Travelerstory

33 minutes ago, OneSixtyToOne said:

For those wondering about not having a post-cruise extension, we arrived in Buenos Aires around 2:30. Those not staying were grouped by connecting airline and then led towards international departures.

For those with the extension, it was 45 minute ride to the city. After check-in, we were in our rooms by about 4:00 PM.

Thanks for this info. What are your plans for 10/31 and when do you head back to San Diego? via Alanta or Miami? all the way to SD or Lax then SA? Thanks again for a great trip. Russ of Travelerstory.

14 hours ago, OneSixtyToOne said:

We came back to our stateroom to find an “official” certificate.

 

Like so many of the others we have enjoyed your trip almost as much as you have. If you ever come over to the Desert east of San Diego (Tucson area) give us a call in Sun City Oro Valley AZ. 5412610127 Russ and Jan Story ie: Traveler Story

23 minutes ago, OneSixtyToOne said:

You only get pants and boots and those are for the Zodiac and SOB. We are not kayaking but they did say they get a special life jacket. Weather this morning was in the 40s but warmed up to the 60s. The key is wearing layers and at the port talk they say more and more layers as you go south. Today we had on a shirt, sweater, and jacket. Took the jacket off after a while. Wind and rain are really the issue. Make sure that you have a decent weather proof coat or jacket. It gets cold on deck, when riding the zodiac, and SOB because of the windchill. They also warn that you might get wet. IMO bring what you would wear in a rainstorm in the 40s.

1st thank you for the great pics. We will be following you starting Sept 26, 2024 in Duluth and ending 71 days later in Ushuaia, with an extension in Buenos Airas and hopefully 7 days exploring Antarctica.  Last year 153 days around the 
world on Viking Neptune.

We would love to see Castro but the Octantis' camera is not working. Maybe the crew could fix it? Webcam Viking Cruises - Octantis - PANOMAX 360°

https://storysworldcruise22-23.blogspot.com/2023/04/sunday-april-23-2023-athens-greece.html

https://storysworldcruise22-23.blogspot.com/2023/04/thursday-friday-april-20-21-2023.html

The latest blogs of this cruise. I'm actually caught up for one whole day.

Our trip to Agra, seeing both the Taj Mahal and the Red Fort. Both spectacular. So glad we did it. 26 hours and over 9 miles of walking.

https://storysworldcruise22-23.blogspot.com/2023/04/sunday-april-2-2023-taj-mahal-and-agra.html

https://storysworldcruise22-23.blogspot.com/2023/04/sunday-april-2-2023-taj-mahal-and-agra_6.html

Haven't posted here for a while, but . . .

https://storysworldcruise22-23.blogspot.com/2023/03/monday-february-27-2023.html

Here's a link to our blog. Haven't posted on here for a while as I was maximizing my time. 

https://storysworldcruise22-23.blogspot.com/2023/01/sunday-january-22-2023-bora-bora.html

Our day in Cabo. Can't say enough good things about the staff working the Tender.

https://storysworldcruise22-23.blogspot.com/2023/01/cabo-san-lucas-thursday-january-5-2023.html

Here is the link to our end of year post.

https://storysworldcruise22-23.blogspot.com/2023/01/end-of-year.html

Hoping this link to my second post works.

https://storysworldcruise22-23.blogspot.com/2022/12/cozumel-to-cartegena.html

38 minutes ago, mstadleraz said:

It comes up to create a blog page...

That was an oops and I tried to delete it. I'll have to figure out where to copy to add to Cruise Critic.

00ps

Gary and Arlona, welcome home!  Take a welcome deserved rest.

We look forward to tagging along on the nest world cruise. Leaving from Fort Lauderdale in December of 2022. We will be in FL a few days early, just to make sure we don't have any problems with flighks ts, AND we want to explore Fort Lauderdale. Any hints on what we should do in those few days?

Thank,s as well as to anyone having some input on what to do in Fort Lauderdale while we are there.

Hello all on the Viking Star. We are really enjoying your comments on your trip and learning lots.

A question for the Americans on this journey -- how are you handling your 2021 Tax Return due in mid-April? We are on next year's adventure and are wondering how to handle our taxes. TIA

Having links to the South Pacific blogs would be wonderful. We are on next year's WC and are hopeful we will be able to go to the South Pacific, so it could be very educational. TIA.

4 hours ago, ldpetrillo said:

   
 

A group of intrepid travelers venturing off to the vast unknown? Yes, off to a Mexican Walmart. 

Should just be across the 5 or 6 lane street to their left. There is also a Sam's there. Costco is up that street and a right about a mile or2. Hope every one is have a grand time. PV is a fun place to visit.

So what happened to Nicaragua?

29 minutes ago, OnTheJourney said:

As said above, I still don't see why there'd be any sort of violation.  What is considered a required "distant foreign port" relative to the overall itinerary? 

This has all been explained, either here or on Viking Star - January 10th, 2022. Scroll back a bit to find your answers.

12 hours ago, Heidi13 said:

 

Unable to comment on your blog, so may I suggest a few corrections to your post regarding the Panama Canal operation.

 

Locks - You mentioned that both Pedro Migual & Miraflores have a single lock, stepping down to the Pacific. The last locks (Miraflores) are actually a double set of locks. These are the locks with the Visitor Centre observation platform. The original Canal has a total of 6 locks - 3 up and 3 down.

 

Pilot Boarding - As a Norwegian Flag ship, she most definitely follows OSH requirements, which are outlined in the Ship's Safety Management System Manual, as required by the ISM Code. When the pilot launch is about the same height as the Shell Door, the boat pushes alongside the ship and holds position. The Pilot then steps onboard, and is flanked by a crew member on each side to steady him. If at a different height than the Shell Door the Pilot steps on a ladder, while the boat pulls away as the Pilot climbs the ladder. If the Pilot falls he lands in the water, where he is hauled out, rather than hitting the boat.

 

Pilot - while the ship has a Pilot, in the Panama Canal, the Master/Pilot relationship is the exact opposite of other ports or channels. In other places, the Pilot provides advice to the Master, but in the Canal, the Pilot assume responsibility for the navigation of the vessel from the Master.

 

Mules - the number of Mules depend on the ship's size. On Panamax sized cruise ships, we used 8 mules.

 

Charges River - you only spend a brief period in the river, as after passing Gamboa you enter the Gaillard Cut, which was the portion of the Canal that was dug out.

 

Tug Assistance - on cruise ships, the tugs are not supplied for steering assistance, as the transit speed is above the ship's minimum steerage. As in many ports, they are provided to assist in stopping the ship in the event of a propulsion/steering failure.

 

 

Heidi  13 Jan and I look forward to having a drink with you and Judy in the explorers lounge after we depart LA January 8, 2023. Your insight has been great and we would like to pick your brains on our yours WC 2023.

21 hours ago, Jim Avery said:

Thanks so much for setting this up.  Lots of avid lurkers here...🍸

Yes (THANK YOU) to the Jim that set this page on CC up.  And we are looking forward to meeting Jim Avery on the 22/23 WC. Russ and Jan Story. Travelerstory

Fellow cruisers. 2 questions for all of you, especially those that have done extended cruises. Here's the 1st question -

What is the one thing you WISH you had packed but hadn't?             2nd question -

What is the one thing you DID pack and wish you hadn't?

We've done a couple of two week cruises coupling with another two weeks either before or after. For a month, you can get by without just about anything. A 4 month cruise, not so much.               Thanks

Andy Judi thank you

Found this on CruiseMapper.com:  Viking Cruises completed the installation of the first full-scale COVID-19 PCR laboratory at sea on its Viking Star ship.  

The new facility allows for unprecedented testing capacity for all crew and guests. The laboratory is able to do non-invasive saliva tests and has enough capacity for everyone onboard.

Matt Grimes, Vice President of Maritime Operations for Viking Cruises, said:

“We have been working on this for a number of months, and today is important as it moves us one step closer to operating cruises again, without compromising the safety of our guests and crew.

"The recently announced CDC guidelines are clearly aligned with our public health research, and we welcome the agency’s push toward testing, as we believe this is the only way to safely operate. In our view, continuous PCR testing, along with our extensive onboard hygiene protocols, will lead to making Viking ships a safe place to get away to and explore the world.”

The lab will undergo a series of extensive trials to make sure that new measures are effective and can keep passengers and crew safe during sailing. From mid-November 2020, Viking will be showcasing the facility when Viking Star sails to Oslo, Norway.

Although, it not safe to assume, I would think they will be placing these labs into all of their ships.  

Thank you all for your views. We will post a trip report once back in the USA, about October 1st. Keep your ideas coming. has anyone gone to VDNKh? Would like to hear about your experiences

Any one taking this cruise or have completed this cruise this year. We would like to hear of your experiences.