WarEagle76

As fat as I understand this ship is not a brand new build from the bottom up but a purchase of an existing ship from a company that went belly up. So far all they are doing is reconfiguring as well as updating and meeting new specifications. This is a major renovation project but not a "new build".;)

They are new builds.

http://www.vikingrivercruises.com/media/viking-star-under-construction.aspx

Announced some new itineraries today.

http://www.vikingrivercruises.com/media/additional-2015-ocean-itineraries.aspx

Partner and I (and another couple) are going on the "Emerald Princess" Feb 7. I've posted on the roll call thread, but so far no one has said "we're going, too".

Emerald Princess is one of our favorite ships. We cruised on her third cruise (after maiden voyage) in the Mediterranean, then again in the Caribbean. You are on a great 10 day itinerary, enjoy!

But, Jim, are you coming to VIKING? That's what this thread is about. We've all of us cruised elsewhere, and we're all trying out Viking's new venture in 2015. Seems to be 100% smoke-free, BTW...

Not quite. On page 84 of the catalogue/brochure it states "each ship has an outdoor smoking area".

Have not booked an ocean cruise yet but on recent Christmas Market river cruise booking for December got a $399/pp airfare from ATL. Along with that really low airfare came the caveat that the air was "Not combinable with custom air, stopovers, deviations or Frequent Flyer Programs" in the fine print. Also was advised we will not know airline/routing until 90 days before departure. Normally we are picky about our air arrangements but for this fare decided to use the savings for the two day Cologne extension. My guess is that for the airfares that are greatly reduced, there will be tighter restrictions than the normal airfares usually offered.

We've been on four Viking cruises Russia, China, Danube, and most recently Paris/Normandy this past October. To put it simply, based upon our experience, Viking has not given us a reason to try another line. On our most recent cruise, the food was good to excellent, the Internet was vastly improved, and the Program Director and Hotel Manager were phenomenal. We have yet to cruise on one of the new Long Ships but are in the process of booking a Christmas Market cruise for this December on Viking Freya. With Viking, the time in ports has suited us, usually being a local tour with free time to explore on our own, with the occasional optional tour available if desired. So for us, pricing, product, experience and at this point familiarity keeps us going back to Viking and can't see trying another line unless there is an itinerary we decide we want to do and Viking doesn't provide it.

On another thread regarding the Elite/Platinum cocktail party, one poster posted the "menu" for the week on their cruise. For me anyway it will give me an opportunity to try different drinks that I normally wouldn't try. So I'll be looking forward to it; of course I may not go back if it doesn't "strike my fancy".

Here is the menu along with drink specials from last week's Sapphire Princess Coastal Cruise. The two nights we went were well attended.

Saturday

Authentic Mexican Salsa w/Tortilla Chips

Mojito - $5

Sunday

Wheel of Stilton with Port Wine, Walnut Baguette

House Port - $5

Monday

Smoked Salmon with Toast Points, Onion Rings, Capers and Lemon

Chairman of the Board - $5

Tuesday

Beef Steak Tartare with Melba Toast

Chivas Regal Rob Roy - $5

Wednesday

Shrimp Fountain with American Cocktail Sauce

Cosmopolitan - $5

Thursday – None (Captain’s Circle Party)

Friday

Freshly Made Guacamole with Tortilla Chips

El Mejor Margarita - $5

Panama Canal Expansion Will Be Done By April 2015 - Six Months Late

http://www.panama-guide.com/article.php/20130321150216726

Thanks for the link. Interesting editor's comment at the end of the story:

Editor's Comment: Let's see, they've been working on this thing for five years - since 2007 - and it's now 53% done. There are two years between now and April 2015. Does anyone think it's really going to be done by then? This "six month delay" story line was adopted quite some time ago, and it's the story they are going to be sticking with through the May 2014 elections. Once those are over, then the "truth" will become known. I've been reporting for a long time that this project is much further behind schedule than anyone is willing to admit in public.

Donray, glad you liked the pictures. We travel with two cameras. One is a Nikon D80 DSLR and use it with a Nikkor 18-70mm, 70-300mm, and also a Nikkor 105mm macro lens, and have had the camera about 6 years. We are big fans of the "mode" button, especially the "sports" and "macro" modes. I've found that the sports mode button, in addition to taking action photos, is great for using in lowlight scenarios as well as when you cannot use a flash mode (i.e. churches). If I had to replace it today, I'd probably go for the Nikon D5200. The other camera we use is a Sony Cybershot DSC-HX1 with a 20X zoom lens. It is easy to carry and takes great pictures. The way we operate, we take lots of pictures, sometimes taking the same picture in different modes, then cull the bad pictures later after downloading to the PC.

Thanks so much for the review! My DH and I are taking the cruise in April and this answered a few questions. May I ask a couple more please? Do you know the name of the dock they are at and can you walk to the Eiffel Tower from it on the arrival day, as we arrive by noon. Is the tour the next day, one in which you can get off and you can actually tour Notre Dame, or is it just a drive by of the area highlights?

Thanks so much for your reply.

~Latttelady

The picture below shows the dock area used by Viking in Paris. The location shown on the map is where I believe Viking Spirit normally docks. We (on Viking Pride) docked a little South of that point at Port de Javel Bas. You will get a book prior to your departure that shows the exact location of the boat for your cruise. We made a copy for our cab driver as we stayed in Paris pre-trip on our own. He had no problem findng it. Once you arrive, you can dump your bags and either sit in the lounge or go walking. The Eiffel Tower is within walking distance. We had seen it on a previous day and did not do the walk which I believe they said was 30-45 minutes. You would also have time on the afternoon of the first full day on board if you do not do the optional Louvre tour and did that later on your own.

The driving tour does stop for time at Notre Dame. Believe we had about an hour and a half (a lot of timing will depend on traffic). We parked several blocks away but was an easy walk. There probably won't be time to go up into the bell tower as the line was long, but you will be able to go into the church and walk around the grounds. Around the church and on the way back to the bus there were a number of cafe's if you want an espresso, croissant, etc..

Sorry I can't answer your post-cruise questions regarding the Viking extension. When we did pre-cruise, we stayed near the Louvre and used the Batobus which allowed us to go from place to place while cruising the Seine and see the bridges up close which we enjoyed. Here is a link to their website:

http://www.batobus.com/english/index.htm

Hi War Eagle,

 

I brought this thread back to the top hoping you'd answer a couple of questions about attire on the ship? We are taking this cruise in May and were wondering if a lot of people wore jeans? Everything that I had read said that people mostly wore what they had on during the day to dinner so I didn't know if I should pack my husband some dockers to wear to dinner or if nice jeans and a button down or other nice shirt would be ok? We're trying to pack a smaller number of clothes and my DH is really more comfortable in jeans.

 

Thanks!

Melody

Melody, you will see both in the dining room but on our cruise jeans were definitely in the minority at dinner. Most men would change into long pants and sport shirts (or sweaters as was October and cooler). A few would wear a sports jacket (no tie). Definitely a casual atmosphere on board. We got by with a couple of pair of dess pants and three shirts for dinner for the week.

One area that I would suggest doing air with the company is in Russia... (unless you book Uniworld or Scenic...) as I think it could be very difficult getting to or from the airport on your own.

You can always buy the transfers separately (at least on Viking) if you provide your own air. We've done this several times when using airline miles for the air and/or had earlier arrival or departure plans on one end of the trip which fell outside the normal pre/post departure air criteria. As you mentioned in some cases it definitely is a plus, Passau to Munich comes to mind for us.

Usually, I would say that the Viking policy of paying in full is a detriment

Have seen this before but not sure why it gets repeated. Viking's payment policy (from their website) is as follows:

A deposit for cruise fare of $500 per person is required to secure a confirmed reservation. Promotions may have different payment terms—please refer to the offer. When more than one cruise is booked, deposit and payment policies apply per cruise. The final balance is due no later than 90 days prior to sailing. All reservations are subject to cancellation if payments are not received by the due date. Air seats are limited; airfares are subject to change and are not guaranteed until full payment of air is received.

Granted, they run a lot of promotions where final payment is due at time of booking or on a given date (a number of current promotions have a February 28th final payment) well in advance of the cruise, and although I'm not familiar with Uniworld, sounds like they have the same policy on promotions. I guess we're so use to always having to pay for air fare at the time of booking, this part doesn't seem to bother us.

Why is there a big space between the 2 middle cabins?

Today that space is where the vent is located.

Not sure about Caribbean Princess but on Ruby Princess in December smoking areas had changed since our last cruise. On Ruby, smoking was limited to Tradewinds Bar, On the Sun deck oustide of Adagio/Sabitini's (no longer around aft pool), Speakeasy cigar lounge and one area on the Promenade deck outside of Club Fusion but sorry don't remember if port of starboard. There are no longer any smoking areas on the Lido deck.

We made a mistake and took a Princess tour to the Filadelfia Coffee Plantation and hotel, mostly hotel! We also visited Antigua to learn of its history, and do a little shopping. This cost $99 each and included a basic lunch of baked potato, a quarter of a piece of corn on the Cobb, beans, guacamole and chips, and a iffy piece of meat which was too underdone for lots of people.

 

The plantation was nice but seemed fictional, more of a mock up to demo the process they use making their coffee rather then a real processing plant. It was interesting to learn how they grow, pick, husk the seed, dry and ferment them, and finally roast and package them for consumption. They make three grades of coffee there, and we did get to taste the coffee at lunch. Unfortunately they did not give us enough warning and time to go buy any. We were told that the coffee could be bought cheaper in Antigua, but in fact it was 25% more expensive. I did not get any!

Thanks for a great review of your trip!

Sorry to hear that you were not happy with the tour of the coffee plantation. We took this tour in 2007 and at that time was definitely a working coffee plantation. As we recall, lunch was good and we had plenty of time to wander around the plantation, go to their shop and buy some coffee (even ordered some more online after getting home).

I used my Ipad 3 every day last week using v6.0.1 with no issues at all on Ruby.

FYI based upon some previous discussion, just received email announcing Paris & the Heart of Normandy 2014 schedule and pricing. Looks like Viking Pride and Spirit still scheduled on this cruise with no new Longships listed. Glanced at itinerary and looks to be pretty much the same.

Thanks for the great review, and your additional comments as well.

 

We'll be making the same cruise on the Viking Pride in September, so your review was very timely for us.

Glad you enjoyed it and I'll wish you an early "Happy Anniversary".

Do you have any other pics of the ship? I know you said you are not a foodie, but did any meals stand out? Did you stop in Rouen? That is our Christmas Day stop on Spirit next year. TIA, Scott

Scott, the food was varied and covered a number of different offerings thoughout the week. Depending upon the evening there was the usual chicken, beef, veal and fish options, venison, boar, duck (in a number of different ways which I was really pleased with), frog legs, crab cakes and an interesting escargot appetizer in a raspberry sauce vs. butter and garlic (I prefer the butter and garlic). The Captain’s dinner was my favorite, filet and lobster which were both cooked perfectly. They also offered vegetarian options each night which we didn’t try. I’m guessing the menu could vary based upon the chef, what’s available locally, etc. They also held a cooking demonstration in the lounge one day and a tour of the galley on another.

Our cruise left Paris on a Wednesday and we got to Rouen on Saturday mid-day. There was a walking tour for two hours that afternoon followed by time on your own (this is when right after the tour the sky got very dark and as we ducked into a coffee shop it began to hail). We spent overnight in Rouen then to the beaches in Normandy on Sunday, spent Sunday night in Rouen and sailed at 6:30 AM Monday morning for Les Andelys which was a nice morning sailing after the long day at the beaches.

Was the ship docked at all ports within walking distance to the towns? If not which were?

Larry, yes, we docked within walking distance of town when docked. In Paris, you are near a business area with a nice park and small town area within 10 minutes walking. We were told the Eiffel Tower was a 30 minute walk from our dock (you can see it in the pictures) though we didn’t do that since had been there twice in previous two days. You take a 3.5 hour bus city tour (two stops, one at Notre Dame) on day two and it really was a good tour to get a feel for all of the different areas of Paris, especially if you hadn’t been there before. In Vernon you dock right outside the downtown area and have a short walking tour in the morning, then a short bus ride (about 25-30 minutes) in the afternoon to Giverny to see Monet’s gardens. In Rouen again on the edge of downtown with activities outlined above. In Les Andelys, you are docked at a park adjacent to the town. In Conflans you are docked near town but we were off the ship to Versailles early and left immediately after arriving back from the half-day excursion. Those on the extended Versailles excursion that spent time in the afternoon in Paris, met us back at the dock in Paris shortly before dinner. At any of the stops, if you wish not to take the included tours, you are welcome to wander off on your own. At any time when leaving the ship, you turn in your room key and receive a small card identifying you. When you return to the ship you give back the small card and get your room key back. That is how they ensure nobody is left behind. We were delayed leaving Conflans after Versailles because two people decided to go into Paris and didn’t let anyone from Viking know. They finally found someone who said “Oh yeah, they decided to go into Paris from Versailles on their own”.

We were told on our spring trip (April 2012) on the Idun that the new longboats won't be sailing on the Seine because their design is too large for the locks and bridges there. By the way, we enjoyed the Pride every bit if not more than the new longships.

I thought the same thing and expected to be told "no" with those reasons. Not sure if some modifications will be done to accommodate. Guess we'll have to wait until 2014 itineraries are published. It was interesting to see when allowed back on the top deck after passing a lower bridge that on Pride, the captain's bridge was on hydraulic lifts that go up and down. Agree with you on enjoying the "older" ships as we enjoyed Sky on the Danube as well. Also, prices are lower for the older ships, fewer people, and as mentioned in the review, Viking seems to be keeping them in great shape.

We just returned from Viking’s Paris and the Heart of Normandy cruise on Viking Pride. This was our fifth river cruise, fourth on Viking (last was the Danube two years ago), and it was a great week in spite of some inclement weather.

Because of previous commitments, we could only spend two nights pre-cruise in Paris and booked our own accommodations. We stayed at L’Empire, a small hotel off Rue du Rivoli with a great location, large rooms for Paris, friendly accommodating staff and was a perfect choice for our sightseeing itinerary. It was an easy walk to the Louvre, Tuleries Gardens, L’Orangerie and Orsay museums, and Notre Dame. The room was well appointed with double sinks, a mini-bar, and very comfortable bed. There are many restaurant options within easy walking distance and a small market a few doors down from the hotel. There is construction two buildings away that occurred during the day, but at night it was quiet so no problem for us.

In our time pre-cruise we were able to conquer the Louvre and l’Orangerie museums, Rodin’s sculpture garden, the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame (which we stopped at again on the tour provided by Viking on the second day). We also bought Batobus tickets which was a great way to get from point-to-point while also sailing on the Seine and getting an up close view of all the beautiful bridges.

The hotel booked a cab take us to the dock to board Viking Pride (24 Euros) and we arrived around 12:30PM, our bags were taken and we went to the lounge area to meet our fellow travelers and relax until the cabins were available at 3PM. The Pride was docked alongside a nice park and a small town area was located within walking distance. A walking tour of the area was arranged for those wanting to stretch their legs.

We had a standard “C” cabin on mid-deck with a window just above water level. The cabin was comfortable and had both a European as well as American electrical outlet. There was a TV in the room and included CNN, Fox, Sky News, ESPN (yes, we got to see college and NFL games on Saturday/Sunday), National Geographic, Sky Cinema and itinerary and movie channels. Itinerary related movies included shows related to the Eiffel Tower, Musical Paris and Post Impressionist painting. Movies included Rocky Horror Picture Show, Moulin Rouge, and Perfume, the story of a murderer. (Note: cabin 240 is situated by the ice machine. We were asked not to get ice after 10PM)

Most travelers were Americans with a few Canadians as well.

Viking’s crew was outstanding. Robert Horwath the Hotel Manager was everywhere, easily approachable, and what we’d call had a “happy” staff. The staff worked tirelessly, never complained. Cornelia Svatek was the Program Director. She and her staff were always available, helpful and extremely knowledgeable of the areas we were visiting. We were impressed with the increase in number of options provided, on-your-own flyers for each stop, and the Concierge service now available on Viking. If there is something you want to do outside the offerings provided, just ask and it can probably be arranged.

While not one of the newer Viking Ship’s, we thought Pride was in great shape. The crew could be seen cleaning constantly and were pleased with all areas of the ship.

We are not foodies and found the food good to excellent depending upon the choices. A nice variety of food was served and always available options such as Caesar salad and Steak were offered. Also, a nice change since our last cruise is that complimentary beer, wine and soft drinks is also now offered at lunch. Lunch offered options of either buffet in the lounge or as seated in the dining room. Again, nice change and provided options. Menus for all meals were posted pre-meal in the reception area. The breakfast buffet was plentiful and you could also order special items from the kitchen. The create-your-own oatmeal area was a hit with a number of passengers. Juice, rolls and the always present coffee machine available in the reception area for early risers, and the coffee machine made great coffee.

We found internet access much improved from two years ago and never had a problem connecting. Best connections were in the reception area (or above in the small library area) and toward the rear of the lounge. We connected successfully on our laptop, iPad and iPhones with no issues, and it’s free!

We had rain on-and-off during the week and luckily went prepared with water proof jackets, small umbrellas and clothing for layering. We also took large zip lock bags for our cameras and they came in handy on several occasions. There were days we seemed to go through three seasons in a day and even experienced a hail storm in Rouen. Luckily, for most outdoor sightseeing it was either overcast or partly cloudy to sunny so just go prepared for anything if travelling this time of year.

We really enjoyed all of the stops along the Seine. Our favorites were Monet’s gardens and the day trip to visit the areas and beaches involved in D-Day. At Monet’s gardens a few lily pads were still in bloom and lots of other flowers blooming within the confines of the gardens. After touring the gardens before returning to the meeting spot, we walked into the little town of Giverny to the church where we found Monet’s grave site. The day to the D-Day beaches and cemetery was very moving. Two versions of the excursion were offered, one for Americans and another for Canadian/British passengers and a nice lunch was included in the outing. At the cemetery, the group gathered at the main monument and sang along to the National Anthem played by a carillon, followed by taps and a moment of silence, and there were few dry eyes during this moving ceremony. We each were given a rose to place at a cross of our choice, and the staff offered to look up the location of anyone buried at the cemetery to help you find it. After the cemetery the bus took us to Omaha beach where we had about 15 minutes to walk on the beach and view the monuments there.

We took the optional half-day trip to Versailles and the last day of the cruise. We got a tour of Versailles and then were free to wander through the palace and/or the gardens after the tour. An extended tour was offered allowing more time at Versailles and then a drop off at the Champs-Elysees for some time prior to returning to the ship.

During the cruise, a number of on-board presentations were held and the usual cocktail hour followed by daily briefing was held in the lounge prior to dinner. Piano music and vocals were provided each evening and during lunch. Other presentations/events included French lessons, music quiz, nautical talk, preview of other Viking cruises, guest music by “Spirit of France”, cooking demonstration, guest lecturer on “Painters on the Seine” (who was really good), history of Joan of Arc and I’m sure I’m missing a few but you get the idea.

Optionals for the cruise included:

Louvre Tour – 59 Euros, Versailles – 79 Euros half day/89 Euros full day, Painting class (in Vernon) 10 Euros, Oyster and Champagne tasting (on board) 35 Euros.

Some CC readers had asked about new Viking Longships on the Seine. Sounds like possibly 2014 but are awaiting future schedules to determine for sure. Also, regarding sailings during Christmas, various options are usually offered depending upon when/where ship is around Christmas. Once, mid-night mass at Notre Dame was offered, another time a palace decorated for Christmas was offered so sounds like nothing specific, but will vary by cruise/year. Once again, if you are aware of something based upon your pre-cruise investigation, it could possibly be arranged by the cruise staff if not offered, just ask.

Pictures of our journey have been posted at:

http://smengelt.shutterfly.com/2103

Simple answer.....no.

Not true on a recent Star Princess cruise. Several officers smoked daily while sitting at the end of the bar (on the port side of the ship), several tables on the port side near the bar were also smoking tables and smoking was allowed along railing above the Terrace Pool on the port side.

Thanks for a great review as this is a trip we want to take with Viking in the future. Was there any discussion while on the trip about what times of year one might want to avoid? Sounds like March is a good time.

The New Taste of Eleuthera Island Excursion -

 

In my opinion this is a real looser of an excursion. The cost was $99 per person and there is absolutely nothing else too see on this island. Save your money and just lay on the beach or do some type of water sport. In all of our years of excursions this was the worst. Remember this is just my opinion for what ever it is worth.

 

We took the Princess tour of Eleuthra in April 2009. It was great seeing the Island towns, the deep ocean hole that Jacques Cousteau has dived in, toured a school, saw women cleaning conch on a dock by the most beautiful blue ocean, visited the police department, saw the home of an Olympian runner. Yes the Island is flat and brushy but the view of the ocean was amazing. When we got back we had time to walk about the beach area and swim if we wanted but we had had enough beach time.

Having been to the island several times we decided to try this tour. Learned lots about the history and people of the island and enjoyed it very much. It was pricey, but have paid more for less in the past and it would probably not be for everyone. Have posted pictures of the cruise and the Princess Cays pictures and tour begin at picture number 13 through 59.

http://smengelt.shutterfly.com/627