Azulann

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.

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?

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?

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 .

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.

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

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.

Thank you for your trip report. I have enjoyed it so much. I would love too do this itinerary in the future. Meanwhile , I have two others VO cruises booked.

I spent a week on a retreat in Glendalough. Go on a day trip to this most historic place if you come from Dublin. It was the home of St. Kevin and his monastic community. There are two beautiful lakes, lots of Irish crosses and old stone churches,, a great visitor center with artifacts, hiking trails with good signage and historical markers and beautiful overlooks. A lovely hotel and restaurant overlooking one of the lakes for a lunch or break. https://glendalough.ie Skip the other sites and go straight to Glenalough, part of national park, in County Wicklow.

Starting your first morning aboard in grand style. 💕. I had the same breakfast the last morning of my cruise in June. Love those lamb chops. Happy to see you have a crew member you had before! I think you might find others from your past cruises.

Your rug is beautiful! I have a similar color / patterned rug hand made, I bought in the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul in 2011. I was told it was a tribal Turkistan rug with symbolic designs of nature. it is cotton and wool. The most expensive rugs are silk. They folded the 6x4 rug for me and delivered it to my hotel and I brought it home as a carry on. I could also have had it shipped , but decided to save the money. I also bought a pair of silk embroidered pillow covers in a shop in Kusadasi. will be back to Ephesus in 2026 on Viking cruise and will be looking for new pillow covers. Did you get a cup of mint tea while looking at tugs? I do not mind going to these places if interested in rugs .

That is pretty cool ! It will a nice send off to the world cruisers . Do you overnight in LA before leaving port ?

Yes, seeing the terraces houses was spectacular as part of our tour many ears ago. It was a working archaeology site when I was last there. On my upcoming cruise in 2026 , I plan to go to the museum of the artifacts recovered from the Ephesus site. The second time I was there the museum was closed for two years for renovations. It is located in a town nearby. Thank you for the pictures!

Clay, I have been reading the live thread of the WC on Viking Sky. Look forward to your added posts. What an adventure of a lifetime you two will have!!!! Is someone checking in on your condo to make sure there is no water leaks etc. while you are cruising around the world? Bon Voyage 🥂

My personal observation is that having diner 7:30 or 8:pm, we have been seated on the port side. By end of night the starboard side is basically empty, but the late diners close down the port side. We have eaten on both side though. We are usually a table for two.

Thank you for your lovely trip report. Many years ago I was on a Panama Cruise over Christmas and New Years on the Celebrity Century. On New Years Eve we were off coast of PV. On the pool deck they had a great party with unlimited bottles of champagne ,both guest and crew were partying the night away. Great vibe. I loved Cartagena ,Columbia. Had a great private tour. Even bought a emerald ring that I treasure.Bought 6 bags of coffee beans on this cruise in various ports.. It was memorable, met lots of fun cruisers from all over the world, even New Zealand. Silver Sea is not my cup of tea. I am now only sailing on Viking Ocean. Thank you for all your pictures and posts. Cheers! Patti

I always order the Dole sole when on the menu on all my Viking cruises. It is always perfectly cooked and love the presentation of filleting it table side! What a great NYE feast you had. Thank you so much for your posts. as you travel to Hawaii .

What an elegant evening on board to celebrate NYE. ! I am trying to get my friend to book this cruise . I can't do a solo sailing for Dec 30 ,2024 . This picture might help. 🥂

It was the letter from Viking if you already had a booking before Nov 21. Offer expires today , Dec 31.. You have to call Viking. Got the current special price plus &500. Plus 400. Per cabin , final payment 6 months before cruise . Then transferred to my TA and got OBC and paid gratuities . Only need $50 per cabin for down payment.

Yes, I did this last week. No Problem.