JES4845

Thanks for the clarification. Yet another reason not to go on Viking. To each his or her own, but I prefer to control the flights!

It isn’t free. Ask them how much credit you get if you don’t have them book it. Often better to take the credit off the cruise fare and make your own arrangements. Do you have miles on airlines? Points on credit cards? Willing to travel economy? The ship based arrangements are last minute for them to save money and make you think you got a freebie. Bad routings, bad connections, bad seats - we’ve heard it all!

I’ve learned the hard way - when in doubt, don’t … given what you’ve been through it will likely cloud your experience. Glad we dropped them after they did a bait and switch on us as to the deposit and final payment being over a year before the trip!

Zimmy, we met on a voyage I think it was last year. We are now in Florida but I grew up near you in the northwest suburbs. In any event, while we have disembarked in Malaga and gone straight to Madrid, or we’ve stayed on for a back to back, friends have started and ended several voyages there because they love Malaga and its environs. They often stay at the AC Marriott Malaga directly across from the port - easy walking distance to many things in the central part of Malaga. If you take the train from Madrid to Malaga, the station is very close by.

Pleased to wake up today and find the SD Summer/Fall 2026 itineraries were released earlier today. It is all very exciting because not only will SD2 continue to do Norway and environs as it is doing in 2025, but several totally new voyages are in store, including Scotland, Ireland and Wales. We all know the Med is getting so hot and crowded in summer it makes it difficult to enjoy to the fullest. Plus many of us have done them over recent years. Wise of SeaDream to give us all some beautiful places to visit but at least for us also places with more temperate temps in summer and early fall!

Fair point. That said, everyone can make their own decision whether paying thousands of dollars so far in advance is worth the $100 cancellation fee. I’m all for a healthy deposit, but full payment over a year in advance amounts to an interest-free loan to Viking. More power to them if they can find folks to do it and apparently they do. We just won’t be among them.

Thanks for the earlier postings. Jumping in with our frustrating experience today. We are no stranger to high end cruises - over 30 on an ocean-going, non-river boutique line. Wanted to do a Christmas market cruise in December 2024. Had heard good things about Viking and found an itinerary we wanted. Website misleadingly said only a $25 deposit - HA! Turns out as others here have found out they want final payment MORE THAN ONE YEAR in advance of December 2024. Specifically, they wanted full payment by 10/31/23 for a cruise in early December 2024. When I called, the Viking rep said they needed the money so early because of commitments to suppliers and vendors. Huh? Needless to say we won’t be booking with them now or ever for that matter.

Another quick suggestion I’ve learned the hard way - on morning of embarkation I always check the exact location of the ship on MarineTraffic.com and sometimes take a screen shot just in case the location has changed or a driver can’t find it otherwise.

P.S. to prior reply - SeaDream shoreside confirms SD2 will depart from the Santa Apolonia Passenger Terminal as in the past - across the street from train station of the same name and a bit east/northeast several blocks from the “main” port terminal used by larger ships. The full name of the hotel I mentioned built above the train station is The Editory Riverside Hotel. See you in Nov!

Every time we’ve embarked or disembarked SD in Lisbon it has been at the Santa Apolonia smaller ship “port” across the street from the train station of the same time. We have stayed at the Bairro Alto hotel closer to the city center, but like you we are only staying two nights before this crossing. We booked the Editory Hotel which is built above the train station - gets good reviews - because it is literally across the street from where SD has been before. The only minor factor is SD2 will be coming out of several weeks of dry dock work in the nearby shipyard. Not sure if that will change the embarkation location - doubt it, but I will ask SD.

Second or third the motion for Pompeii - like others here, we aren’t usually big on longer bus tours, but this one is well worth it, with more to see since we were several years ago.

Just an FYI to those on the upcoming crossing from Palm Beach to Lisbon … there is a Yachting Land Adventure posted on the SD website for Bermuda - a 4-hour tour around Bermuda including to the famous pink sand beaches, among other sights. It is limited in size because it will be by van not bus. As of this writing there are 12 spots remaining. Booking online comes with a 10 percent discount!

One thing to keep in mind of course is the onboard booking savings, which can include your TA for them to get credit for the booking. The 15 percent off is a nice savings, not to mention the additional 10% off the second leg of a back to back (or back to back to back if you really want to stay on for awhile!). I also like to keep an “open booking” on file in case a new voyage comes up between sailings ($2500 fully refundable deposit for a 10% savings once used for a specific voyage).

After all these years, we’ve come to wonder what it means when “gratuities are included” - we’ve never thought to ask what it really means in dollars and cents and to whom/how. We get the sense the ratings cards really, really matter - more than we ever knew. We hadn’t always filled them out, but lately we do to make sure the crew gets the recognition and positive feedback they so richly deserve. We also hear the tip allocation varies by job function. We always provide direct tips to the room stewardesses who work so hard, cleaning rooms twice a day and then some. Same for waiters who are particularly helpful and we see often. Especially given how many were out of work during Covid, our personal philosophy - and everyone has to decide for themselves of course - is if one can afford a SeaDream voyage, one can afford to go the extra mile to help the wonderful crew who make it all possible. As noted by others, the “crew fund” doesn’t necessarily go to all individual crew (or at least that’s our impression, we welcome insights from others).

Look forward to meeting you as well. We found from our one and only crossing - plus even recently in the Caribbean twice this season - not to be fooled by average, high and low temps. We now always pack at least a little bit for chillier and warmer than expected - layers, layers, layers. For example, even in the Caribbean in late January when it was sunny and warm during the day, we needed jackets or sweaters some mornings at breakfast and ditto at night for cocktails and dinner when outside. As we all know, it gets windy out there on deck especially in the open Atlantic Ocean. We plan to bring a little of everything and send to the laundry as needed. We are on the voyage after the crossing as well (Lisbon to Barcelona) which complicates packing! Another factor we learned “the hard way” on our other crossing is that shade is at a real premium because they can’t put up any umbrellas since the ship is constantly underway (except our one day in Bermuda). I imagine there will be sunny but cool days when we are all out around the pool deck and Bali beds, etc. in windbreakers or sweaters/sweatshirts enjoying a tasty adult beverage!

We will be on this crossing as well - easy for us to embark - only a half hour Uber ride from home. We are also on the first voyage after the crossing - the sold out Lisbon to Morocco to Barcelona. This will be our second crossing, but the first going east. This one is 16 days, our other was 13 (Spain to Puerto Rico). Last I heard there will be around 65 of us, plus or minus …. unless more booked recently. Looking forward to it all … and hope for calm seas and fair weather.

Good move doing the race in 2024 as the future status of the race is unclear due to disputes between Formula One and the Monaco organizers. We have done two races while on SD and they get great seats (bleachers as I recall, so bring a cushion if you need one!) in the same general area of the yacht basin. They get you there early for the preliminary festivities so plan on a full day. It rained some each time so bring a poncho (I don’t think they allow umbrellas). The first time the ship was anchored up the coast in Villefranche sur Mer, between Monaco and Nice, and they bused us to the outskirts of the race area … short walk down. The second time the ship was anchored off Monaco, but the seas got very rough as the day unfolded. The tender ride over was an adventure. SD and even the larger ships moved from Monaco to Nice during the race, but they sent a bus to get us after the race and transport us to Nice. You will have a good time … it is a classic race of course so a must see at least once if you can!

Thanks to both of you for these quick and helpful replies. Look forward to your upcoming reports and wish you safe journeys and enjoyable voyages. As to the first question, it is a combination of the “big ship” and service quality. We often travel on SeaDream - max 112 passengers - and the quality of the food and service is top notch largely because of the small size. We have been told by others that generally as the ship gets bigger, the quality becomes uneven. We aren’t looking for the royal treatment, but we aren’t used to long lines and subpar meals. SeaDream lacks any entertainment, so the HAL offerings are a plus - but recent reviews implied those aren’t what they used to be either.

Greetings … and thanks in advance for any help folks here can offer. We are looking at the Westerdam for a long trip around Japan to Alaska, ending in Vancouver or Seattle (April 2024, about 30 days). Would be our first time on a bigger ship (usually small ships less than 500). Put down deposit on Westerdam, but then read very critical things on recent online reviews, repeaters saying this ship and HAL in general not what they used to be. Do folks here agree or disagree? Specific criticisms were around food and service quality, wines, entertainment, etc. not being as good as pre-Covid. Critics attributed to cost cutting. We have always been apprehensive about a bigger ship and these criticisms give us second thoughts. Appreciate any and all helpful information to make an informed decision.

Inquiring minds want to know … any thoughts from the experts here? Note the SD “Mediterranean 2024” schedule was just released and all the listings are for SD2, no mention of SD1. This is so despite SD1 showing a late April 2024 crossing from San Juan to Lisbon. There has been chatter over the years about new destinations. In addition, in past years, including during Covid’s earlier days, SD had successful operations in Scandinavia and surrounding regions. Any and all intel, speculation, wild guesses, etc. would be most welcome and greatly appreciated!