greydog

14 hours ago, Sun Lover said:

Thanks for your reply.  It is really helpful.  I think I'd rather book the standard stateroom and save the extra money for other things.  Thanks again.

Standard is fine considering the extra savings.  Avoid the 6-8 front-most standard cabins - they are under the reception area and we could hear noise thru ceiling at 6am as staff setting up.

We spent our time on river in public lounges relaxing while seeing views left, right. Happy Travels

11 hours ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

I have always preferred non-stop flights, but because of Covid I am even more careful.  

In your case, I would definitely take the non-stop Comfort+ rather than worry about changing planes to get Premium Economy.  Especially since - at the moment - nobody is getting any enhanced food service so why pay PE prices for a school lunch?

Good thoughts, Jazzbeau.  Will probably do mixed class - nonstop Comfort+ going, and PremE home since PRG  to ATL means a connector.  I'll dream that by next July maybe some newer equipment with PE will be substituted. Using some Viking +25% FCC credit for air upgrade makes it a little more digestible.

BTW if paying from own pocket, I don't find PE treatment worth the $799 Viking fee but it may well represent a better cost/benefit proposition traveling from other distances like US west coast.  HAPPY TRAVELS

4 hours ago, lucky cal said:

 

We had good luck with Viking and Delta for our 2019 river cruise. We booked one of their free air deals in late March for a trip that began in late July. We paid Viking an extra $50 each so we could dictate non-stop Delta flights from Atlanta. In early July, I was able to go online with Delta myself to upgrade our seats to Comfort+ despite having booked the flights through Viking's contract. I think we paid $75 per seat to Delta for the upgrades, so a total of $300 round-trip for the two of us. Well worth it to be a little more comfortable!

Great result in your case - Delta may have relaxed their policy given that you did your upgrade early in month of sailing and they had unsold upgrade seats, especially to only charge +$75.  Or the 'old story' about the random draw of the Delta agent handling your transaction.  Either way, glad it worked for you.

MY NEW DILEMMA - currently invoiced for $799 ea. upgrade to Viking premium economy.  Now find that Atlanta to Amsterdam nonstop 8.5 hr flights only offer Comfort+, not premium economy class. To get Prem-Econ seating, need to do connection thru Paris or DTW, JFK, pushing trip to 12+ hrs.  Leaning toward dropping $799 upgrade charge and doing reduced $ nonstop Comfort+ for time saving.  

On 8/24/2020 at 11:36 AM, WrittenOnYourHeart said:

SS Emerald Seas. Spring 1983

Our honeymoon on this in 1976 right after hurricane and Nassau area filming of Bond underwater Thunderball.  As impoverished students had cheap inside with bunkbeds.  I remember the dining room curtains swaying and repetitive PA calls for ships Dr, nurse to visit cabin __  from ship corkscrewing thru the rollers.

Learned later this ship was built as troopship but WWII ended.  USS President Roosevelt.  Certainly not a 'resort at sea'    HAPPY CRUISING

On 8/20/2020 at 1:27 PM, gnome12 said:

Unless it specifies anything different like “free business class air” it is economy. Don’t assume you can upgrade it from there; you have to check the policies of the airline(s) the cruise line uses.

My (pre-Covid) experience with Viking-air and Delta is a cautionary tale. I learned Delta would not allow $ seat upgrade with them after booking air with Viking contract air service.  I thought I could watch for Delta price sale later to get cheaper upgrade. But Delta disallowed upgrade thru them as policy.  So when I made my air reservation with Viking I asked what their upgrade fee was and decided whether to take (it was competitive $ at that moment).

ALSO, I wanted best choice of (Comfort+, Prem Econ) seats so I did my air about 6 mos. early (pre-Covid days) after having looked at all my flight connection choices and seat locations available ( bulkhead legroom, away from lavatory disruption, etc).  From Atlanta, flights with prem. economy were all 1-stop connectors while nonstops to AMS were only Comfort+ planes.  In my mind, last thing I want is taking the economy 'pot luck' seat picked 60 days out from embarkation.  (Apparently you can challenge the default seat assignment and then negotiate for better but at 60-days out in normal vacation season the alternatives may be limited)  GOOD LUCK

3 hours ago, 98Charlie said:

I've been researching river cruises for 2022..In looking through the terms and conditions for various river cruises it looks like there may be costs normally affiliated with air fare that are not included in the cruise lines "free air" offers. 

Charlie

My Viking 'free' air experience did not have any separate charges such as airport fees, taxes.  And Viking includes free pickup/dropoff from/to ship/departure flight if used Viking air reservation.  There may be smaller airports that incur an extra charge (airlines under Viking contract listed at Viking website)   Viking charges $50-100 pp for custom air where you pick preferred flights and/or offers upgrade option (e.g. premium economy) for fee (e.g. $799 pp).  GOOD LUCK

Hi - I'm not disputing the dissatisfaction, inconvenience of Viking's policy for early payment.

BUT in the uncertainty from the pandemic, Viking seems to be a leader in offering 'risk-free guarantee' for bookings in terms of options for 24-hr pre-cruise cancel without penalty,  FCC and +125% FCC for their cancellations.

Just suggesting there's a mix of pro's/con's and I'm pretty happy with V's initiatives for booking flexibility that I have taken advantage of.  Nice to have options among cruise brands to suit preferences.

HAPPY CRUISING

Thanks for the memory refresh

BUT

looks like the same menu selection from over 2 years ago.  I guess I could still be happy, knowing my preferred choices from experience.

HAPPY CRUISING (whenever that is 😟)

5 hours ago, hcat said:

Interesing news!!

Wonder what other changes will be part of this?

 

Financial news update shows RCL paid with stock to purchase the remaining 1/3 ownership of Silver Seas Cruises.  So now SS 100% owned inside 'Group'.  

On 6/30/2020 at 6:08 PM, kelmac said:

Makes you feel old when our first Celebrity ship, which was brand new then, is headed to the ship bone yard.  We did a nine night holiday cruise in 1993.  My girlfriend (wife now) and I were invited to the Captain's table by Lisa, who was a young/beautiful social hostess, before they became the Captain's Club hostess.  She was from the US and the greek officers seemed a bit infatuated with her.  

Great memories,

Kel

Lisa was very nice hostess who organized our Captain's dinner also in that timeframe.  I hope she and other staff from that time are doing well now.  How the years roll by 😷

Hi - so far it seems these cruise restrictions, even if temporary, are impacting ocean cruises.

After MANY ocean trips, we have lately been trying European river cruises and having great small ship experiences, historically-oriented itineraries. No casinos, no theater productions, few children, etc.

Will wait and see if these restrictions also change the character of these alternatives. 

Best wishes for all.

1 hour ago, spazzyjanet said:

Hello,

Our cabin is an aft cabin, deck 6 and was the last one that I could find on this sailing.  Did we make a good choice?  

Are there any other tips from Celebrity insiders on how we can make the most of this cruise (which will be my last cruise and probably last vacation ever)?  Are there any other special tours or experiences that we can't miss out on?

Hi,

6311 should be fine, but keep checking website to switch if 6315 becomes available since a bit wider balcony.

About 6-7 weeks before sailing X posts the 'last minute' exciting deals and you can decide whether to 'buy up' to suite (with its special restaurant).  Otherwise, if foodies, visit the specialty restaurants for dinner.

Skagway has historic White Pass RR as big attraction there. 

If you're visiting Sawyer Glacier, they should be offering a small boat excursion that visits closer to the glacier than the big ship.

Juneau has easy access Mendenhall Glacier to visit and/or take the hillside tram from the dock halfway up Mt. Roberts for view and I think a Raptor center there.

In Icy Strait (Hoonah) they offer whale watching excursions and a nature tour seeking bears but not guaranteed.  I think Juneau has a transfer up river and everyone takes a small raft floating back in unspoiled river scenery.

GOOD LUCK  

I suppose you weren't in the Penthouse suite 😉

I've tried to participate in Whisky tastings and was told minimum 4 signups necessary.  Bartender said about half the evenings have too few participants.

On Reflection last May we had about 12 groups of 6-per-table and had nice wine blending experience.

Favorite is "World Wine Tour' where for $75? each you have an hour to mingle in a room with free pour from about a dozen different wine varieties, half red/white.  Fell in love with Chateauneufdupape only to learn its above my budget for casual drinking - so 'special occasions'.

Happy Cruising

You should consider the 'first night' specialty discount choice, although some may find themselves worn out from traveling to ship and not enjoy it.

On port days, especially eating BEFORE 7pm, they occasionally offer discounts ( e.g. $30 instead of $45) to go to specialties that night - depending on if reservations are slow. A staff person will be in buffet lobby or main dining lobby.

OR go EARLY to preferred specialty and ask if they offer a discount that evening.

Good Luck

On 7/26/2019 at 4:32 PM, Scottygirl1 said:

Can you upgrade part way through a cruise if you find the Classic package isn't what you want?  I mean can you just pay the extra for the remaining days?

 I my experience, I have been able to upgade to premium on day-3 evening ( embarkation day is not a full day, and no Capn-Club drinks either).  But it seems a 'gray' area about adding it very long after cruise start. 

For example, we're reserved on Hawaii-to-Vancouver next May.  About 5 days around island, 5 ocean crossing.  It would not seem in X interest to permit upgrade as late as 6th day start of non-port ocean crossing.

GOOD NEWS: I have never been blocked onboard from upgrading just myself to premium (no upgrade interest from wifester).  With booking perk or pre-cruise upgrade its BOTH required.

If in Europe, apparently some other locales, be careful when upgrading onboard in certain jurisdictional waters for risk of VAT being charged.  GOOD LUCK

I've taken advantage of bucket 'deal' when only drinking 1-2 right away. 

I first confirm with server that later/tomorrow I can swap an unopened bottle from bucket for cool one (or get ice for room storage, since frig usually not very cool).  Always has been ok but I do swap later at same bar where purchased.

Bon Voyage

Did LCG twice this June on Reflection to Iceland.

Very cool, breezy and supplemental heaters only partially effective.  Number dining was low due to discomfort.

Because of unpleasant conditions, $27.50-$30 available most nights.

Never saw Porch open and assume it was also the weather.

Good Luck

2 hours ago, gordylad said:

no just in general a balcony with a solid wall I know the end ones have a solid wall but what about others?

Here's 3 decks  with end cabin solid walls. They are partially obstructed view but standing at forward rail helps. The last 8 cabins on S-class are over the specialty dining (blue roof extension) BUT your deck is 1-2 ft deeper.  Plus some 'echo' off wall

Agree that X pricing has gotten pretty rich (20 years, 30 cruises with X, Reflection-Iceland this June) and we have been trying other "premium light" lines lately. 

Broadening our experience includes our recent 1st river cruise, which can offer competitive 'bang for the buck'.

About 2 months ago I posted a 3-page review comparing X ocean cruise to our Viking Rhine river.

Here's the link if interested

REVIEW: LEFT THE BRINE TO WINE/DINE ON RHINE

We often take advantage of late discounts by upgrading cabin category at the reduced price (although you may have to accept 'gty' assignment AND lose some perks.  Pays to watch and evaluate choices.

GOOD LUCK

3 hours ago, Alsmez said:

We have never been denied anything we have asked for in the specialty restaurants (on S-class). We dined in specialty restaurants exclusively on our last two cruises and never had an issue asking for a second entrée to share, an extra appetizer, etc. In fact, in Murano we frequently ask for an appetizer portion of a main dish as a starter, as we have gotten a bit bored with the appetizer menu. They always oblige, but never bring an appetizer portion - it is always the full monty! 

AGREE - in Tuscan the Alfredo pasta dish was overwhelming in entree size, manageable as half-serving. Also request upgrading a filet or strip steak into 'surf & turf'  HAPPY CRUISING

1 hour ago, orchestrapal said:

Thanks,    This belongs on River Cruise Reviews!!!

The purpose was comparing Celebrity ocean to river experience. 

23 minutes ago, helen haywood said:

Thanks for making me laugh out loud so much my husband finally made me read this to him!

 

So what is your next cruise?

Thx.

Serenade Noway fjords end May, Reflection Iceland early June,

Christmas Markets DANUBE in Dec. with Scenic

Reportedly Alexander the Great wept when told there were no more lands left to conquer.  In that spirit, after 30 Celebrity ocean cruises, I decided to try a Brandy Alexander on our first river cruise.  Amsterdam to Basel 8-day Rhine river cruise starting Dec. 15, 2018 on 180-pax Viking Tialfi. We added Viking’s 2-day Lake Lucerne extension for $599 pp at 5-star lakefront Schweizerhof Hotel (built 1845), 1 guided tour, transfers and breakfast included.  This review compares the Celebrity ocean and Viking Rhine river experience. Meal service is suspended during this irreverent? flight of fancy.

Our TA had advised that the Rhine river was particularly scenic with hills and medieval castle ruins (nearly 40). The Rhine also has a heavy volume of commercial ships rushing close by at 12 knots when we were docked at the riverside. The first port’s guided visit let those inclined climb up the interior of a 500-year-old family-managed windmill.  Included guided tours featured the Cologne and the Strasbourg Cathedrals and the 11^th century Marksburg castle. The guided tour to the romantic Heidelberg Castle featured the world’s largest (58,000 gallons) wine barrel built in 1751.

This Viking trip was titled Rhine Christmas Markets offering the attraction of bright festively decorated specialty seasonal stores set up in town plazas.  However, the port stops allowed visiting only during daylight hours. Some markets closed at 7pm.  Staff were scrambling at the end in Basel to organize and store all the supplies, kitchenware, etc. because it was the last trip until late March 2019.

Background:

I’m a frequent Celebrity cruiser, sailing accompanied by my starter wife of 43 years, Joan. Even after all this time I’m still a little chagrined that her favorite song is Deanna Carter’s “Did I shave my legs for this?”  Some may have run into me since 2000 on past CC Celebrity roll calls and on board socials. Others on past Celebrity trips may have also crossed my path.  If you overheard a woman telling her husband “Remember what happened the last time ….” – that was me!  Alternatively, if you noticed a woman among other ladies saying “Now what’s he think he’s doing ….” – that was me!  Advance message board “Roll Calls” are uncommon among the typically 150-200 pax on a river trip.

Foodsponge normally organizes a review under the “Miniskirt” rule (short enough to be interesting but long enough to cover what’s essential) Times have changed however.  I will modify the advice of “Sing like no one is listening”, etc. and instead will write like no one is reading.  So liberating.

Passenger comparison:

The presence of only 180 passengers soon led to a comfortable relaxed familiarity among the predominantly active well-traveled 55-75-year-old couples (I’m sure the wives were much younger).  On this trip I presume Mae West’s dictum that “good girls go to heaven, bad girls go everywhere.” did not apply.  It’s rumored that Celebrity stopped publicizing ceremonies for the renewal of wedding vows after Guest Relations was flooded with hopeful individuals asking about expiration dates. Also remember Paris Hilton’s corollary: ”It’s not premarital sex if you don’t intend to get married.”

Many were first-time river cruisers also.  I understand E. Hemmingway said he drank (a lot) in order to make other people interesting. We found everyone cordial and welcoming in the lounge and at shared dining tables (irrespective of my drinking). Brings to mind Paul Hornung’s statement “I read about the evils of drinking, so I gave up reading.”  And M. Mokhonoana’s “Millions of deaths would not have happened if it weren’t for the consumption of alcohol. The same can be said about millions of births.” 

The river ship held a safety orientation that was smaller scale than on ocean mega-ships.  On ocean cruises, having grown up watching the Twilight Zone and X-files, I would look around my muster group hoping no one closely resembled William Bendix and/or Tallulah Bankhead.

Stateroom comparison

Viking’s bottom-deck ‘river view’ and upper-deck veranda cabins are generally similar size and layout to Celebrity’s but neither inside cabins nor super-size suites are offered.  Viking river ships are not outfitted for mobility impaired pax. WIFI was free but laundry priced per item.  For budget and packing convenience I brought light weight quick-dry polyester undershorts that I could wash in the sink using shampoo.  I later realized a potential downside of combining liberal amounts of shampoo but limited hand rinsing.  If I fell overboard, rescuers could be perplexed by a foaming crotch.

We had the lower deck standard cabin with long horizontal windows (“aquarium view”) at head height. The propeller sounds of from each of the many ships passing nearby were transmitted for 1-2 minutes through the hull. I planned to describe the passing propeller noise like briefly being within __ feet of a sloshing washing machine.  So I tried to measure by sitting nearby but my wife had me to leave so she could do laundry. So the precise noise level remains as inexplicable as Al Capone’s secret vault room.

Other Viking features: adults only 18+, no smoking, no casino, no photographers, no art auction, no theatre shows, no formal nights.  Daily attire for men featured blue jeans or chinos. Our trip had a pianist nightly in the lounge and two guest acts, a rock trio (Eagles, Beatles) and classical violin duo.

Food, dining
Some wag noted “Life expectancy would grow by leaps and bounds if green vegetables smelled as good as bacon.”  And rotund Orson Welles weighed in “My doctor told me I had to stop throwing intimate dinners for four unless there are three other people.”

The food was available in a small casual buffet off the lounge or in the table-service dining room.  Breakfast had the standard offerings including omelets to order and fresh breads, pastries.  A self-serve fresh-grind Espresso/Cappucino machine was always available. There were fewer entrée choices but some local cuisine was included.  In general, food was satisfactory and on par with Celebrity.

Spa services are based on the proposition “Time may be a healer, but it is no beautician.”   Viking river fleet does not have fitness equipment or spa facilities.  Their website’s FAQ reports that the ship’s Concierge can arrange access to partner facilities in many ports.

WEATHER Downsides

Dreary gray, foggy, chilly drizzle was common on the river route but most seem prepared.  The universal recommendation to ‘wear layers’ to flexibly adjust was in order.  It occurred to me that the ‘layering’ lesson had been disregarded to their detriment by the area’s Neanderthals.  They might have survived if they had used a deer skin base layer, fashionably accented with a interwoven pastiche of muskrat pelts, with a final poncho-style bearskin outer-layer – snake skin belt optional. Of course, only dark bearskin after Labor Day.

It was too uncomfortable to use the top unsheltered viewing and lounging deck.  Viking Tialfi did not have a pool but I saw a small lounging pool on a competitor’s river ship.

WEATHER Upsides

Unfavorable weather conditions lead to ‘Christmas Markets” trips being the least expensive of the season.  It was $3,000 each for the ‘standard’ cabin but included round trip economy air (major US hubs), airport transfers, 2-4 hour guided tour at each port, free (slow) WIFI, house beer/wine with lunch/dinner.  Balcony cabin fares jumped $1,000+ pp above standard but the weather precluded sitting out unless attired as recommended for a Neanderthal.  A -$1,000 pp air credit applied if you provide your own travel.  A Bayerische draught lager, a cabernet/merlot blend and a pleasant dry white Burgundy was included at meals.  Suggested tips reached $190 for the cabin. 

The wintry weather held a pleasant advantage - crowds in major tourist areas were low. Along with other sites, we noted that popular areas such as Lake Lucerne would be practically impassable in peak season.  Our guide claimed that Marksburg Castle, Braubach has 6 million annual visitors. There were only a couple hundred tourists on the dreary day our ship’s tour visited.

River depth, noise vs Ocean

Water is not as deep (at least on Rhine) - no Poseidon catastrophe here – even Shelly Winters could clamber up the TWO decks to escape. Most long-haul river ships have three cabin decks with upper open sun deck for viewing.  The floor of the lowest cabin deck is below the water line.  I saw another new river ship with 5 decks - our Captain said it could only travel between two middle-Rhine cities because of low bridges. 

Indeed, unusually high or low water levels for the Rhine can restrict ship travel.  We learned that in a recent major drought, people could wade across the Rhine in some sections. Both Viking and Scenic offer a ‘water level guarantee’.  They intend to bring another ship from the opposite direction to transfer pax to bypass the unnavigable section.  Refunds are offered if they can’t manage that substitution.

LOCKS

The lower Rhine is navigable because of numerous locks that each raise/lower a ship about 40 feet in about 10 minutes.

The river cruise spends each day in a town or city, traveling overnight – no relaxing sea-days. At worst, the river is choppy, so no sea sickness.  At one point there was a long loop in the river so passengers were transferred to buses and rode 30 minutes into the city while the ship traveled 3.5 hours to catch up.  This conserved time for the morning tours.  Another time the ship pulled to the river edge to let 12 passengers embark on a paid tour – a drop-off taking only 20 minutes. All included walking tours provided individual ear-bud listening devices to hear the guide.  The ship carried power-assist bicycles for use in ports.

Service was pleasant and attentive.  The CD had 5 years prior ocean ship experience. The crew was predominantly from eastern Europe and seemed efficient and competent.

Lake Lucerne (2-day Viking guided extension)

Twenty of us were transferred from the Basel endpoint on a coach to Lake Lucerne’s elegant lakefront Hotel Schweizerhof.  On arrival, most joined the guided 2-hour walking tour of the historic district. Viking stationed an concierge agent during the morning and afternoon for both days.  On the third morning the included coach transfer left our hotel at 6am for Zurich airport to connect through Amsterdam to Atlanta.  Others had later shuttle departures.

Many tree sellers were along the avenues – apparently its common there to buy trees just before Christmas day. We hoped to ride the 100+-year-old steam-drive side-paddle-wheel ferries but they were in for maintenance over winter. We visited a local museum, took long walks and retired early.  In summer, many sail to ascend 7000-ft Mt. Pilatus using variety of cogwheel rail (world’s steepest), cable car and gondola.

Summary

A river cruise offers an attractive small-ship alternative to ocean cruises.  A river cruise is more suitable to touring countries interior areas as opposed to coastal ports. A river cruise is more oriented to adults touring historic sights but provides only limited ancillaries like casinos, pools, and floor shows. HAPPY CRUISING

Since I’ve written this review' like no one is reading', I’ll end with an Oscar Wilde remark “I don’t want to go to heaven – none of my friends are there.” 

Hi,

Older pic of M-class aft attached.  Good Luck