Pushka

Orion is currently just off our state. The media stories are getting more outlandish every day. Today it was that it had been stranded for days. That it was mould. And that it was going to take days to clean. But it seems to have moved (from panomax) from where it was being cleaned and is heading towards a country town called Victor Harbor. The opposite direction to Melbourne. That's weird.

It's hard to know the truth. Today on our media (Orion is just off our shore) they said it was mould. That they'd been stranded for days. And it was going to take days to fix. The stories are getting more outlandish just for a headline. Looking at the ship camera though it's heading to Victor Harbor which is the opposite direction to Melbourne? https://viking.panomax.com/orion. Or maybe that's where they have doing the cleaning.

Just didn't get around to throwing them away. A momento of Covid?

As an Aussie and having followed the live thread and also on FB, we were laughing at the News presentation last night it was so wrong. I expect next time there will be preventive cleans before arriving into NZ.

I remember those. I think they banned them in the end. I know their owners made a motza though.

Not mine! I still have three negatives and two positives clear as day.

Depending on where you are now I consider NYE to be the evening celebrations. That was the whisper yesterday.

Adelaide didn't deny entry because of the hull, nor I expect did Hobart. It was because Adelaide could not assemble the required Immigration entry at four days notice. The ship will be cleaned out of Australian waters. Going to Hobart wasn't an option after NZ declined port arrival.

Orion just made the Channel 10 news in Australia. They said it was a fungal issue. 🤭 - there was some mention of making Melbourne for NYE. If they can remove the issue quickly then that's a real possibility. Mars is currently berthed there.

Your ship taken by a poster on Aus Frequent Flyer just now. He gave permission. Silver Fern just arrived from the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

Hmmm. So the Ministers office advised that it was because Border Force couldn't operate with such short notice. This stop meant that Adelaide became the first port after international travel and so likely needed extra clearance and staff to manage. May not have been Vikings fault. She did mention that cleaning would be done 12 nautical miles out of Australia's international waters. 🤷‍♀️

I'm so sorry to hear this. I'd have expected marine laws to be well known. I see it has dropped off our port list now. Cleaning it that far offshore will be quite treacherous in these waters tbh.

What?😔 I can't see why?

Cunard, amd others, expect people to be there early and drop off luggage and maybe even check in.

So I've contacted the Tourism Ministers office by email and they have already responded which surprised me. They are getting their media people onto it now. I don't know if it will help with excursions or shuttles but am keeping my fingers crossed for you. It will be a cracker of a day here weather wise and if you get into the city just ask for help. We are mostly a friendly bunch here and everyone will be in a good mood.

So I contacted Viking by chat as tellus@ for Aussies has to be rerouted to US which takes time. Hmmm. "Houston we have a problem". The Agent has reached out to the Oceans Product team as he can see the issue. Haifa port times, supposed to be an overnight, also look a bit weird.

That's disappointing about the excursions. It is Saturday here and a normal day. There should be bus shuttles to get you into the city but there is also a train station about five minutes walk. Will take maybe 30-40 minutes into the CBD. It will be a lovely warm day. Once in the city there are the usual shops etc. Walk down North Terrace Promenade. Quite a walk but in a couple of kilometres you will reach our Botanical Gardens which are excellent. Could walk through to the Wine Exhibition buildings and then Rose Gardens. On the other side of Gardens is the zoo. I'll put a post on our Tourism Ministers FB page just in case they can put on a Volunteer service for all the questions you will have when you arrive. Once in the city you could also take the tram to Glenelg. One of our main tourist beaches. You can get on the tram from just outside the city station or just near the shuttle drop off, assuming there is one. Our central market, also on the tram stop on the way to Glenelg, is also open for full business and will be bustling. You can also get the usual taxi and ride share options - maybe cost $40aud, or maybe $28 USD to the city. They will take you anywhere. Eg Cleland Park but will be more expensive as a longer trip. No need to tip - anywhere. Also don't bring food off the ship.

😂 Colour me green with envy. 😁

Yep. These are the actual excursions offered on our cruise and with prices. Cruise is around 126 days out so Owners suite can book in a couple of weeks time. I was delighted to see Safaga excursions were offered that hit the main areas Valley of Kings etc. Same with Cairo. Because our Invoice indicated otherwise. And don't you worry - I have been pouring over the WC posts and the blogs. Including yours 😁. . Last time I checked with them they weren't able to offer anything but now it's on. I had already booked with Guided Tours Israel and Jordan Travel for Petra. Being a DV I could see the Israel tours gone before I had a chance.

I didn't know it at the time but as I tested positive within an hour of arrival into Australia I was clearly positive (but no symptoms, ever) flying from London, Doha and Adelaide. I was wearing masks when not eating.

We have similar but in Mumbai next May. There are excursions listed for that second day that start very early on departure day. It's like any other port day. So simply check your excursion schedule.

Notwithstanding changes in Ports because of any number of issues, including risk, winds, even Covid etc, I'm wondering how accurate are the listed port times that appear on the Invoice. My query stems from the fact that the Excursions list was released yesterday for a cruise in May which is basically a south - north repositioning cruise that returns via the Suez and so it goes through Egypt and Israel and Jordan. So will reach a lot of bucket list areas in Egypt, eg Valley of the Kings, which requires a 13 hour trip from Port, Safaga. As does Cairo from Port Said. I was concerned that our time in Port as stated by the Viking schedule, does not allow for more than a 9 hour excursion, making it impossible. But the excursions show that all the bucket list places are offered, with multiple 13 hour excursions, even an included one. I really happy, and can't wait to book but the lingering doubt is the schedule, which hasn't changed. So my query is, are the original port timings wrong? (As an aside, Saudi Arabia, Jeddah was added about 2 months ago, not a place I want to go to and the two excursions, the only two offered, aren't exactly worth the cost of the $200us pp visa and husband not allowed to go on one (a female only excursion 😳)

I didn't mention E class but smoking not allowed on those that have balconies anyway.

Yesterday it was at White Bay so much better today.

Of course you should try. I've tried the same when my flights were cancelled. And got nowhere. "We didn't book your flight you need to speak to your agent". Which is why I mentioned not to expect any help if you do. I've been there done that. I also tried to liaise with Viking when I booked a cruise with a Travel Agent, who turned out to be lazy. And not passing things on. Viking would not talk to me as I'd booked with this TA. So eventually I transferred this cruise back to Viking directly but they had to do that through the Agent.