CCWineLover

Same experience here and same opinion... Have heard that too many times.

Dee - we had a similar but bizarre one. We had "bought" an excursion ahead of going on a recent cruise, and it used $300 OBC from our agent, plus the few remaining dollars on Credit Card. When we cancelled, we got a auto checking deposit back from Viking for $290.10. (plus a credit card credit for the few dollars). I was stumped until I realized that they had given us the TA OBC back in checking account discount dollars instead of real dollars. (290.10 is 96.7% of 300.00) I spoke with them and they were all confused and admitted their accounting systems are sort of a complicated mess. It wasn't worth the time and hassle over $8.90 but something to remember.

Agreed! and I can get pizza at home. I stuck to the good stuff!! Only so much room 🙂

the last couple cruises we did in the past year had "lobster night" unscheduled, but they appeared on random nights in the middle of the cruise, perhaps coincidentally the evening of a day in port where they restocked supplies.

OK. We did this cruise on Jupiter a few years ago. We had a port room. However, on entering the various ports, we would go topside (Explorer's Lounge or deck 8 ) and were able to see everything from there. But yes, if you just wish to stay in your room, you might prefer one side over the other. I personally think you'll be OK in 5031. You are quick access up to the Explorer's Lounge. Inside and outside it really was a great place to watch the beautiful scenery. Expecially if you can get up early to see the Beagle Channel and the Chilean Fjords. Enjoy! This cruise was one of our favorites!!

Many threads on this discussion, but short answer: Yes - 100 % chance you'll find a 2nd reservation when you get onboard. Likely the one you want. Read my post just above the one you wrote.

What are your options on the port side? I'm a bit confused as you said you are in 5031, which I don't believe is a slider. It is across from the elevator which may/may not make a difference. You say you'd "move up" and try a PV with a door - but isn't that what you have? We've done 5028 on port side and been just fine (slider). IMHO on the SA cruise it does not really matter if you are port or starboard. When there is good viewing (Beagle Channel and more) you will likely be up on top looking anyways. Much of the time the ships cruise too far from land to really see much.

Thanks! Agree! Wasn't thinking. Clay - keep you mouth quiet or don't post please.

Clay - you are likely now the most famous person on Viking Ships! I would think everyone knows you by now. Keep asking for specialty dishes!! We want to see the photos and salivate as we sit at home and live by your trip vicariously. 🙂

You will not have an issue. Viking withholds 50-60 % of the tables at the specialty restaurants for booking on the ship. So on the day you board, immediately check availability and make the reservations you wish at Manfredi's and/or Chef's Table. Plus, then you will know what menu is on what day at CT, as well as have a better idea of your personal schedules. I would, however, not wait beyond the first few hours of being on board, as many of the veteran Viking Cruisers I know, including us, use this strategy.

We had a sailaway from Lofoten at 6 PM in July. It really was incredibly spectacular! But again it could depend on weather for you. If it rained, not so much. Sailing out, the best views were on the starboard side. We sat in the Explorers Lounge and watched, and then had a late (8 PM) dinner. Perhaps you wait until onboard and see which menu it is before you make any changes. And check the weather forecast as you get closer. That's what I would do. Keep your time for now and be flexible when you board.

Good question! I will ask the Excursion Manager in person when I seem him/her in a few weeks.

Agreed. In hindsight maybe the "legal" wording should have warned everyone. But sometimes we travelers have to take some initiative and do our own action. We live in a world these days where more and more people want everything told to them and don't think for themselves. Maybe I've been a seasoned traveler too long, but so many things just occur to me to ask and delve deeper when something like this occurs. And then I take the initiative. Sadly, Viking can't think of everything. At some point we travelers have to accept some responsibility to watch out for ourselves too. They try, but there are so many things and one-offs that come up. As I said, I was very happy that for us they took no action and let me decide. Some may say Viking should have called me and shame on them, but I don't agree. I was fine with contacting them.

Had this happen to us just last month. I never though got into the deep analysis that you have done 🙂 When they shifted excursions day 1 to day 2, that then overlapped with ones I had on day 2 - for us it showed double booked on the new day 2 on the calendar. I contacted Viking immediately and they said they rebooked us to the new day 2 and even though we already had some excursions that day, we kept everything. We wanted to give you the opportunity of cancelling or rescheduling any of the 2 you already had on day 2. I was quite pleased that they would give me that opportunity. So we just rescheduled/rebooked them to day 1.

I agree with you on taking cash rather than vouchers. However - you might want to ask now about the voucher splitting issue. We were able to split vouchers over $10,000 into two different cruises. Specifically we had $12K and did $6k against one cruise and the remaining against a different cruise. (pp so 2 x that for couple). I was surprised, but we were told that if the voucher is more than $10K you could do this. Perhaps that has changed now as that was 2 years ago. And yes, there is no refund, but you can apply the remainder to pre-paid gratuities, excursions, etc... Vouchers are all a bit different in rules so look closely. Some you have to completely use before boarding. We have an upcoming cruise where there's about $1.7K left to spend and that voucher's rules says it has to be spent before the cruise is completed (so good use it onboard as well). Vouchers are not created equally.

Just last month we had an Excursion Manager come on board in the middle of our B2B cruise. He was easily the most informative (and understandable) speaker at Port Talk/Excursion Talks. He really laid it out for people in detail on the amount of effort required on excursions. Telling us roughly how many steps to get to a bus, or to downtown, how many steps in the tour, what kind of grade we'd face, estimate of total steps on the tour, total time walking, total time standing, bathroom break times, minutes for shopping and when, and so much more. He also gave good limitation examples - for instance, if you cannot use the stairs to go from deck 4 to 5, then you shouldn't do this tour as their are no lifts, or if you cannot walk 1/4 mile on your own over cobblestones, you should consider other alternatives, or if you cannot make that first 2 foot step up into a bus, then bypass... and more like that. Very practical. Wish this was put into the Excursion descriptions when you purchase them however.

Wow - so totally agree. In fact, we usually don't do extensions but it was so highly recommended by OneSixtytoOne on CruiseCritic, that we did the Athens 4 day one just last March. It was SO good - and WELL worth the value. We stayed at the NVJ Athens Plaza right on Constitution Square - heart of the action. We also loved Mycenae but enjoyed Delphi even more. Lots to do in Athens on our free day so we didn't venture outside the city but some did. Highly recommend this 4 day extension for the value (unlike many other Viking extensions).

Amazing rendition and explanation. Well worth the popcorn! 🙂 Thank you so much. This should be required reading for the many people who continually complain about Viking Air choices and changes and blame Viking all the time.

Totally agree!! Actually our favorite lobster is Lobster Rolls from James Hooke's in Boston. Yum Yum !!

I'd agree, Dee, with one exception we had (the last cruise). We didn't mesh. He wasn't a used car salesman. He was an order taker and didn't volunteer any information. I had to know the questions I wanted to ask and maybe he might answer them. It was like pulling teeth! And he kept looking at his watch - and then finally said - well are you going to buy or not (i.e. please leave it you aren't)... but that was only once!

Nice set of cruises are awaiting you in the future!

Yes - very itinerary driven. We've been on enough Viking cruises to experience pool nights, if any, and all different days. A lot depends on weather, other events already scheduled, and whether there are sea days or not and how many. So many things are scheduled these days with Viking that their schedulers onboard have quite a bit of flexibility. Some events are indeed standard (like the CD solo evening at Star Theatre), but some occur sometimes and not other cruises.

Dee - we've had the same thing happen to us recently. You have to be careful about what you gain/lose when transferring. In our experience, Viking is NOT being more flexible these days as someone had said earlier. And we have an outstanding TA who battles hard for us. Looking at the IPO notes, it would appear Viking has very high occupancy rates in the industry and has a large percentage of 2024 and into 25 booked. So perhaps they are lenient more on the very future bookings rather than 2024.

Kotor is an unbelievable place! Glad you are going. As you've do doubt read in this thread, everyone has a different opinion - either like or dislike the beds. Sort of like everything in life these days. That is why seeking people's opinions on things doesn't mean as much anymore. 🙂

Agree - it was a big disappointment. Can't for the life of me figure out why all the hoopla and fuss about lobster night. People cancel other reservations to attend and line up early even. Good news is that it frees up reservations to Manfredi's or CT on that night - you can walk up with no reservations on Lobster Night 🙂