Jump to content

jiminyC_fan

Members
  • Posts

    1,380
  • Joined

Posts posted by jiminyC_fan

  1. I've been absent for awhile.  Nice to see the fashion police are still here.  Found it interesting that  they are now telling you that jeans aren't comfortable attire for touring.  I always thought what is comfortable for one isn't necessarily comfortable for all.  Who knew that I've been wrong all these years!   What's comforting for me is knowing that the fashion police are not vocal on the ship.  (just sitting here behind a keyboard anonymously)

    • Like 2
    • Haha 1
  2. 7 hours ago, duquephart said:

     

    I've run into favorables on that one in a few places, but no longer shows up among the offerings. There is a "Iconic Sights" option but have no way of knowing how it would compare. Thanks much for your input!

    Hope this helps you.....Historic Berlin
    Duration: 12 hours Tour Price: $199.00
    Times: 06:30am-06:30pm
    See the major sights of Berlin during this fascinating panoramic excursion. After an escorted train ride, meet your guide at the Berlin train station. Begin with a photo stop at the Berlin Wall and explore the old St. Nicolas Quarter. Pass Checkpoint Charlie and see the Red City Hall of Schöneberg where President Kennedy declared "Ich bin ein Berliner" in 1963. At the Allied Museum, browse the exhibits chronicling the Allied occupation of Berlin between 1945 and 1952. Next, visit the famous Gendarmenmarkt, where you will enjoy a local snack of Currywurst, fried sausage with curry and ketchup. After, stop for photos at the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag German Parliament, with its magnificent glass cupola. See the magnificent interior of the Berlin Cathedral and stop at the Neue Wache memorial, dedicated to the victims of war and dictatorship. After time to reflect here, return to your ship by train.

  3. Sad part by relying on a temperature is that there are many people like myself that runs a low temperature.  I am consistently 96.8.  I would actually be running a temp at 98.6 and could easily sneak by the authorities.  For the record, I don't have another booked cruise at this time.

  4. We took the Historic Berlin and LOVED it.  We did our own thing in Eidfjord which ended up one of our favorite days.  We took a beautiful walk that the town has mapped out for people.   It was a great way to get away from crowds, buses and time schedules.  We would absolutely do it again.  In Stavanger, we went to Pulpit Rock on our own using Rodne or Norled.  Can't remember which one we ended up with.   It's cheaper and the only difference is that Viking goes to shore and serves a waffle.  Mighty expensive waffle, LOL.   In St Petersburg, I organized a group from here and used Alla Tours.  MUCH cheaper and smaller groups.  Highly recommend using a private company.

  5. 17 minutes ago, just_dont said:

    Shaming implies publicizing someone's lapse. While I'd never publicly call someone out, having a private word with someone to help improve my chances - and everyone else's - of avoiding a really unpleasant episode of Norovirus (or worse) should not be considered "shaming" by anyone.

    Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk
     

    I'm pretty sure that he has no intention of pulling the offender to the side to have a talk with him.  So yes, it's public, not private.  I feel it's shaming. Feel free to call it what you want.  I've suffered with Norovirus so I understand the severity of it but I still wouldn't call someone out at the entrance of a restaurant with people coming and going.  All I'm asking is to use discretion when approaching someone.  It's not that difficult.   Like the judge on People's Court likes to point out , "quien es mas macho".

     

    • Like 1
  6. 6 hours ago, sugarside said:

    My husband recently had 'to have words' with a gentleman ahead of us going into the buffet who was trying to ignore the sanitising measures in place.

    His reasoning being he had just washed his hands five minutes earlier on leaving his cabin.

    His wife had the decency to look ashamed of him.

    I understand the need for sanitizing and agree with it 100%.  What I don't agree with is the "big man on campus" attitude of some (that that I have been reading on CC) that feel the need to approach others and shame them.  Maybe approach the staff and tattle on the offending person.  They can take the offender aside privately.

    • Like 2
  7. 17 hours ago, duquephart said:

    Service staff turnover might tell a tale.

    I have a friend and her husband who both work for Viking.  They told me that Viking is an excellent company to work for.  They have worked for other companies that she doesn't claim to be great.   That's good enough for me!

    • Like 1
  8. On 1/22/2020 at 5:17 PM, CCWineLover said:

     

      Sorry - this stinginess on OBC's by TA's still riles me, especially when I hear so many of our fellow Cruise Critic people talk about their "full" OBC's and how are they even going to spend all that OBC !!    Guess I just have to find a new agent.

    I don't see it as stingy.  I believe a larger volume agency can afford it.  A small ma and pa shop probably couldn't.   Our very first Viking cruise we got 50.00 OBC from an agent working out of his home.   I learned from someone here about their TA (large agency) and booked the next one using them.  We got 1500.00 pp reduction on our cruise.  That was before Viking decided against TA's discounting the fare.

     

  9. 48 minutes ago, Squawkman said:

    I am convinced this is not the case based on my discussion with our room steward 2 months ago. Why not just give Viking the benefit of the doubt and go for $15pp per night? I'd be more upset if a lot of folks adjusted their tip bill downward and deserving staff received less.

    I agree with you 100%.

  10. 52 minutes ago, Squawkman said:

    I let this go too far as I abhor people who can afford to live comfortably skimp on tipping. This is probably due to my personal experiences.

    I understand because I, too get worked up over excuses on not tipping.

    • Like 1
  11. On 1/19/2020 at 8:08 AM, Jim Avery said:

    As this subject has re surfaced, I would like to share what I learned on our recent long voyage on the Sun.  Like most of us, we get close to many of the crew.  A great hard working group if there ever was one.  One evening this topic came up.  I asked how they got paid the gratuities.  I was not happy to hear that they don't get paid at the end of the cruise or any other time.  Crew says they are told "it is part of your salary".  So no bonus checks, no distribution of gratuities collected for a cruise.  So the "gratuities" we are charged or which are included in our fare as an inducement would more accurately be called a service charge.  Viking can set the rules as they see fit but somehow this leaves me feeling a bit cheated.  Maybe cheated is too harsh a word maybe misled.

    I made a staff friend on our first river cruise.  She then transferred to Ocean.  We talked about this.  She said that Viking takes good care of them and the policy was perfectly fine for her.  She had worked for other cruise lines as well so knows the field.  We remain friends to this day. I do believe people should pay the recommended tips.  I, also, believe that if one encounters a few that go above and beyond to tip them personally,

  12. Just be a nice person and tip.  Stop looking for excuses to escape it.  If you can afford the trip, you can afford the tips.   If you can't, hold off until you save a bit more before booking.

    • Like 3
×
×
  • Create New...