OneSixtyToOne

Some people have mentioned that their TA may carry the balance for them. I have no idea how common this is. Other than that, the answer is no. Viking has no incentive to defer payments since they sail near full capacity. If you have an existing booking and you book and pay for another cruise they will extend payment on the existing cruise to 6 months out.

It wasn’t high pressure and we found it entertaining. The stores are literally across the street from the port so you walk back to the ship. You are not held captive and can leave if you like. We found it very informative. They demonstrate how silk is made, how the rugs are hand knotted, and the rug throwing is very entertaining. The stores are state subsidized so they are not working on commission. You are not obligated to buy anything but the rugs are high quality and gorgeous. If nothing else, attending will result in you knowing a whole lot about rugs, how they are made, and how to identify genuine hand knotted merchandise. That alone might come in handy one day. IMG_9868.mov

It depends. They are repositioning cruises. They tend to be under booked but are featured in promotions which may increase the occupancy. If you have a specific one in mind you can go to the website and start a dummy booking to see what cabins are available.

I’ll just add that the expedition ships’ food is by far the best I’ve had on any Viking ship. The World Cafe was so great we cancelled our restaurant reservations. Every night there is a seafood section, sushi bar, grill with aged steak meat case and lobster, bakery, fresh pasta, carving station, and tremendous deserts. Most everyone eats there so restaurant reservations should not be an issue.

Here is a blog posting about cabins to avoid http://viking-cruises-cabin-guide.blogspot.com/p/cabins-to-avioid.html?m=1

They shop at the local market. I’m sure they have a menu in mind and are familiar with what’s available but can alter it if they see something unique. On a river cruise I once asked the chef about all the white asparagus signs we saw all around the markets and he told me that it was available only at a certain time of year and it was a big deal in some towns. The next night it was announced that they had a special appetizer for everyone, white asparagus. Here is a video of the Kitchen Table and shopping for ingredients. Barcelona Market

We are doing the Bergen to Oslo train post-extension. Does anyone have information as to what time we disembark, when it departs Bergen and what time it arrives in Oslo?

This is quite different from the diagram:

We’re really looking forward to this cruise. BTW we still have Danish Krones leftover from our 2019 Copenhagen extension. Bridget is planning a shopping spree in the Faroe Islands.

Here is mine

Correct. The Kitchen Table is booked in advanced like any other excursion. We have one now in MVJ for our August cruise.

Snail mail today. Special Future Guest Promotion is back. Promo FS624 Valid until 6/30 This promo is for anyone with a EXISTING booking for a cruise booked prior to 6/1. Not valid for the World Cruise. Up to $1000 discount Up to $400 per couple past guest discount $25 deposit Cannot be booked online.

We are booked on a Tokyo - Hong Kong cruise next year. I’m interested to know what excursions you took in Japan and how you rate them. Thanks In advance.

On our cruise MVJ lists the time in the morning (9:45-11:45) but that is just the market portion. Could be your shopping trip is in the afternoon. MVJ description: Join Our Executive Chef for a Unique, Market-to-Table Experience Immerse yourself in local culture and cuisine as our Executive Chef leads you on an interactive culinary adventure. In the morning, you will travel by mini-coach to the local market to handpick ingredients under the guidance of our Chef. Later this evening, you will dine on regional dishes prepared by our experienced culinary team, using produce from the market. As you and your fellow guests enjoy this delicious creation at The Kitchen Table, you will also observe the art of plating with each dish. From fresh market fare to cooking techniques and elegant presentation, experience firsthand how your ship’s world-class culinary staff brings distinct, local flavors from the market to your taste buds. It is an unforgettable, one-of-a-kind opportunity to shop, interact and dine with the masters.

Yes. It’s an all day experience with the chef; shopping, cooking, eating. It also fills up rapidly.

New promo just appeared for the Rhine JS6 https://www.viking.com/reservations/start?voyageType=river&cruiseId=UmhpbmUgR2V0YXdheQ%3d%3d&sc=vrc&referralPage=Rhine+Getaway_overview&country=US&originCountry=US&office=US&currency=USD&voyageName=UmhpbmUgR2V0YXdheQ%3d%3d&cid=EML|AJO|999|Email - 240603_vrc_js6&promoCode=JS6&adobe_mc=TS%3D1717433163|MCMID%3D12730952525475533544452359642463785195|MCORGID%3D8FC267C25245B36B0A490D4C%40AdobeOrg&_gl=1*n66hgn*_ga*NTI0NTA5NTUxLjE3MTc0MzMxNTg.*_ga_24KNYDH1S6*MTcxNzQzMzE1OC4xLjAuMTcxNzQzMzE1OC42MC4wLjA.

@CCWineLover is currently on a cruise and reported in another thread that the Deck 5 diagrams are slightly inaccurate. The doors to the rooms at the fore elevators do not open into the waiting area. The doors actually open into the hallway and the walls of the cabin are facing the waiting area. This seems to be the only deck where this occurs. The cabins become offset slightly as the decks go higher.

Barcelona is ideal for exploring on your own or taking an independent tour. The port is close to the start of La Ramblas where everyone should walk the length of once in their lifetime. In case you missed it, here is my review of the our Mediterranean Odyssey cruise from last year (Venice to Barcelona) https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2927474-almost-live-viking-sky-mediterranean-odyssey-april-2023/

We took the Roman homes upgraded tour last year and we highly recommend it. The two tours are basically the same except you are granted access to the homes. They are pretty remarkable and are the highlight of the excursion. It’s well worth the extra cost. Admission is only for people who have paid to see them. That are some of the best preserved homes in the ancient world. You can find my review and pictures in this thread starting at post 43… https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2906353-almost-live-viking-sky-journey-to-antiquities-jan-2023/?do=findComment&comment=64669443

We tipped in Euros

Good to hear. We have Vigur Island booked on our upcoming trip in August. We were also able to book Northern Iceland’s Natural Treasures. It did fill up fast. As for Reykjavik, we’re on the pre-extension and have to Golden Circle booked independently on our free day. When on the ship we’re doing the full day trip to the southern coast. I will do a “Live From” post for the cruise (Iceland’s Majestic Landscapes) so stay tuned for more information.

The Alhambra is especially tricky since they require your name printed on the ticket and you must have your passport with you because they do random checks at security checkpoints to make sure they match. Because of this, even if passengers cancel at the last minute, their place cannot be resold. There is no waiting list onboard for this excursion. We managed to book the excursion even though we were in a DV. It sold out within minutes.

On some itineraries Viking offers “Privileged Access” excursions. These offer perks like early access, behind the scenes tours, after hours access, special dinners at the venue, etc. By their nature, they are in high demand and have very limited space. These are the types of excursions that may require additional effort on your part if you really, really want to do something special. Paying immediately after booking increases your odds of getting exactly what you want. Make a plan and don’t waste time when booking. ACH is fast and easy. Other excursions may be limited in space by the venue. For example, The Alhambra only allows one bus load of pax from each cruise line each day. Viking may be able to add additional resources for other excursions so if something sells out, keep checking back. More tours may be added or pax may cancel. This happened recently on our next cruise and we were able to book a sold out excursion one week later. Included excursions are always available which is why you should book those last. If there is a particular time you desire then factor that into your priorities. Remember the included excursions must also be reserved. Viking needs this information in advance to allocate adequate resources to accommodate everyone. On our last visit to Barcelona we booked the Privileged Access tour of Gaudi’s Houses of Modernism. We arrived before opening at Casa Vincens and had a private reception with coffee and a snack on the terrace. We entered the house before the general public and that offered a unique opportunity to take photos without crowds. This was our number one choice for excursions and I booked and paid immediately at excursion opening time. It sold out within 30 minutes.

What you have read might not be your experience. We’ve always been able to book everything we wanted. You just need to be organized about it and book as soon as your window opens. Available is highly dependent a number of factors such as itinerary, season, and ship occupancy.

I suggest you read the following post about booking excursions. It will address many of your concerns as well as give you tips on efficiently booking excursions.