stormz

On 4/11/2022 at 5:17 PM, mhb1757 said:

 

Thanks for such a great detailed response. Sounds like a “can’t miss”!

On 4/11/2022 at 5:17 PM, mhb1757 said:

If you have the time do the overnight version of this trip. You leave Bergen on the train, exit the train at Voss and take a very scenic bus ride to Gundvagen (or my preference is just to take the bus from Bergen to Gundvagen). From there you take the ferry to Flam, which is one of the most beautiful trips in the world). You can spend the night right at the foot of the fiord in Flam. The next day you take the Flamsbana tourist train up to Myrdal (a beautiful trip as well) where you rejoin the Bergen-Oslo train back to Oslo. 
I cannot begin to describe how beautiful this trip is. The Viking excursion misses the most beautiful part by skipping the detour to Flam. 
if you want to simplify your journey a bit there is a company, Porter Service Norway, that will for a very reasonable fee, collect your luggage from your hotel in Bergen or the dock and transport it to your hotel in Oslo. That way you can just take an overnight bag with you on the train/bus/ferry, etc. and not have to schlep all your luggage around. Then your luggage is waiting for you at the hotel when you arrive. 

4 hours ago, mhb1757 said:

If you have the time do the overnight version of this trip. You leave Bergen on the train, exit the train at Voss and take a very scenic bus ride to Gundvagen (or my preference is just to take the bus from Bergen to Gundvagen). From there you take the ferry to Flam, which is one of the most beautiful trips in the world). You can spend the night right at the foot of the fiord in Flam. The next day you take the Flamsbana tourist train up to Myrdal (a beautiful trip as well) where you rejoin the Bergen-Oslo train back to Oslo. 
I cannot begin to describe how beautiful this trip is. The Viking excursion misses the most beautiful part by skipping the detour to Flam. 
if you want to simplify your journey a bit there is a company, Porter Service Norway, that will for a very reasonable fee, collect your luggage from your hotel in Bergen or the dock and transport it to your hotel in Oslo. That way you can just take an overnight bag with you on the train/bus/ferry, etc. and not have to schlep all your luggage around. Then your luggage is waiting for you at the hotel when you arrive. 

Thanks so much great info!

22 hours ago, dwlmg said:

The Bergen to Oslo train is regarded as one of the premiere scenic rail journeys in the world. https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/europes-best-train-journey

Thanks no wonder it sells out.

This is not an excursion it is a post cruise trip.   Still 15 months out!

9 hours ago, janetcbl said:

16 months in advance! Excursions were available this far in advance. Wow! We leave in less than 75 days and excursions are still not available! (We were supposed to be able to book excursions 87 days out.) Patience, patience…….

We are booked on Viking and cruise ends in Bergen. The Bergen to Oslo train excursion is sold out over  16 months in advance. What am I missing? Is this excursion a must do? What’s the attraction? Thanks to anyone that can explain. Maybe we can book ourselves.

Watch the 7 for 7 promo. Windstar will honor the lower price if it they lower it. But they charge you an  $50 pp admin fee to make the change to lower price and give you a shipboard credit for the fee. 

Ultimately all Amawaterways SE Asia trips were canceled through the end of the year.  They just seem to cancel month by month, what a shame.   
 

Ama canceled all SE Asia through 9/30/21.   Not sure on Europe. 

Any news on SE Asia?   Vietnam/Cambodia/Thailand. We have booked Amawaterways Mekong River Cruise late November 2021.   AMA just canceled these trips through 9/30/21. Hoping to know more before I have to large balance in late August.   What a conundrum! Hoping a lot changes in the next three months. 

Great info, thanks to everyone for participating. Seems to be an interesting topic.  Seems that maybe if we book a cruise that’s starts or ends in Iceland that I can spend a few days extra on land. Best of both worlds!

Hi fellow cruise critic members.   I am “dreaming” about a 2022 cruise between Iceland and Norway.   I see some lines just start and end in Iceland and some circle Iceland.   I have heard Iceland can be appreciated more by experiencing on land rather than port to port.   Looking at Silversea/Viking Ocean/Windstar.   Any previous cruisers on these lines or general comments?  Thanks in advance.

I did some calling etc.  bottom line is you will save A minimum of $500 if you are a “Hero”.  They also throw in free prepaid gratuities. Worth about $100.   These savings are if you book now for a 2021 trip.   You  can save closer to a $1000 If you wait and book 90 days out. Since the ships are small who knows?   These savings are approx based on a 7 day trip. You can also pay an $800 deposit now and when you book the 90 day out trip they upgrade you.   But the deposit is at risk for 50%. If you are a medical worker etc. costs nothing to get the certificate and they can end promo at anytime, so why not get it if you are Even considering a river cruise?  Hope this helps.

With Covid 19 it seems most lines will want to retain control over the excursions rather than have passengers do their own thing.   Refer to the first MSC cruise that just went out.   It would not let a family back on as they wondered off on their own. Just a reality of this pandemic.

Thanks I’ll follow up.   Not encouraging if such a hassle to obtain.  The thought is good though.

Thanks good info, so I can expect to add another $1000 easy to our budget if we choose non inclusive tours.    Any guess on the average age of Viking Ocean guests?

in the end it appears the excursions will all be first class.  When you add it all up you can look at regent and crystal and be close to same Total costs?

On 5/13/2020 at 1:29 PM, acwmom said:

AmaWaterways has been on my list to try for some time. This is such a nice gesture. I just sent my info in to get my voucher. Thanks for sharing, Jazz. 

 

Robin

Hi did you ever get the voucher. We requested months ago and never heard a word. 
 

Considering a Viking Ocean Cruise.   They emphasize the cruise fare is “all in”.  When I look at the excursions on each itinerary I see one excursion is noted in the upper corner as “included”.   So all the others cost extra $?   How much typically? It appears the all in just includes a bus tour of the town? Thanks for any info.

We were looking at a July 2022 cruise and Viking wanted full payment by 12/20/20! 18 months in advance. I asked for an extension and never heard back.  

Thank you everyone lots of good info for sure!

I think the biggest risk by full paying is if the company runs into financial difficulties. You can certainly cancel at 121 days but they have to have the $ to refund. I am not a Attorney but I believe we would be on the list of unsecured creditors especially if you paid by E check.  If you pay by credit card you have a better chance to dispute. Most travel insurance policies insure the $ if the company goes bankrupt.   This happened to Renaissance Cruise Lines after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. So far I have not heard of anyone losing $. I suppose the 125% vouchers are helping keep the lines “afloat”. 

Thanks to all.   I was not aware that on Viking you  need to Pay in full so far in advance. It appears their current cancellation policy is quite liberal.  It truly is a challenging time for the cruise industry.