JosieCat-MN

2 hours ago, CDNPolar said:

 

I should not make it sound that bad.... It may work for you... who knows.  We just found that there was a core group that "reserved" the tables every night when we looked.  

 

We were looking for a quiet dinner for two a couple of nights instead of sitting with 4 or 6 others.

 

River Cruising does not have room service, however, it is my understanding that you can request a tray and pick it up yourself and carry to your cabin.

 

We also noted that sometimes people who wanted to sit in the Aquavit Terrace and it was full, would sit on the side sofas in that area or just inside the lounge.  They may or may not allow in the lounge, but the side sofas are technically in that terrace.  The Captain sat here a couple of nights that we noticed. 

I appreciate your honesty.  I took a domestic cruise on American Cruise lines a few years ago, and that was my main complaint.  I don't always want to sit down for a 2-hour meal - not for 7 nights in a row.  So I will look into the tray option and also the alternate seating.  I don't care where I sit.  Thanks again!!!

1 minute ago, CDNPolar said:

There is the Aquavit Terrace.  One level up from the dining room and in the front of the ship.  There are only perhaps 6 or 7 tables inside, which are four 4 person tables, and  three 2 person tables.  There are more tables outside but they depend on the weather.

 

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner all available.

 

Our only first hand experience is dinner and here is what we found:

 

• Same menu - not lighter - just order what you want.  A couple of appetizers instead of a main course?  
• Dinner here started 15 minutes later than the dining room.
• People "reserved" these tables for dinner as early as 6pm (dinner at 7:15ish) by putting coats, glasses, and other stuff on the tables.  Often we could not get a table out there.  You can NOT actually reserve these tables legitimately.

 

There seemed to be a group of people that ate there every night or even every meal.  

 

One night we got there and there was a four table that was not "reserved" and we sat down, expecting that two other people might join us.  I guess we caused quite a stir because the foursome that ate there every night came and their table was gone...  We were approached by a crew member and asked if we would move to a table of two (which had personal belongings on it) and the crew moved these belongings off and we moved there.  

 

It seems to be to be more hassle than it is worth and in the future we likely won't ever eat there again.  

 

I suggest that you just go to the dining room.  Have your light meal from the menu options and enjoy the company of the people you are sitting with.

You are SO helpful!  Thank you!!!  Well, that's a bit disappointing.  I know you don't have to "dress up" for dinner, but just really didn't want the whole "dining room" experience for all 7 nights.  I was really looking forward to there being an alternative.  

I hope the OP doesn't mind me piggy backing in a question.  I have searched and not had good results.  I'm trying to figure out what a Viking privileged access excursion is.  Of course, that's the only excursion that really interests me.  

How does one get to be privileged?

Thanks,

1 hour ago, CDNPolar said:

We have met solo travellers on Viking River.  Do as @bottomfeeder suggests... go into the dining room and sit at an empty table and wait.  Folks will join you and all will be good.

 

On our last cruise what I noted was that for breakfast, many coming in would sit at an empty table rather than join someone.  The breakfast crowd filters in slowly.  We are always at the door when breakfast starts.

 

Lunch is similar - people filter in a more staggered fashion.

 

At dinner since there is only one seating and it is generally right after the port talk, everyone converges on the dining room at the same time.  Take your seat and each night you may have different guests.

 

We sat with the solo traveller many times but not always.

I read that they have an alternate area, more casual, for some of the dining.  Was this just for breakfast and lunch, or was it available for dinner too?  I'm a solo traveler, and don't want to necessarily do a big dinner every night?  Thanks!!!

Thanks everyone for your help.  I did book my flights.  No upgrades available, but when I looked at what Comfort + got you over main, I didn't really need it.  Don't really need extra legroom, don't really needs snacks/drinks and I'm checking luggage, so no real motivation to board early - or get off early as I have a 3-hour layover.  They agreed that a one-hour layover wasn't enough time. I consider that first day a travel day anyway.  Still get in at 1:45 p.m.

But I got the flight I wanted and the window seat I wanted, so I'm good - and it's DONE!  One less thing to worry about.  I had to pay the $100 for the Viking Air + and a $253 air differential - or whatever they call it.

Again - thanks all!!!

52 minutes ago, CDNPolar said:

 

If you don't opt for Viking Air Plus when you are booking your cruise then you must wait until they book your flights.  (July expected date)

 

When your flights are populated in MVJ, then you have time before they are ticketed to look at alternate flights and even upgrades.

 

If you don't like what you see and you cannot alter to what you want, then you can add Air Plus and call and ask for the flights you want.

 

If you want to not deal with all this waiting, pay for Air Plus now and call and ask for the flights you want to be booked.  Note that the fights you want may not be inside Viking contract rates.

 

Also CDG - 1 hour 15 is NOT enough time.  If this is your first entry to Schengen then you will have passport control and security again. 

 

If your flight into CDG is on time, you may make it but if you are 20 minutes late leaving your home airport than you could be in trouble.

 

We personally do not book any connections in Europe less than 2.5 hours.   Our experience has proven that less time than this is dangerous.

Thank you!  I didn't realize I could do the Air Plus early.  I thought I had to wait until July.  

One last question.  Are flight upgrades available using the Air Plus.  I would at least like the next higher level up from the main cabin.  Obviously, I would pay for the upgrade.

Wow, many comments since the last time I checked in.    New question, probably a stupid idea.

I'm heading to Zurich 4 days before my cruise.  I did pay for flights through Viking, but am getting impatient as apparently they won't book them until July (my cruise is October 4).  Is it stupid to book a flight you like, that can be cancelled, just in case.

I found a flight that I like – 4:35 p.m. – arriving in Zurich at 10:25 a.m.  This has a 1 hour 15 minute layover in CDG.  First question.  Is that enough time, and how easy is that airport to navigate.

I picked this flight for the short layover, but also because they are offering the Comfort+ Economy for $1,090 where all the other flights are in the $1,400 range.  I would also spend another $125 to make it refundable.  This way if I actually end up with decent flights through Viking I could cancel. My plan is to let Viking book my flight home, as I don’t really care on that one.

I did call Viking and this is what I was told.  How accurate it is - is anyone's guess.

Once your Viking form is finished (mine isn't as I'm still waiting for my passport renewal), at any point, they can assign you to flights - which they will e-mail you.  Once you are 300 days out, then you can use the Air Plus to try to improve on those.

At 150 days out, those will show up on your My Viking Journey and you can make changes directly in there.  

But I was told that even after that point, if I absolutely hate them, I can cancel the flight portion and get that portion credited back (minus the Air Plus fee) and book my own.

Thanks everyone!

8 hours ago, loriva said:

To answer your first question, you can cancel Viking Air at any point up to the final payment date.  We just did.

So that translates to me being completely screwed?  I guess I booked my cruise too early.  My final payment date is the end of next month, when I'm not even sure flights for October of 2024 will be available.  Right now, Delta for example, is only showing dates going through July.  So it stands to reason that at best, next month they may go through August.

Nifty!

6 minutes ago, Homosassa said:

OP, You stated in your post that you were going to Lucerne.

 

Everyone responding has Lausanne has your destination. 

 

As Lucerne and Lausanne are two different cities over two hundred kilometers apart, I am curious which city is your destination.

I do realize that they are different.  It just didn't seem to be relevant to the questions I needed answered so I didn't make an issue of it.  I am going to be flying into Zurich, and then taking the train to Lucerne where I will spend the next 3 days.

So, when do I have to decide?  I’m assuming I can still cancel Viking air at this point – or any point up to when I make my final payment which is the end of September – without have to worry about getting a credit.

Can I change my mind and book my own flights AFTER I see the flights they’ve given me.  I’m assuming that’s also when you would get Air Plus involved – if you don’t like the flights you’ve been assigned?

I get that booking Viking air offers a bit of protection in case of flight changes.  I’m just trying to make sure I know what my options are. 

Thanks everyone!!!

@sharkster77@gnome12

Yes, I've checked several dates and I don't see any non-stops from Minneapolis/St. Paul.  One stop is fine.  I don't personally have a preference on whether the stop is in the US or not.   I'm really just looking at the total number of hours, hoping for something like the first one the list and not the second one.

Thanks @CastleCritic and @sharkster77 for your very helpful feedback.

I'll have to give it some thought.  As I said, it's far too early for flights to show up for October of 2024.  

$100-$150 for the Air Plus service seems pretty reasonable if it allows you to be able to have more say in your flights.  All I really care about is being able to get a window seat, and NOT having a 10 hour layover somewhere. 

I'm not going to deny that it concerns me that them knowing they don't have to get me there at a particular time to board the boat, means they're going to stick me on the 30-hour journey flight. 😂

Transfers aren't that big of a deal as I'm going early.  On the flight home I would be able to take advantage of that.

Thanks again!

This is probably a stupid question, but as I've said, I've never flown to Europe.  You don't have to use Viking's flights, right?  So what are the advantages of doing that?  Cheaper?  I'm way too early to check flights for my trip for comparison, but with the air discount, and addition of the deviation fee - they are charging me $800 for air.  When I pick random dates, the flight prices are like $1,500-$1,600 for a decent flight and add on $200 if you want to pick your seat.

Do most people just book their own airfare?

14 hours ago, sharkster77 said:

Also, OP, if you are concerned about overly-long or overly-short layovers, if you pay for Air Plus  you get to pick your own flights.  We have done this twice and they've accepted out choices 3 out of 4 times (2 flights TO Europe, and 1 flight back home).  For next year's tulip cruise, we tried to take a late afternoon flight home (to squeeze another couple of hours in Netherlands) but they are making us take a late morning flight instead, which is OK.

I'll look into it.  Thanks!

2 minutes ago, ural guy said:

This is nice, a question that got positively resolved in 5 hours.

 

Yeah team, good work!

Absolutely!  Thanks Everyone!!!

16 minutes ago, dd57 said:

You do not have to fly into the starting point of the cruise, but to change to a different airport, you have to pay a "deviation fee".  Call back and ask about that.  We did this when we took the Viking Bordeaux cruise and wanted to spend time in Paris before and after.

THANK YOU.  I just called AGAIN, and got a completely different answer from a different person.  I am now flying into Zurich.  I was already paying the deviation fee because I'm flying in early.

23 minutes ago, gnome12 said:

MSP is Minneapolis-St Paul I believe. A question for @JosieCat-MN . It sounds like you are doing an extension on your own, not with Viking. If so, there is no reason to fly to Basel (which requires a connection in Europe). You are better off flying to Zurich, and taking a train direct from the airport to Lausanne. Then you don’t need to worry about connection times. You will arrive in Europe and take a single train. 

Yes, I'm doing an extension, but I'm still getting my air though Viking, and I was told I had to fly into the same airport that I would be flying into if I wasn't doing an extension.  My cruise departs from Basel.  

Although I wasn't worried about when I would be landing because of connection times.   From what I'm to understand, it's pretty easy to go from Basel to Lucerne as well.  But if flying into Zurich means the flights are better, I'll certainly look into it.

Thanks,

3 minutes ago, Roz said:

I've never had a flight to Europe or anywhere else land in the middle of the night.  On an overnight flight the plane lands early to mid morning up until noon. 

 

What is MSP?

Sorry, MSP is the code for the Minneapolis/St. Paul airport.  Good to know about the flight!  Thanks. 

3 minutes ago, pontac said:

Can't help on the flights questions, but when you land in Basel airport make certain you take the correct exit from arrivals hall.

 

The airport is physically in France and the arrivals hall has exits to France and to Switzerland. you need to take the Swiss exit, here you'll pass Swiss customs (a mere formality) and you'll meet the Viking reps outside the arrivals exit, they'll be wearing red tops, and will direct you to the correct coach. (there may be more than one coach as sometimes there are more than one Viking boat starting cruises from Basel.)

Thank you!  Awesome information.  I probably should have clarified that I'm spending 4 nights in Switzerland.  So I'll be taking Airport bus 50 to the train station and immediately getting on a train heading to Lucerne.  Unless...my flight arrives in the middle of the night., in which case I'll be booking a hotel for one night in Basel.

This is not only my first European river cruise, but my first trip to Europe.  So hopefully, I'm posting this question in the right location.  I will be flying into Basel Switzerland with Viking booking my air, which I assume is called Viking Air.  I'm just trying to get an idea of what to expect.  Just went on Expedia and was amazed at some of the layover times from MSP to BSL on Delta flights, i.e., 9 hours in Paris, 9 hours in Amsterdam.  

Can someone give me more of an idea of what to expect when using Viking Air.  I will be flying MSP to Basel in October of 2024.

• Do they typically do afternoon flights so you aren't getting in during the middle of the night?
• What are some typically layover times I can expect.
• When can I actually expect to see flight information and be able to pick a seat. As I said, I'm 13 months out - so plenty of time.

Thanks,

On 9/17/2021 at 8:06 PM, dleahy4444 said:

FYI:  If you hold an M-Life card (MGM casinos) that is gold or above, you can get on board credit on Celebrity or RCCL sailing booked through their casino clubs. I did it on a Celebrity cruise recently. Just called their Blue Chip Club, gave them my M-Life card number and they gave me $125 on board credit. I’m scheduled on a RCCL sailing this weekend and I foolishly didn’t think of it until today and it was too late to get the credit. So you M-life card holders: Learn from my mistake and look into this as soon as you book.

Thank you!  It was a tough decision for me whether to book the RCCL offer or my M Life Platinum offer, as I assumed I would be giving up all my platinum perks.  But the RCCL offer included a balcony so I went with that one.  I just called and they added $200 of on-board credit for me.  Thanks again!

In 2013 I stayed at a hotel in Cocoa Beach that offered not only a shuttle to the port, but transportation to and from the airport.  I thought I had done a review, but can't find it, and can't remember the name.

Any suggestions of hotels in either Cocoa Beach or Port Canaveral that offer something like this.  They have many cruise and park options but that's not what I need.  My only real requirement is stuff to do within walking distance.  I'm planning on a 2 night stay before my cruise on 2/8/22.

Thanks!

I cancelled my November cruise on March 19.  I checked my account this morning, as I have been doing daily, and I have finally gotten the refund.  So 5 weeks and 2 days.

I am only looking to get back my deposit and upgrade cost - about $242, so not nearly a much as many of you.  I called again on Tuesday, because I cancelled on 3/19, and still hadn't seen it.

I was told that it was processed on Saturday (4/11) so it would be another 2 weeks probably until I will see it.

I guess I don't get the entire credit/refund process, and this isn't just on cruises, but on everything.  With the technology today, and the fact that they can get money out of your account literally within seconds, why are we supposed to tolerate that it takes 7-10 days (or in this case, months) to get that money back.  Why is that?  I've never understood that.