DEWEY'S EVALUATION

MY EVALUATION FOR VIKING

This is what I included in the evaluation sheet that Viking asked us to fill out.  It only lists the most negative and most positive points, those I thought might be most helpful to other travelers.  I added a bit as it was written by hand, but most of this went to Viking.

THE WALLS OF THE SHIP ROOMS ARE TOO THIN 

THE BEST SHOWER FAUCETS ALLOWING DELICATE ADJUSTMENTS AND THE ABILITY TO TURN THEM OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN WITHOUT RESETTING HEAT LEVEL. 

SALAMANCA FOOD DID NOT REFLECT GOOD SPANISH CUISINE.  MOST OF THE OFFERINGS WERE UNIMAGINATIVE, JUST THE SAME CUT UP VEGETABLES WE SEE ON EVERY SALAD BUFFET.  THE TORTILLA WAS THE MOST BLAND AND POOREST I HAVE EVER TASTED.  THE PAELLA WAS MEDIOCRE.  I WATCHED A GOOD BIT OF THAT GO BACK.    I DON'T THINK THEY HAVE THE RIGHT SENSE OF SAFFRON.  I ATE TAPAS DOWN THE STREET.   A TAPA CONCEPT FOR THE SPANISH MEAL WOULD BE MORE AUTHENTIC AND MEET ALL SORTS OF TASTES.  SOPA DE AJO COM JUEVO WOULD MAKE A FINE AND INTERESTING SOUP.  I HAD A PORTUGUESE VERSION IN LISBON.  GAZPACHO WOULD BE WELL RECEIVED.  TORTILLAS SHOULD INCLUDE SOME CHOICES WITH MORE THAN JUST THE POTATO.  SPINACH WOULD BE A FINE AND EASY CHOICE. MUSHROOMS WOULD ALSO ADD SOME VARIETY. THE TORTILLA SHOULD TASTE MORE OF THE OLIVE OIL. MANCHEGO WOULD BE NICE.  SANGRIA WOULD BE WELCOMED BY MOST VISITORS ALTHOUGH THE RED WINE OF THE RESTAURANT WAS FINE.

THE DANCING WAS FINE AND THE VOCAL OUTSTANDING, BUT A GOOD FLAMENCO GUITARIST IS REALLY IMPORTANT.  CANNED MUSIC IS A BIT TACKY. 

THE BEST MEAL OUT WAS IN FAVIAS.  CLEARLY THESE DISHES REFLECTED THE ACTUAL FOODS OF THE AREA AND ALL HAD DISTINCTIVE TASTES.  THE BAKERY VISIT WAS VERY AUTHENTIC.  THE MUSIC CLEARLY REFLECTED THE PEOPLE AND THE MAIN GUIDE WAS A DELIGHTFUL PERSON FULL OF QUAINT JOKES AND GREAT FRIENDLY ENERGY. 

FOOD ON SHIP WAS VERY GOOD.  RARELY DID I HAVE A BAD DISH.  THE PESTO PASTA PERHAPS WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT DID NOT SEEM UP QUITE RIGHT.  THE SEA BASS AND THE LAMB WERE PERHAPS MY FAVORITES.

ADD A SMALL BOTTLE OF PIRI PIRI TO THE SAUCES OFFERED FOR SEASONING.

COMPARED TO THE FOOD ON THE FRENCH TRIP,  THE OFFERINGS SEEM MORE REPETITIVE, BUT I APPRECIATE THAT BUYING LOCAL FOOD FOR IMAGINATIVE RECIPES ALONG THE SMALL TOWNS OF THIS ROUTE MIGHT BE DIFFICULT. 

OFFER MORE KALE DISHES.  PORTUGUESE RAISE THIS INTO THE WINTER SO IT SHOULD BE AVAILABLE.  ALSO GARLIC SEEMED ELIMINATED FROM THE MENU.  OFFER SOME GARLIC DISHES.

STAFF WAS FINE IN EVERY RESPECT.  GUIDES SEEM KNOWLEDGEABLE AND TO HAVE A GOOD SENSE OF HOW MUCH TO TALK AND HOW MUCH TO ALLOW SLEEPING.  OUR FAVORITE WAS OUR WAITRESS MARTE. 

 

 

This is Marte with Charles from Dallas, one of our more constant companions.

 

WHAT A TREAT.! SHE WAS PERSONABLE, FULL OF POSITIVE ENERGY, REMEMBERED OUR NAMES AND OUR HABITS AND HER FINE MORNING ENERGY WAS INSPIRATIONAL.

 

HERE IS OUR CHEF, RICHARD.  HE WAS DEDICATED AND COOKED TASTY FOODS.

 

 

STAFF MAKES CERTAIN THAT WE ARE SAFE AND ACCOMODATES OUR DISABILITIES. THAT IS MOST ATTRACTIVE. 

COMPARED TO THE FRENCH TRIP THERE WAS MUCH MORE BUSING.  I DON'T MUCH LIKE BUSING BUT I UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR IT HERE IN SUCH ISOLATED AREAS. 

IN LISBON THE QUEBAR MAR RESTAURANT IS NOT TOO FAR FROM THE HOTEL AND BETTER THAN WHAT WAS RECOMMENDED.  THE HOTEL ITSELF WAS WONDERFUL.  I ESPECIALLY LIKED THE IMAGINATIVE ELECTRICAL CONVENIENCES IN THE ROOM

WARN VISITORS THAT IN LISBON RESTAURANT FOOD IS PLACED ON THE TABLE AND NEEDS TO BE SENT BACK IF NOT DESIRED.

WE MADE A MISTAKE BOOKING OUR AIR WITH YOU IN THE DARK.  THE LONG ROUTE WAS EXHAUSTING. AND BEING SENT FROM TAMPA BACK INTO THE SNOW STORM AREAS OF THE U.S .IS JUST ASKING FOR TROUBLE.

TALKING HERE WITH OTHER GUESTS WE CONCLUDED THAT THE SMARTEST WAY TO PLAN TRIPS FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE FLEXIBLE IS TO MAKE THE AIR ROUTE A DEAL BREAKER, BOOK IT FIRST AND THEN DECIDE TO BOOK THE VIKING TOUR OR NOT.  WE WILL TRY TO BOOK IT OURSELVES NEXT TIME IF CUSTOM AIR IS NOT OFFERED.

WHAT REALLY HAPPENED IS THAT ALL THE ACCOMODATION AND CUSTOMER CENTERED CARE THAT WE LOVE IN VIKING IN GENERAL IS JUST MISSING IN THOSE BLIND BOOKINGS.  WE TRUSTED TOO MUCH THAT YOU HAD SOME CLOUT WITH THE AIRLINES AND COULD BOOK THE BETTER ROUTES.

 IT MAY SEEM ODD TO ENJOY PIANO LOUNGE MUSIC.  IT WAS NOT PORTUGUESE.  BUT I LOVE THIS SORT OF MUSIC, WITH OR WITHOUT DANCING, AND THIS PIANIST WAS BETTER THAN THE ONE WE HAD ON THE FRENCH TRIP.  HE PLAYED AT LUNCH AND IN THE EVENINGS.  I LOVED IT.  I ONLY WISH WE DID NOT TIRE SO EARLY AND THAT I WAS OFTEN UNABLE TO DANCE MUCH.

URGE WINTER TRAVELERS TO BRING WARM HATS, SCARVES AND GLOVES. 

  

ALSO BRING A WATCH.  PHONES ARE NOT THE MOST CONVENIENT SOURCE OF TIME.