Viking Jupiter

The 2019-built MS Viking Jupiter cruise ship is the sixth in a 10-ship series of identical vessels built for Viking Ocean Cruises. Viking OCEAN’s long-term plan includes a fleet of 16 sisterships, all built by Fincantieri and Norway-flagged.

The vessel (IMO number 257058920) is currently Norway-flagged (MMSI 257058920) and registered in Bergen.

History - construction and ownership

The 930-passenger Viking Jupiter offers a destination-focused cruising experience, with fewer sea days, longer port stays, and more overnight calls in key destinations. Onboard amenities include complimentary Wi-Fi, included shore excursions, and complimentary wine and beer served at lunch and dinner.

Each Viking Ocean ship offers numerous fare-inclusive amenities and services, including shore excursions, transfers, Wi-Fi, wine and beer (served at lunch and dinner), and access to the Nordic Spa (featuring a steam room, thalassotherapy pool, hot tub, snow grotto, sauna, and cold plunge pool). The infinity pool (a resistance swimming pool located aft on Deck 7) is another signature complimentary facility.

All Viking Ocean ships are built in accordance with the latest maritime safety regulations and are equipped with advanced safety systems, including "safe return to port." They also incorporate some of the industry’s most advanced technologies, such as energy-efficient hybrid propulsion systems (diesel generators and gas turbines), optimized hull designs, and bulbous bows for maximum fuel efficiency. The design also includes solar panels (installed on the Magradome pool cover), further reducing exhaust emissions.

Decks and Cabins

Viking Jupiter staterooms (465 total) include 47 Suites, 32 Penthouse cabins, and 386 Veranda/Balcony cabins across 18 categories.

All passenger cabins feature private balconies and offer modern amenities, including king-size beds ("Viking Explorer" with deluxe mattresses and linens, cashmere blankets), en-suite bathrooms (heated floor and mirror, glass-door shower, hairdryer, premium bath products and toiletries by Freyja, bathrobes, slippers, towel warmers), seating area (sofa, coffee table, vanity desk with chair, wardrobe, full-length mirror with lighting), satellite phone, smart HDTV (interactive infotainment system with Internet access, room service ordering, movies on demand, live webcam views, Viking Cruises channel for news, enrichment lectures, and port talks), in-room binoculars, electronic safe, individual air conditioning, coffee machine, and mini-bar (replenished daily with bottled water, soft drinks, and snacks).

The ship has 10 decks, of which 6 are dedicated to passenger cabins.

Shipboard facilities and amenities

Viking Jupiter offers the following dining venues: Restaurant (main dining room), buffets (Viking Deli, World Cafe), Aquavit Terrace (al fresco), specialty restaurants (Italian Grill and Chef’s Table), and Private Dining (2 rooms). Viking Jupiter fares include shore excursions, complimentary beverages (wine and beer at lunch and dinner), and Wi-Fi.

Signature facilities aboard Viking Jupiter include two swimming pools (Main Pool and aft Infinity Pool), a covered pool deck (with Jacuzzi, bar, and grill), the Viking Living Room (Atrium lobby lounge), two cinemas, a modern wellness complex (Spa & Fitness Center, Beauty Salon), Wintergarden (poolside lounge), Aquavit Terrace (aft outdoor bar lounge with Infinity Pool and hot tub), Piano Bar (Torshavn), a dedicated sports deck (Deck 9 with walking track and outdoor gym/yoga area), Theatre Lounge & Bar, Lobby Bar, retail shops and boutiques, and The Dome (planetarium with a portable telescope).

The wraparound Lanai/Promenade Deck (Deck 2) fully encircles the ship. The two-deck Explorers’ Lounge features a large forward-facing observation area, a design element rarely found on modern cruise ships. Many of the vessel’s features emphasize a boutique hotel atmosphere.

All Viking Ocean ships feature an onboard "snow room." Viking’s Snow Grotto is part of the spa’s thermal suite and offers a unique experience designed to stimulate circulation. Guests can alternate between the sauna and the snow-filled chamber, where snow falls from the ceiling and is maintained at sub-freezing temperatures. The thermal suite also includes a hot tub, heated ceramic loungers, therapeutic showers, and a saltwater pool. Access to the Snow Grotto is complimentary for all passengers.

The Dome planetarium

MS Viking Jupiter is the world’s third cruise ship (after Cunard’s liner RMS Queen Mary 2 and Viking Orion) equipped with an onboard planetarium. Named "Explorers’ Dome," this theater-style venue is circular, with a capacity of 26 seats, and is located forward on Deck 8, facing the Explorers Lounge. It uses advanced projection technology to display constellations and other space-related 3D visuals on its domed ceiling.

• Resolution quality is 7K HD. The Dome’s equipment includes five laser-beam projectors and studio-quality speakers with both 2D and 3D sound options.
• Signature shows include "Journey to Space" (space travel history-themed) and "Under the Arctic Sky" (Northern Lights-themed). The Dome and its programming are complimentary, and 3D glasses are provided free of charge.
• The ship’s resident astronomer (in addition to the resident historian) delivers two lectures per cruise, covering current sky events and passenger-requested topics.
• In 2018, Viking Cruises partnered with the US-based company "Evans and Sutherland," a developer of advanced computer graphics for digital planetariums and cinemas, which also provides access to live feeds, including from the International Space Station and ongoing space missions.

The ship is also equipped with a portable, electronically stabilized telescope that provides live night-sky views projected in The Dome. The telescope is typically positioned forward on Deck 9. The ship’s astronomer also hosts outdoor stargazing sessions.

Itineraries

Viking Jupiter’s itinerary program includes both one-way and roundtrip cruises in Europe (summer season) and South America (winter season).

• Western Mediterranean itineraries depart from Civitavecchia-Rome (Italy) and Barcelona (Spain).
• Eastern Mediterranean itineraries depart from Piraeus-Athens and Venice (Italy).
• Baltic Sea (Northern Europe) itineraries visit ports in Scandinavia and Russia, as well as the Norwegian Fjords, departing from Stockholm, Sweden, Amsterdam, Holland, Bergen, Norway, and London-Tilbury, England.
• South American itineraries are one-way voyages departing from Valparaiso-Santiago (Chile) and Buenos Aires (Argentina). The "South America and Chilean Fjords" itinerary includes calls in Uruguay, the Falkland Islands, and Cape Horn.

The ship also offers seasonal westbound and eastbound transatlantic repositioning cruises between Europe and South America.

All Viking OCEAN ships feature destination-focused itineraries built around the brand’s "small ship cruise" concept. Compared to similar vessels operated by other cruise lines, Viking OCEAN itineraries include fewer sea days and longer port stays, with frequent overnight calls.

The vessel (Fincantieri Ancona yard/hull number 6254) has a volume of 47,861 GT, deadweight (DWT) of 4,815 tons, and a maximum draft of 6.3 m. The powerplant is based on MAN marine diesel engines (models 12V32/9L32/44) with a combined output of 23.52 MW (22,000 hp). The registered shipowner is COMPASS SHIPPING 36 CORP LTD, while the registered manager is VIKING OCEAN CRUISES LTD.

Viking OCEAN offers destination-rich itineraries featuring the line’s "small ship cruise" concept and onboard experience. Compared to similar-class ships operated by other lines, Viking Ocean itineraries include fewer sea days and longer port stays, often with overnight calls.

Among the vessel’s innovative marine technologies are energy-saving hybrid engines, top-deck solar panels, and an exhaust system designed to minimize pollution. The ship also uses seawater as a lubricant for its propeller shaft bearings, reducing maintenance costs and environmental risk. By replacing biodegradable oils, the system allows water to be discharged directly into the ocean.

All passenger cabins feature a private veranda and are approximately 20% larger than the average standard staterooms on the ocean cruising market. An interesting feature is the ship’s main dining room, which can be transformed into an outdoor casual dining venue thanks to its floor-to-ceiling sliding windows.

Viking Cruises deals (on both river and ocean ships) are all-inclusive, covering shore excursions (land tours), onboard entertainment, dining (including specialty restaurants), selected beverages (beer and wine at lunch and dinner), 24-hour room service, and Wi-Fi.

Viking OCEAN ships deliver a new style of cruise vacation based on a "small ship" concept. The relatively shallow draft (21 ft / 6.3 m), along with advanced hull and superstructure design, allows the vessel to access smaller ports directly. The ship’s size also ensures faster and more efficient embarkation and disembarkation. A distinctive feature of this "affordable luxury" concept is that all Viking Ocean fares include shore excursions in every port, regardless of cabin category.

Interior design for Viking OCEAN ships was developed by SMC Design (London-based interior design company) and Rottet Studios (Los Angeles-based hotel design firm).

In April 2018, Fincantieri contracted the Norwegian company Scanship to supply the vessel’s environmental systems, including food waste processing, waste incineration, garbage handling, and wastewater treatment plants. Scanship’s purification system treats both greywater (from sinks, showers, and baths) and blackwater (from toilets).

In February 2019, Fincantieri contracted the Canadian company Thordon Bearings Inc to provide the vessel’s propeller shaft bearings. The Thordon COMPAC system is seawater-lubricated and operates without oil or grease. This system is also planned for installation on subsequent Viking Ocean ships currently on order or under construction (with deliveries scheduled between 2021 and 2027). These systems are supplied and installed by Pedrotec (Thordon’s authorized distributor in Italy).

The ship was launched (floated out) on May 10, 2018, at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Ancona, Italy. The ceremony was led by godmother Sissel Kyrkjebo (Norwegian soprano) and attended by Torstein Hagen (Viking Cruises President) and Giovanni Stecconi (shipyard Director).

Jupiter was officially delivered to Viking OCEAN on February 7, 2019, as the fleet’s sixth vessel. The official christening ceremony was initially scheduled for June 6, 2019, in Oslo, Norway. However, the naming ceremony ultimately took place on January 15, 2020, in Beverly Hills, California. This was an unusual event, as the vessel had already been in service for about a year. Unlike traditional ceremonies held onboard or dockside, this christening occurred at the Beverly Hills Ballroom (West Hollywood Civic Center), while the ship was at sea in the South Atlantic, en route from Puerto Madryn (Argentina) to Port Stanley (East Falkland Island). The event was synchronized with the vessel via live satellite link. The godmother used a Viking axe to cut a ceremonial cord, after which the ship’s captain confirmed that a bottle of Linie Aquavit had been successfully broken against the hull.

Viking Jupiter refurbishments review

Viking Jupiter’s first drydock was conducted in 2023 (October 26 through November 7) at the San Giorgio del Porto shipyard in Genoa.

The drydock included routine maintenance, classification work, technical overhauls, and inspections.

Inaugural itineraries 2019

The following tables show Viking Jupiter’s maiden voyages by destination. Prices are per person (Veranda Cabin rates based on double occupancy).

(2019) 7-day "Inaugural Cruise" (themed "Journey to Antiquities") from Piraeus to Rome

Initially announced maiden voyage (2019) 14-day (themed "Mediterranean Explorations" roundtrip from Rome) – prices started from USD 4,700 per person. The 7-day itinerary segment (Rome-Barcelona) was priced from USD 2,300 per person.

(2019) 13-day Inaugural "Eastern Mediterranean" (Greek Isles cruise to the Holy Land) – prices started from USD 5,000 per person.

(2019) 6-day Inaugural "Adriatic Sea" cruise – prices started from USD 3,000 per person.

(2019) 13-day Inaugural "Northbound Repositioning Cruise" from the Mediterranean to the Baltic Sea – prices started from USD 5,200 per person.

(2019) 9-day Inaugural "Baltic Cruise" (to Scandinavia and Russia) – prices started from USD 4,300 per person.

(2019) 7-day Inaugural "Norwegian Fjords Cruise" – prices started from USD 6,200 per person.

(2019) 13-day Inaugural "UK and Norway Cruise" – prices started from USD 7,000 per person.

(2019) 13-day Inaugural "Southbound Repositioning Cruise" from the Baltic to the Mediterranean – prices started from USD 4,700 per person.

(2019) 20-day Inaugural "Westbound Transatlantic Repositioning Cruise" from Europe to South America – prices started from USD 5,600 per person.

(2019) 16-day Inaugural "South America Cruise" – prices started from USD 6,800 per person.

(2020) 20-day Inaugural "Eastbound Transatlantic Repositioning Cruise" from South America to Europe – prices started from USD 5,600 per person.

Godspeed!