jiminyC_fan

Thank you both. I will check out Allianz, Travel Guard and Nationwise for their coverage. Cancel for any reason is important to us because of health issues for other family members.

Good to know. I know on our river cruise the aft cabins were getting spotty Internet.

Thanks for your thought on the cabin across from the Laundry Room.

Us too - south and west of the HS.

Well how about that! Welcome to CC!

Hey Jiminy C - just joined cruise critic today and I see you are from Littleton CO like us! Small world.

I have checked insuremytrip also for travel insurance.

Small world indeed. We are from the Columbine area.

I got a quote for Viking's insurance but I'm not real pleased with the cancel for any reason. You only get Viking vouchers. I usually compare on Insuremytrip.com and I found companies only offer 75% of cost of trip. What company do most of you use?

Thank you!

Before anyone tells me that it is a vacation and to stay off the computer it is not a luxury for us. Our grandson has severe Epilepsy so it is mandatory for us to stay in contact with the family. I know on the Viking River Cruises the best cabins for the internet were midship. We will probably go with a DV category but trying to figure out the best location for us to get Internet in our cabin. It's a little more private to Face Time in our room. From there, we should be able to figure out which DV 1-4.

Another question is location. We were offered a room directly across from the laundry room. We have done that on prior ocean cruises and won't do it again. Is it bad with Viking?

Thank you for your help!

Great question!

That's crazy because it is being billed as Homelands. You are quite the sleuth, thanks. Maybe I should book another date. It has to be on the Star so I am kind of limited. We are meeting up with a staff member that was on our Viking River cruise and she is now on the Star. She is one of the reasons we want to go back on Viking.

Vineyard View, thanks. I'll search out your reviews.

FFwineOK, are you willing to share with others the names of the tour groups that you have hired for the different ports? We are much like you and like to strike out on our own. We did that in Amsterdam and our experience was superior. Thanks

Vineyard View, I have seen you around CC but I can't remember what cruise you were on. Were you on the Viking Homelands and if so, did you write a review or a blog that I could read?

stretchcruz, that's an awesome savings. I didn't even realize that was even possible. Thank you. The one we used on the River Cruise offered us nothing. Not even shipboard credit, LOL.

Thanks again Dauntless. I didn't know of the other "in a nutshell" tours. I'm sure once I book they will be able to tell me the exact itinerary.

I look forward to your review. You've been most helpful.

I love the sound of Norway in a Nutshell. How would one go about booking it or is it cruise line specific? Thanks!

Thank you Dauntless. Honestly, your post was very enlightening. I really do want to get to Stockholm a bit early to explore so the deviation fee would definitely come into play. Also, if I understand you correctly, you are saying instead of buying the Viking pre/post extension just to book it on our own. When is your cruise? Will you write a review or blog? I would absolutely love to read it. We are looking at May 20, 2017 on the Star.

Thanks to you both. I am always comfortable booking our own tours etc but it's the air thing that is killing me this time. I certainly don't want multiple layovers etc. Good info. Thank you again.

Hi guys, we are not new to travel. I always book everything myself but I am extremely intimidated to book the Viking Homelands and air. From reading here, I understand that the Air Plus is not available for this itinerary. Something to do with Bergen. I am not familiar with Europe at all. We took a Viking Grand European River Cruise but had a travel agent who has since quit the business. It's just something about Europe that scares me to book on my own. Having a Viking Rep waiting for us is quite soothing but without Air Plus we can't pick and chose our flights.

If I booked the air myself can I buy ground transfers from Viking or must we find our way to our own hotel and to the ship on embarkation day? Then the same in reverse.

If I book a pre or post extension, do I get ground transportation with it?

Any advice for a nervous nellie?

I know it sounds funny but I have the brochure in front of me and it distinctly says Eidfjord. I went on Vikings site and saw Flam. Who knows!

Oh no, just compared your itinerary (2016), Fairfield Nana, to ours (2017). We don't have a stop in Flam. They changed it to Eidfjord. Guess I'm off to research that port.

Outstanding! Thank you very much!!

Thank you Dauntless for your very informative post!

Hi guys, another question from me. Is there an opportunity on the Viking Homelands cruise to see the Fjords? Thanks

Now that I'm thinking about it I bet it was a blog. I know there are a few blogs with the maiden voyage but with the hiccups I'd rather read blogs that are after that.

When we took our Viking Grand European River Cruise I bumped into a great review that gave thoughts on the included excursions they took and thoughts of others on their particular cruise. It also addressed optional tours and suggestions on doing things yourself. It proved to be a great asset to me when planning. I am now hoping to find something similar for the Viking Homelands Excursion but coming up empty handed. Does anyone know off hand of a great review with excursion info?

I will be booking soon and am toying with a DV1 or a PV3. The only reason is because it looks like there is more storage in a PV3. Is it worth the extra cash? Also, it looks like DV1 are mainly in the back. I have never cruised the back of any ship but I have heard bad things. Anyone here have experience in a DV1 at the back of a Viking ship? We are not prone to seasickness so that would not be an issue.

Thanks for any help!