Peregrina651

Sounds great -- was the aioli on the side??? As for the rest of the suggestions, thank you all! I've started to keep a list in anticipation our first Oceans adventure since December, 2021. I'm looking forward to some change of menu. @Clay Clayton -- great idea for a new thread! Thank you!

The e-mail for the Viking Venus is in your final docs. I would e-mail the ship directly and ask them. They will have the most accurate and up-to-date information about the shuttles. The first sailing of 2024 is underway right now and they may not even have arrived in Atla at this point.

oops

What does it say on the harbormaster's website?

Viking has a huge pool of repeat customers. That they fill their cabins early and quickly speaks for itself. Customer retention is not a big worry for Viking. They have the sense to know that they cannot be all things to all people and that some people will be better served by other companies. Since everyone is talking about the rising prices, I checked the prices of the cruises I have booked. I looked only at brochures prices and ignored the booking discounts. Both are 2 week cruises. For 2024 cruise, my DV cabin is $1100 more today and is showing no booking discount; only 4 cabins available. For 2025, the price is $1300 more and no booking discounts; only 3 cabins available.

I thought the Sun was sold so that it could nourish the Chinese cruise industry with a product aimed at the Chinese people. Did this ever happen? Did they ever have any passengers? Or was it prevented by China's slow return to "normal" post pandemic?

Unless you have a flight leaving on disembarkation day, you are not eligible for Viking transfers -- not to pick up a car at the airport, not to a hotel at the airport, not even if you are buying the transfer. Folks have tried and been told no. Yes, there are exceptions but they are for pax for whom the only flights of the day leave before Viking can get them there in time (in others a forced overnight).

Viking has a couple of itineraries that leave Barcelona and sail out through the straights of Gibraltar, stopping at a couple of different ports depending on the itinerary. Valencia Spain: (I can't remember; we took cabs to and from our destination) Cartagena, Spain: No shuttle because it is walking distance. Malaga: A bus waiting area next to the Port Authority. Here's a map. It's much more clear this way. The asterisk marks the pick up spot; the arrow points the direction to the ship. Don't be fooled, it was an 8-10 min ride to the ship from the shuttle stop. Viking also has sailings stopping in Ajaccio, Malta, Algiers, Tunis, Casablanca, Cadiz on the schedule -- of which I can report on Algiers (no shuttle).

LOL. Thanks. I guess I should put my glasses on and engage the brain. Advice for pick-up time: Avoid the rush off the ship. Have a leisurely breakfast (in the Restaurant if is open) and aim for 9-9:30am (depending on what time Viking wants you off the ship by then). You will still have to be out of your cabin at the stated time. Think of it this way, you can wait in traffic or you can wait in comfort on the ship. Do let Viking collect as much of your luggage as possible the night before. As I remember the Tilbury terminal, there was lots of walking and a couple of flights of steps. I can't say about elevators because I wasn't paying attention.

The name I've seen mentioned the most from members I trust the most is Addison Lee. As for arrival time, you tell the company what time you want to be at the dock and they will tell you what time they will pick you up. Plan to arrive at least two and a half hours before sailaway time. But not before 11am (because you want to give the early morning flights a chance to clear check in and get on board). If you need to include meal times in your planning (diabetics, pill timing, etc.) On embarkation day, buffet is usually open Noonish to 2pmish, Pool Grill till 3pmish while light sandwiches can be found until dinner in the Living Room bar and complimentary room service 24/7. I don't know Mamsens hours.

Again, welcome to Cruise Critic -- and to the Viking Oceans forum. I'm happy to answer any questions you might have, or at least point you in the right direction. I'm doing Hong Kong to Tokyo (Far Eastern Horizons) in 2025 (roll call). I was supposed to go in 2021 but that was cancelled (even had our airfare fixed), so I've been keeping an eye on things for a while now. Currently, Viking gets to Japan twice a year, when it moves the Orion from its summer home in Alaska to its winter home in Australia/New Zealand. The repositioning is sold in segments such that you will be on the ship with folks who are doing the whole itinerary or just a couple segments including the HK-Tokyo. Add to the mix that Japan was slow to re-open after the pandemic shut down. The bottom line is that there is not a lot of discussion here about the itinerary. (But the best way to generate discussions is by asking questions.) Another caveat is that "best" is a judgement and what is perfect for me might not be your cup of tea. Here is some information to get you started. Since you are new to Viking: FOR VIKING NEWBIES: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2416372-tips-for-new-viking-ocean-cruisers/page/45/ Start with post #1115. Anything earlier is stale information and will just confuse things. This is a list of roll calls. I haven't updated it recently. All of these roll calls include the the Hong Kong-Tokyo segment. Read them all because you never know where you will find helpful information. 2023 FAR EASTERN HORIZONS Hong Kong to Tokyo DATES: April 13 – April 29, 2023 Viking Orion - Far East & Alaska - April 15-May 20, 2023 Grand Pacific Explorer - Vancouver to Auckland - September 17, 2023 Viking Orion October 10, 2023 Far East Horizons (14 day) & SE Asia Horizons (28 day) 2024 Far East and Alaska April 2024 Viking Orion, April 7, 2024, Far East Horizons, Hong Kong -> Tokyo Viking Orion, February-May 2024, Grand Pacific Explorer Viking Orion-Far Eastern Horizons-October 2024-Tokyo to Hong Kong 2025 Auckland-Vancouver, March 7-June 6, 2025 Viking Orion - April 18, 2025 - Bangkok to Tokyo - South East Asia Horizons (29 days) May 2, 2025 -- Far Eastern Horizons -- Hong Kong to Tokyo

That option is not available to me. I think it is because I work with a travel agent. The only thing I can do on the Account page is to change my password. 😒

@shmabbies GREAT THREAD! Thank you for starting it. Very, very helpful information. And thanks to everyone for all the visuals. We need more threads like this one, threads focusing on the things we want to know about the ports.

All the times I've been in Barcelona with Viking, all pre-pandemic, the pick up point was on the esplanade in front of the World Trade Center. So, my question is whether Viking has switched pickup point permanently or are they alternating between the two locations? Maybe folks who have been there in 2023 can tell us their experiences. @Mich3554 is the statue you are referring to the Colon statue?

We are 120 days out today and ours aren't loaded in yet either. 😖 But, then again I don't ask for a preview because I don't want to set my heart on a particular shorex and then learn that it isn't offered on my sailing -- but that's just me. Available to see but not to book. Viking Oceans adheres to its booking schedule. Shorex are loaded into MVJ a few weeks (on rare occasions, a month or more) before booking opens for all to see. Booking then opens category by category. As CDR2001 says, it is possible to obtain a pdf of the shorex but that list is usually a generic list, not the specific list for your sail date.

Viking has just changed the timing on shorex booking, moving the opening day forward by 40 days. They are transitioning to the new timing as we speak. Therefore, currently, we can't tell you how far in advance they are making the information available. It maybe a few months before we figure out what the new timing is supposed to be. We can say that their goal used to be to have the information loaded in around 120 days prior, with the first category opening for booking 107 days prior. 120 days was a goal not a promise. What the new timing will be is unknown at this time. Once all the vendor contracts are signed, the complete list of excursions on offer for your sailing will be loaded into My Viking Journey. They will appear without fanfare or prior notice. MVJ is the only place the official information will be available for your cruise, although Viking can send you a pdf of the generic list if you call/chat to ask.

And, don't leave anything on the bus when you get to Harpa.

No issue with noise if you are aft of the aft elevators. Noise from the disco is more of a problem for those who are on the starboard rooms (odd numbered) that are closest to it (3057 to about 3051).

I can't agree with you more! We sail in May and our shorex have not yet been loaded in. Honestly, they should have had everything loaded in and ready to roll before they made any sort of announcement. I hate being in the middle of this mess.

By the time you two wander off, the rush should have slowed. Demand for down elevators will have slacked, etc. Especially if you use the elevators that are not by the gangway.

Umm, just how much luggage will DH have that two of you can't wheel it off ship when it is time to disembark??? You aren't vacating the cabin. Put it in the closet until you are ready to disembark (out of the way of your steward as they clean the room). But otherwise, you are right there are just some questions that you will have to ask once you are on board.

Turnover day is like any other day on board. Everything runs as normal. Only the faces change. Food service will run its regular hours. The only difference is that some passengers are headed home and new passengers are arriving. Yes, definitely spend the day with your husband; it will give your friends a chance to unpack and settle in -- and nap if necessary. If you do decide to spend the night on shore, let the ship know that you be gone overnight. Also, since you aren't rushing off the ship and don't have to vacate your cabin, consider a late, leisurely breakfast (in the Restaurant if it is open; it will be quieter there). Before you leave for the day, you will have to get a new key card. Talk to Guest Services before you head off the ship for the day (or maybe even the day before). Use the old card to disembark for the day; use the new card to embark later in the day. Beware! The cards look alike. (Put them in different pants pockets -- left off, right on).

You are in luck! My kid sister is doing Bergen to NYC and I just sent her my comments. I'm not editing before posting it; any time I say "you" remeber that I wrote this for my sister. Geiranger -- we took a bus ride up to Mt. Dalsnibba, loved it but it was COLD up there. We booked with 3rd party Geirangerfjord Services for a bus ride up there (no lunch) but the same company also rents two -seater electric cars no windows, no heat -- and you two may get a kick out of driving up up the mountain. Downside: going up there is only fun if you have a clear day and can see all the way back down to the fjord. Regardless, if you are headed up to Dalsnibba, warm layers and warm hats are a must. We also did the tourist boat ride as part of our Dalsnibba tour package. BE ON DECK FOR SAILING in and out of Geiranger. Amazing scenery!!!!!. https://www.geirangerfjord.no/english -- ticket office is on the dock and their buses leave from a small parking lot across the street (you can watch the RO-RO ferry loading and off-loading as you wait) Tromso -- Another fun place. We took this tour and enjoyed it but it has a few negatives: Portals to the Arctic Duration: 4 hours 30 minutes Here are the negatives. 1) We loved the cable car but Tromso socks in frequently so the cable car is weather dependent. We lucked out, the clouds rolled in later in the day. IMHO, find a cab and go on your own if the weather is clear. The view is magnificent. 2). The Polar Museum was interesting but too small to be dragging tour groups through; do it your own (takes a hour or so and depending where you are docked can be walkable. 3) the Arctic Church is one of those enticing bits of architecture that is more rewarding from a distance. If these are the things you want to see, then IMHO, do them on your own. Otherwise, wondering around the town is interesting, especially the blending of old and new architecture. Honningsvåg -- The appeal for us here was the idea that this was as far north as we had ever been or were likely to ever go. We lucked out and had a clear warm day. Best souvenir here is a post card mailed home from the Nordkapp post office. Come prepared with stick on address labels; buy stamps in the gift shop along with postcards. I know that there are ATV trips available but not sure if any go to Nordkapp. Maybe look into motorcycle rentals for a ride to Nordkapp. Landscape here is barren, quite a contrast to what you have already seen as you worked your way north.

There are two versions. One is a shore excursion with the Executive Chef -- a visit to a local market to shop for the ingredients for a meal that you will then assist the chef in preparing. Not offered on every itinerary or sailing. The other is an at-sea day activity where you prepare a meal with the chef and then enjoy it. Usually offered on sailings with multiple at-sea days. Both versions are very limited capacity.

Sadly, no. Not even if you book your cruise after booking has opened for all categories. In 2021-22, there were capacity issues but in most countries/ports these days it is no longer a problem. It is not a game of chance. Most people get what they want. Except on certain excursions with very limited capacity -- Chef's Table, heliocopter rides for example-- adding capacity is not a problem. .