Viking Sky

The 2017-built MS Viking Sky cruise ship is the third 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 9650420) is currently Norway-flagged (MMSI 259186000) and registered in Bergen.

History - construction and ownership

The 930-passenger ship Viking Sky 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.

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

Viking OCEAN's Sky 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 Sky itinerary program is based on cruises in Europe (Baltic and Mediterranean regions), with Spring/Fall Atlantic Ocean 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 summer 2021, Viking Ocean restarted passenger shipping operations with Viking Venus ("England's Scenic Shores" UK coastal itinerary roundtrip from Liverpool and Portsmouth/since May 22), Viking Orion ("Bermuda Escape" 8-day itinerary roundtrip from homeport Hamilton/since June 15) and Viking Sky ("Iceland's Natural Beauty" 8-day itinerary roundtrip from homeport Reykjavik/since June 26). All these voyages were open for booking to UK residents only.

in August 2021, Viking OCEAN announced a "double world cruise 2023-2024" with two ships (Neptune and Sky) sailing on an identical itinerary from Florida. While Viking Neptune departs on December 23 (2023), Viking Sky departs earlier (on December 20, 2023), sailing in parallel with Neptune. The 138-day itinerary visits ports in 28 countries (total 58 cruise ports) with overnights in 11 port cities.

• Departing from Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale Florida USA) and ending in London-Greenwich, "Viking World Voyage 2023-2024" prices started from USD 60,000 (EUR 51015) on Viking Sky/Dec 20, and from USD 55,000 (EUR 46760) on Viking Neptune/Dec 23.
• An Early Booking promo (for bookings made for September 30, 2021) offered USD 2000 pp (shore excursions credit), USD 1000 pp (OBC-onboard credit) and an additional USD 1000 pp OBC (for Viking Explorer Society/loyalty program members).

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 6237) has volume 47842 GT-tons, DWT-deadweight tonnage 4826 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 II, while the registered manager is VIKING OCEAN CRUISES LTD.

Viking OCEAN offers destination-rich itineraries featured with the brand'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 liner'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 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 tour itinerary.

All passenger cabins are with private balconies, and about 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. For ships' interiors were contracted SMC Design (London-based interior design company) and Rottet Studios (Los Angeles-based hotel design company).

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.

On March 23, 2016, the ship (yard/hull number 6237) was launched/floated out from drydock at Ancona shipyard. It was planned to enter service in 2016, but the delivery was delayed until 2017. On January 26, 2017, was held the official delivery ceremony. The Inaugural Cruise (maiden voyage) was on February 25 (7-night itinerary from Rome-Civitavecchia to Barcelona). Following the inaugural season in Europe (Mediterranean and Baltic) was the 14-night Transatlantic repositioning cruise from Bergen Norway to Montreal Canada (September 10-23), then was relocated to the Caribbean Sea.

On June 22, 2017, in Tromso Norway was ship's christening. The naming ceremony was led by godmother Marit Barstad (sister of Torstein Hagen - Viking Cruises' Chairman and founder). The special event included live performances by Norwegian musicians (Sara Marielle Gaup Beaska, Lisa Stokke, Jorn Hoel, Violet Road/folk and rock band) accompanied by the Norwegian Arctic Philharmonic Orchestra. A gilded Viking axe was used for cutting the cord of the champagne bottle.

Pre-scheduled 2016 cruise itineraries

The below listed in bullets itineraries were scheduled for 2016 (Venice Italy and Istanbul Turkey departures). However, Viking Ocean officially announced, that the ship's delivery would be delayed by the shipbuilder Fincantieri.

8-day "Empires of the Mediterranean" from Venice (Jun 24) to Pula, Dubrovnik, Kotor, Santorini, Piraeus-Athens, Kusadasi-Ephesus, ending in Istanbul (Jul 2)

20-day "Catalonia to Constantinople" from Istanbul (Jul 4) to Kusadasi, Piraeus-Athens, Santorini, Kotor, Dubrovnik, Pula, Venice (overnight), Split, Dubrovnik, Corfu, Naples, Civitavecchia-Rome, Livorno, Monaco, Toulon, arriving in Barcelona (Jul 23)

11-day "Mediterranean Odyssey" from Venice (Jul 13) to Split, Dubrovnik, Corfu, Naples, Civitavecchia, Livorno, Monaco, Toulon, arriving in Barcelona (Jul 23)

11-day "Mediterranean Odyssey" from Barcelona (Jul 25) to Toulon, Monaco, Livorno, Civitavecchia, Naples, Corfu, Dubrovnik, Split, arriving in Venice (Aug 4)

8-day "Empires of the Mediterranean" from Venice (Aug 5) to Pula, Dubrovnik, Kotor, Santorini, Piraeus-Athens, Kusadasi, arriving in Istanbul (Aug 13)

9-day "Empires of the Mediterranean" from Istanbul (Aug 15) to Kusadasi, Piraeus, Santorini, Kotor, Dubrovnik, Pula, arriving in Venice (Aug 24)

11-day "Mediterranean Odyssey" from Venice (Aug 24) to Split, Dubrovnik, Corfu, Naples, Civitavecchia, Livorno, Monaco, Toulon, arriving in Barcelona (Sep 3)

11-day "Mediterranean Odyssey" from Barcelona (Sep 5) to Toulon, Monaco, Livorno, Civitavecchia, Naples, Corfu, Dubrovnik, , Split, arriving in Venice (Sep 15)

8-day "Empires of the Mediterranean" from Venice (Sep 16) to Pula, Dubrovnik, Kotor, Santorini, Piraeus, Kusadasi, arriving in Istanbul (Sep 24).

Inaugural itineraries 2017

Viking Sky's "Inaugural Cruise" itinerary was rescheduled for February 25, 2017 (8-days from Civitavecchia-Rome to Barcelona). All European itineraries feature overnight port stays in each of the embarkation and disembarkation ports.

Next is the Inaugural Transatlantic crossing (14 nights / 15 days repositioning itinerary from Bergen to Montreal).

World Cruise 2024-2025

Next table shows Viking Sky's "Viking World Voyage 2025" from Florida USA to the UK. The 138-day itinerary visits 85 ports (including 13 overnight ports) in 37 countries and includes 57 guided shore excursions/complimentary land tours).

Full-itinerary Early Booking prices started at GBP 49055 (EUR 55310 / USD 60000) per person.

Shorter itinerary segments were also available for booking, including 163-day (from Los Angeles to New York), 138-day (from Fort Lauderdale to London), 121-day (from Los Angeles to London).

Early bookings (reservations made by March 31, 2023) received perks like one-way business class flights (UK-Florida), all shipboard gratuities/service fees, a complimentary visa service, all-inclusive beverage package. All bookings received a GBP 1600 (shore excursions credit) plus GBP 800 (OBC/onboard credit). Loyalty program members (Viking Explorer Society) additionally received GBP 800 pp OBC.