CurlerRob

I have not experienced any others that do this. However, every cruise line I've sailed provides some form of "discrimination" for cabin category. Examples are private lounges for upper level cabins, private restaurants for same, the whole "ship within a ship" offerings, etc. Different approaches by various companies in recognizing those who choose to pay more. 🍺🥌

These (from 2023) may be of some help - please note they are in CAD - multiply by 0.7 for a USD approximation. 🍺🥌 Aukureyri.pdfSeydisfjordur.pdfĺsafjördur.pdfIsafjordur.pdfHeimaey.pdfDjupivogur.pdf

Your description is useful, thanks. For those who want to keep track, this site shows excellent graphics of where the various satellites are. Of note, Starlink does now have some polar coverage, although it's easy to see that it's not yet anywhere near as dense as lower latitudes - but it's greatly improved from only 6 months ago, when the polar latitudes had nothing. 🍺🥌 https://satellitemap.space/?constellation=starlink

You've raised a number of different questions in your post. Viking's included tours tend to be either bus trips with photo stops or walking tours. They are usually intended to provide a general overview of a port, rather than any specific focus or immersion. In many ways, they are akin to taking the HoHo tour (which we have often done when in a new location, as a precursor to spending more time at a specific location. For their design purpose, they are quite useful. The question as to whether to use ship excursions or DIY is very individual - a function of your willingness to invest the research time, make the arrangements, your particular interests and your risk tolerance. We have a preference for private, highly customizable tours and don't mind doing the work necessary to find and book them. As well, most reputable private tour operators are scrupulous about ensuring you don't miss your departure, as their livelihood depends on that. That said - we will sometimes choose to default to ship tours if the 'price tag' for a missed departure is high - think a long sea passage or a location where we are not comfortable making the catchup arrangements due to language or other issues. Be aware that no cruise line guarantees that the ship will wait for you - this is sometimes simply not possible (weather, tides, etc), but they will reconnect you with the ship as soon as possible (although it may not be the best part of your trip!). On pricing, our general rule of thumb is that ship tours run about 2 - 3X the cost of DIY group tours. Only you can decide if the various factors warrant the markup. We have frequently found that the cost of a ship tour is only slightly less than a private (not group) tour if well researched and booked. Regarding the booking windows, there are a couple of threads with excellent advice on how to maximize your chances of getting what you want. We have not found may cases where being in a DV meant a tour we wanted was sold out, but we book as soon as possible and follow the "sign up for the couple you really want first, then go back and book the others" mantra. Hope that helps! 🍺🥌

Yes, it's the same one that @Meander Ingwa posted above. 🍺🥌

We've stayed several times at the Hotel Serras - in the Gothic Quarter, on the waterfront, 10 minute taxi to terminal, 1/2 klick to the foot of La Rambla. We have walked from La Sagrada Familia to the hotel (with a stop for lunch at the Mercado de La Boqueria) as part of an excellent day's outing. 🍺🥌

Some good news. Just announced that we will be moving to our dock at 2200 - meaning a good opportunity for photos as we go by Manhattan! 🍺🥌

Check your local Loblaws or derivative, or if you have an independent specialty grocer that may work as well. Not sure of your location but for me Fortinos, Zehrs and independents called Marilu’s and Denninger’s. Good luck. 🍺🥌

Thank you for such a fact-based review. That is exactly what potential pax need. 🍺🥌

Completely agree! I’ve had more than enough heavy weather in small boats. Impressed by your prediction - they have not specified our anchorage and it’s obviously weather dependent, but sounds like where we will be. Want first call on the over / under day/time for pax grumpiness? 🍺🥌

And all should be well for pax boarding on the 17th. 🍺🥌

Noon update - plan pier 91? on the 17th, need to anchor near Veranzano bridge for the 15/16th (weather permitting). No room at the inn for the 16th. Found this on another board - similar story. 🍺🥌

Try here. Long thread but it has lots of info. 🍺🥌

Good to hear from you Jim! QA sounds like an appropriate place to dry out 😈. 🍺🥌

No update as to ETA at the noon briefing. I have not been able to find any updates to the port schedule as yet. It’s quite possible that there is a lot of contention for berths, as we are not the only ship diverting and availability has not yet been confirmed. However, Regent, like most cruise lines, seems to struggle with the basics of communicating changes. In this case, the appropriate statement would be something like “we are finalizing our arrival information and expect to update pax on (insert date)”. In any event, we’ll be there sometime. 🍺🥌

No announcement as yet, although that could change at the noon address. Royal Bermuda Gazette published that 4 ships, including Mariner, have cancelled. I would expect that an on-board announcement is pending working out the alternative details. 🍺🥌

To date there have been no announcements of changes and only oblique mentions of the storm systems, mostly that they are being monitored and ‘far away’. The current situation is likely a bit of a strain on the bridge. One hurricane is not too hard to dodge - but we have both Hurricane Lee and TS Margot spaced nicely across the Atlantic, south of our track and both moving north. We appear to have moved a bit north to get over the top of Margot and stay out of the more dangerous right quadrant. Current forecasts have Lee in the Bermuda vicinity at the same time as our scheduled arrival, so all will depend on Lee’s progress to the north. If you’re boarding on the 17th, I’d suggest coming in at least a day early, and preparing for some tough weather for the first few days. 🍺🥌

There have been reports of Air Tags being removed from the luggage. The service publishes the following (Air Tags fall under the “electronics” and “lithium” items if they choose to enforce it): Yes, any hazardous or dangerous commodities are prohibited from all Luggage Forward shipments. For shipments traveling between two countries, there may be additional items that are restricted by customs on a country-specific basis. Here are some of the most common items that cannot be shipped in your luggage: Medication, OTC, prescription, or vitamins Food & Alcohol Perfume (or anything with alcohol content) Pressurized Containers (aerosol, CO2 cartridges, etc) Valuables or Currency Electronics Lithium based, or Alkaline batteries 🍺🥌.

Agreed! 🍺🥌

On our 2019 trip, Viking used a tender dock very near the site itself (easily walkable). I can’t speak to the operational status, but it was very exposed to any adverse weather conditions. 🍺🥌

Thank you. Interesting how the picture disguised the name. I agree with your sentiments - sadly, our last bottle is history, so we're 'stuck' with the Clark & T or Eulenloch until the next allotment of D or Las Alturas makes its way across the border. 🍺🥌

You're very welcome. I hope the lesson was not overly expensive - the greater loss was not seeing the Faroes, as they are spectacular. Keep trying if you can - it's worth it. Cheers ... 🍺🥌

I regret that you've obviously had a disappointing experience, but I might suggest the issue is not quite that black and white. Any port can be lost for weather or other reasons. Oddly enough, we are 2 for 2 in making Torshavn, but 0 for 3 with respect to the Shetlands. So, we always consider contingencies. Most reputable private tour operators will refund or not charge in the case of a missed port, so that would not drive us to only consider a ship tour. However, you must check up front. A tour operator who does not refund in the case of a miss is off our list of possibles immediately. HK Bussar: Forsíða obviously would not fit us - thanks for advising their policy. 🍺🥌

Curious - which Belle Glos is it? Thought we'd had them all, but the name looks different and I can't read the label even when blown way up. Sorry for thread sidetrack ... 🍺🥌

Agreed. We sailed Oceania for the first time in November/22. Our reaction was "Good cruise - reminded us of HAL a dozen years ago". 🍺🥌