Oliver Groszer

Assignments 2026

Oliver — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 15:29:35 +0000

My Assignments in 2026

Here is an overview of my Viking assignments for 2026. I hope to see many of you again.

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Assignments 2025

Oliver — Sun, 12 Jan 2025 13:33:51 +0000

My Assignments in 2025

Here is an overview of my Viking assignments for 2025. I hope to see many of you again.

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Assignments 2024

Oliver — Fri, 05 Apr 2024 10:48:08 +0000

My Assignments in 2024

Here is an overview of my ship assignments for the beginning of this year in Portugal. The second half of the season I will be a jumper and do not know now where Viking and my destiny will bring me. Surprise, surprise! 😉 I will finish the season with some Christmas cruises on the Seine in France, and I hope to see many of you again.

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Blues with Greg

Oliver — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 13:43:00 +0000

PRISON BLUES

Premiere and Derniere at the same time. Greg was a guest who entertained us at night. Last night onboard the Viking Kari in September 2023, we sang this song for guests and crew. Not perfect but lots of fun!!!

Joe

Oliver — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 12:10:51 +0000

JOE

I’d like to share another very moving story from the very same cruise. The father of Joe Miller fought on Omaha Beach and in Normandy and survived. After he passed away, his son and his wife came to see the site where his dad and thousands of men had arrived on D-Day. Joe took some sand from Omaha Beach and put it in a little vessel to take home and also took a photograph there with a picture of his father.

Together Joe and Dolly lay down a wreath at the Normandy American Cemetery during a ceremony for the passengers of our ship. He told me that his father had never said much about World War II, and Joe felt liking writing a memorial poem. Later back onboard, I invited Dolly and Joe to share their touching experiences with us, and Joe read his poem. Here it is:

D-day by Joe Miller

Early morning getting ready

Scared inside but trying to be steady

We get the word, time to go

Move it out, keep your head low

Gate lowers, see the beach

So many of us will not reach

Artillery fire raining down

Get knocked over, trying not to drown

Get back up, head for shore

Guns keep pounding more and more

Looking behind me so many dead

The sand around me turning red

Orders given time to advance

Nothing can keep us from liberating France

The battle is won, but with a very high cost

So much gained, so much lost

Dealt the enemy a significant blow

Now we march to St. Lo

Though we won the battle and our goals were reached

Will never forget those we lost on Omaha

Beach

dedicated to my father Richard Miller

Dolly

Oliver — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 12:40:03 +0000

DOLLY

I met Dolly in September 2023 on the Viking Kari sailing from Paris to Normandy. She was onboard with many of her family members. She is 93 years old and had never travelled to Europe before. Her brother was wounded during the landing on Omaha Beach June 6, 1944. He died in a hospital in England. Dolly came to pay homage to him because he had left everything to her so that she could survive. When I saw a picture of Dolly’s brother on the phone of her son, I asked him to send it to me and then went off in Rouen to have it printed and framed. When we were visiting the Normandy American Cemetery for their appointment at her brother’s grave, I gave Dolly the framed photograph. Later they met us for the ceremony, and Dolly helped to lay down a wreath.

Dolly also asked me to walk down to Omaha Beach with her and her son. We went all the way to the sea. She wanted to touch the water and found a mussel shell to keep as a souvenir. On the way back, I tried to take her hand, but this was impossible because she was afraid to lose the shell and holding it tightly. So instead, I put my arm in hers. Only when she was back in the coach, did she open her fist and put the new treasure carefully into a little compartment in her purse.

The background shows the two rainbows we saw upon arrival back to the ship.

Les Gitans

Oliver — Wed, 14 Jun 2023 12:00:05 +0000

LES GITANS

ROCK IT

Every week on the Viking Heimdal we have this outstanding trio onboard our ship in Southern France. Nathalie, Pedro and Tony are from Arles and perform music of Gipsy Kings. As a matter of fact, Tony is a former member of this group. One day I asked if I might join for one song, and they agreed. The next week they brought me a guitar; after rehearsing a little, we performed “Bamboleo” together. Since then I have played the guitar with them every week and they even taught me two more songs, which we are doing together as well: “Moorea” and “Bem, Bem, Maria”. You cannot imagine how honored I feel and how much I enjoy playing with them. After I bought the guitar I play from Tony, he signed it. I call it my Gipsy Princess.

Assignments 2023

Oliver — Sun, 29 Jan 2023 15:36:27 +0000

My Assignments in 2023

Here is an overview of my ship assignments this year. I would be very happy to see any of you on one of these cruises!

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Assignments 2022

Oliver — Thu, 14 Apr 2022 12:08:14 +0000

My Assignments in 2022

Here is an overview of my assigned itineraries and ships this year. I would be very happy to see any of you again on one of these cruises!

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Pierre in Arles

Oliver — Mon, 11 Apr 2022 10:03:07 +0000

Pierre

in Arles

Say hello to my friend Pierre from Arles while he explains about the French beret.