Viking Sea

The 2016-built MS Viking Sea is the second vessel in a 10-ship series of identical cruise ships built for Viking Ocean Cruises. Viking OCEAN’s current plans include a fleet of 16 sister ships, all built by Fincantieri and registered under the Norway flag.

The vessel (IMO number 9725421) is currently Norway-flagged (MMSI 258215000) and registered in Bergen.

History - construction and ownership

The 930-passenger Viking Sea offers a destination-focused cruising experience, with fewer sea days, extended port stays, and more overnight calls in key destinations. Included features comprise complimentary Wi-Fi, free shore excursions, and beer and wine served at lunch and dinner.

Viking Sea was delivered at Fincantieri’s Ancona shipyard on March 24, 2016. On March 23, the yard floated out Viking Sky.

Each Viking Ocean ship offers numerous price-inclusive amenities and services, including shore excursions, transfers, Wi-Fi, beer and wine 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 aft infinity pool (a resistance swimming pool located on Deck 7) is another signature complimentary feature.

All Viking Ocean vessels are built in accordance with the latest maritime navigation regulations and equipped with advanced safety systems, including “safe return to port.” They also incorporate cutting-edge technologies such as energy-efficient hybrid propulsion (diesel generators and gas turbines), optimized hull design with bulbous bows for improved fuel efficiency, and solar panels (installed on the Magradome pool cover) to reduce emissions.

Decks and Cabins

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

All passenger staterooms feature private balconies and offer modern amenities, including king-size “Viking Explorer” beds (with deluxe mattresses and linens, cashmere blankets), en-suite bathrooms (heated floors and mirrors, glass-door showers, hairdryer, premium Freyja toiletries, bathrobes, slippers, towel warmers), seating areas (sofa, coffee table, vanity desk with chair, wardrobe, full-length illuminated mirror), satellite phone, smart HDTV (3D infotainment/interactive system with Internet access, room service ordering, on-demand movies, live webcam views, and Viking Cruises channel), in-room binoculars, electronic safe, individual climate control, coffee machine, and mini-bar (replenished daily with bottled water, soft drinks, and snacks).

Shipboard facilities and amenities

Viking Sea’s dining venues include the main Restaurant (dining room), buffet options (Viking Deli, World Cafe), Aquavit Terrace (alfresco dining), specialty venues (Italian Grill, Chef’s Table), and two Private Dining rooms. Viking Sea cruise fares include shore excursions, Wi-Fi, and complimentary beer and wine at lunch and dinner.

Signature onboard facilities include two swimming pools (Main Pool and aft Infinity Pool), a covered pool deck (with Jacuzzi and Bar & Grill), Viking Living Room (Atrium lobby lounge), two cinemas, a wellness complex (Spa & Fitness Center and Beauty Salon), Wintergarden (poolside venue), Aquavit Terrace (aft outdoor lounge with infinity pool and hot tub), Torshavn Piano Bar, sports deck (Deck 9 with walking track and outdoor fitness/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 bow-facing observation area—an uncommon feature on modern cruise ships. Many design elements reflect a boutique hotel ambiance.

All Viking Ocean ships include a “Snow Grotto”—a spa experience where guests transition from sauna heat to a chilled room with falling snow, designed to stimulate circulation. This Arctic-themed facility is part of the thermal suite, which also includes a hot tub, sauna, heated loungers, therapeutic showers, and a saltwater pool. Access is complimentary to all passengers.

Itineraries

Viking Sea’s itinerary program focuses on European voyages (Baltic and Mediterranean), with seasonal Atlantic repositioning cruises. Destinations include the Norwegian Fjords, Russia, Scandinavia, the Eastern Mediterranean (Greece and Turkey), and the Central Mediterranean (France, Italy, Spain, Monaco, Tunisia).

Following the Coronavirus crisis, in May 2021, Viking scheduled three ships (Sea, Venus, Star) for July–October roundtrip departures (11-day itineraries) from Valletta Malta.

• “Malta and Adriatic Jewels” – starting with an overnight in Valletta, visiting Montenegro (Kotor) and Croatia (Dubrovnik, Split, Zadar, Sibenik), plus Gozo Island (Mgarr Harbour).
• “Malta and Greek Isles Discovery” – overnight in Valletta, visiting Greece (Kalamata, Piraeus-Athens, Santorini, Rhodes, Crete/Souda).
• “Malta and the Western Mediterranean” – overnight in Valletta, visiting Sicily (Messina), mainland Italy (Naples, Civitavecchia-Rome, Livorno, Genoa), and Spain (Barcelona).
• “Malta, the Adriatic and Greece” – a 21-day back-to-back itinerary combining Adriatic and Greek routes, including multiple overnights.

For the Malta-based 2021 season, Viking partnered with Lufthansa (Deutsche Lufthansa AG) to offer non-stop transatlantic flights between Newark (New Jersey, USA) and Malta, exclusively for Viking Ocean guests.

All Viking Ocean itineraries emphasize destination-rich experiences, with fewer sea days, extended port calls, and frequent overnight stays compared to similar vessels operated by other cruise lines.

The vessel (Fincantieri Trieste yard, hull number 6245) has a volume of 47,842 GT, deadweight tonnage (DWT) of 4,870 tons, and a maximum draft of 6.3 m. Her 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 SEA LTD, while the registered manager is VIKING OCEAN CRUISES LTD.

Viking OCEAN offers destination-focused itineraries designed around the line’s “small ship cruise” concept and onboard experience. Compared to similarly sized vessels operated by other cruise lines, Viking Ocean itineraries feature fewer sea days, longer port stays, and more overnight calls.

Among the vessel’s innovative marine technologies are energy-efficient hybrid engines, top-deck solar panels, and a pollution-reducing exhaust system. The ship also uses seawater as a lubricant for its propeller shaft bearings, reducing maintenance costs and minimizing environmental impact. Unlike biodegradable oils, the seawater is discharged directly back into the ocean.

All passenger staterooms feature private verandas and are approximately 20% larger than the average standard cabins in the ocean cruise market. A notable feature is the ship’s main dining room, which can be transformed into an open-air venue through floor-to-ceiling sliding windows.

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

Viking OCEAN delivers a modern cruising concept centered on smaller ships. The relatively shallow draft (21 ft / 6.3 m), combined with advanced hull and superstructure design, allows access to smaller ports. The ship’s size also enables faster and more efficient embarkation and disembarkation. Another distinguishing feature is that all Viking Ocean fares include at least one shore excursion in every port of call.

The ship’s interiors were designed by SMC Design (London-based) and Rottet Studios (Los Angeles-based).

On June 25, the vessel (hull number 6245) was launched at Fincantieri's shipyard in Ancona, Italy. The ceremony was attended by the ship’s godmother, Karine Hagen (daughter of Viking Cruises founder and Chairman Torstein Hagen), and Stefano Stecconi (Director of the Ancona shipyard). On March 24, 2016, the vessel was delivered to Viking Ocean by Fincantieri. The inaugural (maiden) voyage was an 8-day Mediterranean cruise (April 4–12) from Istanbul to Venice.

On May 5, 2016, the ship was christened in Greenwich (London, England). The godmother was Karine Hagen. In a traditional ceremony twist, instead of Champagne, a bottle of Aquavit (a Scandinavian spirit and a favorite of Mr. Hagen) was used. The bottle was released by cutting a rope with a Viking axe. The event featured a fireworks display over the vessel (anchored on the Thames River). Viking Sea became the largest cruise ship ever christened in London. She navigated the Thames Estuary, passed Gravesend (Kent), transited the Thames Barrier (Woolwich), and was moored at Greenwich around noon. The ship was saluted by 48 sailors standing on the yardarms of the Cutty Sark.