Ready to Sail!

At home we eat our main meal at 2ish and just have a light snack later so having a good lunch and then tea later sounds like it sould work well for us.

Yes, I found a couple of shuttle transfer companies we could book with. Will cost more but we are paying Viking $100 for the transfers anyway. Taking public transportation not a great option for us. In our lovely golden (rusty) years we try to keep it as simple and stree free as possible.

Great confirmation. If we can't disembark one day earlier then then this is a good option. I did find one option on Viator for day tour to end in Santiago also. One other thought is to keep our flights and transfer with Viking. After drop off at the airport take a taxi to a local (airport) hotel and then get their shuttle back to airport later in the day. I would assume day rooms can be booked in advance. We have never done this so don't know exactly how it works. Thanks for the helpful reply.

We want to change our flight to a day earlier, not later. Our flight isn't until 11:30 on American on disembarkation day so we are requesting to leave the ship around 6pm day before, take private transfer to the airport arriving 7:30ish. If we get clearance from Viking we will need to change our flight out to one day earlier. We do already have a transfer booked but would just cancel it as it is only good on disembarktion day as you said. Thanks for the information regarding SCL check-in hours.

My understanding is that the hospitality room is not an option for those not using Viking Air. Actually doesn't sound like a great option anyway. If we will just be sitting around in a conference type room all day not much different than sitting at the airport in my opinion.

I was just planning on doing that. I know it is often suggested on this site as getting the most correct response/answer. Still would like to hear from others who did this. With airports only offering late night flights seems like a good option if an overnight port. Thanks again.

No problem and thanks for your opinion. I am guessing it would be OK but will wait until I hear from anyone else who has done this at this port. Of course will confirm with Viking before I change my already booked flights. Seems like there are plenty of options for transfers to Santiago airport.

No, as I said we are in final port with overnight before disembarkation. We just want to leave the ship the afternoon prior.

We have an overnight in Valparaiso before disembarkation. We are booking our own air and most all flights leave late evening which means having a very very long day at Santiago airport. Have thought of several alternative plans. Simpliest would be to disembark late afternoon prior day and arrange private transfer to the airport. Do we need OK from Viking or can we just inform them of our plans? There must be previous cruisers who have faced this situation. Second choice might be to find a private excursion on disembarkation day which would end at the airport later in the day. I have seen this at other ports but can't seem to find anything on Viator. Third would be to arrange our own transfer and book a day room at a hotel near the airport. There is no way we will sit around an airport for 12 or more hours. Thanks for any input or suggestions.

Our first cruise was a port everyday so probably used more than we realized. Our next cruise is more at sea/scenic sailing days than ports so I'm sure we will be more aware of activity. Wedding venue does sound lovely. We do plan on participating in the afternoon tea a few times, especially since I've seen pictures showing macarons. Would love to see them in the WC or at the LR bar.

We’ve only done one Viking cruise(2 are booked). I don’t remember anything besides afternoon tea happening there. Such a lovely space seems like a waste not to utilize more. I assume it is always open to just to sit and relax. Did we miss anything?

Should add we walked everywhere but had 3 full days. Our hotel was near the Castle and St. Giles. At 80 and 85, we went out for half days with rest time for a few hours back at hotel midday.🤪

That would certainly be a ways to the Mile for those with any mobility issues. Might be easier to take a taxi from the pier to the top of the mile and go from there, especially if visiting the Castle.

Does further mean closer to the Royal Mile? It is a pretty good uphill walk from the Square to the Mile. We stayed just off the Mile and did walk down Colburn St. one day to New Town but other wise everything we did was based on or near the Mile. I would hope there is a drop off closer than the Square.

Well it’s a lovely country with lovely people and we enjoyed it all, no matter the weather!

We must have eaten it 6 of our 12 nights and definately some we liked better than others but none we didn't like! Best was in St. Andrews at our hotel/pub restaurant. If you are going to SA I will send you the name. One of the highlights of the trip was walking the Old Course. Also, hope you have a up close encounter with a cute Hairy Coo! Looks like you are making the most of every port. Great pictures. Thanks for sharing.

We have been following along as we just booked this cruise for 2025. We returned a week ago from 12 days independent trip to Scotland and loved it. You were very lucky today weather wise. We were in the Highlands for 3 days including Isle of Skye and weather was a real mixed bag of showers and sun but strong winds, especially Skye. Question: Have they served Sticky Toffee Pudding in either WC or Restaurant so far? I'm addicted! We look forward to the rest of your stops.

We were in 3041 on the Star and loved it. No noise at all. Great as you can quicky go down one flight and be out on the promenade deck. Go quicky up in the elevators to Explorers lounge and Mamsem's. Our next cruise is in 3042.

We will be in 3042. Less foot traffic, open sitting area nice to just relax close to “home”. To us best DV deck. On our 1st cruise I accidentally put my cell phone in the washer 1st day leaving Athens. Staff got me a big bag of rice but didn’t work. Good my husband had one to get us through. Senior moment!!

I agree with your husband and that was my concern, not noise.

Well, we really appreciate all the input about this location. But, after a lot of thought decided to go back to a DV on deck 3. Couldn’t get a Starboard but will check often and one may open up. We just decided the PV category wasn’t worth the extra 5K+ to us. We loved being on Deck 3 on our 1st Viking cruise so have moved back to what is familiar and comfortable. We are just back from forward stairs so quick run down one flight and out onto the promenade. Thanks again.

I love being up early to look out with dawn on the horizon to see the twinkle of lights as we slowly approach a new destination. Going up to the Explorer’s a good idea. Thanks.

Sorry, I guess my wording wasn't very clear. Yes, my understanding is that this cabin has a door, not a slider. We have never had a door so would like to try. Choices (very few) on port side are all further forward. There is only port side cabins left on all decks. I like the land side to better see approach to the ports when its early in the moring. No big deal really, and I'm sure location is find. (and yes, I know I can see on TV) We were in 3041 last cruise which is really close to elevators and no noise issues. When I said we moved up I meant we did when we took 5031, from a DV on deck 3.

We just switched our sailing for next February SA cruise. There were very few cabins left on starboard which we wanted so not much choice. We are in 5031. We do like being near the elevators but usually choose a cabin a few doors away. From the deckplan it looks like 5031 is directly across from the entry into the ellevators/stairs. Probably not much we can do if we want to stay on starboard but just curious. Otherwise, happy to move up and try a PV and a door instead of a slider as we have never had one, only sliders. My husband thinks I worry too much abouth trivial matters and he's right but what can I do? It's me! Thanks for any input.

Oops, accidentally posted twice this twice and couldn’t edit it out. Sorry.