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What a beautiful day! 

Thanks so much for your info. We are on the May 1 BIE and really beginning to get excited. How is your weather? At this point, our forecast appears to be around 50 high and 44 low with about 30% chance of showers in London.

So enjoyed this—- thanks!

Capital One Quicksilver — you are right— no foreign transaction fee. Think we had a different one in the past. Although that is not the card we generally use, it’s good to know we can when traveling. Thanks.

Our Capital One card charges a foreign transaction fee so check to see if yours does as well.  Our bank card does not so that is the one we use. I tip cabin stewards and those who have been especially helpful to us in  USD— not sure if that’s the best but assume they have the ability on Viking to change their money to what works for them— I may be wrong. So glad countries are going mostly cashless.

We are on the May 1-15 cruise. We depart from Bergen to Reykjavik to Dulles. This route is not always available but, when we booked, it was an option. Their Saga class is nice and we have access to the Air France lounge ( at least we did last May when we began our cruise in Iceland.) Hopefully, it doesn’t change before we board. 

Thanks so much for responding. Your day sounds like it was lovely. 

Thanks so much!

Thanks so much for sharing your information and insights. We are on British Isles Explorer May 1-15, 2024. In Edinburgh, did you do the “ Scotch Whiskey Experience “ that you mentioned on your spreadsheet? I also think I would enjoy the Bagpipe Workshop and Whiskey Tasting offered by Viking but it is pricey so not sure. Thanks again!

Thanks so much for asking these questions. We are on your cruise and I am also trying to decide what to do. Appreciate any information previous cruisers can provide.

We are on the May 1-15 cruise with Dun Laoghaire substituting for Dublin and Bangor for Belfast. Both appear to be tender ports so very disappointed we will not be docking at ports in Dublin and Belfast. Both substitutes look like lovely harbor towns but always a possibility we won’t be able to go ashore. I did research Dun Laoghaire and there are some restaurants/pubs with music so, hopefully, after the Dublin tour we can experience some Irish beer and music. Let’s just hope for good weather.

My husband and I just returned from the Reykjavik-NYC cruise. It was our first Viking cruise so we decided to go with the drink package. While, financially, it may not be the best decision, we are so glad we had it and just considered it a treat. My husband loves a martini (or 2) and I enjoy a nice brut champagne so we were pleased. We also loved our Chef Table meals and their upgraded wine pairings were delicious. We told our server we had the package, gave them our cabin number, and made sure, once we ordered, that our choice fell within the package. It always did. I very much liked having a drink at times outside of meals. We will do it again.

Thanks so much for your very detailed review. My husband and I are taking our first Viking cruise in May/June from Iceland to NYC so we are quite interested in what we will experience. We have sailed quite a few times on other lines so we can compare later. We have booked our own transportation so, hopefully, we will have no problems. Thanks again for taking the time to write such a thorough review.

I’ve so enjoyed reading your entries and seeing your wonderful photos! My husband and I are taking our first Viking cruise from Iceland to New York in May so I’m glad to hear all the positive comments about the staff and crew. A friend has been in Antarctica this week on another cruise line and they, too, have had to adjust their landing plans due to weather, but both of your trips sound amazing. Thanks so much for sharing— my friend writes a wonderful blog so I have enjoyed “traveling “ with her as well. 

You are probably right, but some plan needs to be put in place as it was a mess! I’m sure somebody can figure out a better, safer plan.

Oceania definitely needs to step up to the plate and organize the face-to-face immigration. I was there and there were no Oceania staff creating organized lines. People were coming down the stairs, getting off elevators, and having no idea where to find the end of the line.  There were many people with mobility issues waiting in these long lines dragging their carry-on luggage. Is it possible for guests to remain in their cabins and the agent move down the hallways deck by deck for the face-to-face immigration? I don’t know, but other cruise lines have to do this so it’s time for Oceania to ask for some suggestions. My husband and I hated to miss the ports but we absolutely believe the captain made the right decision to skip the ports. The cruise was just scheduled a month too soon and my husband and I booked it so that’s what happens.

So glad you are having a wonderful time. Your descriptions are written beautifully. My husband and I were on the San Francisco to Vancouver cruise and we, too, had a delightful time. Thanks for taking the time to highlight the trip.

I have not received confirmation that it has been posted but that is where it will be. I agree with you about Sitka and Hoonah.

Wonderful food, excellent service, delightful cruise! Yes, it is an older ship, but my husband and I had a lovely anniversary celebration on Regatta. See review if interested in more details.

Thanks to all of you for your posts with updates! Looks like you are getting ready to go under Golden Gate Bridge--- how exciting! Hope we can do the same thing later today!

Please continue to post updates. Oceania rep called us and left a message telling us not to come to the port until 6:00 pm. I was hoping it would just be canceled rather than deal with multiple problems for the next 11 days! Thanks for your postings!

Thank you so much for info! My husband and I are on the May 22 cruise leaving San Francisco and your info is greatly appreciated as we are not interested in waiting for hours at the port. Thank you.

My husband and I are booked on Regatta on the May 22 cruise from San Francisco to Vancouver. We are celebrating a big anniversary so, hopefully, all goes well. Any update would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks to all of you for taking the time to provide such valuable input. We are going on the cruise and celebrating a big anniversary while exploring Alaska. We have sailed on Oceania but have not done so recently. In fact, following the TA on Riviera in 2012 Mr. FDR met us at the port of Miami to take us to a hotel for the day or to the airport to wait for a late-night flight. He joined our cruise critic conversation in which I was asking for advice on what to do for the long wait between our ship's arrival and our late night flight back home. He joined the conversation, offered to meet us, and actually was waiting for us holding a sign with our name on it when we arrived in Miami. What a nice, delightful man---and a great story!

The Regatta's reviews are all over the map. We have booked a cruise to Alaska and our final payment is due shortly. Should we take it? Any input is appreciated.