| Flag: | Date: | Port: | Comment: |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
22nd May 2025 |
Civita- vecchia Italy |
Rome On My Own (OMO) |
|
23th May 2025 |
Naples Campania Italy |
Naples On My Own (OMO) |
|
24th May 2025 |
Messina Sicily Italy |
Milazzo and its castle |
|
26th May 2025 |
Bari Puglia Italy |
Trani by foot |
|
27th May 2025 |
Sibenik Dalmatia Croatia |
Croatian Towns & Winery |
|
28th May 2026 |
Chioggia Veneto Italy |
Scenic Chioggia by Foot |
|
29th May 2026 |
Chioggia Veneto Italy |
a.m. Beach p.m. City |
| Flag: | Date: | Port: | Comment: |
I awoke at 6:20 and had my usual continental breakfast at seven o'clock al fresco a la veranda. I made a second ham & cheese roll to take with me for my lunch in the city. At 7:20 Agus was servicing the cabin, so I moved up to the Explorers Lounge.
I left the ship at eight o'clock, walking along the quayside into town. I passed by Michelangelo's Castle, before reaching the railway station. After duelling with the ticket machine, I bought a single to Rome. The 8:40 train took only forty minutes into the Eternal city, where I alighted at the Ostiense station on the south side.
I walked a little way north to the famous white pyramid and its metro station, before walking along the inside of the great Aurelian wall. Further along, I had to walk outside the impressive wall to get to St Sebastian's Gate. Here just after ten o'clock, I went in the free Wall Museum (Museo della Mura) which included a short length of the sentry path.
I then headed north through the city centre to the Capitoline hill, at whose base I had my picnic, sat on a marble tomb. I next went in the free Ancient Art Museum (Museo di Scultura Antica Barracco) which was small, but perfectly formed. My final stop was at the free Napoleonic Museum which had some impressive paintings in period rooms.
I then caught the 14:20 stopping service from St Peter's station to Civitavecchia which took one hour. Back at the ship I slept for three quarters of an hour. I had a phone message from a Shorex lady to say that my two choices of Neapolitan tours were unavailable and would I like to choose again. I couldn't find her in the back office, so I decided to just do my own thing in Naples the next day.
At six o'clock I had the carrot soup and the roast lamb with white asparagus, green beans, orange sweet potato and a jacket potato with sour cream & bacon bits to eat. I had just one glass of sparkling water to drink. I was eating al fresco a la veranda with the huge bulk of the Allure of the Seas hovering behind our berth.
At 7:40 Francis(co) from Goa set me up and I then gave my forty five minute talk on the Eruptions of Vesuvius to a good sized audience. I spent the rest of the evening working on my laptop. I went to sleep at 10:30 having done nearly twenty five thousand steps, equal to ten miles of walking during the day.
I awoke at 6:15 having slept for nearly eight hours, after my long day in Rome. At 6:50 I had my usual continental breakfast al fresco a la veranda as we docked in Naples. A sudden downpour sent the waiters scurrying, but I was dry under the glass walkway.
At eight o'clock I walked off the ship and through the subway to the Municipio (Municipal City Hall) metro station, where I bought an all day ticket for €4.80. I took the next Line 1 train to the northern terminus, before doubling back to Vanvitelli station on the central hilltop. Unfortunately the Villa Floridiana park was closed, so I popped into a McCafe to use their loo instead.
I walked the short distance to St Elmo's Castle, which cost €5 to go in. It had fabulous views of Naples, Vesuvius and Capri. Inside the castle was a small modern art gallery. I photographed the outisde of St Martin's Monastery next door, before retreating to one of the three funicular railway stations on the hill top. I descended to Montesanto base station and walked back to the ship via Toledo street, the main drag.
At noon, I lunched on the bean & pasta soup, followed by the slow cooked brisket with green vegetables and potato dauphinoise. I ate al fresco a la veranda in the hot sunshine with great views of central Naples. I then slept for nearly an hour, before heading off out again.
I just missed the tram departing and so took the metro instead from Municipio to Garibaldi, the mainline station. Here I just photographed the sunken shopping mall, before taking the train back to Municipio station. I walked along Toledo street again to get to the Funiculare Centrale to go back up the hill. The Villa Floridiana park was now open, but I didn't have time to explore it.
I then took the third of the hilltop funicular railways back down to the Art Nouveau district of Chiaia. I walked back to the ship via the pedestrianised Via Chiaia. There was a great rally of Napoli football supporters in Plebiscite Place (Piazza Plebiscito).
Back at the ship, I updated this blog. At 5:15 I did six lengths of the cool pool with the roof just open one quarter in the warm sunshine, but cool wind. At six o'clock I hosted the solo travellers meet up with ACD Rick in the empty Wintergarden conservatory. We had Jude from Tennessee, Roseanne from Illinois and Tammy turn up. I had TWO glasses of bubbly to drink.
At 6:30 I led Jude & Roseanne down to the MDR, where Jan from the previous cruise's singles meet up also joined us. I had the parsnip soup, the steak Diane and the cassatta Neapolitana to eat. Having had champagne already, I just had sparkling water to drink. At 8:30 I picked up my next escort assignment from the back office.
At nine o'clock I enjoyed the Stage Door musical theatre production show with the three English singers (Andrew, Sam and Kara) and the one Australian vocalist, accompanied by a pianist and backing tracks. I have heard this show several times on various Viking ships, and always love the three great Cockney musicals: Oliver, Mary Poppins and My Fair Lady. As usual they finished with a medley of Les Mis songs. I went to bed at 10:15 having done twenty three and a half thousand steps, equal to over nine miles of walking during the day.
I awoke at 5:40 to the dawn, twenty minutes before my alarm. At 6:30 when the buffet opened, I had my usual continental breakfast of ham and cheese on a toasted English muffin al fresco a la veranda. Back in my cabin, I worked on my Italy presentation. When Agus came at 7:20 to service the cabin, I moved up to the Explorers Lounge, where we were already berthed in Messina.
At eight o'clock I was on the quayside with guide Beatrice and driver Andrea alongside a new full size coach. We only had fifteen guests to look after on the tour to Milazzo and its Castle. There was a forty five minute run from the east coast to the north coast of Sicily. We had photo stops at viewpoints on both coasts, before reaching Milazzo.
There was a bit of a climb up cobble paths to the huge castle on the hill. There was a Norman keep from the 12th century and Swabian walls from the 13th century. The Aragonese/Spanish outer walls were added from 1490 to 1520. Inside these was the deconsecrated cathedral built from 1608 and a Benedictine monastery erected from 1616.
There were 360 degree views from the top of the keep out to Vulcano and Lipari, two of the Aeolian Islands looking north and the city of Milazzo looking south. We had three quarters of an hour free time in the newer city, which I spent walking along the tree lined prom.
Back at the ship at two o'clock, I had lunch al fresco a la veranda sat with Jan from Boston overlooking the Celebrity Ascent berthed behind us. I have been on five Celebrity ships, including the Apex and Edge which are identical to the Ascent, all with a Magic Carpet cantilevered bar and infinity balconies. I had the butternut squash soup followed by the fish, chips and mushy peas to eat. I had just two glasses of sparkling water to drink.
I then slept for just twenty minutes until awoken. Having already met my step quota for the day, I decided against going ashore again with such a long walk back from the cruise terminal. At 4:30 I did six lengths of the cool pool with the roof closed as it was overcast, but thankfully it hadn't rained during the day.
At 5:30 Derek set me up ready to give my forty minute talk entitled "Welcome to Italy!" at 6:15. I need to add a geology section to this lecture. At the end of my lecture, Jerry & Betty from Houston asked me to join them for dinner in the buffet. I had the French onion soup, the mixed grill and the no sugar added sorbet with dried raspberries to eat. I had just two glasses of sparkling water to drink.
At nine o'clock I enjoyed Tony K. Irving's show time. He began with "Boogie Shoes" followed by a Stevie Wonder song. His first musical theatre number was the "I, Don Quixote" waltz from "Man of La Mancha", NOT "The Impossible Dream" which is the principal song and the only standard from that show. His version of Paul McCartney's "Yesterday" was beautiful. For the first time in ten days, I had trouble keeping awake. I went to sleep at 10:30 having done ten and a half thousand steps, equal to over four miles of walking during the day.
I awoke at 6:50 and got up at seven o'clock having slept for over eight hours. All the walking in Rome and Naples had caught up with me! For breakfast I had one egg Royale and one egg Benedict to eat with just one glass of sparkling water to drink. I had to eat it inside as it was too windy on the aft veranda. Back in my cabin, I worked on my laptop.
At nine o'clock Derek set me up ready for me to give my forty minute Architecture talk at 9:30. It was early on a sea day and the ship was rocking, so I had a small but appreciative audience. A couple of people came up to me at the end to ask about Fascist and Egyptian buildings, which I have since added.
Back in my cabin, I updated both my Architecture and Italy lectures. At 11:30 I had a Viking burger and chips to eat with just one glass of sparkling water to drink. At noon I slept for one hundred minutes, still catching up on my exertions.
At two o'clock I attended the line dance session. Tara began with a warm up to Ed Sheeran's "Shivers" facing us as she taught. She followed this with their version of the Electric Slide with two extra grapevines, which initially caused problems for those guests who knew the orginal version, danced to "Achy, Breaky, Heart". Next we did a version of "5,6,7,8" to the famous Steps song. Finally she taught their version of "Watermelon Crawl", this time with her back to us as usual. At the end we did the original version of the Electric Slide to "Achy, Breaky, Heart".
Afterwards I had a decaff cappuccino from the coffee machine. I then worked on my Croatia lecture and Sibenik photos. At 4:30 CD Jenna gave a ten minute introduction to Bari, followed by Jilly's fifteen minutes on the tours. CD Jenna finished up with a five minute conclusion to the half hour long port talk. I sat at the back with Jude as Roseann moved nearer the front of the Star theatre.
Afterwards I went up to the main pool, but it was netted over because of the rough seas, so I spent just four minutes in the large rectangular hot tub which was still open. At 5:30 I sat at the top of the Atrium for the Explorers Society entertainment, where I had one glass of bubbly. Both CD Jenna and ACD Rick sang songs, as did the four vocalists.
At six o'clock I moved down one floor to the MDR where I hosted a sharing table. I had two couples, both from New South Wales, but who hadn't met each other before. I had the spicy corn chowder soup, the Wiener Schnitzel with potato salad and the no sugar added poached pear with vanilla ice cream to eat. I had several glasses of sparkling water to drink.
At nine o'clock I went to hear the electric violinist Sara from Poland. She began with a Metallica piece followed by the Godfather theme. Next came the beautiful Swan from the Carnival of the Animals by Saint-Saens. She then sang Meatloaf's "I'd do anything for love" as she played the piano. There were other tunes which I didn't know, including a tango. For the second night running I had trouble staying awake. I went to sleep at ten o'clock having done only four thousand steps, equal to less then two miles of walking during the sea day.
I awoke to my alarm at six o'clock to the sunshine, but I had been awake earlier in the morning. At 6:30 I had my usual ham & cheese muffin for breakfast al fresco a la veranda in the bright sunshine. Back in cabin, I worked on my laptop. When Agus came to service the cabin at 7:20, I ascended to the Explorers Observation Lounge, as we berthed in Bari.
At eight o'clock I met guide 'Lucky' Luciano and driver 'Peppino' Guiseppe by coach number five. We had just twenty six guests to care for on the morning tour to the ancient port town of Trani along the coast from Bari. The run north took less than an hour on the autostrada. We walked past the huge castle and the Romanesque cathedral, but the latter was closed.
On the quayside of the little port we were given an hour of free time, so I continued around to the lighthouse on the far side. I explored a lovely seaside park, before returning to the meeting place. The walking tour continued through the old Jewish district to the ancient synagogue which was open for us. The run south also took less than an hour on the autostrada.
Back at the ship, I had the seafood chowder soup and the pork medallions sat with Roseann and Jude al fresco a la veranda. I then dozed for just twenty minutes. At 2:30 I caught the shuttle bus into the city, but it would have been just as quick to have walked in. I began on the ramparts on the east side of the old town, before exploring the narrow alleyways and arches. I was very impressed with St Nicholas's church, but declined to pay to go in the cathedral. The castle was closed on Mondays. I caught the final shuttle bus back to the ship at 4:30. I then watched the pre-recorded port talk on Sibenik on the television in my cabin, so I didn't have time for a swim. At 5:45 Francis(co) set me up ready to give my forty minute talk on Croatia at 6:15.
At 7:15 I sat at the bar in the Living Room ready to meet Jan from Boston outside Manfredi's Italian restaurant. We had a table for two by a window. I began with an Italian bread roll dipped in olive oil & balsamic vinegar with chunks of Parmesan cheese to nibble on. We continued with the veal carpaccio. I had the large penne pasta of the day with Bolognese sauce, whereas Jan had carbonara sauce on hers. My main course was the Florentine beef steak, but it was rather fatty. I finished with the delicious tiramisu. I had TWO glasses of Tuscan red wine to drink. The meal ran on, so I missed Tony K. Irving's show time. I went to bed at 10:30 having done twenty thousand steps, equal to eight miles of walking during the day.
I awoke at 5:40, twenty minutes before my alarm, having slept for over seven hours. At 6:30 I had my usual continental breakfast al fresco a la veranda as the sun rose. I moved along to the Explorers Lounge to watch the sail in to Sibenik along the St Anthony's Channel between the limestone cliffs.
Just after eight o'clock I met guide Igor from Moldova and driver Zoran from Croatia at bus number four for the Croatian Towns & Family Winery tour. We had twenty eight guests and there were two no-shows. There was a short ride to the bus station, followed by a walk along the prom. One couple opted out at the first cafe, whilst the rest of the party continued through the old town. Our tour didn't include admission to the cathderal.
Back on the prom, the couple who had opted out of the walk rejoined us. Back at the bus station, the two no-shows had turned up, so we now had thirty guests to look after. We drove through the low forests to the Krka (pronouced Kerka) gorge.
At Skradin we had another guided walk, whilst some guests stayed on the coach. At the family winery we had full glasses of two white and two red wines. We had several different breads to eat with two different olive oils.
The early lunch began with a starter plate of cheese, ham and salad items. This was followed by a clear smoked meat broth and a bowl of tuna (?) risotto. At the end we had a small chocolate brownie and several sweetened figs to eat. I slept on the way back to the ship and continued sleeping for another three quarters of an hour in my cabin.
At 3:30 I ventured out again to the new shopping mall and old market. I circled the old town photographing more of the sights than on the morning's guided walk. Back at the ship, having walked just over two more miles, I worked in my cabin, but didn't have time for a swim.
Just after six o'clock, I went to the MDR, where I sat with a couple from Central Florida and a mother & daughter from south east Georgia. The latter was a college professor teaching writing. I had my favourite split pea soup, the Croatian lamb and the no sugar added cherry tart with cherry mousse to eat. I had just two glasses of sparkling water to drink. At eight o'clock I picked up my escort assignment for the next day in Chioggia. At nine o'clock I went to the Farewell show time which featured prominent singer/songwriters such as Carol King, Dolly Parton and Billy Joel. I went to sleep at eleven o'clock, having done nearly fifteen thousand steps, equal to six miles of walking, during the day.
I awoke bang on six o'clock, an hour and a half before my alarm, having slept for seven hours. At seven o'clock I had a cooked breakfast minus any eggs or cheese al fresco a la veranda. When Agus was servicing the cabin at 7:20, I retreated to the Explorers Lounge.
At 8:45 Ravi set me up ready for me to give my forty minute lecture on Shakespeare & Italy. I had some questions to field at the end. I spent the morning putting my Bari photos into a PowerPoint presentation. At eleven o'clock I had my second Viking burger and chips of this cruise on the Viking Sea. I then slept for an hour and a half.
At 2:30 I moved out to the quayside where I met temporary guide Julia and the group 33 lollipop. We embarked on a ferry for the ten minute run to the centre of Chioggia. Here we met guide Carla, who led us on a forty five minute included walking tour. We ended at the minor basilica, when guests could either walk back to the boat dock or walk all the way back to the ship (about half a mile.)
I chatted to a gent who spoke Croatian and who didn't like some of my pronounciations. He did however admit that he had learnt new things from my lecture. I continued exploring, going into the cathedral. Outside I met a man who praised my Shakespeare talk that morning. I walked alongside two of the canals and was very impressed with Chioggia. I followed the guide's instructions to walk back to the ship.
At six o'clock I dined alone in the MDR as there were only 270 guests on board. Most people were on evening tours to Venice, which is a one and a half hour boat ride from Chioggia. I had the minestrone soup, the crab ravioli, the sirloin steak with chips and the cannoli Siciliana to eat. I had just two glasses of sparkling water to drink. For the first time this cruise, I felt stuffed!
Back in my cabin, I worked on my Bari presentation. At eight o'clock I watched the Luciano Pavarotti biopic in the Star theatre. After two hours there was only one guest left there with me. I nabbed a small bag of popcorn on the way out. I went to sleep just after ten o'clock having done nine and a half thousand steps, equal to nearly four miles of walking, during the day.
I awoke at six o'clock as usual, having slept for nearly eight hours. At seven o'clock I had my usual continental breakfast al fresco a la veranda. Back in my cabin, Agus had already been busy, so I was able to work on my Bari presentation.
At 8:30 I left the ship to walk the two miles to the huge beach. I then headed north along the promenade another mile to Forte San Felice and the new tidal gates facility at the Venetian Lagoon's southern entrance.
I got back to the ship at 11:15, having walked six miles during the morning. I had an early lunch al fresco a la veranda of lentil and frankfurter soup followed by chicken cordon bleu. I then slept for one hour.
At 2:20 I walked back into town to photograph Chiesa di San Domenico and the Museo Diocesano, which I had missed on my earlier walks around Chioggia. Back at the ship at three o'clock, I had a diet coke as I worked on my laptop. At five o'clock I did six lengths of the pool with the roof fully open for the first time.
At six o'clock I adjourned to the MDR where I sat with a Lutheran couple from New Jersey. We ordered and they cleared away the empty place settings, but then a couple from Melbourne, Australia arrived and so the place settings had to be reinstated. I had the Italian potato soup, the Norwegian salmon and the Cassata Neapolitana to eat. I had several glasses of sparkling water to drink.
At eight o'clock I picked up my next escorting assignment from the back office. Back in my cabin, I updated this blog giving the war movie a miss. I started work on my Chioggia PowerPoint presentation. I went to bed at ten o'clock, having done over twenty thousand steps during the day, equal to eight miles of walking.
1) "Eruptions of Vesuvius" 2) "Welcome to Italy!" 3) "The Story of Western Architecture" 4) "Welcome to Croatia!" 5) "Shakespeare & Italy"
205 Cruises 55 Cruise ships (see below) 16 Cruise lines (see below) 7 Night cruise 5 Enrichment lectures given (see above) 5 Continental breakfasts 5 Restaurants (MDR, CT, WC, PG, Manfredi's) 4 New places (Milazzo, Trani, Bari & Skradin) 4 Tours escorted 4 Singers (???) 4 Band members (Keys, 2 Guitars & Drums) 3 Beef dinners 3 Storey atrium 3 Hot tubs 3 Pools 2 Lamb dinners 2 Viking burgers & chips 2 Cooked breakfasts 2 Production shows 2 Nightclub singers 2 Panoramic elevators 2 Cinemas 1 New port (Chioggia) 1 Lunch on tour (Sibenik) 1 Mixed grill dinner 1 Veal dinner 1 Fish & chips lunch 1 Beef lunch 1 Pork lunch 1 Chicken 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 Magnus Bergman Cruise Director Jenna Beaudoin Ass. Cruise Director Rick Woska Shorex Manager Yily (pronounced Jilly) Stage Managers Sumeet, Derek, Francis(co), Sabrina & Ravi Resident Historian Charles Armstrong Cultural Lecturer Martin P. Lee from BoMoH
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