AZMembergs

Where is Club Class dining held?

PV's are priced at £3,640 per person including flights from the UK, and currently include gratuities and the silver drinks package.

 

I assume your US pricing is a per person price, else I may be cancelling and looking for a US based TA!

 

Neil

Our price was arrived at by the following:

$5,599 per person for the PV1 cabin.

We were given a $200 per person discount for being on a Previous cruise and a $500 person promotional discount for booking by Nov 30 of this year.

We were also able to apply a $2,369 Voucher from Viking we received per person for the one of the ill fated cruises that had major engine problems.

Without the vouchers plus the free airfare, we probably won't have booked the cruise.

We booked the West Indies Explorer for Feb 15 , 2017.

We were able to book a PV1 for $6,000 less than the $11,198 quoted cabin price. Free Airfare was also included.

There is a Roll Call for this sailing at:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2284109

Viking just listed sailings for the STAR in North America and the Caribbean. :)

Does anyone know where the Viking Star will be from Sept 18, 2016 to the end of the year?

There are no itineraries posted on the web and Customer Service knows nothing.

It was rumored that the Star would do a Transatlantic to the US, do some itineraries in the NE US, then move south to the Caribbean and then a TA back to Europe.

Dear Viking Guests & Cruise Critic Members,

 

We are looking forward to welcoming our next group of guests aboard Viking Star. As many of you know, Viking Star has experienced mechanical issues on its previous cruise and as a result, the ship is unable to sail to Bergen to meet embarking guests on August 8. Boarding will take place instead in Copenhagen on August 10 – and on August 8 and 9 we have arranged hotel stays and shore excursions in Bergen. While we are as disappointed as you are with this change of schedule, we have done our utmost to make arrangements which will allow our guests to experience the ports they came to see as much as possible in the way they have anticipated. The revised itinerary for the August 8th sailing is as follows:

 

Saturday, August 8, 2015

Upon arrival in Bergen, Norway, Viking will meet guests at the airport and bring them to an assigned hotel in the city where they will spend 2 nights. The remainder of the Saturday is theirs to explore one of Norway’s most beautiful cities. Please note that hotel assignments will only be available upon arrival.

 

Sunday, August 9, 2015

Today, we will take guests into the enchanting fjord country Norway is famous for. The tour passes crystal clear blue waters, steeps cliffs, waterfalls and small villages before returning to Bergen. The evening is at leisure.

 

Monday, August 10, 2015

This morning, guests will get to know Bergen on a city tour that includes the historical port areas inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List along with many other landmarks. In the afternoon, we will fly guests to Copenhagen, where the crew of Viking Star is anticipating their arrival.

 

The modified itinerary would be as follows:

 

Aug 8: Arrive in Bergen, transfer to local hotel; free time

Aug 9: Norway fjord country excursion; evening at leisure in Bergen

Aug 10: Bergen city tour; charter flight from Bergen to Copenhagen; embark Viking Star

Aug 11: Copenhagen, Denmark

Aug 12: Kiel Canal Transit

Aug 13: At Sea

Aug 14: Le Havre, France (Paris)

Aug 15: At Sea – returning to the original itinerary

Aug 16: At Sea

Aug 17: Lisbon, Portugal

Aug 18: Cadiz, Spain (Seville)

Aug 19: Gibraltar, UK

Aug 20: Cartagena, Spain (Murica)

Aug 21: Barcelona, Spain

Aug 22: Barcelona, Spain

 

In consideration of this unforeseen change in your cruise schedule we have contacted all guests and their Travel Agents. Please note: if you reserved your cruise through a Travel Agent and did not receive an email notification from Viking, we may not have your email address and sent the notification to your Travel Agent; we encourage you to check-in with them.

 

Our guests’ satisfaction is important to Viking and we will be looking to make amends for these disruptions. We would also like to remind our guests that as with any cruise itinerary, this modified itinerary is subject to change.

 

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the August 8th departure, please do not hesitate to email us at customerrelations@vikingcruises.com or call Customer Relations at 1.877.668.4546, extension 4525, Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., PDT. As we so often say here on Cruise Critic, you can also reach us directly at TellUs@vikingcruises.com.

 

Sincerely,

Viking Cruises

Thank you for letting us know what to expect. For those of who arrive in Bergen prior to the 8th, how with this work?

Can we stay on in the Hotels we booked or will we have to move?

they have addressd ...http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2243087

Our TA just called and forwarded this information!

Please extend a big thank you and our gratitude to all the Viking staff who have been working long, over time hours to rescue our first-time-ever Viking cruise!

Nessa & Barry Memberg

Dear Viking guests & Cruise Critic members,

 

The situation aboard Viking Star during the July 25th departure of the Viking Homelands itinerary has been in flux during the past few days as we have attempted to communicate with guests as soon as we were aware of updates with the repair schedule and contingency plans. We originally thought that we would be able to sail from Tallinn to Bergen with guests onboard, and provided the option of either joining us on that sailing and carrying on with original travel plans from Bergen, or flying home early from Tallinn as soon as arrangements could be made. Many guests made decisions, and for those who chose to fly home at that time, Viking’s air team started making arrangements on the limited space available on flights out of Tallinn.

 

The next day it was determined that Viking Star would in fact not be able to sail to Bergen with guests and the remainder of the Viking Homelands itinerary needed to be cancelled. In the interest of time, we communicated to all guests what the revised options would now be: return home from Tallinn, or fly to Bergen for a hotel stay and again, continuing with original travel plans from Bergen. We did advise that available hotel accommodation in Bergen is limited. Unfortunately, due to limited hotel and aircraft space, we were not able to accommodate 100% of the guests who wanted to travel to Bergen.

 

Currently we have over 500 guests scheduled on charter and commercial flights from Tallinn to Bergen. These guests should now be receiving their flight information for August 4th, along with their newly created land program for their days in Norway. We understand that solidifying plans and final communications and travel schedules hasn’t happened as quickly as everyone would like, but we hope our guests understand that it takes time to make last-minute travel accommodations for all guests and to communicate the final arrangements. We sincerely appreciate everyone’s patience as we work as fast as we can to address each individual travelers needs and concerns.

 

Our Customer Relations team will contact all guests upon their return home. In the meantime, you can continue to work with your Viking Star crew, or you can contact us directly at TellUs@vikingcruises.com.

 

Sincerely,

Viking Cruises

We appreciate your efforts that is being done for your current guests on the Viking Star.

What about those of us who are scheduled to board on August 8?

Many of us are planning to get to Bergen as early as August 6, leaving the USA on August 5.

Thank you for your response and consideration.

Dear Barry & Nessa,

 

We understand that you have questions and concerns about whether the repairs currently being done to Viking Star will impact your August 8th departure. We are waiting for our technical team to advise how long the full repair process will take and will know more in the next few days. If it were to be determined that the August 8th departure will be impacted, we would directly notify you and all of our guests immediately. We know you are anticipating your journey and that some guests, such as yourself, have other travel arrangements that they have made in addition to their Viking cruise. Your continued patience is greatly appreciated.

 

Kindest regards,

Viking Cruises

Still waiting for an answer on the next cruise - 8/8

Dear Barry & Nessa,

 

We understand that you have questions and concerns about whether the repairs currently being done to Viking Star will impact your August 8th departure. We are waiting for our technical team to advise how long the full repair process will take and will know more in the next few days. If it were to be determined that the August 8th departure will be impacted, we would directly notify you and all of our guests immediately. We know you are anticipating your journey and that some guests, such as yourself, have other travel arrangements that they have made in addition to their Viking cruise. Your continued patience is greatly appreciated.

 

Kindest regards,

Viking Cruises

Any update on the 8/8 cruise?

A very big thank you to the Viking personnel who are sensitive to our travel anxieties.

We all truly appreciate clear, timely communications!

Thanks again,

We are scheduled to depart Bergen on the the Star next Saturday 8/8. There may be those on board doing B2B. What is Viking telling them?

We are set to leave Phoenix on Wednesday 8/5 to arrive in Bergen late on Thursday. We have already booked "Norway in a Nutshell" for Friday the 7th.

If we hear from VO prior to 8/5 about a cancellation we will try and cancel all our plans. If they cancel after we leave, we'll at least get to tour Norway and then find a way to come back home.:(

If you will be staying on in Barcelona after the Western Europe cruise, please join us for one or both of the following:

1. On SATURDAY, AUG. 22, we plan on taking “Barcelona by Day” tour for BARCELONA & MONTSERRAT --- full day shared tour with Skip-The-Line tickets @ Park Guell

a. We will get off the ship by 8:30am and THEY pick us up at the DOCK; complete an 8 hour day of touring and take us directly to our hotel at the end.

2. On Sunday, Aug, 23, we will use this tour company to see Girona and Dali Museum.

Send an email to one of us (see signature below) and we wil get you the particulars.

Hi

We are also doing back to back tours and are interested in the August 22nd day In Barcelona.

Thank you

Don and Gail Ziemba

Not sure which is the best way to write to this post

Please email me privately and I will send you the particulars.

barry at memberg dot com

The ship was docked in the main terminal for cruise ships - way too far to walk into town unless you're really physically fit. However, there is a port shuttle bus that takes you to the Columbus Column that's at the foot of Los Ramblas and you can see lots of sights in the Gothic old town area from there. ... I'd say the longest we had to wait was 10 minutes.

Elizabeth: many good points! Thank you!

The Barcelona Port is a busy commercial dock and way too dangerous for public foot-traffic. Glad the Port management realized this and has a good shuttle running. A little annoying, but vital.

(Be alert... we had a friend leave very expensive camera equipment in the back seat of a taxi as he paid for his fare at the end of Columbus Column! Of course, that could happen in any busy city we visit, right?)

Nessa

Be aware that they do not take you into Sagrada Familia, we only walked around outside of it. If it's important ask questions and arrange for tickets to get inside. Long lines for tiks.... We where disappointed and I did not ask the right question ...

 

Just a heads up!

Thank you so much for pointing this out. Appreciate your time to do so.

Nessa

Hi All,

For those of you who will be in Barcelona 22-23 August:

We have made reservations to the following tours. Read on and check it out! http://www.BarcelonaDayTours.com. The personal attention and touring options are well noted by Trip Advisor and we think you’ll agree it’s a great way to finish off this fabulous cruise.

On Saturday, August 22, enjoy the combined Barcelona and Montserrat tour which covers all the main highlights of Barcelona, as well as the impressive site of Montserrat.

During the full-day tour we will visit all the highlights in Barcelona (including La Sagrada Familia, Montjuic, National Palace, inside Park Guell, and more), as well as the famous site of Montserrat with its spectacular views and mountain-top Basilica. You will have time to explore the sights and take photos, and you will see a lot in just one day of travel.

- Pick-up point: Barcelona Port

- Cruise Ship: Viking Star

- Pick-up time: 8:30-8:40am

- Duration of tour: 8 hours

- Price: 99 Euros per person + 5 Euros per person skip-the-line ticket to Park Guell

- Personal drop-off at the end of the tour - to your hotel in Barcelona

- Touring in a new, comfortable and air-conditioned vehicle (Europe's best) with luggage space

The price of the small-group tour includes transportation, petrol, toll roads, parking, driver-guide or driver and guide, admission to the site of Montserrat and all taxes. The price does not include the discounted tickets to Park Guell which they will buy, in advance for you, if you wish to join the group for the visit inside the park (5 Euros per ticket or 10 Euros for both of you - cheaper than at the gate).

Then, on Sunday, August 23, we will do the Girona/Dali Museum tour. If you’d like to join us for this tour, it would be very nice to have you with us. Girona is a beautiful medieval historic town with cobblestone streets, an impressive Cathedral, and an old synagogue. If you choose a full day tour, you can visit the Dali Museum in “Figueres” and see the unique blend of architecture, sculptures, and paintings of the famous Salvador Dali - you will certainly come out with an opinion of the man!

Please let BarcelonaDayTours that you read this post on Cruise Critic.

We had a fabulous day touring Seville today. Eight of us from Cruise Critic had arranged this private tour through SpainDayTours dot com (a TopDayTours subsidiary). We were the first to get off the ship at 8:15 and we were on our way by 8:30. We were WAY AHEAD of the Viking groups - as a matter of fact I never spotted them at all during the day. First we went to the Spanish Pavillion built for the 1929 World's Fair. Really beautiful. Next we went through the old historical Jewish sector and I sure am glad we had a guide or I'd still be wandering around the maze of charming alleyways. Then to the Alcazar. We had requested that we go INSIDE the Alcazar when we booked this tour. It was fantastic - better to me than the Topkapi Palace that we had gone to see in Istanbul. Then we had an hour's free time - some went shopping, most went to eat, and I toured the Cathedral (the largest Gothic Cathedral in the world, or so they say). What a place. A huge high alter awash with gold leaf top to bottom, brought back from the "New World", and the tomb of Christopher Columbus. And the interior was so enormous.

 

Then back on our small coach and back to Cadiz an hour plus before the "all aboard" time. I went immediately to the Wintergarden for high tea since I missed lunch and wolfed down two scones with clotted cream and jam. Guess I'd better weigh myself tomorrow...

How long was your tour?

We will be in Cadiz on the the Star on this Aug 18, but don't arrive until 1 PM.

The Viking tour is 6.5 hours from 1:15 PM to 7:45 PM.

The 18th is also our anniversary, so we like to have a nice meal when we get back. Can we expect the Viking tour to be finished on time?

Hi All,

Thanks for all the great tips; we've used a lot of them.

Check out Magellan's Retriever Luggage Tags:

"Help your lost bag find YOU. When your bag goes missing, this vinyl tag invites baggage agents (in eight languages) to read the itinerary you've placed inside and forward your bag to you en route. Set of two. Yellow or Red. (6 x 3 1/2")"

About $10 for a pair, but worth the peace of mind.;)

Since all cabins have metal walls, I'm going to start looking for magnetic hooks! thanks, Guys!

Nessa

The Viking Star Aug 8, 2015 Passage Through Western Europe Roll Call can be found at:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2089499

I talked with a rep from Viking today and got some new information. She told me that on Jan 15th, they are revamping the Viking Oceans website, and all the information about port times, excursions, costs, etc will be posted. Also on the 15th, the Suite passengers who have 90 days to sign up, can sign up (that gives them about an 85 day advantage). But all of us will be able to see what’s available and the costs on the 15th. We will get an e-mail on how to sign-up a few days before our respective sign-up windows. ... That’s all I learned, but I felt pretty good that at least we might get SOME information before we embark.

Elizabeth! This is wonderful! Thank you so much for doing all that in-depth reporting!

Nessa

If anyone needs a Viking referral my ID number is 1052567748, and my name is Barry Memberg. My wife's ID number is 7725925700, and her name is Nessa Memberg.

If you use either of these numbers, please email me at our address below.

Jassy - Jackie and David - we just booked the Aug. 8 Passage Through Western Europe cruise. We also signed up for the pre-cruise excursion to Iceland. This should be a lot of fun!

 

Now I need to change my signature and try sitraveler's instructions for hacking together a countdown clock. :D

Hi!

So glad to "meet" you.

Please join us on the roll call for this cruise here:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2089499

We have just booked the Passage Through Western Europe 8/8/15 cruise. We also started a Roll-Call for this sailing. For those of you booked on this cruise, please join us over there: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2089499