| Flag: | Date: | Port: | Comment: |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
20th Mar. 2026 |
BoMoH --> Hounslow |
£9 FlixBus £47 Travelodge |
 |
21st Mar. 2026 |
Barcelona Catalonia Spain |
On board by 3:15 pm |
|
22nd Mar. 2026 |
Barcelona Catalonia Spain |
Ten miles of walking |
 |
23rd Mar. 2026 |
Sete Languedoc France |
Eight miles of walking |
|
24th Mar. 2026 |
Marseille Provence France |
Le Castellet and Wine Tasting |
|
25th Mar. 2026 |
Villefranche- sur-Mer France |
Grasse Perfumery & St Paul de Vence |
 |
26th Mar. 2026 |
Livorno Tuscany Italy |
(Lucca) (On Your Own) ((OYO)) |
|
27th Mar. 2026 |
Livorno Tuscany Italy |
Florence On Your Own (OYO) |
|
28th Mar. 2026 |
Civita- vecchia Italy |
Turn around day |
| Flag: | Date: | Port: | Comment: |
I got up at six o'clock ready to finalise my repacking. I had hummus on toast to eat and longlife milk to drink for breakfast. I had plenty of time, including doing some gardening.
At noon I phoned for a £14 Streamline taxi to take me to the BoMoH Coach Station. Here I ate one packet of £1 defrosted prawns from our Iceland warehouse. The £9 FlixBus arrived five minutes early, but left five minutes late, as it filled up with pax. I slept for one hour and then we arrived early at LHR.
Here I ate my second packet of £1 defrosted prawns sat on the Piccadilly Line tube train. I alighted at Hounslow Central as usual and got to my £47 room in the Travelodge, just after the three o'clock opening. Having sorted my room out, I walked into Hounslow. I bought some food and a pint of milk in their Iceland store.
Back in my digs, I ate two of my cheese sandwiches from home, together with the corned beef and chicken tikka masala mayonnaise that I had just brought. I had my first instant decaff coffee provided by the hotel. At six o'clock I had my last two cheese sandwiches, again augmented with my recent purchases. I then had my second instant decaff coffee. I spent the evening watching television including Dara O'Briain visiting Mount Etna. I went to sleep at 10:30 having done nearly five thousand steps, equal to two miles of walking, during the day.
I awoke at 5:50 to the dawn, forty minutes before my alarm. I had TWO mugs of regular instant coffee to drink as I abluted. At seven o'clock I caught the Piccadilly Line tube train to LHR.
Check-in was straight forward for a change and I chose a seat by the escape doors with extra legroom. I stood outside watching the planes coming in over Windsor Castle in the bright, but cold, sunshine. Security was quick as I was directed along the fast track pathway. I found a place to charge up both my phones, but there was nowhere to plug in my laptop to the mains supply. I had to update this blog on battery power only.
Boarding was a bit chaotic as the flight was full, but I managed to stow my carry on case and my rucksack containing my laptop. We took off twenty minute late, but landed ten minutes early. We got given the usual bottle of water to drink and two shortbread biscuits to eat. I then slept for half an hour, before playing FreeCell and Hearts on my phone. Both the USB-A and USB-C sockets worked well, so I was able to charge up both my phones, but not my laptop. There was a lot of snow on the Pyrenees mountains and we had a great view of Barcelona. We saw the new 3D cross at the top of the Familia Sagrada and the three cruise ships in the harbour: one MSC, one Carnival and of course the lovely Viking Saturn.
Disembarkation was fairly quick as I was in row 11, but I joined the wrong queue at immigration. When I realised my mistake, I moved across to the new automatic machines which had no lines waiting. After three restarts, it accepted my photo and my four right fingerprints, taking just five minutes in total. My big suitcase was already on the baggage carousel.
I then checked-in with the Viking assistants, but had to wait for all the other guests on my flight to filter through. We were then led to the coach and driven to cruise terminal B. On board at 3:15, I had one glass of bubbly as I was scanned at my assembly station, the Star Theatre. My suitcase had beaten me to my cabin, so I was able to unpack. In the back office, I signed up to be a tour escort.
At 4:15 I did six lengths of the cool, pool with the roof fully open to the hot sun. I then spent just five minutes in the large, rectangular hot tub. On the way back to my cabin, I met the other speaker Viking Resident Historian (VRH) Kevin McKedy from the US Army, who had spent time at West Point and Heidelberg. I updated this blog as I dried off.
Just before five o'clock, Xavier my petit Filipino steward came to meet me and I asked for some tin cans of soda water. At six o'clock, I asked for a sharing table in the main Restaurant. I was sat with Wallanna from Nashville (who doesn't like country music), with Melody from Georgia and with Dave & Lisa from North Carolina. I had the gazpacho cold tomato soup, the Spanish meatballs and the no sugar added blueberry Bavarois dessert. I forewent the offered wine of the evening.
Just before eight o'clock I met Cruise Director (CD) Dave Shelly, ex Princess cruises from Boston, and Assistant Cruise Director (ACD) Troy from the Philippines. At 8:30 I went to hear the flamenco folkloric show La Rumba Catalana, but I had trouble keeping awake. They finished with Volare, but that is an Italian song, not Catalonian surely? I went to sleep at ten o'clock having done six and half thousand steps, equal to two and a half miles of walking during the day.
I awoke at seven o'clock having slept for nine hours. I had one egg Benedict and one warm soft roll with ham and egg to eat in the World Cafe, as it was too chilly outside. When Xavier came to service the cabin at 8:30, I adjourned to the Observation lounge where I had a decaff coffee to drink.
At nine o'clock I caught the first shuttle bus into the city. I walked along Parallel Avenue to Parallel Metro Station, but the Jewish Mountain (Montjuic) funicular was still out of service. Will it ever be fixed? I then walked across town to Catalonia Place, but the English Cut (El Corte Ingles) department store was closed on a Sunday.
I turned on tracking and turned south into the historic Gothic quarter. I photographed all the main sites, including St Agatha's Chapel in King's Place. I caught the 11:30 shuttle bus back to the ship, where I had an early lunch al fresco a la terrazza. I had the cream of spinach soup and three salmon fish cakes with tuna pasta and vegetables in cheese sauce to eat. I then slept for over an hour, the last week of travelling and two jet lags still catching me out.
I caught the two o'clock shuttle bus back into town, in order to climb up the Jewish Mountain (Montjuic). At the top, I turned on tracking and descended to the Maritime Museum in the Medieval Shipyards. This had free admission after three o'clock on a Sunday, so I whizzed around, photographing the famous enormous royal barge.
At 4:30 I caught the last shuttle bus back to the ship. At 5:15 I did six lengths of the cool pool with the roof firmly shut, in spite of the hot sun all day. I spent five minutes in the large hot tub, talking to a couple from Kansas.
At 5:45 I moved up to the Wintergarden to host the solo travellers with ACD Troy. First Jim from Virgina arrived, he was on vacation with his parents. Then Sheri from Philapdelphia, via Nashville, appeared. Finally Maggie, originally from Germany, arrived. I had two glasses of champagne to drink.
At 6:30 I took Sheri to dinner in the main Restaurant. We sat at a sharing table with two Jewish couples from New Jersey. One of the pairs were Russians from Odessa in Ukraine. They said that Ukrainian President Velensky was corrupt. I had the fish chowder soup, the steak encrusted with spinach and blue cheese served with sweet potato fries and the no sugar added chocolate mousse to eat.
At 8:50 Sheri and I had to slip away for show time. I enjoyed the Duets production show with the four English singers and the four musicians as usual. I went to sleep just after ten o'clock, having done twenty six thousand steps, equal to over ten miles of walking in Barcelona.
I awoke before six o'clock, when it was still dark. At 6:45 I had a chicken burrito with two grilled tomatoes al fresco a la terrazza, as the sun rose over the Mediterranean sea. I had one glass of orange juice diluted with sparkling water as usual. Back in my cabin, I worked on my laptop. At the launderettte, I bumped into Jim from Virginia.
Just after eight o'clock, I was the only person on the first shuttle bus into town. At the port gate, I popped into the little tourist information office to pick up some maps. I walked across town to the park on the hill, where I used the loo and turned on tracking. I went into the market hall, but there were only a few stalls in operation. I headed south to the fort which is now the Sea Theatre. I photographed the outside of the Maritime Museum and the Paul Valery Art Galley, but both were closed on Mondays? I went in the main tourist information office in town, but I had everything I needed already. Walking back to the port gates, we were held up by a swing bridge opening.
I then caught the shuttle bus, together with two walking parties, back to the ship. I checked on my clothes in the launderette, but they weren't dry, so I had to put them on again. That finished after five minutes, but one pair of underpants were still damp. Back in my cabin, I updated this blog.
At 11:30 I lunched on the leek & potato soup, followed by THREE beef medallions al fresco a la terrazza. I then slept for an hour and a half. On the quayside one of the Shorex chaps said that I had now been approved for escorting, but they were putting the red bags in a different place! I caught the 2:15 shuttle bus back to the town and headed off north to the station and the lovely little fishing village of La Pointe Courte. On the other side of the canal was the large Montpellier Sciences University marine biology station. Back in my cabin, I had a small chocolate bar from the fridge.
At 4:30 I went to the Marseille port talk. CD Dave began with a ten minute introduction, followed by twenty five minutes on the tours by Shorex Manageress Karin. At the end CD Dave gave a ten minute conclusion, including mentioning my first enrichment lecture. At 5:30 I did six lengths of the cool pool, with the roof just one third open. I then spent five minutes in the large rectangular hot tub.
At six o'clock Francisco, who I had met on my previous Viking Saturn cruises, set me up. At 6:30 CD Dave introduced me and I gave my forty minute talk on Vincent van Gogh: Painter of Provence. I had a few nice comments at the end.
At 7:30 I took Sheri from Philadelphia, Maggie orginally from Germany and her daughter Caroline from South Carolina to dinner in the Restaurant. I had the French onion soup, the duo of lamb and the baked Alaska to eat. At nine o'clock I enjoyed CD Dave's seventy minute long one man show. His songs included the Beach Boys "California Girl", the Monkees "I'm a believer", Elton John's "Your Song" and Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline". I went to sleep at 10:30 having done twenty one and a half thousand steps, equal to over eight miles of walking, during the day.
My alarm awoke me at 6:30 ready for two soft, warm rolls with ham and eggs for breakfast. I had one glass of orange juice, diluted with sparkling water to drink.
At eight o'clock I met guide Corine and driver Stephan at coach number five. We had just twenty guests to look after on the Wine Tasting tour to Le Castellet. We had an hour and a quarter's run out to the pretty hilltop village, which I was visiting for the third time. At the Frigate winery we had a tour of the factory and then tasted three wines: white, rose and red. We each got given two small pizzas to eat.
We got back to the ship at 1:30 where I had a bowl of the lentil & rosemary soup with tofu croutons and a teriyaki chicken croissant for lunch al fresco a la terrazza. I then slept for three quarters of an hour, before catching the three o'clock shuttle bus into Marseille. I popped into the tourist information office, before striding out along the quayside to get to St Victor's Abbey. However this was located above a cliff and it wasn't obvious where to climb up, so I turned on tracking and headed back. I went in the famous church of Saint-Ferreol, near where Medici Pope Clement VII married Catherine de Medici to King Henry II of France. At the Garden of Vestiges, I had to enter the Marseille Museum to get a free ticket to photograph the ancient quayside outside.
I caught the 4:30 shuttle bus back to the ship. Here I did six lengths of the cool pool and spent five minutes in the hot tub. At six o'clock Francisco set me up and at 6:30 I gave my forty minute talk on the Story of the Mediterranean Sea. At 7:30 with only one hour until line dancing by the pool, I opted for the BBQ buffet. Here I had the Provencal fish soup, FOUR king crab legs and the mixed grill from the BBQ to eat al fresco a la terrazza as the sun set across the Med.
At 8:30 I went to ACD Troy's line dance session by the pool. He taught the Electric Slide and another beginner dance, whilst vocalist Adam taught another dance. At nine o'clock the Dancing under the Stars proper started by the pool. All the vocalists plus CD Dave and ACD Troy sang songs. I joined in the conga and when the band played Elvis Presley's Hound Dog I did a jive with vocalist Emily. I was sat with Sheri, Maggie and Caroline during the session which lasted until 10:15. I went to bed soon after 10:30, having done nearly fifteen thousand steps, equal to six miles of walking during the day.
I awoke to the dawn just before six o'clock ready for my two croissants with scrambled egg and smoked salmon for breakfast al fresco a la terrazza as the sun came up.
At 8:25 I was on dispatch duty in the Star Theatre, before leading my group down to the tender. Unfortunately the Viking Star was also tendering into Villefranche that day as well, so the cruise terminal and the coach park were heaving with different groups. I met guide Sandrine with Viking Saturn paddle number 12 ready to lead our 20 guests, but discovered we would also have 8 guests from the Viking Star with paddle number 17, which I had to hold.
Eventually our bus could park in the limited number of spaces and at 9:55 we were finally off. We drove out on the lowest corniche around the headland into Nice, around the port and along the famous English Promenade. After an hour we got to Grasse where we had a guided tour of the Galimard perfumery, which I had visited previously. In the shop I was allowed to choose a gift, so I chose a lavender pouch for my pillow and a bar of lavender soap.
We then had a short run to Saint-Paul-de-Vence, for my third visit, this time in warm sunshine. After a short guided tour, I snacked on three chocolate bars and one small bag of peanuts brought from my minibar. I then tracked all the way round the ramparts, walked along the bottom of the west walls and went in the tourist information office. I slept on the one hour run back to the port.
The tender departed quickly, but soon hit heavy waves. The disembarkation onto the ship was the most testing I have ever seen due to the wind. Eventually we were all manhandled on to the tender platform. Earlier in the morning, I had learnt that the Viking Star wouldn't be able to berth in Marseille the next day due to the predicted wind.
At 5:15 I did six lengths of the cool pool and spent five minutes in the hot tub with the roof closed. At six o'clock I was on meet and greet duty outside the main restaurant with ACD Troy. We had newcomer Rhoda from Florida plus Sheri, Maggie, Caroline and Jim for the solo travellers dinner party. I had the dark mushroom soup, the feta cheese salad, the lamb chops and the no sugar added raspberry blast dessert to eat.
At 8:45 I had one glass of champagne in the Star theatre, where Viking Resident Historian (VRH) Kevin told me that we would be at the end of the crew parade at nine o'clock. I then watched the excellent Southern Sounds country music production show. I didn't get to sleep until 11:15, having done less than nine thousand steps, equal to less than four miles of walking during the day.
I awoke at seven o'clock ready for two croissants with smoked salmon and cheese al fresco a la terrazza under overcast skies for the first time this cruise. I caught the 9:15 shuttle bus into the city. I visited the great central market, the public library and the new fortress. I had to shell out one euro for the toilet in the latter place.
I then caught the 11:07 bus back to the ship. Here Xavier was still servicing the cabin. I then spoke to Shorex Manageress Karin to explain that I couldn't escort the afternoon tour to Lucca as it wouldn't get back until after six o'clock. At 11:30 I had an early lunch of potato soup followed by fish, chips and cauliflower cheese al fresco a la terrazza. I then slept for an hour and a half, broken up by Xavier replenishing the minibar.
I spent the afternoon working on my laptop, as it was too cold and windy to go out again. I went up to the Explorers observation lounge, but there was no self serve coffee on the counter. Instead I walked across to the World Cafe to have a decaff coffee from one of the machines.
At 4:30 I did one circuit of the top deck, but it was too chilly. There was snow on the Apennines, as there had been on the Alps in France. I descended to the all round promenade deck, but on both sides it was cordoned off for maintenance. At five o'clock I did six lengths of the cool pool and spent five minutes in the hot tub as usual. However my shins were beginning to itch with the chlorine, so it may curtail my future bathing.
At six o'clock Francisco set me up and at 6:30 I gave my forty minute talk on "Leonardo da Vinci: Greatest Artist of the Italian Renaissance?" At 7:30 I dined on the chickpea soup and the roast lamb al fresco a la terrazzza. At 8:30 I enjoyed the Night at the Opera show with the two professional Italian opera singers. They sang "O Mio Babbino Caro", "Volare", "Nessun Dorma" and "O Sole Mio" amongst other arias. They also did the funicular song from Naples and the Habanera from Carmen. I went to sleep at ten o'clock having done eleven thousand steps, equal to over four miles of walking during the day.
I awoke at 5:15 fifteen minutes before my alarm at 5:30 ready for the start of breakfast in the World Cafe at six o'clock. I had a small baguette with ham and cheese to eat and another one to take away for my packed lunch. I had one small glass of orange juice and two of sparkling water to drink. Back in my cabin, I backupped my photographs.
I was then ready to be on escort duty at 7:15 for the all day Florence On Your Own (OYO) tour. In the coach park I met guide Francesca, who I have worked with before, and driver Andrea. We had forty guests to take care of in the busy city. We had a fifteen minute comfort stop at the service station just outside Florence, before driving south of the city centre past the Roman south gate.
We disembarked from the coach at Piazzale Michelangelo, on the south east side of the city, with the famous view of the city. We descended the steps to the south bank of the Arno river, before crossing over to Holy Cross Place. At the Michelangelo leather shop we had two short demonstrations, before being set free. I walked ino the centre of the city and crossed the Old Bridge to reach the outside of the Pitti Palace. I then returned to the north bank, going past the Cathedral and St Lawrence's Church with the Medici Chapel behind.
I went in the huge central market and the main railway station, before reaching the old fortress. I then headed back across the north side of the city centre to the Holy Cross Place meeting place. We had a forty minute walk to the coach park on the west side of the city. There was again a short comfort break at a service station as we left the city. I dozed for half an hour on the return journey to the ship.
At 5:15 I did six lengths of the cool pool with the roof closed. As soon as I entered the hot tub my shins started itching with the chlorine, but I stayed for five minutes which was a mistake. At six o'clock I asked for a sharing table in the main Restaurant. I was joined by an English couple from Eastbourne and an Australian couple from Sydney. I had the cream of celeriac soup, the Caprese salad, the beef medallions and the no sugar added pear Belle Helene to eat. At nine o'clock I went to the Star theatre to hear the excellent ABBA Songbook production show with all their great songs. I went to sleep at 10:30, having done over twenty one thousand steps, equal to over eight miles of walking, during the day.
I awoke at 6:10 to the dawn, as I had left my curtains open. I got up at 6:30, ready for my continental breakfast of TWO mini baguettes with ham and cheese al fresco a la terrazza. I worked on my laptop until nine o'clock, when I moved out to the coach park. When the green bus arrived and was charging €6 to go into town and on to the station, I decided to start walking. However a free red bus then arrived, so I scooted back to jump on board. I was the only person to ride into town.
When I got there, I turned on tracking and walked south east along the coast past the pier to the sailing harbour. Here I turned off tracking and retreated back to the bus park via the town centre. I only had to wait five minutes for the shuttle bus back to the ship. Again I was the only person on board.
At 11:30 I lunched on the bean soup and the mixed grill for lunch al fresco a la terrazza. I then slept for nearly two hours, recovering from my long tour in Florence the previous day. At three o'clock I had a decaff coffee from the machine in the World Cafe. Back in my cabin, I worked on my laptop and backupped my photographs.
At six o'clock Francisco set me up and at 6:30 new Cruise Director (CD) Robert from Kent introduced me. I then gave my forty minute lecture on the Eruptions of Vesuvius. At 7:30 there was a long line to get into the main Restaurant, so when I got to the front it was too late for a sharing table. Instead I went up to the World Cafe buffet, where I had the red bell pepper soup, four king crab legs and the mixed grill to eat al fresco a la terrazza.
Back in my cabin, I watched my Vesuvius lecture on the television. I went to sleep at ten o'clock, but it was now eleven o'clock on summer time. During the day I had done thirteen and a half thousand steps, equal to five and half miles of walking.
Viking Resident Historian (VRH) Kevin McKedy wrote:
"I enjoyed working with you this past week and really enjoyed your lectures and our conversations.
Hope to work with you again on a future Viking cruise."
Guest Sheri wrote:
"I checked it out. Very thorough and interesting!!
I'm impressed with how much you walked!
I'm delighted to have met you and to be included in your comments.
Keep on cruising - maybe I'll be fortunate enough to spot you again in another cruise."
Another excellent cruise including:
* Visiting two hilltop villages in the South of France
* Giving three enrichment lectures
* Hosting the solo travellers
* Escorting three tours
* Walking!
1) "Vincent van Gogh: Painter of Provence" Discover the legendary works of Vincent van Gogh in the South of France. 2) "The Story of the Mediterranean Sea" Delve into the natural history and human history of this great sea. 3) "Leonardo da Vinci: Greatest Artist of the Italian Renaissance?" Learn about the life and works of this great polymath.
219 Cruises 58 Cruise ships (see below) 16 Cruise lines (see below) 7 Night cruise 5 Restaurants (MDR, CT, WC, PG, Manfredi's) 4 Continental breakfasts 4 Singers (Adam, Olly, Emily1 & Emily2) 4 Band members (Keys, Bass, Guitar & Drums) 3 Tours escorted 3 Enrichment Lectures given 3 Storey atrium 3 Hot tubs 3 Lamb dinners 3 Production shows 2 Lunches ashore 2 Steak dinners 2 Nightclub singers 2 Panoramic elevators 2 Cinemas 1 Mixed grill lunch 1 Double state room with picture window 1 Theatre (Star) 1 Nightclub (Torshavn) 1 Viking heritage museum 1 Classical guitarist 1 Classical duo 1 Cocktail pianist
Captain Atle Knutsen Cruise Director Dave Shelly / Soreff Ass. Cruise Director Troy Lathan Shorex Manager Karin Stage Managers Francisco Historian (VRH) Kevin McKedy Cultural Lecturer Martin P. Lee
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