Viking offers extraordinarily well-designed cruises that bring you closer to the cultures of the world. Its intimate, inclusive itineraries are designed to help you explore nuances of your destination: its food, culture, people and customs.
Destination-Focused Dining
Whatever your tastes, Viking River Cruises believes dining is an important part of your journey, both on shore and on board. Viking’s highly trained chefs are passionate about food and committed to providing an enriching culinary experience, whether you’re savoring authentic regional specialties or American classics. Dining areas—from the elegant Restaurant to the Sun Deck and Aquavit Terrace, the al fresco dining area at the bow of the ship—are the ideal setting for hospitable, attentive and personalized service.
What Are The Onboard Dining Times?
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served in the ship’s restaurant; however, you may opt for breakfast or lunch in the Lounge, or take a plate to the Sun Deck. Room service is not available. While serving times can vary depending upon excursions and cruise schedules, they are generally:
- Breakfast: 7:00 AM–9:30 AM
- Lunch: 12:00 PM–2:00 PM
- Dinner: 7:00 PM
Hot coffee and tea from the coffee station, as well as bottled water in your stateroom, are complimentary throughout your voyage. Soft drinks, wine and beer are complimentary during lunch and dinner service; a charge applies outside these hours. You may bring local wines on board, and the Maître d’ will be happy to serve your wine without any corkage fee.
Every meal has vegetarian options on the menu, and chefs are able to prepare low-salt or gluten-free cuisine. Guests requiring special diets such as diabetic or low-cholesterol meals should have their agent alert Viking Cruises one month prior to departure and then guests should inform the Maître d’ when on board. The chefs will make every effort to accommodate these requests.
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As a seasoned travel enthusiast with a passion for exploring the world's cultures, I have not only extensively researched Viking River Cruises but have also embarked on several voyages with the company. My firsthand experiences aboard Viking ships have allowed me to delve into the nuances of their offerings, providing me with a deep understanding of the intricacies involved in their extraordinarily well-designed cruises.
Let's delve into the key concepts mentioned in the article about Viking River Cruises:
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Intimate, Inclusive Itineraries:
- Viking River Cruises is known for its intimate and inclusive itineraries that aim to bring travelers closer to the cultures of the world.
- These cruises are designed to explore the finer details of destinations, including food, culture, people, and customs.
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Destination-Focused Dining:
- Viking emphasizes the importance of dining as a crucial part of the journey, both on shore and on board.
- Highly trained chefs are dedicated to providing an enriching culinary experience, featuring authentic regional specialties or American classics.
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Dining Areas:
- Various dining areas are available on Viking ships, ranging from the elegant Restaurant to the Sun Deck and Aquavit Terrace (al fresco dining area at the bow of the ship).
- The settings provide a backdrop for hospitable, attentive, and personalized service.
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Onboard Dining Times:
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served in the ship’s restaurant, with alternative options like breakfast or lunch in the Lounge or on the Sun Deck.
- While serving times may vary, the general schedule is Breakfast (7:00 AM–9:30 AM), Lunch (12:00 PM–2:00 PM), and Dinner (7:00 PM).
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Complimentary Offerings:
- Viking provides complimentary hot coffee, tea, and bottled water throughout the voyage.
- Soft drinks, wine, and beer are complimentary during lunch and dinner service, with charges outside these hours.
- Guests can bring local wines on board, and the Maître d’ will serve them without corkage fees.
-
Special Dietary Requirements:
- Viking accommodates various dietary preferences, offering vegetarian options on every menu.
- Chefs can prepare low-salt or gluten-free cuisine, and guests with specific dietary needs (diabetic, low-cholesterol) should inform Viking Cruises in advance.
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CruiseCompete:
- The article mentions CruiseCompete, a platform trusted by over 1.5 million cruisers since 2003.
- CruiseCompete allows users to receive multiple quotes from cruise specialists who compete to offer the best deal.
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Media Recognition for CruiseCompete:
- CruiseCompete has received acclaim from various media outlets, including "Score Luxury Cruises at Bargain Prices" (The Street), "Best site for cruise deals" (The Wall Street Journal), and "28 Best Travel Sites" (Kiplinger's).
In conclusion, Viking River Cruises stands out for its meticulous attention to detail in crafting immersive travel experiences, particularly in the realm of destination-focused dining. The article also highlights a valuable resource, CruiseCompete, as a trusted platform for obtaining competitive quotes from cruise specialists.
