More on excursions

 Today it begins to feel like we are really going on a 150-day cruise. 

Jan will in a few minutes begin securing our excursions and I would like to tell which one those are. In order of importance to us.

Viking has included tours for each port and when we are not doing what is outlined below, we will be taking an included tour. If you are curious, go to the Viking Ocean cruise site and then to World Cruise and look at the complete itinerary.  We also have made arrangements to enjoy other private (30 plus other cruisers) tours to see below after Viking Tours.

1)  Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam - this is an overnight. Why? when we have a really good bed on the boat. Well from our Moorage it will take about 1 to 3 hours to get into Saigon. Now we will get to see Saigon and experience it at night.

2) Rhodes, Greece - Greek Cuisine - we get a cooking class and immersion into the Greece Culture.

3) Cabo, San Lucas - whale watching speaks for itself. 

4) Colon, Panama - Flora and Fauna, yes we are going to see flowers and trees and maybe a monkey or two.

5) Semarang, India - Borobudur Temple. This is a 9th century-in Borobudur, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  Borobudur mimics the shape of a lotus and every aspect of it represents Buddhist views of the cosmos. Practically every square inch is covered with sculptural reliefs and there are 504 Buddha statues, making it a popular pilgrimage site.

6) Naples, Italy - Enjoy a panoramic drive of Naples and lunch at an authentic pizza house, then discover Pompeii. The world’s first pizzeria opened in Naples in 1830. Watch a master pizzaiolo (pizza maker) skillfully prepare the dough, sauce and toppings and slide the pizza into a traditional oven.. At the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Pompeii, you can explore a city frozen in time by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 AD.

7) Rome, Italy - Italy’s history on this outing, ideal for lovers of archaeology. Journey with a local guide to the ancient city of Tarquinia, founded in 449 BC. Explore the fascinating Etruscan Necropolises, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Dating from the 7th to the 2nd centuries BC, the numerous tombs, with their decorative frescoes, chronicle the development of Etruscan culture. 

8) Mooloolaba Australia - We will get to explore the picturesque mountaintop village of Montville and enjoy a taste of locally produced wine and cheese. Settled in 1887, Montville is nestled in Queensland’s Blackall Range. Sitting at 1,410 feet above sea level, it experiences inviting weather year-round and offers sweeping views over the hinterlands. Enjoy free time to further explore on your own. You may choose to visit one of the local cafés or restaurants, browse the art galleries and boutiques, or admire the striking views of the Sunshine Coast. You will cap your tour at a local estate winery, indulging in a delicious wine and cheese tasting, before making the return journey to your ship.

10) Bali, Inda - Ubud Discovery & Rice Terraces, explore the museum and marketplace of Ubud, and discover the remarkable rice terraces of Tegallalang.  You will travel by bus to Ubud, a quiet cultural center famous for its handicrafts.  At the Puri Lukisan Museum, admire a collection of early artwork from Ubud and the surrounding villages, then enjoy free time to browse the artists’ shops and bargain in Ubud’s market. 

10 Le Havre, France - While everyone else is heading to Paris we will be experiencing the Normandy coast. Journey to the seaside town of Fécamp, whose beautiful Benedictine Abbey gave its name to an herbal liqueur. Once the birthplace of Norman dukes, Fécamp’s prosperity grew on its fishing industry. Up until the 1970s, the port was France’s most important harbor for cod. Journey here with your guide and stop at the 13th-century Fécamp Abbey, known mostly for its monks—who, according to legend, first produced the Bénédictine herbal liqueur. (note the issues the English are having with the French over fishing rights. this is a Brexit Issue). Enjoy a liqueur tasting before returning to your ship via a short stop at Étretat, renowned for its chalk cliffs and natural arches.

11) Colombo, Sri Lanka - Ceylon Tea. Need to inject that we are not sure we will be visiting this port, due to the country's unrest. But if we do this is what we will see. Upon arrival at the tea plantation in Ingrida, you will enjoy a traditional welcome with garlands made from tea leaves. Some of the finest teas in the world are produced in this region, and during your tour, you will learn why it has become one of Sri Lanka’s most famous and principal exports. Delve into the island’s culture and history as you observe the tea crop being plucked, graded, tasted, bagged and packed.

OTHER TOURS NOT VIKING TOURS.

1 Sydney, Australia - Blue Mountain Tour

2) Aqaba, Jordan - Petra - think Indiana Jones

3) Luxor, Egypt - Luxor & Valley of the Kings

4) Haifa. Israel - Jerusalem & Bethlehem

5) Kusadasi, Turkey - Ephesus