Viking Mediterranean Odyssey Cruise Review: 13 Days, 6 Countries and Too Many Memories to Count

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The Viking Sea in Chioggia, Italy.
Viking Sea in Chioggia, Italy. Photo credit: Mimi Slawoff

After a day tour in beautiful Marseille, France, my adult daughter and I were hot and tired and headed straight for the infinity pool (and a pina colada) on the Viking Sea. From there we had a magnificent view of the 1800s neo-Byzantine Cathedral La Major, which was just a five-minute walk from the Viking Cruise ship’s prime spot in port.

The Viking Sea, a small ship (it holds 930 guests) with inviting features like the infinity pool, is able to  dock in ports that big ships often can’t access. That enabled us to discover quaint port towns as well as famous waterfront cities on our 13-night Mediterranean Odyssey cruise that sailed to six countries: Italy, Croatia, Greece, France, Monaco, and Spain.

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The Chioggia waterfront.
Chioggia waterfront. Photo credit: Mimi Slawoff

Our cruise began on a warm August day in Chioggia, Italy, a lesser known port town than Venice (about 32 miles away) but just as enchanting and often called “Little Venice” for its many canals, bridges and historic structures.  I wasn’t familiar with Chioggia and was delighted that Viking offered free shuttles and water taxis (my choice) to the town, about 10 minutes from the ship. And since we were docked there overnight, we visited Venice, via a 90-minute boat ride, for a full day excursion the next day. Since Viking is a destination focused cruise line, these smaller ports (along with the others) provide guests with an immersive experience in a region.

Sailing on the Viking Sea is a laid-back luxury experience. With cozy seating areas throughout the ship, live music, and meals available 24/7 it almost feels like someone’s private yacht. My daughter, Christina, and I were impressed with the friendly staff who quickly learned our names and drink preferences. She thinks that’s because, at age 35, she was the youngest one on the cruise. That may be partly true, since most Viking guests tend to be over age 55. Viking is an adults-only cruise line with a minimum age of 18 to sail.

With the warm welcome and inviting amenities, we adapted quickly to ship life on the Viking Sea.

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All the All staterooms have private verandas.
All staterooms have private verandas. Photo credit: Viking

Innovative Spaces & Amenities

Although it’s a relatively small ship, the sleek design makes good use of space from bow to stern.

The Staterooms

The Viking Sea has five categories of staterooms. Our deluxe veranda stateroom (270 square feet) was comfortable and offered enough space for two women to primp for excursions and meals. All staterooms have private verandas perfect for enjoying room service and sunsets.

Our minibar was stocked with drinks and snacks, and any items used were replenished daily. And there was no shortage of outlets and charging ports for all of our electronic devices. Under-bed storage kept our room clutter free.

Complimentary amenities include bottled water, and Wi-Fi, as well as launderettes (and free detergent) on each deck with staterooms. Laundry service (for a fee) is also available.

The Explorer's lounge of the Viking is a spacious relaxing space for live music and ocean views.
The roomy Explorer’s Lounge is a relaxing space for live music and ocean views. Photo credit: Mimi Slawoff

Lounges & Couches

The well-designed ship has numerous lounges, bars, and public spaces decked out in Scandinavian-style decor that reflects Viking’s Norwegian heritage. There’s even a small Viking Heritage Museum with exhibits about the Viking era.

The ship rarely felt crowded, even on deck seven, the hub for food and leisure activities. One of our favorite spaces on this deck is the Explorer’s Lounge at the ship’s bow, affording expansive ocean views. It was our favorite afternoon rendezvous spot.

Other times, we would enjoy a drink and live classical music in The Living Room, furnished with couches and chairs in the spacious atrium. A cozy library is tucked in a corner of the room.

The Wintergarden is a relaxing space where afternoon tea, finger sandwiches and scones are served. We loved it! One day, we sipped champagne while nibbling on dainty sandwiches (and watching local Croatian boys gleefully jump off rocks into the sea).

Enjoy live music from the Viking band on the deck.
The Viking Band on the pool deck. Photo credit: Mimi Slawoff

Entertainment

In addition to evening shows in The Star Theater, there was a variety of live music from classical to easy listening and pop throughout the ship’s lounges. The Viking Band always put on a lively show that got people dancing to modern tunes in Torshavn, a jazz-style club.

Viking's Infinity pool and adjacent Aquavit Terrace.
The Infinity pool and adjacent Aquavit Terrace. Photo credit: Viking

Viking Pools and Spas

The Viking Sea has two pools – the infinity pool at the stern – and the main pool with a retractable dome and poolside grill. Whether you prefer to soak up sun or snooze in the shade, there’s an abundance of chaise lounges.

For a wellness experience, visit the Nordic Spa and fitness center.  I had a soothing Swedish massage, but even if you don’t opt for a treatment, you can enjoy the facility at no cost. There’s a hydrotherapy pool, steam room, cold splash bucket, cold water plunge, sauna, and Snow Grotto – an enclosed glass room with man-made snow (try this after a sauna!).

Enjoy Manfredi’s Lasagna al Forno alla Bolognese is made with handmade pasta while cruising the Viking.
Manfredi’s Lasagna al Forno alla Bolognese is made with handmade pasta. Photo credit: Mimi Slawoff

Onboard Dining

We thoroughly enjoyed the dining experience, including 24-hour room service. All meals are included, even in the specialty restaurants. And all menus offer heart healthy, vegetarian, and vegan options. Let the maitre d’hotel know of any dietary restrictions you may have and you will be provided with a menu with suitable options the night before.  Soft drinks, house wine and beer are complimentary with lunch and dinner. For unlimited premium wine and spirits, purchase the Silver Spirits drink package ($25/day). We did and felt this was well worth it.

The Restaurant is the main dining venue and serves daily breakfast and dinner, and occasionally lunch. Everything from appetizers to desserts is delicious. My daughter still talks about her favorite appetizer: a duck confit in phyllo dough with a truffle jus. Entrees include grilled marinated swordfish, butter chicken curry and linguine ai frutti di mare.

Revolving destination menus may include grilled lamb chop, seared scallops and grilled octopus. The “Classics: Always Available” menu features a tender Viking angus steak and fries, poached Norwegian salmon and marinated chicken.

The World Cafe serves an extensive breakfast, lunch and dinner buffet, which changes daily but some items, like the sushi and gelato stations, are always available.

We especially enjoyed Manfredi’s Italian Restaurant, where meals start with an assortment of breads. In addition to the daily chef’s special, the extensive menu offers appetizers, soups, pasta and risotto, a main course, sides and desserts. Christina was pleased with a mushroom risotto and asparagus polenta, while I enjoyed the Viking Bistecca, a tender rib-eye  coated in garlic oil and rubbed with porcini mushroom powder, salt, brown sugar and red chili flakes. We both agree the caprese salad is outstanding. Reservations are recommended.

The Chef’s Table features a rotating themed menu (Mexican, Great Britain, Italian, etc), which is set and includes five courses with paired wines.

For snacks, open-faced sandwiches and sweets, try Mamsen’s in the Explorer’s Lounge, a walk-up counter open during certain hours.

Poolside Fare

At the Poolside Grill there’s a salad bar and very tasty made-to-order burgers and sandwiches. On select evenings, guests are invited to a seafood buffet and barbecue under the stars, followed by trivia games and dancing.

The Aquavit Terrace, located by the World Cafe and infinity pool, offers al fresco dining with a fine selection of soups, salads, and sandwiches.

Off the Viking cruise, visit the Skradinski Buk Falls in Krka National Park.
Visit the Skradinski Buk Falls in Krka National Park. Photo credit: Mimi Slawoff

Immersive Shore Excursions

Viking makes it easy to explore destinations by including at least one complimentary shore excursion in each port (there were 10 on our cruise). Additional excursions are available for a fee. All excursions are led by English-speaking local guides who know the destinations well and offer good tips about things to do in your free time and where to find tourist-friendly bank ATMs.

In addition to offering excursions, the ship was often docked close enough to walk into town. On this cruise, our ports were Chioggia (Venice), Split, Dubrovnik, Corfu, Naples, Rome, Livorno (Tuscany, Florence, Pisa), Monte Carlo (Monaco), Marseille, Palamos (Spain) and Barcelona. Additional towns were accessible on excursions from some of these ports.

SheBuys Travel Tip: Listen to port talks and read the Viking Daily in your room to make the most of your time in each country.

Viking’s Included & Optional Excursions

The included excursions in each port provide a good introduction to a town or city, and often allow free time to stay in town and either walk or take a free shuttle back to the ship. For example, in Dubrovnik, Christina and I joined Viking’s guided walking tour in Old Town, enclosed by medieval walls and among the best preserved cities in the world. It’s home to both businesses and private residences. Our guide led us through the Dominican Monastery and Stradun Street lined with cafes and souvenir shops. We filled our water bottles at the 15th-century Onofrio’s Fountain, an ornate stone structure that has provided fresh drinking water for centuries.  

After the tour, Christina and I stayed inside the historic city for lunch, and to walk along the top of the fortified walls (40 euros per person) overlooking the Adriatic Sea, and Old Town’s red-roofed homes. The medieval walls are among the many places where “Game of Thrones” was filmed. Afterwards, we walked 10 minutes to Banje Beach to swim in the sea before taking a Viking shuttle back to the ship.

SheBuysTravel Tip: While in Split, Croatia, it’s worth purchasing the optional Krka National Park Walk excursion to visit Krka Falls. You’ll still have time to explore the waterfront town on your own upon your return.

Busk in the sun and swim in Paleokastritsa Beach, Corfu, off the Viking cruise.
Paleokastritsa Beach, Corfu. Photo credit: Mimi Slawoff

Corfu, Greece

One of my favorite cruise stops was Corfu, where we took a guided island tour. We enjoyed a scenic drive from the east to west coast on a narrow road through scenic hillside villages to the Corfu Paleokastritsa Monastery, overlooking the island. Later, we feasted on a traditional lunch of Greek salad,moussaka, kebabs in tomato sauce, and tzatziki at The Pumphouse restaurant in tiny Acharavi. The tour ended in Corfu town, where there was an option to stay for a bit and return to the ship with the guide, or linger in town. We stayed in town, shopped (I bought a summer dress!), and drank beer at a cozy cafe on the promenade before taking a later shuttle to the Viking Sea.

Viking Cruise sailing through the Strait of Messina.
Sailing through the Strait of Messina. Photo credit: Mimi Slawoff

Day at Sea

After Greece, we had one day at sea. We found good viewing spots as we sailed through the two-mile wide Strait of Messina, between the eastern tip of Sicily and the western tip of Calabria in southern Italy. The strait connects the Tryyhenian and Ionian Seas.

Strong currents and whirlpools have made this a treacherous crossing for sailors. And according to Greek mythology, it’s here that the two sea monsters Scylla and Charbydis tormented Odysseus and his crew.

Visit on your own or book a tour at the Colosseum.
Visit on your own or book a tour at the Colosseum. Photo credit: Mimi Slawoff

Naples & Rome

In Naples, the ship docks close to town, so there’s time to explore and enjoy a classic Neapolitan Margherita pizza and palle de riso (rice balls). But to see more, including Pompeii, book a Viking optional excursion.

Viking offers several tours in Rome, about a 90-minute drive from the ship. For the included “Rome in Brief” excursions, Viking provided minivan shuttles between the Colosseum, Vatican and Piazza del Popolo quarters.

We were given maps and tips for exploring the city on our own. It’s a lot to do in one day, especially when it’s hot and crowded. The shuttle service was definitely helpful, but we weren’t able to see everything in the time allotted (about four hours). But highlights included the Colosseum, Vatican City, St. Peter’s Basilica, a breezy walk along the Tiber River, and Piazza del Popolo.

Tip: If your excursion doesn’t include an admission ticket for the Colosseum, be sure to buy yours in advance to avoid long lines. For the best prices, purchase directly from the Colosseum website.

Off the Viking, check out Pisa Tower and Pisa Cathedral.
Pisa Tower and Pisa Cathedral. Photo credit: Mimi Slawoff

Livorno, Tuscany & Pisa

While Livorno is homebase for sightseeing excursions in Tuscany, Florence, and Pisa, the port town is worth visiting too. Christina and I hopped on a free shuttle to downtown, where we drank espresso at a sidewalk cafe and perused a lively farmers market. After lunch on the ship, we took a tour through the serene Tuscany countryside to Pisa. Our lovely guide, Valentina, led a leisurely tour to the Baptistry, Pisa Cathedral and Pisa Tower.

Check out the throne room in the Prince’s Palace of Monaco.
The throne room in the Prince’s Palace of Monaco. Photo credit: Mimi Slawoff

French Riviera

While docked in Monaco, we took a morning coastal drive to Nice. Our guide Patrice gave us tips for making the most of our three hour visit on our own. Christina and I saw the Fontaine du Soleil statue in Place Massena, bought bread and cheese at the Cours Saleya (a large flower and food market), and walked along the beachside Promenade des Anglais. We also swam in the Mediterranean.

That afternoon, we joined a complimentary walking tour from the ship to the Place du Palais, gardens, and the Prince’s Palace of Monaco on “The Rock.” From here, the views of the Mediterranean are spectacular. We had free time, so Christina and I toured the opulent palace (10 euros each) before walking back to the ship.

The neoByzantine Notre Dame de la Gard perched high above the port city.
The neoByzantine Notre Dame de la Gard perched high above the port city. Photo credit: Mimi Slawoff

Marseille, France’s oldest city

Two 17th century fortresses and two nearby historic cathedrals came into view as we docked in Marseille’s Vieux Port. After our scenic coastal drive through Marseille, the tour ended in the downtown waterfront. Christina and I found a charming sidewalk cafe where we sipped champagne and nibbled on freshly made oven-roasted camembert, before walking back to the ship.

Viking Sea docked in Palamos, a fishing village known for prawns.
Viking Sea docked in Palamos, a fishing village known for prawns. Photo credit: Mimi Slawoff

Delightful Discoveries in Spain

From the port in Palamos, Spain (about 72 miles from Barcelona), we took an excursion to historic Tossa de Mar, on the Costa Brava coast.  It was like stepping back in time as we walked on cobbled streets through a fortified medieval city from the 12th century and up to a lighthouse with panoramic ocean views. Later, a glass of cava (Italian champagne) at a seaside cafe capped a fairytale visit.

On the way back to the ship, we hopped off the bus at Platja Gran beach in Old Town Palamos, a small fishing village where Truman Capote wrote “In Cold Blood.” The boats bobbing in the harbor and colorful umbrellas on the beach create a picture perfect scene. Home to about  700 people, Palamos is known for prawns (gambas), served in most cafes.

Our cruise ended in Barcelona the next day. Viking offers pre- and post- cruise extensions, which include transfers, hotels, and concierge assistance.

Native Angeleno and seasoned travel journalist Mimi Slawoff writes for numerous print and digital publications. She is also the author of Oldest Los Angeles (Reedy Press, 2022). A lifelong world traveler, Mimi is an award-winning journalist who writes about outdoor adventures, cruises, Europe and cultural activities. Mimi has three grown kids and lives with her husband and their dog, Maya, in Los Angeles.
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