stcroixguy

We are taking a cruise in Norway that ends in Bergen.  I would like to visit the places my ancestors lived.  I am wondering how expensive is car rental, how hard is the driving or would it be better to hire a car and driver?  My ancestors came from near Stavanger in Torvested and a few other places.  They sailed in one of the first immigration ships that left Stavanger in 1836, The Norden.  Thanks for any help in advance.

Ok, I must admit I was feeling pretty smug...  While we didn't get exactly the flights we wanted, we got flights on Delta that were fine.  Minneapolis to San Juan, then Barcelona to Minneapolis on April 3, 2021.  I looked today on MYVIKING... And saw my return lights had been changed.  Different time and different airline, much worse.  I have paid for Viking Air so I called.  The other flights available were very early in the am.  The person I was talking to said we would only need 45 minutes to get from the ship, through customs and to the gate for the plane.  I don't believe that is possible.  Total poor show for Viking, The VA representative said that with their contract there was no availability.  On Delta's website there is plenty of seats available, so it is a viking air contract issue, not airline, totally disappointed. 

I look forward to following you on your trip.  As we fly out of msp, I am curious, where did you get your Covid test and how long did it take?

happy journey

Thank you everyone for your insight. Now we can make plans. 

I am hoping for some collective wisdom from the group.  We are booked on the transatlantic crossing from San Juan to Barcelona on March 21, 2022.  Because we will be flying out of Minneapolis, Mn and weather can be unpredictable, we have decided to go in a few days early.  Does anyone have suggestions for hotels in San Juan (maybe in old town) and in Barcelona at the end of the trip?  All help is greatly appreciated.  The Viking extensions are all full.  

Just logged into my Viking journey and our cruise in September, Amsterdam to Bergen has disappeared.  It is also off of the Viking website. I’m not surprised. Now to decide 125% or cash back.  Alaska next year is still there.

Julia’s Journeys, thanks for the link

Azulann, we also are close to the “Twin Cities” only just a bit to the east on the St Croix River.  We will be there for the first arrival.  The cities offer lots of great places to go and some awesome music venues in Minneapolis.  

Heidi13 , thank you for the continued update.  While this has been an interesting journey and I have enjoyed lurking here, I’m sure home will be a good sight.  Best of luck.  Viking is a class act and continues to impress with how they take care of their passengers. We have two future cruises booked, the first in September. I’m wondering if the world will be settled by then. 

Sorry to see that you can’t complete your journey.  The corrected noticed states that us citizens and permanent residents can fly from Europe after health checks.  Another correction states that trade will not be affected.  Best wishes to al affected.

Sorry to tell you, but trump just announced that the us is not accepting flights from Europe starting Friday.  

Thank you for posting the videos.  I felt like I was traveling with you.

Thanks to everyone posting here, I have been fooling along and enjoying the voyage.  Jim, just as a comparison, the temperature here yesterday was a high on 19 f and a low of 2 in western Wisconsin😎

We did this last year.  It was all booked up before we could get excursions, I checked with a private tour and needed more people (I can’t remember how many), this was also less expensive than the Viking tour.  So I posted on our meet and mingle but no one there was interested, so we lost the private tour.  I kept watching Viking and luckily there was more availability one day.  Booked right away and in a few hours all availability was gone.  My understanding is, since the Alhambra has limited entry, Viking can only get so many tickets. It was a wonderful place to visit. Good luck.

I didn't ask because it was almost 6 months out already and I don't think they would ever gone less.

Miami to Barcelona 

I just talked to them about an ocean crossing and at a v level cabin it was an additional 500 per person discount. 

Last year ( 2 couples) did a private a private tour, they picked us up at the ship and at the end they dropped us off at the Sagrada Familia they had gotten us tickets for a timed entry for an English speaking guided tour.  While waiting for the time, we had a nice lunch about a block away.  Took a cab back to the ship.  Very easy and solved all of our timing issues 

We did this two years ago and enjoyed it tremendously.  We did some included tours but did private tours in Naples (the Amalfi Coast),Sicily ( Taormina) and an extension in Rome three private tours.  Weather was great and the crowds were not to bad, we went in August.

Norris, thank you for the great review.  It warmed me up as I am reading from western Wisconsin, that received record breaking snowfall in February and is forecasted to receive an additional 12-15 inches of snow on Saturday.😢

Not sure about how to solve the bathroom issue, however in our travels, we have often found private tours to be less expensive than the ship tours and the ability to customize them is a plus.

Thank you for the posting, Cuba is on my bucket list.

We used Barcelona day tours also.  They were excellent.  They booked tickets for us for a skip the line guided tour of the interior too.  Amazing.

Thanks for all of the info.  We have been on several Viking Ocean trips and have been ruined for others.  I have been looking at this trip, but have yet to pull the trigger. I wish Viking still allowed full payments 6 months out.  I have a friend that does a tour out of Skagway, Tom and Michelle Strand, trail of 98 tour.  Check them out for a private tour,  I am not employed by them.

What I have heard and read is that TSA and other critical jobs will be required to work but will not receive pay, unless after funding is approved Congress votes to pay them.  What a sad state of affairs.