Today was a day at sea - from start to finish. Because there won't be any excursions & accompanying stories I thought today would be a good day to post some photos from the ship and give our initial impressions of Viking Oceans vs. our past experiences on Viking River Cruises.
Evening of June 27
When sailing on Viking River Cruises "the routine" is that all passengers (generally speaking) gather in the Viking Lounge a half hour or an hour before the Evening Information meeting. Dinner is generally at 6 pm or 7 pm, so we are usually in the Lounge around 5:30 to 6:00 pm having a pre-dinner drink and talking with fellow guests. The program director for the cruise comes to the microphone and for a half an hour there is an outline of what's going to happen the next day, as well as generally the chef comes out and previews dinner. At dinner time nearly the entire group of passengers leave the meeting (always timed to end as the doors open in the dining room) and it is open seating. Here we typically meet new guests or sit with our newly-made friends. BUT it's very different on the Viking Oceans. First, there is no information meeting and the program director is much like those on big-ship ocean cruises....they make an appearance on stage at the evening entertainment. We found, so far, that we miss this social hour and look ahead to the day. Both nights to date we had our pre-dinner cocktail in the "living room" which is very comfortable and luxurious in appearance, but we were alone in the room on a couch, no socialization. On the first night when we went to the dining room we were very surprised that in spite of not going to dinner right at 6 pm, we were assigned a table. As we entered "The Restaurant" (literally that's the name of the dining room) we noted it was broken up into four or five smaller dining areas instead of one large room. We were seated with a great window view, but at a table for two. And in our room as our appetizers arrived there were four couples, all - like us - at their own table. Midway through out meal another couple was seated at the table close to us, but it was very unlike the social setting on the river cruises. So, in summary, this is the biggest difference we've noted between Viking River and Viking Oceans. If you've been on Viking River cruises, and really like them - as we do (obviously having been on five with two more booked for later this year) you should NOT expect to have a Viking River experience on a Viking Oceans adventure. It is an ocean adventure. We DO like that it's a smaller ship and it is fairly obvious that there are many fewer guests than on a typical multi-thousand big ocean cruising ship. But it IS an ocean cruise. We do agree however that the staff are very much of the same exceptional service and friendliness level as Viking Rivers. But again, on the river there are at best 190 passengers and you feel a much more intimate feeling with the staff who quickly learn your names....on the Oceans by sheer volume it's just not the same intimate feeling.
SO, on the second night we requested to be seated for dinner with a "share a table" seating. We were led to a table with two ladies who were traveling together (Judy & Carolyn from the upstate NY area) and quickly were joined by a couple (Peg & Dan, ironically from Columbus, Ohio - where I grew up!). Unlike the first night where Kim and I had a wonderful dining experience but were finished in a little over an hour, tonight we had the "typical" cruising dining experience where we enjoyed a great meal and conversation that lasted nearly three hours!
We headed back to our room after dinner for a short break and I captured the sunset above. Note that the sun has been setting somewhere around 9:30 pm to 9:45 pm. We then went to "The Theater" as it's called where the officer staff was introduced and there was a short preview of the guest lecturers and the entertainers (who sang a few songs). The captain, who is from Bergen, Norway (our final stop on the cruise) told us he's sailed our coastal route every summer since he was 16 years old and said he was hopeful we'd have better weather than their last trip and that we'd have at least a couple of "midnight suns" - they had four on the last cruise. By now it was well after 10 pm and we turned in for the night, still I think feeling some of the effects of the long travel day.
SO, on the second night we requested to be seated for dinner with a "share a table" seating. We were led to a table with two ladies who were traveling together (Judy & Carolyn from the upstate NY area) and quickly were joined by a couple (Peg & Dan, ironically from Columbus, Ohio - where I grew up!). Unlike the first night where Kim and I had a wonderful dining experience but were finished in a little over an hour, tonight we had the "typical" cruising dining experience where we enjoyed a great meal and conversation that lasted nearly three hours!
We headed back to our room after dinner for a short break and I captured the sunset above. Note that the sun has been setting somewhere around 9:30 pm to 9:45 pm. We then went to "The Theater" as it's called where the officer staff was introduced and there was a short preview of the guest lecturers and the entertainers (who sang a few songs). The captain, who is from Bergen, Norway (our final stop on the cruise) told us he's sailed our coastal route every summer since he was 16 years old and said he was hopeful we'd have better weather than their last trip and that we'd have at least a couple of "midnight suns" - they had four on the last cruise. By now it was well after 10 pm and we turned in for the night, still I think feeling some of the effects of the long travel day.
Good Morning from the North Sea: June 28
Sunrise today was at 3:30 am - luckily we were informed of this in our Viking Daily newsletter last night so we knew to have the curtains fully drawn (as we're on the eastern side of the ship and get the morning sun). Still, unlike the first night were we "slept in" which for us is any time after 7 am, this morning we were both wide awake by a little after 6 am. We opened the door and while the temperature was - according to our weather info - a cool 57 degrees it didn't feel chilly. We enjoyed a quick morning photo on our balcony and went for coffee and breakfast in the World Cafe restaurant on the 7th (next to top level) deck with a widow view. We then took a short morning walk around the perimeter of the top deck.
Some thoughts on the ship, the "Viking Sea"......
As you board you have the distinct feeling that you are on a big ocean-going cruise ship. But as you explore you're surprised that unlike the typical ocean cruise ship which has fourteen to eighteen levels, this one has seven levels with a sun deck / 8th level that is only about 1/2 the length of the ship. And to walk from one end to the other - again, unlike the typical big ocean ships - is only about 1/2 the length. So, while unlike the river cruise "longships" where to go from the top level observation/sun deck to your stateroom is a matter of seconds, it is still only a matter of minutes because it is much smaller. It is luxuriously furnished and carries a Viking/Nordic theme throughout as you can see from these random shots I've taken to post here......
Thank you Mr. Kim & Ms. Mark.....
It's just the continuation of a long saga with Viking that nearly everything we receive via email or postal mail is addressed to JUST Kimberly Love, that sets the stage for an amusing saga from this morning.......As I'd mentioned previously, we'd been able to book additional excursions for the trip that had originally been "Sold Out." But yesterday in looking ahead to our next set of excursions, we noted that MY ticket for MY excursion had Kim's name on it, and her ticket had her name on it correctly; then for the following day both tickets - for separate excursions had MY name; and the third excursion upcoming was like tomorrow's....her name was on both. I went down to ask if that was a problem, but there was a long line at the excursion desk. I asked at guest services and when I showed her the tickets she said it didn't matter, it was one account from one room. So I returned to our room, but I saw from down the hall the room was being cleaned. I went to the top/sun deck and read for an hour. As I began returning I noticed I no longer had my tickets!!!! I retraced my steps and couldn't find them anywhere. So, I went back downstairs and now there was no line at the Excursions Desk...told my story....no this WOULD NOT be ok, so she began to reprint them. As she went to double-check she stopped, smiled and said, "I'm going to show you a problem - it's not a big problem to fix, but it is funny, are you ready?" She swiveled the monitor around and there were our photo ID pictures but my photo was attached to "Kimberly Love" and Kim's photo had the name "Mark Love." We laughed and I told her that I had thought the other night that when Kim received her pre-dinner cocktail the server had said, "Here you go Ms. Mark." But I thought I'd misheard him say "ma'am." Perhaps not! So I was directed back to guest services to have a new photo taken; Kim later went down to have her new photo taken. Then I returned to the excursion desk and got the correct tickets with the correct names.
During the day we spent a good deal of the day doing out own thing. Kim went to the gym for an extensive workout, followed by alternating steam spa and "snow spa" treatments. I want to do the "snow room" but was disappointed to learn from her that it doesn't actually snow while you're in there. Obviously the camera quality inside a spa is less than ideal, but you get the "real look" at her day; later in the afternoon she tried her hand at putt-putt golf. I, on the other hand spent time reading my book both inside and outside as well as attending a historic lecture on "Vikings" - who they were, how they lived, and their legacy. It was very interesting, delivered in front of a standing room only theater group of 400+ and the historic facts presented supported several of the story lines of the TV show "Vikings" which Kim and I have watched.
Dinner at Manfredi's
One of the unique features of the Viking Oceans experience, unlike other big-ship ocean cruises is that the specialty restaurants on our ship do NOT come with an added cost. You only need to make reservations in advance. We made our reservation for Manfredi's on the first day on board (you have to wait until you're on board to make reservations) via my phone app. We have been looking forward to this since our "Rhine Getaway" Viking River Cruise adventure when that ship offered a sampling of this dinner option on their Aquavit Terrace - again, it did not come at an extra cost, but only required reservations in advance.
Our reservation was at 6 pm, and we were right on time following our pre-dinner cocktails in the "living room." We were surprised at how crowded the restaurant was, but what truly blew us away was when the menu was delivered and we had to make our choices. Such an array of selections!
Everything, and I mean EVERYTHING we had was outstanding. At the end of the cruise I will build a "Food" page with photos of all the main dishes, including many photos of tonight's wide variety of food and drink. It took us nearly two hours to work our way through the multiple courses and dessert. We then went for a quick change of clothes, a half hour stroll around the promenade deck and then on to the "Sounds of Broadway" live performance in "The Theater." It was a wonderful day. Tomorrow were in Edinburgh, Scotland and we have separate excursions, so twice as many photos!
As you board you have the distinct feeling that you are on a big ocean-going cruise ship. But as you explore you're surprised that unlike the typical ocean cruise ship which has fourteen to eighteen levels, this one has seven levels with a sun deck / 8th level that is only about 1/2 the length of the ship. And to walk from one end to the other - again, unlike the typical big ocean ships - is only about 1/2 the length. So, while unlike the river cruise "longships" where to go from the top level observation/sun deck to your stateroom is a matter of seconds, it is still only a matter of minutes because it is much smaller. It is luxuriously furnished and carries a Viking/Nordic theme throughout as you can see from these random shots I've taken to post here......
Each landing between floors has a Viking / Medieval Tapestry-Mural
Note the leather-covered banisters!
Thank you Mr. Kim & Ms. Mark.....
It's just the continuation of a long saga with Viking that nearly everything we receive via email or postal mail is addressed to JUST Kimberly Love, that sets the stage for an amusing saga from this morning.......As I'd mentioned previously, we'd been able to book additional excursions for the trip that had originally been "Sold Out." But yesterday in looking ahead to our next set of excursions, we noted that MY ticket for MY excursion had Kim's name on it, and her ticket had her name on it correctly; then for the following day both tickets - for separate excursions had MY name; and the third excursion upcoming was like tomorrow's....her name was on both. I went down to ask if that was a problem, but there was a long line at the excursion desk. I asked at guest services and when I showed her the tickets she said it didn't matter, it was one account from one room. So I returned to our room, but I saw from down the hall the room was being cleaned. I went to the top/sun deck and read for an hour. As I began returning I noticed I no longer had my tickets!!!! I retraced my steps and couldn't find them anywhere. So, I went back downstairs and now there was no line at the Excursions Desk...told my story....no this WOULD NOT be ok, so she began to reprint them. As she went to double-check she stopped, smiled and said, "I'm going to show you a problem - it's not a big problem to fix, but it is funny, are you ready?" She swiveled the monitor around and there were our photo ID pictures but my photo was attached to "Kimberly Love" and Kim's photo had the name "Mark Love." We laughed and I told her that I had thought the other night that when Kim received her pre-dinner cocktail the server had said, "Here you go Ms. Mark." But I thought I'd misheard him say "ma'am." Perhaps not! So I was directed back to guest services to have a new photo taken; Kim later went down to have her new photo taken. Then I returned to the excursion desk and got the correct tickets with the correct names.
During the day we spent a good deal of the day doing out own thing. Kim went to the gym for an extensive workout, followed by alternating steam spa and "snow spa" treatments. I want to do the "snow room" but was disappointed to learn from her that it doesn't actually snow while you're in there. Obviously the camera quality inside a spa is less than ideal, but you get the "real look" at her day; later in the afternoon she tried her hand at putt-putt golf. I, on the other hand spent time reading my book both inside and outside as well as attending a historic lecture on "Vikings" - who they were, how they lived, and their legacy. It was very interesting, delivered in front of a standing room only theater group of 400+ and the historic facts presented supported several of the story lines of the TV show "Vikings" which Kim and I have watched.
One of the unique features of the Viking Oceans experience, unlike other big-ship ocean cruises is that the specialty restaurants on our ship do NOT come with an added cost. You only need to make reservations in advance. We made our reservation for Manfredi's on the first day on board (you have to wait until you're on board to make reservations) via my phone app. We have been looking forward to this since our "Rhine Getaway" Viking River Cruise adventure when that ship offered a sampling of this dinner option on their Aquavit Terrace - again, it did not come at an extra cost, but only required reservations in advance.
Our reservation was at 6 pm, and we were right on time following our pre-dinner cocktails in the "living room." We were surprised at how crowded the restaurant was, but what truly blew us away was when the menu was delivered and we had to make our choices. Such an array of selections!
Everything, and I mean EVERYTHING we had was outstanding. At the end of the cruise I will build a "Food" page with photos of all the main dishes, including many photos of tonight's wide variety of food and drink. It took us nearly two hours to work our way through the multiple courses and dessert. We then went for a quick change of clothes, a half hour stroll around the promenade deck and then on to the "Sounds of Broadway" live performance in "The Theater." It was a wonderful day. Tomorrow were in Edinburgh, Scotland and we have separate excursions, so twice as many photos!
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