I rarely do Wordless Wednesday posts but it seemed like the perfect time to share photos of our amazing — and I mean AMAZING — Viking Ocean Cruise aboard the gorgeous Viking Star.
As I’ve mentioned before, Viking invited us to experience its first ocean cruise ship and, although we’ve been on many cruises before, we are still raving about the 15-day Grand Mediterranean Tour.
Let me tell you, grand is an understatement. I’m going to have to write a number of posts to try to give you a real feel for just how special this cruise is.
But today, I’m going to whet your appetite with pictures that represent each port we visited during the first half of our trip. More tomorrow …
Day 1: Barcelona, Spain. We love this city, and architect Antoni Gaudi is a big reason why. This is one of my favorite buildings of his.
Day 2: Barcelona, Spain. We hadn’t visited La Sagrada Familia, Gaudi’s famous unfinished church, in a decade and what’s been accomplished in that time is breathtaking.
Day 3: Toulon, France. This was the first port we pulled into, and it was a beautiful view to wake up to!
Day 4: Monte Carlo, Monaco. Day or night, the city is stunning. (And notice the elegant infinity pool aboard the ship.)
Day 5: Corsica (Ajaccio), France. The sky was so blue the morning we arrived here, that everyone on the ship seemed to be in an especially good mood. Many of us sat outside to eat breakfast, appreciate the beauty surrounding us and celebrate the fact that it was February and we were lucky enough to be where we were.
Day 6: Florence/Pisa (Livorno), Italy. I finally got to take the pictures that have been on my travel bucket list forever.
Day 7: Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy. Throwing coins into the Trevi Fountain is supposed to ensure you’ll visit Rome again. It obviously worked last time we did it so we were determined to do it again. We couldn’t find any Euro coins, though, so we threw in a couple of random Czech crowns we found in our pockets from our Viking River Cruise in December. I guess we may be going back to Prague instead of Rome — and that would be okay, too!
We are 2.5 months away from our next Viking cruise: Portugal River of Gold…and then will be a year out from our NEXT one after that, already booked and paid for: Paris to Normandy. Yeah, when we took our first one more than a year ago we knew a good thing and let no moss grow….we keep booking!
Those Leaning Tower shots made me smile. And one of these days I’ll have to get back to Barcelona. In the meantime, your blog always makes being an armchair traveler fun.
I LOVE this because I always see the Viking commercials on PBS and am seriously looking into their cruises.
You got some amazing shots and I just love that one of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. That’s just priceless. I have to check out these Viking Cruises because we’re trying to plan our very first cruise next year and still looking at our options.
great cruise, one of my favorites of all of ours
I’ve only been on one cruise to Antarctica. I hope to travel on some of the smaller cruises across Europe. I’ll check out Viking cruises. It looks like you are having so much fun.
Lois, I want to be your valet! Your travels look SO fun. You’ve convinced me to add this cruise to my bucket list and I look forward to enjoying it soon! Thanks for all the wonderful pics — keep them coming.
Barcelona is actually a life dream of mine. I always saw myself going with my husband. After seeing your photos, I think it more than ever.
I’ve never done a cruise, though! Perhaps one day.
Looks fabulous. We were just in Barcelona this past summer and loved it! Gaudi is a genius! Thanks for sharing.
What beautiful places you visited!
Looks like an amazing cruise. I have never been on a cruise but after seeing all your photos I think I want to go on one.
Amazing! My husband and I have a vacation like this planned when we do not have such small kids anymore. One day…
That looks awesome. I have always wanted to take a cruise..yet have not done it yet. Maybe one day.
I love shot number 4. What beautiful pics. I can’t wait to go there someday. have to do the son’s wedding first!
I knew I would love the pictures…the Pisa picture is on my bucket list also. What a relaxing, incredible way to see some of the most beautiful places on earth. Thank you for sharing.
I love your pictures! I would love to go on a Viking Cruise. So beautiful.
Oh man! i want to go!!! WE want to go on a cruise sometime soon. Shwing this to my husband.
That would be an awesome trip! All of your photos look great!
I have not been on a cruise. Your photos are so fun and it looks like you had a blast.
I’m dying to go to Monaco!! I haven’t been on a cruise in ages but your pics make me want to plan one and go. I can hear the Viking Star calling my name now!! If you ever need a travel buddy, I’m available!! LOL 😉
Let me know how the coin thing works out, lol. 🙂 I agree either place is well worth visiting again. 🙂
It was fun to see a bit of the world through your eyes. I liked the silly photos from Italy.
Looks like an amazing cruise! Your pictures made me want to travel there!!! Loved them all!!!
This is a great Wordless Wednesday post! I thoroughly enjoy traveling along with you via your photos! I love the Leaning Tower of Pisa shots! lol
Thank you! Aren’t those pictures so funny?! It was hilarious watching everyone try to take photos like that!
I have always wanted to take a Viking cruise and now I am totally convinced! Beautiful pictures of both the boat and Barcelona. Looks like an amazing trip!
🙂
Traci
We have so often thought about doing a cruise, especially a river cruise. I personally like the idea of being surrounding by beautiful landscapes rather than open seas to look at whilst we are on board.
We did two Viking River Cruises last year, and they were awesome! Lots of beautiful landscapes and slow travel. But we fell in love with this Viking Ocean Cruise, too. Totally different and you can’t go wrong with either!
Looks fantastic. Looking forward to more pictures of food and your cabin and river vs ocean cruising that you have done. Once again your husband joined you when I could have been available!
Ha ha! You should have told me you were available! 🙂
Oh you look like you have had so much fun! So lucky to get to Corsica, we tried for three years while living in France but never got there!