cruisingtheresa

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is access to the private breakfast dining for suite guests. This is one of our favorite perks. Has that changed in any significant way? It seems to be missing from all the documentation I'm reading.

You piqued my interest since I'm always looking for new, fun martinis. I found this: The metropolitan is a classic brandy cocktail that's nearly as old as the Manhattan or Martinez. It's equally simple and a brilliant way to showcase a great bottle of brandy. This recipe dates to around 1900 and mixes brandy, sweet vermouth, sugar, and bitters. It's also sometimes known as the brandy Manhattan, though that recipe typically skips the metropolitan's syrup. Website:https://www.thebottleclub.com/blogs/recipes/metropolitan-cocktail-recipe

Thanks for this review! We leave on August 15 for the 10-day (minus Victoria) on the Crown. We had our medallions shipped to us (we purchased the Premiere package). I'm so glad to hear that they have Global Entry and we're staying at the Fairmont so they will take our luggage to the terminal for us. I'm hoping that will speed up our embarkation process. Since we're going in August, there will be no more embarkation times (even though I had already signed up for 11:00-11:30). But when I looked at our booking info on the website last week, it now states that boarding begins at 1:00 pm, which I found odd. I think we'll still show up around 11:00 or so and see what happens. We booked a suite, so worst case scenario, we'll go to their lounge and hang out there for a while. How was the weather? What excursions did you go on?

Thanks! Will do. 🙂

Thank you for this review! We will be on the Crown Princess August 12 and are in a penthouse suite so I appreciate your comments regarding the reserve dining room. We're hoping that since we'll be going towards the end of August, there won't be as many kids (fingers crossed).

I was on the same ship in June with that itinerary and I agree with so much that you said. We could always hear the TV in the room next to us and we wondered if it was due to a loud TV or thin walls. I enjoyed most of the food but I completely agree about the salad bar. I always have salad for lunch and appreciate a large variety of items, which were disappointing. However, we always ordered the ahi tuna at the pool grill and added it to our salads - the ahi was incredible. I was also disappointed with the Chef's Table and Italian restaurant, but found the food very good in the restaurant and World Cafe. I really liked the Asst. CD. I spoke to him on several occasions, mostly to compliment him on his talent. He hosted the 'Name that Tune' and did a Rock-n-Roll show one evening - those were our favorites of the entire cruise. He's really talented and I'll be surprised if he sticks around that cruise line. He's pretty young and we talked about how quiet the ship was. He didn't say anything, but I got the impression that he would appreciate a more energetic atmosphere. I never saw the cruise director except on stage. I found the Asst. CD to be much more approachable. The working staff was amazing! They bent over backwards to make sure we were always taken care of. Definitely the best staff I've ever encountered on a cruise.

One of the best parts of the World Cafe is the outdoor seating. If weather permits, it's so nice to sit in the aft area and enjoy the views while dining. I agree with the other posters regarding the sampling of various entrees and appetizers at the World Cafe. While I can order multiple appetizers in the restaurant, I would rather put a small amount of each on my plate and go back for more if I want. It worked great for the scallop appetizers and grilled lobster. 🙂 Plus, my husband and I love vegetables and the World Cafe had a great selection every night. You usually don't find that on many cruise lines.

We were just on the Neptune a couple of weeks ago and were able to sit at table 101 one evening. We liked it so much that I asked if we could 'reserve' it and was told that it's first come, first serve. The next evening we showed up and it had already been taken. I don't remember which table we were sat at, but it was better than some of the closer twosomes. There are twosomes that are definitely closer than 25" and some that are between 25" and 30". It's one of my least favorite things about cruises (all lines). My husband had throat cancer about 10 years ago and still has some problems eating. He's very self conscious about it and sometimes struggles to swallow. That's really the only reason I try to find more private tables.

I was joking about the eavesdropping part. 🙂 We did ask for tables that were a little separated and really liked table 101 (maybe similar to 1). Unfortunately, there was usually a long line to get into the restaurant so I felt bad asking for a specific table. They definitely tried to accommodate us - the staff was excellent! I agree about the ahi tuna and the char grilling - that truly made the difference. My husband ordered Dickel bourbon at Torshavn and was happy enough with it. He is also a Maker's Mark fan. I thought about purchasing a bottle of bourbon to bring on board but never got around to it. It also gave him a chance to try other liquors, so he definitely didn't suffer. This is what I love about trying new cruise lines - it's a different experience and vibe on each line. I'm sure we'll try Viking again in the future depending on itinerary, etc. Who knows - maybe after our Princess cruise next month, we'll be craving the peace and quiet of Viking again - lol!

Don't get me wrong - we had a fantastic time. We were just surprised how quiet the ship was. We somewhat expected a quieter cruise (I do my research), but there were so many ways they could have created a better 'cruise experience' but still maintain the type of atmosphere that they're known for. My daughter is a luxury travel advisor and I've also spent some time in this market so I have a tendency to observe experiences in a slightly different way. Small touches go a long way and I felt that the cruise director did the absolute minimum he had to. I'm sure there are corporate restrictions that must be adhered to, but a lot of opportunities were missed. However, I told my husband that if I ever went on a cruise by myself (no plans to do so), I might pick Viking because it would be the ultimate relaxing experience as a solo traveler. I would spend the day in the spa, playing games, and reading in the numerous cozy areas throughout the ship. To answer your questions: 1. The enrichment talks were mostly during the afternoon, around 1:00. However, there was one that was held at 7:30pm which we missed because that was right during dinner time. I thought that was an odd time to have a talk. All the port talks were at 4:30 in the afternoon and you definitely need to get there early to get a seat. BTW - always get to the theatre early to get a seat for any show, etc. The theater is not large enough for everyone and always filled up - there were a lot of disappointed people. 2. We only ate at the restaurant twice for a couple of reasons. 1 - We learned that the Cafe offers most of the same items and it was more fun to 'sample' a few things rather than just be restricted to one appetizer and one main course. 2 - I don't like the seating for 2 on cruise ships. I don't like sitting 6 inches away from the next table and feeling that I'm eavesdropping on other conversations. With the Cafe, we could pick our own table and we tried to sit outside as often as possible. There was usually a lamb option (perfectly cooked btw!), a steak option, and definitely plenty of seafood options, which I usually opted for. I don't remember the exact offerings but the variety was very good and wonderfully prepared. We had grilled lobster a few times in the Cafe - that was a wonderful surprise. I love scallops and those were offered on many occasions. You will be very happy with the seafood if that is your preferred choice. Do NOT miss the sushi and cold seafood options in the Cafe. One side serves sushi and the other side serves shrimp, crab, etc. I often grabbed a plate of seafood and took it back to our room for sail away. I received a lot of oohs and aahs in the elevator going back to our room! Our FAVORITE seafood was the ahi tuna at the pool grill for lunch. Amazing! It was cooked perfectly (rare) and we ordered it almost every day - do not miss it. I don't remember foie gras but that's not something I would order anyway. I do remember seeing soft shell crab in the Cafe (which means it was probably being served that evening in the restaurant). One thing I loved about their food - this was the first cruise I've been on that had a great selection of vegetables. Usually vegetables are lacking, but they offered grilled asparagus, broccoli, spinach, etc. We really appreciated the variety and quality of the vegetables.

From what I've read, final payment is due the month after you book, so it can actually be due more than a year in advance. This holds true for both ocean and river. Lots of complaints about it on the Viking boards.

We were on the Viking Neptune probably a week before you - from New York to Montreal and we'll be sailing on the Princess Crown to Alaska next month. I completely agree with everything you wrote! While the Viking ship was the most beautifully designed ship I've been on and the staff was the best I've ever seen - it was not for us. It was the sleepiest cruise I've cruised. I actually felt guilty not whispering while at the pool because everyone around me was sleeping. 🙂 Also, there were no events except for the initial sail away from New York. Like you, we're not big party people but I want to feel like I'm part of the cruising experience and there was none. We were left on our own to 'meet like-minded people' in the Atrium. We laughed reading that every day in our Daily Planner. I'm looking forward to our Princess cruise for more entertainment and bar venues with more lively music. The entertainers (while extremely talented) were just too mellow for us. My husband was not happy with the bourbon selections either. Until Torshavn opens at 9pm, only Wild Turkey and Jim Beam were available. For a luxury line, we found this to be very odd. I also agree that the food, while of great quality and variety, was a bit bland. Perhaps because the average age of the cruisers were about 80 on our ship. I spoke with the Assistant Cruise director a few times because he had a couple of shows that were amazing and more energetic. People really enjoyed his shows - he actually received a standing ovation after one of them. I told him that they needed more lively entertainment and it was obvious the passengers wanted it. Loved the thermal spa!! I'm curious to see how the thermal spa rates on our Princess cruise. We opted for the Penthouse suite so we will have access to the spa. We have also cruised Seabourn and found them to be a good line - still a little quiet with limited entertainment but a great quality experience. My biggest complaint with them was the same one you had for Viking - limited hours for food. It was much worse than Viking. There is absolutely no food available (except for room service) from 3:00 to 6:45 every day. Dinner was only from 6:45 to 9:00 and it took so long, we missed most of the shows. For the same price as Viking, we opted for the Penthouse Suite with the Premier package on our Alaska cruise, so I think it will be a great experience and we're really looking forward to it.

1. It was Canada Day when we were in Montreal so we only walked around seeing all the festivities. It was extremely crowded and a bit much for me. However, in the morning, we took the included tour and we were taken to Mount Royal Park which has a spectacular view of Montreal. It was a bit drizzly when we were there and it was still impressive. 2. I spoke to someone who went on the Zodiak tour in Gaspe, not Saguenay. It was thrilling but VERY cold. They were given suits to wear but still got soaking wet, so be prepared to get wet! 3. Yes - I forgot to mention the spa. That was one of our favorite places. It took a few days to open due to the Norovirus issue on the last sailing, but once it was open, it was heaven! And not too crowded - ever. I think that's because the average age of the passengers was around 80 and they weren't interested (too busy sleeping by the pool). We loved the spa and used it almost every day. The sauna, steam room, and ice room were my favorites. 🙂 We leave for an Alaska cruise in a month on a very large Princess ship. It will be a bit of a shock after our experiences on much smaller ships, but for once, we're actually looking forward to more ship activities and events. Have a wonderful time on your cruise! Please feel free to ask any other questions.

My husband and I were just on this cruise in June so I can give you my thoughts. We were on the New York to Montreal route. We loved Quebec City and Halifax. We opted for the Peggy's Cove tour and loved it. The guide was fantastic and really made the trip very memorable. Gaspe and Saguenay are quiet towns and there's not a lot to do. We took the included tours and went back to the ship. We didn't try any of the food except for the craft beer in most of the ports. We were craving Mexican food so that's what we found in Quebec City - lol! Being from San Diego, we were going through withdrawals. 🙂 As far as the cruise goes, there were things we loved and things we didn't like. What we loved: 1. The ship - it's gorgeous and so well laid out. There are comfy places to relax everywhere and it's beautifully designed. 2. The work staff was the best I've ever encountered on a cruise. They were so attentive and remembered all the little details. 3. The food was very good - I was especially impressed with the variety. I was surprised to see grilled lobster offered a few times in the Cafe. All the food was cooked perfectly to our specifications. The staff was amazing. 4. We really enjoyed this itinerary. There were some foggy days at sea, but we lucked out while in port. What we didn't like: 1. It was a VERY sleepy cruise. I felt like I had to whisper when I was at the pool because everyone was sleeping. The music in the Atrium and Observation bar (while quite good), was extremely mellow ALL the time (except for Torshavn after 10:15 pm). We're not party people, but we felt that more events could have been scheduled - such as sail away celebrations (there was only one from New York), maybe some upbeat music at the pool, etc. One thing I always enjoyed on Seabourn was when the officers came to the bars and spoke for a few minutes. It was only 30 minutes of their time but it was nice to see them and hear about their roles. We never saw any of the officers (that we know of) and only saw the cruise director when he was on stage. We felt that were completely left on our own. 2. We opted for the drink package and as it's been discussed here, the liquor options were disappointing. We always found wines that we liked but were surprised at the lack of options. The bourbon selections were awful - only Wild Turkey or Jim Beam unless you were in Torshavn (which doesn't open until 9:00 pm). 3. The two specialty restaurants were a bit disappointing. Not very memorable but the dining room and Cafe were excellent! 4. Communication! Embarkation was a joke because we were the cruise that was immediately after their Norovirus cruise. It took hours to get on the ship (not their fault), but there was no communication whatsoever. Then as services started opening up a few days into the cruise (after deep cleaning), there were no announcements. Disembarkation was also a mess. We were bussed to the Fairmont to wait for our ride to the airport. I was talking to the contractor that was in charge and she was furious with the lack of communication. I felt so bad for her. Overall, it was a very good cruise. Great itinerary and great working staff. If you have any questions, please let me know!