Catlover54

It's so appealing to go spend money in a place that is so affluent, that many people despise you despite the revenue you bring to them . . .

Good to know (especially for those of us *without* a UK nephew). There's always a catch 😞

Excellent and creative suggestion about the patio fish timing! I continue to learn so much on CC (much of it from off or semi-off-topic :)).

SB ships have always been small (and last I looked, they are not getting smaller), and in popular ports, most pax would get off the ship (though many would try, and still try, to return for lunch, which they have already paid for and which is convenient and/or the only realistic option in some places when ports are visited off season and much is closed). That is not new. What is new, is the staffing cuts.

I'm glad it worked for you, as it does for many. Eating at 3 on the ship (instead of eating in port, which SB pax are indirectly encouraged to do) also increases the odds that service will be better. On our recent Quest trip, because we felt the Colonnade food was mediocre (and stressful with the buffet) we ate on the patio at "lunchtime" a few times, which means 12-1:30, rather than at 3 as we are not huge breakfast eaters and we get pretty hungry after walking around. DH also prefers to have lunch many hours before our usually large dinner (I'm fine with grazing intermittently throughout the day if I have something to graze on, and adjusting my intake accordingly, but he likes a regular normally timed and normal sized lunch). Our entree choices were hamburger, hot dog, pizza, and fish of the day. As you know there was also salad which staff would mix up for us with what we wanted (that was the best part). . Our cumulative problems were: 1. One day plain hamburgers had no taste, the next time the "Napa burger" intrinsically tasted better (like real meat) but was room temperature. All were repeatedly served on untoasted buns (the last set of buns were actually cold, like out of a cooler, probably just thawed). Hot dog was dessicated. Both issues were in part likely related to late pickups by the waiter and staffing shortages precluding toasting of buns (which were toasted on Quest and Encore and Odyssey pre-Covid). 2. Fries were soggy, or once just missing (an empty pointy container of paper was brought ), requiring flagging down the elusive waiter again. 3. We repeatedly struggled to get drink refills, e.g., on simple diet coke. The one slow-moving waiter would be busy on the other side of the deck chatting and smiling and dealing with cocktails for big groups (and then later refilling their cocktails/beers) never looking up at us. This was a repeated event. 4. We did not like the constant pounding pop music (we both have very good hearing, so noise does not automatically get muted). Some people may like that thumping (we don't), or just not hear it, especially if they are loudly talking in a group and well-lubed. We landed up preferring lunch in the quiet suite where even if the food came cold, we could at lest easily pull a coke out of the frdge or (if possible, not always an option) our favorite was to get around the issue by just spending more money to eat in port. Better staffing, or coming mid-afternoon at 3 and ordering nice fish like you had instead of meat, would have likely solved our problems except for #4. It was good, however, to have the venue open until 3:30 -- people saving money who did not want to eat in port even when there were places to eat , could just go and plop down in their excursion gear, straight from reboarding, without having to clean up and get more presentable for a MDR lunch (like we did in the past, when MDR was open at lunch).

Many women want pockets not just for a smart phone, but for other things, so they don't have to carry a purse. I carry my iphone on a ship primarily to use as a camera, and as a pedometer. I also put my room key card into my pocket, my reading glasses, a kleenex, and -- these days -- a squashed mask 🙂

If you have time, could you advise or direct which other threads talk about Australia wanting cruise pax to get tested every day on a cruise heading into Australia?

People also psychologically rely too much on the minimally effective masks. That is why if someone is "clearly sick" with an infectious respiratory illness, be it Covid or something else, crew or passenger, I prefer actions that are more than just mask-wearing, especially during the early period when they are most infectious (like simply staying away from areas where one is in close contact with others, including buses and vans and crowded indoor venues). The cruise lines will test people for free if they feel sick, and then provide generous FCC to stay away from others, even if there are no mandates.

I am late to the thread here, and have only sailed on Regatta. How hot is the "heated saltwater" thalassotherapy pool on the Riviera? Is it like a regular lap pool (82-83 degrees) or closer to a therapeutic rehab pool (87-90 degrees), warm to the touch before getting in? Thanks in advance.

Do the Swarovski binoculars that are 8x have a number listed after the 8x?

An eggcrate foam topper would be perfect, excellent! On another line that has hard beds, my TA asks in advance for a topper, and that works, (but I know they have them available). But I wasn't sure they have them on Viking, (couldn't get an answer from reps), so knowing they do (at least you did) is helpful in planning. There are some lines where I loved the beds and all the cushy furniture (e.g., Oceania), but disliked too many other things, so am reluctant to go back.

The Madame Zelda and glossy pamphlet examples illustrate that the main driving force behind the decision to push a still suboptimal app is not environmental, but financial. That's fine (profits are good, otherwise the cruise line will disappear). The choice to save money on paper (though recyclable) and ink (expensive) , and staff to distribute the paper (expensive) is a financial choice, and perhaps a virtue signaling choice, but in reality is not going to save the planet. IMHO, it is a bad choice given the status of the app. But SB needs to stop being hypocritical, i.e., stop guilt-tripping, lying to, or even bullying customers who prefer paper activities lists, for *whatever* reason. People who love the app can of course still use the app as they choose , (and deal with the misinformation on it as they fit, as well as the kind of problems we had during the hurricane). The problem is not just one of too many computer "luddites" either . My electrical engineer DH (who designed complex computers for many years and is the ultimate tech-lover and early adapter), generally likes electronic bells and whistles and manages almost everything on his iphone with apps -- and generally hates paper. But on our Quest trip, he was frankly disgusted by the app and was begging to look at my paper (though we ultimately kept looking at both, to maximize information). Hopefully if enough pax complain, SB will hire some competent people to improve the app (i.e., people who understand the customer demographic and needs, in particular during stress times like a storm or internet failure) , and improve the passenger experience. Meanwhile, they should cease and desist the paper denial games.

Short answer: If you don't need the fizz, just asking for bottled regular water (insert name) would be fine. Otherwise you get their stuff. Long answer: Not long before Covid, SB started pushing its own waters (made on the ship) allegedly to minimize plastic bottle waste, (though of course it also saves SB quite a bit of money just like pushing the SB Source app saves both paper and money). This was both in the eating venues and when pax are leaving for excursions. I experienced it for the first time when I was on Encore March 2020, but the practice may have started a bit earlier. I seem to recall a lot of discussion on these boards about both the taste of the water and the reusable excursion containers, which many dislike . Shortly after you sit down, a smiling server comes around with two unlabeled flasks, one with "still" and the other with "sparkling" (which is barely sparkling) water, typically at room temperature. These are the waters that poster "calm down dear" has chosen to describe as "unspeakably foul" (I would just call them "foul" without more, or just "icky"). I observed most pax just drinking what they are brought (just like they go ahead and drink either the generic white or generic red of the day). But some of us Princess and Pea types pursue bottled water, either still or sparkling, not made by SB. Service would be a lot easier if DH and I liked both the SB water and the SB daily wine choices (which we BTW try at least once with a sample, if we have never had them and don't know them) . If you ever sail SB again, give the generics a try, then decide (but just in case, also bring your own water bottle for the excursions, which you can then fill from bottled water of your choice in your suite, assuming they are not out).

This is good. Maybe it was considered a "sea day" because you had not yet arrived. Did you go? If so (or perhaps even if not), could you post (or just verbally describe) the Restaurant lunch menu (other than the always available options)? It was not open on any day on my recent Quest journey, (other than a galley buffet lunch) so I haven't had an opportunity to see a lunch menu on Quest since pre-Covid.

Thanks to everyone who is responding, all of this is very useful! If anyone is now on board any Viking ship and has a "topper", like travelbug11 got, perhaps they could post a picture? Bad sleep leads to daytime fatigue, and interference with enjoyment of a trip. I know my weak spots, so I am planning ahead (just like DH and I also travel with a small pharmacy and various gadgets that could come in handy -- I have a long list, including special earplugs that almost totally block most sound, including that of loudly snoring neighbors who likely have undiagnosed sleep apnea) 🙂

I am not familiar with the term "filling station" shirts. I certainly hope they are not the same as "wife beater" shirts. 😳 Keller tends more dressy in general on nights that are not "formal", but unless I'm mistaken, it is a place pax can go on formal nights to avoid the "formal" requirements in the Restaurant. As for just requiring "collared shirt, trouser, and socks and shoes" that could create a problem for some Europeans cruising in summer. A surprising number of them are fond of shoes without socks -- though they are often elegant and expensive shoes. I would be ok with not requiring socks on men as long as the feet are covered -- I have an aesthetic problem with hairy toes, but maybe it's just me, and of course I can 'avert my eyes'. I love looking at varying interesting clothing and footwear, and just observing attire choices, and sometimes wondering how people come up with their choices --it is fun and part of the joy of cruising. DH also looks pretty snazzy in a dark suit with a fancy tie (which he never wears at home), so of course I am biased to have a little bit of dress-up going on for special nights. 🙂

These days, I think it would be appropriate for pax with new "congested sounding coughs" to test for Covid (self-test or otherwise). On my recent SB cruise in Canada, though there was no mandatory testing during the cruise on asymptomatic patients, people were told right at the beginning in writing that SB reserved the right to test people. If they are Covid +, I would want more than just mask-wearing.

Actually, Covid coughs can clinically vary quite a bit. Some patients have a dry cough, some a more "congested" cough, some go from congested to dry, depending on where they are in timing of the course of disease. There is no 'one pattern fits all', though there can be trends. My DH, for example, is still sitting at home two weeks after turning Covid positive post-SB Quest cruise, still with a very congested productive cough which developed very early in his course (and yes, we are sure -- more than sure, for various reasons - that all he has is Covid). However, most people who "cough" on a cruise, dry or otherwise, don't have Covid. Lots of conditions can make people cough, including non-infectious conditions (GERD, CHF, COPD, allergies, certain meds, non-Covid infections etc.). I'm happy to keep cruising.

A suggestion for bottled mineral water struggles (I used this on the Quest recently and it usually worked): Ask the server right at the beginning (when they come around with the "unspeakably foul" stuff), for an *unopened* full bottle of [insert water of choice]. If you want it cold, ask for a glass of ice cubes on the side. Then throughout dinner, *serve yourself* the water and ice as you choose and at the rate you want. Take the bottle back to your suite if you do not finish it (to avoid waste). That way you are at least in control of your water intake and aren't sitting there dessicated after a salty dish (even if this is not "luxury"). You still have to keep an eye out for the guy going around refilling with the foul stuff, as he may suddenly pour that into your glass with the bottled choice.

If the "topper" you got did not affect the firmness, it would not be of use to us, But perhaps there are different kinds of topper options (e.g., some lines have egg-crate foam equivalents, others a very thick pad as opposed to just a little filler for the mattress gap) . . . An extra duvet don't work (collapses, have tried it . . .DH also has a picture of me propped up on 10 pillows, which also didn't work because they compressed -- like Princess and the Pea, LOL). We can check 2-3 bags per person on business class flights without extra cost, but we usually don't like to travel with more bags than we can, in a pinch, drag and somehow carry when airport elevators are broken and/or there are no carts and of course there is almost never help for hire. So we limit it to 3 bags between both of us. On a warm weather cruise, I suppose we could go down to 2 bags for our usual needed stuff, and have 1 bag just with a single topper for each side of the bed (as suggested in post #4, compressed). And we still have the inflatable camping mattresses (despite us no longer camping) . . . They are smaller, but narrower 🙂

I have never been on Viking, but have seen posts commenting about hard beds. Due to various musuloskeletal problems, I cannot sleep on hard beds (pain). I assume all the ships have the same beds? I found a couple posts that said a softening topper might be available, but have not found anyone who commented on if the topper came and how it was (i.e., was it soft enough to make a difference, and solved the problem, or was too thin). Is there anyone who has sailed Viking who uses toppers, and if so, how did they work, and was the process to get them cumbersome? I know there can be subjectivity in replies, and denial (e.g., on one luxury line, when I commented about my finding the suite sofa to be hard for me, my comment was dismissed by one of the cheerleaders as factually wrong, "the sofa is fine."). We are all different in our likes/dislikes of furniture (the healthy don't care one way or the other), so any comments about people who struggled with the hard beds, and their solutions, would be appreciated. I stayed at a top hotel in Capetown my TA had recommended and could not sleep, due a hard (but expensive) bed. DH and I went to a camping store and bought an inflatable air mattress, to save the stay, but they do take up a lot of room in a suitcase and I'd rather not haul them if Viking has good toppers.

I have a few questions, for anyone who cares to chime in (especially people who have booked as non-couples): 1. So is it now clear that the quoted "per suite" pricing on the website is really, reliably per *suite*, regardless of how many people are in it, (e.g., 1, 2 , or even 3 assuming the sofa is a sofabed) or is the "per suite" pricing assumed to be for 2 people? Or does it depend on itinerary? Nashna and Gourmet Gal provided conflicting information previously. Has the discrepancy been sorted out and clarified? There are often situations where *both* reports can be correct, depending on what else is going on (e.g., there may be some asterisk or footnote, written or unwritten, that explains things). I would have trouble believing that one could put 4 people into a suite (e.g., a couple and their 2 adult offspring) and be charged the same price as 2 in a "per suite" price, like one pays in a hotel room with 2 double beds in the U.S. (e.g., the fee is usually the same if there is only 1, or 4 people in the room overnight). 2. If the "per suite" pricing is really per suite, even if you go solo, the prices would be competitive with SS (the non-door to door variety) and SB (assuming of course, that they deliver on what they promise) 3. The 'wellness' literature for Explora has reference to a "thermal" pool. I wonder if that just means it has a cover, e.g., can be made an indoor pool on demand, or if it will be with truly warm water (i.e., not for lap swimmers, who go for 82-83 F tops, but more like a therapeutic pool used for patients with musculoskeletal problems). 4. Do we know what the pax/staff ratio will be? This can be an indirect measure of how "luxurious" a ship is, as a lower ratio (and some redundancy) can help avoid major service problems. 5. Are there plans to have classical music in any of the mini-entertainment venues (at least part of the cruise? Or will it just be the standard Broadway and/or crooner/lounge singer style, like most luxury ships have (a couple exceptions)? 6. And of course the most important question to some of us, is will one of the sit-down dining rooms be reliably open for both breakfast and lunch, even if the ship is in a port? 🙂

I wish you a wonderful time! Just getting back to sea, if this is your first time since Covid, is very special. The Panama Canal is of course magnificent, and near Belize are several choices for viewing Mayan ruins (if you're into ruins). We had a good time there on our SS Moon cruise of the area a few months ago.

After several posts on a thread, the context of a statement is unfortunately often lost. It sounds like ideally one has to not only take care of one's own airfare (other threads discuss the problems with Silver Air), but also arrange one's own hotels.

Brexit did not take care of the gouging of cruising Brits when in the EU. How does it work if EU residents cruise in the UK -- same thing?