Live from the Viking Star World Cruise 2021-22

[TERRIER1]

10 minutes ago, GKTV32162 said:

World Cruise Day 87/152 - Dubrovnik, Croatia day 2 - two towns and 1080 stairs

 

 

https://kolbsontheroad.blogspot.com/2022/03/world-cruise-day-87152-dubrovnik.html

Some of the best pizza I had was in Cavtat waiting for the ferry to go back to Dubrovnik. Looks like you had wonderful weather.

[ldpetrillo]

I have always considered the coastal scenery in California as the best in the world. However, the coast of Croatia is extremely scenic. Every turn on the coastal road reveals a lagoon with crystal clear water. The villages are all super cute with their ancient buildings and outdoor cafes. It is amazing that Croatia was a war zone 30 years ago. We could see bullet and shrapnel holes on walls across from where we were docked in Dubrovnik. Croatia was a wonderful surprise.  

[Rabbit27]

4 hours ago, GKTV32162 said:

World Cruise Day 87/152 - Dubrovnik, Croatia day 2 - two towns and 1080 stairs

 

 

https://kolbsontheroad.blogspot.com/2022/03/world-cruise-day-87152-dubrovnik.html

You are so lucky to have all Dubrovnik to your selves! Well done on the stairs ❤️
loving your blog 😊🥂

[GKTV32162]

World Cruise Day 88/152 - Sea Day time warp - let's mix some drinks

 

 

https://kolbsontheroad.blogspot.com/2022/03/world-cruise-day-88152-sea-day-time.html

[travel09]

Love travelling along and enjoying the countries,and memories of them from afar. Italy is beautiful, and has beautiful people, the extent of their Covid epedemic was simply terrible for a small nation, with a good health system, everyone suffered, drastically,so caution is their right and should be understandable,and sorry, many countries are greatly wary of Cruise ships, as an avid cruiser we hope that will soon change. Viking does it so well,and stands out as doing so,unfortunaley Covid does not go away,and is still taking lives right around the world. Enjoy every day, no matter where you are.!

[Azulann]

The view of land from a ship never ceases to amaze me, especially in the Med. 

Love your pictures  and the view of the sunset from a balcony  on a ship. 

Thank you.

Edited March 21, 2022 by Azulann

[FetaCheese]

2 hours ago, travel09 said:

Love travelling along and enjoying the countries,and memories of them from afar. Italy is beautiful, and has beautiful people, the extent of their Covid epedemic was simply terrible for a small nation, with a good health system, everyone suffered, drastically,so caution is their right and should be understandable,and sorry, many countries are greatly wary of Cruise ships, as an avid cruiser we hope that will soon change. Viking does it so well,and stands out as doing so,unfortunaley Covid does not go away,and is still taking lives right around the world. Enjoy every day, no matter where you are.!

Yes, today I attended my  1st Covid funeral, a college and frat buddy, age 62.  So sad.

 

Edited March 22, 2022 by FetaCheese
Edit

[Twitchly]

6 hours ago, GKTV32162 said:

World Cruise Day 88/152 - Sea Day time warp - let's mix some drinks

 

 

https://kolbsontheroad.blogspot.com/2022/03/world-cruise-day-88152-sea-day-time.html

I want the recipe for the lavender citrus martini!

[GKTV32162]

2 hours ago, Twitchly said:

I want the recipe for the lavender citrus martini!

40ml vodka

20ml Cointreau

15-25ml lavender liqueur based on your taste

Juice of 1/2 fresh lime (about 15ml)

Shake with ice

Strain into martini glass and garnish with lime peel

 

 

 

[beach bunnie]

Any guess as to when the 2025 World Cruise itinerary will be available?

[Twitchly]

12 hours ago, GKTV32162 said:

40ml vodka

20ml Cointreau

15-25ml lavender liqueur based on your taste

Juice of 1/2 fresh lime (about 15ml)

Shake with ice

Strain into martini glass and garnish with lime peel

 

 

 

Thanks! I didn’t know there was such a thing as lavender liqueur. 

[GKTV32162]

World Cruise Day 89/152 - Katakolon, Greece - Nice to see you, sis, and...we're Olympians - OK, sort of (not really)

 

 

https://kolbsontheroad.blogspot.com/2022/03/world-cruise-day-89152-katakolon-greece.html

[Insanityx4]

We were on the Sky in St. Petersburg, Russia a few years ago and were docked back to back with the Star. We shared a small private 2 day excursion with passengers from the Star. Glad we visited when we did because we would never go back! The Russian people were lovely but sadly we would never got return as long as Putin is the leader of the country.

Edited March 22, 2022 by Insanityx4

[Moonlion]

3 hours ago, GKTV32162 said:

World Cruise Day 89/152 - Katakolon, Greece - Nice to see you, sis, and...we're Olympians - OK, sort of (not really)

 

 

https://kolbsontheroad.blogspot.com/2022/03/world-cruise-day-89152-katakolon-greece.html

Lucky you, Nafplion is a lovely, charming city in the Peloponnese!  We've been to Greece and her islands about 8 times in recent years (mostly land trips) and find the Greek people to be very friendly and welcoming to visitors. This was especially true on our family trip to Crete in September 2021, after the pandemic nearly halted tourism to Greece.   

[GKTV32162]

World Cruise Day 90/152 - Nafplion, Greece - I wish spell check would stop correcting this port to "Napoleon" and...port change tomorrow!

 

 

https://kolbsontheroad.blogspot.com/2022/03/world-cruise-day-90152-nafplion-greece.html

 

 

[FetaCheese]

On Dec. 2021Greek Odyssey cruise, we visited Chania.  Took the included walking tour (V bussed us over to center).  Very enjoyable tour.  Be sure to visit the Agora (central market building).  Also, there's a pedestrian street with leather shops (leather row), near the Agora.

Edited March 23, 2022 by FetaCheese
Addl info

[ldpetrillo]

1 hour ago, GKTV32162 said:

World Cruise Day 90/152 - Nafplion, Greece - I wish spell check would stop correcting this port to "Napoleon" and...port change tomorrow!

 

 

https://kolbsontheroad.blogspot.com/2022/03/world-cruise-day-90152-nafplion-greece.html

 

 

Your last paragraph has us worried. We have been to several Muslim countries and have followed their rules even though they seem strange and go against our principles. These countries, like Singapore, have very harsh punishment, including beheadings, for breaking their rules. Please be careful. It is difficult to reattach a head. 

[cruiselvr04]

Interested to know what rules you are speaking of….we will stay tuned.

[ilikeanswers]

2 hours ago, ldpetrillo said:

Your last paragraph has us worried. We have been to several Muslim countries and have followed their rules even though they seem strange and go against our principles. These countries, like Singapore, have very harsh punishment, including beheadings, for breaking their rules. Please be careful. It is

difficult to reattach a head. 

 

I think you may have mixed up countries. Singapore is not a Muslim country, it's government is secular and their executions are not beheadings, they are hangings besides I don't think tourists have much to fear unless they are smuggling drugs and arms, committing murder or piracy or decide to wage a war against the Singapore government😂. 

[GKTV32162]

9 hours ago, cruiselvr04 said:

Interested to know what rules you are speaking of….we will stay tuned.

The biggest one impacting the ship is that Saudi Arabia bans alcohol, therefore, the Star cannot serve any alcohol while in port.  The other rules have to do with behavior in port - no public displays of affection (my wife & I hold hands while walking - automatically after 38+ years, so we have to be careful), no religious emblems visible, women have to be covered - head coverings are not required but are recommended for female visitors - all clothing must be loose and not revealing.  Men must cover knees and preferably arms as well.  It will be in the mid 90s and I can't wear shorts or short sleeved shirts.  Men can't wear any jewelry other than a watch and wedding ring, and especially nothing gold.

 

On our e-visa application, we had to agree that getting caught with pornography or drugs is punishable by death - not that we will have either of those, but still - death.

 

It sure doesn't make visitors feel very welcome.  We shall see when we get there.  We have four days, two in Jeddah and two in Yanbu al-Bahr.  After the first day, depending on how we feel about the place, we may elect to just stay on the ship. Welcome to our country - if we don't like what you do - you die.  Wow.

[vslparis]

5 hours ago, GKTV32162 said:

The biggest one impacting the ship is that Saudi Arabia bans alcohol, therefore, the Star cannot serve any alcohol while in port.  

After being on board as long as you all have , maybe a few dry days might be a good thing😂

Then you can make up for it on the rest of the journey !

Respecting local customs and mores may not always be easy, but broadening our horizons is what travel is all about .

Not being able to go to the  stop in Saudi Arabia where you could go to Al Ula and visit the archeological sites at Medain Salah is one of my biggest disappointments in having to get off the WC after my husband was injured. Well, that and having to cook, clean ,shop and make the bed for 3 1/2 months more than I planned to this year 😉.

I am living vicariously thru your blog and insights from other passengers aboard the Sky . 

[cruiselvr04]

Interesting to learn all about all those rules as we’ve never traveled there.  We could handle them all I guess except we too might slip up with the “public display of affection”.  I doubt they’d arrest you for that but it would be frowned upon.  We still hold hands too after 43 years. 

 

 

[TayanaLorna]

7 hours ago, GKTV32162 said:

The biggest one impacting the ship is that Saudi Arabia bans alcohol, therefore, the Star cannot serve any alcohol while in port.  The other rules have to do with behavior in port - no public displays of affection (my wife & I hold hands while walking - automatically after 38+ years, so we have to be careful), no religious emblems visible, women have to be covered - head coverings are not required but are recommended for female visitors - all clothing must be loose and not revealing.  Men must cover knees and preferably arms as well.  It will be in the mid 90s and I can't wear shorts or short sleeved shirts.  Men can't wear any jewelry other than a watch and wedding ring, and especially nothing gold.

 

On our e-visa application, we had to agree that getting caught with pornography or drugs is punishable by death - not that we will have either of those, but still - death.

 

It sure doesn't make visitors feel very welcome.  We shall see when we get there.  We have four days, two in Jeddah and two in Yanbu al-Bahr.  After the first day, depending on how we feel about the place, we may elect to just stay on the ship. Welcome to our country - if we don't like what you do - you die.  Wow.

I think it would be quite the educational experience to visit a country so restricted.  I would happily dress appropriately and wear a head covering to tour.  And most likely be more thankful for the freedom I have.  

[GKTV32162]

44 minutes ago, vslparis said:

After being on board as long as you all have , maybe a few dry days might be a good thing😂

Then you can make up for it on the rest of the journey !

Respecting local customs and mores may not always be easy, but broadening our horizons is what travel is all about .

Not being able to go to the  stop in Saudi Arabia where you could go to Al Ula and visit the archeological sites at Medain Salah is one of my biggest disappointments in having to get off the WC after my husband was injured. Well, that and having to cook, clean ,shop and make the bed for 3 1/2 months more than I planned to this year 😉.

I am living vicariously thru your blog and insights from other passengers aboard the Sky . 

I agree with your comment about broadening horizons through travel, but...oppression is oppression.

 

We still have no excursion information, so we have no idea what we may have the opportunity to do/see.  We're hoping that comes out soon as we arrive in Jeddah in five days.

 

Curious what you are learning from the Sky passengers as they are on a 10-day Med cruise - we ran into them in Katakolon.

[JM0115]

47 minutes ago, vslparis said:

After being on board as long as you all have , maybe a few dry days might be a good thing😂

Then you can make up for it on the rest of the journey !

Respecting local customs and mores may not always be easy, but broadening our horizons is what travel is all about .

Not being able to go to the  stop in Saudi Arabia where you could go to Al Ula and visit the archeological sites at Medain Salah is one of my biggest disappointments in having to get off the WC after my husband was injured. Well, that and having to cook, clean ,shop and make the bed for 3 1/2 months more than I planned to this year 😉.

I am living vicariously thru your blog and insights from other passengers aboard the Sky . 

It's funny to think that we would be ready to "go dry" after 90 days on the ship.  From what I have seen on board, not too many are ready yet :)!