GVHarrier

We returned from our Cruise last week. Any Covid information would be dated so I'll skip that except to say, I only heard of one positive case (the historian) who was quarantined onboard  for 4 or t days. The other issue frequently discussed here is transfers. We booked our own air and arrived in Stockholm 2 days early. This was the same flight that many were on who used Viking Air. When we passed the luggage pickup area, the Viking host noticed our tags and welcomed us. We were not using their transfer nor picking up luggage. We took the train, which was much faster and much cheaper. On our return from Bergen, we elected to use the Viking transfer since our flight was early morning and we didn't want to chance any mishaps navigating on our own. Viking left forms requesting transfers in our rooms about a week before the end of our cruise and we had to submit about 3 days prior if we wanted a transfer. I believe i also asked though chat on MVJ prior about transfers and was emailed the form. 

3 hours ago, dwlmg said:

As a token of our appreciation, we will be adding a $250 shipboard credit to your account for this voyage for each guest. This credit can be applied toward optional shore excursions, onboard services or used to purchase a Silver Spirits Beverage Package.

I realize that I could book these items onboard but I have probably already booked just about everything I would want. When I receive an OBC from my Travel Agent, I have received a credit at the end of cruise if I don't use it all and the money is refunded to me. I hope that hasn't changed because I have credit coming to me from there also.

On 4/8/2022 at 6:10 PM, dwlmg said:

I requested a new guest statement when the itinerary changed. The $250 per person was listed on the guest statement as Promotional Amenities - Complimentary $250 Shipboard Credit (p/Person). I believe Viking Onboard Credit can be used prior to boarding to purchase offerings on MVJ i.e. gratuities, excursions, spa, etc.

I asked in the chat about the onboard credit. Here's the reply: "Great question! Your shipboard credits have been added as an amenity to the booking and you will be able to use the funds onboard with us for any spa treatments, drinks, or the gift shop!"

I then asked if we would receive a credit at the end of cruise if not used - here's the answer: "I am very sorry though, the credits would not be returned after the cruise."

7 minutes ago, duquephart said:

If you would be willing to cut/paste what was available that would be much appreciated by those who have nothing yet.

Sorry, I don't have time to do that now but you can get a good idea from the Viking website. Most, but not all of the excursions are the same. https://www.vikingcruises.com/oceans/cruise-destinations/baltic/viking-homelands/2022-stockholm-bergen/index.html

We wear my homemade masks or disposable masks when we are indoors in public places even though we have both been vaccinated. but for our travels, we decided to purchase KN95 masks for our Iceland cruise on 6/26. After reading about these break through cases on Viking ships, I think I would do as others have suggested and wear those masks everywhere I go, at least before and during travel.

5 minutes ago, SantaFe1 said:

I notice no one has mentioned the test.  How awful is it???

Usual tickle up the nose and also swab of mouth (separate swab). Quick and painless. No line when we arrived at testing area.

1 hour ago, vslparis said:

Flew into Reykjavik this morning - some airport observations

Great summation V! We were on the same flight as V and also staying at the same place. We bought our Flybus ticket online (using Airport wifi) when we arrived at the airport. As vslparis said, you can also buy on bus. We walked from Bus terminal to hotel, which was about a mile. It was a little challenging with suitcase wheels on uneven sidewalks but it was good to stretch our legs and see some sights. We arrived at hotel shortly after V. Took an early check-in and took a nap. When I woke, my negative test results were in (12:11 after 7:00 arrival). Yay! We'll be off to explore the city.

2 minutes ago, Peregrina651 said:

For current rules, see: https://www.covid.is/categories/how-does-quarantine-work

Scroll down, way down to see what you can and cannot do in quarantine.

 

But do let us know how it actually works out.

I just checked the rules and this is what it says so I'm wondering how a short walk is defined. I regularly walk 5 miles. So anything up to that would be a normal short walk, wouldn't it?

Just now, Peregrina651 said:

 

 

 

 

OKAY!!! 

 

FIRST LOGISTICS QUESTION FOR YOU ALL -- and for the folks arriving on June 26

 

I want to hit an ATM in the Arrivals Hall when we land. Will I be able to?

 

TIA

I plan to do the same so should be able to let you know. I'd also like to swing by the Duty-Free. I watched a YouTube travel video by a young couple who travelled on their own to Iceland in May. They didn't mention the ATM but they did say they stopped at the Duty Free. They then picked up a rental vehicle and went to their hotel for a nap. They had a message of their negative test results when they woke.

38 minutes ago, vslparis said:

Here's hoping our room will be ready early at the hotel ! 

Us too! This is what the Hotel told us: 

Early check-in can only be guaranteed, if you book the full prior night.

We can always store your luggage free of charge until the check-in time.

I really don't want to pay an extra night's rate for a few hours. We would love to be able to just drop our bags and go until we're ready to drop for the day. I would be okay with walking around outside, doing the Sculpture Shore walk, general sightseeing, people watching or window shopping, if they permitted it and I would be fine with doing it with our KN95 masks.

I'm hoping the weather is as good as this forecast....and we can get out and enjoy most of our first day!

2 minutes ago, IWantToLiveOverTheSea said:

-If you made a reservation at The Restaurant, do you need to show up at that time, or are you free to come a different time, or not come at all (e.g., decide to go to World Cafe instead)?  If so, do you need to notify the maitre d (or whoever)? 

If you know you will not make the reservation, it would be good to cancel so that the spot opens for someone else. You can do it using the your room TV or stopping by the Restaurant. You may also be able to use the Viking Voyager app?

Thanks Peregrina651! We'll be heading there on Wednesday and arriving in Iceland at 7:00 am on 6/24. Hoping we test negative and hear quickly. I'm wondering if they will be able to give us an estimated time and what/how we can expect to hear. 

2 hours ago, vslparis said:

I think that we are on the same flight on 23 June  (UA966 at 9:25 pm ) .  Our hotel is allowing a luggage drop and newly arrived passengers to wait for their results there .  That is going to be a long wait so I too am hoping that the test on arrival thing changes for vaccinated passengers. Not holding out a lot of hope for that but am willing to be pleasantly

surprised 😉. Have a Golden Circle tour booked for the next day . 

We are fully prepared to just go with the flow in these unusual times.

Well that makes at least 3 parties on the same flight. Momof4 is on that flight as well. We all plan to do Golden Circle tour the next day too. We have freed up at least six slots on the Viking Golden Circle tour for fellow passengers.

I hope we don't just end up sitting in a hotel lobby while we wait. I don't see how all of the listed hotels would have enough extra rooms for people to isolate in.

54 minutes ago, vslparis said:

We are arriving at 7am two days before the cruise and plan to hang out at our hotel until we get the results.

We are also arriving at 7:00 am (United from EWR on 6/24) two days prior to cruise. Our room is scheduled to be available for check-in at 3:00 pm. Not sure what we'll be doing. I guess our plan is to go to the hotel and at least drop our luggage and see what they say. Hoping Iceland's process changes. I'd really like to just have some time to walk around the city on arrival day and then do Golden Circle the next day.

I can understand the disappointment of those who cancelled before Viking cancelled and offered the 125% credit. Although it would certainly be nice for you if Viking offered the added 25%, you did have one possible advantage. If you cancelled early enough to rebook another cruise, you are ahead of all of those who are madly trying to rebook a cruise and perhaps had better options available and not such a crush of other cruisers demanding attention of Viking staff. Either way, Viking has done an excellent job and provided a generous offer. This did not impact me as my two booked cruises are 9 and 14 months away and I can relax knowing that Viking will take care of me. 

Thank you all for your Hong Kong money and travel tips. We'll be there in less than 3 weeks. It's getting real!

We'll be in Hong Kong for a couple of days next month and wonder about currency needs. We plan to explore some on our own, using public transportation. What is needed for bus and/or train fare (HKD or Credit Card)? Do we need to purchase tickets before or can we do on boarding bus or train? We may bus from airport to our hotel. Also wondering about tipping. Are credit cards accepted in most businesses and restaurants? I would expect cash is needed for smaller vendors.

17 hours ago, Donald said:

If your previous port was not in Japan, your passport will be stamped by Japanese Immigration in Nagasaki.

Thanks! Nagasaki will be our first port in Japan.

We will be arriving Japan by cruise ship in Nagasaki. Will our passport by stamped there?

Thank you robinhood1 and MVCACruisers for the information. I always like advance notice if possible, when there might be disruptions to plans. We will plan to leave the ship as early as possible those days.

On 5/9/2019 at 7:49 PM, MVCACruisers said:

We generally like to do a combination of included, optional, private guides and do-it-yourself tours and that is what we did this time.

Thanks so much for your review of ports and excursions. This is the way we enjoy travelling as well. We plan to extend on our own with one day extra in Hong Kong and several days in Japan, visiting Kyoto, using the bullet train. I haven't begun any real planning yet. October will be here faster than we expect.

I just read a forum from another cruise line where the passenger mentioned having to repeatedly go through immigrations and how it took hours re-entering Japan from Busan. I wondered about your experience with 4 countries and entering Japan twice.

Thanks once again and I plan to follow up on some of your suggestions for private excursions.

Jeanne

Glad you found this, Steve! I started it but haven't been diligent about keeping it active. I haven't been focused on this one since we'll be taking our first river cruise next month (Grand European). I saw your post on facebook too. We're going on 10/18.

Jeanne

There were a few places that I really wanted to do both and couldn't because they conflicted, even with multiple times for included excursions. Since I wanted to do more that the included and couldn't fit the 1/2 day optional, I found a couple of private excursions to take. They were among the best because they were such small groups (4-7) and we got to do just what we wanted to do.

These are the ports for Far East Horizons:

Hong Kong, China; Taipei (Keelung), Taiwan; Kagoshima, Japan; Nagasaki, Japan; Busan (Pusan), South Korea; Hiroshima, Japan; Osaka, Japan; Shimizu, Japan; Tokyo, Japan

We have overnights in 4 of the ports: Hong Kong, Hiroshima, Shimizu and Tokyo.

Any suggestions on excursions for these ports is greatly appreciated.

13 minutes ago, maddie2312 said:

I was on a different itinerary to your one with the only cross over port being Hong Kong.

Thanks maddie2312! 

Our Far East Horizons cruise departs from Hong Kong and we haven't yet decided whether to add on there or not so this gives us food for thought. We expect to add several days in Japan after finishing up in Tokyo. We will likely add a day in Hong Kong just to make sure we're ready to go when the cruise begins.