What about Viking Oceans excites you the most?

[editor@cruisecritic]

Hi. We're wondering: What is it about Viking Oceans that most intrigues you? Please vote in our poll, and feel free to comment (and let us know if we've left something out).

 

Thanks.

 

Carolyn

 

Carolyn Spencer Brown

Editor in Chief

Cruise Critic

[blondemini]

I have travelled with viking before and I found them to be first class from start to finish, I booked viking ocean for 2016, I look forward to a smaller ship with old fashioned values but with a modern twist.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Vineyard View]

We thoroughly enjoyed our two week river cruise on Viking last year. They sold us with their personnel, all inclusive itinerary, food - all of it. We are so looking forward to a small intimate ship and hope they expand beyond Europe in the next couple years. We are on their maiden voyage 2015 for 29 days. Only wish our great friends that we met last year on the river cruise were on this cruise with us! Alas, they are on her next year at a different time.

[captainmcd]

I had sailed on Viking Rivers before, and thought it was a well run company. I have worked on ships for over 50 years, and am still sailing. I have taken a few ships to the "bone yard" but have never made a maiden voyage, so I booked the April 11th sailing. It will be interesting for me to see how Viking handles the new venture.

[kathy9]

We love Azamara but the ships are both tired and showing a lot of wear and tear!

We are looking forward to a small ship experience on a brand new ship 11 April 2015!

Edited August 22, 2014 by kathy9

[JEBurton]

I love making my final payment 18-24 months out; I have lots of money to loan

interest-free.

I like being in steerage class when it comes to reserving excursions and making restaurant reservations.

Even though a basic excursion is included in the cabin cost, the optional excursions will be tempting, so you're basically paying for the included excursions you may not go on.

The "free" beer, wine and sodas even if I don't drink them.

And finally, what do you think Viking will expect in the way of gratuities?

 

I honestly don't know if these things excite me or just get my blood pressure up.

[editor@cruisecritic]

Sort of a busman's holiday, eh Captainmcd?

 

Carolyn

 

I had sailed on Viking Rivers before, and thought it was a well run company. I have worked on ships for over 50 years, and am still sailing. I have taken a few ships to the "bone yard" but have never made a maiden voyage, so I booked the April 11th sailing. It will be interesting for me to see how Viking handles the new venture.

[captainmcd]

Sort of a busman's holiday, eh Captainmcd?

 

Carolyn

 

Yes, perhaps it is a busman's holiday, but it is nice to be a pampered passenger with no worries or cares, other than arriving to a ship with lost luggage. I am now the volunteer captain of the Pacific Link, a small medical ship presently in Port Moresby. We sail the uncharted waters of Papua New Guinea, visiting small villages with no roads or electricity and bringing them medical and dental care. It is a lot of fun for me after retiring from sailing on freighters, and I get to bring my wife along!

[kathy9]

We sail the uncharted waters of Papua New Guinea, visiting small villages with no roads or electricity and bringing them medical and dental care. It is a lot of fun for me after retiring from sailing on freighters, and I get to bring my wife along!

 

Captain, Sounds like a great gig to have as a semi-retired Captain! Good for you and all the medical staff!

Kathy

[Editor Colleen]

I'm excited for the ships! They sound really intriguing. I'm also interested in seeing how the line, so famous for its river product, brings that inclusiveness to the ocean product.

Colleen

[Bear_Music]

Free wifi is a big deal for us, actually, but the main things are the itineraries/time in port and the fact that the ship's not "baroque", overdone. We're a big fan of the clean, understated look. We have zero interest in climbing walls, water slides, or casinos. We love good food.

 

Plus, I've always wanted to do a Maiden, like Captainmcd, so we booked April 11th through to Barcelona, 21 days.

[2onboardagain]

If Viking can bring the service that we have experienced on their river boats to Ocean going cruises then we will have found our perfect ocean cruise line!

[Ship's Wake]

If Viking can bring the service that we have experienced on their river boats to Ocean going cruises then we will have found our perfect ocean cruise line!

 

I'm with you on this. Anxiously awaiting the launch of these ships.

[editor@cruisecritic]

Sounds awesome!

 

Carolyn

 

Yes, perhaps it is a busman's holiday, but it is nice to be a pampered passenger with no worries or cares, other than arriving to a ship with lost luggage. I am now the volunteer captain of the Pacific Link, a small medical ship presently in Port Moresby. We sail the uncharted waters of Papua New Guinea, visiting small villages with no roads or electricity and bringing them medical and dental care. It is a lot of fun for me after retiring from sailing on freighters, and I get to bring my wife along!

[ahoymaty!]

I'm excited for the ships! They sound really intriguing. I'm also interested in seeing how the line, so famous for its river product, brings that inclusiveness to the ocean product.

Colleen

King Size Beds, superb itinerary, no casinos, great choice of dining, includes tours and complimentary wine and beer!...

What more could you ask for?...(looking forward to it..booked Viking Homelands June 13 2015 Bergen to Stockholm a year and a half ago...crazy eh!... but its paid for and we got the cabin we wanted)

[Vineyard View]

Ahoymaty, that is a great summation. Couldn't agree more with every point that you make!

[Bear_Music]

Actually, we COULD ask for one more thing, to make it perfect: they say they're all-inclusive, but gratuities are NOT included :-( I mean, we can budget for that, but...

[Vineyard View]

You are spot on with that Bear_Music. That is the one area lacking.

But is is still going to be awesome!

[Jassy]

We like smaller ships, we love all-inclusive. The extras that attracted me to Viking Oceans are the interesting itineraries, the overnights in several ports, and Viking's excellent reputation with their river cruises. The pre-cruise visit to Iceland led us to choose the Aug. 2015 Passage Through Western Europe as our first (and hopefully not last) cruise on Viking.

[rjscott]

We were invited to the launch party in Beverly Hills, where Torstein Hagen debuted the model of the Viking Star and the initial itinerary. We were sold, and as soon as bookings were open, contacted our TA to book the maiden voyage. When we first began cruising, it was on ships carrying 700 passengers, and our last ocean cruise was on a ship with 3000 passengers; an experience we did not enjoy. After that experience, we began river cruising with Viking, and we are thrilled to be able to now have the choice of either river or ocean cruising with them.

 

Becki

Edited September 1, 2014 by rjscott

[jdps]

I'm excited about so much and becoming more so each day closer to departure. Beware this is a long post (and my first)

The scale and decor of the ship was the first draw. The design and amenities remind me of my favorite hotels.

Sailing with "Like-minded Travelers" that aren't interested in the flash of the large ships and who are looking forward to the destinations in particular.

Enough time to get a chance to survey the town while in port so I can decide if I will return someday. The over-nights in Venice, London & St. Petersburg. 2 nights in Barcelona over May Day weekend! That could be spectacular. I’m eager to book shore excursions as soon as possible.

It's a maiden voyage so I get to be among the first passengers and witness the christening in Bergen. I enjoyed the excitement of being with the opening team in a couple of hotels I worked at and it will be fascinating to observe the crew as they open this new property.

The 2015 Viking Empire itinerary is an over-the-top, once-in-a-lifetime trip for me. I get a bit dizzy when I go through all the ports during my research. The idea of having the hotel follow me as I hop, skip and jump through coastal Europe will make the hectic (to me) schedule so much more convenient.

Those reasons, among many others, are what excites me about Viking Oceans.

Oh yeah, and I'm extra excited today since I was called by Viking and now have air reservations.

[JJean]

We booked so long ago but haven't heard yet from Viking about our air.

Are they calling everyone who booked through them? I'm anxious to

hear.

Judy

[ahoymaty!]

Complimentary Laundry facilities on floors on Deck 3-6 (Wow!)

 

Better to put you coins in these machines and get clean laundry back rather then putting coins in the machines in the casino (thankfully they do not have).

The cabins really close-by the Laundry facility mid-ship (Port Side) will benefit the most..others will have to take there chances..(get up early..or later on in the evening to make the run-down.)

 

Pre-boarding and dis-embarking based on Cabin Status

 

No big 'whoop' since the ship only holds 900 passengers..but it is a nice perk even if you are in (steerage) as one member said on the site. ("Imagine we paid $10,000 for a Veranda Cabin and we have to board last! tsk! tsk!") L0L

 

You can't please everybody..but Viking sure is trying! Nobody is cancelling...ships are full!

 

Bob.

[Bear_Music]

Complimentary Laundry facilities on floors on Deck 3-6 (Wow!)

 

Better to put you coins in these machines and get clean laundry back rather then putting coins in the machines in the casino (thankfully they do not have).

 

I'd assume "complimentary" means "no coins required", wouldn't you? If we DO have to pay to use the machines, then that's sorta misleading :-)

 

I'm already mildly peeved because when we signed up the literature said "free wi-fi", a big, big plus for me: now it says free wi-fi "in port", which is a whole other thing since we won't be ON the boat much in port, and eating or preparing to go ashore much of the time when we are...

 

Robt.

[kathy9]

I'm already mildly peeved because when we signed up the literature said "free wi-fi", a big, big plus for me: now it says free wi-fi "in port", which is a whole other thing since we won't be ON the boat much in port, and eating or preparing to go ashore much of the time when we are...

I agree that the wording of the "free wifi" is very misleading. In the original brochure I have it states "complimentary wifi" with 2 ** which state restrictions apply, does not elaborate.The Vikings website now says

Complimentary Wi-Fi in port so you can remain connected

.

Not sure if there will be a charge to use the wifi while at sea but that seems to be the case!

The self service laundry is complimentary with laundry detergent supplied by Viking.

Edited September 14, 2014 by kathy9
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