How to Choose the Perfect Stateroom on a Viking Ocean Cruise
Viking Ocean Cruises Stateroom Guide
How to Choose the Right Stateroom on a Viking Ocean Cruise
Now that we’ve sailed with Viking Ocean Cruises on the Viking Star and have given you the first impressions from our sailing, we thought it might be helpful to circle back around and offer you some help on how to choose a stateroom that’s right for you.
One of the first things to know is that all of the Viking Ocean Cruises ships are identical, so our Viking Ocean Cruises Stateroom Guide will help you regardless of which of the Viking ocean ships you’re considering.
If you’re looking for our guide on choosing the right stateroom on a Viking River Cruise, then please click here.
The Viking Ocean Cruises ships hold a maximum of 930 passengers with 465 staterooms divided into the following categories:
- 42 Veranda (V) staterooms
- 272 Deluxe Veranda (DV) staterooms
- 104 Penthouse Veranda (PV) staterooms
- 32 Penthouse Junior Suites (PS)
- 14 Explorer Suites (ES)
- 1 Owner’s Cabin (OS)
As you can see, Viking Ocean Cruises has designed every stateroom to have a veranda with the smallest offering passengers a comfy 270 sq. ft. This size is quite a departure from competitor ships where many of the entry level staterooms can be as small as 150 sq. ft.
All right, let’s start by exploring the specific differences between the various staterooms, and we’ll share our opinions at the end of this article.
Highlights of the Viking Ocean Cruises Staterooms
Note: click on all of the photographs below to see larger views.
Veranda Staterooms
There are 42 Veranda Staterooms (V) on each of the Viking Ocean Cruises ships. These staterooms are located on Deck 3 with the V1 staterooms towards the front and the V2 staterooms towards the rear.
Each room has the following features:
- Size including veranda: 270 sq. ft.
- 11:00 a.m. embarkation
- 3:00 p.m. stateroom access
- Priority shore excursion reservations: 60 days prior
- King-size Viking Explorer bed with luxury linens
- Large flat-screen LCD TV
- Luxury toiletries
- Direct dial satellite phone & cell service
- Security safe, hair dryer, 110/220 volt outlets
- Wi-Fi
- Interactive TV & movies-on-demand
- 24-hour room service
Deluxe Veranda Staterooms
When choosing a stateroom remember that there are 272 Deluxe Veranda Staterooms (DV) on each of the Viking Ocean Cruises ships with classifications going from DV1 – DV6. Besides earlier access to your stateroom and shore excursion reservations, the biggest difference between these staterooms is the location on the ship. You will also find a small difference in price between each of these categories. Let me explain:
- DV1 – there are just a dozen or so of these staterooms and they are located in premium spots on the ship alongside the Explorer Suites. These sell out quickly as there are so few of them.
- DV2 – there are quite a number of these stateroom located primarily mid-ship on decks 5 and 6.
- DV3 – again, just a handful located in desirable locations on the ship.
- DV4 – there are quite a number of these staterooms located primarily mid-ship on deck 4.
- DV5 – about 25 of these located on deck 4 fore and aft.
- DV6 – less than 20 of these located on deck 3 just behind the atrium.
The Deluxe Veranda Staterooms are physically identical to the Veranda Staterooms and offer the following improved features:
- Size including veranda: 270 sq ft
- 11:00 a.m. embarkation
- 2:00 p.m. stateroom access
- Priority shore excursion reservations: 67 days prior
- 1 guaranteed priority reservation at each specialty restaurant (60 days prior to departure)
- King-size Viking Explorer bed with luxury linens
- Large flat-screen LCD TV
- Mini-bar with soft drinks, water & snacks, replenished once daily
- In-suite binoculars, coffee maker & cashmere blanket
- Luxury robes, slippers & toiletries
- Direct dial satellite phone & cell service
- Security safe, hair dryer, 110/220 volt outlets
- Wi-Fi
- Interactive TV & movies-on-demand
- 24-hour room service
Penthouse Veranda Staterooms
There are 104 Penthouse Veranda Staterooms (PV) on each of the Viking Ocean Cruises ships.
These staterooms are the largest of the Veranda Staterooms, are located on decks 5 and 6 and come with the following more improved features:
- Size including veranda: 338 sq. ft.
- 11:00 a.m. embarkation
- 1:00 p.m. stateroom access
- Priority shore excursion reservations: 77 days prior
- 2 guaranteed priority reservations at each specialty restaurant (70 days prior to departure)
- King-size Viking Explorer bed with luxury linens
- Large flat-screen LCD TV
- Mini-bar with alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, water & snacks, replenished once daily
- In-suite binoculars, coffee maker & cashmere blanket
- Luxury robes, slippers & toiletries
- Direct dial satellite phone & cell service
- Security safe, hair dryer, 110/220 volt outlets
- Wi-Fi
- Interactive TV & movies-on-demand
- 24-hour room service
- Shoe shine & pressing
- Bottle of champagne
Penthouse Junior Suites
There are 32 Penthouse Junior Suites (PS) on each of the Viking Ocean Cruises ships. These junior suites each feature a close-off between the bedroom and living area and come with the following features:
- Size including veranda: 405 sq. ft.
- 11:00 a.m. embarkation
- 11:00 a.m. priority stateroom access
- Priority shore excursion reservations: 87 days prior
- 3 guaranteed priority reservations at each specialty restaurant (80 days prior to departure)
- King-size Viking Explorer bed with luxury linens
- Large flat-screen LCD TV
- Mini-bar with alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, water & snacks, replenished once daily
- In-suite binoculars, coffee maker & cashmere blanket
- Luxury robes, slippers & toiletries
- Direct dial satellite phone & cell service
- Security safe, hair dryer, 110/220 volt outlets
- Wi-Fi
- Interactive TV & movies-on-demand
- 24-hour room service
- Laundry, dry cleaning, shoe shine & pressing
- Bottle of champagne
Explorer Suites
There are 14 Explorer Suites (ES) on each of the Viking Ocean Cruises ships. Each of these suites is large, luxurious, has the very best locations on the ship with expansive verandas, and are certain to appeal to luxury travelers looking for the quiet ship experience that is found with Viking.
- Size including veranda: 757+ sq. ft.
- 11:00 a.m. embarkation
- 11:00 a.m. priority stateroom access
- Priority shore excursion reservations: 97 days prior
- 3 guaranteed priority reservations at each specialty restaurant (90 days prior to departure)
- King-size Viking Explorer bed with luxury linens
- Large flat-screen LCD TV
- Mini-bar with alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, water & snacks, replenished once daily
- In-suite binoculars, coffee maker & cashmere blanket
- Luxury robes, slippers & toiletries
- Direct dial satellite phone & cell service
- Security safe, hair dryer, 110/220 volt outlets
- Wi-Fi
- Interactive TV & movies-on-demand
- 24-hour room service
- Laundry, dry cleaning, shoe shine & pressing
- Bottle of champagne
- * Stateroom configuration varies depending upon the location on each deck
Stateroom Comparison Chart
Note: click charts for much larger views.
Deck Plans
After you choose a stateroom, the next decision is where on the ship you’d like your stateroom to be located. So, to help with your choice, here’s a peek at the various decks on Viking Ocean Cruises ships.
Note: click on the images below for much larger views.
Putting it all together to choose the perfect stateroom
At the end of the day, I suppose it will be your wallet that will determine which of the staterooms will best suit your needs. But once you choose a stateroom that best matches your finances, you will also notice that the staterooms also have a further division into various classes. For example, the Deluxe Veranda (DV) has six different classifications (DV1 – DV6) depending on its location on the ship. Therefore, a DV1 stateroom, as it has a better location on the ship, will carry a higher price tag than a DV6 stateroom.
In our opinion, Viking Ocean Cruises has built a ship that will nicely meet the needs of a great swath of the boomer travelers – you should be able to choose a stateroom that fits your needs perfectly.
Want Some Help?
It’s certainly no secret that you can call Viking Ocean Cruises direct to book your cruise. However, if I can offer a shameless plug for our travel agency, here’s a few reasons you may want to consider having us come alongside and help you plan a fun Viking Ocean Cruise:
- The cost is exactly the same booking direct with Viking or booking directly with us.
- We sometimes have additional perks like shipboard credits to share with you through our various industry affiliations.
- If Viking finds that a particular cruise is selling tickets as well as they want, it is not uncommon for them to issue a special “flash sale” that will not appear on their website but we will have access to. We keep a close eye out for these sales and publish them in our Saturday morning newsletter.
- As we have personally sailed with Viking, and have been to many of the destinations they visit, we have a great deal of personal advice to send your way.
- And lastly, our first goal as a relationship driven organization is to earn your trust and bring value to the relationship. We understand that you may need help with travel options in the future, and we’d love to have you as a client and help you with all of your travel needs. We are certainly not limited to just Viking! As a full-service travel agency, we can bring you help and advice on nearly any travel option you can dream up.
To book a fun Viking Ocean Cruise, or to get your Viking questions answered, call our travel agency at (480) 550-1235, or use our convenient online information request (click here) and we’ll reach out to you.
Link: Viking Ocean Cruises Website
Note: all photos and charts courtesy of Viking Ocean Cruises.
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We are retired so have flexibility. We would like to cruise the Mediterranean right after first of year. Should we book now or will better offers come along?
Hi Kathleen, I don’t know if you checked the availability on Viking’s website: http://www.vikingcruises.com/oceans?agenturlid=roamingboomers but availability is VERY limited.
Therefore, the hope of a special offer to increase bookings is very unlikely. Our recommendation is to book now. You might also enjoy this article that we just wrote about the best way to make a Viking booking: https://www.theroamingboomers.com/best-way-to-book-an-ocean-or-river-cruise/
For our help, call (480) 550-1235. Thanks! 🙂
Your comparison of state rooms is very helpful. However perhaps you should point out that the Excursion booking in advance according to state room category means that those in the lower categories at the end of the line can be seriously disadvantaged. We are booked into a Veranda Stateroo for our upcoming cruise to Japan and have discovered that all the prime iconic sites are fully booked – the reason for spending so much money on the cruise was to be able to visit them and now we find we cant. e.g for the two days we are docked at Hiroshima not one paying excursion is available to us. Many other excursions in the cruise are also fully boked.
We feel this to be very unfair,and that we have been discriminated against by wealth. Surely Excursions should all be released at the same time and not with a possible 40 ,day difference.
Perhaps it would be helpful if you could warn your clients about this.
Hi Catherine,
Thank you for stopping by and sharing kind words about our website. Here is a link to a helpful chart that describes who can book what and when by cabin category: https://www.theroamingboomers.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Ocean-Stateroom-Amenities-Chart.pdf
First of all, don’t forget that everyone gets a complimentary shore excursion in every port. So, everyone gets a complimentary tour that will give you the highlights in each port.
However, after that, the optional shore excursions are bookable by stateroom category with the Suites getting first dibs and the regular Veranda staterooms getting the last availability. And as there are only 42 Veranda staterooms on the Viking ships, there are a lot of folks ahead of you vying for the available optional excursions.
With this being the case, we recommend that: 1) consider booking at least a DV6 if this is a problem for you. 2) Mark the date that the shore excursions come available to you and call right away. Most people forget and tend to want to book these shore excursions at the last minute.
If it’s not too late, maybe the best course of action would be to upgrade to a DV6 and get access to those shore excursions at an earlier date.
Again, thanks for stopping by, and we hope you enjoy your Viking Ocean Cruise in Japan.
I’m looking at the Romantic Danube Viking Cruise. What does River-view stateroom with half-height picture window mean (stateroom E&F)? Do you have to stand in the room to see out the window?Stateroom size: 150 sq ft
River-view stateroom with half-height picture window
Hi Carol,
Trying to find out is the Deluxe Verandah and above can accommodate a couple and a 20 yr old grandson.
Hi Melissa,
Hi,I am trying to figure out what is the best part of the ship to not get Sea Sick. We are booked for the Viking Homelands which has been my dream for many years. I do get a little sick with a lot of ship movement so I was wondering what is best for that since this is an Ocean Cruise. Thank you so very much.
Hi Christine,
We have booked a DV2 room on the Viking Star on level 6. It appears that this room is directly under the main pool. Have we made a mistake? Is there going to be a lot of noise above us?
Hi Steve,
If you can, you might want to move forward under the Wintergarden. If not, however, it’s not like this boat is full of 30-year-old partiers. The ship is going to be pretty quiet after dinner.
We’re sure we want a Deluxe Veranda category but as you said within that category there are different locations. We were leaning toward a DV4 but can you mention any other advantages of location on the ship in terms of forward, aft, which deck, port or starboard. Also just to doublecheck within the categories DV1-DV6 you get the exact same amenities? Thanks so much, your article is helpful!
Hi Deb,
The amenities for DV1 through DV6 are identical. The only difference is the location on the ship. I generally don’t make a big deal out of which side of the ship you sail on as you will ultimately be sailing in the shipping lanes 20 or more miles out to sea. That far out, you really can’t see much. The DV2 and the DV4 staterooms are popular as they are more midship and will offer less movement should you get into high seas.
We are booked for a 28 day ocean cruise in room 6060 on Sun across from the elevators….will this be noisy?
Hi Pam,
I wouldn’t worry about it. With these ships being full of baby boomers and older, the ships are pretty quiet and most everyone is in bed after dinner. 🙂 Have fun!
We’re looking at a Norway cruise in May of 2021. Will we spend much time on the veranda (we like it outside, did an Alaskan cruise in June, and spent most of the at sea time on the veranda)? Is it worth the money to upgrade from Penthouse Suite to Explorer Suite? I saw a review that said the ES 3000 (bow on deck 3) was noisy from anchors and thrusters – is that the case? And is it a good idea to use Viking Air to make flight arrangements? Thanks!
Richard,
Thanks for stopping by. I wonder, with all of the questions, if it might make more sense for us to chat on the phone. Please feel free to give me a call at 480-550-1235. Thanks. I think the suite question is more of a personal preference kind of thing. If you plan to spend a lot of time on your deck, those Explorer Suites are very nice. My personal favorite on these ships are the Penthouse Jr. Suites. However, I would not likely spend a whole lot of time on my deck, so the Penthouse Jr. is kind of like Goldilocks, “just right”. Again, happy to talk on the phone.
Thanks very much! I’m at work – I’ll call from home either tonight or over the weekend.
We are booking a Viking Homelands cruise next May. We prefer an aft Explorer Suite. Wondering about the two suites on Deck 6 below the infinity pool. Any recommendation?
Hi Denise,
Well, if you’re not already working with a travel advisor, I’d be remiss if I didn’t recommend that you book with our company. Here’s an article that might help you understand why: https://www.theroamingboomers.com/best-way-to-book-an-ocean-or-river-cruise
With regards to your concerns about being below the infinity pool, keep in mind that Viking’s ships are full of 70-year-olds. Not a party ship by any stretch of the imagination. Therefore, the only sounds that you are likely to hear are the occasional movements of a chair on the deck above your head. And the most pronounced of this would likely be in the early evening as people are getting ready for dinner and the staff is preparing the area for the evening. And, as most are sound asleep by 10:00, I don’t know that I’d be too worried about it. I hope this helps. 🙂
We’re booked on a 2021 Western Mediterranean Ocean cruise on Viking (unfortunately rescheduled from this year) and I’m currently researching a possible 2022 In Search of Northern Lights cruise. The ships, although different names, look identical in their layout. We’re booking a DV4 on our first cruise and we’ll be on Deck 8. I noticed that on the ship’s layout there are only a few DV4 rooms on Deck 7 and Deck 8 and the rest are suites. Wondering if you’ve seen this layout on the cruise(s) you’ve been on and can comment on how the location is? Also can you comment on using Hurtigruten Expedition instead for Northern Lights? Thanks!
Hi Deborah,
Just so you know, Viking’s ships are all identical when it comes to stateroom layouts. The DV4 staterooms are all on deck 4 with a few DV1s on decks 7 & 8. If you don’t mind being towards the front of the ship, we like the location of the DV1s on decks 7 & 8. If you like, please give us a call and we’d be happy to help you with the booking.
With regard to Hurtigruten, they are a completely different kind of experience as they are expedition ships. We like that, you just have to be careful NOT to get on one of their “mail ships” that stop in every port along the way. Hurtigruten’s new expedition ships are beautiful and we look forward to sailing with them ourselves one day.
What are the differences between Explorer Suite 1 and 2. We already know about the location but my question is which has more windows and light in it, explorer Suite 1 (forward) or Explorer Suite 2?
Hi Dr. Burrus, thanks for stopping by. The ES1 suites, on the front of the ship, are larger with larger verandas. I’m not certain about the glass space from one to the other, but I would guess that the ES1, being larger, might have more light in the room. Did that answer your question? If not, please feel free to reach out to me at [email protected].
We have the option of booking cabin 8001, but will this be noisy with the Explorer lounge next door and foot traffic to that area? Cabins are very limited on the cruise we are booked on. Basically, is upgrading to this cabin worthwhile?
Stateroom 8001 is a fairly quiet area of the ship. Generally speaking, folks are going to enter the Explorers’ Lounge from deck 7. If you’re booking is a new booking w/ Viking, without vouchers, give me a call as we have perks to share. However, if you are booking with a voucher from a direct booking w/ Viking, we can’t help. 480-550-1235
What a great help your website is. The comparison chart helps so much. You have done so much of the comparison work, I feel like I need to send you a fee.
LOL. You don’t need to send us a fee, but we’d love to help you with your booking. 🙂
We would like to talk with you. I have researched 2022 Baltic cruises pretty thoroughly and keep coming back to Viking. We haven’t decided between Russia & Baltic Sea and Viking Homelands but we know the door is closing on both. If we could design our own cruise, it would end in Copenhagen because we want to visit the south of Sweden for a short time. But we could travel from Stockholm or Bergen. And, we want to use our reward miles to fly first class or at least business. That’s a brief description of what we are working with. Per the Cruise Critic article today, I would love to think Viking would add more Baltic cruises next summer. We would like to know how you could help us and the cost for your service.
We are booked on the Viking Jupiter suite 408, DV4. It is just above the atrium, above the life boats and by the stairs. They chose this for us. we are light sleepers, Will any of these things cause problems? Thank you
Hi Sue, Viking’s staterooms all have 4 digits. Can you give me a better number?
Jupiter ship to Iceland in August.
What about cabins on back of ship? Also is one side preferable to another? Traveling around country clockwise. Should we be on starboard side?
Hi Teresa,
Thanks for stopping by. From a wave movement perspective, midship is desired. However, if not available, then the ship’s rear would be more desirable over the very front.
If you’re talking about Viking’s Iceland’s Natural Beauty, this itinerary sails clockwise around the island, so the starboard (right) side of the ship would be preferable.
If you would like our help to place the booking, just complete this form: https://info.theroamingboomers.com/personal-information-request
We are on the Viking Jupiter DV4 room 4080. Is this the same room you had and if so how was the room
Hi Patty,
When we last sailed with Viking, we were in a Penthouse Veranda #6001. We loved it. Have fun on your cruise. 🙂
hello, we are on the viking star world cruise jan 2022 and are booked in pv2. a room in ps3 just opened up, but is a handicap room. Would this be a better room? what is the advantage, disadvantage of a handicap room. thx
Hi Kelly,
The handicapped rooms are designed for those who use a wheelchair. For example, a shower that can accommodate a wheelchair rolling in. It would NOT be a desirable room for those who are not handicapped.
Hello,
We are scheduled to cruise on the Viking sky in room 5001 explorer es1. A balcony is very important to us. I am hearing that the es1 balcony is very closed in? Should I try to get a different room?
Thank you!
We prefer the suites on the back of the ship. While the deck is more narrow, it provides a fair amount of shade. Also, there is less wave movement in the back of the ship versus the front.
We are in a room DV2 on Viking Sky and across from the Lift. Are we able to hear the Lift each time it is used in evening?
We generally like to keep our clients away from the lift and the stairs. However, these are pretty quiet ships and don’t have kids running up and down the stairs. So, if you can move, do. But if not, I wouldn’t lose sleep over it. I doubt you’ll hear a thing.
We are going on the Greek Odyssey Cruise at the end of this month. We are in DV6 3065 which appears to be somewhat midship. Any thoughts on this room? Also, we are probably going to book another cruise while on the ship. Can we use your agency as a referral?
Michelle,
You should enjoy that room. It’s relatively midship and not too far from the elevators. And when you’re ready for your next cruise, we’d be honored to help.
Which are larger in square footage on the Viking Jupiter: the ES1 suites aft on Deck 4 or 5? Thanks!
The ES1 suites are in the front of the ship.
ES2 Deck 4 = 883 sq. ft
ES2 Deck 5 = 980 sq. ft
ES2 Deck 6 = 850 sq. ft.
We sailed with Viking in the ES2 on deck 6. You should know that if you get into some rough seas, it is possible that you could get some spillage from the infinity pool above your head on your day bed on decks 4 & 5. Just a little insider’s tip. 🙂
Yes, I misspoke about aft. I’m still interested in which of the ES1 suites are larger, Deck 4 or Deck 5. Thanks.
ES1 Deck 4 = 1259 sq. ft
ES1 Deck 5 = 1130 sq. ft.
If we can help with a new booking, just give us a call. 🙂
Is PV1 suite 6008 back or front of ship? Also, is one level better than another … especially views and motion? Thank you! Marg
6008 is in the front of the ship. We prefer the PV1s towards the back for less wave movement. If you need help with booking, please feel free to give us a call: https://www.theroamingboomers.com/best-way-to-book-an-ocean-or-river-cruise/
Are the DV6 cabins located above the night club Torshaven noisy?
It depends on what is going on in there. I’d spend just a few more $ and get into a DV4.
We just returned from a Viking Ocean to Iceland and wished someone would’ve warned us about being in the back of the ship on deck 6(6096), as we heard constant noise from the crew above us dragging chairs/tables about from as early as 5a till well past midnight. It was unbelievable and totally ridiculous that there wasn’t some type of soundproofing put in during the building of this brand new ship(Mars).
Hope folks will think about this when booking…I know we will if we ever go again.
We are interested in sailing on the Viking Sea for the Empires of the Mediterranean cruise from Athens to Venice.
Do you happen to know the square footages on each deck for the Explorer Suite – ES2.
ES2 Deck 4 = 883 sq. ft
ES2 Deck 5 = 980 sq. ft
ES2 Deck 6 = 850 sq. ft.
Explorer Suites: ES3 – would you recommend/compare 3001 and 3095. Thank you
I would choose 3095. The view from the veranda is better as you’re looking right out over the ocean. 3001 has quite a bit of ship between you and the ocean. Also, it seems to me that the ride is better in the ship’s rear than the very front as the propellers seem to have a grounding effect. Although, I have no scientific proof of that. Give us a call, and we’d be happy to help you with the booking. And, we have perks.
Thanks for all your information. Very informative. We’re booking a 29 day cruise and will get a PS1 cabin. Do you see any advantage/disadvantage to 8016 and 8002? These are the two currently available. Thanks
Jim,
I would choose 8016. It’s a little more midship and perhaps a better ride if you get into some waves. Please feel free to call our office for booking information. We’ve got VIP perks for you.
We have never cruised with Viking Ocean and are considering a Mediterranean cruise for 2023. Would Black Friday or Cyber Monday give any better pricing?
Hi Jan,
Thanks for stopping by. With Viking, the biggest challenge is availability for their Med cruises in 2023. Therefore, I’d recommend booking as soon as possible. Further, with great demand come higher prices, not lower. So while I don’t know what Viking may or may not do come Cyber Monday, I wouldn’t wait. Feel free to give me a call to discuss this further.
Hello, I found your website and it is great, information totally useful for anybody.
We booked for first time a Viking Cruise (Neptune) for next 15 August 2024 from Bergen to London.
We are worried because it is not a cheaper one, it is expensive but ship looks great.
We book cabin 5056 (DV2), do you think is a good idea? good choice?
We tried to upgrade to DV! but is full.
Hope we are doing well.
Thanks in advance and Regards
Federico from Spain
Thanks for the article, we are booked on the Viking Neptune January 9,2024 World Journeys (121 days) in a Penthouse Veranda stateroom which is 338 sq.ft..
I am not sure the size is big enough for the long cruise and would like length ft X width ft of the stateroom to determine better if this is large enough for us. Is this available ?
I have considered a Penthouse Junior suite but non available.
Does Viking have some sort of wait list?
Appreciate your feedback
Keith,
I checked with our Viking representative, and he could not put his hands on a chart showing room measurements other than square feet. Also, Viking does not have a waiting list, so you’re best to keep an eye on their website for fallout. It’s not uncommon for there to be cancelations prior to people making the large final payment.
Hi – my husband and I are interested in the South American tour on the Viking Jupiter – looking at the Penthouse Junior Suite… My husband needs grab bars for getting off the toilet and for using the shower. He is not wheelchair-bound (although he does need it for shore excursions). We carry stick-on bars for the bathroom, but need a tile or glass wall for that to work – do you know if the shower wall next to the toilet is near enough for this to be feasible in the PJS? Which are the desirable suite numbers for this?
Hi Leslie,
I’ll look into this for you and get back to you offline. Thanks for reaching out.
is there noise from the laundrettes on each floor?
Not much. Perhaps a little from people congregating and talking. But I wouldn’t be too concerned. When booking staterooms, we tend to avoid that area, but it shouldn’t be a serious worry if everything else is sold out away from the laundrette.
I’m interested in DV1 category starboard aft staterooms. Which is the best floor to be on, 4 or 5? I see floor 5 is under the infinity pool, stateroom 5211 specifically. Is stateroom directly below, 4123 better for unobstructed view?
I’m interested in the Mediterranean odyssey cruise 5/8-5/20/2024 delux veranda room on 6th level.. Is that a good location?
Please give us a call to discuss 480-550-1235
Please call to discuss 480-550-1235
Hello. I see in the earlier post here that the Viking ES2 aft explorer suites on the ocean. Cruises are stated to vary slight in size from the 5th deck to the 4th deck with the es2 aft being about 100 sqft larger on the 5th deck. Viking has told me twice now that ‘all es2 the aft are the same size’. Is this true? Can any compare being on the fifth deck for an es2 vs being on the fourth deck. Does the overhang from deck seven cause less sun on the fifth deck? I know the rooms are both great back there but curious about size and also overhang from above. Thanks!!
I sent you an email. Hard to answer this question here.
We cruised on Viking Sky in a PV2 suite. This time we are looking at Viking Star cabins 5025, 4039, 4041 or 5004 There is a substantial difference in price
My concern is the lack of storage space i.e., drawers, and size of room. This is New York to Bergen.
Could you provide information on these level of cabins
Pam,
I just got this information from our Viking rep:
Cabins 4039 4041 are dv4 ( deluxe verandas ) 270 sq feet vs PV 338 sq feet
The bathroom is the same size
I imagine dressers and storage area would be same if not very similar to size
Pv has 12 more sq feet on balcony and 56 sq feet more inside
Dv 213 interior 57 veranda 35 bathroom
Pv 269 interior 69 veranda 35 bathroom
These are the cabin sizes in sq feet
The other big advantage to the PV staterooms is that you can book shore excursions before all of the DV staterooms. Plus, you get early specialty dining reservations, some stocked alcohol in your fridge, and earlier check-in aboard ship.
If you book with us today, we have $400 in shipboard credits to add to your booking.
Hi, thanks for your article and comments. Super helpful.
We are given the option of 3097 or 4097. Which is better to avoid seasickness?
Hi Mary Kay,
3097 is a DV1, where 4097 is a DV4. So there are price differences between the two. The DV4s and DV2s are generally the most midship, and generally, the staterooms folks gravitate to if they are worried about seasickness. However, 3097 is in the back of the ship and will give you beautiful 180º views. So, I would pick the DV1 if you don’t mind the additional expense.
Secondly, as it doesn’t cost you any more money to book with an expert travel advisor, I recommend finding one. And in particular, one that has been on these ships multiple times to guide you better. And, of course, we’d be happy to help. Just give us a call.
Also, if you are worried about seasickness, try the new Relief Bands now available. My wife used them with great success on our last cruise: https://www.reliefband.com/
Call us, and we would be happy to help you with this booking or take over the booking if made within the last 60 days.
David Porter 480-550-1235
I have never been on a cruise ship and was looking at Viking Sea to go up the Pacific Coastline, was interested in a PV1 cabin, one available 6015 or much further back, which would be better for comfort? Thank you
Hi Susan,
Thanks for reaching out. For less possible wave motion on the ship, we prefer the PV1s toward the aft of the ship. If you need help booking and would enjoy our additional perks, please call me at 480-550-1235. Thanks.
Hi David. we have done River Cruises (through your office of course) and are now looking at an ocean cruise. Italian Sojourn. I think we have decided on a Deluxe Veranda room but not sure about which category. Thinking of one of the less expensive ones. Considering where we are sailing, etc. what is your recommendation? Any specials going on? Thanks for the continued help!
Question- On the western Mediterranean viking cruise leaving from Rome, Is it best to be in an odd # stateroom on the right side of the ship? That way at port and at sea, you are facing the scenic landscape?
Hi Jody,
We don’t recommend that our clients worry too much about what side of the ship they are on. However, yes, if you can book the cruise facing the land, then that’s what we generally will look for first. However, keep in mind, that in many locations, you will be sailing in the shipping lanes that are 20-30 miles out to sea and there is very little land to see from that distance. So, yes, but the side facing the land, but don’t get hopes too high that you will always see land.
currently booked on viking mars sailing august 17 have pv2 cabin 5028 booked looking at pv1 cabin 5090.looking at changing to cabin5090 is $100 more . also looked at the penthouse junior suite. seem to pricey. are they worth it ?
Hi Tuxedo Pat,
When we book Viking’s Penthouse Veranda (PV) staterooms, we default for the PV1 staterooms towards the aft of the ship vs. the bow. There is more wave movement in the bow of the ship. I prefer the Penthouse Junior Suite over the Penthouse Veranda as we enjoy the larger bathroom, and one can close off the living area from the bedroom. I am an early riser.
Hello! Newbie here. Any info on stateroom 6001 on a Viking Star ship? It is the 1st cabin next to the bridge on deck 6. I do not know if that is a plus or minus … is there a better access and/or visual advantage or potentially should stay away from due to noise or wind? Thanks!
Hi Kate,
Thanks for stopping by. We have personally sailed in stateroom 6001 on Viking. It’s a PV1 stateroom in the very front of the ship. While we found nothing objectionable about the stateroom, we would prefer and recommend a PV1 toward the aft of the ship. Being in the very front of the ship allows for more up-and-down movement if you find yourself in waves, while the aft of the ship is more grounded to the ocean because of the ship’s propellers. So, if there is still availability on your particular sailing, I’d move towards the back of the ship. I hope that helps.
We are considering a first cruise on Viking and have two ship options with same itinerary, Jupiter or Saturn. Which ship do you recommend? My initial reaction is to go with the newer ship. But that’s not always right on every cruise line so thought I’d ask. Thanks
Hi ME,
Thanks for reaching out. Viking’s ships are mostly identical, so going with the newest ship is not a bad idea. However, one ship might give you a better location than the other, so that might drive your decision.
Also, if you don’t feel like figuring this out by yourself, we’d be honored to help you with a new booking. Just call our office, ask for Joan, and she’ll be happy to help. Joan’s phone number is (480) 618-6785, or you can reach her at [email protected]. Plus, when you book with us, we have complimentary shipboard credits to add to Viking’s best offers. You might also enjoy this article: https://www.theroamingboomers.com/best-way-to-book-an-ocean-or-river-cruise/
we are going on the Viking Star in December for the Ancient Mediterranean Treasures cruise. We have a DV1 and were assigned Stateroom 4122, which looks great to me, but would like your opinion on it. I do sometimes feel a little queasy for the first day or so. Will this be a problem on the back of the ship. Do I need to pack extra dramamine. Also, wondering about the weather about the weather in Istanbul. Being from Florida, we’re looking forward to the chilly Christmas weather, but not quite sure what to pack. thank you for your insights.
Hi Ruth,
First of all, if you booked this cruise directly with Viking in the last 60 days, we have perks that we can add to your booking when you transfer your booking to us. If you’re interested, email [email protected].
The best place to avoid sea sickness is in the center of the ship, and the second best place is the back of the ship. So I wouldn’t worry too much. The DV1s on the back of the ship are quite lovely.
In December, Istanbul experiences cold and wet winter weather. Daytime temperatures typically range from 45°F to 52°F, while nighttime temperatures drop to between 39°F and 45°F. Rain is frequent, with about 4 inches of precipitation expected over 11 days, and the city is often overcast or mostly cloudy about 57% of the time. Although snow is rare in December, the city’s proximity to the sea can make it feel colder due to the winds. Visitors should prepare for variable weather by dressing in layers and bringing an umbrella.
I hope that helps! Enjoy your journey.
For Vikings’ In Search of Northern Lights (start in London), which DV, including which side, do you recommend?
Hi Maryshopper,
We generally don’t recommend that people worry too much about what side of the ship they are on. Many like to make a big deal out of this, but when you leave a port, you are generally headed out into the shipping lanes, which might be 20-30 miles out to sea, and the land will be difficult to see. Nonetheless, if you want to be facing land for most of your journey, pick the starboard side of the ship for this cruise.
thanks. are there DV rooms your recommend (or don’t recommend) for For Vikings’ In Search of Northern Lights (start in London), ?
The DV2s and DV4s are predominantly midship and are best if you’re concerned about possible seasickness crossing the North Sea.
Hello, we are planning on booking a Viking Cruise in Italy for September 2025. I love your website – very informative and will probably book through your agency. Quick question: Is one side of the ship better than the other in terms of scenery when cruising?
Hi Gail,
We generally don’t recommend that people worry too much about what side of the ship they are on. Many like to make a big deal out of this, but when you leave a port, you are generally headed out into the shipping lanes, which might be 20-30 miles out to sea, and the land will be difficult to see. Perhaps another way of thinking would be: what side of the ship would give me the most sunsets? If that is the case, pick the side of the ship with the most western exposure.
Hi – Great website! Just completed a Viking Rhine River Cruise and now want to book Alaska. Which do you recommend – PS1, PS2, or PS3? Do you prefer Vancouver to Seward or Seward to Vancouver? Thanks!
Hi Bill,
I like the PS2s on Deck 7 the most because of their ideal location and proximity to the Explorers Lounge. Secondly, I would pick the PS1s on the next deck up and leave the PS3s for last. Also, note that two of the PS3s are for the handicapped. I don’t have a strong preference for sailing north or south. We’ve always sailed north because we tend to want to spend some extra time in Vancouver prior to the cruise. Give us a call, and we’d be happy to help you with the booking and add our extra complimentary perks. 480-550-1235. Ask for Joan.
Thanks for the super-prompt reply! We’ll be in touch when we figure out dates.
My pleasure. We’re here when you’re ready.
We are sailing on the Neptune out of L.A. December 14. We had been booked into a PV1 but noticed that a PS1 had opened up. Your team was able to book us into stateroom 8005. After reading some of the comments regarding rolling seas, I am concerned about being constantly uncomfortable based on being near the front of the ship. Should we reconsider a stateroom in the middle or aft of the ship–regardless of the type?
Hi Pat,
Greetings from Athens, Greece. Those PS1 suites are lovely, but as you pointed out, they are high on the ship and forward, thereby more prone to wave movements should you get into some high seas. If you’re really worried about it, feel free to call the office, and we can see about moving you. However, if you would like to enjoy that fabulous suite, maybe give https://www.reliefband.com/ a try. Carol uses them when we sail; they’ve greatly helped her with sea sickness concerns.
Hello, we were thinking of taking the Canada&New England cruise on the Viking Mars for Oct 2025. Not many penthouse suite are available. I did see you available PV1 6004. My concern is booking in the front of the ship due the rocking and such. That said, are we better off at the rear of the ship given the humming from the engine? Supposedly reading that this ship has some stabilizes so the front rooms are not bad at all. Any thoughts and comments would be appreciated
Hello Bill,
I find the PV1s at the back of the ship to have less motion than the front. So, we always put our clients towards the back vs. front. Call my office, ask for Joan, and she can help. 480-550-1235.