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Comparing Viking Ocean to Regent


HongKongAlan
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We’ve cruised once on the Viking Star, and once on the Seven Seas Explorer. Here are some random impressions:

 

We liked the aesthetic better on the Star. Sleek modern Scandinavian design with all sorts of comfortable cozy spots to sit down, read and relax.

Passengers and crew to us seemed friendlier. Passengers on the Explorer, at least to us, seemed somewhat unfriendly, and the officers standoffish, unless you were a Regent regular.

 

The Explorer was more like a fancy country club’s main building, acres and acres of marble and dark wood. Nice, but no place I’d want to hang out on a relaxing vacation. Cabins more luxurious and spacious on the Explorer, in particular the concierge level, with the beds facing the window.

 

Food was better on the Explorer, as were the specialty restaurants. But Viking still delicious. The Viking main dining room is a better space, more intimate and relaxing. The Explorer’s is a large, low ceilinged expanse that reminded us of a convention hall, albeit a nice one.

 

Entertainment relatively mediocre on both, but Viking Star was better. There were, however, great lecturers and speakers on the Star. Not so much in the Explorer. The Explorer also had the distinction of featuring the worst comic magician I think we’ve ever seen in our 12 cruises. He denigrate the audience and seemed miserable.

 

Music around the ship was better in Viking. Included excursions better on Viking.

 

Overall, we came to the conclusion that Regent was over priced and just not worth the money. Viking still top notch with a far more reasonable price point.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Thanks for your informative and well balanced reply. I believe that the design and decor comes down to a matter of taste and preference. While we love the luxurious comfort of the Explorer, we realize it may not be for those who prefer a more spare and streamlined esthetic. It does seem that Viking has some very interesting itineraries coming up over the next two years.

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I haven't cruised on Viking, but I have cruised on the Explorer and have to agree with what you say. But even with all that marble I still find it comfortable. The Main dining room I agree, way to much lighting for a nice restaurant - reminds me more of high end coffee shop. Which is way we didn't use the Main Dining Room.

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We are gold on Regent mostly Voyager and Mariner (plus the Paul Gauguin and Minerva). No Explorer or Splendor cruises. We also sail with Seabourn and Oceania. We just completed our first Viking cruise on the Star, Into the Midnight Sun, 14 nights. We loved the design and art on the Star. The ship has a great feel. The spa area is a wonderful free benefit. We also found the passengers and crew to be the friendliest we have ever encountered on a cruise. The crew was also very friendly with each other. A happy bunch.

However, the food and restaurant ambience on the Star were well below the standard on Regent. Manfredi's was the only restaurant that had some ambience and we enjoyed the food there. Ate there 5 times. All the other venues seemed bland and cafeteria like. The area aft in the World Cafe was nice including the terrace. Food was not only just OK but if you asked for something slightly different it was not always forthcoming. The Chef's Table seemed to be a dining experiment that we didn't care for. Some items were good, others, one bite was enough and it is a fixed menu. The lunch options on the deck on Regent are far superior to the limited options at the pool grill on Viking which came out overcooked and lukewarm. Compass Rose, Prime7 and Chartreuse are all wonderful venues with great food on Regent.

Entertainment was OK on both lines. Regent production shows are better.

Included excursions (1 on Viking, many on R) are better on Regent. More choice and more extensive than the 2-2 1/2 hour tour on Viking.

We were in a DV4 on Viking, 270SF. Too small especially when we were both passing the foot of the bed. Regent's 305-356SF cabins are superior. If we cruise Viking again we would opt for the 338SF Penthouse.

While the food was not a high point our Viking cruise was great because of the points mentioned earlier. I would sail them again in a minute. However, DW is not on board.:')

 

We just received a flyer from Viking which again touts their Number 1 small ship cruise line status. I have tried to understand this and have this theory. Most Viking cruisers have come form mainstream lines and have found a much better experience. Luxury line cruisers have been slower to try Viking. I know I am speculating. I don't agree with the ranking. :);p

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Alainciao - I have a very subjective question for you and I don't think there's any single "right" or "wrong" answer. It's about your "perception" of the Viking experience (in terms of price for value) vs. the Regent experience.

 

And no, the question is not directly about food! While you were on your Viking cruise, and after having gone on many past Regent cruises, were you thinking or feeling that despite the fact that Viking was most likely "cheaper" than Regent, that you'd still rather pay more money (even if it meant taking fewer cruises), but still returning to Regent in the future as your "got to" cruise line?

 

Or was the value/enjoyment you received on Viking - for the price you paid, "good enough" to make you want to cruise on Viking more often in the future and "cut back" on future Regent cruises? Best Regards.

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This is very helpful to me since we're evaluating possible world cruises right now, and I felt it important to compare Regent with other lines. For us, Regent is a known quantity, and we love Mariner. And with all the inclusions, the prices are comparable, for such long cruise at least. True, the enrichment program might be better on Viking, but that would not be enough to sway me.

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We have sailed on Regent and Viking. Our Regent cruises were on the Mariner and Voyager. Although it has been a while since we have been on a Regent cruise (2012) we have two upcoming cruises booked on the Explorer. One is booked for December (Cape Town to Cape Town), and we just booked another for 2021 (Tokyo to Tokyo). We chose those cruises for the itinerary and to try the Explorer.

 

We have been on two Viking river cruises (Danube and China) and two Viking Ocean cruises, and have another booked for 2019. The one we booked for 2019 was booked mainly for the itinerary which is basically a cruise of Norway and Iceland. It is a new itinerary they have and it looks amazing! The cruise is 11 months away and it is essentially sold out. I am amazed at how the Viking cruises sell out years in advance. On our last Viking cruise many of the people we spoke said it was their first ocean cruise, but had been on a Viking river cruise.

 

After our last Regent cruise in 2012 we switched over to Oceania and went on 4 cruises, all on the Marina. We absolutely love that ship and did 4 fantastic itineraries. The itineraries were Australia and New Zealand, NY to Montreal, Amsterdam to Barcelona and the British Isles. One thing we like about Oceania is that it can be more of an "a la carte" cruise. We are not big drinkers and like to plan our own smaller private excursions so Oceania is perfect for that. We also really like the penthouse cabins on the Marina. We found the food to be excellent in the specialty restaurants and did not particularly care for the main dining room. Unfortunately we are not finding any new and interesting itineraries on either the Marina or Riviera so that is why we are back with Regent....and we have never been on the Explorer and have read so many great things about it.

 

I think Viking has a good product and the ships are very nice. We found the food to be good overall, but not as good as Oceania or Regent. The décor is more Scandinavian which we happen to like. As for entertainment we rarely go to the shows on any cruise line. We have found them overall to be just okay.

 

I would not hesitate to cruise again on Viking if they have an itinerary we like. Their ships are all identical so it does not really matter which itinerary you pick. As for Regent and Oceania, we would probably only consider the Explorer and Splendor on Regent and the Marina and Riviera on Oceania. We like the larger newer ships on those lines because of the cabins and because of the many specialty restaurant options.

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We've sailed on both Regent (Mariner) and Viking Ocean (Star) in the past year, within a couple of months of each other. These were our first cruises on both lines.

 

For someone moving from a mass market or premium cruise line to Viking Ocean, they will likely have a very favorable impression. The ships are new, and it shows. Understated beauty, and comfortable, and loaded with technological features. Nicely sized at ~900 passengers. The onboard staff and crew are great, and we found the shoreside customer service to be very responsive. The included beer/wine/sodas at lunch & dinner and the included excursions would certainly be appealing to someone moving up from mass market or premium.

 

However, for someone who has a history with Regent, or perhaps the other luxury lines, you might not be as impressed.

 

Like others have mentioned, we thought the food on VO was good, but not as good as Regent. One thing that really bothered us was the setup in the MDR (they call it The Restaurant). Tables for two are VERY close together, and there seemed to almost be an expectation to engage your tablemates in conversation - often times throughout the meal. We certainly don't mind exchanging pleasantries, but if we wanted a continued conversation, we'd sit at a shared table. As a result, for several evenings we did something we almost never do... had dinner in the "Lido", which VO calls the World Cafe. I will say it was actually a pleasant experience, and they have an amazing sushi/seafood section in the evenings which was delicious. Of the specialty restaurants, we really liked Manfredi's (Italian), but didn't care for Chef's Table (rotating tasting menus).

 

The included excursions are very basic... essentially combination bus/walking tours. Really just brief orientations of the area being visited. Often, we'd peel off from the included excursion once we were in town centres, and continue touring on our own, and eventually make our way back to the ship ourselves. This apparently is a common practice. One thing I did like about the VO excursions was the use of their Quiet Vox system (personal headphones to hear the guide).

 

On our VO cruise, we found the onboard atmosphere to be very relaxed, almost to the point of being a bit too relaxed. It was not uncommon to walk through the public areas and see guests with their propped feet up on coffee tables, or even laying down taking a nap on sofas. We also witnessed guests showing up for dinner in The Restaurant (and admitted) wearing track suits and sneakers. While we appreciate a more relaxed atmosphere and attire, this was a bit too far in our opinion.

 

We were in a Penthouse Veranda cabin, and it was very comfortable and spacious enough for our needs - 338 sq ft including the veranda. The bathroom was shower-only, but was designed very well (heated floor and mirror!). It was easy to hear the TV from the adjoining cabin though. The TV's are mounted directly on the wall, with no mounting arm. As a result, sound from the TV seemed to travel very easily between cabins. This is important to note, since all the VO ships are identical, including their new builds.

 

This comparison ended up being longer than I expected, sorry! For someone coming from Regent, I would simply advise that VO will not be the same as what you may be accustomed to with RSSC. If you set your expectations appropriately, however, VO offers a solid higher-end cruise experience.

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No one has answered my question so I’ll ask differently. If we get back from excursion at 4 or 5 and go to lounge for a drink and to relax...is that included?

 

Of course you can.

 

The only "included" beverages are beer, wine and soda - only at lunch or dinner in the dining venues. A full beverage package is available for purchase.

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Those of you that bring up the point of passengers moving up from mainstream and premium cruise lines to Viking Ocean (also Azamara and Oceania) are right on in my opinion. If we had not sailed on a luxury cruise line and sailed on Oceania in a big suite, we would have been blown away (only on the newer ships). This is why the past history/experience of a poster is so important to indicate. A person taking their first cruise will likely have a different "take" on their experience than people that have sailed on other cruise lines. And, based on my experience on CC, it seems that people that sail on another luxury line fairly regularly will be harsher in their review of the "new" cruise line.

 

I have spoken to crew members that left Regent - went to Viking Ocean and returned (and more would like to). They basically have good things to say about Viking Ocean but I was told by someone that I respect very much that "Viking Ocean isn't for you".

 

There are things that go on in the background on Regent that do not necessary happen on other cruise lines (from a crew perspective). Regent really tries to keep couples together whenever possible. Most Regent cruisers know Risky and her husband. They work with Regent in order to have contracts on the same ships. Regent does whatever they can to accommodate them. Regent takes care of their employees in many ways (and yes - I know that most crew members are not Regent "direct" employees but that doesn't seem to matter in terms of Regent caring about their crew.

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Hi Wes and Ida!

 

Pingpong, That's a tough question. I am definitely value oriented and am not a particularly loyal cruiser since I like variety. Being on a new ship is a positive in itself. Also, Viking is not cheap, especially since they are selling so well. If we upgrade to a Penthouse on Viking to get a cabin comparable to the Regent veranda the prices are very close. You may have noticed Viking advertises on TV more than the other lines. I believe this impacts their TA business resulting in a lower rebate from my TA. So, bottom line I consider both lines as viable options and not enough savings on Viking to think I could sail more if I went with them exclusively. Hope that helps.

 

One thing I did not mention that puts my DW in the not Viking camp. She has a bad back and found the chairs, while plentiful, to be too low for comfort. Also, I would mention the theaters on Regent are superior. Viking cannot fit 900 people in their theater. Finding a seat is more difficult. I agree with RJ2002 on almost all points altho we did not notice the "too casual" problem. If you like movies at night Viking shows them on a huge screen in the pool area and gives you headphones. The pool also has a roof for inclement weather.

 

For folks like Wendy considering world cruises there is a long thread about their first world cruise on the Sun on the Viking boards.

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Alainciao - Thanks for the reply. You explained it perfectly! Once you add all "extras" (larger suites, 24/7 drink packages, excursions, etc.) to make a cruise experience "more like" Regent, you are very close to reaching Regent's price point. And then, the decision comes down more to "intangibles" and "subjectives".... Like, who has the "better" entertainment. Who has the "happier crew". Who has the more comfortable lounge chairs, which bartender makes a better chocolate martini, etc. Best Regards

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We are never opposed to trying something new in the luxury market. Heck we worked for it and will try different hotels and cruise lines and land trips. Whatever we have left our relatives will get but for now la vida loco.

 

Viking was on our list but found out they do not have a casino on their ocean ships which is part of our evening entertainment. From people we know that have sailed Viking they really enjoyed it. The main thing we heard was the crew was fantastic and a lot of attention to detail. Food is always subjective to ones taste but they thourghly enjoyed it with no complaints.

 

There will always be a new competitor coming out with a new luxury line with the wow factor. The current luxury lines are going to have plenty of competition going forward and luxury cruisers will have plenty of choices down the road.

 

When Crystal came out with their one and only ship the Harmony the only competitor was Seabourn with their triplets and Radisson came to fruition entering the market but neither of these were all inclusive. Cunard being a class ship also finding themselves in competition. The problem with Cunard is the class system and it is not all inclusive. You have three choices on the QE’s Britannia Grill, Princess or Queens Grill and extremely formal for a six day crossing. Cunard is living in the past and most of us cruisers don’t want all the foo foo and balls that are part of the Cunard tradition.

 

So in the end,competition will heat up and people will diversify their cruising experience regardless of loyalty. If you eat at the same restaurant all the time because you like the food or the servers or get a loyalty card for a discount we would get bored if that’s the only restaurant we would go to because they know us. Thankfully we are not tunnel visioned and look for other opportunities to enjoy travel in different ways.

 

Yes, when you step on a line that you frequent of course you will be hugged and welcomed back but that is as far as it goes or you are invited to the captains quarters or table and we never accept as it’s no big deal and we mind our own business and make new friends along the way.

 

Some guests on ships think having officers around them is like having dinner with the President or a head of state and feel that they are more important than others. Enjoy it if you like it but not our cup of tea.

 

We love meeting new people we have never met and enjoying a dinner or two with them and also having contact or visiting each other after the cruise. That’s what life is all about not self importance.

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Can someone comment on spa prices? I saw in the WC thread over on the Viking board that someone paid $28 for a haircut. I'm thinking that was for a man. But seems fairly reasonable compared to the usurious prices that I remember on Regent. I seem to remember several hundred dollars for a massage, but was wondering about women's hairstyling.

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...

For folks like Wendy considering world cruises there is a long thread about their first world cruise on the Sun on the Viking boards.

 

Thanks, I've started going through this very lengthy thread, very useful.

 

One thing that stands out is the weakness of the excursions on Viking, at least on the 2018 World Cruise. Perhaps it's because they are new on the ocean stage. I'm comfortable with the quality of excursions on Regent, and shudder at the prospect of trying to organize private tours on a 4 month cruise!

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Wendy, have reached out to Larry1365 to share his insight on Regent and Viking WCruises. Larry and his wife have done two Voyager WCs, and this year did the Viking Sun WC. Will let Larry share his thoughts, but did follow the Viking Sun WC on Larry's FB page and they seemed to really enjoy their Viking Sun WC experience.

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Can someone comment on spa prices? I saw in the WC thread over on the Viking board that someone paid $28 for a haircut. I'm thinking that was for a man. But seems fairly reasonable compared to the usurious prices that I remember on Regent. I seem to remember several hundred dollars for a massage, but was wondering about women's hairstyling.

 

Dang, I pay $30.00 for a dry cut at my salon at home.😱

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