gramfrog

13 minutes ago, davidnkim said:

Jacque I'd love to talk to you some while on the TA!  Hopefully we can meet!  Sounds like you have a lot of knowledge on cruising and areas!  We LOVE cruising!

I'll look forward to it!

On 7/14/2022 at 7:58 AM, CrazyTrain2 said:

Sir Richard, you have me convinced, I'm headed over to Virgin from another line.  But it seems like Travel Agents (TAs) are not too keen on booking.  Does Virgin work with TAs?

I am a TA in the US and book TONS of VIrgin Voyages for clients -- extremely easy.  I have 14 going on the Transatlantic in October on Valiant Lady.

I have guests on the 14 night transatlantic who have purchased three of the $300 bar tabs each and so have $900 PLUS $300 for the bonus.  So yes, VV doesn't care how many you purchase.  It just needs to be used on alcohol, not things around the ship or excursions.

DEFINTELY better--- worth the money!

16 hours ago, MarkTapley said:

We had the same concerns.  First time we used it there were six people total in the Thermal Spa area.  Second time, when it got to 15 total, we left.  Brought it up to the attendant at the Spa desk and at guest services, but no one ever got back to us with an explanation.

 

Jerry

Viking Sky, Iceland, August 14

Be SURE to express all concerns. On the third day, I was called down to "discuss" with the Guest Services head, "Gi", my comments per my answers to the previous day's survey.  I was told that I was the only one with concerns and that everyone was so thankful for the consistent policies.  I found that that was not the case; others had expressed concerns, also.  Now that you are off the ship, you have doubtlessly received a n email from Viking wishing to hear more (if on the last day's check survey questionnaire that you did not check the  "Much More Than Expectations" boxes).  Please be honest and follow up.  That's how we get better service next time, if there is a next time. 

And so delighted to meet cSea onboard today!! 

In case you haven’t heard, the strike at Keflavik was averted today at 4 PM and we will be able to fly as scheduled on Tuesday. Thank God. 

6 hours ago, Bookworm114 said:

On Jupiter. I’m rather annoyed at Viking right now. I just found out that you ARE able to book a private guide in each port. You are not allowed to wander on your own but I confirmed w an Excursions staff that you can book a private tour. You must let Guest Services know and they will get security to let you off the ship. I mentioned a group we had used, Troll Excursions, and he said they were approved. The PA announcements were phrased funny about the all aboard times so I asked. I asked first at the Tour Desk and she said “no way” but the Excursions staff said yes. It is too late for us (day four) but future cruisers may be able to schedule something. PLEASE confirm w Viking before you make plans to make sure it works on your sailing. I am going to reach out to tellus and see what they say. 

Are you SERIOUS????  Is it too late for Heinens or Djukovor???? Tomorrow/ Monday???

We are on Jupiter now, just leaving Reykjavik for isfajordur. Can anyone tell me which day and about what time of day the ship crosses the Arctic Circle?  After leaving which port?  Thank you. 

22 hours ago, FoggyEthan said:

 

Think of the Viking that you deal with before the cruise, and the Viking that you deal with on the cruise, as being separate companies. (cause they are) A few days before the cruise, the pre-cruise Viking locks your files and transfers them over to the on-cruise Viking. At that point, nothing can be changed until you board and interact with on-cruise Viking.

We were able to cancel all four paid excursions once we got on the Jupiter yesterday, no problem. We had until 8PM to do so. (We canceled because of my husband’s knee pain, but that didn’t factor into being able to cancel). She also suggested, on her own, canceling Vigur excursion because the puffins are g-o-n-e. 

32 minutes ago, Bookworm114 said:

For those of you with the Silver Spirits package there are some tastings on board. They are listed on the back of the Silver Spirits flyer found at the bars. I saw them by accident. Three of the four are included at no additional cost (Malt, Cognac, Whiskey) and the Premium Red Wine gets a 30% discount off the $50 cost. 
 

Sorry for the scribbles. 

Awesome!! Thanks!!  This is on Jupiter now, correct?

6 minutes ago, Rappersmom said:

I just went to the CDC site for COVID-19 and cruise ship travel, which was updated Aug. 20. I couldn't find that. If the senior is at increased risk in the case of infection, yes. But it doesn't make that blanket statement. Could you provide your source? Because CDC considers anyone over the age of 50 a senior and that would effectively shut down the cruise industry again. 

Absolutely.  Well said.  It is erroneous (and overreaching and obnoxious) to assume that, just because we have stayed married for 50 years, having married early, that we should consider staying home.  

1 minute ago, OldCrustyGuy said:

Latest CDC recommendation is for seniors, regardless of vaccination status, not to cruise.

That is so helpful of you.  

5 hours ago, oldgeez said:

Pfui!

 

so much for Heimay today. Too windy and seas too rough for the tenders. 

 

So sorry!

8 minutes ago, Nickb701 said:

I believe there have been 2 instances where multiple people from the same bus have been quarantined/went home.  20+ on the Jupiter and 11 on the Sky.  I believe the Jupiter instance was traced back to a bus on the ‘Golden Circle’ tour.  Does anyone know what tour the Sky incident was traced to?   Thanks for any info you can provide 

We've used the invaluable information about excursions posted here to adjust our choices....some things we will just have to do another year 🤫

BTW, if you have never been on a Viking Ocean ship, look no further than Mamsen’s for breakfast (heart shaped waffles with lingonberries!) , for lunch or snacks ( open faced Danish sandwiches!) , and for a midnight snack— split pea soup. I’m in heaven already anticipating these….

Packing for next week: YES or NO-- do I need to pack a puffy (down) jacket?????

1 hour ago, dcl999 said:

We’re sticking with our August 24th cruise. Yes conditions have changed since we booked. We’ll be wearing our kn95 masks as much as possible. We’re approaching this as a hope for the best and a guide to future land vs cruise vs on our own travel decisions. We are both retired, our bucket list is long and we’re not getting younger. We’re vaccinated with Moderna and under 80 so we not likely to end up dead or in the hospital. 
Hopefully all our fellow cruisers will take the necessary precautions and be able to enjoy themselves on a wonderful Viking cruise. 

The eleven of us will see you there!  We are all over seventy and enjoy having fun. 

40 minutes ago, superwife said:

We are also sticking to our reservation for August 24 sailing.  We are also hopeful that all will be well.  We will deal with whatever comes.  We are so looking forward to getting back into traveling and the cruise was perfect for us.  We did Into the Midnight Sun several years ago and loved it.  We have used Oceana but now only Viking.  No contest.

 

Hope to see everyone's smiling faces...oops, smiling eyes at the airport in Iceland.

 

PS Viking just put out an upgrade offer for this cruise you may want to check out.  We upgraded our cabin today.  

Superwife, please PM me the details of upgrade. JacquieSkurla@mac.com. Thx 

7 minutes ago, Jimmcdaniel said:

There are still Puffins at Heimaey Island!

 

And you don’t need to board a bus on the Wildlife Boat Tour. 

THANK YOU!  Now this is helpful. What excursion did you take to see the Puffins?

Strictly my opinion: Unless there is a MANDATE from Iceland (which there is not, as far as my research has taken me) that every vacationer in Iceland get tested every day, then Viking is going WAY beyond what is necessary.  We all are vaccinated.  I agree that we need to comply with Iceland's mandate that we test negative upon entering the country.  I agree that we need to comply with the USA's mandate that we test negative before flying directly to the US.

Other than that, there is NO mandate on either the is.usembassy.gov site nor on the covid.is site to test at any time in-between.  That is pure Viking.  If people want to VOLUNTARILY be notified about someone with a (possibly erroneous) positive test onboard IF THAT SUBJECT ASKED TO BE TESTED BECAUSE HE/SHE FEELS POORLY, then so be it.  I have been on two cruises thus far in July and August on other lines, and we did just fine.  

1 minute ago, BarbRN said:

This is not just another cruise for us.  It’s the biggest outlay we’ve saved for our 50th Anniversary and has been nothing but daily stress already for weeks. 

This was to be our 50th Anniversary trip, also..... right now just glad we sprang for the small bit of extra square footage in our stateroom in case we are quarantined..... or there might not be a 51st Anniversary haha

4 hours ago, hutch1994 said:

You can't believe the large number of people in that group that think his word is gospel.

Correct.  it's crazy.

4 hours ago, Jimmcdaniel said:

Jim here..still on the Jupiter. My wife made an appointment to speak with the ship’s General Manager this morning to get clarification. Here is what we understand:

* The policy is an Iceland policy not a Viking policy.

* The policy applies to tours on buses not tenders or boat tours

* The policy also applies to tours not related to cruise ships (we are doing some private touring after the cruise so this was important to us).

* The policy is that if a guest on a tour bus tests positive everyone on the bus is deemed have been in contact with that person and must be quarantined. 
* For quarantined cruise passengers you have two options:

     1) Stay on the ship in quarantine. At the end of the cruise, if you test negative ,  you are free to go and do what ever you want. 

     2) Leave the ship. In this case you have to leave the country immediately if you test negative. 
* The GM stated that it has been their experience that in almost all the cases so far these breakthrough infections are detected by day 3 or 4 (Thursday or Friday in our case) and no one who was exposed subsequently tested positive. 

We were contemplating canceling all our remaining shore excursions. After speaking to the GM we will probably keep the excursions we have because they involve little if any bus travel. Today we do a walking tour from the pier. We are also comforted by the fact that if we do get nailed, if we stay on board and “do our time” we will be free to continue our holiday after the ship docks (assuming clean tests). 
 

it seems that by testing everyone everyday Viking is exposing its passengers to a higher than “normal” chance of being caught up in the Icelandic “bus policy”. I wonder if passengers on the other lines that are cruising here now (Ponant, NG Lindblad, Silversea, etc) are exposed to this as much. I don’t know if those other lines are doing this daily testing like Viking. 
 

Thank you for this.  Crystal, for one, is not testing onboard.

32 minutes ago, Mpc524 said:

You still got the free airfare this close to departure?

As I had stated, there are only 100 souls on the current Bermuda sailing.  I know this as a fact; my client reported that to me when embarking today.  Free airfare is the least V can do to encourage others to sail on these beautiful ships.