jgrahamiii

FYI, doing Viking River Cruise in 2 weeks and just got email from Viking that

Effective for departures beginning September 23, 2021 through October 31, 2021, Viking will require all guests to take a COVID-19 PCR (nasal swab or saliva) test within 72 hours prior to boarding their first outbound flight from their home country.

On 9/4/2021 at 6:34 AM, CLBSC said:

 

• Excursions-This was probably my biggest fear- being thrown onto a crowded bus as usually we prefer to book private tours at ports. I was really worried about contract tracing in this regard but no problems. Not to worry, the most passengers ever on our 60 passenger first class buses (even the included excursions was about 18) socially distanced strictly adhered to with Viking signs on prohibited seats. Local tour guides were thrilled to be working again and very, very  knowledgeable. We found it easy to tip these hard working guides and bus drivers. Be aware that several of the walking tours are quite long and up and down stairs. I suggested that they include in descriptions the length of miles walked. Most of the people in the cities did NOT wear masks, especially in Dubrovnik, so we were most careful to social distance.
•  

Thanks for great post! We're you allowed off ship to explore Port on your own if Port allowed it? Thanks! 

On 9/13/2021 at 4:35 PM, tony the magnificent said:

The land situation changed daily.   We flew home on Sep 9, at that time Croatia was open for individual exploration (except Kotor which we passed by), Greece was closed except for organized tours, and Malta was in between (as we left, we heard they allowed it).  Keep checking.  Expect the worst, hope for the best, enjoy what you get.

HI thanks for info was this on Viking?  If Port allowed self exploration then Viking allowed it? 

Also, did Viking test you every day? Thank! 

Does anyone have any information on whether you can only leave boat on a Viking Tour and then MUST stay with group?  Thanks. 

On Island SB now. Menus very similar though not 100% the same. Escargot instead of shrimpcargot for example. Also, Italian menu moved a couple of days later to Ketchikan. Crab Shack also Ketchikan night. 

Formal nights were Hubbard (day 2) and Juneau (day 5) which was different than I saw posted elsewhere. First night and Skagway (day 4) were anytime dining shipwide. No issue sitting when we went (Skagway 6:15 or so)

-John

Thanks folks. Very helpful. 

I've read some posts on suggested tipping on excursions in Alaska (a far cry from the few Euro's per person suggested on Viking included tours, but  understandable).  I can't figure out what's expected on a couple of tours. First, we booked the Yukon Bus/Train combo with Chilkoot based on many recommendations here.  What I'm wondering is whether the same guide that you have on the bus portion also is the narrator on the train portion?  If not, what's a good division of gratuity?  And are there others to give small tips to also (bus driver, train personnel)? Or do they just all split it up?  Second issue is the Tundra Wildlife Tour that was included (with upgrade) in our Princess package. What's an appropriate amount there for an 8 hour tour?

Thanks for any thoughts.  I know everyone has different opinions, but any guidance is better than none!  Thanks. -John

I don't know if you are on Princess, but if so I'm 90% certain that the comparably named tour you can book with Princess is run through Above and Beyond. Price was only $3 or so more through Princess after factoring in tax. So no worries about missing ship.  Going on this 2 in less than 2 weeks so can let you know.  (edit) oops,  just noticed that OP also posted the last post and so already went. Glad you enjoyed it. Can't wait to go! 

New Island question...  I have read that there are "secret" open decks on the front of the ship.  Can someone confirm which decks?  Also do you have to go through an "emergency only" door to access them? Are any of these covered from rain at all? 

I think the two rear decks I had read about are now gone after they added rooms, right? Thank. - John

So, does a 220V surge protector have same issue on a cruise ship as a 110V one?  Heard that some Princess ships have a euro socket for lamp behind bed which sounds perpect to run to a USB charging hub bedside. Ordered this from Amazon https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015XHODES/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1.  No reference to surge protection in any description or on device itself, but on box says surge protector (and I now see that in Q&A section). I don't care if it's confiscated but if not I don't want to use if dangerous. All posts here about dangers are 110V related, so just wondering about 220.  Thanks. 

Thank you.  The MDR will be open when we arrive since we will arrive at 5:30 or later. I had been hoping to meet our waitstaff on the first night anyway, to get to know them a bit and then maybe do specialty place on the second night, which is normally a formal night.  But with the non-traditional only the first night, not sure if that will happen.  Maybe we'll try to eat in the "traditional" MDR that night and just ask who our regular waitstaff is and ask him/her, even if they are not "ours" that night. -John

Thanks to Geoherb's great posts, it appears that traditional dining is not available first night on our cruise from Whittier. Plus, we don't get to ship until after 5:30. Not sure if will be easily able to get MDR table and also thinking Horizon may be a great place to eat to watch sail away. If we go that route, do they have wine menu there? If they are selling gold package, would they sell it there?  With just 7 nights losing even one night may make package iffy. 

If I pre-book a restaurant, can I later cancel it?  Have not been able to find that policy on the Princess website. - John

Thanks Richmke.  That makes sense.  I guess I'll hold off on the specially booking until we get aboard and work it out from there.  I know I don't want to eat at 9:30, and booking for 7:30 seems to be an issue with the first muster (I certainly don't want to be one of "those" people😊).  My last two cruises were river cruises and the muster drills were on the morning after the sail away. I always thought that was odd. -John

Thanks. I did see the comments about certain wines being unavailable, and finding out only after they bought the package. I have several wines on the current list I would order, so hopefully not an issue.  I figure I'll ask when we check in to the MDR first night and fine out if it is available. -John

My only experience was with Delta and United as posted above.  I had my Princess rep book the flights on the phone, but they were exactly the same flights I could have done on the EzAir website for same price (I had her do since we were booking 4 tickets under two different reservation numbers - what a pain that Princess doesn't allow two staterooms under one number!).  She confirmed for me that we would be able to select seats immediately, which I did by merely going to the United and Delta websites and entering confirm number and name info (I do have a frequent flier account with Delta, but my kids don't, and it worked for both sets of reservations).  I had paid in full, since we were under 60 days (though above 45). Not sure if that mattered.  I was able to select seats on all segments, but not anything that required an additional fee - so I could not get the extra leg room seats or the preferred, nearer the front of the plane seats at that time.

I then called Princess Air (via the regular number and a representative, and waited on hold a very long time, until a a very helpful Air rep ticketed us.  Once she did that, I could not longer change without penalty, but that immediately opened up the upgraded seats on the airline websites for a fee - same amount if I had booked directly with airline (for more money than EzAir). If I had waited until 45 days out, I could have avoided that wait, but I definitely wanted certain seats and wanted to make sure they were not gone at the 45 day mark (all the other extra leg room seats around me are still there, so it was probably a waste of time, but I didn't want to risk it).

I'd suggest calling the airline. -John

Great. Thanks!  I had read a post by at least one person that the gold package (all that's left) was offered on a 7 day cruise recently.  So I have hopes! -John

I booked NY to Anchorage and then back from Vancouver via ezAir recently.  Bookings were considered "non-restricted".  I got L class for the outbound flight on United and U class inbound on Delta.  In both cases, I was immediately able to book seats, and once I was paid and ticketed (generally 45 days out, but I was able to call and get early ticketing), I could upgrade those seats for a price on the airline websites to add extra-leg room seats. Note sure about United, but in the case of Delta, this meant that I was clearly booked as "Main" cabin, and not "Basic" (Basic has no advanced seat reservation and no path to upgrade to Comfort Plus).  None of these fairs include luggage, nor did I expect them to, so I'm not sure if this information helps of not. One interesting thing, United offered me a "package" that included the extra leg room seats on both flights outbound plus one bag. The package price cost more than doing each of these separately.  Odd. -John

Hey guys. Heading out on the Island in several weeks to Alaska and was thinking of the Bayou for a night - maybe first night.  My wife likes Cajun and Creole, but I don't.  However, I love a good steak and was willing to go. Even some of the steak preps pique my taste buds, and the Alaska menu at least adds an appetizer I like.

My question is, are the steaks in the Bayou better (hopefully significantly better) than the ones in the MDR? Worth the upcharge (I know, subjective)? Not necessarily looking for premium steakhouse "prime" quality, but something better than what I have ready about the MDR steaks.  Thanks. -John

Thanks. That's very helpful.  Read a lot of posts on beverages, but could never quite figure out exactly where you have to go to get ice tea or if you could get it at the MDR with dinner.  I appreciate the help! -John

Hi guys.  I have read about the wine package - buy 7 bottles for $31 and enjoy 7 bottles up to $45, or something like that.  We have a 7 night cruise coming up on the Island, and I  I understand it may be available first night even on this length cruise, though not available on-line in advance.  I just had a question on how wine works.  This is my first time on Princess and not a lot of cruising before, mostly of the river variety.   I suppose the question applies to wine in general, not just to the package.

We likely will drink 7 bottles on the cruise, but sometimes we want different wines for a particular meal, or want some white and some red and won't finish both bottles.  If we purchase this package, can we order two bottles (a red and a white) on the same night, not drink all of either, and have these bottles stored and available the next night to finish?  Even if we go to a specialty restaurant one night, and a traditional seating the next?  Or do we have to take them to go, and then bring them back the next night?  Thanks for any help. -John

We are sailing Alaska next month.  We have already decided the liquor package costs way more then we would ever drink, but the Classic Soda or Premier Coffee and Soda packages are still under consideration.  When not having a beer or wine, I generally drink either water or diet coke, with hot tea or hot chocolate sometimes in morning or after a meal, but my wire enjoys unsweetened ice tea or hot coffee  all day.  I'm guessing from the Canned Soda package price, that we can buy a soda at the bar or at meals for about $2 a pop (plus gratuity), but can't figure out ice tea or coffee.  Forgetting about specialty coffees or premium teas for now, is unsweetened ice tea available all day other than in the Horizon Food Court (at a bar maybe)? Is it extra at dinner or lunch?  How about hot regular tea and regular coffee (which I know some people don't like, but we'll cross that bridge on board)? 

Thanks for any help on this question. -John

Thank you so much, Geoherb, for posting your great trip report and the Southbound Patters. We are leaving later this summer for a Denali/Southbound Cruisetour on the Island, and this really helps to plan by telling us what kinds of things may be available to us (I know won't be exactly the same). Also gets us very excited!

One thing we are trying to figure out is dining the first day. We signed up for Traditional 7:15 seating. Looks like it will be 7:30 most nights (which is fine), but not on the first night. So we are thinking could be a good night to prebook a specialty restaurant, which we want to do anyway at some point.  Supposedly departure from Whittier is at 8:30pm, though your Patter said 7:45.  You had a muster drill at 7:45 as well.  We don't get in to Whittier on the train from Denali until about 5:30, if I understand it correctly.  That seems to allow very little time for dinner.  On top of that, per your Patter, the specialty restaurants don't open until 8 on the first day. Yet on my cruise, I can pre-book for 5:30 or 7:30 (or 9:30) for either Bayou or Sabatini's.  Anyone have any idea if this is an error, or if maybe the upcoming cruise would just have different times available?  Possibly an 8:30 muster (through how that fits with a 7:30 reservation, I don't know)?  If we are eating can we do the later muster?  I know we'll probably not know until we are there, but maybe someone has some experience.  Thanks! -John

Just finished Budapest to Passau on Viking Vilhjalm with no issues other than slow travel through Wachau Valley with less than 2 feet of water below our ship in one place (cruise director did express a concern with this stretch earlier in the cruise).  Left Budapest on 11/1 arrived Passau 11/6. We disembark tomorrow. Met another Viking passenger in Passau from a different Viking ship which should have sailed for Regensburg today. They are definitely being bused from Passau to another ship in Regensburg to complete cruise. They did not seem too concerned.  Rumors on our ship are that the Danube between Budapest and Bratislava is again unsailable. You can see on the shores how much levels have dropped last couple of days. So, cruise one week before ours was bused to Vienna. Looks like cruise one week after will be too. The water levels seem to change very fast. 

We sail tomorrow (11/1) from Budapest to Passau. Crew all seem to think we will have no issues at all (and weather is fantastic)!