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The good news was later another excursion was added of the one I wanted. We believe it or not are not too fussy about times. 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. Last week those of us in DV staterooms booked our excursions. Related: Ultimate guide to tipping on cruise ships. Manage your shore excursions & see your dining options. If you struggle with mobility, check to see if there's a lot of walking on uneven ground like cobblestones. 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. A shore excursion could be a sightseeing bus tour, a guided visit to a museum or historic site, an athletic activity (like a hike, bike ride or snorkel outing), a day at the beach or a cooking or dance class. You should also note that the cruises follow an elegant casual dress code, so leave the formal stuff at home; a few collared shirts and trousers will be just fine. Shore excursions on Viking Ocean cruise Viking Homelands All passengers should be able to get slots for excursions and dining. Be sure to note the fitness level required and don't try to take on more than you're able to do. Strategy for booking excursions - Viking Ocean - Cruise Critic Viking estimates that their amenities are worth about $200, per guest, per day. Getting back to the ship in time, in general, is not an issue. Superior, more cost effective small group tours from private tour operators/guides are readily available in most ports. One of the things that helped us decide to try Viking was that they didnt have areas of the ship based on class of cabins. My wife snagged a canceled spot just before sailing. I booked the tours we had to pay for first and then went back for the included ones. but twice now Viking reps have said, "There's no way we can do that. Shore Excursions for Viking Sea sailings - higher quality cruise shore With ocean cruise, timing is less of an issue, but youll still want to plan as far in advance as is possible. It isn't all luck. The pandemic crippled the tourism industry and in particular the third-party providers of guides and buses that the cruise ships depend on for the shorex that they offer. Prices vary depending on the length of the cruise, but for around $19.95 per night per guest, youll never have to worry about what youre spending. Also, if you are looking at booking two excursions in one day (say, an included and an optional), be sure and book the included one when you book the optional one to assure that you can do both. I want to welcome you to Cruise Critic and the Viking forum . In those cases, it is more productive to contact Viking immediately to let them know so that they can open up more seats, rather than to wait until boarding (when it might be too late to resolve the problem). Does Viking have a special class of travelers who are eligible to book early? Login to My Viking Journey & personalize your cruise experience. The cruise lines have to use more than just stateroom size to sell their best staterooms. I had my "wish list" setup and second choices ready with credit card in hand. Yes. I am booked for MIdnight Sun cruise in July 2019. Really, I would gladly pay the entire cruise amount now if only Viking could somehow guarantee that what happened to my acquaintance (a profession archaeologist at a major U.S. university, so you can imagine their disappointment) would not happen to me . with Plan B we were able to see it all. Baggex baggage handling may help take the stress out of your next cruise! I also booked a DV4 for 9/26 and on the website it states 67 days out. 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. Tomorrow is the first day we are allowed to book excursions for our September 26th cruise on Viking Sky. Just to add to what has already been said, I think you should always prioritize your excursions and book them in the order of which ones mean the most to you. The good news was that in doing that we got back to the ship for the included and if we had done the ship excursion we could not have signed up for the included. As has been previously stated, if an included excursion was full, we were able to book a time slot once on board. I'm having difficulty understanding why you would cancel and suffer a significant financial penalty over the availability of cruise line shore-ex. Ive also noticed that the early included tour options tend to go first so that folks can do a tour in the morning and then spend some time on their own in port in the afternoon. Shore Excursions showing Sold Out - Viking Ocean - Cruise Critic Ancient Mediterranean Treasures - Istanbul to Athens - Viking Cruises These secret things to do on Viking ocean cruises include food options, lesser known cabin features, and Viking Cruises excursions tips. If thats not to your interests, you could always relax with a nice afternoon tea. It's also good to try Viator for options. Improve earnings, maximize rewards and track progress toward dream trips. We usually have dinner 7 to 8 pm, and we never had a problem with 8 pm or 8.15 at Chef's Table or Manfredi's. My parents are going on a luxury Regent Seven Seas cruise, and they said that even waiting until the next morning to book tours meant that some of their choices were sold out. Your posted Viking cruise is a wonderful itinerary. 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 began looking at possible excursions three days ago in preparation for booking them. I didn't get that far in the process: I only put down $50 to reserve a cabin. There were 45 seats. I just went back and looked at his email to me of a couple weeks ago, and in it he said he tried for six months prior to the cruise to secure a spot on that particular shore excursion (Ephesus), and no vacancies opened up. Personally, I find that organized tours are best when the excursion is an activity I can't do on my own (such as kayaking, zip lining or a winery tour); when long distances are involved where I don't want to bother with public transportation or renting a car on a one-day visit; or when the culture is foreign enough that independent exploration would be tricky. We wanted to see an area but if we took the ship excursion, we would not have made it back to the ship in time for included. Whether you're on a cruise line sponsored or independent shore excursion, a best practice is to tip your tour guides at the end of the tour. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. :8:30, 9:30, 11:45 even 1pm. (I should say I'm taking the cruise not for the cruise in itself, but rather for the shore excursions.). Finally, some ports are simply wonderful to walk around, popping into shops and local restaurants or bars, going where you will. Viator: This company is owned by TripAdvisor and has an ample supply of tour guides worldwide. Im sure things will work out for us. Or, my real concern is, could this happen to me? I've skipped tours in places like Key West, Florida; Tallinn, Estonia; Monaco; Nassau, Bahamas; Skagway, Alaska; Geiranger, Norway; and San Juan, Puerto Rico. However, if you go to the cruise web page there will be the itinerary listed and then go day by day and you will see a guideline of what will be offered. I very much regret booking on Viking. Travel + Leisure is published by Meredith Corporation under license from Travel + Leisure Co. However, if youre looking to save money, think about whether youll actually spend much time in your suite. As a result, Viking Cruises offer incredible itineraries with unmatched onboard amenities. Bizarrely on our Malta cruise on 2 October we got all our excursions but cannot book dining yet and are not holding our breath over Manfredis for third try. Last August on Homelands, we had not booked some included excursions. Booking at 87 days you should have no problems but for those who will be booking after you, it is good to know that there are ways that issues can be resolved without having to wait until we board. justin c, July 30, 2018 in Viking Ocean, Is it best to book optional first and pay for them, then go back and book included or go in order adding them, For those of you who have already done your bookings, what was the best method for getting your chosen itineraries? This excursion scheduling is a little bit of a bummer as the higher category cabins sold out every excursion in Dubrovnik except the included excursion and cable car. My chat with Viking did remind me that was our experience on 2 previous cruises with them. We then went into the Terrace Houses. Very easy process for a first time Viking Ocean customer. We are booked on the Feb 10 cruise to South America, Buenos Aires to Santiago. A popular post on the TWS blog "Viking Shore Excursions, Should You Take Them?" offers our readers advice, tips, and examples of our favorite excursions on our previous ocean and river cruises. Please view our advertising policy page for more information. My experience reflects what others have reported-even if you are unable to book an included excursion before boarding, you will be accommodated once onboard. Here is a thread by an expert about all thing Roman and Greek. We found it a little perplexing that two excursions for Sicily are shown as sold out. How is that possible if tomorrow is the first day to book? Thats fine if youre on an ocean cruise, but for river cruises, make sure youre taking advantage of the local culture. Good luck with your bookings! Allow me to take you through the basics of cruise shore excursions, so you can learn to have the most fun no matter what your budget is. We had some tours sell out before they could be booked and we also had some slots added long after all booking was open to everyone. 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. Unfortunate for us we were on another cruise at the time the excursion. When I spoke with Viking today they stated that currently this cruise didnt have restrictions regarding going it on your own in the ports. Q&A with Navin Sawhney, CEO, Americas, PONANT, Special Event: Q&A with Cindy DAoust, President - American Queen Voyages, Q&A: Cruise Insurance with Steve Dasseos of the TripInsuranceStore.com - Summer Session '23. Live in the UK? Weve got our wish list done for excursions, theres only one to pay for, and thats what well do first, then go back in immediately and sort out the other ports, but mainly if we dont get to book anything else were not too bothered. River cruises are very popular choices for people who like the idea of traveling to new places in the comfort of a floating hotel. Our next cruise on the 14th August we have chosen a V2 and cannot book specialities. Those in regular veranda cabins will have a tough time booking anything when its their turn. That might not interest every traveler, but if youre interested in the inner workings of a major cruise vessel, its well worth the time. Viking River shore excursions that are higher quality than cruise line offerings--at substantially lower pricess. Weve got a PS2, so were not going to panick. The 2023-2024 Viking World Cruise will sail aboard two different ships, both setting sail on identical itineraries from Fort Lauderdale and leaving within days of each other. Explore lesser-known Central European cities like Bratislava and Passau. Pre-pandemic that is exactly what Viking did. I choose my four optional tours and one included tour (same day as half day optional tour) and paid via credit card. Still, as is typical for cruise lines at the high end, Viking includes a lot in its base price. 6 Fabulous Shore Excursions On A Viking Rhine River Cruise Powered by Invision Community. In the past, putting your name on a waiting list was a dead end; so I suggest that if a tour you are interested in has sold out that, even after contacting Viking, you keep an eye on MVJ and watch for opening. Today is 63 and everything is SOLD OUT. Way too early for exact excursions. Related: What you can do if your cruise cancels port calls? Visit seldom-seen collections with before- and after-hours access to world-class museums; be a special guest at private homes and palaces not open to just anyone; or attend cultural performances of folklore, ballet and opera to get an insider's view during these private tours. Excursions Sold Out - Viking Ocean - Cruise Critic Community Your fare includes a shore excursion in each port of call (including all port charges and government taxes), onboard meals with beer and wine, Wi-Fi access, self-service laundry, spa access, and 24-hour room service. People make reservations in advance, then plans will change. As we walked further we saw the amphitheater that Paul preached in when he visited in ancient times. As Heidi 13 just posted: everyone will be able to do an include excursion but maybe not at their first choice time. or simply rent enough buses and guides for everyone. I also made sure I was at my computer ready when the booking slot opened which goes on Pacific time, 8am in the UK. I canvassed TPG's cruise team and we agreed that we give roughly $5 to $10 per person for half-day tours and $10 to $20 per person for full-day excursions, adjusted for service and quality. 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. 01/24/16 08:28 PM. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. However. We thoroughly enjoyed our ocean cruise after doing numerous river cruises with Viking. It has all the details of what you need to do to see each port on your own. If I am going to pay $13,000, I want to know I have a spot on any given shore excursion, and that I won't end up like my acquaintance, who took this same cruise last year and did not get to see Ephesus because there was no room on the shore excursions, even though he had been waiting for a spot to open up on the excursion for six months prior to sailing. I got everything we wanted. I was surprised that in some of the ports even the included excursions were sold out. Enjoy a more intimate cruise tour experience away from.. . I just spoke to my second Viking cruise rep by phone, and like the first they could not guarantee my wife and I would actually be able to reserve a spot on any given tour excursion. The One Food Tour In Toronto That All Foodies Have To Experience, Where To Find The Best Snooze Of Your Life: Hotels With Luxe Sleep Suites Or Amenities, The 11 Best Beaches Up And Down The California Coast, 7 Things I Loved About Vikings Paris & The Heart Of Normandy River Cruise, 6 Fascinating Facts About Vikings New Expedition Ship Octantis, 17 Best Things I Ate On My Viking River Cruise, 5 Important Things To Do To Prepare For Your Viking Cruise, For details on Quillt's privacy and cookie policies, please visit our. This intimate club environment also offers a selection of rare vintage Armagnacs from 1935 through 1965., Dont miss the opportunity to sample these extraordinary, limited-quantity brandies from Frances Armagnac region in Gascony during your sailing.. Looking at Princess Cruises' shore excursions in Grand Cayman, a 2.5-hour stingray swim costs $60 per person, a 5-hour scenic island drive costs $80, and a 4-hour, two-tank scuba dive costs $170. I believe we were a DV4 last time. Though we thought this would be a pretty lackluster port at first, the included excursion was one of the best we had. The ships will then move on to Hawaii, Australia, and New Zealand before exploring Asia and the Middle East. In Juneau, Alaska, a 3.5-hour tour to the Mendenhall Glacier visitor center costs $50 per person. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Some of the shore excursions were sold out before I got a chance to purchase. , would make for a fine day ashore! or "Did you not know about the 'included' tour to the same site?"). Nor do I wish to hire an independent tour guide, and then have to worry about returning to the ship in time, etc. It, along with the Viking Sky, is classified as a small ship, with 465 staterooms, capable of carrying 930 guests. We are guaranteed the included tour. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Included tours are a great option, but never the only option! They will find a place for you. Maybe some who post here can share their experiences about this excursion . A more expensive cabin should only get perks with regardto that cabins benefits and service. so wepicked 8:30 am. I am a newbie, sailing for the first time on VO on 3/19/2019. Right? 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. A simple place to start: Mamsens, a chic deli located on every Viking ocean cruise ship. Sail on our award-winning Viking Longships. Shore excursions typically highlight the marquee attractions or culture of the destination you're visiting. Sold Out Included Shore Excursions - Viking Ocean - Cruise Critic I would absolutely NOT miss Ephesus (I also have graduate archaeology classes under my belt), even if I had to pay out of my own pocket on-site (taxi driver.). Most rooms are also equipped with hair dryers, so while you might want to bring other electric products hair straighteners and curlers, for instance leave the dryer behind. The announcement comes after both Viking's 2021 and 2022 world cruises sold out in record time. Interesting. 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. There are companies in most ports that offer bus tours similar to what Viking offers and usually for less. The worst thing you can do is clutter up your quarters with unnecessary items. Just off the Viking Orion. 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. Even the Cuban guides mentioned the weather. Related: Avoid these mistakes when booking cruise shore excursions. You will be able to leave a comment after signing in. The ultimate guide to Viking cruise ships and itineraries Viking do guarantee that every pax can take an "Included" shore-ex in each port. However, the process of choosing and booking tours can be overwhelming for new cruisers. We are in a DV4. Most people organize these ahead of time through a tour operator or travel agent. St. Petersburg, Russia, for example, requires a visa for any cruise passengers who step on shore but choose not to take an organized tour. Sometimes you also need an expert guide, such as in Pompeii, to know what you're seeing. We then ended at the great library of Ephesus. For the V2 category,. Skim the waters of the Nile by traditional felucca. However, once youve paid, you dont need to spend much more. We started at the top of site and walked down with wonderful explanation of the various parts of this wondrous site. The same is true with independent tours. If they are showing as full, Viking will add additional tours. Meet some winsome children at a Viking-sponsored elementary school in China. I have had similar problems trying to book excursions on our Oct 3 Venice to Istanbul. If you want to explore on your own, you'll need to go do the paperwork and pay the fee to get a visa before your trip. It may not be at the time or day (for ports where you overnight) you prefer but you will be able to take the included tour. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. 2024-2025 VIKING WORLD CRUISE Free Business Class Airfare + transfers $2,000 per person Shore Excursion Credit $1,000 per person Shipboard Credit 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. You may have challenges pre-cruise, but once aboard the crews are brilliant. Thanks to all for your help. People have to cancel the trip. But, I could not go any further in the booking process and I could not check to see if one of the optionals had sold out between the time I added it to the shopping cart and while I entered the billing info. The Viking River Cruises website contains gratuity recommendations for various cruises, along with currency recommendations. Good advice! What cruise and excursion are your particular concerns? The best cruise booking perks and which ones are actually free, Avoid these mistakes when booking cruise shore excursions, Ultimate guide to tipping on cruise ships, The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship, A beginners guide to picking a cruise line, The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship, A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines, 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly, 12 best cruises for people who never want to grow up, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. 11294 posts. Experience history firsthand at the Normandy beaches and delight in Rouen's Gothic architecture. Shore Excursions for Viking River sailings - higher quality cruise They can also be purchased through independent operators or third-party tour sellers. The cruises will continue through the Mediterranean and end their voyages in London. But, said that could change anytime. Baggex baggage handling may help take the stress out of your next cruise! It will show the cabin features, including advanced booking times for excursions and dining. Shes covered the cruise industry for nearly 20 years and has sailed on more than 60 ships. I have never heard of an Included excursion that has been locked out (two ocean; five river cruises). While youll want to show your gratitude to the ships staff, youll want to know what youre paying, particularly if youre traveling on a ship that doesnt use your typical currency. 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. Tipping is a personal matter, and there are no hard and fast rules. Thursday, June 8, 2023. Sometimes these tour groups also are smaller than the large cruise ship tours which can carry 30 to 60 people in a bus so you will spend less time waiting for everyone. Powered by Invision Community. It's been a common problem for all cruise lines since Covid. 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. Another essential download is the Viking Voyager app, which lets you see daily events, plan your cruise program, and book shore excursions, spa appointments, and dinner reservations. Our cruise embarks on July 19 and our excursions showed up yesterday April 10. (Unfortunately, I don't know my acquaintance well enough to ask him for further details, such as "Are you sure the crew said the excursion was full?" Just as with most online shopping sites, you do not secure your spot on an excursion just by placing it in your cart. Peruse the dusty stacks at the most famous bookstore in Paris. If the ship doesn't offer it by posting time, you always have Plan B. TIP: The time frames for booking Excursions and Specialty Dining for ocean cruises are based on stateroom category. Check in at the desk when you arrive, and theyll help you sort it out. You can find her on Twitter, Instagram, or at caileyrizzo.com.