The Star, built in 2015, is Viking’s first ocean liner. Just 745 feet long, this small ship still feels expansive, with plenty of dining options, elegant outside decks, and a luxurious spa and salon.
While Viking’s ships are targeted toward a low-key, mature crowd (no children under 18 are permitted; there’s no casino on board; nightlife options are of the jazz, dessert, and Scrabble variety), the design feels fresh, bright, and not stuffy at all.
Voyages began mid-October with 11-day port-intensive sailings from San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Staterooms
Staterooms for 930 guests are located on six levels, ranging from basic rooms to deluxe penthouses. Note: ADA cabins are available. Basic staterooms are bright and comfortable, with closets, desks, a seating area, and a surprisingly spacious bathroom with heated floors.
The best part? All staterooms have a balcony with a table and chairs. There are no inside rooms or underwater rooms, so everybody gets to enjoy the view and fresh sea air.
Restaurants and Dining
Apart from a deluxe buffet and regular room service options, there are some exciting dining venues on board. Manfredi’s is a chic, high-end Italian restaurant that wouldn’t look out of place in New York City.
For something truly unique, you can sign on for “kitchen table” shore excursions, where a small group will tag along with a chef to a local market, purchasing new and interesting ingredients that you then learn to cook alongside the chef back on board. For dinner that night, you get to enjoy your creations at an intimate 12-person dinner in a private room.
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Bars and Lounges
You’ll feel like Jacques Cousteau as you sip a Scotch in the Explorer’s Lounge, a bright and cozy two-story venue in the bow of the boat filled with model ships, antique navigation tools, globes, and atlases.
Wintergarden Tea Room is a sleek and airy spot for an afternoon tea. The retractable roof lets in the sun on warm days.
There are also intimate reading nooks and bookshelves scattered throughout the ship.
Pools
The ship has two pools: a larger pool and hot tub under a retractable roof, and a one-of-a-kind infinity pool, located at the stern of the ship. You’ll feel like you’re floating above the ocean in the glass-walled plunge pool.
Spa and Salon
The Scandinavian influence is perhaps most apparent at the spa, where you’ll find a sauna, steam room, high-tech rain showers with jets on every wall, and icy plunge pools.
You can pretend you’re in the wintery wilds of Sweden in the snow room, a freezing (–10 degrees) room filled with actual snow where you can go to cool off after the sauna or steam room.
The ship is also equipped with a retro-chic hair and nail salon.
Book your trip: Viking Ocean Cruises