Before you board a Viking Ocean cruise ship, there is one important thing to understand.
Dining onboard Viking Ocean Cruises is not just about dinner. It is about where you eat, when you eat, and how you want to experience your day.
Because on Viking Ocean, the best meal often comes from the most unexpected place. It might be a quiet breakfast with a view, a burger by the pool, or a five-course tasting menu that surprises you.
One of our favorite parts of sailing on Viking Ocean Cruises is the variety, flexibility, and options available all day long.
In this complete Viking Ocean Dining Guide, we cover:
All restaurants and casual food venues
Specialty restaurants Viking calls “alternative restaurants”
How reservations work
What beverages are included
Dress code explained
How Viking handles special diets
Special culinary events onboard
Our personal favorite places to eat
This guide applies to all Viking Ocean cruise ships including Viking Star, Viking Sea, Viking Sky, Viking Sun, Viking Orion, Viking Jupiter, Viking Venus, Viking Mars, Viking Neptune, Viking Saturn, Viking Vela, and Viking Vesta.
To see our full YouTube video on this topic click below!
Where to Eat on a Viking Ocean Cruise Ship
One of the biggest differences between Viking Ocean Cruises and Viking River Cruises is dining flexibility.
On Viking River ships, dining is more structured with fewer venues. On Viking Ocean ships, you get more options, more open seating, and more relaxed hours.
The best part? Nearly every dining venue is included in your cruise fare.
There are no cover charges for specialty restaurants, though some do require reservations.
Let’s walk through each venue.
The Restaurant (Main Dining Room)
Located aft on Deck 2, The Restaurant is the main dining room onboard Viking Ocean.
This is where you will find:
Breakfast
Lunch on sea days
Dinner every evening
Dinner is open seating with no fixed tables and no reservations required.
Menus change daily and feature regional dishes inspired by your itinerary, along with always-available classics.
This is our favorite venue for a traditional, relaxed dinner and especially ideal for group dining.
 |
| Chocolate Lava Cake |
World Cafe & Aquavit Terrace
Located aft on Deck 7, World Cafe is Viking Ocean’s elevated buffet experience.
It is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and offers:
Indoor seating
Outdoor seating on the Aquavit Terrace
Poolside dining options
Expect live cooking stations, rotating regional dishes, sushi at dinner, and of course gelato.
Breakfast remains fairly consistent, while lunch and dinner feature daily changes.
The Aquavit Terrace, connected to World Cafe, is one of the best outdoor dining spots on warm, sunny days.
Pool Grill
Located on Deck 7 port side aft of the pool, the Pool Grill is a relaxed outdoor venue with a retractable roof.
You can:
Bring food from World Cafe
Or order directly from the grill
Menu favorites include burgers, hot dogs, fries, and rotating grill specials, along with a self-service salad bar.
It is perfect for casual lunches and afternoon snacks.
 |
| Viking Burger |
Mamsen’s Scandinavian Deli
Located inside the Explorers’ Lounge forward on Deck 7, Mamsen’s is a Scandinavian-style deli.
Here you will find:
Norwegian waffles
Breakfast pastries
Open-faced sandwiches
Soup of the day
It is ideal for a light breakfast, relaxed lunch, or afternoon snack with panoramic views.
Wintergarden Afternoon Tea
Located just forward of the pool on Deck 7, Wintergarden serves daily afternoon tea.
Enjoy:
Finger sandwiches
Petite desserts
Warm scones
A wide selection of teas
With live music and natural light, this is one of the most elegant and peaceful spaces onboard.
The Living Room
Midship on Deck 1 in the atrium, The Living Room is the main bar and lounge.
It is also a hidden gem for food.
You will find:
Breakfast pastries
Afternoon open-faced sandwiches
Fresh cookies
Specialty coffee and cocktails
This is our favorite afternoon coffee stop after returning from shore excursions.
Viking Ocean Specialty Restaurants (Alternative Restaurants)
Viking calls its specialty restaurants “alternative restaurants.”
Unlike many cruise lines, these are fully included in your cruise fare. There is no cover charge.
Reservations are required.
You can book once your priority window opens on MyVikingJourney.com. Your cabin category determines:
When you can book
How many reservations you receive
We always book as soon as our window opens, then visit the dining hostess upon boarding to confirm or adjust based on Chef’s Table menu themes.
The Chef’s Table
Located Deck 1 aft port side, The Chef’s Table features a five-course tasting menu with wine pairing.
Menus rotate every few days and are themed by region.
Wine pairing is included, with a premium option available for guests with the Silver Spirits beverage package.
This is ideal for a romantic or special dinner.
Manfredi’s Italian Restaurant
Located Deck 1 aft starboard side, Manfredi’s offers authentic Italian cuisine.
The menu remains consistent throughout the cruise and includes:
Fresh baked breads
House-made pasta
Viking Bistecca ribeye
Regional Italian specialties
In our opinion, this is the strongest specialty restaurant onboard for overall variety and quality.
Room Service
Room service is available 24 hours a day at no extra charge.
It is especially popular at breakfast, with hundreds of sea day deliveries.
Enjoying morning coffee on your veranda is one of our favorite Viking Ocean cruise traditions.
Yes, you may include the complimentary wine of the day with room service during lunch or dinner hours.
The Kitchen Table (Additional Charge Experience)
The Kitchen Table is one of the few dining experiences onboard that includes an additional charge.
There are two versions:
Market shopping with the chef followed by dinner preparation onboard
A sea day cooking experience followed by lunch
The market shopping version is not always offered.
We recommend reserving early and calling Viking to confirm availability for your sailing.
What Beverages Are Included on Viking Ocean Cruises?
Viking Ocean Cruises is considered largely all-inclusive.
Included beverages:
Soft drinks
Specialty non-alcoholic coffee
Wine and beer at lunch and dinner
With the Silver Spirits package, you receive:
Upgraded wines
Cocktails throughout the day
Premium beverages
Guests may also bring wine or spirits onboard with no corkage fee.
We will be covering the full bar and beverage program in a separate post.
Viking Ocean Dress Code Explained
Officially:
Daytime: Casual
Evening: Elegant casual
No formal nights
For women: dress, skirt, or slacks with blouse or sweater
For men: trousers and collared shirt
Jeans are not permitted in evening dining venues
In practice, daytime feels relaxed. Evenings in The Restaurant, Manfredi’s, and The Chef’s Table follow the dress code more closely.
We personally dress casually during the day and follow the evening dress code strictly in main dining venues.
Plan accordingly when packing.
Special Diets on Viking Ocean Cruises
Viking accommodates:
Gluten-free
Vegetarian
Diabetic
Low-carb
Low-fat
Food allergies including fish, shellfish, nuts, and soy
You can indicate dietary needs in My Viking Journey before departure or call Viking directly.
Once onboard, guest services and restaurant managers are very attentive.
Menus throughout the ship are clearly labeled, especially at World Cafe.
We have consistently found Viking Ocean Cruises to handle dietary restrictions with care and organization.
Special Culinary Events & Themed Dining
On sea days and scenic sailings, Viking often hosts special culinary events.
Examples may include:
Themed lunches
Poolside displays
Aquavit Terrace events
Occasional atrium tastings
Check the Viking Daily, interactive television, or the Viking Voyager app for details.
These events add memorable touches to the onboard experience.
Our Favorite Places to Eat on Viking Ocean
If we had to choose:
The Restaurant – Relaxing classic dinner
World Cafe – Best for breakfast and lunch
Aquavit Terrace – Perfect on warm days
Pool Grill – Casual burger spot
Mamsen’s – Late breakfast or afternoon cake
Wintergarden – Beautiful reading space
Living Room – Cappuccino and cookie stop
Chef’s Table – Romantic tasting experience
Manfredi’s – Our overall favorite
Room Service – Sea day veranda mornings
Final Thoughts on Viking Ocean Dining
Viking Ocean dining offers one of the most balanced and flexible cruise ship food programs we have experienced.
There is something for every mood, every schedule, and every dining style.
Now we would love to hear from you.
What is your favorite Viking Ocean restaurant or food venue?
Or if you have not sailed yet, which one are you most excited to try?
Share your thoughts below. Your experiences help future travelers just as much as ours do.
No comments:
Post a Comment