10 Things That Surprised Me About Taking a Viking Ocean Cruise

I recently took my first Viking Ocean cruise, a 7-night sailing around Iceland aboard the Viking Mars. My previous two cruises were with Royal Caribbean and Carnival, so I was curious to see how Viking compared. I had heard it was a very different experience, but I wasn’t exactly sure what that meant until I stepped onboard.

In this article, I’m sharing the things that surprised me most about sailing with Viking. Some were complete surprises that I never saw coming, while others were things I expected to be different but still surprised me once I experienced them firsthand. If you’re thinking about taking your first Viking cruise, especially if you’ve only sailed on mainstream cruise lines before, I hope these observations help you know what to expect.

1. No children anywhere on the ship

I knew before booking that Viking Ocean Cruises are adults-only, but I don’t think you can fully appreciate what that means until you experience it. After sailing with Royal Caribbean and Carnival, the difference was immediately noticeable. The ship simply felt calmer. There weren’t kids running through the hallways, yelling across the pool deck, or weaving through the buffet carrying plates piled with food they would never finish. I know that may sound harsh, but for me it made the entire cruise far more relaxing.

Rest-assured that everyone onboard is at least 18 years old. Out of the roughly 1,000 passengers, we only saw a handful who looked around college-aged. Most guests were retired age, which created a very different atmosphere than what I was used to. People generally respected the shared spaces, and there seemed to be a greater sense of courtesy throughout the ship. That’s not to say everyone behaved perfectly. We still saw people breaking rules or acting inconsiderately from time to time. But compared to my experiences on larger mainstream cruise lines like Royal Caribbean and Carnival, it happened far less often, and that alone made the cruise much more enjoyable.

2. Almost everyone onboard was retirement age

I knew Viking attracted an older crowd, but I still wasn’t prepared for just how old the average passenger would be. We were among the youngest people onboard, and we aren’t even young in our late 40s. We only saw a handful of passengers who looked like they were in their 20s or 30s. Most guests were retired, and it seemed like about half were active retirees who were traveling the world and making the most of their golden years. The other half were considerably older, many using canes, walkers, or simply moving at a slow pace as they made their way around the ship and through the ports.

If you’re 50 or younger, you’ll probably find yourself politely weaving around people because everything moves at a slower pace. Another thing we noticed was that many of the retired passengers genuinely enjoyed striking up conversations with everyone they met. It wasn’t uncommon for someone to ask where we were from, what we did for a living, or whether we happened to know another passenger from our hometown. At one point, someone asked if we knew some random family simply because they had heard we were from the same city. That’s just part of the friendly banter that seemed to come naturally to many of the older guests. We’re more the type to keep to ourselves and enjoy the trip, but everyone we talked with was pleasant, and it definitely gave the cruise a very different atmosphere than what we’d experienced on Royal Caribbean or Carnival.

3. The food was much better than I expected

Out of everything onboard, the food may have been the biggest pleasant surprise. The last cruise I took was with Royal Caribbean, and while the food wasn’t bad, it was mostly what I’d describe as standard cruise buffet fare. The buffet was always crowded and had the usual lineup of pizza, chicken tenders, burgers, and buffet staples that reminded me of a Shoney’s or Golden Corral. It filled you up, but there wasn’t much that stood out, and healthy options seemed limited.

On Viking, we were introduced almost immediately to the World Cafe, the ship’s main buffet-style restaurant. Instead of one giant buffet line, it was made up of several smaller serving areas, each focused on different types of food. One station often featured American barbecue with items like brisket, another focused on Italian dishes and pizza, while another had an excellent salad and sandwich bar that became one of my favorites. There was always plenty of variety, and it never felt like you were eating the same meal twice. Breakfast was equally impressive, with everything from made-to-order eggs to fresh fruit, pastries, crispy bacon, and some incredibly good sticky rolls that I looked forward to each morning.

If you were in the mood for something more casual, you could stop by the Pool Grill and order freshly made hamburgers, hot dogs, onion rings, and other grilled favorites. The onion rings were especially good. One thing I found funny was that I never saw chicken tenders anywhere on the ship. I guess Viking figures those are more of a kids’ food, and with no children onboard, they simply weren’t needed.

The main dining room was another highlight. The dress code was smart casual, so you didn’t need to wear a suit, but it wasn’t the place to show up in flip-flops and a swimsuit either. I ordered the top sirloin on two different evenings because it was genuinely good. On my last Royal Caribbean cruise, the steak was one of the biggest disappointments and reminded me more of shoe leather than steak. Viking’s version wasn’t a high-end steakhouse cut, but it was flavorful, tender, and something I’d happily order again. Overall, I came away very impressed with the food onboard. It was consistently better than I expected and easily one of the highlights of the entire cruise.

4. The cabins felt more upscale, and every room had a private veranda

One thing that immediately stood out to me was the quality of the cabins. My previous cruise on Royal Caribbean also had a balcony room, but that was an optional upgrade. On Viking, every stateroom comes with a private veranda, which I thought was a nice touch. The room itself felt well designed, with a comfortable bed, plenty of storage, and a bathroom that didn’t feel nearly as cramped as what I’ve experienced on other cruise lines.

The veranda was a good size as well, with two chairs and a small table that made it a nice place to relax while sailing through the Icelandic fjords. There are divider walls between neighboring balconies that provide a decent amount of privacy, although you can still see your neighbors if you lean over. Housekeeping also did an excellent job. While we were out exploring each day, the room was cleaned, towels were replaced, and anything we had left out was neatly folded and organized. Room service is also included, with the cost already built into your cruise fare. Overall, we came away impressed with the cabins and thought they felt noticeably more upscale than what we’d experienced on mainstream cruise lines.

5. The ship still felt surprisingly large

Before taking this cruise, I had heard that Viking ships were noticeably smaller than what you’d find on Royal Caribbean or Carnival. I was curious to see how much smaller they would actually feel. After all, Viking doesn’t have a casino, a huge nightclub, massive swimming pools, water slides, or nearly as many restaurants as the larger mainstream ships. On paper, it sounds like it would be a much smaller experience.

In reality, Viking Mars still felt like a substantial cruise ship. We got turned around countless times during the first few days and were constantly checking the deck maps to figure out where we were going. Even after a week onboard, there were still parts of the ship we didn’t know by heart. It never felt cramped or too small. In fact, I thought it struck a really nice balance. It was large enough to offer plenty to do without ever feeling overwhelming.

The ship still has an impressive list of amenities, including multiple restaurants, the World Cafe buffet, the Explorer’s Lounge with incredible panoramic views, the two-deck Explorer’s Lounge observation area, the LivNordic Spa and thermal suite, a fitness center, pools and hot tubs, a theater for nightly entertainment and lectures, several bars and lounges, a library, walking decks, shops, and countless comfortable places to simply sit and enjoy the scenery. If you’re wondering whether a Viking ship might feel too small, I honestly don’t think it’s something to worry about.

6. Viking was very generous with the included wine and beer

One thing I really appreciated was Viking’s approach to alcoholic beverages. Unlike many mainstream cruise lines that seem determined to sell you a drink package, Viking includes complimentary beer and wine with both lunch and dinner. As someone who enjoys an occasional drink but doesn’t consume nearly enough to justify paying for an unlimited package, this was a great middle ground.

What surprised me most wasn’t just that the drinks were included, but how generous the service was. Once the servers knew I was drinking red wine, they kept my glass topped off throughout the meal without me ever having to ask. In fact, I eventually had to tell them, “No thanks, that’s enough. I still have to walk back to my room.” They certainly weren’t measuring every ounce or making it feel like they were trying to limit what you drank.

The house red was surprisingly good. I’m certainly no wine expert, but it tasted every bit as good as what we normally drink at home. One evening I switched things up and ordered a beer instead, and the server was just as happy to bring that. Overall, I thought Viking handled alcohol in a way that made a lot of sense. It was perfect for people like us who enjoy a drink or two with dinner but have no interest in purchasing an expensive beverage package just to get our money’s worth.

7. The cruise was all about the destinations, not onboard attractions

Because Viking ships are smaller than many of the mainstream cruise lines, they naturally don’t have as many onboard attractions. You won’t find giant waterslides, surf simulators, go-kart tracks, rock climbing walls, casinos, or massive nightclubs. At first glance, it might seem like there would be less to do, but after spending a week onboard, it became clear that Viking simply has a different philosophy.

Rather than building the ship around flashy attractions, Viking focuses on comfort, hospitality, and the destinations themselves. The ship is designed to be a relaxing place to return to after a day of exploring. The ports, excursions, and cultural experiences are meant to be the highlight of the vacation, while the ship serves as an elegant home base between them. Instead of trying to keep you entertained with amusement park-style activities, Viking puts its energy into creating a comfortable atmosphere with excellent food, attentive service, relaxing public spaces, and thoughtfully planned itineraries.

After experiencing it for myself, I found that I actually preferred this approach. We spent our days exploring Iceland and our evenings enjoying a nice dinner, watching the scenery from the Explorer’s Lounge, listening to live music, or simply relaxing before the next day’s adventure. By the end of the cruise, I never felt like I was missing the giant attractions found on larger ships because the destinations themselves were the main attraction all along.

8. The ship was quieter than I expected

Another thing I noticed almost immediately was just how quiet the ship was. Between the adults-only policy and the older average age of the passengers, there simply wasn’t as much noise as I’m used to on a cruise. There weren’t kids screaming down the hallways, yelling across the pool deck, or running back and forth outside our cabin. It made the entire atmosphere feel much more relaxing from the moment we stepped onboard.

Of course, no cruise ship is completely silent. Every now and then someone would walk by our room laughing loudly, we’d hear a chair scraping across a neighboring balcony, or another small noise would remind us we were sharing the ship with hundreds of other people. On our final night we could even hear our neighbors having a disagreement while packing their luggage. But those moments were the exception rather than the rule. Overall, Viking was a noticeably quieter cruise experience, and I honestly think the absence of children made the biggest difference.

9. The buffet was never too chaotic

Compared to my last cruise on Royal Caribbean, I found the World Cafe buffet on Viking to be a much calmer experience. On Royal Caribbean, the buffet always felt like organized chaos. There were buffet islands scattered throughout the room, people approaching from every direction, and kids constantly darting back and forth between tables and serving stations. There didn’t seem to be any natural flow to the traffic, and I often found myself stepping aside to avoid getting in someone’s way. Personally, I prefer a buffet that’s a little more organized.

While the World Cafe wasn’t exactly a cafeteria-style one-way line, it was much closer to that concept. All of the food stations were arranged along one side of the restaurant, making it easy to see where everything was before deciding what you wanted. There were fewer choices than on some of the larger cruise ships, but I never felt like I was lacking for options. Between the different stations, there was always something that sounded good. Best of all, it rarely felt crowded. More often than not, we were able to find a table overlooking the ocean without much trouble, which says a lot about how relaxed the atmosphere was throughout the cruise.

10. There was little onboard selling or upselling

One thing I appreciated was how little I felt like I was being sold something. On many mainstream cruise lines, it can seem like every day brings another sales pitch for art auctions, drink packages, specialty dining, photos, spa treatments, or jewelry. Viking was noticeably different. There was a daily update from the cruise director that you could attend in person or simply watch on your cabin television. Occasionally they would mention booking another Viking cruise, but it never came across as a hard sell.

There was also a jewelry store onboard that received its fair share of mentions throughout the week, but that was about the extent of it. Personally, I wasn’t in the market for diamonds while sailing around Iceland, so they didn’t bother me. Beyond that, there was a modest gift shop with clothing, souvenirs, and a few essentials, but I didn’t notice any art auctions or galleries full of paintings like you often see on other cruise ships. No one with cameras trying to take your picture. Overall, it felt like Viking was content to let you enjoy your vacation rather than constantly trying to sell you something. Considering the premium price of the cruise, I suppose that’s part of what you’re paying for, and I appreciated it.