Viking Saturn

The 2023-built MS Viking Saturn cruise ship (fka "Viking Tellus") is the 10th/last 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 9845922) is currently Norway-flagged (MMSI 258024000) and registered in Bergen.

History - construction and ownership

The 930-passenger ship Viking Saturn offers destination-oriented cruising experiences, 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 Saturn 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 Saturn 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 OCEAN deals are inclusive of shore excursions, complimentary alcohol (wine and beer at lunch and dinner) and Wi-Fi.

Viking OCEAN's Saturn 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 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". The 2013-launched Viking Grace (2800-passenger ferry ship operated by VIKING LINE) was the ever first vessel with a 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.

Itineraries

Viking Saturn itinerary program was open for sale in October 2021, when Viking OCEAN also announced that the Saturn ship's maiden season includes 3x new itineraries that visit Baltic ports - in Scandinavian and Nordic countries.

Two of the new itineraries were 15-day long and themed "Iconic Iceland, Greenland & Canada" (North Atlantic crossing from NYC New York to Reykjavik) and "Iceland & Norway's Arctic Explorer" (from Bergen to Nordkapp and Longyearbyen/Spitsbergen Island). The third itinerary is 29-day and themed "Greenland, Iceland, Norway & Beyond" (Transatlantic crossing from Bergen to NYC).

Starting August 2023, the ship will also operate the Viking brand's signature itinerary "Iceland's Natural Beauty" (8-day roundtrip from Reykjavik).

Viking Saturn's inaugural cruise is currently scheduled for May 2, 2023 (7-day Mediterranean from Civitavecchia-Rome to Barcelona).

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 6286) has volume 47842 GT-tons, DWT-deadweight tonnage 4912 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 VIKING OCEAN CRUISES SHIP X, while the registered manager is VIKING OCEAN CRUISES LTD.

Fun fact is that initially Viking OCEAN's ship Saturn was planned to be named "Viking Tellus" (yard/hull number 6286) - according to the IMO number listed by the shipbuilder. The name "Saturn" was officially announced on October 14, 2021.

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 represents a "smaller ship" travel concept. Their relatively shallow draft (21 ft / 6,3 m), design (hull and superstructure) and technology allow direct access even to small ports and harbors. 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 ~1/5th larger than average standard staterooms on the ocean cruising market. An 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 liners) 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.

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. The ship's propeller shaft system (Thordon COMPAC) is seawater-lubricated and based on 100% grease-oil-free bearings. The innovative propeller shaft system was also ordered for all the following Viking OCEAN units (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 vessel (Fincantieri Ancona yard number/hull 6286) was launched/floated out from drydock on June 23, 2022. The ceremony was led by godmother/madrina Elena Del Mastro (Ancona Shipyard employee) and was attended by Torstein Hagen (Viking's Chairman) and Pierroberto Folgiero (Fincantieri's CEO).

Viking Saturn was officially delivered by Fincantieri on April 26, 2023, at Ancona shipyard. The christening ceremony was on June 6th, held dockside in NYC New York. The naming event was led by godmother Ann Ziff (1954-born) who was co-founder and Chairman of Smile Train (the world's largest cleft charity/nonprofit organization) as well as the Chairman of the Metropolitan Opera and the founder and producer of the Caribbean Community Theater (St Croix). Ann Ziff also serves on several boards, including Sing for Hope (2006-founded non-profit organization), the World Science Festival (NYC-based nonprofit organization), the Los Angeles Opera (1986-opened), and the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts (in Manhattan NYC). Ann Ziff has her own fine jewelry brand (Tamsen Z) and owns the Tamsen Z jewelry house in NYC.

The ship's naming ceremony was attended by Torstein Hagen and Lady Fiona Carnarvon (Carnarvon's Countess, the godmother of Viking Mars and Viking Skadi longship. The event also featured live performances by Sissel Kyrkjebo (crossover soprano singer, Viking Jupiter's godmother) and Tor Jaran Apold (violinist), as well as a recital of opera classics by NYC's Metropolitan Opera, including stars like Susanna Phillips (soprano), Charles Castronovo (tenor), Quinn Kelsey (baritone).

Inaugural cruise itineraries 2023

Viking Saturn's cruise itineraries were opened for booking in October 2021.

Next are listed all maiden voyages (in 2023) by destination and homeport, with lowest prices per person (in USD, Balcony Cabin rates with double occupancy).

(May 2, US$3600 pp) 7-day "Iconic Western Mediterranean" itinerary

(May 9, US$5600 pp) 14-day "Iceland, British Isles and Iberia" itinerary

(May 23, US$7000 pp) 14-day Transatlantic crossing "Iconic Iceland, Greenland and Canada" itinerary

(June 7, US$14000 pp) 28-day Transatlantic crossing "Greenland, Iceland, Norway and Beyond" itinerary

Godspeed!