Viking River Cruises and its Ocean Cruise division are setting an adults-only policy for all its cruises, with a minimum age of 18.
The company considers its reputation for a quiet, relaxing and educationally stimulating experience one of the assets that differentiate it from other lines. Viking chairman/founder Torstein Hagen told guests at the launch of its fifth ocean ship, “No children under 18, no umbrella drinks, no photographers and so forth. By peeling off all these things, we make it a much more quiet experience.”
Up to now, Viking has allowed parents to bring children 12 and over along, and will continue that policy for those already booked, but all bookings made after August 1 are subject to the new rule.
A number of other river-cruise companies also have adults-only restrictions on at least some of their ships, while at the other end, some have begun to specialize in family cruises on ships arranged for the purpose.
