Viking opinions (in lieu of DCL to Hawai'i)

[KVH]

Anyone here been on the Viking Orion? Have found a couple mentions but no TR or anything like that. Trying to determine whether that ship is a good idea if we want pull the trigger on a Hawai'i cruise. I'd do Crystal but then I might as well just stay with DCL (assuming I could get a cabin). I've heard both good and bad about Viking and just wondering if there is any firsthand experience around here to help me decide.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

How old are you? (Genuine question.)

Viking skews much older than most cruise lines, to the point that many of their excursions are grouped based on mobility level.

 

[ItsOnlyMoney]

Anyone here been on the Viking Orion? Have found a couple mentions but no TR or anything like that. Trying to determine whether that ship is a good idea if we want pull the trigger on a Hawai'i cruise. I'd do Crystal but then I might as well just stay with DCL (assuming I could get a cabin). I've heard both good and bad about Viking and just wondering if there is any firsthand experience around here to help me decide.

Well I haven't but my brother has gone on 2 Viking ocean cruises (The Aegean and Alaska) really likes them. He's booked another for Fall 2022 but I don't remember where.

 

[Meriweather]

We've been on one 2 week river cruise....Grand European.
Had 2 cancelled. Have one in March 2023.
We really enjoyed it a lot

 

[tvguy]

How old are you? (Genuine question.)

Viking skews much older than most cruise lines, to the point that many of their excursions are grouped based on mobility level.

Never been on a cruise that didn't list how difficult the excursions are. Even Disney does that. Disney uses ACTIVE and SIGHTSEEING to rank difficulty. https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/port-adventures/caribbean/

 

[KVH]

How old are you? (Genuine question.)

Viking skews much older than most cruise lines, to the point that many of their excursions are grouped based on mobility level.

Never been on a cruise that didn't list how difficult the excursions are. Even Disney does that. Disney uses ACTIVE and SIGHTSEEING to rank difficulty. https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/port-adventures/caribbean/

Ah, I did not realize Viking was that way. IOW, more of the HAL crowd . Dang, I really don't want to be stuck with Carnival and Princess. My personal view is they cater to a different type of customer than I want to deal with too. Wow, this doesn't leave many options - maybe fighting tooth and claw for a slot on a DCL boat is the way to go? Time to go research Crystal some more.

 

[tvguy]

Ah, I did not realize Viking was that way. IOW, more of the HAL crowd . Dang, I really don't want to be stuck with Carnival and Princess. My personal view is they cater to a different type of customer than I want to deal with too. Wow, this doesn't leave many options - maybe fighting tooth and claw for a slot on a DCL boat is the way to go? Time to go research Crystal some more.

Our kids first cruise was on HAL, they were 11 and 15 and I didn't do a head count, but there seemed to be nearly as many kids on HAL as on our Disney cruise a year later. And I saw a lot of Grandparents on Disney taking their kids and Grandkids on a family cruise.
You absolutely do need to match a cruise to what you like.
Cruises are mass marketed vacations now, no longer designed to be a unique and once in a life time experience like they were when I took my first cruise in 1980. Viking cruises are more old school. More about pampering, gourmet food and individual attention for an all inclusive price than non-stop entertainment and almost unlimited extra cost options. I have seen many complaints from Disney cruisers that the MDR takes too much time. Given that turnaround time between Early and Late seating is right about 2 hours, so you have to be done in about 90 minutes. A Viking cruiser expects a 3 hour dining experience.
My neighbors have gone on three Viking cruises, their fourth was booked in January 2022 but has been canceled due to the pandemic. They love it. I got a catalog for Viking and their trips and ships look amazing. But no, I am not looking for non-stop entertainment. I am looking to be pampered and relax.

 

[hrhdhd]

I don't know what the itinerary is for the specific cruise you're considering, but if it's the usual 15-day, during-the-school-year thing, it'll have mostly older passengers who can afford longer cruises and can cruise for that length of time.

I'm a 3-star Mariner on HAL and Elite on Princess. They are more similar than different. I hope to book a Viking cruise as soon as I am able.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Never been on a cruise that didn't list how difficult the excursions are. Even Disney does that. Disney uses ACTIVE and SIGHTSEEING to rank difficulty. https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/port-adventures/caribbean/

The most intense Viking excursions are like "able to walk" not "able to do rock climbing and jungle hikes."

 

[tvguy]

The most intense Viking excursions are like "able to walk" not "able to do rock climbing and jungle hikes."

LOL. One of criticisms of Viking is their lack of disabled staterooms. So, easy joke, but probably not helpful to people considering a Viking cruise.

 

[KVH]

Our kids first cruise was on HAL, they were 11 and 15 and I didn't do a head count, but there seemed to be nearly as many kids on HAL as on our Disney cruise a year later. And I saw a lot of Grandparents on Disney taking their kids and Grandkids on a family cruise.
You absolutely do need to match a cruise to what you like.
Cruises are mass marketed vacations now, no longer designed to be a unique and once in a life time experience like they were when I took my first cruise in 1980. Viking cruises are more old school. More about pampering, gourmet food and individual attention for an all inclusive price than non-stop entertainment and almost unlimited extra cost options. I have seen many complaints from Disney cruisers that the MDR takes too much time. Given that turnaround time between Early and Late seating is right about 2 hours, so you have to be done in about 90 minutes. A Viking cruiser expects a 3 hour dining experience.
My neighbors have gone on three Viking cruises, their fourth was booked in January 2022 but has been canceled due to the pandemic. They love it. I got a catalog for Viking and their trips and ships look amazing. But no, I am not looking for non-stop entertainment. I am looking to be pampered and relax.

This is a really great perspective. Thanks for the info. My DW has worked for HAL so we know what to expect there but have little experience outside DCL (it REALLY works for us). I guess we're need to revisit what drives our customer sat to better focus on a specific line beyond DCL.

 

[tink1970]

Anyone here been on the Viking Orion? Have found a couple mentions but no TR or anything like that. Trying to determine whether that ship is a good idea if we want pull the trigger on a Hawai'i cruise. I'd do Crystal but then I might as well just stay with DCL (assuming I could get a cabin). I've heard both good and bad about Viking and just wondering if there is any firsthand experience around here to help me decide.

We were on the Orion for Australia/NZ cruise in March 2020 and please pm me if you have specific questions.

I believe I actually posted my thoughts then but I'll give you a few opinions:

1) Yes, I was 49 and DH was 54 at the time and I were some of the youngest cruisers so if you don't like older people don't go. Our travel companions were in their 70s and had longer/more active days than we did normally, lol. (This could be because I'm a spa person though).

2) DH and I are retired physicians and those with whom we associated were definitely interesting, professional people. I don't want to start the Carnival debate so we'll just leave it at that.

3) I disagree with PP regarding some of the excursion options. DH did a hike labelled as "moderate" and he felt it was harder than that (and he exercises daily-weight lifting, cycling, yoga, etc) and one bike ride was casual, whereas the other was more challenging. Our friends went on several that put their step count in the teen/twenty thousand range for walking, and they swam and snorkeled in the Great Barrier Reef. There was also a lovely gym for those like me who enjoy exercising alone.


We LOVED our Viking cruise and I would (if we weren't concierge) cancel both pending DCL cruises and have all of our cruises on Viking-that said, have 3 scheduled with them. Please feel free to PM me if you have other questions.

 

[tink1970]

@KVH-

https://www.disboards.com/threads/d...with-viking-thoughts-and-impressions.3796277/

 

[GPaLarry]

A few years ago we were on a DCL Baltic Capitals cruise and docked in Tallinn, Estonia. Next to us was the Viking Star, just launched a month or so earlier...dead in the water. I happened to be talking to a woman on shore, that was on that ship, and she said the engine(s) had broken down and she had been there for three days. Viking gave the passengers three options: Be flown home; be flown to a port several stops from now and wait for the ship to arrive; or stay on the ship and take pot luck. She was sticking it out. Looking at their promotion material they boast "no casinos" and "no children under 18." We are looking at doing one of their river cruises in a year or two from Amsterdam to Budapest...one of their classic and signature cruises. Yes, we are well over 18, closer to reversing the number. I would suggest you check Viking out on their web site for what they do and don't provide on their cruises. The sea-going ships hold under 1,000 passengers in order to get into smaller ports. They have a unique niche in the sailing industry that is very popular and mostly inexpensive for the older cruiser.

 

[Intr3pid]

Apples and oranges. Viking crowd is old - and similar to that at Crystal and Regent. If you are younger and want a pampering vacation with nothing to do, just book a two week resort in Hawaii - splitting your time between a couple of islands.

For Honolulu to Vancouver next May, try Celebrity. They have very similar dates and itinerary to DCL's.

 

[tvguy]

Apples and oranges. Viking crowd is old - and similar to that at Crystal and Regent. If you are younger and want a pampering vacation with nothing to do, just book a two week resort in Hawaii - splitting your time between a couple of islands.

For Honolulu to Vancouver next May, try Celebrity. They have very similar dates and itinerary to DCL's.

Well, when I think Viking I think International cruises, not Hawaii. Exotic foregin ports, with a pampered vacation while on the ship. My neighbors were 68 and 62 on their last Viking cruise and they expected a 65 to deceased demographic and were surprised how many under 40 young professional couples were on board.

 

[Intr3pid]

Well, when I think Viking I think International cruises, not Hawaii.

The OP's question is Hawaii specific.

Now, if you want to be pampered on a cruise ship, do it because you love travelling - not because you can be pampered any better. A Viking ship cannot have the quality of rooms, service, restaurants, pools that a Four Seasons, Six Senses, or Aman will. You are in a small cabin, by a small pool, while still sharing the space with hundreds others. But, you are OK with it because it allows you to travel to those exotic places. It's a spectrum of pampering vs travel.

DCL is unique in that it's a themed cruise, and many value "Disney" more than the pampering or travel elements.

 

[tvguy]

The OP's question is Hawaii specific.

Now, if you want to be pampered on a cruise ship, do it because you love travelling - not because you can be pampered any better. A Viking ship cannot have the quality of rooms, service, restaurants, pools that a Four Seasons, Six Senses, or Aman will. You are in a small cabin, by a small pool, while still sharing the space with hundreds others. But, you are OK with it because it allows you to travel to those exotic places. It's a spectrum of pampering vs travel.

DCL is unique in that it's a themed cruise, and many value "Disney" more than the pampering or travel elements.

Yes, of course, you should want to want to travel. But you do bring up a good point about Hawaii. A Hawaiian cruise isn't about the ship, it is about the ports. Most cruise ships overnight in a couple of Hawaiian ports, and they expect passengers to spend most of their time ashore, not on the ship. Funny you mention Four seasons, because my neighbor did comment that his Viking cruises were on par in restaurants and service with their Four Seasons stays. I want to travel and be pampered.

 

[Intr3pid]

Yes, of course, you should want to want to travel. But you do bring up a good point about Hawaii. A Hawaiian cruise isn't about the ship, it is about the ports. Most cruise ships overnight in a couple of Hawaiian ports, and they expect passengers to spend most of their time ashore, not on the ship. Funny you mention Four seasons, because my neighbor did comment that his Viking cruises were on par in restaurants and service with their Four Seasons stays. I want to travel and be pampered.

I hear your neighbors!

I do find the general cruise ship service better than that at a comparable hotel. My theory attributes it to the background of the service staff. Most service staff in North American and European hotels are locals or residents They are presumably more urban and may even treat the job as a transitory career.

Most cruise line ship staff, on the other hand, is from overseas, and scoring a job at a ship to support a family back home is a big deal. They want to work hard, get high ratings, and secure the next contract. In fact, you can see the difference between the service staff on NCL's Pride of America (mostly American) with those on their other ships. Partly why I give props to the likes of Four Seasons for extracting the same level of service from their North American employees as the cruise lines can from, say, their Indonesian staff.

Here's a bit of an experiment in discovery. Ask your neighbors to interact with the front desk staff on their next Viking cruise - when there is a problem to be resolved. That front desk staff, in many instances, sports a more urban background and isn't rated (directly) on guest feedback. You will notice the difference in attitude almost immediately after a couple of 'but' arguments. And that's a more appropriate experience to compare with service at, say, a Four Seasons.

 

[tvguy]

I hear your neighbors!

I do find the general cruise ship service better than that at a comparable hotel. My theory attributes it to the background of the service staff. Most service staff in North American and European hotels are locals or residents They are presumably more urban and may even treat the job as a transitory career.

Most cruise line ship staff, on the other hand, is from overseas, and scoring a job at a ship to support a family back home is a big deal. They want to work hard, get high ratings, and secure the next contract. In fact, you can see the difference between the service staff on NCL's Pride of America (mostly American) with those on their other ships. Partly why I give props to the likes of Four Seasons for extracting the same level of service from their North American employees as the cruise lines can from, say, their Indonesian staff.

Here's a bit of an experiment in discovery. Ask your neighbors to interact with the front desk staff on their next Viking cruise - when there is a problem to be resolved. That front desk staff, in many instances, sports a more urban background and isn't rated (directly) on guest feedback. You will notice the difference in attitude almost immediately after a couple of 'but' arguments. And that's a more appropriate experience to compare with service at, say, a Four Seasons.

Yes. I sailed on Pride of America. The ship itself wasn't a destination like other cruises. It was a great trip, but I would rank it at the bottom of the list on cruises. Just different. But we did latch onto a server team, they were American, but they treated us very well. I've been cruising for over 40 years, so I have had a lot of great experiences with staff.