minka34

We leave next week going the opposite direction, Santiago to Ft L. I'll try to get back here and give some thoughts afterwards or maybe live from the Polaris.

Thank you for your review. We often sit on floor 2 or 3 above the atrium if we want quiet to listen to the music. There are no guarantees, but it seems to be a more peaceful space to listen in comparison to right around the bar on the same floor as the musicians. We are heading for our first experience on an expedition ship in about 2 weeks. It won't be the usual familiar Ocean ship layout, but hope that we will find the same Viking quality that we have appreciated so much in the past. Excited to experience an expedition ship!

Now I am so jealous! It sounds like they will only be for your WC? Can't wait to hear about them and see photos!!! Thanks for sharing!

@CDR2001 or anyone else, when you forgo the free VA, do you receive any discount off the cost of the cruise (credit for the unused free air)?

😮 Wow! You take amazing photos!

Sorry - off topic here... @gma1 @Shinydiamond Did either of you review your cruise? We are going in March 2024 and I was hoping for a little advance info... weather, ports, included tours vs. optional, etc. There are many reviews of the southern trips but I didn't see any for the trip between Santiago and Ft Lauderdale (either direction). I suppose the weather will be different due to Oct vs. March but still would read a review if either/both of you decide to post one! 😉

I thought that I had seen this topic before. Did a search and post #8 on a thread from September seemed to have the definitive answer (usb not accessible on tvs) - trying to paste the link so you can read the thread: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2961175-do-tvs-have-usb-ports-for-the-firestick/?do=findComment&comment=66030486

Yes, as long as they are serving lunch, you can get complementary wine/beer/soda. As Linda272 said, the pool sometimes goes a little later, but I believe that lunch typically officially ends at 2:30.

@biggerbearmom I wasn't a huge fan of our cruise director either, but I met someone at the meet and greet that was simply tickled that she was our cruise director - it made her cruise. Funny how different we all are! I thought that she was an excellent singer at her show. @MikeyB @wine-wine-wine I didn't go to the lectures; for some reason I found the voice of one of the lecturers grating. It was unfortunate because my DH lives for the lectures and played all the ones he missed in our cabin on the TV (I did a lot of reading outside our cabin) 🙂 I don't expect too much from VO theater entertainment so I'm never that disappointed. I now wish that I had see Allan the guitarist... maybe next time. The atrium entertainment is always pleasant. Just my 2 cents. I found the service to be excellent on this cruise. Our room stewards... so wonderful. I'll say it again, the best we've had. They were D and D... I think Deka and David (or something like that - I apologize if I have the names wrong). I am amazed how they learned our schedule and seem to cater their service to our whims. Makes for a really great vacation.

That's it. We were on Jupiter and that's probably when we noticed the station in Aquavit area, and maybe saw it on the Orion too? We've been on Star and Sky but I didn't realize that it wasn't on those ships.

It's not that they don't have it on board, it's just not on the new Manfredi's menu. Ossobuco was my go-to at Manfredi's and I was so disappointed when they didn't have it on the menu anymore. I told our waiter that I came to Manfredi's especially for the Ossobuco. Hopefully, they are listening to the disappointment and will make the change fleetwide to bring it back. However, in my case, I found it on the menu in The Restaurant two days later and it was wonderful. The nice thing about having it as a menu item in The Restaurant is that you don't need reservations to go there. Manfredi's can be difficult to get into.

@wine-wine-wine great review! Indeed one of our best VO cruises as well. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed each course of the Mexican menu... which is why I just love the Chef's Table; it's an adventure in itself. We had a large Meet & Mingle and I'm sorry that I didn't actually meet more people. We got talking in a group and the time flew by. I'm wondering if it wouldn't be fun to try a speed dating type mingle where you (and any travel companion) get 5 min to chat with a small group then ding! move to the next area until everyone has met each other. I was hesitant to try a TA and I find that I REALLY like sea days! One of the best things for me was that it felt like I got an extra hour of vacation 8(?) times as we set our clocks back! Makes me want to book it again for next year already.

There was a section that looked like a door in the place where the Asian bar usually is. I just assumed that it was there behind the panel. It's really just a counter where they serve food as opposed to an actual room you go in. I thought that for the most part, all VO ships were the same (except for the ones with the observatory on them). I'd have to check but I don't think I've been on the Sky before - looks like all the others!

We just did the TA on board the VO Sky and the Asian bar was closed the entire 2-weeks (ended Nov 30th). I didn't ask why. Doubtful that there is a door problem on 2 VO ships at nearly the same time... ? ...conspiracy theory forming... LOL

@kag3120 Did you join your roll call for the cruise? Is there a Meet & Mingle set up? Maybe you can "get to know" some folks pre-cruise or at the M&M. I don't know about spa things but what about getting foot massages or other treatments? We did the Bali to Sydney and we did a Martini tasting which I found to be fun and interesting - and I'm not a Martini drinker usually. I'd probably start my birthday with waffle at Mamsen's. 🙂 ...and maybe a mimosa for dessert?