Buffyr

31 minutes ago, Buffyr said:

Could you please share the name of the company that did your food tour?  We will be in BA in January and that sounds ideal.  Thank you!

 

Elizabeth

Never mind!  I see you answered the question for another member. Thank you!

On 1/17/2023 at 4:40 PM, Australia08 said:

January 17 - Buenos Aires

 

Another lovely day in Buenos Aires.  We had breakfast in the Executive Lounge at the Hilton, then headed downstairs to check in with the Viking Desk.  We are on the third bus tomorrow morning so we don’t have to be downstairs for breakfast until 4:15 am. Thank heavens we're not on the first bus!  We walked down to meet our Iconic Buenos Aires walking food tour at 12:30.  It was a wonderful food tour.  Our guide took us around the neighborhood to visit some of the historic buildings in San Telmo.  Then we went to the Public Market area.  Our first stop was at the El Horneros shop for empanadas and local beer.  After this delicious tasting, we went outside of the market to a wonderful wine shop where we were introduced to three Argentinian wines - a Mastaba Torrentes from Stone Winery in Salta, a Malbec from Mendoza and a Cabernet Franc from Mendoza.  Each was excellent.  The tastings were accompanied by a selection of regional cheese.  Following this relaxing tasting, we returned to the market to enjoy choripán, a wonderful chorizo sandwich with a nice salsa mayo.  I had a glass of Malbec, Mike had another local beer.  Following this, we headed over to another market stall for steak, fries, and grilled provoleta (grilled provolone with oregano and olive oil).  With this, I had another glass of Malbec and Mike had another local beer.  We were stuffed, but it was time to go to another stall for yerba mate and alfajor, a lovely cookie filled with dulce de leche and covered in chocolate.  Our guide prepared the yerba mate in a ceremonial way - it was delicious and relaxing.  Our last stop was at an ice cream shop that was outside the market.  I had a dulce de leche ice cream and Mike had dulce de leche and chocolate negro.  It was  the perfect sweet ending to our Argentinean food tour.  I highly recommend this excellent walking food tour if you find yourself in Buenos Aires!

 

After stuffing ourselves all afternoon, we headed back to the hotel about 5:30.  We went to the happy hour at the executive lounge, but found that we were too stuffed to have more than a sip of wine. 

 

We put our large bag out to be collected by Viking and decided to watch a bit of TV before we turn in for our early morning charter flight to our expedition ship.

Could you please share the name of the company that did your food tour?  We will be in BA in January and that sounds ideal.  Thank you!

Elizabeth

I hope your cruise continued and continued to be enjoyable.  I would love to know more about it!

1 hour ago, Wendy The Wanderer said:

I was only there once in April and I found it oppressively hot and humid.

Is it ever not oppressively hot and humid?

16 hours ago, Tahitianbigkahuna said:

 

I think I stated  .... "IMO  ... April"

 

But frankly anytime is a good time  .... I've been almost in every month and had a wonderful time ...

 

Prices are usually better in January - March

I’m sorry I missed it!  Thank you!!!

2 minutes ago, Tahitianbigkahuna said:

 

IMO  ... April

 

Paul Gauguin or Windstar?  Both are good choices  .... but 2024 brings in an interesting situation. Windstar plans to leave the Sea Breeze full time in FP. PG and SB are similar in their capacity count. Both have their strong points  ... big question ... will Windstar hire some local Polynesians to be on-board full time to give some cultural feel/experiences to the ship, something PG has done very well with over the years. Both have good food, both have specialty islands of their own and both have marinas. 

 

PG is all -inclusive  ... Windstar has an optional all inclusive plan for a large fee. 

 

There are no bad choices for you  ....

Thank you for the quick response. What about best time to go?

On 5/26/2022 at 2:41 PM, Buffyr said:

My husband and I are FINALLY getting serious about visiting French Polynesia.  We are pretty sure we will sail on Paul Gauguin, but are confused about itineraries.  Is there a resource that really explains what you will see on an expanded itinerary beyond the 7-day Society Islands?

 

An OWB is a dream, but would we rather have more days on the ship?  

 

We also like to snorkel, but want to enjoy other activities as well.  

I wrote this awhile ago and we still haven’t been to FP! We think 2024 will be the year, she said hopefully. 
 

Here are my big questions:

1. What is the best month, preferably in the first half of the year?

2. Paul Gauguin or Windstar?

Thank you!

My husband and I are FINALLY getting serious about visiting French Polynesia.  We are pretty sure we will sail on Paul Gauguin, but are confused about itineraries.  Is there a resource that really explains what you will see on an expanded itinerary beyond the 7-day Society Islands?

An OWB is a dream, but would we rather have more days on the ship?  

We also like to snorkel, but want to enjoy other activities as well.  

8 hours ago, JVilleGal said:

Can you post the specific website for the QR code in Arizona. I am Vaxed and Boosted in Az and got garbage from the first website you mentioned. But have not heard of the second. Got both Vax at State Farm Stadium and it was the Az Dept of Health that sponsored those huge drive in events. Was Boosted at Walgreens and that info in not to be found anywhere but the initial email thank me and my Vax CDC card. This is a ***** show and I’m not seeing a way of verifying my Vax thru any system. Heaven help us if we loose our CDC cards!

Have you tried contacting Walgreen’s?  Our boosters from CVS are listed in My IR. 

8 hours ago, JVilleGal said:

Can you post the specific website for the QR code in Arizona. I am Vaxed and Boosted in Az and got garbage from the first website you mentioned. But have not heard of the second. Got both Vax at State Farm Stadium and it was the Az Dept of Health that sponsored those huge drive in events. Was Boosted at Walgreens and that info in not to be found anywhere but the initial email thank me and my Vax CDC card. This is a ***** show and I’m not seeing a way of verifying my Vax thru any system. Heaven help us if we loose our CDC cards!

It’s My IR Mobile www.MyIR mobile.com. Once you register they will contact DHS and get all your vaccination records, not just Covid. After you’ve been notified that they have your records you can log on and there’s an option to get certified Covid vaccination records, which is a QR code. It’s pretty slick and really there’s no reason another government wouldn’t accept it. 
 

Other states also have access to My IR and I think they are working to add more. 
 

I hope this helps!

2 hours ago, 1985rz1 said:

Thanks for this post.  I was aware of the myir.net digital data base in AZ, but the link I have been using goes to a site where you can view all your vaccination back more than a decade even my yellow fever vax when you had to get it every 10 years.  I could also download a pdf of the list, but there was no link for a QR code for rthe COVID vax.  Because of your post, i realized that there is a second myir site, myirmobile,  which has a completely different interface and provides a more detailed list of vaxes that include vax manufacturer, when known.  And it has the link to download a  QR code for the COVID vax.  Access required a different sign in account, but it worked beautifully.  Thanks again.

You’re welcome!

So...I may have discovered a solution to the QR code requirement for Norway.  There is a site called MY IR Mobile www.myirmobile.com.  It is only available for some states and those who used a program called SAFE Return to Work.  When you register they contact your state Department of Health and upload all your immunization records.  Once they have done that they will contact you and you can log in and see all your records, including an option to get certified Covid 19 records.  When you click on that you get a QR code!

The states that are eligible are: Arizona, DC, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Dakota, Washington, West Virgina, and the SAFE program.

I don't know if this will satisfy Norway, but at least it's a step in the right direction.

Doesn’t Verifly certify that your vaccine information is legitimate?  They provide a QR code. Is that enough?  

We think Verifly can provide the necessary proof. We used them on our Panama Canal cruise and they produce a QR code verifying your vaccination status. 

3 hours ago, Fletcher said:

I have a deposit down on this -

 

https://www.silversea.com/destinations/cruises-south-pacific-islands/papeete-tahiti-to-valparaiso-e1211007022.html

 

but I'm not confident it will sail.  Nor am I confident about getting to Tahiti or flying back from South America.  But this Silversea voyage has for me has an 'ultimate' itinerary. I've done most of these islands before on similar ships but they keep drawing me back.

Easter Island is a bucket list destination for me.  I’m sad Oceania isn’t doing their cruise from 

Lima that stops there. We looked at this Silversea cruise but got sticker shock at the price. It looks fabulous, but we plan on going to Antarctica at some point and that’s where we will spend the big bucks. 
 

if this cruise gets canceled, we are looking at Paul Gauguin. Have you sailed with them and do you have any thoughts and impressions to share?

20 minutes ago, Mountains.to.Sea said:

I am on this trip in late February and just purchased winter photographers gloves and over-mitts.  Both are by Vallerret.  The Ipsoot glove is a well insulated winter glove with  a fold back flap on the index finger and thumb so you can work the camera.  The Alta Over-Mitt is a heavily insulated mitten that slides over the Ipsoot glove.  The finger portion has a weatherproof zipper that allows the finger covering to be folded back so your Ipsoot gloves are exposed.  The mitts are really big and warm.  The mitts also come with a harness that holds the mitts if you do need to slip them off for something.

 

They are expensive, but appear to deliver exactly what they claim.

 

Thank you so much!  I’ll be sure to check them out!

1 hour ago, OnTheJourney said:

Something like this perhaps?  https://www.thenorthface.com/shop/womens-apex-etip-gloves-nf0a3lvv  I bought a pair to take along on the cruise. They work pretty well, are quite warm, but, to be honest, when I'm doing most things with my cameras (especially video) I generally find myself taking my gloves off anyway for short periods of time. I just find them a bit more awkward to do pics or video than I had expected. But maybe that's just me. They seem to be good gloves though. I don't have real small hands for one thing. I also had these along:  https://www.amazon.com/Heat-Factory-Fleece-Lined-Fold-Back-Pockets/dp/B000SORT48 (These are men's but I would assume they come in women's as well). I seem to recall I made more use of these during the evening excursion than I did the Northface gloves. There are certainly heavier, warmer gloves out there than either of these, but we tried to avoid choosing items that were bulkier, for the sake of packing. 

Both of those look like possibilities, but the North Face gloves look like they’d be warmer.  Maybe two pairs?  Thanks for looking!  

Lat’s talk gloves.  I want to find some that will keep me warm and also allow me to work my camera - hopefully while still fully gloved.  There are some I have seen advertised that claim to be able to perform camera functions, but I would love to know if anybody has had real life experience they can share.  

Thank you!

I would love some clothing advice from those who took this cruise. What strategies kept you the warmest?  We’re there clothing brands you loved hated?  And don’t forget advice for feet and hands, please. I think I read somewhere that tour operators provide snow suits?  We are desert dwellers so we don’t own much in the way of cold weather gear and plan to shop some sales 

Thank you in advance!

25 minutes ago, Paulhc said:

We did this cruise in Feb. This is the only cruise I regret doing - in hindsight a land trip would have been much better.

 

My main issue was that you pay a lot of money to be on a beautiful ship with a great crew but end up spending most of the time off the ship huddled in the dark hoping to see the lights. We rushed dinner most nights at the buffet to make our excursions.

 

If your agenda is to see the lights I think you are better off on a land tour. Now, if you want to see the arctic in winter and perhaps catch a glimpse of the lights then you might really enjoy the trip - the scenery is spectacular and the day time excursions were great. Also, if you want to see the lights in as much comfort as possible and don’t care about the money this is a great way to do that.

 

Keep in mind I loved the ship and will cruise with Viking again, just for me the value proposition of eating at the buffet and spending most of the night off the ship didn’t work. Your preferences might be different and this cruise could be the right answer.

Thank you for this insight.  I admit, it's not what I wanted to read!  Did you do Viking expeditions or book your own?  Do you think that private excursions would offer more flexibility of time and allow you to leave the ship later?

4 hours ago, Raptordash said:

We are considering a March 2021 Northern Lights cruise or doing a land tour of either Norway or Finland to try and see Northern Lights.  Would love to read posts from Viking cruisers on the 2020 Northern Lights cruises or from 2019 cruisers on this itinerary as to whether you saw the Northern Lights and, if so, what were you able to see with the naked eye.  After doing some research on the Northern Lights I was surprised to learn that what is seen with the naked eye is not the colorful greens, pinks, an purples that you typically see in photos, but rather just white/gray cloudlike visions.  I really just want to see it with the naked eye.  

Thanks,

Marc

Thank you for starting this thread. We will be taking this cruise in February 2021, so will also appreciate any advice from those who’ve done it. 

On 6/10/2019 at 7:30 AM, luvtocook said:

For those that have done the HCMC-Hanoi Mekong cruise with pre and post AMA pkgs, I have a couple of questions.

 

When did you first meet up with the AMA group at the hotel?  Night of arrival or next morning?  We are thinking of taking a cooking class on arrival day as we arrive the day before.  Anyone take a class at Hoa Tuc Restaurant, Saigon Cooking Class?????

 

Re: the City Tour, did they take you to the large market?  The 2019 brochure doesn't say but the 2020 one does.  

 

Is the Sofitel Saigon Plaza in an area safe to wander around, shop, eat, explore etc?

 

Thanks in advance!

When do you get back?  We are going on September 14th and would love to hear about your experiences.  I think by the time you get back we will already be on our way.  We leave on September 7th and will spend some time in Tokyo before arriving in HCMC.  My email, if you feel like writing is elizabeth dot reich at cox dot net.

Biefe de Chorizo (sirloin / New York Strip) - Tender and juicy has nothing to do with sausage

 

Bife de lomo (Tenderloin) - nice cut - Filet

 

Rib Eye - Seems to be a favorite of many we have dined with.

 

make sure you ask about size and be prepared to - also feel free to say you are sharing and they will bring and extra plato (plate).

 

Also try Cordero de Lomo (Tenderloin of Lamb) --- my personal favorite

All of this information is so helpful, Jim. Thank you!

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We leave in less than a week and our travel companions are wondering if dressy jeans are okay in the GDR and the specialty restaurants. Advice, please?

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Thanks for the explanation, BikeTreker. We are booked on a SA cruise next January, so are looking for advice. We'll be patient!

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