Vossling

Just wanted to report that the September, 2024 sailing on the Vega was the trip of a lifetime and the entire staff was lovely and supportive, especially to mom. (She did better than expected as it turns out breathing at sea-level is a lot easier than at a mile-high.) They helped her on and off zodiacs, offered a shorter ride if she needed one, even arranged for the local police truck in Pond Inlet to give her and a few others a ride to the community center. Rooms are spacious, drinks included, and we lucked into great weather - so smooth sailing all but one day, and that night the captain sailed back and forth in a protected fjord so we could sleep. Minor objections: 1) there is no shop onboard to get OTC meds for the inevitable sniffles, so bring some cough drops, cold meds, etc. Also, the ship's doctor does not offer free COVID tests, which I would think would be in their interest. On the plus side, the ship was gracious to one couple and gave a spare cabin to the healthy partner for a few days while one person isolated..... 2) Some of the stops were less exciting and a 13-day rather than 17-day trip would have suited me personally a little better, but the wow factor on most days wins! 3) We booked via an offer from a third party that did not pass along the weight limit for the charter flight from Iceland to Greenland. So it was on our way to the Arizona airport with bags packed that we heard about a stricter limit for that flight (we were spending a few extra days in Reykjavik beforehand.) As it turns out, the charter was lenient and we were able to bring most of our bags and to leave a few things at the Marriott by the Iceland airport, as we were returning for a night at the end. Did not need that much anyway! No one cares if you wear the same thing over and over.... wool for the win there! PS - some of the wildlife was so far away I spotted just a blur or could see only with binoculars, but all together the ship saw about 12 polar bears, some seals, one arctic fox, a huge pod of bottle-nose whales and even the elusive narwhal, although the tusk was only visible to me via the cruise photographer's long lens -- but they send a slide-show and pix afterwards so you can see what you saw. All in all, marvelous! And mom made it through all of that with a little help and a lot of pluck. Brava!

Thanks so much! I'm glad you were able to share an adventure like this.

Thanks - they say everyone needs to be able to walk up a steep gangplank and walk a short distance on even ground. But they don't say how quickly one has to do it! We'll make some more calls, but I think a more accessible trip might be in order. Appreciate your thoughts.

Hi Bill - My mother, who is 85, found this cruise and wants to go - with myself and my husband (spry in our early 60s), also in Sept. next year. The lady at cruise norway said, basically, if you can travel by plane, you should be able to do this. She is so excited and it would be great to have something to look forward to, but I'm a little worried that this is, well, optimistic. She uses a cane for long walks and just got portable oxygen, which she hasn't had to use yet but is preparing to have some for practice walks (COPD). We are not big cruisers and it's hard to tell -- just as a stranger on the internet, would you mind telling me if this seems too ambitious? Mom would love to know if having an old lady on board would seem annoying or inspiring..... Thanks! SV