guka244

Planning on a black suit that doubles as blazer with one or two ties & black loafers. A couple white shirts with a couple pattern collared shirts. A couple sporty casual pants. Guess I am old fashioned, but since we are on the whole fifty day cruise will want to have a little mix of "dress" at the specialty restaurants. Wife has a couple reversible dress combos for variety. Thank goodness no formal tux nites...

Curious if anyone has booked the 2night pre embarkation stay at the Conrad Istanbul...we arrive on 9April and will most likely book excursions from the Conrad, particularly Grand Bazaar, during those two days. If anyone will be at the Conrad we will share what we find in the way of tours those first two days. Getting close....

We have had a different experience with Viking. We got our air itinerary beginning of the week which has us booked on United from Buffalo on April

8th at 2:35 to Dulles, leaving Dulles on Lufthansa for Frankfurt, arriving April 9th morning, then to Istanbul arriving 1pm. We booked a two day pre-board through Viking at Conrad Istanbul. We have direct flight back from Stockholm on May 30th to Newark and then onto Buffalo, arriving 5pm. Compared this same flight arrangement through United and surprisingly Viking was better priced as well as including transfers. As to dining, our TA advised that you can have traditional sitting, reservations, or walk up (with possible wait time) at main dining room. There are a couple specialty restaurants. I guess our experiences are luck of the draw as to who we are dealing with at Viking?

Now really getting excited about being on the inaugural sailing.....

Looking forward to our inaugural trip. If anyone is going on the full 50 day trip there is a forum we just found for Viking Empire. Not many folks on this blog, but suspect there should be a good size group going on the entire trip? Always enjoyed our Viking river cruises (China; Christmas Markets) as well as long adventures on HAL Prinsendam (Med/Africa; South America/Antarctica). Hoping this will be combination of Viking river hospitality and Prinsendam family...Can't wait...Karen and Guy (Buffalo, NY)