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But for a 14-21 day cruise that is a lot of wine to get to the ship! Kent, how are you going to transport it?

Thanks so much for doing this "live report" Safe and healthy rest of your travels!

not the answer I was hoping for either

Paul73...thanks for doing my "reading" for me. I will look into a "yearly" policy.

I am too lazy to read the policy right now so will ask here knowing I will verify for myself. Does the Trip Mate insurance offered by Viking include "bankruptcy" coverage? I have been following the Vantage Travel debacle and many are learning they have no coverage for the bankruptcy. I checked with a USAA policy we purchased and it does NOT cover bankruptcy ( it did before Covid) so I will have to purchase an upgraded policy the next trip we insure. For those who use Viking's Trip Mate coverage how do you cover pre/post days that are NOT part of the included cruise/or Viking's pre/post? Will Trip Mate sell extra days?

IF I eat in the WC that is always what I do...I have seen too many worrisome actions when people don't think or care!!! I am only a germmphobic on cruise ships!

One of the best things about our B2B cruises (4) on the Jupiter last year was we were able to try MANY of the Chef Table Menus and the great wines! The cruises were not full so we could rotate...Main Dining room, Manfredis, Chef Table with the occasional WC . We were so spoiled!

IMO not having "pre-existing" conditions covered is a mistake. Even a change in medication can invalidate a claim of a medical condition without the pre-existing coverage. Also if you have family that you would want to cancell if one of them became ill would be covered for a pre-existing conditions. this was very important to me when we had elderly parents alive.

this maybe a new itinerary for the Polaris....the Ocean Ships that do South America can't get into the nooks and crannies. On the polaris you should get outstanding opportunities in the fjords and to watch birds, whales....I hope you have a great naturalist. We loved our South American Cruise on the Jupiter and I think this will be much better for adventure!

Laurence was on the Jupiter last winter with us! Kent, was he not on when you were there, maybe he had gotten off by the time you joined the ship? Glad to see he is still with Viking! Thanks for all these wonderful live posts!!!

PRH....I will be like you trying to do 2 excursions in one day....glad to know that it is possible! Are there any MUST do excursions? We are doing pre-extension Homes, Gins and Gardens and then the Oslo extension. Traveling with a group of friends on this trip! I

Kent, Please tell Jordan that Pat and I say hello!!! He was on the Jupiter last year with us ( and you and Pam). Did you book with him last time? He is a delightful man! Jordan was on the Octanis last winter...if you see him ask if he is going to be on it again this winter...we are planning to do the cruise that we missed last year!

Love occassional Sea Days. I am actually a bit apprehensive about next year's British Isles Itinerary that is SO port intensive!!

this would be an awesome trip...I wish we were back from our fall river cruises in time to take it!!! This is beautiful country and will be that much BETTER on the Expedition ship rather than regular Ocean which we loved!

Kent, So glad that most are just going with the flow ...the dynamics of every cruise is quite different. Seasoned travelers often make the best shipmate companions. we will be looking forward to your thoughts about Iceland.

Can they be applied to an already booked but not paid for cruise? Can they be used for excursions?

Great offers!!!

IMO Cape Verde is NOT a terrific port. We would have loved more time in Madeira.

Thanks, Kent. Is there a naturalist on board? wondering if cruising along the coast of Iceland you are close enough for bird watching. I don't remember a chess set up in Explorer's previously.

I think it really depends on the passengers on different cruises....sometimes it is difficult to get in unless you are willing to wait until 8pm sometimes walk in...chef's table is the same.

I am still finding both River , Ocean, and Expedition itineraries that will pique our interest. The World Cruise allowed us to experience many "difficult" to get to destinations and now we can focus on Europe, Scandinavia, Greenland and Iceland.

Have a great time. Thinking of doing Bergen to NYC so will be very interested in your (and others on this cruise) reflections on the itinerary.

I wonder if being on the ship will feel any bigger. 18 square feet may help between the bed and the closet in the v/dv cabins.

I wonder if Viking will still mandate that their crew is immunized and at what level.

no corkage fee on viking either for your own wine.