KBs mum

Not true, there are differences, manly between forward and aft, also minor between decks. The aft ones have smaller bathrooms and bigger balconies. Layouts differ in bedrooms, lounges and window location. Equal but different. Looking at the room virtual tour is best when choosing

If not sure of lunch availability we just have a sizeable cooked breakfast, full English/Scottish/welsh/irish not being available, we improvise. Room service is available if we return hungry before evening food service starts

ADA compliant to operate in US coastal waters and for the majority US customers, shows reasonable adaptation to be compliant in Europe, there being so many countries involved worldwide nobody is bothered as long as some adaptions are shown. The accessible facilities in the US don't meet UK legislation, to the point we dont bother booking or looking for them, so we don't book those rooms on Viking. Boooking first then asking about things not usually allowed is normal, I explained why. This is not unusual. If you are in North America you are only risking $50, hardly an issue, a decent TA will hold the booking for you at their risk while getting the answer. I realise you are dealing with a very nasty progressive condition, but working with an occupational therapist to develop 'coping strategies' will help you get as much travel freedom as possible. This is why I have the wheelchair and a scooter, using whichever is easiest in the circumstances, KBs Dad doing a fine job of helping on any steep bits. If you want to stay overnight at a friend's house they won't have adapted facilities, my rehab team made us stay in a small not adapted suite in the hospital to show we could cope with whatever. Not easy at the time but useful. Can also go up and down steps in wheelchair or on behind.

All accommodation providers who have several levels of room have the accessible ones in a mid range. Normally the lowest level that is physically big enough to allow a wheelchair to fit around the furniture. Viking is only ADA compliant, so adaptations are minimal by most European standards, nothing to worry about missing out on for most. Disabilities vary, you complain about being forced to book a larger room, yet others, including myself could book the smallest with no major problems. Viking's policy about scooters is fairly standard for providers where scooters are not normally permitted. Permission does depend on itinerary and room type. They aren't going to give permission only for you to book a room or itinerary that is going to create problems. After 10+ years of Viking cruises, river and ocean, I still need to fill out the fitness to travel and wheelchair/scooter permission paperwork. Same as I need to for airlines, sleeper trains and some ferries. It is a routine part of travel. You are taking this personally, when it isn't, Viking have arrived at their policy after years of experience, it is to prevent issues. It applies for all their ships, boats, land transport and airline bookings. Some itineraries include air or land segments where third party policies need to be taken into account. They are open about not being very suitable for those with mobility problems, the ADA rooms are there purely to comply with the letter of the law. The stepped ramps stop them actually being accessible as most would understand it. Their business model is aimed at older physically active people, and it works well for them, they won't change it while the ships are full. Ultimately you do have a choice of rooms to book. Book one with another company who's business model and infrastructure meet your needs. Same as we and many others do

We've cancelled excursions within the 48 hours after getting accurate or more detailed information from guest services, and have been refunded. It was within the 48 hours as the excursion was the day after embarkation. Google Street view is a good resource for surfaces and step info, I also use searches on Facebook and Internet for photos and videos taken by visitors to wherever it is. You may find independent easier, as you can go at your own pace, prioritise what you want to see, rest and return to the ship whenever you choose. You also won't have to struggle on and off buses

There's usually a stop at a random church, and if out over lunch time there will be an hour stop for that. If in a town we leave them to it and meet back at the bus at a prearranged time

Nobody refunds deposits if you cancel because you want to take an item that isn't allowed, or don't meet the fitness to travel requirements. In our case we know the wheelchair is travel compatible, so we book with confidence. Read the cancellation policy to see if booking with whoever it is will be a financial risk. Scooters are listed as not usually allowed by Viking. I have not encountered any admin fees for the fitness to travel approval or booking deposit, check the T&C page for your country to see what you should be charged

Read the information on Viking's website relating to mobility/medical equipment, and disabilities. Comply with that, you'll have no problems. Anything else you have to get permission for, this is standard procedure for ships, trains and aircraft, and not discriminatory. Often the problem with scooters is the lithium batteries, and size. It's also normal to book then sort out any arrangements for equipment. If the website of whatever company says yours may not be allowed, you either book with another provider, or chance it. You probably will be allowed it if the battery is OK to go on an aircraft and the charger isn't surge protected. You will also need to be able to get it into/out of and on/off transport and the ship with no assistance. If the scooter is a travel scoot or similar, or one of the folds into a case type you should be fine, there should be a page in the manual with the battery info required

I've got a travelscoot, but only use it if taking our car. It's too much of a hassle otherwise, so I use a lightweight folding wheelchair for travel instead. It has to be approved via a fitness to travel form for Viking, and a similar form for airlines

Accessibility depends on the specific needs of the person. Scooters may not be allowed, but have had no problems with my lightweight folding wheelchair. Years of experience as somebody with a spinal injury means that with help from husband I/we can cope in any hotel room. Viking is as good as any other accommodation provider

The descriptions are so vague as to be useless, a proper accessibility statement for each is needed. I use a wheelchair, distance on a level surface is no problem, a short distance on gravel is. For a lot of people the reverse is true.

I agree with those who ask that people do basic research and are then realistic about their capabilities. Having bought a lightweight folding wheelchair and after checking transport compatibility, it's annoying to have to wait for people too stubborn to accept they need mobility equipment

We don't book group excursions unless we have to. We see more of the things we are interested in by being independent, and being able to stop to rest whenever we need to

We completely agree, a lot of companies used covid as an opportunity to refit, redecorate, refresh the offer ready for when trade resumed, Viking seemed to go the other way. We will only book with Viking if there is a very good offer on, they are charging premium prices for what is now allmost a budget package holiday product. The crew seem good, but among the hotel staff only the room stewards and bar staff were as good as before covid. We've noticed a lot more than usual availability for the next couple of years, and more offers from Viking UK ( call centre is now overseas, and nowhere near as good as it was)

Only if the OP is particularly unlucky! We encountered a notable political pillock there. The division bell repeater apparently no longer causes a mass exodus 😁

There's normally a desk with a mirror that can be used as a dressing table

We had noticed a very gradual but steady decline in 'quality' over the years prior to covid, after covid other companies have maintained or improved their offer, but Viking have declined, particularly in the catering offer, and the unwelcome increase in loud music in all the lounges. They seem to have abandoned their port intensive ethos in favour of short stops to sell tours, we get the impression they are now aiming at the mass market demographic rather than the premium/luxury denographic

The main issue is the ramp to get off the ship, it is steps, not a slope. There are areas on the ship you may have problems in, the accommodation corridors are narrow, access is based on a transport chair width. Also the accessible rooms and toilets are ADA compliant rather than the higher European and British standards. The crew are not guaranteed to be available to help you get on and off the ship or buses, in Europe accessible transport is available, but lifts are not built into every bus as standard. Most of the historic areas will have cobbles, some wheelchairs are fine on these, some aren't. There is no definate answer about accessibility. European accessibility legislation requires adaptations where feasible, given the historic infrastructure, so access is not guaranteed. Google Streetview is the best resource to see what the ground surfaces are like

Pay commission at a bureau de change, or get a chip and pin card and accept that some market stall type vendors man not accept card payments

All card machines can produce a signature verification slip, but the cashier may need to call a supervisor for authorisation to do so. ATM machines need PIN, and it's useful to have a card with a contactless chip

We take £100 of local, and cards. The cash is just a backup, we usually have most of it left, so we keep it for next time or exchange it for the next currency we need. Can allways use a cash machine in a bank if not keen on independent ATMs. Lots of places now prefer cards, cash is a hassle to bank and to keep a change float. Don't worry about tips, most of Europe hasn't got a tipping culture, it is OK not to, if you haven't got any change or were underwhelmed. Most people on the excursions know this and won't tip

A lot of European countries have accessibility regulations that exceed the ADA, but we also have historical infrastructure that we value. We could remove it to improve access, but then what would you visit? If the building or street has protection under planning regulations because of being of historic importance then they are not required to provide access if doing so would damage or alter anything original. Any essential places, such as grocery shops, chemist's, Doctor's surgerys are allways acessible. Viking excursion descriptions are hopeless regarding surfaces, steps, slopes and distances. For this reason we make our own arrangements after research. Google Streetview and the website for where you are visiting are best. I use a wheelchair and haven't noticed any difference between modern buildings in Europe and the US, however disabled/acessible toilets and hotel rooms in the US fall far short of the requirements in the UK. Trains in the UK are hopeless, though. So far we've found Australia and New Zealand to be better than the US, in Europe Germany and Austria are good. Italy is problematic, purely because of the terrain and historical layouts.

The mush left after the juice has been extracted

Exactly

I once encountered fresh squeezed made from concentrate! The concentrate was made from freshly squeezed fruit, apparently. I gave up on it as a bad idea