SewBizBeth

Looking at booking for summer.

 

Tips for getting the best price? Through the website or elsewhere?

 

Should we get air through viking or is it cheaper to do it ourselves and come in the night before. What do most of y’all do?

 

Thks!

 

 

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Folk we talked with booked with Viking and got some good deals. Some got free airfare, free premium drink packages and OBC (on board credits). We booked in August 2017 for March 2018 cruise...way too soon...and they were offering free airfare in the last month...we could not take advantage of it because we were booked & paid and would lose money if we cancelled.

We used Viking for air, but did not like the fact that they would NOT let us arrive one day early, paying for our own hotel. Also, we had to pay $100 each at the end of the cruise for the pleasure of staying longer in Barcelona instead of flying directly home.

We priced air on our own and Viking was cheaper. BUT...we were able to use some of our air miles to upgrade to First Class on Delta on the way there! We also paid extra to United to get "extended legroom" for the 9 hour flight from Barcelona to Chicago...made a big difference.

The Spring Sale which ends March 20th gives $500 off per person on my Dec 16, 2018 Mediterranean Explorations cruise. A $1000 is a lot of money!

 

Since it is before final payment, I called to rebook at the lower fare and was told they couldn’t do it.

I was told that rebooking was considered a cancellation and I’d have to cancel in writing. I would have to wait until the cancellation was completed to rebook and I should expect my PV3 cabin to be unavailable.

 

The other three lines I’ve cruised: Cunard, Celebrity and Princess all allow you to rebook over the phone and keep the same cabin. I’ve done this easily before final payment. I even did it once after final payment when a cruise dropped by $4000 and paying the penalty was still cheaper.

 

This is our first cruise with Viking and I’m still digesting how I feel about this. It doesn’t feel right that I can’t pay the $200 penalty and get the $800 savings.

 

Would any one else be bothered if this happened to them?

We, too, were victims of booking way too soon. We could have gotten free airfare, but instead paid $1200 each. Others were offered premium drink package...for free...and OBC's. I called and tried to deal, but no luck. The staff on the ships are great. The Viking office staff are not as cooperative.

Specific to Viking Star but could be a question for any of them. I don't need anything complicated. Just wouldn't mind someone showing me how to use their strange looking weight machines. Just my luck I'd start using one and someone next to me will say I'm doing it wrong. :')

Yes, they had one or two staff at a desk outside the gym. If you use a treadmill, look for the designation noted on (most) machines...is it in KM or miles? We had fun with me on miles and hubby on KM...

We are going on the Italian Sojourn cruise on March 31, what currency do we use to tip ? US$ or Euros?

 

 

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We tipped the cruise staff extra in Euros...since they are traveling in Europe, that is what they would spend. The "daily tip"was placed as dollars on our credit card near the end of the cruise.

We are booked in a penthouse veranda (PV1) on a Viking Sea Caribbean cruise next year on deck 6 recommended by the Viking agent as "best view." I am wondering if this deck which is high on the ship and just below the pool deck will be noisy or will experience more ship movement than a lower deck (e.g. Deck 5). Any recommendations?

We were PV on Deck 5, port side, near back of ship (Room 5100) There was no noise here and we picked it because it was between two decks of rooms. I cannot answer whether the pool would be noisy. They sometimes have music playing, but unless it is a live band, it is not loud...and it's not like you have all the kids playing and screaming...the few adults in the pool were very quiet! We did feel some of the movement left/right when we had rougher seas, but we were also crossing the Atlantic! Lower decks may get less of that sway, but you may have to give up the PV room!

Hi,

When they refer to a ‘collard shirt’ for men does this include Polo shirts?

With regard to the spa, do they have nail salon that provides a gel polish infill service?

Thanks

( I received my pre cruise pack yesterday and I don’t know if I’m excited or having a little panic ! )

Yes on the collared shirt...polo ("golf") shirt will do.

I do not know about your spa question as I did not use.

If you make your own hotel arrangements, but you have Air Plus, are you responsible for doing your own transfers? Can you pay Viking a small fee to get the transfers? I imagine taking taxis is not that expensive. It's just the normal hassle of finding a driver that understands "ship is in location ABC, pier 123".

 

I normally pay Viking for hotel add ons. But I'll be in Venice and I've heard that hotel is not that nice. And later Barcelona. No idea if they have a good hotel there. Last time I lucked out and got a better hotel than originally booked.

 

I don't leave until late 2019 so this is not something I need to figure out right away.

We did not use the cruise's excursion for the end of cruise in Barcelona; we booked Hilton using our points. We had to get a taxi there, but we go there hours before the other passengers...and were allowed to check in around 9am! The other passengers' bus took them on a tour throughout the area before they arrived...I am guessing so it was closer to the 2pm check-in time. You can take the subway, but with all our luggage...and one wheel gone from a suitcase, that was not an option. Our taxi cost about $30 euros. (Exchange was $1.23 USD to $1 Euro)

Any recommendations for 4.5 or 5 star hotels near Las Ramblas? Staying over several days after our Viking cruise.

 

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We used Hilton points and stayed at the same hotel the ship used...the Hilton on Ave Diagonal. It was not close to La Rambla, but we bought a 3-day Metro pass which gave us access to the subways, Trams and buses throughout the city. We used the subway at Maria Christina, near the hotel, and got everywhere we wanted to go, with the exception of Park Guell. We got the subway to the area, but took a taxi to the park. Do your research...there are several bus routes you can take to get you there!