A Magic Carpet, er Ship ride to Arabia.

[Pushka]

After several Covid cancellations it seems we might just get to see another bucket list trip to Egypt, Jordan and Israel. Originally planned as a Nile River cruise with extensions which would afford easier access to the Valley of the Kings and Queens, Petra and Israel, that cruise was Covid cancelled twice, then a replacement ocean cruise through the Suez was booked but when full payment was due Viking were still daily Covid testing and bumping positives off, so we rebooked for - May 3.

The cruise we are doing with Viking is called Passage to India, except we are doing Passage from India. Doesn't have quite the same ring to it. The cruise only runs one way once a year, it's a repositioning cruise at end of summer season bringing ships from the Med into Pacfic and Asian waters. Then 6 months later the reverse cruise occurs.

 

[VPS]

Have a great time. Have you been offered to give it up yet or are they all sorted?

 

[Pushka]

So, we fly out tomorrow to Mumbai on MH via KL. Booked with points and in J. Direct from Adelaide. The whole trip has been booked with points. Months ago.

We arrive late into Mumbai on Sunday night and have booked a Seaview room at Taj Towers. Apparently the views are amazing. We board on Wednesday but spend the night in Port and depart the next evening.

First country - Oman. Muscat and Salalah. I was kind of meh about Oman until I started doing some research. It looks amazing. We are doing two excursions in Muscat, a tour to the fabulous Mosque that holds 20,000 worshippers,The market, and then a Dhow cruise along the coast. In Salalah we've booked a Tour by Local to take us to the Wadi and coast of East Salalah.

We then proceed through the Gulf of Aden. Ummm. The ship will have piracy protocols in place which includes a team of mercenaries who live on a small boat and hop on the ships for a few days as they pass through. Quite well, armed. Water cannons in place. And a sheath of razor wire wrapped around deck 2.

Then Viking did a swifty on us. They popped in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Hmmmm. Not on my bucket list. Only two tours offered, a general one for MrP and I'm doing a Women's appreciation Tour. Hmmm. Very much curated I'm sure. In both Oman and Saudi Arabia clothing is very conservative especially for the visit to the Mosque where full cover is required. Of pretty much everything. Worse, while we are in Port all alcohol is locked up. They board and check! Not even allowed for cooking.

Then we pop in Aqaba. Have a private excursion planned for Petra of course. A very long day. Followed the next day by - a massive long day, off to the Valley of the Kings and Queens and visit restricted areas of Nefertari, the best preserved tomb discovered so far, SETI, and Tut. Next day, Sharm el Sheikh for a beach break.

Then we proceed in procession through the Suez Canal and into Port Said - for a day trip to Cairo. Pyramids, Souk, and a felucca ride on the Nile.

Next day Haifa. Another overnight and have booked a day tour to Jerusalem and Bethlehem, bad timing being Shabbat, and the day before being Jerusalem Day. The second day, Nazareth and Galilee.

A couple of days later we end in Athens. Staying there for a few nights, then on to London to see the son and DIL. Then fly back to KL for two nights with KLM, then direct back to Adelaide.

These are the plans. I'm fully expecting Israel to be dropped from the itinerary although one of Vikings ships successfully berthed there two weeks ago. But the times change every day.

After all the cancellations I'm pretty much expecting - anything to happen. Let's see.

 

[Pushka]

Have a great time. Have you been offered to give it up yet or are they all sorted?

I think the Mericans got them all.

 

[Pushka]

So far so good. Mr P packed. Car arrived to take us to airport. . Check in done with visas checked and ok. . Lounge? Qantas Pub. Pre immigration. Not paying for the one post immigration.

 

[Pushka]

Arrived into Mumbai last night. 4am equivalent SA time but midnight. Thank goodness Airport quiet. Immigration took ages anyway. It must be horrendous given the width and depth of the immigration corrals. Fingerprints and photos. Visa checks. Endless computer clicks.

Located our driver from the hotel quickly and arrived in a nice large car. The driver would go very slow over bumps. To the sound of so many horns. Drift into other lanes. It’s India.

Beautiful hotel room. I’ll post photos when it’s tidy again. But it’s all about the view.

I’ll do flight review in a bit.

 

[Pushka]

Malaysian airlines. The flights were Adelaide - KL - Mumbai. A 2.5 hour gap. We’d read of long delays arriving into KL and even redirections to Penang so a little stressful when we started circling. Turned out fine in the end.

Service was good. Food good but all I needed was the satay.















And a really nice amenity kit.

 

[Pushka]

The pre flight info video was funny.




Plane spotting at Adelaide airport.

 

[Pushka]

We landed about 20 minutes late which was fine. We made our way to the golden lounge which is in the satellite hub. We just wanted a snack as we were boarding again soon.
Next flight boarded on time.




Dessert and appetizer delivered together. ?





Not that hungry just tired by now.

On the first flight I watched 3 movies - Ticket to Paradise - loved it, Press Play - time travel, and then Emily - of Brontë family. Interesting.

Arrived on time and then walked miles to immigration. No Covid testing in sight. Phew.

The seats. They are lie flat. Luxury. We both had the solo Throne seat. The lady in the pair behind said she was excited they were sitting together then saw our solos and instantly regretted the pair she’d selected. It’s an ok seat. Has a lot of ‘structure’ around it but not much storage. First world problem.

 

[Pushka]

The room has been cleaned. It’s wonderful. Wifi super fast.


The breakfast spread is excellent as well. So many Indian styled dishes .




As is the hotel itself. Beautiful.








The Spa.

 

[Pushka]

This fountain is dedicated to those who lost their lives here in this hotel in the 2008 Terrorist attack. Hotel Mumbai - the movie which was terrifying.

 

[Pushka]

For those interested in cruising along, this is the ships webcam.

Webcam Viking Cruises - Mars - PANOMAX 360°

Live picture of Viking Cruises - Mars - Panomax - 360° high resolution interactive panorama web cam

viking.panomax.com

The ship is currently berthed in Goa and will arrive in Mumbai tomorrow morning. The overview map shows the port detail

 

[drron]

I have just found out that one of my favourite waiters on Silversea is now working on Viking ships. Her name is Cherry and she is Chinese. Her husband is a cook. If you see here give a hello from drron from the Cloud up the Amazon. Though it was some time ago.

 

[craven morehead]

After several Covid cancellations it seems we might just get to see another bucket list trip to Egypt, Jordan and Israel. Originally planned as a Nile River cruise with extensions which would afford easier access to the Valley of the Kings and Queens, Petra and Israel, that cruise was Covid cancelled twice, then a replacement ocean cruise through the Suez was booked but when full payment was due Viking were still daily Covid testing and bumping positives off, so we rebooked for - May 3.

The cruise we are doing with Viking is called Passage to India, except we are doing Passage from India. Doesn't have quite the same ring to it. The cruise only runs one way once a year, it's a repositioning cruise at end of summer season bringing ships from the Med into Pacfic and Asian waters. Then 6 months later the reverse cruise occurs.

View attachment 325950

View attachment 325949

Dialing in for another TR

 

[Pushka]

Is it really bad that our G&T and one serve of Samosas, but served in the gorgeous Gardens of the Palace cost way more than our dinner last night! . Wine is ridiculously expensive. So had to settle for Kingfisher beer for dinner. Which was rather nice actually.

At dinner at the hotel last night (we didn't go out as there was a May Day PH here which explained the craziness of the crowds) there were three couples all lined up together. We could hear their chatter. Of course they are all going on the cruise. And of course they are all AUSSIES! Sheesh.

One of the couples was quite distressed as she had left her handbag in the taxi and he'd left. She was on a mission today to buy a camera.

We ventured out to the streets yesterday, not realising it was a PH. It was a seething mass of humanity. And you literally had to push your way through no gap at all. Of course done as gently as possible but it's easy to see how crowd crushes occur. Fortunately we are also taller than many. We weren't wearing masks for a bit until we realised how stupid we were. Put them on after dousing ourselves in liquid gel. Thank goodness there is no pre boarding test although we would do so if symptoms.

Its 6.30am and I expect our ship to come sailing past us in an hour or so. Will be a great sail out. We watched three ships cruise out last night.

 

[Pushka]

I have just found out that one of my favourite waiters on Silversea is now working on Viking ships. Her name is Cherry and she is Chinese. Her husband is a cook. If you see here give a hello from drron from the Cloud up the Amazon. Though it was some time ago.

Any idea which ship? We are on Mars.

 

[drron]

Unfortunately no idea.

 

[Pushka]

Unfortunately no idea.

I'll discretely check name tags .
From our balcony we watched Mars glide across the Harbour this morning, an unexpected activity. We are on the 18th floor, second to top. We have a balcony that is less than waist high, and has a heavy duty screem that can be slid away completely. So freakin unsafe but we love the wide open view. Just have to be very careful as the balustrade is not well placed for adults centre of gravity.

We had a huge thunderstorm last night and it's hot, humid and very hazy today so hard to capture clear photos.





In port. Starboard. Meaning our cabin faces the dock.



We explored the Palace and the architecture is wonderful.


This morning over breakfast the sitar was played. The gentlemans hands were moving so fast the iPhone couldn't capture them.

 

[RSD]

From our balcony we watched Mars glide across the Harbour this morning, an unexpected activity. We are on the 18th floor, second to top. We have a balcony that is less than waist high, and has a heavy duty screem that can be slid away completely. So freakin unsafe but we love the wide open view. Just have to be very careful as the balustrade is not well placed for adults centre of gravity.

Sounds like Egypt!

 

[Pushka]

Sounds like Egypt!

Egypt is in 10 days time!