The Thinking Person’s Cruise · Destination-Focused Voyages

Viking Ocean Cruises

Explore the world in refined Scandinavian elegance aboard intimate, award-winning small ships designed to bring you closer to your destination.

Amazon Pink Dolphin
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Destination-Focused Luxury

Viking Ocean Cruises has redefined modern ocean cruising with elegant, understated small ships that put the destination first. Launched in 2015, Viking quickly became the world’s most awarded ocean cruise line by combining Scandinavian design sensibility with culturally immersive itineraries. With no children under 18, no casinos, and no nickel-and-diming, Viking delivers a serene, enriching experience for curious travelers who want to explore the world thoughtfully.

At a Glance

Cruise Line: Viking Ocean Cruises – Premium, Destination-Focused, Adults-Only

Fleet: [INSERT NUMBER OF SHIPS] identical sister ships, each carrying 930 guests

Destinations: 400+ ports across all seven continents

Service: Attentive Scandinavian-inspired service with a warm, professional staff

Signature Feature: Culturally enriching itineraries with included shore excursion in every port, complimentary Wi-Fi, specialty dining at no extra charge, and the award-winning LivNordic Spa

  • All-veranda staterooms with a king-size bed and private balcony
  • One included shore excursion in every port of call
  • Complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the ship
  • Specialty dining at all onboard restaurants at no extra charge
  • Beer, wine, and soft drinks with lunch and dinner
  • 24-hour room service
  • Self-service laundry facilities
  • Access to the thermal suite in the LivNordic Spa
  • Port taxes and fees
  • Enrichment lectures and destination-focused programming

Silver Spirits beverage package available for an additional fee covering premium drinks throughout the voyage.

  • Adults-only ships (18+) create a serene, refined atmosphere
  • No casinos, no umbrella drinks by the pool — just thoughtful, destination-driven travel
  • More time in port with late departures and overnight stays on many itineraries
  • The Explorers’ Lounge, wintergarden, and infinity pool offer stunning Scandinavian-designed spaces
  • Consistently voted #1 ocean cruise line by Travel + Leisure and Condé Nast Traveler readers

The Restaurant: Elegant main dining room with regionally inspired menus that change daily

The World Café: Relaxed, market-style dining with global cuisine and live cooking stations

Manfredi’s Italian Restaurant: Authentic Italian dishes with fresh pasta made daily

The Chef’s Table: Multi-course tasting menu with wine pairings

The Kitchen Table: Farm-to-table cooking class experience visiting local markets ashore

Mamsen’s: Cozy Norwegian deli serving traditional Scandinavian fare

Aquavit Terrace: Al fresco dining at the ship’s stern with sweeping ocean views

All restaurants are included in your fare — there are no extra charges for specialty dining on Viking.

Viking’s ocean fleet consists of elegant, nearly identical sister ships, each carrying just 930 guests. The intimate size allows Viking ships to dock in the heart of many cities and access smaller ports that larger vessels cannot reach.

Ships include Viking Star, Viking Sea, Viking Sky, Viking Sun, Viking Orion, Viking Jupiter, Viking Venus, Viking Mars, Viking Neptune, and Viking Saturn, among others. Each ship features the same award-winning Scandinavian design, ensuring a consistent experience no matter which vessel you choose.

Viking also offers expedition voyages aboard purpose-built expedition ships, Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris, designed for polar and Great Lakes exploration.

At a Glance

Destination-Focused

All-Veranda

Elegant staterooms with private balconies

  • All-veranda staterooms
  • Included shore excursion every port
  • Complimentary Wi-Fi
  • Beer, wine & soft drinks at meals
  • All specialty dining included
  • Spa thermal suite access
  • Enrichment lectures & programming

Adults-only · 930 guests per ship

Explore

Discover Viking Ocean

Norwegian Fjords
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Scandinavian Design, Thoughtful Spaces

Every Viking Ocean ship is a masterpiece of Scandinavian design — clean lines, natural materials, and light-filled spaces that create a sense of calm and connection with the sea. The iconic Explorers’ Lounge features a floor-to-ceiling glass wall for dramatic views, while the Wintergarden offers afternoon tea beneath a canopy of Scandinavian-inspired trellises. The award-winning infinity pool at the stern provides a breathtaking vantage point in every destination. With just 930 guests, these intimate ships feel more like a private yacht than a cruise ship.

The LivNordic Spa Experience

Inspired by the Nordic tradition of wellness, the LivNordic Spa on every Viking Ocean ship offers a sanctuary of relaxation at sea. The complimentary thermal suite features a snow grotto, hot tub, cold plunge pool, and a traditional Scandinavian sauna — all with panoramic ocean views. The spa also offers a full menu of treatments rooted in Nordic bathing rituals, from hot stone massages to restorative body wraps. Whether you start your morning with a dip in the hydrotherapy pool or unwind after a day of exploration, the LivNordic Spa is a highlight of every Viking voyage.

Silversea Silver Endeavour
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View from inside a helicopter cockpit with two pilots flying over a snowy mountainous landscape with rocky peaks visible through the windshield.
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Culturally Enriching Itineraries

Viking’s itineraries are designed by destination experts who believe the journey is about where you go, not just what’s on the ship. With more time in port — including late departures and overnight stays in marquee cities — Viking gives you the time to truly experience each destination. From the rivers and fjords of Scandinavia to the sun-drenched Mediterranean, the ancient temples of Southeast Asia, and the vibrant coastlines of the Americas, Viking sails to over 400 ports across all seven continents. Every voyage includes a complimentary shore excursion in each port, plus optional Viking Privileged Access tours for deeper, behind-the-scenes experiences.

Experience

The Viking Ocean Experience

Destination Immersion

Viking designs every itinerary around the destination, not the ship. With more time in port, late departures, overnight stays, and an included excursion in every port, you’ll truly connect with each place you visit.

Exceptional Dining

From Manfredi’s Italian Restaurant to The Chef’s Table and Mamsen’s Norwegian deli, every dining venue is included in your fare. No reservations required, no surcharges — just exceptional cuisine inspired by your destinations.

Serene Wellness

The complimentary LivNordic Spa thermal suite, infinity pool, and Nordic-inspired wellness rituals make every Viking voyage a rejuvenating experience — all in a tranquil, adults-only environment with no casino distractions.

Images

Gallery

Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Viking Ocean is designed for curious, culturally minded travelers who want the destination to be the star. Their ships carry just 930 guests — small enough to dock in the heart of many cities and access ports larger ships cannot reach. With no children under 18, no casinos, and no flashy entertainment, Viking offers a serene, sophisticated atmosphere focused on exploration, enrichment, and exceptional Scandinavian design. It’s often called “the thinking person’s cruise.”

Viking includes more than most cruise lines at their base fare: all-veranda staterooms with a private balcony, one shore excursion in every port, complimentary Wi-Fi, specialty dining at all onboard restaurants, beer/wine/soft drinks with lunch and dinner, 24-hour room service, self-service laundry, access to the LivNordic Spa thermal suite, port taxes and fees, and onboard enrichment programming. When you book through Cruise Help, you also benefit from our exclusive group rates, weekly price monitoring, and no booking fees — ever.

Every stateroom on a Viking Ocean ship is a veranda stateroom — there are no inside or ocean-view cabins. Categories include Veranda (270 sq ft), Deluxe Veranda (270 sq ft with premium location), Penthouse Veranda (338 sq ft), Penthouse Junior Suite (405 sq ft), Explorer Suite (757 sq ft with separate living area), and the Owner’s Suite (1,448 sq ft, the largest suite at sea for its ship size). All feature a king-size Viking Explorer Bed, heated bathroom floors, and spacious Scandinavian-designed interiors.

Viking Ocean visits over 400 ports across all seven continents. Popular itineraries include Scandinavia and Northern Europe, the Mediterranean, British Isles, Caribbean, Alaska, Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand, South America, and Africa. Viking also offers epic World Cruises spanning multiple months and continents. Their expedition ships, Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris, sail to polar regions and the Great Lakes.

All dining venues on Viking are included in your fare with no surcharges. Options include The Restaurant (elegant main dining with daily-changing menus), The World Café (global cuisine with live cooking stations), Manfredi’s Italian Restaurant (fresh pasta made daily), The Chef’s Table (multi-course tasting menu with wine pairings), The Kitchen Table (farm-to-table experience with local market visits ashore), Mamsen’s (cozy Norwegian deli), and the Aquavit Terrace (al fresco dining with ocean views). Room service is available 24 hours.

Yes, Viking Ocean is exclusively for guests aged 18 and older. This policy creates a peaceful, refined atmosphere that appeals to travelers who value quiet relaxation and cultural enrichment. There are no kids’ clubs, water slides, or family-oriented entertainment. Instead, you’ll find enrichment lectures, cooking demonstrations, destination-focused programming, and serene spaces designed for adult enjoyment.

The LivNordic Spa is Viking’s award-winning wellness center, featured on every ocean ship. The complimentary thermal suite includes a snow grotto, sauna, steam room, hot tub, cold plunge pool, and a relaxation area — all with panoramic ocean views. The spa also offers a full range of premium treatments (at additional cost) inspired by Nordic bathing traditions, including massages, facials, and body treatments. The spa’s design philosophy is rooted in the Scandinavian concept of wellness through contrast bathing.

Viking’s onboard enrichment goes far beyond typical cruise entertainment. Every voyage features destination-focused lectures by resident historians and local experts, Destination Performances by local musicians and artists, TED-style talks, cooking demonstrations in The Kitchen Table, wine tastings, and the Viking Resident Musician program. The ships also feature well-stocked libraries and the unique Explorers’ Lounge for quiet contemplation and panoramic views.

Yes, the Viking Explorer Society rewards repeat guests with escalating benefits. After your first cruise, you become a member and receive a bonus credit toward your next voyage, plus access to exclusive offers and early booking privileges. Benefits increase with each subsequent voyage, including shipboard credits, upgraded amenities, and special invitations. Your Cruise Help advisor can help you maximize your loyalty benefits and plan future voyages to make the most of your Explorer Society membership.

Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris are purpose-built expedition ships carrying just 378 guests. These Polar Class vessels feature advanced exploration equipment including submarines, Special Operations Boats, a fleet of military-grade inflatable boats, and a hangar for launching equipment. They sail to Antarctica, the Arctic, and the Great Lakes. Like Viking’s ocean ships, they maintain the same Scandinavian design philosophy and adults-only policy, with expedition-specific enrichment and all shore excursion activities included.

When you book Viking Ocean through Cruise Help, you get access to exclusive group rates with savings up to 50% off published fares — with just one room. Our team of 23+ expert advisors, many with real cruise ship experience, provides personalized stateroom selection advice, itinerary planning, and loyalty program strategy. We perform weekly price monitoring on every booking and automatically adjust your rate if the price drops. Plus, we never charge booking, consultation, or change fees — ever. With 365-day support, you’re never on your own from the moment you inquire to the moment you disembark.

Get Started

Ready to Explore the World with Viking?

Discover the elegance and enrichment of a Viking Ocean cruise. When you’re ready for a destination-focused voyage unlike any other, speak with our expert advisors at Cruise Help. With exclusive group rates, weekly price monitoring, and no fees — ever — your next adventure begins with us!