I HATE the noisy show Viking is putting on at some ports. Do you?

[kitty allen]

Once, on a previous Viking Ocean cruise, and again once on this one we returned from an excursion to find about 20 crew members lined up in front of the gangway clapping and dancing to loud music as we boarded. This time I could hear the music blaring as soon as we returned to the port area. Since there were a number of other ships docked i wondered which line was so rude as to be making all that racket. I was astounded to see it was us! I've sailed on Viking Ocean for about 10 weeks total and I have only seen this happen twice, but it is AWFUL.

This is why I hate it;

1. It's loud and claustraphobic to run this gauntlet. After a long, hot tour I want rest, food and cool air - not a dance party

2. Its rude to all the people on the decks of both our ship and the others surrounding. I could still hear it in my room. Who want a neighbor like this?

3. Its off brand. If I wanted to sail with Carnival I would have. I cannot understand why Viking thinks passengers would want this, We all specifically chose a non-party ship.

4. It is an idiotic thing to ask the staff to do. There were waiters and housekeepers out there in full dark uniforms being made to act like our return made them want to dance and sing. Either these people are on duty and have work to do, or they are not on duty and should be left alone. They are tring their best to be happy clappy, but no one is going to be fooled into thinking this was their idea.

Wrong time

wrong place

stop it, VIKING

Is this just me?

 

[duquephart]

It is silly. Some like it.

[stephenandrew]

26 minutes ago, kitty allen said:

Once, on a previous Viking Ocean cruise, and again once on this one we returned from an excursion to find about 20 crew members lined up in front of the gangway clapping and dancing to loud music as we boarded. This time I could hear the music blaring as soon as we returned to the port area. Since there were a number of other ships docked i wondered which line was so rude as to be making all that racket. I was astounded to see it was us! I've sailed on Viking Ocean for about 10 weeks total and I have only seen this happen twice, but it is AWFUL.

This is why I hate it;

1. It's loud and claustraphobic to run this gauntlet. After a long, hot tour I want rest, food and cool air - not a dance party

2. Its rude to all the people on the decks of both our ship and the others surrounding. I could still hear it in my room. Who want a neighbor like this?

3. Its off brand. If I wanted to sail with Carnival I would have. I cannot understand why Viking thinks passengers would want this, We all specifically chose a non-party ship.

4. It is an idiotic thing to ask the staff to do. There were waiters and housekeepers out there in full dark uniforms being made to act like our return made them want to dance and sing. Either these people are on duty and have work to do, or they are not on duty and should be left alone. They are tring their best to be happy clappy, but no one is going to be fooled into thinking this was their idea.

Wrong time

wrong place

stop it, VIKING

Is this just me?

 

I’d hate to see the intensity of your reaction to something that was more significant.  

[SJD117]

It’s you.

[Selion]

It happened twice out of 70 days you'd spent with Viking.  Maybe Viking just wanted to change things up a bit?

[Pete B]

I have previously been on 3 viking cruises, with the last one a couple of weeks ago. It`s happened on all 3 trips. Personally, I`m not a fan. It makes me feel a little uncomfortable to be honest. But, HATE ! That`s an awfully strong word. I just clap back and thank them for the welcome.

Happy cruising all.

[Peregrina651]

I just smile and enjoy the welcome home.  

[SteelCity Cruiser]

I was going to type a reply but it would have come across as extremely and unnecessarily snarky.

[duquephart]

We'll take your word for it.

[longterm]

I've never been a fan of wait staff singing "Happy Birthday" or parading through a restaurant; the participants always appear embarrassed to have been forced to take part.

 

However, I'd much rather an enthusiastic greeting upon returning to the ship than a bunch of grumpy uninterested employees who don't seem to like their jobs. Give me happy faces anytime.

 

 

Edited July 7, 2023 by longterm

[photopro2]

35 minutes ago, kitty allen said:

Either these people are on duty and have work to do, or they are not on duty and should be left alone.

I have always assumed that they are on duty i.e. being paid for the time, but excused from doing their usual work - hence their smiling faces as they take part.

 

For ourselves, we like the experience. The first time it came as a pleasant surprise and now we know it is likely to happen at some point, it is something that we rather look forward to. 

 

You obviously feel differently, but I hope you will feel more able to tolerate it, knowing that they are Viking passengers like us who appreciate receiving this sort of greeting from the staff, just now and again.

[WanderingBrit]

I'm glad to say there are very few things I HATE while on vacation - possibly only cancelled flights. Other things might be disappointments or mild irritants.

[Kountess]

Last year on our Viking Homelands cruise, we did not go to Berlin and were in our cabin when the folks returned after a very long day.  From our balcony, I watched the Viking staff assemble, and they were dancing long before the passengers arrived and looked to be having fun. I enjoyed watching it and thought it was a nice Viking touch.

[OneSixtyToOne]

10 minutes ago, Kountess said:

Last year on our Viking Homelands cruise, we did not go to Berlin and were in our cabin when the folks returned after a very long day.  From our balcony, I watched the Viking staff assemble, and they were dancing long before the passengers arrived and looked to be having fun. I enjoyed watching it and thought it was a nice Viking touch.

“I don’t sing. I don’t dance. I don’t like people that do.” - David Letterman 

[Mich3554]

Different strokes.  I like it.  
 

It’s you.

[Jim Avery]

My mistake.

Edited July 7, 2023 by Jim Avery

[CCWineLover]

4 hours ago, kitty allen said:

I hate it;

 

Is this just me?

 

Wow - "HATE" ???   Such a strong emotion for such an innocuous thing.

Yes, it's you.

 

They do this on every cruise - it's been a tradition.  Some like it some don't. Usually people just tolerate it.  We personally don't feel either way.  If we didn't like it, we'd just go up the gangway, spend 30 seconds of our time and be on with it.  Such a small part of a larger cruise picture.  There is no cruise where everything is absolutely perfect.  (Grass is greener syndrome?)

 

If you feel that strongly, maybe time to switch to another cruise line then.  🙂

 

I'm betting (or rather hoping), your instant emotions got the better of you when you posted this.

[Breckski]

3 hours ago, longterm said:

I've never been a fan of wait staff singing "Happy Birthday" or parading through a restaurant; the participants always appear embarrassed to have been forced to take part.

 

However, I'd much rather an enthusiastic greeting upon returning to the ship than a bunch of grumpy uninterested employees who don't seem to like their jobs. Give me happy faces anytime.

 

 

 

I imagine the employees are only interested in their paycheck when it comes to dancing for your arrival😜

[longterm]

3 minutes ago, mwike said:

 

I imagine the employees are only interested in their paycheck when it comes to dancing for your arrival😜

Yeah, it couldn’t possibly be that they’re happy to have their jobs, like people, enjoy working for Viking, or just enjoy life.

Sheesh. 

[SJD117]

7 minutes ago, mwike said:

 

I imagine the employees are only interested in their paycheck when it comes to dancing for your arrival😜

How cynical.

[Azulann]

I like the gesture. When we left the ship on day 3 the staff was there to tell us to have a wonderful day ! Loved it and my sister loved the welcome back when they returned  from Berlin.  We were only in port with two other ships the whole 10 days on Scenic Scandinavia. Once pass X-ray, we were offered  a nice warm wet towel and once offered hot  chocolate on our one cool rainy day . 
I love it 😋🇩🇰🥰

Edited July 7, 2023 by Azulann

[Breckski]

33 minutes ago, SJD117 said:

How cynical.

 

I've never had anyone willfully dance for me upon my arrival.  Even family when returning home.

 

We're just super low-key and do not want or seek out attention.  Why we like Viking vs many other lines.  

 

I look at the staff being required to sing and dance while I board a ship like a jester being ordered to entertain.  It's not like these singers/dancers are part of the entertainment group of the cruise - but maybe they are auditioning???

 

But seriously, it's my view these folks are being made to do something "beneath" them just to have the job - especially when they have jobs not remotely related.  And I don't want to be a part of promoting these requirements.

Edited July 7, 2023 by mwike

[stephenandrew]

20 minutes ago, mwike said:

 

I've never had anyone willfully dance for me upon my arrival.  Even family when returning home.

 

I’m sure they are dancing “on the inside” when you make your entrance after an absence. Some people dance cerebrally.

[longterm]

Wow.

 

Too many people with not enough to complain about, so they choose this?

 

On one of our ocean cruise dinners, we were the first to enter The Restaurant, and wait staff was lined up to greet us as we were escorted to our table. A server we'd sat with on a previous night greeted both of us by name, and we smiled and greeted him back. It was a nice feeling, and I've always remembered that tiny gesture.

 

If I were to assume that anyone who smiles at me is either forced to do so or resentful about having to do so, then I would be an unhappy, bitter person. I choose to believe that human kindness is something that many of us enjoy, and I try to share that with people I meet--especially those who are working in support jobs that are solely for making me comfortable--like restaurant workers, housekeeping staff, grocery store employees.

 

Smiles are contagious; so is bitterness, unfortunately.

 

You never know when a well-timed smile just might counteract the difficulties someone is going through on any given day. It's free.

 

Speaking of free--the greeting upon return to the ship--is free. A person can scowl if that's how they choose to live their life.

[Meander Ingwa]

I think it is a huge difference between a typical or expected service greeting and provision at The Restaurant and running the Hokey Pokey gamut on the way back to the ship.

 

Not everyone is comfortable with these type of public situations and should be free to express their discomfort