Viking, previously known as Viking Cruises, is a cruise line based in Basel, Switzerland. The cruise line is famous for offering ocean, river, and expedition cruises. The company was established in 1997 by Torstein Hagen in Russia as Viking River Cruises. The Viking Ocean Cruises was launched in 2013. Viking currently offers ocean and river cruises in North America, the Caribbean, South America, Europe, Antarctica, Egypt, Southeast Asia, the Great Lakes, and China.
Here are some major US ports from where the Viking Cruise Ships depart.
Cruise Deals | Starting Rates |
---|---|
Mediterranean Odyssey | $4,799 |
Ancient Mediterranean Treasures | $2,799 |
Iceland's Majestic Landscapes | $5,999 |
Trade Routes of the Middle Ages | $5,499 |
Eastern Seaboard Explorer | $5,999 |
Alaska & the Inside Passage | $4,799 |
South America & the Chilean Fjords | $5,999 |
Australia & New Zealand | $5,999 |
North Pacific Passage | $6,999 |
Classic China & the Coast | $6,999 |
*Please note that the Viking Cruises authorities can change these rates at any time.
Cruise Deals | Starting Rates |
---|---|
Mississippi Delta Explorer | $3,499 |
Heartland of America | $4,999 |
America's Heartland | $6,799 |
New Orleans & Southern Charms | $3,499 |
America's Greatest River | $12,499 |
Upper Mississippi Explorer | $8,999 |
Grand Mississippi Voyage | $15,999 |
The Big Easy to the Gateway City | $9,999 |
Mississippi River Odyssey | $14,699 |
Heart of the Delta | $5,999 |
For booking, you can contact Viking Cruises directly or contact a travel advisor.
One way is to buy gratuities before your journey. Otherwise, Viking Cruises will add an optional service charge per day for each guest to their shipboard account, which will reflect on their final invoice at the end of the journey. The service charge will be shared among the staff on the cruise ship, like the stateroom stewards, the Program Director, the nautical staff, the waitstaff, the galley staff, and others.
For instance, for Mississippi River cruise packages, Viking Cruise Line charges a standard rate of $20 per day for each guest, or they will automatically add an optional service charge of $20 per day for every guest to their shipboard account. If you want to modify these amounts, visit the Guest Services once you're aboard.
Currently, Viking Venus is the best cruise ship on the cruise line. The ship was launched in May 2021. Each ship can accommodate up to 930 passengers and 465 crew members. A passenger has the luxury of choosing his room from six different accommodation types. All the rooms feature a private veranda. The room has free Wi-Fi, plush beds, and flat-screen televisions.
The amenities comprise a spa, a salon, a fitness center, many shops and swimming pools, a live performance theater and cinema, a jazz lounge, etc. The vessel offers around eight dining venues, including World Café, The Restaurant, Manfredi's Italian Restaurant, The Chef's Table, etc. Also, there is 24/7 room service.
Here is the list of Viking Ocean Cruise ships from newest to oldest.
Here are the top destinations that you can visit on Viking Ocean Cruises.
These are some of the destinations for Viking River cruises.
These are some amenities that you can find on a Viking cruise ship.
The number of restaurants on a ship varies based on whether you're cruising on an ocean or river ship. Ideally, the ocean cruises, which are bigger than the river cruise ships, feature more dining options.
Viking Cruises' every 930-passenger ocean cruise ships feature a main restaurant called the "The Restaurant." Also, every vessel has a casual buffet eatery called the "World Café." There will also be two smaller restaurants featuring specialty dining like the "Manfredi's" (Italian) and "The Chef's Table," offering a five-course menu.
The following are the other restaurants you can find on Viking Cruises.
The Viking cruise ships offer complimentary meals, including those at specialty restaurants. You'll have to pay a fee only at the "The Kitchen Table," which includes a mix of shore excursion and dinner.
The cruise ships offer free beers, wines, and soft drinks, with lunches, dinners, hot teas, and specialty coffees, which are available throughout the day. Also, the cruise line offers the "Silver Spirits" beverage package for $25 a night. If you buy this package, you can enjoy unlimited drinks in all bars, lounges, and venues throughout your trip.
The package comprises wine and beers by the glass, house champagne, cocktails, well drinks, premium wines by the glass, and a choice of upgraded soft drinks and whiskeys, up to $18 each. The package also gives you access to the Chef's Table premium wine pairing, free entry to standard tasting events, up to 50% off on premium tasting events, and around 30% discount on premium drinks above $50 each.
You must be at least 21 years old to drink alcoholic beverages on any Viking Cruise ship. Also, any passenger can take alcohol on board during embarkation or buy it from the port without charging a corkage fee.
These are some of the entertainments and activities you can get across Viking Cruise ships.
The cruise line doesn't admit children aged below 18 in any of its vessels. So, formally, there are no youth programs in the vessels.
Viking Ocean Cruises offers free Wi-Fi on all its vessels. Wi-Fi is offered via VSAT satellite terminal; however, the connection speed can vary. The cruise line may limit downloads, software upgrades, or heavy-usage applications to ensure fair usage for all passengers.
The ticket price covers almost everything, from port charges, activities, Wi-Fi, meals, shore excursions, lectures, and hotel stays on cruise tours.
All the vessels belonging to Viking Cruises follow a nonsmoking policy. However, to accommodate guests who wish to smoke, there is a designated outdoor smoking area in each vessel. You can't smoke in any other areas, including veranda or stateroom, which includes e-cigarettes.
Laundry service may be complimentary depending on the stateroom category you choose. If it isn't there, you can buy the laundry service additionally by paying a small fee. Some cabin decks have self-service launderettes, including irons and ironing boards, all free of cost.
All the Viking Cruise ships feature typical North American-style 110-volt outlets in cabins and also European-style 220-volt outlets and USB ports.
The currency used in Viking Cruises is US Dollars.
You can wear anything casual during the day, like shorts, jeans, or slacks, or even comfortable shoes during walking tours. If you're using swimming pools or the fitness center, you must opt for swimsuits, exercise dresses, or cover-ups. There are no special dress codes preferred for evenings.
The cruise line recommends you wear anything "elegant casual" for performances, special events, or dining areas. For men, it can be a collared shirt and trousers. They can even wear a jacket and tie, but not jeans. Ladies can wear slacks or skirts and a blouse or sweater. The evening dress code is not applicable to World Café, where you can go in casual attire after 6 p.m.