BluebonnetTexan

I knew I should have added quotes around that usage of "upgrade" too! LOL! Guess, I'm feeling older than my age or maybe younger! Again, individual perspectives and tastes will vary. I was just going with the Viking terminology. All I know is that it went really, really well with the chocolate desserts it was paired with for my taste. Yes, port and chocolate pairs well, too. But as I already mentioned I'm not a big fan of ports, so for me this was the type of experience I was looking for at Chef's Table. And, yes, we have found wines on the included list that we liked better than some on the SSBP list - but that's how it goes with wine and individual tastes. The SSBP just gives us more options to choose from in my opinion thereby broadening chances of finding something you really like. But, as others have mentioned, Viking seems willing to work with you, if you really dislike an included wine, to find a suitable replacement. What we observed is that they cycle through various included wines - so it isn't like they serve the exact same red, white, and rose' every meal. So back to the OP's question - Are the "premium" wines at Chef's Table worth the extra $25/person? I think if you view it as getting the optimal pairing for the menu, then it is. If that isn't important to you, then probably not. Either way, it should be a fun experience! I hope you enjoy whichever menu(s) you select as well as whichever wine pairing!

It really depends on how you value and perceive the Chef’s Table experience, in my opinion. For us, it was about trying things we might not have tried otherwise. And although we did have the SSP, so the “upgraded” wines were available to us, I think we would have paid for them at the Chef’s Table based on the assumption (yes, I know better) that these would be the Chef’s preferred selections for each course. There are four courses, so four wines. If we hadn’t had the upgrade, I’d probably never have tried Tia Maria, which is now a staple in my liqueur lineup. Instead, it would have been a port, which my husband loves, but I’ve yet to try one that I’ve really enjoyed. Everyone’s tastes are different, so really it just depends. I’d recommend going and getting the menus when you board to see what the pairing options are for included vs. upgraded wines for each course and decide then.

Even if limited to Mile 43, you will have some spectacular views (pending general visibility) and potential for wildlife sightings that are incomparable. We were lucky when we went in 2018 that we were able to see the majority of the Denali mountain on several days. Most people may only catch a brief glimpse even if you were able to go further into the park.