Making the switch from ocean to the Viking River cruise experience
Leaving a mega cruise ship, a massive stage with Broadway type shows and a crew of over 900+ for an intimate lounge and 190 guests. Why?!
The legends of the Norse gods and explanations to their Viking civilization described the earth, the stars, the East, West, North and South. The Vikings had an incredible sophistication along with a fearsome reputation
The Vikings understood the earth was round and surrounded by ocean. They grasped the concept of navigation by stars and identified the 4 ‘corners’ of the earth. Everything they knew was steeped in fable form. And today, this legacy is represented by naming our river ships after the Norse gods.
It makes me smile when people say.. ” Hey, keep doing a great job, Rob… soon you’ll get to work the big ships”.
From Poseidon to Viking Norse Gods
It is a common misconception and one that I once had too – the assumption that river cruises was somehow the kindergarten training ground for cruise directors or those who could not crack it. When I respond that I was a cruise director on Ocean, I get that quizzical look as if to say “How did you mess up?”
The Viking Cruise Switch
As a program director with Viking Cruises, I am often asked why I left the so called glamorous position of Cruise Director on ocean to be the equivalent on the Viking Cruises river ship operation.
It’s a fair question when you consider that the perks on most ocean lines as a CD are numerous. You get a large and luxurious cabin, access to most if not all the public areas, you appear on TV and introduce the big production shows in front of thousands of people. You are the face of the ship and enjoy an elevated rank and position.
As a Cruise Director, you have a staff of usually around 50 -100 people who you head up in your department. Shore excursions are their own department. So a CD is somewhat visible but also remote of the underlying mechanics..
“5 years ago if you’d have said I would completely shift from Ocean cruising to becoming a river program director, I would have said you were nuts”.
The Viking Cruise Experience
On river cruises, you are the shore excursions staff, liaison, manager of guest entertainment, entertainer, informer and tour director.
You are all things to the guests within the tour programs. You have to be hands-on and have to be with the guests during the tour.Guest is late or gets lost ? Your responsibility.
You are the one outside pacing as you wait for motor coaches to arrive. You are the one making sure that the guides will be well briefed, have their equipment and the lollipop signs.
As a Viking program director, you cannot forget anything because, if you do, it could become a disaster that severely impacts on the enjoyment of the guests.
Your living quarters are single occupancy and comfortable but they are still a modest cabin. Gone are the huge separate lounge area with a massive window, a separate office and the luxury bathroom. Gone is the room service and all the perks to ocean.
Being a Viking Cruise Program Director compared to an Ocean Cruise Director
So, looking at both those positions, you’d probably choose option A – be a CD on an ocean liner.
Well, yes, but….what if you discover that you are now visiting cities within Europe and not just touching the fringe seaside of a continent? In fact, you discover that you are experiencing everyday both as a tour guide and as a tourist?
That you are learning new things everyday and that your passion in history and the arts is reborn? The point I’m trying to make here is that each position has its plus and minuses.
I totally loved my time as cruise director on ships and when I decided I needed to make a change and try something different, honestly, river cruising did not jump up at me and do a dance.
I actually overlooked river cruises many times as ocean CD’s were always, myself included, kind of aloof to the concept of a river ship.
Ignorant really. I had no clue about what it really meant. I guess we are used to dealing with 1000’s of guests and the idea of 180 guests just seemed, well…small potatoes.
How wrong I was! I quickly found out that this move was neither a downgrade or an upgrade.
I basically ended up changing careers. It’s totally different. How to become a program director was a whole new challenge to me. It is very challenging, also invigorating and exteremely demanding.
Being a Viking program director requires thinking out the box many times. You are dealing with a totally different dynamic on the rivers.
You are working with a crew small enough to become your family after a season and really getting to know your guests on a personal level. Not just 5% of them. In most cases almost 100%.
That is the difference. No day is ever groundhog day!
The Personal Development that I Enjoy on Viking Cruises
I came across the Viking Cruise story from a friend of mine who was familiar with the river cruising industry. It sounded interesting if not a little intimidating.
I was curious in the phenomenal growth of the line and its popularity. It meant it was doing something right and maybe I should investigate. So I did my due diligence.
I scoured forums, looked for comments from guests and crew alike. I decided to follow up.
The rest, as they say, is history. Six years have flown by. The learning curve was very steep. I messed up many times at the start. I am still learning today and I doubt I will stop anytime soon, if ever.
The Viking program director role is about taking personal responsibility for all of it. There is no hiding in “that’s not my job”.
It is all your job! No delegating. Just you. Joining Viking Cruise family, honestly, for me, was the best thing I could have done.
My passions have grown, my education is much improved, my European history is a hobby now. I love what I do. In fact, I really think I’d be a way better Cruise Director today for the experience, application and knowledge I have gained through river cruising.
Do I ever think about going back to being a CD on ocean? Sure, I miss ocean a lot but Viking now have an incredible product on ocean, so, who knows? I may find myself back there at some stage.
Honestly, my nirvana would be to do both. A season of ocean and river combined…our ships some of the time and our rivers the rest.
Hey, a guy can dream, right? The Viking Cruise Way is now very much a part of me. In fact, so enthused am I by the experience, I started a Program Directors Blog. That must say something.
Certainly. if you have never experienced Viking river cruises, maybe now is the time you should. It is a fascinating switch from the ocean voyages you may enjoy and a great addition to your cruise vacation portfolio.
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Please feel free to share your thoughts below
Love this Rob, echoes my own experience and feelings. Great job mate
Both Nancy and I were blessed to have you as our CD on our Paris to Prague River Cruise last August, Rob. You are phenomenal! As you said, those on board become like family, even if for a week or 10 days. You get to know so many people from vast backgrounds. I do believe we had the BEST experience one can have on a Viking River Cruise. The staff and the guests were all so pleasant. We made new friends as we cruised along the riverways. It was truly a life changing experience because of the friends we made. I only hope our next Viking adventure will be as wonderful.
Thank you, and your staff, for one of the most wonderful times of our lives!
How can anyone not love a job like this when you and a great crew can make the difference? Thank you so much for your words!
A great and accurate read Rob!
Thanks, Jane 🙂
Our cruise director looked after individuals so well. For those who found difficulties walking he did shorter routes and extra transport so that we did not miss anything . Every encounter was a caring one – thank you Andrew.
Glad to hear that! 🙂
We have done both Viking River Prague to Paris (Mary Ann-was CD) and Ocean British Isles. Also RC and a few others. Comparing smaller ship to large ship cruising is just not fair. We enjoy each for their own style of cruising. Viking is by far a thinking persons cruise.
I totally agree with you, Mary. To compare the large ocean liners with river cruising, is unfair. I think both offer their own value and both are very different.