Fieldofdreams

Heidi - Thank you for your insight.

Harborside - When I recently spoke with the Viking California office they informed me that it was not the hull that presented the problem but the ship's ropes that was the cause. Would also be interested from others onboard what they have been told.

My understanding from other CC members that have frequented Viking Ocean cruises is that you will not know what the menu is until you get on the ship, having said that I would go ahead and make reservations when they become available on MyViking. We are in the same situation with food allergies.

Thanks all, good information

Thank you, very helpful

Heidi - Thanks for that on private excursions, we were wondering the same

CDN PolarBear - Could you advise on how to book transfers through Viking if one is doing a pre-cruise itinerary on your own? Is there a link on MyVikingJourney or do you have to contact Viking to make arrangements and are you able to share rough costs for transfers pp? Thanks so much

Harborside - You might want to look at the information I just posted. Just off the phone with Viking, seems to be a biofoul issue again. We are on the same cruise.

Just got off the phone with Viking in California and I was told that it is a biofouling issue on the Mars. Also concerned as harborside as we embark on the Mars Feb. 21st. The representative did put me on hold and verified this information with another individual within Viking, so I believe there is some accuracy to what I was provided.

During the process of reviewing TripMate insurance prior to our cruise, I called TripMate to review the coverage and found out that the insurance only covers the time you actually embark on the ship until disembarkation. This is the first time we have purchased insurance through a cruise line so we are discovering several interesting nuances with this particular policy. As we are arriving at our embarkation city several days early on our own, it does not cover us for anything including medical treatment/evacuation during the gap period. Not certain of policy coverage if one books pre and post Viking excursions. For our future cruises we will stay with purchasing insurance through the marketplace and not through the cruise line. Hope this might help others.

Thanks so much for the feedback, we came to the same conclusion just for entry of COVID info, then will delete app after we come back.

Thank you!

Thank you to all for your input, we are going to call Viking and see if it preferred or mandatory.

Would like feedback on completing the Verifly app that Viking contracts with for Airline and Covid related information. Required or necessary? Privacy issues? Alternately can this information just be provided when boarding the ship? Any other information/thoughts would be great. Thank you

Thank you for the updated info. Just spoke with a Viking representative a few hours ago, when asked how Viking is approaching the bio-foul issue for future cruises, the representative really downplayed what happened on your cruise, not sure if this is corporate speak trying to minimize the issue or this particular agent's interpretation. Will be interesting to see how this all plays out with future cruises and commercial shipping.

Kathy - Have you by chance heard of any other Viking ships or other cruise lines being affected by the bio-foul situation since your return? Our cruise to Australia/NZ is coming up in February and I have not heard much recently. I know that the cruise line association and NZ environmental authorities have been meeting but I am curious as to how that has practically played out. Thanks

Longterm- Once again thanks for sharing.your insight, very helpful.

Longterm - From what I read from your posts about post cruise extension Athens you generally thought it was a reasonably good post trip, correct? Don't recall what your suggestions are for the free time in between? Thank you

Thank you for the clarification

Thank you Longterm for your feedback. Flexibility seems to be the key adage today.

Thanks Peregrina for addressing each of the questions, much appreciated

First, thanks to everyone for sharing... very helpful. We are on the Italy, Adriatic and Greece tour September 2023 so interesting to hear specifics from others. So with the stop in Venice for two nights, do I understand that the ship will move from one port to another to take on passengers only doing the second half of the cruise. Also, right now the ship is scheduled to port at the new industrial port relatively close to Venice but still a vaporetto ride away, based upon others experiences and what I am reading is that likely to change? Also, is Fusina the original port in Venice? And is the rule that dictates that cruise passengers cannot venture out in Italian cities without tour guides still in place? Just trying to understand the lay of the land so any info helps. Still trying to navigate our Austrailia/New Zealand trip this February with all of the discussion regarding biofouling Viking Orion and other ships. Thanks!

Correct, for US passengers its approximately $21 -22K just for airfare and cruise (without bump up to Business Class etc.), plus add ons for excursions/activities and pre and post stays. Definitely starts to add up.

Spoke with a Viking agent today to find out how Viking is addressing this issue. I was told that they are "actively working on it" Remember this is coming from a Viking rep and not corporate. Our cruise is coming up in February so interested to see how Viking handle current situation with Orion and future cruises going into NZ ports.