Possible First time Viking Ocean Cruiser

[ScottC4746]

My DH and I have been on Princess, RCCL, Holland, and Celebrity.  We are thinking of taking our first Viking cruise.  My concern is if we will fit in.  Both of us are blue collar workers in customer service.  We don't have the fanciest car or home.  We are apartment dwellers in So Cal and our clothes are not the fanciest.  I do like what I see on the website as what Viking offers on board, we both have brains and think and like visiting different cultures not boozing it up.  Currently I am 58 and he is 51.  Are we too young?

[wine-wine-wine]

You will feel perfectly at home. Nothing fancy required and no snootiness (that I have encountered ). Age ranges vary per itinerary and time of year. I’m 55 and feel very comfortable. 

[formernuke]

I concur. You’ll fit in fine and be welcome! We were your age when we first started with Viking a decade ago

[Zippeedee]

I was very concerned about “fitting in”, mostly because of a few social media snobs and bullies. Just about everyone I’ve met on board is wonderful . Make the leap! 

[ScottC4746]

How are the shore excursion prices compared to other lines?

[TayanaLorna]

You will fit in just fine.  No one will see your car or home.  When we meet others we tend to talk about traveling rather then jobs or careers.  We took our first Viking cruise at 66 and 67 and were mid age range.  My husband had to buy a pair of long pants (not jeans) and a collared shirt so we could go to the Restaurant, Manfred's and Chefs Table for dinner as we live in t-shirts and shorts where we live.  Folks in the Explorer Suites and those in the Veranda cabins are treated the same by staff.  There are no special places on board for higher priced cabins or loyalty perks.  

[minka34]

Our first VO was when we were 55 and 51.  We felt like we were on the young side of the demographic on board, and even got questions like "what are you doing here?"  We took it tongue-in-cheek, but felt a little like outsiders.  Five years later, we still get the question (people are curious in a friendly way) and we still really enjoy Viking.  It doesn't really matter what ship we are on, we usually do the same things which are all fairly quiet activities so on the large lines we are in the minority as well but for different reasons.  The bonus on Viking is that you have a beautiful and quiet ship with lots of common areas to read or just look out the window.  The ships have a walking or jogging track, a nice fitness center, and spa.  We love the lectures by experts on board and the pool areas that do not have music blasting.  It's nice to be able to read without all the distraction, and if you want music at the pool, you can use earbuds and play your own.  We also like that there are not constant announcements about art auctions, contests, and shopping opportunities... blech.  The ships are relaxed and comfortable.  We dress for dinner, but nothing fancy.  Some folks are less fancy than others and it's OK.  

If you ok with a non-casino, no pool slides, no climbing wall,...etc, adults only atmosphere, I think you will find Viking to be a nice change.  We used to sail NCL a lot which has the "Haven".  I feel like the entire Viking ship is a Haven.  Give it a try!  

I just saw your excursion question.  If you want an active excursion, you will likely need to skip the included one which is often a bus ride to site see.  We are active people usually, but always seem to take the included tours; we usually learn something about the area from the guide.  If there is time, we might try other activities on shore.  In Iceland we joined the CC role call and found others wanting to join together to book an excursion with an outside provider. We joined them and were happy with that decision. As with other lines, you likely can save money and do a very similar excursion with an outside provider.

Edited December 9, 2023 by minka34
correction

[duquephart]

1 hour ago, ScottC4746 said:

My DH and I have been on Princess, RCCL, Holland, and Celebrity.  We are thinking of taking our first Viking cruise.  My concern is if we will fit in.  Both of us are blue collar workers in customer service.  We don't have the fanciest car or home.  We are apartment dwellers in So Cal and our clothes are not the fanciest.  I do like what I see on the website as what Viking offers on board, we both have brains and think and like visiting different cultures not boozing it up.  Currently I am 58 and he is 51.  Are we too young?

 

No.

[CDR2001]

Don’t worry about fancy clothes! We wear technical outdoor gear for excursions, and dress for the weather. I usually change into a sweater or tunic with black pants for dinners everywhere. I might add a nice scarf for Manfredi’s, but otherwise stay casual. No ties or jackets for hubby! I think you will find a middle age and up demographic on the active ocean cruises, as that’s what we’ve seen. 

[millybess]

Regarding demographics, it depends on the destination. For example, we have found that the Mediterranean cruises attract a younger crowd — 20s, 30s. A transatlantic cruise or a Norway cruise attracts an older age group. It really won’t matter. For the most part it’s mixed. 

[KBs mum]

We thought the live music in the lounges on our last cruise was old fashioned, being 40's and 50's musicals rather than classical (My Grandmother would have loved them) but otherwise you are in the usual age range

[Breckski]

I say you'll be much younger than most of the folks.  We first used Viking in our 40's now in 50's.  On every cruise we've been one of the youngest on board and received questions like:  do you like it here, why are your here (in a nice manner), etc.  The age difference is much more obvious on excursions - small groups where we're normally in better shape than the others.

 

But we're quite people and don't mind being the youngest.  We do our own thing and don't have kids irritating us.  The only place we don't have the privacy we'd like is the Restaurant when many/most tables for 2 are ultra-close.  We've found our "neighbors" want to treat it as a shared table.

 

The vast majority of folks aren't pretentious or judgmental whatsoever.

[millybess]

6 minutes ago, KBs mum said:

We thought the live music in the lounges on our last cruise was old fashioned, being 40's and 50's musicals rather than classical (My Grandmother would have loved them) but otherwise you are in the usual age range

Totally disagree!  We love the relaxing music in the LR — piano, cello, violin. And they’re very talented. If only people would stop face timing during the live musicI

 

I agree about musicals — in the theatre though. 

[millybess]

And just to add, one of our very few pet peeves is the guitar player in the Explorer's Lounge using an iPad as his musical accompaniments.  On our last 2 cruises with Viking we usually retire to the Living Room to listen to the lovely music.  😊

[KBs mum]

37 minutes ago, millybess said:

Totally disagree!  We love the relaxing music in the LR — piano, cello, violin. And they’re very talented. If only people would stop face timing during the live musicI

 

I agree about musicals — in the theatre though. 

There was little classical music played, the instruments used are not an indicator of genre. More modern musicals would have been fine, but pieces such as 'The Sabine Women' from Seven Brides have not exactly stood the test of time. 

 

We view music in the lounges as background music, in the same way as any hotel, it should not get in the way of conversation or any other fairly quiet activity, face timing is fine as long as it is unobtrusive. 

 

 

Edited December 9, 2023 by KBs mum

[CCWineLover]

2 hours ago, ScottC4746 said:

My DH and I have been on Princess, RCCL, Holland, and Celebrity.  We are thinking of taking our first Viking cruise.  My concern is if we will fit in.  Both of us are blue collar workers in customer service.  We don't have the fanciest car or home.  We are apartment dwellers in So Cal and our clothes are not the fanciest.  I do like what I see on the website as what Viking offers on board, we both have brains and think and like visiting different cultures not boozing it up.  Currently I am 58 and he is 51.  Are we too young?

You will be just fine and that’s what we like on Viking. No pretensions!

enjoy your experience. !

[Clay Clayton]

2 hours ago, ScottC4746 said:

My DH and I have been on Princess, RCCL, Holland, and Celebrity.  We are thinking of taking our first Viking cruise.  My concern is if we will fit in.  Both of us are blue collar workers in customer service.  We don't have the fanciest car or home.  We are apartment dwellers in So Cal and our clothes are not the fanciest.  I do like what I see on the website as what Viking offers on board, we both have brains and think and like visiting different cultures not boozing it up.  Currently I am 58 and he is 51.  Are we too young?

I agree with what others have posted that you should give Viking a try.  On each of our cruises there have always been at least four or six guests in their 30s or 40s and they seem to find each other so I think you won’t have any trouble being under 60. 
 

if you haven’t discovered it yet, you might want to review this thread which has lots of advice for folks new to Viking:

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2416372-tips-for-new-viking-ocean-cruisers/page/62/#comment-62141739

Also want to suggest that to maximize your value, you may want to find a travel agent that provides the maximum kickback of their commission that Viking allows-$150pp on cruises up to 7 nights, $300pp on 8-14 night cruises, and $500pp on cruises of 15 nights or more. This is enough to cover the daily service charge/gratuities and leave a little left over for the bar tab. 🍸

 

[Peregrina651]

1 hour ago, ScottC4746 said:

My DH and I have been on Princess, RCCL, Holland, and Celebrity.  We are thinking of taking our first Viking cruise.  My concern is if we will fit in.  Both of us are blue collar workers in customer service.  We don't have the fanciest car or home.  We are apartment dwellers in So Cal and our clothes are not the fanciest.  I do like what I see on the website as what Viking offers on board, we both have brains and think and like visiting different cultures not boozing it up.  Currently I am 58 and he is 51.  Are we too young?

 

NO! You are not too young! Age is a state of mind, not a number.  And all the other stuff you mentioned doesn't matter either; it's nobody's business but your own and nobody is going to ask you about it.

 

Don't let the word "luxury" mislead you. Although Viking is labeled by the list makers as "luxury," it is not a luxury cruise line; there are no white gloves or butlers on the ship, no exclusive bars or lounges, no formal evenings, no jackets and ties required, etc. Once you leave your cabin, no one knows what cabin you are in unless you tell them and everyone on board is treated as if they are traveling in the Owner's Suite. If Viking were a true "luxury" cruise line, I would have long since stopped sailing with them.

[bookbabe]

DH and I are early 50’s, and have done two VO cruises in the last year, with a long Mediterranean cruise coming up in the spring.  We’ve likely been in the youngest dozen passengers on both cruises, and most of those younger than us were either honeymooners or part of a multi-generational family group.  However, we enjoy time on our own, we’re not looking for a party or bar hopping experience.  We’ve had polite conversations and interactions with other passengers, no issues with the age difference.  FYI, shorts and tees at the buffet in the evenings is totally acceptable, and even the rest of the restaurants are more collared shirt and nice pants rather than suit and tie.  It’s not a fancy cruise, DH calls it “casual luxury.”  And if you are used to bigger mass market ships, you’ll LOVE how easy getting off and on the ship is at the various ports…NO LINES!

 

[nanamobo]

3 hours ago, Clay Clayton said:

I agree with what others have posted that you should give Viking a try.  On each of our cruises there have always been at least four or six guests in their 30s or 40s and they seem to find each other so I think you won’t have any trouble being under 60. 
 

if you haven’t discovered it yet, you might want to review this thread which has lots of advice for folks new to Viking:

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2416372-tips-for-new-viking-ocean-cruisers/page/62/#comment-62141739

Also want to suggest that to maximize your value, you may want to find a travel agent that provides the maximum kickback of their commission that Viking allows-$150pp on cruises up to 7 nights, $300pp on 8-14 night cruises, and $500pp on cruises of 15 nights or more. This is enough to cover the daily service charge/gratuities and leave a little left over for the bar tab. 🍸

 

Do all travel agents get that much kickback from Viking? Our first ocean cruise was 30 days and the travel agent I use didn’t give any OBC. Our second river cruise was our 50th anniversary and received 200.00 OBC. I don’t know about our upcoming cruise as I haven’t seen and OBC in our MVJ. Do I need to ask our travel agent?

[SantaFe1]

15 minutes ago, nanamobo said:

Do I need to ask our travel agent?

 

15 minutes ago, nanamobo said:

I haven’t seen and OBC in our MVJ. Do I need to ask our travel agent?

Yes!  It doesn’t just appear.  I always ask for it to post as soon as we make final payment.  Otherwise it sometimes doesn’t appear until you board.  I like to use it to pay for shore ex.  But I bet there are as many stories here as there are travel agents.  

[DrKoob]

10 hours ago, ScottC4746 said:

My DH and I have been on Princess, RCCL, Holland, and Celebrity.  We are thinking of taking our first Viking cruise.  My concern is if we will fit in.  Both of us are blue collar workers in customer service.  We don't have the fanciest car or home.  We are apartment dwellers in So Cal and our clothes are not the fanciest.  I do like what I see on the website as what Viking offers on board, we both have brains and think and like visiting different cultures not boozing it up.  Currently I am 58 and he is 51.  Are we too young?

As former Celebrity cruisers (more than 20) I can say that you will more than fit in. Go and enjoy yourselves. This is one of the most non-stuffy lines we have ever sailed on. In fact we are on one of their river cruise ships right now. Have taken the oceans ones too. Have two more booked.We are done with X and HAL.

[Clay Clayton]

13 hours ago, nanamobo said:

Do all travel agents get that much kickback from Viking? Our first ocean cruise was 30 days and the travel agent I use didn’t give any OBC. Our second river cruise was our 50th anniversary and received 200.00 OBC. I don’t know about our upcoming cruise as I haven’t seen and OBC in our MVJ. Do I need to ask our travel agent?

I presume that all agents get the same commission but I don’t know.  But the figures I quoted are from a Viking document that outlines how much incentives agents can provide.  Some do it as ours does as refundable onboard credit others do it by including gratuities or the silver spirits package. We have sometimes lucked out by catching a promotional fare from Viking that includes SS so we have gotten a check from Viking after getting home reflective of the unspent onboard credit.  
 

In my opinion it’s certainly worth asking and if they aren’t able to provide, I’d consider looking for an agent who does. As my Daddy used to say, “if you don’t ask, they can’t say yes!”

[rbslos18]

I think you will do great. People just do their own thing on Viking. It is very rare we hear people acting or speaking with an attitude of entitlement which we uncomfortably experienced on a luxury line. So for whom is a Viking cruise best suited? People who want to experience the world with people who are fun, curious, and like delicious food and wine on ships that are brilliantly designed.

[PasadenaDave]

It is very rare we hear people acting or speaking with an attitude of entitlement which we uncomfortably experienced on a luxury line. 

 

Agree, but we have heard "I could never live in California, such high taxes and your governor!", but we have also heard, "When I was in California..... it must be so wonderful to live there."

 

Entitled people are everywhere, but we actually found more entitled people on Princess with the caste system they have with that line.

More often I have had conversations with very wealthy people who talk about rebuilding race cars or taking their boys backpacking when they were in Scouts.  More often I find great people on Viking who could care less of your station in life.