Kellybc

Four of us went to Alaska on the Orion June 2019 and enjoyed the shows in the planetarium. There also was an astronomer who did presentations in the theatre, very informational. This January we were back on the Orion cruising to New Zealand and Australia. The planetarium was still there, but closed. After being on the Sea and Star, we decided we prefer the area as a lounge. We didn’t remember the Asian station from the Alaska cruise, but it was popular on our last one. 

We booked a River cruise on our October ocean cruise. We got the promotional $25 deposit, payment six months prior to cruise, an additional loyalty discount (don’t remember how much) and used the shipboard credit toward gratuities on the ocean cruise. 

Your headline says Nieuw Amsterdam, but your review doesn’t sound like the ship I was on in April. 

There were six of us traveling together on the Viking Sky Empires of the Mediterranean getting off a little over a week ago. Ribeye was on the menu with two preparations. I didn’t have it, but most others did, and the consensus was the steaks were thin and tough. I missed the lamb chops, the osso bucco  and no veal options.  

We were in a Signature Suite on the Nieuw Amsterdam in April and could only watch TV from the bed or a chair that wasn’t as nice as that red one. I don’t believe the ship had Vista Suites. 

You will probably get more responses by posting this on the Viking Ocean Roll calls. There was some activity on the March sailing of this cruise, but I didn’t notice anything on your dates. 

Just got off the Nieuw Amsterdam. The room had a lonely piano on stage facing empty chairs the entire 17 night cruise. 

About 30 threads down is a good (detailed) review of the Nieuw Amsterdam - Observations from the Poop Deck. 

At the time we booked our April 9 Panama Canal cruise, we were told the Nieuw Amsterdam was scheduled for dry dock in March 2023. From the schedule, I believe that was cancelled (maybe due to a charter booking), and the other cruise was recently added. 

14 hours ago, Heidi13 said:

 

Torshavn, which is Viking's late night venue may not be as lively as the mass market ships, but on our World Cruise, we were there until at least 23:00 most evenings, as were many of the regulars.

Love Torshavn. A little over 15 years ago, DH and I were on a Royal Caribbean Cruise celebrating our son’s high school graduation. At 11:30 PM, at the bar we were in, there would be a break in the music to change over to a more contemporary vibe. Soon after our kids would arrive, buy us a couple of going away drinks (RCI allowed 18 year olds to drink), and send us on our merry way as the younger crowd moved in to party until I do not know when. 

Really enjoy your reports and pictures. Like you, our last couple of cruises were on Viking (2021 Iceland and 2022 Homelands).  It’s been almost ten years since we’ve been on Holland, but we chose them to go through the Panama Canal in April 2023, mostly because we preferred their Ports of Call, but also entertainment options with so many sea days.  So, I’m appreciating all the information about your time on the ship. 

We boarded Viking Star for the Baltic Homelands Cruise Tuesday July 12 after spending a few days in Stockholm. Viking no longer required Verifly, the airlines (Lufthansa and Iceland Air) and countries  (Germany, Iceland, Sweden)  only checked passports. My husband and I cruised Iceland with Viking last July and our friends did a river cruise with then in October, so it’s possible the records of our vaccinations are still in the system, but no one has asked to see our cards yet this cruise. 

Have been enjoying your reports for years. Was especially interested in this one since we’re booked on the Nieuw Amsterdam Panama Canal April 2023. Hope all is well with you.  I’m looking forward to your summary. 

Did the OP mean June 22, 2022, not July?

An update to my search for Chef’s Table menus available on our Homelands cruise. My Viking Journey today still says Sample Menus coming, but the chat option popped up, so I asked, and Dalton said he’d send them. Of course the actual menus didn’t show, but the names did - Xiang, Lotus and Panorama. Happy with them all, but thought on a 14 night cruise we’d have another one. I also greatly appreciate all the information everyone contributes. 

Have been on two previous Viking Ocean cruises. We really enjoyed Chef’s Table,  have our two nights reserved, and would like to reserve a couple more when we board. Since their are four of us,  would like to have an idea which menus are served on this cruise. Less than a month to go. 

Our 2019 Alaska cruise had both a whisky and wine tasting; no charge for SSP. I don’t remember any being offered on our 2021 Iceland cruise, but there were no sea days. 

Our excursions were supposed to be available for our July 12 cruise on April 26 at 11 PM ET. On Monday, when we were coordinating our choices with our friends in Colorado, I said the chances were slim they’d be available that day. Tuesday morning, after my DH left for work, I logged on to MVJ and, much to my surprise, they were ready for booking. All worked well (unlike the Iceland fiasco in 2021 of trying to book all cabin categories for over a half dozen cruises at the same time). 
I got everything we wanted and was done before 7:30 AM. Good luck. 

The shore excursions for our July 12, 2022 sailing are available for booking!

On the Viking Ocean Cruises Board there was a thread “Live from Iceland’s Natural  Beauty” that had a lot of information on the 2021 sailings. It’s on page 13, last post Nov 16. I was on the July 12 cruise and learned a lot from the earlier sailings. 

We booked our own airfare to Iceland this past July; but because of the COVID restrictions and distance from the Reykjavik airport to the port, purchased transfers to the ship from Viking.  But, in Ft Lauderdale, I wouldn’t bother transferring from the hotel to the airport to the ship. Would just use the hotel shuttle, Uber, whatever is simpler, cheaper. And I agree with your idea to fly in a day earlier. 

We stayed at the Sand Hotel after our Viking cruise in July. Great location, cost was €670 for two nights including taxes and breakfast. Walked to Reykjavik Kitchen and Old Iceland Restaurant for excellent dinners. Had a great South Coast tour with Your Day Tours, but I can’t find the cost. We did the Golden Circle with Viking and also enjoyed it, despite the rain (justified packing the raingear). 

We stayed at Hotel Basel in October 2017. It was well situated for exploring the town. 

We used Verifly for our Iceland cruise. I began the process, got to the picture and decided I needed makeup, so decided to wait. My DH completed his at work. The next day I get a phone call from my TA with Viking on the line asking if I had a problem. (This was before it was due). I admitted my vanity and the Viking rep said he could send me another way to verify my vaccine. No big deal, I completed the process. A little hiccup, I had put in my name without my middle name which is on my passport. However, Viking only cares about the vaccination verification since they had my passport info. Once Verifly notifies you that they verified your information to Viking, you can delete the app because it’s a new process every time you might need it (American airlines uses it). 

We were on the July 24 Sky sailing. On the last night my husband decided to wear his nice black jeans to the restaurant since we were staying a couple of days in Reykjavik, could wear them the next day and would make packing easier. After a reminder of the rules from me, he changed. The gentleman in front of us at the restaurant had on a pair of baggy blue jeans, well worn, and was seated with no problem. Dear husband did not say a word.