Parsley Cruises

Who the heck was making a noise with golf balls when putting? Just what sort of people are they? I can appreciate noise from balls during chipping practice, but putting - there should be virtually no noise, not so?

On the other hand, if I remember to pack my special surface running shoes with hobnails ……….!

I found that with all the walking we did on our excursions that was enough to keep the pounds at bay for me. I don’t eat sweet things so I guess that helps. Hubby however does have a sweet tooth so he did the laps around the walking deck.

Ok, so which deck is the walking deck? Is jogging ok? Finally, does it get hampered by anything when the ship is in port?

Thanks

We have thought about doing this, BUT we were in Copenhagen on a cruise once, and we were ok, but one couple went into town on the shuttle bus in the morning and needed to return to the ship to join a (paid for) excursion in the afternoon. There was a complete and utter mess-up with the shuttle buses, and this other couple made it back to the ship just in time to join the excursion, but had no time for even a snack lunch. This cruise wasn't Viking.

On all our previous cruises we’ve enjoyed a table for 2, with the exception of accidentally being placed on a big table for just one meal. That was awful.

When we sit down eat, that is what we want to do; quioamd calmly and happily.

We don’t wish to discuss politics, sec, finance, previous holidays, our lifestyle or personal beliefs/opinions with strangers. I sure as anything don’t wish to have to put up with any of that being reported to me by some stranger in their vain attempt to try impress. There’s nothing worse.

Similarly we don’t wish to disclose our plans for our activities during a cruise; there’s always the risk of getting limbered

Good luck and bon voyage. We're simply hoping for quiet smooth running meals, nothing fancy, just high quality ingredients superbly cooked and not covered in sauces.

We don't want butlers, we don't want casino etc., and we don't want formals.

If we can get the food bit sorted, we'll probably be content. Have a great time, not long to go now.

Come into the real world - it's a business, not a charity. If you don't like the terms and conditions then leave it well alone and use your funds elsewhere. Surely you know what the terms and conditions are before you spend?

On the other hand, if you spend out on (for example) a cruise and don't like the service (or attitude) etc., complain if you must, but vote with your feet and try a different cruise line.

A cruise is not tangible - it's the impression which a customer personally forms based on the cruise line's marketing which leads a person to become a customer and then a passenger. If you got worthwhile and honest opinions from every passenger on a specific cruise, there would be incredible variations in how people felt after the cruise was over. It would be extremely difficult to judge though - and would depend on how the questions were couched. Sort of GIGO (allowing for the alcohol intake also).

Wendy,

Sensible and civilised- a good summation of my life on the UK (with added fun)

I think that you are missing the point here.

Final payment whether it is 100 or 70 days before the cruise is the same thing and nobody has a problem with that. But paying for the cruise in full 365 (or more!) days before is a totally different story. Would you also be as cavalier about paying for your cruise a year ahead as much as you are about paying for it a 100 or 70 days ahead?

If it’s something I want and my diary permits, book it😊😎

Look, it's only money! Ok, be nit picky- it's 70 days. I always get the invoice for whichever cruiseline, (now heading for cruise #31ish, I've lost count), and put the invoice due date into my schedule, and it gets paid before the date I've put in to the schedule. It's no biggy; if someone is going to be all stressed about making a final payment, maybe they should consider if spending on a holiday is the right thing for them?

However, some cruise lines even if booked etc in the UK do ask for payment about 100 days prior. I will say though, that I simply don't have time to mess around with clauses and sub-clauses. I book, I pay - simples; I do get a bit picky about accommodation, and also have my preferred airlines and aircraft seats - but payment just happens.

On one Norway cruise a passenger on a nearby dinotable moaned all the time because she’d only packed bikinis and formal wear!

In the UK, booking direct with Viking gives a final date of 100 days or so (approx) before embarkation.

We’re a bit into photography ,so our time in Gerainger usually starts on the quayside (don’t like the floating walkway), very early, hike up past the church to the top of the hill and the. Out along the headland on the side opposite the PR side, then back down following the stream:waterfall, and end the day with a visit to the chocolate place as a reward.

Sorry to repeat, was this in a suite (as opposed to a cabin)?

I think shoe brands vary for everyone. No way can I wear a Clark shoe. My podiatrist recommends Keen's, Vionic and definitely New Balance. My husband and myself wore a combination of Keen's and New Balance on our Viking Homeland tours.

 

 

Parsley Cruises, it rains in many of the ports on the VH cruise and not just Bergen. We didn't have rain there but we experienced an extremely heavy rain in Stavanger. You just never know.

Oh well I must’ve got it wrong, having spent a lot of time cruising in that part of the world, or we’ve been lucky with the weather! Norway is just about our 2nd favourite country, Iceland in the winter is our top favourite, and we can’t get enough of either. However as they say in Iceland, no such thing as bad weather, just wrong clothing 😊😎

Ok, Pulpit Rock is in Gerainger Fjord, and if you do it by sea it’s quite a distance. We’ve been there regularly, and for us the only way to do Gerainger is by sea. Btw, when Pulpit rock fractures and falls it may well cause a tsunami which sadly will probably wipe out the little village of Gerainger

Was this in a suite?

It's so difficult - so much 'gets lost in translation', sometimes both sides of the pond are two great countries separated by a common language.

I've read the dress code requirements, and trying to be helpful - and British - this is what we are planning:

Breakfast - if not eating in, then it's whatever we are wearing for the rest of the day (within reason, not swimwear, obviously). So, if we are going ashore, we get dressed for the outing, and that's what we wear down for breakfast.

Lunch - hopefully we will be ashore, but we have a day onboard in port, we wear something suitable according to the weather; but never swimwear in a restaurant.

Afternoon tea - probably whatever we have been wearing for the day trip, unless we are on board all day, in which case again, not swimwear etc.

NEVER EVER HIKING BOOTS ON BOARD, EXCEPT FOR BREAKFAST IF WE ARE GOING OUT AND NEED HIKING BOOTS.

Dinner - smart trousers and a matching top, court shoes/smart sandals and matching small bag. For men - smart trousers and coordinating shirt, very smart jersey/jumper if necessary. Not a tie, not a jacket - that's too dressy.

It will probably (from past experience) be the case that people who get 'all dressed up' will stick out a mile; and feel uncomfortable.

If you want to get all dressed up etc - try something like PO, Cunard etc

If you're going into Olden and then on to the Briksdal Glacier then maybe something like Karrimors could be a good idea - it gets wet and slippery underfoot in places on the path (if you hike it, and not take the buggy).

Walking up the hill in Gerainger just needs ordinary shoes.

Last time I got Karrimor shoes, I got a really good deal in Sports Direct.

I'm from UK and buy Hotter shoes and use Blis-sox if any danger of blisters. Hotter do width fittings so best to try on in shop rather than buy online. Well trained staff who will advise. The trainers I buy are Asics Gel, good support and padding.

I use Hotter for my winter shoes, and my running shoes are ASICS. In warmer weather try Sketchers.

Ok, so first of all the only place you really need to worry about rain is Bergen.

Secondly what makes you think there’s lots of walking on a Norway cruise? However, that depends on what you call a long walk.

Meanwhile, being used to long hikes (and steep hills), I recommend not going tra shoe shop per se. You’re better off going to either Mountain Warehouse or Go Outdoors, both of which carry good ranges of walking, hiking and climbing booty, shoes and accessories including the appropriate socks, cleaners and waterproofers. Good luck.

I have a tendency to get blisters and I assume I can expect rain on this trip so would really appreciate any tips on great shoes to get which will be comfortable and waterproof. Have tried googling but there are so many that I am at a loss and realised that those that know best are those who have gone before. Please help or point me in the direction of help. Also do I need to buy a size bigger (if they are trainer typr shoes) and are anti-blister socks any good?

 

 

 

I am in the UK which affects the make of shoes that I can buy.

 

 

Thanks so much- I need to get some soon so I can get used to wearing them

Ok, we’ve booked with Viking because we’ll be on holiday and want to relax. We don’t want to get all dressed up: tidy- yes, smart- yes, but all trussed up in formal stuff, no way! It also means we can relax more, have more fun and enjoy knoythat our formal jewellery etc is nice and safe and sound.

I believe we can get more enjoyment by just relaxing and not having to go through formal evenings .

If people prefer to spend holidays getting ready for formal stuff, there are service providers for that sort of stuff. We’ve had enough. Looking forward to Viking

Ok, so what’s the situation if you decide to have a day on board for the day that the ship is in a place that requires or advises yf (and if you’re over 60 anyway)?

I did some research too, and somewhere I thought I saw a mention of a card which could be shown to authorities to verify that your country of origin has said that over 60's don't have to have the jab?

I don't wish to go booking a cruise to a destination where the authorities might be awkward and prevent me entering!

There is a website which is something to do with an International Health Organisation, but try Google for the best link. It all depends on your age and where you've come from I think. Basically I don't think there's a YF requirement for the Caribbean, not sure about the Amazon.

Whatever your nationality, your Government must have a website covering this. Good luck.