Airport Pickup Inquiry

[Vagabond51]

Viking is meeting us at the Istanbul Airport for a pre trip extension. Does anyone know if it's actually Viking employees that greet us and drive to our hotel or do they vendor the job out? We ask as we wish to stop at both an ATM machine and also to get a sim card and have it popped into our phones (we are both Ludites), before we wrap ourselves into the Viking coccoon. I know we will have to wait for baggage and then I suppose we meet the driver at baggage claim? I can ask Viking I guess, but thought someone may know and it might be best to not make a big deal out of it with Viking. But is it Viking? I don't wish to hold up other folks who may be landing also. Anyone have any experience here? Thanks!

[CDR2001]

Every time we’ve been met by Viking, there was a fairly large group of other passengers transferring to the hotel or ship. The Viking team will be wearing bright red shirts or jackets, you can’t miss them near baggage claim! The airport greeters aren’t usually the drivers, they stay at the airport to meet other flights. They will escort you to the bus or van. ( Once our greeter stayed with us all the way to the hotel.) You won’t be stopping along the way. Once at the hotel, the Viking hotel hosts can direct you to an ATM and SIM card source if needed. We've had an orientation walk on a few occasions from the hotel. I believe the airport hosts, bus drivers and hotel hosts are from local tour companies, subcontracted by Viking. They have been very helpful, efficient and passenger focused, in my limited experience. 

Edited March 10, 2023 by CDR2001
More details

[OneSixtyToOne]

2 hours ago, Vagabond51 said:

We ask as we wish to stop at both an ATM machine and also to get a sim card and have it popped into our phones (we are both Ludites),

Many modern phones support eSims and can be purchased online before you leave. There are many vendors available and many people on this forum have used Airalo. 
 

CDR2001 covered everything well. I’ll just add that the transportation to the hotel will be dependent on how many people arrive. On our last cruise we arrived late into Athens and we’re the only Viking guests. We met the Viking host after we exited baggage claim and she escorted us to the driver of a private car service. At other times it’s been a small van or a coach bus. It all depends on the number of people arriving.

Edited March 10, 2023 by OneSixtyToOne