OnTheJourney

Good for you!!! I cringe when I see these guys on bikes wearing shorts, t-shirts, and no helmets.

Sure...and that's understandable in a way. How many people truly would remember exactly what to do in the event of an emergency airline landing? I see people reading on their phones / laptops, reading books, etc. while the emergency presentation is being given. Or...same thing on cruise ships..some may well be watching the muster video in their stateroom while already through their first two alcoholic beverages. How much info will be paid much attention to let alone retained?

Well said. I agree. Exactly...OR...they simply fail to check in at their station! That happened already on at least one of our cruises. Ship was delayed from departing because a few people didn't check in. So some sort of annoncement to that effect was made over the loudspeaker. That wasn't even an option for evacuating the Sky. Conditions were too bad.

We'll be on X in a few weeks - so see how it goes. The drill doesn't bother me so much as hearing the emergency signal. 4 years post-Sky event, DW and I can still be brought to tears everytime they do it. She can barely stand to listen to it.

Thanks for this....Viking does this as well. We were on the Enchantment and Adventure not too long ago. Can't recall if they did this or not. As I said earlier, I have a fairly unique (and sort of unfortunate) perspective on all this so probably best to keep my trap shut going forward 🤔 Maybe best that they DON'T get everyone out there all at once anymore cause when I see people goofing off and not paying attention while in those "cattle call" lines you refer to, I can hardly restrain myself. I saw a crew member who was conducting one of those drills actually take a guy's cell phone that was using it after being told not to! Man, he was tough, and no nonsense....but he got the point across. I assume he gave the phone back after the drill!!

TR...I have no problem whatsoever with your earlier post! Sorry if something appeared to convey otherwise. I'm more concerned about the cruise lines trying to make the drill as easy and convenient as possible since I'm just not sure that doing so has the same sort of impact as actually being out there AT the muster station. Otherwise, realistically, how many people - after viewing the drill either in one's stateroom or some other room on the ship - will actually even take the time to find out where their muster station is? During the Sky event, DW held it together much better than I did. I admittedly had no idea - at least initially - where to go or what to do in the anxiety of the moment, and that was after actually holding the lifevest and having to put it on during the drill - at least I recall it that way. Too many trips since to remember every detail, except for the day of the emergency.

A repetition of an earlier post...I get your point while totally disagreeing with it.

Bravo!! I was on the Viking Sky during the March 23, 2019 event. Everyone here who is downplaying the standard sort of muster drill simply doesn't "get it". Sorry to offend anyone but, unless you've been in some sort of emergency situation onboard a ship, you have no clue what it could be (and is) like. As I said earlier, I totally understand this...'let's get it over with asap" mode of thinking, but I don't view it the same way anymore. Most here probably would feel the same way.

Yours wasn't one of the names that seemed familiar but if you recall a discussion then I'm sure you're right. As I said, I shouldn't put my two cents in on these anymore. Doesn't change what the cruise lines do anyway. It's all good. Most people will likely never experience an evacuation during a cruise anyway.

Dakahuna.....can you enlighten me as to what humors you relative to my thoughts on muster drills? I was just trying to impress upon people to please take the drill seriously. I can guarantee that the possibility of an actual cruise emergency is a situation not to be taken lightly.

But doesn't that ultimately have more impact - having to actually go to one's muster station and stand there for a bit? Don't get me wrong, I never enjoyed it all that much either, and, up until my experience of March '19 I would have agreed - let's somehow simplify all this! But going through the real thing changed my way of thinking. In the anxiety of the moment - knowing you've got to abandon ship - many people are lucky if they even can think of what to do or where to go. Throw in to the equation never even having visited the muster station yet and it sure won't make the evacuation process go any easier. In my particular situation, seeing how to put on the lifevest in person turned out to not be all that critical being that the situation was so dire that we couldn't even launch the boats. But that was (hopefully) a very freak event.

I'm hesitant to even jump in on these threads but can hardly resist. I just have - and will probably always have - a problem with making these muster drills too easy and/or convenient ever since having gone through a real emergency and evacuation from a cruise ship. I'll never think of any muster drill in quite the same way again, let alone the general alarm signal that they play as part of the safety protocol. It goes right through me every time. I'm fairly certain I recognize a few names on this thread that have likely heard me talk about this issue before.

There'd be absolutely no reason to. Those 'Viking dogs' are so well behaved. Far better than some of the passengers for sure.

She was on the Invitational cruise with Karine and her husband. Can't recall the name of the other dog they had with them. People mobbed them wherever they went! Torstein was along on that one as well. Oops...just scrolled back and saw that a few of our "Sky survivors" already mentioned about the dogs on the Mars. They were in the living room area on disembarkation day - got lots of attention. The person that got the least attention was Karine's husband!

Bermuda Byways Tours. However, they're fully booked for the day we're there - only takes a max of 10 people.

Sure, just like handicap parking stickers are undoubtedly abused. There are always ways to game the system.

Well, they SHOULD be able to based on what I'm reading and mentioned above, but, yeah, undoubtedly violation of someone's rights to even ask for proper documentation. Crazy world we're in.

So this thread got me interested. Came across the following: https://www.servicedogcertifications.org/how-to-qualify-for-an-emotional-support-animal/ So it boils down to whether or not these people have the proper documentation that was filed with Viking. I also found this: https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/onboard-service-animal-policy It states that RCL will no longer allow emotional support animals, but rather only those associated with a physical disability. And, finally, specific to Viking, this excerpt from the cruise contract. Please note the part I highlighted and underlined. I'd say this pretty much excludes any animal other than truly associated with an owner's disability...... Service Animals. If you plan to bring a Service Animal on board, we request that you notify us at the time of booking and complete the Service Animal Request Form at least 60 days prior to the commencement of your cruise. The Form should be completed and submitted to Viking Cruises at vikingaccessibilityservices@vikingcruises.com . Service Animal is defined according to ADA standards: Any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability. The ADA standard explicitly does not apply to emotional support animals. Service Animals are permitted in all public areas of the ship except for the galley, and other food preparation areas due to health regulations. Service Animals are not permitted to swim in the pools, whirlpools and spas, due to health regulations. Care and supervision are the responsibility of the owner. Service Animals must always be leashed or harnessed in public areas. The passenger must provide food for any Service Animal. If refrigerated space is needed, please advise the Ships Special Request Department. If you decide to disembark in a port, the Service Animal must remain on board in the event the Service Animal does not meet the country’s requirements to go ashore. Viking Cruises does not have any control over ports that may prohibit service animals from going ashore. It is the guest’s responsibility to research the ports on the cruise itinerary and confirm if the service animal meets those countries’ entry requirements. If the Service Animal causes any damage on board, the passenger (owner of the Animal) will be held financially responsible, and a cleaning fee will be assessed and charged to the passenger’s shipboard account. If the Service Animal’s behavior creates a fundamental or direct threat to safety, the Animal and guest may be denied boarding or may be removed from the ship at the passenger’s expense. You are also responsible for ensuring the Service Animal has all necessary vaccinations, as well for providing that documentation to customs or port officials if requested to do so. The thing is...in this age of readily crying discrimination for just about any cause, the outcome of specific cases all depends on how Viking might handle complaints from people who can indeed show proper certification as needing an emotional support animal regardless of what is stated in the contract. 'Spirit of the law' and 'letter of the law' sometimes are in conflict with each other. I'd say it appears, from this thread, that Viking is perhaps being quite lax on the subject.

Wow.....thanks for sharing all this. I can't even imagine.

So sorry for how things are going. We were in Jerusalem on a Viking cruise last month. The cruise director, the day or so before we were scheduled to dock in Jerusalem, indicated that they weren't sure if we'd be able to get there due to the protesting - surely not as bad as now, of course, since we did get there. With our day there being 1/30 - only a few days after the shooting that killed 7 people near the synagogue - I'm sure that's what created the uncertainty. The next day we were in Haifa. Were supposed to be there overnight but had to leave because (at least so we were told) a weather system was moving in. I'm sure that was accurate, but have to wonder if our time getting cut short might have been due to other factors as well. Several Viking ship personnel went with all the excursion groups - in front of and behind, perhaps just due to the crowded nature of the sites. Again, who knows? While we greatly enjoyed what we got to do in Jerusalem, it was most disappointing to lose the extra day, since we would have gone to Nazareth / Sea of Galilee, plus several holy sites. The excursion was sold out weeks before the cruise, and that's the one we lost. If I'd go back, I'd not go by ship again. Way too much time on the bus back and forth (6 hours from Haifa to Jerusalem and back). Didn't help that the bus broke down as we were getting ready to leave Jerusalem. They switched us to a different bus (crowded cause it had another excursion group), and then a bit later on at a bathroom stop they transferred us back to the first bus. Not a good idea since it nearly broke down twice on the way back to the ship. At one point we pulled to the side of the road (not much room) in a tunnel and waited there a bit while the driver fiddled with a few things. I saw some sort of warning indicators flashing on the dashboard during the entire drive back. We pulled off the road a second time as well. Most thankful to make it back to the ship, especially since it was already about 10 p.m. when we got back to the terminal. The first day we got to Masada and the Dead Sea. Great experience! I seem to recall mentioning this trip awhile back and asking you about swimming in the Dead Sea - but TOO many pages since to try and go back to review! Wishing and praying that your family and friends all stay safe. 🙏 There is simply too much evil in our world.

Interesting! Confirms my having no wish to pursue that particular mode of cruising.

Simple. Because, for the most part, those in suite class - while having reserved access to the Retreat, etc. - are still free to intermingle with anyone else on the ship in public areas. Back in the day, that didn't happen - at least from everything I've read. "Jack" would have never come in contact with "Rose" on the Titanic. I have no idea what the "Yacht Club" is that you're referring to. If on some lines people are TRULY kept separate from each other ala "class" distinctions as such, let me know what ships those are since I'll be sure to avoid them, as well as any where I have to where tux and bowtie. No interest whatsoever.

Totally agree...

Great points and advice!! Your first statement is especially applicable to airline seating.

I'd think this, alone, is the main event for the cruise! Balcony rooms are great. Lately we've been using Aqua class and have enjoyed that. What I don't think is quite right is just how much space in the front of the ship has been reserved for suite guests ala the "Retreat". Given that there are no longer first, second, or third class citizens on modern cruise ships anymore, there is absolutely no reason that you should feel like a "second class" citizen. That said, it would appear that what has been done with the "Retreat" is maybe a bit over the top compared to what other lines do? Unless I'm mistaken, there is nothing comparable to the retreat even on RCL ships.