LunaSeaRetreat

Thanks for taking time from your vacation to share with us. I'm not cruising on the Sun until next year but I'm starting my research now. Have fun!

Cynthia

39 minutes ago, outlawuk said:

Is it really the wind? Ok I'm on Queen Victoria and we cannot enter port until you leave! We had letters this morning about immigration Departure checks tomorrow our 2nd day and it all sounds like a deliberate spoiler by the authorities. This will be the worst port experience of our World Cruise so far. It's now 10.47 waiting out at sea, captain gave ETA arrive alongside noon to 1300. What a shame.

We haven't heard much.  Something about trying to work things out with immigration to let us off for awhile.  That was about 2 hours ago so I don't think that is going to happen. Cape Town had an accident in the wind about a week ago.  I think they are being over cautious. Some cargo ships have left and entered port but they are very narrow compared to us.

Good luck.

We were supposed to leave Cape Town last night but are still sitting at the dock this morning. Too windy to leave and now it seems windier. Maybe an announcement at 8?  Beautiful sunny day except for the wind. 
Cynthia

Our stop in Richards Bay was just canceled.  Pilots boarded by helicopter but left the same way soon after. Too dangerous to dock was the decision.  I feel very badly for all the cruisers suppose to leave on Overlands. I'm sure this is a big disappointment to all.

Cynthia

Our captain promised us force 8 winds this evening on our way to Richard's Bay.  Still smooth sailing for now.  Hold on to those hand rails.

Cynthia

10 hours ago, millybess said:

Have you checked with Neptune?  I’ve heard they get everything. 

We have birds but not in every bathroom. I believe the living room is rushing water. I suppose that since we’re on the Neptune we have all the sounds. 😂

17 hours ago, Jim Avery said:

Where is everyone??  Ok, I have to report that Lois and I are departing Neptune in Singapore.  All things considered it works best for us.  Viking has been very generous with forward cruise credits and with rearranging air.  If we hadn't just had a fabulous land tour in Africa last summer we would be going for the ones Viking worked out.  Anyway, loved meeting so many of my Cruise Critic pals and now it is up to BobCatter, Wavetripper and everyone else who has participated in this WC thread.  I look forward to keeping up with the rest of the cruise. 

We haven’t met yet but I always enjoy your posts. I’ll try to post more when you leave and help keep the thread going. I might even learn to post photos. 😳

Cynthia

9 hours ago, Wavetripper said:

Excursion tickets showed up tonight in the stateroom for the segment Cochin to Cape Town. No surprises in excursion selection choices. First choice given for all ports at this point. 

We received our second choice in Richard’s Bay. The tours were the same price and length so we’re happy. Received our first choice in the others. 
Cynthia

Just now, Clay Clayton said:

So, higher categories were able to book excursions via paper forms ahead of everyone else who will do so on the app in 15 min. The excursions appeared on the app this morning and all the overland are sold out.  It appears that one group (PVs?) was able to book via paper this morning as at 8 am there were 8 slots on the two less expensive overland trips but by 10:30 they joined the 5 day one as “Sold Out”. Some folks complaining about lack of transparency, but given the Karens and Kens lined up at Guest Services, I suspect Viking decided better to handle the higher categories more discreetly.  Hate it for us that we are all in a scrum but I would be really perturbed if I had paid for an ES and not gotten priority. Thankfully we had already decided to not spend all our credits as well as new money on any of the overlands so seeing them sold out didn’t ruin our day. 
 

 

Viking delivered to everyone’s room at 11:30 paper forms for those that don’t want or can’t use the app and I think as their Plan B if the app crashes.  Hopefully it  won’t and all this angst and drama will be over by 12:15🤞

Hi Clay,

We are on the Neptune and as far as I know no app choice was given. Our room steward was giving them out at about 8:30 when we went to breakfast.  I handed it in downstairs and joking said," Don't forget to put the date and time on it."  She laughed and said she would and wrote something on my sheet.  She put it on top of a neat pile of about 10 forms.

Cynthia

12 hours ago, Clay Clayton said:

I’ve heard many exploring the idea of leaving in Cochin or before and reboarding in Capetown after doing a real safari and other exploration in India and/or South Africa. I dont know anyone who has pulled the trigger yet, but that is at least partially due to the lack of answer from Viking to make sure they will be able to reembark in Capetown or Morocco. #needdetails

Our letter from the hotel manager stated that they are working on uploading the new excursions but didn't say where.  Does anyone know where to look for them?  I stopped by guest services to see if we would need any vaccinations and they had no idea!  Maybe tomorrow...

Cynthia

Just now, UWDawg said:

Did you see me waving to you from outside deck 8 Explorer's Lounge?  Wish we could meet up.

I waved a number of times as I did my laps on deck two. What a beautiful day.

Cynthia

We do have TV this morning. Nice warm day with sunshine--no snow expected unlike Delaware.

Cynthia

Neptune 6068 has it.

We did this in October 2022. The first day we did the included tour, PANORAMIC ATHENS & ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM. During that tour the guide showed everyone the shuttle stop. So on the turn around day we took the shuttle and did the THE NEW ACROPOLIS MUSEUM & PLAKA DISTRICT on our own with no problem.

Cynthia

Hope you have a wonderful cruise. Thanks so much for sharing your adventures.  We just started looking at this cruise; it looks wonderful.

Cynthia

19 hours ago, mdgary said:

Woke up around 7:00 here on day 3 to a surprise. Woke up and looked out the balcony door and noticed that the ship was stopped. Went out on the balcony to look around and all I can see is a small sliver of land. It wasn’t long before an announcement was made on the passageway speakers (couldn’t hear it though and didn’t feel like wandering into the passageway) but came to find out there was a medical emergency and the Captain pulled the ship in to Grand Turk to get medical assistance for the passenger. Hopefully the individual will be ok. We wound up pulling back out of port around 9:30 to continue our sea day toward San Juan. After breakfast in the Horizon Court we went to our nice morning spot to lounge in the sun on The Sun Deck back by the Terrace pool. It gets a little crowded as the day goes on but hasn’t been to overcrowded so far. Last night we caught the production show Showtime with the Uptown Boys. As usual you need to get to the theater about 30 minutes early as it gets full quick. We both enjoyed the show and the 3 singers were all pretty good. Will finally get to check out Anthony Michael in Crooners piano bar tonight. First formal night tonight but we are staying casual and just doing Horizon court or Alfredos for dinner tonight.

Thanks so much for your report. We will be on the TA in April.  Glad you are having a good cruise.

Cynthia

On 1/18/2023 at 6:03 AM, Cruise Critic Chris said:

Hi all! I'm writing from the Buenos Aires Hilton. My Viking Polaris trip "officially" starts today. I came in early for a few days vacation in BA. 

 

As it is for everyone, this cruise will be an adventure of a lifetime! Through my work here at Cruise Critic, I have read and edited many stories about Antarctica cruising, and sent many writers to the White Continent. But this is the first time that I get to go! 

 

There is a fairly large press group on this trip, and two representatives from Viking. Please let me know if you have any specific questions. I will try to post photos of the daily programs as well. All internet permitting! 

I too am enjoying your posts and hope you are having too much fun to post.

On 1/30/2023 at 11:48 PM, trinitygirl said:

This is of interest to me too, as I will be moving from Sky Princess to Celebrity Reflection on the same day.  Google maps suggested it was a 40 minute walk, or a ten minute taxi ride:   I hadn't heard there was a shuttle bus - can you direct me to information about this?

I did this from the Island Princess  to the Viking Neptune in December 22.  I used an Uber.  You can pick the pier you're going to so the driver knows where he is going when the quote is given. No unhappy taxi driver!  If you don't like the quote, wait ten minutes and put it in again.  It was less than $15.

Cynthia

GR8,

Exactly the same thing happened to us.  We sail on October 1. I intend to make reservations on the day we arrive.

Cynthia

1 minute ago, TayanaLorna said:

Exactly and we have purchased them in advance before.  However you cannot fly in, stay at a hotel, do a self pre cruise and then take a taxi to the airport to pick up a Viking transfer to the ship on embarkation day.

Glad to hear that you are doing ok after the storm.  Hope you don't run out of wine before the roads open!😀

Here you go.

https://docs.vikingcruises.com/pdf/Transfer-Request-Form_2020.pdf

Notice it must be submitted at least 30 days before arrival.  The form asks for your flight information so I imagine it must be on the same day of the cruise.  I only booked a post cruise transfer for my up coming cruise.  Bottom line -  there is a form, and you can book a transfer with Viking if you are flying in or out on the same day as the cruise.

Hope this helps.

Cynthia

17 hours ago, Haqdeluxe said:

It is most always in your eDOC pdf (1 for each in your party) and typically at the bottom of the 1st page. 

Thanks, I haven't received them yet.  I'll check with my TA on Wednesday if they haven't arrived by then.

On 9/16/2022 at 10:25 PM, Peregrina651 said:

 

I've been following all of the stories and, hands down,  yours is the winner. Definitely, kudos to Viking for going the extra miles.

 

 

A heads up for all readers. Make sure to add the ship's e-mail address and the the ship's phone number to your phone's contact list before you leave home (along with the 800 numbers). You never know when you will need to contact the ship.

Hi Peregrina,

We leave at the end of the month for our cruise on Viking Sky.  Where do you find the email and ship's phone number?  I have opened every attachment I've been sent and can't find it.  We've received the packet with our luggage tags and it's not there either.

Thanks for your help.

Cynthia

19 hours ago, debbieandnorm said:

Yes, we’re on board & did the full day in Venice on Saturday. We had to be on the dock at 7:45am in Chioggia. We arrived in Venice at the Cornoldi pier by about 10am. We had 2 options to return: 1pm with the guided tour people, or 6pm with our Venice on Your Own group. We didn’t arrive back at the ship until 7:40pm!

Most of our group agreed that we were ready to return at about 3 or 4pm.

 

The one & a half hour boat ride was more pleasant than expected, as it putted by islands along the way. To my knowledge we were on the last boat from Venice.
 

There was a little Viking shuttle boat that took you from our dock at the cruise ship terminal in Chioggia to the Piazza Vigo town dock starting at 6pm each day. Sunday night we did have to be back on board by 10pm.

 

The port also provided a free shuttle bus from noon to 9pm just to the outside of the port gate. From there is was about a 10 to 15 minute walk into town.

Thanks so much for the information.  Both you and DrKoob have been very helpful.  I know everything may change by the time we get there, but it is nice to have some idea what to expect.

DrKoob,

Thank you so much for sharing your cruise with us.  We are on the Sky beginning in Rome on October 1. Our port in Venice was just changed to Chioggia also.  We are there for 2 1/2  days too.  When did you find out about the  "Venice; On Your Own." tour being offered?  We haven't heard about any tours being changed.  Was this tour in place of the included tour?  Do you know if other tours were changed?

Thanks for any help you can give.

Cynthia

I love your photos!