Viking 2023 World Cruise

[Heidi13]

Viking published their 2023 WC yesterday, so we jumped aboard for WC # 3. After the curtailed version in 2020, we hope for smooth sailing. Only 759 days to go.

 

Anyone else considering a '23 WC, or have already booked.

[Wendy The Wanderer]

Wow, good for you guys!  We're considering a segment perhaps, maybe 2022.  But your cruise looks very exciting!

 

How small was the deposit, if I may ask (in general terms), and did you have to pay the insurance up front?

 

Oh, and what kind of cabin did you choose?  I'm so jealous.

[Heidi13]

16 hours ago, Wendy The Wanderer said:

Wow, good for you guys!  We're considering a segment perhaps, maybe 2022.  But your cruise looks very exciting!

 

How small was the deposit, if I may ask (in general terms), and did you have to pay the insurance up front?

 

Oh, and what kind of cabin did you choose?  I'm so jealous.

 

Hi Wendy - We booked the same cabin as last time, a DV4, which is midships on Dk 4.

 

The deposit is currently 10% of the balance, after they apply all discounts and any FCV. Last time the deposit was $20K, this time it was about $8.5K. Affirmative, you pay the insurance up front, but again that is based on the fare less discounts and FCV. It was 6% of the balance. By applying our FCV, we saved about $3K on the insurance costs.

 

Only been published for 2 days, but already selling well. Only 1 suite left and only 3 of the cheapest cabins left.

[tgetz]

Heidi we just put money down on the Viking 2023 world. We have done a world cruise on Holland and sailed on multiple lines but never Viking. I like to gamble so had not looked at Viking before. It will probably be good to not have a casino for that long trip, however. 🙂  Have you ever sailed on Holland and could you compare the two? I could compare Holland to Crystal or Celerity but not Viking.  We love bridge and understand there will be an instructor and organized bridge on a world voyage. What about various theme nights or special chef or wine dinners?  What else is special on Viking for a world cruise?
Holland did pillow gifts, and special dinners and buffets and had the best crew. We were always spoiled by the concierge in the Neptune lounge. However, the older ships do not have laundries on them anymore and they only have one sink in a small bath and i like the shower and bath on Viking much better. What about the crew. Holland is known for them always smiling crew. Where is most of Vikings crew from? I know the ships are very highly rated and i am looking forward to doing a world cruise on Viking. Thanks in advance for any insight you can provide. Does Viking do cruise critic meetings on board?

[Heidi13]

11 hours ago, tgetz said:

Heidi we just put money down on the Viking 2023 world. We have done a world cruise on Holland and sailed on multiple lines but never Viking. I like to gamble so had not looked at Viking before. It will probably be good to not have a casino for that long trip, however. 🙂  Have you ever sailed on Holland and could you compare the two? I could compare Holland to Crystal or Celerity but not Viking.  We love bridge and understand there will be an instructor and organized bridge on a world voyage. What about various theme nights or special chef or wine dinners?  What else is special on Viking for a world cruise?
Holland did pillow gifts, and special dinners and buffets and had the best crew. We were always spoiled by the concierge in the Neptune lounge. However, the older ships do not have laundries on them anymore and they only have one sink in a small bath and i like the shower and bath on Viking much better. What about the crew. Holland is known for them always smiling crew. Where is most of Vikings crew from? I know the ships are very highly rated and i am looking forward to doing a world cruise on Viking. Thanks in advance for any insight you can provide. Does Viking do cruise critic meetings on board?

 

Hi tgetz,

 

I worked for Princess & cruised with them for 35 yrs, but have only been on HAL ships when alongside in Vancouver. Never actually sailed with them.

 

We did complete the 2020 WC on Viking Sun and I completed a daily blog post about life aboard - check out www.andyandjudi.com To try and answer some of your questions:

• Affirmative on a Bridge Instructor, who schedules games every sea day for multiple skill levels
• Theme nights - lots of them, in a number of ports they bring on local performers and others the crew host theme nights - Bali, Filipino, etc
• Meals - MDR frequently has a destination menu, as an addendum to the regular menu. They had special breakfasts and/or lunches in the World Cafe or Pool Deck. Had a couple of Tomahawk Steak nights, brunches and in Dubai, an amazing Farewell Luncheon where the remaining pax were joined by the Captain and Officers.
• Alternative restaurants are free and we never had a problem getting reservations. Never book in advance, so we would check the telly in the cabin and pick a time. Might not get our preferred time, but never failed to get in any night. Most night you can just walk up and they fit you in.
• Cabin service - is available 24/7 and is complimentary. One night they made us T-Bone steaks and delivered them to the cabin
• Private rooms - each alternative restaurant has a private room that seats up to 14, although we prefer a max of 12. Great for games nights, birthdays, etc.
• Wine dinners - the Chef's Table has a 5-course menu that changes every 2 nights. Different wines are paired with each course.
• Pillow gifts - Princess did evening chocolates, not not Viking. However, if you want snacks, they are in the fridge and are replaced daily. No charge.
• Drinks in the fridge are also replaced daily, again no charge. Before we boarded, the World Cruise desk called for our preferences, so we had full bottles of Grand Marnier & Rum delivered. Again no charge.
• Crew - the Viking crew have vastly superior terms & conditions compared to the Carnival brands, so they are amazing. Best I have every sailed with in 40 + yrs at sea. Viking have a 96 or 97% crew retention rate.
• Viking have no concierge or butlers. Once aboard everyone is treated equally, no different coloured cards, or special lounges
• Bathrooms - with heated decks and huge showers, Viking are one of the best at sea. Explorer Suites have a bath, heated towel rail and a TV in the bathroom
• Hotel crews are mostly Eastern European, India, Indonesia, Philippines, etc 
• Affirmative - they host cruise critic meetings

We can't start a roll call yet, as Viking Neptune hasn't even started with the keel laying. At present her maiden voyage is Dec 22, departing Ft Lauderdale. Once the build schedule is firmed up, I expect to see a TA from Barcelona to Ft Lauderdale.

 

Until CC add Neptune to the VO list, we have started a discussion thread at 

 

Hope to see you join us on this thread. At present, we have at least 8 couple returning from the 2019/20 WC.