Goodbye USA

On January 5 we left American soil, never to return for 4 months.  Once we left Los Angeles, our home was Norwegian "soil" since the ship is registered in Norway and flies the Norwegian flag.

Los Angeles was just as advertised.  Our bus tour was a drive thru of "famous" buildings and places where various famous people lived, starred and died and famous buildings which were featured in famous movies or TV series.  The morning was foggy, but it cleared up as we got farther from the shore.  It was never totally clear, so I asked our guide about it.  Was it from the fires, or fog or smog.  She denied that it was smog, but acknowledged that this was a typical day.  To me, it was hazy with limited distance visibility, but as a guide and LA resident, she must think that this is the what it is everywhere.

This was a last chance, using US dollars, for all the continuing passengers to stock up on anything they forgot, so a lot of people took advantage of the free shuttle bus to Long Beach where there are outlet stores.  The rest took a cab or Uber to go to the nearest Target.

We had visitors from the Viking LA office, travel agents, press, and the Viking Chairman, Torstein Haugen and his entourage on board both days we were in port.  We had a chance to say hello to him and have a nice conversation with Karina Haugen and her husband and to pet Finse, their dog. We had not met her husband before, but he was very nice and wanted to know all about the ship and any suggestions we had.

The Chairman gave a speech up on Deck 7 where everyone was huddled around the pool and decks and the WinterGarden for the food and drinks and Bon Voyage ceremony.  We were supposed to sail by 6:00, but were delayed to wait for passengers on delayed flights from the east coast.  As soon as it was fully dark there was a spectacular display of fireworks as a send off.

Now we have 7 straight days at sea.  I will try to get some pictures around the ship so you can see where we spend our time.