Explore More Issue 18

Your WORLD We catch up

Your WORLD We catch up with where you’ve been and what you’ve seen on your Viking cruises...and where you’re off to next YOUR LETTERS The royal treatment Throughout our Danube Waltz cruise we were treated like royalty by the Viking Egil crew. We had not been to anywhere east of Germany before and found it very interesting. It was our eighth cruise with Viking and number nine is already booked. Robert and Adrienne Atkinson Top marks for detail My wife and I returned a week ago from our Rhine Getaway, which was our fourth Viking river cruise. Every time we say it cannot get any better, but once again the crew excelled themselves. Massive praise goes to Andrew Lazarus, the programme director, and Nebojsa Milosevic, the hotel manager. I’d also like to give a special mention to the two waiters who looked after us, Darren and Enrico. They were so attentive and and a credit to the company. No other river cruise line can match Viking’s attention to detail. Mr and Mrs R Hunt Over the moon We have recently returned from the excellent Waterways of the Tsars cruise and would like to commend three people who gave that ‘little extra’. Firstly, maître d’ Pavel, whose calm and efficient management of the restaurant was noteworthy. Secondly, Chef Leonidas; we took the kitchen tour, which is a really worthwhile optional extra. It is so easy to forget the kitchen crew members, who are rarely seen but essential to meal times, and there was clear evidence of an excellently organised and happy team. Thirdly, Tatiana Prokofieva, our guide on the Moscow City Tour and at the Cosmonautics Museum. I’ve long had an interest in space and can claim a certain knowledge of the Soviet/Russian achievements, but her knowledge on the subject was exceptional. Particularly good service deserves to be recognised, so to them all, very many thanks. John Boyes Making memories on the Mekong We went on the Magnificent Mekong cruise this August and added on an extension to Ha Long Bay (which is so worth doing as it’s nature at its best). We were not disappointed at all by the trip: the hotels were exceptional, Viking Mekong was lovely, and all the staff were welcoming and attentive. A big thank you also to the chef and local guides. The guides on all our Viking holidays have been of a high standard, but Bob (real name Tuyen Nguyen), our programme director on this cruise, has to be the best we’ve ever had. He was so caring, as well as knowledgeable and passionate about his country. His warm nature and sense of humour really helped to make our holiday a wonderful one. Paul and Brenda Andrew Viking triumphs again We have just returned from our river cruise from Bucharest to Budapest on board Viking Aegir. This was our fourth cruise with Viking and as usual it was outstanding. Everything from the staff and facilities to the itineraries and guides were exceptional, far better than any other company we have travelled with. I would like to give an extra mention to Mircea Poena, our programme director, who was such a helpful, wonderful and sincere person. It was such a pleasure to travel with him on the Danube. Glenis Green STAR LETTER We have just returned from our fifth Viking cruise (Empires of the Mediterranean) and once again had a really successful trip. We were initially attracted by the itinerary, especially as we hadn’t visited Slovenia, Bosnia or Montenegro before. We went on six of the organised tours and particularly appreciated being able to escape into the countryside and avoid the most crowded destinations. We had previously visited Dubrovnik and Santorini, so we elected to visit Mostar and cruise the caldera – both very well-organised trips with knowledgeable and articulate guides, who gave us the a very good appreciation of the history, culture and politics of the region. Christopher and Maureen Powell You could win... ...a £50 M&S gift voucher if your letter is chosen as our star letter. Email us at uk-marketing@ vikingrivercruises.com PHOTOS: © AWL IMAGES/ISTOCK 8 VIKINGCRUISES.CO.UK | WINTER 2019 008-009_EM17_YourWorld.indd 8 04/11/2019 15:52

LETTERS YOUR PHOTOS #MyVikingStory Follow us on Instagram @VikingCruises for more inspirational images Cruise highlights Clockwise, from top left: 1. Take the Nile cruise! Take the Nile cruise! Forcedexit 2. We ate and drank our way through Europe on Viking’s Grand European Tour. Peg Dunsworth 3. Peeked out my balcony window upon waking and saw this view – I knew a great day on the Danube was in store. Claudia Rabinowitz 4. On the Rhine Getaway learning how to make Flammkuchen with the sous chef. Candis Hines 5. The stunning view from our stateroom this morning – what an amazing start to our day on the Cities of Light cruise. Marc Geisler 6. Sailing on Viking Sky towards Iceland I looked out of my window and saw this rainbow. Bob Feinberg 7. It is all Van Gogh all the time in Arles. Peter Delean 8. A tufted puffin in flight captured on the Wildlife Photography excursion in Kodiak. Ian Withnall 9. Amazing day in Köln and an amazing week on Viking Tialfi. A big thank you to the crew who treated us like royalty. Karin Freis YOUR MESSAGES Hit List Everyone should add Lucerne in Switzerland to their wish list – it was an amazing city. Rowland Taylor I watched the Downton Abbey film on Saturday and it was fantastic. I enjoyed every single minute of it and so did my husband. It’s a real feel good movie and I would recommend. Anne Moffatt I have had wonderful experiences with the crew on all my Viking cruises (both river and ocean). They are top notch and I would like to thank Viking for providing a wonderful time for us. Kim King I can’t wait until our next cruise. Congrats on winning the awards for best cruise line and best river cruise line again this year... no one can come near to Viking! Joyce Stewart Viking, thank you so much for the lovely little cookbook I’ve just received following our recent trip on the lower half of the Danube. There are some great recipes. Elizabeth Dodds We’ve just got back from our Viking Homelands ocean cruise and saw The Little Mermaid statue on one of our tours in Copenhagen. Great times. Marilyn Christie I’m doing the Rhine & Moselle Discovery river cruise in June and cannot wait to visit Strasbourg. It looks like such a beautiful city. Amanda Levell We went with Viking on its first Caribbean cruise earlier this year. It was a wonderful experience. I would highly recommend going if you can. Dawn Henson WINTER 2019 | VIKINGCRUISES.CO.UK 9 008-009_EM17_YourWorld.indd 9 04/11/2019 15:53