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53 minutes ago, Clay Clayton said:

When do you get to Dakar?  Are you still two days behind us? We are scheduled to arrive there on 19 April. 

We arrive on the 21st.  Our Choir performs the night of the 21st as well. 

5 hours ago, Clay Clayton said:

Long time no post….Are y’all still back there?

We are all still here at least the last 558 of us. Tooling our way north heading to Dakar. Not a whole lot to report. Trivia, baggo, wine tasting and lectures are still in full swing along with the Viking Guest Choir and crafting. There is a major photo scavenger hunt in progress right now that was put together by Russell Lee and his wife Gail. Stiff competition and very secretive. It is a four day event ending tonight at 6:00 and the winner will be announced tomorrow. Later!

28 minutes ago, Clay Clayton said:

I thought y’all were scheduled to overnight in Walvis Bay?  Did that get canned due to the late Cape Town departure also?

 

FWIW-immigration was a breeze for us-we went to Star Theatre 5 min before our scheduled excursion time (9:15am for us), got our group number in the hallway as usual, scanned our key card, walked up on stage, Viking put a sticker on our card, one of the four?five immigration officers looked at our passport, stamped it twice and filled in info by hand, we walked down the other side of the stairs, gave our passport to Viking folks, and headed to our excursion. 

I hope it will be as smooth for y’all as it was for us. Hate hearing yall aren’t getting to see as much as us. 

Totally unrelated but I told you I’d get our numbers for you. As of tomorrow we will have 558 on board per Mara, head of guest services. (4 are disembarking tomorrow).

39 minutes ago, BobCatter said:

And what (if any) excursions will there be? I signed up for the dunes - which as a photographer I have been desperate to see - and I just don't know how that is going to happen. yay. bus tour.

Africa overall as far as the cruise goes has been a bust. So far we have been to two ports since we left Mauritius on April 2nd. Not much of a world cruise for 1/4 of the trip. I know Viking can’t control the weather but it is a shame to spend all this money and time and basically sail around Africa. I really thought once we got to Cape Town it would get better. I realize the Captain tried to get us off the ship yesterday but it was still disappointing to be held captive when we could have been exploring. 
I agree I don’t think there will be anything more than a bus ride tomorrow. And then yea 7 more sea days. 

8 minutes ago, BobCatter said:

Very disappointed to only get 1/2 a day in Namibia. It was the country I had most been looking forward to after the itinerary change. 
 

It is getting a tad ridiculous isn’t it? It won’t be a 1/2 day. It’s 8 hours and that includes immigration. Sunset is 6:50 so about 3 hours of daylight IF we are of the ship by 4.

10 minutes ago, Clay Clayton said:

So Neptune have you left yet? If you haven’t already booked an excursion, folks enjoyed the included but we really loved the Dunes to the Ocean.  Video on the Sky thread.  
 

oh and how many are onboard now? We are reportedly 555

Hi Clay, we have not left yet. We are scheduled for that included one in Wavis Bay. Glad to hear it is a good one. 

I’ll ask tomorrow and let you know what I hear on the numbers.

9 minutes ago, garandlev said:

This is the Queen Victoria. The seas are calm and if we have been circling Cape Town since 7 a.m., your captain could leave the port if he chooses. Your ship is comparable to ours. We are all p*ssed at Viking...universal opinion is no one will ever sail with Viking after this stunt. Queen Mary 2 arrives tomorrow and you will be outgunned by Cunard....

My goodness. You have no idea what we are dealing with in Cape Town. Sounds like you had time to poll all 1400 passengers and none will sail Viking. Well that is great news for us. We love Viking!!

Just now, cruising denise said:

Wow, I'm surprised to hear that Neptune wasn't fully booked with world cruisers.  Did you also have segments, as the Sky did?  We had sizeable groups disembarking in Sydney, and then new ones embarking in Sydney for the Sydney to Singapore segment.  

We have no segments on the Neptune once boarded in LA. 
There are no segments being sold for the rest of the journey at least according to their website for the Neptune. People have many disembark ports if they chose to not continue the cruise. Some left in Vietnam and Singapore. Other will leave in Sr Lanka and Cochin. 
I have not heard of anyone leaving in Cape Town, but I am sure a few are. 
Many have booked independent travel for India and Africa as Viking is unable to accommodate the number of guest to excursion ratio. 
It may seem we are segmented as we have people coming and going but it is the same people. 
 

7 minutes ago, Goosebear Mum said:

I’m amazed so many people don't wish to continue, and see South Africa, etc. I can understand a minority, but nearly a third?! 

Many people that I have talked to had already been to Africa and done of them multiple times or already had a trip scheduled to go to Africa later this year or next year. 

See you later Sky. Enjoy your journey!

On 2/9/2024 at 9:17 AM, Clay Clayton said:

Our views as we entered Sydney Harbour this morning about 2:35am.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

@Clay Clayton what time did you dock at the pier that you had to get up at 2:35 am? 
Great pictures!

13 minutes ago, Hanoj said:

 

Oceania world cruisers were told the same. Hopefully Viking will resolve this uncertainty soon so guests can enjoy their voyage without contemplating contingency plans.

That’s my hope as well. Just let us know so we can move on. 

1 hour ago, Jim Avery said:

Regent world cruisers were told today they are going around Africa.  Also given disembarkation options and a full itinerary.  This can be seen on the Regent board world cruise thread.  Time for Viking to do the same.

I read their revised itinerary. Interesting.

1 hour ago, Clay Clayton said:

Any idea why if he had two months to plan we aboard Sky are having lots of Caribbean dishes and tonight as we head to BoraBora it was Greek Salad night?   And one of the days on the way to Hawai’i the destination menu was “New England”?😳

I don’t know why but he did allude to there being difficulties in sourcing some things which of course would be out of his and Vikings control. 
 

8 minutes ago, SantaFe1 said:

I am so sorry to hear this, especially because we are on Neptune after you,  I have said this several times before on different threads, but when you mention that something is amiss to the waiter, they send out the chef (I always want to climb under the table.). And every single time, the chef has said, “ I know how to make X, but Viking wants me to make it this way.  Come again and I will make X properly for just you.”  Viking, are you listening??

I agree some things are not as good. I also agree with @Jim Avery that the soups are very watery where previously they had always been fantastic and creamy.
I have not had a bad meal just some that leave a lot to be desired. I had the chicken cashew starter the other day and not a single cashew. I did let the waiter know as did the gentleman sitting at the next table. 
I had a cooking class and was fortunate to meet Chef Willy and he stated he spent two months at home planning the menu for the Sky and the Neptune and said since it is a WC he has free range and does not have to follow corporate exactly. Now sourcing those foods is whole other matter. 
We ate at the Chefs Table last night and it was delicious. 
The fresh tuna tacos were great pool side today. 
 

I just want to say Wow! We had such a nice turn out for our Meet and Mingle yesterday. Knowing how busy everyone is already I greatly appreciated those who stopped by to say hello, introduced themselves and of course what a warm welcome from the Viking staff. 
if you see Mara tell her thanks as she and her team along with food and beverage were the folks who sent out the invitation and poured drinks and passed appetizers around. It was a real pleasure to put a face with a name. 
Skol! We will see you around the ship.

Diana and Myron

50 minutes ago, BobCatter said:

Thanks Diana for putting together the Meet and Mingle!

My pleasure. It was so nice to faces to the many we have chatted with over the many months. 
What a wonderful cruise we shall all have.

18 minutes ago, BobCatter said:

 

I gave the CD you email address and the 'particulars' of the meet and mingle you want to organize. What is your cabin number? If I pass that along she may be able to track you down easier.

4104

1 hour ago, BobCatter said:

I’ll try to speak with CD today. What’s a good way to contact you other than here?

Thanks.Appreciate your help. You can shoot me an email to avahondj@gmail.com

Is anyone planning a meet and greet once we all board in LA? I can definitely head it up. It could be on our first sea day after Santa Barbara. Can someone get me the contact info of the CD so I can see if she will coordinate it or who I need to coordinate it with?

TIA

Diana

47 minutes ago, bwknsf said:

We hope everyone is enjoying the holidays and had a great Christmas.  Jonathan and I are blogging this adventure at brianandjonathan.blogspot.com.  We’re looking forward to joining everyone in LA on the 9th.  We wish everyone a very Happy New Year!

 

Brian

Looking forward to meeting you guys. We board in LA. 

1 minute ago, Clay Clayton said:

Diana

I have friends who were on the 21/22 WC and they used one.  However, others on these threads have reported that when they used them, the bags were returned to them by the Luggage Forwardinf folks. 

Thanks Clay. I had used them for the 21/22 WC as well (my bags were shipped out and back by Viking when we canceled the day before the trip started) it was nice to know exactly where the bags were. 

I am trying to understand how they would know they were in the bag and was hoping someone on this last cruise had used them without issue. 
 

Not sure if anyone is still monitoring this board but I have a question.

If you sent luggage using Luggage Forward did you include an air tag or tile in the suitcase or box for tracking? TIA!

Diana

7 hours ago, BeckySt said:

I’ll add one more recommendation for those visiting Saigon/HCMC. We booked private tours both days with Tours by Locals, with a tour guide named Thien. She is fantastic. 
 

Thien’s tours take you to the non-touristy version of both the Mekong Delta and the CuChi Tunnels. And yes, there is a touristy place for both of these, which is where the ship excursions go. But Thien and Tours by Locals take you specifically to the non-touristy areas. 
 

You get the same activities on the MeKong Delta, but you won’t be accosted by hawkers, and you probably won’t see another tourist. 
 

at the CuChi Tunnels, you’ll see a whole different side of Vietnam, including a lot of propaganda. 
 

Thien has an incredible upbringing with a father that was a high ranking communist party official and former Vietcong, and a mother who sided with the south and loves the United States. This view of both sides of Vietnam is eye opening. 
 

I cannot recommend touring with Thien highly enough. She is friendly, enthusiastic, absolutely loved what she does, and will show you a side of Vietnam that you won’t get from most your guides. 

Do you have a last name for Thein or the name of the tour?  I am unable to locate her for HCMC. TIA

28 minutes ago, spangler said:

We used Memphis Tours and they did a outstanding job.  We had no concerns during the entire planning and/or during the trip. The tour guide that provided escort service from the dock (gate entrance) to the airport in Mumbai and reverse when we returned was available on Monday to give 6 of us an outstanding tour of Mumbai.  I can provide his info if you are looking for something to do the day following your return from Agra.

That would be awesome if you could provide me his contact information. My email is avahondj@gmail dot com

Thanks!

Diana