Heidi13

Have been to Glacier Bay well over 20 times, which includes weekly visits for 2 Alaska season and I have never failed to see glaciers in GB. My only photos in Sept are from 1980. Even in September, some weeks were sunny and others overcast and/or stormy. Hardly all rock. Glacier Bay is a much better option than Dawes Glacier

Our experience is pre-COVID, but shore-ex we cancelled online were refunded based on the method of payment. If we used OBC, the credits were re-instated. If we paid with Visa, the credit was applied to our card.

Go back to Princess, not on your life, even if they paid us, we still wouldn't go back. My take is the Corporate Chef is the only one daft enough to pay that organisation the money required to attain the designation. Doesn't mean they have the best gelato, it just means they paid the fee and meet their standard. Affirmative, Viking make the Ice Cream/Gelato daily in a section of the galley aft of the Manfredi's Galley.

I don't even add the days that the alternative restaurants can be booked to my calendar, as we don't make any bookings pre-cruise. You should have no problem making reservations onboard the ship. We never book earlier than the day we want eat in one of the restaurants, or even just turn up. Generally, always manage to get a table. Since many vendors are no longer in business, Viking are having a tough time arranging shore-ex, so yes, you may also experience a delay in having them available. I am also experiencing these problems with booking private tours, as many of the vendors I used previously are no longer in business. Others that still have websites, are taking months to respond. We may be getting back to travelling, but it is a long way from pre-COVID norms.

When working on the cruise ships, I did a couple of consecutive Alaska seasons. In September, we could have brilliant sunshine one week and then a 70 kt storm and heavy rain the next. "Really Cold" is very subjective, depending on where you are from. Living on the West Coast , I find 0C/32F is really cold, but it never got anywhere close to that in Alaska in September.

I have developed a couple of discussion forums and performed the Admin and Moderator roles for over 10 yrs. While I developed similar rules of conduct, we took a softer approach to moderating the forum, providing a warning for inappropriate posts. CC is clearly a much larger forum, so they utilise a management method that works for the forum owners. Unfortunately, they do not provide feedback on why topics and/or posts are removed. I am surprised to read your new post, as I saw nothing that was questionable content. You received lots of great suggestions.

Haha!! "Work" that's one of those 4-letter words that shouldn't be used in polite company. Hoping you get to enjoy a longer cruise in retirement.

It is tough to figure out when crew members get shore leave, as they have "In Port Manning" (IPM) requirements. SOLAS requires the Master to ensure that at all times the ship can enact an effective emergency response. When in port and with gangways attached, it generally negates the need to evacuate the ship using the survival craft. This requires less crew, so some can go ashore. If my memory is correct, I believe Viking use 1/3 or 1/4 of a department's ratings assigned to remaining onboard in any given port. They have separate in port Emergency Duty Cards. Those assigned as IPM are also designated in the security system, so if they forget and try to go ashore, it alarms at the gangway. As with everything else onboard, IPM days are frequently traded or even sold to other crew members. Therefore, I agree it is challenging to figure out when crew can get ashore. At the end of the World Cruise, we used both Sterling and Euros to provide to the crew, as those were the currencies we had that were the best fit for the circumstances.

Our preferred cruise line, routinely sells out cruises over a year in advance and prices tend to increase, not decrease. Since we booked in early December 2020, our cabin has increased $12,000 pp. and some of the benefits were reduced. Although a few cabins have now opened, the cruise was fully booked in about 3 months, or 22 to 23 months before departure. Yes, booking a preferred cabin is also a factor in booking early.

Prior to deciding on Seattle or Vancouver, I suggest determining what you want to see in Alaska. Many of the ships only sail throughout SE Alaska, visiting the busy ports of Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway. Do you want to experience some of the smaller ports, or even Prince William Sound, which is spectacular? Glaciers are also a key desirable of many pax cruising to Alaska. With well over a couple dozen trips into Glacier Bay, I have never failed to see at least 1one glacier. As an additional bonus, the Park Rangers board the ship and provide commentary. Hubbard Glacier is huge and impressive, but at times the access can be blocked by floating ice. I have missed Hubbard a few times due to ice. Dawes Glacier has the highest chance of being missed due to ice. I have only made it to the glacier once. Therefore, I suggest researching and determining what ports and/or glaciers you want to see, before starting with determining an embarkation/disembarkation port. Vancouver and Seattle are both great cities and have pros/cons for travel. However, I will focus on the Alaska cruise experience from both ports. Vancouver - is 100 miles closer to Alaska and does not require a port stop outside Alaska to comply with Cabotage Laws. Therefore, the Vancouver based ships have more time available in Alaska than the ships based in Seattle. In addition to selecting the preferred ports, it is critical to check the time and number of hours in port. Departing Vancouver, the ships take the scenic Inside Passage, East of Vancouver Island, which is sheltered waters. On a R/T from Vancouver, you sail through these waters again on the last day. You can book 1-way cruises to Seward/Whittier, so you can experience Prince William Sound and also book Denali extensions, or R/T SE Alaska cruises. Seattle - the ships steam out Juan de Fuca and up the Pacific Ocean, west of Vancouver Island. You may experience heavy weather in the Pacific, even in the summer months. On return to Seattle, you again sail west of Vancouver Island and have to stop in Victoria. Most ETA's are 16:00 to 18:00, but is they experience weather delays, the arrival can be later, only getting a couple of hours ashore, late at night. Victoria is also a challenging arrival when the wind blows. You can only book R/T cruises, most of which only visit SE Alaska.

Many experienced cruisers to Alaska, myself included, always state the ship is simply an asset to transport you around Alaska. Alaska is all about the scenery and the wildlife. If your primary reason for cruising is to be aboard a new glitzy floating gin palace, I suggest you can get the same experience in the Caribbean for less money. Seattle cruises must be round trip, and must stop at a Canadian port, as this is a requirement of the US Cabotage Law. However, Vancouver is not constrained by similar laws and you can find both 1-way cruises, to both Seward and Whittier and round-trip cruises. I spent 2 entire seasons in Alaska as a navigator and sailed R/T from Vancouver.

Started out at over 750, now down to 200.

Arrgh!! the good ol' days of when getting caught with a clip-on dickie bow was grounds for a keel hauling. The other one was getting caught with a velcro cummerbund.😁 Having experienced the ultra-formal every night for too many years and seen some of the discussions on Cunard and others, I agree that the Viking topics are rather tame.

The weather is always unpredictable, especially in higher latitudes. You also have to factor in the approach channels, tender port/docking, Captain's risk tolerance, cruise line policies & procedures, ship's mechanical status, availability of tugs, etc. Without thorough research, or having been to the ports multiple times before, it is impossible to provide an informed opinion. I concur with the previous response; best guess is you have a reasonable probability of missing at least 1 port. As I have posted many times, we consider the itinerary finalised once we disembark.

Here is the full list of Shore-ex available in Greenwich in 2020. GBLON02 Classic Monuments of London Tour Price: $194.00 CAD Duration 8.5 hrs See the Highlights of London on a Full-Day Tour -- Take a classic tour by some of London’s most famous landmarks,accompanied by a renowned Blue Badge licensed guide. Upon arrival in the city, you will pass Buckingham Palace, the London Eye, Parliament Square and Big Ben. See the imposing yet delicate Westminster Abbey and its vast flying buttresses. Drive through Trafalgar Square and down Whitehall, the government district where you will view The Cenotaph war memorial and the gates to 10 Downing Street, home of the prime minister. Enjoy time for lunch and shopping in Covent Garden. A drive along the Thames features the Royal Festival Hall, the National Theater, Tate Modern and the OXO Tower. Stop for exterior photos at Sir Christopher Wren’s greatest masterpiece, St. Paul’s Cathedral. At the famed Tower of London, gaze upon the stunning Crown Jewels and hear tales of the Traitor’s Gate and the White Tower. GBLON06 Royal Greenwich Walking Tour Tour Price: $0.00 CAD Duration 1.5 hrs Time & Tide: Greenwich’s Maritime Past -- Discover Greenwich’s maritime and royal history by foot. You will join your guide for a walk that will take you past the famous Cutty Sark, the world’s only surviving tea clipper and the fastest sailing ship in the world when it was built in 1869, and the Greenwich Market, an eclectic mix of arts and crafts, and street food. Continue on to St. Alfege Church, dedicated to the archbishop of Canterbury who was killed on this spot in 1012 and where Henry VIII was baptized. Then, stop for photos at the Queen’s House, the first classical building built in England. See the National Maritime Museum, housed in a former royal palace and the world’s largest seafaring museum, and the iconic Old Royal Naval College, the architectural centerpiece of Maritime Greenwich, before returning to your ship. GBLON19 Imperial War Museum & Churchills War Rooms Tour Price: $259.00 CAD 6.5 hrs Britain and its Allies from World War I to Modern Times -- Discover the undercover work of Britain’s Special Forces and its allies, from World War I to the conflicts of today. The Imperial War Museum tells exceptional stories of people’s wartime experiences through world-class collections of objects, documents, photography and film. Join your guide for a tour of the exhibits, which tell the tales of those who lived through the *** persecution in Europe from 1933 to 1945. Discover the story of World War II through the eyes of the British people and its empire, and gain an understanding of how Britain and its allies defeated Hitler. Then, uncover the secret world of espionage and the strategies, techniques and bravery of the men and women behind some of the most secret missions of the last century. Learn more about the remarkable life and times of Sir Winston Churchill during your visit to the secret World War II bunker and museum before returning to your ship. GBLON26 The World of Shakespeare Tour Price: $169.00 CAD Duration 4 hrs Private Tour of Iconic Theater and Stagecraft Demonstration -- Immerse yourself in the world of William Shakespeare during a private tour of the reconstructed Globe Theater. Originally built in Southwark in 1599, this historic theater’s stage entertained audiences with many of the “Bard of Avon”’s most iconic works before its closing and eventual razing in 1644. Reconstructed and reopened in 1997, this modern incarnation continues the theatrical tradition of its predecessor with productions of works by Shakespeare, his contemporaries and modern playwrights. Upon arrival, meet your guide and begin an exclusive exploration of the theater, including its gallery and yard, before enjoying free time to visit the vast UnderGlobe, home to the world’s largest exhibition devoted to Shakespeare. Then, take a seat in the gallery for an exciting demonstration of stage fighting and learn how it was used in Shakespeare’s time during an informative question and answer session with the actors. GBLON27 By Royal Appointment Tour Price: $1039.00 CAD Duration 8 hrs Visit Favored Suppliers to Royal Households -- Discover the “Best of Britain” as you visit some of the proud holders of Royal Warrants of Appointment. The Royal Family has been recognizing tradespeople who supply goods or services to its most senior households since medieval times. During your tour, you will visit Britain’s oldest wine and spirit merchant, Berry Bros. & Rudd. Favored suppliers since the reign of King George III, the store on St. James’s Street was established in 1698. In their Georgian town house, you will enjoy an exclusive wine tasting session followed by a sumptuous three-course lunch prepared by Head Chef Stewart Turner and his team. After lunch, enjoy free time to browse the store before continuing your stroll toward Piccadilly, where you will find several more celebrated British brands including the iconic Fortnum & Mason and a royally appointed perfumer, cheesemonger and shirt maker. GBLON18 Chelsea Physic Garden Tour Price: $169.00 CAD Duration 5 hrs Visit London’s Oldest Botanical Garden -- Visit the Chelsea Physic Garden, learning about its medicinal plants and the fortunes of its primary benefactor. In 1712, Sir Hans Sloane—a famous physician, naturalist and founder of the British Museum—purchased the gardens and manor. On a visit to Jamaica, he witnessed local women mixing cocoa with milk to treat ailments. The recipe was eventually bought by Cadbury’s, making Sloane a very wealthy man and allowing him to ensure the survival of the gardens and manor for years to come. Home to a collection of around 5,000 edible, medicinal plants, here you will see a number of rare specimens and discover the largest outdoor fruiting olive tree in Britain. The glasshouses hold a collection of tropical plants, complemented by a Victorian fernery. Learn about the works of the garden’s notable curators, including Philip Miller, William Forsyth and Robert Fortune, and enjoy the magnificent legacies they created. Refreshments await at the cafe before returning to your ship. GBLON24 A Taste of London with Celia Brooks Tour Price: $519.00 CAD Duration 5 hrs Visit Famous Borough Market with Renowned TV Chef -- Join renowned author and TV chef Celia Brooks for a guided gastro-tour of London’s famous Borough Market. Located in the historic district of Southwark, the market is the city’s oldest, dating back more than 1,000 years. Its numerous varied stalls reflect London’s diverse food culture, offering a wide array of items from traditional British foods to specialties from around the world. Upon arrival, meet Brooks—a former private chef for Hollywood director Stanley Kubrick and Borough Market’s only official guide—and begin your tasting journey with freshly shucked oysters and a glass of Prosecco. As you browse the market, learn its history and sample generous tastings from a selection of local and international cheeses, rare meats, fresh scallops and more. Conclude your culinary tour with a glass of wine, cheese and charcuterie at a wine bar within the market, then board your coach to return to your ship. GBLON12 The Tower of London Tour Price: $184.00 CAD Duration 4 hrs Home of the World’s Most Valuable Collection of Crown Jewels -- Explore the intriguing past of one of Britain’s most iconic landmarks. Accompanied by your Blue Badge Guide, see the famous Beefeaters—the Yeoman Warders who live in the Tower of London, protecting it and its valuable contents 24 hours a day. Visit the White Tower, in whose dungeons terror once reigned. See Traitors’ Gate, named for the number of prisoners accused of treason rumored to have passed through it. And no trip to the Tower of London would be complete without seeing the Crown Jewels. These priceless symbols of the British monarchy include the enormous 530.2-carat Cullinan I diamond, St. Edward’s Crown—last worn for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II—and the Crown of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. This stunning piece is set with 2,800 diamonds, including the most famous diamond in the Jewel H20 02:00 PMouse: the Koh-i-Noor. Following this fascinating journey through over 1,000 years of royal history, return to your ship. GBLON08 London & the London Eye Tour Price: $219.00 CAD Duration 2.5 hrs Admire London’s Skyline from the River and Above -- Witness the spectacle of London from the water and from the air on this enriching excursion. A panoramic boat ride along the Thames reveals the capital’s iconic landmarks. Pass the historic Tower of London and the beautiful Tower Bridge. See the Houses of Parliament Square, Big Ben and the magnificent Westminster Abbey. For an aerial view, take to the sky on board the London Eye Ferris wheel. Viking has reserved a capsule just for your group, so there will be no need to wait in line. As you slowly rise over the south bank of the Thames, take in the breathtaking views across the river from St. Paul’s Cathedral to the dramatic high-rise building at 30 St. Mary Axe known as the Gherkin. Back on the ground, you will reboard your boat for the return cruise along the Thames back to your ship. GBLON13 Ceremony of the Keys at the London Tower Tour Price: $234.00 CAD 3.5 hrs An Evening Tour with Exclusive Access to a Piece of Royal History -- Enjoy a very special after-hours visit of the Tower of London and experience a unique, centuries-old tradition. The Tower of London has been the setting for many great events during its 1000-year history as a royal palace, fortress, prison, place of execution and jewel house. Nobody knows more about the history of the Tower than the Yeoman Warders, more commonly known as the Beefeaters. You will be captivated by the amazing stories of those who have guarded this fortress for centuries, passed on from generation to generation, during your private guided tour of the tower grounds including the White Tower, built by William the Conqueror in 1078. Following your tour, witness the age-old tradition of the Ceremony of the Keys, which has been enacted every night without fail for almost 700 years by the Chief Yeoman Warder of the Tower. This is your chance to witness a piece of royal history that still exists today.

Rob, While Viking's onboard currency for the pax is US$, I doubt many of the crew are paid in this currency. I'll try to provide some background info. When I worked for P&O/Princess, we were all paid in Sterling, but by the time our son joined them they had multiple contracts and payment currencies. I recall sailing with him just after he received a UK contract. He was one of three 3rd Officers aboard and they all received a different salary and in different currencies. He was paid in Sterling, the Italian in Euros and the Indian in Rupees. With the increasing restrictions on carrying large quantities of cash when flying, I expect most, if not all cruise ships, have ceased paying crew in cash onboard the ship. Yes, crew member used to pay-off ships and return home carrying a considerable quantity of cash. About 15 yrs ago, Princess stopped cash payments onboard, so crew must have a bank account for direct deposit. I expect Viking have a similar process, where wages are paid into a home bank account. Note - I have not discussed this subject with any of the Viking crew I know, it is only speculation, based on industry knowledge. My preference on providing gratuities to those that have gone above and beyond, in providing us service, is to provide their local currency, or preferred currency based on local customs. However, getting their local currency onboard a cruise ship is almost impossible. At home, these currencies must be ordered and take 3 to 7 days to arrive at our local bank, which isn't happening when we are only in ports for the day. Therefore, we provide the local currency in the ports they will be visiting, so they have cash for spending ashore. If they are going ashore and sending money home, the local currency also helps this process. The previous post is also correct, in that crew members freely trade currencies onboard, but there is no guarantee on getting a reasonable rate, as it is supply and demand, and everyone looks out for themself. When our son worked Alaska cruising, he was paid US$ onboard the ship. Several of the crew received tips in CAN$, which was not the preferred currency, as they were only in Victoria for a few hours late evening. He purchased the CAN$ from the hotel crew.

Sorry, but you aren't even close to being correct, as they have so many variables. Our next cruise is 121 days, no way they can load sufficient victuals for the crew and pax to last that length of time. Most cruise lines have a centralised purchasing department, and many stores are shipped to the embarkation port, or another on the route, if easier. However, the ship can, and still does purchase products locally. Sometimes it is cheaper, others it is for freshness, or they simply ran out. As I already posted, the Executive Chef on our preferred smaller ship Lines, often goes ashore to purchase fresh local products, which are used to create the destination menu offerings.

Many golfers will have heard of a small town in UK called St Andrews, which is where I lived before moving to Canada. As a young lad, one of our best sources of income was carrying bags around the "Old Course". We often carried bags for US citizens, many of whom provided tips in US Dollars. Yes, we graciously accepted the money, but I can assure you there was often grumbling and negative comments, as we trudged off to the bank or Post Office, to get it changed. Having worked on the ships and more latterly traveled with our son, I am privy to some of the comments regarding tips between the hotel crew members. Your tips will never be refused, but on a ship operating outside North America, as most Viking ships are, you may become a topic of conversation in the crew bar, if providing US Dollars. Therefore, in my experience, KBs Mum nailed it, providing US Dollars, where they are not the preferred currency, will have them received graciously, but probably not gratefully.

Having sailed with more than 12 different cruise lines, you should be an experienced traveller, who should know that prior to embarking with a new cruise line, you need to research them thoroughly, to determine they meet the majority of your needs. I note it is highly unlikely any cruise line will meet all of your needs. I can only assume that you did not research Viking thoroughly, as all the points you raise are common knowledge. Viking are not members of the mega ship owner's club CLIA, and as a private company, develop and implement their own policies. Some of which we like, others we don't. With respect to the "Payment in Full" date, surely you did negotiate, as while Viking will request early dates, they are often open to negotiation. When we booked another cruise, they requested 18-months, which we negotiated to 6-months. The payment by Credit Card or Debit (e-transfer) has nothing to do with getting the lowest fares. If pax opt for paying by e-transfer, the cruise line shares some of the savings from the credit card company's hold back. I'm not aware that the Carnival brands provide any discount for not using a credit card. Therefore, Viking's 3.3% discount for not using a credit card is actually a positive, rather than the negative you have described. Since I research everything thoroughly, I determined that receiving the points for using Visa cards provides way more benefit that saving 3.3% for e-transfer. I also note that while our premium Visas do have cancellation/interruption protection, the maximum limit is well below the cost of our Viking cruises. Based on the content and tone of you post, I'll suggest that Viking will not be a good fit for your cruising needs and suggest you cancel and move back to one of the CLIA club.

So true Jim. These are Expedition ships for a reason, and I agree that it is well past time for Viking to call a spade a spade and market them appropriately, identifying the risks and clearly stating the obvious, with respect to the itinerary. Similar to the winter cruises along the Norwegian Coast, these have definite weather risks and I believe Viking should be marketing them accordingly. The average Viking pax is well travelled, so deserve to know the entire picture before signing up. Still remember one night in particular. We rode out a 120 Kt + storm on the Queen Charlotte Islands, only sailing when it eased off to 90 kts. Heck of a trip across Hecate Strait, especially rolling in the shallow areas. Ship handled it reasonably well, pax - not so much.

Anytime you make a change to a booking, your TA should receive an update copy of the Pax Statement, which they should then forward to you. Therefore, you should always have the latest copy in your records. Personally, I have all the versions saved in my files, so can review, noting any changes. With your current recuperation from injury, I suggest that in addition to considering the cost of Viking Air and independent air, you also consider the risks. If you are unable to travel, if you book Viking Air, everything is refunded based on the cancellation policy, or the RFG. We just cancelled a Trans-Atlantic and had not used Viking Air, as we booked the flights with points. Had we used Viking Air, we would already have the value in FCV's, or cash, since we were > 120 days. However, I need to spend a couple of hours getting through to British Airways on the phone to cancel the flights, to get the points returned and will then have to submit claims to our Visa card to get the money back for the taxes.

The embarkation is adequately discussed in the FAQ. You can board the vessel from 11:00 until 2 hrs prior to departure. If you have paid for the entire cruise, I'll suggest it is a reasonable expectation that you can embark the vessel on day one. This is consistent throughout the entire industry. On you pax statement, in the itinerary section, I expect it also mentions "Embark Viking .........." on day 1.

I'll suggest that you are already well ahead of many of your fellow potential passengers by being aware of the challenges and risks of cruising to remote locations. Many pax are risk adverse and expect the ship to dock in accordance with the itinerary. The Caribbean and Meddy are great itineraries for the risk adverse. However, many of us want to go further afield and it is great that Viking now have the expedition options, but these remote cruises have significant weather risks, as Cape Horn and the Drake Passage are some of the nastiest waters in the World. Weather forecasting and meteorological routing services are vastly superior to what they were 20 - 30 yrs ago, so the Masters have the information to provide the easiest passage, when it is safe to cross. You could experience a storm that it is prudent for the Master to remain in sheltered waters, but during a 10-12 day cruise you should definitely make it across Drake Passage. Whether you actually get ashore is dependent on the weather. Unfortunately, this one of the risks of cruising to the non-traditional regions of the World. We are also interested in one of these cruise, but accept the weather risks that after paying for the cruise, we may never actually step ashore. Personally, if we want to cruise to these regions, we must accept the associated risks and I do not see why Viking, or any other cruise line, should be expected to compensate us, if the weather impacts the itinerary. As with all weather issues, it is impossible to predict the potential for issues, especially in these wide-open waters. Good luck convincing DW.

If you have booked with Viking Air, they will work with the airlines on any changes.

In addition to Jim's suggestion for a car service, we have used Addison Lee on previous visits to London and were happy with them.