Azulann

Day I , Pre-cruise Stockholm, Sweden. The magic continues... As we board the KLM flight... Flight attendant : "Welcome abroad our flight to Stockholm" I say: "Thank you so very much." Flight attendant smiling, 'Are you going home?" I say, "NO I HAVE NEVER BEEN TO STOCKHOLM OR SWEDEN." She says: You are visiting at the best time, June. OK , I was mistaken for a Swede!!!!!!🤩 2. We had brief conversation with woman from Stockholm as we wait at he gate. At the baggage carousal ,she offers us a ride to our hotel! They live nearby and husband has a big car! So we accept and have a wonderful mini tour of parts of Sodermalm, learn about their family in USA , and another offer to visit them at summer place in Dalarna region. We have been adopted by this Swedish couple ! We exchanged phone and email and she takes a selfie of us which she is emailing to us. My sister say to NOFO hotel clerk, I LOVE SWEDEN! 🇸🇪 Mistaken for a Swede and adopted by a lovely Swedish couple was the awesome introduction to Stockholm to Sisters Sailing Scenic Scandinavia. 🎉

Judy, yes, I remember you and your extended family on the Malta cruise. 😀Had fun with you on the infinity pool deck on the sunny sea days.Glad you found others cruises to book!

Travel Day 2 Flight was smooth, food recognizable, economy seats still small. Going through passport control at Amsterdam airport was 12 minutes at 11:40 on a Friday morning. Sitting in KLM Lounge and drinking ice water. when we landed, I opened my window shade and saw this : It is a good sign for the days ahead . 😍 Arrive in Stockholm about 4:45pm .

Sitting in Sky Club at MSP.

Background: My sister and I booked this cruise over a year ago. She and I did two Viking Welcome back cruises during the pandemic. Sailed Orion around Bermuda and Malta to Barcelona on the Venus in 2021. Both cruises were wonderful vacations during some trying times. Now so excited to do the unique Scenic Scandinavia cruise. I jumped at the chance to overnight in Copenhagen and also do the post extension plus two other Danish ports : Sweden , Poland, Germany and Denmark are all new countries and ports for us. Best of all we will be visiting the “land of our people” as I have been telling anyone who will listen. Our mother was a 100% Danish and going to see the land of our ancestors for the first time. 🇩🇰 Preparation: I do lots of research for my land trips and cruises over the years. Love the” Resources “link Viking provides for all their itineraries on their web site. For this one, I have read two new books on the Vikings, cultural history of Northern Europe and attended event with Swedish archeologists and the author of” Bones of Birka” at the Swedish American Institute in MPLS MN last month. Sister booked our own flights on Delta and KLM for this cruise. As I get older ,international flying has become a chore. So easy to drive 10 minutes to MSP for our evening flight to AMS and at the end of our trip , just pick up our bags at the airport and I will be home in a blink of an eye. My sister also booked the NOFO Hotel through Delta Vacations on Sodermalm in Stockholm. Will have two whole days to explore before we set foot on the Viking Jupiter on June 12, the pier just a stone's throw from our hotel. Travel Day 1🛫 My sister arrived from Nashville a few days ago. We fly MSP to AMS this evening. Together we have three pieces of luggage to check which includes one shared suitcase with clothes for our 3 nights in Stockholm, plus a backpack for her and a small carryon for me. I am in awe of travelers who can cruise with only a carry-on!

Here is a picture

Kent, thank you again to the wine list. I love to see for the first time, CAVA sparkling wine, my very favorite. I had to buy my own bottle when we hit a Spanish port last time. I know what I will have when I walk on board for my first drink to toast my first afternoon on the ship.

Kent, I see that an Italian Brunello is only $60.00! That is a great price for a bottle on a cruise ship! I will look next Monday on the Jupiter to see if the wine list is fleet wide. Enjoy enjoy, Cheers, Patti

Alls well that ends well. 🥰

So happy to follow your trip report Kent! What a great view from the ship cam today inspite of the hazy skies.

Did they go to Mamsen Deli in Explorer Lounge? it is only served there. I will be on the Viking Jupiter on Monday and will report on Success Cake right away. Stay tuned !

I too would love a Viking Mexican cruise, including a stop at Huatulco ! I would like "Islands of the Mediterranean" ,it can be both Western and Eastern Med islands for one long cruise or two cruises. Bring back the Bermuda week long cruise but have it start and end in one port in USA. I will probably book a future Cruise next week on board. Looking at the Greek Odyssey for Feb 2025. Half of the ports will be new ports for me and half will be repeats. I compared it to Azamara" Intensive Greek cruise". Viking has more interesting ports ,IMO.

I just did a quick google search... Vela is a name of a Constellation in the Southern sky. Vela is a Latin word fro sail...

I know that on booking Viking Ocean you must ask for the referral for new passengers. I had booked first , then my SIL and husband booked I got the referral and so did they . I got a voucher credit for my next cruise. I thought it was $100. pp. do not know how Viking River bookings work.

It is the same as Oceania . You can bring wine and liquor on board. Take your bottle of wine to dinner and staff will keep the rest for next meal for you.

What are the current incentives to book a cruise while on board?

On the Bermuda Welcome Back cruise, Aaron was the head bartender at the pool bar. He worked his magic with all kinds of cocktails. I loved his Golden Margaritas! He would make my sister , who does not drink, a NA cocktail everyday, each time giving her something different. I heard that Aaron was also a bartender on the latest WC.

I suggest your group decides your first choice ,2nd choice etc. Each stateroom can then book the first choice pay for it and then go on to your 2nd choice etc. Can only book for your stateroom Pick one to do the booking for both of occupants. I suggest you pay with e- check. You can load your bank account number before your day to pick excursions. You also get 3.5% off the price. If some do not get the same excursion you can always see if shows up later on MJV as open. Or when you get on board you can add excursions and cancel (except those booked for the first two days) excusions at guest relations.

Yes, pickled herring and some in cream sauce. Three varieties . I had it along with the waffle. And for lunch you can order liverposti! Hot with bacon on top. YUM! Cannot wait to begin eating some good Scandinavian food in Stockholm, on our cruise ,and then in Copenhagen.

I have had the Dover Sole. They debone it at table side. I liked it. I did not think it was too lemon-y. Viking does seafood very well. I love all kinds of seafood, except oysters. I even like the herring for breakfast at Mamsen deli.😀

Which cruise were you on? I can see if an excursion is sold out by the time DV get to book , it might not open up even if you are waitlisted. These are usually small excursions, not a bus type optional excursion. But I have never heard of someone not being able to get a reservation at any time at Manfredi's or Chef table once on board. Ws you saying a sold out cruise by chance?

At some point, reality catches up with marketing. IMO, Viking did great marketing with their itineraries and COVID protocol during the pandemic. Cruises around Iceland, Bermuda, British Isle brought some new cruisers to Viking during 2021. I know of six couples who tried Viking then and made new bookings while on board. The cruise I will on in June is sold out and the one following the same itinerary too. Looking at 2024 for some of their offerings I see some dates are already sold out. The expedition ships are an added addition to their fleet. Seems to be selling well. River cruising is a whole different type of cruising that I am not interested in at this time. No one knows if they are making money because they are privately owned. But as a" cheerleader" on another CC cruise forum always says" time will tell". 😀

Totally agree ! One of the main reason I sail Viking. I often wonder does this reflects the Scandinavian aesthetic and Nordic culture of the vision of the owner?

Kent, You are on your final countdown! Hope you post a live trip report. I will board Jupiter on June 12 but will start my live report here on the forum on June 8 day of departure to airport. Viking forum needs some live reports. I am reading three of them on Celebrity forum ,currently. I love these reports while I have my morning coffee. Safe travels to the Saturn from CA. Patti