Free drinks can be hard to come by on a cruise.
But on Viking Cruises, your bar bill will be zilch if you stick with wine or beer at lunch and dinner – nice, right?
On both of Viking’s river and ocean cruises, house wine and beer is complimentary during these meals.
But what about the cost of other drinks on the Viking Cruise bar menu?
Say you want a lemon drop martini before dinner.
That cost is $7.50 USD on Viking Cruises drinks menu. (That is, on the Viking Ocean bar menu; the river cruises have different bar prices, shown in Euros for European river cruises.)
But maybe you don’t want to think twice about ordering a cocktail whenever you want? Or perhaps you’d like to try different premium wines?
Then the Viking Silver Spirits package might be for you.
This all-inclusive drinks package is available on both the ocean and river cruises.
Not sure what to do? Let’s get into the nitty gritty of the different options available…
Viking Silver Spirits package and bar prices
We’ve now enjoyed two Viking cruises. (And we have a third cruise coming up this year in 2024, yeah!)
Our first Viking cruise was a two-week ocean cruise on the Viking Star in the Baltic.
Our second cruise was also an ocean voyage – a 10-day Caribbean cruise on the Viking Sea (from New York to San Juan, Puerto Rico).
Plenty of time to learn more about the drinks and wine on Viking Cruises… A subject, we’ve learned, people are curious about!
So here’s all you need to know about the Viking cruise bar menu, bringing wine and alcohol onboard, and the important question: Is the Silver Spirits package worth it on Viking?
Read on!
Contents: Viking drinks menu and cost
Viking bar prices – Cocktails and drinks
Viking Ocean Cruises bar prices
Viking River Cruises bar prices
Viking Cruises – Wine
Viking Ocean Cruises wine cost
Viking River Cruises wine cost
Package
Is it worth getting the Viking Silver Spirits package?
FAQs in a nutshell
What drinks are free on Viking Cruises?
What is the Silver Spirits beverage package?
What does the Silver Spirits package include?
Sample drinks menus
Viking Ocean Cruise bar menus and prices
Pssst! Also see tons of comments and questions from readers at the end of this post!
Viking Ocean Cruises bar prices
The cost of drinks on Viking Ocean Cruises drinks menu are in USD, and they jumped slightly at the beginning of 2023.
Prices for hard liquor average $6.00 to $8.00 USD. A Jameson whiskey is $6.00, for example, and a Grand Marnier costs $8.00.
Most cocktails and martinis cost $7.50 USD.
Prices include the tip.
Note: Scroll down to the end of this post to see a full list of alcoholic drinks on Viking Ocean Cruises, with prices.
Sample: See this 2023 drinks menu from the Aquavit terrace bar.
Viking River Cruises bar prices
Bar prices on Viking River Cruises in Europe are quoted in Euros.
Cocktails average about 9 Euros.
If you’d like a glass of house white or red wine from the Viking River cruise bar menu, the cost is 5 Euros.
Premium wines average about 8 Euros a glass.
Note: The cost for some alcoholic beverages on the Viking River Cruises drinks menu recently increased in 2023. We’re waiting to receive the new menu from Viking.
Sample: In the meantime, see this sample bar menu for Viking River Cruises in Europe (valid to the end of 2022). Scroll down, as the first page is blank until you get to the bottom.
Viking Ocean Cruises wine
Free wine
Viking Ocean Cruises is known for its “no nickel-and-diming” philosophy.
As part of that, its prices include complimentary wine at lunch and dinner in the restaurants, the Explorer’s Lounge (during lunch) and even in the cabins as part of Viking’s 24-hour room service.
The wines vary from time to time and on different cruises.
(Several choices of beer are also available for free at lunch and dinner.)
Wine selections
Each night, different complimentary “destination” wines are poured – perhaps from Spain one night, a local wine from Italy the next, wine from France the third night, and so on.
For example, the destination wine might be a 2015 French Granache/Syrah/Merlot blend from Vaucluse.
Also, the two specialty restaurants – Manfredi’s and the Chef’s Table – serve different complimentary wines than what’s poured in the main restaurant.
House wine
Outside of lunch and dinner, a glass of house wine costs $5 USD at a bar or lounge on the ship.
Premium wine
There’s an additional charge for premium wine on Viking Cruises.
Viking Ocean Cruises cruise line has a large selection of premium wines – indeed, more than 70 red, white and rosé wines. (There are an additional 15+ choices for sweet wine, port and champagne.)
See this premium wine list (prices valid to the end of 2022).
Maybe you spot one of your favorite bottles on this Viking Cruises wine list?
About half of the 70+ red, white and rosé wines are available by the glass. A glass of Viking Ocean Cruises premium wine averages $8.00 USD.
The remaining wines are only available by the bottle.
Prices include the gratuity.
We had a shipboard credit on both our cruises, so we could try some of these premium wines.
On our first Viking Star cruise, we felt no need to order anything beyond the “destination” wines.
We’re not wine snobs, but we like good wine – and we found the “destination” wines were good.
But we couldn’t resist trying the $25 USD p.p. premium wine and alcohol pairings at the Chef’s Table restaurant for the five-course Scandinavian dinner.
The Aquavit went perfectly with the lingonberry-infused salmon tartare topped with caviar!
Some of our favorite premium wines
Overstone Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough – white ($25 bottle)
Marrenon Classique Luberon Blanc, Provence – white ($25 bottle)
Brazin Old Vine Zinfandel, Sonoma Valley – red ($25 bottle)
Nederburg Pinotage, South Africa – red ($25 bottle)
On our second ocean cruise on the Viking Sea, we did order (and enjoy!) some premium wines by the glass at dinner.
Did we like the premium wines better than the complimentary wines?
Mmmm. Yes, some, for sure.
But some of the complimentary wines were just delightful too – like the Sacchetto Pino Grigio Blush (paired with the gazpacho on the “Sweet and Salty” five-course menu at the Chef’s Table).
Viking Ocean Cruises wine menu
Here’s a sample page of Viking’s white wine menu
(Prices are pre-2023. We’ve asked for the latest menus.)
Here’s a sample page of Viking Ocean Cruises red wine menu
(Prices are pre-2023.)
Can you bring alcohol onboard Viking Ocean Cruises?
Unlike many other cruise lines, the Viking Ocean Cruise alcohol policy is much more liberal.
Want to buy a special bottle of wine ashore and bring it onboard to drink in the restaurant at dinner? No problem.
And there’s no corkage fee.
You may bring alcohol onboard with you when you embark and buy it ashore on your cruise. And you can drink it anywhere on the ship.
For our Viking Sea cruise, when we boarded in New York, we brought a couple of nice bottles we’d purchased in NYC with us.
And the waiters served them the same professional way in the restaurant as the ship’s wines, even popping the white in an ice bucket.
Free mini-bar
If you’re booked in a Penthouse Veranda (or higher-category cabin), your free in-room mini-bar is also stocked and replenished with alcoholic beverages.
Viking River Cruises wine
At lunch and dinner, house wine is complimentary.
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Can you bring your own alcohol on a Viking River cruise ship?
The Viking River cruise alcohol policy is similar to the ocean cruise policy.
River cruisers can bring wine and alcohol with them onboard to drink on their stateroom balcony or in public spaces (including the ship’s restaurants).
And, again, there’s no corkage fee for bringing your own wine to the restaurant.
This is definitely something to remember when you’re cruising, say, along the Rhine River (or any other European river cruise)!
Think of all those lovely French white wines (or reds!) you could pick up in a little wine store in Strasbourg or Avignon! Or the fresh German Riesling you could buy in Koblenz for sipping on your balcony.
Viking Silver Spirits package
Beverage packages are quite popular in the cruise industry. (See, for example, our articles on Holland America Line’s drink packages and Windstar Cruise’s alcohol packages.)
On Viking, you have the option to upgrade your cruise by buying the Viking Silver Spirits premium beverage package.
The Viking Cruise drink package is available on both the ocean and river cruises.
Viking Ocean Cruises Silver Spirits package
The cost for the Viking Silver drinks package jumped at the beginning of 2023 – from $19.95 to $25 USD per night per guest.
(It’s the first drinks price increase since the ocean cruise brand debuted in 2015.)
The total cost of the Viking Ocean Cruises Silver Spirits beverage is:
- $175 USD p.p. for a 7-night cruise
- $350 USD p.p. for a 14-night cruise
Beverage gratuities are included in the package.
See the new USD rates for the Viking Ocean Silver Spirits package.
Note: Both guests in the stateroom must buy the package.
Viking River Cruise Silver Spirits package
Costs for the upgraded Viking River cruise drink package also went up at the beginning of 2023.
They’re now the same as for the Viking Ocean Cruises beverage package – $25 USD p.p. a night
Note: As with Viking’s ocean ships, both guests in the stateroom have to get the package.
What does the Viking Cruises drinks package cover?
Ocean cruises
You get unlimited access throughout the day (and anywhere on the ship, e.g., in all the ship’s bars and main dining room) to:
- Any drinks up to $18.00, including house champagne and premium wines by the glass, cocktails and aperitifs
- A selection of wines, which change twice per cruise
- A 30% discount on premium beverages above $50
- Various whiskeys
- A selection of beers
- Soft drinks and juices
Note: There aren’t many premium drinks that cost more than the $18 cap per drink. But for drinks that do cost more, you have to pay the full price – not just the difference between $18 and the drink price. Once the drink reaches the $50 price, you get a 30% discount.
The Chef’s Table premium wine pairing is also complimentary. And you get a 50% discount on premium tasting events.
For premium wines, only those wines that are available by the glass are included in the package (about half the wines).
Note: Wines that are only available by the bottle are not included in the Viking drinks package.
River cruises
With a Viking River Cruise Silver Spirits beverage package, all drinks are included – except premium wines known as “Treasure Wines.” For Treasure Wines, you get a 30% discount.
Cruises where the package isn’t available
Viking’s Silver Spirits package isn’t available on Egypt itineraries (Nile River cruises) for most categories of staterooms.
However, if you’re booked in an Explorer Suite, the package is included in your river cruise rate. A nice amenity!
How to buy the Viking cruise Silver Spirits package
You can buy Viking Cruises beverage package at any time after you’ve booked your cruise vacation, either through your My Viking Journey account or by calling Viking at 1-888-207-8826.
See the US Order Form.
You can also purchase the package onboard if you didn’t buy it in advance.
For additional information, see the FAQs section on the Viking Cruises website.
Is the Viking Silver Spirits package worth it?
So, is the Silver Spirits beverage package worth it?
That depends.
We’ve mentioned that beer and house wines by the glass are complimentary at lunch and dinner. Soft drinks are free too at mealtimes.
Specialty coffees (like cappuccinos), tea and bottled water are also free 24 hours a day.
So you have to consider three things.
First, would you prefer the premium wines (on Viking Ocean Cruises)?
Second, do you like cocktails and drinks other than wine and beer? They’re included in both the Viking River and Viking Ocean cruise drink package.
And, third, how much do you think you’ll drink?
Will your combined consumption of premium wines and bar drinks for the two of you be more than, say, $700 USD for a 14-night ocean cruise (or $350 for a 7-night cruise)?
If you’re not a wine or beer drinker and you prefer cocktails and other liquor, then the package would be worth it if you each have four or more alcoholic drinks a day. (The break-even point is about three to four drinks a day p.p., depending on the drinks chosen.)
The Viking Silver Spirits package may also be good value if you’d like a cocktail before dinner in one of the lounges (maybe a pool cocktail on sea days too) and you enjoy trying top quality wines.
Another point: You might like the convenience of Viking’s drinks package, so you can order a cocktail or premium glass of wine whenever you want – without having to worry about your total bill at the end of your cruise.
Viking’s prices are actually pretty fair (especially considering the cruise drink packages on other lines).
Note: You can still buy premium wines and cocktails even if the Viking Silver Spirits beverage package cost doesn’t make sense for you.
Viking Cruises Silver Spirits beverage package FAQs
What drinks are free on Viking Cruises?
- House wines – at lunch and dinner
- Beer – at lunch and dinner
- Soft drinks – at lunch and dinner
- Specialty non-alcoholic coffees and tea – 24 hours a day
What is the Viking Silver Spirits beverage package?
The Silver Spirits drinks package by Viking is an all-inclusive drinks package.
It costs $25 USD p.p. per night.
Ocean cruises
The Viking Ocean Cruise beverage package allows you to enjoy unlimited drinks up to $18 each, including premium wines, cocktails and spirits. If you fancy something over $50, you can get it at 30% off.
River cruises (except Egypt and Mississippi)
The package on river cruises allows you to enjoy all drinks, except Treasure Wines.
For both ocean and river cruises
This Viking Cruise beverage package includes the tips for your drinks too.
Both people in the stateroom need to buy the package.
What does the Viking Silver Spirits package menu include?
Ocean cruises
With the package, you can get the following unlimited drinks, any time of the day, anywhere on the ship (up to a cost of $18 USD per drink):
- House wines by the glass
- Premium wines by the glass
- Specialty cocktails
- Liqueurs and other liquor
- Specialty alcoholic coffees
- Soft drinks
River cruises
All drinks are included, except Treasure Wines.
Viking Ocean Cruise bar menus
The following is the complete list of alcoholic beverages (with prices) from a 2023 Viking Ocean Cruises drinks menu (Aquavit Bar Menu).
Prices are in USD.
Not all drinks are on all bar menus around the ship.
For example, the Pool Bar Menu includes an additional $7.50 Rock Lobster cocktail (Malibu and dark rum, banana liqueur, grenadine, pineapple juice and orange juice), and it doesn’t have hot drinks (like an Irish Coffee).
And the Viking Living Room Bar Menu has an additional Christiania vodka ($8.00) that’s not on the Aquavit Bar Menu.
House Wine
- Red – $5.00
- White – $5.00
- Rose – $5.00
Champagne and Sparkling Wine
- Viking Sparkling Wine – $5.50
- Ponte Prosecco – $8.00
- Drappier Carte D’Or, Brut – $16.00
Beer and Cider
- Carlsberg Draft – $5.00
- Budweiser – $5.00
- Light Beer – $5.00
- Corona – $5.00
- Grimbergen Double Dark – $5.00
- Carnegie Porter – $5.00
- Brooklyn Lager – $5.00
- Grimbergen Blonde – $5.00
- Peroni – $5.00
- Warsteiner – $5.00
- Non-Alcoholic – $5.00
- Koppaberg Pear – $6.50
- Koppaberg Wildberry – $6.50
Norwegian Beer
- Ringnes Pilsner – $5.00
- Agir Rallare Amber Ale – $6.50
- Boyla Blonde Ale – $6.50
- Aegir India Pale Ale – $6.50
Cocktails
- Bellini Cipriani – $7.50
- Bloody Mary – $7.50
- Caipirinha – $7.50
- Frozen Daiquiri – $7.50
- Long Island Iced Tea – $7.50
- Mai Tai – $7.50
- Margarita – $7.50
- Pimm’s No. 1 Cup – $7.50
- Pina Colada – $7.50
- Planter’s Punch – $7.50
- Rusty Nail – $7.50
- Sex on the Beach – $7.50
- Singapore Sling – $7.50
- Tequila Sunrise – $7.50
- Monkey Sloe Fizz – $10.00
- White Lady – $10.00
Martinis and Classics
- B&B – $7.50
- Brandy Alexander – $7.50
- Cosmopolitan – $7.50
- Dirty Martini – $7.50
- Gimlet – $7.50
- Grasshopper – $7.50
- Lemon Drop Martini – $7.50
- Manhattan – $7.50
- Mojito – $7.50
- Negroni – $7.50
- Old Fashioned – $7.50
- Sidecar – $7.50
- Stinger – $7.50
- Tom Collins – $7.50
- Viking Royal – $7.50
- Whiskey Sour – $7.50
Aperitifs
- Campari – $5.00
- Sandeman Ruby Porto – $5.00
- Tio Pepe Sherry Fino – $5.00
Bitters
- Fernet Branca – $5.00
- Ramazzotti – $5.00
- Jagermeister – $5.00
Vermouth
- Martini & Rosso Bianco – $5.00
- Martini & Rossi Extra-Dry – $5.00
- Martini & Rossi – $5.00
Rum
- Bacardi Carta Blanca – $5.50
- Myers’s – $5.50
- Mount Gay – $6.00
- Doorly’s Fine Old Barbados – $8.00
Gin
- Gordon’s – $5.50
- Tanqueray – $5.50
- Bombay Sapphire – $7.00
- Highclere Castle London Dry – $7.00
- Ketel 1 Jenever Original – $7.00
- Hendrick’s – $8.00
- Monkey 47 Sloe – $8.00
Vodka
- Stolichnaya – $7.50
- Absolut – $8.00
- Amundsen Arctic – $8.00
- Smirnoff Red – $8.00
- Viking Vodka – $8.00
- Tito’s Handmade Vodka – $9.00
- Beluga – $9.50
- Belvedere – $9.50
- Grey Goose – $9.50
Aquavit
- Linie – $5.50
- Opland – $5.50
- Viking Aquavit – $5.50
Tequila
- Olmeca Silver – $5.00
- Patron Anejo – $8.00
Whiskey and Whisky
- Dewar’s – $6.00
- Jameson – $6.00
- Johnnie Walker Red – $6.00
- Canadian Club – $8.00
- Chivas Regal – $8.00
- Seagam’s Crown Royal – $8.00
Single Malts
- Bowmore 15 Yrs – $8.00
- Glenfiddich Select Cask – $8.00
- Aberlour Casg Annahm – $11.00
- Ballantine’s 15 Yrs Blenburgie – $11.00
Bourbon
- Jim Beam – $6.00
- Wild Turkey – $60.00
- Jack Daniel’s – $8.00
- Maker’s Mark – $8.00
Brandy and Cognac
- Courvoisier Cognac VS – $8.00
- Larsen Cognac VS – $8.00
- Morin Calvados 10 Yrs – $8.00
- Remy Martin Cognac VSOP – $10.00
- Sempe Armagnac VSOP – $10.00
- Camus Borderies VSOP – $13.00
Liqueur
- Amaretto Di Saronno – $6.00
- Baileys Irish Cream – $6.00
- Kahlua – $6.00
- Sambuca – $6.00
- Cointreau – $8.00
- Drambuie – $8.00
- Grand Marnier – $8.00
Hot drinks
- Bergens Kaffe – $6.00
- Gascon Coffee – $6.00
- Irish Coffee – $6.00
What’s your experience with the Viking drink package?
What do you think? Would you get the Viking Silver Spirits package? Is it worth the extra charge?
Let us know in the Comments section below. We like hearing from readers :-).
You can also see comments from other Viking guests.
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Read more of our cruising posts!
Star Clippers: See the bar menu and drinks prices on Star Clippers.
Gratuities: What’s the deal with cruise gratuities? How much should you tip? (Or not?)
Windstar: Check out what it’s like to cruise with Windstar Cruises.
River cruises: Discover the world’s best river cruises and river ships.
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Photo credits: 3 © Janice and George Mucalov, SandInMySuitcase | 6, 8, 11 Viking Ocean Cruises
After our first cruise on the Viking Star, we wrote a little about the complimentary wine we had via room service upon boarding – which helped solve a few getting-to-the-ship woes! We’ve now completely updated and overhauled this post since returning from our second Viking cruise on the Viking Sea – and we continue to update the information as we get it.
About the authors
Luxury travel journalists and SATW, NATJA and TMAC “Best Travel Blog” award winners, Janice and George Mucalov are the publishers of Sand In My Suitcase. Between them, they’ve traveled to all 7 continents. See About.
Find destination guides, global food-and-wine stories, luxury hotel reviews, articles on cultural explorations and soft adventure trips, cruise reviews, insanely useful travel tips and more!
Cathy M.
Monday 9th of September 2024
If you don't get the package, you then pay for drinks before and after dinner, correct? But with the package these drinks would be included?
Thank you.
Janice and George
Wednesday 11th of September 2024
That's right. With Viking's package, you can get any drink (that costs $18 USD or less) at any time of the day - before dinner, after dinner, mid-afternoon by the pool, whenever you want!
If you don't get the package, you're expected to pay for drinks before and after dinner. The complimentary house wine and beer is only available during lunch and dinner.
Liz M.
Sunday 18th of August 2024
Hello,
We'll be traveling on our first Viking ocean cruise in November. I am not a beer drinker but do enjoy cider. Do you know if cider is included with beer as complimentary in the minibar and is it included with dinner and lunch - same as beer and wine - if we choose not to the get the Silver Spirits package? We will be staying in a penthouse veranda.
Thanks so much!
Janice and George
Thursday 22nd of August 2024
Hello again Liz,
Okay, we've got the "official" answer for you...
Hard cider isn't part of the complimentary wine or beer service served during lunch or dinner. Also, hard cider isn't available in the Penthouse Veranda mini-bar.
Not the answer you probably wanted, but now you know - and the cost of a few (even 20!) ciders won't break the bank anyway :-).
Janice and George
Monday 19th of August 2024
Hi Liz,
Thanks for reaching out. We've put the question to Viking and are waiting for an answer :-). We're cruising again in November too, so we'll personally get all the latest bar menus/info then (but that won't help you now, obviously).
If we can't give you a clear answer before you go, maybe just ask onboard - perhaps ask to speak with the hotel manager and see if you can swap out beer for cider. We've found Viking to be very flexible and guest-oriented.
Kathy H.
Sunday 21st of April 2024
Great article!
We are going soon on a Viking Ocean cruise of Scandinavia in a Penthouse suite.
My question is whether you can request a specific brand of liquor for the free minibar, or will they only provide the cheapest option? The same question for the bottle of wine…
Many thanks!
Janice and George
Thursday 25th of April 2024
Hi Kathy,
Make your request. Your cabin attendant will want to please you :-). But know that you may only be able to get certain labels.
Enjoy your cruise!
Heidi
Saturday 6th of April 2024
Terrific post!
We like the package. It makes ordering a pre- and or post-dinner cocktail a non event.
It also makes it an easy decision to try new cocktails, as it's never a waste of money. I also like trying the premium wines, a great way to explore new options.
Janice and George
Sunday 7th of April 2024
That's a good way of looking at it. You can try something new and if you don't like it, try something else, without worrying that you're wasting money :-).
Ron H.
Saturday 17th of February 2024
If the drink price is $25, and we have the Silver Spirits package, would we pay the amount over $18 or the entire drink price? Thank you.
Steven P.
Tuesday 5th of March 2024
@Janice and George, BUT, say you order a double of a good scotch that goes for $10. It's still included with SS, even though the drink cost would be $20. Heck, I came out ahead with just the double Campari spritzes alone!
Janice and George
Saturday 2nd of March 2024
Hi again Ron,
We heard back from the Viking cruise folks...
Even if you have the Silver Spirits package, you pay the full price for any drinks over the cap of $18 per drink, not just the difference between $18 and the drink cost. However, if the drink costs over $50, then you get a 30% discount.
Janice and George
Saturday 24th of February 2024
Great question!
The general practice with cruise drinks packages is that you only need to pay the difference - so with a cap of $18, that would be $7 in the case of a $25 drink. But we can't say for certain if this is also true for Viking. (Mind you, most drinks on their bar menus are well under $25 USD!)
Anyway, it's something we'll be asking the Viking cruise folks :-). And thank you for asking us!