Viking Star

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

History - construction and ownership

After a rainy day of festivities celebrating the National Constitution Day of Norway, the first Viking ocean-going cruise ship, Viking Star, was christened on May 17, 2015 in a gala event performed in the heart of Bergen Norway, at UNESCO world heritage site of Bryggen. Bergen’s mayor since 2011, Trude Drevland (later charged with corruption) is the ship's godmother. An extra bonus was the presence of the ancestor of Viking Star, the former Royal Viking Star, now Fred Olsen's Black Watch, berthed at the cruise terminal.

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.

The 47,800-ton, 928-passenger cruise ship Viking Star offers destination-oriented cruising experience, with few at-sea days, long in-ports days and more exciting overnights in key spots. 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.

Cruise itinerary program

MV Viking Star's inaugural cruise itinerary program (season 2016's spring, summer and fall) was in northern Europe (Baltic Sea, Scandinavia and Russia, Norwegian Fjords) and in the Mediterranean (Eastern and Central, to ports in Italy, Spain, France / French Riviera, Monaco, Tunisia, Greece, Croatia). Inbetween were repositioning cruises in Europe (northbound and southboound / Spring and Fall).

In 2016, Viking Ocean inaugurated with Viking Star the company's first ever USA-Caribbean cruise season. The vessel arrived to NYC (Manhattan Cruise Terminal) on October 13, 2016. following the Transalantic repositioning crossing from Europe. Among the ship's VIP passengers was Viking's chairman Torstein Hagen. On October 14 started the repositioning to San Juan Puerto Rico for a series of 11-night roundtrip itineraries (through February 2017). Then the ship crossed the Atlantic back to Europe's Mediterranean.

Cabins

Viking Star has a total of 465 cabins (of which 47 Suite, 32 Penthouse, 386 Balcony rooms) in 18 grades. All cabins are balconied and at 270 ft2, are 1/5 larger than the average standard staterooms. The new all-veranda ship is engineered for easy embarkation and debarkation.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

Viking Star 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 Star deals are inclusive of shore excursions, complimentary alcohol (wine and beer at lunch and dinner) and Wi-Fi.

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

Viking Star facilities include Star Lounge (theater), Explorers Lounge (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.

On board, Viking Cruises Viking Star ship offers two pools – the main and Infinity Pool, spa and fitness center. The Star 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.

MV Viking Star was the world's ever first ocean ship with a "snow room". Must be noted, that the 2013-launched Viking Grace (2800-passenger ferry ship operated by Viking Line) was the first ever ship with a snow room. Viking Ocean ships' 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. It is fitted with benches and has 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 1 hot tub, sauna room, heated ceramic loungers, therapeutic showers, salt-water thermal pool. Snow Grotto access is complimentary to all passengers.

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.

The vessel was launched in May 2015 and christened by godmother Trude Drevland - Mayor of Bergen City (Norway's second largest city - after the capital Oslo). The naming ceremony day (May 17) was also Norway's "independence day" (National Constitution Day) when the ruled by Denmark country declared independence. The ceremony was emceed by the actor Bjarte Hjelmeland and featured live performances by violinist Charlie Siem, rock singer Sondre Lerche, comedy duo Ylvis and Norwegian soprano Sissel. The godmother traditionally smashed a bottle of Jeroboam (Veuve Clicquot Champagne) into the ship's hull. Followed a fireworks show.