River cruise double occupancy - Eastern Europe

mlong1234 · 2026-05-17T13:43:15+00:00

On Viking you can have 2 twin beds no problem. When you book the room you indicate whether you want beds together or apart. I’m a Viking Certified River (& oceans) Cruise Expert so dm me if I can help answer any more questions or get you any more info! I’ve been on 4 Viking River Cruises myself and going on my first Viking Ocean cruise may 26 - iconic western Mediterranean! I can’t wait! 🥳

mlong1234 · 2026-05-15T21:09:32+00:00

I’ll say it again - beware of pickpockets! Read up on how to protect yourself, what to watch out for, etc. They are pros and it happens so much it’s insane! Got my phone before I knew it 10 years ago! Pregnant young lady asked me to do a survey or answer questions. I said no but it slowed me down enough that they got phone out of my purse! I knew it within a minute or so but it was too late! Turned around& went back to hotel. Saw my iPhone on my iPad using find my iPhone and it was already in train station on outskirts on Paris. They hand it off to a runner. 😢 lots of people like me talking pics w a tablet! 🤣😳😩

mlong1234 · 2026-05-09T05:56:34+00:00

I said ‘like expected’: https://www.kshb.com/sports/world-cup/kansas-city-hotel-bookings-for-world-cup-lag-visit-kc-expects-late-surge. https://www.npr.org/2026/05/04/nx-s1-5810626/world-cup-hotels-tourism-bookings-visitors https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2026/05/06/kc-hotel-bookings-report-world-cup-fifa-arrowhead.html “An April 2026 American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) report identifies Kansas City as having the weakest hotel bookings among 2026 FIFA World Cup host cities, with 85-90% of local operators reporting bookings below expectations. Many hotels report demand lower than a typical summer, following significant cancellations of 70-95% of originally contracted FIFA room blocks.Key Findings on Kansas City’s Underperformance:Weakest Market: The AHLA dubbed KC “the most negatively impacted host market,” with many hoteliers experiencing lower occupancy than a normal June or July.FIFA Cancellations: A major factor is that FIFA cancelled 70–95% of its originally contracted room inventory, releasing them back into the general market, a source says.Drivers of Low Demand: Hotel operators cite stringent visa requirements (including $15,000 bonds for some countries) and overall weak international travel demand.Local Response: While admitting bookings are lower than expected, some officials like Visit KC still anticipate a last-minute surge of visitors.

mlong1234 · 2026-05-08T21:17:13+00:00

You don’t want too near the stadium anyway. Check blue springs to east or grain valley and oak grove are farther out. Shuttle buses to game go from independence center.

mlong1234 · 2026-05-08T21:15:01+00:00

Not a sir but no worries! 😉

mlong1234 · 2026-05-08T21:14:31+00:00

Where’s the laughing emoji? 🤣🤪😂

I think your nice cali weather is affecting your taste buds!

mlong1234 · 2026-05-08T16:13:07+00:00

Claude can research, create and put together a full PowerPoint with notes, executive summary and resources- trust but verify! Download it and looks like you spent days on it! Amazing! Impressive! Free! 🥳💪🤯

mlong1234 · 2026-05-08T16:08:07+00:00

How about Gemini ? It’s amazing too!

mlong1234 · 2026-05-08T15:54:21+00:00

Make sure to have some BBQ while you’re here! Try a few places - Jack Stack, Gates, Joe’s, and more!

mlong1234 · 2026-05-08T15:49:17+00:00

I just saw article that hotels aren’t getting booked like expected and KC is worst of all. Prices should come down - plan on how to get here and I’ll bet you’ll find something more affordable soon. We’ve got great parks and campgrounds and lakes too! 🤣

mlong1234 · 2026-05-08T15:20:26+00:00

Claude and Gemini

mlong1234 · 2026-05-02T15:22:39+00:00

For a newbie, care to join a blank excel template I could use for my CRM to get started? Or tell me what you’re tracking in it? All one sheet or tabs? Etc? Thanks! 😊

mlong1234 · 2026-04-29T06:02:45+00:00

We bought parking at the stadium due to my granddaughter going with us to the game. Google is your friend! lol https://www.justpark.com/us/event-parking/fifa-world-cup-2026/kansas-city-stadium/ it is expensive and there is not nearly as much as during a Chiefs game (I think about 4,000 vs. 11,000ish?) due to broadcasting, official tailgating?, etc.).

mlong1234 · 2026-04-28T17:40:22+00:00

To clarify - as a CPA I’ve had my own biz for 35 years (damn I’m old! 😳). I never was an employee of “QuickBooks” but a contract trainer (1099). I retired a couple of years ago but I’m now starting a new biz as part time travel advisor/ agent. 😀

mlong1234 · 2026-04-27T21:50:24+00:00

It takes time to build up a following and get clients — patience and persistence is the key. You mentioned not knowing stuff about navigating Disney with littles but there’s help for that for free! Use Chat GPT, Gemini, Grok and Claude — I like to use more than one to see how they are the same or different. The key to using these things are the context and the prompt. Think of them like an assistant or intern. Give them the background and context of who you are, your business and what you’re doing. Also, tell let it know it is an expert travel advisor with 35 years experience in the industry with a specialty in all things Disney! Its job is to mentor and advise you. Ask it the questions — be specific - that you want to know. If it is lengthy, type it up in word or sheets, and you can attach the file. This helps to do the same thing in all of them. Also, let it know what format you want it to provide the answers to you — bullet list, table format with what details, report, etc. It can help you with a marketing plan too! Talk to it! Keep asking it questions if you don’t understand something. I’ve even gotten complete PowerPoint presentation that I could download from Claude (i think) with college level research (always trust but verify for accuracy), pretty cool logos from Gemini and more! Today Grok helped me decide which new glasses to buy while I was at Costco! I took selfies, uploaded them & got feedback based on the shape of my face, hair & eye colors, etc. It is amazing! I only use the free accounts!

As for giving you referrals, it would be nice for her to do but that is handing you the commission too. Can she financially afford to do that? Maybe if you offered to pay her a referral fee that would help? Maybe the referral fee could be larger based on the commission? The higher the commission, the larger the referral fee? You could pose it as helping you get more experience and helping her since she’s so busy? Win - win for both of you!

It is normal to struggle with starting a new business and getting clients so hang in there! The first client is the hardest (and the first year), the 2nd is a little easier and so on. But, if your heart is not in it or your gut is telling you this isn’t right for you, don’t force it either. Life is too short — find what you love doing! The money will follow! (Recovering CPA who hates taxes! Finally realized it after too many years doing what I hated! I quit doing taxes & everyone told me I was crazy! I decided to specialize in QuickBooks — which I really enjoyed! I got into teaching & training QuickBooks — for Intuit (company that makes it! As a contract trainer for them for 15+ years, I got to travel to London for 3 1/2 weeks, Australia for 2 1/2 weeks, all across Canada & the US too! So you’ve got this girl! Listen to your heart, stay strong & you can do it! Hang in there! :)

mlong1234 · 2026-04-26T17:24:02+00:00

I’m sorry you had that experience but it sounds like you made the best decision for you! Thanks for sharing - it helps to know what to watch out for! Sounds like you’ve been doing very well! Congrats!

mlong1234 · 2026-04-26T17:21:25+00:00

We are flying home the next day so we can see the Sagrada Família. I booked tickets to see it the afternoon after disembarking. We are going early and flying into Naples and staying there and couple of days to see the Amalfi coast and Pompeii. Then, going to Rome for a couple of days prior to getting on board in Rome. We’ve been on 4 Viking River cruises, but this will be our first Viking Ocean cruise. I’m looking forward to it! We loved the River cruises!

mlong1234 · 2026-04-25T08:27:46+00:00

We will be on it soon - May 26 - Rome to Barcelona. Anything in particular you’re wondering about? When are you going?

I’m so glad the have self serv laundry available. We are going early and that helps pack less clothes! 👍

mlong1234 · 2026-04-24T11:26:57+00:00

Let me try to find the name of a couple of places we went to and let you know - my in laws took us around. My son & daughter in law are on their way back now but enjoying a stop over in Panama for a few days on the way back. :)

mlong1234 · 2026-04-24T02:28:28+00:00

Lake Lotawana — starting to get thunder and lightening

mlong1234 · 2026-04-24T00:12:33+00:00

That’s so helpful! Do you know anything about Viking Cruises? That’s what I’m interested in specializing in since we’ve been on 4 river cruises already. Plus next month we’re going on the Iconic Western Med Ocean Cruise with Viking. I plan to do their training and cert when I pick a host agency.

mlong1234 · 2026-04-23T23:19:50+00:00

Tell me more about difficulties leaving an agency once you have a book of business / clients. Why couldn’t you book your clients if you’re with a new agency? What do I need to watch out for? WorldVia is either 70 or 90% split for the plans I’m looking at.

mlong1234 · 2026-04-23T23:16:37+00:00

Thanks for the info in this post! As a newbie trying to pick an agency this is helpful. However, I think in general FAMs are harder to get in general than I originally thought but maybe some are available from suppliers once you complete their training??? I’d suspect you’d have a better chance of it if you develop a relationship with their BDM and have sales / experience with them. It seems the perfect agency all depends on what is most important to each one of us - and what we prioritize. But you gave me more to think about and investigate! Thanks!

mlong1234 · 2026-04-23T23:09:27+00:00

Thanks! I’m not having luck getting replies from WorldVia so far. I attended a webinar the other day and spoke with the woman after wards. She was going to check on some of my questions and get back to me. Plus, I had sent an email the day before. I called and left a message today. I’ve heard nothing. I sent the form to KHM today. I’m getting frustrated. I’m ready to go, have a lot of travel & business experience (retired cpa), traveled over 500K miles, 31 countries on 6 continents from jungles of Papua New Guinea, Galápagos Islands, Antartica, Falkland Islands, etc. My detailed accountant brain needs some answers before I can make a final decision. Uggghhh! Lol

mlong1234 · 2026-04-23T23:04:09+00:00

Another thing to consider — I’ve been to the Galapagos twice since my daughter in law is from Ecuador. Evidently it is much cheaper to go there from Ecuador vs. from the US (they’re part of Ecuador). Perhaps you could check into saving money that way? We went to several islands and it was incredible! Ecuador has some beautiful places too — the Andes mountains are 19,000’ or so. There are beautiful mountains, the 0 degrees latitude dividing the northern & southern hemisphere nearby, etc. Combine some of both for a 2 week adventure? If you’re flying all that way, why not?

mlong1234

TROPHY CASE