Viking Ocean and River Combined Cruise Questions

(This was originally posted to the Cruise Questions board. Moved to Viking Ocean and here at recommendation of long time CC member.):

We have cruised a number of times, on both Holland and Celebrity, and are now considering a combined Viking Ocean and River Cruise for out 50th anniversary. CC apparently does not have any way to zero in on the combined cruise experience, possibly because it is relatively new and limited in popularity. We have a number of questions and would appreciate any advice anyone wants to give:

1. It looks like one must book very early, nearly as soon as the cruise is released, which is a year and a half before departure. What effect does this seem to have on pricing, cancellation and cabin choices? Do cabins open up later in the year?

2. Since they are one-way cruises, what is the best way to coordinate air travel? Fly from the arrival port back to the departure port, or are there other alternatives? Economics of two one way flights vs. one round trip? If one books air through Viking how do they handle it?

3. With the combined experience different than the normal cruise, is it best to do the ocean portion first then the river, or vice versa? Why?

Anything else important I have missed?

Thanks, all. we appreciate the help.

(This was originally posted to the Cruise Questions board. Moved to Viking Ocean and here at recommendation of long time CC member.):

 

 

 

We have cruised a number of times, on both Holland and Celebrity, and are now considering a combined Viking Ocean and River Cruise for out 50th anniversary. CC apparently does not have any way to zero in on the combined cruise experience, possibly because it is relatively new and limited in popularity. We have a number of questions and would appreciate any advice anyone wants to give:

 

 

 

1. It looks like one must book very early, nearly as soon as the cruise is released, which is a year and a half before departure. What effect does this seem to have on pricing, cancellation and cabin choices? Do cabins open up later in the year?

 

2. Since they are one-way cruises, what is the best way to coordinate air travel? Fly from the arrival port back to the departure port, or are there other alternatives? Economics of two one way flights vs. one round trip? If one books air through Viking how do they handle it?

 

3. With the combined experience different than the normal cruise, is it best to do the ocean portion first then the river, or vice versa? Why?

 

 

 

Anything else important I have missed?

 

 

 

Thanks, all. we appreciate the help.

The only part I can answer is flights. An open-jawed flight (flying into one city and out of another) is very easy to arrange and the cost is not out of line any more.

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If you do Ocean after River, you can use the launderette!

A couple on our recent Ocean cruise was required, by Viking Air, to return to the original Ocean port airport rather than being allowed to leave from the River final destination (Barcelona versus Nuremberg). They were not happy and vowed they wouldn’t try this again as a result of this experience. Didn’t appear Viking was too interested in combining Ocean and River cruises as B2B.

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