Ever wonder how it’s possible, in just over 10 years of launching, that Viking Ocean Cruises has captured 25% of the “Small Ship/Luxury Cruise” market?
If so, me too!!
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Yes, we all know Viking markets like crazy (If you’re reading this & have never had a brochure or email sent to you from Viking, you’re one of a few!) which no doubt explains a lot of why they do so well…
…but there has to be more to it than that, right?
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Well, to find out, I decided to embark on my first Viking Ocean Cruise!
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Yes, I’ve been on Viking River Cruises in the past but never on one of their Ocean Cruises, so I recently headed to the Western Mediterranean to sail on the brand-new “Viking Vesta”.
My goal was to capture all the videos I could to add to my YouTube Channel to give you a firsthand look at whether the experience truly matches the massive hype.
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So, did I figure out why Viking Ocean Cruises are so popular?
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From observing guests onboard for a week and having many conversations, I think I did!
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Here are the 3 Big Things I noticed Viking guests seem to REALLY enjoy:
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1. Destination Immersion
Right before I got on this cruise, I was on a Princess ship in Europe for a week for a family get-together. It was nice, but a VERY different world from a small-ship Viking cruise. Instead of having 33% of our days spent at sea with no port stops like on Princess, we stopped EVERY SINGLE DAY on Viking to explore a new place.
Even the onboard vibe is night and day. Instead of big Broadway-style shows at night, Viking treats you to destination lectures, documentaries, and performances by local musicians brought onboard from the area. I also noticed far more local food, wine, and regional beverages highlighted onboard than you’d ever find on a mega-ship. Plus, having less than 25% of the passenger count of a big ship makes everything feel incredibly intimate. It is a perfect fit for culturally curious adults!
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2. The High Value Inclusions
Viking packs an immense amount of value into their upfront cruise fare! You get a basic shore excursion included at every single port, included Wi-Fi, all meals (including the specialty restaurants), beer, wine, and soft drinks at lunch and dinner, full use of the relaxation area at the Nordic Spa, and 24-hour room service.
This is a big talking point onboard. I heard people mention again and again how nice it is NOT to be “nickeled and dimed” like they are on the big ships. It feels like an incredibly transparent, upscale way to travel.
Exclusive Value: For those who book their voyage with me—or move their direct Viking booking over to my agency—you are going to get hundreds of dollars in FREE Onboard Spending Money to take care of your mandatory daily gratuities for the staff!
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3. Fleet Consistency
Because Viking has an incredibly consistent fleet of ships (all under 1,000 guests with pretty much an identical layout), guests absolutely love the familiarity. People told me they really appreciate that no matter where they are in the world with Viking, they know the ship will be high quality. You get the exact same room types and venues whether you are in Europe or Asia, Alaska or South America, etc. unlike other lines where the experience changes drastically depending on how old or new the ship is.
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The Rest of the “Viking Difference”
Beyond those main pillars, Viking has stayed fiercely loyal to a few strict features that their clientele seem to love:
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Small-Ship Vibe: With under 1,000 guests onboard, you never feel crowded.
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All-Veranda Accommodations: Every single room onboard has a private veranda—no inside or oceanview-only cabins here!
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A Serene Environment: No casinos, no noisy nightclubs, and no flashy simulations. As Viking’s founder famously says, this is a “thinking person’s cruise, not a drinking person’s cruise!”
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NO KIDS ALLOWED: Again and again I heard people say to each other, “I love my kids and grandkids, but it is so nice to be on a quiet, adults-only cruise without hundreds of kids running around!”
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If you’d like to…
-See for yourself what a Viking Ocean Cruise ship actually looks like
-Learn how to get the best deal on a Viking Ocean Cruise
-See what the room choices are on a Viking Ocean Cruise
-See what the food & drinks are like on a Viking Ocean Cruise
-See some of the shore excursions that you can experience on a Viking Ocean Cruise
–Learn about Viking Ocean Cruise’s airfare & travel insurance options…
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…then head over and browse through my brand-new, detailed Viking Vesta Video & Photo Gallery to see all these details for yourself! 🙂
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And once you’re ready to book your own Viking Cruise or any Ocean Cruise or River Cruise or Tauck Land Tour or Africa Safari, simply contact me here, myself & my team are excited to help you plan a Great trip. 😀
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I appreciate you!
Shawn Power
Your Trusted Cruise and Tauck Tour & Africa Safari Expert