OnTheJourney

Yep...same happened on the Viking Sky during our northern lights trip back in March '19. A sighting was also announced during dinner the one night. It was nearly a 2-week trip but unfortunately got cut short - very famous story here on CC.

Which cruise was that? Same one I was on perhaps? 9/29-10/8?

Slowly recovering from covid following our recent RCL cruise. I'm near the end of the 5-day round of Paxlovid. Other than the lingering bad taste (way exaggerated however by many reviewers), the stuff also makes me feel really drowsy and lightheaded. Still testing positive nearly a week out. Sunshine...please take care of yourself and feel better soon. Don't push yourself too much. I can appreciate what you're going through. I had all those same symptoms. I agree - we managed to avoid it ever since the pandemic started, but it finally came around.

LOL Exactly! I must say, though, that our one CD was formerly a professional singer and so did his own program the one evening - a tribute to Neil Diamond. He put on a great show. So I remember that one quite well.

I found it interesting that a video RCL put together for our recent farewell show had lots of clips of people doing lots of different shipwide activities and events, but not a single second was devoted to any of the ports - arrival, departure...nothing. So I can see where for those who truly cruise for the cruise itself (meaning a greater interest in what activities are on the daily cruise compass moreso than where the ship is going next) probably are more apt to select a cruise based on the ship rather than itinerary. Certain destinations, perhaps, are more of a 'traveler's' cruise. When we were in the Baltic, I think it's fair to say that the destinations were the main draw, let alone even more adventurous locations like Antarctica where a whole suitcase (or two!) might be devoted to really good photography equipment (we saw evidence of such). An onboard lecturer excitedly comes into the windjammer during lunch and refers to an albatross off the port side, for example, and everyone gets up from their tables and heads out on the decks to get a look! Totally different type of feel to that cruise compared to the average pleasure cruise down in the Caribbean, which we also enjoy. A few other thoughts...The whole 'cruise director' thing is totally lost on us since we don't get involved in basically anything that he has anything to do with. Only time we see that person is on stage in the theatre to introduce shows. The whole tier / points structure is interesting as well - all geared to getting people to sign up for more cruises to attain that next level! We sat in front of a guy at an ice show who was a solo traveler and was telling people next to him that he can't wait till he's Diamond (after that cruise) so as to be able to use the lounge, etc. Since attaining Diamond awhile back I think we've been in a (card access only) lounge like 3-4 times total. Just not into it. Others, I'm sure, make it a point to go in there and get their evening cocktails before dinner. Something onboard for everyone's taste and preference I suppose. Fascinating psychology, I've always felt, is associated with the cruise industry and surely the lines know how to play to it to their advantage. Viking, for instance, successfully advertises as appealing to "curious travelers". Very different sort of cruise since you don't have the many varied activities and entertainment options that some people are looking for. Once again each to his/her own.

You have a point in that if someone is restricting themselves to specific ports due to perhaps not wanting to fly, then you take what ships and itineraries are available, but I still don't consider that the same as specifically booking a cruise for what ship it's on. I still select itineraries based on where and when they go. I don't feel the need to cruise for the sake of going on a cruise. If 2-3+ years go by in between cruises, that's fine. Plenty of other opportunities for travel. Is there perhaps a bit of a difference between those who are specifically "cruisers", i.e. more apt to book cruises regardless of ship or itinerary,and those who are, in a more general sense, "travelers" at heart. Not to imply in any way whatsoever that cruisers aren't also interested in travel! The responses on this thread are most interesting since there seems to be a mixture of the two interests - itinerary and ship. I personally know people who have done the same itineraries repeatedly from the same ports and are fine with that. For those folks, it's more about cruising than seeing new destinations. I will say that we enjoy relaxed sea days much moreso now than when we first started cruising. Back then we probably considered a sea day sort of a waste of time. Now, as we've gotten older, a more "port intensive" cruise is all well and good but starting to like a bit more 'down' time. As somone here said, just to enjoy being out on the water and is well worth it. Interesting thread...

No, but it certainly makes sense for those that are either into trying out a new ship, specific class of ships, or even just to try a line they've not sailed with before. We choose any trip based on where it's going, but also important to us is when the trip takes place. It has to fit into our schedule and preferences. Having just been on the Adventure, we're fairly certain we don't have much interest in sailing on anything larger. Most of the things you appear to enjoy - the many varied activities, clubs, lots of different dining options, etc. we have little interest in. But, hey, this is why they make vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry 😉 Enjoy!

Most interesting....

which is probably where Viking Sky should have harbored back in March '19 instead of forging on through the storm and getting in trouble off Hustadvika. I believe the NL cruises often don't get to call at Bodo due to weather issues.

We love car trips, and have done some that, over a span of 2+ weeks, often total 3-4k miles. As for any one particular segment of a trip, though, I don't like to push it more than 350 miles. Start to get a bit fatigued after that long especially if extended parts of the drive are in heavy traffic. Luckily, for cruising, we're only 2.5 hours away from either Baltimore or Bayonne.