Alan2504

It's now a bit brighter 

Hoping the weather holds for sailaway!

1 hour ago, DaKahuna said:

 

  Thank you for this information.  We both use the Surica app in our Apple Wallet.  Has worked well for all our train rides.  Interestingly enough, the fare is cheaper if you use IC to pay than if you buy a physical ticket.  I think I only noticed one or two people in all our travels using a physical ticket.  

 

Unfortunately it doesn't work, as I understand, on Android that are not specifically for the Japanese market, So that's why we went with the physical card plus we were able to get them delivered to home prior to leaving.

Similarly we got a Mobal data card delivered to home, We popped that in a cheap TP link WiFi hotspot switched it on when we landed and have had great WiFi on the ride to Yokoyama even through the tunnels and metro 😎

Just a heads-up for future cruisers regarding the welcome suica card, if, as we did, you get these in advance of arrival in Japan, it's worth activating these at JR counters at the airport otherwise if you get a transfer direct to your hotel in Yokohama, as we did you'll need to get to the nearest JR station (Yokohama) to do this, then you can re-load these up at any 7/11

Alternatively use e-suica if you have an i-phone

We managed, despite the weather to get over to the Red Brick Warehouse where my DW browsed the shops, whereas I found a spot at an authentic German beer festival 🍺 

A nice way to spend sometime on a rainy day

On 4/28/2024 at 8:21 PM, DaKahuna said:

 

 

I encourage my fellow travelers to share their experiences here with me as our experience has been that what we like or dislike may be different from someone else's experience. 

 

 

We flew in from Helsinki yesterday to NRT was expecting it to take some time to get through immigration customs etc. I reckon it took from landing to pulling away from the airport less than 30mins!

Woke up this morning to a rather soggy Yokohama so our side trip to Kakamura is looking unlikely, see you onboard tomorrow, weather looks much better for sailaway😎

15 hours ago, rizello said:

Is anyone on the Greek Isles portion of the cruises able/willing to post some dailies?  I haven't seen any for a few days and wonder how the cruise has been going.  With all the fires in Athens, Rhodes, etc, would be curious what impact this is having.  The fires look just horrible.

 

We are scheduled for our August 13 cruise, assuming nothing changes.

 

(I look on Roll Calls, but those are pretty quiet.)

 

Thanks

The fires haven't impacted the cruise last week, other than a bit of smoke in the air causing a bit of a smog, if you look back on this on this topic I have tried to post the daily from each port ,today is our sea day heading back to Malta 🙃 

Anyone boarding th Sea on the 10th will have the boat to themselves around 200 guests only and you can " do your own thing" in the Croatian ports, I'm tempted to stay on for the next one too 😄

Crete

com.google.android.apps.photos.Image (5).pdf

8 hours ago, tony the magnificent said:

Alan, thanks for sending.  However, focus is off and extremely difficult to read.  Appreciate your efforts.

Phone problems I'm afraid, the high temps meant the adhesives holding it together got overwhelmed and essentially de-laminated, so it is just holding together!

If I get a chance later I'll try and redo 😎

Just now, Alan2504 said:

Saturday August 7th dailycom.google.android.apps.photos.Image (4).pdf

Santorini today

We took the Summit's & Countryside excursion

We had time in Oia and our guide allowed a 15min break for shopping etc (he town was very busy as was most of Santorini

Our trip took us up to a monastery on the highest point of the island some nice specialities grown by the monks available for purchase. Today the winds got up and meant the tendering  back was delayed and interesting 😎

Saturday August 7th dailycom.google.android.apps.photos.Image (4).pdf

Friday August 6th 2021

Thira

As for streaming in any form is pretty patchy on the guest side of the internet via satellite ground based is fine. I guess the crew have another connection compared to the guests when linking to the on board system?

1 hour ago, gma1 said:

Awesome you are keeping us informed! Couldn't quite read the evening schedule, so wondering if Viking is having any entertainment in the evening...as in the past really talented dances, vocalist and such, in the theater setting.

To be honest I have been having problems with my phone, the intense heat has caused it to de-laminate !

I have tried that page again !

Athens Day 2

Thursday August 5th daily

com.google.android.apps.photos.Image (2).pdf

Athens day 1

We did the included tour today:

Panoramic Athens & Archaeological Museum

Was bus based, but got a photo opp at the old Olympic stadium,then onto the museum for an hour or more and then bus back.

The museum has a small gift shop which we could access 

When we returned to the port there were two shops open prior to security and after security there was a duty free shop.

The first time, on this cruise, so far, for a shopping opportunity.

August 4th Daily for Athens another hot day coming up !

com.google.android.apps.photos.Image (1).pdf

Kalamata  today, be prepared for some high temperatures we did the Palace of Nester today and it hit 42 deg C quite brutal  😳

August 2nd and 3rd Viking Daily

viking daily.pdf 3rd August Dailt.pdf

Linda is quiet correct the Croatian rules changed on the 28th of July so you can be independent on the four Croatian stops at the moment, they all are great! 😎

Sibenik and Split are walkable straight off the ship, hopefully Viking will do a shuttle for Dubrovnik and Zadar ☺️

1 hour ago, rizello said:

Question though:  if the case was a crew member, I thought crew aren’t allowed off ship.  How would a crew member have gotten COVID?  

 

 

 

 

 

Well there are crew dockside who interact with the local population for example security, re-supply of the ship, bunkering operations,shore excursions, tendering operations etc etc.

δεν είσαι ευπρόσδεκτος? I think it might be even more robust 😀😊

 The Captain confirmed this morning there had been a positive covid test reported and Maltese authorities had been alerted.

He confirmed that no guests had been in contact with this positive case 

We departed Valletta around 9:30 this morning.

I noticed that someone was disembarked with cases, he was in full PPE and was driven away.

I presume this was our positive case heading for quarantine to satisfy the Maltese authorities and I also presume this was a member of the crew.

It certainly confirms that Vikings protocols work.

On a brighter note our schedules won't be affected by this delayed departure😀

Well we are still in Malta on the Sea no sail away tonight I guess we will still be here in the morning too  Captain announced that there were operational issues that needed to be resolved?

I know the ship is fine from being on her for the last 10 days maybe the Greek authorities or the attitude to risk in Greece has changed?

Will report back when we get some clarity 😀

We are just so happy to be on board and know Viking will look after us whatever befalls us 

A relaxing dinner tonight 😎

On 7/29/2021 at 8:27 PM, JeriGail said:

Would you be able to post a photo of the officers on the Sea?  I'm wondering who's onboard.

2 hours ago, jsam949 said:

That’s awesome! Good for you guys! I’ll be boarding the Viking Sea Saturday evening! Have you heard anything about the excursions in Greece? Any idea if they are going to allow us to shop and wander around on our own like they are now allowing in Croatia? 

The agreement seems only to be with the Croatian authorities, but things are constantly under review and may change?