5 hours ago, CDNPolar said:

 

Exactly!  This is the challenge with modifying or rebooking.  When. you call in do you get a seasoned Viking Agent that knows how to do something like this or will you end up with someone that will put you on hold 10 times because he/she/they is consulting with their Supervisor?

 

We have had both and sometimes it is hard to know who you have until you get part way into the maneuver.

 

Some will outright say it cannot be done, and others will bend over backward to try to do it and please you.

 

You could lose your post cruise booking, or the cabin number that you really wanted.

 

Again - for us - too little value to risk all the hassle.

While I agree with your conclusion, it should be noted that even “seasoned” Viking agents often need supervisor approval, hence being put on hold. We only use the same Viking agent - have been 7+ years. When we inquire about changes, we might be told no problem, he’ll need approval or no way.

4 hours ago, CDNPolar said:

For us there are too many conditions and rules on these vouchers to give Viking more money to sit on, even if the vouchers apparently never expire.

The only condition is that vouchers have to be applied when booking a new cruise. If you cancel the booking, the vouchers are returned back to you. They are completely transferable as well. So if you plan on booking any additional Viking cruises in the future, I suggest buying them. We also have several future cruises booked - each one had vouchers applied. The only mistake we’ve made was not buying enough on our last river cruise.

1 hour ago, sharkster77 said:

We will be on a Viking tulip cruise next month.  We recall from our previous cruise that one can buy vouchers on board that have double value when used to pay a future Viking cruise.  There is a limit, of course ($400 --> $800 per couple maybe?).

 

We have a Viking Ocean cruise booked for 2025.  Could those vouchers if purchased by applied to paying for that cruise, or are they good for new bookings only?  Don't want to ask this on board, get a wrong answer, then be sitting on them until we book again.

As of last April: each person on river cruise may purchase up to six $200 vouchers for $100 each. Only one voucher per person per NEW BOOKING (ocean, river or expedition) may be used. There have been reports here on Cruise Critic that this program has been discontinued effective 2024, but when we were on a VO cruise this past January, the sales agent assured us the program was still available for river cruises.

Port talks also give you any last minute details about each excursion. Case in point: we had booked an optional evening boat ride, but were told that the port location of the boat was changed and would require walking a mile+ each way in the heat. We went to guest services to see if we can cancel since the excursion was initially rated easy and we didn’t think we could handle that much walking at the end of the day. Although the rule is 48 hours, they understood our issue and gave us a refund.

Duquephart - there are separate sales presentations that answer questions about the different Viking offerings. Don’t confuse these with port talks.

2 hours ago, TheaterVB said:

@Squawkman may I ask which cruise line you used? It sounds like it would be a good option for us.

Viking 

We have done 2 river cruises post covid - Rhine in 2022 and Tulips in 2023. Both had a gentle group for most included and optional excursions which accommodated those who used canes and rollators. The tour guides used elevators where possible, and avoided a few stops to cut back the amount of walking. My wife used a cane for both cruises and had no issues whatsoever. It sounds like this should work for your mother.

1 hour ago, MW4AU said:

 

This promotion is the same as the one a few months ago. I just checked our Feb. 2026 booking of Search of the Northern Lights. I have these same savings. $1000 per couple off the published fares and Past Discount of $400 per couple. Our PIF date is six months out. Our TA asked for the extended PIF date.

This promo covers all cruises- yours was for selected cruises

8 minutes ago, OneSixtyToOne said:

: Pay in full by April 30, 2024 or at 120 days prior to departure (whichever comes first). For itineraries 35 days and longer, call for payment details. 2025: Pay in full by July 31, 2024. 2026: Pay in full by January 15, 2025. Offer is not combinable with other offers and cannot be booked online. Offer may be withdrawn at any time without prior notice. Additional restrictions may apply. Offer expires March 31, 2024.

This part of the conditions language is pretty standard for promo offers. Never stopped me from getting 6 months PIF when requested. Also was able to combine with welcome back promo when I booked within 14 days of embarkation.

Interesting promotion. What’s not mentioned is since you need an existing booking to qualify, you can request PIF in 6 months on any new booking.

We always start by asking if this is their first Viking cruise. That will set a tone that usually carries through the meal.

1 minute ago, duquephart said:

 

Several threads here. I'm just reporting the findings of others.

You stated the distribution of tips to staff is a fantasy - and your reason is others here challenge Viking’s policy as stated on their website. So the challengers are right and Viking is wrong. Yeah.

53 minutes ago, duquephart said:

Many people seem to think that what they pay in "gratuities" becomes a pot of money that is distributed (according to some formula) at the end of each and every cruise. That is a fantasy. 

Viking’s web site states:

This charge will be shared among the onboard staff who helped support and provide your cruise experience, including the waitstaff, stateroom stewards, buffet stewards, galley staff, laundry staff and others. 

So Viking is lying? And our room steward on one of our cruises told us tipping her was not necessary as she receives tips from the gratuities pool. What’s your source for calling shared tips a fantasy?

45 minutes ago, duquephart said:

I would imagine there are folks, perhaps lots of folks, who prefer the "not included" system in regard to "gratuities." That way of handling things allows them to reduce or eliminate "tips" on the grounds that they are really a service charge. These folks generally prefer to see their "tips" directly into the hands of deserving staff.

What about the deck hands that help you on and off tenders? They’re not deserving? Not to mention the hard working staff you don’t necessarily interface with. I’m with those that think gratuities should just be included and cruisers can go above and beyond if they choose. If you like “service charge”, you can call it that.

2 hours ago, duquephart said:

Should also (maybe) be mentioned that for most folks there is two beers and four drinks in your mini bar that are "free."

Wrong. Most folks are not in PV or above. 

21 minutes ago, duquephart said:

 

Soft drink options in mini-bar

You can get anything you see there in the minibar. Just ask your room steward. May take a day or two.

9 hours ago, duquephart said:

Haven't seen orange yet.

Next time you have lunch or dinner in the WC, look for orange amongst the cans of Coke and Sprite. Also have seen iced tea in cans there.

1 hour ago, Clay Clayton said:

 Currently on Sky, possibilities are:

Coke

Diet Coke

Coke zero

Sprite

Sprite zero (sometimes)

Tonic Water

Club Soda

Ginger Ale

In addition, there should be orange soda as well - usually Fanta. I haven’t seen Sprite Zero at my last 2 cruises which is disappointing as it was the only soda both sugar and caffeine free.

2 hours ago, millybess said:

And an amazing cheese steak and chicken wings.  Very yummy and our first go to when we board.  

And don’t forget the fresh made onion rings 😊

FWIW Blue Lagoon extension is not being offered for the 7/27/24 Iceland’s Natural Beauty cruise.

18 minutes ago, CDNPolar said:

I would wait until onboard as you will receive bigger discount onboard and also an onboard credit for the cruise you are on.  Additionally you should receive 6 month payment terms to book onboard.

OP could get the 6 month PIF now if requested when booking. I also wouldn’t preclude a bigger discount if waiting. If this were me, I would call my Viking agent (same guy I’ve been using for years) on February 29 and ask for a 72 hour hold. Then see what is offered for March and decide from there.

19 hours ago, Suegribster said:

Need info on weather

Always hot and humid and can rain at any time.

25 minutes ago, CDNPolar said:

Now, someone might know this:  If Viking are offering free air, is there any credit if you don't go with that offer?  There is obviously still a cost to Viking for that air.

 

Not in the US.

1 hour ago, formernuke said:

The issue is that Viking transfers all the guest information to the ship the week before your cruise, and they are then "in charge".

 

Also, I would NEVER rely on the MVJ website for last minute airline changes, even if it were there. One should ALWAYS go the airline directly  (IMO) as MVJ may be significantly delayed. Easy enough to download the applicable airline(s) APP(s) and enter your info befoere the cruise

Totally agree - and I always use Viking air. In addition, you can check with guest services as they have access to the latest air info.

1 minute ago, SantaFe1 said:

They haven’t had the wish list in years!  And when they did, you couldn’t book from it anyway, which is probably why they did away with it.

If I recall, they did away with the wishlist before covid.

1 minute ago, bookbabe said:

Maybe they didn't actually cancel it?  Ours could have booked immediately if we wanted a different cabin or different dates, but to keep the same cabin for the same date as the hold we had to wait for it to expire before he could book it.

Pretty sure he did as the next day the cabin we originally booked was shown as available on Price and Build. Regardless, all worked well for both of us.