Traveling with Viking Ocean

Here’s a few tips that I would like to share with you
about this luxury cruise line.
I’ve done your Viking homework for you!

1. Remember the old adage, “You get what you pay for”. Included in your fare are meals, WiFi, excursions in every port of call, wine/beer/soda at lunch and dinner, educational seminars about the ports of call. We’ve added these items up on other cruise lines and truly there is no comparison. Think luxury vs. fun ship. BTW, there is no casino on board!
2. All transportation to and from included excursions is provided by motor coach with a Viking approved guide and driver or boat taxi, as was the case in Venice.
3. The ships are small – only 930 passengers. This makes it easy to walk from dinner in the aft to a show following dinner in the forward. It also makes it nice boarding after a long day of sightseeing in port. You must be 18 to sail. There tends to be a younger crowd on Viking lately than when we took our first river cruise years ago. Then, we were the youngsters on board! Generally speaking, the adult atmosphere is our preference.
4. Viking senior staff is empowered to ensure that you are happily enjoying your cruise. Have a question or concern? Guest services will listen and resolve or elevate if necessary.
5. There’s a certain pride among the staff to be working on a luxury ship. They remember your name as well as your preferences at meal time.
6. There is a cruise director on board. We’ve enjoyed some pretty amazing talent as well. When we were on our first cruise with Viking Star, we checked out the shows in the Star Theater and recognized some of the talent that were on our next cruise on the Viking Sea!
7. If you miss lunch in the MDR, the Pool Grill is open later than MDR. They offer made-t0-order salads and sandwiches/hamburgers from a limited menu. There’s also a small salad bar with soup. Great way to get that complimentary wine/beer/soda by 2PM too! We usually manage to get a refill to go!
8. Looking for late night pizza or ice cream or a snack? Well, the buffet closes at 9PM. So you are either going to have to order from room service or visit Mamsen’s.
9. Your reservation also includes a couple of opportunities for other dining venues, such as Manfredi’s Italian or Chef’s Table. We love eating at Manfredi’s. But, be sure to get a reservation in early as it’s a popular place and is only open from 6PM-9PM. I didn’t care for the menu at Chef’s Table. Be aware of the menu offerings at the Chef’s Table as they do not change daily.
10. Pre- and Post-Excursions through Viking can be rather expensive in my opinion. But that’s a personal choice only you can make. We normally do not have time to extend our vacations beyond the cruise dates.
11. Viking Air – if you decide to use this service, consider paying the $50 fee to choose your own flights. Often Viking Air will include one or two layovers and middle of the night flights, which we do not care for. Do your homework before you speak with a Viking Air agent. Ask them about your preferred flights to see if they can accommodate your request. Booking with Viking Air provides luggage service and transportation from the airport to the ship.
12. Included Excursions – Walking Tours – These are a great way to see the area with a local, knowledgeable Viking guide. But be aware, these tours often move faster than you may wish to walk.
13. Included Excursions – Motor Coach Tours – Depending on the distance, there may be a ‘pit stop’ scheduled. Be aware that there are often many buses traveling together so the restroom lines may be long. We have found that sometimes the driver has decided that the onboard restroom is not to be used. So you may want to limit your liquid intake! Some excursions combine a motor coach tour with a water cruise.
14. Excursions in general – Most allow for some time to explore and shop on your own. A meeting time and place is identified for return to the ship. Or you may wish to stay longer and take a taxi back. A comforting thought is that you can tell who is on a Viking cruise by either their red umbrella or their Quiet-Vox lanyard, or by the tour guides red jacket. If you do get separated from your group, feel free to approach any Viking tour guide for assistance. Also, see my previous post about gratuities for Viking Excursions.
15. Afternoon Tea is served daily at 4PM in the Wintergarden. A nice tiered display of sweet and savory goodies is provided. I’m not a hot tea fan, so I order a glass of ice cubes for my tea!
16. As this post is all about Viking Ocean, be sure to sign up on Cruise Critic for the Meet & Mingle for your selected cruise. It’s a great way to meet fellow travelers and senior cruise staff. And get a complimentary drink and passed hors d’oeuvres! We have enjoyed these M&Ms in the Explorer lounge as well as in the Wintergarden.
17. Dining – We generally prefer the World Buffet over The Restaurant. Both serve very similar daily menus. The World Buffet has an omelet station in the morning and a grill at lunch and dinner for more personalized food service. The desserts can have familiar names, such as Carrot Cake, but look different from what you expect. The Restaurant offers table service and a full course menu. Generally, be prepared to order all your courses, including dessert at the beginning of service. And don’t be shy! If it’s lobster night and you want two tails, order them! Early riser? Check out Mamsen’s for a delicious breakfast. There is interior as well as exterior (weather permitting) seating available for dining al fresco at the back of the ship, past the buffet.
18. Tender Operations – It is not always feasible for Viking to use a stationary docking pier. Some ports require using the lifeboats to tender you to shore. Assistance on and off the boats is provided by some great and muscular guys. I was virtually lifted from the boat to the ship during one rough water transfer.
19. Bottled water is provided as you leave the ship for excursions. And you are welcomed back on board with a warm refreshing towel.
20. There are game tables with a variety of electronic board games available which are pretty popular on Sea Days.
21. A library is provided with books relating to the voyage you are taking.
22. There’s plenty of quiet places on board to read or just nap. A favorite seems to be outside of the Wintergarden.
23. Entertainment is available in the Star Theater. Here you can hear informational port talks discussing local currency and destination history and culture tidbits and educational seminars as well as see nightly shows featuring musical talent and dancing. There is also music in the atrium on a regular basis – usually piano, guitar or string quartet. The nightclub features the house band which is pretty good.
24. The Explorer Lounge on select ships features an astrology seminar.
25. No photographers! You only have to pose for an ID picture for your room key/ship ID at check-in. Karen has the selfie process well in-hand and other passengers are only too happy to allow you to take their photo or to take yours as well.
26. Some cabins have an in-room amenity of binoculars. While these are pretty basic, it’s nice to have them available and they have come in handy on past trips.
27. If you need extra hangers, just ask your room steward. You can get as many as you need! No need to pack them from home in your luggage.
28. Nice golf-sized red Viking umbrellas are available in your stateroom or upon disembarking the ship on a rainy day.
29. There is a complimentary self-service laundry available on each deck. No need to bring soap! But you may wish to add a few dryer sheets to your packing list. It is usually quite a busy room at times. There is also an iron and ironing board available. And a folding table.
30. People love the hot tubs, Nordic wellness spa, steam room, sauna, fitness center, Snow Grotto, hair salon and more. We aren’t really “spa people” so have not partaken of this area of the ship, but the reviews from guests who have enjoyed these facilities are great.

Bonus: All cabins have balconies! There are no inside cabins. And yes, there are suites on board, but the price can give your wallet a shock!

As you can see by the above, we enjoy cruising with Viking. I have taken 2 river cruises (Tulips and Windmills & Danube Waltz) and 3 ocean cruises (Iconic Western Mediterranean, In the Wake of Vikings & Empires of the Mediterranean). And as of this writing, we have one more river cruise and 1 more ocean cruise booked for 2020 and a cruise idea for 2021. We’ve always booked direct with Viking in the past and have hit or missed with the quality of the agents. Our latest booking is through an agency that offers many additional perks that Viking does not offer. So, we are getting a much better deal for our money than ever before! Email me if you would like the name of our new agent. And, if you have questions about Viking cruises, please don’t hesitate to ask me!

The Viking Difference
Destination focused. Culturally enriching. Carefully curated.