OnTheJourney

LOL...good one!

Yeah, that was fun at times, but it got old. Let me eat in peace without coming around to get my picture. For my part they could get rid of 'em entirely. As someone else said, if people want to dress up and get a pic taken, fine. Can do it anytime, especially depending on how it works now.

No thanks...but each to his / her own! Viking spoiled me...none of those special dress code evenings. Every evening is 'smart casual' which generally winds up being more casual than smart. Works for me! Used to drag along a sport coat and tie on cruises. Done with that.

Already have enough cruise pictures to last us! Most turn out crappy anyway and hit the recycling bin 😆 Some people are far more photogenic than others. We're not among the group that generally is. If our status offers a free pic, then we'll usually take one along. Now that they don't come around to the tables much anymore (is that even still done?) and don't even seem to have the usual stations set up around the ship, we don't bother. How does it work now on RCL? Must you schedule a time to get pictures taken?

Yeah, it's luck of the draw. We had fantastically smooth sailing BOTH ways - which was really lucky. The day we were at Port Stanley - which was an amazingly warm day (only needed a sweatshirt) - they told us that had we been there the day before we wouldn't have been able to come in to port and likely not visit at all. Aww...most sorry to hear this. It's so hard to lose them. Yes...that's the way (and time) to do the more extensive travel for sure. We talk about downsizing, but there's so much about our place that I'd hate to lose: additions we've put on the house designed to our specifications; the pool - fully renovated several years ago and so in great shape; some really sentimental trees and shrubs that came from our parents and grandparents' properties decades ago; plus an incredible view up on top of our hill. So, yeah, I'd absolutely hate to leave but the flipside is all the work that goes with it. I've started to bring in a grounds maintenance crew to do some of it - and have to keep moving in that direction. I can PRETEND I'm 40 years old again and able to work outside 7-8 hours a day during summer, but I'm also kidding myself 😉 The thing I've been wondering about really long travel is - how do manage Rx prescriptions? Since generally it's only possible to get a 90-day supply. Almost need someone to live in or keep regular check on things. The smaller community such as you speak of - with preferably no plants or pets (I have a HUGE plant collection - one of my biggest hobbies) - is the way for the type of travel you're doing. Close the door and go. I need someone to water plants every 7-9 days. Oh well, moot anyway since I really have little interest in anything over 3 weeks. By then I'm admittedly a tad homesick. Plus, DW has little interest in real long flights anymore, so my dream trip of AUS / NZ will probably never happen. Plus, her health issues have crept into the picture. I'd love Viking's trip down there and then I'd add the 6-day extension into the interior. No interest in only circling around the continent.

LOL....not sure I can go quite that far! I've always enjoyed every day of our trips - land and cruise - but, I agree, 3 weeks is plenty long enough. Our recent Viking trips were that long and most interesting. Lots of ports we've not been to so glad we went. Agreed on doing more than 10 days if you have to fly. Car trips is still our favorite over cruising. Keeps things more interesting cause I'm 'steering the ship' lol.

Did you like it there? We were down there in '17 on the Celebrity Infinity. Amazing trip since we had never been to South America before. We had smooth sailing in the Drake also which made things enjoyable.

I get it, but I'd simply not be comfortable being away from home that long, let alone having a pet in a kennel for that long either. With the property and pool, etc. just so much to take care of at my place. We've done about 3-4 weeks, but I find myself counting the days till we head for home. In general, judging from your list, you travel way more often than I'd be comfortable with, but, hey, go for it. YOLO. As I get older I'm increasingly enjoying just being at home.

Looks like a great itinerary, though would admittedly be way too long for me. 3 weeks total is about as long as I care to be away on any trip, and doubt any will be that long anymore with DW's health issues. Quebec is a lovely stop if you've never been there before. One of our favorites on Canada / New England cruises. So you added this one as a B2B: https://www.vikingcruises.com/expeditions/cruise-destinations/great-lakes-canada/niagara-and-the-great-lakes/index.html ? We'll probably decide on the 15-day Great Lakes at some point. Have to use a voucher from the recent northbound Mississippi cruise. Looks like you'll be new to sailing Viking ocean?

Is this what you're referring to? Which cruises did you put together? I don't see a separate 33-night cruise on the website. VIKING OCTANTIS 7/16/2025 33 night Great Lakes/Northwest Passage/St. Lawrence Seaway/Greenland/Canada 07/16/2025 Ah...I think I see it...this one? https://www.vikingcruises.com/expeditions/cruise-destinations/great-lakes-canada/canada-and-the-northwest-passage/index.html#itineraryday/8

Oh my. Most sorry to hear this. Might possibly be a similar situation here. DW developed health issues over the summer, had surgery in November, but not sure what level of recovery will take place. No trips of any sort planned right now. It's surely the biggest challenge to come along - in terms of prospective future travel - that we've had in our 43 years together. We were fortunate to make it through the Mississippi cruise back in October. Not getting to most of the ports turned out to be a mixed blessing since she could spend alot of time just resting onboard. Trying to do all the excursions and port stops as planned would have never worked. Please take care and hope she does better soon. You sure must have some wonderful cruise and other travel experiences together to look back on. Wishing you both all the best...🙏

LOVED Bergen - I could easily go back there and spend a bit more time. May you have smooth sailing and tight lines. Post some pics here of your trip.

Hi Andy, as always a great explanation! Glad you jumped in on this. Hope you're doing well. Saw no upcoming cruises listed (?) Thought you might be on the current WC with Jim.

Solar Cycle 2025 is expected to be stronger than the previous, peaking somewhere between 134 and 177 sunspots, according to the latest model. You can track the progression of the solar cycle at swpc.noaa.gov. Either way, aurora sightings are luck of the draw. My sister-in-law had great sightings a few months ago on a Greenland cruise.

Yeah but that's exactly where we ran into problems - in the area of Hustadvika (Norway) right off the west coast. Wish we WOULD have been much farther out to sea since the potential danger was being driven against the rocky coastline, especially with all the engines having failed. Luckily the anchor held and after a bit we got one engine restarted. It was later determined that we came within a ship's length of grounding. What we encountered was a rather freak storm though. https://www.dsb.no/globalassets/dokumenter/rapporter/assessment_of_the_viking_sky_incident.pdf Definitely take 'em. North sea weather - unpredictable conditions. I don't do any cruise without them. Yep...it was for us also! Loved it (well, except for the aforementioned storm and how the journey ended rather abruptly). Best wishes for a fantastic trip!

Can't believe this thread is STILL going....amazing!

Yes...same as crossing the Drake on the way to Antarctica, although of the two I'd place my bets, generally speaking, on encountering significantly less turbulent seas doing the NL sailing as opposed to the Southern Ocean.

Well, we were on this one.. https://www.cnbc.com/2019/03/23/passengers-airlifted-from-viking-sky-cruise-ship-in-storm-off-norway.html There's a long thread about all this on CC (Viking Sky Survivors). It was the last Northern Lights sailing of the season. However, don't let all this scare you away. It was a pretty unprecedented situation for sure. It's a truly marvelous trip, amazing scenery, plus we had several real nice aurora sightings. It was also our first time with Viking and have done several since. I love what Viking offers and everything about their ocean ships. The issue we ran into on the cruise happened on the way back. Of course, North Sea / North Atlantic can get rough anytime. I'd say, go and enjoy, and may the wind be at your back! We were looking forward to the extension in London but unfortunately never got that far. Hard to believe it'll be 5 years soon since that trip.

exactly...you beat me to it 😉

Some do, some don't. In recent years it seems to have all been going more casual. I don't even take a tie along anymore, let alone a sport coat. I think that many of those who enjoy dressing up on formal nights probably also plan to get pictures taken. Thankfully it seems the photographers don't come around like they used to during dinner, etc. Not sure but I believe you have to schedule a time if you want photos taken (?) or else show up at a designated location. Haven't been with RCL for awhile though so I may be wrong.

Oh my. I'm also greatly saddened to hear this news. Hoping that things will improve. I'll send up prayers for you and your family. Take good care. 🙏

Thanks, JD. All the best to both of you.

Sure hope so. The ending of this year is one I'm ready to move on from due to significant medical issues for DW that started during the summer and will hopefully resolve or at least start to improve in the coming months. So no travel for us anytime soon and nothing whatsoever planned or booked. We were lucky that we made it through the Mississippi trip without the need for medical intervention. If the current situation, for whatever reason, wouldn't improve as hoped for, I'm grateful for all the many and varied travel experiences we've had the good fortune to enjoy these past 43 years, not the least of which was our most interesting adventure with all of you! Stay healthy and well everybody. That's the most important thing, always. Money / travel plans, etc. don't mean a thing if you're not well enough to make use of it.

Merry Christmas to everyone in our Sky 'survivor' family!!! Wishing you all the best in '24.

So you got the "lake" instead of the "shake"! Or else the seas are perhaps rough but the ship rides it extraordinarily well. Either way, enjoy! We loved it down there and had smooth sailing in both directions across the Drake.