Home of the famous Hollywood sign and Walk of Fame, Los Angeles is the place to visit for anyone interested in film and television and hoping to get a glimpse at some famous actors and artists. Stroll down the Walk and enjoy the glamorous atmosphere and famous surroundings, or take a break on the Santa Monica pier and watch the sun set on the sea.
San Diego is a vacationer's paradise, with year-round temperatures in the seventies and near-constant sunshine. One of America's most family-friendly cities, San Diego is home to LEGOLAND, the New Children's Museum, and the famous San Diego Zoo. Sunbathers and surfers are guaranteed to find their perfect beach, and foodies find delights in artisanal breweries, local bistros, and gourmet restaurants. From the Broadway excitement of La Jolla Playhouse to the European feel of Little Italy to the nouveau-chic of the Gaslamp Quarter, San Diego has something for everyone.
With its myriad hills and spectacular bay, San Francisco beguiles with natural beauty, vibrant neighborhoods, and contagious energy. From the hipster Mission District to the sassy Castro, from bustling Union Square to enduring Chinatown, this dynamic town thrives on variety. The city makes it wonderfully easy to tap into the good life, too: between San Francisco's hot arts scene, tempting boutiques, parks perfect for jogging or biking, and all those stellar locavore restaurants and cocktail bars, it's the ultimate destination for relaxed self-indulgence.
With its myriad hills and spectacular bay, San Francisco beguiles with natural beauty, vibrant neighborhoods, and contagious energy. From the hipster Mission District to the sassy Castro, from bustling Union Square to enduring Chinatown, this dynamic town thrives on variety. The city makes it wonderfully easy to tap into the good life, too: between San Francisco's hot arts scene, tempting boutiques, parks perfect for jogging or biking, and all those stellar locavore restaurants and cocktail bars, it's the ultimate destination for relaxed self-indulgence.
Victoria, the capital of a province whose license plates brazenly label it "The Best Place on Earth," is a walkable, livable seaside city of fragrant gardens, waterfront paths, engaging museums, and beautifully restored 19th-century architecture. In summer, the Inner Harbour—Victoria's social and cultural center—buzzes with visiting yachts, horse-and-carriage rides, street entertainers, and excursion boats heading out to visit pods of friendly local whales. Yes, it might be a bit touristy, but Victoria's good looks, gracious pace, and manageable size are instantly beguiling, especially if you stand back to admire the mountains and ocean beyond. At the southern tip of Vancouver Island, Victoria dips slightly below the 49th parallel. That puts it farther south than most of Canada, giving it the mildest climate in the country, with virtually no snow and less than half the rain of Vancouver. The city's geography, or at least its place names, can cause confusion. Just to clarify: the city of Victoria is on Vancouver Island (not Victoria Island). The city of Vancouver is on the British Columbia mainland, not on Vancouver Island. At any rate, that upstart city of Vancouver didn't even exist in 1843 when Victoria, then called Fort Victoria, was founded as the westernmost trading post of the British-owned Hudson's Bay Company. Victoria was the first European settlement on Vancouver Island, and in 1868 it became the capital of British Columbia. The British weren't here alone, of course. The local First Nations people—the Songhees, the Saanich, and the Sooke—had already lived in the areas for thousands of years before anyone else arrived. Their art and culture are visible throughout southern Vancouver Island. You can see this in private and public galleries, in the totems at Thunderbird Park, in the striking collections at the Royal British Columbia Museum, and at the Quw'utsun'Cultural and Conference Centre in nearby Duncan. Spanish explorers were the first foreigners to explore the area, although they left little more than place names (Galiano Island and Cordova Bay, for example). The thousands of Chinese immigrants drawn by the gold rushes of the late 19th century had a much greater impact, founding Canada's oldest Chinatown and adding an Asian influence that's still quite pronounced in Victoria's multicultural mix. Despite its role as the provincial capital, Victoria was largely eclipsed, economically, by Vancouver throughout the 20th century. This, as it turns out, was all to the good, helping to preserve Victoria's historic downtown and keeping the city largely free of skyscrapers and highways. For much of the 20th century, Victoria was marketed to tourists as "The Most British City in Canada," and it still has more than its share of Anglo-themed pubs, tea shops, and double-decker buses. These days, however, Victorians prefer to celebrate their combined indigenous, Asian, and European heritage, and the city's stunning wilderness backdrop. Locals do often venture out for afternoon tea, but they're just as likely to nosh on dim sum or tapas. Decades-old shops sell imported linens and tweeds, but newer upstarts offer local designs in hemp and organic cotton. And let's not forget that fabric prevalent among locals: Gore-Tex. The outdoors is ever present here. You can hike, bike, kayak, sail, or whale-watch straight from the city center, and forests, beaches, offshore islands, and wilderness parklands lie just minutes away. A little farther afield, there's surfing near Sooke, wine touring in the Cowichan Valley, and kayaking among the Gulf Islands.
Vancouver is a delicious juxtaposition of urban sophistication and on-your-doorstep wilderness adventure. The mountains and seascape make the city an outdoor playground for hiking, skiing, kayaking, cycling, and sailing—and so much more—while the cuisine and arts scenes are equally diverse, reflecting the makeup of Vancouver's ethnic (predominantly Asian) mosaic. Vancouver is consistently ranked as one of the world's most livable cities, and it's easy for visitors to see why. It's beautiful, it's outdoorsy, and there's a laidback West Coast vibe. On the one hand, there's easy access to a variety of outdoor activities, a fabulous variety of beaches, and amazing parks. At the same time, the city has a multicultural vitality and cosmopolitan flair. The attraction is as much in the range of food choices—the fresh seafood and local produce are some of North America's best—as it is in the museums, shopping, and nightlife.Vancouver's landscaping also adds to the city's walking appeal. In spring, flowerbeds spill over with tulips and daffodils while sea breezes scatter scented cherry blossoms throughout Downtown; in summer office workers take to the beaches, parks, and urban courtyards for picnic lunches and laptop meetings. More than 8 million visitors each year come to Vancouver, Canada's third-largest metropolitan area. Because of its peninsula location, traffic flow is a contentious issue. Thankfully, Vancouver is wonderfully walkable, especially in the downtown core. The North Shore is a scoot across the harbor, and the rapid-transit system to Richmond and the airport means that staying in the more affordable ’burbs doesn't have to be synonymous with sacrificing convenience. The mild climate, exquisite natural scenery, and relaxed outdoor lifestyle keep attracting residents, and the number of visitors is increasing for the same reasons. People often get their first glimpse of Vancouver when catching an Alaskan cruise, and many return at some point to spend more time here.
Expand your horizons on this comfortable, award-winning ship, intimate and thoughtfully created by experienced nautical architects and designers to enrich your interaction with your destination in every way.
The ship offers multiple restaurant venues and unique dining experiences, from casual cafés and pool grills to wine-pairing menus and regional specialties.
There is no such thing as a typical evening onboard, nor shortage of entertainment. Whether it’s a cabaret, opera, classical or popular music concert, the theatre is home to an inspiring choice of productions. Film fans can feast on classic movies and the latest blockbusters in one of the cinemas. Or take in the breeze as you take in a film at the open-air cinema.
When the stars come out, so does the entertainment. From sipping an artisan gin and exchanging stories with newfound friends in Paps, the Explorer’s Bar, to enjoying the sounds of the guitarist, pianist and singer in one of the lounges. Take a seat in the plush theatre for a dazzling show, or dance the night away in Torshavn nightclub. Sing along to a band, or lie back by the pool under the night sky to watch a movie on the giant screen – the popcorn is on the house. However you choose to spend your evenings on board, being bored is never an option
Viking believe the best way to understand a country is through enrichment. Each cruise is thoughtfully curated with hand-picked itineraries so you can immerse yourself in history, music, art, cuisine—everything you need to know about your destination. And before you step foot on shore, you will glean insights from history experts and academic luminaries in our theater, chosen by the Viking Enrichment Board.
Your journey is about feeling good all over. Onboard you’ll find plenty of ways to reconnect with yourself. Mind, body and soul.
Make a splash in the Infinity Pool. Do laps or just lap up the sun in the main pool. With its retractable roof it’s the perfect pool even if the weather is not.
Tai Chi in Tallinn? Pilates in Provence? Staying fit isn’t about breaking records, it’s about whatever makes you happy, and our inspiring choice of classes, state of-the-art gym and outside studio will help restore your vitality.
Viking Cruises welcomes disabled guests but wishes all guests to understand that challenges will exist onboard and during shore excursions. The ocean vessels have elevators, but there may still be thresholds that could make movement difficult. Shore excursions may require movement over cobblestones or up and down stairs; accordingly, a physically challenged guest will require the services of a responsible adult since crew availability is limited. Guests need to provide their own wheelchairs, except in an emergency. Motorized scooters are not typically suited on international cruises and cannot be accommodated. Viking does not accommodate animals except for certified therapy or Seeing Eye dogs on our international itineraries.
When you make your reservation, please let them know of any disability that will require special attention while you are on your Viking Ocean Cruise itinerary. Should you have any medical, physical or other special needs, check the deck plans to gain an understanding of the layout of any particular ship, and should contact Viking Cruises, Inc., at 0800 298 9700 directly with additional questions and to obtain a copy of their policy statement.
In most cases Viking can accommodate special dietary needs. Every meal has vegetarian options and chefs will make reasonable efforts to accommodate requests. Guests requiring special diets (low salt, diabetic, gluten-free and low cholesterol) should alert Viking 90 days prior to departure and remind the Maître d’ when onboard.
Due to the nature of the cruises, Viking do not maintain specific facilities or services for children aboard cruise vessels. On all cruises children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by and share a cabin with a parent, legal guardian or other responsible adult over the age of 21. Viking are unable to accommodate children under the age of 12 and reserve the right to limit the number of children onboard any particular vessel between the ages of 12 and 18.
During the day onboard and ashore, dress is casual including shorts, jeans and comfortable shoes for walking tours. Swimsuits, brief shorts, cover-ups and exercise attire should be reserved for the pool and Sports Deck. For evenings, while there are no “formal nights,” the recommended dress is elegant casual for most restaurants, performances or other special events. Suggested attire for ladies includes a dress, or a sweater or blouse worn with a skirt or slacks; for gentlemen, trousers and a collared shirt. A tie and jacket are optional, but not required. Dinner in The Restaurant remains casual, with daytime dress deemed appropriate.
Along with comfortable walking shoes and dressier shoes, we suggest that you pack a collapsible umbrella/lightweight rain gear, a lightweight jacket or warm sweater; sunglasses, a sun hat or visor, and sunscreen; and toiletries. And depending on the season, you may also want to add a warm coat, gloves and water-resistant footwear.
Viking offer complimentary wine, beer and soft drinks with onboard lunch and dinner, plus specialty coffees and teas are available 24 hours a day. For those who would like premium cocktails or wines and spirits, Viking offers the Silver Spirits beverage package. Ask for details onboard or when making your reservation.
All Viking ship interiors, staterooms and balconies are nonsmoking except for the designated outdoor smoking area on the starboard side of Deck 8. Smoking restrictions also apply to e-cigarettes.
Sleep easy in a comfortable king-size bed with fine cotton linens for the sweetest dreams. Elegant décor and calm colours create the perfect sanctuary (because lazy days are often the best days). Wake up to breakfast in bed (24-hour room service is complimentary). Tune in to the latest technology, with free Wi-Fi and TV with movies on demand. Your generous ensuite has a shower that drenches you, heated floor and fluffy towels to warm you and indulgent lotions to pamper you. Bathroom bliss.
Whichever stateroom you choose, you can look forward to a private sanctuary of understated elegance, one that features all the comforts of home and your own spacious veranda.
Unique and exclusive, the lavish Owner’s Suite is, quite simply, the best accommodation onboard. An incredible 1,448 sq. ft. it offers one-of-a-kind features personally selected by Torstein Hagen, including his favourite wines and recommended reads. As a guest in the Owner’s Suite you will want for nothing.
From 757 to 1,163 sq. ft., Explorer Suites are perfect if you want to push the boat out. Viking's most spacious and luxurious accommodation, these suites feature a large wraparound veranda to take in the incredible views. You can look forward to all the inclusions of the previously mentioned staterooms as well as priority main dining room reservations 90 days before departure, and three guaranteed reservations in each speciality restaurant. There are just 14 Explorer Suites, and it is advised that you book yours early.
Looking for even more space and more treats? At 405 sq. ft. these lovely suites boast all the inclusions of the previously mentioned staterooms. You can also look forward to a welcome bottle of Champagne, and complimentary dry cleaning and laundry service. And you can settle in to your room earlier at 11am, and enjoy priority reservations in the main dining room 80 days prior to departure, as well as three guaranteed reservations in each speciality restaurant. There are only 32 suites in this category, so be sure to reserve yours soon.
If you like a little more space, our Penthouse Veranda is even larger at 338 sq. ft. and features a generous sitting area. You’ll enjoy even more extras, including a mini bar with alcoholic drinks, soft drinks, water and snacks that is restocked daily, and complimentary shoe shine and pressing service. Your room will be available from 1pm, and you’ll enjoy priority reservations in the main dining room 70 days before departure, as well as two guaranteed reservations in each speciality restaurant, also 70 days before departure.
Treat yourself to the little extras that make a big difference. Our Deluxe Veranda Stateroom is the same size as the Veranda Stateroom and offers the same features, as well as a mini-bar of soft drinks, water and snacks that is replenished daily. In-suite binoculars, a coffee maker and luxurious cashmere blanket all add to the pleasure. You can also look forward to priority room availability from 2pm, and preferred choice for dining, with priority reservations in the main dining room 60 days prior to departure, as well as one guaranteed reservation in each speciality restaurant.
Relax in our welcoming and comfortable Veranda Stateroom. At 270 sq. ft. including a 46 sq. ft. veranda, it is wonderfully spacious and inviting. This stateroom features a king-size bed with luxury linens, and a beautifully appointed ensuite with heated floor and indulgent toiletries. Your host of complimentary extras includes soft robes and slippers, flat- screen TV with movies on demand, 24-hour room service, and Wi-Fi. You can check in from 3pm.