10 Reasons Why a Viking Ocean Cruise Is My Favorite Way to Travel
Cruisers can visit fascinating historic destinations, such as Olympia in Greece, like I did during a fall cruise with my friend Kevin, as we sailed on Viking Venus. (Photo by John Roberts)
I really enjoy traveling with friends. It’s a wonderful way to maintain that lifelong connection while experiencing new places together.
I asked my buddy Kevin to join me on a Mediterranean cruise in the fall. It was our second cruise together, and this one was quite a bit different — for so many reasons.
I have known Kevin since we met in grad school at Syracuse University more than 25 years ago, and I am so happy to be able to remain in touch even though we live on opposite sides of the country. It’s important to me to prioritize friendships and continue to create new memories. I know this takes some hard work, especially as life happens and the years can easily slip by.
So, I am very fortunate to have a number of family members and friends, such as Kevin, who are willing to travel with me occasionally.
Our first cruise was to the Caribbean, sailing out of Galveston, Texas, and visiting Cozumel, Mexico, on one of the biggest cruise ships in the world. That short cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas was fun and included everything people love so much about a sun-splashed big-ship Caribbean cruise.
We had a blast trying all the pools areas, going to splashy shows in the ship’s main theater, playing trivia, riding the rides, shooting hoops, playing mini golf and trying all the restaurants and our luck with several sessions at the casino.
These are just some of the ways you can enjoy a big cruise ship like Allure of the Seas.
Read about 12 things you can do for free on Allure of the Seas.
This time, however, we headed to Europe on Viking Venus, a 930-passenger cruise ship, embarking in Venice and visiting historic destinations such as Split and Dubrovnik in Croatia, Kotor, Montenegro, and the beautiful Greek islands of Corfu and Katakolon before ending in Athens.
Viking Venus in Katakolon, Greece, on of several great Mediterranean ports that we visited during our weeklong cruise. (Photo by John Roberts)
I have cruised with Viking several times, on the rivers, oceans and even one of the expedition ships, Viking Octantis. A Viking trip is so much more than a cruise for me. It’s more of an in-depth travel experience that just happens to be on a beautiful ship. This makes it much more pleasurable and hassle-free.
Kevin and I had an activity-filled week visiting ancient walled cities, going on boat rides in rivers and fjords and strolling through bustling historic old towns. Here, I’ll give a recap of our trip and detail a wide range of reasons why I think Viking cruises are a fantastic way to travel, especially in Europe.
1. You Visit All the Best Ports
Kevin and I met up in Venice and boarded Viking Venus in early afternoon.
Venice is a top destination for many travelers, so we were thrilled to get plenty of time in this city of bridges and canals in northeastern Italy. Viking Venus docked overnight and stayed until the next evening before sailaway.
This gave us the chance to ride a water taxi over to the city that is built on a series of more than 120 islands and surrounded by lagoons and canals. The Floating City is an architectural wonder filled with fascinating history and was the first of several incredible places we would get the chance to sample during our cruise.
We were thrilled to visit the iconic Rialto Bridge and other famous sites around Venice in the offseason when the crowds are quite manageable. (Photo by John Roberts)
We walked about eight miles during our day in Venice, visiting as many of the highlights as possible on a day that was a pleasant 68 degrees.
Cruise ships dock outside the city center, and you take a water taxi to get to the heart of the action. Viking offered free transfers to and from the island from the ship’s docking location at the Fusina cruise terminal.
We landed at St. Mark’s Square early enough to beat the crowds. The city filled up more and more by the hour as we strolled around looking to hit all the highlights during our time in port.
We went to the Rialto Bridge and marveled at all the boats zipping around in the Grand Canal. It’s an amazing spectacle and one of the best places to snap a few iconic photos of your visit.
Gondoliers expertly navigate the maze of canals throughout the floating city of Venice. (Photo by John Roberts)
By the end of the day in Venice, we had crossed dozens of bridges and passed along hundreds of picturesque alleyways and canals that are the pulse of the city.
Kevin and I saw the beautiful St. Mark’s Basilica, which dates to 1094 and is the main attraction at Piazzo San Marco, which gets extremely crowded in the height of summer but was mostly empty as we wandered past, marking our starting point to get blissfully “lost” in the ancient alleyways of Venice.
This is our view of the morning traffic on the Grand Canal as we look on from the Rialto Bridge in Venice. (Photo by John Roberts)
There were dozens of churches and a few pretty gardens, and we got to see the water levels rising and begin filling the streets and squares — especially around low-lying areas of the city — a daily occurrence as the tides change.
We set up at a cafe and sat outside to enjoy a tasty cannoli and refreshing drink, taking in the scenes of daily life in Venice before shopping for a few souvenirs and heading back to Viking Venus for lunch and our late afternoon sailaway.
Split, Croatia, is a beautiful and historic destination that is appearing on more cruise itineraries. We loved touring Diocletian’s Palace, with the iconic Cathedral of St. Domnius bell tower rising in the sky. (Photo by John Roberts)
The next day, we arrived to Split, Croatia, and chose to join a fun excursion. We picked a walking tour of Old Town and Diocletian’s Palace in the morning and then a bus ride to the countryside for a boat trip on the Cetina River, a pretty river that flows into the Adriatic Sea.
The boat ride through a scenic canyon ended at a restaurant to enjoy some cured meats, cheese, nuts and wine. It was a great capper for our excursion and our day in Split. This was a premium, added-fee Viking shore excursion.
(I’ll mention in this post when we paid extra, joined the included tours or ventured on our own on these port stops.)
We headed to Old Town in Dubrovnik in the early morning, and a light rain was falling. Be careful on those slippery cobblestone streets. (Photo by John Roberts)
Next up: Dubrovnik, Croatia. I have been to this impressive fortress a few times over the years and was really excited to show it to Kevin. Steady raindrops greeted us as we went ashore in the early morning. We ventured out independently, specifically to walk the ramparts of the Old Town to take in all the views of the iconic orange rooftops of this city known as the Pearl of the Adriatic.
This is the view over the town as we head up to the ramparts at Pile Gate. Walking the walls when you vsiit Dubrovnik is a top attraction for travelers. (Photo by John Roberts)
We walked gingerly on the slippery limestone main streets and cobblestone alleyways, settling in at a restaurant for a morning beer to wait out the rain and enjoy the company of the cute cats that wander throughout Dubrovnik.
The rains cleared by mid-morning and we walked up and down some staircases and made a loop around the town before heading over to the Pile Gate entryway to start walking the ancient walls. The paths on the ramparts get frustratingly crowded in the high season, but we were able to breeze along at our own pace with the lighter crowds during our mid-October visit. I recommend doing your Med cruises at this time for milder weather and lighter crowds. It was fantastic.
Walking the walls of Dubrovnik will take around two hours at the most. It cost us 35 euros per person, and you get incredible views at every turn — looking out to the beautiful blue waters and surveying the city from above. You get a pretty good workout scaling some of the steps, and I think it’s the top highlight of a visit to Dubrovnik.
Kotor is a delightful small port on the coast of Montenegro. It’s one of the most stunningly scenic places I’ve seen in the Med. (Photo by John Roberts)
We sailed away from Croatia and visited Kotor, Montenegro, for the next stop. This fairytale town sits at the head of a stunningly scenic inlet known as Europe’s southernmost fjord. Not really a fjord, the Bay of Kotor is narrow submerged river canyon embraced by tall cliffs, giving it a fjord-like feel.
This is one of the most underrated cruise ports in the world.
We went to the small pier adjacent to the cruise ship docking area and booked a three-hour private boat tour in the bay. You can negotiate a price and customize a speed boat tour or take a standard tour from the operators set up there. It’s an easy process, and the bookers and captains are extremely friendly.
We took a boat ride in the Bay of Kotor and visited the Church of Our Lady of the Rocks that sits in the middle of the waterway. (Photo by John Roberts)
Kevin and I wanted to get a scenic ride in the bay and visit the iconic Church of Our Lady of the Rocks, which sits on a tiny islet. The church was placed on the artificial island, which was created by placing rocks in and around sunken ships that were seized and sunk, some still loaded with cargo.
A fascinating selection of artifacts — such as dinnerware, typewriters and furniture — have been collected from the sunken ships and displayed within the church. There is a small fee to enter the church and take a look around. We enjoyed looking at the dozens of paintings and some beautiful tapestries, too.
On the way to Our Lady of the Rocks, our captain Georg dropped us off at the coastal town of Perast, which is a more than 700-year-old site that once was known as a fishing village and now is a tourist destination and home to fewer than 300 residents. We took a little hike into the hillside to get a view of the bay and look at a couple of the town’s old churches.
The skies were a little gray as we sailed away from port in Kotor, Montenegro, in the late afternoon on Viking Venus. (Photo by John Roberts)
We were dropped off back at Kotor and walked to Old Town, passing through the main gate and into the spectacular medieval ancient town, one of the best-preserved walled cities in Europe.
There are endless nooks and crannies to peruse amid the maze of cobbled alleys. Visitors will love all the shops, bars, restaurants and cafes, as well as opportunities to find interesting sculptures, Venetian architecture and historic churches.
The top deck is a wonderful spot to enjoy the sailaway views in the Bay of Kotor. (Photo by John Roberts)
The famous cats of Kotor are impossible to miss, too. The town views its stray cats and kittens as signs of good luck, and you will note that they are well fed and cared for. Plus, many of the shops are themed for cats or offer items highlighting the cat culture here.
Kevin and I grabbed a couple pizzas and a drink for lunch before we headed back onboard Viking Venus. Pro tip: Make sure to head up to the top decks for sailaway when your cruise visits Kotor. You’ll love the views of the bends in the inlet and all the amazing natural landscapes as your ship makes its way through the "fjord.”
I saw a beautiful sunrise from the balcony of our cabin as we arrived to Corfu, Greece. (Photo by John Roberts)
Corfu was our next port, as we had arrived to Greece. We picked the basic overview included tour called “Panoramic Corfu & Old Town Walking Tour.” This allowed us to get a bus ride to the Old Town area and Fortress of Corfu, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Kevin and I broke off from our tour group and headed straight to the fortress to avoid the crowds. (There is a fee to enter and the fortress ticket was not included in the Viking tour.)
It was a smart move to go earlier. Our guide encouraged all in her group to either follow her through town or venture on your own as long as you met up at the bus area on time for a return trip to the ship. The crowds starting coming into the fortress about an hour later, just as Kevin and I were descending back down from our climb to the majestic panorama viewing area at the top of the fortress.
From there, we walked to Old Town to have a look around. It was bustling on this fall Saturday, and we saw resident families out enjoying their shopping and leisure time at the cafes.
After our tour to the Ancient Olympic grounds, we took part in a cooking class and had lunch in a nearby town. (Photo by John Roberts)
Our final port was Katakolon before we would finish the voyage in Athens. Katakolon is a classic little seaside port town located on the western side of the country’s Peloponnese peninsula and overlooking the Ionian Sea.
Cruises come here because the port is the gateway for tours to Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympic Games. Kevin and I booked a premium tour called “Syrtaki, Greek Food and Ancient Olympia,” which gave us a wonderful array of history, culture and flavorful food.
Our Viking cruise guide led us through the ancient ruins and explained the history of Olympia. (Photo by John Roberts)
The tour began at Olympia at the well-preserved ruins at the archaeological site of the Ancient Olympic Games. Visitors can wander amid the columns and stones that were excavated here on the site where the first Olympic Games were held during the 8th century B.C.
At this UNESCO World Heritage site, you will see the Temple of Zeus and the Temple of Hera, as well the Palestra (venue for wrestling) and the original Olympic Stadium grounds.
Travelers excitedly gather at the start line to have a fun run in the original ancient Olympic Stadium. (Photo by John Roberts)
The stadium is a highlight, and most visitors like to have a run on the track and imagine themselves transported back in time and competing in front of the cheering crowds that would have gathered on the nearby hills.
The Archaeological Museum of Olympia also is on site and worth looking through, as it displays more artifacts, statues and sculptures excavated from the grounds.
With our time completed at the ruins, we went to a nearby restaurant for lunch. We were able to lend a hand prepping traditional Greek dishes such as spiced meat wrapped in dough and kolokithokeftedes (zucchini fritters).
Our group loved the lively song and dance of the traditional Syrtaki performance. (Photo by John Roberts)
There also was a huge buffet spread with all kinds of salads, chicken, pasta and pork dishes available. Midway through the meal, the entertainment started, with a wonderful traditional Syrtaki dance performance taking over the floor near our tables. Music filled the air, and several in our group were grabbed from their seats to join in the dancing, which features plenty of kicking, jumping, twirling and frequent shouts of “Opa!”
It was a blast!
Our port stops gave us plenty of variety, with long hours in several ports. This gives cruisers a good chance to have fulfilling days, maybe joining a tour in the morning, coming back onboard for lunch and then heading back out for shopping, independent touring, popping by museums or even enjoying a lunch or dinner ashore in a local restaurant.
For example, we stayed from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Corfu; from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Split; and from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. in Dubrovnik.
2. Your Viking Cruise Ship Features Modern Comforts
Viking Venus carries up to 930 passengers in modern comfort with a bit of luxury. (Photo by John Roberts)
Viking’s ocean fleet has grown to reach more than a dozen ships during the past decade, and they are all nearly identical, so cruisers can hop on any ship on any itinerary around the world and know they will have a familiar and consistently excellent experience.
I love that the vessels own a style that is elegant, comfortable and fairly casual. This is a kind of luxury that is unstuffy.
Viking Venus is quite a bit different from Allure of the Seas, the ship on which Kevin and I had previously sailed together. It’s really worlds apart.
Viking cruise ships have no casinos or kids younger than 18. They also don’t have a top deck filled with rides and attractions like you’ll the ones you will find on cruise ships from Royal Caribbean, Carnival or Norwegian Cruise Line.
What Viking Venus and the sister ships in Viking’s ocean fleet do have is a range of pleasing amenities and activities that are included in your fare.
Winter Garden is a serene retreat and the location for daily afternoon tea sessions. (Photo by John Roberts)
Winter Garden sits next to the main pool and is an indoor climate-controlled retreat. This is a serene spot, with a small library of books on shelves in each wing along the side of the ship. In the main space, you’ll find cozy seats perfect for reading a book during the day.
The daily afternoon tea sessions with live music and a wide array of flavors available to sip while enjoying towers filled with savory sandwiches and a selection of sweets. Of course, you will be served delicious scones with cream and jam, too.
Next door, is the main pool, with comfy lounge chairs, seating nooks and tables set up to enjoy a meal there from the Pool Grill. The pool is heated and offers a nearby large hot tub. Natural light fills the all-weather Pool Deck. There is a retractable roof that can be opened or closed to keep conditions ideal for cruisers to enjoy the space.
Scandinavian designs fill the ship, with the bars, lounges, public areas and your stateroom all offering modern elegance. This is the same decor and aesthetic that originated on Viking’s river cruise ships, so longtime Viking travelers feel right at home on the rivers, oceans or any other waterways where Viking goes.
Cruisers also can enjoy outdoor spaces in comfort, lounging at the aft on the Aquavit Terrace, which features an infinity pool and hot tub. At the very top of the ship, you’ll find plenty of inviting chairs and couches, where you can enjoy the fresh air and views while sipping cocktails.
There also is a nine-hole mini-golf course, as well as ping pong, bocce and shuffleboard for cruisers to enjoy.
All cabins have balconies and are spacious, with features like large walk-in showers in bathrooms with heated floors and big closets, large dressers, coffee machine and plenty of power outlets (North American, international and USBs).
3. So Much Is Included in Your Fare
A Viking ocean cruise is not all-inclusive, but it’s pretty close.
These cruises include beers and wines at lunch and during dinner. However, Viking has the best price for a beverage package for cruisers who might want to enjoy more drinks throughout the day. The Silver Spirits package is $25 per night per cruiser (as of early 2025) for a wide range of beers, wines and spirits.
All dining is included, and you get included shore excursions in each port. These excursions typically are “at a glance” or “city walking tour” types of outings. You will pay extra for the premium excursions that offer more-specialized experiences or might be more active adventures.
Also, wifi is included in your fare, and we had really good connectivity during our Mediterranean cruise. You can also take advantage of the self-service laundry facilities located on each floor to do a load or two of wash during your trip. I like this because it allows me to pack a little lighter for my voyage.
4. You’re Spoiled with Attentive Service
Viking crew are great at their jobs, and you can always tell how much they love doing anything they can to ensure you have a memorable voyage. I am impressed with how quickly servers learn my name and remember my preferred drink order, so each interaction is delightful.
Cabin stewards will stock my mini fridge with my favorite craft beers and Diet Cokes, and they always check to see whether I am enjoying my cruise and how else they can help. This type of service is available on other cruise lines, for sure, but I have never been as consistently satisfied with all my interactions as on Viking trips.
You get friendly smiles throughout the ship, as well as finding yourself engaged in spontaneous conversations with bar tenders, ship officers, including the captain, and other crew to chat about where they are from, their family, travels or any number of topics.
Over the course of a week, you really feel like part of a fantastic community among your family of fellow cruisers and crew members.
5. The Cruises Are for Adults Only
Viking Venus featured a lively ABBA tribute show in the Star Theater during our voyage. (Photo by John Roberts)
All Viking cruises are for adults 18 and older. There are no kids onboard the ships (this is the case for river cruises, too).
Plenty of cruise lines offer wonderful facilities and programs for families traveling with kids. However, Viking aims to offer a thoroughly adult experience, focusing on a more relaxed and refined vibe with the emphasis on the destinations that you visit.
Therefore, Viking’s ships and cruises are perfect options for people who are empty-nesters and who might want to make new friends while visiting cool bucket-list places like Venice and the Greek islands.
Lounges offer live music and dancing. The Star Theater will feature concerts, documentary movies and enrichment lectures from guest speakers. Additionally, cruisers should know that the ships don’t have casinos.
6. The Restaurants Feature Delicious Foods
All dining is included in your cruise fare, and Viking cruises feature a range of dining venues with cuisine from all over the globe. You can pick casual fast fare or more formal and intimate upscale meals.
Kevin and I tried everything on Viking Venus. We dined at the ship’s Italian restaurant Manfredi’s and chose a night at the Chef’s Table eatery that offered the Korean-focused menu. Each cruise features rotating menus at Chef’s Table, and we had three selections during our week onboard — Pan Asian, Korean barbecue and British cuisine.
Fleetwide, Viking has 21 different menus to offer its cruisers at this wonderful restaurant.
Manfredi’s and The Chef’s Table are the two specialty restaurants that require a reservation. We booked our times once we boarded on the first day.
You can always find delicious options at the ship’s main dining room, The Restaurant, too. This venue features classic favorites like steak, fish and chicken dishes that are always available, as well as new featured dishes every day that highlight the food of the region in which you are sailing. We loved the mix of Greek and Italian foods available at dinner during our voyage.
World Cafe is the ship’s buffet, and it’s a spacious restaurant filled with pizzas, pastas, carving stations, salads, breads and sushi. We found ourselves getting lunch in here nearly every day so we could have a good variety of foods to satisfy our cravings.
This also is where we would grab some fresh-made cookies and a dish of ice cream for dessert.
There’s much more, too!
The Pool Grill is a fast-casual eatery set up poolside and serving goodies like hamburgers, chicken wings, hot dogs and bratwurst. You can get these with tasty fries or go for the fruits and salads from the salad bar.
I also enjoy having meals at the Pool Grill because of the comfy seating areas and fresh air and sunshine poolside on the lido deck when the weather allows. And in the Mediterranean during October, we had ideal conditions.
Viking also features special dining events that take advantage of the spacious venues and the beauty of the locations we visited.
A highlight was the “Viking Barbecue with Classic American Pies” that was held on the pool deck under the stars as we sailed away from Split, Croatia.
At World Cafe, cruisers relished the “Taste of Italy” themed dinner. Aquavit Terrace is a venue at the aft of the ships, connected to World Cafe, and it’s a beautifully versatile space. The indoor/outdoor space features the Aquavit Bar inside and sun loungers and tables near a small infinity pool and hot tub outside.
You can enjoy meals outdoors, and the dining program includes special food stations during your voyage that are set up at Aquavit and offer a perfect accompaniment to the choices available at World Cafe.
We had a truffle pasta station, as well as surf and turf and grilled fish setups during our cruise.
Mamsen’s is a delightful eatery in the ships Explorers’ Lounge. The venue features breakfasts and snacks throughout the day. Then, the counter re-opens late at night to offer snacks such as a pea soup.
You can get fruits, pastries and classic Norwegian comfort foods such as delicious waffles or open-faced sandwiches of shrimp, roast beef, gravlax or cured salmon.
You also will find cookies, pastries and small bites available at a counter at the Living Room bar. And you can always order from the extensive room service menu (included in your fare) that features items like pasta, steak, fish, salads and desserts.
7. Wellness Options Are Plentiful
The LivNordic Spa is one an included amenity on Viking ocean cruises. I love coming here daily to relax and rejuvenate. (Photo by John Roberts)
Viking ocean ships have a wonderful gym space where I can always get in a good morning or afternoon workout. The facility offers treadmills, bikes and other cardio equipment and plenty of free weights, machines and space for individual stretching and yoga workouts.
You have more ways to take care of your body, too. The ship’s LivNordic Spa is open to all cruisers for no extra fee, and it’s a spectacular facility. It was definitely one of our favorite places to hang out every day during the voyage. Kevin and I made it a daily ritual to come down each afternoon to unwind and prep for dinner.
We used the sauna, cold plunge pool, experience shower, snow grotto, hot tubs and huge thalassotherapy pool. There also are several cozy lounge chairs in the space. It has a water station and a fireplace feature that helps to create a completely relaxing vibe.
There are separate men’s and women’s locker rooms.
Viking ocean ships also have a nice promenade that encircles Deck 2. It’s four laps to a mile, and walkers will love coming here to enjoy the sunrises and sunsets while getting in their steps.
8. You Can Find More Ways to Relax and Have Fun
The Living Room is the hub of a Viking ocean cruise ship, with comfy seating areas, a nearby bar and nightly entertainment. (Photo by John Roberts)
I mentioned Explorers’ Lounge. This is the spacious and cozy two-deck-high observation bar and lounge located at the top of the ship at the very front. It has access to an open deck and large windows that afford 270-degree views as you sail.
This lounge offers comfy couches and chairs, as well as a fireplace and animal furs to set the intimate and warm ambience. The shelves and floor space are filled with books and maritime decor.
Pap’s Bar serves up cocktails throughout the day, and activities really kick up at night when cruisers come for trivia contents and live music and dancing. During the day, Explorers’ Lounge is just a wonderful space to come and read a book in a serene spot.
There are plenty of these types of places to escape during the days, including the Living Room, which is home to a bar and plenty of chairs and couches where you can find quietude. Living Room bookshelves are filled with reading selections to enjoy during your cruise.
Wintergarden is a beautiful venue located next to the pool deck. Light streams in from the windows, and soft couches fill the space, which also has a small trickling waterfall feature. This is where you can enjoy a book or even a nap away from any crowds or noise. Then, each afternoon at 4 p.m., cruisers gather for the wonderfully presented afternoon tea, complete with pastries, small sandwiches, chocolates, scones and fresh cream and a wide selection of teas. Live music sets the tone for this daily session that Viking cruisers thoroughly enjoy.
On each wing of the Wintergarden space, you’ll find lounge chairs or seating to relax. (Another small library of books is available in this part of the ship, too.)
Viking ocean ships offer still another entertainment venue. Torshavn is the night club and bar. It is open in the evening after the show lets out from the Star Theater, and cruisers gather here to enjoy the dimly lit space (it has a speakeasy feel), live music from the onboard entertainers and craft cocktails.
9. Fewer Passengers Make a Better Cruise
The pool area on Viking ocean ships is a versatile all-weather space (it has a retractable roof) that always offers plenty of seats and loungers. (Photo by John Roberts)
Did I mention that Viking’s ocean cruise ships carry only 930 passengers at maximum capacity? (There is a new design for the newest ships that nudge that number to 998 passengers.)
Having fewer than 1,000 people onboard, especially with the abundance of space in all the public areas that I listed, certainly makes this a more pleasant travel experience. There are no lines at the buffet. You’ll find plenty of seats in the theater, and you never have to fight for a lounger around the pool.
10. All Cabins Feature a Balcony
The ships feature a range of categories, and every stateroom is spacious with well-though-out amenities and -- best of all -- balconies.
Check out my video tour of our cabin on Viking Venus to see what I’m talking about.