Considering Viking - Questions

[Cyber Kat]

2 hours ago, Emma said:

We are on the Viking Sky now, someone told us there was a new chef on board, it is our first Viking cruise and I can tell you I had one of the best meals I have ever had at Manfredi ‘s this week. 

That’s good to hear as our next 2 cruises will be on the Sky.  Our last cruise on the Sea, had most excellent food!  The Chef was excellent!  He even did a Bobby Flay style Throw Down with the Head of the Restaurants - a cook off.  It was fun.  The Chef won but it was close.

 

BTW these are the kinds of things you will find planned for sea days.

[Cyber Kat]

Regarding cabin choice... For our first Viking Ocean, we booked a DV4, but we got offered an upgrade to a PV1 for $200pp and we took it.  Big mistake because we LOVE the PV1 and have been booking them for subsequent cruises.

 

 We are planning a cruise for spring 2021, and we were looking for something on the East coast to save on airfare.  Viking didn’t have anything for April or May, so I was looking at other lines that have small ships.  I wasn’t finding anything exciting, until I also looked in March.  I found a Viking Southern Caribbean.  No new ports, which I’d hoped for, but when I mentioned it, my husband said, “but it’s Viking!”

 

 I reminded him that he didn’t want to cruise in March because the last time we did, we had an issue with a late season snowstorm.  He said, “But it’s Viking!”

 

We decided we would wait to book because January has been an expensive month and because there seemed to be plenty of cabins (I don’t think the Caribbean sells out as well), but then serendipity!  I got an email about discounts for people with a Viking cruise booked (we have 2!).  It was extra money off (up to $2000) depending on the number of days, plus you still get the January deal of 2 for 1 deposit, free air and final payment at 6 months.

 

 We took another look and decided to price out a DV to get it under our lower spring budget.  Our TA called back with the price on a DV1 and it’s the aft facing cabin I wanted.  Serendipity again - all the stars are aligned.  We have a hold until the 29th, but I think we are booking - how can we not! 😁

 

Anyway the point of all of this is that we have become used to the benefit of getting excursions and specialty restaurants early.  Now we will be scrambling, but it’s the Caribbean and if we get them, great.  If not there’s no real “must sees” so I’m not concerned.  These are ports we’ve been to before, so we could just stay on the ship or go to a beach on our own.  
 

For our Trade Routes cruise in the fall, I’m glad I have the PV, because there are excursions I most definitely want to do.  
 

I think these are the things you need to weigh when making a decision.  Are there must have Viking excursions or can you wing it!  And of course - what will fit in your budget.

 

[Peregrina651]

35 minutes ago, Cyber Kat said:

Anyway the point of all of this is that we have become used to the benefit of getting excursions and specialty restaurants early.  Now we will be scrambling, but it’s the Caribbean and if we get them, great.  If not there’s no real “must sees” so I’m not concerned.  These are ports we’ve been to before, so we could just stay on the ship or go to a beach on our own.  

 

There are sometimes when all you are looking for is to just get away from it all -- and its Viking.

 

The last two Januaries, I have booked us on one week "get-away" cruises in the Med and both times I booked Veranda Guarantee -- the first time because I booked at the beginning of December departing 4 weeks later and that was all they had and the second time by choice. The second time,  I managed the timing better and ended up saving almost 25% on the cabin. I would not do this on our longer cruises but for a week I can put up with any cabin. In fact, on both cruises we ended up in the same category, same deck I would have chosen for a longer cruise.

 

Also, no trouble finding seats on any of the tours we wanted to take on either trip.

 

Edited January 27, 2020 by Peregrina651

[OnTheJourney]

3 hours ago, Peregrina651 said:

 

There are sometimes when all you are looking for is to just get away from it all -- and its Viking.

 

 

 

Of course, some people might say the exact same thing about RCCL, or Celebrity, etc. or cruising in general. While we only have had one experience with Viking (and it was sure a doozy near the end there), we truly did enjoy it alot and are looking forward to the next Viking adventure. I would like to have the level of confidence and assuredness that your posts reflect, although I admittedly will feel more comfortable with using Viking for future travel once we do a cruise with them that actually completes an itinerary and all goes smoothly. I hope my thoughts are reasonable or at least understandable? 

Edited January 27, 2020 by OnTheJourney

[OnTheJourney]

3 hours ago, Cyber Kat said:

 

 

 I reminded him that he didn’t want to cruise in March because the last time we did, we had an issue with a late season snowstorm.  He said, “But it’s Viking!”

 

 

 

 

 

Ours was in March also, on the Sky in Norway, and....well...you know what happened to that one. Granted it was an extraordinary set of circumstances, but until a few months go by without hearing any sort of reports of accidents, I won't rest easy until we board another Viking ship and successfully complete a journey free of any significant issues. It'll be interesting to see how we react once we board the Venus next year. A little unsettling being in the same room we had on the Sky but...see how it goes. 

Edited January 27, 2020 by OnTheJourney

[CCWineLover]

5 minutes ago, OnTheJourney said:

 

Ours was in March also, on the Sky in Norway, and....well...you know what happened to that one. Granted it was an extraordinary set of circumstances, but until a few months go by without hearing any sort of reports of accidents, I won't rest easy until we board another Viking ship and successfully complete a journey free of any significant issues. It'll be interesting to see how we react once we board the Venus next year. A little unsettling being in the same room we had on the Sky but...see how it goes. 

We'll certainly hope that your Venus Cruise goes extremely well.  Wishing you the best.  Hopefully it will and then you can begin to put that other cruise behind you.  I would imagine that in March the anniversary will be difficult, so hoping you can get through it.

[OnTheJourney]

Thanks for your kind words! I am looking forward to the Venus - never been on a new ship before. 

[Cyber Kat]

5 hours ago, OnTheJourney said:

 

Ours was in March also, on the Sky in Norway, and....well...you know what happened to that one. Granted it was an extraordinary set of circumstances, but until a few months go by without hearing any sort of reports of accidents, I won't rest easy until we board another Viking ship and successfully complete a journey free of any significant issues. It'll be interesting to see how we react once we board the Venus next year. A little unsettling being in the same room we had on the Sky but...see how it goes. 

Oh I can absolutely understand your trepidation!  I can tell you that both of our Viking Ocean cruises were wonderful and uneventful in comparison (for sure).

 

This cruise is in the Caribbean and it’s a bit early for hurricanes ::knock wood::  So I don’t think we will repeat your cruise ending.  Although after watching hurricanes hit the British Isles last fall, I’m a bit concerned about our Trade Routes cruise from Bergen to Barcelona crossing the North Sea and the Bay of Biscay!

 

Wishing you fair winds and calm seas!

[Peregrina651]

6 minutes ago, Cyber Kat said:

I’m a bit concerned about our Trade Routes cruise from Bergen to Barcelona crossing the North Sea and the Bay of Biscay!

 

We did the Barcelona to London repositioning just a few weeks ago and it wasn't bad it wasn't glassy seas but we could walk without holding on --and we did not miss a single port. Had we gone two weeks early, with the storms that closed the Douro River, it could have been dreadful.

[Cyber Kat]

48 minutes ago, Peregrina651 said:

 

We did the Barcelona to London repositioning just a few weeks ago and it wasn't bad it wasn't glassy seas but we could walk without holding on --and we did not miss a single port. Had we gone two weeks early, with the storms that closed the Douro River, it could have been dreadful.

Wow!

 

I’m burning sage, crossing my fingers anything I can think of for good weather.  I can deal with some rough seas but I’m really hoping for Falmouth and I know that’s a tricky port.

[Liz Masterson]

I am taking my first Viking Cruise in June. I have only taken one other cruise to Alaska on Princess. (Which I did enjoy, but avoided the photographers, and casino and had no need for the kid's club.)

 

I recently saw this video on a cruise director's Instagram. (To the tune of Madonna's "Like a Virgin" song.)

 

I am fairly confident I will not find this kind of thing on a Viking Cruise. Even the silly but fun "above the Artic Circle ceremony" looks less raucous.

 

Now if this is your thing please take no offense! I say to each his own and I hope you have a blast!

 

I prefer some nice music, a glass of wine and good conversation with old and new friends.

 

Edited January 29, 2020 by Liz Masterson

[Peregrina651]

ROTFLMAO!!!

 

And that is just one of the reasons we prefer Viking.

[DaveSJ711]

Out of curiosity, Liz, can you identify the cruise line that put on this "entertainment"?  I want to make sure that I never, ever travel with this company.

[Liz Masterson]

I can not be certain... so I shall not name the line.  And I'm sure there were quieter areas of the ship.

[CCWineLover]

3 hours ago, Peregrina651 said:

ROTFLMAO!!!

 

And that is just one of the reasons we prefer Viking.

We too!   In reality it is good that there are other cruise lines different from Viking to provide for their needs and wants.   And those that like what Viking provides will keep coming back.  There's something for everyone that way!

[chrisbu315]

5.  The spa treatments and thermal suite are fantastic.  I had four treatments on my last cruise and all were excellent.  No time wasted trying to sell me products and check-in was four questions answered on a tablet.  You only did this for your first treatment - not repeated for future treatments.  The thermal suite had a great variety of pools, showers, hot and cold rooms.  There was no charge and it was uncrowded.

 

If you are a seafood lover, the buffet had king crab legs, shrimp, and sushi everyday.  Many passengers would start their dinner with a seafood course in the buffet before going to dinner in one of the formal restaurants.

[Peregrina651]

7 hours ago, chrisbu315 said:

If you are a seafood lover, the buffet had king crab legs, shrimp, and sushi everyday.  Many passengers would start their dinner with a seafood course in the buffet before going to dinner in one of the formal restaurants.

 

 

YUP!!! Appetizers at 6pm, dinner at 7.

[CCWineLover]

8 hours ago, chrisbu315 said:

If you are a seafood lover, the buffet had king crab legs, shrimp, and sushi everyday.  Many passengers would start their dinner with a seafood course in the buffet before going to dinner in one of the formal restaurants.

 

Yes - the seafood was spectacular!

 

We had a habit also of doing 6 pm appetizers in the World Cafe, with wine of course.  Sushi and shrimp.  This particular SA cruise on Jupiter had the best Sushi chef we've had on many Viking Cruises!

 

Then we'd take a break and go back for dinner later on at any of the venues!!

A wonderful way to enjoy all the great food on Viking in the evening!!!  And yes, seafood lovers can rejoice.

[haydn12]

The sushi was amazing on Jupiter.  I had it every night we ate there.

 

Jim

[Insanityx4]

Getting back to the question of age. We are in our 70's and have been on 5 Viking cruises and are leaving in a few days for another. We have had several younger passengers on our cruises, but Ihe average age is probably 60-65. We have seen the younger passengers have just as much fun as us old folks and fit right in.

I would say in general Viking passengers are a different type of crowd than many of the other lines, and we have sailed on a lot of them. They are well educated, well versed, well traveled, don't need to be entertained, avid readers, and in general fairly well off, but definitely not in a snobbish way. Upscale and classy would probably be the best description. And a very diverse group from all over the world.

As far as skipped ports go, we have had to skip a few on occasion, especially tender ports in rough weather. Viking has always compensated with future cruise credits.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 5, 2020 by Insanityx4

[Heidi13]

58 minutes ago, Insanityx4 said:

Getting back to the question of age. We are in our 70's and have been on 5 Viking cruises and are leaving in a few days for another. We have had several younger passengers on our cruises, but Ihe average age is probably 60-65. We have seen the younger passengers have just as much fun as us old folks and fit right in.

I would say in general Viking passengers are a different type of crowd than many of the other lines, and we have sailed on a lot of them. They are well educated, well versed, well traveled, don't need to be entertained, avid readers, and in general fairly well off, but definitely not in a snobbish way. Upscale and classy would probably be the best description. And a very diverse group from all over the world.

As far as skipped ports go, we have had to skip a few on occasion, especially tender ports in rough weather. Viking has always compensated with future cruise credits.

Although this is only our first Viking cruise, it is a World Cruise, with longer cruises tending to favour an older demographic. I agree completely with your description of the average Viking passenger, especially those currently aboard Viking Sun.

 

With respect to ages, we currently have everything from 18 to 80's, with a couple of 18 year olds, some 20's, 30's, 40's, etc.

[Clay Clayton]

Wow-how do the youngsters afford it and being away from work-all trust fund babies?😂

[Heidi13]

Clay - the 2 youngsters are travelling with a parent, so probably not paying for the cruise. We also have a couple of other younger pax in 20's/30's travelling with a parent/grandparent.

[Clay Clayton]

I meant all of them-they are all youngsters to me! 😢

[philw1776]

Booking Viking Ocean in late summer 2023 when both granddaughters are old enough to  cruise on Viking again for another 3 generations cruise.  They loved their Paris to Normandy river cruise last July as reservations were made before raising ages.  Our daughter their Mom loved Viking so much she won't consider other lines sooner although I've been happy with Silversea as a 2nd choice.