Azulann

Clay, your pictures are amazing . I will never get to Australia so I am  delighted to follow  your posts. You are on a fabulous journey on your WC and looks like you are having a great time making new memories!

2 hours ago, millybess said:

 

The organizers on the Grand Pacific Explorer roll call thought they could get something organized.  They had an extensive, ongoing spreadsheet with first and last names, embarkation ports, home cities, cabin numbers, etc., but yesterday Viking said no to the meet and mingle.

Oh I am so sorry to hear that. All rework the person went to to  gather all theinforamtion.  I hope there is a full turnout for the informal one. It isalwyas so fun to meet the folks you having been positing with on your roll call for months before  the actual cruise.  Which ship is doing this long  voyage? Could it be because it consist of multiple segments?  I have only been on itineraries  that are stand alone 10 or 11 day sailings.

thanks for  pointing out it is not automatic. 

 I wish Cruise Critic would just take down their "meet and mingle" link on their home page. If they are not  going to be partners in this as before the  pandemic, then say so ,please!

Viking  is more that happy to  respond to  our roll calls if one poster takes the initiative to  let Guest relations  know with names and staterooms # once on board. 

So glad you are doing a trip report.  The resident historian and other  guest lecturers  sound very interesting. You will  have lots to do n your sea days. 

Every optional excursion I have taken with Viking have been well worth the money. The guides are outstanding on these tours and  groups can be anywhere for 5 to 20 people.On our Scenic Scandinavia cruise in the Baltic last June, our optional  tour of Aland Island, Gdansk, and Copenhagen were worth every penny. Learned so much and enjoyed the openness  of the guide to answer questions and give us some great history of the places we were visiting with humor and passion.

1 hour ago, Happietraveller said:

This seems to take me to a general forum?  Someone suggested there is an ‘activity’ roster for each ship?  But I can’t find it.  I guess I’ll wait to be surprised.  Thank you.

Go to top of this viking forum. You will see a link to Viking roll calls Hit the link. . Find your ship and hit the link . scroll down to your particular sailing .  this is your roll call and  you will find the folks on your upcoming cruise.Just  post your comment. 

 Welcome to Viking cruises .  You will love the ship and various activities on sea days, and entertainment each eveing.  Not super fancy like a brawny production number but here good singers sand bands and  various guitarists,  classical groups  in the  bar areas in the evening. . 

1 minute ago, georgiaguy said:

We booked Le Voyage on our upcoming Ascent cruise, but I have loved Murano since I worked for Celebrity and got to go to the original on the Century. Goat Cheese Soufflé was always one of my favorites.

Yes my first Celebrity ship was the Century. I did a Panama Canal cruise  on the Century with friends. We  dined in Murano for Christmas and New Years Eve.  Will never forget.... 

Your photos of Murano's brings back such fond memories for me when I was sailing  Celebrity  ships. I remember the dover sole and of course all the wonderful desserts. I am loving your trip report  so much . 

1 hour ago, Hanoj said:

. Viking's tendency to include over night in ports (often both ends) is losing its appeal since it is very expensive compared to using a hotel.

I love the overnight ports at beginning  or even end  of  Viking cruises I have booked.  But then I love these  ports .I like that feature .We still do a pre and post hotel per cruise too. 

13 hours ago, HUNKY said:

As dining at the specialty restaurants on VIKING does not incur an added cost, what you get has to abide by the budget set by corporate. By charging a fair amount, let’s say $100 per person, the quality would increase greatly, and the specialty restaurants would truly become special.

If I remember right, when Viking Ocean first started they called Manfredi and Chef Table , alternative restaurants. It was the cruisers  who began to refer to hem as "specialty" venues. I agree with your premise but I do not think that is part of the business model for Viking. 

I do eat at Manfredi at least once and love  the various Chef Tables offerings. They are reasonable portions and an adventure in eating food and preparation I would never had ordered on my own. 

I still like the Restaurant for dinner  most night.  

 Love your  book title. I like reading biographies. Great way to relax on a sea day! 

I absolutely love your travel style ! Your patio room is awesome!

So happy this morning when I checked CC and read  your first post :   a Celebrity cruise in the sun  and fun for one week with your husband!

 Look forward to your wonderful narrative   as always. 

57 minutes ago, Clay Clayton said:

and just texted she is calling her TA tomorrow to look into taking a Viking Cruise! (Who do I contact for my commission???😂😂😂)

Clay if your friends tell Viking that she is being referred by you  and your cruise #number she get $100.00 OBC credit  and you get $100.00 creditor person  for future use . But they  have to ask the Viking agent about this. It is not automactic.

Love your pictures  and the  blue sky and temp in NZ.

Viking Ocean has two World cruises about five days apart , both heading to NZ and then onward.  Both left LA  after New years. Talk on both ships  that they will probably go around Horn of Africa  and be in London in May. Viking has not officially said what  the new itinerary will be. 

7 hours ago, Jim Avery said:

Pretzels, potato chips, cheetos, tortilla chips and more.👍

WOW is right. On my last Viking cruise I really wanted some potato chips . Not one to be found onboard even in the little shop within one of the stores on the ship.

Wonder if they are just spoiling the WC's with these nibbles at the  living room bar?  

4 hours ago, duquephart said:

 

Are you willing to fill me in on where you had your rug appointment? It appears one has a better chance of shopping wisely if one sticks to reputable dealers. Apparently there are lots of the other kind. Thanks.

Give me a couple of days and I will  talk to my friend  who now lives in AZ. It was her cousin who  lived in Istanbul  as a teacher and they bought  many rugs from this dealer. My other  source I will check out is my neighbor in my condo building. He is from Istanbul and in fact his parents are here visiting. I will also ask him  too for a name.  Stay tuned... 

BTW when is your  Viking cruise? 

10 hours ago, Peregrina651 said:

wanted to see was the mosaics at the Chora church. Istanbul is earthquake prone. The only reason that the mosaics on the walls survived was because the Muslims plastered over them when the church was turned into a mosque. Glad we went.I still have the souvenir book on my shelf.

I had a private guide take us to the church of Chora. He gave us a wonderful explanation of the mosaics, and the history of  church I found it fascinating. I bought a book there too of the mosaics . I treasure that book . We also went to a lovely restaurant with our guide  . We bought him lunch . It was a great day . 

1 hour ago, millybess said:

 

Is there a reason why CC doesn't have their "Meet and Mingle" on Viking anymore?

Cruise Critic has not restarted their m &m  for  rolls tot sign up for  and when they reach 25 folks CC would arrange with cruise line a m&m. So now each roll call on Viking can  get a list together of people's name, state room numbers and  someone can arrange with Gust relation / CD or Hotel director for the meeting. I did this for our sailing back in June.

It was wonderful as usual with drinks, appetizers, music and officers attending.It is a great way to get to know people from your roll all and then see  around ship ,on excursions etc. I always meet new friends, some I still keep in contact with after I get home.

Question for the WC's :  How is the night sky  when lookin at stars?

I  expect you really can see the brilliant's of night sky on a sea day night.

9 hours ago, TayanaLorna said:

OK, after watching this I will never complain about rough seas again. (Actually I may never get on a ship again.) I can’t imagine how they got some of this footage.

Great video and music . It reminds me of the video I saw at the Maritime Museum in Astoria OR, near the mouth of the Columbia River.

 Showed pilot  and CG boats around Cape Disappointment also know as the Graveyard of the Pacific. They were doing  training exercises in that type of wave action .

But I am far from any ocean, but just made a delicious Sidecar  cocktail with very good Cognac , paired with aged havarti cheese , olives.

BTW, I will be back in San Juan PR  before  my next Viking Cruise in Oct 2025. We will stay again at the El Convento  hotel in old town  a day before our cruise and a day after our West Indies Explorer cruise. I know you live in PR! I loved walking around  San Juan. 

Cheers,

Patti 

54 minutes ago, Peregrina651 said:

 

I gave them a nudge and the Viking Vesta has been added to the Viking Oceans Roll Call forum.

 

Viking Vesta Roll Calls 

 

 

Thank you so much !  I have a cruise in 2026 on Vesta , but I have not even started a roll call for my viking Sea in 2025....I think I will wait a bit to start a roll call for my sailing....😊

I loved the Dover sole, once at Manfredi and also at the Restaurant!

I am following both WC currently on Viking forum and three blogs. Everyone is having a great time

 or just going with the flow. . They did mention the dryer on 5 floor will have replacement parts when they get  to NZ. they also mention the lose of live tv  when in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. 

What a great adventure you are on, relax and enjoy. 😍

thank you for writing a  trip report/blog. I have enjoyed reading about  your travels on Silverseas forum too.  I like your style of observation.