TayanaLorna

Yes Viking agents get a commission. We had an excellent Viking agent and i asked him if he received a commission. He said yes. So i asked him if we book on board and used him for all our needs after that, would he get a commission. He said no. He did say that he could offer us the same deal we got on board if we booked within 14 days of the cruise end. That turned out to be true except for the shortened final payment date. This was 2021.

I have this from our January 2020 cruise. Prices most likely have not changed much. Its not digital but is the same as the excursions offered on the itinerary for the promotion. If you look there and tell me what is your interest, i can look up the cost.

Lirio. We have spent the last month processing thousands of our photos from the trip which includes the Iberostar and posting them for our FB friends and family. I still do plan to write about the Iberostar here on Cruise Critic. Thanks for the reminder.

The water temperature in the sea around Iceland in the summer is 49F. Boat ride with slide for kids? We went to the Vok Baths which is a geothermal area within an inland lake. The baths were hot but if you jumped into the lake it was in the 50's. I don't know if any of the geothermal swimming pools or baths have a play area for kids with a slide.

As a FYI. We LOVED the included Panoramic Grainger. The scenery was spectacular and the 3 photo stops were awesome. We did it at 2:00 pm and after our own walking tour in the AM. Relaxing on a bus was welcome. In the morning we got an early tender arriving in "town" by 9 am. It was blissfully empty. We followed the path/road along the water to the campground. From there we picked up the waterfall trail which took us to the Norwegian Fjord Centre. The waterfall trail (Fossevandring Geiranger) is a series of metal stairs and level landings right along the river and waterfalls. There are lookouts and spectacular viewpoints. The Fjord Centre is a quirky museum of exhibits and has a beautiful film of the area through the seasons. Some people take the road back down but we figured why walk with cars and buses when we can take the same trail back. The walk back down was crowded with people coming up by late morning. Along the trail you see some turf roof homes and pretty cottages. It's a nice local experience. We were back in town around 12:30 so instead of returning to the ship we had lunch along the dock and explored the shops and trolls until our 2 pm included. You can find this info on Google Maps. It's a 5 minute walk from the cruise terminal to the campground. Turning left when you see the campers you will easily see the trail. It is also well worth it to get up at 5 am while the ship is still sailing the fjords. The light and quiet was magical. Ship departs the same way but the sun was hazy by then and the EL jam packed. I am not a morning person but this morning was well worth it.

We were in 4030 and 4032 next to friends. Same position as lower floor. The only thing my DH did not like about it was people who were waiting for elevator could see into your room when you opened the door. No elevator or talking noise however

Could it be due to the 24 inches of rain FL had and subsequent clean up.

Love that couple. Glad to hear they are still in business after Covid. Did they ever get married? We did a day up into the Andes with them first day and then a visit to Pablo Neruda's seaside home, local lunch and a stop at a winery before getting dropped off at our ship in Valparaiso.

Our last cruise, typically at 5:30 pm. If multiple sea days in a row, last day before port but could be anytime. We typically watch it on our stateroom TV. That way we can do other things in the room and then stop to watch when our chosen excursion comes up. We also listen to the general info given at the beginning and end of the talk. Can watch it in the evening after dinner or in the morning as we prepare for the day.

Will be following as I enjoy your take on different cruises and lines. I really hope you enjoy your TA on the Epic. Friends here sailed her in January out of San Juan. They hated it. Never again they said. Comments: packed with people, loud, people in your face all the time, had to shout to order in a restaurant with wait staff needing to yell also, corridors crowded going both ways, elevators packed, only good restaurant was specialty French, lots of over the top drunk people. But then they were on a Caribbean cruise which tends to be a party boat anyways.

That is true, it only works if everyone's stateroom category is able to reserve. However, if your friends reserved a table for 4, they can request adding you to their table once on board. We have easily done that. You can also combine all the 2 tops at that time. In each case you may not get exactly the time you want. On our last cruise in February, the desks outside each of the specialty restaurants had a person taking/changing reservations. Each desk will take reservations for both restaurants. After embarkation day, the desk at the portside entrance to the World Cafe will take reservations for both specialty ones. Each ship could have a different process, so if you don't see a person at each specialty restaurant desk on Day 1, ask Guest Services.

Suggest you start a Roll Call for this cruise. In a few months this title will be lost in the Boards feed and unless someone looks through dozens of pages they won't see it. In late 2024 and 2025 other passengers will go to the Roll Calls for Mars to look for others on the cruise.

Suggestion for booking specialty dining - especially Manfredi's which is most popular. We were able to easily reserve dining by reserving a table and inviting others - meaning friends we were traveling with. Prior to our reservation window, i got the booking numbers for our friends. I went on line for dining at our designated day and clicked on invite others or some such button - its clear where. Then i added the numbers of our friends. The problem with advance reservations for 2 people is 2 tops are limited. However it is really easy to reserve for 4 or 6. We got the dates and times we wanted. Many people see this option but don't realize they need all the booking numbers to use it. It doesn't work with names only.

I don't know what's up but our last out of 5 Viking cruises on Ocean ended in March and the SSBP included a 15% gratuity. If you don't have the package, each drink purchased also includes the 15% gratuity. Sometimes at the end of the cruise people will give cash tips if they had a really good bartender throughout the cruise but not each time they got a drink. I never cruised on a different line (and most likely never will unless there are less passengers) so i don't know their policies, expectations or customs. However I do know that more and more people are sailing with Viking for the first time. Most passengers I've seen just carry their room key card in their pocket on Viking and that's it. Plus Viking is supposed to be the cruise line that does not nickle and dime their guests all day!

I carry my folding poles almost all the time especially if i am not sure what the terrain is like. Walking uphill they give me leverage, walking downhill they give me balance and prevent slipping on loose rock. My husband and i were about the last to get to the beach. He takes lots of photos. I walk cautiously and slowly. The trail is relatively flat for the first half and then descends to the beach. That part is the rockiest. I too have lower back issues. Our whole day was almost 9 hours. The morning drive took 2 hours and halfway there we had a 1/2 hour comfort stop. The Zodiac ride followed by lunch was 3 hours total. The drive back took longer due to more traffic, we stopped at a seaside overlook where we were able to get out and the comfort stop was in such a quaint area everyone took longer taking photos and wanting to see the museum. The Zodiac ride in the Westman Islands does not take you to a glacier or go among icebergs. Wish i could go on the Iceland trip again but there are too many places to visit before I can't.

Peregrina, you were the person that helped me make the decision to do this. I research the adventurous excursions thoroughly to be sure I can do it without holding everyone up, falling and hurting myself. I too felt it was an opportunity i would not get again. I am so glad i did it. Learning from you that i didn't have to step into freezing water cinched it. I also loved the drive as much as you did. It was absolutely facinating and i learned so much.

Yes yes in July 2021 and loved it. It was just incredible getting up close to the glacier and icebergs. We heard them calving but missed seeing it as each time we were looking away. Our guide taught us all about them. They give you a thick weather proof jacket to wear and a life vest which was very warm over my own jacket. Wear water resistant pants or rain pants and sturdy shoes. We walked down a long rocky path to get to the lagoon and Zodiac. The bow of the boat was pulled up on shore a bit so you didn't have to step into the water to get in. All you had to do was sit on the bow pontoon and swing your legs together into the boat. There was help. Lunch in the facility was nice. Every lunch we had on Viking excursions was a fish entree so... The drive was very long but the scenery was outstanding and very different from all other Iceland areas we visited. Our guide was excellent and we learned so much about the geology of the area and lifestyle of the people. Much of the drive was along the coastline. Our comfort stops were in the same town each way but at different locations - once at a local library/park complex and another next to a fishing village with a little local musuem. At each stop there were a few minutes to look around and stretch the legs. The excursion cost was high but we thought well worth it.

Naw, I think we beat that topic to death already.

The Chilean fjords are spectacular.

The Dog thread had become quite chaotic but hilarious at times. I will have a pina colada not with an umbrella but with a tiny flip flop please. It will match the 2 flip flop pins that i use to hold my towel when i save my lounger in the pool area.

We should all move to the Explorers Lounge and order our libation of choice.

If you are PV you have an excellent chance of getting exactly what you want. Still reserve and pay for each optional one as soon as you can. As far as independent, you need to scrutinize their cancellation policy. Some do give refunds if cruise line cancels port. If their policy is to cancel 24 hours before, then know exactly what that means - by what date and time you must cancel. Also know exactly who and where you need to call/contact them to cancel.

Don't know if this would work for you but we had free air on one Viking cruise and i booked only the outbound. I told them the return would be useless since the ship was docking where i live. Viking Air agreed. However we did still get a free transfer to the airport upon disembarkation as it was much easier for friends to pick us up there then at the cruise port. I just asked.

We planned to do the Fantoft Stave Church on our own via the light railway but ended missing a flight connection in Iceland and arriving a day late. Right near the Festplassen is the Byparken light rail stop. We had planned to take the rail to the Paradis stop and walk to the church from there. Never did the research on how to get to Grieg House for concert. We ended up taking the Viking excursion to the church, ruins of a monastery and the island home of Ole Bull. Loved it. We were very stressed from our delay and it was nice to just get taken care are of.

We in the US used to call them thongs also. When did we switch to flip flops? The Jimmy Buffet song? Blew out my flip flop. Stepped on a pop top. Thong just wouldn't work.