A friend and I cruised to Alaska this summer and we were thrilled with the trip on Princess. We were good roommates and we liked many of the same things.
The cruise and excursion portion of that trip was about $5000 each (paid in dribs) and also airfare (another $600-$800).
Now we have put deposits on two Princess cruises for next summer/fall with a focus on Norway. I’d be happy to do either, but not both. (They are fully refundable until next April). Somewhat higher than was we paid this year.
We are also considering a couple of Viking cruises. We can get there via Iceland or with journeys that include Orkney and other islands. Those would probably run about $10,000 per person before airfare and excursions. Unfortunately, Viking likes to be paid much earlier in the process.
And, then my daughter’s friend, just came back from a family cruise on National Geographic/Lindblad and was blown away by a trip that seems to be on an ice breaker. The starting point for that cruise is almost $20k per person! (That family has done even more expensive Antarctica).
So, I’m a widow, and who knows how much time any of us have left. Funny but the question seems to be: will I be happier if I do a more expensive cruise?
Does anyone have experience with various cruise lines, especially for Norway?
My SisIL went on 2 icebreaker cruises, so I believe she really liked them, as she booked the 2nd pretty soon after finishing the 1st one. We have only done Princess to Alaska and liked it well enough but were never excited to book more cruises.
My daughter and her husband just got back from a land tour of Norway. My husband and I were shocked how beautiful Norway is.
Friends of our just got back from the Norway and Iceland cruise with Viking. I haven’t had time to talk to them. My husband is having lunch with the husband, I’ll let you know if they talked about it. I’m guessing not though. I have no idea what men talk about but it’s usually not what I think is interesting
My husband said his friend loved Norway. Said the pictures don’t do it justice. It seemed he wasn’t as excited about Iceland.
Viking puts out a good product. We’ve done 2 rivers cruises, our first ocean is this fall. I think that their Nordic cruises sell out as I don’t see last minute sales on those routes.
I know Viking has a promotion out, pick free drink package and gratituties or onboard credit. They do want their money upfront but you can cancel up to 120 days before.
We’re putting all of the outdoor things away today at our second home to prepare for our 7-week trip to Europe. H and I are heading out in two weeks, starting in Austria and ending in France. Some new places, some revisits to places that we’ve loved and wanted to see again. Two weeks in Provence with the girls and their partners.
My goal is to pack light and make it easy to get around. We’re planning a lot of wine and food and times to sit and watch the world go by (with wine in hand, haha).
Funny, my husband brought up the Viking “Into the Midnight Sun Cruise” the other day - stating he wants to do that next. Except for the fact that that part of the ocean can be quite active, I’d love to take the trip. We will see - my visiting son reminded me that he did not get to go on our Christmas in Banff trip a few years back and he wants us to schedule that for Christmas 2026 - nothing like Banff at Christmas! But, I can’t put up everyone in the Banff Springs Fairmont this time - we will have to find other hotel or rental properties since I no longer bring any $$ except Social Security.
First post in a long while. We did Solvang a few years back on a whirlwind trip around CA. Cute town. Pancakes were great. We drove over the mountains from Santa Barbara and unwisely didn’t check gas. We coasted into some station on fumes. Oops
the trip - which I don’t recommend - was NYC to San Diego for a few days, then drove up the coast to Santa Barbara for the day then stayed overnight in Solvang, drove to Yosemite for two days (April snowstorm, stop at Fresno AutoZone for chains…) then drove to Sequoia then drove to Santa Monica same day. We did LA for a few then stopped in Manhattan Beach for the day of our flight out of LAX. Let’s just say it was too much.
The Santa Ynez valley is a great place for biking. Each of the small towns have their own feel. @showmom858 the restaurant selection in Solvang has gotten better. My in-laws like The Gathering Table in Solvang. In Santa Ynez I like Carlitos and SY Kitchen. In Los Olivos Nella is my in-laws favorite.
@Marilyn there are a few motels in San Simeon. I think the Best Western Cavalier has nice views. I don’t think there are many places to eat up there. In Cambria Moonstone beach has numerous motels across from the ocean. There is a nice pathway to walk along the water. Robin’s restaurant is pretty and probably the best restaurant in Cambria. As @jym626 mentioned get the Ollalieberry pie from Linns. I doubt Hwy1 will be open. The road from Cambria to Hwy 101 is a really pretty drive. If you stop in Paso this is a nice community gallery off the square.
We are just back from Pismo Beach and will go to Cambria in a few weeks.
I talked to my friend last night. They had a great time on their Viking ocean cruise to Iceland and Norway.
They like Viking and I think Viking has a very loyal base. Both of us remarked how seamless things are and what an easy trip it is. If you want them to, Viking pretty much takes care of everything. I’m sure other lines do also.
I am a very type A planner. I’ve researched all my options, I made a plan for all of our port stops. I was on line at exactly the time our excursions opened to get exactly what I wanted.
Our friends on the other hand. Left for their trip and decided that they hadn’t looked into things very closely. Got on the ship and booked 5 all day excursions. They got to the same place we did, except I agonized and they figured it out on the fly!
Different styles. I like planning but I do drive myself crazy sometimes!
I am very interested in a Viking River cruise but disappointed in that there are no single rooms. I either have to basically pay for 2 people ( I’m ok paying a surcharge, but not double) or find someone to go with me.
And I admit I’m picky about who I will share a room with. My sister ( who has no interest in this), my college roommate ( prefers to do her own itinerary), my good friend ( she has already done several of these with her H) and my D ( she would be 30 years younger than the others). So , no good options.
@FallGirl , what you described is a primary reason why I won’t do another Viking River cruise - the “single supplement” charge. I sailed with them 2 months ago and it was a wonderful trip, truly a bucket list experience. I traveled with a work colleague and her mom and they were fun travel companions at meals and on excursions. However, I wanted a room to myself as I am really only comfortable sharing a room with my D whose life it too crazy these days to escape for 10 days (2 small children, husband who travels for work frequently, job) and she wouldn’t have wanted to spend that much time with me in a tight space even if I paid. I get that they build their financial model on selling each cabin with two passengers, but so many potential passengers are people who are used to living alone and having their space. I agree that some kind of surcharge would be okay, but paying double the cruise fare with only one person eating the meals seemed excessive to me (even though the food was truly delicious! ).
I wouldn’t be surprised if the single rooms are limited, but it sure seems like they would have some - many circumstances where someone might need a single!
Viking’s model is for double occupancy and it’s extremely rare for them to offer waiving a single supplement.
There are plenty of other river cruise options and some of those do. A couple I heard are Avalon, Tauck and Scenic. Gate 1 is a lower priced option that I do think offers specials
I think if you are interested, a good travel agent who specializes in river cruises should have some insight.
From what I’ve heard cruising is difficult when you would like to sail in a single room. It’s really too bad
My mom is going on a Mediterranean cruise at the end of October which after the cruise sails across the Atlantic to NYC. This cruise was supposed to happen 2 years ago when my dad was still around, but he was too ill and they had to cancel. My aunt and uncle as well as some of their church group are also going on the cruise. My cousin is going to be my mom’s roommate. My cousin’s husband does not travel unless it is to play golf and my cousin has never been to Europe so this is great for my mom and for her. I’m excited that my mom is traveling again. My parents traveled so much and I’m happy that even though my dad is gone my mom is still doing what she loves.
It’s a pity that traveling solo can be so difficult, and it’s entirety clear why it seems so unfair to the single traveler. It’s also easy to see why a cruise line saves little when a cabin has one passenger instead of two – it doesn’t cut down on staff or fuel, just a bit of food and drink - and given that there’s generally extra to ensure nobody goes without, that may be nominal.
Agree that a good travel agent might know of where there might be opportunities to do a little better - especially on ships that have vacancies closer to the departure date.
Good to know! It would seem that the logic that makes single discounts unattractive to cruise companies should also encourage the sale, even at a discounted price, of empty cabins.
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