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    Home » On the Road

    My Culinary Experience on a Viking River Cruise #MyVikingStory

    Published: Aug 24, 2017 · Modified: Aug 19, 2021 by Chef Dennis Littley

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

    Viking Longship Vilhjalm on the danube river with hills in the background

    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.

    dining area on the viking river cruise

    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 on board a viking longship

    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.

    breakfast on a Viking longship, on a white plate with a menu , coffee and silverware on a white tablecloth

    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?

    lunch buffet in the aquavit terrace on board the Viking longship

    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.

    ham, egg and cheese sandwich on a white plate

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

    pan seared fish on vegetables on a white plate

    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.

    fried mascarpone appetizer in a cream sauce on a white plate with a spout garnish

    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!

    lime marinated poached shrimp in avocado tartare on a white plate

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

    slices of roasted lamb served with ravioli and tomato on a white plate

    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?

    Chocolate mousse cake with fruit and a mint leave served on a white plate

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

    tricolor cake with cherries on a white plate on a white table cloth

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

    banana ice cream in a white bowl with whipped cream and a cookie

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

    Will There be Regional Dining Specialties?

    pretzels hanging on a rack with beer in glasses on a red checkered table cloth

    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?

    assortement of meats and accompaniments on a cutting board

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

    selection of cheese and toppings on a cutting board

    The wonder of cheese….sigh.

    pork schnitzel with lemon slice and parsley on a white plate

    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.

    man and woman in typical 18th century Austrian clothing

    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!

    herb garden on the upper deck of a Viking longship

    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

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    About Chef Dennis

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    Chef Dennis Littley is a classically trained chef with over 40 years of experience working in the food service industry. In his second career as a food blogger he has made it his mission to demistify cooking by sharing his time-tested recipes, knowledge, and chef tips to help you create easy-to-make restaurant-quality meals in your home kitchen. Let Chef Dennis help you bring the joy of cooking into your home. For more details, check out his About page.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Celia Craig

      December 24, 2019 at 11:57 am

      Could I possibly get the marvelous ham and cheese salad recipe. As a 4 time cruiser we have enjoyed the ham and cheese salad every time. Could we have the recipe? How do you keep the cheese from sticking to each other?

      Reply
      • Chef Dennis Littley

        December 24, 2019 at 3:18 pm

        I wish I had it to give Celia. You’ll have to contact Viking for that.

        Reply
    2. Susan K.

      September 24, 2019 at 12:37 pm

      This makes me terribly nostalgic for the Viking Rhine cruise I took. How kind and genuine the entire staff was! It was one wonderful memory after another, food, people, places, entertainment. I so wish I could go again….

      Reply
    3. jan

      January 19, 2019 at 10:15 pm

      Do you know what the pattern/manufacturer of the dinnerware they use on the River Cruises? White, wave pattern.

      Reply
      • Chef Dennis Littley

        January 20, 2019 at 11:18 am

        I do not, sorry.

        Reply
    4. Linda

      May 03, 2018 at 3:38 am

      If I don’t eat fish or lamb are there other option for dinner. I am a very plain eater.

      Reply
      • Chef Dennis Littley

        May 03, 2018 at 7:57 am

        There are three choices nightly and they always have four other options available, including Chicken and Prime Rib. The folks at Viking do their best to accommodate every passenger.

        Reply
    5. Karen

      November 02, 2017 at 3:46 pm

      Agreed! We did the Romantic Danube last month on the Viking Var and the food and wines/beers were excellent. I could go for a Mozart coffee and scone with clotted cream as we speak!

      Reply
      • Chef Dennis Littley

        November 02, 2017 at 7:27 pm

        I wouldn’t mind joining you for that deliciousness Karen!

        Reply
    6. Jolynn Haven

      October 29, 2017 at 4:05 pm

      I’ve been on three Viking Cruises–Tulips and Windmills, Elbe River, and Portugal’s River of Gold–and every one has been wonderful! The food, the intimacy, and the crew absolutely make the cruise. Can’t wait to experience my next Viking cruise in September 2018. That will be my first Viking ocean cruise–the Eastern Seaboard. I’m sure it will be just as fantastic, even with 930 passengers!

      Reply
      • Chef Dennis Littley

        October 30, 2017 at 11:11 am

        Thanks for stopping by Jolynn. I’m happy to hear you enjoyed the same level of service and deliciousness I did. I’m hoping to try their ocean cruise next year.

        Reply
    7. Gary Waddell

      September 01, 2017 at 8:21 am

      We have enjoyed two Viking cruises and fully agree with everything you told readers about the food. Seeing the towns, villages and history up close was great.

      Reply
      • Chef Dennis Littley

        September 01, 2017 at 3:36 pm

        They really do a great job with the tour. It makes seeing Europe very easy.

        Reply
    8. olga

      September 01, 2017 at 1:04 am

      Will you be posting any of the recipes from your “Viking Cruise” Like the “lime marinated poached shrimp and avocado tartare” ?

      Reply
    9. Afroza Khan

      August 29, 2017 at 3:36 pm

      Your pictures are mesmerizing! Love the whole experience. I’m bookmarking this for when I get to visit one day!

      Reply
      • Chef Dennis Littley

        August 31, 2017 at 6:29 am

        thank you!

        Reply
    10. David Elliott

      August 29, 2017 at 5:46 am

      I was always curious about how good the food is on a cruise. But this looks so amazing with all of the gorgeous looking food. I would have had no worries.

      Reply
      • Chef Dennis Littley

        August 29, 2017 at 7:09 am

        Viking did an outstanding job with the food David, that made the cruise even more special

        Reply
    11. jill conyers

      August 29, 2017 at 4:00 am

      Looks like your experience was wonderfully tasty. I would love to try austrian cheese. Maybe I have and don’t realize it.

      Reply
      • Chef Dennis Littley

        August 29, 2017 at 7:10 am

        It really was a great trip Jill!

        Reply
    12. Grace

      August 28, 2017 at 6:01 pm

      You must have had a good time during the cruise and by the pictures I can see that you also had great food.

      Reply
      • Chef Dennis Littley

        August 28, 2017 at 8:34 pm

        I certainly did Grace, it was Awesome!

        Reply
    13. nefeli

      August 28, 2017 at 1:12 pm

      All the dishes look so delicious. I will definitely want to try them

      Reply
      • Chef Dennis Littley

        August 28, 2017 at 8:34 pm

        they were OMG delicious!

        Reply
    14. sonali jain

      August 28, 2017 at 10:40 am

      I’ve never heard of the Viking river cruise before your article. It sounds really interesting , Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
      • Chef Dennis Littley

        August 28, 2017 at 8:34 pm

        you are very welcome!

        Reply
    15. Gayathri

      August 28, 2017 at 10:21 am

      I have never been on a cruise earlier. And your pictures and your writing make it so tempting to book one.

      Gayathri @ Musings Over Nothing

      Reply
      • Chef Dennis Littley

        August 28, 2017 at 8:33 pm

        it was so much fun, you would love it!

        Reply
    16. Lulubel

      August 28, 2017 at 9:31 am

      I agree each and every dish had a WOW factor. I can’t imagine how good they tasted!

      Reply
      • Chef Dennis Littley

        August 28, 2017 at 9:35 am

        They tasted as good as they looked!

        Reply
    17. Cynthia

      August 28, 2017 at 4:32 am

      The desserts are beautiful but I’d be in heaven with the charcuterie platters, omg! And the cheese, I know blue cheese is an acquired taste, but I absolutely love it!

      Reply
      • Chef Dennis Littley

        August 28, 2017 at 8:12 am

        Thanks Cynthia! It took my wife quite a few years to learn to enjoy blu cheese

        Reply
    18. Jen Temcio

      August 27, 2017 at 10:45 pm

      Is it wrong to want to take that cruise just for the food? I love the concept of the chef being accessible and I REALLY want to eat a few of those lime marinated poached shrimp and avocado tartare.

      Reply
      • Chef Dennis Littley

        August 27, 2017 at 10:50 pm

        Not at all Jen! It was a great trip and the food made it even better

        Reply
    19. Glenda

      August 27, 2017 at 6:27 pm

      Looks like you and your wife had a blast. All the dishes look so delicious. I would love to try out the chocolate mousse cake and the strawberry dessert.

      Reply
      • Chef Dennis Littley

        August 27, 2017 at 10:51 pm

        We did Glenda, it was truly the trip of a lifetime!

        Reply
    20. ChrissyAdventures

      August 27, 2017 at 11:07 am

      I’ve never heard of the Viking river cruise before your article. It sounds much more intament and special than one of the larger Cruise Lines. The food looks so good in your pictures I’m sure it was a luxurious experience tantalizing your taste buds on the whole trip.

      Reply
      • Chef Dennis Littley

        August 27, 2017 at 4:04 pm

        Hi Chrissy

        it is a lot more personal than the larger ocean cruises. Viking has some great ocean cruises too!

        Reply

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    My name is Dennis Littley or "Chef Dennis" as I'm known both at work and across the blogosphere. As a classically trained chef with 40+ years of experience in the kitchen, I share my time-tested recipes, knowledge, and chef tips to help you create easy-to-make restaurant-quality meals in your home kitchen.

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