DGHOC

Most definitely Jerry, the flight situation here is truly tricky at the moment. C is still causing major issues with airline staff and airport and security staff so delays and cancellations are rife. Weekends are the busiest travel days and we tend to book early flights as it's more likely they'll just be delayed rather than outright cancelled.

Les, from our experience of travelling around Europe over the past two years we realised that each and every individual country needs to be checked rather than a centralised European one. Each country had their own 'rules' about entry requirements and sometimes even different entry requirements for cruise passengers. Travelling was a minefield! I got to the point when I was printing everything off just in case our phones died on us. Even now, some of the regs differ and we still check to be sure.

No sadly we didn't do Barcelona. It's one of my fav cities and it was so frustrating being whisked away to the airport without time to enjoy it. Unlike for you all on the other side of the pond, Barcelona is just a short hop for us, and we pop over to mainland Europe really frequently. I hope you enjoyed your time there, though short and sweet! I'm supposing the photos of the vineyard dinner were of your group table? I wasn't aware of anyone taking photos of our group. Shame, that would have been a great captured memory.

No need to apologise, I remembered your wife from a video you posted post Sky incident and recognised her instantly at the vineyard dinner. I was the lady who tried to assist you when you stumbled on the coach step on one of the excursions from Mars. We too were masked a great deal of the time. Italy still has the stipulation that folk are masked on public transport, medical masks are required too, therefore the flight out to Rome was fine with everyone masked as were the internal excursions. However, on the return flight to Heathrow, when there were no requirements, few were masked and there was some seriously heavy coughing going on. We suspect we contracted Covid then I'm afraid. It was really no walk in the park and C was positive for 11 days but we're both repairing now. Wish we could just get rid of the coughs! Thanks for your good wishes though!

What an absolute delight your friend is! I would be besides myself if my luggage was lost. On our pre-cruise extension in Umbria, two separate ladies lost their luggage. Our wonderful tour guide spent many hours on the phone chasing it down, eventually finding it and arranging delivery to the ship for the start of our cruise. Both ladies were wonderful too, we all offered items that they might need but again the lovely tour guide took them off into the local town to buy basics but with every excursion in every town visit they sneaked off to 'shop'.

I feel that you have misinterpreted my post AWisG but on CC it's not possible to direct my comment at a particular member without being excommunicated, thus the possible misinterpretation. I feel sure, thankfully, that it is a small minority but the continual assault of snidey comments; 'C is no worse than flu, just a bunch of sniffles, masks are useless don't need to wear them, spitting in a tube is disgusting' and the implication that vaccinations are useless too, repeatedly regurgitated, was trying to say the very least, aside from the constant interruption to so many threads with this verbal diarrhoea. It was also frequently implied, with disparaging remarks, that folk who were concerned and happy to travel with the testing regime were ridiculous. I was aware that you and your wife were masked on the ship, on excursions and on the pre extension, I saw you frequently, and I was also aware of your hesitation at travelling internationally so soon. My comment was not directed at you. I was hoping that now that Viking had changed their testing rules that the snidey remarks might cease, but sadly no, it continues. It would be delightful if this particular member would give us all a break and allow us to return to the harmonious exchanges we usually experience here.

I'll second that Liz! Those 'sweet' people were just rather bored of the constant and repetitive caterwauling and C denying. Hopefully we can all now enjoy a happier conversation.

I'll second that JM0115, the World Cafe really suits us, especially as we can sample a 'taste' of many things rather than be restricted by the choice of three courses. It's perfect for portion control as well! The staff in front of and behind counter were wonderfully friendly and helpful. We too sat outside whenever possible and were out there well after dark. We like the Chef's Table and partake of Manfredi's too but it's great to sit casually in the WC. Just a little call out for the fishcake in Mamsen's at lunchtime. It doesn't appear to be advertised but is extraordinarily delicious served on a bed of leaves and avocado. Of course followed by one of the delicious raspberry tarts with crisp buttery French pastry.

These ladies produce a travel blog that includes flying visits to particular cities. This one is for Liverpool. As Andy said, the Royal Albert Docks is an interesting area. https://www.ladieswhattravel.com/10-things-to-do-in-liverpool-that-arent-beatles-related/#

I'd echo these thoughts entirely! There's so much to see but a little planning would be hugely advantageous. We've recommended two walks to past visitors which might be of interest to some of you, I'll pop the links below. I love St James's and the surrounding area, worked there for many years. Little St James's church is our spot for the annual candle lit Christmas carol concert which is magical. https://mylondonwalks.com/walks/a-walk-through-st-jamess/ The Westminster walk is a delight and depending on time you could tag on a walk in St James's Park and past Horse Guards. https://mylondonwalks.com/walks/a-walk-through-westminster/ To be honest both of these walks are very close so depending on your speed you'd be able to combine bits of both. There are plenty of little pubs, cafes and coffee shops to keep you fed and watered along the way. I'd highly recommend the boat from Greenwich, London is a delightful city from the river. Tilbury is to be avoided if at all possible!

I'm really pleased to read this, that's a perfect ending. Disembarkation is so often a screaming hassle! We recently thoroughly enjoyed the Chairman's cruise round the Med Isles, it was an absolute delight. The only thing that spoilt it was disembarkation. A massive group of passengers were flying to Heathrow for a 3.30pm flight. We were transferred to the airport at Barcelona at 8am where we sat for the next 6/7 hours. There was no possibility of arranging an alternative as we weren't informed about the timings until the last minute. Upon discussion, we collectively agreed that we'd have been happy to pay for a city excursion, anything to avoid just sitting in the airport for that length of time.

Contrary to all of this, I know a number of people who have no underlying health conditions who've had it a number of times. My brother has had it twice since Christmas. The Omicron variants are super contagious. All were multi vaccinated, we don't know a single soul who is unvaccinated, all displayed varying symptoms. Some were very ill indeed, some far less so. We both contracted it on the flight home from Barcelona two weeks ago and we've both been very unwell indeed. I was given antivirals and am now feeling improved, my husband who is a very fit and well man was very unwell, can't shake it off, and is still testing positive after ten days.

I'm so sorry to read this SJD, what a horrible worry for you. I really hope they'll be able to get you sorted really quickly so you can get back and enjoy your next Viking cruise.. All good wishes to you.

I'll echo what JD said. Our first Viking Cruise was on the March 2019 Viking Sky. We're scientists, we follow the science.

I take my hat off to you Andy, you have remained a voice of reason throughout this continual attempt to influence Viking to change their course. Every thread is peppered with anti test this, anti test that, anti mask this, anti mask that. We managed to avoid infection the entire time on the ship, reassured by the daily testing and therefore able to relax with others unmasked. We both unfortunately contracted C on the plane home Saturday when many were coughing very vigorously and most unmasked. It really hasn't been a walk in the park here either! Thank you Andy for your continued attempt to cut through this madness. Wish they'd stop moaning and vote with their feet! I feel like just walking away from CC at the moment which is a shame as I'm attempting to plan our next Viking cruise and this vehicle is great for research and feedback.

Thanks Haworth.

So very pleased for you both. What an absolute class act they are.

Yes as with the other Viking Ocean ships. Depending on your cabin you either get free laundry, free ironing, or you can pay for their laundry service or dry cleaning which is usually returned to you the following day. There are also free DIY laundry rooms on each deck with multiple washing machines with built in w powder and two ironing boards. A necessity for summer linen!!

Thanks J, antivirals just been delivered hopefully they'll work some magic! Love to you both x

It's really not rocket science J! Hope you're feeling better. We've both developed Covid now. We feel sure it was the flight home. We were suitably masked though probably 10% on board were. There was a whole load of coughing going on too. Enclosed space, no masks, there's no chance of avoiding it. Are you back in the US now or are you still on the ship? How was your gifted cruise continuation? D x

Andy service is very often included at the bottom of the bill in restaurants here now and is usually 12-15%, however if not 10-15% depending on your experience. Taxi drivers and hairdressers between 10-15%.

Thanks for inquiring about the Chairman’s cruise, what a delight it was. We too started with the Umbrian Pre-extension. The Viking party was divided into two, we were in the Castello di Monterone in the countryside outside of Perugia the other half was in a hotel in the city of Perugia itself. The Castello was truly beautiful with the most amazing views of the surrounding hill towns and villages and Perugia itself. The food was outstanding, we ate together on communal tables which allowed us to really get to know our fellow Sky travellers. The two parties came together at a dinner at a farm/winery where two long tables were set up outside alongside each other, with a spit roasted sucking pig, all looked like a wedding dinner. We also ate our last lunch together in Orvieto, split on two sides of an excellent restaurant. Our arrival and embarkation at the Mars was quick and easy and we immediately went to our rooms where our luggage was waiting. The first daily spit tests were waiting for us. It would seem that travellers’ experience of these tests has been different. Due to medical conditions I’m unable to produce much saliva but found this unproblematic. I placed the tube in the bathroom each day and filled it to the very minimal level, 2 mls, as I popped along to make my first loo visit of the day. I then took my early morning meds immediately after. Easy peasy, job done! My husband who produces normal amounts of saliva, filled it to the minimal level with one spit each day. A small price to pay for the reassurance that the inevitable Covid cases could be managed safely for everyone. Everyone we spoke to about this found these measures enormously reassuring. And to the chap who constantly harks on about disgusting spit tests and masks being useless, I asked the Hagens and they do do a spit test each day, just like their passengers. J of JDinCalifornia, one of our original Sky CC posters, sadly become Covid positive a few days into the cruise. She had organised a Viking CC get together for us but couldn’t attend, though her lovely husband D did. Viking treated them so kindly and have even kept them both on the ship free of charge til she tests negative and will be allowed to return to the US. Outstanding support and generosity. The ship was utterly beautiful, new and immaculate. There were a number of the original Sky staff that we recognised and chatted with but the entire Viking team were hugely friendly and just a pleasure to interact with. They couldn’t have done more for us. The itinerary was interesting though I personally wouldn’t recommend Palermo for a short cruise stop. It’s a wildly busy raw seaport island capital and was far too frenetic for a quick tour but the rest of the ports were a delight. Barcelona is one of my favourite cities but we were whisked away to the airport before we could once again sample all it has to offer! We’d organise to tag on our own time spent there next time, the frustration watching it pass by us on the coach to the airport was galling! I can feel another little trip coming on! We hadn’t realised that all drinks onboard were free. We’re not big drinkers so it wasn’t the subject of the hour. But our stateroom number was taken a few times but never charged to us. Others said the same. It was a pretty intimate cruise, folk greeted each other like long lost friends. ‘Oh you’re the lovely lady who helped undress and dry me when I was brought into the theatre muster station.’ ‘Oh you gave me some Rennies when I was struggling in the Theatre.’ ‘I remember your reassurance when I thought the anchor noise was the ship hitting the rocks.’ We met the Americans that we spent the entire 23 hours in the theatre with and hugged like old friends. What a delight! It was unusual to see folk sitting alone, everyone was chatting and so relaxed with each other. Yes of course there was a snagging list, a little chipped paint here and there, little leaks on the upper deck. Goodness me it would be miraculous if there weren’t, it was a new ship! We had a super sensitive wardrobe light that acted as disco lights all night long. After three nights of Boogie Nights I popped down to the Explorers desk and the staff couldn’t have done more for us. Carpenters, electricians and other uniformed technical chappies arrived. It was a faulty sensor which they couldn’t replace so they offered to move us to another room and they couldn’t have helped more. I suggested that they just disable the light. Snagging list things, no big deal, this was a marvellous generous gift to us all. Viking is a class act, they couldn’t have done more from us and they did it all so very beautifully. As far as this wretched daily testing taking over almost every thread, their company, their decisions and it was enormously reassuring that we could sit unmasked in crowded rooms feeling more secure. Thank you Viking.