Why pay premium for Viking hotels

I've done two river cruises and choose hotel add on. I was happy with what we got, especially the last time. Now I'm planning my first Ocean trip (Mediterranean Odyssey) with start in Venice and end in Barcelona.

In doing research I can see that the Viking price for a hotel is almost double in some cases. Am I crazy for paying Viking's fee for hotels? Is there any good reason to do it?

One reason is that in can be nice to let Viking handle everything (transfers). But it would be cheaper to get your own hotel and pay for a taxi. So why do we pay the Viking prices?

We ALWAYS DIY pre and post cruise. We never do any cruise line extensions. Not only for the cost savings (which can be significant), but for the flexibility to do what, when, and where we want. That is just our style.

For others, letting Viking or any other cruise line take care of everything from start to stop is a great value in peace of mind. No worries about taxis, which hotel, what to do, etc.

So I guess it really depends on what you are looking for and what is most comfortable for you. I am not sure there is an absolute answer on this. JMHO.

I've done two river cruises and choose hotel add on. I was happy with what we got, especially the last time. Now I'm planning my first Ocean trip (Mediterranean Odyssey) with start in Venice and end in Barcelona.

 

 

 

In doing research I can see that the Viking price for a hotel is almost double in some cases. Am I crazy for paying Viking's fee for hotels? Is there any good reason to do it?

 

 

 

One reason is that in can be nice to let Viking handle everything (transfers). But it would be cheaper to get your own hotel and pay for a taxi. So why do we pay the Viking prices?

If you do pre or post extension with Viking you do not pay the $100pp deviation fee, if you use Viking Air. Transfer and breakfast are included. We did Barcelona post extension. We got a nice overview tour of Barcelona with informative guide. Had time for photo ops and bathroom break. Got to our Hilton hotel about 11:am. The Hilton was not by the old part. It was ok but it was a Hilton not very Spanish. Transfer to airport was great. They even took your luggage on cart to the airline check in counter. Nice.

We figured it was a wash for us. but I would make sure you like the hotel and location if you do it .

Been to Barcelona three time , my travel partner was a first time visitor . We did our own pre cruise stay for two nights in San Juan PR and paid the deviation fee.

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On our first trip overseas ( an escorted bus tour of Italy), I had the misfortune of getting food poisoning in Venice from a little local restaurant we found on our own. Having the group tour guide available to handle all the related problems was priceless in my mind. While I know this is an abnormality, it is an example of why some people will pay extra for the the security of having a designated English speaking contact person during a vacation in a foreign country.

After seven trips to Europe, we have developed more independence and would consider doing some things on our own. However, we also have usually enjoyed the company of fellow cruisers, and being able to share an extension with cruise mates can be another bonus.

Since we only get to take one vacation a year, and are frugal enough to book the least expensive cabins, there are also some things on which we will splurge. Convenience and a sense of security can fall in that category for us.

I have done it both ways and now my answer is that it depends on where I am going which I choose. In Barcelona, we did it on our own (just don't ask for details because we did not stay in Barcelona). My rule of thumb now is that Western Europe I can do on my own but most any place else, I'm just as happy letting someone else take care of the details. Besides which, if I do it on my own, I can spend more nights even if I have to pay the deviation fee and my own transfers.

We choose Viking post and pre mainly due to the ease of transfers and luggage handling. I do all the research beforehand and either strike out on our own or use Viking's tours whichever interests us the most.

Thanks for replies. I will do more research on hotels. But it is nice to let Viking do all the work. Barcelona hotel seems far from the action. Venice is ok.

We ended a VO cruise in Barcelona earlier this year. The price for 2 nights hotel (Hilton) and transfers was around $600 per person. We booked Ohla Barcelona (in Gothic Quarter) for $212 per night. We chose that based on location and the fact it has a Michelin star restaurant.

Our transfer from ship to hotel was "free" as we did a full day semi-private excursion on the day we left the ship. That took care of the issue of having luggage at 8 AM and no check-in until 3 PM. Can't recall the price of the taxi to the airport but maybe $30?

The Hilton that VO uses is too far away to be a good walking location for the main tourist sites. And since we only had 2 days in Barcelona, we didn't want to spend our time in taxis or on busses. Plus at the time we went--that Hilton was around $200 per night. That means you are paying about $1200 for less than $500 worth of hotel and transfers. Unless you had severe mobility issues or can't manage your bags I would not use the Viking add-on. I don't like someone else choosing my hotel and we are fine with getting from baggage claim to a taxi on our own.

If you search "barcelona" I know there is a thread somewhere with folks giving recommendations on Barcelona hotels and locations.

We ended a VO cruise in Barcelona earlier this year. The price for 2 nights hotel (Hilton) and transfers was around $600 per person. We booked Ohla Barcelona (in Gothic Quarter) for $212 per night. We chose that based on location and the fact it has a Michelin star restaurant.

Our transfer from ship to hotel was "free" as we did a full day semi-private excursion on the day we left the ship. That took care of the issue of having luggage at 8 AM and no check-in until 3 PM. Can't recall the price of the taxi to the airport but maybe $30?

The Hilton that VO uses is too far away to be a good walking location for the main tourist sites. And since we only had 2 days in Barcelona, we didn't want to spend our time in taxis or on busses. Plus at the time we went--that Hilton was around $200 per night. That means you are paying about $1200 for less than $500 worth of hotel and transfers. Unless you had severe mobility issues or can't manage your bags I would not use the Viking add-on. I don't like someone else choosing my hotel and we are fine with getting from baggage claim to a taxi on our own.

 

If you search "barcelona" I know there is a thread somewhere with folks giving recommendations on Barcelona hotels and locations.

Agreed!

I've done two river cruises and choose hotel add on. I was happy with what we got, especially the last time. Now I'm planning my first Ocean trip (Mediterranean Odyssey) with start in Venice and end in Barcelona.

 

In doing research I can see that the Viking price for a hotel is almost double in some cases. Am I crazy for paying Viking's fee for hotels? Is there any good reason to do it?

 

One reason is that in can be nice to let Viking handle everything (transfers). But it would be cheaper to get your own hotel and pay for a taxi. So why do we pay the Viking prices?

It doesn't make any sense to have the cruise line make your hotel or flight for that matter.

We stayed at the Hilton Diagonal Mar in Barcelona and we loved. It was a great area. And a quick 5-10 minute cab ride to port.

It doesn't make any sense to have the cruise line make your hotel or flight for that matter.

 

We stayed at the Hilton Diagonal Mar in Barcelona and we loved. It was a great area. And a quick 5-10 minute cab ride to port.

Someone once pointed out to me that sometimes you buy a steak at the grocery store, and sometimes you go to a restaurant and pay three times as much for someone else to do all the work. Both are good choices, it just depends on what you want at the time!

Make sure you research HOW far the airport is from the ship or hotel. Most big cities it is not an issue but when we were in Asia it could be quite a distance and expensive. I try and pre-arrange transfers even in "easy" European cities so we are not trying to find a cab, negotiate a price, communicate where we want to go, WHEN we are tired from a long flight. There is great relief when you see a sign with your name on it!

I think it depends on where you are going. Barcelona is easy to get around and you can get the train from the airport to downtown. Some locations its much more difficult. We went on the Rhine getaway last november from Amsterdam to Basel. We had a 2 day post extension in Lucerne. Our flight home was out of Zurich. It would have cost us alot more to have done this on our own if we had to pay for transportation from Basel to Lucerne and Lucerne to Zurich. Every itenerary is different

With the money you save by DIY, you can get the hotel to arrange a private car (nicer than a taxi) for transfers and still come out ahead. We have found that to provide much of the security/comfort that a pre-/post- package would.

Originally posted by CruiseGal999 It doesn't make any sense to have the cruise line make your hotel or flight for that matter.

We stayed at the Hilton Diagonal Mar in Barcelona and we loved. It was a great area. And a quick 5-10 minute cab ride to port.

Someone once pointed out to me that sometimes you buy a steak at the grocery store, and sometimes you go to a restaurant and pay three times as much for someone else to do all the work. Both are good choices, it just depends on what you want at the time!

This is at least the 2nd thread the OP asked WHY pay so much money for the CL to make hotel reservations. I do not think she/they want to do that.

Someone once pointed out to me that sometimes you buy a steak at the grocery store, and sometimes you go to a restaurant and pay three times as much for someone else to do all the work. Both are good choices, it just depends on what you want at the time!

What a perfect analogy.

I would also amend my original statement to say that depending on the port (as Deec pointed out) it would make good sense to let the CL handling pre or post. To date, we have always DIY.

It doesn't make any sense to have the cruise line make your hotel or flight for that matter.

 

We stayed at the Hilton Diagonal Mar in Barcelona and we loved. It was a great area. And a quick 5-10 minute cab ride to port.

You seem to be making a broad statement without knowing other people's situations or cruise line incentives.

For our first river cruise, Viking offered free air. The Lucerne post extension was $500/pp. When I checked hotels and transportation to and from Lucerne, walking guided tour and air deviation, Viking was appx $100 more per person. With this our 1st trip to Europe, for $200 and no worries, it was definitely worth the extra money. Our next cruise, Empires of Med with Viking, the post excursion was $700/pp. I was able to book a B&B suite plus private water taxi to airport(two couples) and air deviation for half the price of Viking. Do your research and decide how much convenience you're willing to pay for. Viking also had free air on that cruise as well.

You seem to be making a broad statement without knowing other people's situations or cruise line incentives.

For our first river cruise, Viking offered free air. The Lucerne post extension was $500/pp. When I checked hotels and transportation to and from Lucerne, walking guided tour and air deviation, Viking was appx $100 more per person. With this our 1st trip to Europe, for $200 and no worries, it was definitely worth the extra money. Our next cruise, Empires of Med with Viking, the post excursion was $700/pp. I was able to book a B&B suite plus private water taxi to airport(two couples) and air deviation for half the price of Viking. Do your research and decide how much convenience you're willing to pay for. Viking also had free air on that cruise as well.

Like I said ... this is at least the SECOND thread the OP started asking why s/he/they should PAY for the cruise line hotel.

That is what I was answering to.

It doesn't make any sense to have the cruise line make your hotel or flight for that matter.

We stayed at the Hilton Diagonal Mar in Barcelona and we loved. It was a great area. And a quick 5-10 minute cab ride to port.

Once again, it depends. When we went to China with Viking, it made a lot of sense to us to book with Viking because it included hassle-free transfers and logistics. When they offered flights to Barcelona and back for under $500, it made sense to book with Viking. When they offered us free airfare on our next river cruise, it made sense to take them up on the offer. But, when they wanted $850 for air to Barcelona the next year, we booked our own. Each offer was evaluated and prices compared before being accepted or rejected.

Once again, it depends. When we went to China with Viking, it made a lot of sense to us to book with Viking because it included hassle-free transfers and logistics. When they offered flights to Barcelona and back for under $500, it made sense to book with Viking. When they offered us free airfare on our next river cruise, it made sense to take them up on the offer. But, when they wanted $850 for air to Barcelona the next year, we booked our own. Each offer was evaluated and prices compared before being accepted or rejected.

Look ... I was NOT answering for every person in the world. I was specifically replying to the OPs 2nd query as to WHY would / should they pay Viking's hotel charges.

SMH :rolleyes:

Originally posted by CruiseGal999 It doesn't make any sense to have the cruise line make your hotel or flight for that matter.

 

We stayed at the Hilton Diagonal Mar in Barcelona and we loved. It was a great area. And a quick 5-10 minute cab ride to port.

 

This is at least the 2nd thread the OP asked WHY pay so much money for the CL to make hotel reservations. I do not think she/they want to do that.

Sorry. I might have forgotten that I already posted this. Too many things to ask. Sorry for the dup.

Some people like really nice hotels, so they probably like the ones Viking chooses. However, I don't mind staying in the smaller, lesser-known hotels, so I usually book my own. There are some things that probably won't be as nice compared to the Viking-chosen hotels - for example, often no breakfast is included with the hotel stays I book, or if it is, it's pretty expensive and not all that substantive. But location is important to me, since I'm not crazy about cabs, and because I like being somewhere that's pretty close to what I want to see. I actually love planning where to go, how to get there (often on public transportation) and how long to stay. Therefore, the convenience of using services arranged by Viking (whether it be transfers from the airport, pre-cruise extensions, or whatever) is not very important to me. However, for many others who don't like to plan, just the convenience is worth the extra money. So are things like the big breakfast buffets, and the fact that you don't have to deal with toting cruise luggage around.

For hotels, I try to book ones that are conveniently located to transportation centers, or at least in center city. Since Viking often has to arrange for a large number of people staying at a given hotel, and transportation to and from that hotel and airport, port, or sightseeing, the hotels that are chosen are quite nice but not exactly what I'm looking for. I also like kind of quirky places, and am willing to be a little disappointed if what I think looks fabulous and quirky turns out to be not what I expected.

I wouldn't say that Viking hotels are nicer. Sometimes. But they are sometimes too far away like in Prague and Barcelona. I got lucky and was moved to a different hotel in Prague that was much closer to tourist areas.

We have booked hotels pre and post, but generally have the best success booking apartments through vrbo or similar private apartnent booking agencies....we have been very successful in Prague, Budapest, London, and Paris. Loved the apartments and flexibility. For our upcoming cruise in Feb/March from Auckland to Bali I have booked a hotel in Bali for a total of $266 for 2 nights...taxes and fees included, and a private driver who will pick us and bring us wherever we want to go and whatever we want to see for $50/day. Viking wanted $550 per person for the 2 days for a very similar hotel.

We have booked hotels pre and post, but generally have the best success booking apartments through vrbo or similar private apartnent booking agencies....we have been very successful in Prague, Budapest, London, and Paris. Loved the apartments and flexibility. For our upcoming cruise in Feb/March from Auckland to Bali I have booked a hotel in Bali for a total of $266 for 2 nights...taxes and fees included, and a private driver who will pick us and bring us wherever we want to go and whatever we want to see for $50/day. Viking wanted $550 per person for the 2 days for a very similar hotel.

Would you mind giving me info on where you stayed in Prague and Budapest please. rswright48@comcast(dot)net.

Thanks.