CurlerRob

3 hours ago, wp bob said:

more specifically the antarctic explorer itinerary

Thank you, that narrows it to the Antarctic. Hopefully, someone with real time experience will weigh in - there’s nothing I found on the roll calls. 
 

In general, despite the improvements seen from Starlink adoption, service in the high latitudes is still likely to be unpredictable. Starlink deployment is still ongoing in the far south and north. 
 

I note the webcams from the two Ex ships is intermittent, and I suspect that mirrors the overall service. The other question, of course, is what level of service one is looking for.
 

Phone plans will be useless other than in BA and perhaps Ushuaia. Not many cell towers on the continent 😁.  🍺🥌

3 hours ago, wp bob said:

how has the internet been? do you need a phone plan or just use the ship internet

 

This is the general Expeditions thread.  Mispost, or were you referring to a specific itinerary? 🍺🥌

2 hours ago, islandwoman said:

According to HAL's website, https://www.hollandamerica.com/en/us/legal-privacy/cruise-contract , "VOYAGES 25 NIGHTS OR LONGER, PLUS GRAND WORLD, GRAND VOYAGES, ANY SEGMENT OF A GRAND WORLD OR GRAND VOYAGE:
Cancellations through 120 days commencing travel: 100% refund"

 

Viking's cancellation policy for voyages 35 days or more https://docs.vikingcruises.com/pdf/2-230626_BookingAndSaleTermsAndConditions.pdf  is

Written Notice received 180 or more Days Prior to Departure
Cancellation fee Per Passenger $1,000.00

 

I read Viking's cancellation policy as saying that the cancellation fee of $1,000 per passenger applies from the day of booking through 180 days prior to sailing.  Whereas HAL gives a 100% refund from the day of booking through 120 days prior to sailing

Thanks for the link - I see that HAL has relaxed their restrictions just last month and I’d not seen it. 🍺🥌

5 hours ago, islandwoman said:

If Viking raises prices so much between when the cruise becomes available and "when cancellations kick in"  (I'm guessing that's just before final payment date?)  then it would be worth risking $1,000 to save 65% on an expensive cruise. Unfortunately we are at the age where we shouldn't buy green bananas.

I sense you may have some inexperience with Viking, despite your extensive cruise history, and I would recommend a discussion with a knowledgeable TA who books frequently with them and knows a bit about cancellation insurance. 
 

First, it’s been my experience that Viking’s cancellation penalties are generally in line with many other (not all) cruise lines, especially for longer voyages. Your $1000 penalty at 180 days is not overly different than Oceania, Regent or HAL grand voyages. 
 

To counteract the $1000 penalty, you can buy cancellation insurance for that amount when you book. The cost will be minimal in comparison, CFAR is more of course. If you go ahead with the cruise, you can increase your coverage as needed when you hit the increased cancellation penalties. 
 

As @millybess says, early booking can pay handsomely when pricing increases.  
 

Secondly, be aware that for a first time client, Viking requires very early payment in full - often 12-14 months before sailing. This is NOT the same as when cancellation penalties kick in, but it’s a different consideration. 
 

Hope that helps a bit. 🍺🥌

7 hours ago, shipboy said:

We will be on the Star in March, try and keep it tidy please 😀

Certainly. (No promises on the beer supply 😈). 🍺🥌

55 minutes ago, Frenchberet said:

You can cancel your Viking cruise 120 days or more prior to departure for just $100 per person.  Cabin availability is anyone’s guess.  Suggest you check the website periodically and take the leap when you feel you can’t wait any longer.  We ❤️ Viking, hope you will too!

Just FYI, the timing and penalty varies with the length of the cruise. I have a 35 day trip that costs $1000 up to 180 days prior. 
 

You’re correct for shorter trips. 🍺🥌

26 minutes ago, FetaCheese said:

 

@CurlerRob

Will be on Hawaiian Islands Sojourn 28 December.  Anticipation building...will ask if classic pistachio bun can be made, but will enjoy whatever they serve!  

 

If not much trouble....Who is CD and GM.  Also interested to know how voyage is progressing, and any general impressions of ship, crew, entertainment, lectures, etc.

 

Thanks.

CD is Cornealia, I don’t know who the GM is.

Take my impressions with a grain of salt - we are finally back on board Viking for the first time since fall 2019, so there’s a long gap. Just starting a 3 year cashing of many vouchers. 
 

Ship - instantly reminded of how VO design results in a clean and open environment and how we greatly prefer it to the more traditional design. No real evidence of wear and tear or lack of maintenance. 
 

Crew - cabin and bar staff seem equally as skilled and attentive as before. MDR still seems to have some issues with the system and processes around meals. Early days - the food itself is ok but the industry-wide reductions are noticeable (fortunately not to the smoked salmon). 
 

Good variety of lectures. My feeling is that the entertainment is much more prevalent in the venues than before. There is limited time in Explorer’s for quiet conversation or observation. 
 

All in, a pleasure to be onboard, despite the 40 knots and 20’ seas on the nose. 🍺🥌

1 hour ago, Clay Clayton said:

 

Not the one I love. This one (from what someone else told me) is cream filled where the vaunted one is a spiral roll with pistachios and raisins between and on top. 

Thanks. You’re right, ours has pistachios on the side and is cream filled. The quest continues… 🍺🥌

@Clay Clayton, is this the vaunted pistachio bun? On Star - Hawaiian Sojurn. 🍺🥌

6 hours ago, slewis7 said:

Thanks to the OP for an excellent comparison!

 

My wife and I have done a number of Viking Ocean cruises and we really like the product, although the food seems more hit and miss on recent cruises.  I also tend to prefer outside excursions and feel like I am paying for something I will not likely take advantage of on Viking (you also pay for excursions with Oceania Simply More but you can pick excursions at a few ports and use up your  included budget there).  Also, the variety of Viking itineraries seem a bit limited.
 

We are about to go on our first Oceania cruise on an R-class ship.  It will be a somewhat of an evaluation run for us on the line and will partly determine whether we keep a long cruise booking on the Vista booked for 2025.  We liked the itinerary on the Vista 2025 cruise better then the Viking alternative.

If you did not see it, I posted a review of Insignia (R class) in post #34 above - may be of some interest. 🍺🥌

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1 hour ago, potchak said:

Funny you mention the screenshot...I did take one...

This is redundant, as I believe you have purchased the SSBP, but your info above is the standard blub that Viking provides. It's carefully crafted marketing language.

Note that it first refers to "A wide variety of beer and upgraded select wines ...". It does not mention that there is a price limit on what you can have that is prepaid by the SSBP. Similarly, the "Premium wines ..." inclusion means that you get a discount off of the bottle price - not the bottle fully prepaid.

SSBP prepays for beverages under the $ limit (outside of beer/wine at meals) and provides a discount for full bottles. Lots of reasons to take or leave it - always individual. Enjoy your cruise! 🍺🥌

2 hours ago, deec said:

how expensive are the excursions on Oceania or do most folks book independent tours?  some of Viking's included tours have been great...especially if they are WALKING!

We sailed Oceania in November/22. Shorex was extremely disappointing. We found them to be the most expensive we had ever encountered, as well as poorly managed. If you want further info, it's under the topic in my review below.

We'd still sail O again, but would be much wiser regarding excursions. 🍺🥌

2 hours ago, tobique33040 said:

Thanks Bob. Just realized what the Curler part of your screen name means. My Aunt, up in New Brunswick, curled. 😊

So thanks for the review. The bathroom is a bit worrisome, and as we always take ship sponsored excursions, I’m a bit concerned about that aspect. But overall, it sounds good and hopefully we will be lucky with the excursions. As I mentioned before, I ( and probably countless others) appreciate all the information provided here. It really helps to make decisions and to know what to expect. Thanks again. 

You're very welcome. As in the post, we'd certainly sail an R ship again, we'd just have more accurate expectations. Re the shorex, just be sure to carefully read the "brochure" in your cabin on arrival. It will contain any changes to booked excursions, even though it just looks like a sales document. Enjoy your trip! 🍺🥌

On 11/27/2023 at 4:06 PM, tobique33040 said:

My friend and I are looking at a cruise next summer on Sirena. This will be my fourth ocean cruise (all others on Viking) and she has been on one Viking and a lot of Caribbean cruises  years ago. We have seen a lot of bad reviews and dissatisfaction with Oceania recently in reviews and on the boards. The specific itinerary and time frame on Oceania suit us, so we are reaching out to get feedback from those who have experience with this line. Thanks very much.

Our review of Insignia in November 2022 may be of some help. As ever, just two persons opinions. 🍺🥌

10 hours ago, Tom.in.nc said:

However, unless Viking segregates the “paid streamers” from the general population, they will bring the system to a crawl.

I am waiting to see how this “experiment” works on the current Saturn sailing.

The experiment is not fundamentally different than has been done elsewhere. For example, HAL blocks streaming sites for the base internet package, but opens them if you pay additional fees - that's the equivalent of buying your way past the data cap, and results in overall slower service for many.

Segregation can be done, although it introduces additional complexity and expense for the cruise line. However, it falls into the category of "beware what you ask for". Consider the impact to the general population if 99% of the fixed capacity was to be allocated to the pax paying more - who enjoy excellent service, but leaving the rest to contend for totally insufficient capacity.

That's an exaggeration, but an example of one more issue that arises when a fixed resource has to somehow be allocated across pax with different desires on how to use it. (something like lounge chairs around the pool, but slightly higher tech 😈). The reality is that meeting expectations of internet service that have been formed from land-based systems continues to be extremely expensive for cruise ships and does not appear to be saleable to the general client at this point.

In any event, it will be interesting to hear back from Saturn pax to see if any impact is noticeable. 🍺🥌

47 minutes ago, Tom.in.nc said:

Is there any indication that the paid Wi-Fi is actually faster, has more bandwidth?

Wondering because work from home would be possible if so.

Unlikely to be the case. I know of no cruise lines that offer enhanced speed / bandwidth based on how much you pay. Usually, the amount of bandwidth set aside for the pax is fixed - that's why your service level varies depending on how many people are using the internet and what they are doing. Most lines attempt to discourage high data transmission rates in order to minimize this variability.

Viking appears to be introducing a "data cap" - not unusual for other cruise lines. Some limit the amount of data transmission in this same way, others block streaming sites to accomplish the objective that way.

WiFi is quite separate from internet performance - it's just how you connect to the internet (although the term tends to be used to mean overall connection and internet). WiFi quality has everything to do with how the ship is "wired" and nothing to do with the internet service.

Although Starlink has been reported to have provided noticeable improvements in internet service on many lines, it's not a panacea - there are still coverage issues at high latitudes and on-board competition for a fixed resource. I'm afraid we are still quite a distance from on-board service that is similar to land-based service and affordable at the same time. Unrestricted "work from ship" will continue to be a bit of a crap shoot for the foreseeable future. 🍺🥌

4 hours ago, CannotSwim said:

In our experience the first tenders of the day and the tender for the last scheduled return to the ship tend to be annoyingly packed. We have seen lighter loads in-between, but we see those less often as we tend to spend time ashore.

Valid points. We don't mind giving up a bit of time on either end to avoid that crush, but shorex times  sometimes dictate otherwise. 🍺🥌

13 hours ago, Sunprince said:

It’s the May 15 Athens to Valletta cruise.  I would think if the capacity for the promotion has been met then the promotion should be removed from that cruise’s webpage?

 

PhDiva - too bad about he 0% offer. If it sounds too good to be true then it usually is!  We have a single friend who also wants to join us, so I’m sure I will get the same answer as you. Website is a bit misleading at first glance!

While your cruise does come up when one looks at all the "Canadian Dollar at Par" cruises, it is listed as subject to the ongoing Black Friday promotion. As per @PhD-iva's experience, I suspect that the Black Friday continuation negates the Cdn $ promo.

Will be interested to hear what your TA has to say. 🍺🥌

@millybess - lot's of concern on the Regent board as well. It may be useful to follow that one for additional insight (if you are not already). 🍺🥌

7 hours ago, Mike07 said:

Page two of the medical questionnaire that passengers have physicians sign.

 

In declining the purchase of a Travel Protection Plan/travel insurance, I agree not to hold Viking Ocean Cruises
Ltd., Viking Expeditions Ltd., or any of their affiliates, subsidiaries, employees, or contractors responsible for
any additional expenses/losses incurred resulting from my cancellation of this trip, accident, sickness, medical
evacuation, lost or damaged baggage, or any other contingency that would have been covered by the insurance
protection offered. I agree to reimburse any expenses paid on my behalf by Viking Ocean Cruises, Ltd., Viking
Expeditions, Ltd., or any of their affiliates, subsidiaries, employees or contractors who expend funds for any
contingency which would have been covered by the insurance protection offered and acknowledge that no
such expenditure is required. I understand that the availability of medical care may be limited or delayed, and
emergency medical evacuation will not be possible from every location to which the ship sails. All health, medical
or other personal services in connection with the cruise tour are provided solely for my convenience and benefit
and I acknowledge I will be charged for such services.

I'm familiar with the waiver document. If you are comfortable that your interpretation of the waiver negates your requirement to comply with Viking's requirement for evac insurance, no problem. Your money, your choice.

My point was that I consider it high risk to willfully ignore a cruise line's stated requirement and I would refrain from suggesting that it can be ignored. 🍺🥌

6 minutes ago, CannotSwim said:

I don't know where you got the "50-75" estimate. On a recent cruise I looked at the official seating chart for the Viking tender boat we were using. The official capacity for tender seating was over 200 and the seating for use as a life boat was higher.

 

Viking might sometimes hire other boats from the port to help with tendering but I haven't seen it.

My comment was from personal experience. I've never seen a tender filled anywhere near to rated tendering capacity. Loading to lifeboat capacity or even near it, would be a nightmare to be avoided. YMMV. 🍺🥌

4 hours ago, Mike07 said:

Again, I don't think you have to have insurance to go.

 

Fill out the medical questionnaire your physician signs. Isn't their a waiver you attest to that if you are injured and require evacuation and don't have insurance, you're on your own and won't hold Viking responsible?

From Viking's FAQ: In order to participate in a Viking Expeditions journey to the Arctic or Antarctica, each guest must have Medical Evacuation Insurance coverage for a minimum of $250,000. 

For a trip of this nature, I would not be ignoring a condition set by the cruise line. It might work out fine - conversely it might be embarrassing to wind up waving to the ship from the pier in Ushuaia if you were denied boarding.

I don't think "but I read it was OK on CC" would be an acceptable excuse. 🍺🥌

46 minutes ago, CannotSwim said:

With a Tender Port you are transferred to shore in a Tender Boat. Instead of everyone walking down the gangplank onto the shore you wait for boats. A boat pulls up, a couple hundred people load, that boat pulls out and another takes it's place (hopefully immediately). When the boat lands the passengers unload. Returning to the ship you have the same wait for tender boats.

 

The result is it takes much longer to get people on and off the boat, and the time to shore is longer.

 

A related issue is whether you leave the ship at city center or far away. The best case is a dock near  the city center. The worst case is a tender boat ride to a dock far from the city so you need to take a shuttle bus into the city. We have seen all four combinations.

 

(Part of the reason we like River cruises better is the boats dock near the city center much more often.)

Sometimes it's worth looking at the number of posts listed by a poster, prior to assuming they are unfamiliar with cruising ...

PS - Viking tenders are nowhere near a couple of hundred people, more like 50-75 per. 🍺🥌