Jay23

Thank you everyone.  J

Thank you Kohima for your reply.  I am "new" to a wheelchair and worry about every little thing.  My husband says they "will look after us" but I am grateful for your reply.  J

This is very worrying.  I am a wheelchair user and cannot walk any distance.  From what you are writing here, the new terminal does not seem as suitable as we thought,  and we are sailing from Portsmouth in December.  No-one at Saga office knows anything about the terminal.   We.imagined that the terminal would be suitable for me and my husband.    Dover is a 4 hour plus drive from home so we thought Portsmouth would be right as it is only two hours away.   We are familiar with Southampton which works very well.  Has anyone any experience of boarding the ship in a wheelchair?.  I would be grateful to hear from you.  J 

On 7/22/2022 at 5:38 PM, duquephart said:

Schipol is just to damn big and should be avoided if possible. My connecting flight always seems to be at the other end.

My advice is "Do not go via Schipol".  I cannot understand why carryon would make the experience there much better.  OK check in would not be as difficult, but the long lines were for Security as there were about one third the staff available.  I had assistance (wheelchair) at Schipol on 12th July but the lines were 2 + hours long and many flights were missed.   This was the most stressful airport experience I have ever had and I and my husband had special treatment.     As someone on here has said Schipol. is just too big.. J

PS. The traffic in Edinburgh is very heavy so you need to make time for the return to the ship..  Your friends would advise on this.  J

I think if you ask they will let you stay in the town. in Liverpool the ship is within walking distance of the town and its sites... J

Depends what sort of lunch you would prefer.  A light snack is very nice in the living room bar.  This is served but is a bit lf a limited menu.  x

I took my walking stick through Amsterdam  Airport (don't go there) without incident.  The stick was checked through security, but not a problem.   I was flying BA from Amsterdam to London.

It was the same with Oysters. They were so plentiful eons ago, but now that is not the case!!!!

I have never understood the attraction of lobster either DrKnob.  It is OK but not great!

Not much to see except the sea and a lot of ships.  Misleading description of the English Channel.  J

8 hours ago, Pushka said:

In Australia it's only about four months out. I believe UK is similar. 

That is the case here in the UK.  J

1 minute ago, molymoo said:

I think when all is said and done we will go with one of the many rapid tests available in our area.  We will likely have to pay for them but the cost will be considerably less than the rapid PCR test we originally planned to take during the 72 hour “window”.   We’ll have to schedule the test the day we leave which can be a little nerve racking, but with pre- planning and an appointment we should be okay.  
We are doing two nights in Oslo on a Viking pre-extension and not sure anyone will even see these test results!  Norway has no Covid restrictions right now (we’re less than 30 days out) so we will arrive in Norway, travel to the hotel (in the evening) and there MAYBE meet with the Viking rep.  If it is the wrong test, what are they going to do … send us home?  I think we’ll be fine!  

In the UK we can buy an Antigen Certified kit from certain stores.  We bought this for a cost of £22 for two, about $25 dollars?  We did the test in the Hotel 24 hours before we boarded and the result came through on the internet about 15 minutes later.  Of course as you know, the check in people didn't ask for the result.  I think that must be something to do with it being in Norway ?????  J

21 hours ago, molymoo said:

This has probably been covered but my mind is boggled.  If we are doing a Viking extension prior to embarkation who will look and and assess the "validity" of our pre-flight tests.  We have multiple options for getting this testing done and the prices range from "nominal" to $300.00 each.  We are going to Oslo then to Bergen to board and Norway does not require any testing at this point ... certainly don't want to spend $600 if one of the more nominal ones will do.  

I am probably a bit late with this but for what its worth the nominal (antigen) test will do..J

1 hour ago, Mrs Miggins said:

 I would not ask anyone about the "major issues in their country"  since you are likely to get a personal view rather than a balanced one.  As I have an interest in politics I do read news sources from the US regularly and my own personal thoughts have no relevance since I do not have a vote.

Quite right Mrs Miggins.  J.  

1 hour ago, Haqdeluxe said:

We now have been on 4 Viking cruises since June 2021. All 4 required us to produce negative PCR test results at our embarkation. 

I would recommend you follow Viking's published requirements and show up with the required documents. If for some reason they don't ask for or check yours... lucky you.

Not lucky. We went to the time, trouble and expense of testing as requested, only to find it was not required. However, I would not recommend that you don't carry out the pre-boarding tests as instructed, 72 hours or 24 hours ahead.   You never know what the check in people may say.. J

 We followed the instructions given by Viking, over the phone and in e mails, to the letter.(An antigen test kit used in the overnight hotel with certificate sen by e mail)  At check in on board the ship we were NOT asked for the certificate.  We were tested on boarding but were not given a result. We were tested every day on board and did not get a piece of paper quoting Negative until the last night on board.    Make all of that what you will. J

10 hours ago, Lets Go Hawks said:

We got burned by Rail Ninja. We reserved seats with them in February for a July train (Bergen to Oslo). Waited and waited for our first class seat assignments. Finally about 50 days before the train ride date, we were notified by Rail Ninja that we could not get seats on the departure we had their reservation for. AND, if we wanted a different departure time that day, it would cost us an additional $94 per person. 

 

Be very leery of Rail Ninja. I was able to rebook the train via the vy.no site and app.  Rail Ninja said they are refunding what I paid them, but it was tough getting the tickets we wanted through VY because many seats were already booked by the time Rail Ninja screwed us.

Very sorry to hear that.  Not a good service.  J

15 hours ago, CCWineLover said:

We are trying to do our own Bergen-Oslo booking in July (30 or 31).  The site keeps saying reservations not available yet for those dates.    https://www.vy.no/en/buy-tickets/train-and-bus-tickets

How did you make your reservation?   I started to try Railninja site but I couldn't find a place to get the senior rates like on the vy.no site.   Also you couldn't select seats on Railninja so who knows if or when they assign them.

Oh.  Very sorry.  I made a mistake.  My husband tells me there are no senior rates on the Ninja rail.  Smack on the wrist for me.  However, they will allocate seats.  You have to say what seats you want,.  Forward facing. windows. table etc and Ninja will give you the seat you request if at it is available..  Husband does say however, that the earlier you book the better for price.   Good luck..  J

7 hours ago, Cienfuegos said:

My recollection is the snack bar car offered beer, soda, various waters. Microwave pizza, previously made sandwiches, salads, and various empanada like cheese hand helds. 

That's right. J

We organised the whole trip, from London, Oslo, London ourselves. I appreciate that is much easier for us than for those of you coming from America.  We booked the train pretty early and the price  was considerably less than later prices.  Also we are "older" travellers and so got a pensioners discount on the train!!!!  J 

15 hours ago, Sunflower & The Scientist said:

We are on for the pre excursion in 2023 and a little concerned about how comfortable the train seats are.  My husband has back issues and is very tall.  We fly first class due to discomfort in economy seating.  How comfortable are the train seats for 7 hours!?

We travelled first class on the train.  Seats not like armchairs!  but they are two and two and not bad..   The downside is that the train sways and bucks a lot and making way to the restaurant car was quite difficult.  They do not bring food or drink to your seat.  My husband really enjoyed the journey; me? not so much..    J

72 hour test is for a PCR test ............ 24 hour hour test is an Antigen.  We were in Oslo for a day before boarding so had to do that test.   I am not surprised you cannot sort it all out, it is very confusing.  J

We did an on line test 24 hours before boarding, as requested.  The Viking check in team did not ask if we had done so or what the result was,  but we had to do a spit test at the check in.  We wore a mask.   Then we stayed in our stateroom but we were never told the result of the test so we enjoyed our cruise,( being tested every morning,) and never hearing until the last day that we had tested negative and were safe to return home.  Since the UK did not need a negative test it was all a bit academic.   We accepted all of this protocol without demur. No masks were required.   J

21 hours ago, WisRiver said:

The Comfort Inn Central is not under the Central Station.  The hotel is part of the remodeled original station.  We have stayed there.  Rooms were small and comfortable with no noise issues.  The principal advantage to the Comfort Inn Central is that it is a convenient indoor walk to the train tracks and reasonably priced for Oslo.  The Thon Opera is a more upscale, expensive hotel also attached to the train station, but in a new building.   We stayed at the Comfort Inn in September, 2019.  There were several nice restaurants in the original station, but I am not sure what survived Covid times.  

  We flew to Oslo and took a train.  At the Central Station  we did not have to go outside to walk  to the Comfort Hotel. and the restaurant was part of the complex.  This made it very easy for me as I have mobility problems.  The former entrance to the station takes you to the Central Station.  J