Viking Star evacuation

Thanks very much for the info Jane10 It sounds lovely, and just the type of cruise line we would be interested in.

It's always nice to have recommendations isn't it?

JenniferEccles Viking Ocean is absolutely the best cruise line we've ever been on. Wonderful service, beautiful ships and facilities, no pubs, no casinos, no art auctions, no extras to pay. Gratuities and drinks included. Over 18s only. No set meal times, no extra cost for eating in the speciality restaurants, all outside cabins with balconies (no inside cabins at all), max of 930 passengers. I could go on!
Look for Cruise Critic forums Viking Ocean Forum. There are lots of threads but the hottest one is re Viking Sky rescue.

Despite this recent incident, would you still recommend Viking as a cruise line Jane10 ? We have had many lovely cruises with other lines, but I am always happy to try a different one, and I liked the sound of the one you were on from how you described it.

They are better known for their river cruises and I think they have only fairly recently ventured into ocean cruising.

For those who are still scared to try a cruise, I can't stress enough how very unusual this incident is.

I can't seem to access the right part of that, Jane10, but I would be interested to read their views.

I question why the engines failed as well, was this due to poor maintenance or purely bad luck ?
From my maritime expert: for all four engines to fail, which is most unusual, there was probably water ingress into the fuel supply. This could have been due to the bad weather or contamination at source.

I could go into great detail about this but suggest you look at the cruise Critic Forum to which experienced captains have been contributing.

I understand that to an extent Jane10 but it would seem that other ships didn't sail due to the bad weather conditions. Hindsight is a wonderful thing though.
I question why the engines failed as well, was this due to poor maintenance or purely bad luck ?

...but Anja sacrifices have to be made in the name of safety I have seen videos before of furniture flying around and hitting people and always wondered why it’s not fixed even in static homes we have built in cupboards, wardrobes, I remember all those years ago when I lived in a prefab we had a table that came down from the wall and beds can be folded away surely safety come above looks
Yes I was surprised by bits of the ceilings falling

It seems from other Norwegian captains that if ships didn't sail on that part of the coast in bad weather they'd never sail at all! The Viking ship would have been fine if the engines hadn't failed.
I agree that there should have been more thought given to the fixtures and furnishings. The Viking Ocean ships all have beautiful art works and sculptures too. They are very tastefully furnished in an understated Scandinavian way. I hope they can maintain this appearance without compromising safety.

Only a guess, but perhaps there are times when rooms eg restaurants and communal spaces need to have the flexibility to move tables, chairs etc around to make more space or accommodate different settings?

In addition to the moving furniture I was shocked at the ceiling panels that fell on heads!

You'd expect such things if the ship was structurally damaged and breaking up, not when it's just being buffeted by bad weather.

But no ones answered my question why free floating large item of furniture why not built in

Jalima I’ve been reading up on this and according to the cruise compsnies there is no danger of capsize at all. According to others there could well be, as these ships are top heavy and especially where, as in this case, the Captain has lost control due to engine failure.

I think we will just have to wait and see if it ever happens then the question will be answered.

What it has brought home is how difficult and time consuming it is to evacuate when lives are at risk and why on earth the ship decided to sail when others chose to stay in port....oh, and why all the engines failed??

DH is keen to do a Scandinavian cruise. I think he might have to go alone!

Lots of real marine engineer experts on the Cruise Critic Forum. Check that re potential risks and probable causes.

Just reinforces my opinion that I’ve always been right in never going on a cruise ( and never will!) Horrible for the passengers though

There was a real danger of capsize.
Is that a professional opinion or has that been reported on the news because, according to what I have been told by someone who spent his working life at sea, it would not have capsized unless it drifted towards and hit rocks.

I think that when the engines failed the ship was at the mercy of the seas, in this case very rough seas.. There was a real danger of capsize.

They've been offered a full refund and a free cruise. I wonder how many of them fancy another cruise!

Cine!

Like another poster I’ve been through the Bay of Biscay on a bad day but luckily the engines were fine. Dad had a cone camera so every so often we watch the footage and have a good giggle.
We were travelling back from NZ on a ship that was doing its last round trip, the Rangitoto. The engines stopped many times, OK about 3! It was a bit strange, bobbing about on the beautiful briny sea very quietly. They always managed to get them started and the sea was very calm.
I think that the passengers in Viking Sky had a much scarier time than us and are not too traumatised.

it's important to put all this in perspective
It is.
The only reason it was bobbing around was because the engines failed. If they had not then the ship would have ploughed through the waves - it would have been rough but not at all like it was.
Why did the engines fail? Did water get into the system somehow and contaminate the fuel?
Why did the captain not take a different route when they were aware the storm was approaching? They could have sailed away from it surely?

There are lots of unanswered questions but this is an unusual occurrence.

I am sure it was a very scary experience for all concerned, but it's important to put all this in perspective. As far as I'm aware no-one died.

Cruising remains one of the safest modes of transport, and it is a fact that we are at far more risk in the drive to the port or airport than when we are on a ship.

Cruises are the most wonderful holidays, and it certainly won't put us off !

I've enjoyed all the various cruises we've been on. Easily the best ever was the Viking Ocean one we did last year which included sailing through the area the Viking Sky got into trouble in. I live in fear of sea sickness but was absolutely fine. The Sky's problem was due to engine failure so it couldn't progress or steer or use the stabilisers. Very nasty indeed.
We'd been swithering as to which cruise to book next but, somehow, I think I'll leave it for a while ?

Bluebelle I am with you, I hate boats and have never wanted to go on a cruise, and much less having seen those poor people with their life jackets on and their feet in water. Horrific!

However, one time I came back from France on a ferry in a Force 8 gale. We had had to wait hours for the gale to subside from a Force 10, and then suddenly they announced that it would be sailing. It was a horrible experience, but everything was chained down as far as I could see so furniture wasn't flying around.

I was wearing those Seabands that you put on your wrist acupuncture points to prevent seasickness as I get queasy in a gentle swell let alone gigantic grey waves battering the windows. The Seabands worked wonderfully well and it was a good test, but I have never wanted to go anywhere near a boat again.