Woofbite

10 hours ago, Crew News said:

That is what my PCC told me, too.

10 hours ago, oaktreerb said:

If you are in a Neptune you have Club Orange benefits (except for the onboard event).

 

It is my understanding that there is  a limited number of Club Orange memberships available.

Can't figure out why they restrict Neptune from the attending the CO onboard event.  Seems like a very minor thing to bother limiting.

Even when they sometimes match price available on carrier, their fares being flexible are worth a fortune in this time of multiple cruise cancellations.  Carrier fares are rarely refundable now when a cruise cancels and I've got so much future airline credit it will be hard to use it up before some of it expires.  I've really learned to hate airlines.

My friend called Viking and got us all linked to the same time

On 7/20/2021 at 10:39 AM, Twitchly said:

Re: books — a Kindle is a fabulous travel companion. I never leave home without it.

After you read your books may we assume you then put it in the leave and take space?🙂

How do you change/cancel online dining reservations for Viking Ocean cruise?  I can't find any way to cancel one and rebook a different time/restaurant.

Also, is there any way to connect and book another party at the same time and table?
 

11 minutes ago, deec said:

I love WALKING tours!!!

As did many of us until decrepitude arrived.  (Falling off a roof didn't help).

Do you think all those pictures are real?  Some of them look computer generated to me.

32 minutes ago, rudychance said:

Yes, Viking walking tours are awesome for the majority of cruisers.   If  you're not blessed with good feet, and can't keep up - the slower pace or a panoramic tour works well.  

Booked those.  There just aren't many offered.  Searching for other operators or will hire taxis.

Nice of Viking to offer free excursions in ports but do they all have to be walking tours?  Some of us are past the point where we can hike a couple of miles a day or stand for an hour or so, (usually in the hot sun), listening to a tour guide.  They are far from the only one.  Most companies seem to only focus on walks and very few of those offer anywhere for someone to sit and watch the passing scene while waiting for groups to return from touring another palace, cathedral, castle, medieval town etc.   There's more to travel than buildings and narrow streets.

Just notified that our October 2, 2021 Budapest to Bucharest riverboat cruise has been cancelled. 

That's cruise number five gone over the last year.

The airline cancels are the bigger mess since they only refund in future credit and it has to be used

by middle/end of 2022. 

I guess we just have to fly around for the "enjoyment" of it to use them all up. 

On 7/19/2021 at 5:36 PM, Florida_gal_50 said:

They must be selling them or it wouldn’t be n the menu.  I’m not a big beef eater but I’m sure there are some that aren’t satisfied with the 2 oz meat portion on hal.  Not everyone sailing with them is a senior.

Our waiter on our last cruise, (whenever that was - seems like years ago), said he had served one of the Tomahawks to a Granddad who took his family on a birthday cruise.  One steak served  eight people and evidently the ship made quite an impressive presentation of it.

So, kill me for not being a great typist. 

I don't object to big deposit on cruises.  I do object to big deposits for nothing

more than a spot on a waitlist that may never clear.

As to one cruise or back to backs, the trip was listed as a single cruise until it

came time to pay the deposit when it suddenly became two and the waitlist

deposit doubled.

This was to be our first Oceania, (happy now?), cruise.  We will look for another company.

Just tried to book an $11,000 Oceanic cruise through TA for August 2022.  Cruise was fully booked but was offered waitlist.  Fine - except when TA called to list, Oceanic said deposit of $1,500 was required.  That seemed alwfully high for a simple waitlist but ldokay we decided to accept. 

TA called back to confirm and was told Oops!,  cruise is sold as one cruise but is actually back to back cruises so waitlist deposit would be $3,000. 

Neither TA nor I could believe that amount so he called to get a different agent.  Apparently the $3,000 is correct.  No deal.

Sounds like a company desperate for cash to me.

No way I would loan Oceanic $3,000 for over a year for nothing more than a position on a waitlist.

On 7/14/2021 at 11:47 AM, T8NCruise said:

I've only ever seen one person use the zip log bag idea to scoop up goodies in the PG.  Its not a good look and people were commenting on it when they left.  

What?  Who even notices what other people are doing and who cares.  Our waiter asked if we would like him to pack the chocolates and we accepted but I sure wouldn't hesitate to take them if he hadn't.  As far as I know that is the only place on the ship to ge them.

You might also consider one of the packages in the gifts and indulgences sections of the HAL website for your cabin.  They have several that might apply including one specific for birthdays that consists of flowers and balloons. 

I keep expecting every year cruise lines to begin charging everything a la carte with maybe a "special of the day" prix fixe.  They seem to be slowly implementing it through specialty restaurants and creeping extra fees everywhere else.

On 5/15/2021 at 10:25 AM, TravelinGert said:

Meaning they just put a swab up your nose.  Took about 3 seconds.

On 5/15/2021 at 10:25 AM, TravelinGert said:

The covid test was really, really easy. First they sent a link via email where you set up a sign in and filled out a form for a covid test.

 

 

I was traveling with a couple but the hostess always asked if we wanted to share or stay separate.

There are a few tables for two so I imagine you can choose whichever option you prefer.

Woof

I tried to submit a review but couldn't get Cruise Critic's date area to work so I'll post it here.  Others

have different interests and opinions and these are simply mine and worth exactly what you paid for them!🙂

Friends and I did the April 4, nine-day Southern Sampler round trip New Orleans Mississippi river cruise on the American Queen Countess' second trip.  She had sailed down from Memphis the week before.

The extra night at Hilton New Orleans Riverside was very convenient and nice but service was very limited and the hotel is becoming dated and needs refurbished. No turndown or daily maid service.  Drago's restaurant had been open a week and offered a very limited menu for dinner.  Breakfast offered by American Queen in a private room the next morning was a typical American scrambled egg affair.

Covid testing the night before sailing went smoothly and results were posted by email promptly the next morning.  Bus boarding to the boat was organized and went smoothly with alternate seat rows kept open  as they were on all buses used throughout our trip.  Although there were some people not wearing masks as the week progressed and spacing varied, especially in the bar area, in general, masking and spacing rules were fairly well followed.  In any event, there was almost no possible contact with people outside our group aside from drivers, guides and site hosts provided by American Queen at places we visited. Presumably those were all tested prior to assisting us. We were never concerned about safety and never saw anyone else who seemed to be either.

Ship is brand new and magnificant.  I had an inside single which was tiny - 10 by 15 I think.  Worked fine for me but a couple with typical luggage better really be in love!  At least the bathroom and shower were huge and had excellent fixtures, bright lighting and quality ammenities.  I was really impressed with lighting throughout the cabin.  AQ really did it right in providing plenty of light to see by and to read by. An area where even high-end hotels frequently fall short.

Food was generally excellent and with plenty of variety, (although steaks seemed hit or miss quality), and it was nice to always have lobster available as an alternate choice.  Unfortunately, service was a mess the first few days but slowly improved as the trip progressed.  We were fortunate that our assistant waiter had worked for a large cruise line and knew his stuff.  Many of the others sort of wandered around in a daze not seeming to know what do do or offer.  Special requests such as catsup for french fries seemed to take forever to be delivered, maybe because of Covid, everything had to be requested from the cooks in sequence with regular food orders.

The quick food spot, River Grill was sort of a hidden gem and  became a favorite as did the snack area Perks.  Both those offered a coffee machine capable of creating a variety of drinks and Perks always had popcorn, ice cream and cookies.  Promised for 24 hours but like several things didn't happen with the Covid situation.  

When AQ said they were offering an open bar, they meant it.  It was open at 11:00 until closing and brands were all top notch.  25-year old Macallan scotch and Louis XIII cognac and such were the only things they charged extra for and bartenders were friendly, funny and efficient.

Entertainment was okay and consisted of small band and three singer/dancers every night except one when there was a fair magician.  We missed the wide variety available on earlier river trips and were really disappointed in the Riverlorian. In the past, they had a man who portrayed vivid images of life along the river life and people of the time.  This was augmented by visiting speakers and performers.  (The last trip had Robert E. Lee's great-great grandson as a speaker - something the woke crowd of today probably wouldn't tolerate but his stories of the family history were fascinating).  For this trip, they evidently took one of the entertainers and told her whe was also the Riverlorian and to do some research about the river.  Presentations were okay but about what you would expect in a school history course.  Attendance dropped to less than a dozen people which was embarrassing and unfair to her because that was not her forte.

Tours were visits to three plantation homes and drives through small towns.  The Vicksburg National Park tour was conducted with the park ranger in the car ahead of us giving his presenation by Bluetooth.  Very well done and we stopped at the USS Cairo civil war gunboat and could view it through the fence but not visit the museum or tour the boat since all the park facilities are closed.  The visit to Baton Rouge was a short tour through town and a visit to the Louisiana state museum but no visits to the capital, old capital or SS Kidd destroyer ship parked next to us due to Covid.  Those limits also severly hampered ladies who wanted to shop in the little towns we visited.

I did add one extra cost tour of a swamp.  Nicely done with an old Cajun who seemed authentic.  Plenty of alligators, raccoons, squirrels, birds and real swamp territory.  It would be easy to become disoriented and lost in that place without a guide.

Overall a good trip and remarkably well done considering the restrictions imposed on AQ. As someone else noted, river trips are expensive but all inclusive helps and considering the serious cost disadvantage they have by operating small boats and having to abide by U.S. wage rates, benefits, taxes, regulations, etc. compared to huge cruise lines they are well worth the price in my book.

I keep an Allianz annual plan booked online since I make frequent trips plus it covers domestic travel as well.  (Just collected for DFW hotel bill due to a flight cancellation and airline refusal to cover). 

My Medicare Advantage plan with Clover provides worldwide coverage for emergency, urgent care and ambulance service up to $25,000 pery year for $25 to $120 copay.

I never used to bother with trip insurance except to exotic places - Antarctica, Nepal, Uzbekistan, etc. but as I have aged and gotten more decrepit I figure it makes sense and on an annual basis is cheaper than covering individual trips.

Okay, it isn't Holland America, but while cleaning out some old storage boxes I discovered a brochure for the next round-the-world sailing of the SS President

Roosevelt beginning October 24, 1968 with four complete 90-day itineraries to choose from. 

Sounds like some fabulous ports but the pricing is out of my range.  Prices start at $2,600 per person for an inside cabin and range up to a ridiculous $7,420 for a Lanai cabin.

At least they are limiting the passenger list to 275 for "maximum service, maximum comfort".  (And probably to ensure proper social distancing as well.)

2 hours ago, nocl said:

Yep, but the cruise variety when it comes to ports seem to be getting smaller and smaller, the routes being more limited, and the ports much more crowded.  Getting rather mundane.

 

Maybe the cruise lines are just going to keep going until the ship itself is the only attraction.

Bingo.  I think they would be happy to confine cruises to their ships and multiple private islands.

That way they don't have to pay big docking fees, coordinate arrivals with a dozen other ships, etc.

and can keep all the revenue/profit for themselves.

These are the cards offered last September with a 10% bonus.  Terms say they are nonrefundable and expire the end of 2021.    Does that mean the bonus part or does HAL just confiscate the whole $4,000 if they aren't used?  Given their continual cancellations the likelihood of ever using the credit appears remote.  I know, I should be talking to HAL.  I just thought maybe somebody had already been through the routine and had some suggestions for getting a refund or something useful out of them.

Is there any corporate responsibility for a company to actually provide some logical service for the buyer of GC's to use them?  I've got $4,000 in HAL credit bought last year but they keep cancelling places to use them.  Not really excited about a cruise out of Singapore but if that is the only thing sailing do I have to take it? 

At the rate they're going HAL will either be out of business or I'll be dead before getting to use them.

Gee, and all we've ever won have been those rare, collectable HAL pins. 🙂