Our 2024 Viking World Cruise

January - May 2024

A 124-day adventure by CathyJon Read more

102footprints
25countries
124days
1.2kphotos
1videos
40.4kmiles
19.3ksea miles
6.4kmiles
1.3ksea miles
9miles
1miles

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Traveler Our 2024 Viking World Cruise
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- Jan 8, 2024, 2:29 PM
- ☀️ 63 °F
- Altitude: 174 ft
- United States California Los Angeles County Beverly Center Atrium Building 34.0764, -118.3778334°4’35” N 118°22’40” W
Day 2
Sofitel Hotel, Beverly Hills
January 8 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 63 °F
We registered at the Sofitel Hotel yesterday. Very nice room. Nice view of the Beverly Hills. Every meal has been outstanding. We have met several cruisers so far. We all are chomping at the bit to embark tomorrow!Read more
How was the embark process? Long wait or crowded? [Stone]
1/8/24Reply
Traveler We are on an excursion through Venice, then the Getty Museum ... then embarkation!
1/9/24Reply
Traveler Embarkation easy peasy
1/9/24Reply
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Traveler Our 2024 Viking World Cruise
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- Jan 9, 2024, 10:01 AM
- ☀️ 54 °F
- Altitude: 899 ft
- United States California Los Angeles County Westgate Heights Getty Center 34.077733, -118.47429434°4’40” N 118°28’27” W
Day 3
Getty Museum
January 9 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 54 °F
We left the Sofitel about 9:30 am to begin our bus journey to the Getty Museum; then finally (!) to the Neptune.

At the Getty we took a tram to arrive at the museum (no parking at the museum).

The exhibit included Spanish, Italian, and Northern European paintings, sculptures, glassware from the 16th through 19th centuries. We truly enjoyed the wonderful museum, right in our backyard.

We bussed through Santa Monica and Venice, embarking the Neptune at about 4:00 pm!

Our guide did a terrific job in this part of the journey, providing a lot of historical facts about these California coastal communities.

Our stateroom is beautiful and spacious. We have at least 14 drawers of various dimensions, a spacious outside veranda, and a refrigerator that the steward keeps stocked with our favorite drinks and snacks. Yay@Read more
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Traveler Our 2024 Viking World Cruise
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- Jan 10, 2024, 3:19 PM
- ☀️ 61 °F
- Altitude: Sea level
- United States California Santa Barbara Point Castillo 34.400983, -119.68920534°24’4” N 119°41’21” W
Day 4
Santa Barbara, CA
January 10 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 61 °F
10;30 sharp this morning, we took a tender to Santa Barbara (our first ever!). Calm seas and beautiful weather!

Before we left, we started off the morning with Cathy's breakfast in our stateroom, while I visited Mamsons for steel cut cereal, grapefruit juice, and a cup of Java.

We took a 2.5 hr excursion by bus around SB, visiting the Mission (picture of the chapel and front elevation included), the Presidio, Court House, State Street, and other sites. We paid to do a self tour of the Mission, attached museum, and cemetary. No regrets!Read more
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Traveler Our 2024 Viking World Cruise
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- Jan 11, 2024, 7:46 PM
- ⛅ 52 °F
- Altitude: 299 ft
- United States California Los Angeles 34.0544, -118.244134°3’16” N 118°14’39” W
Day 5
Five Sea Days: Santa Barbara to Hawaii
January 11 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 52 °F
We left Santa Barbara looking forward to five days at sea. What to do? As it turns out, a lot. I'm breathless from keeping up with our self-imposed schedule of breakfast, shower, gym, bridge lessons, massages, art lessons, lunch, lectures, entertainment, socializing everywhere we walk (Cathy is on fire!), and many social evenings with new found friends and fellow excursionees.

We are taking advantage of the opportunities for learning and growing on sea days .. we are up for the challenge!

We are learning Bridge and joined an art class. Expanding our brain capacity!

One evening after a Manfredies dinner with Steve and Maryann, we joined the crowd at the Star theater for Travis Cloer, of Jersey Boys fame! (awesome!)

The weather has been a mix of perfection, stormy weather, wind, and all the micro-variations. Sometimes the sea is really calm, the next minute, the swells are slapping the heck out of us. We have had minimum sea sickness, which is a very good sign, and portending a good journey. For sea sickness, mostly we eat ginger chews and green apples. All in all, all is going very well!Read more
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Traveler Our 2024 Viking World Cruise
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- Jan 16, 2024, 9:32 AM
- 🌬 75 °F
- Altitude: 62 ft
- United States Hawaii Honolulu County Foster Village USS Bowfin 21.368298, -157.93810821°22’6” N 157°56’17” W
Day 10–11
Hawaii, Oahu (1.5 days)
January 16 in the United States ⋅ 🌬 75 °F
After 5 sea days, on Tuesday we arrived in Honolulu Hawaii. After disembarking, we jumped on a Viking shuttle and toured the city, ending up in Pearl Harbor, where we boarded the USS Missouri. I finally laid eyes on a 16-inch shell and saw the 12 big guns (I would hate to be on the business end of that!). We visited the ssilor's sleeping quarters, mess halls, captain's quarters, etc, etc.

Wednesday, we visited the Bishop Museum... such a beautiful presentation of the Oceania culture and life.Read more
Traveler Joe and I thought the memorial was well done when we visited.
1/16/24Reply
Traveler We did too. We visited the battleship Missouri. I always wanted to see 16" and 5" 'bullets'. The self tour was so interesting.
1/16/24Reply
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Traveler Our 2024 Viking World Cruise
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- Jan 18, 2024, 10:58 AM
- ☀️ 77 °F
- Altitude: Sea level
- North Pacific Ocean 15.854691, -157.02855315°51’17” N 157°1’43” W
3
Day 12
5 Days: Hawaii to French Polynesia
January 18, North Pacific Ocean ⋅ ☀️ 77 °F
We have another five days at sea heading to Polynesia. We will stop at Bora Bora, Moorea, and Tahiti.

The ocean has been a little swelly and white cappy at times, but the ship is steady and takes the punishment with ease. Cathy and I are fine.

Daily = Cabin breakfast for Cathy; I climb a couple of floors to Mamsons for cereal, fruit, and views.

We hit the fitness center 8:30ish, use the machines, and finish with our yoga practice. We are both flourishing as we add to our strength and joy-of-the-moment. SMILE

Time for Bridge!
Yep, we are learning the game. We are committed to picking up the skill and enjoying socializing.

We also joined the painting class, hoping to find another outlet for our energy and creativity. In the art class, we are in constant damage control, but it fills the time with color, technique, and (for me) meticulous aching attention to detail. (ugh)

Lunches and dinners are always, well... remarkable. I am ❤️ the super nutritional choices, appropriate proportions, and the service. We've had the great fortune to attend numerous private social tables where Cathy is the star (I've named her "Catherine the Great," an easy handle for new-found friends.) Me, I am JP Morgan or John the Baptist for more religious acquaintances (ha!).

Evenings are for entertainment in the little theater or early crashing so we can rise bright-eyed and bushytailed for the next day's "challenges."Read more
Traveler I can’t wait to hear what you think of Bora Bora!
1/18/24Reply
Traveler Me too. I've never been there.
1/19/24Reply
Traveler Ditto
1/19/24Reply
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Traveler Our 2024 Viking World Cruise
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- Jan 23, 2024, 10:27 AM
- ☁️ 82 °F
- Altitude: Sea level
- French Polynesia Leeward Islands Vaitape Teavanui Harbor -16.51326, -151.75640216°30’48” S 151°45’23” W
Day 17
Bora Bora, home of the black pearl
January 23 in French Polynesia ⋅ ☁️ 82 °F
Our first stop in French Polynesia is Bora Bora (population about 4,500) arriving at 12 PM.

We tendered into the small beachside town, arriving in time to board a little skiff holding 12 passengers plus the captain for a quick boat ride in the sparkling waters. We enjoyed the 90-minute ocean ride atop pure clear tourquoise waters, seeing a reef shark or two plus a sting ray.

The captain regaled us with stories about growing up on the island, his search for a wife, (every one is a cousin!), and learning fishing, farming, and weaving coconut leaf (to make all sorts of island accessories), and he sang island songs accompanies by his uku (Tajitian banjo). So enjoyable.

Later, we visited little stores selling black pearl jewelry, souvenirs, and island clothing. We even made a quick stop at a local Bora Bora grocery store. I bought a magnet to remind us of our stop in this little piece of island heaven.

Hot, muggy, and paradise all in one 😀Read more
Traveler Just lovely!
1/24/24Reply
Traveler That water looks heavenly!
2/1/24Reply
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Traveler Our 2024 Viking World Cruise
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- Jan 24, 2024, 7:55 AM
- 🌧 81 °F
- Altitude: Sea level
- French Polynesia Îles du Vent Papetoai Tarell Pass -17.490022, -149.87050417°29’24” S 149°52’14” W
Day 18
Marvelous Moorea
January 24 in French Polynesia ⋅ 🌧 81 °F
Moorea has a kind of 'sinister' skyline of cragerty mountains that could be home to King Kong!

Lush green like all the Polynesian islands.

Dropping anchor at the foot of 'Magic Mountain we tendered to a simple, small dock where we boarded a little rectangular 25-seat covered craft that took us up and down the coast in semi-choppy waters. We learned about the introduction of pineapple as the primary crop. We saw a little assembly of humble buildings which housed, of all things, UC Berkley Gump Station, which provides educational, cultural, and community programs in Moorea.

In the afternoon, we snorkled! This was a first for Cathy, while I, the more experienced snorkler, ventured about the fish-infested coral formations in shallow waters located about 250 yards off the coast.

Warm water, balmy humid day on the water. We really enjoyed the close-up, wet experience in the ocean.Read more
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Traveler Our 2024 Viking World Cruise
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- Jan 25, 2024, 5:06 PM
- ☀️ 77 °F
- Altitude: 39 ft
- United States Hawaii Honolulu Berth Number 2C 21.30129, -157.86581521°18’5” N 157°51’57” W
Day 19
Tantalizing Tahiti
January 25 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 77 °F
We docked in Papeete (Tahiti) and took the walking excursion to tour the little city of some 27,000 people. Humid, warm ... typical for this latitude.

My initial impression was that the town was a little run down. But it was surely alive!

Our first stop was the Tahiti City Hall. Alternatively, this impressive building, opened in 1990, is a replica of Queen Pomare's mansion—who ruled in 1845 when Tahiti became a French Protectorate—which once stood at Place Tarahoi. The city hall is the office of the mayor of Pape'ete. Leaving this impressive building we ambled by the Cstholic Cathedral.

We then took a few more steps and stopped and shopped at the Papeete Market, a fun and colorful experience.

No shortage of lush botanical gardens; we visited two on just this walking excursion!

In the afternoon we took a long coach excursion that included the Vaipai Gardens and the Gauguin Restaurant. The gardens were gorgeous!Read more
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Traveler Our 2024 Viking World Cruise
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- Jan 27, 2024, 9:03 PM
- ☁️ 70 °F
- Altitude: 138 ft
- New Zealand Auckland University of Auckland -36.8506, 174.767936°51’2” S 174°46’4” E
Day 21
5 days: Tahiti to New Zealand
January 27 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 70 °F
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