cadburysmom

3 hours ago, shadowlover said:

we were close to that cabin-  we never heard any noise ever.  I love deck 3

That's great news.  Thanks so much!

I'm booked in cabin 3026 and just noticed it is over the restrooms by the theatre on Deck 2. 

Has anyone stayed in this cabin?  Wondering if there will be a noise issue...

24 minutes ago, cadburysmom said:

Oh wow, quite a difference.

First of all, thanks for sharing. Secondly, "fell on dear ears" ...love that wording. 🤣

 

oops...meant to write "fell on deaf ears"...old age strikes again

19 hours ago, Clay Clayton said:

We had one email to us about three weeks before our 2019 Beijing to Hong Kong cruise offering us a $199pp upgrade from our DV4 to a PV.  We had booked the original cabin during a promo that included a one category upgrade so we had paid for a V but we're able to select the DV at the same price.  We accepted the upgrade and enjoyed the PV but not enough to pay full price for it.
 

Our subsequent cruise was a March 2020 Transatlantic. A few weeks prior we again received an upgrade offer but it was $499pp to a PV and $999pp (I think) to a Penthouse Junior Suite. A week or few before boarding due to Covid concerns, Viking announced people could cancel and receive a voucher so when we boarded there were only 450 fellow passengers.  We asked on boarding about a possible upgrade.  We were told to check with the Future Cruise Consultant the next day which we did.  He offered us upgrades to all categories BUT based upon what we were offered the upgrade price was 50% of the difference between the cost of the upgraded stateroom and what had been PAID for the original booking.  Since we had again booked on a promo where we paid for a V2 but booked a DV.  Since the promo also included a coat savings, this 50% difference was $899pp to go to a PV and waaay more to go to the PJS (is that the correct abbreviation 🤔). My suggestion that since we had been offered it at the lower price by email fell on deaf ears😂. 
 

As always, ymmv 

Oh wow, quite a difference.

First of all, thanks for sharing. Secondly, "fell on dear ears" ...love that wording. 🤣

3 hours ago, LindaS272 said:

Ditto. Happened to us that way too both times. But now we just book a PV because we prefer them. On our SE Asia cruise in 2019, one couple from our travel mates on an independent excursion was “bumped” into an ES from a PV at check-in—no charge I believe.

That's great. Glad to hear it does happen on occasion.  

12 minutes ago, TayanaLorna said:

We do know someone that was given an upgrade from DV to PV but it was on a fairly empty repositioning cruise.  However twice we have purchased a last minute upgrade.  It was a week or less before the cruise and we received an email offer to upgrade from DV to PV.  Once the offer was $399 per person, the second time was $199 pp.  We jumped on it both times as original difference between the cabin categories was between $800 and  $1200 pp.  First time we got a PV 1, second time a PV2.

That's awesome. Congrats!

Did the email come directly to you or was it sent to your travel agent?

31 minutes ago, OneSixtyToOne said:

Getting an upgrade on Viking is like finding a unicorn. 
 

Seems to only happen if your category is sold out, there is high demand for the sold out class, and the total occupancy of the ship is below some magic number that represents an acceptable profit margin. It’s easier to sell the lower class cabins, so when these rare conditions occur, Viking may be motivated to upgrade.

 

 

Ugh...not a unicorn in sight

3 minutes ago, Jim Avery said:

Cadburysmom you can hope.  We have approximately 10 months onboard with Viking and have never been offered anything remotely like an upgraded cabin.  We still hope for that PS too....🍹

Not the news I was hoping for but thanks for chiming in...oh well

Keeping fingers crossed for us both 🤞🤞

On 6/13/2023 at 8:44 PM, TayanaLorna said:

When you upgrade a cabin you pay the price of what that cabin cost at the time YOU originally booked the cruise not the current sale or promo price.  So if a PV cost $7599 when you booked your cruise and the current promo has it for $6599, you still pay the difference between what you paid for your DV and $7599.

Thank you for this information.  My upcoming cruise is now offered at a discount and although I'm not happy with this policy, at least I know what to expect when calling Viking.  I'm actually fine with my present cabin but always nice if something better can be had.

This is only my second Viking Ocean cruise so still have questions concerning upgrades for those in the know...

I.  If cabins are available on embarkation day, is it possible to ask at Guest Services for a discounted upgrade?

2.  And even better, does Viking ever grant free upgrades?  How lovely to arrive at the port to discover one has been granted a Penthouse Suite...I know, I know, only in my dreams.😉

11 minutes ago, deec said:

no need for a dress!

 

5 minutes ago, SantaFe1 said:

Agreed.  I pack one if we have a special occasion, but otherwise I pack black dress pants, and/or white depending on the time of year and climate, and many dressy tops to go with them.  

Excellent news...and many thanks to you both. 😊

Once less thing to pack is always a good thing.

Another newbie here and many thanks to all who have responded as I will be boarding the Sky this Friday.  Very excited but still working out my packing list. 

I realize Packman1000 started this thread with questions for men but wanted to ask a quick question for me...as far as dinners go, do I even need to pack a dress for Chef's Table and Manfredi's or are dress pants acceptable?   Thanks for letting me crash this thread.  Newbies need all the help they can get....😉

If not the steak, what would you recommend ordering in Manfredi's?

Newbie here....looking forward to my first Viking Ocean cruise at the end of the month

2 hours ago, WAVTAM said:

Have been on Old Crystal  $$

                   

Regent $$$

Silverseas $$$

Seabourn $$

Viking $

 

One gets what they paid for. Have enjoyed them all.

 

Agreed!

...although admittedly I've only sailed Seabourn and Regent from your list, both of which I loved,

but am looking forward to my first Viking Ocean cruise in June, and hopefully Silversea in November.

On 3/30/2023 at 3:04 PM, janetcbl said:

Did the same thing this morning for our two upcoming trips. By the time you add the flights you prefer, the class you want to fly, travel on a different day, etc., the Viking price is much higher than what you can work out yourself. 

I ended up do this as well. 

I'm still amazed Viking's price was HIGHER than the airline's actual website price. I've never come across this with other cruise lines.  Even sent them a screenshot of website flights and fare hoping they'd at least match it so I could get "free transfers" but to no avail...

Kicking myself a little but what's a girl to do. Oh well, live and learn...still looking forward to my first Viking cruise!

54 minutes ago, OneSixtyToOne said:

I’m a couple of days behind my daily write ups so I’ll take opportunity for a quick answer to your questions.

 

The service everywhere is fabulous. We were also on the Sky last January and have one of the same room stewards. He is fabulous. We have an aft DV1 and love this location, the wake is mesmerizing and the sail aways are great photo and video opportunities. The aft DV1 veranda has more legroom than a regular DV because the glass angles away.

Let me state I am not a foodie. Tastes are subjective. For me the food has been hit and miss. The restaurant has been excellent. Here is a raspberry tiramisu from the destination menu.

 

The Pool Grill burgers are delicious.

 

The World Cafe suffers from overexposure to heat lamps for the side dishes. The carving station has been good. I don’t eat seafood but DW had the crab legs and said they were watery and had no flavor. She also found a piece of ice in one leg.

 

Others have raved about the gelato, I found it lacking. The key to great ice cream is buffer fat content. This tastes more like ice milk. You find pieces of ice in it, which means the butter fat is too low. They are scrimping on the cream.

 

We ate in Manfredi’s last night and were disappointed. As others and I have mentioned in previous posts, the Beefsteak Florentine is half of the thickness it use to be and covered in some sort of greens. While flavorful, you are not going to get the proper searing effect with a thin piece of meat. The NY Steak available in the restaurant and cafe is far better.

 

And then there is the lasagna. 😟 When the manger asked how everything was, I told him the lasagna was bad. Later, of course, the chef came to our table and we had a long discussion to the embarrassment of DW.
 

I explained that after our last cruise on the Sky in January we were on the post cruise extension in Tuscany. In Florence we had the best lasagna that we have ever tasted. It literally melted in my mouth. It was rich, creamy, and delicious. the lasagna in Manfredi’s was none of that. The pasta was crunchy, there was no ricotta, it was overpacked with some kind of ground beef, and the sauce looked dry. I suggested what was needed was a new recipe. The chef apologized and said it was reheated too much and to my surprise he said there was no ricotta on board. Since there was ricotta cheesecake on the dessert menu, it must be frozen. IMO if it doesn’t contain ricotta, it’s not lasagna. I suggest you avoid it.

 

Lasagna in the upper left:

Thanks for letting me know...and great photos. Glad to hear about the good but sorry you've been disappointed in others.

Btw, you and I definitely see eye to eye on butter fat.  I'm very particular about ice cream and would notice that in a heartbeat.  And no ricotta in the lasagna...what were they thinking???

Viking needs to up their game in dairy products for sure....

Thanks for sharing your trip with us.  The photos are wonderful.

How do you like the ship, the food and your cabin?

I will be on Viking Sky in June.  It will be my first time on a Viking Ocean ship and I am very excited.

10 minutes ago, shark b8 said:

….an adorable little girl off to the side, dressed to the hilt for Ramadan (which started several days ago), who wanted to go dance with them, and otherwise wanted to get into most anything & everything around.  She’s gonna be trouble, I betcha, at least I hope so.  Really rocked the pink sneakers.  

 

Totally agree, she is completely adorable.

...and yep, you got me, must admit I scoured the photo of the dancers wondering what I was missing😉

I'm considering an Viking Ocean cruise this summer which includes free air.  I prefer Delta SkyTeam as I can usually swing an upgrade and am wondering if they are preferred partners with Viking Air?

Also, as Viking Air is included, if they book flights for me and later I find a better deal on my own and cancel Viking's flights, will I be penalized?  I know I wouldn't receive the included transfers but wondering if Viking will charge a flight cancellation fee?

13 hours ago, Flamin_June said:

Wednesday, 29th of March, 7.50 am.

I am sitting on our balcony, with just a tall skinny latte and a  couple of boobies,

I love your writing style and this bit gave me quite a chuckle, not to mention perfectly described vacation last year with my two idiot cousins.

If I ever write a book, this shall be my opening sentence.

1 minute ago, highplanesdrifters said:

Reine, Lofoton, Norway. Considered the most scenic part. But it's all pretty spectacular to me.

Oops..didn't see this before I posted.  Thanks!

Just now, shark b8 said:

 

Yes, absolutely, it surely looks Greenland-ish.  I was searching for more Scandinavian/Svalbard sorta stuff, and that pic happened to come up.  I dunno, it just really caught my attention.

Could easily be Norway as well...both beautiful. I love that area of the world.

1 hour ago, shark b8 said:

off-topic…..does anyone know specifically where this pic was taken?  I’m  looking at Arctic cruises at least a year or two off - this was just on some random travel site, with no ID of where it is.  Sure looks gorgeous.

 

 

Greenland, perhaps?

You may have my beetroot as well...never met a Brussels sprout I didn't like

Excellent first post!

I very much appreciated your previous thread and am so pleased you've started this one.

Happy to hear you made it safely to Sydney and very much looking forward to following along.

Wishing you a Bon Voyage on this, your last Odyssey journey.

17 hours ago, DTtravelers said:

Since you are bouncing around...

 

I'm with you on Bourbon.  Mrs. DTtravelers and I are hoping to complete the "Big Three" next year: Bourbon on Antarctic glacier ice, Bourbon on Alaska glacier ice, and Bourbon on Arctic glacier ice.  

 

If we ever end up on the same ship together, I'd be up to the challenge of finding you a Scotch you might enjoy.  The range of Scotch is huge compared to Bourbon.  But if you would be unwilling to forgo ice, I would never be successful.  Just 1 drop of water in Scotch completely changes everything, and ice ruins it altogether...  (my opinion only, other opinions may vary)

 

As far as beets, I would NEVER try to convert you.  I used think that I liked all vegetables except rutabegas.  Then we spent some time in Cornwall and I really enjoyed the pasties.  We got a recipe and it included swedes.  I didn't know what those were so I looked them up when we got back to the states, and discovered that swedes here are called... rutabegas!

 

Smooth(er) sailing!!

 

btw: celery, peanut butter and raisins: ants on a log.  The grandkids love 'em.

Oh my, Scotch and Bourbon...music to Mr. Cadburysmom's ears!  Yes, he's one of you...

In fact, the deciding factor in picking a date for our Iceland cruise was Seabourn's Aug '24 itinerary which includes a stop in Invergordon, close proximity to Speyside...and you know what that means. He will be bringing his dropper for sure.  

Give me strength...one bad night in college destroyed my toleration for each, adding them to my celery and beet list, although I have it on good authority there's a barrel in Kentucky with my name on it.  What can I say, my SO has quite the sense of humor.