Heidi13

Further to the Chief's excellent response, I concur that Mr Walker is No expert. I'm another mariner who has used both lifeboats and liferafts in the ocean, and my preference is one of the larger MES rafts, especially if it is the RFD Marin-Ark system. With the exception of OEM techs, I have participated in more MES installations and deployments than most in North America, since I attended every installation and annual deployment in our fleet of 35 vessels. Our Flag State required 1 system deployed from each ship every year, so I attended at least a dozen deployments each year. Prior to retirement, I was cleared on all MES systems, except the one from Viking Lifesaving. These MES systems are very well tested and safe to use. As the Chief indicated, they are also quicker to evacuate a ship than conventional lifeboats. I have organised and implemented timed evacuation trials for Flag State on 4 different systems, with each able to easily attain the required capacity and move the filled rafts 100 yds from the ship. I have also commanded numerous vessels with only liferaft systems, including ships with 2,000 pax. I haven't commanded a ship having lifeboats since the 1990. As a pax, if I had a choice, I would happily use an MES system from Survitec (Marin Ark), Liferaft Systems Australia or Viking LSE.

Most of the cruise ships use the river berth adjacent to the Gravesend ferry. I have never actually gone through the locks into Tilbury Docks. For a comparison, our Executive Car hire to a Tower Hill Hotel was about 50 quid, door to door. Since we were in UK for 5 months, we had 2 cases each + carry-on, so I estimated it probably cost an extra tenner over the train and taxis.

Train - trains to Fenchurch Street Station in London leave from Tilbury Town Station, which is about 1 mile from the cruise terminal. Taxis are available at the terminal once you leave the baggage shed. Personally, I would not recommend walking the mile to the train station, as it is an industrial/port area with lots of trucks. Not all the route has pedestrian pavement, so you will be walking on the road with the trucks. Also, using the train, you would get of the regular train and have to head to the tube. Car Service - We find this the most efficient and cost effective. I called Addison Lee once we had cell service on the approach to Tilbury and had a car meet us once we picked up our baggage. The cost is cheaper than the Black Cabs and for a couple, was about the same as paying train fares and cabs to/from station. Uber - probably available, but not something we use, as they have just started operating at home.

Chief - you minority just increased again.

I normally use the synopsis and forecasts from the local Met Office, but for a quick overview, I find Windy.com is one of the best for worldwide coverage

It all depends on what you consider as "Rough Seas" and more importantly the design of the ships you are sailing on. Personally, I consider 35 kt winds and 20' seas as just a regular day at the office.. Have experienced more than a few storms in over 40 yrs at sea. For one Pacific Ocean storm we "Hove to", which means we reduced speed to the minimum, which maintained steerage. Over a period of 48 hrs we were pushed back over 30 miles. On another ship, in the Indian Ocean, we rolled 40+ degrees for a couple of days. While those examples were cargo ships, I have also experienced significant damage due to seas when working on cruise ships - Sun Princess south of Acapulco, Island Princess approaching San Francisco, SS Oriana in North Pacific, South Pacific and North Atlantic, and SS Uganda in the Meddy. Although we didn't experience damage, I have experienced 70+ kt storms in Alaska on both Island and Sun Princess.

Back in my working days, I was the same - bought the most cost-effective basic vehicle with the best fuel economy. In retirement, we enjoy the comforts of life, having just replaced my F-350 with a F-450 King Ranch. The bells & whistles, including the massaging seats, the 12" screen and a host of others are a huge improvement over the old 2016 truck. With improved fuel economy it is also cheaper to operate.

Very few cruise ships can navigate upriver as far as Saigon. They normally dock at a commercial port around Phu My, which as Linda S272 noted is about 1 hr from the city.

Let me provide some perspective to some of the points you raised, since I used to live in St Andrews and know both areas well. 1). Docking and anchoring locations are never guaranteed, as they are at the discretion of the local Harbourmaster and subject to operational requirements. In many ports, our berth or anchorage was not confirmed until the Pilot boarded, and I have often seen it change prior to docking. Since few cruise ships dock in Leith, due to tidal constraints at the lock, most Viking ships use Newhaven Harbour in Leith, with the vessel anchored a short distance off-shore. This is the south side of the Firth of Forth. If your cruise went to the opposite shore, or north side, you would have anchored by North Queensferry, or docked in Rosyth, adjacent to the Navy Base. Regardless, any location on the north side of the Firth is closer to St Andrews. 2). When we booked a British Isles Cruise, we considered heading up to St Andrews to see family and check out our house. However, the 08:00 to 17:00 times, with the ship using tenders, did not provide us with a reasonable amount of time in St Andrews. Even being picked up by family at Newhaven and driven there and back, I estimated a max of 3 hrs in St Andrews. If using public transport, it would be even less. Therefore, unless using a Viking shore-ex, a trip to St Andrews, providing sufficient time to actually see the town, would be extremely high risk. 3). When booking a cruise, we have the option of travelling independently to/from the ship, or purchasing transfers and flights from the cruise line. Based on your post, you did not purchase additional services from Viking and elected to travel independently. Viking completed their contractual requirements by disembarking you safely ashore and re-uniting you with your luggage. As an independent traveller, surely you researched the Greenwich area, with respect to transportation options and distances to travel. A simple search on Google Earth would have provided you with the distances involved, route and that the area is a pedestrian only region for 200 - 300 yds. Since you hired a local porter, I'm having difficulty understanding why Viking are at fault for not leading you to a taxi rank. Didn't the local porter know where to find taxis and explain that unlike other cruise terminals that they don't have queues of empty taxis. Personally, when in London, I book an Executive Car Service, which are way more comfortable and cheaper than the Hackney Cabs. 4). Viking's description of the cruise is accurate, as the Royal Borough of Greenwich is part of Greater London, in accordance with the London Government Act of 1963. Although Greenwich isn't the official cruise terminal, as it is even further from London at Tilbury. Sorry, but Viking didn't "Dump you", they disembarked you, reunited you with your luggage and as an independent traveller, expected you to implement your onward travel plans. If you hadn't taken the time to research the area and make a plan, that is your fault, not Vikings. Greenwich is a spectacular location, but definitely not the easiest place to travel to/from with luggage. Therefore, we planned to be met by an Addison Lee car & driver, who we would meet at a pre-determined location, just outside the pedestrian area.

Viking accepted delivery of the Viking Polaris yesterday morning at the Vard shipyard in Soviknes. Shortly after completing the ceremony, she sailed for Amsterdam, departing around 13:30. She is currently steaming south through the North Sea, almost due west of the Danish port Esbjerg. Her ETA Amsterdam is 04:00 (Z+2) tomorrow (Sept 29th), where she embarks pax for the Grand Voyage to Antarctica.

Joined my first cruise ship at 18 for 3 months.

I use the R6 and 5D MkIII bodies, which both take the E6 battery. For Antarctica, I plan on taking 8 batteries and 2 chargers.

Clay - I do find that surprising, as even on most of our Princess cruises, we had similar service levels from most of the Cabin Stewards, until they increased the number of cabins assigned.

With Viking and also other cruise lines we have used, the greatest majority of the Cabin Stewards/Stewardesses want to provide you exceptional service. We had the same Cabin Steward on Viking Sun for 4 months, and his role was to ensure our complete satisfaction. If we wanted anything for the cabin, we mentioned it to him, and he arranged for it to happen. If we wanted lemon slices, he contacted bars or room service, and they were delivered. If we had other pax coming to the cabin for drinks, we mentioned it to him, and glasses, ice, etc. arrived. Even if you bring a specific type of glass from the bars 2 days in a row, the Cabin Steward should note the fact, and arrange for them to arrive daily.

Thanks Clay - I wasn't aware of that. If they told me that the OBC from my TA was non-refundable, the person making that decision would have an issue, as I would follow up with the HQ in Basle.

Without the SSBP, you are NOT restricted in what you can order. The only difference is those without SSBP receive a charge for each glass of wine that is not one of the included wines at that meal.

In the Atlantic you have 2 different weather systems - Tropical Revolving Storms (TRS) and Frontal Depressions. The TRS season is June through November, with August, September & October being the months with the highest potential for encountering storms. These are spawned in the Intertropical Convergence Zone (aka Doldrums), initially moving NW'ly into higher Latitudes. Over the warm waters of the Tropics, they gain power and increased wind speed. Once a TRS hits land, or rotates to the NE, they tend to lose power and wind speed. The Caribbean is often on the track, but few TRS make it into far north Latitudes, with the current one being an exception. Therefore, TRS storms are prevalent in mostly in the Tropics from August to October, inclusive. While they can impact UK and North Atlantic, it is not too common. Frontal depressions occur at the front, which is a joining of warm and cold air masses. These generally form in mid to higher latitudes and track easterly to north easterly. They can happen at any time, but are fairly rare in the summer months. The wind speed is dependent on how deep (low pressure) the depression is created. These storms can be as bad as all but the worst category of TRS. In UK/Northern Europe, they can start in September, with frequency increasing by October/November. They continue throughout the winter and become less common in the Spring months. However, in the summer months, you can also get significant winds due to a pressure gradient from regions of high pressure. Unfortunately, when dealing with weather, there is no definitive answer.

OBC from a TA is considered as refundable credits on you shipboard account. At the end of the cruise, if you have refundable credits remaining, Viking post a cheque within about 6 weeks of disembarkation.

My best guess is that based on the predicted track, for the vessel's safety, the Master had to depart Sydney, as remaining in port would have resulted in the vessel being in the dangerous quadrant of the TRS. To get to the "good side" the only option was running into the Gulf of St Lawrence and crossing the intended track.

You can walk around the promenade deck at Canada Place, which is accessible to the public and has views of all the ships alongside.

Thanks Kent - While I haven't anchored off Leith, I have seen the ships anchored just off Newhaven Harbour, which is a short tender ride. Can only assume the winds weren't conducive to anchoring there, or another ship was anchored. When they head down to the Bridge, rather than tendering back to Newhaven, then normally tender into either North or South Queensferry, which is then a longer road/rail trip into Edinburgh.

If using monopods, tripods, etc on a ship, you need to be aware that the ship's movement is still present and it also adds vibration transmitted through the deck.

Wow, a 45 min tender ride to the dock is unfortunate, as depending on the wind, the Firth can be rather lumpy. Did the ship anchor up by the bridges at North or South Queensferry?

Unfortunately, this is a very common occurrence in this port. Some have even required hospitalisation.

With modern HVAC systems the interior temps shouldn't vary significantly with outside temperatures.