OnTheJourney

I love it! Yes, I'd gladly hang out with both of you. You did Viking ocean if I recall correctly?

Well stated! Some of my favorite trips have been those within reasonable driving distance as opposed to farther destinations out of the US. Exactly, or even alot more depending on one's experiences and means. It's all relative. As I mentioned a few years ago, we got talking to guy who worked in a gift shop in Baltimore after finishing a cruise there. He asked questions about the cruise, etc. and it became quickly evident that, for him, the idea of ever being able to go on a cruise was probably a pipe dream at best. So for a guy like that, a weekly vacation at the beach is probably a big deal. I'd rather always have more places, i.e. a "bucket list" of sorts, to look forward to maybe still getting to, than to feel like there are really few or no places left in the world that I haven't already been to. Age / health issues start to play a part for many - DW and myself included. No use trying to deny it, so it's a foregone conclusion the bottom of that list will never be reached. That's just reality. For those who feel they HAVE 'seen it all', kudos! The journey truly is the destination, I think, and not just necessarily pertaining to travel.

LOL yeah exactly! Definitely all 7 continents for sure is likely to come up, which always strikes me sort of funny in regards to that being a milestone travel goal, which in some ways it surely is - one I'll probably not be able to make a claim to - and yet when you think about it - if you only visit one or two destinations on each continent, you've only seen such a very small part of what's available. It'd be like someone coming all the way from Asia and visiting only NYC and Boston, for example, and then saying they've been to North America. Well, yeah, true enough, but only barely scratching the surface. Still, a cool accomplishment worthy of those types of 'bring and brag' conversations. When you think about it, one only need make a total of 6 trips to see all the other continents not including the one you live on! It's just that considerable distance is involved for many of them. 80 cruises, though, is really not that big a deal around CC the way it seems. I suspect many have done way more.

While we loved our only river cruise (not including Viking's MS), we didn't care for that you always wound up eating around the larger tables. We did eventually get friendly with a couple - who also liked to eat early dinner - and so the 4 of us did that for the latter part of the cruise and got along well. What made the group eating (mostly at dinner) a bit unbearable was that some of the conversation starters were so obviously geared to impressing others around the table as to where all people have been in their travels. I really don't care. Some woman actually had the gaucheness to ask my wife how much her teaching salary is! Don't recall how we fielded that one but got a chuckle out of it later. But that's cruising. Boarded the Viking Mississippi and started talking to another couple over the welcome glass of champagne. As part of general travel-related conversation, I simply said "yeah, there are always more places to go". Expecting a simple endorsement or acknowledgment, instead the guy goes, "well, we've pretty much been all over! What's left to see probably isn't worth it!". Uh-huh. All except here on the Mississippi perhaps (?) At that point I was ready to end the conversation, but he wasn't. And thus ensued a lengthy list of their extended past travel itineraries. Cut me some slack since I really don't care. Actually wound up having some nice conversation with them later on during the cruise. Quite interesting and nice people, but just off to a bit of a weird start.

LOL...you can be glad you weren't on our northbound Mississippi sailing! Once it was determined that we had to run straight through from Alton, IL to St. Paul, MN, eliminating all previously planned stops and excursions, we wound up with about 9 consecutive sea days. A highlight became talking to local citizens who gathered at the locks to watch us pass through. Some nice conversation. That was our only contact with outside civilization! So it was lazy days on the river, but actually quite enjoyable. Never got to read so much on a cruise. The other highlight, of course, was checking out what's for breakfast, lunch, and dinner each day. In all fairness, though, Viking came up with some really interesting lectures to help fill the afternoons.

they could also pop at the opening. Crap-shoot. Point well taken. As I mentioned, my advisor isn't even sure he'd be able to get any.

I just started reading the 270-page prospectus. Much like the (many) brochures they send out, it's very well done. My advisor indicated he has no idea how many shares he'd actually be able to get as an IPO. If not, can always get shares on the secondary market.

I've enjoyed all our Caribbean cruises, but wouldn't be a destination I'd book every year. Much prefer Canada / NE.

Of course, just referring to what I've encountered on CC. No implication relative to a larger perspective.

Good thought. I was most surprised to see the following in the VIK prospectus. 24 ships in the works with options for 12 more! Takes alot of moola or else incur alot of debt.

Sure doesn't seem that way by looking at some peoples' list of "upcoming cruises"!

Wow! I would think that, especially for those who paid the full fare, should be above and beyond.

Assuming you're referring specifically to Viking, what recent cruises have you found this to be the case?

...which you referred to recently. Interesting. We thought the food and service was up to usual Viking standards on the Mississippi. Have not been with them since that.

Worth exploring anyway.