Frenchberet

Sounds like Paris is important to you and your husband.  You’ll figure out a way to make it work!

It’s a 3 hour bus ride from Le Havre to Paris.  What’s included in the included excursion?  
 

The Hop On Hop Off bus has 9 stops and would give you an overview of Paris and some nice photo ops.  If you don’t want to get back on another bus, you could do the Eiffel Tower and have lunch at a nice cafe.  The 7th arrondissement is a very nice safe area where you could stroll around for several hours.  Rue Cler is only a few blocks away from the ET and offers a nice glimpse of a Paris neighborhood.  Paris has a lot to offer!

Glad to hear you are feeling better!  Sounds like a wonderful trip!

“No need” to resort to that on Viking!

You also have the option of picking up a bottle of local wine and bringing it on board.  Viking will serve it to you with no corkage fee.  I sailed (once) with another cruise line where folks devised all sorts of crazy ways to smuggle in their beverages. Thankfully, need to resort to that on Viking!

The webcam seems to be working now.

https://viking.panomax.com/saturn/

6 minutes ago, Pushka said:

It will depend on whether Cruise 1, 2 3 and 4 are also sold as one cruise of all sectors together. If so, then yes and depending on the length of each individual sector, it's possible that all cabins on Sector 1 get to choose before possibly PV and the various DV cruises on following sectors. This is what happened on our cruise. 

I guess that’s my answer.  The full itinerary is Mediterranean’s Iconic Shores (Barcelona to Istanbul, 29 days).  Our cruise starts in Rome which is day 8 of their itinerary.  

We are booked on the Adriatic & Mediterranean Sojourn cruise.  As I understand it, there are 4 individual cruises (legs) on the full itinerary (Barcelona to Istanbul).  We are on 2, 3, & 4 (Rome to Istanbul).  
 

When our booking dates become available, will the people on leg 1 already have had the opportunity to book their excursions for the entire itinerary?  Just trying to figure out how this will work and if I should be looking into some private tours in case we are unable to book through Viking.  Appreciate any info.

9 hours ago, SempreMare said:

 

Good to know;  I wondered why I couldn't find it in my Walgreens.

 

I see some on Amazon but I don't recognize the brands as being manufactured to US-Canada, UK, or Euro standards.  (I would not choose to experiment with a skin patch manufactured outside of those regions.)

 

 

YES, that.  I bet that 'corkscrew' effect was in full force that night between Stavanger and Bergen.

 

 

I'll give that a weak :: rah ::  ; - ).  

 

Many thanks for your tips @CurlerRob

My plan is now to: 
 

• Use the websites to check forecasted conditions for next day.
• Set a cell phone alarm to take a Dramamine at sail away time the next day, depending on forecasts.
• Watch the horizon if daytime.
• Close my eyes if night.

 

I had ginger candies with me on British Isles Explorer.  But given ginger's strong taste, I could not make myself try one in that moment of feeling so nauseous.  

 

 

I don’t like the strong taste of ginger candies either.  I brought a few Lemon Ginger teabags and had a cup in the evening.  I don’t know if it helped but figured it couldn’t hurt!

SempreMare, we crossed the Drake Passage Feb 21 & Mar 1.  I downloaded the app and the winds were in the green/yellow range.  I don’t recall the wind speed but it really wasn’t too bad.  I took 1 dramamine in the morning and felt fine.  We did Australia/NZ in 2020 and thought crossing the Tasman Sea was much rougher.  

This site was also mentioned.  We referred to it when we crossed the Drake Passage last month.

https://windy.app/forecast2/spot/28740/Bergen+Norway

5 minutes ago, chengkp75 said:

Again, what if the owner of the service dog did not want a cabin with the roll-in shower and all the grab bars that accessible cabins have?  Does Viking have accessible cabins in every category?  I think the easiest thing would be to designate a portion of each cabin category as "dog free", and have that as a special request, than to limit the cabins available to non-mobility challenged service dog owners.

I guess this is a “no win” situation.  So, under this scenario if I don’t want a cabin where a dog has been, I have to request a special cabin? 🤔

In our 6 Viking cruises I’ve never seen a dog on board.  However, I’ve never sailed from a US port.  The report of 4+ dogs on board does seem unusual.  

Does Viking have designated cabins that are accessible for “handicapped” travelers?  If so, maybe these could be used for those needing to travel with service dogs.

1 hour ago, KBs mum said:

More importantly, what happens when the emotional support dog attacks or gets in the way of the service/assistance dog

Or ESA/pet nips a passenger… 

Happy to hear you arrived safely.  Looking forward to following along on your trip!

25 minutes ago, Travelingwithstyle said:

What email address do you have for Basel?  I emailed three days ago with my concerns since Im on board right now and had complained to the front desk manager about the dogs sitting on the chairs in the World Cafe, etc very early into the cruise.... and nothing had changed.  No one from where I emailed my concerns has reached out. 

 

I too did three months on the World Cruise you were on....never had the pleasure of meeting you.  Followed your wonderful blog once you couldnt get back home.

Funny how you get a reply sitting in Canada with your amazing beautiful big truck and Im currently on the cruise and hear chirp chirp chirp. 👌👍😊

I emailed Tellus on Tuesday but haven’t received an acknowledgement or response.

Sorry you are dealing with this on your cruise.

The easiest way is to just get in the official taxi line at the airport.  There’s literally no wait time. Fare is a fixed rate of around 60 euro (depending on whether your destination is left or right bank of the Seine).  

1 hour ago, oskidunker said:

Northern lights visible from the ship and all the night excursions.  weather great except today in North Sea. 

 

soups phenomenal. Cesar salad good. Deserts still poor . Breakfast pastries good one day and bad the next. Better on Oceania. 

I’m so sorry you are not happy with the desserts!  We just sailed with Viking Octantis and the desserts were fabulous!  There was a chocolate table one afternoon with an array of amazing treats.  I searched out the pastry chef to tell him the chocolate cake was the best I’ve had in my entire life, so good!

7 minutes ago, CurlerRob said:

 

Thank you. One of the hardest things I've experienced is wanting to meet and greet a working service dog, but knowing that it was not appropriate - even though they are so spectacular in what they do.

 

I always wished that I could be around when they were "off duty". 🍺🥌

There’s an excellent (2018) documentary titled “Pick of the Litter” about training service dogs.  I watched it on a plane once but I think it’s available on Netflix and Hulu.

I don’t think the dogs in question here are service dogs.  I emailed Tellus this evening.

Neither of the dogs pictured above are wearing a vest identifying them as an “emotional support” animal (not that it really matters, you can buy the vests on Amazon for less than $20).  So, they’re pets.  If I was separated from my pet and paid to have him in a kennel, I’d be really annoyed to see another person’s pet on the cruise.  Sitting in chairs and barking?  Dining in restaurants and sleeping in staterooms?  No way.  Viking, please stop.  

There’s no good answer to this question.  When we discuss our Viking cruises with others there’s always a mix of responses.  It’s either “much too expensive” or “not fancy enough”.  For us, Viking is a good fit, and since we’ve found them we have no interest in other cruise lines.  
 

I don’t care that much about all inclusive, just no surprises.  Butler - no.  Great food, attentive staff - check.  A glass of wine at dinner is nice - check.  Included excursions are fine - check.  I expect a bit more from optional excursions but so far have been pretty happy with them.  We’ll stay with Viking for whatever level of “luxury” they provide.

Paris is my #1 favorite city and I’ve visited many times.  It’s easy to get around by walking, metro, or bus.  For just three days I’d stay in Paris.  Get a good guidebook (try Rick Steves Paris).  

Select a few museums (Louvre, Orsay, Orangerie, Rodin, Cluny).  Many now require advance purchase timed tickets.  Do the math to see if a Paris Museum Pass will save you time/money.  Note that everyone has to stand in line to go through security.  
 

If you want to do the Eiffel Tower, purchase tickets from the official website a few months in advance (https://www.toureiffel.paris/en/rates-opening-times).  It is not covered by the Museum Pass.

Attend a concert at Saint Chapelle (https://www.sainte-chapelle.fr/en/News/Concerts-at-the-Sainte-Chapelle-Paris-2023).  Nice music in a beautiful venue.  Get tickets for a performance that begins before sunset to see the stained glass at its best.

Do a one-hour cruise on the Seine.  The boats dock next to the Eiffel Tower.  Not necessary to purchase a ticket in advance.
 

Learn a few basic phrases in French.  

Plan to spend some time sitting in a cafe just relaxing and people-watching!

Everyone has their favorite place to stay.  Ours is the Hotel Empereur in the 7th arrondissement.  Hope you have a wonderful first trip to Paris! 

We took a taxi at the dock, we didn’t arrange it in advance.  It’s about a 5-7 minute ride or a 30 min walk.

29 minutes ago, LindaS272 said:

On Viking Ocean, laundry detergent is included and you’re not able to use your own. I assume it’s the same on Expedition ships.

Yes, same on Expedition ships.  

We both packed too many socks, shirts, and pants.  We always book a DV cabin and I don’t mind doing a load of laundry.  We took goggles but didn’t use them.  I bought a nice pair of polarized sport sunglasses that worked well.  Be sure to leave room for your red parka and liner!