Canadian World Traveller Spring 2019 Issue

time travelers spend in port, which appeals
to travellers who want to immerse themselves
in local culture and experience as
much as they can at each destination.
Viking’s 11 included guided tours at each
port help make this happen. It’s possible for
travellers to combine included guided tours
with optional shore excursions and independent
explorations.
That’s what we did in Copenhagen. There,
we began our morning in the Danish capital
with a walking tour introducing passengers
to sights such as the iconic Little Mermaid
bronze statue and a range of landmarks,
buildings and gardens from a history dating
back to 1043. Participants learned of
Denmark’s occupation during WWII and the
resistance movement that helped protect
much of the country’s Jewish population.
In the afternoon, during our Charming
Coastal Copenhagen excursion, we headed
southeast beyond the city limits to the
windswept village of Dragør. Founded in the
12th century as a port for the herring fishing
fleet and sailing ships, its harbour and narrow
cobblestone streets lined with homes
topped with thatched roofs seem unchanged
with time. We returned in time to hop on the
complimentary Viking shuttle bus into
Copenhagen to enjoy time in the cafes,
shops and boutiques later that afternoon.
Viking history loomed large at the next port
of call, Alborg, Denmark. Founded by
Vikings in the late 900s and set in picturesque
Limfjord at its narrowest point, our
escorted walking tour introduced us to the
Old Town’s half-timbered mansions, churches
such as Vor Frue Kirke dating to 1100
and a wealth of well-preserved Renaissance
architecture.
As with other ports of call, there was a generous
amount of independent time giving us
the opportunity to sample aquavit, the
potent local aperitif and explore an underground
Franciscan church, holding the
bones of Alborg citizens buried centuries
past.
Life Aboard the Viking Star
Life aboard the Viking Star is filled with light.
All curves, blond wood and natural materials,
the soaring modern design of the Viking
Star is one of understated elegance. Each
stateroom features a private veranda spacious
enough to enjoy leisurely morning coffee
or evening cocktails.
Dining aboard the Viking Star is a memorable
experience. With six restaurants and
six bars to choose from, options include a
wide selection of cuisine from Italian fare at
Manfredi’s to a full breakfast buffet at the
World Cafe. Beer, wine, juice and soft drinks
are available during lunch and dinner at no
extra charge.
One of the hidden gems for lovers of local
cuisine is Mamsen’s Cafe located within the
Explorer’s Lounge. Named in honor of
Viking founder Torstein Hagen's mother, this
take-out eatery features a variety of
Scandinavian dishes such as open-face
sandwiches, cheeses and waffles.
For those who prefer to wrap up their full
days of explorations in a leisurely way, 24-
hour in-room dining is available and features
destination-inspired dishes such as
Norwegian gravlax with sour cream and
potato salad as well as hearty meals such as
an Angus New York Strip Steak, grilled to
perfection with a classic Caesar salad.
Onboard activities include performances of
concert piano, dance shows and other
entertainment within the cabaret-style theatre
as well as live classical music in the
Atrium, a sports deck with gold and shuffleboard
plus a well-equipped fitness centre,
infinity pool and swimming pool deck with
retractable roof. An onboard historian provides
welcome insights into Nordic history as
well as upcoming ports of call.
A tempting array of spa treatments await
within the LiV Nordic spa. The Nordic
bathing ritual concept claims that alternating
hot and cold hydrotherapy stimulates the
immune system, offering a boost of wellness.
The expansive spa features a steam
49
room, dry sauna, thermal pool, hot
tub, chilly plunge pool and a frosty
Snow Grotto at a frigid -10C, where spa
enthusiasts can slather themselves with snow
crystals. Less rigorous spa options include a
Northern Still Treatment featuring a soothing
blueberry body wrap.
More Nordic heritage awaits within the
Viking Star’s onboard museum featuring
artifacts, clothing from the Viking era and a
video explain the background of The Bayeux
Tapestry, a work of incredible embroidery
describing the Norman invasion of England.
Passengers tempted to think they may have
Viking ancestry can do a quick assessment
without a DNA test.
At the heart of our Viking Homelands itinerary
is the opportunity to “go-a-viking” on
land and sea. Historically, the word “viking”
was a verb meaning “to go on a waterborne
adventure” and Norse farmers in Norway,
Sweden and Denmark would go trading,
exploring and raiding after their crops were
planted.
It’s easy to capture that sense of adventure
as we glide through stunning
Hardangerfjord of Norway and witness a
magnificent rainbow arch across the charming
hamlet of Eidfjorden. As we explore this
gateway to the Hardangervidda, Europe’s
largest plateau, we traverse canyons, marvel
at mighty Vøringsfossen waterfall and gawk
at quaint homes topped with grass trimmed
by goats.
While picturesque, it’s a primordial landscape
of epic proportions. As I hike up a
hilly slope to capture a view of the lichen
dotted valley, I’m met with a blast of icy
snow and sleet.
It’s a reminder that if seawater runs in the
veins of every Norwegian, expecting formidable
weather is also part of what it means
to “go-a-viking.”
www.vikingcruises.com
Canadian World Traveller Spring 2019