mariners

We are onboard the Viking Neptune trans-Atlantic. Although this is our first Viking Ocean cruise, we have sailed ocean crossings on other cruise lines. There are many other Cruise Critic members onboard. I hope that others will join in and share their thoughts, opinions, and experiences. Boarding in Lisbon was a pleasure. Within 20 minutes of our arrival at the port, we were onboard with a glass of champagne/sparkling wine in hand. We went to the World Café, and sat outside on the Aquavit Terrace to enjoy the wonderful weather and the gorgeous views of Lisbon. The selection of food from the buffet was excellent, and we could not have asked for better service from the bar staff. It was a great introduction to Viking Ocean. From there, we went to the Lanai and relaxed on the very comfortable loungers until our cabin was ready. I had been concerned that the odor from chlorine in the area might be overwhelming as the roof was closed, but there was no issue where we sat. It wasn’t long until the “cabins are ready” announcement was made. We went to our cabin and our luggage was already inside waiting to be unpacked. The DV2 cabin, on first glance, was very impressive. It continues to impress us, but it took me two days to finally figure out where I could place the majority of items/clothing that I had brought with us. (Now that I’ve been onboard, I’ll pack more strategically for next year’s cruise.) I wouldn’t change a thing in the bathroom as there is loads of storage space, and a shower that has plenty of room, great water pressure, and is, IMO, perfect. We continue to explore the various public spaces onboard. My DH and I have very different daily routines on ocean crossings. He has completely been won over by the fitness and spa area. I love the sports deck walking/running track, and am sure that I will love the Promenade on Deck 2 (unfortunately, the weather has not been conducive to it being open). We enjoy having the option of different lounges in the evening, and are still figuring out if we have a location of choice (which we usually do on ships) or if we will choose a lounge based on where we are dining and/or the entertainment. Each lounge has a different vibe and, for us, we have found that it is the entertainment that creates the vibe rather than the décor. Service in every lounge has been excellent. We have not had breakfast since we boarded the ship, and will likely not have it more than once during the cruise. Someone else will have to provide the information about the breakfasts onboard this crossing. We typically have lunch in the World Café, where the buffets have consistently provided a myriad of tasty selections. One day, however, my DH chose to have a very small salad. I was impressed with his self-restraint J. A few hours later, he returned to the cabin to inform me that he had the best hot dog and fries he had ever had on a ship from the Pool Grill, and I plan to find out if his opinion is correct some time over the next couple of days. I might even have to spend more time at the Pool Grill on other days just to check out the tuna, as well as the hamburgers. We have had two dinners in The Restaurant. The first time we dined at a table of four with individuals we met onboard. This was a mistake on our part, and I’ll leave it at that. The second time we dined at The Restaurant, it was at a table for two. We could not have asked for better service. Every course was delicious, served at the correct temperature, flavourful, and cooked to perfection. The wait staff/wine steward ensured that we had the correct order and were happy with our selections. Dinner in the World Café was good. There is an abundance of food choices, and there has been a large selection of seafood and salads. It appears that there are some of the same dishes as in The Restaurant. It’s a great option for people who want a more casual evening, as well as a different selection of food. The service, as in all of the venues, is excellent. Last night, we had our first dinner in one of the specialty restaurants. We dined in the Chef’s Table. It was the Asian Panorama menu. The meal was extraordinary and every dish had a surprise explosion of flavour that enhanced the main ingredient(s). For us, the dessert was okay, but it didn’t have the “wow” factor for us that the rest of the meal provided. YMMV Mother Nature has decided that the passengers need to enjoy the inside of the ship. The outer decks have had to be closed at various times because of wind, rain, and/or rough seas. Passengers have written about how stable these ships are in rough weather, so I’m presuming that the significant motion/thumping/etc. is as a result of the wave and wind direction. According to the information provided by the Captain, we are sailing in Beaufort Force 4 to 5 wind. (We have previously sailed through stronger winds on other ships and had less agitated motion.) As I am writing this, the sun has decided to peek through the clouds, and I can see the ocean to watch for wildlife. I am, therefore, signing off for today. Watching the ocean is my favourite thing to do onboard a cruise ship. Wishing everyone a great day.

The Infinity arrived early this morning in Barcelona. Debarkation was amazingly smooth, and groups were called at the correct times that had been listed on the paperwork provided to passengers. Busybee4329, we did not have Lanzarote on our schedule. Hopefully, someone else can provide you the information. I will write more when I have settled in Lisbon, or am onboard our cruise back to North America. Tonight, we are enjoying our own space and dinner we picked up at the Supermarket.

Sunrise this morning.

I’m having difficulty uploading photos so I hope this will work. There are other wines not on the menu but the sommelier will have to let you know what they have when you are onboard.

The alcohol lists continue to be changed depending upon what is onboard. As well, the prices listed in the dining room daily menu are frequently incorrect. This is a problem because people believe a drink is covered under the Classic package, and it no longer is as the price has been increased. People seated side by side can have different prices on the menus. Celebrity needs to update these errors ASAP. As well, some items from the Classic package have been moved to the Premium package. It would be beneficial if updated information was provided ahead of time so that passengers could be better informed. Yesterday, we had a great day on Tenerife, although it did rain and was foggy on and off. Christmas celebrations and decorations have begun, both onboard the ship and ashore. We had the pleasure of watching a street performance of Carnivale dancers and drummers in costume. They travelled up and down the streets in the central district. For anyone who likes markets of fruits, meats, spices, crafts, etc., the African (Lady of Africa) market is wonderful. Last night, many crew appeared stressed and public areas had a different vibe than we had previously experienced. Lots went on yesterday, including the crew drill which might have caused some issues if it didn’t go well, and I just read about an earthquake in the Philippines but am not sure of that timeline to know if it had an impact (understandable and sympathy goes to all affected by what must be a terribly stressful situation), but something was not right. Some supervisors also berated crew in front of passengers. IMO, that should never take place. There are quite a few ill passengers onboard. For passengers boarding the next cruise, I recommend bringing anything you typically take for colds and flu with you. People do not appear to be self quarantining. We have already arrived in port, and the weather forecast is good. Some of our group are going to the beach so that should work well for them. As it’s Sunday, I hope my DH and I get to see local families enjoying their afternoon. Our plan is to wander about and explore the streets. My apologies if I have missed any questions. Please feel free to ask again and I’ll try and find information.

villauk, the only consistent information I have received is that there will be some enhancements in January. From what I have been told, it’s going to be more of a freshening up, rather than the full makeover that was done on the Millennium. IMO, the things that they need to focus on are the bathrooms (replace all grout, redo the public bathroom walls, etc.), the verandas (which often seem to need scraping and repainting on ships), the carpet, and the furniture in the cabins. The bolted tables in some of the public spaces are also an issue as it’s impossible for staff to easily serve passengers. Some of the tables need to move a few feet over. This would not impact the number of passengers who could be served, it would just make it more pleasant for everyone. I can’t read a lot of posts as I get booted off the internet despite the upgrade I purchased. However, we must have the updated dining menus, and there are lots of options onboard. I continue to be surprised by the quality of the food, and soups were served at the correct temperature last night. Kudos to the chefs, kitchen staff, and the wait staff. The one area that I have noticed a deterioration is in the brands of alcohol carried onboard. Prices are also a lot higher for upgraded drinks. Given the increased prices and difficulty we have obtaining different alcohol where I live, I am not surprised. That being said, I think Celebrity should update their website so people know what is available (and also place lists in cabins for each sailing). This is the first cruise where I have noticed quite a few people have bought alcohol packages and have been “sharing” their package. IMO, I don’t understand why people don’t look at that in the same light as theft and think that it’s okay to do. I have seen some people caught, but I don’t know the consequences they are given. Perhaps, someone else knows what happens in those circumstances. We have our first port tomorrow and will spend the next three days on different Canary Islands. I’ll post an update at some point. It’s been a great sailing so far.

We are currently onboard the Celebrity Infinity sailing with family and friends. Boarding the ship in Barcelona was a great experience and took less than 20 minutes. We had done everything online and only had to answer a couple of questions and show our Express Pass. The ship is in much better condition than I expected. Yes, there are some areas that need some work, such as replacing grout, but everything is clean and maintenance is constantly taking place. After our cruises on Celebrity in January and February, I had warned the group not to expect much in the way of food as everything was so limited at that time. I am very pleased to say that has not been our experience on this cruise so far. The Oceanview Cafe has a wide assortment of food and the quality has vastly improved. Lunch yesterday included large appetizer shrimp, Mexican station, different types of chicken and turkey, pasta, pizza, salads, fish, and lots of other options. Dinner has been excellent with the exception of soups that are not hot. We have not complained as it is not as a result of our wait staff and we have no desire to prolong our dinner which would be necessary for them to replace the soup. The Prime Rib was excellent and cooked exactly as requested. The vegetables have been plentiful and the majority have been delicious. (I prefer my vegetables not to be overcooked so other people might find some of them a little undercooked as there is still a bit of crunch to the carrots, etc). Our wait staff and sommelier are a fantastic team, and it is a pleasure to be in the main dining room for dinner. By the second night, they had already figured out our preferences. Amazing! Every single crew member and staff has greeted us with a smile. If only all of the passengers could do the same in response. There are some of the grouchiest passengers I’ve seen onboard a ship. They are very vocal and want to ensure everyone knows how unhappy they are about their experiences. Hopefully, they are miserable enough that they will leave the ship when we arrive at our first port. 😀 I’m only intermittently on the internet, but I will try to check in every couple of days to answer any questions if there are any. Hopefully, I’m reassuring those people who are concerned about the onboard experience on the Infinity.

I don't know what happened during the night/today, but I got locked out of posting on CC, and asked to verify my e-mail. I did, multiple times, but nothing worked. It appears, at least if this posts, that I am back. Rumplemintz, if it's not sweet, would be something I would happily try as I am always looking for drinks that are not overly, to my palate, sweet. I'll have to check and see if it is offered for sale here. Baileys Amarula, or Carolans, and hot chocolate are always a winning combination. My DH will definitely enjoy those drinks if they are offered onboard. If I manage to get on CC, I'll try and post live in December. Thanks, again, for the answers!

Most threads on CC go off in multiple directions, and nobody is hijacking this thread 😀. mwike, I have not skied and had Fireball Cinnamon Whisky, but I've had "shots" and have to admit it is not one of my favourite drinks. It's made with Canadian whisky, and is sold at our government run liquor marts, and is typically served as "shots" by the people I know who enjoy the flavour. duquephart, Rumplemintz is not a term that I was familiar with but, after a trusty Google check, I found out that it is schnapps. That, the peppermint flavour, I have had my share of, and enjoyed at hockey arenas, winter bonfires, hay rides, ... Where I live, it is frequently added to coffee, hot chocolate, and some types of tea to enjoy when participating in winter events/activities, but "shots" are always an option. I realize from the answers that I, obviously, did not word my post in such a way that was clear. I've read the drink menus, but don't see items such as mulled wine, heated Bloody Mary's, hot toddy's, and other drinks that I have had onboard a ship that are offered around the pool (or other areas) as a "Special of the Day" on cool weather days. I wondered if something similar was available on Viking Ocean, and/or if passengers can request those drinks. We love to spend time outside on a ship regardless of the weather. The only time we remain indoors is if the outdoor decks are closed. Having a hot drink, alcohol or not, that is either low caffeine or no caffeine enhances that experience for me. Thanks for all the responses, and the laughs.

I have tried to search on this board, looked at different menus, and read some blogs to find the answer to my questions. Although there is mention of 11 a.m. bouillon on some cruises, this does not appear to be a consistent offering. Should I bring my own instant options such as Bovril or Oxo, or is this something offered on all cruises? I don't need to be ill to enjoy a hot toddy. Is that something that is typically available? I'm sure there are many cool weather drinks offered onboard other than tea and coffee, I'd love to hear some other, low to no caffeine, suggestions of drinks offered on Viking. Thank you.

We are new to Viking and will be sailing our first Viking Ocean cruise in December. We, too, have sailed a variety of cruise lines including Regent, Oceania, and others. Each time we have booked a cruise, we understand the terms and conditions (as much as possible for people who are not lawyers, involved in writing contracts ...) to ensure that we understand the requirements to sail on the line. Viking Ocean make it very clear what the time lines are for payment. Sometimes, there are exceptions to the payment schedule if more than one cruise is booked, but those terms might change if one chooses to change that booking over to the same, specific cruise that is on sale or offering additional benefits. At that time, there might be a cancellation penalty, but the terms of cancellation are also well laid out in the Viking literature. So, I guess my question for those individuals who consider passengers who book Viking as being "gullible", what makes us "gullible"? We, at least my DH and I, understand the terms and conditions of Viking, much the same as "All Included"; "Brochure Price" along with "Two for One", ... on other lines. A specific line/cruise is a choice. Obviously, Viking Ocean is not a good fit for you Tangakid. Wishing you a fabulous sailing on the Vista!

Many years ago, I learned that requesting a "Martini" meant that I never knew what I was going to get. In Lisbon, I received sweet vermouth with olives (no gin or vodka), sweet vermouth with a lemon twist, dry vermouth with olives or lemon, and even a port wine concoction that I was told was a "Traditional Martini". Interesting experiences, but not what I was expecting. Now, I ask specifically for what I would like as it seems to work best for me both on land and at sea. As well, there are multiple names used for drinks made with different liquor (vodka, gin, tequila ...)for a Bloody Mary. Each bartender seems to have their own additions: horseradish, amount of Worcestershire sauce, hot pepper sauce, pepper, salt, lime, lemon, etc. It must be very difficult for bartenders to try and make a drink that fits all passengers opinions of what that drink should contain, taste like, and lots of other criteria based on opinions. IMO, the worst Singapore Sling that I ever drank was at Raffles in Singapore; although, given the price and experience of drinking it in Singapore, I did finish the drink. The best Singapore Sling I had was on Singapore Airlines (go figure).

As a new to Viking Ocean cruiser, but someone who has sailed many years on various cruise lines, one of the reasons that I choose to buy a beverage package (on those cruise lines where it is not already included) is so that I can try different drinks. If a specific drink is not what I prefer, I know that I need to share why with the bar staff. Most of the time, providing they have the ingredients onboard, the end result is getting the drink made the way I prefer the drink to be made. Sometimes, I have found drink versions made by different bar staff work well for me. Other times, I am unable to drink the concoction and move on to a different drink or request a specific recipe. Is that not possible on the Silver Spirits Beverage package on Viking?

Forgap, I hope that whatever interfered with your cruise and getting out and about is over and all is well. I appreciated your posts and missed reading your take on the last few days. RachelG, as always, it's great to read your experiences onboard as well as ashore. Thanks so much for taking the time to post.

I'm thankful about the charge going through because we booked the cruise during a good sale, and didn't want to lose that booking. 😀 (I'm also thankful that I got to book it in CDN dollars instead of USD which is what we used to have to pay for many of our previous cruises. I choose to look at the payment as making money while I watch our dollar drop. 🤣)

Thank you so much for the responses. The Viking CC board is filled with past passengers who are generous about offering help, and are not critical of those of us who are learning the ropes. It's wonderful to read such a positive board. Our payment has now been processed. Yahoo!

Thank you to everyone who has responded. Our cruise is billed in Canadian dollars; we transferred money into our chequing account so there is no issue with funds (sorry, not sure what float money means); and our bank is/was expecting the charge from Viking. I know that we can always use a credit card so that this will not be an issue. Thanks, millybess, as you stated, it could be that the charge will go through on our account within the next day or so. We are new to Viking so this is something that we have not experienced on other cruise lines. Looking forward to our first Viking Ocean cruise, and the next one, too.

We live in Canada and used "e-check" to make the final payment for this year's cruise in January. We had no issue with the ACH payment. We have attempted to make the ACH Payment for next year's Viking cruise, and received notification that the payment from my bank had been denied and to contact our bank. (Our friends, from a different province, also did not have their payment processed.) I contacted my bank, and, according to the individual with whom I spoke, the issue is not with my bank, and must be with Viking. So, I went back on My Viking Journey and resubmitted information for the ACH payment. I received another e-mail, just the same as the first time, that informs me that our cruise is paid in full. However, after two days, the money owed still has not been removed from my bank account. Has anyone else had this issue?

DaisyUK, Australia, New Zealand, and Tasmania, all offer fabulous scenery, wonderful food, diverse experiences, and are well worth visiting (multiple times). If you are on the January 4 - 21 cruise, you will get a taste of what they have to offer. After experiencing flights to and from Canada a few times, the most recent in 2019, I'm not sure that I would recommend arriving just one day before a cruise, nor flying directly home after a cruise. To mitigate that experience, we found it best to spend time both pre and post cruise, and would not hesitate to do the same thing again. For us, that included spending time in other areas such as Margaret River/Perth, Bay of Islands, etc. If going earlier/staying longer is something you would consider, Stickman, and I'm sure some other people on the board, would be able to provide excellent, current information to you. I join others in their recommendations of taking the local ferries, and enjoying the amazing seafood towers.

I know that Keith1010 is, perhaps correctly, considered a "cheerleader". I also know that some posters take exception to Keith's posts, and some choose to try and beat him (respond more quickly) IMO in an aggressive way. I "know" through CC, as well as through physically meeting, quite a few of these posters. All I can say, from my point of view, is that I read every post that is being made and base my judgment on what is written based on how each individual has previously posted. Crystal is back on our radar and, if our health allows, we will be back onboard at some point. I look forward to seeing familiar faces, and to also meet individuals who are cruising Crystal for the first time. Choice, and life, is good. 😀

Clay, if you are still considering the tour that includes Bloody Mary's, I have just read this on the Windstar board: Also, when we were in HCMC on a different cruise line in 2017, we booked an overnight at the Rex Hotel which, at that time, was very reasonably priced. The room was fantastic! However, when we took a taxi back to the ship, we ended up joining a convoy of taxis that were trying to find the port as none of the drivers knew where the port was located (probably the one that Heidi13 described as we were in the taxi for over 2 hours). All of the taxis in our convoy were stopped by military police as they entered a restricted area. Nobody spoke English, including the taxi drivers, and none of the passengers spoke Vietnamese. It was quite the adventure, but all turned out well, and we have great memories of the, hopefully, once in a lifetime experience. I now ensure that I have directions to the port in the language of the country that we visit if we are on a do-it-yourself tour. We'd definitely go on our own again. If you to choose to go to the Taj, and have time, I loved the Agra (Red) Fort, and was very glad that we had a chance to visit it during our port stop in Mumbai and the ship excursion to the Taj. Because of your interest in architecture, as well as your eye for taking photographs, it could be right up your alley.

AtA, thank you for taking the time to share your experiences onboard. I'm with you on your opinion on sailing in a Classic Aquamarine rather than in a Sapphire. The information you provided will help those passengers who are considering the two options. Great review!

Keith, thank you so much for taking the time to post your experiences both onboard the ship and in ports. It's somewhat bittersweet as we have yet to book a future cruise on Crystal, but Crystal is now back on our radar and I'm sure we will be back onboard when the timing is right. Hopefully, both Anne Marie and you heal quickly. May your flights home be as good (okay, almost as good, as the cruise). All the best.

Sometimes, the area Windstar docks is changed last minute by the port authorities. Windstar did a fabulous job of letting us know after they had been informed of the change, and also provided additional information as to what that would mean in terms of shuttles, whether we could walk in the port, etc. when we were in Spain. If one was on a Windstar excursion, that was not a concern as they made all the arrangements for the change. For those passengers who planned on exploring on their own, or meeting a guide/friends/etc., the additional information was a big help. I pre-printed maps of the ports that we were going to, different docking areas where me might dock, and also saved them on my phone. It was then easy to plan out routes that we could take to get to where we wanted to go or to just wander at will and enjoy whatever we chose to do spontaneously.

Thanks so much for writing such detailed accounts of your cruise, and also your photographs. It has really helped me to learn about the experience onboard Viking Ocean. I can't wait for our first cruise on the line in December.