In the cruise industry, January through March is considered “wave season,” a time when cruise lines offer promotions, incentives and, often, their best deals of the year. Whether you’re a seasoned cruiser or a newbie, it’s a smart time to book trips.
Viking, a consistent award winner for its ocean, river and expedition ships, just launched its “Discover More” sale, covering itineraries on all seven continents. If there’s anywhere you’ve ever wanted to go, now is the time to start planning. I’ve probably done a dozen Viking cruises, including Egypt, Antarctica and every one of their signature Norway journeys, and I love that there are no kids under 18 allowed, that their gorgeous ships are intimate, with every stateroom and suite featuring a private balcony and that things like wifi, alcohol, laundry and a shore excursion in each port are already included in the price of the cruise. Plus, the Viking crew is exceptional and we would happily book a trip solely based on seeing some of our favorite people again.
Last summer, my husband and I went on Viking’s popular British Isles Explorer, which has its own Facebook group with more than a thousand fans. It’s easy to see why. The 15 day cruise covers six countries and immerses you in history, culture and nature. It’s the ideal way to get to see and experience places like the Scottish Highlands, the white cliffs of Dover and, of course, Liverpool.
In fact, visiting Liverpool was one of the main reasons we wanted to do this cruise and we were lucky to have gorgeous weather for our day in port there. This is obviously not always the case and, as with all cruises, you have to be flexible and know that weather can affect your route. In Dublin, we had to tender and disembark in the port of Dun Laoghaire, which made travel into the city a little more complicated but was perfect for us because we were spending the day with friends who happen to live in Dun Laoghaire!
And, although we were disappointed that our Belfast stop was cancelled, it actually turned out better since we had been there before and, instead, got to walk around the fascinating Douglas, Isle of Man, where the Bee Gees’ Gibb brothers were born. And that’s what makes travel so interesting!
We also really enjoyed the onboard talks by Patrick Jephson, who served as Princess Diana’s private secretary for eight years and shared personal photos and behind-the-scenes stories about the Royal Family.
Here are a few other highlights from our trip:
Liverpool
For me, one of the biggest draws of the British Isles Explorer itinerary was that I would finally be able to walk in the footsteps of the Beatles. We booked The Beatles Experience and it was just magical. Our tour guide was the nephew of the man who bought John Lennon’s childhood home (!) and he shared great stories and played lots of music as he took us around the city, showing us Penny Lane and stopping at iconic sites like Strawberry Field and Paul McCartney’s house. It was a moving and nostalgic day for the predominantly baby boomer guests and we loved every minute of it.
Edinburgh
We are not drinkers but we signed up for the Bagpipe Workshop and Whisky Tasting because, well, when in Scotland … It was a blast. We got a real education at the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, where an ambassador passionately led us through a tasting, explaining ingredients and processes. We learned so much and, yes, drank so much and, by the time bagpiper Louise Marshall came out, the whole group was very happy. Marshall, a legend in her own right, has played for many luminaries including the late Queen Elizabeth, and she performed some gorgeous tunes and gave us a lesson. I highly recommend this shore excursion.
Inverness
We opted for the included Inverness Scenic Drive in the Scottish Highlands and, although we didn’t get to see the Loch Ness Monster, we did a surprising amount of shopping in the lovely city. I bought a couple of beautiful, locally knit sweaters – a weakness I tend to give in to on every trip to Scotland – and we couldn’t resist a stuffed Nessie for our grandson. This is an area we’d like to explore more fully on a future trip.
Viking’s “Discover More” promotion runs through January 31. Check their website for itineraries, dates and pricing. Consider adding a pre- or post-cruise extension to your trip, as well. We always try to do a pre-cruise extension to ensure we’ll still be there in time for our cruise even if our flights are delayed. Our British Isles Explorer extension in London was a fantastic start to our trip.