Embarking on the Viking Ocean Cruises Amazon and Caribbean Adventure promises a journey filled with cultural exploration, scenic wonders, and the luxurious comforts offered by Viking Cruises. To ensure you have a seamless and enjoyable experience, packing strategically is key. In this article we’ll share our ultimate packing list for your 12-night Viking Amazon cruise and travel tips regarding the Viking cruise dress code.
As always, I recommend you pack light to reduce the carbon footprint of your trip and for your convenience. Viking does a phenomenal job of luggage handling, but even so we winced seeing older passengers struggle to lift very large suitcases onto check-in scales and off of airport baggage carousels. Dave helped when he could be we wished they’d left half their stuff at home. Thankfully none of the passengers we saw were injured by their efforts, but it was painful to watch.
This was our first Viking cruise and I’d read some online ‘comments’ suggesting that those who traveled carry-on would be poorly dressed. Of course, this irked me, and I was more determined than ever to pack light. And once onboard, with 900 passengers and multiple dining venues, I realized:
1. We didn’t see the same people more than once or twice, and
2. Most passengers dressed quite casually.
Ultimately, I packed in a carry-on spinner and a backpack, though Dave and I shared a checked duffel for those things not allowed on flights (e.g. suntan lotion, hiking sticks) and our back-up medications and first aid kit.
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Table of Contents
Packing List for a Viking Cruise in the Amazon and Caribbean
Viking Ocean Cruises ships are designed beautifully and efficiently. That extends to your stateroom where you’ll find lots of storage. The closet is large with lots of hangers. (Feel free to request more from your room steward if necessary!) There are drawers in the bureau but also drawers in the nightstand and one either side of the bathroom sink. Open shelves will accommodate more gear beside the bed and in the bathroom. And there’s even a lighted vanity built into the desk! In fact there is so much storage that you’ll have to be extra organized to not forget where something was stowed!
Documents & essential information to pack for any Viking Ocean Cruise itinerary
- Passport, cruise tickets, and other travel documents (In some ports we were required to carry a government issued ID as well as our cruise card. We carried driver’s licenses but were never asked to show them.)
- One credit card, small U.S. bills or local currency for shopping in ports of call
- Photocopies of important documents in case of loss. Alternately you can email these documents to yourself or upload them to a virtual drive.
What to wear on a Viking Ocean cruise: Amazon and Caribbean Adventure
Viking cruise dress code
Viking Ocean Cruises is more casual than some other upscale cruise lines. But there are requirements for dining in the formal dining rooms and guests are strongly requested to dress appropriately in other public areas of the ship. The Viking cruise dress code as stated on their website:
During the day, dress is casual including shorts (if the season is warm), slacks or jeans and comfortable shoes for walking tours. Swimsuits, brief shorts, cover-ups and exercise attire should be reserved for the Fitness Center, pool areas and Sports Deck. There are no “formal nights” in the evening; evening dress is “elegant casual” for all dining venues, performances and special events. On these occasions, required attire for ladies includes a dress, skirt or slacks with a sweater or blouse; for gentlemen, trousers and a collared shirt. A tie and jacket are optional; jeans are not permitted. The evening dress excludes World Café where the dress remains casual after 6:00 PM.
Clothing for your Amazon and Caribbean adventure
The Amazon region is HOT! And humid! Coming from New England this was a bit of an adjustment for us. Prepare to change your clothing after every excursion ashore. Fortunately, the Viking Ocean ships have free laundry facilities on each deck. These do get busy so plan on doing your washing during off hours (excursion times, and late night) There is also an option to send your laundry out for cleaning. We’ve done this on other cruises but didn’t need to this time with the washers right down the hall.
Clothing suggestions:
- A capsule wardrobe of lightweight, breathable fabrics. I packed my lightest merino wool and was quite comfortable. (I’m sharing my Viking cruise packing list below.)
- Long sleeved expedition shirts and pants for sun protection and rainforest walks. I’d suggest collared shirts made with Insect Shield fabrics or treat your own gear with Permethrin before the trip.
- Smart casual and semi-formal attire for evenings onboard. (see Viking cruise dress code above)
- Comfortable walking shoes for shore excursions
- Swimsuits and cover-ups for the spa, pool and beach days. If you’re not planning on a beach day, leave the cover-up at home as you can use the luxurious robe Viking supplies in your stateroom.
- Light jacket or sweater for cooler evenings
How to create a Capsule Wardrobe:
- Choose a base color – black, navy, or a neutral that suits your coloring.
- Pick a top, bottom, and perhaps a dress in this color.
- Add 2-3 print tops (or tops in coordinating color), and a topper, that are based on your chosen color.
- Add another bottom – shorts, leggings, or skirt in a coordinating neutral.
- Add color and pattern with colorful scarves, and accessories.
Use a capsule planning template to be sure your items work together.
Examples of travel capsule templates
A travel capsule is just the foundation for your Viking cruise packing list. The items in your capsule should work together to create many outfits. But you can add more items if you have room in your bag. For this trip I added a few more pieces to stretch and brighten the wardrobe options and to prepare for the activities on the cruise.
(Yes, I added a bit more to the basic capsule than the templates dictate also. But it was my first Viking Ocean cruise and I wanted to be sure to have options. I’ll know not to overpack next trip! See image at end of this article to see some of the outfits I created with these pieces.)
Accessories
- Wide-brimmed hat for sun protection
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Waterproof phone case for water-based activities
- Optional -Travel-sized umbrella, lightweight raincoat, or poncho for rain. Viking provides large umbrellas in each stateroom and usually on the tender dock as well. In case of rain, Viking will offer disposable ponchos on the gangway, but these are single-use plastics and easily torn. Bring your own.
Toiletries, etc.
The humidity in the Amazon Basin is unbelievable. If you are ‘blessed’ with frizz-prone hair, as I am, prepare before leaving home. Get a cut that embraces your curls, have a hair treatment (no wonder they call it a Brazilian Blowout!), or bring along products that’ll help you manage. As we left home at a challenging time I did none of these things and ended up in a ponytail every day on the Amazon.
- Travel-sized toiletries for your travel days. Viking provides Freyja products in your stateroom.
- Toothbrush, toothpaste, and any personal care items
- Leave your hair dryer at home. Viking provides one in the room (and restricts the use of personal hair dryers for safety concerns).
Electronics to capture your adventure and keep you entertained
- Camera or smartphone for capturing memorable moments
- Chargers for all your electronic devices. Viking has both European and U.S outlets in every stateroom.
- Binoculars for wildlife observation during excursions. Viking provides binoculars in each stateroom but they are very low quality.
- E-reader or books for leisurely days at sea Viking has a great library but I always load up my kindle with books before a trip. Remember that eBooks are usually free to download from your local library!
Be prepared! Health and safety suggestions for the Amazon
- Prescription medications and a basic first aid kit
- Insect repellent for excursions into tropical areas (After the enrichment lecture on Amazon insects you’ll need no convincing to apply repellent.)
- Antiseptic wipes for flights and (less than pristine) touring buses
- Motion sickness medication if prone to seasickness
- Necessary vaccinations and health insurance information
Miscellaneous items to consider packing for your Amazon and Caribbean adventure
- Reusable water bottle
- Small, lightweight bag for daily excursions or shopping
- Magnetic hooks for cabin walls. There is plenty of storage in every stateroom, but we like having a spot to hang our hats and a magnet to secure the Viking Daily newsletter.
- Hiking stick for navigating uneven ground.
- Water shoes for rocky beaches or excursions.
- Journal to document your travel experiences.
- [Optional] Lanyard or Bandolier style phone case to carry your cruise card.
- [Optional] Snorkel and mask for exploring the vibrant underwater life. These activities are limited to the Caribbean portion of the cruise. You won’t be swimming in the Amazon River!
- Leave your travel-sized games and playing cards at home. Viking has dedicated tables in the atrium area with lots of games and jigsaw puzzles!
- Pick up some wine or spirits at the port. Viking allows you to bring alcohol onboard at each port of call and will even serve your wine at dinner without a corking fee.
On every packing list: My Must Have Travel Accessories
What I packed for my Amazon and Caribbean Viking Ocean Cruise
In the end, though I was able to carry-on all my clothing, I overpacked! One of my top packing tips is to wear each item packed at least 2 times, but during this trip four of my items were only worn once! Here’s the clothing I chose for my Viking cruise packing list (or * worn on travel days):
2 merino wool dresses
1 merino wool skirt – wool& Rita sent to me for review. Loved it and know it’ll be a travel staple! I’m wearing the skirt in 3 of the outfits pictured above. It was such a versatile and flattering piece.
1 Zuri dress/duster
1 pair linen cropped pants
*1 pair expedition zip-off pants (treated with permethrin for insects)
1 pair shorts
1 linen sleeveless top
2 merino wool tops
1 ¾ sleeve floral top
*1 bamboo Breton stripe top
2 expedition type long-sleeve shirts (treated with permethrin for insects)
1 light sweater
*1 merino sweater for travel days from Icebreaker
2 chiffon scarves/wraps (*one worn on travel days)
The merino wool and bamboo items never needed washing which meant we only did laundry once. Tip: airing your merino wool or bamboo clothing after wearing will usually prevent odors.
Shoes: sneakers, Teva style sandals, and lightweight flats
Workout gear: T-shirt and shorts for working out
Swimsuits and underthings, including 2 merino wool bras
The unexpected hero of my packing was my Patagonia Black Hole Tote Pack. I stuck it into my luggage at the last minute to use as a pool and tour bag and it saved the day when our homeward flight was cancelled and we had to consolidate our duffel’s contents into a personal sized item. It packed flat but opened for 27 L of storage!
By packing smartly and considering the specific needs of your Viking Ocean Cruises Amazon and Caribbean Adventure, you’ll be well-prepared to make the most of this unforgettable journey. Bon voyage!
For more information and recommendations for your Viking Ocean Cruises experience and suggestions to avoid overpacking on any trip read:
- Elegance at Sea: an Authentic Viking Ocean Cruises Review– a first-time Viking cruiser’s impression of the Viking Sea
- Navigating the Amazon and Caribbean with Viking: An Honest Review – our first hand review of the Viking Sea itinerary
- 25 Top Travel and Packing Tips
Amy Tull
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Amy, a writer on responsible bucket list travel, is your reliable source for insightful travel advice. With a career background in libraries, and a degree in biology and mathematics, Amy's approach to travel is rooted in meticulous research and planning, and her commitment to eco-conscious adventures.
Amy’s dedication to sustainable travel practices, including efficient packing techniques, ensures that every adventure leaves a positive impact on both the environment and the traveler's well-being. Trust Amy to guide you towards meaningful and eco-friendly travel, making the most of your retirement years.
A lifelong New England resident, Amy is also the source for insider tips on travel in the Northeastern U.S.
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