Frenchberet

6 hours ago, cccole said:

This is such great info.  It will be fun to take a look at the excursions when they become available on line.  Is the thermal pool available to everyone or just those with a spa treatment?

 

I prefer to wear shorts and flip flops so will need to purchase warm socks and gloves.  Did you find you were able to keep your hands and feet warm?

 

Thank you again for the detailed and helpful info,  Cherie 

The LivNordic spa facilities are available to everyone.  The area is open all day and includes a heated pool, a warm tub with seating, sauna, steam room, and snow grotto.  There are changing rooms with showers, bathrobes, and slippers.  Services like facials and massages are available for a fee.
 

In addition, on deck 5 there are several plunge pools - tepidarium, frigidarium… Viking hosted a ‘polar plunge’ in this area and added ice cubes to one of the pools to enhance the experience!  
 

The temperature in Antarctica was around 30 degrees and we never felt really cold.  We took light and heavy gloves but ended up only wearing the lighter ones.  I had a few ‘hot hands’ and kept one in my jacket pocket to use to warm up when taking photos.  We also brought a few pair of boot socks and a set of long underwear (top & bottom).  I took a headband and stocking cap.  We packed lighter than some people but still brought stuff we didn’t need or wear.  

Post Extension - Gateway to Patagonia (5 nights)

Day 1 - We disembarked in Ushuaia and took a 2 1/2-hour commercial flight to El Calafate, Argentina.  We checked into the Xelena Hotel and had pizza in the bar.  After lunch we took a 4x4 ride to the summit of the Balcon del Calafate and Huyliche Hill.  There were several stops where we were able to photograph animals including guanacos, hares, rheas, and gray foxes.  We had tea at a ranch before returning to the hotel for dinner.

Day 2 - The next day we took a 2-hour bus ride to the Perito Moreno Glacier.  We walked the entire length of the glacier which included many steps and ramps.  This took about an hour and ended at the visitor center where we had lunch.  After lunch we took a boat ride along the front of the glacier to get a closer view.  We returned to the hotel and went into town.  There was nice promenade along the lake (2 km), however, we noted a large number of stray dogs roaming around the area so we opted for the free shuttle.  Dinner was on our own.

Day 3 – After breakfast at the hotel we took a long bus ride.  We passed through a mountain top immigration checkpoint and entered Chile.  We checked into the Rio Serrano Hotel and Spa and had dinner.

Day 4 – We spent the day exploring the Torres del Paine National Park by bus.  There were several impressive mountain peaks and a very nice waterfall.  We saw herds of guanacos and a puma.  We returned to the hotel for lunch.  In the afternoon there was an optional tour to Grey Lake.  We trekked through a small forested path, across a gravel beach, in a wind-driven rain, to see the glacier.  We did have a nice view of the glacier, although it was approximately 14km away.  We returned to the hotel for dinner.

Day 5 – After breakfast we boarded the bus for a 5-hour ride to the airport at Punta Arenas and flight to Santiago.  We arrived at the Ritz Carlton Hotel and had time to explore the city and have dinner on our own.

Day 6 – We had breakfast then checked out of the hotel.  We had time in the morning to explore the city on our own.  Viking arranged for a bus tour in the afternoon then transported us to the airport for our 10 p.m. flight. 

Overall, we enjoyed Patagonia.  Our guide was excellent and we got a lot of great photos.  However, after experiencing Antarctica, it was a bit anti-climactic.  There was a lot of bus time involved in this extension. 

3 hours ago, cccole said:

Thank you so much for this review and the offer to answer questions.  We will be doing the 19 day cruise in February 2024.  I'm happy to hear that you did not make all of your dining reservations prior to leaving.  Do you think that making specialty restaurant reservations are best on "sea days?"  Was the dress code in all of the restaurants fairly casual?  Really looking forward to the grill, I could eat lobster 7 days a week!

 

When you were not on an excursion did you bring another jacket to wear on the ship or did you and most passengers wear the jacket given to you by Viking?

 

Were there specific excursions that you booked when the booking window opens?

 

Did you explore any other areas in Argentina before or after your cruise?

 

Thank you so much.  We are so looking forward to this adventure.  The cabin window that goes down half way seems fabulous for Antarctica.  Thank you again, Cherie

 

 

We didn’t make specialty dinner reservations on the two Drake days but it turned out to be a non-issue, we felt fine.  We chose later dining times to allow for any delayed excursions.  Anything goes in the World Cafe.  The only requirement in the specialty restaurants was a collared shirt or sweater, no jeans.  
 

We brought a jacket to wear on the plane and walking around town.  Many folks just wore the Viking jacket liner or waterproof shell.  
 

Our priority was to do the landings so that’s what we booked first.  We were only able to pre-book one landing and one special ops boat.  The subs were booked within minutes of our sign-up time.  We were disappointed but once on board there was a waiting list for each activity and it appeared that everyone was able to do everything they wanted to do.

We used Viking Air and spent one night in Buenos Aires prior to the charter flight to Ushuaia.  Following the cruise we did the 5 night post extension Gateway to Patagonia.

4 hours ago, hbtraveler said:

A couple of questions.  How was the Drake crossing?  Were you able to get most of your planned activities completed or were there some that the weather/ice conditions prevented?  Thanks.

The Drake Crossing was a little rough but nothing worse than the Tasmanian Sea or the North Atlantic by Norway.  
 

We didn’t miss any of the planned ports.  There was one day when they were unable to launch the subs due to high winds.  Another day high winds and choppy seas delayed the excursions.  However, they rescheduled everything for a few hours later.  Most of the days the skies were sunny and clear.  

We just returned from a 13-day expedition cruise to Antarctica!  We loved the beautiful Viking Octantis.  It appeared that every detail had been carefully thought out and every item in the décor curated especially for the space.  The ship was smaller than the ocean vessels but never felt crowded.  The staff was exceptional.

All of the excursions were included – landings, zodiac and special ops boats, subs, and kayaks.  No problem booking making additional reservations once on board.  We saw penguins, seals, whales, and many different species of birds.

There were daily lectures on history, wildlife, and conservation efforts.  All were available for viewing later in your stateroom.  There was also a large expedition staff that was helpful in answering questions and sharing information. 

We had dinner at the Restaurant three times and at Manfredi's three times.  We ordered room service once and enjoyed the rest of our meals at the World Cafe.  The World Cafe was different on the expedition cruise and included the Grill and Sushi bar.  The food was especially good at the Grill - we loved the NY strip steak!  We also thought Manfredi's was a step above on this cruise.  We booked one advance reservation at the Restaurant and Manfredi’s and additional reservations via the app once on board.  No problem.

We took tons of photos but it is impossible to capture the vastness and beauty of Antarctica.  We feel very fortunate to have had this experience.  We had a lot of questions before the cruise (thank you Austrailia08) and we’re happy to provide any other info. 

“When I went to call them back to give them more detail the receptionist refused to put me though because they had given my my credit and the case was closed.”

I think Viking already compensated the traveler for the excursions.

4 hours ago, Iloveketo said:

Not Don, but we have taken 5 post COVID cruises with Viking and the Main Dining Room/Restaurant are just go and stand in line. The only thing we could book online was Manfredi’s and Chef’s Table. We did the Caribbean on the Sea, French Polynesia on the Orion, Octantis on the Great Lakes (may have needed to book on this one), the Sky in the Mediterranean, and the Star for Panama and Central America. Our next cruise in 3 weeks is on the Venus for the Northern Lights cruise and only dining to book online was Manfredi’s and Chef’s Table. Hope this helps. 

Thank you for the info.  We’re sailing Octantis to Antarctica.  Read that World Cafe is great on the expedition ships but we are hoping to have dinner in the main dining room more than once.  Guess we’ll find out once on board!

1 hour ago, donaldsc said:

 

There was a long thread on Viking dining issues that is still going strong.  This was the response that I posted that might answer some of your questions.

 

It is beyond understanding why everyone is finding it so complicated with dining arrangements.  It is absurdly simple.  

 

1. There are 4 restaurants on board.  Two of them (the buffet and the main restaurant) are available every night  w/o reservations.  You just walk in and they seat you.  You might have to wait a few minutes if you are at a busy period such as when the restaurant just opens but this happens on any ship.  We typically ate between 7 and 8 PM and there was never any wait.  

 

2. There are 2 by-reservation restaurants - Manfredi's which an Italian restaurant and the Chef's table which does 4 rotating menus over several nights of the cruise.  The menu is usually available for 2 or 3  nights.  When we did our Caribbean cruise we did 3 of the 4 fixed menus - Xiang which is Chinese, Asian Panorama and California cuisine.   The by-reservation system is the one that some people appear not do to understand although it appears on this thread that some also have difficulty with the buffet and main restaurant arrangements.  Depending upon your status you can make a reservation or reservations at Manfredi's and one of the Chef's table restaurants before you board.  We had no problems getting advance reservations at the restaurant of our on the day that reservations for our cabin class opened although we did not get our preferred time.  This does not mean that you will only be able to dine at Manfredi's once or at one of the Chef's Table however that you will be stuck with the time of your pre cruise reservation.

 

3. Once you get on board they open up additional reservations that you can book w/o problems and we did not have to rush to the dinner reservation desk as soon as we got on board to get restaurant spots.  We reserved for 2 additional days when we got on board and could have gotten additional days if we wished.   Again we did not get the exact times for our dinners although they were close.  On the day of the dinner we appeared at the restaurant at the time we really wanted and never had any time getting seated early.

 

To summarize.  Four restaurants - 2 walking w/o reservations and 2 with reservations needed.  Two reservations can be made before you board - Manfredi's and 2 Chef's table.  Additional reservations can easily be made on board.

 

The actual thread if you want to go through it is https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2868248-dining-reservations-no-longer-guaranteed/.  

 

 

DON

Hi Don, our last Viking Ocean cruise was pre Covid and our experiences were exactly as you described.  For our upcoming 2023 cruise we were able to make 1 advance reservation for the main dining room.  Is it still just walk-in and stand in line once on board?

Cruise Critic Chris, hope you enjoyed your trip.  I was hoping you would do a review of your Antarctic adventure on Cruise Critic.  I’ve searched but can’t find anything.  If you do a report, please post the link here.  Looking forward to your comments!  Thank you!

I think it can only be applied to one cruise.  Check the language on the voucher/email, or call Viking.

Be sure to note your medical info on My Viking.  Once on board, talk to the chef.  I’m sure they’ll come up with some great desserts for you to enjoy.  In my experience, Viking staff members go out of their way to accommodate the passengers.  

Sounds like you are having a wonderful time!  Thank you for taking the time to report.  Great photos!

Cruise Critic Chris, how is your cruise going?  How was the Drake Crossing?  Were you able to make all the landings in Antarctica?  See much wildlife?  Hope you have some great photos!

Thank you for the information!  Enjoy the rest of your cruise!

This is the form to order a gift for someone cruising on Viking.  I guess you could use it to send yourself a gift...  Or call Viking.

US_CORP_GiftOrder-OC.pdf (viking.com)

I’m loving your reports & photos!  We are doing this cruise in a few weeks & I’m over-analyzing my packing.  Did you bring hiking poles or are they part of the gear on loan from Viking?  Anything you wished you packed but didn’t bring?  Any tips?  PS - you both look great in your jackets!  Have a great trip!

3 hours ago, TayanaLorna said:

I saw numerous promos for the 2023 sailings of this cruise as well as most of the Panama Canal ones.  They started in May and went into the Fall.  

Thank you.  I’ll keep checking!

Hi, I'm searching for a promo for the "Amazon & Caribbean Adventure" for 2024.  Appreciate a "heads up" if anyone has any info.  thank you!

Has anyone taken this post extension to the Antarctic Explorer expedition cruise?  It includes El Calafate (2 nights), Torres del Paine National Park (2 nights), and Santiago (1 night).  Just wondering if it’s fully guided or if there’s any free time for exploring.  Appreciate any info/tips.

Really enjoying your reports, thank you.  Glad to hear you were able to exchange your gear.  We ordered based on our measurements but not 100% sure how unisex equates to regular sizing.  Please let us know you dress for the landings - long underwear, pants, boot socks, gloves?  Enjoy your adventure!

Cruise Critic Chris, so happy you will be reporting on your expedition experience!   Looking forward to any info on how the landings and activities are handled.  My Viking indicates that “activities will be scheduled daily and you will be informed on board”.  Hoping to hear that you are able to do all the activities you want to do.  Have a great trip!
 

We are enjoying your reports and lovely photos!  Sounds like you are having a wonderful time!  

4 hours ago, oskidunker said:

There are almost 200 posts on other Northern Lights dates . I wonder if this cruise is not fully booked.any thoughts?  Also any ship tours you did not like ifbyou have done this cruise? 

 
I checked your date on the Viking site and it looks like it’s selling pretty well.  Unfortunately, many of your fellow cruisers aren’t aware of Cruise Critic and the helpful info they could learn and share here!  
 

We did the Northern Lights cruise in February 2019.  All of the included excursions were fine.  Some of the optional excursions were great, others we wouldn’t want to repeat.  Great - Lifestyle of the Sami, Arctic Landscape by Husky, and Griegs House & Recital.  Ok - Pulpit Rock (we got a nice photo with a Viking).  Not great - Experience the Arctic Circle, Sommaroy Island, and Searching for the Aurora Borealis (big bus, too many people, not enough time).
 

Sadly, we did not see the Northern Lights.  If we were to do this cruise again, we’d book some private mini van tours to chase the lights.  Good luck to you!  

On 12/31/2022 at 12:20 PM, holech said:

If I’m in a dry bathing suit, can I go eat at the buffet for lunch or do I have to change into shorts or pants?

How about just putting on a shirt and eating at the Pool Grill?

4 hours ago, Goosebear Mum said:

True, but imho it’s very generous, bearing in mind they have been onboard, and went to a few of their ports. I thinks it’s far more generous than they ‘needed to be’. It wasn’t a ‘Sky’ situation where passengers had ever been at risk/been airlifted off.  I am not playing down the disappointment, and as you say, some may never be able to make it back to Australia 😞 

 

could you decline the vouchers and claim off insurance, is that is a concern? 
 

 

 

 

I agree.  Honestly, it’s a better settlement than I thought you’d receive.  We were on Orion with the same itinerary in March 2020.  We saw New Zealand but as we were approaching Tasmania, Australia closed it’s borders due to Covid.  Viking was very fair with us, even offering to arrange free flights for those that didn’t purchase Viking air.  I think Viking’s customer service is great and one of it’s biggest assets.