Thanks much for your input. Navigate the locks of the Welland Canal, located between Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. A photographers paradise. Ports include Sydney, Hobart, Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, Napier, Tauranga, and Auckland. Navigate the waters of the Chilo Archipelago or explore the wooden walkways of Tortel. Felicity was our guide. In Oslo, I booked two nights at the Thon Hotel Opera (same hotel that Viking uses for the post-excursion for $250/night including taxes (I booked directly with the hotel website). Sounds like booking this myself may be the way to go. Inaugural cruise brand visits included the companies MSC, TUI, Hurtigruten, Scenic, Peace Boat Japan (NGO/humanitarian aid organization). Cruisers' Choice Awards! The project is for expanding and redesigning the existing terminal (at Pointe-a-Carcy) and also installing a new mobile terminal at Wharf 30 (Estuary sector). /expeditions/images/longitudinal-world-cruise-v2-iii_478x345_tcm40-173201.jpg. Im a photographer, adding a couple of days is very interesting to us. Of all the add-ons I feel most likely not to take advantage of these as some of our best Italian meals have been in tiny family owned places. So still on the fence on what Ill do. Also, with a two night extension, you will have only only one full day dedicated to touring (do the Golden Circle tour) -- on the first day, part of the day will be involved with arriving at the airport and getting to the hotel (and maybe even catching up on lost sleep) and the last day be spent checking out of your hotel and getting to the ship -- with maybe time for a wander around the downtown since boarding starts around 11 am. You cant wander off the path, but you can sort of take your time and move away from the group a little bit. Choose Your Hotel When you extend with Viking, they select your hotel and accommodations. They live there with their young son. Services of a Viking Host. Sad! On 1-7-23 at 1: 46 am in the morning your Company sent me an email stating our cruise and all excursions were cancelled. This is true. Scenic Sailing: St. Lawrence Seaway Locks. The port's schedule lists all ships (in links) with cruises going to or leaving from Quebec City, Canada. I wouldn't hesitate to do any kind of independent travel in Norway for any reason. That seems extreme. Even though we were on our own, a Viking host went with us from our hotel in Venice to the Airport and escorted us to the Avis counter; that was unexpected and alleviated the stress of figuring out how we were going to do that. I'm going to have to look into that Vigur Island opportunity. On October 1, 2017, Port Quebec officially inaugurated the new cruise dock "Quai Paquet" when at the new wharf berthed the Saga Cruises linerSaga Sapphire. My daughter was in advanced English there and studied literature way beyond her home high school. There have been a number of threads discussing this train and booking it. We were sent on this train after being stranded in Bergen by the SAS strike. Center of the Champagne region, Reims offers diverse historic sites, notably Gallo-Roman ruins, medieval monuments and Reims Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. By "Beauport 2020" (port development project, in 2019 renamed to "Laurentia") is a planned wharf line extension of 610 m (2000 ft) with max draft 16 m (52 ft) at low tide. $50 - transfer from ship to train station, $300 - food in Oslo (2 nights, 1 morning), $600 - hotel (2 nights - high, but I estimate high). End of July 2022, the tracks were closed for a week. The incremental cost of staying a few more days is fairly low compared to the overall cost of your trip. I know that the hotel's a little high, but there are always extra expenses that come up, like a souvenir or a museum entry fee, or perhaps an Uber. Observe the wildlife of South Georgia island; keep watch for king penguins and seals. During the off-season, Terminal 30 offers storage services for pleasure crafts (65 boats) and hosts large-scale events, such as the Imagine Monet exhibition, which runs until September 5, 2022. It was the best day of our week long trip! However, even without points, it was much less expensive to book flights on our own rather than going through Viking Air, especially after purchasing Air Plus and the deviation. Phase 1 (CAD 50,56 million) is for reconfiguring and expanding the existing Ross Gaudreault terminal area in order the facility to be able to accommodate even the world's largest cruise vessels (RCI's Oasis-class). We took the Umbrian pre-cruise extension in Sep before our Rome-Barcelona cruise. Well also talk with our travel agent about the options of changing to a hotel downtown, additional deviation fees, and transfers before making a decision on how to get the best value. Were traveling with another couple too, so well discuss our options with them. Lastly, I am looking at using thewww.porterservice.no luggage transfer rather than schlepping our large bags (we are on the NYC to Bergen trip, so more than carryon). Those who took the extension with Viking I believe had to do some buses. After we signed up, we were informed of the optional dinner but I dont think we had to sign up before we actually checked into the hotel and registered with the Viking rep. You will be able to leave a comment after signing in, By The new facility is located at Pier 22 (beside the cruise terminal). Doing a simple search, here is the most recent thread, but there are plenty of others. Stacker Stacker&39;s interface is divided in 3 areas the Stack, the Block Info and the Debugger. The value of cargo shipping through Port Quebec is estimated at USD 20+ billion (statistics 2012). TIP: At the time of booking, be sure to check the hotel location and ensure that you like it. You will have no problem. In addition to medieval architecture, Prague is a rich repository of Romanesque, baroque and Art Nouveau buildings that stir the imagination. To our surprise we were upgraded to a Veranda room at check in for no additional fee. Dividing the Old World from the New World, sail the second-largest of the Earths oceans. WebMore days means more to discover, with extension packages you can add before or after your Viking cruise or cruisetour. and others may be new to international travel and a little timid, or even just want the support of Viking as they return to travel during Covid. "Terminal 30" allows berthing to some of world's largest passenger ships (with capacity 4000+). Explore the waterways of Charleston by kayak and search for Low Country birdlife. Admire magnificent coastal vistas of soaring cliffs; marvel at a variety of birdlife. Explore more before or after your expedition. WebGetting started First of all, you need to navigate to the Config Manager tab inside OpenBullet and create a Config, or edit an existing one. We absolutely loved the excursion to Lake Maggiore after we docked outside Venice. PS. In May 2017 was inaugurated the theme park Place des Canotiers (cost USD 39 million). Ask your Viking Expert for more information. Had a great South Coast tour with Your Day Tours, but I cant find the cost. An included lunch is usually at a restaurant and usually a fixed menu with sit-down service. There is a Viking host at the hotel to assist you with any questions you have. We're doing the Iceland and Norway Artic Explorer cruise in June, 2013. We would probably only be able to do the 3 hour tour due to included tour in morning. The second extension, Ultimate Italy Tuscany, was completely escorted. For ship boarding passengers is advisable to arrive at the port at least 2 hours prior departure. Still worth it? After that I think we had about half an hour on our own. This last summer we received "sack lunches" shortly after we boarded the train. The official inauguration ceremony (held on July 5th) was attended by Mario Girard (Port's President and CEO), Chantal Rouleau (Transport Minister), David Weiser (QFF councilor for economic developments, Qubec Citys executive committee member), and other local dignitaries. WebSign up to receive updates from Viking Stay current with special offers, news and destination-focused content. Survey the Rhine from 900-year-old Marksburg Castle. TIP: If you have booked your air through Viking, you can still schedule your own extension. TIP: If you would like more information on the Ultimate Tuscany extension, or other extensions we have made to previous Viking Cruises, check out the Europe and Viking Tabs. Cruisers' Choice Awards! I do hope you can make it! CN (Canadian National Railway) is a 1918-founded, Montreal-headquartered and government-owned company. So, lets take another look at those two examples from above. As deepwater port, it allows ships with max draft 15 m (49 ft) at low tide and provides the shortest connection from Europe to North America's Great Lakes region - continent's industrial and agricultural core. WebItinerary and shore excursions are subject to change and may vary by departure. When we first selected the extension, the designated hotel was located much closer to the prime tourist areas. Admire the regions natural beauty and look for seals and birdlife on Brion Island. They live there with their young son. Enjoy additional days to explore your embarkation or disembarkation city, or see a new destination altogether with a choice of exciting cities. I don't think there was an option to upgrade. Immerse in nature in this surfers paradise; Iquique is Chiles premier beach resort. On May 28, 2019, QPA signed a long-term agreement for building and operation/management of the new container terminal Laurentia. Did you do any of the group dinners ? Some vendors may process your personal data on the basis of legitimate interest, which you can object to by managing your options below. They only offer "plus" seating which I believe is their first class experience. Enjoy additional days to explore your embarkation or EnerDel is leading the way in the development and manufacturing of innovative modularized lithium-ion battery solutions for transportation, construction, mining, marine, grid-scale energy storage and military applications in the United States. A couple other points: you might find better flights home from Oslo than Bergen; the cost of transfers is not that much (we did the train to/from the airport in Oslo and it wasn't that much; the train station in Bergen is a very short taxi or uber ride from the ship or hotels); if something happens and you are a seasoned traveler, you will figure out what to do. Explore More of the City Cruisers sometimes do not realize that even though they are starting or ending their cruise in a particular city, it does not mean they will have a chance to see it. Well, there is not an absolute answer to this question, because it depends on a number of factors that we will explore in this post. While some people love the idea of Viking taking care of everything, other travelers may prefer more flexibility. Powered by Invision Community. Seems like breakfast is a common provided meal. Admire the series of locks, canals and channels that comprise the St. Lawrence Seaway. On our Viking pre we received final details about hotel and included excursion about a month before. Then a loosely organized walk through the grounds to see all the birds. The most ridiculous part of the whole thing is the included price of the hotel room. Long a hub of French culture, cuisine and architectural splendor, Paris is one of the most romantic destinations in the world. Puffins galore, but also many other birds. By contrast, a two-day extension in Munich before a river cruise next summer is $298 pp. Observe the wildlife of South Georgia island; keep watch for king penguins and seals. Our only regret was that we should have chosen a 3 day gap between the cruises to have allowed more time at Lake Garda, or even a couple of more days to spend in Milan. Plus, I'd have to pay $200 for us to be able to fly into London earlier, bringing flights for one of us to $1900, versus about $1700 each for us if I book it myself--which I'm going to do. One of Germanys most renowned and intriguing cities, Nuremberg is surrounded by 13th-century walls that have many fully intact gates and watchtowers. Use down arrow key to expand the menu and up arrow key to collapse the menu and hit enter to select the link. This approach can be especially helpful for reducing the stress for first time international travelers, first-time cruisers, or anyone who wants to make their travel planning as easy and streamlined as possible. The Island is owned by a single family. I plan to extend on my own to Milan afterwards so it will be a hybrid situation. By Explore Panamas second city, culturally rich Coln is brimming with historic treasures. How do meals included in an extension work? WebMore days means more to discover, with extension packages you can add before or after your Viking cruise or cruisetour. Sail the legendary Path Between the Seas, an engineering marvel completed in 1914. Port Quebec creates 13,250 Canadian jobs, of which 8000+ (direct and indirect) in Quebec City. Make Sure Your Voice Is Heard! If it's Economy, can we pay extra and get 1st-class instead? Explore the colonial town of Montecristi; visit the home of the iconic Panama hat. Check the extension if you are interested in the details. Discover the nature of the Fuegian Andes; sail the Beagle Channel in search of wildlife. The cost for the pre-cruise extension You may want consider them in your discussions with Viking Air. We then had a day on our own before a 3 day pre-cruise at Lake Como before our 7 days on the Rhine from Basel to Amsterdam with a 2 night extension in Amsterdam. End of July 2022, the tracks were closed for a week. Ive booked the 3 night Lake Como extension which includes some dinners and tours but most importantly the transfer from the now changeable docking Venetian location. NTW about language. The area is part of the expanded Port District (a former industrial zone). Enjoy additional days to explore your embarkation or I would cancel the included in a heartbeat and book Vigur if you only have time for one. CC Help Jenn Get a close-up view of the majesty of the falls, including the largest, Horseshoe Falls. WebMore days means more to discover, with extension packages you can add before or after your Viking cruise or cruisetour. Enjoy additional days to explore your embarkation or disembarkation city, or see a new destination altogether with a choice of exciting cities. It looks like we could go in the afternoon of the "Blue Lagoon" day or skip the lagoon altogether. Transfers and a tour shouldn't come to $700. Just pricing the Bergen Oslo part, it comes to about $800 USD for the two of us (2 nights in Oslo plus train tickets). Also as "lackcreatvity" as accurately said, often the included breakfast is a normal part of the room so the "included breakfast" feature of the pre cruise extension is just another example of cruise companies stretching the truth past the breaking point. So being in more comfy surroundings would be more satisfying. He is Icelandic and she is from UK and both are polar explorers. P.S. I don't know what class it was, but the windows were small and the seats not very well padded. Clearly, these two extensions are completely different in terms of what is offered, but of course the price is different too. By this deal, HPH will build the cargo-handling facility, which will be North America's most technologically advanced cargo terminal. Forum Assistance - Welcome to Cruise Critic, Announcement: Upgrade Your Horizon ~ Sponsored by Regent Seven Seas Cruises. On a breathtaking stretch of the Rhine that leads from medieval Koblenz to Braubach to Rdesheim, the 11th-century Marksburg Castle towers over the river. Sail the St. Lawrence River, past the cultural capitals of Quebec City and Montreal. We were still full from lunch so didnt go (we had done a duck lunch on our own previously). Yes, do! Felicity was our guide. On our last cruise, our assigned hotel in Rome changed three times before the cruise, and while the hotel we ended up at was nice, we were not as pleased with its actual location in the city. "From the balloons over Cappadocia, the views of the rock formations and the houses in them were all breathtaking." EnerDels lithium-ion battery solutions offer notable benefits over traditional battery solutions, including light weight, longer cycle life, reduced maintenance and service and often less space allowing for new product design options. I suspect this problem is just another to add to the pile of things that are now suffering post covid. June 9, 2023 Iconic Western Mediterranean. If you have special food requirements (allergies, celiac, vegetarian in particular), call Viking a few months in advance of departure and confirm before leaving home and once again upon arrival when you meet the Viking extension hosts. In addition, it may be a relief to know that Viking will take care of not only transporting you, but will also take care of handling your luggage between hotels, the ship and the airport! The Homelands post cruise extension in Iceland includes two full days between arrival and departure (with activities) as well as three breakfasts and one lunch. Not all seats have a window in the right place and the last 1/3 of the trip it was dark. What train booking site did you you use? Ask your Viking Expert for more information.Pre & Post Cruise Extensions vary by itinerary and are subject to change. After applying our credit of 125% of the money spent on the cruise that was canceled in 2020 we were able to add the Prague extension at $900 each making the total price paid for the entire cruise , flights and extension at about $5000 total. Of course, these folks never got a chance to see Rome! There is an old windmill many of us climbed up to see, and lots of pretty ocean vistas from atop the hill. We're also doing our own flights for our May '23 London to Bergen cruise , arriving a day early in London and departing 3 days later from Oslo. We stayed at the Sand Hotel after our Viking cruise in July. Quebec City is carved into the Cape Diamond cliff, at the confluence of two rivers (St Charles and Saint Lawrence) and is part of Canada's Quebec province. Pre and post extensions are available in Sydney and Auckland. Explore the untamed beauty of Antarctica and experience a journey like no other. Mikeannie, you've received some very good responses. Whether you are planning a road trip across North America or have an urban European adventure in mind, our goal is to provide you with sensible, useful travel advice. Enjoy additional days to explore your embarkation or Excursions In some cases, Viking will offer an included or even optional excursions during the extension. In December 2017, Quebec Port Authority (QPA) announced its plan for building a new container terminal at the "Beauport 2020" site. Sail the South Atlantic Ocean, separated from the North by the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Viking Cruises does a great job of running a smooth process and transporting everyone on their comfortable coaches to tour locations or on scenic drives. They never said anything about the trip. Copyright 19952022 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos. https://www.vigurisland.com/about. $250/person for 1st-class. We're on the BIE cruise this May (London to Bergen) and plan to spend 3 days post cruise on our own - 1 extra night in Bergen at the Thon Hotel Orion (at $138 USD through booking.com) and 2 nights in Oslo. We were met at the airport and our tour director stayed with us throughout the entire extension. This will open up Stacker and allow access to the Other Options tab, which are Config-specific settings. If Viking is only offering the basics, with no excursions, then we take a look at the price and then determine if it makes more financial sense to create our own. In Norway, especially Bergen and Oslo, we had NO problems with the language as everyone spoke English - quite well. Yes, it was a bit expensive at $1700 pp, but it included transfers from Rome airport to Perugia (2 1/2 hour drive), three nights in a converted castle, all meals except one lunch, and three days of guided tours before being dropped off at our ship. I see that the ship stops in Isafjordur. Started October 12, 2018, Copyright 19952022 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Traverse the South Atlantic Ocean and follow in the wake of Captain James Cook. Puffins galore, but also many other birds. Sail the legendary waters of the Atlantic Ocean, the route of explorers for centuries. To learn more about each port of call and our included as well as optional excursions, click on the individual days below. So, if we had it to do over again, we would have just elected to create our own extension, rather than purchasing the Viking extension. Likely to Cost More Booking an extension through Viking comes at a premium and it is quite possible that you could create your own extension for less. We had four or five appetizers and soup?, then they brought out platters of various mai dishes, a number of vegetables, rice etc. I hope that's high, but when I looked at a random date in the next couple of months, it came back with $247 each (I forget what site it was). In 2022 HAL-Holland America Line's boats ms Nieuw Statendam and ms Zaandam will be sailing along the East Coast of North America. If you do your own extension and use Viking Air, you will have pay have to pay the deviation fee and arrange for your own transfer into Reykavik but still it isn't going to cost you as much using the airport shuttle (booking a limo will blow the savings completely). MSC Celebrity Cruises revealed its brand-new itineraries for 2023 on the fully-refurbishedship Celebrity Summit. After the walk you go to one of the buildings for coffee and pastries. We're considering adding the pre-cruise and post cruise extensions offered by Viking. Your personal data will be processed and information from your device (cookies, unique identifiers, and other device data) may be stored by, accessed by and shared with third party vendors, or used specifically by this site or app. Guests are on their own for everything else. Im a seasoned traveler, and not afraid of being on my own, but Norway is a place where I would not know a single word of the language. Current statistics show that the port handles annually 1400+ vessels. LauraS Enjoy additional days to explore your embarkation or WiFi Internet access is available at the Restaurant inside the cruise terminal. Follow in the wake of ancient explorers, who sailed these waters in search of new lands. We have done this extension twice; once in 2018 and just this last summer. I know that the hotel's a little high, but there are always extra expenses that come up, like a souvenir or a museum entry fee, or perhaps an Uber. $1500 - TOTAL ESTIMATE The trip to Vigur Island is a MUST!!!! Plus, you will have the opportunity to spend time in a new destination or perhaps even an old favorite. Designed and engineered to meet the needs of cruise tourists and the community at large, Terminal 30 can serve several purposes at once. To learn more about each port of call and our included as well as optional excursions, click on the individual days below. It is currently ranked Canada's largestfreight railway (in terms of revenue and network size). Visit the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center; kayak over shipwrecks in Thunder Bay. Set sail from Ushuaia to the Falkland Islands, and call at South Georgia, one of the least visited places on earth. Phase 4 (CAD 20 million) is for improvements of parking facilities, ISPS ("International Ship and Port Facility Security") standards, furniture, grounds, new equipment for cruise operations. To give you an example of our two day precruise extension in Beijing, we had access to the hotels breakfast buffet. So, we hope this information helps you choose an extension that fits your needs and desires. Sail the Drake Passage; its waters are among the coldest and the deepest on Earth. I would cancel the included in a heartbeat and book Vigur if you only have time for one. Encounter ancient Hopefully, I'm not missing something! Has anyone done this extension, and if so, do you know what travel class Viking provides--Economy or 1st Class? After looking at flight arrangements, I was told by Viking that on this particular cruise, they don't allow deviations in departure cities in Norway; this would mean getting an additional flight on our own to get back to Bergen, then taking the return flight.