Viking Yi Dun cabins and suites

Review of Viking OCEAN's Viking Sun staterooms, including furniture, fare-included amenities and complimentary services:

• Decor - light woods, nautical colors.
• King-size "Viking Explorer" bed (deluxe mattresses and linens, cashmere blankets), with optional twin-bed configuration.
• Luxurious private bathroom (with heated floor and heated mirror), glass-door shower, hairdryer, premium bath products and toiletries (by Freyja), deluxe bathrobes, slippers, towel warmers and plenty of storage space.
• The seating area is furnished with a sofa, coffee table, vanity desk with chair and wardrobe. There is a full-length mirror (with mini lights) that can double as a night light. The on/off switch is conveniently positioned by the bed.
• Satellite phone (direct-dial, located on the vanity desk), smart HDTV (3D, Infotainment / interactive TV system for Internet access, room service ordering, movies on demand, live webcam views, Viking Cruises channel for news, enrichment lectures and port talks), in-room binoculars, personal safe, individual climate control and 220V / 110V power outlets (European and American standard plugs). The room's key-card must be inserted into a slot (located by the entry door) to power the cabin's electrical outlets and lights.
• Coffee machine, mini-bar (replenished daily with bottled water, soft drinks and snacks).

On all cabin decks, there is a launderette (free-of-charge passenger-use laundromat). These self-service laundry rooms are equipped with ironing boards, washers and dryers. Detergent is also provided complimentary.

All cabin categories enjoy complimentary movies on demand and 24-hour room service. All Suite categories enjoy complimentary laundry, pressing and shoeshine services (also available to Deluxe cabins).

• Welcome Champagne bottle (Suites and Deluxe cabins).
• Priority cabin access: Explorer and Junior Suites (upon embarkation - 11 am), Penthouse Veranda (1 pm), Deluxe Veranda (2 pm), Standard Veranda (3 pm).
• Priority dining room reservations (in brackets - days prior to departure): Explorer Suite (90), Junior Suite (80), Penthouse Veranda (70), Deluxe Veranda (60), Standard Veranda (none).

All guests (excluding only those in Standard Balcony rooms) also enjoy priority reservations for each of the Viking Ocean cruise shore excursions.

Veranda and Deluxe Veranda cabins (categories V and DV) are very similar (sized 225 ft2 / 21 m2, with additional 45 ft2 / 4 m2 balconies). Each has a lounge area (2 armchairs, coffee table), and the balcony is furnished with 2 chairs plus 1 table (height suitable for outdoor dining). The difference is that V-Veranda cabins have no mini-bar, and their guests can't pre-book dinner reservations at the ship's restaurants. Veranda staterooms also have no binoculars, coffee machines or cashmere blankets (standard amenities for all other grades). Also, on embarkation day, Deluxe Veranda passengers can check in 1 hour earlier than Veranda passengers (at 2 pm instead of 3 pm).

Penthouse Veranda (category PV) balcony cabins are larger (sized 280 ft2 / 26 m2, with additional 60 ft2 / 6 m2 balconies) and offer upgraded services. The veranda furniture is the same as in the lower balcony categories. The seating area has a sofa, coffee table and 1 easy chair. These rooms offer more storage space (extra drawers) and a slightly larger bathroom (including a larger shower stall). Extra services include priority dining reservations (at the MDR and both alternative restaurants, Chef's Table and Manfredi's), as well as complimentary pressing and shoeshine. On embarkation day, Penthouse Veranda passengers can access their cabins early (at 1 pm).

Penthouse Junior Suites (category PS) are the ship's smallest suite accommodations (sized 335 ft2 / 31 m2, with additional 70 ft2 / 7 m2 balconies). The lounge area has a comfortable couch, coffee table, 2 easy chairs and 2 HDTVs (1 TV across from the bed, 1 TV for the seating area). The bedroom is divided from the living area by a curtain. Bonus amenities include early check-in on embarkation day (at 11 am), guaranteed dinner reservations (at the Chef's Table and Manfredi's specialty restaurants), complimentary laundry, dry-cleaning, pressing and shoeshine. There are two wheelchair-accessible Mini-Suites offering a roll-in shower and roll-out balcony.

Explorer Suite (category ES) cabin sizes vary between 460-700 ft2 / 43-65 m2, with additional 165-490 ft2 / 15-46 m2 balconies. These suites are located forward and aft (on the boat's corners), giving them panoramic views on two sides (plus portside or starboard). In comparison to the forward-facing Explorer Suites, the aft-facing suites have larger balconies (furnished with single beds), smaller living rooms and larger bathrooms (with windows looking out onto the balcony; the forward-facing suites have a TV instead of a balcony window). Also, the fore-located suites have glass windbreaks on their balconies, which don't wrap all the way around like the aft verandas. Each Explorer Suite has a 4-seat dining table, living room (couch, coffee table, 2 armchairs) and walk-in closet. Perks are similar to those of Penthouse Suites.

Viking OCEAN's Explorer Suite bathrooms are among the best-rated at sea. Each has a glass-enclosed shower-bathtub compartment with ocean views, a separate sitting area and a spacious double-sink vanity area with plenty of storage drawers. Among the suite bathroom's features are Italian handcrafted fixtures and a heated tile floor. You can see all the bath details in the combo photo below.

The only Owner's Suite (category OS, on deck 7 forward-starboard) is the ship's largest accommodation (sized 1320 ft2 / 123 m2, with additional 175 ft2 / 17 m2 balcony). The Owner's Suite has a living room (couch, coffee table, chairs, wet bar), separate dining area (6-seat dining table), walk-in closet, powder room, separate bedroom (king bed, walk-in closet), separate boardroom (meeting room with locked doors, 10-seat table, guest bathroom, butler's pantry with a small oven), master bathroom (double-sink vanity, large power shower) and oceanview sauna room (unique feature). The large veranda is furnished with 2-seat wooden loungers (cushioned), table and 2 chairs. Among the Suite's perks are a custom-stocked mini-bar, early check-in (at 11 am), guaranteed dinner reservations, complimentary laundry, dry-cleaning, pressing and shoeshine.

The complimentary 24-hour room service menu includes pasta (3 sauces are offered - bolognese, pesto, Pomodoro), grilled salmon, cured Norwegian salmon (gravlax/gravadlax), grilled chicken, burgers (including veggie), chef salad and cheese plates. Breakfast options include hot/cold sandwiches, French toast, pancakes, oatmeal, eggs and fresh fruit.

Viking OCEAN cruise deals are all-inclusive, meaning they offer the following complimentary amenities and services (included in Viking cruise fares):

• 1 complimentary excursion in each port of call along the cruise itinerary route.
• Complimentary drinks, including alcohol (beers and house wines at lunch and dinner). The wine selection includes red and white wines, and occasionally rosé.
• Free Wi-Fi (shipwide coverage), free Internet (unlimited access).
• Free-of-charge specialty restaurant dining (except only the lowest-category Balcony cabins).
• Tipping/gratuities - the recommended per-day gratuity is USD 14 per person and is automatically added to the passenger's onboard account. Adjustments can be made at the customer service (reception) desk located in the Lobby area on deck 1. Alcoholic drink purchases incur a 15% gratuity (automatic).

All beverages served at the onboard lounges and bars cost extra. Prices are around $6 (cocktail), $4 (beer) and $5-6 (wine by the glass). Viking Cruises' "Silver Spirits" drink package costs $420 per cabin (for two passengers) and offers unlimited cocktails ($9 limit), beers and premium wines (by the glass), plus one bottle of sparkling wine, specialty coffees and unlimited soda (soft drinks).