12-Night Canada/New England expedition

Chris Dikmen & Rickee Richardson 9/3/23 Chris Dikmen & Rickee Richardson 9/3/23

Cruise Review Video

Follow along with us on our 12-night Canada/New England cruise aboard Viking Polaris.

Our review of Viking Polaris is on our YouTube channel.

Chris Dikmen & Rickee Richardson 8/17/23 Chris Dikmen & Rickee Richardson 8/17/23

Day 13 - Disembarkation in NYC

Follow along with us on our 12-night Canada/New England cruise aboard Viking Polaris.

It is disembarkation day on Viking Polaris and I am up even earlier than usual. It is completely dark outside when I arrive at World Cafe, but I can see the lights of New York City on the horizon as I begin my day.

We were instructed to have our checked luggage outside of our stateroom by 10pm last night. Actually, one document said before midnight, but an announcement from our Expedition Leader, Marc, said before 10pm. We go to bed early enough that having our large duffel back out before 10pm was not an issue. We placed the Group Blue 1 tag on the luggage and set it into the hallway.

By around 4:45am, I could see what I think is the Verrazano Bridge coming into view on the horizon. Forgive my lack of knowledge of the bridges in NYC and please correct me if I am wrong. I stepped outside to get some photos.

By 5:30am, many guests were on the outer decks and at the bow to catch a glimpse of the Statue of Liberty as we sail past on our way into New York City.

By 6am, Lady Liberty was coming into view and the Captain did sail close enough to allow us to get a good look. Those with good cameras and fast zoom lenses were probably able to get some decent photos. My somewhat grainy photos came from my iPhone 13 Pro with 3X zoom.

The New York City skyline passed right beside me at World Cafe as I continued to work on my previous day’s blog.

Our disembarkation instructions asked that we vacate our stateroom by 8am and that breakfast service in World Cafe would end at 8:30am. We have a transfer to the airport provided by Viking since we booked our air through Viking’s Air Department. We are keeping our fingers crossed that disembarkation goes more smoothly than embarkation. Read our Day 1 blog if you want more information on that.

We ended up leaving our stateroom about 8:05am and were shocked when we had no trouble getting a completely empty elevator to go from Deck 3 forward to Deck 5. On most cruise ship disembarkation days, you can wait painfully long periods of time for an elevator especially if you are waiting on one of the lower decks.

We leave our hand luggage in The Living Room and go to World Cafe for some coffee and a light breakfast. World Cafe has a full buffet breakfast on disembarkation day and we are surprised to see that it is not as crowded as we expected. In fact, we have never felt like any space on the ship was overcrowded during this entire cruise. We were told that there were 336 guests on this sailing and the ship’s capacity is 378. And, honestly, I don’t think another 42 guests would have made the ship feel any more crowded.

Announcements over the ship’s PA system began calling for groups holding various colored luggage tags to meet in The Living Room at about 8:30am, a little later than expected. Apparently, there were some delays in getting the ship cleared by US Customs which delayed disembarkation by about 30 minutes.

Our Blue 1 group was originally scheduled to meet in The Living Room at 9:00am for our coach transfer to the airport, but due to the delays, we ended up disembarking at about 9:20am. We swiped our room keys for the last time and walked to the cruise terminal to claim our checked luggage. As we walk to the terminal, I catch a parting shot of Viking Polaris docked at NYC Pier 90.

When we arrived in the terminal building, our luggage was very easy to spot. There were only about 15 pieces of luggage in the Blue 1 luggage tag area. This disembarkation is so much simpler and less stressful than the one we did with 5,000 other people less than a month ago on Carnival Venezia.

With all of our luggage in hand, we literally breezed through Immigration and Customs and were seated on the waiting motor coach within fifteen minutes after disembarking the ship. Viking crew members in red shirts were scattered throughout the cruise terminal to answer questions or provide directions for guests who needed help.

Disembarkation was the smoothest we have experienced in a very long time. Now, to be fair, it is much easier to disembark 336 guests than 5,000 but, nevertheless, the Viking Polaris disembarkation was extremely well organized and executed.

In spite of all the New York City traffic, we arrived at the airport in plenty of time for our 1:47pm return flight to Dallas-Ft. Worth. We even had some time to enjoy the newly refurbished Admiral’s Club at LaGuardia. Luckily, our flight was right on time. This is the second time in a month we have flown from NYC to DFW and we will be doing so, yet again, next month after disembarking our Crystal Serenity cruise.

Just in case you are flying from NYC to DFW on American, they are using a Boeing 737 aircraft and, on this flight, we were able to get a really good price on an upgrade to First Class. Even at the special rate, neither of us felt like the First Class experience was worth the cost. On our flight last month, we were able to get Main Cabin Extra seats in Exit Row 17 and the legroom was better than in First Class! The meal service was a fail. Rickee and I pre-ordered a chicken dish online and the chicken was tough and dry. The bread was served warm, but there was no butter! And, the only dessert offered was a raspberry sorbet. Neither Rickee nor I like raspberry. Also, there was no drink offered or served with the meal. No water and no wine! The service was so lacking that Rickee did something she had never ever done on a flight before: she rang the call bell! No, the upgrade was not worth the cost.

Dry chicken breast and no butter in first class

Our advice, save the money on First Class, grab an exit row seat in Main Cabin Extra and buy your own meal at the airport to bring onboard. Eventually you will be offered something to drink.

It has been another amazing cruise with Viking. Soon we will be posting a video review to our YouTube channel, so make sure you are subscribed and have Notifications turned on.

Rickee Richardson and Chris Dikmen are travel journalists from Dallas, Texas.

Chris Dikmen & Rickee Richardson 8/16/23 Chris Dikmen & Rickee Richardson 8/16/23

Day 12 Day At Sea

Follow along with us on our 12-night Canada/New England cruise aboard Viking Polaris.

Rickee Talks With One Of The Submarine Pilots In The Hangar

Today is our last full day aboard Viking Polaris and our twelfth Viking cruise is quickly coming to an end. We have been covering Viking Cruises on CruiseReport since our first Viking River cruise back in 2003 aboard Viking Danube in Europe. This was our first cruise aboard one of Viking’s two Expedition ships, and it has been a real eye-opening experience to see just how far this company has progressed over the years.

The highlight of today is when guests are invited to tour the ship’s onboard laboratory and The Hangar. The Lab is relatively small and includes a variety of microscopes, computers and other equipment that the science team uses to collect a wide myriad of samples for research.

Dr. Brandi Revels is the Chief Scientist onboard Viking Polaris and she takes time to explain many of the tools they use to collect samples and how they analyze the results. Viking is in a working collaboration with a variety of internationally recognized scientific research organization (see photo on right below).

High-powered microscopes allow scientists to see microplastics and plankton from collected sea water samples.

The Hangar is where Viking Polaris stores all of the “toys” and watercraft on board. It is an impressive collection including kayaks, Zodiacs, Special Operations Boats (2) and two submarines!

These Zodiacs can each carry up to eighteen guests, however, one driver told us they rarely put more than ten guests at a time per Zodiac.

The Special Operations Boats (or, SOBs) can each carry up to twelve guests at speeds of up to 40 knots. These are built for military operations around the world (hence the term, Special Operations), but these have been converted for tourism use.

Massive cranes are used to launch the two onboard submarines.

Each submarine has two “bubbles”, one on each end of the sub. Each “bubble” can seat three guests.

Below, you can see how the two guest-seating pods are configured, with the pilot sitting in the middle. The seating pods can rotate to change the passenger’s view.

Submarines are boarded after the sub is in the water (see below). Guests step from a Zodiac onto the flat roof of the sub, then enter the sub through a hatch in the middle of the roof.

We were so excited to have the opportunity to ride in the one of the subs, but unfortunately, our experience was cancelled due to rough seas. Viking puts the emphasis on guest safety and, if they determine that a guest might have difficulty entering the sub, they cancel the operation, which is what happened in our case.

We spent the rest of the day packing for the trip home and playing one more game of trivia, This evening, we had dinner at Manfredi’s for the third time this cruise. Like always, the meal was excellent, and our waitress, Jane, was amazing.

Tomorrow, we will dock in New York City, Pier 90, and disembark Viking Polaris. Make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel and turn on Notifications so you won’t miss our video review of Viking Polaris.

Chris Dikmen & Rickee Richardson 8/16/23 Chris Dikmen & Rickee Richardson 8/16/23

Day 11 Halifax, Nova Scotia

Follow along with us on our 12-night Canada/New England cruise aboard Viking Polaris.

Once again, I am up before the sun and working at World Cafe, enjoying an excellent cup of coffee. I really like the coffee that comes out of the machines at World Cafe (and throughout the ship).

I am only a few steps from a door that allows me access to the outer deck to capture some beautiful sunrise photos and video.

By 8am, Viking Polaris is docking in Halifax, Nova Scotia. It looks like it is shaping up to be another beautiful, sunny day (photo above).

We have been to Halifax at least a couple of times and have done many of the excursions on offer here. Therefore, today we decided to just disembark and do some exploring on our own. However, if you have never been to Peggy’s Cove or Lunenburg, both are worthy excursions and both are offered by Viking.

As we disembark the ship and walk down the gangway, we see the sign that informs guests of when they need to be back on board. Viking posts this sign at every port as a reminder for those who like to explore on their own. Believe it or not, not all cruise lines provide this simple reminder for their guests.

A sign Reminds Guests When They Need To Be Back Onboard

As we exit the cruise terminal, we find ourselves on a very nice boardwalk with lots to see and do along the way. Large easy to read maps are positioned along the boardwalk to show where you are currently standing and all of the sights along the way. And, unlike in Quebec, all of the signs are in English!

These maps are located along the boardwalk

Just a few hundred yards from Viking Polaris, we come across a Columbian Naval sailing ship. Earlier this morning, the Captain made an announcement from the bridge that this ship was sailing into port and it was a pretty amazing sight. We saw a lot of people walking up and down the gangway to the sailing ship, so we assume it was open to the public for tours. We saw many uniformed naval officers near the ship as well.

All along the boardwalk, there are placards to explain the history of whatever you are viewing.

Historical information along the boardwalk

Near the opposite end of the boardwalk from where Viking Polaris is docked, there is a Marriott hotel that has provided several colorful Adirondack chairs where you can relax and enjoy views of the harbor.

After walking the 1.5 miles of the boardwalk, we enjoyed the Adirondack chairs and watched the local ferry cross back and forth.

There are many souvenir shops and local restaurants along the boardwalk and plenty of things to see. There is also a very nice Maritime Museum, for those who are interested. Of course, there are many other sights within walking distance of the ship, but the three miles we walked up and down the boardwalk was great exercise for us and we are glad we did it.

We are back onboard Viking Polaris in plenty of time to get ready for the Captain’s Farewell Reception in The Aula. Guests are handed glasses of sparkling wine as they enter The Aula tonight. The Captain invited the entire crew and officers on stage to receive the recognition they wholeheartedly deserve from the guests.

After the Captain’s Reception, we decided to visit Paps The Explorers Bar for a cocktail. This bar offers seating on Deck 4 and Deck 5 forward, but the bar itself is located on Deck 4. While Deck 5 offers more privacy, we have found that it can take more time for the wait staff to take orders on Deck 5, so we usually try to find a place to sit on Deck 4. However, if we do sit on Deck 5, we will stop by the bar on Deck 4 first to place our order and let them know we will be seated on Deck 5.

Looking over the bar menu reveals that Viking’s bar prices are very competitively priced compared to other cruise lines. Their Viking Sparkling Wine, which is one of the best in our opinion, is $7.50 per glass. That is a 50% increase from a few years ago when we remember it being $5 per glass. Inflation.

As you can see below, the drinks for which Viking charges $9.50 would easily be $12 to $15 on many cruise lines. This pricing begs the question: Is the $25 per day for the Silver Spirits drink package really worth it? That is a topic I will cover in my YouTube review, so make sure you subscribe to our channel and request notification of future videos.

Throughout this cruise, we have wondered what happened to the nuts we used to see on the tables at Explorers’ Bar on the Viking Ocean ships. Turns out that they are available upon request. And, gluten-free snacks are also available for those with gluten allergies.

One practice we really appreciate is that Viking delivers the snacks in a carafe to prevent cross-contamination. Back in the day, pre-Covid, snacks would be served in bowls where multiple people at the table could just reach in with their hands and grab the snacks. The carafe is a much more sanitary delivery mechanism that we really appreciate.

We had a nice lunch at World Cafe today and we have dinner reservations tomorrow night at Manfredi’s, so we decided to skip dinner this evening. I know, that is a sin in some people’s minds. But we often will skip one meal per day (usually breakfast) while cruising.

We decide to head back to our stateroom where we are reminded that we must turn our clocks back one hour tonight as we are sailing to New York City (Eastern Standard Time). This is a good night to try out the excellent selection of in-room movies on the television.

Tomorrow is our final day at sea and our last full day aboard Viking Polaris. That means packing for the trip home. Yuck.

Chris Dikmen & Rickee Richardson 8/14/23 Chris Dikmen & Rickee Richardson 8/14/23

Day 10 A Day At Sea

Follow along with us on our 12-night Canada/New England cruise aboard Viking Polaris.

Today is the first full day at sea on this cruise. In fact, there are only two days at sea on the itinerary and they come toward the end of the cruise. The seas are relatively smooth today, but the visibility is all over the place. Heavy, dense fog will periodically clear for beautiful blue, sunny skies.

As I am finishing up yesterday’s blog, an announcement comes over the ship’s PA system that whales have been spotted off the bow of the ship. By the time I arrive, I can see guests beginning to gather. Molly, one of the ship’s Expedition Team is already on the lookout for Pilot Whales.

There were a few pods of Pilot Whales spotted this morning off the bow and on the port side of the ship.

Guests Gather At The Bow To Look For Whales

Here we can see five Pilot Whales moving near the ship. Pilot Whales are actually large members of the dolphin family, and not whales at all. But, it is much more fun to say you spotted whales than dolphins.

Later this morning, we heard announcements from the bridge that crew emergency drills would be held. When we left our stateroom to go to lunch, we noticed an EVACUATED placard hanging from our stateroom door handle. In a real emergency, crew members will make sure guests are not in their stateroom and place one of these on the door to indicate that the stateroom has been cleared.

Today’s lunch selection at World Cafe was the best of the cruise, at least for me. They had so many things on offer today that I like that it was hard to choose. So, I didn’t! I had a little of everything!

The Veal Schnitzel was one of the best I have ever had, as was the Carbonara Spaghetti. The shrimp curry was just okay, but the BBQ beef rib was amazing as were the lamb chops. I did not have room for the Caesar Salad, which is what I was hoping to have when I arrived at World Cafe.

While on the topic of dining, one of the great culinary experiences on Viking’s larger ocean ships that is missing from the expedition ships is the decadent Afternoon Tea. Viking Ocean’s afternoon tea service is one of the best in the industry and is held each day in the beautiful Wintergarden. Instead, Mamsen’s does put out some scones and cucumber sandwiches each afternoon, but it cannot compare to the Afternoon Tea on the larger Viking ships.

This afternoon, we decide to relax and enjoy a cocktail at Aquavit Terrace on Deck 5 aft. This is a very peaceful, and often overlooked, space with excellent bar service.

This evening, we attend a show at The Aula where Elmer, Viking Polaris’ Entertainment Manager, entertains us with his vocal skills.

Tomorrow, Viking Polaris will be docked in Halifax, Nova Scotia. This will be our final port-of-call before we sail toward New York City where we will disembark.

Chris Dikmen & Rickee Richardson 8/14/23 Chris Dikmen & Rickee Richardson 8/14/23

Day 9 Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island

Follow along with us on our 12-night Canada/New England cruise aboard Viking Polaris.

While working on my daily blog this morning at World Cafe, I could watch the docking procedure as Viking Polaris pulled into Port Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island in Canada

The weather was clearing up this morning and we actually got some nice sunshine today. Rickee and I decided to disembark and walk around town. As we walked by Viking Polaris, I stopped to take this photo of the crew painting over some of the scrapes and scars collected in the locks we transited last week.

There is a beautiful cruise terminal building just steps from the ship. You can see the clear blue skies in this photo.

Inside the terminal, there are many local merchants selling all sorts of souvenirs and gift items. This is the nicest cruise terminal we have visited on this itinerary and one of the nicest we have experienced anywhere.

Here’s a tip for US citizens. When you make a purchase using your credit card, ask to pay in Canadian dollars and when the charge shows up on your statement, you will notice a significant discount thanks to the favorable currency exchange rate. If you pay with US dollars, you won’t get that same deal and you will most likely end up with change in Canadian currency. Always use a credit card!

As we exit the terminal building to walk into town, we can see plenty of signs everywhere. It would be really difficult to get lost here. We walked a few blocks to a an area with lots of shops and restaurants. This is one of the easiest ports to just get off the ship and do some exploring. There is a very nice Food Hall nearby, but unfortunately for us, it does not open until noon, so we did not get a chance to go inside.

We head back to Viking Polaris and are back onboard in time for lunch. As we walk to our stateroom to drop off our shopping haul and camera gear, we spot our stateroom attendants, Burhan and Lau, in the hallway and ask them to pose for a quick photo.

Burhan and Lau have really gone above and beyond to take care of us on this journey. They are always smiling and willing to get anything we need. In all of our 141 cruises, we can’t think of a better stateroom attendant team.

After lunch, we have time to rest a bit, then disembark again for our 2pm Ceilidh on the Wharf excursion ($79). Ceilidh is pronounced “kay-lee”. I am not sure what’s up with that. When we booked this excursion, we thought it was a local musical performance where we might get a tasting of local dishes. We could not have been more wrong.

After disembarking Viking Polaris, we meet our tour group in the cruise terminal.

As our tour group exits the terminal building, we begin walking to a local lobster restaurant and the murmuring among the crowd of guests reveals that this excursion may not be what we thought we signed up for.

We arrive at a nearby lobster restaurant and it is becoming more and more evident that this will be a full blown meal, not just some “small bites” tasting.

The group is seated at cafeteria-style tables and soon waitresses are putting lobster bibs on us to protect us from God-only-knows what. Perhaps some background would be helpful. Neither Rickee nor I are big on seafood. And, we are not big fans of lobster. Oops.

As we wait for our food to arrive, we are entertained by a local folk singer who was fun and engaging with a really nice voice.

Not only did we get lobster, we each got a WHOLE lobster, served with a huge portion of cole slaw and potato salad. We had finished lunch in World Cafe only two hours earlier and were not the least bit hungry but, when in Rome.

In our defense, we were not the only ones in this predicament. Many other guests said they had no idea that this was a full blown lobster feast and they, too, had eaten lunch before coming to the tour.

Whole Lobster, cole slaw and potato salad

I sat there with my plastic bib trying to figure out how to dissect this huge bug on my plate to find an edible part. The placemat did have instructions on how to disassemble the creature, which helped. There were even surgical tools provided for each guest to remove and break open the body parts. Soon, the room was filled with the sound of cracking exoskeleton. It was horrifying!

I was able to remove a couple of claws and obtain some meat from within, which was good when drenched in butter. Of course, my napkin drenched in butter would be pretty tasty, too. I then broke off the tail section (see Step 5 above), as instructed by the placemat. I don’t even want to explain what I saw between the tail and body. The lady across from me was from the Maryland and she was tearing off body parts, sucking meat from legs, cracking the shell, busting open the tail. She obviously knew what she was doing. So, I asked her what the green stuff was pouring out of the thorax and she said “Oh, that’s just part of it.” Really?

Trying to play along and be part of the experience, I split open the tail section, tried my best to scrape out the most unappealing looking slime to get to something resembling what I have eaten in the past called a lobster tail. The meat was pretty chewy and tough compared to what I have had in the past, but at this point, quality was not my concern. I just just wanted it to be over.

I am from Texas. We don’t do lobster in Texas, we do beef. But, when we invite you to eat steak in Texas, we don’t expect you to slaughter the cow and butcher it at the table before you eat it.

Now, to be fair, if you LOVE lobster and don’t mind the process of cracking, shucking, sucking or whatever else is required to get to the edible parts of the lobster, you would probably love this excursion. However, don’t eat lunch before you go because it is a lot of food.

I should also mention that we did have the option of choosing fish and chips over the whole lobster. A decision I will forever regret not making, because the fish and chips looked really good. And, they did not make guests kill, gut and filet the fish before it was prepared. It came to the table already battered and fried, as God intended.

After re-boarding Viking Polaris, we run to the nearest lounge for a much needed drink. We team up with Alex and Nancy for team trivia. They were also at the lobster killing fields and told us they had eaten lunch before they went, not knowing it would be a full meal. This evening, we came in second place in trivia, only one wrong answer away from tying the winning team.

Later in the evening, we go to The Hide on Deck 1 forward for a survival demonstration conducted my members of the Expedition Team.

Members of The Viking Polaris Expedition Team

This was one of the most interesting and entertaining activities we have attended. Only a few guests showed up for this demonstration and it began by each of us trying to locate items around the room that could be used for survival in case of an emergency (survival gear on the table below excluded).

The members of the Expedition Team described how they have each been trained in survival techniques, which is required (or should be) for any guide that takes guests on Zodiac tours in Antarctica. Even with all of the modern technology, Antarctica is an unforgiving environment. Weather conditions can change quickly, as can ice flows and currents.

When a landing is scheduled in Antarctica, the first Zodiac to arrive at the landing spot carries a huge bag of emergency survival gear (shown above) just as a precaution.

Of course, the Expedition Leader and Captain always determine when it is safe to launch the Zodiacs in Antarctica, but you never know when massive multi-ton chunks of ice can float in and block a Zodiac’s return route to the ship. These events are rare but, with nature, anything is possible.

The large bag is equipped with gear to keep people warm, provide shelter, and even contains emergency supplies of food and water. Of course, there are first aid kits on every Zodiac and the Excursion Team members are all trained in First Aid.

We even had an opportunity to taste one of the MREs (Meals Ready To Eat) which is basically freeze-dried food. Just add hot water, wait a couple of minutes, stir it up and enjoy! The one we tried was some sort of salmon slurry, which I tried (Rickee did not). It was actually not bad and at least I did not have to kill or crack any exoskeleton to eat it.

This demonstration was entertaining, fun and educational. It was one of the best activities we have attended on this cruise. And, just for clarity, we have been to Antarctica twice and never experienced any sort of emergency. However, it is nice to know that Viking Expedition Team members are prepared for any eventuality, just in case.

Tomorrow is a day at sea, so we plan to relax and enjoy what this beautiful ship has to offer.

Chris Dikmen & Rickee Richardson 8/12/23 Chris Dikmen & Rickee Richardson 8/12/23

Day 8 Cap-aux-Meules, Canada

Follow along with us on our 12-night Canada/New England cruise aboard Viking Polaris.

It turns out to be another beautiful day of weather aboard Viking Polaris. This morning we are sailing toward our anchorage off the coast of Cap-aux-Meules, Canada. After breakfast, we attend an excellent lecture by Dr. Brandi Revels, Chief Scientist onboard Viking Polaris.

In addition to being expedition cruise ships, Viking Polaris and Viking Octantis are also being used for scientific research. Dr. Revels explained the logic behind this strategy. Obtaining funding for long-term environmental research is getting more and more difficult. Imagine how much it would cost an organization to pay for a ship and crew to collect samples from the waters around Antarctica, for example, year round.

Viking expedition ships are already sailing year round in Antarctica and the Great Lakes, so why not put that scientific research on these vessels? Therefore, the scientific research is being funded, in essence, by Viking guests. These ships are equipped with a variety of scientific research equipment that allows them to take and analyze water samples. They even launch high-altitude weather balloons.

After the lecture, which was quite interesting, I decide it was time to check out the thermal suite at the LivNordic Spa on Deck 2. Viking’s Ocean ships have a reputation in the cruise industry for having excellent spas, and this has been extended to these expedition ships. Use of the thermal suite is complimentary on Viking Cruises. Some cruise lines charge up to $50 per day to access thermal suites that are not nearly as nice as Viking’s.

Unlike on the Viking Ocean vessels, the spa thermal suite on Viking Polaris has an amazing view of the ocean. The Thallasotherapy pool is massive, extending almost the full length of the thermal suite.

Guests can secure their clothing and valuables in beautiful lockers located in the changing rooms (men and women). Tap your stateroom key to lock and unlock the lockers.

The dry sauna is one of the nicest I have seen on a cruise ship and is large enough to accommodate 10 guests comfortably.

There is also an amazing steam room, a snow grotto, a cold water bucket splash room and an “experience” shower.

This afternoon, we have been fortunate to schedule time aboard one of the Special Operations Boats (or, SOB). Viking is the only cruise line to offer this unique experience.

These 12-seater ice-strengthened aluminum, ocean-going Special Operations Boats are purpose-built for exploration. Originally designed for military operations around the world, these boats are built in Finland and have been converted for use as expedition boats. With twin water jet propulsion (2 x 450 horsepower onboard engines), individually suspended seats and the unique ability to convert the open seating into an enclosed cabin, it all adds up to create a fast and comfortable ride.

The passenger seats on these boats have hand grips that guests can hold, an indication of how rapidly these boats can maneuver.

We are fortunate to be two of only three guests on the final ride of the day for this SOB.

These boats can reach speeds of over 40 knots and can kick up quite a bit of spray, so don’t be surprised if you get wet when riding on an SOB. We wore waterproof jackets, but barely get any spray.

Two 450HP Motors Can Create Quite A Wake!

The pilot took us to a part of the shoreline where we could view a cormorant rookery.

Joe Rottman, one of our ship’s lecturers, was onboard to provide commentary.

Joe Rottman Gives a Commentary On The SOB

As we returned to Viking Polaris, we were hopeful that we would be able to remain onboard as the SOB was loaded back into the hangar. Unfortunately, the bridge denied our request and we were disembarked through one of the side doors.

The SOBs can be boarded inside the ship’s hangar and launched out of the back of the ship with guests in place (see rear open door). However, Joe explained that the additional weight causes wear and tear on the ramp wheels that support the boats for loading and unloading in the hangar. So, now the boats are typically boarded through the side doors.

This evening, we have been invited to a private dinner with a group of other journalists onboard this cruise. There is a private dining room located on Deck 1 between Manfredi’s and The Restaurant.

The menu for tonight’s meal is the same as this evening’s Restaurant menu. Rickee and I both started the meal with a bowl of Mushroom Soup, which was similar to what is served at Manfredi’s, but without the croutons. It was very good.

For our main course, we both chose the Prime Rib, which was served with Lyonnaise Potatoes and Brussel Sprouts. The Prime Rib was perfectly cooked, very tender and delicious.

For dessert, our waiter recommended the Chocolate Pumpkin Pie. Rickee and I both abstained from dessert, but the others at our table seemed to enjoy it.

After dinner, we said goodnight to our new friends and headed to bed. Tomorrow morning we will be docked in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada.

Chris Dikmen & Rickee Richardson 8/11/23 Chris Dikmen & Rickee Richardson 8/11/23

Day 7 Sept-Îles, Quebec

Follow along with us on our 12-night Canada/New England cruise aboard Viking Polaris.

This morning, Viking Polaris docked in Sept-Îles, Quebec, a town of about 30,000 people.

We originally booked an Archipelago By Boat excursion ($99pp) but were informed last night that, due to expected sea conditions, the excursion had been cancelled. Bummer. We decided that we would probably just take the shuttle into town today.

However, before any of that takes place, Rickee decided to try one of the Norwegian waffles at Mamsen’s. Now, traditionally, this waffle would be topped with the Norwegian dark cheese, sour cream, blueberries, strawberries and syrup. However, they will let you decorate your waffle any way you desire, so Rickee opted for fresh strawberries and syrup with some bacon on the side. And, by the way, if you like crisp bacon, you are in luck on Viking Polaris!

On this sailing, there are a few other journalists onboard and we heard from one of them that they were able to schedule a dive on one of Viking Polaris’ two submarines this afternoon. Well, that sounded interesting. So, I contacted Guest Services and was able to secure a spot on the 10:30am submarine dive for both Rickee and myself.

Participating in a dive on one of the submarines requires that your weight to be recorded beforehand and a waiver must be signed. You also must attend a briefing where all the necessary procedures are covered. There is a $499 charge for the submarine experience. These small submersibles can dive to depths of up to 300 meters. I can only imagine how amazing these would be in the crystal clear waters of Antarctica.

Rickee and I had already donned our life vests and headed down to The Hangar to take the Zodiac ride out to the submarine. However, once we arrived at The Hangar (Deck A), we were informed that all of the submarine dives were cancelled due to rough sea conditions. Bummer again!

Boarding these subs requires stepping from a Zodiac onto the “roof” of the submarine, then climbing down a narrow hatch into the sub itself. The submarine pilot determined that the seas were too rough to safely step from the Zodiac to the sub for boarding, so all of the dives were cancelled for safety concerns. Better safe than sorry.

Perhaps there will be another opportunity later in the cruise. We shall see. In the meantime, it appears that we are destined to simply disembark the ship and take the shuttle bus into Sept-Îles. We disembark and walk through a tent that has been set up with local merchants and artisans selling souvenirs.

Once inside the tent, there is a local musician playing guitar and singing and tables are laden with all sorts of souvenirs and local handicrafts.

When we exit the tent, we board one of the waiting motor coaches for the drive into town. A local gentleman, along with the coach driver, provide narration during our drive into town. The coach makes three stops, one of which is at a small Walmart! Another stop was at a local pharmacy and honestly, I can’t remember where the third stop was.

Honestly, there is not a lot to see in the town. I think there is a small museum here, and perhaps we should have taken time to visit that, but we were happy just to ride around town, which took about 30 minutes. We picked up some other guests on our stops who had taken earlier shuttle rides into town.

When we returned to the port, we had a little more time to do some souvenir shopping in the tent and bought a couple of refrigerator magnets for our collection.

This afternoon, I was on my own for trivia while Rickee was getting ready for dinner. I did team up with Alex and Nancy (our previous trivia partners). We just did okay today, but still no win. By the way, do you know what timepiece has the most moving parts? If so, put your answer in the comments.

At 5:30, it is time for the daily briefing with Marc, the Expedition Leader. Marc explains what we can expect when we visit Cap-aux Meules, Canada, tomorrow.

After Marc’s briefing, Joe Rottman gives a short, but very interesting lecture on the history of the fur trade in North America.

And, after Joe’s lecture, Dr. Brandi Revels shares some images of plankton that they gathered from the river yesterday from the zodiac. Viking’s expedition ships are more than just pleasure cruise ships. They also serve as scientific research vessels.

Dr. Brandi Revels Gets Excited About Plankton

Tonight we have our second reservation at Manfredi’s Italian Restaurant.

Our meal starts with a Caprese Salad for Rickee and I had the Antipasti platter. Both were good.

For our main course, I, once again, ordered the Bistecca Fiorintina, which I have affectionately referred to as the best steak at sea for many years. I am happy to report that the Bistecca is as good on Viking Expedition ships as it is on Viking Ocean.

We decided to skip dessert. Dinner took a little longer than normal tonight, so we are ready to go to bed. When we return to our stateroom, we see a reminder card had been placed on the bed to remind us that we need to set our watches ahead one hour as we enter the Atlantic time zone.

Tomorrow, Viking Polaris will be anchored at Cap aux Meules, Canada at 1:00pm. This will be the first tender port on this trip.

Chris Dikmen & Rickee Richardson 8/10/23 Chris Dikmen & Rickee Richardson 8/10/23

Day 6 Saguenay, Quebec

Follow along with us on our 12-night Canada/New England cruise aboard Viking Polaris.

When I return to our stateroom this morning and look out of our window, I can see locals greeting our arrival with some circus-like performers. There is upbeat music playing and the performers seem excited to have their photos taken with guests who are disembarking for local tours. It is nice to see a community that is welcoming to cruise guests.

We met our local guide, Alyce, for our morning walking tour of Saguenay (included). This morning, we are using the QuietVox receivers so we can all hear the guide speaking as we walk through the quiet streets of Saguenay.

Our first stop was at a local merchant who makes soap products. Although he did not give an actual soap-making demonstration, he did describe the process in detail. Several guests, ourselves included, purchased some of the scented hand-made soaps. Interestingly, the soap includes goat’s milk as one of the ingredients.

Our next stop, just a few doors down from the soap shop, is a local artist who utilizes multiple-mediums in her paintings. She also has many of her designs printed on clothing items which she sells in her shop.

Our final stop on our walking tour was yet another local artist who creates hand-painted textile products like table runners, pillow cases, tea towels, tee shirts, etc. We purchased one of her table runners for our home.

I would rate this tour about a 2 out of 5. It was mostly a series of shopping opportunities with very little substance and very little to see. If you are looking for a way to get off the ship for a couple of hours and enjoy a slow-paced walk around town, I suppose this walking tour is a good choice.

As we walk back to the ship, I am able to snag a photo of Viking Polaris docked in Saguenay.

Once back on board, it is time for lunch at World Cafe. Today’s special is Poutine, a French-Canadian specialty, with a Viking Cruises’ twist. Viking’s version of this Canadian classic is a bowl of French Fries topped with ground beef, covered in brown gravy, then topped with shredded cheese. It was actually pretty good, but would have been much better if the fries had been fresh and hot. Neither the fries not the gravy were hot enough to melt the shredded cheese.

This afternoon, Marc Jansen hosted our daily briefing at The Aula where we learned that our excursion in Sept-Iles tomorrow has been cancelled due to projected weather conditions. The Excursion Team is offering Zodiac and Special Operations Boat rides as an alternative. Also, they are operating a complimentary local shuttle bus into town every half hour.

Daily Briefing With Expedition Leader, Marc Jansen

Today just so happens to be our 29th anniversary of our very first date! So, we decided to celebrate with dinner at The Restaurant (Deck 1 aft). The Restaurant decor and layout is virtually identical to that on the Viking Ocean ships, albeit smaller in scale.

The left side of The Restaurant menu offers a series of always available starters, main courses, side items and desserts. The right side of the menu offers three starters, three main courses and two dessert choices that change each day.

Rickee stuck with the always available menu, starting with the poached Tiger Prawns. She was served three of the shrimp along with some very good pickled cucumber; however, there was no cocktail sauce. After we inquired about the missing sauce, the head waiter made sure to bring it.

For my starter, I ordered the crab cake, which was served atop an avocado salad and topped with orange, fennel and dill. You had to scrape off the “slaw” on top to reveal the crab cake. It was well cooked and flavorful, however, I would have preferred an aioli to the avocado underneath.

Rickee ordered the Beer Marinated Chicken for her main. She did not think to ask for dark meat, which is her preference. They brought her a huge white meat quarter section with a breast and wing. A side of Diane sauce and a roasted tomato accompanied the chicken. The chicken was flavorful, but a bit dry, as is typical of white meat chicken. It definitely needed the sauce.

She ordered a side of mashed potatoes, which were excellent, and really the only item that was delivered hot.

We are probably the only two people in The Restaurant who did not order the Spiny Lobster from the daily specials menu, but neither of us are huge lobster fans. I ordered the Ricotta and Pecorino Tortellini with cheese and pepper sauce. The pasta was cooked nicely and the flavors were good, but it was a very small portion, about five tortellini. And, unfortunately, it was only luke warm. I would not order it again.

I also ordered a side of the Charred Maple Syrup Brussel Sprouts, which were quite tasty, but again, just not served hot. Our overall experience at The Restaurant was just so-so and not as good as what we have experienced on other Viking Ocean ships. We have a second reservation here later in the cruise and we are seriously considering cancelling the reservation.

Tomorrow, we will be in Sept-Îles, Quebec and we have reserved an Archipelago excursion. We also will be dining in Manfredi’s for the second time.

Chris Dikmen & Rickee Richardson 8/9/23 Chris Dikmen & Rickee Richardson 8/9/23

Day 5 Quebec City, Quebec, Canada

Follow along with us on our 12-night Canada/New England cruise aboard Viking Polaris.

Iconic Hotel Frontanc taken from deck of Polaris

As I am finishing my daily blog and video editing from yesterday, the Captain is docking in Quebec City. The iconic Hotel Frontenac can clearly be seen from Deck 5 of Viking Polaris with a beautiful blue sky backdrop.

Today, I have two excursions booked. First, at 9am, I have booked the Old Town Quebec Through A Lens tour ($59). On Viking Polaris, guests are not issued excursion tickets, instead, they check your stateroom number off a list shore side.

I met my guide for Tour #4 (as indicated by the red lollipop sign) along with 17 other guests hoping to get some great photos of Quebec City. Our guide is a local photographer and she was quite friendly. Also along on this tour was Molly, one of the ship’s Expedition Team members who is also a very capable photographer.

As we walk down the pier toward the entry point to town, I stop to take a photo of Viking Polaris docked in Quebec City.

Our guide stops the group at a good vantage point for getting a photo of Hotel Frontenac before we head into town.

The Most Photographed Building In Canada

Once we arrive in town, we walk to the Funicular for the ride up to Upper Town. Quebec City is divided into an Upper Town and Lower Town.

From Upper Town, you get a completely different perspective of Hotel Frontenac. Of course, there are many statues and other sights worthy of photos and video along the way.

This was a much more strenuous tour than was indicated in Viking’s excursion descriptions . There was a LOT of walking and much of it up and down steep hills or stairs. It was good for me to get the exercise, but a few of the guests were struggling.

At one point in the tour, we walked up to the fort, which is the highest point in the city, and this offered some great photo opportunities for churches and the Lower Town. I decided to leave the tour group early and go back to the ship on my own since I had another tour at 1pm.

I don’t know my way around Quebec City, but I followed the general rule of thumb: “walk downhill and, sooner or later, you will reach water”. Once I could see the river, I knew exactly where the ship was docked and it was easy to find my way back.

Churches Always Make Great Photo Subjects

At 1pm, Rickee and I disembarked for my second tour (Rickee’s first) of the day. This was the Old Town On Foot (Included) tour.

Disembarking In Quebec City For Second Tour Of The Day

We met our local guide, Ann, shore side and, along with Nicholas, one of the Expedition Team Members, we set off on yet another walking tour.

This tour was three hours long and, while not as strenuous, this tour had no scheduled bathroom breaks included along the way. There was also no free time for souvenir shopping, which was a bit strange. There were only seven guests in our group, and a couple left the tour early to do some shopping. When we arrived back at the ship, there were only three of us remaining in the group.

Ann, Our Walking Tour Guide For This Afternoon

This tour was similar to my earlier tour, but not nearly as strenuous. The tour once again involved a ride on the Funicular up to Upper Town where the majority of the tour took place.

Ann gives the group some of the history of Quebec City as we stop in a local square. At one point, we were able to walk down into the underground excavated area of the original Governor’s castle from the 1600’s. There are over 1 million artifacts that have been recovered here. A government tour guide did an excellent job of explaining the history of the excavation and the artifacts. This stop was the highlight of the tour for us.

We were back on board Viking Polaris by 4pm and it turns out that I ended up walking more than 6.7 miles today!

Tomorrow, we will be in Saguenay, Quebec.

Chris Dikmen & Rickee Richardson 8/8/23 Chris Dikmen & Rickee Richardson 8/8/23

Day 4 Trois-Rivières, Quebec

Follow along with us on our 12-night Canada/New England cruise aboard Viking Polaris.

In front of the Ampitheater in Trois-Rivières

As I begin my morning work on Viking Polaris, I take a moment to step outside to get a photo of Viking Polaris as she docks in Trois-Rivières, ahead of schedule.

Viking Polaris Docking in Trois-Rivières

My morning routine involves setting up a temporary “office” in World Cafe. I arrive very early, so the restaurant is empty and I find a perfect table, aft, right across from a coffee machine.

A four-top table becomes my desk next to a large window with a perfect view of the ocean or, in the case of this morning, Trois-Rivières, Quebec, as the Captain begins docking procedures.

On Viking Polaris, I utilize the complimentary WiFi to its fullest extent by uploading photos, videos and blog posts. So far, the WiFi and Internet have been reasonably fast and very reliable.

This morning, we attend a lecture conducted by Joe Rottman about Antarctica and his extensive South Pole experience. The topic was the Viking identical twin Expedition ships, Polaris and Octantis and how they were purpose-built for Antarctica and Great Lakes itineraries. These two ships were purposely sized to be able to fit through the numerous locks on the Great Lakes.

After our lecture, Elmer offers another team trivia contest in The Living Room. We team up with another couple, but did not do so well this morning.

It is another visit to World Cafe for lunch today. We are keeping things very light today treating ourselves to Thai Beef Salad and charcuterie. We are saving room for our dinner this evening at Manfredi’s Italian Restaurant.

After lunch, there is a break in the rain, so we decide to disembark and just walk around town on our own.

Rickee Disembarks Viking Polaris In Trois-Rivières

As we walk down the pier, I stop to take this photo of Viking Polaris.

We walked through the Old Town district of Trois-Rivières and were amazed at the beautiful architecture and lush landscape.

This evening in the Aula, Marc Jansen, Expedition Leader, conducted our daily briefing for tomorrow.

Rickee visited Guest Services to clarify a shore excursion booking before dinner this evening. Viking has a very unique and relaxed way of meeting with Guest Services. And, they were very helpful.

We arrived at Manfredi’s for our first specialty dining meal. I really like the “open kitchen” concept where you can watch the chefs prepare your dishes.

Our dinner at Manfredi’s was excellent and, afterward, we attended an operatic performance by two local sopranos. This was a real treat and everyone loved the show.

Tomorrow, we will be docked in Quebec City, Quebec.

Chris Dikmen & Rickee Richardson 8/7/23 Chris Dikmen & Rickee Richardson 8/7/23

Day 3 Locks in the St. Lawrence River

We transit a series of locks on Viking Polaris.

Viking Polaris enters one of the many locks

Today, around 6:30am and three hours ahead of schedule, Viking Polaris begins transiting the many locks scheduled for today. A crowd gathers on the bow to watch the lock transit.

In true Viking Cruises fashion, the crew is present to offer complimentary cups of Irish Coffee to guests who are braving the cool early morning air to enjoy the lock transit.

Irish Coffee is a blend of sweetened coffee and Jameson Whiskey topped with a whipped cream-like topping. The whiskey has been cooked to remove most of the alcohol content. It was delicious.

I am not sure exactly how many locks we transited today. I stopped counting at five. The photo below shows just how close the ship gets to the sides of the lock. Guests are advised NOT to reach out to touch the lock walls during the transit. But, I saw a few people do it anyway. Not sure what the fascination is with touching a concrete wall.

Viking Polaris Just Inches from Lock Wall

Later this morning, I was on a mission to locate The Hide. I finally figured out that you have to go to the forward staircase on Deck 2 (or above), then walk down (or take the elevator) to Deck 1.

The Hide is all the way forward on Deck 1 and is a great place to escape for some solitude. The windows put you as close to the water line as you can get on Viking Polaris. I even posted a short video showing my first visit to The Hide (see below).

Short Video of The Hide

As it began to rain later this morning, we could see crew members hustling to cover all of the outdoor furnishings.

Deck Crew Covers Cushions To Protect From Rain

For lunch today, we went back to World Cafe. It is difficult to walk past the bakery without being tempted by the wonderful aroma of bread being baked just a few steps away. The breads and pastries have been amazing.

This afternoon was our first Team Trivia contest with Elmer. We teamed up with Alex and Nancy, a couple from Southern California. We scored 14 out of 20 points, which was good enough for second place. Viking does not offer any prize for winning! What’s up with that? No ship-on-a-stick?

This evening, we visited Explorers’ Lounge for our evening cocktail and now we are having a hard time deciding which is our favorite lounge on the ship. Explorers’ features the beautiful music of Explorers’ Lounge Duo, which is a real bonus.

The Explorers’ Bar has a full menu of drink options and is really a beautiful, classy place with 180-degree ocean views.

We end our evening with another excellent lecture by Loreen Niewenhuise, one of the Specialists onboard Viking Polaris. Tonight’s lecture was on the history of Quebec City.

Tomorrow, Viking Polaris will be docked at Trois-Rivières, Canada.

Chris Dikmen & Rickee Richardson 8/6/23 Chris Dikmen & Rickee Richardson 8/6/23

Day 2 Toronto, Canada

Follow along with us on our 12-night Canada/New England cruise aboard Viking Polaris.

The skies are clear today as Viking Polaris prepares to sail away from Toronto. Even though I am not a breakfast eater, I wanted to take a tour of the World Cafe buffet breakfast.

When you enter World Cafe on port side (you can enter from port or starboard), you are greeted with a beautiful selection of tasty-looking pastries.

While I do not normally eat breakfast (intermittent fasting), I DO drink coffee. And, I am pretty picky about my coffee. There are several of these automated coffee machines around World Cafe and the Americano is very good. These machines can also make latte, cappuccino and espresso.

World Cafe is enormous, with seating on both sides of the vessel. Every seat has a view of the ocean. And, there are lots of tables for two with adequate spacing between the tables. Coffee pots are placed on the tables for breakfast service (see below).

There are hot buffet serving lines on both port and starboard, which offer identical selections. Made-to-order omelets and egg dishes are available for the asking.

Rickee and I decided to do some exploring this morning and discovered that The Shelter is just a few steps from our stateroom (3008). The Shelter is an interesting area located just behind the bow of the ship. The Shelter provides relief from the elements when sightseeing at the bow of the ship.

Guests gather at the bow for our 2pm scheduled sail away from Toronto. I can imagine how popular this space is for whale watching in Antarctica.

Guests gather for sail away from Toronto

Special complimentary cocktails are prepared and served to guests for sail away.

As we depart Toronto, the weather is picture perfect.

For lunch today, we head back to World Cafe which, along with Mamsen’s, are the only venues where lunch is served. We arrived early to get some photos and met Executive Chef, Mutiara Permata, who comes to Viking from Indonesia. She informed us that even if guests arrive at World Cafe before the scheduled opening time, if there are serving spoons set out with the food, they are welcome to serve themselves. She also explained that all the breads are made fresh daily in The Bakery (ovens visible in the background), and that virtually all of the food preparation is “open-kitchen” where guests can observe how the food is being made.

I decided to try a cheeseburger from The Grill. The Grill offers a variety of burgers, hot dogs and chicken sandwiches and is located aft starboard side in World Cafe.

Cheeseburger from The Grill (World Cafe)

This evening, we visited Explorer’s Lounge for a cocktail. I was surprised that the ship did not have any Crown Royal, but they did have Seagram’s VO as an alternative.

Rickee ordered a Lemon Drop Martini and said it was one of the best she has ever had.

We attended the Welcome Aboard Reception held in The Aula (a theater located aft on Decks 2 and 3) where we were introduced to the Captain, senior staff and the Expedition Team.

Later, we enjoyed some quiet time in The Living Room where the Classical Duo were performing.

Tomorrow, we will be transiting some locks on the St. Lawrence River.

Chris Dikmen & Rickee Richardson 8/5/23 Chris Dikmen & Rickee Richardson 8/5/23

Day 1 Embarkation in Toronto

Follow along with us on our 12-night Canada/New England cruise aboard Viking Polaris.

Our embarkation on Viking Polaris turned out to be a rather exhausting exercise. We arrived at DFW airport early for our flight to Toronto. American originally had our flight going out of Terminal C but, on the way to the airport we received a notification that the flight had been moved to Terminal A, so our Uber driver dropped us off there.

We enjoyed the Admiral’s Club in Terminal A and, just as we were preparing to leave to head to our gate, we got another notification that the flight was now departing from Terminal D! We had about 15 minutes to get from Terminal A to Terminal D before time to board.

Several gate changes for our flight to Toronto

Once we arrived at Terminal D, the flight was only slightly delayed departing DFW. Again, we scored exit row seats on the A319 which gave us a lot of extra legroom. The flight was a bit turbulent, but not the worst we have experienced.

We landed in Toronto just a few minutes later than originally scheduled, and this is where the fun begins. After exiting the plane, we walk a substantial distance to arrive at Canadian Immigration. We have traveled all over the world to more than 130 countries and I cannot recall an immigration process this chaotic.

First, you snake your way through the huge lines to finally arrive at a Customs declaration terminal. There are dozens of these terminals and everyone is trying to figure out how they work. After answering several questions on the screen, scanning your passport and getting your photo taken, a printout appears with your photos and some other information. Then, you get into another seemingly endless line until you finally arrive at a Customs official who looks at the form, marks a red line on it, and directs you to baggage claim.

We spend 35 to 40 minutes getting to baggage claim. Once we claim our checked luggage, then we have to stand in another long line to hand the printout to another Customs officer.

When we finally do exit baggage claim into the terminal area, even more chaos ensues. We begin looking for the Viking representative for our transfer to the ship. But, we do not see anyone holding a Viking sign. Turns out, she is there, we just cannot see her. When you exit baggage claim, you can turn to your right or to your left. After walking through the mass of humanity, I finally find her with the Viking sign. She was sitting to the left of the door where we exited to the right. We check in and are told that we have to wait on a few other guests before we can transfer to the ship. Okay, that is pretty normal.

We wait, and wait….and wait. For nearly an hour, we wait. Finally, a few of the waiting guests asked the Viking rep what the holdup was and she said we were still waiting for one guest. I think she and her partner sensed the frustration. After all, it is already after 6pm and the fifteen of us were getting hungry.

Finally, her partner led us through the terminal to a waiting motor coach. Our luggage was loaded down below and we soon were on our way to Viking Polaris.

Then, there was the traffic jam, as you can see in the photo below. It took us more than an hour to get from the airport to the ship.

Check in went smooth. We showed our BRAND NEW passports to the Viking Rep in the terminal building and were given our stateroom keys. By the way, we recently had our passports renewed with the help of Generations Visa Service, which made the renewal process so easy. Generations Visa is a partner with Viking Cruises.

After we check in, we attend a short demonstration of how to put on the life vests, then drop our hand luggage off at our stateroom. We arrive at World Cafe a little after 8pm, and they end service at 8:30pm. We had a nice meal, then walked around the deck a little before heading to our stateroom.

Tomorrow morning we will still be docked in Toronto. We do not have an excursion booked. The ship will depart Toronto tomorrow at 2pm.