CDNPolar

VIA shakes you all over the place. Not anywhere near the European train experience.

You can see a description of the shore excursions that might be offered on your cruise. These are not a guarantee that you will have all of these and there could be ones offered that are not listed here.... Go to the Viking River Cruise main website. Select your cruise. Go to the Itinerary page Look at each day on-by-one, click on the excursions offered and you will see a description including the difficulty. Example below: (Note, Demanding listed at the bottom.) After reading these, you could then email tellus@vikingcruises.com to ask specific questions about individual excursions.

Agree with you on the long tables for 8 or 10. Very difficult to carry on conversations. The tables that are oval / round for 6 are great for conversation. Also, if you do sit at a table for 8 or 10 and you sit at the end and side-by-side with your partner, you are basically only going to easily interact with the couple across from you. If we are faced with the larger table we sit across from each other and in the middle of the table so we end up with people on either side of us. Best for variety of conversations.

Yes, I would agree with this. Now that Viking have a scan technology system to know if you are on or off the ship, on our last embarkation of a River Ship, we were on at 11am, but our cabin was not ready until 2pm. We were not issued cabin cards and we could have left the ship and boarded again and Viking would not know. You won't board the ocean ship until you at least have your key card as that is a mandatory to get on or off the ship. River - much more lax.

Do you want to drink a lot of soda's outside of breakfast, lunch, and dinner? The Viking beverage policy is vague with sodas outside of meals if you are not on the SSBP - Silver Spirits Beverage Package. If you stop by the bar in the Living Room on your way back from an excursion, and ask for a can of soda to take to your cabin, then they ask your cabin number. I am assuming that there would be a charge if it was outside of a meal period and you were not on the SSBP. I do know that you cannot buy a package for just soda. This is not a thing with Viking.

After you read the tips discussion, come back with your specific itinerary and outstanding questions.

I am for mask wearing in crowds and confined spaces if you are concerned about anything from Covid to Flu, to any new bug that might be out there... But, I do believe that a major thing we don't all do enough is hand hygiene and keeping our hands away from our eyes, nose, and mouth when we are travelling and touching everything. Always bear in mind that on a cruise ship where Norovirus can happen, that hand sanitizer does not kill Norovirus. You must use soap and wash your hands to kill that bug.

Viking Ocean have a number of "trans-ocean" cruises, but you won't get connecting cabins, or two bedroom suites. Penthouse Veranda or Penthouse Junior Suites may be what you are looking for but these are also all based on double occupancy, so if you are going Viking it could be expensive if you want to have separate but adjoining cabins.

My worry with a high speed train - and this is from my own experience - is that looking out the windows at the speed you are travelling past buildings and landscape could in itself trigger vertigo? I know with ocean cruising, and especially after travelling to Antarctica, that looking at the horizon is key for me to not get seasick, but with the high speed train, I would think it difficult to focus on any object in the landscape for the same effect.

Here is a more detailed article about high speed trains. I am not trying to convince you to take the train, but I understand the dilemma that you have and hope you find a solution. High-speed trains are designed to minimize sway or lateral motion, ensuring a smoother and more comfortable ride for passengers. Several factors contribute to the reduced side-to-side sway in high-speed trains compared to conventional trains: Advanced Suspension Systems Active Suspension: High-speed trains often use active suspension systems that adjust in real-time to changes in track conditions, reducing lateral sway. Damping Mechanisms: They incorporate sophisticated damping mechanisms that absorb and counteract vibrations and swaying motions. Comparison: Conventional trains typically have simpler suspension systems that may not adjust as dynamically, leading to more noticeable sway. Track Design and Quality Dedicated Tracks: High-speed trains often run on dedicated tracks designed specifically for high-speed travel, which are maintained to high standards to minimize imperfections. Banked Curves: Tracks for high-speed trains are often banked in curves (canting), reducing the lateral forces that cause sway. Smoothness: The smoother and more precise track alignment helps in reducing the lateral motion experienced by the train. Train Stability and Aerodynamics Low Center of Gravity: High-speed trains are designed with a low center of gravity, enhancing stability and reducing the likelihood of swaying. Aerodynamic Design: The streamlined and aerodynamic design of high-speed trains reduces the impact of wind forces, which can contribute to sway. Rigid Body Structure: The rigid body structure of high-speed trains helps maintain stability and reduce oscillations. Track and Train Interaction Optimized Bogie Design: The bogies (wheel assemblies) on high-speed trains are designed to maintain better contact with the track, reducing lateral movement. Tight Tolerances: High-speed trains and their tracks are built to tighter tolerances, meaning the interaction between wheels and rails is more controlled, minimizing sway. Continuous Welded Rails: Tracks for high-speed trains are often continuously welded, reducing the number of joints that can cause lateral motion. Advanced Technology and Engineering Tilt Technology: Some high-speed trains, like the Japanese Shinkansen, use tilting technology to counteract lateral forces in curves, reducing the need for sway. Sensors and Feedback Systems: Modern high-speed trains are equipped with sensors and feedback systems that continuously monitor and adjust to track conditions, reducing sway. Precision Engineering: The precision engineering of high-speed train components contributes to less lateral play and more stable travel. 6. Maintenance and Upkeep Regular Maintenance: High-speed rail networks are subject to rigorous maintenance schedules, ensuring tracks and trains are kept in optimal condition to minimize sway. Track Monitoring: Advanced monitoring systems are used to detect and rectify any track irregularities that could lead to increased sway. Examples of High-Speed Trains Shinkansen (Japan): Known for its smooth and stable ride, thanks to advanced suspension systems and precision track design. TGV (France): Features sophisticated damping systems and aerodynamic designs that minimize sway. ICE (Germany): Utilizes active suspension and tilt technology to provide a smooth and stable ride. Comparison with Conventional Trains Less Advanced Suspension: Conventional trains often have less advanced suspension systems, leading to more noticeable lateral motion. Track Quality: Conventional train tracks may not be maintained to the same standards as high-speed tracks, leading to increased sway due to track imperfections. Higher Center of Gravity: Conventional trains may have a higher center of gravity, contributing to greater sway, especially on curves or uneven tracks. Conclusion High-speed trains are engineered to minimize sway, offering a more stable and comfortable ride compared to conventional trains. This is achieved through advanced suspension systems, precise track design, aerodynamic structures, and continuous monitoring and maintenance. The reduced side-to-side motion not only enhances passenger comfort but also improves overall safety and performance at high speeds.

You have some excellent suggestions here for sure. The only thing I will say, and you likely already know this, is you cannot compare ocean to river. The two are so different. We love both but for very different reasons. Time on board will be the main difference you will want to pay attention to. If there is a gym, it will be small. Walking tracks are limited to 8am to 8pm because the folks in the deck below the walking track will hear you, especially if you are heavy footed. Basically speaking one restaurant for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and most have fairly set dining times. One lounge for before and after dinner. I am not trying to dissuade you, I am just telling you how it is. You just don't have the "space" and space options you have on Ocean. Like I said, we love River and Ocean both, but for very different reasons. River to us gets us deeper into a country or countries, with multiple stops that we are sailing through, vs. a single stop in a major city that would be more typical on an ocean cruise.

We love that people drop out of Chef's Table bookings because that makes it easier for us to get reservations. We book every 4 days to get every menu when on board. If one menu is really good we will book again before it rotates out. We love not knowing what is on the menu. That is the fun of a tasting menu.

We have been taken to a few different places, and one cruise had a large hall at the port where we settled in for a couple of hours. Viking will take care of you until boarding. If this is something that you need to know in advance - other than Viking will take care of you - then email tellus@vikingcruises.com and ask this group. Don't call reservations, they don't know answers to these questions.

We were on the Nansen in Antarctica... WiFi worked for us everyday. There is nothing there - no villages - and we had reliable WiFi all the time.

It may be an enrolment centre, but I don't think that you can do your Canadian interview there. It was not an option for me when I had to do the Canadian interview.

I am stuck on this part.... "Whether to drive or take a bus" Do you mean a bus from Toronto to NJ? Leave your car at home and hop on a bus? With kids that young, I think you would want and need the flexibility of being able to stop when you need to at full-blown rest stops over having to deal with kinds and a small airplane sized lavatory while the bus is moving. I see the drive from where I live in West GTA as slightly over 7 hours, so doable in a day with stops if you personally have the stamina. Parking at this port is $30 USD per day. Me - I would drive to the port directly and park. This however would still prompt me to want to arrive at least a day in advance of the embarkation because you never know what may happen on the road that could delay you.

I recognize that this man was assessed as not medically stable to travel after the fact, but this is a reason that you have to pay close attention to having medical insurance and IF you are considered stable with any pre-existing conditions. Buying a medical package does not automatically cover you. There are many, many things to consider. I also recognize that the USA has some of the highest health care costs, but this man was charged 620K in Florida. https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/ontario-man-suffers-cardiac-arrest-in-florida-this-is-why-insurance-won-t-cover-his-620-000-hospital-bill-1.6948922#:~:text=Ontario man suffers cardiac arrest in Florida.,cover his %24620%2C000 hospital bill&text=An Ontario man who wanted,to fly back to Canada. We hope nothing happens when we travel, but I never buy medical insurance under 2 million in coverage.

Agree with @CCWineLover on their recommendations. Also, attend the port talks the day before. Get to know the Shore Ex manager that conducts these talks and talk to her/him/them after the talk about the next day's availability. Often they are looking to fill a bus. We have also been asked to show up at the busses at a certain time the next day as they anticipate no shows and we have been put on busses this way too. (Don't just show up without being advised to do so - you want to be on their list)

Viking have the Viking Voyager App. Download this before you leave home, but you cannot access the App's functionality until you are connected the the ship's WiFi. We always book the lowest cabin type on Viking which comes with no advance restaurant bookings. Within an hour of embarkation we go on the App and we book the restaurants we want, and we have not really encountered any challenge in getting days and times we want. With excursions you have to keep checking back. They open sometimes, and there is usually availability once onboard as people cancel.

I am certainly going to have to sail this ship because the name of the ship is the street name that I grew up on as a kid!

Thanks! We rarely if ever drive across the Canada US border, so I guess that this is why I don't know of this bridge and that it is Nexus only. As I mentioned, when I had to present in person - from a Mississauga location - Fort Erie was the closest and the only option was both sides of the border. I believe that this is still the case.

In my limited experience with high speed trains, they certainly sway less, but there may still be motion. I am saying that theoretically the sway must be and would have to be less or at the speeds they are travelling they would fly off the tracks.... Here is what I have found online which backs up my thoughts. High-speed trains are engineered to minimize sway, offering a more stable and comfortable ride compared to conventional trains. This is achieved through advanced suspension systems, precise track design, aerodynamic structures, and continuous monitoring and maintenance. The reduced side-to-side motion not only enhances passenger comfort but also improves overall safety and performance at high speeds.

Sorry - I don't know what "Whirlpool" is? I am guessing that is a bridge? If so, never used it. This still shows as current for Fort Erie Nexus interviews when I search online. This was the Peace Bridge. When I booked my Canadian interview, this was the only location that was offered at Fort Erie, and it was clear that you make your appointment in advance with the Canadian side, and then you drive over the bridge and present at the US side without an appointment.

This was less than a year ago. I drove to the CBSA site on the Canadian side, then had to drive across the border to the US side for the US interview.

If I am not mistaken, you cannot do this at Pearson unless you are flying that day into or transiting through the USA. There is no land-side US office now, it is only air-side. You must find a site that has a Canadian and US interview option one after the other. We did ours at Fort Erie, and after the Canadian interview (booked) drove across the border to do the US portion. (Not booked, just walk in). Then drove back home.