Etexvrc
-
Posts
101 -
Joined
Content Type
Forums
Store
Blogs
Downloads
Events
Gallery
Posts posted by Etexvrc
-
-
(y)
-
hello Etexvrc
There is no Roll Call for Orion in December 2018 that I can see - I can't find anything between Nov 18 and Mar 19 (below) ... and as far as I can tell the original post relates to a December 2018 sailing of the Orion. Of course I could be mistaken. No offence intended - I just wanted to let you know in case you are on a Dec 2018 Orion cruise and your Roll Call has disappeared.
21 results
Viking Orion Roll Call - November 30, 2018
Viking Orion Roll Call - March 26, 2019
-
Unfortunately there is no Roll Call for your cruise as yet - however there are several posts by US travellers about flights in the Roll Call by those who are travelling Bali - Sydney on the Orion in November. It might be worth touching base with those travellers in that November Roll Call to see if they have any advice to offer. We board the Orion on 30 December, as you are disembarking - but our flight to NZ is very straight forward. Enjoy.
The roll call for this trip was started on Jan 16. I've responded to it because my wife and I are on it.
As to the flight(s).... After using Viking Air on a previous cruise, we will do our own travel arrangements in the future, including this Australia-New Zealand cruise. We are using our accumulated frequent flyer miles and (as I write this) have our outbound segment booked (SFO-MEL-SYO) on Qantas.
-
Actually, we are using a professional service to search & book our flights using our airline miles.
Yesterday (2-22) we booked the outgoing segment of San Francisco (SFO) to Sydney (SYD) (via a 2 hour stopover in Melbourne) for 160,000 AA miles + $65 tax. I don't have time and/or knowledge to trust myself in booking such a long and important flight so I hired a company called 'Book your award'. So far it's worked out well. Their service to watch and book using miles will run us ~$300. Well worth it in my opinion.
I've never flown Qantas ought to be interesting. This service only books for Business or First class seats only.
I may be comparing apples to oranges, but today I booked another VO cruise, Bergen to Iceland. I was discussing this topic of Viking Air vs booking ourselves with the Viking agent. I went ahead and booked Business Air through Viking and the route of Houston-Bergen then Reykjvik-Houston and the cost was $4390. We might be routed through God-knows-where, but that's he risk you take I guess.
Where do you fly out of? Dallas or Houston? I'm assuming you live in Texas by your screen name. We live around the Longview/Tyler area. We are roughly equal distance between DFW and IAH but usually fly international out of Houston (IAH) because it's easier to get to.
-
Hi Texastraveler555,
The overriding factor in our picking this one was that I really wanted to see New Zealand.
We are sailing Dec 16. From Sydney to Auckland.
We just booked our outgoing flight segment and will arrive in Sydney on the 15th.
-
I agree. The spa is wonderful!
I love a good steam and the Viking Oceans have large (read: Uncrowded) steam rooms. But overall, they have one of the best spa areas I've ever been. Don't cheat yourself and skip the ice bucket area, it's exhilarating! After a long steam I enjoyed the ice bucket over the 'snow closet'. But that's me.
Overall I'd give Viking's spa area a rating of 9 out of 10.
My wife and I have both had massages and while they were 'good', they were not 'outstanding'. But I'm particular when it comes to my massages.
Our last cruise was on this same West Indies itinerary and we loved it. Relax, enjoy yourself and splurge on a massage or facial...
-
Our one experience at the Heritage was not the best. It was not a private tour. Spent the whole time elbow to elbow concentrating more on keeping sight of our guide than enjoying the art. I would suggest a private tour.
-
I had forgotten (until your reply) but I also thought it a bit bright.
I, on occasion, would place a pillow in front of the light to dim.
Good point.
-
Having stayed on deck 7 on two different cruises (7008), the unmarked door at the end of the hallway was VERY convenient for access to the lounge. Used it several times. But, as always, be aware of the noise these heavy ship doors can make when using!
-
As to the 'TIPS' I might share from our two cruises (so far) with Viking Ocean. Both cruises we stayed in Penthouse Jr. Suite, but would assume all cabins have the same features.
1. Their is a small switch on the wall next the the headboard (I believe on both sides) that operates the 'night light' which illuminates a small light at the foot of the bathroom door. VERY convenient for those late night trips to the 'facilities'.
2. The floor in the bathroom is slightly elevated (I can assume because of the heated floors!) so be careful stepping out of the bathroom with socks on to avoid slipping.
That's all I can think of for now.
-
We personally loved the Chef's Table. My husband is a meat and potato type guy and I was a bit nervous on how he would react. I was pleasantly surprised that he enjoyed it so we made other reservations. If a hearty meal is what you want and expect don't go but don't bash the place. It just isn't your cup of tea. Personally, we didn't enjoy Manfredi's but we never said a thing to anyone up until now. We quietly didn't make another reservation. It is up to every guest to form their own opinion and not go in with a preconceived idea that someone didn't like it. We know that everyone has different wants,expectations and taste.
I guess what is truly bothering me is that the OP stated he/she toughed it out for 1 1/2 meals and to me that means he left in the middle of a meal. It shocks me that someone would do that. If anything, go grab a bite to eat at the World Cafe afterwards.
As the author of the OP, and as a response to the above comments, I should direct you back to my original post and read "caveat #1" and one of the last sentences beginning with, "Again,..." .
But if my comments appeared as "bashing" the Chef's Table, I apologize.
As to your last paragraph, I'm sorry if what I wrote "shocked" you. But rest assure my wife and I have enough dignity not to make an ass of ourselves by leaving our dinning table before the end of the meal. But if I want to end my meal 'early' and leave the restaurant, I believe I've earned that right.
-
Been with Viking Ocean twice (so far - three more booked!). I too enjoy a steam room and occasional cigar. The steam room, and spa in general, is first rate. The steam room is a very good size, plenty of room. Don't 'deprive' yourself and skip the cold water bucket afterwards. The smoking area is on level 8, starboard side (I believe). Plenty of room, but exposed to the weather elements.
-
I agree with Molymoo completely. We too cruised the summer of 2015, started in Stockholm and ended in Bergen. Norway is breathtaking and ended our trip on a high note.
-
My wife and I have been on two previous VO cruises (the first being The Viking Homelands and the second The West Indies). Our first experience on the Homelands cruise with the Chef's Table was, to us, highly disappointing. We had a total of three reservations and 'toughed it out' through 1 1/2 meals. The experience left such an impression that we declined dinning there on our followup cruise in the West Indies.
Before I continue, I should state two caveats:
1. We love most all types of cuisine, and enjoy experimenting with new & different, but the Chef's Table takes this (again, to us) to a whole new level. One which we did not enjoy. I understand 'different tastes for different folks' and would be the first to admit that, although varied in enjoying different cuisines, we do not have what many could be labeled as "sophisticated" palates. I state this to avoid any 'hate' follow-ups from my forum friends here. :D
2. We LOVE Viking Ocean cruises! Honestly, the only negative comment that immediately comes to mind would be our meals at The Chef's Table. In fact we love Viking so much that as I write this we have three cruises currently booked ! Scandinavia & The Kiel Canal, Australia & New Zealand and (just booked) South American & The Chilean Fjords.
All that to ask the question, has The Chef's Table changed in the last couple of years? Or should we go in expecting dishes such as Cardamom Foam again? Nothing against any of the 'foam' dish fans out there, but its just a bit too much of an 'experience' for us.
Have any of you had a recent experience you could possibly share with me? Should I be prepared to call room service for a post-meal meal (as we did last time)?
Again, I don't mean to offend anyone who thinks the Chef's Table is the best thing since Paul Prudhomme first threw a shrimp in a pan. Just a personal viewpoint.
Thanks in advance for any and all responses.
-
Do you recall which one Etexvrc? I belive there are two.
Sent from my mobile using the CC forums app
I believe it was something like 'Carbe'
-
On our pre-extension in San Juan this past Dec they put us in the Hilton.
-
I am not usually a 'robe person'. But the robes on the Viking Ocean ships are wonderful! I almost 'accidentally' packed one for our return home.
-
Hope you have a great trip!
We have been on the Star twice and LOVE it. I hope you do too.
A couple of bits to be aware of, the small switch on the headboard (one is smaller than the other) is for the VERY convenient night light to help you find the bathroom in the middle of the night.
The other is to be very careful coming out of the bathroom wearing socks. The bathroom floor is elevated just a few inches from the main cabin floor and stepping down might cause a slip. Not that I did, but came close to slipping more than once.
have a great time. We took the same trip you are on a couple of years ago and loved it. IMO missing the port in Poland is not a great loss. The alternate port will be an adventure, you have a wonderful attitude. We elected to go this same direction so that we would end our last few cruise days in Norway. Very glad we did.
-
I'll apologize ahead of time if this subject has been discussed previously...
My wife and I will be taking on first river cruise in ~30 days. It's 8 days starting in Amsterdam departing in Basel. We also are taking both a pre & post cruise extension of 3 days each (Edinburgh & Lucern) making our total travel days ~14.
We've taken 2 week cruises before, but always had laundry facilities onboard. As I understand it, this is not an option on river cruises. We don't want to pack 2 weeks of clothes, but I also don't see with the itinerary we have having time for laundry.
Is their a simple solution I'm not thinking of? What are our options?
If it makes any difference, our cruise is with Viking.
Thanks.
-
My wife and I completed the West Indies trip back in Dec. This was our second time on a Viking Ocean cruise (the first being the 'homelands' cruise). We have not been on a Viking (or any other) river cruise ......yet. We are booked on a river cruise through Viking leaving within 60 days!
As to your question, we LOVE the Viking Ocean ships. In our opinion it's just the right size. Can't say enough good things about these ships. How it compares to a river cruise I don't know.
We too let Viking book our flight to San Juan as it was incorporated into the 'package' this was sold to us. Normally we book our own flights, but for the price we let Viking handle it. They did an okay job of the flights. Basic economy seats, but leaving Houston they had us connecting through Charlotte! Of course if we had booked ourselves we would have gone direct. So our travel time was basically doubled.
With that said, IMO unless the cruise has the flight 'included' I would highly recommend arranging your our flight transport.
Hope that helps.
-
They could buck the trend of 'S' and call it 'Boaty McBoatface'.................oh, wait, that's taken already.
Nevermind.
-
I'm with you. I too would love to tour the 'workings' of a Viking Ocean ship. On our last cruise on the Star in the West Indies, we toured the bridge which was very interesting and highly recommended. But the backbone of running a cruise ship, the engine room, kitchen and laundry would make for a fascinating tour.
-
After an evening of rough seas in the North Sea in the Summer of 2015 on the Star, I would have named one 'Sphincter'
(It's a joke, I LOVE Viking)
-
LOVE Manfredi's. Chef's table, not so much.
But everyone's tastes are different.
Have fun, and do yourself a favor and order the calamari at Manfredi's!
Spa Massages
in Viking Ocean
Posted
I agree with Molymoo, 'Specials' were offered I believe on most port stops during the day.. We didn't take advantage of the specials, but did enjoy our 'booked-ahead' massages.