Felini

1 hour ago, Peregrina651 said:

 

You can still use Viking for whatever date you choose to fly home WITHOUT using one of their extensions.  Any flight that does not arrive on Day 1 of your Viking package and/or depart on Day Last of your package is called a deviation.  A package may include pre- and/or post-extensions and/or back-to-back sailings.

 

Viking charges $100pp if your flight plan includes a deviation -- one fee per round trip flight plan. Deviations may trigger an increase in fare imposed by the airline. Even the  deviation fee and a possible fare increase is not going to get you to $1045pp.

 

 

Oh ok, this is good to know.  From what I remembered for a past Viking river cruise we had some restrictions on the air side of things.  But of course, my memory might be a bit cloudy from then and it could be from a different cruise/flight package altogether.  More info to consider.  We'll probably make final decisions this weekend.  Thanks as always for all the input.

18 hours ago, Peregrina651 said:

 

For the $1200 that Viking charges for two nights, you can do 3 or 4 nights on your own -- and still cover the cost of the breakfasts and transfers that Viking would have provided.

 

 

We're still weighing out our options.

One driver for our decision is probably that we want to take advantage of the $499 Viking Air cost for the Barcelona to Vegas return flight.  Searching for flights on our own ends up with a minimum of $1045 for a 33 hour flight.  I know if we want to do the flight through Viking, we have to either leave directly from the ship or after an extension through them.

9 minutes ago, CurlerRob said:

Thanks for clarifying - because you're overnight, you have the option to fly as early as you like on disembarkation day, you just have to leave the ship earlier. There's no need for Viking to set an 'earliest flight' time to allow for arrival and docking, and that explains why you have no departure time information.

 

The example I provided has us arriving in Vancouver the same day as disembarkation - hence the warning for us. Cheers. 🍺🥌

Yeah, that makes sense why there wouldnt be any set flight recommedation.  We're now thinking of either going with Viking Air for the flight back which they said would be $499 from Barcelona to Vegas or possibly doing a 2 night extension through Viking, we'll see.

Thanks everyone for all the info.  It was all really helpful.

1 hour ago, CurlerRob said:

Disembarkation will be early on day 2 in Barcelona - specific times will vary with the cruise.

 

Re flight times - again, read the Guest Statement. Just under the itinerary should be information similar to what I've shown below. If you have nothing, it suggests minimal or no restrictions at this time, but I'd suspect something is there ... 🍺🥌

 

Message for Embarkation/Disembarkation
Due to the cruise schedule for this itinerary there are limitations on flight times. If you are arranging your own flights, please be aware of the restrictions below and ensure the criteria is met.

Departure:
Departure flights out of Vancouver, Canada (YVR) must depart no earlier than 11:00 AM on the day of May 14, 2024.

Not sure why but my guest statement doesn't have the disembarkation message that yours has.  I did talk to a Viking agent this morning and she said all off time is by 0930 and if you have an early flight then you'll be able to get off the ship early since we're in port overnight.  She also mentioned its about an hour trip from the ship terminal to the airport so I'd figure the earliest I'd want to make the flight for is 1pm.

11 hours ago, Peregrina651 said:

 

That's not true. Completing the Guest Information Form has no bearing on your access to your Guest Statement.   They are issued even before you make your initial deposit and then each time that there is a change in status -- deposit received, any intermediate payments, final payment, etc. Your Viking Agent should have sent you a copy before you made your deposit so that you could review the details and make sure that the information was correct.

 

The guest statement is, for all intents and purposes, the cover page to the contract guests are entering into with Viking, Booking Terms & Conditions and Passenger Ticket Contract being the fine print.

 

If you booked directly, you might even be able to request/download a copy on MVJ.

Thank you!

I checked back at all the emails I received from Viking and you're right, it was a pdf attached to the first email...I thought it was a copy of the invoice so didn't check it. 

This really helps and I'm glad I clarified the times.  Since we pull into Barcelona the day prior it just says we get into port at 8am and the ship departs port the next day at 5pm.  I'm assuming disembarking will be first thing in the morning but I'll call Viking this weekend to verify disembark and minimum flight times to be sure.

Thanks for all the replies!

2 hours ago, CurlerRob said:

 

Your guest statement for the cruise will have both the detailed itinerary (never firm until it happens, of course) and any flight restrictions - look at page 3 and following. It's not a function of your final payment.

 

If you don't have the statement, you may have booked through a TA - ask them for it. 🍺🥌

25 minutes ago, Peregrina651 said:

 

If you are working with a TA, make it clear  that what your are looking for is the Viking Guest Statement -- as opposed to an invoice from the travel agency.

 

 

 

 

Thinking about this, I realize I probably won't get the guest statement until I complete the traveler information form in MVJ.  Some info is in there from previous river cruises but I need to renew my passport that will be expiring in January so I need to wait for that to complete it.  My partner will be filling in his shortly so I'll check to see if he gets the guest statement when he does.  I did book directly with Viking so if he doesn't get it, I'll call them this weekend.

2 hours ago, Haqdeluxe said:

Last time we did a Viking Mediterranean cruise that ended in Barcelona, it ended in Barcelona! We disembarked in the morning soon after docking and were bused directly to the airport and never actually visited Barcelona. Many that flew home that morning with us that had not been to Barcelona before were really wishing they had extended a day or two to see the city. I would highly recommend doing so if possible.

Yes, this was how it was when I did this itinerary on another cruise line back in 2013...bused directly to the airport after disembarking.  But, on this itinerary, we're in port in Barcelona overnight so we get a whole day here which I'm happy about.  The trade-off is we don't stop in Palma De Mallorca like the cruise in 2013.  My partner has never been to Europe so Im happy we'll be seeing Barcelona on this trip.  We're also doing 2 days pre-cruise in Rome which will be nice for him, too.

1 hour ago, SantaFe1 said:

If there are restrictions on times to schedule flights, Viking will list them on your invoice, after the itinerary.  Here, for example, is what they say about our Alaska trip:

 

Message for Embarkation/Disembarkation
Due to the cruise schedule for this itinerary there are limitations on flight times. If you are arranging your own flights, please be aware of the restrictions below and ensure the criteria is met.
Departure:
Departure flights out of Vancouver, Canada (YVR) must depart no earlier than 11:00 AM on the day of June 9, 2023.

Thanks for the response.

Yeah, I want see if anyone that recently finished this itinerary remembers if they listed what the minimum flight time out of Barcelona should be set for.  We're probably not paying the remainder of the balance 'til next month so I dont think we'll get the actual detailed itinerary until then, but did want to start arranging the flights soon.

Hoping someone can answer this...

We'll be doing the Iconic Mediterranean cruise in January 2023 (Rome to Barcelona) and want to start booking our flights, we're not doing Viking Air.  Trying to figure out an approximate time we should be booking the flight out of Barcelona, just want to make sure we allow ourselves enough time to disembark and get to the airport.  Any advice appreciated.

Mark

Felini, our CC posters have stated this is for everyone. On our Alaska cruise last July, in the daily program it was listed for Mariners, no one was checking. Is the lunch listed in your daily program? That might provide an explanation. Hope others will shed some light on this change. Hope you enjoy your cruise.

Sorry, a bit late to answering this. I didn't purchase an internet package and only briefly checked things like email when in I had coverage in port. +1 day out of the cruise and missing the ship already...haha.

I found out the next day why only certain passengers were allowed in the MDR for embarkation day lunch, it was only for 4 star or higher Mariners. It wasn't listed as such in the Daily Program but according to the front desk, it should've been listed that way.

We all had a nice time (myself and 2 first time cruisers / first time Alaska visitors.) I will say there were a few things that I was disappointed about. I purchased a Bon Voyage package to surprise my partner who was celebrating a Birthday. No balloons during embarkation but got them overnight the 2nd day. Also, I asked that his Birthday be recognized during the last evening of the cruise with our PG reservation (and confirmed this over the phone a couple days before sailing) but instead he got a piece of bday cake on the 3rd evening in our stateroom. Still a nice gesture, though.

Well, checked in and on board the Noordam in Vancouver. We were turned away from the MDR for lunch even though there were people in there dining. Turned away after they checked what rooms we were in. Has the policy changed that only suites can dine there? I'm a previous HAL passenger as well.

Darn, I just got an email saying they're cancelling the Evening at Le Cirque on our Alaska cruise on the Noordam. :(

A type C will work just fine in an F. If you google 'gain extra outlets cruise' you'll find the first post has an explanation of a few options.

Thank you Bill for answering that question. Although they're cheap, I'm glad I don't have to buy a new adapter.

I have a question on the european outlet adapters.

Looking at this outlet chart http://www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/plugs-and-sockets/ and comparing to googled images for Noordam outlets, it looks like the european side is Type F. I have a Type C adapter, will the Type C work?

Any help appreciated.

I have been wearing hiking shoes with my jacket/tie for years due to bad feet and have never been questioned. In the last few years, sneakers with jackets/ties are increasing in number on Gala Nights.

 

Any covered shoes seem to be fine

Thank you very much for answering the footwear question. With limited suitcase real estate, I'm glad I don't have to pack dress shoes.

I asked this a week or so ago and ended up searching out that document. For those that haven't visited HAL's site, here is the info on dress attire for Gala Nights:

"Gala Nights evoke the grand traditions of cruising as guests dress to impress for special events on board, including a five-course gourmet dinner in the Dining Room. For gentlemen, collared shirt and slacks are required in all fine dining restaurants . For ladies, dressy attire is appropriate, dresses skirts and slacks are all acceptable. Formal wear for gentlemen can be pre-ordered for use during your cruise by calling Cruiseline Formalwear at 1-800-551-5091 or (305) 252-6565. For more information please visit cruiselineformal.com. Your formal wear will be in your stateroom when you board"

One thing I asked was about footwear for men if dress shoes were required but I'm assuming any covered footwear will be ok. Anyone know this for sure?

Marakume Udon in Honolulu is one of truly one of a kind... I don't think I've ever seen a place where you can just grab whatever kind of tempura you want to add to your soup noodles (cafeteria ala carte style) anywhere else....

Yep, Marukame is good. The texture of their noodles is really good. I like the chicken there, too. The 2nd location in downtown is nice, don't have to battle to find parking in Waikiki and the lines at the Waikiki location is crazy.

If in Honolulu, another place I'd recommend if looking for ramen is Lucky Belly, also in downtown.

I haven't been on HAL for 10 years so thank you everyone for supplying a wealth of knowledge! Read through all 89 pages and it's an amazing resource.

I'll be on an Alaska itinerary (Noordam) in May and wanted to verify a couple of things...

Gala night dress code for men no longer requires a coat? Just a collared shirt, slacks, and shoes? Are dress shoes required or are tennis/running shoes o.k.?

Nice that non-alcoholic beverages are allowed as carry onboard at all ports but what is the policy on snack foods to munch on in the room like potato chips at the ports?

There are some Hawaii only snacks that I would love take with me to share with my non-Hawaii friends. I usually make it a habit to bring things like boxes of chocolate covered macadamia nuts to give to our room stewards and dining room servers at the end of the cruise as gifts. Would those be allowed to bring on in my luggage?

Mahalo for any help,

Mark

Thank you martincath for the detailed info, it's very helpful in planning our trip. It'll be the first time on a cruise for my companions so want to make sure to maximize their enjoyment.

Trekker, we'll keep an eye out for you!

Oh, thank you for posting this question! We're also flying in on a Saturday at 420p (April 30th) and heading to the Hampton hotel. Answers a lot of questions I had.

This thread has some useful information but it's pretty old so wanted to see if there is any change in any recommendations for the morning of the marathon this year. My cruise disembarks on the morning of marathon day and we're staying overnight in the city. We're staying at the Hampton Downtown and Suites which looks to be about a 1/2 mile away.

*Will it be better to walk to the hotel with our luggage in tow since traffic will probably be a mess?

*If it were you, would you try to do walk-off disembarkation right when they dock (at 7am) to try and get out before the marathon begins at 830? - or - Would you stay on the ship as long as possible and get off around 930am?

*How far away is the starting point of the marathon and approx what time would the bulk of runners be around the cruise ship terminal?

*Any other suggestions that’s not coming to my mind to ask?

Oh, and I wanted to ask another question on a different topic…

Our flight leaves at 6am the next morning, what time should I be leaving the hotel to go to the airport? We’ll be flying out to Las Vegas.

We sailed a Mediterranean itinerary on the Mariner in 2013 and there was never a time we felt anything but welcomed and pampered by the entire staff from beginning to end. If you decide to go with Regent, I think you'll love it.

I love Alaska, too. Have done the southbound itinerary twice and will be doing a round trip from Vancouver in May. It'll be my partner and his sisters' first time in on a cruise and in Alaska so really excited about this upcoming sailing.

Have a great time!

Just thought I'd bump this since the time we shove off is getting nearer.

Like RMorningglory said, most, if not all tours and general activities here are pretty low key and gay friendly. I've lived on Oahu my entire life and my late partner and I have never experienced anything otherwise.

Activity-wise, it just really depends on what king of things you're interested in.

Since you'll be in port on Oahu for the entire day/evening, renting a car and driving to the north shore for the day would be nice. It's still winter surf season here so there may be big waves to see if you're into that. Some nice shopping in Haleiwa as well. If you're on that side, I'd recommend eating at one of the shrimp trucks for some garlic shrimp, super good. Go to Giovanni's or Aloha Shrimp.

If you're spending the time in Honolulu, then a walk through Chinatown is always interesting, lots of "flavah" there. Some really good hipster places to eat as well. A tour of the Iolani Palace is always interesting, too.

In Waikiki, the beaches of course but I actually recommend the beach at Ala Moana park. Much less crowded with mostly locals and much easier to get to. If you'll be looking for bars to go to, my first recommendation is Bacchus, older, bearish crowd in general and pretty chill. Hulas of course, nicer bar but more cliquish for sure. In-Between which is a tiny neighborhood karaoke bar but really fun. Or Wang Chung's, small but trendy and sort of hard to find.

Other misc things I'd suggest...

Hike up Diamond head crater.

Sun on Diamond head beach below the lighthouse. Gay sunbathers go there (no longer nude though)

Hike up to the Makapu'u lighthouse (paved uphill walk about 1.5 miles each way)

The Pali Lookout (nice high cliff view looking into the windward side of the island)

Arizona/Mighty Mo if you haven't already.

Byodo-In temple (replica of the 950 year old temple in Uji, Japan)

That's all I can think of at the moment. I see you're already 3 days into your sail, have fun!

My partner and I just reserved a cabin on this cruise, seeing if any other LGBTQ passengers will be on board. My partner's sister will also be on board.

Mark n Mark