uktog

Right now as the many travel agents cannot access accurate pricing, the advice is do nothing, but as @Riocca stated, they are working on the website today so hopefully pricing will become available, as it was last week, very soon and they can complete the pricing then. This reflects the conversations in posts 6-7.

I believe it is my job to narrow down the range of options and to ask a TA only to formally work with options that are realistic in terms of cost, timings, other considerations (flight times and costs being one). They do not know my frequent miles details in terms of how many points I have with each airline or hotel loyalty points)/ You are overlooking the perfectly realistic reasons why others will not use a TA when they are working with a long list of options. I repeat I do not considerate fair to the agent or to other customers to tie the agent up for so long to work through a range of options. As @Riocca has correctly highlighted, the economic model most agents are working to has changed and we have to recognise that. Please respect the views of others who do not share the use a TA mantra, it is very very hard to find one in the UK just now and even if I could I would never usurp their time by presenting them with a long list of possibles just to get commission ultimately on one booking

I was able to price cruises no problem the last two days but today the gremlins are back and I believe they are back for TAs as well so pointless going down that route (and like you I prefer to do my research over a number of cruises, look at all the prices and other variables - flights, hotels etc and then contact the agent with my decision, I do not consider it fair to ask them to work through all my possible variations!!). The gremlins really are having fun on the October cruises, on on 4th shows no pricing available (maybe it is sold out) and one on the 7th shows an ocean view for c£1800 each however I will have to bypass the inside cabin currently on offer for £116,735.50 for two persons) 🙂 As you say I am sure it will sort itself but is frustrating however - no you are not doing anything wrong, the bugs are back........

We are on the NY-Iceland route

We hope to do this trip in August so your posts will be invaluable

We don’t get that here 🙂

Thanks, unfortunately as we live in the land formerly ruled by Nicola we could not use the NHS app, we had to use the tartan version and it is not fully functioning now. Our passes always were a little different which did give issues as Verifly could never recognise them. I will take what we have with us, I doubt Viking will say no to it, they did eventually accept the previous paper versions last year but then we could back that up with the app up to a point.

In the UK for the vast majority aged under 75 no further vaccinations have been made available after our second booster and it is not something we can go out and buy or demand from our health practitioner. I cannot get our online app to work any more to create a QR code to prove we were vaccinated though I have an old paper document that says we were. We join a cruise in the USA in August, fingers crossed the old paper stands up to scrutiny!

Covid is no longer a pandemic as designated by the World Heath Organisation. It is now in the same category as viruses like influenza or pneumonia where vaccines are available in some situations but not mandated. Covid has not gone away but is managed differently now, just as influenza etc has not gone away. In some countries legislation would now be harder to legally enforce that a passenger is vaccinated (what is that 2 dose 3 dose 4 dose - some countries do not offer these extra doses to everyone and you can’t buy them). So it’s a pragmatic decision by Viking in the face of changed circumstances.

Good to hear. It seems inconsistent

I have no issue with this. It happens once on any cruise they are on. Typically it happens on a night when the Pool Grill might be closed anyway (It’s usually closed at least one night even pre pandemic). Perry Golf are the most considerate cruising group I’ve ever sailed with.

Viking indicate they are limited in the alcohol they can serve onboard in Norway last year they had no problems but the warning is there for this year. Azamara had limitations when we were in Cochin however Azamara are proactive in doing all they can to make alcohol available where restrictions arise. Unfortunately restrictions are becoming more prevalent so just because you didn’t have it before doesn’t mean someone won’t have it now. Remember the days when the Spanish didn’t apply VAT onboard

Tomasz the HD on Journey is very good at ensuring events are supported - he is old school!

No, we booked our first through our travel agent and our second onboard and transferred back to the agent. We have had benefits both times

Yes we were on that it was stopping in Bordeaux etc but they sensibly pushed their time line well back early October when furniture suppliers etc were not able to guarantee meeting the delivery schedule. Im glad they are going to the Caribbean with some slightly different itineraries- that will be popular with Europeans and I think Explora is very much a “European line”.

I was told there are No pre cruise reservations offered. We go on 17/7 so will report back

We had to have the first appointment to tell her what we wanted The second to hear the figures but she couldn’t process the deal then So back for the third

Correct mine is a land based agent

Following- we found it such a challenge with the lady onboard Venus last year - it was her way or no way (we knew what we wanted just needed prices) but we had to have three appointments however we did at that point place the booking onboard with our own agent aka told her that’s where it was to be placed and she did it. She told us all sorts of horror stories why we shouldn’t do that - we ignored none of the issues happened and our agent gave us a better offer as well

And have you seen what adults only means on Virgin complete with its tattoo parlour and adult fun games involving alcohol. We saw a tv documentary that was enough for us to know it’s not for us

Things change all the time. Taxi drivers usually can work it out. The other tip is google the ships position on Marine Traffic on Saturday morning as it will park up around 0600 or earlier UK time

Does Lee do a show?

Whilst that can be valid advice, its not going to help Mrs Miggins! Unfortunately not everyone can add in days ahead and if you live near an airport that offers a direct very early morning flight with a back up flight it can be a risk worth taking. The international number I have for Journey is (732) 335-3297. That was the number I left for family emergency contact last year

Thanks for the lovely comments This is certainly an itinerary I would recommend. As regards AQV keep an open mind, it’s not (and does not claim to be) 5 star. It has got areas it needs to work on, particularly communication, but if you can see beyond that and be flexible (as we had to do a few times) it’s a good way to see the lakes. Just remember you will be with an older crowd which will work for many but not for others. The service at breakfast this morning was non existent and the bed remains unmade - oh well back to reality 😀

But not in every country I’m afraid