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OneSixtyToOne

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  • Posts

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About Me

  • Location
    San Diego
  • Interests
    Model Railroading, History
  • Favorite Cruise Line(s)
    Viking
  • Favorite Cruise Destination Or Port of Call
    European Rivers

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  1. We did Zurich to Paris in 2018 and loved it. We also did the Switzerland extension, which was the best Viking extension we’ve ever been on. Crossing Switzerland on the Glacier Express was a great experience. Book it, if you can.
  2. It was 2 nights in Geneva then a long but very scenic bus ride (with lunch at a a very nice winery near Montrose, overlooking Lake Geneva) to some small town (don’t know the name) where we took a short local train ride into Zermatt (no vehicles allowed). Then 2 nights in Zermatt where we took the Glacier Express to Chur. Then onto a bus to Zurich, arriving at the hotel around 5-6 PM. Winery Local to Zermatt Zermatt View from the Glacier Express Chur
  3. We took the Tuscany extension last year and absolutely loved it. You can find my write up in this “Live” thread starting at post 66 https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2906353-almost-live-viking-sky-journey-to-antiquities-jan-2023/?do=findComment&comment=64733283
  4. One other thing. Be aware that “premium economy” is only guaranteed on the transoceanic leg.
  5. If you don’t use the coffee maker, ask the stewards will remove it. It will give you extra storage space.
  6. This is a matter of personal preference. Some people want to control the whole process others want an integrated trip with Viking taking care of any issues. We typically use Viking Air because we have received free air on some occasions and on others we don’t want to worry about transfers or delays. We also live close to a major airport. On our last cruise to Venice, there was an Italian air controllers strike the day of embarkation. Although we were not affected (we always do an extension to arrive early. BTW NEVER fly in the day of the cruise) Viking handled the situation for those who had Viking Air. On another cruise, we were delayed by weather and arrived very late in Athens. Viking was waiting for us and arranged a private car service for just the two of us. My point is you must also factor in the cost of ground transportation with the air cost. As far as air plus is concerned, don’t purchase it until you are sure you need it. Viking updated their online air interface on MVJ a few years ago and you have more control over your flights. You can search for different ones and even change airports. If you fail to find anything of your liking then you can purchase it. Also be aware that any airline information that you may see online is just a placeholder. Airlines change this all the time and it isn’t locked in until very close to the date of departure. For our return flight from Barcelona last year, a few days before our cruise, Lufthansa dropped our return flight due to an aircraft availability issue. Viking handled all of it for us. One other thing, if you purchase the Viking extensions, ground transportation is included, even if you book your own air. If you are DIY, you can also purchase ground transportation if you arrive and/or depart on the same day as the ship. If you plan on a cruise that starts in Venice, don’t underestimate the value of Viking handling the ground transportation. You will not dock in Venice and transportation to the ship can be costly. Venice is best explored by staying in the city for a couple of nights. IMO you don’t want to do Venice without staying there.
  7. Much of what “value” Viking offers is totally subjective. What’s the value of no children, no casinos, and the quality of the lectures? I’d pay a high premium for a “no children” airplane flight. I doubt you will find your answer in a spreadsheet. My suggestion is if Viking offers you an itinerary of your liking, try it and see if you like their product.
  8. Taking the boat down the Thames to Greenwich is both scenic and easy. Although I have not taken the BIE, when we were in London last summer sightseeing, it literally left us off a few feet where the large red Viking banners were flying and the check-in tables were located. Greenwich is a tender port, so you are shuttled from the dock to the ship. Notice the red Viking banners near the Cutty Sark: Tower Bridge: This is a tidal river and you can see the dramatic difference from high to low tide: Old Royal Naval College: Your ship:
  9. Anything will be acceptable. Our stewards were leaving and heading to Asia after our cruise so trying to match the currency to the destination is overthinking it. On our South American cruise we tipped with extra Euros from a previous trip. We asked our steward if it was OK and he said it didn’t matter. The crews often leave for somewhere else and they are happy to accept anything.
  10. Reminds me of the episode of Silicon Valley when the tech billionaire built his manufacturing plant on a platform on the international date line because he wanted to celebrate two New Year's Eves.
  11. If you were looking at the bar menu sample on MVJ, they are years out of date.
  12. Manfredi’s lasagna: “Hold my beer” Worst excuse for lasagna I have ever tried to eat.
  13. The planetarium doesn't have a telescope. It's an IMAX style dome screen and a projector.
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