Viking Sky Review
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After our amazing Viking River cruise in 2011, we swore we'd never do an ocean cruise again! We eventually did do an Alaska cruise which was great, but the whole time we said, "It's not Viking!" So when Viking started their ocean cruises we began looking for the best opportunity to sail with them again. We wanted to sail over spring break which narrowed down our dates and ended up on the Italian Sojourn cruise. We had always wanted to see more of Italy and the dates worked. Our first impression of the Sky was one of awe. This was a five-star floating hotel! Our cabin (5034 - PV2 cat) was beautiful and spacious beyond our expectations. The finishes on this ship are gorgeous - the wood, furnishings, and even the handrails are beautiful! We toured the ship and settled into the Explorer Lounge to await the arrival of our friends. It is the most special place on the entire ship -- chairs and sofas of the softest leather, a gas fireplace, a bar, and the most spectacular views. Our friends were next door to us in 5036 (DV2 cat) - noticeably smaller but spacious enough.
The service on the Sky was nothing less than spectacular. Our cabin steward saw to our every need, usually before we asked. Every waiter, bartender, tour guide, and entertainer we came across was friendly, spoke perfect English, and anticipated our needs. The entertainment was just right for this ship - mostly soft, acoustic music in the common areas and restaurants (the piano, flute, violin, and cello players were amazing) and the shows like the Broadway review and Beatles shows were excellent as well.
The food! Most cruises I've been on (with the exception of the Viking River cruise) have food that looks better than it tastes. The meals we had on board are equal to any luxury restaurant on land. How they manage to feed 900 passengers and make each meal more special than the last one is beyond me. The breakfast buffet in the World Cafe was plentiful. Snacks were available throughout the day, as was bottled water. Our meal in Manfredi's will go down as an all-time travel favorite. Our meals in The Restaurant were likewise memorable and anticipated.
Cabin Review
I've been in much smaller hotel rooms, much less ship cabins! A king-sized bed, a sofa, a club chair, and a desk chair still left plenty of room to walk around. Our refrigerator was stocked with champagne, beer, small bottles of liquor, as well as soft drinks, bottled water, and snacks. These were replenished as needed. The bathroom was huge for a ship and the heated floors were appreciated. The shower was large and though the water pressure wasn't great, the amenities and finishes in the bathroom (tile, countertops, wood) were beautiful. There was plenty of storage in the bathroom (drawers, shelves, and cabinets). Storage in the cabin was impressive overall - a large double closet and three sets of drawers was plenty for the two of us to unpack everything. The veranda was nice, but as the weather was chilly we didn't use it as much as we would've liked. However, it was worth it all to stand on it as we cruised into Venice! I couldn't believe how close we were to shore and were able to see the city from the water, as it is meant to be seen!