Viking Ocean Cruises

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Viking Ocean Cruises
Private
Industry Cruise line
Founded 2013 (2013)
Headquarters Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California, United States
Products Cruises
Parent Viking River Cruises
Website www.vikingcruises.com/Oceans

Company

Viking Ocean Cruises launched in 2013 to offer the same small ship experience as the company’s river division. Specifically designed to provide more time in port than competitors, including late evening stays and overnights, itineraries sail Scandinavia, the Baltic, North America, the Caribbean and the Mediterranean.

Ocean cruising

In 2013 Viking Cruises announced the first new cruise line in nearly a decade.[1] Its ocean cruise product line is intended to leverage the company’s managerial experience in ocean cruising as well as its success in the river cruise sector.[2] Viking’s ocean cruise division began sailing its first vessel, Viking Star, in 2015. Viking Sea and Viking Sky are scheduled for 2016 and 2017 sailings, respectively. Initial ocean cruising destinations include Scandinavia and the Baltics, and the Mediterranean, calling on ports such as Bergen, Norway; St. Petersburg, Russia; Gdansk, Poland; Barcelona, Spain; and Istanbul, Turkey.[3]

Viking Star

MV Viking Star is the new 930-passenger all-veranda cruise ship, classified by the Cruise Critic trade publication as a “small ship.”[4] The ship was designed by experienced naval architects and designers with features including dual-fuel engines, a hydro-dynamically optimized streamlined hull for maximum fuel efficiency, onboard solar panels, and equipment that minimizes exhaust pollution.[5]

The ship was built by Fincantieri shipyard in Marghere Ancona, Italy, and the interior design, rich in Scandinavian influence, was developed by London-based SMC Design and Los Angeles-based Rottet Studios.[6]

Christened on May 17, 2015 in Bergen, Norway, by the mayor of the city and ship godmother Trude Drevland, Viking Star was called "the most significant new cruise ship of the year."[7] The christening coincided with Norway’s Constitution Day and was accompanied by artists and musicians who have a connection to Bergen.[8]

Amenities

Viking Cruises is the first cruise line to launch a new purpose-built ship since Disney Cruise Line introduced Disney Magic in 1998.[9] Viking Star has 465 staterooms in 5 categories, all with private verandas and a square-footage (270) that exceeds that found on most cruise ships. The ship’s largest suite, the Owner’s Suite, is nearly 1,500 square feet.[10] There are also multiple lounge and dining venues with several options for dining outdoors on deck. Other onboard areas include a three-story atrium, theater, library, sun deck including two pools, Nordic-inspired spa, gym and yoga area, and onboard boutiques. Its infinity pool is one of the first of its kind at sea,[11] and the floor-to-ceiling windows that bring sunlight into the ship’s interior spaces are unique among ships of this class.[12]

Complimentary amenities on all ocean ships in the Viking fleet include Wi-Fi Internet access; beer and wine with lunch and dinner; at least one shore excursion in every port; a Scandinavia-inspired spa, which includes a thermal pool, hot tub, sauna, and a chilled Snow Grotto in which snow gently falls from the ceiling; fitness center; library with curated books to reflect the cruise line’s destinations; 24-hour room service; meals at all the ship’s restaurants; cappuccinos, lattes and other espresso drinks available throughout the ship; self-service laundry; movies on in-room televisions and entertainment, movies and lectures in onboard theaters; and transfers between the arrival airport and the ship. Paid amenities on all ships include several spa and salon services; specialty beer, wine and spirits; and additional shore excursions.[13]

Viking Star’s technical specifications

Viking Star is one-third the size of many cruise ships being built by major cruise lines. This allows it to enter into smaller ports.[14] Its overall length is 745.4 ft. (227.2m); its beam is 94.5 ft. (28.8m); the draft is 20.7 ft. (6.3m); and the gross tonnage (GRT) is 47,800t.[15]

Future ships

Viking Sea and Viking Sky are scheduled to launch in early 2016 and in 2017, respectively. Sister ships to Viking Star, they are also being built at Fincantieri’s Ancona shipyard. The company plans to add three additional ocean ships to its fleet.[16]

Fleet

Current Fleet

Ship name Year built/refurbished Class Length Crew Guests Staterooms Website Image
Viking Star 2015 Small Ocean Ship 745.4 ft. 465 930 465 http://www.vikingcruises.com/oceans/ships/viking-star/index.html 200px
Viking Sea 2016 Small Ocean Ship 745.4 ft. 465 930 465 http://www.vikingcruises.com/oceans/ships/viking-sea/index.html
Viking Sky 2017 Small Ocean Ship 745.4 ft. 465 930 465 http://www.vikingcruises.com/oceans/ships/viking-sky/index.html

Future Fleet

Ship name Year built/refurbished Class Length Crew Guests Staterooms Website Image
Viking Sun 2017 Small Ocean Ship 745.4 ft. 465 930 465 http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=6817
TBA 2018 Small Ocean Ship 745.4 ft. 465 930 465
TBA 2020 Small Ocean Ship 745.4 ft. 465 930 465

Awards

The 2015 maiden voyage of the Viking Star received many accolades from cruise industry experts and critics.

  • Cruise Critic, a cruise review website, named Viking Star the "Best New Ocean Ship" of 2015 in its 8th annual Editors’ Picks Awards.[17] The online cruise resource has also cited the ship for having the "Best Bathrooms" at sea in the staterooms.

References

1. "Viking Reveals Details of New Ocean Cruise Line," Cruise Critic, May 17, 2013, http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=5356

2. Company Overview, Viking Cruises, http://wpc.475d.edgecastcdn.net/00475D/press_kit/Viking_Cruises_Company_Overview.pdf

3. "Viking’s New Ocean Cruise Line Reinvents Destination Ocean Voyages," PR Newswire, October 9, 2013, http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vikings-new-ocean-cruise-line-reinvents-destination-ocean-voyages-227092451.html

4. "Viking Star Review," Cruise Critic, http://www.cruisecritic.com/reviews/review.cfm?ShipID=748

5. "Viking’s New Ocean Cruise Line Reinvents Destination Ocean Voyages," PR Newswire, October 9, 2013, http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vikings-new-ocean-cruise-line-reinvents-destination-ocean-voyages-227092451.html

6. "Viking Star Cruise Ship, Italy," Ship-Technology.com, http://www.ship-technology.com/projects/viking-star-cruise-ship/

7. "First Look: Inside the Year’s Hottest New Cruise Ship," USA Today, April 13, 2015, http://www.usatoday.com/story/cruiselog/2015/04/12/viking-star-first-look/25669227/

8. "Viking Star Christened in Homeport of Bergen, Norway," Viking Cruises Press Release, May 18, 2015, http://www.vikingcruises.com/press/press-releases/viking-star-christened-in-bergen.html

9. "Where in the World is Cruise Critic?" Cruise Critic, April 13, 2015, http://www.cruisecritic.com/blog/index.php/2015/04/13/where-in-the-world-is-cruise-critic-51/

10. "Living Large: Inside New Viking Ship’s Stylish Suites," USA Today, April 17, 2015, http://www.usatoday.com/story/cruiselog/2015/04/17/viking-star-suites-cabins/25923305/

11. "Viking Star Cruise Ship, Italy," Ship-Technology.com, http://www.ship-technology.com/projects/viking-star-cruise-ship/

12. "First Look: Inside the Year’s Hottest New Cruise Ship," USA Today, April 13, 2015, http://www.usatoday.com/story/cruiselog/2015/04/12/viking-star-first-look/25669227/

13. "Hate Nickel-and-Diming? This New Cruise Ship Is for You." USA Today, April 15, 2015, http://www.usatoday.com/story/cruiselog/2015/04/14/viking-star-cruise-charges/25755975/

14. "First Look: Inside the Year’s Hottest New Cruise Ship," USA Today, April 13, 2015, http://www.usatoday.com/story/cruiselog/2015/04/12/viking-star-first-look/25669227/

15. "Viking Star Cruise Ship, Italy," Ship-Technology.com, http://www.ship-technology.com/projects/viking-star-cruise-ship/

16. “Fast-growing Viking orders two more ships,” USA Today, December 17, 2013, http://www.usatoday.com/story/cruiselog/2013/12/17/viking-cruises-new-ships/4050225/

17. "2015 Editors’ Picks Awards: Ocean Cruise Lines," Cruise Critic, http://www.cruisecritic.com/editors-picks/

18. "Viking Ocean Cruises Booked to Come to Australia for the First Time" http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=6817

External links

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