bzv143

We managed to snag a DV1 on Deck 8 on the Star, and I was wondering if any of you have stayed on this deck--and your thoughts. There is a door to Explorer's Lounge from Deck 8, right? So we can slip in there with our morning coffee to watch the ship sail into port? Also, is the top floor of the Explorer's Lounge used often, or more quiet so we will not have a problem finding seats? Finally, is coffee served in the Explorer's Lounge in the early morning? And is this where groups gather to go on tours so it will be busy in the morning?

Thanks for any info!

Looking at a Holiday cruise and ran into both the Zuiderdam and Rotterdam. Both do Caribbean, both are the same length. A balcony on Rotterdam is same price as an SS on Zuiderdam--cannot figure out why.

Any opinions on which is better?:confused:

Snagged one of the coveted DV1s on deck 8 for the New Years cruise. Was mulling over going down to deck 4 for a PV3 which currently is being offered for the same price as a DV1, but thinking I will put up with less room and storage for location in "the bird's nest." :D Fewer stairs and elevators to all the "excitement" (i.e. pool and food) on Deck 7 too.

By the way, I nearly had a heart attack--Viking's Pre/Post San Juan 2-day stay is at the Condado Vanderbilt apparently. I went online to check on room cost, and it was $650 a night! Makes Viking's offer a steal of a deal! :eek:

 

In your decision making, you should balance the $0 air fare versus spending real dollars to get a couple of hundred FF miles or using FF miles to pay for the flight. Using the free air fare might not add to your FF miles but spending real money to get a small number of miles might not be the right decision either.

 

Personally, don't turn your nose up at the free airfare offer until you have done your homework. Many times you can get the same flights from Viking that you are about to pay for out of your own pocket. Accept the air offer when you book your cruise knowing that until the flights are actually ticketed you can cancel them.

 

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Very informative. Thanks. In no way am I turning up my nose at the free airfare offer. Actually, I thought the pricing I am getting for the West Indies Explorer with free air is quite good currently. :)

If I can ask you one more question: if we opt for the Airfare Plus, can we request to be flown in to San Juan 2 days early rather than day of sailing?

Thanks!

My TA told me no refund if we choose not to use Viking's air. I was surprised. I also heard online here about a $50 pp charge for having Viking book flights that we would prefer and seats we want (?). We are frequent fliers with numerous airlines and want to put in our FF numbers to get mileage credit and then to choose our seats. Possible?

Thanks, Elizabeth--I'm trying to justify location location location (DV deck 8) with PV cabin size (deck 4). Can't justify at this stage the Penthouse Junior Suites on deck 8--a $4K upsell, sigh.

Has anyone noticed a price drop closer to sailing, and if so, does Viking honor it and give a refund or OBC? :rolleyes:

Thank you ever so much, Elaine, for your detailed response. You cleared up many questions I had! Did you notice many people in the Explorer Lounge upper deck a lot, or did they populate the main floor of the Explorer Lounge? And does the Explorer Lounge have coffee available at all times? I thought it'd be fun to go there in the mornings for my cuppa Java while watching the ship sail into the harbour.

One more dilemma I need help on solving.

Currently, we, thanks to helpful CC comments, are booked into a PV on Deck 4 for the 12/17 sailing.

We can get a DV1 on Deck 8 if we move to the 12/27 sailing. I have been wanting deck 7 or 8 for the location near Explorers Lounge so I can pop in to look at forward views, but the DVs on the 12/17 cruise are taken.

Should I move to the 12/27 cruise to secure a cabin on Deck 8, or stay in the PV on Deck 4? Also, is there an entrance from Deck 8 to the 2nd story of the Explorers Lounge?

Thanks for any help! :o

Thanks, wonderful people! I went for the upgrade to 4018, 9 cabins down from the bow. :D Actually, my DH helped, as he voted for more room and less fear of soot on the back balcony, which we have had on some ships.

Help needed. :confused: I am looking at booking the Viking Star for a Caribbean cruise in the winter. I have a hold on an aft DV1 (5110) on Deck 5 that is directly under the infinity pool. My TA is offering a complimentary upgrade to a Penthouse Verandah 3 on Deck 4 forward. Should I give up the prized position of an aft deluxe verandah for a forward Penthouse Verandah?

Helppppppp!

Looking at booking my first Oceania cruise over the 2016 holidays, and Riviera and Insignia itineraries both look good. Help please--comments on which ship I should choose? I know the ship sizes are different, so no need to point that out. How about ship crew members, dining, cabins, etc? Also it looks like there is no Concierge Lounge on Insignia, so Concierge cabins are not necessarily needed?

Thanks.

bzv143, may I ask when you booked your cabana, and the date of your upcoming cruise? Are you in a suite? It appears the suite guests on Barefoot Beach are paying less for a cabana than non-suite guests on Nellies Beach.

Celebrity Cruise Planner Website, last night. We will be in Labadee on December 20. :)

Noticed last week that there was no link to book, and then when I checked last night--voila, a link for $255 for the Over the Water, and $225 for the regular cabana. I hopped on it!

YIKES! I just booked an Over-the water Nellie's Beach cabana for $255! What pricing fluctuations!

We used a TA and were offered a Suite Guarantee on a Christmas cruise for a sweet price, way lower than what was on other sites or on X. No perks but $400 obc, so we are happy campers. 2 days after booking, the guarantee disappeared, as well as all the suite cabins. We got in while the getting was good! Also, even though it stated we would not know our cabin until boarding, X already gave us our suite number. HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY!

We are looking at booking a lanai stateroom on Maasdam over Christmas and noticed that almost all of them were still available...and final payment is right around the corner! Hoping the price will be lowered to attract more customers. What are the chances? Should we wait to book?

Have you been on Windstar's newly acquired and refurbished cruise ships? ( from Seabourn) for us the service and gourmet meals were what made our virgin Seabourn cruise so enjoyable. But honestly the price of a 9 or 10 day Seabourn cruise is almost twice that of Windstar. If the experience is the same without the booze I'm in. Thanks

Hello again, Okanagan Girl:

You summed up my thoughts perfectly. :D

We were on both Seabourn Pride and Seabourn Legend (now...both...Windstar). I look forward to sailing on these lovely small yachts as Windstar. You will be absolutely AMAZED at the service and friendly crew onboard Windstar. We thought, much better than Seabourn. The staff and crew on Windstar are passenger-centric and get to know you and your name by the second day. Their smiles are infectious.

Another thing we LOVE about Windstar is their "Absolutely No Formal Attire Required" mantra. 180* away from Seabourn. :D:D

I can guarantee once you sail on a Windstar yacht, there will be no going back.

The food was comparable on both Seabourn and Windstar. Windstar is more informal with fabulous lunch and breakfast buffets. Dinners are exquisite on Windstar: excellent cuisine, preparation, and display.

On another note--the sailing yachts: Windsurf, Wind Spirit, and Windstar--are our choice for cruising, especially in the Mediterranean. Oh, the admiring looks we get from the populace as we sail in ad out of the harbours....:p

Hi, Okanagan Girl:

My DH and I have sailed on both Seabourn and Windstar. And, like you, we are non-drinkers but love Perriers and cokes and Virgin Pina Coladas. Our take on both:

Seabourn--excellent service, large suites, cabins with balconies, and an older clientele who are wealthy and more formal. Priced higher--tipping and alcohol included.

Windstar: excellent service, now with large suites and cabins with balconies, and a slightly younger clientele who, if they have money, do not flaunt it, and are more active (i.e. watersports). Priced mid-to high and non-alcohol drinks included.

We adore Windstar--and would not go on Seabourn again unless the itinerary and price were extremely right. :D

Our friends are in a Royal and we are in a Sky Suite on Century. Does this mean we will have to stare through the windows longingly at them inside Michaels? :(

I am in a quandary. We will be on the Century for Christmas, and I wanted to give our steward, waiter, etc. a small gift and some money. Now, I already understand that most of the crew does not celebrate this Holiday per se, and I already know that they are in cramped quarters and do not need more "stuff." However, my question is--on this ship, what currency should we give them? US dollars? Aussie dollars? Chinese currency (since the ship is soon to go forever more to Singapore)?

Recommendations? Thanks!

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I am in a quandary. We will be on the Century for Christmas, and I wanted to give our steward, waiter, etc. a small gift and some money. Now, I already understand that most of the crew does not celebrate this Holiday per se, and I already know that they are in cramped quarters and do not need more "stuff." However, my question is--on this ship, what currency should we give them? US dollars? Aussie dollars? Chinese currency (since the ship is soon to go forever more to Singapore)?

Recommendations? Thanks!

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TUMMY--your vacay to Machu Picchu on Memorial Week sounds like a dream come true. How did you plan your itinerary and know exactly where you should stay? You took a flight into and out of Lima and then to Cusco? Is that the most direct route?

BOOGS--great idea. Question: by staying in Aguas Calientes (which is probably not so caliente since it is in the mountains), how could you get up to MP to see sunrise and sunset? Bus? Tram? How long is this journey?

Machu Picchu is on my Bucket List but we would like to stay longer and really enjoy the view and people. Are there TAs who specialize in this type of travel, or, by picking your brains on CruiseCritic, can we develop our own Tour?

Thanks for any info!

CretaMed88--lovely video. Nicely meditative. Thanks. :)

LadyOrganicGardener: you are absolutely correct. No mailed docs. Just board the yacht, sip a glass of champagne (free) in the lounge, and fill out the paperwork they will give you. Our socks were knocked off on our first Windstar cruise when we saw no crowds, no lines, and the easy breezy onboard registration process. After Windstar, going on a large ship becomes a pain in the old *&%. Your husband (and you) will LOVE this cruise!

I was amazed that 501 was in the same category as the "suites" on Deck 3. Perhaps I should not say this too loudly, however, or Windstar might see it and raise the Category for this suite to a "SuiteX" and price it higher. :D

I remember the good 'ole days when cabins were either Deck 1 pricing, and Deck 2 pricing. Now, the Windstar Powers have decided that being more midship should be at a higher premium. Sigh....:(