_alan_

my mistake was assuming Viking air would make appropriate selections. And trusting their selections.

Yeah previously I assumed BA was built on solid reputation. I just wanted to know if the complaints I’ve read were false or outdated. I can put up with the short jaunt in Euro Business Class, it was just a shock to me to read that it didn’t match what I felt was their solid reputation.

It’s more than the DSLR, it’s the additional lenses, mini tri pod, media, card readers, laptop, etc. So, it’s a whole separate bag of expensive equipment. Given the scenario, there are three choices. 1, leave it home. 2, lug all the equipment while on an excursion instead of being safe in my cabin, 3, trust everything minus my camera and lens choice to the bag handlers until the evening. A decision which can’t wait to be made until we get onboard as Viking phone people would want me to accept. I only post this question to the forum just in the random likelihood that folks went thru a similar experience given all the experienced travelers here. Not some random badgering. It’s Wednesday and we depart for pre-cruise on Saturday. I understand Viking was put in a bad place by Venice port authority. Just trying to do what I can to make the cruise as smooth as possible given the circumstances given the lack of information I’ve gotten thus far. I’ve asked the folks at TellUs before and they said wait until we embark, frankly because I think Viking is even now still scrambling to finish the details. I can try again.

Thanks for that feedback. In our case, we were given an "either or" scenario. Either see Venice or see Ravenna. Having lost that opportunity to see Venice four years ago, it will likely be Venice. I think what I've decided is to leave both the DSLR and the laptop behind in the US and look like every other Yank tourist with his iPhone. Then talk it thru with the cruise director once onboard about excursion changes. They are usually very approachable, in fact we ate dinner with the CD's wife on our last Viking tour a couple of nights because she was often seen having to eat alone. While being somewhere without my laptop will seem foreign to me, it's only for about 12 (yikes) days.

We’ve never had a clean experience with Venice. Four years ago we were due to have 2 nights in Venice prior to embarking. And we were in the owners suite. Thanks to a mechanic work slowdown over Mothers Day weekend on American, our flight from Chicago to Venice was cancelled 6 hours after original departure and it took a lot of effort to get rebooked in time to even make the ship. Even then, the second flight option involved a layover in Philadelphia and an aborted take off from Philadelphia to Venice! We made the ship by 90 minutes. So we lost two days in Venice then. For this cruise, I guess you could say we’re losing around 4 hrs due to the need for transfer into Venice.

that’s what I’m seeing as well, which is rubbish. My guess is that it’s even worse domestically within England. Thankfully the 80 pitch seat from Heathrow to Philadelphia will allow some attempt at recovery. I know I sound like a whiner but when you pay for what you think is 80 pitch and you get 30, that’s a cause for concern. I don’t fly business class often, so I’d like to be spoiled when I do luv.

My concern would be if they just leave it in the hands of hotel staff once they get it there, and not in the normal flow of control as from ship.

We’re booked in Europe Business class from Venice to LHR. According to seat guru, this business class is very cramped seating, no better than economy with boxes on the floor for audio equipment or something which will reduce legroom. The pitch on the seat is listed as 30 inches and the width as 17, no better than a Southwest economy seat. The reviews on seat guru are saying those numbers are too gracious and the seats are even smaller. I’m hoping that there’s been a recent remodel and we will be pleasantly surprised.

The first leg of our return flight on the next cruise is with British Airways, and I guess I should have read the reviews before I agreed to BA. If BA is as bad as folks are saying online, why is Viking Air booking with them? Or have they "come around" of late? Maybe turned things around?

OP could always just get the jab.

The whole time excursions were loaded on our upcoming cruise, nothing was listed for Venice. My heart sank when I got this email from Viking. I'll let you read the meat of the email I got from Viking in August. Despite the email saying we would be provided more details by 8/18, subsequent calls told me I won't know the very many details until we get onboard. They failed to load anything by 8/18. The key phrase I'm stuck on in the email below is "Your luggage will be transferred to your Venice hotel while you enjoy an excursion in Venice." What I'd like to know is who will be in procession of my luggage while we enjoy this "Venice Program"? This is an important question for me as the answer might make me second guess taking a laptop or nice camera. If Viking is controlling the luggage until I see it again, I am fine. If it is given to an unknown third party, I don't feel comfortable. Has anyone been through a similar situation and can elaborate? I can't get a straight answer from Viking, and in the absence of information, my computer and camera might be staying home. ===> email text below =============== You may be aware that the Italian government has restricted cruise ship docking to preserve the Venetian Lagoon, a national monument. This requires us to dock in an alternate location, outside central Venice. Due to operational changes beyond Viking's control, we will now dock in Ravenna instead of Venice. Ravenna is approximately 90 miles south of Venice, offering access to Venice, Bologna and San Marino. <Snip> Disembarkation You are currently booked on a flight departing prior to 10:00 AM on the day of disembarkation. Due to the distance from Ravenna to the Venice airport, and in consideration of your early morning flight, we have arranged a full day Venice shore excursion program and a complimentary hotel overnight in Venice the day before your originally scheduled disembarkation. Your hotel stay and shore excursion program will be updated in MyVikingJourney by August 18, 2023. Details and timing for your disembarkation will be provided on board the ship. Your booking will be adjusted to reflect the full day Venice shore excursion program. If you wish to proceed with these arrangements—as outlined below—no further action is required. On your first day in Ravenna you will disembark the ship. Your luggage will be transferred to your Venice hotel while you enjoy an excursion in Venice. You will return to your hotel in the evening and enjoy a complimentary dinner. On your final day in Venice enjoy a complimentary breakfast before boarding the motorcoach for transfer to the airport. If, however, you prefer to participate in another Ravenna or Venice excursion instead of the full day Venice program, you will be transferred to the hotel in Venice after your chosen excursion. Please know your experience is important to us. We recognize this change may be disappointing or pose an inconvenience and we appreciate your understanding. As a token of our appreciation, we will be adding a $150 per guest shipboard credit to your account for this voyage which can be applied toward optional shore excursions, spa services, Silver Spirits Beverage Package or any other onboard purchases. Additionally, we are extending to you a future cruise voucher for $250 per person. The vouchers can be used toward any voyage with Viking—river, ocean, or expedition—and will be provided to you following your return home. Our Customer Relations team will be monitoring the voyage and will reach out after you have returned to discuss any comments or concerns.

Sounds like that would be a rivers cruise. I have no idea if it’s the same as the oceans suite.

maybe you’ll befriend whomever is in the OS and be invited to their in room party.

I'm really pretty humble and I didn't intend for them to have to track it down. Nor did my wife intend to get a free bottle of limonchello or a huge bowl of fruit. All happened because of a casual comment with the steward.