Pushka

That was the evening before. That night it became worse.

I guess we take a while to catch up because CDC have revoked all instructions for cruise ships. Surely next season we will be done. Was very unwell from a flu caught on a cruise ship - pre Covid - no one cared yet I suspect for someone who isn't fit then that would have resulted in a serious illness for them.

This is what I get. I don't get sea sick. I take stemitil. It's a dizziness thing for me, not a chucky one. Graphic detail. If you are being very ill, then try eating/drinking something directly after a bout. This prevents the awfulness of dry retching. You might actually keep something down. And stay near the loo, or have a container. And yes, green apples. When they appear in public eating areas then heavy seas predicted. Even before the bags show up.

Oh dear. I've started a Super Bowl theme mid thread and I don't even know anything about it 😂

Timing is weird. Have never heard of Philly cheesesteak yet after posing this question yesterday here, this morning on our local radio here they were talking about - Philly cheesesteak 🤷‍♀️ I think they were discussing the advertisements or food for the match in USA this week. Sorry I don't follow it - grid iron ? Super Bowl maybe? 🤭

Thanks. My favourite kind of roll. Warm meat. Melted cheese. Yum.

I think wanting to hear the announcements is very itinerary specific. For us, it's announcements about the Suez Canal. For Alaska it was when we entered Hubbard Bay. We were told the night before it would commence at 8am. That didn't sound right. So we got up at 6. We'd already started entering the bay. Sure enough an announcement was made at 7.

What is a Philly cheesesteak?

Viking is doing a circumnavigation of Australia next year.

I think Neptune has already been experiencing heavy swells according to some blogs. It seems unusually rocky for this time of the year but Australian summers have been weird ever since 2019. Fires everywhere in December 2019, then Covid and weather patterns still strange.

8013 for us. Looking forward to it.

Love your reports and you are going to have a fabulous travel log for your own memories.

Yes it does impact everyone, but because there are so few high end suites the numbers don't really start stacking up until the 'masses' - PV and below, start having their picks. I'm just relieved I'm not the least bit fussed about booking the additional restaurants 😂. Manfredis food was wonderful but our service was awful - basically forgot us but loved the risotto and I don't even remember the other one. Loved the Buffet and Restaurant though.

How sad. We didn’t realise it was part of a longer cruise. Not that it would have changed our plans but others might pick a different itinerary. Just seems wrong for PV people who get their chance after the most basic room on the first sector. The impact is only just starting to be understood by passengers on the second cruise as windows open up now.

I'm raising the vexed question of booking excursions and opening up of slots. Particularly for cruises that are marketed as a long cruise, which also consists of two separately marketed shorter cruises. So let's say a 14 day cruise, a 14 day cruise and also available as a marketed 28 day cruise (not back to back which is different) Can those on the 28 day cruise purchase their excursions for the entire length of their cruise on their cabin level opening date? If so, are spaces held back for those on the second 14 day cruise? In my example, if what I'm thinking is right, it seems that those in the DV will be able to book their excursions on our leg, before the PV on leg can book theirs, and that V can book before the DV on ours. And even before PV can book theirs, one excursion is already sold out. I just noticed today that one port has had all excursions removed. Do you think it likely that Viking may be removing that port from the itinerary? It was only a 6 hour stop.

Two reasons I believe. We are still suffering from the impacts of Ruby Princess which effectively brought Covid to Australia and awful loss of life, significant at that time. Second, cruises by their nature are groups of people spending long times together from a variety of different backgrounds and habits. Masks are still required on crew on ships in Spain and Portugal and on excursion buses. It makes sense but think the current regime will be completely different next season. This season only has a month to go. It wasn't going to be changed until it's over. At least the media have moved on from reporting 'horror' outbreaks on cruises now.

I don't expect any of these protocols to be operating next cruise season unless, as they say, major devastating new strain etc, in which case, well, who knows. Unlikely. Virus mutation doesn't usually work like that.

Once you are on the ship it's fine. People only have to test before they embark for the first time, in Sydney, not just visit as a shore port. I don't think this will impact the world cruise. Of course some cruise lines, like Princess, also require testing throughout the cruise. They also require masks onboard. I don't know what Viking WC will do about implementing policies whilst in Australia but Orion and Mars are currently down under and I haven't heard of any major Covid issues. People embarking on Orion and Mars in Sydney have to do a simple RAT before getting on the ship. But those getting back on - no problems. Next year? I don't think it will be anything like this at all. We don't even have to quarantine on land if positive if we aren't symptomatic. PCR clinics closing down now. Cruise ship issues are the final step in moving on.

We scored our neighbours undies on one cruise after a balcony dry 😳🤢. not Viking. I didn't touch them but left a note for the attendant to confirm they weren't mine and to please dispose of them. Or locate the owner. 😂. They were very large. I bet he chucked them. There are lines in the shower. Bring some lightweight metal pegs and a lightweight plastic coat hanger.

They do sound like a good idea but in practise they aren't. I had one. Never again.

The clothes will not be wet but will still be damp. Likely they will need a hang up in the room overnight to be properly dry.

Better than plastic. Paper isn't the issue.

Unless they have eight of the combos, to replace the four and four it will make the laundry room a mess as people will be waiting for hours for a machine to be done, and even then if the load isn't as dry as wanted, people might even accidentally start the entire cycle all over again just to get them dry. People don't read instructions.

Im not a fan of drinks being poured directly from either the taps or the coffee machines directly into someone else's cup. Can never get them clean in a cabin like in a dishwasher. Princess was like this pre Covid. Their one good point. 🤭. And we just can't guarantee other peoples habits. People had to pour from the glass into their own cup if wanted.

Saturday morning here. I'll grant a hangover. But really, just old age. 🤭 So our embarkation day is part way through a much longer cruise starting two weeks prior. There aren't any excursions offered that day (some are disembarking, we are embarking, and some are staying through for longer cruise) and it is an overnight stay for us. Will this make any difference to arrangements? Maybe we will get our luggage quicker as there's some already onboard.