SantaFe1

Wow, that’s quite a dilemma. On our WC we spent weeks pondering what to do. We ending up not getting YF but getting malaria. But I really had to think and research for a couple of weeks. Good luck with whatever you decide.

The Kruger excursions were optional and offered as 2 or 3 day safaris. They were several thousand dollars, but we had more than enough Viking OBC given as a WC perk to pay for them. We had to go from our docking at Mozambique on a bus into SA, and then go through a rather diligent customs there, then on a different bus and into the Park. We had a late afternoon Safari and an early morning Safari the next day. They were excellent!!! Then on a bus to the airport where we flew to meet the ship in Durban. We also did a day trip Safari at Bandia outside Dakar and didn’t enjoy it that much. As your friend said, really not a Safari. Our WC also had an overland excursion of maybe 5 days. We did not take it. But again, except for Mozambique, where many people did not leave the ship, and Dakar, where i wouldn’t leave the ship if I had it to do over again, we really enjoyed our trip up the W coast of Africa.

We did much of this on our 2019 WC, going across the Indian Ocean from Australia. We really enjoyed Africa and our two day Safari in Kruger. Only place we didn’t enjoy was Dakar. Glad they finally told you!

Oh, I hate to hear this, from both of you.

My husband also had it and didn’t bother to finish it. A big, dry slab of meat on the plate. I only tasted a small bite, but the tomato sauce had the distinctive taste of being canned. My seafood risotto, which is a favorite, was also just inedible. They served it on a flat dinner plate instead of a shallow bowl, so it did t look very appetizing to begin with. And the rice was just tasteless, and the seafood almost nonexistent. It was like eating the proverbial wallpaper paste. Now I make risotto in some form almost once a month, straight from recipes from Marcella Hazan. And we go to Milan just to eat risotto, so I think I know real Italian risotto. But I’m sure some liked both of these things, so each to their own.

Sail in!

We tried the new menu in Manfredis last night, menu #4. And like most others really missed the old menu. This is most definitely NOT Italian. We were told that about 90% complained about the change in menu. I hope we get another menu in May for our BIE cruise.

We arrive a couple hours late, but the shore ex team has miraculously saved most if,not all of the excursions, getting them pushed back a few hours. It is stormy looking out right now, but the sun is supposed to shine all day, and 75 degrees. Sure beats winter!

Yes! Maybe that’s it. I’ll try tomorrow, although by then we will be in port. Thanks.

I think they serve very safe renditions of recipes that perhaps some on Viking have never tried. We like the Chefs Table best, but it certainly isn’t adventurous or highly spiced.

The seas have finally calmed down a bit, and folks are out and about again. Yesterday we did a bridge tour and had a much better dinner at Chefs Table than last time. We had the Lotus menu with delicious Thai basil lamb chops. This afternoon we went to an Old World premium wine tasting that was almost opulent and certainly a lot of fun. However, all these days of bad weather have made our arrival in Honolulu a couple of hours late. All excursions have to be adjusted. We will see what we get! Sorry, still can’t attach photos. I can’t imagine why. I can attach them to anything but CC.

Absolutely agree!

Wish we were going as soon as that, Linda. We have it in Nov. 2025, over Thanksgiving. I can’t wait for that one.

I am glad to,hear that is the case! But an hour or so ago, it was so bad we took all the glasses and bottles and water carafe and put them on the floor. I put on my sea bands. This isn’t the worst I’ve ever been in, but it isn’t pleasant. We are right in the path of the next tropical storm that is going to,hit and flood California on Saturday. The funniest thing about all this was that when we went to Explorers for our usual pre-dinner drink, I asked for ginger ale and was told they had run out of it! And same in the WC, maybe 25 % occupied. The captain was walking around last night reassuring people. I saw him in at least three venues. One woman asked him why he wasn’t on the bridge steering the ship— a common misconception. We were back in the room by 8. Almost every door had the do not disturb sign up. And room service plates in the hall. Well, today is another day. Hopefully smoother. Trivia and Chefs Table lotus menu to look forward to. And port talk on Maui, which should be interesting. Not having had much dinner, I think we’ll go to the Restaurant for breakfast. That’s always a treat, and chioppino station for lunch. Although, as a California girl, I’m wary of that. Plus, I make it, a Christmas Eve special tradition.

We had lunch in WC about 1 and it was packed. But we sat next to a woman who said her partner wouldn’t even get out of bed today because she didn’t feel she could walk around. This particular cruise seems to skew older than most cruises I’ve been on. Many, many people with walking devices of all kinds. Crew helping folks walk through the restaurants. Cornelia announcing as much at the lunch time report. We will go down to the Viking bar at 6 and see what we see. But no, this isn’t so bad that glasses are flying around in the restaurants. We just moved the glassware in our room because the shelf with the coffee maker came flying out and sent the coffee cups crashing to the ground.

I am glad to hear that is the case! But an hour or so ago, it was so bad we took all the glasses and bottles and water carafe and put them on the floor. I put on my sea bands. This isn’t the worst I’ve ever been in, but it isn’t pleasant. We are right in the path of the next tropical storm that is going to hit and flood California on Saturday. Captain said it would get worse tonight before it gets better. I took a picture of our position on the weather map, but as usual, it won’t upload.

6. Well, the bridge tour was canceled. A glass door panel in the WC behind the Aquavit bar blew in this morning, letting in streams of frigid air. While sitting in Explorers Lounge, on 7 I noticed that the bottom panel on the glass staircase leaning to deck 8 was shattered. I hope nobody fell. It is rockin’ and rollin’ for sure today!

I tried to post this the first day and just tried again now. But I can’t get pictures uploaded to CC. They post fine on my IG page, just not here. Sorry.

The sea days just sort of glide by. They are doing all the Hawaiian port talks on sea day afternoons, so once we get there , we will be prepared and not have to rush back to attend the next one (of course you can always watch them later in your room). Last night was a “special” dinner in the WC called A taste of the USA. I guess most people thought they had a taste of USA every day, because when we got to the Restaurant about 7 pm it was packed. They could hardly find a place for us. Likewise the Captain’s reception last night. The line to get in was all the way back to Torshavn. So we skipped it. We know this captain and have met most of the senior officers anyway. Then, since HI is two hours behind LA time, we set our clocks back an hour, so had an extra hour to stay up and play. We will do that again, probably Sunday. The captain warned us at the noon report that the seas would be rough overnight, eight foot waves, and they were. But really not that bad, and although our window is covered in water this morning, the sun is coming out. Bridge tour later, then trivia. I hope I can attach pictures later today!

I am having a lot of trouble attaching photos. About one in five works. But I’ll try.

Yes, the Jacquart is available by the glass on the SSBP. we are in PV and it is in the frig. Once that is gone, you can ask to have wine delivered each day. As for the bottled water— I asked this morning at the Viking Bar for Perrier or Pellegrino only to be told they didn’t have it. But I’ve had it on other cruises so it pays to ask.

Yes, I introduced myself to him yesterday. Haven’t met her yet.

We had a nice sunset sail out from the port of LA last night. (I’ve tried to add a picture, but it won’t load. Not much wifi today). Then dinner at Chef’s Table. It was the California cuisine menu, which I don’t like much anyway (being from California, I’ve learned to stay away from anything labeled California.). Suffice it to say, and this is all I am going to say, it was an absolute disaster, both food and wine. The service was excellent, however. But I went to bed hungry. But we are just back from a big breakfast on this grey morning. High today 58, low 55. I really didn’t know what to pack for the days at sea, so if you are heading out soon, pack something other than your “Hawaii clothes”. Lots of lectures today. The usual sealife lecture by Robin Petch, then an interesting one on Hawaiian native art. Taste of USA dinner in WC tonight. I think we’ll pass and go to the restaurant.

Here is what I took in the Explorers Lounge last night. A few by the glass and four by the bottle. The Jacquart is what is in the room mini-frig.

I took this in the explorers lounge last night