What to expect on a Viking river cruise
If you’re wondering what to expect on a Viking river cruise then you’re in the right place! In December 2024 we embarked on the trip of a lifetime – 8 days sailing along the Rhine River visiting Europe’s famous Christmas markets. While we have done an Alaskan cruise on a large ship I honestly didn’t have a good sense of what to expect from our river cruise experience. Below I’m sharing everything you need to know about what to expect on a Viking river cruise, from the food and to ship amenities to the room, excursions, and FAQs
This blog post reflects our experience on a December 2024 ‘Christmas on the Rhine’ river cruise with Viking. As such, some of the details might change from itinerary to itinerary, or year to year.
Click here to read more about our ‘Christmas on the Rhine’ sailing with Viking. In our blog posts we offer a in-depth overview of each day of the cruise so you know what to expect on a Viking river cruise. Or, click below to access specific parts of our comprehensive Viking river cruise review!
- River cruise recap part 1: Amsterdam, Dordrecht, Cologne
- River cruise recap part 2: The Middle Rhine, Rüdesheim, Mannheim, and Speyer
- River cruise recap part 3: Strasbourg, Freiburg, and Basel
Our Christmas on the Rhine sailing was hosted by Viking Cruises. All thoughts, opinions, and experiences are our own.
Food and alcohol on Viking river cruises
One of the things I love most about cruises is getting to try so many new foods during the journey! With a rotating menu for lunch and dinner featuring lots of regional specialities, our Viking cruise didn’t disappoint. Read below for what to expect from the food on a Viking river cruise.
Dining packages and options on board
On our river cruise there were only two dining rooms on board – the Aquavit Terrace (a smaller, more intimate setting in a bright window-filled room next to an outdoor dining space) and the restaurant. Uniquely, Viking river cruise sailings include all meals as part of their standard package. That means that, unlike many of the larger ocean cruises, there aren’t restaurants with added fees for dining in them.
All of this means that everyone on the cruise is on the same dining package. However, there is an additional alcohol package you can purchase, which I detail below.
Breakfast on A Viking River Cruise
Unlike lunch and dinner, breakfast on board was the same every day. Our sailing had a daily breakfast buffet featuring various breads, pastries, cereals, cold cuts and cheeses, vegetables (primarily tomatoes and cucumbers), yogurts, and lox.
There was also a fixed breakfast menu you could order from, which included omelets, oatmeal, pancakes, french toast, berries and mascarpone (my favorite!), and hash browns. There was also coffee and various juices available. The Aquavit Terrace had a slightly smaller breakfast buffet on offer than the main dining room, but it had the same fixed menu.
Lunch and dinner on Viking river cruises
Lunch and dinner featured a rotating menu that changed every day. Diners can order a starter, main, and/or dessert with each meal, which typically included the choice of a vegetarian entree and starter, a rotating meat-based option, and a regional specialty (usually also meat based). Both lunch and dinner also offered a set ‘always available’ menu with items like caesar salad and a veggie burger, which you could order at any time if the rotating dishes didn’t strike your fancy.
Example rotating menu from one of the dinners:
- Regional tasting menu:
- Schweizer Wurstsalat: marinated cucumbers, cheese, and ham salad
- Zurich-style sliced veal: mushroom cream sauce and potatoes
- Warm creamy pudding cake: berry compote
- Starters:
- Beetroot quinoa salad: beet carpaccio, feta
- Tom Kha Gai: Thai chicken soup, coconut milk, lemongrass
- Main courses:
- Seared King Dorado and seafood fregola sarda: pasta, seafood, and lobster sauce
- Stuffed portobello: rustic tomato sauce, ratatouille, polenta
- Desserts:
- Lemon matcha cake: maracuja sorbet
I should note, our Viking river cruise didn’t have any formal dinners that required us to dress up. However, we did have one themed German night where the staff dressed up and a special regional menu was served!
Vegetarian meal options on Viking river cruises
I’m vegetarian, and was a little worried I wouldn’t have many options on board, or that my meals would feel like an afterthought. Thankfully, I found Viking takes a fairly plant-forward approach to their meals! As described above vegetarians do have more limited options for meals, since many of the regional specialties at lunch and dinner are meat or fish based. However, there was always a rotating vegetarian entree and starter available, as well as several vegetarian options on the fixed menu. Overall, I felt like I had plenty of options on board for meals.
Alcohol on board
All passengers had access to select beer, soft drinks, and wines for lunch and dinner included with their standard sailing fee. However, guests can also purchase a ‘Silver Spirits’ beverage package for access to premium wines, beers, and cocktails on board. Guests without the package could also purchase these items individually at the bar. We had access to the Silver Spirits beverage package and enjoyed being able to have more wines and some cocktails. However, we aren’t huge drinkers so we also would have been happy with the standard included beverages.
Always available – coffee, tea, and cookies
In addition to the food, there was a coffee, tea, and cookie bar located on the upper deck of the ship. This was always available, making it a great option for a late night snack or early morning cup of coffee. Fresh fruit was also available in the ship’s entryway.
Viking river cruise ship features and amenities
Below I share some of the features of our Viking river cruise ship, as well as some of the amenities you won’t find aboard. However, before we dive into specific spaces and amenities to expect on a Viking river cruise I want to talk about the general vibe of Viking river cruise ships.
We sailed on the Viking Kara, which can hold 190 guests and 53 crew. I believe our ship was fairly typical for the Viking river cruise fleet, though some of the boats differ in size and amenities. Overall, I would describe our Viking river cruise ship as embodying an ethos of ‘understated luxury.’ The design of the ship was light and bright, with tons of windows and soft warm tones and natural materials, like wood and stone. Although the ship itself felt luxurious, it felt elevated in a way that was comfortable, and not in a way that made me feel like I should be wearing a ballgown to dinner.
Because we were on a Christmas cruise there were also tasteful touches of holiday decor throughout the ship, which made for a festive and fun experience (without being overwhelmingly Christmas-y). We co-docked with a few other cruise companies, which allowed me to peek at their decor and ships. I genuinely found many of them to be darker and have less elevated decor and design when compared with our Viking ship.
Features on our Viking river cruise ship
Our boat had 4 levels, a sun deck, upper deck, middle deck, and lower deck. All levels except the sun deck included rooms, with the middle and upper decks also having dining facilities and other public spaces for guests to enjoy. Read below for a description of the key spaces and features of our cruise ship.
The Aquavit Terrace
Located on the upper deck, this was the smaller of the two dining spaces on board. It featured a light and bright glass covered room with a small buffet area and the same fixed menu as the main restaurant. This area also has outdoor seating, though people didn’t use it due to the cold weather of our trip. This was my favorite place to dine! Tables here can generally fit 2-6 people.
The lounge and bar
Next to the Aquavit Terrace was a large lounge and bar, which had lots of cozy seating areas next to the floor to ceiling windows, along with a full bar with wine, beer, and spirits. This was the main space on the ship for relaxing, socializing, and ship events.
Library, internet, seating, and coffee bar
Also located on the upper deck was a large open space overlooking the main entry hall on the floor below. This space houses a library with books and games, as well as two computers with internet, more seating, and a specialty coffee and tea bar stocked with cookies and everything you might need for a tasty afternoon pick me up.
The restaurant
Located downstairs on the main deck, the restaurant featured a large buffet area in the center of the room, along with extensive seating. All of the tables here are larger, so during most meals you will find yourself eating with new friends!
Guest services and entryway
On the middle deck you will also find the guest services desk and main entryway to the ship, along with elegant steps (and an elevator) up to the upper deck. This is the same level as the main restaurant.
Sun Deck
The Viking Kara. You can see the upper deck and the outdoor portion of the Aquavit Terrace.
Amiana walking on the track on the sun deck of the Viking Kara. It was chilly!
Views from the sun deck as we sailed through the middle Rhine.
Our ship’s sun deck featured a walking track, mini golf area, and a shuffleboard court. There were also several seating and lounge areas, although they didn’t get much use due to the cold. I think this space could have benefitted from heater lamps on the deck for winter sailings so that people can more comfortably enjoy the seating areas!
Amenities we didn’t have on our ship
Because river cruises are done on relatively small ships there were some common cruise amenities that we didn’t have on our boat. For example, there was no gym (just a walking track), and also no pool or hot tub. Additionally, Viking doesn’t have casinos on any of their ships. While at times I craved a sauna or exercise room, overall I felt that the amenities provided were a good fit for the cruise. Because we spent most of our days exploring off the ship I probably wouldn’t have used a gym or pool much even if one had been provided!
The rooms: what to expect in a Veranda Stateroom
We stayed in a veranda stateroom, which we loved! Our room featured a small desk, TV, and a queen sized bed, along with generous storage for luggage and clothing. We also had a private bathroom with a spacious glass-enclosed shower, heated floor, and anti-fog mirror. The heated floor was an especially nice touch– even the floor of the shower was heated! Rooms also have individual thermostats, which I appreciated.
The real highlight of our room was the floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door opening to a full-size veranda. This gave us stunning views of the passing landscape. However, we admittedly didn’t use the balcony itself much, since it was too cold. I recommend getting a room with a veranda if the weather is warmer – otherwise, just having a window should suffice.
We found our room to be comfortable and very quiet, though we did bring a sound machine just in case. While the bed was a little on the firm side, overall we slept very well. The space was more than sufficient for two people. I also loved the smart use of space in the bathroom, though larger people may find the shower a bit small.
Room cleaning and service
There was plenty of storage space at the base of the bed, along with a mini fridge and generous closet by the door.
The Veranda on the Viking Kara Christmas on the Rhine river cruise.
The bathroom in our veranda suite. The floors and mirror were heated!
Our room was serviced multiple times a day. Our amazing cleaning staff came by to clean and straighten things up throughout the day, and to turn down the sheets at night. Each morning we got a plate of fresh fruit delivered to our room, which was a nice touch. In the evenings staff delivered a full schedule with the next day’s events.
Excursions and on-board activities
While the cruise itself is a major highlight, you can’t forget about the excursions and port stops! These will obviously differ depending on what sailing you take, but below I share a bit about how excursions work, what to expect, and what on-board activities look like.
How excursions on a Viking river cruise work
At every port Viking offers two types of excursions: complimentary/included excursions, and optional paid excursions that you book in advance. Below, I cover what each of these types of excursions entail.
Note that guests are free to explore on their own before and after all tours. Additionally, you aren’t required to do excursions – you can also do your own thing at each port without partaking in organized excursions at all.
Optional excursions
Trying some classic German dishes on our excursion in Cologne!
Marksburg Castle, which we got to tour on our Viking river cruise excursion.
Cheers-ing at an Alsatian winery in France during our Christmas on the Rhine river cruise excursion.
Optional excursions require additional payment, and are typically booked in advance of your sailing (some of them fill up quickly, too!). Many of these include trips to other small towns or historic sites, or meals and/or cultural experiences. Below are the optional excursions we did, which collectively cost about $400/person.
- A tour exploring Cologne’s beer culture, which included a traditional German dinner and several stops for beer.
- A tour of the medieval Marksburg castle overlooking the Rhine
- A tour and tasting at an Alsatian winery
While these experiences would generally be cheaper to do on your own, part of what you’re paying for is door to door service (transportation is included) and a huge level of convenience. We had a great time on all of our optional excursions!
Complimentary excursions
Viking also offers one complimentary/included shore excision at every port (note: you should still tip your guides). On our sailing this largely meant doing a walking tour with interesting information about the various port cities, history, and landmarks. On our cruise many of these tours ended at a Christmas market, which you then had time to explore on your own.
Note that you can always dip out early on these tours in order to explore on your own instead. Even if you choose not to join the tour itself, though, these complimentary excursions provide free transportation to some of the further afield port cities. In our case, that meant 20-30 minute bus rides into cities like Mannheim and Freiberg, Germany, and Strasbourg, France.
On-board activities on our Viking river cruise
In addition to excursions our Viking sailing had a number of on board activities throughout our sailing. These were free to attend, and were a fun way to meet our fellow passengers.
The on-board events on our sailing included some of the following (and more – this is not an exhaustive list!):
- Evening port talks, where the program director describes the plans and highlights for the next day
- Drinks and live music every evening
- Special toasts
- Christmas tree trimming party with house-made eggnog and ornament decorating
- Afternoon tea
- Nautical talk by the captain
- Coconut macaroon making demonstration and sampling
- Guest lecture on German culture
In addition to dedicated events, there was also an element of ‘surprise and delight’ to the cruise. One day, after returning from our excursions, we received a selection of Lindt chocolate as we walked back into the ship’s entryway. When we were sailing through a beautiful section of the Middle Rhine river (where you could view countless castles from the ship’s sun deck), servers came around with hot chocolate (with optional liquor free of charge) to help us warm up in the chilly winter air. These little moments really helped make the cruise experience feel extra special.
Frequently asked questions / things to know
This article covers a lot of ground about what to expect on a Viking river cruise, but we didn’t get to everything! Below are answers to some of the other questions we’ve gotten about our cruise.
- Are kids allowed?
- Viking does not allow children under the age of 18 on their cruises.
- Is there Wi-Fi?
- Yes, we had free Wi-Fi the whole time. However, speeds varied significantly, but generally worked pretty well.
- Did you have to worry about sea sickness or nausea on the river cruise?
- Thankfully neither of us had any issues, even though Gwyn is prone to seasickness on ocean sailings.
- What was the age of the other passengers?
- Admittedly, being in our 30s, we were on the younger side for passengers on our cruise. With the exception of several families that appeared to be sailing together with their adult children, the majority of passengers were probably 55 or older. However, I want to stress that this was never an issue. We met quite a few people we really enjoyed hanging out with, and we found that the guests on our sailing had similarly active and adventurous lifestyles.
- What attire should I bring?
- While a full packing list is beyond the scope of this article, the nice thing about a Viking river cruise sailing is that you don’t need any special attire for meals or on-board activities. I would describe the general attire on board as polished, practical, and comfortable.
Don’t see your question here? Leave a comment and we’ll get back to you!
What to expect on a Viking river cruise – final thoughts and review
Overall, we had a fantastic time on our Viking river cruise. I appreciated that I didn’t feel like there was constant ‘upselling’ during the sailing, and I also appreciated the lack of younger kids and casinos on board. The food was good, the rooms were comfortable and well appointed, and the customer service was fantastic. I felt that the port stops and activities were thoughtfully planned, and well-spaced. I also appreciated the fact that there were complimentary excursions at every stop, as well as the casual luxury vibe of the ship. Regardless of your travel style or age, I would not hesitate to recommend a Viking river cruise. We would 100% sail with Viking again!
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