Ultimate World Cruise 245 days and all the parts. Ongoing review, questions, opinion

[Heidi13]

On 4/3/2020 at 4:36 PM, Jim Avery said:

Andy, looks to be good weather. 😎

Hi Jim - great day going through Suez. In the Meddy we passed close to a depression, so had almost gale force winds and a good chop. Now between Sicily & Malta and winds have eased off.

[Heidi13]

13 hours ago, Jim Avery said:

Andy, If you can, I suspect there is a group photo of the Magnificent Eight.  🍸

 

[Heidi13]

The latest schedule has us in Lisbon on April 11th, then to Portsmouth, arriving April 15th and departing April 17th. After Portsmouth the ship is bound to Gibraltar.

 

If all goes well we might disembark in Portsmouth. Probably won't know until we actually dock.

[Jim Avery]

2 hours ago, Heidi13 said:

 

And a fine lot they be!  Soon to be in history books for the Magical Mystery Tour.  And 50 sea days?  Not sure I ever went that long even on tankers.  Always some grimy port somewhere to go take a run or grab a beer.  But then y'all can take a run on the treadmills and grab unlimited beers.  Much better I think.😎

[InDaPast]

Enjoyed reading this thread (admittedly starting from late Feb.) Heidi13's progress notes made me feel I was experiencing the dramatic events in real time...thanks!

 

I've taken note of the kudo's given Viking for their actions. Until a few weeks ago, I hadn't even known they were a separate company from the mega inc outfits, so joining CC provided a good education.

 

MrRandal's post (about his no-hassle refund) in the thread I started also convinced me that when the dust (seaweed?) settles, I'll be booking a cruise with them, hopefully a TA or TP (No, not the TP everyone is concerned about having enough of......geezz, talk about anal retentive).

Edited April 6, 2020 by InDaPast

[RPI64]

Enjoyed reading this thread (admittedly starting from late Feb.) Heidi13's progress notes made me feel I was experiencing the dramatic events in real time...thanks!
 
I've taken note of the kudo's given Viking for their actions. Until a few weeks ago, I hadn't even known they were a separate company from the mega inc outfits, so joining CC provided a good education.
 
MrRandal's post (about his no-hassle refund) in the thread I started also convinced me that when the dust (seaweed?) settles, I'll be booking a cruise with them, hopefully a TA or TP (No, not the TP everyone is concerned about having enough of......geezz, talk about anal retentive).

As a former passenger on that cruise, I was wondering what you are doing for entertainment?


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[CharTrav]

11 hours ago, Heidi13 said:

The latest schedule has us in Lisbon on April 11th, then to Portsmouth, arriving April 15th and departing April 17th. After Portsmouth the ship is bound to Gibraltar.

 

If all goes well we might disembark in Portsmouth. Probably won't know until we actually dock.

Charter flight home from there?

[InDaPast]

4 hours ago, RPI64 said:

As a former passenger on that cruise, I was wondering what you are doing for entertainment?

 

 Such a silly question....I'm busy as ever!

 

"Entertainment?.....I ain't got no stink'n entertainment"

[Heidi13]

9 hours ago, CharTrav said:

Charter flight home from there?

The Magical Mystery Cruise to Somewhere is coming to an end. Just received flight details as we disembark in Gibraltar on Apr 10th, flying to LHR with BA. Overnight at the LHR T2/3 hotel then home on Apr 11th with Air Canada. We fly direct to Vancouver, while the others fly to Toronto.

[Heidi13]

12 hours ago, RPI64 said:

 

As a former passenger on that cruise, I was wondering what you are doing for entertainment?


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Probably didn't do as many sea days as we have on the World Cruise and I can guarantee we have NEVER been short of entertainment, even with only 8 passengers.😊🍺

 

Not sure what your point is?

[OnTheJourney]

Glad it's all worked out for you. Quite an adventure.....safe travels home. 

[CharTrav]

1 hour ago, Heidi13 said:

The Magical Mystery Cruise to Somewhere is coming to an end. Just received flight details as we disembark in Gibraltar on Apr 10th, flying to LHR with BA. Overnight at the LHR T2/3 hotel then home on Apr 11th with Air Canada. We fly direct to Vancouver, while the others fly to Toronto.

Wonderful! Safe travels home!

[Jim Avery]

Safe travels home Andy.  Thanks so much for you and Judy keeping the rest of us up on events.  Viking is doing so much better with their passengers and crew than just about all the other lines and reinforces our commitment to spend travel $$ with them.  Your flights sound as good as they could be and flying out of Gibraltar should be interesting.  Isn't that the airport with a highway crossing the runway?  Haha, fun to see.   We have stayed in the Terminal hotels at LHR a few times.  Very nice.  Bet you sleep well once there.  Again, all the best to the Magnificent Eight.🍸

[Jukebo1x]

Wishing you and the rest of the group good health and safe travel home. . 
Again, thanks so much for sharing both on CC and the blog.😌

[lackcreativity]

Thanks for all the enjoyment I have had from following your adventures, and I am glad it seems that you have had a wonderful experience with Viking even in spite of all of the turmoil. I am a wee bit sad that I will no longer have a cruise critic thread to follow that had more to read than our speculation about all the different aspects of the virus. But even so, I wish you good health and safe travels in the future.

[Insanityx4]

6 hours ago, Heidi13 said:

The Magical Mystery Cruise to Somewhere is coming to an end. Just received flight details as we disembark in Gibraltar on Apr 10th, flying to LHR with BA. Overnight at the LHR T2/3 hotel then home on Apr 11th with Air Canada. We fly direct to Vancouver, while the others fly to Toronto.

Safe travels. I am sure you are ready to get home even though the Sun is wonderful ship. At least the uncertainty is hopefully over. We have been home since March 10 and this shelter in place order is sort of like sea days without the sea, and no pampering. It has been quite a shock to our routine. At least Costco delivers as do many grocery stores. Are Beven and the entertainers and some crew also getting off in Gibraltar? Also, thanks for keeping us all updated on your experiences on the Magical Mystery Cruise to Somewhere and we also really enjoy reading your personal blog.

Edited April 7, 2020 by Insanityx4

[Heidi13]

1 hour ago, Insanityx4 said:

Safe travels. I am sure you are ready to get home even though the Sun is wonderful ship. At least the uncertainty is hopefully over. We have been home since March 10 and this shelter in place order is sort of like sea days without the sea, and no pampering. It has been quite a shock to our routine. At least Costco delivers as do many grocery stores. Are Beven and the entertainers and some crew also getting off in Gibraltar? Also, thanks for keeping us all updated on your experiences on the Magical Mystery Cruise to Somewhere and we also really enjoy reading your personal blog.

Departing our virus free bubble will be a severe shock, but we will be glad to get home, get the quarantine over and get on with life.

 

At this time the Cruise Consultant will be our escort until we board flights in LHR, but she is the only person disembarking with us in Gib. Most of the crew will disembark in Portsmouth, if home counties accept them. Otherwise they remain on board.

[Heidi13]

7 hours ago, Jim Avery said:

Safe travels home Andy.  Thanks so much for you and Judy keeping the rest of us up on events.  Viking is doing so much better with their passengers and crew than just about all the other lines and reinforces our commitment to spend travel $$ with them.  Your flights sound as good as they could be and flying out of Gibraltar should be interesting.  Isn't that the airport with a highway crossing the runway?  Haha, fun to see.   We have stayed in the Terminal hotels at LHR a few times.  Very nice.  Bet you sleep well once there.  Again, all the best to the Magnificent Eight.🍸

Thanks Jim - you are so correct, not only does the main road cross the runway, but both ends of the runway end in the ocean, 

 

Would have preferred the Sofitel at T5, but we depart from T2/3, so the Novatel makes sense, as it is much easier to check-in for the flight home.

 

Will pass on your regards at breakfast tomorrow.

[Liz Masterson]

Sigh.... I've been so enjoying Andy and Judi's blog and the entire adventure. Now I'll have to find some other diversion for that 20 minutes of my day. 😞 Wishing you a swift easy trip home. Hope someone stocks your fridge with plenty of beer and all your favorite treats to enjoy during the quarrentine. 🙂

 

[Clay Clayton]

17 hours ago, Heidi13 said:

Would have preferred the Sofitel at T5, but we depart from T2/3, so the Novatel makes sense, as it is much easier to check-in for the flight home.

Looks like you’ll be departing from T2 as T3 and T4 are closed. 
https://www.ifn.news/posts/london-heathrow-airport-down-to-single-runway-operations-closes-2-terminals/

[stretchcruz]

Safe travels to you all and stay safe. I've really enjoyed your blog and posts.  I'm going to miss them. I sure hope we don't read a post in Gibraltar saying "just kidding, still here!"😁😁😁😁

[Heidi13]

32 minutes ago, Clay Clayton said:

Looks like you’ll be departing from T2 as T3 and T4 are closed. 
https://www.ifn.news/posts/london-heathrow-airport-down-to-single-runway-operations-closes-2-terminals/

Thanks Clay - affirmative we depart from T2

[Jazmyn49]

The Sun is just now departing Gibraltar for Lisbon.  Safe travels to those finally heading home!

 

 

[Jim Avery]

Safe travels all.  Let us know how it went when you are safely home, Andy.🍺

[deec]

What a finale!!!