Planning to cruise

Price differential between B and BC depends on which Britannia cabins you look at. The step from Britannia "from" price, entry level, to BC is steeper than from the most expensive Britannia room, BA. For years we usually booked BA rooms but decided that the upgrade difference to Club was not so great and we found it to be worth it. I agree with post #10 re QV and QM2 and QE is the same as QV. The QA club rooms are smaller than those on the other ships and feel more cramped. The Club dining room is much larger without the intimacy and "Club" feeling of the other ships. At the end of the day, as with most things in cruising, you pays your money and takes your choice.

One very minor correction: the statue in the park playing the violin is, I believe, of the 18th century great Norwegian violinist, Ole Bull, not Edvard Grieg. I was about to say the same thing. The violinist is OB, the photos also show a statue of EG. Another worthwhile visit in Bergen is to Troldhaugen, Greigs home.

Yes there was. The problem was that if you werent seated in the central part of the room you couldnt fully see what was going on because of the overhanging balconies above.

Well done Jonathan Ward. I always knew he would make it one day. He was 3rd Officer on QM2 8 years ago. Very sociable then. On a long cruise our room was near the bridge. If we were in the corridor when he passed he always spoke and also anywhere around the ship. We spoke again last year when he was deputy on QV.

Its interesting to contrast your day in Flam with ours there last month when the weather was hot and sunny. It was also the height of the tourist season. We did the same included tour which showed us parts we had not seen before. Your photo of the viewpoint cantilevered walkway showed a handful of people on it. It was jammed when we visited and despite (or because of) the great weather it was difficult to appreciate the view never mind get decent photos. We travelled on the railway during our first vist on a land holiday in 1973 when it was more of a local means of transport and less of a busy tourist attraction. As such, we have never been since on many cruise calls to Flam. The difference in 50 years is huge. Flam was just a station at the end of the railway line with a quay where people waited to connect to a local ferry. The hotel was there and a couple of houses. In July the sail out along the fjord was stunning in the longer light and better weather. We watched on deck for hours. We did have a shower that produced a huge rainbow across the fjord and rocky summits.

So many visiting the UK stick woth London. London while full of history and fabulous buildings and museums is not typical. There is so much more.

I read every day. I thoroughly enjoyed a 120 day world cruise. Not on Viking but on the ship with supposedly the largest library at sea. 😀 I got through lots of books! I haven't even got a kindle.

I get through 2 or 3 books on a typical 10 - 14 day VO cruise. I realised that there is an order of book display. The Winter Garden poolside cases have food related books. I pass those. Non fiction is on the Winter Garden taller bookcases flanking the doors furthest from the grill. Explorers Lounge both floors is mostly travel and exploration with some e.g. music books too. The Living Room and Atrium has most books including any fiction.

I was proposed to in Norway with wonderful scenery. Not on a cruise in those days. Still married to the same chap over 50 years later .......

Living in the UK, this seems an interesting collection. As you say, not all ports are likley to be navigationally suitable. An itinerary planner would need ro be selective, that list covers a lot of ground (sea!). I would support a second itinerary. After all, cruises to Spain and elsewhere vary the ports.

I dont know that you could get a complete veg meal. I dont eat shellfsh. Crab was in the starter dish. I said I woild pass on it, I was happy to do so, no big deal. I know the staff insisted on providing something more acceptable but I cant remember what. The restaurant was not very busy at the time, after the first rush.

It was in Quartotoq that we passed a meat stall. Lets just say they eat parts of the animal that we may not such as the head. On display, the whole thing, ready prepared for the pot.

As you probably know, Kirkwall is the capital of the Orkney Islands. An excursion will take you out of town. The town itself is pleasant with a cathedral but is unlikely to keep you for a full day. In my opinion it would be good to see more of the island, historic sites, scenery. I agree, see Bergen on your own. Haugesund and Eidfjord are small. Why not look at the excursions typically provided in each port by HAL? You might fancy a particular one depending on your interests.

We have had a 2 week holiday in Hughtown St Marys. Visiting other islands depends on timings. The time of your arrival on the quayside and departure of island boats. Those boats are not large. You probably would not want to do an island trip in poorer weather. When on one of the islands it will be walk, walk and admire the scenery and beaches. They are lovely and 'away from it all'. The island of Tresco is popular for its gardens. Some cruise ships run excursions to Tresco. Many from far and wide go to Scilly specifically for serious birdwatching. The town at St Marys is not large. It is interesting to walk around but will not take you that long. When we were there we did lots of walks. The countryside is beautiful, the pace is quiet and distances are reasonable. If that interests you, get a map (Google maps are a start), decide the route and have decent footwear. The ship will probably tender. That reduces the 8 hours. If sea conditions are poor, as they sometines are around the Isles the call may be missed.

Ah, thats the segment when we experienced a force 10 situation for a couple of days, off Newfoundland. At one stage there was also a fire on top, put out in those conditions by crew. First sitting dinner was evacuated, announcments requested dog owners to go to the kennels and parents to collect children. Staff were seen ready in life jackets. Our second sitting dinner proceeded as usual. While the storm continued decks were closed, most entertainment curtailed and shops closed for safety. It was suggested that those with mobility problems should consider remaining in their staterooms and using room service. Older people in the next room stayed put with the corridor door open. We were physically unaffected, carried on as usual though things rolled around in the Lido. This is highly unusual, was still talked about by staff on board some years later.

More than once we have found those bookmarks in a book we are in the middle of reading on board. It has appeared at the correct place in the book on the bedside table when we are out. We assume the room steward notes what is marking the page and helps out ......? Another example of Viking service.

While we are on the topic of hot drinks a niggle for us on Viking Oceans is that at breakfast there is a jug of coffee on each table. If you dont want that - we dont - you have to get up, walk to the drinks station, possibly wait for space, get water, teabag and milk. The plus is your drink is as you like it.

From the UK. Cant do without the morning cuppa. Tea. As others have said, get the coffee machine removed and a kettle and tea bags in, plus a milk delivery. There is always room service including an option to request an early drink only on the breakfast card.

In our book polo shorts on non formal nights and shirt and tie only for formal nights are not right. In some 400+ nights on all Cunard ships DH has never been in the dining room without a jacket. Not because its Cunard but because thats him. Polo shorts and no jackets for formal are fine in other venues on board such as the buffet or pub.

We have been to Quaqortac and other ports in Greenland. They are not urban, do not have so much infrastructure, are not mainstream tourist haunts. Travellers visit for the different type of scenery and lifestyle. I loved the places and am pleased to have had the opportunity to experience something different. Yes, you will probably have to get about under your own steam (I dont recall seeing any public transport). Facilities may be more limited and basic and it may very well be wet. I am still astonished at the response of a fellow cruiser in Greenland when I asked the next day if she had enjoyed the visit only to be told that as it looked a bit wet they hadnt bothered getting off. I thought how can you come so far and to choose somewhere so different and then not bother? (The same thing happened another time in Svalbard, by the way. Another place you dont have or do organised tours.) Greenland port stops are not places for tours. Another example of where it pays to do research.

It depends on the terminal, hotel location, amount of luggage and ability of passengers. Personally, I would not do it.

Sounds ambitious. If the 6 hours is from the time the plane is scheduled to land to the time the next is due to take off, factor in time for passengers to leave the plane, get through the airport, immigration, get outside to transport, travel some miles to the city then get around. Then travel back to the airport, get through security that can have queues, and be in time to be at the gate for boarding. All assuming the planes are on time. Dublin is not a small airport nor a small city.

The UK weather forecast reports that the storm affecting parts of the country is moving to Scandinavia.

You should report your feelings to the ship tour staff. They give feedback to the tour company, on another cruise line they definitely do.

We often transit through Schipol Airport Amsterdam. We fly from the UK, non Schengen. The onward flight is always to a Schengen destination. We have to go through passport control to move from one section of the airport where flight one lands to the other for flight two. It is one terminal, we remain airside and the bags are checked through. If we were flying to another non Schengen destination we would remain on that side of the terminal without going through the passport border.