Kristelle

so the answer is somewhere in Iceland? who suggested South Pacific?? 😊 Is there a prize for the wrong-est answer?? 🤣

1. stairs from boat were not really steep, it was more like a ramp and it had rails on the sides. Lots of people over 50 on our trip - many over 70. 2. pretty sure Scenic elevator does not go to top deck and the stairs to the top deck are quite steep. the stairs from one floor to another are not and there is an elevator (I never used it) 3. cant speak for Christmas markets. but yes boats sometimes travel at night - we had no issue with locks or engines at night. and I am not a heavy sleeper and we did not have a 'prime position' cabin 4. there is always the possibility of hotel over nights and ship swaps - I doubt it would be every night though. this did not happen to us at all in 14 days, luck of the draw weather wise. One night was bumpy because river level was low and bottom of boat scraping on river bed. that only happened one night out of 14.

Scenic trip we went on was majority Australians with some people from UK, Canada, USA and a couple from the Phillipines. Not sure if that is every Scenic trip or just those marketed most in Australia - and particularly Amsterdam to Budapest (or reverse) which is the most popular river cruise for Australians and several companies here offer and market that itinerary.

No it was to a thread on thrifted clothing in Fashions and Beauty section Probably was user error on my part then.

OK I'll get the ball rolling. Quaint European looking church but setting doesn't look Europe-ish. Somewhere i n South Pacific?

Not surprising, since the name Yarra is based on an Aboriginal word

So here is example of something one poster does not want (all inclusive) whereas for me I like all inclusive trips and that was one of the reasons I went with Scenic From Australia, APT ( which I think markets as AMA elsewhere) offerred very similar itinerary and very similar costs, also as all inclusive - what won in the end was simply the Scenic dates suited better for us. was very happy with my trip. I would go with Scenic again - but unlikely to be doing another Europe river cruise in foreseeable future. Not because I didnt like it - I certainly did - but it is long way from Australia, costly and other travel plans first. My next overseas trip will be Scenic cruise/land o n the Mekong, Cambodia /Vietnam

As mentioned by myself upthread - I did have an experience with this on Scenic - and yes they provide room service - but they couldn't provide dinner until dinners were ready - ie room service but no earlier than everyone else in the dining room You could possibly get sandwiches or suchlike any time - I didnt ever try that - but would seem a shame to miss all the nice meals to do that every evening.

Is it the Arches of Constantine in Rome?

Are we not allowed to link to other threads?? anyway thread I mentioned in post above is in Cruise Fashion and Beauty.

Either you collect the tray or it is delivered to your room - depending on whether the cruise line does room service. But as you say, if it is still at same time as everyone else this doesn't really address OP's issue.

How are you going to leave them behind? There was some discussion o n this thread about that: I highly doubt cruises would offer a discount for guests who do this - as it is dubious whether this is something they want you to do.

Albania?

adding to above - when we were on our Scenic tour, one night DH wasn't feeling well and didnt want to come to dining room. I rang about an hour before dinner and asked for room service, could he have dinner delivered to our room. "No, so sorry, madam, the meals aren't ready yet" which was fine, I actually didnt mean right then, I just meant when it is dinner time, please deliver to cabin, which they did. But does confirm CPT trips' point above.

Turkey? #picks random "mosque country"

The Taliormade app was very glitchy on our trip. I agree the info was places was good but the connection to guides speaking on tours not that great.

You asked me a question and I answered. But yes indeed point has been made by several people now that pre paying gratuities is done for various reasons - but expecting preferential service is not one of them. That applies to all lines, not just Viking. I hope you enjoy whichever trip you do next.

Yes, Fremantle prison. In spirit of game: further information...... Dates back to convict times. Now a heritage listed site. Several above ground tours and also the underground tunnels tour lyndarra mentioned. We did an above ground tour, very interesting But the best experience was the underground tunnels tour - you descend down 20 m shaft to underground tunnels, and then partly on foot and part is still water tunnels which you go on narrow canoe type Highly recomend if anyone is visiting Fremantle. Or Perth - short train ride to Fremantle. Your turn, lyndarra....

no, not Auschwitz that answer took me by surprise. It is a LONG way from there.

Amsterdam t o Budapest or reverse. this is certainly the most popular river cruise for Australians and is 14 days long.( I know you are not Australian but I see yo u wanted a cruise of about that length of time) Several companies offer this. We did this with Scenic. 160 passengers,no children. Most people were i n the over 50 age bracket. Similar experience to JJK2008's post above ,except drinks at all times are included We went in September, no issues with water levels - I believe Scenic does similar though with ship swapping if neccesary.

1) I dont dispute your experience. Just pointed out it isnt the experience of others so doesnt seem typical of Viking. 2) so you pre paid gratuities thinking that gave you preferential or superior service to others. No it doesnt work that way and that isnt why most people pre-pay them Your sentence after that doesnt really make sense to me. Yes I would pre pay them purely for convenience - indeed that is what I do, I go on gratuities included i n the price, for convenience, or pre pay them at beginning of a trip (eg Wendy Wu tours, you pay tips in local cash at beginning of trip) 3) yes, possibly was a newer crew, possibly needed more training. But the level of service would be the same, whether poor service or excellent service, - pre paying tips does not get you any better service than anyone else.

I've been on these forums for about a year. I have not gone into Viking threads more than other threads. But I have seen lots of discussion about tipping and gratuities paying in that time.

I don't think anyone is objecting to your report of poor service. Although it isn't the experience others have reported. the pushback was more to the expectation that you would receive preferential or superior service than other guests because you pre paid gratuities.

Although I dislike tipping and go on trips that have tips included in the set price (obviously reflects Australian culture) even I can see the difference between pre paying tips before the service expecting preferential treatment (bribe style) and paying tips afterwards as thankyou/acknowledgement of exceptional service already delivered. (not saying everyone who pre pays tips is expecting preferential treatment, I realise many people just do it for convenience)