If you didn't choose Viking, what would it be?

[Brad1185]

Just now, MaxFan said:

Have you traveled on Oceania yet? Was the overall experience good?

Yes just finished our first Oceania cruise 15 nights Montrèal to Miami. Overall very good with high quality food and food choices. We really like the healthier vast O food offerings that Viking does not offer. 
 

New ship the Vista that came out in May 2023. 
 

Overall if we had to choose between O or Viking we would still go with Viking. If there was a great itinerary with O we would not hesitate. 
 

O and Viking are so close in our opinion. 
 

Viking seems better organized especially with the excursions. We prefer Vikings decor

over O. 
 

We like the smaller Viking 930 something passengers to the Vista 1,200 passengers. 
 

We love the heated bathroom floor on Viking. 
We loved the included laundry service on O. 

We are so looking forward to our upcoming Viking “Into the midnight sun” cruise and the Viking Antarctica cruise. 
 

 

[SJD117]

If I didn’t choose Viking, what would it be? I might go back to doing DIY trips exclusively, just as I did for 38 years before starting with Viking in 2019. It’s great fun to explore a new town or city on one’s own, to sample the local dining, and to stay awhile if a particular region strike’s one’s fancy. Cruising is fun, too, but it can be a bit formulaic.
 

Right now Linda and I like the balance we’ve achieved by alternating Viking cruises with DIY travel. And, we’re comfortable with the Viking ethos. So if Viking went by the wayside, I’m not sure we’d seek out a replacement line. It’s certainly possible, but by no means a given.

[JM0115]

2 minutes ago, SJD117 said:

If I didn’t choose Viking, what would it be? I might go back to doing DIY trips exclusively, just as I did for 38 years before starting with Viking in 2019. It’s great fun to explore a new town or city on one’s own, to sample the local dining, and to stay awhile if a particular region strike’s one’s fancy. Cruising is fun, too, but it can be a bit formulaic.
 

Right now Linda and I like the balance we’ve achieved by alternating Viking cruises with DIY travel. And, we’re comfortable with the Viking ethos. So if Viking went by the wayside, I’m not sure we’d seek out a replacement line. It’s certainly possible, but by no means a given.

I agree totally. For places that we want to explore in-depth, we like DIY. For places that are more suited to cruise (e.g., French Polynesia, Greek Islands, Norway, Greenland, Caribbean) we are doing cruises. Cruising is a lot more expensive but includes more and is easier - no waiting for transportation, moving luggage, checking in and out, and knowing where you are going to sleep and eat, but there is a price for that.

[wine-wine-wine]

1 hour ago, JM0115 said:

I agree totally. For places that we want to explore in-depth, we like DIY. For places that are more suited to cruise (e.g., French Polynesia, Greek Islands, Norway, Greenland, Caribbean) we are doing cruises. Cruising is a lot more expensive but includes more and is easier - no waiting for transportation, moving luggage, checking in and out, and knowing where you are going to sleep and eat, but there is a price for that.

I totally agree - except that I consider the Greek islands to be more easily enjoyed by ferry or plane. With the exception of Mykonos and Santorini they are very inexpensive, all are welcoming, and one doesn’t get the real feeling until late afternoon/ into the evening or early morning. So easy that DW and I have been there 8 times and our least favorites have been on cruises. YMMV

[SJD117]

16 minutes ago, wine-wine-wine said:

I totally agree - except that I consider the Greek islands to be more easily enjoyed by ferry or plane. With the exception of Mykonos and Santorini they are very inexpensive, all are welcoming, and one doesn’t get the real feeling until late afternoon/ into the evening or early morning. So easy that DW and I have been there 8 times and our least favorites have been on cruises. YMMV

One of our favorite DIY trips was via the Greek ferry system, to the islands of Santorini, Paros, Mykonos, Delos, Samos, and Patmos, and then on to Kusadasi and Istanbul in Turkey. We gave ourselves up to the ferry schedule and had a blast along the way.

[CCWineLover]

2 hours ago, SJD117 said:

If I didn’t choose Viking, what would it be? I might go back to doing DIY trips exclusively, just as I did for 38 years before starting with Viking in 2019. It’s great fun to explore a new town or city on one’s own, to sample the local dining, and to stay awhile if a particular region strike’s one’s fancy. Cruising is fun, too, but it can be a bit formulaic.
 

Right now Linda and I like the balance we’ve achieved by alternating Viking cruises with DIY travel. And, we’re comfortable with the Viking ethos. So if Viking went by the wayside, I’m not sure we’d seek out a replacement line. It’s certainly possible, but by no means a given.

Exactly what we do!   Balance between Viking cruises and do it ourselves.  Best of both worlds !!

[SantaFe1]

26 minutes ago, SJD117 said:

One of our favorite DIY trips was via the Greek ferry system, to the islands of Santorini, Paros, Mykonos, Delos, Samos, and Patmos, and then on to Kusadasi and Istanbul in Turkey. We gave ourselves up to the ferry schedule and had a blast along the way.

And one of ours last year was the ferry system on the Italian lakes. We spent a few days in Milan, then went to lake Maggiore, going to the Borromeo islands by ferry and then a week on Lake Como in an apt. And taking the ferry everywhere.  Alas, I don’t know how many more DIY years we have🙁

[MaxFan]

3 hours ago, Brad1185 said:

Yes just finished our first Oceania cruise 15 nights Montrèal to Miami. Overall very good with high quality food and food choices. We really like the healthier vast O food offerings that Viking does not offer. 
 

New ship the Vista that came out in May 2023. 
 

Overall if we had to choose between O or Viking we would still go with Viking. If there was a great itinerary with O we would not hesitate. 
 

O and Viking are so close in our opinion. 
 

Viking seems better organized especially with the excursions. We prefer Vikings decor

over O. 
 

We like the smaller Viking 930 something passengers to the Vista 1,200 passengers. 
 

We love the heated bathroom floor on Viking. 
We loved the included laundry service on O. 

We are so looking forward to our upcoming Viking “Into the midnight sun” cruise and the Viking Antarctica cruise. 
 

 

We would like fewer passengers, too.

 

One thing I really appreciated about Viking's excursions was that the Viking staff all wore red shirts! And the little paddles were red. It stood out among the crowds and it was a relief to be somewhere and then see red!

[Brad1185]

Just now, MaxFan said:

We would like fewer passengers, too.

 

One thing I really appreciated about Viking's excursions was that the Viking staff all wore red shirts! And the little paddles were red. It stood out among the crowds and it was a relief to be somewhere and then see red!

They do usually wear red you are right. Our tips were $540 on O but with all the excursion issues we had we received back $410 in credits. So at least O took responsibility with their excursion issues.  For the 15 night cruise our on board cost was only tips for $130. 

[PatriciaF]

We were on Regent in March 2023--I have seldom had better tasting food--land or sea.  Excellent service.  BUT--the ship was only 2/3rds full.  We are looking at them for a cruise from Hamburg to Lisbon, stopping at several ports that we want to visit.  

 

We are doing SilverSea in January 2025--but on its Galapagos itinerary ship, Origin.  

 

We are Princess Platinum cruisers but will probably not be back--ships are getting too big and the lower competitive rates have resulted in nearly inedible food.  Too many people, kids, photographers, and we seldom go into the smoky casino.  

[-Lew-]

1 hour ago, PatriciaF said:

We are Princess Platinum cruisers but will probably not be back--ships are getting too big and the lower competitive rates have resulted in nearly inedible food.  Too many people, kids, photographers, and we seldom go into the smoky casino.  

 

We hear you loud and clear, @PatriciaF!  We left Princess after 50+ cruises for the reasons you mention and more.  Regent is now our go-to cruise line with Viking Ocean a close second.

[Brewgator]

I agree with many of the previous posters.  I alternate cruises with DIY vacations (usually domestic travel) and that seems to suit me really well.  Furthermore, I have a hierarchy when doing a cruise.  If it is a port intensive foreign itinerary, I will always go with Viking and/or Regent.  Would be willing to give Oceania a try at some point just to see and will probably go with Silversea for an upcoming Galapagos cruise in couple of years.  For what I call a 'relaxation cruise' (i.e. I just want to be on a ship and relax for a few days) I go with Celebrity or HAL.  For these I get a balcony cabin and rarely get off the ship.  I live in Florida so access to Port Canaveral, Tampa, Ft. Lauderdale and Miami are pretty straightforward.  I've been to all of the Caribbean ports-of-call so I just watch everybody else get off the ship and then relax by the (empty) pool for the day.  It's great!!!

[janetcbl]

When we were younger Lindblad/National Geographic was our favorite cruise line, especially for the Galapagos. Because they had been supporters of the area for many years, they got the best positions and times for guests to go ashore. 

[hurwitz5]

If we want to escape the winter weather in the northeast, we enjoy Celebrity Caribbean cruises.  We are there to enjoy the ship  - the new ships are 5 star resorts.  We have been to the ports many times, so we stay on the ship for the most part.  The new ships are beautiful with innovative design and many dining choices.  There aren’t many children on the longer Caribbean cruises, and we don’t sail during school holidays.  We sail on Viking when we are interested in excursions - an included excursion in each port is a plus.  We will be on Viking Saturn in December 2023.

Edited November 6, 2023 by hurwitz5

[BobCatter]

9 hours ago, janetcbl said:

When we were younger Lindblad/National Geographic was our favorite cruise line, especially for the Galapagos. Because they had been supporters of the area for many years, they got the best positions and times for guests to go ashore. 

We have traveled extensively with Lindblad, and still prefer them for remote/exploration type cruises (high arctic, antarctica). Their prices are too high for more accessible locations. If 'standard' land tours are offered, Viking has been good. We want to try Regent/Seabourne/Oceania as we do love small ships.

[Breckski]

On 10/27/2023 at 5:05 PM, JM0115 said:

I agree totally. For places that we want to explore in-depth, we like DIY. For places that are more suited to cruise (e.g., French Polynesia, Greek Islands, Norway, Greenland, Caribbean) we are doing cruises. Cruising is a lot more expensive but includes more and is easier - no waiting for transportation, moving luggage, checking in and out, and knowing where you are going to sleep and eat, but there is a price for that.

Agree with the places that are best to be enjoyed from a ship, but we've always thought cruising was our "inexpensive" vacations.  We try to stay in hotels/resorts where we get similar services that we get on a cruise and those places aren't cheap.  Then add the meals.  Guess it depends on what you call apples to apples.

[wine-wine-wine]

55 minutes ago, mwike said:

and those places aren't cheap

We want to spend a week or two in Lemnos and Sampthrace. Not for everyone but very, very inexpensive compared to most cruises and beautiful as far as I can tell. We visited Samos a few years ago and had a hard time spending 60

euros a night for a beautiful room with balcony and kitchen. 
 

Admittedly not a resort. But lovely. When I retire these will likely become “go to”. 

[Ianstar]

Love Viking, Oceania great but my ultimate cruise is Crystal 

Edited November 7, 2023 by Ianstar

[Mrs Miggins]

Interesting continuing Azamara v Viking thread on the Azamara board.

[SM77]

We absolutely love traveling with Viking - doing the full Panama transit in December will be our fifth Ocean cruise and we have done four river cruises with a fifth one going on the Elbe next March/April.  However we did Athens to Barcelona in 2018 on Oceania's Riviera(1200 passengers) and also had a great experience.  Personally, I thought the Oceania food was much better in the World Cafe equivalent and with the speciality restaurants.  We traveled in the Fall so minimal number of children.  Still prefer Viking but would consider traveling on Oceania as well, especially on the newest ship, Vista.  We did Crystal - Asian cruise that covered China, South Korea & Japan in early 2017 and had a incredible experience but found it too formal and encountered a lot of obnoxious, entitled 'ugly American' behavior displayed by some passengers.  It was very unpleasant being around these individuals and we couldn't avoid them since we were all traveling together on an optional excursion flying to Xian to see the terracotta soldiers and then flying to Shanghai to meet up w/ the ship.  

[BobCatter]

@Jim Avery What did you think of your Regent cruise?

[Jim Avery]

46 minutes ago, BobCatter said:

@Jim Avery What did you think of your Regent cruise?

Hope this link works.  My brief compare is imbedded on the last page.  I think some of the posts from others provide interesting info as well..

 

 

 

 

[zalusky]

Wow that food.  What's the before and after damage to the scale!

[Jim Avery]

14 minutes ago, zalusky said:

Wow that food.  What's the before and after damage to the scale!

In real time we didn't find it any better than Viking overall.  More selection but all the venues had some misses.  Room service definitely a cut above. Thanks to the gym and walkabouts in port we didn't gain anything noticeable.

[Ianstar]

Crystal above and beyond them all. Since they went out on 2022 done Oceania, Viking and Seaborne and Crystal is the best. Crystal has Included arts program. Best fitness options, pilates, yoga. All drinks any time and gratuities all included. Best food. Great entertainment, learned ukulele, piano keyboarding, computer classes, knitting, great enrichment speakers all included. All with the least pretentious group of passengers. Glad Crystal is back and hoping they are what they were before. Was crushed when the were shut down.