This was our last day in Amsterdam - a partial day as we were scheduled to sail at 3pm. Before I get into today, I want to touch on our room again.
Have you ever been on a cruise? If so, then you understand cruise ship toilets. They work on a vacuum system. When you push the flush button, there is a very loud *woosh* as the bowl contents are sucked into the sanitary system on the ship. It is not for the faint of heart and can wake up roommates if like me, you need to pay a visit in the middle of the night.
Times have changed. Take a look at these two photos.
This is a look at the seat - check out the thick seal ring around the outside
Here is the lid - there is another rubber seal that goes all the way around the lid
Why is this important? For the first time on a cruise ship, flushing the toilet is nearly silent. If you close the seat and lid and then flush, the action happens with a barely audible *poof*. It is amazing! It's a little thing, but after years of enduring the loud *whoosh*, having a nearly silent toilet is amazing.
One caution I will offer...
If you remain seated and reach behind and press the flush button, prepare to feel that your nether regions are being sucked down the drain. Seriously. I expect that someone will do this and they will remain seated for the next several cruises until the suction breaks. Proceed with caution.
On with today's regularly scheduled blog...
We were booked on an excursion this morning featuring a canal cruise as well as a visit to Rijksmuseum Amsterdam. This is an art museum and features works from Rembrandt, Van Gogh, and Vermeer.
Our canal tour was essentially a repeat of Wednesday's cruise but without the crash into another boat - that white boat was our vessel
Rijksmuseum
They seemed to have an insect problem
The roadway by the entry
Lovely glass in the entry
Interesting lighting that also attenuates noise
Did I mention the insects?
Seriously - does Orkin service The Netherlands?
A Van Gogh self-portrait
There was some really nice stained glass
A WWI-vintage war-themed chess set
What a beautiful propeller
The gardens looked to be beautiful
This guy was mooning our bus - not sure what we did to deserve it
We caught a windmill in the distance as we left the museum
We got back to the Polaris with enough time to grab a quick lunch and then head up front to the Explorer's Bar. On the bow, one floor down, Viking was conducting a celebration of Viking's 25th anniversary as well as a naming ceremony for the Polaris and her sister ship, The Octantis. The Octantis was in Toronto, but they tied in live video for the ceremony.
Hoopla on the bow
There was violin and piano music as well as songs from Norway's Sissell
Part of the mystique of cruise ships is that they all have a godmother. The ship's godmother is supposed to bring good luck and protection to the vessel. The godmothers for the Octantis and Polaris are Liv Arnesen and Ann Bancroft, respectively. These women have skied across some of the world's most demanding winter areas.
The godmothers and other dignitaries
Sissell, Liv Arnesen, Ann Bancroft, Karine Hagen
The Polaris's dedication plaque
Tradition dictates smashing a bottle of alcohol as a good luck charm - Viking uses Aquavit and it didn't break on the Polaris - they pulled the cork
After the ceremony was over, they attempted to complete the christening, failed, and then gave it a third shot. It was finally successful. Here are attempts #2 & #3.
Viking CEO Torstein Hagen and his daughter and senior vice president, Karine Hagen
A Viking participated in the ceremony and graciously posed for photos
We also met and got a photo with Karine Hagen - we got a photo with her dad on the world cruise
Once the festivities were over, we participated in a parade out to the North Sea.
Leading the way was the Viking Mani riverboat with us in the Polaris close behind
The Mani up front and a couple of escort boats
The Viking Mars followed us out of port
The Mars, bringing up the rear
We had to pass through a set of locks as we headed west out of Amsterdam
The Mars went first
We followed the Mars into the lock
Cruisemapper.com showed us both occupying the same lock - these locks are huge
We saw several non-traditional Dutch windmills
We enjoyed hanging out at the Explorer's Bar with Aleksandr
It was eventually time to get dinner so we headed to the World Cafe. We opted for the grill tonight. Wow.
We both chose surf and turf and enjoyed a wonderful meal of lobster and filet mignon.
As we headed to the room, we ran into this guy. Who is he? He is our captain - Captain Olivier Marien.
Like all Viking officers, he was incredibly gracious and friendly
We sailed almost to the entry to the North Sea, where the Viking Venus was moored. We docked briefly to disembark all of the ceremonial dignitaries and then ventured out into the North Sea en route to Madeira.
We have three sea days on the agenda. Tomorrow, I'll go back to documenting the ship - this time, deck #2 (and maybe #3). It was interesting that as soon as we sailed into the North Sea, we started having internet connectivity issues. So, some things never seem to change with Viking. But, the toilets are better.
UPDATE
Viking posted official photos from the christening and sail out. Since they are great, I'll share them here with thanks to Viking's team.
During the 25th anniversary celebration and ceremony of the Viking Octantis and the Viking Polaris, guests enjoyed performances from Sissel Kyrkjebø, one of the world’s leading crossover sopranos and godmother of the Viking Jupiter, and violinist Tor Jaran Apold.
Four Viking “godsisters” together in Amsterdam: Sissel Kyrkjebø, godmother of the Viking Jupiter; Liv Arnesen, godmother of the Viking Octantis; Ann Bancroft, godmother of the Viking Polaris; and Viking Executive Vice President Karine Hagen, godmother of the Viking Sea.
Viking Executive Vice President Karine Hagen presents gifts to Liv Arnesen and Ann Bancroft, renowned explorers and godmothers of the Viking Octantis and the Viking Polaris, respectively.
Viking Chairman Torstein Hagen and Viking Executive Vice President Karine Hagen with Viking Polaris Captain Olivier Marien.
Ann Bancroft, one of the world’s preeminent polar explorers, assists in breaking a bottle of Norwegian aquavit as part the naming of the Viking Polaris in Amsterdam.
Renowned explorer Liv Arnesen offers a blessing of good fortune and safe sailing as part the naming of the Viking Octantis. With the ship currently sailing in the Great Lakes, the ceremony was conducted remotely from on board the Viking Polaris in Amsterdam.
Viking Chairman Torstein Hagen during Viking’s 25th anniversary celebration and naming of the Viking Octantis and the Viking Polaris in Amsterdam on September 30, 2022.
Three classes of Viking ships—an ocean ship, a river ship and an expedition ship—met in Amsterdam for the first time as part of the company’s 25th anniversary celebration and dual naming of the Viking Octantis and the Viking Polaris.
For the first time ever, three classes of Viking ships—a river ship, an ocean ship and the company’s newest expedition vessel, the Viking Polaris—met in Amsterdam and sailed in a special convoy to IJmuiden, Netherlands. Participating in the convoy with the Viking Polaris (center) were the Viking Longship, the Viking Mani (right), and the ocean vessel, the Viking Mars (left).
For the first time ever, three classes of Viking ships—a river ship, an ocean ship and the company’s newest expedition vessel, the Viking Polaris—met in Amsterdam and sailed in a special convoy to IJmuiden, Netherlands. Participating in the convoy with the Viking Polaris (center) were the Viking Longship, the Viking Mani (right), and the ocean vessel, the Viking Mars (left).
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