In 2016 we took our first VIking River cruise and were so impressed that we booked our first VIking ocean cruise the following year. My husband and I have cruised often (Diamond status with Royal Caribbean and Elite with Celebrity). VIking definitely has a different feel. It is more relaxed and upscale. Embarkation in Venice was easy and quick. We booked air transportation on our own since we included extra days in Italy pre and post cruise.

We traveled with four friends and had three cabin next to each other on deck 5. Everything is new and sparkling clean on the Sun. We found the cabin to have adequate space for storing clothes and toiletries. We liked the location across from the launderette, which all of us used more than once. There never was a time we could not access a washer or dryer. Late afternoon and early evening seemed to be the busiest times. You really need to read the directions to make sure detergent is added. That is located separate from the stacked washer/dryer.

We dined at Chef’s Table and Manfredi’s and enjoyed both. We never had an issue getting seated at a table for six in The Restaurant. The majority of the tables are for two, but some are located close to other tables so you could have conversations with others if you chose to On one occasion we all felt too full, after having a large lunch at port, to eat a multi-course meal. We were surprised when we checked out the World Cafe and found a seafood bar with crab legs, large prawns, and an excellent sushi bar. We loved the crab legs and sushi as well as other dishes there. We all purchased the Silver drink package and found it to be a good value for us. Viking’s prices on the drink menu are reasonable compared to other cruise lines but we liked being able to choose more wine options as well as Grey Goose vodka and Makers Mark bourbon cocktails. Also when we travel with friends, we find ourselves enjoying the cocktail lounges more. Explorer Lounge was our favorite. Read more