OneSixtyToOne

Yes, both port and starboard sides. Also the far port and starboard elevators are the only ones going to deck 6. There are also two out of the way elevators, one fore and aft. Fore is by the Explorer’s Lounge and will take you to The Hide. Aft will take you to the back of the World Cafe and down to the theater. i love this ship. Walking around is like an expedition in itself.

Also the area between 4024/4026 and opposite is a quite little sitting area.

It is an opening to the stairwells, no wall there. We stayed on Deck 4 aft. Often I would exit the elevator, go straight into this area then veer into the hallway through the opening. I would do the opposite going to the elevator or staircase. On the deck plan diagram, if you erase the thin black line in front of 4028/4029, that is what the floor plan really looks like.

During the summer they project a fantastic multimedia light show on Rouen Cathedral. We stumbled upon it one night when docked there. Video in link: https://en.normandie-tourisme.fr/highlight/rouen-cathedral-light-show/

We only had 8 people on the tour and 2 were crew members who tagged along. The cemetery and wreath laying was moving.

FYI Gold Beach is off the beaten track. Viking currently does excursions to Omaha Beach and Juno Beach (Viking River, not sure about VO) Omaha is the overwhelming choice for American pax. Juno Beach is part of the Commonwealth excursion. There is a visitor center there staffed by Canadian college students (the same age as those who died there). It also visits the Pegasus Bridge which was featured in the movie The Longest Day. The museum also has full scale replicas of the gliders used in the assault. The first Allied casualty of D-Day occurred here. Viewing the Bayeux Tapestry is also a stop on the excursion. Since most pax are Americans who want to go to Omaha, this excursion has very few participants. I highly recommend it. Actual post D-Day photo of the crashed gliders and the critical bridge. They dropped in on the German soldiers and took the bridge in minutes, then held it through counter assaults until relieved many hours later.

Don’t overpack. The self-service laundry is completely. Dress in layers and take a good raincoat or weatherproof jacket. Depending on itinerary, the wind may be brutal. A scarf or neck gator is advised. If raining, even with a hooded jacket, a hat with a brim will help keep the rain off your face A warm sweater is helpful. The Star Theater cranks up the A/C to cool it down for performances. It’s always freezing in there.

There are umbrellas provided in the cabin and also at the gangplank when raining. However they are VERY large. I pack a travel umbrella. I was given a Davek for my birthday. By far the best umbrella I’ve ever used. One button open and close, made to get in and out of cabs. It’s also wind proof. Lifetime guarantee. 50% off replacement if lost or stolen. As a bonus, it has a very NYC feature, a heavy metal knob on the end that can be used to beat a mugger. https://davekny.com

Yes. It changed after it was canned as rations during the Civil War and later railroads started to serve it. It was probably this cachet of travel and adventure they led it to be seen as a luxury food. https://www.samuelsseafood.com/blog/from-trash-to-treasure-the-great-american-lobster-history/#:~:text=It wasn't until the,started to become more mainstream.

Just got a letter from the Chairman in today’s mail. Viking Sobek is launching 5 months early. Also, the Jerusalem extension has now been replaced with Istanbul or Alexandria. Promo SE4

I was in IT for 40 years. Do you know how many times I’ve heard that? Nothing is as simple as it seems, especially if you are dealing with a legacy system. The cost to change it probably outweighs the benefit. How many people really need a choice? Reversing the charge to the original payment source is the simplest solution.

Yes, it’s cost. A few years ago we got hit with a $25/day charge from Verizon for receiving one text. After that, we installed an eSIM. A few weeks ago we changed to T-Mobile and international text & data is included for less cost than our old Verizon plan, which had no international included. We also dumped Verizon because without notice they increased rates and charged a 5G surcharge on both lines even though one phone is not 5G capable. Our bill increased by 20%. Word to the wise, new plans come and go in a highly competitive environment. If you have had the same plan for a number of years, you might be paying too much. Shop around.

Sounds like San Diego 😮

As stated in this thread, not all excursions are offered on every sailing. This one seems to be a tour of La Sagrada Familia followed by dinner and a multimedia presentation. Due to the timing I think this can only occur on the overnight in Barcelona, probably on arrival, not departure. You might be better off with a different excursion that allows you to actually see first hand more of Gaudi’s remarkable work. If this excursion is not offered I highly recommend Gaudí’s Houses of Modernism. We took it last year and it was tremendous. Here is the writeup starting at post #55 https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2927474-almost-live-viking-sky-mediterranean-odyssey-april-2023/?do=findComment&comment=65262761

We took the tour a few years ago and it was indeed outstanding. The docent was excellent. When we were leaving the House of Lords, DW tripped on a weird angled half step at the bottom of the seating area and fell. A year later I was watching the Brexit debate on live TV during which I saw someone trip and almost fall on the very same step. It brought back memories.