TruJeffie

I had similar questions today in my thread. Love that I can now follow both for insight. Happy sailing everyone. I am traveling with my sister and Mom. 

I swear I read they had two options for an extra bed in the CC suites but of course I cant find it now on the Azamara website. Something about it pulling down from the ceiling. Maybe I am going nuts. Very much looking forward to my first Azamara cruise. Only been on a couple of cruises and they were both Viking. The Azamara boards seem like a friendly bunch.

Jeffrey

I hope those bathtubs have an overhead shower? Never understood why anyone would want to take a bath on a cruise ship soaking in dirty water but to each his own. I will definitely work with the T. A. about Micato tours but still love the simplicity of doing everything including airfare through the cruise company.

The website about the Club Continent suites also mentions something about a bunkbed pulling down from the ceiling. Anyone know about that? 

Thanks everyone for your insights

theHello,

I am considering booking my first Azamara cruise (South African trip with a pre-trip including Safari and Victoria Falls provided by Micato Tours). My concern is that my mother wants to come along and that would make for 3 people. I hate the idea of booking a room for only one person due to the expense and we can't find a 4th person to join. I have a few questions:

1. In the Club Continent suites can 3 adults book the room? 

2. Has anyone seen pictures of the extra bed/bunk they have in this room?

3. Any idea how the pre-trip would work for 3 people?

If anyone has any insight or suggestions it would be much appreciated. I want to go to our travel agent already knowing the answers to my concerns. I am also concerned about going nuts with 3 people in a single suite.

Thanks,

Jeffrey

My opinion,

The Silver Spirits package is a steal price wise. Grey Goose Martini's and lots of top shelf spirits are included. If you only occasionally drink spirits its not worth it. I found the ability to get a margarita made with Patron and a shot of Grand Marnier without worrying about paying for it worth it. Plus after 3 visits to the Chefs Table with the included upgrade its a bargain. Viking really does not gouge on the package or bar prices if you don't have the package. Its just nice to not have to worry about prices once on board. 

This is a very sad thread that makes me realize tat even Viking atracts the kind of guests I have spent my life trying to get away from.  

Hi Ragnar,

I soo agree with you about buffets. Last time on a Viking cruise I had a plate with sushi and lamb on it. Right then I decided buffets are not for me. I much prefer the cohesiveness of a well planned plate in The Restaurant but I understand while others may prefer a buffet. To each his own!!

Jeffrey

I never had any buffering or freezing for the on demand movies on the TV. However, if you are trying to stream video via WIFI that is another issue and yes it will buffer and freeze

There will probably be more consolidation and possibly some lines closing down due to too much competition. Only so much they can grow the annual number of cruises. I strongly hope Viking remains independent and finically sound. 

Thank you MJAdventures for posting that list of P.V. sliders. I was wondering if our 2 rooms would have sliders or double windows. Looks like both of our rooms (5015, 5017) on floor five are sliders. I thought the sliders would be the same on each floor but that is not the case. I assumed the ribs on the side of the ship would be in the same place for every floor but from you list floor 4 and 5 are different for the rooms above and below each other.

Thanks again,

Jeffrey

Hi everyone,

Going on on a cruise next month on the Jupiter with my family and my sister wants to know if the gym has a rowing machine?  She does rowing competitively and wants to stay up with practice.

Thanks,,

Jeffrey

If you search in this forum you can find many posts about this policy. It is pretty standard policy for cruise lines to either include gratuities in your fare or to automatically add them to your account. Please remember that a tip pool is shared by more than just the people that are customer facing. Dishwashers, cleaning staff etc. 

There is a sample bar menu with prices on Myvikingjourney.com. Click the link to buy the package and you will see a link to the sample bar menu. 

My my question is simple. Does a grey goose martini straight up cost more than $15.00?  Anyone know if SS covers that?

9 minutes ago, molymoo said:

We have been on the Star and the Sky for four ocean cruises and if memory serves they have had lobster on the menu in the MDR on the first night of sailing on at least two of the cruises.  We were on the Mediterranean Odyssey a few weeks ago and the first night sailing was NYE so that may have been a factor, but I think the first night sailing is sort of a "welcome" dinner hence the "fancy" fare.

When you say the first night of sailing do you mean embarkation day or the next day when the ship leaves port and is out on the open ocean? I am also trying to figure out when lobster night will be before booking specialty restaurants. 

Caviargal, that is probably just the sample menus and not the only meals offered. My 15 day cruise in late April has two sample menus posted for the Chefs Table and they are the two Asian ones. Its not what is on offer just a sample and it does not yet let me know what is being served per night. It will change every 2 to 3 days. However, I suspect you will not be happy with anything they offer or do at this point and confused by the whole process. 

Why would they not announce a special dinner at the Pool Bar? Seems a shame to miss out on the unique offerings

I am also curious how many people tip for room service specifically on Viking. There is a $15.00 per person per day auto tip added to your account. The last time I cruised on Viking we did not tip for food service such as breakfast being delivered to the room but we did tip when ordering drinks from the bar to be delivered to the room since this seemed to me as going out of their way in providing a service not listed on the room service menu.

So lets hear from posters on past Viking only ocean cruises. Did you tip for room service?

Happy Sailing!!

Yeah I am sure all the Australians, English, Canadian and others such as non-baseball fans are very disappointed...Viking must be nuts Another reason I love Viking is that you can get away from professional sports culture and enjoy more intellectual pursuits.

Do what I plan to do.  Auto gratuities run around 15 bucks per person per day.  It adds up quickly but your T.A. Issues OBC gift can be used to pay for that...

Depends on the type of OBC I believe. If it shows up on your myvikingjournal.com webpage account you can use it to pay for excursions. If it is treated like an onboard gift then you will not be able to use that money until after boarding. Remember both types of OBC can be used for your gratuities bill and drinks onboard. 

Somebody might be able to explain it better than I just did.

Jeffrey

I just looked at the itinerary. What a great introduction to cruising.

 

You will be in Spain, just after Easter. There are various ferias in Spain in the spring. The one in Sevilla is the big one but most cities and towns have them, so check the calendars for the various ports to see if you will be there during feria. You will either want to avoid the crowds like the plague or else you will be yelling, "Where's the fair grounds."

 

From Malaga, either take the Viking trip to Granada or else look into hiring a guide to take you to the Alhambra. If you are working with a guide, tell him that you want to see both the Generalife and Alhmabra palaces so that they can get the right timing on the ticket. Then arrange for lunch at one of the restaurants near Mirador San Nicolas that has a view of the Alhambra from the other side of the valley. Finally, if you have time before you have to head back to the ship, check out La Capilla Real and the place in the city for souvenir shopping the Alcaiceria which is just across the alley from the chapel.

 

Paris is a four hour train ride each way from Le Havre.

Thanks Peregrina

I wish your where on the trip so we could pick your brain.

Doing this cruise (Along Europe's Western Coast) next year. I am taking my mother and sister and neither of them have been on a cruise before. My mother has never been to Europe. I have my fingers crossed we enjoy calm seas because our traveling party is already a neurotic bunch without rough seas.

It will be an interesting experience.;p

Jeffrey

We've arrived at the ship both ways now, by cab and with Viking transfers.

 

Taking a cab in Barcelona is easy. We have done it three times now, once from the airport and twice to the airport. It is a flat fee to the ship; current rates can be found on line but I believe that it cost us 39€ plus a 1-2€ charge for each suitcase (which is SOP for cabs in Spain). So, 45€ for both of us. We rolled off the plane and into a cab. I don't remember there being much of a line and the were plenty of cabs waiting for passengers.

 

One advantage to taking a cab was that the security line at the pier was short (and since we didn't have much luggage, it was easy to deal with). When we arrived by bus, the line was out the door waiting to go through the on or two screening lanes that were open. But, when we arrived by bus, we didn't have to worry about our luggage because Viking took it from us at the airport and delivered it to our cabins.

Do you by chance remember what you paid for the Viking transfer? Thanks for the information

Wow,

Viking is the best. I got a call from them within an hour after seeing this post with the correct information. They do still sell transfers and my agent was misinformed.

Thanks for the cab information. I may consider that option. Anyone buy a Viking Transfer? I wonder what they cost. I forgot to ask

Jeffrey

Hi Everyone,

We have booked Viking Air Plus for our cruise next year but are using it to fly into Venice the week before our cruise out of Barcelona. Does Viking still sell airport transfers? Our travel agent is saying they will not do that anymore. We are flying on our own with Vueling into Barcelona airport the day of embarkation and want to get picked up by Viking and transferred to the ship.

Any experience buying Viking transfers? I emailed Viking and am waiting to hear back from them.

Jeffrey