First Viking Cruise: Need guidance please

[vslparis]

3 hours ago, DrKoob said:

 

Thanks for the update. We are scheduled for July 2 to Quito so our hopes are high. We had heard that even though choices were limited, food was awesome. I am most looking forward to the ceviche that I have heard is amazing. 

 

Jim

We had a lunch and dinner in Quito that was excellent. Food on the ship was very good too. Again, maybe not the variety that some people might like, but the 5 of us found it good. Honestly, when someone is cooking ang cleaning up afterwords, I’m good 😉

[nextariel]

Thank you all for this very informative thread. We are also Celebrity Elite and looking for some different itineraries. We don't smoke, have kids, go to art auctions or casinos. After reading this thread we are going to be booking!

[EnjoyingLife2014]

Thanks everyone for all this information. We did our first Viking trip in February 2020 to Egypt and Jordan. An amazing trip! And we were so impressed with Viking that we just booked a Viking Ocean cruise, hopefully post COVID, for December 2022. Having only done cruising with Princess and also the Celebrity Xpedition  ( to the Galapagos) I was looking for the type of information you all shared here.  We are excited! The 2 years 1 month will fly by. It sure did for Egypt! 

[JM0115]

On 8/15/2020 at 9:46 PM, just_dont said:

 

 

 

 

 

In addition to the reservation desk (at the port-side entrance to the World Cafe), which will likely have a line on boarding day, you can use the Viking app to make reservations as soon as you have connected to the ship's WiFi.

 

Good point about mentioning special occasions. My DW and I both celebrated birthdays on our cruise. After dinner for the first birthday, we were presented with a lovely cake for dessert. After dinner for the second birthday, we were too full for dessert, and they delivered the cake to our cabin.

Also, there are two private dining rooms, with the other one off of Manfredi's.

 

One other tidbit. On sea days, there will be a cooking class in The Kitchen Table around lunchtime, where you will be taught by one of the head chefs and actually participate in the preparation and cooking of a meal, which you will then enjoy with the other dozen or so others who sign up, and may be able to take a tour through the galley (maybe not post-pandemic, though). There is a nominal charge, but it was a wonderfully unique opportunity. I hope this sort of special event doesn't go away due to the virus.

 

And don't hesitate to ask for special services. The staff goes out of their way to be accommodating. We had a full-day private excursion planned in Edinburgh. The night before we arrived there, they changed the back on board time, moving it up an hour, and due to a fairly long tender, the last tender was 45 minutes earlier than that. Normally they reserve the first tender for pax on ship's excursions, but we mentioned our concern to Guest Services, and they made sure we were able to get on the first tender.

 

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

 

 

 

Do you have to sign up for cooking classes before you embark or can you do so while you are on the ship?

[SantaFe1]

2 minutes ago, JM0115 said:

Do you have to sign up for cooking classes before you embark or can you do so while you are on the ship?

On our 2019 WC we signed up on the ship.  But do so early, because they tended to fill up fast.  But a great way to spend a morning, and then have a nice lunch.

[Heidi13]

2 hours ago, JM0115 said:

Do you have to sign up for cooking classes before you embark or can you do so while you are on the ship?

On the 20 WC, only a few of the days were full. Most days you could book the night before. One of the couples, who went every day, booked in advance to guarantee their spot. I only went occasionally, always booking the night before.

[Dauntless]

World cruises are a completely different animal than the regular cruises.  A lot of sea days and things are not the same as regular cruising.  You may or may not have the opportunity to sign up for 'cooking classes" until you board.  They sometimes offer a scaled down version of "Kitchen Table', at a cheaper price(usually on sea days, as you don't go the market with the chef and as my understanding, they are not open until you board.  The regular "Kitchen Table" experience can be booked before you board, when it is time for you to sign up for excursions, when offered on your cruise.

 

[vslparis]

4 hours ago, JM0115 said:

Do you have to sign up for cooking classes before you embark or can you do so while you are on the ship?

I signed up on the ship for a class that looked interesting and way on a day that I had free time.  I don’t think that they are available ahead of time ;  unless you are talking about the one that includes going to a market in port and then cooking with what was purchased ? That one is sold as a shore excursion and can be booked ahead of time if you wish. 

[Heidi13]

5 hours ago, JM0115 said:

Do you have to sign up for cooking classes before you embark or can you do so while you are on the ship?

 

If the 21/22 WC is similar to the '20, I would not expect to see a schedule for the cooking class menus in the cabin upon boarding. We headed down to the Purser's Desk and they printed the daily schedule.

 

Even although you don't have segments, I suspect you won't get the entire schedule on departing L/A. Probably L/A to Sydney, then Sydney to Mumbai, then Mumbai to London.

 

They tend to follow the cuisine of the region the ship is cruising and we found that they were often featured as the MDR destination menu a few days later.

[Jim Avery]

On 9/24/2020 at 7:19 PM, vslparis said:

We had a lunch and dinner in Quito that was excellent. Food on the ship was very good too. Again, maybe not the variety that some people might like, but the 5 of us found it good. Honestly, when someone is cooking ang cleaning up afterwords, I’m good 😉

How true Andy.  4 months off washing up and my delicate hands are back to soft and smooth......😱

[Mich3554]

4 hours ago, Jim Avery said:

How true Andy.  4 months off washing up and my delicate hands are back to soft and smooth......😱

4 months of no cooking, grocery shopping or washing dishes sounds wonderful!

Come to think of it, 5he most taxing thing will be doing laundry!

[deec]

It was Bliss...and we did not even have to do laundry!