We chose this cruise because we had never been to Japan. We would have appreciated more lectures and information in depth about the places we visited. The excursions were satisfactory, but they were very crowded with 30 plus people on the bus and some of the guides were difficult to understand. Some of the excursions were quite expensive and the included excursions tended to be good except that they were crowded. One guest lecturer was excellent, and one rather repeated the first lecturer. I would have appreciated more lectures. The entertainment was good in most cases, except for one vocalist. Our stateroom was lovely, and very comfortable. Our room attendant was excellent. The wine offered was of very low quality. The pool and spa area were terrific, as was the fitness center. Manfredi's was a very good choice for dining. The laundry service was excellent and very appreciated. I would not recommend going to Japan in September, as it was very humid and hot. Read Less

This was my third trip with Viking, and my first Ocean cruise. I loved everything! The shore excursions were great, well-organized, a variety of lengths and sites, friendly, knowledgeable and fun tour guides. The ship was beautiful and meticulously cared for. The LivNordic Spa was our favorite place on board to relax. The ship offered a wide range of dining options from the World Café (buffet) up to elegant Chef's Table and Manfredi's Italian Restaurant. One day while at sea, I registered for a cooking class and had a great time, assisting in preparation of a 3 course Italian meal, which we then shared as our small group lunch. The staff was very professional and caring and made the effort to learn our names and treat as very personally as their own guests. This trip was my gift to my 23-year old daughter for her college graduation, and even though she was one of the very few young people on board, she loved everything about the trip. Read Less

Having been on several river cruises with Viking which we love doing, we thought we’d book an Ocean cruise with Viking for our ruby wedding anniversaries. . We were a bit frustrated before going on the cruise owing to the system in place for booking trips. Seemed to be class driven. I.e. the more you paid the better the choice. We couldn’t book a morning trip on all the included trips and some of the paid trips. In fact some of the trips we had booked paid or otherwise were changed by the time we got on board. We had to faff about getting them organised to suit. Wasn’t too much of a problem but we felt the poor girl on guest services must have dreaded seeing us coming towards her. The excursions were good but the qv’s were a disaster. The guides were knowledgeable and fun on the coach but unless you were on their shoulders you couldn’t hear anything, too much static. The excursions were extremely busy too. Had a wonderful cruise on board the Orion. Great cabin, crew, and entertainment. Captain made a good choice by sailing to our second port of call to miss the typhoon that hit Tokyo. All the ports of call were superb but must say Taipei and Hong Kong were favourites. The food was good too but I felt this was the only thing that let you down. The temperature for me was warm as opposed to being hot. Some of the dishes in the world buffet for example the main roast of the day was served very rare. Not good. Some of the meals in the pool area were cooked to order but it was so hot in there that the “sides” were sitting out in all that heat so not too appetising at all. I had a chicken tikka and it was literally skin and bones. Yuk. Don’t get me wrong the chefs would cook you anything asked for which was great and hot but the sides were cool. The seafood dishes and sushi were all fantastic, they were served cold just as they should’ve. The restaurant was disappointing too it was cold in some of the areas and the food was served lukewarm at breakfast and dinner. Service was good at breakfast but a lot slower at dinner. We asked for a Sauvignon Blanc only to be told there wasn’t any so had a different wine which was nice too as is all the wines on offer but disappointed with not getting what we asked for especially when we got it later on in the bar. Enjoyed movies under the stars. The waiter guys up in explorers lounge were fabulous. Robin the whale and dolphin man was lovely. Even though we didn’t see too many whales or dolphins. The doctor was a fun chap. Something else!! This was a special cruise for our ruby wedding anniversaries and overall we did enjoy ourselves but would have to think again before booking a Viking ocean cruise. I don’t feel the experience we’ve had on the river boats have carried well on to the Ocean cruise ships. We maybe expected too much. Read Less

We had one of the best cabin attendants ever on Viking cruises. Lectures were not as good as previous cruises. Limited activities during sea days. Ongoing ship information by the captain very good considering typhoon in area. Embark and disembark very organized and quick. Music by individual piano, violin, and guitar very enjoyable late day and evening. Selected night entertainers very good. . . . .don't need the large group stage shows. Excursions guides very good, well organized leaving and return on time. Site visits excellent and informative even with limited time frame. Would like to have more time in Nagasaki. Speaker at the library was excellent even with interpreters assisting. Hong Kong excursion to Aberdeen was outstanding and a great guide for information provided, managing the group, time at each stop, and general fun to be with on bus. Departure to Hong Kong airport managed very well considering possible protestor problems Read Less

We normally cruise with Silversea, but with all the positive hype surrounding Viking Ocean and River cruising we decided it would be worth further investigation and financial commitment to cruise with this line. We joined this cruise on Viking Orion in Tokyo Bay, Japan. Embarkation went fairly smoothly although there was a snaking embarkation line, which is something we are not used to. Furthermore, despite adding our credit card details prior to embarkation we were asked to produce the card. The staff then proceeded to try and add it to our shipboard account which was already populated with our credit card detail. So much for the statement in the ‘My Viking” Cruise app, ‘Registering your credit card details will save time at embarkation’ Clearly it doesn’t. We eventually made it to our stateroom, PV1 category, which to be fair was a pleasant enough environment, but we couldn’t help but compare to our previous Silversea staterooms, a No contest decision was made in favour of Silversea. Never the less we settled in, with the expectation that it would be a fabulous cruise. Let’s start with Food and drink. With the exception of one meal in a 14 day voyage it was the worst food we have ever encountered on any cruise line. (P&O ,Cunard, Silversea) There seems to be a problem in terms of variety in the World Cafe or main restaurant , but the most annoying trait was that no matter at what time you dined, breakfast, lunch, dinner, the food was NEVER hot. It was always luke warm, tasteless and totally uninteresting. In the World Cafe, it didn’t help that the plates were stored underneath the counter and not warmed prior to use, that together with the ships A/C ensured luke warm food, rapidly transitioning to cold, unless you were prepared to eat quickly and risk indigestion. We did discuss the issue with a staff member who said that he would raise it with management. No management came forward although the staff member concerned asked every time we saw him ‘is everything okay today?’ I agree with another subscribers post who describes the meals as fit for ‘homes-for-the-aged’, however, it is only fit if you want to upset the residence! Whilst cruising though the ports in Japan and Taiwan, I was trying to find a way to sum up the ship, and the only thing I could say is Viking Orion has ‘No Heart’. There is absolutely no vibe/atmosphere to Viking Orion . This in my view has got be due to a number of restaurants and bars closing at at around 9pm. There is no central point to which guest naturally gravitate towards. There is however 24hr room service available to all. As part of our pre-cruise arrangements we booked a table for two at Manfredi’s 70 days before departure. We presented ourselves to the maitre d’ , at the appointed time/date only to be told that there was only a table for 6 available. It just so happened that there were another group of four waiting for their table. We all told him that it was unacceptable, he promptly told us that there had been an ‘ upsurge’ in guests presenting without a booking. So, from my perspective what’s the point in booking a stateroom with early restaurant and tour booking privileges only to be told there was no availability at the times previously booked. Our displeasure was clear, and he surprisingly found us a nice table for 2 by the window, and a table for 4 for the other guests, sorted.!! Then there was my birthday. Two days after boarding, my good lady had ordered a cake ( at no cost) at guest services, asking for it to be presented at the conclusion of the meal at Manfredi’s restaurant, some 10 days later. No cake appeared, we waited and waited and we could still be waiting now. Perhaps we should have asked you are thinking, it was a surprise says I. In any event on any other cruise line if guests have requested cakes etc they are usually delivered at the conclusion of the meal and then sent to the stateroom together with cutlery/plates/napkins , just in case the requesting guests were full from the meal. You guessed it, no cake or any enquiry from staff as to if we wanted it. Where there any positives coming out from this cruise? Yes, it taught us not to believe the hype from self proclaimed experts or cruise awards. The proof of the pudding is etc etc, except this pudding is rather an expensive disaster. The waiting staff did their best, but are clearly in need of refresher or new training as the service message isn’t getting home. At some of the bars, the bar staff had difficulty preparing the advertised cocktail Pina Colda,. In one instance, I have no idea what was presented but it wasn’t Pina Colada, and it also depended on which bar you went too. Some bars had neither the ingredients or equipment or as I strongly suspect the staff don’t possess the skill base to prepare it. To be fair, when this did occur the staff did offer to go to another bar to collect the drink. Our stateroom steward was however well trained and hard working, and provided excellent service, I have no complaints there. The included tours around the destination ports were well run and gave just a flavour of the ports visited. Viking Orion is a nicely deigned ship with tasteful furnishings, but the layout and restaurant/bar opening / closing timetables do not in my view facilitate social interactions. And just to add one more issue, as I am sure you, the reader will becoming bored of this post, but please stick with me as it serves as a warning to those who disembark on private arrangements and aren’t able bodied. We had decided months before we even set foot on the ship that we were going to disembark a day early when the ship docked in our favourite port Hong Kong. We had been there many times before and didn’t want to take advantage of any of the included excursions. We had always had a desire to stay at the Peninsula on our bucket list so decided to use the opportunity to stay just for one night. I wrote to Viking in London to advise of this fact, they told me that it wouldn’t be a problem and they would advise the ship in due course so that disembarkation matters could be dealt with appropriately. We also told the ships customer relations a week prior to disembarkation, again no problem. Unfortunately, I had hurt my back about 3 days prior to leaving the ship, so I was in no fit state to move/lift luggage, which included 6 cases, comprising of 2 large, 2 medium and 2 airline carry-on. The staff at guest services were aware of this issue. As Viking knew we were disembarking early, I mistakenly believed that the ships land agent would be arranging porterage....wrong again. The ships crew informed us that they were only allowed to take the cases as far as the ship side gang plank and we would have to do the rest! I am not going to labour the point here, but 4 able bodied staff watched as my good lady struggled with two cases off the ship; only for the help of passengers returning to the ship were we able to disembark with the remaining 4 cases with any dignity or further injury. It will be pretty obvious to you reader, that we will never cruise with Viking again, and will be sticking with Silversea, our next cruise being on Silver Moon in October 2020. I note that Viking Cruises, Community Team right to reply has been busy on a recent posting asking the contributor (Rileyprime) to speak to management during an ongoing cruise. The point here is that guests should not have to go to management complaining of fundamental housekeeping / food /drink requirements on a cruise. It’s managements job to know what’s going on, that’s one of their role requirements, not to mention that cruising is a service based industry and should be customer focused at all times. For the record, I rarely complain about anything, however this cruise has really pushed the wrong buttons. I am sure that there are a lot of positive comments surrounding Vikings service delivery, but you are only as good as your last goal, and from our perspective Viking Ocean has failed across so many areas of customer care. Shame on you Viking. Read Less

First of all, this idiot company planned an itinerary which would have brought us to a Korean port on a national Korean Holliday, something that should have been known well in advance. Then after paying for the voyage and the refund deadline passing, they tell the paid up passengers that the only Korean port is cancelled because it falls on a Korean National Holliday. How was this not known in advance? Why wait till everyone is paid up and then announce the itinerary change? Next, the food is the worst I’ve ever had at sea. Everything is unseasoned and cooked to death, ostensibly to please the many Australian/British passengers. The blandest food I have ever tasted - we’re talking “home-for-the-aged quality”. No herbs, no spice, no salt. It’s like they have a flavor extractor in the kitchen. Canned cat food would probably have more flavor. Deserts are hideous gelatin and cornstarch monstrosities - for example: we’re talking custard that is so rubbery you can take a spoonful, bang it facedown on a plate, and the custard bounces back without a dent — total over-gelatined rubber. Towels in the bathroom on this new ship are like sandpaper. How do you even find towels like that? The room is nicely appointed and modern. The staff seems nice enough, but are forgetful and disorganized. I would be asked 4 times by 4 different people if I’d like something to drink then watch all the tables seated after me get served while I’m ignored and have to get up ad go to the service area to get my own coke or water. Need silverware! Plan on getting that for yourself too. This happened multiple times during the first 5 days. I’ve got over a week to go with this terrible food and bad service. Worst cruise decision in 30 years of cruising. Carnival would have even been better. How did viking make the best cruise line list? Read Less

This cruise, "Far Eastern Horizens", was chosen as a logical extension of "North Pacific Passage", from Vancouver to Tokyo, where Viking kindly upgraded us to a forward Explorer Suite. Because we booked (a fully paid for Explorer Suite this time) some time after booking "North Pacific Passage", it was necessary to move to that Suite, being 3095, sitting aft starboard for this second cruise. The Orion staff, across all departments, is by far the most efficient, friendly and courteous team we have encountered in our thirteen cruises to date. We have sailed with Seabourn, Silversea, Oceania and Norwegian. "North Pacific Passage" was our first Viking cruise. Orion is a sleek, sophisticated vessel, enhanced by its generous and comfortable public spaces, and understated, soothing and elegant nordic decor. The entertainment was delightful: classical musicians, witty comedians and gifted vocalists. The enrichment lectures were articulately delivered, and although we did not get around to attending every single lecture, those we did were enjoyable and informative. Desk services staff were so helpful and attentive. The food, overall, was enjoyable, if not a little too salty, and some dishes were among the best we had tasted in their category. Unfortunately, Oceania deserves its reputation for the best cuisine at sea, and it is impossible not to compare Viking's fare with Oceania's cuisine. Many guests we chatted to on Orion had also experienced Oceania's offerings, and all, to a person, agreed that although there is nothing at all wrong with Viking's menus and plated servings, it falls well short of Oceania's standard. Having said all that, would we rebook Viking? Yes. Read Less

This was our 14th cruise with Viking (9 river, 5 ocean). So, obviously, we have been very happy with them. We have come to expect beautiful ships and helpful polite staff and this trip certainly lived up to our expectations in those areas. Our cabin stewards and the waiters were hard working and cheerful. I love the sleek style of the ships. Our tour, "Far East Explorations" was actually 2 cruises. The first 2 weeks, "Far East Horizons" was an uneven experience. The second 2 weeks, "Far East Discovery" was much better. Full disclosure: We complained to Viking about 4 excursions after we returned home and they gave us shipboard credit for a future cruise equal to the cost of the tours. What could not be remedied, though, is the precious time that we wasted on these tours when we could have spent our time seeing other sights. From the start, the first part of the trip felt poorly organized. As someone else noted, they scheduled a stop in Korea on a national holiday. Of course, eventually they realized this and notified us of a change in the itinerary, but wouldn't you think they would know about this before they set up the cruise? They also notified us before the cruise that an excursion we had selected had been cancelled "for operational reasons" and that the order of 2 ports was being switched. The "Ultimate Hiroshima" tour took us to Miyajima to see the floating tori gate. It is being renovated and is covered up. This started in June and will likely continue for 2 years. I see in Viking's listings that they are still offering this excursion. (See photo) Be aware that you cannot see the gate. On the "Shimabara and Mt. Unzen" tour, we were driven about 2 hours from Nagasaki. The description we were given mentioned things we did not see at all, such as "beautiful carp streams and traditional teahouses." But the worst part was the hot springs. The description said "You can enjoy a dip at the nearest ryokan," but when the excursion director saw us heading to the outing with towels, he said there would be no time for that. The hot springs were mostly empty. What was visible was pipes carrying the hot water to nearby hotels and spas. (See photos) The "Hong Kong After Dark" tour started at 4:15 p.m.! It. Was. Not. Dark!!!! I don't know why so much went wrong on this part of the trip. It is not what we expect from Viking. I rated the fitness & recreation poor because the hot tub was broken 3 of the 4 times I tried to use it. Read Less

The overall experience with Viking Ocean Cruise was excellent. Having been on other ocean cruise lines, we appreciated the laid back but elegant atmosphere of Viking Orion. The service was also very good - everyone wanted to be as helpful as possible. Things that could use a little improvement included the logistics of getting from the airport to the ship. There seemed to be a little more chaos then we experienced with our River Cruise transfers. In addition, it was unseasonably hot during the trip and we had some difficulty getting cold water sometimes in the World Cafe (one of the ice machines was broken) and in the pool area / Winter Garden finding someone to bring us water. That said, for the excursions, we were always provided with bottled water and encouraged to stay hydrated. Our cabin stewards we wonderful, as were all the bar and dining staff. We particularly enjoyed the food at the Chef's Table with the wine pairings. We indulged in the Silver Spirits package and were very happy with that. The excursion guides were all outstanding, providing comprehensive information on geography, history and culture. We did several of the included tours and thought they were quite good, especially Hong Kong. We were very impressed with our Viking Ocean cruise and would definitely use Viking again. Read Less

The best cruise we’ve been on so.. The entertainment was first rate especially the Viking Oaseas band and singers. We danced away the evening virtually every night. The specialty restaurants are included without extra charge. The Chefs Table had great local cuisine with a menu change every three days. The new observation deck included some interesting shows, our favorite was the Artic sky. The area around the pool deck was spacious and with only 950 passengers on board it was rarely crowded even on sea days. The roof was convertible so if the weather permitted it was open Port days were interesting and well planned lines to enter or leave the ship were nonexistent unless you came back late. One of the best features you can chose between included and optional tours the seaplane ride was one of our favorites An amazing feature was the spa area it included a heated indoor soaking pool,a hot tub, sauna and freezer room. If that wasn’t enough of a shock try the ice cold bucket of water. Exercise facilities were state of the art and rarely packed. Viking as always had interesting learning discussions on various topics of interest. No children on board made for relaxing peaceful voyage Crew members always had a smile and greeting for you. All this and more wine and beer supplied at meals with no extra charge. Best of all no surprise bills at the end of cruise All in all by far the best cruise we have ever been on Read Less

We are in our mid fifties, very active, and chose this 23 day cruise because of the itinerary. It is a repositioning cruise, with 9 sea days. I was a bit nervous that I'd be bored during the sea days. In fact, I wish we'd had more of them! The ship is beautiful. There are relaxing places to hide away, yet plenty of activities if you wish to be social. Make sure to do your research about the ship's facilities so you don't miss out on the many pleasures. So many people I spoke to had no idea the Nordic spa facilities existed - such a fabulous place and totally free of charge. Viking Orion caters for people who are intellectually curious, prefer reading books to gambling, and like a relaxed ambiance. The 7 lecturers on this cruise gave stimulating insights into geopolitics, nature, history, astronomy, art, and space travel. They made our sea days special. We particularly enjoyed Dr Jeffrey Hoffman, an ex NASA astronaut, who gave awe inspiring talks on his role with NASA, Hubble telescope, Mars exploration, and effects of space travel on the human body. Given that we were travelling the Pacific Ring of Fire, it might have been interesting to have had some talks about local Volcanoes, geology etc. Other daytime activities include Trivia ( great way to meet other people, we had several Trivia team Dinners), Bridge lessons, Dancing lessons, bean bag challenge, craft group, plus usual mini golf, shuffle board etc. The gym was well patronised. All the dining venues on the ship are excellent. The World Cafe is the buffet. It was occasionally crowded, but not like other ships. Sushi and crab legs are served in the evenings, but not on both sides of the buffet. Lots of variety, with some of the main restaurant items also turning up in the buffet ( not as prettily presented tho'). Breakfast was similar most days, but plenty of choice. Both speciality restaurants are free of charge. Although we were only able to make one reservation for each restaurant prior to the cruise, once you are on board you can basically go as many times as you wish, depending on availability. Booking through the cabin TV system is easy. Manfred's is Italian, with generous portions. Nobody minds if you have 2 starters, half portions of main courses ( steaks are large), or 3 desserts! Just ask. The Chefs table offers a 5 course degustation. The set menus change every 3 days. Portions are smaller, but still filling. We initially found the frequent details given by staff about the food and wine a bit fussy. Once you work out this restaurant is all about trying different flavours, textures, and seeing what works for you, then it becomes a food adventure. We went 5 times. The Restaurant offers plenty of choice, and is a great way to control food intake (unlike the buffet where you can easily scoff too much). Lots of tables for 2, or option to share with others. On sea days there were often themed lunches on the pool deck. My only complaint is that there is no food service between 2.30 - 4pm except for the Pool grill (or room service). This caused some lengthy waits at the pool grill when tours ended just after 2.30pm. Viking could consider opening Mamsens between these hours. We used the Fitness centre every other day. Its clean and spacious, with up to date equipment. The Pilates classes were very beneficial. Lily, our instructor, pushed us hard, and everyone kept coming back for more! Each Pilates session cost $10 . There are also Yoga and Aqua aerobics classes. The Nordic Spa was the quietest, most relaxing part of the ship. Incredible facilities - Steam room, snow grotto, Thalassotherapy pool, heated tile beds etc. Even a spin dryer to wring out your swimming costume. The Spa manager can give you a tour and show you how to use the facilities. You pay a fortune on other ships for this - here its free. Evening entertainment was varied. Our Cruise Director David, was extremely professional, with a great sense of humour. At least 6 guest entertainers were brought on board, each doing 2 shows. Ventriloquist, Don Bryan was a standout. The 4 Viking singers did 3 Musical Shows ( Abba, Beatle, and Motown). These shows are a medley of themed songs, and though very enthusiastically performed by the 4 talented singers, were not particularly entertaining ( however, lots of other guests loved the shows). The Viking Band were excellent, and when joined in Torshavn by vocalists Speedy and Kristelle, the party definitely started! The group assessed the demographic carefully, so a lot of 60's and 70s hits were played, along with some disco. The most modern hit was 'Uptown Funk'. The band really made a huge effort to please everybody - Thanks guys! The Pool Deck dance party was also well attended and fun. We purchased the Silver Spirits beverage package which was good value, especially with all the sea days. Bar staff were prompt, friendly, and willing to go the extra mile to get favourite drinks. Special mention to Ivan, for his wicked Gin cocktails. The staff have great customer service skills, even with those occasional guests who don't know how to say 'please' and 'Thank you'. Quality of service during the cruise was excellent. We did a mixture of included and optional tour excursions. The excursion Director gave realistic descriptions of the tours after the Port talks (these can also be watched on the room TV). Russia was more basic because of the remoteness of the area and because tourism is underdeveloped in the region visited. Everyone was given realistic expectations for remoter parts of Alaska and Russia ( and still some people whinged!) . The optional tour standouts for us were the "Alaskan Glaciers by helicopter' in Valdez, and Zip Lining in Ketchikan. Dutch Harbour had no organised tours, but turned out to be a hidden treasure. There were shuttle buses to town, stopping at a couple of small but fascinating museums. We learned about the Japanese bombing of Dutch harbour, and the terrible displacement of the Aleut people of the region. We then climbed Mt Ballyhoo and found the ruins of the WW2 defences, along with spectacular views. I would recommend Viking start grading their larger tours into fast, medium or slow walking groups. This works well on the river cruises, and allows for less able-bodied folks to mobilise safely, and for energetic passengers to see and do more. The cruise was excellent - look forward to sailing with Viking again, and would recommend this itinerary to those wanting a mixture of relaxation, education, and amazing scenery. Read Less

An outstanding cruise which combines a repositioning with multi country/culture adventure. Seeing Alaska, Russia and Japan all while gaining extra sleep every other day made this relaxing. This ship (like all the Viking cruise ship) is as near perfect as you can get. Comfort, food, service, public spaces, what’s included and what’s not ( no casino, kids, photos, auctions, crowds, etc) makes it a top cruise line. The entertainment was very good and varied as they pick-up up new entertainers all along the 22 days. But the talks were the best. Especially the NASA mission specialist / astronaut who took 5 trips into earth orbit and worked on the Hubble telescope. The planetarium was a nice change but needs better shows. Specialty restaurants were outstanding. We ate there many times but also loved the dining room. There were many nationalities represented on the cruise with the majority being Australians the Americans. Read Less

Great experiences previously with Viking River Cruises and wanted to try their ocean small ships. This ship was 4 times larger than the Viking longships, but we never felt crowded. There were so many places to find a quiet spot to hang out, it felt like a private resort. Spa was excellent with full use of hydro therapy circuit at no additional charge. Food was excellent. Never had to wait for anything with open seating. Main dining room was large and fairly noisy. We we traveling as a group of nine and found the World Cafe buffet dining to be more than suitable for our group. Infinite choices, never rushed, attentive service by staff at all times. Explorers Lounge on top deck was wonderful place to sit and have a snack/drink at any time of day. Never crowded. All staff were excellent. Never without a smile on their face and showed true desire to meet your needs. Including the captain who was happy to stop and talk while walking his rounds on deck. We loved the experience and have already booked our 2020 Viking cruise from Bali to Sidney. Can't wait to go! Read Less

The Viking name has been synonymous with excellence. We were so happy when they announced they were sailing in Alaska. It was our dream come true! This was a special cruise for my husband’s 70th and his retirement. Everything and everyone on this ship exceeded our expectations. The twice a day housecleaning made it that more special. The dining was easy and never included lines for buffet and we always got into the Restaurant with a group of six. We appreciate that Viking ocean cruises require passengers to be 18 or older. Our one included shore excursion at Icy Strait was not of the caliber that I expected. High school students performing a story was sweet but wasn’t what was described in material. We did enjoy the nightly entertainment and noticed all the entertainers participated almost every morning in the disembarkation and return to ship by handing out water, towels etc. I can’t wait to go on another cruise. Hopefully we will be in France river cruise in two years. Read Less

We were very well taken care by the staff. Enjoyed the ports that we stopped. Great food available at all dining locations. The cabins were clean and neat, The cabin steward was friendly and called us by name the first day.He quickly learned our routine and had our cabin cleaned and ready for us. Enjoyed the smaller cruise ship, because you got to know the other guests and seemed that you didn't have to rush to an event. It was wonderful to have an included tour of each port. After taking the city tour, later you you could go back to something that interested you. The only area that we felt needed was in the selection of extra tours. Because of the way these tours are assigned most of the tours are sold out before we were able to any of the tours. The process of assigning these tour by the among of money you spent for cabin. We have been a loyal guest of Viking for several trips and have two more scheduled this year, we feel that Viking could use the date the cruise was booked as fair system to assign these extar tours. Read Less

The ship was immaculate, the food was superb, the spa was wonderful and the service without parallel! So nice to have free drinks and spa! Loved the pure water in my room every day! The special restaurants were wonderful and we dined there more than once without a fee each time! The staff was very friendly and made a point to learn our names. The food was much better than the other 3 cruise lines we’ve been on. MUCH Having free on demand television with current movies and some of our favorite television programs like NCIS (all 3) was also a nice touch! They gave us a shore excursion at every port, it is nice to have but some were less than exciting and you still pay for anything decent. I was afraid I’d miss the entertainment as we have done many Disney cruises but we found plenty to do and the entertainment that was provided was excellent, we especially enjoyed the classical musicians. Read Less

We Carefully Choose viking Orion for our Alaska cruise when first available in 2016 because of ships open vista views and as a small ship also very importantly the itinerary and full package details . As our first Viking voyage we have been very satisfied and loved the ship it’s ambience decor space and lovely staff. With the amazing Alaskan scenery and fantastic wildlife and wilderness al around us we had one of our best ever holidays thank you viking, We started with a pre cruise in Vancouver lovely city, wonderful hotel by the bay , the pre cruise tour and lunch alfresco after boarding and sail out was lovely with seaplanes landing and taking off around us , and boats of all descriptions paddle steamers , sailing and small pleasure cruising craft to other ships then the cruise up the inside passage humpbacks sighting wonderful scenery sunsets and all enhanced by the ship! Really very good food right through the voyage onboard Orion majority of our meals we ate seafood,. Enjoyed all of the restaurants onboard, open seating only waited the once for a table but seated in restaurant reception with offers of drinks! There’s also a bar in the restaurant where you can have a pre dinner drinks . We enjoyed all our ports of calls and trips with only one complaint about the lunch on our Haines bear search and wildlife tour which was dealt with with a small refund to compensate however no bears seen but then that’s wildlife although we were probably not going to see any as Haines had hosted the state fair a few days earlier, trip highlights amazing Juneau glacier helicopter and dogsledding and glacier and whales trips , Valdez sail out amazing beautiful weather swimming in the infinity pool and hot tub and escorted out by high speed coast guard rigid inflatable with machine gun mounted and manned past all the Valdez salmon fishing fleets which were laying nets ! A James Bond moment! Dinner that evening a favourite with to start soft shell crab , lobster Thermidor and desert a lovely soufflé , with lovely wines and all made exceptional by Alaska delivering with beautiful scenery and Orca’s seen alongside during dinner !!! A Most memorable evening I must also thank the staff on Orion Nearly all were fantastic except for the future cruise lady? The shows on board such a small ship were all delivered by the Orion team and were excellent thank you to Jade And Karine and speedy and the viking band also bar waiters stewards Ivan and Corrinia ? Overall a fantastic holiday experience one of our very best highly recommend this voyage and ship if viking can keep price correct Read Less

After two river cruises we wanted to see Alaska. The Orion was like a large longboat, very familiar and comfortable but with room for many more amenities. We enjoyed the many lounge areas and dining choices. The spa was relaxing and invigorating and the gym was well equipped. The restaurants were well run, the food was excellent and the staff was incredible, always there when needed with a smile. There was always something to do if didn't want to stay in the room. Walking around the ship we always discovered something new, from the sports deck to the shops, the outdoor lounges, the Explorers Lounge, the atrium with its music and game tables, or just having a drink while watching the water. We wish we had been able to reserve more optional shore excursions but many had already been full. The embarkation and check in was lengthy but well organized. We had a quick meal and our luggage was waiting for us in our cabin. Disembarkation was also very organized and we were sorry to get on the bus to leave. Overall it was a very worthwhile trip in the Viking tradition. Read Less

Always wanted to do an Alaska cruise. As this year was our 50TH wedding anniversary we chose to celebrate by going to Alaska with Viking. We were not disappointed. Overall I would rate the cruise as excellent. Up to Viking standards, we had gone on a Viking River cruise in 2014 and had a great time. Couple of things - the excursion included for the Rocky Narrows Point was a bit thin, the native dancers were great. The dinner island cruise was a disappointment, we were promised a gourmet feast, the food was OK but not gourmet and we had to ear at 4pm. Consider changing this to a lunch cruise. The extended stay in Anchorage at the Hilton was not up to Viking or Hilton standards, the hotel was old and tired and the hallways were dirty. When it was time to get off the ship we were told we had to have our bags out the night before. This was a major inconvenience -- put this in the information kit that we get before we leave for the cruise as it was a surprise. But overall we had a great time and Viking did a great jog, food was great, staff were excellent, lots of good memories. Read Less

The ship is lovely, public spaces really well designed, and many of them. Lecture program was outstanding, if anything there were too many different lectures but they covered every possible aspect of the areas we travelled through as well as very interesting space topics. Food varied. Loved Manfredis but not impressed either time we went to Chefs Table, mainly service rather than food, and cancelled our third booking. Every night the buffet featured Alaskan crab, plentiful and beautiful. We often called in there for a drink and a snack before going to the show. Food in The Restaurant varied, but there is an always available menu so could always find sonething to suit. Unl8ke some cruis3 lines with included drinks, drinks were very generous and filled often. Included shore excursions varied greatly, in some ports you were given tickets to the attractions, in others you had to pay for youself. All 5he 'better' excursions you had to pay for which I had not 3xpected when I booked. Our only complaint was the cabin. Based on the official Cruise Critic review we chose a deluxe balcony cabin which they had praised.. Never before have I had to keep delving into my suitcase for things that would not fit in the wardrobe. Deluxe bacony and balcony cabins in all grades are exactly the same, just in different positions on the ship. Storage space is woefully inadequate, one narrow full length hanging space and another half length. Unfortunately you had to reach over the bedside table to access the main wardrobe door which was very inconvenient. Bedside tables had one drawer and the rest was just space! Thankfully there were other two sets of drawers. Had a look at the Penthouse cabin, and although the wardrobe space there was also inadequate I would recommend going for this if you can manage it. Read Less

We were reluctant to ever take a cruise base on varied feedback from friends and associates. Ship way to crowded, restaurants busy and crowded. Being nickeled and dimed, etc... THEN WE CAME ACROSS Viking Cruises opening up Ocean routes with new vessels. Alaska intrigued us and of all that we had heard we heard all GREAT on Viking River Cruises. So we said lets give a cruise with Viking a go! Wow, we were overly impressed about everything from boarding to disembarking on the last day. Our cabin was spectacular. Our dining experiences were splendid. We especially enjoyed the reservations required dining. The food was mouth watering the service was attentive and always seeking to please. The evening entertainment. We almost could not wait for the next evening to attend another event they were so good and so entertaining. Excursions at every port were provided plus many that could be purchased . Provided excursions were good, a couple perhaps a little less so -- BUT still good! Read Less

Wanted to visit Alaska for years for the scenery. This cruise was everything we could have hoped for. We did a Rockies extension beforehand and that was a great idea as we made good friends on that part of the holiday who we were able to meet up with on the ship. Our stateroom was very roomy 8019 and we had complimentary laundry service which was very useful. Staff on board were brilliant and we can’t fault any aspect of the service. Food was excellent, although there could have been more variety of potatoes available at dinner. Attended two talks which were very interesting and a couple of shows in the theatre. Excursions were very good value for money and not too crowded. As usual they were well organised. An excellent cruise which enabled us to enjoy our holiday of a lifetime. We’re already booked on another ocean cruise next year. Thanks Viking! Read Less

Love Viking. Always wanted to go to Alaska. Room is a little small. A/C is so so. Love the drink package, speciality restaurants, shore excursions. Internet a little slow. Crew is very nice. Food is great. Boat is beautiful and so clean. Already booked another cruise. Can fit luggage under bed. Has more drawer space. Loved our balcony. Do the helicopter ride to Mendenhall Glacier and dog sledding. Loved the train ride and the excursion on the Deadliest sea boat. Manifred I had excellent steaks. Loved not always having announcements, no children, and older crowd. This was our 2nd cruise with Viking. The spa is wonderful. The pools excellent. Bar service is above all other. Entertainment could be a little better. Love having wine, beer, soft drinks included. And being able to stay pre or post at beginning and end ports. Airfare is great. Top of the line in cruises as far as I am concerned. Read Less

With daughter and son-in-law to celebrate birthdays and anniversary. Daughter has serious food issues, and the crew took fabulous care of her. The food is good, especially liked the buffets. The chef made several beautiful chocolate cakes for us. The ship is beautiful, and different from other ships we have been on. We loved our cabin, a penthouse suite. Loved the double sinks and large shower. The bed was wonderful. Enjoyed the planetarium shows, a unique feature. Enjoyed the shore excursions, but especially enjoyed sitting and reading in the afternoons. Since the was an inland passage crude, the view were wonderful. The onboard lectures were always top notch and very interesting and informative. ON the minus side, one night our Halibut was way over cooked, but that was just one occasion. The embarkation could not have been smoother. We also loved the public entertainment - very talented people. We would definitely sail again with Viking. PS loved the bird sounds in public bathrooms. Read Less

We joined my brother Mike Martin, his wife Sherry on this cruise. My brother had wanted to sail the Inside Passage on an Alaskan cruise. My husband and I had cruised to Alaska on two other occasions but enjoyed it so much that we were glad to go again. The embarkation went smoothly. I was glad we didn't have to wait to board ship when we arrived at the dock. For desembarkation I suggest that passengers be made aware that they can wait onboard until their color group is called My cabin review is below. Our dining experience was excellent due to the expertise of the kitchen staff. The consistently provided us delicious meals. The wait staff were always very friendly and attentive to our needs. We thoroughly enjoyed the Orion Vocalists performances, especially the ABBA Songbook and the Beatles Songbook. We also very much enjoyed the Viking Classical Duo performance of Movie Magic. We enjoyed our shore excursions especially the Kenai Fjords by boat near Seward, the Columbia Glacier Cruise near Valdez and the Potlach Totem Park near Ketchikan. Read Less