We got ourselves up and moving slightly earlier this morning, waking around 7am and getting out of the room for breakfast around 8am. We enjoyed our buffet breakfasts and prepared for this bright sunny day with temperatures near 100 degrees expected, a one-day heat wave. Barb wanted to tackle the Harbor Bridge in the morning …
I woke up realizing the previous two days were pretty close to perfect, peak experiences. Sailing into Sydney Harbor under clear skies was spectacular, our initial orientation tour of Sydney was efficiently comprehensive and it was fun for me to wander a bit more around Sydney on my own for a few hours; our final …
Today was disembarkation day. We got ourselves out of our room by 8am as directed, bidding farewell to our steward Kemal as we left. He and his colleagues did a great job keeping our cabin clean and tidy. We had a final buffet breakfast, lingering until 9am when we were obliged to be off the …
Viking Description: Sydney was founded as a penal colony in 1788 and is celebrated for its magnificent natural harbor. It has grown into the major cultural center of Australia, beloved for its all-embracing, free-spirited nature. The cultural jewel in its crown is the iconic Sydney Opera House, a UNESCO World Heritage Site nestled harborside like …
Viking Description: Trace one of Australia’s most scenic regions along the southeastern shore of the continent on the Bass Strait. As you sail today, savor a range of international cuisine on board. Choose from a variety of international flavors at the World Café, enjoy al fresco dining on the Aquavit Terrace, or regional specialties in …
We rose early to get breakfast before our 8:30am tour of the city. We were in the third of I don’t know how many Viking buses setting out for the 8:30am excursion. They said something like 550 people signed up for this free tour of Melbourne with time slots through most of the day, but …
Viking Description: Melbourne has been called the world’s most livable city. It enjoys a scenic setting on the large bay of Port Phillip. Soon after Queen Victoria declared it a city of the Crown in 1847, the rush to find gold in its rivers made it one of the world’s largest and wealthiest cities. Today, …
Tuesday, Feb. 20 – Cruising Foveaux Strait The narrow Foveaux Strait separates New Zealand’s South Island from Stewart Island, also known as Rakiura (or “the Land of Growing Skies”) after its Māori name. The small town of Bluff is the South Island’s southernmost settlement and is dominated by Bluff Hill to its west. With a …
Viking Description: Dunedin and Port Chalmers lie on the 12-mile-long Otago Harbour. At the heart of the city, Dunedin is home to New Zealand’s first university, built in 1871. This lively college town is one of the South Island’s cultural capitals. Neighboring Port Chalmers has a thriving arts scene, inspired by its setting. Across the …
Viking Description: Christchurch is the largest city on New Zealand’s South Island. Named after Christ Church College in Oxford by English pilgrims from Canterbury, it retains much of its original British flavor, from the Gothic Revival cathedral to the punting excursion boats on the tranquil Avon River. The city embraces another English tradition: it is …