Reading through the “Viking Daily” progam for the first day of the cruise, it leaped
out at me.
Over the next few days, I confirmed it.
Viking Ocean cruises has three issues, and one big deal breaker for most cruisers, that
I had not fully appreciated on my first cruise last year.
I’m Gary Bembridge.
Welcome aboard as I revisit Viking Cruises with fresh eyes.
The daily program on the cruise, a 7-night Venice to Athens, was light on activities,
especially versus other ocean cruise lines.
There was one activity per time slot, and none when excursions were out.
And the approach of the daily program felt very familiar.
It was just like European river cruises.
Which is where Viking started before launching into ocean.
While most ocean lines make much of offering lots of variety and choice, leaving it up
to guests to pick and tailor their cruise, Viking don’t.
They have a slimmed down, tightly curated, and enrichment-focused program.
This meant that as the cruise progressed it was clear everyone was having pretty much
the same, or very similar, experience as I was – just like when river cruising.
A major contributor to this shared and consistent experience is the excursion included in every
port.
From what I could see, pretty much everyone went on them.
Just as on river.
Take for example in Dubrovnik.
There were over 20 groups going on the same walking tour that day.
On other ocean cruise lines, there are myriads of excursions, with everyone going off doing
different things and having different experiences.
On Viking, everybody does the same thing.
They share the same experiences.
Even those going on the small range of added cost excursions usually do the included tour
before or afterwards.
We all saw the same sights, learnt the same history, and heard the same facts about the
ports.
And we all spoke about it.
Even when it came to dining, we all shared the same experience.
All the dining venues are included, including the two specialty restaurants, The Chef’s
Table (5-course tasting menu) and Manfredi's (an Italian) which everyone is able to do
at least once.
And so all do, meaning another shared and consistent experience.
There is another import from river cruising too.
River cruising runs very much as an escorted tour would, with structure and constant guidance.
Viking Ocean also felt to me a guided, almost paternalistic experience, versus other ocean
cruise lines.
Let me explain.
They don’t work through travel agents and prefer to work directly with us as passengers
often by phone.
They sell the cruise packaged with flights and transfers mostly, and so they guide and
control more of our travel.
When I arrived in Venice airport to join the cruise, I had been sent a sticker to identify
me as a guest, and luggage tags so I would be easily spotted coming through security.
There was a sea of Viking Reps in the airport to guide and assist.
People to spot me coming through, people to check me in, people to whisk away the bags,
people to shepherd me to the bus.
The morning announcement from the Cruise Director was more detailed than other lines, with explanations
about what I needed to do that day, and what to expect.
Even when I switched on the television, there was often a pop-up message reminding me about
something that I need to do that day, like a survey to complete, or advice around things
that I should be taking out in port.
When we headed out on excursions there were more people to guide and direct us onto the
right bus than on other lines.
On the ship, the crew-to-passenger ratio felt high.
And they were extremely attentive, going out of their way to help, explain and guide.
Someone made a note in their system that I do not drink alcohol and then crew constantly
checked if something that had alcohol in was acceptable.
Another example is around the COVID protocols.
They were the only cruise line to have their own PCR-test laboratory on the ship.
And maintained many of the protocols way after countries and lines moved on.
Again, creating a sense of caring, almost paternalistic approach to their guests.
Like Viking River Cruises, I found Viking Ocean a more guided, curated and directed
cruise experience than on other cruise lines.
I was given less choice and options but then steered and directed through the cruise.
I did not have to plan as much, think as much about what to do and when, nor worry as much
about what I had to prepare and do as they take control of that.
But this led me on to another key difference, to other ocean cruises.
Something some will love, and others will definitely not.
Viking talk about being the “thinking person’s cruise”.
I came away clearly understanding you go on a Viking cruise because you want to learn.
You want to understand the history, culture, cuisine, and art of the destination.
I found a Viking Ocean cruise is a relatively serious cruise overall.
First, it is an adult cruise as only over 18s can sail.
Second, while I won’t say a Viking cruise is not about having fun, but the balance of
the program and activities are firmly destination and enrichment based.
It’s about immersing into the destinations and ensuring you come away having both experienced
and understood them.
There are not a lot of high-energy or light-hearted activities.
There is no casino.
In the evening, the entertainment often includes an 08:00 PM lecture.
We didn’t have Karaoke, silent discos, and crazy gameshows.
There are multiple lectures, around one a day from the Resident Historian and others
by a guest speaker, on our cruise an Art Historian.
There was a pianist, guitarist and a classical duo playing in the evening in the Atrium and
Explorer’s Lounge.
There’s an extensive art collection and self-guided tours.
A small Viking Museum and library.
The theatre shows were pretty low key, with a resident group of singers doing Beatles,
Abba and 1960s American Classics songs.
No modern stuff in there for me.
On the television, there is a Viking TV channel, with recorded lectures and more enrichment
content, and access to TED talks
There is a later-night venue, Torshaven with live music until around mid-night, and the
Explorers Bar, but on my cruise anyway both were pretty quiet.
The one thing I would say is, without a shadow of a doubt, I came away from this cruise having
learnt more than any other cruise I've been on about the history, art and the culture
of this part of the world.
And this is the third time I have done this route.
If you're very focused on wanting to see and learn about the destinations, this is what
we get on Viking.
Probably better than any other line I have been on.
However, appealing that may be, there was one thing did seem to put some people off.
The Scandinavian design, decor and feel is polarizing.
Viking is a Norwegian-owned line, and the ships have a vry Scandinavian look.
Lots of wood, light colours, and palette.
Based on my first trip, when people watched my videos, they spoke about the ship feeling
almost “Ikea like”, and stark.
Which seemed extreme!
My partner, seeing the cabin that I was staying in, which was a very nice cabin I thought,
didn't associate it with premium because he missed the darker, richer, plushness, we are
all probably more used to from American and UK lines.
I agree it is a different look and may not be what everyone is used to when they think
of luxury ships.
But I like that it is different.
I found it appealing.
It underlines that they do things an alternative way and (after all) it is a Norwegian-owned
line, and it is not out of place with up-markets hotels in that region.
By the way, all their 930-passenger ocean ships only have balcony cabins, have the same
layout, venues, and décor.
Which ship you are on is largely irrelevant.
There’s nothing new to explore other than the destinations.
Which I also found interesting!
The venues on the ships include a theatre, cinema, Living Room with library and bar,
2-level Explorer’s Lounge with Mamsen’s café overlooking the bow, Wintergarden Lounge,
Torshavn late-night venue, fitness centre and spa, indoor pool with retractable room,
infinity pool, Main Dining Room, World Café buffet, Pool Grill, 2 specialty dining restaurants
and Kitchen Table for cooking classes.
The food, by the way, right across the ship is outstanding.
I rate it highly.
However, here comes the deal breaker for many.
Viking cruises are not cheap, especially versus larger ship lines, as they are a small ship
and luxury experience with more inclusions that many lines.
For example, I found fares start from between $300 to $500 per person per day for their
entry verandah cabin based on region, up to $1,200 per day plus per person for one of
their fancy Explorer suites.
There are some inclusions in the fare, like specialty dining and events like daily afternoon
tea, Wi-Fi, wine with meals, teas and coffees, the excursion in every port, transfer bus
to and from the town if not in walking distance and entertainment.
The main extras will be gratuities, drinks outside of meals or drinks package and, of
course, any spa or shopping.
Viking Cruises is not good value if you're a solo traveller, because they don't have
solo cabins, and almost always will be 100% surcharge.
I have been asked based on all of this if Viking Ocean is good value?
It is good value if you want a luxury cruise where you have to make few choices, have most
things planned for you, and you want to know you will see what you need to see, while being
educated, all while having good food and attentive levels of service.
You can do the same itinerary on bigger ships for much less, and even on some small ship
lines for less.
The value comes from wanting that experience.
The value of the included excursions is probably $400 to $700 per person per cruise, so when
comparing like for like on price do consider that.
As a solo traveller it is hard to justify the cost of Viking, but when travelling as
a couple I would see it as value for me and my partner if on an unfamiliar itinerary where
we wanted a deep-dive, and where I was sure we would want to do all the included excursions.
I know my partner would miss the casino and higher-energy, more contemporary entertainment,
so the destination would be the key factor.
If you are not sure about Viking but like the idea of a smaller ship line, take a look
at this video where I talk about Oceania, starting with the one big thing that I really
liked about Oceania.
See you over there.