We took the Paris-Normandy river cruise in 2019. There was a WWII vet and his great grandson aboard. The cruise arranged a special ceremony at the Colleville American Cemetery that was very moving.
As Viking fans we find the low key relaxation of the ships wonderful. It’s like staying in a 5 star Boutique hotel. We don’t gamble, are light drinkers and go to bed early. So Viking fits us perfectly.
I am certainly not old and would love cruising with awesome dinning and service and specially awesome free excursions.!!! It would truly be a five star floating hotel with making you feel truly traveled after. On my bucket list now.
We were cruise holdouts until we discovered Viking a couple years ago. The emphasis on the destinations, the lectures, the adult focus, the egalitarian approach (no butlers, no limited-entry areas), no casino or upselling or formal nights - these all appealed. Once onboard, we were amazed at how empty the ship felt, another plus. And who knew Nordic design could feel so cozy? We loved every minute and have signed up for a second Viking cruise this winter. Thanks for your video. You’ve helped us affirm that Viking is the best fit for us.
You mention the 'egalitarian approach'. However, I understand that bookings for excursions and speciality dining open for the most expensive cabins first and it works its way down. If you're in the cheapest (but still expensive) cabin, you might not get on the excursion at all.
Yes this happened to us and we ended up cancelling our cruise to Alaska We had cruised a few times before this happened but has put us off booking again.
Seven years ago I took our youngest son on a Viking river cruise, Budapest to Amsterdam. It was my first time on Viking; he was the youngest onboard, being 25 then. Everyone got to know him, he was gregarious. Sadly, he passed away in Feb. 2020. I told my husband I want to do that journey again in 2024 I have two Viking rivers cruises under my belt and one ocean cruise. Viking all the way!
Gary, you really helped us realize how good the fit Viking would be for me and my husband. Even the "downside" of the less glitzy shows is not a negative for us. We love the idea of the focus on illuminating the ports of call. We love the more Scandinavian look and the inclusive pricing. Thanks for all the information you provide your fans! Another great review.
I see a lot of people mention no formal nights with Viking, but what I also notice in all the various videos is that the cruisers seem to dress a lot nicer during the day compared to other cruises. In all the cruises I’ve been on, most wore t-shirts, shorts, and sandals. I’ve never seen cruisers wearing slacks, sweaters, and jeans during the day on a cruise. So even though they don’t have formal night, it’s much more formal anyway. But, I have never been on a European cruise so maybe that’s the difference. 🤷🏼♀️
Viking is amazing. From the moment you leave the security at the airport until you go through security at the end everything is included. The mini bar in your room, the water crafts delivered twice a day. The tours I would pick anyway. The speciality coffee. An amazing spa, everybody gets a veranda. No nickel and dime once you get aboard. Alcohol at meal times can never stop if you want to . It was all I wanted. The food is amazing even in the main restaurant and buffet. You don't have to pay extra to get the good food. The speciality food was excellent and didn't cost more. Speciality coffee doesn't cost extra. I had excellent free wifi I was able to video conference with family and friends without a problem. Tour them around the ship without loosing reception. The shows are smaller but well done. I have always found the production shows on other cruises were hokky, cheap and crap so I found their shows to be a not big cheap productions but quality entertainment most related to ports of call. The staff are very happy. They are treated very well and it shows. Other cruises you can see unhappy staff and feel bad for how they are made to work. No casino so no smoke wafting through the inside of the ship. It was a small out of the way spot on the top outside deck that I never encountered. Perfect for an asthmatic. The only thing I paid extra was my souvenirs when touring. If you want to pay cheap upfront and pay, pay and pay more and be harassed by staff to buy, buy, buy this is not your cruise. Since there was nothing to get trapped to buy there were not many sea days like other ships who have numerous sea days to get you to spend more money. Other cruises just want more money. Viking wants you to have an amazing tour and vacation and they achieve it hands down. I will save up for my Viking experience because I know it will be amazing and I won't be disappointed. I didn't want to leave. Other cruises made me feel like a trapped animal and couldn't get off fast enough.Viking treats you with respect, not just something to get more money out of. Even if you are just starting ou Viking there are a lot of perks. You would have to go on 10 cruises on another line to get what you get on your first cruise with Viking. The only downside is you won't want your cruise to end but it does.
@@margaretash9706 I’m going in June - the website info wording is confusing regarding what you get included already and when. When I read it carefully, it appears that the house beer + wine is only included (“free”) during the ~2 hour window while you’re having lunch or dinner. They say specialty coffee drinks available free 24/7. 🤷♀️
8:26 As a Norwegian myself I love the comment about the decor, because I see this and think "Wow, what a glammed up (yet sensible) version of Scandinavian style."
My goodness! You have found the cruise line for me! I was a Travel Agent two decades ago, and knew of Viking, but this fits my personality. I love the Scandinavia style, fantastic food, no children, quality service and “thinking” on my cruise.
@@gloriabowie2453 you get what you pay for. They do offer discounts. I was looking at a brochure that came to my home recently and many cruises were significantly discounted. I do want some quieter time with a less frenetic pace and decor. I have traveled on Princess, Carnival, the QE2, Norwegian and Holland America. I did not care for Carnival. I enjoyed my cruise, but it was way too loud and busy for me. The nice thing about cruising is you can choose to pick a style that works for you. I would prefer to cruise less often if it was a higher cost and went where we wanted with this level of luxury, will satisfy my love of learning and top notch service.
Thanks for this helpful overview. No casino, included tips, at-meal drinks, and no children, photographers, or art auctions sounds wonderful. Not for everyone but very nice to have this option.
Love Viking. Service, food, facilities and environment all very high quality. It's an adult oriented, more sophisticated experience. In general this attracts a more discerning and mature customer. This is the reason why there isn't a casino, waterslides, ping-pong tables and brash, loud entertainment. Long may it continue.
I am really glad I watched this. Most cruises are way too glitzy for me and I generally prefer a much lower key kind of travel. I will definitely look into Viking.
I watched the entire video and maybe I missed it but I kept waiting for you to use the term 'civilized'. That's what I'd call a cruise without a casino or a gargantuan water slide. And what, no Formula 1 race cars crashing into each other. I'm sure I'm in the minority here but I actually prefer the small home grown entertainment at night. I don't need the big block buster Broadway productions. How about a glass of wine and some basic good song and dance.
I didn't go to any of the shows on my 2 week Viking cruise of the Baltic. Plenty of more interesting things to do, like chat and sip whisky while listening to the live pianist or live string quartet in the Atrium. One evening we just sat in the bar on the top deck and watched the sun go down as we cruised near Norway, it was gone 10pm by the time the sun went down fully.
We actually love that all the Viking Ocean ships are identical. Every time we board a ship, even if we've never sailed with her before, we feel like we're coming home. We know exactly where everything is and all the wonderful secrets we've learned through the years.
Very interesting review. I like the idea of adults only, inclusive fares and consistency of the onboard experience across the fleet. On the point of the ships being copies of each other, I think it is a somewhat smart business decision for Viking to have minimal differences between the ships as the idea would be to get cruisers to choose their trip based on the itinerary rather than the ship.
My wife and I did the Viking 'In Search of The Northern Lights' cruise in March of 2022 and it was amazing! We are looking forward to Christmas on the Rhine in early December...can't wait!
"Thinking person's cruise line"? I'm in! Seriously, my dream cruise is Viking's Northern Lights cruise. I love cold and winter (live in Minnesota) and seeing the aurora is on my bucket list. Toss in some interesting lectures, guided excursions, excellent food, and it's my perfect trip. Now I just need to save up for a solo fare or find a cruise partner ;-)
Gary, I watch cruise reviews all the time and I have to say that this Viking review was perhaps the best I’ve seen. You covered all aspects of the line. Nice work.
My wife and I did a Viking river cruise in 2015; our experience was consistent with Gary's review of the Ocean-going version. We liked that we were not getting nickel-dimed every time you took a corner.
Viking is my favorite - another in Nov. for us….Greek Odyssey! The hotel experience is wonderful but the focus on shore experiences are superb! Both the free and optional experiences are the best. As the owner says: “It’s the thinking man’s company NOT the drinking man’s…”
We have only cruised on Viking Ocean and we love it! No kids, no casinos, no selling stuff - we are gong on Greek Odyssey in NOV. Just hoping it all goes down…..
Im from Norway and you can really see that the owner is from here, the picture behind you I think is from Bryggen in Bergen wich is the ships homeport, the big model of the sailing ship in the back ground is still on service and you can do cruises on it:) Love ur video:)
River cruises are not handicap adapted, so they are out. I received an Oceania catalog today. I have two large questions: 1. Can I cruise solo? 2. I use a power wheelchair after a Military accident. Is this not the line for me? I want smaller ships, all inclusive and few (or no) airplanes. I have used up my once-in-a-lifetime jet crash limit. Should I go Oceania or Viking?
We have never cruised but your channel and Emma Cruises (quite different outlooks but both with a real passion for cruising) have convinced me that we really need to try it. I was really struggling with choosing a cruise line though and this video has been especially helpful. Viking sounds as though it would suit us perfectly. It seems to have a real focus on the things that matter to us. Like many of the others who have commented, big glitzy shows aren’t really our thing, we aren’t especially bothered about a casino and we love the whole light touch, all inclusive scandi-outlook that Viking bring. Thanks for a really helpful video Gary!
It's just so much classy compared to the other curise ship. If I ever have enough money to go on a cruise this will be the one. Thank you like your videos. So informative.
Smaller ships, fewer passengers, all inclusive I enjoyed on 2 River boats, (China Yantzee and Danube), plus one ocean cruise convinced me I can barely wait to take another Viking Cruise, so we booked their 2024 World Cruise. Smaller ocean ships mean they can sail into more ports, that the larger ships can not sail into. I wish all Costco warehouses had the same layout, like the Viking ships.
Have been on 3 trips on Viking and loved it . 2 in Europe and one on the yang tse river in China. Loved every one. The food in China was great . Lots of different types of Chinese food. And different types of European food too. I don’t care a bout glitz, drinking the night away and gambling. I enjoy the easy pace and there’s a lot of cultural entertainment. After the pandemic I hope to some more cruising with them. We’re already booked on one going on the northern rivers in thr u
My wife and I have greatly enjoyed eight Viking river cruises so far since we retired in 2012. We booked two more river cruises but these have been pushed forward until 2022 because of Covid and we have also booked our first ocean cruise for 2023. We can’t wait to be cruising again with Viking. Their attention to detail, the staff on board, the tour guides in each port and their ability and willingness to sort out issues when things don’t quite work out is exceptional.
I adore Viking. I love that there aren’t glitzy, sometimes cringeworthy shows. I love that its adult only. I love that the theme is enrichment. The spa is complete zen, as well as the simple yet elegant decor. But above all the food is amazing!
I'm glad you enjoyed your Viking Venus cruise! I'm watching this video in my balcony stateroom aboard Viking Orion(back to back Bermuda cruises, onboard two weeks)before I dress for the evening with cocktails in The Living Room then going to dinner at The Restaurant. This is my fourth Viking Ocean cruise & I must say each cruise is better than the last! The onboard ambiance is definitely unique to anything I've ever experienced.
Could not agree more. The one thing you missed was the spa, which is surely the best of any cruise line. Entrance is included in your fare, which means you can access separate men’s and women’s dressing and lounge areas, saunas, and showers, as well as the available-to-all huge hydro pools, steam rooms, Viking’s signature “snow” room, lounge area, etc. This area also includes a wonderful and fully-equipped workout area. Available for extra cost are massages, nail salon, hair salon, facials, etc. I can attest to the fantastic massages. As you mentioned, the service is superb, with staff remembering names very quickly. We started out as river cruisers, so we love the relatively quiet ships. No casino! No children!
Wow! The way you described it re Scandinavian light decor, food, entertainment, art, port talks, all-inclusive for food, wine, wifi, port excursion, gratuities looks like this is the cruise line for me. Thank you and God bless you.
I'd be drawn to Viking for the adult cruising alone. A few years ago I went on a Celebrity X cruise that only had about 15 or so kids on the whole ship, and it was noticeably a much better experience. No thumping up and down the halls and stair cases, no sticky little fingers in the buffet dishes, and no hogging the hot tubs.
I was unaware that Viking offered ocean cruises. Their approach seems like it would make for an enjoyable and relaxing experience. Definitely worth checking out what's available.
Simply put, if you pay a quite huge fare you'll have included nearly all the things you pay extra for on other cruise lines. You'll need to have ways of entertaining yourself and enjoy the company of generally pretty old passengers. You'll either enjoy the quiet, sophisticated, relaxed atmosphere or you'll be terribly bored and long for something a bit more lively.
My husband and I enjoyed greatly two ocean cruises in the last four years: the Mediterranean and the Baltic which included the northern part of Norway and Scotland ending in London. we love Viking for all the reasons stated here ....destinations... good food... wonderful staff and the smaller size thank you for this great review Gary
Did your ship cruise into London and under Tower Bridge? That's something of a bucket list item for me. I think Viking's ships might be too large to do it though.
Thanks very much, Gary. We have been mostly Holland America cruisers, but we chose Viking for a Caribbean cruise a couple of years ago because we wanted to be on a smaller ship. It is a shame that HAL sold off most of its smaller ships. We had sailed on Veendam, Statendam, and Prinsendam, and loved the experience. Our Viking cruise was on Viking Sea, and it was quite pleasant, though we had a couple of problems with the food. The San Juan evening sailaway dinner offered seafood, but we found that some of the crab was still frozen solid. Later, we had two occasions where the beef was overcooked. Viking was kind enough to send us very generous future cruise credit because of these disappointments, and promised to address the problems. People planning to use Viking's air bookings need to know that they are rather restrictive, and that there are up-charges for any deviations from the scheduled plan. If you want to arrive or depart on days other than embarkation or debarkation, there is a price. People might do better booking on their own, but then airport transfers are on their own. Other than that, it was a wonderful cruise which we plan to repeat as a winter getaway (we live in northern New England), and we will be on their British Isles Explorer cruise next summer. In talking with the very friendly crew members, we learned that many of them came to Viking from Holland America and were well-trained and very proficient. We do not miss the casinos or the pushy sales attempts. Holland America seems more and more "Carnivalized" than it used to be. Torstein Hagen has done a magnificent job standing up a new ocean cruise line, and we look forward to more adventures at sea with them!
I liked how you approached telling about what a Viking cruise experience is like using more of a reporter type of approach rather than a seller type of approach in your report about Viking. I also liked how you brought out the difference between Viking and other traditional cruise lines and that these differences might be positive or negative factors for some people in evaluating if they would like to sail on Viking.
Viking is exactly what I prefer in cruise ships. Relaxing, being pampered, superb food, and refreshing decor are great. Being all inclusive without having to keep an eye on added expenses makes them a winner.
I dream of getting on my next Viking cruise...Not sure where yet....but definitely the best cruise experience I've ever had...and I've cruised on quite a few different lines..Viking rocks!
Thank you Gary for your review of Viking Ocean cruises. It sounds like my preferred type of cruising experience. I will have to consider Viking in my cruise plans.
Thank you Gary, you set my mind at ease. We are doing our first Viking Ocean on a transatlantic this November, after loving Viking river cruises. We get plenty of excitement at work, we go on vacation to relax, so no kids, no waterslides, no bungee jumping, and no pushy salespeople is just fine with us. An ocean cruise that was basically "Viking River plus more" is pretty much what we were looking for. The civilized, adult, smart, all inclusive nature of the cruise is what we think we want. I'll let you know when we get back!
Great review. Looking forward to a Viking Ocean cruise in the coming year. Until then we are taking a Viking River Cruise (our 2nd). All the things you touched upon were applicable and accurate. The food on our river cruise was fantastic, but it was the personal touch service provided which truly resonated with us. It isn't for every cruiser, but for those who like all-inclusive and destination oriented cruises, with top level service this is worth a try.
Great review! We have cruised with Viking before and we love Viking. Your review was spot on. We are booked for a Mediterranean Cruise with the in May 2022 and looking forward to cruise again.
This is starting to sound just about right. I'm going to have to look into this a bit more. Sedate elegance. Without being overly stuffy. Seems nice. Thanks for the info, have fun.
Boy it sounds good to me. When you get on again, you know where everything is. No stress, no kids, all inclusive. To me, this is exactly what I’d like! Love the lectures, too. I have done all the late night stuff, so a quieter restful cruise sounds lovely.
I’ve done a few of their river cruises, loved them. I’m a solo traveler and last time I called for a price and told the fellow some of us solo would sleep in a broom closet just to get a lower price. Guy told me they really didn’t cater nor need solo travelers. I’ve never looked at any of their brochures since
Any cruise sales rep who tells you they don't cater to solo cruisers are "missing the boat": singles are 1/3 of the US population, but I guess this rep doesn't know that statistic. He brushes all all solo cruisers with the same brush: we're party animals, not sophisticated travelers who want a good experience at an affordable fare. Perhaps if you use a cruise-based TA, he or she might give you a better quote than this so-called sales rep.
A couple of points. 1. Gratuities are not included for passengers that book from the US. I imagine that you booked from the UK, no? 2. We pay for as much as possible before the cruise in US dollars, as the ship currency is Euros. For example an excursion or drinks package that costs $100 dollars before the cruise, costs €100 on the cruise, a savings of about 18%.
You are correct that booking in the US we do have added gratuities. Quoted from their website: "To save you worry over whom to tip and how much, we automatically add a discretionary hotel and dining charge of $15.00 USD per guest per day to your shipboard account, which appears on your final invoice at the end of your cruise. This charge will be shared among the onboard staff who helped support and provide your cruise experience, including the waitstaff, stateroom stewards, buffet stewards, galley staff, laundry staff and others. Please note this charge excludes bar gratuity; a 15% gratuity is automatically added to bar, beverage, wine and deck service tabs."
@@slchang01 Yes, and there are also at least one included excursion in each port, and the smaller ships can get into places that large ships can’t go. In many ports we can just walk to the sights. When a bus is needed, it’s included, and they usually fill the bus only half full.
Viking combined two completely distinct trips we had (they were a few weeks apart) into one "butterfly" trip. We didn't ask them to do so, the trips were booked totally independent of each other. When we had to cancel the first (under the risk free guarantee), we were told this would also cancel the second trip. What? Wait, why? "Oh, this is our policy for "butterfly trips." OK, so give us the risk free guarantee for both trips, we'll rebook the second. "Oh, we can give you the voucher (two trips worth of money), but it can only be applied to one trip in the future." What? Wait, why? "Oh, this is our policy for "butterfly trips." Viking is a huge corporation, we are just two customers....Viking's response when we spoke to a supervisor (Regina). "Oh, sometimes you don't get everything you want in this world." Viking could care less about their customers.....
Very informative video. One minor nit-pick: when you discuss Carbon Copies, at about 5:30 in, you contrast Viking with Azamara. They are, in fact, quite similar in this regard. Azamara's three ships are sister ships, differing only in trivial respects because they are about 15 years older and were refurbished at different times. Having cruised with both, I'd say Azamara is probably the closest to Viking in most respects. The ships are about the same size, the focus on destinations is similar, they also include beer/wine/gratuities. Viking includes a few more things in the fare, such as wi-fi and one shore excursion per port, but the bottom line costs will be similar. All things considered, I don't think a vacationer can go wrong with either.
TYVM! Viking does tend to have lots of fans. I bet I would love it; but the difference in single-supplements means it will tend to be more expensive than ultra luxury lines. Which feels wrong.
Gary, I certainly don't have your cruising experience but for what it is worth I found that Norwegian was Asda, Holland America was Sainsbury and Viking was Fortnum and Mason
I have watched all of your videos on Viking Ocean and also some of the Viking River videos and I have to say that you do a very good job of describing both the many pluses and few minuses of the Ocean ships. We did a Viking river cruise in France in 2018 and liked it so much we booked another river cruise and the Iconic Mediterranean cruise (Barcelona to Rome) set for this September. Looking forward to this cruise especially after seeing your videos.
This is a very informative video. I have done one Viking river cruise in France about four years ago and I really enjoyed the quality of service and the intimate atmosphere. I wanted to find an ocean cruise line that provided the same. Although not as small as the Azamara ships (690 passengers as opposed to Viking's 930), it appears that much of what I enjoyed on my Viking river cruise is part of Viking's ocean cruises.
As long as I don't have to cook and clean. I'm being served, I can have room service if I want. I can go to different entertainment events.or just hang out on deck and watch the Ocean
Gary, I had always wanted to go on Viking. I contacted them & found out there is no access if you’re in a wheelchair. Kinda surprised u didn’t mention this. Really sad about it. 😢😢😢
I am a big Viking fan. After my Cunard cruise on Queen Elizabeth where I felt It was marketing at you morning noon and night , the Viking approach was so refreshing. I left the Cunard cruise saying never again but was persuaded to try Viking and my second Viking cruise is already booked only delayed due to the pandemic.
We took a Viking ocean cruise a couple of years ago and it was truly wonderful! The service was excellent and the crew did everything to make the trip memorable from food to cabin service to being available. Right after we boarded, I went in search of one of the specialty restaurants where we had made reservation before sailing. A very nice crew person asked me if I needed help and I said yes - she took me to the restaurant. She was the Cruise Director - she didn't just tell me how to get there, she took me there. We took several of the offered tours, but did opt for a couple of the ones that cost extra, including a trip to Berlin that was truly memorable. Our stateroom included laundry service - well worth the extra money. We have already scheduled another Viking ocean cruise for next year! I must also mention the persons I spoke with when booking the cruises - so helpful and efficient and personable. The food was marvelous!
Thank you very much for providing some comparison of Viking with other luxury lines. We've done 3 river (Europe, China/Tibet, Russia) and one ocean (Caribbean) cruises on Viking, and have definitely found our niche. We have three more Viking cruises booked over the next 18 months. Our only other cruise was in 2006, in the Aegean on Louis Lines (I think they're now Celestyal). Although they were a budget line, we were very satisfied with them also. We are destination-focused on historical sites, so the modest onboard entertainment is not a problem for us.
Viking is my favorite cruise line hands down! I like adults only cruises. We cruised the Baltic, the food is top notch! Loved high tea! The tours were fun.
I love pretty much everything about Viking. If there is one thing I could do without, it is the included excursions. They mostly consist of “panoramic” bus rides with a few stops. Optional Viking excursions can be pretty nice, but a bit expensive.
I have to disagree with you on this. I have been on two Viking river cruises and two Viking ocean cruises and my overall impressions was that the included excursions were mostly walking. More time was spent with our feet on the ground than with our butts in bus seats. I suspect the local excursions available are dependant on the specific tour. I remember on our Nuremberg excursion thinking that the bus ride was long, then they dumped us out and before we finished walking we were missing the bus. In Vienna it was a short bus ride and a very long walk. You can probably quote some examples in opposition to mine. Over all, I have no complaints.
My wife and I took A Viking cruise (Athens-Venice) last year. We loved the ship and the onboard experience: the food and the staff were great. Some of the optional excursions were overpriced and a few involved 1-2h bus rides each way to reach less-than-impressive venues. Perhaps it was a one-off but they cancelled the last scheduled port-of-call (Koper) and we spent 2 nights in Chioggia instead. This was apparently because of issues docking the ship closer to Venice. However, this caused us and many others problems getting transportation to our off-ship destinations. We ended up having to pay an exorbitant amount for a 20-minute water-taxi ride to our hotel on Murano. On our return, my wife complained, and Viking refunded our taxi fare. A few weeks after our return, I got an AT&T bill for about $9000 in roaming charges for the first four days of our trip; this was despite purchasing day passes and using cellular data only on land or when in port. I immediately disputed this and the issue was eventually resolved in my favor. The free onboard wifi is really slow, prompting us to use cellular data; what Viking doesn't tell you (the AT&T rep told me roaming charges would apply in International waters-12 nautical miles from shore) is that when you are on the ship in port, even well within range of land towers, its satellite network takes over your signal and charges you about $2K/GB for data--without notification. It seems AT&T does not have a "cruise package" with Viking, yet they handle the billing. These shocking phone bills ruined what should have been pleasant memories of our anniversary cruise. I received no reply from Viking after I wrote to express my disappointment about this.
Living in Bermuda, we have Viking Orion “homeporting” here for 8-day cruises around Bermuda only, so we get to see her often in various places, often only 50 yards from our Front St coffee shop! She’s a beautiful ship and I only wish they did some shorter 2-3 night cruises: would jump at the opportunity to get aboard her. Thanks for your great video (as always )!
Thank you! I have been on the Viking river but never the Ocean cruise. I love Viking river! Hope to try the Ocean cruise some day when Covid is settled.
We are veterans of Viking's river cruises but are looking forward to our first Viking ocean cruise in the spring. The service has always been outstanding and we LOVE the Scandinavian lightness and luxury of the furnishings. Viking is a great way to travel!
Gary, thank you for your video. We were fortunate enough to experience Viking cruising and it was one of the best experiences we had. We did not miss the glitz of the shows (though we do enjoy a great show). I definitely did not miss the casinos or the photos. I love Vikings approach to “the thinking man” cruise. I can’t wait to experience another voyage with Viking. Also, The retractable roof in inclement weather is a PLUS!!
We started cruising with Viking Ocean in 2018 and were super impressed, loving all the things you talk about in this video. If you have not been on their Expedition ships yet, you need to try those out....a wonderful experience. Good job on the video Gary!
Viking is more about the destinations than life on ship, plus being smaller their ships can get closer to certain ports. For example we took the China cruise and the ship was able to go up the river and dock right in the middle of the city. The bigger ships have to dock at the mouth of the river and bus over an hour into Shanghai. Also no kids is a huge bonus, HUGE.
Watching this reminded me of my Viking River Cruise I took a few years ago with a friend. The river boat was lovely. My cabin was excellent and well designed. The public areas had been well thought out and had a welcoming feel. We were lucky in our fellow passengers, a small and friendly bunch, many old hands at Viking, so we felt very confident of a delightful river cruise. As it was in many respects...the cabin staff were excellent, the bar staff friendly, the receptionists fine. It was the food! Several people were on special dietary restrictions. Myself included. The galley couldn't cope, the 'Chef', a fat Austrian couldn't cope. They had a repertoire of 3 'special diet' dishes which they presented in rotation. The staff were probably put out as they dumped the plates down without ceremony. I was interested to note that the roast chicken looked dryer and dryer with each outing. The 'special' dishes were served last and often there were no vegetables by that time and had to be asked for. Feeling I was being a problem, I told the waiter any vegetable except beans. He came back with an enormous, enormous plate of beans. Making a point I suppose. On another occasion, someone asked for salad or vegetables and received a small plate of selected vegetables pickled in oil. So many incidents of this petty, spiteful nature went on it, would be boring to repeat. Viking is fine as long as you go along and not cause any inconvenience, is the message I picked up. I did write to the company when I returned, as did some people I believe. I never even received an acknowledgement, I don't know about the others. My experience has taught me to avoid Viking Cruises and this is what I advise when the subject is raised.
Thank you for your excellent summary of the Viking experience. Certainly a line we will look to experience as we like the smaller lines (Azamara/Oceania) and the often bespoke itineraries they offer.
No casinos, art, photos, adults only - you've won me. Where do I book.
Me too.
the food is outstanding. veal in Manfredis was incredible
Right?! Sounds lovely!
It is lovely, these are some of the many aspects I like. What on earth would I want a casino for on holiday?
We took the Paris-Normandy river cruise in 2019. There was a WWII vet and his great grandson aboard. The cruise arranged a special ceremony at the Colleville American Cemetery that was very moving.
As Viking fans we find the low key relaxation of the ships wonderful. It’s like staying in a 5 star Boutique hotel. We don’t gamble, are light drinkers and go to bed early. So Viking fits us perfectly.
Old folks
So, basically, not fun
@@toothybj fun comes in different ways
@@gloriabowie2453 you gonna be old too someday..
I am certainly not old and would love cruising with awesome dinning and service and specially awesome free excursions.!!! It would truly be a five star floating hotel with making you feel truly traveled after. On my bucket list now.
We were cruise holdouts until we discovered Viking a couple years ago. The emphasis on the destinations, the lectures, the adult focus, the egalitarian approach (no butlers, no limited-entry areas), no casino or upselling or formal nights - these all appealed. Once onboard, we were amazed at how empty the ship felt, another plus. And who knew Nordic design could feel so cozy? We loved every minute and have signed up for a second Viking cruise this winter. Thanks for your video. You’ve helped us affirm that Viking is the best fit for us.
We've been on 2 Viking Cruises with a 3rd coming up in the spring. Just a wonderful experience.
What the hell are butlers?
You mention the 'egalitarian approach'. However, I understand that bookings for excursions and speciality dining open for the most expensive cabins first and it works its way down. If you're in the cheapest (but still expensive) cabin, you might not get on the excursion at all.
Yes this happened to us and we ended up cancelling our cruise to Alaska
We had
cruised a few times before this happened but has put us off booking again.
Seven years ago I took our youngest son on a Viking river cruise, Budapest to Amsterdam. It was my first time on Viking; he was the youngest onboard, being 25 then. Everyone got to know him, he was gregarious. Sadly, he passed away in Feb. 2020.
I told my husband I want to do that journey again in 2024
I have two Viking rivers cruises under my belt and one ocean cruise.
Viking all the way!
Susan that's terrible about your son at least you had the River cruise experience with him I hope you enjoy your new one take care and God-bless
I’m so sorry for your loss. May he Rest In Peace.
So sorry for your loss.🙏
Susan, I’m so sorry for your loss! I lost my son in 1994. He was 3 years old.
sorry for your loss but the Viking memory is one to cherish...
Gary, you really helped us realize how good the fit Viking would be for me and my husband. Even the "downside" of the less glitzy shows is not a negative for us. We love the idea of the focus on illuminating the ports of call. We love the more Scandinavian look and the inclusive pricing. Thanks for all the information you provide your fans! Another great review.
Thanks for watching. Great to hear you think Viking will appeal to you! Thanks for the feedback :-)
Tom, I feel the same way. I just wish I could talk my husband into not feeling that he would be awkward and out of place.
Gary I agree that Viking is one of the best experiences ----I did not miss the casino -photos etc the style is very appealing ---also no formal nights
I see a lot of people mention no formal nights with Viking, but what I also notice in all the various videos is that the cruisers seem to dress a lot nicer during the day compared to other cruises. In all the cruises I’ve been on, most wore t-shirts, shorts, and sandals. I’ve never seen cruisers wearing slacks, sweaters, and jeans during the day on a cruise. So even though they don’t have formal night, it’s much more formal anyway. But, I have never been on a European cruise so maybe that’s the difference. 🤷🏼♀️
Viking is amazing. From the moment you leave the security at the airport until you go through security at the end everything is included. The mini bar in your room, the water crafts delivered twice a day. The tours I would pick anyway. The speciality coffee. An amazing spa, everybody gets a veranda. No nickel and dime once you get aboard. Alcohol at meal times can never stop if you want to . It was all I wanted. The food is amazing even in the main restaurant and buffet. You don't have to pay extra to get the good food. The speciality food was excellent and didn't cost more. Speciality coffee doesn't cost extra. I had excellent free wifi I was able to video conference with family and friends without a problem. Tour them around the ship without loosing reception. The shows are smaller but well done. I have always found the production shows on other cruises were hokky, cheap and crap so I found their shows to be a not big cheap productions but quality entertainment most related to ports of call. The staff are very happy. They are treated very well and it shows. Other cruises you can see unhappy staff and feel bad for how they are made to work. No casino so no smoke wafting through the inside of the ship. It was a small out of the way spot on the top outside deck that I never encountered. Perfect for an asthmatic. The only thing I paid extra was my souvenirs when touring. If you want to pay cheap upfront and pay, pay and pay more and be harassed by staff to buy, buy, buy this is not your cruise. Since there was nothing to get trapped to buy there were not many sea days like other ships who have numerous sea days to get you to spend more money. Other cruises just want more money. Viking wants you to have an amazing tour and vacation and they achieve it hands down. I will save up for my Viking experience because I know it will be amazing and I won't be disappointed. I didn't want to leave. Other cruises made me feel like a trapped animal and couldn't get off fast enough.Viking treats you with respect, not just something to get more money out of. Even if you are just starting ou Viking there are a lot of perks. You would have to go on 10 cruises on another line to get what you get on your first cruise with Viking. The only downside is you won't want your cruise to end but it does.
I mean, it's Nordic. Not having coffee included would be like a British cruise ship not having tea.
That being said, it does sound pretty amazing.
@@HrHaakonSpecialty coffees are not included. Drip/brew coffee is. At least that's what the are saying on my upcoming ocean cruise.
@@margaretash9706 I’m going in June - the website info wording is confusing regarding what you get included already and when. When I read it carefully, it appears that the house beer + wine is only included (“free”) during the ~2 hour window while you’re having lunch or dinner. They say specialty coffee drinks available free 24/7. 🤷♀️
Viking offers what they call a “butterfly” cruise. It combines both an ocean cruise and a river cruise. Best of both worlds.
That’s very interesting!
@@davidl.6509 In the current catalog they offer it as one cruise from Bergen Norway to Basel Switzerland.
8:26 As a Norwegian myself I love the comment about the decor, because I see this and think "Wow, what a glammed up (yet sensible) version of Scandinavian style."
My goodness! You have found the cruise line for me! I was a Travel Agent two decades ago, and knew of Viking, but this fits my personality. I love the Scandinavia style, fantastic food, no children, quality service and “thinking” on my cruise.
Viking is very Expensive.
@@gloriabowie2453 But a lot is included…
@@gloriabowie2453 you get what you pay for. They do offer discounts. I was looking at a brochure that came to my home recently and many cruises were significantly discounted. I do want some quieter time with a less frenetic pace and decor. I have traveled on Princess, Carnival, the QE2, Norwegian and Holland America. I did not care for Carnival. I enjoyed my cruise, but it was way too loud and busy for me. The nice thing about cruising is you can choose to pick a style that works for you. I would prefer to cruise less often if it was a higher cost and went where we wanted with this level of luxury, will satisfy my love of learning and top notch service.
Thanks for this helpful overview. No casino, included tips, at-meal drinks, and no children, photographers, or art auctions sounds wonderful. Not for everyone but very nice to have this option.
CORRECTION: You can pay for tips ahead of time, otherwise it is $15 per person per day. They are NOT included.
Love Viking.
Service, food, facilities and environment all very high quality.
It's an adult oriented, more sophisticated experience. In general this attracts a more discerning and mature customer.
This is the reason why there isn't a casino, waterslides, ping-pong tables and brash, loud entertainment.
Long may it continue.
I am really glad I watched this. Most cruises are way too glitzy for me and I generally prefer a much lower key kind of travel. I will definitely look into Viking.
I watched the entire video and maybe I missed it but I kept waiting for you to use the term 'civilized'. That's what I'd call a cruise without a casino or a gargantuan water slide. And what, no Formula 1 race cars crashing into each other. I'm sure I'm in the minority here but I actually prefer the small home grown entertainment at night. I don't need the big block buster Broadway productions. How about a glass of wine and some basic good song and dance.
That is a great word to describe it!!!
Suits me too!!!
this sounds perfect for a beginner cruiser to try. thanks for the info
@@Daniel-ed4wv , as long as the beginner is over 50.
I didn't go to any of the shows on my 2 week Viking cruise of the Baltic. Plenty of more interesting things to do, like chat and sip whisky while listening to the live pianist or live string quartet in the Atrium. One evening we just sat in the bar on the top deck and watched the sun go down as we cruised near Norway, it was gone 10pm by the time the sun went down fully.
We actually love that all the Viking Ocean ships are identical. Every time we board a ship, even if we've never sailed with her before, we feel like we're coming home. We know exactly where everything is and all the wonderful secrets we've learned through the years.
Very interesting review. I like the idea of adults only, inclusive fares and consistency of the onboard experience across the fleet.
On the point of the ships being copies of each other, I think it is a somewhat smart business decision for Viking to have minimal differences between the ships as the idea would be to get cruisers to choose their trip based on the itinerary rather than the ship.
Agree ! Good point
I agree!
Its also a great $$$ saver for the manufacturing process of these ships. Same design specs, parts and implementation processes
@@rubberroast1598
And the same spare parts fit everywhere.
My wife and I did the Viking 'In Search of The Northern Lights' cruise in March of 2022 and it was amazing! We are looking forward to Christmas on the Rhine in early December...can't wait!
You had me at "no gratuities" and "adults only." Who cares if the ships are the same? It makes it easy to select by cabin type ans itinerary.
This is absolutely untrue. You can add gratuities to your initial invoice, or you can pay it at the end of your cruise.
Gratuities aren't included in my upcoming trip on Viking.
"Thinking person's cruise line"? I'm in!
Seriously, my dream cruise is Viking's Northern Lights cruise. I love cold and winter (live in Minnesota) and seeing the aurora is on my bucket list. Toss in some interesting lectures, guided excursions, excellent food, and it's my perfect trip.
Now I just need to save up for a solo fare or find a cruise partner ;-)
Sometimes I wish there was a forum/app to find fellow solo cruisers to share cabins. Gods know I can't afford the solo price every single time ):
I took this cruise. We only saw a bit of the northern lights, but we still loved it.
I would love that too! We should talk!
@@pianoonparade Me either. I’m a widow.
There are services to link up solo travelers who want to share a cabin with a stranger ... I don't want that. For one thing, I snore :-)
Gary, I watch cruise reviews all the time and I have to say that this Viking review was perhaps the best I’ve seen. You covered all aspects of the line. Nice work.
My wife and I did a Viking river cruise in 2015; our experience was consistent with Gary's review of the Ocean-going version. We liked that we were not getting nickel-dimed every time you took a corner.
Viking is my favorite - another in Nov. for us….Greek Odyssey! The hotel experience is wonderful but the focus on shore experiences are superb! Both the free and optional experiences are the best. As the owner says: “It’s the thinking man’s company NOT the drinking man’s…”
Greek Odyssey in April for us!
We have only cruised on Viking Ocean and we love it! No kids, no casinos, no selling stuff - we are gong on Greek Odyssey in NOV. Just hoping it all goes down…..
@@jeannieinns7795 - we will be on 11/21 NOV trip…
Adult-only 18 and over suits me for sure!
Sounds perfect to me. 😀 I would feel far more relaxed on this line. Thank you for the information. Keep safe.
Thanks for watching. Great to hear you found it interesting
Im from Norway and you can really see that the owner is from here, the picture behind you I think is from Bryggen in Bergen wich is the ships homeport, the big model of the sailing ship in the back ground is still on service and you can do cruises on it:) Love ur video:)
Thanks, great to hear!
Ben and David did a great vlog about the food, and they said it was without a doubt…by far…the best they’ve ever had.
River cruises are not handicap adapted, so they are out.
I received an Oceania catalog today. I have two large questions: 1. Can I cruise solo? 2. I use a power wheelchair after a Military accident. Is this not the line for me? I want smaller ships, all inclusive and few (or no) airplanes. I have used up my once-in-a-lifetime jet crash limit.
Should I go Oceania or Viking?
We’ve only done Viking River Cruises, but it always feels like we’ve come home when we first board. I love that!!
Viking really takes care of you!
Thanks for your love and support
Where do you write from Jennifer??
Nice meeting with you Jennifer...do you have a gmail address or WhatsApp I can write to you on my free time....
@@thomaslindegaardmadsen2770 no
We have never cruised but your channel and Emma Cruises (quite different outlooks but both with a real passion for cruising) have convinced me that we really need to try it. I was really struggling with choosing a cruise line though and this video has been especially helpful. Viking sounds as though it would suit us perfectly. It seems to have a real focus on the things that matter to us. Like many of the others who have commented, big glitzy shows aren’t really our thing, we aren’t especially bothered about a casino and we love the whole light touch, all inclusive scandi-outlook that Viking bring. Thanks for a really helpful video Gary!
It's just so much classy compared to the other curise ship. If I ever have enough money to go on a cruise this will be the one. Thank you like your videos. So informative.
A plus for me on Viking is that all cabins have King Beds. Thanks for a review that is right on.
I have cruised on Viking several times. I love it. So relaxing, no hype, great food.
Smaller ships, fewer passengers, all inclusive I enjoyed on 2 River boats, (China Yantzee and Danube), plus one ocean cruise convinced me I can barely wait to take another Viking Cruise, so we booked their 2024 World Cruise.
Smaller ocean ships mean they can sail into more ports, that the larger ships can not sail into.
I wish all Costco warehouses had the same layout, like the Viking ships.
Have been on 3 trips on Viking and loved it . 2 in Europe and one on the yang tse river in China. Loved every one. The food in China was great . Lots of different types of Chinese food. And different types of European food too. I don’t care a bout glitz, drinking the night away and gambling. I enjoy the easy pace and there’s a lot of cultural entertainment. After the pandemic I hope to some more cruising with them. We’re already booked on one going on the northern rivers in thr u
My wife and I have greatly enjoyed eight Viking river cruises so far since we retired in 2012. We booked two more river cruises but these have been pushed forward until 2022 because of Covid and we have also booked our first ocean cruise for 2023. We can’t wait to be cruising again with Viking. Their attention to detail, the staff on board, the tour guides in each port and their ability and willingness to sort out issues when things don’t quite work out is exceptional.
The Viking combination river/ocean trip is at the very top of my Bucket List! The ocean ship is so lovely.
I adore Viking. I love that there aren’t glitzy, sometimes cringeworthy shows. I love that its adult only. I love that the theme is enrichment. The spa is complete zen, as well as the simple yet elegant decor. But above all the food is amazing!
Finally, a brand that checked the right boxes for me! Thank you!
Great to hear !
I'm glad you enjoyed your Viking Venus cruise! I'm watching this video in my balcony stateroom aboard Viking Orion(back to back Bermuda cruises, onboard two weeks)before I dress for the evening with cocktails in The Living Room then going to dinner at The Restaurant. This is my fourth Viking Ocean cruise & I must say each cruise is better than the last! The onboard ambiance is definitely unique to anything I've ever experienced.
Nice!!! I’m envious 😀😀😀
Good to hear!
So great to hear!
I don't understand why a Viking ocean cruise is unique. Mine was perfect, why would any ocean cruise be any different?
Could not agree more. The one thing you missed was the spa, which is surely the best of any cruise line. Entrance is included in your fare, which means you can access separate men’s and women’s dressing and lounge areas, saunas, and showers, as well as the available-to-all huge hydro pools, steam rooms, Viking’s signature “snow” room, lounge area, etc. This area also includes a wonderful and fully-equipped workout area. Available for extra cost are massages, nail salon, hair salon, facials, etc. I can attest to the fantastic massages.
As you mentioned, the service is superb, with staff remembering names very quickly.
We started out as river cruisers, so we love the relatively quiet ships. No casino! No children!
I've been on two Viking river cruises which I loved. In May of '22 we're going on a Viking ocean cruise. Can't wait and was heartened by your review.
We recently booked our second Viking cruise. Absolutely love the retractable roof at the pool and the overall design!
Wow! The way you described it re Scandinavian light decor, food, entertainment, art, port talks, all-inclusive for food, wine, wifi, port excursion, gratuities looks like this is the cruise line for me. Thank you and God bless you.
My wife and I feel right at home with the Viking Ocean decor. Most of our home furnishings are Scandinavian teak
I'd be drawn to Viking for the adult cruising alone. A few years ago I went on a Celebrity X cruise that only had about 15 or so kids on the whole ship, and it was noticeably a much better experience. No thumping up and down the halls and stair cases, no sticky little fingers in the buffet dishes, and no hogging the hot tubs.
Agree. I’m a big fan of adult-only cruises
I was unaware that Viking offered ocean cruises. Their approach seems like it would make for an enjoyable and relaxing experience. Definitely worth checking out what's available.
Looking forward to my Viking Cruise in 2022. Thanks for your experience it just reinforces why we booked with Viking.
This is my favorite report that you have done so far. Thanks!
Thanks! Great to hear 😀
Simply put, if you pay a quite huge fare you'll have included nearly all the things you pay extra for on other cruise lines. You'll need to have ways of entertaining yourself and enjoy the company of generally pretty old passengers. You'll either enjoy the quiet, sophisticated, relaxed atmosphere or you'll be terribly bored and long for something a bit more lively.
My husband and I enjoyed greatly two ocean cruises in the last four years: the Mediterranean and the Baltic which included the northern part of Norway and Scotland ending in London. we love Viking for all the reasons stated here ....destinations... good food... wonderful staff and the smaller size thank you for this great review Gary
Did your ship cruise into London and under Tower Bridge? That's something of a bucket list item for me. I think Viking's ships might be too large to do it though.
Thanks very much, Gary. We have been mostly Holland America cruisers, but we chose Viking for a Caribbean cruise a couple of years ago because we wanted to be on a smaller ship. It is a shame that HAL sold off most of its smaller ships. We had sailed on Veendam, Statendam, and Prinsendam, and loved the experience. Our Viking cruise was on Viking Sea, and it was quite pleasant, though we had a couple of problems with the food. The San Juan evening sailaway dinner offered seafood, but we found that some of the crab was still frozen solid. Later, we had two occasions where the beef was overcooked. Viking was kind enough to send us very generous future cruise credit because of these disappointments, and promised to address the problems. People planning to use Viking's air bookings need to know that they are rather restrictive, and that there are up-charges for any deviations from the scheduled plan. If you want to arrive or depart on days other than embarkation or debarkation, there is a price. People might do better booking on their own, but then airport transfers are on their own. Other than that, it was a wonderful cruise which we plan to repeat as a winter getaway (we live in northern New England), and we will be on their British Isles Explorer cruise next summer. In talking with the very friendly crew members, we learned that many of them came to Viking from Holland America and were well-trained and very proficient. We do not miss the casinos or the pushy sales attempts. Holland America seems more and more "Carnivalized" than it used to be. Torstein Hagen has done a magnificent job standing up a new ocean cruise line, and we look forward to more adventures at sea with them!
I liked how you approached telling about what a Viking cruise experience is like using more of a reporter type of approach rather than a seller type of approach in your report about Viking. I also liked how you brought out the difference between Viking and other traditional cruise lines and that these differences might be positive or negative factors for some people in evaluating if they would like to sail on Viking.
Thanks, great to hear this
You’re so right about the food. As much as I love Manfredi’s and The Chef’s Table, some of the best meals I’ve had are in the MDR.
Sold! Best “advert” for Viking I’ve ever seen. It’s just what I would want in an on board experience.
Viking is exactly what I prefer in cruise ships. Relaxing, being pampered, superb food, and refreshing decor are great. Being all inclusive without having to keep an eye on added expenses makes them a winner.
I dream of getting on my next Viking cruise...Not sure where yet....but definitely the best cruise experience I've ever had...and I've cruised on quite a few different lines..Viking rocks!
Thank you Gary for your review of Viking Ocean cruises. It sounds like my preferred type of cruising experience. I will have to consider Viking in my cruise plans.
Thanks for watching. Definitely consider them !
Thank you Gary, you set my mind at ease. We are doing our first Viking Ocean on a transatlantic this November, after loving Viking river cruises. We get plenty of excitement at work, we go on vacation to relax, so no kids, no waterslides, no bungee jumping, and no pushy salespeople is just fine with us.
An ocean cruise that was basically "Viking River plus more" is pretty much what we were looking for. The civilized, adult, smart, all inclusive nature of the cruise is what we think we want. I'll let you know when we get back!
Nice trip ! Great to hear this helped and I appreciate you watching
Great review. Looking forward to a Viking Ocean cruise in the coming year. Until then we are taking a Viking River Cruise (our 2nd). All the things you touched upon were applicable and accurate. The food on our river cruise was fantastic, but it was the personal touch service provided which truly resonated with us. It isn't for every cruiser, but for those who like all-inclusive and destination oriented cruises, with top level service this is worth a try.
Thanks for watching! Great to hear your experience
Exactly!
Really enjoyed your take on Viking. We have been on the edge about booking on Viking. Your opinion helps a lot.
Thanks. Glad it helped
Don’t forget to mention the Nordic spa. It’s the best of all the cruises that I have been on. We love travelling with Viking.
Great review! We have cruised with Viking before and we love Viking. Your review was spot on. We are booked for a Mediterranean Cruise with the in May 2022 and looking forward to cruise again.
This is starting to sound just about right. I'm going to have to look into this a bit more.
Sedate elegance. Without being overly stuffy.
Seems nice.
Thanks for the info, have fun.
Finally, after many hours of Gary's videos, a cruise line I might consider.
Thanks for the heads-up, Gary 😀
Try Oceania
Thanking you Gary...booked my first cruise, a Cunard Transatlantic Cruise, your channel made a huge difference for me!🌹🌹🌹
Wonderful!
Boy it sounds good to me. When you get on again, you know where everything is. No stress, no kids, all inclusive. To me, this is exactly what I’d like! Love the lectures, too. I have done all the late night stuff, so a quieter restful cruise sounds lovely.
This looks great !!! I like the fact that you are not constantly being sold something, casinos, etc.
I’ve done a few of their river cruises, loved them. I’m a solo traveler and last time I called for a price and told the fellow some of us solo would sleep in a broom closet just to get a lower price. Guy told me they really didn’t cater nor need solo travelers. I’ve never looked at any of their brochures since
Any cruise sales rep who tells you they don't cater to solo cruisers are "missing the boat": singles are 1/3 of the US population, but I guess this rep doesn't know that statistic. He brushes all all solo cruisers with the same brush: we're party animals, not sophisticated travelers who want a good experience at an affordable fare. Perhaps if you use a cruise-based TA, he or she might give you a better quote than this so-called sales rep.
A couple of points.
1. Gratuities are not included for passengers that book from the US. I imagine that you booked from the UK, no?
2. We pay for as much as possible before the cruise in US dollars, as the ship currency is Euros. For example an excursion or drinks package that costs $100 dollars before the cruise, costs €100 on the cruise, a savings of about 18%.
You are correct that booking in the US we do have added gratuities. Quoted from their website: "To save you worry over whom to tip and how much, we automatically add a discretionary hotel and dining charge of $15.00 USD per guest per day to your shipboard account, which appears on your final invoice at the end of your cruise. This charge will be shared among the onboard staff who helped support and provide your cruise experience, including the waitstaff, stateroom stewards, buffet stewards, galley staff, laundry staff and others. Please note this charge excludes bar gratuity; a 15% gratuity is automatically added to bar, beverage, wine and deck service tabs."
look like this ocean liner is just like others in service charges but cost quite a lot more for food...no?
@@slchang01 Yes, and there are also at least one included excursion in each port, and the smaller ships can get into places that large ships can’t go. In many ports we can just walk to the sights. When a bus is needed, it’s included, and they usually fill the bus only half full.
@@Oakridger2024I don’t like when tip is automatically added.. the whole point of tips is to reward outstanding service..
Viking seems to be most in line with how I would prefer cruising. Though I have enjoyed Celebrity.
Viking combined two completely distinct trips we had (they were a few weeks apart) into one "butterfly" trip. We didn't ask them to do so, the trips were booked totally independent of each other. When we had to cancel the first (under the risk free guarantee), we were told this would also cancel the second trip. What? Wait, why? "Oh, this is our policy for "butterfly trips." OK, so give us the risk free guarantee for both trips, we'll rebook the second. "Oh, we can give you the voucher (two trips worth of money), but it can only be applied to one trip in the future." What? Wait, why? "Oh, this is our policy for "butterfly trips." Viking is a huge corporation, we are just two customers....Viking's response when we spoke to a supervisor (Regina). "Oh, sometimes you don't get everything you want in this world." Viking could care less about their customers.....
Very informative video. One minor nit-pick: when you discuss Carbon Copies, at about 5:30 in, you contrast Viking with Azamara. They are, in fact, quite similar in this regard. Azamara's three ships are sister ships, differing only in trivial respects because they are about 15 years older and were refurbished at different times. Having cruised with both, I'd say Azamara is probably the closest to Viking in most respects. The ships are about the same size, the focus on destinations is similar, they also include beer/wine/gratuities. Viking includes a few more things in the fare, such as wi-fi and one shore excursion per port, but the bottom line costs will be similar. All things considered, I don't think a vacationer can go wrong with either.
TYVM! Viking does tend to have lots of fans. I bet I would love it; but the difference in single-supplements means it will tend to be more expensive than ultra luxury lines. Which feels wrong.
Gary, I certainly don't have your cruising experience but for what it is worth I found that Norwegian was Asda, Holland America was Sainsbury and Viking was Fortnum and Mason
Like that analogy 😀😀😀
I have watched all of your videos on Viking Ocean and also some of the Viking River videos and I have to say that you do a very good job of describing both the many pluses and few minuses of the Ocean ships. We did a Viking river cruise in France in 2018 and liked it so much we booked another river cruise and the Iconic Mediterranean cruise (Barcelona to Rome) set for this September. Looking forward to this cruise especially after seeing your videos.
Thanks, great to hear your feedback and experience !
This is a very informative video. I have done one Viking river cruise in France about four years ago and I really enjoyed the quality of service and the intimate atmosphere. I wanted to find an ocean cruise line that provided the same. Although not as small as the Azamara ships (690 passengers as opposed to Viking's 930), it appears that much of what I enjoyed on my Viking river cruise is part of Viking's ocean cruises.
Thanks for watching, and greta to hear you found it informative !
Sounds like a relaxing vacation focused on learning about history... perfect.
We've been on two Viking river cruises. Absolutely loved them. Viking does have great service and they treat you like a guest, not a wallet.
Yes, because they already taken your wallet
As long as I don't have to cook and clean. I'm being served, I can have room service if I want. I can go to different entertainment events.or just hang out on deck and watch the Ocean
@@gloriabowie2453 Troll
Gary, I had always wanted to go on Viking. I contacted them & found out there is no access if you’re in a wheelchair. Kinda surprised u didn’t mention this. Really sad about it. 😢😢😢
I am a big Viking fan. After my Cunard cruise on Queen Elizabeth where I felt It was marketing at you morning noon and night , the Viking approach was so refreshing. I left the Cunard cruise saying never again but was persuaded to try Viking and my second Viking cruise is already booked only delayed due to the pandemic.
We throughly enjoyed our Grand European River Cruise in 2019 and are looking forward to our Panama cruise next year. Viking does everything well.
We took a Viking ocean cruise a couple of years ago and it was truly wonderful! The service was excellent and the crew did everything to make the trip memorable from food to cabin service to being available. Right after we boarded, I went in search of one of the specialty restaurants where we had made reservation before sailing. A very nice crew person asked me if I needed help and I said yes - she took me to the restaurant. She was the Cruise Director - she didn't just tell me how to get there, she took me there. We took several of the offered tours, but did opt for a couple of the ones that cost extra, including a trip to Berlin that was truly memorable. Our stateroom included laundry service - well worth the extra money. We have already scheduled another Viking ocean cruise for next year! I must also mention the persons I spoke with when booking the cruises - so helpful and efficient and personable. The food was marvelous!
Thank you very much for providing some comparison of Viking with other luxury lines. We've done 3 river (Europe, China/Tibet, Russia) and one ocean (Caribbean) cruises on Viking, and have definitely found our niche. We have three more Viking cruises booked over the next 18 months. Our only other cruise was in 2006, in the Aegean on Louis Lines (I think they're now Celestyal). Although they were a budget line, we were very satisfied with them also. We are destination-focused on historical sites, so the modest onboard entertainment is not a problem for us.
They are good for port intensive trips. Sea days would be quite boring.
Viking is my favorite cruise line hands down! I like adults only cruises. We cruised the Baltic, the food is top notch! Loved high tea! The tours were fun.
The all inclusive fares makes it easier to budget and cuts down on surprises. Beer and wine included at meals is huge plus.
I love pretty much everything about Viking. If there is one thing I could do without, it is the included excursions. They mostly consist of “panoramic” bus rides with a few stops. Optional Viking excursions can be pretty nice, but a bit expensive.
I have to disagree with you on this. I have been on two Viking river cruises and two Viking ocean cruises and my overall impressions was that the included excursions were mostly walking. More time was spent with our feet on the ground than with our butts in bus seats. I suspect the local excursions available are dependant on the specific tour. I remember on our Nuremberg excursion thinking that the bus ride was long, then they dumped us out and before we finished walking we were missing the bus. In Vienna it was a short bus ride and a very long walk. You can probably quote some examples in opposition to mine. Over all, I have no complaints.
@@ronaldhorne5106 I am glad to hear you have had mostly good experiences on the included excursions. Certainly some of ours were pretty good.
As a budding travel agent, your videos are sooo informative and helpful. Better than the classes we are required to take
Budding travel agent? I gave up on that career years ago. Well, good luck
My wife and I took A Viking cruise (Athens-Venice) last year. We loved the ship and the onboard experience: the food and the staff were great. Some of the optional excursions were overpriced and a few involved 1-2h bus rides each way to reach less-than-impressive venues. Perhaps it was a one-off but they cancelled the last scheduled port-of-call (Koper) and we spent 2 nights in Chioggia instead. This was apparently because of issues docking the ship closer to Venice. However, this caused us and many others problems getting transportation to our off-ship destinations. We ended up having to pay an exorbitant amount for a 20-minute water-taxi ride to our hotel on Murano. On our return, my wife complained, and Viking refunded our taxi fare. A few weeks after our return, I got an AT&T bill for about $9000 in roaming charges for the first four days of our trip; this was despite purchasing day passes and using cellular data only on land or when in port. I immediately disputed this and the issue was eventually resolved in my favor. The free onboard wifi is really slow, prompting us to use cellular data; what Viking doesn't tell you (the AT&T rep told me roaming charges would apply in International waters-12 nautical miles from shore) is that when you are on the ship in port, even well within range of land towers, its satellite network takes over your signal and charges you about $2K/GB for data--without notification. It seems AT&T does not have a "cruise package" with Viking, yet they handle the billing. These shocking phone bills ruined what should have been pleasant memories of our anniversary cruise. I received no reply from Viking after I wrote to express my disappointment about this.
Living in Bermuda, we have Viking Orion “homeporting” here for 8-day cruises around Bermuda only, so we get to see her often in various places, often only 50 yards from our Front St coffee shop! She’s a beautiful ship and I only wish they did some shorter 2-3 night cruises: would jump at the opportunity to get aboard her. Thanks for your great video (as always )!
Thank you! I have been on the Viking river but never the Ocean cruise. I love Viking river! Hope to try the Ocean cruise some day when Covid is settled.
Fantastic and comprehensive review👏👏👏. You answered many of my questions about the line as I seriously contemplate booking. Thank you Gary!
What tremendous information Gary, thank you! This will suit me to perfection!
We are veterans of Viking's river cruises but are looking forward to our first Viking ocean cruise in the spring. The service has always been outstanding and we LOVE the Scandinavian lightness and luxury of the furnishings. Viking is a great way to travel!
Gary, thank you for your video. We were fortunate enough to experience Viking cruising and it was one of the best experiences we had. We did not miss the glitz of the shows (though we do enjoy a great show). I definitely did not miss the casinos or the photos. I love Vikings approach to “the thinking man” cruise. I can’t wait to experience another voyage with Viking. Also, The retractable roof in inclement weather is a PLUS!!
Great stuff gary …pondering a Viking experience..having only done P&O …think it might be a step up
It’s definitely a big step up from P&O
We started cruising with Viking Ocean in 2018 and were super impressed, loving all the things you talk about in this video. If you have not been on their Expedition ships yet, you need to try those out....a wonderful experience. Good job on the video Gary!
Viking is more about the destinations than life on ship, plus being smaller their ships can get closer to certain ports. For example we took the China cruise and the ship was able to go up the river and dock right in the middle of the city. The bigger ships have to dock at the mouth of the river and bus over an hour into Shanghai. Also no kids is a huge bonus, HUGE.
Watching this reminded me of my Viking River Cruise I took a few years ago with a friend. The river boat was lovely. My cabin was excellent and well designed. The public areas had been well thought out and had a welcoming feel. We were lucky in our fellow passengers, a small and friendly bunch, many old hands at Viking, so we felt very confident of a delightful river cruise. As it was in many respects...the cabin staff were excellent, the bar staff friendly, the receptionists fine. It was the food! Several people were on special dietary restrictions. Myself included. The galley couldn't cope, the 'Chef', a fat Austrian couldn't cope. They had a repertoire of 3 'special diet' dishes which they presented in rotation. The staff were probably put out as they dumped the plates down without ceremony. I was interested to note that the roast chicken looked dryer and dryer with each outing. The 'special' dishes were served last and often there were no vegetables by that time and had to be asked for. Feeling I was being a problem, I told the waiter any vegetable except beans. He came back with an enormous, enormous plate of beans. Making a point I suppose. On another occasion, someone asked for salad or vegetables and received a small plate of selected vegetables pickled in oil. So many incidents of this petty, spiteful nature went on it, would be boring to repeat. Viking is fine as long as you go along and not cause any inconvenience, is the message I picked up.
I did write to the company when I returned, as did some people I believe. I never even received an acknowledgement, I don't know about the others. My experience has taught me to avoid Viking Cruises and this is what I advise when the subject is raised.
Thank you for your excellent summary of the Viking experience. Certainly a line we will look to experience as we like the smaller lines (Azamara/Oceania) and the often bespoke itineraries they offer.
Thanks for watching 👍🏻👍🏻