Reasearching Viking

[RMLincoln]

Just looking in here as I've started to become interested in Viking Ocean cruises, so beginning to research. Have done a Viking river cruise and have had many, many ocean cruises, but Viking Ocean is a bit different, and maybe exciting:) worth looking into.

 

First Observation: Our current booking for a long HAL Pacific cruise has a worse cancellation penalty schedule:

120 - 91 days prior to departure - deposit amount

90 - 76 days prior to departure - 60% of total cruise fare

75 - 0 days prior to departure - 100% of total cruise fare

 

Second: I was surprised to read about the priority schedule for booking the included tours. The rest of the "class" system and the perks associated with higher priced rooms I can live with, but I want to get what I'm paying for as far as the tours are concerned... I don't want to pay up front for tours and then get skunked.

 

So my question is, What is the experience of Viking Ocean cruisers, in V category rooms, for getting the tours they wanted? If it's a non issues, then I'd say it's a non-perk too, which has me concerned.

 

Thanks for your help, m--

 

PS Sorry, I was typing while amyr was posting. But thanks for the input.

Edited June 29, 2016 by RMLincoln

[RMLincoln]

OK, I just read on another thread about insufficient room on tours... response by Viking,

 

"We regret to learn of your displeasure and appreciate the opportunity to respond to your concerns.

 

Viking does, indeed, guarantee an included tour in each port of call – for all guests, in all stateroom categories. A particular start time may sell out, but the shore excursion, as a whole, will not. "

 

So now i"m confused and even more interested to hear from first had experiences. Thanks, m--

[amyr]

I don't know if I can help with that, though I'm interested in the answers. We were on the maiden, and we had decided early on that Viking might not have its act together for excursions and thus booked our own. We weren't wrong, I think most of the people that were unhappy with that cruise largely had problems with the Shore Excursions department. I think that's all sorted now.

 

As I recall, though, only the most basic shore excursion was included - imagine you're on a river cruise and they have that one walking tour where you follow the lollipop and listen through your Vox, but you sign up for different groups. Each Ocean port had a standard excursion like that, though it was often started on a bus into town. Nobody was turned away from that, it's included in your fare. What I don't know is if there is more than one included excursion in each port. I don't think so, but someone who's been on board recently would know better.

 

There are other paid excursions offered, just like any cruise. I think (not sure) that signing up for these varies by cabin category too. I doubt that would be be a problem because I'm pretty sure that almost everyone is rolling with the included.

 

ETA: Ah, never mind. I see it's being hashed out elsewhere.

Edited June 29, 2016 by amyr

[RMLincoln]

Thanks amyr for the expanded explanation. In fact, the intensity of the port touring is something that does not attract me to Viking Ocean... we like our sea days for relaxing. Even on our 14 day Grand European Tour river cruise I had to take a break and skipped at least one tour and maybe two.

 

But river ports are most often right in the heart of where one wants to be touring, not so much for Ocean ports, especially if the port is an industrial port requiring a shuttle through the port area, so I think Viking's tours would be important.

 

We have a long relaxing cruise booked for this year and ideas for next year are open, so Viking may be a year or more out for us, just trying to learn ahead.

 

Thanks to all on this forum! m--

[huntersyaya]

We were in one of the least expensive cabins last year on the Viking Star Homelands cruise. We went on EVERY included excursion and most left within an hour of when the very first ones left so I had no problem at all not being first off the ship. If someone is willing to pay for a much more expensive cabin than I am, I would expect that they should have some perks....like reserving excursions a little before I did. It really was not a big deal at all once we were on the ship and saw how things operated. We loved our cruise and were treated wonderfully. We have booked a fall cruise in New England/Canada on Viking this year and then a British Isles cruise with Azamara next year....I hope Azamara is as enjoyable as Viking was and I have no reason to think that it won't be. The Star/Sun/Sea are beautiful new ships....I doubt you will be disappointed.

[Got2Cruise]

We were in one of the least expensive cabins last year on the Viking Star Homelands cruise. We went on EVERY included excursion and most left within an hour of when the very first ones left so I had no problem at all not being first off the ship. If someone is willing to pay for a much more expensive cabin than I am, I would expect that they should have some perks....like reserving excursions a little before I did. It really was not a big deal at all once we were on the ship and saw how things operated. We loved our cruise and were treated wonderfully. We have booked a fall cruise in New England/Canada on Viking this year and then a British Isles cruise with Azamara next year....I hope Azamara is as enjoyable as Viking was and I have no reason to think that it won't be. The Star/Sun/Sea are beautiful new ships....I doubt you will be disappointed.

 

 

 

Thanks for clarifying. I was imagining that there was a big difference. I'm having visions of the Titanic where the suite pax get the first life boats too.

[Lucky Granny]

There are no "sloppy seconds" on a Viking cruise. Once you get on the ship, there is no reference to where your cabin is.....everyone seems equal. We booked included and paid excursions and did not suffer at all because of our lowly DV booking. Both specialty restaurants were available for booking onboard, even though DV can only book one of each ahead of time.

[dln929]

OK, I just read on another thread about insufficient room on tours... response by Viking,

 

"We regret to learn of your displeasure and appreciate the opportunity to respond to your concerns.

 

Viking does, indeed, guarantee an included tour in each port of call – for all guests, in all stateroom categories. A particular start time may sell out, but the shore excursion, as a whole, will not. "

 

So now i"m confused and even more interested to hear from first had experiences. Thanks, m--

 

We were on the Star in January in the lowest category balcony cabin and as such had no priority for reserving shore excursions. Guess what. We were able to go on a shore excursion EVERY single day.

 

Some people get so hung up on particulars. Like maybe they want a shore excursion that begins at 8 am because they're early risers. Or maybe they want a later one. Who knows. I don't get it. Viking comes with shore excursions for everyone on every single port day and as long as I'm on one, I'm flexible. It doesn't matter one whit to me if it's an 8 am option or a 9 am option. I am simply not that concerned over minutiae and for that reason, I see no point in paying more than I have to for a balcony. Now if I were concerned with knowing EXACTLY what excursion I'm on at EXACTLY what time, I'd pay extra for the privilege.

 

Same thing goes for dining. Bottom balcony category cannot reserve specialty dinners. Again. Big whop. Reserve for the duration of the cruise when you board! Well, one caveat. Don't leave it to the middle of the cruise or you might find, as we did, that everyone has beaten you to the punch while you're dithering. We didn't get to one of the restaurants because we left it too long. Reserve when you board!!!

[fnewman]

My thoughts as well-I've never been on a bad cruise!

[bcorre2]

Great question! Our glass has always been half full with Viking.

 

I know it’s called Cruise CRITICS but it’s been good.

 

After our first Norwegian 3k+ passenger cruise, we said we’d never get on a ship with more than 900 passengers, kids or casinos.

 

Viking River (2013) /Ocean (Star 2015) and her sister ship Sea in Aug and two more booked for 2018 West Indies/Eastern Seaboard. All three booked in the same suite.

 

We don’t have a need to change as the package is great. Don’t do Maidens cruises.

 

Looking forward to meeting more Ausies and younger folks this trip. We're traveling to AUS/NZ 2017.

 

Viking will be there soon as well as the Mississippi, we hope :)

Edited July 1, 2016 by bcorre2
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