I've been interested to sail with Viking Ocean since seeing them enter this market a couple of years ago. We've been loyal and long-time (2008) Oceania customers, but in very recent years, the quality of that experience as begun to diminish. In reading reviews and looking at industry trade publications about Viking's new ocean offerings, it seemed that they were doing what Oceania set out to do ten years ago, but perhaps doing it to the same or higher level of quality that Oceania seems to be leaving behind in an effort to be more cost-conscious.

I should note, too, that I had previously done a Viking River cruise in 2010, and am part of an extremely small minority that didn't really love that experience. The ship was too small, too sedate, and the other passengers were of a much older demographic. (I don't need casinos and zip lines by any means, but I wasn't ready for the level of 'quiet' vs. 'interesting things to do' that we encountered on this trip.) I took my mother on the itinerary that included the Passion Play in Oberammergau, and while many aspects of the ship itself were first rate, the overall experience isn't one I was interested in repeating. So I didn't book the Viking Ocean cruise BECAUSE OF a wonderful experience with Viking River, but IN SPITE OF my 2010 river cruise that wasn't really my cup of tea.

That's important background context, because I found every aspect of this cruise to be well above expectations. No experience is flawless, but this one came close. Read more