jiminyC_fan

Outstanding photos! Thanks for sharing!

Stan, we were on the Star a year ago and found the staff and food outstanding with zero complaints. We ate in all venues. Even liked the pool grill. Chef's Table was one of our favorites. I truly feel that food is highly subjective. We found the wait staff exceptional.

Thank you for starting this thread. I had a question whether it was more of a scenery cruise or a typical European cruise of churches and palaces. My husband has tired of them both. I think your thread has answered my question and this cruise will be perfect for us. The only down is that we've already taken the train between Bergen and Oslo and visited the spots that you mentioned. I will have to research more on that. Once again, thank you.

Great information. Thanks to all! It will be Bergen to London. We've done the Bergen to Oslo post cruise last time but we felt we didn't get enough time in Oslo. We will probably fly into Oslo and take the train back to Bergen.

I am extremely close to booking our next cruise with Viking, Into the Midnight Sun. Last one was the Homelands cruise which was outstanding. I am not really familiar with the ports and the cruise itself. I am guessing that it is concentrated more on the fjords and scenery than the towns. Am I correct? That is what we are most interested in. We've seen so many palaces and churches and just want a change of pace. We thoroughly enjoyed Eidfjord for the experience and peacefulness and I am thinking it will be more like that. Thank you in advance for your input.

Never saw one on our Homelands cruise but they always pointed out a good potty break and how far out the next one would be.

I am not a fan of backpacks so I used an anti theft cross body. It is either Pac Safe or Travelon (not at home to check). I like that the zipper locks and the straps are slash proof.

We always take three bottles of wine to Cozumel for our American friend. We have always wrapped in bubble wrap several times and taped it down. We then pack each one in a large ziploc bag and placed in the middle of the luggage with clothing on all sides for cushion. Thankfully for 12 years we never had an issue.

Vasa Museum was the top attraction for us. We spent a very long time there. We, also, enjoyed walking to the Royal Palace. Skansen is an open air museum that we enjoyed as well. We felt that Gamla Stan was more shopping than anything.

Awww Becki, what a beautiful story. I loved reading it. Too bad you didn't have to opportunity to tip her.

Just to clarify, my post, too, was in regards to tipping the guides and bus drivers as stated by Viking.

I can't agree more with Host Jazzbeau, rjscott, and Elizabetho55. You can't blame not tipping because it isn't customary in your country. You can't say that you weren't aware of it because tipping is mentioned in the documents and literature. They work hard for their tips and deserve them. Just tip. It's the decent thing to do.

Yes, exactly! I may add to that, I have heard and read discussions about gratuities onboard as well. I cannot believe that as much as people pay for these Viking cruises that at the end they would consider stiffing those people who give them such wonderful service, and do it with a smile. Please, please, these are such hard-working people, and just because you never eat in the World Café or at the Chef's Table, please don't reduce your gratuities to "justify" that. If you do that, the rest of the staff will receive less. Gratuities are pooled (except for what you may give your room steward or that special server in The Restaurant in cash. They can keep that for themselves. I was told that specifically by the Hotel Manager (I hope that's the right title).

 

Thank you, Jiminy, for letting me vent. :)

 

Becki

I'm so happy you mentioned it! I think you and I share the same compassion for the staff. <3

Becki, sorry that you witnessed the non tippers as well. I'm just not real sure how they can feel good about themselves at the end of the day. If they can afford the cruise then they can certainly afford to tip.

On the Star it was automatic but my tip of the day is to always check to see if the soap is being dispensed.. Many of us did loads one night only to find out that there was a problem and we were not getting soap. Thankfully, my husband helps me so he was able to fix it. (easy fix)

A few examples are here.

IMO the Chef's Table is more about presentation than the food itself.

However it's an entertaining experience for the first time cruise.

Next time we would probably skip it in favor of the Manfredi's or the buffet.

We prefer Chef's Table over Manfredi's. We went to Chef's Table 3 times and Manfredi's only once. It sure proves that food is extremely subjective.

We choose Viking post and pre mainly due to the ease of transfers and luggage handling. I do all the research beforehand and either strike out on our own or use Viking's tours whichever interests us the most.

lipnick, try Rodne and Norled. Both have the same tour but different times. Both companies are extremely close to where Viking docks. Hopefully, one of the companies will have a time that works for you. We couldn't make it for Rodne's time but Norled worked perfectly for us.

TJ Travel was fantastic ..our Viking Homelands cruise was mid May and the TJ tour was incredible as others have said. My only regret was that I didn't book TJ in our towns too..

How funny. We had a group of 6 with Alla and we said the same thing. They did such a great job in SP that we all were sorry that we didn't book in other towns, as well. They tried to get us in some but it was such a last minute thing that it didn't work out. Live and learn.

We loved Alla. Very well organized throughout both days. We saw everything we wanted. English was probably better than ours, LOL. Our group decided to get off as soon as the ship cleared. I've heard that Viking tours gets off first but that was not our case at least. We were probably one of the first 10 people off. Much to our surprise Alla was already there so we started the tour early. Because of it we were allowed a longer tour for the day. Second day went just as smooth.

Really? You’d expect a reply in the same day? If I need that urgency I’d call. If a business replies within 24 hours then I think that’s fantastic service. If I need it sooner I call.

I have to admit that was my response as well. I've never had an issue with Viking's communication.

On one Norway cruise a passenger on a nearby dinotable moaned all the time because she’d only packed bikinis and formal wear!

Oh my goodness. That is hilarious.

However as they say in Iceland, no such thing as bad weather, just wrong clothing 😊😎

I can't agree more!

I was wondering about tipping as well so I asked Miss Google:

"Hopefully you will plan to go on a tour while in Norway. As with other services in Norway, the tour’s price includes a gratuity. However, if your tour guide is exceptionally friendly and helpful, he or she will certainly appreciate a tip if you want to give one. A tip to a tour guide is never expected, but definitely always appreciated."

 

Here's more info on tipping in Norway: http://www.whototip.net/tipping-in-norway

Viking encourages tips for their ship sponsored tours for both the guide and driver. We tip for every tour in every country private or ship sponsored.

I think shoe brands vary for everyone. No way can I wear a Clark shoe. My podiatrist recommends Keen's, Vionic and definitely New Balance. My husband and myself wore a combination of Keen's and New Balance on our Viking Homeland tours.

Parsley Cruises, it rains in many of the ports on the VH cruise and not just Bergen. We didn't have rain there but we experienced an extremely heavy rain in Stavanger. You just never know.

We used Alla in SP. Absolutely one of the best tour companies that we have used. We were lucky to have only 6 people sign up so it was almost like a private tour. The small group did not cost us more.