11-22 Nov Sailing the Pacific

 

This post is based primarily on Don's notes, occasionally supplemented with MT's notes from our cruise in November-December 2023. When information from other sources is added—for further explanation to readers or to satisfy our own curiosity—that is set off in a text box (as this one).
Most of the photos that accompany this post are from Don’s camera (with a caption indicating the time it was taken); those from MT’s iPhone are indicated by “MT” placed at the beginning of the photo caption. Photos from any other source (such as the public domain Wikimedia Commons), occasionally used for clarification, indicate that source in the caption.

The Viking Daily newsletter showed today's weather forecast as "Cloudy/Rain 82° F" and "Sunrise: 5:59 AM."

MT Wednesday, November 22, ‎2023, 5:34 AM - Viking Star: Sunrise over Pacific.

MT 5:34 AM - Viking Star: Sunrise over Pacific (mild telephoto 48 mm).

Don woke at 6:30 am (MT was already up).

At 7:30, we went to the World Café (Deck 7) for breakfast. We ate outside on the adjacent Aquavit Terrace.

At 8:15-9:15, we walked on Decks 8 and 9. (Don had planned to run on the Deck 2 track, bit it was slippery where wet; even Decks 8 and 9 were wet on one side of the ship.)

 

MT 8:32 AM - Viking Star: view, from Deck 9, of interesting clouds.

 

At 9:15, we played skittles on the Sports Deck (Deck 9 forward).

At 11:00, we went to the Theater (Deck 2) for the "Future Cruises Presentation," where Travel Consultant Miriam talked more about Viking's destinations in the Arctic, Antarctica, Mississippi, and Great Lakes.

At 12:00, we went to the World Café (Deck 7) for "Polynesian Delights", a special presentation by Executive Chef Joseph and his culinary team, and we ate on the adjacent Aquavit Terrace, where we shared a table with a couple from Germany.

Right after lunch , we went to Guest Services (Deck 1) to sign up for the "Bayeux Tapestry Tour" on November 24, two days in advance since space was limited.

At 1:30, we went to the Sports Deck (Deck 9 forward) for a game of "hole in one golf" with the entertainment team and follow guests (Don's score was 18 and MT's was 21, but we were far from winning).

MT 1:51 PM - Viking Star: MT's selfie with Viking Vocalist Barry Jones, from Scotland, who as part of the entertainment team helping with games on the Sports Deck. (MT took this as part of the "Name Tag Challenge contest.)

After golf, we played shuffleboard on Sports Deck with a couple from Florida and lost badly.

At 5:15, we went to the Theater (Deck 2) for "Port Talk - Bora Bora, French Polynesia," although we would not arrive there until November 26.

At 6:00, we went to The Restaurant (Deck 2) for our pre-ordered dinner.

Tuesday, November 21, 2023 - 9:34 PM - Viking Star: Don's menu for pre-ordering dinner at The Restaurant on November 21. From the back side, he ordered under Starters, Tomato Bisque (vegan cream soup & croutons); under Main Courses, Risotto ai Funghi Porcini (porcini mushroom risotto, with Parmigiano Reggiano (Parmesan cheese from the Parma-Reggio region, i.e. the two provinces of Parma and Reggio Emilia in Italy).

9:33 PM - Viking Star: close-up of back side of Don's menu, showing that he ordered under Starters, Tomato Bisque (vegan cream soup & croutons); under Main Courses, Risotto ai Funghi Porcini (porcini mushroom risotto, with Parmigiano Reggiano (Parmesan cheese from the Parma-Reggio region, i.e. the two provinces of Parma and Reggio Emilia in Italy).

At 8:05-8:35, we went (late) to the Atrium (Decks 1 and 2) for the concert "Once Upon a Time," with the Viking Vocalists and Assistant Cruise Director Jonny singing songs from throughout the years, including those from Phil Collins, Randy Newman, and Alan Menken. Since this had started at 8:00, we found that it was standing room only.