FoggyEthan

It seems like the math means: If you like super premium wines, get the package for the 30% discount, and buy at least $175 of wine by the bottle per day. If you like premium wines, liquor not so much, do not get the package and just order wine by the bottle. But agreed. The upgraded wines are still not special.

The beverage package does include one champagne. Are you saying that it is also too sweet? Or that it isn't available?

If the wine-by-the-bottle is of a high enough standard for you, just add in the cost of buying wine to the price of the cruise, and compare that against Regent / Silverseas / etc. If you don't finish a bottle, Viking should hold it for you or let you bring it back to your room.

In Svalbard it's just us. I suspect that Viking just hired SvalbardHurtigruten because Hurti is a big operator and is a one stop shop to handle everything Viking needs. In Tromso it's also just us in port. <shrug> Also the Henningsen cruise in Svalbard, mentioned a couple messages ago, is only operating a single tour that is to the other town a little west of Longyearbyen, rather than a nature tour, so that's not a big draw for me. But we will be using private operators in Geiranger (Calm Giant Tours) and Leknes (Heart of Lofoten / XXLofoten). In Bergen we'll probably hire someone local as a city tour.

Sigh. Villmarkssenter has no availability for our date -- nor most dates -- in August. And Hurtigruten is entirely unavailable for every activity on our dates, no doubt because Viking bought them out.

Wow, lots in there! Who did you use for Tromso for the independent husky hike? I was going to book it through the ship, but I'm happy to save money instead. Was it a real hike, or more like a stroll? So much in Svalbard is already booked, presumably exclusively by Viking. I saw the Walrus trips, but I'm worried that I'll get sick on those ships. I do OK on catamarans, because they don't rock side-to-side very much. Thanks again! -- Ethan

Looking around for something similar, I suspect this trip might be by "Henningsen Transport and Guiding". For our date in August I see that they have a 9am sailing that lasts 10 hours. https://svalbardcruise.com/index.php/en/ And it's less than $250. Tripadvisor reviews are good. 70% 5-star.

Other people have mentioned at least two brands. So it may not be predictable. Ships may have limited options depending upon where they are when they stock up.

I'd thought I remembered reading that you have the option to hike without a dog of your own. Do you remember if that was an option?

My only concern is Miami, both on and off.

Thanks to everyone who replied. It sounds like the answer is that it varies depending upon country and port, and so is not necessarily predictable.

It's mostly for after the cruise, when I'm traveling Europe independently. I'm never hungry in the mornings for breakfast, so it's good to bring some trail mix with me so that I can eat when I need to, and just the amount that I need. Nuts are nutritious, fruit has energy, chocolate chips have happiness. 😎

I was planning to bring trail mix (i.e. nuts, raisins, etc) aboard in a ziploc bag. NCL has a rule that says only sealed food can be brought aboard, and a chat agent clarified that this means sealed by the manufacturer, not a ziploc bag. Does anyone have experience with this? Is this strictly enforced? I guess my solution is to bring the unopened plastic bags of nuts, raisins, etc, on board, along with the ziploc bag, and then make the mix after I'm onboard. Thanks! -- Ethan

Are we distinguishing between Italian and Italian-American? Lots of what we (in the USA) call Italian food isn't recognized as such in Italy. Perhaps some Manfreddi's menus are more one vs the other?

Actually, I feel like it's more than catering to the base. I think it's the Viking brand. The core isn't the scandinavian blond wood, it's a sense of safety, calm, comfort. Hygge? To be clear, I don't mean this as a negative -- all brands have to have a style of their own. Food: broad appeal from most dishes without fancy technique (except Chef's Table) Music: better to be predictable than to stand out. eg: ABBA Public environment: comfortable furniture, friendly service You go out for the day and explore, and come back "home" to your ship. Or else I'm just reading a lot into my own ideas. 8-) -- Ethan