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.
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!
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.
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."
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 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.
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. 🤷🏼♀️
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.
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.
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!
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.
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. 🤷♀️
"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 ;-)
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.
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…..
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.
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:)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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!
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.
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!
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.
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
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!
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.
Gary, I had no clue Viking even existed. I live in St. Louis and have always wanted to do a river cruise + love history and learning. I just went to their website and they have several cruises on the Mississippi! OMG! I'm gonna make this happen, thank you so much!
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.
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.
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
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.
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!
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.
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 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 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!
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.
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.
Very interesting video, especially when you work in this field ^^. You said that you like smaller ships, I can recommand you the french company Ponant which is really interesting. Have a nice day
Love your videos, but want to point out that, per Viking's web site, gratuities are NOT included. You indicated (at about 2:30 into your video) that gratuities were included. Perhaps a recent change?
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.
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!!
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?
Leaving on my 3rd Viking cruise on the 28th. We love their cruises and the smaller ships. It’s funny because the room you showed on this video (3021) was our room number on our last cruise! Thanks for sharing!
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 )!
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!
Do the Bridge tour, not the Galley "tour." The latter is contrived and won't give you the inside scoop on how the Galley operates to prepare your food. All it will give is an overview what the Galley looks like on the other side of the swinging door, along with trays filled with goodies prepared in advance. I've done a Galley tour aboard Costa's Carla C in '91, so I know what a Galley "tour" involves. A Bridge tour, OTOH, is more informative, and provides tour members with a better idea about how the ship is controlled from this command center.
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.
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.
As a veteran of 3 Viking cruises, your description is quite accurate. However, you missed the fitness center and spa. They are awesome on Viking ocean cruises.
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.
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...
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.
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."
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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
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
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. 🤷♀️
"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 :-)
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.
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.
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…
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.
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!
This is my favorite report that you have done so far. Thanks!
Thanks! Great to hear 😀
A plus for me on Viking is that all cabins have King Beds. Thanks for a review that is right on.
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.
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.
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?
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 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 have cruised on Viking several times. I love it. So relaxing, no hype, great food.
The Viking combination river/ocean trip is at the very top of my Bucket List! The ocean ship is so lovely.
We recently booked our second Viking cruise. Absolutely love the retractable roof at the pool and the overall design!
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.
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
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.
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
This looks great !!! I like the fact that you are not constantly being sold something, casinos, etc.
Looking forward to my Viking Cruise in 2022. Thanks for your experience it just reinforces why we booked with 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!
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 !
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.
Finally, after many hours of Gary's videos, a cruise line I might consider.
Thanks for the heads-up, Gary 😀
Try Oceania
Sold! Best “advert” for Viking I’ve ever seen. It’s just what I would want in an on board experience.
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!
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
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 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!
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.
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.
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!
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.
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 😀😀😀
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
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.
Gary, I had no clue Viking even existed. I live in St. Louis and have always wanted to do a river cruise + love history and learning. I just went to their website and they have several cruises on the Mississippi! OMG! I'm gonna make this happen, thank you so much!
If you like river cruises, AMA Waterways is a great company that never disappoints. It is US owned, and my experiences have always been very good
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 !
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.
Thanking you Gary...booked my first cruise, a Cunard Transatlantic Cruise, your channel made a huge difference for me!🌹🌹🌹
Wonderful!
Finally, a brand that checked the right boxes for me! Thank you!
Great to hear !
Gary, I enjoy your videos. Great information and well researched. All the Best
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
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 !
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.
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!
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..
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.
What tremendous information Gary, thank you! This will suit me to perfection!
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
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.
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
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 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!
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.
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.
Absolutely LOVE this review! Love to see the smaller ships too!
Oceania is good too, only 400 people on one I went on. Gratuities, drinks and all excursions were not included, though. High tea is fantastic!
Very interesting video, especially when you work in this field ^^. You said that you like smaller ships, I can recommand you the french company Ponant which is really interesting. Have a nice day
Thanks for the video Gary. It has got me thinking whether to try them out for our next cruise.
Love your videos, but want to point out that, per Viking's web site, gratuities are NOT included. You indicated (at about 2:30 into your video) that gratuities were included. Perhaps a recent change?
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 👍🏻👍🏻
My friend and I have taken a few river and a couple of ocean cruises & we love it. Will go again, the soonest.
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!!
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?
Leaving on my 3rd Viking cruise on the 28th. We love their cruises and the smaller ships. It’s funny because the room you showed on this video (3021) was our room number on our last cruise! Thanks for sharing!
Brilliant and detailed look at Viking. Love it! Also - BONUS CONTENT - Gary IN THE BATH! 😂
:-) :-)
We throughly enjoyed our Grand European River Cruise in 2019 and are looking forward to our Panama cruise next year. Viking does everything well.
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 )!
my husband is a pastry sous chef there. i hope you enjoyed their pastries.😊
Gary, you live the life of Riley! Thanks so much for sharing your adventures...
Yes, he does. However, Gary being an Englishman, I wonder if he is familiar with 1950’s American TV shows.
I still enjoy using that saying as well. 🤓
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!
Adult-only 18 and over suits me for sure!
Love every features, specially talks instead of shows!
Another great addition are the "behind the scenes" tours of the galley and the bridge.
Do the Bridge tour, not the Galley "tour." The latter is contrived and won't give you the inside scoop on how the Galley operates to prepare your food. All it will give is
an overview what the Galley looks like on the other side of the swinging door, along with trays filled with goodies prepared in advance. I've done a Galley tour aboard Costa's Carla C in '91, so I know what a Galley "tour" involves. A Bridge tour, OTOH, is more informative, and provides tour members with a better idea about how the ship is controlled from this command center.
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.
Dear Gary Thank you for this interesting review of Viking. I very much enjoy listening to your clear voice and your refined accent.
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.
Going on my second one next week. Then going on another Viking cruise this summer. So excited. They are great great great.
As a veteran of 3 Viking cruises, your description is quite accurate. However, you missed the fitness center and spa. They are awesome on Viking ocean cruises.
Viking seems to be most in line with how I would prefer cruising. Though I have enjoyed Celebrity.