Mrs Miggins

I acknowledge I have been spoiled by visiting many lovely ports in the Med and of course they are only a short hop away from London. I am booked on a 2 week Azamara in June. Barcelona, Valencia, Cartagena, Malaga, Gibralter, Seville (not Cadiz ship sails up the river to Seville - Overnight, Lisbon Overnight, Vigo, La Corunna - Bilbao - Bordeaux Overnight. There are also 3 10 pm departures. For me there are 4 New ports plus some lovely favourites. I booked this because of the itinerary. I like both Viking and Azamara but my June cruise in a suite on Azamara is over £3000 less than this itinerary. At a lovely time of the year as well. I hope to book Viking again as they are a class act - although there were a few hiccups on our last Viking cruise in September.

Sorry but not at all excited about this itinerary. Especially in the winter. Malta is great but not an unusual stop on many cruise lines. 4 Sea Days with the other ports being standard (lovely I know but hardly new) Have been to Algeria with Viking. Many onboard were disappointed. It was an interesting port but I would not return. I would certainly advise researching the destinations that are new to you as of course I understand they may be exactly what you are looking for. The price point from the UK is high considering those dates would generally be considered Quiet Mediterranean Season with prices lower than the rest of the year.

I would be surprised if anyone who requires an Emotional Support Animal actually reads Cruise Critic. We are a small proportion of the cruising public. Most of my cruising friends have never heard of it. Many of them, including me, have lovely dogs. None would think of trying to take their pets onboard. My dog has diabetes and I belong to an online help group. Many of them do not take holidays abroad because they need to provide "emotional" and real care to pets that need injections, regular sometimes daily blood tests, and calorie controlled diets. They put their pets needs above their own. I am lucky enough to have a long standing house/dog sitter but cannot do anything last minute until I have ensured Ruby is cared for. However it would appear that Viking does read Cruise Critic, thankfully.

My friend has just returned from the TA on Viking Sea. Interestingly she said they had good weather on the crossing but the swimming pool roof would only open partially. The Captain apologised and said there was a fault in the mechanism. They also had some engine trouble and consequently missed Funchal altogether He also apologised and said that they could have docked there but would only have had 4 hours ashore. He wanted to ensure they arrived promptly in Cadiz the next stop. Apparently there was fog on arrival so they had to get special permission from the pilot to enter the port. However despite significant airline problems on the outward journey my friends enjoyed their cruise Fantastic lectures and the entertainment much improved.

If the passenger looked like the individual in Post No. 5 he could wear absolutely anything he liked - I would be very happy.

Very educational thread - Jacob Rees Mogg is the son of William Rees Mogg who was the Editor of The Times. He made a fortune in the City initially managing a Hedge Fund. He is a very divisive figure. As an aside, detachable collars were already going out of fashion in the 1960's when I worked in the City of London in an American Bank. All senior men and and the cashiers wore Bowlers and stiff white collars. I wore a mini skirt - times were changing. If you are from the UK you are unlikely to have a wide selection of Hawaiian shirts in the wardrobe so wearing them or not is a moot point. My husband has one just in case we are invited to a suitable gathering - I am happy if those who are near me at dinner are clean and they look as if they have showered recently rather than if they have spent the day working in the garden. Good manners might include being non judgemental about others.

Friend says Cadiz has been warm and sunny today. Glad to be on dry land for a bit.

Think there must be a misunderstanding in this post regarding 5 minute water taxi. According to this board and friends that have done this with Viking say the trip is over an hour.

The mix of passengers is one of the best things about Azamara. We also like Viking but passengers almost exclusively from the US or Canada. Friends currently onboard Viking Sea and there are only 14 from the UK. On our last Azamara it was about 50/50 North American and British plus a sprinkling of other nationalities.

Ville is French for Town so perhaps it's just an area in Nice - Town centre perhaps. I looked on Google maps and cant see Niceville - although apparently there is one in Florida, Google Maps and street view is your friend !

I just googled and got this https://www.monaco-tribune.com/en/2023/02/the-100-nice-monaco-menton-bus-in-2023-routes-timetables-fares-changes/ It's a very pleasant drive. Lots of nice views.

Should be lovely in April. The bus to Nice is easily accessed from the docking place in Monaco, or the tender dock in Port de Fontvielle in Monaco If you are in Villefranche you are already more than half way to Nice on the same bus No 100. There is a tourist information inside the small terminal in Monaco if you are docked there and a Tourist office near the bus stop in Villefranche near the bus stop. Check locations on Google maps.

Looked again without logging in and whilst the initial price of cruise is per person when clicking clicking ‘book’ the price is per stateroom . Still large increase over previous prices. I would never book at these rates.

I received the email and reset password. As expected our June Spain intensive booking did not show I looked at that cruise and the price for a Veranda plus was over £12000 - I presume each - We are booked in a CC suite for much less than that for two. No CC's available - Perry Golf cruise.

Friend onboard this TA reports some good and some bad. The bad: Apparently some engine problems meaning they will miss lovely Funchal. Hopefully making the Spanish Coast and Cadiz by Saturday. Impossible to find hot coffee, new coffee machines in World Cafe, one not worked since Day 2, the other spasmodic. Best offering (as we all know) from the Atrium but still only luke warm. Reduced Wine list. The good: Great lectures - from former White House Exec and from a Trans Atlantic and Pacific rower who was a former marine. Entertainment very good despite the usual Abba and Beatles, but the singers have devised some their own shows - last night a Dusty Springfield tribute. Guitarist did an unplugged session in Torshaven which was packed. Cruise Director Show tonight. He is from Berkshire and has musical theatre experience in London. Great voice apparently. Trivia going well (my friend plus husband and 2 others won) Bridge lessons My friend wrote her email from the Atrium watching Baggo between lectures with her luke warm coffee. Despite the few negatives they are having a great time.

Perhaps informing this individual that the ancient Viking helmets did not have horns and are therefore historically inaccurate might not have gone down well.

We did part of the included tour in Corfu. Few years ago now and we only went because it provided a view of Mouse Island which we had never seen from above apart from when landing in Corfu on several holiday visits. When the bus returned to Corfu Town, which we have visited many times, we left the tour and then walked the town by ourselves, returning to the ship on the regular shuttle bus. Corfu is a beautiful island and it may be that you can do a tour into the countryside see some of the scenery and beaches before being dropped off in Corfu Town to enjoy that too. The dock area is about a 10 minute drive from the Town.

Friend onboard has been told 770 onboard. Apparently instead of an overnight in San Juan the 14 Brits onboard were stuck in the airport of Madrid for many many hours, with little assistance, due to an airplane malfunction. Banded together with the help of a Speaker and his partner who were also enroute. Friend said they were both great and that she was looking forward to their lectures. They did get onboard at last - but apparently no welcome drinks after their nightmare journey.

The water taxi from the airport to Venice is the most spectacular way to arrive. Worth every penny.

I agree train is a good alternative - but it rather depends on how much luggage is being carried/wheeled. Might be worth hopping on the DLR from Cutty Sark to Greenwich Mainline station. One stop only - frequent trains - shorter walk. However I see that the original poster is in fact using a Viking transfer.

To London City I would leave between 30 minutes to 45 minutes depending on the Blackwall Tunnel traffic. You have to cross the Thames as the airport is on the other side of the Thames. I agree that Greenwich to Heathrow is impossible at 43 minutes unless you are on a Motor Bike with quiet roads in the middle of the night.

Absolutely right - depending on traffic between 50 minutes to one hour and fifteen minutes,

Up until recently I had a second home in Greenwich. The journey to Heathrow is best via the M25 rather than through the centre of London. On average the journey should take just under an hour and a half. Hope that you get a chance to enjoy wonderful Greenwich before you go home.

My good friend boards Viking in Barcelona for the transatlantic on Tuesday. I wished her Bon Voyage today and she said “I hope they are not still doing those Abba and Beatles shows”. It is her sixth Viking Ocean. She is not on cruise critic and had no idea about this thread. Looks like many agree it’s time for some change.

Does no one go to Torshaven ? I must say reading this thread the job of Cruise Director is impossible. There seems to be very little joy around. I am old ! I love most music from the 50's (Elvis of course) until now (Ed Sheeran - Louis Capaldi - George Ezra (except perhaps rap) and of course some of the wonderful US artists. I also love musical theatre, classical plus my all time favourite, Opera. Jonas Kaufmann is unlikely to be performing. The world is full of wonderful music. Do I expect my personal favourites to be on the Viking playlist - No.