Some cruises are all about destinations, others focus on family fun and activities or special themes, but no matter what else, you'll need to eat, and you'll certainly want cuisine more careful than a giant midnight buffet.
Part of the fun of cruising with Viking Ocean Cruises is trying all the restaurants offered onboard, as I did on a recent voyage.
The Chef's Table on Viking Orion is one of two specialty restaurants on board, and features a set menu of gourmet food with a creative presentation. It's open only for dinner. Chef's Table offers a variety of five-course menus, which rotate every two to three days depending on the length of the cruise. There are thirteen themed tasting menus in total, including Mexican, Pan-Asian, and Scandinavian.
The evening I visited, my menu was "La Route Des Indes," designed to feature a variety of spices. Each dish highlights one or more, allowing diners the opportunity to discover nuances of taste and the essence of fantastic plant materials. The sommeliers and culinary masters at The Chef's Table create the perfect pairing of food and wine. During a multicourse tasting, they pour select vintages and serve thoughtfully prepared dishes made for each other.
My delectable meal included:
Amuse Bouche: Carrot and Cardamom Cream; orange and star anise foam.
- First course: Spicy Tuna Tataki; Szechuan peppercorns, coriander, and sesame oil; pickled vegetables.
- Granita: Ginger and Tarragon; infused vodka, lemon foam.
- Main course: Beef Tenderloin with Four Warm Spices; vitelotte mousseline, mushrooms, jus.
- Dessert: Apple Delice Facon Tarte Tatin; butterscotch calvados sauce.
Also onboard are a variety of other full-service and fast-food restaurants.
The Restaurant is the main dining venue, offering the highest onboard dining experience amid a streamlined Scandinavian design. The menu includes regional cuisine and always available classics enhanced with locally sourced ingredients so that guests can explore new cultures through food.
Manfredi's Italian Restaurant offers excellent Italian cuisine from the "farm-inspired heartiness of Tuscany or the famed flavors from Rome." Like all Viking Orion restaurants, the service is impeccable.
World Café features an open kitchen and premium sushi/seafood choices. In addition, helpful employees serve up other international favorites: Dine indoors or al fresco on the Aquavit Terrace for panoramic views.
Mamsen's, located in the Explorers' Lounge, offers Norwegian specialties for breakfast, lunch, an afternoon snack, or an evening treat. The restaurant is designed to evoke all the pleasures of Norwegian culture and authentic Scandinavian fare.
Wintergarden is a lovely space under a canopy of Scandinavian trellised wood. Every afternoon you can participate in a calming tea ceremony or indulge in afternoon tea service while enjoying the soft strains of a string quartet or piano performance.
One of my favorites for a quick lunch is the Pool Grill offering fast-food fare with a twist: Viking Burger, Seared Ahi Tuna, and my favorite, the Nordic Hot Dog, a footlong hot dog topped with dill shrimp salad. There is also a small salad bar. As in World Café, employees serve you at the buffet.
The Kitchen Table is an “excursion” where guests immerse themselves in local culture and cuisine as the ship’s Executive Chef leads them on an interactive culinary adventure. In the morning, guests travel by mini-coach to the local market to handpick ingredients with instruction from the Chef. Later in the day, participants help prepare regional dishes for the evening meal with hands-on guidance from an experienced culinary staff. The group then dine on their creations with the staff at The Kitchen Table.
Last but not least, there's Room Service. Viking Orion offers room service 24 hours a day. I ordered breakfast every day via a hang-tag left on my doorknob the night before. Breakfast includes a full selection of hot and cold dishes, from eggs, omelets, and oatmeal to muesli, fruit, and yogurt. Juice, coffee, and tea are also available. The rest of the day—and night—you can order salads, hamburgers, salmon, and other tasty entrees plus dessert including divine apple pie ala mode and cheesecake.
No matter where you choose to dine, you will be pleasantly surprised at the superb quality of food, service, and variety on the Viking Orion.
Images: Marilyn Jones and Viking
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