| Flag: | Date: | Port: | Comment: |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
28th Mar. 2026 |
Civita- vecchia Italy |
Turn around day |
|
29th Mar. 2026 |
Naples Campania Italy |
Naples On My Own (OMO) |
|
30th Mar. 2026 |
Messina Sicily Italy |
Murgo Winery & Scenic tour |
|
31st Mar. 2026 |
Crotone Calabria Italy |
Crotone On My Own (OMO) |
|
1st Mar. 2026 |
Bari Puglia Italy |
Taste of Altamura tour |
 |
2nd Mar. 2026 |
Sibenik Dalmatia Croatia |
Historic Split & Diocletian's Palace |
|
3rd Apr. 2026 |
Fusina Veneto Italy |
Venice On My Own (OMO) |
|
4th Apr. 2026 |
Fusina Veneto Italy |
Turn around day |
| Flag: | Date: | Port: | Comment: |
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.
I awoke at 5:40 to the dawn, but it was now 6:40 on Italian summer time. At 7:20 I had just one small baguette with bacon and cheese to eat al fresco a la terrazza. Back in my cabin, we were just entering the Bay of Naples. Whilst we were berthing, I sorted out my next few lectures.
I was one of the first off the ship just after nine o'clock. I spent €5.40 (£4.69) on an all day ticket for the Metro and the Funicular railways. I got on the Metro at the City Hall (Municipio) station and then walked along the lengthy interchange between the Museum (Museo) station and Piazza Cavour to get on the mainline service to San Giovanni Barra. Here I walked to the black sand beach and then back via the tram garage.
I then caught the mainline train all the way across the city centre to Mergellina station, where I walked down to the Funicular station on the coast. Unfortunately this was closed on Sundays. I retook the service to the Piazza Cavour / Museo interchange, but on the Metro I found that I was going in the wrong direction! I stayed on until we reached Vanvitelli near the top of the hill. Here I got on the Funicolare Centrale to go back down and then walked back to the ship.
I had the corn chowder soup and the monkfish, chips and beans for lunch al fresco a la terrazza. I then slept for over an hour, before heading out again. I walked back to catch the Funicolare Centrale going back up the hill, where I recorded my piece to camera at the balcony with Vesuvius in the background. I photographed both the Old Castle and St Martin's Monastery as usual. At the Montesanto funicular station I had a run-in with the officials and so beat a hasty retreat. Instead I took the Chaia funicular to go down the hill again. I then walked along the expensive shopping street to my favourite pedestrianised lane and Plebiscite Place.
I got back to the ship at five o'clock and did six lengths of the cool pool, but gave the hot tub a miss. At six o'clock I helped host the solo travellers with CD Robert from Kent and ACD Troy from the Philippines in the Wintergarden. I had two glasses of champagne to drink on an empty stomach. We had Rhona, who was travelling with her sister, Cassie from near Detroit in Michigan and Tim a travel writer from Toronto in Canada join us. I led the last two down to the main Restaurant, where I had the Caprese salad, the bean soup, the tenderloin of beef and the no sugar added raspberry mousse to eat. When the table broke up before eight o'clock, I worked in my cabin.
At nine o'clock I went to Philip Browne's excellent show time. He is a black bass baritone from London. He sang great songs by Barry White, Michael Buble, Elton John, Louis Armstrong, Prince, Nat King Cole, Paul Robeson and Lionel Ritchie. You can probably guess what most of them were, as they are all great standards. I went to sleep at ten o'clock having done twenty five thousand steps, equal to ten miles of walking during the day.
I awoke to the dawn at 6:20, ten minutes before my alarm was due to go off. We had just sailed past Stromboli, the lighthouse of the Mediterranean. At seven o'clock I had one egg royale croissant and one egg royale pot al fresco a la terrazza to eat for breakfast. At 7:15 Xavier was just finishing the servicing of my cabin. I then adjourned to the Explorers observation lounge to watch the passage through the Strait and the berthing in Messina.
At 9:15 I met driver Salvatore and guide Lara, who I did the same tour with last year, but from Catania not Messina. We had thirty four guests to look after on the Murgo Winery & Scenic Countryside tour. First came the winery tour with the bottling plant not in full production. We sampled five wines: sparkling white, sparkling rose, still white and two red wines.
We had ham, salami, cheese, olives, tapenade and sun dried tomatoes to eat with rustic bread chunks. Our next stop was at a honey and jam establishment, with some more wines to sample. Our final stop was at the 1992 lava flow on the side of Mount Etna. I dozed on the drive back to the ship and again for half an hour in my cabin.
At 5:15 I did six lengths of the cool pool, but didn't go in the hot tub. At six o'clock Francisco set me up and at 6:30 I gave my forty minute talk entitled Welcome to Italy. At 7:30 I asked for a sharing table and I was soon joined by Robert & Peggy Ulrich from Tennessee and Florida. He had worked for IBM and loved railways and roller coasters, so we talked about IBM Boca Raton and the Durango & Silverton steam railway. I had the courgette soup, the pork chop and the no sugar added mango syllabub to eat.
At nine o'clock I went to hear the excellent Stage Door musical theatre production show with the usual songs. I always like the Cockney musicals like Mary Poppins and Oliver. They finished with their usual Les Miserables finale. I went to sleep at 10:50 having done less than five thousand steps, equal to only two miles of walking during the day.
I got up just after six o'clock, ready for one small baguette with ham and cheese to eat al fresco a la terrazza for breakfast. Back in my cabin, I had to answer some emails. Just after eight o'clock, I was one of the first off the ship, walking into the old town. I climbed up to the castle, but it hadn't opened yet. I explored the narrow streets of the old town, going in several little churches.
After the fruit market, I turned off tracking and posted my explorations on FaceBook. Back up at the castle, it had now opened and I shelled out €2 to go in. I was able to get some good photographs from the battlements. Back at the ship, I updated this blog.
At 11:30 I had a bowl of Provencal soup followed by veal saltimbocca al fresco a la terrazza for lunch. At noon I slept for two hours, before heading out again. I walked from the new port to the old port, but the dark clouds were gathering, so I retreated via the foot of the castle. At the port gate, I jumped on the port bus, which goes only a few hundred yards to the new cruise terminal.
At 3:30 CD Robert interviewed me in the broadcast centre for his daily TV programme. I then worked on my laptop updating my presentations, but not Crotone, as ships rarely call here. At five o'clock I did six lengths of the cool pool, before getting dressed for my next talk. At six o'clock Francisco set me up and at 6:30 CD Robert introduced me for a third time. I then gave my forty minute talk on Shakespeare & Italy.
At 7:30 I had the vegetable soup, FIVE king crab legs and the BBQ mixed grill with gnocchi and beans to eat in the Aquavit double height bar. At 8:30 I went to the line dancing by the pool where ACD Troy taught the Electric Slide and another beginner dance. Then vocalist Adam taught another dance with music by the house band. At nine o'clock the disco started. I did two jives with the dark haired Emily and one jive with the blonde haired Emily. I went to sleep at 10:15 having done over nineteen thousand steps, equal to eight miles of walking, during the day.
I awoke to my alarm at six o'clock to an overcast morning. I had just one mini-baguette with ham and cheese al fresco a la terrazza to eat for breakfast. Back in my cabin, I watched my performance on the Viking TV daily show with CD Robert.
At 8:15 I met guide Lella and driver Graziano at bus number four. We had twenty five guests to look after on the Taste of Altamura tour. It took one hour to reach the High Wall city of Altamura. We walked through the Bari Gate on to the main street. At the centre of the city, we went in the impressive cathedral.
Our next stop was at an ancient wood fired bakery, where we sampled foccacia, local pretzels and bread soaked in olive oil and oregano. We had red wine to drink, which I diluted with Pellegrino sparkling water. There was only one loo, so I waited until the end before using it. We then continued our walking tour of the ancient city, before catching the coach back to the port.
I had a bowl of tomato soup and a Caesar salad augmented with tomatoes, olives, cucumber and a piece of cheese to eat in the Aquavit bar. I then slept for one hour. When I awoke it was raining, so I decided not to go ashore again. Instead I worked on my laptop.
At 4:30 I went to the Sibenik port talk. CD Robert began with an eight minute introduction, followed by twenty two minutes of Shorex Karin on the tours. She revealed that we would be tendering into the port, not directly into the downtown area. This was due to the Bora / Boreas cold north wind preventing passage along the narrow St Anthony's Channel into Sibenik. CD Robert finished with a six minute conclusion.
At 5:20 I did six lengths of the cool pool. At six o'clock Francisco set me up as usual ready to give my Welcome to Croatia lecture. At 6:30 CD Robert introduced me as usual and I gave my forty minute talk.
At 7:30 I met Viking Resident Historian (VRH) Prof Peter L Hahn at the main Restaurant. We asked for a table for two in order to converse together. He told me about his academic career at a Weslyan college, at Vanderbilt University, at Ohio State and at Penn State (not the State Penn)! I had the clam chowder, the pear salad, the fabulous lamb shank and the no sugar added cold baked apple to eat.
At nine o'clock, I went to Phillip Browne's great second show time. He did Josh Turner's "Soft & Slow", Lionel Richie's "Three Times a Lady", Nat King Cole's "Face the Music" and Louis Armstrong's "Wondeful World". However I didn't know the two Barry White songs, nor the Lion King song that he covered. He also sang "Stars" from Les Mis and "Some Enchanted Evening" from South Pacific. I went to sleep at 10:30 having done only five and a half thousand steps, equal to just over two miles of walking, during the day.
I awoke to my alarm at six o'clock ready for a mini-baguette with cheese and bacon, as there was no ham available. At 7:40 Xavier came to service the cabin, so I moved up to the Explorers observation lounge, where I had an orange juice diluted with sparkling water.
Back in my cabin, just before eight o'clock I had a call of nature, so I got to the Star theatre at 8:05. At first I didn't realise that my group number one had already been called. When I got to the gangway the tender had already departed. I got on to the next tender away, but when I got ashore bus number one had already left. Instead they put me on bus number 5 going to Diocletian's Roman palace in Split. I had been looking forward to going to Vrana Lake & the Dalmatian Heritage tour.
I met guide Tanya who I had worked with in April 2025, when I had been lecturing on the Viking Star. We drove out along the motorway, but had to turn off on to the old road because of the Bora / Boreas cold north wind. This slowed down our arrival into Split and our return to Zablace tender port.
We began at the one euro toilets, before entering Diocletian's famous palace. We entered the basement rooms, which I had not been in before, but they are not dissimilar to the freely accessible subterranean parts. We then heard three locals singing a capella in the dome room. The cathedral was closed until noon, in preperation for Maundy Thursday celebrations. Instead we went into the baptistery in the Roman temple to Jupiter, which I had also not been in before.
During the free time, I sat on the red Luxor cushions in the Roman Peristyle to eat my packed lunch of nuts, chocolate and apple brought from the ship. Afterwards, I found a fifty cent loo, and turned on tracking as I walked around Split. Back at the coach park, the other two Viking coaches departed, but ours was fifteen minutes late. I chatted to a couple who had enjoyed my lectures, particularly the one on Shakespeare and Italy. On the return journey I slept for half an hour, until we had the views overlooking Trogir.
Back at the Zablace tender port, I took a few photographs on my first visit here, before boarding the tender. I sat and chatted to Cassie from Detroit, who had been to the Krka waterfalls in the morning and Sibenik in the afternoon. The disembarkation from the tender was not quite as dramatic as the previous cruise had been in Villefranche-sur-Mer, but some waves were splashing the guests.
Back in the living room, I had two shrimp open sandwiches to eat as a late lunch. I made the mistake of ordering a soda water, which I had to pay for. Back in my cabin, I updated this blog. I didn't have time for my usual daily swim.
Just after six o'clock, I was placed on a sharing table in the main restaurant. I was joined by Connie from Western Pennsylvania and Patricia from San Diego. Later we were joined by Walter and wife from Sydney. I had the duck soup, the poached salmon with boiled potatoes and the no sugar added rhubarb dessert to eat. I felt bloated for the first time these two cruises.
At nine o'clock I went to the crew parade where I had one glass of champagne. This was followed by the excellent Beatles Songbook production show. I went to sleep at eleven o'clock having done ten thousand steps, equal to four miles of walking during the day.
I got up at 6:15 ready for the full English breakfast in the Aquavit double height bar at the back of the World Cafe buffet, as it was too chilly to sit out al fresco a la terrazza as usual. I spent the morning working on my laptop and backing up my photographs.
At 10:30 I moved out to the dispatch area, where we waited for the ferry across the lagoon to Venice. Unfortunately an elderly lady fell over a step and we were delayed by a quarter of an hour. The run across to the Most Serene Republic (La Serenissima) took forty minutes. I walked into Saint Mark's Place (Piazza di San Marco) and turned on tracking. I recorded my piece to camera in front of the porphyry Tetrarchs statues in front of Saint Mark's Basilica. The latter was closed for Good Friday. I walked under the famous clock tower to get to the Rialto bridge.
I then headed to the North Eastern quayside, which was shady with a cool breeze in the warm sunshine. At the Naval Dockyard (Arsenale) I turned south to return to our ferry dock. I then awaited the departure of the 1:45 tender. We were just five minutes late leaving, this time as a lady awaited her confused husband. The return trip across the lagoon also took forty minutes.
Back at the ship, I had two smoked salmon and scrambled egg open sandwiches to eat. I then slept for an hour and a half. At 5:20 I did six lengths of the cool pool with the roof fully open for the first time in a week.
Back in my cabin, Xavier was already doing the turn down service. He had restocked the minibar with small Norwegian chocolate bars and bags of mixed nuts, but I had to remind him to provide some small bottles of soda water.
At six o'clock I asked for a sharing table in the main Restaurant. I was joined by Claudia from Pennsylvania, Gail from North Carolina, Marie and her daughter Kim from Auckland and Prof Peter from Ohio. I had the potato soup, the tempura prawns (labelled as shrimps!) and the no sugar added blueberry Bavarois dessert to eat.
At 8:30 I went to the local Italian pianist's forty minute show time. He began with opera arias by Verdi, Respighi and Puccini. He played "La Donna e Mobile" and "Nessun Dorma". Next came some Chopin, before continuing with some movie music, including the theme from the Godfather and a piece by Ennio Morricone. He finished with "Funiculi/Funicula", "O Sole Mio" and the inevitable "Time to say Goodbye". I went to sleep at 10:30 having done nearly twelve thousand steps, nearly equal to five miles of walking during the day.
I awoke at 6:50 having slept for over eight hours. At 7:30 I had one mini-baguette with ham & cheese to eat and one glass of orange juice with sparkling water to drink. At 7:45 I left the ship and walked the nearly two miles to the Point public ferry terminal (Fusina Punta). The next departure wasn't until nine o'clock and it cost €10 one way and €15 return, so I turned off tracking and retraced my steps.
Back at the ship, I worked on my laptop. When Xavier came to service the cabin at ten to ten, I went up to the World Cafe for a decaff cappuccino coffee. At eleven o'clock I had a bowl of corn chowder soup and BBQ pork ribs for lunch al fresco a la terrazza. I then dozed for one hour.
At one o'clock I caught the complimentary shuttle boat across the lagoon to Venice. I was sat at the back of the top deck with Adam and the two Emilys. This time I headed west to the Accademia bridge to check out the Zattere landing point where the public ferry from Fusina Punta comes in. I posted the first half of my afternoon's walk and then started tracking again. I walked back via an inland route to avoid the crowds, but I still ended up traversing Saint Mark's Place (Piazza San Marco).
At four o'clock I took the shuttle boat back to the ship, sitting at the back with one of the Emily and two of the Filipinos. Back in my cabin, I updated this blog, but gave the swimming pool a miss as my shins were itchy again.
At six o'clock I asked for a sharing table in the main Restautrant. I was joined by Janette from Arizona, Liz from Georgia and a Chinese couple from Boston, Mass. I had the hot carrot soup, the pear salad, the chicken Kiev and the no sugar added mango tango to eat. After dinner I collected my next day's escorting assignment which started at 6:15 am!
At 8:30 I went to the Italian piano recital for the second time in two days. He began with Mascagni's Intermezzo, followed by two arias by Verdi. He continued with three pieces by Puccini, followed by Respighi and Chopin. He played a film score from the Godfather movie and others by Ennio Moricone. He finished with the Funicular song, with "O Sole Mio" and inevitably with "Time to Say Goodbye". I went to bed at 9:30 having done over twenty thousand steps, equal to over eight miles of walking during the day.
Viking Resident Historian (VRH) Prof Peter L. Hahn from Ohio State University wrote:
"It was nice to meet you in person on Sunday evening before your talk about Vesuvius."
Guest Walter Krechkin from Sydney wrote:
"Interesting conversation, pleasure meeting you."
Another excellent cruise including:
* Visiting four new places:
San Giovanni Barra di Napoli
Mergellina di Napoli
Altamura in Puglia
Zablace near Sibenik
* Giving four enrichment lectures
* Escorting three tours
1) "Eruptions of Vesuvius" Discover the fate of Pompeii and Herculaneum. 2) "Welcome to Italy!" Explore the geography, geology, history and culture of this great country. 3) "Shakespeare and Italy" Find out why William Shakespeare set so many of his plays in Italy. 4) "Welcome to Croatia!" Explore the geography, geology, history and culture of the land of a thousand islands.
220 Cruises 58 Cruise ships (see below) 16 Cruise lines (see below) 7 Night cruise 5 Restaurants (MDR, CT, WC, PG, Manfredi's) 5 Continental breakfasts 4 Singers (Adam, Olly, Emily1 & Emily2) 4 Band members (Keys, Bass, Guitar & Drums) 4 Enrichment Lectures given 3 Tours escorted 3 Storey atrium 3 Hot tubs 3 Wi-fi connections (laptop and two phones) 2 Lunches ashore 2 Production shows 2 Nightclub singers 2 Panoramic elevators 2 Cinemas 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 Robert Brendan Ass. Cruise Director Troy Lathan Shorex Manager Karin Stage Managers Francisco Historian (VRH) Prof Peter L. Hahn Cultural Lecturer Martin P. Lee
* Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines * Saga Shipping Company * Voyages of Discovery * Seabourn (Carnival) * Princess (Carnival) * Cunard (Carnival) * P&O (Carnival) * Celebrity (RCCL) * Silversea (RCCL) * Regent SS (NCL) * Oceania (NCL) * Marella (TUI) * Ambassador * Azamara * Crystal * Viking
Black Prince Black Watch Borealis Boudicca Balmoral Braemar Bolette Silver Whisper Silver Spirit Silver Wind Silver Muse Silver Moon Silver Dawn Viking Sea Viking Sky Viking Star Viking Saturn Viking Neptune Oceania Nautica (R5) Oceania Sirena (R4) Oceania Riviera Oceania Marina Oceania Vista Celebrity Silhouette Celebrity Solstice Celebrity Eclipse Celebrity Edge Celebrity Apex Saga Rose Saga Ruby Saga Sapphire Saga Pearl II Quest for Adventure Spirit of Adventure (Old SofA) Spirit of Adventure (New SofA) Spirit of Discovery Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2) Queen Elizabeth (QE) Queen Victoria (QV) Queen Mary 2 (QM2) P&O Arcadia P&O Aurora P&O Oriana P&O Iona Azamara Journey (R6) Azamara Quest (R7) Crystal Symphony Crystal Serenity Seabourn Odyssey Seabourn Sojourn Ambassador Ambience Ambassador Ambition Regent Seven Seas Mariner Regent Seven Seas Splendor Sapphire Princess Caribbean Princess Marella Explorer VoD Discovery