With the addition of the Viking Vela and next year's Viking Vesta, the rooms on every ship are no longer identical. Penthouse Veranda for instance is up to 360 SF, rather than the traditional 338.
@drlorrie10194 күн бұрын
Thx for yr review. I'm with you, I expect top notch food on a luxury cruise.
@jimbowell88249 күн бұрын
Kevin, Thanks for your comments regarding getting excursions on your own and not through Viking. MY question: How far ahead of your cruise did you book the excursions and how did you know the approximate time to book them? Thanks
@jimbowell88249 күн бұрын
Kevin
@brucebennett535410 күн бұрын
How do the Viking ships handle rough seas. We are planning on sailing across Bass Strait, the Tasman sea and Cook Straight on the Venus and the seas can be very rough.
@dudeerino222611 күн бұрын
Found you folks whilst searching for Viking Ocean cruise reviews since my Wife and I have our first one coming up in a few months. Good review over all, and you covered all the major points I was interested in. The only surprise I guess was your critique of the food on the cruise. Every other review I've seen has raved about the cuisine on the Viking ocean cruises. I get it, taste is personal and subjective, but I'm hoping I'm more on the "Loved it!" side during my cruise since I'm a bit of a foodie at heart. Otherwise, thanks for the videos and honest opinions.
@happytraveller212211 күн бұрын
I’m with them. I’m vegetarian and it was a very limited menu for me. And not that great
@ptr153712 күн бұрын
We just did the Amsterdam extension. Stayed at the Hilton and had a walking tour through Viking. In hind sight , we could have saved hundred’s booking the Hilton direct and done our own walking tours and we would not have sacrificed a thing. If you are a comfortable traveling in Europe, do your own thing at the excursion port stops. The only issue to consider would be if you are delayed getting into the port stop or if you have to bypass a port due to weather or water level issues.
@thejokerspeaks13 күн бұрын
Yikes, that could be a deal breaker for us. We have our first Viking River cruise coming up in 2026, and I was thinking about booking a transatlantic while onboard. Even if we love the bedding on Viking River, I'll be watching for updates or hacks with Viking Ocean.
@ShaunaAndKevin12 күн бұрын
I will say that bedding is highly subjective. So, it could be great for you if you like a firm mattress. Maybe our tempurpedic has just ruined us for Viking beds.
@thejokerspeaks12 күн бұрын
@@ShaunaAndKevin We like a firm mattresses with padding, Serta hybrid with memory foam and spring. Maybe the topper fix would work for us.
@happytraveller212214 күн бұрын
I bought the CHEAPEST Viking cabin. I had no trouble getting excursions, specialty dining. Would never pay so much extra for early boarding / excursions/ anything..
@ShaunaAndKevin12 күн бұрын
Great feedback. Thanks
@TinaLee204214 күн бұрын
I’m curious, exactly what style bed/mattress do you sleep on at home, what kind of pillows do you sleep on at home, and is Viking Ocean the only ship you’ve ever had an issue with the bed on?
@ShaunaAndKevin12 күн бұрын
I travel a lot for work and stay in many hotels. Viking’s beds were worse than 95% of hotel beds I’ve slept in. However, bedding is highly subjective. If you like firm beds, you likely won’t have an issue with them.
15 күн бұрын
Thanks for the honest review without the typical Viking cruiser fawning. Yes, sleep comfort is no doubt subjective, but the demonstrated mattress looked thin, and cheap. When you pay $10k (or more) for a week, sleep comfort should be a blissful expectation. Rolling out toppers is, at best, bush league. Hope you have better luck in The Haven. We have gone back to HAL, and Celebrity where consistency, and quality are seldom compromised.
@ShaunaAndKevin12 күн бұрын
We are excited for the Haven and our Alaskan cruise in April 2025. We will definitely have multiple videos and a comprehensive review from that cruise too. Glad you found the review helpful.
@SamuelDarcyPalmer18 күн бұрын
This is a great review. Very insightful. The best cruise review I’ve seen. Viking is definitely my aesthetic. Disappointed the food isn’t better but it isn’t an ultra luxury cruise line like say Regent and Seven Seas. The price for your cabin type seems high but assume a basic cabin would be more reasonable. Look forward to your next review!
@ShaunaAndKevin12 күн бұрын
Thanks! Yes, we splurged on the room but we typically do that on vacation. We are the couple that likes to relax in their room so it’s important to us. Totally agree on the aesthetic - Viking ships are incredibly beautiful.
@MBSPUHR84219 күн бұрын
REALLY appreciate the detailed breakdown of costs and additions that people can adjust as needed. I am always amazed at how I think a "free vacation" using points and miles always costs me AFTER food, excursions, transport to and from the airport and during my stay, etc. comes to. I have one further "tip" re. credit cards which might be helpful for Americans (I realize not all Europeans have access to the variety of travel cards US residents do) besides the importance of getting one with no foreign transaction fees. There are a number of travel cards (Chase Sapphire, Capitol One Venture, etc.) where you can use your points for excursions. We have used our Chase UR points all over the world for booking tours and museum tickets and other sightseeing to save some money on those costs. You can also use those points for hotels and airfare. Obviously there is an opportunity cost to not earning elsewhere but we find those types of cards to be a good deal for us in the incidentals described in the video pre- and post- cruise. And I like your idea of also booking some excursions independently of the cruise line. The one caution I would add is that the ship won't wait for you if you are late getting back from an excursion not booked by them but that probably doesn't happen very often. Like your style and your content.
@Hannah-rl3ng21 күн бұрын
Thank you, I learned something
@ShaunaAndKevin20 күн бұрын
Glad it was helpful.
@Hannah-rl3ng21 күн бұрын
Thank you.
@ShaunaAndKevin20 күн бұрын
You’re welcome.
@MrToryhere24 күн бұрын
Hi from Australia. What a wonderful couple you are. It was a pleasure watching your excellent review.
@ShaunaAndKevin20 күн бұрын
Awe, thanks. We both feel very fortunate to have found each other.
@vickijensen40424 күн бұрын
Did the price you mention include your excursions and airfare?
@ShaunaAndKevin20 күн бұрын
I break down the cost of everything in this video How much does a Viking Ocean Cruise cost? kzread.info/dash/bejne/iqltu5SJgq6_kqw.html
@rhvoriginals308325 күн бұрын
I’m sorry, to me, $25,000 is way too much to spend on a cruise. That could have been a more global experience with a far more interesting itinerary, or better still, two vacations with a more immersive experience.
@ShaunaAndKevin25 күн бұрын
You don’t have to apologize for your opinion. We are all entitled to them. To each their own.
@vickijensen40424 күн бұрын
Well, I just returned from an Alaskan Cruise (Royal Caribbean ) for 10 nights - 20k - so this seems pretty good to me! This is because of all of the unknown expenses.
@bobcarr549728 күн бұрын
Thinking about going on our first Viking cruise in October 2025 to the Caribbean for 11 days. Also was thinking the junior Penthouse suite as well. The only thing is there is NO sea days very port intensive. We usually sail Celebrity on 11 day cruises and we usually have a couple sea days on the front end and 1 or two at the end. We are definitely considering Viking. We're you the youngest couple on board? If we go we would be 58 yrs old. Thank you for the comprehensive information on viking staterooms.
@ShaunaAndKevin24 күн бұрын
Yes, we were the youngest on the ship lol. It was actually a great feeling - not sure that’s ever happened before. Frankly, no sea days is perfect. The ship is much smaller than Celebrity with far less onboard entertainment. You will have plenty of time to do everything on the ship multiple times over within 11 days, even with having a port each day.
@bronwencampbell694329 күн бұрын
Funny! I was really disappointed with the waffles (the only thing I didn’t care for whole cruise- and we cruised on the same ship but on the Iconic Mediterranean tour) - I loved!!! ❤️!!! the food and was comfortable in the bed.
@ShaunaAndKevin25 күн бұрын
Haha. Maybe we can agree on the gelato being great 🤷🏻♂️
@bronwencampbell694329 күн бұрын
I liked the bed 🛏👍🏻but I like it firm
@ShaunaAndKevin24 күн бұрын
Glad it worked for you.
@donnamariatuminaro8608Ай бұрын
My husband and I had a wonderful 12 day Norway/Iceland Viking Cruise in 2022 and will be taking our 2nd Viking Cruise later this year. I just would like to comment on the Dietary Restrictions Issue. I am a true Celiac and cannot ingest gluten. We put my dietary restriction on our itinerary before we cruised and I also asked to speak to the Head Chef on my 1st day. I cannot say enough fantastic things about how they accommodated me throughout the entire 12 days! It felt like I almost had my own private chef; he knew me by sight by the 3rd day (no matter where on the ship I was) and he was able to answer all my questions and ensured that I was truly gluten free in all the restaurants. During the tea time, I was amazed at how they went out of their way to make my experience during so pleasant. They had several different delicious options for me and it is very rare that I get to enjoy such variety. For our longer excursions, there was always a delicious and nutritious bagged lunch delivered to our room early so that while off the ship, I never had to worry about not being able to eat should the places our excursions took us were not gluten free accommodating. Honestly, all the crew members onboard are extremely personable and accommodating and as Shauna and Kevin mention, the entire crew are more than worthy of additional tipping and hopefully all cruising with Viking will prepare in advance to have extra tip money for those extra special crew members who go above and beyond to meet specific personal needs. Regarding the “entertainment,” as mentioned by Shauna and Kevin, you don’t get the RC, NCL, etc. experience. However, we were happily surprised that on our 2022 cruise, the singers on that cruise were ABBA cover singers and were so talented; we thoroughly enjoyed their performances. Also, the piano player, violinist, and especially the guitarist that play throughout the ship at different times and places were magnificent! We also slept like babies in our DV2 Stateroom (we don't spend an enormous amount of time in our room when cruising and the DV2 level cabin was more than adequate and very comfortable) and we very pleasantly surprised with the large comfortable bathroom. We had taken several RC cruises in the past before the ships weren't "mega" ships; once many of the cruise lines decided they thought "bigger is better" (it isn't!), we stopped cruising and began flying to All Inclusive/Adults Only Resorts. When my husband suggested taking a Viking cruise, I hesitated, but I am so glad we took the 2022 cruise and we are very much looking forward to our upcoming cruise later this year.
@OoDeucexoOАй бұрын
Great video. What was that location in the intro? Looked really nice.
@ShaunaAndKevinАй бұрын
Thanks. That was from our hike along the Vidden Trail in Bergen, NO.
@lirmchipАй бұрын
If your concerned with minor pricing events Viking, is not for you, I'm sure you can do that with everything flights, the ship, food do I have to go on?
@ShaunaAndKevinАй бұрын
Minor pricing “events” - I wouldn’t call paying 3x the price minor.
@MystearicalАй бұрын
Perfect!~ This is what i wanted to know. Would you be so kind as to share your ripboat tour operator and the scotland one? Thanks!
@ShaunaAndKevinАй бұрын
For Orkney, you have to use JPOrkney.co.uk - the absolute highlight of the best trip of our lives.
@tommyikeda5821Ай бұрын
We are considering our first Viking cruise. Our experiences have been with the larger cruises ship in which we believe are too much with the kids and the crowds. We have done a Mississippi River cruise on a small boat which was awesome. Your review was exactly what we were seeking to learn about Viking. We had many questions and you both answered most of our concerns. I do have a couple of questions if you wouldn't mind helping us with. I do laundry. Does the laundry include soaps and dryer sheets? Do we need to bring our own? Food... Is there seafood. I am a lobster person. Do they offer shellfish? Otherwise, everything you touched upon has us better informed of our choice. Thank you.
@ShaunaAndKevin24 күн бұрын
Yes, laundry has everything you need. All you need to bring is dirty clothes (and maybe a few laundry bags if you have delicates). Also, plenty of seafood so you will be fine. Thanks for watching. Glad it was helpful.
@janinegreer4771Ай бұрын
Loved the video. I have cruised on Viking and Silversea. I think Viking has Silversea beat with one exception, the closet space. They have a walk-in closet, helps a bunch with space.
@ShaunaAndKevin24 күн бұрын
That’s good to know. We thought that room on Viking had so many drawers that we were able to easily fully unpack. It’s very well designed.
@joclark5031Ай бұрын
That’s an unusual experience with the bed, I’ve been on several Viking ships and usually it’s so comfy… hate you had that experience…
@ShaunaAndKevinАй бұрын
Although we hoped for a better bed, it was a small inconvenience and is overshadowed by how great everything else was.
@honeymcdonald9120Ай бұрын
More photos/videos of ship and room-less of you sitting there perhaps? As for the food - I'm assuming you prefer cheese with everything rather than fresh.
@ShaunaAndKevinАй бұрын
Not sure what that means - cheese with everything? Thanks for watching.
@DaveM-FFBАй бұрын
I have a bad back from years of business travel. I've tried everything short of surgery. I have discovered that using a 2 inch medium density memory foam mattress topper allows me to sleep pain free. So I've been traveling with a custom one for years. Initially in a rolling duffel bag, but now I have a narrow twin topper that fits in a carry-on bag.
@ShaunaAndKevinАй бұрын
Thanks! I will need to figure out something similar for our next cruise.
@user-pg4ps5is6eАй бұрын
I love Viking!! I have been on 4 cruises. No problem with the beds. I do agree about the food. The food is good, but not excellent. Everything else is excellent. Service is oustanding! Like how everything is in the price.
@ShaunaAndKevinАй бұрын
The food isn’t great but the waffles are lol. Wish they would serve them 24/7!
@TheMoegigАй бұрын
Thanks for the info. We leave for Vikings Midnight Sun. in a week.
@ShaunaAndKevinАй бұрын
Enjoy! It’s amazing.
@MarieHiebing2 ай бұрын
Hello and thank you for your report regarding the mattress and pillow situation. I have severe back issues and I have been advised by Viking that heating pads are not permitted on their ships. I was hopeful that the mattress itself would be soft as I am used to this at home. I have already contacted Viking and I have been advised that their is nothing I can do ahead of time to request a mattress pad or any other option. I would LOVE to hear if you have found an optional travel mattress pad. I would love to hear any suggestions you may have. Thank you
@ShaunaAndKevinАй бұрын
We have not found a travel topper - not sure it exists for under $2k. Our plan for the next Viking cruise is to find a local place at the first port that sells toppers then get a cheap one, use it, and either leave it with ship (if they allow it) or throw it away. I hate being so wasteful but we wouldn’t be able to spend 15 days on those beds again.
@cringebucket6919Ай бұрын
@@ShaunaAndKevin I will research packable toppers before our trip and see what options I can find. I am just like the both of you, I can not tolerate a hard mattress due to my back issues, and I am not even that old yet. I will post an update if I find a viable option. If anyone else has a suggestion of what worked for them I am happy to hear any ideas. Thank you
@joannporter80402 ай бұрын
Hi Shauna and Kevin, This was a fantastic review! We have always done river cruises and next year we have booked our first ocean cruise with Viking for a special anniversary celebration. . We are very excited ! I have 1 quick question for you. Kevin, you said at first Viking did your laundry, but then you decided to do your own laundry. Did Viking provide the detergent and softener or did you have to bring your own?
@ShaunaAndKevin2 ай бұрын
Great question. It’s all provided. The only item you may want to bring are a few laundry bags to wash delicates in. I’m (Kevin) a bit of a control freak (true type A personality) so I really didn’t mind doing my own laundry. I actually preferred it because it was so easy with their free self serve machines. When you send it off, it’s at least a full day before you get it back.
@joannporter80402 ай бұрын
Thank you for your quick response. I watched another you tube video which showed the detergent dispensers connected to the back of the machine. All you have to do is push the button. Thank you Kevin for the idea of the laundry bags to wash delicates in. One additional question. Are fabric softener sheets provided?
@startrekking3592 ай бұрын
Your giving a unfair cost, anyone taking a cruise will not be doing all this. Should be just the cruise.
@ShaunaAndKevin2 ай бұрын
Good news is … it’s all itemized and you can take what you want from it. Also, the cost to go on a cruise doesn’t only include the cost of the cruise. You still have to get there and you likely want to have some activities while at port.
@Dawn.H2 ай бұрын
I appreciated this review!! I just have one question right now, what was the soundproofing in the cabins like (not including the verandah)? Could you hear other passengers talk/cough/laugh/snore or their TVs?
@ShaunaAndKevin2 ай бұрын
It was great. We didn’t hear anyone walking above or talking/snoring next door.
@Stllno2 ай бұрын
Very fair call on the mattress. It is very important and it is very difficult to accommodate everyone’s preferences, however there is no excuse to not have a quality mattress topper for those who prefer a softer base.
@ShaunaAndKevin2 ай бұрын
We are hopeful they add some additional topper options before our next Viking cruise. If not, we will just sneak a pool cushion to our room 😜
@carolineturnbull19292 ай бұрын
We've been on 2 Viking cruises and found the beds very comfortable. It's all a matter of preference.
@ShaunaAndKevin2 ай бұрын
Yes, totally agree
@lorifoglia47592 ай бұрын
I've gone back and forth in both the DV and PV rooms. It all depends on the price. If the PV is more than $2K pp than the DV, I'm not sure if it's worth and extra money for 60sf more space and alcohol in the room. As for access to shore excursions and restaurant reservations, I found the concierge to be very helpful and accommodating and we were able to get everything we wanted once we got on board.
@ShaunaAndKevin2 ай бұрын
It’s definitely not worth the alcohol in the room. We never drank any of the alcohol in the room bc you could just walk to the bar and get top shelf. We loved having the sitting area in the room. However, we do like to relax in our room on cruises.
@bobcorio51452 ай бұрын
We are taking our first Viking Cruise the Panama Canal trip in October. I am so happy I discovered your Viking cruise review. I can live off gelato and good waffles and properly cooked bacon. As for the bed issue I like a semi hard bed so will see if too hard. So waiting to see how experience is compared to yours. This will be our first cruise in about 20 years, we are retired and have more time to travel.
@ShaunaAndKevin2 ай бұрын
So glad it was helpful. You will LOVE your cruise. And I think the bed will be great for you too. It’s a personal preference but if you like a firm bed it should work well. You will love Mamsen’s. It’s the perfect place to enjoy waffles bc it’s in the Explorer’s Lounge which was our absolute favorite part of the ship. Enjoy!
@donnamariatuminaro8608Ай бұрын
We took our 1st Viking cruise (12 day Norway/Iceland) in 2022 and the food was absolutely delicious! I am also a true Celiac and they accommodated me like nobody ever has. We will be taking our 2nd Viking Cruise later this year and are very much looking forward to it. Everyone's dining preferences are different; I think you will be pleasantly pleased with your dining choices. Also, we had the Silver Spirits package and while we are not big drinkers, we felt it was worth it as we do like the additional wine choices that come along with that package. If you each like a cocktail or two throughout the evening, and enjoy a good glass of wine (or two) with your dinner, it is well worth it. The package also includes specialty coffees such as cappacino, macchiato, expresso, etc. As for sleeping, we had a DV2 stateroom and we slept like babies! We are retired also; I think you will have an absolute wonderful cruise experience!
@jimmbear39982 ай бұрын
Nice video, thanks for providing a complete breakdown. It’s hard to sometimes get a detailed breakdown without talking to a travel agent or representative. Nice tips about the excursions, I’ve always booked directly from the cruise company. Other than a couple excursions you splurged on, most of the other excursions you did were quite inexpensive. I live in Central Florida and all the cruises I have done so far have been out of Florida ports so haven’t had to pay for flights when doing a cruise. I have had Deluxe Veranda rooms and inside interior rooms and for me personally my big tip would be to go for the inside interior rooms as they are often significantly less expensive and besides there are a million places on the ship if you want to look out over the water. $3,000 for pet sitting wow! You are generous.
@ShaunaAndKevin2 ай бұрын
Thanks for watching. Glad it was helpful. Viking doesn’t have interior staterooms. We are the couple that likes to relax in their room so we always get a balcony. We would rather go on less trips but splurge on the ones we go on … if that makes sense.
@dongosen12 ай бұрын
My wife and I just returned from our first Viking Cruise of the Mediterranean. I watched your video prior to leaving and thought you guys were being tough on the food. However, upon return, I realized you nailed it. Every comment you made was spot on. The food was comparable to the Norwegian cruise I was on last year. However, I also agree with you that the trip was worth the money. In our opinion the best part was the meeting so many great people on board with the excursions coming in a close second.
@ShaunaAndKevin2 ай бұрын
So glad you enjoyed your cruise. The food is what it is. I think having proper expectations will help us next time. The Med is definitely on our list at some point. Thanks for watching.
@clivejennymosdell14002 ай бұрын
Travel Insurance costs were?
@ShaunaAndKevin2 ай бұрын
We didn’t add travel insurance.
@robertazubke98022 ай бұрын
Thank you for bed info as that is important when you are on longer cruises. The chairs on balcony also looked uncomfortable and no foot stools.
@ShaunaAndKevin2 ай бұрын
Glad it was helpful.
@jf0817bl3 ай бұрын
I guess this is so personal. We loved loved loved the bed/pillows and had the best sleep.
@ShaunaAndKevin2 ай бұрын
Definitely a preference.
@angelaberridge68763 ай бұрын
Looking at deluxe veranda, which deck would you recommend
@ShaunaAndKevin2 ай бұрын
We were on 6 and loved it (front of ship). Level 7 is where we spent the vast majority of our time when out of the room.
@lorifoglia47592 ай бұрын
We actually were on deck 3 and thoroughly enjoyed it. We spent a lot of time in the back of the ship on deck 7. I like walking through the atrium to get to the front/back of the ship rather than walking through a hallway of staterooms. Deck 3 has the atrium to walk through but decks 4 and above, you walk through hallways. Deck 3 is also close to the living room which we thoroughly enjoyed for happy hour or early morning coffee.
@danielgrenier24173 ай бұрын
Good points. Funny you recommend the Penthouse Junior Suites as the best choice. I came to the same conclusion, before watching this, and I have a SUite on deck 7 reserved for a 14-day British Isles cruise in 2025. Looking forward to it.
@ShaunaAndKevin3 ай бұрын
It’s the perfect blend of price + amenities! Thanks for watching.
@danielgrenier24173 ай бұрын
@@ShaunaAndKevin BTW, I picked deck 7 for mine so I'll see what I get but what would you consider the "best" deck level for the Penthouse Junior Suite in terms of ease of access to the amenities, quietness, comfort etc... Thanks
@timlewis1956Ай бұрын
We just did the British Isles cruise in April - you'll love it!
@danielgrenier2417Ай бұрын
@@timlewis1956 Hi there. Good to hear. Say, how long and walk-intensive are the standard day excursions on this cruise? My wife has some mobility issues so I'd like to be aware of what's coming. Any real good ones you'd recommend? Thannks
@timlewis1956Ай бұрын
@@danielgrenier2417 Daniel, most of the free excursions involve an easy walk around town or a "panoramic tour" which is basically a bus tour showing the various interesting sites. The only caveat for those is that some places have cobblestone streets and/or walkways and can be a bit much for a person with mobility issues. You'll need to find out prior to going on those. We went on some very interesting excursions including the Loch Ness Outlander Experience in Invergordon (you see a cool castle, take a boat ride on Loch Ness, and go to see the battlefield at Culloden), plus the Braveheart excursion in Edinburgh, where you see Stirling Castle and the Bannockburn battlefield. The Standing Stones in Orkney were very cool. We also saw the Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland (they have shuttles so very little walking if you so choose) and visited the Guinness storehouse in Dublin (worth doing). In London, the Thames River night cruise was really cool. Overall, just an excellent trip!
@texasmarshalls3 ай бұрын
Is Viking your favorite cruise line? Also, have you all done a Mediterranean trip yet?
@ShaunaAndKevin3 ай бұрын
The Med is definitely on our list. Haven’t done it YET. We are still testing cruise lines. We absolutely love Viking but there are positive and negatives with a small ship. Our next cruise is in Alaska on NCL Bliss in their Haven accommodations. We can’t wait to compare it to Viking. More videos to come.
@kayesurman3 ай бұрын
Any tips on private tours/excursions for Svalbard, Norway...early July?
@ShaunaAndKevin3 ай бұрын
I’m so sorry. Our itinerary didn’t take us there. If yours takes you to Orkney Islands, Scotland … you must, and I mean MUST, book a private excursion with JPOrkney.co.uk. The highlight of our trip!
@RosemaryKeenum3 ай бұрын
Looking forward to my first Viking cruise. I understand food comments, but I am not that picky. I also understand that there is only so much space to store food. If your favorite food gets gone, they can’t run to the store or have a delivery. The bed would not bother me. Love a firm mattress.
Пікірлер
With the addition of the Viking Vela and next year's Viking Vesta, the rooms on every ship are no longer identical. Penthouse Veranda for instance is up to 360 SF, rather than the traditional 338.
Thx for yr review. I'm with you, I expect top notch food on a luxury cruise.
Kevin, Thanks for your comments regarding getting excursions on your own and not through Viking. MY question: How far ahead of your cruise did you book the excursions and how did you know the approximate time to book them? Thanks
Kevin
How do the Viking ships handle rough seas. We are planning on sailing across Bass Strait, the Tasman sea and Cook Straight on the Venus and the seas can be very rough.
Found you folks whilst searching for Viking Ocean cruise reviews since my Wife and I have our first one coming up in a few months. Good review over all, and you covered all the major points I was interested in. The only surprise I guess was your critique of the food on the cruise. Every other review I've seen has raved about the cuisine on the Viking ocean cruises. I get it, taste is personal and subjective, but I'm hoping I'm more on the "Loved it!" side during my cruise since I'm a bit of a foodie at heart. Otherwise, thanks for the videos and honest opinions.
I’m with them. I’m vegetarian and it was a very limited menu for me. And not that great
We just did the Amsterdam extension. Stayed at the Hilton and had a walking tour through Viking. In hind sight , we could have saved hundred’s booking the Hilton direct and done our own walking tours and we would not have sacrificed a thing. If you are a comfortable traveling in Europe, do your own thing at the excursion port stops. The only issue to consider would be if you are delayed getting into the port stop or if you have to bypass a port due to weather or water level issues.
Yikes, that could be a deal breaker for us. We have our first Viking River cruise coming up in 2026, and I was thinking about booking a transatlantic while onboard. Even if we love the bedding on Viking River, I'll be watching for updates or hacks with Viking Ocean.
I will say that bedding is highly subjective. So, it could be great for you if you like a firm mattress. Maybe our tempurpedic has just ruined us for Viking beds.
@@ShaunaAndKevin We like a firm mattresses with padding, Serta hybrid with memory foam and spring. Maybe the topper fix would work for us.
I bought the CHEAPEST Viking cabin. I had no trouble getting excursions, specialty dining. Would never pay so much extra for early boarding / excursions/ anything..
Great feedback. Thanks
I’m curious, exactly what style bed/mattress do you sleep on at home, what kind of pillows do you sleep on at home, and is Viking Ocean the only ship you’ve ever had an issue with the bed on?
I travel a lot for work and stay in many hotels. Viking’s beds were worse than 95% of hotel beds I’ve slept in. However, bedding is highly subjective. If you like firm beds, you likely won’t have an issue with them.
Thanks for the honest review without the typical Viking cruiser fawning. Yes, sleep comfort is no doubt subjective, but the demonstrated mattress looked thin, and cheap. When you pay $10k (or more) for a week, sleep comfort should be a blissful expectation. Rolling out toppers is, at best, bush league. Hope you have better luck in The Haven. We have gone back to HAL, and Celebrity where consistency, and quality are seldom compromised.
We are excited for the Haven and our Alaskan cruise in April 2025. We will definitely have multiple videos and a comprehensive review from that cruise too. Glad you found the review helpful.
This is a great review. Very insightful. The best cruise review I’ve seen. Viking is definitely my aesthetic. Disappointed the food isn’t better but it isn’t an ultra luxury cruise line like say Regent and Seven Seas. The price for your cabin type seems high but assume a basic cabin would be more reasonable. Look forward to your next review!
Thanks! Yes, we splurged on the room but we typically do that on vacation. We are the couple that likes to relax in their room so it’s important to us. Totally agree on the aesthetic - Viking ships are incredibly beautiful.
REALLY appreciate the detailed breakdown of costs and additions that people can adjust as needed. I am always amazed at how I think a "free vacation" using points and miles always costs me AFTER food, excursions, transport to and from the airport and during my stay, etc. comes to. I have one further "tip" re. credit cards which might be helpful for Americans (I realize not all Europeans have access to the variety of travel cards US residents do) besides the importance of getting one with no foreign transaction fees. There are a number of travel cards (Chase Sapphire, Capitol One Venture, etc.) where you can use your points for excursions. We have used our Chase UR points all over the world for booking tours and museum tickets and other sightseeing to save some money on those costs. You can also use those points for hotels and airfare. Obviously there is an opportunity cost to not earning elsewhere but we find those types of cards to be a good deal for us in the incidentals described in the video pre- and post- cruise. And I like your idea of also booking some excursions independently of the cruise line. The one caution I would add is that the ship won't wait for you if you are late getting back from an excursion not booked by them but that probably doesn't happen very often. Like your style and your content.
Thank you, I learned something
Glad it was helpful.
Thank you.
You’re welcome.
Hi from Australia. What a wonderful couple you are. It was a pleasure watching your excellent review.
Awe, thanks. We both feel very fortunate to have found each other.
Did the price you mention include your excursions and airfare?
I break down the cost of everything in this video How much does a Viking Ocean Cruise cost? kzread.info/dash/bejne/iqltu5SJgq6_kqw.html
I’m sorry, to me, $25,000 is way too much to spend on a cruise. That could have been a more global experience with a far more interesting itinerary, or better still, two vacations with a more immersive experience.
You don’t have to apologize for your opinion. We are all entitled to them. To each their own.
Well, I just returned from an Alaskan Cruise (Royal Caribbean ) for 10 nights - 20k - so this seems pretty good to me! This is because of all of the unknown expenses.
Thinking about going on our first Viking cruise in October 2025 to the Caribbean for 11 days. Also was thinking the junior Penthouse suite as well. The only thing is there is NO sea days very port intensive. We usually sail Celebrity on 11 day cruises and we usually have a couple sea days on the front end and 1 or two at the end. We are definitely considering Viking. We're you the youngest couple on board? If we go we would be 58 yrs old. Thank you for the comprehensive information on viking staterooms.
Yes, we were the youngest on the ship lol. It was actually a great feeling - not sure that’s ever happened before. Frankly, no sea days is perfect. The ship is much smaller than Celebrity with far less onboard entertainment. You will have plenty of time to do everything on the ship multiple times over within 11 days, even with having a port each day.
Funny! I was really disappointed with the waffles (the only thing I didn’t care for whole cruise- and we cruised on the same ship but on the Iconic Mediterranean tour) - I loved!!! ❤️!!! the food and was comfortable in the bed.
Haha. Maybe we can agree on the gelato being great 🤷🏻♂️
I liked the bed 🛏👍🏻but I like it firm
Glad it worked for you.
My husband and I had a wonderful 12 day Norway/Iceland Viking Cruise in 2022 and will be taking our 2nd Viking Cruise later this year. I just would like to comment on the Dietary Restrictions Issue. I am a true Celiac and cannot ingest gluten. We put my dietary restriction on our itinerary before we cruised and I also asked to speak to the Head Chef on my 1st day. I cannot say enough fantastic things about how they accommodated me throughout the entire 12 days! It felt like I almost had my own private chef; he knew me by sight by the 3rd day (no matter where on the ship I was) and he was able to answer all my questions and ensured that I was truly gluten free in all the restaurants. During the tea time, I was amazed at how they went out of their way to make my experience during so pleasant. They had several different delicious options for me and it is very rare that I get to enjoy such variety. For our longer excursions, there was always a delicious and nutritious bagged lunch delivered to our room early so that while off the ship, I never had to worry about not being able to eat should the places our excursions took us were not gluten free accommodating. Honestly, all the crew members onboard are extremely personable and accommodating and as Shauna and Kevin mention, the entire crew are more than worthy of additional tipping and hopefully all cruising with Viking will prepare in advance to have extra tip money for those extra special crew members who go above and beyond to meet specific personal needs. Regarding the “entertainment,” as mentioned by Shauna and Kevin, you don’t get the RC, NCL, etc. experience. However, we were happily surprised that on our 2022 cruise, the singers on that cruise were ABBA cover singers and were so talented; we thoroughly enjoyed their performances. Also, the piano player, violinist, and especially the guitarist that play throughout the ship at different times and places were magnificent! We also slept like babies in our DV2 Stateroom (we don't spend an enormous amount of time in our room when cruising and the DV2 level cabin was more than adequate and very comfortable) and we very pleasantly surprised with the large comfortable bathroom. We had taken several RC cruises in the past before the ships weren't "mega" ships; once many of the cruise lines decided they thought "bigger is better" (it isn't!), we stopped cruising and began flying to All Inclusive/Adults Only Resorts. When my husband suggested taking a Viking cruise, I hesitated, but I am so glad we took the 2022 cruise and we are very much looking forward to our upcoming cruise later this year.
Great video. What was that location in the intro? Looked really nice.
Thanks. That was from our hike along the Vidden Trail in Bergen, NO.
If your concerned with minor pricing events Viking, is not for you, I'm sure you can do that with everything flights, the ship, food do I have to go on?
Minor pricing “events” - I wouldn’t call paying 3x the price minor.
Perfect!~ This is what i wanted to know. Would you be so kind as to share your ripboat tour operator and the scotland one? Thanks!
For Orkney, you have to use JPOrkney.co.uk - the absolute highlight of the best trip of our lives.
We are considering our first Viking cruise. Our experiences have been with the larger cruises ship in which we believe are too much with the kids and the crowds. We have done a Mississippi River cruise on a small boat which was awesome. Your review was exactly what we were seeking to learn about Viking. We had many questions and you both answered most of our concerns. I do have a couple of questions if you wouldn't mind helping us with. I do laundry. Does the laundry include soaps and dryer sheets? Do we need to bring our own? Food... Is there seafood. I am a lobster person. Do they offer shellfish? Otherwise, everything you touched upon has us better informed of our choice. Thank you.
Yes, laundry has everything you need. All you need to bring is dirty clothes (and maybe a few laundry bags if you have delicates). Also, plenty of seafood so you will be fine. Thanks for watching. Glad it was helpful.
Loved the video. I have cruised on Viking and Silversea. I think Viking has Silversea beat with one exception, the closet space. They have a walk-in closet, helps a bunch with space.
That’s good to know. We thought that room on Viking had so many drawers that we were able to easily fully unpack. It’s very well designed.
That’s an unusual experience with the bed, I’ve been on several Viking ships and usually it’s so comfy… hate you had that experience…
Although we hoped for a better bed, it was a small inconvenience and is overshadowed by how great everything else was.
More photos/videos of ship and room-less of you sitting there perhaps? As for the food - I'm assuming you prefer cheese with everything rather than fresh.
Not sure what that means - cheese with everything? Thanks for watching.
I have a bad back from years of business travel. I've tried everything short of surgery. I have discovered that using a 2 inch medium density memory foam mattress topper allows me to sleep pain free. So I've been traveling with a custom one for years. Initially in a rolling duffel bag, but now I have a narrow twin topper that fits in a carry-on bag.
Thanks! I will need to figure out something similar for our next cruise.
I love Viking!! I have been on 4 cruises. No problem with the beds. I do agree about the food. The food is good, but not excellent. Everything else is excellent. Service is oustanding! Like how everything is in the price.
The food isn’t great but the waffles are lol. Wish they would serve them 24/7!
Thanks for the info. We leave for Vikings Midnight Sun. in a week.
Enjoy! It’s amazing.
Hello and thank you for your report regarding the mattress and pillow situation. I have severe back issues and I have been advised by Viking that heating pads are not permitted on their ships. I was hopeful that the mattress itself would be soft as I am used to this at home. I have already contacted Viking and I have been advised that their is nothing I can do ahead of time to request a mattress pad or any other option. I would LOVE to hear if you have found an optional travel mattress pad. I would love to hear any suggestions you may have. Thank you
We have not found a travel topper - not sure it exists for under $2k. Our plan for the next Viking cruise is to find a local place at the first port that sells toppers then get a cheap one, use it, and either leave it with ship (if they allow it) or throw it away. I hate being so wasteful but we wouldn’t be able to spend 15 days on those beds again.
@@ShaunaAndKevin I will research packable toppers before our trip and see what options I can find. I am just like the both of you, I can not tolerate a hard mattress due to my back issues, and I am not even that old yet. I will post an update if I find a viable option. If anyone else has a suggestion of what worked for them I am happy to hear any ideas. Thank you
Hi Shauna and Kevin, This was a fantastic review! We have always done river cruises and next year we have booked our first ocean cruise with Viking for a special anniversary celebration. . We are very excited ! I have 1 quick question for you. Kevin, you said at first Viking did your laundry, but then you decided to do your own laundry. Did Viking provide the detergent and softener or did you have to bring your own?
Great question. It’s all provided. The only item you may want to bring are a few laundry bags to wash delicates in. I’m (Kevin) a bit of a control freak (true type A personality) so I really didn’t mind doing my own laundry. I actually preferred it because it was so easy with their free self serve machines. When you send it off, it’s at least a full day before you get it back.
Thank you for your quick response. I watched another you tube video which showed the detergent dispensers connected to the back of the machine. All you have to do is push the button. Thank you Kevin for the idea of the laundry bags to wash delicates in. One additional question. Are fabric softener sheets provided?
Your giving a unfair cost, anyone taking a cruise will not be doing all this. Should be just the cruise.
Good news is … it’s all itemized and you can take what you want from it. Also, the cost to go on a cruise doesn’t only include the cost of the cruise. You still have to get there and you likely want to have some activities while at port.
I appreciated this review!! I just have one question right now, what was the soundproofing in the cabins like (not including the verandah)? Could you hear other passengers talk/cough/laugh/snore or their TVs?
It was great. We didn’t hear anyone walking above or talking/snoring next door.
Very fair call on the mattress. It is very important and it is very difficult to accommodate everyone’s preferences, however there is no excuse to not have a quality mattress topper for those who prefer a softer base.
We are hopeful they add some additional topper options before our next Viking cruise. If not, we will just sneak a pool cushion to our room 😜
We've been on 2 Viking cruises and found the beds very comfortable. It's all a matter of preference.
Yes, totally agree
I've gone back and forth in both the DV and PV rooms. It all depends on the price. If the PV is more than $2K pp than the DV, I'm not sure if it's worth and extra money for 60sf more space and alcohol in the room. As for access to shore excursions and restaurant reservations, I found the concierge to be very helpful and accommodating and we were able to get everything we wanted once we got on board.
It’s definitely not worth the alcohol in the room. We never drank any of the alcohol in the room bc you could just walk to the bar and get top shelf. We loved having the sitting area in the room. However, we do like to relax in our room on cruises.
We are taking our first Viking Cruise the Panama Canal trip in October. I am so happy I discovered your Viking cruise review. I can live off gelato and good waffles and properly cooked bacon. As for the bed issue I like a semi hard bed so will see if too hard. So waiting to see how experience is compared to yours. This will be our first cruise in about 20 years, we are retired and have more time to travel.
So glad it was helpful. You will LOVE your cruise. And I think the bed will be great for you too. It’s a personal preference but if you like a firm bed it should work well. You will love Mamsen’s. It’s the perfect place to enjoy waffles bc it’s in the Explorer’s Lounge which was our absolute favorite part of the ship. Enjoy!
We took our 1st Viking cruise (12 day Norway/Iceland) in 2022 and the food was absolutely delicious! I am also a true Celiac and they accommodated me like nobody ever has. We will be taking our 2nd Viking Cruise later this year and are very much looking forward to it. Everyone's dining preferences are different; I think you will be pleasantly pleased with your dining choices. Also, we had the Silver Spirits package and while we are not big drinkers, we felt it was worth it as we do like the additional wine choices that come along with that package. If you each like a cocktail or two throughout the evening, and enjoy a good glass of wine (or two) with your dinner, it is well worth it. The package also includes specialty coffees such as cappacino, macchiato, expresso, etc. As for sleeping, we had a DV2 stateroom and we slept like babies! We are retired also; I think you will have an absolute wonderful cruise experience!
Nice video, thanks for providing a complete breakdown. It’s hard to sometimes get a detailed breakdown without talking to a travel agent or representative. Nice tips about the excursions, I’ve always booked directly from the cruise company. Other than a couple excursions you splurged on, most of the other excursions you did were quite inexpensive. I live in Central Florida and all the cruises I have done so far have been out of Florida ports so haven’t had to pay for flights when doing a cruise. I have had Deluxe Veranda rooms and inside interior rooms and for me personally my big tip would be to go for the inside interior rooms as they are often significantly less expensive and besides there are a million places on the ship if you want to look out over the water. $3,000 for pet sitting wow! You are generous.
Thanks for watching. Glad it was helpful. Viking doesn’t have interior staterooms. We are the couple that likes to relax in their room so we always get a balcony. We would rather go on less trips but splurge on the ones we go on … if that makes sense.
My wife and I just returned from our first Viking Cruise of the Mediterranean. I watched your video prior to leaving and thought you guys were being tough on the food. However, upon return, I realized you nailed it. Every comment you made was spot on. The food was comparable to the Norwegian cruise I was on last year. However, I also agree with you that the trip was worth the money. In our opinion the best part was the meeting so many great people on board with the excursions coming in a close second.
So glad you enjoyed your cruise. The food is what it is. I think having proper expectations will help us next time. The Med is definitely on our list at some point. Thanks for watching.
Travel Insurance costs were?
We didn’t add travel insurance.
Thank you for bed info as that is important when you are on longer cruises. The chairs on balcony also looked uncomfortable and no foot stools.
Glad it was helpful.
I guess this is so personal. We loved loved loved the bed/pillows and had the best sleep.
Definitely a preference.
Looking at deluxe veranda, which deck would you recommend
We were on 6 and loved it (front of ship). Level 7 is where we spent the vast majority of our time when out of the room.
We actually were on deck 3 and thoroughly enjoyed it. We spent a lot of time in the back of the ship on deck 7. I like walking through the atrium to get to the front/back of the ship rather than walking through a hallway of staterooms. Deck 3 has the atrium to walk through but decks 4 and above, you walk through hallways. Deck 3 is also close to the living room which we thoroughly enjoyed for happy hour or early morning coffee.
Good points. Funny you recommend the Penthouse Junior Suites as the best choice. I came to the same conclusion, before watching this, and I have a SUite on deck 7 reserved for a 14-day British Isles cruise in 2025. Looking forward to it.
It’s the perfect blend of price + amenities! Thanks for watching.
@@ShaunaAndKevin BTW, I picked deck 7 for mine so I'll see what I get but what would you consider the "best" deck level for the Penthouse Junior Suite in terms of ease of access to the amenities, quietness, comfort etc... Thanks
We just did the British Isles cruise in April - you'll love it!
@@timlewis1956 Hi there. Good to hear. Say, how long and walk-intensive are the standard day excursions on this cruise? My wife has some mobility issues so I'd like to be aware of what's coming. Any real good ones you'd recommend? Thannks
@@danielgrenier2417 Daniel, most of the free excursions involve an easy walk around town or a "panoramic tour" which is basically a bus tour showing the various interesting sites. The only caveat for those is that some places have cobblestone streets and/or walkways and can be a bit much for a person with mobility issues. You'll need to find out prior to going on those. We went on some very interesting excursions including the Loch Ness Outlander Experience in Invergordon (you see a cool castle, take a boat ride on Loch Ness, and go to see the battlefield at Culloden), plus the Braveheart excursion in Edinburgh, where you see Stirling Castle and the Bannockburn battlefield. The Standing Stones in Orkney were very cool. We also saw the Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland (they have shuttles so very little walking if you so choose) and visited the Guinness storehouse in Dublin (worth doing). In London, the Thames River night cruise was really cool. Overall, just an excellent trip!
Is Viking your favorite cruise line? Also, have you all done a Mediterranean trip yet?
The Med is definitely on our list. Haven’t done it YET. We are still testing cruise lines. We absolutely love Viking but there are positive and negatives with a small ship. Our next cruise is in Alaska on NCL Bliss in their Haven accommodations. We can’t wait to compare it to Viking. More videos to come.
Any tips on private tours/excursions for Svalbard, Norway...early July?
I’m so sorry. Our itinerary didn’t take us there. If yours takes you to Orkney Islands, Scotland … you must, and I mean MUST, book a private excursion with JPOrkney.co.uk. The highlight of our trip!
Looking forward to my first Viking cruise. I understand food comments, but I am not that picky. I also understand that there is only so much space to store food. If your favorite food gets gone, they can’t run to the store or have a delivery. The bed would not bother me. Love a firm mattress.
You will have a great time.