It has now been several days since we returned home from the cruise. We have slowly been adjusting back to normal life. I can’t seem to find anyone to bring me a glass of wine to have with my lunch!
As we always do after the trip is over, we changed the post order from reverse chronological order, which is typical for travel blogs for trips that are in progress, to normal chronological order because it makes more sense to read it that way after the trip is completed.
We have been trying to update the posts and do some proofreading, plus add more pictures to go along with the daily write-ups, which is usually too time-consuming to do while we are traveling. With all of the sea days on this cruise, we were able to add more photos to the posts than normal.
There is not much of interest to add about the cruise itself other than we heard that we traveled about 5,000 nautical miles from Ft. Lauderdale to Los Angeles on this cruise.
We sat down the other day and had a discussion about the trip like we usually do after we get home, so we can add in our post-trip thoughts based on that discussion, Some of the highlights we discussed for the cruise were the Panama Canal Excursion we did from Colon, The Panama Canal Transit, and of course the Camel Ride Excursion in Cabo San Lucas.
Stephanie commented that she had a lot better understanding of the Panama Canal after the tour we did in Colon. There was a good amount of history about the building of the canal in the IMAX movie we watched, along with the lecture we went to on the ship before we arrived in Panama. Being up close on the shoreside also made it nice because we got to see how the ships passed through the canal before we actually did it on the Neptune. Plus, we were able to see the new locks in operation to compare to how the old locks work. It was the best excursion of the trip, and we were glad we had done it.
Of course, the canal transit itself was the highlight of the cruise, and that was to be expected since that was the major reason we went on the cruise to begin with. The weather for the transit was good, especially in the morning for the transit through the Gatun Locks, and Gatun Lake, as well as the majority of the canal on the Pacific side. The rain going through the last set of locks was light, and it was not until we were through the canal did it rain really hard, and by that time, it did not matter. Of course, everyone we talked to was glad to see the rain, they really needed it in Panama because of the drought they are experiencing. Maybe we received enough rain that day to restore the amount we used to go through the canal.
The Camel Ride excursion was just great, it was completely different and the company did a great job with the tour.
We did enjoy both the Bridge Tour and the Behind The Scenes Tour of the ship on two of the sea days.
We were really surprised at how well the Disembarkation went, as well as the bus trip to the airport. It seemed much more streamlined than the last disembarkation we did in Ft. Lauderdale last year. Maybe it was because the ship’s crew did not have to go through as much with their Immigration this time since they had already been through that in the USA at Ft. Lauderdale when the ship arrived the day we left. We did not wait that long to get off the ship in the morning, Immigration/Customs was quick, and we did not wait long on the bus before we departed to go to LAX.
We can’t say the same thing about our experience getting to the ship in Ft. Lauderdale when we arrived. It was painfully slow and unorganized by the time we arrived that late in the afternoon. I would never have thought we would sit in the airport for over an hour after getting our baggage before heading to the ship on the bus, but we did. I do not know if that was because we were the last group to get to the ship or not, maybe buses leave more often in the peak of the arrivals. Then, the whole luggage claim fiasco when we arrived at the ship on the bus was unacceptable, it was all staged in order for the porters at the pier to get tips for doing nothing. Plus, there was not any representative there to inform us of what we needed to do once our bus arrived and the luggage was unloaded, it was pure confusion.
If we arrive that late for a cruise again, especially at Ft. Lauderdale, we will just take a taxi to the ship, it is a short drive and only about $20.00. There was no traffic at that time of day since it was fairly close to our departure time, as well as that of the other ships in port, so there would not be any delays in traffic getting to the ship, increasing the taxi fare. Also, we will check to see if we could just take our luggage onto the ship with us next time if we arrive that late, we have done that before when arriving later for a Princess Cruise. Our cabin was available by that time, so we could have just taken our luggage directly to our cabin.
The worst experience of the entire cruise was the Walk In The Clouds Excursion, which was just not what was described as being in the Viling Shore Excursion information. It should have been described as a hike on muddy trails with lots of steps, with short suspension bridges to cross over streams and crevasses, all under the canopy of the rainforest.
This was what the tour was described as by Viking:
Explore the Cloud Forest Along Suspended Aerial Walkways — Discover Costa Rica’s cloud forest biodiversity along
beautiful trails and suspended bridges amid the tree canopy. The tour starts with a short downhill walk that leads to an open hummingbird garden, where many species of these tiny, brightly colored birds gather around and amaze you with their spectacular acrobatic maneuvers. Then, the more adventurous portion of this tour commences as you arrive at the first of four suspended bridges that cover over half a mile of verdant terrain, and rise up to 126 feet above the ground. As you continue your way over rivers and cascades your senses will be delighted as your naturalist guide points out the most outstanding features of this misty forest. Look for many species of birds, butterflies and small mammals, and flora such as orchids, heliconias, ferns, bromeliads and more.
We walked downhill much more than what was required to get to the initial area where we saw the hummingbirds. Also, we walked over about six or seven short bridges in total (not the four in the description) and they in no way added up to a half mile in length. Maybe one was 126 feet high, but most were only about 50 feet up in the air at most. Our guide did point out a lot of the flora, but other than the hummingbirds, we did not see any wildlife at all. We did see that parts of the trial were either closed, or we just did not go onto them, maybe there were some issues with the bridges on those parts, or maybe the bridges there were longer. In reality, it was a long downhill walk, then we crossed some short bridges as we walked all the way back up the hill to get back to the starting point. Hiking shoes were a must, as well as rain gear, none of which was indicated as being needed in the information we received from Viking. Also, it was much more strenuous than described, with a lot of irregular steps and uneven terrain, even our guide was winded as we walked back uphill at the end. It was not difficult for us, but there could have been older people who went on this excursion based on the level of difficulty listed in the information provided, but it was just not accurate. We did see that it was listed as “demanding” using the icons Viing places with each excursion on their information,one set of which describes the level of difficulty. However, adding some verbiage to the description would have helped to explain what “demanding” meant
I guess our perception of what we expected was different than the reality, and maybe the description was not all that inaccurate. I think we might have confused ourselves by having first read about another excursion that was very similar. It was a tram ride to the top of the rain forest, and then a hike along what we concluded was the same trail as we did, based on the wording, “follow your knowledgeable guide on a nature walk to the first of four suspended bridges that cover over half a mile of verdant terrain, and rise up to 126 feet above the ground”, which was the same as for our tour. That tour was sold out before we booked the cruise, so we did this one instead, thinking that other then the tram ride, they were the basically the same since part of that tour’s description included a description of crossing the same four bridges. Maybe it was different, but here is the description of that tour called Monteverde Cloud Forest Aerial Tram & Hanging Bridges. Based on our weather, I do not now how you could have seen much from the tram unless it ended before actually ascending into the overcast and clouds. Here is the description:
Encounter Costa Rica’s Fascinating Biodiversity and Natural Beauty — An important wildlife refuge, the Monteverde Cloud Forest is a rare type of forest that occurs within high-altitude tropical or subtropical environments, where the atmospheric conditions allow for consistent cloud cover. It is home to vast numbers of mammal, bird, insect and plant species, including the world’s largest number of orchids. Upon arrival, board the aerial tram, then begin your ascent through the cloud forest, admiring sweeping views of your surroundings. Afterward, follow your knowledgeable guide on a nature walk to the first of four suspended bridges that cover over half a mile of verdant terrain, and rise up to 126 feet above the ground. After your treetop adventure, you will enjoy a delicious Costa Rican-style buffet lunch, before returning to your ship.
On order to thoroughly beat this dead horse, on a whim I decided to do some more research on rainforest tours in Costa Rica. I was trying to understand if the two tours Viking offered were really the same or not, other than the aerial tram addition. This is a website dedicated to providing information, so I wanted to share what I found out for anyone who ever has the opportunity to be in Puntarenas.
I looked online and found a website run by a local tour operator who is from Monteverde, Costa Rica, and that is the area where all of these rainforest tours operate. After doing the research, I now do NOT believe the two tours offered by Viking were similar, despite the similarity of the descriptions of the rainforest portion of the tours.
On the tour guide’s site that I found, the author describes the three suspended bridge tours that are available in Monteverde. Ours was called Aventura Monteverde Hanging Bridges, and unfortunately, was third in his ranking. Here is the description of the three tours offered from the tour guide’s website
1. Sky Walk Monteverde Hanging Bridges:
The best option for families with young children and mobile-impaired users.
The Sky Walk Monteverde Hanging Bridges offer the only 100% paved nature trail with two loops featuring six hanging bridges. There is a short loop that takes about 1 hour, perfect for those who can’t walk much, and a larger one for those who have 2 hours to spend with nature. Both loops converge at what happens to be the largest hanging bridge in Costa Rica, a massive 236-meter (775-foot) bridge with fantastic panoramic views. The well-marked, easy trail is doable on a wheelchair or baby strollers. The entrance fee does not include a tour guide, but you can add one as an extra when booking online.
2. Selvatura Monteverde Hanging Bridges:
The best option for nature lovers and avid hikers.
Located at the highest point of the Monteverde cloud forest, the Selvatura Monteverde Hanging Bridges experience features the best views and an intimate connection with the natural surroundings. It comprises eight hanging bridges and significant uphill hiking between each hanging bridge. It’s recommended for those in good shape and able to walk in rugged terrain and high-pressure, relatively low oxygen levels, as the elevation and density of nature can make it a bit challenging for some. However, the challenge pays off, as you will hardly find another ecosystem as pristine and beautiful as what you will get here. The entrance fee does not include a tour guide, but you can add one as an extra when booking online.
3. Aventura Monteverde Hanging Bridges:
The best option for those who prefer wildlife sightseeing over great views.
Aventura offers a more rustic Monteverde hanging bridges experience, featuring eight bridges relatively shorter than the previous two parks. The forest level is also lower and less dense than the parks above. Although the scenery is not as great, wildlife sightseeing is best at this park as the lower forest provides a more comfortable environment for local animals to coexist. Another benefit of this park is that it includes a tour guide with the entrance fee, whereas the other two require an additional cost.
I have now concluded that they were not the same because there was not an option for a tram ride at Aventura Monteverde Hanging Bridges. Actually, only the first tour listed above, Sky Walk Monteverde Hanging Bridges, has both. Make assumptions and pay the consequences…….
Maybe next time we need to pay more attention and do some more research. Maybe some of the other people on our cruise already knew the tram tour was the best option, and that was why it had already sold out. Our assumption that these might be the same as far as the suspended bridge portion as described by Viking was based on inaccurate descriptions Viking provided that we did not research and validate. We don’t often do ship excursions, we did more of them on this cruise and the last Viking Neptune Transatlantic cruise than we have ever done in total on all of our since 2006. Maybe we need to figure it out better if we decide to do more, this was a good learning experience for us.
Next in line of least favorite excursions was the included bus tour in Cartagena. It was just a long bus ride with two stops, and one of those was for shopping. The included tour should have been the walking tour of Old Town, but that was a paid excursion. In the end, we should have done that one, and we had given it some thought when we signed up for our excursions. However, we felt we would get the chance to wander around Old Town at the shopping stop we made nearby since it was described as being in the Old Town. However, with the incorrect phone clock time our guide had, we were never given the chance because of the confusion on when we needed to be back to the bus.
Then, driving through Bocagrande seemed to be part of a tour to attract visitors to that area. The entire “free” tour seemed that way. a tourist pitch. I just wonder if some of the free Viking-included tours are subsidized by the tourism board in these cities. All we felt we got for our time was a tourist pitch to stay in Bocagrande and a shopping stop to subsidize the local economy. Ok, we did get a glimpse of some of the nicer streets in Old Town as we drove by!
We have now done four Viking included tours on our two Viking Ocean cruises, and only one of those was good, the tour in Barcelona. On an interesting note, the other three were in poorer countries, and they were all not worth the time to go on. St. Martin, Las Palmas in the Canary Islands, and now Cartagena, Columbia were the places with the less than stellar tours. It is making us realize that although these included tours are part of the justification for the higher cost of Viking Ocean cruises, many times, they are not worth the time spent, so is it really a benefit? The adage that you get what you pay for comes to mind, and obviously, we need to pay…..
Next on the list of disappointments on this cruise were the issues we had with the AC in our cabin followed by the service in The Restaurant, especially on Christmas Eve. However, we can’t just say it was because it was crowded on Christmas Eve, that may have been part of it, but we also had poor service during other times we ate there. Besides, it was not like they added more tables in the dining room to handle the crowds on Christmas Eve, maybe they have more tables than staff to serve them on a routine basis.
We had hoped it was an anomaly on the first Viking Ocean Cruise since the ship was new, but now we know better, it seems to be a chronic problem. We did discuss how we used to go to the dining room on our many Princess Cruises and seek out a good waitstaff, and then sit in their service area for there rest of the time we ate in the dining room. We have not done that in a long time, either on the last several Princess Cruises or our two Viking Ocean Cruises. Maybe that would make the difference, but it is hard for us to dedicate that much time sitting down to eat to find out, which was why we had stopped eating in the dining room on the Princess Ships. We had lost any expectations we had on Princess, the service had just gotten bad, but we had high expectations when we took our first Viking Cruise. We have just not seen it. I do not think that we have had a single dining room experience on Viking that went well, both at lunch and at dinner. The only thing positive we can say is it is nice not to have serving stations throughout the dining room on Viking, having to listen to the clattering of dishes and silverware from those stations on Princess, and other cruise lines that are set up that way was not pleasant.
We did enjoy our food in The Restaurant, the lobster we had one night was much better and larger than we had had in a long time on a cruise, we just wish the service was better.
The Viking Ocean ships are wonderful, and we really enjoy the smaller ship feel, plus, having no kids onboard is nice. We also do not miss the Casino, we never went anyway, and formal nights are just a thing of the past, thanks in part to airline weight restrictions, it was just too hard to carry all of that formal wear.
Of course, we will always have issues with Viking Air, it is just a hassle to use, enough said.
One item to note that is not directly related to this cruise is the improvement Viking has recently made to its website for reservations for at least some Ocean cruises. Now, once you pick your cabin classification, you can choose which part of the ship you want between forward, middle and aft (if available for that classification), you can select your Deck, and you can see all of the available cabins on a deck plan layout after making those choices. Before. you would only get a small list of just a portion of the available cabins, and it usually showed the worst cabin locations first as your choices. In order to see other available and more favorable cabins, I had to make several dummy cabin selections like I was making a reservation to tie up the initial cabin selections until I either got to the better choices, or the list got shorter, meaning that was all the cabins that were available. Then I had to look at a separate deck plan to see where the available cabins were located. It was a terrible system and unfortunately, is still the case on the Expedition Cruises since I looked at them today and saw it was still the old reservation system.
It was nice to be in warmer weather on this cruise, it has been much colder at home after we returned, and we are expected to have very cold temperatures next week.
Overall, we had a great cruise, but there are always areas that can be improved, either something we can do better, or at least be aware of that are issues we experienced for improvement the next time. We just like to capture as much information here as we can and hopefully, use it to our advantage on our next adventure. Of course, it is always easier to talk about the downsides more than the upsides, but that is the nature of any critique.
On a final note, we have been adding in cost information for the last several of our past trips, so we are also providing a cost estimate for this trip. The costs for this trip are pretty easy to break down, we did not have to capture many costs that were not directly part of the cruise since we did not stay anywhere pre-cruise or post-cruise.
Cost Breakdown Per Person
- Cruise Base Cost $3,999.00
- Travel Insurance $499.00
- Airfare FREE
- Air Plus Fee $100.00
- Past Guest Discount ($200.00)
- Paid Excursions $447.00
- Base Tips $289.00
- Additional Cash Tips (Crew/Excursions) $150.00
- Silver Spirits Package $425.00
- Miscellaneous Meals Ashore, Expenses $100.00
TOTAL PER PERSON $5,809.00
This results in an estimated cost per day of $323.00 per person. In the end, this was the cost for our DV5 – Deluxe Veranda Cabin we were assigned before we boarded, but we had paid for a less expensive Guaranteed V2 Veranda Cabin Reservation.
Leave a Reply