For those of you that think of moving on to Viking

Ah, more posts from wonderful Viking cruisers mocking the elderly.

 

Just when one thought this might be two or three rotten apples spoiling the bunch.

 

How pathetic.

 

 

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Don’t knock it, until you have tried Viking . You get what you pay for! If you are lucky you will age also. We are 50ish and no longer doing cattle crossing cruises!

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You two realize that this thread ended in March and neither of the posters you quoted haven’t posted in the last 6-7 months.

And have done a few ‘crossings’, and realize Viking Ocean ships are smaller than Celebrity ships, the Celebrity experience isn’t exactly a ‘cattle crossing’ now is it. The good thing is on crossings, you aren’t getting on and off the ship with the large crowd every day. My personal and subjective opinion is Celebrity common areas are pretty nice and aren’t that crowded at all. But each to our own, but ‘cattle crossing’???

Den

I have now written about our poor experience in MDR several times. It prompted a cancellation for the Edge next winter and a booking on the Viking Ocean. The Edge will be a visual masterpiece but I am not sure about quality and variety of food. Especially if you are not in a Suite or Aqua.

I recall that Edge offers 6 choices for MDR, 6 different culinary experiences. You can switch between the 6 at your choice.

We have stopped going to MDRs. Period. Last time was on RCI's Oasis traveling with a pack of friends. Horrible experience. Noisy, slow service, bad food, you name it. We do enjoy Celebrity's Blu when their itineraries makes sense. Otherwise, it the Buffets of which Princess's Royal class supersedes all others win selection. Azamara does a good job with great food in theirs, as well, especially with "ethnic" nights. Edge in February so we will experience the varied venues first hand.

You two realize that this thread ended in March and neither of the posters you quoted haven’t posted in the last 6-7 months.

 

And have done a few ‘crossings’, and realize Viking Ocean ships are smaller than Celebrity ships, the Celebrity experience isn’t exactly a ‘cattle crossing’ now is it. The good thing is on crossings, you aren’t getting on and off the ship with the large crowd every day. My personal and subjective opinion is Celebrity common areas are pretty nice and aren’t that crowded at all. But each to our own, but ‘cattle crossing’???

 

 

Den

3500 people at the salad bar at one time, what would call it? Cattle sounds better than pigs!

3500 people at the salad bar at one time, what would call it? Cattle sounds better than pigs!

I would call it blowing things completely out of proportion. No Celebrity ship has 3,500 passengers and your depiction is so overwrought, it misses the point I think you’ll attempting to make. Yup, there are many at the buffet at peak hrs. Alternative: don’t go at peak. And describing fellow passengers as ‘pigs’ is also telling.

If you enjoy small ships, go for it, but don’t make things up to rationalize not going on a Celebrity cruise, you just don’t need to go on one.

Den

3500 people at the salad bar at one time, what would call it? Cattle sounds better than pigs!

This is one of the most ridiculous, and rude, statements I’ve seen on CC. No, 3,500 people most certainly do not visit the salad bar simultaneously. In fact, some dine in other venues, some never eat salads, and the rest arrive over the span of a couple hours. If your offensive hyperbole is an example of what I might encounter on Viking, I think I’ll pass.

I have cruised twice with HAL and twice with Viking Ocean in recent years (and several other cruise lines when the kids were young). I have decided to try Celebrity in Aqua Class for my next cruise.

Viking Ocean ships are NEW and pretty. They are classy and quiet but BORING for me. I do not want to sit and read. The evening entertainment was sad. Their attempt at anything but classical music was pathetic. The classical music was very nice and we enjoyed it but I want to feel like I am on vacation and have a [emoji322].

The food and shore excursions were good - not Great. No complaints.

So we will see how Celebrity stacks up for me. I am sure I will have a good time!

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....So we will see how Celebrity stacks up for me. I am sure I will have a good time!

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If you are ‘sure’ you will have a good time, you Will have a great time! I enjoy relaxing, talking, playing cards and so on, but I also enjoy a fun evening of dancing and socializing, and hitting the casino a bit. And I found all of that on Celebrity.....not the crazy partytime of a Carnival, but fun.

Den

This is one of the most ridiculous, and rude, statements I’ve seen on CC. No, 3,500 people most certainly do not visit the salad bar simultaneously. In fact, some dine in other venues, some never eat salads, and the rest arrive over the span of a couple hours. If your offensive hyperbole is an example of what I might encounter on Viking, I think I’ll pass.

Agree!

OP, can you describe the stateroom and specifically the bathroom? Was it as clean/modern as they advertise with a heated floor?

My wife and I are in our 40's but we've been looking for a cruise where we won't feel guilty if we just want to stay in the cabin ALL DAY and veg.

This sounds like it might be perfect!

OP, can you describe the stateroom and specifically the bathroom? Was it as clean/modern as they advertise with a heated floor?

 

My wife and I are in our 40's but we've been looking for a cruise where we won't feel guilty if we just want to stay in the cabin ALL DAY and veg.

 

This sounds like it might be perfect!

OP may not be back, so I'll chime in. We sailed on Viking Sun for 15 days last month in a PV cabin. Out first impression of the ship was that it is stunning – classy, luxurious, and very well laid out. [Four Seasons, rather than the snide claim of IKEA.]

The basic cabins on Viking Ocean ships (V and DV) are 270sf + 46sf balcony; by comparison Celebrity S-class verandas are 194sf + 54sf. The next step up on Viking (PV) is 338sf + 58sf; Celebrity Sky Suites are 300sf + 79sf.

Viking cabins are very well laid out and the PV category has lots of storage space [there have been complaints that V and DV are short on storage].

The bathroom was wonderful, and the heated floor was as advertised [note that on the first Viking Ocean ship the bathroom floor heater is either on or off and only the cabin attendant can change it; on the newer ships including Sun there is a switch in the bathroom itself that has several settings so you can find just the right temp for you]

Our itinerary was go-go-go, but I can definitely imagine staying in a PV stateroom all day long and veging.

I have cruised twice with HAL and twice with Viking Ocean in recent years (and several other cruise lines when the kids were young). I have decided to try Celebrity in Aqua Class for my next cruise.

 

Viking Ocean ships are NEW and pretty. They are classy and quiet but BORING for me. I do not want to sit and read. The evening entertainment was sad. Their attempt at anything but classical music was pathetic. The classical music was very nice and we enjoyed it but I want to feel like I am on vacation and have a [emoji322].

 

The food and shore excursions were good - not Great. No complaints.

 

So we will see how Celebrity stacks up for me. I am sure I will have a good time!

 

 

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Just to point out, X is not known for its nightlife. If you are changing for that reason alone, be aware that X also doesn’t have much happening in the evenings. Their production shows are, IMHO, dire - mainly since they decided to produce them themselves a few years ago, and the reduction in Activities Staff to virtually a couple of bodies didn’t help. There will be a casino onboard though that is non smoking.

The service and food is generally very good on X. We personally don’t book Aqua because I don’t like the position of many of the cabin under the overhang, and the seats are too close together in Blu (I like my personal space) - others love this ‘intimate’ feel.

Have a great cruise ;).

Not on the payroll.

 

Rather, just passing on what was for me (years ago) an "aha!" experience.

 

After a long hiatus from cruising (due to work), we contacted a well respected "cruise specialist" travel agency (first identified via Condé Nast Traveler).

 

The specific TA with whom we worked (a former HAL cruise director) interviewed us regarding our hotel/dining/et al. travel experiences/preferences and suggested a relatively "new" cruise line - Oceania - rather than HAL or Celebrity at the lower end of our comfort spectrum and Crystal et al. at the upper end.

 

She also suggested that I use a pricing comparison that included all anticipated travel costs "door to door" - something I now refer to as "net daily rate."

 

Once I started looking a the bottom line, bolstered by what would be avoided by choosing a premium line (e.g., thundering herds, nickel-diming, smoky casinos, cheap "art" shows), it only took that first Oceania cruise - to Alaska - to win us over.

Oceania was pretty much a perfect choice for us- particularly when it came to food and service quality versus daily cost.

 

For me, recommending Oceania is not as much about pushing the specific line. Rather, it is trying to get other cruisers who are looking for a better experience to do the math of "net daily rate." IMO, Oceania, while neither the epitome/expense of ultimate luxury nor the disappointment of mass market "wannabes," is the best value at sea for folks who have worked hard for their money and have some cosmopolitan savvy.

 

Of course, we still always comparison shop desired itineraries. But, because we do longer cruises (usually 3 +\- weeks, often with significant sea days), the ship as destination becomes extremely important. Ergo, Oceania.

 

YRMV!

 

 

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This information is really helpful. We are 50 and 54 and have tried almost all of the big cruise lines - found Celebrity to be the best of the bunch. We recently made the move to Viking for all of the reasons mentioned in previous posts. We do look at net daily rate and that’s how we realized we get a much better experience for not much more money going with Viking. Oceania and Azamara are both on our lists to try too. The only thing that was not 5 Star on Viking was food and wine (3.5-4 Star there). Maybe Oceania should be next line to explore after our next Viking booked for March.

We found lots of active fun middle aged people on Viking. It didn’t have a nursing home feel at all.

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This information is really helpful. We are 50 and 54 and have tried almost all of the big cruise lines - found Celebrity to be the best of the bunch. We recently made the move to Viking for all of the reasons mentioned in previous posts. We do look at net daily rate and that’s how we realized we get a much better experience for not much more money going with Viking. Oceania and Azamara are both on our lists to try too. The only thing that was not 5 Star on Viking was food and wine (3.5-4 Star there). Maybe Oceania should be next line to explore after our next Viking booked for March.

We found lots of active fun middle aged people on Viking. It didn’t have a nursing home feel at all.

 

 

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Oceania IS food.

Just to point out, X is not known for its nightlife. If you are changing for that reason alone, be aware that X also doesn’t have much happening in the evenings. Their production shows are, IMHO, dire - mainly since they decided to produce them themselves a few years ago, and the reduction in Activities Staff to virtually a couple of bodies didn’t help. There will be a casino onboard though that is non smoking.

 

 

 

The service and food is generally very good on X. We personally don’t book Aqua because I don’t like the position of many of the cabin under the overhang, and the seats are too close together in Blu (I like my personal space) - others love this ‘intimate’ feel.

 

 

 

Have a great cruise ;).

Thanks for the feedback. I am not changing just for the nightlife but I am hoping it is better than Viking. I am looking forward to the Martini bar and the Silent Disco. I will say that the Viking ships are so new and clean that if the Solstice has moldy bathrooms or rusty deck railings or stained carpet/ furniture then I will change my tune.

The biggest factor was the price. We are headed for New Zealand and Viking quoted $14,000 for the 2 of us and Celebrity (in Aqua Class) was just over $4000 with unlimited WiFi and Classic beverage package. The only thing Celebrity was missing was the free shore excursions and a dinner or 2 in Specialty restaurants and those are not worth $10,000!

It is wonderful that we have so many choices available to us. I remember the crazy Carnival cruises in my younger days and the fun of a Disney Cruise when taking along our youngster now I am looking for a new experience. Viking comes real close but I wanted to give Celebrity a chance. We will see.

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Thanks for the feedback. I am not changing just for the nightlife but I am hoping it is better than Viking. I am looking forward to the Martini bar and the Silent Disco. I will say that the Viking ships are so new and clean that if the Solstice has moldy bathrooms or rusty deck railings or stained carpet/ furniture then I will change my tune.

 

The biggest factor was the price. We are headed for New Zealand and Viking quoted $14,000 for the 2 of us and Celebrity (in Aqua Class) was just over $4000 with unlimited WiFi and Classic beverage package. The only thing Celebrity was missing was the free shore excursions and a dinner or 2 in Specialty restaurants and those are not worth $10,000!

 

It is wonderful that we have so many choices available to us. I remember the crazy Carnival cruises in my younger days and the fun of a Disney Cruise when taking along our youngster now I am looking for a new experience. Viking comes real close but I wanted to give Celebrity a chance. We will see.

 

 

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We have completed that cruise on Solstice over Christmas a few years ago to New Zealand from Sydney. You have got a good price as I have seen a week on Edge priced for similar to that pp for next summer in Europe in a regular balcony cabin :o. Hence why we have been considering other lines, that and the overcrowding on Reflection that tipped us over the scales . We still have two X placeholders to use when I find appropriate sailings worth the value ;).

I guess I'm one of the Beverly Hillbillies :) And proud of it LOL

OP may not be back, so I'll chime in. We sailed on Viking Sun for 15 days last month in a PV cabin. Out first impression of the ship was that it is stunning – classy, luxurious, and very well laid out. [Four Seasons, rather than the snide claim of IKEA.]

 

The basic cabins on Viking Ocean ships (V and DV) are 270sf + 46sf balcony; by comparison Celebrity S-class verandas are 194sf + 54sf. The next step up on Viking (PV) is 338sf + 58sf; Celebrity Sky Suites are 300sf + 79sf.

 

Viking cabins are very well laid out and the PV category has lots of storage space [there have been complaints that V and DV are short on storage].

 

The bathroom was wonderful, and the heated floor was as advertised [note that on the first Viking Ocean ship the bathroom floor heater is either on or off and only the cabin attendant can change it; on the newer ships including Sun there is a switch in the bathroom itself that has several settings so you can find just the right temp for you]

 

Our itinerary was go-go-go, but I can definitely imagine staying in a PV stateroom all day long and veging.

Very helpful post and reply, thanks!

I have done two Viking River cruises and tried to book a Viking Ocean cruise but the cruise I wanted was sold out - so I am still waiting for my first Viking Ocean. But if it is only half as good as the Viking River cruise then it is going to be GREAT!