All-in-all we had a wonderful experience. It should be noted that for those cruising to see the Northern Lights, Mother Nature is fickle. The Lights may not be seen at all or are limited.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
The transfer from the Bergen airport to the ship and checking in were flawless.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
In general the food at all locations on the ship was good to excellent. The Restaurant menu always has certain fixed “standards” that are always available. The other side of the menu changes daily. Sometimes those items sound gourmet but fail in their execution. For example, the fried Softshell Crab was all batter and barely any crab. And, the food was often overly salty.
As for the specialty restaurants, Manfredi’s was truly excellent. The Chef’s table offers a rotating fixed “tasting menu” with small portions of creatively prepared dishes. Because the menu is fixed, one is out of luck if he/she doesn’t like the particular menu of the day. So, if possible, check the menu before making a reservation.
The upstairs buffet restaurant offers a varied menu. There is usually something for everyone. Though not advertised, omelettes can be made to order at breakfast time.
Onboard Activities
4 out of 5
The Viking ocean ships are designed to be rather low-key. There are no rock-climbing walls or the equivalent. There are daily lectures and occasional first-run movies. There are four young, talented singers who perform three or four nights. There is a space for dancing and drinks, and there are several bars.
The ship is perfect for those who want a quiet place to read and relax. In short, even on sea days the ship is quiet and relaxed.
Entertainment
4 out of 5
The young, talented singers are very energetic and quite enjoyable. The ship band is terrific. They back up the singers for the “productions” and are at one of the lounges late evening. And there are classical musicians around the ship most of the day.
Children's Programs
No children onboard!
Service and Staff
4 out of 5
By and large the staff is very friendly and helpful. That was not true of everyone—thus four stars.
Ship Quality
4 out of 5
Clearly a lot of care was taken in designing the ship so as to create a relaxed atmosphere. The lines are clean with lots of wood and soft colors.
Public areas were always well-maintained. I don’t know if this is the place to mention this, but we were very surprised to see chipped and cracked cups and butter dishes in the Restaurant. That projects sloppiness and lack of attention.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
We were offered an upgrade prior to sailing, which we took. The larger cabin offered more seating and storage. It was spacious and well-appointed with a refrigerator that was restocked daily. There were USB ports in several places. And, the bathroom was large with a fully-enclosed shower. The bathroom floors are even heated!
We were a bit disappointed that the room was not as clean as we would have expected. However, the cabin steward was very responsive.
In the morning we took a private tour to visit the Sami and the reindeer. Very enjoyable. At night we took a private excursion to see the Northern Lights. We were extraordinarily lucky that night and were thrilled by what we saw.
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