Jim Avery

6 hours ago, Clay Clayton said:

Writing this on Tuesday morning from our balcony overlooking the Thames and London just before they arrive to throw us off. I will post something after we get home with fuller thoughts (don’t forget we have a week in London with our newly college graduated niece who arrives tomorrow morning) but for now I’m going to repost what I put up on Instagram last night:

 

The last few weeks onboard Sky have been bittersweet as all aboard -passengers and crew realized this amazing adventure was coming to an end. That hit me like a ton of bricks this morning. One of the cafe servers made a special effort to thank me for suggesting to other passengers to let her and other crew board a shuttle bus back to the ship in Tenerife before the guests. This allowed them to get back before their shifts started.  She said she would “never forget how kind that was”. While that brought me close to the edge, it was when she said, “ Smile when you get off tomorrow, please don’t cry” that the tears started and have been coming and going the rest of the day.  
 

While we always get to know a crew member or two, after four months we have really become so much closer to so many more.  We have learned about their families, their hopes for their careers, the baby that is due next month back home, the toddler at home being cared for by granny while Mom is onboard making a better life for her family. Each of these people who work so hard to make our lives onboard a breeze have a story and it’s only because we have been together so long that we have heard them. We just finished our end of cruise survey and had to add paper to be able to commend all the wonderful people who have taken care of us for the last 120 days.
 

Mike and I talked about it last night, and while we loved all our adventures and have great memories of so many places, cultures, and people it will be the memories made onboard with fellow passengers and especially the crew that we think will stick with us the longest.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clay,

Your well spoken post about how you loved the relationships with the crew put it exactly as I also feel.  That's why we have gone back for more.  Guess yall will just have to go home and plan the next one.  Safe travels and thanks for the memories.

1 hour ago, OnTheJourney said:

LOL  I did figure out, though, that to do 1,000,000 cruises over a 10-year period would require doing 274 cruises per day. Now THAT's some major traveling. Should be enough to arrive at the top tier level of just about any cruise line. Over a 30 year period, however, is only 91 cruises per day. Much easier I'd think. 

Haven't you ever heard of lawyers billing more than 24 hours per day??  Have to think it's the same principle.  But then modesty prohibits me bragging on my cruise total....🍸

I have also enjoyed very much your post and pix.  I think it is true @skygetsitall because the Neptune thread seems to have sailed off into the Bermuda Triangle or some other disappear place....

29 minutes ago, CCWineLover said:

Jim - you are up $26,410 !!   Enough for another Viking Cruise 🙂

 

Yeee Hawwww!! Sign me up.🥃🍷🍸🚢😎

That should be OBC, not abc...

3 minutes ago, SJD117 said:

That would explain how you can afford all the WCs!  😀

Haha, no its the future major dividends and $5,000 p/p abc for past WC pax.  Expecting generous things from V.  Will I be disappointed??🥃

I hope my 10,000 shares goes up...🍸

Tim, we look forward to following along with yall and thank you for taking the time to post.  We are booked on EJII in late November so are excited for this new line.  We love staying in Long Beach and have stayed onboard the Queen Mary a couple of times. 

Used to be a good restaurant onboard.  One time good, one time very noisy so some of the local nice hotels could be a better bet.  I did it mainly as I sailed onboard her as a child.  Anyway, hope yall have the best of times and love the food so much you gain a full stone....🍸

For the never ending drinks threads. Hope it’s readable.

Right you are. I have been to many places in a lifetime of traveling plus my seagoing career but there is always someone who has done a bit more. Sort of like no matter how much money you have someone else always has more. Darn the luck.🍸

53 minutes ago, OnTheJourney said:

Assuming you're referring specifically to Viking, what recent cruises have you found this to be the case?

Neptune World Cruise 

2 hours ago, 2cruisecats said:

I think we'd all be very interested in hearing your thoughts on Explora and Scenic Ocean after your travels. We've an Ocean and 2 Expeditions booked but always interested in other options.

Will do and yes they allow children.  Actually promote multigenerational cruising.  As far as I know now there are adult only bars and a pool and reading the few actual posts it seems they are not overrun with kiddies...., yet.   We don't go till late November so quite a ways to go but the Explora II is not completed yet I don't think.  And Scenic Oceans is next Spring in Japan.  Should be nice sailing with 200 or less.  We docked next to Scenic in Ushuaia when on our second Viking World cruise.  A very beautiful ship at that time.  Still will sail Viking and am hoping they tighten up management and get back to food and service standards.

1 hour ago, 2cruisecats said:

I think we'd all be very interested in hearing your thoughts on Explora and Scenic Ocean after your travels. We've an Ocean and 2 Expeditions booked but always interested in other options.

Will do and yes they allow children.  Actually promote multigenerational cruising.  As far as I know now there are adult only bars and a pool and reading the few actual posts it seems they are not overrun with kiddies...., yet.   We don't go till late November so quite a ways to go but the Explora II is not completed yet I don't think.  And Scenic Oceans is next Spring in Japan.  Should be nice sailing with 200 or less.  We docked next to Scenic in Ushuaia when on our second Viking World cruise.  A very beautiful ship at that time.  Still will sail Viking and am hoping they tighten up management and get back to food and service standards.

A billion here, a billion there, pretty soon you will be talking about real money......🤪

To clarify as to service.  We also find the crew to be one of the best things about Viking.  But most recently, as nice as crew was, they seemed short handed on numerous occasions.  No one would admit that there have been cutbacks to the number of crew onboard. 

I agree with you about post covid.  But it's about time to quit using that excuse don't you think? Why can't we get back to good service, hard work, and quality products?  And yes, food and service definitely not as original and in a negative way.

I have never, in a long "career" sailing on cruise ships, ever seen any cruise line stay the same.  Unfortunately they seem to all fall into the "bigger is better" mantra and move away from what originally made them so successful.  In 8 years sailing Viking we have seen notable changes in food and service.  Still good but not the Wow! of the first voyages.  Our next two bookings are on Explora Journeys and Scenic Ocean.  Both new lines with good reviews mostly.  But then back to Viking for a couple of river cruises.  As has been said many times before, the only constant in life is change.  We just go with what works at the time.🍸

47 minutes ago, TravelerTeacherRetired said:

What is LCR? Thanks.

I’m stressing over packing for 2 weeks on Homelands cruise. I can’t imagine packing for all the varied temperatures a 3 month cruise would require. 

World cruises "follow Summer" more or less.  We have never needed heavy gear or boots.  Nothing more than a light jacket or maybe a sweater.  You start out in the Southern Hemisphere soon after leaving the West coast and it is their Summer.  When you cross the equator northerly it is usually well into Spring on the Northern side.  Finish nearly into our Summer.

Tell Viking that Carnival does it...🍸

A good guide can make all the difference,  They tell you stuff you would otherwise not learn from signs and labels, etc.

6 minutes ago, Clay Clayton said:

Isn’t that a day early?  Thought yall were 3 days behind. 

Mission Creep.....😎

Its still a good pint..🍺

War Rooms are a true highlight.  You might be thirsty after so up the steps, walk King Charles Street and through the arch, across the street to the Red Lion Pub.  You might be rubbing elbows with MPs or other famous drinkers.....🍺

35 minutes ago, Astromaid said:

Clay, I have seen you playing a game of LRC and needing 3 one dollar bills. There is a whole discussion on Carnival about some one reporting this game being played on a vCarnival ship and the participants have fists full of dollars. Illegal on Carnival and security shut them down. Must be that Viking is OK with the game. 

Viking is way more mature than Carnivorous.🍸  Try and bring a bottle of wine on Carnival and they throw you in the brig....

2 hours ago, OneSixtyToOne said:

The Expedition ships also have wireless charging areas on the nightstands. Do any Viking Ocean ships have this yet?

Not that I have seen.  As to wireless, only our iPhones would benefit.  All the other stuff still needs the tangle of wires...