lovetosew

The fact that the shops on board are closed when in port is an important fact not many may think of. This is another reason to be self sufficient on our travels.

You guys sound like my kind of travelers. Will pack these and thought of a couple of more items; a roll of tension tape in case of a twisted ankle and my Tolaccea ankle sleeves (Amazon) that can be either chilled or heated as needed. Oh yes, my collapsible cane that has a nifty light just in case! 

Is there a small drug store on board in case one would need an emergency aspirin or do we need to bring our own mini first aid kit. 

Thanks for the reply.  Look forward to meeting all. Will check out Vela Viking meet and greet boards.

Can one buy a bottle on board?

We have booked the Dec 19 cruise and are excited to see that part of the world. Looking forward to a super relaxing time and time away from the families on Christmas day. Does anyone know if Viking has a special Christmas concerts on ship.  That would be nice.

Thanks for quick response. Have a great day.

Having booked with VO via an on line booking I am now having difficulty with the VO rep getting back to me with questions on this and that cannot be answered in a form answer. I asked him where he was located and he said South Africa which is wonderful but I live on the east coast of the US and my travel partner lives in western Canada. Can Viking at least give me a TA on the east coast of the US in my time zone? Both of us have e mailed and phoned but to no answer and we are almost ready to cancel our reservations. I am going to give this TA a few more hours to get back to me before I go further on my concerns.  My late husband always had a personal TA and I do not know why I thought that I could do it directly.  Any advice.

We also were suckered into a reef tour but since neither of us snorkle it was just a pleasant day in the down under sun.  Do not remember a buffet but Vantage must have had something to eat.  On a lighter note I do remember taking a private around the island from Wellington.  We booked a kid with a van to see the seals on the far side of the island.  He was a stitch and a lot of fun; a real Quigley down Under.

As I read the comets I realize I will need my collapsible hurry cane and a small medical kit of ace bandages and pain pills in case of a twisted ankle.  Looking forward to it all.    

Does VO have? activities for solo travelers or on we all on our own to catch up to a loose group of travelers? 

Reminded me of the last Princess cruises we had in 2017; after a long chilly day on tour and the saunas were shut down. Heated beds were cold.  Very disappointing for old bones.  Now that I am contemplating travel again I just do not know about Princess even though we were so loyal to them for so long.

What is Princesses policy as to solo diners.  Do they tuck us behind the door to the kitchen or are we seated at tables of other solos?  When I dine I know that parties of couples can be somewhat inclusive and that is understandable.  Just want to know what some of the rules of the road are before I sail alone.

My Husband and I were pretty solid Princess cruisers until he passed away in 2020.  Then Covid hit and all travel ceased.  I am now thinking of going out on my own alone and I guess to answer my question is to call Princess.  It is not easy to travel as a single.  It seems to be the old line from Rowan and Martins Laugh In: Sock it to Me, Sock It To Me!

An add on to this thread: Widowed members of military spouses.  We indeed served too! Now that we are travelling solo it would be nice for Princess to give us a nod; a get together, a coupon or two or just a thank-you.  

What about the plastic bags they leave for you to gather your dirty laundry in?  Are you charged for those as well?  I still have a couple of other cruise line laundry bags hanging about in my stash of travel trivia holding old cocktail napkins and a swizzle stick or two plus sightseeing plans for the day.  Memories, in the corner of my mind becoming fainter every day. Good travels to all.

In 2016 when Viking Oceans was just a pup ( and only had one serviceable ship) my dear husband and I had a trip booked on the Viking Star which got stuck in Tallin after a stop in St. Petersburg.  We were to pick the ship up on its next run out of Olso. If it had not been for CC and our super TA we may have already been on our way to Olso to meet the ship.   She worked miracles and somehow managed to cancel everything without penalties. I followed CC and knew how passengers were being treated, off loaded to other venues to fly home and what happened to fellow cruisers on the rest of their cruise.  It was very interesting to follow and it has taken me this long to think and reconsider again Viking Oceans. Still have not decided.

I did not mean to over simplify.   My heart goes out to all of them fleeing their homes.  Have a wonderful and safe Sunday.

It has been a number of years but Julia's parents apartment in Stavastapol was so small. But the welcome was so warm and wonderful.  They spoke a mix of Russian/Ukranian because Julia's parents worked at the Inkerman Winery close by.  Julia's mom was a chef there. It made me so nervous to serve her dinner in my home because I am not "from scratch" cook but no one noticed. They way I understand it, Stavastapol has changed hands many times; kind of like Alabama being part of the south, then the north and then the south and then the north again. But the population has a strong moral core despite attempts to eliminate the church. Let good prevail.

It saddens me to watch the news because we had such a wonderful cruise down the Dnieper in 2009.  We landed in Odessa and saw places of which they speak such as Khearson and Kiev.  The highlight of our trip was being treated to an evening in a home of parents  an American neighbor of ours.  They had an apartment in Stavastopol.   Not much English but much home made wine and vodka and food. At the end of the evening we were piled into a Yugo like taxi, 6 of us to go back to the ship.  We made it safely.  We had the opportunity to entertain her parents in our home in North Carolina when they were allow to travel to the U.S. before Putin put the stop to that. It was the highlight of our trip.  It is a beautiful country and such  a shame.

For those of us who may want to sail Viking Oceans but cannot afford a suite but want daily bar service; how is exactly that accomplished. Comments appreciated.

Would be most interested in the entertainment on Seaborn.  What venues does Seaborn offer?

Perhaps you are correct.  She was not married until 1941 and often mentioned the group that she travelled with during that time frame.  Thank-you for your reply.

My Mother sailed the original Queen in 1930 to England and I treasure a small red carved wood  box she won in a bridge game on that ship.  It fascinated me as a child and I still have it; although I have never sailed Cunard.  Anyone have treasures of old Cunard cruises?

I too am contemplating a Princess cruise after several years away; new ways are a sail; so much so that I am looking at other cruise lines in order to avoid the high tech streaming of passengers. I do not want to be tracked with a button to go to dinner.  Travel companions are tough to find at our age.  Who knows.  We could drop dead at check in.  Who is going to press the medallion button then.