Rare Azulann Posted October 9, 2021 #1 Share Posted October 9, 2021 Background My first cruise was 11 days in the Western Med. on the Celebrity Century, in an inside cabin. My overwhelming reaction was pure joy. It was the perspective of seeing land from the water on a deck of the ship. The landscapes, the mountains, towns, large and small were a delight. All this from the deck of a ship on the water. The same sea that the Phoenicians , Greeks, Romans, North African sailed, viewing the landscape from past eras. I have cruised in the Med on an additional 4 cruises. Now number 5... Viking Venus The newest ship the the Viking fleet began it journey in the time of COVD while we were all locked down in 2020-2021. It was built for all of us who love to cruise to enjoy. Here is how it happens. https://viking.tv/tv/this-week-on-viking-tv/mondays/journey-of-a-ship-the-viking-venus-story 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Azulann Posted October 9, 2021 Author #2 Share Posted October 9, 2021 Viking Venus : the naming of the ship with an artistic event. https://viking.tv/tv/this-week-on-viking-tv/tuesdays/alastair-miller-in-conversation-with-artist-daniel-wurtzel Never heard of Daniel Wurtzel. But I was brough to tears watching this art event on the Viking Venus last summer. This interview got me thinking about how art and the use of technology can be so creative. I love Viking cruises not only for their unique design , and Scandinavian understatement of good taste,, but their commitment to history, art and food of the various destinations. Be sure to do the self guided tour of the ship's art work found the Viking Voyage app. Cheers! Patti 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louhut1 Posted October 9, 2021 #3 Share Posted October 9, 2021 Looking forward to following along with you. Have a great time! Louise 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Peregrina651 Posted October 9, 2021 #4 Share Posted October 9, 2021 Bon voyage to you all! Looking forward to your reports. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Azulann Posted October 10, 2021 Author #5 Share Posted October 10, 2021 Packing Day Almost done and will zip the suitcase after dinner from Panera. I have a clean empty frig. I will bring one free checked suitcase , 25 inches and a purse and nylon zippered bag to carry on plane. I not doing overhead carryons anymore. Have my folio of all printed out documents . No book , just a magazine and my iPhone. Hope there are some good movies on the overnight flight . I do love that Viking ships have free laundry rooms with irons. Makes it easier for less clothes to bring. Also they do having pressing and dry cleaning for a fee. Way to use some OBC. our roll call is all ready too. Everyone got the negative test results! cheers! Patti 7 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare aungrl Posted October 10, 2021 #6 Share Posted October 10, 2021 1 hour ago, Azulann said: Packing Day Almost done and will zip the suitcase after dinner from Panera. I have a clean empty frig. I will bring one free checked suitcase , 25 inches and a purse and nylon zippered bag to carry on plane. I not doing overhead carryons anymore. Have my folio of all printed out documents . No book , just a magazine and my iPhone. Hope there are some good movies on the overnight flight . I do love that Viking ships have free laundry rooms with irons. Makes it easier for less clothes to bring. Also they do having pressing and dry cleaning for a fee. Way to use some OBC. our roll call is all ready too. Everyone got the negative test results! cheers! Patti Have a wonderful trip!!!! 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Azulann Posted October 11, 2021 Author #7 Share Posted October 11, 2021 Just finished breakfast at MSP. For check in United guy looked at my vac card , EU barcode on form and latest negative covid test. he also said Viking is a class act! They chartered the newest plane of LF for our flight to Malta according to him. My Mantra today is slow and easy , one step at a a time…. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stcroixguy Posted October 11, 2021 #8 Share Posted October 11, 2021 I look forward to following you on your trip. As we fly out of msp, I am curious, where did you get your Covid test and how long did it take? happy journey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Azulann Posted October 11, 2021 Author #9 Share Posted October 11, 2021 18 minutes ago, stcroixguy said: I look forward to following you on your trip. As we fly out of msp, I am curious, where did you get your Covid test and how long did it take? happy journey I live in St. Paul. Got my covid test through Valley Medical. Paid $119.00 but got the results with in 24 hrs. It is drive through in Mpls , and Woodbury . They also have saliva test at Airport parking ramp B. This is through Vault and state. Of MN. It is free but can take up to two days . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Azulann Posted October 11, 2021 Author #10 Share Posted October 11, 2021 Sitting in the Lufthansa lounge , relaxing having run the gauntlet of EWR airport and terminals. Nice couple from MN on my first flight . It will be their first cruise . They will be spoiled after the biking. Emus. whole group of folks II lounge goin on a River cruise in Portugal. travel day is always full of surprises both good and not so good. BTW , the N95 mask will probably kill me in my sleep on the plane . It is so tight I can hardly breathe. But in the LF lounge you can wear cloth masks or nothin when you are eating and drinking . look forward to meeting other cruisers at the gate in about 2 hrs , including the rest of my party who are in the air right now 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare FlyerTalker Posted October 11, 2021 #11 Share Posted October 11, 2021 For everyone's info - on Lufthansa flights, as well as inside German airports, it is a German government requirement that "medical masks" be worn. This covers the common "blue paper" masks, as well as those with "95" designations. Other types of cloth or neoprene masks are not allowed per German law. Since the LH lounge at EWR is on USA soil, that requirement is non-applicable. 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Clay Clayton Posted October 12, 2021 #12 Share Posted October 12, 2021 Have a GREAT cruise! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Azulann Posted October 12, 2021 Author #13 Share Posted October 12, 2021 Travel Day ends ! let’s just say it is no fun wearing a mask on a 8 hr flight . Nice plane, great on board viewing options . Only got 1 hr of sleep. getting to old for these long flights. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Azulann Posted October 12, 2021 Author #14 Share Posted October 12, 2021 (edited) Viking Venus in Malta ! View from our aft balcony . In Malta and Spain we can wander around on our own. In Italy we have be in Viking excursion. dinner at 8pm with two lectures late this afternoon and movie under the stars . i will be sound asleep by 10 pm Edited October 12, 2021 by Azulann Picture upside down 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare FlyerTalker Posted October 12, 2021 #15 Share Posted October 12, 2021 43 minutes ago, Azulann said: Travel Day ends ! let’s just say it is no fun wearing a mask on a 8 hr flight . Nice plane, great on board viewing options . Only got 1 hr of sleep. getting to old for these long flights. For those who can't seem to sleep on TATL red-eyes, there is another option. Both Delta/Virgin Atlantic and American/British Airways offer daytime flights between JFK and LHR. So you can fly during the time when you would normally be awake. A provision in the connection rules for international flights means that you can have a "connection" that lasts up to 24 hours, rather than the much shorter time for domestic connects. Now, this does stretch out your travel times, but eliminates the red-eye. For example, you could fly from anywhere in the USA to New York and stay the night. Or from the east coast, go in the same morning. Then catch a flight the next morning to LHR and stay overnight at an airport hotel. Then, go to your onward destination the next morning. Yes - a couple of hotel nights and more days in transit. But for those who are retired and get beat up by the red-eyes, it lets you get a good night's sleep in a real hotel bed and a better jump on beating the jet lag. If anyone wants more info, just post a reply and I can explain more. 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TayanaLorna Posted October 12, 2021 #16 Share Posted October 12, 2021 50 minutes ago, Azulann said: Viking Venus in Malta ! View from our aft balcony . In Malta and Spain we can wander around on our own. In Italy we have be in Viking excursion. dinner at 8pm with two lectures late this afternoon and movie under the stars . i will be sound asleep by 10 pm That is good news to hear re wandering on own in Spain. Enjoy. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare CCWineLover Posted October 12, 2021 #17 Share Posted October 12, 2021 1 hour ago, FlyerTalker said: For those who can't seem to sleep on TATL red-eyes, there is another option. Both Delta/Virgin Atlantic and American/British Airways offer daytime flights between JFK and LHR. So you can fly during the time when you would normally be awake. A provision in the connection rules for international flights means that you can have a "connection" that lasts up to 24 hours, rather than the much shorter time for domestic connects. Now, this does stretch out your travel times, but eliminates the red-eye. For example, you could fly from anywhere in the USA to New York and stay the night. Or from the east coast, go in the same morning. Then catch a flight the next morning to LHR and stay overnight at an airport hotel. Then, go to your onward destination the next morning. Yes - a couple of hotel nights and more days in transit. But for those who are retired and get beat up by the red-eyes, it lets you get a good night's sleep in a real hotel bed and a better jump on beating the jet lag. If anyone wants more info, just post a reply and I can explain more. Thanks! We actually tried to do this before and were able to do so if we booked directly with the airlines (from the West Coast to UK). However, if we used Viking Air, they did not permit this. They said that these overnight connections were not part of the contract with the airlines. So it may depend on the specific itineraries, dates, times, and contracts which can and does change all the time these days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare FlyerTalker Posted October 12, 2021 #18 Share Posted October 12, 2021 47 minutes ago, CCWineLover said: Thanks! We actually tried to do this before and were able to do so if we booked directly with the airlines (from the West Coast to UK). However, if we used Viking Air, they did not permit this. They said that these overnight connections were not part of the contract with the airlines. So it may depend on the specific itineraries, dates, times, and contracts which can and does change all the time these days. All the more reason NOT to use cruiseline arranged air. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
les37b Posted October 12, 2021 #19 Share Posted October 12, 2021 Just speaking with friends on with you.... They asked a barman who said there were approx 550 onboard and 150 from UK..... Sound right? They are living it so far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Azulann Posted October 13, 2021 Author #20 Share Posted October 13, 2021 8 hours ago, les37b said: Just speaking with friends on with you.... They asked a barman who said there were approx 550 onboard and 150 from UK..... Sound right? They are living it so far. Yes, it is so nice to hear the British accent again ! Meanwhile , a new friend from our roll call said to me “ I love your Minnesotan accent “yesterday .😎 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Azulann Posted October 13, 2021 Author #21 Share Posted October 13, 2021 (edited) IMG_0250.MOV A day in Malta This is want greeted us from our aft balcony this morning Edited October 13, 2021 by Azulann Upload video 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Azulann Posted October 13, 2021 Author #22 Share Posted October 13, 2021 (edited) MSC C glided past us Edited October 13, 2021 by Azulann 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heidi13 Posted October 13, 2021 #23 Share Posted October 13, 2021 The sail in/out of Valletta Harbour is spectacular. Enjoy, and hoping to see more great photos. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Islandbc Posted October 13, 2021 #24 Share Posted October 13, 2021 21 hours ago, CCWineLover said: Thanks! We actually tried to do this before and were able to do so if we booked directly with the airlines (from the West Coast to UK). However, if we used Viking Air, they did not permit this. They said that these overnight connections were not part of the contract with the airlines. So it may depend on the specific itineraries, dates, times, and contracts which can and does change all the time these days. We were also told by Viking Air that we could not book an overnight connection from the west coast of Canada to FLL. The inability to find a reasonable flight and the difficult timing issues with PCR tests resulted in the cancellation of our Panama cruise scheduled for Nov. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare FlyerTalker Posted October 13, 2021 #25 Share Posted October 13, 2021 One more note regarding making overnight connections: This "gimmick" utilizes the 24 hour rule for connections, thus allowing for a "through" fare from origin to destination. When you exceed the allowable connection time, you "break" the fare - meaning you now have two one-way segments added together rather than a single price from start to finish. This can be significant. For example, doing this with LAX-JFK-LHR-BCN, you would only pay the through fare LAX-BCN as long as you stay within the allowed connection times. If you exceed the 24 hour allocation, you "break" the pricing into segments - say you stay 2 days in London, you now would pay LAX-LHR plus LHR-BCN. One can even utilize this trick with red-eye flights from the east coast. All that's required is that you arrive within 24 hours of your onward flight. So, let's say you have a 5pm departure across the Atlantic. As long as you arrive at the USA gateway AFTER 5pm on the previous day, you don't "break" the fare. So one could run into Manhattan, see a play, stay in a hotel with a good dinner and then leave the next day - all without any increase in the ticket cost. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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