Viking Sky

MS Viking Sky cruise ship (launched in 2017), is the third in a series of 10 identical vessels built for Viking Ocean Cruises. The sisterships are named Viking Star (2015), Viking Sea (2016), Viking Sun (2017), Viking Orion (2018), Viking Jupiter (2019), Tellus and Venus (2021), TBN1 (2022) and TBN2 (2023).

History - construction and ownership

The 47,800-ton, 930-passenger cruise ship Viking Sky 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 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 vessel’s exhaust pollution.

Cruise itinerary program

Viking Sky itinerary program is based on cruises in Europe (Baltic and Mediterranean regions), with Spring/Fall Atlantic Ocean coastal repositioning. Feature destinations include: Norwegian Fjords, Russia, Scandinavia, Eastern Mediterranean (Greece, Turkey) and Central Mediterranean (France, italy, Spain, Monaco, Tunisia),

Cabins

All cabins are balconied and at 270 sq.feet, are 20 % larger than the average standard staterooms. Five stateroom categories are offered. The new all-veranda ship is engineered for easy embarkation and debarkation.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

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

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

On board, Viking Cruises Viking Sky ship offers two pools – the main and Infinity Pool, spa and fitness center. The Sky also features a piano lounge, wintergarden 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 today’s 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.

Next YouTube video is a Viking Ocean cruise ship review (by Jim Zimmerlin). It which shows all the ship's main onboard facilities and also provides information on most amenities.

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.

• Cabin grades number: 18
• Total number of cabins: 465 (of which 47 Suite, 32 Penthouse, 386 Balcony rooms).
• Restaurants: Restaurant (main dining), buffet (World Cafe, Viking Deli), al fresco (Aquavit Terrace), specialty (Chef’s Table, Italian Grill).
• Lounges & Bars: Sky (theater), Explorers (observation), Atrium (Lobby and Lounge), Shops, Bar, Piano Bar, Wintergarden (poolside area), Walking Track, walkaround Promenade (deck 2), covered pool area (with jacuzzi, bar & grill), infinity pool (jacuzzi), Spa & Fitness, Beauty Salon.
• 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 many overnight port 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 deliver a brand new-style vacation cruising experience. These vessels 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. 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 specialty restaurants), drinks and alcohol (beer, wine /at lunch and dinner), 24-hour room service, Wi-Fi.
• On March 23, 2016, the ship was launched (floated out) at the Ancona shipyard. It was planned to enter service in 2016, but the delivery was delayed until 2017.
• On January 26, 2017 at the Ancona shipyard was held the official delivery ceremony. The Inaugural Cruise (maiden voyage) was scheduled for February 25 (7-night itinerary from Rome-Civitavecchia to Barcelona. Following the inaugural itineraries in Europe (Mediterranean and Baltic) the ship crossed the Atlantic Ocean on a 14-night repositioning cruise from Bergen Norway to Montreal Canada (Sept 10-23), then was relocated to Caribbean Sea.

• On June 22, 2017, in Tromso Norway was held the ship's christening ceremony. The naming ceremony was led by godmother Marit Barstad (sister of Torstein Hagen - Viking Cruises' Chairman and founder). The special event included live performances by Norwegian musicians (Sara Marielle Gaup Beaska, Lisa Stokke, Jorn Hoel, Violet Road / folk and rock band) accompanied by the Norwegian Arctic Philharmonic Orchestra.

Pre-scheduled 2016 cruise itineraries

The below listed in bullets itineraries were scheduled for 2016 (Venice Italy and Istanbul Turkey departures). However, Viking Ocean officially announced, that the ship's delivery would be delayed by the shipbuilder Fincantieri.

• 8-day one-way Empires of the Mediterranean from Venice - Fri Jun 24 (Venice, departing), Sat Jun 25 (Pula), Sun Jun 26 (Dubrovnik), Mon Jun 27 (Kotor), Wed Jun 29 (Santorini), Thu Jun 30 (Piraeus (Athens)), Fri Jul 01 (Kusadasi (Ephesus)), Sat Jul 02 (Istanbul, arrive)
• 20-day one-way Catalonia to Constantinople from Istanbul - Mon Jul 04 d (Istanbul, departing), Tue Jul 05 (Kusadasi (Ephesus)), Wed Jul 06 (Piraeus (Athens)), Thu Jul 07 (Santorini), Sat Jul 09 (Kotor), Sun Jul 10 (Dubrovnik), Mon Jul 11 (Pula), Tue Jul 12 to Wed Jul 13 (Venice), Thu Jul 14 (Split), Fri Jul 15 (Dubrovnik), Sat Jul 16 (Corfu), Mon Jul 18 (Naples), Tue Jul 19 (Civitavecchia (Rome)), Wed Jul 20 (Livorno (Florence/Pisa)), Thu Jul 21 (Monaco), Fri Jul 22 (Toulon), Sat Jul 23 (Barcelona, arrive)
• 11-day one-way Mediterranean Odyssey from Venice - Wed Jul 13 d (Venice, departing), Thu Jul 14 (Split), Fri Jul 15 (Dubrovnik), Sat Jul 16 (Corfu), Mon Jul 18 (Naples), Tue Jul 19 (Civitavecchia (Rome)), Wed Jul 20 (Livorno (Florence/Pisa)), Thu Jul 21 (Monaco), Fri Jul 22 (Toulon), Sat Jul 23 (Barcelona, arrive)
• 11-day one-way Mediterranean Odyssey from Barcelona - Mon Jul 25 d (Barcelona, departing), Tue Jul 26 (Toulon), Wed Jul 27 (Monaco), Thu Jul 28 (Livorno (Florence/Pisa)), Fri Jul 29 (Civitavecchia (Rome)), Sat Jul 30 (Naples), Mon Aug 01 (Corfu), Tue Aug 02 (Dubrovnik), Wed Aug 03 (Split), Thu Aug 04 (Venice, arrive)
• 8-day one-way Empires of the Mediterranean from Venice - Fri Aug 05 (Venice, departing), Sat Aug 06 (Pula), Sun Aug 07 (Dubrovnik), Mon Aug 08 (Kotor), Wed Aug 10 (Santorini), Thu Aug 11 (Piraeus (Athens)), Fri Aug 12 (Kusadasi (Ephesus)), Sat Aug 13 (Istanbul, arrive)
• 9-day one-way Empires of the Mediterranean from Istanbul - Mon Aug 15 d (Istanbul, departing), Tue Aug 16 (Kusadasi (Ephesus)), Wed Aug 17 (Piraeus (Athens)), Thu Aug 18 (Santorini), Sat Aug 20 (Kotor), Sun Aug 21 (Dubrovnik), Mon Aug 22 (Pula), Tue Aug 23 (Venice, arrive)
• 11-day one-way Mediterranean Odyssey from Venice - Wed Aug 24 d (Venice, departing), Thu Aug 25 (Split), Fri Aug 26 (Dubrovnik), Sat Aug 27 (Corfu), Mon Aug 29 (Naples), Tue Aug 30 (Civitavecchia (Rome)), Wed Aug 31 (Livorno (Florence/Pisa)), Thu Sep 01 (Monaco), Fri Sep 02 (Toulon), Sat Sep 03 (Barcelona, arrive)
• 11-day one-way Mediterranean Odyssey from Barcelona - Mon Sep 05 d (Barcelona, departing), Tue Sep 06 (Toulon), Wed Sep 07 (Monaco), Thu Sep 08 (Livorno (Florence/Pisa)), Fri Sep 09 (Civitavecchia (Rome)), Sat Sep 10 (Naples), Mon Sep 12 (Corfu), Tue Sep 13 (Dubrovnik), Wed Sep 14 (Split), Thu Sep 15 (Venice, arrive)
• 8-day one-way Empires of the Mediterranean from Venice - Fri Sep 16 (Venice, departing), Sat Sep 17 (Pula), Sun Sep 18 (Dubrovnik), Mon Sep 19 (Kotor), Wed Sep 21 (Santorini), Thu Sep 22 (Piraeus (Athens)), Fri Sep 23 (Kusadasi (Ephesus)), Sat Sep 24 (Istanbul, arrive).

Inaugural cruise itineraries 2017-2018

Viking Sky's "Inaugural Cruise" itinerary was re-scheduled for February 25, 2017 (8-days from Rome to Barcelona). All the ship's European itineraries feature overnight port stays in each of the embarkation and disembarkation ports.

Next is the Inaugural Transatlantic cruise (14 nights / 15 days repositioning itinerary from Bergen to Montreal).

(USA repositioning 2017) 14 nights / 15 days from NYC New York to Miami (prices from USD 3500 pp)

The 14 nights / 15 days Inaugural Caribbean cruise from Miami was themed "Panama and Central America". Prices started from USD 4000 pp.

Last is the 7 nights / 8 days Inaugural Western Caribbean cruise  (prices started from USD 4500 pp)

In 2018, following the 13 nights / 14 days Transatlantic repositioning from San Juan Puerto Rico to Barcelona, the ship had its Inaugural Mediterranean cruise from Barcelona to Rome-Civitavecchia. Prices started from USD 3000 pp.

Godspeed to the new ship!