palermo22
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Posts posted by palermo22
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Pushka: got a little confused - it wasn't Hamilton Island (which is part of the Whitsunday islands) where we had a bad time - it was the Thursday islands that we had a horrible time. No, Hamilton island was very nice (the weather wasn't). For the Thursday Islands we were all asking "why did we go 200 miles just to be disappointed on Thursday Islands"?
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14 minutes ago, Pushka said:
I
15 minutes ago, Pushka said: -
Just returned from a 17 day cruise from Bali to Sydney. I hope this review gives you answers that you haven't been able to find elsewhere. I won't go into a lot of detail but if you have questions then by all means let me know. We were on the Sky about 1 1/2 years ago so a lot of my comparison is with that cruise (Barcelona, the Baltic and Beyond).
Last cruise we were in a Deluxe Veranda and this cruise we were in a Penthouse Veranda. While they are similar, the Penthouse Veranda is almost 70 square feet bigger. The closet inn the Deluxe Veranda is only accessible by climbing over the bed - while the PH Veranda was in a different location and was so much more practical. If we ever take Viking again - and I am sure we will - it will definitely be in a PH Veranda.
The food: definitely was better this time around - we were very critical of the food last go-around - while the portions were smaller - there was more variety and more flavor. I'll give the food a 4* rating after giving it a 3* last year.
Entertainment: this was a surprise as we weren't expecting an extravaganza show and we didn't get one. What we did get was four talented singers/dancers who put a good show (one night show tunes and another night Beatles song book). The cruise director (Bevan) did a show and he pulled it off with his great singing - and then there was Ian - the assistant cruise director who id an Elvis show. Mixed in were a few different singers. I would give the entertainment a 3+.
Here comes the negatives: of course we knew what entertainment was on the ship and what there was to do on sea days. But it was really noticeable that there just isn't a lot to do. Make sure you have a good book to read or that one of the speakers aboard is talking about something that you have a deep interest in.
Finally the worst part of the cruise: the excursions! Just to give Viking everything they deserve (both good and bad) - I obviously can't blame the negatives on the weather which was awful. Almost every port was 100% humidity with showers. This is the rainy season from Bali through the Australian East Coast - so they get a pass for the weather. But I (and most of the others) found both the included and paid for excursions to be quite simply awful. The companies that were hired didn't follow the agendas and at times seemed lost (both literally and figuratively). In one of the ports we were to go to a museum - the driver got there at 9:30 only to find out that it opened at 10 AM. Then he allowed two hours to go through the museum telling everyone to be ready to leave at 12 Noon - problem was the museum at best only took an hour. Everyone climbed back into the bus except for two couples - who were adamant that they were going to stay until 12 Noon - no matter what. The driver lost complete control of the situation and 40 people wound up waiting 45 minutes for four people. One of our port stops was Hamilton Island (part of the Thursday islands) - there was absolutely nothing to do there (there were no formal tours - and we had to use a Tender to reach the island) - most people (including us) walked around for a n hour and saw nothing of interest - and we took the first Tender where there was room and went back to the ship. The most horrifying excursion was going to Komodo Island. Temperature was around 90 with 100% humidity and when the tour was complete - Viking was unprepared for the people taking the Tenders back to the ship. We all waited about 45 minutes for Viking to get their act together - and meanwhile we were all lined up on a pier that probably was a hundred yards long - absolutely no cover from the sun was provided - and at least two people needed medical attention from passing out.
As it turned out, the best tour (excursion) that we had was the three days (after the cruise was completed) we spent in Sydney. We signed up directly with Blue Mountains tour company and had a delightful time.
I would definitely take a Viking cruise in the future but I would have to be convinced that the problems attached to the excursions for this cruise would not be repeated.
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Thank you
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We are still over eight weeks away from our cruise. I am thinking about canceling one of our excursions and doing it on our own. Anyone know if this is possible after paying for an excursion?
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For those who have had the opportunity to eat in the Chef's Table during 2018 - what were your favorite two meals? Yes, I know, everyone will have a different opinion - but just wondering if a pattern begins to form and that certain specialties get repeated over and over.
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Jerry, 2 in each restaurant. Things are changing a bit changed with CT and what we can view beforehand, so someone who has worked with those changes will have to fill you in on the details.
Thanks - looking forward to someone who can respond to my question - I thought it was 2+2 for our category AND our friends who are in a Penthouse category get 3+3 - so if we can maneuver this properly wen should be able to try the three or four different meals in the Chef's Table.
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We are in category PV2 - do we get two specialty restaurants or two at EACH of the two specialty restaurants?
Also, is there a way of previewing the menu in the Chef's Table to see what is being served each night - if I remember correctly every three or four days the restaurants repeats the menu - so I would like to make sure the two nights we eat there are different menus.
Thanks
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I'm asking this question for my wife: we will be taking a Viking cruise on the Orion late November from Bali to Sydney. For those who have taken a hot and muggy climate cruise on Viking - how cold do they keep the public areas of the ship? For me it can never be too cold; however, I have learned that women have a different temperature gauge than men. So for all you women out there - is the ship too cold or just about right in the public areas?
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Does anyone know how impacted Bali & Benoa Port are given the rash of 5.9 & greater earthquakes in Lompak this month?
No need to send the same message twice........................We are on the Bali to Sydney cruise beginning 11/30/2018. Just received word from Viking that they will NOT go to Lombok and instead will spend an extra day in Bali. The earthquake did a lot of damage to Lomboc and very little damage to various parts of Bali.
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These opinions - are just that: opinions. We have done both and feel they are very close to one another - what might be a plus for one is a negative for the other (and vice versa). They are my two favorite cruise lines and in the future I will choose which one has a better itinerary (IMO of course).:p
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I’m not going to quote Off Shore’s entire long post, but I did want to say that I deeply resent being dumped in with someone’s narrow view of what ALL Americans want.
We are Americans and have always been Americans. We never watch ESPN. And HGTV? Seriously? On vacation? That’s something we watch when there’s nothing else on [emoji849]
I don’t look for Zumba, nor aerobic dance on a cruise, nor do I find British accented experts “impressive” - pleasant to listen to, but certainly not impressive. I mean after all, all one has to do to acquire one is to be born in England or live there for some time [emoji16]
We found the majority of the meals we ate on both of our Viking cruises to be excellent to fabulous. And my husband is a fussy eater. We even loved our Chefs Table experience.
My only complaint about Manfredi’s was that we agreed to sit with others to get the time we wanted and they put 4 people at a too a small table. The food, the service, and the company were all great. We really enjoyed the dinner conversation with our companions. We did a few things with them afterward.
I don’t know what Off Shore is using to post, but I found having no spaces between so many words extremely annoying. Did you not read your post over before you hit the “post” button?
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Since we traveled with Off Shore - I'll take the liberty of making some comments - I am sure that Off Shore will also contribute something meaningful.
You must have very thin skin if you believe you were being dumped into what Americans want. I have traveled and lived all over the world - there are many Asians, Europeans, Africans, etc. that love ESPN as well as the other channels that Off Shore commented on. So you are offended because someone wants to turn on ESPN to perhaps get sports results - because you are on vacation and wouldn't dare do that. Food: I totally agree with Off Shore - it wasn't bad (for the most part) but definitely not higher than 3*/4* restaurants located all over the world. The wines were pretty good - not $50 a bottle but for the most part they livened up the meal.
You better check your computer - it probably needs a checkup - there was absolutely nothing wrong with Off Shore's description of his cruise. I personally think he was right-on with what he stated. Oh, by the way, Off Shore is a retired professor with a doctorate in history. I think he has sufficient credentials to make the comments that he did. However, in the end one might question why we are all taking another Viking cruise: we love the itinerary we are taking and the food has got to be better (here's hoping Viking has learned something in the last 1 1/2 years).
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I remember you saying that you thought Viking was a step above Carnival so that's where I was confused that you were going on another one. Here is your post. I'm glad that you changed your mind and you are trying another one, we had a fabulous time on our BB and B cruise! When you said that the original poster wasn't negative enough that's what made me surprised that you were doing it again.
OK - I will be the exception here: I completely agree with the OP and felt that he was right on with many of his comments (both negative and positive). Taking various subjects:
1) Food: one of the main reasons we all enjoy cruising is the food. The food was good - but not 100% of the time - while I can say it was good, overall it was far from great. We had a wonderful server in the main dining room for dinner - whenever one of us had to send something back - you could see on his face some embarrassment). There were many times when the food had to be returned because it was under-cooked or over-cooked - or just not very tasty at all. In many ways the buffet lunch was better than the restaurant dinner. But even the buffet had problems: they would not let you put your salad on your plate - you had to hand the plate to the staff and then you had to point to what you wanted. There were no prepared salads already made up - this was a real weak point. The two specialty restaurants: we canceled our reservations after trying each one - the Italian Restaurant couldn't even make a good plate of pasta - and the maitre'd was just awful: remember the soup natzi on Seinfeld? He now reappears as the maitre'd. Bottom Line on the food: if I were at any restaurant and spending $50 for dinner - then I got what I deserved. When I spend as much as we did for this cruise - then I would expect the food to be perfect - it wasn't - far from it!
2) The Tours: we made a huge mistake taking the included tours (glad I had the foresight for a few ports - including St. Petersburg to do our own tours). The included tours were just awful - mot were just drive arounds with perhaps getting out of the bus for a few minutes. Same thing for the walking tours: I felt like we were back in the first grade: every five minutes they were counting the group members to ensure they hadn't lost anyone. My advice: do not take the free included tours!
3) Sea Days: good luck in finding something to do on the ship. Except for 30 minutes devoted to Team Trivial pursuit - its was quite boring.
4) I do give kudos to Viking for the entertainment - it was better than I thought it would be. The theater is built for sound and that makes all of the singers sound great.
5) This shows that they can't think outside the box: they did setup a M&G for the cruise critic members - there were perhaps 50 of us (including spouses) - while they get kudos for setting it up they did not provide and labels or IDs - so that people would know who they were talking to. When I mentioned that to one of the staff members - they said "good idea - we should have thought of that).
If you are expecting a cruise slightly better than Carnival and Princess - then you will have a good time. If you are expecting a cruise slightly under Regent - then you will be disappointed. My favorite cruise line is Oceana and I was hoping that our cruise on Viking would be close to that - it wasn't! Quite a few people have commented on this thread that the OP must have dreamed ip some of his comments: my last comment: the OP hit every point right on the nail and if anything some of his negative comments did not go far enough. Unlike him, I will most likely stay away from Viking Ocean Cruises and go back to Oceana.
Jerry K
From:Baltimore/Washington, D.C.: As a Foreign Service Officer with the Department of State I worked out of U.S. Embassies aro
If you have a problem with what I stated 15 months ago - send me a private message. In one sentence is my comment: I standby many of the things I said (especially the food and included tours) and will admit to being more critical than need be on on others - I have never been on Carnival and never will - hate Princess and believe Viking and Oceania are comparable. We are giving Viking another chance (especially because we like the itinerary.
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I am rather surprised that you are doing another Viking cruise. You were quite critical. You obviously changed your mind?
I was a little critical of the food but other than that I thought it was a great cruise. Here's hoping that this cruise coming up makes the improvements that I was critical about.
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Thanks! I'll ask about the business class. I'm sure it will be too much. There is a small roll call going for our sailing.
Stretch - we were with you last year on the Baltic and Beyond cruise April 2017. We are doing something similar now: taking the Bali to Sydney cruise beginning 11/30/2018. Your $1395 fare is just for coach. There is no Premium Economy through Viking - to upgrade to business it's something like $4K additional (one way). Here is how we tackled the business class fare (going both ways): we did SFO to Singapore non-stop and will spend three days there - then a flight to Bali for three days there. I purchased two Premium Economy seats on Singapore Air for $2K each - then used miles (from my Chase credit card) to upgrade to business. The flight from Singapore to Bali - was no cost (they throw that in). Three days in Bali and then our cruise to Sydney. Our TA worked out a deal with Viking - business class for $2500 pp on Virgin Australia non-stop to LAX. So around $4500 pp business class both ways - non-stop. Let me know if you need to know exactly how this was done.
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2 upgrade questions.
When Viking shows an upgrade price, is it the total price or is it a suricharge added to the regular price?
If you are already booked and not ticketed, can you add an upgrade and or custom air?
Don't trust Viking answers on a holiday weekend and I have a final payment due this week.
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The easiest way to explain the procedure is they may show the regular coach fare at $1,000 - but a promotion price of $500. They also will show the business class seat at $3,000 - when added to the $500 - that business class seat will cost you $3,500.
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Yup. Consistency would be good. Is 'elegant casual' not a contradiction in terms anyway?
As one person said: it's in the eyes of the beholder!
As far as blue jeans are concerned: there are farmer john jeans and there are $200 Nordstrom jeans. Alex, I'll take dressy jeans for $200!
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Sometimes dressing appropriately has something to do with the weather and how hot it is outside and how cool it is inside. We are taking a cruise later this year where for most of the cruise it will be in the 90s - if they can't keep it comfortable inside that may dictate what people wear to dinner. Since Viking Ocean has no history in SE Asia and the southern pacific - I ask those who have taken a Caribbean cruise with Viking and whether it was comfortable inside so that one could wear a light sweater, etc.?
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Here are the benefits on the Chase Reserve Card:
Page 12 states that pre-existing conditions are not covered. Page
18 defines pre- existing.
Called Chase yesterday - she asked when I put down my deposit - it was last Fall (either September or October). She told me to count back 60 days - she asked me if there was any incapacity or illness during those 60 days. I told her that there was nothing. She told me that was good - that there were no PEC that would preclude us from filing a claim should something go wrong on our trip.
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Basically, your question is moot.
Travel Insurance companies require you to cover ALL non refundable travel expenses if you want PEC exclusion.
It sounds as though you want to reduce your costs by covering your cancellation, trip delay, luggage coverages thru your Chase card, while getting medical only coverage thru a 3rd party travel insurance provider.
Not sure what you bare trying to say. But you are correct - it is a moot point. While Chase will cover us with 95% of non-refundable expenses - we will take out a policy from our travel agent which gives us emergency medical and transportation and a few other items that may or may not be covered by Chase. As far as our actual medical expenses - in addition to what the travel agent policy will cover (through Allianz) - through work (I am retired) I have a health insurance policy that covers actual medical expenses anywhere in the world. Not trying to make money on having this supplemental policy - just want to be sure we are adequately covered.
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Please go to the Chase benefits page and read up. There is separate coverage for lost/delayed luggage. Coverage limits are described.
Thanks - that is what I did. Also, called Chase and they confirmed my understanding of the various benefits - even getting limited medical coverage was something I hadn't expected.
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As shown with my other posts - getting trip insurance is fairly new to me - but this should be a fairly simple question to the experienced travelers out there. We paid our deposit last November for our trip to Asia and Australia late November 2018. Our final payment is due at the end of May. We have not yet purchased travel insurance - and will be depending mostly on our Chase Sapphire Reserve Card. I was going to supplement the Chase card with another $10,000 policy from Allianz. My questions:
Suppose I have a torn muscle in my thigh - which is healing. The injury is just about healed when I break a toe or have my appendix out or anything that has nothing to do with my previous injury. Now I understand that if I go on my cruise and that same muscle acts up and tears again - that would be a PEC - but would the other examples I give - which have nothing to do with a torn muscle in my thigh - would those other examples be a new condition since they have nothing to do with my thigh?
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I actually have another question that perhaps someone could answer. In my earlier post I asked how the insurance companies would split up the claim if one had two or three policies. What happens if you only have one source - like the $20,000 protection that Chase Sapphire Reserve gives you. Forget medical for the moment, what happens if your trip totals $25,000 and you lose luggage or luggage is delayed or there is another non-medical claim - if I only have $20,000 protection do I only get paid 80% or is there a running total and I only get paid up to $20,000? Trying to learn as much as possible. Thanks
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I think you will find that insurance companies talk to each other, a lot! Mostly to keep the customer from making a profit from their coverage.
Insurance will usually make you 'whole', or close to it, but will not give you excess funds. Making a concious effort to obtain any excess payments can be construed as insurance fraud.
I probably worded my response wrong. Not trying to make a profit on any of this - just wondering how the responsibility would be split.
Viking Orion Review
in Viking Ocean
Posted
The trip was challenging yet a lot of fun. Where else can you get within a few feet of a Komodo Dragon or hold and feed a Kuala Bear or rome among Kangaroos and feed them?