Overview
Is Viking Ocean Cruises right for you?
Viking brought its river-cruising philosophy to the open ocean: adults-only (no under-18s), no casinos, no nickel-and-diming, and a serene Scandinavian design aesthetic carried through every public space. The all-veranda ocean ships carry about 930 guests and include a shore excursion in every port, plus Wi-Fi, beer/wine with lunch and dinner, specialty dining and the spa’s thermal suite. The whole experience is built around the destination — enrichment lectures, resident historians, and “The Viking Way of exploring the world” — making it the line we recommend most often to culturally curious couples who’d rather learn something than ride a waterslide.
Who it’s best for
- Culturally curious adults (18+)
- Destination-immersion over onboard glitz
- Couples who want calm, included, elegant travel
- Travelers who prefer a small, all-veranda ship to a mega-ship
Popular ships
Viking Ocean (e.g. Star, Sky, Saturn)
Identical ~930-guest all-veranda ships with the Nordic Spa, infinity pool and Explorers’ Lounge.
Viking Expedition (Polaris / Octantis)
Purpose-built expedition ships for Antarctica, the Arctic and the Great Lakes.
Cabin recommendations
Every cabin
Viking ocean ships are all-veranda — even the entry Standard staterooms have a real balcony. There are no interior cabins.
Suites
The Explorer and Owner’s suites add serious space and perks for milestone voyages.
Expedition sailings
On Polaris and Octantis, a Nordic Balcony cabin is a comfortable, well-priced way into a polar voyage.
Dining
Included dining is excellent and unhurried: The Restaurant (open-seating regional menus), the World Café buffet with a great raw bar, Mamsen’s Norwegian deli, and two complimentary specialty venues — Manfredi’s (Italian) and The Chef’s Table (paired tasting menus). Beer, wine and soft drinks come with lunch and dinner. It’s refined without being fussy.
Entertainment
True to its destination focus, entertainment is enrichment-led: resident historians, guest lecturers, classical and cultural performances, cooking demos and the tranquil Nordic-inspired spa. No casino, no big Vegas-style productions — by design.
What’s included
- One shore excursion in every port
- Wi-Fi, beer/wine & soft drinks with lunch and dinner
- All specialty restaurants (no surcharge)
- Nordic Spa thermal suite access
- Enrichment lectures and resident historians
Viking Ocean Cruises FAQs
Yes — Viking pioneered modern European river cruising with its fleet of Longships, and it’s a distinct product from the ocean ships covered here. See our Viking River Cruises page for the details on itineraries, ships and what’s included.
Yes — guests must be 18 or older. That means a calm, grown-up atmosphere with no kids’ clubs, no casinos and no loud pool parties.
A lot: a shore excursion in every port, Wi-Fi, beer/wine and soft drinks with meals, all specialty restaurants, and spa thermal-suite access. It’s not fully all-inclusive (premium drinks and some excursions cost extra), but it’s among the most inclusive in its class.