OnTheJourney

Agreed that the vocalists did a great job. Band is always good, on any cruise line I’ve sailed with. No brass players on the Sky last month though and so lots of parts dubbed in. It was basically just a rhythm section that accompanied the singers. Might have been a different magician. The one on our sailing was ok but not up to others we’ve seen. At least one show that reflected the local culture would have been nice. That’s why I said the overall feel seems to be going more mainstream.

And sometimes hardly anyone in the pool. That was my experience twice on my recent cruise last month. Had the whole thing to myself. A few people sitting around finishing a leisurely lunch. It made for a quiet and most enjoyable swim. There’s also a hot tub right there.

Not just my standards. I’m not even sure that it’s a matter of meeting anyone’s standards per se but rather just a general observation. Behavior in a dining room should be a bit more respectfully quiet and reserved as opposed to being in a noisy bar.

That would very possibly be the same guitarist that is frequently on their ships. During the near fateful day on the Sky on March 23, 2019, the guitarist (same guy I'm referring to) was doing "My Heart will go On" during lunch (LOL)..while the ship is already starting to toss and turn. That was probably the last musical selection played during what was left of that cruise...which wasn't much.

Nope....I'm done with that. It's a good song, as many that Neil wrote, but the use of it on cruises turned me off to it at this point! Well stated...I enjoyed your entire post as well!

LOL....good one. I think you might well be right. Retirement doesn't seem to suit him well, and somehow have trouble picturing him in the broadcast booth. Ever since deflategate and spygate I sort of lost some respect for the GOAT. Guy's a sore loser too. Temper tantrums on the sidelines.

All very well said and true enough!! We didn't go to the cruise director's show. I agree on catching up with port talks and lectures that we missed by being out on excursions. Nope...I say keep it the way it is cause it's already something different and unique. Some of the other more typical food choices I can get in World Cafe. Less so on Viking...I thought anyway....until probably more recently. But corporate has a choice in what they want to bring on the ships. I still say they're responding to surveys that are clamoring for more pop-style entertainment similar to what is typically found on more mainstream lines. And, as I said, a change in the crowd behavior as to being quite loud and animated at times - maybe I just got unlucky as to who was sitting next to us but it was pretty much every night once the groups of 6 came in. Nice and quiet when we came in the dining room around 6:00 but by the time we finished eating the place was rocking.

Yeah but this was Italy, Greece, and Israel. How about a bit of entertainment that matched the culture and places we were visiting?

Nah...wouldn't go that far. Well done arrangements I thought.

LOL..exactly! Beatles show was surely good, as was Abba, but I hoped for a bit more intimate, subdued entertainment a few nights. The comedian the one night was really bad. I don't think RCL would have even accepted him. The broadway singer was a prima donna - really liked herself. She was good also, but too glitzy (literally) and over-the-top. She indicated at the start that she likes to really "belt it out"...sure enough.

I think you missed or else misinterpreted my point. The Beatles and Abba show were exactly what we saw. But then the onboard vocalists and instrumentalists also did a few other shows that are more pop-oriented. A solo singer did a show too - can't recall her name. What we saw and heard, while good, were not quite what I expected to see on Viking. The other thing is...the ship felt louder than usual. Larger groups would come in for dinner (table of 6) and became quite noisy every night. Too much alcohol? In general, a louder, more boisterous feel to it at times. Goes along with another thread here on CC about a decline in behavioral standards I suppose.

Never thought I'd hear "Sweet Caroline" on a Viking ship (complete with the ubiquitous "so good...so good...so good" as people waved their arms and sang along. I can get that on RCL. More production-type shows in the theatre the way it seems, along with comedians and other types of acts. Just didn't expect that. I suppose, from surveys, this is what people are maybe indicating they want. Also never expected to hear Sophia playing pop and show tunes on the piano. Way below her extraordinary ability level for one thing. I'm thinking they are trying to appeal to a different (younger) demographic maybe? Hope they don't change the lovely and subdued new-age-type music being played in the dining room and world cafe in favor of louder and more distracting pop music. Anybody else notice a slightly different change during their sailings?

Oops...sorry! Probably did but was mostly focused on what Lena wrote. My bad. Glad you enjoyed!!! I have absolutely nothing against the Bucs, but admittedly glad Brady is finally done. Not a fan of the guy as much as I respect his accomplishments - how can one not? Should have quit while on top after the last super bowl win.

LOL! Seriously....I totally get it, and agree. Not sure there is even a way to do that. Buccaneer girl? Sounds like maybe you would have enjoyed the charter!!

No thanks....my favorite musical time period was the (I think anyway) amazingly creative and quality folk / rock / progressive and jazz rock and, towards the end of the 70s, new age music - which has greatly influenced my own musical playing style. We've never seen another period like it since. I guess each generation probably thinks that, out of sentimentality, the music of their generation is/was the best! For my Dad, hands down it would have been the big band era, since he was born in the 20s.

I love watching NFL but have zero interest in being on a charter cruise with a bunch of loud fans that tend to drink too much....

LOL...I can see where it wouldn't make for real good concentration.

Seems to depend on the website and/or location. Here is for PA: https://www.dot.state.pa.us/public/dvspubsforms/BMV/BMV Fact Sheets/fs-ant.pdf Some sites say 20 years for classic. Often thought about getting plates for my Riviera but I don't like the limitations on when they're supposed to be driven.

LOL...my brother, who's way more into cars than I could ever be...had one of those, sold it, than bought another one just last year! Burnt orange...same color as the one he sold! Why not have just hung on to the first one?!?

That's exactly what happened though. They couldn't believe it.

Well, then again, maybe Viking would NOT be your favorite cruise. There are no 'high energy' type activities although certain things are moving more mainstream. Never expected to hear "Sweet Caroline" (a ubiquitous cruise favorite the way it seems...can't stand that song anymore) on a Viking ship, and people enjoying the "so good, so good, so good" part, waving their hands and singing along. Felt more like X or RCCL. Plus the entertainment is going more mainstream. They're probably trying to attract a younger demographic. I also love the 'noone under 18 allowed on the cruises' part. Works for me to not have kids running around. Definitely. Should be a cruise just for them...BUT...they want to fill the ships, especially since covid and all the lost revenue.

referring to...the tampa bay bucs? LOL Should have told them that actually you're so glad that Brady finally retired and see what reaction that would have gotten! From all you say, have to agree. Quick story...my sister-in-law had a cruise booked on X that somehow wound up turning into a full charter and so they got booted right off. Got either their money back and/or a choice of alternative cruises - neither of which interested them, but it so turned them off that they never sailed wth X again after that. Yikes...sounds like I would have felt the same way you did about much of what went on! Not my cup of tea at all. Sometime consider trying Viking. If you like more quiet and laid back environment (still plenty of opportunity to enjoy alcoholic beverages though!), very interesting and well-traveled folks to talk to, although surely a considerably older demographic (like 20+ years beyond your age), really good food, and also I love how they offer pre and post extensions (and so makes it more like a combination cruise and land tour), I think you'd enjoy it. 930 passengers only (for the ocean ships). Glad you're home safe and good that you gave them some honest feedback about how the charter impacted the cruise for those who were not part of it.

Now that you mention this, I don't believe that car had a cassette player? One thing I miss about the newer cars is no cassette or CD, so will have to learn how to play from iTunes on our phones.

True enough! The market seems to have leaned towards SUV compared to sedan sales. Hybrids are still not showing up at my local dealers except for those that are already pre-sold. Weird. They list a whole bunch of cars on their websites, except that they're phantoms...not really there, or else in transit with some unknown (and nowhere near guaranteed) ETA. I was told that the additional listings are done to "bulk up" the alleged inventory. I waited too long (for readily available hybrid shopping). Once the pandemic came along, of course, the semiconductor issue began and inventory went down the drain.

it's still a baby. My '95 Riviera has 176k. I've yet to own a car that was manufactured in the 21st century. I think it's time. DW and I have only bought 4 cars in our 42 years of marriage. All of them right off the lot, and so this craziness about ordering (especially hybrids) and having to wait for up to 6 months, depending on the model, is so foreign to me. Never leased a car either - I know absolutely nothing about that.