Tips For New Viking Ocean Cruisers - Vol.2

[Ken the cruiser]

13 minutes ago, millybess said:

We like being able to book the excursions so much earlier than before.  For us, it's a head start on the excitement of the cruise.  After that, we're done -- other than final payment.  We don't usually bother with the dining reservations anymore because we find them very easy to reserve once on board.  Enjoy your cruise!!  

Us too and will probably book the free ones as well as those special ones for a fee that catch our eye as soon as we can. But since my DW needs to eat early, we’ll also book our SD reservations as early as we can. However, our understanding is that dinner in the main dining room is “anytime dining” and opens at 6 pm. Is that correct?

[millybess]

1 minute ago, Ken the cruiser said:

Us too and will probably book the free ones as well as those special ones for a fee that catch our eye as soon as we can. But since my DW needs to eat early, we’ll also book our SD reservations as early as we can. However, our understanding is that dinner in the main dining room is “anytime dining” and opens at 6 pm. Is that correct?

Yes, you can't make reservations at the restaurant and it opens at 6pm.  However, at times, we have seen the line up to get into the MDR at 6:00 is backed up to the elevator. We also like to dine around 6:00, depending on sail away time because we like to watch that.  So if dining around 6:00 is important to you, I would suggest that if you want to dine in the MDR, be there about 20 minutes early.

[Ken the cruiser]

5 minutes ago, millybess said:

Yes, you can't make reservations at the restaurant and it opens at 6pm.  However, at times, we have seen the line up to get into the MDR at 6:00 is backed up to the elevator. We also like to dine around 6:00, depending on sail away time because we like to watch that.  So if dining around 6:00 is important to you, I would suggest that if you want to dine in the MDR, be there about 20 minutes early.

Thanks! Good to know! 

[Planning to cruise]

23 hours ago, Steerpike58 said:

I'd agree with this description in general. Our recent Viking Ocean cruise had about 5 onboard 'specialists' in the 'enrichment team' - a historian, a naturalist, a geologist, and 2 others I can't even remember! They all gave talks in the Star Theater or smaller venues every day. The Naturalist would assemble interested guests in the Explorer Lounge and help us spot Whales and other wildlife. Each day you also get a 'port talk' that tells you what to expect in the next port of call. 

A good more detailed explanation of the VO entertainments. 

 

It sounds good to have had so many specialists.  Two has been the norm on my cruises, our last had 3 although 2 of them were historians and a bit too similar.  Maybe it depends on the itinerary and number of sea days.      

[CCWineLover]

On 8/19/2024 at 10:55 AM, Planning to cruise said:

A good more detailed explanation of the VO entertainments. 

 

It sounds good to have had so many specialists.  Two has been the norm on my cruises, our last had 3 although 2 of them were historians and a bit too similar.  Maybe it depends on the itinerary and number of sea days.      

Yes - our experience is that you are likely to have more lecturers/specialists when there are more sea days.  We had a 2 week cruise with zero sea days that I think there were only 3 of them.  Hard for them to schedule the lectures - although they did always have at least one at 6:15 (Viking said this was to shift the usual mass rush of diners at 6 to later time)

[luckyinpa]

ive just started researching viking and ran across statements that appear to indicate viking will limit how much OBC my TA can give me. typically my TA gets me 9 percent on my suites on other lines. so is it true that on a 7 nite cruise he will be limited to just 150?

 

i also have run across the final payment rules in that for november 2025 id have to pay in full this september i believe?  but could get all but 100 back as long as im 121 days out.

 

im researching the PVs on star and vela for an italy cruise next november. the bathrooms and cabin seem well worth the extra 700 pp to me over the lower class of cabins. but i still have tons more to read up on! i took a short video tour of star and i was very impressed with what i saw and it seems like it would be a good fit for us

 

thanks

Edited August 29 by luckyinpa

[CCWineLover]

4 minutes ago, luckyinpa said:

ive just started researching viking and ran across statements that appear to indicate viking will limit how much OBC my TA can give me. typically my TA gets me 9 percent on my suites on other lines. so is it true that on a 7 nite cruise he will be limited to just 150?

 

i also have run across the final payment rules in that for november 2025 id have to pay in full this september i believe?  but could get all but 100 back as long as im 121 days out.

 

im researching the PVs on star and vela for an italy cruise next november. the bathrooms and cabin seem well worth the extra 700 pp to me over the lower class of cabins. but i still have tons more to read up on!

 

thanks

Sorry to inform you regarding Viking - they are NOT like other cruise lines.

Viking limits the max a Travel Agent can give a customer on a sliding scale depending on the length of the cruise.

 

$150 pp - for up to 8 nights

$300 pp -  for up to 15 nights

$ 500 pp - beyond that

 

As for PV's versus DV's - everyone has an opinion.

The fact that the cruise you are looking at has just an extra 700 pp difference is remarkable and at the VERY low end of the scale.  Many of the Viking cruises, due to demand for PV's, can have $2000 to $4000 pp differences between PV and DV.

Usually the lowest gap is in the Transatlantic or repositioning cruises and I've seen it as low as $600 pp gap.  So grab it!  Great value!

[luckyinpa]

23 minutes ago, CCWineLover said:

Sorry to inform you regarding Viking - they are NOT like other cruise lines.

Viking limits the max a Travel Agent can give a customer on a sliding scale depending on the length of the cruise.

 

$150 pp - for up to 8 nights

$300 pp -  for up to 15 nights

$ 500 pp - beyond that

 

As for PV's versus DV's - everyone has an opinion.

The fact that the cruise you are looking at has just an extra 700 pp difference is remarkable and at the VERY low end of the scale.  Many of the Viking cruises, due to demand for PV's, can have $2000 to $4000 pp differences between PV and DV.

Usually the lowest gap is in the Transatlantic or repositioning cruises and I've seen it as low as $600 pp gap.  So grab it!  Great value!

 

do they give more commission to TAs or less than other lines do? my TA is only for booking a cruise. i do all other research.  if he's getting more thats great for him at least.

 

on the surface i see no benefit to anything other than PV3 in that category, but im just starting to research so if there's anything im missing id love to hear it. there are cabins above and below and thats my cardinal rule.  I Am discounting a continental suite on azmara because all that category is directly under the buffet and pool deck. Would be asking for trouble!

 

ty for the info about the deal. hope people dont snag it now 🙂  i doubt id pay 2K more for the PV..but maybe.

 

I also found the list of sliding glass doors vs window and doors. other than preference is there anything i should be aware of with those 2 choices? for instance noise/squeaking etc . 

 

also my gut is telling me stick with star as it's an older ship with know qualities vs vela which is new and unknown. or is that comparison invalid?

 

 

 

Edited August 29 by luckyinpa

[FetaCheese]

To add additional info to what @CCWineLover has said re: Viking is not like other cruise lines.

 

Viking advertises cruises as # of days.

You must subtract 1 from that number to find # of nights --  on which the TA OBC is based.

[CurlerRob]

1 hour ago, luckyinpa said:

 

do they give more commission to TAs or less than other lines do? my TA is only for booking a cruise. i do all other research.  if he's getting more thats great for him at least.

 

I also found the list of sliding glass doors vs window and doors. other than preference is there anything i should be aware of with those 2 choices? for instance noise/squeaking etc . 

also my gut is telling me stick with star as it's an older ship with know qualities vs vela which is new and unknown. or is that comparison invalid?

 

 

Commissions are not public information from Viking and nearly everyone on these boards would be only speculating - if your TA is willing to tell you what they get, that's likely the best source of information.

 

If you found the list re PV doors, you likely were in a thread that discussed the pros/cons as pax saw them. Pax differ, depending on their preferences, some find one setup easier to open/close, others find the view from the cabin different and prefer one over the other.  I've read nothing about different noise levels of the two configurations and have not experienced that in our cabins. I'd suggest you search for "slider vs door" for details.

 

Vela will be a bit larger than Star, and the speculation is that the cabins will be a bit longer (inboard to outboard) but likely not wider (fore/aft). There will be more cabins, but not a large number. I personally would not worry about age of the two ships - Vela is scheduled to do her initial cruise in January 25. She should have all the kinks worked out by November 25. 🍺🥌

[Peregrina651]

3 hours ago, luckyinpa said:

there are cabins above and below and thats my cardinal rule.

 

Normally, I would agree with you.  However, I have done a handful of sailings in DV6 cabins, the ones over the dining room (never the ones forward of the Atrium), and have never heard any noise coming from the dining room. They are my preferred cabins (except for 3058, 3060 and the corresponding odd numbered cabins). I have sailed in DV4, over the tenders, and they were noisier.

[CDNPolar]

Commission levels can vary widely and it depends on the TA relationship with Viking and their level of sales activity.  My understanding is that Viking are not paying more than any other cruise line at the premium/luxury level, but they do protect their TA's because still 70% plus of their bookings come through TA's.

[Steerpike58]

17 hours ago, luckyinpa said:

...

i also have run across the final payment rules in that for november 2025 id have to pay in full this september i believe?  but could get all but 100 back as long as im 121 days out.

...

This Viking policy is a tough one! I have a friend who canceled their (very expensive) cruise when they discovered this. I guess they've done the analysis and determined that what they lose in sales, they make up in cash flow.  I suppose, if they sell out every cruise, and never have to offer any serious last minute discounts, that's the 'proof'. 

 

Having said that, our last Viking cruise was a last-minute deal and we jumped on it in June for a July sailing, and it was great!  We didn't get the cabin assigned until boarding, but it was 5050, which we found perfect (and was a minor upgrade over what we paid for (eg, DV2 vs DV3, or whatever it was). 

[luckyinpa]

i also just did a search and it seems viking doesnt do full transit of the panama canal which is a bummer!

[zelker]

1 hour ago, luckyinpa said:

i also just did a search and it seems viking doesnt do full transit of the panama canal which is a bummer!

Don't know when you're looking to do it but Neptune is doing it on October 10, 2024 and again on April 5, 2025.  Sky is doing it on December 19, 2025.  All three are 17 days (16 nights).

[Clay Clayton]

2 hours ago, luckyinpa said:

i also just did a search and it seems viking doesnt do full transit of the panama canal which is a bummer!

If you want a shorter cruise, you can also do a full transit to/from Panama City. Additionally, both expedition ships do full transits. 

 

Edited August 29 by Clay Clayton

[janetcbl]

3 hours ago, luckyinpa said:

i also just did a search and it seems viking doesnt do full transit of the panama canal which is a bummer!

We did a full transit last year, LA to FLL. Great trip!

[CCWineLover]

5 hours ago, luckyinpa said:

i also just did a search and it seems viking doesnt do full transit of the panama canal which is a bummer!

Yes, they do!!  You must not be looking correctly.  We did it.

[OneSixtyToOne]

18 hours ago, luckyinpa said:

i also just did a search and it seems viking doesnt do full transit of the panama canal which is a bummer!

Only one of the Viking cruises that visits Panama doesn’t do a full transit, the Panama Canal & Central America itinerary.

[SantaFe1]

16 hours ago, CCWineLover said:

Yes, they do!!  You must not be looking correctly.  We did it.

We did it too.

[deec]

we went from Ft. Lauderdale to LA via the Panama Canal in 2021

[zelker]

25 minutes ago, deec said:

we went from Ft. Lauderdale to LA via the Panama Canal in 2021

Our first (and to date, only) Viking cruise ... and even though we both posted quite a bit on that roll call, somehow, we NEVER managed to meet up!  😉   We're booked on the January 31, 2025 Hawaii/French Polynesia on Neptune and looking forward to trying Viking again.  We've been to all the ports a few times (as recently as this past February/March) so mainly it's a trial run to see if we think we could do a World.  Also doesn't hurt that it gets us out of winter in Colorado for a month.

[luckyinpa]

so i  see i had the wrong parameters on search. who has flown in/out of panama? i thought i read a while ago it's not fun

 

i picked a random flight in february and was shocked it was about 125. why so low? 🙂

[Ken the cruiser]

10 minutes ago, luckyinpa said:

so i  see i had the wrong parameters on search. who has flown in/out of panama? i thought i read a while ago it's not fun

 

i picked a random flight in february and was shocked it was about 125. why so low? 🙂

If you use “North America” as the Region, you’ll see the full Panama Canal cruise from FLL to LA.

[knoxclone]

19 hours ago, luckyinpa said:

so i  see i had the wrong parameters on search. who has flown in/out of panama? i thought i read a while ago it's not fun

 

i picked a random flight in february and was shocked it was about 125. why so low? 🙂

I flew from ATL to Panama City, Panama on Delta, no problems, the airport was well signaged in english, and easy to navigate.