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So what happens if they find a banned item? Especially on Royal Caribbean. Will they kick you off the ship or just take the item, give you some form that says you can come pick it up when the trip is over?
Been on three Viking Cruises (Elegant Elbe, Romantic Danube, Passage to Eastern Europe). The first two cruises were great! The third, and last cruise, was a disaster. COVID was just behind us and Viking was not prepared at all. The paperwork for COVID, sent to us, was not the correct paperwork, and we were delayed in Bucharest needlessly. Passengers on the boat did not follow procedures, and five cases of COVID sprouted before we even made it to Serbia. As a result, both Serbia and Croatia denied us entry! The ship and senior staff were not prepared at all. Nothing more fun than a customs check, by Hungarian Authorities, as 2300 at night. After the crews, we ended up in a protracted battle with Viking for reimbursement, which never came. Since 2017 Viking's owner has been in a contentious divorce and had to sell a third of the company to a hedge fund. He has also had to deal with the negligent killing of several Korean tourists, when the Viking Sigyn ran down another craft. Quality and quantity of this line has gone way down. Do your research before picking a river cruise.
So, I want to give my kids a little $$ budget for the extra food treats to spend as they wish. I like them being in control of that money, but how can I achieve that on the ship? Do they accept cash like for the bubble waffles or lemon post?
They will probably delete my experience here. All these glowing reports about how Viking does everything correctly, isn't really the entire experience. My Mum wanted to go on a river cruise through Europe with my dad, however he past away before they could go. So in 2014, I took her on the Danube Walz Viking cruise from Budapest to Passau. We bought extra excursion tickets to go and visit Beethoven's home, or flats as it were in Vienna. Well, the cruise only allowed one day/one night in Vienna. Other passengers weren't so keen on visiting Beethoven anything, so they canceled it on us and we never got a refund. *( Please keep in mind: I value friendliness above everything else!!)* Also, when buying the Drink Package for the bar, (Viking only sells it as a double occupancy package.) My mum didn't want to drink at their bar, nor did she ever get a drink from the bar. She opted for complimentary wine with dinner. I was charged double for that drink package and when we arrived at the ship, I was told they couldn't refund half of it. They insisted I had to apply for the refund back home. So instantly, I decided to get my moneys worth and drink their bar dry!! LOL! With no guarantee of any refund, I was determined to get as much beer in me for which I had paid. Beer and Wine, mighty fine, Beer and Whiskey, mighty risky. Knock down some frothys mate! The People on board were the stuffiest , most unfriendly lot of PBS, and BBC crowd I had ever seen. I mean to say you would think there would be at least a number of blokes who would have enjoyed each others conversations at the bar. But, no, all their pretentious wifeys told their conscripted hubbies to not sit at the bar and drink the bar dry with the likes of me. LMAO!! I certainly didn't have any previous expectations though. I studied German in Germany, and Swedish in Sweden. I had already been across Europe a number of times, and actually enjoyed my times ashore more. Yet, there were no people on board who spoke either German, or Swedish. There were no Norwegians, Danes, Swedes, or Germans aboard our ship. The Crew was from Britain and Eastern Europe. As such, I spent a small fortune and had nobody with whom I could engage a decent conversation in another language. Only during the dinner hours with the visiting musicians entertaining us, and on the excursion trips did I find anyone who could speak German. Were all those stuffy, unfriendly passengers, tourists jealous?? Yes, they were! They were green with envy. Ha ha ha! The On Board Ship routine, and schedule is real as such: 6:30 am you wake up; 7am you're at breakfast; 7:30-8am they're boarding you upon a bus for an excursion trip, however--* * *(WARNING)*** - Don't let this fool you! When you get there, you are going on a forced by compulsion 5 mile hike minimum!!--EVERY DAY!!" Everyone simply goes along with this rigorous itinerary because your time is limited and you want to see as much as possible. Therefore, if you want to enjoy this type of cruise, with unfriendly, stuffy people I may add, you must do a lot of hiking and walking prior to going on this trip just in order to be prepared. The Viking River Cruises do try their best to do what they say they're planning. ( The ship's food was excellent. That's my best recommendation for them.) The Prague Czech Republic extra trip was very nice. The Czechs were friendly, Yet, nobody speaks German in Prague, Praha. The Salzburg side trip was also wonderful. Finally there were people who spoke German. Hungary was wonderful, Budapest is amazing. The Csiskos (Hungarian Cowboys, Horsemen extra Trip was fantastic!) Their language: Forget it it's too difficult. I have embarked on some other Ocean cruises, and overall I don't care for cruises. You get stuck in lines, waiting on everything, and you're stuck with people you'd rather not be forced to be around. They don't allow you enough time in port to get out and do as much as you would like too. Did I get my Drink Package refund?? Only after several telephone calls to the Viking representative after returning home. They returned half of the Drink package fee, with an insulting note: "Goodwill,". What part of my having paid for that drink package in full, to the punitive double occupancy measure, was them doing a Good Will deed refunding my own money for the extra person's part??? The Nerve!! Never again! Nie Wieder! Dein Dich Liebender Johan.
I noticed that you spoke a lot about the walking tours that you did. I am partially mobile and can walk for about five minutes but then often times take a wheelchair with me that my husband can assist me with. Would it be unreasonable to do some of these tours? I definitely would not be making the 250 steps lol. But I can do a flight of stairs. What do you think for those who have some disability?
Art for sale on ships is like duty free at the airport, exploits the feeling that many people get about suddenly "feeling rich" just because you're flying (or cruising).
@Eatsleepcruise1 🤣🤣🤣 we've been cruising 35 years! All Cruise Lines and riverboats. We live an hour from tampa and refuse to drive anymore to East coast to Cruise. After 50 cruises the reason we Cruise is to meet people, live entertainment at our door and food we don't have to cook or clean up after. MAS is a new adventure for us. Heard pros and cons but looking forward to a new adventure. Your tips were wonderful. 🫠
VIKING =CORPORATE GREED We had a Viking Cruise scheduled for late October (The Romantic Danube). 3 weeks ago my husband ended up with serious emergency surgery which resulted in an 8 day hospital stay. On his discharge day, we ended up at the ER again with a series infection in his incision. Another 6 day hospital day ,Ayer he went home with a wound vac and will need months to recover. The wound vac needs to be changed 3x a week by a special nurse and the vac needs to be plugged in 24/7. Viking refund $2000 of our $8000 payment and said “hope you’ll sail with us again soon!” That’s right, through no fault of our own, they are keeping $6000 of our money. BUYER BEWARE!!!!!!
If its possible fire hazards, then why are they letting power banks allowed? They are so dangerouse you can't put them in your checked bag. My suggestion is to charge your power banks 1st, then your phones, in the evening on the plugs
Holland America is good. Celebrity Cruise Line used to be good. Princess is okay. Will never cruise on RCCL or NCL again. Will never go on a Disney cruise. No casinos onboard. Pizza on Carnival used to be the 24-hour restaurant. The studios on NCL are actually more expensive than getting a double and paying single supplement. Viking doesn't have a casino onboard. MSC Cruise Line is hit or miss with food. Buffett has long waiting lines. MSC has terrible customer service. Like Carnival, but, not their huge ships. Cunard is very formal. Must have a dinner jacket to get into the MDR. Does Virgin Voyages have a good casino? Onboard kitchens on Silversea? Do you cook your own meals? Do they pay you to cook for others? Windstar, no thanks. No casinos onboard. Not a big drinker so don't go for bars much. Any private island have a place for coffee and cake? Or a nosh?
Yes, there are different price points for cruises. Inside staterooms aren't bad. Love Carnival Cruise Line. They are now building huge ships. So Holland America may be my new favorite cruise line. The Carnival Radiance used to be the Carnival Destiny. They added more staterooms, but, no additional deck space. MSC the food is hit or miss. The MSC ships are usually overbooked and are very crowded. Would not want to go on an MSC cruise. MSC has substandard service onboard their ships. Don't like mega ships. The Margaritaville Cruise Line also leaves a lot to be desired. Have heard those ships smell like a urine factory. Margaritaville might have cheap cruises, but, is it worth it?
Some other extras cost items to consider are the special dinner shows that can be booked, as well as the Dining upgrades avaliable at the sit down restaurants.
Sorrentos only ranks so low because its competing with so much better food options Over on Princess the pizza was the only thing edible on the whole ship
No room service…no small tables…these are deal breakers! No matter the itinerary, the ship is very important…why give up needed amenities…no, thank you!
Very cool video. I used to work on cruise ships, first as the scuba instructor/shore ex and then as the port lecturer/shopping guide. I will say this, as a smaller ship, with less pax and crew, it is far more intimate and you will get to know people a lot more than going on a "shopping mall" cruise ship. I would choose this anytime over a large floating theme park.
Especially since climate change is increasing the frequency and danger of flooding (see August - September, 2024) it would be useful to know the options if the weather prohibits or impedes delivery of the itinerary.
If you enjoy it and you are fine with the price, its not a rip off. Just because you dont like/want to do those things doesnt make it a rip off for the ones that do.
