Peregrina651

Oops! It should read: and its fun to try new drinks and NOT feel as if you have to drink the whole thing when you don't like it.

Thanks. Steal away. I've been using it for years. Welcome to Cruise Critic. There's a complimentary mini-bar in every cabin. Only DV cabins and higher have complimentary daily replenishment. Only PV and higher are stocked with alcohol as well as soft drinks. A few years back, folks were under the impression that if you had the drinks package that it got you alcohol and daily replenishment for the mini-bar as well. It does not. That said, if you don't have daily replenishment, you can pay to have it replenished. There will be an order form in your cabin. (Or, you can ask for another can of soda at mealtimes). If you don't have, have alcohol, you can pay to have it stocked -- or you can just order drinks from room service.

Okay! Here is what you need to consider. Wine, beer and soft drinks are free at lunch and dinner. Your choices are the red or white wines of the day and the dark or light beers of the day -- one of each available each day. Without, the package, if you don't like the included choices, you may purchase whichever beer or wine you want up at the price shown on the menu. With the package, your choice of tipple up to $18 is included in the package. If an item lists for over $18, then you pay for it; in other words, the $100+ shots of single-malt offered in Torshavn are not free with the package (but they are discounted). The package cover soft drinks outside of meals times (but you would have to drink at least 6 per day each and every day, not including what you drink at meals, to break even if you are buying it only to get the soft drinks). Don't forget that there are soft drinks in your mini-bar. Alcohol-free coffee including lattes, etc., tea and hot chocolate are free 24/7. Bottled still water is available on the gangway as you leave (or return) to the ship. Carafes of water are placed inthe cabin and refreshed twice a day (still,sparkling or both). Viking has a liberal BYO policy (whatever you want as long as it is legal) which can be consumed anywhere on the ship. There is no corkage fee in the dining rooms. Viking encourages us to sample the local tipples and they make it easy for us to bring it on board. BTW, the drinks package does not cover the contents of the mini-bar. From listening to the conversation over the years, I have decided that there are two reasons that people get the drinks package: 1) it saves them money, or 2) it is convenient not to have to keep track of the bar tab (even if money is left on the table) and its fun to try new drinks and feel as if you have to drink the whole thing. The plan is described here. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and read the description under Ocean and Expeditions: https://cms-assets.viking.com/mar_content/global-brand-identity/Onboard_GuestFacing/US_CORP_SilverSpirits-AllProduct-2023.pdf Note that the drinks package incldues

A few years ago, I did the research. At that time, the prices of the two markets were close enough to call them the same.

oops.my mistake.

Get a receipt and ask the ship to reimburse you.

There is at least a security team on duty. They can't just lock up the place and go home for the night; there has to be access 24/7 in the event of an emergency on board the ship. Worse come to worse, call the ship and ask them to come let you in. Send an e-mail with your question to tellus@vikingcruises.com. Include your booking number and a phone number.

We were supposed to do this cruise in 2021 (we even had the flights booked) and now have it scheduled for 2025. There have been some changes over the years, such as dropping Seoul from the itinerary and shuffling some of the cities around. Right now, there is only one Japan itinerary (Far Eastern Horizons); there used to be another slightly different one but it has not reappeared since the hiatus. FEH is a segment of a much longer repositioning of the ship from NZ/Australia to Alaska (or vice versa). Absolutely no way of knowing. First, Hong Kong and Taiwan are political hot-spots. Second, Viking is always tweaking its itineraries.

Why wait until you board the ship? Why not email Viking and ask your questions when you are in the planning phase?

You can't guarantee that you will be at the pick up point before 8:30. If the ship docks at 8am., they can take up to half an hour before they are ready to disembark pax. Take a look at the start times for the Viking shorex. You will find them on MVJ. What is the earliest time listed? That is the best you can hope for and even that is not a guarantee. Distance to the pick up point depends on which berth the ship is given. When we sailed in 2021, it was a 2 minute walk from the foot of the gangplank to the pick up point and that was because our berth was the one just opposite the pick up point. If you are further down the quai, then a longer walk.

If you think they stole your money, then talk to a lawyer and take them to court.

I believe that there are also some comments about seating in the threads that I shared in post #7.

Clay, is the number you quoted above per person or total? How many days was the cruise?

Motorized scooters are not allowed on board, the key word here being motorized. Mechanical aides are permitted. See the Viking Oceans FAQ, in the section "Life on Board."

Got ya. Thanks. Looks like there multiple combinations and permutations of this trip.

@longterm check out the following threads for more info, Flam Railway is another name for Norway in a Nutshell. Flam railway excursion availability 8 Tips for the Bergen to Oslo Train Trip This thread, on the other hand, is amazingly helpful both for those who are taking the Viking post-cruise extension to Oslo and those who will be doing it on their own. Note that you can pay for luggage forwarding when you make your own booking, so that you don't have to deal with luggage if you choose to do the detour to Flam. Things I wished I had packed for Norway Bergen is the rainiest city in the world with rain on at least 2/3 of the days of the year. Come prepared. The Scenic Flåm Railway https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2947038-question-for-recent-bie-greenwich-to-bergen-passengers/

It is possible that Expeditions has adopted a 3 menu rota and that Oceans has not. This would not be the first time that Oceans handles something one way and Expeditions another. For example, when it comes to booking shorex, both divisions have 6 cabin categories but Expeditions is divided into 3 booking tiers while oceans is divided into 6.

Because of allergies, Italian is tough for me and now with fewer choices it will be even harder, which is a shame because DH loves Italian food and really enjoys Manfredi's. So, I'm another voice of protest over the changes. (BTW, they already had phased out my favorite mussel dish and the rack of lamb when we sailed in July,2021; I was disappointed then and I am even further disappointed now.)

The conversation has moved to the following LIVE thread: Live Rookies experience Viking Homelands June 20 to July 4

Yes, it is possible and your TA should know how to it. If not, they can call Viking and ask how to do it. The discount works the same as if you booked directly with Viking: you give them your account information and they take the money out of you account.

I would contact Viking with this question. Use tellus@vikingcruises.com, (not the chat and not the call center). Also, I would bring a complete change of clothing in your carry-ons, just in case you and your luggage don't arrive at the airport together.

Only scheduled on at-sea days.

Me, too. Oh, and I forgot to add that two of the ships have a planetarium -- which is also no charge. I wonder what else we have forgotten. Movies in the theater, on at-sea days. And of course, this is only the included activities. There are other activities, such as spa services, that you have to pay for.

<<This thread has now been moved to the Viking Oceans forum. >> Meander, you forgot the gym on your list of included activities. Check out these two threads. After reading the first few pages of each of them you should be able to decide if Viking is right for you. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2381846-tell-me-why/ Tips for New Viking Ocean Cruisers

No tote. BYO is fine. 🙃