listing of shore excursions specific to our sailing

Hi all,

We are on the Empires of the Mediterranean this coming March. I have found the general site for shore excursions for this route (I know it is the general because it shows an evening concert on a day we leave port at 3 pm). When does Viking put up the shore excursions specific to our cruise, including times and prices? I saw on one board it is 120 days before, but we are down to 100 days and I don't see anything? I am searching My Trip > Shore Excursions > (any day) and scrolling down.

Hi all,

 

 

 

We are on the Empires of the Mediterranean this coming March. I have found the general site for shore excursions for this route (I know it is the general because it shows an evening concert on a day we leave port at 3 pm). When does Viking put up the shore excursions specific to our cruise, including times and prices? I saw on one board it is 120 days before, but we are down to 100 days and I don't see anything? I am searching My Trip > Shore Excursions > (any day) and scrolling down.

The booking window for shore excursions opens a specific number of days before sailing based on cabin/stateroom class: Explorer Suite - 97, Penthouse Jr Suite - 87, Penthouse Veranda - 77, Deluxe Veranda - 67, and Veranda - 60. My Viking Journey begins to show the basic information inc prices & times about 14 days before the window for your particular cabin class. I say “about” because I'm basing that on my own recent experience and the experience of others who have posted here on this forum. Hope this is helpful.

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That is very helpful - thank you very much. It looks like maybe the end of next week we can see something. That helps a lot, especially when you are trying to juggle as many sites as possible.

That is very helpful - thank you very much. It looks like maybe the end of next week we can see something. That helps a lot, especially when you are trying to juggle as many sites as possible.

So you've already compiled the nominal list of, descriptions for, and durations of the included and optional excursions at each port using the main Viking Oceans site? And all you want now are the exact times and prices? Sometimes you can guess when an excursion will happen using the port arrival & departure time along with the excursion duration.

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The booking window for shore excursions opens a specific number of days before sailing based on cabin/stateroom class: Explorer Suite - 97, Penthouse Jr Suite - 87, Penthouse Veranda - 77, Deluxe Veranda - 67, and Veranda - 60. My Viking Journey begins to show the basic information inc prices & times about 14 days before the window for your particular cabin class. I say “about” because I'm basing that on my own recent experience and the experience of others who have posted here on this forum. Hope this is helpful.

 

 

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My experience on our three cruises has been a bit different. I found that that shorex were posted to MVJ somewhere between 120 and 100 days before sailing and that they were posted for everyone on the cruise at the same time. If you are doing a B2B, all tours will not necessarily be posted at the same time; the second leg may be posted later even though booking opens for you based on the start of your cruise adventure (or at least that is how it worked for our upcoming B2B). We got to book shorex for both legs of our journey when booking opened for the first leg.

In other words, shorex for our 12/28/17 departure were posted on 8/25/17 (115 days before departure) while shorex for the second leg departing 1/4/18 were delayed and did not appear on MVJ until 9/18/17 (108 days before departure).

So you've already compiled the nominal list of, descriptions for, and durations of the included and optional excursions at each port using the main Viking Oceans site? And all you want now are the exact times and prices? Sometimes you can guess when an excursion will happen using the port arrival & departure time along with the excursion duration.

 

 

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Yes, there are a couple of the excursions that I think will have limited availability (some of those that travel to national parks), so we wanted to hop on as soon as we can - and it helps a lot to know the details. Thanks for the reply.

My experience on our three cruises has been a bit different. I found that that shorex were posted to MVJ somewhere between 120 and 100 days before sailing and that they were posted for everyone on the cruise at the same time. If you are doing a B2B, all tours will not necessarily be posted at the same time; the second leg may be posted later even though booking opens for you based on the start of your cruise adventure (or at least that is how it worked for our upcoming B2B). We got to book shorex for both legs of our journey when booking opened for the first leg.

 

 

 

In other words, shorex for our 12/28/17 departure were posted on 8/25/17 (115 days before departure) while shorex for the second leg departing 1/4/18 were delayed and did not appear on MVJ until 9/18/17 (108 days before departure).

Thanks Peregrina for the clarification. I've only dealt with "unitary cruises"; to coin a term for cruises that are not back-to-back or segments of a larger cruise (like the World Cruise that includes distinct segments). And why I very carefully included the caveat about when MVJ opens with excursion data only. To figure out when MVJ starts showing excursion info only (not for booking) is apparently then a real guessing game.

Wouldn't it be nice if Viking could provide this kind of info rather than the frustrating "Not available now but trust us we're working on it and will show you real soon!" message that's used now. It would truly relieve folks of all the anxiety I've seen, given all the other posts we've had on this very topic, regarding excursions.

Surely it wouldn't be that much effort to modify the message you get on your MVJ based simply on the sailing it's associated with. As a simplest solution. It occurs to me tho that the programming logic/trigger for knowing when to open your MVJ (based on your cabin class, sail date, and particular cruise) is already there, along with an underlying database feeding the rates and excursion times. This same database could be populated with the data needed to fill in the TBD1 and TBD2 in a message like "Your excursion data will be available TBD1 days before your sail date. You can start booking your excursions TBD2 days later." As a moderately skillful (don't claim to be an expert) programmer and database person, I just don't understand why Viking's IT staff hasn't done this or thought of it. (To the Viking folks who I know keep an eye on this forum - could you pass on this request to your IT department?)

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Ah a fellow DB person - did a lot of both database and programming in my working career. The if logic is already there (the top level - owner's suite - is already open for booking). The number of days to embarkation is also calculated. What would be 1 line of code - [days to view booking] = #DaysToGo + 14. I would gladly volunteer my services (especially if they fly me out to California) to make that change :')

Ah a fellow DB person - did a lot of both database and programming in my working career. The if logic is already there (the top level - owner's suite - is already open for booking). The number of days to embarkation is also calculated. What would be 1 line of code - [days to view booking] = #DaysToGo + 14. I would gladly volunteer my services (especially if they fly me out to California) to make that change :')

Sounds like a great idea. Or I could volunteer our son who knows web applications and I'm sure the latest database engines that support them. [emoji1]

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Thanks Peregrina for the clarification. I've only dealt with "unitary cruises"; to coin a term for cruises that are not back-to-back or segments of a larger cruise (like the World Cruise that includes distinct segments). And why I very carefully included the caveat about when MVJ opens with excursion data only. To figure out when MVJ starts showing excursion info only (not for booking) is apparently then a real guessing game.

 

Wouldn't it be nice if Viking could provide this kind of info rather than the frustrating "Not available now but trust us we're working on it and will show you real soon!" message that's used now. It would truly relieve folks of all the anxiety I've seen, given all the other posts we've had on this very topic, regarding excursions.

 

Surely it wouldn't be that much effort to modify the message you get on your MVJ based simply on the sailing it's associated with. As a simplest solution. It occurs to me tho that the programming logic/trigger for knowing when to open your MVJ (based on your cabin class, sail date, and particular cruise) is already there, along with an underlying database feeding the rates and excursion times. This same database could be populated with the data needed to fill in the TBD1 and TBD2 in a message like "Your excursion data will be available TBD1 days before your sail date. You can start booking your excursions TBD2 days later." As a moderately skillful (don't claim to be an expert) programmer and database person, I just don't understand why Viking's IT staff hasn't done this or thought of it. (To the Viking folks who I know keep an eye on this forum - could you pass on this request to your IT department?)

 

 

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Yes, but I get the impression TBD1 itself is an unknown. Other than the fact that they have to have the information posted by the time booking opens at 97 days out, there is no fixed number of days prior to sailing when that information is or has to be posted. As you saw from my experience for my up-coming cruise, for one departure date info was posted 115 days before the sail date and for the other it was 108 days before the sail date (the brochure date). To my mind, it is not a programming issue (all though the patter is fairly useless) but a planning problem. It seems to me that the ops department operates under the idea that as long as the information is posted when booking opens that it is sufficient time for pax to review the information and choose which tours they are going to take.

Sadly, I don't see them changing these things and either we are going to have to get used to the fact the Viking is breaking the mold (and tossing the good with the not so good in the process) or else find another cruise line. Personally, I don't want to find another cruise line.

Up to a point, I agree. However, in doing research I have seen where the logistics for a cruise are arranged up to a year in advance. I would assume (since this is not the first time they have done this route) that would include buses and tour guides for the tours. I think it is just their choice not to.

Yes, but I get the impression TBD1 itself is an unknown. Other than the fact that they have to have the information posted by the time booking opens at 97 days out, there is no fixed number of days prior to sailing when that information is or has to be posted. As you saw from my experience for my up-coming cruise, for one departure date info was posted 115 days before the sail date and for the other it was 108 days before the sail date (the brochure date). To my mind, it is not a programming issue (all though the patter is fairly useless) but a planning problem. It seems to me that the ops department operates under the idea that as long as the information is posted when booking opens that it is sufficient time for pax to review the information and choose which tours they are going to take.

 

 

 

Sadly, I don't see them changing these things and either we are going to have to get used to the fact the Viking is breaking the mold (and tossing the good with the not so good in the process) or else find another cruise line. Personally, I don't want to find another cruise line.

You're right, if tbd1 is a complete variable, then perhaps your point is valid. Or it could be that the database entry for populating that message starts out as TBD and when it's known, is updated. Of course, if the day it's known is typically no different than TBD, then I agree it's pointless. But if it's not - if it is known even a few weeks before - that's got to be an improvement.

And Peregrina - really - by now you should know that I'm not looking to change cruise lines - I'm a solid Viking fan. My only goal is to provide encouragement/suggestions to improve on what I see as near perfection anyway - to be "perfectly perfect in every way". [emoji3]

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My only goal is to provide encouragement/suggestions to improve on what I see as near perfection anyway - to be "perfectly perfect in every way". [emoji3]

 

 

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I am one hundred per cent behind your campaign. If they would only listen to us!!

TBD1 needs to be a firm deadline for the ops department and not a variable number.

Up to a point, I agree. However, in doing research I have seen where the logistics for a cruise are arranged up to a year in advance. I would assume (since this is not the first time they have done this route) that would include buses and tour guides for the tours. I think it is just their choice not to.

Except....they are still rolling out new cruises which means completely new excursions. For example, the cruise we're doing this January is new with their very first sailing underway right now. It wasn't until sometime late last Summer that all the excursions were defined. For at least the next two years (approx) as new ships and cruises (and excursions) are laid out, they won't always have the knowledge base needed to plan a year in advance. Viking River has it in spades esp for the included tours.

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I am one hundred per cent behind your campaign. If they would only listen to us!!

 

TBD1 needs to be a firm deadline for the ops department and not a variable number.

The wonder of relational databases that can associate and be updated with any number of deadlines as the ops folks know it. So they're not actually variable but updatable for any combination of cruise, sail date, excursion...etc (whatever affects setting tbd1). Bottom line, you can have as many tbd1s as you need.

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"Be careful what you wish for." A lot of what attracts me to Viking is their willingness to "Think Different" [to coin a phrase, or rather to steal it ;)] and their very clear sense that they will not be all things to all people and that they know exactly what they want to be. With that goes a lessened willingness to listen to what others [including customers] say. I'm on the new British Isles Explorer itinerary next year and can't even get generic shore excursion lists for many of our ports -- but I'll gladly live with this to enjoy a ship with no casino, no kids, no photographers, and most of all no art auctions!

Except....they are still rolling out new cruises which means completely new excursions. For example, the cruise we're doing this January is new with their very first sailing underway right now. It wasn't until sometime late last Summer that all the excursions were defined. For at least the next two years (approx) as new ships and cruises (and excursions) are laid out, they won't always have the knowledge base needed to plan a year in advance. Viking River has it in spades esp for the included tours.

 

 

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Char, I understand all of this but I don't think it means that they can't have the list of shorex for a cruise posted by 120 days (or even 110) before departure even on the newest of itineraries. Even then, it does not give the first to book much time to review what is being offered (LOL, the one time when paying more gets you less). I'm not suggesting that everything has to be in place a year in advance and I can live with incomplete websites while they are building the new itineraries. What I do see as a negative is the impression that is created when the opening of booking approaches and the shorex have not yet been posted and people start wondering what is going on and why can't I get the information I need to make a decision.

"Be careful what you wish for." A lot of what attracts me to Viking is their willingness to "Think Different" [to coin a phrase, or rather to steal it ;)] and their very clear sense that they will not be all things to all people and that they know exactly what they want to be. With that goes a lessened willingness to listen to what others [including customers] say. I'm on the new British Isles Explorer itinerary next year and can't even get generic shore excursion lists for many of our ports -- but I'll gladly live with this to enjoy a ship with no casino, no kids, no photographers, and most of all no art auctions!

Jazz, Viking is great and they are the only cruise line I want to travel with at this point but there are still a few rough edges that could use some smoothing.

Char, I understand all of this but I don't think it means that they can't have the list of shorex for a cruise posted by 120 days (or even 110) before departure even on the newest of itineraries. Even then, it does not give the first to book much time to review what is being offered (LOL, the one time when paying more gets you less). I'm not suggesting that everything has to be in place a year in advance and I can live with incomplete websites while they are building the new itineraries. What I do see as a negative is the impression that is created when the opening of booking approaches and the shorex have not yet been posted and people start wondering what is going on and why can't I get the information I need to make a decision.

Oh -I wasn't disagreeing with you. I agree. I was just saying -based on what I observed with the Panama Central America cruise - a new one this year - that there was a nominal in some cases bare bones list of excursions listed on the VO site last March. Enough to catch our interest btw. By June/July the list of excursions at each port grew from 3 to in some cases 8. Which would satisfy your desire (and anybody else's) to see what's being offered well in advance. Next year the list of excursions will be well fleshed out from the beginning; won't evolve over the course or a few months. Which is what I was trying to say - and failed clearly - with regards to completely new itineraries and new ships coming say in 2020. But it may be that the growing pains we've seen the past 2 years will be over by next year. And that we can bid goodbye to excursion lists that take six months (eg from Jan to July) to finalize.

Also, the problem I think is that folks tend to focus on MVJ as the only place to learn about excursions. But there are two - the main VO site - which gives the nominal list - and MVJ - which provides the "real list". The MVJ list usually matches the list of excursions on the main VO site but sometimes adds new ones. When it does, what I saw was less than a handful. In any case, as you know, I used the VO site for over 6 months before our MVJ went "live".

Bottom line - I think we are in agreement.

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Oh -I wasn't disagreeing with you. I agree. I was just saying -based on what I observed with the Panama Central America cruise - a new one this year - that there was a nominal in some cases bare bones list of excursions listed on the VO site last March. Enough to catch our interest btw. By June/July the list of excursions at each port grew from 3 to in some cases 8. Which would satisfy your desire (and anybody else's) to see what's being offered well in advance. Next year the list of excursions will be well fleshed out from the beginning; won't evolve over the course or a few months. Which is what I was trying to say - and failed clearly - with regards to completely new itineraries and new ships coming say in 2020. But it may be that the growing pains we've seen the past 2 years will be over by next year. And that we can bid goodbye to excursion lists that take six months (eg from Jan to July) to finalize.

 

Also, the problem I think is that folks tend to focus on MVJ as the only place to learn about excursions. But there are two - the main VO site - which gives the nominal list - and MVJ - which provides the "real list". The MVJ list usually matches the list of excursions on the main VO site but sometimes adds new ones. When it does, what I saw was less than a handful. In any case, as you know, I used the VO site for over 6 months before our MVJ went "live".

 

Bottom line - I think we are in agreement.

 

 

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Yes, we are talking at cross purposes. You are talking about the initial line up on the website and I'm talking about the posting of the final choices for each cruise going live on MVJ--and they both need some work. The initial line-up on the website needs to be easier to find than it currently is; how times have we given explicit instructions how to find the Day by Day? The Port of Call pages on the Viking website will always be a work in progress as even on the ports it has visited many times, they are always tweaking the offerings. And, hopefully eventually, they will be able to settle on a deadline for posting the finalized list of offerings on MVJ. I know that there are many who want to see them 6 to 12 months in advance as they do on other cruise lines but I don't think that we will ever see more than 120 days in advance (the Viking way)--and it would be helpful if MVJ directed us back to the website for the information we seek rather than just telling us that the info isn't available yet on MVJ.

In both cases, I think we both agree that more clear and helpful communication is needed, both on the websites and over the phone.

Yes, we are talking at cross purposes. You are talking about the initial line up on the website and I'm talking about the posting of the final choices for each cruise going live on MVJ--and they both need some work. The initial line-up on the website needs to be easier to find than it currently is; how times have we given explicit instructions how to find the Day by Day? The Port of Call pages on the Viking website will always be a work in progress as even on the ports it has visited many times, they are always tweaking the offerings. And, hopefully eventually, they will be able to settle on a deadline for posting the finalized list of offerings on MVJ. I know that there are many who want to see them 6 to 12 months in advance as they do on other cruise lines but I don't think that we will ever see more than 120 days in advance (the Viking way)--and it would be helpful if MVJ directed us back to the website for the information we seek rather than just telling us that the info isn't available yet on MVJ.

 

In both cases, I think we both agree that more clear and helpful communication is needed, both on the websites and over the phone.

Amen!

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