Tell Me Why.....

[goldenrod]

We have booked our first Viking ocean cruise, we have been on one Viking 21 day river cruise Amsterdam to Bucharest on the Embala, unfortunately the food was awful but we are convinced the food will be far superior to the river cruise which we felt was much to regimented for us. The crew were great but we got tired having to be at meals at the same time every day for 21 days and even thou we were in a Suite no room service at all the entertainment was the same piano player for the entire time. We were very disappointed considering it cost us 25k plus air.

 

 

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[deec]

River and Ocean are an entirely different experience. I thoroughly enjoy the intimate nature of the River Cruise and how they are usually very close a a walkable city. The luxury and beauty of the Ocean product is that of a ship with 900 people onboard.

[Squigmond]

goldenrod

 

THREAD STARTER

Blue Ribbon Cruiser

 

 

#386

Winter: Sun City Grand Surprise , AZ & Summer: Prescott, AZ

3,004 Posts

Joined Sep 2007

 

 

Posted April 29th, 2017, 10:12 AM

 

I hope if you go on Viking you have a much better experience, but No matter what others say we will never take Viking again, and regret we did this time, but life goes on our next trip is on Princess 31 days in a Penthouse suite LA to Buenos Aries we are Elite status on Princess

 

 

 

Never, seems to be shorter than one would think.

Edited February 28, 2018 by Squigmond

[wombatjoey]

goldenrod

 

THREAD STARTER

Blue Ribbon Cruiser

 

 

#386

Winter: Sun City Grand Surprise , AZ & Summer: Prescott, AZ

3,004 Posts

Joined Sep 2007

 

 

Posted April 29th, 2017, 10:12 AM

 

I hope if you go on Viking you have a much better experience, but No matter what others say we will never take Viking again, and regret we did this time, but life goes on our next trip is on Princess 31 days in a Penthouse suite LA to Buenos Aries we are Elite status on Princess

 

 

 

Never, seems to be shorter than one would think.

 

Could you please elaborate on your comment why you would never again sail on Viking Ocean...we have just booked our first for next winter after doing 40 cruises with Celebrity.

[Squigmond]

Could you please elaborate on your comment why you would never again sail on Viking Ocean...we have just booked our first for next winter after doing 40 cruises with Celebrity.

 

My post was a quote from Goldenrod about a Viking river cruise last year where he said "he would never again sail on Viking"

 

My reply was that "Never" came quick.

[jiminyC_fan]

My post was a quote from Goldenrod about a Viking river cruise last year where he said "he would never again sail on Viking"

 

My reply was that "Never" came quick.

 

Good catch. Pretty funny!

[goldenrod]

My post was a quote from Goldenrod about a Viking river cruise last year where he said "he would never again sail on Viking"

 

 

 

My reply was that "Never" came quick.

 

 

 

Sorry for not being specific, would never go on a another Viking River cruise, when I posted that knew nothing about Viking Ocean and was very unhappy

 

 

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[Eaches]

Could you please elaborate on your comment why you would never again sail on Viking Ocean...we have just booked our first for next winter after doing 40 cruises with Celebrity.

 

 

 

We have been in numerous Viking cruises both river and ocean and I would go on either at the drop of hat. If you like Celebrity then you should like Viking .

My wife and I like to travel and visit faraway places not the Caribbean, for that I will book a hotel . The cruise ships have gotten too large and are trying to appeal to to the mass markets at the expense of the cruisers. Try Viking, don’t expect roller coasters or climbing walls, just good food, fair prices on your extras , and great service! What more could you want ?

[Eaches]

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.

 

 

 

You know, my wife and I did the Viking Homeland Cruise two years ago and the only issue I could come up with is, the cruise could have been two days longer so that we could enjoy the ship . Think about it, when was the last time you could SMS’s your that about your cruise . It’s a no brainer !

 

 

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[Peregrina651]

Happy Anniversary!!

 

Or should it be

Happy Birthday

??

Whatever! Tomorrow, March 6, marks one year since OP Oville posed the question" Tell Me Why...we should try Viking Oceans" and I just want to thank her for posing such a thought provoking question and hope that her first VO cruise met her expectations.

[lackcreativity]

Happy Anniversary!!

 

Or should it be

Happy Birthday

??

Whatever! Tomorrow, March 6, marks one year since OP Oville posed the question" Tell Me Why...we should try Viking Oceans" and I just want to thank her for posing such a thought provoking question and hope that her first VO cruise met her expectations.

And that's another reason why you should try Viking Oceans: because such nice and thoughtful and interesting people sail on her ships.

[OnTheJourney]

: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?

 

Well, I didn't read the whole thread so somebody may have gotten to this already, but if not....."Try it because you'll only be sailing with 900+ people, rather than 2500+"

Edited March 7, 2018 by three4rd

[Peregrina651]

Well, I didn't read the whole thread so somebody may have gotten to this already, but if not....."Try it because you'll only be sailing with 900+ people, rather than 2500+"

 

Good one! Thanks.

 

I don't remember if it has been mentioned and even if it has, it bears repeating.

[OnTheJourney]

I've not sailed with Viking yet, but really am looking forward to the smaller ship atmosphere. I don't need some of the noise and hoopla that takes place on the larger ships.

[grooker]

We took our first cruise on the Viking Sea cruise in January in the West Indies. We

have been on 4 other cruise lines. We enjoyed it

so much that we have little interest in booking other cruise lines for future cruises.

 

Gary and Nancy R.

[Peregrina651]

What Viking is Not from the Viking website "Why Viking" section. Sorry I can't post it here instead of making you go to the website to see it but blame it on Viking that does not share the URL for its images (so we can't post them on other websites). I don't know if this is a new graphic on the website, but I would like to think that they got the idea from our answers on this thread.

 

And, I would like to suggest, as a matter of truth in advertising, that they remove the item "NO lines." No one can promise no lines and the truth is that lines do form -- in the dining rooms, to disembark with a tour, to board a tender. You just can't avoid them no matter how small the ship. So, lets not make it an issue.

[Twitchly]

What Viking is Not from the Viking website "Why Viking" section. Sorry I can't post it here instead of making you go to the website to see it but blame it on Viking that does not share the URL for its images (so we can't post them on other websites). I don't know if this is a new graphic on the website, but I would like to think that they got the idea from our answers on this thread.

 

 

 

And, I would like to suggest, as a matter of truth in advertising, that they remove the item "NO lines." No one can promise no lines and the truth is that lines do form -- in the dining rooms, to disembark with a tour, to board a tender. You just can't avoid them no matter how small the ship. So, lets not make it an issue.

 

 

Here’s their list for those who don’t want to follow the link:

 

No casinos

No children under 18

No umbrella drinks

No photographers

No art auctions

No charge for beer & wine at lunch & dinner

No charge for alternative restaurants

No charge for unlimited Wi-Fi

No charge for use of launderettes

No entrance fee for The Spa

No sales pressure for spa services

No inside staterooms

No smoking

No lines

No formal nights, butlers or white gloves

No nickel and diming

[RJ2002]

I agree that they should remove the "No Lines" reference. We had several instances on our recent Star cruise where we had to wait for a table in The Restaurant. Mind you, the wait was not bad - maybe 10 minutes or so, but we did have to wait.

 

Also, I am confused about the claim of "No Children".

 

Here is a quote from Viking's Terms and Conditions:

 

Children/Minors

 

Due to the nature of our cruise and travel itineraries, the Carrier does not maintain facilities or services for children aboard cruise vessels or otherwise during the trip. On all cruises and cruise journeys, minors under the age of 18 must be accompanied and share a stateroom with a parent, legal guardian or other responsible adult over the age of 21. We reserve the right to limit the number of minors under the age of 18 years on board and on land excursions booked through us.

https://www.vikingcruises.com/terms-conditions/index.html

We didn't see any children on our recent Star cruise, but I'm wondering if they do allow children from time to time?

[philw1776]

They do and they don't allow children under 18.

It depends.

On Viking Homelands I talked with a family with 2 girls. Under 18 (16). They loved their cruise.

I called Viking this year and they said No passengers under 18 is and always has been the rule.

Go figure.

 

FWIW: no problem with teens on Viking River

[Peregrina651]

We didn't see any children on our recent Star cruise, but I'm wondering if they do allow children from time to time?

 

I have never seen anyone under the teen years on the ship. You are more apt to see them during school vacations periods -- summer, Christmas, etc. -- and all three of our Viking cruise have been during one of these periods, so we have seen a small number of multi-generational groups on each cruise. Small number=handful=under a dozen or so. Most of the family groups we have seen are traveling with their high school- and college-aged children.

 

Viking does not make its ships an inviting place for younger children and younger teens. There are no facilities for them and there is no programming for them. If they aren't mature enough to participate in the adult activities, they will be miserable. That said, I think that Viking is a great environment families who want travel adventures that go beyond a week or so in the Caribbean. Viking's port -intensive Baltic Homelands, Midnight Sun, and Mediterranean itineraries quickly come to mind.

[moatenote]

There is a minimum age of 18 to cruise on Viking Star.

[Peregrina651]

There is a minimum age of 18 to cruise on Viking Star.

 

 

I'm not sure where you are getting your information. I saw some boys on our last cruise, at New Year's and on the Star, who looked younger than that, more like high school freshmen or middle school. If you read carefully the Viking policy as is posted just a few posts above, it does not actually state a minimum age and this is the policy for all of the Viking ships.

[philw1776]

Called Viking and they told me Nobody Under 18 on Viking Ocean.

We know from recent experience that this is not true, but that is what 2 separate Viking agents 2 separate times have said...after consulting with a supervisor.

River is different.

[WelshieLover]

...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

 

 

 

We were on the Viking Star in December our first Viking cruise. If you are looking for entertainment this is not the line you want to sail. There is some entertainment but it’s far from spectacular. Many of the itineraries are so port intensive and most people are not up for much after dinner I guess. Entertainment is one area I thought there could be improvement on. I posted a full review of our trip in the Cruise Critic reviews. We loved the ship, the food, the cabin. We were underwhelmed with the entertainment.

 

 

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[Richard2]

From the Viking Ocean cruise home page, there is a link "Why Viking." That opens a page on which one link is "What Viking is Not." On that page, it states "No children under 18."

 

https://www.vikingcruises.com/oceans/why-viking/viking-difference/viking-difference-wvin.html