Viking Cruise Line has almost one hundred ships in its fleet, divided into three main categories: ocean ships, river cruise ships, and expedition ships. You might think this means thousands of different room options and configurations, but thankfully that’s not the case. Since ocean ships are basically carbon copies of each other, they all share the same room types. The same rule almost applies to river ships too, though some do offer slightly different room sizes and layouts depending on where they sail.
Dining is just as easy to understand. All ocean ships share the same restaurants, and everything is included in your fare. River ships also feature a main restaurant, plus bars and a lounge where you can grab a snack while enjoying the views.
Do you have questions about Viking Cruises - whether it’s ships, destinations, what’s included in your fare, and more? Just click the Request a Quote button and let’s chat! Contacting us is free and, even better, you won’t pay a dime more to book through us. In fact, you might even save money since our travel advisors often have access to special deals not available anywhere else.
For now, let’s take a closer look at the room options onboard Viking Cruise Line.
Viking Cruise Line Room Options
Ocean Cruise Cabins
Viking Cruise Line has a major perk when it comes to their ocean ships: every single stateroom comes with a balcony. Yes, even the most affordable, entry-level rooms include one. Their smallest staterooms measure about 270 square feet (balcony included), which is pretty generous for a cruise. For comparison, entry-level inside cabins on most mainstream cruise lines usually start at around 140 square feet.
Let’s now list each type of stateroom and the main perks of each one.
- Veranda Stateroom: 270 square feet; full-size veranda; large bathroom with heated floor; 24-hour room service
- Deluxe Veranda Stateroom: 270 square feet, plus everything you find on a Veranda Stateroom; earlier access to shore excursion & Spa reservations; Personal coffee machine; binoculars; passengers can access their rooms one hour earlier on embarkation day than those staying in Veranda Staterooms.
- Penthouse Veranda Stateroom: 338 square feet plus everything you find on a Deluxe Veranda Stateroom; earlier access to shore excursion & Spa reservations compared to Deluxe Verandas; Mini-bar that now includes alcoholic beverages; complimentary pressing & shoe shine services; passengers can access their rooms one hour earlier on embarkation day than those staying in Deluxe Veranda Staterooms.
- Penthouse Junior Suite: 405 square feet plus everything you find on a Penthouse Veranda; earlier access to shore excursion & Spa reservations compared to Penthouse Verandas; Complimentary laundry; passengers can access their rooms two hours earlier on embarkation day than those staying in Penthouse Veranda Staterooms.
- Explorer Suite: 757-1,163 square feet plus everything you find on a Penthouse Junior Suite; two-room suite; living area & dining area that seats 4; earlier access to shore excursion & Spa reservations compared to Penthouse Junior Suites.
- Owner’s Suite: 1,448 sq ft multi-room suite including expansive private veranda; private library, wine & music collections; dry sauna; Boardroom that seats 12 for meetings & catered dinner parties; Complimentary shore excursion with private car & driver; silver Spirits beverage package included; Private arrival/departure transfer in destination; earlier access to shore excursion & Spa reservations compared to Explorer Suites.
River Cruise Cabins
River cruise cabins are cozy yet luxurious. They aren’t as large as ocean cruise cabins, and not all of them include a balcony. That said, cabins start at about 135 square feet on European river ships, 232 square feet on the Egypt itineraries, and 268 square feet on the ultra-modern Mississippi river cruise ship.
For this guide, we’ll focus on the amenities of a traditional European river cruise ship, since they’re quite similar to what you’ll find on the others - even if the rooms on those tend to be bigger.
Here are the stateroom options you’ll find onboard, along with the main features of each:
- Standard Stateroom: 150 square feet; River-view stateroom with half-height picture window.
- French Balcony Stateroom: 135 square feet; River-view stateroom with French balcony.
- Veranda Stateroom: 205 square feet (includes private veranda); full-size veranda.
- Veranda Suite: 275 square feet (includes private veranda); full-size veranda and french balcony; Welcome champagne; mini-bar with wine, beer & soft drinks; Binoculars; Early stateroom access; Complimentary laundry & shoe shine services; Complimentary Viking Air Plus (US & CA only).
- Explorer Suite: 445 square feet (includes private veranda) plus all the amenities you can find on Veranda Suites; private wraparound balcony offering 270-degree views and a french balcony; Personal coffee machine; Complimentary in-room breakfast service; Silver Spirits beverage package included; Private arrival/departure transfer in destination.
Expedition Cruise Cabins
Expedition cruise ships often feature slightly smaller cabins compared to traditional ocean vessels. For example, the entry-level Nordic Balcony Stateroom measures 215 square feet, while the standard Veranda Staterooms on ocean ships start at 270 square feet.
The verandas on Expedition ships are also different - they’re “infinite verandas,” similar to what you’ll find on Celebrity Cruises’ Edge-Class ships. This design is basically a large window that opens from the top down. Every Expedition stateroom also comes with extras like binoculars, a keepsake Viking expedition jacket (on polar itineraries), and all the gear you’ll need for included excursions.
Viking Cruise Line Dining Options
Viking Cruise Line offers a wide variety of food across all their ships, including plenty of beef and seafood options. You’ll find everything from whitefish, salmon, sushi, soft-shelled crab, oysters, prawns, and several beef dishes in their restaurants.
The food is generally considered a step up from mass-market lines - well plated, fresh, and best of all, fully included in your base fare. Viking also emphasizes regional flavors and menus that reflect the itinerary, so expect Greek specialties when sailing near Santorini or a delicious gnocchi when departing from Rome. Portions can be on the smaller side in some venues, but since everything is included, you can always order multiple dishes.
Dress Code
During the day, the dress code is casual. You can wear just about anything, but swimwear and workout clothes should stay in the pool, sports deck, or fitness center areas.
In the evenings, Viking keeps things simple with an “elegant casual” dress code instead of formal nights. For men, that usually means trousers and a collared shirt, while women often opt for dresses or skirts.
Dietary Needs
Every meal has vegetarian options and the chefs will make reasonable efforts to accommodate special requests. Guests requiring special meals (low salt, diabetic, gluten-free or low cholesterol) should alert Viking Cruise Line 90 days prior to departure over the phone at 1-855-884-5464 (1-855-8-VIKING) or online on the “Dietary Restrictions” page in your My Viking Journey account. Guests should also inform the Maître d’ when on board. Of course, you can also let Famvia handle all of this for you.
Is there a Main Dining Room onboard?
Yes, Viking Cruise Line has a main dining room called “The Restaurant”, available on both Ocean and River Cruises. Seating is flexible. Dinner is typically served from 6 to 9 PM across all dining venues.
Is there a buffet onboard?
Yes! The buffet onboard Viking ocean ships is called the World Café, and there’s no dress code - you can enjoy breakfast, lunch, or dinner in comfort. After the buffet closes in the afternoon, the gelato bar stays open for a quick dessert.
There’s also the Aquavit Terrace, a bar and al fresco dining option located just outside the World Café. One of the best things to do here is grab your food from the World Café and head out to the Aquavit Terrace, where you can enjoy your meal while enjoying a warm breeze.
Room Service
Room service is included in your base cruise fare.
Carry-On Drink Policy
Guests are welcome to bring their own alcohol and beverages onboard, purchase them while ashore, or buy directly from the ship’s shop. Drinks can be enjoyed in your stateroom or in any of the public spaces, including the restaurants… and the best part is, there’s no corkage fee!
Are all Drinks included in your base fare?
No, they are not. Viking includes a nice selection of complimentary beverages: house wines, beers, and soft drinks with lunch and dinner, plus specialty coffees and an assortment of hot teas available around the clock.
If you’d like to upgrade, Viking offers the Silver Spirits Beverage Package for $27 USD per night. With this package, you’ll enjoy unlimited beverages in all onboard bars, lounges, and restaurants throughout your voyage. It covers house champagne, wines and beers by the glass, select cocktails, aperitifs, well drinks, long drinks, upgraded whiskeys, and soft drinks up to $18 USD each.
The Silver Spirits package also adds extra perks, like premium wine pairings at The Chef’s Table, complimentary standard tasting events, 50% off premium tasting events, and 30% off premium beverages (including bottles of wine).
You can purchase the package before your trip through the My Viking Journey portal under Dining & Beverage or wait until you’re onboard.
Are all restaurants free with Viking Cruise Line?
Yes! There’s no extra charge to dine in specialty restaurants like Manfredi’s Italian Restaurant or The Chef’s Table. Reservations are required, and you can make them before your cruise through the My Viking Journey portal or once you’re onboard. Of course, your friends here at Famvia can also help you with reservations.
Specialty Restaurants Onboard Viking Cruise Line
There are two specialty restaurants onboard Viking ocean cruise ships: Manfredi’s Italian Restaurant and The Chef’s Table. Reservations are needed for both.
As you might expect, Manfredi’s focuses on delicious Italian dishes (don’t miss the bread baskets). The Chef’s Table, on the other hand, offers elaborate five-course tasting menus created by chefs from around the world. One day you might enjoy a menu inspired by British cuisine, and a few days later it could switch to Greek flavors.
Why Book Viking Cruise Line with us?
At Famvia, we specialize in luxury cruises and proudly partner with some of the world’s most prestigious cruise lines, including Seabourn, Explora Journeys, Azamara, Oceania, and, of course, Viking Cruise Line.
Viking Cruise Line is an excellent choice for a premium cruise, but with so many ships and itineraries, planning your next trip can feel overwhelming. And that’s before even choosing the right stateroom or figuring out what’s included in your fare! No worries, that’s where your friends at Famvia come in.
Our team has in-depth knowledge of Viking’s ships, destinations, staterooms, and onboard experiences, and we’re here to guide you every step of the way. Just click the Request a Quote button to connect with us. Our personalized planning services are completely complimentary, and you’ll never pay extra for booking with a trusted travel advisor like us. Even better, we often have access to exclusive offers and special promotions to make your next journey even more memorable.
