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Viking Cruises Travel Insurance - 2024 Review

Viking cruises travel insurance.

• Strong insurance partner
• Good Medical Insurance
• Cancel for Any Reason
• Pre-existing Condition Waiver
• Cancel for Any Reason pays expiring future credit not Cash
• Low Medical Evacuation Coverage
• No Cancel For Work Reason Coverage
• No Interrupt For Any Reason Coverage

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Viking Cruises is a leader in luxury river and ocean cruises. Viking also sails expedition ships to remote areas of the world such as the Arctic and Antarctic.

In this review, we’ll detail Viking’s Travel Protection Plan coverage and cost versus comprehensive trip insurance options available on the wider market.

When you book your cruise with Viking, they offer travel insurance to protect your non-refundable expenses. The Viking Cruise Travel Protection Plan includes Cancellation, Interruption, Medical Insurance, Medical Evacuation,  Baggage Insurance , Travel Delay and several other benefits.

The policy is underwritten by the United States Fire company, which also underwrites policies for companies Cruise Insurance 101 partners with.

If you book your Viking cruise through Viking’s website, you have an opportunity to opt-in or opt-out of insurance during the checkout process. However, if you prefer to shop around, simply opt-out. You have plenty of time to check prices before Viking closes insurance enrollment.

Of course, when you buy a travel insurance plan on the wider marketplace, you can buy travel insurance anytime until the day before departure. However, we recommend buying it early so it includes coverage for Pre-existing Medical Conditions. More about this later.

Our Cruise: Waterways of the Tsars

Our chosen cruise is the 13-day Waterways of the Tsars River cruise for two travelers, ages 55 and 60.  The tour starts in Moscow and leisurly cruises along the Volga River to St. Peterburg.

We also had several pre-cruise options available: two nights in St Petersburg for $499 per person or three nights in Helsinki for $999 per person. An additional option to spend two nights in Moscow post-cruise for $599 per person is also available. We’ve opted not to include these additions.

After choosing our stateroom, the total cost of the trip is $14,798 for our travelers.

Viking has a nice addon to include airfare in the total trip cost if you choose. Airfare from 150 US cities can be included so you don’t need to shop for airfare.

Economy tickets from your airport of choice are included free. Premium economy seats or business class seats are also available for an additional price. For our trip, we chose Premium Economy airfare from Chicago’s O’Hare airport for an additional $799 per person. Had we chosen business class, it would have added $3499 per person to the trip cost.

Viking Travel Protection

After choosing or declining airfare, the last set of options we have before checkout is deciding whether to take Viking’s Travel Protection Plan insurance. This plan with Viking, offers travel insurance to protect your non-refundable expenses. The Viking Cruise Travel Protection Plan includes Cancellation, Interruption, Medical Insurance, Medical Evacuation, Baggage Insurance, Travel Delay, and several other benefits.

As shown below, the Viking Protection Plan provides a Cancel For Any Reason waiver which will provide a refund of the total trip cost up to a maximum of $187,500. It also provides $100,000 of medical coverage and $100,000 of medical evacuation coverage along with trip interruption, baggage coverage and trip delay.

Including or declining airfare will change the amount charged for the insurance if it is selected. Declining airfare or choosing the free economy airfare, the Travel Protection Insurance is $719 per person.

Choosing Premium Economy airfare increases the insurance to $819 per person (See below).

Finally, choosing Business Class airfare increases the insurance to $919 per person (see below).

As we’ve chosen the Premium Economy seating, making our insurance selection $819 per person for a total of $1638 if we choose to add it. Can we find comparable or better travel insurance for a lower cost? Let’s find out.

Comparison Quotes

When shopping for trip insurance, many travelers aren’t sure where to start. We always recommend travelers leaving the US acquire at least:

• $100,000 medical insurance, and
• $250,000 emergency medical evacuation, and
• a Waiver of Pre-existing Medical Conditions.

These levels ensure you’re covered for most medical emergencies overseas.

Next, we compare Viking Cruises travel insurance with two policies available on  Cruise Insurance 101  Travel Insurance Marketplace for our trip cost of $14,798

The least expensive plan that provides at least $100,000 in Medical Insurance , $250,000 in Medical Evacuation  and includes a  Waiver of Pre-existing Medical Condition is the Trawick First Class for $840.07 for both travelers together.

This plan has $150,000 of medical coverage, which is $50,000 MORE than the Viking policy and $1 million of medical evacuation, which is $900,000 MORE than Viking provides. It is also $597.93 LESS than the Viking Protection Plan. However, one thing the Trawick plan does not have included is a Cancel for Any Reason option added to it. So, let’s look at a version that does.

Let’s consider  Trawick First Class (CFAR 75%), because it’s the least expensive plan that includes  Cancel For Any Reason . This version of the plan would most closely match the coverages for the Viking Protection Plan. The Trawick First Class (CFAR75%) is the same policy as before but adds the Cancel For Any Reason option.

Let’s look at these three policies side-by-side:

Price and Value

First, you can see that Viking cruise travel insurance ($1,638) costs nearly double the standard Trawick First Class policy ($840.07). While Trawick provides $1 million for medical evacuation, Viking’s medical evacuation is only $100,000, which is less than half of what we recommend for this coverage. Low Medical Evacuation coverage can leave you with a large out-of-pocket expense if a medical emergency requires an airlift back home.

Also, notice that Viking’s “cancel for any reason” grants a future credit, not a cash refund. The vouchers expire in 12 months if you don’t use them. By contrast, the Trawick First Class (CFAR 75%) pays a cash refund. If you spent over $14,000 on a trip and only get future credit, that’s a lot of money to sacrifice to vouchers (which only last a year).

For the price, the Viking Cruises’ travel protection plan offers disappointing value.

Trip Cancellation

When you buy travel insurance through a Travel Insurance Marketplace like Cruise Insurance 101 or directly from the insurer, all benefits listed in the policy are provided by the insurance company.

For Viking cruise trip insurance, Viking, not the insurance company, pays for the  Trip Cancellation  benefit. In fact, many cruise lines that offer a Cancel For Any Reason waiver pay for the Trip Cancellation section themselves.

Of course, all other benefits such as  Medical Insurance , Baggage and the rest are reimbursed by the insurance company, not Viking.

Travel insurance with Trip Cancellation protects your investment in case you must cancel unexpectedly. Every policy has a list of reasons that are covered for a 100% refund if you must cancel.

Viking cruise travel insurance provides a typical list of cancellation reasons found in most travel insurance plans:

• A Sickness, Injury, or death of You, a Family Member, or a person booked with You on the Trip which with respect to any such Sickness or Injury, requires examination and/or treatment by a Physician at the time you cancel Your Trip. The treating physician must certify that the Sickness or Injury will prevent You from taking Your Trip.
• You or a person booked with You on the Trip are quarantined, selected for jury duty, or receive a valid court order to appear as a witness in a third-party legal action (which jury duty or court appearance would be during the time of the Trip), and such impediment to travel remains at the time You cancel Your Trip.
• Your home or the home of a person booked with You on the Trip, or the destination accommodations specified for Your Trip, are made uninhabitable by natural disaster (such as a flood, hurricane, tornado, earthquake, fire, or blizzard) and are reasonably expected to remain uninhabitable during the time of the Trip.
• Your place of employment or the place of employment of a person booked with You on the Trip is damaged due to a natural disaster (such as a flood, hurricane, tornado, earthquake, fire, or blizzard), requiring You or that traveling companion to remain at work instead of participating in the Trip as a result.
• A documented theft of Your passport(s) or visa(s) which is/are not recovered prior to the time that you cancel Your Trip.
• A job transfer (other than a temporary assignment) at Your primary place of employment of 250 miles or more.
• Your documented involvement in a traffic accident while en route to join the Trip which reasonably causes You to miss the Trip departure.
• Unannounced organized labor strike, inclement weather, or mechanical breakdown which delays, for 12 hours or more, the aircraft on which You are scheduled to travel for (or to) the Trip.
• A shutdown of an airport or the air traffic control system which is reasonably expected to prevent you from departing on the Trip.
• You or a person booked with You on the Trip is either (a) called to emergency military duty following a natural disaster (such as a flood, hurricane, tornado, earthquake, fire, or blizzard); or (b) has a previously granted military leave or re-assignment revoked, and either such impediment to travel as described in subparts (a) and (b) remains at the time that You cancel Your Trip.
• You are terminated or laid off Your job by Your employer for whom You have worked for at least one continuous year, and You are unemployed as of the time that You cancel Your Trip.
• Within 30 days of the scheduled Trip departure date, an act of terrorism occurs in a city that is part of the itinerary for Your Trip, and it is deemed a terrorist incident by the United States Government or by the authorities in the country where the act(s) occurred.

If you cancel for any of the reasons listed above, Viking compensates you, not the insurance company.

Of course, Trip Cancellation reimbursement only applies to the money you spent with Viking. If you bought airfare, hotels or excursions through a 3rd party, Viking’s travel insurance leaves you exposed for those losses.

If you must cancel your trip for a reason that’s not covered by the policy, Viking offers credit toward a future cruise, but it must be used within 12 months and may not be used for the initial deposit. Viking calls this feature a “Cancel For Any Reason” Waiver.

You can easily cover all travel arrangements, like cruise fare, airfare, hotels, transfer, excursions, and rental cars with a single policy through Cruise Insurance 101 . This strategy is much easier to manage and saves you money.

Cancel For Any Reason

As mentioned previously, Viking pays a cash reimbursement if you cancel your trip due to a covered reason.

If you cancel the cruise for any other reason, Viking only offers future credit or vouchers. In fact, cruise lines and tour agencies are notorious for offering future credit instead of cash refunds. Lack of cash refund puts some travelers in a difficult financial position, sometimes when they need money the most.

Cancel For Any Reason travel insurance policies available on Cruise Insurance 101 do not provide future credit. They will refund in cash.

If you must cancel your trip, cash is the most useful tool. Although Viking calls their feature Cancel For Any Reason, in practice, it’s more like “Postpone For Any Reason.”

Here’s how Viking’s “Cancel For Any Reason” Waiver works:

• The policy must be purchased within 14 days of the initial trip deposit or payment, and
• The “Cancel For Any Reason” Waiver does not become effective until you make full payment for the cruise vacation, and
• The waiver does not cover fees or costs associated with any transportation, accommodations, or other travel services that are not arranged by Viking, and
• If you have other travel insurance, the waiver will be reduced by the amount of any Trip Cancellation amounts paid or payable under any other travel insurance or travel protection plan providing Trip Cancellation benefits.

Then, travel vouchers are subject to the following limitations:

• Viking Cruises travel vouchers may only be used when purchasing transportation, accommodations, or travel services from Viking Cruises, and
• Must be redeemed within 12 months of the date of issue, and
• Such travel vouchers are non-refundable and non-transferable, and
• Will only be issued in the name of the person(s) for whom the Trip were cancelled, and
• Are not redeemable for cash, and
• Viking Cruises travel vouchers may not be used as a credit toward the initial deposit for a future Trip booked through Viking Cruises, or to purchase another Viking Cruises Travel Protection Plan, and
• The value of such travel vouchers will not be reimbursable under the Waiver of any future Viking Cruises Travel Protection Plan that you may purchase.

If that sounds restrictive, it is.

There are a lot of rules about how and when Viking allows you to receive and use your future credit vouchers.

On the other hand, policies available through  Cruise Insurance 101 with the Cancel For Any Reason benefit and are much simpler to understand.

Here’s how they work:

• If you cancel for a reason other than those covered by the policy, you receive 50% or 75% (depending on policy) of your Trip Cost reimbursed in Cash
• Must purchase the policy within 10 - 21 days (depending on policy) of your Initial Trip Payment, and increase your policy coverage within 20 days of any subsequent payments
• Must cover 100% of all trip costs by the policy
• Must cancel the trip 48 hours or more prior to your Departure Date.

That’s all there is to it. Not complicated.

Trip Interruption

Trip Interruption  works the same way as Trip Cancellation but occurs when you’re already on your trip.

For example, if you got news from back home that a family member was suddenly hospitalized with a critical illness, you can return home early. The insurance reimburses you for the unused portion of the trip, plus the extra cost of going home early.

Viking Cruises travel insurance covers more reasons for Trip Interruption than for Trip Cancellation.

Covered Interruptions include:

• Covered sickness, injury or death of you, a family member, traveling companion or business partner that occurs during the trip
• Being hijacked, quarantined, required to serve on a jury, or subpoena
• Primary place of residence or destination being rendered uninhabitable by fire, flood, burglary, or other natural disaster
• Documented theft of passports or visas
• Permanent transfer of employment of 250 miles or more
• Being directly involved in a traffic accident on the way to departure
• Unannounced strike of common carrier
• Inclement weather
• Mechanical breakdown of common carrier
• Government-mandated shutdown of an airport or air traffic control system
• Traveler is in the military and called to emergency duty for a national disaster other than war
• Involuntary employer termination or layoff
• Revocation of previously granted military leave or reassignment due to war
• Your family or friends living abroad with whom you are planning to stay are unable to provide accommodations due to life-threatening illness/injury or death of one of them
• Victim of felonious assault
• Trip is delayed and causes you to lose 50% or more of the scheduled trip duration

Viking cruise trip insurance provides a respectable list of covered interruption reasons. Interestingly, they offer more covered reasons for Trip Interruption than for Trip Cancellation. But it’s not surprising since the insurance company pays for the Interruption, not Viking, who pays for the Cancellation.

Medical Insurance

While most travelers are concerned with losing their investment in the trip, many overlook the importance of  Medical Insurance.

A trip cost of $5,000 or $25,000 is a significant purchase. But if a medical emergency occurs during your trip, a hospital bill of $100,000 is a far more devastating loss.

Because medical treatment is expensive everywhere in the world, we recommend all travelers leaving the US to purchase at least $100,000 Medical Insurance.

Some travelers assume  Medicare  covers them outside the US, but, unfortunately, this is not the case. Medicare does not pay any international providers.

Although some Medicare supplement policies include a $50,000 emergency health insurance, it comes with some restrictions. The benefit is a lifetime limit, not a per trip limit.

In addition, Medicare supplement policies require you to pay a 20% out-of-pocket co-insurance (up to $10,000 of your money). If your primary insurance at home is Medicare and a Medicare supplement, it makes sense to get additional coverage.

Another common misconception is that health care is free in other countries. That’s only half true.

Countries that offer universal health care only provide it to their residents. They pay taxes to fund their national health care program and provide free care at public hospitals. On the other hand, traveling Americans are sent to private hospitals for treatment where you must pay the full price out of pocket.

If you receive treatment at a private medical center, you can expect $3,000 to $4,000 or more for inpatient fees per night, plus additional costs for medicine, tests, treatments, or surgeries. After you worked hard to save for retirement, would you want to risk losing your nest egg to foreign medical care?

One last situation worth noting is that the US State Department does not provide any financial support for medical treatment. Nor do they pay for medical evacuation to bring you home.

This myriad of circumstances is why  Cruise Insurance 101 recommends each traveler take at least $100,000 Medical Insurance when leaving the US .

Looking at Viking Cruise medical insurance, they provide our minimum recommended amount of $100,000 for medical coverage. Very few cruise lines provide such a generous benefit.

If you prefer Medical Insurance with a higher limit, several policies found on Cruise Insurance 101 have coverage of $150,000, $250,000, and even $500,000.

Emergency Medical Evacuation

Medical Evacuation  insurance is the follow on to Medical Insurance. Together, these two benefits provide comprehensive coverage in a medical emergency.

People often dismiss the importance of Medical Evacuation insurance.

Suppose you are healthy and not taking any medication. While on your cruise, you start feeling bad and the crew thinks you are having a stroke. They rush you to the nearest hospital and the doctor confirms a stroke after completing multiple tests.

The doctor says you are stable enough to travel, but not well enough to take a commercial flight home. She orders air transportation home on a medical jet because you’re still at risk and require medical personnel to oversee your vitals.

Medical air transportation can cost $15,000 to $25,000 per flight hour and it’s a 10-hour flight home.. Who will pay for the flight? Your personal health insurance does not cover Medical Evacuation.

But travel insurance does!

Medical Evacuation provides transportation:

• From the point of injury or illness to the closest hospital, and
• From the first hospital to another hospital that is better equipped to treat your condition, and
• Transportation home either by commercial airline or private medical aircraft.

In addition, it includes the return of remains if a traveler dies during their trip.

Cruise Insurance 101 recommends all travelers leaving the US get at least $250,000 Emergency Medical Evacuation protection.

Sadly, Viking cruises travel insurance falls well short of this recommendation. They include only $100,000 for Medical Evacuation. Since the bulk of their river cruises sail in Europe, their coverage falls short to get a traveler back home.

More worrisome, Viking’s expedition cruises, which travel to very remote locations around the globe, would require even higher Medical Evacuation protection. For trips to the Arctic, Antarctic, Galapagos, and other distant places, we recommend you take at least $500,000 in Medical Evacuation, with $1 million being preferable. Viking’s minimal $100,000 Medical Evacuation amount may not get you back to dry land, much less a hospital in a city.

By contrast, the  Trawick First Class  provides $1 million of Medical Evacuation and is priced lower than the Viking Protection Plan.

Pre-existing Medical Conditions

Most  senior travelers  are concerned about whether  Pre-existing Medical Conditions  could interfere with their travel insurance coverage.

Fortunately, most policies do not look at your entire life’s medical history. Instead, they only concern themselves with the most recent 60-180 days.

They define a Pre-existing Medical Condition as one for which in the past 60-180 days you’ve received treatment, testing, medication change, new medication added, or the doctor recommended treatment or a test that has not occurred yet.

If you have a stable condition that’s been treated for years with medication, and that medication has not changed, and the condition has not worsened, then it would be covered by the policy since it’s older than 60-180 days. Often, people have nothing to worry about regarding conditions like high blood pressure or high cholesterol.

On the other hand, if you recently went to the doctor for treatment, test or medication change of a pre-existing condition, then these conditions may be excluded from coverage.

To make sure your travel insurance covers Pre-existing Conditions, look for a policy with a Waiver of Pre-existing Medical Conditions. This waiver allows the policy to cover your condition if you purchase it within 14-21 days of the Initial Trip Deposit or Payment.

Cruise Insurance 101 recommends travelers, especially seniors, purchase a travel insurance plan that covers Pre-existing Conditions.

The Viking Protection Plan offers the Waiver of Pre-existing Medical Conditions when you purchase the policy within 14 days of the Initial Deposit. Not all cruise lines provide this coverage, so we were pleased to see the Waiver from Viking.

Keep in mind, Viking isn’t the only insurance that offers a Waiver of Pre-existing Medical Conditions. Most policies available through  Cruise Insurance 101  offer a Waiver, including the Trawick First Class we’ve been discussing.

If you are purchasing the insurance outside of the required time period listed to get the pre-existing medical condition waiver, there are several policies – the Trawick Voyager and the IMG Travel LX , that will provide the waiver if you purchase the policy on or before your final trip payment.

Although Viking Cruises receives high accolades each year for their cruises, their travel insurance falls short of expectations for several reasons:

First, their plan is expensive, and has inadequate coverage the key area of Medical Evacuation, offering only $100,000 when we recommend at least $250,000.

Second, their Cancel For Any Reason waiver only gives you future credit toward cruises, not a cash refund.

Overall, we rate it a 7 out of 10.

Travelers planning a Viking River cruise vacation will find the best value for their money and peace of mind when they shop for travel insurance at Cruise Insurance 101 Travel Insurance Marketplace. There, you can review dozens of options and select the best policy to fit your needs.

To help you find the best policy, Cruise Insurance 101 recommends having at least $100,000 in travel medical coverage and $250,000 emergency medical evacuation when traveling outside the US. And, if you purchase the policy within the 14-21 days of initial trip payment, please consider a travel insurance policy with the pre-existing condition waiver included to ensure the most coverage for your money.

If you are planning a Viking River cruise in 2022, be sure to pack insurance before you travel. You never know when you may need it.

Have questions? Chat with us online, send us an email at  [email protected]  or alternatively call us at  +1(786) 751-2984 . We would love to hear from you.

Safe travels!

This article has been written for review purposes only and does not suggest sponsorship or endorsement of AARDY by the trademark owner.

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The 5 best cruise travel insurance plans

While smooth sailing will always be the aim, cruising today is often about expecting the unexpected. You can prepare yourself by taking out an insurance policy that can compensate you when your vacation at sea does not go as planned.

Need to cancel your trip last minute due to an accident or illness? Did your bags get delayed or lost? Do you need to exit the sailing early to take care of an emergency back home? Was there a mechanical issue with the ship that required a change of itinerary, causing you to miss your flight home?

For cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

All of these contingencies and more can be covered; it's just a matter of finding the best insurance policy for you. Here's how to evaluate which plan is the right choice for you, as well as five of the best cruise travel insurance plans available.

The best cruise travel insurance plan will always be a 3rd-party option

No plan will meet the needs of all cruise travelers, so there is little benefit to booking the one insurance option recommended by your cruise line during the booking process other than convenience.

You'll often find more affordable rates, comprehensive coverage and favorable terms utilizing third-party insurance companies. You'll have a wide choice of plans, so you can pick the one that works the best for your situation.

If you're wondering where the best place is to purchase third-party insurance, "No one comparison site is getting preferential deals," says Stan Sandberg, co-founder of TravelInsurance.com . "Insurance carriers' rates are the same anywhere." However, these insurance comparison sites can help you directly compare the pricing and coverage of multiple policies by a range of preferred providers.

Look for the following coverage options and compare coverage amounts to determine which third-party plan is the best cruise insurance option for your upcoming trip.

Related: Cruise travel insurance: What it covers and why you need it

Trip cancellation

You'll want to be reimbursed if an unexpected event forces you to cancel your cruise. Be sure to read the fine print of your policy, detailing which specific reasons for canceling your trip are covered and not covered.

Trip interruption and travel delays

You'll also want to be covered if issues occur after travel begins. It's important to find "a plan that offers trip interruption if something does happen during your trip, along with a plan that offers emergency medical evacuation, coverage for travel delays and missed connection benefits," adds insurance expert Meghan Walch from InsureMyTrip .

Related: What happens if you miss your cruise

COVID-19 contingencies

Walch advises all travelers booking a cruise to consider a plan that includes cancellation coverage for COVID-19. Note that you'll need more than a home test to file a claim. According to Walch, "You'll need a doctor saying that you have been diagnosed with COVID and specify that you are unable to travel."

In addition, look for coverage if you get sick and need to isolate away from home. "Some plans offer additional trip delay coverage, put in place as a result of needing additional or higher limits for instances that might include if the policyholder gets quarantined in a location," Sandberg adds.

Cancel for any reason

A cancel-for-any-reason optional upgrade offers the most flexibility. You can get a refund of up to 75% if you cancel your voyage for reasons not usually covered by travel insurance. However, it adds about 40% to your premium and can only be purchased within a limited window of time after your cruise purchase.

Related: What happens if my cruise line changes my itinerary or ship?

Lost or delayed baggage

Baggage loss insurance covers your luggage if it is lost, damaged or stolen during your trip. In the case that you make it on the cruise and your bags do not, the insurance agency can assist with locating and redirecting the bags to your next port, reimbursing you for items you may need to purchase to get you through your travels while you are without your belongings and covering your losses in the case that the bag is actually gone for good.

Note that certain high-cost items such as electronics, luxury watches and fine jewelry are not always covered by baggage loss insurance. Consider purchasing additional coverage for such items or — better yet — keep those items with you at all times.

Health coverage

Medical coverage is another consideration. "Most domestic health coverage [including Medicare] does not cover travel abroad, so it is important to look at a travel insurance policy that offers medical coverage during your trip, just in case anything happens," says Walch. "If you fall ill or are injured during the trip, it can be pretty expensive – even when going to the ship's onboard medical facility."

Related: How to avoid getting sick on a cruise

Hurricane coverage

Extreme weather and hurricanes are typically not covered if the cruise commences as scheduled, though you might be eligible for trip interruption coverage if weather cancels the cruise or cuts the itinerary short. There are also insurance plans that offer trip reimbursement if a destination on your itinerary is under a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration-issued hurricane alert or warning.

How much will cruise travel insurance cost?

Insurance pricing is dependent on the trip cost and the age of the insured travelers. Sandberg estimates that "travelers in their 30s or 40s can ballpark insurance coverage somewhere around 5% to 7% of the trip costs, with rates that can get lower depending on the extent of coverage."

Insurance is a tiered product that gets more expensive as you age. "As you get older, that range can expand to 10% of trip costs," notes Sandberg. "Adding bells and whistles, like 'cancel for any reason' [coverage], rates can rise to 11% to 12% of the cost of your trip."

Related: How cruising newbies waste money on their 1st cruise

5 best cruise travel insurance plans

Following extensive research scouring the fine print, we've selected five of the best cruise insurance plans that will appeal to a variety of seagoing travelers.

All five plans provide coverage for COVID-19-related trip cancellation and interruption.

For the leisure cruiser: TravelSafe Classic Plan

TravelSafe's Classic Plan is the best value all-around for the average cruiser, with superior coverage limits at a fair rate.

This plan's coverage includes an impressive $1 million per person for medical evacuation and a high $2,500 coverage limit for bag loss. You have extra time – 21 days – from your initial deposit to add a cancel-for-any-reason upgrade to your plan. The accident and sickness medical coverage is primary, with coverage up to $100,000.

The policy's $750-maximum trip delay coverage begins after a six-hour delay and includes kennel fees for up to $100 per day, along with coverage for additional meal and accommodation expenses.

For the budget conscious: AXA's Silver Plan

AXA's Silver Plan is the company's entry-level offering, with more value added than most budget insurance options — most notably the company's concierge service. Coverage under this plan includes robust trip cancellation and interruption coverage, both at 100% of the costs, along with $100,000 for emergency medical evacuation.

The plan also offers identity theft assistance in case your wallet or passport gets stolen while traveling, assisting with filing and obtaining police and credit reports, taking inventory of lost or stolen items, and even wiring emergency funds to you when you're really in a bind.

You won't have the option to purchase a cancel-for-any-reason add-on or opt in for a collision damage waiver on this lowest-tier plan.

For the luxury cruise traveler: John Hancock's Gold Plan

John Hancock's Gold Plan offers robust medical evacuation and repatriation coverage up to $1 million per person, ideal for those luxury cruises that rove to the farthest reaches of the globe. The plan has excellent baggage loss coverage at up to $2,500 per person, along with a low three-hour minimum travel delay ($1,000 per person, $200 daily limit) benefit.

Preexisting medical conditions are covered by this policy, though you must purchase your policy within 14 days of your trip deposit.

For increased medical coverage: Seven Corners' RoundTrip Choice Plan

Seven Corners' RoundTrip Choice Plan offers primary medical coverage for emergency accident and sickness medical expenses up to $500,000, while many other plans only offer secondary coverage. The plan's medical evacuation coverage is high at $1 million, and preexisting conditions are covered with a few conditions that apply, namely that you purchase the policy within 20 days of your initial trip payment.

The policy also offers detailed, robust COVID-19 coverage, including reimbursement for medical care if you contract COVID-19 while traveling. Its coverage also includes meals, local transportation and lodging if you're delayed six or more consecutive hours due to quarantining with COVID-19.

Coverage options on the plan may vary slightly depending on which U.S. state you claim as your residence.

For the adventurous cruiser: World Nomads' Explorer Plan

World Nomads is one of the few insurance companies that will cover more than 200 adventure activities on your travels, including scuba diving, skydiving and bungee jumping. The coverage for the long list of activities includes emergency medical expenses while outside the U.S., medical evacuation and repatriation, along with trip interruption.

World Nomads' Explorer Plan also offers $25,000 in coverage for nonmedical emergency evacuation for covered events, such as a natural disaster or political or security situations.

Travelers 70 and older are required to add a "Silver Nomads" policy, offered through TripAssure.

Bottom line

Cruising isn't always a blissful week spent relaxing on the pool deck or snorkeling among multicolored reefs. Mishaps occur, whether it's losing luggage, missing a flight or falling ill.

The best cruise insurance policies are the ones that won't let you sail without a safety net, charging a fraction of your trip expenses in exchange for the peace of mind that there's a plan in place should something go wrong. With a range of pricing and coverage options available, you can feel confident that you can find a policy to suit your travel needs.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
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• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• 15 ways cruisers waste money
• The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

• Expeditions
• Complimentary Brochures

Plan with Confidence

The Travel Protection Plan, offered by Viking and administered by Trip Mate, a Generali Global Assistance & Insurance Services brand, provides additional peace of mind by covering many unforeseen circumstances that may arise before or during your trip.

Trip Interruption or Cancellation

If your trip is interrupted or cancelled due to a covered emergency, weather issue, or other unforeseeable event, you may be reimbursed.

Accident or Sickness & Medical Repatriation

Emergency medical or dental expenses during your trip may be covered, including costs of circumstances that may arise from any illness, including COVID-19. Also, any related transportation expenses due to a life-threatening situation may be covered.

Baggage & Personal Items

Baggage or personal items—such as passports or visas—that are lost, damaged or stolen during your trip are covered up to the plan limits. Additionally, you may be reimbursed for incurred expenses should your baggage be delayed for 24 hours or more during your trip.

Cancel For Any Reason

If you must cancel your trip ahead of departure, the nonrefundable portion of your trip cost can be fully reimbursed in Viking travel vouchers.

Protect Your Investment Now

To purchase this plan, obtain a quote, or for any other questions, please call Viking at 1-877-668-4546.

The Travel Protection Plan Details

For your convenience, Viking offers a Travel Protection Plan administered by Trip Mate, a Generali Global Assistance & Insurance Services brand. This may help protect your travel investment, your belongings and most importantly, you, from many unforeseen circumstances that may arise before or during your trip, including costs of circumstances that may arise from any illness (including COVID-19*). The Travel Protection Plan includes a non-insurance Cancel For Any Reason Waiver (provided by Viking), Travel Insurance Benefits (underwritten by Generali- U.S. Branch) and Assistance Services (provided by Generali Global Assistance). Payments are for the full Travel Protection Plan, which is made up of the Part A Non-Insurance Cancel For Any Reason Waiver, and Part B Insurance Benefits, and Assistance Services (a separate fee for Assistance Services is included in the Plan Payment). Individuals looking to obtain additional information regarding the features of each travel plan component, please contact Trip Mate at [email protected] .  Insurance benefits in the Plan are subject to limitations and exclusions, including an exclusion for pre-existing conditions. Plan benefits, limits and provisions vary by state/jurisdiction and not all coverage is available in all states. To review full plan details online and Important Disclosures, go to:  www.tripmate.com/wpGR625V .

*COVID-19 is treated the same as any other sickness. The plan requires a sickness to be “examined and treated by a physician”. We consider all PCR or laboratory tests to have been administered by a physician.

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Best Cruise Insurance Companies of April 2024

Affiliate links for the products on this page are from partners that compensate us (see our advertiser disclosure with our list of partners for more details). However, our opinions are our own. See how we rate insurance products to write unbiased product reviews.

A cruise vacation can take much of the stress out of planning a vacation. With a pre-set itinerary on the high seas, you don't have to worry about how you're getting to your destination and what you're going to do there. However, an unexpected emergency can take the wind out of your sails and money out of your travel budget. So you'll want to ensure you have the best travel insurance coverage that won't leave you high and dry in an emergency.

Best Cruise Insurance Companies

• Nationwide Travel Insurance : Best Overall
• AXA Assistance USA : Best for Affordability
• Seven Corners Travel Insurance : Best for Seniors
• HTH Worldwide Travel Insurance : Best for Expensive Trips
• World Nomads Travel Insurance : Best for Exotic Locations

Compare the Top Cruise Insurance Offers

• Trip cancellation coverage of up to 100% of trip costs (for cruises) or up to $30,000 (for single-trip plans)
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Three cruise-specific plans to choose from
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Annual travel insurance plans available
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Strong trip cancellation coverage
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Cancel for any reason coverage available
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. CFAR insurance not available with every single plan
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Medical coverage is lower than what some competitors offer

Nationwide Travel Insurance offers many of the standard benefits you might see with a travel insurance policy. This can include things like trip cancellation coverage, so you can recover pre-paid costs or trip interruption in the event your vacation is interrupted by an unexpected event. There's also baggage delay coverage and medical coverage.

• Cancel for any reason coverage available

• Trip cancellation coverage of up to 100% of the trip cost
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Generous medical evacuation coverage
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Up to $1,500 per person coverage for missed connections on cruises and tours
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Covers loss of ski, sports and golf equipment
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Generous baggage delay, loss and trip delay coverage ceilings per person
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage only available for most expensive Platinum plan
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. CFAR coverage ceiling only reaches $50,000 maximum despite going up to 75%

AXA Assistance USA keeps travel insurance simple with gold, silver, and platinum plans. Emergency medical and CFAR are a couple of the options you can expect. Read on to learn more about AXA.

• Silver, Gold, and Platinum plans available
• Trip interruption coverage of up to 150% of the trip cost
• Emergency medical coverage of up to $250,000

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Diverse coverage options such as CFAR, optional sports equipment coverage, etc.
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Available in all 50 states
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Prices are higher than many competitors
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Reviews around claims processing are mixed
• Trip cancellation insurance of up to 100% of the trip cost
• Trip interruption insurance of up to 150% of the trip cost
• Cancel for any reason (CFAR) insurance available

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Three plans to choose from
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Reasonable premiums
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. CFAR coverage available with some plans
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. High medical emergency and evacuation coverage
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Special coverages for pets, sports equipment, etc not available
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Limited reviews with complaints about claims not being paid
• Trip cancellation of up to $5,000 with the Economy plan and up to $50,000 with the Preferred plan
• Cancel for any reason insurance and missed connection insurance available with the Preferred plan
• Baggage delay insurance starting after 24 or 12 hours depending on the plan

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Coverage for 200+ activities like skiing, surfing, and rock climbing
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Only two plans to choose from, making it simple to find the right option
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. You can purchase coverage even after your trip has started
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. If your trip costs more than $10,000, you may want to choose other insurance because trip protection is capped at up to $10,000 (for the Explorer plan)
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Doesn't offer coverage for travelers older than 70
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. No Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) option
• Coverage for 150+ activities and sports
• 2 plans: Standard and Explorer
• Trip protection for up to $10,000
• Emergency medical insurance of up to $100,000
• Emergency evacuation coverage for up to $500,000
• Coverage to protect your items (up to $3,000)

Cruise Insurance Reviews

Best cruise insurance overall: nationwide travel insurance.

Nationwide Travel Insurance  is a long-standing and reputable brand within the insurance marketplace that offers cruise insurance plans with solid coverage and reasonable rates.

It has three cruise insurance options: Universal, Choice, and Luxury. The Nationwide Choice plan, for example, offers $100,000 in emergency medical coverage and $500,000 in emergency medical evacuation coverage.

The right plan for you depends on your budget and coverage needs. But each plan offers cruise-specific coverages like ship-based mechanical breakdowns, coverage for missed prepaid excursions if your cruise itinerary changes, and covered service disruptions aboard the cruise ship.

Read our Nationwide Travel Insurance review here.

Best Cruise Insurance for Affordability: AXA Travel Insurance

AXA Assistance USA  offers three comprehensive coverage plans: Gold, Silver, and Platinum. Each of these plans offers coverage for issues like missed flights, medical emergencies, lost luggage, and more.

The highest-tier Platinum plan provides $250,000 in medical emergency coverage and $1 million in medical evacuation coverage. The baggage loss coverage is $3,000 per person, and their missed connection coverage is $1,500 per person for cruises and tours.

In addition, travelers can take advantage of AXA's concierge service, which provides an extensive network of international service providers. They'll be able to assist you with things like restaurant reservations and referrals, golf course information, and more. This service could come in handy if you're stopping at a variety of unfamiliar destinations during your cruise.

The coverage limits on AXA's policies are on the higher end compared to other providers. And you can buy coverage for a little as 4% of your trip cost depending on your age, travel destination, and state of residence.

Read our AXA Travel Insurance review here.

Best Cruise Insurance for Seniors: Seven Corners Travel Insurance

Seven Corners Travel Insurance lets cruisers enjoy traveling in their golden years with the knowledge they're covered in the event of an accident or emergency. While other providers do offer coverage to those 80+ years old, Seven Corners is known for its affordable premiums while offering above-average medical expenses and medical evacuation coverage limits — two areas of travel insurance coverage that are even more important as we get older.

Seven Corners also offers the option of a preexisting conditions waiver and CFAR insurance at an additional cost, plus "Trip Interruption for Any Reason" coverage, which you won't find on many policies.

You can choose between the Trip Protection Basic or Trip Protection Choice plans, with the higher-tier Choice plan costing more but providing more coverage.

Read our Seven Corners Travel Insurance review here. 

Best Cruise Insurance for Expensive Trips: HTH Worldwide Travel Insurance

HTH Worldwide Travel Insurance  offers three levels of trip protection: TripProtector Economy, Classic, and Preferred. The higher the tier, the more coverage you'll get for things like baggage delays, trip delays & cancellations, and medical expenses. But their premiums remain reasonable even at the highest tier of coverage.

Not only does the HTH Worldwide Trip Protector Preferred plan offer higher-than-average medical emergency and evacuation coverage limits ($500,000 and $1 million, respectively), but you'll also get a baggage loss coverage limit of $2,000 per person and coverage for trip interruption of up to 200% of the trip cost. You also have the option to add CFAR coverage for an additional cost.

Read our HTH Worldwide Travel Insurance review here.

Best Cruise Insurance for Exotic Locations: World Nomads Travel Insurance

World Nomads Travel Insurance  has been a top choice for comprehensive travel insurance for many years now. And it's a great option when it comes to cruise coverage, too.

Even the most basic Standard Plan comes with $100,000 in medical emergency coverage and $300,000 in emergency evacuation coverage. And you'll get higher coverage limits with their Premium Plan. Plus, unlike many other providers, World Nomads trip cancellation and emergency medical coverage include COVID-19-related issues.

What sets World Nomads apart from many other insurance companies is that its policies cover 200+ adventure sports. This can be important for adventurous cruisers who plan to take part in activities like jet skiing, scuba diving, or parasailing during their cruise.

Read our World Nomads Travel Insurance review here.

Introduction to Cruise Insurance

Cruise insurance may offer unique coverage like missed port of call and medical evacuation coverage. You might not need the flight protections of a regular travel insurance plan if you're catching a cruise at a port near you, but medical and cancel for any reason coverage could be critical.

Understanding the Basics of Cruise Insurance

At its core, cruise insurance is your financial lifeboat, designed to protect you from unforeseen events that could disrupt your sea voyage. Whether it's a sudden illness, adverse weather, or other unexpected occurrences, having the right insurance can make a world of difference.

Why Cruise Insurance is Important

Picture this: You're all set for your dream cruise, but a sudden family emergency means you can't set sail. Or worse, you fall ill in the middle of the ocean. Without cruise insurance, you're not just missing out on an adventure, but also facing potentially huge financial losses. That's why securing cruise insurance isn't just recommended; it's a crucial part of your cruise planning.

Types of Cruise Insurance Coverage

Cruise insurance isn't a one-size-fits-all life jacket. There are various types of coverage, each tailored to protect different aspects of your cruise experience.

Trip Cancellation and Interruption Coverage

This coverage is like your safety net, catching you financially if you need to cancel your trip last minute or cut it short due to emergencies, be it due to personal, health-related, or even certain work conflicts.

Medical Coverage

Being on a cruise shouldn't mean being adrift from medical care. Medical coverage ensures that if you fall ill or get injured, your medical expenses won't sink your finances.

Emergency Evacuation Coverage

In the rare case that you need to be evacuated from the ship due to a medical emergency or severe weather, this coverage ensures you're not left adrift in a sea of expenses.

Baggage and Personal Effects Coverage

Imagine reaching your dream destination only to find your luggage lost at sea. This coverage ensures that lost, stolen, or damaged baggage doesn't dampen your cruise experience.

Buying Cruise Insurance

Securing the best cruise insurance isn't just about finding the best price; it's about ensuring it covers all your potential needs.

When to Purchase Cruise Insurance

Timing is everything. Purchasing your insurance soon after booking your cruise can often provide additional benefits and ensure you're covered for any early surprises. As you get closer to your trip your coverage options may get more expensive, and certain providers may not be able to offer you coverage.

How to Find the Best Deals on Cruise Insurance

Keep a lookout for deals, but remember, the cheapest option isn't always the best. Balance cost with coverage, and ensure you're getting the protection you need at a price that doesn't rock your financial boat. A travel insurance comparison site like SquareMouth is a good place to compare multiple quotes from all of the major carriers at once.

How to Pick The Best Cruise Insurance for You

When buying travel insurance for a cruise, consider the additional risks that are specific to cruising. These include hurricanes and other weather-related concerns, strict cancellation terms, high pre-paid costs of a cruise, and the distance to emergency medical assistance.

To find the policy that's right for you, it's best to compare several different cruise insurance policies based on the pricing and coverage they provide. Remember too that all reputable insurance providers will offer a "free-look period." This allows you to return the policy you've purchased for any reason, within a specific time period, for a full refund.

The most important coverages to look for in cruise insurance are:

• Medical coverage — This coverage will pay for medical bills outside the US. But because treatment can be more expensive while onboard, make sure your policy offers sufficient coverage ($100,000+).
• Medical evacuation coverage — This coverage will transport you to the nearest hospital or even back home if you become sick or injured during your journey. But an evacuation from sea will be more expensive than one from land. So you'll want to make sure your coverage has sufficiently high limits ($250,000+).
• Missed connection (missed port of call) coverage — This type of coverage will help you catch up to your itinerary if you miss your port of call for a covered reason, like a delayed flight on the way to the airport.
• Coverage for hurricane warnings — With this type of coverage, you don't actually need to be affected by the hurricane. You can cancel and be reimbursed for your trip if the NOAA issues a hurricane warning. If you're cruising anywhere during (or on the tail ends) of hurricane season, this can come in handy. Just note: You can't buy travel insurance to cover a weather event once a storm or hurricane has been named.
• Cancel for any reason (CFAR) — This is the most comprehensive coverage you can get, as it allows cancellations and reimbursement for pre-paid expenses for any reason. This can be a wise add-on for cruise coverage given the often higher prepaid expenses associated with cruising. See our guide to the best CFAR travel insurance options to learn more.
• Preexisting conditions — This coverage ensures that no known health conditions are excluded from coverage. Obtaining a preexisting condition waiver usually requires purchasing your travel insurance soon after booking your trip.
• Personal possessions insurance — Because of the events and fancy dinners cruise ships hold, you might take more valuable clothing or jewelry with you on a cruise. This type of coverage will insure your belongings against loss or theft while cruising.
• Baggage loss and delay — This coverage will reimburse you up to a specified amount for essentials if your bags are delayed or if your bags get lost en route.

As a rule of thumb, you can expect to pay between 5% and 10% of your prepaid, nonrefundable trip expenses for cruise insurance coverage. The price will vary depending on factors like your age, your travel destination, and whether you require additional coverage.

If you're booking a cruise, we recommend purchasing travel insurance when you make your first trip payment. That could be for the cruise itself or an expense like airfare to get you to your cruising destination. This way, if you have to cancel your trip, you'll have the most extended coverage period possible.

You can buy your own cruise insurance that isn't offered directly through the cruise line operator. In fact, this could be a better option if you want coverage for your travel to the cruise's departure point, not just for the cruise itself.

The difference between traditional travel insurance and cruise insurance is that cruise insurance offers more specialized coverage, for situations such as missing a departure port and more coverage for medical evacuations, since it's more expensive to evacuate someone at sea than on land. 

Most cruise insurance includes coverage for missing a departure port, so you should be able to claim for a missed port. Just make sure you check the details of your policy before you file a claim, and before you travel so you know what compensation you're entitled to.

Why You Should Trust Us: How We Chose the Best Cruise Travel Insurance

When comparing cruise travel insurance providers, we evaluated them based on the following criteria to come up with our list of top picks:

Customer Satisfaction

We look at ratings from JD Power and other industry giants to see where a company ranks in customer satisfaction. We also look at customer review sites like Trustpilot and SquareMouth.

Policy Types

We look at policy types and offerings, from standard travel protections to adventure sports coverage. We look at the amount of insurance offered

Average Premiums

We compare average premiums per trip. Some companies also offer annual plans, and we compare policies accordingly.

Claims Paid

How frequently do companies pay claims easily and quickly? We check customer reviews and other resources to see which companies honor policies most effectively.

We look at the company's overall behavior. Is it operating ethically? Companies can earn additional points for such behaviors.

You can read more about how Business Insider rates insurance here.

Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews, or recommendations expressed in this article are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Read our editorial standards .

Please note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed, or may no longer be available.

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Viking River Cruises Review

Where They Cruise

Having started operations in Russia, Viking has expanded throughout Europe into Asia and Egypt. You can find Viking river boat cruises in France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, United Kingdom, Greece, Germany, Albania, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Ireland and nearly every other European country.

The ocean cruise offerings from Viking currently include routes from Scandinavia to Spain and across the Mediterranean. While having only one ocean liner places some limitations on available sailing dates and ports of call, Viking offers a great selection of destinations for European vacationers. Barcelona, Rome, Istanbul, Venice, Ephesus and Athens are just a few of the beautiful and historic cities found on the Viking Cruises itineraries.

Newest Ships/Itineraries

As the travel industry's only new cruise line in almost a decade, Viking recently announced the launch of a new ocean liner and a selection of unique sailing itineraries. This new expansion will be developed from the ground up with one ship, Viking Star, sailing in 2015. For all its ocean liner itineraries, Viking is focusing on taking its passengers to amazing destinations rather than just spending several days at sea. For this reason, the Viking Star has plenty of amenities to help guests relax and recuperate from an eventful day exploring the city. At each port of call, when passengers return to the ship, they will find world-class dining, restful spa treatments and delightful entertainment options.

The all-veranda Viking Star is designed to offer 928 passengers direct access to most ports. This ensures guests have easy and efficient debarkation and embarkation during their tours. There's nothing worse than standing in line for an hour or more, just to get on or off the boat when you should be having fun on your vacation. Maximum guest comfort is the primary objective of its modern Scandinavian design.

The relaxing feel extends to the on-board swimming pools. The main pool has a retractable dome that permits all-season swimming. Additionally, the Viking Star is the only cruise ship to feature infinity pools at sea. After a dip in the pool, passengers can relax with on-board spa services. The Explorers Lounge and Winter Garden both offer a relaxing oasis while passengers wait to arrive at their next port of call.

The two-deck Explorers Lounge is located at the bow of the ship. This spot offers breathtaking views through double-high windows. Additionally, the Viking Star has a wealth of dining options while in between port meals. There are several restaurants, including the World Cafe, Chef's Table, Italian Grill and The Kitchen Table. They all serve meals that have been prepared on board with fresh, local ingredients.

The available itineraries for the Viking Star include:

• Viking homelands (15 days in Stockholm, St Petersburg, Copenhagen and Bergen)
• Passage through Western Europe (15 days: in Bergen, London, Paris and Barcelona)
• Mediterranean Odyssey (13 days in Barcelona, Rome, Dubrovnik and Venice)
• Empires of the Mediterranean (10 days Venice, Athens, Ephesus and Istanbul)

The name for each Viking river cruise ship comes from a figure in Norse mythology.

Each of the river cruise ships in the Viking fleet is the same, except for the artwork at the top of the main stairwell. This image features the figure from Norse mythology, which the ship is named after.

Currently, Viking River Cruises has a fleet of 52 ships and Viking Ocean Cruises has one ship.

Viking does not offer room service and meal times are set. This is an important departure from the meal policies of other cruise lines that passengers should be aware of. However, most passengers have found that this arrangement promotes a more communal feel.

Viking Cruises Deals

While the price you pay for your cruise with Viking Cruises depends on the length of the trip, time of year, and destination, you can expect to get prices that are competitive with other major cruise lines operating in Europe and Asia. In addition, you can insure your investment with Allianz Cruise Insurance .

To save money on your river or ocean cruise, try booking during off-season or looking through the Special Offers offered by Viking throughout the year. You can also sign up as a member with Viking Cruises to receive discounted prices on trips before the general public knows. Also, in general, booking one to three months in advance ensures you get a good price on a cruise.

Related Articles

• 5 Reasons You Need Cruise Travel Insurance
• 10 Surprising Essentials to Take on Your Cruise
• The Essential Cruise Ship Emergency Prep List

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Insurance benefits underwritten by BCS Insurance Company (OH, Administrative Office: 2 Mid America Plaza, Suite 200, Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181), rated “A” (Excellent) by A.M. Best Co., under BCS Form No. 52.201 series or 52.401 series, or Jefferson Insurance Company (NY, Administrative Office: 9950 Mayland Drive, Richmond, VA 23233), rated “A+” (Superior) by A.M. Best Co., under Jefferson Form No. 101-C series or 101-P series, depending on your state of residence and plan chosen. A+ (Superior) and A (Excellent) are the 2nd and 3rd highest, respectively, of A.M. Best's 13 Financial Strength Ratings. Plans only available to U.S. residents and may not be available in all jurisdictions. Allianz Global Assistance and Allianz Travel Insurance are marks of AGA Service Company dba Allianz Global Assistance or its affiliates. Allianz Travel Insurance products are distributed by Allianz Global Assistance, the licensed producer and administrator of these plans and an affiliate of Jefferson Insurance Company. The insured shall not receive any special benefit or advantage due to the affiliation between AGA Service Company and Jefferson Insurance Company. Plans include insurance benefits and assistance services. Any Non-Insurance Assistance services purchased are provided through AGA Service Company. Except as expressly provided under your plan, you are responsible for charges you incur from third parties. Contact AGA Service Company at  800-284-8300 or 9950 Mayland Drive, Richmond, VA 23233 or [email protected] .

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Table of Contents

What to look for in cruise insurance

Factors we considered when picking the best cruise insurance companies, an overview of the best cruise insurance, best cruise insurance options, more resources for cruise travel insurance shoppers.

Cruising is back, but many travelers are still reluctant to board ships alongside thousands of other travelers. Cruise insurance has you covered if:

You need to be reimbursed for canceling your trip.

Your flight to the port gets delayed.

You need to pay for medical care if you get sick on board.

You need to fly home in case of an emergency.

Of course, there's much more than just this list that cruise insurance can cover.

No matter the reason you might be looking for coverage, here are some of the best cruise insurance companies available to help bring you peace of mind on your next experience at sea:

World Nomads .

Berkshire Hathaway .

Travelex Insurance Services .

Travel Guard by AIG .

When shopping for cruise insurance, make sure to look for coverage that offers the following:

Trip delay and cancellation.

Medical expenses, including emergency evacuation.

The option to cancel for any reason (including COVID-19).

Adventure activities if you’re planning certain onshore excursions.

Cruise insurance isn’t much different than traditional travel insurance. Any good travel insurance should cover cruises in addition to travel by air or car.

After our analysis, we've determined these are some of the best cruise insurance options available.

» Learn more: The best travel credit cards right now

We used the following factors to choose top insurance providers to highlight:

Specifics of coverage: Including what coverage plans include and whether they offer useful coverage and benefits for cruises specifically.

Amount of coverage: Including the maximum payouts for trip cancellation and trip interruption claims.

Cost: We compared prices to determine average costs across basic plans.

Customizability: We checked to see if policies allow users to customize options to suit their specific needs.

» Learn more: The guide to cruise travel insurance

We searched for quotes from several companies for a seven-day trip in February 2023 from the U.S. to Mexico. The traveler was 35 years old, from Georgia, and planned to spend $2,500 total on the whole trip, including airfare.

The average price of each company’s most basic coverage plan was $124. These policies didn't include optional add-ons, such as Cancel for Any Reason coverage or coverage for pre-existing medical conditions .

» Learn more: Should you insure your cruise?

Here’s a closer look at our five recommendations for cruise insurance and what makes them unique.

Allianz Global Assistance

What makes allianz global assistance a top choice for cruise insurance:.

Multiple policies are available for international and domestic travel.

Plans offer trip cancellation and interruption coverage for COVID-19.

Offers emergency medical and transportation.

For our test trip, Allianz Global Assistance’s basic plan cost $106, slightly below average.

World Nomads

What makes world nomads a top choice for cruise insurance:.

Adventure activities like mountain biking and scuba diving are covered, perfect for land-based experienced (though which sports are covered varies from plan to plan).

Offers comprehensive travel insurance plans for domestic and international travel.

Larger-than-average coverage for baggage loss and delays.

For our test trip, World Nomad’s basic plan cost $63, well below average. But the actual trip cost isn’t taken into consideration for trip cancellation and interruption coverage.

Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection

What makes berkshire hathaway travel protection a top choice for cruise insurance:.

A wide range of comprehensive plans cover cancellation, emergency medical and transportation coverage, and emergency travel assistance.

A cruise-specific plan includes some compensation for cruise disablement and the most emergency medical and evacuation coverage of any of these plans.

There are many plans available, including plans that cover adventure activities.

A Berkshire Hathaway WaveCare cruise-specific plan was $202, quite a bit more than average, but with the most medical evacuation coverage.

Travelex Insurance Services

What makes travelex insurance services a top choice for cruise insurance:.

Three comprehensive plans are available.

Kids-included pricing is available with the Travel Select plan.

There's an option to add accidental death and dismemberment coverage to the basic plan.

The Travel Basic plan from Travelex Insurance Services cost $116 for our sample trip; just below the average for plans listed here.

Travel Guard by AIG

What makes travel guard by aig a top choice for cruise insurance:.

Cancel For Any Reason coverage is available as an optional upgrade on two plans.

A pre-existing condition waiver is also available as an add-on.

Travel Guard by AIG offers a basic Essential plan for $133, just a little higher than average, but adding coverage may raise that price.

Bookmark these resources to help you make smart money moves as you shop for cruise travel insurance.

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• Viking Ocean

DO NOT Buy Trip Insurance offered through Viking !

By Etexvrc , July 20, 2018 in Viking Ocean

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Need to vent just a bit....

Six months ago (Jan 2018) I booked our 5th & 6th Ocean cruise with Viking. Iceland's Majestic & South American cruises. Bought trip insurance (1st time to purchase it) on both trips.

The South American cruise is Dec, 2019, currently a year and a half from when I write this.

After thinking about and discussing with wife we considered canceling the S.A. trip. (We got a child starting college....) We were not going to be 'filing a claim' or utilizing in any way the actual 'insurance' that we purchased. This was strictly a voluntary trip cancellation.

Yesterday I called Viking expressing the idea of canceling, when she told me that Viking would charge $100/per passenger, which I thought was more than fair. Then she told me our entire insurance premium of $1,838 is non-refundable. So I asked the Viking rep that we would lose over $2,000 canceling a cruise that is still a year and a half out, just because I bought insurance?

Her answer was "That's correct".

I will be the first to say this is all out of my area of expertise, and maybe I'm looking at this in a completely wrong way. But in my simple mind here is how I see an analogy. If I purchase a home and at the same time I also purchase insurance on this home. And the insurance I buy is a 24 month policy that I pay in one lump sum on day 1.

Six months later I sell this home.

Would I not be entitled to a return of principle (or a refund) on the remaining, unused 18 months of insurance considering that I'm no longer the owner of this asset?

This morning I've talked with 'TripMate' (the insurance company Viking uses for this) and the rep (who really didn't know the answer and had to put me on hold to 'ask a supervisor') and said that that is the case. I would lose the entire premium ($1,838) paid up front. It is not prorated.

We are still booked on the cruise and will not cancel because I'm not going to forfeit over $2,000 just for having a cruise booked for six months (and is still 18 months away)! Just trying to wrap my head around all this.

Thanks for letting me 'vent'.

We still LOVE Viking........BUT.........IMO, DON'T BUY TRIP INSURANCE THROUGH VIKING.

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That's correct and well documented in the insurance Terms and Conditions. Unfortunately I had to cancel similarly for personal reasons and had purchased the coverage from Viking. I knew that was a sunk cost when I purchased but believed the only way I would cancel would be for a covered event. $1600 poof. Live and learn, now I purchase coverage only at the time of final payment.

Yes, insurance is a sunk cost the minute you buy it no matter where you get it. I usually check insuremytrip.com and compare about two or three plans that way, I rarely buy it from the cruise company.

The only way you need it at time of booking is if you have pre-existing conditions or want 'cancel for any reason' insurance. Otherwise, it's best (like Luv2Cruise said) to buy it at the time of final payment.

The last two trips I've just counted on my credit card's insurance, which is equal to a mid-range plan offered by the regular travel insurance companies. Covers up to $20K for two for losing a cruise, has interruption and basic medical, only cancel for covered reasons, etc. We have a MedJet yearly policy that will get us home from wherever we are if needed. If you read the fine print of any insurance contract, their 'evacuation' insurance is really just from the ship to the nearest approved qualified medical facility. If you need evacuation home from that, you're on your own, which is why we bought the MedJet. I had a friend who learned that the hard way!

We purchase trip insurance with a commercial company that does a lot of travel insurance (I don't believe board policy allows me to identify the company), and we purchase it within 15 days of booking the trip, even two years in advance. We do this because we have very elderly parents, and should we need to cancel because of their health, we don't want any argument about an exclusion for pre-existing conditions.

I assume that if we cancelled the trip for any reason that was not covered, the insurance company would not refund our premium. I doubt that Viking is doing anything that you could get around with any other insurance company.

Baron Barracuda

Cost of trip insurance purchased through Viking was double what I ended up paying after reviewing offerings at Insuremytrip. My Travel Guard policy doesn't have cancel for any reason, but the all-important medical evacuation coverage is double Viking's. Choosing the right policy can be stressful. I've found cc's travel insurance forum to be helpful.

Peregrina651

We purchase trip insurance with a commercial company that does a lot of travel insurance (I don't believe board policy allows me to identify the company), and we purchase it within 15 days of booking the trip, even two years in advance. We do this because we have very elderly parents, and should we need to cancel because of their health, we don't want any argument about an exclusion for pre-existing conditions.   I assume that if we cancelled the trip for any reason that was not covered, the insurance company would not refund our premium. I doubt that Viking is doing anything that you could get around with any other insurance company.

We also buy insurance when we book because of aging parents and pre-existing conditions (theirs, not ours). However, we cover only the deposit that we have paid, that is $500pp. If we buy our own flights, we then raise the coverage to cover that amount as well. When we make our final payment, we raise the amount to cover the entire cost of the trip.

Thanks! We'll look into doing it that way next time.

Host Jazzbeau

I buy Allianz through my TA, following the same phased approach as Peregrina. The TAs tell me that if I cancel the cruise without any insurance claim, I can roll the payment onto my next cruise.

stretchcruz

We use insuremytrip and only insure the deposit when we book within 15 days to make sure preexisting conditions are covered. We raise the amount at final payment and if we need additional coverage for hotels, etc. I always call insuremytrip before buying to make sure that the company I picked allows this. The other thing that I have done is if I need to cancel my trip I call insuremytrip and they will transfer the premium and the coverage to a new trip so that I don't lose any money. I've done this many times over the course of over 50 cruises. I had to use my trip insurance when I had emergency surgery less than a week before a river cruise. Not only did they refund my cruise fare, but they reimbursed my nonrefundable Priceline hotels, the amount AA charged to redeposit my miles into my FF account, and a nonrefundable deposit on a tour. I've been very happy.

newcruiser1956

Need to vent just a bit....     Six months ago (Jan 2018) I booked our 5th & 6th Ocean cruise with Viking. Iceland's Majestic & South American cruises. Bought trip insurance (1st time to purchase it) on both trips. The South American cruise is Dec, 2019, currently a year and a half from when I write this.     After thinking about and discussing with wife we considered canceling the S.A. trip. (We got a child starting college....) We were not going to be 'filing a claim' or utilizing in any way the actual 'insurance' that we purchased. This was strictly a voluntary trip cancellation.     Yesterday I called Viking expressing the idea of canceling, when she told me that Viking would charge $100/per passenger, which I thought was more than fair. Then she told me our entire insurance premium of $1,838 is non-refundable. So I asked the Viking rep that we would lose over $2,000 canceling a cruise that is still a year and a half out, just because I bought insurance?     Her answer was "That's correct".     I will be the first to say this is all out of my area of expertise, and maybe I'm looking at this in a completely wrong way. But in my simple mind here is how I see an analogy. If I purchase a home and at the same time I also purchase insurance on this home. And the insurance I buy is a 24 month policy that I pay in one lump sum on day 1.   Six months later I sell this home.   Would I not be entitled to a return of principle (or a refund) on the remaining, unused 18 months of insurance considering that I'm no longer the owner of this asset?         I think that is pretty standard... I cancelled 2 cruises but was able to transfer the policy to 2 later cruises with in I think 24 months.. But there was no refund.

We never purchase travel insurance until final payment day. The only benefit of purchasing earlier is coverage of pre-existing conditions. If you don't have any why not wait?

Because you could develop one after you book your cruise.

Doesn't pre-existing condition mean that you had it and were being treated for it the day you bought the insurance?

Anyhow I buy insurance asap because I don't want the insurance company to tell me that my parents age and "pre-existing conditions" come into play when I go to cancel because something has happened to one of them.

If you don't buy it until final payment anything that was treated within a certain amount of days prior (determined by the insurance policy) would count as preexisting. If you wait until final payment you risk developing something between the time you book the cruise and then.

Vineyard View

We also use insuremytrip. Last year we had to postpone our sailing to this year. I called the insurance company and they allowed me to move our insurance to the new date. I believe we had to book it within 12 months. Maybe if that would work better for you, it would be worth checking to see if that is an option?

Vineyard View, exactly our experience. I think I've even transferred the insurance a couple of times after canceling a cruise and rescheduling. Even to a different cruise line.

It’s sure worth a try!

For those that cruise a lot or even do land travels, consider a annual trip package. We are both mid 60's and cost 320 dollars for the whole year.

I do not us insuremytrip as they are just too expensive. Google more options, under annual pass.

They copy a lot of my credit card amenities, but do get the medical excavation part when on the open waters.

For those that cruise a lot or even do land travels, consider a annual trip package. We are both mid 60's and cost 320 dollars for the whole year.       I do not us insuremytrip as they are just too expensive. Google more options, under annual pass.       They copy a lot of my credit card amenities, but do get the medical excavation part when on the open waters.

This is something you may not be aware of this past December we were on a Princess South American 21 day cruise I had to be taken off the ship in Lima Peru as I was having shortness of breath the ship doctor said I needed to see a Cardiologist make a long story short ended up having a heart stint I had no health coverage (I thought) well not true if you have a Medicare supplement through AARP it has $50k coverage for medical emergencies out of the country it paid my $22K at 80% and my credit card paid $5K for trip interruption

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

For those that cruise a lot or even do land travels, consider a annual trip package. We are both mid 60's and cost 320 dollars for the whole year.   I do not us insuremytrip as they are just too expensive. Google more options, under annual pass.   They copy a lot of my credit card amenities, but do get the medical excavation part when on the open waters.

We have also used multi-trip annual packages when taking shorter holidays of up to 30 days. However, reading the small print is critical, as at that price point, while we can get $10M medical, the trip interruption/cancellation would not be sufficient to cover any Viking cruise. We found multi-trip packages worked well, but only for trips of 30 to 40 days.

For our 2020 WC, we had to go with the Viking Insurance as no local broker, Insuremytrip or the TA could find an insurance company that will cover the deposit for almost 2 years and full payment 6 months out. Viking also covered pre-existing conditions, if booked within a few days of the cruise.

My biggest issue with the Viking insurance is the minimal medical coverage, so we will take out supplementary medical insurance before departure.

I usually buy trip insurance from tripinsurancestore.com and have been happy.

I buy early and insure the trip for a minimum and increase it afterwards.

I'm more interested in the medical coverage than the cost of the trip,

so I usually only insure for $500-$1,000 but you still get the full medical coverage.

I know they have a 14 day cancel/change policy.

Thank you for the "heads-up" when buying insurance.

I'm not sure that this is unique to Viking though.

I've learned things from Trip Insurance Store; they're great. We use either them or insuremytrip. We never use the cruise line's insurance.

Any policy I've ever looked at has a lot of exclusions and definitions that can narrow what's covered. While tedious, I try to pick a few policies that look good, pull up the policies and read every word.

I occasionally look for annual policies, but so far haven't found any. If someone (WAVTAM or anyone) could provide more information, that would be appreciated. I hate paying so much for insurance.

Drneal, I currently have a Travelex policy for an upcoming trip. I do what you do, insure for a low amount and increase later. However, Travelex told me I would lose my pre-existing coverage if I don't report (and pay for increased coverage if applicable) all hotel, train, etc. costs that I book pre-trip, even if I'm willing to take a hit on a hotel if we don't use the reservation and don't cancel. Do you know anything about that? I didn't think the medical coverage had anything to do with other coverage like airline tickets, hotels, etc. but now I'm wondering if it does. I want to reserve hotels in advance of the trip, but don't want to pay a lot in insurance cost, as what I'm already paying is pretty high due to age. You wouldn't think hotels would bump up the cost that much, but they are starting to do that.

As far as I understand the medical is the same whether you insure the trip for $10,000 or $500.

It's the trip cancellation/interruption that's affected.

My father just came off a Regent cruise and his girlfriend fell the night before they disembarked. She had to go for emergency surgery. The insurance is great for the medical but there was essentially nothing left on the trip interruption as, understandably, as the trip progresses your insurance interruption coverage diminishes.

Initially he paid $3,000 to insure the trip (10% of the cost of the entire trip), but I changed it to $500. $46 for her as she is 64 and $79 for him, 81.

I use Travelex as well.

You should ask Steve at tripinsurancestore.

Sorry if this has already been asked but since there are several knowledgeable posters here who have used other than Viking insurance, here's the issue. For the World Cruise I had trouble finding insurance which would do the "for any reason" type coverage for over 90 days. As our WC was 120 days we finally went with Viking. Pricey and we didn't need it. Not complaining, there were several fellow passengers that did need it. Just interested in the over 90 day coverage if you have any suggestions. Thanks, J.

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Viking Cruises   Reviews

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Reviews 1.6.

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Viking is a scam

Viking is a scam. Cancelled cruises, no refunds, 20k gone. Customer service is incompetent. Very predatory. Google it. Read the stories. It is awful what they are doing to people.

Date of experience : September 23, 2022

Shame on Viking Cruises.

Shame on Viking Cruises. My Mom and Dad went on a viking European cruise that did not sail. The water level was too low so they were bussed to all destinations. The cruise was $28,000 (airfare was ontop of that). Viking said they would rebate $14,000 towards another cruise. However, my mum has stage 4 metastatic cancer with brain mets so another cruise may not be in the cards. Viking WILL NOT refund any money. They've said either put it to another cruise or nothing.... this makes me SICK. Shame on Viking taking advantage of people in this way. This woman may not make another cruise, refund the money another way you ignorant, disgusting company. Furthermore, they won't provide refund insurance to my mum if she vacations with them AND they won't let her gift the trip to someone else if she is too ill when the time comes. It's her or no one and they keep the money. THIS CRUISE LINE IS SCUM!! They are crooks that wont refund money to a dying woman and they don't deserve your business, take it elsewhere. SHAME ON YOU VIKING CRUISES SHAME ON YOU!!

Date of experience : July 16, 2023

Viking please stop the junk mail

Our Viking cruise was good but they will not stop sending us printed materials, despite being asked five times. For a supposedly eco-friendly company, Viking is the ultimate junk mailer.

Date of experience : January 04, 2022

Just return on our river cruise

Just return on our river cruise . This was our second cruise, I would have to say our first one was wonderful, this one was not bad. The food was excellent. My husband surprised me with the explorer suite,the room was beautiful,the balcony was amazing. The only problem was it WAS VERY NOISY, couldn’t get a full night sleep due the engine and the bed shaking. We will go back to the other suites. The staff was great!

Date of experience : November 12, 2022

Absolutely do not accept voucher. They are the spin experts in taking your money.

Booked a cruise for 2020 in which Viking cancelled it. They offered 25% added to voucher if we took it. We then rebooked in good faith for the next year, Sept. 2021. Viking sent a letter saying they were requiring vaccination and booster for all travelers. Because my wife and I can not get vaccinated (medical exemptions) we had to cancel. They said our only option was to take a voucher which has a two expiration date. We have made a couple of attempts to get our money back but they refuse. Just got off phone with Viking rep and was told we have to wait till August next year to even get it reviewed. Told us voucher money has now lost us about $2000 from what we have paid in cash for the first cruise cancelled by them for Covid. We are beyond frustrated. Very shady operation and because of changing rules looks like they can do whatever they want by changing rules.

Date of experience : July 20, 2022

The food was awful

The food was awful , the service bad some waiters were very rude we were forced to do a lot of included tours or couldn’t leave the ship . It was our first river cruise it was 23 days Bucharest to Amsterdam with Viking . We would never do a river cruise again

Date of experience : October 12, 2022

Like many others we had a river cruise…

Like many others we had a river cruise booked which was affected by the pandemic. We were due to go in June 2020 and when the UK government advised over 70s not to travel abroad in March 2020 we cancelled as our balance amount was due. Of course Viking did not refund! We got a voucher. Not for 125% as others did. Just 100% because we cancelled. We were worried about the validity of the voucher so later in 2020 converted it into a cruise for June 2021. They even asked for nearly £200 more deposit (amount now nearly £1900) Still uneasy about going we moved it again to June 2022. Now after reading Vikings conditions of sailing we are very nervous about the upcoming cruise. Constant spot checks and tempersture taking might make the boat safe but living under threat of testing positive and being abandoned in a foreign country does not make for a happy holiday! I would dearly love a refund but that seems to be sonething they will not consider. I never ever will willingly book another Viking holiday. If they won’t refund people under any circumstances including a world wide pandemic then I’d advise anyone to think carefully before parting with hard earned cash!

Date of experience : February 08, 2022

first and last

This was my first, and now last, Viking cruise. One of the excursions we took was completely misrepresented–fewer than half of the promised activities occurred, and those that did were sad excuses for the kinds of things one can reasonably expect. The highlight of the trip was a soggy piece of tasteless pancake with a line of whipped cream sprayed on it in front of us, which we received after waiting in the rain for 20 minutes. It was not just a waste of $400, but of one entire day of the cruise. The trip was led by a 19-year-old who was pleasant enough, but did not know how to run an excursion. He mostly talked about himself and TV shows–on a trip focused on how 19th Century farmers lived! I explained the problems in detail upon getting back on the ship and a few days later received a message from the excursion director–Sasha, I believe. She summarized my complaint with the least important details while leaving out the important ones, and offered 10% credit. So I would only be paying $360 for wasting an entire day on a misrepresented excursion run by a kid barely out of high school! Viking obviously does not vet their excursions with care, and does not stand by their products. They saved themselves 90% of my payment–and lost 2 customers for life. There are many other cruise lines that do take care about whom they entrust their guests to and do care about their guests’ satisfaction–stick to them and avoid Viking.

Date of experience : August 15, 2023

BEWARE OF VIKING CRUISES

BEWARE OF VIKING CRUISES. A TOTAL "SCAM". A "RIP OFF"...BUYER BEWARE!!! No wonder Viking gets only "two-stars" after 400 Yelp and Trust Pilot reviews. In December 2022 we booked...almost two years in advance...a "Pharaohs & Pyramids" Luxor-to-Luxor Nile River cruise for October of 2024. At Viking's recommendation, we purchased travel insurance protection. The total down payment was $2,428 ($1,000 plus the full $1,428. insurance premium). In April 2023 (eighteen months before the cruise) we decided to cancel. Our refund? A meager $800...and that's if we ever see it after reading about others who have waited for years. So why the massive $1,638 penalty? According to Viking's "fine print" (that nobody ever reads), after just twenty days Viking and its cozy insurance company gets to keep the entire $1,428. insurance premium in addition to the $200 trip cancellation fee. Yep. You're reading this right. Viking keeps a whopping $1,638 for a cruise and travel insurance they'll never have to provide. Said another way, Viking makes money whether or not you cruise. In fact? It can be argued that Viking's profit margin is higher if you book but never take the cruise. What's that? You want to respectfully complain to a Viking rep or people higher up? Good luck. You'll do better by spitting into a gale-force wind. The bottom line? Viking is an unethical enterprise that preys on customers, and vulnerable seniors. SHAME ON YOU VIKING! SHAME, SHAME, SHAME!

Date of experience : April 16, 2023

Viking is the worst Company in the…

Viking is the worst Company in the Travel industry, Don't be fooled by their commercials on Public Television. I booked a River cruise on Viking for August 2022. Viking booked my flight and unfortunately due to mechanical problems, the flight was cancelled. The rebooked flight was 2 days later, which meant we would miss 2 days and had to find a way to get from Amsterdam to Cologne on our own. We spoke to 10 different people being transferred between Customer Service and Customer relations, After hours on the phone, I received an email stating my flight and trip was cancelled without my consent. When I finally spoke to a VP in their Main office in California, I was told that I cancelled the trip. Clearly a case of gaslighting. Vikings Contract of Carriage clearly states that all cancellations have to be in writing. I did not cancel. They don't care. I even asked to be rebooked on another trip instead of refunding my money. No, that did not happen. They were happy to steal my $10,000. Even my travel agent, Affordable Tours, tried to intervene, and they said in disgust, "Viking is the Worst". Do not get SCAMMED. Never use Viking.

Date of experience : August 12, 2022

Do not book with Viking Cruises ,they…

Do not book with Viking Cruises ,they turned my cancelled trip into vouchers with expiration dates that I never knew about. I also booked this trip years ago when there was not a vaccine mandate.They will not return my money of around $22000.00 They told me I did not need vaccinations for 2022 ,now I found out we do .We do not believe in the vaccinations and I told them that right out front. They have no intentions of giving my money back .Do I not have any rights? Anybody got any idea what do I do?

Date of experience : January 25, 2022

Viking's treatment of it's customers…

Viking's treatment of it's customers makes no sense....they combined two of my trips (without asking) into one "butterfly trip" which meant when I had to cancel the first, it cancelled the 2nd. What? Why? That' our policy,. Then they said (under the Risk Free Guarantee) we could have a voucher, but it would be a combined voucher which could only be used for one future trip. What? Why? That's our policy. Viking is not a good company to work with. They don't care....

Date of experience : July 17, 2022

Take the money and run, poor maintenance, service and ownership.

Third time cruise with Viking and hands down the worst travel experience we've ever encountered, particularly for the first class price we paid. Ship generators failed, stuck in port, no A/C in many rooms and common spaces, the repairs were never fully completed aside form maneuvering after 36hrs of delay. Long bus rides and abbreviated stops due to the issue with poor to no A/C on buses. The ship even left and forgot about passengers out on a VIKING excursion at one point. This was an all inclusive purchase through Viking even with First Class airfare. Even the seat with United Airlines Polaris failed on the return 13hr trip from Amsterdam to San Francisco. Viking has refused to offer an apology, take ownership and make it right aside from offering a blanket email to passengers for $500 off a future cruise. When you pay for a meal and they miss the mark, do you get a voucher to come back or do they take care of you there and then AND offer for you to come back to make amends? Not VIKING, they take your $17000 blame anyone else or don't engage you at all and offer you a pittance of a voucher that has a 1 year shelf life for an overpriced fare to begin with. United says Viking has to address the refund, VIKING says UNITED...everything was paid through Viking using their services and staff but they refuse to take any ownership and engage or to even apologize. It's quite telling of a companies ethos and management when they are challenged. Every company looks good when things are right, it's how you respond during adversity and when you fail is what shows your true ethos. Viking is a failure and poor value and experience on every mark.

Date of experience : August 13, 2023

Caveat Emptor

This review is for the 2nd half of our Frances Finest tour. We arrived in Paris from Lyon and were bussed to the ship (Fjorgyn). Room -- The suite was good and had more storage that on the previous ship (Buri). The ship was clean and the staff OK. Food/Wine -- Adequate but not up to expectations. Mostly tasted the same but with different names. In France -- no excuse. Had the drinks package but again was disappointed. Could get the same wine at local super market!! Tours -- OK but crowded. One example -- Monet's home/garden. Arrived with 3 other tour groups -- a real mess. Had to wear devices to hear tour guide that included ear pieces, so if you happen to be wearing glasses and hearing aides you would have 4 different devices competing for "ear space'. Also too much bus riding and not enough free time to explore. Finally Viking provided cases of plastic water bottle's. Would be much more environmentally friendly to loan/give each guest their own insulated permanent bottle and refill as necessary. Would pay for themselves in short order. Covid protocols -- daily testing and required masking unless eating (including on the bus). After reading other reviews of those dealing with Covid isolation these are a good (if inconvenient) requirements. Staff -- Ok but not was good as those on the Buri. Travel - OK but had to jump thru international VeriFly, French declarations, and EU contact tracing requirements as well as Antigen testing 24 hours before flying. That's right -- you will not know if you can travel until the last minute (especially if you are flying on a weekend). Overall -- Would NOT do again until Covid is more under control. Travel is not the pleasant experience it was BC.

Date of experience : June 04, 2022

Don’t bother

We were very disappointed with Viking. This is not a 5* ship and completely overpriced. The food was very poor quality - at best pub grub.( cant find where to attach photos) You had to sit down at the same time - no flexibility - this showed in the food quality - mass produced - the dining room was very often dark due to the fact that we had boats moored either side of us so they closed all the blinds and curtains. We paid for the upgrade to include a full balcony - the balcony was unusable as we were mostly moored between two other ships so the cabin was dreary and dark.The suites were on opposite side of ship so if we were on the outside moored against another boat they were always on the outside so kept their views - The smells from the kitchen- frying onions, garlic, burnt oil filled the cabin if we did try and open the doors. The entertainment was poor, lacked any impact, the lounge was small and without being able to sit on your balcony it was the only other area to go especially if the weather wasn't good. It is impossible to balance this review - the only saving grace was the staff especially in the bar and dining room. Everything felt like a tick box exercise - nothing with any quality at all. Very poor value, lam not new to cruising and I felt that this was the worst cruise I have been on and I would never recommend them or use them again.

Date of experience : July 11, 2023

They will charge you a lot of money but…

They will charge you a lot of money but would not care for you at the end of the day. The places I saw needed much to be desired I was told that at the airport someone will help us until we boarded our plane. the Lufthansa person told me I need to fill out the form required for returning Americans to USA and she was not helpful .I missed my flight and had to stay overnight to a dingy hotel in tears in a French country who doesn't really want to help you . I will never travel with Viking . Their ad is wonderful but after all is said and done it is all crap.

Date of experience : September 02, 2022

No running water, no flushing toilets!

We didn't get to see Honduras as Viking tried to use their own tender to get to shore. It was too windy and not safe so decided not to try to use their tender. Other ships were docked at the pier. Why didn't Viking pay to dock? Is it cheaper to stay out in the bay and use your own tender? Key West was on the itinerary but Viking told us 5 months before they would not be docking. Viking have done this every year since 2012, knowing they are unable to dock there but still taking Port Tax from every passenger. We also paid Port Tax for Honduras even though they chose not to book and pay to use the pier there. Fraud and deception! On the last day, all running water was turned off until we left the ship. We could not wash, shower, not wash our hands and NOT able to flush toilets! We were treated like animals. It's a human right to have access to fresh water and clean sanitation. This was not the case. Any comments Viking? It will take a lot for us to travel with you again.

Date of experience : February 11, 2023

Constant brochures They won't leave you alone!!!uld suggest that you are 100% sure…

I would suggest that you are 100% sure that you want to book a Viking river cruise , before you even make enquiries or ask for a brochure. They never leave you alone. I get brochures on an almost daily basis. I have tried phoning them , but you can never get through. I feel like I will get pestered by them for the rest of my life.I asked for some details during the first Covid lockdown and it never stops. I never want to hear from them again. Be warned!

Date of experience : August 03, 2021

An embarrassment to the cruise industry...and too Viking

We were so looking forward to a wonderful Rhone River cruise on the Viking Hermod until we received an email two days ago that Viking would be significantly altering our itinerary due to labor strikes in France. As with other reviews you'll read, Viking's model is to retain your money at any risk to customer satisfaction. Their position - You signed up for granting them total control of your $10,000 spend when you booked the trip. The trip we booked encompassed a 7-night cruise from Avignon to Lyon. The trip they are now offering is a three-day voyage from Avignon to Avignon with one stop on the second day. The balance of the trip will be spent on buses (for several hours at a time) and in hotels from two nights. There is no commitment on school bus vs luxury coach or Motel 6 vs 4/5 star hotel. Viking touts a luxury experience, but we will not have the opportunity to enjoy the amenities promised offered on the Hermod for four out of the seven days booked. We are hoping for a functioning toilet on the bus and not to have to share a bathroom with other guests in the hotel. When we requested a refund in advance of boarding the answer was a flat-out NO. This sleazy approach has put such a bad taste in our mouth that we have canceled a fall cruise and will now focus our travel spending on land-based trips. It is amazing what you can get for $500-1000/day vs the coin toss you should expect from Viking. Very unfortunate given Viking promotes their brand as best in the cruise industry. Don't buy the hype. Viking needs to do the right thing - refund money when unable to deliver the product they committed.

Date of experience : April 02, 2023

Absolutely fantastic in every respect

Absolutely fantastic in every respect. I cannot find a fault. We enjoyed the superb Amsterdam to Budapest River cruise. There was one ship change due to low water but that really was not a problem. The beauty of this particular cruise line is that they have so many ships on the Rhine and Danube they can easily facilitate a ship change if the water is too high or too low. Not every river cruise line can do this, which is why we chose Viking. We did a post cruise extension at the Hilton hotel in Budapest which is excellent, in the centre of the castle district and convenient for all the sites and nice restaurants and coffee shops. We considered it all excellent value for money and will most certainly be taking another Viking cruise. The attention to detail, cleanliness, excellent quality of food, friendly, attentive staff, thoughtful additional extras provided and inclusive daily tours and wine, beer and soft drinks also included with meals really was all fantastic. The majority of passengers are American 60+, we found that a very pleasant change as they were all very friendly and chatty. I would highly recommend you take the ‘pre-cruise’ extension stay as you really don’t want to get caught up in any delays before your cruise. Even coming from England, we suffered a six hour airport delay. Read all the information provided in case the Viking rep is not there to meet you on arrival at the airport. There is a procedure if the rep isn’t there, to go to the ‘meeting place’ which in our case, was at Amsterdam airport, wait for half an hour to see if the rep arrives and then take a taxi to either your cruise ship or hotel you’re staying in. Viking will reimburse you at the ship’s reception. You should also ring the Viking emergency helpline which was swiftly answered in our case by Lily, who told us exactly what to do. Viking do need to tighten up the meet and greet on arrival at Amsterdam airport, many of the passengers are 60+ and not being met when you are expecting to be is a bit alarming, even for us! I would also suggest that you pack half and half in your suitcases and take an emergency set of clothes plus all medicines in your hand luggage as one guest’s suitcases did not arrive for the entire cruise. The outside restaurant on the ship the Aquavit is popular, but you will find in the course of a two week cruise ample opportunity to eat there for lunch or supper. The air conditioning may give you cruise cough so take some lozenges. We set off 9th Sept 2023. *The cruise director Alec was phenomenal by the way. Money well spent.

Date of experience : September 09, 2023

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Viking Travel Insurance ripoff - Viking Cruises France

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I am a two time customer with Viking CRuises. I went on their 8 day Danube cruise in 2022 and on... read more

I would give the Viking Octantis cruise to Antarctica 5 stars, if not for one part dealing with... read more

Viking Travel Insurance ripoff

I just booked a Viking River Cruise for Fall of 2019 and I booked directly with a Viking Cruise agent. I feel that I was misled and tricked into purchasing $700 in travel insurance that I told the agent I did not want! She told me that she would put it on my invoice and I could remove it later. After I made the deposit I called the booking agent to have it removed and she said that it could not be removed because I already paid the deposit. I think she was very deceitful and knew exactly what she was doing. This reminds me of what car rental agencies do when you rent a car... they trick you into purchasing insurance when you don't need it. Vey shady practices! I really thought Viking was a more reputable company. I guess that agent really needed the commission. There seems to be no reason for them not to remove the travel insurance from my invoice. We still booked a very expensive cruise with them and will, more than likely spend money on the ship for extras and excursions. I would think they would want to keep the future customer satisfied and happy!!! In this case, Viking has really missed the customer service boat!!!! Shame on them!!!

We appreciate you bringing this matter to our attention, jusgo, and are sorry to hear of your disappointment. To continue this conversation and assist you with your concerns, we welcome you to reach out to us directly with your booking details. We look forward to speaking with you further, jusgo, and wish you a wonderful day.

After 3 fabulous river cruises with Viking we opted for a change this year and, on Saturday, we returned from the last Caribbean cruise of the season on Viking Sea. I have read other reviews suggesting that positive reviews of Viking cruises are written as a result of incentives/bribery from Viking. I must stress that we have NO connection to Viking neither have we been coerced into writing specific reviews. We are simply 2 travellers who have come love everything that Viking stands for in terms of consistency, quality and superb on-board service. Our original booking would have meant a very long day travelling from Manchester - Philadelphia - San Juan, arriving on the ship at around midnight. However, we managed to change the flights so that we spent over-night in Philadelphia (at our own expense, but well worth it), and we agreed that this was a very wise decision as, by 2.30 pm we had unpacked and we were enjoying a refreshing cocktail on the Aquavit Terrace. As we had opted in to the "Silver Spirits" package, we were able to try a huge range of cocktails and wines at no additional expense. First impression of the Viking Sea was …. WOW! And this impression never left us. Service throughout was the supremely high standard we have come to expect - ALL crew members were polite, friendly, professional - and simply couldn't do enough to help us. Unfortunately, it seemed that some of our fellow cruisers had forgotten about the basic courtesies of "please" and "thank you", but even these incidents didn't seem to (overtly) affect the wonderful people we met on board. We took up the option of pre-booking the 2 specific restaurants but, mostly, we were quite happy with the food at the World Café and the option to eat on the Aquavit Terrace in the open air. Admittedly, some excursions were rather "hit and miss", and we opted out of a couple, having already visited some of the islands in question. The "Viking Daily" set out a comprehensive package of talks, discussions and activities but we simply preferred to spend the afternoons by the infinity pool and the evenings socialising with our 2 other travelling companions. Once again, the crew on Viking Sea were FABULOUS, the cabins (oops, sorry - Staterooms) were spacious, spotlessly clean and well equipped. It all depends on what you want from a cruise: in one port we were docked next to the RCL "Allure of the Seas"; 2700 staterooms = 5400+ travellers, climbing wall, shops, casinos, restaurants determined by your level of accommodation, young travellers etc … We prefer the experience of the Viking Sea and will happily book again with Viking. We have never been disappointed in 4 years.

After our first Viking cruise we swore that we would never take another ocean cruise. We did but it was Viking.. we enjoy the smaller venue with much more personalized service and more chance to get to know other cruisers. By the second day all the waiters know your name and preferences of juices and other drinks. Every time we left the room it was straightened and the bathroom cleaned. You feel very pampered and wish you could take them home with you. The food is excellent and the excursions well planned.

This is the first and last time for a Viking cruise. We have been terribly disappointed with this cruise. Why? The biggest complaint is with the shore excursions and shore excursion staff. The excursion booking process is geared to the penthouse passengers, so desirable tours are sold out by the time the normal balcony passengers have access. Typical passengers are also pushed to less desirable tour times (think middle of summer afternoons) to allow the privileged passengers the better times. Viking staff do not handle the tours. Guests are handed over to a local tour guide on each of the islands, and these local guides and buses are frequently not good. On one tour, the bus relocated and was nowhere to be found. On a tour that went from 5 pm until 10 pm, the provided “snack” was a bag of chips and small granola bar. Restaurants were closed upon return o the ship. The food onboard is uninteresting. I suggest that you avoid the Captain’s Table, as the chef is creatively bad. Following on inedible meal there, we had to go to the buffet to find something edible. There is literally no entertainment on board prior to 4 pm...no speakers, no movies, no live music, nothing. You can go to the pool or spa, or I suppose you can catch a nap in your room. After a few days, it gets quite monotonous. There is general incompetence onboard. Examples: never sufficient comment cards for the excursions, regular confusion concerning excursion times, incorrect disembarkation information, asking for an ink pen and being given one that does not write. Not big things, but after a while, it becomes clear that the focus of the staff is not on providing a quality experience for the guests. The Excursion Manager was blatantly arrogant, rude and insulting. It has been a long time since anyone has so effectively angered me. My suggestion is to find a different cruise line.

We appreciate your review, Q2475ATdavidr, though we regret to learn your first Viking voyage left you feeling disappointed. We hear your disenchantment with the shore excursions, service and entertainment, and all of your constructive comments have been noted for review. Nevertheless, we would like the opportunity to learn more about how we could have provided the five-star journey you’d envisioned, and invite you to contact us directly to discuss your overall experience in more detail. Thank you for your feedback, and we hope to hear from you soon.

Paris people are passionate lovers of history, antiquities and cafes. The German cities that we visited imparted a unique sense of history, coupled with castles and cathedrals. Our Viking host was the longship “Alsvin.” The entire staff were excellent and catering to all of our needs. I was somewhat disappointed in the inability of the Executive Chef to provide delectable sugar-free desserts, as I had requested approx 7 months in advance and identified myself personally to the Chef. Personally having had a background in culinary arts and having attended the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY ...very disappointing. This type of Cruise is for historians, novice, educators and couples in LOVE. The cost is pricey, yet, well worth the expense. Service was equal to Ritz Carlton which I previously reviewed. Highly recommend Viking River Cruises, but do not over pack. There’s lots to bring back, so save room. Travel to Europe during the warmer months to avoid rain, cold and low water levels on the Rhine River. Lastly, if you are into holistic health, visit the Thermalbad Spa in Switzerland which features a rooftop spa that one can view the Swiss Alps from. Ciao!

The food, the service and the overall environment is excellent. However, if you are looking for a more joyful trip, this cruise isn’t for you. The inclusive tours, which are free, are not worth our time, it’s better to book your own or just spend time enjoying the beautiful beaches.

Review: VIKING MARS: Transatlantic…and Terrific!

Viking Ocean Cruises’ Viking Mars Brings Comfort to Crossing

The Boeing 777-200 hasn’t even lifted off from Barcelona’s International Airport before my shoulders, neck and back begin to object to the confines of my coach seat. The woman beside me is already fast asleep, her head listing uncomfortably close to mine. Once we’re aloft, lunch is served. I lift the plastic tray’s foil cover to find a trio of unappetizing substances: three lumps of chicken obscured by a gelatinous tomato concoction, a mound of grainy mashed potatoes that I later discover is actually polenta and, seriously, who would ever create a vegetable combo of broccoli and peas?  Entertainment choices suck and I attract glares when I switch on the overhead light to read my book in the dark cabin.

Worst of all, in eight hours when I arrive at New York’s JFK, I can pretty much count on two days of jet lag and a screwed up sleeping pattern.

Fortunately, there is a lavish alternative to air travel when crossing the Pond, specifically, the two-week Viking Mars crossing I disembarked from this morning–a voyage of comfort, superb entertainment and exquisite dining. And, thanks to an hour time change on selected days of the voyage, jet lag is a non-issue.

Yet, even among dedicated cruise enthusiasts, the thought of an Atlantic crossing often invokes considerable apprehension with fear of motion sickness and boredom the greatest triggers.

I’m no stranger to Atlantic crossings but since Viking Mars is less than one-third the size of the other ships I’ve sailed, I’ve come prepared with Bonine, Dramamine and a scopolamine patch. Yet the early March seas never roar. The greatest roars, in fact, come in the form of two rainy mornings, a bit of rolling and the closure of an outdoor walking track for a few hours.  There is less “ocean motion” talk among guests than I’ve heard aboard cruises in the Caribbean or the Med and nobody—absolutely nobody—misses a meal.

On an Atlantic crossing, sea days abound. My 14-day voyage from Fort Lauderdale to Barcelona includes only three ports of call (St. Martin, Madeira and Barcelona) and, between Madeira and Barcelona, we sail six uninterrupted sea days. Days, it turns out, we enjoy , not endure, thanks to a round-the-clock schedule of delightful activities. Believe me, there’s something magical about late night dancing or having that extra drink or two knowing that tomorrow’s a sea day and there’s no need to head to the theater at some ungodly hour to join your group for the day’s coach tour.

They say a crossing isn’t for everyone but after sailing the Atlantic aboard Viking Mars , I’m not sure I agree!

VIKING MARS: OUT OF THIS WORLD!: 10/10

At 47,842 grt and a capacity of 930 guests (we had 887 on our crossing), Viking Mars is a relatively small ship that debuted in 2022 and is identical to the other ships in the Viking Ocean line.  This uniformity, Viking and its fiercely devoted fans believe, allows guests to board any of the ocean ships and immediately feel at home. (Even Viking Vesta , scheduled to debut in 2025 with a slightly larger 54,300 grt ton configuration and 998-guests, will feature a layout identical to Viking’s current ocean fleet).

But even if you’ve never sailed a Viking Ocean ship, you can expect to quickly find your bearings, with most public rooms located on decks 1, 2 and 7 and a speedy elevator to transport you between them.

Viking Mars , like its sister ships, is a celebration of Scandinavian culture. Blonde woods and clean design predominate while touches like The Viking Heritage Museum (a small exhibit of Norwegian tools, costumes and artifacts) underscores the line’s origins. Even the full-service Nordic Spa/fitness center includes an area where guests may enjoy (at no charge) all the elements of an invigorating Nordic Bathing Ritual with thalassotherapy pool, cold water plunge and the innovative snow grotto, a snow-filled nook where guests chill out—literally–after a visit to the area’s steam room.

On the relatively few frigid days of my crossing, Viking Mars’ large midship swimming pool area was filled, thanks to the protection of its retractable roof. A smaller pool with an infinity design is located on deck 7 aft, and from it or the large hot tub that hovers a deck above, guests may enjoy spectacular unobstructed views. The ship, which is adults 18+ only, features no casino and no formal library although books—everything from coffee table volumes to travel tomes to the latest James Patterson paperback—are everywhere, incorporated into the very design of the shelving found throughout the ship. A bank of five Dell computers is tucked in a corner of the Atrium for guests’ use and a launderette is located on each deck.

Viking Ocean’s roots trace back to Viking River Cruises, established in 1997, and the ocean product has adapted many signatures of the line’s river operation. Viking Mars and her sisters might be true cruise ships, but wine is complimentary with lunch and dinner, at least one no-cost shore excursion is offered at every port and internet—excellent Starlink internet—is included in fares. For those who’d like a tipple between meals, the Silver Spirits beverage package that includes cocktails, fine wines, beer and champagne is available at an ever-so-reasonable cost of $25 per person per day. Compare that to the per-person cost of beverage packages on other ships!

GOING SOLO: 8*/10

When it comes to sailing solo aboard Viking Mars , I quickly realize I’m not alone. The ship organizes a meet and mingle so that the group of 40 or so women and men may meet up and, the following day, schedules solo sailor lunches, hosted by officers and other ship personnel.

Yet it is the ship’s design and activities that best bring people together. I am drafted into a trivia team that meets daily at 12:15 at the Star Theater…and never wins. The intimate Living Room bar encourages conversation and I quickly learn that I’ll find Marsha, Lani and Chris in its near corner each night before dinner. The Explorer’s Lounge is the day and night haunt of Sherry, Ricky, Dan, Kurt, Patty, Rachel and Vincent, and at 10:00 p.m., I’ll head to Torshavn to dance my butt off with Kathy, Gary and those fabulous Scottish people whose names I never recall.

Sailing solo? Not aboard Viking Mars’ Atlantic crossing. In fact, on the final night of the crossing, I find myself at a lavish dinner at Kip and Brent’s swanky 1,448 square foot multi-room Owner’s Suite, their butler and staff serving a lavish dinner for our little group of eight who, until boarding, had never laid eyes on each other.

*Unfortunately, Viking Mars does not offer single occupancy staterooms. Occasional specials are offered, however, and such promotions may be found on the “Special Offers” section of the line’s website.

DIGS WITH DETAILS: 10/10

My 270 square-foot deluxe veranda stateroom is a vision of blue and beige. A king-sized bed with padded striped headboard is dressed with luxury 100% cotton Debella linens, and an ample closet is tucked into the far corner. I may view movies, live TV, the ship’s restaurant menus and my personal daily schedule on the 42” flat screen TV while sipping a beverage from the mini bar stocked with snacks and soft drinks or a coffee from my Nespresso machine. Two side chairs lead the way to a spacious veranda and my bathroom features a glass-enclosed shower with a powerful Bossini shower head, mirrored vanity with storage drawers and shelves and a supply of generously sized Freya toiletries.

But it’s the attention to detail here that really wows me. I return to my stateroom on the first evening to find a Viking bookmark has been inserted in the paperback I’d placed on my bed’s end table. I lift the desk’s lid to reveal a pair of binoculars and—voila!—a lighted make-up mirror. The bathroom’s tile floor is actually heated which, even during the Caribbean leg of my crossing, feels unexpectedly pleasant (and, when covered with a hand towel, comes in handy later in the sailing to dry the bit of handwashing I’ve done in the bathroom sink).

A TASTE OF VIKING MARS: 10/10

The smoky sweetness of Manfredi’s Viking Bistecca. The delectable soft shell crab sushi which, along with other sushi varieties and a vast hot and cold buffet, is available nightly at World Café. The rich split pea soup and delightful Scandinavian open-faced sandwiches of Mamsen’s. The Chef’s Table’s delicate seared halibut in a pool of California olive and herb vinaigrette resting atop crumbled roasted cauliflower and buttered panko. The tender and cheesy oysters Rockefeller and crispy wiener schnitzel at The Restaurant. Afternoon tea, each table bearing a tiered tray heavy with the sweet and the savory, and The  Pool Grill’s salads, grilled selections and those heavenly chicken wings. Viking Mars may not have over 40 restaurants like one newly launched megaship boasts, but with choices as outstanding and varied as Viking Mars’ , who cares?

Forget surcharges, like so many perks of a Viking Ocean sailing, dining venues aboard are entirely complimentary. Specialty restaurants—the Italian Manfredi’s and the Chef’s Table with its rotating five-course themed menus—require reservations but don’t hesitate to drop by even without them. If space is available, you’re in!

THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT!: 10/10

There certainly is life on Mars! One look at each day’s Viking Daily and you’ll agree!

While there’s no question that many of my shipmates opt to relax all day in the lamp-lit comfort of Viking Mars’ Living Room reading the latest bestseller or while away their time playing backgammon, mahjong, checkers and more on one of the interactive game tables that line the Atrium’s second level, the ship’s entertainment staff doesn’t count on it.

Instead, they’ve managed to fill our 14 days—mostly sea days—with entertainment, education and sometimes just mindless fun. Guest lecturers on my sailing include history, science, aviation, archaeology, astronomy and maritime experts who enlightened us to everything from the Kon-Tiki to the history of wine, beer and spirits. Want to learn even more about a subject? Visit your favorite lecturer during his or her “office hours” for a one-on-one opportunity to delve deeper into their topic.

On some days, Viking Mars’ Star Theater is transformed into a movie theater (complete with popcorn), and the Wintergarden into an embroidery workshop. Special wine or spirits tastings (charge of $30) provide an entertaining and informative introduction to some premium libations while port talks outline what we might expect at our next port of call. There’s even a hilarious daily Baggo competition, often between crew and guests, with players hurling beanbags into the board hole from increasingly higher levels of the ship’s sweeping Atrium staircase. Want to go behind the scenes aboard Viking Mars? Unadvertised tours of the bridge, the engine room, the galley, the laundry and the provisioning operation are available—simply go to guest services and request participation. But go early, as space is very limited!

Evenings aboard Viking Mars mean music, from the tinkling of a Steinway and the melodic sounds of classical to the strum of the ship’s resident singer/guitarist who performs popular acoustic favorites. And in Barcelona, guests are treated to an onboard performance by La Rumba Catalana, local musicians who transport us to the neighborhoods of Gracia and Poble Sec. Theater shows tend to lean towards vocal performances with talented singers covering genres that range from pop hits to “The Sound of the 70s,” Broadway and more, and with the exception of that unfortunate attempt to turn “American Pie” into a country song, the productions are decidedly impressive.  At 10:30 p.m. the fun really begins at the intimate Torshavn nightclub when The Viking Band rocks the boat with outstanding rock, pop, and ballads that fill the dance floor.  Alas, though, the band rarely performs beyond midnight.

Aboard Viking Mars , crossing the Atlantic is a holiday in itself! And, trust me, the ship’s design,  ambiance, dining and entertainment beats anything you’ll ever find in the air.

On March 27, 2025, Viking Mars offers a 14-day crossing from Fort Lauderdale to Barcelona with calls at Madeira and Barcelona – see cruises here

13 Night – Atlantic Ocean Passage : Fort Lauderdale, Florida to Barcelona Starting in Fort Lauderdale, Sail the Caribbean Sea, Sail the Caribbean Sea, Philipsburg, Sail the Atlantic Ocean, Sail the Atlantic Ocean, Sail the Atlantic Ocean, Sail the Atlantic Ocean, Sail the Atlantic Ocean, Sail the Atlantic Ocean, Funchal, Sail the Atlantic Ocean, Sail the Mediterranean Sea, Barcelona

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Plan with Confidence

The Travel Protection Plan, offered by Viking and administered by Trip Mate, a Generali Global Assistance & Insurance Services brand, provides additional peace of mind by covering many unforeseen circumstances that may arise before or during your trip.

Trip Interruption or Cancellation

If your trip is interrupted or cancelled due to a covered emergency, weather issue, or other unforeseeable event, you may be reimbursed.

Accident or Sickness & Medical Repatriation

Emergency medical or dental expenses during your trip may be covered, including costs of circumstances that may arise from any illness, including COVID-19. Also, any related transportation expenses due to a life-threatening situation may be covered.

Baggage & Personal Items

Baggage or personal items—such as passports or visas—that are lost, damaged or stolen during your trip are covered up to the plan limits. Additionally, you may be reimbursed for incurred expenses should your baggage be delayed for 24 hours or more during your trip.

Cancel For Any Reason

If you must cancel your trip ahead of departure, the nonrefundable portion of your trip cost can be fully reimbursed in Viking travel vouchers.

Protect Your Investment Now

To purchase this plan, obtain a quote, or for any other questions, please call Viking at 1-877-668-4546.

The Travel Protection Plan Details

For your convenience, Viking offers a Travel Protection Plan administered by Trip Mate, a Generali Global Assistance & Insurance Services brand. This may help protect your travel investment, your belongings and most importantly, you, from many unforeseen circumstances that may arise before or during your trip, including costs of circumstances that may arise from any illness (including COVID-19*). The Travel Protection Plan includes a non-insurance Cancel For Any Reason Waiver (provided by Viking), Travel Insurance Benefits (underwritten by Generali- U.S. Branch) and Assistance Services (provided by Generali Global Assistance). Payments are for the full Travel Protection Plan, which is made up of the Part A Non-Insurance Cancel For Any Reason Waiver, and Part B Insurance Benefits, and Assistance Services (a separate fee for Assistance Services is included in the Plan Payment). Individuals looking to obtain additional information regarding the features of each travel plan component, please contact Trip Mate at [email protected] .  Insurance benefits in the Plan are subject to limitations and exclusions, including an exclusion for pre-existing conditions. Plan benefits, limits and provisions vary by state/jurisdiction and not all coverage is available in all states. To review full plan details online and Important Disclosures, go to:  www.tripmate.com/wpGR625V .

*COVID-19 is treated the same as any other sickness. The plan requires a sickness to be “examined and treated by a physician”. We consider all PCR or laboratory tests to have been administered by a physician.

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