Last Updated on: 30th January , am. When the lovely folks at Viking invited me on a Viking ocean cruise from Barcelona to Rome , of course, I said yes.
Then the panic set in. I know what could happen. A few years ago, Jonathan and I enjoyed a two-week river cruise with Viking from Budapest to Amsterdam. I was nervous about doing that, too. Until they pointed out during the safety drill that in the unlikely event of the boat sinking, the top floor of the boat would still be above water.
But that was not going to happen in the Mediterranean, though! However, I do enjoy the pure selfishness of solo travel- to do what I want when I want and not have to answer to anyone else. But on a cruise, yikes -I might be expected to socialize! So having said yes to booking a cruise and before joining the Viking Ocean Cruise from Barcelona to Rome , it was time to download the My Viking Journey app to pre-book shore excursions, spa treatments, and make dinner reservations, etc.
Also, 14 to 45 days before departure, you receive personalised embarkation tags, a Viking luggage tag, and one red transfer sticker per guest if you are being picked up at the airport. Yes, it was one of those nights. The taxi arrived at am, so bleary-eyed, I headed out to the airport.
As I was changing flights in Frankfurt on the way to Barcelona, I only brought hand luggage with me to avoid worrying about losing baggage. Since losing our luggage on the way to Argentina a few years ago, I no longer check luggage in; it saves so much time travelling light, but I digress.
