Viking Ocean Cruises
Parent company: Viking Holdings Ltd
This line is in the Luxury filter on this site, but by ship size and what its fare includes we list it as upper-premium. Set the guest's expectations to match.
PremiumSee how Viking Ocean Cruises describes itself vs how we list it
What to say on a call
Best for
- 1All-veranda, small ships (under 1,000 guests) with an adults-only (18+) policy on every sailing
- 2Fare includes one complimentary shore excursion in every port, Wi-Fi, beer/wine/soft drinks with lunch and dinner, and 24-hour room service
- 3Same understated Scandinavian design language and 'The Viking Difference' philosophy as Viking's river ships, so repeat river guests transition easily to ocean
Payments & cancellations
Final payment
Per cruise lineSet by the booking's promotion; shown on the invoice
Viking's Booking and Sale Terms (Last Updated September 29, 2026) say the deposit amount and payment schedule depend on the promotion the booking was made under, and refer to the invoice for the payment terms. No fixed final-payment day count is published (the former 180-day rule for World & Grand Cruises is no longer in the terms). Reservations may be cancelled without notice if payments are not received by the due date. Check the invoice for the exact date.
Terms changed September 29, 2026; under the October 2026 offer (bookings Oct 1-31, 2026) pay-in-full dates are set by departure year - see the offer terms.
Deposit
Per cruise lineSet on the booking invoice
Viking's Booking and Sale Terms (Last Updated September 29, 2026) no longer state a deposit amount: a deposit in the amount specified on the invoice secures the reservation, and the amount depends on the promotion the booking was made under. The deposit does not apply toward air purchased; with more than one cruise booked, deposit and payment policies apply per Cruise Tour.
Cancellation penalties
Per cruise lineSee details below
Viking Booking and Sale Terms (Last Updated September 29, 2026), fee per passenger by days before departure that written notice is received. Cruise Tours of 35 days or less (Table A): 120+ days US$100; 119-90 days 20% of Cruise Tour Fare; 89-70 days 35%; 69-50 days 50%; 49-30 days 75%; 29 days or fewer 100%. Cruise Tours of more than 35 days (Table B): 180+ days US$1,000; 179-150 days 20%; 149-120 days 40%; 119-90 days 60%; 89-60 days 80%; 59 days or fewer 100%. Bookings made directly with Viking can be cancelled within 24 hours of booking for a full refund. Optional shore excursions and travel protection follow their own terms.
Applies to: Table A: Cruise Tours of 35 days or less. Table B: Cruise Tours of more than 35 days (incl. World & Grand voyages over 35 days).
Onboard extras & packages
Prices are approximate, per person per day unless noted. Always confirm the current price with the cruise line.
- Gratuities (standard rooms)
- $20 pp/nightPer cruise line
- Gratuities (suites)
- $20 pp/nightPer cruise line
- Drink package
- Basic IncludedPer cruise line
- Premium drink package
- $27 pp/night (Silver Spirits Beverage Package)Per cruise line
- Soda package
- Included with onboard lunch & dinnerPer cruise line
- Non-alcoholic package
- Included (24-hour specialty coffees, teas & bottled water)Per cruise line
- Wi-Fi (basic)
- IncludedPer cruise line
- Wi-Fi (premium)
- IncludedPer cruise line
- Specialty dining package
- IncludedPer cruise line
- Specialty dining (avg per meal)
- IncludedPer cruise line
- Fitness classes
- No fitness classes published; Fitness Center access is included
- Spa / thermal pass
- IncludedPer cruise line
- Air program
- Available (Viking Air: Viking Inclusive Air or Viking Air Plus)Per cruise line
- Other fees & perks
- One complimentary shore excursion in every port of callPer cruise line
Accessibility & special needs
- How to tell the cruise line
- Tell Viking at booking, or at least 60 days before the voyage, about any condition needing accommodation, using the Health & Accessibility Form, 1-877-668-4546 or accessibilityservices@viking.com. Service animal requests are due no later than 60 days before travel. Per cruise line
- Wheelchairs & scooters
- Guests bring their own wheelchair or scooter, generally no wider than 22 inches (folded) and under 50 pounds, and store it in the stateroom. Not all ships have elevators, and at some ports guests may not be able to use a mobility device to go ashore. Per cruise line
- Service animals
- Only qualified, approved service dogs are allowed. Send the Service Animal Request Form to accessibilityservices@viking.com no later than 60 days before travel; the guest cares for the dog (crew won't) and handles each port's documents and rules. Per cruise line
- Medical equipment & pregnancy
- Guests must bring any medical equipment they need and should tell Viking in advance so it can confirm the equipment fits the stateroom rules. Viking cannot take guests who will be past their 22nd week of pregnancy at the end of the cruise (16th week on expedition ships). Per cruise line
Not on the line's site (or not confirmed yet): blind / low vision, deaf / hard of hearing, guests of size. Ask the cruise line's accessibility team.
Never promise an accommodation. Send the request to the line and let them confirm. How to handle these calls → Premium
Loyalty program
Viking Explorer SocietyPer cruise line
Guests may say
“Explorer Society”, “my Explorer Society number”
Viking's ocean, river and expedition fare terms all refer to the same Viking Explorer Society Travel Credits. Viking doesn't publish the program rules, so confirm with Viking how a guest's credits apply.
Military & veterans
We couldn't confirm a military rate on this line's official site. Don't promise one. If a guest asks, check with the line.
How military rates work → PremiumAirport transfers
Viking includes roundtrip airport transfers to the ship or hotel when air is bought from Viking with the cruise or cruisetour and flight dates match the itinerary (hotel transfers only when the hotel stay or pre/post extension was bought through Viking). Guests who book their own air can buy transfers separately.
Which ports: Not listed; see page.
What's offered changes by port and sailing. Check before you quote a price.
Cruise family
Viking Holdings Ltd
Loyalty between brands: Viking's river, ocean, and expedition fare terms all refer to the same Viking Explorer Society Travel Credits. Viking doesn't publish the program rules, so check with Viking for a guest's current past-guest benefits.
See the whole family →Good to know
No formal nights; elegant casual evenings
Per cruise lineDaytime dress is casual. There are no formal nights; evening dress is 'elegant casual' (jacket and tie optional, no jeans), except World Café, which stays casual.
Guests may bring their own alcohol
Per cruise lineGuests may bring alcohol on board and drink it in staterooms or public spaces, including restaurants, with no corkage fee.
Dining & spa booking windows by stateroom category
Per cruise lineAlternative-restaurant and spa bookings open by category: Owner's Suite 100 days, Explorer Suites 90, Penthouse Junior Suites 80, Penthouse Veranda 70, Deluxe Veranda 60 days before sailing. Veranda Staterooms get no priority reservations. My Viking Journey closes 7 days before departure.
No standing single supplement
Per cruise lineViking does not publish a fixed single supplement; special solo traveler fares are offered only on occasion.
Suggested tips for local guides and drivers
Per cruise lineOnboard gratuities don't cover local excursion staff. Viking suggests US$3 pp/day for local guides and US$2 pp/day for local drivers.
Fleet
- Ships
- 12 ocean ships in service (Viking Star through Viking Mira); 5 more on orderPer cruise line
- Newest ship
- Viking Mira (delivered May 26, 2026)Per cruise line
- Ship classes
- Viking Ocean (near-sister ships, incremental design updates across the fleet)
Coming soon
All new ships- Viking LibraFall 2026 · Mediterranean and Northern Europe Now sellingPer cruise line Preview
- Viking AstreaSpring 2027 · Mediterranean and Northern Europe Now sellingPer cruise line Preview
- Viking Lyra2028 · Mediterranean and Scandinavia Now sellingPer cruise line Preview
- Viking Vega2028 Now sellingPer cruise line Preview
- Viking Leda2029 Now sellingPer cruise line Preview
Where they sail
Last full review: 28 Sep 2026·Last updated: 2 Nov 2026
A full review is when we re-check every fact on this page.
"Last updated" is the most recent check or change to any single fact.
Something wrong or missing?
"Per cruise line" = confirmed on the line's own site.
"Unofficial tip" = from an experienced travel professional; helpful, but not confirmed by the cruise line.