OneSixtyToOne

This is a matter of personal preference. Some people want to control the whole process others want an integrated trip with Viking taking care of any issues. We typically use Viking Air because we have received free air on some occasions and on others we don’t want to worry about transfers or delays. We also live close to a major airport. On our last cruise to Venice, there was an Italian air controllers strike the day of embarkation. Although we were not affected (we always do an extension to arrive early. BTW NEVER fly in the day of the cruise) Viking handled the situation for those who had Viking Air. On another cruise, we were delayed by weather and arrived very late in Athens. Viking was waiting for us and arranged a private car service for just the two of us. My point is you must also factor in the cost of ground transportation with the air cost. As far as air plus is concerned, don’t purchase it until you are sure you need it. Viking updated their online air interface on MVJ a few years ago and you have more control over your flights. You can search for different ones and even change airports. If you fail to find anything of your liking then you can purchase it. Also be aware that any airline information that you may see online is just a placeholder. Airlines change this all the time and it isn’t locked in until very close to the date of departure. For our return flight from Barcelona last year, a few days before our cruise, Lufthansa dropped our return flight due to an aircraft availability issue. Viking handled all of it for us. One other thing, if you purchase the Viking extensions, ground transportation is included, even if you book your own air. If you are DIY, you can also purchase ground transportation if you arrive and/or depart on the same day as the ship. If you plan on a cruise that starts in Venice, don’t underestimate the value of Viking handling the ground transportation. You will not dock in Venice and transportation to the ship can be costly. Venice is best explored by staying in the city for a couple of nights. IMO you don’t want to do Venice without staying there.

Much of what “value” Viking offers is totally subjective. What’s the value of no children, no casinos, and the quality of the lectures? I’d pay a high premium for a “no children” airplane flight. I doubt you will find your answer in a spreadsheet. My suggestion is if Viking offers you an itinerary of your liking, try it and see if you like their product.

No pocket doors in "steerage"

Taking the boat down the Thames to Greenwich is both scenic and easy. Although I have not taken the BIE, when we were in London last summer sightseeing, it literally left us off a few feet where the large red Viking banners were flying and the check-in tables were located. Greenwich is a tender port, so you are shuttled from the dock to the ship. Notice the red Viking banners near the Cutty Sark: Tower Bridge: This is a tidal river and you can see the dramatic difference from high to low tide: Old Royal Naval College: Your ship:

Anything will be acceptable. Our stewards were leaving and heading to Asia after our cruise so trying to match the currency to the destination is overthinking it. On our South American cruise we tipped with extra Euros from a previous trip. We asked our steward if it was OK and he said it didn’t matter. The crews often leave for somewhere else and they are happy to accept anything.

Reminds me of the episode of Silicon Valley when the tech billionaire built his manufacturing plant on a platform on the international date line because he wanted to celebrate two New Year's Eves.

If you were looking at the bar menu sample on MVJ, they are years out of date.

Manfredi’s lasagna: “Hold my beer” Worst excuse for lasagna I have ever tried to eat.

The planetarium doesn't have a telescope. It's an IMAX style dome screen and a projector.

Did any of the codes work for you?

As stated above you have two public transit options. The tube to the DLR to the Cutty Sark station or take the boat to Greenwich. Both leave you right where the ship docks. The cruise down the Thames is definitely worth the trip. OT but if you are staying near Lambeth North, be sure to visit the main Imperial War Museum. It’s one of the best museums I’ve ever visited.

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Interesting that this cruise is cancelled but the new promo of the 2025 World Cruise is still showing a Red Sea transit.

Given the difference in what people have reported, I wonder if there is financial incentive (bonus) for managers to cut costs and each have implemented it slightly differently.

BTW if you’re looking for a place to eat lunch while in San Marcos plaza, walk under the astronomical clock and take a right. That area is the restaurant row of the district.

IMO unless you’re drinking liquor, SSP isn’t worth the cost. The package doesn’t off anything exclusive. All the wines are available to everyone, it’s just a different way of paying and offers discounts on full bottles.

We did the Kiel passage in 2019 and thoroughly enjoyed it. The “Trade Routes” cruise is identical except it includes Bergen instead of Kiel and Copenhagen. I believe it is no longer offered because it was a repositioning cruise that eventually went between Copenhagen and St. Petersburg for the summer. That obviously is no longer an option. The new “Homelands” cruise is based out of Bergen instead of Copenhagen. Here are some photos of the Kiel transit. Notice the people on land waving Norwegian flags. We were also on the Viking Copenhagen extension. Our room overlooked Tivoli Gardens:

The Octantis cake buffet was tremendous

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We found Europe to be highly cashless, more so than the U.S. When we were on the Mediterranean Odyssey last year, we withdrew 500€ from an ATM and had trouble using it all. Many places took no cash. Almost all our cash transactions were tips. Our tipping is typically 2-5€ for the bus driver and 10-20€ for the tour guide, depending on the quality of the tour. At the end of our cruise, we also tip generously our cabin stewards and any other staff that have given exceptional service. They usually benefit from any excess cash.

On the Expedition ships they have a station that always has gluten free pasta and pizza. All fresh made daily.

When we toured a palace in Germany, they had secret doors and passageways behind the walls for the servant to move about and tend to the ornate stoves that heat the rooms. It’s where the expression “the walls have ears” originated.

Florence is one of those places where busses are not allowed in the old town and parking is very limited. The driver will attempt to drop you as close as possible to the rendezvous spot as parking is at a premium. Parking for buses is on a first come first serve basis so it’s not something that can be guaranteed. We had a five minute walk on arrival but a 15 minute walk at departure. That should have been clearly communicated to you.

One that might work is MT24. I tried looking at France’s Finest but it can no longer be booked online, so I couldn’t try it. You have to call for a quote. This might be because of the Paris Olympics. It’s caused Viking to modify some of their itineraries.