Viking Star

The 2015-built MS Viking Star cruise ship is the first in a 10-ship series of identical vessels built for Viking Ocean Cruises. Viking OCEAN’s long-term plan includes a fleet of 16 sister ships, all built by Fincantieri and Norway-flagged.

The vessel (IMO number 9650418) is currently Norway-flagged (MMSI 257903000) and registered in Bergen.

History - construction and ownership

Following a rainy day of festivities celebrating Norway’s National Constitution Day, Viking Star—the first ocean-going cruise ship in the Viking fleet—was christened on May 17, 2015, in a gala ceremony held in the heart of Bergen, at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Bryggen. The ship’s godmother is Bergen’s mayor since 2011, Trude Drevland. A special highlight of the event was the presence of Viking Star’s namesake predecessor, the former Royal Viking Star, now sailing as Fred Olsen’s Black Watch, berthed at the cruise terminal.

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 some of the industry’s most modern technologies, such as energy-efficient hybrid engines (diesel generators and gas turbines), optimized hulls, and bulbous bows for maximum fuel efficiency. The design also includes solar panels (installed on the Magradome pool cover), further reducing emissions.

The 930-passenger Viking Star offers a destination-focused cruising experience, with fewer days at sea, longer port stays, and more overnight calls in key destinations. All Viking Ocean cruise fares include a wide range of complimentary amenities, such as shore excursions, transfers, Wi-Fi, beer and wine served with lunch and dinner, and access to the Nordic Spa (steam room, thalassotherapy pool, hot tub, snow grotto, sauna, and cold plunge pool). The aft infinity pool (a resistance pool located on Deck 7 at the stern) is another signature feature.

Decks and Cabins

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

All passenger cabins feature a private balcony and offer modern amenities, including king-size “Viking Explorer” beds (with deluxe mattresses and linens, cashmere blankets), en-suite bathrooms (heated floor and mirror, glass-door shower, hairdryer, premium Freyja toiletries, bathrobes, slippers, towel warmers), and a seating area (sofa, coffee table, vanity desk with chair, wardrobe, full-length illuminated mirror). Additional amenities include a satellite phone, smart HDTV (interactive infotainment system with 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 have passenger cabins.

Shipboard facilities and amenities

Viking Star offers multiple dining venues, including the main Restaurant (dining room), buffet venues (Viking Deli and World Cafe), Aquavit Terrace (al fresco dining), specialty restaurants (Italian Grill and Chef’s Table), and two Private Dining rooms. Viking Star cruise fares are inclusive of shore excursions, Wi-Fi, and complimentary beer and wine served with lunch and dinner.

Signature facilities onboard include two swimming pools (Main Pool and aft Infinity Pool), a covered pool deck (with Jacuzzi, Bar & Grill), Viking Living Room (Atrium Lobby Lounge), two cinemas, a modern wellness complex (Spa & Fitness Center, Beauty Salon), Wintergarden (poolside relaxation area), Aquavit Terrace (aft outdoor lounge with Infinity Pool and hot tub), Piano Bar (Torshavn), a sports deck (Deck 9 with walking track and outdoor gym/yoga area), Theatre Lounge & Bar, Lobby Bar, and various shops and boutiques.

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

MV Viking Star was the first ocean cruise ship to feature a “snow room.” (Notably, the 2013-built Viking Grace ferry was the first vessel overall to introduce this feature.) Viking’s Snow Grotto is part of the spa’s thermal suite and offers a unique experience in which snow falls from the ceiling in a sub-freezing environment, complementing the adjacent sauna and thermal facilities. The spa also includes a hot tub, heated loungers, therapeutic showers, and a saltwater pool. Access to the Snow Grotto is complimentary for all passengers.

Itineraries

Viking Star’s inaugural season (2016) featured itineraries in Northern Europe (Baltic Sea, Scandinavia, Russia, Norwegian Fjords) and the Mediterranean (Italy, Spain, France, Monaco, Tunisia, Greece, Croatia), along with repositioning cruises between regions.

In 2016, Viking OCEAN launched its first USA-Caribbean season. The ship arrived in New York City (Manhattan Cruise Terminal) on October 13, 2016, following a transatlantic crossing from Europe. Among the passengers was Viking’s chairman, Torstein Hagen. On October 14, the ship departed for San Juan, Puerto Rico to begin a series of 11-night roundtrip itineraries (through February 2017), before returning to the Mediterranean.

In 2021–2022, Viking Star was scheduled to operate a 136-day World Cruise departing on December 24, 2021, from Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA) and concluding in London (Greenwich), England. Further details are available in the ship’s Wiki section.

Following the Coronavirus crisis, three Viking OCEAN ships (Star, Sea, and Venus) were scheduled to operate 11-day roundtrip itineraries from Valletta, Malta between July and October 2021.

• The “Malta and Adriatic Jewels” itinerary begins with an overnight stay in Valletta and includes ports in Montenegro (Kotor) and Croatia (Dubrovnik, Split, Zadar, Sibenik), as well as Gozo Island (Malta, Mgarr Harbour).
• The “Malta and Greek Isles Discovery” itinerary also begins with an overnight in Valletta and includes ports in Greece (Kalamata, Piraeus–Athens, Santorini, Rhodes, Crete/Souda).
• The “Malta and the Western Mediterranean” itinerary begins with an overnight in Valletta and includes ports in Sicily (Messina), mainland Italy (Naples, Civitavecchia–Rome, Livorno, Genoa), and Spain (Barcelona).

All Viking OCEAN ships offer destination-focused itineraries designed around the brand’s “small ship cruise” concept. Compared to similarly sized vessels operated by other companies, Viking itineraries typically include fewer sea days, longer port stays, and more overnight calls.