sophiesdeb

We gave cash - in addition to any additional gratuities we would have given. As chemmo says it is difficult to give gifts because of space/weight problems and avoid giving edibles because of different dietary requirements.

Totally agree with this perspective!

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My friend swears by them and has several pair. I have seriously considered buying a pair but it is hard to imagine a ballet flat that has any real cushion and support. I need both.

 

I took the plunge and ordered this morning. Will post an update when they arrive. These would be ideal for wear on a river cruise, and easy to pack.

I have eight pairs of Tieks and wear no other brand at home, except for my Saucony for exercise. However, they do not work for cobbles and uneven terrain. Believe me, I've tried! The split sole gives no cushioning on cobbles and you may find, as I did, that your arch will be bruised. I take two or three pairs to wear on the plane and the ship, but wear the Saucony or thick-soled Sketchers for walking excursions. BTW, we've done nine Viking River Cruises, one Viking Ocean and will leave in a couple of weeks for our second Viking Ocean. We also have two more Viking Rivers booked. Yes, Viking is an addiction!

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My husband and I are going on our first European vacation in August for the Viking Grand European Tour. He's a really casual kind of guy and wears beach wear most of the time (shorts, t-shirts, and flip flops). I'm trying to encourage him to stick with polo shirts for day and dress shirts for dinner. While I've seen some folks mention t-shirts, I'm not really feeling like they are very appropriate and could use some feedback from fellow travelers that t-shirts are the exception and not the rule, and that most men wear polos, shorts, and chinos during the day. Can't wait.

We've been on eight Viking cruises. T-shirts and shorts are perfectly appropriate during the day, flip flops not so much. Not because they're inappropriate but because they would be uncomfortable to walk in on the cobblestones with which most European streets are made. One of the reasons we cruise exclusively with Viking is the informal atmosphere. If YOU want him to dress up at dinner, a polo shirt and shorts or chinos would be recommended.

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Ziki, we will also be on that same cruise with extra days pre-cruise in Stockholm. It's normal to feel a bit uneasy when we hear of these horrific events, but I'm not going to let my life be dictated by fear. Then the bad guys win. Looking forward to seeing all of you onboard!

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F&H, so glad you're taking Viking Homelands...we are, as well, but not until September on the Sea. We took our first Viking Ocean cruise in December 2016, Christmas in the Mediterranean. This was our 7th Viking cruise, the others all river cruises. We found that leaving the balcony doors open turned off the a/c. In other words, the a/c will not run when the door(s) are open. We also enjoy the fresh air, but a few nights were too blustery (read, waves crashing on the balcony of Deck 5) to keep the doors open! Of course, our cruise was in December, not July. Perhaps someone who has travelled Homelands in July can tell us more about the seas during that time.

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If we stay home, the bad guys win.

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I phoned Viking customer service today to verify this change. I was told that the change was the result of a survey of past guests. However, since our. booking was made under different terms and conditions, we will be following the previously posted dress code and a note was added to our booking to verify that we will not be turned away because of the no-jeans rule.

I voiced my displeasure with the change and will be reiterating that opinion in an email to their executive staff. One of the essential reasons we cruise exclusively on Viking (rivers and ocean) is because of the relaxed atmosphere. We travel for the destinations; the onboard ship amenities, while nice, are secondary. I would be very unhappy if Viking turned into an Oceania or NCL or one of the other cruise lines that caters to those who only remain onboard while in port.

How do the rest of you feel about this issue?