Viking Ocean Cruise Review: the ship and what to do on board

Heading off on a Viking ocean cruise? Wondering what the ship’s like and what to do onboard? I recently embarked on my first Viking ocean cruise sailing the ‘Trade Routes of the Middle Ages’ itinerary. 

I was especially looking forward to the sea days with time to relax and enjoy the ship, Viking Saturn. 

With excellent dining and restaurant options, swimming pools, spa and Viking’s inimitable Scandi design and style, the ship is a wonderful experience in itself. The destinations and shore excursions are almost a bonus! 

I made it my mission to check out everything on board, which I’ve covered in this Viking ocean cruise review. 

Read on for everything you need to know about Viking ocean cruise ships including dining, onboard facilities, stateroom details, enrichment programme, activities and other helpful details you may be curious to know about.

Viking Saturn

Built in 2023, Viking Saturn is considered a ‘small cruise ship’ meaning it can dock where many of the larger ships can’t. The all-veranda ship accommodates 930 guests, served by 465 crew which means the adult-only ship has a relaxed, uncrowded feel. 

There are plenty of quiet corners, sofas, sun loungers and spaces to relax, rest or read. 

Viking Saturn is one of 13 Viking ships in the fleet which also include Viking Sea, Viking Star and Viking Mars.

Viking Ocean Cruise Review

This Viking ocean cruise review and guide to the ship has been written to help you maximise your time onboard. It outlines the spaces on Viking’s ocean ships and activities on board and should help you plan out your sea days.

The Viking Daily, which is delivered to your stateroom each evening, is a detailed daily itinerary of events and activities which will help you plan your days once you’ve embarked.

How to Spend Your Sea Days on Viking Saturn

There are a variety of onboard activities, from spa time, dining and enrichment programme to entertainment, classes and, of course, relaxation. Could it be that we’d need more days at sea?

Breakfast

There are three breakfast venues to choose from. 

On sea days our favourite dining venue was The Restaurant, on deck 2 where we ordered from the a la carte breakfast menu. The eggs benedict were on point. The endless views through the full length windows and waiter service made this a relaxed way to start our sea days.

World Café on deck 7 is a more casual dining option with a wide range of food options served buffet style. 

There’s an open kitchen and an egg station. The light airy space has views out to the port or to sea and if the weather’s good you can enjoy your meals al fresco on the Aquavit Terrace. 

We really enjoyed breakfast at World Café on our excursion days and although it could get busy we never had to wait for a table. There’s a 24-hour coffee and hot drink station at one end of the World Café.

Mamsen’s Deli, near the Explorer’s lounge on deck 7 is great for late risers and offers a casual breakfast with a Norwegian twist. Think waffles with goat’s cheese, fresh berries and coffee.

For a very laid back breakfast you could order room service and have breakfast in bed or on your stateroom veranda. Room service is available 24/7 at no extra cost on Viking.

Sun Deck Activities

The sun deck at the top of the ship is good for some sporting competition. We’d head up there for mini golf, shuffleboard and skittles. Obviously I had to let Mr Jones win… 

Guests can also walk the outside of the ship on the promenade deck 2. Every four laps add up to a mile so there’s no excuse for not getting your steps in. And you’ll need to with all the incredible food.

Head to the fitness centre where there’s cardio equipment, weights and stretching area if you’re looking for a more thorough workout to burn off some of the amazing food you’ll have eaten.

The Main Swimming Pool

The main pool is heated and has a hot tub along one side. The retractable roof was put to full use during our cruise. Closed for brooding Atlantic weather and then wide open to the blue skies and sunshine of the Mediterranean.

Sun loungers line the pool, as you’d expect, but my favourite loungers were set alongside the windows looking out to sea. I loved the wool blankets which added a touch of Nordic hygge. Perfect for the North Sea and English Channel overcast days.

Wi-Fi is included on your Viking cruise so you could spend a few minutes here checking your messages or posting your cruise pics to Instagram! 

It’s a good spot for a mid-morning read. There are books all over the ship to borrow and a book exchange on Deck 1.

More sun loungers beckon on the sun deck (8). Pool towels are provided.

Port Talks, Lectures and Activities

The Viking Daily is delivered each evening to your stateroom and we’d check out the next day’s itinerary to see what talks, lectures or classes we’d like to attend. 

Discover the heritage and culture of the next port of call, attend destination focused lectures with the ship’s resident historian, catch a movie, sign up for a wine tasting. 

These take place throughout the morning and afternoon in the theatre and in various areas around the ship. 

You can also watch the port talks and lectures on demand on your stateroom TV. Learning about the history and culture of each port of call allowed us to connect on a deeper level with the places we visited.

The Ship’s Resident Historian

We attended the ‘Bayeux Tapestry’ tour with the ship’s historian Dr Fenella Bazin. 

Over a dozen panels lining the ship’s staircase showcase the tapestry. And since we live in the town where the 1066 Battle of Hastings took place we were particularly interested to learn more about it. 

The tour was both entertaining and fascinating and gave us new insights into the history of our home town. 

Lunch

For lunch head to Mamsen’s for open sandwiches, known as smørrebrød, the Pool Grill or World Café. We mainly lunched at World Café and particularly loved the food from the live wok station.

On sunny days we’d find a table at the Aquavit Terrace and eat al fresco. It’s a great spot with sea views next to the infinity pool and hot tub. The pool bar is nearby.

Wherever you eat, be sure to save some room for afternoon tea. It’s a must do on your Viking cruise.

Viking Art 

Viking ships are floating galleries with art in all the public spaces. Take a self-guided tour of the ship taking in the collection of paintings, sculptures and photography. There’s a free downloadable art guide app with commentary from Karine Hagen. 

“Munch Moments” is a daily, interactive event showcasing several pieces of Munch art each evening at 6pm The Living Room.

The Atrium screen shows images of paintings from the full Nordic Collection of the entire Viking fleet. The Nordic Heritage Centre on Deck 2 has interesting displays of Viking clothes, weapons, jewels and pottery.

The Living Room

The Viking Living Room is set on deck 1 by the ship’s main staircase and atrium. Although it’s a large area the Living Room feels intimate with small divided sections. There are comfy sofas, armchairs and coffee tables making it the ideal place to relax, have a coffee or read. 

Classical music adds to the ambience with music from the ship’s pianist on grand piano or the Viking resident string duo floating up through the atrium.

The Bar, next to the Living Room is a great spot to grab a coffee and cookie or a pre-dinner drink. 

Guest services are also on this deck and the Viking staff members working there were incredibly helpful with our restaurant and excursion bookings. 

The Infinity Pool

If it’s a sunny day head to the ship’s stern on Deck 7 where you’ll find the infinity pool, hot tub and some sun loungers. 

I loved the infinity pool. I’d swim to the back for uninterrupted ocean views and gaze out to sea as the ship’s foaming wake disappeared into the horizon. Moments to savour.

Afternoon Tea in the Winter Garden

We hadn’t planned on afternoon tea but couldn’t resist because Viking do it so well.

From 4pm – 5pm each day head to the Wintergarden, next to the Main Pool. And go early, it’s popular. 

Finger sandwiches, dainty cakes and scones with jam and cream are beautifully presented. Choose your tea from a selection on the tea menu as you listen to Viking’s resident musicians. The string duo paired particularly well with the afternoon tea!

Nordic Spa 

The spa and hydrotherapy pool are a sanctuary of tranquility and bliss. We found if we timed it carefully we could have it all to ourselves (usually between 5.30-6.30pm). 

Resting on the heated beds and floating in the hydrotherapy pool are a great way to relax after an excursion. 

We tried the Nordic tradition of rotating through the Sauna, Snow Grotto and cold bucket shower which is a fun way to recharge and revitalise.

Like the gym, the spa facilities are available to guests on a complimentary basis. Any spa treatments are extra. Tip: Book any sea day treatments well in advance – it can get busy.

Apertifs in the Explorer Lounge

Our favourite spot for pre-dinner drinks is the Explorer Lounge on decks 7 and 8. Inspired by adventure and journeys of discovery it’s our kind of lounge bar. Located at the bow of the ship with huge panoramic windows it comes with sweeping views out to sea. 

The bartenders and mixologists here are a lot of fun and remember pretty quickly which drinks you prefer.

Another nice option for drinks is the bar at the Viking Living Room paired with live classical music from resident pianist Artur, guitarist James or classical strings duo Alla and Ruslan.

House wines, beer and soft drinks are complimentary but you could consider purchasing the Silver Spirits beverage package. This way you’ll enjoy unlimited premium wines and spirits during your cruise. 

Dinner

When it comes to evening dining you’re spoilt for choice on Viking’s ocean cruise ships. 

The Restaurant

The main dining venue, The Restaurant, offers the highest onboard dining experience. The menu features destination focused cuisine alongside ‘always available’ classics and international dishes. The food is excellent and I always found choosing from the menu a dilemma. So many good dishes on there.

The restaurant is divided into small areas so although it’s the ship’s main dining venue it doesn’t feel overwhelming. The sea views through all-glass walls are a fabulous accompaniment to dinner. 

We enjoyed some excellent meals here and I’m inclined to say it was our favourite restaurant. Although Manfredi’s came a close second.

Open for breakfast and dinner. Reservations not required.

Manfredi’s

Manfredi’s Italian trattoria inspired restaurant is located in a private dining room  and offers an intimate dining experience. 

We ate here twice and especially enjoyed the caprese salad, steak and tiramisu. It’s a popular onboard restaurant and you’ll need to make a reservation.

The Chef’s Table

The set five-course menu at the Chef’s Table, another private dining room, are enjoyed with wines chosen by your sommelier to create perfect food and wine pairing. 

Each evening has a theme, which was Mexican, on the night we ate there. The food was imaginative and delicious. 

Our knowledgeable sommelier was very engaging and chef came round to see how we’d enjoyed our meal and a chat. A memorable meal for all the right reasons.

Reservations required.

World Café

No reservations required at World Café which offers a huge range of dishes.

From the salad bar, to sushi, live cooking, seafood, pizza, charcuterie and desserts there’s an incredible scope of international flavours to choose from. You could eat here every night of your cruise and not eat the same dish twice.

For an evening snack visit Mamsen’s Deli.

Dress Code on Viking Ocean Cruises

The Viking dress code is very casual during the day, especially for excursions and tours. Be sure to pack comfortable shoes for tours where you might be doing a lot of walking.

It’s worth being mindful of local customs and conventions, especially if you’re visiting religious sites like churches or mosques.

Swimwear, short shorts, exercise gear and cover-ups are for the pools, sports deck and fitness centre only and all guests seemed to go with this.

Evenings are fairly informal too although no jeans are permitted. Most diners followed the ‘smart casual’ code for dinner in the restaurants. World Café was always slightly more casual than the other venues.

There are no formal evenings on Viking so no need to pack your ball gown or dinner jacket. 

Evening Entertainment

For evening entertainment we enjoyed settling into the Theatre or the more intimate Thorshavn with its jazz club vibes. Other performances were in the Living Room, Explorer’s Lounge and Wintergarden.

The Theatre

The theatre seats up to 450 guests and is the ship’s venue for shows, movies or port talks and lectures. We enjoyed the musical shows where the ship’s talented resident singers performed themed medleys from The Beatles, hit musicals and other music genres. The stage sets, lighting and audio visual system gave the performances added dimensions.

Torshavn

After dinner we’d often head to Torshavn, the ship’s late night venue, which has nightclub vibes and great sounds. Viking band Algorhythm and vocalists got guests up and dancing with contemporary music. 

There are also laid back sounds in the Living Room and Explorer’s Lounge from acoustic melodies and Saturn’s resident pianist Artur.

Viking Ocean Ship Staterooms

You’ll probably want to chill out in your stateroom at some point and I wouldn’t blame you. 

Staterooms are beautifully designed with Viking’s calming Scandi vibe. There are no inside rooms which means each stateroom has its own veranda. There’s a lot to love about a Viking stateroom.

Penthouse Veranda Stateroom (PV)

We stayed in a Penthouse Veranda Stateroom. I can’t tell you about the suites or other stateroom categories because we didn’t see them but let me share details about ours.

Basically, we loved it, especially the king sized bed and crisp, luxury linens. A sofa, chair and coffee table was great for reading or going through the Viking Daily with a hot drink from the in-room coffee machine.

The room offered plenty of storage with spacious wardrobes, cupboards, and drawers. In fact we didn’t need to use them all.

I especially loved the desk/dressing table, complete with a hidden mirror and storage compartment and the robes, one of which was in a smaller size for females.

The veranda is the perfect spot to relax and be mesmerised by the ocean. 

The ensuite shower room was a good size with an excellent power shower with fresh towels, and luxurious Freyja toiletries. 

Housekeeping visited twice daily, ensuring everything stayed perfectly refreshed or tuned-down. The crew members and staff were warm and attentive, even greeting us by name before the end of the first day.

Final Thoughts and Impressions

Viking cruise line is well known for its river cruises and in June this year I sailed on my first cruise with Viking on the incredible ‘Pharaohs and Pyramids’ Nile cruise. I was blown away by the river cruise experience and it left me eager to see what Viking’s ocean ships had to offer.

I was happy to find that our ship, Saturn, lived up to Viking’s river ships’ exacting standards. But then, I’d have been surprised if they hadn’t. 

Sailing on a Viking ocean ship felt like travelling aboard a floating luxury hotel. It’s a serene and sophisticated experience, offering a unique opportunity to explore captivating destinations along Europe’s medieval trade routes.

I hope this overview of the ship and Viking ocean cruise review has answered any questions you might have had. If not, feel free to drop a message in the comments below.

Explore more of the ship on Viking Saturn’s interactive deck plan

Cruise Itinerary

Although this article is a cruise ship review of Viking Saturn you’ll likely want to know about our itinerary. More to come later on the destinations we visited – this post is way too long already!

I sailed with my husband on the ‘Trade Routes of the Middle Ages’ itinerary which took in some of Europe’s early major trading cities.  

Days 1-2 Bergen | Day 3 Sea Day, North Sea | 4 Amsterdam | Day 5 Bruges | Day 6 Paris | Day 7 Portsmouth | Day 8 Falmouth | Day 9 Sea Day, Atlantic Ocean | Day 10 Porto | Day 11 Sea Day, Atlantic Ocean | Day 12 Malaga | Day 13 Murcia (Cartagena) | Day 14-15 Barcelona.

_{Fact Box}

_{Trade Routes of the Middle Ages}

_{Trace medieval routes of commerce during a fascinating 15-day cruise bookended by enriching overnight stays in Bergen and Barcelona.} 

_{Explore three of Europe’s most picturesque cities: Amsterdam, Bruges and Paris. Call on England from the historic ports of Portsmouth and Falmouth and admire the neoclassical gems of the wine-making city of Porto.} 

_{Explore Málaga, gateway to Granada’s stunning Alhambra palace, and view the splendid Roman ruins of Cartagena.}

_{Itinerary includes stops in: Bergen, Amsterdam, Bruges (Zeebrugge), Paris (Le Havre), Portsmouth, Falmouth, Porto, Granada (Málaga), Murcia (Cartagena), Barcelona.}

_{Length of itinerary: 15 days / 14 nights. 10 guided tours are included}

_{Includes: Return flights from the UK (including from London and selected regional airports), a 14-night voyage in Veranda stateroom, in destination transfers, all on board meals including wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner, Wi-Fi (connection speed may vary), gratuities, access to the Nordic spa, evening entertainment, and enrichment talks.}

_{Prices start from £5,190 for a 5-19 October 2025 sailing, based on current availability.To make a booking please call 0800 319 66 60 or visit www.viking.com}