CurlerRob

You chose ... wisely! 🍺🥌

Be calm. The news reports suggest an IPO of $500M - far, far less than that required to control the company. As a different example, Tesla is fully public, but some guy (what's his name?) owns 20% and, last time I looked, ran the show. 🍺🥌

Possible, but in this case I suspect not the motivation. Tor has been in the business his entire working life and family is poised to continue on running it. I would think that if this happens, it's more about being able to reduce the cost of the debt. Slightly torn on it, as it's a great investment for CPPIB (one of the two investors)! 🍺🥌

Hear hear! I have always felt that the worst job on the ship was being assigned to latrine duty on disembarkation day. Nonstop toil ... 🍺🥌

Two pragmatic suggestions that may improve your experience: 1. Slow service in the Explorer's Lounge - sometimes a function of new staff and training levels. Go to the bar and order. The bartenders will clearly recognize that you have been waiting and they will coach the staff to be more responsive to you. Usually only takes one or two visits to fix the issue - and you get your drink when you want it. 2. Your guitarist sounds frighteningly like ours on our December Hawaii cruise - she was abysmal, to the point that (at least for me) she was destroying the atmosphere in my favourite ship location. I provided guest services with polite, written feedback, suggesting that she be offered some 'time off' on alternate days. I suspect I was not the only one, as we received a thank you call from the CD and the performer's hours were curtailed. 🍺🥌

For any other "Heidis" who want to read the article ... https://www.crossroadstoday.com/lifestyle/the-love-boat-how-a-tv-show-transformed-the-cruise-industry/article_85244ac4-5415-5d1c-9ad2-ac32915c0f8b.html We bask in reflected glory 😎 🍺🥌

On turnover day you may or may not be required to disembark the ship for a period of time - it's called a 'zero count' and is required by some countries. I don't know if Spain requires this. Whether or not you are required to go ashore, it will operate like any other port day for those of you on the B2B. Viking will announce some shore excursions for that day, but not until you are onboard for leg 1. Check with guest services if you don't see anything a few days into that leg. The shore ex offerings will vary, but at a minimum usually include one free excursion and one optional - there may be more, subject to vendor availability. 🍺🥌

We have used Blacklane extensively in Europe. Not inexpensive, but always excellent service. In September/23, airport to Serras Hotel (couple of klicks SE of Plaza Catalunya) was EUR 97. 🍺🥌

Your PH suite will have the mini-fridge replenished daily. If you want a different selection of items, just ask your steward - they are happy to assist (I swap out the liquor for a few more beers). The drinks package discussion is one of those that comes up frequently and always appears close to a religious debate. People seem to buy the drinks package for one of three reasons - they do the math and determine that it suits their particular level of consumption and/or price of preferred drink; they just like the convenience of not worrying about individual drink pricing, or feeling free to experiment without losing money if they don't like the choice; and, some mistakenly believe that the package provides access to drinks that the rest of the pax can't have (this is incorrect, the package is just a way of paying for your drinks). Approach 1 or 2 can make perfect sense for individuals. Please report back on your experiences with the dining-area bars - my guess is that you will have the same result that I described earlier, i.e. no issue with having a drink during mealtimes. Enjoy your trip! 🍺🥌

That thread can easily be confusing, as it was started in January 2023, following the wave incident. The Polaris damage was repaired shortly thereafter (hence the thread title). The thread was restarted recently, when the Chief posted information from a report on the incident. The report makes various recommendations, but there are no mandated additional repairs in it. As well, in my brief review, Polaris' schedule from now through the summer does not appear to have any gaps. 🍺🥌

Is 2024 a typo? Polaris is active in Antarctica right now and appears fully scheduled through the summer in the Great Lakes. I'm unaware of any withdrawal for repairs - are you perhaps reacting to the past rogue wave incident (for which the repairs are long completed)? 🍺🥌

I have never encountered a problem ordering a drink without food at mealtimes in the Aquavit Terrace, World Cafe, Pool Grill or Explorer's Lounge. All of them have adjacent food areas and I've never been questioned. I sometime have a drink, then eat later on. I have no experience doing this in either the Restaurant (it would be fairly obvious you didn't intend to eat) or in the Living Room bar, although it always has snacks. 🍺🥌

You may be able to work off of excursion lengths - for a tender port, I would always estimate a 4-hour excursion as consuming at least 6 hours. That assumes the massing and tendering is additional to the excursion elapsed time. I have never experienced a tour that included "return to ship time", whether walking/boarding or tendering in their elapsed times. When I last called in Norwegian ports, they did not have restrictions on taking food ashore, but be sure to check before you do so in case that changes. You likely know that there are many countries that strictly prohibit that. 🍺🥌

Your excursion tickets should state the meeting time and place - ship, dock, etc. The dock area is quite spartan - I do not recall any options for food there. Unless Norway has imposed food restrictions (bringing stuff off the ship), you may be able to request or put together a box lunch and stash it with the team at the tender dock. (If they eat it, is wasn't my idea 🙄). If you are the only ship, I'm surprised you are tendering unless there is construction at the dock (which my failing memory suggests may be the case). I can't comment on a shuttle, as my visit was not with Viking. Enjoy one of the most fascinating places in the world - you will be farther north than most of humanity can dream of! 🍺🥌

Curious - are you purchasing Airalo eSims that include voice/SMS? All the ones that I've seen that include voice are listed under the "Global" offerings. They are a bit more expensive but that's for the voice/SMS. The data-only offerings do not support SMS (or voice of course). I presume your reference to configuration is that you are "pointing" your home cell number at the Airalo eSim data for use with Apple iMsg? If it's otherwise, I'll be very pleased! 🍺🥌

Fantastic shots Clay/Mike! One of the best harbour entrances in the world, no matter the time of day or night. 🍺🥌

A real-life, recent example. We had a placeholder cruise booked for August 2024 with the $25 deposit. I proactively cancelled it in early January/24 (PIF was early March). I immediately received a cancellation 'invoice' - no further requests for additional payments. This was all through my TA. Pragmatically, the cost to Viking to try and chase down $75 would be vastly more - and that's before the pax discontent kicked in! Frankly, if they had sent me a bill for the extra $75, I would have paid it - that was the agreement and I would have honoured it, but I had zero expectation that they would do so. Most other lines offering el cheapo deposits are operating the same way. I would go ahead and cancel - that opens the slot for someone else, rather than delaying until PIF and just not paying. 🍺🥌

Not precisely a wildlife preserve, but we booked this cruise of Twofold Bay privately some years ago and greatly enjoyed it. You're too early for whales, but the cruise and scenery were excellent! 🍺🥌 https://www.catbalou.com.au/

If you spoke to the standard service team, try emailing tellus@vikingcruises.com - that is the higher level support team, who are significantly better informed and can usually provide an answer. 🍺🥌

Agreed - FoW first or last. I won't be there, but here's a bid for the rooftop at the Glenmore Hotel in the Rocks. 🍺🥌

In Australia, you are prohibited from bringing food from the ship onto shore: https://www.abf.gov.au/entering-and-leaving-australia/can-you-bring-it-in/list-of-items# In New Zealand, you must declare any food items, and in my experience you will likely lose them: https://www.customs.govt.nz/personal/prohibited-and-restricted-items/agricultural-items/ Both countries take food imports very seriously - people trying to circumvent the rules are dealt with severely, as in high fines and sometimes detainment. Don't even think about it in those two spots ... 🍺🥌

Welcome to Cruise Critic. May I suggest that you review the following for new users - it will help you in posting questions in a manner in which others can answer. 🍺🥌 https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/859-need-help-using-the-forums-check-here/

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This may be a US difference, but most insurers are also concerned with whether you have a change in your condition prior to your departure and have requirements around that. There's all kinds of different wording that is aimed at dealing with that risk - varies widely between companies, but always aimed at the same issue. This is just one example - note the focus on departure date: Any sickness, injury or medical condition that is not stable in the six months prior to each departure date. 🍺🥌

How far can a company go back if you file a claim? Most policies I've seen in Canada require you to provide consent that basically opens up your medical records without limitation - in other words, as far as they like. Here's a quote from the medical questionnaire from a recent policy: I understand XXX Travel Insurance Company, its agents, third party administrators or its legal representatives may investigate any claim. I authorize any hospital, physician, other medical service provider, or any other organization or person that has any records or knowledge of me and my health to release to third party administrators, XXX Travel Insurance Company and its reinsurers any such information for the purpose of this application and contract and any subsequent claim. Secondly, your coverage regarding a pre-existing condition will also be a function of the individual required stability period and/or your waiver status (purchased or included). That applies every time we purchase. Your approach in reading the policy carefully is the only way to go - and if you're still troubled by a question, it's always worth calling the company and asking. Better to have maximum clarity in advance than later should you need to file a claim. 🍺🥌