Ready to Sail!

12 minutes ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

Ponant goes Auckland to Dunedin, then the next cruise goes Dunedin to Auckland.  Either way you would fly  from the US to Auckland.  But the experience [and price point] between these two cruise lines would be 180 degrees.

I looked at Ponant and yes, it would certainly fit our needs.  I guess I am thinking since we are adding the extra week or so on our own I would like to keep the fare for the cruise a little more reasonable.  The second week will be pricey with fishing guides, etc. 

On the other hand I also did look at a few sights regarding crossing the Tasman and I do have problems with rough seas.  Well, lots more to think about.  Thanks again for the info.

2 minutes ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

We were going to do the New Zealand itinerary on Celebrity, but DW pointed out that the flight to Sydney is 2 hours longer than LAX to Auckland, and many reports of high seas on the Tasman Sea led me to look for a cruise that would be New Zealand-only.  And I found that Ponant does exactly that:

https://us.ponant.com/cruises/pacific-and-oceania-the-best-of-new-zealand-r210320-4

Not cheap, and the small ships sell out fast, but it does include all three 'sounds.'  And there is a pre-/post-cruise extension that includes Queenstown and the interior [similar to what Celebrity does on their overnight shore excursion, but you don't miss the sail around the southern end of NZ].  If you also want an Australia experience on this trip, you can book it though Tauck:

http://www.tauck.com/tours/australia-travel/australia-cruise-ape-2019.aspx?tabPage=Itinerary

Thanks for the info.  We want an itinerary that ends in Auckland so we can add a week for my husband to do some fly fishing.  We just may do NCL.  It fits our needs.

4 minutes ago, zitsky said:

 

So they're just sugar then?

Meringue, almond flour and yes, sugar!  

3 minutes ago, Heidi13 said:

Not sure about the shorter local cruises, but the 2020 World Cruise has a day of scenic cruising in Doubtful Sound.

Yes, I saw that but I was looking at their 15 day which is the only one including NZ, besides the WC.

1 minute ago, zitsky said:

I honestly don't understand why people like macarons.  They just don't taste very good to me.

Because they're pretty!!! 

9 minutes ago, Scootoir said:

 

 

Let's hear it for macaron snobbery!  I will be looking for the Laduree cart in CDG next summer.

 

I saw them at my local Whole Foods and resisted temptation, silly me.  Will get some on the next visit.

Lucky you.  I live way up north and we don't have a Whole Foods.  Would have to drive 2+ hours south to Sacramento and they don't have the good ones from http://macarons.rocqgroup.com/ .  So when you go back, have one or two for me!

We are starting to look at cruises to Australia and NZ for late 2019/early 2020.  We would sure consider Viking but their itinerary does not include cruising Milford or Doubtful Sound.  All the other lines that I have looked at do and we would consider this a priority.  I find it strange that Viking would bypass Fjordland National Park.  Is this a new itinerary for them that they may adjust in the future?  

http://macarons.rocqgroup.com/  

This is the company that supplies the LV Whole Foods.  They are in Laguana Hills and I would imagine they supply other stores in Southern California.  They really are the best I have found in the states, almost as good as Laduree!  I say almost because how can a macaron be any better than eating it in Paris! 

We will be going through CDG, but not Air France.  I am assuming I should be able to pick some up at one of the shops in the gate area, if I am functioning after having been traveling for almost 18 hours at that point.

For those of you who are into Macarons and go to Las Vegas, one of the Whole Food Markets there have some very good ones and lots of variety.  I tried to get them at a Whole Foods in the Bay Area once but they were not as good.  I have the name of the bakery who provides the LV store somehwere?  They can be ordered on line.  Will try to find that info. 

Scootoir, this picture is for you!  A little Macaron snobbery here, LOL!  This was 4 years ago and I still have the bag!

1 minute ago, Peregrina651 said:

 

We live and we learn. Reading here sent me Googling:

 

Macarons vs. Macaroons: What's the Difference? ... Aside from both being delicious and similar in spelling, macarons and macaroons are entirely different cookies. First off, a macaroon is coconut based, whereas a macaron is meringue based.

And they certainly look and taste totally different.  I had never heard of Macarons until we went to Paris, where my obsession began-with macarons and Paris!

4 minutes ago, retiredman said:

Scootoir, enjoy your first Ocean Cruise! I am quite sure you will have a wonderful time. Things have changed a lot since our first cruise. Rest assured you will not see skeet shooting off the stern! I think handing loaded weapons to passengers would be frowned upon these days.

 

LOL! for sure, but it was fun.  My husband and I were into trap shooting "back in the day" so we did participate in this activity and it was on our very first cruise going down the Mexican Riviera.  It was on a ship called the Azure Seas, long gone of course. They did 3 and 4 day cruises out of LA.  Great memories of those old ships.

2 minutes ago, Scootoir said:

Ready to Sail, I like that someone is asking the important questions such as will we get macarons on Viking?  This will be my first ocean cruise so I don't exactly know what to expect.

 

Very exciting to be anticipating your first cruise.  Hope you love it and enjoy many more in the future.  We took our first cruise 30+ years ago.  We've seen a lot of changes over the years but I still am excited to be looking forward and planning for the next one.   This is our first Viking cruise so see, we are both newbies!

3 minutes ago, Scootoir said:

Then you are looking for macarons.  I hope they will have them in at least one of the restaurants on Viking.

Absolutely.  I stand corrected.  I can never remember which is which.  Should have checked myself first.  

47 minutes ago, Richard2 said:

You do know that macaroons are not what would be called a "mainstream" dessert. Have you ever seen them on the dessert menu in a restaurant? I haven't. You don't need to start a diet. I cannot recollect ever seeing a macaroon at the dessert station in the World Cafe. They certainly will not be on the menu in Manfredi's (but the tiramisu is terrific) or the Chef's Table. 

I would not expect them in Manfredi's since they are a French cookie.

20 minutes ago, AstroExeter said:

 I saw them most days. They were by the cookies!

Yes, that is where I would expect them to be. Thanks so much.  I can now hope to see them on the Star.  

43 minutes ago, Richard2 said:

You do know that macaroons are not what would be called a "mainstream" dessert. Have you ever seen them on the dessert menu in a restaurant? I haven't. You don't need to start a diet. I cannot recollect ever seeing a macaroon at the dessert station in the World Cafe. They certainly will not be on the menu in Manfredi's (but the tiramisu is terrific) or the Chef's Table. 

Yes, I do know that and that is why I asked about the World Cafe and not the Restaurant.

I just thought of another very important question.  Does the World Cafe regularly have macaroons?  I have an obsession with them.  I have read that Gelato is available daily (another obsession) but would sure like to know I can get my macaroon fix also. If so, I'll start dieting right now! 

42 minutes ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

Viking seems to have been shut down on its plan to offer river cruises in the US because of the PSVA requirements that the ships be built in US and staffed with US workers.  This may be Plan B: if every cruise starts or ends at a Canadian port, they escape the PSVA.  They will be competing against two established premium lines in the Great Lakes [Pearl and Victory], and I see that the new Hapag-Lloyd expedition ship Hanseatic Inspiration will be doing two Great Lakes cruises in 2020 [Toronto to Chicago and reverse; no stops in Detroit or Cleveland!] – maybe Viking sees a market for luxury non-expedition cruising there.  [The ships can sail out through the St. Lawrence Seaway for off-season cruising elsewhere – Hapag-Lloyd's ship will proceed from Toronto to Greenland!]

 

Could you email me the link to the survey?  I'd like to see the details of Viking's plans!

hostjazzbeau@cruisecritic.com

 

I dug mine out of the trash bin and forwarded to you.  Hope that works.

28 minutes ago, twodjs said:

We live near Seattle. American Cruise Lines does a one week cruise that only goes around the Puget Sound here in Seattle. I was shocked to see how much they charge! So I'm sure Viking is looking at opportunities like that to compete in the smaller ship market. Not $10,000, but 4 or 5 thousand per person! Our area is beautiful, but... Perhaps someone who has taken that cruise can chime in. I just can't justify that much $.  

Yes, their fares are very pricey but I guess enough people do them to keep them "afloat", no pun intended!  When we talk to people about where we travel to, many say they would like to visit these places but would never fly.  Maybe this is why these cruises have appeal to some.  Personally, we sure wouldn't pay their prices when we can drive to many of these ports of call.  Or in your case, take the ferry.   I sure wouldn't pay to cruise the Columbia Gorge either.

I would think Viking is surveying the wrong group here.  Not adventurous enough itinerary for most ocean cruisers. 

I also booked directly with Viking and was given a 6 month date for final payment which I just made the end of September for our end of March 2019 cruise.  That date was automatic without any discussion if I remember right.  I booked in December of 2017.

I usually do my own air but decided to go with Viking air because the fare was good.  I added the Air Plus to have more say in the flights, but just be aware that they will not ticket you until final payment is made.  We added a deviation and also upgraded from economy and still ended up paying less than we would have booking on our own.  

I got it but deleted as I didn't want to take the time.  After reading your post which peaked my interest (thought maybe they were asking about other itineraries) I retrieved it and started in.   I'm not really interested either but kept plodding along until I got to the part where it asked how much I would spend.  I put in 2,000 (I know, silly me) but it wouldn't accept my answer. It kept saying to put in a whole number.  Huh?  I tried different formats but couldn't get it to accept so just gave up and backed out.  

Should have just left it in the trash!

Just a question here-hope I don't get tomatoes thrown at me by true tea drinkers-but those coffee machines will give you a hot cup of water if you don't put the coffee pod in.  If you need you could run one cup through to wash out any coffee sediments and then your cup of hot water for the tea.  Just a thought, but keep in mind I'm an american so probably not the best judge on proper preparation of a good cup of tea!  My husband likes tea in the morning and I drink coffee so this is what we will do. 

Back to the topic of tipping for room service.  I see both sides of the discussion.  After traveling to Europe independently many times, we know tipping, and on a larger scale, is custom in the US but not so much elsewhere.  When in "Rome" we do as the "Romans" do and just round up.  On a cruise, even though the auto gratuity may sound like a lot, it probably gets stretched pretty thin as it goes down the chain of workers.   We don't get room service much, usually a few breakfasts, so I am happy to give a few $$ to the person delivering our food, as long as it arrives on time and is still hot.  Obviously this is an individual choice, as it should be.  No right or wrong.

We weren’t charged when we had to sign for delivery. Can’t remember now which line it was. Well, doesn’t matter. We just want to know what to expect..will have our $$s ready. 

Our first Viking cruise is approaching. Would like to know if tipping for room service is the same as other lines. On our earlier cruises we used to have ones available and give 2 or 3 dollars cash when delivered. As time has passed, it seems we have had to sign for delivery and line for tip was available.  Most of our cruises have  been NCL or Princess. What is the procedure on VO?  

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This is our first Viking cruise. While researching Viking one thing that I read numerous times is that they tend to offer longer time in ports compared to other lines.

The times listed on our confirmation don't seem to support that. Most port times are 8-9 hours, which is pretty standard with other cruise lines we've been on . We do have 10 hours in one port and 15 in one other. I will admit that 8 hours is the shortest and we have been in ports where only 5-6 hours are allowed. I guess I was just expecting mostly 10-12 hours with Viking, especially since there is very little travel between ports on our itinerary (Empires of the Med.) And yes, I know this is not the only determining factor.

Do these times ever change once excursions are posted?