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Dwight,

If I recall you were on the Mt Cook overland adventure with us? The experience of landing up hill on a glacier is one I will never for get.    Such an amazing adventure.   Do you have any overlands this time?  

11 minutes ago, TER777 said:

 

Opps that trip from Rio to Mumbai is in the wrong direction.   That won't be nice losing an hour often for 44 days.

11 minutes ago, TER777 said:

They’re on the website: https://www.crystalcruises.com/cruises/none-cse-g44-250305?menu=suites_and_guest_rooms

Opps that cruise goes in the wrong direction.  Losing an hour over and over does not appeal.  Too bad.

Oooh.  Grand journey from Rio to Mumbai on the Serenity.   That interest me.  When do prices show up?

In the news again Ecuador has become much less stable.   Yikes do we really want to go in September?

We are big fans of Icelandair.   We had no issues with our luggage.   We did travel business class, SAGA.    They fly nonstop from PDX which is wonderful for us.  The food was good.   The style very Icelandic and friendly.    They have a lovely lounge in KEF.   Don't worry they are good.

Talk to your TA.   They can watch for you and advise if that is of great concern.  

7 minutes ago, May B said:

Two little changes. The Atrium is three stories high. There are chairs along the rails on two and three, for enjoying the music from deck one. Or the peace and quiet, depending on the time.

 

While the explorer lounge is two decks, the only opening is the stairway. The forward view is really nice, but the room isn’t as large as Palm Court.

...and 930 passengers vs Serenity (our favorite) 740.   That is a positive in our opinion.  Everyone's budget is their own and there is no best answer for all.   For you and Zsa Zsa it sounds as though Serenity or Symphony might float your boat.

On 8/18/2023 at 9:20 AM, ChatKat in Ca. said:

For those of us from the Los Angeles area, Prego was based on the restaurant Valentino with the menu designed by Piero Selveggio.  His food was legendary and his place at the top of the local Itallian food chain.  I am open to new experiences, but, Valentino will be missed by us Angelenos.  We loved Prego.

Ironically we went to Valentino's for a special occasion with family.  We had an absolutely awful meal.  So there you go.

3 minutes ago, pickleball dRabbit said:

He:
Viking Ocean is the place to be,
Promenadin'  is the life for me.
The atrium spreadin' out for a mile,
Keep Old Crystal, just give me that Viking style.

She:
New Crystal is where I'd rather stay,
The Stardust Lounge is where I like to sway.
I just adore a Sapphire view.
Darling I love you but give me Stars on the Avenue.

He: ...Viking Pride
She: ...Waterside
He: ... Manfredi's  
She: ...  The ladies

He: You are my mate.
She: Good bye, you cheapskate.
He and She: {Viking} {Crystal}, WE ARE THERE!
 

You can do both!  One of each, two of each.  Does Viking have pickleball?

I agree LeeAnn it is all part of the cost.   There are no short cuts except one.   Especially on a WC there is plentiful shipboard credit to be had from one of the many excellent Travel Agents out there.    Be a good consumer and don't leave money on the Crystal table.   Use your shipboard credit for excursions.

We did a mix of excursions on our WC.  Group organized, independent over nights and crystal day and overnight tours.   We really enjoyed the day safaris along South Africa with being able to return home to Serenity.  Such an experience.  I will never be sorry.  It remains one my favorite travel adventures ever.  

21 hours ago, CwazeAndCwaze said:

Don't fret maybe they will have binge-o.

Any idea if they are still using Steiner (😏 no relation) Corp for the spa?

If you guys do come into Portland I would be happy to be the welcoming committee.  🙂

Raising my hand from the back of the room... I have seen a Silversea or Seaborne cruise ship in Portland many many moons ago.  And this https://www.portlandbridges.com/00,0,38,0,1,0-portland-oregon.html  There is a nice waterfront.   Many wonderful wineries beckon beyond. 

I remember elaborate themed lunch buffets on my Harmony cruise.   The fancy lunch buffets lasted quite awhile.   On our Turkey/Black Sea cruise they had a famous turkish chef on board to carve gyros on board for lunch one time.   Lots of unique experiences for sure.  I will never be sorry we didn't wait til we were older.  We grabbed the chance to cruise the world thanks to early retirement wedged in,  before the grandkids arrived.   It turned out to be a great strategy. Losing Crystal is a gapping  hole in our travel life.  

I think an article on Cruise Critic about surviving a cruise mishap is due.  It would be an excellent and well timed thing.  I am a survivor a long ago ship "sinking" that is it sunk after we were rescued.  I learned a lot from the experience.  You go through a lot during and after a crisis like this.  Perhaps you could get an article up for 930 people who just experienced a cruise ship nightmare on Viking Sky.  Just a suggestion

I am not a Viking Cruises sailor but have survived a major incident on an ocean going cruise ship many many years ago.  I know how shell shocked these passengers are feeling.  It will be days before the adrenaline settles.   So the following is advice to the brave survivors of this incident:

1)  go slowly and allow yourself to finish your vacation on land.  Don't rush back to work or whatever it is you do too fast.  You get a little calm down time.  You earned it.

2)  Use your packing list of everything you brought on board.  Then if compare the list to what you are taking home.  If things are missing, ruined by water or just plain damaged submit that list to Viking.  They will make you whole.  I remember trying to figure out how much value to put on my stuff.  I went to Nordstroms and got the price to buy it all again.  Now my stuff may have been from Target but the cruise line was going to pay me Nordstroms price to go through the trouble of re-buying all our stuff.  (we lost everything in our incident)

3) If you have a family member or close friend who is a lawyer ask their opinion.  I found my cousin a big help in correspondence with the cruise company asking for reimbursement of things.

4)  Thank your lucky stars.  DO go on another cruise.  You may have moments of panic in the future on your next cruise but it will pass.  We went on to do a full world cruise after the long ago incident.  Don't let this deter you.  

Congratulations Viking Sky survivors you did it!

3 minutes ago, kaisatsu said:

FYI - Laws in Norway require that allergen information (including gluten) be readily available for all served food. Gluten-free options may be limited, but it’s not completely uncommon.

How very civilized.   We are going on a two day overland trip to sparsely populated regions.  That is why I asked.  I am considering bringing some gluten free snacks.  I don't expect the world to cater to my medical condition. 🙂

Does anyone know if food is allowed to be taken off ships in Iceland and or/Norway?  I am strictly gluten free celiac.  It will be a hardship to try and find gluten free food in small places.  Thanks.

Recently there have been a variety of critical reviews of Crystal.  I went to find out more.  They had a bogus cabin number listed.   How can you stop false reviews?  Example:  https://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=647377

To quote the guys at Car Talk "the stingy man pays the most".   

My recommendations:

1.  Pick an all inclusive line if you can afford it.

2.  DIY your shore excursions when it makes sense.

3. Buy good insurance including evacuation.

4. Use good common sense in poor/developing/dangerous countries.  

5.  Enjoy every single minute.  Don't miss it!

14 Night Crystal Cruise in Oct. to Caribbean out of New York, $5009 per person for an Inside Cabin.

12 Night Royal Caribbean cruise in Oct. to the Caribbean out of Boston, $944 per person for an Inside Cabin.

Better be REALLY GOOD FOOD for the $8000 difference in price.

No such thing as an "inside cabin" on Crystal so calling YOUR bluff. People don't knock it till you try it. Imagine not paying for specialty dining, room service free, specialty coffees and ice cream all included. It is a real vacation not a $999 cruise with thousands of dollars of add ons. We went from Princess to Crystal. Then again you guys are all experts on this luxury bashing you have never tried.

Hello--We're on the same cruise, the week before you! We go to Amsterdam regularly to embark on cruises and now stay at B&Bs or airbnbs. But we have stayed at Vondelpark Park Hotel--a bit further out--as well as the Marriott right on the Amstel River across from the train station... $305 is crazy high! There are plenty of decent hotels. Go to kayak.com and enter all your filters--number of stars, price range, neighborhoods, etc. Or do the same thing thru booking.com or hotels.com. We always find--in traveling to other places such as Paris--that actually doing your reservation through the hotel's own site is cheaper or offers additional perks or discount. But in any case, book NOW. The hotels are filling up fast as this is the beginning of the high season.

Hi sophie. We have a "role call" for the tulip cruise thread over here: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2579764

Congratulations to all the new and almost retired folks. I just came back to say how great it is to be retired. Don't get me wrong I loved my work but this is so much better.

Grandkids, volunteer work and most of all traveling is just wonderful. You can be assured of one thing. No more sick days. No more counting until Friday. It is wonderful.