Peregrina651

1 hour ago, rmalbers said:

I didn't know they used two different sites until someone posted about it.  I had instant panic and checked MVJ again to make sure I was still Greenwich. 

There is at least one more sailing in 2024 that is scheduled to sail from/to Tilbury and 3 in 2025. It is clearly on the Viking website whether a sailing will be using Greenwich or Tilbury. 

Pam, they used space in The Old Royal Naval College for check in. From Gipsy Moth pub, turn right crossing the stern of Cutty Sark and continue straight through the fence and into the building.  

.

As soon as we boarded, I signed us up for each of the menus using Viking Voyager.  

We ate at CT, last night and it was wonderful, as DesertCruiser said.  They made a few changes for me because of allergies and a consultation with the chef to assure him that there wasn't enough garlic in his recipe to bother me -- and it was just as delicious as Mom's.  

6 hours ago, DesertCruiser2000 said:

So sorry didn’t see this new thread. You may have to give me a lesson on ship. 😁

No problem!

1 hour ago, SantaFe1 said:

So the agent accompanied us to the ship, we met with Guest services manager who told us there were no room cards because we had been upgraded from a PV1 to a PS1— no idea why.  

SWEET!

A visit from the upgrade fairy!!! 

5 hours ago, TinaLee said:

we are doing a TA in December and were told we could not book one way air. We only need the flight to Barcelona pre-cruise, as we're basically sailing home to Florida. Weird that they let some do it and not all. 

Call back and find someone who knows rhe system better.  If that doesn't work, email tellus@vikingcruises.com and explain your situation.  

Or, if it is cheaper, book your own one-way flight. 

Also, one way may not necessarily be half the price of a round trip, no matter how you book it.  

2 hours ago, Moby_Spout said:

About the British Museum...Sorry your guide was a bit of a dud, DesertCruiser. Are there any tips, etc for visiting there? We're heading to BI in summer.

So happy you all are on the water and ready for adventure!

Some clarification for readers.  Desertcruiser post her comments in the May 19 roll call. With two threads in different forums, it sometimes happens this way. 

I apologize for not sharing a link to the comment. 

We have also booked tours right on the pier as the buses are being loaded.  The joys of handheld devices.  The charge was on our account when we got back to the cabin.  

2 hours ago, molymoo said:

A,  I'm so excited to being able to "tag along" on your journey!  This was my favorite itinerary ... so much so we did it twice!  Loved every port and would do it all again in a heartbeat!  Guess I truly am an anglophile!  

I'll try to post pix from the Little Dublin Museum temp location for you.  

I will say that the signage was good, giving alternative routes, otherwise, we would still be wandering around 'neath the streets of London.  (Yes Bostonian's, that is an oblique reference to Charlie, the man who never returned).

Actually we had a lovely lunch in the cafe at the museum and then wended our way to the London Eye.  It was a slow day and they let us on the Eye early.

Heads up to those using the Underground, lots of clean up and repair work on multiple lines causing station closures. 

Pouring rain all day!  Hanging out at the National Gallery until we head to the London Eye.

Lovely 7:20am flight out of Boston. Landed at dinner time. Passport control was for US passports entirely automated and we were done in no time. No checked luggage to deal with.   Underground to hotel was simple -- and only $2.65pp. Weather yesterday was clear and comfy, low 60s as we wandered out to find dinner. And so

ends Day 1 of our adventure. 

We are near the Earls Court Station, staying at the Twenty Nevern Square Hotel. We stayed here in early 2020 and liked the hotel and its location, so we are back. Piccadilly and District line serve the station, very convenient. 

1 hour ago, CurlerRob said:

I hope the Shetlands are accommodating.

Not so bad for us; we've been with Viking, but it will be a real disappointment for those who haven't been.

My bags are packed. I'm ready to go. I have one more job to do before we walk out the door (in the middle of the night): start this thread (while I still have a real keyboard to type on).

@formernuke covered a lot of ground on his thread, Semi-LIVE from Venus British Isles Explorer 4/19 with Churchill Pre-extension, so check it out as well. It is full of great information and vacation-enducing photos.  Also note that  formernuke did the Churchill extension and took really good notes for anyone who is also doing that extension.

For the search engine, let me name-drop the ports we will be visiting by sharing our schedule:

It's okay to moan and groan here but if we really want to see changes, then we should be flooding the inbox with e-mails asking that there be changes -- and listing those changes we want to see.

 TellUs@vikingcruises.com

3 hours ago, longterm said:

and then if it takes 10 minutes to get on board, we'll be fine.

And if it takes longer??

At least by the time you leave the ship that day,  you will have a better idea of the arrangements at the port  -- and especially the time of the last shuttle back to the ship (especially if it is the only way you can get back to the ship).

19 hours ago, longterm said:

We will be arriving at Rosyth on July 14th on the BIE cruise. I have a question for the knowledgeable sailors on here:

 

According to Apple Maps, Rosyth dockyard is 30 minutes from the royal yacht Britannia. Two questions:

 

1. ls the Rosyth dockyard where Viking will most likely dock the ship, if the itinerary says Rosyth, or will we be farther away? 

 

2. Is it reasonable to assume that we can make the 15-mile journey from the Royal yacht to the Viking ship in a half hour, on a Sunday in Edinburgh?

 

Our ship departs at 5 PM, and I am trying to work out a safe schedule.

 

 Thanks!

Don't forget to allow for the time it will take you to get from the drop off point to the ship.  No one has commented if cabs and Ubers can drop you right at the berth. What if it is a shuttle from drop off point to gangway?

Unless you have already bought the tickets for the wedding and if Viking will allow it (sometimes when air is free there are restrictions), use the cruise air to fly you to Montreal, rent a car to take you to Vermont and back (with plans to drop the car near the dock, not at the airport).

It is called a "deviation" and it will let you fly into Montreal up to 30 days prior to the start of your trip. There is a fee for the deviation and you lose transfers on any deviated leg of the journey.

Otherwise, you need to find out from Viking if they will let will let you book a one-way trip under the free airfare offer.

Booking a RT ticket won't work since once you don't show up in Tampa, the rest of your journey is cancelled.

43 minutes ago, formernuke said:

Sorry!🥴

Actually, I appreciate the heads up. I've learned quite a lot from your live thread that has helped me prepare for our adventure. I'm sorry it is coming to an end.

2 hours ago, formernuke said:

Forgot to mention two things:we docked at Victoria Pier, right in town. Also the weather is spectacular (low 70’s)!

Arrgh, Tom!!  I'm packing now and temps in the 70s has completely blown my packing plan! <tearing-hair-emoji>

45 minutes ago, Squawkman said:

$100pp OBC is minuscule. It would be a nice loyalty perk - really no measurable effect on profit.

I figure that any stockholder benefit will be outstripped by possible dividends (which will be paid whether I sail or not) and the profit I will make when I sell my shares.

No shuttle from Rosyth but I believe that a shuttle runs to the nearby train station.

You should wait for @fruitmachine to reply. They know the city and can tell you how to get into Edinburgh with the least hassle.

1 hour ago, FlyerTalker said:

Beg to differ.  In my experience, if the cruise is being offered with "Free Air", you do not get a reduction in price if you don't take the air provided by Viking.  Seems the OP is getting a "Free Air" promotion.

 

If this has changed, please let me know.

It has not changed. Sorry if my explanation was not clear. Air fare and cruise fare are still separate line items on the invoice and free still means free over and above the stated cruise fare.

AirPlus is the fee we pay to get to get to talk with the Viking Air agents before our flights have been assigned, so that we can be part of the choosing process. I don't know what the fee is and Air Plus is not available for all itineraries.  Also referred to as Custom Air.

Deviation is when you arrive before Day 1 of the itinerary and/or fly out after Day Last of the itinerary. There is a fee for this and their may be additional fare imposed by the airlines,

One last Air fee is a layover fee. That is when you put a more than 24 hour gap into a flight plan.  For instance, if you want to stop in Paris for a few days on your way Athens or Istanbul to board a ship.