Viking Sea

The 2016-built MS Viking Sea cruise ship is the second 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 9725421) is currently Norway-flagged (MMSI 258215000) and registered in Bergen.

History - construction and ownership

The 930-passenger ship Viking Sea offers destination-oriented cruising experience, with few at-sea days, long in-ports days and more exciting overnights in key spots. The boat's features include complimentary Wi-Fi, free shore excursions, wine and beer with no charge at dinner and lunch.

Viking Sea was delivered at Fincantieri's Ancona shipyard on March 24, 2016. On March 23, the shipyard floated out Viking Sky.

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 vessel's exhaust pollution.

Decks and Cabins

Viking Sea 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, 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).

Shipboard facilities and amenities

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

Viking OCEAN's Sea 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". 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 Sea itinerary program is based on voyages in Europe (Baltic and Mediterranean regions), with Spring/Fall Atlantic coastal repositioning. Featured destinations include Norwegian Fjords, Russia, Scandinavia, Eastern Mediterranean (Greece, Turkey) and Central Mediterranean (France, Italy, Spain, Monaco, Tunisia),

Following the Coronavirus crisis, in May 2021 were scheduled for three VIKING OCEAN ships (Sea, Venus, Star) July-October departures (11-day roundtrips) from homeport Valletta Malta.

• The "Malta and Adriatic Jewels" itinerary started with an overnight in Valletta and visited ports in Montenegro (Kotor) and Croatia (Dubrovnik, Split, Zadar, Sibenik), plus Gozo Island (Malta, Mgarr Harbour).
• The "Malta and Greek Isles Discovery" itinerary also started with an overnight in Valletta and visited ports in Greece (Kalamata, Piraeus-Athens, Santorini, Rhodes, Crete/Souda).
• The "Malta and the Western Mediterranean" itinerary starts with Valletta overnight and visited ports in Sicily (Messina), mainland-Italy (Naples, Civitavecchia-Rome, Livorno, Genoa), and Spain (Barcelona).
• Later was added the 21-day "Malta, the Adriatic and Greece". The B2B itinerary started with Valletta overnight and visited Kotor, Dubrovnik, Split, Zadar, Sibenik, Mgarr Malta, Valletta (overnight), Kalamata, Piraeus-Athens (overnight), Santorini, Rhodes, Souda Crete.

For the ex-Malta 2021 season, Viking partnered with Lufthansa (Deutsche Lufthansa AG - Germany's largest airline) to offer non-stop Transatlantic flights between New Jersey USA (Newark Liberty Airport) and Malta Airport, exclusively for Viking OCEAN customers.

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 Trieste yard/hull number 6245) has volume 47842 GT-tons, DWT-deadweight tonnage 4870 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 SEA 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 more 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 ~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-ceiling sliding windows.

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.

Viking OCEAN delivers 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).

On June 25, the ship (yard/hull number 6245) was launched at Fincantieri's yard in Ancona Italy. The ceremony was attended by the godmother of the launching Karine Hagen (daughter of Torstein Hagen / Viking Cruises' founder, Chairman and CEO) and Stefano Stecconi (Ancona shipyard's Director). On March 24, 2016, the vessel was delivered to Viking Ocean by Fincantieri. The Inaugural Cruise (maiden voyage) was an 8-day Mediterranean cruise (itinerary April 4-12) from Istanbul to Venice.

On May 5, 2016, was held the vessel's christening ceremony in Greenwich (London England). The ship's godmother is Mrs Karine Hagen - daughter of Torstein Hagen (the company's Chairman and Senior VP). For the traditional bottle-smashing in the ship's hull, instead of Champagne was used a bottle of Aquavit (flavored Scandinavian spirit) being Mr Hagen's favorite alcohol. The godmother was dressed in traditional Norwegian folk clothing and was joined by many family members and friends. The bottle's rope was cut using a Viking axe. The naming ceremony also featured an impressive fireworks display over the vessel (anchored on Thames River). Viking Sea is the largest cruise ship christened in London UK. The ship had to enter Thames Estuary passing Gravesend Kent, squeezing through Thames Barrier (Woolwich) and was moored at Greenwich at around noon. The ship was saluted by 48 sailors standing on the Cutty Sark's yardarms.