A Cruise on Brand New Viking Sky

By John Roberts

InTheLoopTravel.com

Viking Ocean Cruises launched its first ship in 2015 and now has three vessels: Viking Sky, Viking Sea and Viking Star. Also, Viking Sun is coming in 2017, and the company says it hopes to eventually have 10 ships in its Viking Ocean Cruises fleet.

The ships have been the talk of cruising since Viking Star debuted two years ago, and I have been wanting to sail on one of these voyages after hearing rave reviews from friends who had taken a voyage.

I was fortunate enough to be among the first passengers to sail on Viking Sky when it debuted in early 2017 in the Mediterranean. I recap the entire ship with my video tour and give a full account in a blog post here.

But to summarize: The ship offers a comfortable but not too stuffy cruising experience. The fare is mostly inclusive with drinks at lunch and dinner, a daily excursion and Wi-Fi among the things for which you won't pay extra.

I loved it. Oh, the LivNordic Spa also is a highlight. All passengers get full use of the spectacular spa facilities that offer heated loungers, Thalassotherapy pool, hot tub, steam room, sauna, cold bucket treatment and the Snow Grotto (are you brave enough to play in the snow?).

Viking Ocean Cruises' ships hold up to 930 passengers and sail itineraries all over the world. The ships van stop into ports that the megaships can't. For example, Viking Sky also sails the Gulf of St. Lawrence in Canada to Quebec and in Norwegian fjords, as well as the ports we hit on our cruise such as Trapani, Sicily, and Cagliari in Sardinia in Italy. We also loved Palma de Mallorca and Valencia in Spain

With the Wi-Fi we were easily able to surf the Internet, post videos and pictures of our trip and use email. We could even watch shows on Netflix.

I'm not a wine drinker, but Viking Sky features a nice variety of Norwegian beers onboard.

My wife, Colleen, thought the sushi offerings at The World Cafe buffet area were the best she's had on a cruise. Actually, the entire buffet is fantastic, with foods made fresh, and you'll find tons of healthy options.

Two of the special touches that made this type of cruising extra special for me was the afternoon tea time. This is a relaxing mid-day tradition on Viking Ocean Cruises' voyages. Passengers enjoy music, tasty scones and other light bites, like turkey croissant sandwiches. Plus, the gourmet burgers could serve as my every meal. The Pool Grill serves up fresh-made juicy Angus beef burgers. Try the Pancho Villa (blue cheese, guacamole and habanero mayo) and the Viking Burger (cheddar cheese, bacon and barbecue sauce).

Cruisers can experience gourmet dining at Manfredi's Italian Restaurant, with its steak and pasta dishes, and The Chef's Table has a rotating set menu of culinary dishes built around the themes of Asian, French bistro or Indian foods.

Room service is offered 24 hours and comes with no added cost -- just tip your server. Try the smoothie of the day for a health boost.

The pool areas were never busy. This is a nice change from the big ships. The main pool features a retractable roof that is opened on sunny days and shut during cooler times. The infinity pool is at the back of the ship on Deck 7. The visual effect makes it seem as if you can swim right off the ship. The pools are heated, and each has a hot tub.

The Wintergarden is a quiet place to read a book. The ship has no formal library but a number bookshelves, games, game tables and puzzles set out all over the ship.

There is no casino on Viking Ocean Cruises' ships, and you must be at least 16 to sail on these ships.

Happy sailing!