We chose this cruise because we have always wanted to see Iceland and wanted to go back to Bergen. So this was the perfect cruise for us. This itinerary was perfect as we got to visit Greenland, Newfoundland and Canada. We have been to Antarctica so this was our chance to go to the Artic Circle. The service from the staff was great especially our cabin stewards and Ronald our waiter at Dinner. Every night at dinner he would go over the menu and discuss each dish by telling us what was in the dish and how it was prepared. We especially enjoyed the talks given on the Human Planet. What beautiful pictures and very interesting about how the photography was done. The excursions were very interesting to visit some of the old Viking villages to see how they lived. Also got to see a replica of an old Viking ship. Couldn't image how the survived in those boats. Read Less

We wanted to start with an ocean cruise that brought us to countries we had not been too before. Norway was amazing and the stops we made along the start of this trip were truly memorable.We did do some of the "optional" tours along the way and some of the "included" tours were also quite good! The restaurant experiences (food, seating, service, etc) were quite an experience, as everyone seemed to want two help and be a part of our experience! The Fitness Center was perfect, never too crowded and my wife's facial and both our massages were among the best ever! Our room was very comfortable and the staff (Clark and Ameline) were great as far as extra water, coffee, etc. Enjoyed the Explorers Lounge as it was close to our room and got us out and relaxing a bit! There was only one thing that I would not do again...the Malmouse Castle was boring (Baron ?) and we unfortunately had a couple from New York, who seemed to know more than the "Baron" and constantly interrupted his long-winded description of the "castle". The soup was not that great and the organic beer was less than enjoyable! Now, overall, this experience did nothing to dampen the great time we had as we enjoyed everything else on our trip and have booked the Ageatic Cruise for next year and have no qualms about going and enjoying! Thank you! Read Less

Everything (ship amenities, food, shore excursions, service people, entrainment) on the Viking Jupitor was absolutely great and wonderful. The biggest concern I had going on this cruise was eating the food as I am gluten free. The was all labeled and I did not have a problem feeling ill. The restaurant supervisor was excellent and went out of his way to make sure I was happy with the food. On the second day at dinner, I asked if they had gluten free brownies and sure enough couple of days later, i had gluten free brownies with ice cream for desert. On the shore excursion tours, the tour guides were very knowledgeable and provided excellent tours. Having the wireless earphones was great. You didn't have to crowd around the tour guide to hear. You could hear the tour guide 20 feet away. Heather Clancy was an excellent cruise director and Javier Rodriguez did a great job telling us about the shore excursions. We liked the ports of Norway the best, then Stockholm. St Petersburg was good, but is was so crowed with tourists. We really liked the St Petersburg Ballet. Great wonderful cruise. Read Less

We celebrated our 45th and wanted the best for this event. Great cabin and fabulous cabin stewards. The entertainers were awesome, especially Matthew. Bartenders were total service and personable, especially Carlos and CJay. Interesting excursions and we had a wonderful time in each port. The food!!! Oh my, we didn't have anything that wasn't fantastic. My husband was especially happy about the Alaskan King crab legs, we went for those, then went for a drink At the Explorer's Lounge for drinks, then to dinner. Our favorite dinner was the Chef's table Mexican night. Loved Ivan for wine and Mario for service! The spa was wonderful and we ended up getting massages which is just what we needed after all the excursions. Excellent masseuses! Cruise director, she was amazing. "See you around the ship." Read Less

We choose this cruise because the Viking Jupiter was a new smaller ship that offered many things, such as shore excursions, beer and wine with meals, internet and specialty restaurants, that were included with the base price. In addition, the itinerary offered many countries and ports that we had not visited before. The crew was very friendly and eager to serve. It was a most positive atmosphere. The entertainment and cultural lectures were most enjoyable Our cabin accommodations were exceptional. Little things such as heated floor in the bathroom, a mirror that did not steam up and a roomy shower made the cabin like home. Show excursions were well planned and the guides were very knowledgeable. Food on board was above average and the service was impeccable. We liked the fact that no passenger was under 18 years old. We definitely will book another Viking Ocean Cruise in the future. Read Less

This was the second cruise our family had taken (first with Viking). We included Viking in the list of cruise lines we were considering based on reputation and references, and picked the cruise because the itinerary appealed to both parents and late teen/20s children. The cruise exceeded our expectations in almost every way. The Viking team was very welcoming (how they all knew our names so fast ...), the ship itself was very nice - especially the cabins (although we really only had one other experience - which was also quite nice - but these were better) The only drawback was some of the excursions were a little bit disorganized timing wise. This was not due to the Viking employees who were generally fantastic, but some of the local partners and in particular the timing of the various excursions wasn’t always planned well. One example was multiple buses being at the same location for lunch so that there was a wait for the second to arrive. But in sum - highly recommend the cruise! Read Less

Our granddaughter choose Iceland. This was her graduation trip. We were surprised at how much we enjoyed it. Not the cruise itself but the locations; Norway, Faroe Islands and Iceland. Incredibly beautiful! Interesting history. The cruise was awesome. This was our 2nd Viking cruise. The first being a river cruise. The Grand European cruise. Both are world class. Viking is upscale luxury. Not for young families, as there is a age limit. The ships are smaller with only 900 passengers, so it makes the cruise so much enjoyable. The staff are the best! Very friendly and accommodating. Whatever you need. The tours, both included and optional, give you whatever your looking for at each port. History, adventures, sightseeing, shopping or culinary. Really we can't say enough about how happy we are with Viking. They make cruising easy. They take care of everything. We will be taking another cruise, there are so many awesome places to see . Thank you Viking!! If you have a specific question feel free to email me, happy to answer. clgtimm@yahoo.com Read Less

We were booked on this ship by our Fjord Tours’ “Norway in the Nutshell “ package. So we didn’t really have a choice on the ship or more importantly, the cabin types and size. We were a family of 4 and we got 2 non-adjacent cabins. So our children’s cabin are away from ours. How the hell does that happen? To make it worse, the cabins were disgusting. They were so small, I think I have seen prison cells on TV that are bigger and nicer. The A/C was non-functional, so it was so hot inside. The beds were tiny and separate. And the window was rather small, so you can forget about enjoying the fjords or whatever. Also, get ready to be transported to 1990s, where you have to pay for WiFi. After all the marketing from Hurtigruten that this is the best cruise trip in the world, they make you pay for WiFi. This is year 2019 - who the hell pays for WiFi. Even the lady at the reception agreed that this was such a ridiculous fee to charge. Breakfast service are also unfortunately borderline inedible. They didn’t have omelette station or made to order service, so we tried the scrambled eggs and they were weird tasting and had a very dark yellow color to it. Everything else was just average. Lastly, we thought the service from a few staff members were very questionable. They were a bit rude and condescending to us. Especially the 2 older white ladies who seemed to treat other white people much differently than us non-whites. Read Less

Having been a loyal customer of another cruise line, but having recently enjoyed the Viking River Cruise experience, we gambled and took our 1st cruise with Viking Ocean. What a GREAT Decision. Viking ticks all the boxes for us. No photographers chasing us around the ship, no formal nights and no wasted ship space for a gambling area. The smaller ship with fewer guests was a welcome change and the enrichment lectures exceeded our expectations. Lots of space on the Sky for just sitting alone and taking in the view. The quality of the interior of the ship was just 1st class! Regarding the food, the lunches and dinners were well done (the breakfast were so similar that I would call this an area for improvement). The Sparkling Wine & Glasses delivered to our room on our 25th Anniversary was a surprise! With the exception of one photography tour in Iceland, all the shore excursions were well enjoyed by my wife and I. Although the cost of the cruise sounded high initially, when you factor in all the included excursions, alcohol at lunch/dinner, free bottled water, and all the other extras, we felt this cost was probably equal to or less than our past cruise line. All in all, we WILL cruise with Viking again and may find it difficult to go back to our cruise line of the past.... Read Less

To see auroras. We saw auroras in 5 nights with changing colours n it was intense. Dog sledding was fun. Polar excursion was not fun for me. But rest was excellent. Restaurant staff was awesome. They were funny , witty, friendly, approachable. We made some good friends n met new people, they were good. We went to see the northern lights and yes we did see them. It was uthe hirusin, dazzling, dancing. It is something to watch n watch again. You gotta be lucky to see it more than once and we were lucky. Announcement is there so you cant miss it. One thing for those who want to book cabins that sometimes it's not a bad idea not go for rich cabins because you will be out a lot but it's personal preference. If i was not working and I had lot of money I would go with their ship various destinations. Read Less

My husband chose this cruise for my birthday as I had always wanted to see the Northern Lights. Unfortunately we didn't see them but the cruise was really good. The places we visited were unique and the people were so friendly. The snow was amazing and the views from the ship really spectacular, even at 3 in the morning! We would like to do a cruise again maybe in the springtime to see the difference a warmer climate can bring. We also enjoyed the lectures and learned a lot about Norway and the people. The food on board was excellent and a complete change from what you usually get on a cruise. Perhaps a cooking demonstration could be organised in the summer or springtime when the seas are calmer! A quizzes are also a way to get people together too, especially those travelling on their own. We both enjoyed the cruise immensely and as it was our first ever cruise to a colder climate we were a little apprehensive. We need not have worried, everything was taken care of with efficiency and humour. Thankyou all for a wonderful birthday cruise. Read Less

German / Deutsch: Meine zweite Reise mit der MS Trollfjord begann in Deutschland zunächst mit einigen Umständen, da genau am Anreisetag unser Flug nach Amsterdam Streikbedingt gecancelt wurde. Also erfolgte die Anreise mit der Bahn nach Amsterdam und von dort mit dem Flugzeug nach Bergen. Vom Airport in Bergen erfolgte der Transfer direkt zum Hurtigrutenterminal. Das Einschecken verlief reibungslos und man konnte direkt in die Kabine. Nahezu zeitgleich traf auch das Gepäck ein. Exelenter Service ! Die Reise an sich in den Wintermonaten war sehr beeindruckend, da sich das Landschaftsbild oft verändert. Die ausgewählten Ausflüge u.a. Wikingerfest, Tromso Seilbahn, das Nordkap und ein Besuch im Schneehotel in Kirkenes entsprachen vollständig meinen Erwartungen. Leider war manchmal die Liegezeit in den Häfen etwas zu kurz um entspannt eine Erkundungstour zu machen. Viel Mühe hat sich das Expeditions-Team an Bord gemacht, welches durch Vorträge oder eben die Polarkreis-Zeremonien für gute Unterhaltung sorgte. English-Version: My second trip with the MS Trollfjord started in Germany at first with some circumstances, because exactly on the day of arrival our flight to Amsterdam was canceled due to strikes. So the journey was by train to Amsterdam and from there by plane to Bergen. From the airport in Bergen the transfer took place directly to the Hurtigrutenterminal. The check in went smoothly and you could go straight to the cabin. Almost at the same time arrived the luggage. Exelenter service! The trip itself in the winter months was very impressive, as the landscape often changes. The selected excursions u.a. Viking Festival, Tromso Cable Car, the North Cape and a visit to the Snow Hotel in Kirkenes fully met my expectations. Unfortunately, sometimes the laytime in the ports was a bit too short to make an exploratory trip relaxed. Much effort has made the expedition team on board, which provided by lectures or just the polar circle ceremonies for good entertainment. Read Less

One of the most exhilarating experiences in my life, this cruise was our perfect honeymoon gift to each other. We didn't get the time to explore Bergen, but had no issues with embarkation & disembarkation. We were thoroughly impressed by the courteous staff, who gave us a free upgrade, & also took care of my wife when she felt sea sick during mild rolling. The spread of food during all the meals was impressive. Even the shop on board had a nice variety of souvenirs for us to bring back. Our shore excursion to Trondheim was a memorable one. We were also fortunate enough to sight the Aurora Borealis from the observation deck. Although I was denied a visit to the Engine Room by the Chief Engineer despite me being a marine engineer by profession, I would definitely go again, after a few years, if I get a good discounted deal. Read Less

+ Very nice, big, modern ship + Good common rooms + Great expedition suite cabin + Kingsize bed, big sofa + Great balcony, very large, with a perfect view + Sofa, safe, minibar, TV + Great breakfast buffet + Perfect lunch buffet + A lot of fish and seafood, very positive and delicate + Fitness room + Sauna + Jacuzzis + Ability to go to the very front deck of the ship + Nice places where the ship stopped (Tromso, Trondheim) - Dining: very small portions, not enough for teenagers and adult males - Main door of the ship under the cabin (very noisy) - Expedition team not very good informed - Very expensive activities that can easily be done at your own - Food at the bar too expensive - Sometimes due to excursions the lunch was moved to 10:30 in the morning! Very bad solution. Would be better to have lunch packages or the possibility to get food at the bar after the trips. - Service very poor - Entertainment: The team was not very motivating. No energy and no enthusiasm. Presentations old and not modern. Read Less

We departed Bergen on August 23, 2018 and returned Sept. 3, 2018. My sister and I went together on this trip, and it was wonderful! The service and food were first class and the ship itself is lovely - the artwork is terrific, the lounges are beautifully decorated, and the staff bent over backwards to accommodate our wishes. We had an Arctic Superior cabin on the 7th deck, which worked out fine for going up to the 8th deck for information and lectures, or down to 5 for the dining room. Other people have complained of lines for the dining room, but we had no trouble in that regard. We got off the ship often, and took several excursions. I was born in Norway, and enjoyed the chance to speak Norwegian with the staff and other travelers. We had pretty good weather and never even had to use our cold weather gear. Overall, it was a wonderful experience! I would take it again - my only complaint was that we did not see any whales or dolphins! Read Less

We chose this cruise because of the itinerary. We wanted to go to Scotland, Ireland and Wales and this cruise offered it all. The best thing about the cruise was the staff. It was the most competent, caring, friendly and attentive staff we have ever experienced. Next, the ship is beautiful. The design, the furniture, the stateroom layout and all the appointments are very well done. We were very happy to have been upgraded to a penthouse veranda which is quite a bit larger than the deluxe veranda. The food was plentiful and very good. We loved the sushi. We actually preferred the Restaurant and the buffet to the specialty restaurants. The entertainment was perfect, and it was nice to see the performers around the ship. They were always out there right after the shows. It was just right and not over the top. We also enjoyed all the shore excursions, always wishing there were more time in each port. Judy did an amazing job with her organization of the shore excursions. We were less impressed with the pre and post excursions. We did not realize that Viking farmed these out to other companies. The pre excursion in Oslo offered nothing except a hotel room and train ride. No effort was made to contact the participants and by the time we saw the Viking desk there was no reason to even check in. All they did was give info regarding tours that were available at an extra cost. The post excursion in Edinburgh at least offered some interesting excursions which were included. A meeting was held when we arrived and information was dispersed. Pick up and drop off at the airport was totally inadequated. Our pickup person was 15 minutes late and no one knew what to do. Our drop off was not near the entrance to the airport and we had to drag our luggage quite a ways. All in all, we would no consider any pre or post excursions in the future. Read Less

This was an area of the world that we have always thought of visiting. To say the least, we had an outstanding cruise! Having a day in the originating and departing port was a bonus and exactly what we wanted. Checking into the ship was a breeze, no line and greeted warmly. There were more excursions than we could ever take on one journey so maybe we’ll have to do this again? Since we didn’t think we would ever do this again, it was hard to decide on just one a day! Our excursions were outstanding, the coaches were new, air conditioned, comfortable and never crowded. Our drivers were amazing and our tour guides were very knowledgeable and personable. There were excursions for every ability level and the transportation accommodated our needs for part of the family needing additional assistance. One of our excursions was scheduled for the building opening time so we were the very first group in the church and there were at least 2000 people outside waiting. Viking books their excursions well. The dining was always just right, from the specialty restaurants, to the main dining room to the buffet. We utilized room service each morning so we could sleep in just a bit longer before heading out on our excursions. This was wonderfully convenient and the food was hot and tasty. The common areas were impeccably clean and inviting. The staff in these areas were there to take care of you but not a nuisance. Every staff member on this ship is there to make you happy and they did. We chose Viking because pretty much everything is included and that included one excursion per port per day. There was no nickel and dimeing you on this cruise line and everything was top notch service oriented. I will only sail with Viking for any of my future adventures. Thank you to the Captain and Crew of the Viking Sea for a wonderful Family Adventure 2018! Read Less

we wanted see how different the vinking ocean liner is from the viking river cruise. go to the 8 countrys became have nerve been to before. the size with just 930 passengers is just right . the city i name were very different in they own. hemitag museum is very excellent museum to see. the meals on broad were excellent. the port and shore excursions were excellent chcies. the scenery of each city were beautiful. the entertainment was great exspecial the gust singer and gust vilion. the activities on broad were very good. the historic lectures was excellent. the service was excellent too. bergen,norway is a easy city to get around. the little mermaid in cooerphagen is very beautiful. we would recornd mend the cruise we want on this year. after a couple of days on the ship we got to know how get aound on the ship. the information in the viking daily every day was very useful. Read Less

After 15 cruises on various mid to high end liners we went a level higher on this Viking ship. Viking is for adults. Ok, it is a bit more expensive than others, but it is well worth it. The ship is elegant but not flashy. Very tastefully done in every corner. The size is perfect, no big crowds, long lines. Out room was very comfortable, the king size bad was better than the one at home. A great desk setup had all the USB charging plugs, lights for convenient "working" environment, coupled with fairly good WiFi along the trip. Dining was another wonderful experience. Besides the "normal" food, all the high end restaurants were fantastic. It was tough to decide where to go dining every night. Wine selection was very good, although they ran out of some of the most popular labels a bit early. The crew performed flawlessly. Cabin crew was always there when needed. The restaurant personal could serve in any 5 star restaurants. They were well trained, attentive and friendly. The entertainment was sized to the size of the ship. No big Hollywood productions, but perfectly entertaining and tasteful. The Hungarian Classical Trio played wonderful pieces from Grieg, Mozart, Bach, Dvorzak. Other observations No photographers in your face, ridiculous internet charges, free or very reasonably priced drinks, free shore trips (with optional paid for trips). No casino and loud action, no children running around. We are definitely going back. Read Less

Firat time on Viking, and we loved it. Booked 2 more cruises while on board. Love the decor, American cities and personal service on this smaller ship. Sure, more expensive, but worth it. The absence of young children, casino, photographers and art auctions were major advantages for us. Tons of beautifully appointed lounge areas for us to hang out and talk or read. Explorers Loung at front of ship was terrific. Spent almost every evening up there, enjoying the panaromic vistas while sipping on adult beverages. Service throughout the cruise was outstanding. Seemed like everyone knew are name after a day or two, and knew are preferences without prompting. Lots of hugs on the last evening. In summary, this is not about partying, shopping, or gambling. This is for mature folks that want to learn about our wonderful world and see it all first hand in ridiculous comfort. Thank you, Viking! Read Less

I am Norwegian by birth but 50 year US citizen (Seattle), educated in Norway and Denmark as Naval Architect and Marine Engineer. For years I have cruised in my own boats the entire Northwest Passage (Seattle to Sitka). Only two additional such long and naturally protected passages from the ocean swell excist on earth: the Norwegian Coast and Patagonia (Chile). The nature, weather and the people living there are very different between them. Next I wanted to see the Norwegian Coast. Hurtigruten's Classic Voyage looked to be perfect. They serve this Voyage with 11 ships, one each day for the 11 day round trip from Bergen (Norway) to Kirkenes (near the border to Russia) back to Bergen. It is the continuation of the 130 year old Norwegian Royal Mail route, now docking at 34 towns and communities with mail, cargo and passengers each way. Being passenger onboard you become aware of being part of and intimately witnessing the daily life along this incredible coastline. My ship, M/S Lofoten, is the old lady of the fleet and a real ship in my mind (we are of the same vintage, if you will). She is small, ship-like and filled with old fashion marine qualities and charm. Her Captain Eivind Sande, his officers and crew were skilled in making me feel at ease, at home and become part of their ship as the spectacular nature presented itself very close-by on the outside. Visually it is an intense and changing experience at the same time as it is peaceful and calming. All 11 Hurtigruten ships offer the same large variety of optional excursions, but if the excursions are the main attraction for you, the larger vessels (about 500 beds versus Lofoten's 151) might be a better choice. For us, some excursions were cancelled for lack of participants, but most were completed and all of those were excellent. I had high hope and expectations for this cruise, and as it unfolded my "M/S Lofoten experience" surpassed it all. A fantastic ship and ship experience in a spectacular nature very near by. Read Less

We wanted an experience that was less commercial than other large cruise lines and one which would allow us to truly experience all tha the Norwegian coast has to offer. We got exactly what we wanted and wouldn’t have changed a thing. Beautiful spacious accomodations (we stayed in a quad), ample lounge areas and high quality, delicious food. The service was impeccable and we became very friendly with all service staff. Our kids were invited to the Young Explorers program which enriched their understanding of the Norwegian culture and environment. The food was fresh and delicious, and there was a story that accompanied each dish we were served. While this cruise is not for everyone in the fact that there was no formal entertainment, it was exactly what we were looking for. It was an experience we will cherish forever and truly feel like any other vacation would be unmatched! Read Less

We chose Hurtigruten's Norwegian Fjord Cruise North for our 25th wedding anniversary. We traveled as a family of 4 and researched fjord offerings fairly extensively among various cruise lines. We chose Hurtigruten because we generally are not a cruise family and do not prefer the glam and shows of most cruise lines as your are herded from one end of the vessel to the other. Hurtigruten's Expedition team voyages sounded just our speed, small ships, excellent educational sessions and nonstop fantastic views. Most of what I read online was exactly true and most reviewers provide a realistic expectation of the voyage. The "view is the thing", and I agree...it was EVERYTHING. My favorite breathtaking moment was when we entered the Trollfjord for a 180 degree turn. Something about the silence of all the fellow passengers as we absorbed the magnificence of the moment brought me to tears. This was my absolute favorite moment on the ship. That same evening we were served Trollfjordknert (a hot tea with rum) served in souvenir cups. It was the highlight of the trip. Also, don't miss the moment you cross the Polar Circle. At about 7:30 am my husband threw open the blinds and said, "hey...why is there a statue in the middle of the ocean?" I squealed and jumped out of bed knowing what it was. Cool moment. They had a bidding pool to see who could guess what time we would cross it. I was bummed we missed that announcement. THE SHIP: The ship is well planned with ample spaces to relax and enjoy the view. Fellow travelers were generally polite, well-educated outdoor enthusiasts from England, Germany and Norway. We met a few other Americans. Almost everyone we spoke with on the excursions spoke English which was a real treat for us, and the people we chatted with appeared to enjoy the attributes of the voyage as much we as we did. Moving around the ship was easy, with quick elevator waits. My husband walks with a cane and he did well getting around the vessel. One or two wheelchair passengers might have been on board. It is generally a 50 and over, but still outdoor hiking in your late 70's sort of crowd. There were perhaps 6 other teenagers on board with our kids. The only little children I saw were just on for a ferry ride. The attire on board was generally hiking clothes such as Haley Hanson, Arcteryx, Norrona, North Face, Prana etc...with well worn hiking boots. If people changed their attire before dinner it was not noticeably different...simple casual attire. I did my best to research the cruise extensively before departure but found details hard to come by other than the descriptions of the excursions which were accurate and thorough. It was not until our 3rd day on the ship that we discovered there was a program you had to pick up daily at the excursion office and I wondered how many things we had already missed. On the 4th day, I found out there was a button you could press on your phone to hear all the announcements in your room, and again I wondered how many things we had missed once I realized how much they were talking about key sites as we passed them. We chose the Owner's Suite so we could hang out on our own balcony for the view, which was incredible, but we missed quite a few things until we figured all of this out. CABIN: For our "trip of a lifetime" to celebrate our 25th anniversary we chose Hurtigruten for the expansive Owner's Suite on the rear of the vessel. The width is half of the stern of the ship with a full balcony. It had two bathrooms and two flat screen TV's, a dining area a living area, a bar and a sound system you could jack into via auxiliary cord. The space was perfect for a quiet and introverted family voyage and for the most part was exactly what we had imagined, not luxurious, but very large. The bed and linens were fresh and comfortable and the open windows provided a beautiful breeze and ocean and bird sounds. It was heavenly. The kids had an interior room on deck 6 and spent almost all of their time with us all relaxing comfortably on the balcony or in the living room. The images I found online for the Owner's Suite alerted me to the possibility it would be mildly outdated. I was pleasantly surprised by the flat screen televisions which we used mostly to display the bow cam or the ship's voyage location map. The couch was very comfortable and there were two comfortable balcony chairs with nice cushions to enjoy the view. Keep in mind the Trollfjord is due for an update. We chose to overlook the stains on the carpet and furniture. The couch was dirty so we used the bedcover (also dirty) to cover it during our stay. The sink had dark black ink stains in the basin and the bathroom and trashcan in the living room smelled like old ashtrays. Perhaps previous guests had smoked on the balcony but put their ashes and butts in the trashcans. These were tolerable but avoidable issues and I was disappointed that they did not manage such things better. Overall, I think if such things mattered to you, I would choose one of the updated vessels. I hope Hurtigruten reviews their housekeeping policy to check the rooms for stains and odors and provide some mitigation between journeys. Also unavoidable is that people smoke at the nonsmoking end of the ship on Deck 9 and occasionally throw a cigarette butt or ashes onto you as you sit on the balcony, so heads up. Again...this is the other guests doing this...not sure how to help people who make poor choices. It was not a huge problem, the balcony was awesome. The Owner's Suite was a small price above the cost of the Expedition Suites, so it was an easy choice, but given the minimal benefits on board the ship and the lack of balconies in the Expedition Suites, I would either choose a suite on deck 7 with a balcony, or purchase something else and wait until you board the ship to check for an upgrade. FITNESS FACILITIES: The gym had a corner pully system, a dumbbell rack, a treadmill, an elliptical, a broken Concept rower, a fitness bike, some yoga mats and a very basic spin bike with clips. The hours are strange 7am-3pm and 5pm to 7pm. It was difficult to get this to work with the excursions. It was very small but workable. About 6 people can work out at the same time with some shuffling. EXCURSIONS: When booking the cruise we chose the 2B Trollstigen, 4G Highlights of Lofoten and 6A Nordkapp. Once onboard, we added 4D RIB Safari to Saltstraumen at a discount because we had already purchased several. The discount on board is around 10-15% depending on availability and number of excursions you purchase. For us, all of the excursions were worth it. We were limited to no-hiking excursion due to the walking cane, and all were fine for our limitations. The tour buses were new and clean and very comfortable and the views and tour of the countryside were a nice balance to the ocean views of the fjords. Where the excursion included meals or snacks, they are provided in a large dining hall with very basic service and guests are generally seated in large groups by bus number. It is not quaint or cozy, but the food is good and the service was better than on the ship. We enjoyed chatting with the other travelers and hearing their stories. Because we were on the English speaking bus we saw them again and again. It was nice. The tour guide on Trollstigen had a nervous titter the whole journey and giggled after every few words in both English and Norwegian. She was sweet, but by the end of the journey, I was ready for silence. A more experienced speaker would have been preferable. I would put 2B and 4G in the UNMISSABLE category. 4D was my next favorite and 6A was nifty but very crowded. THE EXPEDITION TEAM ON THE SHIP WAS OUTSTANDING. I really enjoyed all of my interactions with them and I was grateful for all of their tips and congeniality. CAFE AND BAR SERVICE: The cafe service and the bar service on Decks 8 and 9 were fantastic. Always a smile and an easy process. I was incredibly grateful for their efficiency. DINING: This was the toughest part of the voyage, so I saved it for last. I am not sure anyone can objectively say this was "awesome". The breakfast and lunch buffets were generally chaotic and difficult. We tried our best to use the buffets during the slow times (which they tell you about), but often this does not work with the excursion time tables. The food was good, but did not vary much day-to-day. It looked essentially the same. Ample food though and the desserts are deadly (in a good way). We usually only had enough patience to have either breakfast or lunch. We had high hopes for the elegance of the evening meal as a cure for the chaos. The evening meals were the perfect size, modest and lovely. I have no complaints on the quality, but they are simple. There was no cure for the chaos however. Our first evening we arrived at our assigned table to be greeted by blistering sunlight and 80 degrees on the open ocean side of the ship with no view. We sat for exactly 30 minutes in the beating sun before the waiter acknowledged us and brought water. I think my entire family was a bit shell shocked. I was trying to wrap my mind around how you purchase the absolutely most expensive lodging on the ship a year in advance (not as a last minute upgrade at a discount on board) and somehow that gets you the worst table in the dining room. I felt like a chump. When I asked, they said the Suites get the window tables, (but somehow the owner's suite gets the worst window table?). It is the worst because each evening they began serving all of the tables further in the dining room and worked their way towards the front, so no matter what, we always waited 30 minutes for water. I was able to get them to switch us to the fjord side of the ship (which are the even numbered tables), but we still were the last to be served every night. Finally we just started coming late for dinner. At least then we were served water within ten minutes. The service is disorganized, inefficient and impersonal (although the staff does not appear to be unfriendly). I won't go into more detail, but suffice it to say keep your expectations low. Other guests we talked to said they were fed up by the first night and just paid to upgrade to the ala carte restaurant for the entire rest of the cruise. Perhaps that is the angle? Perhaps the people with the better tables were their frequent passengers who ought to be treated well? Who knows. This experience was tough. I wish I had explored the ala carte option, but with there being 4 of us paying for every single excursion it just seemed too extravagant. It costs very little to train staff to be efficient and have better management. I did not see anyone who seemed like a manager in the dining room. We enjoyed the cruise overall because this is the best way to visit the fjords of Norway and the view is spectacular the entire journey. The cost was in line with the general cost of traveling in Norway, so really the only disappointment was the level of food and service in the dining room. Read Less

We chose this cruise because we were interested in exploring the breath-taking Norwegian fjords, and crossing the Arctic Circle to see the midnight sun. The ports of call in Norway and northern Great Britain were full of history, adventure, ancient ruins, museums and wonderful walking trails. The focus on the influence of the Viking explorers of a thousand years ago on all the places visited was enlightening. Viking always pays attention to detail, and plans an itinerary that provides lots of culture and education about the places visited. The ship itself is full of quiet little get-away spaces, while at the same time offering great musical selections, many dining venues, and spacious staterooms. It was a trip that I would recommend to anyone who likes exploring new places and actively participating in informative shore excursions, at the same time as being pampered by excellent service and beautiful surroundings. I would suggest starting the itinerary in Bergen, as we did, so that the weather warms up after your return from the Arctic Circle, and improves as you continue south. Read Less

The excellent service began with our booking by phone from Australia many months ago... plenty of help and advice. Embarkation was easy. Our cabins were small but clean and comfortable, with everything we needed - so happy that we chose Deck 8, a few steps from the main lounge. All the hard working crew were friendly and helpful, and it was one of the nicest weeks I've ever had. Endless vistas of snow capped peaks and tiny snow covered villages, sometimes almost close enough to touch. An available excursion or a walk around a new town very day. What more could one ask. But the absolute standout was the food - my daughter and my 15 year old granddaughter are coeliac with other allergies, and they were in heaven. They were given beautiful food, nothing was a problem, they felt safe, and for the first time in their lives they were able to "eat out" three times a day without being made to feel different or a nuisance, or the odd ones out. It was a wonderful experience for them. I am not a cruise person - have never been on one, and have no desire to go - but Hurtigruten is small and personal and something very different. They are to be congratulated on doing what they do so very well. Read Less