AT SEA

April 5, 2023

As we are at sea for 4 days before our next port of call,  we thought we would share more information about our ship, the Viking Neptune.  She is brand new and this is her maiden voyage.  We expected some glitches but there have been very few.  There are about 800 passengers on board and 400 staff and crew.   One thing we should say at the start is the staff and crew are fabulous.  How Viking manages to select and train these young people to be courteous, friendly and outwardly happy is beyond us.   


Our stateroom and bath is compact, but really there is room for everything we need.  All the staterooms have balconies as there are no internal rooms for paying passengers.   


The ship has many pleasant places to sit and read, play cards or just relax, including the Atrium, Living Room, Explorers Lounge, Pool Side, and Tea Room.   So we don’t spend much time in our room.  Our favorite is the Explorers lounge.  It is a two story lounge at the front of the ship with floor to ceiling windows spanning the width of the ship and looking out on the sea where we are headed.   It has a bar, a deli and an electric fireplace.  


There is a large pool in the center of the ship and a smaller one (infinity) in the back of the ship, both with hot tubs.   Early morning yoga class is held on the pool deck.  There is a well equipped fitness center, spa and salon.  A 1/4 mile walkway all the way around the ship is great for us walkers and joggers.  Shuffleboard, putting green and ping pong are on the top deck near the bridge.  Our Captain gives us a sea and weather report at noon every day.  


There are five main food venues and several lighter fare places to snack.   At The Restaurant one orders from the menu.  Reservations are not required and dress is “business casual.”  Jackets for men are not required but they don’t allow shorts or jeans. The Chef’s Table and Manfredi’s (Italian) are specialty restaurants that require reservations but no extra charges.   We tend to eat most meals at The World Cafe - buffet format and very casual.   We tend to prefer it because there are a lot of dishes to choose from and portions are small.   At lunch one can get a hotdog, hamburger, or grilled tuna with all the fixings, salads and sides at the Pool Grill.  There is also a Norwegian Deli in the Explorers lounge that serves an excellent waffle, pastries and meats.  Suffice it to say we are not going hungry.


                                         Viking Neptune at dock


                         Aft pool and hot tub at sunset


                        Main pool area


                          One of several pleasant places to sit and read


                       Explorers lounge overlooking the bow and sea ahead

                           Explorers lounge bar


 Explorer's lounge stairs to second floor - Vera (photo at right) at her favorite seat in the sun helping the Captain navigate.


                     Electric fireplace in Explorer lounge


                       Norwegian deli in Explorer's lounge


                          Neptune performers in Explorer's lounge


Zeus, our favorite musician, with the setting sun at his back.  He can play and sing most of our favorites from the 70s, 80s and 90s.  He performs every evening from 6 - 8PM


 One of the 7 buffet stations in the World Cafe.  There are 3 stations on each side of the ship and a Chinese specialty station in between.


                   The desert station with Michele giving a big smile.   She dishes out the gelato.


              Mr roasted pig being carved up for lunch.   Vera closes her eyes when she passes by

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