Good luck with your bookings! Tips for Booking a Viking Cruise - FOREVER TOURING Just off the Viking Orion. # 1 cdhrdh Original Poster Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 27 Likes: 0 Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts Viking/Others Shore Excursion Costs It appears that cruise lines do not give costs for their shore. See what a point or mile is worth with our appraisals of a loyalty programs currency, based on redemption values. For cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter. Exceptions are if tips are included in the price or if you're visiting a country with a non-tipping culture, where offering cash would be awkward. You can find the booking times for your class cabin on the VO website. #1 Posted July 30, 2018 getting ready to book excursions . I just booked an ocean trip for the end of April. Sometimes you also need an expert guide, such as in Pompeii, to know what you're seeing. Nice. They can also be purchased through independent operators or third-party tour sellers. You'll be able to ask the staff there any questions you have about the tours, and the charges will be added to your final cruise bill. Finally, some ports are simply wonderful to walk around, popping into shops and local restaurants or bars, going where you will. Viking does not keep a wait list prior to sailing -- and even if they do, seats are sold first come first served, so check MVJ everyday (or even twice a day) for openings. This is our first Viking cruise. Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. We prefer 6 or 6.30 but are happy up to 8 but no way caneither of us eat at 9 as too nearbedtime. Discover the turreted fortresses, grand cathedrals, historic cities, medieval towns and stunning scenery of the Middle Rhinea UNESCO World Heritage Site. Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos. A shore excursion is a group tour or activity aimed at cruise travelers who can only spend a limited time in each port they're visiting on their itinerary. As for the dining reservations, Im guessing its a Covid thing with reduced seating? I am booked for MIdnight Sun cruise in July 2019. Standard staterooms are much less expensive, and while theyre not exactly roomy, that doesnt matter if youre just using them as a sort of home base. I have an additional question regarding Viking excursions. Thanks, carol. Given the luxurious nature of the Viking vessels, its easy to understand why a traveler would want to stay on the boat. Glimpsing the world at work helps you tap into its passions and see its people anew. Any day we fancied an alternative restaurant we checked the cabin telly and always found something before 19:00. What happens to those that are in the lower cabins - are they forced to stay on board?? I think Vikings system is a bit unfair at the best of times, but during these times it is really outrageous. Pre-pandemic that is exactly what Viking did. Then, when it came time to book, we booked first the optional ones that we would be disappointed not to get to do and paid for them. Bit frustrated with Viking at the moment so could somebody confirm the email address (something like tell us ?) I booked the included. Also, in the "before times," Viking would often add buses to popular excursions, and the helpful folks at the Explorer's Desk onboard can help you find an empty spot if there has been a cancellation or addition to the excursions listed in MVJ. Located in the Explorers Lounge, Mamsens serves traditional Scandinavian fare inspired by Ragnhild Hagen Viking Chairman Torstein Hagens mother, or Mamsen, as she was known to the family, our source wrote. This confuses me: I know that while some excursions are optional, cost extra, and can fill up, there is indeed a tour of that very archaeological site marked "Included" on the Viking website. It was easily done at the customer service desk, in fact we had our pick of multiple times. Related: What you can do if your cruise cancels port calls? Interesting. Granted, my experience with Viking Ocean is limited to three oceans cruises (Iceland, Trade Routes, Panama Canal) in the past 12 months. Or, my real concern is, could this happen to me? At the Paris (La Harve) port, we will be taking the Paris On Your Own, because other shore. Even the Cuban guides mentioned the weather. For example, each river cruise has two 445-sq.-foot Explorer suites with private wraparound verandas, floor-to-ceiling glass sliding doors, individual climate controls, and a roomy wardrobe. Not necessarily. In other cases, like some of the Cuba specialty tours, you were out of luck. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit, Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPGs experts. and that was it. To add my two cents (conversion value is probably about a half cent) is that the private tour will likely be less expensive and can be tailored to your particular interests or needs. Start with these stories: The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. This cruise took them to four countries Switzerland, France, Germany, and the Netherlands and included six guided tours. The dining can be a hassle for some folks, especially if they like to dine early through 7.30. Our cruise embarks on July 19 and our excursions showed up yesterday April 10. Travelers can also opt for a shorter, 121-day World Journeys cruise that will see them board in Los Angeles before sailing across the Pacific. Some shore excursions are targeted at families or can easily accommodate children. Both journeys will last 138 days and visit 28 countries and 57 different ports. Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Viking/Others Shore Excursion Costs - Fodor's Travel Talk Forums On our first holiday on Viking we generally did not do to badly on excursions but did not try for many as it was the Caribbean where we have been many times. You should also research tipping policies for your vessel; while tips are voluntary for both ocean and river cruises, Viking ocean cruises have a discretionary hotel and dining charge of $15.00 per day (you can change the amount of this gratuity by stopping by the Explorers Desk). They do ask on MVJ for the on ship credit card info so they have it. I was also in MVJ on my iPad so from that I found the excursion which was now sold out and deleted it. I guess the closed nature of these cruises has made it worse than usual. Be sure to note the fitness level required and don't try to take on more than you're able to do. Unfortunately, popular optional tours may be sold out. Viking Ocean shore excursions that are higher quality than cruise line offerings--at substantially lower pricess. Sometimes an excursion will take you to sites within walking distance of your cruise; on other occasions, they might take you on a day trip to a nearby city. I once saved hundreds of dollars organizing a group to go on an overnight, independently operated excursion to see the Pyramids of Giza from Cairo; the ship's tours were incredibly marked up. . Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos. We were not particularly impressed with The Chefs Table so would not be too bothered if we cannot get a reservation but did enjoy Manfredi's and would hope to get a reservation there. It would have helped if when the error message came up it said which excursion had sold out so you could simply delete it and finish the check out for all the others. Check in at the desk when you arrive, and theyll help you sort it out. Savor Austro-Hungarian cuisine in Vienna and Budapest. Alternatively, you can wait until you're on the ship and book your excursion in person at the shore excursions desk. Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features. TravelAwaits writer Peggy Cleveland and Senior Vice President Missy Glassmaker were hosted on Viking's new Longship, the Viking Egdir, on the 8-day Rhine Getaway itinerary. Shore Excursions Sold Out? Here is our review of the Viking Polaris Expedition Ship as we sailed with Viking on the Great Lakes from Toronto to Milwaukee. . This Summer I am also going to Ephesus. I am in a DV cabin, so how far ahead of sailing will I be able to book? My Trip - My Viking Journey | Viking River Cruises On the day our tours opened. Go to My VIking Journey and add all the excursions that you want to your wish list. 2024-2025 VIKING WORLD CRUISE Free Business Class Airfare + transfers $2,000 per person Shore Excursion Credit $1,000 per person Shipboard Credit We willtake the later booking as recommended if necessary when we get to the Malta dinner bookingsand hope we can change on boarding. I can use my voucher and cancel the trip good for 2 years or go ahead and risk it. Even if you don't wish to spend time on research, you can use 3rd party resellers such as Viator, Tours by Locals, Shore Excursion Group, etc. But, I could just invision other optionals selling out while I wasted all that time. Taste your way through a culinary tour of Sydney. In my Viking cruises, the company has been quick to add extra sections of yours where possible. Meet the harvesters of the worlds farms, from the banana plantations of Caribbean St. Lucia to the spice farms of Indian Goa. I imagine Viking will be working hard to be certain everyone who wants an excursion will be able to take one. Others may require a minimum level of fitness and are not suitable for everyone. Pretty places deserve to be shared with others - why not Write a Review! The Viking River Cruises website contains gratuity recommendations for various cruises, along with currency recommendations. Planning in advance should help you avoid a costly mistake (or embarrassing faux pas). What do experienced people think? If they are not posted in MVJ, onboard the ship, the Shore-ex staff will ensure that every pax has a seat on the included shore-ex in each port. Next, we go back in and book the included excursions we want since we like to take our excursions first thing in the morning. The Viking Art Guide (available for free in the App Store and Google Play) offers a self-guided audio tour of the artwork throughout the public spaces of the [ocean] ships, with insightful commentary from your host, Vikings Senior Vice President Karine Hagen, as well as a variety of curators and experts, our source says. At 3:00 a.m. (east coast U. S. time) I clicked on the Viking Ocean site and it opened up at 3:02. Nor was I told in any way, "Oh, don't worry about it -- there's always plenty of room on the shore excursions.". However, if you're a novice traveler, you might want to book ship tours exclusively because it's the simplest, easiest and most convenient option. Related: Avoid these mistakes when booking cruise shore excursions. You have at least 300 days to peruse and see what suits you before it's time to act. The people in suites pay a lot more for those suites, and if I have to eat a little later than I want or struggle to find slots open on an excursion, of course I'm disappointed. I was surprised that in some of the ports even the included excursions were sold out. Are your shore excursions sold out on your next cruise? Last week those of us in DV staterooms booked our excursions. When booking cruise line shore-ex, you do not have a guarantee that the ship will wait for you. I did this the first time we went to the port near Ephesus. The most obvious: Pay for the Silver Spirits beverage package, which offers unlimited beers, cocktails, premium wines, juices, espresso drinks, and mineral water for the entire cruise. A half dozen people must have explained it to him, but it was after the fact and he was not mollified. Tomorrow is the first day we are allowed to book excursions for our September 26th cruise on Viking Sky. You definitely want to get on the wait list. It's this one:https://www.vikingcruises.com/oceans/cruise-destinations/western-mediterranean/ancient-mediterranean-treasures/index.html. You just have to take your chances." #1 Posted July 24, 2022 We are booked on Viking Trade Routes of The Middle Ages in October. I looked at the Viking itineraries, but chose Princess instead, and had all of my excursions booked and confirmed long before the final cruise payment was even due. Viking Sea shore excursions that are higher quality than cruise line offerings--at substantially lower pricess. Thanks to all for your help. Maybe some who post here can share their experiences about this excursion . This will be our 2nd cruise on Viking Ocean so we are still learning. Use down arrow key to expand the menu and up arrow key to collapse the menu and hit enter to select the link, Viking Ocean Cruises Onshore Experiences. However, most reputable tour operators that we use, provide a similar service and endeavour to get you back to the ship before departure, as their business depends on it. We have arranged exclusive entry for Viking guests to cultural treasures all around the world. However, if youre looking to save money, think about whether youll actually spend much time in your suite. Learn to waltz at a Viennese dance school. I set the alarm for 3am. Good advice! It can mean what it says or can mean, "we aren't ready to open this for booking" or "even though, it is on the list, we won't be offering it on this sailing.". Viking Shore Excursion Deviation - Viking Ocean - Cruise Critic Once in a while I have heard of glitches where you may have to call Viking if it appears that all time slots on an included excursion are sold out, but they will make it work. For example, if you're considering a bus tour, make sure you understand how much time will be spent sitting on the bus and how much time will be at the destination or attraction, whether you will be looking at or going inside key attractions and whether there's free time to explore. Does Viking have a special class of travelers who are eligible to book early? If not, you can always grab a few bottles of the good stuff during a shore excursion. you don't need to book through them but they will give you options on what is available in the port and they usually have a section for shore excursions. The excursions are mostly sold out. Make a list of planned expenditures, then do the math to see whether you can justify the Silver Spirits package. Improve earnings, maximize rewards and track progress toward dream trips. I was so disappointed. Shore Excursions - Viking Ocean - Cruise Critic Community In addition to Cruise Critic, get the book Rick Steves Northern European Cruise Ports (you'll see that many on Cruise Critic will recommend it as well). I have never heard of an Included excursion that has been locked out (two ocean; five river cruises). I have been to all those ports except Troy. As one of the apps reviewers puts it: This app is an essential tool for getting the most out of your cruise.. Peruse the dusty stacks at the most famous bookstore in Paris. Sometimes, there are capacity issues and nothing can be done other than to watch for seats to open up. You wont have much of a view, but youll still get the 24/7 room service, and if youre feeling claustrophobic, you can always head to a different part of the ship. Live in the UK? Quickly went to check out, entered the billing info and clicked to confirm. If youre on an ocean cruise, you can actually take a tour of the bridge and galley, but youll need to act quickly in order to get a spot. All that said, just walking around the wall in Dubrovnik, and possibly stopping at Buza Bar, perched outside the wall on a cliff overlooking the sea (!) Unless Viking has made a major change in policy and no one has yet experienced it, I suspect the agent you were talking to either misunderstood your question OR was incorrect. This is what we did when we visited Ephesus (before Viking Oceans existed) and both of us spent on our private guide what NCL wanted for just one AND we did it with a group of four others rather than 40 or 50. . They may at times be. Our cruise isn't for 400 days. If you don't see what you want there, don't be discouraged as it might appear by the time you can book. Also check out top destinations for the port on another site to see if something else would be more 'up your ally'. If you don't care to do any specialty tours, you might be able to get all your port activities for free. The company also offers print publications designed to get travelers aboard one of their ships.

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