questions about my first Viking cruise

My husband and I and two other couples will be taking our first Viking cruise in February and have a couple of questions.

First, when dining reservations open up for us, is that for the main dining room times or just specialty restaurants. We would like for all 6 to be together. Do we just show up at the dining room or do we make reservations for each night?

Also, we have received obc from our travel agent and from a special promotion from Viking. Is any of that refundable if not used or can any of it be used for gratuities at the end of the cruise.

Thanks to all for your help.

My husband and I and two other couples will be taking our first Viking cruise in February and have a couple of questions.

First, when dining reservations open up for us, is that for the main dining room times or just specialty restaurants. We would like for all 6 to be together. Do we just show up at the dining room or do we make reservations for each night?

Also, we have received obc from our travel agent and from a special promotion from Viking. Is any of that refundable if not used or can any of it be used for gratuities at the end of the cruise.

Thanks to all for your help.

Dining reservations are for specialty restaurants only. Make your reservations separately and take what you can get, then once you board, talk with the Head Waiter and get them consolidated into one. For now, it is the only way to handle the situation.

As for dinners in the Restaurant, reservations aren't need. If you want a specific table every night, then you might want to talk to the head waiter about a standing reservation. Even with a reservation, you still will have to wait in line for your turn to be seated.

As for the OBC, usually, it cannot be used for gratuities but I would suggest that you ask your TA to contact Viking to ask them exactly what the OBC can be used for.

Hopefully, by now, you have joined the roll call for your sailing and you have signed up for the Meet & Mingle party that Viking hosts for Cruise Critic members. One person can sign up all six of you. Participation in the roll call is not required but you must sign up in advance for the M&M in order to receive the invitation telling you when and where (it will be delivered to your cabin on the first day or two).

We are on board the Viking Sea in the middle of our cruise from NYC to San Juan and can provide an update on OBC. Previously, Viking Oceans specifically stated that OBC could not be used for gratuities.

That has now changed. We have a substantial amount of credit for this cruise and were told by Guest Services that Viking has changed their policy. OBC can be used to pay for gratuities. We confirmed that with the chief financial officer (purser?) on board the Sea and she stated that it was a very recent change.

Before anyone takes this information as "gospel", we strongly suggest that they confirm it with Viking lest they be stuck with an amount left in their OBC account and can't spend it before the end of their cruise.

That's great news Senior Gators! I had OBC of $250 that was given to me because I booked a future cruise onboard. I ended up with a few amber pendants and earrings (that are very nice) but I would have loved to use it toward the gratuities!

We are on board the Viking Sea in the middle of our cruise from NYC to San Juan and can provide an update on OBC. Previously, Viking Oceans specifically stated that OBC could not be used for gratuities.

 

That has now changed. We have a substantial amount of credit for this cruise and were told by Guest Services that Viking has changed their policy. OBC can be used to pay for gratuities. We confirmed that with the chief financial officer (purser?) on board the Sea and she stated that it was a very recent change.

 

Before anyone takes this information as "gospel", we strongly suggest that they confirm it with Viking lest they be stuck with an amount left in their OBC account and can't spend it before the end of their cruise.

Was told last week by Viking Ocean customer service that OBC cannot be used for gratuities.

Apparently policy is in flux or disarray.

For what it is worth, we got confirmation about the use of on board credit again yesterday. The optional excursion we had chosen for Barbados on Monday was canceled due to low participation. We are being credited with the $198 cost by "refundable OBC". We didn't know that such a creature existed until now.

It seems that if we don't spend the refundable OBC before the cruise ends, Viking will credit it back to the credit card account that we used to charge it to in the first place. Since we have more than enough other OBC to cover the gratuities, refunding the credit is what we would prefer.

Guest Services again confirmed that we could use any of our OBC for gratuities at the end of our cruise.

For what it is worth, we got confirmation about the use of on board credit again yesterday. The optional excursion we had chosen for Barbados on Monday was canceled due to low participation. We are being credited with the $198 cost by "refundable OBC". We didn't know that such a creature existed until now.

 

It seems that if we don't spend the refundable OBC before the cruise ends, Viking will credit it back to the credit card account that we used to charge it to in the first place. Since we have more than enough other OBC to cover the gratuities, refunding the credit is what we would prefer.

 

Guest Services again confirmed that we could use any of our OBC for gratuities at the end of our cruise.

Yes, they are returning your money to you for services not rendered and they have to give you back every single penny of it one way or another (just like BestBuy has to if you return something). The same thing would happen if you canceled an optional tour while on board. It is credited to your on board account and if you don't spend it, it goes on your credit card bill as a refund. Imagine the law suits if they didn't. However, an OBC from a TA or Viking is a different animal (and maybe the two need distinctly different names).

For what it is worth, we got confirmation about the use of on board credit again yesterday.

 

Guest Services again confirmed that we could use any of our OBC for gratuities at the end of our cruise.

Hey neighbor - thank you for the information on the credits! Do the gratuities show up on our account on the last night of the cruise and that’s when the credits get applied? Thanks!

Hey neighbor - thank you for the information on the credits! Do the gratuities show up on our account on the last night of the cruise and that’s when the credits get applied? Thanks!

Hi Sparkles. Yes the standard gratuities amount shows up on your account either one or two days before we disembark. You may adjust the amount up or down or cancel it altogether and make your own arrangements to provide tips to only those cruise members that you wish to. So if you need to adjust the amount paid, get with Guest Services in the next couple of days.

On a personal note, we pay the suggested gratuities amount to be shared among all the members of the crew and tip those who have provided us with services over and above the normal high level of Viking Cruises with an additional amount directly to them. Feel free to do whatever you are comfortable with.