What is the best drinks package on a cruise? I have been asked this before and my answer is still Viking’s Silver Spirit drinks package.
However, even if you decide not to take up the drinks package, Viking include beer, wine and soft drinks for all guests with lunch and dinner. And outside of mealtimes self-serve tea and coffee is available 24/7.
For Mr B and I, we would always opt for the drinks package and it’s not just down to the volume of drinks available, but also the premium selection available on the package.
All the drinks we enjoyed onboard were included in the package.
Mr B and I love celebrating the start of any holiday with a glass of champagne and stepping on Viking was no different. Not just that, but our glasses weren’t even empty before wonderful Milos appeared at our table with the bottle, offering to top up our glasses (the start of the excellent service which was consistent on our wonderful sailing).
After a morning of exploring, when getting back onboard we would often enjoy an ice-cold Sprite, so very refreshing.
At lunch I often didn’t fancy wine knowing I would be enjoying it with dinner, so my lunch time drink of choice was an Aperol spritz, made so well I actually enjoyed one with every lunch! I even got a few of our fellow passengers drinking them. A great choice if I do say so myself.
A twist on the classic Aperol Spritz I enjoyed was a Passion Fruit Aperol Spritz, which gave this classically bitter drink a fruity and sweet twist.
One of the joys of river cruising is that you are always so close to your cabin. Sometimes Mr B and I wanted to enjoy the views from the privacy of our balcony so we ordered a drink at the bar and made the few steps to our room to enjoy a cocktail with a special view. I can highly recommend the Espresso Martinis, perfect for that afternoon pick-me-up.
Mr B enjoys a beer and he said for such a small river ship he was surprised with the variety onboard. He really liked that there were beers from Prague and Germany, and enjoyed trying new ones he had not drunk before.
His favourites were the German IPA and Pale Ale by Maisel & Friends. The Gaffel Kolsch was another he enjoyed and for a refreshing lager, a Pilsner Urquell.
As I mentioned, wine is available for all guests during mealtimes, however, with the drinks package premium wines are available or you can opt for other wines from the bar which will be fetched for you to enjoy with your meal.
Some of the ones we enjoyed the most with our meals were two nice whites – lovely ‘Les Petites Pierres Coteaux Bourguignons Louis Jadot Beaune France’ and a ‘Terrassen Grüner Veltliner Federspiel, Winery Domäne Wachau Austria’. For the red our favourites were the ‘Blauer Zweigelt, winery Mörwald, Wagram Austria’ and ‘Sancerre Rouge, Les Baronnes, Henri Bourgeois, Pinot Noir’. And for any rose drinkers there is a lovely ‘Rose Miraval Cotes de Provence’.
Of course, we enjoyed many a cocktail! In the evening Mr B and I would sip on a pre-dinner drink in the lounge. I enjoyed more than a few pre-dinner Cosmopolitans, one of my all-time favourite cocktails which were made perfectly on Viking.
Another of my favourites and always a perfect pre-dinner drink is a Kir Royale.
After dinner, if I fancied something sharp I would opt for a Margarita.
When I fancied something a bit different to my usual choices I enjoyed a White Lady or an Amaretto Sour whilst Mr B would be sipping on a Negroni or a Sweet Manhattan.
One night when I fancied something a little rich I opted for a White Russian.
The drinks package allows you to have a bit of fun with your drinks, to try something you wouldn’t normally try or something a bit different. And if you aren’t sure what to have, simply speak to your bar chef. They will guide you if you let them know your favourite spirits and what your usual tastes are like.
We love the variety and value the Silver Spirits Drinks Package offers. Mr B and I certainly won’t be sailing with Viking without it!
Want to know about the ship we enjoyed our sailing on? Have a look at my blog post all about the beautiful Viking Beyla . . .
Read about our itinerary sailing the river Elbe with Viking on my below blog post . . .
Want to know what the food is like on a Viking river cruise? Have a look at my blog post . . .
