Redwarrior68

Garry:  Add my good wishes for Alona's rapid recovery.  Seven cases expanding to 21 cases is not good.  Transmission likely from your room steward but who knows.

We are adjusting well to being home and get Pfizer shot #4 this afternoon.

Garry:  Adding my thanks to you publicly for your blog and excellent observations.  Glad Lorraine and I were on the London bus tour with you and Arlona.  Impressed by the Winston Churchill statue.

See you on a future Viking cruise.  Best Wishes!

Alert for passengers going on to Bergen as we are (were. )  Checked flight from Bergen to Copenhagen to Munich to Boston.  Flying Lufthansa except for SAS from Bergen to Copenhagen.  Flight from Bergen NOT booked although other legs confirmed.  Some issue over surcharges.  Ultimately, changed flight through Viking Air+ to Heathrow, UK to Munich to Boston. But, now getting off in the UK rather than staying on for the two extra days. If any of you are counting on flight from Bergen to any other European, major airport to fly back to the US, please check with Guest Services now.

Took horse-drawn carriage ride excursion thru Port Said.  16 on tour with two to a carriage.  Stopped by Military Museum which (selectively) portrayed engagements from 1956, 1967, and 1973 conflicts.  Visited Catholic/Copic Church and took pictures at the Port Said Obelisk.  Surprised by visit of the mayor to our group from government building across the street.  Even without the mayor, we had 4 soldiers, 6 uniformed policemen, and 10 plainclothes policemen plus two lead vehicles  two chase vehicles, and a motorcycle.  Discovered that Viking paid for all of the "required" protection.

Have had trouble connecting so "fingerprinting" experience was delayed.  We did the very last Viking Nile River cruise in Feb 2020 just as the pandemic broke in Egypt.  Did Israel pre-cruise, then the Nile, then on our own, two weeks for scuba diving in Sharm El-sheikh.  Wonderful trip with Viking.  Great included excursions with short driving times to major sites.  First class hotels in Israel and Cairo and guides were all degreed Egyptologists.  Took optional baloon ride over the Valley of the Kings that was mesmerizing.  Highly recommended.

Fingerprinting nightmare (during daylight hours) while on WC 2.  28 of us on 9-day safari that left from Namibia.  Great safari but horror show getting from Victoria Falls back to ship sailing to Dakar, Senegal.  Took 36 hours as we slept in terminals awaiting flights that operated only some days of the week!  Finally reached Dakar Airport where we were fingerprinted on machines whose glass surfaces are never cleaned.  Took over one hour for 28 people to get entrance visa stamp and then we were bused to the Dakar Marine Terminal where we were fingerprinted again and given an exit visa stamp.  Took 1.5 hours because machines were even older than those at the airport.  But, the Viking Sun would not arrive until the next day so we were taken to a hotel where the staff couldn't understand why we were still in Dakar since our passports said we had left the country.  Viking Sun came in and provided a letter covering all passengers and crew.  No fingerprinting or visa stamps.  Viking gave each of the 28 survivors $1,000 each for the aggravation.

76/76.  Still went river rafting in Chile.  Feel great.

Garry: Loved today's blog and clarification on photo of Arlona's necklace.  Absent the caveat you were a dead man.

Variety show tonight by entire entertainment team was exceptional IMHO.

A wish for safe travels (and on-time flights) for all heading to LA today and tomorrow.  Looking forward to putting faces to internet names on this forum.  Weather is fine, calm seas, and fresh gelato.  Webinar is is 90 min.

We cruised with deec, Heidi13, Jim Avery and others and are currently aboard the Viking Star as WC 3 for us.  We keep reminding ourselves of Heather Clancy, Cruise Director, explaining the difference between tourists and travelers when we experienced some cancellations of ports and excursions.

We are travelers with a high degree of confidence in Viking afloat and some lingering concerns over Viking ashore due to communication issues well documented on this particular forum.

The confusion over testing requirements for both US citizens and international guests plus the delays in providing itinerary information (and thus, visas) hasn't helped.  The embarkation process that resulted in 3 COVID-19 tests within a 48- hour period can be viewed positively or negatively influenced likely by testing positive or negative.

The numbers of positives onboard (about 1.5%) are somewhat reassuring absent more information about the crew's positive cases.  Our home state is a mess so being aboard the Star is a plus to us.  We know there will be further itinerary changes (as there were on WC 1 and 2) but we do trust Viking to to the right thing.  They are a leader in testing daily and we appreciate that initiative.

We will try and balance our feedback and certainly not be the source of unconfirmed reports.  But, more information is generally better than a void of same.

Waiting for a number of shipmates from past WCs to board in LA.

WC 2 going through the Tasman Sea had waves 20-25 feet that were above the windows in the Chef's Table.  Highest waves experienced on either of the first two WCs.

On a different note, if you have physically seen the Captain in the last 10 days,  raise your hand.  Also, believe the Assistant Cruise Director is in quarantine.

Not sure about PVSA but at an estimated $65k per passenger X approximately 250 folks joining in LA that is $16,250,000 in revenue.  Viking will figure something out.

My question is not whether to get the vaccine but when.  If the vaccine lasts only 4 months, for example, do I get the shot now to protect me? Or, do I delay until just before our WC in Dec 2021 which happens to be 4 months long?  Will I possibly need 2 series of shots?  Will they be available to me?

Deec and Jim Avery:

Been following the entire voyage and wish you all well.  This situation has been mindboggling ashore and we can only imagine the stress levels afloat.  We are booked on the Sun for the next WC (first 2 segments) that begins on 15 Dec from Miami.  We really hope we can make it and are going with 3 other couples from past WCs.  Safe flights home.

Regards,  Bruce and Lorraine (WC 1&2)

Virginia Gentlemen are on the Viking Sun.  Nice group of talented young men.  They generally do two shows of 30 min each sea day and have been playing Trivia dispersed throughout the passenger teams.  Last two shows today in the Atrium and will be songs requested by passengers.  They leave in Sidney.  They were spoiled by all the "grandparents."

Hi.  Two doctors and two nurses onboard.  Good facility with lab capability.

Will take malarion 3 days before Africa and then 5 days after.  Going on 3-day and 9- day safari.

Lots of NH people onboard.

2 hours ago, TayanaLorna said:

So does Viking still have your passports?  Used for clearing back into Uruguay, then the Falklands and now heading back to Argentina?

We have not seen our passports since Miami.  Viking doing all the clearance work.

Carol:

We were on last year's WC and on this one.  There is even more "energy" this year because of the passenger exchanges at the segment points.  The shows, lectures  and port calls are packed.  Everyone very friendly IMHO.

You are very welcome aboard this cruise for however long you can stay.

Bruce and Lorraine H.

Yes he is although ironically he was asleep when we spotted a mother and two baby Southern Right Whales.  8:05 am. He'll be teased about it for days.

Just had a large whale jump three times off the starboard side of the ship.  About 100 yards away.  Beautiful.

On the nights we have gone it is about 50/50.  Only requirement is slacks and collared shirt.

Agree with SantaFe1.  So far, a piece of cake.  The ship cleared Brazil health inspection in 4 minutes.  MSC ship took 4 hours.  Last year we did have face to face clearances but even then, they had multiple entry points.

3 hours ago, Aquadesiac said:

Thanks so much for sharing your pictures and experiences on your WC! It all sounds so wonderful! The DH and I are toying with the idea of the 20201 VO world trip. One thing I haven't heard is if there's a passenger choir on board or any sing-a-longs or not. We really  enjoyed singing in the choir on our 2018 Princess WC and joining in the occasional Broadway tune sing-a-longs. I hope this is something other lines offer.  

 

Any other singers out there?

There is a choir that has really just started.  Last year we had a choir/chorus and a dancing group.  Our Cruise Director is Heather Clancy, a professional mezzo soprano.  Exceptional.

4 hours ago, Wendy The Wanderer said:

I think this was discussed somewhere but can't find it.  

 

Are the full WC'ers treated differently on the ship than people just doing segments?  Heard somewhere that they have their own CD, and onboard special events?  And name tags?  

 

Just wondering in what ways the full cruisers are differentiated from the segmenters.

We were given WC jackets and ball caps and there was a small  separate reception for the 71 folks repeating from last year's cruise.  No special nametags. We get the Silver Spirits drinks package included but beyond that generally one can not tell the difference.  The crew and senior management treats everyone equally in my estimation.

Hi.

I'll be happy to pass on your greetings.  Met a lot of people from New England on this trip as well as folks from last year's WC.  We are from Concord, NH.  Happy to miss the big snow storm coming this weekend.