Parsley Cruises

I know that for some people the vatican thing is a must see; however the queues etc can be extremely demanding, so for me it's a waste of time when I know that although there may be queues for stuff like the Colosseum it's not so bad, not so crowded etc.  

Prof. Dame Mary Beard has written books which are regularly used for our granddaughter's bedtime reading, and when we had a thoroughly unpleasant incident in Rome, it was MB who 'rescued' the whole holiday with some personal recommendations.  

For us (and I do appreciate that everyone has their own preferences and personal agenda), things like the National Museum, the Baths of Diocletian and the Palatine Hill/Forum/Nero's Palace are the true essence of Rome - it's how things were back in the day, not some renaissance instrument.

Don't forget also that if you are flying in or out of Rome, on some days (make sure you have the spare time at the airport), there is a free service to get to the nearby original port area of Rome (it used to be free, anyway).

To be frank, walking from the land-end of the pier into town is a problem for anyone with even minor mobility issues.   We've done the walk into town a couple of times, and the pavements (sidewalks) are a complete mess.  The last time we were there was towards the end of 2018, and calling the pavements uneven was an understatement.  

Once you reach the small landscaped area where the buses run to and from in town, it's mainly uphill from there.  Some of the streets are a little bit narrow, and the many shop/café owners like to clutter up the walkways.  Additionally, some of the shops have incredibly steep sets of  steps to gain access.

We are very lucky in being able to pop over to Rome as and when it suits - but we do have our favourite sites.  Personally we wouldn't bother with the Colosseum - where the queues can be too long and too slow to see much apart from the bit you are standing next to as you queue.  Instead we'd opt for the Palatine Hill - there is security to go through obviously as you get to the entry barrier, but it's a lovely place, you get really good views of the Forum, and it places you near to a really lovely restaurant (on the other side of the road, opposite the exit and up the small hill through the little park.  It's a place on a corner, and if you eat outside of have a window table - which we usually do - there's fabulous views of the Colosseum/Forum/Palatine Hill.  Having got to the restaurant for maybe lunch, then (if you've booked ahead) there's Nero's Palace ruins, and then if you leave there and head towards the main train station you're in the perfect area for the National Museum (especially Livia's Room - which is an absolute must see) and the Baths of Diocletian.

However, you have to ensure that you get back to the ship on time, and it's about 60-90minutes usually from port to city.

You may like to read books written by Prof. Dame Mary Beard - indispensable if you're heading to Rome.

1.  You may find quite reliable information about arrival and departure times from looking at a combination of whatsinport.com and the relevant port websites.

2.  We don't like a lot of time on a coach either - but for far flung excursions it can be more reliable than taking a privately organised excursion; and at least you have a chance of having an experienced/knowledgeable tour guide.  Yes, I agree that going on a coach can limit your ability to have a good walk, but that can always be achieved.  We've had excursions where we've said to the tour guide that we want to do our own thing for a short while, and we've happily agreed a meeting time and place - and it's worked beautifully.

3.  With a VO excursion, you know that VO are responsible for you, and that the ship will wait for you.  Take a privately run excursion, and you can run the risk of the ship (and your possessions, medication etc) leaving without you.

For us - it's always a mix - if a port doesn't hold much interest for us, or we don't feel it's going to be safe, or if we know we are going to be desperate for a run - then we don't book an excursion.  Either we then do our own exploration (like in Split for example, or Gerainger or Reykjavik) simply because the close by items of interest can be included on a nice walk; or we go for a run (route planned beforehand).

However, some excursions (like Olympia from Katakolon or Delphi from Piraeus) are longish outings, and for those we would always use the VO trips.  We have never used a private excursion, and we never will.

On our last VO cruise we did notice that they were briefly viewing a photo on the check screen, which I presume was taken from our passport photo.  We had provided our passport details at the time of booking the cruise, so I wonder whether VO can access our photos from the passport provider's database?  

No problem personally with that - but I reckon it was done when they took our passports briefly at the embarkation check-in.

I would much rather that VO had a photo of us in their system than not, and it also helped to make gaining access to the ship (mid-cruise) a bit quicker, which is just what is required after going out for a run.

We haven't bothered with the Titanic Museum - we preferred to visit Cobh and we felt much 'nearer' to the old ship there.  When we left Cobh we were having dinner served on our balcony overlooking the quayside (it was also let go all lines time), and the local town band was playing 'Danny Boy' - it was very moving.

As far as the Giants Causeway was concerned, the actual path leading down to the shore is free of charge, it's only if you go into the visitor centre/shop/bathrooms that you have to pay.  The causeway path is open 24/7.  For the best experience, get there as early as possible in the day, as it can get crowded.  When we left there, we found out that there were 40+ coaches that day.

I like the way that VO do it.  I think they use the photo which they scan in from a Passport - and so it's always the good tried and tested cruise card for gaining access to the ship.  As soon as we get our cruise cards (at embarkation check-in) we put each put them into our lovely leather card holders which we got from another cruise line.  (We've got quite a collection of them, they do come in handy - and they have two 'compartments' - one for the cruise card and the other one we just use for receipts).

That way, the only thing we have to keep handy for access to the ship are these small card wallets - we can keep items such as our phones, passports etc safely tucked away when we are entering or leaving the ship, and therefore those items are less likely to be lost or damaged.

Makes a lot of sense to us.  Having said that, we always without fail have our air transport tickets and boarding passes on our phones, and that's what we use at airports.  I don't really like to have my phone in my hand (or in a zipped up or buttoned up pocket) going through an airport, but I'd always have my phone available anyway for last minute contacts etc.

All in all, I like the way VO do it, it just makes sense to me - less worry, which is just what we all need on holiday.

Sourcing your tickets is all very well, but please remember that Bergen has an incredibly high rainfall rate!  Pack a lightweight waterproof fold away jacket!

Just checked the details for our VO cruise on whatsinport.com, and it's ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.  

This website has stood me in good stead for years, and it also gives very useful information such as national and other holidays for the relevant dates.

I wouldn't bother with any other website for checking an itinerary, but I do also double check the berth arrangements with the relevant port authorities.  The only one which usually is a problem with finding out the exact berth in advance is loosely termed as Venice.  Once or twice it's been a little bit awkward to discover the precise berth with Amsterdam, but otherwise we've had no problems (but in depth research has overcome the Amsterdam situation), but Venice remains a consistent problem.

whatsinport.com

Maybe that's referring to hand luggage - surely if you put the multi-blade type into your checked-in suitcase there won't be a problem?  (I'm talking about the sort of razor blades which are manufactured 'built-in' to a sort of plastic body).

Actually I believe that on our last VO cruise we did put some of these multi-blade items in our checked-in bags and had no problem.

20 hours ago, MBP&O2/O said:

I will watch this thread with interest as I am interested in the reference to Oceania. I have been looking at both companies and have reservations about Viking but more about Oceania. Nothing derogatory in either case, I am not sure they are quite what I am after.

Personally speaking I found Venice too hot and oppressive (weather wise) and far too crowded. The architecture / history and such was great but I can’t see me going again. We are in Athens, for a cruise, in October and am looking forward to that.

You might find a trip to Delphi very worthwhile - although it's a long road trip to get there.  Alternatively, there's always Epidaurus etc.

On ‎5‎/‎5‎/‎2019 at 9:43 PM, MBP&O2/O said:

Thanks for the help ... I suspect we will fly out early and have a day chilling .... hopefully not waiting for the luggage to catch up🙄

Bergen is a lovely place to start a cruise - we've been there a couple of times, and we'd happily go back there.

BTW - like your icon - fond memories of P&O.

Have a lovely time.

It's not for us - countryside is where we live.  Having said that we also have a lot of Roman sites in our area, but this is our personal first priority - so for us, it's a no-brainer, researching and then exploring archeological items which are not on the tourist hit-list in Rome.

Whilst we don't really like city-scapes or busy built-up areas for a couple of days, Rome can be tolerated, but don't forget - Umbria gets bombarded with tourists annually, and in the 'off-season' cooler periods of the year the locals appreciate having their place back to themselves (it's also a time when they refurbish and/or change stuff), so if we were ever tempted to return to Umbria we'd avoid their downtimes.

19 hours ago, Peregrina651 said:

 

Actually that is not what it says. It says that the higher priced cabins will be ready for occupancy earlier. See below.

 

The usual plan (and it seems that this Vancouver trip will be different) is that once all of the disembarking pax have left the ship, Viking will start checking in and boarding those present in the terminal. Once boarding begins, no one is forced to wait in the terminal until their cabin category is called. Nor have I seen special lines for the suite guests and maybe that is because most of the times that I have checked in for a VO cruise there hasn't been anyone in front of me in the line. as arrivals are spread out over the course of the day.

 

From the Viking website:

 

Veranda Stateroom (V)

• Size including private veranda: 270 sq ft
• 11:00 AM embarkation
• 3:00 PM stateroom access

 

Explorer Suite (ES)

• Size including private veranda: 757–1,163 sq ft *Room size and layouts vary based on ship location.
• 11:00 AM embarkation
• 11:00 AM priority stateroom access

Ok, it's my fault I got it slightly wrong - but then I've not got my head in cruise mode just now.  All I care about (I know that sounds wrong) is that my grade of accommodation should get into the privacy of that accommodation earlier than those in lower priced accommodation.  Cruising for us as always been that way, but I will say that P&O, Cunard and Celebrity have always in our experience had the more expensive accommodation passengers embark first.  However, naturally when you have a fly-cruise people of all grades are arriving at different times, which sort of blows this potential 'perk' out of the water.

Referring back to my previous post however, tedious though waiting, queueing and being generally delayed may be, firstly there are always lovely interesting people to meet whilst you are waiting, and also it gives an opportunity to discover and possibly photograph interesting or unusual design features in the 'waiting place' and the surrounding environs.

Come on - let's have a glass half full!

I've tried the treadmills on VO - and I simply didn't like them, qed didn't bother with elipitcals or cross trainers.  Couldn't get near any exercise bikes because a selfish couple took control - it was the only item of equipment they ever used, and once they got on the machine/s that was it.

There weren't any suitable weights machines for me, so therefore (the deck running area being a bit limited), we bided our time and decided to go for a proper run in port.  Brilliant - although we did need to get slower returning passengers to get out of our way as we ran up the gangway!

We now look at itineraries to plan nice runs.

I wonder what is the percentage of US passengers making bookings through a TA as opposed to direct with VO?  Does booking through a TA in the US make much difference?

It would be interesting to know what the other ships were which had preference over Viking, and also interesting to ascertain how frequently during a given year the cruise lines which operate those ships were in the port of Vancouver.

Out of interest, we always go to both the port of departure and work out what's going on before we book a cruise, and also monitor things like 'whatsinport.com' to view port situations so that we know what we're in for at an early stage.

However, being British - and we do 'like' to queue - this wouldn't have been a problem to us.  I do think though, that it might not (if VO have got their heads facing in the correct direction) be a situation of 900 people all trying to embark at the same time, as surely those in the more costly accommodation should board first?  I know for a fact that other cruise lines (P&O, Cunard, Celebrity) follow that practice, and afterall VO do say in their description of different accommodation levels that those who pay more board first.

Anyway, one can meet the loveliest of people whilst queueing.

1 hour ago, zitsky said:

 

If you don't like to be managed, why do a cruise at all?  Just book a hotel and a flight somewhere.

Why do a cruises

1 hour ago, zitsky said:

 

If you don't like to be managed, why do a cruise at all?  Just book a hotel and a flight somewhere.

Simples - we board the ship and have our cruise exactly as we want it.  We get away from what we call everyday life, we eat more or less what we want when we want.  We prefer not to do shows or activities, we don’t like disco dancing or bars, and none too fond of noisy restaurants.  We can relax and enjoy the seascape, do our own thing, and have a nice run in a different place every day if we so wish. 

When we board a ship as we’ve paid for our cruise it is our responsibility to ensure that the cruise is as much what we want as possible.

As we don’t work we can pop onto an aircraft and do the land based thing when an area interests us sufficiently.  Hope that answers your question .

Can't stand being organised by others, and prefer to do what we want when we want.

Whether or not a cruise is 'fun' depends on your own personal definition of the word.

We searched for quite some time for a cruise experience where we could eat when we wanted (within reason), have space and time for ourselves, and have public areas which weren't crowded.

If we want an activity there's a choice of stuff to do.  Suits us.

Unsure if this applies to Great Britain.  I booked a cruise recently, and the final payment date isn't that bad.

However, I'm not about to have a tantrum - if the itinerary is worth doing and Viking have accommodation which suits, I don't care when I have to pay.

I don't fancy the idea of a private tour at all - you never know how reliable the transport is, you don't know how well the driver knows the area and how he/she would cope with traffic delays or re-routing.  I am not in the habit of paying out money for an excursion only to be put as risk of 'missing the boat' and worrying about it - qed we only do tours organised by the cruise line.

That way we feel we can relax and enjoy ourselves safe in the knowledge that we can get back to the ship (or the ship will wait for us); we are then certain that the cruise line is responsible for us, it knows that, and it's provable.

Another point is that it's all a matter of being considerate to others - passengers and crew alike.  It could well be that the port you're in is tidal - or has some form of movement restrictions - and it's the right and proper thing to be back on board in good time.

There's nothing worse than booking a special dinner and hoping to enjoy it after sail-away, only to be luxuriating in a window table with a view of the quayside.

Quite simply, I would be surprised if any cruise line would permit this, so my answer is 'no'.

Similarly, I don't think travel irons of personal hair dryers are permitted.  

At the end of the day, if you want a hot meal why not simply order in?  We've found the food onboard is fine, and even ordering in is really good.

10 hours ago, Dauntless said:

 

Yes but check the sunrise and sun set time of your cruise.  When we went, it was fogged in that morning and dark by the time we left.  That was September.  By midday we did go to the observation point that is now part of the 'included' excursion and had a great view. 

It doesn't ONLY have to be daylight and good weather to experience the true beauty of any location.  We like to experience places at different times of year, and with differing weather conditions, AND also even when the visibility is not particularly good.

That way we can have a more balanced impression of what somewhere is truly like.  That said, Flam is one of those places where we've had fair weather and reasonable light conditions whenever we've been there.  The ship has always moved slowly and gracefully through the fjord, and we enjoy seeing just 'how' places 'wake up'.  Consider for a moment the value of the sounds and smells of places - it all adds to the memories.  Besides which, it's just great - the silence of the ship moving almost dreamily through the calm waters of the fjord, a hot cup of chocolate, no jostling crowds or other noises, just the water gently lapping - great.

We've been fortunate enough to sail into (and out of) Flam, and would love to return before too long.  Whilst we were there we did the train trip (up to the top and down again), and it was an excursion which we bought as part of a cruise with a different cruise line.  

We found the train ride picturesque, informative and very enjoyable.  One point though - the seats are a little bit hard, so if you have a jumper or jacket to sit on, that's a good idea.  On our trip where we stopped at the 'top point' of the excursion we were taken to a very nearby hotel and served with the best waffles ever!  Seriously recommended.

If and when we have an itinerary involving Flam though, I don't think we will repeat the train trip - preferring to explore the Flam district on our own.

Sailing in and out of Flam though is truly beautiful.