Five Things to Know About Viking River Cruises' Osfrid Cruise Ship

As befits Viking’s Scandinavian roots, the ship is all blonde woods, serene color palettes, and clean lines. Floor-to-ceiling windows are everywhere, flooding the public spaces with light and giving everyone in the room a view of the castles and villages rolling by. Bonus: Unlike Viking’s Longships, the Osfrid has a pool on the top deck.

• Related:Five Things to Know About Viking River Cruises' Mekong Cruise Ship
• Five Things to Know About Viking River Cruises' Rinda Cruise Ship
• Five Things to Know About Viking River Cruises' Tialfi Cruise Ship

Reflecting the airy design of the rest of the ship, staterooms are filled with earth tones and cheerful splashes of blues in the form of patterned pillows or blankets. Sizes range from 150 square feet for a French Balcony room to 302 square feet for a Veranda Suite, which has a full balcony off the living room and a French balcony off the bedroom. Veranda Staterooms (185 square feet) also have full balconies, while the four Standard staterooms (155 square feet) all have a window.

The first sign that this ship takes food seriously: The organic herb garden on the open-air top deck. You’ll find the greens—along with ingredients purchased fresh in each port—in the regionally inspired meals at The Restaurant, which serves breakfast, lunch, and a three-course dinner at night. For something more casual, head to Aquavit Terrace, for a light breakfast, lunch, or dinner on the bow of the ship, where passengers can eat al fresco on warm days.

To help immerse passengers in the local culture, experts and performers come on board at port. One day you might attend a port-tasting, the next a folk-music performance. And along the way, members of the ship’s staff might give a Portuguese lesson or a lecture on Portuguese history.

In keeping with Viking’s no-nickel-and-diming philosophy, everything from unlimited WiFi to beer and house wine at lunch and dinner are wrapped into your cruise fare. And so are many basic shore excursions, such as city or walking tours. More involved outings—such as a tour and tile-making workshop at Lisbon’s National Tile Museum—generally cost extra.