SailorPaulH

Following up on some previous posts here. Our reservations were due to open at 12 PT (3 PM ET) today, and opened early at 12 Noon ET (3 hours early). No big deal for us as we don't eat at CT and Manfredi's we can book onboard if we decide to go. For me, it's about getting DW's times for pampering in the Spa --- and that worked out pretty good. So it may well be that restaurants/spa bookings open a few hours early than advertised, YMMV.

Clay - thanks so much for your reports and photos - always a good read and kept us looking forward to our next VOC.

5 hours ago, rmalbers said:

Last Sept when we got off there were a line of taxi's right there, no problem at all.  The only issue is that, if you are staying for a few more days, your hotel room will probably not be ready.  Don't be that angry tourist when that happens and be ready to store your suitcase/s and go for a walk/tour. Kindness will get you a room quicker than anything.  That's from actual experience.

Yes - we arranged with our hotel to drop our bags early and then we are off to a couple of sights we wanted to see but missed on or last time in Reykjavik, and then on a whale watching boat until we check in for real before dinner. Most hotels are very helpful like this in our experience.

On 4/28/2024 at 9:12 AM, Mike07 said:

 

 

I would hope that VIK is thinking of stuff they could do for stockholders, but my gut tells me it won't be OBC. The reason being is that for many of us, we're not spending tons of money on-board, because VIK is all-inclusive (we have a different thread if you want to debate "all-inclusive"; though that thread might have been mod-locked and deleted, b/c it became so contentious) My guess with CCL, RCCI, and NCLH is that they're betting that you spend on the monies on alcohol, SD, gift shop, ShoreX, etc.

 

Maybe VIK could do a discount of $100 or $200 for a charged port excursion? IDK.... I do know that getting a bunch of Viking jackets is going to get old.

Buy a majority of the shares, and you can vote yourself unlimited use of the OS ...........  just joking .....

3 hours ago, CurlerRob said:

My personal experience is dated (2019), but I think it’s still valid. Our shuttle ran every 30 minutes, drop off was at the Harpa Conference Centre - an easy few minutes walk to the heart of downtown. 
 

You can also walk the shoreline back to the ship if the weather is good - about 50 minutes. 🍺🥌

 

Does the shuttle run on disembarkation day, so you can leave ship and be dropped off with your luggage at Harpa...? or is taxi or local bus the only way to do that (our self post-extension begins at hotel across from Harpa).

9 hours ago, island lady said:

I was wondering about that also.   We are in 7016 directly in front of deck 7 elevators on Venus doing the circumnavigation of Australia.  Wanted port side due to the land on the port side during the cruise.  

 

Any noise or "elevator dinging" that could be heard inside the cabin at that location?   Thanks in advance.  🙂 

We have been in 7006 - that deck is very quiet in our experience.

1 hour ago, WanderingBrit said:

Imagine how useful this post would be if it included which ports were being replaced, or even which country they were in?

I took a look at the cruisemapper web-site and for that cruise itinerary it shows Molde, Norway replacing Alesund, Norway and Djupivogur and Westman Islands replacing Akureyri and Isafjordur ... so a southern Iceland route instead of of northern Iceland route at the end. It seems to be a one-off.

2 hours ago, Heidi13 said:

I'll suggest the biggest challenge is finding sufficient crew meeting the required Viking standards. If they take up all 4 options, 10 new ships in 6 years is a lot of crew recruitment and training.

 

It isn't only the hotel crew that is of concern, there is a worldwide shortage of Masters, Deck Officers and Engineering Officers.

For a fully immersive experience, each of the new ships will be equipped with 998 oars.

12 hours ago, TayanaLorna said:

We never got a free upgrade however twice we were offered upgrades from DV6 to PV1 or PV2 for a price.  The first time it was $399 per person and the second time it was $199 per person.  The difference between the DV's to PV's at the time we booked was $1,200 per person so we thought it was worth it.  The offer came via email one week before the cruise.

When you got the offer (for $$) to upgrade, did they tell you the cabin number that was on offer?

More ships on the way....

https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2024/04/viking-ocean-orderbook-6-ships-get-accelerated-delivery-4-more-options/

1 hour ago, OneSixtyToOne said:

I don’t understand why education is free in Scandinavia but you have to pay for the toilets.

Education is free in Scandinavia in the same way alcohol is free at lunch and dinner on Viking cruises.

I know currency exchange is not possible on board, but is it possible to break larger notes to smaller (same currency) on board?

In addition to the previous excellent recommendations for Oslo - I suggest Radhuset (Oslo City Hall) - it is close by the ferry that takes you over to the museums on Bygdoy (Kon-Tiki, Fram, etc.).

Hi - anyone know if Viking runs a shuttle bus service to and from the ship to the town center in Torshavn? I don't know where the ship docks exactly. Thanks.

2 hours ago, longterm said:

That may be where we were! I seem to recall it was a couple of doors down... this is a photo of my son who was 13 at the time, back in 2010, in the restaurant. I bet that's the same place. 🙂

My wife just reminded me it could also be 'Bombay Brasserie' which is right next door to the hotel. Also was very good when we tried there (Indian food is our favorite). Earls Court area in general has lots of choices for Indian food.

30 minutes ago, longterm said:

I stayed there with my son back in 2010 and we really liked it; back in those days wifi was nonexistent, but I'm sure that's resolved now. 

Very good location; we're staying at a different place this time due to price, but the M Gloucester was very nice. Good Indian restaurant next door, if I recall.

'Light of India' is just up the road - went there on two separate trips: it was really good.

The main thing for us in Seydisfjordur is to go on the Skalanes excursion. There is some time to do our own thing in the town before or after that. What I had noticed is that the included one (that I have now cancelled) was called 'Seydisfjordur on Foot & Viking Festival' --- previously I had only seen mentioned a more abbreviated included excursion called 'Seydisfjordur on Foot'. The chat agent was very polite albeit probably misinformed - the shuttle bus explanation makes no sense (time of travel, sleep, eat, etc.) and I didn't want to get into a lengthy debate with the agent. 

2 hours ago, LindaS272 said:

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.

As you suggested I used the chat feature, and the explanation was something I have never heard of before on Viking Ocean. That included tour does indeed finish after the ship leaves port! Supposedly, a shuttle bus will take you to the next port.

In this case, the ship leaves Seydisfjordur at 4 PM. A shuttle bus takes the excursion group to the next port (Akureyri where the ship arrives 8 AM next day!). This seems very weird and I didn't get into the logistics of where you sleep, eat, etc., and just canceled the excursion. We can do a port walk easily enough on our own earlier in the day if we want to.

On 3/17/2024 at 11:08 PM, kctwinmommy said:

We have a DV cabin, went on right at our time to select, and still got everything we wanted. I would say the only thing we may have missed was the exact time slot for an included excursion. But it was like instead of getting a 9:30 start time, we had to pick 10:00, so no big deal.

I just got off MVJ and we had an easy experience booking all our desired excursions and times for our July 2024 cruise. No freeze issues and able to pay by ACH quickly.

The only odd thing was an included excursion I booked that goes from 3:00-5:30 pm, but ship departs from port at 4:00 pm. Either the port departure time is wrong or that time option for the included excursion is not for real - I guess I will find out. I am a pretty strong swimmer, but I don't think I can Viking Venus a 90-minute head start!

How is the experience of ease of booking excursions relate to cabin choice? It would seem to me that if you are in an ES you can probably book what you want and maybe a good chance if you have PS or PV!? After that, the creative solutions I have seen in this thread and others seem to be critical as demand outstrips supply. Is there a sweet spot for cabin choice if excursions is your primary focus on your cruise?

3 hours ago, janetcbl said:

DC also includes Husavik, an interesting town and the setting for the movie ‘ “Eurovision Song Contest”, recently still available on Netflix. More important it is a center for whale watching,  has a fine Whale Museum, and is the oldest settlement in Iceland. NT consists of some important natural geological sites, Lake Myvatn, Dimmuborgi, etc. DC includes some of these sites as well. Both would be great!

DC also has Dettifoss, a powerful waterfall that was utilized in the opening scenes of Ridley Scott's 'Prometheus' - this is a planned stop for us on a future Ring Road expedition. 

13 hours ago, stu52 said:

Does anyone have prices on the following Viking excursions:

 

• Vigur Island out of Isafjordur.
• Golden Circle out of Reykjavik
• Northern Iceland's Natural Treasures out of Akureyri
• Skalanes Nature Center out of Seydisfjördur

 

Thanks

Vigur Island = $229 pp

Golden Circle = $269 pp

NI Nat Treasures = $299 pp

Skalanes = $219 pp

I got this from MVJ for our July 2024 cruise - available to view now, booking time depends on cabin type.

On 3/4/2024 at 2:25 PM, stu52 said:

We are going on the Iceland's Majestic Landscapes cruise in July and I was wondering if anyone has done the "Taste of Norway" optional excursion in Geiranger, Norway.  How did you like it, what was the cost and was it worth it?

We are on that cruise: different fjord (Osterfjord/Mostraumen Channel) - but this may have interest to you (we have booked this 4 hour excursion) while in Bergen:

https://www.mostraumenfjordcruise.com/

Only 790 NOK pp

19 minutes ago, KDN2024 said:

Also, anyone have any input on Mt. Ulriken vs Mt Floien in Bergen?

Floyen
https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2884956-day-by-day-account-of-our-recent-viking-jupiter-viking-homelands-cruise/page/3/#comment-64117529

Ulriken
https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2884956-day-by-day-account-of-our-recent-viking-jupiter-viking-homelands-cruise/page/3/#comment-64117539

I recommend booking your own tickets and do these as DIY (instead of Viking excursion prices). Also booking Floibanen online beforehand means no waiting in lines for tickets.

2 hours ago, OneSixtyToOne said:

If you plan on a few days in London, we always stay at the Rembrandt in South Kensington. It’s literally across the street from the V&A museum and in the heart of the museum district, only a block from the tube station. Very convenient for doing tourist activities. Piccadilly line goes right to the Airport.

For the same reasons above, we have stayed at the Millennium Gloucester Hotel (a few times)  across the road from Gloucester Road station (also on the Piccadilly Line).