Last week I was on RCCL Harmony Of the Seas. OMG... too many kids, almost impossible to find a relaxing area to read a book, mediocre food, etc etc etc. As a 61 year old avid cruiser I decided its time for me to spend a few extra bucks and avoid the mass market ships. I came home and started looking at the luxury lines. I don’t know why I hadn’t considered Viking. Thanks so much for the information. I’m going to start researching my next cruise on Viking.

@17thRepublic

4 жыл бұрын

Mildred Tolbert go to the solarium

I am 49 and can't imagine doing a cruise that is not Viking or similar.

I can’t wait for you to take the Viking cruise and hear your awesome review!! Yes yes yes

We did Viking Ocean to Alaska in June and were fortunate enough to book when they were offering free airfare. Everything you said about them is so true, particularly the staff friendliness and attentiveness. We found ourselves wondering out loud sometimes “where is everybody “. We’ve done RCCL, Princess, and Disney and there is no comparison. We found good discounts on a future cruise if you book while on board. Now we just have to be patient for the British Isles next.

Another very informative video, Jim. Some really good comparisons here that are worth considering when planning a cruise. I particularly liked your comment about passengers being treated with respect and not suspicion. You're right about the Scandinavian design of the interiors. When you pointed that out, I noticed right away that the furniture was about form and comfort. Also, there were no garish patterns (that can make an area tire very quickly). Thanks, Darryl

the best voice in all of youtube...huge fan from Israel!

My sister and I went to Northern Europe and Russia on Viking this past June. It was a FANTASTIC experience. We love cruising, and Viking has been the best experience. We're both in our 30's and we loved everything about Viking Cruises. Your assessment and everything you have shared on this video is absolutely correct. Thank you for your video. My sister and I love watching your channel. It helps us plan for our future trips.

I absolutely LOVE your channel and most of all your pleasant voice. I'm 48 and a Carnival loyalist BUT this video has me truly considering taking a Viking cruise just to enjoy a nice quiet cruise. Thank you for such a wonderful video!

@erics607

4 жыл бұрын

I'm 30 years old and took my 1st ever cruise last year with Viking and I was astounded with the entire experience after hearing all of the negatives of the other cruise lines. The entire staff is phenomenal. They host Tedtalks online, they will have cooking classes, and history classes based on the locations you are traveling to. The maid that cleaned our room had our names memorized within 6 hours of being on the ship and we never told her our names. When we arrived to the room we had 1 queen sized mattress and we wanted it split into 2 twin sized beds. They simply just moved the 2 bed frames apart and moved the one night stand into the middle. Also the maids will come and clean your room twice a day which I wasn't expecting. They would come to clean our room around 10:00 in the morning, and then come back around 4:30 in the afternoon to see if anything else needed to be cleaned or if you needed anything restocked. If you're someone who likes to drink alcohol on cruise ships, don't even bother purchasing the alcohol package. They charge you $25 a person, per room per day. So if you're traveling with your spouse and they don't want the package, they are going to charge them for it no matter what. For a 7 day cruise it comes out to around $350. My father and I spent around $80 combined for maybe 12 drinks on top of all the beer and wine you could want during lunch and dinner. We got to know one of the waiters who is from Croatia and he wanted to know all about where we lived, and what we did for a living. We would tell him about some music festival that happens in the state every year, or about our education system, and he would come back the next day and the day after that wanting to learn more and more about what we talked about the previous days.

@KillerNut2

4 жыл бұрын

@@erics607 This is awesome. I'm also in my 30s and want to take a cruise with Viking Ocean. Glad you had a great time.

Awesome info Jim. Can’t wait for June 22’ !!

I am traveling on the cruise you mentioned in 2020. What a dream itinerary in the most beautiful ocean of them all. Just do it Jim.

A great video. I am flying from Australia to Vancouver in 2 weeks to join the Ruby Princess for a 32 day cruise back to my home in Sydney Australia. Viking looks like a very relaxed way to cruise. Thanks again for a very informative video

Glad I found this I am doing my first March 2020 { first sea cruise as well} and am looking forward to it even more now.

I really enjoy your posts thanks for being honest and you appear very friendly

OMG I went on almost the same itinerary on Cunard last year! SF - Oahu - Bora Bora - Tahiti - Moorea - Auckland - Bay of Islands, NZ - Sydney. Loved it, it was one of the highlights of my life. Didn't stop at Tasmania though. Keep us updated! BTW, Cunard was fabulous, I felt I was on Downtown Abbey. Need to go to Tasmania 'cause I'm totally into Tasmanian Devils. Went to the San Diego Zoo to see them; they were hiding. Went to the Taronga Zoo in Sydney, only one was there and it was hiding. Hope there is a Viking cruise in my future!

Good morning Jim After watching the recent video from the president and owner of Viking cruises I was very impressed with what they’re doing for COVID-19 to make their ships safe I don’t see any of the large cruise lines being able to follow through with the same detail with rapid test every day. Will be my choice of cruise lines in the future when we start cruising again. John

Another great video Jim Zim, I watched your other Viking video awhile ago, starting to consider your point of a "relaxing" cruise where I don't get nickel and dimed at every turn.

Holland America line is fantastic and if you are looking into a quiet, more refined and relaxing cruise experience, they are worth looking into.

Great video! I’m definitely looking into Viking.

Thank you this was an eye opener for us.

I would love to go but can't afford it😞Thank you for your vedio's they give great information of what we need to know to go on a cruise. No kids thats great. Thats what you call relaxing.

I loveeee your videos Jim ! please make more !

Awesome video Jim!

Sounds like the perfect cruise and ending in my beautiful city, Sydney...... Jim, come on over! You are so right on the interior design on the large American ships, loud and garish, but this will not be a problem for me as I'm terrified even thinking of being out in middle of the ocean! A floating hotel, moored to a dock is about all I could handle, I've been on The Queen Mary at Long Beach, CA - beautiful!

After watching your Viking West Indies vlog, we are booked Jan 2020. We have been on Viking Danube and Rhine River cruises which are phenomenal experiences. Very casual evenings. Have you been on a river cruise before? The scenery is unforgettable. We are booked for the Viking Duoro River cruise Oct 2020. It’ll be nice to experience both Viking ocean and river cruise vacations. Love your videos. Learn something every time I watch.

Reminds me of that ol Remington add. " I like it so much I bought the company!". Ok must go Viking, I was already sold..

Nice cruise line! it's a little expensive compared to the traditional lines, but the difference totally worth it. I really like to go on this cruise to have a relaxing travel, visiting a lot of islands and spending my time on board reading on one of the lounges.

Jim, have been enjoying your videos for sometime. I remember we had been watching the MSC Seaside during the whole process of her being built and then we'd made planes to sail on her. But obviously, after reading the feedback from the initial cruisers caused us to change plans and then your video confirmed how right we were to avoid MSC. I know you're excited about Viking, but it seems I've never seen you cruise on Celebrity. My wife and I have booked an 11 day lower Caribbean cruise for our 30th anniv. The pictures you were showing of the Viking ship reminded of the decor of the Celebrity Reflection that we are going on. Just something for you to consider as you get close to retirement. BTW, stop talking like you're "getting old" :)

@hypersonic929

4 жыл бұрын

Went on a Celebrity cruise in an Aqua Class cabin in southeast Asia, followed by a Med cruise in a Viking Penthouse Veranda stateroom a year later in the Med. Celebrity was good, except for some nickel-diming, but Viking was exceptional. We booked another Viking one that sails in 90 days.

Just FYI... I went on Holland America’s Nieuw Stantendam when it first came out. We were surprised at how casually dressed people were. It was a Caribbean cruise. We found people to be dressed the same or less formally than on most other lines. My husband hates to dress up on vacation and he didn’t have to. We also found the passengers to be very friendly and not stuffy at all. Also the food was better than any I’ve had on carnival NCL Princess Celebrity or Royal! I’d love you to compare Holland America to the luxury lines.

Thank you Jim for sharing another awesome video. I am booked on the Carnival Horizon September 15 and I am worried that I may not have pleasant experience. I am starting to look at other cruise lines such as celebrity for future cruises

@JimZim

4 жыл бұрын

At least in mid September it won't have a lot of kids on it, since most will be in school. So, you should have better conditions in mid-September than I did on Carnival Horizon in June.

@mrtruckingtaurus3940

4 жыл бұрын

That is the main reason I booked during the fall and spring months

Ooo, that makes me want to take a Viking Ocean Cruise! I'll check out their website!

Me too, I daydream about cruising everyday :) Sadly, Viking is beyond the reaches of my pockets...

Yes, I have been dreaming for January 3, 2020 as well. I was supposedly on the cruise had Viking Sea(?) not encountered that unfortunate engine problem in March.

Have been on two Viking cruises, one ocean and one river. the gelato person was one of the busiest on the ship. the pool grill was the best on the ocean. however the main dining room was not as good as the Viking river cruise cuisine. the choices of tours are outstanding, we took many extra tours that we paid for. the entertainment was really outstanding at night. and whether you are on a river or ocean cruise, the beer and wine choices are excellent. not to mention both times we were upgraded at no extra charge. they are the best.

Have our second Viking Ocean cruise coming up in early Spring, our third ocean cruise in 39 months. It's everything someone over 50 would want. Spring for the Penthouse Veranda as it offers a lot more storage space. The Silver Spirits Package is very reasonable and offers premium beer and wines at any time as well as top shelf liquor.

@JimZim

4 жыл бұрын

Your advice is right on target. A penthouse veranda is definitely the cabin that I would advice most people to book, unless you pack extremely light. There's very little storage space in the less expensive cabin categories. Storage is abundant in the PVs. Also, just as you pointed out, purchasing alcohol doesn't cost an arm and a leg on Viking like it does on the mass market cruise lines. People that enjoy drinking on vacation should consider buying the beverage package which, as you said, is called the Silver Spirits package. But even if you don't do that and pay per drink, the costs are much more reasonable than on most other cruise ships you've probably been on.

We booked Carnival Freedom, after vowing to never do Carnival again after our 2017 Journey cruise. Mixing a family visit with the nearby port, so the only other option is RCCL (which I think the food is underwhelming, even speciality looks like fatty meats and fries). Lately we're doing HAL, but we're planning to try the luxury market very soon. Viking, Windstar, Azamara, Crystal, whatever we can get a good repo deal on. You definitely sell Viking here, I'm looking forward to trying.

Hey Jim, have you ever cruised on a Holland America Line ship? If you have, which one, itinerary and you observation compared to Viking and other cruise lines. Thanks!

@JimZim

4 жыл бұрын

I haven't sailed with Holland America. It doesn't seem like it would be a good fit for my wife and I, since we like a very casual cruise. We're just not in to dressing up for formal night... I'd stay in shorts and flip flops during an entire cruise, if I could. Holland America is, as far as I can tell, a better fit for people that love the formal cruise experience..

@derekjeter1532

4 жыл бұрын

Holland America is very close to Celebrity in terms of experience. The food is leaps and bounds ahead of similarly-priced ships. There are only 1-2 formal nights on a 7-day cruise typically. Their itinerary is excellent, staff is friendly. If you couldn't tell, I've sailed with them quite a bit (4 times, about to book a 5th). If you haven't been on one, you should at least look into them, very classy, good food, not nearly as crowded as other ships of similar size, and great itinerary.

Have you tried Azamara? Viking sounds very similar. On Azamara, you also have your gratuities and adult beverages included. Everything else sounds very much alike. Azamara is the step above Celebrity that we also adore. Azamazing nights is also included and Eric De Gray on Azamara Journey is hands down the most talented cruise director ever. It is worth looking into for a luxury cruise for not quite luxury prices.

I'm not even 50 yet but I would love this!

Love your videos Jim but you know as well as I do that nothing is free when it comes to cruising!

@JimZim

4 жыл бұрын

I don't think I used the word "free" in the video. At least, I didn't intend to. I usually try to say that something is "included at no extra charge" or "included in your cruise fare". I hope I didn't say free in this video! Like you said, nothing is free on a cruise ship!

@adventuresofsteveandlaurie

4 жыл бұрын

Jim Zimmerlin my apologies Jim, I may have misheard you. Would love to give Viking a shot someday.

When are you going to cruise on the celebrity flora??

Would you be their 8 month cruise

Looking very nice...

hope to someday go on a cruise with you jim

@JimZim

4 жыл бұрын

I hope you will, Sam! We've got a group cruise in Alaska next July and another planned for the Caribbean in 2021. Details are on my web site at www.jimzim.net

So, no Kids and no Disabled people?

@JimZim

4 жыл бұрын

Who said anything about a ban on disabled people? I certainly didn't say that! They are even welcome to bring a wheelchair. Just not one of those gigantic electric ones that blocks all the other people.

@willford8475

4 жыл бұрын

@@JimZim That's clearer. Thanks

Hey Jim - Are all the Viking ocean ships the exact same? Or, like all the cruise lines, is ship different in some way/shape/or form? Or are the deck plans/venues exactly the same?

@JimZim

4 жыл бұрын

All the Viking Ocean ships are identical... so pick which Viking cruise you want to go on based on the itinerary.

@kenns15

4 жыл бұрын

@@JimZim thanks, Jim!

I really enjoy your videos and I'd love to take an expensive cruise like Viking but we just can't afford it. And, that's okay. We just sail Carnival but you made a comment about Viking cruisers, unlike cruisers on other lines, being more educated and well traveled. I hope I misunderstood that because I found it somewhat mean and I don't think you are likely a mean person. We are educated and both my husband and I have traveled to most of the US and over 15 countries each. We have careers we love but don't make tons of money so we have to travel within our means but that doesn't mean we are not educated or aren't travelers. Again, hopefully, I just misunderstood. Thank you for your great videos.

Greetings from Lisbon in Portugal. Why you never talk about cost versus benefits? Cheers my friend. :)

@JimZim

4 жыл бұрын

If you want the most bang for the buck, the cruise line you should check out would be Carnival. Tremendous value for the dollar... which is why I've sailed with Carnival more than any of the other cruise lines.

Viking does have some nice long trips

Hey Jim. I noticed you mentioned Royal Caribbean and carnical cruises in your video about viking ocean cruise line. How do you think celebrity cruises could compare to viking cruise line?

@JimZim

4 жыл бұрын

I don't really know. I've never sailed with Celebrity. Since they are owned by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd and share a lot of the same management, I would assume that Celebrity is constantly trying to get "onboard revenue" out of you. I really like the way that Viking isn't nickel and diming you throughout the whole cruise.

@LatinFratGuy1

4 жыл бұрын

@@JimZim you should try Celebrity sometime Jim! We went on it and I really enjoyed it because the entire ship was pretty quiet and it was your typical caribbean sailing. The food was excellent, even in the main dining, and the line has moved away from the formal feel so you aren't required to dress up. People were much more refined, and on our sailing there were only 6 kids on board total. I think you'd really like Celebrity. My husband hated it because he was bored haha i thought it was excellent and relaxing

had to watch this for school lol

I love Viking River Cruises but have never tried the ocean cruises. Have you ever tried Oceania Cruises?

You have to look into hapag lloyds Europa and Europa 2 the Perfect ship for you is the Europa 2

We’re you able to download videos to you tube from the ship?

@JimZim

3 жыл бұрын

Yes, they had pretty good Internet service aboard.

@lifewithgrandmabev

3 жыл бұрын

@@JimZim Cool. Then I can download to my channel from there.

@JimZim

3 жыл бұрын

FYI, when you post a video to your channel you are uploading it to KZread, not downloading it.

@lifewithgrandmabev

3 жыл бұрын

@@JimZim That’s what I meant. Sorry. Does it work on the ship wi-fi

I just got off the Imagination. Sign me up!!

What’s the couple things they fixed?

@JimZim

4 жыл бұрын

They put a shallow end in the midship pool. They raised the temperature of the indoor pool in the thermal suite, too.

I contacted Caitlin Gallagher of Ambren Travel. I was directed to another travel agent as Caitlin is backed up on requests. I explained how important this cruise was for my family and I as it would most likely be my grandparents last vacation and I never heard back from her! I am very disappointed. I have not heard back from her since August 6th! Over a month now! I will reach out to Caitlin again, hopefully she can assist me.

@JimZim

4 жыл бұрын

That's strange. It's certainly not the way the process normally works. I wonder if Caitlin was on a trip when you first tried to contact her. Usually Caitlin handles all inquiries that come to her, but when she's travelling she has some other agents that help her. Sounds like your request fell between the cracks somehow. I would suggest emailing Caitlin again... and be sure to tell her what you posted here, so she can be sure it doesn't happen again. Her email address is caitlin@ambrentravel.com

@frappichinogurl101

4 жыл бұрын

@@JimZim She was just about to go on a trip, so yes thats why I was directed to another agent. Which I was fine with as I believed every agent would be able to assist me as well as Caitlin. But that wasn't the case. I will be sure to contact Caitlin again. Thank you for your response!

Just wondering if you are paid or sponsored by Viking. If so do you not feel that you should declare your loyalty. Not saying anything wrong with being paid but be upfront with the public.

@peteri8924

4 жыл бұрын

He said they once offered him a free cruise but he never took it because it was in Europe and he doesn't have endless vacation leave from work. He has said before he plans to go on another cruise with Viking but he paid for the one he went on. If he gets something free he's honest and would say.

@JimZim

4 жыл бұрын

The only company paying me is KZread. Now Viking did allow me to cruise with them at no charge when I sailed on Viking Sea. However my cruise on Viking Star was at my own expense. And I paid my own airfare both times. It's actually a legal requirement that I disclose if a video is sponsored. You'll notice, if you go back and look at the videos I made in January about my cruise on Viking Sea, that at the beginning of each of the videos there is a notice about sponsored content. Even though I was not paid by Viking to make those videos... I decided to label those as containing sponsored content since I had not paid for that cruise. I'm not sure it was legally required, since no money changed hands, but I figure I would err on the side of full disclosure.

@glamp63

4 жыл бұрын

Great question Gary from Canada. I had the same one.

@glamp63

4 жыл бұрын

Jim Zimmerlin - Thanks for answering Gary’s question. I too was wondering the same. Most of all I appreciate your candidly honest answer. It is obvious integrity is paramount to you. Kudos & much continued success.❤️ Glenda

Does Viking have a loyalty program?

@JimZim

4 жыл бұрын

I think just about all cruise lines do. You can read about Viking's at www.vikingcruises.com/about-us/explorer-society.html

@peterchen8868

4 жыл бұрын

In addition to the usual loyalty program, Viking also let its loyal customers know in email they are giving away free Hollywood Bowl summer concert tickets with complimentary parking and seat cushion. You have to choose one of the three.

I am 65 I do not mind children on Holiday as for Bingo well it gives me a break from he wife

I was all good until you said disabled people aren’t permitted. What if I require a wheelchair?

@JimZim

4 жыл бұрын

Lauren, that is not at all what I said. Disabled people are totally welcome on Viking. Bring your (non motorized) wheelchair, if you need it. They'll take great care of you. What is not allowed are those electric wheelchairs.

@laurencliver6452

4 жыл бұрын

Jim Zimmerlin sorry I misunderstood.

Great insights Jim and was loving it so much UNTIL you got to the part where mobility scooters are not allowed, boo hoo lol I need my small scoot as my legs are only part time at best, that is to say they don't go far before i run out of blood and become muscle bound (painfull). So i guess we won't get to enjoy Viking, sad.

and free wifi

This sounds like a carbon copy of Celebrity Cruises