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One additional note which I did not realize is do not apply for your visa too far in advance. The three month time period starts from when they approve your visa application. Ours expire in mid-March. We are traveling in January.

I was wondering about that timing, too, and then read that the visas were good for three months. I plan on applying for mine mid February since we are leaving on March 9th.

Thanks ... no airfare so we will be looking at the later date to receive docs, but either way we won’t receive them as we will be leaving mid-September to travel overseas for several months and won’t be at home to receive regular mail. I’ll have to work something out with our T/A unless we can do without them.

 

Do we really need any of the information sent in the package to board? Ocean cruise companies send out documents, but none are essential for boarding. We are not using any of the Viking transfers and will be getting ourselves to the ship, so the luggage tags would not be critical. Not sure what the stickers mentioned are.o

There is nothing in the package that is sent that is critical. No one has ever asked for hard copies of any of the paper work that was sent to us. Viking has your name and when you hand your passport over at check-in you will be good to go.

BTW, I like your handle, sulfuric acid :D.

We received our documents in the mail 90 days before our departure. It comes with your luggage tags and stickers, so they just send everything through the mail.

Wow, that is really early. We are 74 days out and I don't anticipate receiving any documents until about 3 weeks out.

There are 3 or 4 large coaches full for the included tours. They are staggered so everyone isn't rushing at once. All very well managed.

That did not apply to us last year in Tunis. There were three coaches, pretty full, and we all had to wait to travel together. I think it was because we were escorted by police. It created quite a problem when everyone decided they needed to use the facilities before getting on the bus. Everyone on our bus was ready to leave, but we had to wait a half hour on the two busses behind us. That half hour wait cut into our next stop.

what are the included perks

Deluxe Veranda

• Size including veranda: 270 sq. ft.
  
• 11:00 a.m. embarkation
  
• 2:00 p.m. stateroom access
  
• 1 guaranteed priority reservation at each alternative restaurant: 60 days prior
  
• Priority shore excursion reservations: 67 days prior
  
• Priority booking of spa treatments: 60 days prior
  
• Mini-bar with soft drinks, water & snacks, replenished once daily
  
• In-suite binoculars, coffee maker & cashmere blanket
  
• Purified water refilled daily
  
• King-size Viking Explorer bed with luxury linens
  
• 24-hour room service
  
• Luxury robes, slippers & toiletries
  
• 42" flat-screen LCD TV
  
• Interactive TV & movies-on-demand
  
• Security safe, hair dryer, 110/220 volt outlets
  
• Direct dial satellite phone & cell service
  
• Wi-Fi
  

Just got off Viking Sky. Our OBC was applied to gratuities. No problem.

That is very good news. I hope it will still be the same when we cruise next July.

This is the email I received today:

While shipboard credits cannot be used for gratuities they can be used for optional excursions, drinks, gifts and other onboard purchases.

I sure hope this person is wrong; I have a very large OBC.

Kath, very well explained.

We just paid the $50 to get new flights with longer layover times for our trip next year. We fly from Raleigh to Atlanta to Rome to Cairo. 😕. The original flights had us going through JFK and only 1.5 hours time between flights at JFK and Rome. This new route gives us 3 hours. Well worth the extra $100 total.

geminitwin, was this tour basically cruise, stop to drop people/supplies off or on and then cruise again to the next port? Or was it a cruise where the ports were the main reason to visit and tour?

How much time was normally spent in port?

WE are going on a Nile cruise in February, my husband sent off our Passports to get the visa. We were concerned that as we have to get a connecting flight from Cairo to Aswan we would be pushed for time. Do you need any innoculations for travel to Egypt?

Here is the CDC link:

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/egypt

Another option for the visa is now available online at: visa2egypt.gov.eg. This just became available within the last week. There is a long discussion on the Egypt forum on TripAdvisor. Most of those folks are reporting success and the cost is the same as on arrival - $25USD. The process after application apparently takes 12 to 48 hours. You print out the visa from an email and keep it with your passport. We're going in January and I plan to apply soon.

Wonderful information. Thank you !!!

I wonder if there is anything similar for Jordan.

Twincheryl, you can order half portions for dinner. My husband and I often do that. The portions are just a little larger than half, just enough for us.

Just received our flight a little while ago. Not great.

RDU to JFK to FCO to Cairo

Amman to CDG to RDU coming home. We leave at 1:15 AM to come home.

All good seats are gone because Viking waits so long to make the arrangements.

Have a wonderful time, Pat. Stay warm :D.

Just as the title says, for 2018 these will be included in all bookings by Vantage.

 

The tip for crew is still extra. I'm OK with that, it was always having some change for the driver and guide that was annoying. By the end of the cruise, you don't mind giving the crew tip at all and with plastic it is simple.

Grand Circle includes tips, so Vantage has to do it, too. ;p

You might also want to enroll in the STEP Program:

https://step.state.gov/step/

We were on an AMA ship that had several different groups together. We had AMA people, APT people, Road Scholar people and there was a 4th group that I can't remember.

So you could book with Hurtigruten directly unless Vantage sells a package with flight, hotel, guide and land excursions. Then it is more convenient for people who don't want to plan everything themselves.

 

I noticed on our last Norway cruise that Hurtigruten ships always have piers in better locations and when there is only one pier, it is theirs.

Yes, Vantage's trip is a total package. The rooms on the ship look quite small and the price that Vantage charges is quite high. But everything is pretty much included.

Vantage is not a cruise line, is it? Which ship?

Vantage is a travel company, offering river, small ship and land trips. They use one of the Hurtigruten ships for this trip.

Has anyone taken this trip recently? If so, what did you think of it? Was there enough time on the excursions? How was the food? Was it mainly fish dishes or were other options available?

Any information provided would be appreciated.

I have another question about dress. Do ladies need to wear long pants or are capris acceptable? How about covering arms and heads?

While at the tombs, pyramids, etc. you will see men wearing their galabeya`s standing at the entrance or walking around. If you take a picture of them, they expect to be tipped lol.

Same in Peru. There was a little boy in Lima who was holding a baby llama. I took his photo, with intensions of paying him, and before I could get my money out he was yelling at me for payment :D.

Welcome home. Your trip sounds very nice and makes me even more excited to take ours next March.

How much local currency did you get and where did you get it? How many USD did you take?

Did you get your VISA ahead of going or at the airport? Did you need photos for this?

What were your flights from the US to Cairo?

Did anyone have any problems with sickness or accidents?

I would like to hear if anyone else on an Avalon river cruise had the same main complaint that we did....the nearly unbearable noise level in the dining room at dinner time. That would have made even the best dinners less tasty. (We didn't do the smaller tasting menu but we should have....we never decided in time to pre-book which was our fault.)

We just recently completed a cruise in Southern France on the Avalon Affinity and the noise level in the dining room was very loud. We sat at the same table for eight every evening and one could not talk to the whole group, just the person next to you.

I have found that the noise level in the dining rooms on all riverboats is very loud. I don't quite understand why this issue has not been resolved when the new boats are built.

Also, I thought the food on Avalon was just so so. I asked for half portions of salad and the main course and was told that it could not be done. I was told to eat what I wanted and just leave the rest. I have always been able to get half portions on Viking and Grand Circle. I don't want a whole portion and I don't like to waste food.

Keep in mind that the people who work on river ships often perform several duties and not just one job. The person who serves dinner might also be serving canapés in the lounge on special event nights. Everyone helps take the suitcases to the rooms and back out on disembarkation day.

Grand Circle told us that the tips for the crew were pooled and divided equally among the whole staff. No one position received any more, or less, than anyone else.