viking sea cruise ship itinerary

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• Viking Cruises

Cruise line Viking Ocean (Viking Cruises)

• San Juan (Puerto Rico)
• Vancouver (BC Canada)
• Seward (Alaska)
• Chioggia (Italy, Venice City)
• Piraeus-Athens (Greece)

Viking Sea current position

Viking Sea current location is at Aegean Sea (coordinates 37.29945 N / 23.81306 E) cruising en route to Piraeus-Athens. The AIS position was reported 3 minutes ago.

Current itinerary of Viking Sea

Viking Sea current cruise is 9 days, one-way from Chioggia to Piraeus-Athens . The itinerary starts on 01 Jun, 2024 and ends on 10 Jun, 2024 .

Specifications of Viking Sea

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Viking Sea Itineraries

Viking sea review, review of viking sea.

The 2016-built MS Viking Sea cruise ship is the second in a 10-unit series of identical vessels built for Viking Ocean Cruises . Viking OCEAN's current plans are for a fleet of 16 sisterships, all of which are Fincantieri -built and Norway-flagged.

The vessel (IMO number 9725421) is currently Norway- flagged (MMSI 258215000) and registered in Bergen .

History - construction and ownership

The 930-passenger ship Viking Sea offers destination-oriented cruising experience, with few at-sea days, long in-ports days and more exciting overnights in key spots. The boat's features include complimentary Wi-Fi, free shore excursions, wine and beer with no charge at dinner and lunch.

Viking Sea was delivered at Fincantieri's Ancona shipyard on March 24, 2016. On March 23, the shipyard floated out Viking Sky .

Each of the Viking Ocean ships offers many ticket price-inclusive / complimentary amenities and services, such as all shore excursions, transfers, Wi-Fi, wine and beer (at lunches and dinners), access to Nordic Spa (steam room, thalassotherapy pool, hot tub, snow room / grotto, sauna, cold plunge pool). The infinity pool (resistance swimming pool located aft on Deck 7 / at the ship's stern) is another unique and complimentary facility.

All Viking Ocean liners were built according to the latest maritime navigation regulations and equipped with latest marine safety systems, including "safe return to port". The ships also implement some of the maritime industry's latest technologies, including energy-saving hybrid engines (diesel generators and gas turbines), optimized hulls and bulbous bows for max fuel efficiency. Ship design also features the common for Viking River Cruises longships solar panels (installed on the Magradome pool cover) additionally minimizing vessel's exhaust pollution.

Decks and Cabins

Viking Sea staterooms (465 total) include 47x Suites, 32x Penthouses and 386x Veranda/Balcony cabins in 18 grades.

All passenger cabins are balconied and offer all the industry's modern amenities and services, including King-size beds ("Viking Explorer", deluxe mattresses and linens, Cashmere blankets), en suite bathroom (heated floor, heated mirror, glass-door shower, hairdryer, premium bath products and toiletries /by Freyja, bathrobes, slippers, towel warmers), seating area (sofa, coffee table, vanity desk with chair, wardrobe, full-length mirror with mini lights), satellite phone, HDTV (3D, Infotainment / interactive TV system for Internet access, room service ordering, movies-on-demand, live webcams views, Viking Cruises channel for news, enrichment lectures and port talks), in-room binoculars, electronic safe box, individual air-conditioning, coffee machine, mini-bar (replenished daily with bottled water, soft drinks, snacks).

Shipboard facilities and amenities

Viking Sea offers the following dining venues: Restaurant (dining room), buffets (Viking Deli, World Cafe), Aquavit Terrace (alfresco), specialty (Italian Grill, Chef's Table), Private Dining (2 rooms). Viking Sea deals are inclusive of shore excursions, complimentary alcohol (wine and beer at lunch and dinner) and Wi-Fi.

Viking OCEAN's Sea ship has as signature facilities two swimming pools (Main Pool and Aft Infinity Pool), a covered pool deck (with Jacuzzi, Bar & Grill), Viking Living Room (Atrium Lobby Lounge), two Cinemas, a modern wellness complex (Spa & Fitness Center, Beauty Salon), Wintergarden (poolside area), Aquavit Terrace (aft outdoor bar lounge with Infinity Pool and Hot Tub), Piano Bar Lounge (Torshavn), dedicated sports deck (deck 9/with a Walking Track and Outdoor Gym/Yoga area), Theatre Lounge & Bar, Lobby Bar, various shops and brand boutiques.

The walk-around Lanai/Promenade Deck fully encircles the boat (deck 2). The two-deck Explorer's Lounge has a huge bow-facing observation area which is a unique feature that lots of modern cruise vessels lack. Many of the ship's features reflect a boutique hotel feel.

All Viking Ocean ships have an onboard "snow room". Viking's "Snow Grotto" is a spa retreat with powdery snow falling down from the ceiling. The experience (touted beneficial to the body's blood circulation) includes heating in a sauna (steam bath), then walking into this small room fitted with benches and with dark stone walls illuminated by blue light. The snow on the floor is kept at sub-freezing temperatures. This Arctic-themed facility is part of the ship's thermal suite (within the spa complex). This relaxation area has also 1 hot tub, sauna room, heated ceramic loungers, therapeutic showers, salt-water thermal pool. Snow Grotto access is complimentary to all passengers.

Itineraries

Viking Sea itinerary program is based on voyages in Europe (Baltic and Mediterranean regions), with Spring/Fall Atlantic coastal repositioning. Featured destinations include Norwegian Fjords, Russia, Scandinavia, Eastern Mediterranean (Greece, Turkey) and Central Mediterranean (France, Italy, Spain, Monaco, Tunisia),

Following the Coronavirus crisis, in May 2021 were scheduled for three VIKING OCEAN ships (Sea, Venus, Star) July-October departures (11-day roundtrips) from homeport Valletta Malta .

• The "Malta and Adriatic Jewels" itinerary started with an overnight in Valletta and visited ports in Montenegro ( Kotor ) and Croatia ( Dubrovnik , Split , Zadar , Sibenik ), plus Gozo Island (Malta, Mgarr Harbour) .
• The "Malta and Greek Isles Discovery" itinerary also started with an overnight in Valletta and visited ports in Greece ( Kalamata , Piraeus-Athens , Santorini , Rhodes , Crete/Souda ).
• The "Malta and the Western Mediterranean" itinerary starts with Valletta overnight and visited ports in Sicily ( Messina ), mainland-Italy ( Naples , Civitavecchia-Rome , Livorno , Genoa ), and Spain ( Barcelona ).
• Later was added the 21-day "Malta, the Adriatic and Greece". The B2B itinerary started with Valletta overnight and visited Kotor, Dubrovnik, Split, Zadar, Sibenik, Mgarr Malta, Valletta (overnight), Kalamata, Piraeus-Athens (overnight), Santorini, Rhodes, Souda Crete.

For the ex-Malta 2021 season, Viking partnered with Lufthansa (Deutsche Lufthansa AG - Germany's largest airline) to offer non-stop Transatlantic flights between New Jersey USA (Newark Liberty Airport) and Malta Airport, exclusively for Viking OCEAN customers.

All Viking OCEAN ships offer destination-rich itineraries featured with the brand's new "small ship cruise" tour and onboard experience. Compared to similar class vessels operated by other companies, Viking OCEAN's itineraries feature fewer sea days and longer port days, with a lot of overnight port stays.

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Viking Sea ship related cruise news

VIDEO: Viking Sea cruise ship with 800 passengers onboard breaks moorings in Ravenna (Italy)

At 9.15 am Italy time (7:15 UTC) Saturday morning on September 17, the berthed at Port Ravenna (Porto Corsini, Italy) Viking OCEAN's ship Viking Sea...

Valletta Cruise Port, Malta welcoming Viking Cruises on a number of Mediterranean sailings

Malta's Valletta Cruise Port is expected to welcome Viking Cruises on a number of Mediterranean sailings with Viking Venus and Viking Sea...

Viking celebrates first “Welcome Back” cruises in the Mediterranean

Viking OCEAN Cruises celebrated on Friday, July 23, its first “Welcome Back” voyage in the Mediterranean. This was the latest milestone...

Viking Cruises announces new Mediterranean itineraries for summer 2021

Viking OCEAN plans to expand its Mediterranean deployment during summer 2021, adding a 3rd ship with homeporting in Valletta Malta. Part of the...

Viking Cruises names its newest ocean ship Viking Venus in the English Channel

The new Viking Cruises’ ship Viking Venus set sail from Portsmouth Port (England UK) on Monday, May 17, on her maiden voyage and official...

Viking Cruises restarts in the Mediterranean with new voyages for vaccinated passengers

Viking Cruises announced it will restart operations in the Mediterranean with new voyages for vaccinated passengers beginning this summer. Offered...

Port Bodrum Turkey welcomes 2021's first cruise ship

Turkey welcomed the first cruise ship of season 2021 in a development that comes after the COVID restrictions brought travel to a halt. Viking Ocean...

Viking Sea Cancels Visit to Falmouth Due to Strong Winds

A visit by a Viking cruise ship to Falmouth, England was cancelled on Thursday, April 18. The 930-passenger Viking Sea was scheduled to dock in...

Viking Introduces Greek Odyssey Itinerary 2021

Viking Cruises announced an 11-day ocean cruise itinerary named "Greek Odyssey". It is expected to allow passengers explore Aegean Sea's ancient...

Viking Cruises Reveals First Commercial Cruise Ship Call at Port St Maarten

Viking OCEAN confirmed that Viking Sea would be the first commercial cruise vessel to visit post-Irma Port St Maarten on Monday, December 4...

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Other Viking Ocean cruise ships

• Viking Jupiter
• Viking Mars
• Viking Neptune
• Viking Orion
• Viking Saturn
• Viking Star
• Viking Vela
• Viking Venus
• Viking Vesta

Viking Sea Wiki

The vessel (Fincantieri Trieste yard/hull number 6245) has volume 47842 GT-tons, DWT-deadweight tonnage 4870 tons, max draught 6,3 m. The powerplant is based on MAN marine diesel engines (model 12V32/9L32/44) with combined output 23,52 MW (22000 hp). The registered shipowner is VIKING SEA LTD, while the registered manager is VIKING OCEAN CRUISES LTD.

Viking OCEAN offers destination-rich itineraries featured with the line's new "small ship cruise" tour and onboard experience. Compared to similar class ships operated by other lines, Viking Ocean itineraries feature fewer sea days and longer port days, with more overnight port stays.

Among the vessel’s innovative marine technologies are its energy-saving hybrid engines, top-deck solar panels, pollution-minimizing exhaust system. This ship also uses seawater as a lubricant for its propeller shaft bearings. This technology lowers the vessel’s maintenance costs and also the risk of pollution. Replacing the biodegradable oils, the water is being directly discharged into the ocean.

All passenger cabins are with a private veranda, and ~1/5th larger than average standard staterooms on the ocean cruising market. An interesting feature of the ship is the dining room. This venue could be transformed into an outdoor casual dining place thanks to its floor-ceiling sliding windows.

Viking Cruises deals (on all river and ocean ships) are inclusive of shore excursions (land tours), onboard entertainment and dining (including at specialty restaurants), drinks and alcohol (beer, wine /at lunch and dinner), 24-hour room service, Wi-Fi.

Viking OCEAN delivers a brand new-style vacation cruising experience. These vessels represent a "smaller ship" concept. The relatively shallow draft (21 ft / 6,3 m), design (hull and superstructure) and technology allow the ship to directly access even small ports. The ship's smaller size also guarantees an easy and faster passenger embarkation/debarkation process. Another unique feature for the "affordable luxury" ocean cruising market is that regardless of cabin categories, all Viking Ocean deals are price-inclusive of the shore excursions in all ports in the cruise ship itinerary.

For Viking OCEAN ships' interiors were contracted SMC Design (London-based interior design company) and Rottet Studios (LA-based hotel design company).

On June 25, the ship (yard/hull number 6245) was launched at Fincantieri 's yard in Ancona Italy . The ceremony was attended by the godmother of the launching Karine Hagen (daughter of Torstein Hagen / Viking Cruises' founder, Chairman and CEO) and Stefano Stecconi (Ancona shipyard's Director). On March 24, 2016, the vessel was delivered to Viking Ocean by Fincantieri. The Inaugural Cruise (maiden voyage) was an 8-day Mediterranean cruise (itinerary April 4-12) from Istanbul to Venice .

On May 5, 2016, was held the vessel's christening ceremony in Greenwich ( London England ). The ship's godmother is Mrs Karine Hagen - daughter of Torstein Hagen (the company's Chairman and Senior VP). For the traditional bottle-smashing in the ship's hull, instead of Champagne was used a bottle of Aquavit (flavored Scandinavian spirit) being Mr Hagen's favorite alcohol. The godmother was dressed in traditional Norwegian folk clothing and was joined by many family members and friends. The bottle's rope was cut using a Viking axe. The naming ceremony also featured an impressive fireworks display over the vessel (anchored on Thames River). Viking Sea is the largest cruise ship christened in London UK. The ship had to enter Thames Estuary passing Gravesend Kent, squeezing through Thames Barrier (Woolwich) and was moored at Greenwich at around noon. The ship was saluted by 48 sailors standing on the Cutty Sark's yardarms.

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Viking Sea Deck Plans & Reviews

Activities & entertainment

• Cooking Demonstrations
• Enrichment Lectures
• Fitness Center
• Hot Tubs (2)
• Hydrotherapy Pool
• Interactive Games
• LivNordic Spa *
• Nordic Ice Room
• Shipwide Books
• Sports Deck
• Atrium Performances
• Pap's Explorers' Lounge
• The Theatre
• The Viking Living Room
• The Chef's Table - Rotational
• Armagnac Tasting *
• Wintergarden - Afternoon Tea
• Aquavit Terrace - Casual
• Theatre Bar - Cocktail Bar *
• Viking Bar - Cocktail Bar *
• Pool Grill - Fast Food
• The Kitchen Table - Interactive
• The Restaurant - International
• Manfredi's Italian Restaurant - italian
• Mamsen's - Norwegian
• Pool Bar - Pool Bar *

Reviews We perform checks on reviews. Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines , the review is not published. When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site. Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines . Learn more about our review moderation.

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10 Reasons to Love the Viking Sea Cruise Ship

Viking Cruises launched the Viking Sea in 2016. It is the second ship in Viking's ocean-going fleet, following the wildly-popular Viking Star, which was launched a year earlier. The Viking Sea is almost identical to the Viking Star inside and out.

Many cruise travelers have enjoyed sailing on one of Viking's 60+ river ships , and the company has included many of its river fleet's features in the Viking Sea. 

The biggest innovation Viking has on its ocean ships is the almost all-inclusive pricing, with complimentary beer and wine included at lunch and dinner, free WiFi throughout the ship, a shore excursion included at every port, complimentary 24-hour room service, and no fees at any of the specialty restaurants. One of the biggest complaints cruise travelers have on mainstream ships is that they are " nickel-and-dimed " to death. No such worries on the Viking Sea. In 2017, Viking launched two other ocean-going ships, the Viking Sky and Viking Sun.

Here are 10 reasons that the Viking Sea was the hottest new ship of 2016. 

The Amazing Touches in All Cabins

Like the cabins on her sister ship the Viking Star, all of the cabins on the Viking Sea have a private veranda. Like the rest of the ship, the decor is contemporary and Scandinavian. The cabins have ample storage space, with a nice desk and make-up mirror. 

The exciting unique features of the Viking Sea cabins include a heated floor in the bathroom, a no-fog mirror in the bathroom, plenty of plugs for charging all those electrical devices (including one next to each side of the bed), and a Paulig coffee maker in all but the basic veranda cabins. If you've never had a bathroom with a heated floor, you've been missing out on a treat. And, those who need to have coffee within 30 seconds of awakening will understand that room service can't get there fast enough, so an in-room coffee maker is a nice touch.

A Great Italian Restaurant

The Viking Sea is definitely a Scandinavian ship. It has a restful, contemporary, simple decor and touches of its roots like a Norwegian heritage center and a Norwegian takeaway cafe dedicated to the owner's Norwegian mother. Like her sister ship, the Viking Sea has several excellent dining venues , but the best one is not Scandinavian, it's Italian. And, it might be the best Italian restaurant at sea. Mr. Torstein Hagen, the CEO and chairman of Viking Cruises, named the restaurant in honor of his Italian friend Manfredi Lefebvre d'Ovidio, who is the chairman of Silversea Cruises . 

Manfredi's Italian Restaurant looks like a classic Italian restaurant, and the menu features many Italian favorites like antipasti, pasta, and seafood dishes. However, the star of the menu is the Bistecca Fiorentina (Florentine Steak), one of the best steaks served at sea (or anywhere else). This mouth-watering, thick-cut ribeye is coated in garlic oil and rubbed with Porcini mushroom powder, kosher salt, brown sugar, and red chili flakes before grilling. 

The Outdoor Seating and Dining

All cruise ships have outdoor seating and dining. However, the Viking Sea seems to have more. This spacious, 930-guest ship never feels like it is crowded, and there always seems to be space outdoors (or indoors) to sit. Those who have searched for a quiet lounge chair or a table to eat lunch outdoors will definitely appreciate the Viking Sea.

The Indoor/Outdoor Swimming Pool

The Viking Sea has two swimming pools--an infinity pool aft overlooking the wake of the ship and the main swimming pool, which can be either indoors or outdoors since it has a retractable roof. This is surprising since the ship primarily caters to an older demographic of North American travelers. However, this demographic is active and many over 55 love to swim, so maybe the indoor/outdoor pool shouldn't be surprising.

Some might be surprised that the Viking Sea doesn't have a water park. Since guests have to be at least 16 years old, the company wisely decided it wasn't necessary.

The Curated Artwork

Many cruise travelers appreciate art, and the Viking Sea has (literally) paid a lot of attention to giving its guests interesting pieces to view when walking the stairs or hallways. Those who want to learn more about the fascinating art can download a tour of the onboard art narrated by the ship's Godmother Karine Hagen. 

The piece in this photo is in the atrium stairwell. Those who have seen the Bayeux Tapestry in France might remember that this ancient embroidery (it's not a true tapestry) dates back almost 1000 years and celebrates William the Conqueror's victory at the Battle of Hastings and his subsequent coronation as King of England. It's most likely not a coincidence that William was a Norman (Norseman). The tapestry at Bayeux is about 75 different scenes over 230 feet in length, and the Viking Sea has at least a dozen adorning the stairwells. Looking at the various scenes makes stair climbing more interesting!

A Lichen Garden Under the Stairs

Several river vessels and ocean ships have herb gardens onboard, but the Viking Sea has a lichen garden under the atrium stairwell. It's fascinating and adds some color to the below the stairs space. Like the Viking Star interiors , the design of the Viking Sea is uncluttered and homey. 

The Two-Deck Forward Explorers' Lounge

The interiors of the Viking Sea cruise ship are open and well-lit by the sun. One of the most spectacular places to see the views of the ocean are in the Explorers' Lounge. This forward observation lounge is spread over two decks and is one of the most attractive at sea.

On the lower level is Mamsen's, a Norwegian takeaway eatery; tables and chairs; a bar; a library and reading area; a grand piano and dance floor; and a faux fireplace that looks eerily real and adds a cozy touch to the lounge. 

On the upper level are more shelves filled with books on explorers, maps, a large video screen, and interesting travel collectibles. 

The Complimentary Thermal Suite

Many cruise travelers love to visit a spa when on vacation. The Viking Sea has a full-service LivNordic spa, with all the treatments an exhausted traveler might desire. The spa also has a marvelous unisex thermal suite, which is complementary to all guests. This is a rarity at sea and a real treat. The thermal suite has a thalassotherapy pool, hot tub, a therapy shower, and a bucket filled with ice water to pour over your head if needed.  The thermal suite has padded lounges as well as the ceramic heated ones so popular on other ships.

The Snow Grotto

Although part of the thermal suite, the snow grotto has quickly become popular with the guests.  It has a bench to sit on, and the snow is really ice shavings, but it will cool you off. Visitors to the snow room should take along a towel to sit on; otherwise, they might get frostbite on their buns.

The Private Oceanview Sauna in Owner's Suite

Both the men's and women's changing rooms in the LivNordic spa have a dry sauna and cold plunge pool. However, those who love saunas and have larger budgets might want to book the Owner's Suite, which has its own private, oceanview sauna. Occupants of the suite can detox and enjoy an ocean view at the same time. 

The Itineraries

The Viking Sea sails a variety of European itineraries in the spring and summer months, traveling to the Baltic, Arctic, and Mediterranean Seas, northern Europe, and the British Isles. In the fall and winter, the ship visits North America and the Caribbean . 

The Viking Sea is a fantastic cruise option for adult travelers who are into lifelong learning and appreciate excellent service, fascinating ports of call, and delicious food. With Viking Cruises' almost all-inclusive pricing, the basic fares might seem high, but when guests consider what is included, the cruise ship provides great value for the fare.

Three groups of travelers might not enjoy or get their dollar's worth on the Viking Sea:

• Those who never want to take an organized tour will be paying for one tour per port as part of the basic cruise fare.
• Those who love gambling won't find a casino onboard.
• Those who want to bring their children or grandchildren (under 16) along on vacation won't be able to sail with them on the Viking Sea (or other Viking Ocean ships). 

Other than those groups, this ship might be a perfect choice for almost every other traveler.

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Embark on an Epic Voyage Aboard Viking's Sea Cruise Ship

Sail away in luxury on Viking Sea, the second ocean-going ship from longtime river cruise stalwart Viking. This stunning vessel offers modern, Scandinavian style, cozy comfort and the ability to get into ports bigger ships can't reach. Relax in the personal and elegant decor of shades of blue, gray and white, plus light wood and materials such as leather and wool. Enjoy art onboard by Edvard Munch and Jakob Weidemann, and learn about port history and culture with onboard lectures. Take advantage of included and upgraded excursions, and savor fantastic dining experiences. Little touches like USB ports and outlets, blankets, heat lamps and bookmarks add to the delightful experience on Viking Sea.

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8 NIGHT PACIFIC COASTAL Cruise

Departing From: Los Angeles

Duration: 8 nights

Ship: Viking Sea (Ship Info)

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Your Viking Ocean Cruise Package Includes:

• Comfortable accommodations
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• On-board meals and some beverages
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It does not include travel protection, shore excursions, personal expenses, specialty dining, wifi, gratuities, or alcoholic beverages.

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Viking Sea - Current Position

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$925 / day #242 of 290 ships

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Ship Specifications

City La Valletta

City Piraeus (Athens)

City Venice

City Barcelona

City San Juan

City Manaus

Viking sea itineraries, 9 night empires of the mediterranean, 12 night mediterranean odyssey, 14 night ancient adriatic treasures, 7 night venice, the adriatic & greece, 7 night ancient mediterranean treasures, 14 night ancient mediterranean antiquities, 21 night iconic mediterranean treasures, 7 night journey to antiquities, 14 night mediterranean antiquities, 7 night iconic western mediterranean, 14 night west indies to iberia, 10 night west indies explorer, 12 night amazon & caribbean adventure, viking ocean fleet.

Viking Vesta

Viking Vela

Viking Saturn

Viking Neptune

Viking Mars

Viking Star

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10 Night West Indies Explorer

Focusing their sailings on the culture of each cruises destination. Onboard each sailing you have lectures, demonstrations and tastings as part of a Culture Curriculum.

Experience rich island cultures and dazzling blend of turquoise waters, emerald isles, European legacies, magnificent natural beauty and breathtaking manmade wonders on your Viking Oceans cruise to the Caribbean.

San Juan is a gateway to the Caribbean with activities for everyone. Enjoy an old-world feel as you wander around Old San Juan, relax on the many beaches or explore the rainforests.

• Viking Sea - Passenger Capacity: 930 (double occupancy) Year Built: 2016 Last Refurbished: N/A

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San Juan, Puerto Rico

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San Juan, Puerto Rico , Road Town, Tortola, B.V.I. , Port of Basseterre, St. Kitts, St. Kitts and Nevis , Castries, St. Lucia , Bridgetown, Barbados , Roseau, Dominica , St. John's, Antigua , St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands

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10 Night West Indies Explorer sailing on the Viking Sea

Departure dates: oct 2024 - mar 2026.

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*** All itineraries are subject to change without notice. Please confirm your itinerary on the Review page before purchasing your cruise.

†  Cruise ship fuel surcharge may apply. The cruise ship fuel surcharge is additional revenue to Viking Cruises, as are any additional charges relating to currency fluctuation other than for fully paid cruise fares and full fares.

Rates and offers are subject to select dates and categories, cruise only, per person, based on double occupancy, in US Dollars, and include NCCF. Government taxes and fees are additional. All rates and offers are capacity controlled, are subject to availability and confirmation, and may change without notice. Adjustments for currency and/or fuel fluctuations may apply. Air seats are limited; therefore, air fares are subject to change and not guaranteed until full payment is received. Optional shore excursions/tours/concerts, excess baggage charges, drinks, beverages and meals not included in the package are additional costs to the passenger. Additional restrictions may apply. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed -- please confirm details at time of booking. Stateroom photos are for sample purposes only -- actual design and layout may vary.

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The 5 best destinations you can visit on a Viking cruise ship

Fast-growing Viking has one of the most diverse arrays of itineraries of any cruise line.

Not only does the California-based company offer ocean cruises in almost every corner of the world, it also offers river cruises on many of the world's major rivers.

That's notably different from most cruise lines. Typically, cruise lines operate either ocean cruises or river cruises but not both. That gives them a smaller range of itineraries.

For more cruise guides, tips and news, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

Viking has a particularly large footprint when it comes to European river itineraries, with a wide range of sailings on nearly every European river of any note, from the Douro in Portugal to (until recently) the Volga in Russia.

The company also operates river trips on the Nile in Egypt and the Mekong in Southeast Asia, and it just began river trips on the Mississippi River .

There are 80 river ships in Viking's fleet — an astounding number. None of its main competitors among river lines catering to North Americans, which include Avalon Waterways, Uniworld and AmaWaterways , have anywhere near that number of vessels.

Related: First look at Viking's stylish new Nile River ship

Among ocean cruise destinations, Viking has a major presence in Scandinavia and Northern Europe, which it considers its home turf. (The company was founded by a Norwegian family.) However, you'll find Viking's nine traditional ocean ships everywhere from North America to Asia and Australia.

Last year, the line began cruising to Antarctica with its first expedition ship — a type of vessel built specifically for travel to remote, hard-to-reach places. Viking now has two such vessels.

Among the line's voyages, there's everything from eight-day cruises in the Mediterranean to 138-day around-the-world voyages.

Overwhelmed with choices? Here are the five best Viking cruise destinations where the line can truly offer you a memorable vacation.

Scandinavia and Northern Europe

Some of Viking's most interesting itineraries are around Scandinavia and the Baltic Sea, with many beginning or ending in Norway — the homeland of the company's founder and chairman, Torstein Hagen.

As Hagen once told me, Scandinavia and the Baltic Sea are what the company considers "Viking country" — a region where it wants to dominate.

During summers, in particular, Viking devotes an unusually large number of its ships to itineraries around Scandinavia, the Baltic Sea and other Northern Europe destinations such as Iceland. Many, notably, use the relatively small but famously scenic Norwegian city of Bergen (population 286,000) as a gateway, something no other line is doing. That allows for unusual variations on the typical Baltic Sea or Norwegian fjords cruise.

The line's most popular route in the region, "Viking Homelands," is a two-week-long, one-way trip between Bergen and Stockholm that combines several days of exploring the fjord region of Norway's west coast with more-typical Baltic cruise destinations such as St. Petersburg, Russia, and Helsinki.

Related: The ultimate guide to Viking ships and itineraries

Note that, in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Viking has pulled the St. Petersburg stop, as well as stops in Finland and Estonia from the Viking Homelands itinerary; the trips instead feature extra stops in Norway and Denmark. It's unlikely St. Petersburg will return to the itinerary until the war in Ukraine is resolved.

Viking also offers a 14-night itinerary that includes several stops in the northernmost part of the country above the Arctic Circle. Dubbed "Into the Midnight Sun," the one-way route between Bergen and London is unique because it combines calls in far-north Honningsvag and Tromso, Norway, with visits to Scotland's remote Shetland Islands and the Orkney Islands. Though part of the United Kingdom, these archipelagos have ties to Norwegian and Viking history.

Itineraries that will take you from Bergen to Iceland or even as far away as France, Portugal and Spain also are available.

Viking's Scandinavia and Northern Europe trips range widely in length from just seven nights to a whopping 28 nights.

Among the longest sailings that Viking offers that include calls in Northern Europe are one-way, 28-night voyages between Bergen and New York City. The trips include stops in Norway, Iceland, Greenland and Canada.

In Northern Europe, Viking ships mostly sail out of Bergen, Amsterdam, Stockholm, Copenhagen and London as well as Reykjavik.

The Mediterranean

Viking has grown into a major player in Mediterranean sailings, with more than 30 distinct itineraries that include stops in the region.

The trips include voyages focused specifically on the Western Mediterranean or Eastern Mediterranean and some that include stops across both areas.

Typical of the latter is the line's 14-night "Mediterranean Antiquities" routing, a one-way trip between Athens and Barcelona that stops in Greece, Turkey, Italy, Monaco, France and Spain.

More-focused Mediterranean itineraries include the line's nine-night "Empires of the Mediterranean" voyages between Venice and Athens, which mostly concentrate on stops along the eastern side of the Adriatic Sea in Slovenia, Croatia and Montenegro.

In the Mediterranean, the line's main hubs are Barcelona; Civitavecchia (the port for Rome) and Venice, Italy; Piraeus (the port for Athens), Greece; and Istanbul.

Related: The complete guide to Viking cabins and suites

Europe riverways

Viking is, quite simply, the giant of river cruising in Europe — at least among lines that cater to English speakers. The company operates around 70 river ships on a broad swath of the continent's rivers — far more than any other river line catering to North Americans.

In all, the line accounts for about half of all river cruises taken by North Americans in the region. The next biggest player in Europe river cruises for North Americans, AmaWaterways, is less than half the size.

Among the rivers in Europe where Viking has a major presence are the Rhine, Main and Danube in Central Europe; the Seine, Rhone, Dordogne, Garonne and Gironde in France; the Douro in Portugal; and the Moselle and Elbe in Germany. Until recently, Viking also offered cruises on the Dnieper River in Ukraine. The voyages have been suspended since Russia invaded the country in early 2022.

On nearly all of the rivers, the line offers multiple itineraries with lengths ranging from seven nights to as many as 22 nights.

Among 10 different itineraries on the Rhine River alone, offerings range from a seven-night "Rhine Getaway" from Amsterdam to Basel, Switzerland, to a 22-night "European Sojourn" from Amsterdam to Bucharest, Romania. The latter adds travel on the Main and Danube rivers to days on the Rhine.

Viking offers some of the most intimate and elegant cruises on the Nile, with three ships including the recently unveiled, 82-passenger Viking Osiris — one of our favorite vessels on the river.

All three of Viking's Nile ships operate the same seven-night Nile cruise itinerary that Viking pairs with a four-night stay at a hotel in Cairo (three nights before the cruise and one night after) to create an 11-night "Pharaohs and Pyramids" tour of Egypt.

Related: The ultimate guide to Viking's loyalty program

The cruise portion of the tour includes visits to the historic temples of Luxor, Karnak, Esna, Dendera and Abu Simbel as well as a visit to the iconic Valley of the Kings. The stay in Cairo brings a visit to the pyramids of Giza, the Egyptian Museum and other sites.

Viking Osiris is the first of four sister ships that Viking plans to launch on the Nile by 2025 as it doubles its footprint in Egypt. The vessels offer a clean-lined, Scandinavian-influenced design that mimics the look of Viking's Europe-based vessels.

Notably, the ship features an entire deck of sprawling suites that rival anything else found on the Nile for luxury and comfort. Each comes with two full-size rooms — a large living room with a residential feel and an adjacent bedroom with a walk-in closet and bathroom. Each suite also has an outdoor balcony with seating for two — something you don't always see on Nile ships.

Viking is a newcomer to cruises to Antarctica, but the destination is a big growth area for the line. Viking recently added two new, 378-passenger expedition cruise vessels specifically built to travel to the White Continent.

Dubbed Viking Octantis, the first of these vessels began sailings to Antarctica in February 2022. The second ship in the series, Viking Polaris, has just joined its sister in Antarctica this year. Together, the two ships are already making waves in the market for Antarctica cruises, in part because they have several new and unusual features.

Most notable is The Hangar, an enclosed marina that allows passengers to transfer to two of each ship's exploratory vessels while still in the protected interior of the ship. A first for an expedition ship, it's something that is significantly improving the experience for passengers heading out on Antarctica exploration.

Related: The 3 types of Viking ships, explained

In another first for polar expedition cruise vessels, every cabin on both Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris has floor-to-ceiling glass walls that slide partially open from the top to create a balcony-like feel.

Viking offers several Antarctic itineraries, with the typical trip starting with a night at a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, before a flight to Ushuaia, Argentina, to board one of the two expedition ships for an 11-night cruise to Antarctica and back. A longer version of the trip features 13 nights on board one of the ships and extra days in Antarctica.

Viking also offers Antarctica sailings that combine a visit to the White Continent with stops in the Falkland Islands, Uruguay and Brazil.

Viking Octantis, notably, also operated Viking's first sailings around the Great Lakes this year. In 2023, both Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris will spend their summers in the Great Lakes.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

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• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
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Eco-Travel in Retirement – Nature and Sustainable Luxury Travel

Elegance at Sea: An Authentic Viking Ocean Cruises Review

Embarking on a Viking Oceans cruise promises a luxurious and immersive journey. I am just back from my first Viking voyage, a 12-night cruise on Viking Sea,. In this review, I will share various aspects of the Viking experience, specifically a Viking Sea cruise ship review, to provide insights into what you can expect on this ship. I hope sharing this Viking Ocean cruises review will help you decide on your next adventure.

As a seasoned traveler and occasional cruiser, I believe I am well-equipped to provide insights into the Viking Oceans Cruise experience. My first two European travels (1963 & 1968) involved transatlantic voyages as my Dad was afraid of flying. Cruise ships have come a very long way since those days. (The ”spa” in our first ship, the MS Saturnia, featured vibrating belt machines and a lukewarm tub in a windowless room. But we had Italian language lessons onboard and daily Mass where I, a young GIRL was allowed to serve as altar boy!) Jump ahead 60 years and I have sailed on Windstar’s small ships 6 times, and have also explored other renowned cruise lines such as Princess and Norwegian, offering a comparative lens for evaluating Viking’s unique offerings.

With an extensive travel background that spans 68 countries, and includes bespoke safaris, ,journeys with prestigious tour operators like Tauck and Abercrombie & Kent, and many independent adventures, I bring a diverse and discerning perspective to this Viking Sea ship review. Note: We paid all expenses for this trip. Viking did not discount nor incentivize our travel.

Table of Contents

Booking our first Viking Cruise

Viking offer three categories of journeys – river cruises, ocean cruises, and expedition cruises. We chose the Viking Oceans Cruise – Amazon & Caribbean Adventure – primarily for the itinerary. (Viking offers many unique destination-focused itineraries.) Visiting the Amazon has always been a dream of mine. And we were intrigued to try Viking ships having heard much about Viking River Cruises cultural and educational focus from friends. The Viking Ocean Cruises ships carry 930 passengers which seems like a lot to us but still considered a small ship by most cruisers.

Booking our cruise was a seamless process, with an intuitive online reservation system. However, for this trip, we chose to call Viking directly so as to secure flights that would work for us. We planned on arriving in San Juan a few days before the cruise to enjoy some sunshine and to forestall travel complications winter in New England can bring. The customer service representatives we spoke to during booking were very helpful and within minutes our trip was confirmed.

The next step in trip planning came when it was time to choose excursions. Viking has a unique (to us) reservation system for excursions and dining options. Each stateroom level has a date when reservation booking opens. For example, on our voyage the Penthouse Veranda occupants could make reservations 77 days before the cruise, the Deluxe Veranda 67 days, and the lowest category, Veranda, 60 days before the cruise. This was a stressful and unpleasant experience for us. By the time our category (deluxe veranda) was allowed to book, many tours were sold out. We managed to get much of what we wanted but honestly this added frustration and a sense of classism to the process. Note : Viking guarantees one or two included tours for everyone in each port. These are mostly bus rides or short walks.

Other than the above issue (and a few outside Viking’s control) things went well with Viking’s pre-cruise experience. We used Viking Air (got an offer for free airfare!) and got a direct flight, Boston to San Juan. Once we received our Delta confirmation code, we were able to upgrade our seats. (Some guests were able to upgrade from the My Viking page earlier but for some reason this was not available for our flight.)

A+ Where Viking Shines

The ship: a viking sea cruise ship review.

The focal point of any cruise is the ship. In the case of the Viking cruises which seem to leave ports earlier than most cruise lines we’ve used, the design is paramount. And fortunately, it shines! Viking Ocean ships are designed with elegance and functionality in mind.

The Viking Sea is the loveliest ship we’ve traveled on. The ship’s decor is sleek Scandinavian with bits of whimsy. Spend some time in the Wintergarden and you’ll find birds and iconic landmarks integrated into the ironwork. Birds can also be ‘heard’ in some of the public restrooms. 🙂

Throughout the ship there are unique spaces where you can get away for a quiet read. Thus even with 930 guests onboard the ship never seems crowded. Even the main dining room, the Restaurant, is designed with partial wall breaks to simulate small dining areas.

Other unique public spaces include the ‘Living Room,’ a three-story elegant atrium where you’ll find games, puzzles, and cozy corners to sit while enjoying performances by Viking’s musicians. The Explorers’ Lounge and Torshavn are the focus for evening cocktails, music, and conversation. There are outside terraces for watching the world go by and a sports deck for shuffleboard enthusiasts. Last but a far cry from least is a Viking Ocean Cruise highlight – the extraordinary spa with traditional Nordic elements like sauna, vitality pool, cold plunge tubs, and a Snow Grotto.

Our Stateroom

We’re in a mid-level cabin, Deluxe Veranda, which is narrow, but has a lot of storage and a roomy bathroom with a great shower. (Not always the case on cruise ships!) I haven’t seen the other category staterooms but know the next step up – Penthouse Veranda- offers a few more feet in width and a fridge stocked with wine, beer, etc. Our fridge has soft drinks replenished daily.

When all our things were put away, we had plenty of room in this cabin and veranda to enjoy some quiet time. (270 square feet in total)

Entertainment spaces with exceptional performances

[I neglected to get photos of the Star Theater, Torshavn and the Explorers’ Lounge, so I’ll try to describe each before I direct you to the Viking Serene Scandinavian Spaces webpage.]

• The Star Theater is the primary theater location for live music and is the spot where guests gather for tendering. It is similar in style to other ships’ theaters with alternating rows of bucket chairs and cushioned bench seating. Interestingly, the back of the theater has two spaces which can be closed to create two movie theaters.
• Torshavn is located just steps away from the Star Theater so attracts a lot of people after the evening’s performances. It has a nightclub vibe and is a great spot for late night dancing.
• The Explorers’ Lounge is on the 7th and 8th floor. It’s a thoughtfully designed space with panoramic windows affording lovely views. The Explorers’ Lounge is where you’ll find Mamsen’s, a homestyle eating spot with late night treats.

The onboard entertainment on our cruise was outstanding! We thoroughly enjoyed the Star Theater productions and planned our evenings around them. (We often skip the shows on other cruise lines.)

The entertainment is curated to appeal to a broad audience. The ship’s atrium, the Living Room, has either a classical pianist or a string duo playing almost all day. Lovely background music for your reading. Torshavn, the cozy club, and Explorers Lounge have shows each evening with more contemporary music.

But the best entertainment on this Viking itinerary was the evening show with the resident vocalists. They were immensely talented and the show’s choreography, stagecraft, and audio-visual elements made this a phenomenal experience.

Interestingly, it’s not just the ship’s vocalists that performed but also the cruise director! Big shout out to our cruise director, Ryan Bishop, who kept us informed and entertained all 12 days onboard. What a talent!

Including destination-focused enrichment is one of Viking‘s key attractions. On our Amazon and Caribbean Adventure itinerary we had a resident biologist, a resident historian, and a former CIA agent giving talks daily.

I loved the nature lectures. Dr. Philip Price included a lot of depth to his talks (bringing back much of my long-forgotten biology knowledge) but he seasoned his talk with humor so everyone could enjoy.

Having these short (45 minute) lectures definitely adds to the cruise experience. And best of all, if you’re unable to attend them in person, they are streamed all week on your cabin TV! We always watched one in the evening as we got ready for bed.

(The daily port talks are also available on your cabin TV. This was the first cruise when we actually used the cabin TV.)

The Spa (and fitness center)

What can I say! We loved the spa! It’s a subdued quiet space to relax and rejuvenate after a day touring.

There is an open area with a large ‘vitality pool’ (hot tub with waves and bubbles on demand), a traditional hot tub, heated spa beds and loungers. From this central area you have access to the Snow Grotto and steam room. In each dressing area there is a sauna and cold plunge pool. I valiantly tried everything the spa had to offer but didn’t stay long in the cold plunge pool 🙂

Somehow, I hadn’t time for a massage but exercised in the well-equipped gym before luxuriating in the spa. There are three sections to the fitness center all with large windows to enjoy the view. The aerobic fitness area had many treadmills, several cycles, and a few elliptical machines. The next two rooms focused on weight training and stretching.

B+ A cut above most cruise ships

Service and staff.

The service provided by the crew can make or break your shipboard experience. For the most part, the Viking staff, known for their friendliness and professionalism, elevated our overall experience. We did not rate the service as excellent because it seemed the staff may have had more guests than they could handle. In the Restaurant we had several mix-ups with our orders and sometimes had long waits to be seated or served. But when the waitstaff came they were always friendly and courteous.

We had some frustrations with guest services not following up on requests for post-cruise plans. Our charter flight was scheduled to leave at 6 pm from Manaus so we hoped to use that day to see more of the city and surroundings on a private tour. But three days before we arrived in Manaus, guest services still had no idea what time we’d be disembarking, what hotel we would be brought to, and when we needed to get to the airport. Needless to say, we couldn’t book our tour and spent 6 hours in a hotel conference room before our flight.

But while onboard Guest Services came through with a level of hospitality we hadn’t found on other cruise lines. A big thank you to guest services for hosting an impromptu gathering of participants from Cruise Critic. We enjoyed drinks and appetizers in the 8th floor Explorers’ Lounge as we met offline for the first time.

In general, the crew’s cheerful dedication made us feel valued and well taken care of throughout the trip.

Ambiance/Social Aspects

The ambiance of the ship plays a crucial role in shaping the overall experience. Viking Ocean Cruise ships boast elegant designs with lots of areas to socialize or enjoy some solitude. It’s a sophisticated and comfortable atmosphere.

Of course, there’s little you can do to predict how you’ll enjoy your fellow travelers but on this cruise we met many wonderful people. All were well-traveled, so it was fun to chat and compare notes. The demographics on our tour:

• overwhelmingly American
• almost all over 60 years of age and retired
• very little diversity
• quite a few people with some sort of health or mobility issues. Happily, it seemed Viking is prepared to help everyone participate in events and excursions. The crew were sensitive to the needs of people with mobility issues, quickly seating them on tenders, etc.

Viking Sea cruise ship review: the dining experience

One of the challenges of traveling anywhere is managing expectations. We have had great food on Windstar and read rave reviews of Viking’s food before the trip, so perhaps we came onboard with unrealistic expectations for a ship serving 930 passengers and 465 crew members.

Viking offers a variety of dining venues offer diverse menus, providing guests with many choices for their cruise experience. We greatly appreciated that Viking offered selections in all venues that mirrored the destinations visited. We also appreciated that there are no formal nights on Viking (though there is a dress code for the better restaurants.)

There are many options available, including options for gluten free and vegetarian diets. The food was mostly good but rarely exceptional. Service in the main dining room could be spotty. All the waitstaff was friendly but appeared to be a bit overwhelmed at times. Perhaps the area was understaffed on this trip.

As we’re dedicated to our readers, we tried each of Viking Sea’s dining options. 😉 Here we are ready to try Manfredi’s, the Italian restaurant – yum!

The Restaurant

This is the primary restaurant on the ship. It’s an elegant space with multiple divisions which belied how many guests were being served. The Restaurant offered a fairly extensive menu with some dishes offered every night, some specific to the destination, some vegetarian, and many daily specials. We had some excellent meals here but also several mediocre meals. Our favorite entrees : Beef tenderloin with horseradish mashed potato was my favorite, Dave’s was the Norwegian salmon which is offered daily.

The World Cafe is a cafeteria style option and is open for all meals. The quality of the food and selections offered were quite good. We enjoyed our meals here and understood why some cruisers only eat at the World Cafe. There is a small, shaded spot outside the World Cafe where you can bring your trays to enjoy some fresh air.

Be sure to frequent the World Cafe on Surf n’ Turf night! Lobster tails, shrimp cocktails, etc.! Yum! Dave gives a shout out to the gelato which he sampled daily for this complete review.

Note: the World Cafe is the only restaurant without a dress code. For more about this and other packing suggestions read Amazon and Caribbean Adventure: Your Ultimate Viking Cruise Packing List .

There are two (occasionally three) specialty restaurants on the Viking Oceans Cruises ships. On our trip the third option – the Kitchen Table – was not open. Reservations are required for these restaurants but if you’re not able to secure a reservation before the trip, check with the dining desk managers as there are usually spots available.

Manfredi’s is the Italian themed dining option. It’s a pleasant space with mediterranean design. The food was good and the service in this restaurant was excellent.

Chef’s Table

The Chef’s Table was an alternative restaurant where wine is paired with each course. The theme of the tasting menu rotates every three days, so be sure to check what options are available on the night of your choosing.

We attended Mexican night and enjoyed the wine but were underwhelmed with the food. Our amuse bouche was one tortilla chip topped with an octopus-based salsa. The appetizer was one tamale in a clear soup. The main course was very tasty, but again only a small serving – short ribs with mole sauce and a tablespoon of sweet potato mash artfully displayed. Dessert was a selection of chocolate treats. Note : other cruisers raved about the Asian menu, so give it a try!

Wintergarden

This was my favorite dining option on the ship!

A traditional tea is served in this spectacular space every afternoon with classical music accompaniment. I love afternoon tea so made sure to get there twice on our trip. Scones with clotted cream, finger sandwiches, and sweet delicacies are served with your choice of dozens of teas. Relax, enjoy the music, and indulge.

There is no dress code for the Wintergarden, but many appeared to enjoying dressing as they might for afternoon tea at home.

Mamsen’s

This is a Norwegian homestyle spot (literally) tucked into the Explorers’ Lounge. The recipes and even the plate design come from the kitchen of the Hagen family’s Mamsen (mother). This is where you’ll find traditional Norwegian open-faced sandwiches and specialty desserts.

Definitely try the waffles here one morning! It’s a quiet change from the other dining venues and has a lovely view.

The Pool Grill, as you’d expect, serves burgers, hot dogs, and occasionally a tuna steak all made to order. Very good for a quick meal on deck.

Room Service

We ordered from room service a few times, once for breakfast on our first sea day, and twice when our excursion got us back to the ship after the dining areas were closed. After a steamy excursion it was nice to put our feet up and enjoy a platter of cheese or a Caprese panini.

More Viking Sea options

Honestly, I can’t speak to this very well. There are lots of options listed on the Daily – mahjong, crafters corner, wine and spirits tasting, shuffleboard competitions, just to name a few – but we didn’t partake of anything except team trivia in the Explorers’ Lounge.

There are tables in the Atrium set up for Scrabble and other games. These were always busy and it looked like people were having fun.

Ship’s pools

This is another category that is hard to rank. The main pool is in a gorgeous spot and has a partially retractable roof. I imagine this would be lovely if cruising in a cooler climate, but in the Caribbean and Amazon the roof opening was not sufficient to keep the space cool. We tried this for a few hours and gave up.

On the Aquavit Terrace at the rear of the ship there is an infinity pool and hot tub. This pool was perfect for a hot day in the tropics. Lovely refreshing water with enough space for several bathers. The only drawback here is that deck space is limited, and all loungers are in the sun.

Tips of first-time Viking cruisers

Cabin choice.

If you’re debating which cabin category to select, upgrade. As mentioned in the booking section above, there is a tier system for booking excursions and making dining reservations. If neither of these matter to you, choose whatever cabin you wish. But if you’re hoping to get on a specific tour, book a Penthouse Veranda or above. ( This was a real eye-opener for me. I felt a bit like a second-class citizen when I realized my mid-range cabin didn’t allow me to get some of the tours we’d looked forward to. Not a good feeling when you’ve booked a luxury brand cruise. )

There are 1-2 included excursions in every port of call. In addition, there are many optional tours with prices starting >$60 and up. We opted for two included shore excursions and many of the paid excursions. Most were very good to excellent. I’ve detailed our excursion experiences on Navigating the Amazon and Caribbean with Viking.

Note: Viking seems to leave ports earlier than other lines we have used. Our all-aboard times ranged from 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm. This made it more challenging to book tours with local companies (as we’ve enjoyed in other locations ), so we stuck with Viking’s offerings.

There are options to send out your laundry with a quick turnaround, but Viking is unique in providing free laundry facilities and detergent on each floor. This makes it easy to pack light for the cruise . The laundry room does gets crowded so plan on doing your wash in the off hours – during morning excursions, late at night or during dinner hours.

There are three onboard shops, one a jewelry store, one a small necessities shop, and one specializing in Nordic gear and souvenirs. Interestingly, though you have your choice of Nordic sweaters (on an Amazon cruise…hmm) there is no place to purchase a simple tee shirt. We had counted on this while packing so were disappointed. And before you say that the clientele was too upscale for tee shirts, believe me, most guests are wearing casual clothes including tees during the daytime hours and on excursions.

Silver spirit package

All Vikings Sea’s restaurants include wine, beer, and soft drinks with lunch and dinner. We’d heard that the included wine was of poor quality, but we enjoyed every wine we were served. (Mind you, we are not oenophiles.)

Purchasing the Silver Spirits beverage package for $25 per person per night affords the guest upgraded wines, beers, and unlimited cocktails and spirits. As this was our first Viking cruise, we decided to test the value of the package. We enjoyed the included wine and beer, but also ordered cocktails or an evening aperitif as we desired. In the end our bill was $174.50, far less than the $600 the Silver Spirits package would have cost. We’re moderate drinkers on vacation but I think the liberal pours over dinner kept our costs low.

An oddity of the included beverages policy is that at events where sparkling wine is poured continuously, I had to pay $4 for a ginger ale. Hmm…

Viking Air Services

We used Viking Air for our travel. Just a bit of reading online will show you that Viking Air gets mixed reviews with some people being booked on circuitous routes to their destinations. Fortunately, we did not have any of these issues. We were booked on a direct flight from Boston to San Juan, Puerto Rico to begin our vacation. On the return Viking booked charter flights to transport passengers to Miami from Manaus. We gladly agreed to this. As this homeward travel day was long and involved Viking put all passengers up in a Marriott hotel in Miami, served dinner and breakfast, and arranged luggage transport for each leg of the journey. From Miami we had a direct flight home.

Unfortunately, plane issues on both the charter and direct flight home from Miami caused delays. When ultimately our Miami to Boston flight was cancelled, we scrambled to find a flight home rather than spend another night in Miami. Viking Air likely could have booked something for us, but as time was of the essence so we did it ourselves. When Viking learned of our difficult day, they issued us a future cruise credit. Unnecessary as it was not Viking’s fault, but we were impressed and appreciative.

Sustainability Practices

I have seasonal affective disorder (SAD) so we travel to get a few weeks in the sunshine each winter. We try to choose sustainable options as we did in Costa Rica , but sometimes we cruise. This year was challenging with losses of family and friends, so the convenience of a cruise was the best option. We chose Viking as it states a commitment to sustainability.

[Researching a bit, Viking receives mixed ratings for sustainability. Friends of the Earth gives Viking a poor grade despite acknowledging Viking has moved to advanced sewage treatment systems and exhaust scrubbers. The Cruise Line is kinder to Viking, giving the line credit for reducing fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by 40%.]

As I don’t have the ability to precisely measure the environmental impact of the cruise line, I base my comments on what I encountered on the ship.

• Exhaust scrubbers to reduce air pollution
• Viking has discontinued some tours they deemed unethical, e.g. the pink dolphin experience.
• Paper straws are used in all venues when straws are requested
• Serving sizes in the restaurants were not excessive, so less waste here. (However, the buffets in the World Cafe undoubtedly generate a lot of food waste.)
• Time in ports was much too short to support local economies. On other cruises we try to frequent cafes, shops, and local guides, but with an early “all aboard”, on this itinerary we had to stick with ship tours.
• Towels were changed daily despite us hanging them up for reuse.

Value for Money

Viking Ocean Cruises aims to provide value for money. The cost of the cruise, considering the inclusions and amenities, is competitive in the cruise industry. With the cruise cost including full use of the spa, the entertainment, and wine, beer and soft drinks at lunch and dinner, we felt that we got excellent value for our money.

We opted to use Viking’s air program and were pleased when offered a charter flight from Manaus to Miami and a hotel night in Miami before transiting home. And doubly pleased when we learned they organized a late (11 pm- 2 am!) dinner for us in Miami. Very professional of them to make these arrangements at their own expense after our cruise days had ended.

Viking Ocean Cruises Review: Conclusion

In conclusion, our cruise experience was a great blend of luxury, fun, and cultural exploration. From the ease of booking to the service on board, Viking Ocean Cruises offer a refined maritime adventure. The Viking Sea is beautifully appointed and without question a great ship. Whether seeking relaxation or immersive activities, travelers are likely to find their expectations exceeded on a Viking Oceans Cruise. I hope you have a wonderful trip!

For more information and recommendations for your Viking Ocean Cruises experience read:

• Navigating the Amazon and Caribbean with Viking: An Honest Review – a specific Viking cruise review
• Amazon and Caribbean Adventure: Your Ultimate Viking Cruise Packing List – packing tips for this unusual journey!

Pin for Later!

Amy, a writer on responsible bucket list travel, is your reliable source for insightful travel advice. With a career background in libraries, and a degree in biology and mathematics, Amy's approach to travel is rooted in meticulous research and planning, and her commitment to eco-conscious adventures.

Amy’s dedication to sustainable travel practices, including efficient packing techniques, ensures that every adventure leaves a positive impact on both the environment and the traveler's well-being. Trust Amy to guide you towards meaningful and eco-friendly travel, making the most of your retirement years.

A lifelong New England resident, Amy is also the source for insider tips on travel in the Northeastern U.S.

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4 thoughts on “ Elegance at Sea: An Authentic Viking Ocean Cruises Review ”

• Pingback: Amazon and Caribbean Adventure: Your Ultimate Viking Cruise Packing List - Traveling Tulls

I’ve been wondering about Viking cruises. I love that it is a kid-free environment but I didn’t realize the bulk of the people are 60+. That’s good to know. I’m saving this as a refresher when I’m ready to give them a try. Thanks!

I’ve never fancied a cruise but the ship looks lovely!

As someone who has never been on a holiday cruise, I found this very interesting. Thank you.

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Find the best cruise for you

Featured cruise deals, cruising guide, why take a cruise vacation.

If you have a place on your bucket list, chances are, a cruise will get you there – provided the destination is along a coastline or inland waterway. Cruises cover the world, taking millions of passengers each year to regions such as the Caribbean, the Bahamas, Alaska, Europe, the Mediterranean and even Antarctica. Cruising offers a tremendous value, with trips that include your lodging, meals and entertainment – all rolled into one. Some luxury cruise lines even offer fully inclusive vacations, which cover drinks and tours ashore. And best of all, cruising means seeing the world conveniently after unpacking only once.

Cruises also provide a wonderful option for families, with many ships offering things like waterslides, mini-golf courses and fun clubs for kids, tweens and teens. While most are free, nursery programs can cost extra. Planning is easy: Pick your destination and the right ship (and line) for your travel style. The cruise line makes it simple, offering packages to help you save on extras like alcohol, shore tours or even airfare.

Travelers say they choose to cruise because cruising often costs less per night when compared with land vacations at a hotel, where they'll have to book -- and pay for -- every extra.

What are Tips for Finding Cheap Cruises?

If you're a flexible traveler, you'll have a better chance of finding cheap cruises. Take a cruise that doesn't sail over the summer or holidays, when prices are highest. Book an inside cabin, or take your chances with a "guarantee cabin," ideal for passengers who aren't picky about their stateroom location but really want the lowest price available. Book cabins on lower decks, which often come with lower prices than those rooms on higher floors – that is staterooms over suites.

Cruise brands such as Carnival Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean International offer rates that might drop as low as $75 per person per night -- and sometimes even lower.

If you want a real bargain, consider a transatlantic or repositioning cruise. These cruises are one-way or open-jaw trips, that start in one port and finish at another. You can score a deal sailing from Florida to Europe, for example, or even from New York to Florida. Just be aware, you'll probably have to pay a bit more for airfare to return.

What are Tips to Finding Last-Minute Cruise Deals?

While being flexible date wise will always get you the best last-minute cruise deals, it's particularly helpful if you live near a cruise port and can quickly drive there. That way you'll probably be able to jump on those deals that might pop up just a week or two before the ship is scheduled to sail.

Or if you don't have flexibility with either departure dates or embarkation locations, be willing to compromise on exact destinations. This will allow you to find a wider range of last-minute deals traveling to locations in their off-season or so-called shoulder season.

Do plenty of research and know what your ideal cruise is and costs on average, so both are already on your radar. When you see it drop, pounce! (Many cruise lines update pricing several times per day, so preparation is crucial.)

Best cruises in 2024

There's truly a cruise style and ship for everyone, and that has never been more the case than in 2024, as vessels continue to come in an array of sizes – from riverboats and expedition vessels to the largest-ever mega ships. And it's not an exaggeration to say some are loaded with so many activities that you couldn't possibly enjoy them all in a single sailing.

Families will find plenty of options and activities onboard big ships, which have transformed cruising, making the vessels as exciting as the destinations themselves. The Caribbean is always a great option for families, offering lots of sunshine, great beaches and culture. Alaska, famous for its incredible vistas and abundant wildlife, is also a solid family cruise option. Consider cruise brands such as Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Norwegian Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line, MSC Cruises and even Celebrity Cruises and Holland America Line for a great multi-generational voyage.

Or on the smaller side, by comparison, river cruising remains a hot ticket item this year, with exciting routes that send eager guests down the Danube or Rhine rivers in Europe or to lesser-frequented locations, like the Mekong River in Cambodia or Vietnam, or soon the Magdalena River in Colombia. Popular river cruises embark in timeless cities like Amsterdam, Budapest and Lisbon. River cruise lines to consider encompass Viking, AmaWaterways, Avalon Waterways, Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours, Emerald Cruises, Tauck, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises and Riverside Luxury Cruises, as well as American Cruise Lines for a domestic alternative.

If you're an adventurer at heart, an expedition cruise might be best for you. These voyages, often onboard small ships (only a few hundred passengers tops), offer an intimate experience that brings passengers right up next to glaciers, whales, penguins and iguanas. Ships visit tiny spots all over the world – from pole to pole – including the Arctic, Alaska, Australia, Greenland, the Galapagos and, of course, Antarctica. Passengers will spend their time zodiacing, kayaking, hiking, biking and exploring with expert guides and knowledgeable naturalists. Expedition travelers love cruise lines such as Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic, UnCruise Adventures, Silversea, HX (formerly Hurtigruten Expeditions), Ponant and Quark Expeditions, as well as an ever-expanding list that now even extends to Seabourn and Viking.

But for the most decadent form of travel, luxury cruises offer all-inclusive experiences onboard small to median-sized ships (usually under a thousand passengers) with perks like butlers, high-end amenities and personalized, intuitive service, not to mention the finest dining at sea. Ships often feature luxury touches like marble and crystal decor, intimate spaces and beautiful spas. Because luxury ships tend to be on the smaller size, they can often reach off-the-beaten-path destinations bigger ships simply cannot access -- ports like St. Tropez or Guadeloupe. If you're looking for a luxury cruise, consider Crystal, Seabourn, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Silversea, Explora Journeys, Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection and upcoming Four Seasons Yachts.

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Look inside huge, luxurious Viking Polaris, Octantis cruise ships

• Updated: Jun. 06, 2024, 1:04 p.m. |
• Published: Jun. 06, 2024, 12:47 p.m.

• Justine Lofton | [email protected]

These huge Great Lakes cruise ships have been traversing the Great Lakes for three years - and they’re still a sight to see.

The Viking Octantis debuted on the freshwater seas in 2022. The vessel was joined by its identical sister, the Viking Polaris, in 2023. The cruise line is now in its third season of Great Lakes itineraries.

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