SabreSailor

We're in a Penthouse Junior Suite next month - can you give me an idea on turnaround for laundry/dry cleaning if we turn it in by, say, 9am in the morning?  Same day?  Next day by ...?

Thanks!

I've read several reviews of the Rotterdam this year that mention that the ship is not in great condition. Broken windows, rust in the bathrooms, etc., generally an old, worn ship.

True?

Does anyone know when she is due for a refurbish?

Thanks!

Are there any dance floors on the Viking Ocean ships and are they used? Not looking for  Cunard type dancing just traditional foxtrot / rhumba / waltz...

Thanks!

Thanks to all!

In the main dining room, are tables for two first come, first serve, or able to be reserved?

Is there a charge to use the sauna and or snowflake Grotto?

Thanks!

Can you help me with roughly how many tables there are in each of these restaurants and about how many people can be seated at one time?

7 hours ago, Peregrina651 said:

 

Just to clarify...

 

Coffee (any variety as long as it doesn't include spirits)/tea/ hot chocolate are available free 24/7. Available at any bar from the bartender, from the machines in the World Cafe, at meals and from room service. I believe this also includes iced tea.

 

House Wine/house beer/soda are available for free at lunch and dinner. Outside of meal time there is a charge.

 

Mini-bars are replenished daily in all cabin categories except Veranda cabins for free. DV is soda only. PV and above includes alcohol. For all categories, anything not included in the daily replenish can be purchased; there will be an order form in your cabin.

 

Silver Spirits package does not cover the mini-bar or wine by the bottle. BYO is encouraged; there is no corkage fee in the dining room.

 

Carafes of filtered water are in your cabin. Changed twice a day. Sparkling and/or still.  Bottled water is available as you depart the ship each day.

 

 

BIG help - thanks so much!

Trying to figure out where the break-even point is on cost of individual drinks in a bar aboard a Viking Ocean ship vs. the beverage package.  How much is a typical premium spirits drink (say a Tanqueray martini, or a Cutty Sark on the rocks, or Absolut and tonic, as examples)?

Also, if you are in a Penthouse Junior Suite, I understand you get liquor supplied in your minibar.  How much liquor (presume this is those tiny bottles?) per day and do you get to choose what you want supplied?  Name brands?

Thanks so much!

1)  When sailing from Moscow to St. Petersburg, is there a preferred side of the ship (for sightsseing or other)  for a balcony cabin?

2)  Is there any issue with water levels in May?

3)  On the UniWorld ship, are there any "Deluxe Balcony" cabins to be avoided for noise/vibration/etc.?

Thanks!

Ted

Thanks to all so far!

Just now, Jim Avery said:

If you are used to, for example Cunard's Queens, you will not find such on Viking Oceans.  Dancing seen onboard would be more like bistro dancing, not ballroom formality and big bands.

Looking for something like the "old" Holland America Ocean Bar, where they would have a 4 or 4 piece combo playing danceable music.

Are there any venues for ballroom dancing on Viking Ocean ships?  Small combo would be fine....

Thanks!

Very helpful - thanks!!

We are about to book the 2019 Far East Discovery cruise in October 2019. While we have been on many cruises (mostly HAL), we only know what we read in brochures about Viking Ocean.

So here goes - thanks in advance for your thoughts!

1) We are looking at Penthouse Junior Suite #6023, deck 6 opening into the forward elevator lobby. Any issues with noise from above, below, or from the elevators?

2) Business class air seems reasonable at $4000 compared to October 2018 rates (JFK-Beijing, Hong Kong-JFK) and for $50 more, you get to choose your flights. Any recommendations on the best airlines for business class on these routes?

3) The Viking website says that minibars in Penthouse Junior Suites are replenished daily with alcoholic beverages? Spirits as well? Is this complimentary?

4) How large are the balconies in the Penthouse Junior Suites? Just two chairs and a table?

5) The Penthouse Junior Suites are located about halfway between midships and the bow - some more than halfway. Any issues with motion?

6) It's tough to tell how large the closet(s) are in these suites - are they adequate? I realize that the tux and gowns stay home for this trip, and that laundry and dry cleaning are complimentary....

We've booked a post cruise day room at the Tahitian Pearl Resort through PG.

1) Any general thoughts about the resort?

2) How about the restaurant?

3) When does the PG bus pick you up from the resort for the ride to the airport?

4) There supposedly is a bus tour of Tahiti after you are picked up from the ship and before you are dropped at the resort. How long is it? What kinds of things do you see?

Thanks so much!

I know that most wine, beer and spirits are included on PG cruises, but how is the wine handled? Do you order a bottle? Or is it served by the glass only? If the former, is that bottle kept for you from meal to meal until you finish it? Also, is there any kind of a wine list online?

Thanks!!

Thanks!

Are there any beers on draft aboard? If so, anyone remember brands? How about bottled beers like Sam Adams?

Thanks!

Are PG shore excursions ever cancelled do to rain/weather issues or do they go regardless?

Thanks so much.

We are in fact on the "late flight" - Hawaiian Air Lines.

When you convert on board, do you need US dollars or do they accept a debit card?

We are booked on the April 14 cruise to the Marquesas, Tuamotus, and the Societies.

From what I have read, we will likely need some local currency on the Marquesas and Tuamotus - correct? Will there be time at the Faaa Airport to get this before the transfer bus picks us up? Or is available on the ship? Via a debit card or how? Conversion rates aboard if so? Can I convert any local currency back to US dollars at the end of the cruise?

Thanks!

We're about to book a category C cabin, but were concerned about noise from the pool/public areas above. Are there any C cabins you'd recommend on Deck 7 - or ones we should stay away from??

Thanks!

We are long time (1998) consistent HAL cruisers. Our last cruise on the Koningsdam has convinced us to look elsewhere. HAL is changing its target group to Millenials/Gen-Xers, and is abandoning its forever target group of 55+.

Looking at the Viking Ocean website is intriguing. For those folks who have sailed on both HAL and Viking Ocean, could you please compare/contrast?

Thanks so much!

We have been on about 12 HAL cruises since 1998 and loved what HAL was. Our last cruise was the Koningsdam inaugural transatlantic last fall and we were really disappointed in how HAL has changed. We have heard that HAL will be/has already been making changes to all the Vista/Signature ships to reflect this direction (elimination of dancing, the Neptunes, and the HALCats, adding BB King, no more Explorers Lounge with those wonderful murals, and so on).

Will the Zaandam be exempt from these changes as well as the other R

We were on the Koningsdam transatlantic and were very disappointed in the lack of dancing opportunities we fondly remember from prior HAL cruises. Are there any HAL ships that will retain, for instance, the old Ocean Bar with the Neptunes and a dance floor?