Viking Orion

The 2018-built MS Viking Orion cruise ship (fka "Viking Spirit") is the 5th in a series of 10 identical units built for Viking Ocean Cruises. In 2017, having already 4 operational liners (Star, Sea, Sky, Sun), VIKING OCEAN announced a fleet-expansion to total 10 vessels (6 more newbuilds on order), with scheduled deliveries in 2018 (Orion), 2019 (Jupiter), 2021 (Tellus and Venus) and 2022 (Neptune and Mars).

History - construction and ownership

The 930-passenger ship Viking Orion offers destination-oriented cruising experience, with few at-sea days, long in-ports days and more exciting overnights in key spots. Ship's features include complimentary Wi-Fi, free shore excursions, wine and beer with no charge at dinner and lunch.

Each of the Viking Ocean ships offers many ticket price-inclusive / complimentary amenities and services, such as all shore excursions, transfers, Wi-Fi, wine and beer (at lunches and dinners), access to Nordic Spa (steam room, thalassotherapy pool, hot tub, snow room / grotto, sauna, cold plunge pool). The infinity pool (resistance swimming pool located aft on Deck 7 / at the ship's stern) is another unique and complimentary facility.

All Viking Ocean liners were built according to the latest maritime navigation regulations and equipped with latest marine safety systems, including "safe return to port". The ships also implement some of the maritime industry's latest technologies, including energy-saving hybrid engines (diesel generators and gas turbines), optimized hulls and bulbous bows for max fuel efficiency. Ship design also features the common for Viking River Cruises longships solar panels (installed on the Magradome pool cover) additionally minimizing the vessel's exhaust pollution.

Decks and Cabins

Viking Orion staterooms (465 total) include 47x Suites, 32x Penthouses and 386x Veranda/Balcony cabins in 18 grades.

All passenger cabins are balconied and offering all the industry's modern amenities and services, including King-size beds ("Viking Explorer", deluxe mattresses and linens, Cashmere blankets), en suite bathroom (heated floor, heated 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 mini lights), satellite phone, smart HDTV (3D, Infotainment / interactive TV system for Internet access, room service ordering, movies-on-demand, live webcams views, Viking Cruises channel for news, enrichment lectures and port talks), in-room binoculars, electronic safe box, individual air-conditioning, coffee machine, mini-bar (replenished daily with bottled water, soft drinks, snacks).

The boat has 10 decks, of which 6 are with passenger cabins.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

Viking Orion offers the following dining venues: Restaurant (dining room), buffets (Viking Deli, World Cafe), Aquavit Terrace (al fresco), speciality (Italian Grill, Chef's Table), Private Dining (2 rooms). Viking Orion deals are inclusive of shore excursions, complimentary alcohol (wine and beer at lunch and dinner) and Wi-Fi.

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

Onboard, Viking Cruises Viking Orion ship offers two pools - main pool and Infinity Pool, covered pool area (with jacuzzi, bar & grill), Spa & Fitness Center, Beauty Salon. The Sea also features a piano lounge, winter garden and aquavit terrace. Not to forget the sports deck, star theatre and bar, lobby bar, various shops. The walk-around promenade deck fully encircles the ship. The two-deck airy Explorer's Lounge offers observation area which is a feature that lots of modern cruise ships lack. Many of the new features reflect a boutique hotel feel - the fire pit and Nordic-influenced spa offering sauna and snow room are an example.

All Viking Ocean ships have an onboard "snow room". The 2013-launched Viking Grace (2800-passenger ferry ship operated by VIKING LINE) was the ever first vessel with a snow room. Viking Cruises' "Snow Grotto" is a spa retreat with powdery snow falling down from the ceiling. The experience (touted beneficial to the body's blood circulation) includes heating in a sauna (steam bath), then walking into this small room fitted with benches and with dark stone walls illuminated by blue light. The snow on the floor is kept at sub-freezing temperatures. This Arctic-themed facility is part of the ship's thermal suite (within the spa complex). This relaxation area has also 1 hot tub, sauna room, heated ceramic loungers, therapeutic showers, salt-water thermal pool. Snow Grotto access is complimentary to all passengers.

The Dome planetarium

MS Viking Orion is world's 2nd ship (after Cunard's liner RMS Queen Mary 2) with an onboard planetarium. Named "Explorers' Dome", this theatre-like venue is circular, with capacity 26 seats and located forward on Deck 8, facing Explorers Lounge. It uses the latest video projecting technology to show constellations and other space-related 3D videos on its domed roof.

• Resolution quality is 7K HD. Dome's equipment includes 5x laser-beam projectors and studio-quality speakers with 2D and 3D sound options.
• Signature shows offered here is "Journey to Space" (space travel history-themed) and "Under the Arctic Sky" (northern lights-themed). The Dome and its programming are complimentary. 3D glasses are provided, also complimentary.
• Ship's resident astronomer (in addition to its resident historian) leads 2 lectures per cruise, themed on current sky events and also on themes determined by passengers preference.
• In 2018, Viking Cruises partnered with the US-based company "Evans and Sutherland" - developer of advanced computer graphics for digital planetariums and cinemas, and distributor of world's largest database (library) of full-dome shows. The company also provides access to live feeds, including from the International Space Station and current space missions.

The cruise liner also has a portable telescope (electronically stabilized) that provides live night sky views projected at The Dome. The telescope is generally fixed, located on either side (forward) on Deck 9. Ship's astronomer organizes there outdoor stargazing sessions.

Itineraries

Viking Orion itinerary program includes Around the World cruise and Alaskan cruises (during summer).

Following the Coronavirus crisis, in summer 2021, Viking Ocean restarted passenger shipping operations with Viking Venus ("England's Scenic Shores" UK coastal itinerary roundtrip from Liverpool and Portsmouth/since May 22), Viking Sky ("Iceland’s Natural Beauty" 8-day itinerary roundtrip from homeport Reykjavik/since June 26) and Viking Orion ("Bermuda Escape" 8-day itinerary roundtrip from homeport Hamilton/since June 15). All these voyages were open for booking to UK residents only.

All Viking Ocean ships offer destination-rich itineraries featured with the line's new "small ship cruise" tour and onboard experience. Compared to similar class ships operated by other lines, Viking Ocean itineraries feature fewer sea days and longer port days, with much overnight ports' stays.

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

Viking Ocean ships represent a "smaller ship" concept. The relatively shallow draft (21 ft / 6,3 m), design (hull and superstructure) and technology allow the ship to directly access even small ports. The ship's smaller size also guarantees an easy and faster passenger embarkation/debarkation process. Another unique feature for the "affordable luxury" ocean cruising market is that regardless of cabin categories, all Viking Ocean deals are price-inclusive of the shore excursions in all ports in the cruise ship itinerary.

All passenger cabins are with a private veranda, and about 1/5th larger than average standard staterooms on the ocean cruising market. An interesting feature of the ship is the dining room. This venue could be transformed into an outdoor casual dining place thanks to its floor-to-ceiling sliding windows.

For Viking Ocean ships' interiors were contracted SMC Design (London-based interior design company) and Rottet Studios (LA-based hotel design company). Viking Cruises deals (on all river and ocean ships) are inclusive of shore excursions (land tours), onboard entertainment and dining (including at speciality restaurants), drinks and alcohol (beer, wine /at lunch and dinner), 24-hour room service, Wi-Fi.

On February 15, 2017, at the Fincantieri's Ancona Shipyard was held the official keel-laying ceremony that started the ship's construction. During the ceremony, a 280-ton block (length 11 m, width 29 m) was lifted by a crane and put into place. On October 4, 2017, Viking Ocean announced the name of its 5th ship (formerly "Viking Spirit") - "MV Viking Orion". Boat's namesake is the Lindblad-owned ship National Geographic Orion (launched in 2003).

Fincantieri delivered the boat on June 7, 2018, in Ancona. The christening ceremony was on June 14 in Livorno. Ship's godmother is Anna Lee Fisher - former NASA astronaut, chemist, an emergency physician. The naming ceremony was attended by Torstein Hagen (Chairman) and Karine Hagen (Senior Vice President) of Viking Cruises. The event featured a display of Orion mythology, live performances by Swedish musicians, a man flying a jetpack around the ship, fireworks show.

As of June 2018, Viking Orion was Fincantieri's 84 cruise ships (built 1990-2018).

Inaugural itineraries 2018-2019

Viking Orion's "Inaugural Cruise" itinerary was scheduled for July 08, 2018 (7-days Mediterranean / Rome to Barcelona). The following tables show all maiden voyages and world cruises (2018 and 2019) as ports of call (sequences, arrival / departure dates).

6 nights / 7 days "Inaugural cruise " (2018 maiden voyage) from Rome-Civitavecchia to Barcelona (prices started from USD 3600 pp)

6 nights / 7 days repositioning from Rome to Venice (from USD 3600 pp)

7 nights / 8 days repositioning from Venice to Athens (from USD 3600 pp)

62 nights / 63 days "World Cruise 2018" from Europe to Asia (Athens-Piraeus to Tianjin China / prices started from USD 24800 pp)

13 nights / 14 days Inaugural cruise from China (Tianjin to Hong Kong), prices started from USD 5800 pp.

28 nights / 29 days repositioning from Asia to Australia (Laem Chabang / Bangkok to Sydney) - prices started from USD 9100 pp

13 nights / 14 days Inaugural cruise from Australia to New Zealamd (Sydney to Auckland) - prices started from USD 6000 pp.

Godspeed!