Viking Star
- Jason Young
- Feb 10
- 9 min read
Updated: Feb 26
Our Trip Begins: New York, London, and a Mediterranean Cruise
A Quick New York Stop Before London
Before our London week even began, my mom and I flew to New York first and stayed near the airport for a night. We went into the city for one main reason: Broadway.
We saw Heathers: The Musical, and it was absolutely incredible. Casey Likes sadly wasn’t on that night, but the understudy was fantastic—and the show still completely delivered.
Great performances, great energy, and just one of those shows that keeps you engaged the entire time. If you get the chance to see Heathers, you’ve got to go.
Flying to London: United Polaris Business Class
From New York, we flew business class over to London on United Polaris.
Overall, we had a wonderful journey and it was definitely an enjoyable way to cross the Atlantic. That said, we felt the food had gone a bit downhill compared to the last time—especially the ice cream sundaes. The ice cream was pretty melted by the time it got to us, which I understand… we’re on a plane… but still. Figure it out. 😄
Polaris doesn’t quite hold up to Delta or Air France (Air France is still my favorite business class I’ve flown so far), but it was comfortable and pleasant overall, and we arrived ready to hit the ground running.
London: One Amazing Week in the West End
Where We Stayed: The Waldorf Hilton London (Covent Garden)
We stayed at the Waldorf Hilton London in Covent Garden, and we absolutely loved it. The location was unbeatable—right in the theater district. There was a bus stop right in front of the hotel, and the Tube was around the corner, which made it incredibly easy to use London’s fantastic transportation system.
Our room was large, and I really appreciated that it was well-heated and cooled, which isn’t always a given in older European properties. We also enjoyed their buffet breakfast, and the staff was extremely friendly—especially the doorman, who truly stood out.
Now, we did have a couple issues during the stay, and I want to share them honestly, but also fairly—because what matters just as much is how a hotel responds.
The Issues (and How They Made It Right)
One day, they were doing construction that knocked out the heat in our room. It didn’t bother me much, but my mom was understandably upset. The hotel made it right by giving us free buffet breakfast for the rest of the week, which would’ve cost us around $60 per day—a really great way to turn a frustrating situation into something that felt genuinely taken care of.
Then the next day, the guests above us apparently left their bathtub water running and it started pouring down into our room, so we had to vacate and move rooms. You’d think that would mean a bigger upgrade, but it was essentially the same type of room, which was fine.
For that incident, they gave us one free night stay at any Hilton property in the future, which was a great gesture.
But then the next morning, we had no hot water in our shower. At that point, we complained to corporate, and they took it seriously: they took $800 off the bill, and we still kept the Hilton credit for a future stay.
All of that probably sounds like a lot when you read it in a row, but here’s the honest truth: we still had a fantastic stay. The beds were wonderful, the decor was beautiful, the location was perfect, and they handled issues with real compensation when things happened. I would absolutely stay there again.
What We Did in London
Madame Tussauds (Go Right at Opening)
We visited Madame Tussauds, and it was a lot of fun—especially because we went right when it opened, which I highly recommend if you want to beat the crowds.
I’ve been to the Vegas one, Hollywood’s, and New York (New York is probably still my favorite), but London had a really fantastic Star Wars section. If you’re a Star Wars fan, you’re going to love it. They had everything from a full-size Jabba the Hutt to The Mandalorian, and some figures were even animated, which was really cool.
Lunch in The Shard (View = Worth It)
The food honestly wasn’t amazing, but the view was worth every penny. You could see Tower Bridge, St. Paul’s, the Thames—it was absolutely incredible. And in my opinion, it’s a more expansive view than the London Eye, plus you’re at your own table instead of crammed into a capsule. I highly recommend doing The Shard—maybe just pick a different restaurant than the one we chose.
The Classics + The British Museum
Of course we also got the classic London shots at Tower Bridge and Big Ben, and we watched part of the Changing of the Guard—enough to get the gist and enjoy the tradition.
We also visited the British Museum, which was a highlight—especially the Egyptian and Greek sections. Seeing the Rosetta Stone was really cool, and the mummies are always fascinating. We’ve been to the Acropolis before, so it was surreal seeing parts of that history in the Greek collection—beautiful pieces and details that really stick with you.
Kensington Palace (Skippable, in My Opinion)
We went to Kensington Palace, and honestly… I found it rather bland. The interiors are okay, but I’ve seen better. That said, it was still meaningful to see where Princess Diana lived, and the gardens were lovely. There’s also a beautiful statue memorializing Princess Diana in the gardens, which was very cool to see.
Phantom of the Opera Themed Afternoon Tea (Must-Do)
We also did an absolutely amazing Phantom of the Opera–themed afternoon tea, and it was one of the most memorable things we did in London. They had props and costumes from the production, the music playing, and every single item they brought out was themed to the show. They even told a little story as the experience progressed.
You’re going to see the photos and you’re going to want to go. It was absolutely wonderful—highly recommend.
Theatre Royal Drury Lane Tour (So Worth It)
We also toured Theatre Royal Drury Lane (owned by Andrew Lloyd Webber), and it was fantastic. It was so cool hearing the history of the theater, getting to go under the stage, going backstage, and learning about the building’s long history and renovations. Our guide was genuinely interesting, and it was also relatively inexpensive compared to so many other London experiences.
I highly recommend doing a theater tour while you’re in London—this one was excellent.
West End Theater: The Shows We Saw
We saw a lot of West End theater—and it was incredible.
Musicals:
Plays:
Our favorite show—by far—was Paddington: The Musical. Oh my gosh. The set design, lighting, costumes, acting, singing… the music was memorable and beautiful and made you cry and laugh. It gave all the feels. Highly, highly, highly recommend.
The worst show we saw was definitely Hercules, which is now closing in the West End. No shock there. I was ready to leave at intermission. It was just… trash.
We also really loved A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong—we’ve seen The Play That Goes Wrong and Peter Pan Goes Wrong, and these productions are always such a good time.
Finally we took in the Phantom of the Opera afternoon tea and it was delightful.
Food in London
We had some great meals in London too. One standout was Hakkasan—which also exists in Vegas and New York—and we had an incredible Asian meal there. We also ate at a Mexican spot and a few other places that I’ll add once I look up the names.
London to Rome: One Night Near the Port
After London, we flew to Rome and spent one night in Civitavecchia (the port where we were boarding the Viking Star for a week-long Mediterranean cruise).
The hotel was… serviceable. Honestly, I’ve found the hotels in that immediate area often aren’t that great, and this one—despite being highly rated—didn’t impress us. The bathroom was tiny and overall it just wasn’t anything special.
Boarding the Viking Star: Smooth and Easy
Boarding was actually one thing Viking did really well: there was basically zero wait to get on board. It felt like guests were embarking and disembarking at different ports for different-length itineraries, so the process was easy and spread out. We got on quickly and without hassle.
My Overall Take on the Viking Star: “Ikea at Sea”
Now… let’s talk about the ship.
My overall impression of the Viking Star can be summed up like this: “Ikea at sea.” Not an insult to Ikea, but the ship felt bland, basic, and lacking a true wow factor. Everything felt functional and minimal, but not elevated—especially for the price point.
And yes, I’m going to compare it to the Oceania Vista because we’re talking a similar cost conversation—and the Vista is spectacular from end to end.
Entertainment: Fine, But Barebones
They had four singers who were good, and some guest artists, but it felt stripped down—no real set design, a small band, and lobby musicians usually just one or two at a time. It wasn’t “bad,” it just wasn’t impressive.
Food: Specialty Restaurants = Great, Main Dining = Boring
I will absolutely give credit here: the specialty restaurants were actually quite good, and I was impressed.
But the main dining room felt limited and bland. The plating often looked like an afterthought—like they’d put a random half cooked tomato on the plate just to make it look like something was happening. Interestingly, the desserts were consistently well done.
Whoever handles dessert needs to handle plating for everything else.
Why I Wouldn’t Sail Viking Again
I would never sail Viking again. I truly think it was overpriced for what you get, and the experience felt basic and boring. I understand why people like the no-kids atmosphere, but there are other cruise lines that can give you the same adults-only vibe with a more elevated experience. I also don’t understand the cult-like following Viking has. I have no allegiance to any cruise line—I’ve sailed Celebrity, Princess, Oceania, NCL (including the Haven), and Disney—so this isn’t about loyalty.
For me, Viking just didn’t deliver at the level it charges.
The Best Part: The Amazing Places We Visited
Even though the ship wasn’t my favorite, the itinerary had some truly incredible stops.
Naples: Pompeii (Do Not Miss This)
Our first stop was Naples, and we booked a trip to Pompeii through GetYourGuide. Fantastic experience: on-time pickup, nice air-conditioned car, and a great guide.
Pompeii was absolutely spectacular. Do not miss it. It’s so much larger than I ever thought.
Before going, I thought I’d see mostly preserved bodies and a few ruins—but instead, you’re walking through an entire city:
shops and places where goods were sold
palatial homes and mansions
artwork, paintings, and frescoes that are still visible
and yes… even the whorehouse
It was incredible and easily one of the most memorable historical sites I’ve ever visited.
Messina: Explore on Your Own Day
Next stop was Messina, and we decided to do our own thing. We got off the ship and explored at our own pace.
We saw:
a cemetery with beautiful mausoleums and architecture
the Messina Cathedral with its famous astronomical/astrological clock
and an underground architectural space beneath the church—beautiful, even though it’s not a crypt with burials
We ate some great food, walked around town, and just enjoyed a nicely paced day.
Crete: Monastery + Old Town
In Crete, we took a tour to a monastery called Agia Triada Tzagarolon Monastery, and it was gorgeous—lots of history, a beautiful setting out in the middle of nowhere, and animals everywhere in the best way: cats running amok and a cute little dog that lived there.
After that, we went into the old town, saw musicians and kids playing, and took in the atmosphere. We also saw a beautiful lighthouse. Crete was a really great day.
Ephesus, Turkey: Another Must-See
Then we went to Ephesus, and it’s another must-see place. The ruins are absolutely spectacular—the Library of Celsus, the stadium area, and just the scale of everything is insane.
My tip: if your tour guide talks a lot and you can only absorb so much history (like me), don’t feel bad about wandering off a bit. You can still keep up, take your photos and videos, and rejoin later. You can always Wikipedia the deeper history later if you want.
Athens: The Best Random Taxi Tour
In Athens, we grabbed a taxi driver and ended up having one of those lucky travel moments.
He offered us a tour for $100 for both of us, and it turned into an incredible day seeing the major sites.
He took us to:
Temple of Hephaestus
the Olympic Stadium
the famous University of Athens
a mountain viewpoint called Mount Lycabettus where you can see across Athens
and even to a great restaurant
It was such a fun adventure and one of those “only when you travel” experiences.
Wrapping Up: Back to Rome, Then Home
After Athens, we flew back to Rome, stayed near the airport, and took the train into the city (which is very easy). We visited the grave of St. Francis (we’ll name the exact location once confirmed), ate some great Italian food, and cruised around outside the Vatican area.
Then we flew back to New York, and finally home.
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