Pushka

Adelaide was super hot yesterday at 41c but have had a cool change overnight. Arriving on 31st will see a lovely sunny NYE of 30 centigrade. You may experience some lumpy seas tomorrow though.

That would not be nice.

Yes, we can do similar, but using an advocate would take a lot more time to get sorted in Aus. I use Viking to book the cruise and sort out my own flights. If airfare is included as part of the cruise price then I ask Viking to reprice it for me. Australia Viking as we can't use US Viking.

Some don't have that opportunity for choice of times.

Many airlines wont deal or even talk with you if you used a Travel Agent to make the booking, eg Viking Air. It is a good reason and why I don't use travel agents.

And smoking is only allowed on three designated outside areas on Solstice size ships, and no balconies which given the size of the ship, is probably less space than Viking. I have not seen any indoor smoking area at all on celebrity ships. Certainly didn't smell it. Celebrity ships are deemed non smoking

There is smoking allowed on Deck 8 on Viking.

The hull is being cleaned in Adelaide SA this weekend. @The Other Tom - it's legit.

We like Celebrity as well as Viking, just different experiences. Our cruise on Edge was Covid cancelled twice. Next cruise is with Viking. If you want a lot of 'experiences' then I'd go with Celebrity. If you aren't after such an experience then stay with Viking. Get the drinks package.

I've been travelling along with you as I'm desperate to go on a post Covid cruise but still have 137 days to wait. 😂. You mentioned table mates, which I've found can make or break a cruise where there is a requirement to have the same table and people each night. Is that what HAL usually requires? Seems like you've struck gold with yours. Another CC person and I shared a Cunard world sector with someone who was doing a half world cruise, and I guess they were sick of the new heads bobbing up each new sector and let's just say, we didn't click. Not just with us but all the others just boarding. She took her turns in disliking each one of us.

Maybe you might consider an overnight in the Barossa then? There are some fabulous places to stay.

Weather for NYE predicted to be around 30 Celsius. Perfect for the midnight fireworks on the River Torrens in the city. There is another display at 9.30 pm. There will be lots of people in the city so very safe. There’s also food fans for NYE on River Torrens. Hopefully Viking will run shuttles at midnight. The tram system is free around the city and for a small fare you can take it down to Glenelg beach. I think maybe on NYE it might be free so people don’t try driving around. You could also Uber from city to the Harbour but with so many people that might be hard.

I've been on both Viking and Princess and Viking was the more expensive for an Alaskan cruise. Certainly less passengers though.

Viking never comes to Adelaide where I live, so this will be a maiden port stop. You can bet that the Barossa Valley will already have tours in the planning and being an overnight gives you so many options. Cleland National Park for a Koala experience, kangaroos, emus and wallabies. The wineries of McLaren Vale which are excellent. Lovely scenery on the way. So many options. We sailed on Orion to Alaska in 2019 and as we live very close by might just pop in and have a another look. What are your arrival dates and where will you berth? Maybe inner port if they are having to dive. The city, our botanical gardens and The Zoo to see the pandas, - all of these are very close to each other. Likely there will be shuttle buses - many - into the city. I think you might even get a great welcome by tourist officials as it's a first for us. It's a wonderful weather time to be here, just not tomorrow where it will be rather toasty. I think it is NYD and the next one? Weather expected to be sunny and warm. Thirties. Centigrade. Shopping might be an issue being a public holiday but city shops will be open. Glenelg will wonderful as are all the beaches in the area. If you are berthed in the inner port then there are dolphins who live there. We see them from our balcony. Do wear sunscreen even if cloudy. And a hat.

Viking has an excellent compensation process. Do you happen to know the Adelaide dates? We sailed on Orion to Alaska and Viking normally doesn’t come here to SA.

I've just reread the FB post. And as you stated it docked in Tauranga. However The passengers were informed at that port that there were to be no more NZ ports, missing three, and now coming over to Adelaide for Hull cleaning.

Orion is diverting from NZ to Adelaide 😳

Passenger on Viking Orion has just announced exactly the same thing. I wonder if NZ is playing games.

Apparently snails are the issue with Orion ship currently in NZ. Refused entry to Tauranga. Coming to Adelaide for scrubbing according to a social site. Maybe to the submarine depot?

Is there a reason why bookings are being held back these days? I always thought it was a Covid safe reason. But enabling shared tables and not tables for two seems to contradict that idea.

Thanks. Love your writing style. Going to be fabulous reading everyone's blog.

And some who don't understand your comment 😁

Whatever. I don't plan on eating in the specialty restaurants as I stated before. Not my problem. I do believe in fairness. Which currently doesn't seem to be happening according to Vikings stated promotions. So in that sense I'm way more objective and dispassionate about what is happening than others here who have skin in the game. Seems Viking have promised both groups something they simply can't deliver. Just think it's better to give everyone a portion of what they've been promised, than alienate one group completely and give the other group everything. Because both groups have paid for something, one group is receiving that and the other simply isn't. 🤷‍♀️

Well it seems that others aren't getting anything they were promised with regards to restaurants according to the website so maybe it's a case of reducing benefits more fairly.

I'd comsider it a good gesture to all. Sometimes obligations are irrelevant. I know Viking for instance gave people 125% voucher to all impacted by the recent Antarctica cruise issue. No obligation to do this. But simply good will. And it wasn't Vikings fault.