editor@cruisecritic Posted March 15, 2014 #1 Share Posted March 15, 2014 (edited) Join Cruise Critic Live! on a special date – Wednesday, March 19 – at 4 p.m. Eastern (which translates to 7 p.m. in the UK, very very early Thursday in Sydney, and noon on America’s West Coast) as we chat with Viking River Cruises’ Joost Ouendag. The topic? Choosing the perfect river cruise. As Viking’s vice president of product marketing, the Netherlands-born Joost (pronounced Yost) is responsible for planning new itineraries and creating ever more innovative shore outings for existing trips. He’s a great resource for all river cruising questions: The overall experience, ports of call or information about shipboard features and amenities while traveling in Europe, Russia and Asia. I’ll be hosting the event (hope some of our community experts will swing by to share their insights, as well). Joost and I will be “chatting” from one of Viking River’s Longships while on the line’s maiden Bordeaux voyage. Regardless of which river line you’ve cruised on (or are considering), do stop by and ask questions. Can’t make the chat on Wednesday, March 19 at 4 p.m.? Please feel free to submit questions ahead of time and we’ll make sure to get your answers. The chat will be archived, and available, after it winds up. The link (you can ask questions before, access via this link during the chat, and read the transcript after) is here: http://live.cruisecritic.com/Event/Choosing_the_perfect_river_cruise Carolyn Carolyn Spencer Brown Editor in Chief Cruise Critic Edited March 17, 2014 by LauraS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stretchcruz Posted March 16, 2014 #2 Share Posted March 16, 2014 Those of us who get up at 5 AM and work till after 5 PM of course can't join. I've often wanted to join in such conversations...not just here but on other river cruise forums, but when you work to pay for your cruises it is not possible. I wonder why they are never on the weekends? (Oh, right....the folks doing the forums and talking are working during the week and are off on the weekends). Seems that you are missing out on folks who could perhaps contribute a lot of good info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Got2Cruise Posted March 16, 2014 #3 Share Posted March 16, 2014 I'm intrigued by the "new and innovative shore outings". What type of active excursions is Viking instituting? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nana541 Posted March 16, 2014 #4 Share Posted March 16, 2014 Gee has the River Board really turned into a Viking Board???? Seems like every conversation (99% anyway) is about Viking! Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare notamermaid Posted March 16, 2014 #5 Share Posted March 16, 2014 Hello nana541, although I like the idea of a live chat, I understand your point and have a few doubts about the strategies of a certain company that seems to be - in your words - dominating the board. For me it is a bit like too many sweets - gives you a sugar boost at first and stomach ache later. ;) @Viking My question is: I know the two companies Viking River Cruises and Viking Flusskreuzfahrten were separate entities, now that the later has ceased to exist I would like to know if Viking River cruises allows customers in Germany to book a cruise through a German travel agent, as some of their itineraries vary a little from other cruise lines. notamermaid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Islandgirl4242 Posted March 16, 2014 #6 Share Posted March 16, 2014 Gee has the River Board really turned into a Viking Board???? Seems like every conversation (99% anyway) is about Viking! Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app It seems that if Viking is the line/company scheduling a live chat that they are a line interested in what their customers have to say and want...maybe this is something that moves them to the top of conversations.:) There's a lot of rising competition in river cruising and I applaud a company working to keep a share of the market. That said, I won't be able to take part in the chat and do hope the question of paying in full so far in advance is discussed. I am getting ready to book our first river cruise and Viking's payment policy is making me rethink their competition and that's a shame. The money sitting in our account vs Viking's account for a year is not a big deal regarding the amount of interest we would lose...the concern is the unknown a year away. With the way that Viking is growing I'm not comfortable pre-paying so far in advance with the thoughts that my $$ would be going toward the completion of their new ships and day to day operation. If they have/are over flooding the river cruise market I have no assurance that they have enough money to survive and take care of their customers who have paid so far in advance. I'm assuming these pre-payments do not go into an escrow account at Viking as assurance for their customers. ~~Judy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stretchcruz Posted March 16, 2014 #7 Share Posted March 16, 2014 There was an Avalon chat a few weeks ago, again in the middle of the work day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nana541 Posted March 16, 2014 #8 Share Posted March 16, 2014 There was an Avalon chat a few weeks ago, again in the middle of the work day. Sadly that one was not advertised until the last minute and then the link to it was bad..... As I am booked on an Avalon trip I was really disappointed about a missed opportunity :( Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nana541 Posted March 16, 2014 #9 Share Posted March 16, 2014 Sadly that one was not advertised until the last minute and then the link to it was bad..... As I am booked on an Avalon trip I was really disappointed about a missed opportunity :( Need to amend that, it was not advertised on the River Board and when it finally was it was last minute with a non functioning link... Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozjohnno Posted March 16, 2014 #10 Share Posted March 16, 2014 It's way too early a time down here for this Aussie but I'm not disappointed as I really have no interest at all in what Viking is selling. I agree with others that this board has turned into a "Viking Board" perhaps CC Admin could find a separate area for those of us not interested in Viking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Got2Cruise Posted March 16, 2014 #11 Share Posted March 16, 2014 Is there a link to the Avalon Chat transcript, please? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
editor@cruisecritic Posted March 17, 2014 Author #12 Share Posted March 17, 2014 (edited) Hi, Ozjohnno. We do agree that the time is early for Aussies -- and it's possible that at some point this year we'll do live chats at a better time for you, so please stay tuned. Perhaps, though, I should clarify our purpose for live, river-themed chats. It's not to help whichever executive from whatever line is participating to "sell" anything. It's meant to give our readers who are interested in river cruising another channel to get information, ask questions, share insights. When we invite a cruise line to participate -- and as noted Avalon's Patrick Clark was our first guest-host -- we specifically request that they stick to more general advice, rather than promoting their own line. Unless our readers have line-centered questions. In this case, because Viking does a really good job with creating innovative shore outings, we asked Joost Ouendag to come on with us to talk destinations. That's the theme of the chat, so if you have questions about Budapest or Bordeaux, Burma or the Mekong -- whether you're interested in Viking or any other line -- we hope you'll come along and ask them. Or answer others, if you have input. We are sorry for the late notice on Avalon -- and the bonkers link -- and this time we've given more notice, and have included a link that works! Progress. We've also asked Avalon to come back for another go -- so those of you who were disappointed will be able to have another chance. I'll re-post the link to that chat in another post. Any questions, feel free to ask. Carolyn It's way too early a time down here for this Aussie but I'm not disappointed as I really have no interest at all in what Viking is selling. I agree with others that this board has turned into a "Viking Board" perhaps CC Admin could find a separate area for those of us not interested in Viking. Edited March 17, 2014 by editor@cruisecritic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
editor@cruisecritic Posted March 17, 2014 Author #13 Share Posted March 17, 2014 Thanks, notamermaid, we'll keep you posted. Carolyn Hello nana541, although I like the idea of a live chat, I understand your point and have a few doubts about the strategies of a certain company that seems to be - in your words - dominating the board. For me it is a bit like too many sweets - gives you a sugar boost at first and stomach ache later. ;) @Viking My question is: I know the two companies Viking River Cruises and Viking Flusskreuzfahrten were separate entities, now that the later has ceased to exist I would like to know if Viking River cruises allows customers in Germany to book a cruise through a German travel agent, as some of their itineraries vary a little from other cruise lines. notamermaid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
editor@cruisecritic Posted March 17, 2014 Author #14 Share Posted March 17, 2014 Here you go: http://live.cruisecritic.com/Event/Cruise_Critic_Live_--_Riverpalooza Carolyn Is there a link to the Avalon Chat transcript, please? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
editor@cruisecritic Posted March 17, 2014 Author #15 Share Posted March 17, 2014 Got2Cruise, why don't you post that question on the chat? Carolyn I'm intrigued by the "new and innovative shore outings". What type of active excursions is Viking instituting? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
editor@cruisecritic Posted March 17, 2014 Author #16 Share Posted March 17, 2014 Thanks, Stretchcruz, for making a good point about holding chats on the workday. It's inspired us to ask, just on the river forum, for feedback on when our members come to Cruise Critic. Hope you'll all wander over and vote so we'll have a better idea of when our river cruise travelers are on Cruise Critic. That link is here: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2009755 Thanks. Carolyn Those of us who get up at 5 AM and work till after 5 PM of course can't join. I've often wanted to join in such conversations...not just here but on other river cruise forums, but when you work to pay for your cruises it is not possible. I wonder why they are never on the weekends? (Oh, right....the folks doing the forums and talking are working during the week and are off on the weekends). Seems that you are missing out on folks who could perhaps contribute a lot of good info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robinlynn Posted March 17, 2014 #17 Share Posted March 17, 2014 Join Cruise Critic Live! on a special date – Wednesday, March 19 – at 3 p.m. Eastern (which translates to 12 Noon on America’s West Coast, 8 p.m. in the UK, and very very early on Thursday in Sydney) – as we chat with Viking River Cruises’ Joost Ouendag. The topic? Choosing the perfect river cruise. As Viking’s vice president of product marketing, the Netherlands-born Joost (pronounced Yost) is responsible for planning new itineraries and creating ever more innovative shore outings for existing trips. He’s a great resource for all river cruising questions: The overall experience, ports of call or information about shipboard features and amenities while traveling in Europe, Russia and Asia. I’ll be hosting the event (hope some of our community experts will swing by to share their insights, as well). Joost and I will be “chatting” from one of Viking River’s Longships while on the line’s maiden Bordeaux voyage. Regardless of which river line you’ve cruised on (or are considering), do stop by and ask questions. Can’t make the chat on Wednesday, March 19 at 3 p.m.? Please feel free to submit questions ahead of time and we’ll make sure to get your answers. The chat will be archived, and available, after it winds up. The link (you can ask questions before, access via this link during the chat, and read the transcript after) is here: http://live.cruisecritic.com/Event/Choosing_the_perfect_river_cruise Carolyn Carolyn Spencer Brown Editor in Chief Cruise Critic Your posting says 3 pm, but when I click on the provided link, it says 4pm. Which is it? Robin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Rare LauraS Posted March 17, 2014 Administrators #18 Share Posted March 17, 2014 (edited) And, to add to what Carolyn said, we're pleased to be hosting the team from AmaWaterways during April, right here on the forums. Stay tuned; we'll open up the special forum for questions on April 1, so everyone will have a chance to ask their question. Questions will be answered during the week of April 14th. Laura Edited March 17, 2014 by LauraS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
editor@cruisecritic Posted March 17, 2014 Author #19 Share Posted March 17, 2014 The time was changed, this a.m.; now it's 4 p.m. Eastern. It should be updated all over the place by now :) Thanks, Robin. Carolyn Your posting says 3 pm, but when I click on the provided link, it says 4pm.Which is it? Robin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jojocmcla Posted March 18, 2014 #20 Share Posted March 18, 2014 I'll be looking forward to this, as we are traveling with AmaWaterways this spring. Please keep us posted on the time of the forum. And, to add to what Carolyn said, we're pleased to be hosting the team from AmaWaterways during April, right here on the forums. Stay tuned; we'll open up the special forum for questions on April 1, so everyone will have a chance to ask their question. Questions will be answered during the week of April 14th. Laura Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
editor@cruisecritic Posted March 19, 2014 Author #21 Share Posted March 19, 2014 Hi, hope you'll join us today (live chat, 4 p.m. Eastern) -- and ask any question you have about your cruise's itinerary! Carolyn I'll be looking forward to this, as we are traveling with AmaWaterways this spring. Please keep us posted on the time of the forum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gaobowen Posted March 19, 2014 #22 Share Posted March 19, 2014 Hi, During the live forum could you address the issue of the solo traveler and options other than paying a single supplement. Thank you in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travelqueen555 Posted March 19, 2014 #23 Share Posted March 19, 2014 We have just begun to research booking a river cruise for fall of 2015. I have contacted AMA to ask a question, and had a travel agent contact me, saying you are not able to book AMA directly and they could help me. I have no problem with that, but just got me thinking about all river cruise companies. So my question for Viking is: can a person book direct? Is there any advantage to booking directly? I have been on 11 cruises with the "Big Ship" companies, and have found I like booking with the actual company myself. I do have a local travel agent I "could" use. Also, someone mentioned above about paying for the cruise pretty far ahead of time, is this total amount. . what is the payment policy for Viking. Thank you very much for any answers provided. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M&T Posted March 19, 2014 #24 Share Posted March 19, 2014 I posted questions on the link but they are not showing. I really want to know the answers. Is the editor still here? I leave for work in 15 minutes. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Rare Cruise Critic Chris Posted March 19, 2014 Members #25 Share Posted March 19, 2014 Hi there. We've put all the questions in the chat queue so Viking can answer them. You'll see the answers once it gets started (4 p.m. EDT). When the chat is over, you'll be able to go back and read everything, in case you can't make it in "real time." :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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