Azulann

Dr. Cocktail, Please do a review or live report when you sail. I have a Viking cruise in June, then would love to plan an Explora cruise for 2024. Also love what I see on the web site and their common space and multiple dining options. But want to hear from the first passengers, like you., aobut your experience on Explora Journeys.

I am excited that a new cruise line with an European flair will be up and running in 2023. I am interested trying it on its own terms and not compare it to others. Also all will be new passengers without the tired old history of “I remember when..,”

I look forward to your review in the near future. I will be on Viking Jupiter in June. Hope they have a different GM by then. I just had a thought, maybe the disappearing GM got COVID.? I am not worried about hearing the daily announcement in our state room on the tv. We are early risers and always up and about,. My cruise also has no sea days.

Is your Danish Heritage Tour an organized one or are you doing this on your own? I know all the towns of my Danish great grandparents but those towns are not near Copenhagen where we will overnight on ship and do the post extension. I figure just being in Denmark being among " my people " will be great experience.

Both ports will be on my cruise in June: Scenic Scandinavia. this cruise has no sea days, so I might just decided to have one anyway. But being Danish , I hope to see all the Danish ports including Bornholm.😍

I think your book title is perfect. Your writing style is clear, funny, and full of energy and delight. I had sailed Celebrity for many years, now sail on Viking Ocean. I love smaller ships. But still have a soft spot for the M class ships in my heart. In reading your very engaging report of MSC yacht club, I looked at their web site. Too big for me.then I saw MSC starting a new cruise line: Explore Journeys. This one looks very enticing. Maybe for the big 40th birthday for your husband ,check it out . their first ship sails in July 2023. They will be doing North American /Caribbean sailing. Again thank you for your reports and look forward to the GenZ and you having a fun time in March and July. Best wishes to you and your family.

I think Explora Journeys will be the cruise line to watch in 2023.

I am intrigued by the new MSC luxury line: Explora Journeys. Their web site shows lovely staterooms , multiple dining venues , multiple pools and lovely common space. The first ship will be sailing in late July 2023.

I appreciate Viking having a RESOURCE link for every itinerary on their web site. It lists curated book list, movies . I have three books to read before my June Viking cruise from the list provided. Of course , I always attend the historian talks and even watch Viking TV videos for specific topics in our cabin at night. I love to research the history of an area or country I will be visiting, besides reading a travel guide of the country for their maps, recommendations of hotels, tours , attractions etc. I do have my priority list of things I want to do and see. Once the cruise begins, I love the spontaneity of meeting new people, never plan what I want o do on a sea day; on shore ,discovering a side street with local cafe, a park, interesting buildings, landscape local markets and food.

No, not at all. BTW , welcome to Cruise Critic and the Viking forum.

Here is your roll call for your cruise.

This cruise is unique. It is only June 12-22 from Stockholm to Copenhagen And the return of June 22 from Copenhagen to Stockholm. I started a thread for our Jupiter :June 12-22. roll call. It is pretty slow. This itinerary came about because Russia is not visited any more by Viking and other cruise lines. so they had to modify their cruises. I saw the biking options for these two cruises. If you like biking it looks like fun . .You can find your Jupiter roll call. at top of the page of Viking forum. My sister is going on the included Berlin excursion. I am not. This excursion include the train ride etc. It is indeed a llong day. these two crises do not have a sea day, very port intensive I will either stay on the ship or do the Rostock excursion , which is also include. I suggest you find your roll call which I think has very little activity , it is on page two or there of the Jupiter roll call. Also check out our June12-22 roll call. Both cruises are basically sold out after they gave lots of incentives. We of course booked this way back in summer of 2022. I am so excited to do this itinerary! I just read Stockholm guide book. We are arriving two days ahead of our cruise an doing the post extension by Viking in Copenhagen.

Glad to see the shared table concept is back. Pre- Covid I loved doing a shared table for lunch on sea days in the Restaraunt Met some new fellow passengers that way.

I am loving your posts while in Tuscany after your cruise. I spent a week in Tuscany at a villa with friends and we had cars and travel every white road we found. Yes ,Tuscan food has lots of meat, pork especially. I first tasted porchetta there. love your pictures. My favorite white wine is Vernnachia. From the grapes only grown on the side of San Gimignano. Look forward to your pictures of Sienna, one of my favorite Italian cities..

Look forward to your live report/blog I love your writing style , and yes I read Atlas Shrugged in college man-years ago. it was tedious as was A. Rand.

Having sailed Celebrity for many years. I now sail Viking Ocean. Check out " Into the Midnight Sun" cruise or" Viking Homeland "cruises. They do know how to sail Norway. The company is owned by Norwegian family. Viking does not have casino and no children under 18 . They include wine and beer at lunch and dinner, one excursion in every port, free internet. All staterooms have balconies. their ships are beautiful modern Scandinavian design. Food great and service outstanding.

Clay ,great suggestions. I think you should send them to Tellus @Vinkg or the powers that be. Sensible easy fixes.

A couple go time zones earlier than us and near the Pacific. I like that kind of North. Enjoy your dinner and weekend. BTW, does you friend, I called him Z , still work for Viking? He was restaurant manager on the Orion in 2021. He took such good care of us on that cruise .

It always helps if you have a winter getaway . A cruise in a few weeks, lucky you! I usually go someplace warm during winter season but not this year for various reasons. I know you will enjoy your curie and the sunshine, beaches etc..... I have never done a river cruise, but my first Viking Ocean cruise was a transatlantic from San Juan to Barcelona in late March -mid of April. I loved it and was hooked on Viking, having only cruised on Celebrity. I got back home from a couple extra days in Barcelona , and two days later we had a huge snow storm ! Yuck, I think that year I got my flower planted on Memorial Day weekend. 😀

It is Friday happy hour here in the North. I will have a nice appletini, please. Having read the Viking forum today , getting excited about my upcoming real Viking cruise in June. One thing I like about Viking is their Resource link on your itinerary page for your cruise. I just got one the the books recommended from my friend who did the Trade Routes of the Middle Ages last Sept. The book is "The Edge of the World', a cultural history of the North Sea and the Transformation of Europe" by Michael Pie So I have good reading to later tonight and this weekend. Cheers! Patti

When I was in Tangiers, we did a spice tour . We all bought various spices and Argan oil.all packed nicely in small boxes I brought them back in my checked luggage in in zip lock bags, no problem. Friends bought some pottery pasta bowls and a painting in Siena Italy. The store packed them and shipped them home for them. No problem. The shipping cost was expensive but they wanted these items. I bought a Turkish rug (4x6)in the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul. They folded it up and delivered it to my hotel. in a nice soft sided bag. I carried it on board as a carry on. But I had to check my original carry on bag and that cost me $50.00 but worth it. My friend always takes a soft sided tote to put her treasure or mementos she buys on a trip and it is her carry on for travel back home.

Thank your much for your wonderful running commentary of your unique cruise ! The pictures of the mountains, sea and ice are are spectacular. Glad you re enjoying the ships , drinks , wine and food. I feel like I am journeying with you. Thank you again! Love the bow tie btw.

I was curious so I went to Viking Ocean web site. It is a one time cruise. only offered in NOV of 2023. After this cruise they do a trans Atlantic from Lisbon. You have a great itinerary! over night in Barcelona and Lisbon. did a Viking cruise with stop in Cadiz. We paid for the excursion for day to Seville,It was great. Got to see some of the country side of Spain and loved loved Seville. glad you booked , enjoy. If you need help in what to do and see in the ports, go to CC Port of call Forums: Europe : and ask your questions.

I am so envious. I love Tuscany and have done many wine tastings there when I have visited. Cheers!

You can look through the Viking Reviews link at the top of this forum. Many reviewers also include each excursion they were on. in their review of the cruise. You would need name of ship and month and have lots of time to scroll through them to find the ones which are helpful, . Good luck.