CDR2001

We are hikers, and we both have found that shoe fits vary, even among the same brand. We both add support insoles, purchased at our local outdoor store. My best advice is to go to a place with lots of options, and try on shoes, with and without insoles added. I like North Face, hubby likes Merrill. Again seek out a store where you can try the boots with wool socks. REI, Bass Pro, Cabela, even Dicks Sporting goods are options to try. We only buy waterproof boots…learned the hard way! Glad you’re shopping now, as they do need breaking in. I wear mine on daily walks, especially close to a hiking trip. We too are cruising to Iceland July2023..can’t wait!

No closet drawers as of end of August on the Star, unfortunately. However, we had plenty of room since asked for extra hangers.

I prefer morning so that we can wander on our own in the afternoons. Of course, it also depends on what other excursions ( Viking or independent) we want and when they are offered.

Call Viking and ask, our agent was very helpful with specifics about the hotels.

Friends did this cruise mid August this year, and we’re also from Florida. They said the cruise was great, but the heat made some days unbearable. High temps were near 100 degrees, with many outdoor sites requiring walking and climbing in full sun. I’d go in June. (Personally we are doing this cruise in October 2023. My sister lives in Italy and said the last few summers have been awful….heat waves abound in Europe!)

If you have a Viking extension and Viking air, the flights are scheduled to coincide with the extension dates. If you add Viking Air later, they will still book flights to work with the extension. ( I’m not sure how it works if you add the extension after the flights are ticketed, I’m afraid that might require a change fee.) When you arrive, Viking will meet you at the airport and transport you to the hotel. The Viking hosts in the lobby will advise you about check in and distribute the room keys when the rooms are ready. If you arrive before checkin time, Viking and the hotel will store your luggage so you can explore on your own. The hotel information will be in your final Viking documents, emailed a few weeks prior to the trip. The tentative hotel is on your invoice. We’ve had 3 extensions, and were pleased with the help and advice of the Viking hosts in the lobby. All hotels were high class, with included breakfast buffets.

I’d save the OBC for use to pay the gratuities. If you don’t prepay them, Viking will subtract from your onboard account automatically near the end of the cruise. (You can change the amount if you like.) For 2 week cruise, our suggested gratuities were almost $500, the amount of our leftover OBC. I would book any excursion your can’t live without as soon as they become available. (There is confusion around exactly when excursions open, some here on CC advised me to check at midnight PST, and there they were!) We were able to change a few excursions while onboard, but most of the popular ones were full.

We were not given our stewards cell number .. nor did we ask for it. We left notes outside the door by the room number or on the bed, but usually saw our steward personally for any requests. I called housekeeping for some additional items once, received it within minutes. There are house phones all around the ship for your use. No need to text your steward, it’s probably not allowed anyway. Easy to call room service too.

We left the Star a few weeks ago. “ Slow walker” groups were discussed in the daily port talks. We observed a slow group on one of our walking tours, and some of the folks were using hiking poles. The guide did not go faster than the slowest in that group. They also did not go to all of the stops we did. It’s worth checking with Shore Ex desk onboard.

The $10/day plan was the easiest for me and Mom when she was around and needed care. Once the plan activated for the day, unlimited calls were no extra charge so I checked in often that day. ATT had a $100 limit for the month, not bad for assurance that Mom was ok.

No experience with this particular extension, however I’ve always been able to get my desired extension with diligent checking. You are almost two years out, many people will change their plans. I agree to keep checking on the “price and build” function, but I’ve had best results with calls to my favorite Viking agent. She said sometimes extensions as well as cabin availability doesn’t show up online. Good luck, and keep checking!

Friends were just in 3040 and beds faced aft. I assume it alternates so you might face forward. ( we did in 3038)

We are considering BIE for 2023. Does anyone have the previous port time schedule for Bergen to London? Do you have a favorite month to visit with moderate temperatures? Thanks.

We had a dining reservation issue for two couples, and the helpful Chat agent took care of it for us. She reserved Manfredi’s on a night other than our original request, but it’s ok! You might give that a try. I do know that sometimes the Chat box doesn’t always come up, but I’ve had great results with them when I can access it. Good luck.

We will be in the Radisson Blu in a few weeks. I’ve researched, and yes, it does have AC.

Let Me Travel…..”we are really old” ????? Anything in the 60’s is young for me!!! And yes, we still can run in our seventies, but we will practice a bit more! Sorry for the trouble you had!

Thank you, I figured the power block was a no. FYI, Pontac, the prohibited items list is buried deep in MVJ. It’s under Before you go…information for your cruise…packing suggestions. ( yes I read and click every link!)

I have a power strip question, does Viking allow them? On the list of prohibited items, it states no extension cords, so that’s confusing. Hubby has a small rectangular 4 outlet power strip he likes. Thanks.

We had a delay 3 years ago, and one of us worked with the airline and the other was on the phone with Viking. Whoever got a new flight first was the winner! ( It was Viking.) I’d still try both options if you have a problem. I always have the airline app on my phone, and join the loyalty/miles program as that usually gets me a special phone number to call. Hope for the best! Our layover at JFK for our Homelands cruise is 5 hours….I picked that flight on purpose!!

I watched several stateroom Yutube videos, and I saw 5 USB on desk lamp in addition to above mentioned outlets. We take adapters for pre and post hotel stays, and airport charging. We might also need a boost camera charge while in port. (I do carry portable chargers in my pack.)

On our last two river cruises, we had the opportunity to purchase a $200 future cruise voucher for $100. We could each purchase 2 I believe. The voucher is fully transferable, with no time limit for use. I think there are some onboard credit perks if you book an ocean cruise while onboard, we will find out in August.