What Do You Wear On A Viking River Cruise?

On a Viking River Cruise, it is essential to wear comfortable, waterproof, and versatile shoes that can be worn all day long. The best clothing options for all weather conditions include bottoms like jeans, shorts, skirts, dresses, and pants, outerwear like a waterproof jacket, raincoat, hat, and gloves, and shoes like sneakers, sandals, walking shoes, and boots. Men can wear a suit or jacket with tie, while women can wear cocktail dresses or dressy separates.

Business casual attire may be worn on some evenings, and there is a before-you-go section with information about passports, visas, onboard dress code, packing tips, and local currencies. Women can wear dresses, skirts, or dress pants paired with blouses or tops, but avoid overly casual clothing like shorts, t-shirts, and flip-flops in the evening.

For men, pants or jeans and a polo shirt are acceptable, while ties and jackets are a personal choice. Light clothing made of cotton or linen, such as t-shirts, shorts, sandals, a hat, and a light jacket or sweatshirt, is recommended for nighttime breezes. Women can wear dresses, skirts, or trousers paired with blouses, but avoid wearing t-shirts, tank tops, shorts, flip-flops, or overly casual attire.

In warm weather, men can wear any type of well-fitting slacks, jeans, or even shorts, but it is recommended to stay away from graphic tee shirts. A comprehensive guide on what to wear on a Viking River Cruise can help you make an informed decision about what to wear for your adventure.

Do you have to dress up for Viking River cruises?

Embarking on a Viking River Cruise is an exciting adventure. As you plan your trip, one question that often comes up is what to wear for dinner. The good news is that Viking Cruises doesn’t have a formal dress code, but there are still some guidelines to follow to ensure you’re appropriately dressed for dinner.

Casual and Comfortable Attire. Viking Cruises promotes a casual and comfortable atmosphere onboard, including during dinner. You can leave your formalwear at home and opt for clothing that is relaxed but neat. Here are some suggestions for what to wear:

• 1. Daytime Attire. During the daytime, you can wear casual attire such as shorts, jeans, khakis, or skirts.
• Pair them with comfortable shoes suitable for walking and exploring various ports of call.
• Don’t forget to bring a hat and sunscreen for outdoor activities.

Do they have formal nights on river cruises?

It’s important to note that river cruises generally do not have formal nights. This means there is no requirement for passengers to bring formal attire such as tuxedos or evening gowns. However, some river cruise lines may have special events or themed dinners, such as the Captain’s Welcome Dinner, where guests may choose to dress up a bit more. For these occasions, a cocktail dress or a more formal suit, without the need for excessive formality, would usually suffice.

Overall, the dress code on river cruises emphasizes comfort during the day and a smart casual style in the evenings. This allows travellers to enjoy their vacation without feeling constrained by strict dress requirements, while still offering opportunities to dress up for certain events or occasions if desired.

How dressy is dinner on a Viking cruise?

During the day, dress is casual including shorts (if the season is warm), slacks or jeans and comfortable shoes for walking tours. Swimsuits, brief shorts, cover-ups and exercise attire should be reserved for the Fitness Center, pool areas and Sports Deck. There are no “formal nights” in the evening; evening dress is “elegant casual” for all dining venues, performances and special events. 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. The evening dress excludes World Café where the dress remains casual after 6:00 PM.

Some shore excursions visit religious sites that require modesty of dress. To avoid being denied entry, we recommend men wear long pants and refrain from sleeveless shirts; and for women, clothing that covers the knees and tops that are not sleeveless or too revealing.

Do you have to dress up for dinner on a river cruise?

Dress Code: Mix, Match, & Layer. Comfort is key. During the day, dress casually and comfortably for your daily activities. For the evening cocktail hour and dinner, men may want to kick it up a notch with a jacket and/or collared shirt, and long trousers. For women, a top and slacks or casual dress is appropriate.

When packing your wardrobe, keep your color scheme simple so that you can mix and match clothing easily – whites and neutrals work well. Also, bring a few scarves to dress up an outfit.

Layering clothing will help you adjust to changing temperatures along the river, from cool breezes in the evening to the hot southern sun in the daytime. A smart traveler is always prepared for various weather conditions, so bring a jacket, sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses, as well as light rainwear and a small collapsible umbrella.

What time is dinner served on Viking River cruises?

Candles GrillDine under the stars at Windstar’s fantastic Candles Grill, which features a varied menu with grilled meats, steaks and skewer dishes. The Candles Grill is complimentary, but reservations are required. Dinner is served between 7:30 PM and 9:30 PM – perfect for dining to a beautiful sunset or star-filled sky.

Stella BistroWindstar’s Stella Bistro is a new French-inspired dining venue available only aboard the Wind Surf. Stella Bistro is open for lunch and dinner with inspirational dishes such as roasted duck, seared scallops and more – each of which can be enhanced by perfectly paired regional wines.

Deck BBQFresh, local ingredients are brought aboard your Windstar ship and expertly prepared in classic barbecue fashion. Enjoy the intimacy of a backyard cookout, with the service of a 5-star restaurant, and enticing views you can only get on a Windstar cruise.

Do I need an adapter on a Viking River cruise?

There’s one on one side of the bed. And. You can see there’s one over there on the other side of the bed as well.

Is there a lot of walking on Viking River cruises?

The Demographics |The average age demographic for guests is 35 – 75, but there were guests aged 24 -84 on my particular cruise and everyone had fun interacting. As of August 1, 2018 children under 18 are not permitted on Viking River Cruises. Most of the cruise activities and tours are geared toward adventurous, active adults, with lots of walking/hiking.

Mobility | Many of the tours are interactive, with lots of brisk walking, so I recommend guests have a certain level of mobility available. With that said, there is an easy walking group (more on that below), so people who walk with a cane or walker should have no problem. There is also an elevator on the ship for people who have trouble with the stairs on the Viking longships. However, the hallways are too narrow for someone who is wheelchair-bound. Also, getting around the cobblestone-lined streets in the excursion ports might be difficult for wheelchair users.

Smaller Ship + River Cruising = No Seasickness | One of the best Viking River Cruise secrets of my trip was no seasickness. I barely even felt the ship move, and when I did, it was a gentle lull. Even moving through the locks on the Rhine was easy, with just a few little quiet bumps each time.

Safety First | All guests are required to view a safety video on the first day of the cruise and participate in a safety drill with a life jacket for about 15 minutes on the second day. The drill is a minor inconvenience, and I was impressed with how seriously the crew takes passenger safety, so was not bothered by the drill.

What to do at night on a Viking cruise?

Movies are shown on a big screen some nights in the Wintergarden. Passengers can lounge on padded chairs under soft blankets while wearing Bose headphones, which makes it easier to hear the movie than it would be if the ship used a speaker system. Much of the entertainment onboard falls into the enrichment category.

Cruises on Viking Sea include at least one excursion in every port. Included excursions tend to be fairly basic in nature mostly general bus tours of the city, with stops at highlights and some free time along the way. Local guides who speak English and know an impressive amount about the area’s history, culture and demographics lead excursions. Group sizes are manageable, around 20 to 25 depending on the trip, though several busses might be deployed on the same journey and therefore you’ll run into other passengers going to the same stops. This can lead to some crowding, and you’ll definitely stand out as a tourist. Guides use an Audiovox system, speaking into a microphone, while passengers have earpieces so they can hear the guides even when they’re not close by.

Viking Sea also offers several “premium excursions” in each port, which will cost extra but can be really special. You might take a hot-air balloon ride over Cherbourg, visit the fish market in Greenwich or spend the day exploring the famous beaches in Normandy. Groups generally are smaller for the premium excursions, and therefore, they can fill up quickly. Book your excursions online before you board to ensure you get the tours you want. You can also add your name to waiting lists for tours; a surprising number of passengers cancel, and spots do open. Pricing varies widely, depending on the excursion: Some run less than $100 per person, while others cost several hundred dollars.

One cool feature worth noting: You can book excursions from your TV using the interactive remote system. Cancellation, though, requires a call or visit to the shore excursion desk.

What toiletries are included on a Viking River Cruise?

Your ship has hair dryers for guest use, as do most hotels. Your stateroom amenities include shower gel, shampoo, lotion, shower cap and vanity kit.

On occasion, Viking Cruises will make special solo traveler fares available. Please check back for pricing updates, and in the meantime explore the Viking Inclusive Value fares currently available on all our river and ocean cruises. With Viking Inclusive Cruising, we offer you great value every day, in a category that will fit all your travel needs.

My Ship. How do I know which ship I am travelling on?

Do Viking cruises have free laundry?

Depending on your stateroom category, laundry, pressing and dry cleaning services may be complimentary. If your stateroom category does not include these services, they may be purchased for a modest fee. A full listing of amenities by stateroom category can be found on each ship page.

2024-2026 OCEAN CRUISE AND AIR FARES:Offer applies to bookings made from August 1-31, 2024. Terms & conditions for select promotions may vary. $25 deposit is applicable to all itineraries except World Cruise products. Special fares plus up to FREE roundtrip airfare valid on select departures of Canada & New England Scenic Shores; Eastern Seaboard Discovery; Grand Hawaii & Polynesia; Hawaiian Islands Sojourn; Panama Canal & Central America; Panama Canal & the Pacific Coast. Airfares may vary on other gateways & departures. Airfare does not have to be purchased to get cruise\cruisetour offer. All prices are in US dollars and for US residents only. Additional restrictions may apply. 2024: Pay in full by at time of booking if within 120 days of departure. 2025: Pay in full by September 30, 2024. 2026: Pay in full by March 31, 2025. Offer may be withdrawn at any time without prior notice. Offers Expires August 31, 2024.

*$25 DEPOSIT:For itineraries 35 days or less, a $25 deposit applies to January 2025 & onward departures; for itineraries greater than 35 days, a $25 deposit applies to March 2025 & onward departures; World Cruise products excluded; call for details.

GENERAL RESTRICTIONS:Cruise fares listed are cruise only in U.S. dollars, per person, based on double occupancy. Single supplement savings are off applicable rates. Cruise fares listed are valid for U.S. residents only. All fares and offers are for new bookings only and are subject to availability, may not combinable with other offers except Viking Explorer Society Travel Credits and Viking Referral Rewards, are capacity-controlled and may be withdrawn at any time without prior notice. Special fares are based upon published full brochure fares; cruise fares do not include pre-paid charges, optional facilities, and personal charges, as defined in the terms and conditions of thePassenger Ticket Contractwhich may be viewed elsewhere on this website. Full brochure fares may not have resulted in actual sales in all stateroom categories and may not have been in effect during the last 90 days. Promotional fares may remain in effect after the expiration date. Air promotion applies to roundtrip flights only from select Viking Cruises U.S. gateways and includes airport-to-ship or hotel transfers, air taxes and air fuel surcharges. Roundtrip airport transfers are included when air is purchased with a cruise or cruisetour package; if air is not purchased from Viking, transfers may be purchased separately. All transfers must be in conjunction with a Viking-purchased cruise, cruisetour, land extension or extra hotel nights. Viking reserves the right to correct errors or omissions and to change any and all fares at any time. For up-to-date prices, please call Viking or your Travel Agent. Additional terms and conditions may apply. Complete terms and conditions may be found in thePassenger Ticket Contract.

What is the average age on a Viking River Cruise?

• Transportation from and to the airport is arranged. If you book your airfare through Viking (we got free airfare as part of one of their regular promotions), then Viking will send you a baggage tag and a sticker for your shirt before you leave, and someone will greet you at the airport upon arrival, take you to the boat and put your luggage in your room. This was especially welcome during our unexpectedly arduous trip overseas. The same works in reverse: When it was time to leave, Viking took us by bus to the airport, helped us with our luggage and showed us to check-in.
• You can get help during your flights. If you book your airfare through Viking and you run into travel snags, then you can call a number that they supply exclusively for flight issues and someone will guide you to solutions, as well as notify the boat.
• Drinking water is abundant and free. They’ll give you a bottle of water when they pick you up from the airport. There’s always a large glass bottle in your room. When you depart for an included excursion, they’ll provide a bottle of water. I drink a lot of water all day long. In some places where I’ve traveled, tap water is unsafe, and drinking water is scarce. In others, it’s a matter of buying, carrying and keeping enough on hand to feel hydrated. On this cruise, someone made sure that I always had drinking water. I’d say it’s the little things, but this was huge for me.
• The boat is luxurious. It’s not big, but it’s modern, bright, very clean and sleek, reflecting the Scandanavian design aesthetic of its country of origin. There are floor-to-ceiling windows nearly everywhere in the shared spaces, making it feel open and airy and allowing for great views of the passing scenery.
• The service is exceptional. Thanks to my work as a food and wine writer, I’ve enjoyed some amazing service, and the people working on our Viking River Cruise were on par. They lead with enthusiastic welcomes, gracious offers of help and hard work.
• The food is fantastic. There’s a huge selection of menu items at every meal, including dishes local to the region that you’re visiting each night at dinner. There were two coffee stations on our boat with cappuccino machines, hot tea and cookies available all day. The lounge had a full bar and, if you have the Silver Spirits package, premium cocktails, beer and wine are free. (Otherwise, a nice selection of wine and beer is free at lunch and dinner.) Breakfast and lunch include both a self-service buffet area, and sit-down, full-service options. Dinner is full service. SIDENOTE: In honor of Viking’s Norwegian heritage, Viking gives guests a glass of Aquavit, a Scandinavian-distilled beverage. Tradition dictates that the Linie Aquavit they serve must be carried in oak casks on ships that cross the equator twice on a four-month voyage spanning 35 countries. It’s believed that the moving seas and temperature changes allow more flavor to be extracted from the casks. How specific and charming is that?
• The included excursions are phenomenal. I pride myself on comprehensively canvassing a city when I visit. I do a ton of research beforehand to identify places to see and to get a sense of the vibe and history. I map out routes and plan how to get around, whether by foot, public transportation or even a Hop-On Hop-Off bus. The basic tours included in our Viking River Cruise each morning eliminated all of that legwork — I could simply show up, look and learn.
• There are spaces to tuck away. The boat includes a tiny library space and workspace at one end of the upper level where you can read, write or go online if you need a bit of a break from all the people-ing. (See the people-ing and wifi cons below.)
• There is community. If you’re traveling solo and can swing the single supplement, this is a brilliant way to feel a part of a group. People grow familiar very quickly, and they’re quite friendly, adept at making interesting conversation. Many are avid travelers with good stories. The average age of the population on a Viking River Cruise is probably 70. And it’s a largely lovely group of well-traveled people who know how to make small talk and do a good job of it. If you’re traveling solo, you’ll have ample opportunities to make friends and share conversation.
• It can be very affordable. If you have a traveling companion, and you take advantage of one of the specials — such as free airfare — you will likely beat the cost of a self-organized trip by a mile.

• The Cons of a Viking River Cruise. There’s no space to work out. Yes, I know. It’s vacation. But after sitting on an airplane for hours (or days) and eating and drinking so much, I wished for a small gym. The upper deck of the ship is an open-air seating area with a walking track. But depending on the time of year in which you cruise, it could be a really brisk walk, as in blustery.
• I felt like a conspicuous tourist. During our excursions, we were shuttled to our walking tours in giant motorcoaches. We wore listening devices on bright red lanyards. We followed our guide, who was bearing a sign, in a slow-moving cluster. This all eliminates the opportunity to observe a place unnoticed. It makes you a more obvious target to vendors or pickpockets who follow travelers like bees on honey. And we were sometimes noticeably annoying to local residents.
• Your time is not entirely your own. There’s not always a chance to linger at something you want to explore further when you’re on an excursion, or to venture further in a place. It’s the tradeoff for being free of planning responsibilities.
• An introvert could be overwhelmed. If you dine in the restaurant, you’ll share a table with a group. When you go to the mandatory safety presentation, or the cultural presentations and port talks, or the captain’s welcome, you’ll need to continue chatting with other people. Sometimes it’s a lot of people-ing. And on a small boat, you’re not anonymous for long. The good news: The people on my cruise knew very well how to dip into a conversation and dip right back out.
• For the solo traveler, it’s expensive. The solo supplement turns an affordable trip into an extravagance.
• For a pair, the cheapest rooms are tight. It’s entirely manageable to share one of the lower-deck rooms. They’re well-designed, making the most of the teeny, tiny space. Your two twin beds are pushed together or separated, and there is space under the beds for luggage. But there isn’t enough room for two people to pass each other at the foot of the beds
• it’s a bit of a dance to navigate. And any time that you have a suitcase out, it consumes all of the floor space.
• The internet is unreliable. I was able to work extra before and after my trip and avoid long days or late nights on the laptop during my cruise. But I did need to send some emails and make some social posts, and I was dead in the water, so to speak, for several days. Our service was extra bad — they even brought in a tech team in Vienna, but the service failed again the next day.
• You lose the sense of place that comes with staying in a destination. On a Viking River Cruise, you’re somewhat esconsed in typical American culture, far more than if you were staying in a local hotel for a few days.

The Boat. Viking has a fleet of river and ocean cruise ships. Ours was the Viking Jarl, built in 2013. It holds as many as 190 guests. There are three levels on the ship, plus an open-air deck on top. The lower level includes guest rooms and crew areas. The middle level includes guest rooms, guest services and the restaurant, plus a dining terrace. The third level includes guest rooms, a library and other seating, and the lounge. The top level is an open-air deck with a walking track, herb garden, solar panels, shuffleboard and a golf putting area.

Is Viking considered a luxury cruise?

Whilst designated as an Upper Premium brand, Viking has all the hallmarks of a Luxury Ocean Cruise Line. From the tastefully appointed, modern, beautifully designed, Scandinavian ships to the luxurious all-inclusive amenities, Viking are recognised as a Luxury Brand within the industry.