Just back!! Our VIKING LOFN-omenal "Passage to Eastern Europe" Cruise. 10/23 to11/2/2023 - Full trip report with tons of pix!

[Sleep7]

8 minutes ago, Rebel54 said:

Thank you for this.  Watching it right now.

 

👋 Hellooo Rebel54!

Thank you so much for your sweet sweet comments. I’m not home right now but when I get to my computer I have lots to tell you about the menus and the ports and the movie.😊

[Rebel54]

49 minutes ago, Sleep7 said:

👋 Hellooo Rebel54!

Thank you so much for your sweet sweet comments. I’m not home right now but when I get to my computer I have lots to tell you about the menus and the ports and the movie.😊

Ah thank you so much 🙂  We (my daughter and I) are going with Avalon.  I lived in Germany for 3 years when she was a young girl so I'm excited to share this with her as an adult.

I am new to the Messianic faith and learning to follow the principles.  Giving up unclean foods was easy but traveling and eating out has posed a challenge.  I know that Avalon is great about addressing food concerns so I have some relief there.  The last time I was in Europe I was eating pork so no challenge, I ate everything. 

 

So excited about this trip.  Spending a week in Prague ahead of the cruise on our own.  My 8th time there.  8 months to go!

[Sleep7]

44 minutes ago, Rebel54 said:

Ah thank you so much 🙂  We (my daughter and I) are going with Avalon.  I lived in Germany for 3 years when she was a young girl so I'm excited to share this with her as an adult.

I am new to the Messianic faith and learning to follow the principles.  Giving up unclean foods was easy but traveling and eating out has posed a challenge.  I know that Avalon is great about addressing food concerns so I have some relief there.  The last time I was in Europe I was eating pork so no challenge, I ate everything. 

 

So excited about this trip.  Spending a week in Prague ahead of the cruise on our own.  My 8th time there.  8 months to go!

 

🙋‍♀️Hello again Rebel54!

Oh how LOVELY you are going to vacation with your daughter.. what wonderful quality time!

You won't have any problem finding food on the ship that isn't pork or pork based.

Sam doesn't eat pork (he does eat shellfish) and there were always plenty of options for him at each meal.

I'm still icked by the "lard incident."😬

Not so much because it was animal fat but because it felt like I was eating Vaseline on bread.😵‍💫

Fantastic that you are spending a week in Prague and then boarding the cruise!

We sailed on the first part of your cruise from Vilshofen to Budapest in the fall of 2021.

Here is the link if you would like to see those ports. That was back in the day of COVID restrictions.  Sooo glad that's over with!😷

 

Last but not least I hope you found the movie "The Last Days" interesting.  I thought it was so well done.  So horrifying of course but it really told the stories of the survivors so carefully and completely.

Anyways.. enjoy every moment of your cruise!  It will be here before you know it.👏

[Sleep7]

😆Second last but not least..

Here is a link to all of the menus on Avalon last March. 

By this time you will surely be tired of our faces as they grace most of the posts but the menus will interest you if you want to see what food choices Avalon offers.😋

 

[Rebel54]

On 12/2/2023 at 1:54 PM, Sleep7 said:

 

🙋‍♀️Hello again Rebel54!

Oh how LOVELY you are going to vacation with your daughter.. what wonderful quality time!

You won't have any problem finding food on the ship that isn't pork or pork based.

Sam doesn't eat pork (he does eat shellfish) and there were always plenty of options for him at each meal.

I'm still icked by the "lard incident."😬

Not so much because it was animal fat but because it felt like I was eating Vaseline on bread.😵‍💫

Fantastic that you are spending a week in Prague and then boarding the cruise!

We sailed on the first part of your cruise from Vilshofen to Budapest in the fall of 2021.

Here is the link if you would like to see those ports. That was back in the day of COVID restrictions.  Sooo glad that's over with!😷

 

Last but not least I hope you found the movie "The Last Days" interesting.  I thought it was so well done.  So horrifying of course but it really told the stories of the survivors so carefully and completely.

Anyways.. enjoy every moment of your cruise!  It will be here before you know it.👏

I didn't realize until I was part way through, I had already watched it.  So sad but very well done.  I used to live in Munich and have been to many of the camps and memorials.  I can't understand how anyone supported any of that.  Hurts my heart.

I agree with you on the lard.  YUCK.  Makes me cringe just thinking about it.  Back in my Navy days I may or may not have eaten a vaseline and chocolate syrup sandwich as part of an "event" I was going through.  I survived but the thought makes me ill.  Smelling fish does as well, for the same reasons.  🙂

 

 

[Sleep7]

16 hours ago, Rebel54 said:

I didn't realize until I was part way through, I had already watched it.  So sad but very well done.  I used to live in Munich and have been to many of the camps and memorials.  I can't understand how anyone supported any of that.  Hurts my heart.

I agree with you on the lard.  YUCK.  Makes me cringe just thinking about it.  Back in my Navy days I may or may not have eaten a vaseline and chocolate syrup sandwich as part of an "event" I was going through.  I survived but the thought makes me ill.  Smelling fish does as well, for the same reasons.  🙂

 

 

It was such a powerful movie.. glad you saw it and remember it.

Oh my! A vaseline and chocolate syrup sandwich?  Actually it might sound better than lard and onions.

[Canal archive]

Rebel54 please I have nothing but full respect for you adopting a new faith but please - unclean food - we all, hopefully understand the Jewish faith in this respect but I for one do NOT eat unclean food, you may consider it such but I certainly do not.

All I’m sorry for my rant but please respect all. 
 

[Sleep7]

Seems there is rarely any news about Serbia that makes it to the USA news.

The cruise sparked my interest in the countries we had visited.  Saw this yesterday..

https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/25/europe/serbia-protest-election-stolen-vucic-intl/index.html

[Sleep7]

🙋‍♀️Oh! And wishing everyone a peaceful and pleasant 2024 filled with love, good health, lots of smiles and smooth and happy cruising.🥰🚢

[MikeyB]

4 hours ago, Sleep7 said:

🙋‍♀️Oh! And wishing everyone a peaceful and pleasant 2024 filled with love, good health, lots of smiles and smooth and happy cruising.🥰🚢

And a happy and healthy new year from......Chile.

[Sleep7]

1 hour ago, MikeyB said:

And a happy and healthy new year from......Chile.

🙋‍♀️Helloooooo MikeyB!

How nice to think of you and Mrs. B 'chillin in Chile for the holidays.😃

I'm sure your weather is much nicer there than here on murky and foggy Long Island.

Weather aside.. We had an excellent as usual Xmas day Chinese meal at Fortune Wheel in Levittown. Do try it when you get home. 

Enjoy every moment of your cruise! Wishing you safe and easy travels home and Happy New Year!

[MikeyB]

39 minutes ago, Sleep7 said:

🙋‍♀️Helloooooo MikeyB!

How nice to think of you and Mrs. B 'chillin in Chile for the holidays.😃

I'm sure your weather is much nicer there than here on murky and foggy Long Island.

Weather aside.. We had an excellent as usual Xmas day Chinese meal at Fortune Wheel in Levittown. Do try it when you get home. 

Enjoy every moment of your cruise! Wishing you safe and easy travels home and Happy New Year!

Well it is sunny and clear skies here but "only" 68 degrees. I can honestly recommend the South America and Chilean Glacier cruise on the Jupiter to anyone.  Crew and food has been great.  Crew even smiles and greets you.

Sleepy...dont leave Viking but if you do,  let us know.

[Sleep7]

 

8 minutes ago, MikeyB said:

Well it is sunny and clear skies here but "only" 68 degrees. I can honestly recommend the South America and Chilean Glacier cruise on the Jupiter to anyone.  Crew and food has been great.  Crew even smiles and greets you.

Sleepy...dont leave Viking but if you do,  let us know.

☀️68 and sunny sounds truly delightful.

What an exciting itinerary you are on.. hope it's been smooth sailing.  Is it generally rougher than the Med? Or is it just luck of the seas that week?

We will actually be on the Jupiter next summer for an Italian Sojourn.. looking forward to it!

Love love love Viking and will always include it in my rotation with an Azamara cruise or two in between.  They are definitely similar but a bit different too and it's always nice to experience both.😊

[MikeyB]

1 minute ago, Sleep7 said:

 

☀️68 and sunny sounds truly delightful.

What an exciting itinerary you are on.. hope it's been smooth sailing.  Is it generally rougher than the Med? Or is it just luck of the seas that week?

We will actually be on the Jupiter next summer for an Italian Sojourn.. looking forward to it!

Love love love Viking and will always include it in my rotation with an Azamara cruise or two in between.  They are definitely similar but a bit different too and it's always nice to experience both.😊

Rough seas are ahead.

Dramamine never far behind.

Just leaving Puerto Montt now.   Absolutely beautiful. 

[MikeyB]

And i asked my sister what she was up to.  She might have been sitting next to you for dinner!

Regards.

[1st]

On 11/3/2023 at 9:07 AM, Sleep7 said:

Had a little bit of time at the enormous KLM lounge.

 

 

 

[1st]

Do you need to be a member of KLM or just have flown on them? Just curious how you can get in to use the services.

Thanks,

[Sleep7]

3 minutes ago, 1st said:

Do you need to be a member of KLM or just have flown on them? Just curious how you can get in to use the services.

Thanks,

👋🏻Hi 1st!

Flying main cabin internationally.. I'm about 99% sure that we have access to the KLM lounge (as well any other Sky team lounge) because I am a Platinum Delta Skymiles member.  A companion is allowed in for free too.

I doesn't matter whether you are flying on a Delta, KLM, or Air France flight since they are all part of the Sky team partnership.

Hope that helps.😊

 

[bobs1016]

Sleep7,

 

I don't know if you are still following this thread, but your posts were as others have said...TERRIFIC!

 

We will be taking the same trip as you in reverse in mid/late October 2025 and after reading your review, we are now looking forward to this trip even more. Many of your suggestions will be helpful for us. We will be in 204 on the Ullur.

 

Thanks,

 

Bob

[Sleep7]

9 hours ago, bobs1016 said:

Sleep7,

 

I don't know if you are still following this thread, but your posts were as others have said...TERRIFIC!

 

We will be taking the same trip as you in reverse in mid/late October 2025 and after reading your review, we are now looking forward to this trip even more. Many of your suggestions will be helpful for us. We will be in 204 on the Ullur.

 

Thanks,

 

Bob

 

👋Good morning Bob!

I get notifications when somebody comments so I did see just yours.😊

Thanks so very much for your compliments.😍

I'm so glad that my pix and story made you even more excited for your trip next year! Yay!

It was the most amazing itinerary.  The ports were all so unique and fascinating.  Many of the cities were places I have always wanted to visit to and this cruise included them all in a week!

If you have any specific questions I'm always happy to answer them.

You are going to have the best time.

Thanks again for bringing my thread up.. I just reread it and it brought back so many nice memories.

Happy sailing!

😊Claudia

[bobs1016]

Thank You for your nice response.

 

Viking has some added tours that take you to a dinner with local dance performances in the evening. Do you recommend any of these. You did not mention do this, but did other passengers have any comments?

[Sleep7]

👋Hi again Bob!

We have never done a "dinner and show" excursion on a cruise.

The food on board is always great that we never felt like we had to take a tour that included a meal unless it was a full day tour during the day and the meal was lunch.

That being said.. I'm sure if you book the dinner show you will enjoy it.

I don't remember what others commented about them on this cruise but as my mother always said.. "you never regret things you do.. only the things you don't do."

Maybe others who have taken the dinner tours can chime in on their thoughts whether it was worthwhile or not.

[bobs1016]

2 hours ago, Sleep7 said:

👋Hi again Bob!

We have never done a "dinner and show" excursion on a cruise.

The food on board is always great that we never felt like we had to take a tour that included a meal unless it was a full day tour during the day and the meal was lunch.

That being said.. I'm sure if you book the dinner show you will enjoy it.

I don't remember what others commented about them on this cruise but as my mother always said.. "you never regret things you do.. only the things you don't do."

Maybe others who have taken the dinner tours can chime in on their thoughts whether it was worthwhile or not.

 

I also forgot to ask, did you book the Synagogue tour through Viking or on you own. We have been notified of our hotel in Budapest and it is only a 15 minute walk to the Synagogue. I have not yet seen a tour through Viking, but have seen some through Viator. What do you think?

 

Also, we did the Rhine cruise 2 years ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. We also did a Viking Ocean Cruise to see the Northern Lights in Norway Winter 2022-23 and also enjoyed this. (the rooms are much nicer on the Ocean Cruise and the Spa has a snow room as well as a Whirlpool tub the size of a swimming pool with a hot tub enclosed within the Whirlpool and the food was also excellent.  We are booked on the Viking Cruise from Puerto Rico this Halloween that is 11 days long to the Windward and Leeward Islands. We fly out of EWR usually. 

 

I will keep an eye out for your posts and maybe we will be on the same cruise in the future.

Edited Saturday at 07:00 PM by bobs1016

[Sleep7]

2 minutes ago, bobs1016 said:

 

I also forgot to ask, did you book the Synagogue tour through Viking or on you own. We have been notified of our hotel in Budapest and it is only a 15 minute walk to the Synagogue. I have not yet seen a tour through Viking, but have seen some through Viator. What do you think?

 

Also, we did the Rhine cruise 2 years ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. We also did a Viking Ocean Cruise to see the Northern Lights in Norway Winter 2022-23 and also enjoyed this. (the rooms are much nicer on the Ocean Cruise and the Spa has a snow room as well as a Whirlpool tub the size of a swimming pool with a hot tub enclosed within the Whirlpool and the food was also excellent.  We are booked on the Viking Cruise from Puerto Rico this Halloween that is 11 days long to the Windward and Leeward Islands. We fly out of EWR usually. 

 

I will keep an eye out for your posts and maybe we will be on the same cruise in the future.

👋Hi again!

We booked Viking's tour to the Synagogue.  I thought it was great.  Lots of information and a very nice guide.  We usually only book the ships tours whether ocean or river just because we aren't that picky and in case the ship changes the itinerary there are no issues if we need to cancel.  That being said.. there are many who will only book independent tours so I guess there are 2 schools of thought on it.

We have done a few river cruises as well and I do think this Eastern European itinerary was the most interesting of them all. 

What a cool cruise you took to see the Northern Lights.  Was it rough?  I always wonder if winter cruising in Europe in winter is rough.. I never get seasick buy DH does.

We loved Viking Ocean too and your Halloween cruise in the Caribbean sounds wonderful!

And best of all it's coming up so soon!

[bobs1016]

7 hours ago, Sleep7 said:

👋Hi again!

We booked Viking's tour to the Synagogue.  I thought it was great.  Lots of information and a very nice guide.  We usually only book the ships tours whether ocean or river just because we aren't that picky and in case the ship changes the itinerary there are no issues if we need to cancel.  That being said.. there are many who will only book independent tours so I guess there are 2 schools of thought on it.

We have done a few river cruises as well and I do think this Eastern European itinerary was the most interesting of them all. 

What a cool cruise you took to see the Northern Lights.  Was it rough?  I always wonder if winter cruising in Europe in winter is rough.. I never get seasick buy DH does.

We loved Viking Ocean too and your Halloween cruise in the Caribbean sounds wonderful!

And best of all it's coming up so soon!

 

Thanks for the information. Now to answer your question, For my wife and myself, it was not rough. However, we did have seas that were rough for most as they got to 25 feet. The cruise started in London (an hour east). The ship was late arriving due to a storm but eventually arrived. Viking gave us 2 full days in London at a 5 star hotel. However, once we crossed the North Sea and arrived in Norway, seas were calm. So, it all depends on the weather. As far as our 2 days in London, we did the Wheel, walked around a lot and did a theatre show, where we saw Hamilton. Someone must have turned their seats in as we got 10th row center for an excellent production. Viking also gave us 500 dollars for a future cruise to make up for our lost days on the cruise. Otherwise, the Northern Lights were nice to see, but they were grey to the naked eye due to the cones and rods in our eyes. Our camera picked up on the full green color. 

 

On the tour and through the ship we did a Dogsled ride and also a Reindeer Sled ride with a nice taste of Reindeer stew (not the ones that pulled the sled). We also did an 2 land excursions at night (yes there was some sunlight for a couple hours). One land excursion was to a small mtn top for better viewing. However, the weather was cloudy with light snow so that was somewhat wasted time. The other was much farther north and we went well inland, which was close to Finland in the woods. There it was clear and crisp with great viewing. We also saw the Aurora from the ship, three times. When the Aurora was visible, announcements were made. Once we were in bed, we got up and saw the best viewing on the tour as we left port to head south and go home from Oslo.

 

I hope all your tours have good weather and touring as well.

 

If you like, I can send you pictures.

 

Bob

 

`PS...I forgot to add, temperatures were not that cold in Norway. Daytime temperatures were basically 30s on the coast and ship and 20s at night. Only a bit colder than here NJ.

Edited Sunday at 02:43 AM by Host Jazzbeau
edited to correct "arrived in Norway"