Peregrina651

The following threads already deal with British Isles Explorer and will answer many of your questions: Random thoughts about our British Isles cruise https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2889937-british-isles-explorer-cruise-excursions/ British Isles Explorer Cruise excursions https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2862566-viking-british-isles-cruise-tips-for-others-going-on-this-cruise/page/6/#comment-64571383 British Isles Explorer | Recommendations for London & Dublin British Isles Explorer Past Cruisers - Questions

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Add to your list tipping the bathroom attendants or else bring your own TP (although you should do that anyway because the attendants are miserly). Viking will cover these tips on tours; the PDs will show you where the toilets are and let you know if they are covering the tip. Anything else is on you.

If they have booked a private car for the four of them, yes, but not if they are booking the GrayLine bus tour. GrayLine has other pick-ups to make and a schedule to keep. If you are using GrayLine (which we did in 2021), pick-up begins 30 minutes prior to the nominal start time (which means you should be on the dock before 7:30 am). The question here is if the ship will be cleared for disembarkation in time. I would check with Viking (tellus@vikingcruises.com).

Ah, but have you seen Bernini's David? Overheard while waiting to get into the Borghese Gallery, talking about Bernini's David vs Michelangelo's, something to the effect that once you have seen Bernini's, Michelangelo's pales in comparison. And when we final got into the gallery, damned if she wasn't right! Then we saw Daphne and Apollo and Persephone. It is definitely time to go back! I'll save you the search, but I won't post the pictures because I would not want to spoil it for anyone who wants to see these statues for the first live and not in photos. Michelangelo: https://h6c7b8u9.stackpathcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/david-full-front.jpg Bernini: https://joelisaak.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/bernini-david1.jpg

It used to be around 120 days prior to sailing but since the pandemic restart it has been all over the place and doesn't seem to have settled into a reliable pattern yet. Also, when you go to check if they have been loaded in yet, just checking Day 1 is not reliable. Check randomly another day or two, just to be sure.

I agree! An all Japan cruise would be great, with a couple of overnights and/or a few more ports of call.

I have to say, "Ditto!" On the other hand, if this is your only visit to Rome, it covers a lot ground in a short period and you see quite a lot from the bus and if you do nothing else, at least you have done something. It is basically a drive-by tour of the highlights of Rome. We took it because we had arrived late afternoon the day before and I knew that I would be jet-lagged and in need of a good nap. I slept the entire way to and from Rome. We had a nice walk along the Tiber River, away from the crowds, once we got to Vatican City. But we had done Rome before (4 or 5 nights while DD the are history major was doing 2 semesters in Florence) and just wanted the free bus ride, the nap time and the stroll. When we did the B2B the prior year, with changeover day in Rome, we took the tour to Ancient Ostia on one day and to Tarquina for the Etruscan Necropolis the next -- and I suggest either of them for history buffs. We never got into Rome on that trip. We also did the visit to Lucca, which in spite of the rain that day was also enjoyable.

I've done the guaranteed cabin bit twice now. The first time we were less than 30 days from sailing and the second time, we were 4 months from sailing. Both of the cruises were short cruises (because for a week, I can put up with whatever they give me). Having booked a V2 guaranteed cabin, both times we were assigned DV4 cabins. On one those sailings a bunch of us were waiting for our assignments; one of us ended up in a DV1 aft facing cabin. I don't think that I would go the guaranteed route for a longer cruise because there are cabins I know I would not want to live for more than a week. On the first cruise, shorex had long since been open by the time we booked. On the second cruise, we did not not get our cabin until much, much closer to sailing; I don't remember which category we ended booking with.

That is exactly what will happen. You will find out on board what tours are being offered on the changeover day(s). You will have time to shuffle your touring schedule around if you wish. These tours are not available to guests who are arriving that day no matter how early they arrive and to control access, they are not available for booking on MVJ. The tours will be chosen from among those that you see on the Viking website. I gave up on the call center years ago. If I have a question, I e-mail TellUs@vikingcruises.com. Actually, it was the best answer -- and the correct one. Make sure to let Viking know that you will be off the ship overnight -- and that you confirm the back on board time (because things can change bue to unforseen circumstances).

Go with your gut, otherwise your gut is going to be talking to you from now until you land in Istanbul -- and you already aren't happy with what it is saying. Are you being too cautious? NO!! Better safe than sorry. As donaldsc asked, what is the downside if you miss your plane? Fifty minutes isn't 50 minutes, it is 35 minutes because doors close 15 minutes prior to departure.

I work with a TA. I don't have the option on my computer.

Blame it on the airlines! They are the ones who keep changing their schedules, not Viking. I've sailed three times since Viking resumed operations, two booked on my own, one by Viking. The only one that didn't change its schedule was Icelandair. The other two flight plans both suffered changes -- one I booked on my own and the other through Viking. In other words, right now it doesn't matter whether you book your own flights or you use Viking, you can expect that there will be changes to your choices --some major, some minor -- between the time you book your flights and the time you actually leave.

E, at this point you should be able to call Viking and get the upgrade removed and refunded without a hassle. Personally, I would book the air yourself. If you are flying Icelandair to get home, I highly recommend paying the extra for their business class. It is not flat beds but it is certain a whole heap more comfortable than their economy class and their premium economy.

That is provided Viking is docking at Skolten, its usual pier. Occasionally, they do end up at other piers in Bergen, sometimes announced in advance and other times a last minute change.

You can eat in the MDR every night. No reservations are necessary; guests are seated first come, first served. Reservations for the MDR was only a thing in the first months of the post-pandemic restart.

No category gets any additional (or fewer) 'guaranteed priority reservations' based on the length of the cruise. The scheme is set in stone.

There is some confusion here. There is no category called Veranda Suite. Cabin categories most expensive to least are: Owners' Suite (4) Explorer Suite (3) Penthouse Junior Suite (3) Penthouse Veranda Stateroom (2) Deluxe Veranda Stateroom (1) Veranda Stateroom (0) All suites are true suites with a separate bedroom. All accommodations have balconies. All categories except the lowest have advanced reservations for each specialty restaurant.

If you have booked your own air and have disembarkation day flights, you can purchase transfers from Viking. There should be a link for it on MVJ or you can call Viking directly or your travel agent can handle it.

If you are working with a travel agent, this option is not available. All payments must be made through your TA.

P.S. forgot to say that 12 months, 6 months applies only to cruises or packages of less than 30 some odd days; the longer Grand Voyages and World Cruises may have different allowances (and I have never booked one, so I can't say what they might be).

You can always try to negotiate a change in the final payment date but it must be done BEFORE you make the deposit. Paying the deposit is part of the legalese for showing your agreement to the contract and once you have given the deposit Viking will not negotiate further. The best you can hope for in these negotiations is 12 month prior to sailing unless you have a future cruise already booked, in which you can ask for 6 months final payment date. You have to ask for the 6 month date and you have to have future sailing already booked. Even if you have sailed multiple times with Viking, you must have a future cruise on the books to get the 6 month final payment date.

Yes, you can use e-check to pay installments and for paying for optional shore excursions.

I like aft above the dining room, except for the cabin closest to the elevator, which abuts a noisy equipment space and the public restrooms. There is no noise coming from the dining room below. I tried multiple DV4 locations on Deck 4 but decided to go back to DV6. DV4 can get unpredictable noise from the tenders. The downside to Deck 3 cabins is ramps up to the cabin area, which maybe an issue for those with mobility issues.

That is why I bring suction hooks and metal skirt hangers -- which don't get in the way when I want to use the shower (because they aren't in the shower).