Iceland! Iceland?
That’s right. We recently took a luxury Viking Cruise to Iceland, and virtually all the people we spoke to, in advance of our trip, told us that Iceland was on their bucket list.
If, however, you’re looking to sail to Iceland on a stupendous, oversize ship where there’s a casino, a Jumbotron at the pool, children on board, thousands of passengers, artwork for sale, formal nights and long lines everywhere (especially at the elevators) – Viking Cruises will not be your cup of (chamomile) tea.
“Viking is a great value for both river and ocean cruises,” said Nancy Yale, a Virtuoso cruise icon/travel adviser and top producer at Cruise and Travel World, a division of Direct Travel in Stamford. “Their food and service are excellent, and it is a quieter cruise experience with local entertainment or music and no large production shows. They have very informative onboard lectures about the destinations and history of where the ship is at the time. Their clientele are more seasoned and mature travelers with many repeat guests.”
No doubt that’s why Viking’s ocean ships have been rated and “recommended” as part of the Forbes Travel Guide 2024 Star Awards, an annual independent evaluation for luxury travel brands. Viking was rated No.1 for Oceans, No. 1 for Rivers and No. 1 for Expeditions by Condé Nast Traveler in the 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards for the second consecutive year. Viking was also named a “World’s Best” for oceans, rivers and expeditions in Travel + Leisure’s 2024 World’s Best Awards. No other travel company has simultaneously received the same honors from both publications— something Viking has now achieved two years in a row.
Although the seas were rocky, ice forced some excursions to be canceled and the May temperatures were just above freezing, we thoroughly enjoyed all the upscale amenities onboard.
Still, being onboard was not without its challenges as well. We were in a 275-square-foot “Deluxe Veranda stateroom” at the back of the ship – not that deluxe and not a good place to be when seas were rocky. The ship included a bed that could be split into two twins, a 42-inch-flat-screen TV, a heated bathroom floor, luxury robes and a verandah that was ideal for seeing icebergs (yes, icebergs in late May. And the capital city of Reykjavik, by the way, was freezing on June 2, with all the locals were outfitted in ski wear.)
The cuisine on Viking, however, warmed the heart and tummy. In every port, there were “destination options” in the Main Dining Room, featuring a special appetizer, main course and dessert. This was also where you might’ve wanted to dress up at night for dinner – although you didn’t have to. The dress code on the ship was country-club casual.
As to menus, they were very varied. Lobster was the most popular entrée, and it was served once a week. (All menus repeat after 28 days.) For dessert, you could enjoy favorites such as crêpes Suzette or cherry streusel. There were menu options noted for vegetarian, gluten-free, vegan and no-sugar-added. It’s wisest to discuss this with your travel consultant beforehand.
We found ourselves favoring the World Café, an informal buffet venue that always offered wonderful menu choices – salads, breads, pastas, proteins, pizzas, sushi and gourmet desserts aplenty, including chocolate-chip and oatmeal cookies, coconut flan, vanilla and chocolate Bavarian cake, tiramisu éclairs, blueberry pie, cheese and fresh fruits, not to mention a super selection of homemade ice creams and sorbets.
Manfredi’s, an Italian restaurant, and The Chefs’ Table, a tasting menu with wine pairings, are two additional dining venues, and do not cost extra. If you are celebrating a birthday, anniversary or other special occasion, just inform the executive chef, and you will receive a special complimentary cake.
Viking is not “all-inclusive,” as are some upscale cruise-line competitors. On Viking, you must pay for upgraded beverage packages to enjoy alcohol outside of lunch and dinner in the dining venues. Beverage upgrade packages include the Silver Spirits Package, $27 per person, covering spirits from wineries such as Kendall Jackson and Chateau Ste.Michelle. Cocktails that would otherwise cost $18 each – such as margaritas, cosmopolitans, Manhattans and old-fashioneds – are included in this package.
Among the many lectures was a two-part series by cruise director Philip Morgaman III, a former producer in London’s West End and an expert on Rodgers and Hammerstein. Even though there were no production shows, there was live classical music throughout the afternoons and evenings.
On one night, we were thoroughly dazzled – as was everyone else – by the performance of flutist Clare Langan. Over the years that we have taken luxury cruises, it has always amazed us how many under-the-radar performers from around the world showcase their talents on cruise ships.
One of my favorite things to do – besides visiting the spacious Fitness Center, which was filled with a variety of equipment, mats, weights, machines, treadmills and more – was to visit the Viking spa. It’s called LivNordic, and it was there that I discovered an excellent brand of far-flung beauty products that is one of Sweden’s most glamorous exports.
Care of (c/o) Gerd is a 17-year-old organic skincare and beauty company based in Jokkmokk, Swedish Lapland and named for the mother of the two founders, Anna-Lena (a licensed skincare therapist), and Johan Wiklund (a hair stylist). Their get-gorgeous, global goodies are famous for using cold-pressed seed oils from hearty Arctic berries – blueberry, cloudberry and lingonberry – that grow wild in Lapland’s untouched forests.
Since these berries endure long winters, extreme cold and intense summer light, they produce exceptionally high levels of antioxidants and essential fatty acids that support skin renewal and reduce inflammation. They are a wow – everything from the Blueberry Shampoo and Conditioner that I experienced in the LivNordic salon to the eco-clean face-cleanser Canola, a succulent rose mist, a do-everything blueberry balm, an Arctic blueberry lip balm and a lingonberry hand cream. I’m telling you, if Rudolph wanted to tone down his red-nose complexion, here in Swedish Lapland, c/o GERD might just be his go-to.
The LivNordic spa is really a point of differentiation for Viking, as it is specialized to help you capture a true Nordic experience. Especially delightful are the little “angel cards,” situated in a bowl at the spa desk, which you can take to brighten up your day. One of my favorites said, “Smile and the world smiles back.”
That was certainly the attitude of our room attendant, whose home and family are in Indonesia. He was on a six-month contract, away from his family, taking the best job he could to support them well. From the moment we met him – and every time we encountered him – he beamed with a big, wide smile, explaining to us that he felt it was his purpose to smile at the world. He was the gracious sunshine that sparked – and sparkled — our every day to the overcast climate of the North Atlantic.
For more on Debbi, visit GorgeousGlobetrotter.com, and follow her on Instagram @DebbiKickham.
