MS Symphony

Dining is a highlight with Viking River Cruises. The Viking chefs create a variety of delicious offerings featuring European, Russian and Chinese specialties - adapted for Western tastes - with fresh seasonal vegetables and soups prepared throughout your cruise.

For breakfast, choose from a delectable array of European pastries, cereals, breakfast meats, smoked fish, fresh fruit and selected cheeses. Or you may prefer a hot dish, such as an omelette. At lunch, select from the soup and sandwich bar, or choose an entrée and dessert from the day's luncheon menu.

For dinner, a five-course gourmet menu awaits - with regional specialities like Viennese schnitzel. On the Viking China cruisetours, enjoy one of celebrity chef Martin Yan's Chinese delights, as well as favourites like roast beef or poached salmon. And if none of these meet your preference, then grilled steak, chicken and Caesar salad are always available as dinner options - all prepared in Viking's state-of-the-art onboard kitchens.

If an itinerary has included meals ashore, you visit restaurants carefully selected by Viking's in-country staff - where you can sample regional favourites, like Peking duck in Beijing.

While meals are casual, open-seating affairs, the atmosphere is always elegant. Dinner attire is "evening casual": open-neck shirts, slacks, dresses and sport outfits. Captain's Welcome and Farewell Nights are dressy, but not formal.

Is Childcare Available ?

Due to the nature of these cruise itineraries, Viking River Cruises does not maintain facilities or services for children aboard their vessels. On all Viking River Cruises, minors under the age of 18 must be accompanied and share a cabin with a parent, legal guardian or other responsible adult over the age of 21. They cannot accommodate children under 12 years of age, and reserve the right to limit the number of minors on board under the age of 18 years.

Tipping Policies of Viking River Cruises

Europe - Shipboard gratuities for shipboard personnel are included in your cruise fare. Gratuities for local guides are not included in your cruise fare but are a way of showing satisfaction for good service. For local guides, we recommend tipping at the end of each tour in cash.

Russia / Ukraine - Shipboard gratuities for shipboard personnel and your Program Director are included in your cruise fare. Gratuities for local guides are not included in your cruise fare but are a way of showing satisfaction for good service. For local guides, we recommend tipping at the end of each tour in cash.

China - Shipboard gratuities for crew and your Program Director are included in your cruise fare. Gratuities for your Tour Escort and local guides are not included but are a way of showing satisfaction for good service.

Egypt - Gratuities / tips are not included in your cruise price, but are a way of showing satisfaction for good service. You may tip onboard staff in cash or charge your tips to your credit card at the end of the cruise. Your pre-cruise information will include guidelines on the amount to tip the Egyptologist/Tour Escort, ship crew, coach drivers and other service people.

Additional tipping is at the passengers' discretion. Your pre-cruise information will include further guidelines for other service providers you may wish to tip.