viking ocean cruises prices

The ultimate guide to Viking cruise ships and itineraries

Some cruise lines try to be all things to all people. Viking isn't one of them.

Since its founding in 1997, the upscale cruise brand has carved out a niche catering to a certain type of thoughtful, inquisitive, generally older traveler looking to explore the world and learn a thing or two along the way.

Most Viking customers are approaching their retirement years — or are already there — and they're eager to finally see all the places they didn't have time to visit when raising kids and establishing careers in their younger years.

For this subset of travelers, Viking offers a wide range of both ocean and river cruise itineraries that have a heavy focus on the destinations visited. These aren't cruises where it's all about the ship.

Viking voyages bring a lot of extended stays in ports where passengers get more time to explore historical sites and experience the local culture than is typical on cruises. Unlike most lines, Viking offers included-in-the-fare tours in every port, allowing every passenger on board to get a guided experience during stops without having to pay extra. (In general, Viking voyages are highly inclusive, in keeping with its "no nickel-and-diming" philosophy.)

On board, Viking's programming revolves heavily around what the line calls "cultural enrichment" — lectures by experts on topics related to the places its ships visit, as well as cultural and culinary offerings that often have a local tie-in.

What Viking ships don't offer is a lot of onboard amusements aimed at families and younger travelers. In fact, the line doesn't even allow children under the age of 18 on its ships. It's one of the only major cruise brands in the world with such a rule.

Viking ships also don't cater to the party crowd. If it's a floating celebration you're looking for in a vacation, this isn't the line for you.

As Viking founder Torstein Hagen likes to say, a Viking cruise is the "thinking person's cruise, not the drinking person's cruise."

Related: A beginners guide to picking a cruise line

3 things TPG loves about Viking

• Its focus is on destinations and enrichment.
• The elegant, Scandinavian-influenced design of its ships.
• Its "no nickel-and-diming" philosophy.

What we could do without

• The lack of fitness centers on Viking river ships.

The Viking fleet

Viking has more ships than any other major cruise brand in the world, more than 90 in all. It also has both ocean ships and river ships — something that is unusual among major lines. Despite this, it has one of the easiest-to-understand fleets.

That's because the vast majority of Viking's ocean vessels are carbon copies of each other. If you've seen one, you've seen them all. Ditto for the line's river vessels.

Viking currently operates 11 ocean ships, nine of which are nearly identical. The exceptions are two recently unveiled Viking ocean vessels specifically designed for expedition cruising — a type of cruising that involves traveling to remote, hard-to-reach places on hardy vessels that carry their own landing craft.

The nine nearly identical ocean ships — Viking Saturn, Viking Neptune, Viking Mars, Viking Venus, Viking Jupiter, Viking Orion, Viking Sky, Viking Sea and Viking Star — began rolling out in 2015. Each has the capacity for 930 passengers. Six more nearly identical vessels are scheduled to debut between 2024 and 2028, and Viking has options with a shipyard to order four more of the ships for delivery in 2029 and 2030.

At 47,800 tons, these ocean ships are less than a fourth the size of the giant megaships being built by the likes of Royal Caribbean and MSC Cruises, in keeping with Viking's focus on intimate, upscale voyages. Big floating resorts, they aren't.

Note that there is one more vessel in this same series, called Zhao Shang Yi Dun, that has been permanently transferred to a joint venture that operates for the China market. When it debuted in 2017, it originally catered to the North American market and was called Viking Sun.

Viking's two expedition ships, Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris, are smaller than the above vessels, as is typical for expedition ships, and carry 378 passengers at maximum occupancy.

Then there are the river ships. At last count, Viking had 80 river ships in its fleet — an astounding number that is the result of blistering growth over the past decade. (As recently as 2012, the line operated just 29 river ships.)

As noted above, almost all of Viking's river ships are of the same basic design and are known as the Longships — a reference to the historic vessels used by Vikings in the Middle Ages.

Most Viking Longships are 443 feet long, the perfect length to fit into the locks on many of Europe's rivers. Viking has also built slightly shorter versions of the Longships measuring 262 feet, 361 feet or 410 feet in length specifically to sail on rivers where lock sizes or other navigational factors require a smaller vessel. The 410-foot-long versions of the vessels, for instance, were specifically built to be able to sail into the heart of Paris on the Seine River.

While most Viking river ships are Longships, there are a few exceptions in the Viking river fleet. Viking operates several smaller, purpose-built vessels on the Nile River in Egypt and the Mekong River in Southeast Asia. It also has several older river vessels that predate the Longships that operated in Russia and Ukraine until recently. (For now, river cruise itineraries in both countries are on hold due to the Ukraine war.)

Viking also recently began sailings on the Mississippi River with a new ship specifically designed for the river and its tributaries.

Related: The 3 types of Viking ships, explained

Destinations and itineraries

Viking has one of the most diverse arrays of itineraries of any cruise line, mostly due to the fact that it operates both ocean cruises and river cruises.

Viking has a particularly large footprint when it comes to European river itineraries, with a wide range of sailings on nearly every European river of any note.

You'll find Viking river ships operating on the Rhine, Main and Danube in Central Europe; the Seine, Rhone, Dordogne, Garonne and Gironde in France; the Douro in Portugal; and the Moselle and Elbe in Germany. Until recently, Viking also operated cruises on the Volga in Russia and the Dnieper in Ukraine. (As noted above, sailings on the latter two rivers are on hold due to the war in Ukraine and may not resume for many years.)

Viking also operates river trips on the Nile in Egypt and the Mekong River in Southeast Asia, and it recently began trips on the Mississippi River.

The line's ocean ships can be found in nearly every ocean and sea around the world, from North America to Europe and Asia.

Viking's ocean ships have a major presence in Scandinavia and Northern Europe, which the line considers its home turf. (The company was founded by a Norwegian family.) It's also a big player in the Mediterranean. You'll find Viking's ocean ships in other key cruise destinations as well, such as Alaska, the Caribbean and Panama Canal, Canada and New England, South America, Asia and Australia.

In addition, in early 2022, the line began its first cruises to Antarctica with its first expedition ship, Viking Octantis. That summer, the same vessel launched the line's first voyages in the Great Lakes — a destination that only a handful of cruise operators visit.

You'll find everything from eight-day cruises in the Mediterranean to 138-day around-the-world voyages among the line's voyages.

Related: The 5 best destinations you can visit on a Viking ship

Who sails Viking

Most Viking passengers are North Americans who are approaching retirement age or already retired. The company's core market is people who range in age from 55 to 75 years, although it does draw some passengers who are younger or older.

In general, it's an educated crowd, with many passengers coming from professional backgrounds or a life of running their own businesses. They're often people who have spent years focused on work and building up savings for retirement, and they're finally ready to start enjoying the fruits of their labor by spending some of the savings on travel to places they've long put off visiting.

They're also people who can afford a relatively high-end vacation experience. While Viking doesn't market itself as a luxury line, some would call it that. Viking vessels are full of luxury touches, with the pricing to match (see more on what Viking trips cost at the bottom of this story).

In general, you'll find a lot of couples on Viking ships and some solo travelers. You'll also find the occasional multigenerational group — a retired couple traveling with their working-age adult children, for instance.

However, unlike nearly every other cruise brand, what you won't find are families with young kids. As noted above, Viking doesn't allow passengers under the age of 18 on its ships — a key differentiator for the brand as compared to other cruise lines.

Cabins and suites

Is a balcony something you can't live without when staying in a cabin on a cruise ship? Viking could be your line.

Viking is one of the only cruise brands in the world that offers a balcony with every cabin on every ocean ship it operates — even the least expensive, smallest cabins. That's something that even the most upscale of Viking's ocean cruise rivals including Oceania Cruises , Azamara , Seabourn , Silversea Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises can't say.

Viking's ocean ships also offer a large number of suites, many of which are quite spacious. Even the smallest cabins on Viking's ocean ships are large by cruise ship standards at 270 square feet, and the largest suites measure nearly 1,500 square feet.

If you're looking for a big open room on an ocean cruise (and are willing to pay for it), Viking offers you plenty of options.

Related: The ultimate guide to Viking cabins and suites

Viking also offers lots of balcony cabins and suites on its river ships, something that isn't always the case in the river cruise business, where space on vessels is at a premium. Unlike its ocean ships, Viking's river ships aren't all-balcony-cabin vessels.

Designwise, Viking cabins and suites across all categories are modern and elegant in an understated sort of way, with Scandinavian-influenced furnishings and decor that tie to the Norwegian heritage of the company's founder.

You'll find beds topped with crisp, white duvets and Scandinavian throws, comfortable contemporary sofas and chairs in neutral tones, and light-wood desks and side tables that combine to offer a residential feel in bedroom areas. Soothing, minimalist colors — think creams, grays and lighter blues — are the order of the day.

Bathrooms in Viking cabins are serene, modernist escapes with luxurious travertine-lined walls, Scandinavian-influenced wood-veneered vanities, shiny white sinks and chrome fixtures.

In keeping with the high-end nature of the brand, Viking cabins and suites have a lot of upscale touches, from sumptuous bedding that envelops you to heated floors in bathrooms. The rooms aren't overly flashy, though.

What they are is eminently functional, with storage in all the right places, lots of outlets for charging your devices and lighting right where you need it. We love the reading lights built into the fabric headboards, which are in addition to the lamps on bedside tables. You won't have trouble seeing the pages of the Viking Daily activity newsletter while lying in a Viking cabin bed.

Other little touches in Viking cabins that show a line thinking about functionality as much as decor include the large and clear lettering on the Freyja toiletries that you'll find in every Viking cabin bathroom. The toiletries were specifically designed with bigger and clearer lettering than is common for toiletries on cruise ships and at hotels so that the line's older customers would have no trouble differentiating the body wash from the body lotion and shampoo.

Restaurants and dining

The number of restaurants and other dining options that you'll find on Viking ships will vary greatly depending on whether you are sailing on an ocean or a river ship.

All of Viking's oceangoing ships, which are much bigger than its river ships, have at least four and usually more outlets serving food of some sort.

Every one of the line's 930-passenger ocean ships has a main restaurant (called, simply, The Restaurant) with rotating menus that include dishes that tie to the destination where the vessel is sailing. There also are casual buffet eateries called World Cafe on every vessel. You'll probably eat most of your meals in one of these eateries.

The main restaurants on these ships are notable for their walls of glass that can slide open to create al fresco dining, something that is unusual in the cruise world.

Each of the 930-passenger ocean ships also has two smaller restaurants with specialized cuisine: Manfredi's, a high-end Italian eatery, and The Chef's Table, which offers a five-course tasting menu themed around a specific cuisine that changes every few days.

There's no extra charge for dining in the smaller restaurants, but reservations are required. Each passenger is only allowed to make one to three reservations per cruise at the eateries, depending on which category of cabin they have booked.

Viking's bigger ocean ships also have poolside grills that serve made-to-order gourmet hamburgers and other grill items. Passengers can grab a snack — with a Norwegian twist — at the forward-facing lounges atop the ships, which are home to a small food counter called Mamsen's. Named after Viking founder Torstein Hagen's mother (Ragnhild "Mamsen" Hagen), it offers authentic tastes of Norway such as traditional heart-shaped waffles, specialty cakes and the brown goat cheese that is found around the country.

Passengers will also find finger sandwiches, scones and teas in the afternoon at the glass-topped Wintergarden lounge at the top of every vessel.

The line's smaller expedition ocean ships, Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris, offer four of the above venues: The Restaurant, World Cafe, Manfredi's and Mamsen's.

Viking's river ships, by contrast, typically offer just two eateries: a main restaurant where passengers eat most of their meals and a smaller, casual buffet with indoor and outdoor seating.

Fun fact: The Manfredi's restaurants on Viking ocean ships are named after former Silversea Cruises owner Manfredi Lefebvre d'Ovidio, a friend of Viking founder Torstein Hagen. Some Silversea ships, in turn, have lounge areas named after Hagen.

Entertainment and activities

Many of the activities on board Viking's ocean ships revolve around "cultural enrichment," to use a phrase often used by Viking executives. On any given day, you might find an expert on one of the destinations you're visiting lecturing in the theater, or a classical musician performing in the central atrium, known as The Living Room. The ships also offer some traditional entertainment, including production shows with singers and dancers.

On the line's river ships, you'll also find onboard lectures, usually related to the destinations the ships are visiting, as well as destination-related demonstrations and tastings. (On a Seine River voyage, you might have a tasting of local French cheeses or French wines, for instance).

You'll also find live piano music in the evenings in river ship lounges.

Theaters, lounges and shows

Each of the line's ocean ships has a theater at its front that is home to production shows, movie showings (with fresh popcorn available) and enrichment lecturers.

In keeping with Viking's focus on cultural immersion, lecturers often have expertise related to the places you'll be visiting on your sailing. The line also draws a wide range of interesting and accomplished people from all walks of life to serve as guest lecturers, including well-known academics, diplomats and even astronauts.

In addition to the theater, a secondary lounge space on the ships called Torshavn is home to musical entertainment at night. It's also known for an extensive collection of Armagnacs, with one from almost every year of the past eight decades. (A fun game is to try the Armagnac from your birth year. Just be careful — some years are far more expensive than others.)

You'll also find musicians including pianists and guitar players performing at times in the Viking Living Room — a three-deck-high, atrium-like space at the center of the ship. Filled with comfortable seating areas and home to a bar, the Viking Living Room serves as a central meeting point for passengers throughout the day and night. It's also home to the ship's Explorers' Desk — the equivalent of a guest relations area on other ships.

There's also live music at night in the Explorers' Lounge, a two-deck-high observation lounge and bar area at the very top of the ship. The Explorers' Lounge also is home to Mamsen's, the food counter serving tastes of Norway mentioned above.

The pool deck and other venues

The centerpiece of the top deck of each of Viking's ocean ships is the main pool area, which is home to a pool, hot tub and rows of lounge chairs, as well as comfortable seating areas.

The entire main pool area is covered with a glass magrodome that can be opened on short notice on warm and sunny days — or closed if the ship encounters inclement weather.

Just behind the main pool area on each of the ocean ships is a lovely, glass-topped lounge with comfortable seating called the Wintergarden that is home to afternoon tea. A den of serenity, it's one of our favorite places on these vessels.

A secondary pool area with an infinity pool is at the back of each of the ships.

Other interior spaces that are part of the ocean ships include a stylish spa with a thermal suite area that is open to all passengers at no extra charge (something that is not common on cruise vessels) and a fitness center.

Note that Viking river ships do not have fitness centers, which is relatively unusual for river ships. Viking has long argued that few of its customers use fitness centers and the space that would be devoted to one is better used for other things. However, if you're fitness-obsessed, Viking river ships may not be the best choice for your river trip.

Related: The 12 cruise ships with the most spectacular attractions at sea

Children's program

Viking does not allow children under the age of 18 on its vessels and thus has no children's programs on any of its vessels.

What to know before you go

Required documents.

Viking operates international itineraries where a passport is required. Passports must be valid for at least six months. Note that it is important that the name on your reservation be exactly as it is stated on your passport or other official proof of nationality.

Viking adds an automatic service gratuity (which it calls a "hotel and dining charge") of $17 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. (You can also increase the tip amount if so desired.) Also, a 15% gratuity is added to bills at bars and for drinks at restaurants.

Related: Everything you need to know about tipping on a cruise ship

As part of Viking's "no nickel-and-diming" philosophy, the line offers free Wi-Fi service to passengers on all its ships throughout sailings. Note that internet service can be slow at times of heavy use, as is typical on cruise vessels. In addition, in order to ensure fair usage for all, the line limits some heavy-bandwidth applications, downloads and software upgrades.

Related: Wi-Fi on cruise ships: 5 things to know about internet use on board

Carry-on drinks policy

Unlike many lines, Viking allows you to bring your own wine, Champagne, beer and liquor onto ships at embarkation with no limits. The line also doesn't charge a corkage fee.

Smoking policy

On all ships, smoking (including electronic cigarettes) is only allowed in designated outdoor areas. It's forbidden in cabins and on cabin balconies.

Some Viking ships, including all of the line's ocean vessels (including its one expedition vessel), have self-serve launderettes on cabin decks with washing machines, dryers, irons and ironing boards. The launderettes are stocked with detergent for the washing machines that, unlike on many cruise ships with launderettes, do not come with an extra cost.

In addition, most Viking vessels offer laundry and pressing services. Such services are complimentary for passengers staying in certain categories of cabins. Otherwise, fees are comparable to what you'll pay cleaners at home. Dry cleaning is available on the line's ocean ships but not on Viking river ships.

Viking's recently unveiled Mississippi River ship offers self-service launderettes but no send-out laundry and pressing service.

Related: Everything you need to know about cruise ship laundry services

Electrical outlets

All of the line's vessels have standard North American-style, 110-volt outlets in rooms as well as European-style, 220-volt outlets and USB ports in cabins.

The currency used on Viking ships is U.S. dollars.

Drinking age

You must be 21 to consume alcohol on Viking ships.

During the day, there is no specific dress code, and people dress casually. If it's a sea day in a warm-weather destination, and you're bound for the top deck, a short-sleeve shirt and shorts are just fine.

Evenings have an official dress code, but it's not too formal. The line asks passengers to keep things "elegant casual" when heading to any of the ship's dining venues, performances or special events. To Viking, that means a dress, skirt or slacks with a sweater or blouse for women, and trousers and a collared shirt for men. A tie and jacket for men are optional. Jeans are not permitted.

This evening dress code is not enforced at the casual World Cafe eateries on Viking ocean ships, where passengers can go even more casual in the evenings.

Related: Cruise packing list: The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise

Viking cruise loyalty program

Viking doesn't have a loyalty program in the traditional sense — one where passengers earn points every time they travel with the brand and progress through multiple tiers that bring an ever-expanding array of perks. However, it does offer a few basic perks for past guests.

Once you travel with the brand for the first time, you will automatically be enrolled in the Viking Explorer Society. As part of this society, you will receive:

• A credit of $200 per passenger anytime you book a Viking voyage within one year of your last Viking voyage. If you reserve within two years, you receive a $100 credit.
• An invitation to a members-only Viking Explorer Society cocktail party when sailing on Viking ships.
• Early word by email or regular mail on new Viking Cruises itineraries and new ships, as well as special limited-time offers.

Note that the credits mentioned above cannot always be combined with promotions the line offers.

Related: The ultimate guide to Viking's cruise loyalty program

How much does a Viking cruise cost?

Viking sailings aren't inexpensive. Ten-night "Greek Odyssey" voyages to the Greek Islands start at $3,999 per person. That works out to roughly $800 per day for a couple sharing a room. Some of the line's more exotic sailings, such as its expedition trips to Antarctica, cost even more. Fourteen-night Antarctica trips start at $13,995 per person — about $2,000 per day for a couple.

Related: 6 ways to travel to Antarctica in luxury and style

Still, as is typical for cruise lines at the high end, Viking includes a lot in its base price. In addition to a room on board and all meals, the fares include beer, wine and soft drinks with lunch and dinner; specialty coffees, teas and bottled water around the clock; shipboard Wi-Fi; and (perhaps most notably) a shore excursion in every port. The latter is something relatively few lines roll into their base fares, and shore excursions can be expensive.

Viking also includes access to the thermal areas of its spa in its base fares. Such access almost always comes with an extra charge on cruise vessels.

Viking fares do include port taxes and fees, which can add up to hundreds of dollars per sailing. Most other lines do not include port taxes and fees in their base fares and add them later in the booking process.

Note that Viking does charge extra for two key things that many luxury lines such as Silversea, Seabourn and Regent do not: alcoholic drinks at bars and gratuities. This is one reason some cruisers do not consider Viking at quite the same level as those other brands.

How to book

If you're sure you know what sort of cabin you want, on which ship, on which itinerary — and about a dozen other things — you can head over to Viking.com and book directly.

That said, given the complexity of booking a cruise — there are a lot of decisions to make during the booking process, trust us — we always recommend that you use a seasoned travel agent who specializes in cruises.

A good travel agent will quiz you about your particular interests, travel style and preferences, and steer you to the perfect cruise line, ship, itinerary and cabin for you. An agent can also help you if something goes wrong before, during or after your voyage.

If you're sure that Viking is your line, look for a travel agent who specializes in trips with the brand. You want someone who knows all of the line's many itineraries in detail and, preferably, has sailed on or at least inspected some of the line's vessels, too, to understand the various cabin types and onboard amenities.

Related: How to book a cruise with points and miles

Whether you use a travel agent or not, make sure to maximize your credit card spending when paying for the cruise by using a credit card that offers extra points for travel purchases . This could be the Chase Sapphire Reserve , which offers 3 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on travel and dining (excluding the annual $300 travel credit). There's also the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card , which offers 2 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on travel (and 3 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on dining).

Bottom line

Viking can be defined as much by what it isn't as what it is. It's not a line for families with young children. It's not a line that offers megaships topped with every sort of amusement known to humans. And it's not a line for the party crowd.

What it is is a line that has focused very specifically on "thinking person's cruises" that offer a deeper dive into the destinations that its ships visit than is typical at many lines. It's all about exploring the world and doing so in comfort.

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How Much Do Viking Cruises Cost?

Originally a cruise line that focused solely on river cruises, Viking Cruises has now also conquered the ocean cruising market. In fact, Viking Cruises dominates both categories, overshadowing many of its competitors because of its sheer quality. We don’t want to raise to trumpet of praise to much here, but it’s hard to ignore how well Viking does what it does. Now, we also know that you might be interested in going on a Viking Cruise, but you might be wondering how much a Viking Cruise costs.

Pricing and Features for Viking Cruises

Viking ocean cruises.

• Viking River Cruises

In this blog post, you’ll find an overview of Viking’s two concepts—Ocean Cruises, and River Cruises—and their respective price points and features.

Voted the best ocean cruise line in both 2016 and 2017 by readers of Travel + Leisure , Viking Ocean Cruises hits home with its unique concept. Instead of offering regular, rather superficial cruises like some other cruise lines do, it focuses on authentic cultural experiences. This includes everything from personalized service to thoughtfully organized shore excursions and locally sourced food.

Always expanding and improving , Viking Ocean Cruises is the opposite of what many people consider ocean cruises to be like. It’s neither pretentious nor lacking class. There aren’t any casinos on board, no white-gloved butlers or formal nights outs. If Viking stands for anything, it’s “experience and exploration”. What sets all of this apart even more is that it takes place on small, intimate and elegant ships.

How Much Do Viking Ocean Cruises Cost?

Now, let’s get to what this post really is about. How much Viking Ocean cruises cost. The fare for a Viking Ocean Cruise includes everything you could possibly need on board. On the other hand, it doesn’t include anything you don’t need. Simply put, there may not be any butlers, but there is 24-hour room service and several different dining options. The price also includes Wi-Fi, spa access, one shore excursion in every port, as well as alcoholic drinks with each on-board lunch and dinner.

Prices of Viking Ocean Cruises vary wildly, depending on the destination, time of year and duration. You can find cruises as cheap as $1,999—the 8-day Southern Mediterranean Discovery Cruise, for instance—while the epic Viking World Cruise clocks in at $49,995 for no fewer than 128 days of sailing almost around the world. Whatever your budget is, you can find tips and tricks on how to score the best cruise deals in this blog post . Use them to save some of your well-earned money.

You can always contact us or request a quote for a complete overview of all Viking Ocean cruises currently available. Note that your options are abundant, ranging from cruises in Scandinavia to Australia, from the Mediterranean to the Far East.

Just like the Viking Ocean Cruises above, Viking River Cruises was also voted the best in its category. Conde Nast readers proclaimed Viking the best river cruise line in the world and have done so ever since this category was introduced. Viking River Cruises has won awards for two decades now, highlighting how great its cruises actually are.

River cruise ships are designed to navigate many major rivers in the world, from Europe’s Danube and Rhine to Asia’s Mekong and Yangtse. These long and narrow ships are the epitome of cultural immersion and discovery. The company’s chairman, Torstein Hagen, says that “Viking offers its guests the thinking person’s cruise”. This is an obvious major difference from the mainstream cruise lines, with which it competes and which it clearly overclasses.

How Much Do Viking River Cruises Cost?

The beauty of Viking River Cruises is that you can sail right into the very heart of your destination, even if it’s located far inland. If there’s a major river running through or near it, you’ll be able to get there. Viking Longships are essentially floating luxury hotels, offering the same amenities as stationary accommodation but with the obvious perk of bringing you to your next destinations. It’s brilliant.

Prices vary according to the cruise duration and destinations, but typically, they fall within the $1,699-$4,999 range. Note that there are many Viking River Cruises in Europe that fall under the $2,000 price point, which makes them surprisingly affordable. Their Asia, Egypt and Russia cruises are generally a bit pricier, starting from $3,224.

Of course, the longer the cruise, the higher the price. It’s a pretty straightforward setup, making basically every cruise with Viking worth every penny. Check out this page for a detailed overview of all available Viking River Cruises .

So, now that you know how much Viking Cruises cost, you can decide which one suits your budget best. Whichever concept you go for, rest assured that it will be a trip to remember.

Get a price on a cruise in this post

Born and raised in Belgium, Bram is currently based in the Pacific Northwest where he spends his days blogging, hiking, indulging in freshly roasted coffee and sipping craft beers. An experienced traveler, his… More about Bram R

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Comments (3)

We are an elderly couple. Can’t do much walking. But would love to go on a river cruise

Is the price in the catalogue vie for one person or two in a Veranda suite

Ship gratuities? How much suggested per person per day?

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Viking Ocean Cruise Excursions: What You Need to Know

Viking offers a wide variety of excursion choices. There’s something for just about everyone. There are complimentary excursions in each port . These “included” excursions are usually walking or bus tours of a city and give a general overview of a place. In addition, Viking offers several “optional” excursions a t each port that focus on specific interests , such as visits to museums, castles, forts, concerts, farms, estates, and wineries, as well as recreational outings like hiking and biking. While there are no fees for the “included” options, there are charges for the “optional” excursions (typically ranging from about $60 to $200+ each). 

Licensed, English-speaking local guides lead guests on walking and bus tours. Excursions operate rain or shine and include entrance fees , if applicable. If an excursion involves a tour bus, they are usually comfortable buses with air conditioning. If a bus doesn’t have an onboard restroom, the tour guide will usually ask guests if they need to stop for a break.

Choosing an Excursion

Selecting excursions may be a tough decision! There are usually some exciting choices. As mentioned, expect one “included” excursion in each port. On top of that, there will usually be 5-10 “optional” excursions.

For example, on the Empires of the Mediterranean Ocean cruise my husband and I took earlier this year, some “optional” Dubrovnik excursions included visits to islands, nearby towns, and ancient city walls, as well as hikes, scenic boat rides, and a visit to an oyster farm (with tastings). Some of the excursions were to UNESCO sites. Here is a partial list of our cruise excursions and related details.

Sample Excursion Types, Durations, and Costs

Before heading out on excursions, you’ll take the QuietVox receivers (on lanyards with included earpieces) in your stateroom. Using the QuietVox devices lets you hear the tour guide easily, even if you walk several steps behind him or her.

Excursion Activity Levels

Viking rates each of their excursions with activity levels. These rankings consider whether the ground is uneven, has an incline, and/or has cobblestones — two common elements in many ancient towns. The activity levels also include the estimated time of walking and standing and are as follows:

• Easy (e): Expect mostly even ground, although there may be a few steps or inclines. There shouldn’t be more than 1.5 hours of walking or standing time.
• Moderate (m): Expect longer walking paths with some steps, uneven ground, or inclines and between 1.5 and 3 hours of total walking or standing time.
• Demanding (d): Expect more challenging activities, including walking, hiking, or water sports, with the possibility of many steps or steep inclines. Some demanding excursions may top 3 hours of walking or standing.
• Wheelchair (w): If an excursion has this notation, it’s acceptable for wheelchair users. Viking staff will not operate or push wheelchairs on or off the ship or elsewhere. There must be another guest who takes this responsibility. (Note: I didn’t notice any excursions marked with wheelchair accessibility on our recent ocean cruise. If this is important to you, inquire before booking a cruise.)

Signing Up for Excursions

Sign up for excursions online at MyVikingJourney . com when your booking window opens . These windows depend on your stateroom category level.

• Owner’s Suite—107 days from the sail date
• Explorer Suites—97 days from the sail date
• Penthouse Junior Suites—87 days from the sail date
• Penthouse Veranda Staterooms—77 days from the sail date
• Deluxe Veranda Staterooms—67 days from the sail date
• Veranda Staterooms—60 days from the sail date

Mark the date on a calendar to be ready to book excursions when the window opens. Some excursions fill up quickly.

Note that if you and your travel partner are booked together on the cruise, sharing a stateroom, then you can book excursions (and dining and spa services) for the both of you under your joint MyVikingJourney.com online account. There’s no need for each traveler to do it independently.

Canceling Excursions

Guests may cancel scheduled excursions online via MyVikingJourney.com before embarkation or cancel them once onboard. No refunds will be given if canceling within two days of an excursion.

Viking may cancel tours if not enough guests are signed up for them or if there are other issues.

Excursion Planning Tips

• Plan your excursions before the date that excursions open up for booking for your stateroom category. Being prepared ahead of your excursion booking window will provide a better chance of obtaining your most desired excursions.
• Pay attention to the activity level of the excursions . My husband and I find it helpful to vary the type and duration of excursions so that we don’t overload our schedule. Plus, we like to balance historical, cultural, and active (e.g., hiking) experiences. 
• If you see an anchor icon next to a port of call on your Viking Guest Statement (that lists the itinerary), you’ll know a tender boat will take you to your destination. Otherwise, the ship docks directly at the port. 
• If you have questions about an excursion before booking it (like how long a bus ride may be), use the Live Chat feature on MyVikingJourney . com . I’ve found this communication feature very helpful. 
• When booking an “included” excursion, book the first time available to view the sights before subsequent buses (from your and other cruise ships), and other tourists, descend on a city. 
• When booking “optional” excursions on MyVikingJourney . com , add them to your cart and pay for them immediately . The excursions are not reserved until they are paid. You have the option to cancel an excursion if done so at least 48 hours before it begins. 
• If you know you must cancel an excursion, do it immediately. Doing so will open the excursion up to other guests (if it’s sold out).
• To make sure you have essential information (like the ship’s location and contact information as well as the time when guests must be back on board), take a picture of the first page of the Viking Daily before setting out on an excursion (or the night before) . Plus, taking a picture of it before leaving for an excursion is a good “bookmark,” as it’ll help remind you where all the pictures you take that day are from! (A benefit weeks and months after returning home!)
• Some excursions include snacks or meals. Look for the icon (an apple for a snack; fork and spoon for a meal) indicating them on your Shore Excursions document for your cruise.
• After an excursion, you’ll notice a questionnaire about the excursion experience on the Viking Voyager app (that’s just active while aboard). Completing the survey each evening helps Viking learn of pluses and minuses of the excursions and guides to finetune things for the future.

Excursion Packing List

Since most excursions involve activity outside, plan to bring along:

• comfortable walking shoes (a must!)
• hat or cap to shield your face from the sun
• windbreaker, raincoat, sweater, or jacket
• small umbrella (Viking provides large red umbrellas, which are great, but I prefer to bring a small collapsible umbrella that is easily tucked in my daypack. That way, I’m not lugging a large umbrella around after the rain has stopped.)
• day pack or sling bag to carry small items
• camera or smartphone to take pictures (Some travelers like to carry their smartphones attached to lanyards around their necks while out on excursions, keeping the smartphone handy for picture taking. It’s also a way always to have the smartphone with you, so you don’t accidentally put it down somewhere and leave it behind.)

Tendering to Port

Sometimes the ship cannot dock directly at the port; instead, it anchors offshore, and guests are transported to land by tender boats. These boats are usually operated independently of Viking and are contracted for the jobs. Guests gather in an area (like the Star Theater) at a certain time and then are released to the tender area. The actual tender ride is usually less than 10 minutes. Once on land, you’ll meet your local tour guide and begin your excursion. After the excursion ends, guests meet at the dock and are transported back to the ship aboard a tender boat.

Related Articles

Viking cruise articles.

• Viking Cruises: Best Action Steps to Take After Booking a Trip
• Viking Ocean Cruises: The Ultimate Guide
• Viking Ocean Cruise Onboard Experience: What You Need to Know
• Viking Ocean Cruise Staterooms: What You Need to Know
• Viking Ocean Empires of the Mediterranean Excursions
• Viking River Cruises: The Complete Guide
• Best Sights to See on a Viking Grand European Tour Cruise
• Viking Antarctica Cruise: A Complete Guide for Adventurers

Trip Planning Articles

• Best Apps and Websites for Savvy Travelers
• Expert Tips for Traveling to Europe for More Fun, Less Stress
• How to Use Google Translate While Traveling
• Travel Lightly: Top Ten Tips for Your Next Trip
• Travel Planning Timeline

Final Thoughts

My husband and I have really enjoyed the Viking excursions we’ve taken. Sometimes we opt for the “included” walking tour excursions of a town and then go off on our own afterward. That may mean a leisurely meal, shopping, or simply people-watching before returning to the ship. Other times, we enjoy the “optional” excursions for focused visits to ancient sites or a hike. I’ve heard from other passengers that the “included” bus tours of a city are usually a cursory view of places without always getting out to walk around a place. You decide what works best for you!

Feel free to share suggestions or ideas about Viking Ocean cruise excursions. Your thoughts may help other travelers. Thanks! 🙂

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Since 2015, Viking’s ocean cruises have earned acclaim for their inclusive luxury ships and engaging destination-focused itineraries. Viking’s voyages appeal to active and intellectual adults who are interested in learning about the history and culture of the destinations they visit. The cruise line's 10 identical 930-passenger ships include attractive perks, such as shipwide complimentary Wi-Fi and verandas for all cabins.

The smaller size of Viking's ships allows them to access more exclusive ports throughout Europe, Asia, Australia, the Caribbean and the Mediterranean. Standard cruise itineraries range from eight to 93 days, while the line's World Cruise options can last up to 180 days. As part of Viking's inclusive fare, passengers are also treated to one complimentary shore excursion in each port of call.

U.S. News Insider Tip: While Viking's cruise fares seem high compared to other lines, you need to compare their all-inclusive value to cruises where everything comes at an additional cost. There are very few extra expenses that you will have once you're on board the ship. They also offer discounted sailings, including their Quiet Season Mediterranean Cruises. – Gwen Pratesi, Contributor

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All cabins include verandas

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Complimentary excursion at every port of call

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• A $500 deposit per person is required to secure a reservation on a Viking ocean cruise. A 20% deposit is required on cruise tours of 35 days or longer and Viking's World & Grand Cruises.
• The date of your final payment is dependent on your itinerary and will be noted on your invoice.
• If you cancel your cruise 120 days or more before your scheduled departure, you'll be charged $100 per person. Canceling closer to the cruise departure date will incur varying fees that are a percentage of the cruise fare. Visit Viking's Terms & Conditions  page for more information on the cancellation policy.
• If you have any medical needs associated with a disability, you must inform Viking at the time of booking. To inquire about accessibility, you can call 1-877-668-4546. Viking does not permit women who are more than 24 weeks pregnant on any of its ocean cruises.
• Viking does not allow children 17 or younger on its ocean cruises.

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• You must have a passport valid for at least six months after your cruise ends, as well as any necessary visas in order to board.
• Passengers must bring any required inoculation records on board. Refer to the  World Health Organization  and the  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  websites to learn about recommended vaccinations.
• You'll receive your travel documents about two weeks prior to your scheduled departure date. Your cruise embarkation time is based on your cabin category and begins at 11 a.m., but you'll need to be on board no later than two hours before departure.
• You can make reservations for shore excursions, dining venues and spa treatments in advance on the My Viking Journey website. Booking windows open based on which cabin category you choose. For more information on when you can book, visit Viking's website.

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Viking Excursions How much $?

By stormz , August 22, 2020 in Viking Ocean

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Considering a Viking Ocean Cruise.   They emphasize the cruise fare is “all in”.  When I look at the excursions on each itinerary I see one excursion is noted in the upper corner as “included”.   So all the others cost extra $?   How much typically? It appears the all in just includes a bus tour of the town? Thanks for any info.

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We have been on many Viking Cruises & as stated, the included is typically a 2 or 3 hour bus or walking tour of the town. We have done a mix of both included & paid Viking tours depending on the port. The cost of the paid tours really varies depending on the length & what it entails. Some tours are less than $100 and some $200 plus. We have also had good luck getting together with fellow cruisers on Cruise Critic and booking tours through local tour operators. Do your homework & explore the options available to you. Good luck.

Viking's included is an overview.  If you've seen the port before it might seem a little lack luster but it's not suppose to be an in depth look into anything in particular.  I loved the included in Alborg, Denmark and P   Croatia.  Both walking tours, maybe form 3-4 hours from my recollection.  I did the included to Berlin.  A 12 hour excursion: 3 hours on train to the city and then about 1.5 hour bus tour with a couple of stops and then about 4 hours on your own before being transported to the train and back to the ship.  It was fine since we had not been but some thought is wasn't enough to bother.  I would suggest another excursion that I feel had more to off but I was trying to save money so I thought it would be fine,  Now I know.  Dubrovnik, Croatia and Stavanger, Norway were nice walking tours that included some time in a museum.  Just depends on your interests.  The do have other excursions for a fee and you can compare these to other excursions for the same place On Trip Advisor or Viator to see if you think the price falls in line.  They do have other extreme excursions that could break the bank but that again would be if you think it has the value.  I have also arranged local tours I have found that are different than the ships or maybe the excursion I wanted on the cruise was not available by the time I could book(always a V cabin)

22 minutes ago, Dauntless said:   I loved the included in Alborg, Denmark and P   Croatia.  

"P   Croatia" was suppose to be Split,Croatia. 

Each port has an "Included" excursion, which is guaranteed. While many of them are walks or bus tours, during our cruise we found the included varied significantly from the Marquesas Islands, where it was a timed tender ticket for a non-guided wander ashore, to Safaga, which was a 10-hr tour to Luxor, and Komodo, which included the Komodo Dragon walk.

Compared to other cruise lines, we found Viking's optional excursions were more reasonably priced.

In many ports, when not booking a private tour, we could book the included and an optional. 

Before our Trade Routes of the Middle Ages cruise for September 2020 was cancelled we had picked all of the optional excursions we were hoping to book. They added up to just over $1600 for the 2 of us which I found rather shocking. This was not choosing an optional in every port but only in certain ports. It probably depends on the cruise and what you wish to see.  

Peregrina651

Keep in mind Viking is not a budget cruise line and those who sail with Viking expect the tours to be of the same quality as the accommodations. While the prices are in general reasonable for what you get, Viking still is not contracting for the cheapest tours in town. They work with the most experienced providers in each port and they expect the best bang for our bucks.

Spent nearly $2,700 on Homelands optional tours. $600 of that was 2 days TJ Travel in St Petersburg...Excellent!

RED not worth the $; do it yourself  

BLUE Exceptional!

14 minutes ago, philw1776 said: Spent nearly $2,700 on Homelands optional tours. $600 of that was 2 days TJ Travel in St Petersburg...Excellent! RED not worth the $; do it yourself   BLUE Exceptional! 2017 prices!!!

Which of these were half day and which were full day? How many days were you in St. Petersburg?

Two days in StP.  Private tour with 12 of us in a Mercedes van. Guide flawless english and 27 yr old PhD from the Hermitage. Two Russian lunches. One basic and one fancy, for contrast. Loved both. Saw everything long days. Flam on the Flamsbana railroad was all day with bus to & fro.  Excellent. Vasa included a nice lunch but easily done by self. Pulpit Rock major price ripoff vs ~$65pp from locals. Problem being not a lot of margin on return time with local.

CORRECTION: Loved the Palmse Manor tour. Included delicious family style lunch and a walk thru woods to the seacoast 

Copenhagen, Roskilde  & Marlbork were single prices, others for 2.

Thanks good info, so I can expect to add another $1000 easy to our budget if we choose non inclusive tours.    Any guess on the average age of Viking Ocean guests?

in the end it appears the excursions will all be first class.  When you add it all up you can look at regent and crystal and be close to same Total costs?

Agree w above posters.   Have had many good experiences with the Viking included yours on both ocean (Estonia especially) and river.  But  It's all about doing your homework and making priorities.

Thanks to fellow CC'ers, for our Homelands cruise, we learned about booking the Pulpit Rock via Rodne Cruises on our own and saved $$$.  Only thing we did not get was the waffle 🙂   Likewise, how easy to do the Vasa Museum on  our own  - took the hop on hop off boat cruise!  

Likewise, we did not take advice to do a smaller private tour while in ST/ Petersburg and very much regret it. We tend to DYI, but sometimes its worth the peace of mind to book through Viking - especially if you have to worry about getting back to the ship.

Planning, and doing your homework, can make your trip very enjoyable.  I like to pull out the map, and get a sense of how much bus travel etc is involved.

For our (Viking) Trade Routes of the Middle Ages trip in 2019, many people opted for the Paris trip from LeHavre. Left at 7 am, back about 9 pm as I recall.  It was a long trip, from what I was told.

Sunflower & The Scientist

We liked using the included tours as overviews, so we booked them at ever port along with whatever tour looked good to us.  There were times we cancelled the included and just headed out on our own.  Some were really good, others not so much.  We found that once onboard, the talks they gave the day prior to a port, were most helpful.  We were able to see what the included was going to offer us, and judged from there. 

I would highly suggest watching the daily port information talks.  

lackcreativity

Viking often arranges free shuttle service in a port, and for us, that combined well with the included excursions. We often stayed after a tour for time on our own. I am not certain what excursions will look like when cruising resumes, so that time on our own may not be possible at first.

With Covid 19 it seems most lines will want to retain control over the excursions rather than have passengers do their own thing.   Refer to the first MSC cruise that just went out.   It would not let a family back on as they wondered off on their own. Just a reality of this pandemic.

16 hours ago, philw1776 said: Two days in StP.  Private tour with 12 of us in a Mercedes van. Guide flawless english and 27 yr old PhD from the Hermitage. Two Russian lunches. One basic and one fancy, for contrast. Loved both. Saw everything long days. Flam on the Flamsbana railroad was all day with bus to & fro.  Excellent. Vasa included a nice lunch but easily done by self. Pulpit Rock major price ripoff vs ~$65pp from locals. Problem being not a lot of margin on return time with local. CORRECTION: Loved the Palmse Manor tour. Included delicious family style lunch and a walk thru woods to the seacoast  Copenhagen, Roskilde  & Marlbork were single prices, others for 2.

Somebody beat me to the waffle.

11 hours ago, stormz said: With Covid 19 it seems most lines will want to retain control over the excursions rather than have passengers do their own thing.   Refer to the first MSC cruise that just went out.   It would not let a family back on as they wondered off on their own. Just a reality of this pandemic.

And then again, by the time Viking returns to operations, the situation will have changed and creating a bubble may not be necessary. In the meantime, I am happy to let the other cruise lines do the experimenting.

Also, there is no doubt in my mind that a lot of the advice to fellow travelers that we have shared in the years in this forum will be obsolete once we start sailing again. A goodly portion of what we tell people about how Viking handled things before the pandemic will change and we will be waiting with baited breath for the first returnees to share their experiences.

On 8/22/2020 at 12:29 PM, stormz said:     Any guess on the average age of Viking Ocean guests?  

It probable depends on the itinerary and the time of year.

When we cruise in the summer of 2019 (Empires of the Mediterranean), many of our fellow passengers were teachers on summer break .

I estimate the ages ranged between 30 -  60 for the teachers on board.

As a general rule I would say Viking passengers are older than what you might find on more mass market lines.  No kids and most Viking cruisers are experienced travelers who have sailed on a number of other lines.  I would guess around 65 as the "norm" with 30 definitely being the lower end.  But then there was a couple in their 50s on the Inaugural World Cruise on their very first cruise.... A World Cruise.  Might as well start at the top. 😎

9 hours ago, Peregrina651 said:   And then again, by the time Viking returns to operations, the situation will have changed and creating a bubble may not be necessary. In the meantime, I am happy to let the other cruise lines do the experimenting.   Also, there is no doubt in my mind that a lot of the advice to fellow travelers that we have shared in the years in this forum will be obsolete once we start sailing again. A goodly portion of what we tell people about how Viking handled things before the pandemic will change and we will be waiting with baited breath for the first returnees to share their experiences.  

Very true. There is hope, however, given the success of the NBA Bubble--not a single case.

On our two Viking cruises (Cuba in October, 2018) and Trade Routes (October 2019), I'd say the average guest age was in the mid 60s, maybe a little older.

For what it's worth, my brother won't take Viking as he prefers to sponsor his kids and grandchildren, making cruises a mini-family reunion. 

My non-scientific observation: river cruises median age = 65; ocean cruises = 60.

Viking Ocean demographics are older. Guessing avg age mid 60s.  Silversea cruises were noticeably younger, and not because of kids.

35 minutes ago, philw1776 said: Viking Ocean demographics are older. Guessing avg age mid 60s.  Silversea cruises were noticeably younger, and not because of kids.

I would have agreed with you 2 years ago, but there was a big difference in my last VO cruise (late November, 2019). More honeymoon couples and 30-somethings. In fact, my 42 year old cousin had one booked for this summer - he is rebooking. I think some of his friends went or are going too.

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2024-2026 OCEAN CRUISE AND AIR FARES:  Offer applies to bookings made from September 1-30, 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 September 30, 2024 or at time of booking if within 120 days of departure. 2025 : Pay in full by October 31, 2024. 2026 : Pay in full by April 30, 2025. Offer may be withdrawn at any time without prior notice. Offers Expires September 30, 2024.

*$25 DEPOSIT:  For itineraries 35 days or less, a $25 deposit applies to February 2025 & onward departures; for itineraries greater than 35 days, a $25 deposit applies to April 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 the  Passenger Ticket Contract  which 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 the  Passenger Ticket Contract .

AIR UPGRADE:  Upgrade to Premium Economy air from $999 per person or Business Class air from $3,499 per person based on select gateways and dates. Premium upgrades may not be available on all departures. Additional airline-imposed baggage charges may apply; for more information visit  Airline Luggage Restrictions  . Air prices are per person based on cruise/cruisetour check-in date and include transfers plus all government taxes/fees of approximately $160 and air fuel surcharges. Air seats are limited; airfares are subject to change and are not guaranteed until full payment of air is received. For more information about customized air services and US gateways, visit the  Viking Air Plus

NOTE:  International flights depart the U.S. one day prior to check-in date. Paid Business or Premium Economy Class may require travel in economy on flights within North America or Europe. Premium economy is limited to specific airlines and we may not be able to accommodate based on aircraft type and availability. 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.