Viking Cruises
Who is it for? - Travelers that want to focus more on cultural immersion and learning than on casino nights and duty-free shopping.
Where do they go? - Danube River, Rhine River, France, Douro River (Portugal), Elba River (Germany), Russia, Ukraine, Asia, Egypt, River & Ocean Itineraries (Rivers + Viking Fjords), Ocean Cruises (Scandinavia & Northern Europe, Americas and the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Quiet Season Mediterranean, Asia & Australia, Africa, World & Grand Cruise Itineraries
One-sentence Overview - Explore historic cities around the world on "the thinking person's cruise".
Give me the details - Viking cruises are meant to provide ultraluxe accommodations on some of the world's best river cruising itineraries while encouraging guests to learn as much as possible before, during, and even after their sailing. Before even stepping foot onboard their Longship, travelers receive recommended reading and films that correspond with their itinerary to help them get familiar with the culture and country they'll be visiting. Once onboard, this attention to detail continues with the ship's curated library full of books, movies and other media from, about, or created by people coming from the destinations you'll reach on your sailing.
As the focus on Viking's cruises is intellectual stimulation, you won't find cabaret nights or night clubs onboard your ship. Everything from the restaurant menus to the onboard entertainment is planned with your itinerary in mind, and this same thoughtfulness extends to shore excursions as well. The on-board restaurants incorporate local ingredients from each port whenever possible, and some guests can even accompany the chef into town to shop in a local market. As an aside, all dining rooms are open seating which means guests are encouraged to dine when they want with whomever they'd like - a huge plus over traditional cruises.
"Taste of" events introduce travelers to some of the dishes they may encounter while in port, and onboard enrichment options often include regional musicians performing local music, be it polka or flamenco, or demonstrations of area crafts like Nordic lace and blown glass in Venice. Each stop in port includes at least one complimentary shore excursion, and trips to UNESCO sites around the world are included as well in the ports that have them.
What's included? - Viking cruises are all-inclusive, with a bevy of airfare and pre- and post-cruise packages to choose from when booking your itinerary - guests who book Viking Air receive complimentary ground transfers to and from the airport, which is always an appreciated detail. Beer, wine and soft drinks are included, and perhaps best of all there is complimentary Wi-fi throughout the entire ship - unheard of on most large cruises, and very much appreciated.
Longships? Like the big wooden ones? - The famed Viking Longships that service many of the river routes are certainly far more opulent than their ancient namesakes. Each ship can hold just 190 guests across 95 staterooms - all of which boast floor-to-ceiling windows from which to watch the world slip by - and provides an entirely different experience as opposed to the megaships used for many ocean cruises. Hybrid engines work to reduce the vibrations felt throughout the ship, making for a very smooth sailing, and solar panels for energy help make these some of the eco-friendliest ships sailing right now. In keeping with the idea of eco-friendliness, each ship has their own organic herb garden atop the ship where herbs used in the kitchens as well as at the bars are grown to provide fresh flavors.
Longships are constructed with the idea being that each guest should be able to see as much of their surroundings as they can at any given time. As previously mentioned, all suites have at least floor-to-ceiling windows, while the Explorer Suites have wraparound verandas offering unfettered views off the ship. The gorgeous sun deck that takes up the entire top of the ship offers plentiful seating for travelers to simply relax and watch the world slip by, and even the onboard Viking Lounge and Atrium have massive windows to allow as much natural light as possible into the ship's interior.
