Will Oceania match Viking policy?

[RJB]

On my Viking River Cruise, the wine was such plonk we didn't drink it. By the third day of the cruise over half the people were bringing their own to dinner. They gave us nothing free in our opinion, but we first paid for the crap to begin with! There is no part of Viking I want O to copy, especially the mediocre food!

Have not been on Viking and from the reviews of Viking River Cruises I have no intention of trying their ocean cruises. Same management, why should their ocean cruises be any different? Very happy with Oceania without their "free" wine. :):):)

[Big Easy]

I was aware that OP was speaking ab out Viking Oceans. That was quite clear. But I didn't understand why the policy would be different between the ocean ships sand the river boats -- although there's no reason why they would HAVE to be the same, I agree. Which is why I didn't post earlier.

 

But I know that Lou has been on the ocean ships and so it would appear from his post that the policies are indeed the same.

 

Mura

 

Yes Mura, was speaking about Viking Oceans. Original post mentioned nothing about "free" wine, as so many have decided to comment on. Just thought it was a nicety offered for those that wished to take advantage of it. Obviously every perk is not for everyone. Below is response from Viking Oceans. Viking Rivers has a different policy.

Thank you for yourrecent online inquiry. Onboard there is no corkage fee, so youmay bring local wine or sodas aboard and enjoy it with your meals or withinyour stateroom and or any other beverage which is your preference.

Regards – Viking OceansCruises

Oceania is our favorite cruise line and have enjoyed 6 cruises with them. But after noticing Oceans receiving many awards and some good reviews, we decided to try them. A 14 night cruise was booked in a penthouse, including air fare, transfers, 9 excursions, and 4 specialty restaurant reservations (our TA was kind enough to add gratuities) for a cost of $300/per person/per day. Am not expecting food to be as good as Oceania, but anxious to experience another product. Many complimentary features in the sauna and will be nice to be on our first cruise ship without a casino.

[Mura]

Okay, I am only referring to the riverboats since we haven't been on the big ships. And our most recent trip was in April 2012, although it was our third with Viking's river boats. We haven't returned because we saw a big decline in service, but that's not the reason for my comments here.

 

On our first two Viking trips (Oct '03 in Europe and May '08 in China), they didn't have the "free" wine with dinner and they did have a corkage fee, although back then (in '03) was very modest. (I didn't bring on any locally purchased wine in China although I did in the Netherlands! For 8 EUR it was a very nice wine.)

 

By the time we did our 2012 riverboat cruise in France, the free wines at lunch and dinner were in place PLUS they had a liquor package which I would say was comparable to Oceania's, although I can't be positive on that (regarding price) since we didn't avail ourselves of the privilege. (At that time they required both passengers in a cabin to take the package which we would never do since DH only has an occasional glass of wine or maybe an apricot sour ...)

 

What I did notice about the wine with meals was that the quality of the wines -- which always had the same label -- were quite variable. One night the wine would be excellent, the next night barely mediocre. This was true of both the reds and whites. However, the price was right ...

 

I had assumed they would do the same with the oceans cruises ... it sounds like they have?

 

I'm still not ready to try their ocean ships because of our unhappiness with the last riverboat experience AND because I saw the reports of big problems with one of the ocean ship's early itineraries ... those problems were from a couple of years ago as I recall and so may not be pertinent at all to today.

 

I'm looking forward to your report. I believe that Lou and Marsha have enjoyed their Viking Oceans cruises from what they have posted here.

 

Mura

[Paulchili]

Yes Mura, was speaking about Viking Oceans. Original post mentioned nothing about "free" wine, as so many have decided to comment on. Just thought it was a nicety offered for those that wished to take advantage of it. Obviously every perk is not for everyone. Below is response from Viking Oceans. Viking Rivers has a different policy.

Thank you for yourrecent online inquiry. Onboard there is no corkage fee, so youmay bring local wine or sodas aboard and enjoy it with your meals or withinyour stateroom and or any other beverage which is your preference.

Regards – Viking OceansCruises

Oceania is our favorite cruise line and have enjoyed 6 cruises with them. But after noticing Oceans receiving many awards and some good reviews, we decided to try them. A 14 night cruise was booked in a penthouse, including air fare, transfers, 9 excursions, and 4 specialty restaurant reservations (our TA was kind enough to add gratuities) for a cost of $300/per person/per day. Am not expecting food to be as good as Oceania, but anxious to experience another product. Many complimentary features in the sauna and will be nice to be on our first cruise ship without a casino.

 

That's interesting. What is your itinerary and when?

We are also signed up to try a Viking Ocean. It's a 22 day cruise from Tokyo to Vancouver in PV2 (PH) but are paying much more than $300/day/person.

I too would love to cruise at that price in a PH :D

[sitraveler]

That's interesting.itinerary.t is your itinerary and when?

We are also signed up to try a Viking Ocean. It's a 22 day cruise from Tokyo to Vancouver in PV2 (PH) but are paying much more than $300/day/person.

I too would love to cruise at that price in a PH :D

Just like O, Viking per diem varies based on itinerary.

See you in Tokyo.

[Big Easy]

That's interesting. What is your itinerary and when?

We are also signed up to try a Viking Ocean. It's a 22 day cruise from Tokyo to Vancouver in PV2 (PH) but are paying much more than $300/day/person.

I too would love to cruise at that price in a PH :D

 

Our Itinerary is Panama / Central America in November this year (it's listed as 15 days, but 14 nights). In March of this year, Viking offered a 3 category upgrade for booking early. Our cabin is also a PV2. All penthouse cabins are now sold out. Having done a Rhine/Danube river cruise with them many years ago provided us with a $100/person credit.

[Paulchili]

Our Itinerary is Panama / Central America in November this year (it's listed as 15 days, but 14 nights). In March of this year, Viking offered a 3 category upgrade for booking early. Our cabin is also a PV2. All penthouse cabins are now sold out. Having done a Rhine/Danube river cruise with them many years ago provided us with a $100/person credit.

 

Well - you got a great deal. I guess it depends on the itinerary as my cruise is still significantly more than $300/pp/day and not likely to change as it is almost completely sold out (for 5/19!!!). :(. They must be doing something right to be almost sold out for May 2019.

Edited June 4, 2017 by Paulchili

[caviargal]

They must be doing something right to be almost sold out for May 2019.

 

Viking has a built in base to market to from their past passengers that have taken their river cruises. They do a ton of advertising and run half off promotions, all day every day on their river ships. They send out as many brochures as O does.

 

I don't like their river ships and have not really looked at Viking Ocean as I expect quality would be similar.

[Paulchili]

Viking has a built in base to market to from their past passengers that have taken their river cruises. They do a ton of advertising and run half off promotions, all day every day on their river ships. They send out as many brochures as O does.

 

I don't like their river ships and have not really looked at Viking Ocean as I expect quality would be similar.

 

Yes - I agree that Viking river cruises are not in Oceania's class but they serve a very different function - they take you to places that Oceania cannot.

As for their ocean cruises - I will only judge after my cruise :)

[Big Easy]

Well - you got a great deal. I guess it depends on the itinerary as my cruise is still significantly more than $300/pp/day and not likely to change as it is almost completely sold out (for 5/19!!!). :(. They must be doing something right to be almost sold out for May 2019.

 

I looked at your cruise. Your cost may be more per day, but I'm envious of your itinerary....looks fantastic. Have always wanted to visit that area of the world, but wife's situation now makes it difficult. My only visit was to Singapore on business many years ago. Am sure both of us will enjoy our cruises.:)

[Hawaiidan]

Passengers who would even consider camouflaging their own booze in public spaces are few and far between on Oceania.

That $25 corkage is chump change for that exceptional $50+ (retail) "deep end" Mendo Pinot Noir, which you'd never be able to buy onboard (and which would cost at least $150 if they did have it available).

 

 

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Or a $450 to$ 700 Pomerol or St Emilion....... $25 is pennies ( many good US restaurants charge $50 to $150 corkage per bottle....and only if they do not have it in their cellar ( French Laundry comes to mind and Per Se) can you bring yours..... I have seen some people fill their water bottles and soft drink cans with cabin booze... rather poor manners not to speak of poor class... You find that on Mass market Carnival, Princess, HAL NCL that pander to some species.

[happy cruzer]

Or a $450 to$ 700 Pomerol or St Emilion....... $25 is pennies ( many good US restaurants charge $50 to $150 corkage per bottle....and only if they do not have it in their cellar ( French Laundry comes to mind and Per Se) can you bring yours..... I have seen some people fill their water bottles and soft drink cans with cabin booze... rather poor manners not to speak of poor class... You find that on Mass market Carnival, Princess, HAL NCL that pander to some species.

The last time we cruised on Carnival the some species we had assigned seating with where three couples where the men were all stationed at Fort Hood and just returned from Kandahar. One of the wives had been in the building when the Fort Hood mass shooting happened. I was proud to meet them. Beware of generalizations. It takes all of us to make the world go round.

 

We all cruise for different reasons at different times in our lives. Love the people we have meet on O and other lines as well.

[Big Easy]

The last time we cruised on Carnival the some species we had assigned seating with where three couples where the men were all stationed at Fort Hood and just returned from Kandahar. One of the wives had been in the building when the Fort Hood mass shooting happened. I was proud to meet them. Beware of generalizations. It takes all of us to make the world go round.

 

We all cruise for different reasons at different times in our lives. Love the people we have meet on O and other lines as well.

 

Well put and needed to be said.