Vineyard View

There is that and I do not necessarily disagree at all with you. That said, our issue was an onboard issue/promises that occurred, that we did not realize until we were back home. Needless to say, we are analyzing our decision. Bit you are correct - on board experience with SB was top drawer on our cruise.

As always you are so very helpful edinburgher! I really appreciate this additional information. It is so kind of you. We’ve been to Barcelona several times, so if we sail from Tarragon we might as well go there pre-cruise. Now I just need to figure out where we are truly sailing from. TA just sent me a note that it is still Barcelona. So,done else on the roll call across the pond got the opposite answer! Life is an adventure! ‘thanks!

I will say that she just might be that. After an extended post cruise lack of response to both my TA management as well as me regarding a big issue with the FCC on board not being responded to, then the response being incredibly sub par and condescending, I wrote directly to her. That got some attention and appropriate response almost immediately in a manner I would expect from a quality company. It didn’t make us whole, but it got us closer. I won’t go into that, but I am saying this because I found her team to be right on top of issues. So it did make us feel like there is acknowledgment (based on my phone conversation with her team) that ground processes as well as shipboard issues need addressing.

You do have some valid points here for sure. We didn’t think the food poor, but we didn’t think,it was up to par with SB. As always, that is subjective. And when they cannot open the roof at the pool it can be really uncomfortable

We are getting mixed reports on departure which seems strange. From my TA this afternoon, it is still Barcelona. Others are reporting Tarragona from their TA. I know that Viking went into Tarragona either late last or early this year and was a surprise to pax. Maadimom what company did you book through for a private. I would like to have a back up plan. I read that the cost ranges from 130-175 edinburgher, I will look at their schedule. I thank you for that. I read that you have to take the train from the airport to Barcelona first to get there, but I will double check. If that is the case, I know how I am when I land across the pond from SFO, and a quick thinker I am not, so I really want to keep it simple.

Thank you cruisemom42. You are always so helpful. Mycenae was a wonderful visit on our last Nafplion stop.

Sounds like life is very good on board! Yay!

I wish that SS, and Regent, allowed for a pricing model that one could choose without excursions. We are DIY and do not enjoy ship excursions. I have asked our TA and there is not this option with either, so we find that SB and others fit our travel style better. I am sure they are great lines to travel on. It sounds like you have found a great fit for what is important to you

We just sailed Seabourn this year for the first time. We have sailed Viking several time, but pre-Covid. The decor is very different as mentioned. We like both. We really like the MDR much better on SB over Viking. The option to dine on two tops on SB with a bit of space between the tables is easier. Viking has some of these tables, but a large number are lined up next to each other banquet style with very little separation. While we have always enjoyed our food on V, we both felt that SB was a step up. Service is very good on both. A standard balcony on V will feel very small compared to SB. While we love the large walk in showers on V, we very much enjoyed the layout of the balcony on SB over V, and we have always sailed in their PV staterooms. So we give SB the win there. Alcohol - if you enjoy choices of wine with your meals, and drink any cocktails, then you will want to upgrade your drink package. Included excursions - we are DIY or private travelers. The included walking tours can give you a jump off place to go on your own for the day (tell your guide and if you want to return with them, find out when and where to meet - we still tip them if we do that). If it is not a walking tour, it will be mostly a drive by bus ride. The money charged in the fares for included excursions on V is not a selling point for us. Viking-pre-payment policy is a big one. Pay in full anywhere from 12-18 months in advance unless you have another one on the books with them (then it is 6 months). Would we sail on Viking again, yes, with the right itinerary and attractive pricing. Their pricing has really bumped up for the delivered product in my opinion. We felt that the overall SB experience exceeds the overall Viking experience.

I am hearing rumors that our trip next May might be leaving from Tarragona rather than Barcelona. It appears that some are receiving this information while some are still being told it is Barcelona (port schedule shows this). I have looked some to find the best way to get from BCN to Tarragona. After flying from San Francisco, I don’t think we will want to hassle bags on a bus, nor are there direct trains. Has anyone done this via private transfer recently, and if so what was the cost?

We had a port day in Koper. It was the last day of our cruise, so we opted not to travel far and just stayed in town. It is a lovely small town, but small is the key word. It does not imo support a full day, which worked for us to go back and pack in the afternoon. If I were visiting Koper again, I would definitely want to explore further away to one of the suggestions here. Since we are not excursions people though, the distance to these places is a bit of a drive, and that also impacted our decision. I would want to make sure I had a reputable guide.

If Nafplion is already a port of call, is there a second suggestion?

The May 18 - June 1 sailing is a fairly recent addition. I had been watching itineraries for a few months in that timeframe and it was suddenly there. That it was a 14 day was really attractive to us. It is still showing on their website. I was told by Oceania that this will be the first sailing post refurb. We booked it. First Oceania cruise. So far, no notice of cancellation. Possibly OP was cancelled since their itinerary began earlier? I was going to look into airfare this weekend. I think I will hold a bit longer…..

Thank you for this update. This is one of the hotels we are looking at. I was concerned about how the noise level would be. In the past we always stayed at a hotel in more of a neighborhood that was walking distance to a lot of the city. It doesn’t appear that noise at night was an issue for you?

Our focus the next couple years is Europe - several regions. Our past experiences pre Covid with Viking keep me coming back to look at itineraries and offerings, including pricing. We were big Viking fans, but the cost for the return of experience, just keeps skewing us further away. We have two future cruises booked. One on Oceania with their new promotion. By far, the pricing is miles apart from Viking for similar itineraries, and as mentioned in a previous post here, includes more in areas that are important to us. We also have another booked with Seabourn. This cruise is also significantly lower than Viking, and includes a whole, whole lot more on a much smaller ship. I am calculating total cost per day per person in these comparisons. I know pricing is up - in almost everything. But when the difference is literally thousands of dollars apart for similar, or even a step up in product, it is difficult, and pound foolish for us to remain loyal. But I will keep looking, because we have such good Viking memories…..pre C. The new prices will either keep filling the ships or it will not. Only time will tell.

Thank you for this. We will be there in late May no think Positano might win as we have been to Capri a few times. Not a bad choice either way. I appreciate this link and the tips!

Was the boat the ‘private yacht’ that Oceania advertises? If so where were you dropped off at the end? Thank you for this info

100% agree. And while considered a ‘different category,’ Seabourn does not either.

They should be. It’s a great way to keep a pulse on their customers. I will give kudos to Viking for doing that. They have all along and still do.

Thanks for all this information. I wasn’t all too worried about Santorini since we used SM to book a sailing on a yacht. I am pretty sure we will be given specifics on that. I am not sure how we will decide on the rest of that day with 10k cruise passengers scheduled. As much as we have not been before, and Oia as well as other places look beautiful, it sounds pretty crazy. Then add in the whole elevator deal. I am wondering a bit more about how the process will be in Sorrento with our having no excursions booked.

Large shower stalls would make a big difference. Thanks for mentioning that.

Got it. That makes perfect sense, and clearly what I was missing!

I am not sure who allows that number of ships on the regular. I do not know if it is local government or port authority. So that could have been a misstatement. I still feel though that greed, or some other similar attribute, is involved to continue to allow so many ships in such a small geographic area at one time. On our port day there are 10,000 ship passengers - that is not counting any crew members or land travel visitors. It’s just my opinion, but 10k or more cruise passengers just isn’t in anyone’s best interest. You are probably right about Oia being busy in the afternoon as well.

At,least the ship arrivals are spread out. That should help - I hope!

Thank you LHT28!