If there’s one thing I’ve learned on my quest to see the world and occasionally writing about my adventures, it’s that brand loyalty permeates all facets of the travel industry. Every place I go I meet people who can talk for hours about why a certain airline or hotel chain is their favorite and with points programs, travelers are incentivized to become repeat customers. Cruise lines are no different. I should get it out of the way and admit that I don’t consider myself to be a “cruise person.” In my experience, people either almost exclusively vacation on cruise ships or the idea of a floating hotel doesn’t appeal to them at all. Personally, I would describe myself as “cruise curious.” I’m on a quest to find a cruise that really floats my boat (pun absolutely intended.) So when I was offered the opportunity to travel complimentary aboard the Viking Sky ship over the holidays at the end of 2022, I jumped at the chance.
The company offers both oceanic and river cruises with destinations all around the world, but their Journey to Antiquities ocean voyage (with stops in Italy, Turkey and Greece) gives sailors the greatest hits of the ancient world. Prior to this 8-day adventure, my only other cruise experience was a long weekend in the Caribbean aboard Virgin’s Scarlet Lady, and most of my knowledge about Viking came from the ads that played during episodes of Downton Abbey years ago. Needless to say, I had a lot of questions going into this trip and now, several months after the voyage, I also have my answers. Here’s everything you need to know before booking your next cruise with Viking.
What is the average cost of a Viking cruise?
The prices will vary depending on the room type and cruise you choose. They offer river cruises on the Rhine that start at $1999 per person, or you could spend around $75K and 163 days traveling the entire globe starting in Los Angeles, ending in New York City, and stopping in 29 countries along the way. The 8-day Journey to Antiquities trip starts at $2600 per person.
What is included in a Viking cruise?
As is the case with most cruises, each room level grants you access to different amenities. A stay in a basic Veranda Stateroom gets you access to your room at 3 PM on embarkation day and access to book excursions 60 days prior to the cruise start date. Every room level above that gets you earlier access to your cabin and an earlier date to start reserving meals, excursions and spa appointments. All tickets include lodging, meals, basic beverages and one complimentary excursion at each port. Some alcoholic beverages may cost extra on board even if you pre-pay for a drink package. All guests can access the ship’s spa facility, but treatments cost extra. If you book your airfare through Viking, your ticket also includes airport transfers to and from the ship at the start and end of the trip.
If you’re willing to pay a little extra, Viking offers plenty of excursions to choose from at each port and advises guests on how physically challenging each one might be. There’s a mix of trips that take up most of the day and some that are just a few hours, allowing for people to explore on their own. Guests can always opt not to do any excursion, but in my experience the areas around the ports didn’t really provide many opportunities to get a feel for the local culture. Each sailing also has trip extensions that can be purchased and added to the beginning or end of your journey to give you more time to explore some of the places on the itinerary.
Pro tip: Plan your own extension. My husband and I spent an additional day in Rome ahead of the cruise to soak up the city, staying at the Sofitel Roma Villa Borghese. The hotel is in the heart of the city with gorgeous views all around. We got advice from the staff on places to visit during our stay and they made it incredibly easy to grab a taxi to the cruise port outside of the city upon checkout.
Are Viking cruises adult-only?
The ships do not accommodate children under the age of 18, and all passengers must be 18 prior to boarding. Although the age range was larger on my cruise during the week between Christmas and New Year’s, the voyages typically cater to an older crowd.
What do you wear to a Viking cruise dinner?
Viking ships don’t have “formal nights” that you may find on other cruises, but guests are expected to adhere to their “elegant casual” dress code in the evening. Men are asked to wear collared shirts with trousers and women can do dresses, skirts, or slacks with a sweater/blouse.
Overall, the size of the ship (or lack thereof) is what has stuck with me the most since my cruise. The Viking Sky maxes out at 930 guests, making it feel like a more intimate experience compared to other oceanic voyages. That reduced size made it easier to socialize. People I met on an excursion our first day ended up being friends for the duration of the cruise and I’ve even stayed in touch with some of them long after returning home. Even some of the staff I interacted with throughout the trip felt like friends by the time the cruise was winding down. I imagine that’s the type of experience that turns some from a casual cruiser to a Viking loyalist.
Adam is an NYC-based writer who has covered everything from men's fashion to video games and travel. He loves any opportunity to write about pop culture or essays inspired by his personal life.
