When we imagine Viking longships, we often picture sleek wooden vessels cutting through cold northern seas, their striped sails billowing dramatically, and warriors standing proudly along the gunwales. Yet for those who actually lived through these journeys—farmers, traders, rowers, raiders, explorers—the experience was far more complex, far less glamorous, and undeniably exhausting. To travel in a Viking longship during the Viking Age (roughly 793–1066 CE) meant entering a world of cramped conditions, unpredictable weather, minimal privacy, and an ever-present sense of both risk and adventure.
Food: Survival Over Comfort
Longship voyages could last anywhere from a few days to several weeks, depending on the purpose—a distant raid, a trading expedition, or even an exploratory journey across the North Atlantic. As a result, food was critical, but it was certainly not luxurious.
Viking crews relied on durable, easily preserved foods. Dried fish, hard bread (sometimes barley cakes), cured meat, and porridge ingredients formed the staple diet. Dairy products like butter or cheese also traveled well in cooler northern climates, though they were prized and rationed carefully. Water was stored in barrels, and sometimes mead or ale was carried—not for indulgence, but because fermented drinks were safer than stagnant water during long voyages.
Meals were functional, not pleasurable. Eating aboard a longship often meant crouching on deck with a wooden bowl, scooping up cold porridge or chewing tough dried fish while the ship pitched beneath you. The salt spray, wind, and constant movement made digestion an adventure in itself.
Fishing Along the Way
If the journey was long enough, Vikings fished as they traveled. A lucky catch could boost morale, especially if the cook (often simply the most experienced sailor with food preparation) could make a stew. But the North Atlantic was unpredictable, and often the sea offered nothing.
Eating was communal. There were no tables or private meals; food was shared openly. This created a sense of brotherhood and cooperation but also meant that hunger was collective. If rations ran low, everyone suffered.
Sleep: The Deck Was Your Bed
If there was one aspect of longship life that modern travelers would find the most challenging, it was sleep—or the lack of it.
Longships had no below-deck sleeping quarters. The deck was open to the sky, wind, rain, and cold. Crew members slept wherever they could find space, usually between the rowing benches or near their sea chests (which doubled as both storage and seating).
In mild weather, sailors unrolled woolen blankets or cloaks and tried to rest, but the constant creaking of the ship, the smell of tar and damp wood, and the proximity of dozens of other bodies made restful sleep rare.
During bad weather, a strip of "almost" water-resistant cloth was often used as a tent covering the deck. This provided not only a bit of shelter, but helped prevent the ship to be flooded by rain.
Cold, Wet, and Exhausting
In bad weather, conditions worsened. Rain could soak every layer of clothing, and without modern waterproof gear, sailors simply endured the cold. Many historians believe that exhaustion was a constant companion—row for hours, rest for minutes, then row again. Adding to that, rain and waves constantly brough water inside the deck, which would have to be drained by the bucket, by everyone, or risk the ship sinking.
Shifts and Duty
Crews usually slept in shifts. Those off duty would try to rest while others rowed, bailed water, or tended the sail. Sleep was fragmented: stolen moments rather than deep rest.
Despite all this, Viking sailors were legendary for their endurance. Their ability to function on limited sleep likely contributed to their reputation as fierce warriors upon arrival.
Privacy: Essentially Nonexistent
Traveling on a longship meant living in extremely close quarters, as the logic of trading or raiding made space scarce. The ship was a communal space in every sense. Men, shoulder to shoulder, packed with their gear, shields and weapons, There was no concept of personal territory.
Every aspect of life—eating, sleeping, repairing gear, singing, planning, arguing—occurred in the open. If someone needed to relieve themselves, they did so over the side. A shy Viking was never a thing.
Conversations, disagreements, snoring, seasickness—all were shared experiences. This forced camaraderie could build strong bonds, but it also demanded patience and social resilience.
Hierarchy in Tight Spaces
Even leaders had limited privacy. The ship’s commander, often a jarl or seasoned captain, might have a slightly larger chest or a designated area at the stern, but compared to modern standards it was hardly luxurious.
The lack of privacy meant that personal disputes had to be managed quickly. A quarrel on such a small vessel could jeopardize morale—or even the success of the voyage.
Weather: The Greatest Adversary
If food was adequate and relationships stable, weather still posed a constant danger. Traveling in a Viking longship meant surrendering to the moods of the sea and sky.
The longship’s shallow draft allowed it to ride over waves rather than cut through them. This design was excellent for maneuverability but could lead to harsh rocking in turbulent waters.
During storms, every man became essential. Some bailed water, others held the steering oar, while rowers pulled frantically to keep the ship from capsizing. Lightning, fog, and rogue waves turned the sea into an unpredictable battlefield. Add to that the ever constant danger of the icebergs.
Moments of Beauty
Not every moment was harsh, though. On calm days, with the sail full and the sea stretched like silver to the horizon, longship travel could feel exhilarating—even mystical. Dolphins sometimes accompanied the ships, and sunrises over the open water offered breathtaking views.
These moments likely reminded the crew why they embraced such a harsh life: the sense of adventure, the pursuit of distant shores, the promise of wealth, and the belief in fate and the Gods guiding their path.
Traveling in a Viking longship was demanding, communal, and perilous. Crews battled the elements, endured cramped living conditions, and lived on simple rations. Yet they also experienced camaraderie, breathtaking seascapes, and the thrill of exploration. For the Vikings, the longship was not merely transportation—it was a symbol of freedom, identity, and destiny.
Life aboard these vessels forged resilience and unity, shaping the culture that would carry Vikings across continents and into history.
Bibliographical References
Fitzhugh, William & Ward, Elisabeth. Vikings: The North Atlantic Saga. Smithsonian Books, 2000. ISBN: 978-1560989959
Haywood, John. The Penguin Historical Atlas of the Vikings. Penguin Books, 1995. ISBN: 978-0140513288
Jones, Gwyn. A History of the Vikings. Oxford University Press, 2001. ISBN: 978-0192801340
