The ultimate guide to Viking cruise ships and itineraries
Table Of Content
Discover what makes us the world’s leading small ship cruise line. When you choose to apply (and are approved) for a new credit card through our site, we may receive compensation from our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information. Viking can be defined as much by what it isn't as what it is. It's not a line that offers megaships topped with every sort of amusement known to humans. Viking fares do include port taxes and fees, which can add up to hundreds of dollars per sailing.
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Viking has more ships than any other major cruise brand in the world, more than 90 in all. It also has both ocean ships and river ships — something that is unusual among major lines. Despite this, it has one of the easiest-to-understand fleets. Just behind the main pool area on each of the ocean ships is a lovely, glass-topped lounge with comfortable seating called the Wintergarden that is home to afternoon tea. A den of serenity, it's one of our favorite places on these vessels.
Explore Ship Classes: Start with Our Award-Winning Longships
Viking has one of the most diverse arrays of itineraries of any cruise line, mostly due to the fact that it operates both ocean cruises and river cruises. As noted above, almost all of Viking's river ships are of the same basic design and are known as the Longships — a reference to the historic vessels used by Vikings in the Middle Ages. The nine nearly identical ocean ships — Viking Saturn, Viking Neptune, Viking Mars, Viking Venus, Viking Jupiter, Viking Orion, Viking Sky, Viking Sea and Viking Star — began rolling out in 2015. Six more nearly identical vessels are scheduled to debut between 2024 and 2028, and Viking has options with a shipyard to order four more of the ships for delivery in 2029 and 2030.
Viking Ocean Cruises
The centerpiece of the top deck of each of Viking's ocean ships is the main pool area, which is home to a pool, hot tub and rows of lounge chairs, as well as comfortable seating areas. You'll also find musicians including pianists and guitar players performing at times in the Viking Living Room — a three-deck-high, atrium-like space at the center of the ship. Filled with comfortable seating areas and home to a bar, the Viking Living Room serves as a central meeting point for passengers throughout the day and night. It's also home to the ship's Explorers' Desk — the equivalent of a guest relations area on other ships.
Still, as is typical for cruise lines at the high end, Viking includes a lot in its base price. The latter is something relatively few lines roll into their base fares, and shore excursions can be expensive. Evenings have an official dress code, but it's not too formal. The line asks passengers to keep things "elegant casual" when heading to any of the ship's dining venues, performances or special events.
Destinations and itineraries
Such access almost always comes with an extra charge on cruise vessels. Viking doesn't have a loyalty program in the traditional sense — one where passengers earn points every time they travel with the brand and progress through multiple tiers that bring an ever-expanding array of perks. All of the line's vessels have standard North American-style, 110-volt outlets in rooms as well as European-style, 220-volt outlets and USB ports in cabins. All of Viking's oceangoing ships, which are much bigger than its river ships, have at least four and usually more outlets serving food of some sort.
Cruises
Most Viking passengers are North Americans who are approaching retirement age or already retired. The company's core market is people who range in age from 55 to 75 years, although it does draw some passengers who are younger or older. You'll find everything from eight-day cruises in the Mediterranean to 138-day around-the-world voyages among the line's voyages. This cruise can help you make the most of a rainy day or provide you with beautiful vistas of the morning and evening sea when the... Journey through the world’s most exciting destinations with The World’s Leading River Cruise Line. You’re about to discover the most convenient way to see the world.
River Cruises
Whether you use a travel agent or not, make sure to maximize your credit card spending when paying for the cruise by using a credit card that offers extra points for travel purchases. This could be the Chase Sapphire Reserve, which offers 3 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on travel and dining (excluding the annual $300 travel credit). There's also the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, which offers 2 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on travel (and 3 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on dining). Viking's bigger ocean ships also have poolside grills that serve made-to-order gourmet hamburgers and other grill items.
Such services are complimentary for passengers staying in certain categories of cabins. Otherwise, fees are comparable to what you'll pay cleaners at home. Dry cleaning is available on the line's ocean ships but not on Viking river ships. Some Viking ships, including all of the line's ocean vessels (including its one expedition vessel), have self-serve launderettes on cabin decks with washing machines, dryers, irons and ironing boards. The launderettes are stocked with detergent for the washing machines that, unlike on many cruise ships with launderettes, do not come with an extra cost.
To Viking, that means a dress, skirt or slacks with a sweater or blouse for women, and trousers and a collared shirt for men. On all ships, smoking (including electronic cigarettes) is only allowed in designated outdoor areas. Note that Viking river ships do not have fitness centers, which is relatively unusual for river ships. Viking has long argued that few of its customers use fitness centers and the space that would be devoted to one is better used for other things.
Since its founding in 1997, the upscale cruise brand has carved out a niche catering to a certain type of thoughtful, inquisitive, generally older traveler looking to explore the world and learn a thing or two along the way. The 930-guest Viking Jupiter—the sixth Viking ocean ship—touches water for the first time during its “Float Out” in Ancona, Italy. Join Viking Chairman Torstein Hagen and Norwegian soprano Sissel Kyrkjebø, the ship’s godmother, as they celebrate this major construction milestone.
Viking currently operates 11 ocean ships, nine of which are nearly identical. For this subset of travelers, Viking offers a wide range of both ocean and river cruise itineraries that have a heavy focus on the destinations visited. Throughout our decades of sailing the world’s great rivers, Viking has repeatedly reinvented the European river cruise vessel. By continuously building upon our tradition of innovation, we have set industry standard and delighted our guests. Meander along Europe’s great waterways, gliding past magnificent vistas and pausing to explore riverside ports.
The vessel was attached to a tugboat as the anchors were inoperable. On 27 March, Viking Sky arrived at a shipyard in Kristiansund for repairs. Stay current with special offers, news and destination-focused content. Celebrate the diverse cultural heritage—British, Mayan, Spanish, Taíno, African, Emberá—of the Caribbean and Central America, in ports from San Juan to Colón.
Viking also offers lots of balcony cabins and suites on its river ships, something that isn't always the case in the river cruise business, where space on vessels is at a premium. Unlike its ocean ships, Viking's river ships aren't all-balcony-cabin vessels. Achieve countless travel milestones on an epic World Cruise as you visit the world’s most iconic cities and rewarding small towns.
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