Parsley Cruises

4 minutes ago, fudgbug said:

It's not a matter of showing off.  If in the end tipping became really vulgar, JMO you must have been on one of the monster ships.

Wrong.  Size was irrelevant.

If flying from Heathrow to New York with an onwards connection to SJ, are there any Viking Reps to assist in New York? Or, do they appear in SJ?  (Don’t want to put the red Viking  stickers on too soon).
 

Also, if booked through ta (Miles Morgan) do we still get the pouch, luggage labels and bag tags sent out from Viking?  And ..... do those items depend on type of stateroom booked?

Thanks.

I think it depends on the port and what the circumstances are at the time in question.  There's no rhyme or reason - been to one port in a specific country and just used the ship card, next day a bit further down the coast in the same country ….. must take passport, which is something I really don't like doing.

On 12/14/2018 at 9:38 PM, Mrs Miggins said:

I think the last post must be a joke.  There were none of the things listed at the end of this post on our past Viking cruises and we are expecting a lovely cruise on a beautiful ship with some great, well travelled,  fellow guests over New Year. 

 

 

Each to their own, but I would not wish to be on a mega ship, no matter what cabin or suite I slept in.  I have been on RCCL, Princess, Celebrity etc. when we travelled with children, but would not go back to them now. We have always enjoyed our cruises, but now find we need a little more sophistication.  

 

On reflection I guess the post was just to stimulate a reaction and yes I fell for it.

Well said, Mrs Miggins - no doubt you have more than a cunning plan!  Keep up the pie shop.  

57 minutes ago, pacruise804 said:

 

Thank you for the great suggestions.  I have a question about savory biscuits (American here).  I thought biscuits were what I call cookies and crisps what I refer to as crisps.  Can biscuits also be what Americans call crackers?  I'm struggling to think of non-dessert cookies that are commercially packaged.

Yip, for sure.  Our favourite ones have a light cheese flavour, and usually a large bag with about 7 mini bags inside.  
Also we pack breakfast biscuits, small packs of hand wipes, and small bottles of hand gel.

7 hours ago, Roz said:

With just a small number of passengers compared to ocean cruises, it's hard not to interact or come into close contact with fellow passengers on a river cruise. Itineraries are port intensive so there's really not much time for relaxation.

When I say that we have no wish to socialize, it's our cruise -  you socialize if you so desire; we don't wish to do so, and we will ensure that we have suitable accommodation on board the boat to provide us with our quite relaxation time.  If we have to 'mingle' there are ways and means of getting through that sort of situation too.

47 minutes ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

 

Yes, it sounds like river cruising may not be for you.  And especially on Viking, which packs the largest number of passengers on their ships [everybody uses 135m long ships, which are the largest that fit in the locks, so you can compare passenger counts to get a sense of how 'cheek by jowl' your experience will be].  You might look at Crystal, which has the fewest passengers and strives to recreate their ocean cruise experience on their river ships.

Thanks for the tip; very helpful.

14 hours ago, Daisi said:

Parsley Cruises, you may wish to read the "stickies" at the top of the forum to learn about river cruising. 

 

On the river cruises, you don't need anything other than your room# to purchase drinks etc.  As there is under 200 people on most ships, the crew get to recognise you very quickly, so don't have to confirm who you are.  They only need to know if you are on board or not!

 

Depending on the river you choose to travel, you can skip the included tours and just wander around the towns (or run if preferred), however the tours are usually done in smaller groups and by informative guides, so are often quite interesting, unless you already know about the town.  There will be a few places where you can't dock right in town, but usually you are fairly close, if not right in the scenic area. 

 

Dining is done usually all at one seating, and you will get a couple of choices for appetiser, main & desert, as well as the "always on menu" selection.  Lunch & breakfast are buffet with menus to order extra.  Coffee & tea are available at all times at the coffee stations.  You have open seating, so can sit where ever you wish, and usually with fellow guests, so you get to meet a lot of new friends.

 

One main thing that causes a lot of people to complain about is when the ships are rafted during time in port - you are tied along another ship so your view is not quite what you expect.  However, if you aren't on board, you don't really notice!  Most sailing is done at night, unless there is a specific scenic area ( on the Rhine, that's the middle Rhine with all the Castles, on the Danube, it's the Wachau Valley) but otherwise, you are usually out touring.

 

Hope you do try River Cruising, it's not for everyone, but for those who love it...it's highly addictive!

I assume (living dangerously) that room service will be available for the larger accommodation - so no problem there.  Having travelled (and lived) extensively in Europe we've often seen several river boats moored up together - and we have our misgivings about that.  We might do a tentative river cruise booking, but somehow I don't really think it's for us.  Maybe we need to spend a bit of time investigating accommodation sizes, onboard facilities etc.  This business of having to collect a card so that the boat knows the onboard passenger totals is archaic.  Maybe if the accommodation is suitable for us, then we might make a booking.  From past experience we don't want to socialise, we want peace and quiet and relaxation as much as possible, and from the sounds of it, the restaurant is going to be cramped - and now that we've escaped from ships where the seating in the restaurant (that's the 1st class restaurant) is too 'cheek by jowl' for comfort, we're not going to take a backwards step.  Potentially simply 'not for us' - besides which, we'd mainly simply be kicking over the traces anyway.

For us it's simply got to be at the very least a Junior Suite.  We don't go on a cruise to do laundry, and the earlier opportunity to book excursions (if we want them) makes life a lot easier.

We don't live in cramped conditions in any of our properties, and we're not about to start doing that on a holiday.  We have our standards, and as our suite is our quiet retreat on a cruise, having the better accommodation is simply maintaining our standards.  

So, the convenience, space, laundry etc - it's a no brainer for us (simples!).  If there's nothing suitable available on an itinerary we just amend our choice of cruise.

We flew out to Venice on BA, and had a great experience with the transfer.  The main hold up was waiting for luggage, then we were meeted and greeted, our luggage was deposited in the place for transfer to the ship and we walked a relatively short distance to the coach which stopped right outside the cruise terminal doorway.

Being experienced travellers, we always 'note' things, and on this occasion we noted that passengers were arriving in Venice at roughly the same time but on different airlines and obviously from different locations.  We knew before hand which flights were arriving and from where, but what we didn't know was that the passengers arriving on these scheduled flights were destined for different ships.  The difference in how we VO passengers were treated left people heading for different (allegedly luxury cruise lines)  was noticeable - we VO passengers were all nicely taken care of, whilst the people heading for other ships weren't given the same great standard of care and attention.

Despite the atrocious weather that day, it was a lovely start to our first VO cruise.  BTW the walkway to the nearby coach park was sort of covered.

Our transfer from both ship to hotel and hotel to airport at the end of the cruise were both superbly handled, and the disembarkation process with VO was the best ever.

3 minutes ago, pontac said:

 

It's a way of recording who is on and who is off the boat.

 

I don't know what they do on ocean cruises - I would assume they have some way of knowing who is on board.

 

A few times there have been PA announcements asking a named customer to come to reception shortly before leaving a mooring,when they still have the cards of someone who left and hasn't collected their key, to ensure they don't leave people behind. And I suppose in the case of an emergency they know who is on bard

 

You can walk off the boat anytime its moored; you don't have to let them know but it's in your interest, if - for example - the captain is told to move mooring before announced departure time. If people are off boat they can station someone to guide passengers to the new mooring location.

 

When you leave the boat collect a card with the boat's phone number and the mooring location which you can show to a taxi driver if you're delayed in town or lost

1 minute ago, Parsley Cruises said:

We have many ocean cruises behind us, but no river cruises yet.  On an ocean cruise the plastic card you refer to is multi-purpose, and nowadays it permits embarkation and disembarkation, purchases, and entry to accommodation.  Are you saying that this isn’t the case on the VR boats?  Sounds a bit archaic if you are correct.  

 

We prefer the ocean cruise habit habit of showing the card to the security people on duty during disembarkation and again on embarka and then being able to use the card for purchases and access to our suite as and when we wish without any further formalities.

 

Also, on ocean cruises more often than not the card in question is used to get through the port access point.  We’ll check it out with VR direct probably before wasting any more time hoping for a VR holiday.

On an ocean cruise, when one does initial check in and embarkation a plastic card is received, to gain access to the ship, make purchases and access accommodation, as previously explained (your debit or credit card is linked with it).  When the card is shown to the gangway staff, they tap dit against their computer screen at the gangway point, and one’s image is immediately shown on the screen, so that they can check that the holder is either leaving or joining the ship, and they can also clearly see that the person proffering the card is the correct person.  

We’ve never got lost (too well travelled for that), never been late and never used a taxi when away.  If we need a hire car that’s never been a problem either.  This river boat system still sounds weird though.

We have many ocean cruises behind us, but no river cruises yet.  On an ocean cruise the plastic card you refer to is multi-purpose, and nowadays it permits embarkation and disembarkation, purchases, and entry to accommodation.  Are you saying that this isn’t the case on the VR boats?  Sounds a bit archaic if you are correct.  

We prefer the ocean cruise habit habit of showing the card to the security people on duty during disembarkation and again on embarka and then being able to use the card for purchases and access to our suite as and when we wish without any further formalities.

Also, on ocean cruises more often than not the card in question is used to get through the port access point.  We’ll check it out with VR direct probably before wasting any more time hoping for a VR holiday.

2 hours ago, pontac said:

 

Room service question has been answered. 

Yes and No respectively to the other questions.

 

I haven't been on an ocean cruise but I've read feedback at CC from those that have, and it seems to me that they are quite different experiences. You do not get the same ocean cruise offerings on the river. The reason is clear if you compare the size of an ocean ship with a river boat. 

 

On Viking you can dine at all three meals either in the main restaurant or in the lounge. We tend to have a light breakfast and lunch in the lounge and dinner in the main restaurant.

 

On all the trips I have been on they local dishes as an option on the menu, and often a themed night of food and drink, e.g. in Germany a strolling band, German beer in barrels, sausages and pretzels and a huge host of foods...and staff in lederhosen. 

 

On tours, you now sign up in advance for those you want to go on, even the included tours, on 'My Viking Journey' but there is no compulsion to go on any of them even if you've booked. You can decide at the time. If you want to go, deposit your key at reception, collect your bus assignment and off you go. If you don't want to go then don't. They don't call out names.

Why does one have to leave a room key at reception?  That’s weird ; that doesn’t happen on ocean cruises- don’t the room stewards hold a master key?

8 hours ago, Jammy Bun said:

We got back from Romantic Danube river cruise last week, and the food was pretty much as Clay and others describe above.  Unfortunately, due to low river levels we spent a lot of time on buses rather than cruising, also had to switch boats halfway through the week, and would advise anyone considering a river cruise to think about the time of year and likelihood of drought after hot summers!  If we were to do it again (highly unlikely, as we prefer the space on Viking Oceans) we would go before July.  

The food was OK, but not as varied as on the ocean ships, and not available outside the set meal times, apart from room service of course.

hth

janet

Hi Janet, 

Thanks for that.  Funnily enough, we're just back from a trip to your part of the country, we had a grand time and look forward to returning and exploring some more.

We knew about the water-level situation, but we couldn't really do main holiday times due to grandparenting duties.  We did wonder about the availability of food river -v- ocean, and what you describe is pretty much as we suspected.  I think we're going to try out a VR cruise, mainly because we're lucky enough to be needing a break from ocean cruises.  

If there's room service we'll survive, the main other question is will there be enough 'berthed up time' to do some running?  

Do passengers 'have' to do daily set excursions?

Oh well, thanks sincerely for your reply.

We also really enjoyed the food in Manfredi's.  However, we didn't really appreciate the long drawn-out explanation of all the food on the menu given to us by the waiter.  We aren't exactly new to eating in a restaurant, and we can actually read; and for us the over-bearing waiter was an intrusion.  However, on the next cruise, we know what might happen (a repetition of this experience), and we are prepared for it.  Generally speaking when we are faced with a menu we have already made up our minds, they are not going to be changed by a waiter (unless we are being told that what we want is not available), and we can't abide wasting time.

It's going to be fine, we'll deal with it; the food is lovely, and we're already looking forward to it.

Twee..... well it’s sort of fussy, prissy, overdone, pretentious. 

I can't find a section now which covers Viking River Cruises, there used to be a section, but now I can't find it.  So, here's my query - I have looked on the VR website to ascertain what the dining situation is, but I can't find that either!  I suppose that breakfast and/or lunch are in a main dining room, and that it's hopefully fairly 'standard' fare (of a high quality), but what is the evening food like?  Is there a choice?  Does it have to be 'destination themed food?  Are there standard items like the wonderful Chairman's Salmon or chicken or steak of some sort?

I'd like to think about making a river cruise reservation during our next ocean cruise, but need a couple of replies first.  Many thanks for all assistance in advance, and apologies for posting on the VO section.

We've not eaten at Chef's Table, our impression is that it's far too 'twee' for us - we go into dinner to eat, not to fusspot around with food.  

One important factor in a decision over where to eat for a birthday celebration on board would be the question of guests.  If you are going to include guests in the dining party, then for us the decision would be simple - either the MDR or Manfredi's, where there is a good selection of food, and no need to ask for alternative items, as they are already available (mainly).  I do like for each of us to be 'at ease' in a dining situation, which we don't feel would happen in the Chef's Table, but we do know from experience would happen in either the MDR or Manfredi's.  

I personally would 'back both horses', making a reservation for Manfredi's, seeing what the actual menu is going to be on the special day, and then checking the MDR menu for the day in question, and voting with your feet accordingly, but if you have booked Manfredi's, don't forget to let the staff know.

Have a lovely trip.

Having had one or two 'near falls' in walk-in showers, and not wanting to repeat the experience, I've bought an inexpensive pair of 'flip-flops', and I use these both in the shower and when going to a swimming pool.

Two benefits - chance of falling in either location minimised, and also chance of 'catching' a foot infection minimised.

I suppose they could also be used in locations where the footwear might innocently be 'lost' (such as on balconies or out on deck), having seen other folks fall asleep on loungers and the footwear somehow going overboard, using my flip-flops is a no-brainer as they are easy and inexpensive to replace.

All the above, and a couple of items which we always take with us, no matter which cruise line and itinerary:

Small bottles of water, sweets (usually individually wrapped mint flavoured) - these stave off boredom on a long coach excursion (especially if the guide is going on and on!) they also keep hunger twinges at bay, small individual portions of savoury biscuits (not as noisy or 'greasy' as crisps), and above all hand wipes.

Don't forget your camera, sun hat, sun screen, sun glasses (or cold weather gear if that applies).

23 hours ago, jasardeax said:

Yes, I understand from your reply that you, astonishingly, do equate poor service to criminal behavior. Would you like to have the perpetrators arrested for poor service?

 

Also, I have done my own research, and can only conclude that, you, obviously can not name any countries that reward criminals for their crimes. 

 

Anyway, you are very entertaining. 

Nothing astonishing in it: demanding money with intent to defraud is a crime.  If someone demands a tip before the alleged service is due to be provided and the. doesn’t provide the service, that’s disgusting behaviour as I believe the perpetrator either had no intention of providing the service or knew that they were incapable, unable or too poor equipped to provide the service after having received the tip.  

As to naming countires: well I’m not so irresponsible as to name names and offend innocent people reading this.  This is a forum, not an examination.  I am not here to entertain you or serve you; I have simply put my view point; is it that you won’t or can’t understand that.

😴

You can do your own research, it’s not hard to find.  Poor service is criminal especially when an automatic tip is involved.  That is clearly ‘obtaining pecuniary advantage either by deception, dishonesty etc.  

It sticks in in one’s craw when it’s obvious also when one worker won’t or doesn’t do his/her job properly but still gets tips, mainly by coercing others to do his/her work for hi /her.  

So, yes in a way poor service does equal criminal behaviour, quite simply because where a cruise is concerned, firstly the passengers have paid the wages and secondly the automated tips enhance the money they receive.  Passengers are entitled to receive good service without paying a tip of any sort.  Really good service may deserve a tip.

Understand now?

20 hours ago, blacksmith said:

Parsley,

I won’t be “wondering “ or “assuming” any more. It’s clear that you march to the beat of your own drummer. If your cruising methods work for you I wish you all the best. 

That's very magnanimous, cheers for that.  I'm very 'old school', even though being old is not part of my life-style.  

When we first started cruising, the cruise line we were with for a while (no name, no pack drill), always stated the cost of the cruise without gratuities.  The recommended daily amount was clearly mentioned, according to the level of your onboard accommodation, and they even supplied envelopes on board for passengers to pay their gratuities on the final evening/final morning, and I suppose we got into that habit, it worked for us, and we stick with it.

With experience we've changed cruise line a couple of times, and each time we've found an improvement in the service level, but we've always been able to maintain our way of doing things.  Whilst I'm very on the ball with modern facilities including all things 'IT', I also strive to maintain our own personal policies.  

When all is said and done - we'll stick to our way, and hope that you enjoy all your travels doing it your way too.

On ‎9‎/‎14‎/‎2019 at 5:28 PM, OnTheJourney said:

PC....great list!!!  I think I'm with you on not really being up for one of these - still fascinating to look through the itinerary. Get the whole world done (well, at least a decent part of it) all in ONE shot!  I think my mind would be on overload after about the first 50 ports or so - not sure I could continue to absorb so much new info and experiences all on the same trip - but could be fun trying ?!

We've been incredibly lucky during our lives, I started with 'overseas' education whilst young, and OH started with an overseas employment - and travel was part of our workaday lives for a very long time.

So, for us a world cruise is simply 'not on' either because 'we've been there etc' or because we refuse to pay for a visa to be a on a ship in a port/country in which we have absolutely no intention of leaving the ship.  If we are determined not to go ashore, we see the demand for a visa payment daylight robbery.  We believe that the cruise line would have paid fees for the ship to be in port etc., and the attendant services, but if we are staying on the ship we feel that it's a complete personal waste of money, and we won't opt for an itinerary which included places we have absolutely no desire to visit.

Therefore, world cruises are not for us - we'd rather be a bit selective, and do multiple cruises instead.

11 hours ago, blacksmith said:

Guess what. VO already has a daily automatic tip. They also automatically add a tip to all drinks (those that are not included) and spa services. 

I assume that you go to customer service when you get on the ship and tell them not to add the daily tip charge. I also assume you don’t order drinks that have a charge, or use the spa services. 

So, we're just about at the stage for booking our excursions, and I've just done my usual double-check of all things financial connected with our next VO cruise.  

In a previous post, I've highlighted the pitfalls of 'assuming', and your assumption is wrong.  I repeat, if no auto-tips is not part of the price of the cruise at the outset of the reservation, I won't book.  I do get the feeling that for passengers from North America it's a 'fool's game' - you pay your auto-tips as part of the price of the cruise and then get big obc!  That's 'even Stephens'!

Anyway, having done my double-check as per usual, I don't have auto-tips (as usual).  Nothing of that type will be added to our on board account, as usual.  (However, I will still take the little thank you cards and tip as I see fit at the conclusion of the cruise).  QED there will be no initial visit to customer service on board.  

I don't use spa services here at home, so I don't see the need to use them on a ship - if I'm not in port and running then I'll be in the gym; might use the pool in the spa, but not the services, and I gather that the spa pool is free anyway, as is the snow room. 

There will be sufficient drinks in the suite for us, and if I do fancy a short evening walk and a (non-alcoholic drink) then that will go on the on board account, as will obviously anything purchased from the gift shop.  Before you start wondering, we won't be paying for laundry, dry cleaning or shoe shine either - it's included.

So, that's it.