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We enjoyed New Zealand more than Australia which may be because of the mentioned canceling of included tours and doing our own thing instead. (We also had more time in New Zealand.) But we have no regrets about traveling this way to see this part of the world. Daytime attire on the ship is a mix of casual outfits based on the weather (jeans, slacks, sneakers, etc.) and adventure attire (leggings, fleece vests or jackets, athletic pants). One guy on our Antarctica sailing was often seen in a tropical shirt and shorts.
Wine Included
In addition, in order to ensure fair usage for all, the line limits some heavy-bandwidth applications, downloads and software upgrades. The centerpiece of the top deck of each of Viking's ocean ships is the main pool area, which is home to a pool, hot tub and rows of lounge chairs, as well as comfortable seating areas. You'll also find musicians including pianists and guitar players performing at times in the Viking Living Room — a three-deck-high, atrium-like space at the center of the ship. Filled with comfortable seating areas and home to a bar, the Viking Living Room serves as a central meeting point for passengers throughout the day and night. It's also home to the ship's Explorers' Desk — the equivalent of a guest relations area on other ships.
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Expert Review of Viking Saturn Cruise Ship - Cruise Critic
Expert Review of Viking Saturn Cruise Ship.
Posted: Wed, 12 Jul 2023 17:01:53 GMT [source]
The company was founded in 1997 and is known for its Scandinavian-inspired design and focus on cultural experiences. We did the Sydney to Auckland cruise last month on the Orion, which was our third Viking Ocean cruise (we've also done four river cruises) and I've found that the food is highly dependent on the head chef on board. The Orion's food was excellent, including the World Cafe. I enjoy all of the options (and the Pool Grill has great burgers) but I think the best and most consistent dinner option is The Restaurant. Viking expedition cruises tend to be long, and many itineraries are combinations of multiple cruises that could be booked separately. Travelers pressed for time can book a seven-night Great Lakes sailing, but the shortest Arctic and Antarctic cruises are at least 12 nights.
See my recent review 'Book at Your…
One of the most notable aspects of Viking Cruises is the company's fleet of ships. The river ships are relatively small, with a maximum capacity of around 200 passengers, which allows for an intimate and personalized experience. The ocean ships are larger, but still maintain a sense of exclusivity with a maximum capacity of around 930 passengers. All cabins feature a veranda or French balcony, and the ocean ships also have a variety of suite options available. The company's Scandinavian design aesthetic is evident throughout the ships, with sleek, modern decor and plenty of natural light.
Find a Viking Sea Cruise from $3,049
You also notice how much space there is on these Viking cruise ships. Post Covid, as you noted, apparently fewer people are looking to form groups for private excursions. That is problematic as the way to reduce the cost of those private excursions is by having the right size group. For just one couple, private tours that I have seen are pretty costly. I learned long time ago to interpret the ship excursions for what they are really providing. I learned long time ago to interpret the ship excursions for what they are really providing.
Cruisers on Viking Polaris keep all of their Viking-provided outdoor gear (boots, waterproof pants, two-layer jackets) in their cabins. If they, or other items, get wet on outings, you hang them up in the drying closet and push a button to turn on the heat, and they dry out before your next adventure ashore. The sitting area is smaller than you might expect because more space is smartly devoted to the dressing area on the other side of your bed. Here, you'll find an L-shaped wardrobe with two hanging racks, two large drawers, two small drawers, a top shelf, two small shelves, a cubby for shoes and the safe. A hair dryer, bathrobes and slippers are provided for your onboard use. The ship only has two Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant/wheelchair-accessible cabins; both are junior suites on Deck 4.
If you want to visit the ends of the earth without giving up creature comforts, Viking Polaris is the perfect ship for you. Its large-for-expedition size means the ship is loaded with attractions, from multiple restaurants and lounges to an expansive spa, spacious cabins and dedicated spaces for enrichment activities. Its state-of-the-art Hangar allows travelers of all abilities to access off-ship adventure and its expedition team to set up water- and land-based activities as quickly as possible. The main addition is a nightly sushi bar and seafood buffet (lots and lots of crab legs) in the back by the Aquavit Terrace on the port side of the ship. On Viking Polaris, beer, wine and soft drinks at lunch and dinner are complimentary.
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Fire Devastation in Maui - Shame on VIKING CRUISES
If you don't see what you're looking for, don't hesitate to ask one of the dining staff either behind the buffet counter or walking the seating area. Crew members brought us plain grilled chicken to top a salad, a vegetarian "meatball" when the meatless options were lacking and coconut gelato when it didn't appear at the ice cream bar. At lunch, you'll find a selection of hot food, usually including a carving station with a featured protein, a soup, pasta and some kind of fish and vegetarian option.
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There's also the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, which offers 2 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on travel (and 3 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on dining). That said, given the complexity of booking a cruise — there are a lot of decisions to make during the booking process, trust us — we always recommend that you use a seasoned travel agent who specializes in cruises. There's also live music at night in the Explorers' Lounge, a two-deck-high observation lounge and bar area at the very top of the ship. The Explorers' Lounge also is home to Mamsen's, the food counter serving tastes of Norway mentioned above. All of Viking's oceangoing ships, which are much bigger than its river ships, have at least four and usually more outlets serving food of some sort. If you're looking for a big open room on an ocean cruise (and are willing to pay for it), Viking offers you plenty of options.
The aerobic fitness area had many treadmills, several cycles, and a few elliptical machines. The next two rooms focused on weight training and stretching. Dr. Philip Price included a lot of depth to his talks (bringing back much of my long-forgotten biology knowledge) but he seasoned his talk with humor so everyone could enjoy. We use dedicated people and clever technology to safeguard our platform. Companies can ask for reviews via automatic invitations.
We enjoyed the included wine and beer, but also ordered cocktails or an evening aperitif as we desired. In the end our bill was $174.50, far less than the $600 the Silver Spirits package would have cost. We’re moderate drinkers on vacation but I think the liberal pours over dinner kept our costs low. There are many options available, including options for gluten free and vegetarian diets.
Evenings have an official dress code, but it's not too formal. The line asks passengers to keep things "elegant casual" when heading to any of the ship's dining venues, performances or special events. To Viking, that means a dress, skirt or slacks with a sweater or blouse for women, and trousers and a collared shirt for men. All of the line's vessels have standard North American-style, 110-volt outlets in rooms as well as European-style, 220-volt outlets and USB ports in cabins. Viking's recently unveiled Mississippi River ship offers self-service launderettes but no send-out laundry and pressing service. In keeping with Viking's focus on cultural immersion, lecturers often have expertise related to the places you'll be visiting on your sailing.
Deluxe Veranda staterooms have a free soft drinks minibar. And our only suggestion (if anyone was to ask) would be to swap this out for an extra chest of drawers. Veranda and Deluxe Veranda staterooms are the “standard” cabins. The interiors are 224 square feet in size, with an additional balcony (46 square feet). The real king-size beds are also a nice surprise in Viking Ocean Cruises’ cabins.
Some nights were better than others—we might feel a constant, slow sway—while others were extremely choppy. My legs would shake rapidly when seated from the motion, and hangers in our closet would hit against the doors. Some Viking ships, including all of the line's ocean vessels (including its one expedition vessel), have self-serve launderettes on cabin decks with washing machines, dryers, irons and ironing boards. The launderettes are stocked with detergent for the washing machines that, unlike on many cruise ships with launderettes, do not come with an extra cost. Just behind the main pool area on each of the ocean ships is a lovely, glass-topped lounge with comfortable seating called the Wintergarden that is home to afternoon tea. A den of serenity, it's one of our favorite places on these vessels.
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