duquephart

That makes sense, I suppose. The cruise is actually two cruises. But that would not explain why it wouldn't let me make the full six.

Tested it out. Currently have five for Chef's. Wouldn't let me make a sixth. Go figure.

Seems to be a glitch. Once I made our three allowed reservations for each specialty venue the ap said I had three more available for each.

5 hours ago, CCWineLover said:

Don't understand . .   are you serious?

Please explain.

Maybe I watched too many "Tarzan" movies.

Is there still such a thing as a safari? Sounds a little hokey.

5 hours ago, CCWineLover said:

Sorry for your inexcusable experience!

I do wonder though - who was it who told you it was being discussed with a senior person.  It couldn't have been a Viking person since you say "no one from Viking came over to discuss it".  Just curious - was it a fellow passenger diner who might have had the same experience?

 

We had something similar happen (not with decanting, but with a gone bad bottle).  Waiter disappeared to get a different one, never came back.  After 15 minutes I got up and went to the front desk and asked to speak to the head of Manfredi's.  That got quick action.  I don't think I'd have had the patience to wait for 45 minutes without taking matters into my own hands.

 

Certainly since COVID things have changed - I can only assume they've had problems, like everyone else, hiring qualified people who want to work.

 

I hope that you gave complete feedback to the Beverage and Restaurant Manager verbally and in writing and followed up with an email to Tellus@vikingoceancruises.com

 

I do think Viking does try to change things but I find you have to be persistent.  If they don't know they don't make a change.

Tellus will throw you a $500 pp bone.

I'm trying to think of an excuse/reason for overcooking scallops. Not having any luck.

5 hours ago, notjaded said:

OP here with a post-cruise update: My wife was able to find included reds to her liking, which was a pleasant surprise. Our cabin attendant kept stocking our PH with her most recent favorite. 
 

we had $80 of OBC left toward the end of cruise, so in true Ms  Notjaded fashion, she ordered a $180 bottle of wine. 
 

Thanks for all the help. 

Thought you had to go to Napa Valley to do that.

On 6/28/2023 at 4:00 PM, Jim Avery said:

So this is all your fault???🍸

If the description and photo are accurate there is no fault.

My understanding is that the fringe is the warps. I've heard good things abut the place in Kuşadası - we get there before Istanbul.

Like the car pukes say: "If you're happy with the deal you got a good deal."

22 hours ago, OneSixtyToOne said:

Guilty 

 

Our rug (I do love it)

 

Rugs galore

 

 

IMG_9874.mov 81.21 MB · 3 downloads  

 

 

Good looking rug from what I can see. Is the fringe sewn on?

38 minutes ago, Azulann said:

Give me a couple of days and I will  talk to my friend  who now lives in AZ. It was her cousin who  lived in Istanbul  as a teacher and they bought  many rugs from this dealer. My other  source I will check out is my neighbor in my condo building. He is from Istanbul and in fact his parents are here visiting. I will also ask him  too for a name.  Stay tuned... 

BTW when is your  Viking cruise? 

I have heard good things about a couple of places but you know how that goes. I've also heard having a guide may help unless they just take you to their brother's shop. Lots of snares in this forest. We arrive Milan (pre cruise) 4/18 and embark Jupiter in Venice/Fusina 4/21. We've hired a guide from Sojourn Turkey for a full day in Istanbul the day before we disembark. Then Istanbul extension the second day of which is all free time to figure out our plan of attack. Thanks much!

Going to the worst area (grand bazaar) in the worst city (Istanbul) without knowing what you're doing (or having someone who does with you) = strike three. The internet is riddled with stories of cruise ship tourists attending a "demonstration" and basically getting sucked in.

On 12/4/2023 at 1:24 PM, Azulann said:

Your post extension day sounds great. Been to all the sites you will be seeing. I read the description that you will go into the Blue Mosque. The tilework , rugs and hanging lights make it a spectacular space. The guide will give you a detailed background on this historic building. Wear socks because you will have to take your shoes off. Women should have a scarf they can put over their heads . But they do have some for women to wear. The cistern is the huge underground space beneath or next to the Haiga Sofia. You walk along a network of raised platforms . It is illuminated space  The famous iconic pillars are there with the head of Medusa at the base of some pillars. There is lots of signage , but if you have a guide even better . It is definitely something to see and explore. Did not do a cruise with lunch , but Turkish food is wonderful . I bought a carpet in the grand Baazar with an appointment  I made from home. Do go and wander around . You could probably just duck out of the carpet presentation and “ sales “. By then tour bus will take you to hotel  and your room will be ready for check in. I think Viking  does a really good job on their extensions. Hope you take a tour of the Tokapi palace site which is a full day of exploring the various buildings , but get a guide which are cheap and well worth it 

Are you willing to fill me in on where you had your rug appointment? It appears one has a better chance of shopping wisely if one sticks to reputable dealers. Apparently there are lots of the other kind. Thanks.

51 minutes ago, SteelCity Cruiser said:

Re: rugs.  If you are interested in purchasing one, we were advised by one of our guides in Istanbul to consider carving time to visit a dealer in one of the smaller Turkish ports - prices there are lower than in Istanbul and more willing to haggle prices down.  We purchased ours in Kusadasi for about half of what it would have cost in Istanbul (even with haggling).

Indeed. In Istanbul they instantly have you made as a cruise ship tourist and therefore an idiot. They are waaaaaaaaaaaaay better at selling than you are at buying. But the same goes for any port and the "normal" tourist is only going to be in the areas where he/she is a "marked man" (so to speak).

1 hour ago, OneSixtyToOne said:

We’ve been on two VR cruises that stopped at Koblenz and both times there was an included tour of Ehrenbreitstein Fortress for those with mobility issues.

Or ----- perhaps for those who wanted to tour Ehrenbreitstein Fortress?

I will attend the "presentation" because I'm interested. I've been researching and think I have some reasonable expectations. The reason there are so many dealers and "opportunities" is that there are so many carpets purchased. And the dealers/salesmen are reputed to be very good at what they do. Makes me wonder how many folks buy a rug who had no intention of doing so beforehand.

2 minutes ago, ChrisB123 said:

It's people like that, that give the term, "Ugly American," credence. So EMBARASSING.  

Where does it say he was American?

5 minutes ago, Peregrina651 said:

 

He sounds like a one man crusade. Does he really think that he is going to change anything by complaining to the tour guides?

 

Asking and complaining are two different things.

 "Disembark your ship for a visit to the striking Blue Mosque, stepping inside to admire its ornate interior. Continue to the Underground Cistern to glimpse its illuminated interior, a space supported by 336 columns. Then, set out on a scenic cruise along the Bosphorus Strait while savoring a tasty Turkish-style lunch. Back on land, visit the Grand Bazaar for a presentation on Turkish carpets, as well as time to browse the many stalls. The rest of the day is yours to explore at your leisure."

Sorry, but another question for those that may have been on theis extension: How do we get to the hotel?

On 1/21/2024 at 6:02 PM, millybess said:

We loved the Falconry Center.  It was one of our most favourite excursions on our 3 week cruise.  The Krka National Park was fairly ordinary for us and not worth the trip down and up.  If we were to do it again, we would just book a private tour to the Falconry Center and skip Krka Falls.

 

However, many people here really enjoyed the Krka Falls.  Much has been written on this topic recently and if you search "Krka", I think you will find many opinions from others who have been on these excursions.

 

Enjoy! 

I wonder if there is such a thing. Been looking.

7 hours ago, benjaminnicholas said:

Good lord these brands are weak.

 

Even MSC is stocking Hendricks and Goose in the Yacht Club rooms.

What other lines stock is of no consequence here. And Goose? Where I come from it's used for windshield washer fluid.

The more pressing issue is, of course, why not bourbon?

6 minutes ago, mwike said:

We did the guaranteed cabin thing for the first time on a cruise in November.  We found out roughly two weeks before disembarkation.  No issues whatsoever.

The question was how.