JM0115

Yep. There is nothing in Tilbury. 

22 minutes ago, Clay Clayton said:

Is it just me (or maybe it’s only happening on Sky) but is anyone else missing the chirping birds (or ocean sounds) in the public restrooms onboard?  Sky now has several different sounds-one set might be whales, but there is another that sounds like rutting boar!😳

 

There is another than sounds like it might be some tribal sounds-but it’s mostly children it seems so a bit disturbing at best. 
 

no bird sounds?!? 😞

6 minutes ago, Deb922 said:

I’ve been looking into an ocean cruise for late fall 2025. 
 

Venice to Athens, there are 2, one 10 day and one 8 days in duration. 
 

The price Viking is showing for air from Detroit is $1599 for economy and $1000 more for premium  economy. 
 

At what point would you think that the price offered is not a value and would book on your own? 
 

Especially seeing all the complaints about Viking Air and that I would definitely add air plus for an additional cost. 

If you have points you can use you may want to do that. Otherwise look at the prices online and compare and see what makes sense to you. I would definitely add Viking Air Plus so you can pick your flights - it is now $150 pp additional. Prices right now for this fall (I know you said 2025) are around $1000 RT for economy and $2500 for Premium Economy so it looks like a good deal in premium economy.

5 minutes ago, Clay Clayton said:

Enjoyed the new (at least to us) Menu at Manfredi’s last night.  The asparagus appetizer is delicious as was the vitello tonato.   The steak while not as thick as in the before times is better than the very thin ones we had just two weeks ago on the previous menu.  The osso bucco is still very tasty though the portion seems smaller which is ok with us as it always was a bit overwhelming before. Friends have said the lasagna isn’t as good as the previous version-may try that next week when we go back.  The Carmelo dessert is tasty but VERY sweet-they pour the caramel sauce at the table so will probably try it without next time. The Millefolgie was light and tasty. 

Love the asparagus!

5 hours ago, cidymom said:

Unfortunately I left it late to book shore excursions for a snorkeling with rays and sharks for this coming April in Bora Bora.  The excursion offered through the ship is sold out and Viator doesn't have much available either.  Does anyone recall if they saw any tour companies at the Bora Bora dock when you arrive from a cruise ship.  I read they have it in Moorea but just wondering about Bora Bora.  Thank you for any input.

We really liked a company called Bora Bora H2O.

1 hour ago, Travel Lady in CT said:

I've decided to take a WC.  How do I choose?  Does anyone have a spreadsheet of criteria that they've used?  It's rather overwhelming with Cruise lines, ships ports, incentives, etc.   I'm thinking around 4 1/2 months, probably in 2026 with a balcony cabin.

Would love to hear how others have narrowed down the choices. Thanks!

We loved ours on Viking! 

2 minutes ago, Jewelly said:

Can anyone recommend a pre cruise hotel stay in London? 

CitizenM Tower of London

Just now, NCteacherlovescruising said:

Thanks!  We will definitely have checked luggage.  

If you stick yo one alliance, like Star Alliance (United, Lufthansa) you MAY be able to check the bags all the way through.

1 minute ago, NCteacherlovescruising said:

We booked a direct flight from Charlotte to Munich with miles. We need to book a connecting flight (is that the proper term?) to either Florence or Rome. How much time should we allow between flights? 

I’d say 2-3 hrs. Especially if checking bags as you will have to retrieve them in Munich.

3 minutes ago, Mad-39 said:

Any suggestions as to which excursions are worth my while? Going in May 2024 from Bergon to Stockholm 

Pulpit Rock cruise.

9 hours ago, SelectSys said:

We have a cruise booked for early January, 2025 from Singapore.  We are going with another couple and are following their lead to book Premium Economy on the nonstop flight between LA and Singapore.  Does anyone have familiarity with this product and is it relatively comfortable for a 17 hour flight?  Thanks in advance for any information. 

It differs depending on airline but I think it is worth it if you can get the 2 seat side. To me that is the big advantage as you don't have a stranger sitting next to you. A lot of posters have said that they won't pay more than $50 per hr more than economy. This would be an additional $850 on a 17 hr flight. 

11 minutes ago, rinshin said:

I just checked my business class flight booked and purchased in December from SFO to Amsterdam in May for type of craft and was shocked to find that price has doubled.  We travel to Japan annually and use to think that best price was found around 4 months from departure but apparently that is not the case anymore.  How far in advance are you finding the best price?  

I purchase as far out as possible. Typically 330 to 355 days out depending on airline's policy.

3 minutes ago, FlyerTalker said:

 

Yep...missed those.  Both top-notch airlines.  Lots of options to/from Japan.

 

 

We are going to Japan on Eva and coming back on Singapore in the fall.

You could also look at Singapore (NRT-LAX) and EVA Air (NRT-TPE-SFO).

2 hours ago, PRH said:

The last four cruises we’ve been on, it was gone within six days.  When the bar manager checked stock, there was none.  Guess we cruise with heavy Woodford drinkers!

You are not supposed to drink half a bottle a day....or are you :)??? Ha ha

Have never had a problem getting it but not at all bars.  

1 minute ago, SantaFe1 said:

Well, I sort of didn’t want to give them a heads up that I was going to cancel. And I think I would have to cancel through my TA. So what I really want to do is just let them keep the deposit and default on the final payment. Will it just fall through if I don’t pay it?

Seems like your TA could ask them the hypothetical easier than you could.

2 minutes ago, GRACIECA said:

I would call Viking and give the you booking # and ask if you by waiting until the final payment is due will only cost you the $50. MY guess is that is correct, but my experience has not been good when it comes to their practices. Get the name of the person you speak to and have them put it in writing. 

Hope someone tells us their experience with this. 

1 minute ago, SantaFe1 said:

I think some time ago there was a thread on this question but I can’t find it.  So, here is my question.  We have a cruise in the fall that it appears, for many reasons, we aren’t going to be able to take.  We got the $25 pp deposit offer, so $50 is all we have down.  Final payment is May 6.  The cancellation table of $100 pp up to 120 days out was clearly intended for the regular $500pp down payment.  So if we just skip the final payment, is Viking going to come after us for another $150.  And if so how are they going to get it?  Thanks for any help.

I've considered this before. I do not know the answer but assume that they will not come after you for the remaining $150 but I assume you paid by credit card for the $50 in which case I guess they could charge the card but doubt they would do that.  I guess you could ask them?

5 hours ago, CDNPolar said:

Where are you located/live?

 

Resources may be different depending on where you are unless you only want online options.

 

In Toronto Canada we have in-person and online options.

I live in Colorado.  My closest embassey/consulate is Chicago. We will definitely use a service.

We are going to China on a cruise in October with Viking. They use GenVisa for their Visa services. I know they are very good but they are pricey. Anyone use a visa service company that they like and can recommend?

I see the flights on United. Should not be an issue.

Just now, Haworth said:

We have tried twice,and failed twice,  second time we were  due to go was March 2020 and all that

 

Clearly its not meant to be so we wont try again

That's unfortunate.  Happy exploring in other places!

32 minutes ago, mwike said:

We've traveled China independently and plan to go back next year.  We felt safer in China than we do in US cities.  It's a very orderly and civil country.  Also, very clean in the cities - not a breeding ground for disease but opinions my vary given the once in a lifetime virus. 

 

I think the Chinese government is much more politically savvy than the countries that detain innocent tourists which is very rare anyway. 

 

Now you may not want to visit China for moral reasons but that's for you to decide.  My opinion on that is to visit countries that do not share my beliefs while respectfully trying to break any negative stereotypes they may have of Westerners (given the opportunity) while on the visit.

 

I can't see any concerns (other than potential moral concerns) for a cruise where one is essentially in a controlled environment.

Agree with @mwike - we are currently booked on the China Discovery 10-day cruise out of HK (Shenzhen) in Octobber. Very excited to see and experience the differences between the standard Viking and the Yi Dun!  We will be in Japan the week before this exploring Japan on our own and it fit into the flights already booked to and from Osaka so we decided to cut our Japan trip short and go to China. I have been to China many years before and find it fascinating and the people are very friendly and hospital. 

6 minutes ago, rjp50 said:

We will be doing this cruise this summer and I am starting to plan our shore excursion strategy.  Specifically, for each port I would like to have a plan for using either the included excursion, a paid Viking excursion, a third party excursion or a combination of these.  Does anyone who has been on this cruise or a different itinerary but with some shared ports have any suggestions for each of the ports?  Any "must do" excursions?  Any "don't waste your time" excursions.  In general, we are not big on information overload excursions where the guides pump you full of trivia that within a few hours you have forgotten all of it.  We prefer sightseeing and ones that are more photogenic.

Pulpit Rock cruise is great!