ssawjo

6 hours ago, Ready to Sail! said:

We've never had a problem like that but once we left from the NYC port going north and there was another cruise ship in dock going south.  They put another couples luggage that was suppose to be on our ship on the other ship. So, yes, things can happen. We always travel with at least one change of cloths, undies and usually a extra pair of shoes in our carry ons.  

Happened in San Pedro with Princess.  One lady's taxi driver dropped her off at the wrong ship and she gave the porters her luggage.  She then checked in for the correct ship (really not sure how that happened) but then found out, because she didn't get her luggage, that her luggage was bound for Hawaii and we were headed for the Panama Canal.  Our first stop was Cabo and she went shopping.  I don't know what happened later.

Thank you for your very inclusive review.

Well, I guess I will pay up but we will pay with an ACH.  At least save a few dollars.

Thanks everyone for their insightful comments.

Bill

16 minutes ago, millybess said:

Hi Bill.  You might find some helpful information in this thread:

 

Thank you, it was very informative.  But still...

We booked a cruise on Viking Orion, South Pacific Sojourn, leaving Syndey on March 30, 2026.  I was informed by my TA that final payment is due on February 15, 2025!  I find this date to be remarkably early.  Other cruise lines that I have been on are, at most, 120 days out for final payment.  Granted, this will be our first cruise on Viking, and we are looking forward to it.  

Question:  Is this Viking's usual method for payment?  And is there any way to have the final payment pushed back a few months?  This is a long time for them to have our money and, if we need to cancel, that is a lot to get back in a reasonable amount of time.  The cruise seems to be selling well, so would that be a reason?

Thanks, Bill

We will be embarking in Syndey on the Viking Orion.  Would Viking frown if I bring onboard a case or two of excellent Australian or New Zealand wines and beer?  Just curious.

2 minutes ago, duquephart said:

 

5. Take completed drink to bar.

6. Purchase more as needed.

That is a better idea.  Did not know that would be allowed.  Definitely frowned upon on other cruise lines.  We will doing our first Viking Ocean next year, that is why I am asking.  Would like to avoid buying a drink package if the cost of a cocktail is reasonable.  Thanks.

2 minutes ago, duquephart said:

 

1. Take a bottle of gin out of your frig and pour into a glass with some ice from your ice bucket.

2. Take a bottle of tonic out of your frig and add to step 1.

3. Squeeze in a piece of lime you got from a bar/room service/etc.

4. Enjoy.

Great idea but we also like to sit at a bar and meet fellow guests and chit chat with the bartenders.  

Thank you for your blog.  Very informative.  I will be a first time Viking cruiser next year.

12 hours ago, CurlerRob said:

 

No, but you will find the drinks, in general, are substantially less than Oceania. $6.50 beer, $8.00 glass of wine (USD with gratuity included). Consider it a full-time happy hour. 🥌🍺

Thanks, that looks pretty reasonable for sure.  What about a gin and tonic? We usually have them before dinner.

New to Viking, and I am curious if Viking has a Happy Hour like Oceania?  Thanks.

Today is also National Store Brought Cookie Day.  Examples are Oreos, Chips Ahoy, and, apparently, Nutter Butter is a winner on our local TV station.

Question:  Is there a Happy Hour on VO cruises?

Today is also National Jerky Day.  In case, you are a lover of jerky.

14 minutes ago, Eloise4Ever said:

I'm lying on a day bed on the Vista pool deck and a guest approaches a pool attendant and asks him "How early do I need to get here in the morning to get a sunbed?". The attendant tells him no need to worry about that, he can reserve chairs for him. The guest is surprised but delighted. The attendant asks where he'd like the chairs to be reserved and the guest picks out his preferred spot. Attendant takes guests name and says he's going off to make a note. Handshakes were exchanged but I'm not sure if money changed hands. 

You'll have to follow up on this tomorrow and see what happened and report back!

1 hour ago, jenf22 said:

You think you could get them to schedule an Iceland/Greenland TSE cruise for 2026?  Please?? 🙂  I think our plan for 2026 is to try and be in Reykjavik for the eclipse.  I was really hoping to see Greenland while we're in the area (ideally before the eclipse so the kiddo can start school on time in mid-August).  I'm hoping maybe NCL will have something once they get around to releasing their itineraries.

 

We were fortunate enough to be able to drive to Nebraska in 2017 and then Texas last month.

Cunard has a cruise from Southampton to New York City that overnights in Reykjavik on August 12.  Just an FYI.

2 hours ago, phabric said:

My agent booked a BC cabin this morning.  I was checking and saw some cabins were now available.  My deck now only has Reserve guarantee cabins.
 

With the cruise selling so well this morning, Princess has increased the price.  My cruise fare has gone up by $825 more in just a few hours.

That's what's called highway robbery!

2 minutes ago, phabric said:

Next time, book yourself online then you have 60 days to transfer to your agent.  You have to fill in a transfer form and send to Princess.  My agent fills in her portion, emails me it, I sign and send back to her and she sends to Princess.

 

Keep looking on Princess site,  some people might cancel

I would have booked it myself online IF I had known this was going to happen.  I have transferred the booking to my TA in the past.  I do agree that people will likely cancel for one reason or another.  I will get on the waitlist (I need two cabins) asap.  

I am really upset about this cruise being sold out already!  I was under the impression that it was not open for bookings until May 22 at the earliest for elites.  Unfortunately, my travel agent is traveling and wouldn't return until May 21.  We were on the Emerald TSE cruise and wanted to do it again.  I will attempt to get on a waitlist somehow and hope for the best.  Of course, the cruise is over two years away.  Cunard has a similar cruise out of Southampton but I don't like their over-the-top formality.  Maybe another cruise line will offer something similar.  

13 hours ago, GK95 said:

Was so excited about this and almost had our travel agent on standby and then realized that that’s around the time our youngest will be starting college. So we can’t go 😭 Will have to hope to do a river cruise for the 2027 eclipse in Egypt.

That would be a very interesting alternative to an ocean cruise.  Love Egypt.  I may think about that also!

8 minutes ago, bladerunner6 said:

The point of a TSE cruise is to be mobile.  My assumption is that eventually Cunard will come to understand that and make it a sea day for the eclipse.

 

That being said, here is some info on the weather prospects for Iceland.

 

https://weatherspark.com/d/31501/8/12/Average-Weather-on-August-12-in-Reykjavík-Iceland

 

I am not giving advice to anyone but I personally would avoid Iceland.

 

We were in Iceland two years ago in August and I was never so cold.  Did not see the sun the entire time we were there!  Hopefully, August 12 is a sea day with Princess.  The exact itinerary hasn't been released yet as far as I know.  Thanks for your response.

21 hours ago, phabric said:

I plan on booking this cruise, normally I would book when Elite opens up.
 

My agency has a  Princess 3 day usually Thursday-Saturday the first week of June with $$$ OBC. I was hoping to book at that time to the extra OBC but now with everyone says it might sell out before the agency’s sale in 10 days later.

 

 

Sorry, I forgot to add Punta Arenas in Costa Rica as a port stop.

9 hours ago, bladerunner6 said:

While I am thinking about this eclipse like many others, it should be noted that this is a particularly tough one.  Aside from much of the eclipse being out in the North Atlantic it is relatively low in the sky and is descending as the eclipse progresses.

 

 

Bladerunner, based on chart for the upcoming TSE, would you or do you think a cruise out of Iceland would be better to view the eclipse? Cunard has one leaving Southampton and ending in New York, via Iceland and Greenland, and will be in Reykjavik the day of the TSE.  Just curious.

Thanks.

19 minutes ago, phabric said:

What ports did you visit?

LA, Cabo, viewed the TSE, Huatulco, transited the Panama Canal (new locks), Cartagena, Grand Cayman, and Ft. Lauderdale.

6 minutes ago, phabric said:

What did Princess do to make it an amazing cruise beside what they normally do on a cruise?  I have taken 30 cruises with Princess.

 

It is the weather -heat/humid in August in Europe , I am thinking about.

Princess made it possible to view the TSE, along with Discovery, in the ocean directly in the path of the TSE.  It took a lot of planning, from what I was told by some folks involved, including the ship captain.  They also provided special glasses in order to view the eclipse.  

Agree that weather is always the X factor in these situations.  We, fortunately, had excellent viewing weather.  In Europe, who knows.