LindaS272

https://tripinsurancestore.com Steve at the Trip Insurance Store comes highly recommended by many CC users and Viking cruisers. We have done our own insurance bookings for years but just recently started consulting with Steve for nuances on our insurance needs. He has a Q&A on CC from a couple of years ago. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/2558-qa-cruise-insurance-with-steve-dasseos-of-the-tripinsurancestorecom-janfeb-22/

Not sure why you won’t do ATM just for picking up cash a couple of times during your trip, depending on needs. Sure, the banks on both ends will charge a “service fee” just for use of the ATM. We’ve solved that problem by using a Schwab Bank card that reimburses us for ATM fees—and we put in an amount just for our trip. We always have a cushion in our home bank card for any emergencies. Haven’t picked up foreign cash from home in 45 years. The other advantage on our Schwab card is that it has a pin and we’ve had to use it when our regular Visa cards aren’t accepted.

Just like restaurant reservations, cabins open up all the time. Stuff happens, plans change, many cancel or transfer at the six months payment date. We have been able to book this way many times. We book PV most often.

I think of this as the “Clay hack” for Viking V/DV suites. 😂

We learned this the hard way, too, on a TA from SJ to BCN. Next one, we booked for the other direction—BCN to BA (this October). We like our sleep!

Tea kettle—take away the nespresso machine. And ice twice per day. Turn off heated floors if on ship without controls. And hangars.

Don’t overthink it. Just try Viking, you might love it. Peruse Cruise Critic threads on Viking and you’ll find a lot of loyalists. We have taken six ocean cruises with them since 2019, and while it’s not our primary mode of travel, we’ve settled on one or two cruises a year and have no interest in trying other lines. Search for the thread “Tips for New Viking Ocean Cruisers” to get an idea.

We have this too, but I was told last year by T-Mobile that it’s no longer offered to new customers.

Here’s the link to Elliott.org that someone referenced earlier. Worth a shot. https://www.elliott.org/company-contacts/viking-cruises/

We had this booked a couple of years ago but had to cancel for various reasons. Have just rebooked it for Dec. 2025- Jan. 2026 so 🤞.

And there’s more than one ladder.

We were on the Sky in July 2019 (Homelands to St. Petersburg) for our first cruise in decades. We knew about your debacle but there was no indication by July—all was repaired. We also had the very capable Capt. Olav.

I agree that the answer is screwy. Talk about incompetence. BTW, one time a few years ago, I was on a chat with an agent who was really rude, put me on hold several times, and finally ditched the session. I complained to tellus@vikingcruises.com and was given a nice chunk of OBC for our troubles. Worth a try!

I’d go on the chat function and ask about that excursion time. They might be able to rebook you on another or at least tell you that excursion will be canceled so you know well in advance. We had an excursion time cancelled on us without notice last July (included boat trip in Bergen). We booked another time via chat, but they were not able to tell us why our previous time had been canceled. I think they bumped us to book in somebody more important because that excursion time still showed on the schedule.

I don’t know if this will help the OP, but we use a Schwab Bank card for ATMs worldwide—they reimburse the onerous ATM bank fees. We will usually get local currency at the airport on arrival. We haven't purchased travel currency at our home bank in maye 35 years.

Agree with you about the major fail. We were on the Jupiter soon after inauguration as well but did not learn about any actual astronomy shows there. I was expecting shows about the part of the world we were traveling in, but the shows were largely about the Arctic when we were in the Southern Hemisphere! And no real astronomy—major disappointment. I don’t know how/why they came up with such a poor idea.

Agree with you about the major fail. We were on the Jupiter soon after inauguration as well but did not learn about any actual astronomy shows there. I was expecting shows about the part of the world we were traveling in, but the shows were largely about the Arctic when we were in the Southern Hemisphere! And no real astronomy—major disappointment. I don’t know how/why they came up with such a poor idea.

Run it up the flag pole to a higher manager—supervisor of guest services or the GM. But it also could be that you just ordered drinks higher than the package limit of $18 per glass. Reading the T&Cs, you’ll see it doesn’t cover everything.

I’ll see if they allow it this far in advance! Most want it to be within a couple of months of when you’re traveling. I took copious notes from CC when you all did it. Still dreading it! I think it’s required beginning in April now, but Mercury is retrograde for the first three weeks so I don’t expect this roll out to be any smoother for them than the last!

We are scheduled on this next March (2025)🤞.

We are scheduled for BCN-BA this October. We will also keep you posted. I’m dreading the Brazil visa, however!

Not with my T-Mobile on wi-fi calling.

It’s an Italian restaurant. Take a look at the menu Clay posted in #1.

Yes, according to menu he posted, it says polenta & truffle (not pesto).

Yes. We were there once, or close to it, and had loud thumping noise from the band on a party under the stars night. They were supposed to close up by 10 pm but kept going. When we vociferously complained to GS they finally quit about 10:15. That was the only time there was a noise problem though—night time with the band.