NantahalaCruiser

Does anyone have any recent information on Viking's laundry prices on their European longships?

Thanks.

On 5/9/2023 at 4:08 AM, the penguins said:

I appreciate the Slot Pull system which is why I specified the “have  fun” and “little risk”. We play corners covering 20 numbers with a $5 stake giving us pretty much a 50:50 bet. We play around $50 at a session, keep all winnings separately and cash out once the $50 is spent. Never chase loses. Have used this “system” on numerous cruises and over the course of a cruise it has worked every time. 

Glad your luck has been good, but with the green 0 and 00, each of your 20 numbers is a 35:37 bet - about a 5.7% edge to the house.

Since the OP's title is Scenic and Others, does anyone have recent pricing info for Viking?

On 4/23/2023 at 6:41 PM, VitaminSea53 said:

I just realize my booking receipt lists the Classic beverage package as follows:

 

  Classic Beverage Package: Enjoy your favorite fountain sodas, fresh-squeezed and bottled juices, premium coffees and teas, and non-premium bottled water as well as beers up to USD 6 per serving, spirits and cocktails up to USD 8 per serving, and wine up to USD 10 per serving

 

I thought it was the same no matter which form of alcoholic beverage.  Am I crazy?  Has it always been this way??

The different categories and different prices appear to be as they were back in 2006 - right before they were consolidated into an overall single price ceiling.  Someone obviously screwed up when they produced your booking receipt.

4 hours ago, MandL said:

I think it might drive home the point if everyone who received a cancellation email posted a photo of themselves holding the email on Celebrity’s Instagram account.

Would make even more of a point if they also posted a sign saying they were moving on to _______ cruise line.

Murano is the best of all of the Celebrity specialty restaurants fleet wide.

18 hours ago, navybankerteacher said:

Are you aware that on the first day of a three day cruise - after waiting a few hours - you will get on board at about noon (if you are lucky), your bag will be delivered by 4:00 or so, and you will sail at about 5:00.  The next two days are actually “cruising” - likely stopping at some awful port like Nassau, and the next day you will be back in port. - with the crew trying to hustle you off at about 9:00 AM so they can welcome the next batch of suckers. You will have been on the ship for significantly less than three full days.

 

Sea days or not - a three day cruise is just a good way to have a bad time —- yes, it may have been an inexpensive cruise - but still lousy value for your money.

Perhaps the OP means a 3 or 4 night cruise, rather than a 3 or 4 day cruise with 2 or 3 nights

On 4/5/2023 at 6:28 AM, bletzinger said:

Thanks for the reply. Will check with Viking today on options. 

 

My intent on posting was to see what forum members know or are experiencing with the strikes in France. Looks like the latest scheduled strike is 4/6 which may affect airports and apparently locks. Bought trip insurance from Viking and used AMEX plat so have some coverage.  

 

This is the best link I have found so far https://worldinparis.com/transport-in-france-strike-news-tips-for-traveling-to-paris Will keep an eye on this site. Maybe we will get lucky since its Easter weekend.

Even if Viking were to cancel the cruise their "insurance" would not get you your money back; just a future cruise credit.  It's generally not a good idea to get your insurance through the cruise line.  They also do not get you any coverage for financial default.  Not a very likely event, but if Viking were for some reason to go bankrupt you would lose all of your money, while my third-party insurance would cover the loss.

On 3/23/2023 at 10:39 PM, dd57 said:

That's one reason for using a credit card - the vendor did not provide the item purchased.  But not all credit cards would pay the whole amount.  Third party insurance can cover default.

Yes, our 3rd party trip insurance covers vendor (e.g. Viking) financial default.  By the way, that's one of the reasons you should consider using a 3rd party insurance rather than the "insurance" offered by Viking.  And Viking's "insurance" gives you a future cruise credit, rather than a cash rebate, if they cancel your cruise.

On 3/23/2023 at 3:25 PM, Got2Cruise said:

Back when the banks were giving .20% interest on savings, it might have made sense to pay in full by echeck for the 3.3%. Nowadays it’s not difficult to find a one year or six month CD for 4.0%. 
 

There is more consumer protection when using CC over cash. Also, as mentioned cash back or Airline Points. 

You do not have to pay in advance to make use of the echeck 3.3% discount.  You can use it to pay for your deposit and later use it again for your final payment.

On 4/3/2023 at 9:35 AM, CPT Trips said:

It might be a good idea to install WhatsApp on your phone if you don’t have international calling. 

Not yet a WhatsApp user.  But don't both the sender and receiver need to be WhatsApp users?  Do all Viking Ships have WhatsApp access?

Shame they cannot use two ships and change from one to the other as they often do when water levels affect sailing throughout the Rhine, Main and Danube.  Perhaps, they do not have multiple ships on the Rhone.

On 2/22/2023 at 12:34 PM, lynncarol said:

Been on many cruises over the years. Only once did I use a TA to book a cruise and that was because we had other couples going with us and they wanted a TA they could call if problems arose.  However, before final payment, I just happened to notice on the web a  24 hour $1000 per cabin price drop on our cruise.  I immediately phoned the cruise-line to learn that our TA alone could make those changes.  So I frantically called our TA only to have it go to her voicemail. As she was an independent agent,  anxious hours ensued before she finally got back to me and could get us all the new price since it was (barely) under the 24 hour deadline.  Never again.

Cruise lines generally allow you to place a 24-hour hold on a cabin at the prevailing rate.  So, just an hour or so before the deadline, you probably could have put 24-hour hold on a cabin in the same class as your existing reservation at the new reduced rate; and then had it transferred to your existing reservation anytime within that additional 24-hour period.

31 minutes ago, DaKahuna said:

 

 Do you have to have Persian Garden access, e.g. Aqua class room, to use the Sauna and or Steam room or can anyone use them? 

 

You can usually purchase access - I believe for a day or for the full cruise.  There is also usually an elite benefit that allows one free visit on a port day.

Prior to the revolutionary changes, there was also free saunas in the Ladies and Gents changing rooms near the solarium pool.  With the decrease in size of the changing rooms, the saunas may or may not still be there.

On 2/9/2023 at 4:55 PM, miched said:

I wouldn’t get too excited about the Persian Gardens on the M class (Millennium)  is an inside room with no windows.  There is a heated bench along one wall that is like a church pew.  Not that comfortable.  Most go there once, don’t stay long and  and never go back.  It is included in the AQ as a perk.   If not in AQ I would ask for a tour first before paying for it.

 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

Yeah, the heated bench isn't all that exciting, but I always enjoyed both the sauna and the steam room - and occasionally what I think is an eucalyptus room.

23 minutes ago, AvidCruiserToo said:

It depends on whether they have the coins. We were able to get coins from the front desk most of the time but we also went first thing in the morning. We found that getting change from the guides was always welcome. They are more than happy to get bigger bills for all the coins and small bills they normally get.

Great - thanks for your reply.

Viking suggests 1 or 2 Euro tips to local guides and drivers. But 5 Euro is the smallest bill.  So how have you experienced river cruisers gotten Euro coins while on the cruise? Does Viking offer to give you Euro coins onboard in exchange for Euro bills?

Thanks in advance for your assistance.

1 hour ago, KKB said:

Booked Beyond in Dec while onboard Equinox. NR $200 deposit, got $550 OBC, 

$100pp change fee if we change.

 

If I want to change this booking to another date, is calling the only way to do it?

Realize we will have to pay change fee.

Will our OBC carry over to the new booking?

Thx all

You will need to call.

You right to an on-board-booking bonus OBC will carry over to the new booking.  The amount of bonus OBC could stay the same if there is only a minor change to the reservation. Or it could change (up or down) if your new booking is significantly different than your existing booking since the amount of bonus OBC is based on the number of cruise nights and the cabin level.

Just make sure that the original reservation number is retained and that it is just a change in the reservation.  You DO NOT want it be treated as a cancellation of the existing reservation and a new reservation with a new reservation number.

3 hours ago, CCBB said:

Does anyone know if the Persian Garden in the Millennium is unisex? i.e. can my husband and I go in together? 

 

Thanks in advance.

Yes, it is unisex.

19 hours ago, Cruisegirl6 said:

Hello,

 

I am in aqua class and want to dine in Blu, I have checked out the dinner menus on the app, question, I do not eat seafood, chicken (love it but the steroids/hormones they give chickens upset my stomach) and don't eat lamb, am I able to ask for a steak which isn't on the menu for six evenings?  Would they be able to get me a steak to eat?

 

 

 

 

You should explain your food restrictions to the Blu's Maitre D on your embarkation day.  They will be pleased to accommodate you as much as possible.  In addition to beef, they have excellent pork entrees.  You might also consider an occasional vegetarian pasta dish or pasta with beef or pork meatballs or sauces.

4 minutes ago, CruisingNole said:

Appreciate the tips everyone. Should we board and there truly are no other reservations available on that day, hopefully they will at least let us move it to another day without penalty. Although I imagine we’d lose the first night discount, which is fine.

I doubt they will move it since they want to have as many 1st night reservations as possible.

Since you are willing to move it to another day, even if you lose the 1st night discount, my suggestion is to seek another night online reservation now.  If you can find an online reservation for your desired time on another night, then book it and cancel the 1st night.  An enjoyable cruise experience is more important than saving $20 or $30 per person.

Since to many of us, C class has very limited value, the better question would be:

How much more does AQ cost relative to a relatively comparable standard verandah cabin?

I tried to do this comparison for the OP's July 7 cruise; but unfortunately, currently there is only one available standard verandah cabin - and it is the lowest class verandah.

On 1/19/2023 at 2:56 AM, the penguins said:

Really. You book for 2 people at AI rates both real with passports etc  You pay the price requested. At check in 1 person is a "no show".  Bring a letter from the missing person saying ,"sorry can't travel for whatever reason. X has its money.

How does X charge the person travelling extra? 

If you book at Sail Only Rates and pre pay the tips surely the same would also apply i.e. no extra charge.

Booking 2 people, and then having one of them not show up, is not the situation described by the OP.  The OP was saying booking himself twice - which would be an obvious attempt at deception.

35 minutes ago, unclegrandpa said:

I am looking at a couple Celebrity cruises. When I go to select a cabin a 2 person booking is considerably cheaper than 1 person. If I pick the 2 person fare and just enter myself twice would there be any issues later on? Would I be charged more at some point later?

Don't know if the system would allow you to enter your name twice.  But even if it would, you would certainly be charged more at some later date.

Celebrity, and many other cruise lines, charge more for 1 person in a cabin than for 2 persons in a cabin because the base fare is only part of their revenue stream.  Another large part of their revenue is other purchases such as shore excursions and specialty dining. And on average that part of their revenue stream for 1 person in a cabin is only half of that with 2 persons in a cabin. To make up for that loss of revenue, when a cabin is filled by only 1 person, they need to recoup it by charging more for the base fare.

Thus, when they eventually find out that there will only be 1 person in the cabin, they will then either cancel your reservation or raise your fare in order to maintain their desired total revenue stream.

On 1/15/2023 at 4:41 PM, Whinenowine said:

...and then there is always the option of my biggest pet peeve with X....the $4.50 scoop of gelato! 😡

With the beverage package, you can always get a free scoop of gelato by ordering an affogato 😎