Heidi13

Thanks for posting the photo. Great photo. Here are a few of the Sun Princess in the Canal Sun Princess (Spirit of London) Bridge - Oct/Nov 1980 SS Oriana - Nov 1980

The size of a ship has almost nothing to do with her ability to handle seas, which is primarily impacted by design and scantlings. To provide some perspective, I have worked on 40,000 ton liners (SS Oriana & SS Canberra) easily maintaining 25 kts in seas over 25', which would result in modern mega ships being reduced to about 10 kts. For rolling in beam seas, the stabalisers assist, but ships have nothing to prevent pitching, other than the Master adjusting course and/or speed. Select the cruise with the best itinerary and bring motion of the ocean remedies.

Since I haven't had a cell phone since I retired 10 yrs ago, I always travel with 2 DSLR bodies and multiple lenses

For the former, it would be tough beating my first command, which docked 16 times in an 8-hr shift, so 32 ports calls per day. If it is the latter, my best guess would be SS Canberra, as she operated for 36 years, completing UK, N/Europe, Meddy, Caribbean, South America and World Cruises.

Totally agree. We also sailed with only 8 pax and 460+ crew. The Master also has a Minimum Manning requirement for responding to emergencies, where they must perform 5 roles concurrently: - Command & Control (includes Navigation, Engineering, etc), - Internal/external Communications, - Emergency Response Teams (includes Medical), - Preparing Survival Craft and - Pax Muster & Control (includes stairway guides, cabin clearing). They just can't reduce the crews significantly due to the minimum manning requirements. However, due to the cancellation of daily testing, I have no doubt that additional crew are being infected by pax. Unfortunately, ships can't call in reliefs at short notice and you can't add extra crew in anticipation, due to limited berths. Therefore, if pax are noting a reduction in crew, it will be due to an increase in crew being quarantined, resulting from increased infections when testing ended.

You are safe provided you remain within the confines of the port, or are participating in a cruise line shore-ex. Do NOT venture outside of the port, especially as a single. Colon was my very first port and we were advised to go ashore in groups of at least six. Just outside the dock gates we witnessed a sight that caused our group to about turn and head back onboard.

Affirmative, a technical stop does not include pax getting ashore, it is for bunkers, stores, etc.. However, the US CBP does NOT accept a technical stop as being compliant with the PVSA. Pax must have the opportunity for shore leave for the port call to be compliant. This has been in force for a number of years. I can't remember the dates, but the Chief will know @chengkp75

I take the view that if the pax can't be bothered to chat with the crew, especially the cabin steward, and get to know them, why should the cabin steward reciprocate. At least for us, spending 4+ months on a ship provides an opportunity to get to know the crew. If a crew member is providing us exemplary service, one of the first things we determine is when they pay-off. I would NOT expect the crew member to have to tell me this information. BTW - some of the crew leave (end of contract) in almost every port.

Fortunately, you're heading West, so 5 of the 15 days will have 25 hr days, as the regular 24 hr day just aren't long enough to fit everything in. In 2020 we survived over 50 continuous sea days from Bali to Gibraltar, so 6 days across the Atlantic is easy. You will just be perfecting the sea day routine when you dock.

Viking Sea departed Raveena about 20:30 (Z+2) bound for Corfu, ETA 20th September at 12:00 (Z+3)

As in most ports, the local public library is often a good bet. Failing that follow the crew members heading ashore, as they always know the best places.

As a Metro Vancouver resident, I'll suggest everyone will accept US Dollars graciously, but many will prefer Canadian dollars. Yes, the exchange rate is about 30%, but most will only receive 25 - 27% from a bank for exchanging small amounts. Unless you are providing considerable tips, the extra money received is minimal, plus they have to take the time to go to a bank or currency exchange. If you are providing a tip, to reward someone for exceptional service, I'll suggest that making them have to exchange the cash negates part of the reward. We are close to the border, but cross border travel is still way down, with very few of our friends heading south these days, for day trips.

Rob, Not many reports on the usual marine news websites this morning. This is the only one I saw. http://www.maritimebulletin.net/2022/09/17/viking-cruise-ship-broke-off-moorings-with-870-passengers-on-board-video/ Massmonde Marine and gCaptain may have some reports tomorrow.

Yet again, another example of poor fact checking by the media. Perhaps you need to wait for the Interim Report, or at least a post from someone onboard the ship advising how many crew, before making the comments in post #11. While I don't know the minimum crew that Viking requires, I have completed the crew determination exercise for a number of ships and submitted the requests to Flag State. I can assure you that to complete the required emergency responses concurrently, I cannot envisage how they could achieve certification with only 200 crew. The Master must, at all times, ensure sufficient crew are available to respond to any emergency, both at sea and in port. Alongside, fewer tasks are required, as pax would be sent ashore rather than using the survival craft. The minimum crew when the ship is alongside is dictated by On-Board Manning, which is probably about 30 - 40% of the total crew. With some crew ashore, they may have only had 200 crew aboard, at the time the vessel parted the lines, but the total crew was definitely higher than that number. The media reports also glossed over the requirements for returning to operations. Yes, the local Harbourmaster will conduct an investigation, but they are not the determining factor of when the ship can sail. The Master must file a Report of Shipping Accident/Casualty and advise Class, which I believe is LR. The Class Surveyors will be present for the diver's inspection and if the ship has sustained any damage, but is operational, the Surveyor will provide the Master with a "Condition of Class", outlining any restricted operation and limits to make good repairs, to return the vessel to Class. The local authorities can clear the ship, but the Master cannot sail until Class confirms the vessel is in Class, or has a Condition of Class.

Having experienced a similar incident many years ago, where the ship was almost blown off the dock due to a freak storm, it is a very intense, dangerous and traumatic situation. This is especially true for the ship's crew working the mooring decks, and for anyone on the gangway at the time it separated, or in the vicinity of the lines as they parted. Personally, I am hoping that none of the ship's crew or pax were injured or killed by the lines, or gangway. As the lines start parting, the crew man the mooring decks and struggle valiantly to send additional lines ashore, while the existing lines part and recoil towards the mooring decks. These lines recoil with a significant force that few survive, if hit. Drifting onto the rocks is the least of the worries in this type of incident. Based on what the officers, crew and pax experienced, I'll suggest requesting the gory details are unnecessary and un-called for. BTW - the OP indicated the ship drifted onto the rocks, not "Crash into the rocks". Similar to the Viking Sky incident, it is best to await the official report prior to making unsubstantiated comments, which only spread rumours.

The OP is not discussing Viking's list of prohibited items, as they used a luggage forwarding service to ship the bags to the ship. Luggage Forward have significantly greater restrictions than the cruise line. You will have no problem with your Kindle, provided you bring it with you and don't ship it to the ship.

If you had restricted visibility, when at anchor, the Bridge can sound a sequence of blast on the ship's whistle - 1 short, 1 prolonged and 1 short blast to warn approaching vessels of their position and to avoid a collision.

Ports being cancelled are a common occurrence on many cruises. The most common reason is weather, but you can also experience cancellation due to labour issues (pilots, tugs, longshoremen), lack of berth space due to a ship breaking down and/or delayed working cargo, port being closed, ship being denied entry due to a multitude of reasons, civic unrest in vicinity of the port, etc. Less likely is propulsion issues with the ship, but that is usually in conjunction with wind.

You may not get 3.3% cash back, but I always come out ahead using Visa. We use our RBC Avion, then convert the points to British Airways Avios when they offer the 50% uplift. On a $100K cruise, the cash saving doesn't even pay for a single business flight YVR - EDI/GLA, but using Visa we can book more than 2 business reward flights on the same route. Therefore, I always use Visa.

Our cabin steward provided his pager number, so technically we could have called him from anywhere on the ship and he would call us back at that number. However, we never found that necessary, as if we required something, when he was on duty, we walked up to alleyway to find him. With respect to housekeeping or room service, you can call them from any phone throughout the ship. I don't believe the ship's phone system has text capability, so I'll suggest texting them is not possible.

Was it just a single blast of the whistle, or was it a sequence of long (4-6 secs) blasts and/or short blast (1 sec)? Was it about 1 hr before departure - which could be the officers testing the Bridge equipment prior to departure.

Dress Code - After 18:00, in the MDR and both alternative restaurants the attire is "Business Casual". For gentlemen that includes a short or polo/golf shirt and trousers. The World Cafe has no restrictions other than no swimwear, athletic gear, etc which should be restricted to the gym and pool deck. Formal Nights - None Average Age - probably mid to high 60's. Nobody under 18. All Inclusive - varies depending on the cruise. World Cruises are almost completely all-inclusive, with everything included - gratuities, all drinks (<$15), flights, luggage shipping, Visas, etc. Regular cruises, they add gratuities and beer/wine is only available at lunch & dinner. Wifi is always available, alternative restaurants are complimentary, self-service laundry is included (includes the soap liquid) and an included shore-ex in each port. Luxury - the definition is very subjective. Having experienced the tail end of the luxury liners, I do not consider any current cruise line meets the definition of luxury. I find the clean Scandinavian design and decor a pleasant change from the rich wood panelling and opulence of the ships I worked on. Service may not be "Silver Service", but it is still exceptional, with the crew highly trained and responsive to pax needs and expectations. Food is also highly subjective, with us being very satisfied. On a 4-month cruise the menu did not repeat and they had an excellent selection of destination themed dishes. Meals were prepared and presented. On Viking you are treated as a responsible adult, as Viking have no restrictions on bringing aboard any alcoholic/non-alcoholic beverages. If you bring your own beer/wine into a dining room, the staff will open and pour, with no corkage fees. Same in the bars, you bring you own bottle and they provide the glasses. Condition of the Ships - Viking ships are very well maintained. Most issues we noted in the cabin were identified by our Cabin Steward, who raised a work order for Engineering. Repairs were either that day or the next.

Hardly surprising, since Her Majesty has just departed St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh enroute to London. The crowds experienced in Edinburgh were incredible, with the Police shutting down access many hours prior to yesterday's service, as the area was already at capacity. I have no doubt the London crowds from tomorrow will be several times what was experienced in Edinburgh. People started queuing to access the Queen's Lying-in-State in Westminster Hall about 48 hrs before the start and the queue is expected to be 5 miles in length.

Prior to our first Viking cruise I compared the savings between paying by cash and Visa. The 3.3% savings on a $100K+ cruise was definitely of interest. However, once I calculated the points and miles received from Visa, the cash saving was about 1/2 of the flights we could receive. Consequently, I always use Visa for the points.

Interesting that they are going with fuel cells, rather than dual fuel engines. Since the Ballard fuel cells were developed at one of our local Universities, we have received lots of information about them locally. However, the information we receive is that they (Ballard) have focussed on autos and buses. I did read that DNV has approved a marine fuel cell and if memory is correct, it was a Norwegian coastal ferry. If the first hydrogen fuel cell ships are due in 2026/27, that is a significant increase in scale from a coastal ferry to a cruise ship. Affirmative, most modern cruise ships use the prime movers to drive generators, which provide power for propulsion and the hotel load. The Viking ships currently have 2 larger and 2 smaller prime movers that start based on the load required. If they go with fuel cells, they would replace the existing prime movers and depending on the output, and ability to respond to load changes, they may require additional batteries. It is going to be very interesting to watch the progress and initial designs. As with LNG, if the tanks are not on the upper decks, they must have large vents to prevent tank over-pressurisation in the event of heating.