My Viking Cruise
- Tesha Cox
- Mar 3
- 5 min read
I took an off-season Mediterranean Cruise called Mediterranean Antiquities, on the beautiful Viking Vela this last December with my husband. The trip started in Athens and went around the front of Italy, across France and to Spain. You know the ads you see where they say, "Italy is always in season", it is so true! I want to tell you what I liked and didn't like about the ship and the itinerary, as well as the time of year that I took it. This is a 100% unbiased review. I have not been paid or compensated for any part of my trip.
The ship, as I said above is beautiful. It is a small ship with under 1000 passengers. But the light bright and airy design makes the ship seem open, fresh, and clean. It is simple elegance. The Scandinavian design is minimal but still luxurious. Blue accents on creamy whites, natural wood, and gentle esthetics make the atmosphere light and bright and modern. I enjoyed that it was not the sultry dark colors that some associate with luxury.
Our room was spacious with the same refreshing tones as the rest of the ship. There was plenty of storage space for my husband and myself. I did hear some passengers say they wished there was more room, but we had ample with a lot of room to spare. The beds were divine. I am very picky about my pillow, and I was concerned because I did not bring mine from home. Viking had 2 different types of pillows on the bed for each person, and it worked out great for me. They lay out a mat for you to unpack your bags without soiling the crisp white bedding too which is nice. There is plenty of room under the bed to store your luggage. There are motion lights in the closet, which is nice, but remember to keep your closet doors shut while you sleep or you might get a bright awakening from movement near the closet.
I very much enjoyed having a balcony in my room. That is the beauty of these Viking Ocean cruise ships. I don't think there is a bad room or a claustrophobic place onboard. I will warn you though, that in order to keep water out of your stateroom, there is a barrier threshold, and in my excitement to get a photo, I rushed out and stubbed my bare toe so hard. It could have really hampered my trip. Not a complaint, just a warning to save you from potential issues when you book!
The bathroom was huge in my opinion. We booked a Deluxe Veranda which is a more basic cabin, and I felt like the bathroom was remarkable. The shower was large, had a glass door, and the floor is heated and the mirror fog proof. They provide Freya Products which I enjoyed a lot. There is also a hairdryer available for use. I do have a couple of cons, which are nit-picky and now that I know better, I can remedy on my next cruise. But even though there is a wonderful vanity in the room, I really wish there had been a magnifying mirror. Maybe attached in the bathroom. I also had a little trouble figuring out the controls in the shower, which I will be honest, is all on me. And my final and most critical complaint, the toilet paper and facial tissue feel like sandpaper. I understand that is common in some countries, but for some reason it did not cross my mind that it could be an issue on board.
The food was wonderful! Manfredi's is a great Italian option and the food was incredible. The Chef's Table offers a set menu and very unique plates. I enjoyed the food, and it felt adventures to try such creative dishes, but I could tell it may not be for everyone. The Restaurant offers good food in a nice plated and waiter presented style. The food is similar to the offerings that the World Cafe has, but without the bustle of going through a buffet line. Sometimes, it is nice to sit and enjoy a meal that is presented to you, especially after a long day of excursions. World Cafe is the ship's buffet restaurant and the offerings are beautiful, and the options great. They offer local cuisine based on your destinations as well which is wonderful. Food is a bit harder to keep super-hot on a buffet, but it is all delicious and perfectly safe. There is also Mamsen's where you can try Scandinavian style breakfast and pastry options that are beautiful and they also do an afternoon tea which is a fun way to meet with your fellow travelers and try out a wide selection of brews. There is also coffee available. The food at tea was fun and well prepared, but I will say, I do prefer the hot meals at the restaurants or at the Pool Grill. I must really enjoy my food hot. I will say that the grill did make me one of the best cheeseburgers I have eaten, so definitely give it a try!
The most important part of the journey that I need to talk about today is the staff on board. They are fantastic! I don't know how they got so many genuinely sweet people working together in the service industry. All we saw were smiling faces. We were treated so well and actually felt like we were part of a very special happy family. The captain of our ship made a huge impression as well. We were sailing past Stromboli Volcano when it decided to erupt. The captain actually turned the ship a full 360 degrees so that all his passengers had a chance to see. There is nothing that I could possibly say negative about the crew of our ship.
I could go on about all the amenities, like the jacuzzi, spa, pools, onboard lectures and entertainment, but they all were great. The excursions were a pleasant surprise too. The guides and drivers were well informed and pleasant. The included excursions are wonderful and cover a lot of information while still allowing you plenty of free time to explore on your own. The optional excursions are worth the extra cost. I feel like they are a great value considering the effort and services they provide for these excursions. There were shuttle buses provided where needed so we always had a way to get around if we wanted to trek out on our own. I will say that in one port the shuttle bus got too full and some people did not get to take it, us included. But a very handy local bus was there, and it was easy and inexpensive to hop on board. Just be aware that you may need to get on shuttle busses early. Every port we stopped at was magical and I think the itinerary was amazing for off season travel. We had a couple of pretty cold days and one partly rainy, but we had layers and were fine. I think I prefer to be prepared in the cooler months than sweltering in hot months.
My overall impression of my cruise was phenomenal. My little cons that I stated are so minor that I feel like they shouldn't be mentioned, however I wanted to give you every thought I had about Viking. I would love a chance to help you book a cruise with this amazing line. Please contact me for more information. If you want to check out some of their itineraries, click this link.
Also here are some photos of the locations we got to see!
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