20Cruise20

Squawkman:

Nancy summarized the served buffet. As we walked the buffet line, the staff asked for input on the items we preferred as well as the portion size. In this particular experience, our drinks and dessert were ordered directly from a table menu.   

Cruise: Viking Star - Panama Canal & Central America - Feb & Mar of 2023

If the excursion that you are referring to is: The Panama Canal Railway - Connecting Two Oceans, I can share my perspective. We enjoyed the excursion and are not train buffs. Most of the train ride was close to the canal. The ride provided a much different perspective than what we experienced on the ship. Was it non-stop viewing of water? It was not. However, there was plenty of canal viewing. A light snack provided on the train as well as some history from the guide.   

I spent a fair amount of time at the open area at the rear of the train car. Snapped a few photos, watched many ships of varying sizes that we passed, and enjoyed a closer look at the landscape and visible birds. Coming close to the Bridge of Americas was stunning. Much more so than the ship experience.

Upon completion of the train portion and arrival at the train station, a rest room stop before boarding the bus. (There were several Viking passenger train cars.) Lunch was at a local restaurant. (Pretty sure that we were seated at tables for four.) A served buffet with a choice of drinks. It was very good. 

Literally driven across the street from the restaurant for a photo stop with some great water views and a couple of small shops.

The last component was the bus ride through Colon to return to the ship. While it was interesting to see Colon and hear some additional history, nothing extremely notable on the bus ride. 

Would I recommend? Yes. If your purpose is to truly experience a different canal perspective and understand more about the Canal, it's a good choice.   

A few other general cruise observations along with background perspective: We are both active adults without any limitations. We have cruised 3.5 times with Viking. (Partial Trans-Atlantic when "the world" shut down due to the pandemic onset, Med Odessey, and Homelands.) We found this cruise to be a really nice mix of sea days to enjoy the ship as well as excursions to enjoy the ports. Similar to the original poster, we researched partial versus full transit and settled for the partial based upon the schedules as well as the ability to spend a bit of time in Florida before and after the cruise. (Not snowbirds, simply wanted a winter getaway from PA.) We had no regrets that we selected the partial.

My advice for the ship transit experience, try to get to different places on the ship for the lock entry and exit. High deck, low deck, front, back, and each side. If you have questions about the ports or other excursions, please ask. Happy to provide my input for your consideration.     

Details on a different excursion. 

In the spring of 2022, we enjoyed the Meštrovic Gallery & Diocletian Palace excursion. A short bus ride and some history provided. Less than 20 on the excursion and no other groups at the gallery. So, it was a very delightful environment. About an hour in the gallery and small grounds. If desired, a few minutes in the tiny gift shop. Back on the bus for the return trip to the old town and palace. About a 45 minute walking tour with expected narration. At the conclusion of the formal excursion, a choice to stay in town or return to the ship via bus. We stayed in town and had about a 15 minute walk back to the ship.  

Despite the two of us having different interest and appreciation of art/sculpture, we were both very happy with the excursion. We also both enjoyed the time in the palace and old town. 

In March of 2022, we experienced the pre-excursion with the standard MO itinerary.  Our stated hotel was the Hilton, however, about a month before our departure, the pre-excursion hotel was changed to the Marriott. Because we were traveling independently to Rome and taking the train to Venice, I contacted the Marriott directly for assistance to get to the hotel. Marriott made arrangements for a private water taxi from the train station directly to their property. The private water taxi experience was wonderful and one that we will never forget. 

In regard to the Marriott, the service by the actual hotel staff was excellent. All common areas were spotless. Similarly, our room was spotless. After a late afternoon check-in, we enjoyed walking around the hotel island capturing some wonderful photos. We also made the decision to have dinner at the hotel after check-in. The restaurant staff had trouble handling the large volume of Viking guests. The food, however, was very good. Conversely, the breakfast buffet had a lot to be desired. A good variety, but, not quality. 

We had challenges with the Viking staff at the hotel. Our challenges all revolved around ignoring required COVID test results, requiring additional on-site testing, and overscheduling of on-site testing. (Please reference the timing of our visit...Italy was just opening up in the spring of 2022. So, this will not be a challenge for current guests.) 

On day two, both the hotel and Viking had shuttles running about every 30 minutes from the "Marriott" island to the main tourist area. It was a two- or three-minute walk from the docks to St. Mark's Square. It was an easy process using the free Marriott shuttle. Late in the evening of the second day, our luggage was required to be in the hotel hall.  

For day three, we were provided with a morning time to be in the hotel lobby. Groups were escorted to a water shuttle, transported to the Venice port area, processed for embarkation, and boarded buses for transport to Fusina. It was a hurry up and wait process, however, it truly was simple.

Because of the timing of our trip with Italian testing requirements as well as the port changes that were just beginning for Viking, we did not regret our decision of the Venice pre-excursion. If I've missed something about the pre-excursion or you have questions, please let me know. 

Some more info for your consideration. Happy to elaborate on any of my points, if helpful.   

Paris and London: My husband and I did a Paris (5 days) and London (4 days) trip independently in 2018. (We included Ireland for 10 days, too.) Easy direct flights from the east coast. An easy, two hour Eurostar direct train from Paris to London. We worked with our TA on amazing hotels in Paris and London, some private tours (Louvre, Windsor Castle), some small group tours, and a lot of planned independent touring. We successfully enjoyed a mix of touring, relaxation, wonderful food with the help of our hotel Concierges, and very easy travel. (Note: It was our first trip to Europe.) 

Actual cruising: Two Celebrity cruises. (Caribbean and Alaska) A partial Viking Trans-Atlantic coupled with a cancelled Mediterrean Odyssey (MO) as the COVID shutdown occurred in March of 2020. (Miami to St. Martin to mid-Atlantic until a turnaround and return to the states without ever reaching Europe.) An actual MO cruise in March/April of 2022 with preceding independent travel in Rome, preceding Viking extension in Venice, and post-cruise Viking extension in Barcelona. So, I'll focus on summarizing the 2022 trip.   

Even with all of the masking and vaccine card reviews, our independent travel in Rome was simply amazing. We worked with our TA to find a wonderful hotel, privately guided tour of the Vatican, small group tour of Ancient Rome, and independent touring of the other famous sites and The Borghese Museum. An easy train ride to Venice to join the Viking pre-extension which was a disappointment. (The disappointment surrounded the unexpected change of Viking hotels, the actual Viking hotel, and the on-site Viking hotel representative.)

I can't say enough good things about our wonderful Viking cruise and the great ports that we visited. We filled our port days touring with a mix of included and optional excursions. A bit of independent exploring, too. (Touring bubbles were in the process of being lifted on our cruise.)  

A disappointing post-extension in Barcelona. (The disappointment was the Viking hotel location.) But, a wonderful privately guided tour of Sagrada Familia and Parc Guell arranged through our TA.

Note: Because of the state of flux with country regulations, testing requirements, and in-flux transportation challenges, we were aware that we might be disappointed in the Viking extensions/hotels, but, made the decision to proceed.

While I can't reference the port in Rome, I can comfortably say that the port in Barcelona would be really, really easy to handle independently. The infrastructure, the signage, and the plentiful taxis at the entrance/exit location justify my statement.

Compared to our Paris/London trip, our MO cruise felt like we were constantly on the go without the ability to audible from touring very often. So, from my perspective, a potential difference in the type of trip that I would pursue for a honeymoon. Plus, the bonus of the large cities that you are considering are really easy for independent travel.  

As for passenger demographics, I'm a very active and fortunately retired 60 year old. On my two Viking cruises, I felt very, very young. (On many excursions I had to make a concentrated effort to slow down and not make other attendees with walking challenges uncomfortable even though I wanted to speed things up.) Would I have felt out of place on a Viking ship 34 years ago for my personal honeymoon, absolutely! If I wanted to take a Med cruise for my honeymoon, however, the age factor would not stop me from considering Viking! Nor should it stop you. (Nice food and a fabulous crew are great for any age.)  

My advice: Prioritize the places that you'd like to have as the basis for your honeymoon memories. Identify the "things" you want to see at those places/cities to help make the determination of the appropriate length of stay needed. Use those pieces of data to help make the decision to cruise or to independently take a land tour. (Or, as some others have posted, a group guided land tour.) 

It sounds like you'll have a wonderful honeymoon with whichever direction you take.   

Our TA selected a couple of options for our consideration.  The one we decided upon was Legendary Venice St. Mark's Basilica with Terrace Access & Doge's Palace. It was offered by Walks - Italy, Spain & Greece. About 20 in the group. At that point in time, vaccine cards were presented at both St. Mark's & Doge's Palace. Plus, KN 95 masks required. 

Venice was very crowded. As such, we spent a bit more time than I would have liked waiting in lines to access both sights. However, the guide paced everything well, including providing about 10 minutes of free time on the terrace for photos. 

Our flights were booked independently. (We made the decision to fly first class. Viking Air Plus couldn't come close to the fully refundable price point that we were able to obtain directly with the airline.) Just to clarify, we were not required by the airline to show a negative test or to enter Italy. (As such, we did not test before leaving the US.) We flew AA. At our home airport, we were asked for our vaccine cards and EU entry forms. At the international airport (PHL), we were asked to show VeriFly. 

Our documentation from Viking, including e-mails received a few days before joining Viking's pre-extension, indicated we needed to present a negative test before our first encounter with Viking.  

About three weeks before we left the US, I worked directly with our hotel in Rome hotel to understand how they could help us. They presented a few options with different test types, location choices, and a range in cost. Ultimately, we selected the antigen option at the hotel. (I didn't want to be worrying about documentation and wanted the piece of mind of hotel assistance.) The testing process worked smoothly and I had our results, e-mail and paper copies provided by the hotel, within two hours. 

While I am still not happy about the situation, I have no regrets that I relied upon our hotel to facilitate the testing process. I'm sure you're wondering about the cost. It was 75 Euros each for the convenience of testing at the hotel and having piece of mind about getting the needed documentation. 

flyboydad: 

Reference my post (#38) in this thread that provides my experience. The Viking host at the Venice pre-extension hotel did not check the results. In fact, when I asked the question of who needs to see the test results, she advised me that a test wasn't required by Viking. I was livid. We spent a significant amount of time and money to comply with the testing requirement that was documented by Viking regularly. To clarify, we flew from the US, spent four independent travel days in Rome, obtained a test on our last day in Rome, took the train to Venice, before joining the Viking Venice pre-extension. 

I documented my displeasure on the Viking extension survey. Upon our return home from our vacation, my TA also followed up with Viking. 

MO was a wonderful cruise. Enjoy your holiday! 

We enjoyed the MO cruise on the Viking Sky from 3/28/22 - 4/9/22. 

TayanaLorna provided a nice summary of Barcelona and the comments match my thoughts. I also recall all of the infrastructure around the port. Taxis were readily available. The included shuttle was really easy and added another convenient option to docking in Barcelona. 

As for the other ports, we completed included excursions in Corfu, Livorno, and Marseille.

Corfu was average. A little history shared by a bus ride and a short walking tour. If I had a do over, I would still take the included, tour the fort or the museum on my own, and take a shuttle back to the ship. Our weather wasn't the best. As such, we didn't spend any independent time in Corfu. If you like to shop, a nice variety of shops available.  

The Livorno included tour was our Plan B. (We had wanted to tour Florence, including the Uffizi Gallery. Unfortunately, independent traveling to Florence was not an option until two days before we arrived. Since the change happened over a weekend, we weren't able to pull together the exact Florence itinerary that we wanted. And, Viking did not offer any excursion that included the UG.) Plan B took us to Pisa. And, it was a very enjoyable surprise since I had not completed area research. A reasonable bus ride and a walk to the Square of Miracles. Outdoor viewing of the trinity architecture only. However, our guide advised how/where to pick-up entry tickets (free) into the Pisa Cathedral. It was an easy process and well worth it. The Cathedral was so beautiful. Most others in our group enjoyed a snack and a coffee. It truly turned out to be a very nice Plan B. 

In Marseille, we were scheduled for the afternoon Aix-en-Provence optional excursion. We decided a day or two before our Marseille port arrival to add a morning included excursion to our itinerary. While our included guide was not the best, we were enjoyed the time in Marseille. A short bus ride, a photo stop, a walking tour, and free time to explore, take photos, shop, or grab a coffee/snack. We returned to the ship timely, had about an hour for lunch, and make attire adjustments to accommodate the weather change before heading off to our optional afternoon excursion. 

Happy to answer other questions, if helpful. 

Austinetc,

Last month I experienced the same frustration with the Venice pre-extension and detailed all of the challenges to Viking. Regardless, it was wonderful to be in Venice. Enjoy your time there. Looking forward to following your journey. 

We recently returned from Med Odyssey on the Sky. (600ish passengers on board.) Tables for two were readily available at all dining venues. On several days, we changed our plans to match daily specials presented at The Restaurant. 

Final Thoughts

Even though we had our mitigation plans in place, pre-trip I worried more than I care to admit about potentially contracting COVID on vacation and I wondered if we were making the right travel decision. Once our plane departed our local airport, I focused on enjoying our vacation and had minimal worry.  

Our independent time in Rome was fabulous. Our time in Venice was very nice. Our cruise was very enjoyable. And, our time in Barcelona was nice.

In hindsight, am I glad we took the trip? Yes. (Attempt #1 in 2020: Suspended mid-Atlantic when the US borders closed. Attempt #2 in 2021: Postponed. Attempt #3: Successful.) Will we complete next year's planned Viking cruise? Only if the testing and masking protocols are removed and all independent travel is available. All of those things truly had an impact on our Mediterrean Odyssey adventure. (I can deal with all of the EU forms, VeriFly, and other travel paperwork.) Fingers crossed that we cruise next year with Viking.

Back to the actual Viking experience: 

- Disappointed in both pre and post excursions. 

- Overall ship experience: Very enjoyable

- Service in all ship areas: Not as good as our suspended cruise. I noticed the challenges the most at the Explorer's Desk, the Pool Grill, and The Chef's Table. The potential for stellar service is in place.    

- Ship Food: It exceeded our expectations and overall was better than our suspended cruise.

- Ship Excursions: Regardless of included or paid, we had mixed impressions, but, all were acceptable. 

Thanks to everyone who posted over the past few years and helped me prepare for our Viking experience. I'll do my best to watch the respective threads and help future travelers.   

Hi All.

The last few days of our trip: 

Marseille: 

A double excursion day for us. We enjoyed a morning included excursion. Nice guide, a couple of photo stops, and a bit of free time to enjoy the beachfront, old town, and market area. After our three hour tour, we headed back to the ship for a lunch break and attire adjustment.  

Discover Aix-en-Provence was our afternoon adventure. About a 35 minute bus ride, a very knowledgeable guide who presented history of the area, a really nice overview of the church with features from multiple centuries, a walk through the promenade area, and about 45 minutes of free time. The excursion met our expectations. A little bit more than an included tour, but, not too much more. 

Would we complete another double tour day on a future cruise? Yes. Would we do so regularly? No.  

Another lovely dinner at Manfredi's with one of us leveraging the half portions. 

Barcelona: 

Headed out on Gaudi's House of Modernism excursion. A short bus ride to Casa Vicens accessing the property before the general public. Pastries, fruit, small sandwiches, and drinks were provided in a patio area. We chose to forego the snack to enjoy the property and take photos without others in the area. A second short bus ride to Sagrada Familia for a 30 minute exterior overview. Lastly, another short bus ride to Casa Batllio for a property tour. (A significant number of stairs to climb as part of the tour. Some attendees struggled a bit.) A nice tour that met our expectations. Our focus was on the two Gaudi properties and not Sagrada Familia.  

We leveraged the ship's shuttle in the afternoon to explore more of Barcelona on our own.

Note: it was obvious that the Barcelona port infrastructure would make it very, very east to arrive on your own, tour on your own, and disembark on your own. Clearly marked areas, port staff, and plenty of taxis at the stand outside the exit door.  

A final dinner in The Restaurant selecting our favorites from the base menu. (Always ask if there are any additional vegetables available for selection. We enjoyed a non-advertised side of asparagus for at least two of our dinners.)  

Disembarkment and more of Barcelona: 

Luggage out by 10 PM and cabins vacated by 8 AM. We were scheduled for an 830 AM departure. By 845 AM, we were starting our post-excursion experience. A really nice three hour tour of the city with lengthy stops at Ciutadella Park and Montjuic. (I suspect something very similar to the included Barcelona excursion.) At the front door of the Hotel Nobu by Noon. 

The hotel was very modern. The location, however, really was not conducive to self-exploration. (This seems like a city that Viking could find a better hotel partner.) Taxis needed for all of the sights and restaurants. The breakfast buffet was simply average.   

For our full day in Barcelona, we had pre-arranged a private guide for Parc Guell and for Sagrada Familia. As expected, the experience was excellent. An absolutely wonderful guide who provided so much insight to the city, the Parc, and the simply amazing Sagrada Familia. 

Viking did a nice job with the transportation to the airport and the guide accompanying the guests directly to the check-in area.  

Arrived home safely last evening. I'll post some reflective thoughts in the next day or two. And, will review all of the recent topics to share my experiences.

 .  

On 4/4/2022 at 3:58 AM, 20Cruise20 said:

I'll catch up, too!  Sea Day & Naples

 

Sea Day: 

 

WIFI continues to remain sluggish. The winds, however, remain at a fairly high speed and made for very difficult deck 2 walking.    

 

Our noteworthy daily activities revolved around dinner and a show.  A delicious lobster dinner in The Restaurant. Despite the very busy dining room, service didn't miss a beat. Cruise director Jenna's show was nice. Her version of "I'll Always Love You" was magical. Jenna shared her current contract ends with our cruise. She does plan to return to Viking in the future.  

 

Day Six - Naples: 

 

The weather has returned to warmer (around 60) with more sun. Our schedule revolved around a trip to Pompeii. So very, very amazing to see the ruins. Our guide was average, at best, and her habits impacted the pace of our tour. We spent way too much time covering the early walking tour stops and allowing other groups to move ahead of us. Consequently, we were very rushed in the last hour of the tour. We had hoped that we would have a few minutes to take photos in the Forum, but, time expired. (We had no interest in shopping or picking up a coffee, but, others did. Likewise, they were disappointed.) This was also the first time that we were disappointed in our fellow passengers.  Late arrivals to the start time, one passenger would not wear her Quiet Vox, another complained about the walking before we even entered the historical site, and one didn't understand that there was walking involved in the tour. (Before entering the site, the last cited passenger left the group to go shopping and stay at a cafe. She rejoined us at the departure time/location.) Regardless, we were impressed with Pompeii and suggest it. 

 

We enjoyed dinner at the Chef's Table. The crab cake and the halibut were delicious. We were seated in a different section than our previous experience and had exceptional service.

 

The weather and the seas are forecasted for improvement. It's hard to believe that we have been on-board for a week.   

 

 

 

Time to Catch Up!

Livorno: Woke up to no hot water on Tuesday. Yikes! Mid-day hot water had returned. Healthsurveys ended. Since we only had a brief window of time between the time Italy opened for independent  exploration and our arrival, we weren't able to pull together my "perfect day" in Florence. So, we stuck with Plan B and enjoyed the included incursion to Pisa. The cathedral was simply stunning. What an unexpected cultural treasure. The cathedral is absolutely worth visiting! The leaning tower was simply fun on a beautiful sunny day. Another fabulous dinner at The Restaurant, too! 

Nice, Eze, and Monte Carlo: Warning! This post might strike the wrong cord with some. Beautiful places, but, this tour wasn't what we expected. A short bus ride to Eze, lots of climbing, beautiful views, followed by about an hour of free time in a few little shops and a cafe or two. (It was way too early in the day/tour for this much free time to shop.)

Another short bus ride to Nice. A brief walking tour followed by almost two hours of free time for lunch or to shop. 

Another short bus ride to Monaco, a walking tour in a portion of Monoco, and more free time to shop. Finally, the last bus ride to Monte Carlo, including a minute or so drive on the Grand Prix road, and a brief walk to the Monte Carlo Casino. About 30 minutes of free time in the Casino area.

We expected more time touring, either walking or via bus, and much, much less time in the shopping areas. I'm a shopper, but, this wasn't my cup of tea. If you want to see a little bit of the French coast, have lots of time in repetitive shops or enjoy a coffee, this tour will not dissapoint you. I do plan to include comments in my feedback to Viking that it would help to align expectations if a tentative timeline could be provided with tours of this nature. Happy to answer more specific questions, if it's helpful.

Viking Sea was also in port. Another night with a delightful dinner in The Restaurant. 

I'll catch up, too!  Sea Day & Naples

Sea Day: 

WIFI continues to remain sluggish. The winds, however, remain at a fairly high speed and made for very difficult deck 2 walking.    

Our noteworthy daily activities revolved around dinner and a show.  A delicious lobster dinner in The Restaurant. Despite the very busy dining room, service didn't miss a beat. Cruise director Jenna's show was nice. Her version of "I'll Always Love You" was magical. Jenna shared her current contract ends with our cruise. She does plan to return to Viking in the future.  

Day Six - Naples: 

The weather has returned to warmer (around 60) with more sun. Our schedule revolved around a trip to Pompeii. So very, very amazing to see the ruins. Our guide was average, at best, and her habits impacted the pace of our tour. We spent way too much time covering the early walking tour stops and allowing other groups to move ahead of us. Consequently, we were very rushed in the last hour of the tour. We had hoped that we would have a few minutes to take photos in the Forum, but, time expired. (We had no interest in shopping or picking up a coffee, but, others did. Likewise, they were disappointed.) This was also the first time that we were disappointed in our fellow passengers.  Late arrivals to the start time, one passenger would not wear her Quiet Vox, another complained about the walking before we even entered the historical site, and one didn't understand that there was walking involved in the tour. (Before entering the site, the last cited passenger left the group to go shopping and stay at a cafe. She rejoined us at the departure time/location.) Regardless, we were impressed with Pompeii and suggest it. 

We enjoyed dinner at the Chef's Table. The crab cake and the halibut were delicious. We were seated in a different section than our previous experience and had exceptional service.

The weather and the seas are forecasted for improvement. It's heard to believe that we have been on-board for a week.   

Day Four (Dubrovnik) & Day Five (Corfu):

Day Four - The rain and the wind were horrendous throughout our time in Dubrovnik including the evening travel. We decided to cancel our included Dubrovnik excursion. A big dissapointment in missing the port, however, we decided to pass on the opportunity with the hope of returning some day.  We spent time in the Fitness Center and enjoying games for two of BlackJack, Memory, and Scrabble in the Atrium. We also had our first lunch with table service at the Pool Grill. Had an enjoyable LOTUS dinner at The Chef's Table. The service could use some fine-tuning. Regardless, it was a pleasant experience in a different setting. 

Day Five - Despite a forecast of stormy weather, it didn't materialize. We enjoyed the Corfu included excursion. A couple of brief bus rides, picture stops, a walking tour, and a delightful guide providing us with the history and the magic of the island. A few purchases were made before re-boarding the ship in the mid-afternoon. (Shuttles were available.) An excellent dinner at The Restaurant centering upon Chateaubriand.  

Other Notes: 

I've seen questions on mat availability in the Fitness Center. Sanitized mats are available for passenger use.

The laundry service has been excellent. The process is simply complete the form, place the items in the laundry bag, and enjoy items being returned the next day. Items are either returned on hangers or neatly folded in tissue paper in a nice white box. 

Despite the 4/1 date, masks continue to be required on the ship.

Let me catch up to our activities through Day Three.

Day One - We enjoyed settling into the ship and our cabin. Earl leads our fabulous cabin crew. If it's of value to anyone, our list of requests: a top sheet, mini-bar change out, turning off the bathroom floor and towel rack heat, extra soap for the shower, and ice replenishment in the afternoon. A very good meal at The Restaurant with appropriate service.

Day Two - Since we have been on vacation for a little over a week and this is a port intensive itinerary, we decided to enjoy another day on the ship. Lovely breakfast, a light lunch, an hour of walking on deck 2, and a fabulous dinner in Manfredi's. Based on everything that I've read on the boards, I used the half order approach. (My better half enjoyed similar full courses.) Calamari, mushroom soup, Bistecca steak, shrimp ravioli (pasta of the day), and sorbet to finish. We both loved everything and were spoiled with very attentive service. And, ladies, the half portions truly were the perfect size! 

Day Three - A delightful excursion to the Mestrovic Gallery and Diocletian's Palace. Including the two of us, ten passengers were on the optional excursion that I would highly recommend. Fortunately, the rain stayed away until we returned to the ship. We had a truly wonderful meal at The Restaurant. Between the two of us, oysters, ceasar salad, Prime Rib with Yorkshire pudding, brussel sprouts, creamed spinach, and a walnut cake. And, excellent service, too.   

From a health and safety perspective, we're still testing daily and still required to wear masks in all indoor areas of the ship. At this point, Italy is not allowing any tours outside of the Viking bubble. We're hopeful that something changes for next week to allow independent Italian exploration.  

Austinetc:

I so wish that I could help with your planning. (This board has provided me with a tremendous amount of useful information that I'm trying to pay forward.)  Your struggle is the exact reason that we hesitantly decided to select the pre-cruise excursion. The other very, very, minor point to keep in mind is that you will need to consider what you'll do with your overnight/carry-on items, if you're able to complete some independent touring. Check items at the hotel and return to the hotel to retrieve them, "haul" items with you, etc.  

Unrelated point:

There were some questions about guests on the ship. Multiple crew members have confirmed 600 passengers. Of those, 100 had flight delays in the US and were not able to board the ship until today.  

Pre-Excursion Response: 

We learned about 3 weeks before our sailing of the change of hotels. We were disappointed in the change from the Hilton to the JWM as we understood that the island with the Hilton had local restaurants and enjoyable exploration.  

We clearly understood the challenge of large hotels being outside the historic area and the usage of the hotel water taxi, but, were not satisfied with the experience compared to the cost. Pleasantries were abundant at the hotel, however, the details were just not in place. Many Viking guests had challenges at the hotel restaurant. (We did not.) The breakfast buffet was filled with quantity, not quality. Our room was very nice, but, very warm. Based on the time of year, AC was not available within the guest rooms. 

I cannot provide a factual answer to the sightseeing question. We were provided with a specific time to meet in the lobby for transfer - 1015 AM. (Along with about 40 others.) I do know that there was a 915 transfer group as well. I would suggest that you speak with the on-site Viking host to understand transfer time options and if the ability exists. (It very well might be accomplished.) 

I've seen some other discussion regarding on-board day one test results. We submitted our samples about 1215 PM and had our TV notification @ 5 PM. 

I'll close with a just in case you need to know note. Be prepared to place your luggage outside your room the night before departure similar to the end of your actual cruise. 

5 hours ago, Eggtuary said:

At the Stazione Marittima in Venice, Viking had staff at the dock to receive water taxis. They took our bags right away, which was handy because we have too many (travel rookies). 
 

At check-in, they looked at our vaccination cards, and didn’t ask for our VeriFLY codes, which seemed unusual because it took them a while to enter the numbers correctly (especially because our “7” in the US looks like the European “1”). They did check our COVID tests, and I’m glad we paid for the rapid PCR as our send-out version from Friday morning still hasn’t sent results (though the lab promised we would have them by Sunday). 
 

We are on the bus now headed to the ship in Fusina. Shouldn’t be long now!

Ditto on the check-in. We were very surprised that we were asked for our CDC cards and not VeriFly. (At least American Airlines asked to see the entry that we created for them.) Our bus to Fusina had about 20 passengers and took about 35 minutes. Certainly is an industrial port. Through the haze, you can distantly see the Venice skyline. 

Another hello from the Viking Sky! Here is our update.

Enjoyment in Italy: 

We traveled to Italy one week ago. Thoroughly enjoyed walking to the Pathenon, Spanish Steps, and Trevi Fountain. Wonderful tours - Borghese Museum (audio guide); Ancient Rome (small group tour); and Vatican/Sistine Chapel/St. Peters (with a fabulous private guide). We stayed at an absolutely wonderful hotel (Hotel Splendide Royal Rome). Beautiful weather made for a terrific time in Rome. 

Uneventful and easy four hour train trip from Rome to Venice followed by a wonderful private water taxi experience arranged through the JW Marriott. We enjoyed wandering in Venice and a tour of St. Mark's & Doge's Palace (small group). 

Documentation & Processes: 

Local Airport - CDC cards & Italian Entry Forms

International Airport (PHL) - American Airlines VeriFly entry

Hotel Splendide Royal Rome - CDC cards

All Rome museums & restaurants - CDC cards, some temp checks

Italo Train - CDC cards

JW Marriott Venice - CDC cards

St. Mark's & Doge's Palace - CDC cards, photo ID, temp check x2

Viking Pre-Extension & JWM: 

Because of all of the port challenges, we made the decision to take the pre-extension. Our experience with Viking commenced poorly. After the Viking Rep provided several pieces of documentation, she advised that we would be taking a COVID antigen test the next day. (Where did this come from?) The newly incorporated test is in addition to the boarding test requirement. However, the real issue for us...The Viking Rep did not ask to see our "required" negative test to join the first Viking activity. (Documented multiple places by Viking, including in an e-mail a few days ago.) I raised the topic and the rep who simply told me that test is an Italian requirement to enter the country and not a Viking requirement. (Not so!)  While our Rome hotel facilitated the testing for us, the time and the expense related to testing 24 hours before joining the pre-extension was simply wasted.

The JWM is a beautiful property on a peaceful island. (We walked the island one morning and enjoyed the fresh air and extra movement.) The water taxi was easy to use to access historic Venice at St. Mark's Square. Viking also ran shuttles on the hour. Regardless of the testing situation, we would not join a pre-extension again. Staying in the right area and maximizing every minute of vacation is more important than the minor transport convenience.  

Happy to answer questions about the first part of our journey documented above. Will augment Eggtuary's experience of embarkment. 

We are also on this cruise and will try to augment posted information. By way of background, we attempted this cruise coupled with a TA in 2022. We were in the middle of the Atlantic when Viking paused operations and returned our ship to the US. So, technically, this is our second cruise with Viking.  

Our 2022 itinerary is flight to Rome, several days of independent Rome travel, train to Venice, joining the Viking pre-cruise group in Venice, cruise, post-cruise Viking group in Barcelona, and flying independently home from Barcelona. Our Viking tours are a mix of included and optional. (We are comfortable traveling independently, however, decided to use the pre and post Viking options to eliminate challenges with the Venice embarkment and at-the-time fluctuating testing requirements to return to the US.)