Viking Invades Alaska!

[Pushka]

Viking. As I mentioned they do lots of things differently. The owner is an older man, and is best friends with the founder of Silverseas, and has named one of their signature restaurants, Manfredis, as a tribute. We are having dinner there on my birthday. It’s largely Italian.

I suspect we will mainly be eating in their buffet, which is well known for seafood and sushi, and being in Alaska MrP will be in heaven with Alaskan crab and sushi. But there are many fabulous food options.

The cabins themselves are all verandahs. In most cabins the fridge contents (soft drinks, chocolates, nuts, biscuits) is replenished free of charge every day. Suites also have free alcohol replenished daily. As the owner understands the ageing process he implemented all those creature comforts for us oldies with simple thoughts, like having the font of the shampoo and conditioners in large enough size so you don’t need your glasses in the shower to work out which is which! The bathroom floors are heated.

The whole ship is based on furnishing around Scandinavian simplicity which is a style we really love.

If you want to see where we are at any stage, then Viking ships have a fabulous site that not only has a cam shot of the ship, but also a map of the full history of the ship’s travels, plus screenshots of memorable sights. Currently the ship is in Japan in Yokohama, and about to work it’s way into Russia, then across to northern Alaska then work its way down to Vancouver where we join it. And yes, Palin was right.

Webcam Viking Cruises - Orion - PANOMAX 360°

Live picture of Viking Cruises - Orion - Panomax - 360° high resolution interactive panorama web cam

viking.panomax.com

 

[Denali]

I remember doing a fjord tour in Seward and getting very close to the ice. You would hear the crack first, then it would fall into the water and then you would feel the cold wind being pushed past you. Also remember the salmon fishing and it being so easy to catch but many people kept guns/rifles near by because of bears. If fishing is your thing, thats where you go for halibut.

Keep an eye out for lynx, was lucky enough to catch a baby bear and a lynx one morning. Bear was sitting by the side of the road, just hanging out and a moose walked past me while I was filling my water bottle at a park stop once.

Looking forward to your pics! I keep saying we'll get back one day.

 

[ellen10]

Looking forward to following along on your trip.

Canada and Alaska was our first trip overseas without children since they were born.
Our cruise was on HAL. What a fantastic experience! We cruised at the end of June, each night we had a nightcap in the Crowsnest piano bar watching the beautiful sunset. We only ate breakfast once in the dining area, preferring to order our breakfast in our room and enjoy the beautiful sights from our balcony. I highly recommend this.

We also visited Sitka which was a cute town, friendly people (apparently males out number females 5-1) It was a lovely sunny day for our visit (apparently very rare). We did a kayak trip which we loved and saw bald eagles in the trees.

In Juneau we did a helicopter flight over the magnificent Rockies on a beautiful day listening to Vangelis through our headphones (our French helicopter pilot Jean Paul - he with the smooth French accent - said that he would let the mountains speak for themselves as we listened to Vangelis and glided over the glorious mountains.
We landed at a husky camp and did a dog sledding trip with us driving, those dogs love to run! Their handlers camp up in the mountains for 3 months over the summer to look after the dogs, such beautiful dogs. This was by far one on my most memorable travel experiences of my life, it gives me goosebumps thinking of it now.
Glacier Bay was such a beautiful place and it was amazing to hear and see the calving, whilst sipping hot pea and ham soup out on the deck.

So many wonderful memories from our trip. I will look forward to revisiting them with you. Enjoy!!

 

[zig]

Looking forward to travelling along with you, and I hope that your experience is even sweeter for the delay in getting there. I will be interested to hear about Viking, they sound as though they are doing a lot of things right in the cruise industry just now. Size is relative isn't it - to me 900 onboard is huge!

Glacier Bay was such a beautiful place and it was amazing to hear and see the calving, whilst sipping hot pea soup out on the deck.

In my case it was hot chocolate laced with rum

 

[Major]

Our very first cruise was a similar itinerary on HAL 10 years ago. I will be interested in your observations

 

[RB]

Hope you have a great time around Alaska-one of our favourite holidays. We had a different style of travel but quite a few common destinations and you might find a few tips in my old trip report-Alaska is at the beginning of the report Zig Zag Around the US | Australian Frequent Flyer

 

[Pushka]

All packed and Bird in Hand Pinot Noir in hand. Located Grumpy Cat. Had a nice breakfast with the boys for Mother’s Day. MrP is somewhere on the south coast as he needed to go mow some lawns down at the shack. As you do. He isn’t packed yet. Hadn’t started.

 

[Pushka]

Hope you have a great time around Alaska-one of our favourite holidays. We had a different style of travel but quite a few common destinations and you might find a few tips in my old trip report-Alaska is at the beginning of the report Zig Zag Around the US | Australian Frequent Flyer

Thankyou - an excellent review. I’ve read the train trips in this area are stunning so we are looking forward to ours up to Anchorage.

 

[TomVexille]

... He isn’t packed yet. Hadn’t started.

Plenty of time

 

[Pushka]

Plenty of time

Yeah. Well. I expected that

 

[love_the_life]

All packed and Bird in Hand Pinot Noir in hand. Located Grumpy Cat. Had a nice breakfast with the boys for Mother’s Day. MrP is somewhere on the south coast as he needed to go mow some lawns down at the shack. As you do. He isn’t packed yet. Hadn’t started.

Enjoy a few wines while MrP has to find his clothes and pack.

 

[VPS]

Do you leave tomorrow on Qatar?

 

[Pushka]

Do you leave tomorrow on Qatar?

On Qantas of all things! Nabbed award seats to the US the instant they became available. Via Sydney. Equals the awful bus. We do have 2.5 hours gap so hoping for some FLounging but MrP tells me he isn’t having anything to eat. To hell with that I say. We have agreed to do our own thing. Thank god.

I booked this cruise 18 months ago so plenty of time to sort out the other details.

 

[Pushka]

Waiting at Adelaide airport. Flight seems to be delayed by 25 minutes due to late incoming flight. Hopefully they can make up some time. And that immigration quietens down a little for some FLounge, even if just for Champagne.

We’d preselected - well I had, seats 5b and 5j which are bulkhead, exit and the only solo seats on the 747. Of course they are separate. Was asked if we were happy with. Oh yes I said. Why Qantas hasn’t removed that middle seat in a few rows is curious. And except for one row in the previously configured F cabin, someone has to climb over someone to get out.

Found out that despite leaving at 5.40pm the menu is lunch. Oh well.

I purchased a new backpack for the trip. It has like a Doctors Bag structure with wide opening which is great for getting stuff. Got it home and saw the label - it’s a nappy bag! But in navy and grey not obvious. But it’s fantastic for travel. And this was before I knew about impending new grand baby.

 

[love_the_life]

And they're off....well almost.

 

[Pushka]

And they're off....well almost.

Yay. For real. Doors closed.

 

[TomVexille]

I purchased a new backpack for the trip. It has like a Doctors Bag structure with wide opening which is great for getting stuff. Got it home and saw the label - it’s a nappy bag! But in navy and grey not obvious. But it’s fantastic for travel. And this was before I knew about impending new grand baby.

Sounds like the one we got

As I was reading your description I was thinking it sounded like the nappy bags that are quite popular at the moment

 

[Pushka]

Sounds like the one we got

As I was reading your description I was thinking it sounded like the nappy bags that are quite popular at the moment

Bamby?
Well that was quick. Landing - Bus - Immigration - FLounge in 30 minutes.

Our plane here as we bussed it in.


The walk but not of shame.


And the plane again.

 

[TomVexille]

Don't think so, but they all seem pretty similar.

30 minutes is excellent. Hope we have the same in a couple months.

 

[Pushka]

Don't think so, but they all seem pretty similar.

30 minutes is excellent. Hope we have the same in a couple months.

The afternoon and immigration seems deserted.
Just awaiting the signature pavlova.