Viking Octantis Dining
When you think of expedition cruising, dining may not be the first thing that comes to mind. Viking Cruises is on a mission to change this, with the dining experience onboard its two new expedition ships, Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris. These ships pack a big punch of offerings (and flavor), with all the dining options catering to their 378-guest capacity.
Viking Cruises as a whole has set high standards for its dining experience across its entire fleet when it comes to both food quality and service. If you frequently travel on Viking ships, you will notice many of the same eateries and lounges on its vessels - river, ocean, and expedition. This intentionality creates a ‘home-away-from-home’ feeling with familiar eateries, and guests know what to expect onboard and the guarantee that they will have a fulfilling dining experience.
In designing Viking Octantis, Viking brought its staple dining venues to the ship, offering a wide range of options that guests can select from on an expedition vessel. There’s not just a buffet and one cafe on this ship - there’s an eclectic combination of venues and menu options for guests.
All dining at venues on Viking Octantis is included in the price of your cruise fare. Reservations at specialty restaurants must be made in advance, but there is no additional fee to eat at these restaurants. Whether you choose to dine buffet-style or enjoy a seated three-course meal, there is no cost.
All sodas, coffees, teas, and water are also included in the cruise fare. Beer and house wines are complimentary during lunch and dinner service. Guests wanting to purchase cocktails or other specialty drinks can opt for the Silver Spirits Package, which allows unlimited beverages served at any time of day for $25/day per guest.
More Viking Octantis Dining Fast Facts:
- Four eateries in total - Two casual and two specialty restaurants
- 24-Hour room service
- 6 Bars and Lounges
- 1 Private Dining Room
I just returned from a summer sailing onboard Viking Octantis in the Great Lakes. Following is an inside look at the dining experience (by venue) I enjoyed while sailing onboard this beautiful ship. Note, Viking Octantis’ sister ship Viking Polaris offers the same restaurants. Although the crew members and nightly special menus may differ, expect the same high-quality service and venues onboard each expedition ship.
World Cafe
The majority of dining on Viking Octantis is done at the World Cafe, which is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It’s the largest dining venue on the ship and the space where you will encounter most of your fellow travelers. There’s ample seating for all and not once did I struggle to find a table. As you navigate through the World Cafe, you will notice that the design of the dining areas changes by room, with different colors and furniture arrangements.
Many kitchens at the World Cafe are open-style, so you can watch the cooks make their magic and create delicious meals. Food options are plentiful. You can enjoy several staple dishes here and specials featuring the regional cuisine of where you are sailing. The World Cafe serves buffet style, however attentive waiters come directly to your table for beverages and to check-in.
The front of the World Cafe entrance is a carb-lover’s dream. The Bakery, serves an endless supply of freshly made bread, sweet treats, and a cookie bar. In this space is also a pizza bar, where you can watch a chef make pizza and calzones right in front of you.
After loading up plates with fresh focaccia, guests can move onto the Salad Bar area for garden greens, cold cuts, fruit, and other bountiful salad toppings. Next, it’s on to the main course. Select from meats, fish, and sides, all freshly prepared in eyesight. =
If you are looking for something special, opt for World Cafe’s Grill. Open at breakfast and lunch, The Grill serves burgers, hot dogs, fries, seafood and steaks. A guest's dinner favorite is the nightly Surf and Turf, a filet and lobster combo. All dishes are made to order, with chefs on hand to whip up whatever you desire.
You can also opt for dinner at The Sushi Bar, where a sushi chef is on hand to create sushi rolls, sashimi, and poke bowls. The sushi is served buffet style, however all items have been made fresh. This area also has a raw bar, where you can select crab legs, shrimp, and other seafood treats.
In The World Cafe, there are multiple stations where guests can self-serve water, juice, and coffee concoctions at the press of a button (all included).
Mamsen's
Not to be missed is Mamsen’s, located across from The World Cafe. open for breakfast and lunch. This casual space is a dining area on many Viking ships, named after the Viking Hagan family matriarch. Mamsen’s serves Norwegian delicacies, such as waffles, split pea soup, sandwiches, and desserts.
Food here is also served buffet style, with waffles made to order. It features an elegant seating area with beautiful glassware and Nordic design elements.
The Restaurant
The Restaurant is one of the two specialty restaurants on Viking Octantis. The eatery serves a traditional three-course menu with daily specials reflecting the local cuisine. Half the menu never changes, with Always Available Classics such as steaks and seafood. The other half rotates with nightly specials, including regional fare.
This dining venue is beautifully designed, and with spectacular windows, you can enjoy the water views. Service is very attentive, and it is an all-around memorable dining experience.
During my visit to The Restaurant, I dined on Chicken Consomme (a Viking specialty), a broth-based chicken soup comprised of chicken, coriander, and onions. For my main, I selected the New York Strip Steak, served with truffle fries. For dessert, I opted for a nightly dessert special—the Chocolate Banana Dome. This ended up being one of my favorite treats on the entire voyage. It is a dome-shaped chocolate and banana dessert, with a chocolate biscuit and honey banana sauce.
The Restaurant also offers a Private Dining Room, which can seat up to 20 guests. This space must be pre-reserved. It serves the same nightly menu as The Restaurant as well as an attentive staff of waiters to host your group. The space is surrounded by a collection of specialty wines and champagnes buckled artfully to the walls. It is a great place to celebrate a special occasion with a group of your fellow travelers.
Manfredi's
Manfredi’s is another specialty eatery on Viking Octantis. This eatery serves a three-course Tuscan-inspired Italian menu complete with pasta, steaks, tiramisu, and much more. The venue is elegantly designed, with bold colors, photos of travels to Italy, and Italian cookbooks. It has an open kitchen at the back of the space where you can watch as the Chef’s in action.
As a starter at Manfredi’s, you will receive bread and olive oil as well as bits of parmesan cheese, cut from the many wheels of parmesan found at the entrance of the space. Don’t fill up too much, the main event is just starting.
The menu at Manfredi’s remains consistent each evening with tons of options to choose from if you dine multiple times on your voyage.
I dined twice at Manfredi’s during my cruise. Highlights of my experience included the Ravioli Freschi alla Caprese e Pesto - a tasty dish comprising of homemade mozzarella ravioli, garlic, tomato, and pesto. Also a hit was the vanilla gelato at dessert - all gelato is made on-site at Manfredi’s kitchen.
Room Service
All guests can enjoy room service 24 hours daily at no extra charge. Each evening in your stateroom, you will receive a menu door tag that will let you opt to have breakfast items and coffee delivered to your room at a specified time.
The extensive all-day room service menu features salads, soup, sandwiches, burgers, desserts, and even poached salmon or a strip steak.
Bars and Lounges
There are 6 bars and lounges onboard the ship. There is ample space to socialize, enjoy a cocktail, or just relax with a book.
The Hide is a unique bar located at the Bow. It’s a tucked-away spot with great views, unique furnishings, seating, and a bar to enjoy a cocktail.
The Explorers Lounge is a two-story, brightly lit bar on decks 4 and 5. It has a robust cocktail menu and comfy leather couches, making it a great space for socializing. In select hours, you can enjoy live musicians or singers at the bar.
Another Viking Cruises staple, the Aquavit Terrace is a bright, bustling bar just off the World Cafe and by the Pools. It is situated under a retractable roof, so when the weather is nice, it becomes an outdoor bar area.
Other bars are located on deck 1 outside of The Restaurant and Manfredi’s and in The Living Room lounge area. Needless to say, if you are ever in need of a cocktail or mocktail, you are never far away from one while onboard Viking Octantis.
Final Thoughts
Dining on Viking Octantis is a journey in itself. From The Restaurant's elegant ambiance to The World Cafe's casual setting, each venue offers something guaranteed to please all guests. Whether indulging in local delicacies or international cuisine, you will surely find something pleasing from every meal on the Viking Octantis. Bon appetit!
Explore All Cruises on Viking Octantis
Related:
Eight Reasons to Choose Viking Cruises
Expedition Cruising on the Great Lakes with Viking
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