OnTheJourney

Wow! Not surprising. Airline schedules are crazy.

Easier for UK (and other European) pax not having to fly as far to access most Viking cruises. If they went out of a more local port we’d probably use them more often.

For sure! I recall years of researching and planning trips where all that was available was a telephone (decades before smartphones) and AAA tour guide books, and “real” paper maps. Much more was left to be surprised about once the journey was underway. Now, you can practically google / zoom in to the extent of seeing what the exact beach looks like that one wants to visit. Somehow a bit of informational overload nowadays ala Alvin Toffler’s novel, “Future Shock”. To many apps around. And when all this computer stuff crashes at times society is sort of helpless.

Definitely plan on taking advantage of the pre and / or post extensions. Viking surely has a substantial number of Mediterranean itineraries to choose from.

Best advice is to wait till you board and go right to the restaurant and see what’s available. What appears on MVJ is sometimes nowhere near accurate. Often lots more availability than what shows up online.

I suspect no problems. Once you board they’ll be happy to see you and will take care of everything. Enjoy your first time with Viking! Bergen is a very interesting and scenic port. We started our Northern Lights cruise from there.

Can’t explain it other than, to the best of my memory, they simply added it and then I was told that it can be removed within a specified time period. I know for sure it was added to my upcoming Mississippi cruise without my being asked if I wanted it. Or is this perhaps an issue with booking through a travel agent?

I don’t recall being asked about insurance. It was simply added with the booking here in the US. Probably some of my thoughts are skewed by what took place with the Sky 4 years ago. We were not kept informed of what was happening with the weather system that we sailed into. Long story. That said, we were well compensated and treated extremely well in the aftermath.

Kct, Also be aware that Viking automatically tacks on their own insurance unless you tell them not to like within (I think) 2 weeks. I personally like to do my own insurance and flights. Viking air is a mixed bag as you’ve probably already discovered from your CC research. My TA has no great love for working with their air department but, like anything else, some here report great experiences with booking air through Viking. I like to have as much control over my trip details as I can. Guess this is probably why DIY car travel is still my all-time favorite way to sightsee 😆. Wishing you all the best with your first Viking experience. I will add one more thing which is that Viking ships are relatively uncomplicated in decor and overall design (yet very nicely done) compared to the more opulent and glitzy approach that lines such as RCL and X use. Very different cruise experience overall as I already referred to. How one might define a “step up” relative to one line over another is likely a purely personal matter.

I will add one thing that I really like about Viking, which is that they offer pre and post extensions, thus enabling trips to be put together as sort of a combination land and sea vacation. This also helps when flying overseas if, for instance, wanting to make a journey longer than only a 7-day cruise or whatever. I personally don’t care to fly to Europe for less than 2 weeks, so by adding extensions it makes it easy to do this. As said above, biggest disadvantage for me is that all Viking cruises involve flying compared to only driving 2 hours for both RCL and X, so unfortunately I’m not likely to do too many more Viking trips unless it’s somewhere I really want to go that is not available at my two local ports.

Linda, I wouldn’t go so far as to say there is no comparison between, for example, Viking and RCL as to one being “better” than the other. They both appeal to slightly different demographics and have somewhat different philosophies of cruising. Viking is definitely more expensive overall even if you factor in drinks, specialty restaurants, and an included excursion in each port. I’ve had some very good food with Viking and some not so good food. Same for RCL. That said, Viking SHOULD have better food overall for the extra cost. Given that Viking includes alcoholic drinks, for those that do not consume alcohol this is a disadvantage since they’re paying for a perk they probably won’t use. Viking is a more laid back and relaxed environment. That will appeal to some folks but not others. Surely can’t beat the Nordic spa facilities on Viking at least based on my experience. I’ve had equally good service in both. I’ve also been on a Viking sailing that nearly turned into a maritime disaster. And some of the recent and past mishaps that have occurred on both ocean and river ships are less than comforting. It’s no secret that all cruise lines have cut corners since the pandemic. I enjoy Viking tremendously for what the product offers but also enjoy RCL and X for what they offer. Probably the biggest disadvantage for me relative to Viking is that I have to fly for any cruises I do with them. Not the case with either X or RCL. So it’s a bit of an apples and oranges comparison. Just my take on it of course.

There is undeniably comfort and security in knowing what’s coming next; however, I like some spontaneity. I like to research the places I’m traveling to mostly to get some idea (especially with DIY) of how much time to allow in any one particular area, but once that’s done I don’t like to pursue pics of where I’m going or try to dig up every detail. In a way, it was all sort of more fun before the internet came along.

Yeah I think they're great. Makes a big difference when turning.

Going one step further, one could say it's amazing how fast technology in general advances. Almost impossible to keep up with. Seems astounding, in view of what's going on now, that I had to stand in line in my college dorm to wait to use a pay phone! No microwave ovens (at least in the average residence). And a CD was something you took out in a bank 😁 The fanciest thing on my '95 Riviera is that it has cornering lights and separate passenger / driver climate control. Still, pretty much a luxury-class car in its time, or at least was Buick's top-of-the-line. Next would have been Park Avenue.

For sure. When I started test driving new cars (after not having kept up with car technology at all over a period of almost 30 years) it was a bit of a learning curve. Still working on learning, since I've never (yet anyway) owned a car manufactured in the 21st century.

LOL...that's the general idea! Haven't kept up with all this. Why does yours (or others' vehicles) not keep running?

Did you do the Dead Sea float? It's listed as the last part of the Masada excursion. If you went in the water, any advice or suggestions? Been reading some things about it. It appears that some precautions need to be observed. Not sure I want to go without shaving for a few days! It's suggested to do so. Thanks...

Interesting. As you said, it'd have to be tied into the plumbing somehow. I think what I'd do is go straight chlorine first, and then if I"m ok with that, take the next step to SWG. I have no problem with baquacil, and like the feel of the water, except for a recurring filter pressure issue the past few seasons. Lots of (as in way too often) backwashing and cleaning the DE grids.

Good to know! Thanks. All of them are just through the cruise line. I didn't go with any independent travel company.

12,500 gallons

Speaking of this...I've considered changing over our inground pool from biguanide / bacquacil to chlorine / SWG. Not sure. The biguanide is easy to use, but comes with some issues - such as the occasional white water mold / pink slime. I've been fighting this for years with my DE filter, and yet am hesitant to go back to chlorine since I like the smooth water feel of the biguanide. I suppose SWG would be somewhat similar.

Now THERE's a cool science experiment!!!

12-hour excursion when the ship is in Ashdod.... Drive with your guide across the Negev Desert to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Masada, perched at the edge of a desert plateau that overlooks the Dead Sea. Along the way you will pass Qumran, where the famed Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in a cave in the mid-20th century. Upon arrival at Masada, ascend to the fortress by cable car, taking in spectacular views. Constructed just before the time of Christ by King Herod, it is arguably the most impressive archaeological site in Israel and is the site of a famous Roman siege that ended in the tragic mass suicide of Masada’s residents. Later, continue to the western shores of the Dead Sea. You will stop at a seaside resort so you can take a dip in these buoyant waters, known for their curative properties for centuries. 12-hour excursion when the ship gets to Haifa (and stays there overnight).. Witness the legacy of Jesus in two of Christianity’s most important cities. After a scenic drive, make a photo stop at the Mount of Olives and its panorama of the Old City. See the Garden of Gethsemane and visit the Church of All Nations; then, walk into Jerusalem’s Old City. You will find the Western Wall, where Jews insert written prayers into the mortar’s nooks. From here, view the Temple Mount, crowned by the glittering Dome of the Rock, sacred to Muslims. Follow the Via Dolorosa—or “Way of Sorrows,” the road that Jesus walked while bearing the cross—to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the site of Christ’s crucifixion, entombment and resurrection. (A visit inside the tomb cannot be guaranteed.) Continue to Bethlehem for exterior views of the Church of the Nativity, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a major place of pilgrimage for Christians. Next day, still in Haifa... about a 9 hour excursion...Visit some of the most important places in the life of Jesus. Journey with your guide into Canaan of old, crossing the coastal mountain range to Nazareth, city of Jesus’s youth. Stop at the Church of the Annunciation, where the angel Gabriel announced the coming of Christ, and the Church of St. Joseph. Browse the city’s Arab Bazaar before continuing to the Sea of Galilee. En route you will pass through the village of Cana, where Jesus is said to have turned water into wine, and ascend the Mount of Beatitudes, where he delivered the Sermon on the Mount. In the small fishing village of Capernaum, see the ruins of a synagogue where he is believed to have preached. In Tabgha, visit the Church of the Multiplication, named for the miracle of loaves and fishes that occurred here. Later, stop along the banks of the River Jordan at Yardenit, site of Jesus’s baptism. That's it. Next day we leave Israel for Cyprus. There is a 2-day (overnight) thing that they offer for Holy Land touring but it doesn't include as much sightseeing overall. I know it'll be LONG bus rides but probably a chance to catch up on some sleep! Thanks for any additional thoughts.

Either way, it's aLOT of salt 😁

Even in February? I suppose so. It'd be one thing if we were staying at a resort, could slather on lotion, etc. and then do the float and back out to shower, and back to the room (to perhaps wash up even more if still feeling sticky). But, this takes place after a 12-hour-long excursion to Masada, then however long a bus ride back to Ashdod and the ship. I'll have to think on this...I'm sure it's a cool experience, but not sure all the hassle is worth it for the sake of 10 minutes in the water. Thanks so much...