Maggers

Just got off the phone booking 5108 on the Mars.  As someone else said, cabin sizes are the same but balconies differ.  So, total square footage for deck 4 - 883, deck 5 - 980, deck 6 - 850.  She didn't give me deck 3.  Will be our first aft cabin so looking forward to it!.  Also, just from pictures it looks like deck 6 completely overhangs deck 5 aft cabins so I don't expect it to be an issue that anyone would be looking right down on us.

I am really enjoying your recent live reviews.  Thanks for taking the time to write them!

This is certainly not surprising.  I guess we just keep watching the news to see what transpires.  

I'll add to what others have said. Ignore the 60 day warning on the recording and Air Plus reps will still be happy to help you.  Our Viking rep had told us to do this.

4 hours ago, Tiki-Is-Texas said:

We've been passing credits/vouchers forward from prior canceled cruises to this one.  Do you mean if we have a credit balance it disappears once we sail?  IF so, I wonder if we can use that money to pre-pay gratuities? This is important news.  If not shipboard credits does that mean it just goes away?  Wow, thank you.  

I was able to use our voucher to pre-pay gratuities.  Actually, it just automatically happened when I went to pre-pay the gratuities.  It didn't offer me a choice of ways to pay, just used the voucher.

Hi Arizona.  Also in Arizona (Oro Valley).  I posted about this as we are on Greek Odyssey sailing Oct 1.  We finally contacted our Viking rep and she said the policy through Sept 30 is no independent travel off the ship through Sept 30.  We sail Oct 1.  This would be a deal breaker for us.  Other cruise lines (I'm following folks on other lines currently in Greece on social media) are allowing independent travel off the ship at this time.  Of course anything could happen at any time but we are currently leaning towards cancelling as we enjoy exploring on our own.

Thanks grznuts.  I believe you're right that no one knows.  Need to be patient at this point and see what develops.

3 hours ago, TDD2000 said:

Maggers,

 

We are also on the Greek Odyssey leaving Athens on October 1st and booked the four night pre-cruise extension in Athens.  Our DV cabin level shows some excursions but we cannot yet book.  We are a group of six and following this thread as well.  One couple is also from AZ.  We always enjoy exploring the ports after the excursions end and hope we will be able to in October. 

I hope so as well.  We are doing the two night pre-cruise extension.  Fingers crossed.  

To follow up on my original posting, I heard back from our Viking rep.  She said that current policy is the "bubble" through Sept 30.  With the caveat that anything could change at any time.  And of course much is dependent on your destination.

Thanks Linda!  Neither of us have ever been to Greece and this could be a deciding factor for us.  Luckily we have time to decide.  I'll be watching the startup Malta/Greece itineraries for more info.

Hi all.  I hope I'm not repeating a thread or have missed something obvious.  We are booked on the Greek Odyssey itinerary leaving Athens on Oct 1.  Our shore excursions recently opened up and we are busy booking and researching.  I've noticed that no excursions end with language stating that you can spend time on your own.  In many ports there are only morning excursions which would leave the rest of the day on the ship if we're not allowed to venture off on our own.  Is there any way to tell at this point if we'll be allowed to explore independently?  Not sure how to find this out. Or if there is an answer available now.

An example of excursion description:

Rhodes Town Walk & Palace of the Grand Masters

INCLUDED

Day 9 – Rhodes, Greece

Thursday, October 7

8:30 AM / 9:30 AM / VIEW ALL

2.5 Hours

MODERATE

UNESCO

SIGHTSEEING

Get an excellent overview of the Old Town of Rhodes, Europe’s largest active medieval town. You will enjoy a walking tour of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Meet your guide at our berth and walk the short distance to the city walls, passing through the imposing gate to explore the atmospheric cobblestone streets. First, head to the Street of the Knights, a narrow byway with medieval structures rising on either side. You will pass colorful shops and the 15th-century Hospital of the Knights, now home to a splendid archaeological museum. This historic lane ends at the most colossal building of medieval Rhodes, the Palace of the Grand Masters. Built in the 14th century, it will astonish you with its crenellated walls, massive towers and unmistakable medieval aura. Afterward, you will return to your awaiting ship.

Modifications based on current health and safety protocols may be applied to this shore excursion.

Thanks so much in advance for any replies.

Thanks for keeping us informed Clay and I hope this is your only disruption.  So many of us are watching and trying to decide what to do about upcoming cruises.  

Enjoy your sea day!

Thanks for posting this Clay.

We have until 3/29 to cancel for 100% return on Bucharest to Budapest on VR in July.  Currently have no idea how we will make this decision.  

16 minutes ago, Peregrina651 said:

 

Maggers, that is not what he said on his Press Conference this evening, which supersedes whatever DHS said earlier today. Things are happening fast, too fast perhaps. 

 

NYT says in the link I just gave: President Trump said he would be suspending all travel from Europe for the next 30 days starting Friday. The restrictions will not apply to Britain.

 

The link includes the Press Conference itself.

 

So confusing!  I can't tell which came first.  And now the news that Viking is suspending operations through April 30.  Need to take a deep breath.  Good luck all.

Saw an update on the Regent boards so checked DHS.gov

Seems like the ban is only for foreign nationals?  Am I reading this correctly?  It's all happening so fast.

1 hour ago, What was that? said:

Now that the time is getting close for making our air reservations via Viking Air Plus, I see that I have all the information except confirmation that you booked the Finnair flights thru Viking Air - is that what you did?

 

We had a conference yesterday among our party going on this cruise and decided that those Finnair flights would be the best option for us.

We booked the flights independently.

We enjoyed The Office.   

http://www.theofficeonthebeach.com

I appreciated that there was a kilogram to pound conversion chart posted on the wall by the free weights on Jupiter.  Saved me having to do calculations.

Just a note on the port maps.  Most days they are available (at customer relations on deck 1) the evening prior to arriving in the port.  I liked to pick one up so we could look at it over cocktails after dinner.

1 hour ago, What was that? said:

What airline (and flight number) did you fly from Helsinki to LAX?

Hi Whatwasthat.  It was AA 8975, operated by Finnair as AY 001.  It was a relatively new service that started in March, running 3 days a week (I think).  We took it on a Sunday and it was a good connection for us.  Just remember, as I did not, that there is a one hour time change between Bergen and Helsinki!

Last month we were off the ship at 8:15 in Bergen for a 10:45am flight to Helsinki (then LAX, and on to Phoenix) so not a really early departure. Had plenty of time for room service breakfast and enjoying the ship for a few more moments.  My in-laws chose to fly to Amsterdam and stay at an airport hotel for one night before continuing to Philadelphia.  They reported a very relaxed trip home. 

I can confirm what others have said above - you can buy the package after being onboard a few days but it will not be prorated.  As wine drinkers ourselves, I can say that the package was worth it just for the upgraded wines at meals and, of course, availability of wines outside of mealtimes.

I hear you flashfearless.  We just left the Jupiter yesterday in Bergen.  I had been so focused on this trip for so many months that I'm having trouble re-entering the real world.  Time to start thinking about where to go next!

We just disembarked Jupiter yesterday and tipped our stewards in Euros.  My thinking was that they get to European ports occasionally.  I talked to other folks who used US dollars.  I'm sure either is appreciated.