CurlerRob

Star, Dec. 24/2023. Got a chuckle out of the description. 🍺🥌

@WAVTAM, @Insanityx4, many thanks! 🍺🥌

In our experience, the actual departure time has frequently varied - sometimes early (assuming past the all-aboard time or if all pax aboard early) or sometimes later (often for last-minute supplies or once, delayed entertainers). As you observed, the critical time is our all-aboard time. We always take a pic of the posted info at the gangway, as that has often fluctuated a bit from the daily info as well. 🍺🥌

Cabin question regarding NP 4000 - 4010 range. From the deck plan and 360 tour, these cabins appear to be on the primary access path to the Explorer’s Lounge main level. I would value any observations from those with experience as to the noise levels from passersby, or from the doors into the lounge. Thanks in advance. 🍺🥌

Thank you, that narrows it to the Antarctic. Hopefully, someone with real time experience will weigh in - there’s nothing I found on the roll calls. In general, despite the improvements seen from Starlink adoption, service in the high latitudes is still likely to be unpredictable. Starlink deployment is still ongoing in the far south and north. I note the webcams from the two Ex ships is intermittent, and I suspect that mirrors the overall service. The other question, of course, is what level of service one is looking for. Phone plans will be useless other than in BA and perhaps Ushuaia. Not many cell towers on the continent 😁. 🍺🥌

This is the general Expeditions thread. Mispost, or were you referring to a specific itinerary? 🍺🥌

Thanks for the link - I see that HAL has relaxed their restrictions just last month and I’d not seen it. 🍺🥌

I sense you may have some inexperience with Viking, despite your extensive cruise history, and I would recommend a discussion with a knowledgeable TA who books frequently with them and knows a bit about cancellation insurance. First, it’s been my experience that Viking’s cancellation penalties are generally in line with many other (not all) cruise lines, especially for longer voyages. Your $1000 penalty at 180 days is not overly different than Oceania, Regent or HAL grand voyages. To counteract the $1000 penalty, you can buy cancellation insurance for that amount when you book. The cost will be minimal in comparison, CFAR is more of course. If you go ahead with the cruise, you can increase your coverage as needed when you hit the increased cancellation penalties. As @millybess says, early booking can pay handsomely when pricing increases. Secondly, be aware that for a first time client, Viking requires very early payment in full - often 12-14 months before sailing. This is NOT the same as when cancellation penalties kick in, but it’s a different consideration. Hope that helps a bit. 🍺🥌

Certainly. (No promises on the beer supply 😈). 🍺🥌

Just FYI, the timing and penalty varies with the length of the cruise. I have a 35 day trip that costs $1000 up to 180 days prior. You’re correct for shorter trips. 🍺🥌

CD is Cornealia, I don’t know who the GM is. Take my impressions with a grain of salt - we are finally back on board Viking for the first time since fall 2019, so there’s a long gap. Just starting a 3 year cashing of many vouchers. Ship - instantly reminded of how VO design results in a clean and open environment and how we greatly prefer it to the more traditional design. No real evidence of wear and tear or lack of maintenance. Crew - cabin and bar staff seem equally as skilled and attentive as before. MDR still seems to have some issues with the system and processes around meals. Early days - the food itself is ok but the industry-wide reductions are noticeable (fortunately not to the smoked salmon). Good variety of lectures. My feeling is that the entertainment is much more prevalent in the venues than before. There is limited time in Explorer’s for quiet conversation or observation. All in, a pleasure to be onboard, despite the 40 knots and 20’ seas on the nose. 🍺🥌

Thanks. You’re right, ours has pistachios on the side and is cream filled. The quest continues… 🍺🥌

@Clay Clayton, is this the vaunted pistachio bun? On Star - Hawaiian Sojurn. 🍺🥌

If you did not see it, I posted a review of Insignia (R class) in post #34 above - may be of some interest. 🍺🥌

🍺🥌

🍺🥌

This is redundant, as I believe you have purchased the SSBP, but your info above is the standard blub that Viking provides. It's carefully crafted marketing language. Note that it first refers to "A wide variety of beer and upgraded select wines ...". It does not mention that there is a price limit on what you can have that is prepaid by the SSBP. Similarly, the "Premium wines ..." inclusion means that you get a discount off of the bottle price - not the bottle fully prepaid. SSBP prepays for beverages under the $ limit (outside of beer/wine at meals) and provides a discount for full bottles. Lots of reasons to take or leave it - always individual. Enjoy your cruise! 🍺🥌

We sailed Oceania in November/22. Shorex was extremely disappointing. We found them to be the most expensive we had ever encountered, as well as poorly managed. If you want further info, it's under the topic in my review below. We'd still sail O again, but would be much wiser regarding excursions. 🍺🥌

You're very welcome. As in the post, we'd certainly sail an R ship again, we'd just have more accurate expectations. Re the shorex, just be sure to carefully read the "brochure" in your cabin on arrival. It will contain any changes to booked excursions, even though it just looks like a sales document. Enjoy your trip! 🍺🥌

Our review of Insignia in November 2022 may be of some help. As ever, just two persons opinions. 🍺🥌

The experiment is not fundamentally different than has been done elsewhere. For example, HAL blocks streaming sites for the base internet package, but opens them if you pay additional fees - that's the equivalent of buying your way past the data cap, and results in overall slower service for many. Segregation can be done, although it introduces additional complexity and expense for the cruise line. However, it falls into the category of "beware what you ask for". Consider the impact to the general population if 99% of the fixed capacity was to be allocated to the pax paying more - who enjoy excellent service, but leaving the rest to contend for totally insufficient capacity. That's an exaggeration, but an example of one more issue that arises when a fixed resource has to somehow be allocated across pax with different desires on how to use it. (something like lounge chairs around the pool, but slightly higher tech 😈). The reality is that meeting expectations of internet service that have been formed from land-based systems continues to be extremely expensive for cruise ships and does not appear to be saleable to the general client at this point. In any event, it will be interesting to hear back from Saturn pax to see if any impact is noticeable. 🍺🥌

Unlikely to be the case. I know of no cruise lines that offer enhanced speed / bandwidth based on how much you pay. Usually, the amount of bandwidth set aside for the pax is fixed - that's why your service level varies depending on how many people are using the internet and what they are doing. Most lines attempt to discourage high data transmission rates in order to minimize this variability. Viking appears to be introducing a "data cap" - not unusual for other cruise lines. Some limit the amount of data transmission in this same way, others block streaming sites to accomplish the objective that way. WiFi is quite separate from internet performance - it's just how you connect to the internet (although the term tends to be used to mean overall connection and internet). WiFi quality has everything to do with how the ship is "wired" and nothing to do with the internet service. Although Starlink has been reported to have provided noticeable improvements in internet service on many lines, it's not a panacea - there are still coverage issues at high latitudes and on-board competition for a fixed resource. I'm afraid we are still quite a distance from on-board service that is similar to land-based service and affordable at the same time. Unrestricted "work from ship" will continue to be a bit of a crap shoot for the foreseeable future. 🍺🥌

Valid points. We don't mind giving up a bit of time on either end to avoid that crush, but shorex times sometimes dictate otherwise. 🍺🥌

While your cruise does come up when one looks at all the "Canadian Dollar at Par" cruises, it is listed as subject to the ongoing Black Friday promotion. As per @PhD-iva's experience, I suspect that the Black Friday continuation negates the Cdn $ promo. Will be interested to hear what your TA has to say. 🍺🥌

@millybess - lot's of concern on the Regent board as well. It may be useful to follow that one for additional insight (if you are not already). 🍺🥌