If you’re looking for something a little different for 2018, you might want to take a peek at Viking Cruises’ new Ocean River Combo Cruises.
They come in two flavors:
Start in Basel, Switzerland and head down the Rhine for an 8-day river cruise. Once in Amsterdam, hop aboard Viking Ocean for ten more days as you make your way to Barcelona, Spain.
Start in Basel, Switzerland and head down the Rhine for an 8-day river cruise. Once in Amsterdam, hop aboard Viking Ocean for seven more days as you make your way to Bergen, Norway.
Sounds fun. Right? Plus, there are special offers on roundtrip air! To learn more, CLICK HERE.
Once you decide which flavor you prefer, call Roaming Boomers Travel Services at (480) 550-1235 or use our convenient online information request (click here) and we will reach out to you. We are one of the top five booking agents for Viking in the world and we’ll make this real easy for you. 🙂
If you enjoyed this article, sign up for our travel newsletter to keep abreast of our best travel tips, on-location reviews, exclusive travel offers, group travel events, and much more. Roaming Boomers Travel Services is an Independent Affiliate of Cadence, a Virtuoso® member. CST#201120-40
Review: CUT, Wolfgang Puck’s First New York Restaurant located in Lower Manhatten inside the Four Seasons Hotel NYC Downtown
During our recent visit to New York City, Carol and I had the privilege to dine at CUT, Wolfgang Pucks fairly new restaurant in Lower Manhatten.
Pictured right: Carol w/ Executive Chef Raymond Weber and Executive Pastry Chef Zairah Molina. Click for larger view.
CUT, by Wolfgang Puck at the new Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown, marks Wolfgang’s sixth CUT location behind Beverly Hills, Las Vegas, Singapore, London, and Bahrain and is the company’s fourth partnership with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts.
Unlike other domestic CUT locations, CUT New York is the first to offer three full meal periods.For breakfast and lunch, guests are welcome to grab a quick bite on the go or enjoy a more leisurely dining experience.
For breakfast and lunch, guests are welcome to grab a quick bite on the go or enjoy a more leisurely dining experience. Breakfast items range from Executive Pastry Chef Zairah Molina’s morning pastry basket and house-made granola with lemon yoghurt parfait, to various egg, sweet and savory dishes such as a soft-style French omelet with gruyere and chanterelles; eggs benedict with smoked country ham, a jalapeno-white cheddar biscuit and maple hollandaise and ricotta stuffed brioche French toast with roasted quince and a golden raisin compote.
Diners can enjoy a range of rotating lunch options including the Tsukiji Market sashimi salad with myoga, avocado, tosaka, shiso lead and lemon ponzu; Wolfgang’s signature house-made agnolotti with sweet corn, sage and Parmigiano Reggiano; a line-caught striped bass with cherry tomatoes, limoni beans and basil and the chef’s famous Grilled USDA Prime Cheeseburger with aged Vermont cheddar, a jalapeño-shallot marmalade and a side of French fries. For lunch and dinner, an expansive menu of Japanese and American USDA Prime and Grass Fed steaks take center stage. Each table is presented with a tableside display of various raw cuts which help to direct diners in their preferred direction in terms of marbling, flavor profile and cut. To accompany their steak selection, guests can choose from various seasonal sides and signature CUT sauces including yuku kosho butter, creamy horseradish and a house made steak sauce to name a few. A variety of other proteins and entrees are also available for dinners such as the pan-roasted Stonington Maine lobster with black truffle sabayon and whole roasted Dover sole “meuniere” with preserved Meyer lemon and parsley.
CUT also offers an extensive cocktail and wine list, overseen by Wine Director David Morris. Morris and his team have curated a unique and eclectic list of varietals from regions throughout the United States, Spain, Italy, and France to lesser-known areas of Israel, Turkey and beyond.
Mouth-Watering Photographs From Our Visit
CUT NYC Lounge/Bar
Local Italian Burrata, New Jersey Peaches, San Daniele Prosciutto, Micro Basil, Tuscan Olive Oil
Japanese Hamachi Sashimi, Wild Sea Urchin, Matsutake Mushrooms, Asian Pears, Shiso
For our CUTS dining experience, Carol and I enjoyed what they call the Rough Cuts menu in the lounge. This more casual experience allowed us to sample many of the menu items in a small-plate format.
As we also knew that we would be sampling a lot of food, we asked the chef to keep the portions for our tasting to bite-sized for each of us. Therefore, please keep in mind that the portions for your visit may well be larger than our bites. I’m kind of glad we did that because the Chef Raymond sent out 17 tastes for us. Holy cow! There are three photos that we haven’t even shared with you.
So. How was the food? Remarkable! A foodies dream come true. So many tastes, flavors, aromas, and sights. I went in a little bummed that we were sampling food in the lounge and came out very happy that we did. It was a veritable cornucopia of delights from one of our nation’s great chefs.
Carol and I dined in the main CUTS restaurant the night before and I remember feeling frustrated as I tried to make one choice from the menu. Here, we sampled practically the whole menu.
What fun! We highly recommend dining at CUTS and dining in the lounge with the Rough Cuts menu. You’ll thank me later!
Disclosure: our fabulous meal was provided by the fine folks at CUT. Thanks. We had a blast!
If you enjoyed this article, sign up for our travel newsletter to keep abreast of our best travel tips, on-location reviews, exclusive travel offers, group travel events, and much more. Roaming Boomers Travel Services is an Independent Affiliate of Cadence, a Virtuoso® member. CST#201120-40
Viking Chairman Torstein Hagen and Dr. Anna Fisher. Click photo for larger view.
Viking Looks To The Stars For Debut Of Fifth Ocean Ship
Set to Debut in 2018, NASA Astronaut Dr. Anna Fisher Will be Honored as Godmother to Viking Orion
Viking Cruises has been a major disruptor in the cruise world.
They have 63 river cruise ships floating around the world, and soon they will have five ocean cruise ships sailing the seven seas with three more on the way.
They dominate the river cruise market, and it is clear that Viking Chairman Torstein Hagen intends to dominate the small ship ocean cruise world as well.
Carol and I are one of the top five booking travel agents in the world with Viking Cruises, and what we find remarkable is that ALL of our clients come home happy and ready to go again.
Sadly, we can’t say that about all ocean and river cruise lines.
When the Viking Orion comes out next year, she will spend her maiden year sailing itineraries in the Mediterranean, before making her way to Asia, Australia and then Alaska.
For the rest of the Viking Orion story, check out this press release from Viking Cruises.
LOS ANGELES, Oct. 5, 2017, /PRNewswire/ — Viking® (www.vikingcruises.com) today announced that American chemist, emergency room physician and recently retired NASA astronaut Dr. Anna Fisher (pictured right) will be honored as godmother to its fifth ocean ship, which will debut in July 2018. The new ship has been named Viking Orion® after the prominent constellation and in honor of Dr. Fisher’s contributions to NASA’s Orion exploration vehicle project. The announcement was first made by Viking Chairman, Torstein Hagen, during a press conference in New York City celebrating the first call in Manhattan for the company’s third ship, Viking Sky®.
The 930-guest Viking Orion reached a major construction milestone last week, when the ship met water for the first time during her “float out” ceremony at Fincantieri’s Ancona shipyard. Dr. Fisher attended the September 28 ceremony and assisted with several maritime traditions. Viking Orion will spend her maiden year sailing itineraries in the Mediterranean, before making her way to Asia, Australia and then Alaska.
“Vikings were the original long-distance explorers and the first to use the stars and constellations as a way to navigate uncharted territory,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking. “The spirit of exploration is at the heart of everything we do, and so I am especially proud that an astronaut will be honored as godmother to our new ship. Dr. Fisher is a past Viking guest, a fellow scientist and a true explorer. As one of the first women in space, she has inspired generations of curious minds, and I look forward to welcoming guests onboard Viking Orion to learn more about her impressive career in space exploration.”
“The idea of exploring new territories has always appealed to me, whether through science or by traveling the world. I was 12 years old when I heard Alan Shepard’s voice on the radio during his sub orbital flight, and at that moment, I knew that I also wanted to explore beyond earth’s atmosphere. I knew from that young age that I wanted to be an astronaut,” said Dr. Fisher. “I always wanted to be an explorer and I am proud and honored to be godmother to Viking Orion – a ship that was designed to help her guests see more of the world.”
A float out ceremony is significant because it denotes the first time a ship touches water and moves into its final stage of construction. Viking Orion‘s float out began at approximately 11:00 a.m. local time, and in keeping with maritime tradition, Dr. Fisher, as godmother to the ship, assisted with the ceremony, first “mast stepping,” by welding coins under the ship mast. The commemorative coins she welded represented her birth year, as well as the birth year of Chairman Hagen. Two special coins were also welded to represent members of the Hagen family: 1911 to represent Ragnhild “Mamsen” Hagen, the mother of Chairman Hagen, and 2012 to represent Finse, the yellow Labrador of Karine Hagen, Viking’s senior vice president and daughter of Torstein Hagen. Dr. Fisher then cut a cord to allow water to begin flowing into the ship’s building dock. Following a two-day process that set Viking Orion afloat, the ship was then moved to a nearby outfitting dock for final construction and interior build-out.
Dr. Anna Fisher, Godmother of Viking Orion
Born in New York City and raised in Southern California, Dr. Fisher holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemistry, as well as a Doctor of Medicine degree, from the University of California, Los Angeles. Selected as an astronaut in January 1978, Dr. Fisher was one of the “original six” women accepted into NASA’s Astronaut Training Program. Dr. Fisher became the first mother in space when she served as a mission specialist on STS-51A aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery, which launched on November 8, 1984. During her NASA career, which spanned more than three decades, Dr. Fisher contributed to three major initiatives: the Space Shuttle program, the International Space Station and Orion, NASA’s new crew-rated exploration spacecraft. Prior to her retirement in April 2017, Dr. Fisher was also the oldest active American astronaut. In celebration of her retirement, Dr. Fisher sailed on Viking’s Rhine Getaway itinerary in July 2017.
Viking Orion
Viking’s ocean ships have a gross tonnage of 47,800 tons, have 465 cabins and accommodate 930 guests. Viking Orion, formerly known as Viking Spirit, is the fifth of eight ocean cruise ships currently planned for the fleet. By 2019 Viking will welcome its sixth ship and will become the largest small ship ocean cruise line. Two additional ships are on order for delivery in 2021 and 2022. Viking’s ocean fleet features understated elegance and modern Scandinavian design. Highlights include:
All Veranda Staterooms: Guests can choose from five stateroom categories, starting from a 270 sq. ft. Veranda Stateroom, all with private verandas and premium amenities that include king-size beds with luxury linens, large showers, luxury toiletries, heated bathroom floors and large interactive flat-screen LCD TVs with movies-on-demand.
Explorer Suites: The ships feature 14 Explorer Suites, which are two-room suites ranging from 757 to 1,163 sq. ft. that offer sweeping views from wraparound private verandas as well as the most amenities and privileges of any category onboard.
Two Pool Choices: In addition to the Main Pool with a retractable roof permitting any-season swimming, the ships feature a first-of-its-kind glass-backed Infinity Pool cantilevered off the stern, allowing guests to swim surrounded by their destination.
LivNordic Spa: In keeping with Viking’s Nordic heritage, The Spa onboard is designed with the holistic wellness philosophy of Scandinavia in mind—from the centuries-old tradition of the sauna to a Snow Grotto where snowflakes gently descend from the ceiling through chilled air. Berlitz Cruising & Cruise Ships 2017 named it one of the “5 best cruise ship spas.”
Explorers’ Lounge and Mamsen’s: Share a cocktail with friends. Linger over a Norwegian breakfast and a nautical history book. The Explorers’ Lounge and Mamsen’s gourmet deli are thoughtful spaces located at the bow and designed in the Scandinavian spirit, for complete relaxation and for marveling at sweeping views through double-height windows.
The Wintergarden: Guests looking for serenity will find it in the Wintergarden. In this elegant space under a canopy of Scandinavian trellised wood, guests can indulge in afternoon tea service.
Dining Choices: Viking’s shipsoffer multiple restaurant locations and food choices—from fine dining in The Restaurant, which serves three full meals and the widest choice of culinary options, and the World Café, which serves international fare and regional specialties—to intimate dining experiences at The Chef’s Table, which offers a multi-course tasting menu complete with wine parings, and Manfredi’s, which features freshly prepared pastas and Italian favorites. Additionally, The Kitchen Table focuses on regional dishes from market to table; the Pool Grill specializes in gourmet burgers; afternoon tea and scones are available in the Wintergarden; and Mamsen’s serves Norwegian deli-style fare. Furthermore, with multiple choices for outdoor seating during meals, Viking’s ocean ships offer the most al fresco dining at sea.
Enriching Entertainment: Connecting guests to their destinations through authentic experiences is central to Viking in creating “the thinking person’s cruise.” Instead of casinos and water slides, guests are offered Viking’s Culture Curriculum® including: world-class lectures on history and art; personalized opportunities for learning with the Viking Resident Historian program; tasting of vintage wines from their destinations; restaurant menus inspired by local cuisine; informative port talks; enriching Destination Performances featuring folkloric shows and musicians playing regional and classical music; an onboard cooking school allowing guests to learn how to prepare local specialties. Onboard Viking Orion, guests will also enjoy lectures on astronomy and space exploration.
Sustainable Features: Designed with the environment in mind, Viking’s ships feature energy-efficient hybrid engines, hydro-dynamically optimized streamlined hull and bow for maximum fuel efficiency and equipment that minimizes exhaust pollution and meets the strictest environmental regulations.
The Viking Difference
Designed for discerning travelers with interests in science, history, culture and cuisine, Chairman Torstein Hagen often says Viking offers guests “the thinking person’s cruise” as an alternative to mainstream cruises. Ships are small to get guests closer to their destination, with more time in port and more overnights. Onboard, guests find serene Scandinavian spaces, where every room is beautiful and functional, quiet and filled with light. All-veranda ships mean that guests experience every day with a new, expansive vista. With the most al fresco dining at sea, featuring regional cuisines and always-available American classics, Viking’s guests can truly dine in their destination. A focus on cultural enrichment brings immersive experiences onshore and onboard. And only The Viking Way brings guests itineraries that feature Local Life, Working World and Privileged Access experiences.
In addition, Viking Inclusive Value provides a small ship experience at a big ship value and no nickel-and-diming – with every cruise fare including a veranda stateroom, shore excursions in each port of call, all onboard meals, and all port charges and government taxes. Guests also enjoy many complimentary amenities as part of their fare, including: beer and wine with lunch and dinner service; premium dining reservations; Wi-Fi; self-service laundry; access to the Thermal Suite in the LivNordic Spa; and 24-hour room service—an included value of more than $200 per person, per day for an average cruise.
About Viking
Viking was founded in 1997 with the purchase of four ships in Russia and is now celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2017 as the leader in river and small ship ocean cruising. Designed for discerning travelers with interests in science, history, culture and cuisine, Chairman Torstein Hagen often says Viking offers guests “the thinking person’s cruise” as an alternative to mainstream cruises. In its first two years of operation, Viking has been rated the #1 ocean cruise line in Travel + Leisure’s 2016 and 2017 “World’s Best” Awards. Viking currently operates a fleet of 63 vessels, offering scenic cruising on rivers and oceans around the world. By 2022 the company will operate eight 930-guest ocean cruise ships and will be the largest small ship ocean cruise line. In addition to the Travel + Leisure honors, Viking has also been honored multiple times on Condé Nast Traveler’s “Gold List” as well as recognized by Cruise Critic as “Best Overall” Small-Mid size ship in the 2017 Cruisers’ Choice Awards, “Best River Cruise Line” and “Best River Itineraries,” with the entire Viking Longships® fleet being named “Best New River Ships” in the website’s Editors’ Picks Awards.
Booking Details
From now through October 31, 2017, Viking is offering U.S. residents special offers, with 2-for-1 cruise fare and up to free international air on select river and ocean itineraries.
Call Roaming Boomers Travel Services at (480) 550-1235 or use our convenient online information request (click here) and we will reach out to you.
Note: photographs courtesy of Viking Cruises.
If you enjoyed this article, sign up for our travel newsletter to keep abreast of our best travel tips, on-location reviews, exclusive travel offers, group travel events, and much more. Roaming Boomers Travel Services is an Independent Affiliate of Cadence, a Virtuoso® member. CST#201120-40
Enjoy a last-minute Viking Ocean Cruise in Canada and New England
Are you a person who favors last-minute sailing opportunities? If so, take a close look at this.
Carol and I just got home from a Canada and New England sailing, but we were early and the leaves we still green. I suspect this cruise will enjoy beautiful colors all the way along.
Click for large view
Last-Minute Viking Ocean Cruise: Eastern Seaboard Explorer
Witness the shades of autumn in Canada and New England as they come alive with fall’s vibrant hues.
Along the way, learn about Canada’s colonial past in Saguenay and Quebec City and about its Scottish and Acadian heritage on Prince Edward Island and in Halifax.
Cruise the scenic St. Lawrence River and the remarkable Cape Cod Canal. Overnight stays in Boston, New York City and Montreal let you experience their vibrant cultures up close.
Very Limited Availability
First of all, here are the staterooms that are still available as of this writing. Click the image below for a larger view. The sailing begins on October 17, 2017.
Besides the FREE roundtrip air, here are the other inclusions on this sailing. Click the image below for a larger view.
And just to make it even more fun, when you book this cruise through Roaming Boomers Travel Services, we will throw in a $300/stateroom shipboard credit.
Hurry, available staterooms are very limited.
As I said at the top of this article, this sailing is glorious and one that we would absolutely do again. The fall colors, cooler temps, and the destinations are fabulous.
For more information, or to book this fun Viking Ocean Eastern Seaboard Explorer, call Roaming Boomers Travel Services at (480) 550-1235 or use our convenient online information request (click here) and we’ll reach out to you.
If you enjoyed this article, sign up for our travel newsletter to keep abreast of our best travel tips, on-location reviews, exclusive travel offers, group travel events, and much more. Roaming Boomers Travel Services is an Independent Affiliate of Cadence, a Virtuoso® member. CST#201120-40
To learn the latest updates from Caribbean Island resorts and cruises, CLICK HERE.
If you enjoyed this article, sign up for our travel newsletter to keep abreast of our best travel tips, on-location reviews, exclusive travel offers, group travel events, and much more. Roaming Boomers Travel Services is an Independent Affiliate of Cadence, a Virtuoso® member. CST#201120-40
The Roaming Boomers
