Past Voyage of the Vikings cruisers - Greenland ports - no info

[oceanmom]

I also suspect the reason is cost. We're doing the 18 day Viking Passage on 7/15 at $9000 p/p in a Neptune going up the east side of Great Britain to Bergen and Lerwick, then Iceland, Greenland, and NE Canada. The second half ( 19 days) of the Voyage of the Vikings leaving Rotterdam on 8/21, the main difference in the route is going up the west side of GB stopping in Liverpool, Dublin, Douglas, Portree and then Iceland, Greenland, and NE Canada. That Neptune suite is currently $21,000 per person. Cost for the 38 day voyage in a Neptune has been around $30,000 p/p.

Edited March 24, 2017 by oceanmom

[HUNKY]

OlsSalt - we are hoping to do this cruise on Viking Ocean. I imagine many other cruisers are doing the same.

 

 

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[OlsSalt]

OlsSalt - we are hoping to do this cruise on Viking Ocean. I imagine many other cruisers are doing the same.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

 

WSJ has an article today about Viking cruises being a new game changer within the cruise world. Less emphasis on frills and more on the solid cruise and travel experience is the impression I am getting. Taking away lecturers and libraries and adding more shops, bars and spa stuff may have been the wrong move for HAL

 

Viking - Bergen to Montreal - all verandah - mainly $6000-$7000 one way - Sept - 14 days - sold out - 900 passengers. One shore excursion included in each port. Fewer ports, but newer and smaller ship. So this very much could have impacted the once a year HAL VOV.

 

HAL full 38 day VOV -Boston to Boston is $9000 RT for ocean view. HAL remains the clear value choice. But less on glamour.

[cruisemom42]

Having just read of Viking's commitment to enrichment lecturers onboard would make me strongly consider them for a similar itinerary, so you may have a good point....

[OlsSalt]

Having just read of Viking's commitment to enrichment lecturers onboard would make me strongly consider them for a similar itinerary, so you may have a good point....

 

I was looking at the new Viking ship and it appears to have the same problem as the Oceania ships - no glass dome "outdoor" area like HAL ships which is a drawback when doing the northern routes or a transatlantic. Being all-balcony cabins is also less of an incentive on those same blustery weather potential cruises.

 

It will be interesting to see how much enrichment HAL provides on the Rotterdam VOV - because they still get high marks from us in this area on their longer specialty cruises. So if this has radically changed from our last Tales of the South Pacific that had great enrichment offerings, that will definitely a step in the wrong direction.

 

The Viking regular verandah rooms, their low price leader cabins, look small and cramped with the same poor layout that we found in the lower end Crystal cabins. So for the price and the overall amenities I am not sure Viking should be competition for HAL ships doing their own specialty enrichment longer voyages. However, the 900 passenger limit and less intrusion of basically unnecessary additional selling activities - casinos, art auctions, spa and extensive shops - puts them into a good alternative to consider.

 

I am sorry to see Voyages of Discovery went under and that Voyages to Antiquity has a limited choice of Mediterranean options. It appears we both love what this type of small ship enrichment cruising has to offer, on a more modest price point than the luxury brands.

 

Maybe HAL needs to turn more of its smaller ships into global explorer and enrichment options, and not just the very tired Amsterdam.

[littlecruise]

We sailed the VOV in 2016 on the Rotterdam and the Greenland ports are just great for a nice walk around town and to take in the sights. Dress in layers as we were there in July and August and nice sunny days but if you were in the wind is was quite cold. Just enjoy seeing how the people live in these fishing villages.

The sale thru the Prince Christian Sound was a beautiful, sunny, no wind day, whales, seals, ice burgs, spend the day outside don't be inside playing games. Enjoy what God has given us.

[TeDaKi]

We did the Viking Passage on Eurodam in September 2015 and it was one of our favourite cruises. Greenland and especially the Prince Christian Sound were spectacular. I wrote a photo review which is available here :

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2265322

Might give some idea on what there is to see.