Peregrina651

However, I have heard a number of stories where in emergency situations Viking has handled rebooting flights for everyone flights for everyone on board regardless of who booked the original flights. Some of the stories are Covid related and others are not.

And if the ship does not dock at its normal pier, Skolten, -- which does happen occasionally -- they will put on shuttle buses.

Some people are DIY air all the way. They never book through the cruiseline. Some people always book through the cruiseline; they want the comfort and security of the cruise line handling the unfamilar logistics for them. In between, are the "depends," the folk who decide on a case by case basis. And, in the end, where you fall rests on how comfortable YOU feel with doing things on you own. I admit to being somewhere in the middle. I always include Viking Air on my booking. Sometimes I know from the get-go that I will be using Viking Air because of where we are headed or because it is a really good deal. Other times, I don't decide until I've done the research who will be booking my flights. As long as I cancel the air portion of the booking before the flights are ticketed, I have plenty of time to do the research and make my decision.

I believe their hours are 6am until midnight but since hours can vary, check the daiies on board.

I prefer the coffee in the Living Room Bar, Deck 1. Fresh ground espresso brewed in a professional grade espresso maker and close enough to MDR or World Cafe to grab a cup to carry into breakfast. The baristas that work this bar make a lot of coffee everyday and all day long. I've never had coffee in Mamsen/Explorers Lounge, so I can't compare the two venues. MDR coffee is acidy and watery -- or at least the decaf is; I havent had a cup there since 2016, so i dont know if the situation has changed. World Cafe is pods, press the buttons to choose what you want (or a server will do it for you)-- better than the MDR but not as good as the Living Room. First (and last) time I tried to get a real cup of coffee from the Aquavit Bar in the World Cafe at breakfast time, they looked at me funny and I never tried again. Nevertheless, coffee is available 24/7 (the World Cafe machine self-service handles the overnight shift) -- and unless you want a shot of booze in it, coffee is free. Yes, including lattes and cappuccinos. But then again, the definition of good coffee is subjective and "your mileage may differ."

And cold weather. We've done multiple January cruises with Viking in the Med. The pool deck is always kept at a comfortable temp for swimming and for sitting around the pool; most cooler days that meant keeping the roof closed or open just a crack.

Dress code is one thing but I find that every sailing seems to have its own vibe. Where, when, who all seem to influence the vibe. That said, dress code in mind, you are on vacation, make yourself happy.

If you aren't getting the answers you need from the call center or chat, try taking it up a level. Email tellus@vikingcruises.com and pose your questions. Include your booking number and your phone number.

They do but I can't remember when it was delivered to our cabin. Maybe someone who has done a b2b recently can answer the question.

As Squawkman says, your booking will disappear from the MVJ website on embarkation day (and is read only for the 7 days prior to embarkation; no transactions allowed). If there is anything on there that you want to save for future reference, do it before you leave home. Upon embarkation, you can use either your TV or the VIKING VOYAGER App to view your calendar, make or break dinner reservation and to book shore excursions. Since I prefer to do stuff in person and because it's been a long time since we did a b2b, I can't tell you if the particular b2b only tours information will be available on the TV or Viking Voyager. I've never looked for it there.

Don't forget the Ports of Call section of these boards. Since you aren't asking a Viking specific, you can draw on a much larger audience for answers. Once get some names, you can always come back here and about the specific companies you have heard about.

Three years ago we just used a credit card and our daily expenditures were capped. They even knew that two of us were using the same card. But no senior discount. We were only there a few nights. We'll do the same when we do BIE in 2024.

And I've seen 36 hours. So where does that leave us? Viking rarely has tours on Day 1 of an itinerary. Day 2 is a problem as it is less than 24 hours. Cancel before you leave home, keeping in mind that MVJ closes for making changes 7 days before the start of the itinerary. Day 3 is the day in question. If you want to play it safe cancel before MVJ closes. Have you asked here? You can learn a lot from past cruisers. If you are going to ask, I suggest starting a new thread rather than burying the question in this thread. More people will see your question.

Well I don't think it is out of cheapness because when there were just two couples arriving very early on Day 1 of our cruise, we were put in a limo rather than having to wait around for a bus to fill up. Viking's policy is to provide transfers only for those whose flights land on Day 1, including for those who arrange their own flights and wish to purchase transfers. To be fair to all, they do not allow any exceptions to this rule. Those of us who want to arrive early have two choices. We can handle our own transfers or we can book with another cruise line.

It will also be on eDocs that are sent out 14 days before sailing -- along with the ship's e-mail address.

You will find that information for your sailing on your Viking invoice. Different sailings may have different times -- and this information is subject to change. Consult the most recent version of your invoice, most likely the one issued when you made your final payment. If you don't have a copy, ask your Travel Agent to send it to you. If you don't have a TA, you can download on MVJ (but someone else will have to tell you how to do it; for some reason, I am blocked from downloading it myself). The information can also be found under the Calendar tab on MVJ, once it has been loaded in. If shorex have been loaded to MVJ for your sailing, then you should be able to see the port arrival and departure times on the calendar. It takes about an hour to clear the ship after arrival in port and back on board time is usually 30 minutes prior to departure (except in tender ports where they will announce the time of the last tender in the daily schedule).

@cccole, don't hold your breath and do keep in mind that price drops are rare and do not apply to existing reservations. Viking does not have a lowest price guarantee. If you want to take advantage of a price drop, it means cancelling your current booking and re-booking. You will have to pay any cancellation penalties, you will lose all benefits from the original booking ($25 deposit, any OBCs, any freebies, etc) and there is no guarantee that the cabin you booked originally will be available. Viking marches to the beat of a different drummer. They are not a member of the cruise line association and do not follow many of the conventions set out by that association. They do a lot of things very differently from what many who have only traveled with association members are accustomed to.

Step 1: Prioritize what you want to see in Florence. There is no way you can see it all in one day, so if you only have 1 day what are the 3 things that you must see or do. Then there are the other questions, you should have settled in your mind -- and only you can answer these questions. • Is a guide a must or are you willing to explore on your own? What is your level of comfort? • How is your general health? Do you walk unaided? Can you climb stairs? How many? How many miles can you cover comfortably? Florence is a walking city; they have closed the center of the city to buses and most cars. Even on the Viking tours you will be dropped off near your first stop and then you will have to make your way to the bus parking lot near Santa Croce. • Do you want to whiz by as many places as possible or do you want to a few places and do them well? • What's your budget? "Watching the pennies" or "Sky's the limit"? -- and don't answer this one here because it is really none of our business Next step is to compare these three tours side by side. • Make a list of the places each tour covers. • Mark whether it will be an inside visit or just a stop and look at building/view/facade. • Compare the length of the tours (and don't forget the drive time that will will eat into the time that you actually have to tour the city; Google maps can help you figure out long you will be on the bus -- then add in a 20 minutes pit stop each way).

Isn't there a difference between trip interruption and missed ports?

Sorry, I didn't proofread very well. This should read "and AAA isn't much better."

Now there is a rip-off. My bank charges a higher conversion rate plus a flat fee to buy currency --and AAA is much better. I've always done better using an ATM in Europe, even if I have to pay an ATM fee. In fact, we have taken to making sure we bring home euro to seed our next trip (at least 100€).

Good choice! DV Aft of the aft elevator on deck 3, except for 3058&9, is quiet and low traffic.

Time to hire a lawyer. When you get your legal advice for free, you get what you paid for.

Thank goodness they will never be considered a luxury liner; it is not the experience I am looking for nor wish to subsidize for others. Viking's list of included services cover those that many guests use (internet, beverages with meals, an included tour in each port, access to the spa) and does not include those services or events that only a few people benefit from or choose to partake in (beverage tastings, caviar, fitness classes, spa services, etc). That is not nickel-and-diming. More importantly, Viking is so much more than the list of items that is included or is not included in our cruise fare -- and it is these intangibles of attitude and atmosphere while on board the Viking ships that have sold us on Viking and that keep us coming back. We don't want butlers in white gloves; we don't want 24/7 party-time; we don't want casinos or formal nights -- and we don't want to listen to people whining that Viking could be so much better if they did offer these things. Viking was created for people who couldn't find what they wanted elsewhere. I am sorry that Viking has opted for the "all-inclusive" tag line as it is vague and misleading -- and only causes trouble when they fail to live up to an undefined promise. The faster they ditch the ridiculous tagline, the better.

There are so many things that can explain this but if you aren't within 120 days of sailing and if shorex have not yet opened for booking, it is not time to start worrying about it. Once booking opens the correct information will be on MVJ. The calendar information on your invoice is only accurate on the day it was generated. If there have been subsequent changes, they won't show up until you request an updated invoice.