LadyVol1

I admit right now I have done absolutely no research since I don’t cruise until February, 2026 and have several new ports between now and then that I need to focus on.
 

I have been to Honolulu multiple times on cruise ships. Should we rent a car to get from the Aloha Tower to Pearl Harbor or is there a public bus or ??

This is cabana pricing for the Nieuw Amsterdam, effective October 1, 2023. My guess would be that it is applicable to the other ships, too, for a Retreat cabana. 
 

I don’t understand why HAL is now making a cabana price sheet per ship. I asked for the others but never got a response. 
 

I also submitted this to halfacts. 

HAL_2023_NA_Cabanas.pdf

20 minutes ago, gmbhardy said:

$200.00 per cabin.

Thanks. I’ll book it now. 

On 4/19/2022 at 10:16 AM, ashank1m said:

If my memory serves me right, $50 for inside/window; $75 or $100 for Bal; $200 for YC.  And gets double the points.

ashank1m - If booking onboard do you think the OBC is per person or per cabin? 

I'm trying to decide whether to book my YC now using Black Friday ($200 per cabin) or wait until December when I'm onboard.  I have the YC booking "held" so I'm in no danger of losing the cabin.

On 11/6/2022 at 1:18 PM, gmbhardy said:

Every time we book on board (YC) we receive $200 in OBC. 

gmbhardy - I'm trying to figure out whether to take advantage of Black Friday ($200 per YC cabin) and book now or book onboard Dec. 1.  Did you get $200 pp or $200 per YC cabin when you booked onboard? (I have my YC booking on hold for a week so I won't lose it.)

16 hours ago, emileg said:

With 47 cruises over as many years, we have managed to bypass cruise-line arranged air. And this is for all the reasons that have been mentioned above.

 

We play the points game by having numerous credit cards that allow us to accumulate enough mileage in a year to typically have two or more round-trip international business class flights for both of us. The trick is to charge every single thing on a credit card. Yes, the premium cards can be pricey, but the rewards far outweigh the annual fees. And if you own your own business, or are self-employed, and use the cards for business expenses, these fees are tax deductible.

 

Some credit cards give you five points per dollar for airfare. Some five points per dollar for cellular and cable companies, as well as office supply stores where you can purchase gift cards for other online and brick and mortar retailers. Other cards give you four points for groceries and restaurants. Still other provide three points for any travel-related expense including taxis, tolls and parking, among others. Then there are cards that give you 1.5 to 2 points for everything else, such as insurance.

 

Of course, you have to be able to pay your bill in full each month. Otherwise, the finance charges will far outweigh the savings. Since I most likely not permitted to mention where I learned all these methods, just google in one search individual words like "the", and "points", and "guy."

I always arrange our air using miles but because I stupidly booked the October Octantis cruise “late” (in April) after Polaris was cancelled, good award flights were gone and since Viking emailed that business class air was included we went with it. What a mistake. 🤦‍♀️

7 hours ago, Harrietq said:

Last Winter, we experienced the same issues and finally, in exasperation, booked additional days in BA just to be sure. We ended up canceling due to Omicron and our aversion to an Argentinian quarantine, plus the details that emerged about the pecking order for excursions that not only went by cabin class (okay, we get that about Viking) but also by some pax being “more equal” than others. We’re blowing the vouchers on a Japan trip next year (we hope), booked Antarctica with Nat Geo and will finish up our business with Viking after Japan.

 

We’ve tried and tried, there are many things we like about Viking, but the accumulated negatives have beaten us into the ground. Please, oh please, let Japan be open by next year. . .

 

I hope you have a wonderful trip despite the Big V jerking you around. We feel and know your pain.

It’s our own fault. Well, mine since I told my husband we were going!  The Arctic to Antarctica itinerary was going to be great and when that was cancelled in April I immediately jumped on this one. Stupid, stupid, stupid. 
 

Our two other Viking experiences have been less than stellar so like I said, I should have known. 
 

I should have just taken the Polaris cash refund but instead I used that money (not FCC) to book this cruise. 🤦‍♀️
 

We are supposed to be business class and have it in writing but Viking is saying only economy class is available from BA to the US. NEVER AGAIN. We’ll see if we’re on the Octantis in October. 

1 hour ago, greyarea53 said:

We disembark in Ushuaia 11/22/22 and I was unable to ascertain at what time with Viking rep. The flight to Buenos Aries is a charter flight. It takes 3.5 hrs to BA and our return flight is 11.30pm. We were considering a night in BA as we could expect 6+ hours in the BA airport which we are not prepared to experience. Has anyone any knowledge as to when the charter flight leaves Ushuaia as it seems Viking has a special secret office that arranges the charter flights and tells no one. 

I'm so "done" with Viking and its super secret info (and other frustrations).  Seriously.  We're on this same cruise (10/13/22-11/22/22) and getting info is like pulling teeth.  After spending 115 days total on Viking ships, this will be our last Viking booking. It's just too irritating. Here's hoping this is a good experience once we're ON Octantis. 

For what it's worth, our flight from EZE is at 10:05PM and the Viking Air rep told me the instructions specified that any flight from EZE after 10AM would work! I made sure to clarify/repeat "AM" and "PM" and she was adamant that a flight from EZE after 10AM was allowed for this itinerary.

1 hour ago, bkh62 said:

They are being used on Octantis this week on the Great Lakes.

bkh62 - If you’re on Octantis right now, could you please post a full copy of the daily program? If possible, a sea day version and a port day version would be appreciated but anything is better than what I have (nothing 😉). Thanks. 

20 minutes ago, Fropa said:

 

Thanks for the responses. LadyVol1 that would be heartbreaking to think you going to do a jump into the Southern Ocean and then be told you were just jumping into the pool.

Since I get hives when I get cold I wasn't going to do it but I guess some people were miffed.  However, I don't ever recall seeing it stated in any of the Seabourn literature that passengers could jump in the water.  Had I seen that, I probably would have told my husband he needed to do it!

6 hours ago, Fropa said:

I'm looking at possibly booking with Viking for Antarctica in January 2023. A polar plunge in the itinerary is important to me, but I can't find anything that says if they try to include one. Anyone travel with them this last season that knows for sure? Thanks.

I know you’re asking about Viking but when we did Antarctica with Seabourn the polar plunge was in the swimming pool with ice added. They said “liability” when asked if we could do it for real. Just another data point for you. 

If someone is on Octantis right now, could you please post the entire daily program for a sea day (or take screen shots if it’s only online)? Thanks in advance. 

1 hour ago, electro said:

This is from a letter received from HAL, I got one for Vancouver and one for Montreal. They both say the same thing, Unless they change it before your cruise, you will be on your on for testing.

 

IMPORTANT NOTIFICATION Please be advised that due to circumstances beyond our control, we regret that we are unable to provide disembarkation testing in Vancouver, British Columbia for guests who require a negative COVID-19 test for their onward travels. For guests flying home on the day of disembarkation, we recommend utilizing the testing facilities at Vancouver International Airport (YVR). For more information regarding locations, pricing, and reservations, please visit: https://www.yvr.ca/en/passengers/travel-planning/takecare/covid-19-testing. For additional information about testing locations in and around Vancouver, please visit https://*****/3KD1rig.

Thank you very much. The Holland America website was updated May 19, 2022 but they don’t indicate what was updated. I was hoping the complimentary test section was what was updated.🤷‍♀️

8 minutes ago, electro said:

Where are you cruising? Hal is not providing testing for same day flights back to the US from Canada.

This is per the HAL website when you click on Canada and US cruises. I’m trying to figure this out since I have a September Koningsdam cruise that ends in Vancouver. 23 hours after the 7 AM disembarkation I have a flight to the US. I’ve called Seattle to see if they will give me a test since the website clearly indicates that Holland America will, but Seattle can’t figure it out either!

1 hour ago, Ready2go11 said:

The tests are I mentioned seeing the night before disembarkation were people doing their own via a live video chat through a service like Rapid Test and Trace. I personally did not see, or hear of any HAL options (or that were free). 

Thanks. Since I can’t get a definitive answer from HAL Seattle, I’m just going by the HAL website: “For all other cruises where a guest requires a COVID-19 test to return home and can provide proof of flight within 24 hours, Holland America line will provide a complimentary test.”

33 minutes ago, Ready2go11 said:

Others with early flights and testing requirement time constraints would not have had the time.  

Was HAL giving free Covid tests on disembarkation morning for those with flights home (like back to the US) that were scheduled to leave within 24 hours of disembarkation?  Or were the free HAL tests for those with flights within 24 hours of disembarkation given the day before disembarkation?

1 minute ago, Ready2go11 said:

We did not have wine stewards. We ordered dinner beverages from our main waiter. They were usually then delivered by another server. Since The Pinnacle Grill was closed the last 3 nights of the sailing, those waiters were assigned to the main dining room and we saw them delivering alcoholic beverages. 
 

Our bed sheets were not automatically changed during the 9 day cruise; however a request for a change worked. 

Thanks. I had been told that the wine steward position had been eliminated by corporate but found that hard to believe since the waiters had little wine knowledge but I guess it’s true! The cellar master told me he was trying to train the waitstaff on wines but that it was very hard.  On the Eurodam we had a difficult time getting second pours since our waiter was so busy with food. 
 

I spoke to the Housekeeping Manager (?) at a Eurodam Mariner’s reception and he didn’t know about the 7-day sheet policy yet our room steward told us he had been instructed to change them every 7 days vs. 3. I doubt the room steward had misunderstood his orders….

When I was on the 20-day Eurodam Panama Canal cruise in April, there were no wine stewards on board and bed sheets were changed weekly instead of every three days. There was one cellar master in the dining room but the waiter was responsible for ALL beverages. What’s the status of dinner drinks and bed sheets on the Zaandam? Thank you!

Thanks! Based on your limited interaction, does the fitness instructor seem competent? Maybe you have seen him or her lead classes. I have had good ones on HAL and I have had ones where they simply write the instructions on the flip chart and stand around!

If someone could go to the Fitness Center and take a photo of the biographies/resumes of the fitness instructors I would appreciate it.  They are usually displayed on the desk IN the gym or else posted on a wall outside the gym. 

I'm happy to see several "sweaty" classes offered and I'm guessing there are two instructors onboard given the number of classes listed in the When & Where. Thanks in advance.

Janet

Sunflower & The Scientist - I don’t know your UV answer. We live in Lee’s Summit. I would love it if you would email me a copy of a sea day daily program and take a photo of the non-treadmill cardio equipment in the gym in August. (Does each piece have a tv with it?) I’m interested in free “sweaty” fitness classes (if there are any) and the daily program should show this. Thanks in advance! janet AT haskett DOT org

18 minutes ago, Heidi13 said:

 

Since Viking cancelled the cruise, hopefully you were also provided the option of a full refund, or the 110% FCV

Yes, we can get a full refund, but I booked the cruise so early that even getting the 10% additional future cruise credit will not make up for the increased cruise fare on a new booking. I am hoping they will do a price protection towards the October 2022 Octantis New York to Ushuaia cruise.

FYI. My husband and I just received emails from Viking saying that the Viking Polaris Tromsø to Ushuaia (9/21/22-11/3/22) cruise has been canceled because the Polaris build is behind schedule due to Covid. 🤦‍♀️

The 110% in future cruise credit offer is a joke considering it has to be used by the end of 2023. We have our travel schedule booked through May, 2024 since we plan our trips ahead. In fact, we booked this cruise on September 14, 2020. 

Anyway, this is a heads up. If you booked the Polaris, check your email.

10 hours ago, secretcinderella said:

"Due to operational changes, the Churchill on the Hudson Bay extension is no longer available. We apologize for any inconvenience this change may cause. A full refund for the canceled extension will be credited to your original form of payment within the next 20 business days."

 

That was it.  No idea if it was due to not reaching a minimum number of participants or tour operator issues.  Regardless, the results are the same.  Yes, we were very disappointed after having planned this for 2 years.  But we have plenty of company in that boat due to the last few years. 

 

Thanks,

Cindy 

Cindy - For what it’s worth, my husband and I did Oct. 30-Nov. 7, 2019: Natural Habitat Adventures’ Classic Polar Bear tour in Winnipeg and Churchill, Canada and loved it. We like MUCH longer tours (and cruises) but we both agreed that this short tour was just the right length and highly recommend it. Email me if you want more info. 
 

Janet

janet AT haskett DOT org

I just found this board today and haven’t had a chance to read all the posts. I’m on the Viking Polaris “From the Arctic to Antarctica” 9/21/22-11/3/22 roll call.
 

If someone could post a Viking Octantis sea day “daily program” that would be appreciated. Thanks a lot.