DarcyWilloughby

Just to clarify: we don't have to be tested on our own? Viking does the testing:?

On 8/26/2021 at 12:32 PM, NVAtravelers said:

Glad you mentioned the prehistoric temples on Gozo.  We are on the Sept. 19 Adriatic cruise and signed up for that excursion on a whim.  Now we are really looking forward to it!

This was one of the highlights of our trip. The structure may not be much to look at when compared to the pyramids, which they predate, but a good guide (which we had) will make sense of it all.

Travelguy19: We walled the Dubrovnik City walls 10  years ago, and it is not for the faint of heart. Getting up to the top of the wall can be tricky, but the hardest thing was there was no shade and the sun beating down can be brutal. The earlier in the day you do this walk the better. On our visit this August we skipped the walk (which has spectacular views) because it was unbearably hot.

We’re on the Sept 12th cruise. For those who have sailed recently, has Viking let passengers disembark independently in Montenegro or Croatia? I thought I’d read that in a couple of others’ posts, but I’m curious if they now permit it. Thanks!

We were on the Aug 23 cruise from Malta and we stayed in the Viking bubble in Montenegro, which wasn't really a problem since we were such a small group. Once we got to Croatia everything opened up and we could wander on our own. Which we did.

Thanks to topics like this I "discovered" Brewers Beach and it was my favorite out of the four beaches we visited. "Rustic" to me meant not crowded and commercialized. A small beach, a lounge chair for $5 and the little bar/restaurant was exactly what I wanted. Not the most beautiful of the beaches but I counted 20 people on it and I was in heaven.

We just returned from a Viking cruise in the Caribbean. There was no adjustment to our schedule, no problems onboard, no islands missed, nothing to be concerned about. 

However the included excursion looks pretty lame

We just returned from a Viking Caribbean West Indies tour and so I can only remark on those included tours. Overall they were disappointing. We signed up for a number of them but after doing three we canceled the rest. Our walk in the old town section of San Juan was fine -- although we also did our own walking tour after we got there and had more fun. One of the tours duplicated parts of our optional tour on the same day but we had a good guide who kept us laughing. And then there was the included excursion that spent nearly 2 hours driving to and from: two brief stops for a view and one stop at Nelson's Dockyards that was OK. The amount of time though and the incessant monologue of our guide about anything and everything began to annoy within 15 minutes. We felt they were time fillers. (Just so you know: several older members of our group ALWAYS liked the included trip; so there you go.)

On the other hand, the optional trips were outstanding: one was the highlight of our trip. And of course we wandered on our own to several beaches during our trip. In the future we are not likely to choose many of the included tours if they're like these.

I might not sign up prior to your cruise if you are on the fence and this is an important part of the decision.

Thanks. I hadn't thought of that. I was assuming we had to purchase this package in advance.

There were several different tastings - wine and liquor - that were included. If I remember correctly they were only on sea days.

Thanks. We did our first cruise without it, so we'll do our next one with it and then decide if that's the way we'll go from now on.

There were several tastings of wine as well as spirits classes that were included.

So a wine tasting session was included in the Silver drinks package? If so then that would be an incentive for us. On our Viking cruise we paid extra for a winetasting one afternoon and an Armagnac tasting. I think the winetasting was about $25. Can't remember what we paid for the other tasting.

I'll be in San Juan in February and would also appreciate your guide. Thanks for all you've done. My address is: ozzieink@verizon.net

Makes sense. Thanks.

So if I have the Silver Spirits package and buy a bottle of Champage at reduced cost can everyone at my dinner table drink it? Or is it just for the two of us with the package?

I would've loved to have gone to the Buena Vista Club, but most of the guidebooks said the Tropicana's big gaudy nightclub show is a must-see. As I said, an unusual shower (not pouring rain but not a drizzle either) made up our minds for us. Of our group we had a busload leaving -- but we were also the older part of the crowd. 

48 minutes ago, Paulchili said:

Glad you enjoyed it.

How was the Tropicana show - we are thinking of doing it.

You might be asking the wrong guy. There are about 1,000 (yes) people in the outdoor theater. Viking had us close to the stage so our seats were great. But it started to rain and after the first act our group of 6 left. I thought it was touristy and about an hour was enough time for me. HOWEVER every single person I talked to later loved the show. One guy stayed till the very end — after 1am I think — and went onstage to dance with the performers. It was fun but as I said touristy. The next night on Viking we saw a performance of local musicians and it was more low keyed and I loved it. But I’d say if you go with expectations slightly lower you should have e a good time. It is big, gaudy and over the top. 

49 minutes ago, Paulchili said:

Glad you enjoyed it.

How was the Tropicana show - we are thinking of doing it.

1 hour ago, Paulchili said:

Was the overnight trip at extra cost or included?

It was extra and not cheap: about $700; so some people took the cheaper one-day option. But as i’ve said it was worth it. Remember this covered dinner, Tropicana, hotel, breakfast and lunch.

For folks planning to visit Cuba: because our government is cracking down on "nonfamily" visits to Cuba, I'd keep double checking the possibility of Cuba being eliminated from Viking's itinerary or any other cruise ship from the US.

I had to laugh when I read this thread. My room on our cruise to Cuba this Feb was DIRECTLY across from the laundry room. There were absolutely NO problems: no extra traffic, noise, anything. And how it worked for me who's direction-challenged: I'd get off the elevator and look for the laundry sign and always find my room right away. 😚

Kathy, I was surprised at how many people opted for the one-day visit. That meant 6+ hours traveling. We spent the late afternoon in Havana, rode in classic cars, had dinner, went to the Tropicana (I thought that was hokey but everyone else loved it) then we stayed overnight. Next day went to an artist's studio (I loved that), then went to a big marketplace, had a great lunch and headed back to the ship. We felt rushed the first day because of a late start (problems with ship engine) but had a relaxing second day.

This is an aside, I guess: We're planning on going doing an Alaskan cruise with Viking in August 2020, and I just learned that Viking was granted a permit for Glacier Bay. So the above itinerary will most likely change somewhat.

Does your cruise stop in Havana?

Just went on the Viking Star to Cuba in Feb 2019. Viking does not dock at Havana because apparently they were not granted a permit. Instead it docks at Cienfuegos and you have two options: (1) overnight stay at a hotel in Havana or (2) one day in Havana. Bus takes about 3 hrs each way. We stayed overnight and had a ball, but yes I would've liked more time in Havana.