duquephart

1 hour ago, Squawkman said:

Viking’s web site states:

 

This charge will be shared among the onboard staff who helped support and provide your cruise experience, including the waitstaff, stateroom stewards, buffet stewards, galley staff, laundry staff and others. 

 

So Viking is lying? And our room steward on one of our cruises told us tipping her was not necessary as she receives tips from the gratuities pool. What’s your source for calling shared tips a fantasy?

Several threads here. I'm just reporting the findings of others.

14 minutes ago, Squawkman said:

What about the deck hands that help you on and off tenders? They’re not deserving? Not to mention the hard working staff you don’t necessarily interface with. I’m with those that think gratuities should just be included and cruisers can go above and beyond if they choose. If you like “service charge”, you can call it that.

I call it that because that is what "tips" are. Lots of information here and elsewhere. When you pay "gratuities" what you are really doing is contributing to the general/payroll fund - out of which the "hard working staff" is paid. In other words, "gratuities" are included in what these people are paid. Folks who do not pay these "tips" are stiffing no one. Many people seem to think that what they pay in "gratuities" becomes a pot of money that is distributed (according to some formula) at the end of each and every cruise. That is a fantasy. 

I would imagine there are folks, perhaps lots of folks, who prefer the "not included" system in regard to "gratuities." That way of handling things allows them to reduce or eliminate "tips" on the grounds that they are really a service charge. These folks generally prefer to see their "tips" directly into the hands of deserving staff.

The practice on Viking River, at least the one I was on a few years ago, is/was to suggest tip amounts to voluntarily add to your bill.

8 hours ago, ChrisB123 said:

I paid for gratuities a year in advance, right from the MVJ site. 🤷‍♂️ It's easy to do and easy to see.  By the time we actually cruise, we won't even notice it. That way our favorite crew members will get a cash amount extra. 😁

Yes --- Viking makes it easy to turn your money into their money. But --- a year in advance?

10 hours ago, Vineyard View said:

I would suggest that it can depend on a few different factors. Having sailed Viking several times, we looked to do so again for our first cruise post Covid. We do not find value in ship excursions, so the costing with Viking that includes this is not of value to us. We all know that pricing post Covid is crazy across the board, but when I penciled out total cost per person per day on Viking (adding in gratuities and silver spirits) I decided to look around. We landed at Seabourn last year visiting ports in the Mediterranean that we haven’t been to, that Viking does not sail to. SB pricing includes everything except excursions. Their pricing was less pp/pd so we decided to try them. It was a great experience, and we would not hesitate to sail therm for the right itinerary/price point. Same with Viking. We felt that Viking exceeded at some things over SB (spa, promenade), but that SB was a higher level experience…for us. 
I am looking at next year, May/June for a special anniversary. Mediterranean or British Isles. Since we have sailed to most of the ports in the med with Viking, I compared British Isles. Same outcome. SB is again less pp/pd than Viking - once I add in extra costs. Same for the Mediterranean itineraries. 
That said, if ship excursions were important to us, and the included excursions with Viking were satisfactory, then the balance would not be the same in total cost pp/pd. 

There is a Seabourn thread comparing experiences with Viking. Seabourn seems worth looking into.

34 minutes ago, Vineyard View said:

I would suggest that it can depend on a few different factors. Having sailed Viking several times, we looked to do so again for our first cruise post Covid. We do not find value in ship excursions, so the costing with Viking that includes this is not of value to us. We all know that pricing post Covid is crazy across the board, but when I penciled out total cost per person per day on Viking (adding in gratuities and silver spirits) I decided to look around. We landed at Seabourn last year visiting ports in the Mediterranean that we haven’t been to, that Viking does not sail to. SB pricing includes everything except excursions. Their pricing was less pp/pd so we decided to try them. It was a great experience, and we would not hesitate to sail therm for the right itinerary/price point. Same with Viking. We felt that Viking exceeded at some things over SB (spa, promenade), but that SB was a higher level experience…for us. 
I am looking at next year, May/June for a special anniversary. Mediterranean or British Isles. Since we have sailed to most of the ports in the med with Viking, I compared British Isles. Same outcome. SB is again less pp/pd than Viking - once I add in extra costs. Same for the Mediterranean itineraries. 
That said, if ship excursions were important to us, and the included excursions with Viking were satisfactory, then the balance would not be the same in total cost pp/pd. 

And there's the if.

1 hour ago, Hockeyump said:

'Someone said'.  I'm not a Viking cheerleader but I would like to see a copy of  this letter before making assumptions.

Wouldn't MVJ tell the tale?

35 minutes ago, tobique33040 said:

Are we to assume that you prefer to never leave tips? Many are getting fed up tipping absolutely everyone that didn’t previously ask for tips. Counter service for example. Or do you think Viking should include the tips and charge more? I think I’d prefer that. We leave extra tips anyway, on top of the billed ones, if we are extra happy with the service from a particular person. 

"Are we to assume that you prefer to never leave tips?" Why would you assume that? How businesses handle tipping has nothing to do with what I do.

26 minutes ago, tobique33040 said:

I’ve only done Viking ocean. Don’t most or all of the other lines have lots of added costs when you board. So you «are done paying for the cruise » until you board and then pay for so many extras: specialty dining, drinks, excursions and on. I think Viking is close to all inclusive. I agree they should include gratuity though, and just raise the price a bit. Makes it easier, imho. 

"close to all inclusive" and inclusive are two different things. And --- we're not talking about other cruise lines.

10 minutes ago, Frisky070802 said:

I knew in advance they weren't included.  It's easy to find out.  

Not everyone goes looking for information not provided. I'm only suggesting that there are people who feel they are done paying for a cruise once they have paid for the cruise. Something billed later is what is known as a hidden cost. I'm guessing many first time customers just assume they have paid for everything upon booking.

4 minutes ago, sharkster77 said:

Viking doesn't do anything to "hide" the gratuities from you---if you are an educated shopper, you learn about who includes tips and who does not quickly.  Land tour companies don't always include tips either.  Nobody puts a gun to your head or makes you walk the plank if you don't want to tip.

Land tours usually suggest tips - they don't bill them.

As has been pointed out many times, it's all a matter of consumption level and whether it pencils out. The reasonableness of the package is due, in part, to the fact that you have already paid for a given level of consumption. Lines that aren't already providing "free" wine and beer need to charge more for it.

Facts are facts. Every line has warts.

Make sure that's noted.

Some killer restaurants on the Bergen waterfront.

30 minutes ago, donaldsc said:

 

That is what I figured.  I actually went on an AK small ship cruise where they gave us good binocs which I priced at about $250 each.  Each room got 2 pair which is even more amazing.  They even had good quality spotting scopes scattered all over the ship.  So while you gave me the answer that I expected there are a few cruises where you would not have to bring your own.

 

DON

Indeed. But in regard to the cruise you are asking about ---------------------------

5 hours ago, Peregrina651 said:

 

Not for most people. 2/3 of the cabins are Veranda and Deluxe Veranda (314 cabins out of 465), which do not have alcoholic beverages stocked in the minibar. In those cabins, if you want alcohol in the minibar, you have to pay for it and the minibar is not covered by the drinks package.

 

OK - "some" folks.

Another subject that has been worked over pretty well (search "binoculars). Bottom line: If you want good binoculars bring some.

The sail-in/out for Eidfjord is very nice. And do not skip the cruise in Stavanger.

I imagine departure time is impacted by where you're going next.

13 hours ago, Mad-39 said:

I’m worried that with Rodne we may miss our ship departure. Looks like it’s leaving the port at 1:30!?

We did Rodne noon - 3 pm. Ship departed 6 pm.

31 minutes ago, ChrisB123 said:

You went to Tallian, Estonia?  I've heard a number of people say their itinerary was changed from Mariehamn to Tallian but MVJ is still saying Mariehamn.  I'm not really picky, but Tallian sounds fascinating. 

It was eliminated when we went - all Gulf of Finland ports.

Another vote for Vasa Museum.

The Flam RR is a must do. With any luck you'll get lunch at the Stalheim Hotel.