Viking Neptune

The 2022-built MS Viking Neptune cruise ship is the 9th in a 10-unit series of identical vessels built for Viking Ocean Cruises. Viking OCEAN's current plans include a fleet of 16 sisterships, all of which are Fincantieri-built and Norway-flagged.

The vessel (IMO number 9845910) is currently Norway-flagged (MMSI 257850000) and registered in Bergen.

History - construction and ownership

The 930-passenger ship Viking Neptune offers a destination-oriented cruising experience, featuring fewer days at sea, longer port stays, and more overnight visits in key destinations. Onboard amenities include complimentary Wi-Fi, free 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 pool located aft on Deck 7 at the stern) is another distinctive complimentary facility.

All Viking Ocean ships are built in compliance with the latest maritime navigation regulations and are equipped with advanced marine safety systems, including "Safe Return to Port." They also incorporate cutting-edge technologies, such as energy-efficient hybrid engines (diesel generators and gas turbines), optimized hull forms, and bulbous bows for maximum fuel efficiency. The design also includes solar panels (installed on the Magradome pool cover), further reducing exhaust emissions—an innovation derived from Viking River Cruises longships.

Decks and Cabins

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

All passenger cabins feature private balconies and are equipped with modern amenities, including king-size beds ("Viking Explorer" with deluxe mattresses and linens, cashmere blankets), en-suite bathrooms (heated floors and mirrors, glass-door showers, hairdryers, premium Freyja bath products, bathrobes, slippers, and towel warmers), and comfortable seating areas (sofa, coffee table, vanity desk with chair, wardrobe, full-length illuminated mirror). Additional features include a satellite phone, smart HDTV (with infotainment system for Internet access, room service ordering, movies-on-demand, live webcam views, and Viking Cruises programming), in-room binoculars, electronic safe, individual climate control, coffee machine, and a mini-bar replenished daily with bottled water, soft drinks, and snacks.

The vessel has 10 decks, 6 of which accommodate passenger cabins.

Shipboard facilities and amenities

Viking Neptune features a variety of dining venues, including the main Restaurant, buffet options (Viking Deli and World Cafe), Aquavit Terrace (alfresco dining), specialty venues (Italian Grill and Chef's Table), and Private Dining (2 rooms). Viking Neptune cruise fares include shore excursions, complimentary wine and beer (served at lunch and dinner), and Wi-Fi.

Viking OCEAN's Neptune features signature facilities such as two swimming pools (Main Pool and Aft Infinity Pool), a covered pool deck (with Jacuzzi and Bar & Grill), the Viking Living Room (Atrium Lobby Lounge), two cinemas, a modern wellness complex (Spa & Fitness Center and Beauty Salon), Wintergarden (poolside lounge area), Aquavit Terrace (aft outdoor bar lounge with infinity pool and hot tub), the Torshavn Piano Bar Lounge, a dedicated sports deck (Deck 9 with a walking track and outdoor gym/yoga area), Theatre Lounge & Bar, Lobby Bar, and various retail shops and boutiques.

The walk-around Lanai/Promenade Deck (Deck 2) fully encircles the vessel. The two-deck Explorer's Lounge features a large forward-facing observation area—an increasingly rare feature on modern cruise ships. Many onboard design elements reflect a boutique hotel atmosphere.

All Viking Ocean ships feature an onboard "snow room." Viking's Snow Grotto is a spa retreat where powdery snow falls from the ceiling. The experience, believed to benefit blood circulation, typically involves warming up in a sauna or steam room before entering the chilled environment. The room is fitted with benches and dark stone walls illuminated by blue light, with snow maintained at sub-freezing temperatures. This Arctic-themed facility is part of the ship's thermal suite, which also includes a hot tub, sauna, heated ceramic loungers, therapeutic showers, and a saltwater thermal pool. Access to the Snow Grotto is complimentary for all passengers.

Itineraries

Viking Neptune's itinerary program was announced by VIKING OCEAN in late December 2020. The vessel was initially scheduled to begin operations with the Viking World Cruise 2022-2023, a 138-day voyage visiting 58 ports in 28 countries, including 11 overnight stays.

• Departing on December 22, 2022, from Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale Florida), the Viking World Voyage 2022 explores Central America, includes a Panama Canal transit, and sails along North America's West Coast. A 121-day segment (Viking World Journeys) allows embarkation in Los Angeles CA, continuing to Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, the Middle East, and Europe (Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts), ending in London-Greenwich, England UK.
• Viking Neptune's World Cruise itinerary includes overnight (and double overnight) stays in 11 ports, including Auckland New Zealand, Sydney NSW Australia, Benoa Bali Indonesia, Saigon Vietnam, Singapore, Yangon Burma, Colombo Sri Lanka, Mumbai India, Haifa Israel, Istanbul Turkey, and London-Greenwich (prior to disembarkation). Note: For the full list of ports, see the ship's Wiki section here.

In August 2021, Viking OCEAN announced a "Double World Cruise 2023-2024" featuring two ships (Neptune and Sky) sailing similar itineraries from Florida. While Viking Neptune departs on December 23, 2023, Viking Sky departs earlier (on December 20, 2023), sailing in parallel.

• Departing from Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale Florida USA) and ending in London-Greenwich, the "Viking World Voyage 2023-2024" was priced from USD 60,000 (EUR 51,015) on Viking Sky (December 20 departure) and from USD 55,000 (EUR 46,760) on Viking Neptune (December 23 departure).
• An Early Booking promotion (for reservations made by September 30, 2021) offered USD 2,000 per person in shore excursion credit, USD 1,000 per person in onboard credit (OBC), plus an additional USD 1,000 per person OBC for Viking Explorer Society members.

In the UK, Viking Ocean ships are homeported in London-Greenwich England.

All Viking OCEAN ships offer destination-rich itineraries centered around the brand's "small ship cruising" concept and onboard experience. Compared to similar vessels operated by other cruise lines, Viking OCEAN itineraries feature fewer sea days, longer port stays, and a greater number of overnight calls.

The vessel (Fincantieri Ancona yard/hull number 6285) has a volume of 47,842 GT, deadweight (DWT) of 4,912 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 VIKING OCEAN CRUISES SHIP IX, while the registered manager is VIKING OCEAN CRUISES LTD.

Among the vessel's innovative marine technologies are energy-saving hybrid engines, top-deck solar panels, and a pollution-minimizing exhaust system. The ship also uses seawater as a lubricant for its propeller shaft bearings. This technology reduces maintenance costs and minimizes pollution risk. Instead of biodegradable oils, water is discharged directly into the ocean.

Viking OCEAN represents a "small ship" travel concept. The relatively shallow draft (21 ft / 6.3 m), combined with advanced hull, superstructure design, and technology, allows the ship to access smaller ports directly. Her smaller size also ensures faster and more efficient passenger embarkation and debarkation. A distinctive feature of the "affordable luxury" ocean cruising segment is that, regardless of cabin category, all Viking Ocean fares include shore excursions in every port of call on the itinerary.

All passenger cabins feature private step-out verandas and are approximately one-fifth larger than standard staterooms across the ocean cruise market. A notable onboard feature is the main dining room, which can be transformed into an outdoor casual dining venue thanks to floor-to-ceiling sliding windows. The interiors of Viking Ocean ships were designed by SMC Design (London-based interior design company) and Rottet Studios (Los Angeles-based hospitality design firm).

Viking Cruises packages (on all river vessels and ocean ships) include shore excursions (land tours), onboard entertainment, and dining (including specialty restaurants), as well as beverages (beer and wine served at lunch and dinner), 24-hour room service, and Wi-Fi.

In April 2018, Fincantieri contracted the Norwegian company Scanship to supply all onboard waste management 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 newbuild’s propeller shaft bearings. The ship's propeller shaft system (Thordon COMPAC) is seawater-lubricated and utilizes 100% grease- and oil-free bearings. This innovative system is also installed on subsequent Viking Ocean ships (on order or under construction) scheduled for delivery between 2021 and 2027. These systems are supplied and installed by Pedrotec (Thordon's authorized distributor in Italy).

The ship (yard/hull number 6285) is the 10th vessel in the Viking OCEAN series. She was launched (floated out) at Fincantieri's shipyard in Ancona Italy on January 13, 2021. Fincantieri officially delivered her to Viking OCEAN on November 10, 2022. The christening ceremony took place on January 8, 2023, dockside in Port Los Angeles. The naming event was led by godmother Nicole Marie Passonno Stott (born 1962, engineer, retired NASA astronaut, and aquanaut) and attended by Torstein Hagen (Viking's Chairman). In keeping with company tradition, Nicole Stott used a ceremonial Viking axe (presented by Norwegian soprano Sissel Kyrkjebo, godmother of Viking Jupiter) to cut the ribbon that released a bottle of aquavit (a Norwegian distilled spirit) to break against the hull. The event also featured a live performance by Sissel Kyrkjebo, accompanied by Norwegian violinist Tor Jaran Apold.

Unlike her sisterships, Viking Neptune was originally fitted with a hydrogen fuel cell module (maximum power capacity 100 kW).

Maiden Voyage (2022)

The following table shows Viking Neptune's inaugural cruise (maiden voyage) in 2022.

7-day "Ancient Mediterranean Treasures" itinerary (from US$2,600 pp)

(Inaugural Transatlantic crossing) 14-day cruise from Europe to the USA (Barcelona to Fort Lauderdale, from US$3,000 pp)

Godspeed!

Inaugural (Viking World Cruise 2022-2023) itinerary

The unique voyage featured 11 overnight port stays and, during sea days, cruising in the Gulf of Mexico (day 2), Caribbean Sea (days 4-5), Pacific Ocean (days 9, 12-14, 16-17, 20-24, 27-31, 35-39, 47), New Zealand's Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound (day 48), Tasman Sea (days 49-50, 54), Coral Sea (day 60), Arafura Sea (days 65-66), Timor Sea (day 67), Java Sea (day 72), South China Sea (days 75-76, 80), Gulf of Thailand (day 82), Strait of Malacca (day 85), Andaman Sea (day 87), Bay of Bengal (days 91-93), Laccadive Sea (day 96), Arabian Sea (days 98, 103-104), Gulf of Suez (day 112), Mediterranean Sea (days 116, 123), Aegean Sea (day 121), Balearic Sea (day 128), Atlantic Ocean coastal navigation (day 133), and the English Channel (day 134).

The following table shows Viking Neptune's 2022-2023 World Voyage (138-day itinerary) with dates and ports of call.

The 120-day World Cruise segment from Los Angeles to London (January 8 - May 8) was priced from USD 47,000 per person.

Full World Cruise fares started from USD 50,000 per person (based on double occupancy). Viking World Journeys 2023 itinerary prices started from USD 47,000 per person. Early bookings included up to USD 50,000 per stateroom in the Viking Value package, which featured Business Class international flights, transfers (to/from the ship), complimentary visa services, shipboard gratuities, service fees, the Silver Spirits Beverage Package, and free luggage shipping (upon embarkation).

Bookings made by February 28, 2021, also received an additional USD 2,000 per person in shore excursion credit (for optional land tours) and USD 1,000 per person in onboard credit (OBC), usable for optional tours, onboard shopping, beverages, and spa services. Viking Explorer Society members received an additional USD 1,000 per person in OBC.