Final Day at Sea

The final, full day on every cruise is always sad for me, knowing that the end of a great adventure is in sight. Leaving the friends we have made and the wonderful crew members that we have come to know is never easy. Repacking suitcases, one of my least favorite chores, doesn’t help.

Although Tim and I got to know even more of the crew on Viking Polaris, since the ship is so much smaller, there were a few that really stood out to us.

Wayne and Vi were two of the best stateroom stewards we’ve had, and they took such good care of us. Wayne was the quiet one, while Vi expressed her bubbly personality every time we saw her. She was always smiling and asking what she could do for us. Tim developed a special fondness for Wayne and Vi and brought them cookies every evening after dinner. They called him “Cookie Man.”

Sarah and Tim with Wayne and Vi

Members of the Expedition Team were a major factor in making this cruise so special. Marc, the Expedition Leader, had the perfect personality for this role. He was always happy and smiling and endeavored to make sure everyone was having a great time. He gave me a hug almost every time I saw him, perhaps remembering the goodies that I brought back to him and his team from tea at the Chateau Frontenac. I also got to know Zach, Todd, and Paul and enjoyed our many conversations. All the members were very approachable and eager to share their experiences and knowledge.

Zach and Marc; Alex and Todd; Paul, Sarah, and Mark; and Zach

The servers in the World Café always fixed café lattes for us in the morning and fetched anything else we asked for, often before we knew we wanted it! Gisella, the Assistant Restaurant Manager in the World Café, greeted us by name every day and kept the place running so smoothly. Hers was another smile that I loved to see.

Gisella

I can’t forget to mention the bartenders in the Explorers’ Lounge. Krisna, Cui, and Kenn introduced me to several new drinks and created interesting mocktails for Tim. I had never spent time in the Explorers’ Lounge on previous cruises, but I found it to be the perfect place to meet people and enjoy the company of new friends. The back-and-forth banter with the bartenders added to the fun.

Cui, Kenn, and Krisna

Tomorrow, we will disembark in Fort Lauderdale, and I’ll spend a week with friends in the Miami area.