SantaFe1

We were on 6 forward, our preferred cabin.

We did this is February 2024. Those terrible storms that ravaged California that month were out there for us. It was very rough both going and coming. Not much fun, although we don’t get seasick. And not a lot of bang for your buck with only four days in Hawaii, and Ensenada really not a nice port. If we go to Hawaii again, we will fly and DIY.

We took masks but foolishly didn’t wear them. But then again, my understanding is that they protect others from a sick you, rather than the other way around. But still, we could have done better. On the airplanes we have our own pod, or suite with a door closing us off, and use the lounge for long layovers, so we can distance. But this last cruise was the worst for sick people coughing all over us since Panama Canal in 2021, where there were twenty cases of Covid and we had to miss ports.

We also started feeling poorly at the end of the trip. Our day in Bergen, we broke off from the walking tour and just went at our own pace. Then came back to the ship, packed, got up at two the next morning, left the ship at 3:30, were in transit for 24 1/2 hours, up for 30. We went to three markets the next day, then, on Saturday, my husband, who has asthma, started coughing badly. Used inhalers, tested for Covid, negative, but he is only now feeling a bit better. People on this cruise should have taken a clue from Andrea who stayed in her cabin for two days, and stayed in when they were sick. We were coughed upon all day every day on busses. I remember missing a day in St. Petersburg years ago because I was coughing so badly. I just didn’t want to subject others to me ( this was pre-Covid, too). Where are people’s manners? Or just common sense???

I’m really sorry to hear this. We love Oslo. I can’t believe you couldn’t find something else to do that Sunday. There are so many museums. And was Carmen not good? I love that opera. But I do know that at the end of a trip, we are sometimes just tired. Do plan to go back!

I meant dinging. Geez, if we heard singing I would have been pounding on Guest Service’s door, lol.

Then I must tell you this story. We often travel over our anniversary ( in fact it’s tomorrow, and we are just back). A few years ago, on our anniversary on the ship, we exchanged cards in the morning and I set them up on the desk. That evening, when we got back from dinner, there was a special cake and champagne for us. I guess our room steward reported it. So you never know. But that was nice.

You are right, I should and will do that. In addition to not liking the room, we lost that wonderful feeling you get upon embarkation where you go to your cabin, drop off hand luggage, and go to a wonderful lunch on the Aquavit terrace. We spent time arguing at the guest services desk, and by the time we were finished, I wasn’t even hungry!

Yes! I heard it constantly when in the room, although we were on deck 8 and there aren’t very many cabins up there, so fewer people coming and going. I would say we heard singing as late as 2 am and as early as 5 am.

It was not the most pleasant of surprises. There was a lot of turmoil checking in, and no room key for us. We had to tender over on the Greenwich boats with a checkin person and meet for half an hour with the Guest Services manager. She seemed completely flummoxed about why someone might not want the upgrade. But I don’t really like the Junior suites. They are cluttered and crowded. Two chairs and a sofa is just too much and instead of feeling roomy they feel cramped. The two huge TVs right next to each other are just laughable to us. And the TV attached in front of the mirror over the desk at the foot of the bed renders the mirror useless, and there is no good place to dry my hair. We did enjoy the larger bathroom, and the free laundry. But the room location was terrible. Very Noisy. Second worst ever, the worst being a Guarantee room. We could afford to book a PJS if so inclined, but do not. We picked our room a year in advance, and we always book the same room, deck six, forward. I asked to have that room back, but they had already given it away. If they had asked, I would have said no, especially when I saw where it was. So I guess I would call this a forced upgrade.

Nope, on our BIE cruise this past month we were upgraded from PV1 to PJS1. We have a TA and no reason was given. And no advance notice. All our luggage was tagged for our original cabin.

We are looking at the same thing. On our British Isles Explorer cruise we had many, many excursions where the bus ride was 90 minutes each way and only 75-90 minutes at our destination, whether you booked with Viking or on your own. Our next cruise is a Viking River cruise, which we hope will give us destinations with less time on the bus. I also wish Viking would post the bus times in the description of the excursion. They certainly know them, since the bus time is always given in the port talks, and Viking runs these excursions several times a week.

I also just got off Neptune. I ALWAYS find the bed too hard, although my husband loves it, so I just leave it alone and suffer in (relative) silence. But this time, oddly, I found the mattress pretty comfortable and even remarked about it to my husband.

You two are intrepid. I thought Lerwick was worth a day of exploration on its own. Wish we had had more time, although, as I said, in the ‘90s I spent quite a bit of time in Scotland and the Islands. Loved the Isle of Skye, too.

I have a friend who is interested in doing this cruise. Today I wrote her our impressions. One of the main things was that I’d like two days in several ports! Just too much to see and do in a day. Hard to make choices. And lots of long bus rides taking up too much time for a day trip. I have also been to most of these ports. But so good to see Scotland again! Probably for the last time.😕

If the timing is right, it is possible to do two excursions in one day, but you need about an hour in between or you are blocked from booking. For example, we just got back from British Isles Explorer and one morning had the paid Ancient History of the Shetlands tour and in the afternoon, the included Shetland and ponies tour. What you cannot do is have two included tours in one day. You cannot have more than one included tour per port, even if they offer two and even if you are there multiple days. For example, in Bergen there were two included tours offered, a panoramic tour and a walking tour. You could only book one. And if two days in port, you can still only book one. The advertised promise is one included tour per port, period!

Empty it was not! But thanks for the compliment to my editing skills🙂

One thing we have noted about this cruise is that there are a lot of excursions where the bus time is more than the excursion time. That is not altogether bad, as there are some lovely drives. Today was another long drive, but lovely scenery, and different routes to Loch Ness and back to Invergordon. I have been to Urquhart castle before, and perhaps you can’t go home again. But it seemed so busy, even on a Monday morning. But still an aura of Scottish Mystery.

We had a bit more traditional day in Edinburgh. We took the included tour to get us up to the castle, then headed out on our own. Saw the tourist sights, a parade (sorry, no pix) and Greyfriar’s Bobby, a favorite.

Yes, the gardens are spectacular. But 50 acres, and we were supposed to have a guided tour and did not. The rhododendrons and azaleas were spectacular! Do go. Just don’t take a bus tour, IMO.

Same with ours to Inverewe Gardens. All bus ride, very cold and foggy in the gardens. We toured for 30 minutes and had a hot lunch. But three hours on the bus. And late to the tender. As soon as our group boarded, the ship left. I have been to little Ullapool before and wish we had done it again.

9 pm. We are moving fast. I don’t know why, as. It is only 55 nautical miles to Holyhead. I am so happy with how the captain handled this.

Yes, I have done many scary tenders, but this one I asked to get off. Just not safe. And then we did. Update: tonight at dinner, we met a couple who went over on the first tenders. They did their tour, but then it was too rough to come back. Viking put them up in a hotel for four hours until it was “safe” to return. But they were still pretty shaken. Then in CT we watched two other tenders return. Slowly, slowly. I am so glad we didn’t go this morning. It was really frightening. It I think Viking did so well by everyone!!!!

Captain canceled all further tendering about an hour after my post above. Very few of us got to Dublin today. Just those on the first two tender boats. I hope they all arrive back safely. Best tip— go on a sunny day.

Welcome to Ireland! Rainy, windy, rough day. We got on the tender boat, which was more than difficult. The conditions were so bad down there that the rope snapped. No one else could get on. One woman was separated from her husband. Then, the tender pilot said, no way are we going anywhere. So he motored back, tied up with a new rope, and off loaded all of us. Absolutely terrifying. And I’ve been in lots of bad conditions. Tender operations have been “paused,” but I’m pretty sure the captain will cancel them. Problem is, six groups, two tenders had already left and are on their way to Dublin. Stay tuned. Quite nice in Explorers Lounge right now. I’m enjoying a bowl of raspberries🙂