Just before returning to Viking Cruises not long ago, I wrote Two Viking Cornerstone Features We’re Looking Forward To.  That post highlighted the flexibility of Viking Venice Class ships and their unique Viking Resident Historian program.   Today, we take a reflective look at those features, comparing the Viking promise to what we actually experienced in real time.

 

This examining the promise vs. actual experience thing is something we’ve been at for quite some time with Viking.  On an enchanting Christmas Markets sailing, we were touring Passau and drawn to Simon Bakery by the aroma of Gingerbread baking. It was the same bakery as in Viking video, viewed online before travel. We gathered around a display bakery while Gingerbread baked and the charming Simon family talked. They were probably talking about baking stuff and holiday things but it simply would not have mattered what they said.  I really don’t recall.  I was stunned by how closely what we were seeing was like in that video. This was the place. These were the people. This we would never forget.  Hold that thought.  We’ll come back to this shortly.

See Accuracy Check: Viking Christmas Markets Video Vs. Reality

Now, let’s look at the Viking Resident Historian Program.  This was just rolling out the last time we sailed with Viking Ocean Cruises and looked promising. The basic structure: Each ship has a resident historian on board for the entire itinerary to provide continuity and relevance to what Viking travelers experience along the way.  They have office hours, host roundtable discussions and more. Guest lecturers were part of the program as well but the focus was primarily on the resident historian. Maybe it still is but the three guest lecturers on board for our sailing were a major part of the experience.  Accurately themed ‘Into The Midnight Sun’, we discussed the economic, political, social, historic and current value of the places we visited along the way. 

A geologist brought life to the topography we would see ashore by educating us on the topic the day before we saw it. An anthropologist covered the same history, just with stories about people rather than rocks.  A lifetime diplomat put a face and demeanor on a part of how we get along with the rest of the world. I liked his ‘I inform, you decide’ way of communicating. The political angle might have brought a contentious Q&A after.  That happens, quite civilly and with great frequency on Viking ships as the ‘thinking man’s cruise’ promise evolves.  The growing fleet is full of thinking people.

I should mention that I do not list the names of Historians or Lecturers on purpose. It’s not that I don’t know them.  The point here is the place Viking has managed to put itself with their people.  This goes beyond the individual personalities of specific people who work on certain ships.  It’s always nice to see a familiar face.  I get that.

Cruise lines like to avoid passengers making a personal connection to crew like icebergs.  The inherent problem is if you booked the same ship and itinerary again, those specific people you associate with that good experience might not be there.  They could be on vacation, a different ship or even a different cruise line.  Requesting the services of crew any position lower than a suite butler is insanely difficult. I get that too.

Now forget that.

Viking figured out how to create their own little world by enabling their crew;  empowering them to take good care of us. All of us.  All the time.  Whatever it takes.  It was obvious that the speakers we enjoyed talked to each other about content and curriculum as well.  ‘No repeats’ is a big thing on Viking River Cruises.  With new tours and local guides each day, knowing where we have been and where we are going is important. If for no other reason,  on the motorcoach we do not want to hear the same fact 6 times. We don’t with Viking, only.

Back to things we will never forget, like the Simon Bakery example, the power of focused faculty traveling with us was substantial. The Resident Historian Program is a solid, unique to Viking part of the experience. It is included in the price and does not even get a bullet point listing on features when comparing cruise lines. This program made my trip. The Resident Historian/Onboard enrichment aspect is what I will first think of when recalling this sailing.  Sort of like I think of Princess Cruises introducing Movies Under The Stars when the topic of Caribbean Princess comes up.  That was unique at the time.  Now everyone does has movie screens on deck.  This feels like that.

Coming up, we take a look at more Viking Cornerstone Features, profiling Viking Venice Class ships; what they promised, have delivered and will likely evolve into.   First, here’s more about the Viking Resident Historian: