19 July, 2019
It’s not surprising Viking Cruises has topped the prestigious Travel and Leisure Awards again this year (for the 4th consecutive year). Our clients love the Scandinavian design and layout of the ships, as well as the number of passengers. There is only ever good feedback on the staterooms and the applause for the outstanding service is resounding.
Viking is aimed at an adult clientele, the aspirational thinking person's cruise, where destination is a focus, supported by a program of onboard guest lectures and port briefs. There are no casinos and you also won’t find the wild rides, the thrills or children, the youngest passenger age limit being 18 years. Building a loyal clientele, it is often heard that once you cruise with Viking for the first time, you will cruise with them again.
The Viking Fleet now extends to six ships sailing the world on over 135 voyages.
"We thoroughly enjoyed our two week Homelands cruise with Viking. From the moment we boarded this small ship we immediately felt the luxury, and the attention given by Viking staff was outstanding. We were spoilt all the way. Our stateroom was beautifully appointed. The food was excellent, and the shore excursions were wonderful and so well organised. Beautiful ship Viking Sun, and the Nordic feel is very special. Great entertainment as well. The Spa is outstanding.
Our next trip will be even more relaxed knowing we will be looked after so well."
Kathryn’s review of her cruise is just one of many that gives kudos to the Viking experience. Here are just some of the reasons Viking cruises receive an overall rating of 4.8/5 from our clients.
Award-winning Service
Viking pride themselves on their staff training and service, so much so that they actually guarantee their service. Over 10,000 staff worldwide are Swiss trained, so you can rest assured that the world over all crew you meet onboard, from guest services to housekeeping, wait staff to bar staff, are going to impress with their impeccable level of service.
This was certainly a notable highlight for self-proclaimed first time cruisers, Julie and David, who waxed lyrical about the service they experienced on the West indies Explorer. They commended not only the quality of the service but also recognised that high quality service comes from high quality training. “One of the highlights was the exceptional quality of all the onboard staff, who were friendly, helpful, engaging, and always happy to have a chat. Viking must have an impressive staff training program”.
Without a doubt, all our clients are compelled to comment on the high quality service they have experienced on their Viking cruise. Kathryn agreed the attention she received from the Viking staff made her feel “spoilt all the way”. Knowing that, she feels her next Viking cruise will be even more relaxing, confident she will be looked after in the same way.
The Staterooms
A feature of a Viking ship is that all the suites on board are veranda staterooms. On booking, guests have the opportunity to choose from five categories of spacious rooms. Elegantly appointed, all have king-size beds, ample storage, large showers and LCD TVs. Putting your onboard experience at the forefront, every room has its own private veranda. Viking believe you deserve not just a view but to be able to step out into the view from the privacy of your own stateroom.
There is no doubt Viking know how to please their guests, our clients are unanimous in their feedback of their onboard accommodation. “The stateroom was lovely, the bathroom larger than expected and very functional, with plenty of storage for everything”.
Bill and Jan who cruised the 21 Day Passage to India on Viking Orion enjoyed their penthouse suite which they commented offered plenty of storage and a "great bathroom”.
The Ship
Viking’s Scandinavian design creates open spaces that are restful and uncluttered, sophisticated yet comfortable. It is unusual for a cruise ship to be designed with such understated finesse. The quintessential Nordic design and colour schemes are styled similarly across each ship in the fleet. So, it doesn’t matter which ship you cruise on, in any part of the world, the Viking ship that awaits you has the same tasteful interior for which the Viking fleet is known.
These details are not lost on our client’s enjoyment of the ship. “The ship is decorated in sleek and simple Scandinavian style, featuring beautiful Scandinavian artworks”. Overwhelmingly our clients comment that their ship was beautifully presented with many areas to relax and enjoy the scenery and there seemed to be plenty of space as well.
Dining Options
With 10 dining venues from al fresco options of the Aquavit Terrace, World Café or The Restaurant to Manfredi’s Italian Restaurant, The Chef’s Table, or The Kitchen Table and lighter deli style fare at Mamsen’s, our clients speak to the quality and excellence of the food they enjoyed.
“The food and service in the World Cafe was exceptional”, the tasting menus at The Chef’s Table, are described as “absolutely exquisite” and generally all meals are of a very good quality or high standard.
When you are shipboard for so many of your meals, it is always pleasing to know that those who have cruised before you have enjoyed their culinary journey as much as the other highlights of their voyage.
The Port Talks and Lectures
Aspiring to be the thinking person’s cruise, each itinerary includes port talks and guest lecturers who provide a series of onboard lectures, timed perfectly with the next destination. Our clients describe the “excellent on-board lectures and lecturers”. Preparing for the next destination one client reported that "the Port Talks were very useful and informative, and we recommend guests attend them to get the most from their shore excursions".
Onshore Excursions
The destination is at the heart of the Viking experience, they like to venture beyond the iconic with a focus on providing immersive local experiences and tours led by guides with specialist knowledge. You could be shopping in a local market with the ship's chef or learning to cook a regional dish with an esteemed local chef.
Julie and David told us that the Included shore excursions were all excellent and very well organised. "We visited 9 different islands, with different history, scenery and cultures, shown to us by excellent local guides, and all were both beautiful and fascinating. We especially loved the French Cooking Class with a local chef in Saint Martin".
The excursions may not hit the mark for every passenger, some find the smaller ports don’t have as much to do – or the need to tender into the port a little challenging. The time of year can impact whether your enjoyment of your day onshore is marred by heat.
A tip for planning your cruise that comes from our client feedback is the importance of doing your research on the itinerary before you book your cruise. As one of our clients commented, August and September was just too hot for them in Petra. Diane and Frank who cruised on the 13 Day Mediterranean Odyssey guide that it’s also important to start booking your excursions as soon as you can, the excursions will fill up fast.
The Destinations
Viking offers over 135 cruise itineraries of varying duration across the globe. Every one of our clients has been in awe of the destinations they experienced. We don’t need to tell you that the scenery along the coast of Norway is stunning or that the Caribbean offers up islands, all of which are packed with beautiful scenery where you can immerse yourself in the British, French and Dutch cultures of the Lesser Antilles.
You already know the shimmering waters of Scandinavia and the Baltic will deliver you breathtaking Nordic Fjords or that the coastal gems of the Mediterranean like Venice, the Adriatic, Greece and Istanbul will charm and delight.
Create your own Viking story, now is the time to book your Viking cruise and experience it all for yourself.
