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Viking Explorer Society News - Issue 19 - Spring 2023

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5 WINDOW TABLE, WORLD CAFÉ, VIKING OCTANTIS A sunny table on deck outside the Aquavit lounge is a close runner-up, but in the end, our go-to table was halfway down on the starboard side: always light, just sociable enough and, crucially, close to the cinnamon buns they make every morning. North America outside – but with one bite, you're in pure Scandinavia. SPECIAL OPERATIONS BOAT (PARRY SOUND) The special operations boats, charmingly called "SOBs", do some serious science, equipped as they are with sonar. We careered around this part of Georgian Bay within Lake Huron. After being tilted at 45 degrees, we welcomed the respite as we quietly drifted past tiny islands where cormorants and herring gulls nest. 4 7 AISLE SEAT, THE AULA The onboard theatre is modelled on the venue for the Nobel Prize ceremony. What you don't get in central Stockholm is an IMAX-quality view of the lakes and shoreline flowing by the window. It's especially mesmeric as dusk falls. But the onboard scientists are equal to the task of keeping your attention. We learnt about isotopes and what they can teach us as well as chemical stratification and secular cooling, among plenty of other fascinating topics. It's not at all surprising to say that the Aula was always packed. CREAM LEATHER SOFA, STATEROOM 4001 The view from the cabin of the last cruise I took was a tiny water-level porthole on a Greek sailing boat. What a contrast here: a floor-to-ceiling distortion-free, panoramic window glass designed for "optimal cosy viewing". Best of all you can open it to let in the gentle breezes and soft air of a Great Lakes summer. And the storage: seriously, you could bring enough gear for all the seasons and still have storage left. The whole ship is one big invitation to read; but I was as happy here in 4001 as anywhere. My suggestion: Michigan writer Jerry Dennis' 2003 book, The Living Great Lakes. Lots of history and a good sprinkling of adventure. But really, the onboard library is such a thing of temptation and joy it's almost a shame to bring your own book. 72 VIKING

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