CDNPolar

We have aways preferred booking directly with Viking because when you have a small question or change to make, then you call and it is dealt with immediately - or faster than going through a TA. Our experience with TA's is that often you cannot get a quick turn around of a question because they are now the in-between entity. We have worked with a TA that we cannot reach by phone and then we email and then it takes days for a response. We happen to be very experienced in booking all our vacations from cruise to air to hotel, and excursions. We just feel more "control" in all of our bookings. We have recently booked a cruise however through a "major retailer" travel department because of the rebate, the shop card, and a discount that we got for paying at the time of booking. We calculated our savings to be $3,000.00 give or take. For these savings we will "deal with" a TA, but in general we find them to be more challenging and not offering - to us - much value. (You cannot book Viking through this major retailer, so this is not a Viking booking.) We only use a TA now if there is significant enough financial value to us to do so. And... yes, I agree to the above comment - book through Viking and then transfer to a TA if you get some sort of value. We have done that too.

I agree with Mrbp1 - call the cruise line and ask the questions directly from them. I have done this as a gay man in the past, and although I feel that I got a DEI type of rehearsed and trained response, it showed me that the cruise line at least had a robust DEI policy and the customer service team was well equipped to answer my questions. You really want to hear the cruise line's policy and responses directly from them. Our experience online is great to get, but always go to the source as well.

Met my husband 9 years ago and we have been married for 7 years now. When I met my husband, he had never been on a cruise before. I had been on large ships and was not crazy about my experience on a large ship. We watched a lot of PBS shows and especially during Downton Abbey we would see Viking advertisements. The ads were appealing to us and our tastes - or so we thought. We were excited to do our first cruise and it was an Ocean cruise. Our second was River. We have now done 5 Viking cruises, which would have been 7 or 8 by now if the pandemic did not get in our way. Viking does attract an older demographic, and Viking does not have the nightclubs and casinos, but this is more our style anyway. Quiet enjoyment of the culture and the food where you are travelling. If you are looking for a great vacation, with great food, great service, great crew, then you should consider Viking. Ocean ships are 930 guests and River ships depend on the river, but range from 60'ish to 180'ish guests.

We are in the process of booking our first experience on Hurtigruten and it is an Antarctica cruise. Does anyone recommend the optional liquor package? Does anyone have pictures of the beverage menu and prices if we opt not to take the liquor package? Thank you.