Live from the Viking Neptune World Cruise 2022-23

[Heidi13]

1 hour ago, cruising denise said:

Thank you so much for this info.  Do you feel that you missed out on anything by not having a guide, or were the sites well documented and explained?  Were you able to also go to the USS Missouri, which would be part of this tour? 

 

We have visited the Arizona Memorial and Missouri 2 or 3 times, never with a guide. Never missed having a guide.

[SJD117]

1 hour ago, cruising denise said:

Thank you so much for this info.  Do you feel that you missed out on anything by not having a guide, or were the sites well documented and explained?  Were you able to also go to the USS Missouri, which would be part of this tour? 

You can (and IMHO should) appreciate the deep significance of the site without a guide. 

[cruising denise]

Thank you both so much for this.  We will definitely plan to go on our own, and be able to take our time.  

[Clay Clayton]

4 hours ago, cruising denise said:

Thank you so much for this info.  Do you feel that you missed out on anything by not having a guide, or were the sites well documented and explained?  Were you able to also go to the USS Missouri, which would be part of this tour? 

We tried to go to the Memorial when we were there last October.  We booked the cruise (HAL) in May or June amd at that time all the available time slots were taken. They usually do a day before (maybe it's two days before?) allocation also but due to a computer problem they didn't.  We had rented a car to drive around the island (our ship was overnighting) so we went to the Visitor's Center and spent some time there and looked across the harbor to the Memorials but weren't able to visit.  
 

We aren't sure what we will do this time there. Wish we had an overnight, we loved sunset at House without a Key and would do that again in a skinny minute. 

[aungrl]

2 minutes ago, Clay Clayton said:

We tried to go to the Memorial when we were there last October.  We booked the cruise (HAL) in May or June amd at that time all the available time slots were taken. They usually do a day before (maybe it's two days before?) allocation also but due to a computer problem they didn't.  We had rented a car to drive around the island (our ship was overnighting) so we went to the Visitor's Center and spent some time there and looked across the harbor to the Memorials but weren't able to visit.  
 

We aren't sure what we will do this time there. Wish we had an overnight, we loved sunset at House without a Key and would do that again in a skinny minute. 

Couldn't agree with this more!  If you're able to be there overnight, and have the chance to do this, it's one of the best experiences ever.

[cruising denise]

2 minutes ago, Clay Clayton said:

We tried to go to the Memorial when we were there last October.  We booked the cruise (HAL) in May or June amd at that time all the available time slots were taken. They usually do a day before (maybe it's two days before?) allocation also but due to a computer problem they didn't.  We had rented a car to drive around the island (our ship was overnighting) so we went to the Visitor's Center and spent some time there and looked across the harbor to the Memorials but weren't able to visit.  
 

We aren't sure what we will do this time there. Wish we had an overnight, we loved sunset at House without a Key and would do that again in a skinny minute. 

Clay, I remembered reading your post about this delightful spot last year, and am sad we won't have the chance to do it.  But the cruise is going to be fantastic.  

Thanks for sharing your info about the Pearl Harbor reservations.  I will stay on top of the date by which we have to reserve them.

We are keeping fingers crossed for you to join us on the Sky!  And even further, sending all good thoughts that tomorrow will be a banner day on the stock  market.... 😉

[Dcsfuture]

Can previous wC-ers tell us if there are Viking shuttle buses from the port in SIngapore to the main city area?

[mstadleraz]

1 hour ago, Dcsfuture said:

Can previous wC-ers tell us if there are Viking shuttle buses from the port in SIngapore to the main city area?

yes

[Lilyskittymom]

16 hours ago, cruising denise said:

Thank you both so much for this.  We will definitely plan to go on our own, and be able to take our time.  

We spend time on Oahu every year and are familiar with the procedure to get tickets to the Arizona. You may have already researched this, but in case you haven't, I'd suggest you go to the USS Arizona website https://www.nps.gov/perl/uss-arizona-memorial-programs.htm Tickets are required to take the boat out to the memorial, but are not needed to enter the museum site.  Tickets are available at either 24 hrs prior (at 3pm Hawaii time the day prior) or 8 weeks in advance.  If you try to get tickets the day prior, be sure you've setup your account ahead of time and are logged in a couple minutes ahead of time; they go fast.  Don't worry if you can't get a ticket, you can walk up to the ranger's desk at the auditorium and get on the wait list - but be aware that you could be waiting a while.  My best advice is to get there early to avoid big crowds.  There's a lot there to see and occupy your time. 

 

Maria

[Clay Clayton]

For 2022/23 cruisers, can you advise if you were able to use the Explorers Society credit before boarding? Wondering if we will have it available when it comes time to book optional excursions. 
 

Also, once onboard did all provided credits become a lump sum in your account?  In other words, like on previous WC, were you able to use the "Spa, laundry, etc " credit to buy additional excursions?

 

TIA!

[Heidi13]

20 minutes ago, Clay Clayton said:

For 2022/23 cruisers, can you advise if you were able to use the Explorers Society credit before boarding? Wondering if we will have it available when it comes time to book optional excursions. 
 

Also, once onboard did all provided credits become a lump sum in your account?  In other words, like on previous WC, were you able to use the "Spa, laundry, etc " credit to buy additional excursions?

 

TIA!

 

Clay - Once aboard the credits show as non-refundable and refundable credits. The OBC provided by Viking is non-refundable and anything received from your TA is refundable. We received additional refundable when receiving payment for our costs in receiving the China Visa.

 

It doesn't show as spa, shore-ex, etc. Regardless if you purchase shore-ex, or from spa/shops, etc.  they initially charge the non-refundable credits until exhausted, then charge the refundable ones.

[Clay Clayton]

But am I correct that we won't be able to use the non excursions one to book excursions before boarding?

[mstadleraz]

11 minutes ago, Clay Clayton said:

But am I correct that we won't be able to use the non excursions one to book excursions before boarding?

No, they will be available for any use after embarkation.

[Mich3554]

On 8/20/2023 at 9:39 AM, cruising denise said:

Thank you so much for this info.  Do you feel that you missed out on anything by not having a guide, or were the sites well documented and explained?  Were you able to also go to the USS Missouri, which would be part of this tour? 

Nope.  Everything is very well documented.  We didn’t see the Missouri because we didn’t have enough time.  

[Clay Clayton]

10 minutes ago, mstadleraz said:

No, they will be available for any use after embarkation.

Hmmm, so unlike our recent (last month) experience, the onboard credits from the TA and Viking can't be used to book excursions before embarkation?

[stretchcruz]

I've got a question.  Someone who was writing a blog used a really good guide in French Polynesia. Does anyone know about it? Or have suggestions for French Polynesia islands? I'm doing the 33 day Hawaii French Polynesia cruise Nov 10.Thank you so much!!!

[Mich3554]

2 hours ago, Clay Clayton said:

For 2022/23 cruisers, can you advise if you were able to use the Explorers Society credit before boarding? Wondering if we will have it available when it comes time to book optional excursions. 
 

Also, once onboard did all provided credits become a lump sum in your account?  In other words, like on previous WC, were you able to use the "Spa, laundry, etc " credit to buy additional excursions?

 

TIA!

When we got on board, there was a lump sum in our onboard account.  We could not use it before boarding (but the OBC we received covered a very big chunk of the excursions we chose when they opened up for us).  Yes, you could buy excursions with this money.  When we left the WC, we had a good chunk of it left.  Viking let us carry it over in our account for the British Isles cruise, Norway and Arctic and Iceland to NYC.  The money we had left was sufficient to pay the gratuities and alcohol tab, and send a bag home from London for 2/3 cruises we took afterwards.  It did help that the 5 excursions I missed as I was Covid + got refunded to our account.  That added another chunk of $$$, as did booking the Iceland to NYC while onboard.
 

Another thing to note.  When we chose our excursions, we changed our mind while we could still make changes in our excursions while home.  Unfortunately, the excursion we wanted was sold out (it was for Egypt…..? segments into the WC).  So one of the first things I did on boarding in FL was get on the waitlist for this excursion.  Sometime through the cruise (not sure when) the home office in LA had decreed that changes to excursions  could only be made within the segment you were currently in.  Luckily, we got the excursion we wanted before the segment, so released the excursion we had booked.  According to one of the managers at the Explorer’s desk, this caused a bunch of problems because they could not see on computers what was coming up, I guess because people only had a short window to make changes during the WC.  Only about 2 weeks was seen in advance on the TV, so it felt like there were a lot of segments.  

 

[Mich3554]

2 hours ago, Heidi13 said:

 

Clay - Once aboard the credits show as non-refundable and refundable credits. The OBC provided by Viking is non-refundable and anything received from your TA is refundable. We received additional refundable when receiving payment for our costs in receiving the China Visa.

 

It doesn't show as spa, shore-ex, etc. Regardless if you purchase shore-ex, or from spa/shops, etc.  they initially charge the non-refundable credits until exhausted, then charge the refundable ones.

I think we ran out of OBC for booking excursions somewhere around India.  We had a lot of jockeying for excursions, as some got canceled, some ports were missed.  DH dumped several as he had the opportunity to dive instead.  By my best guess, the order you book your excursions on MVJ is the order they are debited from your OBC.  That meant all the excursions I missed on Covid arrest were refundable.  By the time we got to the end of the WC, most of the balance in our account was refundable credit.  Moot point, we went on further, but had we left the ship in London, we’d have gotten it all back.  

[cruising denise]

3 hours ago, Clay Clayton said:

Hmmm, so unlike our recent (last month) experience, the onboard credits from the TA and Viking can't be used to book excursions before embarkation?

Here's what I have, Clay.  As part of our booking info (although it appears to be a separate document than the booking invoice), I have a page titled SHIPBOARD CREDITS ELIGIBLE FOR PRE-SAILING USE.  

 

We have $xxxx Shore Excursion Credit and

$xxxx VES credits.

 

So both Shore Excursion Credits and VES credits can be used in advance of embarkation, and used for shore excursions.  I had this confirmed in a phone call back on 7/18.  The Shore Excursion Credits were granted as part of the booking incentive as we booked while on the Sky last October.  

[cruising denise]

New question for the 22/23 WC gang: 

 

Is the port in Monaco easy access to walking around in Monaco?  We've never been and would like to be able to check it out on our own and still get back to the ship easily.  I know it's a tender port but that's all I know....

[johnhst]

We have a question for those past WCrs. We are heading out from Florida in December on the Neptune. This may have been ask and answered before, but I have not been able to find it so please bare with me.  What amount of various pieces of clothing did you really need on your WC?  Items like, men's long pants, shorts, T-shirts, collared shirts, and women's Blouse, Skirt, dresses, shorts, pants and cold wether outer wear. Thanks so much.

On most of your shorter cruises we usually take enough excess to fill one suitcase and put it under the bed for the duration of the cruise.  Then we pull it out and the it home. LOL 

[OneSixtyToOne]

3 minutes ago, cruising denise said:

New question for the 22/23 WC gang: 

 

Is the port in Monaco easy access to walking around in Monaco?  We've never been and would like to be able to check it out on our own and still get back to the ship easily.  I know it's a tender port but that's all I know....

 

Out last cruise listed Monaco as a tender port but we actually docked there. 

We walked back and forth to the ship twice.

It's a great port.

 

Here is my write-up

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2927474-almost-live-viking-sky-mediterranean-odyssey-april-2023/page/2/#comment-65245954

 

[cruising denise]

3 minutes ago, johnhst said:

We have a question for those past WCrs. We are heading out from Florida in December on the Neptune. This may have been ask and answered before, but I have not been able to find it so please bare with me.  What amount of various pieces of clothing did you really need on your WC?  Items like, men's long pants, shorts, T-shirts, collared shirts, and women's Blouse, Skirt, dresses, shorts, pants and cold wether outer wear. Thanks so much.

On most of your shorter cruises we usually take enough excess to fill one suitcase and put it under the bed for the duration of the cruise.  Then we pull it out and the it home. LOL 

Please take a look at p. 2 in the attached.  You'll see many posts from the 22/23 WC roll call and probably other roll calls, too.  This should help.

PACKING AND SHOPPING.docx

[cruising denise]

8 minutes ago, OneSixtyToOne said:

 

Out last cruise listed Monaco as a tender port but we actually docked there. 

We walked back and forth to the ship twice.

It's a great port.

 

Here is my write-up

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2927474-almost-live-viking-sky-mediterranean-odyssey-april-2023/page/2/#comment-65245954

 

This is great info, thanks so much!  Was your included the 3-hour one?  This is the description we have for the included walking tour:

The Beauty of Monaco -- Set out on a walking tour through the heart of the medieval quarter of Monaco, known as The Rock. The Mediterranean will make a spectacular backdrop as you stroll to the foot of The Rock, then head uphill with your guide. In Monaco’s main square, the Place du Palais, see the Prince’s Palace of Monaco, home to the House of Grimaldi since 1297. Then pass St. Nicholas Cathedral. A young church by European standards, it was consecrated in 1875. This is the burial site of the royal family, including American actress-turned-princess Grace Kelly. Also admire the majestic Oceanographic Museum, soaring above the sea on a cliffside. Returning to the Place du Palais, depending on the time of your tour, you may have the opportunity to watch the daily changing of the guard outside the palace walls. Remain in town to shop or have lunch on your own before returning to your ship.

We were debating whether we should take the Nice tour, and then just walk around Monaco on our own when we return.  Opinions?  Thanks!

[OneSixtyToOne]

22 minutes ago, cruising denise said:

This is great info, thanks so much!  Was your included the 3-hour one?  This is the description we have for the included walking tour:

The Beauty of Monaco -- Set out on a walking tour through the heart of the medieval quarter of Monaco, known as The Rock. The Mediterranean will make a spectacular backdrop as you stroll to the foot of The Rock, then head uphill with your guide. In Monaco’s main square, the Place du Palais, see the Prince’s Palace of Monaco, home to the House of Grimaldi since 1297. Then pass St. Nicholas Cathedral. A young church by European standards, it was consecrated in 1875. This is the burial site of the royal family, including American actress-turned-princess Grace Kelly. Also admire the majestic Oceanographic Museum, soaring above the sea on a cliffside. Returning to the Place du Palais, depending on the time of your tour, you may have the opportunity to watch the daily changing of the guard outside the palace walls. Remain in town to shop or have lunch on your own before returning to your ship.

We were debating whether we should take the Nice tour, and then just walk around Monaco on our own when we return.  Opinions?  Thanks!

 

Yes, that is the tour. The early tour will leave you at the palace about 45-60 minutes before the changing of the guard. Plenty of time for a restroom break, shopping, and to line up to watch the changing of the guard. As I stated in my write-up, we bought a combination palace tour and Oceanographic Institute tour, went back to the ship for lunch, then walked back up to the palace and stopped at the Institute on the way back. We didn't go to the Casino but we still hit the jackpot.

 

To get to the top of The Rock requires taking a series of escalators and elevators. If you take a look of the picture I took of the ship from the top of The Rock, that gives you an idea of the change in altitude. Be sure to pay attention during the tour because if you take a wrong turn on the way back there are a LOT of stairs to navigate.

 

This is taken from the botanical gardens looking past the Institute, with the parking structure at the bottom. The ship docks right around the bend. That is the sidewalk you take way down there:

 

Edited August 21, 2023 by OneSixtyToOne