Day 92-94 Walvis Bay, Namibia and Sea Days

Weather
Sunny, mid 70's

Map

As we approached Lüderitz, Namibia, strong winds made it impossible for us to dock. With no earlier availability at our next port, Walvis Bay, the day unexpectedly turned into a “virtual” sea day. That said, the morning still brought a required in-person immigration process with Namibian officials, held in the ship’s Star Theater, where passengers were called down deck by deck.

We remained anchored for more than six hours, and just when we thought we were finally on our way, we discovered the ship’s anchor was stuck. It took nearly two hours to free it, and during that time the ship rolled dramatically, sending dishes and pots crashing in the World Café, where we were enjoying a game of cribbage with Julie and Dean. We later heard that the pool on Deck 7 even sloshed over, briefly flooding parts of the sun deck.

Eventually, we set sail for Walvis Bay, arriving for an overnight stay; albeit two hours behind schedule due to delays with the harbor pilot. With time tight, we opted to skip our planned excursion and instead took a leisurely walk from the port to the nearby boardwalk and lagoon, where we spotted enormous pelicans and browsed a few local shops.

That evening turned out to be nothing short of magical. Viking transported around 700 passengers into the desert for a stunning “dinner under the stars.” The setting resembled an elegant outdoor wedding venue, complete with draped tented spaces for dining. With live music and entertainment, we arrived just in time to watch the sun dip behind the dunes, an unforgettable sight. The magic didn’t end there. When we returned to the ship, the crew lined the entrance, dancing and waving their phone flashlights in welcome. Up on the pool deck, a “Sweet Surprise” awaited which was a spread of cheeses and chocolates accompanied by live music under the night sky. It was, without a doubt, an evening we’ll never forget.

Pictured below are women in traditional dress including a "Herero Headdress" which are horn-shaped, symbolizing cattle accompanied by long Victorian-style dresses which originate from colonial times.