60andhappy

We were there yesterday on Star ... Gdansk. It was a short drive into the old town but there were at least 4 cruise ships in port and it was very crowded and the traffic pretty solid. I think it would be easier to meet up with someone Portside rather than in the old town.

Thanks helenandfrank, we're thinking of taking the included tour and then meeting her in town but we'll see what she has in mind once we start communicating. If we end up in Gdansk well have even less time. Any post schedules I've found don't show our ship - the Sea on Aug 13 at either port. Most viking ships show in Gdansk but not all.

Hi

We're on the Homelands cruise in August. Since our port time is short we would love to know if we will be docking in Gdansk or in Gdynia. I understand ports can change but would love to hear what the experiences have been so far. A friend is trying to arrange for his friend to meet us in Gdansk so any information would be helpful.

Thanks

We booked a DV1 aft cabin 5110 on the West Indies Explorer because we love watching the wake. We always try for an aft when we book on Celebrity. I would not do it again on Viking unless the itinerary had seadays. Our itinarary was all port days so we didn't have the chance to sit on the balcony and watch the wake except at six am for sail-in, sail-away in the afternoon or at 10 pm after we returned to the cabin. The cabin itself was fine.

 

I think, but don't actually know, that the balcony was the same size as others. It was very quiet. We were directly under the infinity pool and heard nothing from above.

 

I don't think the amenities on verandas and deluxe verandas are meaningful so I would book the least expensive veranda in the location I liked best.

 

If the itineraries you are considering have seadays, I would book an aft cabin. If not, I would not. They are far from the elevators and stairs.

 

For our next Viking cruise, we've booked a cabin on the Port side that is close to the laundry.

We so enjoyed our aft cabin on an Alaskan cruise that we paid a bit extra for one on the Homelands Viking cruise we are taking in August. We think it will be especially enjoyable sailing through the Stockholm archipelago as well as the Norwegian fiords.

I had written to Viking in advance to get an idea of the timing in Berlin because we were not sure what to plan. Here is what they said: "The tour starts at 7:00 a.m., and it will take around 3-3.5 hours to arrive in Berlin. Then you’ll meet with the local guide and will have 1.5 hour of panoramic drive. After that, you’ll be dropped off for your free time, which is about 4 hours. The drop off/pick up location is Gendarmenmarkt. You’ll be picked up from the same location for your transfer back to the ship." From that and additional information from the Explorer Desk we scheduled our tour to allow us an hour and a half for lunch. As it turned out, the train was delayed because of a mechanical issue, so we went directly to meet our rickshaw. Viking extended the departure time to match the delay and so we didn't miss out on our time in Berlin.

Thanks Granny27

We used the company 3tx dreiradtaxi on the recommendation of another passenger. We had an open rickshaw with just the roof but it was okay on the chilly day with the lap blanket we were provided. We booked in advance online/email and had the meeting point at Gendarmenmarkt at the Viking drop off/pick up location. We told the driver/guide what we had seen on the bus and pretty much left it up to him to choose the sights. It was our first visit to Berlin.

 

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Thanks so much Granny27. Viking is a bit vague about timing. How did you calculate what time to book the tour? Our tour starts at 8:15 on the train.

Thanks again!

The Viking included tour to Berlin from our Viking Sky cruise was a chartered train trip with a panoramic bus tour. During our free time, we had booked an electric rickshaw and very much enjoyed this private tour of the highlights.

 

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Hi Granny

Can you tell me more about the electric rickshaw? How did you book it? Did they take you on a tour? Did you choose where to go?

Thanks

Thanks!

Also the included excursions heed to be booked.

Yes, that's correct; but they trained us to think of it as across the street from the only Hilton in Berlin.

Thanks;)

We did the included tour which was a train ride to Berlin, a one hour overview of the city on buses and about 3.5 hours of free time. Viking chartered the train which made reasonable time going to Berlin. It was scheduled to leave at 6:30AM. Getting 600 people off a ship and onto the correct car on the train took an extra 20 minutes. They dropped some people with tours external to the city somewhere along the way; but we were at the Ostbahnhof by 9:15. You can skip the bus tour, but it was an interesting reminder of the recent history of Berlin from a competent guide ending about 10:45. Optional programs which were in the city also picked up their buses here. We followed a preplanned walking tour and had a wurst in a park beer garden. We were to meet the bus to the train station at 2:30 with a desired train departure of 3:15. Berlin is under a lot of construction and the last Viking optional tour was almost an hour late to the train station. The train was after 6:00 at the ship and it took a while to board 600 people through German security. They do wait for you if you're on a formal tour. They don't if you're on your own and don't make it to the bus pickup point on time.

Thanks chipmunkbob

We are also planning to do our own walking tour. Where was the spot where you had to meet the Viking bus? Gendarmenmarket?

From our experience on Viking Homelands in May 2017. The choice of excursions is of course personal, but here's a couple of thoughts.

 

The Eidfjord port is tiny and there's pretty much nothing to do there. The included tour and the simpler optional tours spend much of their time at a small nature center which isn't worth much and can't handle the crowds. I'd either take one of the more involved tours or think of it as a day at sea allowing for some pretty photography.

 

You have to either get a Russian visa or spend the time in St Petersburg with a tour (Viking or private). The included tour is a bus ride with a couple of photo stops. We took the canal tour plus museum tours. These do fill, so book early. I believe that you can exchange them if you see something better on board subject to availability.

 

There were shuttle buses at each port where the walk to town was not trivial. No tour was an option that we selected a couple of times.

Thanks chipmunkbob

What did you do in Berlin?

Keep looking. Most excursions on the Homies cruise this weekend were NOT sold out just 10 days ago.

I'm on the Aug 6 cruise, we can't book for another week-DV cabin. Three excursions are sold out at this point.

OK thanks

I am new to this site so I'm not sure exactly what I am doing but we are on the Viking Homelands Aug 20 starting in Bergen and going to Stockholm. I think the fellow that started this thread with the "engine trouble" is on the cruise now and started in Stockholm.

We arrive in Stockholm at 9:00 am and it is the last day...we leave very early the following day. The included tour is two hours. One option is to do the Vasa museum and City hall which is four hours in the afternoon. Did you see this? but the Nobel museum looks very interesting. This is our first ocean cruise. We have done several viking river cruises. There wasn't so much to decide and pay for ahead of time. Is there a decent opportunity to book excursions after we get going?

Any info you can share is greatly appreciated. Our window for booking starts tomorrow. (I know from your posts that you do a lot on your own. Terry and I are not so adventuresome.

We are in Homelands in Aug in the oposite directions. I've researched Stockholm a fair bit but have not been there. We are there several days prior to boarding. Vasa museum as others have said should be a priority. City Hall is where the Nobel prizes are presented and had more positive reviews then the actual museum. So l'd go for that tour for sure:)

It will be easy to visit the Nobel museum on your own. If you want a cruise on a small boat there are several which the tour guides can help your with. Also Viking usually docks near the city ferris so you could do a loop on onew of those easily.

Are you sure you are only in port one night? Viking usually is in port 2 nights at each end.

Enjoy

Are we able to buy tickets for the hop on hop off boat right at the cruise port or on the boat when it stops there?.

Thanks

Traveling on Viking Ocean Cruise. One of our ports is Gdansk and we have limited time there, 5 hours. Does anyone know if there is a shuttle provided by Viking to the city? I am afraid that with the limited time that we have and the distance to the ship, that we will be locked into the one of the ship's excursions.

We are on the same itinerary on Viking Sea in Aug and are also in Gdansk for 5 hours. I found copies of dailies from a Viking cruise in 2016. In all ports Viking provides a shuttle if needed as well as an information point at each port. I think we will be be well taken care of. The 3 1/2 hr included tour covers much of what we want to see in Gdansk, so we plan to take that and then enjoy the town until the last shuttle back to the ship

There's lots of good planning information here. So I'll add a post trip idea that compliments my planning..

I love spending time planning our adventures. I started doing a word document itinerary years ago which I transfer to my tablet as well now but I also take the paper print out to make notes on during our travels - I guess a journal of sorts.

When I get home I add notes and memories and tweak my original itinerary into a wonderful travel story. My husband and l have really begun to value these stories. They are a great compliment to the "movies" he makes of his wonderful photos.

My planning becomes part of our memories and doesn't just end up in a box or drawer.

When friends are planning trips to an area we have visited I also am able to send them my document!

Great Berlin information.

Thanks

Thank you, you've all been very helpful. I'll be ready to roll when the time comes😊

We book our shore excursions at 67 days-like most cruisers. I plan to get up at 12 AM pacific. What other advice do seasoned Viking cruisers have? Should I go through each day booking for each party then check out or is it better to booked strongly desired excursions first. My understanding is you need to check out to actually reserve an excursion.

Thanks!

We are on the Viking Sea, with a port day in Stavanger in Aug. I have been looking at independent boat tours to view Pulpit Rock from below. The Viking excursion offered includes a stop I don't see on independent tours "Before returning to Stavanger, you’ll pause and disembark at an idyllic beach at Helleren to go ashore for waffles, best served with cream and sweet jams" Does anyone know what company Viking uses. I'm not interested in the jam just the stop.

Thanks.

Thanks for your reply Peregrina651:D

Is laundry detergent free of charge in the self service laundry?

Thanks

We have an 8yr old and 5yr old. Is there a childrens menu.?

We are on Disney Magic from port Canaveral. The ship docks at 7:30 AM what is the latest we can stay on board?

We are on the Disney Magic Jan4-11 2015 cruise and I am considering Executive Vip Limo for our transfer from the port to Orlando airport. We are four adults and one child. Any opinions or suggestions would be most welcome.