Before Cruising

• Travel Documents: Most Viking Ocean and Viking River itineraries require a valid passport book. Many countries also require passports to remain valid for at least six months beyond your travel dates. Review your itinerary carefully before departure.
• Visas & Entry Requirements: Depending on your destinations, visas, electronic travel authorizations, vaccinations, or other documentation may be required. Viking provides guidance before departure, but guests are ultimately responsible for meeting all entry requirements.
• Travel Insurance: Comprehensive travel insurance is strongly recommended, particularly for international itineraries. Coverage for medical emergencies, trip interruption, baggage delays, and emergency transportation can provide valuable peace of mind.
• Research Your Itinerary: Viking places greater emphasis on destinations than onboard attractions. Reviewing your ports of call, included excursions, optional tours, and local customs before sailing will help you make the most of your voyage.
• Adults Only: Viking welcomes guests 18 years of age and older. There are no children's facilities, youth programs, casinos, or water parks, creating a quieter and more relaxed atmosphere throughout the fleet.
• Packing: Comfortable walking shoes are essential for both ocean and river cruises, as many included excursions involve walking on uneven streets, historic sites, and cobblestone pathways.
• Viking Explorer Society: Viking's loyalty program provides returning guests with exclusive offers, special savings, and additional benefits on future voyages.
• Carry-On Essentials: Pack medications, passports, valuables, electronics, and a change of clothes in your carry-on luggage. Checked baggage may not arrive in your stateroom until later on embarkation day.

My Viking Journey

• Your Cruise Portal: My Viking Journey is Viking's online planning portal, allowing guests to manage nearly every aspect of their vacation before departure.
• Before You Sail: Complete online check-in, submit travel information, review required documents, reserve optional shore excursions, purchase beverage packages, book spa appointments, and customize your itinerary.
• Shore Excursions: Every Viking cruise includes at least one complimentary excursion in each port, while additional optional excursions may be reserved before departure through My Viking Journey.
• Dining Reservations: Ocean cruise guests can reserve specialty restaurants before sailing, while river cruise dining generally remains open seating without reservations.
• Travel Documents: Boarding passes, cruise documents, transfer information, and personalized voyage details are available through My Viking Journey before departure.

Tipping / Gratuities

• Shipboard Gratuities: Daily gratuities may either be prepaid before departure or automatically added to your onboard account, depending on your booking and promotional inclusions. Review your confirmation to determine what applies to your voyage.
• Excursion Guides: While not required, many guests choose to tip local guides and motorcoach drivers who provide exceptional service during shore excursions.
• Additional Service Charges: Spa treatments, salon services, premium beverages, and certain optional purchases may include automatic service charges where applicable.
• Exceptional Service: Although never expected, guests frequently provide additional gratuities to crew members who consistently deliver outstanding personalized service throughout the voyage.

Embarking

• Online Check-In: Complete online check-in through My Viking Journey before arriving at the terminal. During check-in you'll verify travel documents, receive your boarding information, and review embarkation details.
• Arrival Time: Arrive during your assigned embarkation window for the smoothest boarding experience. Because Viking ships carry fewer guests than many mainstream cruise lines, embarkation is typically efficient and relaxed.
• Carry-On Essentials: Keep medications, travel documents, valuables, electronics, and a change of clothes with you. Checked luggage may not arrive in your stateroom until later in the afternoon.
• Embarkation Lunch: Ocean ships typically open the World Café shortly after boarding, while river ships usually offer a light lunch or refreshments for arriving guests before cabins become available.
• Explore Your Ship: Take time to familiarize yourself with the restaurants, lounges, library, spa, fitness center, and observation areas before departure. River ships are compact and easy to navigate, while ocean ships offer additional public spaces and amenities.
• Airplane Mode: Switch your phone to Airplane Mode before sailing and connect only through the ship's Wi-Fi to avoid expensive international roaming charges.
• All-Aboard Time: Viking strictly enforces all-aboard times at every port. Plan to return at least 30 to 60 minutes before the published departure time.

Cabin

• Comfortable Accommodations: Viking staterooms emphasize Scandinavian design with clean lines, comfortable furnishings, premium bedding, ample storage, flat-screen televisions, mini refrigerators, in-room safes, and thoughtfully designed bathrooms. Amenities vary by ship and cabin category.
• River vs. Ocean Cabins: Ocean ships offer a variety of veranda accommodations, while river ships feature French balconies, full verandas, or standard windows depending on cabin category and deck.
• Stateroom Steward: Your steward services your accommodation each day and can assist with additional towels, pillows, blankets, ice, and other reasonable requests throughout your voyage.
• Room Service: Complimentary room service is available aboard Viking Ocean ships. River ship room service is generally more limited, with breakfast service offered in most staterooms.
• Storage Space: Store luggage under the bed after unpacking to maximize available floor space and keep your stateroom organized throughout the cruise.
• Scandinavian Simplicity: Viking accommodations are designed to be elegant, functional, and uncluttered, reflecting the company's Scandinavian heritage rather than traditional luxury styling.

Onboard Experience

• Destination Focus: Viking designs every voyage around the destinations rather than onboard attractions. Expect a relaxed atmosphere centered on cultural enrichment, regional cuisine, and immersive travel experiences.
• Adults Only: All Viking ships welcome guests ages 18 and older, creating a peaceful environment without children's programs, casinos, waterslides, or amusement-style attractions.
• Ocean Ships: Viking Ocean ships feature infinity pools, the Nordic Spa, Wintergarden, Explorers' Lounge, The Living Room, walking track, and spacious observation areas designed for quiet relaxation.
• River Ships: Viking Longships and river vessels offer inviting lounges, sun decks, libraries, and observation areas that place guests close to the scenery while sailing through Europe's rivers.
• Relaxed Atmosphere: Without formal nights or constant announcements, Viking offers one of the quietest and most relaxed onboard experiences in the cruise industry.
• Scenic Cruising: River itineraries frequently sail during daylight hours, allowing guests to enjoy constantly changing scenery from lounges, outdoor decks, or their staterooms.

Dining

• Destination-Inspired Cuisine: Viking emphasizes regional cuisine and locally inspired dishes that reflect the destinations visited throughout your voyage.
• Ocean Dining: Viking Ocean ships feature multiple complimentary dining venues, including The Restaurant, World Café, Manfredi's Italian Restaurant, Chef's Table, Mamsen's, and additional casual options depending on the ship.
• River Dining: Viking River ships primarily feature one main restaurant serving open-seating breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with lighter meals available in the Aquavit Terrace on many Longships.
• Open Seating: Viking offers open seating for meals, allowing guests to dine when and with whom they choose rather than assigning fixed dining times.
• Dietary Requests: Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and many other dietary needs can usually be accommodated. Notify Viking before sailing whenever possible and remind your dining team once onboard.
• Reservations: Specialty restaurants aboard Viking Ocean ships should be reserved before or early during your voyage, while river cruises generally do not require dining reservations.

Food & Beverage

• Included Dining: Nearly all dining aboard Viking Ocean and Viking River ships is included in your cruise fare. Menus emphasize fresh ingredients, regional specialties, and destination-inspired cuisine that reflects the areas you'll be visiting.
• Complimentary Beverages: Filtered water, coffee, tea, and select juices are included with meals. Ocean ships also offer complimentary specialty coffee drinks in select venues throughout the day.
• Regional Cuisine: Throughout your voyage, Viking highlights local flavors and recipes, giving guests an opportunity to experience authentic regional dishes both onboard and ashore.
• Wine & Beer with Meals: Complimentary house wine, beer, and soft drinks are included with lunch and dinner on both Viking Ocean and Viking River cruises.
• Late-Night Dining: Ocean ships provide additional evening dining options and room service, while river ships typically offer lighter evening selections depending on the itinerary.

Silver Spirits Beverage Package

• Premium Beverage Package: Viking's Silver Spirits Beverage Package includes an expanded selection of premium wines, beers, cocktails, top-shelf spirits, specialty coffees, premium teas, bottled water, and soft drinks served throughout the day.
• Best Value: Guests who regularly enjoy premium wines, cocktails, or spirits outside of meal times often find the Silver Spirits Beverage Package offers significant savings compared to purchasing drinks individually.

Viking Ocean Cruises

• Designed For Destination Travel: Viking Ocean Cruises combines elegant Scandinavian design with destination-focused itineraries, offering a quieter alternative to many contemporary cruise lines. Rather than emphasizing amusement-style attractions, Viking focuses on cultural enrichment, regional cuisine, and immersive travel experiences.
• Mid-Sized Ships: Viking Ocean ships typically carry fewer than 1,000 guests, creating a more intimate atmosphere with attentive service, spacious public areas, and fewer crowds than many larger cruise ships.
• Relaxing Sea Days: Ocean itineraries often include scenic sea days between ports, giving guests time to enjoy the Nordic Spa, infinity pool, Wintergarden, Explorers' Lounge, lectures, live music, and the ship's many dining venues.
• Worldwide Destinations: Viking Ocean sails throughout Europe, Alaska, the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, the Caribbean, Asia, Australia, South America, and on World Cruises, offering voyages ranging from one week to several months.
• Ideal For: Viking Ocean Cruises are an excellent choice for travelers seeking a refined adults-only cruise experience that balances destination exploration with relaxing days at sea and a wide range of onboard amenities.

Viking River Cruises

• Travel Through The Heart Of Each Destination: Viking River Cruises are designed to bring guests directly into the cities, towns, and historic regions they came to experience. Rather than sailing across open oceans, river ships travel through the center of many of Europe's most famous destinations.
• Smaller Ships: Most Viking Longships accommodate approximately 190 guests, creating a highly personal atmosphere where it's easy to become familiar with fellow travelers and crew members during your voyage.
• More Time Ashore: River itineraries typically spend most days docked in or near city centers, allowing guests to walk directly into historic districts, museums, shops, restaurants, and local attractions with very little travel time.
• Scenic Daytime Sailing: Unlike ocean cruises, river voyages frequently sail during daylight hours, allowing guests to continuously enjoy castles, vineyards, villages, rolling countryside, and historic landmarks from the ship.
• Worldwide Rivers: Viking operates river cruises throughout Europe, Egypt, Southeast Asia, and the Mississippi River, with itineraries designed to showcase each region's history, culture, and local traditions.
• Ideal For: Viking River Cruises are perfect for travelers who want to maximize their time exploring destinations, enjoy a smaller and more intimate ship, and experience local culture with very little time spent traveling between ports.

Onboard Planning & Reservations

• My Viking Journey: Continue using My Viking Journey throughout your vacation to review your itinerary, onboard account, excursion information, dining reservations, and voyage details.
• Destination Enrichment: Viking offers destination lectures, historians, guest speakers, cultural presentations, cooking demonstrations, and enrichment programs that help guests better understand the places they visit.
• Excursion Planning: Included and optional shore excursions often fill quickly, particularly on popular itineraries. Confirm reservations early and review meeting locations the evening before arrival.
• Daily Program: Each evening you'll receive the following day's schedule outlining lectures, performances, excursions, dining information, and onboard activities.
• Relaxed Scheduling: Viking intentionally offers a less crowded daily schedule than many mainstream cruise lines, allowing guests to enjoy destinations without feeling rushed between activities.

Ports / Shore Excursions

• One Included Excursion Per Port: Every Viking itinerary includes at least one complimentary guided excursion in each port, making destination exploration a central part of the Viking experience.
• Optional Experiences: Guests may also choose from a wide variety of optional excursions, including culinary tours, active adventures, museum visits, cultural performances, and behind-the-scenes experiences.
• River Advantage: River ships frequently dock within walking distance of city centers, allowing guests to easily explore independently before or after organized excursions.
• Ocean Itineraries: Viking Ocean voyages visit destinations throughout Europe, Alaska, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, Asia, Australia, South America, and beyond, with itineraries emphasizing longer stays and destination immersion.
• Return Early: Whether sailing on an ocean or river itinerary, always return well before the published all-aboard time, as ships cannot delay departure for late-arriving guests.

Wi-Fi / Internet Access

• Complimentary Wi-Fi: Complimentary Wi-Fi is included aboard both Viking Ocean and Viking River ships, allowing guests to browse the web, check email, and stay connected throughout their voyage.
• Performance: Ocean ships utilize modern satellite connectivity, while river ships connect through a combination of cellular and satellite networks. Internet speeds vary depending on your location, weather conditions, and the number of guests online.
• My Viking Journey: Use My Viking Journey to review your itinerary, excursion information, reservations, and voyage details before and during your cruise.
• Streaming & Video Calls: Basic web browsing, messaging, and email generally perform well, although bandwidth-intensive activities such as video streaming may be limited depending on your ship's location and available network capacity.
• Airplane Mode: Keep your mobile devices in Airplane Mode while traveling internationally and connect only through the ship's Wi-Fi to avoid expensive roaming charges.

Complimentary Extras

• Included Shore Excursions: Every Viking itinerary includes at least one complimentary guided excursion in every port, making destination exploration a core part of the cruise experience.
• Wine & Beer with Meals: House wine, beer, and soft drinks are complimentary during lunch and dinner on both Viking Ocean and Viking River cruises.
• Destination Enrichment: Expert lecturers, historians, local performers, destination specialists, and cultural presentations help guests gain a deeper understanding of the regions they visit.
• Nordic Spa: Viking Ocean ships feature complimentary access to many thermal spa facilities, including the sauna, steam room, snow grotto, hydrotherapy pool, and relaxation areas.
• Specialty Dining: Ocean cruise guests enjoy complimentary specialty restaurants, including Manfredi's Italian Restaurant and The Chef's Table, without additional cover charges.
• No Hidden Resort Fees: Many amenities that are optional extras on other cruise lines, including Wi-Fi, destination lectures, specialty dining on ocean ships, and one excursion in every port, are already included with most Viking cruise fares.

Disembarking

• Departure Procedures: Viking provides departure instructions before the end of your voyage, including luggage collection, transportation arrangements, and customs information where applicable.
• Luggage Assistance: Guests placing luggage outside their stateroom the evening before departure will have it transferred to the terminal for collection after clearing customs and immigration.
• Final Morning: Enjoy breakfast before leaving the ship, review your onboard account one final time, and ensure you've collected all personal belongings from your stateroom.
• Transfers: Viking offers transfers to airports, hotels, and other destinations for eligible guests or those who purchased transfer services as part of their cruise package.
• River Cruises: Because river ships often dock in city centers, disembarkation is typically quick and convenient, allowing guests to continue independent travel with minimal delays.
• Before You Leave: Before leaving your stateroom, check the safe, closets, drawers, charging outlets, bathroom, and under the bed one final time. Taking a few extra moments can help prevent accidentally leaving behind passports, medications, electronics, or other valuables.