Plan Your Best Trip Ever!
"Barcelona"
October 2024
Almost Live – West Indies to Iberia – Viking Sea – October 2024
NOTE: Since this is an “almost live” the blog post is not complete yet!
“Almost Live” because this was written partially during the cruise and partially after the cruise disembarked.
Cruising from the vibrant city of Barcelona Spain to the tropical paradise of San Juan Puerto Rico aboard the Viking Sea is a journey that promises both luxury and discovery.
The Viking Sea, a part of the esteemed Viking Ocean Cruises fleet, is known for its understated elegance and focus on cultural enrichment. This ship, accommodating just 930 guests, ensures an intimate and immersive travel experience.
The journey from Barcelona to San Juan is a transatlantic adventure that spans roughly 14 days, allowing travellers to explore a variety of ports and enjoy the serenity of the open sea.
We flew direct, non-stop from Toronto to Barcelona on Air Canada. Perhaps surprisingly the flight was on time and in fact landed in Barcelona early. Immigration was however very backed up with several hundred people in line, and this took approximately 40 minutes to clear. Hopefully when EES, ETS, and ETIAS are in place we, as non-European Union residents will breeze through immigration.
We booked our flights through Viking Air (not Air Plus) so we had our transfers included to the ship. We were met just outside the luggage hall by a Viking Representative, escorted to a waiting area with a few other passengers and within 10 minutes we were escorted to a full-size bus and taken to the port. The bus would hold 40+ people and I think that there were perhaps 12 of us. This is very typical of Viking as we have never had to wait very long to be transported to the bus and the ship.
Embarkation: Wednesday October 16, 2024
We arrived at the ship and our check-in was quick and efficient by very friendly Viking Crew but we had to undergo another Passport check with Spanish Police before boarding the ship. We were onboard the ship by Noon and we went to the World Cafe and had a bite to eat until our cabin was ready.We did not expect our cabin to be ready before 2pm, but we heard an announcement shortly after 1:00pm that all cabins were ready so we finished up our lunch and left for our cabin.
When we arrived at our cabin, our luggage was already there.This is also something that we have come to expect from Viking.The ships are not that large that it takes them so much time to get your luggage to you.We like to unpack immediately so that we can get the luggage out of the way and start to enjoy ourselves.
We unpacked, showered the airport and air travel off of us, and dressed for dinner.
Now, a little about where we are starting from:
Barcelona, the starting point of this remarkable voyage, is a city that captures the imagination with its rich history and vibrant culture. As the capital of Catalonia, an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, Barcelona boasts a population of approximately 5.6 million people in its metropolitan area. This makes it the second most populous city in Spain following Madrid. Known for its stunning architecture, Barcelona is home to several UNESCO World Heritage Sites designed by the renowned architect Antoni Gaudí, including the iconic Sagrada Familia and Park Güell.
We have been to Barcelona before, so we did not do any sightseeing this trip. We remained on the ship this first day as we were setting sail about 7pm. Also, Barcelona is no longer docking ships right at the city centre and so this would have meant an Uber or Taxi ride back and forth. The port is not that far, but not walkable with time constraints we had on the first day.
The city of Barcelona has a Mediterranean climate with mild winters and hot summers, making it an attractive destination year-round. Barcelona is also a significant cultural hub, offering a plethora of museums, art galleries, and theaters. The city's vibrant nightlife and diverse gastronomic scene further contribute to its allure as a must-visit destination.
If you have never visited Barcelona before, do go a couple days early and see all that this beautiful city has to offer including sampling it's fabulous food. Whether you're wandering through the historic Gothic Quarter, enjoying tapas at a local bar, or marvelling at the artistic wonders of the Picasso Museum, Barcelona has something to offer every traveler.(In the past we have visited all Picasso Museum’s in Spain – Amazing!)
The Viking Sea itself is designed to provide an enriching travel experience. Unlike larger cruise ships, the Viking Sea focuses on providing guests with cultural immersion and personalized service. The ship features a variety of amenities including multiple dining venues offering diverse cuisine options, a luxurious spa with a thermal suite, and an infinity pool that overlooks the ocean. Onboard activities include lectures and workshops on art, history, and local traditions, ensuring that guests have meaningful encounters with the destinations they visit.
We connected with friends from the USA travelling with us and headed to "The Restaurant" for our first dinner meal together.
The main restaurant on Viking, known as “The Restaurant” is an open seating dining venue that has a diverse menu and allows guests to choose when they want to eat without making reservations.The Restaurant also allows guests to choose to dine at tables for 2, 4, 6 or more.The Restaurant generally has three main sections to the menu and these are:
The Restaurant Menu is wide and varied and it is hard not to find something each day that will please your palate.
We ended our first day, tired from our trip, but excited for what was to come.
Overnight we sailed from Barcelona to Valencia.
Valencia Spain: Thursday October 17, 2024
Valencia is steeped in 2,000 years of history and culture. Its Old Town is one of Spain’s largest, a diverse medley of ancient buildings, wide-open plazas and cultural monuments. The Gothic Silk Exchange, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, bears witness to Valencia’s Renaissance trading power. A literal taste of Valencia’s past bubbles up in every skillet of paella. The centuries-old rice dish was invented here and perfected by farmers. Barracas throughout the city offer demonstrations and tastings of this famously rustic cuisine.
While in Valencia we had our choice of a number of excursions, and they were:
You can find a description of each of these on the Viking website, or in MyVikingJourney if you have already booked this cruise.
We chose the Sagunto and San Jose Caves and were not disappointed.
We are those rare souls that are on deck for the ships arrival and almost also for the sail away.This to us is a big part of cruising and on Viking Ocean ships we like to be on Deck 8 so that we can walk from Forward to Aft and Port to Starboard when either docking or sailing away.We like to take it all in.
This night we also ate at The Restaurant.
Scenic Sailing: Strait of Gibraltar - Friday October 18, 2024
Some people love sea days and some people don’t like them as much.For us a sea day here and there is welcomed as we go hard in the ports that we visit and we don’t mind a day off for refueling here and there.
This day is a sea day sailing from Valencia to Cadiz.
Gateway between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, the Strait of Gibraltar has a storied past. The ancients saw this passage as the edge of the world; no one dared pass through. The strait’s most defining landmark is its enormous namesake rock, towering almost 1,400 feet above the waters. The soaring Rock of Gibraltar was one of the Pillars of Hercules of ancient myth. The strait’s short span between continents has played a major historic role. Making the crossing is a dramatic experience, a passage between two great bodies of water.
Unfortunately, the sail past Gibraltar Rock was at midnight and I chose to sleep, but I had also ascended this great rock on a previous visit to Spain when we chose to also take in Gibraltar.Many don’t know but Gibraltar is not Spanish territory but actually a British overseas territory and even though it is at a southern point of Spain, you do need your Passport to visit Gibraltar.It is not uncommon for tourists to Spain to hop in the rental car for the day and head to Gibraltar and leave their passports in the hotel room safe.Plan ahead to not be disappointed.
As much as we love a sea day, the highlight of this day was our first Chef’s Table reservation.Viking’s Chef Table changes menus every 3 or 4 days during a cruise and is a Chef inspired tasting menu of 5 courses paired with wines.Today we enjoyed “California Cuisine – The Pacific Coast Food Scene.
Our meal was delicious and included the following:
Each course was paired with a carefully chosen wine.
Delicious!
Cadiz (Seville) Spain: Saturday October 19, 2024
Cádiz lies on Spain’s breathtaking province of Andalusia and gained incredible wealth during the 18th century; riches from the Americas were unloaded here after the Guadalquivir River to Seville silted up. This scenic southern region is home the matador and world-class equestrian art.
Seville, city of polyamorous suitor Don Juan, boasts plenty of its own glories. Its grand cathedral, Alcázar Palace and Tower of Gold were built from the coffers of Spanish kings, but its fiery flamenco defines its true spirit. It is best to ponder it all while sipping sherry at a bodega.
We docked in Cadiz, and chose a shore excursion that was more local.Seville is about a 90 minute drive each way from port and we had interests closer to the port.
While in Cadiz (Seville) we had our choice of a number of excursions, and they were:
You can find a description of each of these on the Viking website, or in MyVikingJourney if you have already booked this cruise.
We chose Sights, Sounds & Tastes of Andalusia and were not disappointed. This included a Flamenco performance after a locally inspired lunch.This was a great show and well worth the time for the experience.
Tonight we ate in The Restaurant.
Overnight we sailed to Morocco.
Casablanca Morocco: Sunday October 20, 2024
Casablanca lures visitors with its heady mix of neo-Moorish splendor and French influence. Known as “Casa” to locals, its streets exude an atmosphere of bygone days. Made famous by the 1942 eponymous film, today it is one of Africa’s most important ports. Parisian-style boulevards unfold past cafés and colonial buildings. The city’s medina is a maze of warrens pulsing with old-world energy, the hollers of carpet merchants and the fragrance of incense. The most impressive structure is the Hassan II Mosque, the country’s largest and most magnificent.
While in Morocco we had our choice of a number of excursions, and they were:
You can find a description of each of these on the Viking website, or in MyVikingJourney if you have already booked this cruise.
We chose the Casablanca Walking Tour with Rick’s Cafe and were not disappointed. This included a stop with an open bar at Rick’s Café – light snacks were provided.
Tonight we dined in Manfredi’s.Manfredi’s is Viking’s Italian fine dining room.Manfredi’s is the most difficult to get a reservation in, but we manage to get at least 2 if not three meals there on a cruise that is 12-14 days.Manfredi’s serves very traditional Italian food and is always a great choice.
Sail The Atlantic Ocean: Monday October 21, 2024
Sail the Atlantic Ocean, divided in half, north to south, by the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Longer than the Rockies, the Himalayas and the Andes combined, this underwater mountain range is the longest on Earth.
Tonight, we dined again at The Chef’s Table and were delighted by “Lotus – A 5-Course gastronomic journey of traditional Asian dishes.”
Funchal (Madeira) Portugal: Tuesday October 22, 2024
The island of Madeira is an enchanting Atlantic paradise. Known as the “Garden Island” for its rich agriculture, terraced hillsides and beautiful flowers, it maintains a temperate year-round climate. The island’s irrigation aqueducts, orlevadas, were dug into the hillsides so that early farmers could make use of every patch of land. One of the island’s most prolific crops that has long been fed bylevadasis grapes, which produce four types of Madeira wine popular around the world. In the capital and port city of Funchal, the picturesque Old Town is best explored on foot.
While in Funchal (Madeira) we had our choice of a number of excursions, and they were:
You can find a description of each of these on the Viking website, or in MyVikingJourney if you have already booked this cruise.
We went private for this excursion and booked through Viator.When excursions opened for booking the ones we wanted from Viking were booked so we found one that we consider to have been better anyway.We booked with Green Devil Jeep and did a half day off-roading and wine tasting adventure.Our driver and guide was Miguel and I would highly recommend him to anyone visiting Madeira.
We were supposed to dine in Manfredi’s this evening but we all forgot and went to The Restaurant.Hopefully Viking will forgive us this lapse of memory.
At Sea: Wednesday October 23 to Monday October 28, 2024
MORE TO COME! Ship Still At Sea.
"Barcelona"
Ken Graham
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