junnipper

We just returned from our cruise. For my husband who has hearing aids in both ears there were 2 options. For the pre-cruise excursions they had ear buds for both ears so they gave him a headset with foam cushions (just like what we used with Walkmans back in the day). For the actual cruise they had the single ear bud that fit over the ear. He kept his hearing aids in. The only downside was it didn't fit into his ear but it worked well enough that he could hear and there was no worry of misplacing a hearing aid.

Slum it?

Along the lines of testing, what about showing your proof of vaccination? We are 14 days away from our Mediterranean Odyssey I am pretty sure I read on here that we get a list of specific instructions at this time but haven't received anything on my email or on MVJ yet. Do we just show our National Vaccination document that I have saved to my phone (and printed) on embarkation day?

I may as well jump in here. This is my first Viking tour and I put a lot of thought into the times etc. For 2 days we are on excursion 7hrs in Naples one day and 10 hrs in Rome the next. So for the port of Florence I decided to book the included afternoon tour from 2-4. I think this is a smart move as it will give us a chance to recharge. So my advice would be to look at the big picture and how one day relates to the days around it. Kind Regards J

TayanaLorna, where did you find this Guest Statement? Was it emailed to you but the hotel change wasn't highlighted? I only see where I can request a statement and not view it on my MVJ.

To share my experience, we are doing the same cruise this November but starting in Venice. I wanted the Tuscan pre-cruise extension. It was sold out. I kept checking (almost daily) and "one spot left" came up approximately 5-months later. One spot means one place for a couple. I did the math and on our own would have been cheaper however, it was important for me to book my pre-extension with Viking as we aren't very seasoned travelers. Your options are keep checking regularly or book on your own depending on your comfort level.

Hi holech, we are also booked for a pre-extension in Tuscany. Here is a cut and paste from the itinerary on my MVJ page. Check your MVJ page and do a search for your Villa (may be the same one). This one looks really nice. It advertises bathrooms in every room, I don't see anything about toiletries but we always bring our own so it isn't something I looked too hard for. https://www.villailpoggiale.it/it Hotels Villa il Poggiale Villa il Poggiale is located in the heart of Tuscany, near San Casciano in Val di Pesa. Dating back to 1408, this historic, Renaissance villa features both unique dishes and traditional Tuscan specialties at its elegant restaurant; a wellness center; an outdoor pool; and fragrant gardens. Guest rooms have a coffee/tea kettle, a TV, Wi-Fi and a phone.

No, not 2-stopovers. I know the difference, just wasn't using my full brain when I posted. Thanks for being patient with me FlyerTalker. I do have another question. I am very certain that I read somewhere that checked baggage was included with Viking Air but can't seem to find it anywhere. I contacted Viking via the chatbot but they misunderstood my ask and I didn't have time to try and clarify it.

I checked MVJ and the PDF copy of my Air Itinerary and it has nothing next to Airline Ticket #:. So I looked around MVJ, found FAQs and here is what they wrote: Why can’t I customize my flights in My Viking Journey? There are some flight itineraries where online customization is not possible. This includes, but is not limited to group bookings, World Cruise bookings, United Kingdom bookings, Australia/New Zealand bookings, as well as bookings with multiple stopovers or mixed air cabin classes. Please call 1-877-523-0580 to speak with a Viking Air Expert if online customization is not available. Perhaps it is because of my 2-stopovers as all my seats are economy class?

I don't see where I have the option to change my itinerary on MVJ Air, just change seats. Am I missing something?

Do you mean center of the row of 4 or center in the row of 3? Because from what I understand selecting the window and aisle is not allowed when booking as a couple. Can you clarify? If the window/aisle combo is allowed I would go for that and hope the center remains empty.

I am very thankful for your help. Firenza was a great point which I would have been oblivious to! I think I will roll the dice with the 1h 30m connection. Every other connection is 2h-2h30m so I don't feel it worthwhile to pay to upgrade to Air Plus.... besides the flights could still change.

Thank you Cilcianrqts. I did do a search for information on connection time in Lisbon but this didn't show up. If I am understanding correctly where I arrive from Canada, connect in Lisbon and end in Florence an hour is enough time. To make an international to international connection: 1 -2.5 hours If you are traveling on to another Schengen country, you will connect in the same terminal as you arrive. An hour is a comfortable connection time. If you are traveling to a country outside of Schengen where you might need to go through security again, such as the US, 2.5 hours is safe.

Which we have NO way of knowing, since the OP only mentions airlines. We can assume that the inbound will be from either YYZ or YUL - but since TAP flies both intra and extra Schengen, no idea of the ultimate destination. Oh sorry, here is my itinerary: Halifax to Montreal to Lisbon then Florence. I appreciate your help.

Hi me again, the newbie European traveler. Is a 1h35m connection time in Lisbon arriving 6:00AM departing 7:35 AM an adequate layover time? Arriving on Air Canada departing TAP PORTUGAL.

It was after. I wanted them printed so I could better compare and write notes. However when I booked my November cruise back in January the Viking agent was able to give me a PDF file of March's list of excursions and I started my research then knowing that the exact ones may change when my sailing opened up. When I compared the two, the excursions did not seems to change, if so not enough for me to take note.

I have been able to obtain a pdf of the excursions for my upcoming cruise. I used the chat bot on MVJ.

Oh my, I never even thought about the added commute time! Thank you so much once again. I so appreciate the kind help. ☺️

Thank you for your kind reply lackcreativity. For the Mediterranean Odyssey cruise in November they have the following as the included tour: At a Glance: St. Mark’s Square INCLUDED Day 5 – Venice (Fusina), Italy Tuesday, November 8 8:00 AM / 8:15 AM / VIEW ALL 4.25 Hours MODERATE UNESCO SIGHTSEEING View this fabled city from the Venice Lagoon’s languid, stunning waters and explore legendary St. Mark’s Square. Embark on a short drive to La Serenissima (the Most Serene), where you will join a leisurely cruise, passing magnificent waterside palazzos and piazzas and peering down the lapping, narrow canals that weave their way into the city’s medieval corridors. Disembark at the landing pontoon next to Palazzo Cornoldi, then set off on foot with your guide to the beautiful St. Mark’s Square, crossing the four elegant bridges that link the waterfront. Admire the views of the splendid Gothic-Byzantine St. Mark’s Basilica and its grand Campanile bell tower and see the Doge’s Palace and other nearby attractions. Napoleon Bonaparte allegedly referred to Piazza San Marco as “the drawing room of Europe,” cementing its reputation as one of the world’s most stunning squares. It states we "see" the Doge palace. Do I see the inside or the outside? 🤷‍♀️

I agree, the excursion descriptions aren't detailed enough. Such as with my future sailing and Venice where they have "At A Glance: St Mark's Square". Does this mean you glance at it as your are shuffled quickly passed by it or is it a tour that goes inside the Doge Palace? Not enough detail for my liking. Also it is disappointing to hear that circumstances allow for persons who aren't fit enough to join a tour beyond their abilities. This disappointment goes both ways. I feel bad for persons who innocently join a tour which they can't enjoy due to their inability to keep up and feel bad for those who are able bodied and miss out on the full experience due to be being held back by the less able passengers. Of course able bodied persons can leave the group and go their own way but in my opinion this is unacceptable because we all pay for these excursions and expect to get what we paid for. If Viking is reading this, I echo fellow passengers in calling for better excursion descriptions with an emphasis on clear language what exactly the activity entails.

Thank you Molymoo. I will do my due-diligence but it is reassuring to know that Viking will also be sending me reminders.

I am getting ready for our November Mediterranean Odyssey sailing. On My Viking Journey there is a link to a PDF file with all the requirements (I noted that this document is updated regularly). As a first-time Viking customer and this being our first journey to Europe, the information is a bit confusing for me. But I did find a couple of interesting statements in My Viking Journey and I wonder if more seasoned Viking cruisers could tell me if this is in fact the case and I can rely on Viking to guide me through the process. What I found in the FAQ section was: "Additionally, if the first country along your journey has country-specific travel requirements, we will send you an email reminder". In the Explore Safely section it states: Travel Requirements "As your trip nears and you prepare to travel you will receive a series of Viking notifications to help you complete any pre-travel country-specific requirements". Thank you in advance for your kind replies.