Packing For A Viking Ocean Cruise: What NOT To Pack - More Time to Travel (2024)

FAQs

Can I wear jeans to dinner on a Viking ocean cruise? ›

On these occasions, required attire for ladies includes a dress, skirt or slacks with a sweater or blouse; for gentlemen, trousers and a collared shirt. A tie and jacket are optional; jeans are not permitted.

Though there are no formal nights on-board Viking River cruises, evening dress is elegant casual across all dining venues, performances and special events. This includes: Women – Dress, skirt or slacks with a sweater or blouse. Men – Trousers and collared shirt with a tie and jacket being optional.

There are no formal nights on Viking so there's no need for long dresses for women or dinner jackets for men (even neckties are discretionary). Instead, the dress code is “elegant casual,” meaning anything from a sundress in the Caribbean—to slacks and a blouse for women cruising in colder climates.

Minibars that include complimentary alcoholic beverages as well as soft drinks, water and snacks (replenished once daily). Complimentary clothes pressing and shoeshine services.

Breakfast: 7:00 AM–9:30 AM. Lunch: 12:00 PM–2:00 PM. Dinner: 7:00 PM.

Tipping | Gratuities are not included in Viking River cruise packages, so be prepared to tip $10-12 per person/per day at the end of the trip to your favorite crew and $2 per day for the program director. The staff is so accommodating that you will probably want to tip more, so use this guide as a baseline.

The Restaurant (Deck 2): The ship's primary dining venue, The Restaurant, stretches across the entire aft end of the ship. The open-seating restaurant operates for breakfast (8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.) and dinner (6 p.m. to 9 p.m.).

Viking closely monitors luggage restrictions. You are permitted one carry- on, dimensions not exceeding 22 x 14 x 9 in (56 x 36 x 23 cm) and weight not exceeding 15 lbs (7 kg). You are also permitted one checked bag, dimensions not exceeding 16 x 23 x 39 in (40 x 60 x 100 cm) and weight not exceeding 50 lbs (23 kg).

Is room service free on Viking Ocean Cruises? ›

Viking Cruises offers complimentary room service 24 hours a day on all ocean ships. An extensive room service menu is available around the clock. So, if you want to enjoy breakfast in bed, a private dinner for two on the balcony, or need some late night munchies, you can order room service at no additional costs.

What is the electrical voltage in the staterooms? If you are traveling on a Viking river ship in Europe, you will find both 110V (US-style) and 220V electrical outlets in your stateroom. The 220V outlets accommodate German Schuko two-pin safety plugs.

What happens if a guest tests positive for COVID-19 while on their Viking cruise? Guests with a positive COVID-19 test may be isolated on board or ashore—depending on local guidelines and symptoms, if any.

Viking Ocean Cruises

Self-service laundry, including detergent, is free of charge. For a shirt (laundering only), the send-out cost is $2.50–$4.

Although there is a mix of ages on the Viking River ships, most passengers are 60 plus, and many are retired, especially those favoring the longer voyages. Although Viking markets its ships to different countries, English is the primary onboard language and off-ship tour guides are also English-speaking.

special conditions. Dining time: Lunch: 11:00am - 2:30pm (last reservation slot at 1:30pm) Dinner: 5:30pm - 10:00pm (last reservation slot at 9:00pm) - Buffet rates are subject to 5% service charge - Eatigo discount is only applicable to adult rate - Please present your eatigo reservation code upon arrival.

All meals are complimentary, including specialty restaurants. (In fact, the only "fee" dining experience is The Kitchen Table, which is a hybrid: part dinner, part shore excursion.) All menus include heart-healthy options as well as vegetarian choices.

The World cafe is the buffet restaurant located at the aft of the ship with a lovely double height bar located at the back which leads out onto the Aquavit open terrace complete with dining tables to enjoy your meal al fresco if the weather allows.

No. River cruising is very relaxed, and there are no strict dress codes. Some lines, such as Vantage, request no shorts or jeans in the main dining room at dinner, but that's as far as it goes. There are no "formal" nights, so you can leave your gowns and tuxedos at home.

Activities on Cruise Ships

Activities That Cost Extra on Cruises: Bingo, casino play, arcade games, escape rooms and golf simulators will all cost you extra on most ships. Additionally, hands-on cooking classes, wine and liquor tastings, and a few other courses require an extra charge outside your fare.

What does 2 for 1 mean on Viking cruises? ›

Yes Excellent way to go on Viking on the two for one, it means that the normal price is for example 2500.00 is what you will pay instead of regular price of 5000.00 so they take your price cut it in half which includes your air from the states and gives you the two for one price.

What happens if you don't tip on a cruise? Most cruise lines work on the basis that the crew members' pay structure is based on receiving tips. If you choose not to tip, for whatever reason, you are impacting the salaries of the crew who have served you so well during your cruise.

Midnight buffets

One of the most beloved cruising traditions that has been phased out is the midnight buffet. Back when cruising had a more structured dining schedule, most cruisers only had the option to eat at the buffet or dining room during an early or late night seating for dinner.

The amount you pay will vary by cruise line, but they are all in the same ballpark. You can expect to pay about $15-$20 per person, per day. So a couple traveling together will see about $30-$40 per day in gratuities, or about $200+ over the course of a week-long cruise.

There aren't any hard-and-fast guidelines for this type of tip since it's contingent on your experience, but $25 to $40 on behalf of a couple roughly works out to an extra $2 to $3 per person, per day, for a seven-night cruise.

How much luggage can I bring? To help you plan, we suggest you limit your luggage to a maximum of one bag per person, if traveling on cruises of 3-5 days duration, and no more than two bags per person, for cruises of 6 days or longer.

Most cruise lines encourage passengers to limit luggage to less than 100 pounds (around 2 suitcases). You can also bring carry-on luggage.

How much luggage can I bring on a cruise? The best news about packing is that there is no (reasonable) limit on how much you can bring on a cruise. Most cruise lines “encourage” each passenger to limit luggage to two suitcases, each one less than 50 pounds.

Gratuities. Viking adds an automatic service gratuity (which it calls a “hotel and dining charge”) of $15 per person per day to final bills, depending on your cabin category. If you are unhappy with the service you receive, you can adjust this amount before disembarking at the Explorers' Desk.

Do you have to pay for phone service on a cruise? ›

It's a common question with varying answers. Guests are free to utilize their cellular data or connect to our onboard Wi-Fi on any ship. But, please be aware that cellular data used on the ship or in certain ports of call will result in charges from your cell phone provider.

With Viking, there are no hidden fees. One price covers most everything—port charges, Wi-Fi, meals, lectures, activities and shore excursions—plus hotel accommodations on cruisetours.

Viking highly recommends, but does not require, a pre-departure COVID-19 test—unless one is required by the destination.

Physical Distancing & Face Masks

Face masks are optional while moving about the ship. Please note: Viking's Medical Team continually monitors conditions and may deem face masks to be necessary while moving about the ship, based on conditions at the time of travel.

While cruising poses some risk of COVID-19 transmission, CDC will continue to publish guidance to help cruise ships continue to provide a safer and healthier environment for crew, passengers, and communities going forward.

Meanwhile, one of the largest European operators, Viking River Cruises, has been having a bumpy ride financially. A planned funding deal this past spring to cover expenses has fallen through. But—unsurprisingly—Viking claims it is in sound financial condition, reports The Travel Insider.

If sailing on Viking ocean cruises, there are numerous guest laundries available to use free of charge on each deck.

Laundry is Included on Viking Cruises (Including washing powder) Many other cruise lines have free to use laundry but you usually have to pay for the washing powder etc.

There are no liquid restrictions on cruise ships, so you can bring your own detergent and hand-wash your clothes in the cabin sink. Most in-cabin showers have retractable clotheslines so you can hang your wash to dry.

Dress is casual on-board Viking River, with shorts, slacks or jeans advised. Swimsuits, brief shorts, cover-ups and exercise attire should be reserved for the Fitness Centre, pool areas and Sports Deck.

Are Viking Ocean Cruises for old people? ›

River Cruise Lines

Catering to retirees, with most passengers over the age of 60, Viking is for the well-traveled cruiser looking for their next adventure.

Best Luxury Cruise Line — 2022

In 2022 Viking was named Best Luxury Cruise Line by U.S. News & World Report. Viking is honored to top this esteemed list and be recognized for its fleet of small ships, destination-focused itineraries and emphasis on cultural enrichment.

On formal nights, proper attire includes tuxedos, suits or slacks (jackets required) for men and evening gowns, co*cktail dresses or dressy pantsuits for women. Jeans are welcome in all dining venues during the day, but they're not appropriate in any public venues for dinner or co*cktail hour.

If you want to attend a “cruise elegant” evening, bring a fancier, more formal outfit. Men can wear suits or dress slacks with a sport coat and dress shirt. For women, co*cktail dresses, pantsuits or elegant skirts and blouses are appropriate. Some guests like to go all out with a tuxedo or ball gown.

Not permitted in the dining room during the Cruise Casual dinner for ladies and gentlemen: shorts, gym shorts, basketball shorts, beach flip-flops, bathing suit attire, cut-off jeans, sleeveless shirts for men and baseball hats.

Absolutely not. Your cruise is your own. If you don't want to dress up for the evening, then you certainly don't have to do so. Many people choose to keep it casual.

Candles, Incense, Coffee Makers, Clothes Irons, Travel Steamers & Hot Plates. (Items that generate heat or produce an open flame. This includes heating pads, clothing irons, hotplates, candles, incense, and any other item that may create a fire hazard.

On most cruises, nobody will object if you take food from the buffet or another casual restaurant and bring it back to your room. However, you can always ask your server to plate up your meal to take with you or if you need to sit down at a specialty venue early for some reasons or leave the main dining room.

Typical restaurant dress. No hats, but shirts are allowed for breakfast. Anything but bathing suits.

Can I take full size toiletries on a cruise? ›

3-1-1 Liquids Rule

You are allowed to bring a quart-size, zip-lock bag of liquids, aerosols, gels, creams and pastes though the checkpoint in carryon luggage. These combined items need to be less than 3 ounces.

Bottom Line: As a rough guide, for a 7-night cruise you will need to bring enough clothing for at least 4 formal or semi-formal nights, a couple of casual evenings, pool and loungewear, and practical clothing for excursions on dry land.

T-shirts, swimsuits, robes, bare feet, tank tops, baseball caps, and pool wear are not allowed in the main restaurant or specialty restaurants at any time. In addition, shorts and flip-flops are not permitted during the evening hours.

Flip flops and boat shoes are great daytime options for warm-weather cruises, but flip flops aren't allowed in the main dining room or specialty restaurants for dinner. Also, avoid wearing heeled sandals on the pool deck.

Khaki pants or shorts with loose-fitting, short-sleeve, button-down shirts or even nice, plain T-shirts work well for men. Women might opt for khaki shorts or palazzo pants with a nice top or a sundress. In most cases, nice jeans (dark wash with no holes) will work well also.

Are cruise ship bars open day and night? Cruise ships make it easy for you to buy drinks at all hours; on most large cruise ships, you can start with Bloody Marys and mimosas in the morning, move on to fruity drinks by the pool, grab pre-dinner martinis and finish up your night with an Irish coffee.

Cruise ships are good at making food available 24/7, so if you're hungry, there's usually no one to blame but yourself. The main dining room usually has set meal times, but sections of the buffet will always be open, and you'll usually be able to find a diner, cafe, or pizza shop that's open at all hours.

Typically an early dinner begins anywhere between 5:45 and 6:30 p.m. (depending on cruise line and itinerary) and lasts for about two hours. Late seating usually begins around 7:45 to 8:30 p.m. In both cases, cruisers are assigned a table and table mates and have the same waiters every evening.