FM-R

Thank you so very much for taking the time to post!! We've decided that we are going with a positive attitude and will not buy into any negative grousing - we can pretty much enjoy any place. have a wonderful trip. Now I'm culling though my packing for the 3rd time since we are only taking a 22" carry on each and as large of a "personal item" as allowed.

I don't mind paying tips - I prepaid and planned on tipping extra if any provided really personalized service. But if we change ships, then what? I'm sure what I prepaid will not be shared with the second crew. I guess the second ship's staff keep whatever prepaids were made by their original passengers. What a mess for staff that get to know pax and then have to learn all new people. And ... then a whole new set of issues if not go to a different ship but to a hotel. Hotel staff will expect tips. Oh, well, can only go with the flow.

My travel buddy and I are also B to A on the Sigyn embarking in Basel on 8/30. We have pre in Lucerne. All post were full so doing Amsterdam on our own and then taking a deviation to Barcelona. We too are not canceling because of our pre-extension and our time in Amsterdam and Barcelona. We can pretty much go with the flow - but like to have things told to us honestly and right up front as soon as it is known rather than last minute game playing. We also don't want our hoped for relaxing cruise to turn into a 4+ hour bus ride for most days - we might prefer to go on our own and make do wherever ship is docked.

I upgraded with Viking as it was slightly less expensive to do so. Also, I learned the hard way, if you do not insist that Viking ticket your flight, things can change. Viking kept changing our flights making us have 2 connections and even took away our paid upgrade - frustrating since would happen about even 2 two weeks. Our original plans with air plus were only 1 connection if no round trip. Finally got a great Viking air rep who told me that until they actually "ticket" the flights, Viking could change my flights and I might not get seats or even flight I preferred. Viking rep and I got everything settled as to exact flights we wanted, the upgrade we paid for, and the seats we specifically wanted. I was warned by rep that if they ticketed the flights, no changes could be made without high $$ penalties. I said do it, and we are happy. From what I pieced together, Viking has enough designated seats with their contracted airlines that seems they can make a reservation for someone without actually paying for it - even though you, the passenger, have paid in full. To me this is sort of underhanded - like Viking is "floating" our fully paid money. Only when they tell airline to ticket the flight does Viking transfer your money to the airline and your flight is truly made as you and I would if we directly booked with airline. I may not be using proper terminology. but that's how I understood it to work.

What if I simply do not want to bus around? I believe Viking docks in Kehl. Can I just stay and explore that town and get myself to Strasburg? Or do Cologne on my own or with a private excursion? Seems like as long as I get myself back to ship......

Pre-paid expenses - tips and silver spirits. What happens if river cruise turns into a bus tour? This is a sincere question. I am planning to embark Viking Sigyn (yep, the one that crashed into a sightseeing boat in 2019 in Budapest), on 8/30 at Basel going to Amsterdam with disembarkation on 9/6. We have prepaid tips and silver spirits package. I have no problem tipping crew, or even pre-paying the tips - one less thing to think about. However, if I'm not on the Sigyn full time enjoying shipboard service, will Viking refund my prepaid tips? And, if we are moved to another ship, I do not feel as if I should tip a second time, even if the second crew is not at fault for the low water levels. I'm sure silver spirits package will carry over from ship to ship. But I know it won't if go from ship to hotel! If we are moved to hotels, then where did the tip money and silver spirits package go? Will I get a refund? I'm sure any hotel will want me to pay for my drinks. I'm sure any hotel staff who provide service will want a tip. They don't know or care I already paid.

Did Viking make any attempt to offer reimbursements for any of your unexpected out of pocket expenses? Did they refund/credit any portion of the trip? This is really sad to hear. I've always enjoyed traveling with Viking, but I do not like the fact that they are not being above board. And, on another topic, I don't like it that I leave in less than 2 weeks and have not received travel documents. I mean, they are now electronic - so send them out promptly. Customer service can't tell me when will get - except for saying "sometime soon."

I'm on Basel to Amsterdam embarking 8/30. If this should be the case, does this mean we get off at Speyer for excursion and get on another boat in Koblenz or is ship change actually just at the Gorge? Not sure how/where the ship swapping happens. Thanks!