CDNPolar

Extensions or power bars that don't have surge protectors are allowed. We have found a plug adaptor that has not only the standard North American outlet plug but 4 USB outlets as well. This allows a plug from a laptop, and then 4 USB cords to charge phones, watches, etc. No need for a power bar with a couple of these and much easier to carry.

I only drink decaf coffee and I am an early riser and want that decaf in my cabin - usually by 5:00am or 5:30am. I put the room service card out each night before bed and very routinely get my decaf coffee delivered to my cabin. We generally book only V1's or V2's and these don't have the coffee makers, but they are way too loud for 5:00am as my husband sleeps while I have my coffee. I have heard coffee makers through the walls from the next cabin before. I always mark on the room service menu for one KNOCK on the door or only one push of the buzzer when the coffee arrives and to leave it on the floor outside the door. This never wakes him.

Clickbait including this discussion. Got me to click! haha

No, these should be attached when you collect your luggage at your final destination and when you are surrendering your luggage to the cruise line. If you have to arrange your own transportation to the ship, don't attach them until you are at the cruise terminal. If the cruise is picking you up at the airport, attach these at the time you pass your luggage over. These tags are ONLY for the cruise line to get your luggage to your cabin. They are in danger of being damaged or lost if you attach them before your flight.

I may be very wrong with this, but what we expect in North America in liability is desperately missing in other parts of the world. That is why we should all buy medical insurance when we travel. I have climbed some sketchy stairs without railings and rock steps carved out of a rock face and my thought is that this is my risk and no one is going to pay me any life changing windfall if I am injured.

We are doing West Indies to Iberia on Viking in October. Barcelona to San Juan. 6 days at sea. From what I read about Viking is that they have plenty to keep you busy.

If you don't ask you will not get. We learned this a long time ago. "Sorry, I really don't enjoy Chardonnay. Do you have another included white?" "Yes Sir, we do, I will be right back with a couple of choices." The fact is that most of the wines on the Wine List are not that much superior to the daily included wines in price or quality and they aim to please. We have experienced rules that bend many times without a second thought if you ask. They just have more stock of the included wines.

We have so many times asked if there are any other choices - both for included wines, and SSBP. We have rarely if ever been disappointed and told no. We find this to be true with the Wine Stewards, and have never asked a Bartender, but we will now.

You are dealing with companies that are not registered in the USA, ships that are not flagged in the USA, and travel providers that are not registered in the USA. I don't think that US standards, expectations, and litigious nature will hold up in other countries. I may be completely wrong, but I would not assume that tripping on uneven pavement in a foreign country would net any kind of legal satisfaction. Just walk down the streets in Buenos Aires and you have to have eyes all around you at all times because of the gaps and the holes and the shambles that are their sidewalks... injuries are just waiting to happen and I would say that those travel providers are not concerned about legal action.

Again, this is a question (above) to put to your insurance company. You may not find obvious language in the policy that covers this specific situation, but that does not mean that it is not covered. When you call and if they do - for either post #1 or #3 - tell you that you are covered, then get this in writing. Here is my opinion, that may be right or wrong, but after months of reading insurance policies of many companies this is my thinking: 1) Trip cancellation / Interruption insurance is likely only going to cover you for something booked through the cruise line. If you go out on your own and book some random company and they are late returning you to the ship, I would doubt that you would have coverage. 2) We have booked tours with companies that will automatically refund if the ship has to miss the port. We have never booked with one that did not refund for that reason. These are companies that know well the situation of cruising and want the cruise ship business. I do think that this could be covered by cancellation / interruption insurance BUT, again, I would call the insurance company and get their answer in writing. I have also found with insurance companies that you have to be very detailed in your description of the situation as some agents react and answer without fully understanding the situation.

This has been our experience as well that the cruise line we use and prefer, the prices only go up. We look at the itinerary up to two years out (or as soon as the itineraries are released) and if it meets our needs/desires as to destination and price, we book and pay the deposit. We know that larger ships and lines have promotions closer to sailing if they are not selling out the cabins, but our. preferred line does not.

Are you suggesting that if a guide, or the cruise line misrepresents the difficulty of an excursion that there would be liability if you were injured? This is what I think you are saying... If so, then I would suggest that you look to your cruise line terms and I am sure that by purchasing your cruise you are releasing the cruise line and the tour provider from any liability coming from a misrepresentation. Excursions are basically at your own risk. Here is just a bit of the language from the Viking passenger contract: ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY OR LIABILITY WHATSOEVER FOR ACTS OR OMISSIONS OF THE CARRIER OR THOSE PERSONS OR ENTITIES PROVIDING TRAVEL SERVICES, ACCOMMODATIONS OR ANY OTHER ELEMENT OF A CRUISE TOUR. VRC IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR DAMAGE, INJURY, ILLNESS, DEATH, LOSS, ACCIDENT, DELAY OR IRREGULARITY OF ANY KIND, OCCASIONED BY REASON OF ANY ACT OR OMISSION ARISING DURING OR FROM THE CRUISE TOUR.

That is a question that you need to pose directly to your insurance company. This could be different with every insurance company. Personally I doubt it however.

No doubt, this is what scares me about the bigger ships. Lines, waiting, etc. My nephew loves the big ships and the bigger the better but they don't leave the ship. They take their kids and it is all about alcohol (adults) and waterslides (kids and adults) and all the other stuff. They don't wait because they do nothing that requires waiting. On a Viking Ocean ship you can be "invisible" if you want to be but we love Viking for the fact that the crew learn our names and we are known.

Drones have a very specific "buzzing" sound from the speed of the propellers and we also experienced people sharing their distaste for this sound when they could hear it. With all the permission and care possible taken, it just was not a pleasant experience for us and so we sold the drone shortly after our last time using it.

Welcome to Cruise Critic. You will hopefully get someone to comment on this particular river cruise itinerary as I have not done this one. River cruising for those with mobility concerns can be a challenge. First, there is no guarantee on river levels and that you will dock in the planned spots. You could be docking further away if water levels are high or low which then would indicate bussing where walking would be the situation under normal water conditions. This is something that you just never know with river cruising. Last December we were on a Rhine cruise and we could not dock a couple of times in the planned location, and were a 15 minute bus ride from the town. What you may or will experience is uneven surfaces and cobblestones in most ports. For those with mobility concerns the cobblestones can often present a challenge.

If you have not already, please email tellus@vikingcruises.com about the excursion descriptions. I emailed them some time ago, and they thanked me for my suggestion and indicated that they were forwarding it on to the shore excursion team. We need to band together on these things because discussing them here on CC does not effect change at Viking. I understand that you are putting in your comments on the surveys, but with the 100's of surveys completed everyday, how long does it take for a comment to actually surface to the right department?

We know people that are waiting for ships bigger than they are now. They love these massive ships and don't even leave the ship at ports. They are there only for the ship and the waterslides and other activities.

Good for you and thank you.

I am just happy that one, we are not sun lovers, and two we don't sit by the pool. If I had to deal with the folks that drop their stuff and not return for hours, I think I would lose my #@#$@. I have sat in a section of a Viking ship that is just off the pool area. I have watched the loungers along the side of the ship that look out the windows "occupied" for hours without anyone actually sitting in these chairs. I don't understand the mentality of people who think that they own that chair even if they are not using it.

I have been on the big or bigger ships and my complaint is that it is hard to find peace and quiet anywhere. We cruise on adult only lines and that does not always mean quiet, but there are always quiet places. The ships we cruise on hold 930 guests but look as though there are built for 1200+ because there are always seats at the pool, the spa, the restaurants... Very calm atmosphere. I know that this not what everyone is looking for however.

It is personal taste. We like smaller (1000 guests) and more intimate surroundings. We are not on a cruise for waterslides, casinos, and parties.

For anyone that is not experienced using a drone, they typically return to the GPS location where they launched. If the ship is moving that position is very likely an open area of ocean and yes, it would end up in the ocean. We only used our drone once on a River ship. We had permission from the Captain, the cruise line, and the country we were in. We used it while onboard only once and that was on the Douro River while we were in a lock. We wanted the arial view. When we reached the top of the lock, but not yet sailing again, we did one "buzz" around the ship for a 360 view. Immediately after this we had a complaint that we were invading the privacy of the guests but what turned out to be the case is the person doing the complaining was smoking on her balcony and she thought that she had been exposed. Of course smoking is not allowed on the balcony.

Oh, I am with you on this... There seems to be a Hal Monitor on every cruise.

Please no offence intended in this correction, but the SSBP is a per night charge, not per day. Per night changes the cost as often "days" adds at least one extra to the count of the cost. If you are calculating whether the cost is worth it, then you should be counting the nights you are on the ship.