Viking Sky Into the Midnight Sun

ABOARD THE VIKING SKY – Standing like ancient druids, the round stones mark the hopes and dreams of children from different nations. Erected decades ago, the messages are even more important today. “It was meant to be something positive, something that would stand here to remind the world that we all should be friends and live in peace,” tour guide Brenda said. When the Viking Sky docked in Oslo, Norway, I headed off for the North Cape …

Read moreViking Sky Cruise 17: Children of the Earth share hopes for world peace

ABOARD THE VIKING SKY – Eating at The Chef’s Table is like taking a culinary trip around the world. The five-course menu is set. That means you don’t order, you just eat what is brought to the table. Although I had never heard of some of the dishes described on the set menu, I must say I enjoyed them all. Some a little more than others. It was quite a tasty education. One of the Viking Sky’s …

Read moreViking Sky Cruise 16: Chef’s Table offers tastes from around the world

ABOARD THE VIKING SKY – In the often-cutthroat world of business, I just heard the nicest thing on my Viking Sky cruise. The wonderful Manfredi’s Italian restaurant on the ship was named for Silversea’s chairman Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio. In return, d’Ovidio named a special spot on Silversea’s cruise ship after Viking Cruise chairman Torstein Hagen. At the very top of the Silversea’s ship, it’s called Tor’s Observation Library. How about that for two competitors who can still …

Read moreViking Sky Cruise 15: Ship’s restaurant Manfredi’s named for cruise competitor

ABOARD THE VIKING SKY – Vikings did not have horns on their helmets. With apologies to Minnesota football fans, Jeremy Paterson added with a smile. A wonderful part of a Viking Sky cruise is the guest lectures by experts such as Paterson. As resident historian, Paterson is giving talks in the ship’s Star Theater almost every day. Today he talked about the Vikings, challenging traditional Viking stereotypes as well as examining the Norsemen’s influence and legacy. “Think …

Read moreViking Sky Cruise 14: Viking helmets did not have horns, plus Viking link to Bluetooth

ABOARD THE VIKING SKY – At first, I thought it was a make-believe story.  When I was a child, the neighborhood storyteller Miss Minnie mesmerized me and my siblings with the exploits of an extraordinary dog. As soon as I got a chance to go to the school library, I looked it up.  The story was true. Bamse was a real live World War II hero. Now my Viking Sky cruise will be docking in the Norwegian …

Read moreViking Sky Cruise: Story of heroic World War II dog

ABOARD THE VIKING SKY – Don’t know how he could see with all that long hair in his eyes. But he seemed to gallop along just fine when he spied a hand reaching out to pet him. On this sunny day, the Viking Sky has docked in Lerwick, Scotland, and I have signed up for the Shetland Panoramic and Ponies shore excursion. I couldn’t miss the chance to see these historic little critters. “Shetland ponies date back …

Read moreViking Sky Cruise 12: Shetland ponies are small but strong and sturdy

ABOARD THE VIKING SKY – Over the years, I’ve seen cruise directors who sing. A few even dance. But I have never seen a cruise director who sings, dances, does handstands and flips into a hot tub filled with ice. That is our Viking Sky Cruise Director Aaron Syfert. He is a man of many talents. On our cruise, Aaron makes the morning announcement to tell us the ship has been cleared to go ashore. He usually …

Read moreViking Sky Cruise 11: Cruise Director a man of many talents

ABOARD THE VIKING SKY – I should have known better. The sign said very clearly “Cold bucket shower.” But I pulled the chain. And it definitely was cold. Very cold. But not nearly as cold as the Snow Grotto. On a ship, for goodness sake. The first one I’ve ever seen. It is definitely an unusual spot on the Viking Sky. I’ll tell you more about those later. But first, I want to describe the wonderful spa, …

Read moreViking Sky Cruise: Visiting the ship’s surprising Snow Grotto

ABOARD THE VIKING SKY – What amazing stories must lie buried here, including one about the man for whom this magnificent cathedral was built and whose bones are said to be interred in one of the walls. “St. Magnus Cathedral is known as ‘The Light in the North,’” said tour guide Thelma. “The cathedral is the center of the town and was built for the martyr St. Magnus.” When our ship docked in the Orkney Islands in …

Read moreViking Sky Cruise 9: Peaceful man killed when he was tricked and didn’t fight his cousin

ABOARD THE VIKING SKY – The ornate chapel seems oddly out of place in this quiet countryside. And the story behind it is even more surprising. “It was built during World War II by Italian prisoners of war,” said tour guide Thelma. “They used whatever materials they could find and you’ll be amazed at what they were able to do.” Thelma was certainly right. It all began in 1939 when a German U-boat slipped undetected into Scapa …

Read moreViking Sky Cruise 8: Ornate Italian Chapel in Scotland built by WWII POWs