Our ocean going Octantis has turned into a Viking River Ship. We’ve passed through seven locks, some of them doubles. Amazing to see the building beside you sink below the railing nd finally disappear form sight unless you lean over the side. Or to open the window of our Nordic Balcony and touch the concrete wall of a lock. Or to step into the bathroom in the dark because you’re in a lock and come out to see a worker looking in your window.
Back in the gym today, lectures, trivia and a Veterans’ Get Together. We tied for first, but loss on the tiebreaker. Who or what was the Ford Mustang named for?
We also had an announcement that we will not arrive on Toronto until 1700 vs the scheduled 1000. This is obviously a huge disappointment for those departing the ship on 30 April. They’ll miss all the touring opportunities in Toronto, although Viking is scrambling to arrange something. The delay was reportedly cause by the unavailability of a pilot after departing Trois-Rivieres. Karla and I commented that shortly after it turned dark we stopped. In fact, I was jokingly going to call Guest Services and complain about the blinking red lights on a transmission tower outside our window. There is a blackout shade that you can close, but the few times we have it makes the room seem very confining. We leave it open almost all of the time and cautiously get dressed in the bathroom. ‘
Drawbridge going down. Gates close behind us.
No room to spare. The ship was purpose built to just fit the width and length of the Great Lake locks
Looking forward out our window
Looking aft
Mark, the Excursion Manager stopped by our table at dinner tonight confirmed there will be a shuttle to downtown upon arrival. He will meet with us tomorrow with some recommendations for a DIY tour. One of the three-stripe officers on board commented that there seems to be a failure in communication between the Viking offices and the shore agents. No one appears to be held accountable for the shortfall and for this cruise it has been especially grievous. We concur and have heard more than one passenger say if this was their first Viking cruise, it would be there last.
Karla and I are disappointed in the glitches, but still the Antarctica segment, the friendships made, the successful excursions more than overcome the shortfalls. We believe they are so noticeable because they are not the Viking way.
Karla got me.
The ship's deck four is even with the rails on this draw bridge.
Back in the USA, if only in passing
The last lock before Toronto.
