TravlingGato

My cruise experience on several lines has been that if you don't opt for pre-paying the "gratuity," it is automatically added to your end-of-cruise statement; pay me now or pay me later. You can contest the amout on the end-of-cruise billing (expect a line at the service desk). Tipping amounts have increased as cruise lines recover from the Covid-19 business drop. I accept the pre-pay as a cost of the cruise and give individuals additional for excellent service (don't know if they must share, therefore, use small bills).

After 30+ cruises,including a couple in recent years on Viking, the reviews look more like a Carnival cruise without the water slides. We're looking elsewhere, unless there is a VAST IMPROVEMENT on our scheduled Viking cruise.

How many people read the Viking 17 page US passenger contract RULES?

On our recent cruise on Enchanted Princess, the dead timber daily edition is a 1 pager with events. The Patter is IMPOSSIBLE to read on the Medallion app on a phone, likely readable on a laptop. Hopefully we get a print edition on our March cruise, since we higfhlight with a marker events of interest and put it on a wall with a magnetic clip. The functionality of the Medallion app leaves so much to be desired on top of a sound platform. Since it doesn't appear to have adequate Beta testing, sent your observations directly to the Princess CEO. That may wake up the tech team. At least you'll get a gratuitous reply from the CEO's office..

On the Enchanted Princess in December. Prior to cruise went through all requested procedures on Medallion app. Instructions were TOO OFTEN UNCLEAR, as was feedback. Boarding in Ft.Lauderdale was surprisingly smooth using the app. On board the app's simple functions (open cabin door) were flawless; others not so. One process that clearly connected to an external link took 3 minutes for the connection. Clumsy process. A hamburger order from the adult only pool area took more than 1 hr to be delivered, half an hour after receiving message that it was on its way. The daily activity schedule listing is clumsy, can't see all activities in context of the the time - very awkward to manipulate. I could go on... Spouse & I have approx. 60 yrs in enterprise level information technology services where the performance of the medallion app would be unacceptable. At least Princess seems to be making a good attempt. If only they didn't use paying customers as Beta testers.

We find the Medallion Android app very slow and cumbersome. It took 3 minutes to connect to one link. Working around a day's activity schedule on a smart phone screen allows no overview. And it's incomplete. For one time slot I got only a football game in repeated tries. Give me dead timber analog. I didn't sign onto this cruise to spend time twiddling my thumbs on a keypad.

Thanks for the great information and for spending the time to write it. I have looked on the Princess web site's stateroom descriptions. None mentions if the staterooms have USB charging outlets for phones, cameras, other electronics? Thanks.

We received notice from Viking that Vancouver embarkation is by tender. Can't believe it having debarked in Vancouver at Canada Place many times. It's a complex, busy port.

We are stuck with paying $200. each for airport PCR tests. just to assure our arrival in Canada. We have scheduled a less than 48 hour test window based on the unreliability of air transport schedules. ByTheWay---have received no info from Viking about coping with Viking-booked airline schedule changes at the airport or with the connecting airport. Our long-experienced travel agent has been more than patient in dealing with Viking frustrations. So far this is our worst travel experience in 30 cruises, and we aren't even on the ship yet.

SailorPaulH, you are probably right that notifications are cruise specific. My apology for not thinking of that. As a cruise traveler with changing cruise line and airline requirements on this voyage, I think that I'm feeling what it is to be a kernel of corn in a microwave popcorn bag set for 2 minutes and we have 45 seconds left. May you have good and safe travels.