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World Cruise: Paul and Donna
  • Where are Paul and Donna
  • Donna Gruhn
  • Where are Paul and Donna
  • Donna Gruhn

World Cruise: Paul and Donna

A once in lifetime opportunity, turning dreams and fantasies into reality. Meer informatie
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  • Het begin van de reis
    23 december 2023
    World Cruise: Paul and Donna

    It’s getting real

    27 november 2023, Verenigde Staten ⋅ ☁️ 45 °F

    Our personalized luggage tags arrived. We have to get packing so the luggage forwarding can pick up our baggage. Hard to believe it’s three weeks away. (Note: The way this blogging application works is that a "footprint" is created by location. We then add photos' with short blog stories to it. You will need to click on the photos to see the details. Also, sort by descending date seems to give a good timeline).
    #myvikingjourney #vikingneptune    Meer informatie

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  • World Cruise: Paul and Donna

    UPS - Luggage Forward - This is real!

    8 december 2023, Verenigde Staten ⋅ ☁️ 43 °F

    After two years of planning - UPS picked up our suitcases today to send them to the ship. We have Apple Air Tags so we can track where they are. Hard to believe in two weeks we will be on our way. This is a trip of a lifetime. Instead of an expense I have come to a place where I really see this as an investment in our lives. We are going to see and experience more stuff in the next five months than we would sitting in a recliner watching TV. This is an investment which will shape the rest of our lives. We are ready to go. Air Tags reported our luggage made it to Ft. Lauderdale today 12/15/2023. #myvikingjourney #vikingneptuneMeer informatie

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  • World Cruise: Paul and Donna

    Trip Temperatures

    11 december 2023, Verenigde Staten ⋅ ☁️ 39 °F

    One of the questions we have been asked a lot is what will the temperatures be during our cruise? One of the women on our cruise FB group put together the attached graph from last year's temps high/low. For the most part while our friends in New England will be shoveling snow ... we will be in our bathing suits by the pool with a fancy drink with an umbrella in it. When we get towards Europe in April & May the temps will be cooler. We brought long-sleeved fleeces and rain jackets for those times it might get nippy on ship. Thought some of you might enjoy the graph. Please do feel free to write comments as we travel - it will help us keep in touch with you.Meer informatie

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  • World Cruise: Paul and Donna

    We are doing this!

    22 december 2023, Verenigde Staten ⋅ 🌙 19 °F

    We stayed at a hotel near the airport the last two nights. The house is winterized and all secure. We just checked out of hotel waiting for the shuttle to the airport to fly to Ft. Lauderdale to stay in a hotel tonight to then board ship on Saturday. Today we will meet up with friends from Yale - Steve and Roselee. The adventure begins. #myvikingjourney #vikingneptuneMeer informatie

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  • World Cruise: Paul and Donna

    50% of us are on a plane!

    22 december 2023, Verenigde Staten ⋅ ⛅ 23 °F

    So, the adventure continues. We missed our 6:00AM flight - no room on the 7:00AM standby flight - Donna made it on to the 11:20AM standby flight to Atlanta but no room for Paul - Paul is waiting hoping to make with er the 2:00pm standby or the 3:00p standby flight - Then we have to get standby flights to Ft. Lauderdale from Atlanta - we also have an option to get a flight to Miami where our friend Roselie and Steve can drive us to Ft Lauderdale from Miami- So, 50% of use are error - But, life is good Chewbie is our new friend - airport therapy dog is keeping me smiling - Chewbie’s owner is also on standby for Detroit MI - So, we are taking this all in stride - Our great adventure is starting out on a fun (will make a great story later) foot. But, we are moving forward. #myvikingjourney #vikingneptuneMeer informatie

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  • World Cruise: Paul and Donna

    I screwed up

    22 december 2023, Verenigde Staten ⋅ ☁️ 43 °F

    Good news I am on a flight to Ft. Lauderdale and our luggage is on the flight. Bad news I lost my CPAP breathing machine in the Alanta airport. I am a horrible snorer. Donna is mad. I don’t blame her at all. So I have to figure this out. Wish me luck.Meer informatie

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  • World Cruise: Paul and Donna
    1

    Day 1: Aussie wearing an Akubra hat

    23 december 2023, Verenigde Staten ⋅ ⛅ 75 °F

    I am embarrassed I forgot this gentleman’s name. We meet briefly while waiting for the bus to take us to the ship. His hat and original Akubra is stunning made of rabbits fur. This fine gentleman let me take his portrait for which I say thank you. The Akubra is the finest hat a gent can wear.

    It’s day 99 of our cruise I am going over old posts. I will never forget Brian and Sue from Australia. We were very sad to see them leave mid-trip. But our lives are better for knowing them both.

    #myvikingjourney #vikingneptune    Meer informatie

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  • World Cruise: Paul and Donna

    Day 1: Safety first!

    23 december 2023, Verenigde Staten ⋅ 🌬 75 °F

    Everyone is required to take the safety course. I hope we don’t need to use our training. Here is Lois one of the Neptune entertainment staff showing us how to put on our life preserver if we ever need it. Thoughts of the Titanic are running through our minds at this point. #myvikingjourney #vikingneptuneMeer informatie

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  • World Cruise: Paul and Donna

    Day 1: CPAP MACHINE FOUND.

    23 december 2023, Verenigde Staten ⋅ ⛅ 72 °F

    I just got a call from Delta Lost & Found. They have my CPAP machine will send it out to our friends Rusty & Anita in Los Angeles who will meet up with on Jan 9th. So this is my happy CPAP machine face.Meer informatie

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  • World Cruise: Paul and Donna

    Day 2: Safety - EWindsor Police Dept

    24 december 2023, Verenigde Staten ⋅ ☁️ 73 °F

    One of the biggest fears we had when heading out on this big adventure was the safety of our home while we are gone - I have wonderful friends and neighbors - Ring Cameras and other security - But, what is totally amazing is our town’s local Police Department is wiling to do home safety checks - I gave them a Word document with all our contact information, and our friends and family numbers to call if needed - let them know to drive on to the property head towards the barn go around the shed and take a look see -

    When I woke up this morning and saw on this video taken on my Ring camera at 1:30 AM - We are breathing a huge sigh of relief knowing people are looking out for us - there are benefits from living in a small town with a great police department.

    #myvikingjourney #vikingneptune. #EastWindsorPD    Meer informatie

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  • World Cruise: Paul and Donna

    Day 2: Good Morning

    24 december 2023, North Atlantic Ocean ⋅ 🌬 75 °F

    This view is the Explorer’s Lounge, I think waking up at 4:00 AM to journal and reflect over a latte will be pretty easy to take. This is on Deck’s 7 and 8 about 50 feet from our room on deck 8. After the crazy 2 days we have had (I was up non-stop for 44 hours no sleep at all) got a little over 4 hours sleep.

    I am feeling great this morning. CPAP machine is found, Our Ring camera system is working, saw that our local police drove through our property at 1:30AM doing a home safety check which they said they would be happy to do while we are away.

    Now all I have to worry about is absolutely nothing. Have already met several very nice people from all over the world. I love the diversity with Neptune community the staff are amazing.

    To our fellow travelers please say “Hi” if you seeing use walking around, we would love to meet you. Paul & Donna.

    #myvikingjourney #vikingneptune    Meer informatie

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  • World Cruise: Paul and Donna

    Day 3: Kissed wife 100’ below sea level

    25 december 2023, Mexico ⋅ ☁️ 82 °F

    Today Donna and I took a submarine ride 105 feet below sea level in Cozumel, Mexico. We saw many fish species. Please don’t test on me them. Saw a sunken ship. Got to 105 feet below sea level. The captain suggested to give your partner a once in a lifetime kiss under the sea.

    As the sub started its descent the theme to Jaws filled the cabin air. Yellow Submarine and Octopus’s Garden by the Beatles was appropriately played during the journey. A memorable time. The crew was great.

    #myvikingjourney #vikingneptune    Meer informatie

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  • World Cruise: Paul and Donna

    Day 3: Our ship - A place we call home

    25 december 2023, Mexico ⋅ ☁️ 82 °F

    Here are some of the mandatory pics of our ship - A place we get to call home for the next five months.

    #myvikingjourney #vikingneptune

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  • World Cruise: Paul and Donna

    Day 3: Amazing Entertainment

    25 december 2023, Mexico ⋅ 🌙 59 °F

    Finally getting caught up on reviewing some of the pictures taken with my Sony RX10 - Here are some pictures from the Christmas Show.

    We are getting to know some of the wonderful performers has been great. Heather (the woman in silver) is a trained vocalist … Listening to her sing was worth the price of this cruise. There wasn’t a dry eye in the theater.

    Our cruise director, read us a “Slightly Altered” version of the “Night Before Christmas” with a cruise bent twist (cute and funny).

    Each performance continues to be a joy. It is also great to chat with them in the hallways and get to know them better.

    Enjoy these pictures of the Neptune Entertainment team.

    #myvikingjourney #vikingneptune    Meer informatie

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  • World Cruise: Paul and Donna

    Day 4: Good Morning

    26 december 2023, Gulf of Mexico ⋅ ⛅ 77 °F

    Woke up this morning around 7:00AM. Got my morning coffee, went out to “our front porch” to journal and watched the birth of a new day. Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas Day.

    Today the 26th is special to me - it was my mother’s birthday. We always gave her Evening in Paris perfume from the drug store and a box of Whitman chocolates. I hope everyone has a great day. #myvikingjourney #vikingneptuneMeer informatie

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  • World Cruise: Paul and Donna

    Day 4: My lens cap

    26 december 2023, Caribbean Sea ⋅ ☀️ 82 °F

    Many of you already know about my drama with losing my CPAP machine at the airport. Those of you who do photography clearly understand the likelihood of losing your lens cap.

    In the excitement of the welcome party on Saturday night and the newness of our first cruise - upon return to our cabin my lens cap was gone.

    In the morning I called Guest Services and asked if someone had found a lens cap with “Sony” of the front. Of course they had found it.

    Upon reflection of yet another careless act on my part - our ship is 745 feet long - not sure how wide - with 10 passenger decks - the square footage of places a 3 inch lens cap could possibly be - is much like finding a needle in a haystack.

    The attention to detail the Viking staff go through is amazing. No leaf is left unturned. The 500+ staff members are like no other we have encountered before. We are treated like royalty.

    #myvikingjourney #vikingneptune    Meer informatie

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  • World Cruise: Paul and Donna
    2

    Day 4: No TV - We are still alive

    26 december 2023, Caribbean Sea ⋅ 🌙 81 °F

    A typical day at our house is a light dinner while watching the local, and then the national news. Only to be followed up by reruns on Big Bang Theory - it has been slowly numbing our lives to death. Donna and I have promised each other to try to go the trip with no typical TV - except maybe to go to the pool area to watch Sunday football with our fellow travelers. It’s been four days now - we are still alive. This video is a small sample of our after dinner time nowadays. #myvikingjourney #vikingneptuneMeer informatie

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  • World Cruise: Paul and Donna

    Day 5: Meet Carl

    27 december 2023, Verenigde Staten ⋅ ☁️ 48 °F

    This morning while sitting at “our spot” this gentleman walks up the stairs dressed in what I thought was a sky diving outfit. We said our good mornings and I noticed “Reefer Engineer” on his uniform. “What’s a Reefer Engineer do?” I asked.

    He was walking around the ship to look for any condensation buildup to insure the HVAC settings are right. Carl explained some of the things they have to do to keep our ship at a comfortable level - this is a process of fine tuning the ships’ HVAC system for maximum comfort and cost efficiency.

    Carl is from Norway and has been with Viking for only 10 weeks and he clearly loves his new job. For a moment he reminiscence about his grandmother’s home in Norway as some of the antiques on display could have come from there.

    The infrastructure to keep our floating city alive is beyond amazing. Carpentry, plumbing, electrical, computer network, navigation - the list goes on.

    The staff which keep us all afloat, well fed, and happy are all amazing on the Viking Neptune.

    #myvikingjourney #vikingneptune    Meer informatie

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