Boarding the Viking Hervor

We left our hotel mid-morning yesterday and took an Uber to the passenger terminal for cruise ships. Unfortunately, our driver wasn’t sure where to drop us off, and Viking hadn’t sent ANY information about our arrival. I think most people have Viking handle all their travel arrangements, then Viking delivers them from the airport or the hotel on buses.   We ended up having to schlep our bags over cobblestones a long way, around the giant terminal to the back where our ship was docked. Once we survived that and handed over our bags, the rest of the day was very pleasant!

Our cabin wasn’t ready immediately, but they were serving a buffet lunch in the dining room, so we all convened there. Our cabins were ready after lunch, so we unpacked.  The senior Kimbros are next door, and the juniors are downstairs in a Swan Room, which has a high window just above water level.  Our cabin is very tight, with a tiny bathroom. Adequate, but not a place to spend much time.

Then most of us reconvened in the lounge, a large glassed-in area outfitted with groupings of comfortable seating and a bar, which I think we opened. The Kimbros played cards and I knitted. The ship wasn’t scheduled to depart until 11:30 p.m. We walked up to the top of the ship, where there is more seating plus a walking track, herb garden, and putting greens.


At 6:00, we had a mandatory introduction to the ship, meeting our captain, hotel director, and program director. Following that, there was a required safety drill, so we had to go to our staterooms, drag out our life vests, put them on, and return to our designated area. We looked and felt ridiculous, but I guess it was good to have the practice.  


Our first dinner on board was very nice, with efficient service, and Charlie and I retired soon afterwards.  Rob and Thomas went back to a pub to watch another soccer match, but were back onboard well before our 11:30 departure.

This morning, we stopped briefly at Rotterdam for one excursion group to begin there, then made our way to Kinderdijk.  Here are a couple of photos I took along the way.  I liked the houses and gardens, and the car ferry was interesting, too.



More on Kinderdijk in the next post!





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