Mich3554

On 3/9/2024 at 2:51 AM, Ready to Sail! said:

I  don't book with Travelocity, I just use it as a research site along with a few others. Get an Idea of what is available and then go directly with the airlines.  Delta has a number of non stops to either Altanta or LA which would be our choice since we live in No. Ca. We fly from Sacramento, which will be necessary for either ATL or LAX  

                                                                                                                                                      Your idea of a few days in BA certainly would be worth considering but our cruise is overnight in BA so I think that will be enough for us, getting a day to see the sights on the day we dock.    We are senior-seniors!  who are at the point that 18 days will probably be pushing our endurance.                                                                                                                                                            We are trying to keep it as simple and stress free as possible. Also, I think what I said was the first time I looked on Delta there were no flights other than later in the day.  My main concern at this point is not sitting 10-12 hours at an airport so hoping Viking had some options/flexibility with their transfers.  I will keep looking and hope to come up with some earlier flights.  

 

I couple of you suggested I contact optional transfers at Viking which I will do today.  Thank you everyone.  

 

If you have not been to Iguazu Falls, I highly suggest you take the time and go.  It’s a short flight from BA through their domestic airport.  This really was a side trip of a lifetime.

When we did this trip (we have gone in both directions), Viking set up a hospitality center at one of the hotels in BA.  Those who had earlier flights went there, those with later flights got a tour.  
We flew AeroMexico to Seattle to Santiago through Mexico City the first time, Delta the second.  The Delta flight through ATL was a much longer day.  
For getting from Santiago to Valparaiso, we spent a few days in Santiago, then hired a private driver who took us to vineyards and wine tastings, we got a tour of Valparaiso, then dropped off at the ship.  In BA, we used the hospitality room to catch our domestic flight out of the airport (not EZE, it was a short cab ride) to Iguazu.  

4 hours ago, Heidi13 said:

 

Jim - If you're docking at one of the many berths in Phu My, unless the roads have improved significantly since our last visit, affirmative, it is 90 mins + into downtown Saigon.

As I remember from last year, roads exiting the port were……rustic.  It was a good haul into the city.

1 hour ago, Travel Lady in CT said:

Many of the WC haven't opened bookings yet.  For example, Oceania mid-March and HAL in May.

We just booked the 2025-26 world cruise on Viking.  This cruise dropped mid Jan, I got a call about it before it was made public.  

23 hours ago, shmabbies said:

 

Actually I did review the posts in that location a while ago (but thanks for suggesting it).  Other than pretty much the same comments as here (LONG SLOG), I found nothing but confirmation of how much walking is involved.  As in this thread, one poster mentioned that such a facility MUST have services - which we all agree is a logical conclusion - but no one has posted use of said services or a link to said services.   I'd be happy with PAYING for assistance.  But you're right, I should put a post there.  Thanks!

I contacted my Turkish friend, heard from her yesterday and she’s looking into it for me.  
 

On 2/26/2024 at 2:12 PM, FetaCheese said:

If you have established your account on My Viking Journey -- MVJ :

 

Select Onboard Experience...Dining...Silver Spirits Bev. Package...

 

See sample menu. Note--To see menu PDF, you may have to look at it on Desktop or laptop.  It does not open on my android Moto phone, and (May or may not be updated) Prices include grat.

Just be aware that these prices are in euros, but the prices look about where they should be in $$ from our trip last month.
 I could see the menu on my iPad.  

1 hour ago, CCWineLover said:

We did a TA last December.

To tell the truth, these days on Viking it seems to be whatever the passenger wants to try to get away with.  Sometimes and some ships they enforce dress code at the Specialty Restaurants and sometimes they don't.   On our current Rome to Athens cruise, the standards never seem to be enforce and we have seen quite a bit of sloppy World Cafe style dressing in Manfredi's and Chef's table.

Take your chances.

We were told that they tend not to enforce dress codes in restaurants on the day you embark, the day before you disembark, and if your luggage has not arrived.  I know of several people on one of our cruises who boarded without luggage and due to her size could find nothing in the stores before boarding our Barcelona to BA TA.  Unfortunately, none of m6 stuff fit her either as I offered.  

4 hours ago, shmabbies said:

Thanks to all for confirming my worst fears - glad I asked!  For those who referenced Galataport and the fact that for such a big, new, upscale facility it MUST have handicapped help - I would agree that it seems logical that it must be so.  BUT I have been all over the Galataport website and I've read an awful lot about all the awards it's won and all its shopping opportunities and all the restaurants it has etc. etc. but I have NOT found one word about wheelchairs or handicapped assistance, nor have I found a phone number or e-mail or other way to reach out to Galataport management to ask.  I'm really kind of flabbergasted.  And disappointed.

 

One takeaway from carolinetodd's comments that I think I was mistaken about - I think I thought check-in would be pretty close to the ship entrance/gangway, because in my experience it usually is.  But her comments lead me to believe that even after check-in there is yet more walking to leave the structure - would that be true?

 

This is all so different from the way it used to be embarking in Istanbul.  I'm kindof regretting the choice.  But appreciative of the input received and welcome more!

 

 

I have a friend in Istanbul.  Let me ping her and see if there is anything she can find out.  Her daughter works next door.  Hopefully, she’s in town right now.

Galataport is a huge terminal and there will be quite a bit of walking just to get to the exit, both from the ship to the outside and the entrance to the ship.  You go up multiple levels via escalator, and before you get to the ramp to th3 ship, you get directed though the store (even though they could open an exit so you don’t have to walk an extra 100 yards.  
 

I do not remember seeing anything about wheelchair services when I as there last year.  I see that there are concierge services there.  Yo7 might want to check here.

There was a carafe of hot chocolate, along with marshmallows at the bar on deck 7 by the pool on the Venus.  We didn’t see it until the last day.

We have kept a running total of our drink tab over every single cruise we have taken….both river and ocean (courtesy of my engineer husband who adores spreadsheets).  This includes one river, 9 stand alone cruises and a world cruise (where they did keep track of what we drank, despite the cruise fare paying for the SS package).  

Our results…..we ordered what we wanted, when we wanted.  No restraints.  We wound up paying 1/4-1/2 of what the SS package cost in alcohol and other drinks.  On a back to back to back (Athens to Santiago) there were a lot of sea days.  The cruise was around 55 days.  I think we only drank 50% of what the package cost.  There were only 10 days out of 55 where our bar tab met or exceeded what the daily package cost.  
 

This is the way WE drink.  On our first cruise, DH suggested that we go a la carte and see where we wind up.  A lot of cruises later, the answer is still the same.

5 hours ago, duquephart said:

Once you know about them you know about them. But they are basically sprung upon first timers - in which case the price is not the price.

When I booked our first Viking cruise, the Viking rep DID inform me what the gratuities were at the very beginning, and that they’d be charged to our account automatically but were optional.  I booked directly with Viking.  

On 2/1/2024 at 8:45 AM, Heidi13 said:

 

Viking has 4 options for their World Cruise, with the L/A to London being the shortest at 121 days. With the port/sea day ratio and the number of overnights and double overnights in port, you can't sail around the entire World in 4-months.

 

For those wanting a true circumnavigation of the globe, the 180-day option is from Florida to New York.

We did this last year, got on in FL and off in NYC.  However, for us the London to NYC legs were marketed as 3 separate legs for an additional 6 weeks.  Originally, we were going to get off in Reykjavik, but added Reykjavik to NYC while on the cruise.  There were about 12 of us that got off in NYC from the world cruise.

We are considering the 25-26 cruise.  If we can work things out, get on in Barcelona before the WC and get off in London.
 

There are 2 versions.  One is an excursion on a port day where you go shopping with the chef and prepare a meal.  The other is an excursion only on sea days.  It starts at 10 am in the morning, where 12 people get together and help the chef cook a set meal.  At the end, you sit down and eat a late lunch around 1.  This pops up on the excursion section of the interactive TVs in your room as an offering on sea days, and it’s $69 pp.  At the end, you get to keep your Viking apron and receive a printout of the recipes you cooked.  
I left the world cruise with 4 aprons.  I didn’t do all of them that were offered, but only the ones that interested me.  I signed up for the one on our Northern Lights cruise we just returned from, but rather than a sea day, we were flown to London.  

3 hours ago, CDNPolar said:

 

First - there are shows.  However, you put "shows" in quotes.  Every night there is a show in the Star Theatre and it is not as BIG as some larger mass market cruise lines, but there is a dance/singing troop, the Viking Band, and the Cruise Director will host a variety show as well.  There can be comedians, magicians, and the like, but lower key than a line that has 3000+ guests.

 

There are Resident Historians that have lectures (If you consider this fun) that have talks daily about the region you are visiting or the history of the region.

 

Port talks of course.

 

Yes, there is Trivia, but this is generally during the day.

 

There is 4:00pm Tea in the Winter Garden.

 

There can be craft and cooking demonstrations.

 

I think that you will find that if you are part of a world cruise, there will be more options than a straight 8-12 night cruise.

 

 

The last few cruises we have been on there has also been an evening session of trivia at 8 pm too.

36 minutes ago, Opinica said:

My wife plays bridge 3 hours/day on Viking cruises.  She's addicted.

This is easy to do.  
 

On the world cruise, we had to make a decision as to whether to commit to bridge, or to take advantage of the other things going on on the ship.  Bridge takes a huge chunk of time, so we decided not to play that trip.  

3 hours ago, CDNPolar said:

Interesting question...  We have been politely refused when not in an area that also has a food menu attached and I believe that it is down to that person's discretion as well.

 

 

Interesting.  On the cruise we were just on, both DH and I both ordered sodas in the Explorer’s Lounge during lunch, but not eating.  We were not charged for any of them.  

2 hours ago, HofstraJet said:

Yes, I saw that but it doesn’t make sense which is why I’m asking. Looks like someone cut and pasted the river information to the ocean side.
 

I can’t imagine an ocean cruise ship having 22” doorways in public spaces. It just doesn’t make sense and I’m asking if anyone can confirm what the passageways are like on the ocean ships. 

I suspect a wheelchair any wider than 22” will make passage down corridors for others more difficult coming in the opposite direction.  It’s probably more about not having bottlenecks here.

7 hours ago, dwlmg said:

I wish Viking would not delete a booking on My Viking Journey until after the cruise you had booked. Your return flight information is no longer accessible using Viking resources after you start your cruise. There is a possibility your flight may change. Yes you can carry your airline confirmation number with you but it would be nice to be able to see it on the MVJ site. If you booked Viking Air, being able to see the return flight through the Viking app would also be nice.

They send you all the info in your MVJ booking in a consolidated email as a PDF about 2 weeks before you leave.

However, I ALWAYS go directly to the airline site via the booking locator number they provide.  That is where you’ll get the most up to date info on your flight.

On 4/19/2017 at 10:51 PM, jiminyC_fan said:

My main thing is to not get a cabin close to a laundry room. Foot traffic, voices and the heat spoiled one cruise on another line. In fact, we were assigned one this time and I turned it down.

On Viking, you’d not know a laundry room was there without seeing the sign for it.  It’s very quiet.  

Above menu currently on the Venus right now.

10 hours ago, donaldsc said:

I assume that you are going on an aurora cruise. I am doing the same cruise.  I hope that you can set things up so they will notify you to wake up and go outside in the middle of the night if there are aurora out this.  This means that you should leave your warm clothing easily accessible so you can get dressed quickly to get outside.  At least that is my plan.

 

DON

They will supposedly call your phone on any sightings, they cue you about signing up for this on the TV after watching the safety video..  We finally are due to leave Alta today for Tromso.  We spent an extra day here, due to a pretty severe storm going on.  Unfortunately, seeing lights so far has been a bust for us.  
 

That being said, I have found that there is more than sufficient drawer and closet space on the Venus.  We have a PV, but over half our drawers are empty.  I’m using 3, DH 2.  Plentry of hanging space for bulky coats.  

Our experience on the Neptune last year was that Viking air was rescheduling everyone who was booked before 11 until after 1.  Despite us getting into NYC with plenty of time, they would not release the ship for while.  As I remember it, they finally allowed the first group off the ship at 9:15ish, we were in the second group that they released at 9:30, then stood in a very long line to get through customs.  We flew out of LGA, got there in time to check in, eat lunch and get on our 3 pm flight with about an hour to spare.
 

The big hold up was NYC officials would not release the ship.  This happened in FL when we got on, and in LA too.  

We went over to the Asian side of Istanbul to buy our rugs.  We also brought my Turkish friend who did the haggling for us.  The place was definitely off the tourist route, it was the dealer my friend also used for herself.  
 

Watching her haggling was an experience.  We had 2 rugs we were interested in, she negotiated for one and we decided to buy both but she had concluded negotiating for one.  We told her tgat we wanted both, so she had to start all over again.  The deal was sealed with tea.

On 1/24/2024 at 10:51 PM, Jim Avery said:

The Sky's rain finally caught up with us big time in Moorea.  We were on the boat cruise and it had a canvas top but no sides.  Everyone got completely drenched,  Couldn't see to take pix so everyone onboard voted to return to the dock.  Still, it ended up being the advertised 1 hour tour and we don't have to wash the clothes we were wearing..  Shoes and hats are going to take a while to dry.🍹

It poured on us last year on the Neptune.  Moorea and Bora Bora were done in downpours and we got drenched on the included excursion and the ATV trip.  

On 1/24/2024 at 8:26 PM, CCWineLover said:

and which menus were changed?  On our last cruise they did four different classes (limited to 12):  California, Italian, Greek, French

At last on the world cruise, the menus seemed to be regional.  The 2 classes I did then were Indonesian and Thai cooking.  We were near those places.  Up the coast of Norway for Northern Lights, we have Norwegian cooking, so this seems to hold out.