I hadn’t been to any of the destinations on this cruise but the destination I was really excited about was Eidfjord, and I wasn’t disappointed. We flew to Bergen and were met by Viking representatives at baggage reclaim. As soon as our luggage appeared we were escorted to the waiting transfer minibus. As we arrived late afternoon we went straight up to our cabin after a very smooth check in and welcome glass of champagne. Our cases arrived a few minutes later with our cabin steward, who introduced himself and was very helpful and friendly throughout the cruise, as were all the ships company, from cleaners and maintenance engineers to the officers and entertainment team. Our cabin was a deluxe veranda, and very spacious and well equipped. The wardrobe was very roomy with extra hangers available from the cabin steward. All cabins have a balcony, which is not only great for early evening drinks, but also early morning sailing into port. We got up at 6 on the morning as we sailed into Stockholm, to see all the tiny islands. Spectacular! And it was wonderful in Eidfjord to be able to sit and relax with a drink in such a beautiful setting. There were several very gifted classical musicians on board who rotated around the public areas- pianist, guitarist and string duo. They provided a very pleasant atmosphere to relax in. A resident singing group performed in concerts in the theatre accompanied by the resident band , all excellent value. There are several restaurants which all provide a very high standard of service and a wide range of choices, with special menus to reflect the port being visited. I am vegetarian and there was always plenty of choice. Hygiene is very important on a ship, and there were wash basins and sanitisers at the entrance to the World Cafe, which is a buffet. The toilets around the ship were spotless and were checked very regularly. Handrails were also often cleaned during the day and I felt that the standard of cleanliness at all times, throughout the ship, was extremely high. The public areas of the ship never felt overcrowded- never any need to reserve a lounger in the pool area! Although most of the passengers were of an age, there was plenty to appeal to the younger end of the range including the gym, a wonderful spa and range of entertainment. We were very lucky to have such good weather throughout our cruise. It was only raining on the last couple of days, and even then we managed to dodge the showers on our shore excursions. As local guides were employed by Viking, it was fascinating to hear their personal experiences as well as learning so much about our destinations. We had a wonderful holiday and would recommend it to anyone who is interested in experiencing interesting places in an inspiring setting , and not to those expecting entertainment 24/7. Read Less

this cruise is the BEST vacation I have taken to date. The ship was perfect. the ports and excursions were better then I could of hoped for. every port just got better and better. I highly recommend traveling Stockholm to Norway. the WOW factor of sailing into Norway is breathtaking. I tried to find something I would change and there was NOTHING. The crew was phenomenal the whole trip was! Food was excellent. once you take a Viking Cruise ship you will return . As much a we liked the river cruise, the Jupiter or Viking cruise line is the only way to go. Viking reputation stands tall with this ship and the ports it choice to visit. I truly cant say enough about this ship. my high light each day was having High tea in the garden room. The pool roof pulled back on sunny days was perfect. the spa was lovely. If I had to mark one thing down. the spa needed to keep an attendant in the spa area to show people the amenities. also for a luxury line, the amenities in the womens locker room was pretty scares. spa normally have brushes and combs. hair products. and not so much here. but was not bad enough to keep me away every day. There is NO add on fee to use the spa and a beautiful spa it WAS..... Read Less

We chose this cruise to experience a Viking Ocean Cruise after doing 2 Viking River Cruises. Had FABULOUS time! As with the River Cruises, staff and food was outstanding! Doing the Iceland Pre Trip was amazing, and helped us bond with our shipmates - which continued throughout our cruise! There were 12 of us who would meet up in the Lounge for cocktails, then attend dinner with other couples, then meet up at the Shows ( which were exceptional! Our Cruise Director sang and entertained as if she were on Broadway!!!) The food was delicious - think we had fresh King Crablegs every night at the Buffet! The specialty Dining Rooms were great - we ate at the Italian place 2 times, and then were able to get the Private Room our last night for all 12 of us! Our staterooms were adequate and balcony was nice to sit out on...I have to say, from early morning, until heading to our room at night, there was ALWAYS a smile and a nice greeting from EVERY staff member - such an upbeat group of people, who obviously enjoy their jobs!!! We look forward to our already booked Egypt Viking River Cruise, with pre Jerusalem and post Jordan trips, in 2021!!! Thank you, Viking, for having the BEST Ocean and River Cruises!!! Read Less

My wife chose this as many of her ancestors came from that part of Europe. We had a great experience. The staff and service was fantastic and were the friendliest group of people I have ever been around. This was a cruise that I was very sad to see come to an end as we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves in an elegant and relaxed atmosphere. Our daily excursions were very organized and very worthwhile. Every night as we returned to our cabin, the bed was turned down for us and we had our next day Viking News waiting for us. This publication was very well done and filled with valuable information. This staff is very professional, friendly, and organized. The entertainment and lectures were excellent and much preparation went into making it that way. When we left the ship for our excursions, the staff always wished us a good day and offered us a bottle of water. On our return, we were given a warm welcome home and offered a nice warm cloth to refresh ourselves. On our return from Berlin, the entire staff was outside the ship welcoming us home with warm welcomes and glasses of champagne. On our final night on the ship at the farewell reception given by the captain, there was not only entertainment and champagne, but the entire staff was present which I thought was fantastic. Read Less

Iceland’s Majestic Landscapes, August 13, 2019, Viking Ocean We chose this ship for chance to see Iceland up close. It made four stops in Iceland with two days in Reykjavik at the beginning. Most cruise lines stop at the capitol for a day as they transit between the US and Europe. This was our first Viking Ocean cruise. If you are tired of the glitz, the constant sales pitches and wandering to find a quiet spot to read, this cruise line is for you. The ship had no casino and only two shops. Decks 1 and 2 which surround the 3 story atrium are open concept with contemporary Scandinavian décor in neutral tones– sofas, easy chairs & coffee tables with low bookcases to make them feel more intimate. Instead of a single room dedicated as the library, books are shelved at one end of Deck 1 with more books in other areas. Bars/snack areas are also spread throughout the open public areas. There were only two sea days. We found that our only choices for spare time were the port talks, lectures (excellent) and evening performance by the four ship’s singers. There are no dance/show productions. Trivia was held only on the sea days. Obviously the sports deck was not used with the cold and cloudy weather although the pool deck with its glass ceiling had wonderful nooks for reading, relaxing and looking at the ocean and also offered grilled food at lunch and sometimes at dinner. We used the buffet and pool grill for lunch each day and dinner varied between the dining room, Manressa’s Italian café and The World Café. The World Café offered one dedicated ethnic cuisine menu with paired wine included which changed every four days. We found that to be as much of a “show” as a dinner and portions were a bit small. The dining room and buffet food was well prepared and presented. It tended to have emphasis at times on Asian/Indian dishes which were interesting to taste made us wish to see a nice clam chowder, something less pretentious, ie. “down home food” by the last days of the cruise. As my husband put it, after traveling over three weeks, we had “hit the wall” as far as eating was concerned. The staff without exception was helpful and cheerful. Ports: Iceland is a small country with a population of less than 400,000. More than half live in Reykjavik. When our ship of 900 visited a port, Viking worked hard to gather good excursions and transportation. We were often delighted to find ourselves in a small group of less than 20. Viking offered one or more free excursions in each port. The majority were not just a short bus tour around the town. Some days we took both an included tour and a paid tour. Reykjavik We were exhausted when we boarded the ship. Many flights from the US are red-eye and our Icelandair business class seats did not recline more than a few degrees. I would recommend coming in a day early to acclimate. The most popular tour the day after boarding is The Golden Circle, an 8 ½ hour tour staring at 7 AM. We saw Iceland’s most famous waterfall,, Gullfoss, a geothermal area, lava fields and more. Isafjordur: A small group tour to Litlibaer, a tiny home from the early 1900s with stone walls and a turf roof. You will see many turf roofs throughout the country. We were served waffles and jam and our guide made butter in a churn. We were also served homemade chocolates at a photo stop and told about the home-grown enterprises to earn money in this sparsely populated country. Akureyki: We chose a private tour through Tripadvisor/Saga Travel to the Lake Mvatn area to see lava formations, bubbling geothermal areas, Godafoss, the “Waterfall of the Gods”, and learn a lot of local lore. We won the grand prize in our guide, Thor, who truly looked like his name. He had grown up in the area, entertained us with stories from his childhood and was also an extra in Game of Thrones. This was hands-down our best excursion. Seydisfjordur: The Wilderness Center is a unique hotel/tourist attraction far off the beaten path. The owner has created a museum of unique walk-through dioramas showing the life of early settlers and local lore plus a bed-and-breakfast hotel with some of the beds in a single room arranged in cubbies along two walls much like ancient Vikings built their homes, plus two outdoor geothermally heated soaking tubs, all of which the owner proudly showed us. We were served waffles and jam and given taste of lamb smoked on the premises. Thorshavn, Faroe Islands: The 22 small islands which comprise the Faroe Islands stand midway between Iceland and Norway. We visited a turf church, the remains of a 10th century Viking home, and saw fish ladders for salmon while driving through the scenic countryside. Geiranger, Norway: Easily the most scenic stop on the trip, the tiny narrow fjord ends at a tiny town where we chose to take a free tour up a road with 11 switchbacks to a viewpoint looking over the town to the mountains and reverse course and go up the other way to a viewpoint looking down over the town and fjord. This was nothing more than viewpoints and we ended a hotel for a “rest break” which was far too long with nothing to do. Alesund, Norway: Sunnmore Open Air Museum is a collection of homes, barns and other buildings from the past two centuries. Most are open so you can visit inside and the guide gave commentary as we walked along. The buildings are set on rolling land with gravel paths so this may not be suitable for anyone with difficulty walking. Flam, Norway: The small town of Flam set at the end of a fjord hosts up to six cruise ships a day. We were lucky to find only one other. The #1 tour is a 12-mile ride on the Flam railroad up the hillside and through the mountains with waterfalls in abundance. There is a 10 minute stop at a waterfall where the mythical witch appears singing her siren song. At the midway point, there is an hour stop to enjoy waffles and coffee in the hotel and spend a little time enjoying the view back down the valley before catching the next train back down. Viking reserves seats for its passengers. Check out the1-minute zip line ride from the viewpoint halfway down the valley to a farm you can barely see in the distance if a seat on the train back down is too tame! Bergen, Norway: Bergen is the 2nd largest town in Norway and iconic for its gathering of quaint historic merchant homes/warehouses from the days when the town was a trading powerhouse in the Baltic region. Our tour included visiting an old merchant building, a town tour and a funicular ride up Mt. Floien to enjoy the views, a gift shop, a child’s playground, some goats which keep the vegetation trimmed, and restaurant. It was possible to then wander the old wharf and Fish Market on our own afterward since the ship could be seen from the wharf and gauge if it was within a distance you could walk. Read Less

We've wanted to visit these countries for some time and have enjoyed a Viking river cruise. In addition, we preferred to travel on a smaller ship, rather than a typical large ocean cruise ship. The Viking Sky has a well-designed interior: the public areas, like atriums, are spacious and attractively decorated. Our cabin, while not luxurious, was exactly what we needed, as we did not spend much time in it. The variety and quality of food was very good, not exquisite dining, but one cannot realistically exquisite when they are feeding over 900 passengers. We believe that the food was as good as can be expected on a cruise ship. A group of four talented vocalists backed up by four very capable musicians provided most of the entertainment. Of the various shows they performed, we especially enjoyed their tributes to Abba and the Beatles. In addition to these shows, the cruise director organized game nights and comedy acts. We enjoyed visiting all of the ports. The guides provided informative and interesting background information on the locales we visited. The optional excursions covered a wide range of activities. We wished only that Viking offered more than one "included" excursion per port. An important feature of the ship for me was its fitness center which was large and well-equipped with elliptical trainers, stationary bikes, treadmills, resistance machines and free weights. The staff and crew provided amazing service. They were always friendly and showed interest in the passengers. Every one of them we met tried to make our cruise a pleasant satisfying experience. Read Less

We had taken Viking River cruises and decided to try the Viking Ocean. It did not disappoint. The ship is beautifully appointed and the staterooms are nicely done. Our stateroom was small but included everything we needed. The staff is very responsive and attentive. The entertainment includes singing and dancing and lectures by knowledgeable scholars. The food was excellent and includes two specialty restaurants that are not additionally priced and only need reservations. Wine and beer are included with lunch and dinner. You can also eat outside overlooking amazing scenery. There are two pools and two hot tubs. There is a gym and a spa center where you can go to use the steam or sauna as well as get treatments. The concierge desk was never crowded and had at least two people working at all times. For the most part our included excursions were good. There were a couple of itineraries that could use tweaking. The additional excursions (paid extra for) were very good. Read Less

My wife and I had done a dozen or more ocean cruises and 2 Viking River cruises, but we'd not yet done a Viking Ocean cruise. We'd seen how they'd received Travel & Leisure magazines top ocean cruise line all four years they'd been in existence, so we thought we should give it a try. The ship was just right. Not huge like many we'd been on, but with all the amenities we cared about. Nice dining rooms, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, showroom, bars & lounges, a gym and thermal spa, and countless places to sit and hang out. The food and drink in all of the eating areas (World Cafe, Restaurant, Manfredi's, & Chef's Table) were excellent. The staff were friendly and attentive. We had a Deluxe Veranda cabin and it was exceptionally spacious compared to what we're accustomed to. The entertainment staff were very talented and versatile. We made it a point to make every evening's show and were never disappointed. The included excursions were overall great and the extra excursions we chose were wonderful. The ports and surrounding areas we visited were tremendous. Every country on this trip (England, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Norway, Scotland, and Wales) was special in its own way. The Viking extension option we chose in Bergen had us in a hotel that was right in the heart of the 'happening' part of Bergen (Bryggen). Trip of a lifetime! Read Less

This was our second ocean cruise on Viking Sea and we wanted to see more of Norway as well as Shetland and Orkney. We flew into Bergen and were met at the airport as usual by Viking representatives and once at the port, soon had our identity cards processed. We book the basic stateroom which has everything you need including a fantastic shower, a balcony, an extremely comfortable bed and free wifi (no tea and coffee in your room though). The ship is very clean and the crew are really lovely. They greet you all the time and seem genuinely happy to work for Viking. We enjoy Viking as they never try to sell you anything, you are just left to enjoy your cruise. There is so much room on board, lots of quiet places, always an included tour, free tea and coffee all the time as well as cakes and biscuits. Dinner and lunch come with free wine and beer and they are very generous with this. There is not much in the way of organised entertainment other than lectures, and some low key shows, but this suits us. On this occasion, I had booked all our tours after lunch. This worked well as we did not need to rush getting up, and had time to go into town on our own and just look round before returning for lunch and an afternoon tour. The scenery, particularly with the midnight sun, was stunning throughout Norway. We went through the Arctic Circle and stopped at Honningsvag before sailing south to Shetland. Shetland was more than we expected and again, wonderful scenery. However, we were VERY blessed with the weather and calm seas all through (apart from drizzle in Edinburgh) and missed the exceptionally hot weather in England. We always enjoy our food on board and tend to use the World Café self-service for breakfast and lunch, and the Restaurant for evening dinner. There is no need to dress up at any time - smart casual is the order of the day. The Restaurant does not accept shorts or jeans - men tend to wear short sleeved shirts and trousers - rarely a jacket. You will be allocated a table each time you go and can chose to sit on your own or with company. Viking sells mostly to the USA - probably about 80%, with others mostly coming from Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the UK. Everyone is very friendly on board and we find that the Americans are all very well travelled and interested in World events. We had lots of conversations about Trump, Brexit and Boris! Viking do not take children and the age range is mostly retired and upwards although there did seem to be more of a younger element this time. People say to me that Viking is expensive, but really, we find that we don't spend any money on holiday other than some additional bar bills. They constantly hand out cold water bottles, are generous with beer and wine at meals, wifi is free, the gym is free, they often greet you with hot towels when returning from an excursion, the tours are very well organised and you almost never queue for anything. We are already booked with Viking for Alaska next year. Read Less

Not my first Viking ocean cruise but my first on the new Viking Jupiter. While we got off on a rocky start as our ship developed a propulsion system problem leaving out of Greenwich, we were delayed 2 days in the small English port of Tilbury. Viking worked to organize a few tours in the Tilbury area, gave some onboard credit to passengers, and in general worked very hard to keep passengers pacified. Good news was that the needed repair(s) were made and we were on our way again. Sadly the ports of the Orkney and Shetland Islands had to e eliminated to get the ship back on schedule. Now the great stuff! Food was varied, plentiful and high quality. On sea days the chef arranged for fun/location driven lunches near the pool. Plenty of complimentary wines and beers during lunch and dinner. I also enjoyed dining in The Restaurant for breakfast and dinners. The specialty restaurants, Chefs Table and my favorite, Manfredi’s were very good. Hubby and I made a few trips to Mamsen’s for the yummy waffle served with the brown goat cheese ( try it before you judge), fresh berries and syrup. The pea soup served 10- midnight is also good. I enjoyed the classical music performances and the variety of evening shows in the theatre. The onboard planetarium had three programs during the cruise that I thoroughly enjoyed. Very limited seating, so be sure you make reservations when you board. Most of the excursions were very good. The Spa was very comprehensive with an emphasis on Nordic bathing ritual, comfort and relaxation. We took this trip to see the Norwegian fjords, and that part did not disappoint. Beautiful, sailing close to observe when possible was awesome. We had beautiful warmish weather without rain ( we were told this was not normal, but we enjoyed it). The trip entitled Into The Midnight Sun, was just that...the sun was up nearly 24 hours a day. A very different experience. I really loved sailing into the Arctic Circle and going to the North Cape. Saw herds of reindeer roaming! On board there were lectures about culture, space travel and other interesting subjects. I do want to mention if you have difficulty with the volume on your in stateroom TV, ask your cabin steward to bring the wireless headset to you. Wonderful in lieu of no closed captioning on TV. The ship is new, built like the other Viking ocean ships and is beautiful. Very relaxing public areas that are conducive to meeting/ making friends. Viking’s style is not for everyone, but I sure love them. Primarily the passengers are 50’s to 80’s that are active, well educated and well traveled. The Cruise Director said most of us are “travelers” with only some being “tourists”. Read Less

We chose this cruise for the itinerary: Majestic Fjords & Vibrant Cities (from Bergen to Copenhagen).We wanted to see what Viking was like and enjoyed our experience enough to book a river cruise in the future. Embarkation in Bergen was simple and efficient. The ship is quite lovely. After the first night, I felt that the bed was a bit too hard for me and we when we told the stateroom attendant--she got us a foam mattress pad. It was perfect. The heated bathroom floor was an extra plus. We utilized some the the included tours, added some optional ones and also explored some places on our own. Yes, the included tours are either walking ours on on buses. Food in the World Cafe was excellent. They had crab legs and sushi available at every dinner. I would rate the main restaurant a 3.5 out of 5. The wine that is included in the prices is the same every night. It got a little boring. Of the two specialty restaurants, I loved the Chef's Table. We ate their twice--once for a Scandinavian inspired meal and the second time for an Asian menu. Both were excellent and the inclusive wines they paired were good. I didn't think that manfredi's was as good. We didn't participate in most of the entertainment on this cruise. I would recommend Viking for this itinerary. Read Less

This was the second cruise I booked, and there was no comparison between my first cruise and this one booked with Viking Ocean Cruises. From Bergen, Norway to Copenhagen, Denmark, this cruise surpassed my expectations. The ship was beautiful and very comfortable. The size of the ship was perfect. I had the opportunity to meet a variety of people, but the ship did not feel crowded. The meals were excellent. The selections available daily in the World Cafe rivaled any 4 star restaurant. My party took advantage of the free excursions in most of the cities and felt that we were provided with an excellent overview of the area. The tour guides were informative and friendly. The cruise ship's staff treated our entire party like they were VIPs. We felt there wasn't anything they wouldn't do for us to fulfill our wishes. My favorite part of the cruise was the experts that presented enrichment sessions throughout the cruise. They were very knowledgeable and presented their material in a very interesting way. This sets Viking far apart from the competition for older, educated travelers. We were so happy with this cruise that we booked our next one before we left the ship. Read Less

We chose this way to see Norway and Sweden. Denmark was a nice addition. We enjoyed the programmed trips but also made use of several additional on shore excursions. The trip didn't disappoint. With all the sightseeing came an education by Viking about the places we would visit each day and the countries. This helped us determine where to go and what to see at each port that we entered. Besides the travel the ship had a variety of great entertainment and we made nightly visits to take part. The food was wonderful. Each day brought a variety of foods to sample, often in the form of local flavors and favorites. We liked to sit and listen to live performances of music before our dinner. Our cabin had great views and the attendant was absolutely great with service. He changed the beverages in our room to ones we personally enjoyed. Everything was smooth and easy form air to ship and departure. On arrival it was easy to know what to do because there were Viking workers everywhere to assure easy travel and boarding. There was lots of pre-trip information to help select the perfect trip. We are already booked for our next trip in 2020 because of how pleased we were with Viking. Read Less

This was our first ocean cruise but we had been on 3 river cruises.We had some concerns about how we would cope being on the sea rather than on a river. We chose this cruise because it was short, with only the first day at sea and then a different port stops for the remaining 6 days. It was very close to a river cruise Itinerary. When we saw the promotion for this Viking Shores and Fiord cruise we both said that’s for us let’s try it. The ship was incredible. Many different themed areas to sit and relax and never crowded, even though the cruise was full. The decor was just right not over the top or opulent, but pleasing to the eye, creating a very relaxing atmosphere. The service on board was excellent, but never pushy, just the right level of attention. There was a wide choice of places to eat so every day could be different. We ate breakfast in the World Cafe, which is an International Buffet restaurant. The daily choices were excellent and we had a different breakfast everyday. For lunch we used both the World Cafe and the Norwegian Cafe. The Norwegian Cafe served Scandinavian styled open sandwiches and incredible Waffles for an indulgent sweet. This Norwegian cafe is located on the top deck with extensive views over the ports where we were docked. For dinner we ate in the main restaurant. There was no set seating and the staff made sure everyone sat in a different location every night, making it a different experience. The menu choice was excellent and as you expect from Viking excellent. One night we ate in one of the speciality restaurants, which was available to everyone at no extra charge. We chose the Norwegian tasting evening. It was one of the best meals I have ever had and I have traveled around the world on business and never had anything better. The shore excursions were well organised and informative with excellent guides. Apart from in Flam we only took the included tours. In Flam we took an additional tour, which was a train ride up the valley up to the Bergen Oslo main line. Incredible scenery and the water fall station stop is out of this world. On the way back we took the additional option of disembarking half way down and cycling back to the ship. What a cycle ride. Down hill all the way, very easy anyone could do it. You could stop where you wanted to admire the incredible scenery and take photographs. We have never seen so many water falls plunging from the top of the mountains into the river in the valley. Scotland and the English Lake District just can’t compete. The included trip at Flam is to a view point overlooking the Fiord. You just have to go and see this view. The entertainment on board was very good, from smooth piano music in the atrium bar in the early evening to ABBA, Decades and Beatles tribute shows in the main theatre. The one person show by Vicky, the cruise director, was also excellent and humorous. There were also a series of excellent lectures. We regretted in the end that there were not more days at sea to go to more of them. Our cabin was a Penthouse Veranda. Very spacious comfortable bed and seating with excellent views. Read Less

We wanted to see the fjords, and, a friend suggested looking at Viking for possible cruises. We picked out this cruise and it was perfect: the only fault (I have to find something) was that they didn't have Guinness on board. The Viking Jupiter staff were courteous and efficient in an unobtrusive manner. The food was great with an excellent variety. The stateroom was always clean and tidy. The live entertainment, each evening, was designed to perfectly target the age group of the audience. The excursions were educational, interesting and well guided. Yes, we are hooked and have booked a Viking river cruise for April 2020. Furthermore, we are in the preliminary stages of booking a Mediterranean cruise for 2021. In summary, it was an amazing first cruise: we couldn't have asked for anything more. As one of the other passengers stated to us "you have picked the BEST for your first cruise". Read Less

We went with VIking again because the ocean cruise ship only carries about 900 people plus staff. There are no gimmicks. You pay for the cruise and the only other decision to make is whether you want to purchase the drink package and whether you want to purchase excursions outside those offered by Viking at each port. The Cruise Director is extremely knowledgeable about each port and hosts information sessions in advance of each arrival at a port. The food is spectacular and the service unparalleled. We purchased a chef led cooking lesson after which we consumed the wonderful multi-course meal. The wine flows freely with each dinner although you have the option to purchase specialty wines if you choose. The sauna was a feature of which we made use several times. It is relaxing and an absolute must if given the opportunity. There are no children on these cruises which we enjoy. Read Less

We really lucked out and had fantastic weather for March. Northern lights were spectacular in Tromso. We took a private tour with indvidulltromoso and was better than the one Vikng offered. The weather was sun shine in Bergen also where it usually rains 360 days a year. As far as the ship, it is beautiful. The few issues we had with service were quickly remedied by the guest service and restaurant managers. Entertainment was good quality, especially for a ship this size. Food was great. Every night in the buffet were crab legs, shrimp etc. Crab legs were split and easy to eat and delicious. We would definately sail with Viking again and again. Good value as you are not nickled andf dimed constantly. Room service was great for coffee and breakfast....Our cabin was good...floor in bathroom was heated and a little too much though. Embarkation and disembarkation were very smooth. All in all, I would highly recommend. Enrichment lecturesd were also very good. Read Less

Viking does a nice job but did not think thru their excursion offerings of this cruise. First, it was mostly in the dark, which was to be expected on a cruise above the Arctic Circle in January. but, many of the museums, shops and excursions sites were closed or inappropriate for January. We did an independent tour which stayed out at night for over 8 hours to see the lights and were given a meal, heavy snow suits, boots and head lamps and a fire. Then we did Viking’s tour in Alta. Vikings night tour offered a few fires, no heavy clothes, and brownies. The venue was too small for the over three bus loads of people. No way to keep warm so we gave up and went back to ship. Take your own warm clothes. Also, included excursions were many times lead by unqualified guides. Could not answer questions like, who is the king, what are the salaries, what is the education system. On the ship’s third floor, three shower drains froze and people were moved. The wait staff had to wear coats because the dembarking door was by the Atrium. Viking did not consider the environment when they took this ship to the Arctic in winter. If you are prepared, maybe this is the cruise for you. FYI, we did not see the Northern Lights. Way too cloudy and lots of snow. Read Less

We hoped to see the Northern Lights as well as visit the Norwegian coast. The cruise which was one of the first by Viking on this route had some difficulties with the excursions, but expect these will be corrected in the future. The Northern Lights were not very good during our trip, but that is not Viking's fault. The sky is only twilight from 9 to 3 in January, so it is important to plan your excursions carefully to maximize your opportunities while you can see. The buffet restaurants were excellent. The higher end restaurants for which you need reservations were good as well, but to be honest after six months I have forgotten about eating in them. The entertainment provided by Viking was absolutely first rate. We enjoyed every show. Because it is cold outside this is a great cruise to get the deck all to yourself. I enjoyed going out as the ship was sailing at night with no one else around and just letting the silence envelope me. Read Less

The ship is a perfect balance of elegance and functionality. The crew was very friendly and worked hard to meet every need. Our Explorer cabin was the best, most functional cabin we've ever stayed in. The Spa facilities and staff were amazing. At sea days we were pampered with massages and enjoyed the spa facilities. The itinerary was fantastic. Interesting islands and towns, and beautiful cruising in between islands and thru the fjords. A very memorable voyage that made us thirst for more trips on Viking Ocean. The specialty dining were very enjoyable and allowed us to easily try new foods and wines. We also enjoyed the main dining room where the food had local flavor options and very friendly staff. I utilized the fitness facility almost daily and enjoyed the clean and functional equipment. We Norwegian Fjords were beautiful. We cruised thru some spectacular ones, and we had a shore excursion that took us to others. Amazing scenery. Read Less

I was invited by friends to join them on this cruise. Although this was my 8th cruise this was my first Viking experience. I am encouraging everyone I know, if they can, take a Viking Cruise. I enjoyed the smaller ship. I enjoyed all the entertainment and especially getting to know the cruise director, assistant cruise director and entertainers. Everyone was so friendly it felt like all the staff was entertaining us. The food was great and the service outstanding. I had a birthday on the ship and I really liked the classy way you helped me celebrate. If I had to pick a favorite port which is hard to do it would probably be Geiranger. It was spectacular to look down from the mountain into the fjord and see our ship with a rainbow above it. It was not photoshopped. The ease of getting on and off the boat couldn't have been better. It was just an overall great experience. Read Less

The itinerary was exactly what we were looking for. Having an overnight in Bergen, Norway at the beginning and another overnight in Greenwich, London at the end of the cruise was an added plus. Cruising several Norwegian fjords up to the North Cape over the Arctic Circle was on our bucket list. We also enjoyed our time in the Shetlands, Orkneys, and Edinburgh. The Viking Sea is the most beautifully appointed ship that we've cruised on. Our cabin was very comfortable and the public areas were quiet and plentiful. Although the weather and seas were mostly calm, the Viking Sea was very smooth and quiet. The food was excellent, although the service in the main dining room tended to be very slow. We found an excellent waiter, Nagesh, who tried very hard, but he didn't seem to get the help he needed from his assistant. We found the resident historian to be excellent. The shore excursions were mostly excellent, although those that were included as free tended to be somewhat superficial. in all we would definitely sail on the Viking Sea or another Viking ship. Read Less

We chose this cruise because we have always wanted to explore more of Norway. My husband is 1/2 Norwegian and booked this cruise immediately following our May 2018 "British Isles Explorer" cruise on Viking which ended in Bergen, Norway. We especially liked the 930-passenger small ship cruising with Viking as well as having "adults only" on board. The ship is elegantly appointed throughout with a Scandinavian decor. There are many areas of the ship to relax and enjoy small ship cruising. It is an exciting, but relaxing experience. Our cabin was #6096 which was a Deluxe Veranda 2 category. It was aft, port side, and adjacent to an Explorer's Suite. There was a coffee/espresso maker in the room as well as a mini-bar which was replenished daily with nuts, chocolate, Coke, Sprite, Tonic Water. Our stateroom Stewards, Arvin and Kevin, cleaned the room spotlessly twice/day and made certain body wash, shampoo, conditioner, and lotion were always available. Arvin shined my husband's shoes on the night we were celebrating our 37th Anniversary. He always asked if there was anything that we needed. He made sure that we also had bottled water in addition to still water in a covered pitcher. Dining was phenomenal throughout the ship. We enjoyed the alternative restaurants (Manfredi's and Chef's Table) as well as the main dining (The Restaurant) and the buffet (The World Cafe). Crab legs were available on the buffet every night of this Norwegian cruise! We mainly ate in the World Cafe since the options were amazing. The Gelato was fresh every day. We enjoyed EVERY included tour as well as some optional tours in Greenwich, England, Edinburgh, Scotland, Orkney Islands, Scotland, Shetland Islands, Scotland, Lofoten, Norway, Nordkapp, Norway, Tromson, Norway, Geiranger, Norway and Bergen, Norway. There was an excellent port talk each evening containing details of the history, heritage and culture of each destination. The onboard entertainment was great. During the day and early evening The Viking Classical Trio and Resident Pianst, Andras provided a perfect combination. The shows at night included excellent singers, performers and violinists. We enjoyed very much. Our Cruise Director, Aaron Syfert, was the best we've ever had. The level of service is amazing. Everyone is genuinely friendly and happy to assist. One of the highlights of exploring the Arctic Circle was "The Blue Nose Ceremony" on the pool deck with Captain Gustafsson. As the Viking Band played, passengers could enjoy a Maritime ceremony of crossing the Arctic Circle...taking a cold ice plunge, followed by a shot of Aquavit, and proclamation from the Captain. It was a lot of fun! We would do this cruise again. We have many wonderful memories of this voyage. Read Less

The desire to visit the Norwegian coast, especially a fjord, was the main motivator behind the choice of this cruise. Although we had been to London previously, we did choose the pre cruise package from Viking. The hotel was excellent and very well located for what we wanted to do which included a concert at St. Martin's in the Fields and Evensong at Westminster Abbey. The whole experience was highlighted by superb organization and crew members who all went to Hospitality School and received "A's." The ship was spotless. Our cabin was fine. And the attention of the cabin attendants was superb. The balcony allowed us views that enhanced our experience. Dining was extraordinary. The variety of foods available at each meal meant many trips to the buffet. The outdoor dining at the Aquavit Terrace was especially nice on the sailings from London through the Shetland Islands and something special and delicious was always featured. . WE ate in Manfredi’s restaurant a couple of times and enjoyed the experience but we found the buffet with more flexible times to our liking. It also provided a chance to visit with those we had met on the journey. Our most exceptional meal was at the Chef’s Table. The feature that night was Chinese and that is not always a favorite; HOWEVER, the meal was amazing and delicious. In particular the lectures and talks were good. Dr. Jeremy Patterson was a favorite. AN “extra” about which we learned after going to one of his casual discussion groups was a tour of the ship as he explained the Bayeaux Tapestry reproductions on each stairway landing. He possesses an extraordinary amount of knowledge and presents it in a pleasant and enjoyable fashion. We were amazed at the availability of the Captain and his officers. The entire staff certainly went to Hospitality School. There was always someone available to whom questions could be asked or requests made. The staff was courteous, friendly, and present. My husband did not enjoy the entertainment as much as I did; however, the ship band and two performers, Jennifer and Chris were perfect in every way. I enjoyed all the shows and thought the talent was quite good. We learned from one of the entertainers who went with us on one tour that Viking is changing their booking agent for talent; so, that may influence the shows, etc., offered. My husband thought the the choice of movies left something to be desired. We did travel with two of our three children; however, they are adults and can write their own reviews! They had a marvelous time. We were surprised at our pleasure in visiting the Orkney and Shetland Islands. The only negative about the whole cruise was the fjord trip for which we paid. It appeared that the complimentary tour offered just as much as the paid. We would certainly recommend this cruise and the whole Viking Sky experience. It met 99% of our expectations!!!!! Read Less

We traveled with my brother and his wife. Both couples had always wanted to see the Norwegian fjords, so this seemed the perfect cruise. Both couples had sailed previously on Celebrity and Royal Caribbean, but none of us were prepared for the level of service, comfort, and cuisine that we found on Viking. If we could give Viking six stars, we would. Liked it so much that we signed up for our next cruise while we were still on the ship. We especially liked the Chef’s Table restaurant and were able to eat there multiple times so that we were able to sample each of the distinctive menus paired with special wines (buy the beverage package upgrade!). Less so the Italian restaurant. Ate there only once. The buffet restaurant was excellent for all three meals. We especially liked the sushi at dinner time and the gelato at lunch. What we liked best was that every detail was thought out, then perfectly executed. The only tiny glitch was at the end of the cruise when there was only one person on board to handle the VAT refunds, which led to a very long line, and a long wait. Only time that happened on the entire cruise. Read Less