Liz Masterson

On 3/24/2024 at 11:50 AM, Alberta Quilter said:

Good Morning! My sister and I are planning to cruise from BA in early 2025.  We plan to arrive at least one day prior to our cruise, probably two days.  I'm wondering if we should bite the bullet and pay for a pre cruise hotel/tour with the cruise line.  I did this before when my mother and I went fourteen years ago but it does add significantly to the cost (hotel and tour info are not yet posted on the cruise line website).  My sister has never been so I'm sure she will want to do some touring.  Any idea how safe it is for two women on their own (who don't speak Spanish)?  We do know not to be flashing any bling but I'm sure we'll still stand out as tourists.

 

Thank you for your help!

I’d go ahead and book my own hotel. Look for a nice private guided tour online. You’ll probably have more fun for about the same cost as the pre cruise guided package. 

I’m off to enjoy a long weekend in Dublin next month. Let me know your best tips. 😊

Remember there is a free laundry room on board! 🧺 

I’d wear a pair of jeans/pants and pack a pair. 
I have a long black maxi dress and a no heal sandals that I wear for dinner. I change it up with a scarf or necklace. Otherwise that’s my dinner outfit unless I’m going to the buffet. 
As has been mentioned layers are your friend. I do not think you will need long underwear… but if you have a pair of leggings that you can wear with a tunic to the buffet it can do double duty. 
DO NOT FORGET YOUR BATHING SUIT. 🩱 You can wear it with your provided Viking robe to the spa while your spouse does the laundry. 😉 

Sigh….

😔 

I cheered myself up by booking a cool transfer/tour from our Santiago Hotel to board Jupiter in Valparaiso this winter.  Going to explore Zapallar and take a boat ride around an island of penguins and have a tasting of local cuisine and wine before we make our way to the ship. 
 

Made me feel a little better! 

Thank you for posting about the crew enjoying their time while waiting for the passengers to return! I felt the same as you but your post changed my mind. Thanks for all your amazing posts. Now what will I read before bed… sigh….

11 hours ago, Clay Clayton said:

 

We stopped at the end of the beach at Brasão Leca for lunch. This local chain has lots of traditional dishes and we split Porto’s heart attack on a plate - a Francesinha, Porto’s version of a Croque Madam if as Mike put it a Croque Madam was healthy!  It’s a sandwich stuffed with sausage, steak, ham, and cheese. Then covered with more cheese, broiled until melty, then topped with an egg and served in a slightly spicy tomato sauce…with fries!  So tasty!  

 

 

 

We ordered a bowl of vegetable soup (likely some sort of pumpkin or squash-very good) and a “Mustard & Orange” salad. We expected mustard greens with some oranges…what we got was so much better!  Juicy ripe oranges with red onions in a mustardy vinaigrette.  Unlike at the places we ate in Lisbon the last two days, here we were happy to see bread, butter (in this case smoked ham butter!), and a bowl  of olives and capers delivered to the table.  In Portugal these are usually brought when you’re greeted and you are charged for them (in this case €1,85 pp) but if you don’t want them you ask them to take away.

 

 

SMOKED HAM BUTTER!?! 🫨😮🤤 YES!! PLEASE! And that all looks amazing!

5 hours ago, deec said:

IMO Really need for WC!  do you know if they Star and Sea received them as well?

I was on Star in January 2023. No drawers in the closet then. 

I’ve really been enjoying reading your Live thread! 🧵 🪡

I’ll miss you all even though I’m not on the ship! 

Wishing you all an abundance of traveling mercies on your way home or on your further adventures! 

1 minute ago, LindaS272 said:

Yes, according to menu he posted, it says polenta & truffle (not pesto).

Oh wow! Even better! I think I have a jar of truffle I’ve yet to dive into! This could be the occasion!

11 hours ago, Clay Clayton said:

 

The new (to us) asparagus, poached egg, and risotto appetizer was delicious!  The asparagus was perfectly cooked and we hope that they can obtain fresh asparagus for the duration🤞

 

Is that really risotto? It looks like polenta to me. I think either would be delicious… of course pictures sometimes make dishes look different than they are. Is that pesto on top of the egg?

On 3/7/2024 at 12:35 AM, Jim Avery said:

Where is everyone??  Ok, I have to report that Lois and I are departing Neptune in Singapore.  All things considered it works best for us.  Viking has been very generous with forward cruise credits and with rearranging air.  If we hadn't just had a fabulous land tour in Africa last summer we would be going for the ones Viking worked out.  Anyway, loved meeting so many of my Cruise Critic pals and now it is up to BobCatter, Wavetripper and everyone else who has participated in this WC thread.  I look forward to keeping up with the rest of the cruise. 

I’ll miss reading your posts! But of course your decision is yours and for what it’s worth makes total sense to me.  
 

I started reading all these WC posts and blogs a few years ago when I was laying in bed with a broken ankle. Fun way to travel vicariously! 

17 hours ago, Jim Avery said:

The temple guides managed to get most back for the owners by bargaining with the monkeys with food.  Seems a great way to train monkeys to steal stuff.  We managed to hold on to our glasses, hats, and cell phones so a good day.  

HEY! A monkey has to do, what a monkey has to do to feed the family. 😂

1 hour ago, Jim Avery said:

Best to avoid the two mile jungle hike and go directly to the watering hole behind the sell you junk building.  All the lizards hang out around the water hole anyway.

Are you referring to the Komodo Dragons or Lounge Lizards at the watering hole? 😆

I’m worried for the employees. They seem to take care of their crew more generously than other cruise lines…

https://bnnbreaking.com/finance-nav/viking-cruises-eyes-500m-us-ipo-to-fuel-expansion-and-reduce-debt

Here’s a quirky idea…. They do ship transfers for the river ships… what if they did something similar… got you as close to where you were supposed to be then sent you off by air to some land stops while the ship and crew transited to the next safe area… 

3 hours ago, Clay Clayton said:

Kudos to Viking Sky’s food team

🍔

Initially, we were told they couldn’t do this…..

But this morning, we found out they are going to have burgers and buns available at the World Cafe.  

Thanks Viking!

 

❤️ But of course! You’re Clay & Mike! 😂

Are they going to serve them with pistachio buns? 😉 

Thanks to @Heidi13 and @cruising denise for the information on the economics of missing a port. I sometimes wondered about that. Not really about Viking, since most shipboard activities are included… but about some of the lines with more nickel and diming and art auctions and casinos, and additional charge things like go cart racing and surf boarding etc.  

2 minutes ago, Jim Avery said:

I used to do that for a living so nothing new to me.😎🚢

I figured! But I appreciated her video... ABL Always be learning! 🙂

13 hours ago, Jim Avery said:

We also missed Napier due to high winds. A very tight entry so can understand. Wellington is great and has a very good McDonald’s.😳🍺🍸🚢😎

A couple of days ago Captain Kate from another cruise line posted a very informative Instagram post about narrow entries and wind and 'crabbing'. It's worth a look. 

Thanks Clay… some variation of the rules have been posted. I just wanted to get him pondering the possibilities… 🙂

4 hours ago, UWDawg said:

VIKING SKY 2024 WORLD CRUISE
SHIP BUILDING COMPETITION

 

Create your own NON-MOTORIZED sea-going vessel. Let your imagination go wild! It could be Kon Tiki-style raft, a marauding Pirate ship, a majestic sailboat, or even a Viking longship!

 

Here are the guidelines:

• You may create your vessel in teams of up to 6 persons.
• Your vessel must be a representation of a NON-MOTORIZED water vessel.
• Collect your own materials, but remember - no ship property such as towels, trays, cutlery, china, linens, etc.
• Use recyclable materials or anything you find ashore.
• Please name your vessel and be prepared to introduce it to the judging panel.
• You'll score points for creativity, workmanship, use of recyclable materials and sea-worthiness.
• Your vessel must be able to navigate the bumpy seas of the Deck 7 pool or Jacuzzi without capsizing.
• Your vessel will NOT be required to carry cargo.
• The official sea trials are tentatively scheduled for January 28, the day before our arrival in New Zealand.

Love this! Thank you!! 

I’d love to know more about the rules for the ship building contest. I hear they also do them on the Chilean Fjords cruise we are taking next year… and my hubs is an engineer so this could keep him busy for months perhaps scheming. 😂

17 minutes ago, Clay Clayton said:

Everyone can breathe a sigh of relief, Pantygate is solved and the unmentionables have been returned to our next door neighbor.  

Always nice to meet the neighbors! 😆

3 hours ago, Jim Avery said:

Made it! Back home in 4046. Ship looking great. More to come 

Oh HURRAH! I look forward to your posts!

1 hour ago, BobCatter said:

No. Aoibhin is the CD for the WC. 

Aoibhin was the CD when when I was on the Star this time last year. She’s fabulous. Loved all her bright outfits! Bubbly personality!