Logistigr8r

Hope you're following the separate thread on the Noro virus.

Allowing hand sanitizer to dry on the hands allows the proper contact time for the alcohol to neutralize bacteria and enveloped viruses. Since these sanitizers are shown to be relatively ineffective against non-enveloped viruses like noro, it is better to use the lubrication properties to loosen the virus from the skin and remove it to another surface like the paper towel. This is what soap does, it does not kill noro or any bacteria or virus, it simply breaks the surface tension between the virus and the skin and allows the water to rinse the virus away.

Thanks, I didn't know any of this. I have tried to wipe my hands really well with the dinner napkin after hand sanitizer. But then I noticed people use cloth napkins in lieu of tissue on my last HAL cruise - ick. This is also the last cruise I caught a bug on. Also, whenever I whip out my bottle of hand sanitizer everybody at the table wants some. Being the last recipient to receive the bottle after everyone has touched it leaves me feeling like I should start all over.:rolleyes:

So what to you think about using cloth napkins (presumably freshly laundered) after hand sanitizer?

Such personal attacks are patronizing and unproductive.

 

Paquebot

I think you hit the nail on the head, esp when you said "personal attacks". I think that may be causing a problem. Maybe we could try to steer away from those. Well said Paquebot.

Cassandra 44,

Don't know about you, but at our "Meet and Greet" there were three Viking employees there from California. They were not in uniform or anything. They were just kinda blending in while we all exchanged our CC monikers and real names. I only found who they were after I asked.

Not sure, but I think when CC Roll Callers work with CC to set up the Meet and Greets with the cruise lines they may give CC info and peoples real names, cabin numbers to the cruise lines. I've never done a Meet and Greet, but I thought that was how it worked.

Maybe the awesome Ms Elizabeth knows???

Oh dear... What to say.... Some info was helpful and would be helpful to Viking. But an awful lot was just complaining and indeed nitpicky. Will post comments after we are on The Star this weekend. Clearly many issues were maiden voyage related and have already been fixed.

pqcking my sense of humor and also my sense of what issues we really important and which are not. I personally love a heated towel rack by the way.

I don't mean to bash what the reviewer thinks is helpful. Some of it is.

I think you bashed and I think you meant to. You don't know the awesome Ms Elizabeth and that's your loss. Just because it's Cruise Critic doesn't mean you need to criticize. It's down right odd that you find it okay to complain about someone else, even though they're trying to help you, but how dare anyone say something negative about a cruise line.

If it bothers you that people here have opinions that may differ from yours, maybe you'd be happier to stay with the flowery prose on the Viking web site.

Ooops, sorry. Meant from port of Cadiz they only offered a half day tour to Seville that did no include the inside of the Alcazar.

Roy,

Thanks for the info on your HAL small group excursion in St Pete. I am starting to see that people do seem to do their on private tours in St Pete.

I love hearing all the details about where you were able to find the ATMs to overcome all the different currency changes on your cruise, where HAL has shuttles, which excursions you went on...It's all the useful things I look for before I go on a cruise. Thanks.

I didn't mean to get your blog off track with the mention of Viking. I have been following my previous shipmates as they travelled around the Baltic both because we've been through so much together and they're going to an area I'm interested in. My main point was just that you guys we're going to the same places.

But since you've asked:

. Logistigr8r, did you get a choice of shore excursions and were some of them extra cost?

Roy

Yes and Yes. Although shore excursions and itinerary planning are still weaker areas. We had to set up many of our own private tours to cover glaring gaps, like going to Cadiz and only offering a half day tour not including the inside of the Alcazar.

The ship, staterooms, spa open to all pax, food, crew, no nickel and diming were all amazing, wonderful, awesome, etc, etc. I would not hesitate to do Viking Oceans again. In fact I plan to. But they do have some things to learn. In addition to getting their shore excursion act together and planning an itinerary they can stick to, they need to improve their attitude about their paying guests and caring for their health and welfare. Example, inviting many of the 50 day pax to a special event for the Christening, having them wait in the theater and then disinviting them on the spot. Also while you SEE HAL aggressively taking preventative health measures such as cleaning public areas and hand sanitizing, you do not SEE that on Viking Oceans. Not saying they don't sanitize those swanky leather hand rails, it's just I didn't see it. Viking Oceans seems to put its effort into the things they think matter. Like you will not see any cute towel animals on your bed. And RuthC you will not have a pillow full of chocolates unless you put them there. But it worked for us. We had a great time. They will get their act together, probably after they stop making the press their first priority.

So, forum threads abound for Viking Oceans, mostly to fill in what was an information vacuum. You will start to see even more reviews show up, esp now that the 50 cruise pax are headed home. All of the info I've seen posted is correct, as far as I know. But that's not here Roy's blog.

Over to Roy:D

"We were now joined in port by 4 other ships, Costa Luminosa and Favalosa, Serenade OTS, and the Viking Star. I had not yet realized that Viking had started operating."

We just got off the Viking Star in Bergen a couple of weeks ago. Since you posted she has visited Helsinki and Stockholm. She picked up more pax today in fact.

Thanks again for all your posts. Glad to have met you. Safe travels!

Just found your thread today and I'm taking notes. We board the Prinsendam in Aug for a similar route that includes many of your stops. Can you please tell us, in St Pete, did you use a ship's excursion or did you go private? "Small groups" sound appealing. I don't recall that mentioned in the ship's excursions. Thanks for taking the time to post so much useful info.

; I am 6'4"; rippling abs, and enjoy sunsets and long walks on the beach. Trust me!

Just to be clear, that was DH talking. I'm more like something out of Bay Watch, running down the beach with long blonde hair. Trust Me:D

Fear not John. When the Logistigr8r couple and Wendy and I join in Barcelona you and Angie will have some new kids to hang out with. Even if only for one segment.

Bad news! Somewhat in the words of Meatloaf, "two out of four ain't bad." Logistig8r couple is Social Security eligible. This is like a dating website; I am 6'4"; rippling abs, and enjoy sunsets and long walks on the beach. Trust me!

BTW, I loved the group picture at your meet and greet. I am sure you are making memories that will iast a lifetime.

Elizabeth, are you the one wearing sunglasses or the one with the vest on?:)

Elizabeth is the one with the big smile, or course:). I'm betting it was Elizabeth and DH that Travel Weekly caught at the World Café.

Really enjoying all the details. I've noticed all the questions are like the nine headed hydra Hercules went after. Cut off one head, two pop back.:) Thanks for being so patient guys.

http://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/All-in-the-family-Viking-ocean-ship-resembles-its-river-sisters

Smile, you're on candid camera. Photographer Tom Stieghorst, for Travel Weekly, caught some of you at the World Cafe!:)

Elizabeth, Thanks for your THIS is the thread note. There are so many threads, more popping up all the time, and even two referred to as "On Board" ...

Enjoy your cruise guys. There is an unquenchable thirst for knowledge here (not there).

I always say there are at least three things that are dang hard to replace on a trip (no matter what Rick Steves says): medications, eye glasses, and good comfy shoes.

Azulann,

Sorry, didn't mean to steal your scope --I hate it when that happens. I just didn't see you had started a new thread before I posted to the On board thread...so confusing, so exciting. Thank you for posting.:)

http://www.usatoday.com/story/cruiselog/2015/04/12/viking-star-first-look/25669227/

I wouldn't say it's the first look, but it's some of the photos we've been looking for including staterooms, the explorers suite, and the REAL bathroom, and lots more.

Of course, John gets the prize for the first photos of staterooms and the REAL bathroom.

You guys onboard, enjoy your cruise! Thanks for posting all the useful info. We're all hooked on every detail. I'm becoming an addict:D But again, enjoy your cruise!!

Wow. I finally watched the whole thing myself. Turns out that if you sit through about the first 8 minutes there is one of the best videos tours we've seen of the public spaces of the ship there. I thought it was just a long video of the ship pulling into port :rolleyes: With really cool music. Good thing they didn't visit any "European" style beaches...

John,

Thanks so much. Very exciting to see the FIRST REAL photos of the stateroom and bathroom. Thanks for taking the time to post. Enjoy!

Video of the Star's arrival in Dubronik 6 Apr. Uploaded 11 hours ago...doesn't look like a hand held iPhone video.

http://dubrovacki.hr/clanak/73455/viking-star-otvorio-kruzing-i-home-port-sezonu

87 photos of Viking Star mostly the inside of the ship from article dated Apr 6. Still no staterooms.

And, no I haven't tried to translate the article, so hopefully it just says it's a great new ship!

I had forgotten about it being Mothers Day, but I had realized it was a Sunday. I don't know about Paris, but most things in Rouen will be closed. No Galleries Lafayette, Printemps,... even many restaurants are closed. I guess I don't need to remind this bunch that the French do not keep the same hours we do. Paris will still be there and there will be plenty to see. Enjoy:)

I saw this article last night too, but it didn't have all the cool photos and I had no clue what it said :rolleyes:

But I did notice that this article was dated 7 Apr, and the second article with all the photos was dated the 8th. If that was the real order of things the ship looks like it was pretty much back to normal after the incident. Thanks for translating the article--it does make a difference