Peregrina651

The preferences go into the computer so that everyone knows them, including the servers. The CT kitchen checks the reservations each day and compares to the computer. Manfredi's has a set menu. If you have reservations, you will be given a Manfredi's menu the day before instead of the MDR menu. For the WC, I talk with one of the bosses and get them to walk me down the hot line to tell me what is safe for me to eat.

LOL. None inferred. Bread is very finicky.

Thank you. Wow! 2kg of flour is 4.4 pounds is 16 cups.

Clay, has autocorrect been at it again? Homegoods? BTW, you definitely have me sold. I do hope they offer this one for 2026, because I don't see us getting it in before that.

Is that olive bread? Yum. And thanks for the good measure as well! Waterfalls are an endless fascination.

I rave about "Into the Midnight Sun." It was our first Oceans cruise, back when the Oceans division was still getting its feet wet. On the other hand, if pool and sun is what you are looking for, try one of the Mediterranean or Caribbean itineraries.

For those who think, this sunrise-sunset stuff is fun, try https://www.timeanddate.com/sun/norway/longyearbyen. Longyearbyen won't see a sunset or a sunrise until August 25, when the sunsets at 12:47am and rises again at 1:14am. Some folks on board may stay up to watch both, while others will sleep through them both --- but at least will have the satisfaction of saying, "I slept through the night for the first time in ages." And even after August 25, while the sun will drop below the horizon for a bit, it will be October before they get anything but twilight when the sun is down.

Include your booking number and your phone number in the e-mail. Don't be shy, especially if you have allergies. Tell them what you need to stay healthy. Once on board, confirm with the Executive Chef or whoever is dealing with allergies on embarkation day. Usually, one dining room manager is assigned to wrangle the special diets. He/she is your best friend (and since they are are in the dining rooms and not the kitchens, they are easier to find).

Viking is about the ports and not so much about the pool deck. Most itineraries are port heavy (a few have no sea days at all). Viking markets to an older crowd (empty-nesters and retirees) looking for a quiet laid-back ambience, attentive service, interesting port experiences (a balance of educational and active offerings). Suggest you read this thread to help get a better handle on the Viking ambience and mindset. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2381846-tell-me-why/

Probably not. These programs are money makers. The other countries don't want to connect to Global Entry because then they won't be able to charge GE holders a fee for entry. BTW, the US has a program ESTA ($21) which is very similar to ETIAS (7€). (From the British Airways website): If you're a citizen of a country covered by the Visa Waiver Programme (such as the UK) you are able to travel to the USA with an Electronic System Travel Authorisation (ESTA) instead of a visa. Make sure you apply for your ESTA at least 72 hours before your departure.You may not be allowed to travel if you arrive at the airport without an ESTA. You will need a valid e-Passport to use ESTA. These have a microchip symbol on their front cover. ESTAs are valid for multiple journeys for up to two years or until your passport expires, whichever is sooner.

Sigh, I really want to do this itinerary!!!! Great reporting, Clay!

I hope they continue to do it but I am still a skeptic and will continue to keep track of that detail for myself, just in case.

Key cards. Full of electronics. If the plan is to punch a hole and clip the key to a lanyard, get Guest Services to do the punching -- and then immediately go check to see if you can get into your room. In the past two decades, I think we have had to deal with actual keys just once -- on a Viking River cruise in Ukraine before they refurbished the ship. We also slept in Pullman beds (pull-down twins) and used what they called a "yacht-style" shower -- where the bathroom itself is the shower stall (very cozy). But it was so worth it.

Without a doubt: KEEP TRACK OF IT YOURSELF. Viking does not send out e-mails.The date is on your Viking guest statement. Scroll down; you are looking for the words SHORE EXCURSIONS. You will also find the date for when you can start booking SPECIALTY DINING. (Marking these dates on my calendar is part of my "woo-hoo! I just booked another cruise" ritual -- add booking to MVJ, mark calendar with shorex, specialty dining and the cruise itinerary, find/start roll call, add cruise folder to computer desktop and email inbox.)

Ah, so now we can call this a "pilaster disaster." No joking now, thanks for the vocabulary lesson. I recognize the word but was never sure what it was exactly. Now we all know.

Good question! So I asked Professor G: Is there a shortage of pistachio nuts? Pistachio prices are expected to keep moderately rising on reducing supply this year. In 2021, the average export price for pistachios amounted to $12.2 per kg (IndexBox estimates), which was 35% more than in 2020. Global production is forecast to fall by 16% y/y to 829K tons in 2022 on declines in Turkey and Iran.Feb 21, 2022 Pistachio Prices to Surge on Expected Shortage, U.S. Exports ... - IndexBox

Even a piece of paper folded a few times will work.

1. Call the number. If they are closed, the answering machine should give their open hours. 2. Something to consider: 310 days prior to embarkation may be a little too soon to start looking at flights for multiple reasons. Not all of the airlines you might might want to consider may necessarily be open for booking, especially for the return flights. The date to base the count on is not the departure from home but the return flight.

I stayed in the same hotel two years ago. I agree with Clay. Fine for one night, maybe. The folks at the front desk were great and arranged carry out breakfast for us both mornings we were there, as we had early starts. Sorry we didn't get to check out the breakfast buffet. Note the following about the hotel. No elevator. Not handicapped accessible, including the lobby. No air conditioning and no screens in the windows (or at least not in our attic room). Not all of the rooms are in the building that Clay photographed; they are in a building across the street. Attic rooms are particularly to be avoided because of low ceilings that are not easy to avoid banging your head on.

Also, there are irons in the laundry rooms (decks 3, 4 5 & 6, port side/even numbered side). For those looking for the list of prohibited items it is here: https://docs.vikingcruises.com/pdf/20190826-Prohibited-Item-List.pdf

The article is interesting but I am concerned that there is no date on the article; there is no telling how up-to-date the information is. I would confirm all the relevant information in the article before depending on it to get around.

But only if you arrive on Day 1 of the itinerary.

The ES cabins themselves are all the same size; it is the size of the balcony (which is included in the square footage number) that differs.

I sure hope Viking doesn't have my social security number on file. Why on earth would they need it?

Even though we booked through Viking, we arrived in Cairo early and thus had to arrange our own transfer (because, for those who don't already know, Viking transfers are available only when you fly in the Day 1 of an itinerary and fly out on the very last day of the itinerary). Out of convenience, we booked a limo through our hotel. We paid a bit more but at least who knew it was a trustworthy carrier. We paid extra for "Meet & Assist" service, which is a greeter in the airport who will meet you as you walk into the arrival area and guide you through the entire arrivals process from purchasing your visa (which he may already have in hand) to escorting you to you limo. In other words, there is no reason to book through Viking for Cairo.