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The itinerary for this cruise was exceptional. We visited 10 countries, 16 ports of call, and too many UNESCO World Heritage sites to count. The list of highlights alone would take up all the room allowed for this review. One exceptional point was that each port of call had an included excursion that was part of your fare. There were also extra excursions available for a surcharge. Those were generally much better for immersion in the local culture.

The ship was elegant and stylish. It felt very comfortable. The crew were unfailingly friendly and efficient. The cabin stewards were so nice, they became friends.

There were many days at sea on this cruise. The shipboard activities were top-notch. Guest lectures were very useful for understanding the culture of the upcoming ports of call.

The food and dining options were amazing. You could choose between cafeteria, sit down dinner, or even specialty gourmet dining. All of them included options featuring the local cuisine of your last port of call.

I would book another cruise with Viking Cruise Lines in a heartbeat.

Bucket list cruise

Having done a few river cruises with Viking, we decided to try one of their ocean cruises.    I was worried about getting on and off the boat with so many people and indeed it is a logistical challenge compared to the river cruises, but they did an excellent job of minimizing our thumb twiddling or line standing.  So that was alright, I thought.  Eight or nine hundred people is still a lot to have on shore so they tried to spread us out with many different excursions. All our optional excursions were good, but the included excursions were mostly marginal and a couple were pretty bad compared to anything on a river cruise.

Dining was excellent.  The main restaurant was great and not hard to get into at all.  They have a more adventuresome fixed menu (changes every other day) place that we loved and had no trouble getting into with a couple of days ahead reservations.  But the buffet restaurant seemed to be the most popular and it was a fantastic buffet for sure, but we usually ate elsewhere. Personally, I recommend the wine upgrade.  

We started in Athens and went on to Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Oman and India.  In Egypt we had three stops and had optional excursions to the Pyramids, Cairo Museum, Luxor and the Valley of the Kings, as well as snorkeling and boating.  In Jordan there was an excursion to Petra.  We just stayed near and enjoyed the water, which is spectacularly clear in the Red Sea, but the reports from those who took the bus rides to the grand sites was very positive.  Personally, I recommend the Nile river cruise though, to avoid the long bus rides from the sea.

Before exiting the Red Sea and dashing past Somalia to Oman, we took on board a small contingent of mercenaries (British it seemed), and stopped at sea to pick up their equipment from another ship.  The crew also strung razor wire to make it more difficult to board from another boat but personally I think the mercenaries and their equipment made us completely safe.  My wife talked to one of the young men a few times over the few days they were on board, and she found him to be very nice and he was very informative.   It added a bit of adventure to our 4 days at sea going from Jordan to Oman.  

We visited Salala and Muscat in Oman.  Muscat is very pretty and the people there are pretty relaxed and friendly for an Arab country.  Then to Bombay, where we got off.  There were as many Australians as Americans on this itinerary.  Why is that?

Our first ocean cruise, a test.

This is a pretty ship however, we were in CODE RED for the majority of our journey as there was a GI outbreak on the ship.  This ship is odd, there is an unease among the crew on this vessel.  You never see any of the officers or anyone socializing on the ship.  The dance bar is near empty at all times.  It's just a very very dull ship.  I mean I'm all for elegant but 2 weeks with a near pin drop quiet ship is a bit much.  It felt like God's waiting room.  I may be old but I'm not entirely dead yet!  I would have like some life on this ship.  They did the odd thing where they have the staff on the gangway clapping in your face like a bunch of indentured servants deprived of their breaks.  I also saw officers and cruise directors etc. working the gangway which would seem to make it appear that they don't have enough people working on the ship and have to use these people to hand you hand towels etc.  Seemed very odd.  This just wasn't a happy environment and that combined with the GI outbreak on such a new vessel, will send me elsewhere for my next cruise.  Nice concept Viking but you've taken quiet ship to a new level and made it dullest ship on the sea.  Not my cup of tea.  Also the entertainment on the ship is very minimal and it looked as though our entertainers had just gotten out of school, very simple shows, not great compared to other lines like Oceania or Regent.  Clear they did not put much money into it. I just expected more atmosphere and quality of entertainment.

Ship has Gastrointeritis Outbreak - Caution if you have health issues

We had done 4 River Cruises with Viking and enjoyed them very much. 

The staff was friendly and had great Stewarts. 

We enjoyed most of the tours, except the Saint Catherine Monastery, which we felt it was not worth the time on the bus (7 hours) for a 30 minutes tours of the monastery. Waste of time and money. 

Enjoyed the tours in Greece and Jerusalem. 

Petra was wonderful, the pyramids was fabulous, Luxor was great and had a wonderful time the days at sea. 

The food was excellent through out the restaurant with a varaity of choices. we also enjoyed the scandinecvian restaurant, Mamsens, and trying those Norwegian delights made my wife very happy. She is Norwegian descendant.

We also enjoyed the high tea, the spa and the specialty restaurants.

Overall we were very impress with Viking Ocean cruises and have already reserve two additional trip for 2019 and 2020.

Best cruise experience ever

This was our first cruise with Viking but I am sure it won't be our last. Previous cruises have been on much larger ships so were looking forward to discovering the difference.

From day one we were blown away by the spaciousness of the ship.The decor is wonderful and restful. No where was crowded and you could relax anywhere.

The cabin was of a good size with plenty of storage space. Bathroom was great with seperate shower and heated floor, not that we need that as everyday was hot. Our cabin stewards were excellent and nothing was too much trouble.

Free laundry was a real bonus. Just had to make sure got back in time to remove from machines as they were in high demand. Having said that, I never has to wait to use one. 

The restaurants were of a high standard but we chose to eat mostly on the Aquavit Terrace as was so pleasant in the morning and evening. It also meant that our friends could always find us!!!

The pools were never crowded and the water was usually warm but sometimes a little too warm due to the very high temperatures we were travelling in. Unlike other ships there was never a problem finding a sun lounge. 

Spa was fabulous and a lot of fun. We tried the golf putting greens which were a real challenge.

Entertainment was of a fairly high standard but didn't perhaps have the variety of larger ships.We enjoyed every performance we went to.The enrichment talks were extremely good and we learnt so much from the varied subjects presented. Trivia was always fun even though no prizes but that didnt stop the competitive nature of the players.

I think Viking will have learnt a lot from this cruise about the shore excursions. We found the included tours to be very hit annd miss and unfortunately mostly a miss.This was the first time the ship had been to many of these ports. The tour guides were sometimes very hard to understand and the itineraries lacking in substance. A lot of the ports on this cruise were a long way from the city which we were visiting which meant a lot of travelling time in very hot weather. We organised a lot of private tours which worked very well and were more cost effective.

In summary

Brilliant ship. Excellent staff everywhere on the ship. Fabulous itinerary.

Met wonderful people who hopefully we will be able to catch up with again in the future as we had so much fun.

Missing it all already

Voyage of Marco Polo

We chose the cruise for the itinerary and the review of this particular new Viking ship.  We were NOT disappointed with either itinerary or the ship.  In fact, we did something we have never done before, after sailing on a cruise ship, we booked another cruise!

We can't say enough good things about the entire experience.  The ship is absolutely fantastic.  We loved the adults only atmosphere.  The ship always seemed so quiet, like being in your home, with so many wonderful spots to sit and have a drink, read a book, play scrabble, work on a puzzle or simply enjoy the serenity of the ship.

By far, one of the best spots to spend free time is the Explorer's Lounge.  The Norwegian deli has an interesting and delicious selection of open face sandwiches, sweets and fresh fruit.  With floor to ceiling windows the lounge gives wonderful views of the sea as you travel.  The addition of a planetarium was another plus.  We attended all three shows and they were interesting, informative and a nice extra.

Our cabin, Penthouse Veranda, was lovely.  Plenty of room to stretch out and the nice fridge filled daily with drinks and snacks.  

The Viking staff is outstanding.  Every staff member was helpful and always had a smile.  The food was another plus.  The variety and presentation of the meals in the dining room was excellent.  And, there was always a table for two if your wished to dine as a couple. The Orion exceeded our expectations and over the years we have traveled on more than 8 different cruise lines around the world.  The addition of excellent speakers about the areas we were to visit was another plus.  If you missed a lecture you could always catch it on your cabin TV or listen again to an interesting lecture.   We are looking forward to our next cruise.

Cruise of a lifetime

My friends were going on this trip and I was sure it was a lifetime opportunity to see countries I would never see on my own

Every detail of the ship was first class and beautifully designed. My cabin spacious and with view over bow of ship from bedroom window. Additionally I had a deck to the side and got up to watch sunrise and entry into each port.

I liked not feeling claustrophobic.

The service was immediate and continuous for any personal need. Staff friendly.

Room service free at any time.

The food was varied in choices and artfully prepared and delicious. 

There was always varied entertainment, or spa available as well as lectures on subjects related to the tours. There was a great choice in tours and I was able to snorkel in two ports.

I viewed the Pyramids, Sphinx, Taj Mahal, WadiRum, and a lot of famous old forts.

I always felt safe on tours and sailing around the horn (Somalia) as additional measures were taken. I would have preferred more shopping experiences in port, frequently taken to state run shops that were terribly expensive and limited, and we were given maybe 15 minutes to hurry and choose with staff breathing down our necks "to help". We all preferred to shop in regular venues on the streets. I did love the factories in India for rugs and clothe, to see demonstrations handmade goods.

Although I am not a fan of busses but they were ok. Sometimes I felt crowded for leg room as mine are long. A few of the tour guides were not great and disappointing, but on the whole they, the guides were good. For the amount of people onboard there were no long lines and the ship was extraordinarily clean!!!

Amazing first cruise experience. Gorgeous ship, pampering staff.

We sailed from Athens to Bangkok on a 36 day cruise called the Voyage of Marco Polo. Certainly a grand name, and the voyage lived up to it.

I captured my full journey on Instagram on my billwscott account.

Embarkation

After arriving in Athens we were picked up by staff from the Viking team, quickly guided to our bus and before we knew it were in our stateroom with Malaya & Teresa explaining all the features of the Penthouse Veranda.  

The first evening we had a wonderful outing to get a quick panoramic look at Athens and then a delicious dinner in a quaint restaurant in the heart of Athens. The next night the Captain's welcome was warm and funny.

Ship

The Viking Orion is just an absolutely stunning ship. Forward on the 7th floor is the Explorer Bar next to Mamsen's. In addition to having a full sweeping view, the delicious desserts at Mamsen's had us coming back again and again. We spent many afternoons and evenings there reading and relaxing or listening to entertainment. The Atrium is a 3 story open air area that was also a favorite of ours. My wife was constantly at the jigsaw puzzle table on the second floor of the Atrium. 

The ship size is perfect. About 900 guests and 450 crew. Never, ever felt over crowded. Most of time it felt expansive and roomy.

Stateroom

The Penthouse Veranda was exactly the size room we needed. It had a full sofa, table, desk area, king size bed, nice size bathroom with large shower. While there are larger rooms, I never ever felt cramped. It felt just right. We had 4 very large suitcases and they fit under the bed easily. Out of site and out of mind. Malaya & Teresa kept our room new each day and turn down service every evening refreshed our room as well as receiving the Viking Daily.

Dining

Everything is made from scratch and fresh. The breads, desserts and ice cream (made fresh on board) was off the chart. The World Cafe provided a really deep assortment of food that was varied enough to never feel like you were getting the same food. The food there was A+. Every night there was sushi and many nights crab legs. The Chef's Table is the gourmet restaurant and the food was pre-selected by the Chef and each time we dined there was a real treat. Manfredi's is another reservation only restaurant (World Cafe and The Restaurant are walk-in) that specializes in Italian fare. With a portion of the menu fixed and another portion changing with the cruise, we always felt it was a cut above. The Pool Grill made amazing burgers, hot dogs and ahi ahi and always had an amazing assortment of salads.

Beer & Wine is free during any meal time hours whether in the restaurants or in the bar.

Entertainment & Activities

We didn't spend a lot of time with entertainment though the special talks and the magic shows were top notch. What we did spend a lot of time with was the Spa. LivNordic runs the spas for Viking Ocean Cruises and it is definitely my favorite spa concept. Following Nordic Bathing Rituals, the spa has: dry saunas, steam sauna, snow grotto, hot tub, cold plunge pool and swimming pool. The service is free.

I became massively addicted to the dry sauna and cold plunge. In addition, I had some great Yoga & Pilates/balance classes with Anna & Pricillia.

Speaking of Pricillia, she is the best massage/physical therapist I have ever worked with. Trained in Nordic, Swedish, Thai (she spent several months training in a Thai temple) and Busquet (a french whole body method). The latter really transformed my body.

Charlotte & Sophie are gems in the salon. They provide great haircuts and styling, manicures, pedicures, facials, etc.

The gym is definitely fully equipped and I enjoyed a session with Dejan (trainer) for a small charge.

Service

WOW. Just WOW. While other cruises seem to want to nickel and dime you, there is very little that you have to pay for as it is really all inclusive. All the coffee, sodas, tea, water you want. Beer & wine are free during meal time throughout the ship. Other drinks come at a reasonable charge. What this means is the staff is focused on serving and not upselling. You won't find art auctions, casinos, photographs to buy, water to pay for, etc. The staff is just so helpful and friendly. About a dozen we got to know pretty well.

Ports of Call/Excursions

Many wonderful ports: Athens, Haifa, El Said, Aquaba, Goa, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand made for a widely varying cultural exploration. A few suffered a little from being a bit far from the attractions. 

Recommended

Yes, yes, yes. I have booked a Viking River cruise in 2020 because I feel so strongly about Viking. 

BTW, there are no kids under 18 on the ship. I like kids, but I loved being on a ship without them ;-)

Experience of a lifetime!

I have sailed a lot, probably close to100 cruises.  On Cunard’s Queen Mary 2, I have spent over 360 days.   But I was so impressed with everything about this voyage, I’m not sure I ever will go back to any other line; I think I have found my new home on the seas. 

 embarkation and disembarkation both went very smoothly, a benefit of sailing with only 900 other passengers. This was not only the first and last day of the cruise but also for every port we visited. 

 We were in Suite 4000,  a ES1 category.   Before sailing, I looked at the diagram for the owner’s suite on deck 7. I wondered if I would have wanted or needed everything provided in that cabin. Once we boarded and were settled in our suite, I was perfectly happy and would not have wanted to move upstairs.  Heck, even the lowest standard cabins on Vining Ocean are better than many higher-level cabins on other cruise lines.

I have often been a Grills passenger on Cunard.  The Queen’s Grill on QM2  is considered by some to be the best restaurant at sea. Although Wiking does not offer dishes prepared table side, the quality and presentation and variety is equal to the food on other ships. Open dining was a delight and we never had a wait,   It was nice to have the alternative dining restaurants and not have to pay extra. The rotating menu at the Chef’s Table was a deal. We ate there five nights during the month we were on board.   Wine (which was not bad) and beer (which I don’t drink) were free during meals and I never paid for non-alcoholic beverages and coffee away from the restaurants.

I consider it a benefit not to have a casino on the ships, photographers always wanting to take your picture, and on the shops on board lining the hallways as they apply their wares. I loved not having announcements every hour.

The lecturers were very good and well-versed to discuss their topics, especially the port talks.  Evening stage shows were above-average and well attended, but not the glitzy performances produced on larger ships.

At least one excursion is free in every port.  I participated in some of those and they were fine.  The optional, paid excursions were well run and educational.  Good variety of options.

The gym is good, plenty of machines.  Never crowded.  A great spa and - since the line is Norwegian - great sauna, jacuzzi, ice water buckets AND a snow grotto.  Imagine a snowball fight in the Suez Canal,

I can’t say enough to complement the Viking professionals who made this such an enjoyable adventure. I liked it so much that I already have booked a one month journey next summer. I am sold on Viking!

Almost to perfection, I’m not sure I’ll ever cruise on any other line again!

What sold us about the cruise are the destination. The Viking Orion is beautiful with plenty public sitting and relaxing area  beautifully Scandinavian furnishings.  What impress us is how friendly the crew are. They are always smiling, say "hello" to you even you walk by them. We love the World Cafe, their food and services are better than the other dinning rooms.you can find king crab legs every night there. The order to cook oriental dishes there are great. The only thing is the storeroom services can be a little more efficient. They don't clean our room until after 10 a.m in the morning or prepare our beds after 9 p.m. I wish they can do it earlier. Maybe too many rooms to clean by 1 storeroom stewardess. Overall it was a great trip with some minor excursions mix up. Too many days in Mumbai especially for those with the 35days segment. They should have an overland excursion to the Tah  Mahjai. Also, 1 day in Sri Lanka is enough. Overnight should be added to Penang and Singapore so passengers can enjoy the night food market and night life in both places. Too little time in these beautiful places. Also, entertainment can be brush a  little bit. Aiden Soon 's performance is incredible, one of the best we saw in our cruises experience. Need more entertainers like him.

Great destination and beautiful ship

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