Rare Peregrina651 Posted August 12, 2023 #326 Share Posted August 12, 2023 (edited) changed my mind Edited August 12, 2023 by Peregrina651 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Clay Clayton Posted August 12, 2023 Author #327 Share Posted August 12, 2023 6 hours ago, depplep said: Clay, I was wondering if you have done a Viking river cruise? If so, what are your thoughts? I've been wanting to do this but my husband feels like the ships are too small and not enough to entertain. Our first Viking cruise was a river cruise from Passau to Budapest. We enjoyed it, my only issue that due to the vagaries of the river schedule all the planning we did was for naught. There isn't much entertainment but between the busy days and the other interesting cruisers I didn't miss it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Clay Clayton Posted August 13, 2023 Author #328 Share Posted August 13, 2023 One more negative difference that I failed to mention but thought about yesterday while discussing the cruise with friends. We were sad to see that the number and types of teas had been reduced for afternoon tea as I think J mentioned before when I posted the menu (maybe on another thread.) But the bigger sadness was the scones. They weren't as light, moist, and delicate as we remembered them. They seemed smaller so Mike (the baker in our family) wondered if they had reduced the size but hadn't reduced the cooking time or perhaps Saturn had a heavy handed scone maker who had simply overworked the dough. Definitely a #FirstWorldProblem as it didn't keep me from eating them!😂 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare CCWineLover Posted August 13, 2023 #329 Share Posted August 13, 2023 29 minutes ago, Clay Clayton said: One more negative difference that I failed to mention but thought about yesterday while discussing the cruise with friends. We were sad to see that the number and types of teas had been reduced for afternoon tea as I think J mentioned before when I posted the menu (maybe on another thread.) But the bigger sadness was the scones. They weren't as light, moist, and delicate as we remembered them. They seemed smaller so Mike (the baker in our family) wondered if they had reduced the size but hadn't reduced the cooking time or perhaps Saturn had a heavy handed scone maker who had simply overworked the dough. Definitely a #FirstWorldProblem as it didn't keep me from eating them!😂 Interesting note, Clay. I thought exactly the same thing on our June Saturn cruise. (Whereas last Dec/Jan the scones were fine). So maybe it really is the baker. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SJD117 Posted August 13, 2023 #330 Share Posted August 13, 2023 1 hour ago, Clay Clayton said: One more negative difference that I failed to mention but thought about yesterday while discussing the cruise with friends. We were sad to see that the number and types of teas had been reduced for afternoon tea as I think J mentioned before when I posted the menu (maybe on another thread.) But the bigger sadness was the scones. They weren't as light, moist, and delicate as we remembered them. They seemed smaller so Mike (the baker in our family) wondered if they had reduced the size but hadn't reduced the cooking time or perhaps Saturn had a heavy handed scone maker who had simply overworked the dough. Definitely a #FirstWorldProblem as it didn't keep me from eating them!😂 FWIW, we had no issue with the scones on the cruise before yours. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Clay Clayton Posted August 13, 2023 Author #331 Share Posted August 13, 2023 3 minutes ago, SJD117 said: FWIW, we had no issue with the scones on the cruise before yours. Given I ate them every time I can't say I had a real issue, just they were different than previously experienced. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SJD117 Posted August 13, 2023 #332 Share Posted August 13, 2023 8 minutes ago, Clay Clayton said: Given I ate them every time I can't say I had a real issue, just they were different than previously experienced. I was just talking about this with Linda. You may have a better memory for food dishes and preparation than I do. In my case, and because we had last cruised 15 months before our Saturn experience, I simply didn’t have the bandwidth to remember whether the scones or other food items had changed during the interval. Perhaps they did, perhaps they didn’t. But a moot point, because I ate them too! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LindaS272 Posted August 13, 2023 #333 Share Posted August 13, 2023 (edited) I did notice they were in keeping with the new “Skinny Tea” menu, being smaller, but I thought they were tasty all the same. Maybe they’re cutting costs by using less flour? 😂 Edited August 13, 2023 by LindaS272 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Clay Clayton Posted August 13, 2023 Author #334 Share Posted August 13, 2023 2 hours ago, LindaS272 said: I did notice they were in keeping with the new “Skinny Tea” menu, being smaller, but I thought they were tasty all the same. Maybe they’re cutting costs by using less flour? 😂 More likely less butter! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare CCWineLover Posted August 13, 2023 #335 Share Posted August 13, 2023 5 hours ago, LindaS272 said: I did notice they were in keeping with the new “Skinny Tea” menu, being smaller, but I thought they were tasty all the same. Maybe they’re cutting costs by using less flour? 😂 Linda - we ate them too! Maybe just part of the overall small portions approach they are doing. I do recall someone complaining that the portions in the restaurants were quite a bit smaller. I said, why don't you just ask for more, they won't refuse you! If you want it, you can have it! And in this way, there is less wasted food. Don't think she comprehended 🙂 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
depplep Posted August 14, 2023 #336 Share Posted August 14, 2023 On 8/11/2023 at 9:25 PM, Clay Clayton said: Our first Viking cruise was a river cruise from Passau to Budapest. We enjoyed it, my only issue that due to the vagaries of the river schedule all the planning we did was for naught. There isn't much entertainment but between the busy days and the other interesting cruisers I didn't miss it. Budapest is the itinerary I've been looking at. Thank you. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charmed1959 Posted August 16, 2023 #337 Share Posted August 16, 2023 On 8/13/2023 at 6:14 PM, CCWineLover said: Linda - we ate them too! Maybe just part of the overall small portions approach they are doing. I do recall someone complaining that the portions in the restaurants were quite a bit smaller. I said, why don't you just ask for more, they won't refuse you! If you want it, you can have it! And in this way, there is less wasted food. Don't think she comprehended 🙂 My husband and I appreciated the smaller portions in the restaurants. At first we were skipping the restaurant as we didn’t want that big of meal, so we headed to the cafe. One night we just wanted to sit and have things brought to us and noticed the portions were small. Went to the restaurant every night after that. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LindaS272 Posted August 16, 2023 #338 Share Posted August 16, 2023 2 hours ago, charmed1959 said: My husband and I appreciated the smaller portions in the restaurants. At first we were skipping the restaurant as we didn’t want that big of meal, so we headed to the cafe. One night we just wanted to sit and have things brought to us and noticed the portions were small. Went to the restaurant every night after that. You can always order half portions or just make a meal out of appetizers/salads/sides. And you also don’t have to eat everything. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Clay Clayton Posted August 16, 2023 Author #339 Share Posted August 16, 2023 7 hours ago, LindaS272 said: You can always just make a meal out of appetizers/salads/sides. Just be careful-a couple of times on our last cruise, we asked for them to bring an appetizer when they brought our dining companions' mains-and it appeared we were served at least a portion and a half if not a double portion compared to the normal appetizer. When we remembered after that we made it clear we wanted the appetizer portion. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoDakPirate Posted August 17, 2023 #340 Share Posted August 17, 2023 Clay: I apologize if this question was asked and answered in the 14 pages. Were the outside decks open in front of the Explorer's Lounge on either or both decks 7& 8? I believe I have read reports that they were closed but that may have pertained to only one cruise. Thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SJD117 Posted August 17, 2023 #341 Share Posted August 17, 2023 9 minutes ago, SoDakPirate said: Clay: I apologize if this question was asked and answered in the 14 pages. Were the outside decks open in front of the Explorer's Lounge on either or both decks 7& 8? I believe I have read reports that they were closed but that may have pertained to only one cruise. Thank you We were on the Saturn cruise right before Clay’s cruise. The outside deck adjacent to the Explorer’s Lounge (Deck 7) was open the entire time. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Clay Clayton Posted August 17, 2023 Author #342 Share Posted August 17, 2023 (edited) 2 hours ago, SoDakPirate said: Clay: I apologize if this question was asked and answered in the 14 pages. Were the outside decks open in front of the Explorer's Lounge on either or both decks 7& 8? I believe I have read reports that they were closed but that may have pertained to only one cruise. Thank you 2 hours ago, SJD117 said: We were on the Saturn cruise right before Clay’s cruise. The outside deck adjacent to the Explorer’s Lounge (Deck 7) was open the entire time. All decks were open throughout our cruise. I will say that on the morning of our sail into Geiranger I was about to loose my cool over the folks who didn't seem to understand how to quietly close a door 😂 Nothing like enjoying the quiet beauty of that beautiful fjord and having it ruined (both for those of us outside and inside) by someone just letting go of either of the doors that you go through to reach the deck in front of the Explorers' Lounge. Edited August 17, 2023 by Clay Clayton Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
millybess Posted August 17, 2023 #343 Share Posted August 17, 2023 Your photos are phenomenal as always. But looking at your middle photo, there's something to be said for aft cabins. 😉 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellenw Posted August 18, 2023 #344 Share Posted August 18, 2023 4 hours ago, Clay Clayton said: All decks were open throughout our cruise. I will say that on the morning of our sail into Geiranger I was about to loose my cool over the folks who didn't seem to understand how to quietly close a door 😂 Nothing like enjoying the quiet beauty of that beautiful fjord and having it ruined (both for those of us outside and inside) by someone just letting go of either of the doors that you go through to reach the deck in front of the Explorers' Lounge. OMG! You are so right about the door slamming. My morning every day was going to the lounge early, probably 6 or 6:30 (early riser, just can't help it). Rimsa would see me and get my cappuccino. i would sit watching sail in. Other folks would come in and say good morning. Then watch sail in. Then someone would come in that treated it like happy hour. "Where are your from?" "Here's what I did before I retired". At the TOP OF THEIR LUNGS!. For the love of God, it's 6:30. Shut up! First world problems? 5 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare CCWineLover Posted August 18, 2023 #345 Share Posted August 18, 2023 22 hours ago, ellenw said: OMG! You are so right about the door slamming. My morning every day was going to the lounge early, probably 6 or 6:30 (early riser, just can't help it). Rimsa would see me and get my cappuccino. i would sit watching sail in. Other folks would come in and say good morning. Then watch sail in. Then someone would come in that treated it like happy hour. "Where are your from?" "Here's what I did before I retired". At the TOP OF THEIR LUNGS!. For the love of God, it's 6:30. Shut up! First world problems? I hear you! pun intended! We always seem to have the Loud obnoxious "happy hour" folks come out to the deck 7 front of explorer's lounger as we a silently cruising into a beautiful place - like Norway's fjords (Flam) or a gorgeous city (like Oslo). Sadly it is just the world we live in now. People are oblivious of others. But definitely 1st world problems! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anaco_angler Posted August 19, 2023 #346 Share Posted August 19, 2023 On 7/25/2023 at 5:44 AM, Clay Clayton said: Sorry, I thought I had posted it. Clay, any problem bringing the pelt back into the US? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Clay Clayton Posted August 19, 2023 Author #347 Share Posted August 19, 2023 1 hour ago, anaco_angler said: Clay, any problem bringing the pelt back into the US? Nope. Since we bought it at a store we could honestly say we didn't visit a farm or been among animals. And since we didn't spend more than our allowance, we didn't have anything to declare. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anaco_angler Posted August 19, 2023 #348 Share Posted August 19, 2023 Thanks, Clay. I've hesitated on past trips but think we'll go for it on our upcoming BIE. And congratulations to you and Mike on your trip report and photos. You're two talented gentlemen. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Peregrina651 Posted August 19, 2023 #349 Share Posted August 19, 2023 On 8/17/2023 at 4:55 PM, Clay Clayton said: All that gorgeous scenery and the one thing that catches my attention is a guy who could be a cousin! The guy in the prussian blue jacket and gray sneakers. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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