Cyber Kat

1 hour ago, basenji56 said:

I usually sail with Celebrity but am booked on a Viking Ocean TA this October. (Loved Viking Ocean after a one week Caribbean cruise in 2018).

 

I am also booked on an Oceania TA in April 2021.

 

"They're not a true luxury line, but are perhaps meant to appeal more to those who want an old-world cruising feel and a slightly exclusive-feeling experience."

 

Now I'm disappointed.  If Oceania is not a true luxury line, what is?

 

I booked a Regent TA for April of 2022 but may now find that Regent isn't a true luxury line either. 🙂

 

Michael

Chattanooga, TN

 

I’d say it depends on your definition of luxury.  I asked the question on the luxury cruise board here on Cruise Critic and was left with the impression that, like beauty, luxury is in the eye of the beholder. For some luxury was about the food.  For others it required a butler.  Many said, “Oh on X line, they remember your name - adding that this is a sign of great service.  Quite frankly, I have not cruised on any line where they didn’t remember my name, including Carnival 🤣🤣🤣

The general consensus was that Viking, Oceania and Azamara are “premium” and that you had to sail with Regent, Seabourn or Crystal to experience true “luxury.”  The Europa ships (I think Hapag-Lloyd) are the pinnacle.  RCL, Carnival, NCL and MSC were deemed mainstream with HAL, Princess, Celebrity and Cunard falling into some nebulous category between “premium” and “luxury.”

These are not my definitions or opinion just a consensus of answers to my quest for a definition of luxury on the board here for luxury cruises.

I’ve never cruised Oceania, but I would consider it. I do find their O Life variations somewhat confusing.  Viking seems easier.  What you get is consistent and there are no extra packages to add, but the Silver Spirits beverage package.

 We have cruised on Azamara, but we like Viking better.  We would do another Azamara. We are done with the mainstream lines, though we do have a Celebrity cruise this spring in a suite.  The price, timing and itinerary worked.  We will decide after that if Celebrity works for us as well. Oddly enough we just booked a similar itinerary on Viking for March of 2021.  The timing wasn’t what we were looking for.  The price barely made the budget, so we will be in a DV1 instead of our preferred PV1, but as my husband said repeatedly when we were discussing it, “ but it’s Viking!” 😁

4 hours ago, Fouremco said:

A quick search on Google will give you what you are looking for. I checked for each of the ABC's and there are tours offered on each island.

Been there, done that!  Lots of tours but none that are photography tours.  Also checked TripAdvisor and Tours by Locals.  I'm quite internet savvy 😄

I know most people want to snorkel or be beach bums, but DH and I are all about photography.  We have done photo tours in other places (Barbados was the best!). Does anyone on the ABC islands do organized photo tours?

I know we could do it on our own, but it’s so much better with a local photographer who knows the great spots!

On 1/27/2020 at 3:53 PM, cruise47 said:

I can remember the Marlboro man smoking on television.

Plus the Cisco Kid and Pancho, The Red Skeleton Show, the 64,000 question game show  and The Ed Sullivan Show on Sunday nights.

And that Marlboro Man is playing a grandfather on Blue Bloods!

On 1/26/2020 at 10:58 PM, cgolf1 said:

I am 46 and remember having a black and white tv, tube stereo, rotary dial phones, and I owned many records. We even had a car with an 8 track. Remember reel to reel projectors and slides. I really think we are living in a cool time period where technology has exploded. 
 

But my big moment of feeling old was hiring people the same age as my daughter at work. That messed with me a bit. So even at 46 I feel old many days. 

First time I felt that I was on the wrong side of the “old” dividing line when a co-worker was talking about her mother’s birthday and she revealed that her mother was several years younger than I was.  I knew she was younger, but her MOTHER too!  OMG!  Not what I wanted to hear.

I’m not old.  I’ve just lived for a long time. 🤣. I’m 72 going on 22 (have to stay above the drinking age 😝 ).  I don’t keep up much with current pop music, though I often look up songs I hear in passing.  My preference is contemporary rock.  Rock has always been my preference.  The “oldies” (and at my age that covers a lot of inventory!) are fine to switch up, but I really like the new stuff. 
 

I love learning new things, discovering and exploring.  Cruising works for that in a more comfortable manner than car travel.  I’m definitely in the comfort is key age 😁

So my body isn’t cooperating, but I’m not getting old.  I love my tech.  When something new comes along, I check it out.  Some things are extremely interesting, and others not so much.  I really think continuing to learn and to keep your mind open is the key to not getting old.  Don’t worry about the number just keep moving forward.  Visit the past, but don’t live there.

The only thing I miss is civility.  That seems to be getting more allusive these days.  Not sure why, but I do find it somewhat sad. 

48 minutes ago, Peregrina651 said:

 

We did the Barcelona to London repositioning just a few weeks ago and it wasn't bad it wasn't glassy seas but we could walk without holding on --and we did not miss a single port. Had we gone two weeks early, with the storms that closed the Douro River, it could have been dreadful.

Wow!

I’m burning sage, crossing my fingers anything I can think of for good weather.  I can deal with some rough seas but I’m really hoping for Falmouth and I know that’s a tricky port.

3 hours ago, Peregrina651 said:

 

But they give you so little time to explore the city, the afternoon when you arrive and then one full day. I know that some people are happier letting Viking take care of everything and don't worry about these things, but if you have the time and you feel comfortable doing it, plan your own stay.

 

You can still use Viking Air for you flights; it will cost you an extra $150pp but even with this charge included you can do more nights for the same amount of money that Viking is charging is charging for 2.

 

LOL we are doing Barcelona to Madrid after our Trade Routes cruise specially for the train ride.  We’re rail fans who are quite happy letting Viking handle the details (and the luggage!) so we can enjoy the ride!

5 hours ago, OnTheJourney said:

 

Ours was in March also, on the Sky in Norway, and....well...you know what happened to that one. Granted it was an extraordinary set of circumstances, but until a few months go by without hearing any sort of reports of accidents, I won't rest easy until we board another Viking ship and successfully complete a journey free of any significant issues. It'll be interesting to see how we react once we board the Venus next year. A little unsettling being in the same room we had on the Sky but...see how it goes. 

Oh I can absolutely understand your trepidation!  I can tell you that both of our Viking Ocean cruises were wonderful and uneventful in comparison (for sure).

This cruise is in the Caribbean and it’s a bit early for hurricanes ::knock wood::  So I don’t think we will repeat your cruise ending.  Although after watching hurricanes hit the British Isles last fall, I’m a bit concerned about our Trade Routes cruise from Bergen to Barcelona crossing the North Sea and the Bay of Biscay!

Wishing you fair winds and calm seas!

Regarding cabin choice... For our first Viking Ocean, we booked a DV4, but we got offered an upgrade to a PV1 for $200pp and we took it.  Big mistake because we LOVE the PV1 and have been booking them for subsequent cruises.

 We are planning a cruise for spring 2021, and we were looking for something on the East coast to save on airfare.  Viking didn’t have anything for April or May, so I was looking at other lines that have small ships.  I wasn’t finding anything exciting, until I also looked in March.  I found a Viking Southern Caribbean.  No new ports, which I’d hoped for, but when I mentioned it, my husband said, “but it’s Viking!”

 I reminded him that he didn’t want to cruise in March because the last time we did, we had an issue with a late season snowstorm.  He said, “But it’s Viking!”

We decided we would wait to book because January has been an expensive month and because there seemed to be plenty of cabins (I don’t think the Caribbean sells out as well), but then serendipity!  I got an email about discounts for people with a Viking cruise booked (we have 2!).  It was extra money off (up to $2000) depending on the number of days, plus you still get the January deal of 2 for 1 deposit, free air and final payment at 6 months.

 We took another look and decided to price out a DV to get it under our lower spring budget.  Our TA called back with the price on a DV1 and it’s the aft facing cabin I wanted.  Serendipity again - all the stars are aligned.  We have a hold until the 29th, but I think we are booking - how can we not! 😁

Anyway the point of all of this is that we have become used to the benefit of getting excursions and specialty restaurants early.  Now we will be scrambling, but it’s the Caribbean and if we get them, great.  If not there’s no real “must sees” so I’m not concerned.  These are ports we’ve been to before, so we could just stay on the ship or go to a beach on our own.  
 

For our Trade Routes cruise in the fall, I’m glad I have the PV, because there are excursions I most definitely want to do.  
 

I think these are the things you need to weigh when making a decision.  Are there must have Viking excursions or can you wing it!  And of course - what will fit in your budget.

2 hours ago, Emma said:

We are on the Viking Sky now, someone told us there was a new chef on board, it is our first Viking cruise and I can tell you I had one of the best meals I have ever had at Manfredi ‘s this week. 

That’s good to hear as our next 2 cruises will be on the Sky.  Our last cruise on the Sea, had most excellent food!  The Chef was excellent!  He even did a Bobby Flay style Throw Down with the Head of the Restaurants - a cook off.  It was fun.  The Chef won but it was close.

BTW these are the kinds of things you will find planned for sea days.

Yes, thank you so much for posting this!  We love this show, but this episode isn’t scheduled to air until April. We watched it at the link.

 We are booked on this cruise from Bergen to Barcelona on the Viking Sky in the fall.  I’m so looking forward to it.  Love all the ports!  It was really fun watching the entrance to Amsterdam.  We have been there 3 times and just love it!

Again thanks for posting!

8 minutes ago, flashfearless said:

Maybe I have a bad memory, or maybe it was just in the owner's suite shower, but isn't there like a teak seat inside the shower?  Guess I should go look at the online tours again.  

There’s no teak seat in the shower of the PV1.  Must be an owner’s suite feature. 

On 1/19/2020 at 1:37 PM, Insanityx4 said:

Interesting commentary about the upgrades. We were just offered an upgrade from DV2 to PV1 for $899 each, plus the cost of added insurance. We turned it down. Our last trip we were in a PV2 and liked the extra space but the drawers in the closet took up half of the space for clothes and we didn't like the obstructed view to the balcony due to a wall between the windows. No slider, just a small door that kept slamming shut every time the wind blew and the curtain kept getting stuck in it. The champagne, beer, and booze was nice, however we were in Russia and Alaska so hot chocolate hit the spot too. For the extra $2,000 for the upgrade, we can buy a lot of champagne, beer, and booze. If however the upgrade was offered to us at no additional cost, we would have gone for it.

There are drawers in the closet in a PV2?  I thought they were the same as the PV1 except not as great a location.

 We got an upgrade to PV1 from a DV1 on our first Viking Ocean for $200 each and we loved it.  We loved it so much we booked the same again for our next 2, but we were considering a PV2 or 3 for our next booking to save a bit.  But I thought the rooms were the same.

 We did have the door - wall - window combination and had no problem with that. We could sit on the sofa and see out the window.

We were on the Viking Sea for the second time this past September and she was looking mighty fine!  In fact we were in the same cabin and everything looked exactly the same as our first sailing in the Spring of 2018.  Viking takes good care of the ships!

On 1/23/2020 at 6:08 AM, WrittenOnYourHeart said:

Reread that. THE LINE can take photos. Not a random creeper who (at least to our knowledge) is not a currently working employee of “the line”) taking pictures of people without their knowledge - and in this case specifically for the point of shaming. That is not randomly being in the background of someone’s picture. There is a huge difference.

It seems that some people don’t see the difference between just catching people in your photos when you are taking photos of the general area or something else, and deliberately taking photos of strangers for dishonorable purposes.

None of this is technically illegal (though taking photos of strangers without their permission IS illegal in some countries), it is rude.  People who do take photos as a profession or a serious hobby would rarely take a photo of strangers without asking permission - at least the ones I have known.  It’s just common courtesy.

Expectation of privacy  is a legal term when determining these things, but even in a public place, I think one should expect not to be photographed by someone except inadvertently.  I don’t think most people expect to be the SUBJECT of some random stranger’s photo. THAT is the difference!

44 minutes ago, Oville said:

It’s such an invasion of privacy it’s hard to believe it happened and so publicly it could be heard by other passengers. Perhaps you can authorize certain people for this kind of access; for instance children, parents or spouse.

Not that I plan on cruising with Princess, but if I did that medallion would be kept in an RFID purse for the whole cruise!

21 hours ago, davekathy said:

A picture is worth a thousand words...

I see nothing wrong with what is taking place in this photo, except if one wanted a photo of those gorgeous doors (which I would have been far more interested in) or the rug, one should have gone in for a closer shot.

 I would not have even noted the people on their phones.  Not my business.

20 hours ago, farmermd said:

 

 

 

So help me understand - you have a reasonable expectation of privacy while sitting at a bar on a cruise ship that the general public has been invited to sail on?  Yes, I think people have a reasonable expectation of privacy in their cabins and public bathrooms/locker rooms on a ship, but not in bars, restaurants, pool areas.   And if the picture is taken in a public area, is it then illegal to post on public forums or social media?  

 

Just at a glance, I do not see anything in CC guidelines that prohibit posting pictures of people in public places.  If I am wrong, please correct me so I can change my habits.  

So you would be okay with someone deliberately taking photos of you because they didn’t approve of your appearance or what you were doing - for the specific purpose of ridiculing you?

Sorry, IMO taking photos of someone to make fun of them or to post them on social media so others can make fun of them is just plain rude.  Far more rude and offensive than someone sitting at a bar enjoying some aspect of their phone.

It really has nothing to do with expecting privacy in a public place, but more to do with simply having respect in general.  I wonder about people who expect others to be polite while being rude themselves.  The bottom line is that it’s not nice.

21 hours ago, 4774Papa said:

I find myself taking a few photos on the ship that may include people.  It is hard to take such photos without including people, unless you go out at 3am.

I know you are probably kidding about grabbing his camera and throwing it overboard, since that would probably get you kicked off the cruise ship and you could be charged for assault.

But it sounds like the OP was deliberately taking photos of the people on their phones, which at the very least is not nice - and rather rude (since so many are concerned with the perceived rudeness of the phone users).  
 

Taking photos around the ship - for the purpose of taking photos of the SHIP - is far different from taking photos of strangers because you don’t like their behavior.  

Not that you will catch me cruising on the Edge - it’s way too big for my taste, but you can add me to your list of people who annoy you, because I will be using my phone, or most likely my tablet, on my cruises.  Why how I choose to relax is any of your business, I don’t know.  Don’t look at me if it’s that much of a bother.  And just an FYI, I’m old according to the calendar, not thinking.  I look to the future, not the past.
 

Don’t understand why the late Steve Jobs is getting blamed for all this.  He wasn’t alone in bringing forth new technology.

I have always considered gratuities - on any cruise on any ship - part of the cruise fare, like port charges and/or taxes.  I prepay them and forget them.  Over and done.  I have never even thought about removing them.
 

We tip extra to those we deal with on a more frequent basis throughout the cruise  - cabin steward, dining staff (we generally find a service group we like and request their section), and bartenders.  We do this at the end of the cruise - cash in envelopes.

Quite frankly, I don’t understand this quibbling over it, nor the gnashing of teeth over the subject.  What the cruise lines choose to call this charge is semantics.  It’s a fee, and we pay it.  Viking river is pretty specific as to where the money goes.  I assume it’s a similar distribution on ocean.

I agree with Peregrina651 that it’s splitting hairs and cheap.   That’s my opinion, but the OP asked for opinions.  I really don’t understand why people ask.  It’s pretty much a dead horse that just keeps getting beaten and people do what they want anyway.

 Just an aside.  We have never had less than stellar service on any of our Viking cruises (2 river, 2 ocean so far)

Sounds like a way to get people to pay veranda prices for what is essentially an ocean view room. 
 

This is disturbing to me as well.  We are sailing on the Sky in September for our Trade Routes cruise and I’m really looking forward to it. We have the North Sea and the Bay of Biscayne to traverse and I don’t think those are waters you want to have propulsion problems in.

Plus the itinerary covers a lot of territory and I’d hate to have to miss multiple ports because of ship issues.  Weather, I can understand - nothing to be done about that, but at the price of a Viking cruise, I expect the ship to be in top working order!

On 1/15/2020 at 5:04 PM, Dauntless said:

Maybe it's me but....since it is just the size of a credit card and we never have to show it on the ship except to enter or exit, is it the same problem with those pesky keys for our houses?  Do you not have a single pocket in your clothes?

I very rarely have a pocket and when I do they are usually shallow.  Not something I would trust my key in.  Women’s clothes don’t have pockets also because designers think we should carry POCKETbooks 🤣.  Very few of us want to bother with them unless we have to.  I generally have a camera at all times and I just don’t want the extra thing to carry.  Nor do I want to fumble for the key in a purse.  
 

A lanyard is perfect for me!

17 hours ago, irishwitchy said:

What they should do is sell a bracelet like Disney and Marriott does.  You put that on your wrist and it opens to door and you can charge on it also - it can also get wet.   Much easier than the key around the neck.   You keep that and the next cruise they reprogram.   Works great.   

I wear a watch on one arm and a bracelet on the other. I do NOT want a Disney bracelet!

i prefer my lanyard or my purse.  I would hate it if Viking switched to that.