CruiserDoc

For expedition cruises in Antarctica, the Arctic and Greenland, are there formal nights onboard? I was on a recent Antarctic cruise with another line recently, and the dress code was very relaxed and informal. Just wondering if that's the case with Silversea.

16 hours ago, DCPIV said:

You don't -need- to tip anyone.  Many folks (including us) typically do for exceptional service (or attempts to provide it), but it's really a personal standard.  Keep in mind that a double occupancy room already is contributing $38/day in gratuties.

 

Personally, the service is Luminae always has been of a quality I want to reward with an extra tip, but that's just been my experience.  I come ready to tip them extra, but I don't hand it out on the first day.  I also expect that there will be at least one bar where we will spend enough time that a tip feels appropriate (again, "feels appropriate). 

 

For the Sommelier, we try to get them a little something extra by arranging all the tastings we want to do them (and we typically do a couple, at least).  If they do a great job (and they always have), we'll add to that.

 

I almost always want to tip our Butler and Room Attendant extra, too.  We do as our butler to do things, and the ones we've had always seem to find a way to do those things better than we asked or could have imagined.  As for the Room Attendant, I often make him work around my tendency to sleep in while cruising, so I hope I make up for that in some part with a happy envelope at the end.

 

As for the best way, I'm not sure there is one.  For the Butler, Room Attendant, Luminae staff, and Sommeleir, I usually give them an envelope on the last night (although I have used OBC).  For bartenders and other bar staff, I typically do that as I go.  However, I'll often "bulk tip" a larger amount if it's a place I know I will be around often (or I just haven't tipped in a while).  I know that bartenders pool to some extent because they always have tossed the cash tips into a common container of some manner.

You mention that you have used OBC for tipping...how do you make that happen?

Does anyone know what Atlas' policy is if you test positive on the required pre-trip COVID tests? Is there an option to get a full refund?

For those who have cruised on Scarlet Lady recently.... do you think it's possible to make a flight at 10:55 from Miami when you depart the ship? 

2 hours ago, JM0115 said:

Have you tried doing it on different devices? Phone, computer, different browsers? We are also on this cruise and had no issues. Hope you can work it out!

Yes, I've tried all devices...still grayed out. However, I talked with a great agent at Viking this morning and she sent me a copy of a message from mgmt that was sent to them regarding this very subject. The message says for the agent to tell the guests that they can fill the form out at embarcation, so that's what we'll do. She said there are notes in our record from the agent yesterday and her today regarding the situation. So, now that I have something in writing, I feel better. If anyone has a copy of the form or can remember the questions that are asked, I would be most grateful to see them.

2 hours ago, bluesea777 said:

 

It's next Friday's not Thursday's.

 

I saw that you cancelled the 31 Aug Iceland cruise, so perhaps your were in the MyVikingJourney for this cruise rather than the Bermuda one when you attempted the Health Survey.

 

Make sure you are in the correct booking for the Bermuda cruise.

 

 

Yes Fri the 27th is departure day for cruise. Our departure day from Denver is Thursday. We are overnighting in Boston and have early flight Friday to Bermuda on day of embarkation.

I just received an email that said we may be denied boarding or have delayed boarding if we don't complete the survey. I just checked and both survey buttons are still grayed out and unresponsive.

I am definitely in my Bermuda, not my canceled Iceland booking.

Has anyone had experience with not having the Viking Health Survey filled out ahead of time and doing it at boarding, which is what the Viking agent said I could do?

We received the email telling us to go to MyVikingJourney to complete our Health Surveys for next Thursdays Orion cruise. The tabs to Start the Survey are grayed out, and we can't do the survey.  Any ideas? I called into Viking and they couldn't figure it out either. The agent finally told me that i could just fill them out on the ship...is that right?

My wife and I are traveling to Bermuda next Friday for the Orion's Aug 27th cruise. I've just read Bermuda's official government arrival information, and have a question. Upon arrival in Bermuda, a COVID test is provided by the government at the airport. We have Viking's arrival transfer, and will be transported to the ship to await the results. Does anyone know what happens IF the airport test result comes back positive?

Greetings!

We have just booked the Bermuda cruise embarking on 8/27th (late-comers to the party!!!), after canceling the 8/31st Iceland trip.

My question may have been answered earlier in this thread, so please excuse me if it's a repeat...I've only browsed the last few pages so far.

We've booked our own air on JetBlue....has anyone done their own transfers between the airport & the ship? If so, cost?  We're arriving around noon on embarkation day and departing at 12:25pm on debarkation day. Are those time frames legit?

Thanks!!

What date was your departure? Did you get a refund or Future Cruise Vouchers? No Risk Guarantee gives Future Cruise Vouchers for cancellation during penalty period.

Could someone share a copy or screenshot of the Viking Health Survey that is supposed to be emailed to us about one week prior to sailing? We are currently scheduled on one of the Iceland welcome back cruises and, we are considering scheduling to depart for one of the Bermuda cruises two days after we return from the Iceland cruise. I'm wondering if one of the questions is "have you traveled internationally in the past 14 days?"  I have seen that on other questionnaires, and I'm wondering if an answer of yes would not allow us to depart?

On 7/23/2021 at 6:40 PM, IWantToLiveOverTheSea said:

Vok Baths didn't sound fabulous to me when i researched them.  Basically I couldn't find much about them, and then found a few pictures which didn't make them look all that fabulous.  But I did see a review of them, and copied this info in case I decided to try something different:

(I've paraphrased):

 

Seydisfjordur: Vok Baths: drive up mountain with amazing view of ship in valley, wind way down to valley.  Viking rented entire place so never felt crowded. Had 2 buses, spaced nicely apart, beautiful facility, clean private showers, large dressing rooms with lockers that lock. It was cool as there were 3 pools different temperatures, 2 of which designed as infinity pools to look like part of lake.  Had stairs like in a pool so could ease yourself into lake or just jump right in.  Had swim up type bar with drinks for purchase (credit card bracelet?)  Also sauna room outside, then go out to cold rain water shower. Tea & water when done. But drive.... Beautiful, lots of snow still high up, too many waterfalls to count.

What do you mean by "credit card bracelet"?

22 hours ago, NeilP57 said:

The current situation is that yes you can, although Viking have said they reserve the right to change that in the future. 
 

 Most people check in at the concert hall in Reykjavik and you can also stay in the city and there are shuttles running all day 1 between the city and the ship. The shuttle ran every 30 minutes from noon and the last shuttle bus returned to the ship at 9pm. 

Thanks for this info...I'm assuming one can drop their luggage off at the concert hall if they are staying in town, is that correct? 

On 7/31/2021 at 10:01 AM, Wander58 said:

Does anyone know if the ABBOTT ID NOW test is accepted for entry into Iceland?  Its the rapid test that Walgreens offers.

I'm interested in this too... anyone know the answer? 

Does anyone know what happened to that first passenger that tested positive? Did she/he have to quarantine in Iceland after the cruise? 

Would the Silver Spirits beverage package include any of the cocktails on this menu?

How long does it take to get a response to a status match request?

On 12/30/2019 at 5:30 PM, SirWolf said:

MSC does offer unlimited plan (1 device) on certain ships/itineraries.

Link: https://m.msccruisesusa.com/en-us/Mobile/Discover-MSC/On-Board/Internet.aspx

We purchased the Premium Internet Package for 4 devices / 6GB on 3 cruises and used it all.

We registered 1 phone + 1 tablet for each person (4 devices total).

The speed depended on the time of the day. Very slow from 9:00am - 8:00pm on sea days but ‘kind of fast’ at night after 11:00pm.

So, the price for this Premium Package for our 7 day cruise on Meragvilia is listed at $99 per adult. For a couple cruising, do we each have to pay $99 or does only one person purchase the package and we both can use up to 4 devices?

APDMOM...thanks so much for this great review and pictures!  I know you said earlier that you internet was being gobbled up quickly, which package did you buy....would you suggest buying the unlimited package?

Hey Coochuck, thanks for the comments. How do you think MSC compares with Celebrity?

We will be on the 1/26th sailing of the Meraviglia. We've never cruised with MSC before, but have been many times on Celebrity and like it a lot. We are springing for the MSC Yacht Club to experience the "ship within  a ship" concept. A few questions....

1) I know the Yacht Club has it's own pool and deck area, but as far as the enclosed Solarium area with the Bamboo pool, is that adults only? (the pictures I've seen show a very crowded pool and hot tubs with I think children present).

2) Is the food in the Yacht Club restaurant better than either the main dining or specialty restaurants; ie, do most people staying in the Yacht Club stay in their restaurant or venture out to the other dining options.

Any specific comparisons to Celebrity would be welcome!

Thanks!

We will be sailing in a Grand 1-Bedroom Suite on the Allure and therefore have access to Coastal Kitchen as one of the dining alternatives. Are we able to invite a couple who are traveling with us, but not in a suite, to dine with us? Does Royal Caribbean allow us to include them in a reservation?

On bus from Bratislava to Budapest. Been pouring rain all day. Somehow ironic!

What ship are you on and what is the itinerary?

We have some friends who live near Amber Cove and we would like to meet up with them when our ship stops there. Are outsiders (not cruisers) allowed to come into the restaurant/shop area of Amber Cove, or is there a security gate that you must show a cruise card to enter from the outside?

Thanks!

Greetings!

Does anyone have experience with the Blu restaurant and being Gluten intolerant? Would you say that the Blu menu is better or worse for Gluten issues than main dining?

Thanks!

Tom