MSEm

Thanks for the replies. We may take the included carriage tour in the AM. We can rent bikes for the afternoon.

Bike tours are offered on Mackinac Island and Georgian Bay (Parry Sound). The sub dives are offered in Georgian Bay, Killarney, Frazer Bay, and Parry Sound.

Thanks azdrydock. We will not have to pay extra. Will book just for the sub experience. Also if you have any good or bad shore excursion info. Plan to do the Rock & Roll and Ford museums. Hear anything about the 2 bike rides? Read that the rides are 8 miles and hilly.

Thanks to all for the dive information. If you dive or hear anyone talking about their dive location, please post the mini review. Also please post any good or negative mini reviews on the other shore excursions. Question on the bicyle tours: Flat land or hilly? Also how long is the actualy ride?

We are are booked on the Sept 12, 2023 Great Lakes Cruise. Submarine Dives are offered in 4 locations. Thunder Bay, Silver Islet, Georgian Bay (Killarney), and Frazer Bay, This is the order of the ports for our cruise. I know the Submarine Dive is an expensive "tour. Which one of these "ports" would be the best for a "dive". I realize that weather can effect the viewing or result in cancellation of a dive. Any info on these dives or other shore tours is appreciated. Thanks for all the great info on this site.

Thank you. We are booked for a March 2024 cruise. I will start booking some of the excursions.

Can you book excursions before making final cruise payment?

wonderful trip.

Yes it is the Jan 20, 2025 Sydney cruise. We will arrive early to tour Sydney.

Hopefully Jim & I will see you on board for the Circle of Australia. We were on the New Zealand to Sydney cruise in March 2020. We completed the New Zealand ports on were underway to Tasmania when the ports were close. We had booked to Sydney to Bali cruise When the Circle Australia came out, we transferred over to the Circle Australia. Doing the Great Lakes in Sept 2023. Booked for Northern European cruise with Stockholm pre-tour in June 2023.

Thanks for the info on setting up a Meet & Mingle. Also Bcorre2 please post to good and bad of any excursions. We will be taking this in Sept. Glad we are flying in early to Duluth. Our flight into Duluth changed from a 3 PM arrival to a 6 PM arrival.. Will drop off luggage as soon as possible on Sept 12, then go to museum or the aquarium.

Thank you for posting about the above tours. Think we will pass on the wine/beer/cheese tour. We do not like sweet wines nor flavored beers. Maybe we will pass a quick store selling some local beers or cheeses.

Does Viking host Meet & Mingle on the Polaris? We will be sailing on the Sept 12, 2023 Duluth to Toronto cruise. Flying into Duluth on Sept 11. Glad we are flying in 1 day early, Our flight was changed and now arrives in Duluth at 6:30 pm.

ropomo, Thanks for the info on the World Cafe. Please post about the excursions. The Pros and Cons for the shore trips. We are looking forward to our Sept 12, 2023 cruise Duluth to Toronto.

Thank you for the info on the Dining Room size. We are on the Great Lakes cruise. Most of the days the ship will leave port by pm. We will probably eat most of the dinners in the Dining Room. I really enjoy having the evening meal served.

We are scheduled for the Great Lakes Duluth to Toronto beginning Sept 12, 2023. MVJ shows we may book Manfredi's and The Restaurant. How small is The Restaurant. How many people can it seat? Are we still having to make a reservation to dine in The Restaurant? Thank for any info on the dining on Polaris.

Would love a Sea of Cotez and Mexico. Also Overnight in San Fran, LA and San Diego. Looked at Viking Hawaii but too many days at sea with no overnights in Hawaii. It would be nice if Viking reduces the sea days and added some overnights in Hawaii ports.

I agree with DrHemlock. Use your travel ATM card 2 to 3 weeks before you travel. This will insure that the card is working. Also inform the card issuer for when and where you are traveling. We have a Travel checking account. MDH and I each have a debit card with different numbers.

Most transfers to the hotel after a cruise is between 8:30- 9:00 AM. Usually check in at the hotels is between 1-3 pm. I would suggest that you purchase your Westminster Abbey tour for the afternoon. The morning can be very crowded with both school groups and other tour groups in Westminster Abbey. Have a wonderful cruise and stay in London.

You should be able to find excursions in MVJ (My Viking Journey). You should be able to review the excursions that may be offered. We did this cruise in Feb 2023. One of the highlights was the pre-tour going to Iguazu Falls and our Falklands Island Bluff Cove Penguin trip. Bluff Cove has King and Gentoo Penguins.We lucked out with mild breezes, calm seas, mid 50's temp and BLUE SKY. Out flight from Santiago was 11:10 pm. Viking was able to set up a Santiago bus tour with stop at a Artist shop village. Then we went to the Marriott where Viking had a ballroom reserved with snacks, water & coffee. Also a place to storage carryon luggage. Checked luggage went directly from the ship to the airport. We did not receive info on the transfer/tour until day 3 on the cruise. I could not get any info on the transfer/tour from Viking before the cruise. Enjoy to cruise

Agree we do like the small bars at the sink. The small bars do last for 2 weeks.

I usually do our air and not use Viking. We are booked on the Great Lakes Duluth to Toronto for Sept 2023. It included "free air" We had Delta vouchers (from changes and cancelled flights during Covid shut down) that were close to use or lose the vouchers. I booked Atlanta to Minneapolis to Duluth. Depart ATL about 11:45 am. Arrive in Duluth at 4:30 pm on same day. Depart Toronto non stop to Atlanta at 11:50 AM on the day we depart ship. Viking sent us a schedule: Depart Atlanta at 6:46 PM day before we board the ship. Fly to LAX with 4 2/1 hour layover. Depart LAX at 12:20 AM to Minneapolis with 2 1/2 layover. Depart MSP at 9 AM to arrive in Duluth at 10:30am. Depart Toronto at about 7 AM to ATL.

We carry a plastic soap dish and a small plastic bin both with suction cups for the shower. It allows us to keep my hair shampoo & conditioner and a razor in the shower. My husband also prefers a real bar of soap. Have a soap dish in the shower is a must for us. We also use command hooks in the cabin.

We use WhatsApp when traveling overseas. Make sure you invite people to join you on WhatsApp before you leave. We find it to be very fast for text and voice calls. We also used it to sent some pics to family. We keep phones in Airplane mode. Usually no problem when off the ship conneting to WiFi. Most of the tour buses have had wifi. I have successfully connected with WhatsApp to send text & pics while on tour bus.

If you have any mobility issues use the mobility transport services. In 2006 we went to Germany for my husband's back-surgery. Mobility services got us through the airport in record quick time..The wheelchair attendant knew how to get us pass the waiting crowds. Also I would request mobility services in Amsterdam when departing Bergen with an Amsterdam connection. It is a very long walk from arrivals from Bergen to the international departure gates. Also you must go through passport control.