LIVE from the Viking Sea - Sept. 16 Venice to Athens along the Adriatic Sea

[Sturmin]

First of all, thank you for all the info and doing your over review. Curious if Viking provides a shuttle bus to central Athens or do you need to use public transportation if you do the city on your own. I think I have seen past threads/posts of someone saying there was a shuttle and someone else saying there wasn't.

[artbcpa]

First of all, thank you for all the info and doing your over review. Curious if Viking provides a shuttle bus to central Athens or do you need to use public transportation if you do the city on your own. I think I have seen past threads/posts of someone saying there was a shuttle and someone else saying there wasn't.

 

On our cruise, the answer was YES. "(The shuttle service) will begin at 9:00 AM from the Piraeus Cruise Terminal, where the ship is docked. The drop off/pick-up location is at Dionisiou Areopagitou Street and Vasilisis Amalias Street across the Adrian's gate in the city of Athens. The shuttle buses will run continuously throughout the morning and afternoon in both directions, The last shuttle bus from town back to the Viking Sea will be 7:00 PM."

[Bodogbodog]

Art - thanks for posting your review - much appreciated

 

I think Viking are going to offer a good option for the upper end of the market - although the lack of a Casino would be a disadvantage for me

 

I appreciated your comparison to Oceania earlier on the thread - would you be prepared to venture an opinion on a comparison of Viking and Crystal?

 

Thanks

[CelticMutt]

In most cases I only took the front page of the daily to use in a DVD overview of the trip. I'll post what I have (sorry about the orientation of a couple of the shots), but I have seen on other Viking Ocean threads a more complete overview of the menus on the Star.

 

 

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[CelticMutt]

Couple more:

 

 

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[artbcpa]

Art - thanks for posting your review - much appreciated

 

I think Viking are going to offer a good option for the upper end of the market - although the lack of a Casino would be a disadvantage for me

 

I appreciated your comparison to Oceania earlier on the thread - would you be prepared to venture an opinion on a comparison of Viking and Crystal?

 

Thanks

That's a tough one. Both have their selling points. In general I believe Crystal loses their biggest advantage with a port intensive itinerary. That is Viking's specialty, because of their river cruise background. They do ports much better.

 

I love the Sea Days on Crystal. There is so much to do. Our only experience on Viking had no sea days; so we really don't know how to compare them.

 

As for the ship, the public areas are very similar. The cabins are another story. Viking wins hands down. They really paid attention to what passengers wanted.

 

Entertainment would be a clear advantage for Crystal. While the nighttime entertainers may be equal (both great), Crystal has the casino, piano bar, paddle tennis, table tennis and a whole lot more. The one thing that I would rate as a real plus for me on Viking and a big negative on Crystal is how they approach dancing. Crystal has these ambassadors and I find it very intimidating (and inappropriate) to dominate the dance floor with "professional" dancers. This is not a show. You see so many more people dancing on every other ship I have ever been on. Viking had a fabulous band with great singers that played music that encouraged passengers to dance.

 

Food would probably be a wash, especially for breakfast and lunch. Tastes is one place I truly miss on other ships. Viking's Italian restaurant is better than Crystal's, but what more is there to say then Crystal has a Nobu restaurant on board.

 

Service is outstanding on both. Staffs are well trained and do a really great job of trying to meet our needs.

 

The Internet is significantly better on Viking.

 

So I guess it comes down to price, value, itinerary, and which of these items someone deems as more important. The one other wild card for me is how each cruise line handles problems. It is a lot easier tobe positive when everything is running smoothly. I have found Crystal to be very defensive when anything goes wrong and that is all the way to the TOP. Not so with Viking. The customers still do come first.

 

I hope this provides some insights for you (and others).

 

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[May B]

Art, I enjoyed this very much and found it informative. I also loved your photos! I don't recall the exhibit on the Hidden Children at the Athens Jewish Museum. I wonder if it's been added, after I was there.

 

The two couples we often cruise with both include one person who very much enjoys the casino, so I'm guessing we'd be going alone -- but we started cruising alone, first, and enjoy it as much as cruising with friends/relatives.

 

I found that Viking will be stopping in Cuba at the end of 2017, and that's on our bucket list. The Norwegian fjords are on our bucket list as well, but I didn't find an itinerary with the fjords included. The crossing from Bergen to Montreal sounds great, though -- and it appears they're doing it with both ships! How fascinating.

 

I love your philosophy on how you review a cruise. I'm looking forward to looking at your other reviews! You and Ellie look familiar to me, so I'm wondering if we happened to be on a cruise together at some point. Perhaps some day I'll get to play mahj with Ellie or bridge vs. you. Hmmm. Did I ask you what your nickname is on BBO?

 

--May B Muriel

[Bodogbodog]

So I guess it comes down to price, value, itinerary, and which of these items someone deems as more important...

I hope this provides some insights for you (and others)

 

Art - thanks for the comparison - much appreciated. We are also big fans of sea days and there is no doubt Crystal do a great job on that front. We're lucky to have the opportunity to choose between these and other lines

[tunaman2011]

Art

 

Thanks for the wonderful info. It's been great to get some very useful tips before our upcoming adventure.

 

I was wondering where you were docked while in Livorno. We were on Oceania in July and were docked right at the foot of Via Grande. This made it easy to walk up to Piazza Grande and grab the bus to the train station for a trip to Pisa. We will be back to Livorno on Viking in just over 2 weeks and want to get to Florence this time. We would like to have the route to the station planned. I know the larger ships use a dock further away where you need a shuttle to get into town. Knowing which dock you used would be a big help.

 

Thanks

Tom

[Peregrina651]

Viking should be running shuttle buses to and from Florence and Rome. It is not a shorex per se so they don't it with the rest of the shorex info but it is fee for service and more information will be available when you board--at least this is what Viking told me when I asked them about it for our upcoming cruise.

[tunaman2011]

Viking should be running shuttle buses to and from Florence and Rome. It is not a shorex per se so they don't it with the rest of the shorex info but it is fee for service and more information will be available when you board--at least this is what Viking told me when I asked them about it for our upcoming cruise.

 

Greetings

 

But did they give any pricing info? The bus/train from Livorno to Florence is just under 20 euro per person round trip.

 

Good Sailing

Tom

[Peregrina651]

Greetings

 

But did they give any pricing info? The bus/train from Livorno to Florence is just under 20 euro per person round trip.

 

Good Sailing

Tom

 

Tom, they didn't give any pricing info, said we would have to wait until we got on board. But, thank you for the info on the train/bus. That will be helpful in deciding how we want to handle it.

[Host Jazzbeau]

Greetings

 

But did they give any pricing info? The bus/train from Livorno to Florence is just under 20 euro per person round trip.

 

Good Sailing

Tom

 

We had planned to do the bus/train route while on an Oceania cruise a few years ago, but ultimately decided the promise that the ship wouldn't leave without us was worth the extra cost of the "Florence on your own" excursion. You never know when a strike will disrupt your return plan :eek:

Edited October 3, 2016 by Host Jazzbeau

[May B]

We had planned to do the bus/train route while on an Oceania cruise a few years ago, but ultimately decided the promise that the ship wouldn't leave without us was worth the extra cost of the "Florence on your own" excursion. You never know when a strike will disrupt your return plan :eek:

 

I think train strikes in Italy get announced ahead of time and are almost always on Fridays.

 

That having been said, there are many other things that could negatively impact your timely return to the ship. Even though you are good at following signs and asking questions, you might go the wrong way by mistake. Also, I believe there might be a connection involved (there was for us when we went to Lucca from Livorno). Also, train accidents could happen. Tracks could be blocked. You could twist your ankle and have trouble navigating. You could be pick-pocketed and have to go to the police to report it.

 

Heck, your watch could stop and you think you have plenty of time! Anyway, each person does what their comfort level dictates. Many people I know make their drop-dead back-at-the-ship time one hour before they actually are required to be there.

[bruflu]

Greetings

 

But did they give any pricing info? The bus/train from Livorno to Florence is just under 20 euro per person round trip.

 

Good Sailing

Tom

 

Just got back from Med. Odyssey, and there are not "shuttles" to Rome and/or Florence (because of the distance). There were "Rome on your Own" and "Florence on Your Own" optional tours, but you need to book them in advance (we tried to book Rome tour, but was told it was full). There are free shuttles into Citiveccia (Rome port), and Livorno (Florence port).

[Ms SailAway]

I agree with you wholeheartedly. We were on the Sea mid August & the Meet & Mingle turn-up of crew was amazing and they generally seemed interested! I think you'll find all the crew so so friendly

 

We'll be on the Sea in a little over two months. I hope more people sign up for our Meet & Mingle before we sail. Right now there are just six of us. Seems like a pretty small party! How many people were at yours?

[Fitzall]

We'll be on the Sea in a little over two months. I hope more people sign up for our Meet & Mingle before we sail. Right now there are just six of us. Seems like a pretty small party! How many people were at yours?

18 had registered ... 12 turned up on the night. It was held in the Explorers Lounge on Lvl 8. Still, a good time was had by all .... great to meet some important crew members.

[Ms SailAway]

Thanks! I'll hold out hope for more attendees. Regardless, we are going to have a great cruise!

[Lottie A]

Yes we are! :)

[PatriciaF]

Can't wait for our Dec 4 Athens to Venice cruise. Love reading the previews here.

Edited October 24, 2016 by PatriciaF

[pilot67]

Art thanks for all the info. When you met ship in Venice which dock was it at? And your recommendation for transportation from airport to Venice? We plan to rent a room near Piazza Romma. Thanks......

[silkandsweettea]

We will be on the same cruise! We were on the Viking Ocean Cruise from Barcelona to last March and now will be on Athens to Venice. Our favorite was the Seafood night in the Buffet which had mussels, caviar with Blini, oysters on the half shell, etc. We believe it was on Tuesday night but would love to know for sure so we won't plan anything else!

[Spursgirl]

Am looking forward with great anticipation to my first Viking cruise on Sea in January so many thanks to Art and others who have posted such fantastic information.

 

Great news for me that the ship berths at the World Trade Centre in Barcelona. Does anyone know if the berth at Livorno is adjacent to the coastguard station?

[Peregrina651]

Viking should be running shuttle buses to and from Florence and Rome. It is not a shorex per se so they don't it with the rest of the shorex info but it is fee for service and more information will be available when you board--at least this is what Viking told me when I asked them about it for our upcoming cruise.

 

Okay, an update/correction, because I entirely misunderstood the info I got from Viking. If you want Viking-run bus transport to Rome and/or Florence, you have to sign up for the "On Your Own" shorex. Sorry for passing along wrong information.

[QRB4539]

Art thanks for all the info. When you met ship in Venice which dock was it at? And your recommendation for transportation from airport to Venice? We plan to rent a room near Piazza Romma. Thanks......

 

We ended our cruise on the Viking Sea in Venice and just walked about 5-8 minutes to the People Mover after disembarking and took that directly to Piazzale Roma (the bus terminal). The buses from the airport go there also. I think the bus ticket was 8 euros each one way. If your hotel is near Piazzale Roma then that way is much cheaper than a water taxi. We stayed for a third time at Hotel Dalla Mora, about 10 minute walk from the bus terminal. Friends from the cruise stayed at Hotel Moresco, also in Santa Croce. you can read reviews of both on TripAdvisor.