Oville Posted March 6, 2017 #1 Share Posted March 6, 2017 ...we should try Viking Ocean. We are a couple that cruise often, mostly in the Caribbean and in suites. Our last two cruises (December and January) were on Oceania and Celebrity. One we found really boring but the food unbelievably good. The other offered excellent suite perks, much better entertainment, and the food was very good to pretty good to okay. So for those who have cruised on Viking Ocean please convince us that we need to give this line a try. We are about to book so your input would be appreciated. Thanks so much.:) Katie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Peregrina651 Posted March 6, 2017 #2 Share Posted March 6, 2017 Try it because you are tired of mindless entertainment. Try it because you don't need a casino. Try it because you are sick and tired of the nickel-and-diming. Try it because you can live without other people's children. Try it because you are more interested in the ports of call than in partying until dawn. Try it because you are never asked to pose for photos. Try in because you like cruising among friendly people. Try it because you are invited to BYO wine, beer or other potables. Try it because you don't have to hide in your room to drink your BYO. Try it because there is no corkage fee in the dining rooms. Try it because specialty dining is included. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luvnps Posted March 6, 2017 #3 Share Posted March 6, 2017 Try it because you are tired of mindless entertainment. Try it because you don't need a casino. Try it because you are sick and tired of the nickel-and-diming. Try it because you can live without other people's children. Try it because you are more interested in the ports of call than in partying until dawn. Try it because you are never asked to pose for photos. Try in because you like cruising among friendly people. Try it because you are invited to BYO wine, beer or other potables. Try it because you don't have to hide in your room to drink your BYO. Try it because there is no corkage fee in the dining rooms. Try it because specialty dining is included. Peregrina, We will take Viking Homelands cruise in July - this is our first cruise with Viking. I love this post - if we were not already booked, we would probably do so because of your thoughts. I have followed threads for months, and you are a wonderful source of information. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dauntless Posted March 6, 2017 #4 Share Posted March 6, 2017 Try it because you are tired of mindless entertainment. Try it because you don't need a casino. Try it because you are sick and tired of the nickel-and-diming. Try it because you can live without other people's children. Try it because you are more interested in the ports of call than in partying until dawn. Try it because you are never asked to pose for photos. Try in because you like cruising among friendly people. Try it because you are invited to BYO wine, beer or other potables. Try it because you don't have to hide in your room to drink your BYO. Try it because there is no corkage fee in the dining rooms. Try it because specialty dining is included. Viking should lift this quote for it's advertising 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Peregrina651 Posted March 6, 2017 #5 Share Posted March 6, 2017 Viking should lift this quote for it's advertising :oAw, heck, I was hoping that people would just add to the list. You know, "Try it because ___________" I'm sure that there are plenty of things I missed. Viking is welcome to the material but really, don't you think they say the same thing in their ads --and with much more finesse and class? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmaasfamily Posted March 6, 2017 #6 Share Posted March 6, 2017 :oAw, heck, I was hoping that people would just add to the list. You know, "Try it because ___________" I'm sure that there are plenty of things I missed. Viking is welcome to the material but really, don't you think they say the same thing in their ads --and with much more finesse and class? I'll bite: Try it because folks like Peregrina651 are on board. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alicomp Posted March 6, 2017 #7 Share Posted March 6, 2017 I'll bite: Try it because folks like Peregrina651 are on board. Try it because there is no formal night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Peregrina651 Posted March 7, 2017 #8 Share Posted March 7, 2017 i'll bite: Try it because folks like peregrina651 are on board. <blush> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruzzzinma Posted March 7, 2017 #9 Share Posted March 7, 2017 Try it because you are tired of mindless entertainment. Try it because you don't need a casino. Try it because you are sick and tired of the nickel-and-diming. Try it because you can live without other people's children. Try it because you are more interested in the ports of call than in partying until dawn. Try it because you are never asked to pose for photos. Try in because you like cruising among friendly people. Try it because you are invited to BYO wine, beer or other potables. Try it because you don't have to hide in your room to drink your BYO. Try it because there is no corkage fee in the dining rooms. Try it because specialty dining is included. Try it because there is no bang-bang music. Try it because there are nooks and crannies everywhere to read, relax, and just be. Try it because the tables in the cafe (buffet) are set with silverware and napkins and a beverage server comes to take your order as soon as you sit down. Try it because room service will deliver delicious coffee and juice, even on debarkation day, within 10 minutes of your call. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garycarla Posted March 7, 2017 #10 Share Posted March 7, 2017 Some very good answers above. We found the food to be very good and the whole experience on the Sky great. Okay, so I have a follow up question. "Tell Me Why" some subject titles are so short and not descriptive? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimAOk1945 Posted March 7, 2017 #11 Share Posted March 7, 2017 I'll bite. I'm a potential Viking Ocean cruiser. Tell me why I should take the "included" shore excursions instead of booking the optional excursions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garycarla Posted March 7, 2017 #12 Share Posted March 7, 2017 I'll bite. I'm a potential Viking Ocean cruiser. Tell me why I should take the "included" shore excursions instead of booking the optional excursions? Based on our ONE Viking Ocean cruise - the included will always be larger groups which by design MIGHT reduce some of the places you go. The paid ones will be more focused on what they are going to cover. It still might be a large bus, or maybe more if lots sign up for it. I would say you have to review what is offered and decide what points of interest are important to you. I made a mistake on our cruise and should have done the included ship tour to Pompeii. Generally, so many tours ended up similar to ABC tours - "Another Bloody Church". LOL! We have recently begun to appreciate a calming day onboard while everyone else runs around to see things and take hundreds of pictures because they will forget what they saw by the next morning. They then of course forget where the pictures are -LOL! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oville Posted March 7, 2017 Author #13 Share Posted March 7, 2017 Thanks so much to those who added helpful posts. Our input is greatly appreciated. We booked our first Viking today! Katie 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oville Posted March 7, 2017 Author #14 Share Posted March 7, 2017 Okay, so I have a follow up question. "Tell Me Why" some subject titles are so short and not descriptive? Whatever, I accomplished my mission thanks to a bunch of helpful people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Peregrina651 Posted March 7, 2017 #15 Share Posted March 7, 2017 I'll bite. I'm a potential Viking Ocean cruiser. Tell me why I should take the "included" shore excursions instead of booking the optional excursions? Take them because they are going where you want to go. Take them because you want a relaxing day at a mellow pace. Take them because you can't spend everyday of the cruising racing from place to place to see as many things as possible in the short amount of time you have in port. Take them because you don't mind touring with a busload of people. Take them because you get to meet other people on your ship. We do a combination of included tours, optional tours and doing it on our own. It depends on what the included tour is, where we are and what we want to accomplish at that particular port of call. We do not take them just because they are free; if we aren't interested in the program, we will do something that we are interested in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Peregrina651 Posted March 7, 2017 #16 Share Posted March 7, 2017 We booked our first Viking today! Katie SWEEET!!! (y) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philw1776 Posted March 8, 2017 #17 Share Posted March 8, 2017 I'll bite. I'm a potential Viking Ocean cruiser. Tell me why I should take the "included" shore excursions instead of booking the optional excursions? There is no answer to this. Your taste for excursions may differ. The optional excursions are in my view pricey but they involve more time and more special places to see than the included which is usually a walking tour or short bus tour with a couple stops. Read the details and consider. Enjoyed over 95% of the tours we've taken with Viking and we've done both types. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jiminyC_fan Posted March 8, 2017 #18 Share Posted March 8, 2017 Take them because they are going where you want to go. Take them because you want a relaxing day at a mellow pace. Take them because you can't spend everyday of the cruising racing from place to place to see as many things as possible in the short amount of time you have in port. Take them because you don't mind touring with a busload of people. Take them because you get to meet other people on your ship. We do a combination of included tours, optional tours and doing it on our own. It depends on what the included tour is, where we are and what we want to accomplish at that particular port of call. We do not take them just because they are free; if we aren't interested in the program, we will do something that we are interested in. Love, love, love. Sums it up perfectly for us! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tvmovielover Posted March 8, 2017 #19 Share Posted March 8, 2017 I just loved being on the Viking Sea. It was relaxing on the ship (we are nutballs about touring at every port but on our "Quiet Season" cruise that still left lots of time on the ship and lots of time to try all the things that are available on the ship. Many on our cruise came because they liked their Viking River cruises (we did too!). Our lowest level cabin had a balcony and enough room for us, food was good (not quite Oceania but better than RCL), and as said by many nice nooks and crannies to relax in. For early risers, the Explorer lounge and Mamsens (get coffee at the World Cafe before about 6:30 or 6 way downstairs) are delightfully quiet and enjoyable. There was some nightlife on our cruise as there were several groups but the shows were enough for us (they were the usual but the comfortable seats and blankets were nice. I did not see dancing but we almost never do. I did not miss all night entertainment but there was some late night stuff if passengers wanted it and some excellent lectures (on our cruise on sea life and art). The included excursions were mostly fine (we took one last of the day excursions that left late and cut it short but the rest were fine). However, these walks around town on their river cruises are always pretty good. On the ocean cruises, they were mostly good but we were not anywhere near downtown in most ports and not everyone like having to be bused for part of the tour and having the in town part somewhat abbreviated. Still, I am looking for another Viking Ocean cruise (problem is finding one with new ports for us) for the time on the ship alone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare PatriciaF Posted March 10, 2017 #20 Share Posted March 10, 2017 Try it because the free spa area is unbelievable! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Etexvrc Posted March 20, 2017 #21 Share Posted March 20, 2017 I too believe port excursions are more of a personal 'taste'. My wife and I have cruise on the Star twice (once on the Homelands and once on the West Indies) and both times we mixed both the included and non-included excursions. For example on our Homelands cruise we elected not to take the included tour into Berlin primarily because of the large time commitment, including long stretches on a bus both going and returning. But again, that's us. Most all excursions we've taken, both included and not, have been wonderful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philw1776 Posted March 20, 2017 #22 Share Posted March 20, 2017 I too believe port excursions are more of a personal 'taste'. My wife and I have cruise on the Star twice (once on the Homelands and once on the West Indies) and both times we mixed both the included and non-included excursions. For example on our Homelands cruise we elected not to take the included tour into Berlin primarily because of the large time commitment, including long stretches on a bus both going and returning. But again, that's us. Most all excursions we've taken, both included and not, have been wonderful. Agree. Making the same decision. Word up is that now Viking does Berlin via train, not bus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Peregrina651 Posted March 20, 2017 #23 Share Posted March 20, 2017 Agree. Making the same decision. Word up is that now Viking does Berlin via train, not bus. I'll bet that cuts down on the travel time! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smbruner Posted March 27, 2017 #24 Share Posted March 27, 2017 Take them because they are going where you want to go. Take them because you want a relaxing day at a mellow pace. Take them because you can't spend everyday of the cruising racing from place to place to see as many things as possible in the short amount of time you have in port. Take them because you don't mind touring with a busload of people. Take them because you get to meet other people on your ship. We do a combination of included tours, optional tours and doing it on our own. It depends on what the included tour is, where we are and what we want to accomplish at that particular port of call. We do not take them just because they are free; if we aren't interested in the program, we will do something that we are interested in. Can you please tell me if the included tours are similar to the Viking River Cruise tour experience? For instance, do you stay with the same tour guide and group each time the ship docks? We've only sailed to China on Viking River Cruises and that's how they do it so I'm wondering how it works on the Viking Ocean. Thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Peregrina651 Posted March 27, 2017 #25 Share Posted March 27, 2017 Can you please tell me if the included tours are similar to the Viking River Cruise tour experience? For instance, do you stay with the same tour guide and group each time the ship docks? We've only sailed to China on Viking River Cruises and that's how they do it so I'm wondering how it works on the Viking Ocean. Thank you No, China is an exception to the rule. In general, on the other river cruises and on the ocean cruises, you are on a different bus each day with a different group of people and different guides. Guests are not broken into groups and there are no escorts permanently assigned to each group. On the ocean cruises, the tour experience in each port is dependent on the visitor services available in each port. Viking contracts with local business in each port so that guides are, for the most part,experienced local guides who are familiar with the locality, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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