Regent V Viking Ocean

[OceanPatter]

Only minimal cruising on both lines, but here are top things that stayed with (and mattered to) me:

 

Regent (Explorer)

+ luxurious cabins with even more luxurious bathrooms

+ exquisite food on amazing place settings, that scream ‘elegance’

+ marble and bling in public spaces (if you’re into that)

- small things overlooked in the design of public spaces

 

Viking

+ heavenly spa retreat on par with destination spas (pool/jacuzzi, sauna, steam room, ice room, mood lighting, gas fireplace … you get the drift)

+ Scandinavian design sensibility, including chairs and seating of all types … that lull you into sedentary bliss

+ technology intelligently deployed (video screens, theater projection, constellations, etc.)

+ no casino, no kids (just clean cruising)

+ afternoon tea with 19 types of loose-leaf teas (yes)

- average wines

 

It’s nice (and a privilege) to enjoy both lines.

Edited November 19, 2021 by OceanPatter

[ChucktownSteve]

21 minutes ago, basdryis said:

 

When I read the subject, I didn't think this was a serious inquiry. But three pages later, and some other threads about how Viking beat out everyone for the top luxury line, I guess I'm going to have to take Viking seriously from now on.

Yup. It must be true.  You read it on the internet. lol

 

Any day at sea is better than a day at home or work.

[travelwell]

I am considering a Viking Cruise to Norway, thinking 2024-2025 so I have time to assess. I have asked some questions on their cruise critic board. You can find it under the thread regarding Viking being named the number one luxury cruise on US News and World Report. Many things sound positive. My concern is that I am not hearing from people who have been on Regent or Seabourn on the Viking board. Many comparing to Crystal (particularly what they have heard about Crystal) and that is an entirely different line with entirely different culture and experience then Regent. That alone makes me makes me a bit nervous as they do not know what we have experienced with Regent. That being said there are things I would like with Viking. Clean beautiful ships with an itinerary Regent does not have. The negative is that I would have to book a higher suite to get what I am used to with Regent. I am concerned about the food.  I will not take a bus tour excursion so extra costs to be added in. I will have to add all the costs together and I suspect to be $$$$. Still there seems to be a lot Viking is doing right and may I have a date with Viking in the future.

[Clay Clayton]

Never sailed Regent though it is on our wish list. Posting here so I can learn more about the differences between the two lines.
 

We upgraded to Viking for our (early) retirement cruise in 2018 and haven’t looked back. Viking ticked all the boxes for us. No kids, no casino, almost all inclusive. Money is still an object for us and while I recognize that some (most?) of y’all are saying that Regent works out to be close to the same price that isn’t how I see it. 
 

We have found that Viking’s excursions in new to us ports to be quite satisfactory. Keep in mind that we have only sailed Transatlantics, one Asian, and one Iceland cruise with Viking. Typically the excursions are a bus tour with two or three stops. However, sometimes the excursions were quite extensive. The Asia cruise included a day at The Great Wall for example. The recent trip to Iceland did not include many interesting excursions but the optional ones we purchased were priced just about the same as independent tours (albeit with more participants) but given Covid, we elected to stick with the ship’s tours. 
 

Whilr gratuities aren’t included, if you find the right travel agent who offers the maximum Viking allowed shipboard credit as a perk for booking with them, the credit covers the gratuities. As others have pointed out, if you want wine, beer,  and soda other than at meals, then the Silver Spirits package is very reasonable at $19.95 per person per day….as are the regular bar prices.  $8 for a Hendricks and tonic-it’s cheaper than what we are charged at our country club. Depending on the itinerary we either buy the package or take a bottle on board with us. Even if you’re in the lowest category stateroom which doesn’t get the fridge refilled, the bar tenders are happy to hand you an unopened can of soda or tonic at mealtime so we just restock it ourselves and have mixers for a predinner on the balcony cocktail. Yes, I recognize it’s not as luxurious as asking the butler to make me my G&T but frankly I don’t find paying close to twice as much per person per day to be worth it to me. I can always call room service and they will make it if I need them to. 😂

 

I keep hearing about how much better the variety and quality of food is on Regent. Since I haven’t (yet) sailed Regent I can’t really compare but looking at two sample menus from a Google search I don’t see a lot of difference in variety. (Note the Viking menu doesn’t include the always available choices-steak, salmon, etc). If the quality is so much better I don’t know if my waistline could deal with it! 😂. While there have been some misses onboard Viking, generally speaking we have been amazed at a lot of the dishes and have our favorites. 
 

Anyway, just wanted to share some thoughts from a Viking enthusiast so that perhaps some of you on the fence think again about coming over to the Norwegian side! 

[RetiredandTravel]

Thanks Clay that's very insightful.    I mentioned above we are considering the new Viking Expedition cruise to the Great Lakes.   The seating for dinner looks very tight , how do you feel about that?

 

The Regent menu you show is a little dated, following is a better representation of the current menu at Compass Rose for dinner.  Also Regent has featured wines for dinner but you can actually choose any of the 20+ included wines at any time.

 

Thanks Again.

 

https://www.rssc.com/experience/cuisine/compass-rose

 

 

[Not a Georgia Peach]

We have yet to sail on Regent, but will be doing so in January.  Clay mentions that the price is twice as much per person per day.  I did a comparison of the two cruise lines and the price was very close to each other.  Regent does include everything including excursions and laundry.  Our last 2 cruises on Viking were not satisfactory - the most positive aspect was our room steward.  The excursions were truly just bus rides and the food was less than satisfactory.  We look forward to experiencing Regent and seeing what they do for entertainment.  Viking has done the same ABBA show since they first started their ocean cruises.

[ChucktownSteve]

3 hours ago, Clay Clayton said:

Never sailed Regent though it is on our wish list. Posting here so I can learn more about the differences between the two lines.
 

We upgraded to Viking for our (early) retirement cruise in 2018 and haven’t looked back. Viking ticked all the boxes for us. No kids, no casino, almost all inclusive. Money is still an object for us and while I recognize that some (most?) of y’all are saying that Regent works out to be close to the same price that isn’t how I see it. 
 

We have found that Viking’s excursions in new to us ports to be quite satisfactory. Keep in mind that we have only sailed Transatlantics, one Asian, and one Iceland cruise with Viking. Typically the excursions are a bus tour with two or three stops. However, sometimes the excursions were quite extensive. The Asia cruise included a day at The Great Wall for example. The recent trip to Iceland did not include many interesting excursions but the optional ones we purchased were priced just about the same as independent tours (albeit with more participants) but given Covid, we elected to stick with the ship’s tours. 
 

While gratuities aren’t included, if you find the right travel agent who offers the maximum Viking allowed shipboard credit as a perk for booking with them, the credit covers the gratuities. As others have pointed out, if you want wine, beer,  and soda other than at meals, then the Silver Spirits package is very reasonable at $19.95 per person per day….as are the regular bar prices.  $8 for a Hendricks and tonic-it’s cheaper than what we are charged at our country club. Depending on the itinerary we either buy the package or take a bottle on board with us. Even if you’re in the lowest category stateroom which doesn’t get the fridge refilled, the bar tenders are happy to hand you an unopened can of soda or tonic at mealtime so we just restock it ourselves and have mixers for a predinner on the balcony cocktail. Yes, I recognize it’s not as luxurious as asking the butler to make me my G&T but frankly I don’t find paying close to twice as much per person per day to be worth it to me. I can always call room service and they will make it if I need them to. 😂

 

I keep hearing about how much better the variety and quality of food is on Regent. Since I haven’t (yet) sailed Regent I can’t really compare but looking at two sample menus from a Google search I don’t see a lot of difference in variety. (Note the Viking menu doesn’t include the always available choices-steak, salmon, etc). If the quality is so much better I don’t know if my waistline could deal with it! 😂. While there have been some misses onboard Viking, generally speaking we have been amazed at a lot of the dishes and have our favorites. 
 

Anyway, just wanted to share some thoughts from a Viking enthusiast so that perhaps some of you on the fence think again about coming over to the Norwegian side! 

 

 

 

Clay, TY for your thoughts.  While I  haven't actually sailed Regent yet, we have three on the books thru Jan 2023.  I did a lot of analysis comparing the value for the $.

 

One of the things that clinched it for me were the menus.  I can order AK King Crab and Lobster every night if I desire.  The steaks are 28 dry aged USDA Prime.  Retiredandtravel gave you a great link. Look at the sample menus of all the included restaurants.

 

On our first Regent cruise, which is 15 nights, we booked 21 excursions included in the cost between my DW and I.  Many of them have meals.  Take a look at some of the excursions on a dummy booking. Click on Itinerary. Then the second tab over is FREE EXCURSIONS. There you can look at each port and see what's offered.

 

Gratuities and liquor, not only during meals, is included.  My TA will send me a 10% rebate after the cruise so I don't have to use it to cover drinks, excursions, grats or specialty restaurants.

 

When I did a deep analysis of Viking with the additional charges and Regent without needing to pay extra, Regent gave me a better value for the expenditure.  I even was able to get a two category upgrade during a promotion which got me the suite for less per night than an equivalent sized Celebrity suite  but with more inclusions.

 

However the real clincher for me were the Regent threads and comments from so many who have sailed the line before.  So the bottom line is you have to find the right itinerary at the right price with maybe a good promotion thus you can see for yourself which line best suits you.

Edited November 21, 2021 by ChucktownSteve

[dodgerdoug]

I am reticent about adding my opinion but here goes. I sailed on Viking "Viking Homelands" on the SKY.

We didn't use Viking air and that's another story, it was a very good decision. Cindy insists on being able to lie prone on any European flight, so business class is a must at minimum. We stayed in a Junior Penthouse Suite, paid for the Silver Beverage package (a must for anyone who does more than a tipple). We added extra excursions to make the best use of being in the ports visited ($3500 for both of us). We also had to pay gratuities. Our suite did include laundry. I like to think we can have a good time no matter where we are, as it is up to us. Therefore, we enjoyed the cruise and the service...to a point. I agree their standard (free) excursions are suited to just acquaint one to the city being visited...period. I've done a lot of research on what I consider to be the best value out there. Not being wealthy, it is a path I need to pursue. If I choose a similar itinerary on Regent and added the additions I ended up paying to Viking (including Bz class air), the costs end up surprisingly close. What Regent does add is better and more dining venues. Better entertainment. Larger more comfortable, equivalent suites. More room about the ship (750 max. guests). I think I would enjoy a butler, have 2 cruises in 2022 to find out. Would I go on another Viking cruise? Yes, steered by a unique intinerary and after a thorough cost analysis to evaluate value. I very much dislike Viking's payment policy of full payment by as much as 18 months prior to boarding. On a typical $20k cruise that would cost me, based on my typical returns, over $3000. I'd rather invest that $20k for that period. I'm looking forward to boarding the Explorer on 12-20 for their Holiday cruise to see how they jazz up the holidays. I'm aware that any particular cruise could display both the good and bad aspects of that particular line, but I believe Regent will give me the best bang for the buck. Sorry for being verbose.

[kjbacon]

We have sailed several times on both Viking and Regent. Both products are good but we prefer Regent. As many have said, the prices are similar once you add on to the basic Viking price so the allusion of savings really isn’t there for Viking. We will sail on both but will always give the nod to Regent.

 

We are foodies and the food is far superior on Regent on all counts. On Viking, you have the game of which night is lobster night and you are out of luck if that’s a night you are in a specialty restaurant. Lobster and other top shelf items like Rack of Lamb are any night you want on Regent. The specialty restaurants are more varied and higher quality on Regent plus you have far more flexibility to customize in the main restaurant on Regent.

 

Shore excursions are much better on Regent. We rarely like (and try to avoid) the included Viking excursions because we do not like their big crowds and have little interest in bus trips. The Viking included tours are almost always a bus ride and are way too overcrowded. 

 

The spa is a more complex topic. The spa on Viking is absolutely gorgeous and it is huge so if you are into cool temperatures, you are in for quite a treat and may want to give Viking a try. Our friends will pick a Viking cruise each and every time over any other line because they love the spa so much. Our friend Ron spends time every morning in the spa especially in the snow grotto where he sits on ice and rubs ice and snow into his arms and chest. On the other hand, we aren’t even able to get into their indoor pool in the spa because it is too chilly for us. You like warmth? The Viking spa is not for you and we will see you on Regent.

[kjbacon]

11 hours ago, dodgerdoug said:

I am reticent about adding my opinion but here goes. I sailed on Viking "Viking Homelands" on the SKY.

We didn't use Viking air and that's another story, it was a very good decision. Cindy insists on being able to lie prone on any European flight, so business class is a must at minimum. We stayed in a Junior Penthouse Suite, paid for the Silver Beverage package (a must for anyone who does more than a tipple). We added extra excursions to make the best use of being in the ports visited ($3500 for both of us). We also had to pay gratuities. Our suite did include laundry. I like to think we can have a good time no matter where we are, as it is up to us. Therefore, we enjoyed the cruise and the service...to a point. I agree their standard (free) excursions are suited to just acquaint one to the city being visited...period. I've done a lot of research on what I consider to be the best value out there. Not being wealthy, it is a path I need to pursue. If I choose a similar itinerary on Regent and added the additions I ended up paying to Viking (including Bz class air), the costs end up surprisingly close. What Regent does add is better and more dining venues. Better entertainment. Larger more comfortable, equivalent suites. More room about the ship (750 max. guests). I think I would enjoy a butler, have 2 cruises in 2022 to find out. Would I go on another Viking cruise? Yes, steered by a unique intinerary and after a thorough cost analysis to evaluate value. I very much dislike Viking's payment policy of full payment by as much as 18 months prior to boarding. On a typical $20k cruise that would cost me, based on my typical returns, over $3000. I'd rather invest that $20k for that period. I'm looking forward to boarding the Explorer on 12-20 for their Holiday cruise to see how they jazz up the holidays. I'm aware that any particular cruise could display both the good and bad aspects of that particular line, but I believe Regent will give me the best bang for the buck. Sorry for being verbose.

Just noticed that you are on the same holiday sailing as us … hope to toast you! 

[Wendy The Wanderer]

On 11/21/2021 at 5:44 PM, dodgerdoug said:

I very much dislike Viking's payment policy of full payment by as much as 18 months prior to boarding.

That's what always kills it for me.  I just can't get my head around this, but their customers don't seem to mind.

 

Other than that, I'd probably give it a try. I like the idea of the clean, Scandinavian aesthetic of the ships.  As we get older, the food becomes less important.  Yes, we want to be fed nice meals, but my tastes are getting simpler.  I'd rather do my own excursions anyways, private if we can afford it, so that's okay.  The staterooms are definitely smaller, and any nickel and diming kind of ruins it for us. But given the right itinerary, like one of their Norwegian Fjords trips, I might give it a try.

Edited November 22, 2021 by Wendy The Wanderer

[UUNetBill]

16 hours ago, Wendy The Wanderer said:

...and any nickel and diming kind of ruins it for us. 

This right here.  Even if it's paid in advance, having to swipe a card or otherwise prove that I paid for something kind of ruins it for us, too.  For us, there's a certain plus of just being able to order what you want without having to think about it.  

 

It's the little things.   🙂

[Clay Clayton]

2 hours ago, UUNetBill said:

This right here.  Even if it's paid in advance, having to swipe a card or otherwise prove that I paid for something kind of ruins it for us, too.  For us, there's a certain plus of just being able to order what you want without having to think about it.  

 

It's the little things.   🙂

Just an FYI, on Viking you only have to “prove” you’ve paid for the Silver Spirits by stating your room number.  The bartender or server enters that into their inventory system and they see your picture.  I have found that by day 2 or 3, I don’t even get asked….they remember.  

[fudgbug]

On 11/21/2021 at 3:07 PM, Not a Georgia Peach said:

We have yet to sail on Regent, but will be doing so in January.  Clay mentions that the price is twice as much per person per day.  I did a comparison of the two cruise lines and the price was very close to each other.  Regent does include everything including excursions and laundry.  Our last 2 cruises on Viking were not satisfactory - the most positive aspect was our room steward.  The excursions were truly just bus rides and the food was less than satisfactory.  We look forward to experiencing Regent and seeing what they do for entertainment.  Viking has done the same ABBA show since they first started their ocean cruises.

I'll take the same ABBA show any day of the week! 🙂 🙂 🙂

 

[RetiredandTravel]

13 hours ago, fudgbug said:

I'll take the same ABBA show any day of the week! 🙂 🙂 🙂

 

 

 

ABBA and I were in our prime the same time period.  Gotta love em.  It was one of those bands you'd listen to when you were alone in the car but never admit to, "No man I don't listen to that crap I like Lynyrd Skynyrd". 🤨

 

 

Edited November 24, 2021 by RetiredandTravel

[alainciao]

Concur with Clay above.  The Silver beverage package was not cumbersome.  I think they even had our pic on their phone or iPad. And in the restaurant they brought larger glasses without us saying anything.

[Wendy The Wanderer]

1 hour ago, alainciao said:

Concur with Clay above.  The Silver beverage package was not cumbersome.  I think they even had our pic on their phone or iPad. And in the restaurant they brought larger glasses without us saying anything.

It may not seem cumbersome to you, but for people who hang out on Regent, it definitely can be so.  We had to do this on our sole Oceania cruise, and we hated it.  And if I had to wave my hand or my card for a soft drink, I'd just, I don't know, melt down.  I don't even drink any more personally, but this matters to many of us.

[alainciao]

Hi Wendy,

We have sailed Oceania also (4 cruises) and Viking handles the Silver Package better than Oceania. DW disliked the signing on O but had no problem on Viking. On O she once got chased down because she forgot to sign.  We haven’t sailed O in years so maybe they are better now since they have the beverage upgrade package. So, DW would agree with you but she would only exclude O. We are “people that hang out on Regent” (gold).

[Pcardad]

As Titanium I don't care how I get the drinks as long as I get them...

[Wendy The Wanderer]

2 hours ago, alainciao said:

Hi Wendy,

We have sailed Oceania also (4 cruises) and Viking handles the Silver Package better than Oceania. DW disliked the signing on O but had no problem on Viking. On O she once got chased down because she forgot to sign.  We haven’t sailed O in years so maybe they are better now since they have the beverage upgrade package. So, DW would agree with you but she would only exclude O. We are “people that hang out on Regent” (gold).

That's good to hear, Alain (?).  We too are Gold although we should have been Platinum by now but for Covid.  Oh well, we'll just be happy to be on a cruise ship, any old cruise ship.  Next summer for us.  Cheers.

[ChucktownSteve]

29 minutes ago, Pcardad said:

As Titanium I don't care how I get the drinks as long as I get them...

 

As pyrite level, I too don't care how I get the drinks as long as I get them. 😉

[Wendy The Wanderer]

1 minute ago, ChucktownSteve said:

 

As pyrite level, I too don't care how I get the drinks as long as I get them. 😉

I like that!  I'm Gold, but now it's 'fool's gold' because, well, I stopped drinking!  Hoping to persuade Regent for my cruise next summer to stock some decent NA beer! 

[coljack]

Hi, Robyn,

 

As promised, I'm in touch with you after returning from our Panama Canal cruise on Viking Ocean.  I'll break down the differences at length but let me start by saying that we are committed Regent sailors and took this trip only because we wanted to transit the Panama Canal after reading about this great engineering feat.  We had a wonderful time on Viking and would recommend it without reservation.  There are some plusses and minuses and we prefer Regent but if Viking has an itinerary you fancy, you should go for it.  A word of caution, Viking has some itineraries that go part way through the canal and turn around.  If the Canal is your primary objective, then make sure you are booking a full transit.

 

First, cost.  Some say Viking is not cheaper when you add in the extra charges.  There are some extras that you will need, but Viking is still a fair amount cheaper.  I have compared two, 15-day, voyages, on each line that include Iceland.  We booked, while on board, a NY to Greenland (2 ports) then completely around Iceland ending in Reykjavik for $21,598.  You will want a Penthouse Jr Suite and that is what we have already included.  The PJS is 405 sq ft including balcony.  It closely resembles a Penthouse Suite on Voyager or a Superior or Concierge on the newest Regent ships.  I have chosen a Voyager cruise from London to Reyjkjavik, also 15 days, in a Penthouse C for comparison at 386 sq ft.  On Viking, you will need to add gratuities at $15/day/person so that is $450; and silver spirits package for free drinks at $20/day/per person so that is $600.  Although we don't drink a lot and Viking already provides beer and wine at lunch and dinner and other times drinks are fairly cheap at $6 to $8 we wanted some choice of wines at meals since the house wines offered are rather ordinary.  Good wines with many choices come with the silver spirits and nice to have top shelf drinks as well.  Adding $2000 per person for business class air and the tips and drinks brings the Viking price to $26,648 for 2 guests.  The Regent price on Voyager is $38,998 for 2 guests.  There are a few small variables here (small discount for booking on board, no butlers on Viking.). So price is quite a bit better on Viking.

 

What about the experience?  Viking has beautiful ships, Scandinavian in style and not as fancy as Regent.  Very attractive but different.  The guests are more casual and a bit younger on Viking but no kids.  Dress code is identical tp Regent but not enforced on Viking (on this cruise, anyway.). We saw a few men in shorts and tee shirts at dinner, for example.  Most common were dress shirts or golf shirts with collar.  Almost no sport coats.  Restaurants:  Buffet is World Cafe on Viking and is identical to La Veranda on Regent, except World Cafe also does dinner, whereas LaVeranda converts to the Italian restaurant on Regent.  "The Restaurant" is  the Compass Rose equivalent and the two are nearly identical.  Maybe the food is just a touch better in Compass Rose.  Left side of menu always available, right side changes daily. No reservations, come at your pleasure.  Two specialty restaurants on Viking, no charge, but need reservations:  Manfredi's is Italian and Chef's Table is a five course prix fixe with wine pairings (good wines with silver spirits) that changes from one country's cuisine to another every three days.  Pool grill the same on both lines.  Mamsen's is a Norwegian deli open from 6AM to midnight for snacks. Pastries and coffee--has the best Belgian style waffles we have ever had.   In general, specialty restaurants a notch below Regent but still nice.  BTW, if you get a Penthouse Jr Suite or above you get more dinner reservations and earlier booking of excursions and dinner reservations as well as earlier embarkations.  But these cabins do sell out quickly.

 

The music, both live and recorded, is more classical and semi-classical throughout the ship but some bars do have more pop music.  We loved the classical  (and show tunes) pianist who played in different venues each night.  Production shows the same as Regent.  Port talks were much better on Viking--the professors were very entertaining as well as informative.  Narrative through the Canal passage was great.

 

Staff were what you would expect on Regent, maybe even a little friendlier on Viking.  This could have been because they were so glad to be back at work.

 

The cabin is exactly what you have on Regent if you get the better ones.  Room service 24 hours with a better menu on Viking. The bathroom is nicer on Viking with two sinks, LOTS of storage space and drawers.  Heated floor and no-fog mirror.  In the main rooms (living and bedroom separated by curtain) lots of storage space including large closet and many drawers.

 

I haven't talked about COVID because who knows what is coming...  On this cruise Viking was VERY strict on masks, testing, etc.  

 

Hope this helps.  Obviously just two people's opinions.  We have a cruise booked with Regent in 2022 and with Viking in 2023.  Really looking forward to both.  Viking wants a 10% down payment and full payment 15 months ahead but your TA can get this cut to 6 months.  Viking insurance is a lot cheaper than Regent and even cheaper than TravelGuard.

 

Best regards,

 

John

 

 

[1982CruzStart]

Thanks for the comprehensive comparison. Sounds like you had a great time and that is the most important thing.

[Clay Clayton]

22 hours ago, coljack said:

Hi, Robyn,

 

As promised, I'm in touch with you after returning from our Panama Canal cruise on Viking Ocean.  I'll break down the differences at length but let me start by saying that we are committed Regent sailors and took this trip only because we wanted to transit the Panama Canal after reading about this great engineering feat.  We had a wonderful time on Viking and would recommend it without reservation.  There are some plusses and minuses and we prefer Regent but if Viking has an itinerary you fancy, you should go for it.  A word of caution, Viking has some itineraries that go part way through the canal and turn around.  If the Canal is your primary objective, then make sure you are booking a full transit.

 

First, cost.  Some say Viking is not cheaper when you add in the extra charges.  There are some extras that you will need, but Viking is still a fair amount cheaper.  I have compared two, 15-day, voyages, on each line that include Iceland.  We booked, while on board, a NY to Greenland (2 ports) then completely around Iceland ending in Reykjavik for $21,598.  You will want a Penthouse Jr Suite and that is what we have already included.  The PJS is 405 sq ft including balcony.  It closely resembles a Penthouse Suite on Voyager or a Superior or Concierge on the newest Regent ships.  I have chosen a Voyager cruise from London to Reyjkjavik, also 15 days, in a Penthouse C for comparison at 386 sq ft.  On Viking, you will need to add gratuities at $15/day/person so that is $450; and silver spirits package for free drinks at $20/day/per person so that is $600.  Although we don't drink a lot and Viking already provides beer and wine at lunch and dinner and other times drinks are fairly cheap at $6 to $8 we wanted some choice of wines at meals since the house wines offered are rather ordinary.  Good wines with many choices come with the silver spirits and nice to have top shelf drinks as well.  Adding $2000 per person for business class air and the tips and drinks brings the Viking price to $26,648 for 2 guests.  The Regent price on Voyager is $38,998 for 2 guests.  There are a few small variables here (small discount for booking on board, no butlers on Viking.). So price is quite a bit better on Viking.

 

What about the experience?  Viking has beautiful ships, Scandinavian in style and not as fancy as Regent.  Very attractive but different.  The guests are more casual and a bit younger on Viking but no kids.  Dress code is identical tp Regent but not enforced on Viking (on this cruise, anyway.). We saw a few men in shorts and tee shirts at dinner, for example.  Most common were dress shirts or golf shirts with collar.  Almost no sport coats.  Restaurants:  Buffet is World Cafe on Viking and is identical to La Veranda on Regent, except World Cafe also does dinner, whereas LaVeranda converts to the Italian restaurant on Regent.  "The Restaurant" is  the Compass Rose equivalent and the two are nearly identical.  Maybe the food is just a touch better in Compass Rose.  Left side of menu always available, right side changes daily. No reservations, come at your pleasure.  Two specialty restaurants on Viking, no charge, but need reservations:  Manfredi's is Italian and Chef's Table is a five course prix fixe with wine pairings (good wines with silver spirits) that changes from one country's cuisine to another every three days.  Pool grill the same on both lines.  Mamsen's is a Norwegian deli open from 6AM to midnight for snacks. Pastries and coffee--has the best Belgian style waffles we have ever had.   In general, specialty restaurants a notch below Regent but still nice.  BTW, if you get a Penthouse Jr Suite or above you get more dinner reservations and earlier booking of excursions and dinner reservations as well as earlier embarkations.  But these cabins do sell out quickly.

 

The music, both live and recorded, is more classical and semi-classical throughout the ship but some bars do have more pop music.  We loved the classical  (and show tunes) pianist who played in different venues each night.  Production shows the same as Regent.  Port talks were much better on Viking--the professors were very entertaining as well as informative.  Narrative through the Canal passage was great.

 

Staff were what you would expect on Regent, maybe even a little friendlier on Viking.  This could have been because they were so glad to be back at work.

 

The cabin is exactly what you have on Regent if you get the better ones.  Room service 24 hours with a better menu on Viking. The bathroom is nicer on Viking with two sinks, LOTS of storage space and drawers.  Heated floor and no-fog mirror.  In the main rooms (living and bedroom separated by curtain) lots of storage space including large closet and many drawers.

 

I haven't talked about COVID because who knows what is coming...  On this cruise Viking was VERY strict on masks, testing, etc.  

 

Hope this helps.  Obviously just two people's opinions.  We have a cruise booked with Regent in 2022 and with Viking in 2023.  Really looking forward to both.  Viking wants a 10% down payment and full payment 15 months ahead but your TA can get this cut to 6 months.  Viking insurance is a lot cheaper than Regent and even cheaper than TravelGuard.

 

Best regards,

 

John

 

 

Enjoyed what appears to be a very fair comparison!  Just a couple of thoughts. 
 

If you book (or move your booking to an agent-I think you have to do it within 30 days) you should be able to get Viking’s maximum shipboard credit which will cover your daily service charge.  Viking limits the amount that agents can provide but as long as the cruise is under 30 days or so, the max is enough.   Regarding the six month final payment deadline line.  Generally speaking that is only allowed if you already have a cruise booked…including the one you’re on if you book another on board.  Otherwise, they stand pretty firm on the 12 month final.