Viking Neptune

Panama Canal

April

Pros: Viking onboard services, the canal passage

Cons: Shore excursions were lacking.

Recommended: Yes

The canal passage was amazing. Viking did a great job of offering info and history of the canal before the passage. One stop in Nicaragua was cancelled with no substitution offered. The shore excursions were wanting but the day in the canal more than made up for them.

Changes since 2023

April

Pros: The crew

Cons: The food

Recommended: Yes

We were on the Viking Neptune May 23-June 6, 2023 cruising from Bergen, Norway to Reykjavik, Iceland and would have rated everything five stars. Not so on our most recent cruise from Los Angeles through the Panama Canal to Fort Lauderdale. Every crew member we encountered was friendly and professional. Amy, Assistant Cruise Director, managed to keep all the rabid trivia players in control, no easy task. Max, the Excursions Director, told many bad jokes. James Moral, the guitarist was wonderful. We didn't see much of the Panama Canal during transit because some guests camped out and wouldn't allow others the opportunity to see anything first hand. The big disappointment was the food. We dined mainly in the World Cafe. Whatever was on the carving station was not overcooked. Generally, all of the side dishes were overcooked or over re-heated. This was true, even in Manfredi's and The Restaurant. The scones served for tea in the Wintergarden were like little rocks. The best meal we had was the Mexican Cuisine at Chef's Table. We missed the lovely Norwegian chocolates in our cabin refrigerator and the Hershey's milk chocolate was common. Overall, our experience on this cruise was inconsistent and that isn't what we expected from Viking.

Neptune Sojerne to Hawaii

January

Pros: Services were beyond our expectations

Cons: None

Recommended: Yes

We had an unforgettable wonderful trip to Hawaii

Panama Canal

October

Pros: Outstanding ship and crew

Cons: 17 days at sea with only 5 ports was a lot of sea days.

Recommended: No

Wish we had more ports on the cruise. I also found the mattress to be uncomfortable but crew helped to make it softer. We felt the entertainment could have been better.

Viking Baltic Sea Neptune

July

Pros: Beautiful ship and nice rooms. Extremely clean and well kept up. The pool area is alway at a comfortable temperature for both swimming and lounging. Neptune had many other seating areas with cooler temps if you prefer. Nightly they provide a 45 minute music performance. There are several seating areas where you can listen to live classic piano or violin. Late night 10-11 there is dancing.

Cons:

Recommended: Yes

Viking was GREAT in getting us to the airport after the cruise. They had luggage carts ready for us to use and personally walked us to where we had to be. That was greatly appreciated. Viking was also provided Concierge at the hotel we stayed at before the cruise.

Superb Viking

June

Pros: Too many to list

Cons: None

Recommended: Yes

From the moment of our transport from the Stockholm airport to the ship to the invaluable help of Viking at the Bergen airport, nothing can be said of Viking except that passengers are 100% cared for, comforted and cosseted!! Our PV category cabin was very comfortable, bathroom had a heated floor and a nice-sized shower with great modern plumbing fixtures; beds very comfortable, storage space more than adequate, cabin service superb. Food on the ship was very good and very plentiful; included drinks also very good and plentiful; cost of drinks we purchased were very fair. Entire ship is given over to serenity and luxury, no crowds, many quiet and peaceful places to read a book, take a nap, just watch the world go by.

Canada's St. Lawrence Seaway and New England Coastal cruise

June

Pros: Scenic itinerary and friendly, attentive, hospitable staff gave excellent service

Cons: The Canadian portion of this itinerary has frequent fog and rain. Activities and entertainment were a disappointment.

Recommended: Yes

Crew and staff were outstanding! Best ever. This new ship is sparkling clean and maintained very well. Entertainment and activities were below par for this beautiful ship. A few of the sea days were disappointing as fog and rain hampered viewing the scenery and the onboard activities/entertainment were just fair to middling and scarce. Most other ships we have been on had much better entertainment and more onboard activities to enjoy especially during the sea days onboard.