Returning to Viking River after Cruising Viking Ocean

[lackcreativity]

Like many on these threads, our first Viking cruise was a river cruise. We enjoyed our cruise on the Danube so much that we decided to take our first ever ocean cruise with Viking Oceans. The new ocean ships seemed to address all the reasons why we had avoided ocean cruising in the past. We loved our first cruise, and our second, and I assume we will love the third this spring. 

 

Our travel choices are based mostly on itinerary, and we have now booked another Viking river cruise for next year. I am a little concerned that on the river cruise we will miss many of the things that we love so on the ocean: the variety of dining venues, the additional choices of enrichment lectures and shows, and the balcony on our veranda stateroom. Can anyone offer their experience in returning to the smaller ships of Viking River?

[CharTrav]

We started with VR (Grand European Tour) the Summer Viking Ocean was announced, then did 2 VOS (Star on the Baltic and Sky in the Caribbean) followed by VR last Summer (France's Finest) . We were happy with both experiences. It's a matter of expectations - a river cruise ship is simply not the same as an ocean ship. To expect otherwise is unreasonable. Best to appreciate VR for what it is. However,  VR has benefited in the excursion dept from VO vis a vis the greater number of them. 

[zitsky]

Well you're right.  I have done two river cruises and have an ocean cruise planned for September.  It will be hard to go back to river.  Partner really likes have a fitness center/gym which river doesn't have.

[Peregrina651]

After 4 VO, we are doing another river cruise in March. Ocean is ocean and river is river and ne'er the twain shall meet. Except in this case because the one thing that they have in common is the amazing Viking staff and crew and the Viking way of doing things. The only reason we returned to ocean cruising was because we felt entirely convinced that Viking was able to turn its river formula into a viable ocean formula.

[lackcreativity]

Thanks for getting my focus back on managing expectations and remembering all the good things about Viking River. We are looking forward to the itinerary ( Paris to the Swiss Alps), and we did like everything about our first river cruise, so even if it's not the same as ocean, it should be a great trip. At least I won't have to worry about the missed port and the 15" seas from our last cruise! (I know - high/low water levels can be a  problem, but we've taken bus trips on purpose in the past and liked those too, so I'm not concerned about that.) 

 

The Viking staff do seam to be a highlight of the trip every time, and that also reminds me how much we enjoy meeting other passengers. We have new friends in many places from our past trips so that is something to look forward to as well.

[zitsky]

lackcreativity do you mean 15 FOOT seas? 15 inch seas would be a problem on river.  I assume you're referring to an ocean cruise?

 

You must be the only people who like bus trips.

[molymoo]

Just as Peregrina and her DH we did several river cruises with Viking and had some reservations about moving up to the oceans ... even with Viking (our only other ocean experience was with NCL many years ago).  We loved our ocean cruise with Viking and quickly booked another, and another, and another.  We went back to the rivers after three oceans and still loved it!  Peregrina is right ... the river is the river and the ocean is the ocean. 

 

We love the intimacy of the rivers and being able to have sights to see onshore during almost every moment of sailing.  We love being able to walk off the ship and into town at almost every port and actually enjoy the long leisurely dinners chatting with new friends in the evenings. 

 

We love the luxury of the ocean ships and  the multitude of nooks and crannies throughout the ship that are perfect places to spend an hour or so with a good book.  We enjoy having a spa for the occasional indulgence and we love the variety of dining options and evening entertainment. 

 

Would happily spend any vacation on either Viking venue!  Apples and oranges ... both delicious!

[lackcreativity]

42 minutes ago, zitsky said:

lackcreativity do you mean 15 FOOT seas? 15 inch seas would be a problem on river.  I assume you're referring to an ocean cruise?

 

You must be the only people who like bus trips.

Oops, that was an obvious typo. It was an ocean cruise with 15 foot seas, and while we luckily didn't get seasick, others did. It was also very loud, with creaking and clanging which made it hard to sleep. We liked the cruise, but would like not to repeat that again.

 

 I recognize I am in the minority on the bus trip topic, but I honestly never understood the aversion to them. We were not the only people on the bus during our five escorted land tours, so there are others like us! At first we were too timid to try touring Europe on our own, and then once we would have gone on our own, we liked the convenience of someone doing all the work and the companionship of the group. We have gotten away from them as we got older since they are physically more tiring than a cruise, but we like spending the night in the places we visit, eating all meals there,  and having more time to explore on our own.

[zitsky]

I manage projects all day.  I do a lot of planning for our trips.  But I like cruises because someone else is doing a lot of the work.

[lackcreativity]

Molymoo,

I must have been suffering some weird mid-winter funk to have been concerned about going back to a river cruise. Thanks for helping me to remember more of the great things about Viking river.

Edited January 28, 2019 by lackcreativity

[Cyber Kat]

26 minutes ago, lackcreativity said:

Oops, that was an obvious typo. It was an ocean cruise with 15 foot seas, and while we luckily didn't get seasick, others did. It was also very loud, with creaking and clanging which made it hard to sleep. We liked the cruise, but would like not to repeat that again.

 

 I recognize I am in the minority on the bus trip topic, but I honestly never understood the aversion to them. We were not the only people on the bus during our five escorted land tours, so there are others like us! At first we were too timid to try touring Europe on our own, and then once we would have gone on our own, we liked the convenience of someone doing all the work and the companionship of the group. We have gotten away from them as we got older since they are physically more tiring than a cruise, but we like spending the night in the places we visit, eating all meals there,  and having more time to explore on our own.

I don't mind the bus trips either - it's just another form of travel.    The Viking buses have always been comfortable and I find it relaxing just gazing out the window.

We were ocean cruisers, then we took our first river cruise - Rhine Getaway and loved it!  Last spring we did Viking Ocean and loved it.  Went back to Viking River in the fall because we wanted to do the Grand European.  Loved it despite the ship swap!  Now we have 2 Viking Ocean cruises booked and are looking at a couple of river itineraries.

We can go back and forth.  It's all travel - it's just the mode of transportation that's different.

 

[philw1776]

Done river, then ocean, then river, then ocean, etc.
Different animals, each with their better points.  A constant is smooth efficient Viking operation and good friendly service.

If someone went to Ocean because of entertainment or strong desire for dining variety, return to river might be disappointing. 

The biggest things I miss about Ocean when on river is the varied dining venues, tables for two and the experience of being alone in the Explorer Lounge.
What I miss about River when on ocean is the easier spur of the moment walking off and exploring at many river stops, the communal dining (I know I'm contradicting myself above) and the feeling that everyone aboard is familiar.

It's the destinations that drive our cruise selection.  Addicted to both styles.

Edited January 28, 2019 by philw1776

[lackcreativity]

We didn't try the first ocean cruise to seek out the entertainment or dining variety, but because of an itinerary that really appealed to us. In fact, on our first ocean cruise we didn't even go to any of the shows, only some of the enrichment lectures. Our second trip had several sea days, and so we went to one of the nightly shows and were surprised how much we enjoyed that too. 

 

We were very pleased with the meals on the river cruise, but we have been amazed by the options on Viking ocean.  At least it will be easier to plan on the river: breakfast in the Restaurant, lunch on the Aquavit Terrace, and then dinner back at the Restaurant. It does sound quite appealing!

Edited January 28, 2019 by lackcreativity

[moatenote]

We started our cruising life with 3 river cruises--none of which were Viking (AMA for Danube and Douro, Scenic for Rhone).  But then we discovered VO and I'm sold!!  The food is a real biggie for me and I like the smaller tables for dining.  The big positives for river cruising for me were: the almost constant scenery along the way, and the ability to walk off the ship and be very close to the port action.  The negatives were:  as river cruising has become more popular, the frequency of "rafting" has increased exponentially (did not really like being docked and looking into someone else's cabin only a few feet away);  the great unknown-the water level of the rivers!  Will it be too low or too high or just right?  And the thought of being bused to various ports due to high or low water levels was very unappealing.

Viking Ocean is perfect for me and I'd love to live on the ship (if I could win the lottery or someone else would pay for it).  We've done 3 VO cruises (Homelands, Empires of Mediterranean, and Eastern Seaboard).  British Isles is in July and we're booked for New Zealand/Australia for March 2020 but seriously thinking about changing this one to a different cruise, if I can find one we want to do and it's available.

[sammiedawg]

Highly doubt I could do another VR.  There would  have to be a compelling reason.  The food was not very good, save for the German roast beef.   Food choices were too limited and the always available meats (chicken and a cheap steak) had a freezer to microwave texture, especially the chicken.  

Also river cruises are too regimented.  

We loved the Grand European itinerary and saw interior sites we would never see otherwise.  A European river cruise is a great one time trip.   

[CharTrav]

7 hours ago, lackcreativity said:

We didn't try the first ocean cruise to seek out the entertainment or dining variety, but because of an itinerary that really appealed to us. In fact, on our first ocean cruise we didn't even go to any of the shows, only some of the enrichment lectures. Our second trip had several sea days, and so we went to one of the nightly shows and were surprised how much we enjoyed that too. 

 

We were very pleased with the meals on the river cruise, but we have been amazed by the options on Viking ocean.  At least it will be easier to plan on the river: breakfast in the Restaurant, lunch on the Aquavit Terrace, and then dinner back at the Restaurant. It does sound quite appealing!

Your note reminded me of another improvement VR has done:  you don't have to eat in the Restaurant to get the full multi-course dinner. The Aqavit Terrace and Restaurant offer the same dinner menu. So if the weather is really nice you can have a very nice dinner outside on the Terrace. We loved it last Summer. Even when they do the special dinner evenings, both venues serve the same and if there's extra entertainment (wandering guitarist etc) they're not limited to the Restaurant. 

Edited January 29, 2019 by CharTrav

[CharTrav]

6 hours ago, sammiedawg said:

Highly doubt I could do another VR.  There would  have to be a compelling reason.  The food was not very good, save for the German roast beef.   Food choices were too limited and the always available meats (chicken and a cheap steak) had a freezer to microwave texture, especially the chicken.  

Also river cruises are too regimented.  

We loved the Grand European itinerary and saw interior sites we would never see otherwise.  A European river cruise is a great one time trip.   

Sorry to read about your bad food experience. We certainly didn't encounter that last Summer on France's Finest. 

[lackcreativity]

8 hours ago, CharTrav said:

Your note reminded me of another improvement VR has done:  you don't have to eat in the Restaurant to get the full multi-course dinner. The Aqavit Terrace and Restaurant offer the same dinner menu. So if the weather is really nice you can have a very nice dinner outside on the Terrace. We loved it last Summer. Even when they do the special dinner evenings, both venues serve the same and if there's extra entertainment (wandering guitarist etc) they're not limited to the Restaurant. 

Thanks for letting me know about that change. However, we are travelling in early April, and suspect it may be too chilly in the evenings to eat outside. I am hoping perhaps some lunches may be warm enough, because it is lovely to eat there.

[zitsky]

I had two river cruises, one ocean coming in late September.  Food was good on both.  Looking forward to more choices on ocean.

[Respbj]

We have done four VR and two VO and are looking forward to getting back on the river with Frances Finest in July. We like the smaller group of people and you can really get to know the crew.  We have friends from N C and UK that we met six years ago on the Rhine and we vacation with them and became fast friends.  I think sitting in the lounge and getting to know fellow cruisers in one advantage the river cruise has over the ocean. We are booked for Empires of the Mediterranean for April twenty twenty so I can't say I don't like the VO they are just different types of cruises. Enjoy each for their differences.

[SM77]

On 1/29/2019 at 10:53 AM, Respbj said:

We have done four VR and two VO and are looking forward to getting back on the river with Frances Finest in July. We like the smaller group of people and you can really get to know the crew.  We have friends from N C and UK that we met six years ago on the Rhine and we vacation with them and became fast friends.  I think sitting in the lounge and getting to know fellow cruisers in one advantage the river cruise has over the ocean. We are booked for Empires of the Mediterranean for April twenty twenty so I can't say I don't like the VO they are just different types of cruises. Enjoy each for their differences.

Respbj,

 

You will love France's Finest - Viking makes it so easy for its passengers to transfer from one river to another and each river cruise has so much to see.  As others have said, they are two different type of cruises.  We are about to embark for Auckland to Bali on the Orion and then next Spring we will be making our own back-to-back river cruises - sailing the Elbe from Berlin to Prague, staying an extra night in Prague & then getting on the Cities of Lights - Prague to Paris.  We just enjoy each type for what each can offer.  

[VolTravler]

We've done a number of VR cruises, including France's Finest (oh my, they do such a nice job getting from one ship to the other - a whole 'nother adventure), and are booked for our second VO in September, this time a TATL the Wake of the Vikings.  The VR cruises offer a much better chance for a social interaction with other passengers, whether in the briefings or in the dining room.  We found ourselves in similar company on each excursion, and that is just fine!  (Finest....) . But the luxury of the VO experience is just special to us - so different from the more big-box cruises.  And social interaction is so personal (looks funny) - it just works either way.  I'd do one every year and switch them up if I had unlimited funds (wait.... I don't ).  The Viking folk have been so supportive to us through each cruise, I sing their praises regularly.  

 

Peace!

[lackcreativity]

1 hour ago, Crisismon said:

We've done a number of VR cruises, including France's Finest (oh my, they do such a nice job getting from one ship to the other - a whole 'nother adventure), and are booked for our second VO in September, this time a TATL the Wake of the Vikings.  The VR cruises offer a much better chance for a social interaction with other passengers, whether in the briefings or in the dining room.  We found ourselves in similar company on each excursion, and that is just fine!  (Finest....) . But the luxury of the VO experience is just special to us - so different from the more big-box cruises.  And social interaction is so personal (looks funny) - it just works either way.  I'd do one every year and switch them up if I had unlimited funds (wait.... I don't ).  The Viking folk have been so supportive to us through each cruise, I sing their praises regularly.  

 

Peace!

Even on the larger ocean cruise, we have had good luck in making new friends. After meeting one couple on a shore excursion, we planned to have dinner together that night, and then several other times as well. In fact, it surprises me that we would run into them often on the ship even when we hadn't made plans to do so. For such a large ship (compared to the river ships), it can still feel like a small community by the end of the trip.