Table Of Content
We stumbled across a small city festival celebrating Stockholm’s largest BBQ party. An early morning scenic sailing through the Stockholm Archipelago. A stunning 37 mile stretch towards one of Europe’s most elegant cities, Viking Sea berthed right in the city centre. We had nearly a full day in Helsinki which was enough time to see the highlights of the city.
Discovering Denmark's Diminutive Aalborg City With A Viking Ocean Cruise - Forbes
Discovering Denmark's Diminutive Aalborg City With A Viking Ocean Cruise.
Posted: Thu, 25 Aug 2016 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Cruises
The Kon-Tiki was built by world-renowned explorer Thor Heyerdahl and he sailed the boat on his epic voyages. There are numerous texts, maps and more than 8,000 books on display about the voyages. The highlight is the exhibit of the original Kon-Tiki balsa-wood raft that Heyerdahl used to sail from Peru to Polynesia in 1947. We started our tour from the ship, walking along the water to the House of Music. The design of this concert hall is very modern and was designed by the internationally renowned architectural firm Coop Himmelb(l)au.
Homelands – A Viking Ocean Cruise
There is a large, glass-domed cupola designed by Sir Norman Foster at the top. Within the cupola, there is a spiral walkway that leads to the very top of the dome where we found incredible views of the city. The Käfer restaurant is also located next to the dome, and we enjoyed a delicious lunch that featured Ox Cheeks. After breakfast at the hotel we went for a brief walk around the shopping area near the train station. Upon returning to the hotel, we packed up, checked out and took a taxi to the ship.
Gdansk, Poland
Transportation in most European cities is typically very accessible, and Stockholm was no exception. We had purchased train tickets on the Arlanda Express, which travels from the Arlanda airport to the main train station in Stockholm in only 18 minutes. Signs led us to the train platform in the airport, and once we arrived in downtown Stockholm, it was a very short walk to our hotel across the street.
The Brandenburg Gate, a landmark and symbol with over two hundred years of history, is one of Berlin’s most important monuments. After the construction of the Berlin Wall, it was located in the restricted area and could not be visited by either East or West Germans. After the fall of the Wall, the gate became a symbol of German unity.
The spectacular Skradinski Buk falls comprise 17 cataracts and spans 100 metres at its widest point. Wander along a nature trail to discover the park’s restored pre-industrial water mill and a monastery. The Viking 15-day Ancient Adriatic Treasures voyage makes calls in Croatia, Turkey, Greece, Montenegro and Italy including overnight stays in Istanbul, Athens and Venice.
Iceland’s Natural Beauty
Once one of the Hanseatic League’s wealthiest cities, Gdansk still boasts phenomenal architecture reminiscent of that period of prosperity. It’s one of the top destinations in this part of Europe thanks to its glorious Old Town, filled with buildings in Baroque, Gothic and Renaissance styles. One of Scandinavia’s most iconic, largest and most beautiful cities, Stockholm is an ideal place to start a Viking Homelands Cruise.
Other islands such as Rhodes and Crete offer opportunities to hike among the volcanic splendour, sample wine at hilltop wineries, and discover historic sites. The voyage also includes Kuşadasi, Turkey, for a chance to roam the ruins of Ephesus, dating back to the 10th century BC. Emerge rejuvenated from the nourishing mineral springs of Budapest, Hungary. Enjoy this relaxing tradition, revered since the times of the ancient Romans. The most popular baths can be found at Széchenyi, the largest spa complex in Europe, with a daffodil-yellow outdoor section. Mingle with the locals as they relax in these pool-like thermal baths and watch them play chess in the water.
Note that there are various optional activities, excursions and tours available in each port. The latter adds travel on the Main and Danube rivers to days on the Rhine. Among the longest sailings that Viking offers that include calls in Northern Europe are one-way, 28-night voyages between Bergen and New York City.
The train weaves its way through steep mountains and narrow valleys with stops at the most beautiful waterfalls along the line. Norway’s second-largest and possibly prettiest city is where we joined the Viking Homelands Cruise. Nestled among mountains, glaciers and fjords, Bergen sets a beautiful picture indeed. It also gives passengers more straightforward access to many of the destinations and more time in port. You also take the hydrofoil to the Peterhof Palace, where you tour the gardens.
Follow her on Twitter and Instagram for travel tips, destination ideas, and off the beaten path spots. Room service is available for more basic food items and is included 24/7. I only ordered breakfast once, and it was on time and warm when it arrived. As the newest ship in the fleet, the Viking Jupiter both set and met high expectations on the Homelands itinerary I joined in 2019. The Viking Jupiter mostly embarks on European (Baltic and the Mediterranean Sea) itineraries, but it’s also making a southern Atlantic crossing this year and heading to South America.
You’ll find plenty of relaxing spaces onboard in the atrium levels, as well as a library, games for use, and interactive maps. There are also two small exhibit areas featuring Viking clothing and artifacts. Viking hosts a daily series, “Munch Moments,” which showcases several Edvard Munch pieces each afternoon in The Living Room/Atrium area. You can also download a specific app that walks you through the art and design onboard. Don’t miss out on guest lecturers, port talks, streamed TED Talks, destination performances, film screenings, and more onboard. There is also an onboard cooking school, The Kitchen Table, where on sea days, you can learn to cook dishes highlighting an upcoming destination.
We had never been to Berlin, so we were really looking forward to a tour of the city. We selected this excursion because it included more stops than the regular tour, an organ concert, and lunch at the Reichstag. Since we already had scheduled an included tour with Viking, we mainly just walked around the Old Town and then stopped for an early dinner at the Hairy Pig. We had the Sharing Board which included The Hairy Pig’s wild boar sausage in brioche buns, reindeer tacos, cole slaw, Belgian fries, mushroom soup and cheese pie. The weather was very good for early in the season, ranging from highs in the upper 40s to just over 60 on a few days.
No comments:
Post a Comment