Viking Sea Cocktails Onboard

Updated July 2019

It's no secret that many cruisers embark on their exciting itineraries not only excited to see new destinations, but also to explore the ship and - more specifically - the food and drink onboard! Some cruise lines are known to appeal to foodies more than others, and Viking Cruises is certainly one of them. We set a member of our team, Linda, the task of tasting and reviewing a good variety of cocktails available onboard one of Viking Cruises' gorgeous ships, Viking Sea. Read on for her fantastic account of the ship and of course, the drinks onboard.

Viking Sea is a beauty! She is small and intimate with toned down Nordic style furnishings in neutral colours, and I was lucky enough to be invited to spend three days onboard during her maiden voyage.

My role is in customer services and one of the main questions we always get asked is about drinks. It can be difficult to find out much about the drinks on a cruise prior to travel, so when I have opportunities to get onboard a ship I like to try a nice variety and take notes, in order to share more information with our customers in advance. It is all strictly educational and the research is solely for work purposes, of course.

In general the prices onboard Viking Sea are reasonable for drinks; cocktails are between $8 and $12 (USD). I would recommend getting the Silver drinks package if you want to have a little more than the standard house wine and a couple of cocktails each day; as it works out better value for money. Water is complimenary though, and you get wine, beer and juices during lunch and dinner. Tea and coffee are also available all day.

So, with that in mind, I put my taste buds to the test.

Let’s start with the drink that lent its name to the terrace bar at the back of the ship. Aquavit. Never heard of it? Me neither. It is a caraway or dill spiced Scandinavian spirit. On its own… how shall I put it… it requires an acquired taste. I wouldn’t recommend sipping it. If you want to be polite and drink it, just throw it back in one go. In a cocktail however it can add an interesting edge to the taste. I tried it in a cocktail specifically created by Viking Cruises. I would recommend this drink, it has a slightly herby taste, but the bubbles in the sparkling wine round it off nicely.

At the Pool Bar I had a Strawberry Daiquiri. An old favourite on a hot summer’s day, which suited perfectly while we were docked in a very warm and sunny in Lisbon. I must say it wasn’t the best I’ve ever had, but certainly enjoyable.

Then I suddenly felt a bit homesick and opted for a Pimm’s. To be honest I just wanted to see how a Philippine bartender in Lisbon on a Norwegian ship would make it. It tasted lovely, but it didn’t come with all the fruits you’d expect and the cucumber was missing.

The next day after our trip into Porto and a couple of spa treatments, we all had Afternoon Tea around the pool. The tea and cakes were very nice and so was the Champagne! After tea we got ready for dinner and went to explore the ship further. Eventually we got to the Explorer’s Lounge where we befriended one of the barmen who offered us advice on what to have.

My colleague opted for Caipirinha, which I thought was a solid choice. It wasn’t to her taste, so the barman made her a rum-based cocktail off the menu. That was delicious. I had a Planter’s Punch. It’s one of my favourite cocktails because it reminds me of all-inclusive summer holidays on a sandy beach. I thought it was made very well, one of the best I’ve ever had.

We had a bit of time to kill until dinner and a talented guitarist came on, so we just chatted and enjoyed the sea view with fellow guests. The Explorers Lounge is the place to be for that. It is at the aft of the ship where the whole back wall is made of glass, so you have a spectacular view of the sea and your surroundings. Live music, good company, a refreshing cocktail, and watching the water: bliss.

Before dinner we had time for a few more cocktails, of which there were two I was keen to try. The Viking Cocktail is made with brandy and sparkling wine in a tall Champagne glass. I love drinking out of a Champagne glass; it gives me the feeling of an occasion. I quite enjoyed this drink; it was refreshing and cold, a good choice.

The next was a Grasshopper which was fantastic, but perhaps I should have had it after dinner. It tastes like After 8, so I could have had that instead of pudding. (Instead… Who am I kidding?)

Some colleagues tried my old favourite the Bloody Mary, but with a twist. This time the tomato juice got replaced by crab juice. Yes, you read that right. Apparently it’s lighter and obviously has a distinct seafood taste. No thank you.

Overall I really enjoyed this cruise, not just the cocktails, but the whole experience and I would love to return to the Viking Sea for another trip.

See which Viking Sea cruises we have available, and book your own cocktail-filled adventure with this warm and welcoming cruise line.