viking cruises food review

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• Global Tastemakers

This Is the Best Cruise for Food, As Voted on by Our Readers

Dining on the high seas has come a long way.

Global Tastemakers is our first-ever reader’s choice awards, celebrating the best culinary destinations in the U.S. and abroad. F&W readers voted based on travel completed within the past three years, on categories including restaurants and bars, cities, hotels, airports, airlines, and cruises. Due to the limitations of pandemic travel, this year’s Global Tastemakers winners reflect a smaller portion of the globe. In many categories, we’re including an editor’s pick to shout out some more culinary destinations in places you can’t miss. See all the winners at foodandwine.com/globaltastemakers .

Plenty of questions come into play when you’re booking a cruise. Where do you want to go? What time of year is best? Is drifting down the Danube River your style, or would you rather roam the icy waters of Antarctica? Are you more comfortable on a large or small ship? But one thing that’s historically been an afterthought rather than a priority, however, is food.  

Courtesy of Viking

Thankfully, dining on the high seas has come a long way since the era of sad buffets, corny “formal night” suppers, and bland continental cuisine. To cater to the boom of people who travel with eating and drinking well in mind, cruise lines, at long last, have fittingly upped their culinary programming.

Charissa Fay

While one strategy rolled out by many lines has been focusing on quantity with a dizzying variety of ho-hum options, that’s never been part of the plan for Viking Cruises , which our readers voted the overall best cruise for food in the world.

Because for the cruise line founded by Norwegian Torstein Hagen in 1997, culinary has always been backed by well-curated, enriching experiences on and off the ship. (Imagine pairing Portuguese ports with traditional cuisine at Graham’s 1890 Lodge, or the singular thrill of catching king crabs in Norway’s spectacular fjords.)

On top of that, Viking’s vessels sport a minimalist, pared-back design, so natural light bathes all the spaces, from the guest cabins to the restaurants, in a warm glow. What’s more, Viking prides itself in upfront, inclusive pricing. Your fare covers everything you look forward to while cruising, even excursions. You won’t find sneaky additional charges for basics like Wi-Fi and wine with meals. Another perk? Viking has three types of ships (river, ocean, and expedition) in its lineup, so you can gracefully traverse the world’s most desirable and delicious destinations.

Whether you’re gliding down the Nile River or navigating the Arctic’s uncharted waters, below are some exceptional experiences you can savor aboard Viking’s river, ocean, and expedition cruises. 

The Best of River Cruises

On Portugal’s River of Gold , visit Lisbon and other historic towns like Coimbra while cruising the Douro River Valley. Witness the time-honored tradition of baking bread in an oven fired by grapevines and wood during an excursion to the charming village of Favaios , or discover the fine art of blending port with an expert-led workshop. Dive even deeper into the country’s storied port tradition by booking Graham’s Port Dinner . The four-hour session at Graham’s 1890 Lodge commences with cellar tours and concludes with a traditional port-paired supper at the acclaimed Vinum Restaurant and Wine Bar.   

During Romantic Danube , soak in breathtaking scenery along the Danube, Europe’s second-longest river, with daily stops in Hungary and Austria. Indulge in the beloved annual Austrian tradition of Heurigen dinners , boisterous affairs celebrating the year’s new wine at an area tavern. Have a sweet tooth? Don’t miss the Gottweig Abbey With Apricot Dumpling Demonstration , where you’ll learn firsthand how Austrian apricot dumplings (Marillenknödel) are made in the Benedictine monastery’s kitchen. 

The Best of Ocean Cruises

With overnight stays in Stockholm, Oslo, and Bergen, Viking Homelands lets you savor the best of Scandinavian food and culture at a leisurely pace. Meet the Thrysøe Family grants you the rare opportunity to visit award-winning Guldbæk Vineyards, one of the world’s most northern vineyards, gain insight into Danish winemaking, and tour their charming home. But it doesn’t get any cozier than the Stavanger Home Visit . You’ll be welcomed into a resident’s home and learn about Norwegian traditions and everyday life over freshly-made waffles and coffee. Available on many ocean voyages, including this one, The Kitchen Table is one of Viking Cruise’s most sought-after gastronomic experiences. After shopping for market-fresh ingredients at your port with the ship’s executive chef and culinary team during the day, you’ll reconvene in the evening for an exclusive, specially-prepared dinner of local dishes. Multiple food tours are also available, like Oslo for Food Lovers by Foot — where you’ll wander Oslo’s buzzy Grünerløkka neighborhood and refuel with snacks along the way.

Explore one of the most stunning parts of the world aboard Into the Midnight Sun . During the summer in the Arctic Circle, the midnight sun doesn’t set — resulting in 24 continuous hours of golden skies. Immerse yourself in activities unique to the area, such as catching king crabs from a deep-sea raft in Sarnesfjorden’s pristine waters with King Crab Safari . Reserve Make Your Own Crai Gin to learn how to distill and bottle your own gin creation under the guidance of one of Kirkjuvagr Orkney Gin’s master distillers. Or meet a farming family in Norway’s Northlands to discover their sustainable way of life, including how they make cheese and raise goats, during Aalan Farm .

The Best of Expedition Cruises

Launched early last year, Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris are the latest additions to Viking's world-class fleet. Small but appointed with thoughtful elements like ample indoor and outdoor viewing areas, these expedition vessels can easily reach remote spots traditional cruise ships can't. But perhaps the most surprising elements of the pair are the diverse dining options belying their relatively small size. (Both accommodate just 378 guests.) 

With five enticing options, including 24-hour room service, your palate won't ever fatigue. Among the highlights are Manfredi’s, a posh Italian restaurant serving up bistecca alla Fiorentina, octopus carpaccio, and gnocchi alla romana, and Mamsen’s. Lovingly dedicated to "Mamsen" Ragnhild Hagen, the mother of Viking's founder, the cheerful cafe serves up casual Scandinavian-inspired fare (think waffles, split pea soup, and open-faced sandwiches).

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Viking Ocean Cruise Dining: What You Need to Know

Viking Ocean Cruises offer a variety of dining spots serving a variety of delicious cuisine. There’s undoubtedly something for everyone. Take your pick of refined or casual menus as well as inside or al fresco dining. All food is included in the cruise cost — no upcharges for dining at a specialty restaurant. Also, soda, house wine, and beer are complimentary at lunch and dinner (and the servers gladly provide refills throughout the meal). Guests can always purchase the Silver Spirits beverage package, which includes premium wine, beer, spirits, and cocktails — at meals and anytime throughout the cruise. My husband and I have enjoyed the variety of cuisine and dining settings (casual or refined, inside or outside) — and all included in the trip cost — to be a great benefit of cruising with Viking.

One factor that makes dining aboard a Viking Ocean Cruise ship so appealing is the attentive service accompanying restaurant meals. Friendly and open to conversation, the servers can make menu suggestions based on your interests. My husband and I were so impressed with a server in the restaurant one night that we requested one of her tables at subsequent dinners.

Viking accommodates guests with food allergies (fish, shellfish, nuts, and soy) and special dietary needs (such as diabetic, gluten-free, low-carb, low-fat, and vegetarian). To notify Viking of special dietary requests before your cruise, go to the My Viking Journey online portal, select Onboard Experience > Preferences > Dietary Restrictions. Once onboard, you can always discuss special dietary needs in person.

Two restaurants (Chef’s Table and Manfredi’s) require reservations and fill up quickly. Claim your spot on the My Viking Journey online portal before your trip (when your reservation window — based on your stateroom level — opens) or when you board the ship. The rest of the dining options are available without reservations. For instance, at The Restaurant, you will be seated in the order you check in with the host/hostess.

Viking Ocean Cruise Restaurants

Chef’s table.

Chef’s Table is a specialty restaurant featuring a rotating theme-based menu that lasts for three days at a time. Featured menus have focused on Asian, British, California, Chinese, and Mexican cuisine. Expect a five-course meal with paired wines. This restaurant requires reservations. (Deck 1)

The Living Room

The Living Room lounge has a bar that also offers morning go-to’s like muffins and pastries, and sandwiches in the afternoon and evening. (Deck 1)

Mamsen’s

Mamsen’s is a small café with Norwegian-inspired treats tucked into the Explorers’ Lounge and is open periodically throughout the day. Popular items are heart-shaped waffles, open-faced sandwiches, soups, and pastries. Choose what you’d like and find a table in the Explorers’ Lounge. This dining spot’s name honors “Mamsen” Ragnhild Hagen, Viking Chairman Torstein Hagen’s beloved mother, known for preparing excellent Norwegian cuisine. (Deck 7)

Manfredi’s Italian Restaurant

Manfredi’s is a specialty dining space that requires reservations. Expect a selection of Italian-inspired appetizers, soups, pasta and risotto, main courses (lamb, fish, seafood, and steak), sides, and dessert. A popular item is Bistecca di Manfredi, a Florentine-style steak. (Deck 1)

Pool Grill & Bar

Near the main pool are the Pool Grill and Pool Bar. The Pool Grill features salads, sides, and grilled fare, including hamburgers, hot dogs, and fish. (Deck 7)

The Restaurant

The Restaurant is the main dining spot with various offerings featuring creatively prepared familiar and international dishes. On one left side of the menu are classic dishes that are always available, like Caesar Salad, salmon, chicken, and steak. On the right side of the menu are evening specials, including destination-focused dishes. Some dinner choices on a recent cruise included Spicy Mussel Stew, Crispy Soft-shell Crab, Chilean Sea Bass, Lobster Thermidor, Slow-roasted Prime Rib, Thai Red Curry Chicken, Osso Buco, Pot Roast, and Filet au Roquefort, along with vegetarian highlights, like Vegetable and Mushroom Brown Rice Paella. (Deck 2)

Room Service

Room service is complimentary and available 24 hours a day for all guests. To order room service breakfast, complete the breakfast menu placed in your room while you’re at dinner; hang it outside your door before bed, and your breakfast will be delivered in the morning. Order room service at other times of the day when you feel like dining in your stateroom or on the balcony — or feel the need for a late-night snack.

Wintergarden

Relax for afternoon tea with your choice of teas and coffees to accompany tea sandwiches, scones, and sweets. Listen to musicians perform classical tunes during this late-afternoon experience. (Deck 7)

For casual dining throughout the day, head to the World Café , which provides a wide variety of breakfast foods (including made-to-order omelets) as well as sandwiches, salads, entrees, sides, bread, pizza, and gelato for lunch and dinner. All the food is buffet-style, and you choose your seating: inside at tables or outside while enjoying the views. Servers will come to your table to provide drinks (complimentary soda, wine, and beer at lunch and dinner). The World Café is very casual, so jeans and shorts are perfectly acceptable. (Deck 7)

Tips for Dining & Restaurant Dress Codes

• If you feel like sampling more than one dish or want less food, ask for half-portions of salads or entrees .
• Make trip planning easier by making dinner reservations, sharing your allergies and dietary restrictions, and signing up for the optional Silver Spirits beverage package online ( MyVikingJourney.com ) before your cruise. See below for more information on this.
• When dining at Chef’s Table, Manfredi’s Italian Restaurant, or The Restaurant, adhere to Viking’s suggested casual elegance dress code . For women, this translates to a dress, skirt, or slacks with a sweater or blouse; for men, it’s pants and a collared shirt. No need for a sports jacket or tie — unless you want to wear that. Just remember, no jeans in these three dining venues.
• Casual attire (e.g., jeans, shorts) is perfectly acceptable at the Pool Grill and the World Café.

Making Reservations for Specialty Restaurants

To make reservations at the specialty restaurants, Chef’s Table and Manfredi’s Italian Restaurant, before your cruise, head to MyVikingJourney.com and make your selections. On MyVikingJourney.com , select Onboard Experience > Dining and Beverage. You can also cancel and change dining reservations online.

Online dining reservations become available according to stateroom level and on the following schedule:

• Owner’s Suite—100 days from the sail date
• Explorer Suites—90 days from the sail date
• Penthouse Junior Suites—80 days from the sail date
• Penthouse Veranda Staterooms—70 days from the sail date
• Deluxe Veranda Staterooms—60 days from the sail date
• Veranda Staterooms—No priority reservations

You may also book reservations once onboard but know that the specialty restaurants are popular, so you may need to be flexible when booking.

Restaurant Overview

Below is a quick overview of the dining options aboard a Viking Ocean cruise ship. Verify current times of dining services in the Viking Daily once you are onboard. For example, The Restaurant may offer lunch on some days at sea.

Wherever you are on the ship, you’re never far from a bar, and they have generous hours of operation — some opening in mid-morning. Bars are located on Aquavit Terrace (Deck 7), Explorers’ Lounge (Deck 7), the Pool Bar (Deck 7), The Living Room (Deck 1), and Torshavn , a lounge/nightclub (Deck 2).

You can charge the drinks to your onboard account or sign up for the Silver Spirits Beverage Package, which includes unlimited premium wine, beer, and cocktails. The Silver Spirits package costs $25 per day of the cruise. If two people share a stateroom, both must purchase the package for $50 per day (for double occupancy). If interested in the Silver Spirits Beverage Package, you can sign up before the cruise on MyVikingJourney.com by selecting Onboard Experience > Dining and Beverage > Silver Spirits Beverage Package. Also, you can sign up for the beverage package once aboard the ship.

Guests are allowed to bring wine (and other alcohol) onto the ship. For example, if you purchase wine while on an excursion, you can bring it back, and a Viking bartender will open the bottle for you with no corkage fees. And as mentioned, complimentary house wine and beer are served during lunch and dinner .

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Two Delicious Sweets (with Recipes) Served Aboard

Viking Cruises offer delicious food and tempting treats. Here are recipes for two such desserts. Lebkuchen, the gingerbread-type cookie with hazelnuts, is rich in flavor. The Coconut Macaroons are a light sweet treat to serve alone or accompanying other goodies.

• 1 medium saucepan
• 1 Rolling Pin
• 2 mixing bowls large and medium sized
• 2 baking sheets

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/2 cup molasses
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp lemon zest
• 2 3/4 cup flour
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp ground cloves
• 1 tsp allspice
• 1 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/3 cup candied citron, diced (optional)
• 1/3 cup hazelnuts chopped
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup water or milk
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
• sliced almonds, candied citron or ginger, or melted chocolate

Instructions

• In a medium saucepan, bring honey and molasses to a boil. Remove from heat; stir in brown sugar, egg, lemon juice and zest. In a large bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and all spices, and stir in molasses mix, citron, and hazelnuts. Cover. Chill overnight. Preheat oven to 350°. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. On a floured, hard surface, roll out a small amount of chilled dough to 1/4-inch thick. If the dough is sticky, use more flour. Cut dough with desired cookie cutters; transfer to prepared baking sheets. Bake for 10-12 minutes. Meanwhile, make icing by heating sugar and liquids in a small saucepan (do not boil). Remove from heat; stir in confectioners' sugar. If icing crystallizes, reheat and add water or milk. Transfer cookies to rack, and while still hot, brush with icing and decorate with almonds, candied citron or ginger; or, let cool completely and drizzle with melted chocolate. Store in a sealed container.

Coconut Macaroons

• 1 electric mixer
• 2 baking trays
• 4 egg whites
• 2/3 cup confectioners' sugar
• 2 cups shredded unsweetened coconut
• 1 tsp vanilla sugar
• Preheat oven to 350°. Using an electric mixer, beat egg whites until stiff. Then, combine with other ingredients. Place small macaroons on a baking tray lined with parchment paper using a tablespoon. Bake for 10-15 minutes.

Final Thoughts

Viking has done a fine job offering an appealing variety of dining locations and menus aboard their ocean cruise ships. My husband and I always ordered breakfast from room service to enjoy a leisurely breakfast while getting ready in the morning. We sometimes enjoyed breakfast on our balcony to savor a scenic view. For lunch, we usually headed to World Café and appreciated the variety of cheeses, salads, entrees, pizza, and desserts (including gelato). We sometimes opted for lunch at Mamsen’s and liked eating in the relaxed setting of the Explorers’ Lounge. We tried all the restaurants for dinner, and our favorite was The Restaurant because of the changing menu each evening. Overall, we were very satisfied with the dining options aboard Viking on our ocean cruise.

Feel free to share your suggestions and thoughts about dining aboard a Viking Ocean Cruise ship. Your ideas could help other cruisers. Thanks! 🙂

More Popular Reads

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• Viking Ocean

Nice Viking Restaurant Guide with Menus

By dwlmg , January 29, 2020 in Viking Ocean

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This site has a Viking Restaurant Guide based on the Nov 2019 Viking Homelands cruise.  There are links to several menus from the cruise.

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CCWineLover

48 minutes ago, dwlmg said: This site has a Viking Restaurant Guide based on the Nov 2019 Viking Homelands cruise.  There are links to several menus from the cruise.   https://eatsleepcruise.com/2019/11/viking-ocean-cruises-restaurant-guide/  

Thank you.  This is certainly the most complete guide I've seen.  Menus do change, especially the Chef's Table, as there are a number of new ones being offered now.   But certainly this is great for those who have not been on Viking or its been awhile.  We just got off a Viking cruise and it looks fairly accurate.

Thank you @dwlmg .  I appreciate the link...

friendlyfifer

Thank you for all the menu information. Does anyone know if gluten-free pasta is available on board?

1 hour ago, friendlyfifer said: Thank you for all the menu information. Does anyone know if gluten-free pasta is available on board?

Yes! there is gf pasta and chicken parm gf etc.. enjoy Manfredi's. At chef table they will customize your menu to make it gf..even Mamsen's makes a gf waffle!

8 hours ago, geffric said: Yes! there is gf pasta and chicken parm gf etc.. enjoy Manfredi's. At chef table they will customize your menu to make it gf..even Mamsen's makes a gf waffle!

Thank you for your response. Gf pasta will make a big difference as there are many pasta dishes on the menus. This is our first Viking cruise. Previous cruises have been with Celebrity and Silversea. The latter were good with gf pasta but there was always a need to triple check with the waiters before accepting that any food was gf. I am hoping dining will be a little easier with Viking.

5 hours ago, friendlyfifer said: Thank you for your response. Gf pasta will make a big difference as there are many pasta dishes on the menus. This is our first Viking cruise. Previous cruises have been with Celebrity and Silversea. The latter were good with gf pasta but there was always a need to triple check with the waiters before accepting that any food was gf. I am hoping dining will be a little easier with Viking.

I filled out the menu the day before to ensure my ticket was marked gf. i have been on several Viking cruise and never gotten sick..I do tell them when I make the reservation and confirm with the ship a week before plus I tell them again once on the ship..Might be overkill but makes me feel better ..

8 hours ago, geffric said: I filled out the menu the day before to ensure my ticket was marked gf. i have been on several Viking cruise and never gotten sick..I do tell them when I make the reservation and confirm with the ship a week before plus I tell them again once on the ship..Might be overkill but makes me feel better ..

Understandably, of course!... I have a severe crustaceans allergy at that point as that, if I eat the smallest portion of any crustacean I end up at the Hospital a few hours later... No doubt I do the same you do wherever else I go... You're not alone!...

Fortunately, by reading those Viking menus, it seems that they are somewhat less crustacean based than what I would suppose!... And surely, if I wanted to splurge on such a Viking cruise, the waiters/waitresses would be quite knowledgeable about their menus and no problems at that front.

Oh: And just out the curiosity: Is the World Cafe buffet more or less crustacean based than the Restaurant?

And; if it is not asking too much: On another subject: Given the fact that I'm not a drinker for medical reasons: Do they have any non alcoholic cocktails at the bars? And at what prices?

Have a nice day!

23 hours ago, Nunagoras said: Understandably, of course!... I have a severe crustaceans allergy at that point as that, if I eat the smallest portion of any crustacean I end up at the Hospital a few hours later... No doubt I do the same you do wherever else I go... You're not alone!...   Fortunately, by reading those Viking menus, it seems that they are somewhat less crustacean based than what I would suppose!... And surely, if I wanted to splurge on such a Viking cruise, the waiters/waitresses would be quite knowledgeable about their menus and no problems at that front.   Oh: And just out the curiosity: Is the World Cafe buffet more or less crustacean based than the Restaurant?   And; if it is not asking too much: On another subject: Given the fact that I'm not a drinker for medical reasons: Do they have any non alcoholic cocktails at the bars? And at what prices?   Have a nice day!

I have seen a fair amount of king crab, lobster, and shrimp in various videos of the World Cafe buffet.  The buffet seems pretty well spread out with separate counters for various groups of offerings. There is also a sushi counter where there may be some crustacean products.  Viking calls non alcoholic bar beverages mocktails.  If you google Viking Ocean Bar Menus you can see some examples.

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Home » Eat » Review of Manfredi’s Italian Restaurant on Viking Ocean Cruises

Review of Manfredi’s Italian Restaurant on Viking Ocean Cruises

We dined at this specialty restaurant and are back to report our honest opinions in this exclusive review of Manfredi's Italian Restaurant on Viking Ocean Cruises.

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Before you dine at manfredi’s restaurant.

Cruisers who reserve a Deluxe Veranda or higher stateroom category can pre-book at least one dinner at this specialty restaurant prior to cruising.

For our cruise, we were able to book our restaurant reservations 60 days in advance. By the time we logged into the Viking site, other higher category rooms had already booked many of the earlier, more desirable dinner times and days. However, we were able to secure an early spot on night 6. We were also invited to join a group dinner on night 8, which was our last night on the ship.

If you do not have reservations before boarding the vessel, you can reserve them once onboard your Viking Ocean ship. You will find a reservation stand in the World Café on Deck 7 aft. Either way, you will need reservations to dine at this popular restaurant.

Manfredi’s is located on Deck 1 aft, on the starboard side. The décor is simple yet elegant. It is warm and inviting with rich colors and wood tones. There are several different table arrangements to accommodate various sized parties.

Upon entering the restaurant, you can not help but notice the homemade pasta machine. When open, the chefs are hard at work making pasta and creating the bread baskets. This somewhat open kitchen gives the restaurant a distinct look and feel.

Related Post : What’s Included on Viking Ocean Cruises

Dining at Manfredi’s Italian Restaurant on Viking Ocean Cruises

When compared to other cruise ship specialty restaurants, Manfredi’s certainly shines when it comes to the food and service.

As a fan of Italian cuisine, I have come to make quick first impressions of a restaurant based on the bread served. This homemade bread basket was delivered with a wide selection of breads and did not disappoint.

One was more mouthwatering than the next, and we did sample them all of course. The garlic knots were the perfect texture with a slight sprinkle of salt. I couldn’t put down the crusty Italian bread either, or the focaccia for that matter. Accompanying the bread was a dipping oil with balsamic and fresh Parmesan cheese.

As beer and wine are included at meals on Viking cruises, the bar servers were quick to fill our glasses with the featured house pours of red and white wine. When compared to the main dining room, the service at Manfredi’s was certainly more personal and timely during both our visits.

The timing of our whole dining experience was well coordinated, and the three course meals were spaced perfectly.

The Meals at Manfredi’s Italian Restaurant on Viking Ocean Cruises

Now, let’s get to the important stuff- the food. Over the course of both our visits to the restaurant, we sampled a variety of menu options for starters and entrees.

Surprisingly, the seafood on Viking Jupiter was excellent. The calamari was crispy and served with a mayo-based dipping sauce. The frutti de mare was a mix of mussels and clams in a red broth that had plenty of flavor with just a hint of heat. The portions were a good size but left enough room for us to enjoy the remaining courses.

Other starters that were equally enjoyable were the bruschetta and eggplant parmigiana. The Princess actually ordered the bruschetta twice during our visits to Manfredi’s Restaurant.

For dinner, the Princess ordered a half order of Chicken Parmigiana and a half order of the penne. Our waiter warned us that the Chicken Parm was large, and he was not kidding. Even the half order was at least half the plate. It was a thin cutlet, breaded and served in a traditional style. The Princess thoroughly enjoyed both dishes.

I ordered the Osso Buco and a half order of the gnocchi. Again, the waiter warned me that the gnocchi was small, as I had originally planned that to be my meal. Good thing I listened to him. The Osso Buco was flavorful and fell right off the bone. It was much better than the version that was served in the main dining room. I could have devoured the entire order, but I had to save room for dessert.

Sampling More of the Menu at Manfredi’s Italian Restaurant

For our second dinner at Manfredi’s, we both went a little lighter on entrees. The Princess was able to have the chef swap veal for chicken in the Marsala dish, which came with a light mushroom gravy. I did the pasta special of the day, which was essentially a baked veal and sausage Bolognese pasta with cheese. Yes, it was as mouthwatering as it sounds.

Recap of Manfredi’s Italian Restaurant on Viking Ocean Cruises

As an included specialty restaurant, Manfredi’s delivered exquisitely prepared meals, featuring fresh ingredients and special menu items that you can only find at this restaurant. During both visits, the chef was more than happy to customize our orders. We appreciated the kitchen staff meeting our requests without any hesitation.

The homemade pasta is certainly a highlight of this venue. The other entrees and starters should not be overlooked either. There were several additional options we wanted to try, but we only had so many nights on the ship. And, only so much room in our stomachs!

Another feature of this restaurant is the rib-eye, which is marinated for 72 hours in a dry rub. While I can not speak from first hand experience, several diners indicated it was the best steak they had all cruise. I think we will take their word on that rating.

This restaurant would easily be a $30+ up-charge on other cruise lines. So, the inclusion of this restaurant is a great value on Viking Ocean Cruises.

Dinner for the two of us took about 90 minutes, which is on par with our other specialty dining experiences. With the larger group of 14, we experienced a 2+ hour dining time. However, service was friendly and top-notch on both occasions.

Overall, we highly recommend Manfredi’s Italian Restaurant on Viking Ocean Cruises. We can’t wait to get back onboard one of these ships to sample more of the menu.

Have you dined at Manfredi’s Italian Restaurant on Viking Ocean Cruises? What are some of your favorite menu items? Drop us an anchor below with your restaurant review.

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I Traveled on Viking Cruises, the “World’s Best Cruise Line”: My Unfiltered Experience

I would have laughed in your face if you had told me that I’d be writing a Viking Cruises review a few years ago. Self-declared as “not a cruise person,” the idea of getting on any cruise—much less a luxury cruise line like Viking —was so far off my radar that it might as well have been in a different galaxy, save for maybe sailing to Antarctica when I had the funds.

Yet, the opportunity to sail on the world’s best ocean cruise line, as named by Condé Nast Traveler, Cruise Critic, Travel + Leisure, Town & Country, and USA Today, amongst many others, presented itself, thanks to an extremely generous gift from my boyfriend’s parents.

So there we were, a couple of 24-year-olds booking a cruise that would have an average passenger age of 72. And guess what? Despite our considerable age difference, we met so many wonderful fellow passengers, even if there were a few naysayers (let’s say one hater for every two friendly passengers).

We spent months perusing Viking Ocean Cruises and Viking River Cruises itineraries, none of which are under eight days long; we finally picked the Amazon & Caribbean Adventure aboard the gorgeous Viking Sea, a 12-day itinerary stopping at a few Caribbean islands, before sailing nearly the entirety of the Amazon River.

The itinerary seemed like a once-in-a-lifetime trip that frankly, made much more sense to do on a boat than by foot.

After planning and prepping for months (including two pricey, mandatory Yellow Fever vaccines and one-way tickets from Manaus, Brazil), we were informed a week before embarking that our Amazon cruise wouldn’t sail the Amazon at all. Instead, it would sail the Caribbean Islands for 12 days on an itinerary similar to Viking’s West Indies Explorer.

We were given no option to cancel. So, on Thanksgiving week, we packed our bags to leave for San Juan, Puerto Rico, where the ship would depart, and scrambled to cancel expensive flights from Manaus to rebook one-way flights from San Juan during the holiday season.

Would this be a phenomenal, spontaneous adventure or a corporate cruise blunder?

Viking Cruises Rating: Is it a Good Cruise Line?

Overall, I rate Viking Cruises a 7.5 out of 10. My rating isn’t just limited to my onboard experience with Viking, which is easily an 8.5 or 9 out of 10 but includes communication with Viking’s corporate customer service before embarking and the itineraries Viking offers, which really brought down my rating.

Factoring into my rating were stateroom quality and cleanliness, included amenities, available dining, offered shore excursions, entertainment, the on-board staff, corporate customer service, Viking Cruises itineraries, value, and my overall experience while sailing with Viking Cruises.

• Staterooms: 9/10
• Amenities: 10/10
• Restaurants and bars: 7/10
• Shore excursions: 7/10
• Entertainment: 6/10
• Onboard staff: 10/10
• Customer service: 2/10
• Available itineraries: 7/10
• Value: 9/10
• Overall experience: 8/10

Viking Cruises Review: Pros

As a cruise curmudgeon, I was fully prepared to have a very short list of pros for Viking Cruises . Yet, when I stepped on board, my frosty opinion of cruising thawed with the warm Caribbean winds.

I indulged—relaxing in the idyllic Explorer’s Lounge for every sail-away, taking every opportunity to dress up in my chicest resortwear, and marveling at panoramic views from the ship’s wraparound decks and infinity pool.

Here’s what I loved about Viking Cruises:

• Amazing staff—the absolute best part of the cruise
• No kids under 18 allowed
• No pricing surprises
• Included WiFi
• No interior staterooms
• Every cabin has a balcony
• Daily afternoon tea
• Reasonable pricing for premium spirits, cocktails, and wine
• Small ship sizes
• Nearly 1:1 passenger-to-staff ratio
• Beautiful ship design—not tacky or cheesy
• Use of the spa is included
• Self-serve laundry is free
• No limit to outside alcohol brought on board and no corkage fee

Viking Cruises Review: Cons

If this Viking Cruises review is going to be honest, I have to point out the clear and obvious flaws with the cruise line that brought down my rating of it.

Even though I had an amazing time—and I really did—several glaring issues took away from the experience (the fact that we ended up in the Caribbean for two weeks instead of the Amazon being one of them).

After our major itinerary change, we were shocked when our itinerary changed again at the port in San Juan, removing our only sea day and port of call.

We thought that would be where the itinerary chaos stopped until a couple of our ports ended up being shipping ports instead of cruise ports, where our boat was surrounded by cargo and passengers had to be shuttled to and from town.

Aside from those one-offs, these Viking Cruises cons are worth considering before you book:

• Small ship sizes mean a lot of rocking, easy to get motion sickness
• Very few vegetarian dining options, basically no vegan dining options
• Poor communication about itinerary changes
• Inadequate compensation for major itinerary changes with no option to cancel or change
• Housekeeping doesn’t live up to the rest of the staff
• Onboard entertainment leaves something to be desired
• Disengaged, pretentious cruise director
• Paid shore excursion options often lacked excitement
• WiFi could be laggy, cutting out a few times during the trip

What’s Included on Viking Cruises?

What’s earned Viking Cruises its praises is founder and CEO Torstein Hagen’s philosophy that truly all-inclusive, luxury cruising means no nickel-and-diming.

No paying exorbitant WiFi fees, no additional fees for the spa, and no paying for specialty restaurants, the list goes on. With that in mind, we knew this trip would be like any other.

Included on every Viking cruise are:

• Complimentary shore excursion at every port
• Free WiFi onboard
• House wine, beer, and soft drinks at lunch and dinner
• Coffee, tea, and bottled water at all times
• Corkage fees for outside alcohol brought on board
• Access to the spa (treatments are paid)
• Destination lectures and theater performances
• Port taxes and fees
• Self-service laundry, including detergent
• All onboard restaurants, including specialty restaurants
• Freyja toiletries in-room

Viking Cruises Staterooms

One of the most attractive aspects of sailing with Viking Cruises is that there are no interior staterooms on any ship. Every cabin has large windows and a balcony, along with a well-sized bathroom, adding to the luxury experience.

Stateroom design is thoughtful, from the brilliant dressing table—complete with mirror lighting—to the universal outlets and ample storage for toiletries in the bathroom.

The only aspect of our stateroom that didn’t hit the mark was housekeeping. We were originally impressed with our room attendant, who was at our cabin within minutes of us reaching our stateroom to offer extra hangers (massive bonus points). Still, generally, our room wasn’t kept to the standard I’d expect from Viking or a similar luxury hotel.

It was cleaned and the bed was remade in the morning and at turndown, but extras I’ve come to expect at top-tier hotels didn’t exist, like tidying products on the counters, and moving strewn clothing and footwear.

I think our experience may have been an outlier—friends we made onboard received far better housekeeping.

Viking Cruises Staterooms to Avoid

Knowing which cabins to avoid on many cruise lines is crucial for ensuring comfortable accommodations. Not on Viking.

I can’t say there are any Viking Ocean Cruises cabins to avoid, just some slightly better than others, such as those on higher floors or the starboard side versus the port side, depending on where you’re docking. The lack of a casino and major entertainment venues onboard keeps Viking ships quiet.

Are the Upgraded Viking Cruises Cabins Worth It?

We originally booked the cheapest cabin type, the veranda stateroom. When we checked in, we received an upgrade to a room of the same size on a higher floor when our itinerary changed, and 300 passengers dropped out of the sailing.

Are the nicer Viking Cruises cabins worth it?

In my opinion, no. While it was nice to be on a higher floor, so much thought has gone into a top-notch room experience for Viking passengers that the upgrade didn’t make a noticeable improvement to our experience.

Viking Cruises Dress Code

Viking Cruises has specific dress codes for its ships, but they don’t demand ballgowns and black-tie.

Hagen, firmly against the idea that vacation should require stuffy, formal clothing, ensured that Viking Cruises do not have formal nights or theme nights that demand a separate wardrobe.

Given Viking Cruises’ older, wealthy clientele, I was panicked about what to wear on a Viking Ocean cruise before embarking. Would my crop tops and bikinis be okay? As it happens, my fears were totally unwarranted—several staff members even complimented my Caribbean cruise outfits , secretly quelling my nerves.

Viking Cruises Dress Code During the Day

In the morning, casual clothing is allowed everywhere onboard Viking Cruises. Shorts, t-shirts, sundresses—it’s all permitted, including at the main sit-down restaurant.

Athletic clothing and swimwear are not allowed anywhere on the ship except on the pool deck and at the gym. I thought this would be difficult to follow, however because the pool deck includes the World Cafe (the Viking Ocean Cruises buffet restaurant) along with Aquavit (the pool bar), this was very easy to follow.

Viking Cruises Dress Code at Night

At night, the dress code shifts slightly and becomes slightly more elevated. Men must wear slacks and a collared shirt. Polos are okay, but T-shirts are not. Women are allowed to wear dresses, skirts, or slacks but cannot wear shorts.

True to its ethos of a comfortable cruise experience, Viking has considered guests who don’t wish to dress up after the sun sets. Casual clothing is permitted at the World Cafe at all times.

Viking Cruises Staff and Service

Viking Cruises is luxury but hardly snooty or pretentious. Its quiet, subtle approach to luxury feels more like settling into a close friend’s home than something flashy.

Staff seals the approach with an ultra-personal approach to service and an amazingly warm, welcoming demeanor. Even staff we only interacted with once or twice would remember our names, preferences, or stateroom number—it was extremely impressive.

We absolutely loved it.

So many people contributed to making our trip special. They were the very best part of the cruise and absolutely the reason I loved it so much.

So thank you to John, who works ship security and built a friendship with us after teasing me about a lost passenger card on day one; Grace, the restaurant hostess whose memory never failed to surprise us; Rodge, an exceptional bar waiter; Erin, the assistant cruise director who went out of her way to make us feel welcome as the clear outliers (young people) on board; and John, the guitarist engaging in meaningful conversations with us.

Thank you to Amelia, the vivacious sommelier who went out of her way to make the best cocktail I had on the ship; Seema, our favorite waitress who never failed to delight us with jokes and recommendations; Mirza, the best bartender on the ship with ample beer knowledge to share with my boyfriend; and of course the beloved Suta, who was the very, very best part of our day, every day.

I cannot sing praises about the Viking Cruises staff enough. They are reason alone to pick this cruise line over all the others. If there’s one thing to take away from this Viking Cruise review, it’s that. There were so many nights that we would have rather been down in the crew bar than in the passenger area because they were that much fun to be around.

The only staff member we didn’t love was the cruise director—he rarely engaged with guests and was often only spotted socializing with ship executives. It rubbed us the wrong way, especially because the ship’s assistant cruise director and hotel management team executives were so phenomenal.

The fabulous staff’s attention to detail and camaraderie made it extra difficult to say goodbye to the Viking Sea after 12 days onboard.

Viking Cruises Itineraries

Viking Cruises sails several regions through Viking River and Ocean Cruises . Currently, the cruise line has 42 Viking River itineraries, and 94 Viking Ocean itineraries, sailing to over 200 destinations.

From low-key European river sailings to adventurous Antarctic expeditions, itineraries offer something for every type of traveler.

That said, actually choosing an itinerary proved more difficult than expected. Itineraries, for the most part, are very well-planned, but some (especially in Europe) missed the mark a little, skipping out on major destinations in some countries or staying too long in others. It didn’t help that Viking itineraries are long. I really wish they’d add some trips that are four to seven days instead of eight.

However, we generally loved the options available and were very excited about the prospect of sailing the Amazon. 

Talking to other passengers aboard our ship who were avid Viking cruisers, rivers are really where Viking shines brightest. It’s strongly recommended to stay away from itineraries that involve a lot of on-land movement with buses as they aren’t quite the same.

Moving forward, I’d consider booking a river cruise or an Antarctic cruise with Viking, but will probably stay away from anything considered more adventurous due to how our itinerary change was handled, like the Egypt sailing.

When you finally decide on your itinerary, book it well in advance. As Viking only operates small luxury cruise ships, sailings sell out quickly.

Viking Cruises Shore Excursions

I quickly learned that shore excursions can really add up—especially in the Caribbean. We weren’t planning on booking many excursions for our Amazon itinerary as there’s tons to explore independently there, more sea days in the itinerary, and lots of reasonably priced activities from third party tour operators.

The Caribbean was a different story. We learned the hard way that booking shore excursions through your cruise line or through an independent operator can really change your experience, even if they are extra expensive in the Caribbean.

Not given enough time to book through independent operators due to the itinerary change, we bit the bullet and booked several excursions through Viking.

How to Book Viking Cruises Excursions

Book your excursions quickly. Excursions can be booked ahead of embarkment via the My Viking portal, and are available to different cabin classes at different times. Those in the most premium cabin classes get the earliest access.

If you change your mind about excursions and want to book onboard, it’s not a problem. Guest services are available at all hours for last-minute excursion bookings. Tickets will be delivered to your cabin by housekeeping the night before if you book on the ship.

Viking Cruises Complimentary Shore Excursions

Viking acknowledges how important excursions are when cruising by offering every passenger a complimentary shore excursion at each port of call, regardless of cabin type.

Before you get too excited, know this isn’t an invitation to book whatever activity the cruise line offers. Viking determines the free excursion at each port, which is typically a walking or driving tour of the port of call. It’s not the most thrilling way to spend your day, but it can save you some money, especially if you’re at a port you’re not as excited about.

Premium Viking Ocean Cruises Shore Excursions

Other excursions offered are a little more exciting and very pricey. We found many of the excursions offered by Viking at a fraction of the price from Shore Excursions Group , which often sub-contracts the same local providers as major cruise companies.

Overall, offered excursions from Viking weren’t the most adventurous, compared to cruise lines that cater to a younger clientele. They were slower in pace and typically didn’t offer too much physical activity.

We booked several excursions through Viking—catamaran sailing and a walking tour in Saint Lucia, catamaran sailing and snorkeling in Grenada, and a tour of Foursquare rum distillery and a craft brewery in Barbados. We also tried booking an excursion in Dominica after our original plans to go waterfall rappelling fell through; however, it was canceled last minute due to bad weather.

Our excursion in Saint Lucia was phenomenal, save for rain and choppy waters, which were out of Viking’s control. Our excursion in Grenada wasn’t exactly as described, and in Barbados, we were rushed through Foursquare and spent far too long at a mediocre craft brewery.

We weren’t impressed with how Viking handled the snafu in Dominica. After our original choice was sold out, the cruise line refused to add a second tour despite having a waiting list of over 20 people for it, and we weren’t told that the excursion we booked was canceled until we came down to the disembarkment deck to leave.

I wish I could give a better review of Viking Ocean Cruises shore excursions, but I honestly think passengers should book independently to save money and assure quality.

Viking Ocean Cruises Restaurants and Bars

We took full advantage of Viking’s generous approach to dining by trying every single restaurant on the Viking Sea. There are 12 different Viking Ocean Cruises restaurants and bars on board, including the cooking school: The Restaurant, World Cafe, Explorer’s Lounge, Mamsen’s, Manfredi’s, The Chef’s Table, Torshavn, the Library, Aquavit Terrace, the Pool Bar, the Wintergarden, and the Kitchen.

The Restaurant is the main dining establishment on Viking Ocean cruises. This is a sit-down restaurant with outstanding service. The restaurant takes two approaches to its menu, splitting it into a selection of classic plates that never change and a daily rotating destination menu created based on your port of call that day. The vegetarian menu rotates daily and is displayed on the destination menu.

The World Cafe, Viking’s casual buffet restaurant, was our go-to for breakfast and lunch and has surprisingly decent pizza. We tried breakfast at The Restaurant, but found it to be the same quality as the World Cafe. The Restaurant is not open for lunch and always had better quality at dinner.

Explorer’s Lounge was by far my favorite spot on the ship. Located at the helm, the bar’s panoramic views were breathtaking, and the seating was oh-so-comfortable, like your well-lived living room. In the morning, the Explorer’s Lounge operates Mamsen’s, which serves Nordic breakfast favorites inspired by Hagen’s mother’s recipes (definitely get the waffle with all the fixings).

The Wintergarden was also among the best Viking Ocean restaurants for me. It only opens for afternoon tea from 1 pm to 4 pm and is a tranquil spot, especially when the strings duo is playing.

Overall, the food on the ship was far better than expected, but vegetarian options left something to be desired. Plates often felt recycled and relied heavily on creamy risotto or pasta. Manfredi’s, the Italian restaurant, had the best food for vegetarians on the ship—it certainly was not The Restaurant.

Aside from adding vegetarian options, Viking could really improve the timing and quantity of food offered throughout the day. Set dining times often left periods without great food options, and the in-room dining menu was very brief. Late-night nibbles weren’t found except for small charcuterie plates at the Explorer’s Lounge.

Is the Viking Silver Spirits Beverage Package Worth It?

For many, the Viking Silver Spirits premium beverage package may not be worth it. Cocktails and premium beer and wine by the glass are very well-priced, with most cocktails around $10.

The Silver Spirits package is $25 per person per day. Both members of your cabin have to add the package—you cannot purchase it individually.

Originally, we weren’t going to add the Silver Spirits package to our trip, but we decided to after we were offered onboard ship credit as compensation for our itinerary change.

I’m glad we did. Though I think we definitely would’ve drank less without it, it was nice to be able to try all of the different wines and cocktails Viking Ocean Cruises offers without needing to think about price. There are so many different wines available on the ship.

Most of the fellow passengers we encountered on the cruise did have the package even if the value didn’t make total sense for them, simply for the ease of not needing to think on vacation.

Viking Ocean Cruises Amenities

Stepping into the LivNordic Spa on Viking Ocean cruises, you’ll understand why the cruise line is a top choice for travelers.

All Viking Ocean cruises include spa access. The LivNordic Spa, as the name suggests, is based on Nordic wellness principles and includes a full thermal suite consisting of a snow grotto, several saunas, a steam room, cold plunge, hot plunge, and hydrotherapy pool in addition to private treatment rooms. Outside the spa is a small salon for hair, nail, and facial treatments.

The spa is a lovely place to unwind after a long day of sightseeing, but it isn’t huge, so it gets busy quickly. You’re best experiencing it during the day at a port you’re not too interested in. The same guidance goes for the pools, which crowd up on sea days and in the late afternoon.

Speaking of the pools, Viking Ocean ships are the only cruise ships to have infinity pools at sea. They’re plunge pools and surprisingly deep when the boat is docked (levels lower when the ship is sailing). We went for a dip in the infinity pool on the Viking Sea both in port and while sailing and loved taking in the view while swimming. Pool bar wait staff coming around with dipped ice cream cones was the cherry on top.

Other notable amenities included are the WiFi, the sports deck, and the fitness center. The gym is small but gets the job done and has everything you could need for a full-body workout. I loved that Viking put water bottles in each machine, so I didn’t even need to remember to bring one down.

Viking Cruises’ WiFi worked well—when it worked. A few times during the trip, it cut out or became extremely slow, but that’s to be expected when you rely on satellite internet in the middle of the ocean.

What frequent cruisers might notice is that shopping is less robust than on major lines (fine by me!) and that there are no casinos on any Viking cruise ships.

Viking Cruises Entertainment

If you asked even the most loyal Viking passengers what the cruise line’s biggest downfall is, they’d likely say the entertainment.

Then again, you didn’t really choose Viking for entertainment, did you? That’s why cruise lines like Royal Caribbean Cruises , Disney Cruise Line , and Norwegian Cruise Line exist, right?

My trip with Viking Ocean Cruises had the Viking Vocalists, a quartet of musical theater majors performing medleys; John, a solo guitarist; Irina and Nani, a string duo; Lidia, a solo pianist; and the Viking Band aboard as musical performers.

The theater hosted the Viking Vocalists, several destination lectures, a few movie showings, and performances from the assistant cruise director and the cruise director. During the cruise, Viking brought guest performers aboard a couple of times, like a solo guitarist.

The rest of the musical performers could be seen performing in the ship’s bars and common spaces. Classical performers typically were in the Atrium and Wintergarden. The Viking Band played Torshavn, the ship’s club, while the solo guitarist played the Explorer’s Lounge and Torshavn.

We saw the Viking Vocalists a few times, and thought they were kind of just okay. Some members were really talented, others were less so. The choice of music generally wasn’t thrilling or was poorly executed.

By skipping a performance in the theater, we didn’t feel like we were missing out on anything, and we enjoyed visiting with other passengers and staff in the evenings more. Then again, we’re the type of people who found the puzzles in the Atrium and trivia night in the Explorer’s Lounge more exciting prospects.

My favorite performers on the ship were the classical strings duo, who played beautiful pieces, and John, the solo guitarist whose choice of song always matched the location (I still can’t get over him playing “Ring of Fire” in the Explorer’s Lounge as we sailed past a large wildfire in Antigua).

There seemed to be a hierarchy among performers and staff on the ship, and I didn’t like it. Staff in management and the Viking Vocalists (considered the most premium performers) were mostly white Europeans. In contrast, lounge performers and those in service jobs tended to be almost entirely from South and Southeast Asian countries.

Though I’m sure there’s a reason for this, I have to wonder—is there not a pathway for employees from these countries, who make up the bulk majority of Viking Ocean’s workforce, to advance to these more favorable jobs?

Viking Ocean Cruises vs. Viking River Cruises

Is sailing with Viking Ocean Cruises better than Viking River Cruises ?

Viking Ocean Cruises is best for travelers who want to sail destinations like the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Iceland, and China with the Viking service and amenities they’ve come to know and love on a small ocean cruise ship. These cruises are not for those who get seasickness easily.

Viking River Cruises is the better option for all cruisers, generally. Those boats are even smaller than the Viking Ocean, but they don’t tend to rock as much and usually run smoother. It’s easy to stick to an itinerary despite bad weather when passengers can just hop off board and be bussed down the river.

Viking River Cruises is best known for its European itineraries, though it also offers cruises on rivers like the Mississippi and Nile.

What to Know Before Booking a Viking Ocean Cruise

Kids under 18 are not allowed onboard.

People under 18 are not allowed on Viking Cruises. That’s right—during your cruise, there will be absolutely no kids running around or screaming babies making a fuss.

It’s inconvenient for those who want to bring young grandchildren or their kids, but for us, it was one of the best aspects of sailing with Viking. I genuinely can’t imagine sailing on a massive cruise ship filled with families anymore—Viking’s child-free, small luxury cruise ships have ruined me.

If you’re looking for an adult-only cruise line with a younger demographic, try Virgin Voyages .

Viking Cruises Does Not Have Casinos on Its Ships

Put the poker chips away—there is no gambling on Viking Cruises. Puzzles and chess in the Atrium and a round of trivia at the Explorer’s Lounge are the only games to be played aboard.

I really enjoyed not having a casino aboard. It kept the atmosphere of the ship more refined, and I felt like our fellow passengers were cruising because they really loved to travel by sea, not because they wanted to hide out at the casino for the duration of the voyage.

Bring Motion Sickness Pills

Expect a lot of rocking when sailing on small ocean cruise ships like the Viking Ocean fleet. Some nights were better than others—we might feel a constant, slow sway—while others were extremely choppy. My legs would shake rapidly when seated from the motion, and hangers in our closet would hit against the doors.

The boat’s speed definitely affected its movement (as speed increased, so would the sway). We visited the Caribbean when there were strong winds, also contributing to the strong rocking.

Bring Dramamine or motion sickness patches, and lots of them. Even the most confident cruisers have experienced motion sickness on Viking—some staff members said they also do occasionally!

You Will Need Passport Validity of at Least 6 Months

Get your paperwork in order before you embark. Your passport must be valid for at least six months from the final date of your sailing.

Depending on your itinerary, Viking may also require proof of visas or certain vaccines.

For our Amazon River cruise, getting a Yellow Fever vaccine was mandatory and had to be administered more than 10 days before we departed Puerto Rico. All passengers had to have a yellow book to prove they were vaccinated.

Pack All the Essentials in Advance

The stores on Viking Cruises are expensive. We were sticker-shocked when we saw that a small bottle of sunscreen at the general store onboard was $30 after running out. Ports of call had cheaper prices, but depending on the port, may not have quality goods.

Stock up by buying things like sunscreen , aloe vera gel , bug spray , band-aids , sunglasses , and the like at home before you go. We ran past a Walmart and a CVS in San Juan before embarking in addition to picking up a few things from Amazon , which helped us a lot.

Viking Cruises Review: The Bottom Line

As much as I hate to admit that my boyfriend was right, he was. Despite everything that went wrong with our cruise, I loved sailing with Viking, even if I didn’t exactly love the destinations we visited.

It really comes down to the staff and service. They made Viking so exceptional. I would absolutely sail with Viking Cruises again—just probably not to the Amazon. We met a couple onboard who had their first Amazon cruise with Viking canceled, only to have it canceled again!

So maybe, just maybe, I’m a little bit of a cruise person now. A small luxury cruise ship, a very expensive cruise person (still probably not a contemporary—or budget—cruise person).

Though planning my own trips will always be my favorite way to travel, Viking Cruises gave me two weeks of relaxation and rejuvenation that I usually don’t slow down enough for.

Thank you so much again to my boyfriend’s wonderful grandparents, for giving us an incredibly memorable, generous experience.

Viking Cruises Review: FAQ

The average age on a Viking cruise is typically in the 70s. On my cruise, the average age was 72 out of over 600 passengers.

Viking cruises are geared towards an older, affluent crowd, who make up the majority of passengers. However, travelers of all ages still sail with Viking. On my ship, two other passengers in their young 20s were sailing with their grandparents.

Passengers under 40 might find that Viking cruises operate at a slower pace than others. Entertainment and excursions are more low-key and low-impact than cruise lines geared toward younger people. I sailed with Viking Cruises at 24 and still made friends with many fellow passengers, even if they were several decades older. We loved making friends with the staff and exploring on our own as passengers with Viking who were under 40 years old.

Viking Ocean cruises typically have 900 passengers. Viking River cruise ships are smaller, usually only sailing with 190 passengers at most.

Eva Phan is the founder of Eva Darling, a travel and style website aiming to empower women to see the world solo while sharing on-trend, luxury feminine style inspiration. Featured in publications including Forbes, Thrillist, and Yahoo News, Eva has combined her education from Parsons School of Design with her incurable case of the travel bug to create a global destination that encourages others to romanticize their everyday.

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Food On Board a Viking River Cruise

Food is the number one thing for Mr B and I when we go on holiday and when we cruise it is no different.

From Viking we were expecting quality, variety and a focus on local dishes. We got this and we both agree the food even exceeded our expectations.

When I am on holiday I always look forward to a leisurely breakfast.

A buffet is available with a very generous selection which included freshly carved smoked salmon, a selection of cheeses and cold meats, yoghurts, fresh pastries, a selection or breads, oatmeal, a range of cereals, fresh fruits and hot options with eggs cooked to order any way you would like, bacon (English and American) and sausages.

Whilst the food on the buffet looked lovely and I was impressed with the variety, I am personally not a fan of buffets so each morning I ordered my breakfast from the menu. I really liked that you had the choice of buffet or ordering from the menu, or you could do both if there were a few things you fancied.

There were nine juices on the menu. My regular choice, cranberry, was not on there, but from the first morning I ordered it there wasn’t so much the blink of an eye and it was brought to me in a matter of just a few minutes. That was how we found all the service with Viking, no matter what request we had nothing was ever an issue or too much trouble.

One morning I ordered an omelette with mushrooms, ham and cheese – the filling was generous and it was really tasty. Fancying something sweet, another morning I opted for the French toast with maple syrup – the sweet soft fluffy toast was very yummy!

There were two breakfast options in particular which I absolutely loved, so much so I ordered them both four times over the course of the holiday! Eggs Benedict with smoked salmon is my favourite breakfast of all time but, sadly, it can be done wrong – overcooked eggs or a poor hollandaise can ruin the dish so easily. Well Viking did my favourite breakfast proud. Every poached egg I had had a silky, glossy running yolk whilst the generous amount of hollandaise was rich with a gentle hint of lemon. Combined with the smoked salmon it was utterly delicious!

There was a reason when I ordered the Eggs Benedict I restrained myself and only ordered one egg rather than two. It was so I still had room for what I liked to call my ‘breakfast dessert’ which for me was the cooked-to-order buttermilk pancakes. You could order plain, blueberry, banana or chocolate. For me the plain with a side of maple syrup was all I needed – they were so unbelievably soft and fluffy, the perfect pancakes!

A continental breakfast was also available every day on the Aquavit terrace, but we chose to enjoy a full breakfast every morning in the restaurant.

Lunch is served in the main restaurant and also on the Aquavit terrace. Whilst we enjoyed a few lunches in the restaurant the weather was very good to us on our sailing so we got to enjoy quite a few alfresco lunches on the Aquavit terrace. Whilst many of our fellow passengers chose to dine on tables in the shade we always opted for a table for two at the front, sitting in the sunshine. We are from the UK after all – we don’t get much nice weather so we have to make the most of it whilst we could!

The lunch menu has ‘always available’ options which as the name suggests are options which you see on the menu every day. These don’t change and were good lunch choices which we thought were great crowd pleasers, such as Nicoise salad, Cheeseburger, Vegetarian burger, Hot dog and for dessert, Chocolate mouse or fresh fruit.

The other side of the lunch menu changed daily. There was usually a soup for starter followed by approximately four choices for main and a choice of two desserts.

As we always enjoyed a generous breakfast and dinner, Mr B and I tried to restrain ourselves at lunch and just ordered one course. One afternoon, Dani, who was part of the wonderful lunch service team, did persuade us to try the curried cauliflower soup as he said it was too good to miss out on. We both had a small bowl and Dani was correct! It was silky smooth, sweet with cauliflower and had a lovely hint of spice – not hot, but well balanced which added a lovely flavour.

There was a different pasta dish on the lunch menu every day and this was usually my go-to choice. I love pasta and all the ones I had were superb, fresh pasta with a well-made sauce. Some of my favourites were the pappardelle al ragu, spaghetti carbonara and the penne all’ arrabbiata. Some of the lunch choices Mr B particularly enjoyed were the chicken tikka masala and baby back ribs with sweet potato fries.

Whilst we always passed on dessert, it was difficult as there were some wonderful sounding and looking desserts such as chocolate chip sundae, floating island, flan Parisien, peach melba and banana split.

Evenings where always the highlight of the day for Mr B and I. A fantastic dinner followed by cocktails at the bar always completed the perfect days we had on our Viking holiday.

We varied our nights between eating in the restaurant and at Aquavit. The same menu was served at both – we just enjoyed the two different locations. What we did really like about the restaurant was sharing tables with other passengers, sharing stories of what we had all been up to and everyone’s highlights of the holiday.

Like the lunch menu there was an ‘always available’ section on the menu which had the option of a Caesar salad to start and main options such as Angus rib eye steak, Poached Norwegian salmon and Roast chicken supreme with Crème brulee, fresh fruit and a cheese plate as the dessert choices.

The daily menu which had different options every dinner time was split into two sections. At the top there was always one starter, main and dessert which was regional to the port you were in.

Below this there were then two additional starters, three mains and two desserts. You didn’t have to have all three courses from one section of the menu – you could mix and match between all the options which Mr B and I did most days.

Every night at dinner there was always a basket of freshly baked bread on the table and there was a different one each night. From cheese-topped bread to olive bread to rye bread, there wasn’t one bread I didn’t like. In fact most nights I had more than one piece – I’m a sucker for freshly baked bread!

We enjoyed many, many mouth-watering dishes. Some of my favourite starters were the Halaszle fisherman’s soup, which was on the regional menu whilst we were in Budapest as it is a traditional Hungarian dish. Another soup I very much enjoyed was the Tom Kha Gai which is a Thai chicken soup made with coconut milk. It was lovely and fragrant with lemongrass.

Mr B and I both really enjoyed the crab cake and one night I also enjoyed the buffalo mozzarella in baked eggplant rolls with tomato sauce. This was actually on the menu as a main course, but I asked if I could have a smaller portion of this as a starter and of course this wasn’t a problem.

Our favourite starter of the holiday, for both of us, was the Goats cheese soufflé. It was so light but packed full the lovely goats cheese flavour. It was served with a tomato sauce with the sweetness of tomatoes balancing well with the sharpness of the goats cheese.

I was really pleased with the variety which was on offer when selecting a main course. I had many lovely seafood dishes, including a delicious seared seabass fillet with a lemon, caper and parsley sauce.

And a perfectly cooked pieced of herb-crusted Ahi tuna cooked medium rare which was served with wilted spinach, potatoes and a sherry shallot vinaigrette.

I’m a big lover of mushrooms and there were two vegetarian main courses I enjoyed which I couldn’t resist ordering – the mushroom and potato strudel served with a cream mushroom sauce. The pastry was lovely and crispy and packed with filling.

On our last night whilst we were eating dinner on the Aquavit terrace I enjoyed the portobello mushroom risotto with parmesan crisp.

Whilst we were in Vienna one of the regional specialities was the Wiener Schnitzel, breaded Viennese veal with warm potato salad. This was very popular – a lot of our fellow passengers were ordering it too. It was wonderfully thin with a light coating of breadcrumbs. I was worried it would be dry but was pleasantly surprised that it wasn’t.

Two excellent beef dishes I enjoyed were the beef short rib (which fell apart just using my fork as it was so well cooked) and the outstanding chateaubriand which was accompanied with a bearnaise sauce, gratin potato and glazed vegetables. The chateaubriand was utter perfection, perfectly cooked and oh so tender. It was obviously quite clear how much we enjoyed it as our lovely waiter that night offered Mr B and I another piece and a few moments later reappeared from the kitchen with another portion for us both!

I am one of those people that looks at the dessert menu first before I have even looked at the savoury dishes – it’s safe to say I have a sweet tooth! Viking didn’t let me down with the dessert offerings. Some of the standout desserts for me were the Key lime pie with meringue and caramel sauce, New York cheesecake with berry coulis and the lime cake with white chocolate and raspberry sauce. All were very yummy.

One night I could not decide between two desserts so I asked our lovely server which one he recommended, and he said he would get me both! Of course I did not argue and here is the face of a very happy person who loves desserts and is very happy she was given two . . .

In case you were wondering, the two desserts I couldn’t decide between were carrot cake with cream cheese frosting (a classic and one of my favourite cakes) and Somloi Galuska, a traditional Hungarian trifle (which was also delicious!).

It’s a hard choice, but probably my favourite dessert of the cruise was the ‘Moelleux au chocolat’, aka chocolate fondant. The middle was full of rich molten chocolate which oozed out once I cut into it. Served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream it tasted absolutely divine.

A few nights, when I somehow had room left in my stomach, I also ordered the cheese plate. It does come with accompaniments, such as dried fruit, grapes, nuts etc., but when I ordered mine I asked for it plain – just cheese and some fresh French bread is good enough for me!

As lovers of food Mr B and I were very happy with the food on Viking, especially the focus on local, regional dishes which meant we got to try some dishes we had not heard of before.

Thank you Viking for keeping these two food lovers very happy and full during our wonderful holiday!

Want to know what is included on the Viking Silver Spirits drinks package? Have a read of my below post . . .

Viking Silver Spirits Drinks Package

Want to have a look inside the ship we spent a week on whilst we enjoyed our Danube Waltz river cruise? Have a read of my blog post below . . .

A Danube River Cruise Sailing On Viking Rinda

Read about our 8 day itinerary sailing down the beautiful Danube on my other blog post below . . .

Danube Waltz Itinerary – Viking River Cruise

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Ooo this I think is so important in a cruise. Having a variety and changing menus is a fantastic thing and it all looks so good

Wonderful post! Has me getting hungry and very excited about my cruise in April!

This looks amazing!!

Thank you so much for this post–it all looks delicious! My husband and I are going on the same cruise next week (July 29th) and we are pleased to see some of what we have to look forward to!

Thank you for sharing! Getting so excited for our Viking cruise after seeing all these pictures.

Given fears of Covid, I am relieved to learn the same dinner menu is available on the terrace so we can eat outside. Thank you for mentioning that! We will do the Cities of Light in September. Did you have trouble claiming a table outside for breakfast, lunch or dinner?

My husband and I went on the Viking Lyon & Provence cruise in April, and ate outside as much as possible. We found that it helped to arrive on the terrace as soon as tables opened for meals, so we could claim a spot. Wonderful weather and a great itinerary in France!

What a great review this was. My husband and I leave on our Viking Cruise in 4 days and you really made our mouths water. Thank you so much

Brilliant post! We can’t wait for our Danube cruise in September! Thank you. Did you ever try the buffet?

Thank you for your comment Nancy. I didn’t try the buffet but my husband did a few times and everything was prepared fresh and he enjoyed it.

Loved your descriptions. Made my mouth water. Love deserts and beef. Will be on the Christmas cruise 2023 with my daughter. Guessing it will be too cold to eat outside. Used to Arizona weather so 70’s is winter weather

It was very nice reviewing the menus. My husband and I will be on our 1st time viking cruise this month and we are Asians I wonder if there’s some Asian rice included in the menus. It is always a part of our meal to have it at least once a day. We are very excited and in a couple of weeks we’ll be there and my bags are packed and were ready to go. Kindly have that in the cruise. Thank you very much….

I’m afraid I cant recall if there was rice however the best thing to do would be to speak to the Maitre de when you board as if they don’t it may still be something they can do for you. they were very accommodating. Happy sailing!

We just returned from our first Viking Cruise aboard the Viking Star. The food selections were very good and they had white rice on the buffet very often if not every day. Therefore, I’m sure you can order it in any of the dining venues. They also had congee which I had never eaten before. It became one of my favorite breakfast items since I enjoy savory flavors for breakfast.

I read (& drooled) over your comments and photos of the delicious fare that Viking serves. Our first time with Viking I thought I had died and gone to heaven. We leave for our Christmas Market cruise with Viking in FIVE DAYS and I can’t wait!!!

Thank you for your lovely comment! I would love to do a Christmas market cruise with Viking. It will be magical, have the best time!

A wonderfully informative post. We are new to cruising and are considering booking with Viking. The menus on offer look delicious. Thank you for sharing your photos!

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7 best US river cruises

Whether you're fascinated by American history, culture and cuisine, or you've enjoyed river cruising in Europe but are now looking to explore closer to home, U.S. river cruises are an easy and enjoyable vacation option.

Choose from two main waterways for your U.S. river cruise: the Mississippi River — which flows through nine states from St. Paul, Minnesota, to New Orleans — or the Columbia and Snake rivers in Oregon and Washington. Some cruise lines also venture onto three smaller, lesser-known rivers: the Ohio, the Cumberland and the Tennessee. You can also explore New York's Hudson River on a fall foliage cruise.

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

Your choice of cruise line is equally limited. Just two companies offer multiple itineraries on U.S. rivers. American Cruise Line sails all the waterways mentioned above, while Viking offers itineraries solely on the Mississippi. Additionally, Lindblad Expeditions has introduced a food-and-wine-centric river cruise on the Columbia and Snake rivers.

Read on for our picks of the seven best U.S. river cruises. They range from seven to 15 nights and visit destinations in 16 states; itineraries take you through the colonial-heritage-rich Northeast, America's agricultural heartland and the pioneer routes of the Pacific Northwest.

American Cruise Lines' 8-night Music Cities Cruise

From Memphis blues and Elvis Presley's "Blue Suede Shoes" to Kentucky bluegrass and New Orleans jazz, American Cruise Lines' eight-night Music Cities Cruise sails you through a chronology of the U.S. music scene. You'll traverse three rivers (the Mississippi, Ohio and Cumberland) en route from Memphis to Nashville, or vice versa.

In Tennessee's two famous music cities, you'll have a chance to visit Elvis Presley's Graceland, stroll blues club-lined Beale Street and check out the Grand Ole Opry. You'll also visit Paducah, Kentucky, and Dover and Clarksville in Tennessee, where experiences include whiskey and bourbon tasting, tours of landmark art murals and, of course, Civil War history.

While cruising, you'll enjoy nightly entertainment that celebrates the region's musical heritage. American Cruise Lines offers this itinerary on four ships from April to October 2024, 2025 and 2026. Three of the ships — American Melody, American Symphony and American Serenade — are 180-passenger modern river ships launched in 2021, 2022 and 2023, respectively. The fourth, American Splendor, is a 180-passenger paddlewheeler that debuted in 2016.

Related: Booking your first river cruise? Here's what you need to know

Viking's 14-night America's Great River Cruise

Want the total Mississippi experience? You can cruise the entire length of this mighty river as you visit 14 cities in seven U.S. states on Viking's two-week sailing.

Available three times a year (in July, September and October), the America's Great River cruise begins in Minnesota (either St. Paul or Red Wing) and concludes in New Orleans, allowing you to experience an intricate tapestry of American history and culture.

There's eagle spotting in Red Wing and agricultural innovation in Quad Cities, Iowa. You'll enjoy Mark Twain lore in Hannibal, Missouri, and architectural landmarks, such as the soaring Gateway Arch, in St. Louis. As you cruise the lower Mississippi, you'll delve into civil rights history in Memphis; Civil War battles and historic architecture in Mississippi's Vicksburg and Natchez; Cajun and Creole music in Baton Rouge; and the legendary culinary treats and jazz of New Orleans.

All sailings are aboard the 386-passenger Viking Mississippi. Launched in 2022, it's currently the largest river ship in the U.S. and features three restaurants and an aft infinity pool.

American Cruise Lines' 8-Night Columbia & Snake River Cruise

If your vacation preferences favor mountain landscapes, wine tasting and pioneer lore, consider American Cruise Lines' eight-night Columbia & Snake River Cruise . You'll explore the Pacific Northwest from Portland, Oregon, to Clarkstown, Washington (or vice versa).

On the Pacific end of your voyage, you'll visit Astoria, Oregon — the oldest American settlement west of the Rocky Mountains. This coastal city at the mouth of the Columbia River is known for its Victorian homes, wineries, brew pubs, and Lewis and Clark heritage. Next, from Kalama, Washington, you can join an excursion to visit the remnants of the area around Mount St. Helens, which suffered a devastating eruption in 1980.

In The Dalles, you can enjoy a sommelier-led tasting of Columbia Valley wines, visit Multnomah Falls or get adventurous on a river kayak tour. During a call on Richland, Washington, you can admire the scenic beauty around the confluence of the Columbia and Snake rivers at Sacajawea State Park. More wine tasting or outdoor adventure awaits on the way to Clarkstown.

American Cruise Line offers this itinerary on five ships from April to October 2024, 2025 and 2026. Three of the ships (American Song, American Jazz and American Harmony) are 180-passenger modern river ships launched from 2018 to 2020. American Pride is a 150-passenger paddlewheeler launched in 2012, and American West is a 110-passenger veteran paddlewheeler launched in 1995.

Related: Best river cruise lines around the world

Viking's 7-night New Orleans & Southern Charms

If you've never visited New Orleans, or it's been a while, take a Mississippi River cruise that sails round-trip from the Big Easy. They offer time before or after the cruise to enjoy the city's food, music and iconic architecture — plus the ease of a round-trip flight booking. Viking's seven-night New Orleans & Southern Charms itinerary focuses solely on ports in Louisiana and Mississippi, with an emphasis on historic architecture, Cajun culture and Civil War landmarks.

From Darrow, Louisiana, you'll stroll beneath canopies of towering live oak trees to visit historic mansions or glide through the bayou. More historic architecture, along with bird-watching, awaits in St. Francisville, Louisiana, and Natchez, Mississippi. Vicksburg, Mississippi, is home to one of the Civil War's most famous battlefields. Baton Rouge, Louisiana's capital, has something to satisfy every interest, from Cajun cuisine to tours of the restored World War II-era USS Kidd.

The cruise, which is available in November and December 2024 and January, November and December 2025, ends with a full day of exploration back in New Orleans before one last night aboard the 386-passenger Viking Mississippi.

American Cruise Lines' 7-night Hudson River Fall Foliage Cruise

Not only is the autumnal landscape in New York's Hudson Valley visually captivating, but the small cities and towns that line the river's shores are filled with fascinating early American history dating back more than 400 years.

Cruise the Hudson round-trip from New York City on American Cruise Lines' seven-night Hudson River Fall Foliage Cruise . You'll visit Catskill, home to the Hudson River School Art Trail and the Olana Historic Site, or explore more actively at the Hudson River Skywalk and Kaaterskill Falls. In Albany, founded in 1609, you can tour the newly renovated New York State Capitol building, built in the late 1800s; you can also visit the New York State Museum, which dates to 1836. Feel like apple-picking? That's an option here, too.

Next, during a call at Kingston/Hyde Park, you can tour the Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site, home to the 32nd U.S. president's library and museum. You can also head to the Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site, featuring an American Beaux-Arts mansion completed in 1899. The United States Military Academy at West Point, founded in 1802, is also on the itinerary, as is Sleepy Hollow. The Sleepy Hollow legend comes to life during a tour of the local cemetery where author Washington Irving is buried. Back in the Big Apple on day seven, you'll have time to explore before saying farewell to your ship.

Sailings are available from late September to early November 2024, 2025 and 2026. Sailings are onboard either the 100-passenger American Eagle, American Liberty, American Glory or American Legend (all built in 2023 or 2024), or the older 90-passenger American Star and American Independence, launched in 2007 and 2010, respectively.

Related: River cruise packing list: What to pack when traveling by riverboat

Lindblad Expeditions' 7-night Columbia & Snake Rivers: Food, Wine and History Cruise

Nature-focused cruise line Lindblad Expeditions has partnered with Food & Wine magazine to offer a new seven-night Columbia & Snake Rivers: Food, Wine and History cruise on multiple dates in April, September and October 2024; there are also sailings in March, April, September and October 2025. The voyages will sail between Portland, Oregon, and Clarkston, Washington.

Complementing the itinerary will be gourmet Pacific Northwest cuisine and more than 40 regional wines curated by an onboard culinary team. All ingredients will be sourced from within 250 miles of the ship's route. A naturalist, historian and geologist will be on hand to guide you on excursions by foot, kayak, Zodiac and jet boat.

Off-ship experiences include sampling local beer and oysters in Astoria, Oregon; visiting Multnomah Falls or hiking Beacon Rock; and having a private vineyard visit and downtown wine walk in Walla Walla, Washington.

These sailings occur on two identical Lindblad ships: the 62-passenger National Geographic Sea Lion and National Geographic Sea Bird.

American Cruise Line's 15-night Grand Ohio River Cruise

Did you know that you can cruise from Pittsburgh to St. Louis? If exploring the central U.S. — Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois and Missouri — without driving is appealing, consider the 15-night Grand Ohio River Cruise offered by American Cruise Lines. You'll enjoy regionally inspired dining and eclectic landmarks along the Ohio and Mississippi rivers as you sail.

Over two weeks, you'll visit Native American burial grounds and archeological sites in West Virginia and learn about the underground railroad in Ohio. You can taste bourbon and explore the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory or the Kentucky Derby Museum & Horse Park in Louisville. Take time to appreciate American artistry at the National Quilt Museum in Paducah, Kentucky. Rest up from your portside adventures during five days of scenic river cruising.

This itinerary is available from June to August 2024, 2025 and 2026 on the 180-passenger modern river ship American Melody and the 150-passenger paddlewheeler American Heritage.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

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2018 Primetime Emmy & James Beard Award Winner

Reviving classic Russian cuisine

Oct 19 2018.

Roads & Kingdoms talks to Russian chef Vladimir Mukhin of Moscow’s super-restaurant, White Rabbit.

Still in his mid-30’s, Vladimir Mukhin is already one of Russia’s best known chefs and the leading culinary light of the White Rabbit Group, which has 16 restaurants around the country. The most well-known of these, Moscow’s  White Rabbit , was named one of the 50 best restaurants in the world last year. Roads & Kingdoms’ Nathan Thornburgh talked to Mukhin in Moscow about being a fifth-generation chef, reviving classic Russian cuisine, and finding good product in the age of embargoes.

Nathan Thornburgh: Tell me about White Rabbit, what is the food? What are you trying to accomplish there?

Vladimir Mukhin: The White Rabbit is a big restaurant. We’re trying to revive Russian cuisine. I’m a fifth-generation chef, so I’m passionate about the food we create. During the Soviet Union period, we killed Russian food. Classic Russian recipes became too simplified. For example, usually you drink tea, but if you want to be, just to be creative, want to make the tea with milk, you can’t. It would be like stealing milk from the government. People went to jail.

When I was growing up, I remember my grandfather coming to the kitchen and crying because he couldn’t experiment with his food.

Thornburgh: Wow. I remember this famous photo session with Che Guevara which came up with some of his best pictures, maybe two incredible iconic portraits came from an entire roll of film, and the photographer went to him and showed him this roll of film and Che said, What the hell are you doing? You wasted all of these images. You took 30 pictures to get one? That’s the government’s film. It’s a similar mentality.   So you’re telling the story of a kind of cuisine that was lost on the Soviet history and now you’re playing with this idea of finding it again. What does your process look like? Do you get as many grandmothers as you can round up and just kind of shake recipes out of them? How were you doing this?

Mukhin: I just try to work with as many local farmers and producers as I can, so we can use as many Russian ingredients as we can.

Thornburgh: So this is a close relationship.

Mukhin: Yes. I traveled throughout Russia—not just the big cities, but also the villages to talk with older people.

Thornburgh: You know I think people don’t understand the vastness of Russia, and how big it’s collection of cultures and languages and cuisines is. What parts of the country influences your food?

Mukhin: I’m inspired by the whole country. It’s a big territory, and sometimes it feels like it’s too big. I try and use different techniques and ingredients from all over the country, which I think makes my menus distinct.

We have an a la carte menu with about 50 dishes of classical Russian food. Everything looks modern because I’m a young chef. But if you close your eyes and try these dishes, you’ll taste 100% classic Russian flavors.

I want to highlight all aspects of Russian cuisine. Before the Olympic Games in Sochi, we opened a restaurant there, not just to make money, but to expose people visiting for the Olympics to Russian food. That’s why we opened The Red Fox restaurant. It’s all about Russian ingredients.

Thornburgh: Sochi, at least when I’ve been there, is like a Miami Beach. It’s like a place to get pizza and sushi, and go to the nightclubs.

Mukhin: You been?

Thornburgh: Yeah.

Mukhin: It’s crazy.

Thornburgh: It’s a little crazy, but it’s interesting to bring in Red Fox and sort of say okay, because people are coming out, let’s bring Russia to Sochi.

Mukhin: It was incredible. We had thousands of visitors at the restaurant.  

Thornburgh: So you really looked internally for inspiration. Did working outside of Russia motivate you to focus on Russian cuisine?

Mukhin: Yes. I spent time working in Avignon, France. I worked with Christian Etienne, and he would make a special Russian meal once a year.  It was crazy.

Thornburgh: How was the food?

Mukhin: It was shit. I told him that I would cook real Russian food for him, and I did. I cooked borscht, blinis, and other classics. He liked it and said that once a year we should use my recipes, but with his influence. I agreed, and we went on to make amazing food. Eventually, I wanted to come back to my motherland. So I left and I started working on making White Rabbit a reality.

Thornburgh: When people go to White Rabbit, what are they going to find?

Mukhin: Someone once told me that there is a new Russian cuisine and an old Russian cuisine. I think Russian cuisine is going through an evolution. So I hope people will come and see evolution at White Rabbit.

Thornburgh: Great. Always good to end on an invite. Thank you.

Mukhin: Thank you so much.

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21 Things to Know Before You Go to Moscow

Featured city guides.

Novotel Moscow City

View prices for your travel dates

See why so many travelers make Novotel Moscow City their hotel of choice when visiting Moscow. Providing an ideal mix of value, comfort and convenience, it offers a trendy setting with an array of amenities designed for travelers like you.

Rooms at Novotel Moscow City provide a flat screen TV, a minibar, and air conditioning, and guests can stay connected with free wifi.

In addition, while staying at Novotel Moscow City guests have access to a concierge and room service. You can also enjoy a fitness center and a lounge. Need a place to park? Parking is available at Novotel Moscow City.

Nearby landmarks such as Old Arbat (Stary Arbat) (2.0 mi) and Moscow Metro (2.0 mi) make Novotel Moscow City a great place to stay when visiting Moscow.

If you’re looking for an Asian restaurant, consider a visit to Restaurant SIXTY, Winil Wine Bar, or Nobu Moscow Restaurant, which are all conveniently located a short distance from Novotel Moscow City.

Should time allow, Moscow-City, Observation Deck Panorama360, and Lomonosov Moscow State University (MGU) are some popular attractions that are within walking distance.

We’re sure you’ll enjoy your stay at Novotel Moscow City as you experience all of the things Moscow has to offer.

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