Food on Viking Embla is horrible

[Shmoo here]

I posted the first time May 2nd and again yesterday May 7th

 

 

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Since the most recent review I can find on (any) Viking ship is from April, I'd say you're still within the "just wait" period.

[goldenrod]

I will wait till next week. May 10th is my 72 birthday so no rush!

 

 

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[goldenrod]

Many people have asked us if we renewed our vows on our 50th anniversary and we tell them what for the first ones are working just fine! Sorry don't get that renewal thing! My former business partner did it every 5 years while he was sleeping with every thing that moved!

 

 

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Edited May 9, 2017 by goldenrod

[SuiteTraveler]

Many people have asked us if we renewed our vows on our 50th anniversary and we tell them what for the first ones are working just fine! Sorry don't get that renewal thing! My former business partner did it every 5 years while he was sleeping with every thing that moved!

 

 

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I hate to say it, but everyone I know who has renewed their vows are now divorced. Probably you two are smart to avoid that.

[Mark_T]

Mark_T,

If someone sends back overcooked steaks where do you presume the problem to be?

 

I try to avoid 'presuming' when at all possible as I know it can be either a kitchen problem or a customer problem, especially when getting down to the fine details of rare, medium rare etc.

 

 

I've seen customers returning perfectly edible food several times based on their perception that what they requested did not precisely meet what was served even though the chef may feel otherwise.

 

I've also seen chefs get the order wrong but not usually multiple times.

 

In this situation where the small kitchen is pushing out a very large volume of steaks in a short space of time I wouldn't be expecting to be able to use fine graduations as I would in a specialist steak house. The main menu items are not being cooked to order in the same way they would be in a land based restaurant. Rare/medium/well done would seem sufficient, you it would seem felt otherwise.

 

 

I do understand that based on your many comments you appear to have very specific expectations about your food and the way it is prepared and presented, personally I've found that being a little flexible tends to let me have a more enjoyable experience.

 

My steak does not become inedible if it is closer to medium than rare, my pastrami sandwich does not become an object of ridicule merely by adding a little salad that I can always remove if it offends me :)

[mlld3536]

I hate to say it, but everyone I know who has renewed their vows are now divorced. Probably you two are smart to avoid that.

 

 

 

We did renew our vows for our 40th anniversary inRome, perhaps our favorite city, at the American Church, which we often attendwhen in Rome. We followed up with a “honeymoon”to Sicily, back to Naples, then back to Rome, heading home on 8 January. We will spend our 50th on the lastnight of Avalon’s Christmas market cruise this year, so no vow renewal. As we were married on 12/22, the date hasalways overlapped with Christmas. Thisyear, we will tie the trip up by flying to NYC to spend Christmas with ourdaughter and her family.

:D

[Lookingforfacts]

Here's are examples of the kind of posts on Viking food I have found on the internet:

https://www.yelp.com/biz/viking-cruises-woodland-hills-2?start=40

 

These posts corroborate all that goldenrod has posted here and more.

Not really.

 

OP didn't like the food

Viking reached out to him

Gave him some extras. Offered him a voucher for a future cruise. Not clear if it was for a free cruise,large discount or small discount.

 

Complaints on Yelp mention lack of response, or poor response, by Viking to a variety of service issues.

 

There were a few complaints about norovirus. That's not what the OP was complaining about. A few didn't like the food. Seems like about as many liked the food.

 

Far too few reviews on Yelp to be meaningful.

[SuiteTraveler]

We did renew our vows for our 40th anniversary inRome, perhaps our favorite city, at the American Church, which we often attendwhen in Rome. We followed up with a “honeymoon”to Sicily, back to Naples, then back to Rome, heading home on 8 January. We will spend our 50th on the lastnight of Avalon’s Christmas market cruise this year, so no vow renewal. As we were married on 12/22, the date hasalways overlapped with Christmas. Thisyear, we will tie the trip up by flying to NYC to spend Christmas with ourdaughter and her family.

:D

 

I'm really glad things have worked out for you. Perhaps it helps that it was for your 40th anniversary. I know 38 couples who did vow renewal between their 15th and 30th anniversaries and are now divorced. Crazy, right? I used to think it was a fun event, now my stomach drops when I hear friends are going to do it.

[jiminyC_fan]

I try to avoid 'presuming' when at all possible as I know it can be either a kitchen problem or a customer problem, especially when getting down to the fine details of rare, medium rare etc.

 

 

I've seen customers returning perfectly edible food several times based on their perception that what they requested did not precisely meet what was served even though the chef may feel otherwise.

 

I've also seen chefs get the order wrong but not usually multiple times.

 

In this situation where the small kitchen is pushing out a very large volume of steaks in a short space of time I wouldn't be expecting to be able to use fine graduations as I would in a specialist steak house. The main menu items are not being cooked to order in the same way they would be in a land based restaurant. Rare/medium/well done would seem sufficient, you it would seem felt otherwise.

 

 

I do understand that based on your many comments you appear to have very specific expectations about your food and the way it is prepared and presented, personally I've found that being a little flexible tends to let me have a more enjoyable experience.

 

My steak does not become inedible if it is closer to medium than rare, my pastrami sandwich does not become an object of ridicule merely by adding a little salad that I can always remove if it offends me :)

 

Nice post. I agree with you.

[TravelerThom]

We all know goldenrod didn't research his cruise or read other reviews about it beforehand, so obviously he didn't know what others have posted on the internet. Yet his complaints ARE corroborated by many other reviewers on the internet and these past Viking passengers were in lower category cabins than goldenrod. Because of this I think goldenrod is not only believable but most likely right.

 

In regards to the Pastrami sandwich - other people have posted about it, too in their review and described the exact same thing goldenrod described. It may not have been on the menu the day goldenrod had it but it IS on at least one lunch menu.

I missed where goldenrod admitted that he had done no research; which post # was that?

 

I also have not seen a menu listing a pastrami sandwich. Can you provide a link to that?

 

IME people ate considerably more likely to complain than complement. With a thread title such as this that has stayed

on the first page of River Cruising for weeks, I expected that there would be lots of people piling on with their Viking food tales of woes. I don't think any experienced river cruiser puts Viking at the top for food, but they provide good food in a reasonable variety. There have been a number of Viking cruisers (including one from this very cruise) who seemed to agree with my statement in the previous sentence. I have NOT seen any of the hundreds of posts here where a Viking cruiser has agreed with the OP. You are extraordinarily selective in your sources, ignoring what is right here in this thread but searching the internet to confirm your preconceived answer. I don't doubt that their are a number of people disappointed with Viking food (although not many as over the top on their description), but I see a lot more who were satisfied.

 

Have you ever been on a river boat? If you have been you would know that it is standard practice to give galley tours.

[ms-ma]

I missed where goldenrod admitted that he had done no research; which post # was that?

 

I also have not seen a menu listing a pastrami sandwich. Can you provide a link to that?

 

IME people ate considerably more likely to complain than complement. With a thread title such as this that has stayed

on the first page of River Cruising for weeks, I expected that there would be lots of people piling on with their Viking food tales of woes. I don't think any experienced river cruiser puts Viking at the top for food, but they provide good food in a reasonable variety. There have been a number of Viking cruisers (including one from this very cruise) who seemed to agree with my statement in the previous sentence. I have NOT seen any of the hundreds of posts here where a Viking cruiser has agreed with the OP. You are extraordinarily selective in your sources, ignoring what is right here in this thread but searching the internet to confirm your preconceived answer. I don't doubt that their are a number of people disappointed with Viking food (although not many as over the top on their description), but I see a lot more who were satisfied.

 

Have you ever been on a river boat? If you have been you would know that it is standard practice to give galley tours.

 

I totally agree with you. Most reviews that I have read have been positive about the food on Viking. The are some negatives but they seem to be in the minority. The OP seemed dissatisfied with the structure of the cruise in general as he stated in his first posts. I think he then focused all his disappointment on the food.

[alexkrn46]

we have been three Viking cruises and only one galley tour. The pastrami sandwhich was a special order, they also got a special preview of the menu each day.

[Solent Richard]

Dear Goldenrod

I cannot believe how crass you are being over the alleged poor food on viking. I have taken 5 river cruises in all - 3 with viking and have never found the food to be bad as you are describing or anywhere near it. You sound very angry and bitter. If you have an issue talk to the cruise director who will attempt to sort out your issues. However, by the sound of it, you are not interested in sorting this out. Best not to review each day as I fear it will not be a true reflection on your cruise.

 

 

Now that is what I call a very fair comment.

I too have been on a similar number of Viking river cruises and have never had an issue with food.(and that's coming from a retired hotel snd restaurant owner).

Sometimes passenger's expectations do get the better of them - particularly when they've paid a higher price for river cruising compared to ocean.

Taking into consideration all aspects, including galley size, dining times, and mode of operation I think Viking, and indeed many other up market river cruise lines, do particularly well in the food department.

I have cruised on the Viking Embla, my review is here...

https://solentrichardscruiseblog.com/2013/05/28/solent-richard-catches-a-viking-maiden/

Meanwhile I have recently returned from an exceptionally good Rhine cruise on Viking Eir. Some ideas of their food...

A Salmon Tartar appetizer...

Surf & Turf Main Course...

Chocolate Dessert with Cheese sampler on the side...

 

[Roz]

Looks and sounds delicious. Thanks for posting.

 

Roz

 

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[goldenrod]

All your pictures and nasty comments do not change the fact that the food on the Viking Embla was HORRIBLE yes HORRIBLE with few exceptions during our 21 day trip!

 

 

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Edited May 10, 2017 by goldenrod

[Cyber Kat]

All your pictures and nasty comments do not change the fact that the food on the Viking Embla was HORRIBLE yes HORRIBLE with few exceptions during our 21 day trip!

 

 

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This is opinion - your opinion - not fact. Big difference and shouting something multiple times does not change opinion to fact

 

 

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[JVilleGal]

Post 567 - the OP is unhappy with his experience. He has the right to have his opinion and it is meaningful to him. Food is subjective.... sorry his very expensive cruise did not meet his expectations.

 

Can we please close this painful thread!

 

 

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[Kingofcool1947]

Now that is what I call a very fair comment.

I too have been on a similar number of Viking river cruises and have never had an issue with food.(and that's coming from a retired hotel snd restaurant owner).

Sometimes passenger's expectations do get the better of them - particularly when they've paid a higher price for river cruising compared to ocean.

Taking into consideration all aspects, including galley size, dining times, and mode of operation I think Viking, and indeed many other up market river cruise lines, do particularly well in the food department.

I have cruised on the Viking Embla, my review is here...

https://solentrichardscruiseblog.com/2013/05/28/solent-richard-catches-a-viking-maiden/

Meanwhile I have recently returned from an exceptionally good Rhine cruise on Viking Eir. Some ideas of their food...

A Salmon Tartar appetizer...

Surf & Turf Main Course...

Chocolate Dessert with Cheese sampler on the side...

 

 

 

Looks delicious.

Thanks for posting some pictures of the food served on your Viking river cruise. Doesn't look so "horrible" to me. :)

[Host Jazzbeau]

Post 567 - the OP is unhappy with his experience. He has the right to have his opinion and it is meaningful to him. Food is subjective.... sorry his very expensive cruise did not meet his expectations.

 

Can we please close this painful thread!

 

No, but people can stop posting on it or even reading it -- and then it will fall off page 1 of its own gravity.

[Solent Richard]

All your pictures and nasty comments do not change the fact that the food on the Viking Embla was HORRIBLE yes HORRIBLE with few exceptions during our 21 day trip!

 

 

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Looks delicious.

Thanks for posting some pictures of the food served on your Viking river cruise. Doesn't look so "horrible" to me. :)

 

Thank you Kingofcool.

 

Frankly, if the OP really wanted to make a sound case against the quality (?) of the food then he/she could easily have added a little more substance or even a photograph or two.

 

It's not rocket science and, after all, the wifi is FREE.

 

How's this for a fillet of Perch...

[goldenrod]

Sorry but you can't taste pictures, they mean nothing and prove nothing! The food was HORRIBLE!

 

 

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[Mark_T]

Sorry but you can't taste pictures, they mean nothing and prove nothing! The food was HORRIBLE!

 

Once again ... in your opinion...

 

... and as many have said already, you are perfectly entitled to your opinion.

 

I'm sure a lot of us feel feel sorry for you spending so much money and not having a great vacation, but you are not going to go unchallenged when you continue to post your opinions as 'facts'.

 

Everyone is different when it comes to matter of taste, so people are not being 'nasty' to you when they disagree with your characterization of the food as 'horrible'.

 

If you had said that you were disappointed with the food, or that you didn't like the food you'd have probably found a lot more support, but because you choose to present your dislike as condemnation of the entire catering output of the ship you made it very hard for people to empathize with you.

 

I dislike fish, it the menu was entirely fish based it would be a horrible meal for me, but it does not mean the fish was horrible...

 

I like my beef served rare, if it turns up medium it doesn't suddenly become 'horrible', just not as I prefer it.

 

The problem all along seems to be that you have very specific expectations about your food and no room for tolerance when you are eating in a high volume situation like the MDR.

 

If my steak order in a steak house comes out wrong, odds are it is going back because I know that piece of meat was specifically cooked to order and I had waited patiently until it was my turn to have it prepared.

 

If I order a menu choice in the MDR of a cruise ship that includes a steak component, I'm going to let the server know that I prefer rare, and I'd expect them to be able to deliver rare/medium/well done, but I'm not going to expect too much more than that and I will not be surprised if there is some variation in the delivered meal as I know that piece of meat was not specifically prepared to my order and I didn't have to wait my turn to have it cooked.

 

Conversely, if I did not order from the main menu that day and chose instead to order a steak from the 'everyday' choices I would expect a closer match to my preference as that steak would have been cooked to order.

 

I hope you will enjoy your next cruise more and I hope you will have learned that if your preferences are as tightly defined as they seem to be then your money would be better spent on a more up-market line even if that means having a smaller cabin.

 

Spending a lot more for a suite on a mid-market line is obviously not going to deliver the dining experience you seem to desire as the cost of the suite has zero impact on the MDR experience.

 

 

You can keep posting on this thread as long as you want, but the replies are not going to stop, or change as long as you continue to post subjective opinions as facts...

[billfish]

All your pictures and nasty comments do not change the fact that the food on the Viking Embla was HORRIBLE yes HORRIBLE with few exceptions during our 21 day trip!

 

 

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That is your opinion for which you are entitled to. That being said that does not make it true.

[TravelerThom]

no, but people can stop posting on it or even reading it -- and then it will fall off page 1 of its own gravity.

like! Best post of the entire thread.

[goldenrod]

Once again ... in your opinion...

 

 

 

... and as many have said already, you are perfectly entitled to your opinion.

 

 

 

I'm sure a lot of us feel feel sorry for you spending so much money and not having a great vacation, but you are not going to go unchallenged when you continue to post your opinions as 'facts'.

 

 

 

Everyone is different when it comes to matter of taste, so people are not being 'nasty' to you when they disagree with your characterization of the food as 'horrible'.

 

 

 

If you had said that you were disappointed with the food, or that you didn't like the food you'd have probably found a lot more support, but because you choose to present your dislike as condemnation of the entire catering output of the ship you made it very hard for people to empathize with you.

 

 

 

I dislike fish, it the menu was entirely fish based it would be a horrible meal for me, but it does not mean the fish was horrible...

 

 

 

I like my beef served rare, if it turns up medium it doesn't suddenly become 'horrible', just not as I prefer it.

 

 

 

The problem all along seems to be that you have very specific expectations about your food and no room for tolerance when you are eating in a high volume situation like the MDR.

 

 

 

If my steak order in a steak house comes out wrong, odds are it is going back because I know that piece of meat was specifically cooked to order and I had waited patiently until it was my turn to have it prepared.

 

 

 

If I order a menu choice in the MDR of a cruise ship that includes a steak component, I'm going to let the server know that I prefer rare, and I'd expect them to be able to deliver rare/medium/well done, but I'm not going to expect too much more than that and I will not be surprised if there is some variation in the delivered meal as I know that piece of meat was not specifically prepared to my order and I didn't have to wait my turn to have it cooked.

 

 

 

Conversely, if I did not order from the main menu that day and chose instead to order a steak from the 'everyday' choices I would expect a closer match to my preference as that steak would have been cooked to order.

 

 

 

I hope you will enjoy your next cruise more and I hope you will have learned that if your preferences are as tightly defined as they seem to be then your money would be better spent on a more up-market line even if that means having a smaller cabin.

 

 

 

Spending a lot more for a suite on a mid-market line is obviously not going to deliver the dining experience you seem to desire as the cost of the suite has zero impact on the MDR experience.

 

 

 

 

 

You can keep posting on this thread as long as you want, but the replies are not going to stop, or change as long as you continue to post subjective opinions as facts...

 

 

Was not expecting Regent or Crystal quality food, just good quality well prepared food, that was not the case! What we did get was some of the worst meals in our 45 years of cruising!

 

 

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