millybess

@James Booth I should add that I don't know where you're stopping. The information I provided was our experience in Kodiak, Seward, Valdez, Sitka and Ketchikan.

We were on the Hong Kong to Vancouver cruise last month. In Alaska, we did several included "by foot" tours and also toured around on our own. We did the Kenai Fjords tour on a boat and getting on and off was easy. There is always a staff person on each side to help you get on and off. We never felt like we had high rise steps or uneven terrain. There were no suspension bridges on our tours.

Were you on Deck 6? We have been in an ES on deck 5 a few times and have never experienced the black flecks, exhaust fumes, pool smell, etc. Maybe @bookbabe @BlairsvilleCruiseGirl can comment on this.

That could be the case now. However in January 2023, we put our credit card information on MVJ at comfort check-in. We boarded Viking Sea and they asked for a card. For our several cruises since then we haven't bothered putting our credit card information on the MVJ website. For us, it's not a problem. We use the same card while we're overseas.

When we were in Norway on Jupiter in 2022 they produced heat and were quite cozy for a while. We think the "black flecks" were caused by them having been painted black. Possibly, when the ship is in warmer climes, they are turned off and are just for show.

The wall hanging is beautiful. Do you have a photo of the top of the quilt hanger?

You will need to present a card upon embarkation for their files. It doesn't have to be the same card, but you will have to give Viking a card for them to use to settle up a couple of days before the end of the cruise. We don't give them the particulars of a card on the MyVikingJourney website. That's not necessary. But you will have to give them a card when you board.

They came in quite handy in Norway, but watch out for the little black flecks. 😊 They don't burn your clothes, it just makes a mess.

On our sailing in Norway, there were little black flecks on the Aquavit Terrace, and eventually our clothes. We traced it back to the heaters on the Terrace.

Excursions are booked through MyVikingJourney, not the Voyager app. The Voyager app will work once on board.

I feel your pain, but it works for them. They keep selling out.

And, I'll add, that drinking mojitos with Splenda just isn't the same as with sugar. Halfway through our latest and long cruise, I gave up halfway through and stopped handing them Splenda.🙄 (Off topic, but on our 3 cruises on Sea last year, Splenda was readily available everywhere. It wasn't available on Orion at all. I was glad I brought some to have with my early morning coffee in the room.)

Thanks. I'll keep that in mind for DH. He loves ginger ale too. I try to keep away from sugar, but I realize the alternative isn't in my best interest.

Thanks for all of your insight. It's very much appreciated.

Yes, I remember the disastrous "New Coke". And I also remember those sweaty cans. Thanks for the answer. There are people who swear they are the same. One other thing I have noticed during our travels, is that Coke Zero doesn't always have the same taste in every country. I have wondered if that has to do with the refrigerated temperature.

I always drink Coke Zero and never drink Diet Coke. I have noticed that Viking always has Coke Zero available -- at least on recent sailings. And I have wondered if Diet Coke and Coke Zero are the same. Is that the case?

Thank you! That would be just like Viking, it's depends on who you ask. 😊

I'm interested in this question also. On our last cruise in May, I asked about caffeine-free soft drinks and the Orion did not carry them. But over the years, we have found that different ships carry different products due to availability.

Decaf coffee pods to use with the in-room coffee maker are replenished every day by the room steward.

Thanks, that's right, they are separate.

Yes, the PIF date is closer to sailing date than the excursion booking date. And, yes, we would be choosing our excursions before paying anything more than the deposit. Our sailing date is January and our PIF is September. The 4 month PIF isn't unusual, but because they have changed the normal excursion booking dates, our excursion booking date is before the PIF. We are just wondering if this has happened to anyone because we will be travelling on excursion booking day and don't want any hiccups.

We have a PIF date that is after our shore excursion booking date. Has anybody experienced this before? We haven't, and I dread having any issues on the excursion booking day.

Yes. We were recently on 7 close to the elevator and we could hear it. It's a great location for the Explorer's Lounge, World Cafe, etc. But it was a little too busy for us -- especially when everyone was coming and going to see the Northern Lights at 2 a.m. lol. We stayed in an aft room before and we have booked the same location for our next 3 cruises. Further away, but it's quieter and the scenery is very nice.

I think you are cruising on Viking Venus? On the Viking Cruises website, one of the ports is Napier. However, on the invoice it's a sea day. I assume your invoice is the same and Venus doesn't stop at Napier?