A Premature End to our 23/24 Viking World Cruise

When most of us plan a once-in-a-lifetime journey, we focus on the destinations — the places we long to see, the adventures we hope to experience, and the memories we plan to make. We did not imagine A Premature End to our Viking Cruise.

Bob and I boarded the Viking Neptune on December 23, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale after two full years of planning. The idea began spontaneously during a Viking River Cruise in 2021 when we received an email announcing the 23/24 World Cruise itineraries. A quick call to our travel advisor, Carmen Palogruto, set everything in motion.

This was our dream voyage — 137 days around the world, culminating in London.

Nine days before departure, however, a routine mammogram changed the script.

Thanks to the remarkable diagnostic team at BayCare Health, weeks of testing were compressed into just a few days. Three days before we sailed, I was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer.

Because it was caught early, the prognosis was excellent. That early detection changed everything.

A Plan Within the Plan

Rather than canceling the entire journey, we pivoted. I had. yet to see a Doctor to give me a final prognosis and plan. It was two days before Christmas and no one could see me.

International maritime manifest laws prevented us from simply joining later, so Bob secured a consultation with a breast surgeon at City of Hope in Los Angeles — conveniently located just miles from where the Neptune would dock for a full day in January.

The consultation confirmed that I suspected: surgery would be required, but there was time. A referral to Dr. Laura Kruper at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa resulted in my surgery scheduled for February 26th. That gave us five additional weeks to continue sailing west before returning home.

So we made the most of it.

The 57 Days We’ll Always Treasure

Although we ultimately sailed 57 of the 137 days, those 57 days were extraordinary.

I dove in Cozumel, drifting through vibrant Caribbean reefs.

We welcomed the New Year fishing in Puntarenas Costa Rica, spotting spider monkeys along the shoreline.

We golfed in Cabo San Lucas, where desert landscapes meet the Pacific in dramatic fashion.

I dove again in Honolulu, experiencing the Pacific’s unique underwater world and then Bob and I golfed at Turtle Bay.

In French Polynesia, we both explored and discovered marine life in water so brilliantly blue it seemed unreal.

In the Auckland.

We visited Hobbiton and stepped into The Shire from The Lord of the Rings. In Tauranga, we reconnected with an old friend.

In Australia, we discovered Sea Dragons in Portsea, traveled along the breathtaking Great Ocean Road, and learned the fascinating story of Old Tom in Eden. Of course we will never forget the Little Blue Penguins of Phillip Island.

And then we arrived in Sydney — a bucket-list city decades in the making — where we explored Taronga Zoo, walked through The Rocks, dined near Circular Quay, and attended an unforgettable performance at the Sydney Opera House.

Life Onboard the Neptune

Throughout those weeks, the crew of the Viking Neptune became an integral part of our experience.

Hotel Manager Ron and Assistant Hotel Manager Mira handled every unexpected transportation change with professionalism and care. When it became clear we would need to depart in Sydney, they ensured the process was seamless and thoughtfully managed.

We celebrated special maritime traditions onboard — the Crossing of the Equator ceremony and the crossing of the International Date Line — memorable moments that added camaraderie and fun to the voyage.

The Neptune was not just transportation between ports. It was our floating home.

On our second day in Sydney, we quietly disembarked, saying goodbye to wonderful people we had met along the way.

A Final Night in Sydney Harbour

As we passed beneath the Sydney Harbour Bridge that final night, the illuminated sails of the Opera House glowing across the water, we knew we would be leaving the next morning.

There was no uncertainty — only clarity.

The skyline shimmered.
The harbor was calm.
Our ship turned slowly beneath the bridge.

Sydney was not the ending we had planned.

But it was a beautiful place to pause.

After We Left

After our departure, the Neptune’s itinerary shifted significantly due to security concerns in the Suez Canal. The ship rerouted around Africa and continued north toward London. Nearly two-thirds of the passengers disembarked before Bali as plans changed.

We followed our friends’ journey from home.

By the time they reached London, I had completed surgery and radiation — and I was doing great.

Important Lessons

If there is one message woven into this story, it is this:

Routine screenings matter. Early detection matters.

Because my cancer was caught early, treatment was successful and my prognosis is bright.

And equally important — comprehensive travel insurance matters.

When booking a 137-day world cruise, we focused on destinations, not disruption. But having strong travel insurance allowed us to pivot responsibly and avoid financial strain during a stressful time.

Preparedness is not pessimism — it is wisdom.

Journey Update: Life Moves Forward

True to form, we kept traveling.

We explored Southeast Asia, beginning with Malaysia before boarding the Seabourn Ovation for a sailing from Singapore to Hong Kong. We also completed our Land of the Midnight Sun journey.

✨ 2026 Plans

• The Canadian Rockies aboard the Rocky Mountaineer
• A trip on the newly renovated Windstar, Windsurf, for a special anniversary cruise from Barcelona to Venice
• Several days in Geneva
• England and Scotland in the fall on a Tauck tour

✨ 2027 Plans

• A Tauck safari in South Africa – January – February
• A Viking river cruise – February
• Followed by Jordan and Petra, hopefully

The world cruise ended early for us.

But our journey did not.

Looking Back — And Forward

As we cruised under the Sydney Harbour Bridge that final evening, we weren’t closing a chapter.

We were turning a page.

We crossed oceans.
We explored hemispheres.
We dove in extraordinary waters.
We celebrated traditions at sea.
We formed friendships we will always value.

Life is full.
Life is resilient.
And life is still wonderfully adventurous.

Because of early detection, excellent medical care, and tremendous support, I will be here for many more horizons — and we cannot wait to share them with you.