CurlerRob

The vast majority of professional cruise tour providers will tell you up front that they refund payment for a missed port. Any one that doesn’t is a deal breaker for us. Refund policies overall are one element of how we choose a provider. 🍺🥌

https://www.reykjaviktouristinfo.is/blog/the-a---z-of-tipping-in-iceland 🍺🥌

I also found it unique and I’ve run businesses that were very highly leveraged with contractors. However, our resident professional mariners have educated us that this approach is common in the industry and has been so for many years. Given the degree of success, it’s hard to criticize it. I’m certain that Viking invests in ensuring that their standards are met - I suspect through policies and procedures, training, communications and measurement systems. I’d also expect that they do have a process for inspection (even if it’s just Tor and Karine sailing a lot)! One observation I have is that personnel turnover on the cruise lines appears low - crew and senior staff keep coming back to the same line. This makes it easier to propagate Viking culture and standards. If you keep working for the same company, after a while it doesn’t matter who signs your paycheque, you identify with the cruise line. This ability to retain contractors indefinitely is unique in my experience. Many land-based jurisdictions will deem a long-term contractor to be an employee, and require the firm to provide statutory benefits and pay taxes. This forces turnover and works against the positive “cultural assimilation” that negates the difference between contractors and employees. 🍺🥌

Curious as to why their employment arrangement would have any effect on your personal evaluation, or why you would feel “less guilty”? 🍺🥌

You’re going on your first cruise, to an area that may be variable in temperature and weather. Why stress yourself over packing? One of the beautiful things about cruising is that your hotel room moves with you - you only unpack once. Check a couple of bags (cross-packed) and take a light carry on each with emergency stuff for a few days, in the event of luggage issues. You’ll find you will take too much, but you’ll learn for the next trip without having to worry about this one. Focus on what should be a great experience - your first cruise. 🍺🥌

Welcome to CC! If you use the search function, you will find many discussions that attempt to compare pricing between cruise lines. In the end, it becomes a highly individualized answer, depending on what matters to you. For example, if you don’t drink, included alcohol at any amount can be viewed as wasted money. Or, if you always tour on your own, the inclusion of multiple included excursions is of no value. Further, sales and promotions have a huge effect and are obviously transient. To your question, there’s no consistent answer. Just look at the things that matter to you and do your personal price analysis for each cruise. 🍺🥌

Seven Seas Explorer enjoying the “scenic” cruise by the Hubbard Glacier. Tough weather day! (Taken from Viking Orion). 🍺🥌

Thanks for this. Your extensive and accurate factual comments will help others in their research. I had to chuckle about the TV noise issue. We haven’t had the issue on Viking, but our first Regent cruise was a TA in Sep/23. Our neighbours played MSNBC 24/7, at a stupid volume that made it impossible to sleep - swivel mount or not. (In fairness, this was poor behaviour, not ship design or soundproofing and stopped after a couple of complaints). If I never hear the MSNBC commercial “filler” again it’ll be too soon 😵‍💫. Of interest, Oceania’s new Vista is catching a lot of flak for the same TV bleed issue. I’d add only one item. While we’ve always had excellent crew service on each line we’ve sailed, Regent staff excelled at anticipating our needs - it verged on uncanny. 🍺🥌

I believe you are referring to Celebrity, not O. 🍺🥌

Second this and it often applies to ANY food taken off the ship. Oz, NZ, Hong Kong and Japan are all live examples with various restrictions and penalties.🍺🥌

Not all grass is greener. Oceania’s R ships have only 3 accessible cabins - all are inside cabins (Sirenia may have 2 OVs). No accessible cabins with balconies. They also have a habit of not holding them for those who actually need them. Certainly cheaper, but not without impact on the experience. 🍺🥌

You’ve been fortunate, we are 0 for 3. It’s just a tough port. Conversely, we are 2 for 2 in the Faroes, also a notorious miss. Cheers. 🍺🥌

Enjoy your trip! I hope the Shetlands are accommodating. 🍺🥌

Seems fair. 🍺🥌

I expect they will convert them to USD onboard at the time of use. We had a similar situation currently - purchased an excursion prior to sailing in CDN, then cancelled on board. The refund was applied to our onboard account, converted from the CDN price to USD. No luck on CDN $ at par, unfortunately! 🍺🥌

It’s both true and good - assuming the new trip is under the $25 deposit offer (many are). For example, in Dec/23 we booked onboard for an Antarctic trip. $25 pp deposit, $100 pp OBC. in theory, you are liable for $100 pp if you cancel (std. terms), which would neutralize the gain, but it’s not likely worth Viking’s time to chase you for the delta if that happens. In reality, most people who book onboard intend to do the trip versus clipping a few bucks, and a live booking is always better than a “maybe later” one to the cruise line.🍺🥌

I’m speculating but I don’t think a shuttle would be available for a disembarkation day. The only way there might be one is if the cruise is B2B and your disembarkation was an in-transit day for pax continuing. Even then, I don’t think you could use it. As mentioned, taxi is easy and a short trip. 🍺🥌

If your preference is to dine alone, just leave an article of clothing or a tote bag on the chair to mark it as taken, then go and get your food. For added assurance, order and receive a drink first. 🍺🥌

My personal experience is dated (2019), but I think it’s still valid. Our shuttle ran every 30 minutes, drop off was at the Harpa Conference Centre - an easy few minutes walk to the heart of downtown. You can also walk the shoreline back to the ship if the weather is good - about 50 minutes. 🍺🥌

We have observed (Star in December and Orion currently) that Manfredi’s has become much busier than in the past. You can still get tables, but it requires a lot more diligence and a bit of luck. Chef’s Table is noticeably easier to reserve. If you sail again, stay with the day before / day of queries and be flexible on your time. Hope you enjoyed yourself. 🍺🥌

Why would you think they don’t? Like every other cruise line, Viking provides a description of each excursion, including a difficulty rating. The ratings are defined in detail in their ShoreEx documents. Unfortunately, there are always some who won’t read or choose to ignore the information - to everyone’s detriment. 🍺🥌

I’m not aware of any Airalo eSIMs that support maritime cellular service. Depending on the strength of the shore signal you should be able to use a Global or US eSIM when in range - but I have no personal experience with the coverage for the inside passage. Good luck! 🍺🥌

There are a couple of things that you should know about Airalo. First, as you recognized, a data eSIM will not help with confirmation texts - they need cellular service. If you go to the Airalo site and search their help function, you will find a section that explains how to still use your phone with the data eSIM. See the pic below. The section explains how to restrict data usage to your eSIM while activating your phone and text. If you only need to receive a confirmation text, you should not be charged or trigger a daily plan from your home provider. This is what I do when I need 2-factor authentication. Additionally, even if you have an eSIM that supports text and calls, it usually comes with a number different from your phone - may be useless if the text goes to your home number. Summary - I use the eSIM for data when away, but turn on my normal line for incoming text when I need a text code. 🍺

Is this a function of a newer iPhone? I’m very familiar with creating a wifi hotspot on iPhone using cellular data, but I’m unaware of the ability to do so when “connected to ship wifi”. Thanks. 🍺🥌

I’d be curious to know if there was any info in the shorex brochure in the cabin (it just looks like every other sales brochure you’re ever seen, not an important reference doc). On our first O cruise, there were significant changes made to multiple excursions and the only place they were documented was in that flyer. Nothing from DS, no letter advising a close read of the brochure. Lots of very unhappy pax who were blindsided. 🍺🥌