Mcrosby57

I have used Viking over the phone in the past.  I see the ability to book online, which is convenient.  I did use a travel agent for booking excursions as I have been less than impressed some of the Viking Ocean excursions at some of the ports and since this is the first time booking private excursions, I was not aware of much beyond Viator (which does less than luster reviews on lots of sites, though appears to be less expensive at first glance).  I am not organizing a cruise with several couples and wondering if it'd be easier to do a TA or still go with Viking direct.  We are looking at 4-5 couples on the Douro in 2025.  Opinions?

Our first Viking Ocean cruise is this coming summer: July 2023.  I have sailed on Regent Seven Seas.  So, my point of view is just from booking and cost of the two cruises for now.  At first look, Regent Seven Seas does look a lot more expensive.  But when you compare actual cabin to cabin and amenities, Regent comes out ahead in booking and costs.  Excursions, for example:  Regent has numerous included excursions while Viking only includes an introductory excursion (some on foot, some by coach/van/bus) at each port.  If you are in a port more than one night, you get 1 excursion that does not include food or entrance to any museums or experiences.  Regent, on the other hand has several included excursions every day and your only limit is your own schedule.  Regent does off different levels of excursions that you pay extra.  My experience with Viking, on the other hand is unless you are booked into a Penthouse cabin, you will be arranging your own excursions with third party companies.  I guess this is OK for some, but it does create a class differential that feels like something from the Titanic era.  From the get go, Viking will not service you unless you book the top tier suite cabins.  OK, so you book a top tier cabin, you book book excursions and then you have to book an expensive beverage package.  I have traveled on a Viking River Cruise.  I'm not a huge wine snob but the regular house wine served on the Viking River Cruise was far, far inferior to the wine served with lunch or dinner on Regent.  And, if you want a cocktail before dinner or after dinner on Viking and don't have a the drink package, costs of drinks will be added to your final bill.  Viking house wines are not nearly as good as the Regent wines.  Regent also offers business class flights, which is important to us if we fly anywhere outside of the Continental US.  When you have an 11 hour flight, the economy section of the plane isn't even healthy for 55+ passengers, the demographics of both cruise lines.  So, you pay extra for the upgraded flights, which is at least $500 per person and often more.  So, now we are up to paying for a penthouse cabin, paying for a beverage package, paying for all but a few excursions, and paying extra for upgraded flights.  Lastly, let's look at payment requirements.  If you are a first time Viking passenger or you don't know to ask, your final payment for the cruise will be 3-6 months after your booking.  If you are like us, you often book cruises 1-2 years in advance.  Regent does not expect payment until 3 months before the sail date.  Honestly, we just don't like the pressure or attitude of this from Viking.  All this before we even set sail.  I will be comparing the actual sailing experience of the two lines.  I did note that the Viking crew were much, much friendlier and passengers seemed friendlier on the Viking River Cruise compared to the Regent cruise but I will hold judgement on that to see if it's a River vs Ocean situation on Viking. 

Thanks for the information on tours/excursions.  I'm expecting the DV5 cabin we have will see mostly sold out excursions when it's our turn to book.  This is our first Viking Ocean cruise.  I understand the priority booking protocols but Viking is literally creating steerage classes similar to the early 1900's and if this is "the experience" of Viking, we will go back to Regent Seven Seas you don't have to worry about excursions being sold out, buying upgraded beverage packages, tight restaurant reservations, or over crowded shows.  I'm getting more and more disillusioned with Viking as our cruise gets closer.  We are booked for the July 8 British Explorer and have added the Oslo to Bergen by train extension.

Silver Spirits package cost for our British Explorer cruise on July 8, 2023 is $350/per person.  No way can we drink enough booze to justify $25/day/person.  We are not big drinkers and we are just eh with the wine that is often served with meals so we will buy an upgraded glass or two of wine a day but even if the glass was $10 each (including tip) we would be out money.  So, we are not purchasing this expensive add-on.

We are sailing on the Viking Venus July 8, 2023 British Explorer cruise.  We have booked the pre-extension of Oslo to Bergen by train.  I'm getting very, very nervous about getting any of the Viking excursions we want because of how low in the hierarchy our cabin is after all the Penthouses and Suites get them.  This is the second time we have booked this cruise, due to COVID.  This will be our first  Viking Ocean cruise.  We enjoyed the Viking Grand European River cruise a month ago and happily got all the excursions we wanted.  Ocean cruising is different when it comes to booking excursions, I understand.  I will be stalking the My Viking Journey to try to book excursions as soon as I can.  But my question is: how likely will there be any excursions besides the included ones for a level DV5 cabin?  Will be be able to get dinner reservations in the specialty restaurants before 7:00 PM?  The cruise is totally sold out.  While I know I can book through third party tourist companies, what are your experiences booking excursions?  What else can I do besides stalk MVY, be up at midnight to book what excursions are available, use third party tour companies, and wait onboard to see if there are openings to excursions we wanted.  

We are cruising on Regents Seven Seas.  They have doors on all their showers.  It's luxury cruise line, though.  Looking at the Diamond Princess for December 2020 cruise.  From the floor plan, it looks like a shower door but asking here to see if anyone knows for sure.  

We booked our Regent cruise through Costco (couldn't resist the ship credits and cash back and VISA percentage).  Disadvantage is Regents travel agents won't answer quick questions and if I call Costco, they call Regents and I have to wait on hold.  

So, I'm hoping someone with experience with RSSC can help.  We booked one day pre and post cruise at the RSSC partnered hotel in Stockholm and Copenhagen.  I know transfers are included but are the excursions RSSC offers for those ports available to us, too?  Or do we have to pay extra for those but book them through the Concierge at the hotel?  We bought Concierge level suites for the cruise that includes the pre-cruise extra day in Stockholm.  Just wondering how to plan to see things our extra day.

Thanks for the answers and help!

Thanks rcandkc!  Another question for you:  Did you book the hotel and excursion through Regent and did you not use the transfer/portage to get luggage to the hotel?  

Thanks,

Mcrosby57

We are booked and for the July 29 sailing on Explorer Stockholm to Copenhagen.  We booked the extra day in Stockholm through Regent.  Can we access the free excursions in Stockholm the extra day since we booked that way?  Will there be enough time to do excursions with an extra day before departure?  We are debating booking an extra day in Copenhagen.  When we dock, will the excursions be available to us as Regent passengers?  If we book an extra day with Regents, can we utilized the free excursions then?

First time on Regent.  Recommended by a friend.  But to be honest, like the destinations.  That was why we booked it.  Hoping we have a good experience with our friends.

Thanks for all the quick replies! I’m not packing my dryer. I’ll get by with what they give us. I’m not a daily hair washer, anyway, so for a couple days, not worth it. I’ll throw in my flat iron and touch up, if needed on most days.

I’m sure this has been asked and discussed over and over but I’m running short on time as I’m packing now to leave or the hotel for the night. Our plane leaves or LA at 6:45 AM. My question: What is the hairdryer like in the rooms? We are on the Baja Deck at the back of the boat. I can throw in my own hairdryer if the one provided is wimpy or is the kind you have to hold the button to keep it on. Quick answers are appreciated. We are trying this out and if we like cruising, we want to do one of the longer Baltic cruises in the summer of 2019. Thanks, in advance for the help!!!