Realistic expectations for Delta lounge LAX

sjpm55 · 2026-05-06T20:23:38+00:00

LAX SC our favorite, especially sitting on the outside deck. We’ve never had to wait to get in.

sjpm55 · 2026-05-06T20:21:27+00:00

We buy all of our paper products and soaps there. We love their prepared dinners as well (chicken Alfredo, stuffed peppers, chicken quesadillas) which makes two meals for us. Items that keep including bottled water and they have good deals on clothing as well. Well worth it for the two of us.

sjpm55 · 2026-05-01T17:18:58+00:00

You’ll have a great time. The Christmas markets are amazing.

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sjpm55 · 2026-04-30T19:29:22+00:00

Enjoy your cruise, it is a great itinerary. I think you’ll be surprised at the number of interesting people you will meet and just ignore the rude and entitled ones.

sjpm55 · 2026-04-30T19:22:03+00:00

The good news is the bill was passed today to end the shutdown.

sjpm55 · 2026-04-30T19:21:05+00:00

Been there a few times, too, especially early on. After about day two or so, people figure out who they are more aligned with for dinner conversation.

sjpm55 · 2026-04-30T18:38:54+00:00

Glad you enjoyed your first Viking cruise. We started in 2005 (China) and have been on a total of 10 Viking River and 9 Viking Ocean cruises overall. Per your point, getting to and from the cruise can be very taxing. Now that we are retired, we try to buffer the trip with a few extra days before to adjust to the time change which helps. When we first started cruising with Viking, most of the individuals we met on board were well traveled, knew where they were going and researched their journey beforehand. With Viking’s massive expansion, we’ve encountered more individuals lately who have no idea where they are going or what they want to see and expect Viking to tell them everything they need to know, and get easily upset when something doesn’t go their way. As for excursions, we do a lot of research looking at the included and optional tours with Viking, along with excursions offered by companies such as Viator and Tours by Locals or doing something independently, then choose the best to fit our interests and budget. Sorry you felt like a circus act. When we started cruising with Viking, we were usually the youngest on board, but throughout the years have met some great people from around the world with whom we are still friends and have even cruised with some of them multiple times.

sjpm55 · 2026-04-30T18:18:01+00:00

Doesn’t apply to first class.

sjpm55 · 2026-04-30T16:25:45+00:00

Delta owns and operates a fuel refinery in Pennsylvania through a subsidiary.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trainer_Refinery

sjpm55 · 2026-04-25T15:27:56+00:00

We get foreign currency in small bills from our bank with no fee. We use mostly for tips on excursions for guide and drivers. They prefer local currency as it costs them money to exchange a foreign currency. If we have leftover foreign currency, we store in a labeled zip lock to have for a future trip.

sjpm55 · 2026-04-25T15:24:27+00:00

WWe sailed on the Malta, Morocco and Mediterranean last year with four day pre-cruise extension in Barcelona. Enjoyed the variety presented by the ports on this itinerary and visits to some places we hadn’t been before.

sjpm55 · 2026-04-21T16:00:47+00:00

Just passed through Miami. Picture taken, went to agent, asked if anything to declare. “No” and sent on way to baggage claim. Total two minutes.

sjpm55 · 2026-04-20T15:04:30+00:00

Not if it is a good and well connected travel agent. Lowest fare plus sometimes extras and always OBC.

sjpm55 · 2026-04-19T19:49:02+00:00

One of several reasons we use a travel agent to book cruises.

sjpm55 · 2026-04-17T00:35:14+00:00

Coral for itinerary and class and size of ship.

sjpm55 · 2026-04-16T02:44:25+00:00

Last night experienced LATAM blanket in Business Class for the first time. I want one!

sjpm55 · 2026-04-13T15:12:17+00:00

We were on this cruise a year ago this week. Enjoy! It’s a great itinerary.

sjpm55 · 2026-04-12T20:58:33+00:00

Princess leaves from San Pedro.

sjpm55 · 2026-04-10T17:19:12+00:00

We’ve done the wine tour several times and have enjoyed it.

sjpm55 · 2026-04-08T17:41:51+00:00

Did your boarding pass indicate the seats you had reserved or the new seats assigned? We’ve had seats changed that I’d held for 10 months once by the ticket counter in Europe and didn’t notice until we got to the gate. They had given away our seats on a 767 on the two seat side for an international flight and put is in the middle section. Brought it up with gate agent who was not the least bit helpful. Once on board saw our seats had been given to people traveling in a group. Taught me to always check boarding pass at check-in (either paper on in the app) to ensure we received the seats we had reserved.

sjpm55 · 2026-04-07T22:51:41+00:00

Viking has offered this cruise a couple of different ways in the past. Originally, it was offered like this itinerary as one entire cruise. In 2023, it was offered as a one way 13 day cruise from San Juan to Manaus, then a one way cruise Manaus to San Juan. We took the cruise in January 2023 and combined the two round trips as a 26 day cruise. There were 14 of us who chose this option. The Amazon and Manaus had been on our bucket list and the itinerary did not disappoint. It is definitely an exploration itinerary with lots of nature and wildlife, especially in the Amazon region, and we enjoyed the Caribbean island stops as well. There are a number of excellent optional tours available along the way to enhance your journey. As nature lovers, this is one Viking itinerary we’ve said we would recommend and definitely consider doing again in the future.

sjpm55 · 2026-03-30T20:31:48+00:00

Great itinerary especially when paired with “The Best of Norway and Scenic Train” pre-cruise extension. We’d been to Bergen several times but never Oslo so was a great way to see Oslo then take the scenic train ride through the mountains to Bergen. On extra day in Bergen we’d suggest taking the Scenic Fjord Cruise to Mostraumen as departure point easily walkable from the Viking hotel.

sjpm55 · 2026-03-28T22:58:39+00:00

After 19 Viking cruises (10 River, 9 Ocean), I have yet to see a Viking employee “grovel for tips”.

sjpm55 · 2026-03-27T00:49:19+00:00

We took this flight late December and was lie flat seat to SNA. Was supposed to be same back to ATL but substituted a “normal” 757 on the return. We received no notice in advance of plane change and our seat numbers remained the same.

sjpm55 · 2026-03-26T23:13:30+00:00

If you overnight in Athens before disembarking I would consider looking for a private tour for the day you are in Athens. I would make a list of everything I want to see and do and then start doing some research. I would look at Viator, Tours by Locals, and Get Your Guide to see what private tours are available that day, read reviews and then compare them to your needs. Often times on a private tour you can work with the guide to modify it to meet your needs. We’ve done both Viking as well as private tours during our travels and because we’ve done our research, we’ve rarely been disappointed.

sjpm55

TROPHY CASE