Millers World Cruise 2025

December 25, 2024

Here we go again.

Following the inaugural Viking World Cruise in 2018 and the Covid-impacted cruise of 2020-21, we decided that we should spend more time in interesting countries rather than a day or two in lots of places. We have visited most countries with deepwater ports so some land adventures seemed to make sense. We tried 3 1/2 weeks in Croatia and that worked for us. Our plans were disrupted by the announcement of a Seabourne cruise from Barcelona to Barcelona…90 days around Africa. Since we are Africa deficient, that sounded attractive. (Karla was born in Sierra Leone so could be described as African- American). It was a chance to return to her homeland. But, something happened in the Middle East and ships stopped sailing through the Suez Canal and Red Sea. I thought that the conflict would only expand so we pulled the plug on the trip.

We visited our friends Fred and Joan Cvar in Salt Lake City in early Summer. We met them on the “Covid Cruise” and they were keeping up with Viking offerings. Joan mentioned a special offering including Africa since Viking, too, was avoiding the Middle East. We got a good deal and signed up for a 4-month adventure from January 5 to May 6. Karla was lukewarm, but agreeable. While the ports include old standbys in the South Pacific like Bora Bora, Moorea, New Zealand, and Australia, the ship also stops in Singapore (visit Karla’s brother and family), Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka before turning to the Maldives, Seychelles, Zanzibar, Madagascar, Mombasa, South Africa, Namibia, Angola, Cape Verde, Morocco, Portugal and Spain.

Fortunately, we continued to stay in travel shape during 2024. We spent 8-10 days in India, including Sahana’s 3-day wedding in Bangalore. We had 3 Viking river trips which were surrounded by some extra time in Sarajevo, Mostar, Paris, and Prague. Additionally, we remained in ‘wine condition’ with a stay in Paso Robles doing zinfandel research. As I write, we are in the Denver area visiting Jackson and Chrissie. Karla will return to Lyle for a day before leaving for a 3-day retreat at a nunnery with her friend Sara. Assuming that she doesn’t  sign on with the nuns, she’ll return home for 3 days before we leave for the ship.

I’m feeling better about our decision as I reflect on 4 major threats to our planet.

   -Today, I read that we should anticipate a major volcanic eruption. There was reference to the Mt.Tambora eruption in Indonesia in 1815. With help from winds, it darkened the atmosphere for a year or two. Evidently, such an eruption could have greater negative effects in today’s more polluted atmosphere.

   -One of the theories about an Ice Age and dinosaur mortality relates to the great Yellowstone volcanic explosion. The whole park is a hot basin that is said to blow every 600,000 years or so. The last explosion was about 625,000 years ago.

   -There’s always the gigantic meteorite that could be heading our way, and,

   -donald j. trump is taking office. Besides the variety of threats to our existence, his stated intentions to acquire the Panama Canal, Greenland, and Canada means that there will be fewer foreign countries to visit.

When I’m faced with such serious threats, I, of course, turn to the bible. What would Noah do? I don’t think Viking will let us take animals and I’ve always worried about the accumulation of animal poop. But, it seemed to work for Noah; he lived to over 900 years of age. We will at least take to the seas.