janetcbl

FYI….a safe was installed in our cabin today on the Mars…..don’t know if it has been done to all the cabins as of today.

Yes. They started boarding at 11:00 am. People did the things you mentioned until their cabins were open. The World Cafe is open.

We stayed at the Greenwich DoubleTree…really nice hotel, great staff and loved the warm feeling of the decor. So unlike the cold furnishings of the ones in the US. Enjoy!

A K95 mask will keep 95% of COVID viruses from reaching you according to various medical websites. A K95 means it was made in the US(?), a KN95 means it was made elsewhere but meets US standards. We are on a Viking ship; maybe 10-15% of the passengers are wearing masks; 100% of the crew are.

The Royal Observatory is amazing, BUT bear in mind it is a bit of a walk ( interesting) from the ship and up a very big hill.

The drivers know. We left from the Greenwich Pier. It is near the Cutty Sark, in a very crowded area and there are officials (policemen) who will tell the drivers where to go. No problem.

This was sort of our plan, BUT the plane arrived very early, we were thru customs, etc. in under 20 minutes and standing on the curb, when the car service we had booked to Greenwich called to say the car assigned to us had broken down, and due to the strike they didn’t have another one to send. So we got a Black Cab who got us to Greenwich in about two hours (due to strikes the traffic was horrendous). Charge was reasonable. So, there are many ways to get from LHR to Greenwich, just have a plan A, a plan B and a plan C if all else fails…and a sense of humor. These are not “normal” times.

Wish they would require masks on the Mars. Just walking along the corridors you see multi cabins with “Do Not Disturb” signs on the door, used food trays in front of the door and blue bags. We wear masks, try to avoid crowded venues, eat early, etc. If all were masked, I think it would make the situation more tolerable. No nasty remarks, please…this is just my opinion…you may think differently.

Norway in a Nutshell Walking tour of Bergen Floyen to the top, look around and hike down I would suggest the Hanseatic Museum/walk, but I believe it is permanently closed. Wandering the Fish Market

Last night at the Restaurant on Mars, a young female passenger in front of us was asked to go back to her cabin and change from the jeans she was wearing.

At dinner tonight the young woman in front of us was wearing some very nice jeans. The woman manning the reservation desk very politely took her aside and requested she change to something else. She went back to her cabin and returned wearing a nice pair of slacks. .

Thanks. These “Ferries” have 500 beds, 3 restaurants, etc. They have some evening entertainment and make 1 to 3 or 4(?) stops per day, sometime for a few minutes, often for hours in the larger cities (Trondheim, Tromso, etc.) There are excursions, so they have always seemed to be more than a ferry and less than a cruise ship. They are, however, a great way to travel in Norway.

I followed the topic regarding cancellation of excursions on the ships sailing “In Search of Northern Lights”into Bodo last winter when all (?) of the stops there were cancelled by Viking due to winds, weather, etc. What surprised me were that all of the Hurtigruten (the Norwegian Coastal line) made that stop twice a day. I wondered if the size of their ships, the design of the ships, or what? allowed them to dock, but not Viking. Can anyone with much more knowledge than I have enlighten me? Just curious. (Bodo is kind of interesting: the end of the train line, some neat museums, a place where the current reverses, and some really nice people.)

Interesting. We are on a cruise leaving Saturday and a few days ago I received an email from Viking saying an excursion I had booked had been cancelled. No explanation why, but information on how the cost of the excursion would be refunded.

We sailed in September (In the Wake of Vikings) and missed Lerwick and one of the Greenland stops. The ship that did the same route a few days ahead of us also missed the Faeroe Islands due to weather.

Swiss trains are the best!…and the scenery isn’t bad, either. (Bit of humor). Enjoy!

After our first trip we have always booked ourselves. Everything went okay on that first trip, but I always “felt out of control”. We leave Thursday for a VOC. I booked our tickets myself with plenty of time between flights. I had to book our own arrival transfers, but we are able to join the group transfer at the end of the trip. We shall see how it goes in these crazy travel times, but I am glad I booked our flights and not VA.

Thank you! Exactly what I was looking for.

Does anyone know what the emergency number is to reach a passenger aboard the Mars? Thanks!

I am a bit OCD about this also, and always carry wipes and hand sanitizer….figure it can’t hurt and just might help keeping me healthy.

Delighted about the news of no testing, BUT we have decided to wear a mask while on the ship and on buses. We are of “an advanced age” and for us, just think it is prudent. We will evaluate as the 28 day cruise continues. Everyone should make his/her own decision and RESPECT the decisions made by fellow passengers.

Unless the cruise is less than two weeks out. Then you have to call Viking for info on available cabins.

Forgot about the second TV….was so excited about not having to do laundry! Agree with you about “worth the extra cost”….we shall see…

Great idea! Thanks!