Selion

Avoid the included "Panoramic Corfu & Old Town Walking Tour." It was a waste of time. Do the included walking tour at Dubrovnik first thing in the morning (make sure you have GoT theme on a loop), then you have the rest of the day to wander around the city or venture outside. Too bad the cable car wasn't running last March (scheduled to open on April 1, 2022), but check the schedule for your trip. All of Viking's excursions at Katakolon last March included Olympia. The included excursion only takes you to Olympia and a bit of free time afterwards. Others may include local foods or olive farms. We only did the included Olympia excursion. As it was our first time there, we found it to be educational. If you want to learn more about olives, do "Countryside & Cuisine" at Kotor. Well worth the extra costs.

Take this to heart with Viking. Viking, unlike some mass market lines, will NOT give any concessions if fare drops after final payment. No stateroom category upgrades, no extra OBC, no FCC. Nothing. Guess this is one of the reasons why Viking doesn't send marketing materials to guests with future bookings.

Thanks, @Clay Clayton! Checked out 'Into the Midnight Sun' sailings, V & DV are at least $1000 off per person + free booze using the code. Dollars off get larger with higher categories, but PV's savings aren't as impressive as the savings in DV. I think I just heard DW turning off our credit cards on her phone... Darn it!!! With code: Without code:

River "Holiday Sale" for select 2023 European river sailings Free Cattle-class Air Free Extra Booze Offer Code VHT22 Offer ends Dec 31, 2022 https://www.viking.com/promotions/us/river/VHT22/20221215 Offer VHT22: Offer valid on bookings made from Dec 13 to Dec 31, 2022. Free international airfare and complimentary Silver Spirits Beverage Package valid on 2023 departures of Rhine Getaway; Romantic Danube; Danube Waltz; Grand European Tour; Lyon & Provence; Paris to the Swiss Alps; Cities of Light; Holland & Belgium; Elegant Elbe; Passage to Eastern Europe; Capitals of Eastern Europe; Lyon, Provence & the Rhineland. Air pricing varies per itinerary/departure. For additional itineraries, call for details. Prices are in US dollars and for US residents only. Air does not have to be purchased to get cruise/tour offer. All fares reflect cruise taxes, port taxes and fees. Additional restrictions may apply. Airfares vary on other itineraries, gateways and departures. Air offers not valid on Alaska, Hawaii, San Juan and Mexico City; call for details. Book by Dec 31, 2022; pay in full by Jan 31, 2023 or at time of booking if within 90 days of departure. Offer expires Dec 31, 2022.

You're welcome, @Squawkman! I debated whether to post this promo or not, given what happened with the Polaris recently. But life goes on and we make the determination of risk v. rewards based on our own tolerances.

Expedition promo for Feb to Mar 2023 sailings. Free Air Free Silver Spirit Beverage Package Offer Code PAT22 Offer expires Dec 31, 2022 https://www.viking.com/promotions/us/expedition/PAT22/20221214 Offer PAT22: Offer valid on bookings made from Dec 14 to Dec 31, 2022. Free roundtrip airfare and complimentary Silver Spirits Beverage Package valid on Feb 20; Mar 13 & 18, 2023 departures of Chilean Fjords & Patagonia Explorer; Mar 27, 2023 departure of Panama & Scenic South America; Apr 13, 2023 departure of Canada & the Atlantic Coastline; Mar 13, 2023 departure of Patagonia to Canada Grand Explorer; Mar 13, 2023 departure of Patagonia, Fjords & Panama Canal; Mar 6, 2023 departure of Patagonian Shores & Chilean Fjords. Air pricing varies per itinerary/departure. For additional itineraries, call for details. Prices are in US dollars and for US residents only. Air does not have to be purchased to get cruise/tour offer. All fares reflect cruise taxes, port taxes and fees. Additional restrictions may apply. Airfares vary on other itineraries, gateways and departures. Air offers not valid on Alaska, Hawaii, San Juan and Mexico City; call for details. Book by Dec 31, 2022; pay in full by at time of booking. Offer expires Dec 31, 2022.

Nice! Thanksgiving week cruise the guitarist was Mark on V Sea. We actively avoided the Explorer's Lounge when he was playing!

Since you didn't list any specific questions, here are some threads you may find useful: Tips for New Viking Ocean Cruisers 1st Timer Questions Venice or Chiaggio? Must Read if you are considering using Viking Air

Update: EHT22 has been extended to Dec 31. Above link still works.

We were on the Sea during Thanksgiving week. Same offer. Didn't bother talking to the Future Cruise person. Even back in March 2022 the offer to book while onboard was better.

Interesting. Wonder if it'd still be at Villefranche-Sur-Mer or right by Monaco.

Ocean promo for select departure dates in 2023 in the Med. Free Stateroom Upgrade Free International Air Offer Code MFS22 December 9 to December 16, 2022 https://www.viking.com/promotions/us/ocean/MFS22/20221209 Offer MFS22: Offer valid on bookings made from Dec 9 to Dec 16, 2022. Best available stateroom in category (Deluxe Veranda and Penthouse Veranda) plus free international airfare valid on Jan 3 & 10, 2023 departures of Ancient Mediterranean Treasures; Jan 17, 2023 departure of Journey to Antiquities; Feb 7, 2023 departure of Greek Odyssey; Mar 17, 2023 departure of Venice, the Adriatic & Greece; Apr 3, 2023 departure of Iconic Western Mediterranean. Call for details. Prices are in US dollars and for US residents only. Air does not have to be purchased to get cruise/tour offer. All fares reflect cruise taxes, port taxes and fees. Additional restrictions may apply. Airfares vary on other itineraries, gateways and departures. Air offers not valid on Alaska, Hawaii, San Juan and Mexico City; call for details. Book by Dec 16, 2022; pay in full at time of booking. Offer expires Dec 16, 2022. Edit (and off topic): Just notice Iconic Western Med now says Monte Carlo, Monaco as the port, instead of Villefranche-Sur-Mer that we anchored at a few weeks ago. If the ship will dock at Monaco, that'd be an excellent change.

That's an itinerary I'd jump on, but it's not available for Sep 2023. Also, I just did a search for May 2023 and that's not showing either. We know how MSC can be with itinerary & ship changes...

Yeah, but have you checked the air fares to FDF or PTP? At least for my area, it's more expensive than flying to Europe! Years ago before Ocean Cay opened, I remember MSC used to sail to Costa Maya, Roatan and Belize on some of their western Carib itins. No longer. We get 1 to 2 days at Ocean Cay. I like a day or so at a private island, but not at the expense of visiting other ports.

Cruise line doesn't offer excursions that fit your planning timeframe? We can always book private excursions. Nobody said we can only book Viking excursions. To be frank, after last week's experience in France & Italy I'm now more inclined to book excursions outside of Viking.

We embarked in Barcelona two Saturdays ago, then took a walk later that day. By the time we returned to the ship around 7PM, the check-in counter was still staffed and there was a couple who had just arrived and was checking in then.

First promo of December that I've seen. Viking River cruises Reduced Fares Free international air "Limited Space" Promo Code: VMT22 December 1 to December 8, 2022 https://www.viking.com/promotions/us/river/VMT22/20221120 Offer VMT22: Offer valid on bookings made from Dec 1 to Dec 8, 2022. Reduced fares plus free international airfare valid on Mar-Apr 2023 departures of Danube Waltz; Lyon & Provence; Elegant Elbe; Paris to the Swiss Alps; Mar 23 departures of Tulips & Windmills. Air pricing varies per itinerary/departure; call for details. Prices are in US dollars and for US residents only. Air does not have to be purchased to get cruise/tour offer. All fares reflect cruise taxes, port taxes and fees. Additional restrictions may apply. Airfares vary on other itineraries, gateways and departures. Air offers not valid on Alaska, Hawaii, San Juan and Mexico City; call for details. Book by Dec 8, 2022; pay in full by Jan 31, 2023. Offer expires Dec 8, 2022.

Found a photo of the damages on the Polaris: https://news.trenddetail.com/news/266540.html

The cruise line doesn't offer the excursion you wanted? We can always book private excursions.

Straight from airport to the ship. As mentioned before if you want to see Rome, you'll need to fly in a few days earlier on your own or add a Viking pre-cruise extension. Based on my recent experience with Viking's tour operator in Italy & France (Trumpy Tours), I'm recommending doing it on your own.

This was what I had to go through with my March 2022 cruise. But we are veering off-topic on a dead horse... 😱

Yes, free air is always economy. On some promos, there are options to book Prem. Econ or Business class. PE could be a deal. I've seen $1300 from US east coast to Europe with the free air promo. Business class is more hit or miss. Viking wanted $3500pp for biz for the same city pair (IAD-AMS). That's a hard pass...

https://www.viking.com/promotions/us/ocean/WFA22/20221113 Viking Ocean Promo on select December 2022 to February 2023 sailings. In addition to what's listed by Viking, these sailings have some of the lowest fares I've seen on these itineraries. Free International Air Complimentary Upgrade (V2-DV1 at same fare; PV3-PV1 at same fare on the ones I looked at) Promo Code WFA22 Offer Ends Nov 21, 2022 Offer valid on bookings made from Nov 13 to Nov 21, 2022. Complimentary category upgrade up to Deluxe Veranda (DV1) plus free international airfare valid on Dec 2022-Feb 2023 departures of Australia & New Zealand; Dec 2022 departures of Iconic Western Mediterranean; Dec 2022 & Jan 2023 departures of Journey to Antiquities; Jan 2023 departures of Ancient Mediterranean Treasures; Dec 2022 departures of Greek Odyssey; Dec 2022 departure of Classic Panama Canal Passage. Call for details. Prices are in US dollars and for US residents only. Air does not have to be purchased to get cruise/tour offer. All fares reflect cruise taxes, port taxes and fees. Additional restrictions may apply. Airfares vary on other itineraries, gateways and departures. Air offers not valid on Alaska, Hawaii, San Juan and Mexico City; call for details. Book by Nov 21, 2022; pay in full at time of booking. Offer expires Nov 21, 2022.

I understand the intent. If they really don't want cruisers in town, why not just ban cruise ships all together? Seems to me whoever came up with the 1000/day number knows the cruise industry pretty well.

So... Basically they voted to let the well-to-do cruisers in, but ban cruisers who can't or won't spend the $$$ on small ship cruises.