HUNKY

Ugh that the discount went down to 8%! I used my Citi Double Cash card to get 2% back on my HAL gift card so my final cost for a $500 card is $450.80, which is a 9.84% discount. I use the HAL gift cards for shorex and to pay my onboard bill.

When I went online to confirm the booking, I checked out dining. There was an offering for the Thomas Keller kitchen on Seabourn!

Tried to book online a cruise three weeks away. Spent several hours trying to book and pay for it. WASN'T GOING TO HAPPEN. Called the main customer number (877-932-4259) and less than eight minutes later. All done! I prefer to do things online without human assistance, but this time I was amazed at the outstanding professionalism and efficiency of the agent.

TennAllie - How much was the Uber from Tilbury to London?

Hey Clay - Are there computers to use? If so, where are they? I'm thinking of leaving the laptop at home.

Just like the airlines…What is United Polaris? Is Delta One business class or first class? Anytime I book tickets I need to translate what they are.

Foggy - that is most likely the excursion. I knew it was most of the day.

CCW - Where do you check the Chef's Table menus?

Last summer in Svalbard some folks took an independent tour to the north coast. Saw several polar bears - which we did not. It was a long excursion, which I wish I took. We took a small high speed boat to see glaciers and the coast-but NO polar bears. 😩

You would be wise to book your second choice. Remember to select and pay for your excursion individually. It helps to have a list of excursions by priority, and second choices, and have your credit card number copied and ready to paste. Having two screens is very beneficial and saves time switching windows.

Viking Neptune and Viking Sky on their World Cruises still have not heard. I wonder if the Crystal ships will have any insurance coverage if they transit the Red Sea?

Looks as though the port was busy. I noted Carnival, Virgin, Disney, and Viking. And the ferries. A mini Port Everglades! On another note, Crystal Serenity is rerouting around the Cape of Good Hope.

They can turn over their luggage to the Viking staff after baggage claim. They need to let those same staff know they are not going to be on the bus.

Karla - was the Twelve Apostles excursion included or paid? Seems Clay & Mikes was a bust.

Therein lies the problem. Both Manfredi's and the Chef's Table should never be disappointing. I've enjoyed both, but my other half was very disappointed in Manfredi's, and the Chef's Table's menus don't appeal to him, due to his distaste for seafood. We will see if the CT can successfully alter their menus to exclude seafood. We've never had a problem with land-based restaurants modifying prix fixe menus.

As dining at the specialty restaurants on VIKING does not incur an added cost, what you get has to abide by the budget set by corporate. By charging a fair amount, let’s say $100 per person, the quality would increase greatly, and the specialty restaurants would truly become special.

edmonton1 - Welcome to Cruise Critic! I don't know your cruise history, so may I suggest in the future to do thorough research beforehand? Starting a cruise feeling disappointed is unfortunate. You have learned several valuable lessons: cruises are sometimes legs of longer voyages, check hotel prices before booking with an unrelated provider, cruises miss ports of call, different consumers pay different prices, and Viking has excellent service and good food. Also, past Viking cruisers receive a small loyalty discount on future cruises.

Philw1776 - If you can not see the full listing under the drop-down menu you might need to adjust your screen view size or zoom. For a PC monitor a setting over 110% or so will not allow you to see the full listing.

Clay - are those circular vents surrounding the interior pool just for ventilation, or can they turn on the AC to cool down the area? BTW it will be 9 in Arden, NC and 17 in Durham, NC Sunday morning!

Karla! Thank you, thank you, thank you so much for your AWESOME pictures!

2cruizinfools - If you are only overnighting in London, may I suggest you stay at Heathrow? You and your luggage can then take the Viking bus transfer. The Hilton Garden Inn on Cessna Road is located across the parking deck, less than 500 feet from Terminal 2.

Viking does allow you to use OBC for the daily service charge. I wish all cruise lines would let you use OBC to pay for shorex booked beforehand.

I was on Saturn, July 2023 in cabin 3056 across from the laundry. I could hear the door closing along with our neighbors door, of course. It was not bothersome and certainly not loud enough to wake me up.

WHAT? A washable sport coat! I work for a steakhouse and need to wear a suit jacket or sport coat. Have you gentlemen had any experience with greasy food spills on these jackets? As in, do they wash up nicely? I apologize for the thread drift.

I truly believe that Manfredi's is not an incredible, five-star experience due to not charging extra for dining there. Corporate/HQ/Torstein gives them a set budget and Manfredi's CAN NOT spend more than what they are given. Even though it may be "nickel & diming" I'd much rather pay out of pocket and have an over-the-top, hands-down spectacular dining event.