Mich3554

37 minutes ago, LindaS272 said:

You’ll see this has been covered in several threads here. Several folks booked private tours and had no trouble making it back to the ship.

We flew out of Cochin, returned to meet the ship in Mumbai a few days earlier.  We only missed Goa.

2 hours ago, mstadleraz said:

They had special events for both those ports if I remember correctly. However, the off ship activities were worth missing the Viking events; especially the Taj Mahal...unless you plan on returning to India.

We took off for Delhi from Cochin, so got to do the Mumbai rooftop event too as we got into Mumbai at the same time as the ship.  The rooftop event was incredible.

3 hours ago, Clay Clayton said:

Another question for y'all.  Sorry.

 

In Bora Bora, our friend, @VAGAL has highly recommended doing Le Truck-here is what she said:

Bora Bora - DIY to Playa Matira.  Took La Truck (seats 8-10 people, was $5 back then.  Beautiful beach, there is some shade under the trees, water is waist deep forever, saw lots of stingrays, drank beer, hailed a taxi and stopped at Bloody Mary's on way back to ship

 

Below is the description of the included tour on Le Truck which sounds similar but doesn't look like it includes stopping  at the beach or being able to stop and have a drink at Bloody Mary's.  (Of course according to their website they are currently closed for renovations so this may be a moot issue). But in case they reopen, did any of you do this included tour and advice?

Ride an Open-Air Truck Through Paradise -- Take in the crystalline turquoise waters, lovely small villages and abundant mountains, and learn about it all from your local guide. There are many photo stops along the way as we drive to the district of Faanui and scenic Faanui Bay. Here, you will see the ancient ceremonial site of the Faanui marae, Bora Bora’s biggest Polynesian temple, with a typical raised ahu altar. Continue your scenic drive and pause for a photo stop at one of the island’s famed restaurants. Here, you will have a chance to strike a pose in front of Bloody Mary’s Bar & Restaurant. A longtime island favorite of Hollywood royalty, it is the quintessential tiki bar with its thatched roof, open sides, white-sand floor, wooden slab tables and stools made of coconut stumps.

It poured most of the time we were in French Polynesia, so that really colors things for me.  We stopped at the Bloody Mary Bar (there is a list of celebrities who have visited it), but did not partake.  We did do a snorkeling excursion out on an island, and did go to an area where we got to snorkel with rays.  Soggy, but enjoyable.

58 minutes ago, Codecow said:

Used the laundry a lot on Octantis with no issues.  My wife had been on Viking before and knew about it so we didn’t pack as much as we normally would have, it worked out perfect for us with no issues.

 

It does bring you back in time a bit to being a kid in the dorms or in an early apartment where you’re dealing with community washers.

We were joking that apparently some did not ever use community washers in their life.  They didn’t seem to know the rules!

4 hours ago, Dcsfuture said:

I heard there was a shuttle provided to HCM city from the ship. Would love to confirm that as we are doing what you suggest. In any event we’ll make it happen. 

It dropped and picked up from in front of the opera house.

1 hour ago, deec said:

Clay...what a nice to have happened to your laundry.  Wish everyone was kind and sweet.  Someone was taking my laundry out of the drier (time was still on it) when I walked in...I asked what she was doing...her reply was that her wash was done so my drying was in HER drier!!!  Sometimes there is NO response!  She refused to stop taking my laundry out and tossing it on the couch.

 

Clay...no one on a world cruise will act like that LOL!!!  We had free laundry on the First WC even in the DV's.  I think Viking quickly learned the lesson that Viking passengers are either really dirty or ridiculously clean!  Our laundry was always perfect and on the occasion something became errant it was found quickly!  Glad they did not cancel the Silver Spirits Packages....because the passengers did DRINK a lot too.  You will have such a wonderful time!  We visited so many special places that I did not know even existed!

On the last WC, the laundry room was full of strife.  2 couples got kicked off when one guy, waiting for a dryer finally emptied a drier after waiting 10 min for the owner to show up.  While he was waiting for his clothes to dry, he decided to fold the clothes he had taken out of the drier.  Owner comes in as the guy was folding his wife’s underwear, hits him with his cane.  Folding guy slugs him back.  Both get tossed off the ship.
As I was tossing my clothes into a drier from the washer, a woman comes in with an armful of wet clothes, demanding my drier.  She was most unhappy (and let me know) that I continued to fill the drier, started it and left.  I probably should have stuck around, but this was pretty early in the WC and the problems hadn’t gotten bad by then.
A friend of mine was doing laundry, started the drier, set her watch to come back in 40 min and left.  She came back to wet clothes, and a drier that had only advanced 4 minutes.  
There were a LOT of laundry room stories on our cruise.  When we had Bubbles on the Bridge, the laundry room issues came up with the captain.  He laughed and said those stories were only the tip of the iceberg…..he heard them all!  He wouldn’t tell though.

50 minutes ago, Peregrina651 said:

 

There are two  deliveries from Viking that you have to watch out for.

 

One comes via the postal service about 45 days before you sail and contains your personalized luggage tags that will get your bags from dockside to your cabin (do not attach them until after your flights), red Viking luggage tags to attach immediately with your personal information (and so that other Viking voyagers will recognize you at the airport) and transfer badges so that the ground personal will recognize you. Sometimes, this package goes to your TA to be forwarded to you. None of this is required to get on the airplane or the ship, so don't freak out if they aren't delivered.

 

The other comes via e-mail to you or your travel agent or to both of you 14 days prior to departure. It is a summary of your booking and your shorex and information about all of the tours available on your sailing. If it only goes to your TA, then it is up to the TA to forward it to you -- and may take some nagging on your part to get it from your TA. Again, there is nothing in these documents that is required to board the ship. It is annoying but nothing to panic over; you are still going on your trip.

 

In the last month before the sailing, Viking will also send  a series of e-mails announcing pre-trip deadlines.

 

Viking will take any photos that they need with cameras that are connected to the ship's computer system. If you do need photos in advance then it is itinerary specific and Viking should warn you about it well in advance.

I’d argue with you that this document is nothing to worry about.  I needed it to show that I had paid for an excursion that was not in their system.  I’m not sure where the foul up was, but it was sufficient.

On 8/17/2023 at 7:40 PM, rbslos18 said:

Counselors,

I interpret this to mean having the physical document on our person like all the other docs listed: passport, COVID card and visa etc. What do you say?!

 

If you have the pdf copy e documents Viking sent you 2 weeks before you sail, you have an electronic copy on of the contract on your electronic device of choice.  

2 hours ago, johnhst said:

We have a question for those past WCrs. We are heading out from Florida in December on the Neptune. This may have been ask and answered before, but I have not been able to find it so please bare with me.  What amount of various pieces of clothing did you really need on your WC?  Items like, men's long pants, shorts, T-shirts, collared shirts, and women's Blouse, Skirt, dresses, shorts, pants and cold wether outer wear. Thanks so much.

On most of your shorter cruises we usually take enough excess to fill one suitcase and put it under the bed for the duration of the cruise.  Then we pull it out and the it home. LOL 

I had 5 pair of shorts, 3 pair of khakis, 2 pair of jeans, one dress, 2 skirts, one dress pants.  I had a combo of 10 sleeveless and ss t shirts, 2 ss linen sweaters, 3 swimsuits, 2 coverups.  I had 2 weeks worth of underwear and socks, 5 bras.  One raincoat, one fleece, 3 sets of workout clothes.  I took a pair of NB sneakers, waterproof Merrill hiking shoes, a pair of Tevas, water shoes, dress sandals and a pair of flats.  DH had 3 pair of long pants, 4 collared shirts, 10 t shirts, 6 shorts, 2 swim trunks, He brought his deceased dad’s Merrill’s, which he buried in Liverpool, a new pair of Merrill’s and a pair of Tevas.  I think he brought 2 weeks of underwear and socks too.  
We also stayed on the ship for 6 weeks after, so I picked up a couple sweaters along the way (badly needed in Norway and Arctic).  DH collects t shirts, and I think he brought back maybe 15 new ones?  
I expected to lose underwear and socks along the way, but didn’t.  There were days where we went through at least 2 sets of clothes.  There was nothing unworn, I was happy with what I took.

2 hours ago, cruising denise said:

New question for the 22/23 WC gang: 

 

Is the port in Monaco easy access to walking around in Monaco?  We've never been and would like to be able to check it out on our own and still get back to the ship easily.  I know it's a tender port but that's all I know....

Sadly, yes.  I got to look out on everything going on in Monaco from our cabin while I was on Covid arrest.  It was the most painful port for me to miss because we were not docked in a shipping harbor, but in the middle of things.

2 hours ago, Heidi13 said:

 

Clay - Once aboard the credits show as non-refundable and refundable credits. The OBC provided by Viking is non-refundable and anything received from your TA is refundable. We received additional refundable when receiving payment for our costs in receiving the China Visa.

 

It doesn't show as spa, shore-ex, etc. Regardless if you purchase shore-ex, or from spa/shops, etc.  they initially charge the non-refundable credits until exhausted, then charge the refundable ones.

I think we ran out of OBC for booking excursions somewhere around India.  We had a lot of jockeying for excursions, as some got canceled, some ports were missed.  DH dumped several as he had the opportunity to dive instead.  By my best guess, the order you book your excursions on MVJ is the order they are debited from your OBC.  That meant all the excursions I missed on Covid arrest were refundable.  By the time we got to the end of the WC, most of the balance in our account was refundable credit.  Moot point, we went on further, but had we left the ship in London, we’d have gotten it all back.  

2 hours ago, Clay Clayton said:

For 2022/23 cruisers, can you advise if you were able to use the Explorers Society credit before boarding? Wondering if we will have it available when it comes time to book optional excursions. 
 

Also, once onboard did all provided credits become a lump sum in your account?  In other words, like on previous WC, were you able to use the "Spa, laundry, etc " credit to buy additional excursions?

 

TIA!

When we got on board, there was a lump sum in our onboard account.  We could not use it before boarding (but the OBC we received covered a very big chunk of the excursions we chose when they opened up for us).  Yes, you could buy excursions with this money.  When we left the WC, we had a good chunk of it left.  Viking let us carry it over in our account for the British Isles cruise, Norway and Arctic and Iceland to NYC.  The money we had left was sufficient to pay the gratuities and alcohol tab, and send a bag home from London for 2/3 cruises we took afterwards.  It did help that the 5 excursions I missed as I was Covid + got refunded to our account.  That added another chunk of $$$, as did booking the Iceland to NYC while onboard.
 

Another thing to note.  When we chose our excursions, we changed our mind while we could still make changes in our excursions while home.  Unfortunately, the excursion we wanted was sold out (it was for Egypt…..? segments into the WC).  So one of the first things I did on boarding in FL was get on the waitlist for this excursion.  Sometime through the cruise (not sure when) the home office in LA had decreed that changes to excursions  could only be made within the segment you were currently in.  Luckily, we got the excursion we wanted before the segment, so released the excursion we had booked.  According to one of the managers at the Explorer’s desk, this caused a bunch of problems because they could not see on computers what was coming up, I guess because people only had a short window to make changes during the WC.  Only about 2 weeks was seen in advance on the TV, so it felt like there were a lot of segments.  

On 8/20/2023 at 9:39 AM, cruising denise said:

Thank you so much for this info.  Do you feel that you missed out on anything by not having a guide, or were the sites well documented and explained?  Were you able to also go to the USS Missouri, which would be part of this tour? 

Nope.  Everything is very well documented.  We didn’t see the Missouri because we didn’t have enough time.  

1 hour ago, cruising denise said:

Hope you will be joining us on the Sky, Clay!   

 

On a completely different topic, we are seeking to do a private tour of the USS Arizona and related sites in Honolulu.  We are finding them available online, but wondering if anyone who was there on the 22/23 WC can recommend a particular guide?  or alternately is there anything we should avoid?  It also appears we could do this on our own for much less money but since this will probably our only time there, I'd like to make the most of it.  Any guidance appreciated, TIA.

We just went to the USS Arizona on our own.  We Ubered there and back from the Neptune, no tour guide.  
The whole complex is VERY strict as to what you can bring in…..no bags at all (not even my small purse).  

9 hours ago, Clay Clayton said:

Question for all you who booked port side staterooms:

 

If you had it to do over would you pick one on the starboard side instead?   
 

Mike and I are 99% ready to book the Jan 24 WC on Sky and at the moment can have a select a DV on either side.  Typically we would pick starboard on a cruise heading west as we prefer a shady balcony to a sunny one and have found generally the room stays cooler on the side of the ship that doesn't face south or west during the heat of the day. 
 

Our conundrum is that the starboard side rooms still available tend to be located immediately adjacent to the elevator lobbies so we worry about the potential for noise.  
 

TIA for your thoughts as to how problematic the heat and sun on the port side (likely to be deck 4 or 5 midship-ish) was for y'all. 

We were port side.  I found it really didn’t matter.  We got a spectacular view sailing into Sydney Harbor at sunrise, but not on the way out.  
 

6 minutes ago, Wendylet said:

Much thanks to everyone for your assistance. So if I get the ETA how is it presented to the Australian authorities? Do I pass it along to Viking or am I presenting it in the first Australian port? Thank you again for all your help. 

On the world cruise, we had to present hard copies of all our visas to Viking’s Explorer desk.  

I could not ever choose a favorite cruise, because I would do all of them over again!  We have done:

Atlantic crossing, Lisbon to Miami.  First cruise, we were hooked!  Wonderful, sunny sea days.  Introduced to the idea of a world cruise.  DH response ‘no bloody way!’  (Uh huh)

Trade Routes.  Almost a port every day.  We’d do it again.

South America.  OMG!  Utterly spectacular.  DH wanted to go back in the other direction!

<Covid hits, cruises get punted>

Finally get on a cruise ship again in Oct. 2021.  ‘No bloody way’ becomes ‘we need to take a longer cruise to make sure I don’t want to jump overboard on a world cruise’.  I piece together 3 cruises.

Med Antiquities (Athens to Barcelona), South Atlantic Crossing, and South America (we had the voucher, why not?).  54 days total.  Brazil wouldn’t let us in, Morocco and Senegal cancel.  We pick up Madeira and Cape Verde.  Argentina won’t let us dock for 14 days since we had been in Africa.  We had 9 consecutive sea days.  We are allowed to pick up passengers (finally) in Argentina.  No Falklands.  More sea days.  DH wants our cabin steward to hide us in the crew quarters, he doesn’t want to get off after 54 days.  
Grand European river cruise.  Wanted to check out this.  Have another scheduled next year.

World Cruise.  Scheduled when I caught DH at a weak moment during Covid restrictions.  We started in FL, and tacked on British Isles, Norway and Arctic and Iceland to NYC, so a total of 178 days.  Again, DH wanted to stay on longer.  I had 2 days of BP meds left when we got to NYC!  We tacked on Iceland to NYC while on the cruise.  
<we have 5 cruises booked, 1 a river cruise for 2024-25>
 

I would repeat any of these! 

14 minutes ago, janetcbl said:

We are booked (and paid for) the full transit of the Panama Canal, from LA to Ft. Lauderdale January 3rd, and when I checked today, Leon ( Corininto) Nicaragua,  had completely disappeared from the itinerary….leaving four sea days in a row. Anyone else have this, notice this or know why? Curious….
 

Nicaragua disappeared from the itinerary last year too on this cruise.  

One way to do this is to schedule a deviation, and get yourself from London to Reykjavík on your own.  Viking will get you home from there.  By booking a deviation, you can add days on the front end of your cruise, and while I’ve not looked, flights from London to Reykjavík are probably cheaper.  
ETA:  Next June, flights from London to Reykjavík are well under $200 pp.
We did something similar on our GE river cruise last year.  We booked to arrive early in Amsterdam, stayed in Budapest at the end for several days, took the train to Prague and toured there 5 days before flying home from Prague…..this was using Viking air plus.

3 hours ago, MSEm said:

I have read that with the luggage delivery service that luggage is placed in your cabin. 

Questions:

1.  How far in advance of your boarding date will the luggage be picked up?

2.  How is the luggage handled when you are leaving the ship to return home?

We are considering using the delivery service for a longer overseas cruise.

Thanks for any and all info on using this service.

We used Luggage Forward to get our luggage on the World Cruise.  Our luggage was picked up about 2 weeks before we embarked (FL, from WA).  It was in our cabin when we arrived.  
We also used it to send a bag from London.  I want to say it was delivered in about 2 weeks.  As we weren’t here to accept delivery of it, I believe she messaged me it had arrived several days afterwards.  

While you can get an idea about excursions from MVJ, when they drop for the highest category is when you can see times and costs.  That’s about 110 days out.  If you are concerned about getting an excursion, choose the optional ones you wan5 to do and pay as you choose them.  Having them in your cart is not sufficient to reserve them, they must be paid.  Then go back and book included excursions at times that fir for you.  
 

If your friends in DV don’t get on excursions you want to do together, they can be waitlisted when they board.  Either this, or plan a private excursion with a local tour guide.  There is no way for them to be included in your reservation.  

I can’t tell you whether there will be excursions on turnover day in Athens, but when we boarded there (so it was turnover day for others) I noticed the shuttle in the adjacent lot, and there was a shuttle schedule at the entrance.

This was fall 2021, so assuming it will continue.

So they not only increased the number, but the size of all cabins.  
I wonder what this does to the door rooms vs the slider rooms?

On 6/14/2023 at 10:16 AM, Jim Avery said:

I have been giving this some thought and wonder where the extra 34 cabins will go.  Unless they build a whole new deck space on the upper decks how could you add cabins to the existing layout without creating some inside cabins?  And adding cabins to upper decks would reduce the Sport Deck?  Cabins that high also affect stability which requires more hull space.  Just wondering how this will be done and still keep the feel of the "old" ships.

They are eliminating a bunch of PV cabins and making them DV.  Our go to cabins in PV….5089/91 no longer exist.  They’ve snagged a few more from the other side of the ship too on deck 5.  We just booked a cruise on the Vela and noticed this.  
By my count, there are about 10 fewer PV cabins in the Vela than the Jupiter.  If each room is 3’ wider, then there is 30’.  I don’t see any other additional changes though.

1 hour ago, OneSixtyToOne said:

List price vs list price or your discounted price vs list price? 
 

 

List price, not including my booking discounts.