Our 2024 Viking World Cruise

A 124-day adventure by CathyJon Read more

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Our 2024 Viking World Cruise Traveler
Canary Islands, Tenerife, Spain
April 24, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 63 °F
This morning, we took a walking excursion in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the capital of the Canary Islands, a beautiful island off the northwest coast of Africa. Santa Cruz has been named as one of the top 10 small cities in the world to live.

200,000 residents live here enjoying a comfortable pace of life. Much history and a great variety of architecture, old buildings, churches, great parks, clean city and lots of shopping and restaurants; lovely beaches, too.

We had a great walking guide who coaxed us through a leisurely pace. We visited the beautiful church of St. Francis of Assisi, as well as the colonial church of the Immaculate Conception. We passed the Palacio de Carta built in the 1700’s, the old Civil Hospital, and the Auditorio de Tenefire, the work of Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava. We viewed the Museo of Nature and Man. We peeked into the Museum of Fine Arts and also Tenerife Espacio de las Artes (TEA). We walked through Parque García Sanabria, a beautiful park with trees from all parts of the world

We stopped into the marketplace with it’s array of beautiful flowers, fruits and vegetables, local cheeses, Iberian jamon (ham), tapas, olives and other local foods and crafts.

A wonderful day!Read more
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Our 2024 Viking World Cruise Traveler
Sea Day, Agradir, Morocco
April 25, 2024, North Atlantic Ocean ⋅ 🌬 64 °F
Today, the winds conspired against us again. The ship had to stay offshore until the waves and winds subsided. This prevented us from taking the planned 2-day overland excursion to Marrakesh.
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Our 2024 Viking World Cruise Traveler
Agadir, Morocco
April 26, 2024 in Morocco ⋅ ☁️ 61 °F
This day turned out to be beautiful! We took a 3.5-hour excursion: coach, walking and tram. Our guide was very well prepared and walked us through the city adjacent to the Port.

Rising from the rubble of the 1960 earthquake that killed over 15,000 people, Agadir has been rebuilt to be a beautiful modern city. Moroccans from other parts of the country (and Europeans, especially the French) love to vacation in Agadir due to 11 months of sunshine, nice beaches, warm people, good shopping, European cafes and reasonable prices. The residents are 99% Sunni Muslim. The current King is Mohammed VI – he has reigned for 25 years and is very beloved due to his reforms, especially for women. The Alawi dynasty has reigned since the 17th century.

We visited two beautiful mosques – Lebanon Mosque and Mohamed V Mosque.

We took the cable car up and back to visit Agadir Oufella Kasbah, a citadel overlooking the port and offering great views of Agadir Bay, the Atlantic Ocean, and the city. If a tram is not for you, you could take a camel or pony ride up to the Kasbah. Built in 1572 and surrounded by walls, only ruins remain of the Kasbah.

After this visit, we walked by a pretty park and into a small local market. Vendors showed off the beautiful, great smelling bread and flowers. We learned that flowers are important to the people, You see flowers for sale all over the city. Moroccans also love their bread, they bake it fresh daily and eat it at all meals. A native tree, the Argan, produces argan oil, which can cure skin problems like eczema. There is argan oil for skin, hair and to cook with.

Our tour guide wore a traditional (non-religious) dress with a hood called Djellaba. The garment is worn by both men and women.

A very eye-opening tour!Read more
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Our 2024 Viking World Cruise Traveler
Casablanca, Morocco
April 27, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 46 °F
The highlight of our Casablanca tour was our rainy morning visit to Hassan II Mosque, the 7th largest and one of the tallest mosques in the world. Words nor photos cannot describe how beautiful this mosque is. It’s beautiful minaret is the 2nd tallest in the world at 689 feet and is topped by a laser, the light from which is directed towards Mecca; the mosque cost $800M to build. Over 10,000 artisans worked on this mosque. It stands on a promontory overlooking the ocean. The walls are hand-crafted of marble, and it has a retractable roof. Twice a year over 100,000 worshippers come to this mosque.

After this visit, we drove by the beautiful beach area and then through the ‘Beverly Hills’ of Casablanca with it’s beautiful homes. We visited a Catholic church with it’s beautiful stained-glass windows – Church of Notre Dame of Lourdes. We saw an unusual altar where the statue of Mary was bigger than the Jesus statue. Our guide told us that there is religious tolerance/freedom in Morocco. We heard the same from guides of other Muslim countries, as well. However, in Morocco – a country of 37M people – only 30,000 Catholics remain, and there are left less than 3,000 Jews. The Flag of Morocco pays homage to the 5 Pillars of Islam.

We then stopped by Royal Palace. We were not allowed entrance. We visited the medina and bought some items, including argan oil and a pretty magic lamp. Carpets, Djebellas, and other items were for sale.

We ended our tour in the United Nations Square. We had lunch at Les Fleurs, a busy restaurant. We ordered Taginee (fish for Cathy, chicken for me) cooked with spices and served in cone-shaped cone pot and bread.Read more
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Our 2024 Viking World Cruise Traveler
Tangiers, Morocco
April 28, 2024 in Morocco ⋅ ⛅ 54 °F
Tangiers is just 8 miles from Spain, across the Straits of Gibraltar.

We took a tour of Tangiers and then a 2-hour bus ride to Tetouan. Tangiers is the oldest city in Morocco founded by and controlled by the Romans until the 5th century when the Arabs took over and converted the people to Islam. On our bus drive to Tetouan (“white city”, white homes), we enjoyed beautiful, green, lush countryside.

We headed to Cape Spartel (highest point of mainland Africa, a promontory about 1,000 feet above sea level at the edge of Straights of Gibraltar) and the Caves of Hercules (an archaeological cave complex).

The caves have two openings – one to sea and one to land – the sea opening is “Map of Africa” (very cool). It is believed that Phoenicians created the sea opening, which is in the shape of Africa when looked at from the sea. There are also some markings on the wall in the shape of eyes that are said to have been made by the Phoenicians, which make up a map of the local area. Part natural and part man-made, the caves were supposed to have been inhabited by Neolithic people as early as 6,000 BC. In 1920, the caves were opened to the public.Read more
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Our 2024 Viking World Cruise Traveler
Tetouan, Morocco
Apr 28–May 3, 2024 in Morocco ⋅ ☀️ 61 °F
On the same day we visited Tangiers, we visited Tetouan – the capital of Morocco at the time when Spanish controlled the country. We visited the historic walled district, medina, a UNESCO WORLD heritage site. So many interesting shops. We had a lovely lunch of salad, couscous, chicken tagine, and we were treated to traditional Moroccan music.

We visited souks of el hut, Jewish quarter, and Spanish quarter. You felt like you went back in time to a different era. We visited the School of Arts and Crafts where artisans learn the crafts of their ancestors: wood carving, embroidery, tiling, etc. The students go on to Spain and work on restoration of the Palace of Alhambra.

Beautiful work, beautiful school and premises.Read more
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Our 2024 Viking World Cruise Traveler
Seville (Cadiz), Spain
April 29, 2024 in Spain ⋅ 🌙 55 °F
Today, we arrived in the Port of Cadiz and immediately bussed to Seville, the capital of the southern Spanish region of Andalusia, famous as the "cradle of flamenco." We drove through flat, green farmlands.

Arriving in Seville at the Puerta de Juegar, our escort pointed us to the main attractions, and we walked to the Catedral de Santa Maria (magnificent, one of the largest in the world and home to the tomb of Christopher Columbus), and the Alcazar Palace. The lines were daunting even if one had a ticket. We drove through the beautiful Maria Luisa Park and to the Plaza de Espana (a highlight of the Spanish Square – 52 benches of different Andalusian tiles that represent all 52 provinces).

Though unable to gain entrance to the major sites, we took a horse-drawn carriage to see what beautiful structures and statuary surrounding us. So much fun! Seeing and hearing the dynamic city all around us as we klip-klopped along.

For lunch, we enjoyed a bite at the Alfonso XIII Hotel. The 5-star hotel’s eclectic architecture consists of Moorish detailing mixed with native Andalusian design and heritage.

Beautiful!Read more
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Our 2024 Viking World Cruise Traveler
Lisbon, Portugal, Day 1
April 30, 2024 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 63 °F
We docked in Lisbon and took the excursion to Jerónimos Monastery, another UNESCO Heritage site.  

The Jerónimos Monastery is one of the most prominent examples of Manueline-style architecture. It was erected in the early 1500s and completed 100 years later. Monks who prayed for the King’s soul and provided spiritual assistance to navigators resided in the monastery for over 4 centuries until 1833 when the religious order was dissolved and the monastery was abandoned. Unfortunately, we did not get to visit the church attached to the cloister, which is decorated with silver altars and stained glass windows.

After our visit, we went to Belem Tower, a 16th-century fortification that served as a place of embarkation and disembarkation for sailors and navigators, and provided protection for the city. Our drive back to ship took us through the city center and through some beautiful neighborhoods. A lovely city.Read more
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Our 2024 Viking World Cruise Traveler
Lisbon, Day 2
May 1, 2024 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 55 °F
Our excursion today was a five-hour trip to Sintra. We visited the Quelez Palacio and finished with a scenic drive down the Portugal coast.

One of the last great Rococo buildings built in Europe, the Palace was conceived as a summer retreat for King Joseph I’s brother Peter of Brangaza, who later became husband to Queen Maria I. (The Palace eventually became a place of incarceration for her when she became mentally ill.) The Palace became the official residence of Prince Regent John. So many beautiful rooms, paintings and a lovely chapel.

We then visited the charming town of Sintra. We were given one hour to wander through the quaint, narrow and steep hilly streets dotted with lots of shops and restaurants. We had a light lunch of sandwiches and famous pastels de nata (custard tarts) – so delicious. We also had Sintra’s famous pillow shaped travesselros (made with puff pastry, egg yolks, almonds and sugar) and some lattes.

Sintra was delightful but very crowded. Today was a national holiday, and there were many tourists and locals who perused the hilly, narrow streets. So cute and welcoming!

We left Sintra, taking the Portugal Rivera coast route back to Lisbon.Read more
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Our 2024 Viking World Cruise Traveler
Porto, Portugal
May 2, 2024 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 50 °F
This morning, we docked in Porto.; our excursion today: "The Best of Porto. Fado, Vistas, and More."

The first leg of our excursion was to explore the magnificent Porto Cathedral and then later visit the Museo do Tesouro. Such remarkable religious art!

We lunched with our cruiser-mates at the Heranca Magna restaurant, where we enjoyed a good lunch serenaded by local singers and guitarists. To get to the restaurant, we climbed a narrow, hilly and steep cobblestone street. We enjoyed fado music, tapas, red and white wines and port wine. (Music of passion, Fado often depicts longing of women for men to return from sea.)

To finish our day in Porto, we enjoyed a wondrous one hour river cruise on the beautiful Douro River. We saw the beautiful 19th-century Luís I Bridge, designed by a disciple of Gustave Eiffel and opened in 1886.

In the afternoon, we visited the beautiful Cathedral of Douro. Despite cooler temperature and some rain, it was another wonderful day.Read more
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Our 2024 Viking World Cruise Traveler
A Coruña, Spain
May 3, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 52 °F
We arrived this morning at A Coruña, a town of some 250,000 people. Earlier, the town was referred to as the "City at the End of the World" because it was the most northwestern city of the Iberian peninsula.

We took a 7-hour excursion today: "A Day in Santiago de Compostela". Construction of the cathedral began in 1075 and was completed in 1211. It is also among the few remaining churches in the world built over the tomb of an apostle.

Santiago de Compostela is the culmination of a 1500 KM-long pilgrimage to the burial place of St. James. The route is an extensive interconnected network of pilgrimage routes in Spain whose ultimate destination is the tomb of the Apostle James the Greater.

The tomb believed to be that of James the Greater was discovered in Galicia in the 9th century, a period when Spain was dominated by Muslims. Its discovery was of immense importance for the Christian world, and Compostela soon became a place of Christian pilgrimage comparable in importance to Jerusalem and Rome.Read more
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Sea Day
May 4, 2024, Celtic Sea ⋅ ⛅ 55 °F
Today, we did our usual fitness routine, packed our new suitcase to send home early, played Bridge, enjoyed a sumptuous grand lunch at the pool, and enjoyed Avi, our incredible cruise director at the evening program. She is incredible... a bigger than life personality and talent.Read more
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St. Malo and Dinan, France
May 5, 2024 in France ⋅ ☁️ 52 °F
One of the positive things about our changed itinerary is that we added Brittany, St. Malo and the ancient town of Dinan, (10,000 population).

We anchored in the bay this morning because of the extreme tidal complications here. The tide differential can be much as 40 feet!

We tendered into Saint Malo and immediately set out for Dinan whose hefty ramparts bundle its half-timbered houses dating back to the 15th century, and cobbled quaintness into Brittany's best medieval town center. Residents take pride in their distinct Breton culture - music stores, for instance, sell more Celtic music than anything else.

The heart of Dinan's historic center is Place des Merciers, still lined with picturesque half-timbered buildings. We visited the Saint-Sauveur Basilica built in the 12th century. We viewed a beautiful statue of Bertrand du Guesclin, a military hero during the 100 years war (freeing Brittany and Normandy). There were many nice creperies in town but most did not open until noon and we had to depart at 12:15 pm.

After our tour of Dinan, we returned to the ship and then walked around the city of St. Malo. Very charming. The place was pretty much destroyed by bombing during WWII and rebuilt in the same style that it had been before the war (rebuilt between 1948-1960). We visited St. Vincent Cathedral and the Fort du Petit Be which was built in late 16th century to protect the Bay. Had (enormous) crepes for lunch at a nice French bistro.
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PS: You can take a ferry from St. Malo to Paris in about three hours, and to Guernsey or Jersey in less than 2 hrs.Read more
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Our 2024 Viking World Cruise Traveler
Hanfleur Port and Normandy Beach, France
May 6, 2024 in France ⋅ ⛅ 50 °F
Hanfleur port is the gateway to Paris and Normandy. It was in Normandy where on June 6th, 1943, the Allies landed in Europe to wrest the fallen countries from Nazi tyranny. This year – 2024 – marks the 80th year anniversary of D-Day.

We docked in Honfleur and took the excursion, “D-Day and Normandy”, a 2-hour drive out to the Normandy coast. We arrived in the city of Arromanches, which at the time of Nazi occupation was a popular beach resort for the French. This pretty town was spared bombing so the Allies could construct an artificial port that enabled some 10,000 tons of supplies per day to reach the soldiers and support operations. The Allies sunk some 60 ships to build the port and got the port working within 7 days.

Cathy was very touched... her father served as an Army combat medic in Africa and France during WWII, where he experienced the horrors of war real time and up-close. At the D-Day Museum, we found the medics kits and cots that were utilized. In one of the talks. it was revealed how the medics had to make decisions about who could be saved and who could not.

On D-Day, May 1944, the Allies launched a major invasion of Normandy to defeat the Nazis and free France and the whole of Europe. The beaches included Omaha (Americans), Utah (Americans), Juno (Canadian), and Gold and Sword (British).

Many thousands of allied forces lost their lives trying to liberate France. 9,387 Americans are buried in the nearby Normandy American Cemetery, which we visited. Some of the photos and exhibits within the site museum brought Cathy to tears. This was a somber and memorable day.Read more
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Our 2024 Viking World Cruise Traveler
Dover, Canterbury, England
May 7, 2024 in England ⋅ ⛅ 54 °F
The weather was beautiful today. Our first order of business was to coach to Canterbury, Kent. We walked the little town stopping at so many points of interest, culminating in the magnificent Canterbury Cathedral.

The cathedral was founded in 597 and completely rebuilt and completed in 1077. Before the English Reformation, the Cathedral was part of a Benedictine monastery community known as Christ Church, Canterbury.

A pivotal moment in the cathedral's history was the murder of the archbishop, Thomas Beckett in the cathedral by four Knights from the court of King Henry II in 1170.Read more
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Our 2024 Viking World Cruise Traveler
Dover Castle, England
May 7, 2024 in England ⋅ ☀️ 59 °F
Today, Cathy (only) took a trip to Dover Castle. The castle is the 2nd largest in England after Windsor Castle and was founded in the 11th century. It's been described as the "Key to England" because of its defensive significance throughout history. The site contains the tallest and most complete standing Roman structure in England -- built in the early 2nd century.

Dover's storied past includes visits from William the Conqueror, Henry II, and Louis VIII. The castle is on 80 acres of beautiful property and includes the tower, other structures, lighthouse, fortress, and St. Mary's Church.

Cathy learned about the underground tunnels, hospitals, and the military operations that were conducted here during WWI and WWII. (It was a center of the efforts to evacuate hundreds of thousands of allied troops from the beach at Dunkirk.)

The Grand Tower displays the colorful world of King Henry II. The re-creation of the King’s chambers and other rooms was a feast for the eyes.
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Tomorrow is the final day of our world cruise! We will cruise into Greenwich, near to London, and start anew, seeing more of the British Isles and then over to Norway!Read more
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Our 2024 Viking World Cruise Traveler
Greenwich, England
May 8, 2024 in England ⋅ ☁️ 50 °F
We took the walking tour of Greenwich, passing by the Cutty Sark, the Royal Naval Academy, Greenwich Vintage Markets, Maritime Museum, Royal Observatory and Queens House.

So much history in this charming town. In the evening, we took an excursion to London and had private access to Ceremony of the Keys at Tower of London. We had one of the “Beefeaters” as a tour guide. He gave us an informative tour of the outside of the Tower of London. The weather was beautiful.

Tomorrow, the British Isles to Bergen Norway segment begins, and the World Cruise comes to an end.

FABULOUS! Thank you, Cathy, for making this possible and very enjoyable!!Read more
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Trip end
May 9, 2024