Krazy4Kruisin'

On 6/27/2023 at 8:48 AM, Snowcat1 said:

I have tried doing a search but nothing came up. I remember once seeing a list of rooms with sliding doors and fixed doors for ocean cruises. Would anyone still have that list? Thanks

Is this pertaining to going on balcony? Is it better to have one kind of door over the other? What is pros and cons of sliding doors?

1 hour ago, anaco_angler said:

I should have been clearer. It's the Aug 23 sailing of the British Isles Explorer on Viking Jupiter but it wasn't scheduled to visit Liverpool until later in the itinerary, possibly Aug 27. The itinerary now shows Douglas, Isle of Man on that date.

So, this is the cruise we're getting off on Aug 23 and I guess when it leaves again that day, it will be missing Liverpool. That's a shame. 

4 minutes ago, deec said:

Even a 24 hour cancellation is not helpful as last minute cancellations might happen due to weather!

I have occasionally found tour operators who will let you cancel if weather related.

I would hope that ALL would allow cancelations if weather related. Otherwise, that's not good business. When I am booking private tours, I have been asking that question to be sure.

On 5/29/2023 at 3:07 AM, fruitmachine said:

I can recommend an Edinburgh-based private-hire driver.  He has a Mercedes van and can take up to (I think) 6 passengers.  Adding the extra driving time before meeting you and after returning you may make the day too long for him, but you can ask.

 

The 'cards on the table' statement is that he is a friend from our first days at school, but I get no financial benefit from recommending him.

If interested, email me on ccfruitmachine at gmail dot com and I'll send you his contact details so you can deal direct.

 

 

just sent you an email about this

On 5/25/2023 at 1:30 AM, Moonlion said:

The Orkneys were unusual. When shore excursions were first listed in MVJ last December, there was the included excursion and 6 or 7 optional excursions available. A month or two later, all the optional excursions were suddenly removed from MVJ and only the included tour remained. I never learned why but someone onboard had heard that Viking was not satisfied with the quality of the local tour vendors in the Orkneys on our sailing. The May 13th Viking Venus stopped in Orkney the same day we did, and they also had no optional excursions available to them, just the included. We wanted to visit Scara Brae which was not on the itinerary of the included excursion and thus booked a 4-hour tour of the Orkneys with Craigie’s Taxi. We were very happy with our experience. 

We will be on Jupiter beginning Aug 9. There are 8 tours listed as of tonight for Orkneys. Maybe they found different tour companies.

On 5/21/2023 at 5:56 PM, anaco_angler said:

I learned from another site that Viking has canceled the port call in Liverpool on the Aug 23, 2023 BIE on Viking Jupiter. I verified that on the itinerary posted for that sailing on the Viking website. Does anyone have any idea why? We are on the Aug 29 BIE on Viking Mars but so far, Liverpool is still listed on our itinerary. There have been multiple changes to this cruise itinerary so we have to literally take it one day (or port) at a time.

So many of us booked one cruise itinerary but we've wound up with another--one we probably wouldn't have booked in the first place. I do understand the cruise line's right to make changes, however.

We are on Jupiter and will be in Liverpool on Aug 17. It's still showing that. But how can Jupiter be there on Aug 23 because that's the day we disembark in Greenwich. I think you must either have the wrong date or the wrong ship.

On 5/24/2023 at 2:32 AM, Moonlion said:

We just got off the May 9-23 BIE cruise and didn’t miss any ports. However, I think we were very fortunate with the weather. From my research, it seems that both Orkney and the Shetlands can be missed due to winds and rough seas. If these islands are on your bucket list, you may want to consider a land trip. 
 

Once you book the cruise, the port times will be listed in your Viking invoice. On our cruise, we arrived at most ports between 7-8 AM and departed at 5 or 6 PM. Ullapool was the only port where we had a half day (arrived around noon and departed at 5 PM). Keep in mind that you will be asked to be back on board about an hour before the departure time. 

The ship stays in Liverpool until 11pm. So, we booked dinner at a restaurant in Liverpool that evening. 

On 5/10/2023 at 4:11 PM, austinetc said:

If I recall correctly, when the card is removed from the device, not only do the lights go out, but also power to the outlets. So if you carry lots of things that need charging, it's wise to use a fake card.

That would seem stupid for power to outlets to go out when lights go out. If you charge your phone, ipad, etc overnight, you'll surely not keep your stateroom lights on overnight. Or am I misunderstanding what you're saying?

On 1/27/2022 at 5:30 PM, takemewithyou said:

Oh my!  Thanks for your report of your experience.  I am glad to find this out ahead of time because we would have been miserable!  I have contacted Tell Us and asked if they can do something…..waiting for their response.    I am afraid that we can’t cancel and are pretty committed at this point.  Worse case scenario, we may have to order and bring our own topper which is unfortunate for the price we are paying.

We love a very firm and hard mattress. So if this is the case, we'll be happy campers. Sorry you weren't happy with it.

6 hours ago, Mackdogmolly said:

Do you know if they will accommodate any dietary restrictions, if you tell them in advance? For example, I don’t eat any pork or red meat. On other lines, the chef has made substitutions for me.

Go to MyVikingJourney/On Board Experience/Preferences/Dietary Restrictions. You can put in food preferences and allergies. 

9 minutes ago, CCWineLover said:

They all have the same layout, same square footage, same amenities/benefits.

Only difference is location on the ship.

The descriptions are lumped together, for example, for 1, 2, and 3:

https://www.vikingcruises.com/oceans/ships/viking-saturn.html

 

PV1:  Forware and aft on Deck 6,  aft on Deck 5

PV2:  Forward on Deck 5

PV3:  Forward on Deck 4

Thank you. We are in a PV2, and was just wondering. They are priced differently, with PV1 being more expensive and PV3 being least expensive. But only by approx $100.

What is the difference between the 3 levels of the penthouse veranda suites? They seem to all have the same size and amenities. 

On 11/9/2022 at 9:50 AM, longterm said:

Actually, what you'll want to do is buy a regional eSIM instead of for a single country. To do that, download the app onto your phone, then in the STORE, click the link at the top, to see Regional eSIMs. You can buy one for Europe, for example, that covers 39 countries; this covered the cruise we did recently that included Italy, Croatia, Montenegro, and Greece.

The package I bought the regional Europe package (39 countries) for 30 days, 10GB data, at $37. Our trip lasted 24 days total, so I paid $1.54 per day for full use of my cell phone. 

So, for $37 I can use my iphone as I would in the United States? We're going with another couple from our city. If I need to call or text them, I can do this for no extra charge other than the $37? I'm the only one of the 4 of us whose company is not paying for international plan. So, I can call or text them and it won't cost them any extra other than what their company is paying for anyway? Is that correct?

7 hours ago, SempreMare said:

of course! 
 

my public email is in my signature, it gets automatically forwarded to my private email. Send me a ping and I will reply.

Wish you were on board Viking Homelands today. We just found out that we have to skip Gdansk Poland because of weather and I am so sad. 😢

I could see if I still have some of the dailies from the British Isles explore cruise when I get back home

I don't see your signature. I thought it was supposed to be at the bottom of your posts, but unless I'm crazy, I don't see it. Sorry that you have to skip Gdansk, but have a great time on the rest of the cruise. When do you get back to Austin? What part of town do you live in?

24 minutes ago, CurlerRob said:

 

As @SantaFe1 says, check you invoice for projected port times. We always plan for "back on board" times as 1 hour prior to departure - but as stated, both the departure and on board times are always subject to change.

 

When we do a private tour, we will only deal with folks who are willing to be flexible on times should the ship schedule change prior to arrival. Reputable private tour companies never have an issue with this - its part of the job for them. 🍺🥌

Duh! Why didn't I think of that? I think I'm just so tired from trying to plan everything. It didn't even cross my mind that I have it on my reservation. Thanks!

For those who have done the British Isles from Bergen to London, can you tell me approximately what time each day the ship leaves for the next port? We're trying to book some private tours, but don't know what time we have to be back on the ship. Does it leave before dinner, during dinner or even after dinner?

Both my husband and I have elderly parents, but his are not in the best of health. So, we want to be able to receive calls if it becomes necessary. (hoping it isn't). We have iphones and I'm with Verizon and husband is on AT&T. But his is a work phone, so his company will pay for any calls. 

What do I need to tell Verizon about international calls, texts, etc. I hope to not make calls other than using What's App. But I'll probably want to text our daughters back in the States. 

On 4/23/2023 at 9:07 AM, longterm said:

If you can share them with me, I'd appreciate it; we're headed on that cruise July 4, 2024. Thanks!

 

would appreciate the private tour guides you mentioned. thanks. 

On 4/18/2023 at 6:42 PM, Heidi13 said:

 

Edinburgh

1) Experienced Tours - https://www.experienced-tours.com/

          o   Stirling & Loch Lomond

 

2) Go Scotland Tours - https://www.goscotlandtours.com/tours/cf-2-Private+Tours/cf-8-Edinburgh/cf-3-1-2+Day/cf-3-1+Day/

         o   Private Tour to Stirling Castle, Wallace Monument and Bannockburn

 

3) Edinburgh Tour Guides - https://www.edinburghtourguides.com/

         o   Stirling Castle & The Kelpies

 

This is the 3 vendors I have listed for Edinburgh, with possibly the Go Scotland Tours option being your best bet

 

Dover

We have visited those sites on previous visits to the SE England. I suggest contacting 

 

Horizon Private Hire - https://www.horizonprivatehire.co.uk/private-tours-dover-cruise-terminal

They have an option for a customised tour of the local area

 

Invergordon

Not sure what you want to visit in this area, so suggest trying,  Avril’s Travels -  https://www.avrilstravels.co.uk/

 

 

 

 

Thank you!

On 4/18/2023 at 4:52 PM, Newdaytrippers said:

@Heidi13 I would be very interested in the names of private guides for Edinburgh.  We are interested in going to Stirling Castle and Bannockburn Heritage Center.  We are on the BIE on August 15th.  Three of the ports have been switched and we don’t have any excursions for those dates yet.  We’re not going to Belfast, Ullapool or the Orkney Islands.  I’m researching tours for those ports that we do know.  We’ve already booked a private tour for the Shetland Islands (Dr David Malcolm) based on excellent recommendations from others on this Board.  I’m looking at Thistle Tours for Invergordon if you have any knowledge or recommendations for that port, too.  I’m also interested in a private tour for the Battle of Britain at the Cliffs of Dover.  We’re in a DV2, so I’m anticipating that many excursions will be booked when we are able to sign up.  I’m not interested in navigating buses and trains on our own due to some mobility issues with DH.  This is our first cruise with Viking. Thank you and thanks to any others who offer suggestions.  BTW, the new ports we are scheduled for include Scrabster, Stornaway and Douglas, Isle of Man.  We will probably do the included tours for these three.  Thanks, again.  (I am on the Roll Call for this cruise, too.)

May I please have the contact info for Dr. David Malcolm? We're interested in private tours too. Thanks. 

On 4/18/2023 at 1:49 PM, Heidi13 said:

 

You can purchase tickets for the castle online for a given date and time. This saves waiting in any queues.

 

If interested in some private tours, I have 3 local vendors that I would consider for tours of Edinburgh and the surrounding area.

Please give me the local vendors for tours. We have to book with Viking on May 24, but were looking at doing private tours in several of the ports.

On 3/27/2023 at 3:55 AM, SempreMare said:

This is where the shuttle back to the Viking mars picked up at end of day in Dublin, September 2022.  See the words “ bus back to cruise” with a heart icon  nearby
 

Any drop off was probably within walking distance since that is such a popular area near the Oscar Wilde memorial. 
 

oh!  Important tip:

 

I really wanted to spend the afternoon in the national museum, but the tickets were all sold out. I should have reserved in advance.

I see you live in Austin. So do we. Would you be willing to talk to me about your British Isles cruise. We're doing it in August this year. Is there a place I can privately give you my email or phone number?

On 3/27/2023 at 2:46 AM, SteelCity Cruiser said:

Does anyone know where the shuttle drops you off in Dublin and the earliest time of day?  We're looking at booking an independent tour there and would need to know where to meet our guide in the city.

 

Who are you using for your private tour? And did you tell them what you want to see or let them pick what to show you?

On 3/27/2023 at 11:15 AM, Heidi13 said:

 

Here are my thoughts

 

London - if Greenwich, you have a number of local attractions and can take the DLR or Thames ferry up stream to Tower Hill/Westminster. If Tilbury, unless you want to take the adjacent small ferry over to gravesend, a shore-ex/private tour is probably best.

 

Dover - cruise ships dock at the west end of the harbour, which is a fair distance out. It is about 1.5 - 2 mls walk to the castle. The marine promenade is a pleasant walk, but the beach isn't fine sand. Could always taxi up to the castle and then walk downhill and through town. However, the surrounding area has some great attractions, so probably worth investigating shore-ex/private tours.

 

Dublin - Viking will provide a shuttle service to Dublin from the port. You can walk around or catch one of the Ho-Ho buses.

 

Holyhead - This is one port I haven't visited, but my researched had the cruise dock at the end of a jetty, sticking out from an island. Fair distance to shore. We had planned a private tour in this port into the Welsh countryside.

 

Liverpool - ships dock by the Royal Liver/Cunard buildings, so easy to walk ashore.

 

Belfast - I've been at a couple of berths, but you'll probably be using the berth close to the city airport, which is an industrial complex. I expect Viking will have shuttles to town. Lots of attractions in town and the surrounding area. We planned a private tour.

 

Ullapool - tender port, where the tenders go to Ullapool Pier. Very small town/large village. We planned to book one of the local cruises and then wander around the town.

 

Orkney Is - this is another port I haven't visited. We were tendering into Kirkwall Harbour. Lots of great attractions outside town, so we planned a private tour.

 

Edinburgh - tender port, with tenders heading to newhaven harbour. The former Royal Yacht is a short walk and the area has lots of restaurants/cafe. Ready access to public transport to visit Edinburgh.

 

Invergordon - the town is a short walk. This port also has many great local attractions, so we planned a private tour.

 

Shetlands - another port I haven't visited. Again, we planned a private tour.

 

 

I would love to talk to you about the private tours your did, like who did you use and if you liked them. We can start booking our excursions on May 24 and would love to know if we should book with Viking or private. Thanks.

On 6/20/2022 at 1:20 PM, Jim Avery said:

You might luck out and get a cab but most transportation is hired cars and coaches for those with included Viking transport to the airport.  Smith's is a good car service.

I assume they have Lyft and/or Uber in UK that can take us to a hotel in London? Or am I wrong in assuming that?