The Roaming BoomersOur Review: Viking Ocean Cruises
Our Review: Viking Ocean Cruises
Our review of Viking Ocean Cruises comes after perhaps four years since we last sailed on one of their ocean ships.
And remarkably, in that period, we have grown to become the #2 booking agents for Viking Cruises in the world.
Further, Carol and I are the #1 booking agents for Viking Cruises, out of 20,000+ other agents in the Virtuoso Travel Network for the last four years running.
How has this happened?
Well, we work hard and smart. But at the end of the day, Viking has carved out a massive niche with their small-ship (930 passengers) sailing vessels that folks have come to trust and adore.
Afternoon Tea on Viking Cruises. Click for large view.
Impressions sailing with Viking for the second time
- We brought friends along with us on our latest cruise, and the first thing we immediately noticed was the friendliness and professionalism of the staff and crew. Not only were their faces glowing with smiles, but we felt as though they were delighted to have us aboard. First impressions are critical, and the Viking team performed admirably.
- Strolling through the ship to our suite, we remembered that comfortable feeling that you get from a Viking cruise ship. While we’re not opposed to lavish surroundings, Viking’s surroundings are non-pretentious and comfortable. Hence, their motto, “explore the world in comfort.”
- Viking’s Health & Safety Protocols are simply above and beyond what most cruise lines are currently doing. We felt safe sailing with Viking during this pandemic. In fact, I wrote a whole article on this subject alone: CLICK HERE.
- The cuisine on Viking Ocean Cruises is excellent. Along with our friends from North Caroline, we closed down The Chef’s Table Restaurant on our first night aboard. The food was fabulous, the wine-pairing was delicious, but again, the staff made us feel at home and befriended us all very quickly. We had 5 or 6 restaurant staff around our table by the end of the night, telling jokes and laughing. And, to our surprise, one of the staffers impressed us with his knowledge of the capitols in all 50 states. The food in The Restaurant (the main dining venue) was outstanding. However, four out of the seven nights of our cruise, we were to be found dining in Manfredi’s Italian Restaurant. The Osso Bucco is fabulous. The variety of pasta dishes kept us coming back. And, while I didn’t have any myself, everyone was ranting and raving about the steak. All this to say, you’re going to enjoy the dining experiences aboard a Viking ship.
- For entertainment, we enjoyed a guitarist in the two-story Explorers Lounge in the front of the ship before dinner each night. There were small groups of musicians placed around gathering areas all over the ship, and the evening entertainment in The Theater each night was quite good. We all played name that tune one afternoon at sea. We lost. Carol and her friend watched a movie one afternoon in the cinema. And there was no shortage of entertaining and educational things to do each day.
Carol enjoying the daybed on the deck of our suite.
I could go on, but this was a wonderful reminder of how much we love Viking. And it also served as a reminder why our clients keep booking Viking with us over and over.
Viking avoids using the word luxury as they describe themselves. But for me, Viking is akin to Goldilocks. Luxurious, but not too extravagant. And comfortable in every way. We tell our clients to think of Viking as a 4 1/2-star cruise line to help them place the Viking brand in their brains.
In closing, it was great to again be aboard one of their ocean cruises. Next, we’re looking forward to sampling Viking’s new river ships on the Mississippi and one of their new expedition ships on the Great Lakes.
How to Book a Viking Ocean, River, or Expedition Cruise
The first thing to know is that booking a Viking cruise with Roaming Boomers Travel Services is the same price as booking directly with Viking.
However, when you book with us, as we are the #2 booking agents for Viking in the world, you will enjoy our expert advice and service.
In a short conversation with us, I promise that you will quickly understand the benefits of booking your fun Viking cruise with Roaming Boomers Travel Services.
For more information or to book a Viking cruise, please call Roaming Boomers Travel Services at (480) 550-1235 or use our convenient online information request (click here), and we’ll reach out to you.
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11 Comments on “Our Review: Viking Ocean Cruises”
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Thanks for this review – we’re doing our first cruise with Viking on the Jupiter in November, rescheduled from the same time last year. Are both anxious and really looking forward to it! We set up this trip on our own, but have been receiving your newsletters and assuming we book again with Viking, you’ll be our first contact! We’ve been impressed with Viking’s communications around their protocols and we feel confident about their onboard precautions. Main concern now is the flight and the extra days we’re spending in Rome & Barcelona, and being careful on any of our excursions.
I think it’s a new itinerary, but would also be interested in reviews from you or any of your customers on Viking’s Northern Lights cruise.
You mentioned loving Manfredi’s – we missed the reserve ahead window when Viking opened it for Manfredi’s and the Chef’s Table (we were on a domestic car trip!). Can they be booked while on board or keep extra seats for walk-ins? Thanks!
We’ve done 3 Viking Ocean cruises now (#4 in Dec) and we’ve found we really enjoy the Chef’s Table. They have a new menu every three days. We found that if flexible (early seating for us) you can get a reservation while onboard. You can probably get one reservation now—I would try. Manfredi’s is great and highly recommended too, but we find the Chefs Table always an unusual and excellent meal. Enjoy!!
Deb L,
Thanks for stopping by. I’m confident that you will enjoy your Viking cruise and their health & safety protocols are there to keep you safe.
While we have not personally enjoyed Viking’s Northern Lights cruise, we’ve had many clients on the cruise and they’ve all reported positive things.
With regard to Manfredi’s, when you get on the ship, as the concierge to get you booked. With the ships being at 50% capacity, it’s likely not to be a problem.
Hi Bill,
Thanks for stopping by. I hope all is well with you and Susie. Thanks for sharing your two cents about the dining options on Viking. And thanks for being great clients and friends. 🙂
I booked an Alaska cruise in 2020 for June 2022. I was sent an itinerary and a “Risk-free Guarantee”. I called viking in Feb 2022, 104 days before sailing. Due to circumstances, I needed to cancel the booking. I was told that I would receive either a voucher good on another cruise or a 20% penalty. I would be unable to use the voucher and had to accept the penalty.
The cancelation penalty was NEVER mentioned by the agent during booking.
This is theft by viking cruise line.
Francis,
If you wanted to cancel with cash-back at 104-days prior to sailing, there would be a 20% penalty. However, their risk-free booking would have allowed you to rebook a new cruise using a future cruise voucher without any penalty. I’m not sure what happened, but somehow there is misinformation here. I’m sorry to hear of this.
I love your review of Viking Cruise. We took an ocean cruise two years ago of the Mediterranean Odyssey and it was wonderful. You are correct the Osso Bucco is FANTASTIC. We are booked on a combo River/ocean cruise in May and we are very excited about our trip!!!
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts, Reginald. Have fun on your cruise, and if we can help you with your next booking, just let us know.
Interesting review!
We just returned from the southern Atlantic journey and had to spend for good reason ten days on deck three!!!
The tv entertainment was below any international standard and a new viking booking from europe is not possible.
Thank you for the comprehensive review. We have taken 2 Viking River cruises and had booked a 3rd for 2020. We used the voucher for a 2022 Ocean cruise on Sky that leaves in a month. We are looking forward to getting into Mafredi’s as much as possible.
We did have 1 BIG problem. After waiting and and planning for 2 years, just days before the excursions opened for us to book they ALL started showing as Sold Out. Once we could book, well over half were already full. Almost everything we wanted to do was gone. We called Viking several times and all they said was “just keep checking back to see if anything opens up”. No waitlist, no offers to accommodate our requests. NO customer service from Customer Service. Deluxe Veranda rooms are not cheap but Viking makes it clear the higher your room class the greater you chance of getting served. I feel bad for anyone in a lower tier room. They get no excursion options in some ports. We are looking forward to our trip but unless Viking fixes this issue I doubt we will do a 4th.
Joe,
I am sorry to hear of your frustration w/ Viking’s shore excursions. We didn’t hear of these issues before Covid, so I suspect the support system for shore excursions isn’t yet in full swing with the required ground personnel. I will pass your comments along to Viking’s Sr. Executives.