We chose this cruise, first, for the destination. We have always wanted to visit the British Isles. This cruise allowed us to get a taste of several countries, and multiple cities all in one vacation. We chose Viking because they offered this trip, it also because the value of the cruise was well worth it. It is not the least expensive one out there, but we agree that it is of the best value. Some of the reasons to travel Viking are: no kids under 18, no casinos, no umbrella drinks, no upselling of products in the spa, no additional charges for excursions, no additional charges for specialty restaurants, no nickel and diming with pictures of you with the captain etc. This is an ADULT cruise for those who want to LEARN. Of course we also had a ton of fun, but this is not a party cruise. The ship itself was a floating palace. Beautiful, clean, simple Scandinavian decor, lovely colors mixed with creams, and the lighting was spectacular. Destination artwork and pictures decked the walls and seating areas. Food was amazing. Cleanest public restrooms I’ve ever seen! The entire ship was immaculate. They worked so hard at keeping things clean! Daily tea was served in the Wintergarden complete with loose leaf tea in pots, delicious scones and finger sandwiches. We took advantage of that as much as we could. Service was outstanding. We simply could not have asked for better. Anything we needed or wanted was ours. The destinations were incredible. Excursions were good. Most tour guides were very knowledgeable and helpful, with a few exceptions, but those guides didn’t work directly for Viking, and the ones we were disappointed in, we let Viking know. In addition, there were port talks given in advance to inform you about the port, and any last minute changes that were taking place. And the lectures by the resident historians were not only informative, but entertaining as well! Embarkation and Disembarkation went very smoothly. No troubles at all. I just can’t recommend Viking enough. You will NOT be disappointed! Read Less

After 26 cruises this was our first on Viking; surely, not our last. I'll get over our one gripe first and move on to the positives. On the evening sail from Bergen, we visited the ship's apparel shop in search Viking's red and white signature Dale of Norway sweater. My wife resisted buying other attractive sweaters in Bergen's shops with Viking's signature sweater in mind. The shop had no stock of size medium. The excuse was that they sold out on the last voyage. That is lame excuse since we just sailed from the cruise line's home port and the Dale of Norway production center. The salesman offered no recourse, eg. a special order that could be shipped home, and assumed a rather indignant, huffy attitude. The message. "Clients from the Bergen cruise origin aren't as worthy as those from the Greenwich start of the same cruise itinerary." That said, now to to the cruise. Despite scheduling 13 excursions in 11 ports over 13 days, we felt that this was one of our more relaxing cruises. The casual, unbustled on-board environment undoubtedly contributed to that feeling. We used Viking Air for flight arragements and arrived in Bergen around noon after a short connecting flight from Oslo. There were at least half a dozen Viking representatives at the airport to assist passengers and get us on the way to the ship. This exemplifies a typical pattern that we experienced on the whole cruise. Ample Viking staff are readily available where needed to assist customers. A seamless check-in at the port had us in our stateroom before the scheduled time. Our luggage had already been delivered, a first time experience on any cruise. The Atrium serves as the core public area from deck 1 to 3. Above The Viking Living Room on deck 1 with its nooks of lounge furniture, book collections and artwork, deck 2 has a perimeter balcony with lounge and table game areas and deck 3 features sitting areas along with exhibits of Norwegan traditional ceremonial dress; deck 2 has a nook with Viking cultural artifacts. My wife, a serious fiber spinner, delighted in the spinning artifacts. Stateroom corridors and public areas abound with artwork. Explanatory narratives are available through an on-board dedicated phone app. At the head of the grand staircase in The Atrium is a 2-deck electronic panel with changing images of Norwegan and Viking culture and the voyage's port areas. Beneath the staircase is a garden of multi-colored visual delights. At the deck 1 staricase base performance space features daily soothing classical performances on the Steinway by Olga, resident pianist, and the Viking classsical duo on violin and cello. Other performances included well chosen port-based ensembles providing local cultural programs and the ship's staff who shared diverse talents. Deck 7 offers other retreats at Mamsen's, where light fare is available, and in the Explorer's Lounge with its bow views and bar. A mezanine extension of the Explorer's Lounge on Deck 8 privised additional views and seating nooks. Midship on Deck 7 is The Wintergarden, a quiet retreat where most afternoons feature Afternoon Tea at 4:00 with the accompaniement of the ships classical artists. The pool area expands lounging and eating space, all or part of which can be covered by the retractable roof. Special buffets and entertainment are features. And for the always exposed to the elements, there is the infinity pool on the stern outside The World Cafe. And, back to deck 1 for Torshaven, a cozy club like venue for seminars and evening dancing from 9:00 to Midnight. The Star Theater's informal lounge atmosphere is a relaxing place for tour meet-up and for guest lecturer presentations. Sofa pillows with images of Norwegan performance and artistic celebraties on one side and the autograph on the other typify the Viking touch. Four lecturers on our voyage informed and entertained us. To celebrate the July 20, 1969, moon landing, retired USAF pilot and astronaut Karol Bobko shared experiences and related the technoogy of space exploration. He also gave presentations in the shipboard planetariumn on deck 8. Ship passengers celebrated the moon landing at 8:17pm on July 20th with pastries in the Atrium that included a chocolate replica of Apollo 11. William Thayer's lectures offered insight into the energy production technologies that are active in he North Sea. Other topics included the British pursuit and sinking of the Bismarck in WWII and the "Breaking if the Enigma Machine," a step in the development of today's digital computers. Dr.Michael Fuller combined archaeological artifacts with historical evidence in lectures about Viking and Northern European history. (Without historical documentation, archaelogy is speculation.) Particularly interesting was his presentation on the Hanseatic League. He met with passengers in nooks around the ship to pursue a variety of individual interests. Notable is Russell Lee, who synthasized complex topics from history and current events into connections that are often missed among the detail of events. He was literally up-to-date, including his visuals, with his Brexit presentation on the day that Boris Johnson became the UK's PM. Outstanding was Lee's presentation "Baa, Baa Black Sheep - How Wool Transformed Medieval Europe." He included his wife demonstating a centuries old spindle technique that persists today in spinning yarn. The only tidbit he omitted, according to my wife, was how the word "sabotage" became part of our vocabulary because of the industrialization of weaving. If you miss the lecture theater presentation, it's available 3 hours later on the ship's TV, not just an fuzzy video of the stage presentation, but with the presenter in a quarter panel and sharp graphics taking up the rest of the screen. Great Viking Jupiter production team! While on technology, kudos to the full-time internet service included in the cruise fare. Wi-fi access is throughout the ship, and there are desk top PCs located in a "nook" of The Living Room. Most passengers used their own devices. An on-board "trechie" can assist. Viking Jupiter's internet service is the fastest, most reliable that we have experienced on a cruise ship. Also, amenities include wine (red and white) and beer (light and dark). Menu beverages have a modest charge, eg., $7.50 (including gratuity) for a Manhattan. No charge for all the bottled water you want. And, no charge for the daily refrigerator set up of soft drings, snacks, and Toblerone chocolates. Spa facilities have no surcharge.. Unwind in a sauna, a cold tub, the Snow Room, a hot whirlpool or churning pool. An ample variety of standard fitness equipment is also available.Spa treatments are available at fees comparable to other cruise lines. While I was pleased with a massage, my wife was less so with her facial. She noted a harsh abrasive material used on the skin that she hasn't experienced before. And, after leaving the spa, she discovered unpleasant blotches of a greasy cream on her skin. And, let me not forget the included excellent self-serve laundry facilities on 4 of the 6 cabin decks (soap is included). So nice not to be nickeled and dimed. One can opt for individual paid launtry at reasonable rates. Repeat: So nice not to be nickeled and dimed. For us a genuine surprise was a bottle of sparkling wine and cake delivered to our stateroom. Viking graciously added to celebrating our 50 years of marriage. And, the on-board dining; overall - excellent. Several individual dishes were too salty (some chefs know only that "spice"). We didn't eat at Mamsens, noted for light fare, but enjoyed the no-surcharge specialty venues. First night out was The Chef's table featuring regional Nordic cuisine. International cuisines rotate avery few days. We chose the Nordic which was excellently prepared and plated for full enjoyment. We also enjoyed an evening in Manfredi's Italian Restaurant, where portions easily contribute to expected weight gain on a cruise. One can book as many meals in these restaurants as there is availability. The Restaurant is the main dinner venue with multiple sections that avoid the "heard feeling" on other cruise lines; one can actually enjoy conversation without straining. Overall excellent well plated dishes with reasonable portions served by attentive staff who remember us when we repeat at their tables. Thank you, Henry for your songs and attentive service. For a snack, on the pool deck, light fare is available, including what may be the best hamburger at sea. Vegans can also indulge. And, The World Cafe serves for a breakfast buffet as well as lunch and dinner. Customized omlets are worth the few minutes' wait. Sometimes staff were overwhelmed by passenger needs, but they were attentive and (with few exceptions) handle the demands well. Buffet food is among the best we have had. Do no pass on the ice cream and pastry selections. Seek out the daily pizza options that go well with a Viking beer at lunch. As related above, Viking clientele are learners. Each port includes one tour. Additional, paid tours are available. Most included tours are city drive throughs with a couple of stops. Our Dublin 3 hour city tour had an excellent guide. He related neighborhood histories along with those of major monuments. He summarized economic conditions in the city and country as well as the possible Brexit impacts. Included was a 45 minute stop at Jubilee Gardens. We were able to hop off the bus to explore Temple Bar on our own. On the Orkney Islands the included tour got out of the port of Kirkwall into the countryside, and included a too brief stop in the seaside village of Stromners. My bride found a shop with her favorite roving from the native North Ronaldsay sheep - a breed that cannot be exported elsewhere in the world because of its particular seaweed diet. Plenty of time was allowed for a stop at the neolithic Ring of Brodgar, a predecessor of Britian's more famous henge. Port Ulapool's included walking tour was perfect for getting a sense of a western Highlands Scottish seaside community, and included a pub stop with adult and bakery refreshments along with lively local music. We felt that the guide gave a reasonable overview of life in the community. Comments do not include all of out complimentary tours. Among the paid tours we enjoyed The Beatles Experience tour in Liverpool, except for the hot, stuffy museum at the end. Otherwise the ecellent guide and typically cramped bus seating are worth the effort for "Fab Four" fans. In Edinburgh the Rosslyn Chapel and Glenkinche Distillery tour were well done. One has to suffer an excessive crowd at the chapel. So, it takes effort to appreciate the complexity of the architectural gem. Do leave a few coins to support the chapel cat. The distillery tour with guide Willie was excellent; that's from a Kentucky resident bourbon enthusiast. Very disappointing for a train enthusiast was the Ffestiniog Railway and Lunch tour at the Holyhead port. We arrived at the train depot with barely enough time to board - no time for photos. Photo opps were "promised" at the terminus. By the time most of the photogs in our group got to the head of the train the engine was decoupled and on its way through the rail yard. Then, we had to rush to a bus to get to the next stop, lunch in a hotel in Betws-y-Coed with provided meal and time to wander the community that reminded me of Aspen, CO, without the opulence.We traveled through the Sodonia highlands, Wales slate producing region, distinct part of the UK. A positive with the Viking tours is that the limit seems to be around 25. So, one doesn't feel like part of ther herd. We took 7 included and 6 paid tours over the two weeks. So these comments offer only highlights. Preparing us for each port was a presentation by the cruise director and the shore excursion manager. Special kudos to Vicki, the cruise director. She was genuinely engaging and totally professional; and very unlike cruise directors on most prior non-Viking cruises, did not act like a clownish buffoon. I do fault the tour director, however, Javier, for a demonstrably lack of personal knowledge about some port tours. Debarkation, not a welcome 5:00am rise to be ready for our 6:15 group to end this Viking experience. In The Living Room we had fruit, breakfast pastry, and beverage options as we awaited our group call for airport transport. Friendly Viking staff were at every turn, literally as we left the ship. On the 90 minute bus ride to London-Heathrow Airport, a Viking representive gave us a guided narration through the London neighborhoods and assisted at our airport arrival. As my wife said, "This is one cruise that we return from without needing a vacation." Thanks Viking staff and Viking Jupiter crew. We'll be back! Lecturer quality is one reason for booking an Inside Passage Alaska cruise for 2020. It will be our fifth in the region. We look forward to the Viking difference. Finally, I have kept a spreadsheet for costs on prior 26 cruises and on this Viking cruise. For comparable 2 week cruises our Viking costs were only $300.00 more. I attribute this to the longer air distance to Norway. By comparison to US carriers, SAS to Norway and BA from London to the US provided FAR SUPERIOR comfort, food, service, and amenities in the same passenger class, Economy Comfort/Economy Plus or equivalent level. Read Less

We recently did the 12 day cruise from Norway to Iceland on the Viking Sky. We usually cruise with Regent so we curious to see how the Viking Ocean Cruises compared to Regent. Everything about this cruise exceeded our expectations and in fact, we booked another Viking cruise while on the ship. Ship - Everything is clean from the decor to the housekeeping. Everything sparkles! Service - Beyond incredible. Everyone from the housekeeping staff (who always remembered our names from day 1) to the restaurant staff and coffee bar. There was never more than 30 seconds in the buffet, when someone did not ask if we needed anything or were cleaning up dishes. They all had a smile on their faces and really seemed like they enjoyed their jobs. Food - Buffet - first, we usually avoid buffets, but after eating at the Viking Sky's buffet the first time, we were regulars for breakfast and the occasional dinner. The food was amazing. Fresh and hot...always. Restaurant - Again, outstanding food. Wish they had a little more poultry options, but still great. Manifredi's Italian - Not sure how we will ever eat Italian at home again. This was by far the best Italian food that we have ever had. The bread is delicious. We did not try the other restaurants. Room - We stayed in 4104 which was just towards the aft. We loved the location of our room. It was quiet and always one of the first to be made up. Everything was perfect in the room, though a bit tight. Two people cannot pass each other around the bed. The bathroom was perfection, especially the no fog mirrors and heated floor. The bed was very comfortable. The storage space was perfect for a 12 day cruise. We had plenty of room to store all of our things in the room and bathroom. Entertainment - We loved it. Cute shows with great singers. We were never bored. Over and above - this is where we were most impressed. - Our flight home was very late in the day. Viking did not kick us off the ship. Instead, they arranged for a late departure from the ship and then transported us to the city center. They arranged for our luggage to be stored while they provided us with a nice lunch at the opera house and time to walk around the city. Then they transported us to the airport. It didn't stop there. They escorted us into the airport with our luggage until we checked in! Wow! We cannot wait for our next Viking cruise. Read Less

We did mostly eat at the World Cafe (amazing sushi and crab legs), we did also enjoy Manfrettis and the Restaurant a few times. We also did use room service. The food was wonderful. No complaints. I cannot eat gluten and I was completely taken care of. I felt safe and appreciated the extra care they went to. Our room was a delight. The bed was comfy and for us we felt spoiled with having the room cleaned twice a day. We were very glad that we chose to do a lot of our excursions with other companies. There were far fewer people and it cost less. Best example: Use All Tours in St. Petersberg. They were amazing. We also booked our own Rodne Tour for Pulpit Rock at less cost for the exact same trip. Because there were so many ports, in the end it was just a bit exhausting. If we do a cruise again, it would be one with fewer places to visit. We found every single person who worked at Viking to be friendly, helpful, and kind. If, like us, you do enjoy quality spirits, I strongly suggest purchasing a few bottles at the Stockholm Airport Duty free store. It was less expensive than at home and far cheaper than any other place we stopped. Read Less

We wanted to see the Northern Lights and rather than take the Hurtegruten route which is heavily promoted in the UK, thought we would take a more luxurious option with Viking. We are both season travellers with over 10 cruises in various parts of the globe. Things did not start well with our arrival in Bergen and depositing our three bags at the terminal, for just two of them to arrive at our stateroom some 2 hours later and the third bag finally arrived 6 hours later!! Having chased guest services there was a very laisser afire attitude which seemed to set the tone for the rest of the trip. We have numerous issues with our cabin including excessive squeaking from the French doors when at sea ( whilst they admitted there was a problem we were offered ear plugs!) A shower that didn't seem to be regulated and periodically ran with scalding water, our toilet broke and it took three phone calls to get a plumber. We ordered room service and early morning tea on a few occasions and every time had to wait ages and there was always something wrong with the order. I felt that the staff were poorly trainef. I overhead waiters discussing their grievances on more than one occasion in the dining room which was incredibly unprofessional. The bar service was shocking and in both The Living Room and Explorer Lounge the waiters would swan around with trays clearing classes and NEVER asking if we would like a drink! We had two of our pre paid trips cancelled, one was cancelled well in advance of departure and we were told we could be credited on the card used to pay for the excursion. This now seems to be a total lie as this did not happen and we were given credit on our shipboard account. The settlement of such credits to UK passengers is by cheque within 60 days! What a joke and there is no reason why credit cards can it be refunded. We had considered a Viking River cruise but having experienced their level of service would not touch them with a barge pole! Read Less

My wife and I have cruised many times with Celebrity and always received 1st class service. We have completed many of the popular cruises more than once so was looking for alternative itinerary's. We booked an Explorer Suite with Viking (similar price to a Penthouse with Celebrity) expecting a premium cruise experience but how wrong we were. We opted for the flight and cruise package just in case of any delays etc but unable to pre-book our seats so we could not sit together. Check-in was OK but the welcome champagne was an inch in a glass and no member of staff to show us our suite. The suite was as expected, sensible size decorated with furniture from Ikea. The one big issue was trying to keep the room warm as the outside temperature was as low as -18. We had all the curtains closed, all heating including an electric panel heater on full, blankets on the bed and still cold. The same for the pool area and the world café, you needed a sweater or fleece to eat your lunch. Service was very slow with many dirty tables waiting to be cleaned and members of staff just walking past. Must say food quality and variety was good. Room service was very slow to start, 1230pm and still no clean, 8.40pm no clean or turn down. After a couple of complaints this did improve. Shore excursions a complete joke, they were either cancelled or changed at the last moment and those that did proceed were poorly organised. I complained to Judi Buikman the shore excursion manager as she cancelled Northern Lights tours as not dark enough, tidal water phenomenon as it was low tide and a train and snow mobile tour as there was a road incident at 7am and she was worried the bus could not return passenger's back to the ship at 4pm. When I pointed out she failed to do her homework on the excursions, she replied "fair comment". We had arranged dinner reservations prior to sailing for the specialty restaurants but then refused to alter the seating from 2 to 4 persons as we had met new friends. After a sharp conversation with the Hotel Manager and Restaurant Manager this was changed but it should not be this way. The service in the Lounge Bar was very slow if at all, quicker to order drinks at the bar. The evening entertainment was fine for us, either a guitar or piano entertainer. One day the Cruise Director Drew Raitch performed his song book for us, it was embarrassing, the man cannot sing at all so please don't try. Viking Ocean Cruise are a new start-up cruise line (not river cruises) and it shows. The staff are not trained or experienced at ocean cruises and require constant direction from the Officers who themselves require more training. The ship itself was very well maintained but then it is only 2 years old, it is however very noisy when in rough seas and when using the bow thrusters, no pods fitted to this ship. My wife and I really wanted to like Viking as our new "go to" cruise line with different itinerary's but not a chance. Viking are now what the cruise industry was 10 years ago and customers paying premium rates for the top suites and Penthouses demand service. Celebrity have a Butler who takes care of everyday issues such as excursions, dinner reservations, laundry etc. They also have a dedicated restaurant and lounge bar with concierge for suite guests only and unlimited use of the speciality dining rooms. We are so glad we booked Alaska with Celebrity in May and not Viking, we would have been so disappointed. Read Less

My wife has had seeing the Northern Lights as a "Bucket List" item for many years. When Viking Ocean came out with the "In Search of the Northern Lights" cruise I knew it was a must to do. In quick summary, We saw the lights and they were spectacular and the ship/food/crew exceeded our expectations. And yes it was cold. My wife and I are fairly seasoned cruise passengers the last ten years and usually cruise Celebrity "Aqua Class" or Princess "Club" class and find that level of service excellent on those ships. We have travelled Azamara and thought it was even better but it is expensive. This was first time on Viking and I have to say it was excellent with much the same feel and quality of Azamara but newer. Pricing is much like Oceana and Azamara. We were scheduled to pick the ship up in Bergen in late January. We were worried about flight delays so arranged to arrive in Bergen a few days before departure. We stayed at Opus IV and it was great. I would highly recommend it as the it is relative new and in a A-1 location for exploring Bergen. It has a great breakfast Buffet with friendly helpful management. Boarded the ship and headed North. We were in a "D-2" cabin which well laid out with a nice bathroom (Heated floors a definite plus for this trip). The food on the ship was great and varied. Great fish as you would expect being in Norway but the beef was also exceptional. Nicely seasoned and tender for the various cuts. The "Grill" served the best burgers I have ever had at sea. Fresh ground beef or if you wanted, Bison or Turkey or Veggie burgers were avail along with great Hot Dogs or BBQ. All fresh and prepared to order. Several nights they had a seafood buffet on the pool deck with shrimp, crab legs, lagotisnos etc - all you can eat - no charge. Their afternoon tea included besides the 3-tiered platter of goodies, fresh scones and clotted cream....Yum! Most cruises have a "Lobster Night" and serve what I call a Fla Lobster Tail. Always tasty. On Viking they served full Maine Baked Stuffed lobsters or Lobster Thermador. Surf and turf was a highlight not once but twice. So as you can see the food was good. At least on this ship, Viking Sky, everyone was friendly, has a smile and was willing to chat and help in anyway. Most cruises have one or two staff that stands out but on this ship it was almost everyone without exception. As an example, my wife is allergic to gluten. I would say most ships as well as Viking handle this well. In Viking's case, they had a Sr. Officer assigned to those passengers with food needs. He was always present insuring my wife was taken care of and would bring special chief creations that made the trip special for her. We sailed North of the Arctic circle and had, for Mid-January, pretty good weather. No real storms, cold weather (Think zero) and some snow. The two cities on the itinerary that had the highest probability to see the lights was Alta and Tromso. Alta was first but no luck. Tromso was a winner with great lights both nights we were there. Other excursion highlights were snow mobile (Heated handle bars a must), dog sledding (a little scary but terrific) and seeing the Ice Hotel (Amazing). I can't say enough about the cruise as it was very unique and certainly not your average Caribbean cruise. Viking certainly had its act together on this one which means we will definitely use them again. Read Less

Past good experiences and the newness of the ship contributed to our choice. The service is not 6 star and the food is not outstanding. Afternoon tea is well done. The excursions were adequate. The on board lectures were well presented and informative. Our cabin this time was the lowest category. On our first ocean cruise with Viking we had a penthouse category. The service was just average. The value is about average. The Viking cruise experience is in the middle between Holland America and Crystal. The Cunard experience has fallen recently even below Holland America. Viking Ocean cruises offer a carefully curated itinerary, but the excursions are often farmed out to the local guides and coaches; thus, the quality is uncertain. The staff appeared overworked at times. The public rooms and the overall design of the ship are very attractive. The entertainment is average. On the whole, I recommend suite cabins on Holland America, which offer service above and beyond Viking, for about the same cost. Read Less

2 years ago we chose this cruise to followed the path my ancestors( Vikings) took to discover the North American continent. This cruise took us to places that most people will never visit. The cruise introduced us to a world of harsh weather conditions with unique beautiful landscapes, and lots of sheep! We chose a three day extension on the front end of this cruise to explore Iceland. We were put up in an excellent hotel (Hilton) and the included tours, golden circle, blue lagoon and Reykjavík tours allowed us to see many of the top ten sights when visiting Iceland. Flights, transfers were all handled professionally. Next we flew on to Bergen, Norway, our port for embarkation. We were in Bergen two days allowing a complete tour of the local area. The included tour gave us a great view of Bergen. We signed up for an optional tour to go to the top of Mount Floien. This tour was a little disappointing as half of the tour completely overlapped the included tour. We would have better served to have just walked off the ship and to the funicular, bought a ticket and gone to Mount Floien on our own, definitely not worth the extra cost. This was our first Viking Ocean Cruise so being on their ship was a new unique experience. The ship was beautiful throughout with only 900 passengers. Our cabin, a penthouse suite, was very comfortable throughout the cruise. Our cabin staff was absolutely outstanding, we were treated great. The dining options on the ship again were fantastic. Many daily options with changing menus allowed a new dining experience at every meal and the food was fabulous. Again the waiters and waitresses were excellent. We were amazed how they all knew our names by the second day. The specialty restaurants, Manfredi’s and Chef’s Table both had unique menus. Manfredi’s an Italian cuisine had many terrific dishes to choose from. The Chef’s Table was a uniques dining experience with a changing menu every 3 or 4 days. This restaurant was a set five course meal. While unique and things we normally wouldn’t eat the portions were kinda tiny. During the entire cruise multiple educational seminar were offered by four different professors on a full range of Viking and Country specific topics. We found these seminars excellent and made days at sea flow quickly. In addition, the professional entertainment in the evenings far exceeded our expectations. Throughout the cruise we utilized the spa facilities to workout, utilize the saunas and cold room and the hot tubs. We found these excellent. Finally we utilized some spa services and found these enjoyable. During our cruise we found the included tours at each port to be very good. On the Shetland Islands and Faroe Islands we signed up for optional tours to try to see more of these islands while we were there. While these tours (North Shore of the Shetlands) and (The Island of Vagar) on the Faroe were interesting, both of these tours repeated the included tours taken in the morning, so in the future we will be more careful what optional tours we select. On this trip it was just myself and my spouse, no kids, in fact there were no kids on this cruise. Read Less

This was our first cruise on a Viking ocean ship after many cruises on Holland America and several on Oceana and the entire cruise was excellent. Our stateroom on deck 6 was a good size with lots of storage space. The selection of shore excursions was quite good and this was a big concern with us as we have been spoiled with the Holland America shore trips selections over the years. The food is very good and the service was outstanding. We like the concept of no broadway shows, no casinos, and no one under 18 years old. Overall Viking is very well organized for embarkation and extremely well organized on disembarkation. The only issue was the immigration folks in Bergen, Norway who were very slow. Viking uses Bergen as its headquarters we believe so they need to exert influence on the Norway officials. The Viking Sea is a very nice, modern ship and Viking obviously did their homework before launching it. There are lots of nice public areas. Their World Cafe is well organized with very few lines to get served. The other great point compared to other cruise lines is that they don't "nickle and dime" you to death. There is free WiFi, free water when going ashore, free wine and beer with lunch and dinner, no charge for the specialty restaurants, ability to bring a bottle of wine on board from shore trips at no charge, one included shore trip at each port, and wonderful staff. Read Less

We went on the Viking Star to see all the great places we went to. Loved the Viking river cruise we took in 2014, so wanted to try an ocean cruise. Viking is the best in every way: accommodations, excursions, food, service, transfers & crew. We met & dined with many friendly & interesting people from all over the world. The excursions were well organized & the tour guides knowledgeable & friendly as well. Cabins were kept clean daily with replenishment of fridge daily as well. Plenty of room/space with a nice balcony. Room service was a plus & breakfast came promptly at our requested time. Plenty of joices & not limited to breakfast. Even had drinks delivered to our room so we could sit on the balcony & enjoy the view. We had the drink package which is a definite must. Another plus is booking the next cruise while on the ship. You get discounts on both the current cruise & the next one. Also, get extended time to pay for next cruise & can change up to 4 months prior to the cruise. Read Less

We wanted a grand experience to celebrate our 50th wedding annivesary. Ponant certainly delivered on our wishes. Le Laperouse is a gorgeous ship, the crew and staff were professional while also warm and welcoming and the food was outstanding. We had a deluxe suite stateroom which was very comfortable with a walk in closet/dressingroom, lots of storage and all the amenities of a 5 star hotel. Our cabin attendant, Precy, wonderfully attendant we lacked for no thing. The public spaces are beautifully designed with comfortable furnishings and a very airy feel to them. One of our favorites was the Panoramic Lounge on deck 6. Dean took very good care of the passengers and the views were spectacular. We mostly dined in the main diningroom, the food was exceptional. The chef stopped by tables to hear how things were and we were some of his biggest fans. All of the diningroom staff were attentive and again they were personable without being obtusive. The Fjords were why we chose this particular cruise and they are so stunningly beautiful. Our favorite day was spent in the 6th deck lounge watching the scenery pass by as we went deep into the Fjords. Norway is beautiful! We also enjoyed the climb to the Bryggen Glacier and the scenic journey to it. Ponant has made everything so easy and pleasant with the all inclusive pricing for the shipboard experience. We hope to sail with Ponant again soon. Read Less

We just returned from the Viking Homelands cruise on the Viking Sky. It was our first Viking experience. We have become Viking fans and won’t be cruising on other lines if Viking goes where we want to go. Here are some of the things that stood out: • The crew was fabulous. Nothing was too much trouble. Most had university degrees in some hospitality related area. From the Captain on down, they would greet guests in the passageways. I saw a Commander (3 stripes) stop and pick up a tiny piece of paper and put it in the trash. • Attention to detail was amazing. • The food was amazing. Even the buffet, aka World Café, was great. Nothing on the buffet was ever “tired.” Much was made to order, such as pasta dishes, cut to order prime rib, One night we had lobster tail, filet mignon, and prime rib. It was not a free for all like the buffets on other lines. The Restaurant, the main restaurant, was really nice and had great service. • Passengers seemed friendlier. I think that rubbed off of the crew being so friendly. Most other passengers had been on river cruises. (We go next year.) • The organization of everything, from embarkation to excursions, to disembarkation and busses to the airport (airport transfer after disembarkation was included,) was impressive. • Great coffee at the bar in the Living Room on Deck 1. It opened at 6:30am, but if you got there early, Kamdesh, the barista was more than happy to make your favorite drink, which he knew. I’d sit and read the news on my Surface computer and watch him greet passengers by name and make “the usual” for all of them. His memory was uncanny. • The included excursions were very good. I had no idea how beautiful Norway is or how great a city St. Petersburg could be. St. Petersburg should have been a bucket list item. Who knew? Internet was included, but a little slow. 2 Mbs down and a respectable 8 up. We gave entertainment 3 stars, except when the cruise director, Heather, sang, it was amazing. Sara Brightman has nothing on Heather's voice. Amazing. We’re looking forward to next July for the Grand European river cruise. Read Less

My wife and I have long looked forward to doing the 'Viking Homelands Cruise', and were able to do so on the Viking Sky starting on the 18th August 2018. After a somewhat disappointing Cruise on the same ship from Montreal to New York in 2017, we eventually decided that it was worth another try in its own ‘Homeland’ region of the world. Our hopes were validated, and indeed we were thrilled by the whole experience this time. From our welcome aboard in Bergen, to our departure in Stockholm, there were so many pleasant occasions that it was hard to pick a favourite day on the cruise. Our Stateroom, as in the past was excellent, and the service of our stewards, Honey and Aji, was beyond reproach. In addition, Room Service from the ship’s kitchens always appeared at the requested times. The quality of food in multiple locations was of a high standard, and there was such a variety of food offered in each, that it would be hard to imagine anyone but the most fussy being disappointed. My favourite was at Manfredi’s, while my wife always enjoyed lunch in the Explorers Lounge. Cheerful waiters were always nearby with an extra wine or beer. The ‘new’ Sunday Brunch was an exciting occasion. Such a variety of foods in brilliant settings, left you almost overwhelmed, and made it almost impossible to know where to start. I have never seen so many surprised people walking around in awe and wonder at the splendour of the occasion. Our Shore excursions were always well organised, and information sessions the day before were always entertaining and enlightening. We attended most of the ‘included’ tours, and generally enjoyed them, though we found that our interest and enthusiasm was on occasion measured by the local Tour Guides who ranged from excellent to fair. Paid Excursions were well planned and generally excellent, with very sound knowledge and a pleasant delivery by our Guides. As always, the standard of Buses was both consistent and reliable. Entertainment is always a subjective area, where everyone has a different opinion. As Director, Heather Clancy was the gel that made everything work. Her effervescent nature, and approachable personality made you always feel that you were getting a highly professional performance from the various artists. The Viking Sky band, as in the past, proved to be extremely talented, though the four young ‘show’ entertainers needed a little more experience, but were so enthusiastic, you could not fail to feel their drive and vitality. Their stature will grow with time, while their stagecraft was very professional. Our Captain could be seen around the ship, and was both approachable and sensible in the way he thought of his passengers and crew. This was indeed a rewarding experience, and credit must go to all on the Viking Sky for presenting such an improved benchmark of efficiency. Read Less

The ship & crew were wonderful. The ship was beautiful. There were many places to sit & relax. Our cabin was outstanding, loved all the room & views. The dining experience was unique with a great deal of variety. The captain made sure we were aware of unusual & special sights, moved the ship as close as possible to a Waterfall & over all was the most smooth journey. The entertainment was great. We wanted to dance in the aisles. The shore excursions were interesting. The embarkation & disembaration was effortless. Everyday, the crew made sure you were aware of where we were & the important points of interest. The crew was so caring & professional. Loved the whole experience.Have recommended this trip to everyone. Will travel on Viking again & again. Please keep the ship small & personable. We loved our days in St. Petersburg. Our guide was the best. Read Less

We were interested in the ports in the itinerary (several in Noreay, Denmark, Germany, Poland, St. Petersburg Russia, Estonia, and Sweden) and we had gotten a great recommendation from friends on the quality of the Viking Ocean cruises. We particularly enjoyed the several stops in Norway. Other highlights: Helsinki was lovely. We visited the Stutthof Concentration Camp near Gdańsk, Poland. St. Petersburg was absolutely amazing. Excursions were well run, and the local guides were terrific. We enjoyed dining options aboard the ship, none with an extra cost. There is 24 hour room service available, also at no charge. Free internet worked well throughout the ship. Viking also provides free internet to the crew, unlike other cruise lines, which allows them to stay in touch with family during time away from home. The crew were all terrific, and provided a high level of service. Common areas were expansive and never crowded. We enjoyed our trip so much that we have booked another Viking cruise for next year. Read Less

A number of our group had been on a Viking river cruise and had enjoyed it so much they recommended we do the Viking Homelands (Baltic) Cruise. A great suggestion and choice for 16 friends. As our first cruise this cruise turned out to be beyond expectation and an unforgettable experience. The service, amenities and shore excursions were excellent. The food was amazing and the Viking entertainment top class. We were treated like VIPs during the duration of the cruise. The state room we had on deck three was very well appointed and extremely comfortable. The ports and countries visited were really well chosen and we thoroughly enjoyed our visits to each one. The trip to Berlin with the Viking train was amazing and on returning we experienced a poolside party and entertainment. The ship also put on a Sunday brunch which again was a culinary experience. There were many memories with the splendour of St. Petersburg, magical Bergen and Eidfjord in Norway, just to mention but a few. Thank you to the Captain and crew of the Viking Sky. In naval terms a very well run ship. As a result of our first Viking experience, we have booked our Oberammergau 2020 River Cruise and a 2021, 21 day Mediterranean Cruise, with Viking. Read Less

Viking really knows how to delight their customers. This British Isles Cruise was a bit of heaven on earth. Cabins and amenities are excellent and all personnel are more than accommodating with a solution to most any situation in which you find yourself. Food was excellent in variety and quality. Especially like being able to go to specialty restaurants free of charge. Wines were very good and as much as you want with your dinners. Shore excursions were interesting and enriching with multiple options selection of ports was also fantastic and many are a part not normally included in British Isles excursions. Entertainment onboard was also very good and relatable to the average age on board. Spa amenities are also really luxurious and great. I especially loved the Explorer’s Lounge for viewing coming in to and leaving ports. Launderettes were also a little welcome luxury. Wish I could have stayed another week 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

We chose this Cruise to travel with another couple and made the reservation over a year ahead. The quality of ship, crew, services and experiences was exceptional. We enjoyed the amenities of the ship and quality of the design of the ship. Our prior experience with Viking has been on European River Cruises. The ability of us to be on the same tour bus was not able to be accommodated consistently.. Many times, much to our frustration, we found that we were assigned different busses for a given tour. We found some local guides were much better than others. Uneven utilization of audio devices was disconcerting as some guides said they had requested one but had been denied. We wish that they would not fill the tenders to capacity when shuttling for tours. More trips with less crowding would be much better. We found the internet connection speeds to be inconsistent. I would think this should be able to be improved. We particularly enjoyed Luis on the guitar and Dr. Lori talking about Viking history. Read Less

I wanted to see my homeland of Scotland and Ireland. With the highlight of the trip being two days in London. We pre-toured in Oslo with a train ride to Bergin, fantastic. We finished the cruise with three days in Edenborough, again a fantastic stay. The tours from the ship were not of the caliper of previous voyages with Viking. We were driven by museums and castles, and told that if we had more time we could go in. For a few dollars more tickets to castles and museums could have been purchased and that cost past on to the consumer (me) as part of the cost of the cruise. The crew was fantastic, I am amazed that they can remember the names of all the customers. On our first night in the Restaurant, out server introduced herself and then responded that she had met us before. She was correct, she was working on our previous cruise. To myself and other guests that I spoke to, a big disappointment was planning on two days in London. We were hoping to see the sights and felt cheated that London (Greenwich) was only a convenient Disembarkation / Embarkation point that the customer only had a few hours to visit. Embarkation left a lot to be desired, too many buses going to the airport for the transition to Edinburgh, and to many flights to the next destination. The Viking Travel people did not include a baggage allowance for the flight, we and other customers had to pay the fee out of pocket. Recommendation: Make the ride to the airport a city tour, explain what we are seeing and take a roult that would allow the customers to at least see London if not able to experience London. Instead of using the airlines, send the customer from London to Edinburgh by train, it would have been a 3 hour trip, we would have seen the country and Viking could have reserved an entire car. The Viking Air people on this trip did not seam to be engaged in the product Viking was selling. Twice I had to contact them to issue tickets from London for the extention in Edenburgh. I am looking forward to a river cruise in 2020, not sure if I will due another ocean cruise. Read Less

The time of year is perfect for us. The food was the best I've had on any cruise. Delicious soup. Sea food was outstanding: sushi, crab, shell fish, salmon, etc. And this was nightly fare on the 7th deck. The specialty restaurants are overrated. They tried too hard. Food was better in the main restaurant and the 7th floor. The Explorer Lounge was a treat at any time of day. High Tea was very satisfying. Ship size is perfect. Closest to Holland American than any other that line I've been on. Shore excursions were adequate. Guides were indifferent; some were good, only a few were outstanding, but the good ones were surperlative. But the excursions were uniformly satisfactory. Music was balanced. The trio improved the more they played together. Service was tops, rivaled only by the River Cruise in China. Superior to River Cruise oin Germany. Room service was punctual and complete. Laundry self-service was most convenient. Booked our next cruise while on board the Viking Sun. Read Less

Unpacking once and being able to experience multiple ports of calls by simply stepping off the ship was wonderful. The food overall was delicious and we had many choices of cuisine and restaurants. . It was fun to taste the local cuisine at lunch and dinner in each port of call. The guides were so knowledgeable and having the Port talks and Q&As helped tremendously. It enabled the experience of the historical sites to be all we hoped they would be. The Cruise Director gave us little tops for each stop. My favorite spot Eidfjord,Norway, was beyond spectacular as we viewed it from our balcony at sunrise. It had been a life long dream to see the Fjords and it surpassed all of my expectations.The most wonderful part overall was the total relaxation on this beautiful luxurious ship. There was nothing you could want for, from the throw blankets everywhere to the popcorn and movies at night to be taken care of at every moment by a very efficient, friendly crew. Read Less

We sailed with the Viking Sea from London to Britain and then to the multiple Fjords in Norway. We were very impressed with everything Viking. Everything from embarkation to post cruise tour to Iceland went exceptionally well. It took us a few days to get used to the quality of service we experienced. Everytime we took a shower, our steward would come in when we left and clean the entire bathroom and place all new towels. Every time we messed up our bed linen the sheets were always straightened and changed if needed. The food service in all Dining options was exceptional. At the start of our trip we thought we would want to have special dinners in the Restaurant or Manfredi's or at The Chef's Table. However, we ended up eating most often at The World Cafe "buffet" area, as the food was incredible. I love seafood, and there were always, crab legs and shrimp and sea bass or so many other delightful options. My husband and our friends we were with, also always found their favorites with so many options from salads to pizza to Prime rib to steaks or lamb. The service was great everywhere and even at the buffet after making our choices the servers still brought us wines and coffee's and bread or anything we requested. Everyone treated us like we were family. Loved It!!! The entertainment was all done by staff, from the Director to the assistant Director to other servers and staff. We were tremendously impressed by the talent that we were treated to. Viking knew the audience and played to them with Elvis Presley impressionist and many other awesome shows. Amazing. We also enjoyed the evening bar singers and that atmosphere. Our ship was so impressive and spotless! The infinity pool off the front deck was awesome and the pool on the top deck was perfectly heated. On the evening of the Midnight sun we were able to see the sun go down and come back up within two minutes on the same spot! The most impressive was the nature around us, such as the Sisters Falls and the hugh troll face carved into the side of the mountain. We enjoyed and excursion everday and always were totally impressed not only with nature but also with the preparations that Viking had made that made every trip PERFECT!!! We participated in the Iceland Excursion and was so impressive. Wow! Four days where we saw Geysers that erupted every 5 minutes to a Volcano crater we walked around, and a Hugh water fall with a salmon latter, as well as swimminng in the Blue Lagoon and having a facial with the mineral's found in the Lagoon. Writing about all of this makes me want to do it all over again. Absolute Perfection all the way around!!! You may think that because this review is so good that I am just a positive person. This is not quite true as people who know me know my opinion needs to be well earned. This one was! Read Less

My husband has always wanted to see The Hermitage in St. Petersburg, Russia. We have never cruised before, and when our friend said she found the perfect cruise for us that included Russia, we said ok. We started booking this cruise through a good friend Kathy Geremia (Bullfrog Travel) two years in advance, and had no idea what it would be like. We traveled to Bergen a day in advance of August 7th, and when we took a walk to the port where The Viking Sea was docked we were speechless at its size! The next day we boarded this ship, and everyday for 14 days, the experience took our breath away and exceeded our every expectation. The Viking Sea is a 5 star floating hotel, with 400 staff who work to make everyday on board a wonderful experience. The 7 different restaurants are all excellent in their own way, and we were never disappointed at the quality of the food or the excellent service in each one. I have many food allergies and food sensitivities and from day one the staff knew of them all and prepared food that was incredible, and kept me from any dietary problems! All of our excursions were run with precise timing (especially since they were moving 930 people around daily) and the guides were very informative. The staff on this cruise was exceptional! They knew our names, always had a smile, and nice things to say to each guest. They made everyone feel special. Everyone worked hard to make this cruise wonderful for everyone on board. We set the bar extremely high for our first cruise, and will highly recommend this Viking Ocean cruise. It truly was the trip of a lifetime! Thank you Viking for creating wonderful memories for my husband and I. Read Less