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How do they do this?? Viking must make it part of the job requirement to have a memory like an elephant. I couldn’t do it, that’s for sure. Just ask my husband, Whatshisname.

As Mitina said, we set our iPhones to airplane mode the minute we get on the plane and leave them like that for most of the trip. Your phone can still use Wi-Fi while in airplane mode. So when we get onboard or to our hotel, we connect to Wi-Fi, always without turning off airplane mode. The only time we turn off airplane mode is when we need to use the phone while on land and away from Wi-Fi. We use Verizon’s $10/day TravelPass for that. Airplane mode will protect you from unwanted charges! Caveat: if you want to make calls, make sure your phone’s settings are set to allow calls over WiFi. I don’t know how to do this on Android phones; probably Google can tell you. On an iPhone, go to Settings > Phone > Wi-Fi Calling.

Maybe your credit card will cover it? Some apparently do.

Wow. Must be expensive to have a fully-staffed ship sit empty for weeks.

What a great thread! Just 10 more days …

Makes me happy to see someone on social media use a term like “redolent.” Such a great word. I must use it more often. (Yes, I’m a word nerd though I try to keep it under wraps!)

Just found Fever Tree tonic! Got the kind with elderberry. I foresee a celebratory G&T coming up …

Yes, I think the BIE itinerary will mostly use pounds, not euros. We are planning to tip ship staff with dollars, most shore staff with pounds. Trying to decide if we need to get any euros for our one excursion in Ireland or kroner for our one excursion in Norway. How does one get just a few euros or kroner? By the way, we’ll be on the 9/13 cruise, too. Leaving in less than 2 weeks!

What was it like? London Walks doesn’t offer that one on the date we’ll be there, but our current plan is to combine Hampstead and the Heath with Highgate cemetery, on our own. Suggestions welcome!

In Italian, doesn’t “crema” refer to the foam on the coffee? Just guessing here.

Viking still requires you to show proof of vaccination before boarding the ship, correct? We just use the physical card now instead of VeriFLY?

This is going to be our route going forward. No more booking a year in advance. Too many things can change, and we’d rather hold onto our money ourselves.

I imagine having to shut down for a year had an impact on his pocket.

There are about 90 excursions for this cruise. I’m afraid printing each one to a PDF and posting or emailing them isn’t feasible. Why don’t you try tellus@vikingcruises.com and ask them for a list? I hear that has worked for others.

Warren, I don’t know where to find a complete list to send you, but most run between $150-200. There are a few that run over that. Our BIE cruise is next month.

Didn’t I see mocktails on the drink menu? I imagine those would be covered by the SS package. Not fake alcohol, just an interesting combo of juices and such.

I must say, breakfast at 9:30 am sounds very civilized to this night owl. 🦉

Why were you particularly interested in the port side for that cruise? We’re going in September and will be on the starboard side. I’m wondering what we’ll miss.

Agreed. I respect both. My personal choice is to no longer wear a mask in most situations, but I’m not about to criticize someone who does. What purpose would that serve? This bug isn’t going away; it’s part of our lives now. We each have to decide how best to live with that.

What??? You’re kidding, right? Just checking because back in the ‘80s I did know someone who discovered his assigned seat had been removed, so he ended up sitting on the floor where it was supposed to be. But that was in China and a long time ago.

Good to hear. We mostly bought the package because we had to burn through voucher money prior to boarding. But we’re looking forward to being able to choose something other than the house wines, which didn’t shiver our timbers in the past. I’m assuming we can order wine at the bars after dinner as well?

Where do you find them?

Do you mean a new lineup of offerings? Such as …? We just bought the SS package for the first time and I’m wondering what to expect on the wine front — what’s offered, what’s lacking, etc.

Yes!!! We rarely used the Living Room because of this. We just felt closed in. I’m fine if removing the sheers means looking at lifeboats or whatever, but if I’m going to spend time in a space, I want to see outdoors!

As I mentioned over on our roll call, I love Hampstead Heath. Our current plan is to walk through the Heath on our way from Hampstead to Highgate cemetery, another favorite spot from my London visit long ago.