Ontario/AZ

On 4/20/2017 at 7:09 AM, H2Otstr said:

 

 

 

Here is the photo of the soap dispensing machine. You press the button and it dispenses the detergent into the washing machine.

 

 

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As long as you remember to push the detergent button.  lol!!!!!

When we started Viking cruises we were given a lanyard and clear pouch which is great for the key card.  Now we just have to remember to use them.  

I have used it many times on our cruises.  It is nice.

Hairblowers do have a continuous ON button and are powerful.

Our last cruise was in CAD, as well as the excursions that were purchased before the cruise started.  

On 12/16/2019 at 10:53 AM, Peregrina651 said:

 

And I booked a Guaranteed cabin on the cruise that OP was booked on -- who knows, maybe we will end up in her old cabin. I booked in August, as a GTY. I am still waiting for a cabin assignment and, at this point, don't expect to get it until we check in at the terminal. However, it is a one-week cruise and for one week I can deal with whatever cabin I am assigned. I did a GTY last year on a one-week cruise and ended up in a DV4, same as I would have booked had I booked a year in advance, and not less than a month in advance.

 

 

We had  GTY on Med. Explorer and were upgaded 4 days before our flight from V2 to DV1.

Wow, pickleball on board would be great.  But, have travelled on quite a few Ocean Cruises with Viking, NO room.  Too bad!

March 2020 my husband and I are booked on this cruise and as well as the cruise following from Syndney to Bali.  We look forward to meeting Bevan, the Activities Director again.  He was Director on our British Isles Explorer trip last year.  We have booked a condo in Aukland for a month before the cruise begins as the flight from Toronto is so long, may as well take advantage of being in NZ.  We appreciate the reviews, good and bad from all of you.  We have taken many Viking cruises and will continue to do so as long as the destinations are on our bucket list and Viking does not disappoint us.  

Just returned from the Viking Sun. Our pre-extension in Edinburgh was fantastic. Our included tours were great. Viking contracts out the extensions so sometimes good, sometimes bad. The Waldorf Estoria was very very nice. Great location. Rooms were small but clean. Breakfast buffet great. A la Carte was included as well. They even gave us a box with a couple of pastries to take with us when we left breakfast every day. Staff was very professional and friendly. Our tours included a private tour of the Royal Britcannia which incuded tea or coffee with scones and a nice book about the 'Yacht'. We were taken to St Giles Church and Edinburgh Castle. The second day we toured the countryside with Glamis Castle a coffee and shortbreads. (yummy) Lunch was included at St Andrews Golf Course with drink of choice. We took the train on our own to Stirling Castle which was easy.

After 3 nights we flew to catch the Viking Sun in Greenwich. Viking had arranged our flights. Unfortunately Heathrow is terrible (unorganized) as is British Air. We were charged for our luggage (65 pounds each) but Viking reimbursed us right away when we got to the ship. The Viking staff was right at the port to tender us in. So many staff to answer any questions. The 15 day cruise was good. We had been on the Star in 2015 so similar ship, although we felt the variety of food was not as good as previously. The entire staff was wonderful. Entertainment was definitely top notch. Most ports were good but the ship had to change docks a couple times and then tender as well so we had long line-ups, etc. Included tours were not great.

Our extension to Reykevik Iceland was disappointing. The Island itself is a wonder but the company Viking had contracted out for the 3 nights was terrible. Very disorganized, not enough instruction and information, each guide had different info, and couldn't hear guide on coach or walking. The Grand Hotel was terrible. Rooms were large but hardly and amenities. Had to ask for shampoo and coffee for the room. Often glasses or coffee cups not cleaned. Staff there didn't help much and didn't seem to care. Flight home was good (Air Canada to Toronto) So overall thumbs down (not Viking quality) for the extension. I realize Viking contracts it out but we expect Viking quality for the price we pay.

The last comment is regarding the excursions that you book on line in advance. Not at all pleased as we were away the morning we could purchase so that afternoon when I went on line (our wish list was set up) everything was sold out including the included tours that were taking off early in day. So our tours were the last ones available each day.

We have booked 32 days for 2020. Let's hope we are not disappointed.

My bad. We've never eaten in The Restaurant. Always the World Cafe or the specialties. Learn something new every day! When we do the Sea in 2020 will make sure to expand where we eat to include the Restaurant. [emoji4]

 

 

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The Resaurant, both on the Star and Sun was our favourite for dinner every night!

We are on the August 4th sailing of the Sky for the British Isles cruise. I know this is a new itinerary but also know that Edinburgh has been a stop for other, older itineraries (Midnight Sun?). We are doing a pre-extension in Edinburgh so many of the shore excursions will be redundant and we had planned on trying to book the trip to Rosslyn Chapel but, alas it is already showing that it is "Sold Out".

 

We don't book excursions until the 19th so we have some time to make a decision but wonder if there is a ship-to-town shuttle at this port and would a private tour be a realistic possibility (we are in port from 7:15AM to 6:00 PM)? Or maybe we could just go into town and "do our own thing". There will certainly be things we will miss on the extension and being two females shopping is not out of the question!

 

Just wondering as the planning progresses!

Molymoo, I emailed Viking regarding included tours for the Edinburgh extension. Here is the reply:

· Your admission to the Edinburgh Castle is included in your pre-cruise extension. Here is a list of the tours included in your package:

·

· 1) City Tour with a Private Visit to the Royal Yacht Britannia

2) Visits to Edinburgh Castle and St. Giles’s Cathedral

· 3) Literary Walking Tour

· 4) Scottish Countryside Tour with a Private Visit to Glamis Castle & Whisky Distillery Visit

I did email Viking and she explained the 3 nights and 4 tours. She doesn't know if admission to Edinburgh Castle is included but is to get back to us.

Viking did get back to us and admission to Edinburgh Castle is included. This is referring to pre-extension included Edinburgh tours.

We purchase coupons while on board Viking cruises for future trips. $100 will buy a $200 coupon. You can give them to friends as well. We purchase 2 each in Asia and we are using them for our British Isles cruise.

We took the water taxi directly following the tender as soon as we could and jumped off at the Tower stop. We had a wonderful time DIY. We spent several hours on our own and thoroughly enjoyed it. From there we walked, and walked and had such a wonderful day.

We have purchased tickets on-line to the Tower as the Viking tour was sold out. We plan to take the water taxi as you did.

We took Ocean River cruise in China in 2013. Excellent! In 2015 we did Homelands with Viking and loved the Star. Unfortunately, the Star had a problem and the end of our trip was cancelled. Viking put us up in Estonia, provided many free tours and the put us up in Bergen. Again they kept us busy everyday and made sure our meals were provided. We cannot explain how wonderful Viking staff were. We had a Rhine River cruise next with Viking and then Asia last year. The trip was better than we had hoped.. Next month we are on the British Isles Explorer and we know it will be wonderful. Viking knows how to please everyone.

I did email Viking and she explained the 3 nights and 4 tours. She doesn't know if admission to Edinburgh Castle is included but is to get back to us.

Peregrina, We will take Viking Homelands cruise in July - this is our first cruise with Viking. I love this post - if we were not already booked, we would probably do so because of your thoughts. I have followed threads for months, and you are a wonderful source of information.

You will love Homelands cruise. We did it July 2015 and loved it.

Has anyone done the post or pre-extension in Edinburgh? We want to book a tour to Stirling Castle but do not know what the timeframe would be as I know there are 4 tours included in the extension. Thanks so much, would appreciate it.

I think you will find the first Australia - New Zealand cruise is in December 2018. The World Cruise visited both countries recently so you may pick up some information from the world cruise thread. But yes, so many tempting itineraries to choose from.

We sail on the British Isles Explorer Aug 25th (after our Edinburgh extension). The NZ/Australia was booked for 2019 so we have booked for March 2020. Can't wait for both!

Hello! Just let wondering if anyone has any advice or reviews on the Viking Ocean British Isles Cruise. I looked under reviews but am not finding too much. As background history my parents have booked a 15 day British Isles next year and my husband and I are thinking of joining. We are in our late 30s. We have been on Caribbean cruises in the past but never in Europe. It's a long time to take off work so just looking for more info. Would like to know what you thought of the itinerary, experience, sway of the boat -- rocky? Etc. thanks in advance!

 

 

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My husband and I are booked on this trip next Aug. 24th. We leave for Viking's Magnificent Mekong next Sun, our 4th Viking trip. Our tip with Viking Homelands in 2015 was wonderful. The Viking Star was superb and I have no doubt the Viking Sun will be the same. We cannot wait to get back to the Viking ships. You cannot ask for better.

Thanks guys! We ended up booking with Viking. We didn't think we would be on the ship or in our cabin enough to justify the price difference and the amount of days. Excited for 2018 and will post pictures!

We are doing the Mekong with Viking in Sept. We did book Bangkok extension and Halong Bay post trip as well. Did China with Viking in 2013 and it was fantastic.

Interesting. I hope more people chime in on this because now I am really curious.

We were never asked but I am sure you could ask for a certain section.

Peregrina, We will take Viking Homelands cruise in July - this is our first cruise with Viking. I love this post - if we were not already booked, we would probably do so because of your thoughts. I have followed threads for months, and you are a wonderful source of information.

We did Homelands in 2015. It was our first Ocean cruise with Viking. We loved it and our ship, the Star ran into problems, but we still rave about the entire trip. Although we are booked on the Magnificent Mekong in Sept, we ware booked on the British Isles Explorer in 2018.

Have a ball!!

Does anyone know if there are different 'levels' as on oth4r cruise lines?

We had been on 3 Viking cruises (China, Ocean Homelands and Rhineland river cruise) and were sent an email which asked us to select 2 gifts. They were shipped to us in a few weeks, no cost whatsoever. We ended up selecting a fabric zipped container with plug converters for different countries. Also selected a battery charger for iphones, tablets, etc. We had chocolates and champagne delivered to our room on the river cruise. So I think the more you cruise with Viking, the more extras you receive. Next Sept we are scheduled on the Mekong with extensions in Bangkok and Ha Long Bay and in 2018 the British Isles with Iceland and Edinburgh extensions. Can't wait!

Is the dance floor bigger than the ones on their long ships?

Yes, not much but bigger.