Vikingfan#1

Thanks for commenting. Looking forward to the tour and the spectacular views!

We are taking a (5 hour) half day tour to Montserrat with Barcelona Day Tours on December 9th. They pick us up at the dock at 8:30 and return us to ship or anywhere else in Barcelona by 2:00. It costs 69 euros no matter how many people go but the max is 12. If you are at the dock on the 9th, join us if interested! 

We did the same thing as planterx2. Booked with Rodne tours on line. Paid about $45 or so last year in July to do the same excursion as Viking did for $159. Viking stopped for waffles on an island--that was the only difference from Rodne and not worth $100 more in my opinion. Nice cruise thru the beautiful fjords.

We had a guaranteed cabin and did receive an upgrade on the Viking Sky Homelands cruise. It started my trip with much joy!!

Went there last week with skip the line tickets, took maybe 15 minutes to get inside. From the outside you get a sense, from the inside you get an understanding. We took mini bus tour and saw the key sites plus inside the coleseum and vatican, and had a leisurely lunch.

What tour group did you use and price? Do you recommend them?

I have a question about the pools on the Viking Ocean ships. Are they salt water or fresh water?

 

I’ve heard that they are deep - too deep for most people to stand. I can tread water for a good while in salt water, but not as long in fresh water. DH unfortunately doesn’t do well in water over his head. Do they allow floatation devices? [emoji16] Can you sit on the side? It looks like there’s a ledge with water on it. That would work.

 

I’m counting down to our cruise! Viking Sea here we come!

 

 

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The pool on the Viking Sky was very small and few people used it on our trip in July. I can't remember if there was a ledge to sit on, but someone could sit on the steps entering the pool. The hot tub is beside the pool and gives a great view of the ocean. I think the pool was fresh water.

We were on the Homeland cruise-- Viking Sky Aug. 15-31. We loved the shows at night! The dancing and singing performers were wonderful and very talented. We enjoyed the Caberet, Rat Pack, Abba, Broadway shows as well as the other ones I can't name! We attended one movie night in the theater which included popcorn--not hungry but ate it anyway! We also attended a show with dancing by performers and guests --I think it was by the pool one night. After 2 Viking River cruises (which I loved!) with only piano playing, cooking demo and port talks for entertainment, the ocean cruise was a wonderful change having so much more to offer on a larger ship.

Vikingfan#1, where are you now? I hoped to meet you midway ;) We are in Copenhagen right now :)

We just left Tallin, Estonia--sailing to St. Petersburg now. We met the Viking Star yesterday and blew the horn as I was lounging by the pool!

The Viking Sky is an awesome ship! We had our Cruise Critic Meet and Mingle last night and several officers of the ship joined us. It was so nice, and they provided cocktails and appetizers. It was also nice to meet the people on cruise critic!

I booked excursions for my friend and myself with separate credit cards. I also was able to schedule the included excursions.

Yesterday Rostock. Showers in the morning but sunny and warm after lunch. Had a beer on the balcony in a tee shirt waiting for those who went to Berlin to return. Cloudy this morning on the way to Gdansk. Surprises .. none that come to mind. Everything is either good, great, or perfect .. at least that is our experience so far.

Love your comment "good, great or perfect"!

Thank you .. just one last FYI. As we sailed

from Stavanger in the sunshine it was

lovely if protected from the wind but cold

aft on the open deck. The wind was really

chilly .. so it is not just the temp but the

affect of the breeze. Bring layers ❄️😀

Has anything surprised you or been different than you expected? Where are you now?

Thanks for the feedback, Armac, Desdichado62 and Heartgrove. We are only in Stockholm from 10am to 6pm and I'm not sure where the ship "docks".

Armac - I'm doing private tour with SPB for St. Petersburg (was less worried about missing the ship with private tour because we're in St.P for 2 days. Were you ever worried with them about missing boat? Would you mind sharing your Stockholm itinerary with me? Love the idea of private tours. I know we can see and learn so much more although the $$ do add up.

Was also considering SPB for Tallin private tour. Not sure if it's worth it?

Desdichado62 - when the "archipelago excursion mentions we will , "drive through countryside to experience Vaxholm. Continue across the Island of Rindo to reach Varmdo. (a summer vacation community. Lunch in Siggesta Gard and then visit community of Gustavsberg" Do you know if this is all just archipelago and nothing really that we wouldn't see/experience as we sail through. Know nothing about this area.

Thanks everybody!!!!

We are doing a private tour in Stockholm with InsiderTour. They offer several and we are doing the Essential 5 Hour Stockholm tour which includes City Hall, Vasa Museum, walking tour in old town and panoramic bus tour. You can join us if you are there on 19/7!

Refund for Eidfjord to on board account.

I would have preferred refund to credit

card where we paid from, but not a big

issue. Walking tour yesterday was cool

enough to require shirt, sleeveless pullover,

jacket and long trousers (for me anyway).

We started at 8.45am. By mid morning as

it warmed up I could have done without

the sleeveless pullover but I needed the

jacket to keep my arms warm.

Again, it was as much about the

breeze as the air temp.

Thanks for posting! Packing is difficult!

Thank you .. just one last FYI. As we sailed

from Stavanger in the sunshine it was

lovely if protected from the wind but cold

aft on the open deck. The wind was really

chilly .. so it is not just the temp but the

affect of the breeze. Bring layers ❄️😀

Did you take the cruise to Pulpit Rock? If so, with Viking, Rodne or Norled!?

Thank you .. just one last FYI. As we sailed

from Stavanger in the sunshine it was

lovely if protected from the wind but cold

aft on the open deck. The wind was really

chilly .. so it is not just the temp but the

affect of the breeze. Bring layers ❄️😀

Is it cold in town when touring and shopping?

Yes, cool and wet. Docking in Eidfjord yesterday was not possible due to high winds. Lots of rain as well. Heavy coat necessary out on deck. Today in Stavanger is much warmer and some blue sky. As always the weather is hard to predict .. so be prepared. ☔️

What did Viking do about the paid excursions when you couldn't dock in Eidfjord?

For some reason they didn't cling. Maybe the detergent?

Could be!

I did bring dryer sheets. They don't weigh a thing. I think you would miss it if you normally use them at home. I, also, brought Unstoppables (sp) for the washing machine.

Good to know--I'll pack dryer sheets. Nkt sure what "unstoppables" are...

Should we bring dryer sheets so the fabrics won't have static cling?

We plan to take the train from Oslo to Bergen next year (early March) before starting our Hurtigruten RT Bergen-Kirkenes-Bergen.

 

We understand that the train is wonderful.

Given that, is it still worthwhile to do the Flam RR also?

 

I don't think we have time to do the Flam-and-back to Myrdal all the same day en route from Oslo to Bergen, plus we'll have luggage with us.

So the choice would be to start afresh in Bergen, and that would take another full day, if I understand it right.

 

 

Suggestions?

Thanks.

I'm curious to hear the answer to this question. In 3 weeks I'll be taking the Bergen Railway from Voss to Geilo. Hope I'm not missing the best scenery on the part I don't see--Bergen to Voss and Geilo to Oslo!

We had the same thing happen. The cruise we're booked on had nothing available in our category. Because we were good customers of Viking we were told that we would be assigned a cabin. Whether we get an upgrade or someone else in our category gets the upgrade we don't care. As long as we have a cabin we'll be happy. We're on the November 20 Viking Sea cruise out of Rome ending in Athens.

Did you receive an upgrade? I havent heard of anyone who received one. We have a guaranteed cabin and are hoping to see what a higher up cabin offers. We were told that the Viking Penthouse is a good possibility since the verandas have sold out. If we get one and love it, we may have to take the plunge on our next cruise and move up!! :cool:

I'm in the same boat here (see what i did there? ha!). We booked a "guaranteed" cabin. Since we are totally okay with the lowest stateroom category, better than okay really, it was more of a bonus to have the chance for an upgrade. But if we just get the room we paid for, it'll still be amazing :) I'm sailing the Romantic Mediterranean in Jan.

 

Good luck and let us know if you actually got that upgrade or not!

Did you get an upgrade? We also have a guaranteed cabin with hopes for an upgrade!

We are waitlisted for a V2 cabin. The Viking reservation agent said as we are past (and recent) Viking river cruise passengers we had a good chance for an upgrade.

 

Does anyone have any experience on this? Last time I tried the guarantee game--I got the cabin I paid for (mini-suite on Princess)--

 

I am dreaming that I will get a DV cabin or higher? That I will know what cabin before we leave for the cruise?

Did you get your upgrade?? I haven't heard of anyone given one by Viking. Im hoping to get one on the Homeland cruise 7/15! I've been told that all the verandas have sold so I could get a penthouse--wow! Should I not get my hopes up??

I was just there May 28-31 on the Viking extension after our Homelands cruise. It was in the mid-40s and very windy/rainy, so definitely bring some sort of water resistant outer garment.

 

As for the Blue Lagoon, yes, you can bring flip flops or water shoes in. The floor is flat though so don't worry too much about your feet getting cut up-it's certainly not like the Blue Lagoon in Malta! In regards to privacy, no, there isn't a great deal of it. You will be sent to a locker room of your gender, where you will get a wristband and a locker. It is one big room, and that's where everyone is expected to change. There are only a couple of restrooms, and they're mostly taken by people actually using the toilet. You will also have to shower: there are several communal showers where you must take your suit off (still in your gender's locker room), and about 6-8 private stalls. This is what I opted for, because I'm a shy American �� Then you can walk downstairs and swim in the Lagoon. I recommend using the mud they provide in the Lagoon for a face mask, it was a really fun experience! Also, folks with longer hair, do not get it wet in the water, the silica will dry it like CRAZY!

Wow. I'm an extremely shy American!! Can I wear my bathing suit under my clothes, leave the clothes in the locker and shower in a private stall, taking the suit off? The idea of walking naked from the locker room to the shower causes me great anxiety!!