Viking Jupiter

The 2019-built MS Viking Jupiter cruise ship is the 6th in a 10-unit series of identical vessels built for Viking Ocean Cruises. Viking OCEAN's current plans are for a fleet of 16 sisterships, all of which are Fincantieri-built and Norway-flagged.

The vessel (IMO number 257058920) is currently Norway-flagged (MMSI 257058920) and registered in Bergen.

History - construction and ownership

The 930-passenger ship Viking Jupiter offers destination-oriented cruising experience, with few at-sea days, long in-ports days and more exciting overnights in key spots. Onboard amenities 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 the 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 the vessel's exhaust pollution.

Decks and Cabins

Viking Jupiter staterooms (465 total) include 47x Suites, 32x Penthouses and 386x Veranda/Balcony cabins in 18 grades.

All passenger cabins are balconied and offer all the industry's modern amenities and services, including King-size beds ("Viking Explorer", deluxe mattresses and linens, Cashmere blankets), en suite bathroom (heated floor, heated mirror, glass-door shower, hairdryer, premium bath products and toiletries /by Freyja, bathrobes, slippers, towel warmers), seating area (sofa, coffee table, vanity desk with chair, wardrobe, full-length mirror with mini lights), satellite phone, smart HDTV (3D, Infotainment / interactive TV system for Internet access, room service ordering, movies-on-demand, live webcams views, Viking Cruises channel for news, enrichment lectures and port talks), in-room binoculars, electronic safe box, individual air-conditioning, coffee machine, mini-bar (replenished daily with bottled water, soft drinks, snacks).

The boat has 10 decks, of which 6 are with passenger cabins.

Shipboard facilities and amenities

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

Viking OCEAN's Jupiter ship has as signature facilities 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 area), Aquavit Terrace (aft outdoor bar lounge with Infinity Pool and Hot Tub), Piano Bar Lounge (Torshavn), dedicated sports deck (deck 9/with a Walking Track and Outdoor Gym/Yoga area), Theatre Lounge & Bar, Lobby Bar, various shops and brand boutiques, The Dome (planetarium with portable telescope).

The walk-around Lanai/Promenade Deck fully encircles the boat (deck 2). The two-deck Explorer's Lounge has a huge bow-facing observation area which is a unique feature that lots of modern cruise vessels lack. Many of the ship's features reflect a boutique hotel feel.

All Viking Ocean ships have an onboard "snow room". Viking's "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.

The Dome planetarium

MS Viking Jupiter is the world's 3rd ship (after Cunard's liner RMS Queen Mary 2 and Viking Orion) with an onboard planetarium. Named "Explorers' Dome", this theatre-like venue is circular, with capacity 26 seats and located forward on Deck 8, facing Explorers Lounge. It uses the latest video projecting technology to show constellations and other space-related 3D videos on its domed roof.

• Resolution quality is 7K HD. Dome's equipment includes 5x laser-beam projectors and studio-quality speakers with 2D and 3D sound options.
• Signature shows offered here is "Journey to Space" (space travel history-themed) and "Under the Arctic Sky" (northern lights-themed). The Dome and its programming are complimentary. 3D glasses are provided, also complimentary.
• The ship's resident astronomer (in addition to its resident historian) leads 2 lectures per cruise, themed on current sky events and also on themes determined by passengers preference.
• In 2018, Viking Cruises partnered with the US-based company "Evans and Sutherland" - developer of advanced computer graphics for digital planetariums and cinemas, and distributor of the world's largest database (library) of full-dome shows. The company also provides access to live feeds, including from the International Space Station and current space missions.

The cruise liner also has a portable telescope (electronically stabilized) that provides live night sky views projected at The Dome. The telescope is generally fixed, located on either side (forward) on Deck 9. Ship's astronomer organizes there outdoor stargazing sessions.

Itineraries

Viking Jupiter itinerary program offers both one-way and roundtrip cruises in Europe (during summer) and in South America (during winter).

• Western Mediterranean itineraries leave from homeports Civitavecchia-Rome (Italy) and Barcelona (Spain).
• Eastern Mediterranean itineraries leave from homeports Piraeus-Athens and Venice (Italy).
• Baltic Sea (Northern Europe) itineraries visit ports in Scandinavia and Russia, as well as the Norwegian Fjords, leaving from homeports Stockholm Sweden, Amsterdam Holland, Bergen Norway, London-Tilbury England.
• South American itineraries are one-ways leaving from homeports Valparaiso-Santiago (Chile) and Buenos Aires (Argentina). The "South America and Chilean Fjords" cruise visits Uruguay, Falkland Islands and Cape Horn.

The ship seasonally offers westbound and eastbound Transatlantic cruise crossings on repositioning voyages between Europe and South America.

All Viking OCEAN ships offer destination-rich itineraries featured with the brand's new "small ship cruise" tour and onboard experience. Compared to similar class vessels operated by other companies, Viking OCEAN's itineraries feature fewer sea days and longer port days, with a lot of overnight port stays.

The vessel (Fincantieri Ancona yard/hull number 6254) has volume 47861 GT-tons, DWT-deadweight tonnage 4815 tons, max draught 6,3 m. The powerplant is based on MAN marine diesel engines (model 12V32/9L32/44) with combined output 23,52 MW (22000 hp). The registered shipowner is COMPASS SHIPPING 36 CORP LTD, while the registered manager is VIKING OCEAN CRUISES LTD.

Viking OCEAN offers 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 much 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.

All passenger cabins are with a private veranda, and about 1/5th larger than average standard staterooms on the ocean cruising market. An interesting feature is the ship's dining room. This venue could be transformed into an outdoor casual dining place thanks to its floor-ceiling sliding windows.

Viking Cruises deals (on all river and ocean liners) are inclusive of shore excursions (land tours), onboard entertainment and dining (including at speciality restaurants), drinks and alcohol (beer, wine /at lunch and dinner), 24-hour room service, Wi-Fi.

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.

For Viking OCEAN ships' interiors were contracted SMC Design (London-based interior design company) and Rottet Studios (LA-based hotel design company).

In April 2018, Fincantieri contracted the Norwegian marine company Scanship to supply all the liner's cleaning systems - food waste processing, waste incineration, garbage handling, wastewater treatment plants. Scanship's wastewater purification system treats both greywater (sullage/sinks, showers, baths) and blackwater (toilets).

In February 2019, Fincantieri contracted the Canadian company Thordon Bearings Inc to provide newbuild's bearings for the propeller shaft. Ship's propeller shaft system (Thordon COMPAC) is seawater-lubricated and based on 100% grease-oil free bearings. The innovative propeller shaft system will be also installed on all the following Viking Ocean liners (currently on order or under construction) with scheduled deliveries between 2021-2027. These systems are supplied and installed by Pedrotec (Thordon's authorized distributor in Italy).

The ship was launched/floated out from drydock on May 10, 2018, at Fincantieri's shipyard in Ancona Italy. The ceremony was led by Godmother Sissel Kyrkjebo (Norwegian soprano singer) and attended by Torstein Hagen (Viking Cruises President) and Giovanni Stecconi (shipyard's Director).

Jupiter was officially delivered to Viking OCEAN on February 7, 2019, as the fleet's 6th vessel. The official christening ceremony was initially scheduled for June 6 (2019) to be held in Oslo Norway. However, the official naming ceremony was held on January 15, 2020, in Beverly Hills CA. This was quite an unusual ceremony as the vessel has been in service for ~1 year. Also, while official ship namings are usually held on the boat or pier-side (where it is berthed), Viking Jupiter's christening was far away from water - at Beverly Hills Ballroom (West Hollywood Civic Center) while the boat itself was cruising in the South Atlantic Ocean, en-route from Puerto Madryn (Argentina) to Port Stanley (East Falkland Island). The land-based event was synchronized with the ship  (via real-time satellite link / live streaming). The Godmother (Sissel Kyrkjebo) used a Viking axe to cut a cord, then the ship's Captain confirmed that the bottle of Linie Aquavit Original (Norway-distilled spirit) had smashed against the hull.

Viking Jupiter refurbishments review

Viking Jupiter's first drydock was in 2023 (October 26 through November 7) conducted at Port Genoa's San Giorgio del Porto shipyard.

The drydocking was for routine maintenance and classification works, technical overhauls, and inspections.

Inaugural itineraries 2019

The following tables show the Viking Ocean Jupiter ship's maiden voyages by destination. Prices shown are per person (Veranda Cabin rates based on double occupancy).

(2019) 7-day "Inaugural Cruise" (themed "Journey to Antiquities") from Piraeus to Rome

initially announced maiden voyage (2019) 14-day (themed "Mediterranean Explorations" roundtrip from Rome) - prices started from USD 4700 pp. The 7-day itinerary segment (Rome-Barcelona) was priced USD 2300 pp.

(2019) 13-day Inaugural "Eastern Mediterranean" (Greek Isles cruise to Holy Land) - prices started from USD 5000 pp.

(2019) 6-day Inaugural "Adriatic Sea" cruise - prices started from USD 3000 pp.

(2019) 13-day Inaugural "Northbound Repositioning Cruise" from Mediterranean to Baltic Sea - prices started from USD 5200 pp.

(2019) 9-day Inaugural "Baltic Cruise" (to Scandinavia and Russia) - prices started from USD 4300 pp

(2019) 7-day Inaugural "Norwegian Fjords Cruise" - prices started from USD 6200 pp

(2019) 13-day Inaugural "UK and Norway Cruise" - prices started from USD 7000 pp

(2019) 13-day Inaugural "Southbound Repositioning Cruise" from Baltic to Mediterranean Sea - prices started from USD 4700 pp.

(2019) 20-day Inaugural "Westbound Transatlantic Repositioning Cruise" from Europe to South America - prices started from USD 5600 pp.

(2019) 16-day Inaugural "South America Cruise" - prices started from USD 6800 pp.

(2020) 20-day Inaugural "Eastbound Transatlantic Repositioning Cruise" from South America to Europe - prices started from USD 5600 pp.

Godspeed!