There are really two parts to this review. The first is about the awful virus that spread unchecked that ruined our trip. The second part is about what the ship is like if I don't factor in how sick so many of us were. My husband and I both became extremely ill on exactly the same evening about ten days into our trip-- we are both in excellent health and among the very youngest on the ship. We went from feeling fine to minutes later having fever, chills, nauseated, extreme disorientation, dizziness, terrible hacking cough. We were in our room for three days, I literally was so ill I didn't have the energy to order room service. When we finally were well enough to leave our room, we heard that half the ship had the same virus, there were lines at the doctor's office, you could hear the same hacking cough everywhere. I tried twice to see the doctor to see what the virus was and if we needed antibiotics-- the first time office hours were cancelled because "he had been up for 36 hours straight" and the second because during his office hours there was an emergency medical evacuation. It was getting to the end of the cruise and I thought we would be feeling better soon. Everyone we talked to had a story about either being sick themselves or listing all the people onboard who had the same virus, and people in our trivia group dropped out due to the virus. When I found out the virus had been going around the ship the whole time we were there with people onboard from the previous segment, I was so bothered that it had not been communicated sooner and that precautions had not been taken by the ship-- they were shaking hands with passengers regularly! Had I known I would have disinfected the room, never shaken hands, avoided the buffet, taken the immune building supplements I carry for travel whenever there is sickness spreading, etc. After we left the ship, whenever I tried to do anything for the remainder of our trip I became ill all over again, I couldn't eat, etc. Once we returned and I wasn't getting well (I was so dizzy I couldn't drive, could only eat soup and bread, couldn't concentrate on work, etc.) I called my doctor who wanted any background information on the Virus. I contacted Viking who said they didn't have to tell me because there were far fewer than 20 cases reported! Now, I literally spoke with more than 20 people who had had the virus. The customer service person was belligerent and accusatory, implying I wasn't really sick and said in a sarcastic tone that if I was sick he was sure I would have reported it. I told him we told the housekeepers we were too sick to leave the room and he said that didn't count. I also told him about trying to see the doctor twice and being prevented one time because of the emergency medical evacuation-- and he told me in a triumphant tone that there was no emergency medical evacuation during my cruise. I replied that it was pretty frightening that hundreds of people onboard were ill with the same severe virus and there was an emergency medical evacuation that hundreds of people watched since it was by the coast guard in open ocean and lasted hours-- yet Viking had a record of neither. I finally told him that since they have no record of this illness I was reporting it now, and he said that didn't count. After spending a fortune on this cruise, being so ill and trying to get information for my doctor, it was so dispiriting to be treated this way. I contracted this virus about a month and a half ago and not only have only started getting completely well in the last two weeks (after taking powerful antibiotics), but I'm still having all kinds of medical tests because of concerns that it was so severe it might have caused a mini stroke and other permanent damage. Now, if I had not gotten a horrible virus that I think could have been prevented, and not been treated so dismissively by Viking customer service? On the positive side, I would say the food was the best I've ever had on a cruise ship (and we are foodies used to high end cruises). As one example, they serve a full traditional tea daily, complete with tiered plates of mini sandwiches and sweets, plus scones every afternoon, just like a fancy tea you might pay for. On Oceania, the tea is from teabags with paper napkins with a few things passed around. Most notably, the general restaurant was as good as specialty restaurants on other ships. I'll compare again to Oceania where the general restaurant was so bad we couldn't eat there and you had to fight for reservations in the specialty restaurants. Another Viking plus was that you could get as many reservations in the free specialty restaurants as you wanted. Service overall was the best we've ever experienced on a ship. Loved that there is no corkage fee in the restaurants and they are delighted to open and pour what you bring-- while basic wine was free, we loved to pick up special bottles as we traveled and really appreciated this benefit. The cafe and main restaurant are also really well designed so that you can often get a window seat, and never get the sense of an overwhelming sea of people. They also did a lot of special things that were nice-- bringing local specialty foods aboard, etc. We enjoyed the trivia everyday in port (vs. bingo on some ships), loved not listening to announcements all day and no junky art shows, and the hairdresser was fantastic and very reasonably priced. Generally, a very high quality, lovely experience vs. some of the constant upgrading and rules on other ships-- they seemed super flexible and customer service oriented. On the negative side, be very weary of this boat, I would try the other Viking Ocean boats because this boat does two World Cruise Trips a year and if you do a segment as we did (unbeknownst to most people booking who didn't realize they were taking part of a world cruise) there are disadvantages. First, even with an upgraded room and the paid for perk of being able to get first choice on excursions etc. what this means when you travel with world cruisers is that you get to pick AFTER that half of the boat, so no real perk for upgraded rooms and many segment people were unhappy to see the excursion they wanted sold out on the very first day they were available to book. They were also unhappy to see the world cruisers at events they were not invited to and felt like second class citizens. However, depending on your age and health, the biggest disadvantage is that the average age on the boat seemed to be 70-90. I have never been on a cruise with so many old people and they were not healthy, active old people-- it was a sea of 4 prong canes and a very slow walk down any corridor. For many world cruisers this is a bucket list item, and they frequently didn't even get off the boat, kind of like a last hurrah. We didn't take any of the included excursions because they are basically all 3 hour motor coach rides, but segment people who did said half the time was spent with the old folks getting on and off the huge busses. To be honest, I felt like I was in a nursing home at times. The rooms were a mixed bag. They functioned beautifully and were very comfortable with a nice shower, but they just weren't special, they were very plain. We got the upgraded penthouse balcony for many thousands more and it was maybe a couple of feet wider but that's it, it looked like a very standard ship room-- this was not a worthwhile upgrade. For example, with Oceania the penthouse balcony for about the same amount to upgrade is luxurious and beautiful with special touches like a dining table for two and a huge closet-- I would call it romantic. Viking just isn't romantic. One issue my husband had was that many events were held in the pool area. However, when the roof was closed the chlorine gas was overwhelming and you simply could not be in that room-- yet this is where they were serving all kinds of specialty foods, like when they went ashore for local king crab legs, you could only get them in this area. My husband had to leave the superbowl get together because he couldn't breath the fumes anymore. Finally, I will say that many seemed to like the entertainment but we were disappointed. Too many of the shows were with their in house group and in house band which were both weak-- the vocals and instrumentalists were painful at times. The few shows they brought in from the outside were generally strong. Read Less

We were looking for a relaxing and fun way to start the new year. We were not disappointed! The crew was very friendly and took special care to make sure we were comfortable. The food was excellent with a lot of variety and choices of both informal dining as well as more formal restaurants. Both lunch and dinner included wine, which was consistently of high quality and delicious. A pleasant surprise was the quality of the onboard entertainment — professional-level shows that presented selections from ABBA, the 60s, and the Beatles. We had a junior suite, which was very comfortable. The ship had many seating areas for taking sun and enjoying quiet conversation. There was also a well-stocked library. Finally, the gym was quite large with plenty of equipment, free weights and workout space. The one concern was that the embarkation dock was changed from J to F at the last moment, and we were not informed. Therefore, we had to scramble to get to the other dock and were worried about missing the ship. The high point was certainly the New Year's Eve party and dance! This cruise was truly an experience to remember! Read Less

We arrived directly from the airport where Viking personnel were easy to identify and directed us to a bus for transporting us to the ship terminal. The check-in process was very efficient and informative. We were allowed to board the ship right away but not go directly to our cabin until 2 PM, which was fine while we checked out the ship layout and enjoyed the beautiful view and day from the upper decks. For dining we generally ate at the World cafe for the ease of self service for food, dress code and no waiting for seating. The food was good but the variety was limited, same general menu the entire trip, with only a few changes from day to day, of course sampling from the dessert counter was the best part! The entertainment we attended was nice, but would have enjoyed additional talents as well. The activities menu was very limited to guest speakers, some interesting but not for everyone. Recommend advertising the on-board tours more, we stumbled onto them but only made the bridge tour on this trip, also offering helpful classes on ex: camera tips for better pictures, cooking cultural foods for pending ports, etc. would be great. We really appreciated not being bothered with a a sales pitch everyday for something (pictures, jewelry etc). The inclusion of Wi-Fi was truly a wonderful treat too. Service was impeccable, very friendly and accommodating staff. The most organized port and shore disembarkation that we have experienced so far among our three different cruise lines, probably helped with a smaller number of passengers too. We already have multiple future trips booked with Viking and look forward to cruising with you! Read Less

My wife and I traveled with six friends. We had a Great trip over New Year. Food was great, people were very helpful. Cruise director and assistant had great voices, this was highlight of entertainment. Cabin was fine. Shore excursions were good, really enjoyed tube cave trip in Belize. The pyramids in Chitchen Itza was the tour that I found the most informative and most impressive. Love the small ship feel and easy on ond off at ports. I take advantage of the fitness center, well equipped open and airy. Getting to and from the ship at beginning and end of trip was easy. The Restaurant Manager was very helpful to get our group seated together each night. We enjoyed the food and variety in the World Cafe and the other food Kiosks. The only issue we had was we needed more clothing hangers for our room and our steward need two days to find extra hangers. Read Less

The GOOD: Kudos to Ahmed, Restauant Supervisor, who personally extended himself to be sure my dietary restrictions were met . The spa, gym, Meet & Mingle, cooking class, all outstanding! The cabin, crew, Wi-Fi and amenities on the ship were great. The BAD: Only a few hours in most ports so not enough time to really see or do on Turquoise Caribbean. The Ugly: The excursion.vendors frantic to get you back to the ship on time so we felt herded, elementary school field trip, not a travel experience. Key West was a joke, suggest you just walk off the ship and grab a taxi. The snorkeling in Belize was disappointing; Coral was bleached, very few fish, and then forced to go to the port in wet bathing suit instead of directly back to the ship, very wired. Celestun only spent 9 minutes seeing the flamingos; nice lunch at a pretty beach, the stop at the park should be omitted. Many people embarked in Key West and Belize because their travel connections did not work. Be sure you arrive a day or two before the ship departs to be safe. Read Less

Viking came highly recommended by friends and family, and we chose this particular cruise because of our interests in ancient civilizations. While on the cruise, we were able to visit three different Mayan ruins. The food and dining options were second to none. Our favorite days were the At Sea days. We made full use of the spa, and went through the Nordic bathing ritual on an almost daily basis. Plenty of open spaces, with board games, cards, and a puzzle station. This is most definitely not a party or a booze cruise. Which is one of the reasons why we enjoyed it so very much. Our only issues were with the descriptions of some of the excursions, as well as the timing of the excursions. More time was devoted to traveling on the excursions than actuality at the sites. During a 7 hour tour, we only had 105 minutes to explore the site, and the remaining time was spent in transit. We would do it again, we were just disappointed that we didn't have more time to explore. Read Less

My wife and I are very experienced cruisers having been on more than 35. This was our first time on Viking Ocean Cruise line, Scandinavian and we were impressed by their very high ratings on River Cruises.and the fact they only carried a maximum of 930 passengers. Check in was a breeze with 6 or 7 receptionists waiting for us instead of long lines. It is considered a luxury cruise ship and as such commands a very high initial cost for the cruise which must be paid in full much before the cruise embarks. However, this is partially compensated for with many inclusions not permitted on other cruise lines. We were permitted to bring alcohol aboard the ship. They also included wine and beer with all meals and excursions at each port of call. While onboard my wife and her our friend Ann went to a cooking class with the executive Chef of the ship and he liked them. There were two special dining venues THE CHEF'S TABLE and another upscale Italian restaurant. We were supposed to go only once during the cruise but because of the connection my wife, Nela and Ann made with the Chef were permitted to go 4 times, where he prepared his specialties and served them. They were absolutely amazing and I've never had better food on any ship. For an additional charge you could choose other excursions customized to your interests. I chose one on Cozumel said to be the 2d largest barrier reef for snorkeling, 185 miles long which was disappointing as I had expected a wall but found only scattered limestone reefs with only smaller colorful tropical fish. I saw no predators like sharks, barracudas or even sting rays, that I had seen snorkeling and Scuba diving. Though the personnel were very friendly it was not well organized. In the middle of the sea they required half our passengers to climb onto a boat that pulled alongside. I'd not recommend that excursion. However one excursion we went on was exceptional and I'd highly recommend that in Mexico called SALSA AND SALSA in which my wife I and two friends, first time cruisers were taken on a couple buses to a 2d floor high ceiling open air room in a hotel and sat at tables for 10 with many vegetables and a musher, which is a small dish with a rough bottom and a pestle for crushing and mushing the vegetables with various recipes into different Salsas. We were provided aprons, Chef's hats and unlimited. Margaritas and ingredients to make more. Our hostesses were two young Mexican girls in their 20's full of enthusiasm that kept things going. After eating varied Doritos and Salsa and too many home made Margaritas where we lost count the tables were removed and the floor cleared for dancing the SALSA. I would never call myself a dancer but after 6 or 7 Margaritas figured nobody cared and did my best. We all left totally sated, happy and ready to recover. The entertainment onboard the ship was very limited in variety and elaborate productions but made up for it with extremely talented musicians and singers. There was one quartet of 4 British singers that performed on 3 different nights once emulating ABBA, then BEATLES and finally 60's music. I talked to a few of the performers afterward and found they were not a professional group but were hired individually and the group would disintegrate after the cruise ended. It made me tear up thinking so beautiful would end. Even our Cruise director was a former professional Opera Singer with a voice so perfect I asked my friend if she wasn't lipsyncing and he assured me she was not. She was amazing at the New Year's celebration party. On board I enjoyed their lectures particularly one on Catapults showing how very ineffective walls are, no matter how strong or well guarded. The gym was small and basic but had all the essentials for a good workout. I liked the Steam, Sauna and Ice room. The ice room was a real treat. Short periods of stress are good for your health and excessive amount can kill you. In summing up overall I'd say this cruise was exceptional and one of the best I've been on, though expensive. I've been on more moderately priced ships that were very good and can honestly say I've never been on any vacation I did not enjoy though some more than others, so in the end you'll have to decide what you want for yourself. I always consider price an important factor when deciding on a service or product. I was an accountant by profession. I like quality at a reduced price. That what makes a good value. If you want everything to be nearly perfect and are willing to pay top price VIKING is a choice, you won't be wrong with, but if you'd want to go on two or more cruises on a less expensive ship for the same price, then Princess or Celebrity are excellent ships. I wrote this review for Cruise Critic not Viking Ocean cruise line because I read Viking's terms and conditions in which they stated they can edit comments possibly making my review Fake News instead of the honest one I wrote by editing out anything negative. I said, but believe cruise critic will condense it with my concerns to its essence. I hope this has been helpful. Paul, an experienced cruiser. Read Less

We have cruised previously with both Seabourn and Silversea, as well as Viking River and we chose this cruise because we had read superb reviews and we were curious about Viking Ocean. The Viking Sun is a beautiful ship with absolutely stunning common areas. Housekeeping and cabin service is superb. Everything is clean and shiny and new. The problem is that service elsewhere on the ship is inconsistent. In the specialty restaurant, Manfredis, service was flawless. But elsewhere, it certainly was not. Buffets are often the only option and lines are long and slow. The buffets are set up so that there is a very small serving area resulting in a single line for all. If the main restaurant is closed (or full, as it was for us on a few occasions), the lines get very long. Pool service was downright poor. It seems there are not enough staff members to provide nearly the same level of service you get on Seabourn or Silversea. While the entertainment systems in the cabins ofter lots of choices, the other amenities in the higher end cabins are disappointing in comparison to similar cabins on Seabourn and Silversea. The mini bar Viking advertises in many of their pricier cabins consists of a few airline bottles of cheap liquor, a few beers and sodas, and not much else. There are only a total of two glasses of any kind available in the cabin. There are things that Viking does very well, but overall, if you have sailed on Seabourn or Silversea, Viking really doesn’t compare. Read Less

My wife and I wanted a high quality, small ship, mosty inclusive cruising experience. Viking Ocean Cruises was highly rated. Very effective advertising. Decided to give them a try for an 8 day Caribbean cruise. We were not disappointed. Used Viking Air for transportation to Miami...no issues. Transfer from Airport to the ship (Viking Sun) went well. Embarkation was smooth. Cabin (a delux on deck 4) was outstanding...really liked heated floors in bathroom. Bed comfortable. Room fridge stocked with soft drinks, water and chocolate at no charge. Food was high quality but would have preferred simpler fare (hamburgers, hot dogs, barbecue) besides just at lunch. Nice that specially restaurants were free, although we didn’t dine at either one. Ships store (toiletries, snacks) had limited hours...should be longer. Fitness Center adequate...given demographics of ship not a lot of competition for equipment. Spa options excellent but early reservations a must for basics like Manicures and Pedicures. Excursion options good. We paid for one excurion (jungle ATV) and loved it...well worth the extra money. Included tours not bad either. We’re not alcohol drinkers so skipped the drink package. Cruise Director planned and executed a great New Year’s Eve party. Received a ship bridge tour from watch officer...really interesting. Crew was great...very friendly and attentive to needs. Debarkation smooth. Customs in Miami was quick and easy. We booked another cruise while on board...we’ll be repeat customers. Viking doesn’t try to nickel and dime you to death (photographers, art, etc.). Read Less

My wife and I (I'm in my 70's)wanted to see Belize and Mexico primarily to see the ancient Mayan ruins but we didn't want to see the normal tourist hot spots that you can get on television documentaries all the time so we ventured into the excursions offered by Viking Oceans. We chose Viking Oceans because it was a smaller cruise shipt and didn't carry thousands of passengers giving us a more intimate yet sociable experience. We went to Miami a few days early and made the mistake of staying in a hotel on the beach. The hotel that was booked for us was terrific but our mistake was getting a hotel on the beach. During the time we were there, the beach was really quite empty (cooler weather) but the shops and nearby restaurants were too overcrowded for us(again we like things more private and intimate). Our embarkation started with being picked up by the Viking staff and getting a short tour of Miami before heading to the ship. The tour was very interesting and went well. The ship seemed gigantic but getting to our rooms and having the bags delivered went off without a hitch. Every staff member was more than helpful making sure all our needs were met. The cabin was spacious well designed, clean, well stocked. comfortable and the veranda was a terrific place to go and just chill and drink some wine, The four dining rooms allowed plenty of room for places to eat and room service 24/7. I was never disappointed about any menu's but even though we had booked our reservations about eight months prior to our departure, their two specialty restaurants were booked for the entire trip and we never got to use it. The only thing I wish they would do is give every guest a chance to eat there at least once during the trip by simply limiting pre-booking to the larger suites to one visit on any given day and then allowing them to book more days once they were on the ship but again only allow one booking per day for any day and time they choose.This will allow everyone a chance to book any available restaurant at least once. Don't get me wrong, the food in all the restaurants was terrific but the smaller ones allow for more intimate dining which is what we would have preferred. There was never a lack of things to do or see on the ship. We walked throughout the ship familiarizing ourselves with its layout and that took us just about a full day. Social gatherings and just sitting out on the decks and relaxing always gave us opportunities to meet new people and make new friendships. The staff couldn't have been more friendly and helpful. Each and every one of them make you feel like you were a king or queen. They were fantastic and I don't know how they can do that day after day and still make you feel that they wanted you to give them something for them to do to make you feel comfortable and satisfied. The excursions we chose were fantastic. Well organized, knowledgeable guides and just total enjoyment. I believe on our next trip we will not go on as many excursions and probably choose to go off on our own exploratory expeditions to really get to know the country we are visiting. Disembarkation went just as smoothly as our embarkation. Not a single complaint about anything. The Cruise ship spaced us out according to our individual travel time schedule so everyone wasn't trying to get off the ship at the same time. Very well organized. This was my first cruise and I was totally impressed. This was my wife's third cruise and she said it was better than the Viking River Cruise she went on with her sister but only because I was with her this time. When we are ready to go on another cruise, Viking Cruises will be our first and only choice. As Tony the Tiger says "They're Great!" Read Less