rbslos18

Thanks all. Any Promenade deck works for us! Sorry I wrote “covered.” The online deck plan did not mention the Promenade deck. I was hoping the track over the pool was not the lone area to walk/run. When we book, we will bring our hats and ample sunscreen.

Do the beautifully refurbished ships have a wrap-around (covered) Promenade deck for walking/running? Thanks!

FlexiPax is a product offered by Travel Insured, a reputable company.

Counselors, I interpret this to mean having the physical document on our person like all the other docs listed: passport, COVID card and visa etc. What do you say?!

Here’s a great did you know from the Viking Passenger Ticket (non-US). Did you know that each of us is required to have on our person the 18 page Viking Passenger Contract! “8. PRE-BOARDING AND EMBARKATION REQUIREMENTS. Upon initiation of pre-boarding procedures, you shall have in your possession the Passenger Ticket Contract…”

I would hope after 40 years as a lawyer, this contract would be child’s play for you. There is a reason for the legal profession! For many of us with different educational backgrounds, this contract is a challenge to understand which defeats its purpose.

A bit judgmental and presumptuous. I have read the contract for a second time. It is a legal document that is complex in many places. It is 18 pages, single-spaced and quite frankly tedious. Some companies with similar types of contracts have written abbreviated summaries highlighting the most important points. Maybe you and/or Flyer Talker are up to creating a Viking Contract for Non-lawyers!

All well taken. Unfortunately the language used in these contracts is overwhelming to many, at least me! Essential information is typically buried in pages of legalese, beyond the comprehension of many.

I do not question your expertise. Your knowledge is appreciated. But is “Read the fine print” necessary? Most of us who post questions are seeking help not chastisement.

The infrequent complaints about Deck 3 noise that I have read are from people above Torshavn, Cabins 348-357. But even people in those cabins do not find it a regular problem.

Gowilk I am so sorry for your health challenges. I will take a stab at your post. Wishing you a full recovery. Please feel free to correct. Where do I start? I fly to the cruise on American and return with United. The two airlines had at least 6 schedule changes in two months. (I booked with Air Plus) Currently one of the flights is almost full and our seats have not been assigned. Frankly this is terrible and I will never book again with Viking Air. Why have there been so many changes? Perhaps it is better to book with the airline, pay for the ticket and be assigned a seat. Gowilk, I hope I captured your frustration. And yes, what you point out is one of the advantages of booking directly with the airlines. Although with many airlines you can choose a seat once you book with Viking Air Plus, the seat isn't guaranteed until you pay and the ticket is purchased by Viking. I typically handle the airlines myself unless we receive a price from Viking we can not resist. Once I book I monitor the flight weekly via the airlines' websites.

Well said. The Viking KB’s Mum describes is quite foreign to most of us. Thankfully there she had many travel and cruise options. The board is presumably to help and inform.

Using a Viking agent works for many. Some use the same travel agent out of loyalty. I use both. I book with a Viking agent when I cruise or when at home and then transfer the booking to my travel agent. For me, the SBC is secondary. My hard working travel agent making a well-deserved commission means a lot.

Let’s tweak that to wide-eye or maybe both! That SJD and LindaS will hopefully agree with! With most reviews found online, the very happy and unhappy tend to post. I find the truth is usually somewhere in the middle. One of the interesting aspects of Viking is the large percent of devotees who are repeat cruisers.

Greatver, I would not assume you will not be disappointed. Do your homework! Eliminate the wild-eye lovers of Viking who can see no wrong and the equally extreme negative viewpoints. Find posts that touch on the areas important to you. What’s a good fit for someone else may be a negative for you. We left Princess after 20 years of cruising (We were Elite) because of the larger ships which eliminated the Promenade Deck. It felt like a mass market experience. We like Viking’s laid back and subtle elegant feel. The cabin’s are modern with huge bathrooms. The ship feels modern, warm and spacious. Most important for my wife is the wrap around Promenade Deck. The meals we have had were delicious and the staff is very welcoming and typically well-trained. It is not uncommon for staff who regularly see you to greet you by name. We tried a luxury line three times and found it somewhat intrusive. It felt like my public sector work. Viking, with all of its minor nuisances, has been a perfect fit for us to escape. Modern, classy, upscale but not obnoxiously so. Read the tips posts and reviews. It is far from perfect but all that matters is it is perfect for you.

Oh my. Thankfully this has not been our experience on Viking. We may not be good judges. We don’t cruise on Viking for the food or entertainment which is so subjective. All we really expect is well-prepared fish, fresh fruits and fresh vegetables. We do frequent the arts and find the musicians and entertainers to be talented. World class, by no means. Our last Viking cruise we did have a world-class ventriloquist.

While we have done around 40 cruises on 4 different lines, we have only been cruising with Viking since 2021. And we have yet to do a Viking River Cruise. We clearly don’t have your knowledge and experience with Viking. In what area or ways do you find Viking’s standards have declined so precipitously? Since I am picking your brain, what lines do you find doing Viking better than Viking?

we did 30+ cruises on Princess. They changed their approach to big ships. The service in every area declined. We tried some luxury cruises which made us uncomfortable. Viking has a great niche with gorgeous, modern-interesting ships, no casino and no formal dress. While the typical service onboard is outstanding, there still is a lot of room for precruise experience improvement. I always feel like a valuable customer onboard even when things don’t go as intended. That is not always the case precruise. The Air, customer relations and other such experiences feel uneven.

Agreed. There are areas where Viking can improve. The areas you mention will eventually hurt Viking. While it has a fabulous niche we find perfect for us, the areas above, unless improved soon, will take its toll. Just read Andy’s posts about the LA office.

I have no doubt Felix and Risa are outstanding. I believe they are typically the norm. However, check the Viking reviews on CC and there is an increase in concern about staff “training.” The same is true about Viking air. Those who have a great experience rave about it until they get an agent whose training frustrates them. We, like many on this board, love Viking at its best. The typical customer is pretty happy. We count ourselves among that group. We have three cruises booked. We cruise on Viking with open eyes. Viking should not rest on its past laurels. It still has room to improve as one can see from posts on this forum.

There is an international organization which oversees many programs: https://assistancedogsinternational.org/.

I stand corrected. will assume Felix and Risa are the norm and there are no problems with inexperienced staff on any of the new ships.

We agree with your list. We recently had a new room steward on our Neptune cruise who was not well trained. Upon arrival, our room did not have a room service menu or Do Not Disturb sign. The arrival/departure cover to protect the bed was not put out. We also had to ask for Body Wash twice. When I inquired if Room Service was available, the steward was caught off guard. Viking may have somehow been caught off-guard by the surge in cruising.

Which VPN do you use?

It would be great but the process may vary among companies. If it can be done it would be a huge help!