molymoo

On 1/15/2020 at 4:04 PM, Dauntless said:

Maybe it's me but....since it is just the size of a credit card and we never have to show it on the ship except to enter or exit, is it the same problem with those pesky keys for our houses?  Do you not have a single pocket in your clothes?

You would be surprised how many of my dinner outfits do not have any sort of pocket!  My daughter carries my key card most of the time!

41 minutes ago, Paul73 said:

Viking runs online "sales" all the time, but they only seem to offer free air or the silver beverage package.  Stateroom prices don't seem to change except for current season unsold cabins.  The benefit of booking onboard is usually an onboard booking discount, onboard credit on your current cruise, and onboard credit on the cruise you're booking.  You probably can't get a better deal than booking onboard.

We have booked several cruises while onboard and there were always some "discounts" on booked cruises and some onboard credit for the cruise we were currently on, however we never got any sort of OBC for the cruise we booked.  Perhaps if one "transfers" this newly booked cruise to a TA the TA might provide an OBC, but it will likely not come directly from Viking.  

We now have a great Viking agent and prefer booking directly with her rather than doing an onboard booking.  Her exemplary service is worth more than any "discounts" we might get booking onboard.

We have enjoyed every port but top three are ...

Edinburgh

Oslo

Alborg, Denmark

53 minutes ago, OneSixtyToOne said:

Here is a tip that I wish I had heard before today. On sea days the breakfast and lunch times change. The only place to find the times is on the paper copy of Viking daily. The app and the ship’s video displays all tell you to consult the Viking Daily for hours of operation. The Viking Voyager app has a Viking Daily section but it does NOT show the times that are on the back page of the paper daily. These times are only found on the paper version.

 

Today we had a double whammy, a sea day and a time change. I knew about the time change but the different hours of operation threw me. We are too late for any breakfast and too early for any lunch.  The only food we could find was muffins and cookies in the living room. I’m going to suggest to the cruise director that he mentions during orientation that sea day hours vary from other days.

Room service?

On 7/24/2024 at 10:08 AM, OneSixtyToOne said:

Also, no need to wear a robe to the spa. They are provided in the locker rooms.

You are absolutely right!  Robes are indeed provided in the locker rooms, however we have often found that no lockers are available which makes it difficult to change into bathing attire.  After experiencing this several times we now just put on our suits, don a robe and head to the spa via the forward elevators which are located directly in front of the spa on deck 1.  

15 hours ago, CCWineLover said:

Here we go again after a year!   I better go out and get more popcorn!

The never ending topic - like politics you'll find strong opinionated people at both extremes.

I'm guessing this keeps coming up as the "enforcement" of said policy is not consistent.  We hear/read about guests being asked to change out of their jeans before being admitted to the restaurant or one of the alternative dining venues but have (in 10+ VO cruises) never seen it happen and on every cruise individuals in jeans are seated without question.  I don't care what anyone wears to dinner but do adhere to the dress code.

15 hours ago, Redtravel said:

Sadly I see guests wearing bathrobes on every cruise. It looks ridiculous.  Maybe some cruisers need to be reminded that wearing a bathrobe is only acceptable in the cabin. Cruise lines might attach a label that says “ to be used only in your cabin.” 

I would beg to differ here ... we routinely wear the robes when we are heading to the spa ... either to enjoy the thermal suite or have a service scheduled.  We have often found that all of the lockers are full, making changing difficult.  We take the elevators in the front of the ship and they open right in front of the spa.  Have never ventured into "public places" in a robe but believe it is perfectly acceptable to and from the spa.  

We are back from our Iconic Iceland, Greenland and Canada cruise.  The laundry is done and it’s time for a quick “review”.  We were on Mars and unfortunately missed the Greenland stops because of ice.  We knew going in that this was a distinct possibility, so we weren’t surprised.  The captain tried to get us to an alternate port (Paamiut) but even there the ice was just too much.  Frankly I was thrilled just to see the icebergs (small ones; “growlers” they call them) and there was a brief whale siting, so I was perfectly content, even not having set foot on land. 

Mars was a lovely ship and the crew was amazing.  Viking crews are always fabulous, but this crew seemed to take things to another level.  So friendly, so patient, and so accommodating.  Honestly there was absolutely nothing to complain about at any point in the cruise.  That said, however, this was probably the rudest group of passengers we have encountered on any of our (21) Viking cruises!  Don’t get me wrong … most of the passengers were great, but the relatively few who weren’t were so obnoxious as to really stand out.  Most of the rudeness was directed at the crew in the form of complaints, demands, and snapping of fingers, etc. but some bordered on aggression and what I would consider to be bordering on threatening behavior.  We thought perhaps it was us but in conversations with other passengers we found that others had the same observations.

Food is always a subjective topic but we found it to be very good.   I enjoyed some meals more than others but was never disappointed.  We had a tour of the galley and after seeing how much work and planning goes into preparing each meal I wonder at their ability to do as well as they do.   

We had a last minute upgrade in our cabin and ended up in a PJS on the 7^th deck.  We were there once before (another upgrade) and really like the location.  Our stewards were hard working, efficient and friendly.  Not a day went by when we didn’t enjoy a chat with them as we came and went.

All in all we had a great time.  The itinerary was awesome and we loved seeing the Iceland outside of Reykjavik.  It was beautiful and we really lucked out with the weather! 

We have had only one guarantee cabin and got our assignment about a week before we boarded.  We did not get an upgrade but it was the first leg of a world cruise so I imagine any upgrades went to those doing the WC.  We have had three ocean and one river upgrade in the years we have been sailing with Viking.  One was a surprise when we checked in but the others we got notification about a week out from our departure.

We always book a PV (usually on deck 4)... it has tons of storage so it is easy to keep tidy (we are almost always complimented by our room stewards who really appreciate an uncluttered room).  Unlike (apparently) everybody else we do spend time in our room.  Nothing is quite as delightful as an afternoon nap on a sea day, or having an early room service breakfast, catching a movie after dinner when you're too tired to socialize, or just sitting and enjoying the nights entertainment on our bed, in your pajamas!  We have had three complementary upgrades to PJS cabins and they are truly delightful ... just not worth the extra $$$ when booking.

Food is a VERY subjective subject.  You will find that while you may find the food lacking others might well love it.  We have been on 20 Viking cruises (river and ocean) and find the food can vary and some meals are better than others but we have never been disappointed. 

We will be leaving in about a month for the Iconic Iceland, Greenland, and Canada cruise.  As the time approaches, I am thinking about going to the bank and getting some “local” currency for tipping and small incidentals along the way.  I’m not sure how to proceed so thought I might seek the wisdom of others who have “been there, done that”. 

We will have two stops in Greenland.  The currency is Danish Krona, which is easy enough to get through the bank, however after reading the descriptions of the three excursions we have scheduled it appears that two are “self-guided” and the third is a visit to the fur house.  Will tips even be needed?  What about small purchases from locals who apparently set up tables and sell handiwork when tourists are in town?  I have no problem getting Krone for the stop but will have no use for it anywhere else along the way so don’t want to have a lot “left over”.   Also have to keep in mind that these are ports that might easily be “missed” completely due to weather conditions.

In Iceland there will be several stops.  I plan to have Icelandic Krone but wonder how much might be needed.  I have heard many times that Iceland is not a place where tipping is the norm and they are not expected.  Does or has anyone tipped their tour guides while in Iceland?  How about drivers?

Finally, what to do about Canada.  We will (potentially) have two stops there and have no issue with getting some Canadian dollars but do remember a time when Canadians loved getting US dollars.  This was when I was a kid travelling with my parents so it is actually ancient history but wonder how to approach this one.

Any wisdom and/or advice is appreciated!

14 hours ago, Peregrina651 said:

 

I'll try to post pix from the Little Dublin Museum temp location for you.  

I so hope it will be an enjoyable visit!  I have to believe it will be … they are very proud of their special little museum so can’t imagine they wouldn’t pull out all of the stops to do a great job!

1 hour ago, CDNPolar said:

 

We respect the crew on the ship and you get that and more back.

 

It also amazes us how some people treat them...

 

 

You are so right!  We have seen some truly abhorrent behavior toward the crew.  Fortunately most passengers behave well and are respectful of the crew and their fellow passengers.  

A,  I'm so excited to being able to "tag along" on your journey!  This was my favorite itinerary ... so much so we did it twice!  Loved every port and would do it all again in a heartbeat!  Guess I truly am an anglophile!  

24 minutes ago, CDNPolar said:

 

 

Viking Crew, especially the Guest Service and Hotel Manager teams are amazing to work with.  No protocols... just walk up to Guest Services, sit down, and state your case/needs.

 

Viking will work with you, BUT remember that for paid for excursions, you must cancel at least 48 hours in advance of the excursion for a refund.   There was a communication more recently that stated that they would not make changes until 48 hours after sailing?  So combined with 48 hours before the excursion that could put some of your excursions in danger.

 

I would also email tellus@vikingcruises.com and tell them your situation.

 

Someone please confirm the communication about when changes can be made????

Thanks for the info.  I'm sure we will be fine as the first significant change in excursions would likely be day 12 of the cruise ... that's when we get to Iceland.  

I am trying to decide the best way to handle an excursion issue for our upcoming Iconic Iceland, Greenland and Canada cruise (June 22).  We have booked our excursions and many of them were quite pricey.  In fact, it is the most we have ever spent on excursions on more than 20 Viking cruises.  There has been a pretty significant change in my physical status since the booking of these excursions and I will absolutely need to reassess the choices made and cancel ones selected and either go with the included or opt to simply stay on board at some stops.  I could cancel and/or change now and a refund will go to our credit card, or I could wait until onboard.  Waiting until onboard would give me an opportunity to, perhaps meet with someone in charge of shore excursions who could answer specific questions which might make the process more informed.  Has anyone had any experience “adjusting” their excursions onboard.  Are they generally open to meeting with passengers about specific questions.  I am imagining they would be perfectly fine meeting with me but I have never needed to meet with any crew members before so not sure as to protocols.   Our first full day is a sea day and the first stop is Nova Scotia and it seems as though that excursion would be okay so I would have the requisite 48 hours to make changes without monetary loss.  Any wisdom on this issue?

Sorry A, having trouble finding email ... probably need a site tutorial as I have not posted much recently.  We will be leaving from NYC on June 22 and heading for Reykjavik.  Would be fun to meet your sister should it be possible.  Thanks for the information and the pics!

E

We are still 78 days out from our Iconic Iceland, Greenland and Canada cruise in June.  We have booked our excursions but recent health issues have me wondering whether we might need to make some changes before we sail.  We have booked two in particular that I question moving forward and wonder if those who have done these can give me some more details than offered in the descriptions.  One is in Akureyri … the Whale Watching Safari.  It is listed as “demanding” but wonder what might make it so.  The other is the Fjallsárlón Ice Lagoon by Zodiac in Djúpivogur.  The question here is riding on the Zodiac … have been having some arthritis issues in both shoulders and wonder if the zodiac might be difficult to manage.  Am working diligently with doctors to address the issues and better manage the situation but want to be ready to make changes if necessary.

A lot depends on the cruise.  We have been on 10 VO cruises and three were in PJS's (upgrades courtesy of Viking) and generally use their laundry service for everything except "personal" items.  We have often had difficulty getting washers/dryers ... especially on sea days.  Generally folks are polite and patient but there are always a few that will "dump" your stuff if you aren't back immediately.  On one cruise we witnessed a "gentleman" go on a tirade about how the washers/dryers were to be used.  He insisted that if you are using washer #1 then Dryer #1 was "yours" and no one had any business using it.  A woman who had washed her load in washer #4 placed her load in dryer #1 which according to him was "his".  When his wash was done he opened dryer #1, dumped her wet clothes on the floor and stated that "that should teach her to follow the rules".  Takes all kinds!

6 hours ago, LindaS272 said:

Don’t forget churros—Little shop in the Barra Gotic—best chocolate in Barcelona

https://www.tripadvisor.co.nz/ShowUserReviews-g187497-d2256739-r433334195-Granja_Dulcinea-Barcelona_Catalonia.html

 

As for Gaudi, after Sagrada Familia, don’t miss Casa Battlo—incredible!

https://www.casabatllo.es/en/antoni-gaudi/casa-batllo/inside/

 

 

Although it was a few years ago we were able to get tickets for "Sagrada" and Casa Batillo with "open arrival times".  They cost a bit more but we didn't have to plan our time around entry times.  Also ... the best churros and chocolate are in Madrid!  

Guess I missed an opportunity!  Sent 12 tags and even paid for shipping ... just asked her to pay it forward sometime!

We got a lovely duffle on our first cruise with Viking in 2011.  It was quite nice but has moved on ... how many bags do you need???   Finally divested ourselves of 12 red luggage tags (someone wanted them!) but still have six more.  I also have eight to ten felt zipper bags and an assortment of ipad cases.  We just bring our Baggu bags with on trips as they are required for any shoppping in Chicago these days.  Actually glad Viking has ceased sending such things.

1 hour ago, CDNPolar said:

 

It is hard to go hungry on a Viking ship - yea, kind of true - but I am a very early riser.  I want tea or coffee at 4:30am to 5:00am.  That is difficult on a Viking Ocean ship.

 

I won't use the in-cabin coffee maker at that hour because the noise it makes could and will wake the dead, and my husband.  

 

I have tried room service with a note on the door hanger menu to "knock ONCE ONLY" but they will come and ring the buzzer several times and wake my husband.

 

The best thing for me is to slip out the door - does not wake my husband - and go to the World Cafe.

 

This is a fine choice but I have so many times found the coffee machines there in cleaning mode, being restocked, or whatever and therefore not able to get a coffee or tea.

 

Viking Ocean need a station for folks like me to self-serve early.  River has it and I LOVE River for this fact.

Interesting ... Have been a 4:00 AM person for more than 45 years.  Was my wake up, get up time while working and commuting so it is pretty much in my DNA now.  Have done more than 10 VO cruises and never had any issues getting coffee from the WC in the wee hours.  Would happily use the in room coffee maker but it's a bit complex for my tastes ... my daughter is in charge of the later cups.  

2 hours ago, duquephart said:

Indeed. But at least you know what you're getting - or not getting. With Viking you pay the price and are later informed that there is more to pay ("gratuities").

Gratuities are optional ... you are perfectly free to ask that the charge be removed from your bill if you do not wish to participate in the practice.  There are just as many complaints from those where gratuities are "included" in the price of the cruise ... you're never going to make everyone happy.