LindaS272

I don’t know about your particular cruise but we had “free air” last year for Iceland & Norway Arctic Explorer. We had upgraded to PE and paid the surcharge. When we discovered there were no PE flights to Seattle from Reykjavik, we told Viking we would do our own air for the return. We were refunded half of the upgrade fee & just took the flight from Seattle to Bergen (via Amsterdam).

Taxis are easy to get at disembarkation. No need to prebook. No shuttles available. We disembarked in July and took a cab to a rental car facility nearby for our self-extension to the Westfjords.

This was one of our favorite itineraries in Sept. 2019. A plus that the ports are not major tourist stops. Also nothing wrong with sea days in a cold climate. Only regret is that we missed Shetland due to the tail end of a hurricane from the Gulf—have been trying to get back there ever since. Our fourth try since Covid hit is this June. 🤞

46 minutes ago, Twitchly said:

On my bucket list: to stay overnight at the hotel inside the Alhambra and see the place when the mobs are gone.

We stayed one night in the Parador in the former convent within the Alhambra on our trip to Spain in the 1980s but there wasn’t access to the Alhambra itself as I recall. Not sure if there would be access now since it is strictly controlled.

59 minutes ago, Berlin Bear said:

So, I shall simply presume that these drinks are included at mealtimes and go ahead and order them 😊. If refused, I shall refer to all your experiences.

😂🫠May not help with Viking—but good luck! I hope you can swing it.

3 hours ago, Berlin Bear said:

Aha - thanks for this additional information. As it’s an ocean cruise we’re looking at at the moment, I can probably rely on being able to order „complimentary“ non-alcoholic beer with lunch and dinner, but possibly/probably not non-alcoholic wine. OK, I can live with that 😄.

Please see my posts at #7 & #9. My experience is different.

Just got back from Italy—Sorrento, Naples, Tuscany. Sad to say that Viking’s version of pizza would have the Neapolitans rioting in the streets…! 😹🍕

Just now, Berlin Bear said:

Thanks for confirming. Was that included in the „complimentary inclusive wines, beers and soft drinks at mealtimes“?

 

I think I may have asked for a non-alcoholic wine at dinner in the Restaurant once after having tried it at CT. So yes, it was included.

I have had non-alcoholic wine at Chef’s Table before, both red and white. The white was not too bad, but the red wasn’t great.

2 hours ago, rjp50 said:

Is it possible that they hold a batch of tables each night for reservations made while onboard?

Yes—my understanding is that they hold maybe half to book onboard. Many threads on CC discussing ease of booking specialty restaurants onboard because people cancel and change all the time, especially once the CT menus are known. We always do this with no problem. You can check as soon as you board through the Voyager app, the TV in your room, through the scheduler at the WC (port side desk I think), or at the restaurants when they open in the evening.

Kent, you most likely got a better deal economically than ours—but just as stunning—since you can’t go wrong in Sorrento!

We are up makua at the Hotel Annabelle.

World turned upside down! Tried to insert from camera roll—upside down; then took photo and inserted—still upside down! LOL 😎 Must be the limoncello!

1 minute ago, SJD117 said:

We’re in Sorrento right now, enjoying the view from our hotel terrace overlooking the Gulf of Naples and the big city in the distance. Pompeii was crowded on Wednesday — our second visit to the site — but evocative as always. 

2 hours ago, Cienfuegos said:

the breakfast bar in the Explorer's lounge.

That would be Mamsen’s….😎

1 hour ago, CCWineLover said:

Yes - they will ALWAYS provide an included tour to any guest onboard that wishes one.  It may not be at the time you want, but you will get one.  

Viking projects how many will be on a tour and contracts the provider to schedule that many.  If more people want them, they will add more.  You might see them added on MVJ but you might also not see availability until you are onboard.

Use the chat function in MVJ and inquire about an included tour you want. You can also email tellus@vikingcruises.com and ask about putting on more included excursion slots. I wouldn’t want to wait until onboard because I’d like to maximize my time for excursions.

56 minutes ago, CCWineLover said:

IMHO, you didn't miss anything in the Planetarium.  It was worthless (well, not totally, but definitely a 3 on a scale of 10).

Would be nice if they took the 2 of them (with Jupiter) out of the 8th floor and opened it up again.

I’d only give it a 2! 🔭

7 minutes ago, 2cruisecats said:

Two cruises ago, a gentleman sat beside us and I started coughing.  He said I should be isolating.  I should have told him to go and shower off his cologne.  Instead, I had my dh run to the cabin for my inhaler as a gasped and hacked and headed to the washroom.  Our kind waiter moved us & food & drink to another table away from the sickening smell. I don't think the guy even realized the problem.  I now carry the inhaler with me on board. I do have a fear that some day a cologne or perfume will kill me. 

I don’t need to use an inhaler but I’m extremely chemically sensitive and get migraines from perfumes/cologne/chlorox/ammonia, etc. I too always move when seated next to someone with strong perfume. I’m glad you have help from your inhaler.

7 hours ago, Clay Clayton said:

Unfortunately we weren’t out back when it happened but Robin and Sam were and captured the most amazing pilot delivery I’ve ever encountered!

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5U6gbGophv/?igsh=aDI1cDNpOHQ2bnpw

 

I think I will be outback for sailaway!

No way!!!! 🙀 Shades of March 2019–(#Sky gets everything!) A helicopter over Sky could be triggering for some people—just sayin’!

On 4/2/2024 at 2:57 PM, mwike said:

All I care about is them getting their problem fixed.  Magically, after I was rude to the customer service rep, the toilet was completely fixed.  I guess the moral of the story is to be rude sooner rather than later.

This was the comment about being rude.

Just had to click on this story today on CNN since it involved a cruise ship off Africa. So it could be worse than not making it through the Suez Canal!

https://www.cnn.com/travel/norwegian-cruise-passengers-stranded-africa/index.html

https://tripinsurancestore.com
Steve at the Trip Insurance Store comes highly recommended by many CC users and Viking cruisers. We have done our own insurance bookings for years but just recently started consulting with Steve for nuances on our insurance needs.

He has a Q&A on CC from a couple of years ago. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/2558-qa-cruise-insurance-with-steve-dasseos-of-the-tripinsurancestorecom-janfeb-22/

15 hours ago, ddeprez said:

Ok, then… Suggestions if your bank no longer provides foreign currency, and you prefer to not use an ATM there?

Not sure why you won’t do ATM just for picking up cash a couple of times during your trip, depending on needs. Sure, the banks on both ends will charge a “service fee” just for use of the ATM. We’ve solved that problem by using a Schwab Bank card that reimburses us for ATM fees—and we put in an amount just for our trip.  We always have a cushion in our home bank card for any emergencies. Haven’t picked up foreign cash from home in 45 years.

The other advantage on our Schwab card is that it has a pin and we’ve had to use it when our regular Visa cards aren’t accepted.

Just like restaurant reservations, cabins open up all the time. Stuff happens, plans change, many cancel or transfer at the six months payment date. We have been able to book this way many times. We book PV most often.

8 hours ago, Clay Clayton said:

For those who need a photo to understand, see before and after below-we do this to our V/DVs also. 

I think of this as the  “Clay hack” for Viking V/DV suites. 😂