London
July 26th, 2025
It seems like we had just gone to bed, and then it was time to wake up and get ready for our taxi at 4:45.
It was already feeling strange that we didn’t have any arrangements to meet up with our family for breakfast. They would have to eat without us joining them
There are many things that Viking do so well, and one of them is that on disembarkation day they serve breakfast from 2:00 AM. How nice is that! One last meal on board.
Also, by the time we headed to breakfast our cabin stewardess, Karen, had already cleaned several cabins near to us, and was ready to clean ours.
That makes it so great that your cabin is ready when you come on board, but I was concerned that it must make a very long day for her. And this happens every 7 days. I do hope she will get some time off later today.
Our taxi driver was waiting for us in the lobby when we finished breakfast, and off we set. I wish every disembarkation was as easy as this. I was thinking about the chaos when we tried to leave Queen Mary 2 11 days ago.
However, with only 190 passengers on the Gullvieg and the ability to disembark at any time, I suppose it’s not surprising how well things went.
Just before I got to the taxi I looked back at our boat. There was a light on in our cabin. The wonderful Karen was already hard at work.
The journey home was long, but uneventful, and I slept a lot of the way.
We have had such a fun trip. The contrast between an ocean liner and a river boat is amazing. Which do I prefer? That’s hard to say, there is so much I like about both.
I suppose a crossing on Queen Mary 2 will always be my first love, but there is a lot to be said for river cruises. They are just totally different ways to experience the world. I do love sea days, but being able to experience different ports around the world is such an amazing gift. You learn so much, and appreciate things just that much more.
But the best thing is that we all booked another family Viking River cruise to France for summer of 2027. Yay! We will all be together again. I am so excited. I miss them all already.
Meanwhile, it’s time to plan our next adventure……………..
I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by;
John Maesfield 1902
Thank you for your insights. Enjoy the rest of the summer and here’s to your next adventure!
Thanks very much!
You’re making me want to do another river boat cruise
Possibly down the Danube, or Paris to the south of France
It’s been many years since I’ve done a river boat and it’s something to consider for summer 2027. Let’s talk.
It’s very different to an ocean cruise, but also great fun. It is so good to have choices!