Viking Ocean Cruise Complete Review

[@Paul-GrnHil]

First of all, kudos to you both for embracing the life you were given (cheers worthy). My wife and I enjoyed a Viking S. American cruise and are booked on 2 more. We love Viking. I agree with much of your comments especially given your ratings vs your expectations. I would rate the food better than the entertainment while your expectations for food over entertainment impacts your ratings. All in all a well balanced review of an excellent cruise line. Happy life to you both.

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

Thanks Paul! -K

[@nicoledomett9437]

Pleased to see this, as we also thought the food was only okay. Had better food on Oceania, Azamara and even Celebrity

[@patdempsey9337]

Having taken about 5 Viking Ocean cruises, I really agree with your review, especially my last 2 cruises. I especially agree about the food, which has decreased in quality since the pandemic. Your review was spot-on and very complete.

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

Thanks. Although I wish you had said the food was amazing on all 5 cruises. Hopefully Viking improves in these areas now that they have a couple years of sailing after the pandemic. -K

[@dongosen1]

My wife and I just returned from our first Viking Cruise of the Mediterranean. I watched your video prior to leaving and thought you guys were being tough on the food. However, upon return, I realized you nailed it. Every comment you made was spot on. The food was comparable to the Norwegian cruise I was on last year. However, I also agree with you that the trip was worth the money. In our opinion the best part was the meeting so many great people on board with the excursions coming in a close second.

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

So glad you enjoyed your cruise. The food is what it is. I think having proper expectations will help us next time. The Med is definitely on our list at some point. Thanks for watching.

[@arlinekay6542]

You both have great charisma together and I like your format. But, would prefer much more video of what you're talking about. Would like details of the cabin, putting your hand down on the uncovered mattress demo'ing the hardness, close-ups of the food. A little of the music, etc. Maybe I'm expecting too much?

[@debraedwards7048]

I also prefer to do my laundry. Was on Viking for three weeks-- loved how I could just wash my own clothes as needed--- at no charge!

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

They do make it very convenient. -K

[@dsr8223]

Thanks for the review. We are looking at stringing together 3 consecutive Viking "ocean" cruises, all on the same ship and in the same cabin, through the Mediterranean and up to Norway for the Northern lights. It will be over a month long, so it's a good thing we can do our own laundry. Your review reassures me that Viking will offer the experience and ambiance we want.

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

Sounds like an amazing month! The laundry is awesome and will make it very easy on you. Just have plenty of books/movies downloaded to entertain yourselves during sea days. Because it’s a smaller ship, you don’t have nearly the entertainment options the larger ships have. So 2 days in a row at sea can become boring very quickly. -K

[@johnandtam6562]

Thank you both for your coments. We will be going on the Mars on a Med cruise in 2026. Just got back from a Viking River Cruise in Europe. Loved the experience. As you experienced, the crew were fantastic and the ship layout was awesome. We actually thought the food on the River Cruise was actually quite good......certainly as compared to the RC Alaska cruise we were on last year. The beds on the River ships are firm as well (which is what we like), but understandable if you don't. Maybe they have them that way for older folks who prefer firmer beds. At alost 60, we were some of the youngest on the boat. I cannot imagine going on a Viking cruise and not taking advantage of any of the thrown in excursions. We did a mix some of theirs and some of our own as well as just toodling around the various towns. Thanks again for the honest review....very insightful!

[@LynneA-u6d]

Best food we have had was on Regent. Going on Oceania in January hoping that it is as good.

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

I’ve heard those are both great cruise lines but haven’t been … yet. Where is your January cruise to? -K

[@Brisailer]

Currently struggling through a cruise on the Viking Star. This is an old ship badly refitted in my view. I took a junior penthouse and haven’t had a decent night’s sleep yet. For the first few days windows were creaking and noisy. Now the ship’s airconditioning (I think) is sending a high pitched hum through the room constantly. The refit of the room is just strange. The room is split into a bed and sitting room (curtains not a wall as in the river cruises but the lights are either turned on for all or turned off for all. There is a single separate light in the sitting room which is so dark it’s useless. You can see the add on wiring which is exposed. The hair dryer can’t be used in the bathroom because there is no plug. I could go on. Of course guest services aren’t interested. I had positive experiences with Viking river cruises so this is a terrible diappointment.

[@Brisailer]

The story continues - they know how to fix the Airconditioning and did it a couple of times. Then they just forget and we’re back into guest services limbo. A waste of a lot of money. Don’t sail Viking. Just my opinion but just don’t. Holiday ruined can’t wait for this to finish so I can get off this damn ship.

[@sctexan5392]

I once did a price comparison of a traditional cruise vs Viking and found the price difference wasn't that much. Of course you have to price in the balcony room, all the included specialty dinning, spa, wifi, free laundry facilities, and an included basic excursion....so if you do those, the price is no bad

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

Totally agree. One thing we love about Viking is that it’s very easy, unlike most cruise lines, to understand what you are getting for your cruise price. Love that they make it easy to budget for. -K

[@pumpkin462]

Love the reasoning behind your trip.

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

Thanks. -K

[@apfelstrudel714]

Thank you for such a detailed and CANDID review! About everything. I totally agree with your evaluation of Viking food as very mid.

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

Thanks

[@bronwencampbell6943]

Funny! I was really disappointed with the waffles (the only thing I didn’t care for whole cruise- and we cruised on the same ship but on the Iconic Mediterranean tour) - I loved!!! ❤️!!! the food and was comfortable in the bed.

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

Haha. Maybe we can agree on the gelato being great 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@petermewett7999]

I enjoyed your presentation (while drinking red wine, incidentally!) and largely agree with your assessment of Viking. We did a wonderful cruise from Vancouver to Tokyo in 2019 and look forward to doing another trip in 2024. All of what you said about the fantastic crew, the ship layout, the absence of nickel and diming, the comfortable cabin (we like firm beds) cannot be questioned. I also agree that the food wasn't exceptional; I'd classify it as good but could be better. Having said that, we had a wedding anniversary during the cruise and the servers in the Restaurant (who we got along with brilliantly) arranged a special menu with the kitchen for us that evening. We also particularly liked the afternoon teas in the Wintergarden and spending time in the bars! Next time we'll go to Torshavn, which we missed out on before.

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

Vancouver to Tokyo would be amazing! Good point on the Wintergarden. Loved their snacks with tea time. -K

[@knfpumps]

Drinks were weak at best in Torshavn. Server even suggested a double!

[@Vigilant1948]

Thank you for your review. Very helpful. One question regarding your comments about the Crew: you recommend tipping for services "above and beyond." How did that work? You'd give individuals cash at the time of recognition? Trying to get a sense of that...say $5-$10-$20? Could you expand a bit on this?

[@Rose-k2v9r]

We tried asking about this at Guest Services, and they indicated that $10/week for someone who went above and beyond was considered a very good extra tip and as K&S said, was very much appreciated. (They have envelopes at Guest Services for this purpose.) We slipped an extra $20 (for 2 weeks) to our room steward and favorite waiter(s), and they were over the moon. Even an extra $5 or $10 to a special person on the staff (bar, cleaning, etc.) was meaningful, not so much for the $ but for the recognition.

[@edtravelbug]

A Celebrity Edge Class ship is a choice I would make 4 out of 5 times when choosing cruise ship vacations (versus Viking). It comes down to the food because most would expect a higher quality, given the price, on the Viking ships. Comparing, let's say, a similar 7-night itinerary in Europe = even if you upgrade the Celebrity ship with the 7-day drink& wifi package and choose 4-5 specialty restaurants (upgrade price) for dinner and maybe lunch, you are still saving $ 500-700 per person on most similar itineraries over the 7 days. At that price difference, I would still usually choose Viking more IF the food was fantastic all the time, but since I have now guaranteed great food with cuisine variety 5 times on the Celebrity, I would choose that ship a bit more than Viking. There is more to do and see on Celebrity, which I also like…….but I also really like the layout and common areas on Viking ships. Hard to beat being able to go to almost any public area and not worrying about having many people taking up all available chairs. Fantastic review, and thanks to Shuana and Kevin!

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

Thanks for the additional insights.

[@mymentorjane6705]

We’re sold on coming and only cruise with them now. We especially love the decor, crew, small ship experience. We’re leaving next week for the Mediterranean. Haven’t had the same dining experience but I’ll look closer this next trip. Excellent review well done and I appreciate the quality of your video.

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

Glad you enjoyed it! Which Mediterranean route are you taking? For our next Viking cruise, we are looking at Alaska, Chilean Fjords, or somewhere in the Med. -K

[@mymentorjane6705]

@@ShaunaAndKevin we’re doing the cities of antiquities Athens to Rome which featured Israel but of course that’s changed. Still we’re looking forward to it. We’re doing the transatlantic Florida to Barcelona in March and Antarctica in December. You can tell we like Viking.

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

@@mymentorjane6705 That’s amazing. Enjoy all your cruises! -K

[@johnbarthel442]

As you said, the bed is subjective. We just returned from a 22 day repositioning cruise, Barcelona to Buenos Aires, and had no issues with the bed, finding it very comfortable. We did not need the extra mattress topper that you desired, but the I am 75 and my wife is 70, so we may be able to fall asleep more easily than you “children”. You forgot to include the Pool Grill for burgers, hotdog, etc. We, too, were not impressed with Manfredi’s or the World Cafe pizza, as they didn’t have pepperoni often enough; they do make fresh crust and I do love the breads and oatmeal raisin cookies. The rest of the review is pretty accurate, we have been on 4 = 2 river + 2 ocean. Good job. We did find the talks excellent from the 3 resident historians (retired commander from Her Majesty’s Navy, former ambassador to Chad and Brazil 1st Secretary to USA, an Aussie ) and a resident astronomer. The entertainers were all very good, the port experiences were as you observed. Free launderettes are great.

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

Thanks

[@Michele21938]

Would you recommend this for anyone whose handicap?

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

Yes. The fact that Viking has smaller cruise ships allows them to travel routes that the larger ships can’t. This allows you to get very close to land and truly enjoy the cruising experience. Our favorite part was sailing the inside channel up Norway because it was so beautiful. Viking is also highly attentive to their guests and I’m sure they would make it the best experience. Further, they cater to an older crowd so their excursions are tailored to their guest profile. I hope that helps. -K

[@Michele21938]

@@ShaunaAndKevin Yes! Thank you!

[@honeymcdonald9120]

More photos/videos of ship and room-less of you sitting there perhaps? As for the food - I'm assuming you prefer cheese with everything rather than fresh.

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

Not sure what that means - cheese with everything? Thanks for watching.

[@veronicamaliner8387]

They are the worst, I cancelled my trip 7 months before cruise they had so many penalties and I cancelled air w penalties i will never book a trip with them again

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

Sorry

[@xupthree60]

Lots of 🍍...

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

Thanks but those days are behind us.

[@susans7091]

Lack of catsup on breakfast delivered to your cabin? We must have very different taste in food. I won't be watching more reviews.

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

Thanks.

[@maryannesteinberger7652]

I do not know what sort of food you folks like, but we found the food excellent. Fresh, locally sourced, simple. You could identify what it was. Not drowned in disguising sauces. The wok station was first-rate. (Most of my cooking at home is in my wok.) P.s. we like firm beds. We had the same cabin, same ship.

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

Thanks

[@texasboy5117]

We did the same cruise last year in a penthouse veranda stateroom (PV2), which is one category lower than yours. Loved the trip so much we are doing in again next May. We fine the beds on Viking trip fine, so it's a personal thing. We have sailed on several of the ultra-luxury lines, and find Viking is our favorite line. We felt the food was as good as the higher end ships. We do about 3 to 4 cruises with Viking a year and always love the experience.

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

We can’t wait for our next Viking cruise. We just booked an Alaskan cruise but it’s through NCL in their Haven area. We look forward to comparing it to Viking. -K

[@heatherphelps3799]

You two are so cute together! Thanks for video.

[@pattid8729]

For me the food is everything. If it’s not stellar it’s a dealbreaker for me, especially for the money. We love Oceania - “the finest cuisine at sea” is their mantra. We’ve done 3 cruises with them now and love them! (BTW, kudos to you both for embracing reality and moving forward in a positive way - God bless you!)

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

Thanks for the kind words and the suggested cruise line. We will check it out. -K

[@arikin1961]

hello, we already got a Viking cruise for next august england isles but we booked as well for first time Oceania next year for inagurate Allura ship from Lisbon to New York. We haven´t travel never in both of them. Which one you think is better option? Thanks and regards from Spain

[@macgowan47]

Nice presentation on Viking. We are long time cruisers. We only travel on small ships--400-750 passengers. We love Silversea, Seabourn, and Regents. For the $’s you spend on this 15 day cruise, on your next cruise you might consider these cruise lines😅. FYI--We sailed on Silversea for 21 days in South America for the same rate you spent--and the beds are great and the restaurants are superb.

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

Sincerely, THANKS! That’s great insight. We also like the small cruise experience. -K

[@paula9604]

We are considering a Viking Ocean cruise and appreciated your honest review. You both do a great job of explaining in detail the reasons for your score. Plus, you both seem such pleasant and likable people. Good luck with this site!

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

Awe, thanks for the kind words. This is a hobby for us that we both enjoy and creates an outlet for the normal stresses of life. Glad you enjoyed it!

[@happysweety123]

Thank you for sharing your experience with Viking Ocean cruise you had. Ｉ agreed your rating to Viking food. I just had one Viking River cruise. I think the food was same as HA or Princess Cruise lines. I don't mind having house keeping once a day that may help less stress on their house keepers. I like the included excursions and the warm floor in the bath room.

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

Thanks. Their bathrooms are incredible, especially for a cruise ship. We can’t wait for our next Viking cruise. Next up though is Christmas in Vegas. We look forward to sharing that experience too. -K

[@knfpumps]

Not only warm floors but a heated, steam-free mirror. The lighting around the mirrors is awful, though.

[@joclark5031]

That’s an unusual experience with the bed, I’ve been on several Viking ships and usually it’s so comfy… hate you had that experience…

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

Although we hoped for a better bed, it was a small inconvenience and is overshadowed by how great everything else was.

[@jeffasquith7708]

The beds are wonderful!

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

Thanks

[@joecburke]

EXCELLENT review. On most reviews we get the marketing photo video, but this one was specific, detailed, and VERY credible. THANK YOU, because we are about to take our first Viking cruise and this helped SO much.

[@stevebelinski6158]

Thank you Shauna and Kevin. My wife and I are about to embark on the 15 day Med cruise. Your comments were very helpful. I didn’t catch the link to your magnetic hooks but will find some.

[@trainattendant5810]

Hi Shauna & Kevin - Wonderful review! You hit the nail on the head. I've sailed seven Viking Ocean cruises & couldn't agree more about the dining. Very strange that for an otherwise perfect product, the dining is the weak link. Nothing bad, & I always eat full meals. Yet the food certainly isn't gourmet fine dining. For Viking's price point, I expect better. The crew, ship design, & chill relaxed vibe are why I love Viking! The gym rocks! Has everything a person needs.

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

Thanks. We will happily look past the food to enjoy everything else Viking offers. Worst case, I can just live off their gelato on our next cruise. What was your favorite itinerary? -K

[@trainattendant5810]

@ShaunaAndKevin Gelato, gym, pool, lol. My favorite itinerary with Viking are the repositioning trans-Atlantic crossings. I live for sea days! The ship is the destination. Have another aboard Viking Mars coming up in March! Any itinerary focusing on Norway is on the bucket list! Enjoy your next Viking cruise!🛳🌊

[@billswanson1375]

Who the [expletive] told you it was going to be "gourmet fine dining"???

[@marklines4396]

We love the small ships too. Since you seem to be foodies 😀 I would suggest you look into Oceania. The food and wine is amazing. Beds are wonderful. No line ups for anything. Great itineraries, going to places the big ships don’t.

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

Thanks! -K

[@Codymeister99]

We’ve been on 5 Viking cruises. Never had an issue with the bed.

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

Thanks

[@tko9624]

Thank you for a very detailed review. We plan to go on Vikings cruise next year.

[@Rose-k2v9r]

Good review overall, but if anyone is trying to decide whether to book a Viking Cruise based on this, I feel the need to offer some additional context and perspective: - The whole bed thing is indeed subjective. I thought they were very comfortable. Agree that the pillows were not (too poofy and bulky), so next time we’re bringing our own. - They rightfully noted how fantastic the crew is. Everyone on the staff is fantastic, and you feel treated like royalty, no matter what cabin you have booked. (And yes, please tip them extra.) - We thought the excursions were excellent overall, both the included and the optional ones we splurged on. If your whole objective is to have only more personalized experiences in each port, I’m wondering if a cruise is the best choice for you overall, anyway. - Agree with their comments on the entertainment overall. Have to mention that the house musicians (classical players, soloists, and especially the house band) were terrific. Interesting they did not even mention any of the lectures (from scientists, academics, historians, naturalists, etc.), which are a core part of Viking’s whole approach as the “thinking person’s cruise.” Most of these are really good and offer lots of background, context, and extra appreciation for each port destination. - My biggest difference of opinion is about the food. I think that overall it is excellent, although it varies by venue. The World Cafe (buffet) is about as good as a buffet gets, if you like that sort of thing. Not my favorite type of dining venue, and I often avoided it, because of the general busyness and noise level that is typical of a buffet. The restaurant was excellent most nights, with good food and lovely presentation. Manfredi’s was very good, especially for a cruise ship specialty restaurant. Not the greatest Italian food I’ve ever had (I’m Italian), but very good and a great experience overall. The BEST food experience on the ship is at the Chef’s Table, where the food is fantastic, creative, and beautifully served. Too bad they didn’t try it more than once, which tells me they are a bit picky or not very adventurous as eaters. Also, I thought the wine pairings were excellent, and just because a bottle may not cost more than $20, that doesn’t mean it’s not tasty. Not everything has to have a “top shelf” label to be good. One final thing to keep in mind: while they kept saying that the food was disappointing given “what they paid” for their trip, keep in mind that they booked one of the highest category cabins onboard, one that cost literally double the price of the more prevalent Deluxe Veranda (a perfectly lovely cabin). I understand that they prioritized having more space, but the people who paid 50% less than they did were served the very same food and may have had a different expectation and perspective of the value they received.

[@doug8718]

I have to say…I got barely halfway through your presentation and decided you two are overly picky and completely spoiled. I doubt you would be satisfied with any cruise line if you weren’t impressed with Viking, the top rated cruise line. If the main thing Kevin liked about the meals was the gelato, you are an extremely picky eater. Sorry, but I consider your opinions to be on the fringe, as compared to all of the other reviews I’ve seen. Your bedding escapade was laughable, if not ridiculous. I don’t find much in this review applicable to me.

[@gogotraveler]

My opinion choose a standard room on a lower floor don't waste your money on one of the mini suites. The rooms are just another 30" wider enough for 2 dressers yet you might pay $5000 or more for this. Once your in the room you really don't even know what floor you are on. As far as the excursions the suites get preference but for the most part you won't have trouble getting on am excursion.

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

Thanks

[@Tigers529]

As they said if you want to spend more time in room mini suites are perfect. 2 TVs 2 sinks and and 70 sq feet more

[@Tigers529]

Can’t believe you didn’t go on any free tours

[@woofolliesmydog8628]

The bed is everything. If the mattress is hard, there's no coming back from that. A hard mattress alone is enough of a deal-breaker for me.

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

That’s understandable. Hard to enjoy yourself if you can’t get a good night’s sleep.

[@knfpumps]

You can request a pillowtop cover for the bed if needed. We found the bed comfortable as is.

[@mike2510]

Are you high. There is no coming back from a soft mattress- it’s phucks up your back, meaning you can’t walk. Older adults need firmer mattresses. Look, here’s how to handle this. Sleep on the floor for a night and then use the bed. It will appear a hell of a lot softer.

[@coraquin520]

We had the same problem with hard bed. Our steward put the egg-crate foam topper the following night which helped, I was able to sleep, could be softer. We are 70 plus y/o but prefer soft mattress.

[@Progene01]

You two are awesome and I loved your 'Cheers' review moments! 🤣 My wife and I are thinking about using Viking and your review was a great help! Loved the detail of the items that were important to you as many of them matter to us as well. Thanks for creating such a wonderful review video, VERY HELPFUL! Keep up the cruising and I agree with a previous post, kudos to you for embracing the life in front of you! Being together and creating/enjoying life is what's important. Thank you again... 😊

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

Thank you for such kind words. We loved the small ship experience with Viking. It’s truly a memorable cruise that we will always cherish. -K

[@Caocao8888]

Excellent, detailed review. The hard mattress, with no topper available, was surprising. But criticism of the food was VERY disappointing. I am not a big fan of headline shows, but the food had better be high quality.

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

Thanks for watching. Hope it was helpful.

[@SamuelDarcyPalmer]

This is a great review. Very insightful. The best cruise review I’ve seen. Viking is definitely my aesthetic. Disappointed the food isn’t better but it isn’t an ultra luxury cruise line like say Regent and Seven Seas. The price for your cabin type seems high but assume a basic cabin would be more reasonable. Look forward to your next review!

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

Thanks! Yes, we splurged on the room but we typically do that on vacation. We are the couple that likes to relax in their room so it’s important to us. Totally agree on the aesthetic - Viking ships are incredibly beautiful.

[@elahanson3756]

European beds are traditionally harder then North American. I love hard beds. 😁

[@doreenbi]

I was hesitant to start a 40 min video. You two are adorable! Thank you for sharing your experience... Very helpful for planning our upcoming Viking cruise!

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

Haha I was hesitant to make such a long video. We are glad you found it helpful! -K

[@christinethompson1016]

We loved the firm bed. Food not spectacular but very good. Overall loved it.

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

Thanks

[@gb3777]

What a delightful couple

[@lisaraeroman3736]

Oh wow. Good food and sleep are kinda important =}. Ty for the review

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

If you like a firm bed, I think it will be fine. Our tempur pedic at home may have just ruined us for any type of firm bed. I will say that Viking has some of the most amazing itineraries of any cruise line. If you have the opportunity, we would still highly recommend Viking. -K

[@shellyvick6300]

I loved your honest evaluation of Viking Cruises. We have been on 13 Viking, we are both 59. I was just so surprised you never mentioned that the clientele is a bit older. We always feel like we are in the youngest group. We have taken our adult children and their spouses on a Viking River and Ocean, and they just loved both. So kuddos!

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

Thanks. Yes, we were some of the youngest on the cruise but had so many great conversations with many guests that we rarely even thought about it. That’s amazing that you’ve been able to take your family with you. I’m sure it made it that much more special.

[@BING219]

Transparency in your experience is greatly appreciated here! Our Viking experience will be 13 days with 2 additional days pre embark and 2 days post disembark - May 2024- Mediterranean Odyssey. We will bring our memory pillows!.dont care if that consumes clothing packing space after your insights on bedding! Read an earlier post about smaller ship/ value and lux experience. Duly noted and worth researching. Your baggage : you mentioned back pack , 2 carry on, 3 checked in? On the length of your cruise was 3 checked in baggage excessive or just about right? Congrats on moving on!...You both seem like a lovely couple! Toast/ Salud!

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

Your pillows will help tremendously. We used all of our luggage. We had to pack for all 4 seasons - Norway got down into the 40s with rain, then London/Scotland were high 70s and sunny, plus we went on a 12 mile hike before the cruise started. It was 22 days in total and we used everything - multiple times thanks to the ease of using Viking’s laundry facilities. -K

[@jakejacobs7584]

I made it to 24:39 before I had to turn it off.

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

Ha. Thanks 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@debraedwards7048]

I'm not a foodie (vegetarian)-- but I still miss my Viking breakfasts--- I loved the offerings and ate way too much every morning!! Going on my second Viking cruise in less than a month and looking forward to the breakfast again!! My only complaint about the food was not enough vegetarian options--- but salads at lunch were also very delicious. But too many items cooked in veal gravy. Yuck. I thought the desert offerings were wonderful. To each their own, I suppose.

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

The waffles were my favorite! -K

[@RosemaryKeenum]

Looking forward to my first Viking cruise. I understand food comments, but I am not that picky. I also understand that there is only so much space to store food. If your favorite food gets gone, they can’t run to the store or have a delivery. The bed would not bother me. Love a firm mattress.

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

You will have a great time.

[@rhvoriginals3083]

I’m sorry, to me, $25,000 is way too much to spend on a cruise. That could have been a more global experience with a far more interesting itinerary, or better still, two vacations with a more immersive experience.

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

You don’t have to apologize for your opinion. We are all entitled to them. To each their own.

[@vickijensen404]

Well, I just returned from an Alaskan Cruise (Royal Caribbean ) for 10 nights - 20k - so this seems pretty good to me! This is because of all of the unknown expenses.

[@mycompasslawp.a.4328]

Good video, but for me, and at 25K, if the bed sucks and the food sucks, then that is going to be a deal breaker. I appreciate the honest review. You all should try a Virgin Voyages Rockstar/Mega Rockstar trip next at a comparable price. Food is excellent and the bed is comfortable.

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

We are much too old for a Virgin cruise. Not really into the party scene and nightclub vibes lol. -K

[@mycompasslawp.a.4328]

Judging by how good you all look in your video, I would say that we probably have you beat by about ten years age wise. To each their own, but you should have an open mind. Virgin Voyages is not a party ship at all, unlike Carnival and some other lines. I've found that there are many places onboard for peace and quiet, especially in our suite. Plus the food is amazing.@@ShaunaAndKevin

[@Veterans_for_Harris]

We have taken two Viking river cruises. I could not ask for a better experience.

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

That’s great. We agree. They create a memorable experience. -K

[@daleniehaus4309]

Great review! We are considering a Viking cruise with friends in a year or so. We are "Oceania" people at the moment. Very educational! By the way, love your thoughts about the crew. We always bring extra cash and tip our favorite staff!

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

Thanks! We love the Viking ship, crew and routes (and that it’s adults only). We hope to try Oceania soon. -K

[@daleniehaus4309]

@@ShaunaAndKevin Do try Oceania! It's a fantastic line.

[@Musevendyi]

Nice review! We feel like we know you personally now and relate. We took the 18 day Chile-round the Cape - voyage to Buenos Aires. The views were mostly on the Chile side, with rugged scenery and a run up the Amalia fjord to within a few hundred yards of the glacier face. Spectacular. If you go, remember to book a cabin on the left side of the of the ship, as that faces 43:43 the shoreline which is in view most of the time. BTW: the food and the included wines were quite good, we thought. We will favor Viking again. Happy sailing!

[@georgew5038]

yall look annoying

[@ThomasAnderson]

You two seem difficult to please.

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

Not sure how you arrived at that conclusion. It's a personal review of our experience.

[@bronwencampbell6943]

I liked the bed 🛏👍🏻but I like it firm

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

Glad it worked for you.

[@FraserAtSea]

Ah, I'll be keeping a close eye on your content from this ship - I'm so intrigued by Viking, but their price point is currently a little difficult for me. They look amazing, but just not sure I can justify it. Anyway, just found your channel and have subscribed - hello from the UK!

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

Thanks for subscribing. We love Viking! We like that it’s adult only and a smaller ship. -K

[@FraserAtSea]

@@ShaunaAndKevin You're welcome - always happy to help a fellow cruise vlogger out!

[@FloralclasswithKathy]

This made no sense to me… $25,000 how much was the cruise itself? Why didn’t y’all get off at the first port and buy a nice mattress topper? Why didn’t you demand a partial refund or at least reimbursement for the new nice topper! Why would anyone give 5 stars when the bed and food was not good? I don’t mean this in a mean way at all I am just trying to understand! If you went again how would you get a good nights sleep and delicious food?

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

Cruise was $25k. We paid for an upgraded room which was double the price of the standard rooms. Not many Walmarts at ship ports to grab toppers at. You can demand anything you want, doesn’t mean you will get it. Everything doesn’t have to be perfect to still have a 5 star experience - in our opinion of course.

[@dlmk429]

Thank you for the in depth and honest review! This is what we all want. For 20k the bed, lack of options, food, and laundry issues helped me decide to X this. Thank you!

[@michaelvaughan9134]

Hey dlmk…you may want to reconsider. As long as you don't require gourmet, the food on Viking is excellent. Better than 95% of all cruise ships. The beds are firm…that’s for sure. Have cruised with them five times now and that hasn’t changed. But the $25k price tag included two first class tickets costing over $10k. Took a lovely 12 day cruise to the Caribbean with Viking for $10k. It’s all about expectations.

[@dlmk429]

Appreciate your feedback. Have you sailed as much with other lines too?

[@michaelvaughan9134]

@@dlmk429 We have some experience with other lines but most of our cruising has been with Viking. The best food right now, without getting into ultra lux lines like Regent, Seabourne and Seven Seas, is Virgin, Viking and Oceana. May want to check out a video on KZbin from two years ago. Search for “ Ben and David Viking food”. They’re pretty honest about their reviews. All the best.

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

Keep in mind that our cost included an upgraded room that most people don’t need - we loved it though. Although the food didn’t meet our expectations, most everything else blew us away so we will definitely sail with them again. Our next one though is on NCL in their Haven for Alaska … then maybe Viking again after that. Thanks for watching. -K

[@tomwolf130]

An excellent and candid review of the Viking ocean cruise experience. We have been on two Viking Ocean cruises (5 weeks total). I thought you were a little hard on the food but generally a reasonable review of VIking's dining experience -plentiful but really nothing to write home about. The beds are fairly firm (which we liked) but that is like you mentioned a personal preference. We did find that most all the passengers were older couples. My guess is you might have been the youngest couple on the cruise. Good job.

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

Yes, we were the youngest on the cruise . . . and we loved it lol.

[@lbell4943]

We did the same cruise on Venus ship in June 2024. Good review overall. Our bed was way to soft, instead of too hard. I agree with food in main restaurants, it was ok but not great. I disagree with Chefs Table. We went 4 times and tried every menu option. We did 1 premium wine and regular wine at chefs table and found that one of us would like the premium better a d the other would like the standard wine that came with dinner. We don't drink a lot and never get silver spirits package isn't cost effective for us. Even with premium wine at chefs table and an after dinner drink most nights we spent well under the $700 the silver package costs, approximately paid $250. Great review. Other than what is listed above the review is spot on

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

Thanks for sharing!

[@billswanson1375]

I think you are making a big, big mistake by calling this a "luxury" cruise or Viking a "luxury" line. So, no, the food may not have been up to some "luxury" standard you (mistakenly) imagine it should be (and what are your standards, anyway?). And why bring the price of the cruise into it? Nearly all the alternative lines you mention are way more expensive. I don't thin the problem was Viking's food; I think it was your inaccurate expectyatrions.

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

Thanks for watching 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@Youtube_Stole_My_Handle_Too]

$25k on a cruise and you didn't even get a decent bed. If I was Vikings Ocean Cruise I would be embarrassed and ready to refund the whole thing. This is the worst review I have ever heard of. You two are far too polite. Anyways, thanks for the warning. Never VOC is the morale.

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

It was an amazing cruise … just not a perfect one. Fortunately, time heals all wounds (and bad backs from that bed;).

[@tommyikeda5821]

We are considering our first Viking cruise. Our experiences have been with the larger cruises ship in which we believe are too much with the kids and the crowds. We have done a Mississippi River cruise on a small boat which was awesome. Your review was exactly what we were seeking to learn about Viking. We had many questions and you both answered most of our concerns. I do have a couple of questions if you wouldn't mind helping us with. I do laundry. Does the laundry include soaps and dryer sheets? Do we need to bring our own? Food... Is there seafood. I am a lobster person. Do they offer shellfish? Otherwise, everything you touched upon has us better informed of our choice. Thank you.

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

Yes, laundry has everything you need. All you need to bring is dirty clothes (and maybe a few laundry bags if you have delicates). Also, plenty of seafood so you will be fine. Thanks for watching. Glad it was helpful.

[@ThomasAnderson]

People go on Viking Cruises for the adventurous and educational excursions. You 100% miss the point of Viking.

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

I think people have different reasons for going on cruises. We all have individual preferences. You are also allowed to disagree.

[@paulchlan2332]

After several Viking Ocean cruises, I tell people that the experience is between a large cruise ship and a yacht. Go on Viking for the "discovery" experience.

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

Very true. It was a great way to discover a part of the world we have never been to.

[@RosemaryKeenum]

Looking forward to my first Viking cruise. I understand food comments, but I am not that picky. I also understand that there is only so much space to store food. If your favorite food gets gone, they can’t run to the store or have a delivery. The bed would not bother me. Love a firm mattress.

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

Thanks for watching.

[@michaelgrabowski5581]

Hello Shauna and Kevin, thank you for your detailed review. Very sorry, that not everything was according to your expectation. I just came back from a 32 day journey with Viking to the South Pacific and I had no problems to give Viking 5 stars for each category. Now, was I lucky ? I do not think so. It was my 7th journey with Viking on its ocean ships and every time, I was able to allocate 5 Stars in the different sections , although not everything can be always 100%. I have already booked the Atlantic Crossing with Viking next year and I am looking forward to it. There is no cruise ship on earth where its passengers are happy all the time. But I appreciated your honest review and hope that Viking will look into your concerns to make things better in the future.

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

Thanks. Enjoy cruising!

[@Dawn.H]

I appreciated this review!! I just have one question right now, what was the soundproofing in the cabins like (not including the verandah)? Could you hear other passengers talk/cough/laugh/snore or their TVs?

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

It was great. We didn’t hear anyone walking above or talking/snoring next door.

[@kahuna1999]

Wow, and Viking gets rated the #1 cruise line year after year? We are trying Viking in 2024, and now I’m worried. Mediocre food and a hard bed. Try Oceania or Seabourn. A similar room, more inclusions and amenities, great beds and excellent food, for a lower price than you paid. All that doesn’t make sense, but it’s true..

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

I’ve heard good things about both. They are on our list to try. If you like a firm bed, you should be fine. Maybe just bring your own pillow. Everything else about Viking is over the top amazing so they more than make up for it. -K

[@sallypeterson5642]

Thanks for your vlog. We are trying to decide what cruise line to gone on in Sept 2025. Currently we are use Regent Seven Seas and love them, but might see what Viking has to offer. Your information really helped us. Thanks. P.S. I wish you would have shown us the balcony.. 🙂

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

Ask and you shall receive. Fast forward to 18:25 of this video - kzbin.info/www/bejne/qoerq4aEjMhmhpIsi=dZyV-VXPeC_vzM2g

[@LoisJacobs-x6k]

I love Viking!! I have been on 4 cruises. No problem with the beds. I do agree about the food. The food is good, but not excellent. Everything else is excellent. Service is oustanding! Like how everything is in the price.

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

The food isn’t great but the waffles are lol. Wish they would serve them 24/7!

[@travelswithianmargaret4678]

Having been on a number of Viking River cruises and Viking Ocean cruises, we rate Viking food around 4.5. Recently we did a HA cruise for 3 weeks and found it difficult to rate the food up to 3.5. We have more Viking cruises booked for the much better quality of accommodation, food, lectures and overall comfort.

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

Thanks for the additional insight.

[@crispycrunch007]

Thanks for posting your review….we took a 15 day cruise with Viking and concur with your observations, although we didn’t mind the bed so much….we are foodies and since our Viking cruise we have been on 2 Oceania cruises and a third one booked….we would urge you to try them as your preferences and likes seem completely aligned with the Oceania experience….enjoy your cruises!

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

Thanks for the recommendation! Happy cruisin’.

[@robertfreeman6487]

My wife and I took 2 Viking cruises in 2023, one a river cruise from Amsterdam to Basil Switzerland, and the 2nd a ocean, the Journey to Antiquities from Athens, to Turkey and to 3 stops in Italy. Both cruise was less than satisfactory for variety of reasons including food quality, food choices, the quality of matress especially on ocean cruise, lack of room temperature control on the river cruise and mis-management of guided tours on the ocean cruise. On the river cruise one of us became ill with cold and fever and the compasion of the crew was very minor. In the past my wife and I have been traveling on tours for about 8 years and its not clear to us why so many friends of ours rave about these Viking cruises. Each cruise was a let down for us.

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

Ugh, I’m sorry for your experience. That sounds terrible. Definitely not the experience you expect at their price point. -K

[@davidberg1055]

My wife & I are about to depart on a Viking Ocean cruise from Ft. Lauderdale to Los Angeles, through the Panama Canal. We were very disappointed when they pulled one of six scheduled port visits, in Nicaragua. No compensation or other stops offered. They sold us an 18 day cruise with six port visits. Losing one is a major loss in value. I am pretty mad at them.

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

😡That would be very frustrating. I’ve heard of other locations, like Iceland, experiencing the same issues … typically for weather. I hope the rest of your cruise blows away your expectations. -K

[@roxanneonthemove4187]

Boy, do I agree with your review, we did the In Search of Northern Lights cruise on the Viking Venus. My husband and I always want to go on the smaller ships, of course they are pricey but not having a large city disembarking in a port with us is worth it. While the cruise price does seem higher, if you compare other bare bones fares with the added cost to Vikings fare with those added costs included, they come out comparable. The plus side is you know what you paying up front. Viking does offer a lot more speakers talking about history or about the port you will be visiting than entertainment show with dancing or singing. This is their niche, if you want to go on a theme park cruise there are others out there for you. We chose Viking for next cruise to Mediterranean, allowing us to be able to visit Venice this trip because of being a smaller ship. Our last cruise with Viking we needed a recharge so the relaxing atmosphere on Viking did that. I know Viking does ask for some of your preferences before sailing, in there you maybe able to request extra bedding needs and dietary needs so that they can have them on board when placing their food supplies. Since they have to their food supplies well in advance. If everyone tells them dietary restrictions once they board they can only accommodate with limited amount of supplies. It is a major deal for them to acquire supplies during a cruise that is not pre-ordered.

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

Love how easy Viking makes it to price a cruise. Much easier than almost all other cruise lines. We also totally agree on the small ships. Seeing videos and photos of the packed pools on those floating cities makes us sick. Can’t wait for our next Viking cruise.

[@SocietyisCap]

Thank you for making such a thorough and informative video. My wife and I have a Viking cruise planned this summer. We just turned 40. I’m curious if you had any thoughts on cruising with a ship of mostly senior citizens? Were there other younger couples onboard?

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

We loved it … been a while since we were the youngest couple at something. We went with another couple our age but other than them, we were the only 4 in our 40s. The one thing to think about are the Viking excursions. If you want something strenuous, like a hike, you are likely better booking it outside of Viking and direct with tour operators. Although there is some additional planning and risks associated with booking direct, we much preferred that approach and did it at every port. We also loved that it was adults only. Not having kids running around while you’re reading or relaxing was a big plus for us. It also helps to minimize the risk of catching a virus while on vacation. Let me know if you have any other questions. -K

[@normamcdonald8584]

We have taken two Viking river cruises and recently an Ocean cruise, 15 days. Agree with this assessment, except for the bed which was fine for us. The food assessment is accurate. For the price, the regular dining was mediocre. Chef’s Table and Manfredi’s were both good. We thought the World Cafe was so-so. Mainly hot food was never hot. Like this couple we thought gelato was best. The restaurant was good depending on the menu. Actually, my husband and I preferred the river cruises.

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

Thanks. That’s great insight. -K

[@mikemitchell418]

Very comprehensive review but definitely need more photos rather than narrative, especially when you are talking about food items. Personally, for what you paid,I would think that the food would have been much more memorable. Also more photos and/or video of the ship and your excursions. All in all I enjoyed the review and your attitudes. Thank you very much! 🙂

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

Thanks.

[@danielledraper1107]

Excellent video guys - very comprehensive- I’ve just finished the Bangkok, Bali & Beyond cruise and I have to agree with everything you have said - i agree the beds are extremely average - even the hotel in Bangkok the night before we left had 100% better bed ($102/night!!) and I totally agree with you about the food in the World Cafe - the MOST irritating thing was that the food was always only warm(sometimes cold) not very appealing at a buffet - and one other thing (first world problem) I was disappointed that at dinner time it was very difficult to find just a plain garden/green salad anywhere - they had Caesar but never just a plain salad - in the hot Asian climate I was really needing salad other than just at lunchtime- I think everything else you have said is spot on! Having said that I got such a great deal (discount) for booking whilst onboard I went ahead and booked a back to back ocean & river cruise in 2025! Hopefully some of these things will be rectified by then….

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

Thanks. We also hope things get better re: the food and bedding. Hopefully it’s just a Covid hangover that’s taking them a couple years to rectify. We also are planning more Viking cruises … just with our own pillow and a plan to grab a mattress topper at our first port. -K

[@celestetori7705]

We are taking a Viking cruise in October- so excited. Loved your review. When you tipped the staff additional money, what was the process? Did you give them cash or add it at the end? What amount would be appropriate?

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

We paid the prepaid gratuities on the front end (roughly $500) that gets charged to your card, then tipped both our room stewards on the first day an extra $200 USD total, then tipped on the second to last day another $500 USD to room stewards (again, they were amazing) and some of our favorite wait staff/bartenders. We gave cash for the additional. This was for a 15 day cruise. I think a good rule of thumb is pay the prepaid gratuities then bring the same amount in cash for additional tip -basically doubling the minimum gratuity amount. -K

[@julianwoods1669]

Hi. Just come off one, and with very few tweaks, would strongly recommend people listen to this honest and accurate advice. Forget the airy fairy nonsence, the paid creationists tell you. Certainly get on these beutiful ships but, sit down, sip a cup of Camomile tea, and think carefully about what you are about to spend a lot of mony on, and very importantly, where.

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

Thanks for the kind words. Glad you enjoyed it. -K

[@veronicapang9905]

Thank you for the review. The video was very professionally produced. We just went on Viking Osiris to Egypt and the food wasn’t well-made.

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

I hope you still had an amazing time. 🤞Viking can improve the food experience. -K

[@patibba]

I am disappointed that you did not even take one of Viking's excursions so you could provide a review of the guides, the locations etc. Viking promotes that one excursion is included in every port. They also have some excursions that you may not find on other ships such as having dinner with local families or getting behind the scenes at museums.

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

Sorry. We aren’t going to drop 3-4x the price of booking direct at tour operators just to experience a similar excursion through Viking. We like a more intimate, customized experience. Not a big fan of getting on any bus … even a “luxury” coach (it’s still a bus;). -K

[@arikin1961]

We have never traveled in Viking or Oceania. This august get our first Viking around England Isles, but next year we booked two cruises, we have to choose one, Viking from Reikiavic to New York (we already knew Reikiavic), or Oceania Allura (inaugural) from Lisbon to New York, both of them 14 nights and more less same dates. People, help us. Which one you choose and why please. We will appreciate your reviews, thanks in advance. Federico

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

Sounds like 2 great options.

[@larryfitzgerald5832]

Nice review. We are off on Viking ocean next week to the Western Caribbean. We did Viking river (Rhine) in July. I totally agree with your food rating. Very little Viking river cruise food was exceptional, mostly average-good. 3 stars (7 on a 10 pt scale). My expectations were much higher. Croissants were supermarket quality, at best. The creme brule was a 10, but this and other desserts are to be expected to be of high quality. The poke bowl for lunch was a total joke. In contrast, the food at the pre-cruise hotel in Como (Albergo Terminus) was outstanding....far exceeding anything on Viking. We're hoping for a better ocean cruise food experience with Viking. Otherwise, all your other ratings for the ship and crew matched our experience on Viking river.......excellent. BTW, the pre-trip bus transfer from Como to Basel with a 2-3 hr stop in Lucerne w/ lunch was a better scenery and excursion day, than anything on the Rhine. Strasbourg was the only Rhine city that I would return to again.

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

The Chef’s table on Viking Ocean will be great. That was our favorite meal. We haven’t been drawn to any of the river cruises but have so many other Viking Ocean routes that we plan to enjoy. We’ve heard from many that the Viking Inside Passage through Alaska was their favorite. We plan for that to be our next one. Enjoy the Caribbean! Great time of year to go. -K

[@gendaminoru3195]

in case no one else mentioned it, next time bring a collapsible air mattress to unroll - and I don't own stock in the company or anything like that, but what do you expect from a buffet?

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

Better food 🤷‍♂️

[@Stllno]

Very fair call on the mattress. It is very important and it is very difficult to accommodate everyone’s preferences, however there is no excuse to not have a quality mattress topper for those who prefer a softer base.

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

We are hopeful they add some additional topper options before our next Viking cruise. If not, we will just sneak a pool cushion to our room 😜

[@MrToryhere]

Hi from Australia. What a wonderful couple you are. It was a pleasure watching your excellent review.

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

Awe, thanks. We both feel very fortunate to have found each other.

[@RoylandLara]

Thank you for the “nice” review , I would not pay a dime on Viking , bad bed, food and entertainment? 😂😂😂😂 again thank you

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

Thanks. We love Viking though. We didn’t choose it for entertainment. Yeah, the bed sucked, but most everything else was exceptional. -K

[@lichin11]

Enjoy your lives together; that's all that really matters in the end (I'm close to the end with a wife of 31+ years whom I adore, so trust me on this).

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

We’re so sorry to hear about your wife. But also very happy that you had so many years with the love of your life. Prayers and thoughts. -K

[@lisablaus1459]

I think I like a medium bed. Just came back from the Viking Polaris in Antarctica. I had no problems or complaints about the bed or pillows.

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

I’m so glad it worked for you. How was Antarctica? That’s on our bucket list too. -K

[@hoytoy100]

Couple of mid-Americans explaining how Manfredis was not up to Oliver garden standards.

[@ShaunaAndKevin]

It’s called “Olive Garden”. Not sure who Oliver Garden is 🤷🏻‍♂️.