CCWineLover

Totally agree with you! On all our Ocean cruises, we look forward to breakfast at World Cafe - for it's unbeatable views, love the variety of food (always have something different) with so many choices. You could have a completely different breakfast every day if you wished!

I think it is well known that the earlier ships for DV's have no closets. We are going on Star soon but even though we knew that, the itinerary is what we wanted. We will adjust just fine. And likely just not bring so much. After many cruises we have learned to make our suitcases a mini-closet and store them under the bed quite easily with easy access.

Almost without exception, we've been able to do both included and optional excursions in a port. Only if the optional was an all-day or 7 hour one, did we "miss" the included tour. We would try to do an optional in the morning and an included in the afternoon. That way we could stay in town and take the shuttle back to the ship. We've been on 10 ocean cruises with Viking. Note: you do have to plan carefully your excursions timing, but it really isn't that difficult. Oceania's method is an interesting concept - perhaps Viking might try it out if enough people were to put it into comments.

We just did our own arrangements for our summer cruise beginning in London (Greenwich). It was quite easy. (Hopefully you are going out of Greenwich and not Tilbury). It was an easy Tube ride to our hotel in London, where we based our do it yourself touring of many days. We then took an amazingly inexpensive Uber from our hotel (in S.Kensington) to Greenwich. Piece of cake! And all for less than Viking transfers cost, even if we had been eligible to purchase them. Good luck!

Me too Jim. I like to tell all these people who vent on Viking, that's fine, at least you'll now go to the ships you like and won't be taking up cabins that we might have wanted! The ones that bug me though are those who say they are gone from Viking for good, but keep coming back on Cruise Critic to keep complaining about things. Oh well . . . Yes, please stay far away!

Thanks Andy. That sounds like the reason. I do recall they had some things in the Star Theatre but not football. On our holiday cruise we had a wonderful live performance of an opera from Italy (thanks to our cruise director Heather Clancy)

On our Holiday Cruise (Dec/Jan) in 2019/2020 in South America, we did get the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl game. I'm a big NFL fan (49ers, sorry) but don't recall ever getting NFL football on any of our fall/winter cruises. Although - I do recall other posters said they did watch the Super Bowl on February cruises.

Your cabin steward experience is unusual. We’ve done 10 cruises and only had 1 time like yours. I hope you let Viking know. as to food and entertainment I would agree but as Jim said, they aren’t as important to us. And yes eating at anyones favorite diner would also get boring over time.

That’s exactly what I do. No cloud no worry about WiFi speed. Copy to my memory sticks. Always works well!. Clouds are great except when they are not.

I agree. Maybe Hubby will go to the boards of his favorite cruise lines now and leave us at Viking alone

I totally agree! Are we the only ones? This was also true for Ocean. On our Post-COVID Ocean cruises, we kept giving Manfredi's rib-eye a try, but always disappointed. And they would very inconsistent in size, thickness, quality, and accuracy of cooking. However - the made to order NY Steaks at the World Cafe were always top notch! Cooked to perfection and consistenty. AND, you could ask them to put on the plate for you whatever sides you wanted (like vegetables, potatoes, etc) and they would deliver it all to your table - as if it wasn't a buffet!!

All our cruises, MDR was closed on arrival Day. World cafe was open and for longer hours as well. We always went there and had wonderful meals!

Couldn't have said it better than you! And we echo all the other responses as well. It would be nice to hear back from the OP (xiphoid76) on what their reaction is to all of these comments. We sure hope that xiphoid76 does go ahead with your cruise - and that the lucky DH has a fantastic 50th BD on board the SKY next year!

At least you are honest that it is your opinion. Everyone has a different one and really, it is all about expectations. Better that you leave and go back to Seabourn and that makes one less to compete with for those of us whose experience tells us that Viking meets our expectations and lifestyle. Good that you recognize your preferences now.

As Jim said, eveyone has an opinion. Just remember, probably near 100 % of the complainers will post and vent whereas there are thousands of people who had such a great time, but don't post that. You will never know how Viking is until you try it out. From your description, it sounds like Viking will fit the bill for you just fine! Please go, enjoy, and remember also that every travel company post-COVID has its issues. Just go look at the boards on the other cruise lines - they ALL have their masses of complainers - probably even more of them. Nothing is perfect these days and you have to go with the flow (or else just not travel). Cheers! If you go, let us all know how it went! We've done 10 Viking Ocean Cruises and look forward to several more soon. Yes, we have had some various issues here and there, but overall I wouldn't go anywhere else!

Great! Am starting to read it now. Someone spoke of Bill Bryson. this is a little off topic but since my dad's family is all in Iowa (Fairfield/Cedar Rapdis), I really enjoyed Bryson's memoir book on Iowa called "Thunderbolt Kid". (and also The Lost Continent) 🙂

Thank you for taking the time to write a very honest, detailed, and long review, and for making it so well organized by various topics. Very impressive. Again, I only know you from you many helpful previous posts on Cruise Critic and your knowledge of travel ins and outs and tips. We've been on 4 Ocean Cruises pre-COVID and 6 post-COVID. And there certainly is a large difference. Some good and some not so good. I for one appreciated the fact that, like myself, you can enjoy a cruise line and even a specific cruise for many aspects, but do have some that you wished were different or were improved. As you said it is all about expectations. I think you will enjoy the London-Bergen cruise, which we just finished, as it likely will be completely different from what you encountered. (Particularly as it is not the Back To Back to Back variety. We have been on those and do agree with you vis a vis the different groups and personalities that get on board). Also appreciate that you discovered the World Cafe for dinner - we feel the same as you regarding it versus The Restaurant. And the views are spectacular. Remember that when you go to the Fjords! Just a tip - we would always go sit down first (before getting food), order some drinks, and then get the food. Also, as I'm sure you may have noticed, there are certain main dishes (such as NY Steak) that you can order at the counter, and they will bring them, along with side dishes, right to your table - steaming hot! We learned to appreciate that! And also not having 2.5 hour meals! I like too, your description of comparing restaurants to ones at home and would you go back. We do feel that way about Manfredi's (would not return). So sorry regarding the allergies for you at Chef's Table. That restaurant, which we enjoy sometimes, is definitely different. Seems people either really like it or really don't like it. My impression is that it was fantastic pre-COVD and has gone downhill and a bit tired post-COVID. I'm wary of it now. All in all - one of the best reviews I've seen written. Thank you again! (from an ex-Seattleite - near UW).

You bet! Thanks for sharing some interesting books! We are off to Iceland next June! I just got "How Iceland Changed the World".

Our friends on our July Midnight Sun cruise did exactly the same thing. It was easy they said. Same points - they were not on Viking Air. They bought the transfers for $49 apiece while on board. They put their luggage out early, went to the attrium, along with over hundred people, at 2:45 in the morning, and followed what you did to get to the airport. They however, did not have Delta, and had no problems checking in and getting to the gate. Again, it is a little bit of a walk to the gates from security - but not bad compared to some of the major US airports. Also - there should be no expectation that Viking, upon arrival at the airport, will shlep your bags to the ticket counter line and hand hold you to your gate. We've encountered so many people who mistakenly believed that Viking would take care of them to the plane. Just set your expectations. If you took a taxi to the airport, would the taxi driver take your bags through the airport to the ticket counter? No.

Hi Dee - we are in the same boat, so to speak! We are thinking of waiting a little bit so to get maximum affect for our late Dec-early January cruise out of Ft Lauderdale, followed by a week seeing our friends in Naples, Florida. Of course - who knows if there will be much to see in SW Florida even in January!

Yes - what a nice, well-written review - and just for Day 1! Don't forget to spend some time enjoying the cruise and not too much putting the daily reviews together 🙂 We've always enjoyed the World Cafe - it has the best views! Hoping you'll get to experience it more on future cruises. We've also enjoyed Mamsen's at breakfast and Pool Grill for very informal lunch. We've often brought the hamburgers or ahi steaks from the pool grill into the World Cafe and added additional items to the plate! (Especially if it was hot out by the pool!). Look forward to your trip reports!

We stayed on Thon Rosenkrantz in Oslo this past August. VERY nice hotel and great location. We did a D.I.Y. post cruise after getting off the ship in Bergen. Only disappointment - had to fly to Oslo since the train tracks were under repair when we went. But we arrived in Oslo well-rested! Loved Oslo - spent 4 full days on our own touring around, sampling foods, and enjoying the culture.

Sorry you are bitter and feel that way. Perhaps time to go back to what you feel comfortable with (Celebrity and Oceania). I'm only sorry that you didn't at least give Viking one chance. The only consolation is that there will be one less customer to compete with for popular Viking cruises for those of us who do like Viking (and don't like casinos).

Not unexpected - they just finally are making it official. Those who know Key West know that the cruise ships won't be going there. Not sure why Viking put it on there in the first place. To us it is no big deal - we weren't expecting Key West so it is no loss. We will enjoy 6 days out of 14 on Viking - sea days are wonderful!

I would hesitate to say that Viking "dumps" you. If you are on your own (no Viking transfers or Viking Flights), then your baggage is in the terminal for you to pick up - no different than getting off an airplane. There has NEVER been any expectation that they will take care of you beyond that if you don't have their transfers or air. And I'm not sure where that expectation would have come from. However, if someone does have Viking transfers and/or Viking Air, then they WILL take care of you, and your luggage. As they say, there is a price for everything and a choice to be made. If this had not been their expectation, then the fault lies with communication and understanding between Viking/Travel Agent and the customer who mistakenly expected being taken care of if it was not purchased.