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Tips for Booking a Viking Cruise

• Post author: James
• Post published: August 29, 2019
• Post category: Viking / Travel Blog / Tips

Updated: 3/15/2023

So, You Want to Take a Cruise

Perhaps you have envisioned yourself on the deck of a beautiful river ship sailing down the Rhine River with medieval castles dotting the landscape, or maybe aboard an oceangoing cruise ship in a beautiful Scandinavian fjord.  These are the images that draw people to a cruise, and in this case, a Viking cruise.  Maybe it was the all-inclusive tag line that peaked your interest.  It all sounds great!  Just book your cruise and everything will be included. Sounds simple, right? But there are many options and parameters that you should consider in order to take full advantage of all that your itinerary offers, and more importantly to minimize any surprises.  After sailing with Viking many times, and with more trips scheduled, we thought a guide to Viking’s cruise selection and booking process would be helpful, so here we go!

You Have Some Decisions to Make

•    viking or travel agent.

The first decision you will need to make is whether to work directly with Viking or to use a travel agent.  If you already have a travel agent that you use a lot, then that may be the best choice for you.  The price for the cruise will be the same, but travel agents can sometimes throw in a little extra incentives, like some shipboard credit.  Shipboard credit can range between $250 and $500. 

Personally, we prefer doing it ourselves and always book directly with Viking because we like the hands-on aspect of planning our trip.  In addition, the Viking representatives are experts in all aspects of Viking travel.  At the end of the day though, it is your decision.  There are times when you can ‘transfer’ a booking to a Travel Agent after you book with Viking, but there are certain conditions. Check with your Travel Agent if you are considering this.

•    Viking River vs. Ocean Cruise

The first decision you will want to consider is whether you prefer a river or an ocean cruise.  There are some distinct differences between each type of Viking cruise ship.  These differences do not make one cruise experience better than the other, you just need to decide what works better for your particular wants and needs.

All of the ocean ships are identical, so once you have been on one, then you will be familiar with all of them.  The river ships are mostly longships and these will be on rivers like the Rhine and Danube.  But there are other river ships that are built specifically for different rivers.  Like the Siene and Duro.  They will be a similar layout, just a bit smaller.

o    River cruise ships have far fewer passengers, slightly less than 200 as compared to about 930 on the ocean ships.  A smaller number of passengers makes the experience seem a bit more intimate and you will likely get a chance to meet a lot of your fellow passengers. o    River cruises have only 2 restaurant options for your meals, either the Aquavit Terrace or the larger, full-service dining room.  There is only one seating time for dinner, and the dining room is always ‘open seating’, so you will be eating with other passengers at each meal.  The ocean ships have at least 7 dining options, including 24-hour room service.  Two of the restaurants require a reservation, but the others are rather impromptu and therefore provide a lot of flexibility for your dining options.  We especially like the World Cafe, where there is a large selection of items. o    The river cruise ships have a very nice lounge and there is usually some nightly entertainment in the form of a lecture or live music.  In addition to these amenities, the ocean ships also have a pool, spa, fitness center, a theater for films and live performances, as well as a few shops.  Note that neither the river nor ocean ships has a casino. o    Although all staterooms are very nicely appointed, river cruise staterooms are smaller, ranging in size from 135 to 445 square feet.  Stateroom sizes on the ocean cruise staterooms range from 270 to over 750 square feet (and even larger for a few of the explorer/owner suites). o    Motion sickness is not at all likely on a river cruise, since there are no waves and most of the time you cannot even tell when the ship is underway.  Although the ocean ships are very stable, there is always the chance that weather conditions could make for rough seas and the potential for seasickness. o    All ocean ship staterooms have a full veranda.  On the river cruises only about ½ of the staterooms have a full veranda.     

For more information on River vs Ocean cruises, here is a detailed article that compares them .

TIP: River Cruises allowed minors in the past, but as of August 1, 2018, minors (children under 18) can no longer be booked.  Ocean Cruises have never allowed minors.

•    Select Your Itinerary

•    Review Your Stateroom options

Take a look at the stateroom categories for your cruise to determine what size of cabin and which amenities you would like to have.  There are many stateroom options on the ocean ships, so begin your investigation by reviewing the individual deck plans for each ship.  Example Ocean ship deck plans and River ship deck plans can be seen here.  On the ocean ships the location of your stateroom on the ship may be important to you, but you will not be able to select the specific deck and location until you book. (More on that later.)

TIP: The time frames for booking Excursions and Specialty Dining for ocean cruises are based on stateroom category.  The Veranda Staterooms are the lowest category, so that group chooses last.  Don’t worry, you will get all the included tours, but may not get the time you prefer.  Unfortunately, popular optional tours may be sold out.  Consider upgrading to a Deluxe Veranda Stateroom. The cost is not significantly higher, and you will get to choose your excursion and dining options earlier.

TIP: Many times on the river cruises the ship is docked beside one or more ships, as the picture shows.  That means you might go out on your balcony only to be staring into another stateroom a few feet away.  So just be aware of this potential when booking your veranda stateroom.

•    Choose Your Extensions

For an additional charge, Viking allows you to extend your travel by means of pre-cruise and post-cruise travel packages. These packages are usually in cities or tourist sites close to your cruise starting and ending points. They allow you to further customize your travel experience and get the most out of your trip. If you select any of Viking’s extensions you will receive transfers to and from your hotel, breakfast each morning and typically at least one included tour.  They may also offer some optional tours for an additional fee. Throughout your stay, Viking maintains a presence at the hotel and can act as your concierge. However, most of the time you will be on your own to explore your destination.

TIP: If you are bit timid about venturing out on your own, third-party tours are readily available in most cities and typically offer many more choices than Viking.  We use resources like Fodors, Lonely Planet and TripAdvisor to help us identify and evaluate the available tours .

•    Consider a Deviation to the Standard Itinerary

Deviations to the standard itineraries are permitted.  Although this option is not very well known, it offers another means of extending your travel before and after your cruise.  But what specifically is a deviation? The official definition from Viking is “A deviation is defined as air flights with dates that are different than the ship, hotel or extension arrival/departure dates and/or the package city pairs to or from are different. This can be added on the pre-trip, post-trip or both.”   So, what does all this mean?  For example, our last river cruise was the ‘Passage to Eastern Europe’, and we wanted to spend a few extra days at our starting city of Bucharest.  So we used the deviation option to arrive a few days early while still using Viking Air to book our flights.  (Of course, we had to arrange our own transportation to the hotel and pay for our room and meals.)

Viking no longer publishes standard cities and pricing, but just give them a call for specific information for your cruise.

•    Take Advantage of Stopovers

Like deviations, stopovers provide another great option for extending your trip.  Stopovers work a little differently than deviations though.  Viking’s official definition is “A stopover is defined as air flights with a stop between the gateway city and the destination. This can be added on the pre-trip, post-trip or both.” Here is a real-life example.  We will be flying to Stockholm for the Vikings Homelands cruise next spring. We are already scheduled for the pre-extension in Stockholm, but we thought it would be great to stop in London first.  So we have a direct flight to London, where we will stay 4 nights as part of our stopover, then continue on to Stockholm. Keep in mind that you will be completely on your own in the stopover city.

•    Review Pricing, Wait for a Deal

Booking Process

By now you’ve made all your basic selections and you are ready to finalize your plans and book your trip.  Keep in mind  that there is no immediate commitment just by booking.  Once made, your booking will be held for 72 hours and if you have not made your deposit during that time frame, the booking is released.   Let’s take a look at some of the travel options and other things you will need to decide when finalizing your booking.

•    Finalize Your Stateroom and Position On Ship

•    Purchasing Airfare

When you book your cruise you will have the opportunity to either purchase airfare directly through Viking Air, or purchase it completely on your own.  We have used Viking Air for every cruise and found their airfare pricing to be competitive with what we were able to find independently.   There are a few advantages to purchasing airfare directly from Viking including:

o    Transfers to and from the airport are included. o    Viking will track your flights and will be aware of any flight delays to ensure that your airport pickup occurs flawlessly even if you are late. o    If you experience a significant travel delay due to a late flight, Viking will ensure that you get transported to your ship, even if it has already left port.

•    Viking Air Plus

If you purchase airfare through Viking Air, they will arrange all your flights with basically no input from you. However, if you prefer a particular airline, connection city, connection time or anything else, you can take advantage of Viking Air Plus to make those reservations.  The cost of this option is between $100 and $150 per person.  We always take advantage of this option because we have definite preferences for connecting airports and layover times.

Another perk for Viking Air Plus is the ability to book your flights as soon as flight information is available from the airline (usually around 300 days before your flight).  While this allows you to book your flight, you will not be ticketed until you have paid in full and usually within 100 days of departure.   In booking so far in advance, you are sure to have a better selection of seats.  And once ticketed, you have the option of purchasing a premium seat.

•    Travel Insurance

You may or may not elect to purchase travel insurance. Personally we would not travel without it and it would be our suggestion that you strongly consider purchasing it either from Viking or a third party.  If you do purchase from Viking, there are some important things you need to know.

o    If you have any pre-existing condition it will only be covered if you purchase your trip insurance within 14 days of your deposit.  By the way, this stipulation is true regardless of whether you are using Viking’s Tripmate insurance or a third party insurance. o    Viking’s ‘cancel for any reason’ clause is only available if you purchase insurance in the first 14 days.

TIP: When you receive your invoice it will contain the Tripmate Insurance information.  Read it carefully before you sign up.  You will need to pay for the insurance in full when you purchase it and it is not refundable.

If you are not concerned about pre-existing conditions, you have a little more flexibility in the time frame during which you purchase travel insurance.  Remember that travel insurance is intended to protect the investment you have made in your trip.  So, you really only need to have insurance in effect at the point in time when you would potentially lose a significant portion of that investment.

To see what I mean, take a look at Viking’s standard Guest Cancellation Schedule of Charges.

120 days or more prior to departure        $100 per person 119 to 90 days prior to departure             20% of full fare 89 to 70 days prior to departure               35% of full fare 69 to 50 days prior to departure               50% of full fare 49 to 30 days prior to departure               75% of full fare 29 days or less prior to departure           100% of full fare

For example, if you cancel your trip anytime prior to 120 days before departure, you will only lose $100 per person.  Remember that travel insurance is never refundable, so if you have already purchased travel Insurance at this point, you will not get that money refunded.  It is only if you cancel within 120 days of your planned travel that you begin to lose a significant sum of money (20% or more).  So unless you are concerned about pre-existing conditions, you really do not need to have travel insurance in effect until you are within the 120-day window for cancellation.

The most recent Tripmate Travel Protection Brochure sent to us from Viking as part of an upcoming cruise confirmation, stated that insurance had to be purchased no later than 120 days before departure, which lines up nicely with the Cancellation Policy.

For more detailed information on Travel Insurance, be sure to read our blog post, Understanding Travel Insurance .

TIP: Be sure to read your individual policy, from Viking or a third party, for the deadlines for purchasing, they may be different.  Some third parties like Allianz allow you to purchase insurance up to the day of departure.

•    Get the Invoice and Pay Deposit

Once you have booked, do not make your deposit immediately.  Ask to have the invoice e-mailed to you for review. Review it carefully.  Mistakes you catch now will save you time and agony later.  Key things to look at include passenger names, contact information, cruise name, embarkation/disembarkation date and place, stateroom category and number, prices and itinerary. You then have 72 hours to complete your review and make the deposit. 

Your invoice will also indicate a ‘Final Payment Date’.  This final payment date can be anywhere from 6 months to over a year prior to your cruise.  There has been much discussion on some online forums regarding how this date is determined.  Is it based on being a repeat customer, price of the trip, stateroom category, or just getting a supervisor to change it?  Viking doesn’t divulge this information.  But we would suggest pushing back if the due date is greater than 6 months and request for it to be changed.  If you get a new invoice for whatever reason, make sure to re-check everything.

For more detailed information on your invoice, please see our article on Viking Cruises – Understanding Your Contract .

Congratulations! You can now feel comfortable to commit to the deposit and you are confirmed.

Checking For Additional Discounts

Even though you have completed the booking process, continue to check the Viking website and social media platforms for deals on the cruise you have booked.  If you see a big savings, maybe airfare dropped or Viking is offering some other type of price reduction, you might be able to take advantage of that.  How you ask?  You can cancel your existing trip and rebook the trip using the new offer. Outside of 120 days, it will only cost $100 per person. Remember though, if you have already purchased travel insurance, you will lose that money.  So if you’ve already purchased the insurance proceed with caution. You would likely need to get a huge savings to make that option viable.

There is another caution when cancelling and rebooking cruises.  Normally the cancellation process takes about 3 days, and Viking will not let you re-book until that process is finalized.  So if the cruise is almost sold out you could be at risk of not getting rebooked. Another option is to request that a supervisor approve the cancellation immediately, allowing an immediate rebook.

Here is another real-life example.  We had a 2021 booking for a cruise and the airfare was $1299 per person.  I happened to look at the pricing one day and noticed Viking was running a special that lowered that airfare to $599.  I immediately contacted our Viking representative and she confirmed that there were plenty of staterooms still available, so there would be no problem with rebooking. But there was a problem, the deal ended that day. We couldn’t wait 3 days for the cancellation to process.  Fortunately, a supervisor agreed to an immediate cancellation and we were able to rebook and even retained the same stateroom.  We had to pay $1000 deposit for two people for the new booking and about 10 days later I received a check for $800 from my cancellation of the original reservation.  So it cost us $200, but we netted a quick $1200 savings.

TIP:  You can save 3.3% by making your final payment using E-Check or physical check rather than a credit card.

My Viking Journey

As soon as you receive your booking number, you will be able to logon to My Viking Journey . and all of your trip information will be at your fingertips.  It’s the place you want to go for tracking and planning all the details for your trip.

•    Excursions

TIP: River cruise excursions will be available to view and book as much as 12 months prior to the cruise.  Ocean excursions usually load about 110 days out and then booked based on cabin class.

Refer to your itinerary to find out when you can actually start booking your excursions.  For river cruises, there is usually only one time slot available for each tour.  However, for ocean cruises there are multiple time slots for most of the tours.  Popular excursions book up quickly, so make sure you book as early as possible so that you can get your preferred tours and timeslots.

TIP:  If you are unable to get the excursion you prefer, remember that you always have the option to book your own third party tour.  

•    Dining Options

There are no dining reservations on river cruises.  However, ocean cruise ships have a couple of specialty restaurants that do require a reservation. The date to start booking your restaurant reservations will be on your invoice and on My Viking Journey.

Up until the day you leave for your trip, it’s a good idea to monitor your flight information periodically to see if anything changes.  Do not rely on the airlines to notify you of changes in flight times or equipment.  You do not want to be surprised with a shorter than planned connection time or having your party separated because of reassigned seats. By monitoring the details you can avoid a surprise later.

Final Documents

After that, may all your flights be on time and enjoy your cruise!

This Post Has 57 Comments

Thank you for all of this!! A friend and myself have booked a May 2020 Rhine River Cruise. This information should help going forward. Thanks! LInda

You are welcome. If you have any questions, just let me know. We have done the Rhine and it is a great trip. We are also working hard on additional content, so please check back in the future.

Well done! We have taken 3 river cruises and two ocean journeys on Viking. Every bit of the info you provide is spot on. This is a great resource for new travelers.

Thank you! Please check back in the future as we add new content.

Very helpful and accurate- we have done Botha river and ocean cruise

Thank you! We have two more Ocean Cruises booked.

What is the best time of year to travel a river cruise? We took our first “Romantic Danube “ in late August and while we loved it, it was in the upper 80’s to mid 90’s every day. Is springtime better or fall or…?

Thanks for the comment. Some people worry about river levels. Spring can be high and Fall can be low. Too high and you cant get under the bridges, to low and you scrape bottom. Worst thing is to turn a river cruise into a bus trip. So consider the river and time of year. The Danube can be very hot in the summer, maybe a Rhine cruise starting in Amsterdam. My favorite time is June. Safe Cruises!

Hi! Great article! Thanks for sharing!

The only additional thought that I have is regarding the booking process. Viking does allow you to book with them and move your booking over to a travel agent, however, it must be done within a certain time frame. I can’t remember it exactly but it’s either 30 or 60 days from when you placed your booking with Viking.

My Viking agent even suggested that I check around with travel agents to see if they offered any special incentives. For example AAA always offers it’s members on board credit for Viking cruises.

Thought you might like to include this info.

Yes, you are correct. I don’t recall the timeframe either, I think it is 30 days or so. But it is a good idea to check, could be several hundred dollars in savings. I plan to make some updates to the article in the future and will include that.

I’m thinking of not buying trip insurance but using the FREE travel insurance through my Chase credit card. Online comments seem tosupport this idea. Your thoughts??

Yes, it is a good idea, as long as it covers what you need. It’s not just the cost of your trip. Be sure to understand the reasons you can cancel. And does it include hospital/doctor costs and emergency evacuation. Repatriation is also big. What if you are sick or injured in some foreign country and need to be evacuated back to the US. Typical travel insurance will cover all of this. So be sure to check. As long as you are happy with what is covered, then this is a great option.

Thanks for you input. I’m pretty sure I will be using the credit card option.

Great article! We’ve been on river cruises and Mediterranean cruises with Viking and Windstar. Your article has many useful tips. Thanks

Thanks for the comment. Safe Travels!

Thanks for all the info. Planning our first trip in fall of 2020 or 2021.

Thanks for the comment. If you have any questions please let us know.

Good planning information, James. I’m curious about air travel. Did you travel in economy or upgraded seats? And I’m guessing air travel reservations by Viking were sufficiently cheaper than doing it yourselves? Thanks!

Thanks for the comment. We booked economy with Viking and then upgraded our seats to Premium Economy. We always look at Viking Air versus going on our own. So far, Viking always has the better price, and two of our river cruises had free airfare. Hard to beat free. Plus we usually do deviations which Viking will do for a minimal charge.

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What are the benefits of booking a follow-on cruise while on a Viking Ocean Cruise?

I really haven’t seen that much of a benefit in booking a cruise while on a cruise. But if you book within a year of taking a cruise, then you get a past guest discount that can range from $200 to $400 per person. In addition, if you have a cruise booked when you book another, they will usually give you a better final payment date. I have always been able to get 6 months.

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Your information has been the most helpful regarding Viking I have found to date. I am very leery of travelling with them as the experience has not been very encouraging so far. Friends got a voucher from a river cruise that due to weather was as noted in one comment became a bus tour. So they switched to an ocean option asked us along. As a “New Guest” and a “Referred Guest” we were offered I recall $700 each discount. When a reduced price came up we would have been denied both those discounts if we “cancelled” and re-booked. Net gain $50. So we declined to change. COVID cancelled the trip and $100 p/p voucher was issued with a loss of $200 cancellation fee. We have recently re-booked. Same trip higher price. No “New Guest” discount and despite a mailing brochure no “Return Guest” $200 p/p discount. We are something in-between new and old? We picked the pre-cruise London option but have second thoughts. The Viking Hotel price is over twice the normal hotel rate on multiple booking sites including the hotel site. Since transfers are included with the Air price that does not figure in. (Perhaps one extra?) We had a final payment date 15 months advance and our TA got it moved to 13 months. The brochure mentioned offered 12 months which Viking denied us as the date had already been “extended once”. I am hoping, fingers crossed, that should I pick Viking Air Plus and do a Deviation and book seat selection and upgrade my Viking experience will improve.

Thank you for the comment. It is unfortunate that some have had a poor experience, especially with the ever changing environment due to Covid. I can tell you that we have done several cruises with Viking, including an Iceland cruise this past July, which have all been excellent. We think that once you make it on the ship, you will see why people love Viking. Safe Travels!

Good morning I read through your post and have one question that maybe you can answer. Viking wants a PCR test up to 72 hours by flight time mine is 6:30pm on June 2th to the Netherlands, my issue is that every lab I look up close early. How can I handle this issue I can not get a test at the required time of 6:30pm.

It can be challenging to meet the requirements for testing. It will cost money, but there are several places where you can get a PCR test turned around in hours. There will usually be places around airports. Viking will also accept an antigen test within 24 hours. Again, you can usually get those at local drug stores and get them back in a few hours.

Thank you for your valuable insights on Viking. We are booking our first cruise and called Viking directly and had linked up with a travel agent at viking but later called AAA (we are members) to buy insurance and the AAA agent suggested we move our booking/reservation to AAA. They could provide a onboard ship credit. Are we making a mistake in transferring this booking?? Also, It appears that the only way to get a credit from Viking is through a voucher if we use their insurance. They do not give cash credit if you must cancel your trip. This is wwhy we decided to use Allianz for insurance in lieu of the Viking insurance. Am I understanding this all correctly??

Thanks you for the comment. I will try to answer all of your questions. We always deal directly with Viking, we have a person we work with that we like so we use them. But if you have a travel agent you like, then certainly go with them. Travel agents cannot discount the Viking price, so they give onboard credit as a way to get people to use them. You are not making a mistake to use a travel agent if you are comfortable with them. As far as canceling with Viking, because of Covid, there were some instances were Viking offered a cancel for any reason and that was a voucher, but that has stopped. If you cancel, Viking will refund money based on the cancellation schedule. Outside of 120 days, you will get back ALL your money less $100 per person. The cancellation schedule is in your contract. If you want information about understanding your contract, we have an article on that, look under the Viking tab on our website. We have an annual policy with Allianz, it is more economical if you do multiple trips per year. We have never filed a claim, so we can’t comment on that process. Hope that helps. Save travels!

Have you looked into doing the online test with a kit you buy from EMed? They proctor the processs and send you a results email within minutes. We did it from our pre-cruise hotel and it worked great.

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My husband and I are taking our 2nd Viking river cruise in October this fall on the Rhine from Amsterdam to Basil. Our first one was ten years ago and was quite enjoyable. We are wondering if you have come across any information regarding how direct the flights are. In 2012 we left from Rochester , NY and had to fly west to Chicaco then east to Germany. Same coming back – had to fly west to Chicago first and then back East to Rochester. We estimated that was about 7 – 8 additional hours in the air than if the flights had been direct from Rochester. This fall we are scheduled to fly out of Orlando, Fl and are hoping to fly directly to at least some place in Europe. Is there any information on the normal routes planes from certain cities take such as departing from Orlando?

The good news is that from Orlando there are many options. We leave from Charlotte and like to fly straight to Europe (Munich or London) and then connect from there. There are several flights from Orlando to London or Frankfurt that then connect to Amsterdam. If you are using Viking Air+, then we usually find a flight or two we like and then call Viking to schedule it.

Excellent commentary! Well done. We have taken one river cruise (Danube) and now 2 oceans. Bermuda and Panama Canal. We are currently booked for a Trade routes of the middle ages, to replace a lost Grand European (due to covid) and another Grand Euro, because we actually want to do that itinerary. Your reviews are spot on. I have a favorite Viking rep, and work with him exclusively. We always book our air with Viking air plus, and it is very helpful because flying from Colorado Springs to the East Coast or to European destinations can be a challenge. For our Bermuda trip, we had several flight changes – 4 different airlines cancelled on us, but Viking fixed it just as my patience was about to run out. On some of our cruises, we have gotten free airfare, which is a significant savings, as you can imagine. We also learned about pushing back on our final payment due date, the e-check savings of 3.3% and waiting until about 120 days out to get insurance. These trips are costly – about $1000/ night when everything is included – but there are no surprises – no giant bill for drinks or optional stuff on departure day. We are Vikings for life. Thanks for your quality reporting.

Thank you for the comment. I agree that Viking is not cheap, but when you compare all you get that is inlcuded, I think they are very competitive. And we love both ocean and river cruises. We currently have a river and three ocean booked, can’t wait to go again.

James, our Viking rep suggested we transfer our bookiing to gain perks for our ocean cruise in May 2023. This will be our first cruise with Viking. Plan to use Viking Air. Are flights from ORD to Madrid and return from Venice to ORD usually direct? By the way, your article is excellent, Very helpful for a first timer

Hi, I booked with Viking, but I am still confused about getting insurance through Viking or a travel agent. I only have a few more days to get it with preexisting condition. I do have a travel agent that wants me to transfer to him, but not sure what to do. Viking is expensive, o what should I do? Lorrie Please Help

We have used Viking Tripmate a few times, but you are right, it is more expensive. Another thing to consider, is all you trip with Viking or do you have your own airfare or extensions? Viking insurance will only cover what you purchased from Viking. Over the last few years we have used Allianz, in fact we have an annual policy. But there are several tools which allow you to compare plans so you get the insurance that is right for you. A good TA can recommend what to get based on your needs. Safe travels.

Paula, we just got back from the Viking Rhine cruise this morning. Outstanding . It was the first time We used them and it will not be the last. As for the PCR test we had it done three days before at 6:30 PM at solvhealth.com/Primbio research labs in Newtown Square Pa.19073. I do not know your area but this Company has a lot of offices. They fit a great job and had my report to me the next night. I hope this helps Jim R

Hello James, We are getting ready to commit to a River cruise …Prague to Berlin…May 2023. They now offer economy air free and premium economy at $799. My question is, if we extend through Viking for two extra nights in Berlin, will that mess up our air portion or will we have to pay extra for “deviation” or if we extend the 2 days through Viking will they automatically fix the return flight home? Hope i didn’t make this sound too confusing. Also, we had a River scheduled for this past May which we cancelled and received vouchers for full amount to be applied within 2 years….we are past cruiser with Viking as well. Should we push them for some type of shipboard credit for the May 2023 cruise mentioned above? Thanks

Thanks for the comment. The deviation will allow you to extend the front end and/or the back end of the trip. Once you pay the deviation, it doesn’t cost more to do both sides of the cruise. The air will automatically be adjusted to match your dates, but the transfers will not be included since you are transferring at a different time than the rest of the people. As far as shipboard credit, Viking does not usually offer that.

Thanks for the response. I decided to call Viking directly and they said if i sign up for the 2 day Post cruise extension in Berlin,costing $499 pp (two nights in hotel) , transfers to airport would be included and our premium economy $799 flight would not change . No deviation fee to pay in this case !

Does anyone have information when taking the included free port excursions, can I stay wherever that excursion concludes and continue on with my day rather than returning to ship (I would understand I would have to pay whatever cost would incur to return)

When excursions are in the city where you are docked, then most times you can explore on your own. Viking will also usually have a shuttle running from the ship to somewhere in town.

Great information. My husband and I are typically very independent travelers but we are considering a Viking river cruise. Our preference would be to book our own flights and just show up when it’s time to get on the boat. Of course we don’t want to miss out on free flights if that’s being offered. Will Viking book flights for us that give us a few days before and a few days after without having to use their hotels or pay their diversion fee or whatever that is called? We don’t really want to be ‘herded’ everywhere we go. Thanks

If you use Viking and want to arrive early or stay late on your own, you will be charged the deviation fee. Also, if you use Viking Air, I always pay for Viking Airplus. That gives you much more control over selecting the flights you want so you fly through the airports you want with the connection times you want. I always compare the price from Viking to what I can do on my own. It is rare I can do better, and I like having it all with Viking.

I just booked but didnt confirm our first river cruise and first with Viking the Amsterdam to Basel in mid May 2023. We want to go early and spend 2 days in Amsterdam before our cruise begins but have agreed to use Viking Air to arrange our flights because we have free airfare as part of our package costs. How do i reserve our precruise trip? We arent using Viking..their extended stay trips are sold out…so i will reserve our hotel myself. I always use Trip Advisor for hotel recommendations. My question is ….how does Viking set this up? I guess i call them and tell them i want to fly to Amsterdam 2 days early and they will incorporate that into our flight schedule? I pay $100 deviation fee for my wife and I…right? Do we NOT get transportation from airport on arrival and to the ship on the day we leave on the cruise if we do this self arranged trip in Amsterdam? Another question pertains to items i have had on ocean cruises like pre paid drink packages…pre paid gratuities etc. Are those offered by Viking on river cruises and if so when you get that information? I reserved a Veranda A stateroom which was $200 more per person than the Veranda B, but i really couldnt see any difference in the details….is it just due to being one deck higher on Ver A than B? Your blog is really excellent and helfpul to we first time river cruisers. After this one we may try Viking for an Ocean cruise to get the smaller size ship. We are through with floating cities for ocean cruises! Thanks for your help.

Jerry, thanks for the comment and I will try to answer all of your questions. But as always, check with Viking to ensure you have the latest information. First, I recommend that you pay the fee for Viking Air Plus. With just Viking Air, they will select your flights. With Air Plus, you get input into the flights you want. So we always select a few flights and then call them. That way you can select the airports you want to fly through and set the connection times. If you want to fly in early or leave late, then you will pay the deviation fee. But the one fee covers both ends. Just call Viking and tell them when you want to fly out and back. It will be on your invoice/contract and when it is time to book, just call Viking Air and they will book it. Because you are not arriving when others arrive for the cruise, you will have to arrange transportation yourself. We have done it many times, it is no big deal. As far as pre-paid drinks and gratuities, they will be on the myvikingjourney site. Just go to that sit and enter your booking number (even if you haven’t made the deposit yet), and you will see everything, including prepaid options. Vernada A vs B is just the deck you are on. Safe travels and I am sure you will love Viking!

This was excellent. Thank you.

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If I would use Viking Air Plus, do I have control over the connection times? Flying to London early and from Bergen same day (we’ve already been there). There’s a large difference in price, business class, with a shorter connection, ie; 2 hours compared to 9. We usually always do our own but was curious. Thanks.

With Viking Air Plus you do have control of your flights, but it is limited. Viking contracts with certain airlines and certain routes for the price quoted. I usually search for the flight(s) I want, in the order of preference. Then call Viking Air and they will let you know if the flight can be booked. Sometimes they can get the flight you want, but there may be a premium you need to pay. I then compare their price with what I can book directly. If I can get the airfare with Viking, even if it is a little more, I usually do since then it is all under Viking and you get transfers (if you are flying on the extension day or ship transfer days). I would say we book with Viking about 80% of the time. You can book about 300 days from the return flight, of course you won’t be ticketed at that time, just booked. Safe Travels!

I have a South America and the. Chilean fjords cruise on hold. How do I get back in to this account and confirm it!

Excellent advice! We are first- time cruisers and value your experience!

We live in a small city, that Viking does not have flight connections. Do we ask Viking Air to add a flight, or should we use Viking Air+ to get the entire flight planned by Viking Air?

Comments are closed.

Hot Topic: Surprise Cruise Reveal Ideas

My Viking Journey: What to Expect After Booking a Viking Cruise (Before you Sail)

We booked a Viking Cruise and were delighted to proceed with signing up for their My Viking Journey guest website, pre-cruise. Though we wouldn't board our river cruise ship for weeks, it felt like we were well on our way as we logged into the system to continue planning our trip.

If you're planning a Viking River Cruise or a Viking Expedition Cruise (or thinking about signing up), we have the inside info you want to know regarding what happens after you book your cruise.

We’ve been through the process of booking and waiting for our Viking cruise, like you. Here, we will let you know what you can expect in the time between booking and the time you sail. 

➞ Be sure to sign up for the free printable too, which you'll see about 1/3 of the way down the page.

Disclosure: There are affiliate links in this post, which means we may earn a small commission if you click the link and proceed with a purchase  at no cost to you . We were hosted by Viking, and truly only recommend hotels, products, and services we personally use. As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases

Your Viking Cruise is Confirmed

You carefully researched your cruise options, then chose to book a sailing with the reputable brand, Viking. You've booked directly with Viking, with a travel agent, or with a third party like Priceline . You're confirmed!

Your anticipation builds as you count down the days until your cruise embarkation date. In the meantime, you wonder what to expect after you have your Viking ocean or river cruise confirmation number in hand.

Your cruise confirmation number is important because you need it to log in to the “My Viking Journey” website. 

Mark Emails from Viking as “Important”

Be sure to mark any emails from Viking that come your way, so they're filtered to your “Primary” inbox if you have Gmail. That way, essential emails (including Viking documents) will not be sent to spam.

You can also add any Viking email addresses to your contacts list in your email account. This will also help ensure they don't go to spam.

The “My Viking Journey” Experience

“My Viking Journey” is the website you'll have access to once you have your cruise confirmation number. All Viking guests have access to this portal, whether it's a river cruise or ocean cruise. You can continue with your Viking cruise vacation planning in this awesome portal!

Access to My Viking Journey is open for your cruise planning until seven days prior to embarkation .

Log into Your My Viking Journey Account

If you’ve never sailed with Viking, you must create a new account on myvikingjourney.com .

Whether it’s your first sailing, second or sixth, you’ll need your cruise confirmation number that you received after booking. **This is how you link your upcoming cruise to your “My Viking Journey” Account.**

Overview of What you Can Do in My Viking Journey 

This is your go-to center for booking your excursions, checking your stateroom configuration (like if you want two twin beds or want them to be pushed together for one double bed), adding on a drinks/spirits package pre-cruise, and pre-paying gratuities. 

We loved logging in to see our cruise at a glance in My Viking Journey. If for nothing else, it was an exciting reminder that a booked river cruise was in our near future!  

Though it may take a few minutes and some clicking around to understand how the categories in the program are organized and realize what categories are linked to specific options, you get the hang of where things are within a short amount of time.

Your access to My Viking Journey is no longer available seven days before your embarkation date.

Free Printable for your Pre-Cruise Tasks and Timeline

If you're someone who likes to print a list of tasks like we've laid out here and put it on your desk or the fridge, we have a treat for you. Simply enter your email address and we'll email you a link to our free printable that will help you stay organized for your Viking cruise.

Download the free printable

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at anytime.

The First Thing to Do in My Viking Journey: Add Excursions

We recommend booking any additional excursions you want immediately because it is the only thing that may sell out. Things like the Silver Spirits package won't sell out, nor is there a timeframe to when you can pre-pay gratuities. As long as you do these tasks one week before your cruise starts (when My Viking Journey closes) you'll be golden.

If you add your desired excursions first , you'll have peace of mind that you secured your choices before they potentially fill up. Furthermore, the closer to the sail date you book your cruise, the fewer spots will be available for additional excursions.

Have your credit card handy. You'll need it to pay for any excursion you add that has a cost beyond what's included in your cruise.

For example, we booked an additional excursion for our Viking River Cruise in Bordeaux in advance. It was a walking tour in Blaye that took us behind the scenes of what the general public gets to see and into the lives of residents who live there. We were glad we booked it!

We opted to add this to our cruise while we were still home, considering our excursion options. 

What about Excursions that are Automatically Included with your Cruise?

A lot of excursions are included with river cruise bookings. These are mostly walking tours that are typically included with river cruises (that’s why we think they’re one of the best cruise options on the market – they include so much for the price ). 

You'll notice you can add included excursions to your reservation. But do you need to add them if they're already included?

We opted to do so because we figured, why not? We liked seeing it on our final excursions document that was emailed to us before the cruise. (Image below shows how the included tour appears in My Viking Journey.)

If you don't opt into the included excursions in advance, you'll still be able to participate in them during your cruise. So why add them at all?

The benefit of adding them in My Viking Journey in advance is simply so Viking knows how many people on the cruise are interested ahead of time. This helps them prepare more accurately.

On the guest side, it is fun to see the excursions at a glance when you log into your account. We found it helped keep us organized. It's a good way to bookmark included tours you want to participate in.

If you don't add additional paid excursions (ones that cost extra money) beforehand, or you want to add any during your cruise if there's still room, you can do so on the ship. 

Things to Do After You Book Excursions

Other things you can do in My Viking Journey before you sail include:

• Choose your bed configuration : If you're a couple, you likely want the beds pushed together. If you're friends or siblings sailing together, you will likely want two twin beds with space between them.
• Pre-pay gratuities : We always opt to do this so we don't have to worry about it on the cruise. If you prefer to pay gratuities onboard instead, you can.
• Enter your passport information (they still ask for your passport when you board the ship, which is usual. It's a good safety measure to make sure guests are who they say they are).
• Select any upgrades to alcohol packages if you like, like the Silver Spirits Beverage Package. (Image below of what that add-on option looks like in My Viking Journey.)

Check your Passport Validity

You also want to check your passport's expiration date right after you book. This is just in case you need to renew your passport. You'll want to ensure you don't leave this for the last minute if a renewal is in order!

Flights are Booked (Potentially through Viking Air)

Depending on a cruise package or promotion you book with other river cruise lines, flights may be included. (Emerald Cruises, for example, often runs free-flight promotions.)

Viking sometimes offers promotions, like if they run a cruise special and include air for a special starting price, like “Air from $599,” for example. (We're not saying they never offer free air or never will, we've just never seen those promos…so don't hold your breath!)

Nonetheless, Viking offers great air travel rates through Viking Air.

You certainly have the option to book them on your own if you wish. If you do, you might have more flight carriers and time options since Viking (though they have many options) doesn’t partner with every airline. That said, they have a lot of air partners, including any major carrier you'd be interested in.

Benefits of Booking Flights with My Viking Air

Since Viking handles thousands and thousands of flights, they have exclusive rates that appeal to many travelers. This is perhaps the most apparent benefit of booking through My Viking Air .

Secondly, you can choose to upgrade your seats to Business Class or Premium Economy at their special rates.

Thirdly, complimentary transfers between your hotel and/or airport could be available through My Viking Air. This depends on when you arrive for your cruise and when you leave to go home after your cruise.

For example, if you land at the airport the same day as embarkation and you leave for the airport the day your cruise ends, Viking will provide transfers to and from the airport. This simplifies travel logistics to and from your Viking cruise ship and the airport.

Can you Book Transfers through Viking if you Book Air through Another Provider?

Yes. Viking Air includes transfers as do all of their extension packages. If you decide to book air separately, you can purchase airport transfers through Viking up to 30 days before your cruise departure .  

Viking Air when Flights are Canceled or Rescheduled

If you book flights through Viking and there is an issue when you travel, you call Viking for help. Their hotline is available 24/7 when you are in transit. However, if you book directly through an airline, you call the airline for help. 

Viking Air Hotline Phone Number

In regards to who to call in the case of an air travel delay, cancellation or emergency, Viking's official statement is:

• If you have a travel protection plan in an air travel emergency, please contact that provider.
• If you do not have travel coverage and you purchased air from Viking, please contact 1-877-523-0580.
• If you arranged your own air and are traveling independently, contact the emergency number listed in your Cruise Documents.

Our Experience Having Our Flights Home Canceled While on our Viking Cruise

We can attest to being on the receiving end of an airline cancellation when traveling. After we received the frustrating news, we had to communicate with Viking Air the night before we disembarked the ship.

Our canceled flights were no fault of Viking's; during an infamous “summer travel” season, airlines were canceling flights left and right.

This happened while on Viking Forseti for a cruise in Bordeaux. We immediately called the Viking emergency hotline number they provided us in advance (via email) as soon as we heard the news.

They answered the phone at 11:00pm local time in France, which was 2:00pm in California (Viking's airline support is US-based). They remedied the flight situation within a reasonable amount of time.

It was reassuring to have them handle it like the pros they are and guide us through rebooking while we were in a foreign country.

Is it Best to Book through Viking Air or on your Own?

We don’t have a recommendation for one over the other. You need to make a personal decision about what is best for you and your family. While the thought of everything for your Viking cruise being in one location is really nice, we understand that some people may want to book separately.

All we can say is weigh your options, from cost to flight path and customer service, and book what’s best for you. If you book your own flights and want to book transfers through Viking, just make sure you do so 30 days before your cruise or the options won't be available anymore.

What you Can do to Prepare for Your Viking Cruise Ahead of Your Trip

Now that your cruise and flights are booked, you've secured your excursions, pre-loaded any documented info like your passport number, and have decided if you want to upgrade your alcohol package, you have plenty of time to: 

• Get excited!
• Check to make sure your passport is valid for the length of time needed in the country (or countries) you’re visiting. For example, if you visit Germany, Austria, The Netherlands, and Switzerland for a Danube River Cruise , you need to make sure your passport will be valid for 90 days after the last day of your trip.
• Check if you need a visa . (For example, you need visas if you're traveling to Southeast Asia for a Mekong River Cruise .)
• Research your destination(s) : It’s always great to know some history of where you’re going, even though you’ll learn about it during the cruise. 
• Educate yourself about what to expect on a river cruise if it's your first one. We have this article for you to eliminate surprises.
• Create your packing list : Check out our recommended cruise essentials to order ahead of time and set aside for your river cruise, no matter the time of year you sail.

Download the “Viking Voyager” App

Though you won’t use the app much before your trip (most of its functions do not work pre-cruise anyway – they only function during the cruise), it’s smart to download the Viking Voyager app from the App Store while you're home. 

There is wifi on the cruise ship, but its strength is spotty depending on what port you're in or where you're sailing. Why wait until you're on the ship when you know that it’s good to download for your cruise anyway? (It’s also likely your at-home wifi speed is much faster than on the ship.) 

Truth be told, we didn't use the app much during our cruise. During our week-long cruise, we only opened it a few times. This was because they print a “Viking Daily” that housekeeping places in your stateroom every day.

This document shares the cruise itinerary for the following day. Additionally, Viking includes fun history and fun facts about the area in the bi-folded paper.

The app pretty much has the same information as Viking Daily.

Two to Four Weeks before Your Cruise: Viking Embarkation Documents Will Arrive in the Mail

If your cruise balance is paid and your Viking Air is in good standing, you can expect to receive a packet in the mail anywhere from two to four weeks before your sailing that contains the following:

• Viking welcome letter
• 1 Leather luggage tag per guest
• 2 Personalized embarkation tags per guest
• 1 Arrival transfer sticker per guest (if applicable)

Note that if you book within two weeks of your cruise or your Viking account isn't in good standing within the two weeks before your cruise, you will not receive this packet in the mail.

Within One Week of Your Cruise: What to Expect Before your Viking River Cruise

Get excited! Your cruise is fast approaching.

As a reminder, My Viking Journey access closes seven days before your cruise embarkation. So be sure you have done the following by this time:

• ✔️ Prepaid gratuities if you wish
• ✔️ Chosen your excursions
• ✔️ Made a decision about the Silver Spirits packages

Here’s what to do the week before your cruise: 

• Start to pack your bags if you haven’t already. (Don't forget your passport!)
• Get your {health} ducks in a row : Refill prescriptions as needed and check on current health regulations to enter the countries you’re visiting. Check to see if you need proof of COVID vaccines or a negative COVID test to enter the country. You may also need to fill out a Travel Form or Travel Locator Form of some sort for entry to the country you're visiting ahead of your trip. (We had to do so within the week we traveled to France for our cruise on the Garonne River in Bordeaux.) 
• If you are traveling in the area on your own before the cruise starts and you plan on getting to the cruise port yourself (as opposed to having Viking transfer you from the airport to the port of embarkation) be sure you have the address of the port and dock where the ship will be . 
• Make note of any emails from Viking that you want to have handy . We labeled all our Viking correspondence with a “Viking” label as we received the messages, so they were easy to access with the click of a button in one folder in our email account if we were online. (We don't always rely on ship wifi. For example, when we're at the airport we hop on airport wifi, or if we're in a taxi we use our Solis hotspot for wifi . This is so we avoid cell phone roaming fees.)

Documents that Viking Emails you During the Week Leading Up to Your Cruise 

You’ll receive a “Final Viking Journey Summary” document approximately one week before your cruise. 

This has the name of your trip (for us, it was “Chateaux, Rivers & Wine” in Bordeaux, France), your booking status (which should say “final”), and your booking number at the top. 

Below is a summary of what else is included in the digital PDF, along with a summary of what PDFs they attached to the email, like the Guest Information Form and Passenger Ticket Contract.

Your Journey Summary

Guest information form, passenger ticket contract.

Within days of your cruise, you’ll receive an email from Viking with their Travel Emergency Hotline number should any flight complications arise when you travel. This came our way three days before our cruise. Make note of this phone number, just in case. (We needed it when our flight home was canceled, so we were glad we notated it!)

Below, we go into more detail about what each PDF contains:

Names, itineraries, flights, pre-selected excursions, shore excursions that have symbols for excursion type (example: Sightseeing, Beach Access, or Privileged Access), level of difficulty, features (like if it’s a UNESCO World Heritage site), and what the excursion includes, like a meal or snack. 

This includes the information Viking has on file for you, like your name, address, and emergency contact details. 

All guests with a Viking cruise booking receive this. It can also be found in the footer of Viking's website if you ever want to refer to it. (It's likened to a Terms & Conditions document for your cruise.)

My Viking Journey Conclusion

The anticipation will build from the moment you solidify your cruise booking with a confirmation number to logging into My Viking Journey. Your excitement will grow as you book your air, transfers, and excursions, and prepare for your vacation with documents emailed and snail-mailed to you.

Most people don't like surprises (especially in travel), and now you know what to expect after you book your Viking cruise!

Read this next:

• 26 Helpful Things to Know your First Time on a River Cruise
• Why are River Cruises So Expensive? (Or are They the Best Cruise Value Out There?)
• All About the Bordeaux Cruise Port

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Viking cruise cabins and suites: A guide to everything you want to know

Is a balcony something you can't live without when staying in a cabin on a cruise ship? If so, Viking could be your line.

Viking is one of the only cruise brands in the world that offers a balcony with every cabin on every ocean ship it operates — even the least expensive, smallest cabins. That's something that even the most upscale of Viking's ocean cruise rivals — including Oceania Cruises , Azamara , Seabourn , Silversea Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises — can't say.

Viking's ocean ships also offer a large number of suites, many of which are quite spacious. If you're looking for a room that is big and open on an ocean cruise (and are willing to pay extra for it), Viking has plenty of options.

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

Viking also offers many 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. However, unlike its ocean ships, Viking's river ships aren't all-balcony-cabin vessels. Some can have as many as 25 cabins per ship that are below the waterline and have windows high in the walls.

Still, even on Viking's river ships, most cabins are balcony cabins.

A Viking cabin primer

Cruising regulars know that most cruise ships offer cabins in four broad categories: windowless "inside" cabins, ocean-view cabins, balcony cabins and suites.

As noted above, though, you'll only find the latter two types of cabins on Viking ocean ships. Viking currently operates nine traditional ocean ships aimed at the English-speaking market and two oceangoing expedition ships. Every single passenger room on all 11 of the vessels is either a balcony cabin or a suite with a balcony. As previously mentioned, that's highly unusual in the cruise business.

Viking is also known for a relatively simple-to-understand array of subcategories of rooms within its balcony-cabin and suite categories. Unlike some cruise brands such as Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line, which offer as many as 36 different sub-types of cabins, Viking's ocean ships offer just six.

The bottom line is that you'll be much less flummoxed when trying to choose the perfect cabin for you on a Viking ocean ship than when trying to choose a cabin on most other vessels.

Related: The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

When it comes to size, even the smallest cabins on Viking's ocean ships are large by cruise ship standards at 270 square feet, and the largest suites measure nearly 1,500 square feet.

Design-wise, Viking cabins and suites across all categories are modern and elegant in an understated sort of way, with Scandinavian-influenced furnishings and decor that tie to the Norwegian heritage of the company's founder.

You'll find beds topped with crisp, white duvets and Scandinavian throws, comfortable contemporary sofas and chairs in neutral tones, and light wood desks and side tables that combine to offer a residential feel in bedroom areas. Soothing, minimalist colors — think creams, grays and lighter blues — are the order of the day.

Bathrooms in Viking cabins are serene, modernist escapes with luxurious travertine marble-lined walls; Scandinavian-influenced, wood-veneered vanities; shiny white sinks; and chrome fixtures.

Viking is an upscale line — some might even call it a luxury line, though Viking doesn't market itself that way — and Viking cabins and suites have a lot of thoughtful and elegant touches, from sumptuous bedding that envelops you to heated floors in bathrooms. The rooms aren't overly flashy, though.

Instead, they are eminently functional, with storage in all the right places, lots of outlets for charging your devices and lighting right where you need it. We love the reading lights built into the fabric headboards of beds, which come in addition to the lamps on bedside tables. You won't have trouble seeing the pages of the Viking Daily activity newsletter while lying in a Viking cabin bed.

Related: The best destinations you can visit on a Viking cruise

Other little touches in Viking cabins that show the line's attention to functionality include the large and clear lettering on the Freyja toiletries that you'll find in every Viking cabin bathroom. The toiletries were specifically designed with bigger and clearer lettering than is common for toiletries so that the line's older customers (Viking's core market is in the 55- to the 75-year-old range) would have no trouble differentiating the body wash from the shampoo.

In a similar nod to functionality and ease of use, Viking had the remote controls for cabin televisions specially designed so they would only have a few buttons.

Balcony cabins on Viking cruise ships

Viking keeps it simple with the array of balcony cabins on its ocean ships. The line's nine traditional ocean vessels aimed at the English-speaking market each have 418 balcony cabins that can be broken down into three categories:

• 42 Veranda Staterooms (10% of the total).
• 272 Deluxe Veranda Staterooms (65% of the total).
• 104 Penthouse Veranda Staterooms (25% of the total).

The first two categories, Veranda Staterooms and Deluxe Veranda Staterooms, are the same size at 270 square feet (a figure that includes balcony space). They basically look the same. However, the Deluxe Veranda Staterooms, which cost more, have better locations on the ships and come with more amenities and services. These extra amenities and services include:

• Earlier access to shore excursion reservations (67 days in advance of sailing versus 60 days).
• Priority access to spa treatment bookings (60 days in advance).
• One guaranteed priority reservation at every alternative restaurant on board, which can be made 60 days in advance of sailing.
• Binoculars in the room.
• Coffee machines with premium coffee and tea selections in the room.
• A traditional, super-soft Norwegian Marius-weave blanket for use in the room.

Passengers staying in Deluxe Veranda Staterooms can also access their rooms one hour earlier on embarkation day than those staying in Veranda Staterooms.

Both of the first two categories of balcony cabins come with minibars stocked with complimentary soft drinks, water and snacks. In the case of Deluxe Veranda Staterooms, staff replenishes these minibars once per day.

Penthouse Veranda Staterooms offer more space than the latter two categories, at 338 square feet, plus additional amenities and services, including:

• Priority shore excursion reservations that can be made 77 days in advance of sailing.
• Two guaranteed priority reservations at each alternative restaurant on board, which can be made 70 days in advance.
• Priority spa treatment bookings that can be made 70 days in advance.
• Minibars that include complimentary alcoholic beverages as well as soft drinks, water and snacks (replenished once daily).
• Complimentary clothes pressing and shoeshine services.
• A welcome bottle of Champagne.
• Earlier access to cabins on embarkation day.

Viking's two expedition ships, Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris, also have three categories of balcony cabins with a similar array of amenities and services. Named Nordic Balcony, Deluxe Nordic Balcony and Nordic Penthouse, the cabins of these three categories are slightly smaller than the cabins of the three balcony cabin categories on the traditional Viking ocean ships at 215, 215 and 269 square feet, respectively. They also have a different type of balcony that makes them feel more spacious than their square footage suggests.

Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris have what some in the cruise industry call an "infinite veranda" — a balcony-like space created by a window wall that opens from the top down. Viking calls them Nordic balconies.

Related: How to get a free or cheap cruise ship cabin upgrade

The majority of Viking river ships, known as Viking Longships, have 61 balcony cabins broken down into two categories: 205-square-foot Veranda Staterooms and 135-square-foot French Balcony Staterooms.

The latter has doors that open onto simple balustrades and not full balconies that you can step onto. This feature is known as a French balcony or Juliet balcony (a nod to the balcony of this type made famous in Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet"). Technically, these French balconies are balconies, even if they're not quite as satisfying as a balcony with space to lounge.

Including the French balcony cabins, nearly 75% of the cabins on Viking's Longships have balconies.

Viking also offers smaller versions of its Longships that have fewer balcony cabins, as well as a few different types of river ships with varying numbers of balcony cabins.

Suites on Viking cruise ships

The suite choices on Viking ships also are relatively easy to understand. On Viking's traditional ocean ships, there are 47 suites broken down into three categories:

• 32 Penthouse Junior Suites.
• 14 Explorer Suites.
• One Owner's Suite.

The Penthouse Junior Suites measure 405 square feet, including their balcony space, and come with such extra amenities and services as:

• Priority shore excursion reservations that can be made 87 days in advance of sailing.
• Three guaranteed priority reservations at each alternative restaurant, which can be booked 80 days in advance.
• Priority spa treatment bookings that can be made 80 days in advance.
• Minibars with complimentary alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, water and snacks.
• Complimentary laundry, dry cleaning, pressing and shoeshine services.

In addition to a bed area, Penthouse Junior Suites have a large sitting area with a sofa, coffee table and chairs, and a separate television. The bathrooms are large, too.

Life starts really getting good in the 14 Explorer Suites on Viking's traditional ocean ships. They range in size from 757 to 1,163 square feet, including balcony space, and bring even more enhanced amenities and services.

Related: The ultimate guide to Viking ships and itineraries

Each of the Explorer Suites is a two-room complex with a well-appointed living and dining area complete with a table that seats four people. Very large master bathrooms feature a double-sink vanity, a spacious glass-enclosed shower and a bathtub (something you won't find in any of the lesser cabin categories on the vessels).

The Owner's Suites, of which there is just one on each traditional Viking ocean vessel, are truly sprawling and impressive complexes that measure 1,448 square feet. They are true owner's suites in that they are used by Viking founder and chairman Torstein Hagen when he sails on the ships, and they feature some of his personal mementos, including family pictures.

Related: 7 reasons you should splurge on a suite for your next cruise

Each of the Owner's Suites has a separate bedroom, living room, dining area that seats six people and master bathroom that includes a sauna with a glass wall facing the ocean.

In addition, each of the complexes has a boardroom with a long table that seats 12 people for meetings and catered dinner parties. There's an adjacent pantry that can be used by staff serving room service or catering hosted events. Among other personal touches related to Hagen, the company founder, are book, wine and music collections that he curated for the rooms.

Viking's two oceangoing expedition ships, Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris, also have three categories of suites:

• Nordic Junior Suites (322 square feet).
• Explorer Suites (548 square feet).
• Owner's Suites (1,238 square feet).

The typical Viking river ship has nine suites broken down into two categories — 275-square-foot Veranda Suites and 445-square-foot Explorers Suites.

Bottom line

Viking operates ships with a very easy-to-understand array of cabins, unlike some of its competitors.

Every passenger room on its ocean ships is a balcony cabin or a suite, something that is unusual in the cruise world, and these cabins break down into just a few subcategories. This makes the process of booking a room on a Viking vessel relatively simple compared to booking a room on many other ships.

Design-wise, Viking's cabins are relatively upscale, with soothing, Scandinavian-influenced decor and lots of luxury touches like heated floors in bathrooms.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• 15 ways cruisers waste money
• 12 best cruises for people who never want to grow up
• What to pack for a cruise

The Complete Guide to a Viking River Cruise

Ever consider a Viking European river cruise? River cruises are very popular choices for people who like traveling to new places in the comfort of a floating hotel. That is, you sleep and eat on the ship and are transported to your destinations along a river. It’s certainly a relaxing way to travel. Plus, Viking offers several excursions each day that the ship is in port. My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our Viking River cruise, which transported us comfortably to some amazing European destinations.

This article highlights the European river cruises aboard the Viking Longboats. The sizes of the ships are designed specifically for the rivers they ply (e.g., they need to navigate the sometimes narrow waterways and any locks along the way). Viking ships all sport calming Scandinavian decor and are designed efficiently.  The general experience on all Viking River cruise ships is the same, no matter what ship you’re on. However, the information in this article is from our Grand European Tour cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest aboard the Skirnir and Modi (more on the two ships later).  Once you’ve booked a Viking cruise, take the next steps , like creating an online account with Viking, to ensure a wonderful adventure .

NOTE: This article was completely updated in January 2023 from the original article, written in 2019 . Some procedures and protocols on cruise ships have changed to address public health concerns since the global COVID-19 pandemic. Check with your Viking agent or travel agent (or your MyVikingJourney online portal if you’re already booked on a cruise) to learn the latest protocols aboard the ship, and in the countries you’ll be visiting. Despite some tweaks, this article will prepare you for your Viking River cruise. Enjoy!

What to Expect on a Viking River Cruise

Viking is an industry leader for a variety of reasons, including their choices of fascinating destinations, varied excursion options, attention to detail in designing the private and shared spaces, and a welcoming and hard-working staff.

Viking River Cruise Destinations

You’ll find Viking River cruises throughout Europe, Egypt, and Southeast Asia . There are so many choices of destinations and lengths of the trip. Some people book two cruises back-to-back to extend their vacation. Also, Viking offers options to add a few days in the first or last destination before and after a cruise.

What You’ll Find on Viking

On all river cruises, guests are offered one complimentary shore excursion at every destination . In addition, quite a few “optional” excursions are available at an extra cost. The excursions provide guests with an array of experiences, including peeks into how locals live, how and where they work, and some “privileged access” options just for Viking guests.

Onboard you’ll have port talks to prepare you for each new day along with musical entertainment in the lounge. Plus, you can expect some special cooking and craft demonstrations, wine tastings, and presentations about a destination’s unique features .

Guests are served complimentary soft drinks, beer, or wine during lunch and dinner. There is an extra charge for the Silver Spirits package for guests who want to enjoy premium wines and beer, cocktails, and champagnes.

What You Won’t Find on Viking

There are several things you won’t find on a Viking River cruise, and they are often some of the prime reasons so many people choose Viking .

• No inside staterooms.
• No kids. All guests are 18 years old or more.
• No smoking.
• No casinos.
• No formal nights.
• No charge for Wi-Fi.

Viking River Cruise Ships

Viking Longboats have four decks:

• The Sun Deck has tables and chairs for guests to enjoy the views plus a walking track.
• The Upper Deck has the library, bar, lounge, Aquavit Terrace, coffee and tea station, and internet cafe, along with both of the Explorer Suites, all of the Veranda Suites, and some of the Veranda and French Balcony staterooms.
• The Middle Deck has Guest Services, the restaurant, the Viking shop, and some of the Veranda and French Balcony staterooms. 
• The Lower Deck has the Standard Staterooms.

Stairs connect all the decks; an elevator service the upper and middle decks.

Viking River Cruise Staterooms

All Viking River cruise ship staterooms have:

• river views.
• king-size beds that can be split to make two twin beds.
• private bathrooms that are separate from the living space.
• housekeeping twice a day.
• a telephone, safe, and refrigerator.
• a closet with wooden hangers.
• luggage storage under the beds.
• free Wi-Fi (though connection speeds vary depending upon location).
• a flat-screen TV with infotainment options.
• 110/220-volt outlets and USB ports.

Stateroom Options

The different types of staterooms range in size, available outdoor space, the time for guaranteed stateroom access, and amenities. Also, the ability to book optional excursions varies by the stateroom level . For example, the guests in the Explorer Suites can book optional excursions before guests in the Veranda Suites. This practice continues through all the classes of staterooms, with the standard staterooms getting the last optional booking options. Having said this, there are often opportunities to book optional excursions once you board the ship. This is because some guests may have canceled their planned optional excursions prior to the cruise, so it’s a good practice to check on this and any other concerns once you’re on board. 

• 150 square foot stateroom with picture window (no outdoor space)
• located on the Main Deck (lowest deck)
• 3:00 pm guaranteed stateroom access
• 135 square foot stateroom with French balcony (sliding glass door with no outdoor space)
• located on the Upper Deck and Middle Deck
• 205 square foot room with full-size private veranda
• 275 square foot suite with full-size private veranda
• located on the Upper Deck 
• 12:00 pm guaranteed stateroom access
• mini-bar with wine, beer, and soft drinks that are replenished daily
• complimentary fruit plate daily
• complimentary laundry & shoe shine services
• expansive 445 square foot living space (separate living room and bedroom) with wraparound balcony at the stern of the ship plus a French balcony in the bedroom. 
• complimentary in-room breakfast service
• complimentary Silver Spirits beverage package
• private arrival and departure transfer (from and to the airport)

Stateroom Amenities

The staterooms and bathrooms are efficiently designed to maximize usable space , and there are many things to appreciate in the staterooms.

• A safe with an electronic keypad is provided in each room. You set the code, so it’s a cinch to remember. It easily holds passports and other travel documents, along with jewelry and money. One tip we learned is to put a shoe (just one!) in the safe the day before you check out. Having to look for the shoe on the last day will remind you to open the safe so you don’t forget your valuables.
• Staterooms have 110V and 220V electrical outlets , so you can plug in whichever fits your needs. We took a universal travel adaptor with 4 USB plugs and 4 outlets and used just one outlet for all of our electronics (smartphones, cameras, tablets , and Apple Watch). That saved precious counter space.
• There’s a full-size   hair dryer with a German Schuko 2-pin plug that matches the 2-prong outlet in the bathroom.
• Sturdy wooden hangers are in your closet upon arrival; if you need more, just ask, and they will be delivered promptly.
• A complete supply of Freyja toiletries , including shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and body lotion along with a shower cap and vanity set, awaits you in the bathroom. These supplies are replenished as needed.
• The bathroom has a laundry line in the shower that is handy for hanging hand-washed garments.
• Laundry can be sent out to be done. It is usually returned within 24 hours. You can choose to have your garments washed and ironed or ironed only. For an idea of the costs for cleaning and ironing, pants are 6 Euros, a blouse is 5 Euros, and a polo shirt is 3.5 Euros (at the time of publication). Guests in an Explorer Suite or Veranda Suite receive complimentary laundry services.
• There’s a mini-fridge in the staterooms. Whatever you consume will be replenished when the staff cleans your room.
• A large glass bottle of water i n your guest room (along with glasses) will be replenished as needed. (You will also be offered bottled water as you leave for each excursion.)
• There are two listening devices on lanyards along with an earpiece (for your left ear) for each device inside your room. Keep these devices in the chargers when not in use, so they are fully charged for excursions.
• All rooms have a color TV with live channels, complimentary movies, and Viking programming . We used the TV for weather updates and a map that always shows the ship’s location; this was very handy as we navigated the rivers in between ports of call. 
• Housekeeping will visit your room in the morning to clean it.
• Housekeeping will revisit your room while you’re at dinner. You’ll notice the Viking Daily on your bed when you return to your room later that evening. This publication outlines the schedule for the next day, with all included and optional excursions as well as suggestions on where to visit and eat during your free time the next day.
• There’s room under the bed to store suitcases after unpacking.

Viking River Cruise Common Areas

In addition to your stateroom, there are several key public areas on the longships including an expansive, relaxing lounge and bar, the Aquavit Terrace at the ship’s bow for al fresco dining and soaking in river views, a dining room, a coffee/tea station, a small library, and an area with two desktop computers for guest use. For more details on the areas designed for guest comfort, read the illustrated guide to the Viking River Cruise ship’s common areas .

Embarkation

Staterooms are guaranteed to be ready at 3:00 pm. (If you are booked in one of the suites, you’ll have access to your stateroom at 12:00.) If you arrive before your guaranteed time of 3:00 pm, you can spend time in the Lounge or leave your luggage on the ship and begin to explore the city on your own. A light buffet is available in the Lounge around midday, so you’ll be able to recharge a bit before the cruise begins — a nice treat if you just got off a long flight.

The Viking Onboard Experience

Naturally, safety is a primary concern of travelers and the crew. There was a mandatory safety drill on our first full day of the river cruise. Life vests were under the beds, but prior to the drill, they were placed on our beds while we were at lunch. Just before the drill, we were all asked to return to our staterooms and don our life vests. After that, we went to an assigned group on the upper deck (groups are determined by what floor the staterooms are on), and we had to give our stateroom number to the staff at the assigned location (for roll call). Once everyone was accounted for, we were able to leave, return our life vests to our stateroom, and resume what we were doing.

Each time you leave the ship, you scan your room key . When you return to the ship, you scan it again . This is one way the crew can account for all guests. Before leaving a dock, there may be announcements asking for guests in certain rooms to let the staff know they are on the ship. (It’s not uncommon for someone to forget to scan their card when returning to the ship.)

Attire on a river cruise is casual. During the day on excursions, travelers dress very comfortably as they leave the ship to explore a destination. However, most guests sport a smart casual look for dinner. Leave your dressier clothes at home; no formal nights are on a Viking River cruise. 

Meals on a Viking River Cruise

Three meals are included each day at the following times:

• Breakfast: 7:00-9:00 am
• Lunch: 12:00-2:00 pm 
• Dinner: 7:00 pm

Soda, beer, and house wine are available at lunch and dinner at no charge.

Travelers who purchase the Silver Spirits beverage package (price varies depending on the length of your cruise) can get whatever alcoholic beverage they want during lunch, dinner, and whenever else the bar is staffed (afternoons and evenings) at no additional charge. The Silver Spirits package is complimentary for guests in an Explorer Suite.

If you have dietary restrictions, let Viking know when you book. You should also alert the Maitre d’ once on board.

The river cruises have open seating, so that means you aren’t assigned any table mates. Each time you enter the dining room, you find a table that you want to sit at. We enjoyed sitting with different people; it gave us a chance to learn about their travel experiences and lives a bit. You never know what you’ll learn or who you’ll meet!

Although lunch is available in the dining room, we favored the Aquavit Terrace (at the front of the ship) for our midday meal. It’s relaxed and has an abundant food buffet with soup, a variety of salads, meats, warm sandwiches (like paninis and Cuban sandwiches), fruit, and dessert. There’s always iced tea — often with different flavors every day. Servers take your drink orders (sodas, beer, wine) and freshen up your glass when it is empty. Just inside is the Lounge where we ate one rainy lunchtime. The Aquavit Terrace is one advantage Viking has over its competition. This is a great venue for enjoying the passing landscape on travel days and relaxed dining every day.

Prior to dinner, the chef usually introduces the options including his/her recommendations. On our cruise, this was done in the Lounge just after the evening port talk by the program director. Dinner begins at 7:00 pm in the dining room. If you choose to eat on the Aquavit Terrace, dinner begins at 7:15 pm with all of the same options as in the dining room.

Menu Options

On one side of the menu are the “classics” or options that are always available. W hen we cruised, the “classics” included Caesar salad as a starter; steak, salmon, and chicken as entrees, and Creme Brûlée, a selection of cheeses, a fruit plate, and ice cream for dessert.

On the other side of the menu are “regional specialties” or options that are focused on our destinations. Examples were creamy potato soup, Wiener Schnitzel, and Sacher cake when in Vienna; while in Budapest, the menu featured Hungarian Farmer Salad, Fogas Karpathy (perch and shrimp in white wine sauce), and Zserbo (a layered walnut and chocolate cake).

Without a doubt, we give Viking chefs top marks for the presentation and flavor of the food they serve. We always enjoyed the variety of food from the local areas we were visiting. After all, we travel to experience new places, new food, and new people, so we like to eat local specialties whenever possible. We were never disappointed with our meal selections. Whichever side of the menu you order from, the meals for the entire table are served at the same time.

Guests & Socializing

Cruising is a social experience as you chat with fellow passengers on excursions, at the social hour before dinner in the Lounge, and at meals.  An easy way to begin a conversation is to ask where people are from, about their past travel experiences, and what excursions interest them the most. We’ve found there are a lot of commonalities as well as interesting folks to meet. 

River cruises are designed for the mature traveler as Viking guests must be 18 years old. Many of the guests are retired, but there were quite a few still working or recently retired. 

Exercising on a River Cruise

There is no fitness center or spa on Viking River cruise ships; the space that could be a fitness center is instead put to use in the common areas and staterooms. (European river cruise ships are limited in size due to the rivers they cruise on, so they have the same overall dimensions. Some companies may take space from common areas to put into spas and fitness centers; others, like Viking, use all that available space for staterooms and common areas.)

To burn off some of the calories ingested by the delicious food onboard, I walked in the morning around the sun deck track. 12.5 laps = 1 mile. Viking asks that guests not walk on the sun deck from 10:00 pm to 7:00 am as a courtesy to those whose cabins are just below the sun deck. Getting my heart rate up while enjoying beautiful scenery passing by while the ship made its way down a river was a win-win.

My husband prefers to jog each morning, and he was able to when we were docked in the early morning before excursions began. Other times, we were still sailing, so he could not. A good idea if you’re a runner is to check with the reception desk to map out when there will be time in the morning to leave the ship for a jog or run before excursions begin.

Excursions on a Viking River Cruise

You can sign up for excursions from your account on MyVikingJourney.com prior to your trip. Sometimes optional excursions sell out, although there are usually some available once you’re on the ship. Please note that Viking requires at least 48 hours’ cancellation notice if you are on the ship and decide not to go on an optional excursion. 

There are three activity levels for excursions :

• Easy means the walking will be on mostly smooth (not cobbled) surfaces, there are few steps, and the tours will be 1.5 hours or less.
• Moderate means the walking could be a little more strenuous or have more stairs or inclines. The total time on these outings could be 1.5 to 3 hours.
• Demanding means extensive walking, hiking, or biking. Walking could be on unpaved or uneven surfaces and may involve many steps or steep inclines. The total time on these outings could be longer than 3 hours.

Prior to Excursions

About 15 minutes before each excursion, there is an announcement to remind guests that it is almost time to leave and to remember the listening devices. These devices are attached to lanyards with earpieces. 

You’ll receive an excursion card with a number and a letter. The number indicates which ship you’re on. (This is handy because you might encounter tour groups from other Viking ships that are docked in the same city at the same time.) The letter indicates which excursion group you’re on. Since there are often different excursions leaving simultaneously , this is an efficient way to find which tour guide to meet as you disembark the ship. The buses and tour guides for your group are each marked: the bus has a placard with the same number and letter to let you know you need to board that bus; the tour guide has a red and white sign on a paddle to indicate that group, as well.

Leaving the Ship

As you leave the ship, you’ll scan your room key to indicate your departure and rescan it upon returning . This is Viking’s way of accounting for guests.

As you leave the ship, you are handed a bottle of water.  To conserve resources, you could easily fill a reusable water bottle from home with water in the rooms. There are also bright red full-size Viking umbrellas to take along on excursions if it’s raining. I learned that I probably should have packed a small collapsable umbrella to stuff in my backpack; that way, I won’t be carrying the big Viking umbrella around after the rain has stopped while we’re still sightseeing.

A Few Important Excursion Notes

It’s important to note that when the ship docks somewhere in the morning and you go on an excursion, you sometimes will be brought back to the ship in a different location — like another city further down the river. This taught me to take pictures when I first see a scenic sight just in case I wouldn’t have the opportunity again.

There is precise timing to docking and excursions. For example, we arrived in Cologne at 9:30 am and our walking tour began at 10:00 am. Viking is very efficient with their timing. Likewise, when the ship is ready to leave, it leaves — as long as all the guests are accounted for. 

Not everyone needs to go on excursions. Some guests preferred to stay in the Lounge and simply relax, read a book, or enjoy the view beyond the big plate glass window or take in the views from the sun deck.

Big City Lesson

One thing we learned is that although some excursions will guide you through a large city, if it is inland a bit, you may be spending a significant amount of time traveling from the ship to the city — and comparatively modest amounts of time actually in the city itself. We learned this the hard way one day, and we realized that we actually prefer exploring the little towns that we dock at more. Our preferred day at a town where we were docked included a morning walking tour (an included excursion) to get the lay of the land. In the afternoon, we followed up on some of the suggestions the local guide from the morning had regarding how to spend the remainder of the day. That worked well as we enjoyed some nice non-touristy lunches and other walks and tours on our own.

Viking Communication

We found the onboard communication to be excellent . This includes the Viking Daily which provides information for each new day and the evening updates by the program director in the Lounge before dinner. There are also daily announcements with information on docking and reminders about impending excursion departures. 

TIP: Take a picture of The Viking Daily each evening before heading to bed. Then it’ll be the first photo on your camera roll before the next day’s activities. Doing so will help you remember months and years later where all your amazing pictures are from!

The crew communicates with each other quite well. For example, once the crew knows that everyone is accounted for after excursions, the ship is sailing within minutes of the anticipated departure (as noted in the Viking Daily ). 

Viking Staff

The Viking onboard staff — from the captain, hotel manager, and program director to the housekeeping and wait staff — were all positive, upbeat folks: smiling, accommodating, and helpful. Also, the onboard staff and the local guides speak English well.

Little Touches by Viking

Viking has perfected hospitality on many levels. Their crew is well-trained and genuinely appears to want to make you happy. There are lots of smiles and offers of help. They also are known for providing little touches that many guests appreciate. Here are some examples from our cruise:

• Viking is happy to celebrate your birthdays and anniversaries while onboard. Many people were serenaded during dinner, and special treats made pleasant surprises. We celebrated a big anniversary on our cruise and were delighted with champagne and a special dessert awaiting us in our room after dinner one night.
• Every once in a while, you may be treated to a little “extra” like a refreshing drink served on the sun deck while sailing one day.
• I borrowed some books from the ship’s library and left them on a table in our room. When I returned, I noticed two Viking bookmarks resting on top of the books. Likewise, a few days later, I had just started reading a different book and placed it on my night table on top of my Kindle. When I returned to the room, I noticed another bookmark was placed on top of it. 

Tipping is the universal way to thank someone for providing excellent service — and you will find excellent service on Viking. You can choose to pre-pay gratuities which we did. Prepaid gratuities came to 18 Euros per guest per day. Viking adds a discretionary service charge (15 Euros per guest per day when we traveled) to your shipboard account if you choose not to prepay the gratuity . The tips cover all onboard staff. We also took along some thank you cards and added some extra cash to give to those we felt went above and beyond during our cruise.

The recommended tipping (for each guest) on excursions is 2 Euros for local guides and 1 Euro for bus drivers.  Needless to say, it’s handy to have small change for tipping.

Onboard Account

Viking keeps track of your expenses during the cruise, including bar items, laundry, phone calls, and purchases from the Viking shop (logo wear and souvenirs). When the cruise ends, you settle your account in cash (U.S. dollars or Euros) or by credit card.

Parallel Parked Ships

Sometimes there’s a lot of river cruise ship traffic in popular cities. This was true in Passau, a city of over 50,000, and especially in heavyweights like Vienna and Budapest. When this happens, the cruise ship parks parallel to another cruise ship. This means that your ship could be the first, second, or third ship docked. Furthermore, this means that you may have to walk through another ship to get to shore or people are walking through your ship to get to and from theirs. The ships are designed for this — to have travelers walk through the common spaces. And our experience was that we were usually parked next to other Viking ships, so we walked through familiar spaces.

Having to dock the ship next to another cruise ship also means that the view from your stateroom could be blocked and your cabin could be a bit dark.  We were docked next to other ships several times on our 15-day cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest. It’s not a deal breaker for us, but it’s something every river cruise guest should be forewarned about. 

Transferring Ships

There are times when river cruise ships have to have guests disembark a ship and then board a sister ship. Sometimes the river water levels may be too low in spots (due to the lack of sufficient rain during summer) or there is another issue (like a broken lock) necessitating the change.

When We Had to Switch Ships

Here’s our story. We were sailing from Amsterdam to Budapest. There was a broken lock near Regensburg, about halfway between the two big cities. Viking had a sister ship sailing the same journey in the opposite direction — from Budapest to Amsterdam — so we switched ships. We got off our ship, the Skirnir, in Nuremberg (one of our scheduled ports) before the damaged lock. The guests on the other ship, the Modi, got off the ship at Regensburg, on the other side of the damaged lock. Essentially, each ship then turned around and went back to the city from which it originated. Suffice it to say that Viking has this all figured out and has contingency plans firmly in place.

Impact on Guests

What it meant for guests was a minor inconvenience. We had to have our luggage packed and placed outside our stateroom door by 7:00 am on the day of the switch. Viking collected the luggage (with different colored tags for the three different floors of the ship) and trucked it to where the Modi, our new ship, was docked. All guests left the ship for excursions (the times of the excursions were modified that day so they would all be timed for the same number of hours). After the excursions, we all met at a restaurant in Nuremberg for lunch, had a little free time, and then were bussed to the new ship in the late afternoon. As we arrived at the ship, we were warmly greeted, and we went to our rooms (which were intentionally left unlocked). Our luggage awaited us, and our new room keys were on the dresser.

Since they are sister ships, they are the same, so the only thing that changed was the crew. The one exception was the program director, who made the move with us. Otherwise, we had a brand new crew. We had grown to like the crew on the Skirnir, but we quickly came to like the new ones as well.

Disembarkation

Viking has guest departures timed to match their future travel plans. Viking assigns different colored luggage tags to guests depending on what their next travel destination is (a post-excursion through Viking, a trip independent of Viking, or a flight home). The tags have the time the luggage must be outside the staterooms as well as the time that guests are expected to depart the ship. (Viking asks that luggage not be placed outside the staterooms when going to bed the previous night due to safety concerns — should there be an emergency, having bags in the narrow corridors would pose a safety risk.) 

On our cruise, some guests had to put their luggage outside their staterooms as early as 2:45 am and leave the ship at 3:30 am to go to the airport. Regardless of their next destinations, all guests had to place their luggage outside their rooms no later than 9:00 am. After that point, guests still on board could use the common areas (Lounge or sun deck) until their transfer to the airport or other destination. That way, Viking could clean the staterooms and ready the ship for the passengers boarding later that day for the next cruise.

Planning Your Viking River Cruise

Once you book a Viking River cruise, take the next steps to ensure an amazing experience . One of those steps is to create an online account with Viking. There you’ll find a countdown to departure, background on each port of call, the entire list of excursions available (some are complimentary; others cost extra) that you can book online, a calendar showing your itinerary for each day, and other helpful information about the cruise. For a complete list of action steps

You will receive your final travel documents and Viking luggage tags within three weeks of your trip. Included is a packet of information specific to your ship (including phone numbers on the ship plus embarkation location information) and an itinerary.

Booking Options

Some travelers prefer to book through Viking itself. We opted to book through our travel agent with whom we could meet face-to-face, ask questions, and learn from her knowledge of cruising and different cruise companies. Plus, some travel agents provide onboard credit to cruising clients. Since we booked through our travel agent, Viking sent her the final travel documents, and she checked them before passing them on to us.

Disclaimer: My husband and I paid for our Viking River cruise ourselves. We did not receive any compensation or discounts from Viking or any other organization. I merely want to share our experience on a river cruise with my readers. 

Related Articles

Viking related articles.

• Viking Ocean Cruises: The Ultimate Guide
• Viking Ocean Cruise Excursions: What You Need to Know
• Viking Cruises: Best Action Steps to Take After Booking a Cruise
• Viking River Cruises: The Complete Guide
• Best Sights to See on a Viking Grand European Tour Cruise
• Viking Antarctica Cruise: A Complete Guide for Adventurers

General Travel Planning Articles

• Best Apps and Websites for Savvy Travelers
• Travel Lightly: Top Ten Tips for Your Next Trip

Travel Planning Timeline

• Expert Tips for Traveling to Europe for More Fun, Less Stress
• How to Use Google Translate While Traveling

Final Thoughts

We thoroughly enjoyed our Viking River cruise. O n our trip, we met interesting people; visited fascinating places; sampled new foods, wines, and beer; and appreciated Viking’s convenience and gracious hospitality . We can’t say enough about how well-run and maintained the ships are. Although we have some other trips planned (that we organize ourselves, as we often do), we are contemplating which Viking cruise — river or ocean — we will be booking next. 

The Viking Grand European Tour from Amsterdam to Budapest was a great experience that we’ll never forget.

To ensure you remember all the great experiences on your cruise, take lots of pictures and create a photo book of your journey when you return home. You’ll be glad you did!

If you have taken a Viking River cruise and want to share your experiences, please do so in the comment area below. 🙂

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108 thoughts on “the complete guide to a viking river cruise”.

Thank you so much for the wonderful information in this guide! We are leaving in 6 days for the Grand European Adventure from Amsterdam to Budapest. This is our first cruise ever, and you have answered many questions we still had. We appreciate you sharing your time and adventures with us, and I signed up for your “Travel With Lolly” newsletter too! Thanks again!

I’m hoping you’re having a fabulous cruise! That’s a great itinerary.

Things that I learned while stationed in Germany and traveling around the local economy. You need some small change for this. – Public toilets have attendants who maintain them and who expect a gratuity (.20-.50 Euros) for use. This may have increased since my last visit. – Damen = Women, not “The Men” – Herren = Men, not “Her”

Thanks, Rich!

Some cruises include excursions. How expensive are the excursions? Where do you find the choices? Thanks!

Hi Leslie, Viking cruises include an excursion at each destination; these are usually general bus or walking tours of a city. In addition, they offer optional excursions that are more targeted to specific interests like concerts, museums, hiking or biking, and farm or winery tours. The anticipated optional excursions are listed on the Viking website for each cruise. They are also listed on MyVikingJourney.com, a site you can access after you book a Viking cruise, along with prices. Prices vary and usually run from $60-$200.

Thanks for this information. I’ve been on a Viking ocean cruise but am going on my first river cruise in June. I found that it’s easy to book shore excursions on one’s own (through “Tours by Locals”, AirBnB, and other venues) and many cost far less than what Viking charges. For example, going to Monet’s house and gardens in Giverny will cost 4 of us about 1/3 of what Viking is charging. Going to a chocolate making session at Lindt will cost $90 per person — about twice that going w/Viking. I know they have staff to pay, and overhead to finance, and many people will want the easier route of booking a Viking excursion. But for those who have the time to explore options online, and are willing to read through reviews to ascertain the good and bad of each offered tour, I highly recommend a little independent booking.

Thanks for sharing, Carol!

Thank you so much for this super-detailed information. :). I have a couple of follow up questions. I read a number of the comments, but time right now is a premium, so I apologize in advance if I am rehashing any prior q’s.

We are leaving on our Rhine cruise next week and are super excited! 1. Is there much sailing during daylight hours? I fear that all the great sailing will be while we are sleeping. The point of a cruise, for me, is a good bit of time enjoying the water. 2. My husband and I are seasoned travelers. Would you encourage or discourage any bookings at locations through outside vendors? I recall the part of your article that indicates the ship may change position during excursions. I would hate to book an outside excursion and come back to find the ship has gone on to another location. For instance, we would like to take a side morning trip to Heidelberg during the stop at Speyer, but we don’t want to do the 9 hour tour available through Viking. We were thinking we may get a ride to Heidelberg and tour the castle on our own. Viking doesn’t really say anything about outside tours.

Thanks again!

Hi Karen, There may be some sailing during the day, depending on the distance between two ports, but most of it is in the evening and at nighttime. You’ll probably be enjoying some views while sailing during late afternoon and early evening. To get more information about the times the ship is expected to be in port, use the Live Chat feature on the My Viking Journey online site to ask about it. When you know when the ship is in port, you can figure out when it will most likely be sailing and if you have enough time for an outside tour. I’ve found the Live Chat staff to be very helpful; hopefully, you will, too! Have a wonderful cruise!

This is a very informative post and the details are very helpful. We will be doing the river cruise at the end of July (Budapest to Amsterdam) and opted for a post cruise excursion that offers 1-day tour and the next day on our own. With this 1 limited free day, can you please recommend a thing or two to do or visit in Amsterdam? We’re thinking of Anne Frank museum, is it worth it? My husband is a classical music junky and wanted to tour or watch something in Concertgebau. I will appreciate your recommendations.

Hi Joel, Spending time in Amsterdam offers so many options! It comes down to what you like to do. I think the Anne Frank House is worth a visit, as are the musuems. The only issue is getting tickets for a visit just a few weeks away. Perhaps going on TripAdvisor will give you ideas for things you’d enjoy doing. They may have recommendations for special interest tours or other experiences that speak to you!

Hi Lolly – oh my goodness! This is the BEST information. Thank you so much for your thoroughness! We are taking our first river cruise in November 2024 (Rhine Getaway on the Gersemi) and we cannot wait, but we are also grateful that we have so much time to research and prepare. A river cruise has been on my list for quite some time. Thank you again!

I’m glad the article helped you prepare for your upcoming river cruise. I hope you have a wonderful time on the ship, exploring new places, and meeting new people. 🙂

Lolly, No questions, I just wanted to thank you for having such an informative post. You answered all the questions we had after going through the Viking pages. Thanks for what you do.

Thanks for the kind words, Keith! I’m glad you found the article helpful.

When using a visa credit card, will the charge be in dollars or Euros?

Hi Glenn, When using credit cards in Europe, it’s usually best to avoid converting the amount into dollars (because there’s usually a fee for doing so). So accept the transaction amount “without conversion,” as you want to use the local currency option.

Although we’ve done probably 25 or so cruises on the big ships this is our first river cruise. We’ll be on the Grand European from Amsterdam to Budapest in July and we’re beginning to get really excited. Of course, that also means that we were starting to come up with all sorts of questions about the ship & excursions. Happily, your article has answered many of our questions!! I do have one question though – can we get additional Euros through the service desk on the ship or should we make sure we have plenty before we board? Thanks so much!

Hi Jan, I’m glad you found the article helpful! About Euros, Viking’s guest services desk will break Euros into smaller denominations, but they don’t handle currency exchanges. If you’re starting with some Euros, you should be able to easily obtain more from ATMs in Amsterdam (and other ports); the guest services desk should be able to tell you where to find one near the ship. Keep in mind that many shops and restaurants accept credit cards (VISA and MasterCard primarily), so you’ll probably use your Euros mostly for small incidentals and for tipping tour guides and bus drivers when on excursions. Accepting the local conversion rate (not into dollars) is usually advantageous when withdrawing from an ATM. For more tips for traveling to Europe, read Expert Tips for Traveling to Europe for More Fun, Less Stress . Have a wonderful cruise!

How much time (approx) did you have in each port?

Great question, Jessica! Unfortunately, there’s no easy answer. You can ask Viking or your travel agent for specifics for the cruise that interests you. As an example, on my upcoming Viking cruise in the Mediterranean, we arrive in port in the mornings by 8:00 or 9:00 am. Our departure times vary quite a bit from 4:00 pm to 11:00 pm.

What a great article! We leave on our trip tomorrow, Antwerp to Amsterdam for ten days. We have never cruised before. This was so helpful. Thank you for sharing.

Thanks for your kind words. Have a marvelous time!

Thank you for this very informative article. Looking at the Viking Daily it appears that included tours are in the morning and optional ones are in the afternoon. Is it then possible to do one of each per day?

Hi Barb, Excursion options vary and are often driven by local tour operators and their schedules. There weren’t separate morning and afternoon excursions for an upcoming ocean cruise my husband and I are taking, and that’ll work out just fine. Most days, my husband and I will go on an excursion in the morning and then explore a town independently in the afternoon (and evening, if still in port) — perhaps having a leisurely lunch in a scenic spot, visiting a museum, or going for a hike nearby. I suggest asking about ideas for independent activity once you’re aboard the ship. The Viking Daily gives some general ideas, and I’m sure the Viking staff can help you find things (e.g., museums, restaurants, shops) that specifically interest you. Oftentimes, it’s exploring on our own that makes traveling so enjoyable. Hopefully, it will be the same for you, too. Have a wonderful cruise!

Great article. Thank you for taking the time to post this. One question: in checking in for your flight at the end of the cruise, did you have any issues doing this on board the ship? We might want to change airline seats, which we cannot do before our cruise.

Hi Ron, I’ve not experienced any issues connecting online while on the ship. If you do, I’d suggest going to Guest Services for help. Have a wonderful cruise!

Thanks for your article it was very informative. My husband and I are booked on the Grand European cruise with an extension in Prague at the end of June. We are traveling with 8 other people. Would there be any issue with booking an independent excursion for the days we will be in Prague or in the ports that we will be in overnight? Viking is only offering us a morning excursion the second day in Prague so we are looking to do some exploring on our own.

Hi Anne, booking an independent excursion shouldn’t be a problem. Quite a few cruisers actually do that. Just make sure you are aware of the times the ship will leave the port so you don’t miss its departure. Have a wonderful cruise!

Great post. Very informative. One question though – How can we tell how much bus travel time is involved in each excursion? We are doing the Grand European Tours B-A with extensions in Prague and Amsterdam, and have booked a full schedule. We are doing the Salzburg Highlights but just read it’s a 2 hour bus ride each way. We don’t even know if it is The Sound of Music “heavy”, and that is kindof why we are doing it. There are other excursions that day that we could do. Thank you for your article and your help!

Hi Kathy, Great question! I suggest signing on to My Viking Journey and using the “Live Chat” feature to get your answer. After logging on to My Viking Journey, go to the “Shore Excursions” section and initiate a conversation with a Viking Cruise rep. You should see a red “Live Chat” box along the margin of the screen. You’ll be able to find out about the length of bus trips to/from excursions and other related information. Have a fabulous cruise!

We have quite a bit of Viking on board credits and wanted to purchase optional shore excursions with that credit. But it looks like pre purchasing using on board credit isn’t possible. What are the chances of excursions still being available when we are on board? We are on the Aug Rhine cruise and our 1st river cruise.

Hi Pat, There’s a good chance that some optional excursions will be available once you board the ship — even if they’re listed on MyVikingJourney as being sold out. That’s because some people end up canceling their reservations for optional excursions. Go to the guest service desk and inquire about the excursions you want and if they’re fully booked, ask to be placed on a waitlist. Wishing you good luck and a fantastic cruise!

I am going on a Christmas Market cruise with Viking in 2024. Since it will be winter with colder temps, I am wondering about the indoor lounging space/common areas on the longboats. Is there plenty of space for passengers indoors in the common areas, if the outdoors are too cold or rainy? Do you know if the outdoor areas on the sun deck can be enclosed for added warmth on these cooler weather trips? Thanks for any thoughts!

Hi Jaime, Viking’s European longship has a spacious lounge, the Aquavit Terrace (some of which can be enclosed in bad weather), and seating in the atrium area — all good choices for relaxing inside while not in your stateroom. The sun deck does not have enclosed spaces. Enjoy your cruise!

Does anyone wear jeans at dinner?

Hi Carolyn,

Per Viking: “There are no ‘formal nights’ in the evening; recommended evening dress is ‘elegant casual.’ For ladies, this may include a dress, skirt or slacks with a sweater or blouse; and for gentlemen, trousers and a collared shirt. A tie and jacket are optional.”

However, some guests do wear nice jeans (not torn or ripped) in the evening. It’s relatively easy to dress up a pair of jeans a bit, so the overall look is “elegant casual.” Enjoy your cruise!

GREAT INFO. Scheduled for Grand European in September 2023. Wondering how much american cash we should bring and do we need to get euros prior to arrival (if so how much). You mention that from 5:15-7 there will be drinks & live music or a port talk. If you want wine at that time is there a charge?

What is the availability of restroom facilities in these small towns? Do they charge for use?

Hi Victoria, I’m so glad you found the article helpful! Deciding on cash is a personal choice, of course. My husband and I like to have about 100-200 Euros on us before leaving home. Plus, we always have some dollars with us, too. If you want to obtain Euros before departure, check with your bank or AAA office to see if they can help you. Also, you can get Euros from bank ATMs after you land; there are probably some ATMS near your cruise embarkation site. We’ve never had a problem finding an ATM in Europe, and Viking can surely help direct you to one. Remember to notify your bank of your travel dates and destinations before leaving home! (Another idea is to get Euros at one of the airport currency exchange kiosks, but the exchange rates will probably not be favorable.)

Viking offers complimentary wine, beer, and soft drinks during lunch and dinner. At other times, like when gathered in the lounge before dinner, you’ll charge your wine, beer, or cocktails to your stateroom.

Public restrooms are available in European towns, and many charge a nominal fee (.50-1 Euro). Your best bet is to ask about availability, location, and cost at Guest Services once onboard. Have a wonderful cruise in September!

Thank you for great information and insights! We took our first Viking River cruise in 2018 (Rhine – Amsterdam to Basel) and leave in a month for the Danube (Budapest to Regensburg) with the pre and post cruise stays. You answered my questions about docking locations (though understand they are subject to change) and the Hungarian currency. Hope you have been able to enjoy more Viking cruises since your original one.

We are also thinking of taking an old smart phone and purchasing a SIM card that works in Europe for language translation, directions, and apps to enhance our experience. Our US-based cell phone service does not work outside of the US. Do you have any experience about this?

No, Tamara, I don’t have direct experience replacing SIM cards. My husband and I use a major U.S. cellphone carrier that functions well in Europe. When we travel to Europe, we notify our carrier before departure. It’s been a seamless process for us, and it functions well although we do incur additional international charges.

I’m glad you found the article helpful, Tamara. Our next Viking cruise is coming up soon, and I can’t wait. Enjoy your journey!

Lolly, We are going to cruise Viking July on European sojourn with pre post extensions Bucharest and Amsterdam. This will be first river cruise for us. We are in a veranda A stateroom and doing business class flights as a bucket wish. We are experienced travelers on land but this will be a new experience. My first question is, without using the laundry service on board , do you have suggestions on washing items in your cabin? Is there a retractable clothes line in the shower to accommodate hanging clothes. ? You know is it a venus and mars question. Haha. I am sure i will have more later but your thread is wonderful. Any comments on safety in cities? Using ATMs machines? Thank you for your time. Rosetta

It sounds like you have a wonderful journey coming up this summer, Rosetta! Concerning laundry, yes, there is a retractable clothesline in the shower. I’ve hand washed some things in the sink and hung them up to dry on the line, and it worked fine. My husband and I sent out a few clothes to the Viking laundry, which also worked out well. Concerning safety, you can sign up for STEP (Smart Traveler Enrollment Program), a free program run by the U.S. Department of State. Once enrolled, you enter the dates of your travel and your destinations. They will text you with any security issues you should be aware of while you’re away. (When we were in Europe a few years ago, we received texts of some demonstrations in town and were given their locations and advised to stay away. We weren’t near them then, but it was nice to be notified of them.) If you don’t live in the U.S., I’m sure other governments have similar programs for travelers. And about ATMs, we’ve used them in Europe without any problems. Just make sure you notify your bank before traveling, so they don’t flag your ATM transaction in another country as suspicious! Have fun!

I didn’t read through all the comments, so I hope I’m not being repetitive. We thoroughly enjoyed our Viking river cruise from Prague to Paris last summer. I will add one note that we experienced. River traffic varies and the time to pass through the locks can change based on the number of ships, weather, etc. There were a few days when we arrived at our port later than planned and had much less time to explore the city. It wasn’t a deal breaker, but something you should be aware of. We also like to explore on our own, so there were times when we just joined a tour for a while and then told the guide we were going to branch out on our own. We always made sure we were back to the ship on time! We loved our trip and would recommend it to others.

You make an excellent point, Julia. As much as Viking tries to stick to its anticipated docking times, some things – like other ships waiting in line to go through locks, weather issues, and river levels – are beyond its control. It’s just the nature of this type of travel. And I think remembering that delays can arise on any type of travel (e.g., flights, cruises, trains) helps us all manage our expectations. So glad that you had a great cruise!

As mentioned throughout the comments, thank you so much for such insightful and helpful information! My husband and I are doing the Grand Tour B —> A in early October 2023. I am very intrigued by the Salzberg excursion but see that it is a 2 plus hour bus ride each way. Do you have any experience with that destination? Would an excursion like that feel to rushed to enjoy, or do you know if Salzberg is a “not to be missed” kind of place? Really, just looking for your opinion on longer trips off-ship. Thank you!

Hi Robin, you pose a great question, but it isn’t easy to answer! My husband and I had planned to go on the Salzburg excursion, but when we learned we would be spending so much time on the bus to travel there and back (for a total of 9.5 hours), we decided to spend our time in Passau instead. We didn’t regret our decision. We took the walking tour of Passau, enjoyed a leisurely lunch in town, went on a hike, and strolled around town afterward. We liked exploring on our own after getting the lay of the land from the morning tour guide. Having said that, I know that Salzburg is lovely and many people enjoy that excursion. Frankly, I don’t think you can go wrong either way, but they’re two very different experiences. Enjoy your cruise! It’s a great one!

Do you have to go on the planned excursion or can you go off and explore on your own?

Hi Daisy, you have the choice of going on the included or an optional excursion — or exploring on your own. Once you’re on the ship, you’ll learn the times that the ship will be docked in a city, so you can plan your day. For a walking tour (directly from the ship), some passengers go on the tour to learn about the destination and then spend the rest of the day shopping, enjoying a meal, or just wandering around. In addition, some people research other (non-Viking) tour options in advance of their cruise and book a personal or small-group tour to suit their specific interests on their own. Have fun whatever you decide to do!

Just found your site–lots of great info! We’re doing the Rhine Getaway, Amsterdam to Basel in early Oct, but haven’t actually booked yet! We love most of the optional excursions versus the included excursions but about how much do the optional ones cost? Are they like $20 per person or more like $200? For instance, how much is the “Top of Cologne” in Cologne Germany and is it worth it? I like the idea of a smaller group so that is a plus. Thank you!!

Hi Stephanie, Thanks for your kind words. As you know, Viking offers an included excursion in each port. These are typically large-group bus or walking tours of a city that provide a nice overview of a place. The optional excursions have smaller groups and are more focused on cultural, recreational, and even culinary experiences. That’s where you might find biking or hiking options, or as you mentioned, the “Top of Cologne” optional tour. My husband and I took the “Top of Cologne” excursion, and it was one of the best. It was led by an art historian who took us up to the very top of the cathedral (above the ceiling) where the craftspeople worked. Before we descended, we were able to step outside and soak in panoramic views of the city. That was just one of the optional tours we enjoyed and still talk about. There are costs associated with the optional tours and they vary, and I suppose that correlates with the costs Viking incurs. You’ll see all your options on the online My Viking Journey portal when the tours open up prior to your trip. I’ve not taken a Viking optional tour that I didn’t like, but I will say that there are passengers who also book tours independent of Viking due to a keen interest in something and the personal or small-group experience that is available with independent tour guides. Good luck with your planning, and have a great cruise!

So glad I discovered your very informative account of the Viking River Cruise! One question I have is how you handled local currency in Hungary as they do not use the euro. We have extended our cruise to allow two extra days in Budapest, thus giving us four days there. I’m sure we will need some “pocket money” for small purchases. Also, what shore excursions do you recommend while in Budapest?

Hi Pat, I’m so glad you found my article helpful! Regarding local currency in Hungary, you can head to an ATM once you’re there to get the amount of local cash you want. As for shore excursions, my husband and I enjoyed the walking tour (through Viking) that included the funicular up to Castle Hill. Also, we had booked an English-speaking tour of the Hungarian Parliament which ended up being fascinating; if you plan to do this, make sure to make reservations online ahead of your visit. We walked from where the ship was docked to the Parliament building for the tour and enjoyed a stroll back to the ship along the river. On our walk, we passed the Shoes Along the Danube (very moving) and other interesting sights. Some other Viking guests enjoyed their visits to the thermal baths, but we opted to “do our own thing” with the parliament tour and walks to areas recommended by our local tour guide (from the walking tour).

Doing the Grand European Trip for our 50th in May of 2023. Going from A to B with two extra days in Amsterdam and Budapest. 1. We do the red eye and get into Amsterdam early morning. After clearing customs and immigration and getting our luggage, how do we find Viking to take us to our hotel or how does Viking find us? 2. Check-in time for the hotel is 3:00 PM. Does Viking get us into our room early or do we have to check our luggage with the hotel and wait until 3:00 PM? 3. On leaving Amsterdam, check-out time from the hotel is Noon but embarkation is not till 3:00 PM. What does Viking do with our luggage once we check out of the hotel? I don’t want to waste any precious time in Amsterdam because this may be the last time we see it. Thanks.

Sounds like you’ve got a great anniversary trip planned, Gary! A few weeks prior to your departure, Viking will send stickers for you to wear at the airport when you land, so they can identify you as a Viking guest. (You’ll also receive Viking tags for your luggage.) As for the specifics about checking in to hotels and then embarkation timing, I’d suggest you contact Viking directly (or your travel agent if you used one to book the trip). That way, you’ll learn exactly how things will work with getting to and from that specific hotel. I hope you have a wonderful 50th celebration on the Grand European Tour!

Great article. Serious question…..how to get coffee in the morning without getting dressed??? Is room service available or will my husband have the opportunity to ‘fetch’ my coffee?

Hi Catherine, I’m glad the article was helpful. About coffee, there is a coffee and tea station on Viking’s river cruise ships that’s open 24/7 in the main common space. That makes it handy for your husband to fetch your morning cup! It’s also where you’ll find freshly baked goodies throughout the day.🙂 I hope you two have a fabulous time on your cruise!

Hi Lolly, thank you for the great article and this really prepared us for our trip next week. I have a quick question that I wouldn’t seem to find the answer online: We are thinking about renting a car at Koblenz and go to Nurburgring for a few hours and also at Speyer to go to Stuttgart for the day. Is that possible? We found the car rentals and made reservations, but we can’t find any daily schedule of when the ship docks and departs at each port. Just wondering if there is a regular daily schedule and of course we understand the change caused by water level, weather, etc. Thanks again!

Hi Danny, I’m not sure which cruise you’re referring to, but you asked an excellent question about renting a car to make day trips while on the cruise. I think it would be a tight schedule if the ship is docked for just a day. You’d need to factor in picking up and dropping off the rental cars and then driving to and from your planned destinations. 

I’d suggest you talk with the staff once you are aboard to learn of their planned docking times and see what they recommend. That way, you’ll have current information and be able to talk to people “in the know” to see if your plans will work. Even with that information, as you mentioned, dockings could be delayed to traffic on the river or there could be delays going through locks.

I’m sorry I can’t give you a more definitive answer, but so much depends on conditions at the time you board and what the staff recommends. I hope you have a wonderful cruise and that things work out for your planned day trips!

Re renting a car to go to a specific place Viking tours don’t include: Is Uber possible in the cities Viking goes to? I’d much rather take an Uber than rent a car!!! Also, for individualized tours – try Tours by Locals (we’ve had EXCELLENT tours in many, many cities including Europe, India, Malaysia, Thailand…), or AirBnB’s tours.

Hi Carol, Although ride-share companies, like Uber, are in many cities worldwide, they’re not everywhere, so it depends on what cities you’re considering. Some areas also have other popular ride-share companies like Bolt in Europe. It’s best to check availability online — or ask Viking — for the cities you’ll be visiting. As for Tours by Locals, I’ve used them, as well, and was pleased.

We are going on the Grand European tour in October 2022. How can we arrange individual tours or make dinner reservations if we dont know the times or the port arrangements? Do we just work with Viking program director on the day of or the day before?

Hi Kathleen, For individual tours and dinner reservations, I’d let the provider (tour company, restaurant) know what day you’ll be coming into port. They may be familiar enough with Viking’s schedule to easily accommodate you. Once onboard, verify the time you’ll be in port and then fine-tune your tour or dinner plans. Have a great cruise!

We are taking the Grand European cruise, B-A, in late September 2022. The water levels are extremely low right now. Any thoughts on how this might play out for us?

Hi Karen, A few things could happen when river levels are too low for cruise ships. Passengers could disembark and be bussed on an excursion and then afterwards, be bussed to a different location on the river where the water levels are higher. There they may board another ship. For example, sometimes two sister ships sail on the same one-way voyage starting at the same time – just at opposite ends of the itinerary. That way, if they reach a low point in the river, they can have passengers disembark, go on bussed excursions, and afterwards be taken to the sister ship that completes the journey. To accomplish this, passengers pack up the night before the transfer, and while out on excursions, their luggage is transferred to the other ship. When passengers get to the sister ship, their luggage is in their new cabins (which are usually the same cabins they had on the original ship).

Another option, if the river levels are too low overall, would be for passengers to be bussed from destination to destination, staying in hotels, throughout the cruise.

Incidentally, we had to change ships midway through a river cruise because of a broken lock on the river, and Viking handled it professionally and without too much inconvenience.

One thing to keep in mind is that things can change from day to day, week to week – and that includes river levels. Low river levels today might be just fine for cruising in a few days.

I guess the bottom line is to remember that disruptions can happen whenever we travel, so plan to get the most out of each experience and cherish the time that you get to explore new places and meet new people. I hope you have a wonderful time!

Lolly – just finished the Grand European tour a week ago (Budapest-Amsterdam). Was our first Viking cruise, so we used your article as a guide. We could not have chosen any better than the Skirnir and Viking. Everything was as you said – food, service, boat, amenities, all topnotch. (OK, the wifi in the rooms REALLY sucks…but if that’s your #1 problem, you aren’t doing badly). The hotel manager was great – and the program director was a literal Energizer Bunny. Herding 169 tourists onto separate buses all going separate places at separate times…wow, that’s a job! The maitre-d I am convinced is in league with the devil, as she tempted diners again and again with “just try this ONE little pastry”. Our stateroom steward kept the room immaculate. We kept our itinerary full, which might have been an error – trust me, you want to take a breather every few days! Viking then allowed us to purchase a no-expiry date voucher towards another cruise – an amount they matched. So for 200 dollars, we got a 400 value – good for tickets, flights, an excursion, or even the beverage package. We will definitely be using it in the years to come.

Oh, I’m so glad you had a wonderful cruise with amazing service! Haha, I got a kick out of being tempted with just one little pastry! Great service – sounds like Viking! As for keeping the itinerary full, it’s hard not to when you have so many great places to explore, but I agree that scheduling downtime is important, too. I bet you’re planning your next cruise already. I’m looking forward to ours next year!

I was curious about what time you have to be back on the ship at night. We are thinking we would might rather be wandering through the town and trying local cuisine.

Hi Karen, you will have the freedom to wander on your own in the evenings in some locations. Check your cruise itinerary as it will tell you the expected times your ship will be docked at each stop. Once onboard, you’ll be given more specific times, so you’ll be able to fine-tune your plans. Enjoy!

They will let you know on board. They say they will be staying til X o’clock and then leaving. Better be aboard, cuz they won’t wait!

Hi. I wonder if you have any thoughts on us meeting up with friends from Stuttgart. We would either meet in Bamburg or Wurzburg. Is this allowed? Also can you remember if those two cities is where the boat docked. Just thinking of the best options for meeting friends for a short visit. Thank you

Hi Theo, you shouldn’t have any problems meeting up with your friends in either Bamburg or Wurzburg while on the cruise. I’d suggest you reference your online itinerary on Viking’s site before departure to get a rough idea of when you’ll be docked in each city. Follow up with a conversation with the Viking staff when you’re onboard to learn the expected times and exact location of the ship while docked. This should allow you to finalize your plans to disembark and go meet your friends. Enjoy!

WOW, what a complete piece of well written and informative information we have come across. Thanks!! We are heading out on our first river cruise, the Kara from Basel to Amsterdam in late September this year. Trying to guess the weather so we can narrow down what to pack. We’re celebrating our 50th! One of many questions we have is how much currency (and what kind) to bring with us. We saw you comment about change for guides and such and credit cards with no foreign charges. But, what else would we spend money on? We’re planning on a dinner in a town, tour of some beer gardens and lunch in Heidelberg, and just walking around. Your comments are really appreciated.

Congrats on your 50th! Sound like you have a great cruise coming up! As for how much money to bring along, I usually start out with about $300 worth of local currency. That gives my husband and me plenty of money for tipping the local guides and bus drivers as well as Viking staff before we leave. Also, having cash is great for souvenirs, incidentals, snacks, or a quick lunch while exploring a city. By the way, Viking does build in a set amount of gratuities for ship staff (or you can arrange for this on your account before sailing), but you may also want to give a personal cash tip to staff members who are particularly helpful. If you think you might do that, you may want to take along a few blank thank you cards to enclose your extra tips, so you can explain why you valued their service so much. I know other travelers who just get cash out of ATMs while traveling (and I’ve done that, too, of course), but I just like beginning the trip with some local cash. Good luck! Have fun!

Most the times we always take the NCL cruise, but this is the first time on Viking Cruise River The Grand European Tour from Budapest to Amsterdam (for our 22nd anniversary).I’m so glad I found a lot of information from the article that’s very helpful for us for excursions, maybe transferring ships, parallel parked ships and other information. The best description and information about Viking River Cruise, thank you for taking the time to write this information, we’re very appreciate.

Thanks for your kind words, Triana. I hope you have a fabulous anniversary cruise!

Thank you for your informative article! We leave Saturday for Prague followed by the Budapest to Amsterdam Viking river cruise. We have booked all the included excursions, but have held off booking the optional ones as we love to do our own thing when in port, and perhaps covering more “ground” than the optional excursions. Can you tell me which docking/ports might be too far from the cities/towns? Thank you!

Hi Deb, you’re just a few days away from your journey. How exciting! One great thing about Viking is that many times their ships dock right in the towns, so it’s easy to get off and be on your way to make your own discoveries. Of all the stops on the Grand European Tour, these are the cities in which our ship had prime docking spots (making it very easy to go out and explore on our own): Budapest, Vienna, Melk, Passau, Regensburg, Wurzburg, Cologne, and Amsterdam. Keep in mind, though, that things are not 100% the same from cruise to cruise due, in part, to other ship traffic at the time. The best thing to do is to talk with a Viking staff member as soon as you board to find out details for your specific cruise. Good luck! I hope you have a wonderful time!

Thank you for all the information. We are planning to take the Grand European Tour in July of 2023. We are trying to determine if the additional cost for a veranda stateroom is worth the extra expense compared to the french balcony. On average, how much time did you spend on the boat sailing from each port? Do you travel overnight for most of the time or is there day travel as well?

Hi Tanya, Sounds like you have a great cruise coming up! About the stateroom, that really comes down to personal preference. Having the veranda offers you another personal space plus a nice perch (with chairs) from which to view the passing scenery during the time that the ship is sailing in daylight hours. (For my husband and me, having the personal outdoor space was high on our list. We enjoyed relaxing there and enjoying the sights and sounds of being on the ship. We actually enjoyed sitting outside in the dark before bed, too, cruising by small towns.) There’s a mix of traveling overnight (almost all of the time) and during the morning/afternoon/evening (some of the time). If you decide on the stateroom with a french balcony, you will still be able to enjoy some time outside in the common areas while the ship is sailing. I hope you have a wonderful time!

We are scheduled to take the Viking Danube cruise in early June 2022. We chose a French Balcony room. My question is about size of our luggage (or size limitation due room size). I have seem videos of rooms but cannot perceive where we can place our 2 luggages + backpacks and not having to hop over them inside our room. Please hare your opinion with me.

Hi Ricardo, It sounds like you have a great trip ahead! You can store your luggage under the bed(s). Once unpacked, you can put your backpacks in your empty luggage and slide it all under the bed(s) and not think about them until it’s time to leave. Have a great cruise!

First timer on river cruise. Does everyone get back on the bus when the excursion is over or is that the time you make plans for individual sightseeing? Did you use local guides? Did you bring euros or use credit card? Thanks

Hi David, it sounds like you’re gearing up for a great adventure! We went on the Viking excursions (with local guides) and did not book any local guides directly. A few guests scheduled independent sightseeing tours, and it seemed to work out well for them. By the way, the excursions included in the trip are typically large group experiences, while the optional excursions (available at an extra cost) are usually much smaller groups as they are more focused on specific areas of interest. We received great overviews of a place with the large group tours, but what we remember most were the unique experiences that came from the optional experiences. As for money, we used a credit card (with no foreign transaction fees) and Euros (very handy for tipping tour guides and purchasing small incidentals). Have a wonderful cruise!

Thank you for the excellent summary of each important category. It is very helpful to reduce wandering around looking like a tourist while trying to figure out the procedures. 🙂 Any further suggestions about picking up the excursion cards each morning? How early are they available to avoid the rush? Did you see anyone carry on and off luggage? We travel light with one roll aboard and one backpack. Any idea if the Terrace will be open for meals in the chill of November? Is there a restaurant seating option for introverts? 🙂 Thanks again.

I’m glad you found the article helpful, Thomas! Now to your questions. I’d suggest you ask about picking up excursion cards and other details like that once you’re on the ship, as some procedures like this may vary a bit. We travel light, as well, but the ship will take care of delivering your luggage to your room; we just kept our small carry ons (the ones that fit under the airplane seats) with us. The Aquavit Terrace is a great place to have a meal. There’s a section of the Aquavit Terrace at the very front of the ship that’s open to the weather, but there’s also an area (just behind it) that can be enclosed with sliding glass doors, so the area can be enjoyed when the weather isn’t cooperating. And about general seating at meals in the dining room, there’s a choice of large and small tables and there’s no assigned seating, so if you’re one of the early ones at meal time, you’ll have a great chance of finding a setting that suits you best. Have a wonderful cruise, Thomas!

Booked an Amsterdam to Budapest trip in September ’23….our first river cruise (for our 20th). Besides being helpful, your thorough details helped me to envision and imagine, which is my favorite part of planning! The daily planner for Vienna was the best….one of the stranger transitions from Ocean to River cruising is not having your port times right there on the schedule. Thanks for the great details!

I’m so glad you found the article helpful, Rich! I’m with you on how much fun it is to plan trips. Have a wonderful cruise next year!

Thank you for taking the time to write this informative piece. We thoroughly enjoyed a Viking Ocean cruise in 2019 and have been eager to try river cruising. We’ll do the Grand European from B to A in October this year. Your descriptions of the change of ship due to the broken lock and of docking side by side with other ships were reassuring. I will miss the free on board laundromat from ocean cruising though! Your advice about avoiding the far inland tours is wise, I think. We are not interested in spending a lot of time on buses. All the best.

I’m glad you found the article helpful. You mentioned laundry, and although there’s no laundromat on Viking’s European river cruise ships, there is a laundry service that you can use. (Depending on the category of your stateroom, the laundry service may be complimentary.) We sent some clothing to be laundered, and we were happy with that choice. Enjoy your cruise this fall!

Thanks for the great information. We are on a Viking rive4 cruise from Budapest to Amsterdam in April 2023.

What are your thoughts on the Silver Spirits package? I understand drinks are provided with meals but I enjoy a few drinks before dinner.

Good question, John, but it’s not an easy one to answer!

Here are a few things to think about when considering Viking’s Silver Spirits package.

As you probably know, Viking offers nice quality wine, beer, and soft drinks free of charge at lunch and dinner. The Silver Spirits package offers unlimited drinks including cocktails, premium wine, and beer. The Silver Spirits option is offered at a fixed price per guest and spans the entire length of the trip. You either choose it for your cruise, or you don’t – no daily option. (The price of the package varies, but it comes to about $20 or so a day per person.) If sharing a stateroom, both guests must pay for the package.

Paying upfront might offer peace of mind if you like knowing that it’s already paid for and you don’t have to think about an upcoming beverage bill. So it comes down to how much – and what kind of beverages – you’re likely to consume each day. You said you enjoy a few drinks before dinner, and if you add in some premium wine at dinner, the total you spend each day might add up pretty quickly. If you’re interested in figuring out the details, you may want to ask Viking for a bar menu with pricing before making up your mind.

With all that said, my husband and I did opt for the Silver Spirits package. In addition to cocktails, there were some very nice premium wine options aboard Viking, and we had fun trying ones that were new to us. We’ve had no regrets. 🙂

I hope you thoroughly enjoy your Viking cruise next year! Cheers!

Hi, Considering the Silver Spirits package. What are the charges for individual cocktails, apertifs or premium beers/wines by glass? Thanks

Hi Linda, you’re facing a big decision: to go with Silver Spirits or not! As you probably know, the package includes unlimited beverages when the bars are open. That includes any drinks up to $15 like cocktails, aperitifs, and premium wines by the glass. Without the Silver Spirits package, I’d plan on $6-10 for most cocktails, aperitifs, or premium wine by the glass. (Viking offers complimentary house wine and beer at lunch and dinner.) Another consideration, of course, is how often you might order specialty drinks from the bar: at lunch, throughout the day, before and/or after dinner? Some folks elect to get the Silver Spirits package because they enjoy trying new cocktails and/or premium wines while on vacation. Others get the package because they like having their drinks all inclusive without having to think about a bar tab. Hope this info helps you a bit! Have a wonderful cruise!

I agree with a previous comment about this being the most informative, most inclusive article I’ve seen as well. Indeed, very VERY helpful…especially for first time river cruisers. Thank you for your thoughtfulness. Good Job!!

I’m so glad you found the article helpful, Ronnie! Thank you!

I have been on 1 Viking River cruise and 3 (soon to be 4-I hope!) Ocean Cruises. My sister is taking her first river cruise in March and I found this site while trying to find info for her. This is by far THE BEST description and information on Viking River Cruises that I have ever read! Everyone should read this as every question seems to be answered well and clearly!

Thanks so much for the kind words, Laura! It makes me happy when I can help others get more comfortable with and enjoy their travels. Hope your sister finds her Viking river cruise everything she hopes it to be. What a great experience she has ahead of her! 🙂

Interesting information! We’re planning a Viking river cruise May 2022. Trying to navigate changing pandemic restrictions is a challenge I’d rather not have to deal with, but we’ll give it a try.

Thanks, Tom! We do indeed have new travel hiccups and challenges these days. I hope things go smoothly for you and that you have a wonderful time!

My husband and I will be sailing with Viking on a Rhine River cruise (Netherlands to Lucerne) this month and our very first river cruise (during a pandemic). Aside from the new safety protocols Viking has put in place your “Complete Guide to a Viking River cruise” was thoroughly informative, enjoyed the photos and took many notes while reading. Thank you for making me less anxious!

Happy traveling, Lolly!

Oh, I’m so happy you’re able to enjoy traveling safely during the pandemic. Yes, there have been changes to address public health safety, but I’m betting they won’t interfere with your overall enjoyment. And I’m so glad I was able to help you prepare for your cruise. Have fun! Bon voyage!

Thank you! We depart in 9 days on the Grand European tour, and this is the best account I have seen… we’ve done a dozen ocean cruises on several lines, but never a river cruise. My husband had been to a number of these cities on business and wanted me to visit them too, and this makes it sound easy. I liked the posted copy of the daily ‘news’ and we had already decided from our ocean experiences to take the drinks package. We’ve chosen a mix of the included tours and the custom days, avoided any places to which we’ve already travelled and have added in the ‘extensions’ to both ends, hoping to see friends in Amsterdam. Especially your tips on dinner were helpful — I will pack his blazer. And the small umbrellas! Since it will be November, and I’m also afraid of open heights we’ve opted for the French balcony room. The rooms do seem smaller than ocean cruiser rooms: did you stay in your cabin a lot? Thank you so much for this detailed account. Much better idea of what we’re ‘sailing’ into now!

Hi Cynthia, I bet you’re so excited about your upcoming trip! It sounds like you are all set. I just have one clarification about dressing for dinner mentioned in the article you read. Many folks do tend to change from the clothes they wore for daily excursions to something a little dressier for dinner, but I wouldn’t call dinner attire dressy. It would be more like “smart casual” (so no worn jeans and flip-flops, for example). Your husband doesn’t need to pack a blazer if he wouldn’t normally wear one for dinner. (I’m trying to save you room in your luggage!) People are relaxed aboard Viking river cruises (no dressy occasions), and that’s one thing people tend to enjoy about the experience. Have a wonderful time!

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Find the best Viking River cruise

Why should i book a viking river cruise.

If you're looking for an unforgettable vacation, Viking River cruises are a perfect choice. Viking River is one of the best cruise lines in the industry, with a successful history of providing excellent service and luxurious experiences. The Viking River cruise vacations take you to some of the world's most beautiful and fascinating destinations. They’re sure to have features to please everyone in your group.

How to find the best Viking River cruise deals?

There are many different Viking River cruise deals to choose from depending on your destination and the experiences you would most like to enjoy. These deals let you include additional features for a lower price to make your vacation even more comfortable. You can find the best deals by searching for your destinations, and filtering by your desired cruise lines. This way only the companies you wish to travel with will appear. You can also sort your results by price and length of time.

How to choose your cruise with Viking River?

If you want to book aViking River cruise there are plenty of amazing Viking River cruise deals available. Add your destination, cruise vacation, and number of travelers. Then you can sort your results by price, duration, and departure date. You can also filter by cruise line, cruise ship and cabin type. You’ll find different amenities to suit your vacation needs on each Viking River cruise. For example, youth programs, fitness facilities, and spa facilities.

What do I need to look out for when booking a Viking River cruise?

When booking your 2025 Viking River cruise it’s important to consider a few practical tips. Check what the cost covers, and what you may need to budget for or need insurance for. Think about any amenities or onboard service you’ll require, depending on the length of the Viking River cruise. For example, youth programs, entertainment, fitness facilities, spa facilities, and room service. Secondly, research the weather conditions for your journey and destination. In some locations, summer and winter weather can vary a lot. Another tip is to go over the ship layout to see where you’d like to pick a cabin. Don’t forget to check visa requirements and any flight logistics.

When is the best time to book a Viking River cruise?

You can book a Viking River cruise as early as you like depending on availability. There’s a higher chance of finding cheaper Viking River cruise prices by booking between 6 months to 12 months in advance. But there are also lots of last-minute cruise deals closer to your preferred departure date, but this will depend on your flexibility.

Are last minute deals available with Viking River?

Yes, you can find last-minute Viking River cruises on Expedia. Add your travel dates to the cruise finder and sort your results to find the best price available. Cruise deal discounts are indicated by a green box above the Viking River cruise price.

How do I book a cruise with Viking River?

To book a Viking River cruise on Expedia select your Viking River destination and filter by cruise line. You can also browse our extensive selection of pre-selected cruise deals and find the perfect cruise for you. Once you have found the one you want, choose your dates and the port of departure. You can also refine your search by cabin experiences, or cruise ship. Each ship will have amenities to suit your needs including room service, spa facilities, and fitness facilities.

Is Viking River great value for money?

Viking River cruises are excellent value for money if you're looking for an enjoyable and relaxing cruise vacations. A Viking River cruise offers a high standard of service, a great selection of dining, modern amenities, friendly staff, and exciting activities. The exceptional quality of the experience is worth the price.

Can I cancel a Viking River cruise booking?

Yes, you can cancel your Viking River cruise. We all have unfortunate circumstances where we need to cancel a booking, so Expedia makes it easy to do so. All you have to do is head to your My Trips page on Expedia and click on the cancellation button. Another option is to contact customer service, where you’ll receive help with cancelling. Do make sure that you’re aware of the refund policy that applied to your booking, to see if you’re entitled to a full refund.

Viking River Cruise Guide

Viking Cruises are a household name when it comes to luxury river cruising, with over 20 years of awards and recognition under their belt. Viking's large fleet of over 70 ships and counting sail to a large variety of itineraries in Europe, Russia, Egypt, China and more. Onboard you’ll be treated to an all-inclusive experience, with complimentary Wi-Fi access, coffees, teas, as well as complimentary wine, beer and soft drinks served with gourmet meals by Swiss-trained chefs. Enjoy guided shore excursions and in-depth tours, or sightsee on your own, with plenty of time allocated for independent activities. Viking’s innovative ships offer a variety of larger-than-average suites and intricate Scandinavian design made with guest comfort in mind.

Viking River Ships

• Viking Vali
• Viking Sigyn
• Viking Einar
• Viking Herja
• Viking Hild
• Viking Jarl
• Viking Atla
• Viking Gersemi
• Viking Torgil
• Viking Alsvin
• Viking Ingvi
• Viking Astrild
• Viking Beyla
• Viking Gefjon
• Viking Lofn
• Viking Mimir
• Viking Modi
• Viking Vidar
• Viking Kara
• Viking Hlin
• Viking Alruna
• Viking Egil
• Viking Kadlin
• Viking Osfrid
• Viking Skirnir
• Viking Kari
• Viking Radgrid
• Viking Osiris
• Viking Skaga
• Viking Fjorgyn
• Viking Rinda
• Viking Buri
• Viking Delling
• Viking Hermod
• Viking Kvasir
• Viking Embla
• Viking Prestige
• Viking Rurik
• Viking Truvor

More Cruise Lines to Explore

• AmaWaterways
• Avalon Waterways
• Azamara Club Cruises
• Celebrity Cruises
• Costa Cruise Lines
• Crystal Cruises
• Cunard Cruises
• Carnival Cruise Lines
• Disney Cruise Line
• Holland America Line
• MSC Cruises
• Norwegian Cruise Line
• Oceania Cruises
• Princess Cruises
• Royal Caribbean
• Regent Seven Seas Cruises
• Seabourn Cruise Line
• Uniworld River Cruises
• Viking Ocean Cruises

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Fuel supplement may apply. Savings advertised are based on specific cabin types and sailing dates, and may not be available for all cabin types/sailings.

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TravelAwaits

Our mission is to serve the 50+ traveler who's ready to cross a few items off their bucket list.

Viking Cruise Line | Must-Know Secrets That No One Tells You

Courtesy of Viking Cruises

• Cruises and Sailing
• River Cruises
• Types of Travel
• Viking Cruises

Note: The Travel Awaits team regularly updates content to provide the latest, and most accurate information to our readers. The updated content in this article may not reflect the views or opinions of the original author.

If you’re a savvy traveler, you probably know about Viking Cruises. The cruise line provides luxurious river and ocean cruises, with “luxurious” being the key word; while most people think of a cruise vacation as a by-the-numbers affair, Viking has redefined guest expectations by providing a carefully cultivated all-inclusive experience.

Courtesy of Viking Ocean Cruises

Viking cruises founder and CEO is Torstein Hagen who started with four riverboats in Russia. Today, the Viking ocean ships employ a unique modernist aesthetic that simply feels different from what you’d get from Carnival, Royal Caribbean, or any of the other industry leaders, and their approach has paid dividends.

When you’re sitting in the Explorers’ Lounge perusing vintage maps or enjoying a thermal bath on the spa deck, you’ll know why Viking Ocean Cruises are held in such high regard.

Of course, the ships’ features might not matter if the routes were boring. Fortunately, that’s not the case: typical Viking ships are significantly smaller than the ships of major cruise lines, (like Viking Polaris, Viking Octanis, Viking Sun, and Viking Star), which ensures that they’re able to enter smaller ports during Viking expeditions. As a result, Viking Cruises offer incredible itineraries with unmatched onboard amenities.

Viking Cruise Line Secrets No One Tells You

1. the true meaning of “all-inclusive”.

If you’ve cruised before, you know that Viking Ocean cruises are…well, expensive. You can expect to pay several thousand dollars for your trip (although rates vary greatly by route and month), which seems costly compared to the $500-600 rates you’d find from other cruise companies.

However, once you’ve paid, you don’t need to spend much more. Your fare includes a shore excursion in each port of call (including all port charges and government taxes), onboard meals with beer and wine, Wi-Fi access, self-service laundry, spa access, and 24-hour room service.

Viking estimates that their amenities are worth about $200, per guest, per day. To get that value, you’ll have to use as many of the onboard services as possible, but it beats constantly taking out your wallet for things like internet access and port fees.

And not to hammer home the point, but Viking cruises are truly luxurious. Standard features like heated bathroom floors and high-quality wooden deck furniture really help the cruise line stand out from its competitors (and no, we haven’t received payment from Viking for this piece). With that said, some If you want to enjoy a cocktail outside of lunch or dinner service, you’ll have to pay for the privilege. However…

2. How To Avoid Overpaying For Drinks

If you’re planning on drinking regularly — no judgments here, we’re talking about a vacation — there are a couple of ways to keep your budget in check.

The most obvious: Pay for the Silver Spirits beverage package, which offers unlimited beers, cocktails, premium wines, juices, espresso drinks, and mineral water for the entire cruise. Prices vary depending on the length of the cruise, but for around $19.95 per night per guest, you’ll never have to worry about what you’re spending.

Is that worth it? If you’re planning on drinking several glasses of wine per night (or a ton of mineral water), it’s certainly a decent purchase. If that doesn’t sound like a great value (or if you’re not planning on paying for enough beverages to justify the surcharge), there’s another option.

“You can also buy local wine and bring it onboard,” a Viking Cruises representative tells TravelAwaits via email. “Each stateroom on Viking Longships and Viking’s ocean ships have a refrigerator, and a corkscrew is also available onboard.”

As with all other aspects of your cruise, the trick is to plan ahead. Make a list of planned expenditures, then do the math to see whether you can justify the Silver Spirits package. If not, you can always grab a few bottles of the good stuff during a shore excursion.

3. Plan For A Pre-Meal Drink

Ocean cruisers won’t want to miss out on Torshavn.

“Drawing its name from the capital of the Faroe Islands, Torshavn is a lively music venue inspired by the romantic jazz lounges of 1940s Hollywood, and it’s an ideal spot for pre-dinner drinks and after-dinner entertainment,” a Viking representative tells us. “This intimate club environment also offers a selection of rare vintage Armagnacs from 1935 through 1965.”

“Don’t miss the opportunity to sample these extraordinary, limited-quantity brandies from France’s Armagnac region in Gascony during your sailing.”

Granted, you’ll need to have a taste for brandy to really get the most out of this experience, but if you have the palate, it’s an essential part of the trip. If that’s not to your interests, you could always relax with a nice afternoon tea.

“Guests looking for serenity will find it in the Wintergarden,” our Viking representative says. “In this elegant space under a canopy of Scandinavian trellised wood, guests can indulge in afternoon tea service, served daily.”

4. How To Pick Your Stateroom

If you’ve got money to burn, you won’t be disappointed by the premium suites on a Viking cruise. That doesn’t necessarily make them a great value.

For example, river cruises have two 445-sq.-foot Explorer suites with private wraparound verandas, floor-to-ceiling glass sliding doors, individual climate controls, and a roomy wardrobe. Veranda suites are smaller (275 square feet), but feature large private bathrooms, climate controls, 40-inch flat-panel TVs, and various other amenities. Ocean cruises have similar options, though exact room sizes and features will vary.

However, if you’re looking to save money, think about whether you’ll actually spend much time in your suite. If you’re an active person (or if you’re planning to adopt a slightly more active lifestyle during a two- or three-week cruise), a less expensive stateroom could save you a tremendous amount of money.

Standard staterooms are much less expensive, and while they’re not exactly roomy, that doesn’t matter if you’re just using them as a sort of home base. You won’t have much of a view, but you’ll still get the 24/7 room service, and if you’re feeling claustrophobic, you can always head to a different part of the ship.

5. The Best Time To Travel on a Viking Sea Cruise

When booking your Viking sea cruise, you’ll have an easier time finding staterooms during certain months of the year. For the best possible time, you’ll want to be flexible.

“Guests sailing the rivers in December can experience the traditional European Christmas markets and see the cities in a new way while enjoying local holiday treats and hot mulled wine,” our source notes.

If you’re taking one of the Viking river cruises, do a bit of research on the cities you’ll be visiting. Find out what’s happening, then plan your itinerary appropriately. An easy approach is to sign up for the Viking Weekly, an online newsletter with recommendations, itinerary spotlights, videos, and more. The company also offers print publications designed to get travelers aboard one of Viking ocean ships.

With ocean cruise, timing is less of an issue, but you’ll still want to plan as far in advance as is possible. Viking Ocean Cruises can be booked several years in advance, and for some travelers, that extra planning time can ensure a once-in-a-lifetime trip.

6. How To Make A Viking Cruise Affordable

As we mentioned earlier, Viking Ocean cruises aren’t cheap, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t travel frugally.

Viking River Cruises offer a 3.3 percent discount for travelers who pay via e-check, so if you’re looking for a way to reduce your expenses, that’s a great place to start. You should also research tipping policies for your vessel; while tips are voluntary for both ocean and river cruises, Viking ocean cruises have a discretionary hotel and dining charge of $15.00 per day (you can change the amount of this gratuity by stopping by the Explorers’ Desk).

For river cruises, tipping recommendations vary depending on your location. The Viking River Cruises website contains gratuity recommendations for various cruises, along with currency recommendations.

While you’ll want to show your gratitude to the ship’s staff, you’ll want to know what you’re paying, particularly if you’re traveling on a ship that doesn’t use your typical currency. Planning in advance should help you avoid a costly mistake (or embarrassing faux pas).

7. Don’t Forget Your Cell Phone

Part of the fun of a cruise is getting away from the stresses of your everyday life, and for many of us, that means turning off the smartphone for a while. However, Viking offers a few apps to make your cruise more enjoyable, and if you don’t install them, you’ll miss out.

“The Viking Art Guide (available for free in the App Store and Google Play ) offers a self-guided audio tour of the artwork throughout the public spaces of the Viking Ocean Ships, with insightful commentary from your host, Viking’s Senior Vice President Karine Hagen, as well as a variety of curators and experts,” our source says.

Another essential download is the Viking Voyager app, which lets you see daily events, plan your cruise program, and book shore excursions, spa appointments, and dinner reservations. Sure, you can do all of that without the app, but a bit of technology goes a long way.

As one of the app’s reviewers puts it: “This app is an essential tool for getting the most out of your cruise.”

8. Find the Best On Board Internet Reception

When you are traveling you need to update social media regularly. You can’t just take a cruise, turn off all mobile devices, and not post a single thing. For that reason, Wi-Fi is available throughout the ship, but the reception can be spotty. You will typically notice this when going through the innumerable river and canal locks. 

That’s why you’ll appreciate this advice: the best stateroom Wi-Fi reception is in the bathroom because it is closest to the hallway. As for the entire ship, the strongest Wi-Fi signal is in the library located on the Upper Deck.

9. Try Out All Of The Dining Options

On a Viking cruise, diners can visit any restaurant without incurring any additional charge. Many travelers play it safe, sticking with contemporary American fare at the buffet, but our Viking source strongly recommended exploring all of the ships’ culinary options.

A simple place to start: Mamsen’s, a chic deli located on every Viking ocean cruise ship.

“Located in the Explorer’s Lounge, Mamsen’s serves traditional Scandinavian fare inspired by Ragnhild Hagen – Viking Chairman Torstein Hagen’s mother, or ‘Mamsen,’ as she was known to the family,” our source wrote. “The deli, named in her honor, serves cuisine inspired by her kitchen, from sweet rolls with cloudberry jam, salmon gravlax, and open-faced sandwiches to her heart-shaped waffles served with jam or gjetost and Norwegian brown goat cheese.”

You’ll also want to check out Manfredi’s Italian Restaurant and The Chef’s Table, the cruise line’s premium restaurants. Some suites come with a guaranteed reservation, but if you’re grabbing a stateroom, try to visit the restaurants early in your voyage.

And if you enjoy your experience at one of those premium restaurants, feel free to head back later in the trip — at The Chef’s Table, the menu changes every three days.

10. Know Your Menu

On the ship restaurant menus, you’ll find the left side featuring daily-prepared chef specialties, often regional seasonal cuisine. Meanwhile, the right side of the menu offers standard options like fish, chicken, and steak. 

You’ll discover first-hand that the standard options take longer to prepare than the chef specialties, because a steak, for example, will be cooked to order while the specialties only require assembly. Keep in mind that if you order from the right side of the menu, your entire table will need to wait to be served until your special order is ready.

11. Tour The Bridge And The Galley.

If you’re on an ocean cruise, you can actually take a tour of the bridge and galley, but you’ll need to act quickly in order to get a spot.

“At least once during your sailing, the ship will offer behind-the-scenes tours of the bridge, where the captain and crew manage the direction and speed of the ship, and the galley, the kitchen,” a Viking representative says.

“These are limited capacity and can only be booked once onboard, so talk to the guest services team once you arrive and watch your Viking Daily newsletter to make sure you can secure your spot.”

That might not interest every traveler, but if you’re interested in the inner workings of a major cruise vessel, it’s well worth the time.

12. Get Off The Boat When You Can

Given the luxurious nature of the Viking vessels, it’s easy to understand why a traveler would want to stay on the boat. That’s fine if you’re on an ocean cruise, but for Viking river cruises, make sure you’re taking advantage of the local culture.

“Unlike Viking ocean cruises, sailing on river cruises puts you in the heart of many of the cities you visit,” our source tells us. “During each port of call, guests can explore the destinations with a short walk from their ship’s dock. Plus, the ships sail smoothly down Europe’s waterways, meaning, no waves for those who get seasick.”

This is where a carefully planned travel itinerary can really elevate your trip. Of course, if you miss a stop, you can still enjoy the cities: Viking’s Culture Curriculum program provides onboard performances and lectures from artists, musicians, and historians, along with “authentic culinary demonstrations.”

In other words, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to expand your knowledge of world cultures. Just make sure to make an effort!

13. Don’t Overpack

Remember, Viking cruises provide pretty much everything you need for a great vacation. The worst thing you can do is clutter up your quarters with unnecessary items.

Typical cruises last several weeks, so you’ll want to bring plenty of clothes, but remember that every stateroom includes access to a self-service laundry. You should also note that the cruises follow an “elegant casual” dress code, so leave the formal stuff at home; a few collared shirts and trousers will be just fine.

Most rooms are also equipped with hair dryers, so while you might want to bring other electric products — hair straighteners and curlers, for instance — leave the dryer behind.

And even if you’re extremely particular about your shampoo, you don’t need to bring any onboard. Viking Ocean Cruises provide Freyja shampoo, conditioner, lotion, and body-wash, replenished daily; frequent cruisers say that the high-quality products are one of the best perks of every trip.

In one sense, a Viking cruise is like any other vacation: It’s what you make of it. In every other sense, though, it’s unmatched, especially when compared with cruises from other major companies. Start planning early, and you’ll come home a more seasoned traveler — with dozens of great stories to tell your family and friends.

Are Pets Allowed on Board A Viking Cruise Ship?

No. Only service animals and certified therapy dogs may be allowed at Viking’s sole discretion. Guests who require the help of a service animal must complete and submit the Service Animal Request Form to Viking before final payment is due. 

What Is the Electrical Voltage in the Staterooms on Viking Cruise Ships?

There are both 110V and 220V electrical outlets in your stateroom. All outlets are European style with a ground, except for two US 110V sockets above the desk and one US 110V socket on each side of the bed. There are no UK 3-pin sockets. 

Are the Viking Cruise Ships Non-Smoking?

They are generally nonsmoking, but to accommodate guests who smoke, there is a designated outdoor smoking area on the starboard side of Deck 8. All other areas of the ship are designated non-smoking areas. Restrictions also apply to e-cigarettes.

Is There a Library on Board a Viking Cruise Vessel?

Yes. Viking ocean and Viking expeditions ships include the library located in The Living Room. Book selection is curated by London bookseller Heywood Hill to enrich and enhance your journey.

Are There Luggage Restrictions On Board Viking Cruise Ships?

All luggage on board a Viking Cruise vessel must be stored in the guest’s stateroom. All information concerning luggage will be available to you with ample time to plan for your voyage. A full list of allowable and prohibited items on board is available on their Prohibited Items List.

Brian Thomas is a professional writer with over 15 years of experience. He’s traveled extensively during that time, frequently touring the American Southwest as both a musician and a tourist. In 2019, he visited Japan and Mexico, and he’s become passionate about spreading a simple message: Traveling isn't necessarily expensive, and it's one of the best paths to self-improvement.

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The Best Mississippi River Cruises to Discover America's Heartland

By Jackie Sheckler Finch

The luxury ships and historic tours are nice, yes. But the real star of Mississippi River cruises has always been the river. There’s nothing quite so Americana as getting to know the many personalities of this 2,350-mile stretch, flowing from northern Minnesota’s Lake Itasca through 10 states until it reaches Louisiana , where the Mississippi River Delta gives way to the Gulf of Mexico.

The slow, meandering journeys of Mississippi River cruises have long proven an ideal way to discover the distinct stories of America’s heartland. In the words of Mark Twain (which no Mississippi River story would be complete without), the towns and cities located on the mighty river's shores are “cheering to the spirit” and “reposeful as a dreamland,” with “nothing to hang a fret or a worry upon.”

The challenge modern travelers now face is when, where, and how to go about this iconic American voyage . Below, see our answers to these frequently asked questions, plus our favorite Mississippi River cruises to book in 2024.

Which cruise lines do Mississippi River cruises?

After American Queen Voyages shut down in February, only two Mississippi River cruise lines currently remain in operation.

Celebrating its 50th anniversary, American Cruise Lines (ACL) has a fleet of more than 20 American-built ships sailing across the country and remains family-owned and American-crewed. ACL offers a Mississippi River fleet of three luxurious 180-passenger modern riverboats– American Melody , American Symphony , and American Serenade —plus two classic paddlewheel ships, the 180-passenger American Splendor and the 150-passenger American Heritage.

The new kid on the Mississippi is the Viking Mississippi, a 386-passenger, five-deck vessel that first set sail in September 2022. The cutting-edge cruise is Viking’s first foray in the US, adding to their fleet of more than 90 ocean, river, and expedition vessels navigating the world’s seven continents.

What is the average cost of a Mississippi River cruise?

For an 8- or 9-day cruise, the average cost of a Mississippi River cruise is around $4,000 per person in a stateroom. Although prices might seem high initially, many of these cruises include extras that aren’t always complimentary on ocean cruises such as free WiFi, at least one free shore excursion in every port, paid port taxes and fees, and a pre-cruise hotel stay. Viking offers complimentary beer, wine, and soft drinks with onboard lunch and dinner. Meanwhile, American Cruise Lines offers complimentary beer, wine, cocktails, and soft drinks. Gratuities are also included in American Cruise Lines fares.

What is the best time of year to go on a river cruise?

Spring (late March through mid-June) and autumn (September through November) are the best times of year to go on a river cruise in the US. Spring blossoms add a colorful touch to the shoreline, and you can never go wrong with autumn foliage. The temperatures are mild, if not pleasantly cool, and passengers are eager to welcome a new spring travel season—or to enjoy one last autumn river adventure before winter arrives.

What month is best for a Mississippi River cruise?

If we had to pick just one, September is the best month for a Mississippi River cruise. The weather is usually mild with less likelihood of rain, and autumn colors are beginning to paint the shoreline. Keep in mind, however, that the Mississippi is the fourth largest river in the world—so temperatures any time of year are not going to be the same in warmer Louisiana as they are in cooler Minnesota.

Below, see our favorite Mississippi River cruises to book in 2024, featuring stops in iconic American cities like Nashville , Memphis , and New Orleans .

22-day Mississippi River Odyssey: New Orleans to Red Wing, Minnesota

Enjoy the charms of America’s great river on a journey aboard the Viking Mississippi from New Orleans to Red Wing, departing September 20. Custom built to sail American waters, the vessel features river-facing staterooms with either French or step-out balconies.

Stops include Baton Rouge and St. Francisville in Louisiana; Natchez, Vicksburg, Greenville, and Rosedale in Mississippi; Memphis in Tennessee; Paducah in Kentucky; Cape Girardeau, St. Louis, and Hannibal in Missouri; Burlington, Quad Cities, and Dubuque in Iowa; La Crosse in Wisconsin; and ending in Red Wing, Minnesota.

With so many fascinating shore excursions to choose from, it’s well worth taking time to tour the St. Louis Arch . Opened in 1965, the monument to America’s westward expansion is far more than just a stunning photo by the riverside. Venture underground between the arch legs for a museum. Climb aboard a tram to be transported 630 feet up to the top of America’s tallest monument for some stunning views.

12-day Heart of the Delta: Memphis to New Orleans

The 386-guest Viking Mississippi spans five decks, making it one of the largest passenger vessels on the Mississippi. Inaugurated in 2022, the ship features a modern Scandinavian design with an infinity pool and a two-story Explorers’ Lounge observation area similar to its ocean ships. Directly in front of the Explorer’s Lounge is an expanded outdoor seating area known as The Bow. Three restaurants serve both Southern regional cuisine and international favorites.

The cruise starts in Memphis on November 14 and includes stops in Rosedale, Greenville, Vicksburg, and Natchez in Mississippi as well as St. Francisville, Baton Rouge, and Darrow in Louisiana, ending in New Orleans. The “Mississippi Sings the Blues” shore excursion visits iconic sites along the Mississippi Blues Trail such as historic Dockery Farms, considered the “birthplace of the blues.”

The tour stops in Clarksdale, the fabled “Crossroads” where legend says blues great Robert Johnson reputedly sold his soul to the devil in exchange for his guitar prowess. Stops at the GRAMMY Museum Mississippi and the Delta Blues Museum completes this perfect trip for music lovers.

9-day Music Cities Cruise: Nashville to Memphis

Music is the main focus of this cruise offered by American Cruise Lines, which begins in Nashville on July 9 with an unforgettable visit to the legendary Grand Ole Opry and ends in Memphis, where passengers will enjoy live music on Beale Street and a tour of Elvis Presley’s Graceland . On board the American Splendor, passengers will enjoy spacious cabins and popular rocking chairs. First inaugurated in 2016 and fully redecorated in 2022, this ship offers the nostalgia of a classic paddlewheeler along with the comfort of modern amenities.

While in Nashville, explore the Johnny Cash Museum, then walk upstairs to The Patsy Cline Museum. Nightly entertainment spotlights the musical heritage of this region as the world’s newest paddlewheeler journeys along the river. The itinerary also includes Clarksville and Dover in Tennessee plus Paducah in Kentucky. In Paducah, stroll along the riverfront with more than 50 life-sized panoramic murals depicting Paducah’s past. Stop by Paducah’s National Quilt Museum, the world’s largest museum devoted to quilt and fiber art.

23-day Complete Mississippi River Cruise: New Orleans to St. Paul

Sail 1,393 miles through 10 states on a comprehensive exploration of the mighty Mississippi on the new American Serenade . Inaugurated in 2023, the 91-cabin American Serenade won Best New River Cruise Ship of the Year 2023 by Cruise Critic , the first time an American ship has received this prestigious award.

“With extra-large all-balcony staterooms and suites, trendy interior décor, an innovative hydraulic bow and retractable ramp, and one of the most gorgeous sun decks we’ve seen on a river-going ship, American Serenade sets the bar for domestic US river cruising high,” the award notes.

The epic itinerary beginning July 18, 2024 includes 22 ports of call including Oak Alley, Houmas House, Baton Rouge, and St. Francisville in Louisiana; Natchez, Vicksburg, Greenville, and Tunica in Mississippi; Memphis in Tennessee; Cape Girardeau, St. Louis, and Hannibal in Missouri; Muscatine and Dubuque in Iowa; and Winona, Red Wing, and Saint Paul in Minnesota.

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12-day Mississippi River Gateway Cruise: New Orleans to St. Louis

From the French Quarter in New Orleans to the towering Gateway Arch in St. Louis , this American Heritage cruise lives up to its name. Inaugurated in 2015 and totally redecorated in 2022, the 84-cabin American Heritage is the perfect vessel for this interesting itinerary, its design reminiscent of the days when steamboat paddlewheelers plied the Mississippi in the 1800s.

The 12-day voyage departs from New Orleans on July 2. Ports of call along the way include Baton Rouge in Louisiana; Natchez and Vicksburg in Mississippi; Memphis in Tennessee; and Paducah in Kentucky . An onboard expert shares tales of the importance of steam-driven paddlewheels in establishing riverfront communities along the great Mississippi River.

Step ashore in Natchez and enjoy a cold drink at the Under-the-Hill-Saloon, once one of the rowdiest establishments on the Mississippi River in the 1800s. Legend says that Mark Twain stopped here when he was just another riverman named Samuel Clemens.

9-day Lower Mississippi River Cruise: Memphis to New Orleans

This nine-day American Melody cruise departs Memphis on September 8 and features eight ports of call including Vicksburg and Natchez in Mississippi, and St. Francisville, Baton Rouge, and Houmas House in Louisiana. At Vicksburg Military Park, learn how the 101st Airborne Division got its “Screaming Eagles” nickname, plus the tale of its famous soldier, a young guitar player named Jimi Hendrix. At Houmas House, see the bedroom where Bette Davis stayed to film the 1964 movie Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte . Joan Crawford was the intended co-star but Bette and Joan feuded so Joan quit and Olivia de Havilland replaced her.

Launched in 2021, the five-deck American Melody has 91 staterooms, all with private balconies and full-length sliding glass doors. The ship has several spacious lounges, a fitness center, large dining room, café for casual dining, sun deck, library, and an impressive four-story glass atrium in the center of the ship. The ship’s unusual bow opens and lowers a platform for passengers to easily walk ashore.

9-day Upper Mississippi River Cruise: St. Louis to St. Paul

Board the American Symphony cruise ship to visit Mark Twain’s hometown and experience the real-life inspiration behind Life on the Mississippi, the classic memoir chronicling the author's days on the river as a steamboat pilot.

The 91-cabin American Symphony, recently inaugurated in 2022, has 100% private balcony accommodations and a unique bow that opens with a retractable gangway that can be extended for landings virtually anywhere. The ship also features lounges soaring 40 feet above the water with triple the glass of other riverboats for spectacular views. Comfy deck chairs welcome passengers to enjoy the undeveloped countryside, picturesque islands, and fascinating dams and navigation locks.

Departing September 27, this itinerary features seven ports of call including Muscatine and Dubuque in Iowa, and Winona and Red Wing in Minnesota. In Hannibal, visit the actual home—with a whitewashed Tom Sawyer fence—where Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) grew up. In Dubuque, see the 1989 “Field of Dreams” movie site known for the famous quote, “If you build it, they will come.”

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When is the best time to book a Viking River cruise?

By islandwoman , February 3, 2021 in River Cruising

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islandwoman

We are currently booked on a Viking Danube cruise for October 2021.  This will be our first cruise with Viking.  We're considering booking a "Magnificent Mekong" cruise for October, 2022.  Would it be best to book now, or after our 2021 cruise (assuming that our 2021 cruise actually sails) ?

Do past cruisers get a discount or onboard credits on future cruises?

Will we earn any benefits (like frequent cruiser tiers) after taking one Viking cruise that might make our next booking a better value?

Do cruise fares tend to be lower farther out or closer to sailing ?

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Does this mean that if I book a second Viking River cruise before having taken the first, I don't qualify for these travel credits?

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Travel Credit On Your Next Trip

Viking would like to encourage you to join us again by offering credit on your upcoming travel with Viking Cruises. Whether you choose the rivers or oceans for your next journey, you will receive travel credits according to the amount of time that has elapsed since your last Viking voyage. If you reserve within one year, you receive $200 per passenger in travel credit; if you reserve within two years, you receive $100.*

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I have been able to qualify for similar offers from other cruise lines by booking a second cruise before actually sailing on the first one – but it was as an exception and given as a courtesy.

Not sure if you get travel credits, but if you do book a second cruise, be sure to ask to pay the balance 6 months before embarkation. This is not automatic and must be requested.

1 hour ago, Squawkman said: be sure to ask to pay the balance 6 months before embarkation. This is not automatic and must be requested.

I found that out the hard way.  My TA called out of the blue two weeks ago and asked for payment in full for our Viking River Cruise that isn't until October. We were not prepared to pay such a large bill immediately in cash, so we told him to have Viking put it on a credit card. But they took it out of our checking account without authorization.  😒

I didn't know that I could request a 6 months before embarkation payment date.  I will do that next time and insist on knowing the payment due date before booking.  Thank you for the information.

IW - unless Viking was running a promotion, your first cruise probably would require earlier payment. You can get 6 months if you have at least one other cruise booked in the future. Regardless, I wouldn’t use a TA who hits your bank account without specific authorization. All info regarding payments appears on your booking statement and MVJ. Personally, I use a Viking agent - same one for all of my cruises for over 3 years. I would recommend him here if I were permitted to.

1 hour ago, islandwoman said: I found that out the hard way.  My TA called out of the blue two weeks ago and asked for payment in full for our Viking River Cruise that isn't until October. We were not prepared to pay such a large bill immediately in cash, so we told him to have Viking put it on a credit card. But they took it out of our checking account without authorization.  😒  

I would have been furious.

I wonder if this was Viking's error or TA's error.

2 hours ago, Coral said: I wonder if this was Viking's error or TA's error.

It was Viking's.  The money went directly from my checking account to Viking. They had my banking information from the earlier deposit which I did authorize as a direct transfer.

12 hours ago, islandwoman said: I found that out the hard way.  My TA called out of the blue two weeks ago and asked for payment in full for our Viking River Cruise that isn't until October. We were not prepared to pay such a large bill immediately in cash, so we told him to have Viking put it on a credit card. But they took it out of our checking account without authorization.  😒 I didn't know that I could request a 6 months before embarkation payment date.  I will do that next time and insist on knowing the payment due date before booking.  Thank you for the information.

OMG!  I cannot believe they did that.  😧

patrickmoran

Past guests get a regular discount of $100-200 pp when booking a new cruise, usually within 1 or 2 years of the last cruise. I have seen Viking have promotions when they'll double that.

The key with Viking is patience and luck. They can run some good promotions (free air, free drink package, etc). Get on their mailing lists and see what interests you.  That way you'll know a good price when you see it.  Viking's cancellation policy in the past was onerous; not so bad now.  Read the fine print!

10 hours ago, patrickmoran said: Get on their mailing lists and see what interests you.  

You may regret getting on their mailing lists.  🤣

32 minutes ago, Roz said:   You may regret getting on their mailing lists.  🤣

I don't know... the brochures make good kindling for the fire.... 🙂   E-mail is easy to send to junk if you are paperless.

2 hours ago, Daisi said:   I don't know... the brochures make good kindling for the fire.... 🙂   E-mail is easy to send to junk if you are paperless.

They are one reason I never worried during the toilet paper hoarding crisis!

2 hours ago, Roz said:   You may regret getting on their mailing lists.  🤣

Viking is a pretty small percentage of my junk mail.

21 minutes ago, patrickmoran said: Viking is a pretty small percentage of my junk mail.

Viking, Oceania, and Regent are a big part of mine.

24 minutes ago, patrickmoran said: Viking is a pretty small percentage of my junk mail.

I have never sailed with Viking and I get at least one mailer per week, often two.

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A Zürich, Switzerland Land Trip With Viking River Cruise

D uring our unforgettable Paris to the Swiss Alps cruise with Viking River Cruises, my husband (Eddie) and I found ourselves in the captivating city of Zürich, Switzerland. Although I had been to Switzerland before, Zürich was an unexplored gem. Viking River Cruises seamlessly transported us from the cruise ship to the hotel, and later to the airport, as part of their all-inclusive package.

Zürich bewitched us with its mesmerizing beauty and undeniable charm, despite being notoriously expensive. Over the course of our two-day stay, we eagerly immersed ourselves in the city’s delights, making the most of the complimentary walking tour and invigorating boat ride organized by Viking River Cruises. Allow me to share a glimpse of what awaits you on your visit to Zürich.

Read more about the 12 day river cruise here.

Zürich Scenery

Breathtaking scenery unfurls in every direction in Zürich. Whether it be the grandeur of the architectural masterpieces or the vibrant façades of historical buildings, the snow-capped Swiss Alps serving as a backdrop or the enchanting cobblestone streets that wound their way through the city, there is no shortage of picturesque moments that will prompt your camera to work overtime.

Zürich is an incredible city to explore on foot. Without even realizing it, we covered an impressive seven miles in a single day, diligently recorded by our trusty Fitbit. Such was the pleasure derived from our stroll that the concept of distance faded away, leaving us fully engrossed in the awe-inspiring ambiance that unfolded at every turn.

The Food in Zürich

Switzerland is renowned for its exquisite culinary offerings, with one of my personal favorites being cheese. Everywhere you go, you’ll encounter a plethora of exotic cheese choices. During my visit, indulging in authentic Swiss cheese fondue at the Swiss Chuchi Restaurant , nestled in the heart of the old town, was a must for me and my companion Eddie.

We opted for the traditional recipe, combining Vaudois cheese, white wine, cherry liquor, and garlic, resulting in a gastronomic delight that exceeded all expectations.

Another popular cheese delicacy in Zürich is raclette, which has recently gained popularity even in American eateries. While exploring the town, we noticed numerous raclette shops scattered around, its tantalizing aroma captivating our senses well before catching sight of it.

It’s worth noting that dining in Zürich can be quite costly. Simple meals often came with a hefty price tag of $24, and even a small bottled soda would cost between $4 and $7 at our hotel. Surprisingly, beer turned out to be more economical than both water and soda.

However, in the old town, we stumbled upon a gem called Blue Monkey —a delightful Thai restaurant boasting chic decor and offering a lunch buffet priced at $26 per person. I wholeheartedly recommend this establishment for an exquisite culinary experience.

Overall, Switzerland’s gastronomic offerings, particularly its cheese creations, exceeded all expectations, and I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of my culinary adventure in this beautiful country.

Parade Square

Eddie and I thoroughly enjoyed strolling through Paradeplatz (Parade Square) located in downtown Zürich. This upscale district is renowned for its exceptional shopping opportunities and the chance to observe people in action.

Parade Square places fashion and accessories at center stage, while home accents come in a close second.

If you happen to be staying outside the downtown area, fret not as getting there is incredibly convenient via the tram system. Coming from someone who seldom relies on public transportation, I can attest to its ease of use.

Tram stations provide instructions in English and accept credit cards. They are maintained well, operate efficiently, and offer a superb means of traversing Zürich. As you journey through the city, do observe the dignified architecture and stunning floral displays that grace its streets.

Lake Zürich

During our Viking River post-cruise excursion, we had the pleasure of embarking on a delightful boat ride around the picturesque Lake Zurich. The boat tour commences from Bürkliplatz and extends for approximately 90 minutes.

With both indoor and outdoor seating options, passengers are treated to breathtaking views of the serene lake and majestic, snow-capped mountains.

Our route led us to the charming medieval town of Rapperswil, featuring a captivating 12th-century castle gracefully perched on a hillside across the lake. If desired, passengers had the flexibility to disembark in Rapperswil and catch a later boat back into town.

Undoubtedly, the boat ride boasts exceptional scenery, allowing guests to relish the rejuvenating fresh air. Moreover, this memorable experience came at no cost for Viking River Cruise guests, ensuring that you seize the opportunity to partake in it.

Our Zürich Hotel

During our Viking River Cruise, we had the pleasure of being accommodated at the Sheraton Zürich Hotel , an elegant and sophisticated establishment situated in a cosmopolitan district. The rooms provide a comfortable sitting area, heavenly beds, an ergonomic desk and work area, a mini-fridge, and a refreshing shower, ensuring a pleasant stay.

To the delight of cruise ship guests, Viking offers a complimentary breakfast in a private space at the hotel, which proved to be a significant money-saving opportunity. Moreover, the Sheraton Hotel’s convenient location near the Toni-Areal tram station opens up a plethora of possibilities for exploring the city.

Zürich, Switzerland: One for the Books!

Zürich itself is known for its stunning scenery, making it a lovely city to visit. As part of Switzerland, a truly breathtaking country with an abundance of attractions, Zürich stands out as my favorite city thus far.

Read more from our Viking River Cruises:

Things to Know for your Viking Cruise

Remembering My Rhine River Cruise

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Press Release

Viking files registration statement with sec for proposed initial public offering.

Los Angeles, CA (April 5, 2024) – Viking Holdings Ltd (“Viking”) today announced that it has publicly filed a registration statement on Form F-1 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) relating to a proposed initial public offering of its ordinary shares. The number of ordinary shares to be offered and the price range for the proposed offering have not yet been determined. The proposed offering is subject to market and other conditions, and there can be no assurance as to whether or when the offering may be completed, or as to the actual size or terms of the offering.

Viking intends to list its ordinary shares on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “VIK.”

BofA Securities and J.P. Morgan are acting as lead underwriters and representatives for the proposed offering. UBS Investment Bank and Wells Fargo Securities are also acting as lead book-running managers. HSBC and Morgan Stanley are acting as bookrunners for the proposed offering, and Rothschild & Co and Stifel are acting as co-managers for the proposed offering.

The proposed offering will be made only by means of a prospectus. Copies of the preliminary prospectus, when available, may be obtained from: BofA Securities, NC1-022-02-25, 201 North Tryon Street, Charlotte, North Carolina 28255-0001, Attention: Prospectus Department, telephone: 1-800-294-1322, or email: [email protected]; and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, New York 11717, telephone: 1-866-803-9204, or email: [email protected].

A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the SEC but has not yet become effective. These securities may not be sold, nor may offers to buy be accepted, prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

About Viking

Viking was founded in 1997 and provides destination-focused journeys on rivers, oceans and lakes around the world. Designed for curious travelers with interests in science, history, culture and cuisine, Viking offers experiences for The Thinking Person™.

Email: [email protected]

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PRESS RELEASES

U.s. travel advisors respond to viking cruises' plan to grow direct sales.

Alexandria, Virginia, April 10, 2024  — In response to a recent story in OpenJaw about Viking Cruises going public, Zane Kerby, President & CEO of the American Society of Travel Advisors, comments on Viking Cruises' plan to grow direct sales.

"Viking wouldn’t be the first company to try and have their cake and eat it too when it comes to guidance regarding their stock price. Travel Advisors book nearly 59% of all cruises in the U.S. By 2026 they'll be selling more than 70% of all cruises . And, unlike the U.S. domestic airline industry, there is lots of competition in the river cruise market, with a dozen or more fantastic options.  Viking would be wise to embrace the U.S.-based travel advisor as their primary distribution channel, because, quite frankly, they are."

ABOUT ASTA Rebranded in 2018 as the American Society of Travel Advisors, ASTA is the leading global advocate for travel advisors, the travel industry and the traveling public. Its members represent 80 percent of all travel sold in the United States through the travel agency distribution channel. Together with hundreds of internationally-based members, ASTA’s history of industry advocacy traces back to its founding in 1931 when it launched with the mission to facilitate the business of selling travel through effective representation, shared knowledge and the enhancement of professionalism. For more information about the Society, visit our mission statement .  

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