Frenchberet

Thank you for the information! Enjoy the rest of your cruise!

This is the form to order a gift for someone cruising on Viking. I guess you could use it to send yourself a gift... Or call Viking. US_CORP_GiftOrder-OC.pdf (viking.com)

I’m loving your reports & photos! We are doing this cruise in a few weeks & I’m over-analyzing my packing. Did you bring hiking poles or are they part of the gear on loan from Viking? Anything you wished you packed but didn’t bring? Any tips? PS - you both look great in your jackets! Have a great trip!

Thank you. I’ll keep checking!

Hi, I'm searching for a promo for the "Amazon & Caribbean Adventure" for 2024. Appreciate a "heads up" if anyone has any info. thank you!

Has anyone taken this post extension to the Antarctic Explorer expedition cruise? It includes El Calafate (2 nights), Torres del Paine National Park (2 nights), and Santiago (1 night). Just wondering if it’s fully guided or if there’s any free time for exploring. Appreciate any info/tips.

Really enjoying your reports, thank you. Glad to hear you were able to exchange your gear. We ordered based on our measurements but not 100% sure how unisex equates to regular sizing. Please let us know you dress for the landings - long underwear, pants, boot socks, gloves? Enjoy your adventure!

Cruise Critic Chris, so happy you will be reporting on your expedition experience! Looking forward to any info on how the landings and activities are handled. My Viking indicates that “activities will be scheduled daily and you will be informed on board”. Hoping to hear that you are able to do all the activities you want to do. Have a great trip!

We are enjoying your reports and lovely photos! Sounds like you are having a wonderful time!

I checked your date on the Viking site and it looks like it’s selling pretty well. Unfortunately, many of your fellow cruisers aren’t aware of Cruise Critic and the helpful info they could learn and share here! We did the Northern Lights cruise in February 2019. All of the included excursions were fine. Some of the optional excursions were great, others we wouldn’t want to repeat. Great - Lifestyle of the Sami, Arctic Landscape by Husky, and Griegs House & Recital. Ok - Pulpit Rock (we got a nice photo with a Viking). Not great - Experience the Arctic Circle, Sommaroy Island, and Searching for the Aurora Borealis (big bus, too many people, not enough time). Sadly, we did not see the Northern Lights. If we were to do this cruise again, we’d book some private mini van tours to chase the lights. Good luck to you!

How about just putting on a shirt and eating at the Pool Grill?

I agree. Honestly, it’s a better settlement than I thought you’d receive. We were on Orion with the same itinerary in March 2020. We saw New Zealand but as we were approaching Tasmania, Australia closed it’s borders due to Covid. Viking was very fair with us, even offering to arrange free flights for those that didn’t purchase Viking air. I think Viking’s customer service is great and one of it’s biggest assets.

Sorry about the change to your itinerary. We were aboard Orion in March 2020 for NZ & Australia. Australia closed it’s borders just as we were approaching Tasmania. Viking was great about everything. We were immediately redirected to Melbourne to disembark and fly home. We missed everything in Australia, except the airport. Bummer? Yes, but still a great trip. Sounds like you have a good attitude about the changes. Hope you have a wonderful, memorable holiday!

Check out this helpful thread first: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2863068-post-viking-promos/

I understand your desire to pack light, but I’d hate to miss out on dinner at Manfredi’s or the Restaurant. I’m planning to bring some nice slacks and a few sweaters. I’m also bringing a pair of hiking/walking/tennis shoes and a pair of flats (no boots). I bought some polarized sport sunglasses to protect from the wind and glare.

We’ve done two Viking cruises to Norway and another to Australia/New Zealand - never seen anybody in the pool, much less lounging around it. Guess the ‘chair hog’ thing is something we’ll look for in the future. If you reserve a chair on your way to a meal, yes, you’re guilty of being a chair hog.

Daily testing again? We’re vaccinated plus 3 boosters. I can’t imagine dealing with the stress of daily testing on vacation. This very well may be a deal breaker for our Antarctica cruise.

We docked (no tender) in Alta at 8 am on February 13 and left the following afternoon at 1:30 pm.

We were among the 10-20% (?) that didn’t see the lights ☹️. We sailed Feb 6-18, 2019. It was a nice cruise but we were both surprised and disappointed with the outcome. Suggest that you book a private tour(s) to maximize your opportunities.

We stayed at the Thon Opera on Oslo. It was fine - very clean, nice sized rooms, and an excellent breakfast buffet. It is well located next door to the train station. We walked everywhere and would stay there again.

Wow! Appreciate your report. Stay safe!

Thank you. Still trying to reach Virgin by phone. No response to chat or emails. Just surprised ‘gifting’ something isn’t an advertised option.

I’m sorry that your wife fell ill on her vacation. However, I’m puzzled by your characterization of her having to suffer the indignity of being questioned by the nurse and quarantined for 24 hours. Noroviruses are very contagious and can be serious, especially for older people or those with a compromised immune system. It appears that Viking is following the protocol for someone who presents with these symptoms. I’ve read your reports and understand that this is just one more thing on top of an already disappointing trip for you. But it’s beginning to sound like you’re documenting your case for a cruise credit.

We did the Northern Lights cruise in February 2019. Don't overpack. We each took a down jacket, one pair of snowpants, fleece tops, long underwear, winter hiking boots, warm hat, gloves, socks, snow goggles, and a balaclava face covering. We also took "hot hands" hand and toe warmers and they worked great. It was actually warmer in Norway than it was here in Ohio. FYI, if you plan to do any of the wolf excursions, we were advised (via a memo in our cabin) that you could not wear down jackets or leather belts. We opted to do the husky excursions (highly recommended!) which did not have those restrictions. We enjoyed this cruise very much but, unfortunately, did not see the lights... If we were to do it again, we'd book a private tour so we could actually "chase" the lights and stay out longer. Hope you have a great trip!

Thank you for responding. I don’t know if they have a travel agent or if they booked directly with Virgin. Was really hoping to surprise them. I’ve traveled with Viking and they have a form on their website. I was hoping Virgin had something similar.