Parsley Cruises

2 minutes ago, RJ2002 said:

 

This has been our experience as well...  muster drill held shortly before sailing. 

It makes good sense.  Do passengers have to take their life jackets with them to muster?  (Hope not).

Having said that, we really respect the muster drill, and we always attend and pay attention quietly.

I'm interesting in finding out about the exit doors too.  I've tried looking really hard at photos and advertising material to try and work out where the doors are for embarkation/disembarkation (mostly so that I can plan my running routine on the prom deck).

I've sort of found out that the muster drill is usually held on the afternoon when the ship actually leaves port.

So, whereas on some ships the exist/entrance for disembarkation (this is on ships which are bigger than the VO ships) changes according to the port facilities and the tide, where are those points on VO, and is it always the same deck used, or does it change?

Thanks.

Never mind all this 'will we fit in lark' that's really a load of nonsense.  We don't give a hoot if we fit in with other people or not - we're going on a cruise which we have paid for, for our benefit and enjoyment.  

Now then, being slightly older highly professional people with a load of cruising behind us, we don't look for a grand night out in a bar or disco; after dinner we prefer to retire to our accommodation and quietly enjoy being at sea and 'mellowing down into the sunset' together.

Entertainment which we've chosen - be it on the tv in our suite or maybe a show or a good book (not to mention fiddling with all the photos on our tablets), that's our idea of chill time or time out.

We've had a boat-load of dressing-up, and we're going with VO because we believe we can relax in the evening.  Ok, so we won't be wearing jeans, but it's not a fashion parade.  If someone makes a negative comment or complaint about our slacks and tops - we really won't care.  We have read the dress codes etc., and we'll go with what is printed there.  If people want to be stuffy - then obviously they are on the same cruise.

So, book it, enjoy it, and have a great time.  Concentrate on that.  Good luck.

One thing I have found from previous long stays overseas (from the UK), is that some countries do not permit certain medications, (so don't take them ashore with you if at all possible), and secondly don't forget to take with you your printed prescription sheet/s.  

This 'official dislike' of even off-the-shelf items such as Paracetamol (and a couple of other things which we take for granted in the UK) aren't allowed for instance in UAE.

Best answer is thorough research, so whilst working out how you can get enough stuff to travel with, don't forget to research if it is allowed on your particular itinerary.

Good luck.

We’re sort of teetering on the brink of selecting a different itinerary, mainly simply because we really don’t want to be longer than necessary in US mainland, and secondly because the Windies are not really on our bucket list.  We might do it, but we’ve got time to change our minds yet.  Need to get our next cruise done and dusted first.

Ok, I like the idea of maybe staying in an airport hotel in Miami and then like you going onwards the next morning.

Having as long as possible between the two flights on the outbound journey is quite appealing.

I thought that there would be all the security etc situation, but we’ll stick with the BA long haul and AA short haul situation.

Huge thanks.  We did find a later flight down to SJ, but the Miami is almost appealing.

Thanks for that.  As long as there’s a Business Lounge for a bit for albeit almost peace and quiet it won’t be so bad.  Just need to work out about baggage etc between the two flights and we’ll definitely do this itinerary.

Thanks once again.

So, we currently have a reservation for a cruise San Juan - San Juan, and we are starting to wonder about the experiences of others who have flown UK (LHR in our case) - Miami, and then with an onward connection to San Juan.  

Is it a long queue-type situation for immigration and collecting luggage?  Is it a long hike from inbound and baggage collection to get the baggage checked in for the flight down to San Juan?  Is there a Bus Class lounge in Miami?

We don't know whether to opt for the 5 hrs flight connection or play safe and risk getting bored with the current 7 hour connection.  

We've got plenty of time to actually book stuff, but we would like to have an input on this one - and then if it's too much hassle we'll simply change our itinerary.  We've already selected the pre-cruise extension in San Juan so that we can be really relaxed and rested before embarking the ship.

Many thanks all.

Mechanisation, automation, love it; but if people think I’m going to visit either a kitchen or a laundry they’re going to be disappointed. It’s not for me.

Sadly, no, we’re on Viking Sun, not Viking Sky. We’ve enjoyed the Baths of Diocletian, and now we’re off to Diocletian’s Palace in Split. Looking forward, can’t wait!

In the colder months, I sometimes try hot chocolate (but then I go easy on the edibles), or hot blackcurrant cordial (eg Ribena), and sometimes also if it's possible (and then only going for savoury items) nice hot Bovril (not too strong, mind you).

After the unpleasant experience last time I did afternoon tea on a ship (but it wasn't Viking), I'm hoping for a more pleasant experience on our next cruise. Having said that, I'm not one of those people who has to do afternoon tea every day - life's too short!

Viking did all my laundry for 4 months...yep not as gentle as home BUT I took things that I did not really care about....and they NEVER lost a thing...misplaced for a day or 2 but always showed up....even a belt from a dress that I never should have sent!!!

 

 

the tour of the laundry was GREAT!!!!

Come of it - you did a TOUR OF THE LAUNDRY??? Now that disturbs me! Tour of the bridge - well ok, done it before, but it's interesting. Tour of the engine room - yes please, but I doubt if that's permitted, but tour of the laundry???

I think I'd sooner do a tour of the inside of my eyelids, sorry!

Thankfully, our days of having to be away from home base for longish periods of time are now a happy memory of times past, and now we can choose how long we are away for.

We're simply so content at our present home base that we just don't fancy being away for more than 2-3 weeks at a time, and I can easily plan ahead and do one of several things to avoid using a ship's laundry. Don't get me wrong - I'm sure they are splendid facilities, we just have never used them; and there's absolutely no way we could hang anything out to dry on a balcony. So, either we use the laundry/dry clean service which is part of the suite deal, or we have in the past had fresh clothing arrive in luggage (obviously with a bit of forward planning), and the luggage containing clothing due to return home ahead of use just 'goes'. Leaving us with what we want/need. If we have an accident (maybe damaging a piece of clothing whilst of holiday, it simply gets replaced).

Hi Little Monty,

That's great to know, we've got our laundry bag schedule agreed between the two of us - and it will be a help. I did sit and wonder what a PV was, then I worked it out! (PV in our part of the world means Patisserie Valerie, which whilst not a patch on Bettys is a wonderful place to stop for refreshment). Anyway, thanks for the info, simply planning to put stuff out every couple of days, and stop 2 days before the end of the cruise.

Many thanks indeed.

We won't be doing afternoon tea every day - but we would like to try it out on Viking Ocean. I wonder if VO might try the Celebrity idea and deliver it direct to the suites for people with Junior Penthouse size and above? It was great on Celebrity, and it didn't mean we were being anti-social, just a bit tired after a really busy tour.

It sounds lovely, and we are looking forward to it, just so long as I can have a cup of hot water and a tea-bag separate I'll be content.

I know that in a suite there is laundry/dry cleaning provided; but does anyone know how long it takes to be returned, and the same goes for the shoe cleaning service - how long does that take to come back?

However, I can't get over this fascination that people seem to have with laundry facilities: it's a holiday for crying out loud! We always put a number of clean white plastic bags in our cases, and then as and when anything needs 'putting on a washing pile' which means items which are going to be dealt with back home, they get sorted into the different little bags, sealed up and then when we get home it's simply a case of open bag, shove stuff into washing machine, press buttons, done. There isn't usually much to deal with, as we use the free laundry/dry clean facilities, but it's simply something we've always done for years now.

I haven't got the time to spend doing laundry on holiday!

However, yes, I believe there are washers and dryers, and also passengers who 'cheat' the queue system and someties even put up notices to say that machines are 'out of order' when all they are doing is behaving badly. It's not clever.

We've been to Iceland several times, and can't get enough of it. Personally, we don't find it expensive - to the extent that we'd even love to move there to live.

What is really wonderful though is to go either very early or very late in the year, and see if you can do an extended glacier expedition. We did, and we most certainly didn't regret it - superb memories.

I think we're pretty much decided that we're going to stick to exploring Dubrovnik and enjoying photography 'off the tourist track', then back to the ship and a nice run during the afternoon. Weather permitting!!!

Ok, we're heading out shortly on a cruise which also had 'free air', but we are in the UK, and booked direct with Viking Ocean. We gave them at the time of booking an outline of our preferred airline and preferred times of flights. As soon as the flight schedule were released (about 11 months before departure) we were allocated our flights - exactly the flights we wanted. We phoned Viking Ocean here in the UK and thanked them for the flight information and asked for upgrade to Business Class (which is all that is ever available on our flights) and within a very short space of time we had paid for the upgrade, selected our favourite seats and got the flight information through on the relevant app on our smart phones.

That was our booking experience, but as I said, we are in the UK and we booked direct with Viking Ocean. We're quite happy with everything so far.

Hope you get sorted out. Good luck.

on our 2 week VO trip the ONLY time I saw more than 4 people in a pool at one time was during the 'blue nose' ceremony

 

More often 0 to maybe 2!

 

And plenty of open seating all around .....

Ok, I give up - what is the 'blue nose' ceremony? Interested to know.

In Dubrovnik, I would consider walking the wall around the old city. Did it on our last cruise and DW is not overly mobile, but she survived without issues. Few steps up to the wall and various inclines/descents along the route, but the views are definitely worth the effort. Lots of nice cafes for lunch and refreshments after the walk.

We've opted to get out of town and explore the countryside (and the small charming port of Cavtat nearby) previously. So, we haven't done the old town of Dubrovnik itself.

Somehow I get the impression that the walls themselves are relatively narrow on top - obiously (hopefully) there is a small wall about hip-high on the seaward side of the wall, but is there anything such as a handrail on the landward side of it? I've got no problems at all with walking (it's quite hilly where we live) or steps and hills, but I personally don't like what I term 'narrow walkways and ledges'.

There's plenty of up and down walking to be had in Venice if you walk from the ship to (for instance) Monumento (especially if you include the Rialto Bridge) it's a good 'warm up' for the excursions.

We're not on your cruise, we sail out a couple of days later, but it sounds pretty much the same itinerary.

Have a wonderful time.

Is your cruise the one leaving Venice 01 November?

Ok, if you are mobile (not using mobility aids), Corfu is most definitely walkable (hope they've repair the pavements though; last visit there the pavements (sidewalks) needed attention. However, in Corfu, beware the very long walk from the ship to terra firma.

Dubrovnik - I probably wouldn't recommend this for walking from ship to the town as I think there is a very steep and long hill between the two. It's about 4km each way, so our plan is to do the included walking tour of Dubrovnik and see just how the land lies, then because the ship is due to be in port until late evening we'll have worked out a nice running route and spend the afternoon having a run or get out and about for 'off-piste' photography on our own.

If going to the town in Dubrovnik doesn't appeal, there's a lovely little coastal village a short drive away called Cavtat. On the drive there you can stop at some lovely cliff top parking areas and take photos, but you'll probably have to get a taxi for that.

Which ship are you on? Have a great time. You never know, maybe we'll be on the same cruise!

OK, just off Mega Ship. Pool Capacity on her is 21 in each pool. Does anyone know what the main pool capacity is on any Viking Ocean ship? The Mega Ship has a sign with stated capacity. Too bad that 97 friends and family members didn't listen. Yes 97 in one of the 2 main pools.

So what (if anything) were the pool stewards/life guards (if any) doing?

Lounging by a pool is fine and dandy, but numbers of people in a pool and their behaviour (eg obeying stuff like no jumping etc). Swimming pools are a wonderful invention, and a really lovely facility; but it's not simply fun, it's also dangerous. Messing around is stupid in the extreme.

Since this question of mine has been revived, and apparently I am a glutton for punishment, I have another suggestion. How about 9:00 pm on the west coast, midnight on the east coast, and then 6:00 am in the UK? I imagine that would provide a reasonable time frame for a good 80% of Viking cruisers. It wouldn't help people who work night shift, but even the Austalians would have a 2:00 pm the next day time frame. Personally, I would be delighted to accept any of those time slots!

Yawn. Why should it be changed?

I think that yes, if you have obc you can use it before embarkation to book an excursion, once the excursions are open for booking,

I would also think that you could make the arrangements once you are on board too.

However, if you’ve already paid for it, I don’t know if they will then use your obc and refund your payment.

Good luck.