Tips for New Viking Ocean Cruisers

[Peregrina651]

8 minutes ago, CharTrav said:

as I've written before,  you and others who are doing the welcome back cruises this Summer are the brave ones. Chickenhearts like me salute your bravery and willingness to deal with the unavoidable uncertainties of this period of re-start.  

 

Definitely crazy. But we are doing it anyhow!

 

Folks on the Venus are having a great time and we're next! 

 

 

[$hip$hape]

5 minutes ago, Peregrina651 said:

 

Definitely crazy. But we are doing it anyhow!

 

Folks on the Venus are having a great time and we're next! 

 

 

WE booked the “Atlantic Southern Crossing “(14Nov2021) months ago,

on the Viking Jupiter.

Now, fully paid, yes...

we are “doing it anyhow” ! 👍

[zitsky]

Are there any cabin reviews in this forum?  I don't see a sticky.  Was invited to Midnight Sun July 15, 2022 cruise and am researching the last few cabins available on deck 5 near the elevators 5069, 71, 73.

Edited May 31, 2021 by zitsky

[travelingman]

12 minutes ago, zitsky said:

Are there any cabin reviews in this forum?  I don't see a sticky.  Was invited to Midnight Sunday cruise and am researching the last few cabins available on deck 5 near the elevators 5069, 71, 73.

 

Only negative I can see if the relative location to the elevators and the potential noise from people getting on and off them.  If you are a light sleeper this could be a problem.

 

Stan

[SoccerMom#3]

1 minute ago, travelingman said:

 

Only negative I can see if the relative location to the elevators and the potential noise from people getting on and off them.  If you are a light sleeper this could be a problem.

 

Stan

We were in 3038 right near the elevator on Viking Sea a few years ago.  We never heard anything from people getting on or off or waiting for the elevator.  I loved being so close to the elevator.

[Dukefan]

We booked a room directly across from the elevator on deck 6, our second time in this same room.  There was no problem the first time and I am a light sleeper.   Two things about Viking - 1) Their passengers are not a very rowdy group of people and 2) Their room are very well insulated against noise.  In all the Viking boards that I have read over the years, I have read of very little cabin noise issues.  I do remember one I believe of a person in one of the cabins next to the lifeboats completing of cabin noise when the lifeboats on deck 3 were being let down for tendering and being raised again.

 

Edited May 31, 2021 by Dukefan

[photopro2]

Agreed soccer Mom and Dukefan, there have been frequent posts on the board referencing the lack of noise from the elevators and the people gathering to use them. We have found this to be correct so aways select cabins near the elevators for convenance and have never had the slightest problem with noise. 

[photopro2]

34 minutes ago, zitsky said:

Are there any cabin reviews in this forum?

I am not aware of any as such. In fact it may be a feature of Viking that there have been very few differences noted in posts between particular cabins in any given category.  

So tip to new Viking Ocean Cruisers....... pick a cabin wherever you like on the ship and enjoy 🙂

Edited May 31, 2021 by photopro2
Tip added

[zitsky]

Thanks all!!!

[Mrs Miggins]

On 5/28/2021 at 2:37 AM, Peregrina651 said:

 

Definitely crazy. But we are doing it anyhow!

 

Folks on the Venus are having a great time and we're next! 

 

 

I am on UK Viking Facebook'   The reviews are all very positive about the first cruise and those lucky enough to be onboard now are equally happy.  The UK weather is lovely this week and they have even seen pods of dolphins.      

[seprout93]

I will be on my first Viking cruise in May 2022 (Mediterranean & Italian Sojourn) and only second cruise ever. I'm curious about the cruise itinerary port arrival times that are listed in my viking journey, as the majority of them are listed as 8am. Some of the ports on this itinerary are very close to each other so are those times followed pretty strictly onboard and that is when the ship will dock? Or is that when passengers are allowed to get off the ship? Or maybe those times don't mean much at all and are just a loose idea of when we will arrive? Any insight would be greatly appreciated to help with our planning! 

[Clay Clayton]

2 hours ago, seprout93 said:

I will be on my first Viking cruise in May 2022 (Mediterranean & Italian Sojourn) and only second cruise ever. I'm curious about the cruise itinerary port arrival times that are listed in my viking journey, as the majority of them are listed as 8am. Some of the ports on this itinerary are very close to each other so are those times followed pretty strictly onboard and that is when the ship will dock? Or is that when passengers are allowed to get off the ship? Or maybe those times don't mean much at all and are just a loose idea of when we will arrive? Any insight would be greatly appreciated to help with our planning! 

I have found the times posted for Viking Ocean to be pretty accurate. Typically you can expect to get off the ship within 30 minutes of that time. Except for your disembarkation port. 

Edited July 31, 2021 by Clay Clayton

[Peregrina651]

On 5/31/2021 at 11:07 AM, Dukefan said:

I do remember one I believe of a person in one of the cabins next to the lifeboats completing of cabin noise when the lifeboats on deck 3 were being let down for tendering and being raised again.

 

A few weeks ago, we were right above the tenders. The mechanism (can't remember the right word😳) ran right under our cabin and was used once or twice during our sailing and even then it didn't take them two minutes to do what they needed to do. My garbage disposal makes about as much noise. Was the noise a problem? No. Did it bother me? No, I knew that we had a cabin over the tenders and that odd noises at odd times was to be expected.  This was not the first time we have chosen a cabin over the tenders but this is the first time we were in the cabin when was of the tenders was lowered or returned. It ain't no big deal.

 

In truth, I have stayed in hotels that are noisier than a Viking ship. You hear every noise coming from the corridor -- and from the people above. People talking at full volume no matter what time of day. 

 

 

 

 

[Heidi13]

3 hours ago, seprout93 said:

I will be on my first Viking cruise in May 2022 (Mediterranean & Italian Sojourn) and only second cruise ever. I'm curious about the cruise itinerary port arrival times that are listed in my viking journey, as the majority of them are listed as 8am. Some of the ports on this itinerary are very close to each other so are those times followed pretty strictly onboard and that is when the ship will dock? Or is that when passengers are allowed to get off the ship? Or maybe those times don't mean much at all and are just a loose idea of when we will arrive? Any insight would be greatly appreciated to help with our planning! 

 

Welcome to Viking Ocean.

 

Even when ports are close, the ship must go at least 12 miles off-shore between ports to make water and slow speed cruising saves significantly on fuel costs. The cruise lines will also hire tugs, pilots and longshoremen based on the ETA.

 

Provided the harbour transit/pilotage is short and/or uneventful, the ship is generally alongside about the posted ETA. Provided the local authorities clear the ship expeditiously, getting ashore is normally available at, or shortly after the posted ETA.

 

For turnaround ports, the arrival is often earlier than the ETA, as it provides the crew more time to prepare the ship/maintenance, etc.

[Heidi13]

15 minutes ago, Peregrina651 said:

 

A few weeks ago, we were right above the tenders. The mechanism (can't remember the right word😳) ran right under our cabin and was used once or twice during our sailing and even then it didn't take them two minutes to do what they needed to do. My garbage disposal makes about as much noise. Was the noise a problem? No. Did it bother me? No, I knew that we had a cabin over the tenders and that odd noises at odd times was to be expected.  This was not the first time we have chosen a cabin over the tenders but this is the first time we were in the cabin when was of the tenders was lowered or returned. It ain't no big deal.

 

In truth, I have stayed in hotels that are noisier than a Viking ship. You hear every noise coming from the corridor -- and from the people above. People talking at full volume no matter what time of day. 

 

We were in 4058, right above the middle of L/B # 2 for 4 months and have booked the same cabin for another 4 months. Fortunately Jim was aboard before us and taught them how to secure boats properly.😁

 

The periodic noise you heard was most likely the accumulators. Since the L/B are pulled inboard for stowage, they must be capable of being pushed outboard again against a 15 degree adverse list, without power. The davits utilise a hydraulic system, which has an accumulator to provide power in the event of a blackout. The accumulator is a large pressure vessel filled with hydraulic fluid and compressed air. In the event of a power failure, the davits can be operated once. However, the accumulator compressed air must be topped up periodically, which is what you possibly heard. We heard the pump cut in a couple of time per day.

 

As you mentioned, only lasted a couple of minutes. No worse than the furnace or A/C at home. When they were preparing the tenders, we were awake anyway and getting ready for breakfast.

[IWantToLiveOverTheSea]

21 hours ago, seprout93 said:

I will be on my first Viking cruise in May 2022 (Mediterranean & Italian Sojourn) and only second cruise ever. I'm curious about the cruise itinerary port arrival times that are listed in my viking journey, as the majority of them are listed as 8am. Some of the ports on this itinerary are very close to each other so are those times followed pretty strictly onboard and that is when the ship will dock? Or is that when passengers are allowed to get off the ship? Or maybe those times don't mean much at all and are just a loose idea of when we will arrive? Any insight would be greatly appreciated to help with our planning! 

I've found Viking itinerary times to generally be the time you can expect to be let off the ship, and unless there's horrible weather or some other issue (which has been very seldom in our experience) if the itinerary says 8, you'll get off the ship at 8.   However, the ship may arrive earlier than that.  But there's always time involved in tying up, getting gangplank and security station ready, or tender boats out, and passengers cleared by the local authorities, etc. So while a ship may "arrive" around 7, for example, it may be 8 until they're ready to let passengers off.  

 

In Iceland on the Welcome Back cruises this summer, some of our upcoming ports are relatively close together.  But I've noticed the ships (Sky & Jupiter) are generally getting in an hour to two hours earlier than the itinerary time.  But I have no way of knowing, of course, when the ship doors actually open.  

 

On disembarkation days, in general I've found that Oceania and Viking ships generally get in quite early. Usually I wake up at 6:30 or 7 to find us docked in port, no matter what the official itinerary time says.  That can be a disappointment for me as I really like sail-ins, or there's a lighthouse on the way in, or something like that.  But of course there's lots for the crew to do that morning, so I understand.   

 

 

[SRHall64]

Is the hole in the shower door standard for all cabin levels or is this a feature reserved for basic veranda cabins only? I am convinced that sometime this trip I'm going to use the handheld shower head, lose track of where it is facing, and shoot water straight through there.

[IWantToLiveOverTheSea]

18 hours ago, Heidi13 said:

 

Welcome to Viking Ocean.

 

Even when ports are close, the ship must go at least 12 miles off-shore between ports to make water and slow speed cruising saves significantly on fuel costs. The cruise lines will also hire tugs, pilots and longshoremen based on the ETA.

 

Provided the harbour transit/pilotage is short and/or uneventful, the ship is generally alongside about the posted ETA. Provided the local authorities clear the ship expeditiously, getting ashore is normally available at, or shortly after the posted ETA.

 

For turnaround ports, the arrival is often earlier than the ETA, as it provides the crew more time to prepare the ship/maintenance, etc.

Heidi, I always learn something from your posts - thanks!  A question for you: Does a cruise ship have to be a certain number of miles offshore to be able to open up a casino, and serve drinks without charging its passengers a country's tax, and things like that?  And does this depend upon the laws of the country being visited on any particular day/night?  And what mileage off-shore is usually the rule, if there is such a thing?  Is it 3 or 12 or various?

[IWantToLiveOverTheSea]

2 minutes ago, SRHall64 said:

Is the hole in the shower door standard for all cabin levels or is this a feature reserved for basic veranda cabins only? I am convinced that sometime this trip I'm going to use the handheld shower head, lose track of where it is facing, and shoot water straight through there.

Hasn't happened to me yet, but then I usually just leave the shower head where it is, as I'm a klutz.  You'll likely be fine!  I wouldn't worry too much.  But yes, I haven't been in any category but a DV, but there was a hole....

  

[Tom.in.nc]

11 minutes ago, IWantToLiveOverTheSea said:

but there was a hole....

That’s a non-protruding handle, not a hole. Same in PV.  🙄😂

Edited July 31, 2021 by Tom.in.nc

[IWantToLiveOverTheSea]

It's been a while and I've forgotten some things, despite the fact that I starting this thread a long time ago using a cruise companion's login name.  Anyway, here are my questions:

 

Is there a regular push down type handle on the inside door of the staterooms?  I plan to put my lanyard/contact tracing device there if so.  I don't have any magnetic hooks to bring.  And yes, I know the device is a mini disco ball.  But I sleep SO well on Viking it won't bother me.  

 

And if I leave my room key card in my lanyard, will I need some other card to put in the slot to keep electricity coming into my stateroom?

 

And can you insert a USB thumb drive into the computers near the Explorers Desk?  If I wanted to get and print a pdf, can I do that?  Some cruise lines don't allow that due to security concerns. 

 

Does your room attendant generally come around and introduce himself/herself on embarkation day, or has that been put on hold during Covid?  And is the coffee maker still in the room (deluxe veranda rooms)?  

 

Thanks. 

 

 

[IWantToLiveOverTheSea]

5 minutes ago, Tom.in.nc said:

That’s a non-protruding handle, not a hole. Same in PV.  🙄

Probably a good thing.  If there was a protruding handle, I'd probably injure myself, or break it off and have to use the store I saw on my way back from PCR testing. (Sorry, I'm veering off course.)

[Heidi13]

1 hour ago, IWantToLiveOverTheSea said:

Heidi, I always learn something from your posts - thanks!  A question for you: Does a cruise ship have to be a certain number of miles offshore to be able to open up a casino, and serve drinks without charging its passengers a country's tax, and things like that?  And does this depend upon the laws of the country being visited on any particular day/night?  And what mileage off-shore is usually the rule, if there is such a thing?  Is it 3 or 12 or various?

 

Being charged tax on drinks is something I have only started seeing more frequently. Memory is hazy, but I believe the first place we experienced it was in Florida. In the US, I believe it varies by State whether they charged state tax while within Territorial Waters. Every country sets its own rules.

 

The Casino is also usually closed within Territorial Waters.

 

Territorial Waters are defined in the UN Convention of the Laws of the Sea (UNCLOS), which will then be enacted by a maritime law in each country. The Territorial Waters extend 12 Nautical Miles offshore

[Kellybc]

I just got off the Sky today, and I believe the doorknob was a push down. The room steward introduced herself and left a card in the slot for electricity. PV has a pod coffee maker, I think DV does also. Still in Reykjavík, the weather is great. Have a wonderful cruise!

[Clay Clayton]

5 hours ago, SRHall64 said:

Is the hole in the shower door standard for all cabin levels or is this a feature reserved for basic veranda cabins only? I am convinced that sometime this trip I'm going to use the handheld shower head, lose track of where it is facing, and shoot water straight through there.

It won’t make any difference…we usually seem to end up with water on the floor outside anyway.  I think there is a minor design flaw in that the floor doesn’t slope enough to the drain over in the corner.  Not usually a big problem unless you’re in rolling seas and you’re (and the water are) rolling towards the door.