My Culinary Experience on a Viking River Cruise #MyVikingStory

At the beginning of the summer, Lisa and I went on our first river cruise “The Danube Waltz”  on board the Viking Longship Vilhjalm.

Of course, we knew this would be the trip of a lifetime as we sailed down the Blue Danube, what we hadn’t counted on was having our own 5-star restaurant on board the ship. If you’ve never heard of Viking River Cruises click on the link to learn more.

Being on a small ship makes all the difference in the world. Viking River Cruises hold about 180 passengers which means a more intimate atmosphere and make life much easier for the staff to get to know you. This trickles down to the Ships Kitchen as well. How often do you get to chat with the Chef and his staff during the cruise? You can have lunch or dinner outside in the Aquavit Terrace on the upper deck or downstairs in the main dining area.

What Kind of Food Can I expect on a Viking River Cruise?

Breakfast is served in both locations with earlier service in the Aquavit Terrace. But if you’re a late sleeper like me (on vacation) you’ll opt for full breakfast service with everything your heart could desire.

They serve a very European style breakfast with added American options. But the overall flair of the meals seems to match the travel destination.

Do I have to Eat in the Main Restaurant?

Most afternoons you’re not on board ship, choosing to stay in town and find a cute little restaurant to have lunch at. Or out on one of the available afternoon excursions which usually include lunch. But if you’re in the mood to just relax on the river and enjoy a quiet lunch Viking River Cruises has got you covered.

Meals are available on the Aquavit Deck for all three meals.

Lunch fare is simpler but plentiful. I promise you’ll find something delicious to eat and walk away full and happy!

Dinner is when the kitchen really shines. You have a choice of appetizer, entree and dessert that changes each night, with additional items that are always available if you nothing strikes your fancy.

Everything was delicious and beautifully plated giving every dish that Wow factor. After all, we eat with our eyes and a good first impression means everything. This Fried Mascarpone appetizer was one of my favorites!

And this lime marinated poached shrimp and avocado tartare was exceptional…..sigh.

After enjoying your appetizer, the main course arrives with all the flourish and panache of a Michelin starred restaurant.

How are the Desserts on a Viking River Cruise?

Then dessert arrives…. It’s a beautiful thing!

And if you’re not in the mood for one of the Viking Signature Desserts.

There’s always ice cream. You gotta love the Viking kitchen staff, they make everything special!

Will There be Regional Dining Specialties?

Once during the cruise, they have a special dinner celebrating the local cuisine. I’m still dreaming about those pretzels and why does beer taste so much better in Europe?

We got to taste the local specialties and the Austrian meats were only outdone by the Austrian cheese selection.

The wonder of cheese….sigh.

And of course, the entree’s were perfectly prepared and oh so delicious! This typical Austrian fare and the party that came afterward made our cruise so very special.

Not only did we make new friends amongst the passengers we counted many of the crew as friends as well. They made our experience exceptional!

did I mention that each Viking Longship has its own herb garden on board? Just another reason to love Viking!

To Learn more about my Viking River Cruise check out my first post. It talks more about the ship and the ports we visited, click on the link to learn more about our Viking River Cruise

If you enjoyed this post you may like my other cruise posts:

• Visit Northern Burgundy on a Luxury Barge Cruise
• My First Viking River Cruise – The Danube Waltz
• Wine and Dine with Viking Cruises
• What you need to know for your Disney Cruise