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If you’re going in September, maybe the midges will be history?

We recently switched TAs. The first one was reasonably knowledgeable, but she didn’t listen well. She ended up doing something we’d expressly asked her not to do (canceled our cruise before we’d had a chance to cancel our excursions, which meant they all went onto our voucher rather than into a refund). So when we looked for a new TA, I looked for someone who listened well. We’re happy with her so far, but I’m not sure we’d book a cruise with a TA again rather than just directly.

I know! Can’t be helped. I must say, though, the weather here this past week has been pretty spectacular! Sunny, 70s and low 80s, low humidity, breezy … perfect. Just like September, in fact! 😄

Enjoying some crisp, summery Napa Sauvignon Blanc this evening here in the virtual Explorer’s Lounge. Counting down the 45 days until we’ll be having a glass in the real thing. Skál! 🥂

We were told by Arch RoamRight that they will cover our voucher if we need to cancel for medical reasons. Hopefully we won’t need to test that premise.

Russian and American Orthodox do this, too. It would be much more enjoyable in Florida! February in the upper Midwest gets a little too nippy to be diving into streams.

We went on this cruise a few years ago and loved it. That said, everyone we talked to who took the Paris bus excursion was disappointed. All day on a bus, with little opportunity to get out and experience Paris. Maybe do Paris another time when she can have more of your time? We did the Monet’s Garden and Rouen excursion in France, and it was a highlight of the cruise. Highly recommended. If Viking’s version is sold out, maybe check out Viator?

Good to hear. We’ll be there in September.

When I had it in April, I felt zippy again within 3-4 days without Paxlovid. But I did have lingering cold symptoms for a while after that. Impressive that all your symptoms disappeared that quickly!

Fascinating. Thanks!

I’m not sure how you took this from what I posted. I was surprised Viking couldn’t find even a table for two for the OP at either restaurant, at any time, on any day of their cruise. They need to do better, and I hope they accommodate the OP. But you do raise an interesting possible loophole. Viking guarantees reservations at each specialty restaurant, but I don’t think they guarantee that you won’t be seated with others. That said, I don’t think I’ve ever heard of someone being forced to sit with others if they didn’t want to.

At the risk of taking this discussion far from the original topic, I’d be interested in hearing more about this. What makes coastal and river operations more rigorous than ocean?

Wow. So every single table for two was booked in both restaurants at every time period for the entire cruise? Nothing at 8 pm, even? Are they short-staffed or what? If they can’t accommodate you once you’re on board, they need to offer you a very nice consolation prize. And they need to change their marketing.

I can’t remember, Jim — have you taken “regular” Viking cruises or just world cruises? There do seem to be some differences.

It’ll be 3 weeks for us this September, with projected temps from high 70s in London to low 50s in northern Scotland and Bergen. I’m determined to try to get by with a carryon and (rather huge) personal bag. Somehow I was able to travel around the world for 6 months with nothing but a knapsack in my 20s, so why am I so daunted by the prospect of a carryon for a few weeks? With laundry service?

Yesterday (7/21), KLM didn’t allow passengers to bring any checked luggage onto its planes traveling through Amsterdam due to a “disruption to the baggage system.” If you showed up with luggage to be checked, you were advised to schedule another flight or take a voucher. Doesn’t sound like this would affect flyers coming in from outside the country unless they were connecting to another European city. But with a system that fragile, seems like carryons are the way to go. https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/mass-confusion-at-amsterdam-airport-after-klm-says-it-won-e2-80-99t-accept-checked-luggage/ar-AAZPMyt

Excellent; thanks! I was hoping you’d weigh in, Andy.

So apparently there are two docks for cruise ships in Invergordon (Admiralty and Saltburn). A large Princess ship will be using the other pier that day. (September 24) If we dock at Saltburn, we’ll apparently need to take a shuttle to our tour’s meeting place. Is there a way I can find out ahead of time which one we’ll use on our cruise?

Excellent, thanks!

We’ve booked a non-Viking tour at this port and are wondering how far it is from the ship to the port’s security gate. That’s where we’ll meet our guide. Anyone walked it or have a sense of distance? Just figuring out how much time we’ll need.

So just what is in that mysterious green juice?

Only £20 for a taxi to Greenwich? Where did you pick up the taxi?

Maybe we’ll see you there!

This may be of use: https://www.thamesclippers.com/plan-your-journey/find-your-pier/greenwich-pier Looks like Greenwich pier is “accessible,” so I imagine there’s a ramp or something off the Clipper. We’re definitely going to do the Clipper unless the weather is abysmal.

We hope to do the same thing. Please let us know how it turns out.