Azulann

Glad to see the shared table concept is back. Pre- Covid I loved doing a shared table for lunch on sea days in the Restaraunt Met some new fellow passengers that way.

I am loving your posts while in Tuscany after your cruise. I spent a week in Tuscany at a villa with friends and we had cars and travel every white road we found. Yes ,Tuscan food has lots of meat, pork especially. I first tasted porchetta there. love your pictures. My favorite white wine is Vernnachia. From the grapes only grown on the side of San Gimignano. Look forward to your pictures of Sienna, one of my favorite Italian cities..

Look forward to your live report/blog I love your writing style , and yes I read Atlas Shrugged in college man-years ago. it was tedious as was A. Rand.

Having sailed Celebrity for many years. I now sail Viking Ocean. Check out " Into the Midnight Sun" cruise or" Viking Homeland "cruises. They do know how to sail Norway. The company is owned by Norwegian family. Viking does not have casino and no children under 18 . They include wine and beer at lunch and dinner, one excursion in every port, free internet. All staterooms have balconies. their ships are beautiful modern Scandinavian design. Food great and service outstanding.

Clay ,great suggestions. I think you should send them to Tellus @Vinkg or the powers that be. Sensible easy fixes.

A couple go time zones earlier than us and near the Pacific. I like that kind of North. Enjoy your dinner and weekend. BTW, does you friend, I called him Z , still work for Viking? He was restaurant manager on the Orion in 2021. He took such good care of us on that cruise .

It always helps if you have a winter getaway . A cruise in a few weeks, lucky you! I usually go someplace warm during winter season but not this year for various reasons. I know you will enjoy your curie and the sunshine, beaches etc..... I have never done a river cruise, but my first Viking Ocean cruise was a transatlantic from San Juan to Barcelona in late March -mid of April. I loved it and was hooked on Viking, having only cruised on Celebrity. I got back home from a couple extra days in Barcelona , and two days later we had a huge snow storm ! Yuck, I think that year I got my flower planted on Memorial Day weekend. 😀

It is Friday happy hour here in the North. I will have a nice appletini, please. Having read the Viking forum today , getting excited about my upcoming real Viking cruise in June. One thing I like about Viking is their Resource link on your itinerary page for your cruise. I just got one the the books recommended from my friend who did the Trade Routes of the Middle Ages last Sept. The book is "The Edge of the World', a cultural history of the North Sea and the Transformation of Europe" by Michael Pie So I have good reading to later tonight and this weekend. Cheers! Patti

When I was in Tangiers, we did a spice tour . We all bought various spices and Argan oil.all packed nicely in small boxes I brought them back in my checked luggage in in zip lock bags, no problem. Friends bought some pottery pasta bowls and a painting in Siena Italy. The store packed them and shipped them home for them. No problem. The shipping cost was expensive but they wanted these items. I bought a Turkish rug (4x6)in the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul. They folded it up and delivered it to my hotel. in a nice soft sided bag. I carried it on board as a carry on. But I had to check my original carry on bag and that cost me $50.00 but worth it. My friend always takes a soft sided tote to put her treasure or mementos she buys on a trip and it is her carry on for travel back home.

Thank your much for your wonderful running commentary of your unique cruise ! The pictures of the mountains, sea and ice are are spectacular. Glad you re enjoying the ships , drinks , wine and food. I feel like I am journeying with you. Thank you again! Love the bow tie btw.

I was curious so I went to Viking Ocean web site. It is a one time cruise. only offered in NOV of 2023. After this cruise they do a trans Atlantic from Lisbon. You have a great itinerary! over night in Barcelona and Lisbon. did a Viking cruise with stop in Cadiz. We paid for the excursion for day to Seville,It was great. Got to see some of the country side of Spain and loved loved Seville. glad you booked , enjoy. If you need help in what to do and see in the ports, go to CC Port of call Forums: Europe : and ask your questions.

I am so envious. I love Tuscany and have done many wine tastings there when I have visited. Cheers!

You can look through the Viking Reviews link at the top of this forum. Many reviewers also include each excursion they were on. in their review of the cruise. You would need name of ship and month and have lots of time to scroll through them to find the ones which are helpful, . Good luck.

Good for you Your husband will do fine in the PV stateroom and I think the balcony is a little bigger. Enjoy your Viking cruise.

My Orion cruise was in July 2021 and it was a Bermuda cruise. The pool bar closes around 5:30 . The other bar I frequented in the day was the Aquavit bar at end of buffet and overlooking the infinity pool That one is open during dinner hours. Both bars made great golden margaritas and anything you could think of for a hot summer day. The Explorer Lounge was the place we went for a pre or after dinner martini. It and the Viking Bar are open very late . Torshavn the night club bar is also open very late. There is even a bar going into the theater and one in the Restaurant . I do not think you will be without your favorite drink during the day or ev ending. Enjoy your cruise.

Bartenders are great. Aaron at the pool bar ,on the Viking Orion , would mix up all kinds of cocktails when asked. He also did so great NA drinks too. You can definitely order a mudslide It is like a chocolate malt.

I booked my own air for my Viking cruise in June. Before ,I have used Viking air and Viking air plus. Book our flights in Sept with Delta /KLM, Flying from MPS to AMS then to Stockholm . We got great layover times both ways. We fly into Stockholm two days ahead of our cruise. We will take a cab to our hotel. We did purchase Viking extension in Copenhagen, so we will have transfer off the ship to hotel and transfer to airport two days later Viking air for this cruise is $1200. We paid more for total control over our flights and items. Well worth it for us for this cruise.

I will be on the Jupiter in June for the first time , so I am interested in your experience . Ok Bar menu is not accurate …check

Happy you are now on a Viking cruise. Look forward to your posts. Just ask your room steward for anything you need . Unpack, go have a drink and enjoy your dinner and your first evening on board . I am envious. I have to wait to June …

Thank you for your live report . The Constellation was one of my favorite ships, last three Celebrity cruises were on her in Europe. I feel bad that the variety of food in buffet has been reduced and the pool grill lack of quality. . Celebrity always had the best soups and variety in the MDR for dinner. I love that Tampa FL is a new departure port for Constellation for the winter season. But do not think I will try another Celebrity cruise while the food quality and variety is being cut back. An old friend of mine, who was food and beverages executive for NWA years ago, always said the easiest thing to cut back on to meet your bottom line of the company was the food budget. Looks like Celebrity is doing just that post pandemic.

I cannot believe that Celebrity has chicken nuggets on their dinner buffet. FGS , that is McDonald fare.

Thank you fro another great live report. I always feel like I am on board experiencing the great ship, suite, food and views with you. If I return to Celebrity, it will be in suite on a M class ship. I do like learning but other cruise lines too. MSC does seem more European in many ways. Look forward to reading aobut your next cruise later this year.

That is a great breakfast menu. Pickled herring roll and smoked salmon!!!!! Now I am really hungry. The choices of cheese are wonderful. I am impressed. Love all your pictures by the way!!!!!!

I sailed Celebrity ( M and S class ships) before I found Viking . I never looked back. Welcome to the Viking Forum. Lots of good information here. I am on one of the FB groups. I do not like the way posts are listed all mixed up with river cruisers etc. Cruise critic is much easier to navigate for all my questions and seeking new information. Viking does guarantee one include excursion in every port. AS CCWine Lover stated above, keep checking if you want a particular additional excursion .

Enjoy your DV1. We had 4123 and loved watching the wake at night and a lovely room service breakfast on our balcony many days. I am loving all your pictures. Cannot wait till I eat in Manfredi's again in June.