Viking Itineraries Stale for you?

[PasadenaDave]

This subject was mentioned on the "Done with LA Office" Thread.  I thought it deserved a thread of its own.

 

We are not longtime Viking People having done only Istanbul to Venice and the Nile River with Auckland to Sydney scheduled next winter.  We consider the two journey's we have taken to be our major bucket list trips and to a certain extent, future tips might not be as awe inspiring, but that doesn't mean that we don't look forward to them.

 

We have on our horizon the British Isles to Bergen and possibly the Bergen to Barcelona repositioning itinerary.  We doubt that we will have an opportunity for the Treasures of the Tsar Cruise as I think Russia will be a challenging place for tourists for a considerable period of time.

 

I think that as we get through a few more cruises that we may go to the land such as a journey through Italy with 5 days in Rome, 2 in Florence, 3 in Naples and 3 in Sicily.  We loathe bus tours with the up and out and frequent change of hotel which is why we like cruises where the hotel goes with us.

 

We doubt that we will ever do another 1,000 passenger plus cruise except for possibly a Vancouver to home (Los Angeles) on Princess due to it being convenient and not so bad given four days at sea with no port challenges with large ships.

 

Your thoughts?

[oskidunker]

Princess is bad  I would rather be at home. 

[biggerbearmom]

We did Princess last February to Mexico because it is easy to do living in Sonoma County. That being said, we will never sail again on a large cruise line. We will be taking our 4th Viking Ocean cruise in September, and there is no way we could ever go back to the big lines. We took our first Viking Ocean last April and we are hooked.

[Torquato]

We’ve only cruised on Princess and Viking. 11 cruises on Princess and 8 on Viking. Presently on Viking doing the Viking homelands. There are pros and cons with either line.. We will continue to sail on both of them depending on convenience, itineraries, and price…

[CCWineLover]

I believe I brought up the issue of Viking itineraries getting stale.

I was interested in some of the other non-Princess smaller cruise lines, particularly Seabourn.

One of our Viking posters is on Seabourn having a very good time and will be putting together a more detailed review and comparison when they return.

[philw1776]

Silversea has small ocean ships ~ 600 passengers. I've enjoyed my cruises with them. They have many different itineraries. 

[Jim Avery]

Do they still do formal nights?

[philw1776]

I think so but my 2 cruises had no formal nights. Yah, that's a deal breaker for me.
The bathroom is superior with huge shower and jacuzzi tub even in lowest cabin.

Edited June 4, 2023 by philw1776

[Selion]

Only done 2 Viking Ocean cruises so far, but every time I look at Viking's itineraries I feel like I was looking at those Caribbean cruises out of Miami: same old same old.  That feeling is especially strong with European itineraries.  Don't get me wrong.  There are still some Viking itineraries I'd like to cruise, but if they don't introduce new itins that list will eventually run out.

[SJD117]

30 minutes ago, Selion said:

Only done 2 Viking Ocean cruises so far, but every time I look at Viking's itineraries I feel like I was looking at those Caribbean cruises out of Miami: same old same old.  That feeling is especially strong with European itineraries.  Don't get me wrong.  There are still some Viking itineraries I'd like to cruise, but if they don't introduce new itins that list will eventually run out.

 

I just checked Viking’s website — the company offers 90 Ocean itineraries, 34 River itineraries, and 27 Expedition itineraries, for a total of 151 itineraries. I’ve been on just five of them. Better up my game and do more sailings!

[BluebonnetTexan]

Well, I think a lot of that 90 number are combinations of B2Bs. For example, there are 4 8-day cruises in the Mediterranean from Barcelona to Rome to Venice to Athens to Istanbul. Then Viking markets all the combinations of those which comes to 10 “different” cruises you can buy, but really it’s just 4! That’s the most extreme example I can think of off the top of my head, but I know there are some more combos that would add to the count. I do tend to agree that some new port combos need to be added and it looks like they are trying with the recently added Mediterranean cruise including Morocco, Malta, etc. 

[SJD117]

25 minutes ago, BluebonnetTexan said:

Well, I think a lot of that 90 number are combinations of B2Bs. For example, there are 4 8-day cruises in the Mediterranean from Barcelona to Rome to Venice to Athens to Istanbul. Then Viking markets all the combinations of those which comes to 10 “different” cruises you can buy, but really it’s just 4! That’s the most extreme example I can think of off the top of my head, but I know there are some more combos that would add to the count. I do tend to agree that some new port combos need to be added and it looks like they are trying with the recently added Mediterranean cruise including Morocco, Malta, etc. 

 

Don’t be such a literalist. I wasn’t trying to fixate on this number or that number, except to point out that they come directly from Viking’s website. I simply observed that Viking offers quite a few itineraries that I haven’t yet sailed. Perhaps you’re different — perhaps you’ve sailed them all, in which case I tip my hat to you.

 

BTW, my wife and I have booked the Malta/Morocco cruise for early 2025. See you on the ship!

[LindaS272]

This subject is a variant of “you’re as young as you feel” and is limited only by your imagination. Other thoughts: “First World” problem; & Dr. Johnson quote: “A man who is tired of London is tired of life.”

 

There are so many ways to vary the current itineraries with pre and post extensions & even repeating the same itinerary. If the cruising itself is getting stale, there’s always a land based trip. For those who like to unpack once, pick a likely locale to stay for two weeks and take day trips with a rental car or public transit. You can do a bang up land trip on $1000/day!

[Vineyard View]

13 minutes ago, LindaS272 said:

This subject is a variant of “you’re as young as you feel” and is limited only by your imagination. Other thoughts: “First World” problem; & Dr. Johnson quote: “A man who is tired of London is tired of life.”

 

There are so many ways to vary the current itineraries with pre and post extensions & even repeating the same itinerary. If the cruising itself is getting stale, there’s always a land based trip. For those who like to unpack once, pick a likely locale to stay for two weeks and take day trips with a rental car or public transit. You can do a bang up land trip on $1000/day!

We always take time before and/or after our trip to explore. I think the concept that can and does happen on all the boards is the loyalty that occurs with each brand - we fell into that ourselves with Viking. We enjoy and hope to sail them in the future. We wanted different Mediterranean ports than Viking continues to offer, so we jumped ship so to speak. We are currently on a 460 pax ship and thoroughly enjoying our experience without spending more than Viking,  We actually are spending less when we factor everything in that we do when we cruise. That is not to say that Viking doesn’t do better in some areas, but this ship does better in a lot of areas than Viking. 

[PasadenaDave]

13 hours ago, Vineyard View said:

We always take time before and/or after our trip to explore. I think the concept that can and does happen on all the boards is the loyalty that occurs with each brand - we fell into that ourselves with Viking. We enjoy and hope to sail them in the future. We wanted different Mediterranean ports than Viking continues to offer, so we jumped ship so to speak. We are currently on a 460 pax ship and thoroughly enjoying our experience without spending more than Viking,  We actually are spending less when we factor everything in that we do when we cruise. That is not to say that Viking doesn’t do better in some areas, but this ship does better in a lot of areas than Viking. 

If you don't mind sharing, what ship and line are you on?

 

I ask that with the thought in mind that we like small ships with no casino and entertainment is not an issue as we stick our heads into books at night

[deec]

I am still finding both River , Ocean, and Expedition itineraries that will pique our interest.  The World Cruise allowed us to experience many "difficult" to get to destinations and now we can focus on Europe, Scandinavia, Greenland and Iceland.

[SailorPaulH]

On 6/4/2023 at 6:59 PM, Selion said:

Only done 2 Viking Ocean cruises so far, but every time I look at Viking's itineraries I feel like I was looking at those Caribbean cruises out of Miami: same old same old.  That feeling is especially strong with European itineraries.  Don't get me wrong.  There are still some Viking itineraries I'd like to cruise, but if they don't introduce new itins that list will eventually run out.

As fleet size increases, there could be potential for new itineraries. But from a pure business point of view, Viking may have reached a level of itineraries that is sufficient to cater to the window of opportunity (to travel with VOC) for their demographic - and as the next generation of potential travelers replaces us everything becomes new again.

[Myrtle Ave. Mayhem]

I specifically sail Viking for the shipboard experience. Trans-Atlantic crossings are ideal for me. There could be a cruise from Long Island to Rhode Island, as long as it's on Viking, I'm pleased  

Edited June 6, 2023 by Myrtle Ave. Mayhem

[lackcreativity]

3 hours ago, Myrtle Ave. Mayhem said:

I specifically sail Viking for the shipboard experience. Trans-Atlantic crossings are ideal for me. There could be a cruise from Long Island to Rhode Island, as long as it's on Viking, I'm pleased  

Viking must have a devil of a time trying to provide enough variety to suit us all. I love the Viking shipboard experience, and a sea day here or there is welcome. However, it is the itinerary that draws me.

 

Specifically, charming medieval towns with cathedrals and castles are the places I crave. Add in a museum here and there.  If beautiful scenery surrounds them, so much the better, but not a requirement.  Glaciers leave me cold (sorry) and miles of open fields and mountains begin to bore (not you, Tuscany). Palm trees are nice enough, but island hopping for beaches holds little appeal. Is it any wonder that Europe in general and the Mediterranean in particular is my destination of choice?

 

Edited June 6, 2023 by lackcreativity

[Sleep7]

👋Hello everyone!

I wish Viking had more shorter Mediterranean itineraries.. Since week long cruises are ideal for us and even more ideally if the cruise begins on a Saturday or Sunday my dream Viking cruise would be...

A 7 day cruise from Rome (easy flight from JFK) that is Sicily intensive.

I absolutely LOVED "White Lotus" and would love to visit as many ports in Sicily as possible by ship.

Who's with me??😃🙋‍♀️

 

[lackcreativity]

4 hours ago, Sleep7 said:

👋Hello everyone!

I wish Viking had more shorter Mediterranean itineraries.. Since week long cruises are ideal for us and even more ideally if the cruise begins on a Saturday or Sunday my dream Viking cruise would be...

A 7 day cruise from Rome (easy flight from JFK) that is Sicily intensive.

I absolutely LOVED "White Lotus" and would love to visit as many ports in Sicily as possible by ship.

Who's with me??😃🙋‍♀️

 

I too am interested in multiple ports in Sicily, even though I didn't watch White Lotus. However, we will have to agree to disagree on the seven day cruise. I know those of us who are still working can have problems with limited vacation, but for me the transatlantic flights are too much of an ordeal to go for just seven days. Eleven to fourteen days makes me happiest!

[SJD117]

5 hours ago, Sleep7 said:

👋Hello everyone!

I wish Viking had more shorter Mediterranean itineraries.. Since week long cruises are ideal for us and even more ideally if the cruise begins on a Saturday or Sunday my dream Viking cruise would be...

A 7 day cruise from Rome (easy flight from JFK) that is Sicily intensive.

I absolutely LOVED "White Lotus" and would love to visit as many ports in Sicily as possible by ship.

Who's with me??😃🙋‍♀️

 

Why wait for a cruise itinerary that’s Sicily-intensive? Visit the island on your own! That’s what we’re doing this October, as an add-on to Italy’s Amalfi Coast. I’ve wanted to visit Sicily for some time now, and I say that having never watched White Lotus.

[Sleep7]

11 hours ago, lackcreativity said:

I too am interested in multiple ports in Sicily, even though I didn't watch White Lotus. However, we will have to agree to disagree on the seven day cruise. I know those of us who are still working can have problems with limited vacation, but for me the transatlantic flights are too much of an ordeal to go for just seven days. Eleven to fourteen days makes me happiest!

👋Good morning lackcreativity!

Oh how I would love to take a longer cruise than a week but alas it's not that easy for DH to take 2 weeks off back to back.. for now 7 days will have to do.  I totally agree the transatlantic flights are grueling for only a week but thankfully we are flying from JFK which is probably the easiest place to fly to Europe from.

And do watch White Lotus season 2 as it's AWESOME!  Such great entertainment and a fantastic travelogue as well.🤗

 

[Sleep7]

10 hours ago, SJD117 said:

Why wait for a cruise itinerary that’s Sicily-intensive? Visit the island on your own! That’s what we’re doing this October, as an add-on to Italy’s Amalfi Coast. I’ve wanted to visit Sicily for some time now, and I say that having never watched White Lotus.

👋Hi SJD117!

Of course you are totally right that I could go on a land tour of Sicily.. I have looked into it a few times.

It's now a little harder for us to get there now as Delta is ending their partnership with ITA and since we only fly Delta it was nice to have the Rome to Sicily flights rolled into our transatlantic ones.  We could book the short hop flights independently (ITA from Rome or Easyjet from Paris) but I like to book them as one ticket.  That shouldn't stop me though.. yet somehow it does! 🤷‍♀️

I just figured that since all the main cities of Sicily were on the coast it would make a great cruise itinerary. 

How awesome that you are going there in October.. the weather will be just perfect in the fall.👏

And as I said upthread.. do watch White Lotus season 2.  It's wonderful!

We were glued to the TV on the finale night.🤗

 

 

[PGI GUY]

I wish they would add new stops to  the current transatlantic voyages they all stop at Funchal. How about Bermuda, the Canary Islands or Cape Verde.