orchestrapal

On 4/15/2021 at 7:58 PM, Azulann said:

Viking Ocean Crusies are true luxury , both in aesthetics, food,  and in the type of passengers. 

Well educated,  love conversations and fun.

NOT if you have ever been on a true luxury ship!

The only thing that is similar to luxury are the Viking prices.

BUY USA and not China!!
Remember, if it’s to good to be true it usually is pure junk!!!!

On 5/14/2021 at 1:53 PM, sverigecruiser said:

 

Personally I hope so but of course I understand that people travelling with children don't like it!

No children will help make this a real Haven for the rest of us!,👍👍

15 hours ago, Lois R said:

Thanks....it is VERY expensive .......nearly 600.00 (US).  

And worth every penny, glorious suites and bathrooms with many little extras brought to your suite.

5 hours ago, Old Sea Dog said:

As loyal Crystal passengers for the last twenty seven cruises we are now considering Viking due to lack of interest in Crystals proposed new Itinerary’s.

We are looking at Barcelona to Buenos Aires this autumn. Although we have previously done a similar itinerary could any one advise us as to how the two lines compare regarding food and onboard activity.

Thank you

 

 

Crystal tops Viking in every area with exception to suites and bathrooms. Crystal’s lecture program, food and personal service can in no way compare. We were in an Explorers Suite and ate in the specialty restaurants every night for 28 days.  The main dining room was so noisy we gave it up after one night but it was, however good for breakfasts when the tours took a majority of people off the ship.

10 minutes ago, mcloaked said:

 

One example is Crystal Cruises - see https://www.crystalcruises.com/guidebook/shipboard-life-guidelines-policies

 

and the section therein called "Black Tie Optional Attire"

And it is truly OPTIONAL. We saw very few Tuxes and many men in sports jackets on Crystal.

It was and hopefully will still be a wonderful experience.

On 3/15/2021 at 10:51 AM, awhfy said:

Our neighbor’s golden doodle, someone is happy about the snow!!

So cute!

6 hours ago, Ashland said:

Rubens at the Palace is also a great location. But my all time favorite stay was a week post cruise at the Milestone....very nice !!!

Funny recommendation as Rubens @ 5 star hotel where breakfast for two would almost

eat up their £150/night budget.😿

We have had the “pleasure” on Regatta in a  Vista Suite. The neighbor insisted making daily phone calls every morning and evening but neglected to use the phone. We were able to hear every word from 15 feet away in the living room. Not pleasant!

They left the ship after the first segment after which we had pretty quiet neighbors.👍

It’s a matter of luck.

20 hours ago, moto_italia said:

We sailed on Dawn in 2016 and had a Forward Facing Penthouse with Large Balcony (SF).  The balcony had two full lounge chairs on it and was HUGE. 

 

We enjoyed having expedited embarkation/ disembarkation as well as very attentive butler service, bottled waters, champagne, chocolates, etc.  The room had a nice coffee/expresso machine and was certainly spacious and had a large bathroom.

 

At each port, the butler would take us down a private elevator to get us right out and ahead of the line for leaving the ship for the day.  There was a private cocktail hour daily for suite holders, and best of all, a private suite-holders dining room for daily breakfast and lunch at sea.  We were able to invite our traveling companions who had a balcony room to join us for breakfast and lunch meals in the private dining room.  

So  you break the rules..why don’t you go and eat with your friends in the main dining room if it’s so important to you..

On 2/23/2021 at 10:31 PM, gotta cruise again said:

I agree! I had never had anything from Soma until I bought their vanishing edge panties. 
 

I bought them online having never even seen them in person and the fit was perfect.

Same item on Amazon bought in bulk for very little money.

They are  just short of disposable perfect to ditch on travel.

16 hours ago, Heidi13 said:

 

Viking policy mandates the maximum perks a TA can offer, but whatever perks provided is solely at the discretion of the TA.

16 hours ago, Heidi13 said:

 

Viking policy mandates the maximum perks a TA can offer, but whatever perks provided is solely at the discretion of the TA.

From our experience our TA who has always given us a large rebate in the form of a check after the cruise. She did likewise on our Viking cruise. We only take OBC if given by cruise line like Oceania loves to do.

We find OBC difficult to spend and much prefer our welcome home checks. There is no reason one should not shop and find TA’s who really want your business.

1 hour ago, KirkNC said:

V has restrictions on scooters.  I believe you can have them but their are size restrictions (which apparently eliminates many scooters).

They only allow a very few on board.

19 hours ago, goginger said:

Does anyone have pictures of the aft facing DV1 cabins?

Lots of pictures if you Google the cabin type.

Given the speed👎 of the vaccine distribution in the US  I would doubt any cruise

ships will sale out of NY before 2022.

Personally I would not sit around worrying about any cruises before but then.

16 hours ago, Mudhen said:

Oh dear.... I never, ever ment that there was any kind of bad smell in ANY of the Cunard dining rooms...

I was trying (apparently, unsuccessfully) to try to convey some sort of atmosphere that is hard to put into words. I failed miserably. All apologies.

Trying to convey what we thought of what "stuffiness" is, obviously impossible to convey, unless you were there. 

 

Well said QG is Stuffy and together with the 50 ‘s stuck in the mud menus makes for a less than relaxed  atmosphere.👎

1 hour ago, rbslos18 said:

Thanks for sharing. We enjoy visiting ports but especially love the relaxation of just being on the ship at sea. So for us the more days at sea the better. What brought us to Viking is its elegance without being ostentatious. The luxury cruise lines just weren’t for us. 

RB

We found Viking casual rather than elegant however you will probably love it!

I was not referring to the financial position  of ANY cruise line but rather about pre-COVID experiences.

Hopefully things will approve across the board as I have no dog in this race.

18 hours ago, The Other Tom said:

Thanks for the replies

Maybe you might consider another cruise line.

Reading for many of us fills hours every day. We did not enjoy most of the lectures on Viking.

In our opinion the best lectures are on QM2 but we disliked the very mass market ship experience and the stuffy atmosphere. Crystal had the perfect combination for us with very, very good and plentiful lectures and the best food and service we have experienced at sea.

21 days would be the shortest with equal sea and port days.

We have done mostly all back to backs once on Cunard  

most past and all future not.

5 hours ago, Barb Nahoumi said:

I wear earrings all the time, every day.

I also wear them every day as well as decent casual clothes even though it is just for us and our doormen who come up to deliver.

sloppy does not cut it for me.......

Packable down jacket, ours fold into their own packets, and hiking boots .
We have spent the coldest, rain and snow, in this part of the world in September,October ands November. 

1 hour ago, phabric said:

Thanks, this way I can plan to book hotel early and what we will do on the Friday.

Dates for 2021,2022 all on Google!

4 minutes ago, Lois R said:

Good morning,  have any of you used Zoom before? I was thinking since it will be so different

for all of you with families this year, maybe we could all zoom together for a few minutes to

wish each other a Happy Thanksgiving. What do you think?  Just a suggestion.....I have never

used it before so not sure how it goes.  I know most of you will be missing your families.

I am used to spending T day on my own.....been doing it for quite a few years now......for me,

it is just another day (I know that may sound sad but I am used to it now).

I know we are in different time zones but thought it might be fun...........what do you think?

regular Zoom only allows up to 100.

could not make it at these impossible times without Zoom and it’s clones for board meetings and telemedicine. Of course family in our virtual home is the best.

15 hours ago, basenji56 said:

Glad to hear this.  We are booked on a TA from Southhampton next October.  Loved the available excursions too.  Is it true that you can get good steaks and lobster every night in the dining room?

 

Part of always available in the buffet and by request in the  Dinning Room. With so many choices we have never found steaks necessary and don’t eat lobster.😺