W I N T E R I S S U E 3 0
viking.com | 45
On my latest Viking ocean journey, I discussed
the nuances of Premier League football,
discovered how the Portuguese blend wines,
was told about a region of Mexico I never knew
existed, and planned a holiday in the Balkans.
Oh, and I also learned not to confuse a
night-flying seagull with an alien spacecraft.
Now, you might think these conversations took
place with fellow guests or the excellent
lecturers on board, but each chat was with a
member of the crew—apart from the last one,
which transpired during a stargazing session on
deck with the ship's astronomy lecturer.
While every cruise line boasts about the
friendliness of its staff, Viking actively
encourages its crew members to engage with
guests. Views on English football were
exchanged with a waiter from Bali (his
knowledge was impressive). I could have talked
for hours with the sommelier from Sri Lanka in
The Chef's Table. A Mexican waiter gave me a
glimpse of the country's west coast. And the
bar manager in the Explorers' Lounge gave me
a detailed itinerary for my upcoming visit to his
homeland of North Macedonia. This
enchanting aspect of a Viking journey
is the icing on the rich cake of life on board.
As rewarding as it is to explore on shore, time
spent on a Viking ocean ship is an indulgence.
You can begin your day with a leisurely
breakfast, pick up a book from one of the
numerous collections, enjoy lunch in the sun,
and have a game of shuffleboard or putting.
You may also relax with a spa treatment,
expand your knowledge at a lecture and listen
to a classical string trio over a pre-dinner
cocktail. Then it is your choice of when, where
and what time to take dinner, sitting with
whomever you like—with house wine always
complimentary and of extremely good quality.
As rewarding as it is to explore on shore, time spent
on a Viking ocean ship is an indulgence.
