A trip report here in my clients words on their Viking cruise which we added city stays in London, Eurostar direct to Amsterdam and New York:
All pictures are their own.
Before sailing, I had a list of quiet worries: Would I get bored at sea? Would the cabin feel small? Would motion make me miserable? Would getting on and off the ship be a hassle? Now that I’m home from Viking Neptune, here’s the truth from my own trip.
Short answer I went in with doubts and came home smiling.
Quick summary
- Sea days felt full rather than long.
- The cabin surprised me with real space and quality.
- Getting on and off was clear and calm, even on tender days.
- Seas stayed kind on this sailing.
- Highlights that still replay: glacier sounds in Prince Christian Sound, a 1 am sunset with one iceberg, a serendipitous puffin hour on Heimaey, and easy city days in Amsterdam, London, and New York.
First hours on board: the cabin surprise. We boarded Viking Neptune in Amsterdam, not really knowing what to expect. We’ve never cruised before. The first thing that grounded me was the cabin. It was exceptional: a true king-size bed with room to move, a two-seater lounge, a table area where I even squeezed in a bit of work, and a bathroom that felt brand new. Heated floor, quality fittings, spotless. Honestly, better than many hotels we’ve stayed in, and we’ve stayed in plenty. That immediate comfort lowered my shoulders. That was my experience.
Atmosphere on board was calm, adult, and friendly. No kids running around on our sailing, Viking are R18. People were happy, engaged, and active. Staff were present without hovering. Public spaces felt like places made for good days.
Was there enough to do? Yes. You’re on a ship, but it’s a big ship with room to move. We walked laps, found quiet corners to read, played games, and even spent time together on a digital poker setup with play money. It was silly fun to win pretend cash and laugh about it later. Sea days felt like a deep breath, not a lull.
Cabin space and comfort Storage made sense, the bed felt great, and I never felt hemmed in. Tips:
- Keep one bag packed and slide it under the bed.
- Use shelves and drawers so surfaces stay clear.
- Step onto the balcony or sit by the window for a few minutes of sea air. It resets your sense of space. Take in a coffee or dine in your own space.
Motion and seas. On this sailing, the seas were gentle. That can vary, of course. I brought my usual motion aids and didn’t need them, but packing them gave me peace of mind.
Getting on and off the ship. Most ports put us within walking distance of town. Your room key doubles as your scan-off and scan-on card, which felt like a simple safety check so no one is left behind. When the ship couldn’t dock quayside, it anchored in the fjord and tenders ran back and forth. On our days, tenders were the ship’s lifeboats. They can hold around 250 in an emergency but carried far fewer for tendering, and they ran about every 30 minutes. We never felt stuck ashore. If we wanted to head back for lunch, we did.
Food on board. Consistently good. Honestly, the variety and quality made it harder to justify spending on meals in town. Thoughtful dishes, well prepared, without fuss for the sake of it. Many, many local options. Order what you want.
The moment that still gives me goosebumps Prince Christian Sound. The Captain eased this 210 metre ship near the face of a glacier, and I stood recording the creaking and crackling of the ice as it edged down the gully. Not a grand speech moment – just the quiet sound of a world moving. This “sensory anchor” was a peak I will always remember.
A midnight sunset and one iceberg. Around 1 am, Viking Neptune was sailing toward a washed-orange sunset with a single iceberg sitting at the base of the light. Time pressed pause. I don’t see that at home, and the image is still with me.
Heimaey Island: a puffin hour by serendipity We hadn’t booked anything for Heimaey in Iceland. We joined one of the included excursions for a quick orientation – a loop of the island and a museum stop. As we stepped off the bus, a local voice said to wait ten minutes for the hop-on hop-off, ask the driver, and we’d be dropped near a puffin colony. He reminded us to set a one-hour timer to be back for pick-up. Off the cuff, personal, and very easy. Locals know!
Excursions: included and optional. The free, included tours gave us a clear snapshot of each port. Our rhythm was simple: we’re not early birds, so we’d join a mid-morning included tour, get our bearings, pop back on board for lunch, then head out to explore one or two places we’d marked that morning. We tried paid excursions too and found them worth it. The mix kept planning light and flexible.
City days pre and post: art, trains, and small comforts Amsterdam and New York were generous with walking, museums, and galleries. London felt atmospheric and comfortable, with the Underground doing what it does best: getting us across town. Small details stood out: the steady clip of Mounted Police, the glow of a homely pub, time at the Tate and the Courtauld, and heading to the British Museum to see the Benin Bronzes. Days like that just fit.
Why this worked for me
- Choice reduced anxiety. Do a lot or a little; both felt valid.
- Friction stayed low. Boarding, tenders, timing were clear and unhurried.
- Sensory anchors did the rest. Glacier sounds, a late-night iceberg, a puffin hour, the whoosh of the Underground, the clink of a proper pint.
Quick port highlights in my words. Short, honest takeaways. Nothing fancy, just what stuck.
- Amsterdam: Easy to settle in. Walkable canals, good coffee, art everywhere. Boarding day felt smooth.
- Skagen: Bright light and sandy tones. A gentle first taste of Denmark. We wandered and didn’t overthink it.
- Oslo: Clean, calm harbour vibes. Walked straight off and felt oriented quickly.
- Stavanger: Compact and friendly. A laid-back few hours and some nice waterfront time.
- Flåm: Fjord walls rising on every side. The sail-in alone felt like the day’s headline.
- Bergen: Fresh air and soft drizzle. We leaned into it and enjoyed the waterfront.
- Geiranger: Big scenery that asks you to slow down and stare. Worth every minute on deck.
- Narvik: Quiet confidence. A good place to stretch the legs and breathe cool air.
- Lofoten (Leknes): Rugged shapes and open skies. We just kept looking up and out.
- Tromsø: Light that lingers. A gentle wander and easy photo moments.
- Honningsvåg: End-of-the-map feeling. Crisp air and wide views.
- Longyearbyen: Stark, beautiful, and unforgettable. It made us whisper without meaning to.
- Ísafjörður: Calm streets, mountain backdrop. A steady, unhurried day.
- Reykjavík: Bright, lively, and easy to navigate. We kept it simple and enjoyed it more.
- Heimaey: Our puffin hour, thanks to a kind driver’s tip. Still smiling about it.
- Djúpivogur: Slow, small, and satisfying. Exactly the pace we wanted that day.
- Seyðisfjörður: Blue water, green slopes, and an easy stroll.
- Akureyri: A neat harbour town feel. Low effort, high reward.
- Nanortalik: Quiet Greenland moments. Sea, rock, and sky doing their thing.
- Qaqortoq: Colour against ice country. We soaked up the stillness.
- L’Anse aux Meadows: History you can feel underfoot. Short stop, long memory.
- Halifax: Friendly and walkable. A good coffee and a good stretch.
- New York City: Big, loud, energising. The contrast after quiet seas made it even better.
As above – we could not have been closer to town!
Our route and days for the Grand Fjords & Iconic Viking Shores cruise on Viking Neptune
- SUN: Embark in Amsterdam, Deluxe Veranda – 5037, Arrive 06:00 AM, Depart 06:00 PM
- MON: Sail the North Sea
- TUE: Skagen, Denmark, 08:00 AM to 06:00 PM
- WED: Oslo, Norway, 08:00 AM
- THU: Oslo, Norway, Depart 01:30 PM
- FRI: Stavanger, Norway, 08:00 AM to 04:00 PM
- SAT: Flam, Norway, 08:00 AM to 06:00 PM
- SUN: Bergen, Norway, 04:00 AM
- MON: Bergen, Norway, Depart 04:00 PM
- TUE: Geiranger, Norway, 08:00 AM to 05:00 PM
- WED: Sail the Norwegian Sea
- THU: Narvik, Norway, 08:00 AM to 08:00 PM
- FRI: Lofoten (Leknes), Norway, 08:00 AM to 06:00 PM
- SAT: Tromso, Norway, 08:00 AM to 06:00 PM
- SUN: Honningsvag, Norway, 08:00 AM to 06:00 PM
- MON: Sail the Barents Sea
- TUE: Longyearbyen, Svalbard And Jan Mayen, 07:00 AM
- WED: Longyearbyen, Svalbard And Jan Mayen, Depart 04:00 PM
- THU: Sail the Norwegian Sea
- FRI: Sail the Norwegian Sea
- SAT: Isafjordur, Iceland, 08:00 AM to 05:00 PM
- SUN: Reykjavik, Iceland, 07:00 AM to 08:00 PM
- MON: Heimaey, Westman Islands, Iceland, 07:00 AM to 04:00 PM
- TUE: Djupivogur, Iceland, 08:00 AM to 07:00 PM
- WED: Seydisfjordur, Iceland, 06:00 AM to 03:00 PM
- THU: Akureyri, Iceland, 09:00 AM to 06:00 PM
- FRI: Isafjordur, Iceland, 08:00 AM to 05:00 PM
- SAT: Sail the Atlantic Ocean
- SUN: Nanortalik, Greenland, 02:00 PM to 08:00 PM
- MON: Qaqortoq, Greenland, 07:00 AM to 02:00 PM
- TUE: Sail the Labrador Sea
- WED: L’Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland, Canada, 08:00 AM to 02:00 PM
- THU: Scenic Sailing, St. Lawrence River
- FRI: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, 08:00 AM to 05:00 PM
- SAT: Sail the Atlantic Ocean
- SUN: Disembark in New York City, New York, 07:00 AM to 05:00 PM
Practical tips you can use
- Don’t worry before you go. If you have a mental list… You’ll likely cross most of it off. I did!
- On tender days, note the half-hour cadence and set a return alarm.
- Keep your room key handy. Scan-off and scan-on is quick and reassuring.
- Enjoy the local menu onboard – you may not be back!
- Record short audio clips where sound matters, like at a glacier.
- For city stops, pick one focus per day. One museum, one neighbourhood. Depth beats dashing.
- Do the walking tours, stretch out, breath in.
What I’d tell a friend: If you’re debating a Viking Ocean cruise because you’re worried about the food, staff, boredom, cabin space, or motion, I had those same questions. This trip answered them kindly. The ship felt calm and capable, meals on board were a delight, of a high quality, and very regional – 2 lobsters for entree anyone?! …the ports were easy to reach, and the moments I keep talking about weren’t staged. They happened because the stage was set and we were there to notice.
We found the whole trip thoroughly worthwhile and would recommend it.
FAQ
Q: Is a Viking Ocean cruise boring if you’re not a cruise person? A: I’m not naturally a sea-days type, and I never felt bored. Between ports, talks, walking laps, quiet reading spots, and even a little digital poker with play money, the days felt full.
Q: How rough were the seas on this route? A: On my sailing, seas were gentle. Conditions vary by date and weather, so pack your usual motion aids; I didn’t need mine.
Q: How easy is tendering when the ship can’t dock? A: On our days, tenders ran roughly every 30 minutes and carried far fewer than their emergency capacity. We could pop back on board for lunch and return ashore without stress.
Q: Are there children on board? A: No, Viking are R18. On our sailing it felt like an adult atmosphere, which kept public spaces calm.
Q: What surprised you most? A: The cabin quality – heated bathroom floor and generous space, food and quality of service went above and beyond, the EXPERIENCES! – the sound of the glacier in Prince Christian Sound, and that 1 am sunset with a single iceberg.