I choose this cruise primarily for the ports of call. I ended up being a fan of Viking. The ship was neat and clean. The staff (all of the staff from the cleaning staff to the Captain) we friendly and helpful. The lectures were fantastic. The food excellent. (I did have an early hiccup with the food. I am allergic to garlic and although I made all the proper notifications I was still served garlicky food the first 2 nights. I spoke to the the head of client services after I was unable to eat the second dinner and she was extremely helpful. She spoke to the head of all food services who then spoke to me. Every night after that I could eat safely and deliciously.) The facilities from the Spa to the pool were clean, neat and excellent. (I had the best massage ever!) There was lots of variety in food, entertainment and options for at sea days. My only little quibble was with the shore excursions. I would have liked more "demanding" options. I found that most excursions were not as active as I would have liked. Read Less

With over 300 sea days on Holland America, we felt it was time for a change, and wanted to try out Viking Ocean. We could not have been more pleased with the overall experience. Check-in was swift and easy, with our documents awaiting us. We were also able to access our cabin earlier than promised. Our cabin was a Deluxe Verandah - nicely laid out, great bathroom with heated floors (also useful for drying wet clothes!), modern and clean. The TV systems are state of the art, and extremely useful - an example being the replay of lectures, etc. shortly after they are done live. It would be nice if the system had real-time data on navigation items such as course / speed / wind etc. Be aware that drawer space is somewhat limited, even with the extra ones in the closet on Sun, but the beds are high enough that even large suitcases are easy to store there, and can be used as additional storage. Our only cabin knock was the proximity of the closet to the bed - somewhat awkward to get at. Larger cabins don't have either of these two issues. Dining was excellent - the quality of food was high, and there are multiple choices. The open faced sandwiches in Mamsen's are exceptional - except for the calories, you could live on them! World café is good, with limited crowding, and would be excellent when the weather permits dining outside on the stern deck. The Restaurant is fully open seating, but we never waited more than a few minutes, even at peak times. The serving systems in the Restaurant seem to have multiple "handoffs" between the staff, and occasionally resulted in a missed request, but they were speedily corrected. Of the two specialty restaurants, we loved Manfredi's (Italian) - be sure to reserve as early as you can, as it's very popular. The Chef's Table was good, not great - some excellent dishes, some mediocre. We largely relied on the included shore excursions, as they tended to do an overview tour, and allow personal exploration afterwards. The two optional tours we used were well organized. Service levels throughout the ship were outstanding - even on a short cruise, the staff quickly learned to recognize us, and were always eager to assist. While we missed the chance to get to know our dining stewards as well as we have previously in a fixed-seating environment, we were able to make a few connections over the trip. Being so new, the ship is pristine and very stable and quiet. Maintenance is discreet, and not intrusive. And, the internet service put every other cruise line that we've been on to shame - a real leg up for staying in touch. Bottom line - we've booked two more voyages! Read Less

Great cruise line. Awesome ship and service. One of the best designed ships we have ever been on. Wraparound Promenade deck. Thermal spa outfitted with more different treatment areas (whirlpools, snow room, dry sauna, steam room, etc). Great fitness room. Most rooms between the common areas on decks 1-2-7-8 limiting how many stairs to traverse to get between rooms and common areas. Ship had no feeling of crowding anywhere. Common services desks designed to address client needs. Ship was largely digital meaning that many things could be accomplished through television set in the stateroom. Service was exemplary in every way. Wait times throughout the ship were short or non-existent. Service was highly anticipatory. All administrative activities including embarkation and debarkation, as well as port visits were professionally and efficiently handled. Very good food, using fresh, high quality ingredients. Food was well prepared and tasty. Special requests were handled by the culinary staff with aplomb. World Cafe had most items of the Restaurant + some additional surprises. Mamsen's deli was okay, but the Pool Grill was outstanding. Both Manfredi's and Chef's Table were very good. Could have offered more traditional desserts. On-board activities, while not lacking, could have been more robust. Afternoon tea was great featuring more than 12 types of tea. Enrichment lectures were good also and were recorded for later viewing in the staterooms. No casino or bingo which was a plus. Read Less

This is our first cruise with Viking and we are converts! We have cruised with most other lines and while we don't consider ourselves "cruise people", we do end up taking a fair amount of cruises. We really enjoyed the low key luxury decor of the ship. I read an interview with the CEO of Viking and he described his line as "the thinking man's cruise rather than the drinking man's cruise." I think that this sums it up perfectly. The library on the ship was amazingly well thought out and the educational presentations were outstanding. We also were blown away by the thoughtful touches on the ship - like a free laundry room on each floor. A special shout out goes to all of the staff - they were so helpful and friendly. I never felt like they were chiseling for tips. Truly, Viking felt like a Four Seasons Hotel at sea. We will definitely be back. Read Less

Recommended by family members who traveled with us. This was their 4th Viking Cruise! My husband and I will definitely sail again with y'all. It was truly a magical adventure. Everyone aboard from the cleaning people in the bathroom, to the bartenders, to the waiters in fine dining, to the people serving the food in the buffet line, to the Viking Vocalists, to the cruise director: every single employee on that ship was doing the best job that they were given. I applaud the professionism and genuineness of everyone aboard! The shore excursions, from the included ones to the ones we purchased, were all outstanding. The guides were locals who knew their area and taught us so much of the culture and traditions of each place. The bus drivers were special in transporting us daily in a safe manner. Overall, I can't give enough praise for the memories made aboard the Viking Sun. Bravo! Read Less

We chose this cruise because we wanted to learn more of the long history and varied cultures the United Kingdom, and experience the land and peoples without having to drive or figure out train schedules. Norway was an added bonus. Loved the cruise and remember aspects of it daily. We felt Viking went "over the top" in considering every detail to enhance our cruise experience. Here's a breakdown: EMBARKATION: Originally, we thought we would just drop off our luggage and then find a local place to have lunch. We were surprised that we could have lunch onboard the first day around noon, though our official check-in time was 2 pm. FOOD AND BEVERAGES: Exceptional! There were always healthy options. The variety was also amazing. There was an area for Asian food, including sushi, seaweed salad, etc. There were plenty of vegetarian options as well as seafood and meats. Desserts were appropriately sized and there was always a no-sugar-added option. Servers ensured guests had the wine, beer, or other desired beverages as desired. The wine selection was quite good. The specialty dining options were definitely worth trying at least once during the cruise. The Chef's Table had a delightful wine pairing. CREW: Very accommodating and friendly. It was obvious everyone was happy with their work. They were willing to chat with us as appropriate, and we got to know of many interesting backgrounds. CABIN: Our cabin steward seemed to understand our routine from the first day. Our cabin was serviced twice a day. The mini-frig was stocked with complimentary soft drinks and snacks. Also loved the fact that they provided umbrellas, water, binoculars, and robes. EXCURSIONS: As advertised, there were complimentary tours in every port. Guides were helpful and knowledgeable. Pace was appropriate--not harried and not boring. The optional tours we took were also impressive. We especially loved the scenic tour in the Scottish highlands. The tour process was quite well organized. We received tickets for each tour we had registered for. The daily news journal let us know what time and where to meet. Viking staff were always there to guide us to the correct coach, tender, or local guide. While in Scotland, we were greeted by a bagpiper at nearly every port. From Bergen, we took the optional extension to Oslo. Would highly recommend this 7-hour train ride through the beautiful mountains of Norway, and visiting the unique city of Oslo. ITINERARY: We enjoyed all of our stops. The one disappointment was that we were unable to go to Wales due to high winds and 7-8 foot swells. Though we're glad Viking considered our safety and comfort, we had looked forward to going to Wales. They did substitute Glasgow and included a complimentary tour. We chose the optional tour to Luss instead. It was fine. Others who went on the complimentary tour told us it was ok, though not spectacular. SPA: Absolutely loved the sauna and snow grotto. Very relaxing. And all necessary amenities provided. The pool area was also nice. EXTRAS: Seemed like we would get extra surprises every couple of days--like the oyster/Champaign night, the wee draft of scotch when returning from a windy day, etc. One day there was a special soup and sandwich buffet in the pool area, which generally had good salads and casual food anyway. The special soup buffet was especially welcome on a rather cool day. Afternoon tea was quite relaxing. Some folks took advantage of the free knitting classes and yoga sessions. DESTINATION PROGRAMS: The lecture on the Scottish highlands taught us much about Scotland we did not know. It was both informative and lively. We also enjoyed the program of Scottish performers. Learned more about British and Norwegian history and culture on this trip than we ever imagined possible. Read Less

We choose the British Isles Cruise because we have always wanted to experience all that England, Scotland and Ireland. This was the best way to see them all! We plan on going back to each country! The tours were great and each tour we took offered accurate facts and the stories were filled with interesting stories. Our cabin was on the 6th level and had a spacious balcony and the room was just the right size featuring a comfortable king bed, sofa, coffee table, chair and a nice desk with a hidden vanity for one to apply makeup! We had more than ample storage and drawers for our clothes. The bathroom was lovely and we loved the heated flooring. The food that was offered was delicious and the selection satisfied all appetites. We enjoyed dining at 3 dining rooms. We loved the variety of entertainment which was nightly! The lectures were subjects that would interest almost everyone and the speakers were very well spoken and held our attention! We have already booked another cruise for 2021 but plan on booking another cruise for 2020! Read Less

This is my honest (and LONG) review of our first ever cruise. We have traveled extensively on our own. The only organized tours we have done were with the American company Rick Steves. We travel to make connections with other cultures, to expand our understanding of the world and the issues it faces; and to have fun doing it. This particular Viking cruise was not a good match for that. Unbeknownst to us, this was the first leg of a World Cruise. That impacted the demographics significantly. There were many, many quite elderly passengers with mobility, hearing and memory challenges. To that end, Viking matched the cruise experience to their demographic well. For us (in our 60's) it seemed too slow-paced and not educational enough. I believe that Viking should make it clear before you book that you are joining a World Cruise. It clearly makes a big difference in their programming, not to mention the overall "feel" of the cruise. Accomodations: GOOD: The Viking Sun can only be described as luxurious. Every square inch of the ship is sparkling clean, and the cabins are brilliantly designed. If you have concerns about living in such a small space don't worry. There is ample storage in the living area as well as the bathroom. Having an outside veranda for every room is noteworthy. Our cabin steward Muhammad was outstanding in every aspect. He was attentive and intuitive about details of our preferences without ever being intrusive. BAD: The laundry facilities are inadequate for the number of passengers, and therefore oversubscribed. The included soap does not have a pleasant odor, and the inherent mildew smell associated with front load machines left our clothes with a musty smell. It has taken me several washings at home to get rid of that smell. UGLY: There is so much competition for the laundry facilities that a couple of men had a fist fight over availability. Food: GOOD: We ate mostly at the World Table which has the same menu choices as the sit-down Restaurant. We found we preferred to pace our own courses, and the format of the World Table is perfect for that. The food was always varied, delicious and cooked perfectly. Our usual servers of Jorge, Raquel and Andi were super stars. If we ever did another ocean cruise it would be because of their personal and caring service. For the first week we loved seeing supervisor Courtney as well, who always made sure to check in with us. We also enjoyed the Pool Grill and Mamsens, and appreciated the fresh choices available for a quick meal. BAD: Our meal at Manfredi's was disappointing. After being seated we waited 8 minutes before anyone made contact. Two other groups who came in after us had water, wine and appetizers ordered before anyone even offered to fill our water glasses. Our server spent most of her time talking to a large group near us, which resulted in the our food being served a bit cold. Our steak was overcooked. UGLY: Several times I witnessed extremely rude (and somewhat racist) passengers. I heard one man say "Why can't you speak English?" I witnessed many passengers at meals being demanding of servers in unreasonable ways. There was one male supervisor in the World Table who was horrible. I witnessed him demeaning his colleagues on many occasions. I also saw him physically touch female colleagues in inappropriate ways. He was effusively polite to certain passengers; kissing women on the cheek, bowing in deference, etc. It was as if he had studied photos of the "high rollers", and was determined to imbue himself into their good graces. He is a "bad apple" among what is otherwise a stellar staff who are clearly very well-trained. AMAZING: In each of these situations, the staff members were calm, polite and did their best to satisfy the often unreasonable demands. It must be very difficult for them to tolerate passenger behavior which was so rude and racist. It must also be impossible for them with a supervisor who harasses and belittles them. With the exception of the one male supervisor, every single other staff member we encountered was friendly, helpful and efficient. Given that almost all of these young adults are away from home and family, it is really amazing that they maintain such composure and willingness to serve. EXCURSIONS: We only did one upcharge excursion (our other one was canceled due to a weather-related itinerary change). The included excursions were mostly sitting on a bus, with a tiny amount of very SLOW walking. Compared to the local guides we have had on Rick Steves tours, it was useless. We were not given any real information about the culture/traditions/politics of the location and there was no opportunity to interact with locals. We never once experienced the sort of interactions you see on the TV commercials. Entertainment: GOOD: The Port Talks were generally useful. The excursion director had taken the time to study the port, and gave us clear visuals and directions about what would happen. BAD: The cruise director sometimes seemed unprepared, making lots of mistakes as she simply read from a teleprompter.The two "port performances" offered were mediocre. The Irish singers were amplified so loud it was hard to appreciate them. Instead of having them do traditional Irish music, this was a cheesy, Americanized version of Irish music. The advertised dance troupe was actually a small group of teenagers and two adults. The Scottish group who performed seemed sweet, but there was no education involved such as explaining how bagpipes worked. UGLY: We missed many performances as they were scheduled after 9:00 pm. That is too late for us, which is our problem not Viking's. :) AMAZING: Russell Lee's two lectures were riveting. Topical (BREXIT) and historical in nature they were a true highlight of the cruise for us. Overall: We are glad we did our first cruise with Viking. Clearly they provide the best model among competitors. Having said that, this is a very expensive way to travel. That translates into a passenger group that tends to be demanding and less interested in education/cultural exchange. Understanding that this World Cruise may not be representative of all Viking ocean cruises, it honestly felt like a luxury version of a Senior Living Facility. The focus is not as advertised; there were no local interactions and excursions were very superficial. There should be at least one included excursion for each port that is active and focused on educational and in-depth cultural exchange. We may try another Viking Ocean cruise at some point, but for now it is probably not the best match for us. Read Less

I believe Viking does a tremendous job of taking care of their passengers. We loved our previous River Cruise & many of the same positive traits were present on this one. A longer trip, so even though the food was good, it got boring after awhile. About 1/2 the tours were great, the others only average and a lot of time on busses. I am not sure what they could do to improve the tours, but sitting on a bus for a couple of hours and listening to someone talk & point out that things we could barely see happened on several of the excursions. Other times we were able to get out and actually enter an attraction of building. Our Cruise director, Vicki, was hilarious and did a great job. The beverage supervisor/officer was everywhere and always pleasant. The staff were great. Our room Stewart, Mikko and our bar waiter, Jeorge and Sasha, our favorite bus assignment gal were just a few who helped make it a great trip. Only disappointment was the sales person for new cruises. We already had a future cruise booked, but he encouraged us to meet with him anyway to review details & excursions. We made appointment, met with him and he brushed us off. He was preoccupied, took phone calls, cut the meeting short to go elsewhere. ( about 10 min). He promised to send us recommendations for excursions, but never did. I will chalk it up to he had a bad day and concentrate on all the others who were great. Read Less

We chose this cruise for three reasons. The itinerary offered us a chance to see the peripheral sites of the British Isles without changing lodgings frequently. We wanted to avoid the large cruise ships. We also wanted a cruise that offered a wide selection of shore tours. Viking offered all of this at a reasonable price. The flexible dining options were also a bonus. We preferred the casual World Cafe but also enjoyed Manfredi's Italian Restaurant. Eating lunch on the beautiful comfortable Pool Deck was a real pleasure. We found the food good and varied. The service was wonderful. This was the most personable crew we have experienced. The entertainment was simple but pleasurable. We particularly enjoyed listening the guitarist in the evenings. The Explorer Lounge was absolutely breathtaking. It offered a spectacular view day of night as well as comfortable seating in the Norwegian fashion. The Viking Living Room was just that. it offered open spaces, comfortable seating, games puzzles and a library. It was too late in the season to use the Sports Deck but I believe in summer it would be a great attraction. Port and shore excursions were varied and well conducted. We enjoyed all of the ones we took. We found, though, that the optional tours went into much greater depth and were necessary to really see out ports of call. Two conveniences offered by Viking are prepaid beverage services and prepaid gratuities. I would advise guests to subscribe to both. They are quite modestly priced and take a lot of inconvenience and concern out of the trip. Read Less

Itinerary first but the Viking ships are beautiful, great staff, wonderful food. Five star experience! The shore excursions were wonderful especially the Giant's Causeway, Canterbury Cathedral, Orkney was a wonderful surprise. The staff are friendly and can't do enough for you. The specialty restaurants are included and Manfredi's which is Italian, everything was delicious. The Chef's Table serves a set menu that is always interesting. Wine is included with lunch and dinner but if you want to step up to the special beverage package, Silver Spirits, it doesn't cost you the price of a new car. We find the travelers on Viking to be educated, well traveled and interesting. We highly recommend Viking for a great cruise experience no matter where you want to travel, either ocean or river, you can't go wrong. We intend to keep traveling with Viking as they continue to open new cruises to all parts of the world. Read Less

We have cruised many other cruise lines and were looking forward to this one because Viking was supposed to be a cut above, etc. It is not and we won't book another ocean cruise with them again. Food was average. Not much variety. Service both dining and cabin was great. We had booked an Explorer Suite in the aft portion. The Infinity Pool on the 7th deck sprung a leak with the seal breaking overflowing on two separate occasions. First time they said they fixed it but then it happened again a few days later. We were told management would be contacting us. We heard nothing. Very disappointed in the lack of communication and caring. The cabin-couch only allowed for two people to sit. Chairs were hard to sit on-no cushioning. Overall, a very uncomfortable, unrelaxing cabin for the $$ spent! Entertainment sparse and poor and at later times. The shore excursions were nothing outstanding. Regular like you'd find offered by other cruise lines. Too bad because we really wanted to like Viking. Lack of caring doesn't do much for future booking on their ships. We're sticking with Holland America and Celebrity! Read Less

We chose to go with Viking based the recommendations from friends. We are not typically cruiseship people; however, the limited number of passengers (900) appealed to us. We were not disappointed. The Viking Sun is a floating masterpiece of design and function. We booked a Penthouse Veranda Suite on Deck 6. I would book the same type of room on a lower level as the rough seas one whole day made it difficult to maneuver in the room. We had exceptional housekeepers. Both women were friendly and helpful for the entire experience. No need to twist a towel into an animal shape. The bar on the bow of the ship on the 7th Floor was wonderful. The view was always peaceful. The service was exceptional. We would also say that prices for alcoholic drinks were more than reasonable. We heard many people talking about other cruise lines and their exorbitant prices for drinks. We ate most of our meals in the buffet. The food was delicious, creative, gourmet worthy. We enjoyed having so many choices at each meal. We ate twice at Manifred's which was excellent. We dined once at the Chef's Table. We think that the space should feature a specific cuisine and not the "strange" combination of items that we experienced one evening. As for the excursions, I would concur with other Viking passengers: some of the excursions were merely large tour buses driving around congested streets. One glaring problem is that the excursions are NOT handicap accessible. There are no accommodations for getting off the ship and into a tour bus or van. In one instance, a gentleman in a wheelchair was lifted into the bus by the guide as NO Viking personnel were on hand to help him on or off the bus. The disembarkation ramps or steps were sometimes difficult for able bodied passengers. In addition, there are some very long treks from the ship to ground transportation. All of this information should be clear to people before they book the cruise. We felt that the paid excursions offered a much better experience than the included ones. With the price of a Viking cruise, we had hoped that some of the included excursions would be more interesting. We did not partake of any of the entertainment venues. We did listen to the guitar player in the upper level bar. We were bored out of our minds by the 10th day with his limited repertoire. We listened to the two-piece ensemble and were not impressed. We also did not use the spa or the "outdoor" pool. Well, no one used the outdoor pool; however, we did have 2 days of good weather and an open ceiling. We were surprised by the limited shopping on the ship, especially the Nordic store. I never saw anyone in the jewelry store except for our one day at sea. As for the library, that is a humorous label for the collection of books on the ship. Don't expect to find anything in a logical order by title, author or genre. Transportation to and from the airports was handled brilliantly on both ends. We will most likely do another Viking cruise in the near future. We truly had an elegant time in a casual atmosphere. Read Less

I can only compare Viking to 2 other cruise lines, so I have a limited viewpoint. But just for the record, Viking continues to improve their overall experience with every cruise taken. The dining is superb and 99% of the food was excellent, hot and flavorful. The ship was beautiful and clean. Our cabin was cleaned 3 X a day we were provided daily snacks, drinks and iced. Our service was excellent. Some evenings our dinner was a bit slow, but the wine was always flowing freely while we waited. Entertainment was exactly as we expected - we are not big on shows and such, but what we did attend was very enjoyable. Shows were for mainly for people a little older than us and some were a little "corny". The ports and excusions are a mixed bag....some better than others. Everyone should do their homework beforehand to know where/what you want to see when you arrive at your port. Overall, the crew was very helpful and friendly, even the general manager was very accomodating. We will be back for more! Read Less

We chose this cruise to experience a Viking Ocean Cruise after doing 2 Viking River Cruises. Had FABULOUS time! As with the River Cruises, staff and food was outstanding! Doing the Iceland Pre Trip was amazing, and helped us bond with our shipmates - which continued throughout our cruise! There were 12 of us who would meet up in the Lounge for cocktails, then attend dinner with other couples, then meet up at the Shows ( which were exceptional! Our Cruise Director sang and entertained as if she were on Broadway!!!) The food was delicious - think we had fresh King Crablegs every night at the Buffet! The specialty Dining Rooms were great - we ate at the Italian place 2 times, and then were able to get the Private Room our last night for all 12 of us! Our staterooms were adequate and balcony was nice to sit out on...I have to say, from early morning, until heading to our room at night, there was ALWAYS a smile and a nice greeting from EVERY staff member - such an upbeat group of people, who obviously enjoy their jobs!!! We look forward to our already booked Egypt Viking River Cruise, with pre Jerusalem and post Jordan trips, in 2021!!! Thank you, Viking, for having the BEST Ocean and River Cruises!!! Read Less

This was our first cruise experience and we definitely feel we made the best choice with Viking. We couldn’t identify one thing about our cruise (and pre and post land tours) that wasn’t top rate. Every detail was perfect from the service, transfers, food, cabin and amenities. We were met at the airport by our Viking contact and taken immediately to our hotel in Oslo for a two day tour. We were then escorted on our train connection to Bergen to board the ship. After the cruise we stayed in London for a five day tour focusing on the life of Winston Churchill, which was great. Our hotel was centrally located and we were able to wash to all the sites in London- we even were able to check out the Brexit demonstrations. There were so many comfortable spaces on the ship, it felt like we were on our own personal cruise. There was never a line for any of the restaurants, the service was excellent and very friendly and personal- and the food was delicious and beautifully prepared. We enjoyed a variety of entertainment venues as well as taking advantage of the gym and spa- one of the best massages I’ve ever had. Every staff member on the ship from the top down was friendly and professional- many of the waiters knew our names from the first day. We enjoyed the included shore excursions in every port. There was plenty of time to explore on your own as well. We were so impressed that have already booked two more Viking cruises! Read Less

The Viking Representative was waiting for us on our arrival at the airport. However, It would have been helpful to have had a "heads up" on which line for customs at Heathrow airport as we lost almost an hour waiting on the wrong line. Our arrival at the Viking Sun was welcoming and from the moment we stepped on the ship we could not have wanted more. The ship is immaculate, the service and staff always there to please. We enjoyed the classical duo, two young talented ladies from Hungary who added many evenings of fine listening and elicited a beautiful atmosphere of European Class and elegance. The dining and food were abundance and quality was far beyond anything we had experienced on any other cruise. The disembarkation went smoothly with a Viking representative guiding us to the proper line at the airport. Going forward I will only travel on Viking. Read Less

I Wanted the Iceland extension and friends wanted us to go with them to the British Isles. One of the big reasons for selecting Viking was the smaller ship size with less passengers. We also appreciated the fact that like the river cruises a city tour of each port was included. Overall we were quite pleased; we appreciated not having formal nights, not being pestered by photographers, getting around a smaller ship was nice, The cabin (category DV4) was quite nice and well laid out. The crew was very friendly and quite helpful. I liked that the dining room menu was, for the most part, available at the buffet. The food was very good (enjoyed some sushi every night) but I would like to have seen more bread variety in the buffet and a dispenser for standard "filter" coffee. We have already booked another Viking Ocean so that should say a lot. Read Less

Overall a great trip. The food and service was wonderful, our only suggestion would be to change the times of the entertainment. Some of the included excursions were just very general coach tours, so we were glad that we had chosen optional ones, too Compared to other cruises we have been on, embarkation and disembarkation were a breeze. It was very nice not to be "upcharged" for everything as on other cruise lines, like the specialty restaurants and use of the spa. Our precruise stay in london was nice, the hotel was a great location. Viking picked us up at the airport, very convenient. Our travel agent did help us work put some flight issues, and I wish that our local airport could have been included in viking air. We like cruising and will consider viking again depending on the costs. We do get frequent mailings from them and will watcj for sales. Overall a lovely trip Read Less

We chose the British Isles due to our longtime interest in our ethnic heritage, our love of the literature, and our desire to see with our own eyes the places we’ve been reading about for years. We were delighted with the ship and crew, the added academic and entertainment opportunities and each port. What a thrill watching the docking procedures, entering new cities and towns, discovering special nooks and crannies through the guided tours. An unexpected need due to a wardrobe malfunction was for sewing. There was a tailer on board!! He saved my wardrobe by adjusting the waist bands in two pairs of pants - thus increasing my pant options by 50%. Who knew? Well, our steward Nengah knew. Our steward was such a support and help. I think we will miss him for quite a while. We learned so much and discovered so much. We were living large the whole time and had to pinch ourselves off and on. Plus the dining options were perfect - casual when we were tired, white table cloths when we were leisurely. Beautiful presented and tasty as well, home cooking is suffering in comparison. Read Less

The Viking Sun is ideal in every way. The ship’s design and furnishings are luxurious, while restrained. Definitely not over the top, like many cruise ships. With about 900 passengers it was easy to find quiet places on the ship whenever desired. We found service and dining to be excellent. The itinerary was excellent, though the weather was sometimes uncooperative. The west coast of Norway is beautiful as were the northern islands of Scotland. In general, included shore excursions were interesting and well organized. Predictably, Edinburgh was overrun with tourists which detracted from our experience. The on board lecturers were knowledgeable and interesting. The on board entertainment was the only area that wasn’t great. Considering the small size of the ship, this isn’t surprising. Check in was a breeze and embarkation in Bergen was very smooth. We spent an extra night in Bergen and enjoyed it. Our hotel was the Radisson Blu, which was in ideally located in Bergen’s historic harbor. Disembarkation in London was well organized, but our morning flight required that we meet for airport transportation at 3:30 AM! Short night. Read Less

We had heard nothing but great things about Viking from several friends so we decided to give it a try. Our expectations were met on almost every level. Our room was great and the amenities were well designed and maintained. The staff who took care of out room were great. Food was excellent - several levels above what we have experienced in other travel. We ate most of our meals at the pool bar and the buffet, although I heard nothing but good things about the other venues. The "Chef's Table" was interesting, but seemed more focused on process than cuisine - other folks loved it. Manfredi's was really outstanding both in terms of food and service. Brunch at the pool during our final sea day was absolutely spectacular. There were educational and entertainment activities, but we chose to focus on reading and hanging out in comfortable spaces on the upper decks. Given the cost of travel on Viking and relatively small number of passengers, I expected the tours - both included and extra cost - to feature smaller groups and richer itineraries. We have traveled extensively with National Geographic/Lindblad Expeditions and have come to expect early entry, meetings with key staff like museum specialists or directors and excursions focused on culture or nature that were a cut above marching around behind some guide with a flag. The excursion staff seemed poorly attuned with Norway weather. An open boat trip to "Troll Fjord" turned into a 2 hour trip in a small ferry with fogged up windows. We were notified of the change the night before, but not offered the opportunity to cancel and get our money back. Excursions need to be examined for improvement - especially the ones for which you pay extra. Embarkation and Debarkation were handled really well and the staff was very accommodating. The whole experience was as great as our friends had reported and we already have another Viking Ocean cruise booked. We both agreed that we could just live on the Viking Sun for an extended period because it was such a great place. Read Less

Very well run from embarkation to disembark experience. Check in was a breeze, no crowds. Someone took my luggage immediately and since I was early went to the World Cafe for lunch. Lots of servers and staff checking on you. My room was scheduled to be ready at 2pm but an announcement at 1:30pm said all rooms were ready! Room was fine, second level of stateroom. Only issue was not enough closet/drawers. Next level up does. have more drawers. State room attendant Mohammed Ali was great, very attentive and personable. Room was served 2 x day. He was a highlight for me. Always greeted you by name and cheerful. Soda and snacks replenished 1X a day. Was asked what type of soda we liked and it was quickly replaced to our preference. Plenty of room for wine or beer if you purchase some and want it chilled. Bath has a drawer for each guest and several shelves. Floor is heated:) Large shower with small bench and groove fixtures. Great water pressure. retractable clothes line to hang wet swimsuits. Mirror doesn't fog. Beds are OK not the most comfortable. Plenty of room underneath to store suitcases. Good size balcony with two chairs and a table large enough to eat off. While in room coffee make is nice, with 24 hour room service not needed. The design and decor is similar to the river longships, cheery and sleek. Really beautifully appointed and not garish like other cruise lines with bright colors all over. The atrium is 3 level with ample seating. The main floor has guest services, a bar, two restaurants. Bar prices are very favorable, $8 USD for a premium drink. Wine was $5 or $6 at off meal hours ( included with lunch and dinner). Little bar snack plates with savory pastries or nuts and wasabi peas at the bars. Main floor bar has cookies all day, pastries and open faced sandwiches during the day. Explorers bar at the bow of the ship on 7th floor has lots of large windows, comfortable seating. Mamsen's is also located here, open in early am then for snacks off and on. Custom Norwegian waffles are great. World Cafe is on the back of the 7th floor, excellent buffet style with wait service. Kitchen is in the middle of the area with buffet lines on either side. Food was always fresh and a variety. Pizza, main dishes, salad bar, sushi, deserts, gelato. Main dining room is gracious and changing menu. This is slower pace of service for all meals. 3 servers assigned to each table. Attentive. Manfredi's specialty was good, we could only get in once. Chef's Table was Ok, not a favorite. Fussy with wine pairings for each course. Set menu depending on what night you go. Pool bar and grill - excellent grill to order, fresh French fires and onion rings, burgers, fish and hot dogs plus a small salad bar. One night they had a Fish n Chips night, was really great with crispy fish and chips and all the fixings. Special brunch on the last sea day took up whole middle pool area, pool grill and Wintergarden area. Very elaborate and delicious. Grilled lobster and shrimp, steaks, pasta cooked in front of you, fruit, cheese table, bread table, dessert offerings ( they were cartelizing the tops of creme brûlée in front of you) Mimosas and Bloody Marys. Well staffed and tasty. Salt water pool at back of the boat is heated with a hot tub above. Lots of towels and a shower at either side of back of cafe. Spa area therapy pool was really great. Nice facilities. Gym has towels, water and enough equipment for the amount of users. Gift shop are nicely curated, no tacky offerings. Dale of Norway sweaters, Helly Hansen jackets, and some small sundries. Jewelry shop is pretty expensive but gorgeous stuff. Now for the staff - really attentive. The Senior officers and Captain are VERY visible and always around. I was impressed at the special meals that the General Manager, Chef and beverage managers were out and about not sitting in an office. Officers like Housekeeping Manager out and visible. Servers try hard and it shows. Attentive and if there is a lapse in service because they are busy they move quickly to rectify. All the shore excursions were well organized and the few times the tenders were used very efficient and constantly running so you don't have to wait. In several ports there were shuttles to and from town, free of charge if you wanted to spend more time to shop or have a meal. Busses were clean, good drivers and tour guides. Port Talks are on the TV in your room as well as the Daily schedule and restaurant menus and opening times. It never seemed crowded at all even though it was a full ship. I am very happy with experience. Read Less

This was a great cruise. We have been on Viking river boats but this was our first time on a Viking Ocean. The size of the ship was just right. It was big enough so they had good entertainment but small enough that you could move around without a problem. I could always find a seat for shows or meals.The staff from the cabin steward to the Captain of the ship were always friendly and available. We had a penthouse Veranda and were very pleased with the size and location. The Laundry was available on the hall and free. The onboard entertainment was good and we enjoyed the performers during the day as well as the shows at night. The ports that required a tender were few but it went fast and we didn't have long waits to load. The Viking app was very helpful and made easy to stay in touch with others in our party with its texting feature. We will definitely try another Viking Ocean soon! Read Less

This was our first Viking ocean cruise, but we did a river cruise with Viking before and loved it. The ocean cruise did not disappoint us!!! The ship was lovely, our cabin was too! We loved the balcony for wildlife watching along with the Explorer lounge bow. I really cannot say enough about ALL of the staff. They were extremely friendly and joy to visit with daily. We loved eating outside, so we ate at the World Cafe, almost every meal. The food was soooo good! The selection was incredible and the service delightful. Viking does a fantastic job of helping you immerse yourself in the culture and history of the ports you are visiting. They do this with the knowledgeable lecturers they have on board giving lectures and the tour guides in port. We also really enjoyed the wildlife expert they had on board. We learned a lot about the natural species of the area and had a great time wildlife watching with him. The ports on this itinerary were the reason for choosing this itinerary. It was a wonderful Scandinavian experience. We also did the pre extension in Oslo with the train to Bergen. What a fantastic trip! We also extended post in London. Even when you are not on the ship Viking does a great job of taking care of you on land. The hotels we stayed in were very nice and centrally located. The is made it easy to get around on foot and see the areas. We will definitely travel with Viking again! Our next big decision, is do we do an Ocean or River Cruise????? Thank you Viking Sun for a wonderful vacation! Read Less