Ahoy there me mateys! Welcome to the newest installment on me Log, Wayfare Wednesdays! As ye scalawags know, yer Captain always be spending me time dreaming of the next far off ports and searching of a good adventure. So I thought I would give the crew some insight into the fascinating people, places, and things I saw while ye all were wallowing in port in some filthy tavern, swilling grog, and missin’ the sights. Ye know in case ye miscreants ever get the chance to plunder visit these destinations in the future . . .
archaic : an act or course of journeying (source)
As some of ye may know, I recently had a line on a rumor of a bit of Viking treasure, Scottish ruins, and Elizabethan artifacts. The sea was a’ calling. So off I went. After eighteen days of adventurin’ in Iceland, Norway, Scotland, and England, I be back to share me tales. I have now highlighted the ports we visited but it wouldn’t be complete with a tour of the ship. Arrr!
The Itinerary
The Ma and I visited Iceland first and then 8 other ports of call. If ye missed any of the previous stops on this trip then ye can click on me new Wayfare Wednesdays page and see those ports!
The Ship
The Ma and I traveled on the Viking ship called the Viking Sun. The “small” ship was built in 2017 and has a length of 745 feet and beam of 94.5 feet. It sails at 20 knots. The ship has 9 decks and accommodates 930 guests. Decks 3 to 6 are for guest cabins. We were on deck three. To see the interactive deck plan, live ship cam (awesome), or Viking Ocean 360° tour click here.
Our Cabin Balcony and View
The Explorers’ Lounge
There were three full days at sea. Arrrr! The Ma and I both liked to spend a lot of time in this Lounge. Located at the bow (front) of the ship, it contained two levels. The upper level was the best because it contained a) full glass windows with stunning views, b) not that many people, and c) a fabulous library.
Me Favourite Library Book
The Vineland Map is from the 15th century, 50 years before Columbus and shows that the Vikings have a much better claim to having “discovered” North America. I like that it shows where we sailed (sort of!).
The Spa
The Ma and I had one spa day that was divine. Seriously one of the best massages of me life. The massage therapist even brushed me hair which was strange but very soothing. When not getting treatments, I soaked in the heated pool. I loved floating on the waves. The Ma made use of the snow room (!) and sauna and such.
The Dinner View
I had an assigned table due to food allergies. This was what the view looked like at many meals. Plus I had homemade fancy gelato every single night. Yum.
The Art
There was artwork all over the ship. Some was original and then there were reproductions of famous pieces. There were sections of the 11th century Bayeux Tapestry on many of the walls by the staircases running between decks. Me favourite was scene 56 “The Saxon Army is Cut to Pieces.” Because of this detail:
Another piece was by Kate Jenkins in 2017 called “Hand Sewn Seafood.” It had three panels but this was me favourite.
The Wintergarden and Pool
This pool was on deck seven. I didn’t really care about the pool but what I loved was sitting there on the last night of the trip because it had a retractable roof. I lounged and watched the sun set over Greenwich.
Thus ends the weekly posts about the trip into the Midnight Sun. But don’t worry, this Captain will have other ports to share in the future. Arrrr!
x The Captain
Side note: The Wayfair Wednesday featured image (source) is of two sailing vessels “dressed overall” with their international signal flags. Signal flags are the flags used to contact other ships. Well unless ye be a pirate in which case the Jolly Roger and yer cannons speak well enough. A ship dressed overall “consists of stringing international maritime signal flags on a ship from stemhead to masthead, from masthead to masthead and then down to the taffrail. It is a sign of celebration, and is done for occasions, anniversaries, and events, whether national, local or personal.” (source) Well, Wayfare Wednesday is certainly a celebration, occasion, and event no matter how ye look at it. Arrrrr!
Captain's Quarters 
Thanks for sharing your adventures with us! I’ve really enjoyed this series of posts 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am so very glad!
x The Captain
LikeLike
It looks like a wonderful cruise, Cap! My mother treated me to a cruise up to Norway, but the ship was much, much smaller – there were just over 250 passengers. It meant we were able to tie up at a number of the jettys in the Norwegian fjords. It was the trip of a lifetime – but I would love to be able to go and see the Northern lights at some stage…
LikeLiked by 1 person
I would love to see the Northern Lights but I hate being cold. Though of course Iceland has all those hot springs so I would do there if I was going to go at all. I wish our ship had been smaller. I don’t like the crowds.
x The Captain
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hate the cold, too. And yes… our ship was just the right size, I think:))
LikeLike
I love your ship pictures! The hand sewn seafood is great, though I’d probably have spent way too long staring at the art trying to figure out all the details that went into making it. (I also may have spent too much time just staring at your photo of it…)
I had to giggle at your comment about the ship size, though. My favorite ship accommodates 2,400 guests, and she’s the smallest of the passenger ships I’ve sailed on. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I stared at the sardines for way too long every time I passed them. They were in the dining room and so I was in folks’ ways every time. I kept wanting to steal it. Had to make due with a photo. Which I am glad to have!
As for ship sizes, I like sailing ships with crews of 3 to 10. So that ship was way too big. But really who cares as long as I am on the water.
x The Captain
LikeLike
The sardines are just too much fun. I would have wanted to steal it as well.
I guess compared to a ship that has a crew of 10, this one was a monster. In theory I would like to be on a small sailing ship, but in practice I would be seasick a lot. And yet I love the sea. Larger cruise ships seem to be a reasonable compromise.
LikeLiked by 1 person
There was a huge storm while onboard and I slept SO well. I was sad when the captain went into calmer waters even though I know it was safer. I mean really he had to. Everyone else complained of the tossing. I be sorry about seasickness. I don’t get that. The closest I came was in a helicopter. I was having inner ear trouble and was actually green. I took a photo to check. The First Mate thinks that photo be hysterical. I didn’t notice when we landed because me head was so bad. It was due to dropping in and out of air currents. Super unpleasant. My sister was six months pregnant and perfectly fine!
x The Captain
LikeLike
I do always sleep better at sea, but not in the bigger waves. (Though I blame that partly on being a Californian. Usually when we hit rough waters and I’m asleep, I’ll wake up thinking there’s an earthquake.) I’ve had inner ear trouble off and on since I was in high school, so I know what that’s like. It’s gotten better since then — I used to get vertigo while just sitting on the sofa doing nothing — but it still gives me problems at odd, unexpected moments.
LikeLike
Lovely to hear about your travels! And this looks like a great ship 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Have to admit that Capt Lars runs a tight ship!
x The Captain
LikeLiked by 1 person
The fact that a Nose settlement dating to the 1000s was found at l’anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland in the 1960s also gives the Vikings a pretty good claim to having reached North America before Columbus.
That ship actually looks like one I wouldn’t mind being on!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh thank ye kindly for the l’anse aux Meadows reference. I knew there were settlements up there but didn’t know much about them. I am going to have to research.
x The Captain
LikeLike
L’anse aux Meadows is the only confirmed site, but there are one or two other possibilities that don’t have enough evidence to confirm a Viking presence.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I had a very good time reading about L’anse aux Meadows. I adore archaeology. Thanks for sharing!
x The Captain
LikeLike
You’re welcome! Always fun to pass along fun and interesting facts. I wish I knew the name of it, but there was a PBS documentary about archaeologists who were using satellite imagery to locate potential Viking sites in the Shetlands and in North America. It was fascinating.
LikeLike
What a fabulous ship! It looks so luxurious 😁 I’ve enjoyed hearing about all your travels, can’t wait for the next one!
LikeLiked by 1 person
After so many in a row, I have to admit that it will be nice to take a small break from them and catch up on the book reviews. And I thought book reviews took me forever to write. Ha!
x The Captain
LikeLike