Getting to Greece

So this is the most boring post (I promise) but I'll power through it so I can add a blog about our first day excursion. Even though we were all packed and everything was in order, we still had to wait on that Covid PCR test result, which takes 1-2 days - feels like a long time when you're waiting and you know if it's positive, all bets are off. So after testing on Thursday morning, we waited and waited and waited into Friday evening. Nothing. Went to bed - nothing else to do and it seems that the NEGATIVE (yay!) results came in about midnight. Phew!

So the day is here - we drive to the airport and leave our car at SpotHero Parking and get shuttled to the terminal.  Finding the proper area to check-in, followed by security where my carry on bags were searched and Ed, who has to be patted down, etc. due to a pacemaker and now a new knee, was also heavily scrutinized. But we got through and with two free passes to the United Club, enjoyed a free glass of wine and some cheese and crackers and pretzels and chips. We had a connecting flight out of Newark through Zurich as we wanted to have the premium economy seats and could not do that on the direct flight. From Zurich we then flew Swiss Airlines to Athens. No matter how you do it, it's a darn long, difficult flight as it's overnight and sleeping on a plane has never been my thing. But we were happy with the extra room we had for our seats - especially when I would walk through the regular cabin to the restroom and the folks there looked like they were squeezed in like sardines. We were served two hot meals (dinner and breakfast) and the food was not bad. 

Once arriving in Zurich, we had about 2 hours between flights and we were very tired so we just slowly made our way to our new gate through the myriad up and down escalators and the shuttle tram that brings you between terminals. We arrived at our gate with an hour to spare. I had to get a boarding pass printed as my phone would not connect to any Wi-fi and my pass was on the phone - oh well, I still don't like mobile boarding passes - give me the paper ones any day. Yes, I'm showing my age.

This final 2 hour and 15 minute flight was on an Airbus 320. Yes, it felt like a bus - maybe the Magic School Bus? No, that would have been more fun. Just a lot of noise with the landing gear cranking up and down, and the strange, high-pitched hum of the engines, seats were 3 and 3 so we both had seat partners as we sat on opposite aisles, and then, finally, the one wheel and finally onto the second wheel landing. All in all nothing to complain about as all flights were on time and without incident. OH - one funny quick incident as we were descending to land in Athens, the flight attendant came up the aisle behind an older man who, for some reason, was not seated. She kept telling him he had to get in his seat - it looked like she was chasing him and he just kept moving ahead of her - made me and my seatmates laugh!!

But Viking makes it easy after that. Once we arrived at baggage claim, the Viking rep was there - luggage came out in good time, it was loaded on the baggage cart with other folks and we were whisked off to our awaiting bus - customs had already been taken care of - cool!

The ship is beautiful, very Cunard-like (i.e. Queen Elizabeth, Queen Mary, etc.), but smaller, only 930 guests if the ship were full - not sure about that. A quick process to get onboard and we were in our stateroom within 20 minutes of arriving. First things first - the "spit" test for Covid. It took a bit to fill the tube to the proper level and our cabin steward was anxiously awaiting us to hand over the vials. (From now on we must do that same test each morning before eating or drinking anything.) The price of traveling during Covid. 

Luggage arrived quickly, followed by unpacking and sneaking in an hour and a half nap. We were then able to have a delicious dinner in the main dining room - a brief walk around the outside deck before heading to bed for an amazing night of sleep. 

Arriving a complete day ahead of this type of trip might be something to think about. That way you can arrive, get to a hotel, eat, go to bed, and be much more rested for your arrival to the ship.

The fun stuff starts next...