dd57

We have replaced the little liquor bottles for wine - no problem. Just leave a note inside the fridge with what you want done. Replacements/refills are not done by your room steward; someone comes around daily to do it.

I was on the Mars last August in a PV room. No beep when turning on the light. It must have something to do with the differences in the bathroom. No heated towel bars in a PV, so maybe it's that?

Yes, but IF the routes are fairly stable ones, from major airport to major airport, you are more likely to end up with something you want. Rather than being switched from a non-stop to a 3 hop because you aren't ticketed as happened to us. The original flight's schedule wasn't changed but all the seats were sold out. There are pluses and minuses to both ways. Staying on top of your flights is needed no matter which way you go.

I just got this hat in light blue. What a great hat! Thanks for the recommendation.

If you pay for Air plus, you can choose your flights as soon as the airlines publish them, usually 300 days out. You can also ask that they be ticketed whenever you want, so you are assured of actually having the flights. I'm not saying it is necessarily the right choice for you, just supplying information. You need to do the research like CCwinelover said.

Strangely, I had a bad reaction after taking Benadryl and the doctors weren't sure of the cause so told me to stay away from it. I discovered Alavert when I couldn't take Benadryl. PS: Nope. I just made up the name.

I have an anaphylaxis reaction to mold (in the air, blue cheese, etc). Alavert makes a fast dissolving tablet you leave on your tongue. It is lortadine, a different antihistamine from Benadryl. I carry them with me and use them when as a first step when anaphylaxis starts. If my exposure is little, it can be enough. I use the Epi pen when it is bad. YMMV.

We had a DV 4 guarantee a few years ago booked directly with Viking and didn’t get our cabin assignment until check in at the dock. We were able to make reservations when they opened up for DVs. The only slight issue was it took a little longer to get our luggage since our tags said GTY and someone had to look up the cabin number.

We have been faced with very long lines at passport control in Munich. I'm sure it varies with time of day. But last time I noticed that the automated machines would take a US passport , the kind that has a biometric chip in it. If on the front of your passport there is a gold rectangle with a circle in the middle, it will work. The dirty scanner couldn't read my face clearly so I ended up seeing an agent anyway, but there is a dedicated agent to handle that. So if you are faced with a long line, check for a sign with that same rectangle/circle or a sign that talks about e-passport at the automated lines. Also, if you use mobility assist services in Munich, they take you to a fast access spot, basically at the front of the line.

I went by myself once and got half that amount. I would think for 2 you could ask for a tray for one and an extra tea.

Some of the DV cabins have a post in the wall so that the space at the end of the bed is even narrower. We had one of those cabins. We had to turn sideways to get past the post. I would guess that even without that post it would be really tight.

Everyone's definition of comfortable varies. The train seats you get on the Viking excursion are padded, like airplane domestic flight seats. There is a lot of legroom, and they are fairly wide. For the price I paid I was expecting something more comfortable like on Amtrak long distance trains and they weren't that comfortable. But we were OK for the long trip. Even though you already booked it, you could probably cancel the extension, get your money back, and DIY. We did enjoy the included excursions and there is something to be said for having Viking take care of everything. Could your husband take a travel pillow for his back?

I am by no means recommending the Oslo-Bergen Viking post-cruise extension, but for future reference it is important to note that when you do a pre or post cruise extension with them, Viking air includes leaving from wherever the extension ends (or starts for a pre-cruise). So if you take the Bergen-Oslo extension with Viking, they will fly you out of Oslo without paying for a deviation. Having been on that extension, I would recommend doing it on your own. We have enjoyed other extensions.

Also be aware that the first half to 2/3 is very scenic, but the last part isn't. So being in more comfy surroundings would be more satisfying. But, boy that first part is awesome.

We did this extension in August 2022. I don't know what class it was, but the windows were small and the seats not very well padded. What I would expect from a Metrolink vs Amtrak or european regional train vs TGV. Better than all of the subways I have been on all over the world. The Viking reps came around twice during the long trip, once to explain they would be handing out a sack lunch and once to hand it out. They never said anything about the trip. It was clear that most of the people in the car were commuters. I don't think there was an option to upgrade. The scenery was beautiful.

They have white bread and a variety of rolls. The whole wheat ones are the best. They also have English muffins. All of these are not baked on board. I saw the package once; it was either Udi's or Schar's, I can't remember which. The GF items that are baked on board are really good. They can make GF waffles at Mamsen's and they bake a variety of cookies and muffins available everywhere. And sometimes cakes. If you ask the day before, the Atrium bar will have GF muffins for you in the morning. The World Cafe has them every morning. I don’t eat breakfast in the restaurant. They will bring you a 3 tier tray of GF goodies at tea in the Wintergarden. Just ask when they come around I have never looked for pizza or pretzels so I don't know about them.

My husband has mobility assist in airports. The "associated support" we got in Paris was the Viking rep that met us at the airport after our cruise walked us to the ticket counter, walked us to where the "golf cart" picked us up, and rode with us up to security.

The outlet in the bathroom will not power a hairdryer.

We found the included walking tour in Seydisfjordur (population about 330) very interesting. The guide grew up there and spoke about the town's history, how they early on had to order houses from Norway in kit form, what life is like now. She said, when I asked, that life there is fairly accurately portrayed in the TV series Trapped that was filmed there. We went on several excursions to the amazing sites in Iceland, but I wanted to put in a plug for this smaller excursion.

They booked us in Business class for the within Europe leg of our return flight. Normally you get economy within Europe connecting to business class for the overseas part. I did check, for us the Saga plus both return legs in business was better than what I could do on our own. I think it totally depends on the airports involved and the luck of when you book the air.

I used Viking Air for our August cruise, DEN to KEF with Saga class. Viking considered it business class.

I was on the Paris/Normandy cruise in September, after having done a 2 week ocean cruise, and one week land trip in between. After successfully avoiding COVID by masking on airplanes, thru airports, train trips, bus excursions, etc., I caught it on the river cruise when a lady coughed on me repeatedly at dinner without turning away or covering her mouth. Foolish me, I was too polite to do anything. This was 3 days before the end of the trip and I did not have symptoms until I reached home. The dining table layout on the river ships is the "riskiest" part of the trip to me. This was our 2nd Viking river cruise since COVID, and our first time catching it.

In August we did not check in at Harpa. We had Viking air. They picked us up at the airport (early AM), took us to a restaurant for a breakfast, then took us to the dock where we checked in a trailer next to the ship.

I was on the Mars in August. I, too, am very sensitive to scents, which makes my asthma a lot worse. I used the laundry on our floor and the smell was so strong that I tried to rewash some items in the sink. I called guest services to let them know and ask if this was just the one machine. Nope. They did give me free laundry to fix the load, so I sent the rest out to the ship laundry and did not react to that soap. I don't know what happened, but I think I'm taking my own detergent on our next trip.

We really enjoyed the Stavanger Maritime Museum right on the harbor. There are several levels in an old building, so it might not work with your knee. I don't remember whether there was an elevator. There was an open air market there where I bought a nice sweater made in Norway as well as some handmade hats. It was at the end of the harbor in a large square.