Peregrina651

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.

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

oops

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.