The Viking Octantis is a beautiful ship and the crew was absolutely spectacular. There was enough to do, fantastic rooms, and the food was quite good and varied. The crew/staff is really what made this cruise memorable - from housekeeping to serving staff to bartenders - everyone was so kind and eager to please.
However, we were disappointed in a few very important things:
1. The submarines ...
Stateroom - Exceptional, roomy and upscale...best ever. Room attendants were exceptional as well, never under your feet but always there when needed. Large window was a fine substitute for a balcony given the chilly weather and rain. Had a big TV that had little to view unless you liked 5 different news channels.
Guest Services - Available without out a line most of the time. Helpful, ...
Previous experience with Viking was favorable and we hoped this was a way to see the Great Lakes area which was a part of the country we had not been. Had we done more research we would have not taken this trip. The ship is beautiful and well designed, with lots of hidden and cozy places to enjoy spending time. The ride is very smooth with little movement, even in rough water. Entire crew from ...
Thank you, cdetreat, for sharing your experience with us. Your kind words about our onboard staff are truly a testament to their dedication to your comfort. That said, we are sorry to learn...
We wanted to see the Great Lakes. Aside from Mackinac Island, the onshore options were very limited. We loved the special boat and the tour of all the "toys". However, most of the other options for excursions involved Zodiacs, canoes, or kayaks. I was having my hip replaced after the cruise so those options were not good for me. On the ship, the library was very nice with a puzzle or two. ...
After having the Paris-Normandy cruise we paid for cancel in 2020 and 2021, we decided to stay closer to home and book the Great Lakes Expedition. We enjoyed Mackinac Island, and really wanted to eat lunch at the Grand Hotel. It was not worth $149 a person as it was a buffet. We were herded in with many other people. There was no tour or information about the hotel. So-so service and no ...
Overall my wife and l found ‘Alaska and British Columbia – Inside Passage, Bears and Aleutian Islands’ 07 July – 25 July 2002 a disappointing experience.
What was good:-
• The information provided pre cruise was clear and timely
• The ship, MS Roald Amundsen, is a perfect platform for exploration
• The cabins, or ‘staterooms’ are well equipped and very comfortable
• The equipment ...
First of all let me say that the ship is Beautiful. The staff was wonderful and couldn't have been more friendly. The food was amazing. The Chef "I'm sorry I can't remember his name" was always about checking on the guests.
My only hold back on giving this a higher rating is that Viking still has some kinks to work out as far as ports, equipment, and boarding vessels for expeditions. Some of ...
We just completed the June 18th Great Lakes Explorer cruise, starting in Milwaukee and ending in Thunder Bay, Ontario. It was our first Viking cruise.
Pros:
1. We thought the ship was beautiful, and enjoyed the many "nooks and crannies" to sit and relax.
2. The crew was absolutely wonderful. They worked hard, remembered names, and were gracious and friendly.
3. Food ran the ...
Due to the pandemic we wanted to cruise domesticly so we selected this cruise based on the published description which was very misleading. We booked a balcony which turned out to be a window . We booked an extended cruise. We were expected to change staterooms three times in spite of booking several months in advance. Viking did not have the permits to utilize the submarines or special boats in ...
Based on the price, we thought Ponant would be a really nice cruise, but we were disappointed in comparison to other top-notch cruise lines we've enjoyed. Many incidents were individually small things that would have been easily overlooked IF the overall cruise or friendliness of the staff would have exceeded (or even MET) our expectations. As our cruise progressed though, the tiny annoyances ...