This post is based primarily on Don's notes, occasionally supplemented with MT's notes from our cruise in November 2022. When information from other sources is added—for further explanation to readers or to satisfy our own curiosity—that is set off in a text box (as this one).
Most of the photos that accompany this post are from Don’s camera (with a caption indicating the time it was taken); those from MT’s iPhone are indicated by “MT” placed at the beginning of the photo caption. Photos from any other source (such as the public domain Wikimedia Commons), occasionally used for clarification, indicate that source in the caption.
The Viking Daily newsletter showed today's weather forecast as "Clouded 82° F" and "Sunrise: 6:36 AM."
MT Tuesday, August 29, 2022, 6:14 AM - Viking Star: sky just before sunrise (mild telephoto 52 mm).
Don woke at 6 am. MT had been up since 5:20 and had changed our room service breakfast from 7:00 to 6:30.
Room service breakfast arrived at 6:15.
MT Monday, August 28, 2022, 6:24 AM - Viking Star: yesterday, MT had taken a photo of the Viking Newsletter map of itinerary from 17 Nov, showing the route for the whole cruise, including going around the west side of Cuba on the way from Montego Bay to Ft. Lauderdale (which would change).
Tuesday, August 29, 2022, 6:17 AM - Viking Star: The Ship Tracker on the TV in our stateroom showed our position heading toward the gap between the east side of Cuba and Haiti, closer to Guantanamo on the Cuban side, on the left (port) side of the ship. Later, we were told that the change of course was due to a medical emergency onboard.
MT 6:31 AM - Viking Star: view from our balcony of sunrise (mild telephoto 49 mm).
At 7:15, we went to Deck 2 to walk on the Jogging Track. It had a black strap across the exit door, but we ducked under it and walked anyway. There was a very strong north wind from the bow (it felt like 30 mph or more). One other man was running already. A couple came out and were hanging onto the rail and his cap, as they were walking with the wind; we passed as we were walking into the wind. We never saw them again, so they must have given up quickly. We continued walking util 8:25.
The Ship Tracker on the TV in our stateroom had shown our position heading toward the gap between Cuba and Haiti, closer to Guantanamo on the Cuban side, on the left (port) side of the ship. So we could see land from our balcony (stateroom 4019 on the starboard side of Deck 4). Out on the Jogging Track (Deck 2), we could see some mountains that must be in Cuba.
7:28 AM - Viking Star: view, from Jogging Track, of mountains in Cuba, barely visible on horizon.
7:28 AM - Viking Star: mountains in Cuba (mild telephoto 52 mm).
8:18 AM - Viking Star: mountains in Cuba (telephoto 130 mm).
MT 8:22 AM - Viking Star: mountains in Cuba (telephoto 125 mm).
8:29 AM - Viking Star: Ship Tracker in our stateroom showing the position of the Viking Star getting close to the gap between Cuba and Haiti.
8:30 AM - Viking Star: closer view of Ship Tracker showing the position of the Viking Star getting close to the gap between Guantanamo Bay on the eastern tip of Cuba and Haiti.
At 8:40, Don took our dinner order down to The Restaurant (Deck 2), since it had to be turned in by 9:00.
We played Scrabble at a table on Deck 2 in the 3-deck Atrium (Decks 1-3).
At 11:30, we went to the Pool Grill (Deck 7) for our customary lunch of seared Ahi tuna, etc.
At 12:15, we went to the Explorers' Lounge (Deck 7 and 8) for Team Trivia. Teamed with another couple, we got 17 points out of 20 (the same as another team on the upper level of the lounge on Deck 8), but a score of 19 downstairs on Deck 7 won.
Then we went to the World Café (Deck 2) for fruit. On our way there, we saw the Ship Tracker in a hallway on Deck 7, which showed us passing between Cuba and Haiti.
12:53 PM - Viking Star: Ship Tracker in hallway on Deck 7 Forward showing the position of the Viking Star now passing through the gap between Guantanamo Bay on the eastern tip of Cuba and Haiti.
12:53 PM - Viking Star: closer view of Ship Tracker in hallway on Deck 7 Forward showing the position of the Viking Star now passing through the gap between Guantanamo Bay on the eastern tip of Cuba and Haiti.
1:15 PM - Viking Star: view of Ship Tracker back in our stateroom showing the position of the Viking Star now passing through the gap between Guantanamo Bay on the eastern tip of Cuba and Haiti.
1:15 PM - Viking Star: closer view of Ship Tracker back in our stateroom showing the position of the Viking Star now passing through the gap between Guantanamo Bay on the eastern tip of Cuba and Haiti.
MT 1:28 PM - Viking Star: screenshot on MT's iPhone showing part of the agenda for Nov 29 (it was also in the Viking Daily newsletter we had received the previous evening). We would do the Q&A and the Afternoon Tea, but skipped the Bayeux Tapestry Tour because we had seen the original in France.
We saw mountains of Haiti from the Jogging Track (Deck 2).
1:41 PM - Viking Star: view from Jogging Track toward mountains in Haiti (not really visible here).
1:41 PM - Viking Star: view from Jogging Track of a mountain in Haiti (telephoto 130 mm).
At 2:00, we went to the Theater (Deck 2) for the Q&A with the ship's captain, chief engineer, chief of hotel, and Cruise Director Graham.
At 3:45, we went to the Wintergarden (Deck 7) to get good seats for the English Tea at 4:00, and they started serving even before 4:00. A couple from British Columbia joined us for tea.
MT 5:37 PM - Viking Star: sunset ( mild telephoto 37 mm).
At 6:30, we went to the Theater (Deck 2) for the Beatles Songbook with the Viking Vocalists.
At 7:50, we went to The Restaurant (Deck 2) for our pre-ordered dinner.
At 9:00, we went to the Theater (Deck 2) for the Viking Farewell Reception, where we were invited to "raise a glass to a memorable journey with the crew of the Viking Star."
