Mrs Miggins

I dont want long flights any more so we have stayed in the Med East and West and Northern Europe for the past few years.. Problem with Viking is they repeat their cruises itineraries on this region. No new destinations. Whilst we did have a good time on the cruise, our Azamara in April and our Scenic River Cruise in July were both better in terms of food, destinations, entertainment etc etc. The perfect ocean cruise would be on a Viking ship with everything else Azamara. We have tried Oceania, food is really excellent, so I guess we could try them again. We have a wonderful itinerary on Azamara next June. Barcelona to lovely Bordeaux. Incidentally we were given a $500 future cruise credit because we docked in Ravenna instead of Venice in April. We didn't get anything from Viking for starting in Tarragona as opposed to Barcelona. We may well book Viking again but a $200 discount is not enough to persuade me at the moment.

Whilst making Pirates of the Caribbean, Johnny Depp, in full costume, plus others made a surprise visit to the school just down the road from the Royal Naval College. The kids were so delighted. We had a second home in Greenwich until last year. Filming there is constant because it is also used often in TV series as well as films. I feel those that are docked in Tilbury really miss out on this wonderful place. Having just returned from our Viking cruise we know that the usual docking place everywhere (we were in the Med) is usually in an ugly industrial port. In Greenwich you are in the heart of a wonderful World Heritage site. So much to see and do within a short walking distance of the ship.

We have just returned from the above 7 day cruise. It is our 4th Viking Ocean cruise. There were approx 800 passengers with about 35 from the UK. Ship: Beautiful as ever, Spa great except not all the water jets working in the large pool. Never fixed during the week. We were in a DV6 3072. Cabin great and well looked after. Crew: Plentiful and willing if not always quite on the ball. Entertainment - patchy. The 4 singers from the UK were good but there was only one "Abba show" in the Theatre, One deck party, a few songs on the Viking 25th anniversary in the Atrium on our last day timed at 8 p.m. after a promotional film. At 9 they showed a film in the theatre. The assistant CD did a show at 8 in the Atrium but for us that is right in the middle of dinner. There were two shows by a 'pickpocket/magician' both at 9.15. Pretty bad we didnt go to the second show which was apparently even worse. Great 'Night at the Opera" show by David Righeschi and Maria Salvini. We have seen them before on Azamara. Torshaven with Viking Band from 9 p.m. onwards was great. Why are these talented artists seemingly locked underground ? Most people never went to Torshaven. On the last night they were playing their hearts out to 12 people at 11 p.m. I know that was our last night, but many others were staying onboard. King the Guitarist was splendid. Playing in the Explorers Lounge at 6 p.m. Difficult to find a seat. He also had other sets around the ship. Very popular. The Classical duet in the Atrium were largely playing to an empty room. Excursions: We did the included Tarragona, OK but I just wished the likeable guide would stop and draw breath occasionally. In Sete we did an optional excursion to the Chateau Florgergues. A tour of the house, a glimpse of the lovely gardens and a wine tasting hosted by the very engaging 10th generation owner. Then on to Monpelier. Lovely" Place de la Comedie" main square. Bailed out on the walking tour as wanted at least some time to drink coffee and people watch in lovely surroundings. From Marseilles we did the optional Aix en Provence, but really just used it as a bus service since we had been many times before we wanted to go it alone. Really lovely town. Monaco: We missed, despite being anchored in the morning it was decided the tender operation could not go ahead due to wind and swell. Many, many disappointed passengers as for some this was meant to be the highlight. We just sailed very slowly towards our last port Livorno. Actually the weather was lovely so an enforced sea day. The CD read out some words to make us all feel better. It certainly contained the words "We are Vikings, we have salt in our hair, we will go forth despite setbacks" etc etc. Just a tad over the top! However a game of "baggy " crew against passengers was quickly set up and we all felt so much better. Livorno: Weather had turned. The whole day tours to Florence were too much for us, as happily we have been several times before. So we just stayed in Livorno in the morning and returned to the Spa in the afternoon. Decided that was too boring for the last day so booked the included Pisa excursion for the last afternoon. Sadly the weather was awful. We had heavy rain. The walk from the coach park was difficult for some. We were handed over to a Tour Guide and walked around the "Piazza dei Miracoli" in the rain. We had done this tour before with Viking pre covid and had been taken inside the Duomo and the Baptistry with an excellent guide. This time we just stood outside. Very poor in my opinion and the value of the included excursions seems to be diminishing. Buses/Coaches All very acceptable and comfortable. Dining Breakfast in the World Cafe : Good choice but I wish someone would learn how to cook "English" bacon. That awful tray of wet, pale, slices. What do they do with it ? I asked a couple of times for some to be fried for me. That really didnt work. I will say the crispy bacon was often not very crispy either. The Restaurant: First visit was really bad. Staff just seemed untrained. They had difficulty with the silver spirits wine. My husband's Chicken Kiev was huge, dry,, and contained not a hint of garlic. We did mention this and then everybody came to apologise including the Chief Chef. Very apologetic. Apart from anything else it was served on a bed of wet braised cabbage. We asked why and were told that the menus were all designed by Head Office and the Chef had no input at all. We did visit the Restaurant later in the cruise and were served by an entirely different team and all was well. Philip the Maitre d' in Manfredi's squeezed us in 3 times. The restaurant did not appear busy although said to be fully booked. Wine service was good. Food acceptable but this is not 'Fine' Dining . No real presentation involved. Food was fine, not great. Waitresses charming. We had one visit to the Chef's Table, and despite liking it on our previous cruises, this time the menu did not really suit. I am not a fish lover. I did eat the some of the 'prawns' in the Oriental menu but the dessert was poor. I am sure some of the other menus would have been fine but I really dislike the lack of choice. I understand of course that it is a set menu. On talking with other guests I am not alone in wishing there was at least an either/or for each course. Again the restaurant did not seem full. All in all we enjoyed our cruise but for the first time we have not booked anything else whilst onboard.

DrKoob. No currently still at home. 10.50 flight from Heathrow to Barcelona (been there lots of times) Viking transfer to Tarragona and the Sky. Overnight then hopefully the weather allows us to visit Tarragona on Sunday. Many will be on B2B's but we are only on for a week. Roll call very quiet.

We will be joining Sky tomorrow in Tarragona. Hope you manage to write a little tonight about your experience to whet our appetite. Weather forecast not good ?

Looking forward to come onboard on Saturday. Reading your reports with interest. What is the entertainment like and who is the Cruise Director. Have you been to Torshaven. We have really loved it on our previous Viking cruises and the band were excellent. It is strange that each sector of this cruise has a different vibe ? Wonder what our group will be like. Friends currently on Jupiter say only 20 from the UK and 6 from Australia with the rest from North America.

Not sure where you are now but according to the other site Viking Sea is in trouble in Ravenna having moved due to weather from Choggia

My friend Dorothy reports that Manfredi's was excellent and they were looking forward to a performance by an English Tenor. Her husband was disappointed to miss the Bornholm, Denmark, stop. It was apparently too windy. That meant Tony could not do his 14 mile Bike tour. Dorothy was rather relieved. They have met 4 of the 6 Australians onboard.

SailorPaulH, my good friend Dorothy and her husband Tony are on your cruise. There are only 20 from the UK onboard apparently so their accent will give them away. Lovely couple so if you come across them say Hi from Pam.

I have just received this from my friend, not a CC member. We rocked and rolled our way down the Baltic to Gdańsk in Poland and the weather is sunny .Us Brits very much the minority less than 20 !We had the ABBA night well we were in Sweden ! But it’s the same old routine! but this time only 3 singers , a girl missing !Last night the Beatlesand still the same format as previous trips We can now join other guests at dinner but everyone seems to go at 6 and they queue from 5.30 !!Food very good as always Manfredis tonight so we will miss the guest Magician / mind /illusion chap but I don’t think i will be fussed !Every American we talk to wants to know about the Queen Thought you might be interested. We board Sky on the 24th.

For those of us in the UK there is a choice on how Viking charge our lodged credit or debit card with U S dollars. Either the charge is made in dollars and my UK bank then charges me in pounds at their prevailing rate or Viking use their published rate of exchange and debit my card in UK pounds. The former is always better..

"Rock are rocks. Seen one (like on the Acropolis yesterday), and kind of seen them all. I did get a few pics but not great ones" I must have misinterpreted the above line from your interesting live review. I have so enjoyed the many wonderful "piles of rocks" all over Greece and the rest of Europe. I loved both the newish Acropolis Museum and the National Archaeological museums as well. Seeing the Parthenon lit up at night is one of my most treasured memories. I am following your review closely since we get on in Tarragona on the 24th when you get off. It will be our 4th Viking - postponed from 2022 New Year when the French decided the British were not welcome. We also love Azamara.. Hoping that your experiences in the restaurant improve so following with interest.

OK, never thought I would hear the Parthenon described as a pile of rocks. Really strange for a 'travel photographer'. Each to there own - but I guess there will be many more piles of rocks during the rest of your cruise. Hope you find more dancing and local food as well.

Transfers will be included if you booked the flight to Venice with Azamara.

Sorry had to look up - what is cilantro - somehow I thought it was something to do with keeping mosquito's away - realise now thats citronella. However in the UK cilantro is called coriander. Definitely a flavour that splits opinions.

Viking are using both the industrial port in Venice (Fusina/Marghera) and the seaside town of Chioggia further down the coast. It is also unclear to those booked which of these two options will actually be used for their particular sailing. Possibly due to the Venice Authorities changing their minds. We were due to dock in Marghera in April on Quest but ended up in Ravenna. Azamara gave us a Future Cruise Certificate of $500 for the inconvenience. Many thought that the recompense would have been better as OBC. I knew that docking in Venice was likely to be a problem so unusually for us I booked flights via Azamara because I knew that transfers were included. We thought we would end up in Trieste but in fact it was Ravenna. We loved it there, but feel we have seen the splendid mosaics now so don't need to return. Friends were on board on one of the first sailings on Viking to use Chioggia. It is apparently a very pleasant, walkable small seaside town and Viking were welcomed with open arms. Excursions to Venice were achieved by a sea transfer to Venice which took about an hour and a half. Some loved this and others didnt. Google maps say it is about one hour to Piazzale Roma in Venice by road depending on traffic. Viking include air fare and transfers in their price from the UK but of course most of their clients are from the US and there is much discussion on their CC board about flights, transfers etc. I have some sympathy for all the cruise lines as this is going to be an ongoing problem. The only real solution for first time visitors to Venice is to stay for a few days before/after their cruise.

Sadly have never been to the Tattoo but watched it earlier this week on TV. Excellent and visually spectacular seating capacity now 8,600 per night.

Marghera is an industrial port. No taxi’s. Viking do not use their tenders. You have to be transported by Viking shuttles. embarkation is at the old cruise terminal at Tronchetto. Viking will transport you to and from Marghera by shuttle bus. look at Google maps to understand the geography

Why is it unsanitary ? Trouble is there are lots of "drops in the bucket" Added together they are a real problem for the oceans and the planet.

I think it depends on when you made the booking. If Ravenna is shown as your departure point, despite flying into Venice, then I do not think you will get OBC. Our port change in April was one of the first from Ravenna. We expected to be in Marghera/Fusina nearer Venice.

I understand. However other 'paid' reviews have been highlighted on here. Nevertheless there is still useful factual information about Viking and the ports visited. We must all use our 'sensible heads' when reading anything on any sort of media, including this board.

Message received late last night. Any thoughts on its content ?

I quite enjoy that page and have also seen some critical postings. Steve seems to post some really useful tips and reviews. On this board there are various views ranging from the cheer leaders to those who are very acerbic. Often makes interesting reading.

On our recent Scenic river cruise there were full size bottles of shampoo, conditioner, body wash, hand wash and hand/body crème. Plus a bar of soap. So much nicer than those travel size bottles as well as being better for the environment.

I think everyone understands that you can buy whatever drink you like with your onboard account. I don't think it is a complicated system. Most of us can do the maths to decide whether the SS package is going to work in our favour. I also agree with Molymoo that it simplifies the account. it also allows me to sample a wide variety of drinks that I can discard if not to my liking. Thank you for your continued vigilance on this subject.