Two years ago, my husband and I took our first Viking River Cruise, the Cities of Light itinerary from Paris to Prague. We were so impressed with Viking, especially the food and service.
We’ve also cruised with Regent, Princess, Oceania, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity.
To celebrate my husband’s retirement, we wanted to return to Italy, our favorite country so far, and decided to try a Viking Ocean cruise this time.
We booked the Italian Sojourn aboard the Viking Neptune, along with Viking pre- and post-cruise extensions.
So, was our Viking Ocean cruise worth the money?
For us, absolutely. We are Viking fans and would cruise with them again.
But there are a few things I would do differently next time.
Is a Viking Ocean Cruise Worth the Money?
Viking isn’t inexpensive, but many things are included. More importantly, Viking handles the details extremely well.
Flights, transfers, luggage, hotels, guides, embarkation—there is something to be said for having someone else handle all of the logistics of a long international trip.
We noticed this especially with our luggage. We saw travelers dragging suitcases over cobblestones and carrying them up stairs in hotels without elevators while Viking handled ours flawlessly every step of the way.
Those are the things that make me think, “This is worth it.”
Should You Use a Travel Agent?
We used a travel agent who was able to secure some additional perks for us, including shipboard credit we used toward excursions and gratuities. It didn’t cost us anything extra to use a travel agent and I recommend using one. Ours provided an extra set of eyes and a wealth of suggestions.
One tip: Viking initially sent our correspondence only to our travel agent, who then forwarded it to me. I called Viking and asked them to add my email address to all correspondence so I wouldn’t miss anything time-sensitive if our agent was unavailable.
Was Viking Air Worth It?
We paid extra to use Viking Air, and I was very glad we did.
I secured our September flights in January, before prices increased. I was also able to research flights myself and tell Viking which ones I preferred. They were easy to work with and accommodating.
Then came the real test.
The day before we were scheduled to leave, Lufthansa canceled our flight. Before I could panic, Viking had already arranged an alternate flight.
When we arrived in Florence, a Viking representative was waiting for us, put us in a Mercedes van and took us to our hotel.
That’s the kind of service you appreciate when something goes wrong.
Would I Do Viking’s Pre- and Post-Cruise Extensions Again?
The Viking guides on both our pre- and post-cruise extensions were excellent, and we saw some amazing places.
However, the tours were fast-paced. There was a lot of walking and long days, and we never really got over our jet lag at the beginning of the trip.
Next time, I might skip the pre-cruise tour, fly into the city a day or two early and give our bodies time to adjust after a long international flight. We could rest, explore on our own and start the cruise feeling refreshed instead of exhausted.
What Was the Viking Neptune Like?
The Viking Neptune is beautiful. The décor is light, airy and Scandinavian-inspired.
Embarkation was incredibly easy.
We’ve been on cruises where getting onto the ship felt chaotic. Not with Viking. There seemed to be staff everywhere—checking people in, handling luggage, answering questions and getting everyone onboard quickly.
Once onboard, we headed to the World Café for food and drinks while we waited for our stateroom.
Viking really does have the organization part figured out.
Which Viking Ocean Stateroom Did We Choose?
Every Viking Ocean stateroom has a private veranda with a table and chairs.
We stayed in a Deluxe Veranda Stateroom, which was 270 square feet. My sister-in-law and brother-in-law stayed in a Penthouse Veranda, which was 338 square feet.
Their cabin had a slightly larger sitting area and a few additional perks.
After seeing both, I was happy with our choice.
We spent so little time in our cabin that I didn’t feel the extra space or perks justified the additional cost. I would choose the Deluxe Veranda again.
One of My Favorite Viking Luxuries
One of my favorite things was having room service breakfast delivered every morning and eating it on our veranda in my plush Viking bathrobe.
You fill out a door hanger the night before with your breakfast choices and preferred delivery time. Our breakfast arrived right on time.
At the end of a day of sightseeing, we’d often pick up a glass of wine, take it back to our cabin and sit on the veranda watching the sunset.
Those little moments were some of my favorites.
How Are the Food and Service on Viking?
This is where Viking really shines.
Of all the cruise lines we’ve sailed, Viking has the best food in our opinion.
We loved The Restaurant, the World Café and both specialty restaurants, Manfredi’s and The Chef’s Table.
We celebrated my brother-in-law’s birthday one evening, and the staff made it especially memorable with singing and a special dessert.
The service may spoil you for other cruise lines.
Every person made us feel welcome and special. Requests were met with a smile, and the staff genuinely seemed happy to help.
Viking hires exceptional people, and the combination of outstanding food and service is one of the biggest reasons we feel the cruise is worth the money.
Is the Silver Spirits Package Worth It?
My answer is: it depends.
On our Viking River cruise, we initially planned to drink the wine that was already included with lunch and dinner. After trying it, we decided to add the Silver Spirits package and really enjoyed having more choices.
Because of that experience, I purchased Silver Spirits ahead of time for our Viking Ocean cruise.
My husband and I primarily drink wine rather than hard liquor, and we still thought it was worth it. We loved choosing different wines from Viking’s extensive wine list and came home with several new varietals we want to look for.
If you’re happy with Viking’s included wine and beer at meals, you may not need the package. But if you enjoy trying different wines or having cocktails outside of mealtimes, it may be worth it. Drinks purchased à la carte were also reasonably priced.
One important thing to know is that both people sharing a stateroom need to purchase the package. You can add Silver Spirits after boarding, but make that decision early because the package isn’t simply prorated for the remaining days.
Are Viking’s Included Excursions Worth It?
Viking includes at least one excursion in every port, usually a walking or bus tour that provides an overview. The guides we’ve encountered have been very knowledgeable. Viking hires exceptional people.
But I’ve learned after taking several cruises that large group tours aren’t my favorite way to experience a city.
There can be a lot of waiting for everyone to get on and off buses or gather at meeting points. There’s usually plenty of walking but not enough free time.
Sometimes I come away feeling as though I did a drive-by of a city rather than actually experienced it.
I prefer a slower pace. I want time to enjoy lunch, sit in a café with a glass of wine and watch the world go by.
Why I Prefer Private Tours
The Viking tours that are not included are expensive. Typically there are 5 or more tours to choose from and those are extra. For the same price and sometimes less, I’ve booked private tours and I look for those that do not take all day.
I’ve booked private and small-group European tours through companies including Viator, GetYourGuide and Santoro Tours in Sicily and have had excellent experiences.
One of our favorite days was in Croatia, our only non-Italy stop.
I booked a TukTuk tour with a wine tasting. Our driver took us up to a castle and into areas where buses and cars would have difficulty navigating. Later, we enjoyed wine and charcuterie in the garden of an old monastery.
At the end of the day, we felt like we had really experienced the city.
If you book an independent excursion, remember that you are responsible for getting back to the ship on time. I always plan to finish well ahead of departure to allow for traffic or unexpected delays.
My Best Cruise-Planning Tip: Join Facebook Groups
Before our trip, I joined several Viking Facebook groups and asked questions about our ports.
They were a wealth of information. So many lovely people were willing to share their experiences, and this is where I discovered several of the private tours I ultimately booked.
I highly recommend joining Facebook groups before any cruise and doing it well ahead of your trip.
Don’t Schedule Every Day
I purposely booked nothing for our first port day in Naples.
No tour. No guide. No schedule.
We wandered, shopped and ate at an authentic Italian restaurant that reminded me of my grandmother’s house.
I also used ChatGPT constantly on my phone throughout the trip. I would ask something like:
“I’m in [location]. Where can I shop nearby for affordable Italian fashion, and where can I have lunch afterward at an authentic restaurant that isn’t touristy?”
I would get the walking directions from ChatGPT and off we’d go. You can out the app on your phone. I used it constantly.
Some of our favorite moments throughout Italy happened when we weren’t on a tour—sitting in a town square with a glass of wine, wandering into a shop or even stumbling across a local military parade.
Don’t schedule every minute of your trip.
What Would I Pack Differently?
We packed too much.
My husband and I each brought a large suitcase, plus we shared another medium suitcase for toiletries.
Next time: one suitcase each.
I would bring my lightweight foldable parachute-style bag again. We used it for dirty clothes and souvenirs and brought it home as an extra bag.
I also packed far too many shoes.
I ended up wearing two pairs of good tennis shoes for sightseeing and one pair of shoes onboard.
Good walking shoes are a must in Italy. Cobblestones can be uneven and slippery.
What Is the Evening Entertainment Like?
If big evening entertainment is an important part of cruising for you, Viking Ocean might not be the best fit.
We walked into one Beatles revue and didn’t think it was very good, so we didn’t stay.
We’ve been on larger ships with excellent Broadway-style productions, but that isn’t Viking’s focus.
It didn’t bother us. After exploring all day and having dinner, we were usually perfectly happy to go to bed and rest for the next day’s adventures.
What Didn’t I Like About Viking?
One of my biggest complaints is how early the final payment can be due.
We reserved our cruise about 18 months ahead with a small $50 deposit, but our remaining balance was due roughly 60 days later.
That’s a long time for someone else to have your money.
Payment deadlines can vary depending on Viking’s promotion and booking terms, so before putting down your deposit, ask exactly when your final payment will be due.
There is a flip side.
When we stepped off the Viking Neptune, our onboard balance was zero.
We used some of our travel-agent shipboard credit toward excursions and gratuities. We also personally like to give additional cash tips directly to staff members who take especially good care of us, but that’s our choice.
I appreciated not ending the cruise with a large bill filled with unexpected charges.
What Would I Do Differently Next Time?
I’d pack less.
I’d choose the Deluxe Veranda again instead of paying more for a larger cabin.
I’d continue booking our own private or small-group tours.
I’d probably arrive a day or two early rather than immediately beginning a busy pre-cruise tour.
And I’d intentionally leave more free time.
I don’t need to see everything.
Sometimes I’d rather sit in a café, enjoy a leisurely lunch or wander into a shop than rush to the next attraction.
Would We Take Another Viking Ocean Cruise?
Most definitely.
We are Viking fans.
The food is outstanding. The service is exceptional. The ships are beautiful. And Viking removes many of the logistical headaches that can make a long international trip stressful.
Is everything perfect? No.
The early payment schedule bothers me. The evening entertainment isn’t a priority for Viking. And I’ve learned that I prefer exploring some destinations independently rather than taking large organized tours.
But the good far outweighs the not-so-good.
When we get home from a long trip like this, we’re always tired but happy and ready to stay home for a while.
Then a few months go by.
One of the many Viking brochures arrives in the mail. We start flipping through it and inevitably begin talking about where we might go next.
Although seriously, Viking—do we really need quite so many expensive brochures in the mail?
