SantaFe1

I have changed ocean to ocean, River to ocean, and expedition to ocean, never with a fee. At some point you might just decide that you don’t like Viking’s policies and decide they are not for you.

Yes, 16 days. And on many of the really long cruises, like our 148 day WC, you have to take insurance from Viking, because other insurance companies won’t insure for that long.

Yes and various other variations. During Covid, when cruises were canceled by Viking, I could re-date the insurance and use it for another trip. I think we did that 2-3 times.

I paid $50 down for our cruise. I don’t have to pay another penny until May 26, 2025. Tomorrow I will take out insurance for $1000, costing me about $100, so we get pre-existing conditions covered. ( the cost is the same for up to $1000, so I just take all of that). I won’t up the insurance to cover the full amount until 120 days from sailing, because Viking refunds all but $100 pp until then. So really, for the next year and a half, the most I would lose is the $100 I paid for insurance, which would cover any Viking penalties. I hope this makes sense. But to me it seems a pretty good deal. That $25 pp down payment is great!

Well, Merry Christmas to us! I just booked Malta for Nov. 2025. With all the end of the year and holiday discounts, we saved $3500! Plus got $1000 Credit from our TA. And we got our favorite cabin, and a six months out final payment! Who knows what the price will be a year from now. But this cruise sells out quickly. So this seemed like a no-brainer. My husband says we will either be on this cruise—or dead! But he is a cup is half full kind of guy, so we expect to go!

We had hoped to,do Ostia, too. But it wasn’t offered. You just really can’t plan for that turnaround day until you see what Viking offers you.

Well, I will not! But I’m glad you got something you want!!

I used to make Osso buco for Christmas. But it is really a chore, and so my husband always used to get it at Manfredis. I just can’t eat that much meat, but always enjoyed a bite or two. I guess if Manfredis doesn’t make it any more, I will have to start making it again. Sigh…

Oh my, Manfredis is so reduced. I don’t eat much meat, but a,ways had several risotto offerings. We are on the Star in Feb. to Hawaii, and on Neptune in May on BIE. I have Manfredis booked for my birthday. I might choose to change it!

Yes, we did this last February. They did offer a few bus trips into Rome for those staying aboard. But we had been many times and weren’t interested. So we took a shuttle bus into town, and walked around and had lunch. There are some interesting things to see, and it was a nice day, and a GREAT lunch!

How about this: Dee, you get him on Octantis next month. Then in March he transfers to Neptune for the second half of the WC and stays on for our BIE which we board in Greenwich the day the WC ends.

I thought he was assigned to and has been doing the expedition cruises. But we enjoyed him on our WC too.

Wow! Huge differences. I’m looking at Malta for 2026. Maybe I should just book it. But even my Dogsitter has begun saying to me for these years off cruises, “I hope we are all still viable by then!”

I try not to do this. I was taught a long time ago to stop looking after you have bought your prom dress!

These last several months it has only been a risk of $25 per person, which has caused me to book four cruises between Feb. 24 and April 25. We don’t usually buy “green bananas” either! (Thanks to Jim Avery’s mother for this chestnut). But remember final payment is only 6 months out if you have another cruise booked or book onboard. A first time cruiser might have to make final payment a year + in advance. And, at our ages, we think it is all the more reason to buy travel insurance!

We talked about this last night and decided to wait for the second round of cruises to see how people like this product. They are quite inexpensive if they are indeed fully curated, that is, all excursions are included.

I saw some of them in Los Angeles (well, Santa Ana, at the Bowers museum) about a dozen years ago. They were fabulous!

Yes! Our WC ship. I watched the video and they identified it as such.

Just got an email from Viking on this. I watched the video and they identify the ship as the former Viking Sun. Too bad we are booked out for 2024. Hopefully they will extend these cruises into 2025 and beyond.

This was our WC Ship too. It will be interesting to see what transpires.

Yes, but after spending several anniversaries onboard, they seem to know that, too. On this last cruise, the CD told me that a memo goes around to everyone with each days’ birthday people. Now, 2024 will be interesting, because I celebrate my birthday the day we disembark. After birthday breakfast on the ship, I get to spend the rest of my birthday at LAX 😕

I never notify Viking of any occasions, but they always seem to find out. My birthday fell during our Med. Antiquities cruise this year, and on the morning on my birthday, everyone, from the captain to our room steward, wished me a happy birthday, by name. They brought me a special cake at Manfredis that night and everyone sang. It was really quite embarrassing, in a fun sort of way.

We will be on this cruise in April 2025, but, of course won’t have Dailies to share until we board. And there aren’t any of those cruises until April 2025, so no way to see a Daily until then.

Yes, I do remember hearing about the vouchers. I think I would rather book on an ocean cruise. Thanks!

I have two questions about this. First, can you book a River cruise on an ocean cruise? Second, does a River cruise have the capacity to book another cruise while onboard at all? Thanks!