SJD117

Two points. First, you don’t need the SSP to consume unlimited alcohol on a Viking cruise. You can drink around the clock by paying a la carte, too. Second, I can’t imagine spending an entire day at sea (or anywhere else) in an alcohol-induced fog. But that’s just me. Others’ mileage may vary.

You evaluate a cruise based on how much alcohol you consume?

We flew into Boston last night from Seattle. The crew asked passengers to stay on the plane so two people in the back could get off first and make a tight connection to Tel Aviv. No airline specified, but apparently flight service still exists into Israel (from Boston at least).

That’s the best title for a CC thread that I’ve ever seen!

Kent — We’re flying Business Class in January for our trip to Egypt and Jordan and returning from Istanbul. You may ask, what’s unusual about that? Well, in five decades of flying commercially around the world, neither of us has ever flown in Business Class — not once. So we’ll have a much different flight experience than before (and a much more expensive one). After we get back, I intend to start a thread about our experience from the perspective of a “first-timer.” It will be interesting to read the responses!

Alaska Airlines still operates its famed “Milk Run” flights in Southcentral and Southeast Alaska. These flights involve six routes that date back to the 1930s. The routes serve seven communities between Seattle and Anchorage that aren’t connected to the statewide road system. I’ve flown in or out of every one of these towns except for Yakutat, but not on a single “direct” flight from Seattle to Anchorage— that would make for a very long day of flying!

The lesson from this thread: Never get between a Viking customer — or a former Viking customer — and his/her preferred Business Class seat. Never, ever, ever. It just wouldn’t be right. 🤣

Lying to your cruise line is never a good idea.

The Silver Spirits beverage package costs more than a few nickels and dimes — a lot more. But Viking’s steady drinkers can typically afford quite a few nickels and dimes. It’s all good to them as long as their cocktail glasses remain full. 😜😜😜

We traveled on our own to Cairns and Port Douglas in 2017. The parts of the Reef that we saw were not in good shape (extensive bleaching, etc.). Hopefully conditions have improved in the last six years.

You’re worried about Norway of all places? The country with the largest sovereign wealth fund on the planet? The country that epitomizes Scandinavian efficiency and affluence? I don’t think you need to worry.

Your position is based on a false premise — that Viking’s T&Cs are somehow divorced from what is “right” and “wrong.” Because you adopt such a low opinion of Viking’s notice to customers and reservation of rights, you might seriously consider traveling with another cruise line — although I’ll bet that the other line will have T&C language that’s similar to Viking’s language.

Precisely. And for those who haven’t read Viking’s T&Cs, may I suggest that you do so in the context of this discussion. Like it or not, Viking’s right to change the terms of shore excursions is functionally unlimited. Passengers know or should know this critical fact. To claim bait and switch on Viking’s part ignores the reality of the company’s notice to passengers and reservation of rights, all as reflected in the T&Cs. It’s all there, folks.

I “Special Viking contracted rates” are no guarantee that Viking will have seats in your preferred flight class at a particular point in time. For greater certainty, book directly with the airline.

So we’ve heard. We plan to enjoy it!

We are flying from Amman to Seattle in January on TA. No extra charge for a 2-day layover in Istanbul on the way home.

Turkish Airlines last week, British Airways this week. Which airline will be next?

Fun fact: I stayed in a hostel on the other side of this bay/fjord during my first trip to Iceland (in 2011). I loved the town of Djupivogur and the remoteness of the surrounding area.

Fine with me. I hate nuts.

Back in 2019, we cruised on the second segment (Bergen to Montreal) of a Viking WC. I still recall all the WCers strutting around in their nice jackets, while we lowly segmenters were reduced to rags, hand-me-downs, and cardboard shoes. Cruising with Viking offers such wonderful memories! 😆😆😆

That will never happen. Viking cruisers are wedded (addicted?) to all their devices. The company isn’t going to upset that applecart.

I’ve always thought that Viking’s onboard lectures are underreported and underappreciated, at least on Cruise Critic. We generally find these lectures to be very informative, so we look forward to the topics on a particular cruise. Some lecturers are better than others, of course, but that’s to be expected — we roll with it. Kudos to Viking for offering these talks as part of the cruising experience.

An interim report was issued a couple of years ago. It will be interesting to see if and when the Norwegian authorities release a final report — not to mention what that report might say.

We’ve been to Cape Breton Island twice, mostly to hear the island’s acclaimed fiddle music along the Ceilidh Trail. Nothing can compare to sessions with folks like Ashley MacIsaac and Natalie MacMaster — musicians at the top of their craft. Hopefully Viking will skip the electronic stuff on future Nova Scotia cruises and host a few fiddlers on the ships!

We didn’t encounter any surly staff on the Saturn cruise before yours. Far from it, actually — the crew members we met were uniformly pleasant and professional.