MikeyB

Hey Sleep7, I was by Trader's Joes in Plainview today and I thought I might spot you, but alas you are a home writing another great travel blog. Thanks. In May I did the Capitals of Eastern Europe with Viking. I enjoy reading your observations of some of the things we saw. Now....please continue!

The right and the left?

The Viking Sky leaves on November 17th from Barcelona to Ft Lauderdale.

Viking replied to my inquiry at "Tellus" as to whether I might be subject to a VAT if I purchase the Silver Spirits package in Barcelona where my cruise embarks from. The answer is "yes". Therefore, it makes "cents" to purchase the package on "MVJ" at least one week before your cruise.

Popcorn, anyone?

When I told my doctor of my future trips abroad, he said the CDC(?) allows it to be prescribe now just in case. It was covered without a copay at CVS due to my Part D coverage.

Flytalker- Do you have an opinion on Latam Airlines Economy and Premium Business? Thank you!

This is "priceless". You removed half the auto gratuities after a port talk that mentioned the gratuities and you still express shock about it. And then you criticize someone giving a euro by calling them cheap. But it's good to know that you are "big tippers".

For at least since Viking restarted after Covid, the gratuities are auto added to your bill. I have taken 4 rivers since the restart. A couple of days before the cruise ends during the debarkation talk, the cruise director will explain this. Gratuities are $20 per now. If you prepay on MVJ. If you wait in Europe it's 20 euros. So the exchange rate makes it more expensive. You should have asked about this onboard so it wouldn't have diminished your trip.

Viking does not allow anyone under 18. May I suggest Carnival?

How about that title for getting your attention. But that is not my question. I'm reading on the NCL cruise line board about how Spain recently imposed a VAT while in Spanish waters. (Like the sales tax imposed in US ports). I'm sailing from Barcelona next month and have not seen anything from this board or Viking. Does anyone have any recent experience during their cruise while in Spanish waters when ordering a drink? NCL is passing the tax on to the consumer. Could Viking really be absorbing it? Thanks

Yes! Bob was amazing.. Kept that roll call very active. I did ask about him. Later I saw on line that he was taking two BtB Viking river cruises. He gave me one of those Viking "baskets" on the last day of the sailing. I also take it with me on the Viking cruises. Sort of my good luck charm. On a personal note, I'm sorry I didn't connect with you on board. I kept a very low profile. It was only very late in the cruise that I spoke to Bob.

First, forget where Viking schedules their extensions. A criteria of being centrally located is never considered by Viking. Last year, we stayed in Istanbul for 4 days on our own after a Viking cruise. We stayed at the Hagia Sofia Mansion, a Hilton property. Very centrally located. Their Turkish breakfast was amazing. Uber or something similar is not allowed in Istanbul. There were taxi's in Galataport. You must discuss the fare before leaving. I paid $10 US for a 4.5 mile ride. Going home, I took a cab thru the hotel that went to the Asia side. It was a $35 US ride. You are probably going to the new airport.

Let me try to be helpful. When you go to the "Manage my Air" in My Viking Journey, you view your Air Booking. From here you can preview your seats. If you wish to change your seats, then you must click the tab "change seats" which is below the "Air Booking" and "Preferences" tab. From here you can select or change your seats. It is true what was said above. Your seats can change or disappear completely before ticketing. On one trip with Air France, my seats disappeared 14 times. At about 75 days, your air is ticketed. All that means is that you have to review MVJ on occasion. I have not flown AA thru Viking, but with every other airline, I have been able to view my reservation using the "booking reference number" on the airlines web-site. And I believe I might have changed my seats on the airlines web-site once or twice.

The Port Everglade website says a taxi from the port to airport is about $20. A lot for just a couple of miles. My suggestion- You need to be out of your cabin by 8. I think you have to be off the ship by 10. Download the Lyft app (I find it cheaper than Uber). Take Lyft to the airport. And then invest in a lounge pass till your flight.

I always comment about Viking "Butterflies". It happened to me where I had 4 days on my own in Istanbul. They wanted to call it a Butterfly. I complained and they eventually made it into two cruises. Serves you no purpose. Let's say you have no future cruises now and you book the first cruise 18 months from now. Viking might request your final payment in 6 months (12 months before cruise). The next day you book the second cruise. That cruise final payment should not be 12 months before cruise. It should be 6 months (because you have a future booking). Therefore, calling it one cruise might make you come up with the full payment earlier. Ca-ching

Actually, Refundable OBC is better.

Thank you all!

Hello, Trying to help my sister who wishes to sail on the Equinox in January. It's a 9 night sail with 4 sea days. Does anyone have an opinion on the Sunset Veranda staterooms? Specifically, the cabin is on the Continent deck (6312). Thank you in advance! Mike

I had the same type of situation you have. Two cruises with a gap in between where you are on your own. Viking wanted to call it a "butterfly". I said "no way". I told them that I was on my own and had to arrange my own air to get to the second cruise. Both cruises had free air. This was last year. I told them that I wanted separate bookings in case I needed to go home due to Covid. I also told them that I might just fly home for the couple of days and then fly back. After my insistence, they made it two separate cruises. I don't know why they wanted to combine the cruises. It's not like they have a loyalty program. Anyway, if you cannot do it on MVJ, I would just wait till you board the second cruise and tell the friendly bartender to add SS too your account. They have no way of knowing about your "butterfly".

It's always been a problem that the talking heads of Viking (their agents) can be the worse part of the Viking experience.

My two cents- Call Viking again. If necessary hear it from a supervisor. I was able to get the discount, no reason you shouldn't.

Post Covid, I was in the same situation. I needed to contact Viking. They gave me the discount.

okay.

Everyone's result will vary, but really shouldn't. Free is free and it comes with "a side"of transfers to the port/airport. I don't see how all the stress and aggravation is eliminated because you booked the air outside of Viking. I certainly do agree that I'm likely not to get my first choice of flights. I always do my homework and tell Viking Air what I found first. Then they tell me what their contract allows. Then I tell them that the flight I want is available for say $650 and the Viking website is telling me that the free air would be $999 if I didn't have a promo code. And they tell me "so what", and the conversation ends. Flying related stress will be here regardless of how you received the flights. You and I have done enough Viking cruises to have a fairly good grasp of what free air means. On my just concluded Viking river cruise to eastern Europe, Air France dropped my seat assignments 14 times. I blamed Air France and not Viking. The flights were "free". Tomorrow I leave for Asia. Viking gave me flights that stopped in two potential war zones. One is my limit and Viking was happy to change my return home The Asia flights were "free".