dln929

I've been following this thread with interest as we're booked on it.  Our girl has disappeared.  I checked the websites that show cruise ship schedules (cruise mapper being one) and Brilliant Lady is not in Funchal or Lisbon when she's supposed to be.  Zero zip nada.

I reached out to Virgin about where she's gone and have received no response.

I'm only a little peeved about this.  It's not like those of us who are experienced cruisers haven't realized that something is not quite on the up and up about this transatlantic.  I wish they'd make an announcement and get it over with.

Totally agree about #5 as I saw lots of irritated women in the restrooms when we were on Apex at the beginning of the month.  Like is it so hard to put a red/green indicator as you see in European bathroom stall doors?  It's not rocket science. 

What I would like to see--and no, it's surely not too late to tweak this little item for the next Edge class ship (and yes, it's strictly my opinion and no one else's):  brighten up the soft goods.  The decor on Apex is such a muddied, drab color scheme.  Monotone monotone monotone.  It's a ship of gray and brown.  Liven it up a bit.  I am NOT advocating to go wild or garish or busy!  But maybe it's a little boring to have gray pillows on gray chairs and sofas?  How about a little contrast to brighten things up.  The decor on Apex is so tasteful as to be a snooze fest. 

33 minutes ago, Crockett&Darla said:

In light of the current events, and on a lighter note, how's everyone currently cruising adjusting to all the daylight?

We were on the July 3rd cruise and I wondered how well I'd sleep with sunset at nearly midnight and sunrise at 3 am but the blackout curtains work beautifully.  Also, it's light but it's not bright.  The sky is sort of an opaque dusky whitey color.  Like you're in a fog going through the Bay of Biscay.  Or a dense San Francisco fog.

Well this is interesting.  We were booked on a 7 night on Adventure from Copenhagen, sailing August 31, 2021.  We got the e-mail saying we'd be put on the Jewel on the same day but....last cruise Jewel shows up on in August is August 22, 2021, 9 nights.  Getting back into Copenhagen on August 31st.   The next Jewel is on September 12th.  Out of Boston!!!!!  So Sherlock Holmes deduces that there's a transatlantic in between.  My Baltics/Fjords cruise on Adventure turned into a transatlantic with no info available whatsoever.  Hmmm.  Anyone get an info?  I'm still waiting for my travel agent to call me back after she gets hold of Royal. 

Istanbul is one of my favorite cites and I'm so glad that Viking is going there.  It's been several years now since the cruise ships have visited and it's such an interesting, vibrant port.  You are spoiled for choice as to what to see!  You've already gotten some good advice about that and only you know what interests you most.  The only suggestions I would give you is to wear comfortable shoes as it's very hilly and whatever else, don't leave Istanbul without eating at a restaurant.  Or two or three.  Turkish food is delicious and service is gracious.  Oh, and if you want a souvenir, on the low end of the scale the pottery is gorgeous and on the high end, textiles, including rugs of course, also are well worth considering.

When we were on the Summit last year , the captain gave his daily update on the ship's location. One day he said, very seriously, that we were "somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean . "

Ok, not Celebrity, but Royal Caribbean, on a transatlantic, and on about the 6th or 7th day our Captain said pretty much the same thing--"out in the middle of nowhere, nothing much to say today..." Which wasn't funny until lunchtime when all of a sudden the power on the ship went OUT and people remembered what the Captain said 10 minutes earlier. Power back on in less than 3 minutes and then everyone started laughing. Probably in relief. :'):p:')

Ironically, I don't even paint! It did seem like a fun idea to suggest, even though the whole point was to stress not giving up something that has a limited, but loyal group of users to replace it with something which would also have a niche market.

 

But maybe we are on to something here. Now that the Orion has it's distinct planetarium, maybe the next to sail could find a spot for an art studio. It could be a whole fleet of wonderful, near-identical ships, each with one unique feature. Viking, are you listening?!?

I must respectfully disagree. If you bring in an art studio you must bring in an artist to teach people. Azamara has an "Artist in Residence" and I have yet to see one that is more than a hack. Face it, most people can't paint, and if they're doing it for entertainment value they'll want to do it the trendy way, which is to paint with a glass of wine by their side. Which means that no self-respecting true artist will want to be part of it. Hence having painting hacks on board. Sorry for being so cynical. :(

Viking has a website that is extremely informative--sit down and give yourself some time to thoroughly read it so you can make informed decisions about where and when and if you want to cruise with Viking. On the bottom of their homepage in very small letters is their Site Map, which is also worth perusing in addition to the topics in the banner bar at the top. This forum also has many lively posts that are a goldmine of info! Many posts have photos as well. Don't forget to read the reviews which can be found by clicking on the Research found at the top of the Cruise Critic page.

Are there activities planned during the day for those guests who have not gone out on an excursion?

I saved the Viking Dailies from our Trade Routes cruise this past spring and pretty much the only thing offered on a port day are BBC movies and Ted Talks in the cinema. But on the other hand, as everyone has said, you'll have the spa to yourself, the pools, lots of peace and quiet, the chance to play a game of Scrabble, chess, or backgammon...personally I think it sounds heavenly.

We received a really great offer on this cruise and decided to jump on board. We loved our Viking Homelands cruise in May so much we couldn’t wait to do another one and the price was right on this one. My question is, has anyone done this itinerary before and have you enjoyed the trip? It leaves 1/6/19...what should I expect the weather to be like?

 

Thank you in advance for the info.

 

 

 

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This cruise is quite similar to our Trade Routes of the Middle Ages cruise, with many of the same stops. Yes! I do think you will enjoy it. We certainly loved ours. If you look back through the forum you will find some past trip reports from the Trade Routes which should prove useful to you. We've gone on a Viking Ocean cruise from either Barcelona or Rome every January since 2016. We used to live in Indiana so to us the weather was comfortable and pleasant. We've since moved to Naples and we still like European winter weather as it's a relief from the heat so we're still happy. ;) Expect to see some rain and cloudy skies as you move past Gibraltar. The temps ought to be in the 40s-50s degree F but sometimes, depending on whether it's sunny or rainy, it can feel either warmer or colder. The latter being bone-chilling because of the damp (that's when you hit the English shores). Be prepared by bringing the right clothing! What we've found works really well is down jackets and/or vests. They're so lightweight yet do a great job in keeping the cold at bay. Think layers that you can add to or peel off as the weather dictates.

As to your ports: we took the included tour in Cartagena (Murcia) and were very impressed with the Roman ampitheatre that we took a tour of. Cartagena is a lovely town with lots of nice little restaurants, shops, and charming streets. In Malaga, we "double-dipped" taking the included tour in the morning and the optional tour to the white-washed hill town of Mijas in the afternoon. Thoroughly enjoyed both as they were scenic and interesting. Vigo we didn't go to with Viking, but I'd been there previously in May on another cruise years ago. I was there in May and it was damp and rainy and II had to buy a scarf to keep from freezing! Nonetheless, it was a gorgeous town with plenty to see and do and the port is very conveniently located. You walk right off the ship into the town. Easy. In Portsmouth we took the included tour which brought us to the Royal Dockyards. We thought it was absolutely fascinating and spent the entire day there going to all the museums. Look it up and you will see the varied exhibits, including the ability to tour the very ship upon which Admiral Lord Nelson was killed in battle. Going to Portsmouth was one of our favorite port visits. London, your last port, needs no introduction. Amazing place! :D

To be plain, I am not worried - just curious as to why a company publish something in the public domain with a 'stop' on it before it even draws it's first breath. This notice of 'sold out' is clearly incorrect - nobody with a reservation on the cruise I've booked for should be/is able to make a reservation yet. I feel it would be more professional not to mention the excursion at all, maybe introduce it as time progresses. If that causes Viking a bit more work (taking cancellations for excursions from people who see something freshly introduced once reservations are being taken and making new reservations on the freshly introduced excursions), then that's there own fat fault. If they got things right in the first place, then firstly I wouldn't be querying the situation, and secondly it would cause them less work. I think it's wrong to 'mislead' passengers (for want of a better word).

As it happens, being a very experienced traveller, I'm not bothered - merely observant and curious.

Sorry to have misunderstood you but usually when usually when someone says "Confused!!!" with three exclamation points after it, it means they're the next step past "merely observant and curious." Just sayin'. I'm happy you're not worried about your excursions, because as I explained, there's no need. ;)

Going on Viking Sun in November, and the excursions have just come out for browsing, BUT even though nothing is bookable for anyone yet, some excursions are showing Sold Out!

Confused!!!

This is nothing to worry about. On our Trade Routes cruise this spring the Alhambra excursion was listed as "Sold Out' which of course led to some teeth gnashing on our roll call as people were disappointed. AuntieWerewolf10 wrote to Viking asking what the story was and got a reply which she shared on the roll call. I will share the response which should shed light on your question about "Sold Out." As follows:

"Checked with Viking via email today about the Alhambra.

Viking Cruises Community Specialist, Kathryn Nobels’ reply:

“I am happy to confirm that the Alhambra Palace and Gardens tour is not sold out but rather unavailable to book just yet. Although I realize many shore excursions have already become available, please know that certain vendors will not open space for tours until closer to the sailing date.”

We are encouraged to continue to check MyVikingJourney for more availability and additional tours.

Hope that helps!"

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/valle-dei-mulini-valley-of-the-mills

Post #453. What you were looking at in Sorrento was an old mill. Most people go to Sorrento without even knowing it's there.

When is the best time of year to do a river cruise, for nice warm days and preferably no rain?

This is the website I refer to: https://www.holiday-weather.com/

Azamara is not installing a casino on their 'new' ship Pursuit, and have promised to remove them from their other two ships as well. Maybe this is a trend in the luxury cruising area!

Smart move to emulate Viking. Those machines in the casino on Azamara interfere with the lovely piano music in the evening. Very annoying!

Can anyone who has recently sailed share what the "next cruise" offering is from Viking Ocean if you book while on-board? :D

 

Thanks

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If you look at Viking's website, or any of their advertising, one thing you will always see is "no casinos." Right up there with "no formal nights" and "no kids."

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Oops! We've just gotten off of a cruise on Celebrity Eclipse and I was thinking of that cabin, which does have the closet by the bed. Sorry about misleading you! I do remember (correctly this time) that the bureau was really helpful in the PV stateroom. I appreciated that extra storage space.

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As said, your friends can board at the same time as everyone else. Regarding dining reservations though. It's been our experience that on boarding day the reception desks for the speciality restaurants aren't manned until closer to dinner time, making it difficult to reserve in person. When they have access to their cabin they can of course look at reservations on their TV screen. Two years ago we had a guarantee cabin and had no ability to reserve for the restaurants ahead of time but it turned out not to be a problem. It's easy enough to do on board (just not on boarding day afternoon ;) ).

Our upcoming (first!!) Viking Ocean cruise is more than 5 weeks in length. I would like to know the dimensions of the closet in a Penthouse Veranda stateroom. The agent I spoke to at headquarters said that they are working on getting the dimensions (they don't know?), but that they are "spacious". A "spacious" closet for a one week cruise is not necessarily a "spacious" closet for a five week cruise. I'd prefer not to have a Monday outfit, a Tuesday outfit, etc. Also are there drawers taking up space in the closet? We will be sailing on the Orion. Thank you in advance for the information!

https://www.vikingcruises.com/content/ocean-star-tour/start.html

We were in a PV stateroom last year and found the closet space to be perfectly adequate. You can see from the video tour on Viking's website that the big closet runs the full length of the bed. I took that one. My husband made use of the smaller closet to the left of the coffee maker and we both shared drawer space in the bureau. If I remember correctly the big closet has two hanging bars and no drawers inside.

Just out of curiosity, how much luggage are you planning to bring? :p

I must say my poor little brain can't relate to this thread. I look at a vacation as an excuse to indulge and not worry about calories and weight. I worry about that the rest of the year. Once I get home I get on the scale and whatever weight I have gained I watch my calories and exercise and take it back off. My philosophy is to not hold back and miss out while on vacation and fix any issues after its over. Guess I am just a hedonist.

 

Jeffrey

Ha! I used to have the same philosophy as you. Our table mates would look at me every night and ask "How can you eat two desserts every night and still be so skinny?" I used to get away with it then! Now that I am (slightly ;p ) older, my body is not so cooperative in shedding any excess holiday weight. These days I indulge in a fruit plate for dessert...

Stair walking and deck walking are fantastic for keeping in shape on board. I think I stay healthier as well staying out of closed spaces like elevators. Less chance of catching something from someone's sneezes.

It appears that the 9th March 2019 cruise, the West Indies Explorer, Viking have changed one of its ports of call from that advertised in its brochure, and in the website.

 

The stop for Pointe-a-Pitre, Guadeloupe has been changed to Roseau, Dominica.

 

Is any one who has been looking into this cruise know what is happening? Has all other

Viking Ocean cruises for the West Indies Explorer itinarary also changed its port of call from Guadeloupe to Roseau?

 

For those of have been to both Guadeloupe and Dominica, is Dominica as beautiful as Guadeloupe, or is it more attractive, or less attractive?

We've been to both, though it was with Azamara, not Viking. Both are lovely islands. If you appreciate tropical, unspoiled nature you will enjoy Dominica very much. It's a lush island. The people of Dominica made the conscious decision that their island would never be full of high rise resorts and wall-to-wall golf courses. They are ecologically focused and bent on preserving its extraordinary natural beauty. As such it is not a glitzy island full of high end shops and restaurants. What you will find are spectacular waterfalls, hot springs, cold springs and a really cool "champagne" reef. If you like snorkeling, the latter is not to be missed!

We purchase coupons while on board Viking cruises for future trips. $100 will buy a $200 coupon. You can give them to friends as well. We purchase 2 each in Asia and we are using them for our British Isles cruise.

These wonderful coupons can be purchased only on Viking river cruises, though they may be used on the ocean cruises. Just to let you know.

Can anyone, based on experience, tell me how close to shore the ships generally cruise?

Close enough that you can see the coastline sometimes but not so close that you'll pull a Costa cruise and run aground. ;p

We're on Viking Mani at the end of November and I called Viking to see if Manfredi's was on our cruise. The rep had no idea what I was talking about. She said Manfredi's was on Oceans, not Rivers, and asked what my source of information was. I told her but I'm not sure she actually believed me. [emoji6] In any event, I got her to ask her supervisor about the fate of Manfredi's on the river cruises and it would appear that to all intends and purposes the experience has met a quiet death. I for one don't mind. River cruises can be exhausting and sometimes a nice, quiet, quick buffet dinner is all a person can take. Long live Aquavit !!

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