Iberia.

Yes there are several itineraries ATH-SJU on Iberia but they all make 2 stops.

Yes correct flights. Thank you. However the ticket indicates "self transfer" and says we will have to claim our bags, check in for the connecting flight and go through security. Being Schengen, we won't have to clear customs in Madrid. However it still is a bit more involved having to claim bags from Aegean and get to the international terminal to check in for the Iberia flight. It would be easier if there was an early morning flight on Iberia to MAD. I see there is one now but it does not show up in March '24.

The only non stop flights from San Juan (SJU) to anywhere in Europe that i can find are on Iberia to Madrid (MAD). The flights do not operate every day - at least in February/March 2024. No problem as we can work around that. Our outbound destination is Rome. We will stay overnight in Madrid in order to catch an Iberia flight with arrival in Rome the next morning. Again no problem. My question is regarding our return from Athens. There is no Iberia flight from Athens which would arrive in time for the Iberia flight back from MAD to SJU. The ONLY flight early enough to make the connection in MAD is a morning Aegean Air flight with a 3 hr 35 min connection. The Aegean flight is domestic arriving in T1 or T2 MAD. There is no code share between Aegean and Iberia so we would have to collect our bags in the Domestic terminal and transport them ourselves to check in and go through security in T4 the International terminal. Is 3 hours enough time to do this? We are early 70's in age, mobile but slower - running through a terminal does not happen.

Depends on which cruise line and what time passengers are allowed to embark. We sail Viking Ocean. Boarding time begins at 11 am no matter what cabin class or country from which we sail. Takes about 15 minutes to board.