Emptynesters38

We went on this cruise last year. Prior to going I obtained $100 in local currency for Norway, Sweden and Russia and did not really need it. I only needed Dollars and Euros. We had a wonderful time.

If the internet on my upcoming cruise on the Ovation in May is not "up to speed" it will probably be my last cruise on Seabourn. I am still working and need fast and accessible internet so I can work while away. Viking Ocean Cruise line is able to provide far superior internet at no additional charge for its 930 passengers. If they can do it, why can't Seabourn.

Roger

I think FLgemini gave a wonderfulcomparison. In the past two years we took two Viking Ocean Cruises includingthe two week Homelands Cruise and one Seabourn cruise from Athens toVenice. We are booked on the SeabournOvation Vintage Europe two week cruisein May from Lisbon to Amsterdam.

Although the Viking ships hold over 900 passengers, they areso well organized that you never notice the extra passengers. We are not “foodies” but in my opinion, but both cruise lines haveabove average food options. Since Vikingprovides free wifi and at least one free excursion in each port and Seabourncharges an outrageous fee for substandard wifi and provides no excursions andcharges a lot for the excursions they offer, I do get the feeling of being “nickledand dimed” on Seabourn. I know that Seabournprovided more alcoholic drinks and includes tips but I do not drink and usuallytip more anyway. To me, the only real factorto consider in choosing between the two cruise lines is itinerary. Other than that, both cruise lines offer aluxury vacation experience.

I do think that although the passengers on both lines are nearor past 60 years old, I did notice more people in their 40s on the SeabournCruise we took but that could change from voyage to voyage.

The Viking Ocean cruise ships have over 900 passengers but their free internet is superior to what I experienced on Seabourn with fewer passengers and at great expense so it appears that Viking has solved the bandwidth issue.

Although I am taking a two week Seabourn cruise in May, the cost of Internet is a factor in why I have taken two Viking Ocean cruises in the past two years. I am taking my next cruise on Seabourn because of the itinerary but all things being equal would pick Viking because of the free Internet and some of the free excursions. Also, I do not drink so that is not a factor with me in the cost benefit computation. It is not just the money for the internet but the feeling that they are gouging on the cost and "nickle and dimeing" which is one of the reason I like the luxury cruise experience! I guess the almost $20,000.00 I am paying is not enough to offset the cost associated with internet that Viking and other cruise lines are able to provide for free.

I do. Is your cruise prior to mid May 2018 rlehrberg@hotmail.com

We have a referral coupon for someone going on their first cruise by the middle of May, 2018. It provides for a $400.00 on board credit for a first timer. Please email me at rlehrberg @ hotmail.com if you are interested

We hired Karin H. via Tours By Locals

guide_19180-88@toursbylocals.com

+49 170 1822205

We had never been to Berlin and am glad we went. We hired a private guide and driver to maximize the number of sites we could visit and it was a memorable day. My wife and I are history buffs and Berlin is certainly full of historical sites that I wanted to learn about. Friends on the same cruise took the Warnemunde and Rostock tour and were underwhelmed as we had already visited a number of harbor towns. Prior to our cruise I was apprehensive about the long train ride but it went very smoothly and now I am very glad I went.

David was the cruise director on our first Seabourn cruisefrom Athens to Venice in October of 2016. Our second day on board we discovered that I had forgotten to pack atie. We were sitting by the pool when he approached us to introduce himself andsee how our cruise was going. I mentioned the tie situation and a few minuteslater he returned carrying a platter with three ties and offered them to me for my use on the cruise. I picked one andused it the rest of the cruise. He would literally “give you the tie off hisneck!!!!” He was extremely friendly andwelcoming and I am sure he will be missed by the Seabourn community and hisfamily and friends.

I forget the name but there is an outside production company that recruits the performers and casts them in groups for for long term contracts. One afternoon they had a tour of the theater and we got to meet the performers. There were two married couples. They live in special cabins that I think do not have windows and are on Deck 8.

When we boarded our Viking Homelands cruise two of the excursions we wanted were sold out. We signed up for the waiting lists. We made it onto both excusions and in fact it appeared on the day of the tours that there were empty spaces on both. We just watched our onboard account and once they charged us we knew we were on the tour and the tickets arrived at our cabin before the day of the excusion. I guess we were lucky.

Just back today from Viking Homelands. I tried to upgrade from Penthouse Veranda to Penthouse Junior Suite a few months ago and they were sold out. When I checked in on the day of the cruise they notified me that there was nothing available for an upgrade. I was willing to pay the retail increase in cost but no luck. As it was, the Penthouse Veranda was more than adequate and we had a great time. When we cruised the Med in January of 2016 on the Viking Star we met a number of people who were upgraded to bigger cabins without a charge and there was a problem with our cabin so after a few days they upgrades us to Penthuse Veranda for free. You can see if there are empty cabins before you leave.

I am presently on the Viking Sea. The Pool Grill is open dailyuntil 5:00 PM and serves burgers, hot dogs. Ruebens, salads and other food. Iate here on my first day on this and my cruise on Star last year. It is very popular.

I was on an Ocean Cruise where they did show that one of the included tours was sold out but I think everyone was eventually able to join the included tour but not at the time they wanted.

One of the many things I liked about my experience was that they never filled the buses. Once the bus had was filled to between 60% and 75% the bus would depart and they would start loading the next. That was great as it kept things moving at each subsequent stop. It might have been that it was a Mediterranean Cruise in January but hopefully I will experience the same thing in my Homelands Cruise in September.

On my Viking Ocean Cruise last year none of the buses had Viking logos. They all appeared to be owned and operated by local operators. I would think that would be the case here given the number of differant countries involved.

My wife and I are on the same cruise on September 3 and havebeen noticing the same issues. The attack in Sweden, the bombing in St.Petersburg and the unexploded device in in Oslo in a short period of time arecertainly a troubling coincidence. However, as other posters have said, there are dangerous situations in our dailylives and in many other places. I live outside of Boston a few blocks fromHeartbreak Hill and will walk over and watch the Boston Marathon onMonday. Unfortunately terrorism canstrive anywhere at any time. I think that you weight your options and live yourlife and try not to take too many risks. I agree that there are certaincountries that have to be avoided but in this case we plan on going on thecruise and enjoying ourselves confident that if conditions change Viking willtake that into consideration prior to placing us in danger. Cruise lines are always monitoring developmentsand will change the ports if necessary. I hope to see you in September.

I was very happy with the wifi on my Ocean cruise last year. I could use Whats App and Skype and was able to handle all my work related emails while I was away. That is one of the reasons I am going on a Homelands Cruise in September.

When we took a Viking Cruise out of Rome in January 2016 the pickup at the airport was fantastic. Once they had a manageable number of patrons, they sent them to the ship. There were many Viking representatives at the airport and once you checked in they took charge, loaded your luggage and showed you on the bus. A big improvement over my past experience on a Viking River Cruise where I had to wait a long time at an airport before they left for the ship. One of the things that I loved about my Ocean Cruise, which was also true on all the tours that week, was that they never waited for the buses to be filled. They would board people for a short period of time and then send off the bus and start loading the next one. The departure from the ship in Barcelona to the airport was also ran very smoothly. When our assigned time came, we went to our bus, they drove us to the nearest door to our airline desk and had porters bring our luggage right to the check in gate. Very well done.

I took the survey and found all of the possible internet pricing plans to be way too high. I indicated that I thought for the price they charge, internet should be included. I do not drink but use the internet so that is one of the minor reasons my next cruise is Viking Ocean 15 day Homelands cruise. I still love Seabourn and hope to cruise with them again but find the internet pricing policy outrageous.

It worked for us in October 2016

My wife and I are booked on the Homelands Cruise for September 2, 2017 . We did a 7 day Mediterranean Getaway on the Viking Star in January of 2016 and loved it. I am not sure how you arrive at a price of $32,000 for a Junior Suite with business air as the per person Junior Suite on 2017 cruises is about $11,000.00 and they were offering $2,000 a person for business air as a special and even without that business air should be less that you have budgeted. As to whether or not it is worth it, that is a personal decision but to my wife and I, the answer is yes. I am in a Penthouse Veranda and arranged for my own business class flights so out costs is less than yours. If you decide to go, I hope that you enjoy it. I must add that I find it offensive that Viking always lists a false price and offers a 2 for 1 “deal”. That is based upon over 5 years of receiving their promotional material. They are a better company than that and should not resort to this misleading practice.

I was in Valencia on a Viking Ocean Cruise last January. I think Valencia was my favorite Port. I believe they had a bus from the City Center to the ship on the hour so you could notify your guide that you would be leaving the tour early and find out the time of the last bus and where you could pick it up. They had a similar system in each port where you could not easily walk from the port to the City Center. Enjoy your cruise.

Divsec will be following us the entire cruise as we were assigned V1 5th floor port side closer to the bow. Excited to be on our first Seabourn Cruise

Yes. Willie Aames was the Cruise Director on the January 17, 2016 cruise. He was charming and approachable.