Viking Sky

Founded in 1997, Switzerland-based Viking River Cruises specializes in river itineraries throughout the European continent, notably on the Danube, Rhine, Main, Moselle, Rhone, Seine and Elbe rivers. Its river journeys are marketed exclusively to English-speaking passengers, typically Americans. In 2000, Viking purchased KD River Cruises, creating Europe’s largest river boat company, and it has since staked out territory for new itineraries in Russia, Siberia and the Ukraine. In 2004, Viking River further expands, creating opportunity to cruise China's Yangtze River on English-speaking cruisetours with the new Century Star, a 186-passenger, all-balcony river boat built in 2003. In addition to the new deluxe boats, older vessels have been updated. In Europe, all-inclusive cruise/tour packages feature round-trip airfare to Europe; daily comprehensive sightseeing, all meals aboard ship, varied entertainment, shipboard lectures, and themed dinners. A Viking Cruise Manager oversees transfers and baggage handling for all passengers on Viking flights. Other amenities, adapted for an American market include an English-speaking crew, staff and guides, and meals prepared for Western tastes. Cruisetour fares are per person, double occupancy, and include round-trip airfare from the U.S., the cruise, sightseeing, transfers, meals aboard the boat, and entertainment.

Quick View

Viking River vessels including the Viking Sky have modern Scandinavian décor and floor to ceiling windows in public rooms, single seating meals of continental cuisine, and a Swiss hotel management to keep everything immaculate. Itineraries combine lengthy port visits with periods of leisurely river cruising with passengers often lounging on the boat's top deck, with beverages in hand as the countryside passes by. Without the glitz and variety of things to do aboard ship, Viking River vessels including the Viking Sky allow passengers to focus tightly on the cruising destination. Where disembarkation can be a lengthy ordeal on megaships, departing a river vessel takes almost no time.

About Gratuities
Gratuities are at passenger discretion with no printed guidelines.

Ship Features

Restaurant, lounge and bar, library, sun deck, swimming pool, souvenir shop, sauna, whirlpool, elevator, stair lift to sun deck, laundry service, The main lounge, with floor-to-ceiling windows, is where passengers enjoy pre- and post-dinner cocktails and evening entertainment. The restaurant, with tables for four, six and eight, has dinner people. Cabins are tastefully decorated and larger than I expected, with large windows and comfortable beds (twin or king) reconfigured into comfy sofas during the daytime. There is sufficient storage area for clothing. Additional amenities include TV, telephone, hairdryer and small bathroom with shower and a hair dryer.

Staterooms
Among 75 deluxe river view cabins measuring 154 square feet are four larger deluxe suites.

Stateroom amenities
Each cabin has a bathroom with shower, air conditioning, telephone, TV with CNN, hairdryer and safe. Suites are cabins with connecting doors on the upper deck, including an additional bath with tub and a sofa. Voltage is 220V, 2 plugs.

Kid & Teen Stuff
There is no children’s program.

Life Aboard

Dining
Western European chefs prepare international dishes, local specialties and other favorites, and there are occasional themed dinners. The 150-seat restaurant on the middle deck hosts a single open seating lunch and dinner, and a buffet-style breakfast. A light lunch buffet is also served in the lounge. Tables have seating for four, six and eight. Lunch in the restaurant includes a salad buffet as well as soup, a single entree, dessert, coffee and tea. Guests are asked to be seated at 12 or 12:30 p.m. for lunch and at 7 p.m. for dinner, while dining hours for breakfast are from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. Early bird coffee, croissants, muffins and fresh fruit are in the lounge, with coffee and cake served every afternoon. Coffee, tea and fruit are available 24 hours.

Sports / Health / Fitness
There’s a sun deck with swimming pool, whirlpool, and sauna.

Entertainment
Local sightseeing of major attractions is included in fares. There’s also a tiny library area and souvenir shop aboard.

Casino
There is no onboard casino.

Bars
The bar with lounge serves as a gathering spot morning, noon and night.