Jump to content

Are Viking Ocean cruises fun?


Jchivers
 Share

Recommended Posts

When I go on holiday I don't want to be with people all the time, I like quiet which is why I won't do a river cruise.  Currently on the Orion and don't spend  time streaming movies in the cabin.  You can always find someone to talk to, especially at the bar in the Explorers Lounge, you might have to make an effort but we have found most people happy to talk.  Don't need organised events to do this!

Edited by Hockeyump
.
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 5 weeks later...
On 3/20/2019 at 5:23 PM, zitsky said:

The only negative I have read (correct me if I'm wrong) is that people use the Infinity Pool as another hot tub instead of actually swimming in it.


As Jim said, it's rather small for swimming.  Two strokes would get you from one end to the other.  Also it's too deep to stand in, so you have to sit on the edge or tread water or hold on to the infinity edge - which most were doing when we did our cruise.

You also want to be careful about that infinity edge - it's a fishbowl when you are in port!

IMG_0239.JPG

P1000898.JPG

P1030453.JPG

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 3/25/2019 at 6:53 PM, CharTrav said:

theoretically -- yes -- but it never seems like that's the case.. but wouldn't you have the same problem in the spa? in any case, if you do a little 360 tour of the area, you'll notice that there are oodles of places to park yourself -- in the wintergarden itself (if you don't like being in the direct sun), on the lounge chairs out by the pool itself, etc. Also .. up on deck 8 .  outside there are a number of "conversation corners" -- couches etc. plus lounge chairs.  Next cruise (next year) I'll make sure to take a picture of that area .. 


Here you go!

P1000892.JPG

IMG_1177(1).JPG

IMG_1179(1).JPG

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This has been a fun thread but the OP asked "Are Viking Cruises Fun?"  Let me say NO! They are not.  Too many people want to take them..  We will never get any price cuts this way.  And we are taking our second Viking World Cruise because we just don't know any better..😳

  • Like 3
  • Thanks 1
  • Haha 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

10 hours ago, Jim Avery said:

This has been a fun thread but the OP asked "Are Viking Cruises Fun?"  Let me say NO! They are not.  Too many people want to take them..  We will never get any price cuts this way.  And we are taking our second Viking World Cruise because we just don't know any better..😳

😄🤪

  • Haha 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 4/29/2019 at 3:07 PM, Jim Avery said:

This has been a fun thread but the OP asked "Are Viking Cruises Fun?"  Let me say NO! They are not.  Too many people want to take them..  We will never get any price cuts this way.  And we are taking our second Viking World Cruise because we just don't know any better..😳

I couldn't agree more!  Just a miserable experience with substandard cabins, lousy decor, terrible amenities, awful food, uncaring staff and inconsiderate passengers.  I would urge folks to stay away.  But just to confirm those views, we'll be taking our sixth VO cruise in January . . . 😉

  • Like 2
  • Haha 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 4/29/2019 at 3:07 PM, Jim Avery said:

This has been a fun thread but the OP asked "Are Viking Cruises Fun?"  Let me say NO! They are not.  Too many people want to take them..  We will never get any price cuts this way.  And we are taking our second Viking World Cruise because we just don't know any better..😳

 

Was looking at a Viking Nile cruise.  Sold out for all of 2020.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 3/19/2019 at 7:08 PM, CCWineLover said:

This list came from a poster in a Viking Forum and I'm sorry I don't remember who to credit, but it was so appropriate.  Hoping this gives you more insight. 

WHY TRY VIKING OCEAN CRUISES:

 

The list is a composite of answers in response to the OP's question, "Tell Me Why...I should try Viking Oceans." (The thread is called Tell Me Why).  

 

A lot of people answered and eventually the answers were redacted into one list (with no names). Viking eventual adopted and adapted the list for its advertising. 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 hours ago, Itisi said:

I have not taken a cruise.  Spa sounds nice.  Does Viking have Zumba on sea days?   I would like to have some fitness exercise on a cruise.  Is there a fitness coach?  How well equipped is the fitness center?  Is Viking suitable for “30 somethings”?

Thanks.

As I noted, we still await our first Viking cruise, but can provide some answers based on research.

 

Fitness Centre - looks reasonable for a smaller ship, suggest checking it out on Viking's website with the 360 degree ship's view on Deck # 1.

 

Zumba - don't recall hearing of Zumba classes. If you conduct a search another poster uploaded the Viking daily for an entire cruise

 

Fitness - in addition to the Fitness Centre, you can walk/jog around the Prom Deck

 

Fitness Coach - recall reading of some classes, but don't believe they have a fitness coach similar to mainstream Lines.

 

Suitable for 30 somethings - tough to answer, best to read the thread outlining why we like Viking and not mainstream lines and decide if it works for you.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We were on the Empires cruise a couple of years ago on Viking Sea.  We loved every minute but we had very full time with a port every day and dancing most evenings.

 

We are now booked on the Southern Atlantic Crossing in November with fewer ports and I must admit that I am a little concerned whether we may find it a bit ‘slow’.  I am hoping that there is some sort of Aquafit or Zumba.  I am also a keen bridge player so hoping something structured is set up.  I have been encouraged by other posts about Transatlantic cruises having brunches etc.

 

 I am sure Viking is aware of the need to fill all those sea days for passengers without the need for casinos or tacky entertainment.  We certainly had fun on our last Viking cruise.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Can't stand being organised by others, and prefer to do what we want when we want.

 

Whether or not a cruise is 'fun' depends on your own personal definition of the word.

 

We searched for quite some time for a cruise experience where we could eat when we wanted (within reason), have space and time for ourselves, and have public areas which weren't crowded.

 

If we want an activity there's a choice of stuff to do.  Suits us.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

7 hours ago, Heidi13 said:

As I noted, we still await our first Viking cruise, but can provide some answers based on research.

 

Fitness Centre - looks reasonable for a smaller ship, suggest checking it out on Viking's website with the 360 degree ship's view on Deck # 1.

 

Zumba - don't recall hearing of Zumba classes. If you conduct a search another poster uploaded the Viking daily for an entire cruise

 

Fitness - in addition to the Fitness Centre, you can walk/jog around the Prom Deck

 

Fitness Coach - recall reading of some classes, but don't believe they have a fitness coach similar to mainstream Lines.

 

Suitable for 30 somethings - tough to answer, best to read the thread outlining why we like Viking and not mainstream lines and decide if it works for you.

 

I see 3-4 treadmills and 2-3 ellipticals.  Plus weight machines.  The equipment looks old though like it's been there since the ship was built, with no updates. We are 50 somethings and we like to exercise.

 

I am not sure how useful the running track is, won't you get a lot of people walking and blocking both sides?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, Parsley Cruises said:

Can't stand being organised by others, and prefer to do what we want when we want.

 

Whether or not a cruise is 'fun' depends on your own personal definition of the word.

 

We searched for quite some time for a cruise experience where we could eat when we wanted (within reason), have space and time for ourselves, and have public areas which weren't crowded.

 

If we want an activity there's a choice of stuff to do.  Suits us.

 

We couldn't agree more!  We are currently on the Jupiter (our 3rd VOC) and the many sea days, we are thoroughly enjoying it!  Who said Viking has no sea days?   We actually love the interspersing of sea days - and a change to really relax during the day, going with the flow.  There is plenty to do in our opinion!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, Parsley Cruises said:

Can't stand being organised by others, and prefer to do what we want when we want.

 

Whether or not a cruise is 'fun' depends on your own personal definition of the word.

 

We searched for quite some time for a cruise experience where we could eat when we wanted (within reason), have space and time for ourselves, and have public areas which weren't crowded.

 

If we want an activity there's a choice of stuff to do.  Suits us.

 

If you don't like to be managed, why do a cruise at all?  Just book a hotel and a flight somewhere.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, zitsky said:

 

If you don't like to be managed, why do a cruise at all?  Just book a hotel and a flight somewhere.

Why do a cruises

 

1 hour ago, zitsky said:

 

If you don't like to be managed, why do a cruise at all?  Just book a hotel and a flight somewhere.

Simples - we board the ship and have our cruise exactly as we want it.  We get away from what we call everyday life, we eat more or less what we want when we want.  We prefer not to do shows or activities, we don’t like disco dancing or bars, and none too fond of noisy restaurants.  We can relax and enjoy the seascape, do our own thing, and have a nice run in a different place every day if we so wish. 

 

When we board a ship as we’ve paid for our cruise it is our responsibility to ensure that the cruise is as much what we want as possible.

 

As we don’t work we can pop onto an aircraft and do the land based thing when an area interests us sufficiently.  Hope that answers your question .

 

 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites



 
I see 3-4 treadmills and 2-3 ellipticals.  Plus weight machines.  The equipment looks old though like it's been there since the ship was built, with no updates.


Old?
The oldest of the Viking ships is less than five years old! Of course it's been there since the ship was built. Do you expect them to replace the exercise equipment annually?

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

33 minutes ago, just_dont said:


Old?
The oldest of the Viking ships is less than five years old! Of course it's been there since the ship was built. Do you expect them to replace the exercise equipment annually?

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk
 

 

 

Yes old.

 

It is hard to tell from a video but the ellipticals look like they are an older model that I see in some gyms.  Newer models might have a built in TV or small display to let you pick different workouts.  "Older" machines just have the basics.

 

We assume that since the ship is 5 years old that the exercise equipment is also the same age.  But they could have picked a model that was "new" at the time but is still an older model with fewer features.

Edited by zitsky
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, zitsky said:

 

Yes old.

 

It is hard to tell from a video but the ellipticals look like they are an older model that I see in some gyms.  Newer models might have a built in TV or small display to let you pick different workouts.  "Older" machines just have the basics.

 

We assume that since the ship is 5 years old that the exercise equipment is also the same age.  But they could have picked a model that was "new" at the time but is still an older model with fewer features.

 

Bring on the violins. The same man who chose to have just four buttons on the TV remote is choosing the exercise equipment for the ships. Just because it doesn't have all the bells and whistles does not mean that the machinery is old or bad or that you won't get a good workout while using it. 

  • Like 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
 Share

  • Forum Jump
    • Categories
      • Welcome to Cruise Critic
      • New Cruisers
      • Cruise Lines “A – O”
      • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
      • River Cruising
      • ROLL CALLS
      • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
      • Special Interest Cruising
      • Cruise Discussion Topics
      • UK Cruising
      • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
      • Canadian Cruisers
      • North American Homeports
      • Ports of Call
      • Cruise Conversations
×
×
  • Create New...