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 We have just returned home to Winchester after our most exciting start to Christmas. Courtesy of Viking Cruises, and after winning one of their competitions, my wife and I were able to enjoy a Christmas Gala Dinner with the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon at Highclere Castle. We were greeted with a choice of cocktails to enjoy with our fellow guests, many of whom had travelled from the USA for the occasion. Lord and Lady Carnarvon hosted a guided tour and we then visited the cellars to see the Egyptian display relating to a previous Lord Carnarvon’s discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun in 1922. This was followed by a superb meal, including lobster, venison and a gin-and-tonic sorbet made with Highclere Gin. The Earl and Countess were very knowledgeable and amiable hosts and invited us all back to the Library for coffee to finish the evening in style. Stuart and Barbara Vause
New friends We thoroughly enjoyed our recent cruise, In the Wake of the Vikings, notwithstanding the involvement of Mother Nature. After all, she is more powerful than any of us! 8
VIKINGCRUISES.CO.UK | SPR ING 2020
Naturally we were disappointed at the omission of some ports but I was pleasantly surprised to receive the credits for a future cruise which I will be delighted to utilise. I told Charles, the General Manager, numerous times how fabulous each and every member of the staff was. As this is our fifth cruise, many of the supervisors were old friends. We also made new friends and have already booked four more ocean cruises. I must single out Christine in Guest Services, Gary the Executive Chef and Ramona the Beverage Manager, Kayam the Restaurant Manager, Vikesh, a restaurant supervisor who departed early for a well-deserved promotion, Mika, the Spa Manager as well as Kim and Sophia, the lovely and talented entertainers. Your hiring process truly sets the standard. Bruce F Fein
Amazing Alaska We had never been to Alaska before so wanted to learn more about the country. The cruise was all we had hoped it would be. The ship was great and even with around 900 passengers, never felt crowded.The food was great and there were two special dining experiences that we pre-booked. We also chose to have afternoon tea one day as a special treat. Entertainment in the theatre was of a very high standard and very much to our (rather more highbrow) tastes. The guides were informative and we learnt a lot about the country and its indigenous people. We have already booked another cruise around the bottom of South America and over to the Falklands, which will be our 12th Viking cruise. Each one has been different and brilliant. Mr and Mrs Childs
S TA R L E T T E R
I have recently returned from the Rhine Getaway cruise, sailing from Amsterdam to Basel, and it surpassed all my expectations. From the moment we set foot on board Viking Mani we could feel the welcome. The ship was bright, comfortable and clean, and all the staff were friendly and welcoming. Together with the beautiful landscape, the excursions and the entertainment, it was just perfect. All the staff were very helpful and made things easy for me (walking with a stick) but there are some who went above and beyond their duties – Ralph the Hotel Manager, Programme Director George and Kris our waiter. Thank you Viking. Erika Ruis
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Dining at Highclere
