If you regularly receive these notes, you probably wouldn’t consider yourself a non-cruiser, but many of you are river cruisers, and have expressed some disdain for ocean cruising because you went on a mega-ship 30 years ago, and didn’t really like it much.
I hear ya.
Last week I talked about why some might want to consider a river cruise (here it is if you missed it: https://pamperedcruiser.com/why-a-river-cruise/ ), so this week I’ll suggest why you might want to (re) look at ocean cruising if you’re a dedicated river cruiser.
First of all, the mega-ships have their place in the market: they are great, cheap getaways, and if you’re travelling with children or teens, those floating amusement parks may be exactly the right choice. However, there are many aspects of those mega-ship experiences that put people off.
So why should you reconsider this view?
Much like hotels, there are a wide variety of cruise products out there, and because you didn’t like one, doesn’t mean another might not be perfect for you. As a general rule, the smaller the ship, the higher end it will be, so let’s chat about why you might want to consider a small-ship ocean cruise:
- Go Places Not Otherwise Accessible – Coastal Alaska, Antarctica, the Galapagos Islands, the Kimberly Coast (Australia), Greenland, the Norwegian Coast, West Africa, and so many other places are MUCH easier to access by ship.
- Good Air Service – Many of the small-ship cruise lines start and finish their itineraries in cities with good air connections from the United States. In between, there might be a bunch of ports you’ve never heard of. This is a great way to visit smaller, less touristy, or remote areas and minimize your air connections.
- Diversity of Activities – If your travel companion or group has different ideas as to what they want to do on vacation, then cruises offer a wide diversity of activities. There’s something for everyone and you don’t all have to do the same thing.
- Food – The small-ship cruise lines offer a high quality culinary experience that is about as far away from those ridiculous all-you-can-eat buffets on the mega-ships as imaginable. Many cruise lines have arrangements with Michelin rated chefs that would cost hundreds of dollars on shore, but these experiences are included in your cruise fare.
- Entertainment – The cruise lines source their entertainers in New York and London, and the competition is very high to get on board. If you like live music, and other performing arts, it is included in your fare on small-ship cruises. This is one advantage to ocean cruising over river cruising (where the entertainment options are usually limited).
- Cost-Effectiveness – A small-ship cruise out of London will cost between $350 and $650 per person, per night. The cost of a 5-star hotel in London, with meals at Michelin-rated restaurants, West End shows, and incidentals will cost you a lot more.
- Unpack Once – You can explore many different places while only having to unpack once. This is even more valuable in those lesser known, out of the way places.
- Sample New Places – A cruise is the perfect way to try a bunch of Greek Islands (for example), so you can figure out which one you want to go back to for a longer stay.
- Inclusions – Most small ship cruise lines include everything (or almost everything), so you’re not constantly pulling out your wallet.
- Efficiency: Cruise Ships most often move at night – a distinct advantage over having to travel between places by motor coach in the daytime.
Today’s Travel Opportunities
Oceania is known for unique itineraries that other cruise lines don’t do. These two look interesting:
WEST AFRICA: Barcelona to Capetown departing November 14 for 27-days
- Visit Barcelona, Seville, Las Palmas, Arrecife, Cape Verde, Senegal, Gambia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Sao Tome & Principe, Namibia (overnight), Luteritz, Capetown (overnight).
- Fares from $6099 with $600 shore excursion credit. Also includes beer/wine with meals, and wifi on the ship.
- Carry on to Singapore (for a total of 59 days aboard) from $13,348 .
- Visit East Africa, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Thailand & Malaysia.
JAPAN intensive voyage departing January 27, 2025 for 18-days
- Visit Hong Kong, Taiwan, Ishigaka, Okinawa, Shanghai, Nagasaki, Busan, Hiroshima, Kochi, Kyoto (overnight), Nagoya, Tokyo (overnight)
- Fares from $6099 with $400 shore excursion credit. Also includes beer/wine with meals, and wifi on the ship.
See our Ship Tour Video of Oceania Riviera here: https://youtu.be/KvgJJ2bE1OU?si=SnV88oCy50CXnlYh
Finland NORTHERN LIGHTS Tour departing December 5 for 8 days.
- Experience Helsinki with a city tour, fly to Ivalo (Lapland) to stay in a Finnish log cabin with a personal sauna, do a reindeer safari at Santa Claus’ home, go dog sledding, stay in a glass igloo,
- Fares from $5299 per person (round-trip from Helsinki)
Alaska NORTHERN LIGHTS Tour departing March 25 or 30 for 7-days
- Visit Fairbanks, Talkeetna, and Anchorage. Travel by Alaska Rail, go dog sledding, and a Winter Glacier cruise in Prince William Sound.
- Fares from $3899 per person (round-trip from Anchorage)
ICELAND Cultural Expedition departing June 1 for 8-days with ATLAS
- Circumnavigate Iceland. Reykjavik round-trip, with a port stop every day.
- Fares from $4899 for an ocean view. $5649 for a Veranda
- Includes a shore excursion in every port, an open bar, and gratuities and wifi on the ship.
Viking Free Air DEALS
If you’re ready to travel in the next few months, Viking will throw FREE AIR at you for some itineraries:
BRITISH ISLES & NORWEGIAN COAST departing May OR June for 15-days
- Visit London (overnight), Edinburgh, Kirkwall, Shetland Islands, Honningsvag, Tromso, Leknes, Geiranger, Bergen (overnight).
- Departures on May 15, 31, June 12, 14, 26.
- Fares from $6099 for a Veranda Room including flights.
TOKYO to VANCOUVER departing April 23 for 23-days
- Visit Tokyo, Sapporo, Dutch Harbor, Kodiak, Seward, Valdez, Hubbard Glacier, Glacier Bay, Sitka, Ketchikan, Vancouver
- Visit Asia without having to fly both ways, and see some less-frequented ports in Alaska.
- Veranda Rooms from $5999 including flights. This is $3000 OFF!
ICELAND to NEW YORK departing June 8, 10, 22 or 24 for 15-days
- Visit 6 ports in Iceland, 2 ports in Greenland, Newfoundland and Halifax.
- A great way to minimize long flights, and see some out of the way places
- Fares from $6999 for a Veranda Room including flights.
TULIPS in THE NETHERLANDS departing April 1, 4, 5, or 10 for 10-days.
- Visit Amsterdam (overnight), Enkhuizen, Arnhem, Kinderdijk, Antwerp, Middleberg, Veere, Zeeland.
- This cruise includes visits to the tulip fields (including Keukenhof Gardens), the museums in Amsterdam, sample Belgian beer and chocolates, and the Medieval buildings in Middleberg.
- Fares from $3199 including flights.
All Viking Cruises include all taxes & fees, transfers, a shore excursion in every port, beer/wine with meals, wifi on the ship. The cruises above include round-trip economy air in the price.
Recently booked a Viking Cruise?
Viking makes it really easy to book direct, either online, by phone, or on board. Our clients worry that if they book on-line (or on board), that they’re cutting us out, but if you let us know after you’ve booked, then we can still help you with your reservation.
We’ll check over your reservation to make sure you’re getting the best possible deal, and we will also add some onboard credits that are not available on direct bookings.
We can add at least $100 per person onboard credit to any direct Viking reservation made in the last 60 days.
There is never a situation where you’ll get a better deal by booking directly with Viking (or any other cruise line).
If you recently booked a Viking Cruise, please let us know as soon as possible.
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If you’re planning a trip, I’d love to help! Click here or call 800-876-0168 to get in touch today.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Sue Bradley
Sue Bradley
