FetaCheese

@shipboy A funny story I didn't mention about my time in Deck 1 bubbler pool: I was on the Star in Dec 2023/Jan 2024 for Hawaiian Islands Sojourn. While in this pool 1 day, my ship card escaped from my bathing suit, floating to the bottom under the tubular bars. I could see it it, and tried to retrieve it myself, to no avail. Embarrassed, I went to GS to request the pool attendant to retrieve it, and they said they would get it when they empty the pool for cleaning. They made me a replacement card. Guess what? It was still there at the bottom on this voyage !

A feast for our eyes. such a beautiful presentation, and I'm sure everything was delicious.

Yes, that was me. Please respond, as I want to tell you something !

@Hlitner I had learned from a different CC member about DCC, prior to a Spain cruise in 2022, so I used a Caixa Bank ATM to w/d €. At that time, by declining the DCC, I received, a nearly official rate, however, they added on a flat €7 fee for the transaction. I did this at their BCN location, so perhaps that's why an extra fee was charged. Thanks for sharing this information. I was also in Funchal Madeira just recently, and w/d € from a Santander Bank ATM, downtown, declining the DCC, and was pleasantly surprised to receive the nearly official rate of about USD $1.08 and no extra fee was charged. Suspect that each bank sets its own ATM fee policy. Thanks for taking your vacation time to share your cruise impressions with us. Enjoy your cruise!

From SeaTrade Cruise News 05 April 2024 https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/finance-legal-regulatory/viking-ipo-filing-gives-insight-its-financials-and-growth-plans?utm_campaign=SC_News_Seatrade Cruise News Weekly Update_NL_04052024&utm_emailname=SC_News_Seatrade Cruise News Weekly Update_NL_04052024&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eloqua&utm_MDMContactID=9d5bd72d-7f4c-4493-b015-48013d5850ea&utm_campaigntype=Newsletter&eM=aa701701123f0394af13ba72c3450f5afc29342d5a552fc03cb711122d86b6d0&eventSeriesCode=ES_SEATRDCRSCTNT&eventEditionCode=MTM00SCC&sessionCode=S_STRDCRSNEWS&sp_eh=aa701701123f0394af13ba72c3450f5afc29342d5a552fc03cb711122d86b6d0

Purchased Travel Insured Intl, Flexipax from Steve. Only available thru brokers. Plan covers up to 30 days only. Also have purchased IMG, from Steve. Also a nice plan. (There is a CC page for Travel Insurance -- that's where I found many recommendations for TIS, Steve.)

@jonthomas Welcome back! Thanks for your objective assessment of shorex credit. Other than that disappointment, how well did you enjoy your voyage? Considering a Caribbean cruise in the fall, port heavy, so shorex credit if of importance to me. Our last cruise there on O in 2019, 2 ports were cancelled, and I would also justifiably be annoyed if new shorex credits were lost, and other shorex were not available. FetaCheese

Wondering if you asked for a cabin change, and if so, what was response and resolution ?

@CCWineLover Thank you for your appreciation. Yes, met Dobie, and had a few meals together. Nothing booked yet. Considering an O cruise for Nov 2024. I had purchased a Future Cruise Deposit Certificate last Sept, when on Regatta Alaska cruise, so focusing on O now, which we really enjoy. Similar to V in many ways.

You're welcome, enjoy your cruise!

Continuing... 1st column fare was €1,000 more than offered fare. This same €1,000 fare difference was up and down all cabin cats. So not sure if UK has different marketing laws than those is US. Next, learned that grats are included in fare price. SM shorex credit is given in USD, ( same amount as US website). Did a quick currency conversion, and UK prices seemed to be somewhat higher, even accounting for $18 pppd grats.

Sorry, slightly off topic, but tangentially related to pricing, and didn't want to start a new topic. Whilst on our Viking TA, (just returned from BCN yesterday), I looked at O website to check in on a cruise of interest. Website was UK site, and could not get to US site. Pricing was in €. Was interesting to see that there was none of the 2 for 1 fare marketing scheme. 1st did not include air. 1st column gular fare was uniformly €1,000 higher than offered fare. This same €1,000 fare difference was across all cabin cats.

Again, a wonderful cruise experience on Viking. Met many interesting, well traveled and friendly pax. Enjoyed many of the 4 lecturers' presentations, especially the CIA agent, Don Wyman. Meals were very nice. Always many choices available in both Restaurant, WC and Manfredi's. (Didn't dine in CT). Yes, a few misses, but nothing about which to complain. Included Wines were satisfactory to very fine. A different red or white was always available when asked. Crew and staff were uniformly friendly, hard working, and always eager to accommodate any wishes. Our Cabin Stewards were very efficient and friendly, and maintained our cabin in excellent condition every day. ( Cabin had a couple maintenance issues, and once reported, were quicky addressed to our satisfaction.) Was pleased with entire entertainment team, especially cast of 4 vocalists, and John, guitarist/singer, and Simina, pianist. CD Damian was always visible, and took time to chat with us, and many other pax. One of the finest CDs we've encountered in over 40 years of around 50 cruises.

We arrived into Barcelona a little earlier than planned, due to medical emergency. However, Tours ran at scheduled times. All pax - even if staying onboard - were required to disembark for face to face passport control in term., which was very efficient. We had purchased timed independent tkts to La Sagrada Familia from home, on-line only. After morning packing and lunch, we took a taxi to LSF. Driver told me taxis have a surcharge for pickup/drop-off at cruise term. Again, I thought we tourists were taken the long way to ship from LSF, as fare was €5 more than going there. Unfortunately, the rain started just as we arrived, and had to wait across from entrance, as they don't let you in until either 20 or 30 min earlier than time on tkts. (different guards, different answers - just like V telephone reps!) We had purchased guided tkts , and met our guide at appropriate time. Excellent English, and a very knowledgeable guide. They use Q Vox like devices. Would have liked to stay downtown after tour, but was raining very hard, so taxied back to ship. Then Had a coffee at LR, when we saw @stretchcruz , and invited them to join us for a nice chat. After a nice dinner in Restaurant, went to aforementioned 8 pm Dest Performance, which was really entertaining. Then back to cabin, as we had a 7:15am airport transfer. Our group was called on time, and was led to disembark ship. Luggage was all grouped by color, and we found our bags. Lots of ground reps and porters available. (In my opinion, it amazes me that so many pax don't use porters - after spending many thousands of dollars for the cruise - a couple dollars per bag tip - makes luggage handling so easy.) About a half hour ride to BCN, Coach unloaded at term 1. Bags offloaded and identified, handed over to Viking provided porters, to take to check-in counter. A V rep was with our group to lead us to appropriate airline counter. I must emphasize that I was quite impressed with the efficiency of the entire disembarkation and airport transfer operation. Thank you Viking. After check-in, we were fortunate to be able to use the fast lane security line and then on to the "Joan Miro" lounge. This was by far the finest airport lounge we've been to. After a short visit we then walked, and walked, and walked to our gate, the last gate in area E. Was hard to believe, but AA plane was not there. Pax were bussed to Plane at different term (2). We did not want to use escalator to tarmac level, so asked if elevator was available. Yes, so We were then asked to wait aside. The adventure began. We were part of a group of 6 pax, who took elevator down, where a special transfer vehicle was waiting to transfer us to board aircraft. Elevator platform to load us in. Drove to plane, then vehicle elevated to starboard side where we just walked into plane from front of vehicle. (I do not like to use escalators with carry-on luggage, and not handicapped, so that's why I requested elevator To tarmac. Didn't know that we would be transferred the above way.). An airport rep accompanied us the entire time, checking manifest, passports, and boarding passes multiple times. Again, hard to understand why sometimes, pax have to walk up stairs to board aircraft, when jetways have been standard for decades.

@Liz Masterson Thanks for your kind comments. I enjoyed posting. I've learned a lot from CC regulars and hope my live from will help pax, both newbies and repeaters.

Arrived home today a couple hours ago. Will post activities and thoughts after catching up with things here. Lots to tell about Sun. / Mon. All was good.

This is 4th VO cruise. Tonight's was 1st destination performance we experienced. Nothing brought on for Greek Odyssey, another TA, and Hawaiian Islands Sojourn. Was really lots of fun, with some pax brought on stage to dance for last #

Overnighting in BCN. Disembarking tomorrow, except for the 97 fortunate pax staying on to Venice. Tonight a Destination performance brought on, "La Rumba Catalana", guitar and flamenco show. Very entertaining.

Returned from final Viking Vocalists Show tonight, "Southern Sounds". A fine performance by the group. Also included CD and asst. CD singing 1 song each. A nice Easter gift from Viking was waiting on our desk.

Was just ready to respond, and @Peregrina651 was faster. Spot on advice. Will add: Wine lists on VO can, and do change mid voyage. This has occurred on 2 of our cruises. Have always been satisfied with included wines, if SSBP not purchased. Remember, even without pkg, one can order any wine by glass for, in my opinion, a very reasonable charge, grat included.

Today we attended a cooking class in Kitchen Table. We learned how to make paella. There are many ways to prepare paella. Led by Chef Junner. He was very informative and all present seemed to enjoy the class. I volunteered and accepted invitation to begin the stovetop prep, then another pax took over. After eating our paella, which was very delicious, the chef led us on a galley tour. Cooking classes are not publicized in V Daily. Must sign up at GS early in voyage, as # is limited to 8 pax. Held on Sea days only. Thanks to CC V regulars, I learned this and also about booking ship tours (also not publicized) with GS early on. Other themes were Italian, French, etc. Was a nice experience, and in my opinion,was time and $69pp, well spent.

Hello from Viking Star. Tonight, On Viking Today, CD Damian has announced that they are bringing back...Abba and Beatles Shows. He didn't say when it would be restarted. Hinted that it also could be a slightly different repertoire. Not sure it is fleetwide. Anyone else hear about this?

Cheese display in WC, port side, tonight. Sushi on Starboard side, in place of seafood display. Seas are still rough.

We departed Madeira 1 hour 40 minutes ago. (5pm - we are EDT +4). Captain's announcement broke into cabins to say seas would be rough with 48 mph winds until 3 am.

Birds still on Star. Have also heard ocean waves. Will now listen for the boar and anything else they are adding.