Viking Iconic Western Mediterranean Sep-Nov 2021

[anaco_angler]

We are booked on the Oct 5 sailing on Viking Jupiter, including the pre-cruise Umbrian extension. With 30 days left before departure we have some concerns about whether the cruise will actually sail in light of recent reports of increased restrictions on US visitors to the EU. We have been advised that Italy now requires a Covid test 72 hours before arrival in addition to proof of vaccination. I have been searching for roll calls for the various sailings on Jupiter and Sky but they are very few and limited. Should we be concerned that no shore excursions have been posted yet? If others who are booked on these cruises have insight, please share. If your cruise has shore excursions posted already, please let us know. We all want to cruise and we want to do it safely, which is why we have booked with Viking.

Dennis

[formernuke]

I’m booked on the Jupiter the following week and our shore excursions have been out for several weeks (some sold out). Something seems wrong 

[anaco_angler]

Thanks, formernuke. Agree something's not right. I asked about the shorex on MVJ chat two days ago and the chat rep promised to contact the Oceans Dept and get back to me, but there’s been no response. 

[bbtondo]

Booked for Nov 1st and excursions have been out for a few weeks, some sold out.  I am getting a bit concerned also.  I checked all the port schedules that this Ironic Med cruise goes to.  It lists every cruise line ship and date and time of arrival.  All other cruise lines are listed with a date and time of arrival and departure.  For EVERY Viking Ocean ship it lists the ship and then n/a.  What that means, I don't know.  I've read that Monte Carlo port is closed.  When I checked that port site, no ships were listed.  

 

These are crazy times for sure. 

[lsuskybird]

We are also booked on the October 5 sailing and are unable to see shore excurisons or book restaurants. This situtation seems very unusual. 

[anaco_angler]

A Viking rep called in response to an email to tellus@vikingcruises.com and assured me they are aware that the clock is ticking and are working to line up shorex. Viking appreciates our patience and will email before shorex are to be posted. I would guess that evolving EU restrictions are having an effect on their efforts. Maybe Viking will add the Silver Spirits Beverage Package to our accounts. Well, maybe not but it would be a nice gesture 😀.

[Twitchly]

2 hours ago, anaco_angler said:

A Viking rep called in response to an email to tellus@vikingcruises.com and assured me they are aware that the clock is ticking and are working to line up shorex. Viking appreciates our patience and will email before shorex are to be posted. I would guess that evolving EU restrictions are having an effect on their efforts. Maybe Viking will add the Silver Spirits Beverage Package to our accounts. Well, maybe not but it would be a nice gesture 😀.

If I worked for Viking, I think I’d want my own personal silver spirits beverage package right about now.

[anaco_angler]

1 hour ago, Twitchly said:

If I worked for Viking, I think I’d want my own personal silver spirits beverage package right about now.

Good point.

[BQEC]

2 hours ago, anaco_angler said:

Good point.

I’ll drink to that, too!

[calnhobz10]

I just noticed this morning that our excursions are open for the October 5 Iconic Western Mediterranean sailing on Jupiter. I just booked them. It seems they changed a port, no more Monte Carlo? Now it's Villefranche-sur-Mer.

[FlyerTalker]

48 minutes ago, calnhobz10 said:

I just noticed this morning that our excursions are open for the October 5 Iconic Western Mediterranean sailing on Jupiter. I just booked them. It seems they changed a port, no more Monte Carlo? Now it's Villefranche-sur-Mer.

 

 

For those that still want to see Monaco, the Villefranche train station is about a 10 minute walk from where the tender dock is.  Four-tenths of a mile walk.  And then the train trip is four stops to Monaco.  About a 16-20 minute ride - cost is a bit more than 3 euros each way

 

If you want to visit Eze, that's two stops from VF.  A six minute train ride costing under 2 euros.  Picturesque.

 

I highly suggest the train, as road traffic can be bad, especially approaching Monaco.  And the views from the train are quite nice.

 

If researching times for the trains, be sure to use Villefranche-sur-Mer for the station.  There are a number of Villefranches, so get the right one.  Train information is available at the SNCF website.

Edited September 8, 2021 by FlyerTalker

[anaco_angler]

1 hour ago, calnhobz10 said:

I just noticed this morning that our excursions are open for the October 5 Iconic Western Mediterranean sailing on Jupiter. I just booked them. It seems they changed a port, no more Monte Carlo? Now it's Villefranche-sur-Mer.

Thank you for the notification. Viking had promised we would receive an email announcing when the shorex would be posted but that didn't happen. The selection is quite limited; disappointed but I know these are tough times for tour operators.

[khm1]

1 hour ago, calnhobz10 said:

I just noticed this morning that our excursions are open for the October 5 Iconic Western Mediterranean sailing on Jupiter. I just booked them. It seems they changed a port, no more Monte Carlo? Now it's Villefranche-sur-Mer.

Yay! Thank you! I'm on the Jupiter November 7th sailing Rome to Barcelona.  I was able to book excursions for all except the substitute port. Maybe this means that we will actually be going!

[CCWineLover]

We are on the Nov 22 cruise Rome to Barcelona.  Last evening the excursions popped up, available to book.  Viking had said they'd email us, but of course no email, so I just keep checking every day and suddenly there they were!

 

I had already heard that Monte Carlo is banning cruise ships, so Viking is tendering at Villefranche-sur-Mer, which is right close by.   Others have already posted that Viking had said there would still be excursions that include Monte Carlo.  However, that is the one port that didn't appear in the excursions list.  I would assume they are working frantically on lining some up.

 

Yes - the limited number of excursions was quite disappointing.  For us, the removal of anything to Luca Italy was too bad.  Either they are still working on adding more excursions or they are having difficulties in these rapidly changing COVID times trying to get tours together.

Remains to be seen whether the various countries will require cruise passengers to be in a Viking bubble all the time (no independent tours, no walking out on your own).

Also remains to be seen whether Tarragona becomes the effective Barcelona port throughout this fall, with bus tours from there.

Edited September 8, 2021 by CCWineLover

[khm1]

1 hour ago, FlyerTalker said:

 

 

For those that still want to see Monaco, the Villefranche train station is about a 10 minute walk from where the tender dock is.  Four-tenths of a mile walk.  And then the train trip is four stops to Monaco.  About a 16-20 minute ride - cost is a bit more than 3 euros each way

 

If you want to visit Eze, that's two stops from VF.  A six minute train ride costing under 2 euros.  Picturesque.

 

I highly suggest the train, as road traffic can be bad, especially approaching Monaco.  And the views from the train are quite nice.

 

If researching times for the trains, be sure to use Villefranche-sur-Mer for the station.  There are a number of Villefranches, so get the right one.  Train information is available at the SNCF website.

I was advised by Viking that we weren't allowed to go on a self-guided or alternative excursion.  They told me on an online chat session 3 days ago. My sailing is 7 November on Jupiter.

[FlyerTalker]

19 minutes ago, khm1 said:

I was advised by Viking that we weren't allowed to go on a self-guided or alternative excursion.  They told me on an online chat session 3 days ago. My sailing is 7 November on Jupiter.

 

When I see something in writing I believe it.  When I heard it from an agent, I take it with a grain of salt.

 

At least that's the experience I've had -- inconsistent information depending on who I talk with.

 

[formernuke]

On the Mediterranean Odyssey leaving on Oct 12 on Jupiter, we still show all existing Monte Carlo excursions as confirmed. Not sure if they are going to get cancelled or if they will just bus us...

 

Similarly still shows as Venice at the end of the cruise...

[anaco_angler]

I am guessing we will be in the bubble, too, on our Oct 5 cruise and that Viking will try to line some tours up from Villefranche-sur-Mer. I think it would be a great place to wander on our own but I don't see that as a possibility now. My one hope is that we keep Barcelona as our debarkation port, not Tarragona. We have a 6:50 am flight from Barcelona, and it was already going to be an early morning experience if docked in Barcelona.

Bottom line on the shorex, the selections may not be all that we were hoping for but at least on the Oct 5 sailing, the price is good and free airfare a bonus. We still found places we haven't visited from among the tour choices.

[anaco_angler]

There are shorex posted for Villefranche now: the same ones that appear on Viking's website for Monaco. 

[bbtondo]

For my Nov 1st Iconic Med cruise it still shown as leaving Barcelona and stopping at Monte Carlo.  When I check the port schedule for Barcelona it lists the Viking ships, but with "n/a" after the ships name.  All the other cruise lines have a time that they arrive and depart. When I look at the other Med ports I see the same thing for Viking ships. Not sure what that means.

 

 

[Sleep7]

Hello!

We are booked on the November 7th Viking Sky from Barcelona to Rome and I see that now our ship is docking in Villefranche-sur-Mer instead of Monaco.

I signed up for the included morning walking tour of Monaco that ends at 12:45.

Would anyone know if Viking will be running any shuttle buses from the ship to Monaco in the afternoon to take any passengers back to Villefranche-sur-Mer if we choose to spend the afternoon in Monaco?

I know we can take the train but I would rather not take public transport if I don't have to.

Thanks in advance if anyone knows.

 

[anaco_angler]

Sleep7, we just finished our cruise on Oct 12 and I can confirm there is no shuttle from Monaco to Villefranche-Sur-Mer. You have to find your own way back. The good news is we were able to wander on our own in Monaco (Villefranche-Sur-Mer), Toulon, Sète, and Barcelona.

[Sleep7]

😊Oh thanks anaco-angler for your timely answer.

Did you take the included tour that is a morning walking tour of Monte Carlo?

If yes.. was there free time at the end to just wander around Monaco before getting back on the bus to the ship?

Thanks for letting me know if you know.

[tdl60]

We also just returned from the Western Med cruise on October 12.  We did the included shore excursion to Monte Carlo.  The bus took us from Villefranche sur mer to Monaco.  The bus ride was very enjoyable because you see a lot of the beautiful coastline along the way.  We did have some free time to wander around on our own.  It was not very long though.  I think it was only about 45 minutes.  On another interesting note when we were leaving the parking lot on our bus the tour guide pointed to a number of buses sitting there.  She told us they were still waiting for over an hour for the police to come on the buses to check their documents.  The tour guide said it was a good thing that we were on a Viking excursion because the Monaco officials know that Viking has already taken care of the entry requirements.  No police checked our bus.  The driver also took a different road back to Villefranche sur mer so that we got to see another perspective of the coastline on the way back.

[Sleep7]

Hi tdl60!

Thanks for your incredibly helpful post about the free time on the included Monte Carlo tour.

One more question.. for the 45 minutes of free time did they drop you off near the Casino or was the free time near the palace up on the hill?

Also.. if we decided to forgo the tour and just do our own thing where did the bus pick you up to take you back to the ship?

I'm a shopper and have my sights set on something that I want to buy during our Monaco visit.  I thought originally that the ship would dock in Monaco which would make it very easy but now I have to do a little more planning.

Thanks for your help!