The rating is linked to a specific ship but the 3-star rating includes the performance of pre-cruise customer service, Viking Air, MyVikingJourney.com and etc.

We had high expectation of this trip because Viking in the past always exceeded expectations. Viking's onboard crew continued to excel at the highest level, especially the wait staff in the restaurants. However, I did experience inconsistent customer service quality from Viking's call center which used to be Viking's strong suit and one of the reasons I was able to convince the couple who used to travel with Vantage to join my husband and I on this trip. The Air tab on Viking's portal, myvikingjourney.com, must be Viking's weakest link. Apparently, Viking is a cruise company and not good at air travel at all. I used to think Viking disdains cheap shots to make a few extra box but no more. I signed up 4 other couples to join me and my husband on the same upcoming journey, Viking Homelands, in September. Viking booked us on 4 different itinerary although we all use the same departing gateway. I knew Viking wanted us to pay the $150 extra each to synch up the itineraries. Viking could also have secured better itinerary as well as better seat at the same price for us but they fell short of that extra step. That said, once we paid the Air Plus and got to speak to the agents at Air department after a long wait, they are usually super professional and good to work with.

Viking wanted us to use the portal to sign up excursions and provide stateroom preferences and etc. However, they failed to follow through what we requested. Most disappointed of all is the meal on board. The best meal we had on the trip is the lunch Viking paid for us to eat at Peter's Brauhaus at Cologne.The fish and chips as well as the burger we had for lunch on the day we arrived was so bad we had to send them back. The duck breast for dinner one night that my husband was so looking forward was so tough that he had to sent back as well. The waiter was embarrassed and very apologetic but not his fault. The best meal onboard was the German night. Chef finally did a wonderful job with the hog. They served salad in a giant bowl but the volume was small, nothing like what we enjoyed back in 2017 on the Danube cruise. I was embarrassed when the couple I brought onboard with me "gently" told me meals on Vantage were better.