CJANDH

I hope you don't flush them!!!

Who are "they"?

Who is your entertainment manager. Back in March our CD was very much a mixer. I think his name was Michael (but spelled the Dutch way). He reminded us of Graham Norton, for you Brits.

We have cruised with Silversea, Regent, Explora Journeys and Oceania. None of them provide exceptional entertainment. Based on the responses to my question, it sounds like Viking has a similar level of shows, which is fine for us.

As I cannot see yet what the included excursions are for my cruise, I was basing my "lame" comment on WanderingBrit's description: Many included excursions will be a bus ride to local sights, with commentary by a guide and stops for photos or exploration. Glad that this may not be as lame as it sounds.

It seems that the Viking claim of "One complimentary shore excursion in every port of call" has to be taken literally. I was under the assumption that you would get one complimentary excursion from a choice of included excursions as you do on Regent and Silversea. Instead it seems that they are offering a range of extra cost excursions and a pretty lame free tour as a fall back. Not what I think of as "all inclusive" luxury cruising.

Thanks for that.

Where do I find them?

Can you help me understand the difference between included and optional excursions. Is there just one included excursion? Is there an upcharge for the others? Is there a capacity restriction that makes it necessary to book as soon as the booking date is open? Thanks. Still trying to understand what needs to be considered for my first Viking ocean cruise.

I have never been on a Silversea cruise where the only included white wine was a chardonnay.

And don't forget that Regent offers business class air on the international legs versus coach on Viking.

That is what I mean about their inflexibility.

Most of the luxury lines are more flexible if you book air and hotel through them. The markup on the hotels is a nice profit center for them.

No. What I am saying is that if you want to arrive two days before embarkation and book flights and a pre hotel through Regent they will provide transfers (not if you are doing your own thing). Regent also always offer a pre night hotel, included for higher suites and at extra cost for others. Viking will not consider any flexibility. In fact, on an Iceland cruise next year we can either fly in on the day of embarkation (RISKY) or purchase their two day extension. They will not allow us to fly in a day before embarkation and stay in their hotel and get transfers. If we don't take one of their options (arrive day of embarkation or buy the two day extension) we are on our own. With most travel advisers recommending against a risky day of embarkation arrival this policy seems against customers' best interest.

This is a big difference from their competition who may charge the deviation but still give you the transfers. It seems to me that Viking are very rigid in their polices and not showing the same focus on customer service as, say, Regent or Silverseas. Their absurd policy of requiring final payment a year or more before embarkation is another example of "we do it because we can" mentality.

Thank you. I was concerned that there was no on stage entertainment.

Just booking our first Viking Ocean cruise on Neptune. I have a question about entertainment that I cannot find answered on the Viking website. Do they have a nightly stage show in the theater in addition to the music in the bars and lounges?

You don't need to worry. Just turn up on day 1 and you will find a team happy to have you join them. In my experience on many SS cruises no one makes a fool of themselves. The teams often become good friends and extend their relationship beyond trivia to dine or have cocktails together as well. I have two teams that I still correspond with several years after we "made fools of ourselves" together. Have fun.

Does anyone know which airlines Viking does have contracts with?

But it is rarely open for use due to poor design that floods the surrounding area.

We were in a Cocoon Residence and the bathroom was also small. Luckily, that suite also has a powder room, but the other Residences do not. On RSS and SS the higher suites nearly all have a half bath as well as a big master bathroom (much bigger than Explora).

Two thoughts on that. First, if you are paying for a top suite with a huge balcony, you might spend a lot of time there. Secondly, the ship often "anchors" early in the morning. We were woken by, and kept awake by, the thrusters around 6AM several days on Explora.

Cannot speak for Silver Nova aft suites. But on Explora the problem is not motion but NOISE. The high cost aft suites ("Residences" in Explora speak) overlook the aft pool. When kids are playing there it can be hard to be on your balcony. Also, when the ship is in a tender port they use the thrusters along with GPS to keep the ship in position rather than use anchors. The noise and vibration are awful.

The dedicated adult pool at the front is not open very often and is more like a hot tub than a pool. The aft pool area on deck 5 would make a good adult only area and would solve the problem of noise for the top end Residence suites that overlook it. We only had a few kids on our March cruise. But they seemed to spend most of the day loudly enjoying the lovely infinity pool at the back of the ship. We decided not to book a Christmas cruise as the number of children would likely be substantially more and the noise issue exacerbated.

I was in 6089 right below you. There was noise from the aft pool. Also, there was noise from the thruster engines when we were "anchored" at a port. They do not use anchors. They remain in place with a GPS linked thruster system that vibrates the ship and makes a lot of noise all the time they are in tendering mode. If your itinerary is tender intensive, I would think twice about an aft facing cabin.