Clay Clayton

About 10 this morning, the excursions appeared on our calendars on the app and we got all our first choices! So happy campers here!

FWIW, the rest of us didn’t get our forms until about 11:15 am.

It did originally, got two new documents between breakfast and delivery of the excursion form.

Based on the Singapore website it appears all cruise ships dock at the same place🤔🤞 https://singaporecruise.com.sg/schedule/cruise/

Letter today in Sky that Viking will now provide malaria and yellow fever gratis to any who want it.

The app wouldn’t allow anyone to book excursions, about 12:45, Cruise Director Bruce announced that “as you have learned, the app is having technical difficulties, if you haven’t already, please bring your completed forms to Guest Services and excursions will be booked on your behalf.” So the Plan B is apparently working but would have been so much less frustrating if he had made that announcement at 12:05….my swiping finger about has a blister from continually opening, swiping to the new ports and then closing and trying again #firstworldproblems

So, higher categories were able to book excursions via paper forms ahead of everyone else who will do so on the app in 15 min. The excursions appeared on the app this morning and all the overland are sold out. It appears that one group (PVs?) was able to book via paper this morning as at 8 am there were 8 slots on the two less expensive overland trips but by 10:30 they joined the 5 day one as “Sold Out”. Some folks complaining about lack of transparency, but given the Karens and Kens lined up at Guest Services, I suspect Viking decided better to handle the higher categories more discreetly. Hate it for us that we are all in a scrum but I would be really perturbed if I had paid for an ES and not gotten priority. Thankfully we had already decided to not spend all our credits as well as new money on any of the overlands so seeing them sold out didn’t ruin our day. Viking delivered to everyone’s room at 11:30 paper forms for those that don’t want or can’t use the app and I think as their Plan B if the app crashes. Hopefully it won’t and all this angst and drama will be over by 12:15🤞

Post a picture of Neptune’s Itinerary? You know #NeptuneGetsEverything so I am sure you must be getting something better?

Steve you such a better person than me! I have scribbled notes that attempt to do what you’ve made clear. You will have a spreadsheet ready by this evening for us to use to prioritize right?😂 Friends who have been say Chobe is “amazing” but they expressed concern about not being there in the dry season. Apparently it is mostly wetlands and when there is water it is harder to find game as water is everywhere-as opposed to the dry season (they were there last September) when the animals have to come to the waterholes that are left. Mike and I had fully planned on taking an overland if we can book it, but now given the lack of information (what type accommodations -each preserve has all levels, presume flights are econ seat and will we fit, etc) and the fact that not only will the overnight safaris take all our credits-but will cost an additional $1000-$2500) we are reconsidering. We wonder if we wouldn’t be better to spend about a $1000 pp and take the longest day trip to see game in each port and have $2000 or so left for western African and on to London for excursions. We would then go back to our old plan which was a 10-14 day land trip to Africa in a year or two at the best game season and at the accommodation level we want to afford. 🤔 methinks it’s gonna be a tough decision

For anyone considering the Yellow Fever vaccine: https://www.cdc.gov/yellowfever/maps/africa.html On Sky, we had a packet of excursions waiting for us when returned tonight after dinner for the African Ports through Capetown. Nothing after that. Lots of day “safaris” in the $199-$299 range. Several included game preserve drives. Three overland trips priced from $2,499 to $3,599. The most expensive is 5 days, one flies to J burg for one night, visits Chobe for two nights, then flies to Victoria Falls for an overnight, and then to Capetown. The others two are three days. Schedule says excursions will open at noon on the 4th on the app. Anybody want to take a bet that it crashes? 😂

For anyone considering whether to get a yellow fever vaccine or not: https://www.cdc.gov/yellowfever/maps/africa.html

Another hot one in Java-89° with a real feel of 109° at 9:30am!!! included tour was fine, not much to see but did enjoy seeing and interacting with these warm friendly people.

Day two and Bali was good-includes tour and then heavenly AC. Wish we had of had the energy like some to go back out but the heat and humidity really did us in. Lots of folks had fun dancing under the stars last night before sailaway and once we got underway and had a breeze it was tolerable for us. Sea Day today meant Trivia and for the 9th or 10th time the Erica Kanes (former Susan Luccis) tied for first and won in the tie breaker for the 2nd time in 2 months🤬 Tonight the culinary folks put on an amazing Indonesian Dinner on the pool deck. Lots of food with lots of flavor and some with some heat! Tasty tasty. It was wonderful outside with a strong breeze but then the rain came, the roof closed and it was hotternhell again 😂 But have to hand it to the chefs and the waiters, they carried on like it was Norway in winter while we went inside with our tropical fruits for dessert in the cool World Cafe.

Have fun in Bali! We did and particularly enjoyed the lower than usual traffic due to Sky being there on two holidays. Guess #NeptuneGetsEverything including traffic 😂

Had a great time in Bali so far. Trying to regain our strength after yesterday’s taxi tour and evening optional excursion to Bali Bird Park, and this morning’s included market and temple tour. It is so so hot-zaps all my energy! Our tour yesterday with Steve and Jeanne we met onboard, was great fun. Temple, coffee, and batik. Mike got a shirt and I got a sarong. I tried on the 5xl (in US I buy 3XLT) it wouldn’t go over my shoulders. Mike who normally a 2xl had to buy a 4XL. Mike had me buy a 2nd matching sarong so they will end up being a bedspread or the caftan I’ve been wanting😂 The bird park dinner was meh, but the show was great-ended with one of the performers throwing himself into a bonfire….several times! Folks who went on the Hyatt dinner seemed to have opposing opinions. Apparently they moved it from the beach to a covered area that was hot and crowded. From what I can understand their show wasn’t as elaborate as ours. Folks who did the temple and dinner, said their food was amazing. Viking had local dancers perform a show onboard last night. Don't know how it was. We enjoyed today’s tour of the market and of the temple. I skipped the museum as I was so hot. Mike said I made a good decision. lots of pictures on Instagram

We just changed our excursion for tomorrow and now have nothing to do until 6pm. If anyone has a plan, would love to hear about it!

I overheard an Explorer Desk’s person inform another guest that we will learn of all the excursions on March 4. #NeptuneGetsEverything We had a good but as promised terribly hot visit with the dragons. Some folks who were on the early tours are upset, after their 1.25 hours in the heat, they then had to wait another 30-45 minutes for a tender to get back to the ship. We walked right on after ours so not sure what the SNAFU was this morning.

I didn’t realize the iteniaries were not identical #NeptuneGetsEverything

If anyone is interested in visiting the Auditorio in Santa Cruz de Tenerife designed by Calatrava (Spanish architect), 45 min guided tours are available for €5 per person. Mike and I have made reservations for the 2pm tour. If you want to join us, just let me know. Google says the concert hall is a 15 drive from the port-so sharing a cab or Uber would be great! if you want to make a reservation, email: visitas@auditoriodetenerife.com

Not an answer to your question, but If you listen closely to the announcement video, the lady says that one of the “Safaris” is already arranged from Fort Elizabeth. She says it’s to Addo Game Preserve. A friend has visited this one, and says it’s a nice one but it is not like going on a safari. A review of their website notes that it’s possible to drive through in your own vehicle so I’m suspecting this may be one of the included safaris-a bunch of us on a bus driving through the preserve. I remain hopeful they will offer an overland excursion leaving from one port and returning to another that has a two or more night (real) safari. Of course with my luck, all the OS, ES, P, and PV folks will get all the spots and we will end up having to spend our onboard credits on Dale of Norway sweaters.

I’m planning on buying a sleeping bag in Bali so I can camp out in the Living Room😂

Another amazing brunch today aboard Sky as we sail past some of the 17,000 Indonesian Islands. The chefs did a great job of recreating the Great Barrier Reed out of vegetables and fruit for the smoothie station. It was only topped by the beautiful carved and pulled chocolate Phoenix that loomed over the dessert table. There were other stations with pastries, eggs, Asian, seafood, vegan, and sushi. It’s incredible how hard the whole kitchen staff works everyday but then to put on a show like this on top of all that is truly stupendous! (And appreciated!) I’ll try to post photos in a separate post

I’ve heard many exploring the idea of leaving in Cochin or before and reboarding in Capetown after doing a real safari and other exploration in India and/or South Africa. I dont know anyone who has pulled the trigger yet, but that is at least partially due to the lack of answer from Viking to make sure they will be able to reembark in Capetown or Morocco. #needdetails

Showtimes-Oklahoma, Sound of Music, South Pacific…. Video clips are available on our Instagram @claynmike

Thank goodness for the great show from “Voices of the Sky” last night to bring some joy to an otherwise frustrating day. While happy for the confirmation of our diversion, the lack of information about the details of the new excursions, how we will book them (some folks have said they will camp out in the Living Room😳-how luxurious is that?), and no discussion at all about the options made for a pretty miserable day with most on board in a daze and the constant question of “what are you going to do?” Usually followed by, “don’t know as how can I analyze something for which I have so little data.” So the guest choir was a bright light that packed the Star Theatre-literally standing room only. Bravo and looking forward to future performances!