hutch1994

3 minutes ago, CDNPolar said:

Our last cruise was Treasures of the Rhine and that was in December / January.

 

Boarded the full River ship with 1 or 2 that were coughing.

 

By mid way through the 12 day itinerary, 1/3 of the ship was coughing.

 

On the 8th day I had fever and stayed home from the excursions.  My fever broke that night.

 

Coughing, but wearing a mask, I participated the next day.  More than 1/3 of the ship was coughing.  Maybe 10 people, my husband and I included, were wearing masks.

 

Many were coughing openly without covering their mouths with elbow or hand.  We apparently learned nothing from Covid.

 

A few couples that we kept in touch with were sick after disembarking.

 

I did not have Covid, at least from Covid test kits that I had.  Maybe they did not detect the strain, or I had something else.  In any case, this ran through the ship very quickly.

 

Interestingly my husband did not catch it whatever it was.

 

We still travel with masks.

 

Remember that masks are more of a preventative when YOU are sick, meaning you are less likely to transmit whatever you have if you are wearing a mask.  Wearing a mask is about respect for your fellow humans.

Brought our masks for the long bus rides.  That's were we caught it on our river cruise.

Noticed last night coughing has started big time in the explorer's lounge and main dining room.  Moved a couple of times to get away from it.  Want to stay healthy for the remainder of the cruise and post extension.  Came down with major bronchitis on our last river cruise because of coughers.

Noticed that coughing has begun big time in the explorer's lounge and the dining room.  Need to be viligant and keep  a low profile.  Still have 6 days before our flight.  Caught major bronchitis on our river cruise from those coughers.

On 12/19/2023 at 3:27 AM, CDNPolar said:

 

Agree and we get it.  

 

I can stomach most all types of clothing and do for the most part, but that does not stop me from looking at some folks and ask myself silently if they looked in a mirror before leaving their cabin, and wonder how they thought what they were wearing was even remotely appropriate.

On an ocean cruise and the dress is all over the place.  Some people dress like they are cleaning out their basement and others dress nicely.  Personally prefer a more well dressed approach to grunge.

Had a very informative tour of the kitchen facilities with Chef Joseph this morning.

On 2/16/2024 at 8:56 PM, FetaCheese said:

The glass panel to which you refer was not broken on your voyage.  Wife noticed it was broken and wrapped on our 28 December 2033 Star cruise.  They haven't replaced it yet.

 

On the transatlantic crossing and that panel still hasn't been replaced yet (March 26, 2024).

Has anyone had a hydrafacial done while on board?

Currently and there are two hooks on the wall in the bathroom, not the bathroom door as it is sliding.

Had the lobster thermidor and chateau brian tonight and the lobster dish was anything but the thermidor version and the beef was cut into very thin slices.  Not impressed.

57 minutes ago, Cyber Kat said:

We are on the Med Odyssey following your cruise.  We are doing the pre cruise in Madrid with the train to Barcelona.  We will be in the Intercontinental 3/30 and 3/31, but I think that will be before you end in Barcelona as we are boarding on 4/1.

We did this extension once before and it was really great, but I don't have any info on the tapas tour.  I should look and see if they have that for us.

Check the follow up message on tv.  The flyer was delivered to our room last night.  Guest relations didn't know anything about it when we checked this morning.

Anyone know of  more detailed info on the tapas tour that is being offered as part of the post excursion to Madrid?

Has anyone taken the evening optional tapas tour in the post Madrid extension by Viking?

9 hours ago, CDNPolar said:

This may spark some controversial conversation, BUT, we often tip cash to a few people on the Viking Ocean ships and one of them is the Wine Steward.  We don't tip day one, but we generally ask to sit in the same area of the restaurant and so we have the same server team night after night.

 

On day two or three we will palm pass a tip and it is amazing how much more SOMETIMES comes available.  Even when you are on the included wines, if they come with a white that is a Chardonnay (and I typically don't drink or like Chardonnay) and I ask if there is another choice for white, then they bring an option.  

 

In our experience the included wines are not always just what they bring to the table.

 

As @FetaCheese suggested, talk with the Sommelier and often there are options.  We have also talked with the Food and Beverage Manager (Uniformed Officer) and had different luck, such as FetaCheese suggested that there is a wine or wines in stock that are too low in stock to have on the list.

 

If you don't ask you won't get.

While I believe in tipping for service given, personally don't think people should have to tip wine stewards on the side to get wines that they are holding back in reserve.

23 hours ago, sharkster77 said:

Speaking of Viking recipes, on our Rhine cruise 5 years ago, one evening's dinner menu listed "New England clam chowder"---being a born and bred and resident New Englander, I had to try this.  It was delicious, but did not remotely resemble any NE clam chowder I had ever tasted---a less tactful New Englander would have confronted the chef and asked him to "step outside"!!  (Never mind, he was built like a defensive end and would have obliterated anyone who did dare challenge him, haha!)

Had the disaster of the New England clam chowder on the Star yesterday in the World Cafe.  It was watery and definitely separated. Didn't eat it.

13 hours ago, CCWineLover said:

The included wines have deteriorated since COVID no doubt.

Sorry for your disappointment, but there have been numerous threads on CruiseCritic discussing the lack of good wines on Viking these days (I know since I've been part of those threads).

 

It is what it is.  And as such, we ALWAYS try to bring wine bottles on board with us - either ahead of time or during the cruise itself, buying in local ports.  That's even fun!   When you get free corkage and can bring your own onboard that's something to take advantage of.  Most other cruise ships either limit you or charge you for your own alcohol onboard.

 

In summary - the biggest transformation the past years was:

-Shifting many many good wines from wine by the glass to purchase by the bottle only.

-Reducing the total number of wines by the glass (i.e. like just a single USA Zinfandel).

 

That being said, we have cruised a lot on Viking since COVID and have found that the itinerary does make a difference.  Last cruise in the Med, we had some different Portugal, Spanish, and Italian wines for the included meals.   But most of the wines were still those old tired regulars.

 

I guess your choice is, if it makes that much a difference to you, to not ever do Viking again - or bring your own onboard.   I talked with many at Viking about this situation and basically it will not change - they claim most are happy with this arrangement (including Viking, which raises more revenue and cuts costs).

Agree with your assessment.  Probably will be looking at Regent or Silverseas as we don't really want to go to the trouble of carrying wines on board.

On 2/11/2024 at 7:47 PM, Peregrina651 said:

Some things to note.

 

Cabin square footage includes the balcony. ES cabin interiors are all exactly the same. It is the only the balconies that differ in size.

 

Vela and Vesta are a new class of ship. We don't know how many more are to be built. The new class is longer (more cabins) and wider (slightly bigger cabins), but still under a 1000 guests.

 

Priority access to stateroom time. Well, that is what they put in the brochure but the crew is working to have all cabins available as close to 2pm as possible. Viking makes only one announcement that cabins are ready and that is when they are ALL ready. However, guests, especially PV, DV & V, can and should go to their cabins to see if they are ready as soon as they board. Why carry all your hand-luggage around with you if you don't have to?

Actually the ES1 cabin is a little larger than the ES2 while the ES1 balcony is smaller than the ES2

2 hours ago, FetaCheese said:

Agree that Viking Bistecca is smaller than 1st experienced on Venus, December 2021, the piece I had Monday night was not as thin as yours, yet of very high quality and not tough. 

 

Very surprised that chef admitted cost cutting measure.

Glad that someone got a decent one.  Order ours medium rare and both times they came out well done.  After that, just gave up and ate the veggies and bread.

On the Star  right now and the food is marginal at best.  Lamb chops were so tuff that I couldn't cut them with a knife and the famous ribeye was probably between 1/8 and 1/4 quarter of an inch at most and vastly overcooked.  Was expecting better.

Purchased the silver spirits package expecting decent red wine by the glass.  Big mistake.  Not one California cab, took away the Australia cab by day three, the French Cote de rhone also now is missing.  If we had known this up front, wouldn't have purchased the package and just bought decent wine by the bottle instead.  Not interested in their house pours.

17 hours ago, stretchcruz said:

I'll jump in here and say that Manfredi's still has Menu 4, other folks have posted elsewhere and I didn't take a picture. So they have the 2 ribeyes, bone in and out, not thick like the old one was but tasty. No lasagna, short ribs are on, and beef tartare. I know CC Wine Lover posted the #4 somewhere.

Bartenders in living room are very good and it's been very busy before dinner. Gjorge just got on and there are other unfamiliar faces but they are all friendly and efficient. Damian the cruise director is very nice.

Had the ribeye from Manfredi's in the restaurant the other night and it was horrible.  Tuff and very thin, probably 1/4 of an inch at most.  Chef told us they are cutting back on the size of the steak.

8 hours ago, FetaCheese said:

Took included shorex, Scenic St. Martin.  Very hot today.  Coach A/C very weak; we roasted.  Cooler outside.  1st stop, 10 min lookout to sea and surrounding island.  Guide was nearly impossible to understand, and was not very knowledgeable about island.  Entire trip just pointed out neighborhoods, schools, shopping areas, hospital.

 

Considerably below Viking standards, to which we have become accustomed.  Very disappointing.  

 

Then on to Marigot, 

 45 min available. y mission accomplished!  Found the Fromagerie, and purchased 3 varieties.  Clerk was very helpful.  On way back to coach, stopped to buy a French Cote d' Rhone bottle.  @CCWineLover, please correct spelling!

 

Highlight was the Marigot cheese and wine shops !

Also did the bus tour and while the bus was cool; the driver was really hard to understand.  Waste of time.

On 11/7/2022 at 10:33 AM, Nidec said:

With painted toenails and hairless legs? I very much doubt it!

Big feet and big legs.  With so many men wearing nail polish today, who knows what they do with their feet.

12 hours ago, bookbabe said:

As an FYI, it is socially acceptable these days for teens to wear pj bottoms and a crop top to school, the movies, the mall…pretty much anywhere.  As a high school teacher, I’ve seen every fashion statement you can imagine and then some.  I’ve learned to focus on their behaviour and not their wardrobe.  Trying to be the Fashion Police is futile, frustrating and unrewarding. 

 

So maybe the pj-wearing buffet goers are simply copying their grandkids’ fashions…? 😉

 

In all seriousness, though, this thread is making DH and I a little nervous for our upcoming West Indies Explorer cruise.  I’m pretty sure our wardrobe choices won’t live up to others’ expectations.  Ah well…

If they are trying to copy their grandkids fashion trends; then they are too old to do this.

Also have seen people fully sprawled  out on the seats in the lounge on the river cruises (with shoes on or shoeless) on the furniture while sleeping instead of using their rooms.

On 11/3/2022 at 4:35 PM, CDNPolar said:

We saw this twice, and two different people with bare feet on tables in the Explorers Lounge.  The same as the picture you have posted.

 

We have too seen two or three times people in their PJ's and a robe in the WC for breakfast.  Unacceptable.  Once was just PJ's with no robe.

 

And... may I just say, that there is a time and a place for sleeveless tank tops for men.  They should not be worn in dining venues, not even the WC.  

 

WE choose Viking because there is an understated elegance about Viking ships.  Viking delivers superior customer service, food, and experiences.  We felt a higher level of guest pre-pandemic too.

I would agree that there are more people since the pandemic with a very low level of decorum. 

 

And... if someone came and inferred that I was interfering with their view of the sunset, I would tell them to move.  The ship is for everyone, and if they want a front row seat then they can stand at the railing outside.

And the person in this picture whose feet are on that table, they look like they belong to a man.

20 hours ago, CCWineLover said:

Lots of talk on other threads about observed behavior patterns (such as reserving lounge chairs, etc).  We had a number of cruises pre-COVID and thought the Viking passengers were on the whole quiet well-behaved, courteous, and respectful.  Our observations are that after COVID, this has definitely changed.  Whether there is a new crowd of people now traveling on Viking, or whether just many have changed after COVID is hard to tell.  What used to be inappropriate, now seems to be accepted.

On the past couple cruises, for example, we noticed quite a number of people who now sit in the Explorer's Lounge and put their bare feet on the food/drink tables.  Never saw that before.  And there are other examples (such as more occurances of larger loud groups in the restaurants, wearing wet swim suits to lunch at the WC and to Wintergarden tea , an more).

Curious if others have felt the same . .

Here's a shot I took while sitting in the comfy chairs at Explorers Lounge near the piano of what is more and more typical. . .  🙂

Has nothing to do with Covid.  It's the same people who say that they can wear whatever they like because they paid big money for their cruise on Viking.