greydog

(Showing my age) When Long Term Capital failed they peaked at 90-t0-1 leverage and govt had to intervene to avoid handicapping entire financial system. Hard lessons only learned after disasters.

Good to know - we're 102 in March under lobby shop. Just when we're close to the bar I can't enjoy adult bevs anymore due to AFIB health issues.😉

I got surprised ☹️ on our Viking Main trip when for the last 2-3 days they cordoned off use of the sundeck (despite great weather) for safety because of the frequent low bridges. OTOH our ship crossed low water point with 1ft below keel, per the captain.

OTOH I've seen in print the Viking owner Hagen, pre-Covid, say he loves debt leverage. I recall maybe Forbes reporting his personal weath fell by billions as he paid all staff at 50% during long Covid shutdown. Early in restart ships sailed at 33-50% capacity, so recovery only reached 2019 level this year. Carnival, NCL and RCCL (having low credit rating) were borrowing 1-2 billion with empty fleet at anchor and paying 12%+ interest, which is now being refinanced. The airlines only survived with government support as critical infrastructure. Best wishes, fingers crossed for entire travel industry returning to normalcy.

We have done STD on longships 2x recently and upcoming. They are 150sf vs Fr-bal 135. Depending on who's in cabin above there might be chair scraping noise from veranda above but less likely at sleeping hours. BTW, my wife puts value in forward-most standard cabins for closest access to stairs. (But I'd pass on std 101 - 104 because possible noise under lobby registration/service desk) Because we travel shoulder seasons (Mar, Nov-Dec) the inclement weather reduces the value to us of the outside higher prices. We enjoy the spacious public viewing lounges and/or topside when weather cooperates. FWIW we were surprised on Cities of Light trip that even in nice weather the top deck was closed last 3? days for safety from frequent low bridge passage.

RE travel insurance - heres link to a major insurers, Allianz, 'approved travel supplier list' for Allianz's policy to cover financial default of a travel vendor. List is updated over time and included AMA last year when I checked. Download covered travel vendor list For example Crystal cruiseline failed 2? yrs ago and trip's financial loss would be reimbursed only if Crystal was on Allianz's approved list when you bought policy. This coverage often included when you buy a higher-end "diamond' level coverage policy, vs just standard injury benefits. If you use a TA, tell them to quote policy with/without financial default inclusion to see if extra cost worth it. GOOD LUCK

We also faced your safety concerns for our Feb. AMA Nile and had 3rd-party insurance but not CFAR. We cancelled early and lost the lowest AMA penalty instead of waiting as penalties grew. However, your insurance rules MAY include cancel $ coverage if 1) US State Department raises Egypt or Jordan to highest risk level 4 2) terrorist violence at an itinerary stop within 30 days of your departure if AMA does not alter the tour to bypass trouble spot. Check your policy details. Despite vendor-failure risk, I learned to check/buy the cruise lines's insurance when vendor adds-on CFAR future cruise credit (usually requires next trip within 12 months but even different itinerary) Good Luck - Vic, Atlanta.

Viking has November promo code RA11 on Rhine & Danube sailings during March, 2024 to clear unsold inventory. The web cabin prices shown apply but RA11 gets you free economy air, saving $599-799 pp. $1,299 pp is prem-econ upcharge. Fee for V custom Air+ flight choices is $100 pp. We just grabbed Mar. 15 Romantic Danube Budapest > Regensburg. GOOD LUCK

Thanks for flash alert - just saved around $300 on WIFI, tours. Flash sale applied to our 2 cruises in 2024, Canada in Aug. and Spain in Nov. I noticed on both 2024 cruises that the dining pkg (not first night) discount was only -20% which applied only for 5 nights spec. dining or more pkgs. The 3/4 night pkgs remained at standard pre-sailing -7% discount. Cheers

Hi - Post OCeania cruise docking S'ton July 11 we are heading to Oxford for a few days. I presume our best option, considering convenience and most direct routing, is private car service. Is there likely to be problems finding custom provider for car transfer to Oxford from the dock. We're not too inclined for train alternatives. Any other complications getting to Oxford? Thanks

Hi again - safe travels. If V was NOW already doing extensive bussing/hotels this board (primarily the Roll Call area for C-Light would have a number of reports about it. Of course, things could be worse next week. When I spoke with a V agent 3 days ago, he said they had not as of then been notified of major trip changes. Fingers crossed

If Viking doesn't cancel, then the trip goes and pax live with any shifts in itinerary such as bus transfers, hotels, ship swap, etc V tries to make the best of unfavorable conditions with its excursion substitutions. Passenger needs to cancel/switch under V's terms and advance notice deadlines (or face significant $ penalties) If you had private 'cancel for any reason' travel insurance, you'd be refunded, usually 75%. If you paid for round trip air with V, and had paid for their custom Air+ service, they might fly you back early if you're not willing to complete the full cruise (no cruise fare partial refund). You may face penalty fee for ticket change charged by airline. Good Luck

Hi Notamermaid - are we 'lucky' too navigationally if taking Moselle from Trier (Sep.3), ending Bamberg? (Viking Cties of Light) Thx

To cover all options, consider taking Queen Mary2 or other transatlantic cruise to Europe if it fits schedule. Good Luck

If you thought it might allow restful travel and minimize jet lag, consider V air+ upgrade to prem-econ seats. Then maybe less need for extra fee, save hotel cost, arrive with included V transfer. In my limited experience, you may be looking around +$999-1,299 pp for uprade rd. trip - just ask. ALSO, consider add P-E for just arrival leg at around half the rd trip P-E. GOOD LUCK

I'm supposing Air+ upgrade fee is currently reflected on your booking but since you find DIY air is less expensive that you'll be dropping V air fee from final payment amount - I would not expect any issue. In my limited experience with V air, which has been satisfactory, I was able to get competitive prices. However, as you indicate, their carrier contracts have limitations on availability specific to different airlines. Delta would not allow V's economy base fare class to later upgrade on my own individually to Comfort+ by directly paying Delta for upgrade. From my own experience, to book Delta Comfort+, you had to have V air+ quote/buy you Comfort+ to meet the fare class restrictions. Also, when a Delta flight with best itinerary had Delta 'flagship' or similar rating, it wasn't reservable under V contract. At least it's good to have choices to compare. Finally, on learning the Air+ service fee has been raised, I always thought the $50pp cost was too good to last. Good Luck

Since we're newly time-flexible from retirement, we're returning from Europe river cruise on Queen Mary2 transatlantic. In my limited 2x experience, V's 1-way air quote was half of rd trip quote. Consider using half of bus. class $ towards balcony cruise over the pond. BON VOYAGE ☺️

Sorry about your return trip. Indeed some carriers have disappointing PE service relative to others We aim for Delta PE Delta seems to have newer planes generally too for Europe flights

V is indeed lowest on ocean - I've been focusing on river cruises, so I had a river brain cramp I think V air policies similar ocean/river. IF you contact the existing booking service number, they should know the $ quote for your itinerary for add P-E, bus. so you will know how it compares to DIY from quotes on Kayak, others. In my case, I took P-E at their quote for a trip that's about 1 yr out. My final is 8 mos. before trip so I'll know at final date what DIY $ alternative is. I can drop the V P-E if its more expensive at final payment date. Good Luck

Hi - air upgrade discount may apply to veranda-suites or above on certain itineraries that are longer with cruise fare higher (or on other marketing promos like 'free econ air', or maybe even V loyalty tier) When I say air discount I mean a standard cabin may be offered bus. class upgrade at +3500 pp while uppermost cabins offered at +2000pp. Can't hurt to proactively inquire. Lowest cabin cat by price on V Rhine/Danube longship is "standard, E/F" on main deck (our hangout), then "french balcony C/D" next, according to V's "Dates and Pricing" webpage. HAPPY CRUISING

Hi - Air+ gets you custom preferred air itinerary (air carrier, routing, layover times, seat category, etc.) You need to choose PremEcon, Bus. etc because V has contracted quotas of seats and if you delay choosing on high booking routes you may miss upgrade opportunity used up by other pax. I delayed choosing once and found no V PE seats remained on my date. It's standard that if you originally booked with a TA that the TA has to intermediate transactions - others report doing their air itinerary research and giving thier TA their 3 preferred routings and TA does arrangements. Others report that if you booked veranda or higher cabins that V gives special price discount for air upgrades. Good Luck

You soon can price PE on your own, and on preferred airlines. After you know what the DIY alternative amount is, you can compare against the Viking PE cost quote. You likely can get that same preferred itinerary at the Viking price by paying the Air+ custom fee and PE upcharge. Viking air gets you transfers to/from ship included, if you fly on begin/end dates of cruise. Viking air will help redirect your flights if problems happen in transit. We did Viking's post +2days Lucerne and it's nice area, historic classic Hotel Schweizerhof by the lake. You should meet others on this itinerary and share information at the separate Viking River Roll Call for the Viking Rhine 2023 group.

Hi - we couldn't pick BA seats (PRG to LHR) and then got email from BA a month? later signalling seat selection available for fee (didn't reserve thru V). We were doing W-Traveler Plus fare and the first 4 rows were blocked for loyalty seating and fee was $70 pp 2 rows away from lavavtory, $35 pp bulkhead and across from lav. It looked likely those with no loyalty staus would get least desirable seats without paying pre-select fee. We're spoiled by Delta ATL hub, Comfort+ option. V has offered me +$999 P-E upcharge a couple times in last 2 years (rd trip). I guess your $799 is for one way upcharge in current raised fare environment. Hopefully paying the 799 PE would avoid poor main cabin assignment. I'd not be happy camper either if stuck in unfavorable seat on long haul. Can you change carrier/flt to avoid this headache? - V air+ should be responsive to your preferences, especially if switching/adding PE. Good Luck

BUT I've run into 'not available' on later try to add prem-econ - seems they have a seat limit on upgrades in their airline contracts. Some others report that the upcharge fee is lower if you booked higher category stateroom. Good Luck

TRUE unfortunately $-wise for consumers - the upcharge for PE really widened. 4 mos. ago (pre-Ukraine) I paid what I felt was a stiff total $ for V's Prem-Econ for July 2023 Europe travel but I was aware of all the news reports - fewer flights from staffing issues, high travel demand, high fuel. I decided to pay the piper thinking it could get worse later. However, once closer to travel date but outside ticketing date I will check about dropping the V air if I can do better DIY. Good Luck