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For first-timers packing for a Viking ocean cruise, our advice:
Preparing for any trip involves planning—as well as careful pruning:
Not only do you need to figure out what to take but you need to determine what NOT to take.
Tips for pruning before packing for a Viking ocean cruise:
- Don’t wait until the last minute.
- Think through where you’ll be, what you’ll be doing, and what you’ll wear.
- Make lists as reminders to guide your packing.
The perils of overpacking for a Viking ocean cruise or any ocean cruise
Cramming too much in your suitcase increases the odds of additional airline fees for oversized or overweight checked bags. Heavy bags are tricky to manage, too.
As we age, carrying and lifting suitcases can exact a toll on our back and shoulder muscles.
Once onboard, it can be difficult to stow an overpacked bag under your bed easily. Although there is ample storage space onboard Viking Ocean Cruises, bringing too much stuff makes it harder to sift through your belongings to stay organized and find what you want.
Another reason you can travel light: Viking Ocean ships have self-service laundry facilities on decks 3, 4, 5, and 6, and depending on your stateroom category, laundry and dry cleaning services may be complimentary. You do not have to bring detergent as it is available for guests in the self-service laundries.
So master the art of packing light! In fact, you might want to think about assembling a travel capsule wardrobe.
Oops…I left it home
Of course, there is a downside to taking minimalism to the extreme or packing sloppily. Perhaps you’ll leave your sunglasses or swimsuit at home or forget to bring a sweater for chilly evenings.
We were on a shoulder season cruise in the Mediterranean a few years ago. I could have kicked myself for leaving my swimsuit at home when the weather unexpectedly turned warm and sunny! It was impossible to find one to my liking in the department store in Marseille—although I tried.
Packing too little means you may have to do without, or pay the price of purchasing (and finding) replacements while traveling for things you already have at home.
Packing for a Viking Ocean Cruise: What NOT to pack
Here is our advice on eight things you should definitely NOT take when packing for a Viking Ocean Cruise:
1) NO formal evening attire
There are no formal nights on Viking, so there’s no need for long dresses for women or dinner jackets for men (even neckties are discretionary).
Instead, the dress code for dinner is “elegant casual,” meaning anything from a sundress in the Caribbean—to slacks and a blouse for women cruising in colder climates.
There are few hard-fast rules for evening dress on the ship except to limit shorts and workout attire to daytime use only.
Male passengers generally opt for trousers and a collared shirt (short or long-sleeved) in the evening, generally without a sports jacket or tie. A black colored polo shirt (my husband likes the Ralph Lauren slim shirt) is always a great look for men.
I rarely take precious jewelry on any cruise. It’s something to worry about losing, and fanciful costume jewelry is just as much fun!
Read my post on Travel Jewelry: What To Take and What Not To Take
Similarly, do not bring high heels. Bring comfortable walking or athletic shoes because you’ll be doing a lot of walking each day.
2) NO hairdryer
Every ocean (or river ship) we’ve ever been on has had a hairdryer tucked in a drawer or closet (although you often have to search for them).
You definitely don’t need to bring one. I loved the Braun Satin Hair model in my Viking Ocean stateroom so much that I wanted to purchase one after I got home. I searched high and low without success; perhaps, the compact model is only sold in Europe.
If you are planning a cruise extension or simply want to bring your own, one of my favorite travel hairdryers is the BaByliss Pro. It’s super compact, has dual voltage, and is extremely lightweight.
Straightening or curling irons are another story. Neither hotels nor cruise ships have caught up with the popularity of these hair tools. So if you depend on them, bring your own.
The only exception to the no-adapter rule below is to bring European-style adapters for the plugs, and any hair tool you bring runs on 220V current (for use near the makeup table in your cabin).
3) No adapters
Electrical outlets in Viking Ocean staterooms run on either 110V and 220V, so when packing for a Viking Ocean Cruise, there is no need to bring other adapters—even though you’ll be visiting different countries.
Each cabin has two 110V sockets above the desk and one on each side of the bed. There are also USB ports to charge your cellphone or tablet so all you need to bring are the cables.
If you travel with a lot of electronics and want to bring a power strip with. you, you might want to take a look at the Addtam power strip (available on Amazon).It has a clever design that won’t take up unnecessary space. This is especially handy on cruise ships where nightstands tend to be small.
The AC outlets are spaced extra wide with 2.4 inches between them, much larger than the standard 1.5-inch socket. This makes it work well with the bulky adapters that come with laptops and other electronic gadgets.
Although compact it has three regular outlets, four USB ports (2 of them USB C) and offers no-surge protection.
Because my husband and I have Apple watches, we bring a charging station that charges our iPhones and watches. It’s light, compact, and fits on the night table (we bring one charging station to share). I’ve tried several brands, including the one from Apple (the Apple MagSafe Duo), and I prefer the STM ChargeTree Go, which is available from Amazon.
4) No shampoo or conditioner
Shampoo and conditioner must be packed extra carefully when you’re flying because these liquids can easily leak onto your belongings and are subject to TSA 3-1-1 rules if you bring them in a carry-on.
Unless you are wed to a particular product, you don’t need to bring shampoo or conditioner onboard. Viking Ocean Cruises provides lovely Freyja toiletries (including shampoo and conditioner) that are designed exclusively for Viking in convenient, easy-to-handle sizes (rather than mini-bottles). (The Nordic skincare brand is named after Freyja, the Norse goddess of love, beauty, fertility, divination and magic.)
Also note: The toiletries on Viking come with large print labeling so those over the age of 40 don’t need to take their peepers into the shower.
Leave the soap, body lotion, shower gel, and shower cap at home as well. They are also provided by the cruise line and replenished as needed. (If you are addicted to bar soap, you’ll need to bring one with you.)
5) No snacks
When packing for a Viking Ocean Cruise, there is no need to bring any foodstuffs because you’ll never be hungry. Aside from three meals a day, snacks are always accessible– whether you miss a meal, wake up late, or have a craving between meal hours.
Mamsen’s is a small Norwegian-style counter tucked in the beautiful Explorer’s Lounge on Deck 7, serving small plates with dishes like smoked salmon, steak tartare and shrimp salad, and Norwegian waffles.
The Pool Grill serves up burgers, hotdogs, and salads throughout the afternoon. The Viking Bar on Deck 1 has sweets and savories available through midnight. And an extensive Room Service menu is available at no extra charge 24 hours a day.
If you think you may be tempted to bring snacks back to the ship after a cruise excursion, do remember to pack a few Ziploc bags to stow them. I find the quart-size bags to be the most versatile. (You never know where you might find a special type of chocolate:-)
6) No umbrella
Viking has thought of that, too. You’ll find two large red umbrellas in your stateroom that you can use if the weather is inclement.
7) No beach towels
Whether you plan to swim onboard or take an excursion to a beach, you won’t need to bring beach towels from home.
You’ll find beach towels near the pool areas and in bins by the security exit before disembarking.
If you’ve booked an excursion that might call for beach towels, a crew member often places towels on your bed the night before.
8) No expensive jewelry
Yes, you’ll have an in-room safe in your stateroom, but why have to worry about jewelry getting lost or attracting thieves at ports?
Whenever I travel, I leave expensive pieces at home and opt for travel jewelry, fake pieces that look like the real thing.
Will my luggage be searched on a Viking cruise?
When you board your ship, carry-on and checked luggage are examined with an X-ray machine. Your carry-on will be placed on a X-ray conveyer when you board. Inspection of checked luggage takes place after it arrives on the ship.
Your luggage will be searched only if the crew spots any dangerous or prohibited items. If you are unsure about whether something is permitted, check out this PDF from Viking outlining Prohibited Items for Luggage Loading.
This post was so popular that I recently posted a complementary piece:
- The Ultimate Viking Cruise Packing List
FREE DOWNLOAD
- Viking Ocean Cruise Basic Packing List for Women
You’ll find some additional cruising tips in previous articles on MoreTimeToTravel:
- Cruise Hacks: Eight Tips to Help You Pack for a River Cruise
- COVID Travel Packing List (just in case)
- Viking Ocean Cruises Carves Out A Special Niche for Over-50 Travelers
- Best Travel Accessories for Men: 30 Great Gifts for Travelers
IF YOU GO
Disclosures:
- We have been invited guests of Viking Ocean Cruises but any opinions expressed in this post are our own.
- This post includes affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I may earn a small commission at noadditionalcost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases
More info on packing for a Viking Ocean Cruise from the cruise line
- Check out a list of items prohibited onboard:Viking Prohibited Items List
- Also, read: Viking Ocean Cruises Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to book (or look)
- Check out Viking Ocean Cruise Deals on Cruise Critic
- Check out Viking River Cruise Deals on Cruise Critic
