Haqdeluxe

We've done both the Danube and Rhine at Christmas time. We enjoyed both but if pressed would pick Basel to Amsterdam and look to post-extend in The Hague as they have a nice market there too. Basel and Cologne have nice markets with Cologne having the bigger and busiest of the two cities. But our favorite is Strasbourg. We were lucky enough to have a little snow on our last visit. You will also get a chance to visit Colmar on the Rhine cruise and should go there if you can. While not options on the river cruises, Brussels and Nuremburg also have wonderful Christmas markets. Lastly... there are like 7 different Christmas markets in Paris proper. It can be a visit all on its own. Would plan 4-5 days. It's Paris!

We have twice sailed Viking in rough seas, most recently the North Sea in January. I feel the ships are well stabilized and handle high seas very well. I rode a destroyer in my navy days and can honestly say Viking's ships are the better ride.

Yes, like the first time I heard someone say "going home and throwing a few shrimps on (the) Barbie". I just had to wonder if Ken was OK with that as I didn't think he or Barbie rolled that way. 😂

From the Google... The definition of "vagabond" has changed over time... Originally derived as a person who wanders not by choice but as a necessity due to having no home and income. Now, the modern vagabond travels around the world by choice for leisure, knowledge and exploration.

I've always understood it to be bad form to barf on other people's shoes. 🤮🫢

I would refer to these folks as those without a permanent address. Someone that can afford to cruise year round is far from homeless (folks without a home). 😁

I too am a insulin dependent type 2 diabetic. My medication has similar storage requirements to what CDN detailed. Store refrigerated between 36°f and 46°f until expiration date. Store at room temperature up to 14 days for one an up to 28 days for the other. My DW travels with Embrel which requires the same long storage temperature and can only stay out at room temperature for 7 days. As to the fridge in Viking cabins... I travel with a thermometer to monitor the fridge temperature. On both ocean and river ships the fridges have always been reliably below the 46°f ceiling, typically at 40°f to 42°f. This covers multiple sailings. So I personally have not had a problem on Viking ships myself. Is there medication that must be kept refrigerated right up to the time of use, I don't know. I can see where such medication would need much more monitoring.

This is just a rumor mind you, but a foldable plastic picnic table is an acceptable substitute for wood. 😉

The Old Amsterdam Red Light district is fairly tame and safe to explore in the daytime. It is after dark that it can get rowdy. There is a history of partying groups of guys/men (bachelor party) coming into the district to party and they tend to get out of hand in many ways. This behavior also tends to attract other unsavory folk too. Again, a daytime visit is reasonably safe.

Wait! You mean this all isn't the current fashion? When did this happen? 😁 Bummer man!

Then move on to ball caps. I hear it is poor form to not tip your server while wearing a robe in the living room, especially while wearing your ball cap! Discuss...

What about the ones on cocaine? They sure seem like the ones you definitely want to avoid. 😁

We have been across from the laundry several times (4050). No more noise from that door than from any of the other cabin doors nearby. Some people are just too self-absorbed to consider others around them. 😒 We are in 4050 again next April for 37 days. Betting the laundry room door won't be the one most frequently allowed to slam!

Yes, Orkney and Shetland are now being visited beyond their capacity. Orkney is currently considering placing limits on their port calls. I understand they've endured days where 7000+ visitors have been in port at the same time. I suspect the biggest reason behind your troubles at Kjenndal Glacier was too many visitors in one place.

Prague is full of absinthe and cannabis scam shops these days. The scam candy stores are still around too but the currency exchange scammers are being slowly driven out. Buyers beware!

Any particular reason why Midnight Sun is your least favorite? You did open the door. 😄

It must have been the shrimp cocktail as you can get steak every night on Viking River. It is part of the standard menu that is available at every dinner seating.

There is a nice Clarion hotel at the airport.

I've only been in Egypt on work travel but... I personally wouldn't want to take a river cruise to this part of the world as my first river cruising experience. YMMV! My recommendation would be a 7/8 day cruise on the Danube or Rhine to see how you like this type of travel. My 2 cents.

I personally have better things to expend my time on than wonder why other people do anything that they choose to do.

Could this not be left at "which is best is subjective"?

No!

We typically cruise in a DV stateroom as well (double digit sailings) and have never had an issue with getting reservations that we've sought, save perhaps a little later than we would have liked. Pretty much the same for excursions. If not able to secure what we wanted pre-cruise, we were able to get what we wanted once onboard. Didn't the OP say that where they'd sailed before that they had sailed in much higher level cabins. Not really a equal comparison to compare suites and veranda staterooms to a DV. Just saying 😌

You mean like as opposed to using existing words in a new way not typically associated with the words defined use? That's bitchen! I mean like far out man! 😀

Not to shanghai this thread and yes, I see what I did there... 😁 Can anyone who flew to Hong Kong from the US east coast for this year's sailing, using Viking Air arranged flights, provide what your flight itinerary was? What airline was used? We go next April and are curious what path we (Viking) might take flying out of Dulles (IAD). Ta