milling73

Can Anyone currently sailing on the Southern Atlantic Crossing from Buenos Aires-Bareclona give a cruise review or update - all port stops made? Weather…etc Have this on our possible list and like to hear from ones who are taking or taken recently. Thank you!!!

Can you add Spirits package at booking? What is the price? I dont see where to price or add it.

We stayed Hotel Cerny Slone in Prague. Small hotel on Square Old Town. Very old and full of charm. Loved it.

NEW ITINERARY NEW CODE - PAT22. — RECEIVED EMAIL TODAY!!! Might be Flash sale Patagonian Shores & Chilean Fjords 14 DAYS | Santiago to Ushuaia FREE Roundtrip Airfare & FREE Silver Spirits Beverage Package On Mar 6, 2023 Departure ASK FOR OFFER: PAT22 Also works for Chilean Fjords & Patagonia Explorer Received today

If anyone sees a promo code for Southern Atlantic Crossing cruise for Nov 2023 -- Please POST it!! The code that is active now TAS23 is free air, cabin upgrade, special rate..and is a very good deal. But it is for the March 2023 cruise Only. Thank you!!

I agree that the crew are not free to openly discuss this. Our recent cruises were not full, and we got to know a few of the staff rather well. Both confirmed the tipping / bonus policy, and both said, "please don't give our names if you share this." As our cruises were back to back, different ships / different crew, we felt their confirmation of the tipping policy to be pretty accurate. I do agree with the one post who reminded that all crew work to make the cruise a success, and deserve the tip recognition. That is also true to an extent. Some of those will higher positions, no doubt get a larger bonus, than our cabin attendant. That is what we tried to address.

That is correct with Viking. We have talked to workers on Viking cruises..river and ocean. The tip you leave on the auto tip, goes to a general fund. It is NOT distributed among employees at end of each cruise. The workers sign on for a term contract. At the end of the term they get a "bonus". Have no idea of amount. But they only way the workers get a personal tip or thanks or recognition from you for the cruise you have taken, is if you hand to them personally. We have stopped our Viking auto tip, by going to the front desk once on board to stop it. You are not required to pay it. You can also adjust it to any amount you wish. We stop it completely. We then give a tip to our cabin attendant, bartender, waiter, etc...ourself.

Has anyone taken this cruise in November? We are looking at the Nov 15, 2023 cruise, and wondering what transatlantic weather was like, as well as the ports? Did the Senegal port stop happen? Was the safari tour good? Anyone with a review, or advice....greatly appreciated. Thank you!!!

If anyone sees discount specials codes for Viking Oceans - any Far East / Pacific. Would really appreciate knowing them!!!

Mich3554 --- Thanks you! What hotel did you stay at in Athens? Was the location good for eating / walking to sights?

For sure, it is truly disappointing to be sick while on a vacation. As personal precautions in our travels we avoid hotel or cruise buffet lines, and order off menu. On our Viking cruises, We also eat most if not all meals on the Aquavite Terrace / dining area --- Smaller crowd, smaller tables, and we eat outside if we can. No doubt it isn't a foolproof system, but if it was the buffet line that was the culprit in the illnesses on your trip, avoiding it, might have prevented some of the distress. But who knows, it could have been a virus transmitted through other means. Also Viking might not have had sufficient staff to put personal servers on the buffet line. Our two cruises this summer had staff doing double duties, and training. Crew we talked to said they were short-handed, especially in the kitchen. We had a young waiter in training who didn't speak English and was struggling with taking orders, and a bartender that had to look up how to make most mixed drinks.

How did you get from Athens Hotel to ship? Do taxi drivers know location of ship? We booked advance nights stay ourselves before our Viking cruise, and are now wondering how to get to ship. Thanks for assist!!

It is a catch-22 situation for Viking. When they tested daily for COVID, and removed anyone who tested positive to land hotel (thus end of their cruise). — the Viking policy caught so much criticism — with people cancelling cruises or not booking until the Policy ended in July. Traveling in general is and always has been, a risk of catching anything in confined groups - flights, bus, tours, or cruises. There is very little any company can do in illness situations that will appease everyone. Removing or confining ill passengers infuriates those involved and stops others from going; doing nothing infuriates those who think the Company should have enforced restrictions. In the end, It really should be up to individuals to take their own precautions / accepted risk.

We are taking this cruise Athens to Istanbul. We have 1 night stay in Istanbul at cruise end and fly out early the next morning. Has anyone taken this cruise? Or know if a Turkey Visa is required to fly out within 24 hours of cruise end? We are finding conflicting information on sites. Some say we have 36 hours, others say once we leave ship we have to have a Visa. At $100 each we hate to purchase if not needed.

That could happen on any flight, regardless of who books it. In fact our original flights that Viking booked had a schedule change that made connections impossible. Viking Air notified us, and rebooked us on better connections. The promotion was free air when booked, and remained free air with the change. Plus we could view and, pick our own seats.

If free air or reduced fare offered, take it. Flights given to us by Viking were ones I would have picked myself, plus I could see flights and pick my own seats or even another flight. There was no downside.

Unfortunately it is impossible to predict water levels for any month. (We will book May/June for our next) We were on 2 Viking cruises in July-Aug this year and ran out of water. on both the Rhine and Danube. And yes the cruises then become a bus tour either using boat as docked hotel, or leaving boat and staying in a hotel. We spent 4 nights in hotel on Grand European and 4 nights docked in an industrial container port at Strasbourg on the Paris to Alps tour. (Photos of that docking station are no where on their ads!) Daily Itinerary is met as much as possible by bus. None of the cruise companies publish much about the possibility of not sailing in their ads. People see the commercials of beautiful river sailing and believe all river cruises to be that — and they absolutely are IF water levels allow. But Too high of level and boats cannot clear bridges; too low and they cannot sail. No cruise company can control river levels, they all cope the best they can. Many cancel and do not sail. But Viking seems to have policy of meet itinerary by bus. They do not give a heads up notification that it will be a bus trip, or give passengers the option to cancel because of water levels. We have taken 8 river cruises and this summer was the first time we could not sail. Out of what should have been 22 days sailing - we spent 8 in hotel or docked. It became long days on the bus on mostly boring interstate drives to and from boat or hotel - to see that day stops. (leave at 8, back around 6) which affects meal choices, spirits package, and most of all leisurely cruising time in lounge or deck chair. River cruises when conditions are good are simply wonderful. And why we have taken so many. But companies should be more upfront in their ads advising travelers what happens if river conditions will not allow that cruise to happen: — The river cruise becomes a bus tour. Furthermore If the company does not cancel the cruise - the passengers cannot cancel last minute for refund because they dont want a bus trip. Claiming trip insurance does not apply either because the itinerary is being met by bus. (As we found out this summer)

We just returned from 2 Viking river cruise in Europe. The COVID vaccination card was NEVER requested to be shown. In fact i tried to show it because all of our paperwork made such a big deal about having it. Viking Desk told me “oh no that not necessary, we dont need it.” same at airports, TSA, border control in Germany, or Netherlands, or France. no one wanted to see record or even asked. They all operating off of “dont ask— dont tell” mode. At least for our 30 day trip July-late Aug.

How are water levels on the Danube? Anyone on Grand European that can assist? Are the boats sailing through from Amsterdam to Budapest? Thanks..

Our current Rhine cruise with Viking is a boat hotel…bus to all excursions / stops. Viking does not tell you conditions beforehand or give choice to opt out. Viking’s only comment is they are monitoring conditions and well prepared to handle. (And now we know that handling is by bus and they either use boat as hotel, or use actual hotels.) Right now They are basically a bus vacation at double the price of those providers. Only with bus companies you know in advance what you are booking. When booking a river cruise you assume it will be a leisurely and wonderful river cruise, until you arrive and find out it is not. With the current drought in Europe odds are pretty good it will be a bus trip.

We are on Paris to the Alps - Viking. We left Paris by bus Monday to Trier. Arriving boat around 6 pm. Tues and Wed (today) boat sailed on Moselle. Tonight we are informed that we will leave our boat tomorrow morning, by bus to Koblenz then on for a “scenic panoramic BUS DRIVE to meet our new boat in Strasbourg. We were not scheduled to ge in Strasbourg until Sun. For remainder of trip we remain on boat as hotel. All excursions by bus. our 12 day Paris to the Apls trip is 4 nights hotel, 8 nights boat, 10 days of bus and 2 days sailing. Again anyone taking Rhine / Danube trips in next few weeks CANCEL NOW whoever wrote yesterday that Paris to Alps trip, or Grand European is not impacted by low water levels is lying. We are on this trip and just got off orher. There is no sailing. These are bus trips and the best you can hope for is a boat hotel! A very expensive and disappointing bus trip. Viking may have lost money in last 2 years, but for sure they are losing repeat passengers or future guests. I just heard from fellow cruisers - Viking did vintact them with a sorry it was not what you expected and included a $500 voucher for future cruise. Four long days of bus/hotel, with not comparable room or meals, no choice of being on bus, no spirits package on a $10k trip, and they offer $500.

Currently on Paris to the Alps - Viking. We left Paris by bus Monday to Trier. Arriving boat around 6 pm. Tues and Wed (today) boat sailed on Moselle. Tonight we are informed that we will leave our boat tomorrow morning, by bus to Koblenz then on for a “scenic panoramic BUS DRIVE to meet our new boat in Strasbourg. We were not scheduled to be in Strasbourg until Sun. we remain and be on boat as hotel. All excursions by bus. our 12 day Paris to the Apls trip is 4 nights hotel, 8 nights boat, 10 days of bus and 2 days sailing. Again anyone taking Rhine / Danube trips in next few weeks …be aware of river levels and postpone your trip. There is not one passenger on this trip that is not furious. 185 people spent minimum of $8000 for a bus trip with bonus 2 days sailing. VIKING WHEN DID YOU STOP CARING ABOUT WHETHER YOUR PASSENGERS ENJOYED THEIR CRUISE? Why wasnt this trip cancelled?

On Paris to the Alps - Viking. We left Paris by bus Monday to Trier. Arriving boat around 6 pm. Tues and Wed (today) boat sailed on Moselle. Tonight we are informed that we will leave our boat tomorrow morning, by bus to Koblenz then on for a “scenic panoramic BUS DRIVE to meet our new boat in Strasbourg. We were not scheduled to ge in Strasbourg until Sun. So as we understand things we remain on boat as hotel. All excursions by bus. If that is correct our 12 day Paris to the Apls trip is 4 nights hotel, 8 nights boat, 10 days of bus and 2 days sailing. Again anyone taking Rhine / Danube trips in next few weeks …be aware of river levels and postpone your trip

Answers are correct. Water levels are a risk when booking a river cruise with Viking or probably any company. Water too high, boat cannot go under low bridges; too low they risk grounding. viking at least for now has the 2 week before cancel. That is why I urge anyone with an upcoming cruise to read these boards to get an idea of current conditions and go from that. Trip insurance will not cover a boat cruise becoming a bus trip - because the itinerary is being met, and the cruise was not canceled. We had 2 women leave on the Grand European - all costs for their own transportation, hotels, etc at their expense. That being said, I have heard from fellow passengers that Viking is offering credit vouchers towards future cruise only. Not a refund. The amount varies and depends upon number of land days etc.

We are in Paris on that cruise now. Viking has us at Hotel du Collectionne about 20 min walk from Arc de Triompe. Beautiful hotel just not many restaurants close, and hotel charges $35 for hamburger. Every year is different on weather, but we took Paris and the Heart of Normandy tour in April. In Paris we were disappointed that No sidewalk cafes were open, trees bare, and it was 40-50 degrees. Our hotel in Zurich will be the Renaissance Tower.