TiiiSailor

We, two couples, were on the same cruise. I agree with your description of those stouts. But all of us had great, friendly service from the guest services desk personnel. Every time they had to research a question we received a call to our rooms with an answer that day or the next morning. 

1 hour ago, Cotswold Eagle said:

Some banks do have a policy of doing small exchanges for non-customers, even though they don't have to. Do you remember which one you used? I believe Virgin Money may do it, and the Halifax - both of which have branches in Southampton that the OP could try. But there is no guarantee, I'm afraid. 

I don’t remember the name of the bank. I had just tried to make a purchase in a store with a combination of old and new money, but ended up using a credit card. Walked into a bank I was passing to use the ATM and thought I’d ask if they’d change the old for new. 

I guess I was lucky.  I was staying in a small northern suburb of London three weeks ago.  I went into a local bank and asked what I needed to do to exchange the old paper money for new, spendable money.  He told me what is discussed above, then asked me how much I had?  It was 60 pounds.  He looked at the clerk next to him and said, "I don't see anything." and gave me new plastic money.  Didn't realize how lucky I was to have that happen.  

We just finished a two-week cruise on Venus.  Saw a line to The Restaurant twice.  Once when an event in The Living Room let out at 5:50 and we all walked to dinner at the same time.  The second time there was a line at 5:55 on a port day.  Both times the line moved very quickly, allowing for some short conversations with those around us in line.  Once in The Restaurant it looked like the only delay was sitting each group in a different area of the restaurant to spread out the workload for the servers.  

When we ate in The Restaurant there were always empty tables, so no one in line was waiting for an empty table, unless they wanted a specific table.  That appeared to be the same at the Chef's Table and Manfredies each time we were there, twice at 6 PM and once at 8 PM.  Although I heard from several people onboard and in post cruise reviews that they couldn't get a table before 8 PM.  Guess some guests forgot to go or didn't cancel their reservations.

Biggest line I saw where people were actually held up due to availability of service, was at the gelato station in the World Cafe.

My wife just took out one hearing aid, put it in the case and had the QV over both ears.  It worked great.  We tried to get a bluetooth transmitter to connect to the hearing aids, but according to the manufacturer, she'd need one they sell at ten times the price of the one we'd purchased online.  

5 minutes ago, odblnt said:

Neither of which is always common when you're traveling. 

We've just completed our first Viking cruise and found a lot of both of these on and off the cruise.  It was a nice change from some people on previous cruise lines we've sailed on. 

1 hour ago, deec said:

Very Irritating to be on a bus waiting for people who never SHOW only to learn later that they just left the tour!!!

We left one tour at the 3/4 point and notified the tour guide and three other couples before we departed.  It was a walking tour, so it wouldn't have had the same effect as a bus driving away shorthanded.

Just common sense and courtesy.

On 6/14/2023 at 12:36 PM, Clay Clayton said:

Good to hear that the app again has all the menus for the entire cruise. Some had said that wasn’t the case post Covid. 

Clay,

Have you heard of the pistachio muffins resurrecting again on any ships?

Thanks for the information.

We're going on the Into the Midnight Sun cruise next month.  I've read that Viking provides shuttle bus service into the center of town in some ports.  I haven't seen any listing of ports that this service is provided.  Hoping someone has been on Viking cruises to these ports and can add some information.

We'll be in the following ports:

1. Greenwich (London)

2. Newhaven Harbour (Edinburgh)

3. Kirkwell (Orkney Islands)

4. Lerwick (Shetland Islnads)

5. Honningsvag, Norway

6. Tromso, Norway

7. Leknes (Lofoten), Norway

8. Geiranger, Norway

9. Bergen, Norway

Would greatly appreciate information on which of these ports have the shuttle busses.

Thank you,

Tim

7 hours ago, basenji56 said:

Get ready for the Taylor Swift songbook. 

There will be a lot of empty seats if that happens. 

5 minutes ago, Cotswold Eagle said:

If you are referring to the Enderby Wharf plan, it twice received planning permission, in 2011 and 2015. The local objections were primarily on environmental grounds, as the plan was for housing right by the cruise terminal and the ships were expected to provide their own power. 

The plan was never “voted down” as such, although the local council is now against it. The new owner of the site is applying to vary the permission to build low-cost rental housing instead. 

I fell into the trap of reading it on the Internet so it must be true. Sorry about that. 

The direct access pier shown in some photos of the Greenwich pier was a proposal a few years ago.  This idea was voted down after the city decided they didn't want the extra cruise foot traffic the pier would generate.

Just saw a posting by Viking that they've taken delivery of Viking Saturn.

On 4/15/2023 at 4:36 PM, TayanaLorna said:

Suggestion for booking specialty dining - especially Manfredi's which is most popular.  We were able to easily reserve dining by reserving a table and inviting others - meaning friends we were traveling with.  Prior to our reservation window, i got the booking numbers for our friends.  I went on line for dining at our designated day and clicked on invite others or some such button - its clear where.  Then i added the numbers of our friends.  The problem with advance reservations for 2 people is 2 tops are limited.  However it is really easy to reserve for 4 or 6.  We got the dates and times we wanted.  Many people see this option but don't realize they need all the booking numbers to use it.  It doesn't work with names only.

Tayana,

We used the "Invite Others" button today.  It wasn't showing up when the bookings opened, but did about 11 AM.  Thanks for the info.

Tim

Wow.  Wonder if this company will be in business much longer.  This is no way to treat customers. In today's world of the Internet, everyone will know the company is not appreciative of it's source of income before the company president has a hint there is a problem.  

20 minutes ago, donaldsc said:

 

That is where I have a problem.  The issues (allergies or a legitimate very real fear) that people do have of dogs are as serious as the people w disabilities.  The problem is that there is not an obvious solution to the problem.

 

DON

Don,

Do you realize that if a pet, regardless of classification, is allowed onboard a plane and you complain about it's presence due to an allergy or fear, you're the one removed from the plane due to being a medical risk onboard.

Is it salt or fresh water?

Researching into a cruise to Antartica for a couple years from now.  A term came up in this thread, "drive-by" sailings.  Are these cruises that don't offer any opportunities for passengers to go ashore?

19 hours ago, Busy Mum said:

Thank you TiiiSailor. I have notified the cruises are now listed for June 2025 & we are very interested.
 

The only hesitancy is that the deposit of $1,000 per person (which is fine price wise) is completely non refundable & we are not allowed to move the deposit to another cruise, for any reason. This was the case when I spoke with a Viking Rep here in Australia around 6 months ago. Now, not that we would necessarily would want to do this, but given the cruise isn’t until 2025, things do come up. I was strongly advised to get travel insurance, which we always do, but it’s still a bit of a concern to me. Do you know if these cruises sell out quickly? We have not sailed with Viking but very much like the look of their ships & what they offer. Also, are the ‘included’ tours worthwhile or do you find booking their paid tours better? Thanks for any advice you can offer. 
 

Vicki. 🙂

The cruise we're taking this summer, Into the Midnight Sun, still has cabins available.  Not a lot, but some.  As far as the deposit, the Viking website currently shows a deposit of $25 for 2023, 2024, and 2025.  Maybe this lower deposit wasn't in effect when you talked to the local Viking Rep 6 months ago. 

I usually have done plenty of research online before I talk to a cruise line representative or travel agent.  The few times they've told me something that doesn't agree with what I found online I'll question them.  Sometimes I've found myself in error and other times they've made a mistake. Good luck in your search.

Tim

On 1/6/2023 at 6:11 PM, Busy Mum said:

Hi all, hubby & I are particularly interested in the Norwegian Fjords for 2025 so I’m also eagerly waiting & watching Vikings website for  their itineraries. I like to be super organised so I find this waiting game ‘hard going’!! 😂😂 Vicki. 🙂

I've seen 2025 posting for the "Into the Midnight Sun" cruise, which spends a lot of time in the Norwegian Fjords.

We're new to Viking but have been looking at the cruises for years.  I don't remember reading all these "issues" regarding Viking Air and Air Plus until the last year.  Did I miss something in the past and it was the same then, or is this a new issue?

26 minutes ago, Mrs Miggins said:

Sadly have never been to the Tattoo but watched it earlier this week on TV.

Excellent and visually spectacular 

seating capacity now 8,600 per night.

That seating is a lot better.  

On 6/29/2022 at 8:22 AM, Let Me Travel! said:

I’m sad because we will be in Edinburgh in August, during the Tattoo…leaving the port at 5:00PM…boohoo…would have loved to stay late in the evening for the Tattoo…has anyone ever been? I hear it is spectacular!

I was able to attend the Tattoo in 1971 while stationed in Scotland.  We had to get our tickets a long time in advance.  As I remember, the seating wouldn't have been able to accommodate the small number of people, 930, onboard a Viking Ocean ship, and the hordes of regulars that attend.  I'd estimate the capacity was 2,000.

It was a spectacular show and a lot of bagpipe music.  We had tickets for the 1972 event, but I was transferred back home, a year early, for a long-term school.

The Tattoo isn't the only event occurring during that period.  We were in Edinburgh for four nights to see a lot of other shows.  There were concerts, Shakespearean plays (got to see one in the round), and art shows.

Sent in my passport renewal application, using routine service, to the Philadelphia office, on 26 July 2022. New one arrived today. I was surprised getting the new one in 20 days.