eddieg07410

Does Viking offer a photography tour of Iceland where a professional photographer guides you when shooting landscapes?

I mean when in places I intend to take pictures, people, buildings, etc.

I meant securing my camera while on site not while traveling.

We will be going to Italy and Greece on a Viking ocean cruise in 2025. I have some very expensive camera equipment which includes two lenses, a tripod, and camera. I was wondering what is the best way to secure this equipment so it lower the risk of it being stolen.

37 minutes ago, rmalbers said:

OP: One thing you need to say, do you want to be in hotel in the middle of the action or a place in a quiet area,  by small bars, etc. away from it, (or I guess in between would be an option).  There are so many places to stay that you have to narrow it down a little.  Also, I think it's been said, you do NOT want to carry/roll luggage around at all in Venice.

I would say close to the main sites.

We just booked a meditteranean cruise that starts in Venice. We would like to hear recommendations for hotels moderately priced that are 4 stars, offer breakfast, and is a good location. Thank you in advance.

6 hours ago, TayanaLorna said:

In 2020 traveled on a cruise from Valparaiso, Chile to Buenas Aires, Argentina including a pre cruise stay on our own in Santiago during the social unrest and protests in that capital that year.  No problem.  We just avoided the city center at night as the marches usually began at 9 pm.  Traveled on the cruise from Valparaiso to Puerto Montt, Punta Arenas, Ushuaia, Around Cape Horn, The Falklands, Puerto Madryn, Montevideo and ending in Buenos Aires.  Excellent cruise.  We were 70 at the time.

 

This year we cruised from San Juan, PR through some Caribbean islands to French Guiana and then up the Amazon River to Manaus, Brazil.  Then we spent another week traveling further up the Amazon on a riverboat and then staying in Manaus.  No problem with safety.

 

We take normal precautions when traveling - aware of our surroundings, no jewelry, no wallets in back pockets etc.  We live in Puerto Rico and don't want to travel to the US for safety reasons and feel that the US is at the first stage of social and political breakdown.

Can't argue with you there.

Se have never cruise South America but are considering the eastern coast. We are in our seventies, able to walk about a mile or two per excursion. I have some medical condition that is mostly under control, but you never know and could need some emergency care if things go south. I'd rather avoid Brazil and Argentina as I question the safety of those areas but was thinking of Chile and Uruguay for our first South American cruise. What do you think?

With the requirements that ship have to dock far away from Venice, the traveling time, and hotel costs to stay overnight, is going to Venice worthwhile on Viking or would you recommend another Line?

We have a Fall cruise set up for the Mediterran in October. One of the key features of thiS cruise is that we will spend multiple days in Venice. But recently I read a horrible review of their Viking experience in Venice and wanted to get more opinions before making a final decision. We have only two weeks to decide if we want to cancel this cruise.

While on the Viking Orion we booked a River cruise from North France to Southern France. The itinerary was perfect. However, the cheaper cabin sizes has me concerned. Unless we upgrade to a veranda at a couple of thousand more for the two of us the cabins seem very tiny and uncomfortable. We were wondering if there are River cruise lines that have a similar itinerary but offer larger cabins at more reasonable prices. Widow or veranda means less to us than cabin size. Also, we would like most of the perks Viking includes as well, great food, free Wi-Fi, lectures, etc.

12 hours ago, miller1327 said:

On the Orion in Christchurch today and heading north toward Auckland. The Captain just announced he plan. We will stop in Wellington as scheduled tomorrow. Napier and Tauranga are cancelled and we will now go up the west side of the country instead of East. At this point, he is suggesting arrival in Auckland, going behind the storm, on schedule on the 15th to leave the ship on the 16th. Of course all subject to change. 

How rough are the waters?

Been reading the forecasts as we are scheduled to leave on 2/18 from Auckland. With the impending cyclone schedule to arrive this Sunday I imagine there will be many ports canceled, flight disruptions, and perhaps ship cancelations. I would like to hear from passengers currently on ships head to/from New Zealand and those that have upcoming cruises as to what Viking is planning.

Even more help to me would be the carbohydrate listing for the foods. Do you know if such a list is available.

11 minutes ago, katlew said:

I remember in the restaurant there was always a no sugar dessert option.

I did this but was wondering what the low carb desserts were. Often the no sugar desserts are worse for diabetics and have as many carbs as their sugar counterparts.

Does Viking serve any low carb or low calorie desserts for diabetics, besides fruit?

On 1/22/2023 at 2:38 AM, cruiseaholic78 said:

We did the same spent ages going back and forth trying to do this, gave up in the end.

When on the ship we recvd a link for an online form we had to fill in which generated a Q code which we then had on our phones and we were also given a paper form to fill in.

So armed with Q code copy of passport (always have one with you, also useful to get senior deductions for museums etc) yellow book we went through to leave the ship for a wander. They only looked at the Q code and and we were good to go, not sure what happened with the form though.

That said we do have the Yellow book showing all our vaccinations.

Many on our roll call said they had also tried and given up!

Happy planning

Rosalyn

Thanks, very helpful.

We are looking for a one way cruise either to NY or from New York to Iceland. We would like a 14 day to to 18 day cruise.  Actually we are not just interested in price but food quality and service are also important to us.

We have tried to complete the vaccination app for Indonesia but have been unsuccessful. Does anyone know how important completing this app is before we board the ship. Also, is this something the service department on the ship can assist with?

Called Viking today and rep read me an official statement by Viking. It is indicated that the anti scaling should take place the next few days and that all future NZ cruises should be unaffected by the issue.

My wife received a message in another site that three ports have been cut off limits to the Orion because of a dirty hull. We are on the mid February cruise of New Zealand and Australia and was wondering if this issue is likely to be cleaned up before we set sail. The ports that we would miss are very important to us.

1 hour ago, icat2000 said:

I've never been to Steve Irwin Zoo - doesn't interest me cause I dont like crocs.

 

Here the link to Melbourne Zoo - https://www.zoo.org.au/melbourne/ 

 

https://www.shrine.org.au/

 

https://whatson.melbourne.vic.gov.au/search/from-2023-02-01+to-2023-02-28 That what happening in Melbourne in February.

How much would a cab ride cost to the zoo? And how much is admission?

21 hours ago, icat2000 said:

Maybe go to the Melbourne Zoo. That easy to get to from the port to do by yourself. Catch the tram into the city and change onto another tram and it stops outside Zoo. When are you going to Melbourne. Depends on what month cause certain months there be plenty of stuff to do.

 

Or you can go to Fed Square. Art Gallery across the road. Plenty restuarants along the Yarra River. Take a cruise up the River.  Botantical Gardens just down the road from Art Gallery along with Shrine of Rememberance.

We are going to be there late February 2023. We already have plans to visit the Steve Irwin zoo. Is this one worth seeing as well.

 

8 hours ago, arxcards said:

Rarely, and I do mean rarely, a cruise will call at Cowes, Phillip Island. They are able to have a late departure for the penguin parade, with only a short cruise to Melbourne overnight. We have been on a cruise that called there, and several hundred were on buses to see the penguins. 

 

From Melbourne, not possible. For Koalas though, check out Healesville Sanctuary. That is doable.

https://www.zoo.org.au/healesville/

I saw comments that the zoo was not so special. Most of the animals are asleep and not very visible. Any other recommendations for Melbourne as we will be their a long time.

I have seen a number of excursions to these sites but none that leave from cruise port.