The best cruise ship 2015
Viking Ocean Cruise has been awarded the title of "Best New Ocean Ship" at the 8 e Cruise Critic Editors' Picks Awards, for its recently launched flagship, the Viking Star. Cruise Critic is the world's largest online resource for cruise news, reviews and community, and the Editors' Pick Award is one of the most prestigious awards in the industry.
"Receiving Cruise Critic's top award for Viking Star is an honor and a testament to the incredible work of our entire Viking team." said Viking President Torstein Hagen. "Viking Star marked the arrival of a brand new company in the cruise industry for a decade and a new era in cruise destinations. I couldn't be prouder than to see our first ocean ship receive a 5-star rating from the editors of Cruise Critic, but also, now, to be awarded Best New Ocean Ship of the Year."
"Viking Star, the innovative flagship of Viking Oceans Cruises, is warm and comfortable after a long day of exploring on land. In fact, the ship is so beautifully designed, with terrific alfresco dining, a gorgeous pool, a superb spa and the two-level Explorer Observation Lounge, that you'll have a hard time getting ashore." explained the editors of Cruise Critic.
Comfort and culture combined on the Viking Star
Viking Star is the first of three ocean ships being built for Viking Ocean Cruise and was launched in early 2015. Two sister ships, Viking Sea and Viking Sky, will be delivered in 2016 and 2017. The size of the company's liners has been thought out so that they can access most ports and can disembark easily. Belonging to the "small ship" category, according to Cruise Critic, they are elegant, sober and have a modern Scandinavian design.
Onboard, there are five cabin categories, starting at 25m2, all with private balconies, king-size beds, large showers and LCD TVs. 14 two-bedroom Explorer âeuros suites range from 70 m2 to 108 m2 and offer panoramic views through private terraces, as well as most of the amenities and privileges of this upscale category.
On board, passengers can choose between two pools. In addition to the main pool, with a retractable dome that protects the pool during cooler seasons, there is an infinity pool with a glass back wall, located at the back of the ship, for swimming while admiring the surrounding scenery.
In keeping with the Nordic heritage of the Viking, the spa was designed with the general wellness philosophy in mind, in keeping with the spirit of Scandinavia âeuros from the secular tradition of the sauna to the snow cave where flakes gently descend from the ceiling with cooled air.
The two-story Exploration Lounge at the front of the ship is the perfect place to soak up the scenery through the double-height windows while sipping a cocktail. The Winter Garden is a calm and soothing environment to relax and enjoy an afternoon tea.
The Viking Star liner offers many dining venues and food choices. "The Restaurant and World Café serve a variety of world cuisine and regional specialties, Mamsen is dedicated to Norwegian food, The Chef's Table is ideal for intimate dinners and Manfredi's Italian Restaurant is a specialty restaurant, prepared with fresh local ingredients. Each restaurant offers a large selection of outdoor tables to enjoy a meal outside.
Onboard entertainment has also been carefully planned. For example, there is a spectacular three-story atrium where guests can enjoy regional or classical music concerts, a theater to attend lectures by researchers and experts, a cooking school to learn how to prepare local specialties, or the "Torshavn", a piano bar where guests can relax and exchange stories after a day of exploration.
Viking Star was designed with the environment in mind. It is equipped with energy-efficient hybrid engines, and its hull and bow are optimized to be hydrodynamic, for maximum efficiency. On board, there are also solar panels, as well as equipment to minimize exhaust pollution. It meets the strict standards of environmental regulations.
A new ocean cruise company, already a leader on rivers
Viking Cruises offers river and ocean destinations for experienced travelers seeking culture, history and geography. With many cultural facilities on board and excursions ashore, the company's state-of-the-art Viking Star can accommodate 930 passengers for cruises to Scandinavia and the Baltic Sea, the Western and Eastern Mediterranean and the British Isles.
