orchestrapal

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.😺

5 hours ago, basenji56 said:

We just cancelled two Celebrity cruises.  One to Oceania and one to Viking Ocean.  Celebrity has priced themselves out of our market.  If we are going to pay their new prices, we figure it is better to buy a better product on VO or Oceania.

 

Having been on 2 VO and 13 Oceania cruises we would definitely say Oceania is a step up from VO.

VO has newer more modern ships but to us not the level of service and amazing speciality restaurants you get on Oceania.

steamboats, thanks for  for the pictures. Unfortunately  I don not see anything that would put this ship on

the luxury part of CC. Very cold and unappealing .

3 minutes ago, njhorseman said:

The cruise lines are definitely hoping that the self-imposed October 31 date will mark the end of the ban.

October 31,2021 MAYBE!!! 

We were in a Penthouse suite which has the worst bathroom we have ever had on a so called luxury cruise which the QM 2  QG was not. 

Crystal beats Viking on every front. First step on Viking I said to my BH “where are the FLOWERS?

Crystal  is warm while Viking is sterile Crystal includes all fine wines and drinks while most of the free wine is bottom shelf. Food on Crystal also beats Viking.

No comparing service where Crystal gets an A+ and Viking a B-.

Viking cabins may be larger but definitely cold and colorless.

Viking does have many nice public spaces.

It all boils down to your expectations.
For us it was one b/b on Viking and straight back to our beautiful comfortable Crystal

13 hours ago, Hawaiidan said:

Well...... if you like wind... Vista is for you...  Lets see, the ship sails at 15-18 kts  about 25 miles an hour   then to that ships try to sail into the wind ... lets say its a modest 10 to 12 mph...  Bingo you have  35-40 mph blowing direct on you.     Many times underway crew will tie down the furniture.

My experience...... its the windiest place on the ship   Great view  but for me only usable when not underway.

IN additIon the two  Vistas on deck 6 get  any and all noise from the stage right below them. Rehearsals in the afternoon and then you would be treated to the even louder version in the evening.

14 hours ago, Hawaiidan said:

After being locked up for this year...  I was looking at 2021 as a special year... Is a Oceania suite worth it over a PH  on Marina..  Do you get that much more service .  I know its double the size..   Are the  whirlpool s use-able?   Do the have steps and or grab rails to help in and out?       Looking at  Amsterdam to Venice 26 day  and advice..

Oceania Suite is a SUITE, meaning several rooms.
NO comparison for luxury and service. Go for it.👍

5 hours ago, MBP&O2/O said:

To reverse the scenario ... process by elimination ... which luxury line would experienced cruisers consider the ‘most stuffy’?
Which has the strictest dress code?
Which is the most ‘formal’? By that I do not mean multiple black tie nights
Which line is most likely to enforce their dress code?

My understanding is Cunard is the most stuffy but they are not luxury per se.

 

Cunard is NOT luxury in any way. What they call luxury is Queens Grill which is fifties food in an unimpressive room with stuffy overly pompous people. Once and never again!

5 hours ago, WorldTraveler151208 said:

I was also looking forward to this project, but to be honest I no longer believe that Titanic II will be built. At least not in the near future.  This company does not answer any questions and there is no new information about it at all.  It looks like the whole thing has been forgotten .

It's a pity, because I believe that the Blue Star Line could be a success.  They might even in the future build modern QM2-style liners to be an alternative to Cunard for people who like traditional old-fashioned and elegant cruising. Such a line on the market would be great, because as you have noticed, Cunard is not the same anymore.

I’m afraid the traditional old-fashioned folks will either be dead or uninterested by the time. someone would be dumb enough to build a new 1900’s style ship.

For sure generation Z will have no interest in half dead old fashioned cruise liners with or without masks.

12 hours ago, clo said:

I guess that everyone saw that Hurtigruten (Norway) had two crew members test positive and they're currently hospitalized

Sadly up to 33 positive crew members testing positive.

11 hours ago, Lois R said:

Hi girls......I felt fine today-----up to about 4:00/4:30...........I decided to pop some popcorn and I am not sure what

happened.   If the bag had gone bad or it just did not agree with me but OMG......I got REALLY SICK..........😲

I mean sick sick...threw up all of it....I feel a bit better now and am just drinking some Ginger Ale but I had no 

apetite for dinner.    Talk about WEIRD!!!!!!!!

TMI..

Terrific addition to luxury considerations for those who don’t

want rub elbows with fellow passengers or stand in lines.

Space is a real luxury.

23 minutes ago, Mudhen said:

Is this the Scottish castle that was used in Downton Abby? If it's not, it's very similar!

Downton Abby was filmed a t Highclere Castle in Hampshire ENGLAND!

5 hours ago, Pomeranian said:

Hi mikey, thanks for sharing your experience. What about the buffet in viking, will the menu change day by day or the same like in the haven? And with the butler and other service in the haven, considering its a mass market cruise, do you think the service quality lower than suite class on higher cruise line like celebrity/regent?


Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Viking can not be compared to Regent which is a luxury line . The entire feeling of Viking is fine, food is good and service is OK but in no way luxury.

Our experience has been if you do not charge against it in 30 days

they will send you a check.

1 hour ago, Vmjackson63 said:

Our Second Viking cruise was cancelled.  When first one was cancelled we took voucher and booked again.  The second cruise was cancelled due to Covid.  Viking now refuses to give us a cash refund in the amount of the original cruise fare.   We have emailed and called their customer service to no avail.   This amounts to them stealing over $10,000 of our hard earned dollars.  Any advice?

Hopefully you paid with a good credit card.

Viking also tried to cheat us by not returning our money and we were made whole by our credit card company.  I hope you are able to get your money back but I would not count on Viking,

46 minutes ago, waterbug123 said:

I wear my diamond studs 24/7.  I'm to the point where I rarely, if ever, even take another pair on a cruise.  Maybe a pair of big gold hoops to wear one night just to change it up but that's about it. 

Diamond studs and a diamond tennis bracelet never leave my body.  As a woman of a certain age I can’t be bothered to constantly change .

Don’t book it.
Stick to what you know and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere which you won’t get on Cunard. If you want to upgrade a bit go one of the premium lines such as Oceania or Azamara. NO formal there.

Sorry you’re having that problem in in NJ.

Here in Center city Philadelphia no such problems, we are very lucky.

Mail has been delivered every day, groceries come within a few hours of my ordering and local small businesses have been wonderful about delivering to us as well.

I hope your situation improves quickly. Down

If you have a high level credit card such as a Chase Sapphire your payment may be covered.

We had a problem with a Viking refund and had the funds returned by our credit card.

The worst part of Viking is their front office!👎

2 hours ago, exlondoner said:

 

I suppose because it's Cunard and not one of those luxury lines, and that is how they decided to do things. According to other threads I have seen, for those booking QG in the US, drinks are often included. Occasionally in the UK as well, very occasionally.

NO Cunard QG is definitely not like any luxury line we’ve been on.

You are on a. Mass-market ship at luxury prices even while in a suite.

 Love your rose colored glasses.
Enjoy your current time aboard Viking since what we are reading in reliable sources makes the future of cruising look very glum. 

7 hours ago, Heidi13 said:

Not "Luxury" as many on here state, but on Viking you have a chance of getting younger passengers. However nobody under 18.

 

Just completing the World Cruise and we had a 21 yr old on for the entire 8 months, a couple of 18 year olds from L/A to Sydney, a mid 20's from L/A to Dubai and a mid 30's couple from L/A to Bali.

We did a B/B/B and thr youngest on any of the three cruises were a few  in their early 50’s. If your looking for luxury Viking does not fill the bill although it is a very nice experience however not Crystal.