Viking Cruises

[Pushka]

Today my brother and I attended an Adelaide Viking Cruises presentation. He had been on a Viking River Cruise and almost immediately booked an Ocean cruise as they loved it so much. Viking is very new as an Ocean cruiseline but well known in the River Cruise area, something that’s never appealed to me. Within 18 months of the first Ocean ship, they have been voted as the Best Ocean cruise line, which is pretty impressive given it has a passenger number of around 900 passengers. It’s founder is proud of his Viking heritage and their style is chic Norwegian style. It is seemingly filling a niche between say Celebrity and the likes of Silversea, and Crystal. It’s all inclusive with wines etc included at lunch and dinner, speciality coffees all hours, full room service menus, an excursion in every port, no tipping, and no children under 18. Every cabin has a full bath and balcony and minbar included. No formal dress or jacket.

Well, I’m a little bit hooked. I love the decor. Brother is off on a Norwegian trip out of London in a few weeks up the northern coast and the northern coast of Norway and I’m a bit jealous.

 

[odysseus]

I'd say they're a lot above Celebrity. Though of course you pay for it.

By all accounts, they've taken the high level of service/inclusions common to most river cruises, and translated that to the ocean scene. And brought a lot of their river cruise market with them, for whom the mainstream ocean lines aren't the same.

 

[Pushka]

I'd say they're a lot above Celebrity. Though of course you pay for it.

By all accounts, they've taken the high level of service/inclusions common to most river cruises, and translated that to the ocean scene. And brought a lot of their river cruise market with them, for whom the mainstream ocean lines aren't the same.

Oh yes much more expensive than Celebrity and Princess. But helpful in that there are no extra tips, no casino, no photographers, wines included at meal time, coffees all the time. All but one restaurant free of charge. One excursion in every port albeit a walking one. Those too could add up.

And yes, they have rather successfully it seems, converted the River experience to Ocean. That’s how my brother over across.

 

[love_the_life]

Oh yes much more expensive than Celebrity and Princess. But helpful in that there are no extra tips, no casino, no photographers, wines included at meal time, coffees all the time. All but one restaurant free of charge. One excursion in every port albeit a walking one. Those too could add up.

And yes, they have rather successfully it seems, converted the River experience to Ocean. That’s how my brother over across.

I'm glad that they are walking tours but even then MrLtL might be a little challenged with being in a group.

I thought that you had booked Viking for Alaska?

 

[Pushka]

I'm glad that they are walking tours but even then MrLtL might be a little challenged with being in a group.

I thought that you had booked Viking for Alaska?

Yep. The ship is being launched next month. So it will be sparkly new.

 

[love_the_life]

That should be wonderful.
Thinking of booking a short QE Australian segment just to see what she is like in comparison to the grand Dame!

 

[Pushka]

That should be wonderful.
Thinking of booking a short QE Australian segment just to see what she is like in comparison to the grand Dame!

How about Adelaide return in Dec?

 

[love_the_life]

How about Adelaide return in Dec?

LOL - do I suspect you are on that as well? And MrP? Suspect he may not cope well with a loud LtL.

 

[Pushka]

LOL - do I suspect you are on that as well? And MrP? Suspect he may not cope well with a loud LtL.

Nope. He’s not.

 

[love_the_life]

Nope. He’s not.

Sans spouse....again?
December 2019?

 

[Pug1]

My Sister-in-law is in travel publications and she speaks highly of Viking. So we booked their North Pacific crossing from Vancouver to Tokyo in August 2019, which we are looking forward to. It cruises via Alaska, Russia and then Japan. This is on Viking Orion, a bigger ship than we normally take but we'll see how they compare. Hoping to use points for all of the connecting flights.

 

[Pushka]

My Sister-in-law is in travel publications and she speaks highly of Viking. So we booked their North Pacific crossing from Vancouver to Tokyo in August 2019, which we are looking forward to. It cruises via Alaska, Russia and then Japan. This is on Viking Orion, a bigger ship than we normally take but we'll see how they compare. Hoping to use points for all of the connecting flights.

We are on the Orion in Alaska in May next year. Brother and sister in law will be on her sister ship from London in 2 weeks time. I just booked our flights to the US by points just yesterday. I’ll do a review.

The Orion was just released to Viking last week. Spanking new.

 

[Pug1]

We are on the Orion in Alaska in May next year. Brother and sister in law will be on her sister ship from London in 2 weeks time. I just booked our flights to the US by points just yesterday. I’ll do a review.

The Orion was just released to Viking last week. Spanking new.

Hi Pushka, look forward to your review of the cruise. I'm pondering the best way to do a one way Sydney to Vancouver and one way Tokyo to Sydney on points, without going into the US and avoiding the Air Canada 15 hour ordeal! Will be in London for a couple of nights in two weeks, it's where I went to school and still feels like coming home after all those years, strange isn't it? Enjoy Alaska.

 

[drron]

You can fly from HKG direct to YVR on Cathay.
Or from NRT on JAL.

PS.Also ANA from NRT.

 

[Pushka]

Hi Pushka, look forward to your review of the cruise. I'm pondering the best way to do a one way Sydney to Vancouver and one way Tokyo to Sydney on points, without going into the US and avoiding the Air Canada 15 hour ordeal! Will be in London for a couple of nights in two weeks, it's where I went to school and still feels like coming home after all those years, strange isn't it? Enjoy Alaska.

We are flying into and out of San Francisco. We are going to the Grand Canyon so no choice. Partner is doing a hike there. SFO seems a little better than LAX.

 

[Pug1]

You can fly from HKG direct to YVR on Cathay.
Or from NRT on JAL.

PS.Also ANA from NRT.

thanks drron. We like JAL and thought about going that way and my Qantas points should get us part way.

 

[Franky]

Have just completed a river cruise AMS-BSL on Viking Hiln, and was our first cruise of any sort. We found the experience far exceeded our expectations, quite amazing attention to detail at every turn, and have been sold on river cruising for the future. I had been looking at a number of European agents to book thru given the prices are far less than those on offer here. Somehow stumbled on a British agent last August who had a special going for our mid June trip. We obtained a top deck cabin with balcony for just under $9K for the two of us, which included all but suggested gratuities. The special was 1000GBP off their usual price, and we also received a 150GBP rebate each for the air fare applicable to those starting in the UK, as well as a 50GBP voucher each to be spent onboard. There was an included guided walk every day (not our usual go, but), and additional tours which could be purchased as well. Every stop we made had four buses waiting at the pier to move us to the beginning of the tour. The passengers were 99% Americans, and included 2 people in wheelchairs, an amputee on crutches and a couple of others who were grossly obese who would not have been able to do a walking tour, so there were always 4 taxis waiting to transport them on a modified tour. It was an outstanding experience. Our only complaint (first world issue) was the dodgy WiFi though there was a disclaimer that with the limitations of a moving vessel etc, we should not expect much better. We felt that 8 days was about right, and would recommend a river cruise to anyone.

 

[Pushka]

Have just completed a river cruise AMS-BSL on Viking Hiln, and was our first cruise of any sort. We found the experience far exceeded our expectations, quite amazing attention to detail at every turn, and have been sold on river cruising for the future. I had been looking at a number of European agents to book thru given the prices are far less than those on offer here. Somehow stumbled on a British agent last August who had a special going for our mid June trip. We obtained a top deck cabin with balcony for just under $9K for the two of us, which included all but suggested gratuities. The special was 1000GBP off their usual price, and we also received a 150GBP rebate each for the air fare applicable to those starting in the UK, as well as a 50GBP voucher each to be spent onboard. There was an included guided walk every day (not our usual go, but), and additional tours which could be purchased as well. Every stop we made had four buses waiting at the pier to move us to the beginning of the tour. The passengers were 99% Americans, and included 2 people in wheelchairs, an amputee on crutches and a couple of others who were grossly obese who would not have been able to do a walking tour, so there were always 4 taxis waiting to transport them on a modified tour. It was an outstanding experience. Our only complaint (first world issue) was the dodgy WiFi though there was a disclaimer that with the limitations of a moving vessel etc, we should not expect much better. We felt that 8 days was about right, and would recommend a river cruise to anyone.

That is indeed a great deal! We’ve just booked another Viking Cruise. December 2019 - Includes a cruise down the Nile. It’s something we were going to do a few years ago but it got nasty. It’s not on a traditional Viking Ship but it still sounds fabulous.
My brother and SIL board Saturday on Viking Sky I think it is from Portsmouth and are going to Northern Norway. SIL gets seasick and I did warn her when we did our Baltic cruise last year that it gets a bit like a washing machine up there.

 

[Franky]

That is indeed a great deal! We’ve just booked another Viking Cruise. December 2019 - Includes a cruise down the Nile. It’s something we were going to do a few years ago but it got nasty. It’s not on a traditional Viking Ship but it still sounds fabulous.
My brother and SIL board Saturday on Viking Sky I think it is from Portsmouth and are going to Northern Norway. SIL gets seasick and I did warn her when we did our Baltic cruise last year that it gets a bit like a washing machine up there.

Likewise, the Nile was once on our list, but the kidnappings well and truly put us off that idea. Would still like to give it a go, will see if things stay calm in that area for a while longer.

 

[drron]

I have been looking at our upcoming cruises to look at any benefits we get due to our TA being a Virtuoso agent.fortunately all our cruises will be Virtuoso cruises.
But I noticed that Viking figure prominently as well.Usually some OBC and a Virtuoso excursion.