Setting sail from NYC aboard the Viking Star

September 2, 2024 - Labor Day

How to get to the ship and return home from the airport? We engaged a driver we used to use when we lived in Monmouth County - Bob. We drove to Little Silver where Bob met us and took us to the ship in our car. He will then pick us up at EWR when we return. Our car is safely parked at the home of our good friends, Rita and Kelly (thanks for the driveway space!)

The drive to NYC was uneventful and there was not much traffic. We have not been in the city since before Covid - yikes!! Boarding the ship went fairly quickly - the longest queue being the wait to check in with the Viking staff, get our picture taken and receive our room cards. A fun chat with an Australian man ahead of us in line passed the time quickly.

In our stateroom by 1:45 PM - suitcases were already there but we went to have some lunch before unpacking. Rest of the day was spent relaxing, getting out on deck in the beautiful sunshine - Betsy even took a quick swim in the infinity pool on the stern of the ship.

We sailed at 5PM so we headed to the Explorers Lounge - Deck 7, forward, where a commentary was happening as we left New York Harbor. Met a nice couple (Judy & Gary) from, of all places, Colorado Springs! (where Tim and family lives). They have never been to NYC or seen the Statue of Liberty, etc, so we played tour guide a bit (well, maybe Ed played tour guide). Also enjoyed a cocktail.

The weather continued to be magnificent as we sailed out of the harbor. Lots of boats heading here and there - the Staten Island Ferry making its crossings; the NY skyline as beautiful as ever as we sailed past the Freedom Tower, Ellis Island, and the Statue of Liberty. Finally under the Verrazano Bridge and out towards the open ocean.

A big crowd on the front deck of the ship as everyone enjoyed the view - perhaps many of them for the first time. Later, during dinner, we were facing south and could see Sandy Hook, Top of the East, and eventually, we believe, the high rises in Monmouth Beach and into Long Branch. Several large planes headed towards Newark Airport flew overhead.

A nice dinner (and we ate with Judy and Gary as well - they were a hoot), we took a walk out on the deck and viewed the most amazing sunset sky. Probably the best sunset I’ve seen all summer - of course the view was unobstructed. 

Time to wind down and relax so back to the stateroom.