Viking or Hurtigruten?

[bPeteb]

Tossing up between an 'all inclusive' (airfares to and from BA from Brisbane) Hurtigruten Antarctic cruise and a Viking Norwegian fjords. Lowest cabin cat for both. For anyone who has been on both/either, looking for recommendations.

 

[Pushka]

Love Viking. Adults only. Many inclusions. 900 passengers. No photographers casinos or upsells. Norwegian classic style. Hurtigruten seems a very different but extremely enjoyable alternative.

edited to add. We did have some issues with Viking but because it was their first foray into Alaska and they didn't really know what they were doing. The ship itself was wonderful. We are going on a 21 day cruise on Viking Mars in May. A Viking river cruise at Christmas. And Iceland on Mars.

The cruise you are thinking of is Viking Heartland territory and will be seamless.

 

[bPeteb]

Love Viking. Adults only. Many inclusions. 900 passengers. No photographers casinos or upsells. Norwegian classic style. Hurtigruten seems a very different but extremely enjoyable alternative.

Thanks Pushka. Yes, the no kids and casino very appealing! Very torn. If we were retired we'd go for both . Maybe one next year and one 2025. Thanks for the Viking thumbs up.

 

[Pushka]

Thanks Pushka. Yes, the no kids and casino very appealing! Very torn. If we were retired we'd go for both . Maybe one next year and one 2025. Thanks for the Viking thumbs up.

I did a bit of a review through this TR and embarking on post 168. Alaska.

Viking Invades Alaska!

We are checked into the cruise line in Canada Place and Viking has booked the ballroom in Fairmont Plaza right next door. It’s very pleasant. Limited alcohol and snacks provided. Luggage drop off was quick and then to check in which was also quick. We can do what we like for the next four...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[bPeteb]

Thanks again Pushka. Looks like I read some of the review back in 2019 but not all of it. Recent reviews seem to indicate the service level is pretty static across all ships now. Decisions, decisions

 

[Pushka]

Thanks again Pushka. Looks like I read some of the review back in 2019 but not all of it. Recent reviews seem to indicate the service level is pretty static across all ships now. Decisions, decisions

I think everything has been adjusted because of Covid. Viking did communicate after our incident on the last night and have made amends. Not huge by any stretch but an understanding of the issue.

 

[MELso]

Not quite what you're asking for, but I've done Hurtigruten Norway one way (south-bound) to see the northern lights. It was comfortable and the food good (albeit slightly awks as I was with my dad, and unlike most cruise lines, they didn't split the beds to twins). Norway is Hurtigruten's bread and butter so it's also a good option to do Norway...

It was not a particularly luxurious cruise though - it's a tricked up ferry - but the food was good, the places visited interesting, and the Northern Lights were something to behold.

 

[deejo77]

We are looking to do a Viking river cruise in Egypt, they appear to have great reviews

 

[Pushka]

We are looking to do a Viking river cruise in Egypt, they appear to have great reviews

We were booked on one for December 2020. With extension in Jordan and Israel each end. Covid. I don't think I've ever read a bad report of them but they book up years in advance. The Antares is older but the cabins are refurbished and very large. Now there's RA and Osiris.

 

[VPS]

If you decide on Hurtigruten and if you book directly check their global site price in euros and compares to Australian dollars

 

[jase05]

Doing a Northbound trip with Havila in March.
Was tossing up between the Hurtigruten or Havila but the Havila seemed a bit more of a cruise ship rather than a ferry and read some stunning reviews on it so locked it in. We aren’t cruise people as a rule but this looked to be the best way to see parts of Norway we haven’t seen before.

 

[p--and--t]

Wondering if anyone would be kind enough to comment especially on previous experiences on the deal below, currently being offered.

Bucket list experiences at unbelievable prices

Find great deals & holiday packages at amazing prices with award-winning online travel agent TripADeal.

www.tripadeal.com.au

 

[Pushka]

Wondering if anyone would be kind enough to comment especially on previous experiences on the deal below, currently being offered.

Bucket list experiences at unbelievable prices

Find great deals & holiday packages at amazing prices with award-winning online travel agent TripADeal.

www.tripadeal.com.au

I'm looking for the fine print. Haven't been on Hurtigrutem but that seems too good to be true.

 

[jase05]

I'm looking for the fine print. Haven't been on Hurtigrutem but that seems too good to be true.

Seems like a great deal.
I’ve been looking into the various options for some time and reading reviews, talking to people and reading up on the Hurtigruten and in the end decided that at our age we look for a bit more comfort but it’s something I would have easily done 10-15 years ago. It just looks a bit too basic for what we wanted and it wasn’t much more to choose what I thought looked a better package and comfort offerings.

 

[VPS]

Wondering if anyone would be kind enough to comment especially on previous experiences on the deal below, currently being offered.

Bucket list experiences at unbelievable prices

Find great deals & holiday packages at amazing prices with award-winning online travel agent TripADeal.

www.tripadeal.com.au

Looks like a great deal except I presume flights will be in economy.

There are a couple of TR on the Hurtigruten which I can find if you want. I was supposed to do this in January and got sick and was unable to go. Friends just did the one way from Bergen to Kirkenes and said it was long enough and someone did the round trip last year and said it was too long. Personally I don't think any time is long enough on a cruise

 

[bPeteb]

Still looking at a Hurtigruten expedition. With the recent passing of my mum I will have the ability to do this without worrying about the cost. Mum would have loved to see penguins in their natural environment. There was a photo of pengions that we took in 2017 on the wall in her bedroom.

 

[lakeman]

Still looking at a Hurtigruten expedition. With the recent passing of my mum I will have the ability to do this without worrying about the cost. Mum would have loved to see penguins in their natural environment. There was a photo of pengions that we took in 2017 on the wall in her bedroom.

I have a friend in Antarctica with hurtigruten at the moment.
I was going to compare his thoughts with ? Rooflyers trip report Chile and Antarctica cruise when I see him in a few weeks

 

[bPeteb]

I have a friend in Antarctica with hurtigruten at the moment.
I was going to compare his thoughts with ? Rooflyers trip report Chile and Antarctica cruise when I see him in a few weeks

It will be interesting to compare the expedition component. A zodiac is a zodiac.

We're def not SS people, yeh, I know we went to Antarctica on The World and that's a full staircase up again but Hurtigruten just looks like the right fit for us.

 

[p--and--t]

There are a couple of TR on the Hurtigruten which I can find if you want.

That would be much appreciated. Having already committed to a lot this year we are now looking for Jan/Feb 'ish 2025.

 

[lakeman]

It will be interesting to compare the expedition component. A zodiac is a zodiac.

We're def not SS people, yeh, I know we went to Antarctica on The World and that's a full staircase up again but Hurtigruten just looks like the right fit for us.

Looking over his WhatsApp posts he gets up to 3 excursions a day.
Mentioned zodiac,hike,snowshoe and kayak