May B

Is the announcer somebody well-known? I love his voice.

Your hot dog and mine are mutually exclusive, except I do love chili. I’ll take ketchup and spicy mustard, please. No bun, but I need a good knife and fork.

How did you do, Paul? I remember the place as a madhouse. Was that your impression, too, from the other side of the counter?

If four of you are booking for the four cabins, I would recommend opening a zoom call to be discussing what you’re doing, as you’re doing it. And as much as I dislike paying with cash, it does seem that the eCheck booking has the potential to be quicker at actually purchasing your excursions. That means linking the bank info in advance. Good luck!

You’ve explained this very well, as I understand it. The most extreme case of the “substitution of another person” comment is if your cabin-mate passes away prior to the cruise, but yo7 still want to go. Viking’s policies do not always match other cruise lines’.

Yes. The one I remember vividly presented, on several days, the entire “trip report” on her walk around Lake Michigan. The other one was more scientific. Plus there are hands-on experiences. Quite educational and fun, too.

Thank you for posting your WaPo articles as a gift to us! The restaurants sound fabulous.And I read every word about ballet on Cunard, as well.

See post #19.

The destination history lecture talk is given with a slide deck provided by Viking, with freedom to write their own commentary. I agree that lecturers are available onboard. If you check out the “almost live” thread that UKTog is currently posting on, she’s got the first day’s Daily that lists all the lecturers and their credentials. My cruise had no at-sea days, so we had two guest lecturers. Hers has four scheduled at-sea days, and she has five lecturers, I believe. In case you can’t find it, I’ll post the link. Crystal, back in service with new owners, has traditionally had good to outstanding lecturers. They have some reasonably priced single staterooms.

Oh nooooooo. That was unlucky, having both washers going. Good luck with the floors.

I agree. The important thing is the people. Although I would prepare what I had planned, and gotten the best possible paper plates and plastic ware that I could find.

Mr B and I have sat out back there and played online bridge together. We were on deck seven but hardly another cruiser “promenaded” by! Internet connection was fine. Ambience was wonderful! So quiet and peaceful, and shady.

I’m getting off when you’re getting on!

Let’s see if I understand this. You have a friend who enjoys cruising, especially with casino, production shows, game-type shows and activities. You think this friend will love Viking. Why? You think YOU know what’s good for him, better than HE does?

Disembarkation day is so often a rude awakening type of experience, and yours followed the rule, with the next a.m. thrown in for good measure! Glad the Reykjavik sightseeing was fun, and the cruise was so very excellent. Hopefully you’re home safe and sound, with the photos and the memories to keep forever.

Amber, I think it’s safe to say we are all super excited for you! Enjoy the planning and then have a blast on your first Crystal cruise.

Thank you so much for posting your wonderful wildlife photos! They’re amazing (as of course you know!).

Keep the cruise open in a window, and check it every day, or more often. Be poised to call if a stateroom in your category shows up. It can happen any time, really.

Mariners, good luck to you. Hoping this is in your future 🛳️🥂

Bon voyage! Soon!

Been there, done that. But then we changed onboard, based on the menus having been posted. Until we noticed, our menu had changed one item! So we cancelled, and just went to The Restaurant.

When leaving from a Manhattan dock, I think it’s rather impossible to avoid it! Or shall I say “her”, rather than “it”.

And then when you board, you go to the reservation desk and make more.

Actually, while Aaron will see there’s no more cheese cart wheeled around, he might not know when it was ended! Of course, who knows … it could appear again at any time! Actually, I was thinking it’s still parked there between the port side and the starboard side, so those of us who are often seated on port walked by it on the way in and out. But perhaps that was only … before!

You got EI credits for $$$ your Chase and Amex accts. refunded to you?